"It was because of his lies that I made him my trusted agent; but he betrayed me as he has others. It was to him I gave the ten thousand pounds which the young senor took away from my servant, Pablo Ojeda--who is not an Ojeda, but whom I have allowed to use that name. I desire that the money become the property of the young senor," and he feebly extended his hand toward Billie, "who has always been such a good friend to me and mine. The secret of the mine is to be found in the box which I left with Don Esteban. I am getting to be an old man, and if you will now bring in the box, I will turn it over to my daughter Lucia, who is my only descendant." Don Esteban made no move to comply with the request, but looked at the boys in such a perplexed manner that the sick man was quick to take notice. "What is it?" he asked, rising on his elbow and looking at Don Esteban with burning gaze. "What is it? Has anything happened to the box?" "Yes," faltered the banker, "it has been stolen." "Stolen!" almost shrieked Santiago. "Stolen! Then there stands the thief!" and he pointed to Strong, who stood with blanched face. "We know that," said Billie, "but the box has been stolen again and no one knows where it has gone." "You are wrong," muttered Strong. "It has not been stolen. It is in the bank where it always was." "Impossible!" cried Don Esteban. "How could it be back in the vault?" "Ask Ambrosio," replied Strong, with a wan smile. "He can tell." "Of course he cannot tell," almost shouted Don Esteban. "Then we shall never know; but I am sure the box is there." "Send for it! Send for it!" cried Santiago. "Send for it at once that I may turn over to my daughter the secret of the mine." "That you will never be able to do," said Strong. "It has been destroyed." "Destroyed!" burst from almost every lip. "Destroyed? How?" Strong shook his head. "I can't tell. Again you'll have to ask Ambrosio. It is he who destroyed it." "By George!" exclaimed Billie, "I knew I ought to have killed that monk the first time I had any dealings with him. I'm sorry now that I didn't." "At any rate," declared Don Esteban, "I shall send for the box." He turned to Santiago, who had fallen back upon his pillow, and over whom the physician was bending and feeling his pulse. "I shall send for it at once," he repeated. Slowly the physician raised his head and loosed his hold upon the sick man's wrist. "It is too late," he said. "He will not need it. He is dead." * * * * * On board a returning army transport bound for New York stood the Broncho Rider Boys casting their last glance shoreward as the sun was setting behind the mountains that form the background of the city of Vera Cruz. Over the city still waved the Stars and Stripes, and as the darkness fell and the tip of Mt. Orizaba gradually faded from sight, Billie turned to the others and in a voice tinged with sadness remarked: