tom swift in the land of wonders(汤姆·史威夫特-奇境)-第2节
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unfolded to him。
〃This story has to do with the hidden city； and tells of the ancient
civilization of those who lived in the Copan valley thousands of years ago。
The people held this idol of gold to be their greatest treasure； and they put
to death many of other tribes who sought to steal it。〃
〃Whew！〃 whistled Ned。 〃That IS some yarn。 But what is Professor
Bumper going to do about it？〃
〃I don't know。 The article seems to be written with an idea of
interesting scientists and research societies； so that they will raise money
to conduct a searching expedition。
〃Perhaps by this time the party may be organizedthis magazine is
several months old。 I have been so busy on my stabilizer patent that I
haven't kept up with current literature。 Take it home and read it！ Ned。
That is if you're through telling me about my affairs；〃 for Ned； who had
formerly worked in the Shopton bank； had recently been made general
financial man… ager of the interests of Tom and his father。 The two were
inventors and proverbially poor business men； though they had amassed a
fortune。
〃Your financial affairs are all right； Tom；〃 said Ned。 〃I have just been
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
going over the books； and I'll submit a detailed report later。〃
The telephone bell rang and Tom picked up the instrument from the
desk。 As he answered in the usual way and then listened a moment； a
strange look came over his face。
〃Well； this certainly is wonderful！〃 he exclaimed； in much the same
manner as when he had finished reading the article about the idol。 〃It
certainly is a strange coincidence；〃 he added； speaking in an aside to Ned
while he himself still listened to what was being told to him over the
telephone wire。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
CHAPTER II
PROFESSOR BUMPER ARRIVES
〃What's the matter； Tom？ What is it？〃 asked Ned Newton； attracted
by the strange manner of his chum at the telephone。 〃Has anything
happened？〃
But the young inventor was too busy listening to the unseen speaker to
answer his chum； even if he heard what Ned remarked； which is doubtful。
〃Well； I might as well wait until he is through；〃 mused Ned； as he
started to leave the room。 Then as Tom motioned to him to remain； he
murmured： 〃He may have something to say to me later。 But I wonder
who is talking to him。〃
There was no way of finding out； however； until Tom had a chance to
talk to Ned； and at present the young scientist was eagerly listening to
what came over the wire。 Occasionally Ned could hear him say：
〃You don't tell me！ That is surprising！ Yes yes！ Of course if it's true it
means a big thing； I can understand that。 What's that？ No； I couldn't
make a promise like that。 I'm sorry； but〃
Then the person at the other end of the wire must have plunged into
something very interesting and absorbing； for Tom did not again interrupt
by interjected remarks。
Tom。 Swift； as has been said； was an inventor； as was his father。
Mr。 Swift was now rather old and feeble； taking only a nominal part in the
activities of the firm made up of himself and his son。 But his inventions
were still used； many of them being vital to the business and trade of this
country。
Tom and his father lived in the village of Shopton； New York； and
their factories covered many acres of ground。 Those who wish to read of
the earliest activities of Tom in the inventive line are referred to the initial
volume； 〃Tom Swift and His Motor Cycle。〃 From then on he and his
father had many and exciting adventures。 In a motor boat； an airship； and a
submarine respectively the young inventor had gone through many perils。
On some of the trips his chum； Ned Newton； accompanied him； and very
often in the party was a Mr。 Wakefield Damon； who had a curious habit of
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
〃blessing〃 everything that happened to strike his fancy。
Besides Tom and his father； the Swift household was made up of
Eradicate Sampson； a colored man…of…all…work； who； with his mule
Boomerang； did what he could to keep the grounds around the house in
order。 There was also Mrs。 Baggert； the housekeeper； Tom's mother
being dead。 Mr。 Damon； living in a neighboring town； was a frequent
visitor in the Swift home。
Mary Nestor； a girl of Shopton； might also be mentioned。 She and
Tom were more than just good friends。 Tom had an idea that some day…
…。 But there； I promised not to tell that part； at least until the young
people themselves were ready to have a certain fact announced。
From one activity to another had Tom Swift gone； now constructing
some important invention for himself； as among others； when he made the
photo…telephone； or developed a great searchlight which he presented to
the Government for use in detecting smugglers on the border。
The book immediately preceding this is called 〃Tom Swift and His Bit；
Tunnel；〃 and deals with the efforts of the young inventor to help a firm of
contractors penetrate a mountain in Peru。 How this was done and how；
incidental… ly； the lost city of Pelone was discovered； bringing joy to the
heart of Professor Swyington Bumper； will be found fully set forth in the
book。
Tom had been back from the Peru trip for some months； when we
again find him interested in some of the work of Professor Bumper； as set
forth in the magazine mentioned。
〃Well； he certainly is having some conversation；〃 reflected Ned； as；
after more than five minutes； Tom's ear was still at the receiver of the
instrument； into the transmitter of which he had said only a few words。
〃All right；〃 Tom finally answered； as he hung the receiver up； 〃I'll be
here；〃 and then he turned to Ned； whose curiosity had been growing with
the telephone talk； and remarked：
〃That certainly was wonderful！〃
〃What was？〃 asked Ned。 〃Do you think I'm a mind reader to be able
to guess？〃
〃No； indeed！ I beg your pardon。 I'll tell you at once。 But I couldn't
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
break away。 It was too important。 To whom do you think I was talking
just then？〃
〃I can imagine almost any one； seeing I know something of what you
have done。 It might be almost anybody from some person you met up in
the caves of ice to a red pygmy from the wilds of Africa。〃
〃I'm afraid neither of them would be quite up to telephone talk yet；〃
laughed Tom。 〃No； this was the gentleman who wrote that interesting
article about the idol of gold；〃 and he motioned to the magazine Ned held
in his hand。
〃You don't mean Professor Bumper！〃
〃That's just whom I do mean。〃
〃What did he want？ Where did he call from？〃
〃He wants me to help organize an expedition to go to Central America…
…to the Copan valley； to be exactto look for this somewhat mythical idol
of gold。 Incidentally the professor will gather in any other antiques of
more or less value； if he can find any； and he hopes； even if he doesn't find
the idol； to get enough historical material for half a dozen books； to say
nothing of magazine articles。〃
〃Where did he call from； did you say？〃
〃I didn't say。 But it was a long…distance call from New York。 The
Professor stopped off there on his way from Boston； where he has been
lecturing before some society。 And now he's coming here to see me；〃
finished Tom。
〃What！ Is he going to lecture here？〃 cried Ned。 〃If he is； and spouts a
whole lot of tha
