THE HARLEQUIN OPAL
A ROMANCE
BY
FERGUS HUME
_Author of "The Island of Fantasy," "Aladdin in London," etc._
VOLUME III
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.--WITHIN THE WALLS 1
II.--THE FALL OF JANJALLA 22
III.--THE FLIGHT TO TLATONAC 44
IV.--EXIT DON FRANCISCO GOMEZ 60
V.--THE INDIAN RAID 76
VI.--THE LUCK OF THE OPAL 96
VII.--UNDER THE OPAL FLAG 113
VIII.--THE BATTLE OF CENTEOTL 131
IX.--THE TRIUMPH OF THE REPUBLIC 154
X.--THE CANON ROAD 167
XI.--THE DESTINY OF THE OPAL 191
XII.--FAREWELL, TLATONAC! 219
THE HARLEQUIN OPAL.
CHAPTER I.
WITHIN THE WALLS.
Circle of stone,
Circle of steel,
Loyalists true,
Pent up in battle belts twain;
Yet we, alone,
Doubly feel,
That with our few,
We shall a victory gain.
Climb up our foes,
Over the wall,
Deep bit the swords,
Fiercely the cannon spout fire;
Yet 'neath our blows,
Downward they fall,
Traitorous hordes,
In torment and blood to expire.
Tim at once took his friends to his quarters, and made them
comfortable, but scarcely had they finished a hurried meal, when an
aide-de-camp arrived from General Gigedo requiring their presence
without delay. As Peter had received a nasty blow on the head during
the _mêlée_, Jack insisted that he should remain behind and rest
himself. Peter feebly remonstrated against this arrangement, as he
wanted to accompany his friends, but in the end was forced to yield to
their insistence. Then Duval buckled on his sword, slipped his
revolvers into his belt, and went off with Tim to report himself at
head-quarters.
Both of them were terribly alarmed about Philip. In the first burst of
emotion Jack had deemed his friend dead; but, on looking at the matter
calmly, it seemed probable that he would yet turn up well and unhurt.
It was impossible that Indians, in whatever number, could utterly
exterminate a body of disciplined troops amounting to a thousand men.
Tim's opinion was that if they had been attacked and overpowered by
strategy, they had fled to the nearest town for shelter. As he had
marched overland with Colonel Garibay from Tlatonac, he knew the
country better than did Jack, and proceeded to defend his theory of the
reinforcements' safety, by describing the position of the towns.
"It's a hundred miles or more as the crow flies from Tlatonac to this
God-forsaken place. Within that limit are four towns, no less--one
every twenty miles. When we marched south two weeks ago, we first went
to Chichimec, then to Puebla de los Naranjos, which last one is midway.
Hermanita is next, and then after dropping in at Centeotl, we came on
to Janjalla!"
"Still, if the Indians surprised them by night they might have
surrounded and exterminated the whole lot. To my mind nothing is so
dangerous as a despised enemy."
"What!" cried Tim, with great contempt, "d'you mean to tell me that a
lot of naked savages could manage that. By my soul, 'tis impossible!"
"But, my dear fellow, the Indians are out in thousands. Cocom told me
so."
"They may be out in millions," retorted Tim, emphatically. "I tell you,
Jack, they couldn't have killed all these men. A good number of them
must have escaped to the nearest town, and, I'll lay my soul on it,
that among those who got away is Philip. He wasn't born to be murdered
by a lot of howling savages."
"Well, let us hope so," replied Jack, who was beginning to take this
comfortable view of things himself; "but, tell me, Tim, when the
reinforcements didn't arrive, why did you not wire to Tlatonac?"
"Begad! I couldn't. The rebels cut the telegraph wires some days since.
The last message was that you and Doña Dolores had come back safely.
Ah, my boy," cried Tim, slapping Jack on the shoulder, "didn't I sing
'Glory Hallelujah,' when I heard that same. But, I knew you'd turn up
again all safe."
"I didn't know it myself!" replied Jack, grimly "it was touch and go, I
can tell you."
"Dioul! You must tell me all about it. But hold your noise, Jack, and
don't be lamenting for Philip. If you returned, so will he."
