their progress in mine engineering, that they had been consulted
by a number of mine owners. Articles that they had written had
appeared in journals devoted to mining and engineering, and the
fame of our two friends had been rapidly spreading.

Both scrupulously honest in all things, Reade and Hazelton had
also won a reputation as "square" mining men. With their skill
and honesty established, the opinions of the two partners on mining
problems were generally respected wherever they happened to be
known.

So, in time, Luis Montez had heard of them, and had decided that
he needed their services at _El Sombrero_ (The Hat) Mine in the
Mexican state of Bonista. After some correspondence the two engineers
had been speedily engaged, and the opening of this volume deals
with the time of their arrival at the handsome country house of
Senor Montez.

After his host had gone inside, and Harry Hazelton slept on, Tom,
who had risen--to bow to Senor Montez, remained on his feet,
pacing slowly and thoughtfully up and down the porch.

"Now that I've seen my new employer," mused Tom, under his breath,
"I wonder just how much I really like him. He's a polished man,
and a charming fellow from the little that I've seen of him.
But his talk of ruling these hills, even in life and death--does
that speak well for him. Is he a knave, or only a harmless braggart?
Is he a man against whom one should be seriously on his guard?
Don Luis's manners, in general, I admire, but I don't quite like
the cruel expression about his month when he laughs. However,