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to Ned； who was whistling：
〃Hark！〃
Through the jungle came a faint sound of singing not a harmonious
air； but the somewhat barbaric chant of the natives。
〃It is Tolpec coming back！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Hurray！ Now our
troubles are over t Bless my meal ticket！ Now we can start！〃
〃It may be Jacinto；〃 suggested Ned。
〃Nonsense！ you old cold…water pitcher！〃 cried Tom。 〃It's Tolpec！ I
can see him！ He's a good scout all right！〃
And then； walking at the head of a band of Indians who were weirdly
chanting while behind them came a train of mules； was Tolpec； a cheerful
grin covering his honest； if homely； dark face。
〃Me come back！〃 he exclaimed in gutteral English； using about half of
his foreign vocabulary。
〃I see you did；〃 answered Professor Bumper in the man's own tongue。
〃Glad to see you。 Is everything all right？〃
〃All right；〃 was the answer。 〃These Indians will take you where you
want to go； and will not leave you as Jacinto did。〃
〃We'll start in the morning！〃 exclaimed the savant his own cheerful
self again； now that there was a prospect of going further into the interior。
〃Tell the men to get something to eat； Tolpec。 There is plenty for all。〃
〃Good！〃 grunted the new guide and soon the hungry Indians； who had
come far； were satisfying their hunger。
As they ate Tolpec explained to Professor Bumper； who repeated it to
the youths and Mr。 Damon； that it had been necessary to go farther than he
had intended to get the porters and mules。 But the Indians were a
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friendly tribe； of which he was a member； and could be depended on。
There was a feast and a sort of celebration in camp that night。 Tom
and Ned shot two deer； and these formed the main part of the feast and the
Indians made merry about the fire until nearly midnight。 They did not
seem to mind in the least the swarms of mosquitoes and other bugs that
flew about； attracted by the light。 As for Tom Swift and his friends； their
nets protected them。
An early start was made the following morning。 Such packages of
goods and supplies as could not well be carried by the Indians in their
head straps； were loaded on the backs of the pack… mules。 Tolpec
explained that on reaching the Indian village； where he had secured the
porters； they could get some ox…carts which would be a convenience in
traveling into the interior toward the Copan valley。
The march onward for the next two days was tiresome； but the Indians
Tolpec had secured were as faithful and efficient as he had described them；
and good progress was made。
There were a few accidents。 One native fell into a swiftly running
stream as they were fording it and lost a box containing some much…
needed things。 But as the man's life was saved Professor Bumper said it
made up for the other loss。 Another accident did not end so auspiciously。
One of the bearers was bitten by a poisonous snake； and though prompt
measures were taken； the poison spread so rapidly that the man died。
In due season the Indian village was reached。 where； after a day spent
in holding funeral services over the dead bearer； preparations were made
for proceeding farther。
This time some of the bearers were left behind； and ox…carts were
substituted for them； as it was possible to carry more goods this way；
〃And now we're really off for Copan！〃 exclaimed Professor Bumper
one morning； when the cavalcade； led by Tolpec in the capacity of head
guide； started off。 〃I hope we have no more delays。〃
〃I hope not； either；〃 agreed Tom。 〃That Beecher may be there ahead
of us。〃
Weary marches fell to their portion。 There were mountains to climb；
streams to ford or swim； sending the carts over on rudely made rafts。
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There were storms to endure； and the eternal heat to fight。
But finally the party emerged from the lowlands of the coast and went
up in among the hills； where though the going was harder； the climate was
better。 It was not so hot and moist。
Not wishing to attract attention in Copan itself； Professor Bumper and
his party made a detour； and finally； after much consultation with Tom
over the ancient maps； the scientist announced that he thought they were
in the vicinity of the buried city。
〃We will begin test excavations in the morning；〃 he said。
The party was in camp； and preparations were made for spending the
night in the forest； when from among the trees there floated to the ears of
our friends a queer Indian chant。
〃Some one is coming；〃 said Tom to Ned。
Almost as he spoke there filed into the clearing where the camp had
been set up； a cavalcade of white men； followed by Indians。 And at the
sight of one of the white men Tom Swift uttered a cry。
〃Professor Beecher！〃 gasped the young inventor。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
CHAPTER XVII
THE LOST MAP
The on…marching company of white men； with their Indian attendants；
came to a halt on the edge of the clearing as they caught sight of the tents
already set up there。 The barbaric chant of the native bearers ceased
abruptly； and there was a look of surprise shown on the face of Professor
Fenimore Beecher。 For Professor Beecher it was； in the lead of the rival
expedition。
〃Bless my shoe laces！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon。
〃Is it really Beecher？〃 asked Ned； though he knew as well as Tom that
it was the young archaeologist。
〃It certainly is！〃 declared Tom。 〃And he has nerve to follow us so
closely！〃
〃Maybe he thinks we have nerve to get here ahead of him；〃 suggested
Ned； smiling grimly。
〃Probably；〃 agreed Tom； with a short laugh。 〃Well； it evidently
surprises him to find us here at all； after the mean trick he played on us to
get Jacinto to lead us into the jungle and desert us。〃
〃That's right；〃 assented Ned。 〃Well； what's the next move？〃
There seemed to be some doubt about this on the part of both
expeditions。 At the sight of Professor Beecher； Professor Bumper； who
had come out of his tent； hurriedly turned to Tom and asked him what he
thought it best to do。
〃Do！〃 exclaimed the eccentric Mr。 Damon； not giving Tom time to
reply。 〃Why； stand your ground； of course！ Bless my house and lot！ but
we're here first！ For the matter of that； I suppose the jungle is free and we
can no more object to his coming： here than he can to our coming。 First
come； first served； I suppose is the law of the forest。〃
Meanwhile the surprise occasioned by the unexpected meeting of their
rivals seemed to have spread something like consternation among the
white members of the Beecher party。 As for the natives they evidently
did not care one way or the other。
There was a hasty consultation among the professors accompanying
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Mr。 Beecher； and then the latter himself advanced toward the tents of Tom
and his friends and asked：
〃How long have you been here？〃
〃I don't see that we are called upon to answer that question；〃 replied
Professor Bumper stiffly。
〃Perhaps not； and yet〃
〃There is no perhaps about it！〃 said Professor Bumper quickly。 〃I
know what your object is； as I presume you do mine。 And； after what I
may term your disgraceful and unsportsmanlike conduct toward me and
my friends； I prefer not to have anything further to do with you。 We must
meet as strangers hereafter。〃
〃Very well；〃 and Professor Beecher's voice was as cold and
uncompromising as was his rival's。 〃Let it be as your wish。 But I must
say I don't know what you mean by unsportsmanlike conduct。〃
〃An exp