tom swift in the land of wonders(汤姆·史威夫特-奇境)-第20章
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〃I don't know； but it's some big animal there in the bushes；〃 was Tom's
low…voiced answer。 〃I'm ready for it。〃
The rustling increased； and a form could be seen indistinctly。 Tom
aimed the deadly gun and stood ready to pull the trigger。
Ned； tho had a side view into the underbrush； gave a sudden cry。
〃Don't shoot； Tom！〃 he yelled。 〃It's a man！〃
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
CHAPTER XIV：
A NEW GUIDE
In spite of Ned Newton's cry； Tom's finger pressed the switch…trigger
of the electric rifle； for previous experience had taught him that it was
sometimes the best thing to awe the natives in out…of…the…way corners of
the earth。 But the young inventor quickly elevated the muzzle； and the
deadly missile went hissing through the air over the head of a native
Indian who； at that moment； stepped from the bush。
The man； startled and alarmed； shrank back and was about to run into
the jungle whence he had emerged。 Small wonder if he had； considering
the reception he so unwittingly met with。 But Tom。 aware of the
necessity for making inquiries of one who knew that part of the jungle；
quickly called to him。
〃Hold on！〃 he shouted。 〃Wait a minute。 I didn't mean that。 I
thought at first you were a tapir or a tiger。 No harm intended。 I say；
Professor；〃 Tom called back to the savant； 〃you'd better speak to him in his
lingo； I can't manage it。 He may be useful in guiding us to that Indian
village Jacinto told us of。〃
This Professor Bumper did； being able to make himself understood in
the queer part…Spanish dialect used by the native Hondurians； though he
could not； of course； speak it as fluently as had Jacinto。
Professor Bumper had made only a few remarks to the man who had
so unexpectedly appeared out of the jungle when the scientist gave an
exclamation of surprise at some of the answers made。
〃Bless my moving picture！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。
〃What's the matter now？ Is anything wrong？ Does he refuse to help
us？〃
〃No； it isn't that；〃 was the answer。 〃In fact he came here to help us。
Tom； this is the brother of the Indian who fell overboard and who was
eaten by the alligators。 He says you were very kind to try to save his
brother with your rifle； and for that reason he has come back to help us。〃
〃Come back？〃 queried Tom。
〃Yes； he went off with the rest of the Indians when Jacinto deserted us；
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
but he could not stand being a traitor； after you had tried to save his
brother's life。 These Indians are queer people。
They don't show much emotion； but they have deep feelings。 This
one says he will devote himself to your service from now on。 I believe
we can count on him。 He is deeply grateful to you； Tom。〃
〃I'm glad of that for all our sakes。 But what does he say about
Jacinto？〃
The professor asked some more questions； receiving answers； and then
translated them。
〃This Indian； whose name is Tolpec； says Jacinto is a fraud；〃
exclaimed Professor Bumper。 〃He made all the Indians leave us in the
night； though many of them were willing to stay and fill the contract they
had made。 But Jacinto would not let them； making them desert。 Tolpec
went away with the others； but because of what Tom had done he planned
to come back at the first chance and be our guide。 Accordingly he
jumped ashore from one of the canoes； and made his way to our camp。
He got there； found it deserted and followed us； coming up just now。〃
〃Well I'm glad I didn't frighten him off with my gun；〃 remarked Tom
grimly。 〃So he agrees with us that Jacinto is a scoundrel； does he？ I
guess he might as well classify Professor Beecher in the same way。〃
〃I am not quite so sure of that；〃 said Professor Bumper slowly。 〃I can
not believe Beecher would play such a trick as this； though some over…
zealous friend of his might。〃
〃Oh； of course Beecher did it！〃 cried Tom。 〃He heard we were coming
here； figured out that we'd start ahead of him； and he wanted to side… track
us。 Well； he did it all right；〃 and Tom's voice was bitter。
〃He has only side…tracked us for a while；〃 announced Professor
Bumper in cheerful tones。
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃I mean that this Indian comes just in the nick of time。 He is well
acquainted with this part of the jungle； having lived here all his life； and he
offers to guide us to a place where we can get mules to transport ourselves
and our baggage to Copan。〃
〃Fine！〃 cried Ned。 〃When can we start？〃
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
Once more the professor and the native conversed in the strange
tongue； and then Professor Bumper announced：
〃He says it will be better for us to go back where we left our things
and camp there。 He will stay with us to…night and in the morning go on
to the nearest Indian town and come back with porters and helpers。〃
〃I think that is good advice to follow；〃 put in Tom； 〃for we do need our
goods； and if we reached the settlement ourselves； we would have to send
back for our things； with the uncertainty of getting them all。〃
So it was agreed that they would make a forced march back through
the jungle to where they had been deserted by Jacinto。 There they would
make camp for the night； and until such time as Tolpec could return with a
force of porters。
It was not easy； that backward tramp through the jungle； especially as
night had fallen。 But the new Indian guide could see like a cat； and led
the party along paths they never could have found by themselves。 The
use of their pocket electric lights was a great help； and possibly served to
ward off the attacks of jungle beasts； for as they tramped along they could
hear stealthy sounds in the underbush on either side of the path； as though
tigers were stalking them。 For there was in the woods an animal of the
leopard family； called tiger or 〃tigre〃 by the natives； that was exceedingly
fierce and dangerous。 But watchfulness prevented any accident； and
eventually the party reached the place where they had left their goods。
Nothing had been disturbed； and finally a fire was made； the tents set up
and a light meal； with hot tea served。
〃We'll get ahead of Beecher yet；〃 said Tom。
〃You seem as anxious as Professor Bumper；〃 observed Mr。 Damon；
〃I guess I am；〃 admitted Tom。 〃I want to see that idol of gold in the
possession of our party。〃
The night passed without incident； and then； telling his new friends
that he would return as soon as possible with help； Tolpec； taking a small
supply of food with him； set out through the jungle again。
As the green vines and creepers closed after him； and the explorers
were left alone with their posse
