CHAPTER IV.
TOM DOES SOME SAMPLING At sight of Don Luis's party a Mexican foreman came running forward.
"How runs the ore this morning ?" asked Don Luis.
"Not quite as well as usual, excellency," replied the man, with a shrug of his shoulders.
"How! Do you mean to tell me that the ore is running out for a streak!" "Oh, no, excellency.

Yet it is the poorest ore that we have struck for a fortnight.

However, it will pay expenses and leave something for profit, too, excellency." "Show us what you have been doing," Don Luis directed.
Leading the way with a lantern that threw a brilliant light, the foreman went on down the tunnel to the heading.

As he neared the end of the tunnel the man called loudly and a number of workmen stepped aside.
As they reached the spot, Tom's quick eye saw that the morning's blasts had loosened some eight tons or so of ore.

Drillers stood ready to drive through the rock for the next blast.
"Let us look at the ore, Senor Tomaso," suggested the mine owner.
Tom began to delve through the piles of shattered, reduced rock.
The foreman held the lantern close, that the young engineer might have all the light he wanted, and called to miners to bring their lights closer.
Then Harry, also, began to examine the rock.