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〃I know；〃 assented Tom。 〃I wonderI wonder why he is going
there？〃
〃I can tell you that； too。〃
〃You can？ You're a regular detective。〃
〃No； I just happened to overhear it。 Beecher is going to call on Mary
Nestor in Fayetteville； so his friends here said he told them； and his call
has to do with an important matterto him！〃 and Ned gazed curiously at
his chum。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
CHAPTER VIII
OFF FOR HONDURAS
Just what Tom's thoughts were； Ned； of course； could not guess。
But by the flush that showed under the tan of his chum's cheeks the young
financial secretary felt pretty certain that Tom was a bit apprehensive of
the outcome of Professor Beecher's call on Mary Nestor。
〃So he is going to see her about ‘something important；' Ned？〃
〃That's what some members of his party called it。〃
〃And they're waiting here for him to join them？〃
〃Yes。 And it means waiting a week for another steamer。 It must be
something pretty important； don't you think； to cause Beecher to risk that
delay in starting after the idol of gold？〃
〃Important？ Yes； I suppose so；〃 assented Tom。 〃And yet even if he
waits for the next steamer he will get to Honduras nearly as soon as we
do。〃
〃How is that？〃
〃The next boat is a faster one。〃
〃Then why don't we take that？ I hate dawdling along on a slow
freighter。〃
〃Well； for one thing it would hardly do to change now； when all our
goods are on board。 And besides； the captain of the _Relstab_； on which
we are going to sail； is a friend of Professor Bumper's。〃
〃Well； I'm just as glad Beecher and his party aren't going with us；〃
resumed Ned； after a pause。 〃It might make trouble。〃
〃Oh； I'm ready for any trouble HE might make！〃 quickly exclaimed
Tom。
He meant trouble that might be developed in going to Honduras； and
starting the search for the lost city and the idol of gold。 This kind of
trouble Tom and his friends had experienced before； on other trips where
rivals had sought to frustrate their ends。
But； in his heart； though he said nothing to Ned about it； Tom was
worried。 Much as he disliked to admit it to himself； he feared the visit of
Professor Beecher to Mary Nestor in Fayetteville had but one meaning。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
〃I wonder if he's going to propose to her；〃 thought Tom。 〃He has the
field all to himself now； and her father likes him。 That's in his favor。 I
guess Mr。 Nestor has never quite forgiven me for that mistake about the
dynamite box； and that wasn't my fault。 Then； too； the Beecher and
Nestor families have been friends for years。 Yes； he surely has the inside
edge on me； and if he gets her to throw me over Well； I won't give up
without a fight！〃 and Tom mentally girded himself for a battle of wits。
〃He's relying on the prestige he'll get out of this idol of gold if his
party finds it；〃 thought on the young inventor。 〃But I'll help find it first。
I'm glad to have a little start of him； anyhow； even if it isn't more than two
days。 Though if our vessel is held back much by storms he may get on
the ground first。 However； that can't be helped。 I'll do the best I can。〃
These thoughts shot through Tom's mind even as Ned was asking his
questions and making comments。 Then the young inventor； shaking his
shoulders as though to rid them of some weight； remarked：
〃Well； come on out and see the sights。 It will be long before we look
on Broadway again。〃
When the chums returned from their sightseeing excursion； they found
that Professor Bumper had arrived。
〃Where's Professor Bumper？〃 asked Ned； the next day。
〃In his room； going over books； papers and maps to make sure he has
everything。〃
〃And Mr。 Damon？〃
Tom did not have to answer that last question。 Into the apartment came
bursting the excited individual himself。
〃Bless my overshoes！〃 he cried； 〃I've been looking everywhere for you！
Come on； there's no time to lose！〃
〃What's the matter now？〃 asked Ned。 〃Is the hotel on fire？〃
〃Has anything happened to Professor Bumper？〃 Tom demanded； a
wild idea forming in his head that perhaps some one of the Beecher party
had tried to kidnap the discoverer of the lost city of Pelone。
〃Oh； everything is all right；〃 answered Mr。 Damon。 〃But it's nearly
time for the show to start； and we don't want to be late。 I have tickets。〃
〃For what？〃 asked Tom and Ned together。
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〃The movies；〃 was the laughing reply。 〃Bless my loose ribs！ but I
wouldn't miss him for anything。 He's in a new play called ‘Up in a Balloon
Boys。' It's great！〃 and Mr。 Damon named a certain comic moving picture
star in whose horse…play Mr。 Damon took a curious interest。 Tom and Ned
were glad enough to go； Tom that he might have a chance to do a certain
amount of thinking； and Ned because he was still boy enough to like
moving pictures。
〃I wonder； Tom；〃 said Mr。 Damon； as they came out of the theater two
hours later； all three chuckling at the remembrance of what they had seen；
〃I wonder you never turned your inventive mind to the movies。〃 〃Maybe
I will； some day；〃 said Tom。
He spoke rather uncertainly。 The truth of the matter was that he was
still thinking deeply of the visit of Professor Beecher to Mary Nestor； and
wondering what it portended。
But if Tom's sleep was troubled that night he said nothing of it to his
friends。 He was up early the next morning； for they were to leave that
day； and there was still considerable to be done in seeing that their
baggage and supplies were safely loaded； and in attending to the last
details of some business matters。
While at the hotel they had several glimpses of the members of the
Beecher party who were awaiting the arrival of the young professor who
was to lead them into the wilds of Honduras。 But our friends did not seek
the acquaintance of their rivals。 The latter； likewise； remained by
themselves； though they knew doubtless that there was likely to be a
strenuous race for the possession of the idol of gold； then； it was presumed；
buried deep in some forest…covered city。
Professor Bumper had made his arrangements carefully。 As he
explained to his friends； they would take the steamer from New York to
Puerto Cortes； one of the principal seaports of Honduras。 This is a town
of about three thousand inhabitants； with an excellent harbor and a big pier
along which vessels can tie up and discharge their cargoes directly into
waiting cars。
The preparations were finally completed。 The party went aboard the
steamer； which was a large freight vessel； carrying a limited number of
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
passengers； and late one afternoon swung down New York Bay。
〃Off for Honduras！〃 cried Ned gaily； as they passed the Statue of
Liberty。 〃I wonder what will happen before we see that little lady again。〃
〃Who knows？〃 asked Tom； shrugging his shoulders； Spanish fashion。
And there came before him the vision of a certain 〃little lady；〃 about
whom he had been thinking deeply of late。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
CHAPTER IX
VAL JACINTO
〃Rather tame； isn't it； Tom？〃
〃Well； Ned； it isn't exactly like going up in an airship；〃 and Tom Swift
who was gazing over the rail down into the deep blue water of the
Caribbean Sea； over which their vessel was then steaming； looked at his
chum beside him