I fear you do not at all understand some traits of the Gringo
character," warned Dr. Tisco. "For example, you want these young
men for a special service, and you are willing to pay them
generously--lavishly in fact. Has it escaped you, Don Luis, that
some of these obstinate, mule-headed Gringos are guilty of an
especial form of ingratitude which they term honor?"

"I know that some Gringos make much bombastic use of that term,
while other Gringos scoff at the word 'honor,'" replied the mine
owner, thoughtfully. "But even suppose that these Gringos have
absurdly fanciful ideas of honor? They will never guess for what
I really want them. Their work will be done, to my liking, and
they will go away from here with never a suspicion of the kind
of service they have performed for me."

"Pardon me, Don Luis," murmured Dr. Tisco, "but to me they do not
look like such fools. They will suspect; they will even know."

"It matters little what they suspect, if they hold their tongues,"
replied the mine owner.

"You will have to appeal to their love of money, then," suggested
the secretary. "You will have to pay them extremely well. Even
then they may balk and refuse."

"Refuse?" repeated Don Luis opening his eyes wide. "Carlos, you
do not seem to understand how hopeless it would be for them to
refuse. I am master here. None knows better than you that I
hold life and death in my hand in these mountains. Do not all
men hereabouts obey my orders? Will _el gobernador_ ask any awkward