“Why, it was like this,” said Tom, seating himself on the railing of the porch, and facing the assemblage.  “Harry and I began to roam all over this property, as though to kill time.  Out in Nevada, as it happens, we two and a friend of ours own a mine that seemed almost worthless.  Almost by accident we discovered that we were working the mine just a little off from the real vein.  Now, we didn’t find that El Sombrero was being worked off the vein.  What we did find was in that big strip of forest over to the east of El Sombrero—­”

Tom turned, for an instant, to point to the forest that he meant.

“You will remember, Mr. Haynes, that we had Don Luis include that forest tract in the title of the El Sombrero purchase.  That forest is really a jungle.  One has the greatest time forcing his way through it.  When you open it up on a big scale you’ll have to send hundreds of men in there with machetes to chop paths through and clear off the tangled brush.  We spent days in that jungle, at first because we had nothing better to do.  Mr. Haynes, and gentlemen, if we know anything about mining, then that forest land is worth an immense fortune in the minerals it will yield.  You paid two and a half millions of dollars for the entire property.  That great forest stretch, in our opinion as engineers, is worth as much and perhaps more than that.”

“That’s right!” leered Don Luis.  “Jest with them, Senor Reade, to your heart’s content.”

“I’m telling these countrymen of mine the truth, fellow,” retorted Tom Reade, casting a look of withering scorn at Don Luis Montez.  “Had you been square and decent with us, we would have told you of the mineral wealth in yonder forest.  As it is, we’ve punished your conduct by beating you at your own game.”

“If I believed you, Senor Reade—­” began Don Luis, bending his head low as he thrust it forward and gazed piercingly at Tom’s face.

“I don’t care anything about your believing me,” retorted Tom.  “But Harry and I will prove to these real men every word that we’ve been saying.”

“You have robbed me!” hissed Don Luis, now believing.

His hand flew to a rear pocket.  He drew a pistol.  But two soldiers had crept up behind Montez at a sign from Senor Honda.  Now, one of the barefooted soldados struck the weapon down.  It clattered on the porch, and the other soldier picked it up.

There was a struggle between Don Luis and the soldiers.  Two other soldiers came to their aid, and—­Click! snap!  Montez was securely handcuffed.

“Take them off!” screamed Montez, paling like one about to die.  “Senor Honda, this is an outrage, and you shall—­”

“Peace, fellow!  Hold your tongue!” ordered Honda.  “Do you not understand?  You are a prisoner, nor are you ever likely to be much better off than that.  A complaint of the treatment of these Americans, Reade and Hazelton, was forwarded to our government by the American minister in Mexico City.  The complaint mentioned that the governor of Bonista was a confederate of yours in more than one underhanded bit of business.  On account of the urgings of the American minister to this country, I was despatched here to investigate, and with authority to arrest the governor of Bonista, if necessary, and any other rogues.”