"I'm robbed! I'm robbed!" exclaimed Professor Snodgrass, bursting intothe room. He was attired in blue pajamas, and his bald head was shiningin the candle light.
"What did they get from you?" asked the Don, his face once more showinginterest.
"The rascals took three fine specimens of sand fleas from me!" exclaimedthe naturalist. "The loss is irreparable!"
"_Diablo!_" exclaimed the Don, under his breath. "Three sand fleas! Ah,these crazy _Americanos_!"
"I fancy you can get more, Professor," said Jones, with a laugh. "Well,there seems to be no great damage done. I reckon we can all go back tobed now."
The servants, who had been aroused by the commotion, went back to theirrooms. In a little while the Don, with many and profuse apologies,withdrew, and the professor and Bob returned to their apartments. Joneswas the last to go.
"I told you to be on the watch," he whispered, as he prepared to leave."I overheard some of the rascals making up a game to relieve you of someof your cash. I wouldn't say the Don was in on it, but the sooner youget out of this place the better. You can go to sleep now. There is nomore danger. Lucky one of you happened to wake up in time or you'd havebeen cleaned out. Good-night."
"Good-night," said Ned and Jerry, as they locked their door, which hadbeen opened by false keys. They went to bed and slept soundly untildaybreak, in spite of the excitement. Nor were they disturbed again.
Don Alvarzo talked of nothing but the attempted robbery the next morningat breakfast. He declared he had sent one of his men post-haste toinform the authorities, who, he said, would dispatch a troop of soldiersto search for the miscreant.
"I am covered with confusion that my guests should be so insulted," hesaid.
But, somehow, his voice did not ring true. The boys and the professor,however, thanked him for his consideration and hospitality.
"I think we must be traveling now," announced Jerry.
"Will you not pass another night under my roof?" asked the Don. "Ipromise you that you will not be awakened by robbers again."
"No, thank you," said Jerry. Afterward, he said the Don might carry outhis promise too literally, and take means to prevent them from wakingif thieves did enter their rooms. So, amid protestations that he wasdisappointed at the shortness of their stay, and begging them to comeand see him again, the Don said farewell.
"I think, perhaps, we ought to pay for the damage to your boat," saidJerry, not wishing to be under any obligations to the Mexican.
"Do not insult me, I beg of you!" exclaimed the Don, and he reallyseemed so hurt that Jerry did not press it. Then, with a toot of thehorn, the auto started off on the trip through Mexico.
It was a beautiful day, and the boys were enchanted with the scenery.Behind them lay the broad Rio Grande, while off to the right were thefoothills that increased in height and size until they became the mightymountains. The foliage was deep green from the recent shower, and thesun shone, making the whole country appear a most delightful place.
"It looked as if our entrance into Mexico was not going to be verypleasant," said Jerry, "especially during the storm and the smash-upwith the house-boat. But to-day it couldn't be better."
"That was a close call you and Ned had," put in Bob. "I wonder why theydidn't tackle me?"
"Because you are so good-natured-looking the robbers knew you never hadany money," replied Jerry, with a laugh. "I wonder what Chunky wouldhave done if a Mexican brigand had demanded his money-belt?"
"He could have had it without me making a fuss," replied the stoutyouth. "Money is a good thing, but I think more of myself than half adozen money-belts."
"Ah, my poor fleas!" exclaimed the professor. "I wonder if the robberkilled them."
"I guess they hopped away," suggested Ned.
"No, they would never leave me," went on the naturalist.
"Well, I'm glad I haven't such an intimate acquaintance with them asthat," commented Jerry, with a laugh.
"Oh, they were tame. They never bit me once," the professor said, withpride in his voice.
With Ned at the steering-wheel, the auto made good time. The road wasa fair one, skirting the edge of a vast plain for several miles. Aboutnoon the path led into a dense forest, where there was barely room forthe machine to pass the thick trees and vines that bordered the way oneither side.
"I hope we don't get caught in this wilderness," said Ned, making askilful turn to avoid a fallen tree.
