tom swift in the land of wonders(汤姆·史威夫特-奇境)-第5章
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somewhere in an ancient and buried city known as Kurzon。 If I knew
exactly where it was there wouldn't be much fun in going after it。 And if
it was known to others it would have been taken away long ago。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
〃No； we've got to hunt for the idol of gold in this land of wonders
where I hope soon to be。 Later on I'll show you the documents that put me
on the track of this idol。 Enough now to show you an old map I found； or；
rather； a copy of it； and some of the papers that tell of the idol；〃 and he
spread out his packet of papers on the table in front of him； his eyes
shining with excitement and pleasure。 Mr。 Damon； too； leaned eagerly
forward。
〃So； Tom Swift；〃 went on the professor； 〃I come to you for help in this
matter。 I want you to aid me in organizing an expedition to go to
Honduras after the idol of gold。 Will you？〃
〃I'll help you； of course；〃 said Tom。 〃You may use any of my
inventions you choosemy airships； my motor boats and submarines； even
my giant cannon if you think you can take it with you。 And as for the
money part； Ned will arrange that for you。 But as for going with you
myself； it is out of the question。 I can't。 No Honduras for me！〃
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
CHAPTER IX
FENIMORE BEECHER
Had Tom Swift's giant cannon been discharged somewhere in the
vicinity of his home it could have caused but little more astonishment to
Mr。 Damon and Professor Bumper than did the simple announcement of
the young inventor。 The professor seemed to shrink back in his chair；
collapsing like an automobile tire when the air is let out。 As for Mr。
Damon he jumped up and cried：
〃Bless my！〃
But that is as far as he gotat least just then。 He did not seem to know
what to bless； but he looked as though he would have liked to include
most of the universe。
〃Surely you don't mean it； Tom Swift；〃 gasped Professor Bumper at
length。 〃Won't you come with us？〃
〃No；〃 said Tom； slowly。 〃Really I can't go。 I'm working on an
invention of a new aeroplane stabilizer； and if I go now it will be just at a
time when I am within striking distance of success。 And the stabilizer is
very much needed。〃
〃If it's a question of making a profit on it； Tom；〃 began Mr。 Damon； 〃I
can let you have some money until〃
〃Oh； no！ It isn't the money！〃 cried Tom。 〃Don't think that for a moment。
You see the European war has called for the use of a large number of
aeroplanes； and as the pilots of them frequently have to fight； and so can
not give their whole attention to the machines； some form of automatic
stabilizer is needed to prevent them turning turtle； or going off at a wrong
tangent。
〃So I have been working out a sort of modified gyroscope； and it
seems to answer the purpose。 I have already received advance orders for
a number of my devices from abroad； and as they are destined to save
lives I feel that I ought to keep on with my work。
〃I'd like to go； don't misunderstand me； but I can't go at this time。 It
is out of the question。 If you wait a year； or maybe six months〃
〃No； it is impossible to wait； Tom；〃 declared Professor Bumper。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
〃Is it so important then to hurry？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃You did not
mention that to me； Professor Bumper。〃
〃No； I did not have time。 There are so many ends to my concerns。
But； Tom Swift； you simply must go！〃
〃I can't； my dear professor； much as I should like to。〃
〃But； Tom； think of it！〃 cried Mr。 Damon； who was as much excited as
was the little bald… headed scientist。 〃You never saw such an idol of gold
as this。 What's its name？〃 and he looked questioningly at the professor。
〃Quitzel the idol is called；〃 supplied Professor Bumper。 〃And it is
supposed to be in a buried city named Kurzon； somewhere in the Sierra de
Merendon range of mountains； in the vicinity of the Copan valley。
Copan is a city； or maybe we'll find it only a town when we get there； and
it is not far from the borders of Guatemala。
〃Tom； if I could show you the translations I have made of the ancient
documents； referring to this idol and the wonderful city over which it kept
guard； I'm sure you'd come with us。〃
〃Please don't tempt me；〃 Tom said with a laugh。 〃I'm only too
anxious to go； and if it wasn't for the stabilizer I'd be with you in a minute。
But Well； you'll have to get along without me。 Maybe I can join you
later。〃
〃What's this about the idol keeping guard over the ancient city？〃 asked
Ned； for he was interested in strange stories。
〃It seems；〃 explained the professor； 〃that in the early days there was a
strange race of people； inhabiting Central America； with a somewhat high
civilization； only traces of which remained when the Spaniards came。
〃But these traces； and such hieroglyphics； or； to be more exact
pictographs； as I have been able to decipher from the old documents； tell
of one country； or perhaps it was only a city； over which this great golden
idol of Quitzel presided。
〃There is in some of these papers a description of the idol； which is not
exactly a beauty； judged from modern standards。 But the main fact is
that it is made of solid gold； and may weigh anywhere from one to two
tons。〃
〃Two tons of gold！〃 cried New Newton。 〃Why； if that's the case it
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
would be worth〃 and he fell to doing a sum in mental arithmetic。
〃I am not so concerned about the monetary value of the statue as I am
about its antiquity；〃 went on Professor Bumper。 〃There are other statues
in this buried city of Kurzon； and though they may not be so valuable they
will give me a wealth of material for my research work。〃
〃How do you know there are other statues？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃Because my documents tell me so。 It was because the people made
other idols； in opposition； as it were； to Quitzel； that their city or country
was destroyed。 At least that is the legend。 Quitzel； so the story goes；
wanted to be the chief god； and when the image of a rival was set up in the
temple near him； he toppled over in anger； and part of the temple went
with him； the whole place being buried in ruins。 All the inhabitants were
killed； and trace of the ancient city was lost forever。 No； I hope not
forever； for I expect to find it。〃
〃If all the people were killed； and the city buried； how did the story of
Quitzel become known？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃One only of the priests in the temple of Quitzel escaped and set down
part of the tale；〃 said the professor。 〃It i
