"Here, Don Luis," the young chief engineer went on, "are samples of two lots of ore. The first is from the pile that we found pried loose when we went into the first tunnel that we visited. It is rich ore."
"It is good enough ore," Montez replied, with a polite shrug of the shoulders.
"Now, from the second tunnel that we entered, and where we also found a pile of loose ore, here is another sample. It is as rich as the first sample."
"Certainly, Senor Tomaso."
"But in this second tunnel I had a drilling made and a blast fired. Here," picking up a third envelope and emptying it, "is a sample of the ore that we saw taken from that blast. If this sample contains any gold or silver the quantity is so small, evidently, as to render this kind of ore worthless."
"Yes?" murmured Don Luis, softly. "What is it that you have to say?"
"Why, sir, how does it happen that, right on top of such extra-fine ore we run upon blank rock at the very next blasting."
"That sometimes happens in El Sombrero," Don Luis replied, smoothly,
"How often has it happened?" asked Tom, looking up from the table and glancing keenly at Don Luis.
Dr. Tisco, though he appeared to be almost asleep, stirred uneasily.