"It is not an attractive road, after we leave the hacienda," explained Don Luis Montez to Tom. "It is a dusty road, and a somewhat hard one. The mining country is not a beautiful place in which to live."
"It is at least more beautiful than the country in which our mine is located," Tom replied.
"Are you gentlemen, then, mine owners as well as mine experts?" inquired their host.
Tom told Don Luis briefly about their mine, the Ambition, in the
Indian Smoke Range, Nevada.
"And is your mine a profitable one?" inquired the Mexican.
"It hasn't made us millionaires," Tom rejoined, modestly, "but it pays us more money, every month, than we really need."
Don Luis glanced covertly at his secretary, with a look that conveyed:
"If these young Gringos have all the money they want, and more, then we may find it difficult to appeal to their avarice."
Dr. Tisco's return glance as much as said:
"I am all the more certain that we shall find them difficult."