She caught his meaning at once, and as the nearest boat drew on, sprang to her feet and held up the great gem. It flashed and sparkled in the sun, and a cry of wonder burst from the lips of their pursuers. The foremost warriors dropped their bows. They recognised the Chalchuih Tlatonac, and superstition, stronger than anything else in their natures, paralysed their arms.
"Señor, the boat!" cried Cocom, joyfully.
Jack turned his head. The Bohemian was less, much less, than a quarter of a mile away. Seeing this, the Indians, while forebearing to shoot, made redoubled efforts to catch them before the yacht came up, and thus recover the sacred gem. One boat came within two lengths, when Jack, thinking to dodge and gain time, turned his light craft off to the right. In another two minutes a ball ricochetted across the waves and smashed the foremost boat to pieces. Awestruck at this unexpected event, the others stopped paddling, and in a few minutes the canoe was safe under the bows of the yacht. Philip, Peter, and Rafael were looking over the side at the—as they thought—Indians.
"Philip! Philip!"
"Why! God! It's Jack!"
"Dolores! Take Dolores on board first," murmured Jack; then, overcome by all he had passed through, fell back in a faint.
CHAPTER X.
FORTUNE TURNS HER WHEEL.
Frown, Fortune, frown,
For I am much cast down,
And tears do melancholy make my face;