"A countermine!" cried Tom. "What do you mean?"
"You will soon see. Knowing something of our designs, they have covered the American frontiers with spies."
"It is certainly very clever," said the outlaw.
"Very clever," said the diplomatist, in a husky voice; "but then, clever as they are, we know all about it, every detail."
"You do not mean to say so?" cried Tom Mitchell.
"Yes. And more than that, we know the chief of the whole gang of spies," added Hebrard. "And much more than that, we know all his secrets, cunning as he is."
"That is something," said Tom; "but now what you want is to catch him."
"Yes," said Hebrard, "that is the very thing; you yourself must see the necessity of catching him before you start."
"I should think so; it is as plain as running water; but," added Tom Mitchell, "it is not very easy to snap up such a rascal in the desert, which simply is as full of such rogues and vagabonds as an anthill is full of ants."
"Don't be uneasy on that point," cried Hebrard; "I shall easily put you on his track."