"Can you not see? At the point where the railway stops it is only twenty miles to Totatzine. Now, if, as I suspect, there is a road leading up the cañon to the city, the distance from the termination of the railway works to that road cannot be very far. If, therefore, we discover the hidden road, we can take our troops up by rail, march the rest of the distance, and enter Totatzine through the mouth of the cañon."
"Oh!" cried Dolores, astonished at this idea. "And you propose to attempt this entrance?"
"If it can be found. Unfortunately Cocom is the only Indian who could supply such information, and he is a prisoner to Ixtlilxochitli."
"But if he knew of this cañon road, why did he not lead us by that way instead of towards the coast?"
"You forget the whole country is overrun by Indians. We could not have disguised ourselves as pilgrims had we gone by the cañon road. That is evidently the secular path. The other way to the coast is sacred."
"It might be done, Juanito."
"Yes; but it cannot be done till Xuarez is conquered and the war is ended."
"Santissima!" sighed Dolores, sadly; "and when will that be?"
"Very shortly. Now we have succeeded in getting rid of the Indians, we shall be able to crush Xuarez at one blow."
"When do you march south?"