"It seems that
Jacinto was in his pay."
"In his pay!" cried Mr. Damon. "Do you mean
that Beecher deliberately hired Jacinto to betray us?"
"Well, no. Not that exactly. Here, I'll translate
this note for you," and the professor proceeded to read:
"Senors: I greatly regret the step I have to
take, but I am a gentleman, and, having given
my word, I must keep it. No harm shall come
to you, I swear it on my honor!"
"Queer idea of honor he has!" commented Tom, grimly.
Professor Bumper read on:
"Know then, that before I engaged myself to
you I had been engaged by Professor Beecher
through a friend to guide him into the Copan
valley, where he wants to make some explorations,
for what I know not, save maybe that it
is for gold. I agreed, in case any rival expeditions
came to lead them astray if I could.
"So, knowing from what you said that you
were going to this place, I engaged myself to you,
planning to do what I have done. I greatly regret
it, as I have come to like you, but I had
given my promise to Professor Beecher's friend,
that I would first lead him to the Copan valley,
and would keep others away until he had had a
chance to do his exploration.
"So I have led you to this wilderness. It is
far from the Copan, but you are near an Indian
village, and you will be able to get help in a week
or so. In the meanwhile you will not starve, as
you have plenty of supplies. If you will travel
northeast you will come again to Puerto Cortes
in due season.
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