They don't show much emotion, but they have
deep feelings. This one says he will devote
himself to your service from now on. I believe
we can count on him. He is deeply grateful to
you, Tom."
"I'm glad of that for all our sakes. But what
does he say about Jacinto?"
The professor asked some more questions,
receiving answers, and then translated them.
"This Indian, whose name is Tolpec, says
Jacinto is a fraud," exclaimed Professor Bumper.
"He made all the Indians leave us in the night,
though many of them were willing to stay and
fill the contract they had made. But Jacinto
would not let them, making them desert. Tolpec
went away with the others, but because of what
Tom had done he planned to come back at the
first chance and be our guide. Accordingly he
jumped ashore from one of the canoes, and made
his way to our camp. He got there, found it
deserted and followed us, coming up just now."
"Well I'm glad I didn't frighten him off with
my gun," remarked Tom grimly. "So he agrees
with us that Jacinto is a scoundrel, does he?
I guess he might as well classify Professor
Beecher in the same way."
"I am not quite so sure of that," said Professor
Bumper slowly. "I can not believe Beecher
would play such a trick as this, though some
over-zealous friend of his might."
"Oh, of course Beecher did it!" cried Tom.
"He heard we were coming here, figured out that
we'd start ahead of him, and he wanted to side-
track us.
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