dians 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.

Followed by the threatening Indians, the Bumper party made its way back
to the entrance. They had hoped for great things, but if the cavern
gave access to the buried city--the ancient city of Kurzon on the chief
altar of which stood the golden idol, Quitzel--it looked as though they
were never to enter it.

"We'll have to get our Indians and drive those fellows out!" declared
Tom. "I'm not going to be beaten this way--and by Beecher!"

"It is galling," declared Professor Bumper. "Still he has right on his
side, and I must give in to priority, as I would expect him to. It is
the unwritten law."

"Then we've failed!" cried Tom bitterly.

"Not yet," said Professor Bumper. "If I can not unearth that buried
city I may find another in this wonderland. I shall not give up."

"Hark! What's that noise?" asked Tom, as they approached the entrance
to the cave.

"Sounds like a great wind blowing," commented Ned.

It was. As they stood in the entrance they looked out to find a fierce
storm raging. The wind was sweeping down the rocky trail, the rain was
falling in veritable bucketfuls from the overhanging cliff, and
deafening thunder and blinding lightning roared and flashed.

"Surely you would not drive us out in this storm," said Professor
Bumper to his former rival.

"You can not stay in the cave! You must get out!" was the answer, as a
louder