"_Sí, señor_--with great pleasure!" smirked Mendez, running to get the horse, and after he had departed Bud turned back and shook his head. "We can't afford to quarrel with Mr. Mendez," he said; "because if Aragon ever gets hold of him we're ditched. Jest let everything run on like we'd overlooked something until the sixty days are up--then, if we get away with it, we'll locate the mine ourselves." "Yes; but how?" "Well, the's two ways," returned Bud; "either hunt up another Mexican citizen or turn Mexican ourselves." "Turn Mexican!" shrilled Phil, and then he broke down and laughed. "Well, you're a great one, Bud," he chortled; "you sure are!" "I come down here to get this mine," said Bud laconically. "Yes, but you're a Texan--or was one!" "That makes no difference," answered Bud stoutly. "The hot weather is coming on--revolution is likely to begin any time--and there ain't a single Mexican we can trust. Jest one more break now and we lose out--now how about it?" "Who's going to turn Mexican," questioned De Lancey, "you or me?" "Well--_I_ will, then!" "No, you won't, either!" cried Phil, forgetting his canny shrewdness. "I'll do it myself! I'm half Mexican already, I've been eating chili so long!" "Now here," began Bud, "listen to me. I've been thinking this over all day and you jest heard about it. The man that turns Mexican is likely to get mixed up with the authorities and have to skip the country, but the other feller is in the other way--he's got to stay with the works till hell freezes over. "Now you're an engineer and you know how to open up a mine--I don't. So, if you say so, I'll take out the papers and you hold the mine--or if you want to _you_ can turn Mex." "Well," said De Lancey, his voice suddenly becoming soft and pensive, "I might as well tell you, Bud, that I'm thinking of settling in this country, anyway. Of course, I don't look at Aragon the way you do--I think you are prejudiced and misjudge him--but ever since I've known Gracia I've--" "Gracia!" repeated Bud; and then, stirred by some great and unreasoning anger, he rose up and threw down his hat pettishly. "I'd think, Phil," he muttered, "you'd be satisfied with all the other girls in the world without--" "Now here!" shouted Phil, rising as unreasoningly to his feet, "don't you say another word against that girl, or I'll--" "Shut your mouth, you little shrimp!" bellowed Bud, wheeling upon him menacingly. "You seem to think you're the only man in the world that--" "Oh, slush, Bud!" cried Phil in disgust. "You don't mean to tell me you're in love with Gracia too!" "Who--me?" demanded Hooker, his face suddenly becoming fixed and mask-like; and then he laughed hoarsely in derision and sank down on the bed. Certainly, of the two of them, he was the more surprised at his sudden outbreak of passion; and yet when the words were spoken he was quick to know that they were true.