THE HARLEQUIN OPAL
A ROMANCE
BY
FERGUS HUME
_Author of "The Island of Fantasy," "Aladdin in London," etc._
VOLUME II
Once a realm of Indian glory,
Famed in Aztec song and story,
Fabled by Tradition hoary
As an earthly Paradise;
Now a land of love romances,
Serenades, bolero dances,
Looks of scorn, adoring glances,
Under burning tropic skies.
LONDON
W. H. ALLEN & CO., LIMITED
13, WATERLOO PLACE, S.W.
1893
WYMAN AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND REDHILL.
PROEM.
The stone had its birth in the nurturing earth,
Its home in the heart of the main,
From the coraline caves it was tossed by the waves
On the breast of an aureate plain;
And the spirits who dwell in the nethermost hell
Stored fire in its bosom of white;
The sylphs of the air made it gracious and fair
With the blue of the firmament's height.
The dull gnomes I ween, gave it glittering sheen,
Till yellow as gold it became;
The nymphs of the sea made the opal to be
A beacon of emerald flame.
The many tints glow, they come and they go
At bidding of spirits abhorr'd,
When one ray is bright, in the bosom of white,
Its hue tells the fate of its lord.
For yellow hints wealth, and blue meaneth health,
While green forbodes passing of gloom,
But beware of the red, 'tis an omen of dread,
Portending disaster and doom.
Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected
without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have
been retained as printed. Words printed in italics are noted with
underscores: _italics_. The cover of this ebook was created by the
transcriber and is hereby placed in the public domain.
INDEX.
CHAP. PAGE
I.--AWAY TO THE NORTH 1
II.--ACAUHTZIN 21
III.--DON HYPOLITO XUAREZ 37
IV.--RIVALS 58
V.--IN SHADOWLAND 81
VI.--THE SHRINE OF THE OPAL 104
VII.--AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 130
VIII.--AN INDIAN FESTIVAL 153
IX.--THE FUGITIVES 184
X.--FORTUNE TURNS HER WHEEL 210
XI.--AWAY TO THE FRONT 233
XII.--A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT--NEW STYLE 257
XIII.--WITHOUT THE WALLS 278
THE HARLEQUIN OPAL.
CHAPTER I.
AWAY TO THE NORTH.
Oh, leave the south, the languid south,
Its cloudless skies, its weary calms;
The land of heat, and glare, and drouth,
Where aloes bloom, and spring the palms.
There water is the best of alms,
To cool the ever-parched mouth;
Oh, with the breezes bearing balms,
Fly northward from the languid south.
Oh, seek the bitter northern skies,
Where falls the snow, and blows the sleet;
'Mid which the stormy sea-bird cries,
And circles on its pinions fleet.
On rocky shores the surges beat,
And icebergs crystalline arise,
Life thrills our veins with tropic heat,
Beneath the bitter northern skies.
Once more _The Bohemian_ was breasting the warm waves of the Pacific,
and seemed to rejoice in her freedom like a sentient thing, as she
plunged north-ward to Acauhtzin. The smoke poured black from her
wide-mouthed funnel, the blades of her propeller, lashing the waters to
foam, left behind her a long trail of white, and her sharp nose dipped
and fell in the salt brine with every pulsation of the pistons. Beneath
the folds of the Union Jack, streaming in the wind, were gathered the
Englishmen and the Cholacacans, all light-hearted and hopeful, despite
the undoubted peril of their mission. It was no light task to beard
Xuarez in his stronghold, to assert the authority of the Republic in
the teeth of his army. The mission was a valiant one, but foolhardy,
and Tim, if no one else, looked for anything but a peaceful termination
to the voyage.
The distance to Acauhtzin was something over three hundred miles, and
as _The Bohemian_ was swirling along at the rate of seventeen knots an
hour, it was hoped she would reach her destination in fifteen hours or
thereabouts. Owing to one thing and another, the yacht had not left
Tlatonac till close on four o'clock in the afternoon; so, making all
allowance for possible accidents and stoppages, at the rate she was
going, Philip calculated that he would fetch the northern capital about
dawn. He did not wish to venture too near the port in the darkness, as
the war-ships were protecting the town, and not seeing the English
ensign, might open fire on his yacht, under the impression that she was
an enemy. With this idea the engines were slowed down during the
voyage, and _The Bohemian_ was timed to enter the port some time before
noon of the next day.
