"Dios!" cried Dolores, in terror, "we will be discovered!"
"Not so, Señorita! On my way hither, I met a friend coming from Tlatonac to the shrine. He told me that the boat of the Americano had gone some days since to Acauhtzin, to demand the release of Don Juan. She returns to-day, and will pass this point at noon. There is a canoe below, Señor! Let us depart in that canoe, and meet the steamer."
Jack sprang to his feet, with a shout, at this prospect of deliverance.
"Philip's yacht," he cried, joyfully; "good! We will do as you say, at once, Cocom, and cut across the line of her passage. She will be sure to pick us up."
"Not now, Señor! At noon!"
Jack went to the entrance of the cave, and looked at the altitude of the sun.
"It wants two hours to noon. In one hour we will start."
"Bueno!" replied Cocom, stolidly, "let us hope the hounds of Ixtlilxochitli will not find us. Once we see the boat of the Señor Americano, and we are safe, if not——"
Cocom shook his head to intimate he had grave doubts of what would be their fate in such an event, and took another drink of aguardiente. Jack knew that in returning Philip would keep the yacht close to the shore, in order to avoid the war-ships of Xuarez, which generally kept a long way to seaward. He, therefore, took up his station at the mouth of the cave, and watched the northern horizon for the first trail of smoke from the yacht's funnel.
As in most tropical countries, towards the middle of the day all sounds of life ceased, and Nature took her siesta. In the hush, the three people in the cave heard far away a wild cry. Cocom sprang to his feet, and hurried to the entrance to lay his hand on Jack's arm.