The Harlequin Opal, Vol. 1 (of 3)

out oars, th

ard where th

land of g

beneath the

d land of

ound our pro

s streak their

hind the an

ek th

, out oars,

the sinking

old marine

ances wil

s we would f

eads on to

within the s

for that ma

so d

with as little delay as possible, Philip would willingly have prolonged this ocean tramping for an indefinite period. Jack, however, was anxious to see Dolores; the special correspondent looked forward eagerly to the fierce delights of possible battle

ued her course to Cuba, from whence she could drop down to Tlatonac in a few days. She touched at Havana, which was a trifle out of her course, at the expr

entomological traps; Tim, obeying his journalistic instincts, made notes of daily events for future use; and Philip, in conjunction with his sailing master, attended to the navigatio

, when the bearings of the engines became heated by constant friction, the screw was stopped and the sails were set, when the yacht, leaning slightly to one side, swirled through the waters under a clo

ing to Philip's piano playing and Jack's singing. Tim also sang in a pleasant tenor voice, and often favoured the company with a varied selection of ditties, ranging from pathetic Irish melodies to the latest music-hall songs of the day. Peter was the most unmusical member of the party, a

th the local affairs of the country. On reaching Tlatonac, he wrote a capital article embodying Jack's information, and sent it off at once to The Morning Planet, in whose columns it duly appeared,

. The sails were all furled, and a light breeze made humming noises in the taut hemp of the rigging. From the wide mouth of the funnel floated a faint trail of smoke, and the steady screw, with monotonous repetition, throbbed like a beating heart. The water hissing like serpents, streamed past the black sides of the boat, and at the prow the white foam boiled l

sh milk in Cuba; I'm tir

hinks of nothing but his fat little paunch. Can't yo

resh milk," urged

," said Jack, gravely; "look at th

very p

a young lady call the Hallelujah Chorus pretty.

anguage," said Duval, with mock solemni

l, whereof we wot," interjected Philip, mischievo

aid Tim, waving his hand to indicate the same,

ctor, growing red. "I wish you fellows

, but an object. Forty-five

t all. I've had that same on the best female authorit

t, lighting a fresh cigarette. "There is ugly Vulcan as wel

ng to pass compliments, sir. No, it's my intenti

, considerably taken aba

business, lads, and the first letter I have to send

his chair; "we will then know which side to take, Don Miguel's or Don Hypolito's. Go on, Jack,

Jack had to say on the subject; whereat Duval, without wast

g south of Yucatan, about four hundred miles long and two hundred broad. Tlatonac, the chief town, is in the south, and Acauhtzin, the second city, in the north, about three hundred mil

ple of the Harlequin Opal, I s

his I am not sure. Well, to proceed. The country is very mountainous, and there are comp

ave you co

l have to be abandoned. Failing this railway, the only way to get to the second capital is

ties to Don Hypolito to make th

ovided Don Hypolito can secur

rise. "You don't mean to say, J

ctively, The Columbus, The Cortes, and The Pizarro, all first-class vessels. The Gove

commands the navy, he

ed, and the war-ships would have to ke

worth me

ds be, I dare say the Government can secure the forest Indians as their allies. Fools i

ip, reflectively, "it seems to me that th

ans, out of sheer superstition, will side with him against the Go

you please," asked Tim, who was scribb

judge, he will win over the navy to his side, establish his head-quarters at Acauhtzin,

t the torp

ut from England. If the war-ships c

re unpleasant th

ats won't know of the disaffection of the navy; so possibly their commander will be decoy

, "it would be as well to use this yacht t

the rebels would send a war-ship after you

e whole Cholacacan navy. When The Bohemian has all her f

we need anticipate evil. Don Hypolito may not have rebel

these miles to see a flash in the pan. If Don Hypolito doesn't revolt, I

invented to fill the empty columns of your paper durin

bent on becoming Dictator of the Republic, and as President Gomez won

of a man

ying 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

a discount in the Americas. Maximilian failed; Iturbide failed; Dom Pedro had to leave B

Philip. Don Hypolito is as cunn

lf-baked lot that form the population of Spanish America. Y

some trut

superstition through this opal," sa

Mestizos and the descendants of the Span

out the

a spot of dus

now," he said slowly, "it's effete; it's wo

utenant," asked Tim, inquiringly, "what

when he's got the upper hand, I question whether he'll do much, save what chimes in with his

s to the ra

la 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 t

o be realised by Jack," sai

ood-humouredly. "If Don Hypolito gets beaten, and

'if,'" quoted

lt to foresee the end. S

as the navy. It's p

r," said Tim, conceitedly, "and we'll

I don't want to help Xuarez to marry

h the Harlequin Opal," said Peter, decisively. "If

d Jack, promptly. "No; whatever comes and goes, I'm

to you. You are an un

talk of other things. Tim went down to the saloon to arrange his notes;

ed his three companions plainly how matters stood. On their arrival at Tlatonac, they were thus well acquainted with the causes of th

ted 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

bled 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 wi

s 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 h

iled in the shade. "To-morrow we will sight Bri

ea," sighed Peter, mopping his bald head wit

andkerchief overboard," cried Jack, irr

it's

t is. It's red, and

ack!" said Tim, soothingly

ters. It was in constant use, and when the familiar sound struck on their ears, Philip and Peter lifted their heads anxiously. It is but fair to st

one, if you

y. "I won't. Brew one for you

panish for the ladies,"

slung out of Tlatonac," retorted Jack, w

panish," said the Irishman, bluntly. "

shu

Peter, who was profoundly ign

' you ignorant creature. Peter, you'll have to l

e from his chair, and w

," said Jack, smiling. "It's hot her

also been introduced by Jack with such success that they slept all day and sat up

d there with a slender palm. As they drew nearer, they saw the frowning walls of the forts rising above the waters, a

e absence of the war-ships. "

begun?" asked Peter, t

s! It look

can't hurt us now," said Philip; "

s covered with boats; intensely green vegetation clothed the shores, and the white wa

g of the war. "If the war-ships start shelling t

inking of Dolores. Philip turned towards Peter; but the doctor

in this bay," said Tim, gravely,

butterflies, and Dolores. We'd better go ashor