Owing to the number of people on board (twenty-six souls, in addition
to the crew), it was somewhat difficult to provide all with
accommodation. Fortunately, however, the nights were warm and rainless,
so the soldiers made themselves comfortable on deck, and slept soundly
enough, wrapped in their military cloaks. The sailing-master of _The
Bohemian_, a tough old salt, by name Simon Benker, growled a good
deal at the way in which his spotless decks were being spoiled, but
Philip managed to smooth him down by representing the seriousness of
the situation. Benker submitted with but ill grace. The yacht was the
pride of his life, the darling of his heart, and he had no great love
for the inhabitants of Cholacaca. However, Sir Philip was master, and
gave the soldiers permission to camp out on deck, so Benker was forced
to acquiesce in the arrangement.
The ambassadors, in company with the three Englishmen, took up their
quarters in the state-room and cabins. As there were not enough bunks,
some of them had to sleep in the saloon, so the younger members of the
party gave up the sleeping-berths to the elders, and did their best to
make shift in a rough-and-ready fashion. As they sat up late, however,
and got up early, this inconvenienced them but little, and the utmost
good humour prevailed above and below during the voyage. The crew, with
the exception of Benker, fraternised with the soldiers, and their
masters entertained the Spanish hidalgos; so, despite all
inconveniences, things went off capitally. Even Jack plucked up his
spirits now that he was on his way to rescue Dolores, and Philip's
excellent brand of champagne had a wonderful effect of keeping the
temperament of all up to what Tim called, "concert pitch."
Don Alonzo Cebrian was a pompous old man, whose every second word was,
"I, the Intendante." He was as proud as Lucifer, and never alluded to
the rebels save by the opprobrious names of canalla, ladrons, demonios,
all of which terms were echoed regularly by Captain Velez. This young
gentleman, a good-looking spendthrift, with a rather scampish
reputation, played the part of echo to please the Intendante, whose
daughter he wished to marry for her dowry. The lady was plain, but her
father was rich; so Captain Velez was quite willing to sacrifice his
good looks and bachelor freedom on the altar of matrimony, provided he
was well paid for doing so. Don Rafael was in the highest of spirits at
the prospect of seeing Doña carmencita, and kept things going by the
liveliness of his sallies, while Colonel Garibay smoked endless
cigarettes and spoke but little.
After an excellent dinner, which was done full justice to by the hungry
Spaniards, they all went on deck, and sat down to smoke and talk. First
and foremost, they all paid Sir Philip handsome compliments about the
beauty and speed of _The Bohemian_, and then drifted gradually into the
one subject of the hour--the war with Xuarez--the embassy to
Xuarez--the certainty of punishing Xuarez.
"Begad! Philip," whispered Tim, who was smoking a villainous black clay
pipe, "it's all Xuarez and nothing else. Is he the only man the
Opposidores have?"
"So it appears," replied Philip, leaning back in his chair; "the whole
row seems to hinge on Xuarez. Is that not your opinion, Don Rafael?"
"What is that, mi amigo? I do not understand English."
"That Xuarez is the only capable man on the side of the Opposidores?"
"Ladrons!" interrupted Don Alonzo, with stately spite. "I, the
Intendante, think otherwise. Xuarez is clever; but, Señores, no one is
so clever as Tejada! Canalla!"
"Canalla!" echoed Velez, removing his cigarette, "no one is so clever
as Tejada!"
"Don José is being deceived by Xuarez," said Rafael, ruffled at this
allusion to his proposed father-in-law; "he is a pompous old fool, and,
if he is wise, will leave Acauhtzin with his family, and place himself
under the protection of the Republic."
"He won't do that," replied Garibay, decisively; "he is of too much
service to Xuarez. The Opposidores have but little wealth, and Tejada
is a rich man."
"Well, no matter, Señores. I, the Intendante, will arrest them both,
and carry them in chains to the Junta."
"I am afraid that will be more difficult than you imagine, Señor," said
Rafael, dryly. "Xuarez is adored by the townspeople of Acauhtzin. He
has a passably good army, the friendship of the Indians, who are being
urged on to war by that prophetic opal, and a capital fleet. With all
these at his command, he would be a fool to yield at the mere reading
of a decree. No. This war will be a long one--a difficult one--and it
is doubtful if, in the end, Don Hypolito will not conquer."
