So, in a little while, the travelers were all slumbering. But the professor was wrong in his surmise that they were the only inhabitants of the underground city. No sooner had a series of snores proclaimed that every one was sleeping than from a dark recess on the opposite side of the temple to that where the automobile stood there came a strange figure, clad in white. If Bob had seen it he surely would have said it was a ghost.
"So you found my ancient city after all," whispered the figure. "You know now that the Mexican magician was telling the truth, and you realize that you found the place sooner than you expected, and in a strange manner. But there will be more strange things happen before you go from here, I promise you."
"Are the _Americano_ dogs asleep?" sounded a whisper from the recess whence came the aged Mexican, who had so strangely prophesied to the professor.
"Yes, San Lucia, they are asleep," replied the first figure, as another, attired as he was, joined him. "But speak softly, for they have sharp ears and wake easily."
"Have they the gold with them?" asked San Lucia, who was also quite old. "That is what we want, Murado. Have they the gold?"
"All _Americanos_ have gold," replied Murado. "That is why I lured them on. All my plans were made to get them here that we might take their gold."
"And you succeeded wonderfully well, Murado. Tell me about it, for I have not had a chance to talk to you since you arrived in such breathless haste."
"There is not much to tell," replied the other. "I heard of their arrival in a short time after they reached Mexico. Then, in a secret way, I heard what they were searching for. Chance made it possible for me to somewhat startle them by pretending to know more than I did. I met them on the road and told them of what they were in search and how to find it."
"That was easy, since you knew so well yourself," interrupted San Lucia. "We have not been brigands for nothing, Murado. Well do I remember the day you and I came upon this buried city. And it has been our headquarters ever since."
"As I said, it was easy to mystify them," went on Murado. "They traveled fast in their steam wagon, or whatever it is, but I knew several short cuts that enabled me to get ahead of them. I was hidden in the hollow stone image of the laughing serpent and saw, through the little eye-holes, how they came up and took the paper I had written and put between the lips of the reptile. Oh, it all worked out as I had planned, and now we have them here where we want them."