"I fervently hope so," said Jack, gloomily; "but I own that I feel
doubtful. Are the wires cut on both sides of the town?"
"No! glory be to the saints. I can still telegraph to England by the
wires going south, but I expect them to be cut every minute, so I'm
hard at work sending all the news I can."
"Did you see the fight last night?"
"Did I not! Whow, my boy! I guessed what was up, but till the dawn
we weren't quite sure of the trouble. Begad! _The Pizarro's_ gone
anyhow."
"Yes. But the other warships and transports are due to-night."
"Then we'll have another fight," said Tim, coolly; "wasn't I wishing I
was on board a torpedera! There's a heap to talk about, Jack; how you
escaped from that infernal Xuarez, and how you sank _The Pizarro_. I
want to wire about that same right away."
"First I must see what the General desires. Oh, here is Garibay. A
thousand greetings, Colonel."
"What, Señor Juan! Ah, mi amigo, how pleased I am to see you safe once
more. I deemed you were dead."
"Dios! He is a merry corpse, Señor," said Tim, turning his head.
"Where's the General?"
"Within yonder house of the Jefe Politico. You also, Señor
Correspoñsal, does he desire to see."
"I am at the service of Señor Gigedo. Know you, Comandante, what he
desires to speak of?"
"It is that you will convey the glorious news of our naval victory to
your gran'diario."
"Dios! That will be done within an hour. I but waited to find out all
particulars from Don Juan."
"Oh! I can tell you everything," said Jack cheerfully, "I was on board
_The Montezuma_ with Don Rafael, and it was her torpedo which sank
_The Pizarro_."
"Viva los Torpederas," shouted Garibay, who was greatly excited over
this unexpected victory.
The cry was taken up by a chattering group of officers lounging in from
off the General's headquarters, and Jack being recognized was at once
surrounded by them. They were mostly young fellows, who were weary of
being pent up within the walls of a suburban town, and saw in this
sinking of _The Pizarro_, a chance of coming face to face with the
enemy. It was all cries of Viva! Bueno! Gracias a Dios! as Duval passed
through their midst, and many would fain have detained him, to learn
particulars of the combat; but Jack was anxious to hear Gigedo's views
concerning the non-arrival of the reinforcements, so entered the
mansion at once. Colonel Garibay conducted them both without delay to
the General's apartments. Gigedo, cigarette in mouth, was poring over a
large map of the country, evidently tracing the line of march from
Tlatonac, but on seeing Duval, he sprang up and advanced to salute him,
with a pleased smile.
"A thousand congratulations, Señor, on your escape from the hands of
Xuarez," he said, warmly; "and still more on your gallant conduct of
last night."
"Oh! as to that, General, I was but an onlooker," replied Duval,
modestly. "The credit of sinking _The Pizarro_ rests with Don
Rafael Maraquando. Have you heard the particulars?"
"Assuredly Señor, Don Sebastian de Ahumada has left me but this moment.
He informed me of the affair, and also delivered the instructions from
His Excellency. I find here," added Gigedo, striking a pile of papers
with his open hand, "that over a thousand men left Tlatonac for the
front, four days ago."
"That is so, General. My friend, Señor Felipe, was with them."
"They have not arrived, Don Juan. The troops of Xuarez cannot have
intercepted them and I am at a loss to understand this delay. Can you
explain?"
"Señor," said Jack after a pause, "before I left Tlatonac there were
rumours of an Indian rising. While a prisoner at Totatzine I saw myself
the tribes, incited to war by Ixtlilxochitli, the High Priest of the
Chalchuih Tlatonac."
"Ah, that cursed opal!" cried Garibay, fiercely; "it is the cause of
great trouble. Would that it could be taken from the Indians."
"Rest content, Señor Garibay; it _is_ taken from the Indians. Doña
Dolores took it from the shrine, and it is now in Tlatonac."
"Dios!" exclaimed the General and Garibay, simultaneously, while Tim
was scarcely less astonished.
"Naturally enough the Indians wish to recover this sacred gem, Señor,
therefore the rising has taken place sooner than was expected. I fear,
gentlemen, that the Indians have surprised and massacred our poor
friends."
"Santissima Madre! a thousand men?"
