"So be it!" he cried, fervently. "The opal has brought the Indians to Tlatonac; the opal shall send them back again to Totatzine."
Tim suddenly made his appearance with a face full of excitement.
"Jack! Señor Maraquando!" he said, quickly, in Spanish, "the messenger you sent to spy on the Indians at Chichimec has returned."
"What does he say, Señor Correspoñsal?"
"That the whole host of Indians are marching from Chichimec, and will be camped round the walls at dawn. Dios! We are lost!"
"No," cried Jack, brightly, "we are saved!"
"What the deuce will save us, Jack?" asked Tim, in English.
"This!"
Duval held up the harlequin opal. A ray of sunlight struck the jewel, and a blue ray darted out like a tongue of steel.
"Bueno!" said Cocom, stolidly, "the Chalchuih Tlatonac prophesies peace."