Garibay frowned, and looked sternly at the young man.
"Are your sympathies with the Opposidores, Señor?"
"By no means. I see in Xuarez a possible tyrant, an unscrupulous
scoundrel; but I am not so blinded as to overlook his talents. Already
he has scored heavily against us. The securing of the fleet, the
gaining of Acauhtzin to his interest, and all without a blow. Believe
me, Colonel, I speak truly when I say Xuarez is a foe to be dreaded."
"He will not dare to defy the decree of the Republic," said the
Intendante, pompously. "When I read this," added Don Alonzo, tapping
his breast pocket, where lay the official paper, "he will yield."
"Certainly!" echoed Velez, parrot-like, "he will yield. Carambo! He
dare not defy Don Alonzo!"
"Do you think Xuarez is a second Montezuma, to yield in the presence of
his army, Señores," cried Rafael, vehemently. "I tell you no! Were he
alone, he would resist arrest. How much more so, then, when supported
by the devotion of hundreds. I am a true subject of the Republic; I
hate, dread, and scorn Don Hypolito. But I do not despise him. He will
be the Napoleon of Cholacaca. Let the Republic beware!"
"Ah! bah!" said Colonel Garibay, while Don Alonzo snorted with
indignation. "Xuarez may be a clever man; but he is no general. Why, he
does not even make the first move!"
"No; he bides his time. When he does move, Tlatonac will hear of it."
"You mean, he will bombard the city?"
"Yes, and no! I will explain. Excuse me one moment, Señores. I go for a
map of the country."
Don Rafael ran down to the cabin; and during his absence the Intendante
and Captain Velez scoffed at the idea that Xuarez would be a dangerous
enemy. They had a duet in a braggadocio vein.
"He will yield, Señores, when I read this decree."
"The troops of Tlatonac alone can crush him," added Velez, confidently.
"We will swallow these rebels at a mouthful. I, the Intendante, say
so."
"The war will be a mere military promenade!" said his echo.
"So said the French at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war,"
interjected Philip, grimly, "but they made a mistake. What is your
opinion, Colonel?"
"I agree with Don Rafael," replied Garibay, slowly "I am by no means
inclined to undervalue our opponent. Xuarez is as cunning as Satan, and
as ambitious. His first moves in this war have resulted to his own
advantage; therefore I am not so confident of a speedy termination to
this campaign as are these gentlemen. Fire-crackers, such as reading a
decree will not frighten a man like Xuarez!"
"Then you think this journey useless?" asked Jack, who was of much the
same opinion himself.
"Absolutely, Señors. I believe we are on the eve of a terrible
struggle, and to whom will result the advantage I know not."
"If all the Junta were as faint-hearted as yourself and Don Rafael, we
would yield without a blow," said the Intendante, bitterly.
"Without a blow," from Velez, in the same tone! "Carambo!"
"You are wrong, Señor," cried the Colonel, with fiery earnestness, "I
am not faint-hearted. I will fight against Xuarez to the last. But is
it wise to scoff at this man as you are doing? I tell you he is a
master-spirit, such as rises once in a century, and, as such, is
all-powerful, even against the great power of the Republic. He is one
of those men who change the destinies of nations. A Napoleon, a
Garibaldi, a Washington. From my soul, Señores, I trust we shall win,
and save the Republic; but it is as well to look on both sides of the
question. Blind security is not wise. Por todos Santos, Señores," cried
Garibay, rising to his feet in his excitement, "see how this man has
already succeeded. Acauhtzin, the most important town next to the
capital, is in his hands, our fleet has gone over entirely to his side;
and have you forgotten the treachery of Marina and Pepe. A full plan of
the fortifications of Tlatonac is before him. If he can do this much,
he can do more. Till the end, I shall support the Republic, and resist
a possible Dictator; but do not sneer at Xuarez! I tell you he is a
great man!"
This was an unexampled outburst for the ordinarily calm Colonel, and he
sank back in his chair with a look of agitation on his usually
impassive face. The Intendante and Velez were for the moment impressed;
yet, soon recovering their obstinate belief in the invulnerability of
the Republic, would have replied, but that at this moment Don Rafael
made his appearance with a small map.
