remarked Jack, confidently. “Xuarez is bent on becoming Dictator of the Republic, and as President Gomez won’t care about being kicked out, it will be a case of war to the knife.”
“What kind of a man is Xuarez?”
“He’s like Napoleon: a wonderful man, I can tell you. You can see from his face that he was born to command. If he gains the day, he won’t be content with playing at Dictator. Not he! He’ll make himself Emperor, establish his capital in the neck of the Isthmus of Panama, and conquer South America. He won’t attempt the north further than Mexico, in case the U.S. Government might make it hot for him. The Yankees object to foreign domination. Some people are so particular.”
“The New World is not the place for empires,” said Philip, decisively. “Monarchs are at a discount in the Americas. Maximilian failed; Iturbide failed; Dom Pedro had to leave Brazil. No; Montezuma was the last of the American emperors—there will never be another.”
“Don’t prophesy till you know, Philip. Don Hypolito is as cunning as the devil, and as clever.”
“I don’t care how clever he is. No one can depend on the half-baked lot that form the population of Spanish America. You have to form a nation before you can construct an empire.”
“There’s some truth in that.”
“Still, if Xuarez appeals to their superstition through this opal,” said Peter, mildly, “there will be——”
“That only counts with the Indians. The Mestizos and the descendants of the Spaniards won’t be led by such child’s play.”
“What about the Church?”
Jack flicked a spot of dust off his coat.
“The Church has that much power in Cholacaca now,” he said slowly, “it’s effete; it’s worn out. The age of the Inquisition is past.”
“If Don Hypolito does get to be Lord-Lieutenant,” asked Tim, inquiringly, “what will he do for the downtrodden country?”
“According to his own showing—everything. Don’t I tell you he wishes to found a monarchy. But when he’s got the upper hand, I question whether he’ll do much, save what chimes in with his own personal ambition. Besides, Cholacaca is going ahead now quite as much as is good for it.”
“That refers to the railway, Jack.”
“Partly, and to other things also. This railway will open up a lot of valuable country. It will run through from end to end. From Janjalla in the south to Acauhtzin in the north. Then lines will branch off here and there to the sea-coast on one side, to the mountains on the other. Thus the whole country will be a network of railways, bringing the population and towns within trading distance of one another.”
“All of which visions are to be realised by Jack,” said Peter, with mock sarcasm.
“Yes, realised by Jack,” assented the engineer, good-humouredly. “If Don Hypolito gets beaten, and things go on as now, I will have plenty of work.”
“Much virtue in ‘if,’” quoted Philip, smiling.
“It is certainly difficult to foresee the end. Still, Gomez has the army.”
“And Don Hypolito has the navy. It’s pretty even, I think.”
“The combat will be decided by us four,” said Tim, conceitedly, “and we’ll fight on the side of Jack’s choosing.”
“Then we will assist the Government. I don’t want to help Xuarez to marry Dolores, and get the Harlequin Opal.”
“It’s my opinion that the war has nothing to do with the Harlequin Opal,” said Peter, decisively. “If the Indians have got it, the Indians will keep it.”
“Unless I’m within stealing distance of it,” replied Jack, promptly. “No; whatever comes and goes, I’m determined to get that opal. It belongs to Dolores.”
“And Dolores belongs to you. You are an unselfish person, Jack.”
Duval laughed good-humouredly at Philip’s mild protestation, and began to talk of other things. Tim went down to the saloon to arrange his notes; Peter turned in, and the symposium broke up without further conversation.
This is only a sample of the many talks they had on the subject of Cholacaca. The information supplied by Jack was useful, as it showed his three companions plainly how matters stood. On their arrival at Tlatonac, they were thus well acquainted with the causes of the war, and could follow future developments with great interest. And when this last conversation took place, Tlatonac was not far off.
After leaving Havana, where they only stayed a few hours for a run ashore, the yacht dropped down towards the Bay of Honduras, and drew steadily towards their destination. The nearer they came, the more excited did Jack become at the prospect of seeing Dolores once more. As a rule, the young engineer was a steady, cool-headed fellow; but this love had upset his brain, and he was as love-sick and inconsequent as any raw lad. Amused at this spectacle, Philip did his best to restrain Jack’s impatience, and kept the engines at full speed, so that the lover might the sooner arrive within kissing distance of his beloved.
Within the circle of the Indian isles the heat grew almost unbearable. Blue sea, blue sky, and the burning eye of the sun grilling them constantly during the day. When the west flared red with his setting, and the waters heaved in billows of crimson, they were glad to welcome the cool night with serene moon and chilly, gleaming stars. The pitch bubbled sluggishly in the seams of the deck, the brasses burnt like fire when touched by an incautious hand, and the very air was tremulous with the heat. In vain, with linen suits, solar topees, and constant keeping in the shade, they endeavoured to find coolness; the sun found them out, and baked them with his fierce rays till they were half dead with exhaustion. The heat did not brown them as is customary in more temperate climes, but simply squeezed all the life out of their poor bodies, until they waxed so indolent that did they nothing but lie about in shady corners all day, longing for the night. Even Peter abandoned his entomology; so, from such sacrifice, must the intense heat be judged.
Tim was a perfect god-send in those glowing days of heat and thirst. He was skilful at preparing drinks, and concocted beverages which enabled them to hold out during twelve hours of incessant sun glare. Occasionally they passed an island covered with masses of palms, cacti, and aloes, and sometimes a distant ship arose and fell against the line of the horizon; but they were too indolent to trouble about such trifles. It was nothing but eternal sunshine and eternal heat. But all things must come to an end, and so did this voyage.
“To-morrow,” said Philip, thankfully, as he broiled in the shade. “To-morrow we will sight British Honduras. Then Tlatonac won’t be far off.”
“Perhaps it will be worse on shore than at sea,” sighed Peter, mopping his bald head with a red-silk pockethandkerchief. “Why, if——”
“For Heaven’s sake, Peter, throw that handkerchief overboard,” cried Jack, irritably; “the very colour makes me hot.”
“But it’s silk!”
“I don’t care what it is. It’s red, and that’s enough for me.”
“Don’t lose
