one of the men were in sight, for these were toiling
away at the mine. Though _El Sombrero_ had so far shown no ore
that amounted to anything, Don Luis, while waiting to sell his
mine for a fortune, kept his _peons_ working hard in the hope
that they might strike some real ore.

After Tom had been gazing for three or four minutes his eves suddenly
lighted, for he saw Nicolas come out of one of the huts.

"I wonder what has kept the little fellow so long," Tom murmured.
But he turned away with an appearance of listlessness, for, if
he were observed, he did not care to have a watcher note his interest
in the servant's coming.

So Nicolas passed on toward the tents without having observed Reade.

"I won't get back too soon," Tom decided. "If we are watched
at all it wouldn't do to have me appear too much interested in
the _peon's_ doings."

Now that his mind was somewhat easier, Tom strolled on once more.
His roundabout path took him along among the rocks that littered
the ground over the principal tunnels of _El Sombrero_. Hundreds
of feet beneath him now toiled some of the _peons_ who lived in
the village of huts yonder.

Presently Reade increased his speed considerably, deciding that
now it would be safe to return directly to camp. Suddenly he
stopped short, head up, his gaze directed at the tops of three
or four rocks. Some human being had just dodged out of sight
at that point.

Tom felt a swift though brief chill. Something had made him suspect
that the prowler might be Gato, or one of the latter's companions.

Instead of running away Tom made for the place of hiding in short
leaps.

"Hold on there a minute, my friend," Tom called in Spanish. "I
think it may be worth my while to look you over."

Just as Reade was ready to bound over the rocks a figure rose
as though to meet him. A light leap landed Reade on top of the
stranger, who was borne to earth.

"Mercy senor!" begged the other. "Do not be rough with me. I
am not strong enough to stand it."

The man spoke Spanish and was well past middle age, of a very
spare figure, and his face was very thin, although there was a
deep flush on his cheeks.

"Oh, I beg your pardon," said Tom in Spanish. He touched the
stranger's cheeks, which were hot with fever.

Then Tom slid off his poor captive and squatted beside him. Reaching
for the man's left wrist and resting two fingers on his pulse,
Tom added, gently:

"Tell me all about it, senor."