"Your pardon, Señores, that I have been so long!" apologised Rafael,
sitting down promptly, and spreading out the map on his own and
Philip's knees. "Look, now, mis amigos, and I will tell you how this
campaign will be conducted!"
"How do you know, Señor? Are you in the confidence of Xuarez?"
"I am a gentleman, no traitor!" replied Rafael, haughtily, to the
insulting question of the Intendante. "I know something of Don
Hypolito's plans, because he spoke of them to Don José de Tejada.
Before the revolt of the fleet, I was a visitor at the house of that
gentleman, and so learned much. Had Don José known that I would remain
true to the Republic, he would have been more cautious. As it was, he
spoke sufficiently clearly to let me understand the broad outlines of
the campaign as designed by Xuarez."
"Bueno!" said the Intendante, politely, "I ask your pardon, Don Rafael.
And this plan."
"Behold!" said Rafael, tracing with his finger the various points;
"here is Acauhtzin--there Tlatonac!--and at the extreme south you see
Janjalla! This last town will be attacked first."
"And the reason?"
"Carrai! can you not see, Señor Garibay? Between Tlatonac and Acauhtzin
are nothing but mountains--no roads, no open spaces. All giant hills,
terrible precipices, a few paths made by Indians, and inhospitable
deserts, where the land happens to be flat for a few miles. How then
can Xuarez convey his army to the capital in that direction?"
"True, true! And most of his soldiers are dragoons."
"Certainly, he could attack Tlatonac with Indians who are used to their
rugged country; but savages, as Xuarez well knows, can do little or
nothing against trained troops. In conjunction with his own army, they
can do something; but, alone, they are almost useless. Bueno! You see
he, will not attack from the north."
"But why attack Janjalla instead of Tlatonac?" asked Tim, who was
anxiously following this discussion, pencil and note-book in hand.
"Look to the south," replied Don Rafael, promptly. "No mountains
between Janjalla and Tlatonac--nothing but rich plains--broad spaces on
which armies can manoeuvre. Now, if Xuarez conveys his troops by the
war-ships south to Janjalla, he can bombard and perhaps take that
city."
"I, the Intendante, deny that!"
"Impossible to take Janjalla," echoed Velez, nodding his head wisely.
Rafael shrugged his shoulders. It was next to impossible to argue with
these obstinate people who would only look at one side of the question.
"We will grant that Janjalla falls into the power of Xuarez," said
Garibay, impatiently; "and afterwards?"
"Afterwards," resumed the young man, "Xuarez will garrison the town,
and concentrate all his troops there."
"Thus leaving Acauhtzin open to attack," said Jack, satirically.
"By no means. The war-ships will prevent our troops getting to that
town. We cannot get to it by land, and the sea will be blockaded by the
rebel fleet."
"Unless the torpederas----"
"True! unless the torpederas arrive," replied Rafael significantly;
"but it is doubtful as to whether the Junta or Xuarez will get them.
However, I am only supposing all these things being in favour of the
Opposidores."
"Bueno! We will look at the matter from Don Hypolito's point of view,"
said Philip, quietly. "His troops are concentrated at Janjalla. Between
that town and Tlatonac are open plains--and," added Philip, dryly, "the
armies of the Republic!"
"Certainly. But let us presume, for the sake of argument, that Xuarez
makes three simultaneous attacks. With his regular army on the plains,
with the Indians from the north on Tlatonac--and from the sea by a
bombardment from the war-ships."
"Dios!" muttered Garibay, biting his fingers; "that man is a general."
"The troops of the Republic will conquer everywhere," said Don Alonzo,
gravely.
"Everywhere!" repeated his umbra.
"It is to be hoped so, Señores," said Tim, significantly, "the Republic
will need all the help she can get to defend herself in three places at
once."
"In my opinion," observed Rafael, calmly, "there is only one way to end
the war."
"And that is?"
"By a naval victory. The Junta must secure the torpederas. We must have
more war-ships, and cripple Don Hypolito's power on the sea. Then he
will be unable to convey his troops to Janjalla--unable to bombard
Tlatonac, and remain shut up in Acauhtzin, where we can crush him at
our leisure."
