turned back. These specimens he placed in sample envelopes and
stored in his pockets. From the ore that was being shoveled back
he chose other small specimens, labeling the envelopes in which
he stored them.

By the time that the ore had been shoveled well back the drillers
had completed their work. Now the "dope men" came forward, putting
the sticks of dynamite in place. Tom watched them closely.

"Do you call this last work well done?" Tom inquired of the foreman
of the tunnel.

"Yes, yes, senor, as well as I have been able to see," responded
the Mexican.

"Then come with me. Just look at the tamping. Hardly worthy
of the name of tamping, is it?" Tom asked, poking at the material
that had been forced in as tamping.

"Senor, my men must have been indolent, this time," admitted the
foreman.

"Very indolent, or else indifferent," Tom smiled, grimly. "Here,
you men, come here and let me show you how to set dynamite and
tamp it. Perhaps I do not understand the job very well, but we
shall see."

Ten minutes later Tom Reade abandoned his work, rather well satisfied.

"Now, when we fire the blasts, we shall move some rock, I believe,"