"How would the Colthwaite people be able to foresee that you were going
to have a fight with Jim Duff?" interposed Mr. Ellsworth.

"I'm going after the answer, if there is one. I hope to be able to tell
you the answer one of these days."

Tom and Harry made two trips each, in different directions, to make sure
that the watch men were awake and alert. It was nearly eleven o'clock
when the general manager and his engineers turned in for a night's rest
--"subject to the approval of Jim Duff," as Tom dryly stated it.

No more interruptions followed during the night, however. At daylight
the watchmen sought their tents and the day force began to stir soon
after.

After the steam whistle bad blown the breakfast call, Reade slipped away
from his friends to inspect the laborers at the meal.

"There are some of your men absent, Mr. Mendoza," Tom murmured to the
Mexican foreman.

"Yes, Senor. Some of my men slipped away in the night."

"Went off to Paloma, eh?"

Mendoza shrugged his shoulders.

"Gambling, drinking--both," nodded Tom.