From his pocket Harry Hazelton drew forth the silver-mounted revolver and approached the owner of the mine.

“Allow me to return this to you, Don Luis,” urged Hazelton.  “I must also apologize for having snatched it from you so rudely.  I did not know what else to do, for I feared that you intended to interfere in the quarrel.”

“And what if I had so intended?” asked the Mexican mine owner, with one of his puzzling smiles.

“Just this,” Harry answered, candidly.  “Mr. Reade never gets into a fight if he can help it.  When he does find himself in one I have learned, from long experience, not to interfere unless he calls for help.  So I did not want any one to interfere between him and Gato.”

“It was a most unfortunate affair,” said the Mexican.  “Senor Tomaso, I must warn you that Pedro Gato is one who never forgives an injury.  He will devote himself to thoughts of a revenge that shall be terrible enough to satisfy his wounded feelings.  You will do well to be on your guard.”

Tom smiled as he replied: 

“Don Luis, I trust that I have seen the last of the fellow.”

“Be assured that you have not seen the last of him, Senor Tomaso.”

“Then it may go hard with Gato,” smiled Tom, carelessly.  “But I trust I have not offended you in this matter, Don Luis.  If I have, I am willing to withdraw, and I will reimburse you for the expense you have incurred in bringing us here.”

“I shall not let you go,” smiled the Mexican, “unless you feel that you no longer wish to remain in the same country with Pedro Gato.”

“That thought has not entered my mind, sir,” Reade responded, almost stiffly.

“Then we will say no more about the matter, and you will remain,” nodded the Mexican.  “And now we will go down into the mine and give you your first chance to examine our problems there.”

As they entered the shaft house it was discovered that the elevator cage was at the foot of the shaft.  While they waited for the cage to come up, keen Dr. Tisco whispered to Tom: 

“Senor Reade, night and day you must be unceasingly on your guard against Gato.  In these mountains a hundred men will follow his beck and call.”

“If they are all like him, then Gato should turn bandit,” laughed young Reade.

“It is not unlikely that he will do so,” sighed Tisco, with a slight shrug of his shoulders.  “In Mexico, when a defeated man seeks blood revenge it is no uncommon thing for him to turn bandit until he has accomplished his hope of a terrible revenge.  Then, afterwards, if the bandit has annoyed the government enough, and has repeatedly escaped capture, the bandit makes his peace with the authorities and receives his pardon.”

The cage arriving at this moment, the four men entered, and started downward.  Three hundred and sixty feet from the earth’s surface Don Luis led them from the car into a tunnel.