“What do you think of him?” asked Ned, as they went up to their rooms in the hotel, or rather one large room, containing several beds.

“He’s a pretty slick article,” said Mr. Damon.  “Bless my check-book! but he spotted us at once, in spite of our secrecy.”

“I guess these guide purveyors are trained for that sort of thing,” observed the scientist.  “I know my friends have often spoken of having had the same experience.  However, I shall ask my friend, who is in business here, about this Val Jacinto, and if I find him all right we may engage him "

Inquiries next morning brought the information, from the head of a rubber exporting firm with whom the professor was acquainted, that the Spaniard was regularly engaged in transporting parties into the interior, and was considered efficient, careful and as honest as pos-sible, considering the men he engaged as workers.

“So we have decided to engage you,” Professor Bumper informed Val Jacinto the afternoon following the meeting.

“I am more than pleased, Senor.  I shall take you into the wilds of Honduras.  At your service!” and he bowed low.

“Humph!  I don’t just like the way our friend Val says that,” observed Tom to Ned a little later.  “I’d have been better pleased if he had said he’d guide us into the wilds and out again.”

If Tom could have seen the crafty smile on the face of the Spaniard as the man left the hotel, the young inventor might have felt even less confidence in the guide.

CHAPTER X

IN THE WILDS

“All aboard!  Step lively now!  This boat makes no stops this side of Boston!” cried Ned Newton gaily, as he got into one of the several tree canoes provided for the transportation of the party up the Chamelecon river, for the first stage of their journey into the wilds of Honduras.  “All aboard!  This reminds me of my old camping days, Tom.”

It brought those days back, in a measure, to Tom also.  For there were a number of canoes filled with the goods of the party, while the members themselves occupied a larger one with their personal baggage.  Strong, half-naked Indian paddlers were in charge of the canoes which were of sturdy construction and light draft, since the river, like most tropical streams, was of uncertain depths, choked here and there with sand bars or tropical growths.

Finding that Val Jacinto was regularly engaged in the business of taking explorers and mine prospectors into the interior, Professor Bumper had engaged the man.  He seemed to be efficient.  At the promised time he had the canoes and paddlers on hand and the goods safely stowed away while one big craft was fitted up as comfortably as possible for the men of the party.

As Ned remarked, it did look like a camping party, for in the canoes were tents, cooking utensils and, most important, mosquito canopies of heavy netting.