"If I had field glasses, it would be possible to see who is sending the message," said Dick, straining his eyes to discover if he could detect any movement on the hill. "There are binoculars in the saddle-bags belonging to Colonel Diaz," exclaimed the native. Dick placed his hand in the bag, which in the haste of departure from La Paz had not been removed, and brought forth a powerful pair of prismatic glasses. Adjusting them to his eyes, the cone-like hill appeared to be almost within reach of his hand. On the hilltop, more or less screened by the scrubby growth, were a number of men standing about a fire which gave forth a thick volume of smoke. Two of the men were moving a blanket back and forth over the fire, which caused the smoke to rise in irregular clouds. Half-way down the hill he saw about twenty horses with a few mounted men tending them. Again he searched the hill. He was convinced these men made up the band whose trail they had followed from La Paz, and if he could discover the two foreigners his suspicions would be verified. As he watched he saw a man pointing to the southward. The others now turned their heads to look, and then from the shade of a boulder, he clearly saw both Schumann and Heffingwell arise and reaching for their binoculars, focus on the distant point. "It is our party, Tomas," said Dick; "they are all looking to the south and evidently pleased at what they see there." "That indicates their signal is answered," replied Tomas. "It must be so, Tomas, for they are scattering their fire, and some are trailing down the hill. All have left now, except the two foreigners. They are apparently reading a paper between them, though I cannot quite make out what it is. Yes, it was a paper, for the German rolled it up and threw it on the ground near the rock on which they had been sitting." "The message or the code, Señor," stated Tomas; "if we had it----" "We shall have it, for I am going to get it. It is too good an opportunity to let pass, and even though it were nothing, I should not feel I had done my best if I left here without it." "We are in plain view from the hill, Señor. If we remain here longer we may be detected." "Never fear, they won’t get us, but we must take to cover until they pass, and then secure the paper." "As the Señor wishes; but having let them precede us again we may have difficulty in passing them in turn and reaching Managua in safety." "We must take the chance," replied Dick, with no thought of wavering, and after replacing the glasses he led the way deep into a rough tangle of high trees and dense undergrowth at the roadside. Here they awaited impatiently the reappearance of the horsemen. Soon the clatter of hoofs and the shouts of men greeted their ears, and they came galloping up the road. "Seem to be in a big hurry, all of a sudden," mused Dick as he peeped through the green branches at their approach.