rms
with the owner of this house."

"There is no need of that, _caballeros_. You will, I think, find
me extremely courteous. My house is open to you, and there is
no other place that you can go."

"Nowhere to go but out," mimicked Harry Hazelton, dryly.

"You will find yourselves unable to get out of these hills," Don
Luis informed them, politely, though with an evil smile. "You
may decide to leave us, and you may start at any time, but you
will assuredly find yourselves stopped and brought back. You
simply cannot leave me, _caballeros_, until I give my consent.
Remember, no king could rule in these hills more absolutely than
I do. No one may enter or leave this part of the state of Bonista
without my consent."

"As to that, of course we shall know more later, Don Luis," Tom
returned. "However, we cannot and shall not remain longer as guests
in your house."

"I trust you will consider well and carefully on that point,"
retorted the Mexican.

"No; we simply can't and won't remain here unless--well, unless--"

"What are you trying to say, senor?"

"Then possibly you have overlooked building any dungeons under the
house? Dungeons, I understand, were a part of the housekeeping
scheme in old Mexico."

"There are no dungeons here," said Don Luis icily.

"You relieve me, sir. Then the last obstacle is removed to our
departure. We shall go at once. Come on, Harry."

Tom turned to leave the room, Hazelton at his heels. But Montez,
with an angry exclamation, leaped to the doorway, barring their
exit.

"_Caballeros_, you shall not leave like this!"

"No?" Tom inquired. "Harry, our late host wishes us to leave
by the windows."

"All right," nodded Hazelton, smiling. "I used to be something
of an athlete."

"You shall not leave me in any such childish spirit," Don Luis
insisted, stubbornly.

"If you are going to try to reopen the proposition that you made us,"
said Reade, "you may as well stop."

"You will come to your senses presently."

"We are in full possession of them at present."

"We shall yet come to a sensible arrangement of the matter," Montez
continued, coaxingly. Indeed, the Mexican had suddenly come to
see that he was absolutely dependent upon the young Americans
if he hoped to sell his mine in the near future.

"You are wrong, Don Luis," Reade continued. "We can come to no
understanding. Matters have now gone so far that we are no longer
bound by the rules of courtesy. Nor