"The days of Cocom are numbered, Señores. The Doña Dolores showed the opal to the hounds of Ixtlilxochitli. By that they knew that the victim of the cycle, that the guardian of the Chalchuih Tlatonac still live, and have stolen the sacred stone. Cocom aided them to discover the secret way, and Ixtlilxochitli will never forgive that betrayal. I am lost, Señores. I shall die."
"Es verdad!" exclaimed Rafael, earnestly, "doubtless the Indians of Totatzine will try and kill you, Cocom. But in Tlatonac, under the protection of the opal flag, you are safe!"
"No, Señor Maraquando! I shall die," repeated Cocom, stolidly.
"Not you!" interposed Jack, patting the old man on the head. "I shall look after you, my friend. You saved my life; I shall save yours. A fair exchange! Hark! a gun!"
"It is from the fort," said Philip, hastily rising, "we are now in the harbour. Come on deck, Jack. We shall be on shore in another twenty minutes."
They at once went up, and Jack took off his hat with a reverential expression, when he saw the silvery walls of Tlatonac once more glisten over the blue waters.
"Thank God, who has preserved us through many perils!"
"Amen!" said Philip's deep voice, behind him "Oh, Jack," he added, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder, with deep emotion, "if you only knew what agonies we have undergone, thinking of your fate. When we found you were missing, I wished to go back, at any risk, and headed the yacht for the harbour of Acauhtzin. But that cursed Xuarez turned his guns on us, and, as The Bohemian would have been smashed to pieces, we were forced to retreat. What a cur I felt then."
"You could not help it," said Jack, patting Philip's back, kindly. "In an attempt to rescue me, you would only have lost your own lives."
"I did what I could, Jack. At once I came back to Tlatonac, and implored Don Francisco to send an army to Acauhtzin to your rescue. But it was impossible—the torpederas had not arrived, and there were only some merchant-ships to take men north-ward. Defended, as Acauhtzin was, by the war-ships, such an attempt would have been foolhardy. We were forced to remain inactive at Tlatonac, not knowing if you were dead or alive."