d with this part of the jungle, having lived here all his
life, and he offers to guide us to a place where we can get mules to
transport ourselves and our baggage to Copan."

"Fine!" cried Ned. "When can we start?"

Once more the professor and the native conversed in the strange tongue,
and then Professor Bumper announced:

"He says it will be better for us to go back where we left our things
and camp there. He will stay with us to-night and in the morning go on
to the nearest Indian town and come back with porters and helpers."

"I think that is good advice to follow," put in Tom, "for we do need
our goods; and if we reached the settlement ourselves, we would have to
send back for our things, with the uncertainty of getting them all."

So it was agreed that they would make a forced march back through the
jungle to where they had been deserted by Jacinto. There they would
make camp for the night, and until such time as Tolpec could return
with a force of porters.

It was not easy, that backward tramp through the jungle, especially as
night had fallen. But the new Indian guide could see like a cat, and
led the party along paths they never could have found by themselves.
The use of their pocket electric lights was a great help, and possibly
served to ward off the attacks of jungle beasts, for as they tramped
along they could hear stealthy sounds in the underbush on either side
of the path, as though tigers were stalking them. For there was in the
woods an animal of the leopard family, called tiger or "tigre" by the
natives, that was exceedingly fierce and dangerous. But watchfulness
prevented any accident, and eventually the party reached the place
where they had left their goods. Nothing had been disturbed, and
finally a fire was made, the tents set up and a light meal, with hot
tea served.

"We'll get ahead of Beecher yet," said Tom.

"You seem as anxious as Professor Bumper," observed Mr. Damon.

"I guess I am," admitted Tom. "I want to see that idol of gold in the
possession of our party."

The night passed without incident, and then, telling his new friends
that he would return as soon as possible with help, Tolpec, taking a
small supply of food with him, set out through the jungle again.

As the green vines and creepers closed after him, and the explorers
were left alone with their possessions piled around them, Ned remarked:

"After all, I wonder if it was wise to let him go?"

"Why not?" ask