“I shall certainly abide by such conduct as is usual under the circumstances,” said Professor Beecher more stiffly than before.  “At the same time I must deny having set a trap.  And as for Jacinto——­”

“It will be useless to discuss it further!” broke in Professor Bumper.

“Then no more need be said,” retorted the younger man.  “I shall give orders to my friends, as well as to the natives, to keep away from your camp, and I shall expect you to do the same regarding mine.”

“I should have suggested the same thing myself,” came from Tom’s friend, and the two rival scientists fairly glared at one another, the others of both parties looking on with interest.

Professor Bumper turned and walked defiantly back to his tent.  Professor Beecher did the same thing.  Then, after a short consultation among the white members of the latter’s organization, their tents were set up in another clearing, removed and separated by a screen of trees and bushes from those of Tom Swift’s friends.  The natives of the Beecher party also withdrew a little way from those of Professor Bumper’s organization, and then preparations for spending the night in the jungle went on in the rival headquarters.

“Well, he certainly had nerve, to deny, practically, that he had set Jacinto up to do what he did,” commented Tom.

“I should say so!” agreed Ned.

“How do you imagine he got here nearly as soon as we did, when he did not start until later?” asked Mr. Damon.

“He did not have the unfortunate experience of being deserted in the jungle,” replied Tom.  “He probably had Jacinto, or some of that unprincipled scoundrel’s friends, show him a short route to Copan and he came on from there.”

“Well, I did hope we might have the ground to ourselves, at least for the preliminary explorations and excavations.  But it is not to be.  My rival is here,” sighed Professor Bumper.

“Don’t let that discourage you!” exclaimed Tom.  “We can fight all the better now the foe is in the open, and we know where he is.”

“Yes, Tom Swift, that is true,” agreed the scientist.  “I am not going to give up, but I shall have to change my plans a little.  Perhaps you will come into the tent with me,” and he nodded to Tom and Ned.  “I want to talk over certain matters with you and Mr. Damon.”

“Pleased to,” assented the young inventor, and his financial secretary nodded.

A little later, supper having been eaten, the camp made shipshape and the natives settled down, Tom, Ned, Mr. Damon and Professor Bumper assembled in the tent of the scientist, where a dry battery lamp gave sufficient illumination to show a number of maps and papers scattered over an improvised table.

“Now, gentlemen,” said the professor, “I have called you here to go over my plans more in detail than I have hitherto done, now we are on the ground.  You know in a general way what I hope to accomplish, but the time has come when I must be specific.