"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 manœuvre. Now, if Xuarez conveys his troops by the war-ships south to Janjalla, he can bombard and perhaps take that city."