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 are objecting."
"Offer to buy it then," suggested Ned.
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