Explore "A Thousand Miles an Hour" by Herbert Strang on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
SINCE the death of her husband the Señora Alvarez had carried on the working of the mine in the face of considerable difficulties. An Englishwoman, she had had to rely on the natives whom the señor had employed, but with whom during his lifetime she had seldom come into contact. She would have liked to replace the chief engineer by a countryman of her own, but hesitated to dismiss him without any reason except a vague sense of distrust. His spontaneous departure had thrown the way open, and she had only awaited the return of her son in order to take steps for the engagement of a competent successor of British birth and training.
This matter was discussed among the party of four as they sat in the veranda, while the servants were preparing a meal. Pedro pointed out that a suitable man must not only be a mechanical engineer but have a practical knowledge of mining.