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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
some harmless sedative in your tea that you might sleep soundly； and not
awaken until we were well on our way。 Do not try to follow us； as the
river will carry us swiftly away。 And； let me add； there is no personal
animosity on the part of Professor Beecher against you。 I should have
done to any rival expedition the same as I have done with you。
JACINTO。〃
For a moment there was silence； and then Tom Swift burst out with：
〃Well； of all the mean； contemptible tricks of a human skunk this is the
limit！〃
〃Bless my hairbrush； but he is a scoundrel！〃 ejaculated Mr。 Damon；
with great warmth。
〃I'd like to start after him the biggest alligator in the river；〃 was Ned's
comment。
Professor Bumper said nothing for several seconds。 There was a
strange look on his face； and then he laughed shortly； as though the humor
of the situation appealed to him。
〃Professor Beecher has more gumption than I gave him credit for；〃 he
said。 〃It was a clever trick！〃
〃Trick！〃 cried Tom。
〃Yes。 I can't exactly agree that it was the right thing to do； but he； or
some friend acting for him； seems to have taken precautions that we are
not to suffer or lose money。 Beecher goes on the theory that all is fair in
love and war； I suppose； and he may call this a sort of scientific war。〃
Ned wondered； as he looked at his chum； how much love there was in
it。 Clearly Beecher was determined to get that idol of gold。
〃Well； it can't be helped； and we must make the best of it；〃 said Tom；
after a pause。
〃True。 But now； boys； let's have breakfast； and then we'll make what
goods we can't take with us as snug as possible； until we can send the
mule drivers after them；〃 went on Professor Bumper。
〃Send the mule drivers after them？〃 questioned Ned。 〃What do you
mean to do？〃
〃Do？ Why keep on； of course。 You don't suppose I'm going to let a
little thing like this stand between me and the discovery of Kurzon and the
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idol of gold； do you？〃
〃But；〃 began Mr。 Damon； 〃I don't see how〃
〃Oh； we'll find a way；〃 interrupted Tom。 〃It isn't the first time I've
been pretty well stranded on an expedition of this kind； and sometimes
from the same causethe actions of a rival。 Now we'll turn the tables on
the other fellows and see how they like it。 The professor's right let's
have breakfast。 Jacinto seems to have told the truth。 Nothing of ours is
missing。〃
Tom and Ned got the meal； and then a consultation was held as to what
was best to be done。
〃We can't go on any further by water； that's sure；〃 said Tom。 〃In the
first place the river is too shallow； and secondly we have no canoes。 So the
only thing is to go on foot through the jungle。〃
〃But how can we； and carry all this stuff？〃 asked Ned。
〃We needn't carry it！〃 cried Professor Bumper。 〃We'll leave it here；
where it will be safe enough； and tramp on to the nearest Indian village。
There we'll hire bearers to take our stuff on until we can get mules。 I'm
not going to turn back！〃
〃Good！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my rubber boots！ but that's what I
saykeep on！〃
〃Oh； no！ we'll never turn back；〃 agreed Tom。
〃But how can we manage it？〃 asked Ned。
〃We've just got to！ And when you have to do a thing； it's a whole lot
easier to do than if you just feel as though you ought to。 So； lively is the
word！〃 cried Tom； in answer。
〃We'll pack up what we can carry and leave the rest；〃 added the
scientist。
Being an experienced traveler Professor Bumper had arranged his
baggage so that it could be carried by porters if necessary。 Everything
could be put into small packages； including the tents and food supply。
〃There are four of us；〃 remarked Tom； 〃and if we can not pack enough
along with us to enable us to get to the nearest village； we had better go
back to civilization。 I'm not afraid to try。〃
〃Nor I！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。
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The baggage； stores and supplies that were to be left behind were
made as snug as possible； and so piled up that wild beasts could do the
least harm。 Then a pack was made up for each one to carry。
They would take weapons； of course； Tom Swift's electric rifle being
the one he choose for himself。 They expected to be able to shoot game
on their way； and this would provide them food in addition to the
concentrated supply they carried。 Small tents； in sections； were carried；
there being two； one for Tom and Ned and one for Mr。 Damon and the
professor。
As far as could be learned from a casual inspection； Jacinto and his
deserting Indians had taken back with them only a small quantity of food。
They were traveling light and down stream； and could reach the town
much more quickly than they had come away from it。
〃That Beecher certainly was slick；〃 commented Professor Bumper
when they were ready to start。 〃He must have known about what time I
would arrive； and he had Jacinto waiting for us。 I thought it was too
good to be true； to get an experienced guide like him so easily。 But it
was all planned； and I was so engrossed in thinking of the ancient
treasures I hope to find that I never thought of a possible trick。 Well； let's
start！〃 and he led the way into the jungle； carrying his heavy pack as
lightly as did Tom。 Professor Bumper had a general idea in which
direction lay a number of native villages； and it was determined to head
for them； blazing a path through the wilderness； so that the Indians could
follow it back to the goods left behind。
It was with rather heavy hearts that the party set off； but Tom's spirits
could not long stay clouded； and the scientist was so good…natured about
the affair and seemed so eager to do the utmost to render Beecher's trick
void； that the others fell into a lighter mood； and went on more cheerfully；
though the way was rough and the packs heavy。
They stopped at noon under a bower they made of palms； and；
spreading the nets over them； got a little rest after a lunch。 Then； when
the sun was less hot； they started off again。
〃Forward is the word！〃 cried Ned cheerfully。 〃Forward！〃'
They had not gone more than an hour on the second stage of their
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tramp when Tom； who was in the lead； following the direction laid out by
the compass； suddenly stopped； and reached around for his electric rifle；
which he was carrying at his back。
〃What is it？〃 asked Ned in a whisper。
〃I don't know； but it's some big animal there in the bushes；〃 was Tom's
low…voiced answer。 〃I'm ready for it。〃
The rustling increased； and a form could be seen indistinctly。 Tom
aimed the deadly gun and stood ready to pull the trigger。
Ned； tho had a side view into the underbrush； gave a sudden cry。
〃Don't shoot； Tom！〃 he yelled。 〃It's a man！〃
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
CHAPTER XIV：
A NEW GUIDE
In spite of Ned Newton's cry； Tom's finger pressed the switch…trigger
of the electric rifle； for previous experience had taught him that it was
sometimes the best thing to awe the natives in out…of…the…way corners of
the earth。 But the young inventor quickly elevated the muzzle； and the
deadly missile went hissing through the air over the head of a native
Indian who； at that moment； stepped from the bush。
The man； startled and alarmed；