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〃Over it！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my gunpowder！ What do you
mean？〃 and he looked down at the earthen floor of the tent as though
expecting it to open and swallow him。
〃I mean that the city； like many others of Central and South America；
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is buried below the refuse of centuries；〃 went on the professor。 〃Very soon；
if we are fortunate； we shall be looking on the civilization of hundreds of
years agohow long no one knows。
〃Considerable excavation has been done in Central America；〃 went on
Professor Bumper； 〃and certain ruins have been brought to light。 Near us
are those of Copan； while toward the frontier are those of Quirigua； which
are even better preserved than the former。 We may visit them if we have
time。 But I have reason to believe that in this section of Copan is a large
city； the existence of which has not been made certain of by any one save
myselfand； perhaps； Professor Beecher。
〃Certainly no part of it has seen the light of day for many centuries。
It shall be our pleasure to uncover it； if possible； and secure the idol of
gold。〃
〃How long ago do you think the city was buried？〃 asked Tom。
〃It would be hard to say。 From the carvings and hieroglyphics I have
studied it would seem that the Mayan civilization lasted about five
hundred years； and that it began perhaps in the year A。 D。 five
hundred。〃
〃That would mean；〃 said Mr。 Damon； 〃that the ancient cities were in
ruins； buried； perhaps； long before Columbus discovered the new world。〃
〃Yes；〃 assented the professor。 〃Probably Kurzon； which we now seek；
was buried deep for nearly five hundred years before Columbus landed at
San Salvadore。 The specimens of writing and architecture heretofore
disclosed indicate that。 But； as a matter of fact； it is very hard to decipher
the Mayan pictographs。 So far； little but the ability to read their
calendars and numerical system is possessed by us； though we are
gradually making headway。
〃Now this is the map of the district； and by the markings you can see
where I hope to find what I seek。 We shall begin digging here；〃 and he
made a small mark with a pencil on the map。
〃Of course；〃 the professor explained； 〃I may be wrong； and it will take
some time to discover the error if we make one。 When a city is buried
thirty or forty feet deep beneath earth and great trees have grown over it； it
is not easy to dig down to it。〃
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〃How do you ever expect to find it？〃 asked Ned。
〃Well； we will sink shafts here and there。 If we find carved stones；
the remains of ancient pottery and weapons； parts of buildings or building
stones； we shall know we are on the right track；〃 was the answer。 〃And
now that I have shown you the map； and explained how valuable it is； I
will put it away again。 We shall begin our excavations in the morning。〃
〃At what point？〃 asked Tom。
〃At a point I shall indicate after a further consultation of the map。 I
must see the configuration of the country by daylight to decide。 And now
let's get some rest。 We have had a hard day。〃
The two tents housing the four white members of the Bumper party
were close together； and it was decided that the night would be divided
into four watches； to guard against possible treachery on the part of the
Beecher crowd。
〃It seems an unkind precaution to take against a fellow scientist；〃 said
Professor Bumper； 〃but I can not afford to take chances after what has
occurred。〃
The others agreed with him； and though standing guard was not
pleasant it was done。 However the night passed without incident； and
then came morning and the excitement of getting breakfast； over which the
Indians made merry。 They did not like the cold and darkness； and always
welcomed the sun； no matter how hot。
〃And now；〃 cried Tom； when the meal was over； 〃let us begin the work
that has brought us here。〃
〃Yes；〃 agreed Professor Bumper； 〃I will consult the map； and start the
diggers where I think the city lies； far below the surface。 Now；
gentlemen； if you will give me your attention〃
He was seeking through his outer coat pockets； after an ineffectual
search in the inner one。 A strange look came over his face。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked Tom。
〃The mapthe map！〃 gasped the professor。 〃The map I was showing
you last night！ The map that tells where we are to dig for the idol of gold！
It's gone！〃
〃The map gone？〃 gasped Mr。 Damon。
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〃II'm afraid so；〃 faltered the professor。 〃I put it away carefully； but
now〃
He ceased speaking to make a further search in all his pockets。
〃Maybe you left it in another coat；〃 suggested Ned。
〃Or maybe some of the Beecher crowd took it！〃 snapped Tom。
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CHAPTER XVIII
〃EL TIGRE！〃
The four men gazed at one another。 Consternation showed on the face
of Professor Bumper； and was reflected； more or less； on the countenances
of his companions。
〃Are you sure the map is gone？〃 asked Tom。 〃I know how easy it is to
mislay anything in a camp of this sort。 I couldn't at first find my safety
razor this morning； and when I did locate it the hoe was in one of my
shoes。 I'm sure a rat or some jungle animal must have dragged it there。
Now maybe they took your map； Professor。 That oiled silk in which it
was wrapped might have appealed to the taste of a rat or a snake。〃
〃It is no joking matter；〃 said Professor Bumper。 〃But I know you
appreciate the seriousness of it as much as I do； Tom。 But I had the map
in the pocket of this coat； and now it is gone！〃
〃When did you put it there？〃 asked Ned。
〃This morning； just before I came to breakfast。〃
〃Oh； then you have had it since last night！〃 Tom ejaculated。
〃Yes； I slept with it under my clothes that I rolled up for a pillow； and
when it was my turn to stand guard I took it with me。 Then I put it back
again and went to sleep。 When I awoke and dressed I put the packet in
my pocket and ate breakfast。 Now when I look for itwhy； it's gone！〃
〃The map or the oiled…silk package？〃 asked Mr。 Damon； who； once
having been a businessman； was sometimes a stickler for small points。
〃Both；〃 answered the professor。 〃I opened the silk to tie it more
smoothly； so it would not be such a lump in my pocket； and I made sure
the map was inside。〃
〃Then the whole thing has been takenor you have lost it；〃 suggested
Ned。
〃I am not in the habit of losing valuable maps；〃 retorted the scientist。
〃And the pocket of my coat I had made deep； for the purpose of carrying
the long map。 It could not drop out。〃
〃Well； we mustn't overlook any possible chances；〃 suggested Tom。
〃Come on now； we'll search every inch of the ground over which you
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traveled this morning； Professor。〃
〃It MUST be found；〃 murmured the scientist。 〃Without it all our work
will go for naught。〃
They all went into the tent where the professor and Mr。 Damon had
slept when they were not on guard。 The camp was a busy place； with the
Indians finishing their morning meal； and getting ready for the work of the
day。 For word had been given out that there would be no more long
periods of travel。
In consequence； efforts were being directed by the head men of the
bearers to making a more permanent camp in the wilderness。 Shelters of
palm…thatched huts were being built； a site for cooking fires made； and； at
the direction