"The Indian forces amount to three times that number," said Jack,
quickly. "It is true that His Excellency, at my request, sent
messengers after the reinforcements to warn them of a possible attack.
Yet it is not unlikely that these messengers may have been intercepted
by the Indians. They might have fallen on the reinforcements without
warning, and then--Señor, three thousand against one thousand--an
unexpected attack. Alas! it is a terrible risk."
"Our troops may have retreated to one of the towns," said Gigedo,
taking the same view of the case as had Tim. "This I would know if the
telegraph wires had not been cut. But as it is we can but wait."
"And meantime," remarked Garibay, dryly "Xuarez will land some
troops--already two thousand lie before the town--we have hard work,
even behind our walls to keep them back. Now we have scarcely five
hundred here capable of defending the town. Many are dead and
wounded--fever and dysentery prevail greatly. If Xuarez lands more
troops and makes an immediate attack Janjalla must fall."
"He cannot land more troops while _The Iturbide_ and the torpederas
guard the harbour." said Gigedo in a tone of some displeasure; "and
even if these two thousand again assault the walls we can hold out
until reinforcements arrive. His Excellency tells me that two thousand
men are to follow in ten days."
"Hark!" cried Tim, as Garibay was about to reply; "a gun!--another.
Señores, the warships are at it again. With your permission, General."
He hastily left the room and went off to the walls where he was soon
afterwards joined by Jack, who had been hurriedly dismissed by the
General. They looked seaward, and saw the performance of a most
extraordinary drama.
It was now about three o'clock, and the ocean like a sheet of glass
stretched in an inclined plane upward to the distant horizon. Owing to
the elevation of the city walls they looked down, as from the heights
of an amphitheatre. The ramparts were crowded with spectators,
townsfolk and soldiers. Immediately below was the beach, the rebel
camp--then the long pier shooting out into the blue, and beyond the
flashing expanse of the sea. _The Iturbide_ was lying a quarter of
a mile from the shore with her two torpederas, one on each side of her.
The cruiser had swung round, and was firing her guns at a slowly
approaching warship.
"_The Columbus_!" cried Jack, when his eyes fell upon this vessel.
"True for you, John," said Tim, handing him the glass. "She has come
south by herself. I thought you told me the transports were not due
here till midnight."
"No more they are. I expect Xuarez, learning through his spies of our
departure from Tlatonac has sent _The Columbus_ on ahead to join
forces with _The Pizarro_. With two warships he hopes to keep our lot
at bay till the transports with the _Cortes_ are safe in the harbour."
"The sinking of _The Pizarro_ will rather upset his plans. _The
Columbus_ dare not attack two torpederas and a cruiser, single-handed."
"Upon my soul! that seems exactly what she intends to do, Tim."
A low murmur of surprise arose from the crowd on the ramparts, who
were eagerly watching the warships. It seemed as though _The Columbus_
was bent on her own destruction, for she came steaming straight ahead
for the three ships of the Junta, insolently flying the red flag of
Xuarez.
"What the deuce does she mean," cried Tim, in perplexity. "Surely she
can't mistake _The Iturbide_ for her consort."
"Perhaps she intends to desert," suggested Jack.
_The Columbus_ was now more within range, and though hitherto she had
been silent under the fire of _The Iturbide_, she now began to speak
in her turn, and a white line of smoke ran along her black sides as
the balls came singing over the water.
"Not much deserting about that," said Tim, grimly; "no! the rebels have
some scheme in their heads."
By this time Pedraza was thoroughly enraged at the insolence of this
one ship attacking him single-handed, and signalled at once to the
torpederas. The captain of _The Columbus_ saw that the signals ordered
the boats to "up anchor," and acted accordingly. In a surprisingly
short space of time the rebel ship had swung round, and with full
steam ahead was standing out to sea. The ships of the Junta were taken
by surprise at their manoeuvre, and it was fully a question of an hour
before they started in pursuit. Tim shut his glass with a click.
"Jack, I see it all. _The Columbus_ wants to get our boats out of
the harbour so as to let _The Cortes_ and the transports slip in
together."
"Rather a risky game, Tim. She'll be overhauled and sunk by the
torpederas in no time."
