When the men were about to leave, the colonel motioned for one of them to remain.
“Here, Restrepo, I want you to show these two young men through the mine,” he said. And then followed some instructions in Spanish to the effect that the trip should be a short one and nothing of importance should be shown.
“Si, signor,” replied the fellow, touching his cap.
“This man will show you through,” said the colonel, turning to the two; and there was nothing left to do but to follow the man out; and this they did.
No sooner were they gone and the door closed, than the colonel sank back in his chair in deep thought.
“That Oliver’s face reminds me strongly of one that I have seen before,” he muttered to himself. “I do not like the manner of either of them. Bah! I must be getting nervous. What can two boys do?”
He was about to turn again to the papers before him, when his eyes rested upon the penknife Oliver had left lying on the floor. Half abstractedly he picked it up.
“Oliver Bright!” he ejaculated, as he read that name upon the handle. “That boy must be Arthur Bright’s son! Ah, I see it all! He is spying upon me!” He clinched his hands. “I must attend to this at once!” he cried.