"So we have decided to engage you," Professor
Bumper informed Val Jacinto the afternoon
following the meeting.
"I am more than pleased, Senor. I shall take
you into the wilds of Honduras. At your
service!" and he bowed low.
"Humph! I don't just like the way our friend
Val says that," observed Tom to Ned a little
later. "I'd have been better pleased if he had
said he'd guide us into the wilds and out again."
If Tom could have seen the crafty smile on
the face of the Spaniard as the man left the
hotel, the young inventor might have felt even
less confidence in the guide.
CHAPTER X
IN THE WILDS
"All aboard! Step lively now! This boat
makes no stops this side of Boston!" cried Ned
Newton gaily, as he got into one of the several
tree canoes provided for the transportation of
the party up the Chamelecon river, for the first
stage of their journey into the wilds of
Honduras. "All aboard! This reminds me of my
old camping days, Tom."
It brought those days back, in a measure, to
Tom also. For there were a number of canoes
filled with the goods of the party, while the
members themselves occupied a larger one with their
personal baggage. Strong, half-naked Indian
paddlers were in charge of the canoes which
were of sturdy construction and light draft, since
the river, like most tropical streams, was of
uncertain depths, choked here and there with sand
bars or tropical growths.
Finding that Val Jacinto was regularly engaged
in the business of taking explorers and
mine prospectors into the interior, Professor
Bumper had engaged the man.
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