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merchants here； and he promised to make arrangements for us。〃
〃When do we leave？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃As soon as possible。 I am not going to risk anything by delay；〃 and
it was evident the professor referred to his young rival whose arrival might
be expected almost any time。
As the party was about to leave the table； they were approached by a
tall； dignified Spaniard who bowed low； rather exaggeratedly low； Ned
thought； and addressed them in fairly good English。
〃Your pardons； Senors；〃 he began； 〃but if it will please you to avail
yourself of the humble services of myself； I shall have great pleasure in
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
guiding you into the interior。 I have at my command both mules and
boats。〃
〃How do you know we are going into the interior？〃 asked Tom； a bit
sharply； for he did not like the assurance of the man。
〃Pardon； Senor。 I saw that you are from the States。 And those from
the States do not come to Honduras except for two reasons。 To travel and
make explorations or to start trade； and professors do not usually engage
in trade；〃 and he bowed to Professor Bumper。
〃I saw your name on the register；〃 he proceeded； 〃and it was not
difficult to guess your mission；〃 and he flashed a smile on the party； his
white teeth showing brilliantly beneath his small； black moustache。
〃I make it my business to outfit traveling parties； either for business；
pleasure or scientific matters。 I am； at your service； Val Jacinto；〃 and he
introduced himself with another low bow。
For a moment Tom and his friends hardly knew how to accept this
offer。 It might be； as the man had said； that he was a professional tour
conductor； like those who have charge of Egyptian donkey…boys and
guides。 Or might he not be a spy？
This occurred to Tom no less than to Professor Bumper。 They looked
at one another while Val Jacinto bowed again and murmured：
〃At your service！〃
〃Can you provide means for taking us to the Copan valley？〃 asked the
professor。 〃You are right in one respect。 I am a scientist and I purpose
doing some exploring near Copan。 Can you get us there？〃
〃Most expensivelyI mean； most expeditionlessly；〃 said Val Jacinto
eagerly。 〃Pardon my unhappy English。 I forget at times。 The charges
will be most moderate。 I can send you by boat as far as the river travel is
good； and then have mules and ox…carts in waiting。〃
〃How far is it？〃 asked Tom。
〃A hundred miles as the vulture flies； Senor； but much farther by river
and road。 We shall be a week going。〃
〃A hundred miles in a week！〃 groaned Ned。 〃Say； Tom； if you had
your aeroplane we'd be there in an hour。〃
〃Yes； but we haven't it。 However； we're in no great rush。〃
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
〃But we must not lose time；〃 said Professor Bumper。 〃I shall
consider your offer；〃 he added to Val Jacinto。
〃Very good； Senor。 I am sure you will be pleased with the humble
service I may offer you； and my charges will be small。 Adios；〃 and he
bowed himself away。
〃What do you think of him？〃 asked Ned； as they went up to their
rooms in the hotel； or rather one large room； containing several beds。
〃He's a pretty slick article；〃 said Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my check…book！
but he spotted us at once； in spite of our secrecy。〃
〃I guess these guide purveyors are trained for that sort of thing；〃
observed the scientist。 〃I know my friends have often spoken of having
had the same experience。 However； I shall ask my friend； who is in
business here； about this Val Jacinto； and if I find him all right we may
engage him 〃
Inquiries next morning brought the information； from the head of a
rubber exporting firm with whom the professor was acquainted； that the
Spaniard was regularly engaged in transporting parties into the interior；
and was considered efficient； careful and as honest as pos… sible；
considering the men he engaged as workers。
〃So we have decided to engage you；〃 Professor Bumper informed Val
Jacinto the afternoon following the meeting。
〃I am more than pleased； Senor。 I shall take you into the wilds of
Honduras。 At your service！〃 and he bowed low。
〃Humph！ I don't just like the way our friend Val says that；〃 observed
Tom to Ned a little later。 〃I'd have been better pleased if he had said he'd
guide us into the wilds and out again。〃
If Tom could have seen the crafty smile on the face of the Spaniard as
the man left the hotel； the young inventor might have felt even less
confidence in the guide。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
CHAPTER X
IN THE WILDS
〃All aboard！ Step lively now！ This boat makes no stops this side of
Boston！〃 cried Ned Newton gaily； as he got into one of the several tree
canoes provided for the transportation of the party up the Chamelecon
river； for the first stage of their journey into the wilds of Honduras。 〃All
aboard！ This reminds me of my old camping days； Tom。〃
It brought those days back； in a measure； to Tom also。 For there were
a number of canoes filled with the goods of the party； while the members
themselves occupied a larger one with their personal baggage。 Strong；
half…naked Indian paddlers were in charge of the canoes which were of
sturdy construction and light draft； since the river； like most tropical
streams； was of uncertain depths； choked here and there with sand bars or
tropical growths。
Finding that Val Jacinto was regularly engaged in the business of
taking explorers and mine prospectors into the interior； Professor Bumper
had engaged the man。 He seemed to be efficient。 At the promised time
he had the canoes and paddlers on hand and the goods safely stowed away
while one big craft was fitted up as comfortably as possible for the men of
the party。
As Ned remarked； it did look like a camping party； for in the canoes
were tents； cooking utensils and； most important； mosquito canopies of
heavy netting。
The insect pests of Honduras； as in all tropical countries； are annoying
and dangerous。 Therefore it was imperative to sleep under mosquito
netting。
On the advice of Val Jacinto； who was to accompany them； the
travelers were to go up the river about fifty miles。 This was as far as it
would be convenient to use the canoes； the guide told Tom and his friends；
and from there on the trip to the Copan valley would be made on the backs
of mules； which would carry most of the baggage and equipment。 The
heavier portions would be transported in ox…carts。
As Professor Bumper expected to do considerable excavating in order
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
to locate the buried city； or cities； as the case might be； he had to contract
for a number of Indian diggers and laborers。 These could be hired in
Copan； it was said。
The plan； therefore； was to travel by canoes during the less heated
parts of the day； and tie up at night； making camp on shore in the net…
protected tents。 As for the Indians； they did not seem to mind the bites of
the insects。 They sometimes made a smudge fire； Val Jacinto had said；
but that was all。
〃Well； we haven't seen anything of Beecher and his friends；〃 remarked
the young inventor as they were about to start。
〃No； he doesn't seem to have arrived；〃 agreed Professor Bumper。
〃We'll get ahead of him； and so much the better。
〃Well； are we all ready to start？〃 he continued； as he