ed.

"A _medico_?" suggested Dr. Tisco, with a bow of humility. "Ah,
no, senor, I have not that honor. I am a doctor of philosophy,
not of medicine."

"Then you may be a scientific expert," Harry hazarded. "You are
the expert here at the mine?"

"Not so," broke in Don Luis, gently. "It is true that Carlos has
some knowledge of chemistry, but he is not a mining expert. He is
my secretary, my man of affairs."

"Oh, really the manager of the mine, then?" pursued Harry. "Pardon
me if I ask too many questions. I do not mean to be impertinent.
But, as we are going to work here I wish to know who's who is
Senor Montez' representative."

"Carlos," broke in Don Luis, again, "is rather more than the mine
manager. He serves me in a variety of interests, and the mine
is only one of them."

"If you wish to know whether you are to be under my instructions,"
Dr. Tisco continued, "I can assure you that you are not. I seldom
give orders except as the direct--I might say the directed--mouthpiece
of Don Luis."

"I have a separate manager at the mine," added Don Luis. "You shall
meet him to-morrow. His name is Pedro Gato. You will find him a
self-opinionated fellow, and one used to having his own way. He has
to be somewhat turbulent, or he would never hold some of my _peons_
(laborers) in check. But under the surface you will find Pedro Gato
an excellent fellow if you do not rub him too hard the wrong way."

"Gato will not attempt to give us any orders, of course?" Tom
asked very quietly.

"Possibly not," dubiously replied Don Luis. "I really do not
know. That point has not before come up to me for consideration."

"Then I hope you will make it clear to Senor Gato, Don Luis, that
we are engineers, wholly in charge of our own work; that we have
been engaged as experts and that we manage our own work in the way
that appears to us best to serve our employer's interests."

"That can all be arranged very amicably, I am certain," replied
Don Luis, as though to dismiss the matter for the present.

Dr. Tisco, covertly, was intently watching the eyes and faces of the
young engineers. The secretary was most anxious to take an
accurate measure of these two young Americans, who were now highly \
important to his plans.

After the evening meal, Don Luis summoned a number of his home
retainers, who played mandolins and guitars. Some of them sang
with considerable sweetness and power. The full moon, soon to
wane, sh