第45章

"Wait a moment," suggested the professor, "Sometimes the air in these places is foul.We must test it." But a torch one of the Indians threw in burned with a steady glow.That test was conclusive at least.They made ready to enter.

Torches of a light bark, that glowed with a steady flame and little smoke, had been provided, as well as a good supply of electric dry-battery lamps, and the way into the cavern was thus well lighted.At first the Indians were afraid to enter, but a word or two from Goosal reassured them, and they followed Professor Bumper, Tom, and the others into thecavern.

For several hundred feet there was nothing remarkable about the cave.It was like any other cavern of the mountains, though wonderful for the number of crystal formations on the root and walls--formations that sparkled like a million diamonds in the flickering lights.

"Talk about a wonderland!" cried Tom."This is fairyland!"A moment later, as Goosal walked on beside the professor and Tom, the aged Indian came to a pause, and, pointing ahead, murmured:

"The city of the dead!"

They saw the niches cut in the rock walls.niches that held the countless bones of those who had died many, many years before.It was a vast Indian grave.

"Doubtless a wealth of material of historic interest here," said Professor Bumper, flashing his torch on the skeletons."But it will keep.Where is the city you spoke of, Goosal?""Farther on, Senor.Follow me."

Past the stone graves they went, deeper and deeper into the great cave.Their footsteps echoed and re-echoed.Suddenly Tom, who with Ned had gone a little ahead, came to a sudden halt and said:

"Well, this may be a burial place sure enough, but I think I see something alive all right--if it isn't a ghost."He pointed ahead.Surely those were lights flickering and moving about, and, yes, there were men carrying them.The Bumper party came to a surprised halt.The other lights advanced, and then, to the great astonishment of Professor Bumper and his friends, there confronted them in the cave several scientists of Professor Beecher's party and a score or more of Indians.Professor Hylop, who was known to Professor Bumper, stepped forward and asked sharply:

"What are you doing here?"

"I might ask you the same thing," was the retort.

"You might, but you would not be answered," came sharply."We have a right here, having discovered this cavern, and we claim it under a concession of the Honduras Government.I shall have to ask you to withdraw.""Do you mean leave here?" asked Mr Damon.

"That is it, exactly.We first discovered this cave.We have been conducting explorations in it for several days, and we wish no outsiders.""Are you speaking for Professor Beecher"' asked Tom.

"I am.But he is here in the cave, and will speak for himself if you desire it.But I represent him, and I order you to leave.If you do not go peaceably we will use force.We have plenty of it," and he glanced back at the Indians grouped behind him--scowling savage Indians.

"We have no wish to intrude," observed Professor Bumper, "and I fully recognize the right of prior discovery.But one member of our party (he did not say which one) was in this cave many years ago.He led us to it." "Ours is a government concession!" exclaimed Professor Hylop harshly."We want no intruders! Go!" and he pointed toward thedirection whence Tom's party had come.

"Drive them out!" he ordered the Indians in Spanish, and with muttered threats the dark- skinned men advanced toward Tom and the others.

"You need not use force," said Professor Bumper.

He and Professor Hylop had quarreled bitterly years before on some scientific matter, and the matter was afterward found to be wrong.Perhaps this made him vindictive.

Tom stepped forward and started to protest, but Professor Bumper interposed.

"I guess there is no help for it but to go.It seems to be theirs by right of discovery and government concession," he said, in disappointed tone."Come friends"; and dejectedly they retraced their steps.

Followed by the threatening Indians, the Bumper party made its way back to the entrance.They had hoped for great things, but if the cavern gave access to the buried city--the ancient city of Kurzon on the chief altar of which stood the golden idol, Quitzel--it looked as though they were never to enter it.

"We'll have to get our Indians and drive those fellows out!" declared Tom."I'm not going to be beaten this way--and by Beecher!""It is galling," declared Professor Bumper."Still he has right on hisside, and I must give in to priority, as I would expect him to.It is the unwritten law.""Then we've failed!" cried Tom bitterly.

"Not yet," said Professor Bumper."If I can not unearth that buried city I may find another in this wonderland.I shall not give up.""Hark! What's that noise?" asked Tom, as they approached the entrance to the cave.

"Sounds like a great wind blowing," commented Ned.

It was.As they stood in the entrance they looked out to find a fierce storm raging.The wind was sweeping down the rocky trail, the rain was falling in veritable bucketfuls from the overhanging cliff, and deafening thunder and blinding lightning roared and flashed.

"Surely you would not drive us out in this storm," said Professor Bumper to his former rival.

"You can not stay in the cave! You must get out!" was the answer, as a louder crash of thunder than usual seemed to shake the very mountain.