"Supposing we stop now and get dinner," suggested Jerry. "It's pastnoon, and I'm hungry."
The plan was voted a good one. The portable stove that burned gasolenewas set going, coffee was made and some canned chicken was warmed in afrying pan. With some seasoning and frijoles Don Alvarzo had given themthe boys made an excellent meal.
After a rest beneath the trees the boys started off in their auto again.The road widened when they had gone a few miles, and improved so thattraveling was easier. About dusk they came to a small village, in thecentre of which was a comfortable-looking inn.
"How will that do to stop at overnight?" asked Ned.
"First rate," answered Jerry.
The auto was steered into the yard, and the proprietor of the place cameout, bowing and smiling.
"Your friends have just preceded you, senors," he said.
"Our friends?" asked Jerry, in surprise.
"_Si, senor._ Don Nixon and Don Pender. They were here not above an hourago. I think they must be your friends, because they were in the samesort of an engine as yourselves."
"Noddy Nixon here!" exclaimed Jerry.
CHAPTER VII.
A FIERCE FIGHT.
The boys glanced at each other in blank astonishment. As for ProfessorSnodgrass, he was too occupied with chasing a little yellow tree-toad topay much attention to anything but the pursuit of specimens.
"We seem bound to cross the trail of Noddy sooner or later," remarkedNed. "Well, if he's ahead of us he can't be behind, that's oneconsolation."
"Will the honorable senors be pleased to enter my poor inn?" spoke theMexican, bowing low.
"I suppose we may as well stop here," said Jerry, in a low tone to hiscompanions. "It looks like a decent place, and it will give Noddy achance to get a good way ahead, which is what we want. But I don't seewhat he means by going on when it will soon be night."
The auto was run under a shed, its appearance causing some fright amongthe servants and a few travelers, who began to mutter their prayers inSpanish. The boys, escorted by the Mexican, then entered the hostelry.It was a small but decent-looking place, as Jerry had said. The boyswere shown to rooms where, washing off some of the grime of theirjourney, they felt better.
"Supper is ready," announced the innkeeper, who spoke fairly goodEnglish.
"Where is the professor?" asked Ned, as the boys descended to thedining-room.
"The last I saw of him he was climbing up the tree after that toad,"answered Bob. "But here he comes now."
The naturalist came hurrying into the room, clasping something in hishand.
"I've got it! I've got it!" he shouted. "A perfect beauty!"
The professor opened his fingers slightly to peer at his prize, when thetoad, taking advantage of the opportunity, hopped on the floor and wasrapidly escaping.
"Oh, oh, he's got away!" the professor exclaimed. "Help me catch him,everybody! He's worth a thousand dollars!"
The naturalist got down on his hands and knees and began crawling afterthe hopping tree-toad, while the boys could not restrain their laughter.A crowd of servants gathered in the doorway to watch the antics of thestrange _Americano_.
"There! I have you again, my beauty!" cried the professor, pouncing onhis specimen in a corner of the room. "You shall not escape again!" andwith that he popped the toad into a small specimen box which he alwayswore strapped on his back.
"Tell me," began the innkeeper, in a low tone, sidling up to Jerry,"is your elderly friend, the bald-headed senor, is he--ah--um--is he alittle, what you _Americanos_ call--er--wheels?" and
he moved his fingerwith a circular motion in front of his forehead.
"Not in the least," replied the boy. "He is only collecting specimensfor his college."
The Mexican shrugged his shoulders and spread out his hands in anapologetic sort of way, but it was easy to see that he believedProfessor Snodgrass insane, an idea that was shared by all the servantsin the inn, for not one of them, during the adventurers' brief stay inthe hotel, would approach him without muttering a prayer.
"I wonder what we'll have to eat?" asked Ned, as with the others heprepared to sit down.
The innkeeper clapped his hands, which signal served in lieu of a bellfor the servants. In a little while a meal of fish, eggs, chocolate andchicken, with the ever-present frijoles and tortillas, was served. Ittasted good to the hungry lads, though as Jerry remarked he would havepreferred it just as much if there hadn't been so much red pepper andgarlic in everything.
