The boy beyond the hedge spoke in Spanish.
"I have been watching for you, Carlos, for I saw you enter that house. Join me quickly."
There was an opening in the hedge, and through this Mendoza hastened, the two boys falling into each other's arms like long-lost brothers.
"How comes it that you are here?" questioned Carlos, still betraying his amazement.
"Come away into the wooded hollow down yonder," invited Felipe. "I will then tell you. I do not wish to be seen by any one but you."
Together they descended into the little hollow through which ran a stream that was spanned by a rustic bridge. They sat down on the bridge staring at each other with a strange expression of delight and affection in their eyes.
"I knew it would surprise you to see me," said Felipe.
"Is that strange? When last we met it was thousands of miles away in our own country. I told you then that my father had promised to send me here to learn some of the business ways of these miserable gringoes."
"I remember; and I told you that I had found an old document that would make me very rich."
"Yes, Felipe. Are you rich now?"