Though they were in Mexico the young engineers found it chilly that evening, after sundown.
"Nicolas, can you spare wood enough to start a little campfire?"
Tom asked, as he put on his blouse after supper.
"Yes," replied the little Mexican. "For what is the use of being strong if I could not tramp after more wood to-morrow?"
"We'll pay you well for all your trouble for us, mi muchacho" (my boy) Tom promised.
"I am rewarded enough in being allowed to serve you, caballeros,"
Nicolas answered.
"And the queer part of it is that he means what he says," muttered
Tom, gazing after the departing little peon.
Very shortly a cheerful fire was crackling away. Tom and Harry brought their campstools and sat down before it.
"I'll be thankful when we get back to the States," mused Tom.
"I hope it'll be soon, too," answered Harry, with a wistful glance toward the north, where, several hundred miles away, lay their country.
Nor did either one expect to be many days more away from home.
The young engineers had arrived at a somewhat surprising conclusion.
They had agreed to sign a suitable report and to stand back of
Don Luis in all the claims he might make concerning El Sombrero
Mine.