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there； and I don't like the way the geography of this place is behaving。
There may be a landslide at any moment。〃
As he spoke he motioned upward through the mist of the rain to the
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sloping side of the mountain towering above them。 Loose stones were
beginning to roll down； accompanied by patches of earth loosened by the
water。 Some of the patches carried with them bunches of grass and small
bushes。
〃Yes； it will be best to move into the jungle；〃 said the professor。
〃Goosal； you had better take the lead。〃
It was wonderful to see how well the aged Indian bore up in spite of
his years； and walked on ahead。 They had left their mules tethered some
distance back； in a sheltering clump of trees； and they hoped the animals
would be safe。
The guide found a place where they could leave the trail； though going
down a dangerous slope； and take to the forest。 As carefully as possible
they descended this； the rain continuing to fall； the wind to blow； the
lightning to sizzle all about them and the thunder to boom in their ears。
They went on until they were beneath the shelter of the thick jungle
growth of trees； which kept off some of the pelting drops。
〃This is better！〃 exclaimed Ned； shaking his poncho and getting rid of
some of the water that had settled on it。
〃Bless my overcoat！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃We seem to have gotten out
of the frying pan into the fire！〃
〃How？〃 asked Tom。 〃We are partly sheltered here； though had we
stayed in the cave in spite of〃
A deafening crash interrupted him； and following the flash one of the
giant trees of the forest was seen to blaze up and then topple over。
〃Struck by lightning！〃 yelled Ned。
〃Yes； and it may happen to us！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon。 〃We were
safer from the lightning in the open。 Maybe〃
Again came an interruption； but this time a different one。 The very
ground beneath their feet seemed to be shaking and trembling。
〃What is it？〃 gasped Ned； while Goosal fell on his knees and began
fervently to pray。
〃It's an earthquake！〃 yelled Tom Swift。
As he spoke there came another soundthe sound of a mass of earth in
motion。 It came from the direction of the mountain trail they had just left。
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They looked toward it and their horror… stricken eyes saw the whole side
of the mountain sliding down。
Slowly at first the earth slid down； but constantly gathering force and
speed。 In the face of this new disaster the rain seemed to have ceased
and the thunder and lightning to be less severe。 It was as though one
force of nature gave way to the other。
〃Look！ Look！〃 gasped Ned。
In silence； which was broken now only by a low and ominous rumble；
more menacing than had been the awful fury of the elements； the travelers
looked。
Suddenly there was a quicker movement of seemingly one whole
section of the mountain。 Great rocks and trees； carried down by the
appalling force of the landslide were slipping over the trail； obliterating it
as though it had never existed。
〃There goes the entrance to the cavern！〃 cried Ned； and as the others
looked to where he pointed they saw the hole in the side of the mountain
the mouth of the cave that led to the lost city of Kurzoncompletely
covered by thousands of tons of earth and stones。
〃That's the end of them！〃 exclaimed Tom； as the rumble of the
earthquake died away。
〃Of〃 Ned stopped； his eyes staring。
〃Of Professor Beecher's party。 They're entombed alive！〃
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CHAPTER XXIV
THE REVOLVING STONE
Stunned； not alone by the realization of the awfulness of the fate of
their rivals； but also by the terrific storm and the effect of the earthquake
and the landslide； Tom and his friends remained for a moment gazing
toward the mouth of the cavern； now completely out of sight； buried by a
mass of broken trees； tangled bushes； rocks and earth。 Somewhere； far
beyond that mass； was the Beecher party； held prisoners in the cave that
formed the entrance to the buried city。
Tom was the first to come to a realization of what was needed to be
done。
〃We must help them！〃 he exclaimed； and it was characteristic of him
that he harbored no enmity。
〃How？〃 asked Ned。
〃We must get a force of Indians and dig them out；〃 was the prompt
answer。
At Tom's vigorous words Professor Bumper's forces were energized
into action； and he stated： 〃Fortunately we have plenty of excavating tools。
We may be in time to save them。 Come on！ the storm seems to have
passed as suddenly as it came up； and the earthquake； which； after all did
not cover a wide area； seems to be over。 We must start the work of rescue
at once。 We must go back to camp and get all the help we can muster。〃
The storm； indeed； seemed to be over； but it was no easy matter to get
back over the soggy； rain…soaked ground to the trail they had left to take
shelter in the forest。 Fortunately the earthquake had not involved that
portion where they had left their mules； but most of the frightened animals
had broken loose； and it was some little time before they could all be
caught。
〃It is no use to try to get back to camp to… night；〃 said Tom； when the
last of the pack and saddle animals had been corralled。 〃It is getting late
and there is no telling the condition of the trail。 We must stay here until
morning。〃
〃But what about them？〃 and Mr。 Damon nodded in the direction of the
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entombed ones。
〃We can help them best by waiting until the beginning of a new day；〃
said the professor。 〃We shall need a large force； and we could not bring it
up to…night。 Besides； Tom is right； and if we tried to go along the trail
after dark； torn and disturbed as it is bound to be by the rain； we might get
into difficulties ourselves。 No； we must camp here until morning and
then go for help。〃
They all decided finally this was best。 The professor； too； pointed out
that their rivals were in a large and roomy cave； not likely to suffer from
lack of air nor food or water； since they must have supplies with them。
〃The only danger is that the cave has been crushed in；〃 added Tom；
〃but in that event we would be of no service to them anyhow。〃
The night seemed very long； and it was a most uncomfortable one；
because of the shock and exertions through which the party had passed。
Added to this was the physical discomfort caused by the storm。
But in time there was the light in the east that meant morning was at
hand； and with it came action。 A hasty breakfast； cups of steaming coffee
forming a most welcome part； put them all in better condition； and once
more they were on their way； heading back to the main camp where they
had left their force of Indians。
〃My！〃 exclaimed Tom； as they made their way slowly along； 〃it surely
was some storm！ Look at those big trees uprooted over there。 They're
almost as big as the giant redwoods of California； and yet they were
bowled over as if they were tenpins。〃
〃I wonder if the wind did it or the earthquake；〃 ventured Mr。 Damon。
〃No wind could do that；〃 declared Ned。 〃It must have been the
landslide caused by the earthquake。〃
〃The wind could do it if the ground was made soft by the rain； and that
was probably what did it；〃 suggested Tom。
〃There is no harm in settling the point；〃 commented Professor Bumper。
〃It is not far off our trail； and will take only a few minutes to go over to
the trees。 I should like to get some photographs to accompany an article