"How is one to get back the money that he has put into a gold
mine?" Tom demanded. "Everyone knows that the most honest mine
is a gamble. It may stop turning out paying ore at any hour.
Besides, what show would a stranger have in the courts in this
part of Mexico? You have heard Don Luis boast that he practically
owns the governor of Bonista. No, sir! The only way to stop
a swindle will be to stop it before it takes place."

Tom rose from his hiding place, back in the dark away from the
lights at the mine shaft. He nudged his chum, then started to
creep away. Presently they rose and moved forward on foot. Ere
long they had left the mine well behind.

"I hate to go back into that polished robber's house at all,"
Harry muttered. "Tom, what do you say? We can cover at least
the first dozen miles between now and daylight. Let's make a
streak for the railway and get back to the States."

"But what about saving the victim of the intended swindle?" objected
Reade.

"We could come out with a newspaper exposure that would stop any
American from buying the mine, or putting any money into it,"
proposed Hazelton.

"We might, only no newspaper would print such stuff. It would
be libelous, and subject the newspaper editor to the risk of having
to go to jail."

"All I know," sighed Harry, "is that I want, as speedily as possible,