CHAPTER X.
THE SPIRIT OF A TRUE ENGINEER "Do you know, Don Luis," drawled Tom, "that you have one fine quality ?" "What do you mean ?" demanded the Mexican.
"You are very explicit.

You are also extremely candid! You don't leave the other fellow guessing." Don Luis Montez frowned.

He felt certain that fun was being poked at him.
"I am trying to make you young men understand that you must do exactly what I wish of you," he returned, after a moment.
"And we have tried to make it plain, sir, that we haven't, any idea of doing what you want," Tom Reade answered him.
"You will change your minds," retorted the mine owner.
"Time will show you that, sir.

In the meantime, since we cannot live here, what do you expect us to do ?" "I have said nothing about your not living here," uttered Don Luis, looking astonished.

"You are very welcome to all that my poor house affords." "Thank you; but we can't live here, just the same." "And why not, _caballeros_ ?" "Because we shall henceforth be on the most wretched sort of terms with the owner of this house." "There is no need of that, _caballeros_.