tom swift in the land of wonders(汤姆·史威夫特-奇境)-第32章
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Tom and Ned added to the larder。
One night； after a somewhat sound sleep induced by hard travel on the
trail that day； Tom awoke to hear some one or something moving about
among their goods； which included their provisions。
〃Who's there？〃 asked the young inventor sharply； as he reached for his
electric rifle。
There was no answer； but a rattling of the pans。
〃Speak； or I'll fire！〃 Tom warned； adding this in such Spanish as he
could muster； for he thought it might be one of the Indians。 No reply
came； and then； seeing by the light of the stars a dark form moving in front
of the tent occupied by himself and Ned； Tom fired。
There was a combined grunt and squeal of pain； then a savage growl；
and Ned yelled：
〃What's the matter； Tom？〃 for he had been awakened； and heard the
crackle of the electrical discharge。
〃I don't know；〃 Tom answered。 〃But I shot somethingor
somebody！〃
〃Maybe some of Beecher's crowd；〃 ventured his chum。 But when
they got their electric torches； and focused them on the inert； black object；
it was found to be a bear which had come to nose about the camp for
dainty morsels。
Bruin was quite dead； and as he was in prime condition there was a
feast of bear meat at the following dinner。 The white travelers found it
rather too strong for their palates； but the Indians reveled in it。
It was shortly after noon the next day； when Goosal； after remarking
that a storm seemed brewing； announced that they would be at the
entrance to the cavern in another hour。
〃Good！〃 cried Professor Bumper。 〃At last we are near the buried
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
city。〃
〃Don't be too sure；〃 advised Mr。 Damon； 〃We may be disappointed。
Though I hope not for your sake； my dear Professor。〃
Goosal now took the lead； and the old Indian； traveling on foot； for he
said he could better look for the old landmark that way than on the back of
a mule； walked slowly along a rough cliff。
〃Here。 somewhere； is the entrance to the cav… ern；〃 said the aged
man。 〃It was many years ago that I was heremany years。 But it seems
as though yesterday。 It is little changed。〃
Indeed little did change in that land of wonders。 Only nature caused
what alterations there were。 The hand of man had long been absent。
Slowly Goosal walked along the rocky trail； on one side a sheer rock；
towering a hundred feet or more toward the sky。 On the other side a deep
gash leading to a great fertile valley below。
Suddenly the old man paused； and looked about him as though
uncertain。 Then； more slowly still； he put out his hand and pulled at
some bushes that grew on a ledge of the rock。 They came away； having
no depth of earth； and a small opening was disclosed。
〃It is here；〃 said Goosal quietly。 〃The entrance to the cavern that
leads to the burial place of the dead； and the city that is dead also。 It is
here。〃
He stood aside while the others hurried forward。 It took but a few
minutes to prove that he was rightat least as to the existence of the
cavernfor the four men were soon peering into the opening。
〃Come on！〃 cried Tom； impetuously。
〃Wait a moment；〃 suggested the professor； 〃Sometimes the air in these
places is foul。 We must test it。〃 But a torch one of the Indians threw in
burned with a steady glow。 That test was conclusive at least。 They
made ready to enter。
Torches of a light bark； that glowed with a steady flame and little
smoke； had been provided； as well as a good supply of electric dry…battery
lamps； and the way into the cavern was thus well lighted。 At first the
Indians were afraid to enter； but a word or two from Goosal reassured
them； and they followed Professor Bumper； Tom； and the others into the
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
cavern。
For several hundred feet there was nothing remarkable about the cave。
It was like any other cavern of the mountains； though wonderful for the
number of crystal formations on the root and wallsformations that
sparkled like a million diamonds in the flickering lights。
〃Talk about a wonderland！〃 cried Tom。 〃This is fairyland！〃
A moment later； as Goosal walked on beside the professor and Tom；
the aged Indian came to a pause； and； pointing ahead； murmured：
〃The city of the dead！〃
They saw the niches cut in the rock walls。 niches that held the
countless bones of those who had died many； many years before。 It was
a vast Indian grave。
〃Doubtless a wealth of material of historic interest here；〃 said
Professor Bumper； flashing his torch on the skeletons。 〃But it will keep。
Where is the city you spoke of； Goosal？〃
〃Farther on； Senor。 Follow me。〃
Past the stone graves they went； deeper and deeper into the great cave。
Their footsteps echoed and re…echoed。 Suddenly Tom； who with Ned had
gone a little ahead； came to a sudden halt and said：
〃Well； this may be a burial place sure enough； but I think I see
something alive all rightif it isn't a ghost。〃
He pointed ahead。 Surely those were lights flickering and moving
about； and； yes； there were men carrying them。 The Bumper party came
to a surprised halt。 The other lights advanced； and then； to the great
astonishment of Professor Bumper and his friends； there confronted them
in the cave several scientists of Professor Beecher's party and a score or
more of Indians。 Professor Hylop； who was known to Professor Bumper；
stepped forward and asked sharply：
〃What are you doing here？〃
〃I might ask you the same thing；〃 was the retort。
〃You might； but you would not be answered；〃 came sharply。 〃We
have a right here； having discovered this cavern； and we claim it under a
concession of the Honduras Government。 I shall have to ask you to
withdraw。〃
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〃Do you mean leave here？〃 asked Mr Damon。
〃That is it； exactly。 We first discovered this cave。 We have been
conducting explorations in it for several days； and we wish no outsiders。〃
〃Are you speaking for Professor Beecher〃' asked Tom。
〃I am。 But he is here in the cave； and will speak for himself if you
desire it。 But I represent him； and I order you to leave。 If you do not go
peaceably we will use force。 We have plenty of it；〃 and he glanced back
at the Indians grouped behind himscowling savage Indians。
〃We have no wish to intrude；〃 observed Professor Bumper； 〃and I fully
recognize the right of prior discovery。 But one member of our party （he
did not say which one） was in this cave many years ago。 He led us to it。〃
〃Ours is a government concession！〃 exclaimed Professor Hylop
