“What is it?” asked the Mexican in Spanish.

Tom put the question in that language, and he was on the point of explaining that they were travelers, when he stopped midway, and stared at something on a rude shelf in the main room of the house.

“Look!  Look, Ned!” whispered Tom.

“What is it?” asked his chum.

“On that shelf!  That image!  The image of gold!  One just like the drawing Mr. Illingway sent from Africa!  Ned, we’re on the trail at last, for there is one of the small images from the city of gold!” and Tom, with a hand that trembled in spite of himself, pointed at the small, yellow figure.

CHAPTER XVI

THE MAP ON THE GOLD

Naturally, when Tom pointed at the golden image, the eyes of all the Mexicans in the room, as well as those of the friends of the young inventor, followed.  For a moment there was silence and then the aged Mexican, whom Eradicate had asked for corn meal, rapidly uttered something in Spanish.

“Yes!  Yes!” chorused his companions, and they followed this up, by crying aloud when he had said something else:  “No!  No!” Then there was confused talking, seemingly directed at Tom, who, though he had lowered his hand, continued to stare at the golden image.

“What in the world are they saying?” asked Ned, who only knew a little Spanish.

“I can’t get on to all of it,” explained Tom above the confusion.  “Evidently they think we’ve come to take the image away from them and they are objecting.”

“Offer to buy it then,” suggested Ned.

“That’s what I’m going to do,” answered Tom, and once more addressing the aged Mexican, who seemed to be at the head of the household, Tom offered to purchase the relic which meant so much to him, agreeing to pay a large sum.

This seemed to create further confusion, and one of the women of the household hastily took down the little statute and was carrying it into an inner room, when Miguel Delazes came up.  He looked into the open doorway, glanced about the room which was illuminated by several rude oil lamps, saw the looks of wonder and surprise on the faces of Tom and his companions, noted the excitement among the Mexicans, and then he caught sight of the golden image which the woman held.

“Ah!” exclaimed Delazes, and there was a world of meaning in his tone.  His small dark eyes glittered.  They roved from the image to Tom, and back to the little golden figure again.  “Ah!” muttered the contractor.  “And so the senor has found that for what he was searching?  It is gold after all, but such gold as never I have seen before.  So, the senor hopes to get many relics like that for his museum?  So, is it not?  Ah, ha!  But that is worth coming many miles to get!”

Tom realized that if he did net act quickly Delazes might have his secret, and once it was known that Tom was seeking the buried city of gold, the Mexicans could never be shaken off his trail.  He decided on a bold step.