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 the direction
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.
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