"Water! Water! Quick!" cried Bob, after taking a generous mouthful offrijoles, which contained an extra amount of red pepper. "My mouth is onfire!"
He swallowed a tumblerful of liquid before he had eased the smart causedby the fiery condiment. Thereafter he was careful to taste each dishwith a little nibble before he indulged too freely.
In spite of these drawbacks, the boys enjoyed their experience, and wereinterested in the novelty of everything they saw.
"I wonder how we are to sleep?" said Jerry, after the meal was over."I've heard that Mexican beds were none of the best."
"You shall sleep the sleep of the just, senors," broke in the Mexicanhotel keeper, coming up just as Jerry spoke. "My inn is full, every roomis occupied, but you shall sleep _en el sereno_."
"Well, as long as it's on a good bed in a room where the mosquitoescan't get in I shan't mind that," spoke Bob. "I don't know as I caremuch for scenery, but if it goes with the bed, why, all right."
"You'll sleep in no room to-night," said Professor Snodgrass, who forthe moment was not busy hunting specimens. "By '_en el sereno_' ourfriend means that you must sleep out of doors, under the stars. It isoften done in this country. They put the beds out in the courtyard orgarden and throw a mosquito net over them."
"That's good enough," said Bob. "It won't be the first time we'veslept in the open. Bring on the '_en el sereno_,'" and he laughed, theinnkeeper joining in.
The beds for the travelers were soon made up. They consisted of lightcots of wood, with a few blankets on them. Placed out in the courtyard,under the trees, with the sky for a roof, the sleeping-places wereindeed in the open.
But the boys and Professor Snodgrass had no fault to find. They hadpartaken of a good meal, they were tired with their day's journey, andabout nine o'clock voted to turn in.
"We'll keep our revolvers handy this time," said Bob, "though I guess wewon't need 'em."
"Can't be too sure," was Ned's opinion, as he took off his shoes andplaced his weapon under his pillow.
It was not long before snores told that the travelers were sound asleep.For several hours the inn bustled with life, for the Mexicans did notseem to care much about rest. At length the place became quiet, andat midnight there was not a sound to be heard, save the noises of theforest, which was no great distance away, and the vibrations caused bythe breathing of the slumberers.
It was about two o'clock in the morning when Bob was suddenly awakenedby feeling a hand passed lightly over his face.
"Here!" he cried. "Get out of that!"
"Silence!" hissed a voice in his ear. But Bob was too frightened tokeep quiet. He gave a wild yell and tried to struggle to his feet. Someone thrust him back on the cot, and rough hands tried to rip off hismoney-belt. The boy fought fiercely, and struck out with both fists.
"Wake up, Jerry and Ned!" he yelled. "We're being robbed. Shoot 'em!"
The courtyard became a scene of wild commotion. It was dark, for themoon was covered with clouds, but as Jerry and Ned sat up, alarmed byBob's voice, they could detect dim forms moving about among the trees.
"The Mexicans are robbing us!" shouted Ned. He drew his revolver andfired in the air for fear of hitting one of his comrades. By the lightof the weapon's flash he saw a man close to him. Bob aimed the pistol inthe fellow's face and pulled the trigger. There was a report, followedby a loud yell. At the same time a thousand stars seemed to dance beforeNed's eyes, and he fell back, knocked unconscious by a hard blow.
Jerry had sprung to his feet, to be met by a blow in the face from abrawny fist. He quickly recovered himself, however, and grappled withhis assailant. He found he was but an infant in the hands of a strongman. The boy tried to reach for his revolver, but just as his handtouched the butt of the weapon he received a stinging blow on the headand he toppled over backward, his senses leaving him.
In the meanwhile Bob was still struggling with the robber who hadattacked him. Fleshy as he was, Bob had considerable strength, and hewrestled with the fellow. They both fell to the ground and rolled over.In their struggles they got underneath one of the beds.
