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Caribbean Sea； over which their vessel was then steaming； looked at his
chum beside him。
〃No； and your submarine voyage had it all over this one for
excitement；〃 went on Ned。 〃When I think of that〃
〃Bless my sea legs！〃 interrupted Mr。 Damon； overhearing the
conversation。 〃Don't speak of THAT trip。 My wife never forgave me
for going on it。 But I had a fine time；〃 he added with a twinkle of his
eyes。
〃Yes； that was quite a trip；〃 observed Tom； as his mind went back to it。
〃But this one isn't over yet remember。 And I shouldn't be surprised if we
had a little excitement very soon。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Ned。
Up to this time the voyage from New York down into the tropical seas
had been anything but exciting。 There were not many passengers besides
themselves； and the weather had been fine。
At first； used as they were to the actions of unscrupulous rivals in
trying to thwart their efforts； Tom and Ned had been on the alert for any
signs of hidden enemies on board the steamer。 But aside from a little
curiosity when it became known that they were going to explore little…
known portions of Honduras； the other passengers took hardly any interest
in our travelers。
It was thought best to keep secret the fact that they were going to
search for a wonderful idol of gold。 Not even the mule and ox…cart
drivers； whom they would hire to take them into the wilds of the interior
would be told of the real object of the search。 It would be given out that
they were looking for interesting ruins of ancient cities； with a view to
getting such antiquities as might be there。
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Ned again； when Tom did not answer him
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
immediately。 〃What's the excitement？〃
〃I think we're in for a storm；〃 was the reply。 〃The barometer is falling
and I see the crew going about making everything snug。 So we may have
a little trouble toward this end of our trip。〃
〃Let it come！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon。 〃We're not afraid of trouble；
Tom。 Swift； are we？〃
〃No； to be sure we're not。 And yet it looks as though the storm would
be a bad one。〃
〃Then I am going to see if my books and papers are ready； so I can get
them together in a hurry in case we have to take to the life…boats；〃 said
Professor Bumper； coming on deck at that moment。 〃It won't do to lose
them。 If we didn't have the map we might not be able to find〃
〃Ahem！〃 exclaimed Tom； with unnecessary emphasis it seemed。 〃I'll
help you go over your papers； Professor；〃 he added； and with a wink and a
motion of his hand； he enjoined silence on his friend。 Ned looked around
for a reason for this； and observed a man； evidently of Spanish extraction；
passing them as he paced up and down the deck。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked the scientist in a whisper； as the man went
on。 〃Do you know him？ Is he a？〃
〃I don't know anything about him；〃 said Tom； 〃but it is best not to
speak of our trip before strangers。〃
〃You are right； Tom；〃 said Professor Bumper。 〃I'll be more careful。〃
A storm was brewing； that was certain。 A dull； sickly yellow began
to obscure the sky； and the water； from a beautiful blue； turned a slate
color and ran along the sides of the vessel with a hissing sound as though
the sullen waves would ask nothing better than to suck the craft down into
their depths。 The wind； which had been freshening； now sang in louder
tones as it hummed through the rigging and the funnel stays and bowled
over the receiving conductors of the wireless。
Sharp commands from the ship's officers hastened the work of the
crew in making things snug； and life lines were strung along deck for the
safety of such of the passengers as might venture up when the blow began。
The storm was not long in coming。 The howling of the wind grew
louder； flecks of foam began to separate themselves from the crests of the
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
waves； and the vessel pitched； rolled and tossed more violently。 At first
Tom and his friends thought they were in for no more than an ordinary
blow； but as the storm progressed； and the passengers became aware of the
anxiety on the part of the officers and crew； the alarm spread among them。
It really was a violent storm； approaching a hurricane in force； and at
one time it seemed as though the craft； having been heeled far over under
a staggering wave that swept her decks； would not come back to an even
keel。
There was a panic among some of the passengers； and a few excited
men behaved in a way that caused prompt action on the part of the first
officer； who drove them back to the main cabin under threat of a revolver。
For the men were determined to get to the lifeboats； and a small craft
would not have had a minute to live in such seas as were running。
But the vessel proved herself sturdier than the timid ones had dared to
hope； and she was soon running before the blast； going out of her course；
it is true； but avoiding the danger among the many cays； or small islands；
that dot the Caribbean Sea。
There was nothing to do but to let the storm blow itself out； which it
did in two days。 Then came a period of delightful weather。 The cargo
had shifted somewhat； which gave the steamer a rather undignified list。
This； as well as the loss of a deckhand overboard； was the effect of the
hurricane； and though the end of the trip came amid sunshine and sweet…
scented tropical breezes； many could not forget the dangers through which
they had passed。
In due time Tom and his party found themselves safely housed in the
small hotel at Puerto Cortes； their belongings stored in a convenient
warehouse and themselves； rather weary by reason of the stress of weather；
ready for the start into the interior wilds of Honduras。
〃How are we going to make the trip？〃 asked Ned； as they sat at supper；
the first night after their arrival； eating of several dishes； the red… pepper
condiments of which caused frequent trips to the water pitcher。
〃We can go in two ways； and perhaps we shall find it to our advantage
to use both means；〃 said Professor Bumper。 〃To get to this city of
Kurzon；〃 he proceeded in a low voice； so that none of the others in the
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dining…room would hear them； 〃we will have to go either by mule back or
boat to a point near Copan。 As near as I can tell by the ancient maps；
Kurzon is in the Copan valley。
〃Now the Chamelecon river seems to run to within a short distance of
there； but there is no telling how far up it may be navigable。 If we can go
by boat it will be much more comfortable。 Travel by mules and ox…carts is
slow and sure； but the roads are very bad； as I have heard from friends
who have made explorations in Honduras。
〃And； as I said； we may have to use both land and water travel to get
us where we want to go。 We can proceed as far as possible up the river；
and then take to the mules。〃
〃What about arranging for boats and animals？〃 asked Tom。 〃I should
think〃
He suddenly ceased talking and reached for the water； taking several
large swallows。
〃Whew！〃 he exclaimed； when he could catch his breath。 〃That was a
hot one。〃
〃What did you do？〃 asked Ned。
〃Bit into a nest of red pepper。 Guess I'll have to tell that cook to
scatter his hits。 He's bunching 'em too much in my direction；〃 and Tom
wiped the tears from his eyes。
〃To answer your question；〃 said Professor Bumper； 〃I will say that I
have made partial arrangements for men and animals； and boats if it is
found feasible to use them。 I've been in correspondence with one of the
merchants here； and he promised to make arrangements for us。〃
〃When do we leave？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃As soon as possib