Tom turned, for an instant, to point to the forest that he meant.
"You will remember, Mr. Haynes, that we had Don Luis include that forest tract in the title of the El Sombrero purchase. That forest is really a jungle. One has the greatest time forcing his way through it. When you open it up on a big scale you'll have to send hundreds of men in there with machetes to chop paths through and clear off the tangled brush. We spent days in that jungle, at first because we had nothing better to do. Mr. Haynes, and gentlemen, if we know anything about mining, then that forest land is worth an immense fortune in the minerals it will yield. You paid two and a half millions of dollars for the entire property. That great forest stretch, in our opinion as engineers, is worth as much and perhaps more than that."
"That's right!" leered Don Luis. "Jest with them, Senor Reade, to your heart's content."
"I'm telling these countrymen of mine the truth, fellow," retorted Tom Reade, casting a look of withering scorn at Don Luis Montez. "Had you been square and decent with us, we would have told you of the mineral wealth in yonder forest. As it is, we've punished your conduct by beating you at your own game."
"If I believed you, Senor Reade—" began Don Luis, bending his head low as he thrust it forward and gazed piercingly at Tom's face.
"I don't care anything about your believing me," retorted Tom. "But Harry and I will prove to these real men every word that we've been saying."
"You have robbed me!" hissed Don Luis, now believing.
His hand flew to a rear pocket. He drew a pistol. But two soldiers had crept up behind Montez at a sign from Senor Honda. Now, one of the barefooted soldados struck the weapon down. It clattered on the porch, and the other soldier picked it up.
There was a struggle between Don Luis and the soldiers. Two other soldiers came to their aid, and—Click! snap! Montez was securely handcuffed.
"Take them off!" screamed Montez, paling like one about to die.
"Senor Honda, this is an outrage, and you shall—"