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第10章

tom swift in the land of wonders(汤姆·史威夫特-奇境)-第10章


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the   first   to   discover   the   idol   of   gold。 It   would   be   a   great   thing   for   a 

young archaeologist like Beecher to accomplish a mission of this sort; and 

beat Professor Bumper in the race。〃 

     〃Do you think that's why Beecher decided to go on the same steamer 

we are to take?〃 asked Ned。 

     〃Yes; I do;〃 said Mr。 Damon。          〃Though from what Professor Bumper 

said I know he regards Professor Beecher as a perfectly honorable man; as 

well as a brilliant student。       I do not believe Beecher or his party would 

stoop    to  anything    dishonorable     or  underhand;     though    they   would    not 

hesitate; nor would we; to take advantage of every fair chance to win in 

the race。〃 

     〃No;   I   suppose   that's   right;〃   observed   Tom;   but   there   was   a   queer 

gleam in his eye; and his chum wondered if Tom did not have in mind the 

prospective race between himself and Fenimore Beecher for the regard of 



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                         TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS 



Mary Nestor。        〃We'll do our best to win; and any one is at liberty to travel 

on the same   steamer we are   to take;〃   added the young inventor; and   his 

tone became more incisive。 

     〃It will be all the livelier with two expeditions after the same golden 

idol;〃 remarked Ned。 

     〃Yes;   I   think   we're   in   for   some   excitement;〃   observed   Tom   grimly。 

But even he did not realize all that lay before them ere they would reach 

Kurzon。 

     Mr。   Damon;   having   delivered   his   message;   and   remarking   that   his 

preparations for leaving were nearly completed; went back to Waterfield; 

from there to proceed to New York in a few days with Tom and Ned; to 

meet Professor Bumper。 

     〃Well;   I   guess   we   have   everything   in   pretty   good   shape;〃   remarked 

Tom to his chum a day or so after the visit of Mr。 Damon。                  〃Everything is 

packed; and as I have a few personal matters to attend to I think I'll take 

the afternoon off。〃 

     〃Go to   it!〃 laughed   Ned; guessing   a   thing   of two。  〃I've got   a   raft   of 

stuff myself to look after; but don't let that keep you。〃 

     〃If there is anything I can do;〃 began Tom; 〃don't hesitate to〃 

     〃Nonsense!〃 exclaimed Ned。             〃I can do it all alone。 It's some of the 

company's business; anyhow; and I'm paid for looking after that。〃 

     〃All right; then I'll cut along;〃 Tom said; and he wore a relieved air。 

     〃He's going   to see   Mary;〃 observed   Ned with   a grin;   as he observed 

Tom  hop   into   his   trim   little   roadster;   which   under   his   orders;   Koku   had 

polished and cleaned until it looked as though it had just come from the 

factory。 

     A  little   later   the   trim  and   speedy  car   drew   up   in   front   of   the   Nestor 

home; and Tom bounded up on the front porch; his heart not altogether as 

light as his feet。 

     〃No;   I'm   sorry;   but   Mary   isn't   in;〃   said   Mrs。   Nestor;   answering   his 

inquiry after greeting him。 

     〃Not at home?〃 

     〃No; she went on a little visit to her cousin's at Fayetteville。             She said 

something about letting you know she was going。〃 



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     〃She did drop   me   a   card;〃   answered Tom;  and;  somehow  he   did   not 

feel   at   all   cheerful。 〃But   I   thought   it   wasn't   until   next   week   she   was 

going。〃 

     〃That   was   her   plan;   Tom。   But   she   changed   it。   Her   cousin   wired; 

asking her to advance the date; and this Mary did。               There was something 

about a former school chum who was also to be at Myra's houseMyra is 

Mary's cousin you know。〃 

     〃Yes;   I   know;〃   assented   the   young   inventor。   〃And   so   Mary   is   gone。 

How long is she going to stay?〃 

     〃Oh; about two weeks。          She wasn't quite certain。        It depends on the 

kind of a time she has; I suppose。〃 

     〃Yes; I suppose so;〃 agreed Tom。           〃Well; if you write before I do you 

might say I called; Mrs。 Nestor。〃 

     〃I will; Tom。     And I know Mary will be sorry she wasn't here to take 

a ride with you; it's such a nice day;〃 and the lady smiled as she looked at 

the speedy roadster。 

     〃Maybemaybe         you'd   like  to  come     for  a  spin?〃   asked   Tom;    half 

desperately。 

     〃No;   thank   you。    I'm   too   old   to   be   jounced   around   in   one   of   those 

small cars。〃 

     〃Nonsense! She rides as easily as a Pullman sleeper。〃 

     〃Well; I have to go to a Red Cross meeting; anyhow; so I can't come; 

Tom。     Thank you; just the same。〃 

     Tom did not drive back immediately to his home。                He wanted to do a 

bit of thinking; and he believed he could do it best by himself。               So it was 

late afternoon when he again greeted Ned; who; meanwhile; had been kept 

very busy。 

     〃Well?〃 called Tom's chum。 

     〃Um!〃 was the only answer; and Tom called Koku to put the car away 

in the garage。 

     〃Something wrong;〃 mused Ned。 

     The next three days were crowded with events and with work。                       Mr。 

Damon came over frequently to consult with Tom and Ned; and finally the 

last   of   their   baggage   had   been   packed;   certain   of   Tom's   inventions   and 



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implements sent on by express to New York to be taken to Honduras; and 

then our friends themselves followed to the metropolis。 

     〃Good…bye; Tom;〃 said his father。           〃Good… bye; and good luck! If you 

don't   get   the   idol   of   gold   I'm   sure   you'll   have   experiences   that   will   be 

valuable to you。〃 

     〃We're going to get the idol of gold!〃 said Tom determinedly。 

     〃Look out for the bad bugs;〃 suggested Eradicate。 

     〃We will;〃 promised Ned。 

     Tom's last act was to send a message to Mary Nestor; and then he; with 

Ned and Mr。 Damon; who blessed everything in sight from the gasoline in 

the automobile to the blue sky overhead; started for the station。 

     New York was reached without incident。               The trio put up at the hotel 

where Professor Bumper was to meet them。 

     〃He hasn't arrived yet;〃 said Tom; after glancing over the names on the 

hotel register and not seeing Professor Bumper's among them。 

     〃Oh; he'll be here all right;〃 asserted Mr。 Damon。            〃Bless my galvanic 

battery! he sent me a telegram at one o'clock this morning saying he'd be 

sure to meet us in New York。           No fear of him not starting for the land of 

wonders。〃 

     〃There are some other professors registered; though;〃 observed Ned; as 

he glanced at the book; noting the names of several scientists of whom he 

and Tom had read。 

     〃Yes。     I  wonder     what   they're   doing    in  New    York;〃    replied   Tom。 

〃They   are   from   New   England。       Maybe   there's   a   convention   going   on。 

Well; we'll have to wait; that's all; until Professor Bumper comes。〃 

     And   during   that   wait   Tom   heard   something   that   surprised   him   and 

caused   him   no   little   worry。  It   was   when   Ned   came   back   to   his   room; 

which adjoined Tom's; that the young treasurer gave his chum the news。 

     〃I   say; Tom!〃   Ned   exclaimed。      〃Who   do   you   think   those   professors 

are; whose names we saw on the register?〃 

     〃I haven't the least idea。〃 

     〃Why; they're of Beecher's party!〃 

     〃You don't mean it!〃 

     〃I surely do。〃 



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                        TOM SWI

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