that Tom was seeking the buried city of gold, the Mexicans could never be shaken off his trail. He decided on a bold step.
"Look here, Senor Delazes," said the young inventor. "I had no more idea that golden image was here than you did. I would like to buy it, in fact I offered to, but they don't seem to want to sell it. If you can purchase it for me I'll pay you a good price for it."
"And doubtless the senor would like many more," suggested Delazes, with an open sneer.
"Doubtless the senor would!" snapped Tom. "Look here, Delazes, I'm here on business, to get all the relics I can—this kind or any other that I may fancy. You can think we're after buried treasure it you want to—I'm not going to take the trouble to contradict you. I hired you and your men for a certain purpose. But if you don't want to stay and let me and my friends run things, the sooner you tell me so the better. But I don't want any more of your underhand remarks. Understand?"
For a moment Delazes stared at Tom with snapping eyes, as though he would like to have attacked him. Then, knowing that Tom and his friends were well armed, and doubtless thinking that strategy was better than open force, he
