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〃We'll get ahead of him； and so much the better。
〃Well； are we all ready to start？〃 he continued； as he looked over the
little flotilla which carried his party and his goods。
〃The sooner the better！〃 cried Tom； and Ned fancied his chum was
unusually eager。
〃I guess he wants to make good before Beecher gets the chance to
show Mary Nestor what he can do；〃 thought Ned。 〃Tom sure is after that
idol of gold。〃
〃You may start； Senor Jacinto；〃 said the professor； and the guide called
something in Indian dialect to the rowers。 Lines were cast off and the
boats moved out into the stream under the influence of the sturdy paddlers。
〃Well； this isn't so bad；〃 observed Ned； as he made himself
comfortable in his canoe。 〃How about it； Tom？〃
〃Oh； no。 But this is only the beginning。〃
A canopy had been arranged over their boat to keep off the scorching
rays of the sun。 The boat containing the exploring party and Val Jacinto
took the lead； the baggage craft following。 At the place where it flowed
into the bay on which Puerto Cortes was built； the stream was wide and
deep。
The guide called something to the Indians； who increased their stroke。
〃I tell them to pull hard and that at the end of the day's journey they
will have much rest and refreshment；〃 he translated to Professor Bumper
and the others。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
〃Bless my ham sandwich； but they'll need plenty of some sort of
refreshment；〃 said Mr。 Damon； with a sigh。 〃I never knew it to be so
hot。〃
〃Don't complain yet；〃 advised Tom； with a laugh。 〃The worst is yet
to come。〃
It really was not unpleasant traveling； aside from the heat。 And they
had expected that； coming as they had to a tropical land。 But； as Tom
said； what lay before them might be worse。
In a little while they had left behind them all signs of civilization。
The river narrowed and flowed sluggishly between the banks which were
luxuriant with tropical growth。 Now and then some lonely Indian hut
could be seen； and occasionally a craft propelled by a man who was trying
to gain a meager living from the rubber forest which hemmed in the
stream on either side。
As the canoe containing the men was paddled along； there floated
down beside it what seemed to be a big； rough log。
〃I wonder if that is mahogany；〃 remarked Mr。 Damon； reaching over to
touch it。 〃Mahogany is one of the most valuable woods of Honduras； and
if this is a log of that nature
〃Bless my watch chain！〃 he suddenly cried。 It's alive！〃
And the 〃log〃 was indeed so； for there was a sudden flash of white
teeth； a long red opening showed； and then came a click as an immense
alligator； having opened and closed his mouth； sank out of sight in a swirl
of water。
Mr。 Damon drew back so suddenly that he tilted the canoe； and the
black paddlers looked around wonderingly。
〃Alligator；〃 explained Jacinto succinctly； in their tongue。
〃Ugh！〃 they grunted。 〃Bless mybless my〃 hesitated Mr。 Damon；
and for one of the very few times in his life his language failed him。
〃Are there many of them hereabouts？〃 asked Ned； looking back at the
swirl left by the saurian。
〃Plenty；〃 said the guide； with a shrug of his shoulders。 He seemed to
do as much talking that way； and with his hands； as he did in speech。 〃The
river is full of them。〃
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
〃Dangerous？〃 queried Tom。
〃Don't go in swimming；〃 was the significant advice。 〃Wait； I'll show
you；〃 and he called up the canoe just behind。
In this canoe was a quantity of provisions。 There was a chunk of meat
among other things； a gristly piece； seeing which Mr。 Damon had objected
to its being brought along； but the guide had said it would do for fish bait。
With a quick motion of his hand； as he sat in the awning… covered stern
with Tom； Ned and the others； Jacinto sent the chunk of meat out into the
muddy stream。
Hardly a second later there was a rushing in the water as though a
submarine were about to come up。 An ugly snout was raised； two rows
of keen teeth snapped shut as a scissors… like jaw opened； and the meat
was gone。
〃See！〃 was the guide's remark； and something like a cold shiver of fear
passed over the white members of the party。 〃This water is not made in
which to swim。 Be careful！〃
〃We certainly shall；〃 agreed Tom。 〃They're fierce。〃
〃And always hungry；〃 observed Jacinto grimly。
〃And to think that Ithat I nearly had my hand on it；〃 murmured Mr。
Damon。 〃Ugh！ Bless my eyeglasses！〃
〃The alligator nearly had your hand；〃 said the guide。 〃They can turn
in the water like a flash； wherefore it is not wise to pat one on the tail lest
it present its mouth instead。〃
They paddled on up the river； the dusky Indians now and then
breaking out into a chant that seemed to give their muscles new energy。
The song； if song it was； passed from one boat to the other； and as the
chant boomed forth the craft shot ahead more swiftly。
They made a landing about noon； and lunch was served。 Tom and his
friends were hungry in spite of the heat。 Moreover； they were
experienced travelers and had learned not to fret over inconveniences and
discomforts。 the Ind… ians ate by themselves； two acting as servants to
Jacinto and the professor's party。
As is usual in traveling in the tropics； a halt was made during the
heated middle of the day。 Then； as the afternoon shadows were waning；
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
the party again took to the canoes and paddled on up the river。
〃Do you know of a good place to stop during the night？〃 asked
Professor Bumper of Jacinto。
〃Oh； yes； a most excellent place。 It is where I always bring scientific
parties I am guiding。 You may rely on me。〃
It was within an hour of dusknone too much time to allow in which
to pitch camp in the tropics； where night follows day suddenlywhen a
halt was called； as a turn of the river showed a little clearing on the edge
of the forest…bound river。
〃We stay here for the night；〃 said Jacinto。 〃It is a good place。〃
〃It looks picturesque enough；〃 observed Mr。 Damon。 〃But it is rather
wild。〃
〃We are a good distance from a settlement；〃 agreed the guide。 〃But
one can not explore and find treasure in cities；〃 and he shrugged his
shoulders again。
〃Find treasure？ What do you mean？〃 asked Tom quickly。 〃Do you
think that we？〃
〃Pardon； Senor；〃 replied Jacinto softly。 〃I meant no offense。 I think
that all you scientific parties will take treasure if you can find it。〃
〃We are looking for traces of the old Honduras civilization；〃 put in
Professor Bumper。
〃And doubtless you will find it；〃 was the somewhat too courteous
answer of the guide。 〃Make camp quickly！〃 he called to the Indians in
their tongue。 〃You must soon get under the nets or you will be eaten
alive！〃 he told Tom。 〃There are many mosquitoes here。〃
The tents were set up； smudge fires built and supper quickly prepared。
Dusk fell rapidly； and as Tom and Ned walked a little way down toward
the river before turning in under the mosquito canopies； the young
financial man said：
〃Sort of lonesome and gloomy； isn't it； Tom？〃
〃Yes。 But you didn't expect to find a moving picture show in the
wilds of Honduras； did you？〃
〃No； and yet Look out！ What's that？〃 suddenly cried Ned； as a great
soft； black shadow seemed to sweep out of a clump of trees toward him。