with one
other nation."

"You mean Japan," cried Shaw. "I've heard that Mexico is full of Japs,
all trained and ready to fight. And I've heard about a secret treaty
between Mexico and Japan, too. Let the Japs butt in, if they want to.
We'll drive them into the Pacific."

"I have said nothing about Japan," replied Nestor. "I don't believe
half this sensational stuff about Japan's warlike attitude toward the
United States that the newspapers are printing."

"Well, you didn't say Japan, but I know what you meant, all right,"
declared Shaw. "How much longer are you going to watch that camp?"

"I'm not watching the camp," replied Nestor. "I'm waiting to see if
some important individual doesn't make his appearance here, bound for
the peaks above."

"You mean the third man--the diplomat?"

"Exactly. He'll be here to-night, according to all reports. I thought
it might be his party wig-wagging when I came here, provided it was not
my associates. If he doesn't come pretty soon I'll return to our camp.
The boys will be getting anxious over our long absence."

Presently, while the two waited, a signal rocket came blazing out of
the east, swept a wide curve in the sky, and dropped out of sight. It
was almost immediately followed by a blue rocket, sent up from the foot
of the range, not very far away. Then the men in the camp below were
heard moving about.

"The fellows down there," said Shaw, "appear to be about as astonished
as we are at the display of fireworks. I don't think they are next to
this game at all. They have their minds too crowded with mine-dreams
to leave room for any international complications, I guess."

Indeed, this seemed to be the case, for the night watchman, the
Mexican, and the miners were now assembled in a little open space
before the tents, gazing perplexedly into the sky, which now showed red
and blue rockets, apparently sent up in answer to each other.

"There's our third man," said Shaw, as a moving light appeared not far
away. "Listen, and you'll hear him coming."

The boy almost danced up and down in his excitement.

"Let me geezle him," he whispered. "Let me make a record for valor
down here," he added, with a grin. "I might get a Carnegie medal."

"You'll probably get a bullet if you don't keep quiet," advised Nestor.
"Come, we may as well hide ourselves in the thicket over there and
await the turn of events."

Within ten minutes the sound of hoofs was heard, indica