"Let me go!" yelled Bob. At that instant he felt the ear of his enemycome against his mouth. The boy promptly seized the member in his teethand bit it hard enough to make the fellow howl for mercy.
Bob suddenly found himself released, and the robber, with a parting blowthat made the boy's head sing, rolled away from under the bed and tookto his heels.
"Help! help! help!" cried Professor Snodgrass, as Bob tried to situpright, for it was under the bed of the naturalist that the boy hadrolled. In straightening up he had tipped the scientist, who, up to thispoint, had been sleeping soundly on the cot.
"What is it? What has happened? Is it a fire? Has an earthquakeoccurred? Is the river rising? Has a tidal wave come in? Santa Maria!But what is all the noise about?" cried the landlord, rushing into thecourtyard, bearing an ancient lantern. "What has happened, senors? Wasyour rest disturbed?"
"Was our rest disturbed?" inquired Bob, in as sarcastic a tone aspossible under the circumstances. "Well, I would say yes! A band ofrobbers attacked us."
"A band of robbers! Santa Maria! Impossible! There are no robbers inMexico!" and the innkeeper began to chatter volubly in Spanish.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE OLD MEXICAN.
"Well, if they weren't robbers they were a first-class imitation,"responded Bob. "There's Jerry and Ned knocked out, at any rate, and theynearly did for me. They would have, only I bit the chap's ear. I guessI'll know him again; he has my mark on him."
"Bit his ear! The _Americano_ is brave! But we must see to the poorunfortunate senors! Robbers! Impossible!"
By this time the whole inn was aroused and the courtyard was filled withservants and guests. Water was brought and with it Jerry and Ned wererevived.
"What happened?" began Jerry. "Oh, I remember now! Did they get ourmoney?"
"I guess they got yours and Ned's," said Bob, in sorrowful tones, as henoted his chums' disordered clothing and saw that the money-belts weregone. "They didn't get mine, though, so we're not in such bad luck,after all. How do you feel?"
"As if a road-roller had gone over me," replied Jerry.
"Same here," put in Ned, holding his head in his hands. "He must havegiven me a pretty good whack. Who was it robbed us?"
"Are you sure you were robbed, senors?" asked the hotel keeper. "Perhapsyou may have been dreaming."
"Does that look as if it was only a nightmare?" asked Ned, showing a biglump on his head.
"Or this?" added Jerry, showing his clothing cut with a knife where therobber had slashed it in order to take out the money-belt.
"No, it was not a dream," murmured the innkeeper. "There must have beenrobbers here. I wonder who they were?"
"They didn't leave their cards, so it's hard to say," remarked Jerry. "Idon't suppose the burglars down here are in the habit of sending wordin advance of their visit, or of telling the police where to find themafter they commit a crime."
"Never! Never!" exclaimed the Mexican host. "But speaking of the police,I must tell them ab
out this some time to-morrow."
"Any time will do," put in Ned. "We're in no hurry, you know."
"I am glad of that," said the hotel keeper, in all seriousness. "Most_Americanos_ are in such a rush, and I have to go to market to-morrow.The next day will do very well. I thank you, senors. Now I bid yougood-night, and pleasant dreams."
"Well, he certainly does take things easy," said Jerry, when theinnkeeper and his servants, with many polite bows, had withdrawn. "Hedon't seem to care much whether we were nearly killed or not. I guessthis must be a regular occurrence down here."
"I always heard the Mexican brigands were terrible fellows," saidProfessor Snodgrass. "Now I am sure of it. I am glad they did not getany of my specimens, however. All my treasures are safe."
"But Ned and I have lost five hundred dollars each," put in Jerry.
"You can get more from the gold mine," went on the professor.
"Yes; but it may spoil our trip," said Ned.
"I have my five hundred dollars," said Bob.
"And I have nearly one thousand in bills," spoke the professor, in awhisper. "We will have enough. The robbers would never suspect me ofcarrying money. Listen; it is in the box with the big lizard and thebat, and no one will ever look there for it," and he chuckled in silentglee.
The Motor Boys in Mexico; Or, The Secret of the Buried City Page 4
