"How so?" asked Philip, curiously.
"Because this priest, Ixtlilxochitli, will not be able to manage the Indians for him without the stone."
"I am afraid, Señor, the mischief is done," said Jack, gravely, "the opal declared war, and now the Indians will join Don Hypolito."
"It's a pity we can't get up a counter prophecy, and make the opal declare peace," remarked Philip, quietly; "then the Indians would take no part in the war."
"I fancy that is impossible," said Miguel, shaking his head. "I would it could be so. If the Indians would only keep quiet, Xuarez would find great difficulty in accomplishing his plans. Should Janjalla fall, and Xuarez concentrate his own men and the Indians before Tlatonac, it will be hard to beat them back."
"Janjalla will not fall," cried Rafael, in a fiery tone; "there are brave men defending it. They will hold out till reinforced. The regiments march southward to-morrow, the torpederas and The Iturbide go the next day; and between the two we shall conquer these rebels."
"We will try, at all events, my son," said Maraquando, smiling at the young man's enthusiasm; "but, meanwhile, it is best to look on both sides of the question."
"With the opal stone in Tlatonac, we cannot fail," declared Jack. "You have seen it, Señor Maraquando?"
"Not yet. Dolores was too agitated to show it to me."
"Here is my cousin," said Rafael, rising to his feet. "She brings the opal with her."