"Even though we bring bad news?"
"Yes; for I can tell you good. We followed The Columbus, and by threatening to sink her with torpedoes, forced her to strike her flag. Now she is lying in the harbour, with a crew of our own men. Her rebel sailors are all in prison."
"What about The Iturbide?"
"She is there also, but in a crippled condition. One of her masts was shot away by The Columbus before she surrendered."
"And what do you do now?"
"Sail south to-morrow at dawn."
"Alas!" said Jack, sadly, "you will be too late to relieve Janjalla."
"Never mind," replied Rafael, hopefully; "we shall capture or sink The Cortes, and bring her back to Tlatonac with the transports. Then Don Hypolito will be irrevocably cut off from Acauhtzin."
"That does not matter to him," interposed Philip, overhearing this remark; "he has most of his troops at Janjalla, and will simply hold the south instead of the north."
"At all events, Señor Felipe, we have crushed him by sea."