The Young Engineers in Mexico.
by H. Irving Hanc.o.c.k.
CHAPTER I
THE LAND OF GOLDEN EGGS
Luis Montez, mine owner, stood on the broad veranda in front of his handsome home, looking out over the country sweeping away to the eastward.
"Gentlemen, you are in a land of golden promise," began Senor Montez, with a smile and a bow. "I should call it more than promise.
Why not? My beloved country, Mexico, has been shipping gold to the world ever since the days of Montezuma."
"Yes; in a mineral sense Mexico has truly a golden history," nodded Tom Reade, one of the engineers to whom Montez was speaking.
"And a golden history in every sense," added Senor Montez, with a quick rush of patriotism. "Mexico is the finest country on earth. And, though we are neither as numerous in population, or as progressive as your own great country, still Mexico has greater possibilities than the United States."
Tom was too polite to argue that point. And Harry Hazelton, whom a seventy-mile ride in an automobile over dusty roads, that day, had rendered very drowsy, didn"t consider an argument worth while.
"Mexico has almost incredible natural wealth," Montez went on, his voice soft and purring, his eyes glowing with something that might have pa.s.sed for pride. "Yet, through all the centuries that white men have been here, I am confident that not one per cent. of the country"s natural resources has yet been taken from the ground. Enough wealth lies at man"s beck and call to change the balance of power between the nations of the world. I have been in your great city, New York. It is a place of tremendous wealth. Yet, within ten years, gold enough can be taken from the ground within a radius of twenty miles of here to buy the whole great city of New York at any sane valuation."
"That purchase would require billions of dollars," broke in the practical Hazelton.
"But the wealth is here," insisted Senor Montez, still smiling.
"Truly, _caballeros_, as I have told you, this is the land of golden--"
Again the Mexican paused, eloquently.
"The land of golden eggs?" suggested Harry.
For an instant there was a flash in the Mexican"s eyes. Then the friendly smile reappeared.
"Of course, you jest, senor," he replied, pleasantly.
"Not at all, Senor Montez," Hazelton a.s.sured him. "When gold is so plentiful that it can be picked up everywhere, there must be a goose at hand that lays golden eggs. Eggs are among the most common things that we have. When gold nuggets are as large and as abundant as eggs then we may properly call them golden eggs."
Senor Montez, flipped away the cigar that he had finished, and reached for another. This he carefully cut at the end, lighting it with graceful, elegant deliberation. The Mexican was a distinguished-looking man above medium height. A little past forty years of age, he possessed all the agility of a boy of twenty.
Frequently his sudden, agile movements indicated the possession of unusual strength. Dark, like most of his countrymen, constant exposure to the tropical sun had made his face almost the color of mahogany. His carriage was erect, every movement instinctive with grace. Clad in a white linen suit, with white shoes, he wore on his head a Panama hat of fine texture and weave.
The house of which the broad veranda was a part, was a low, two-story affair in stone, painted white. Through the middle of the house extended the drive-way leading into a large court in which a fountain played. Around the upper story of the house a balcony encircled the court and around the windows there were also small balconies.
Many servants, most of them male, ministered to the wants of those in the house. There were gardeners, hostlers, drivers, chauffeurs and other employs, making a veritable colony of help that was housed in small, low white houses well to the rear.
Some thirty acres of grounds had been rendered beautiful by the work of engineers, architects and gardeners. Nature, on this estate, had been forced, for the natural soil was stony and sterile, in keeping with the mountains and the shallow valleys in this part of the little and seldom-heard-of state of Bonista.
To the eastward lay, at a distance of some two miles, one of the sources of Senor Montez"s wealth _El Sombrero_ Mine, producing some silver and much more gold. At least so the owner claimed.
It was Senor Luis Montez himself who had gone to the nearest railway station, seventy miles distant, and there had made himself known, that forenoon, to the two young engineers from the United States.
Tom and Harry had come to _El Sombrero_ at the invitation of Montez.
