The feeling of alarm engendered among the Indians by the disappearance of their ten fellow-workers seemed to have disappeared. There were rumors that some of the mysterious ten had been seen in distant villages and settlements, but the Titus brothers could not confirm this.
"I don't think anything serious happened to them, anyhow," said Job Titus one day. "And I should hate to think our work was responsible for harm to any one."
"Your rivals don't seem to be doing much to hamper you," observed Tom. "I guess Waddington gave up.
"I won't be too sure of that," said Mr. Titus.
"Why, what has happened?" Tom asked.
"Well, nothing down here—that is, directly—but we are meeting with trouble on the financial end. The Peruvian government is holding back payments."
"Why is that?"
"They claim we are not as far advanced as we ought to be."
"Aren't you?"
"Practically, yes. There was no set limit of work to be done for the intermediate payments. We bonded ourselves to have the tunnel done at a certain date.