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.
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