"Not while she can keep them off with her heavy guns! What speed have
the torpederas?"
"Eighteen to nineteen knots."
"And _The Columbus_?"
"Well, Rafael says her ordinary speed is fifteen but in case of need
she can crack up steam to eighteen."
"Even that gives the torpederas one knot to the good. But she can
outsteam _The Iturbide_."
"Oh yes; sixteen is _her_ limit!"
"Then I tell you what! _The Columbus_, as I said, has come here as
a decoy--she knows the cruiser can't touch her speed, and she hopes to
keep the torpederas at a safe distance with her heavy guns. She's off
in a bee line straight out, and the other boats are after her. Then
she'll dodge them and steam back here to find _The Cortes_ and the
transports all safe in harbour."
"I believe you are right, Tim."
"Of course I'm right. Look at the way she's smoking through the water."
Jack put the glass to his eyes and saw _The Columbus_ was travelling
at top speed towards the open sea. After her scampered the two torpedo
boats like hounds on her trail. Further behind _The Iturbide_ with the
black smoke vomiting from her funnels was putting her soul into the
chase. Pedraza was evidently determined to follow up one victory by
another, and over eager to sink or capture the crack ironclad of the
rebels, forgot all about the incoming transports. Thus, in half an
hour the four ships were mere specks on the horizon, and the harbour
of Janjalla was left open for the arrival of Xuarez and fresh troops.
The crowd of people on the ramparts were too excited at the stirring
spectacle of the chase to think of such a thing, and yelled themselves
hoarse in cheering for Pedraza. Below on the beach the rebels, who had
evidently understood the manoeuvres of _The Columbus_, were cheering
vigorously for Don Hypolito.
"Wait you dogs," cried Jack, shaking his fists at them; "soon shall you
sing another tune."
"By all the saints so shall we," said Tim, wisely: "unless the forts
keep off the transports we'll have another two thousand troops down
there this night, and then--it's wigs on the green there will be."
"I agree with you, Tim--unless the reinforcements arrive."
"Even then, four thousand attacking a town can do a powerful lot, and
when the reinforcements arrive we'll only have one thousand five
hundred to put against them. However, let us not despair," added Tim,
philosophically. "Come with me, Don Juan, and we'll look over the town.
Then we'll go and see if there is any sign of the new troops."
Jack assented, and descending from the ramparts they made their way
through the town to the house where Tim had his quarters. The streets
were filled with soldiers, who mostly looked smart, and well fitted for
their work. Here and there were wounded men, and a few sick with
malarian fever from the adjacent swamp, but on the whole it was
wonderful how healthy was the town. Twice had the rebels assaulted the
walls and twice been beaten back, not without considerable loss of men
on the side of the loyalists. Fortunately, provisions were plentiful,
and it was the cool season, therefore the troops of the Junta were in
comparatively good condition. Despite their small numbers, they were so
heartened by the sinking of _The Pizarro_, that it was plain they
would fight like fiends to hold Janjalla until aid arrived from the
capital.
The townspeople took the fact of being besieged in the most contented
manner, and hardly interrupted their daily occupations. In the streets
the tortilleras were crying their wares, the water-carriers proclaiming
the fact that they sold "aqua limpia," and, but for the unusual number
of soldiers, it would have been quite impossible to see that the city
was in the very jaws of danger. At times a woman wrapped in the rebozo
would pass along the street, but as a rule they kept within doors, and
showed themselves but rarely. In the plazas men were being drilled, and
many of the houses were used as hospitals for the sick and wounded.
Tim and Jack made their way through the crowded streets, and duly
arrived at the former's quarters, where they found Peter eagerly
expecting them. He was weary of being by himself, and when he heard
they were going to the land-gate to seek news of the reinforcements,
insisted on accompanying them. After taking a drink of aguardiente, of
which they stood much in need, owing to the exhaustion caused by
excitement, the three friends set off at once to see if they could hear
anything about the expected troops.
Don Sebastian was fraternising with the captain in command of the
cavalry, as his own troops had been sent forward to the sea ramparts.
The mounted regiments were stationed at this end of the town as they
were more useful in sallies than were the infantry. This was proved by
the way in which they had succoured the soldiers from _The Iturbide_,
as only horse-men could have kept the rebel troops at bay.
