"Wait till these troops are safe with Gigedo, and also ascertain if the reinforcements have arrived. Then I shall sail north."
"You won't wait for the warships and transports?"
"Carajo! what use? We shall find those on our way to Tlatonac."
After this conversation, Rafael and Jack returned on board The Montezuma, the former slightly gloomy in spite of the victory so unexpectedly achieved.
"Caro, Juan!" he said, reflectively; "if we lose this war, it will be through Don Francisco Gomez. He is a good politician, but a bad general. What use is there to sacrifice two hundred men to-morrow?"
"It's rather like the Charge of the Light Brigade, certainly," replied Jack, with a smile; "as foolhardy and as brave."
"What is that, mi amigo?"
Whereupon Jack related the glorious charge to Rafael, and thereby stirred up the excitable Spaniard to fiery enthusiasm.
"Oh, what men are the English," he cried, stamping his foot. "It is a story worthy of the Cid. But this to-morrow, my friend—it is rare! it is brave! and, like your story, there is no good to be gained."
"Perhaps Gomez wants to frighten the rebels by showing them how dauntless are his men."