and the profits so far. Glance through it with me."

The report had been written in English, by either Dr. Tisco or
his employer.

Tom and Harry listened carefully to the reading.

"But why do you put so much enthusiasm into the report, Don Luis,
when the mine is not for sale and is not to be run as a stock
company property?"

"Of course, _El Sombrero_ is my sole property, and of course I
shall keep it so," smiled the Mexican. "But I like, even in a
report to myself, for my own use, to have the report set forth
all the truths concerning the mine."

"That is reasonable," Tom agreed.

"Now, Senor Tomaso, as you have seen, this report is couched in
my own English. I would be glad if you would write this out for
me, putting it into better English."

"It would seem like presumption in me to think that I could put
it into better English," Reade protested.

"Nevertheless, to please me, will you put this report into your
own English?" requested Don Luis.

"With all the pleasure in the world," Tom assented.

"Here are writing materials, then."

"But I see that you have a typewriting machine over in the corner,"
suggested the young chief engineer. "I can write the report much
better and more rapidly on the machine."

"Ah!" breathed the Mexican, looking highly pleased. "If you will
but do that! We will go outside so as not to disturb you."

The report, being a long one and containing several tables of
figures, Reade was occupied nearly three hours. During this time
Don Luis conducted Harry over the estate, pointing out many things
of interest. At last Tom, with a slight backache from bending
so long over the machine, leaned back and carefully read what
he had written.

"Do you wish anything, _caballero_?" inquired Nicolas, appearing
as though from hiding.

"You might be good enough to tell Don Luis that I have finished,
and that I await his pleasure."

Nicolas disappeared. Five minutes later Montez, his secretary
and Hazelton came in. Tom read through his typewritten draft
of the report.

"Excellent! gr-r-r-rand! glorious!" breathed Don Luis. "Ah,
you are a master of English, Senor Tomaso. Myself, I understand
Spanish better. And now one stroke of the pen for each of you,"
added the _hidalgo_, crossing the room to his desk. "As my new
engineers you shall both sign this report, and I shall have much
pleasure from reading this, many times, when I am an old man."

Don Luis dipped a pen in in