"No signs yet, Señor," said Don Sebastian, politely; "but half an hour
ago the general sent out two Indian scouts with instructions to inquire
at Centeotl for our men."
"That is twenty miles away."
"Yes; but these Indians travel fast. Before midnight we shall hear news
of our troops--that is if they get as far south as Centeotl."
"And before midnight Xuarez will have landed his new regiments," said
Tim, turning away. "Well, there's no help for it, I suppose. Come, Jack
and Peter, 'tis no use waiting here. We must wait till these scouts
return."
"And meanwhile, Tim?"
"Come with me to the telegraph-office. I'm going to send an account of
the sea-fight to my paper."
"You are sure the wires are not cut to the southward?" said Peter, as
they trudged along to the office.
"They weren't this morning anyhow. Why should they cut them? All they
want to do is to intercept communication with the capital. They don't
care two straws what goes to England."
"Xuarez does. He told me so."
"Ah! but, you see, Xuarez is not here at present, and has forgotten to
give orders to cut them. When he arrives again, he'll do it, maybe."
"Well, seeing that he wishes the world to look on him as a noble
patriot, he certainly won't care about your wiring plain truths about
him to the old country. He'll either cut the wires or bring a war
correspondent on his own hook."
"A rival!" cried Tim, indignantly. "If I thought so, I'd shoulder a
musket myself, and go out to shoot the dirty villain. Here's the P.O.,
my boys! Peter! hold your noise. Jack's going to give me a history of
the fight."
"I know as much about it as Jack does," said Peter, in an injured tone,
as they entered the office.
"Then I'll let you put in a word here and there," replied his friend,
in a kind tone. "Why, Peter, I'd do anything to please you. Didn't I
think you were knocked out of time, entirely. Manuel, are the wires
right?"
"Yes, Señor," replied the operator, a dark alert-looking man; "all safe
to Truxillo!"
"Bueno! Then they will be safe to England. Truxillo is in Honduras, and
is as right as the Bank. Come, Jack, begin at once!"
They were over two hours at this business as, what with Jack's
roundabout descriptions and Peter's interruptions, it took some time
for Tim to get the story ship-shape. Then Manuel was constantly wiring
the intelligence, as transmitted to him by Tim, who took full advantage
of the licence given by his editor to send extensive telegrams. It was
close on six o'clock when he finished, and he was just stretching
himself with a yawn after his long spell of sitting, when outside a
murmur began. It rapidly swelled into a roar and the three friends
rushed out of the office to learn what new event had taken place. The
telegraph-office was situated in the street which ran straight to the
land-gate, and down this street they saw advancing a dense body of men.
"Vivas los soldatos! Viva el Republico!"
"Hurrah!" roared Tim, wildly, "'tis the reinforcements!"
"There's Philip!" cried Jack, pushing his way through the crowd.
"And wounded!" said Peter, noticing with a true professional eye that
Cassim's left arm hung useless by his side.
The Janjalla Band, stationed in the Plaza, burst out into the patriotic
strains of the "Opal Fandango," the crowd yelled and cheered, the
soldiers tramped steadily down the street; and Tim, to the imminent
danger of his life, flung himself almost under the feet of Philip's
horse.
"Philip, my dear boy! Here we are."
"Tim! Jack! Thank God!" cried Philip, and urging his horse a little way
to the side, jumped down from the saddle.
Tim gripped one hand, Jack the other, and Peter patted the baronet on
the back. Philip looked worn and haggard, and winced as Tim seized his
left hand.
"Are you wounded?" cried Tim, letting it go.
"Yes; but not badly! An Indian arrow through the fleshy part of the
arm."
"Ah!" exclaimed Jack, anxiously, "then Cocom was right. You have been
attacked by Indians."
"Two days ago! They surprised our camp by night, and came in in
overwhelming force. Velez was unable to rally his men, and we were
forced to retreat to Centeotl."
"And how many men have you brought, Philip?"
"Six hundred!"
"And one thousand started from Tlatonac," said Jack, sadly; "four
hundred killed. Thank God, Philip, you at least are safe."