Tom Swift in the Land of Wonders; Or, The Underground Search for the Idol of Gold

had heard at the Nestor home. Not for the worl

But it sure is queer that this Professor Beecher should have taken such a fancy to Mary, and that her father should regard him so

probably thinks he's the whole show. If he can find the buried cit

n three sizes of fitting him. Then he'd stand in better than ever with Mr. Nestor. A

know that I know. And if I can do anything to help in finding that idol of gold for Pro

s magazine he was carrying home to read again, and the resultant noise was a s

on t

of a holdup, but his fears were allayed when he behe

d," went on the officer. "I was walkin' alon

," answered Ned with a laug

officer. "I thought you was talkin' to a confederate abou

much amused. "I was talking to myself about a

iceman. "I can understand it, if it had a

or a moment with the officer, and then, bidding him good-night, walked on to his home, his mind in a whirl with congl

d several consultations and conducted several experiments in regard to the new stabilizer, the completion of

n shape, so they would practically run themselves during his absence. T

what to do. He had told Tom and Ned that all they and Mr. Damon would have to do woul

the start) Eradicate came shuffling into the room where Tom was sorting out

it?" asked Tom, with

yo' all's gwine off on a lo

hat's s

ut I'd bettah take wif me. Shall I

"you'd need cool clothes, for we're going to a sort of ju

' mean dat yo' all ain't gw

d. It isn't an

nt, who entered with a big trunk Tom had sent him for

o' may be strong laik a bull, but ya' ain't got as much sense as mah mule, Bo

oice was a roar while he beat on hi

as likely to be bothersome, wi

're going. It's a bad country. Why the mosquitoes ther

ated the old colored ma

that burrows under your fingernails, and if

, Massa Tom! A

ant to see those thing

colored man s

" he said. "I-- I

ow Tom and Ned proposed to comb

ose of, and he stood smiling br

d bugs," sai

not, Koku. Your skin is pretty tough. But I understand there are deep pools of water in the land where we are going, a

r Tom?" and Koku

ch a fish, I'm sure, but

wild animal, had a very great fear of the water and the unseen life within it. Even a little fresh-water crab in a brook was enough to send him shrieking to shore. S

keep bad mans out

had talked the matter over, and they had agreed that the presence of such a big man as Koku

looked over a collection of rifles and small arms, to de

her," remarked Ned, with

perience in business of this sort, and with what you and Professor Bumper and Mr

of your own ai

h an air of indifference. But Ned knew his chum wo

in his affair with Mary Nestor, and of course N

d. There were one or two matters yet to finish on Tom's part

prospective trip, when Mrs. Baggert, answering a ring a

o come in,"

e shook hands with Tom and Ned and noted the packing eviden

wonders?" r

be wonderful, Tom. Think of whole cities, some of them containing idols and temples of g

"I suppose you're ready, Mr.

ave a bit of unplea

asant

rival-a man named Beecher who is a member o

Tom said it no one would have suspected that

give his secret a

Damon, "also knows about the idol of gold, and is tr

of it, but nothing was

Mr. Damon. "Bless my toothpic

om. "Is Beecher certai

, he and his party will leave New