After many careful inquiries as to their reputation and standing in their home country, Montez had engaged the young men as engineers to help him develop his great mine. Nor had he hesitated to pay the terms they had named--one thousand dollars, gold, per month, for each, and all expenses paid.
Over mountain trails, through the day, much of the way had of necessity been made slowly. Wherever the dusty, irregular roads had permitted greater speed, the swarthy Mexican who had served Senor Montez as chauffeur on the trip had opened wide on the speed.
At the end of their long automobile ride Tom and Harry fairly ached from the jolting they had received.
"There are other beautiful features of this gr-r-rand country of mine," the Mexican mine owner continued, lighting his second cigar. "I am a n.o.ble, you know, Senor Tomaso. In my veins flows the n.o.ble blood of the hidalgos of good old Spain. My ancestors came here two hundred and fifty years ago, and ever since, ours has been truly a Mexican family that has preserved all of the most worthy traditions of the old Spanish n.o.bles. We are a proud race, a conquering one. In this part of Bonista, I, like my ancestors, rule like a war lord."
"You don"t have much occupation at that game, do you, senor?"
Tom asked, with an innocent smile.
"That--that--game?" repeated Senor Montez, with a puzzled look at his young guest.
"The game of war lord," Reade explained. "Mexico is not often at war, is she?"
"Not since she was forced to fight your country, Senor Tomaso, as you help to remind me," pursued Montez, without a trace of offense. "Though I was educated in your country, I confess that, at times, your language still baffles me. What I meant to say was not "war lord," but--but--"
"Over lord?" suggested Reade, politely.
"Ah, yes! Perhaps that better expresses what I mean. In Mexico we have laws, senor, to be sure. But they are not for _caballeros_ like myself--not for men who can boast of the blood of Spanish hidalgos. I am master over these people for many miles around.
Absolute master! Think you any judge would dare sign a process against me, and send _peon_ officers of the law to interfere with me? No! As I tell you, I, Luis Montez, am the sole master here among the mountains. We have laws for the _peons_ (working cla.s.s), but I--I make my own laws."
"Does it take much of your time, may I ask?"
"Does what take much of my time?" repeated Senor Montez, again looking puzzled.
"Law making," explained Tom Reade.
Montez shot a swift look at the young engineer. He wondered if the American were making fun of him. But Reade"s face looked so simple and kindly, his eyes so full of interest, that the Mexican dismissed the thought.
"I spend no time in making laws--unless I need them," the Mexican continued. "I make laws only as the need arises, and I make them to suit myself. I interpret the laws as I please for my own pleasure or interests. Do you comprehend?"
"I think so," Tom nodded. "Many of the big corporations in my country do about the same thing, though the privilege has not yet been extended to individuals in the United States."
"Here," continued the mine owner, earnestly, "no man disputes my will. That, of itself, is law. Here no man sues me, for if he attempted to do so, he would go to prison and remain there.
If I tell a man to leave these mountains, he does so, for otherwise he would never leave them. If a man annoys me, and I tell one of my trusted servants to attend to my enemy--then that enemy never troubles me further."
"That is interesting--it"s so simple and effective!" cried Tom, pretended enthusiasm glowing in his eyes. "Say, but that"s practical!
A man annoys you, and you send a servant to tell him to stop.
Then he stops."
"Because my enemy also vanishes, you understand," smiled Senor Luis, indulgently.
"But doesn"t the governor of Bonista ever hear of the disappearances?"
suggested Reade, very casually.
"What if he does?" demanded Don Luis, snapping his fingers gayly.
"Are not his excellency, the governor, and I, the best of friends?
Would he give heed to rumors against me, brought by evil-tongued men? Oh, no! _El gobernador_ (the governor) has, at times, even kindly lent me his troops to make sure that an enemy of mine doesn"t travel too far. No! I tell you, Senor Tomaso, I am over lord here. I am the law in these mountains."