sently they rose and moved forward on foot. Ere
long they had left the mine well behind.

"I hate to go back into that polished robber's house at all,"
Harry muttered. "Tom, what do you say? We can cover at least
the first dozen miles between now and daylight. Let's make a
streak for the railway and get back to the States."

"But what about saving the victim of the intended swindle?" objected
Reade.

"We could come out with a newspaper exposure that would stop any
American from buying the mine, or putting any money into it,"
proposed Hazelton.

"We might, only no newspaper would print such stuff. It would
be libelous, and subject the newspaper editor to the risk of having
to go to jail."

"All I know," sighed Harry, "is that I want, as speedily as possible,
to put as much distance as possible between us and Don Luis's home."

"We'll go out through the front door, though, when we go," Tom
proposed. "We won't sneak."

They did not encounter Gato on the way back to the big, white
house. Though they did not know it, the boys were being trailed
by the alert, barefooted Nicolas. Nor did that servant feel easy
until he had seen them softly enter the house. Then Nicolas,
as before, stretched himself on the floor before the door of the
rooms occupied by the young engineers.

Tom's alarm clock woke him that morning. In another moment Reade
was vigorously shaking Hazelton.

"Now don't give a sign to-day," Tom whispered to his friend.
"If Don Luis is going to be crafty, we shall have to fight him
with craft--at the outset, anyway."

"I hate to eat the old scoundrel's food," muttered Harry.

"So do I, but it can't be helped for the present. We're not guilty
of a breach of hospitality in planning to show the rascal up.
It is Don Luis who is guilty in that direction. He is planning
to use his guests as puppets in a dishonest game. Keep up your
nerve, Harry, and don't let your face, your manner, or anything
give you away."

Nicolas knocked as soon as he heard the boys stirring. He moved
with speed this morning, spreading the table and then rushing away
for chocolate, _frijoles_ and _tortillas_.

As soon as the boys had finished their breakfast they hastened
out to the porch, but they found their host ahead of them. More,
Don Luis wore field clothing and high-topped, laced walking boots.

"Going afield, sir?" Tom inquired, genially.

"I have been afield, already," replied Montez, bowing and smiling.