At daylight the watchmen sought their tents and the day force began to stir soon after.
After the steam whistle bad blown the breakfast call, Reade slipped away from his friends to inspect the laborers at the meal.
"There are some of your men absent, Mr.Mendoza," Tom murmured to the Mexican foreman.
"Yes, Senor.

Some of my men slipped away in the night." "Went off to Paloma, eh ?" Mendoza shrugged his shoulders.
"Gambling, drinking--both," nodded Tom.
"Undoubtedly, Senor." "Get the names of your absent Mexicans, and report to me with them." Reade then went to the other foremen, with the same orders.
Before Tom had seated himself at his own meal, with Harry and Mr.
Ellsworth, the foremen appeared, lists in their hands.

Tom rapidly ran his finger down the lists.
"Twenty-eight Mexicans and fourteen Americans absent from camp," he muttered.

"Foremen, when these men come back you may tell them that they are no longer needed." All four of the gang bosses looked somewhat astonished.
"Merely for leaving camp in the night time ?" Mendoza inquired.
"Yes, under the circumstances," nodded Tom.

"If any of these men declare that they were properly absent, and did not visit the gambling and the drinking dives, then such men may be reinstated after they have satisfied Mr.Hazelton, Mr.Hawkins or myself of the truth of their statements." "Some of these men will be very ugly when they find that they are discharged, Senor," suggested Mendoza.
"But you are loyal to us ?" "Can you doubt it, Senor ?" asked Mendoza proudly.
"Then you will know how to handle your own fellow-countrymen.