Garibay disagreed with this view of the matter, and accused Rafael of
looking solely at the matter from a naval point of view. A hot
discussion ensued, in which every possible attack, repulse, strategy,
and battle, was talked over far into the night. Philip and Jack grew
weary of this incessant argument, and slipped down to the saloon, where
they chatted about Dolores. Overhead they heard the hot-tempered
Spaniards arguing fiercely, and several times thought they would come
to blows so warm grew the discussion.
"Egad, Jack! I'm glad this voyage ends to-morrow," said Philip, as they
turned in, "or they will certainly murder one another."
A grunt was Jack's unsatisfactory reply. He was, almost asleep, and
already dreaming of rescuing Dolores from the clutches of Don Hypolito.
After a time, those on deck grew tired of such unprofitable talk, and
one by one came down to snatch a few hours' sleep. In the space of
fifteen minutes everyone was snoring, and the yacht flew northward with
her cargo of sleeping men. Benker was in charge of the wheel, and as he
had been in these waters years before, knew every inch of the coast.
Keeping the boat about a mile from the shore, he headed her straight
for Acauhtzin, which was many miles away, in the curve of the land
where it stretched eastward into the Carribean Sea.
It was a perfectly calm night. Stars and moon, a placid sea, and the
yacht swirling through the liquid plain with a slight roll. To the
right, the infinite expanse of the waters heaving against the horizon;
to the left, the long, low line of the coast, with its dim masses of
foliage, and here and there a snow-clad mountain peak. Benker twirled
the wheel, chewed his quid, and looked every now and then in disgust at
the sleeping forms of the soldiers encumbering the white decks of the
yacht. Moonlight and starlight, the throb of the screw, the singing of
the wind through the rigging, and the hiss of the waves seething past;
it was wonderfully beautiful. The boat sped onward like a shadow amid a
world of shadows, and the most prosaic soul would have been touched by
the profound beauty of this watery world. Not so Simon Benker. He was
used to it all, and regarded nothing but his work and the soldiers.
Then the east began to palpitate with the coming dawn. Lines of dim
light low down on the horizon--yellow bands which melted to pale green,
and flushed to delicate rose colours. Higher and higher the coming day
dyed the sky in opaline hues, the stars fled westward, the wan moon
paling before this fierce splendour, hid her face behind a bank of
clouds. The dark world of waters became tinged with rainbow hues, then
one thick yellow shaft of light smote the zenith with heavy brilliance.
Ray after ray shot out like the spokes of a wheel, and suddenly the
intolerable glory of the sun leaped from the nether world.
"Yonder," said Jack to Philip, who had come on deck to see the sunrise,
"yonder, my boy, is the Harlequin Opal!"
"If it is as brilliant and as many-tinted as that," replied the
baronet, staring at the gorgeous sky and sea, "it must, indeed, be a
wonderful gem. Benker, how is she going?"
"You have no soul," said Duval, turning away. "I am going down to have
a tub."
He thereupon vanished again, was shortly followed by Philip, after he
had satisfied himself that _The Bohemian_ had done good work during the
hours of darkness. Afterwards they awoke their sleeping companions, and
had breakfast, when the Spaniards were introduced to several English
dishes, of which they approved greatly.
The heavens were now a pale turquoise blue, the sun mounting towards
the zenith was already beginning to burn hotly, and all were assembled
on deck impatiently waiting to catch sight of their destination. Here
and there on the green shore, amid the forests they could see Indian
settlements, and at times light canoes skimmed the surface of the
waves. Towards eleven o'clock a white spot appeared on the land
straight ahead. Don Rafael, who was standing by Philip, touched the
young man's arm.
"Acauhtzin!" he said, cheerfully; "we will be there in the hour."
Philip looked at his watch.
"We left Tlatonac at four yesterday. We will reach Acauhtzin at twelve
to-day. Three hundred miles in twenty hours. That is not bad for slow
steaming. Had I kept her at full speed, she would have done it in
fifteen!"
Tim, who had his glass up, gave an exclamation of surprise.
"What is it, Tim?"
"Three war-ships are lying in the harbour."
"I thought as much," replied Philip, calmly; "we will have to run the
blockade."
Tim pointed upward to the Union Jack.
"If they fire on that," he said slowly, "Xuarez is not the clever man I
take him to be. What do you say, Jack?"
"Say!" repeated Jack, who was looking ahead with clenched fists, "that
one of those three ships is _The Pizarro_, and that Dolores is on
board."