tom swift in the land of wonders(汤姆·史威夫特-奇境)-第22节
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say I don't know what you mean by unsportsmanlike conduct。〃
〃An explanation would be wasted on you；〃 said Professor Bumper
stiffly。 〃But in order that you may know I fully understand what you did
I will say that your efforts to thwart us through your tool Jacinto came to
nothing。 We are here ahead of you。〃
〃Jacinto！〃 cried Professor Beecher in real or simulated surprise。
〃Why； he was not my ‘tool；' as you term it。〃
〃Your denial is useless in the light of his confession；〃 asserted
Professor Bumper。
〃Confession？〃
〃Now look here！〃 exclaimed the older professor； 〃I do not propose to
lower myself by quarreling with you。 I know certainly what you and
your party tried to do to prevent us from getting here。 But we got out of
the trap you set for us； and we are on the ground first。 I recognize your
right to make explorations as well as ourselves； and I presume you have
not fallen so low that you will not recognize the unwritten law in a case of
this kindthe law which says the right of discovery belongs to the one
who first makes it。〃
〃I shall certainly abide by such conduct as is usual under the
circumstances；〃 said Professor Beecher more stiffly than before。 〃At the
same time I must deny having set a trap。 And as for Jacinto〃
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〃It will be useless to discuss it further！〃 broke in Professor Bumper。
〃Then no more need be said；〃 retorted the younger man。 〃I shall give
orders to my friends； as well as to the natives； to keep away from your
camp； and I shall expect you to do the same regarding mine。〃
〃I should have suggested the same thing myself；〃 came from Tom's
friend； and the two rival scientists fairly glared at one another； the others
of both parties looking on with interest。
Professor Bumper turned and walked defiantly back to his tent。
Professor Beecher did the same thing。 Then； after a short consultation
among the white members of the latter's organization； their tents were set
up in another clearing； removed and separated by a screen of trees and
bushes from those of Tom Swift's friends。 The natives of the Beecher
party also withdrew a little way from those of Professor Bumper's
organization； and then preparations for spending the night in the jungle
went on in the rival headquarters。
〃Well； he certainly had nerve； to deny； practically； that he had set
Jacinto up to do what he did；〃 commented Tom。
〃I should say so！〃 agreed Ned。
〃How do you imagine he got here nearly as soon as we did； when he
did not start until later？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃He did not have the unfortunate experience of being deserted in the
jungle；〃 replied Tom。 〃He probably had Jacinto； or some of that
unprincipled scoundrel's friends； show him a short route to Copan and he
came on from there。〃
〃Well； I did hope we might have the ground to ourselves； at least for
the preliminary explorations and excavations。 But it is not to be。 My
rival is here；〃 sighed Professor Bumper。
〃Don't let that discourage you！〃 exclaimed Tom。 〃We can fight all the
better now the foe is in the open； and we know where he is。〃
〃Yes； Tom Swift； that is true；〃 agreed the scientist。 〃I am not going to
give up； but I shall have to change my plans a little。 Perhaps you will
come into the tent with me；〃 and he nodded to Tom and Ned。 〃I want to
talk over certain matters with you and Mr。 Damon。〃
〃Pleased to；〃 assented the young inventor； and his financial secretary
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nodded。
A little later； supper having been eaten； the camp made shipshape and
the natives settled down； Tom； Ned； Mr。 Damon and Professor Bumper
assembled in the tent of the scientist； where a dry battery lamp gave
sufficient illumination to show a number of maps and papers scattered
over an improvised table。
〃Now； gentlemen；〃 said the professor； 〃I have called you here to go
over my plans more in detail than I have hitherto done； now we are on the
ground。 You know in a general way what I hope to accomplish； but the
time has come when I must be specific。
〃Aside from being on the spot； below which； or below the vicinity
where； I believe； lies the lost city of Kurzon and； I hope； the idol of gold； a
situation has arisenan unexpected situation； I may saywhich calls for
different action from that I had counted on。
〃I refer to the presence of my rival； Professor Beecher。 I will not
dwell now on what he has done。 It is better to consider what he may do。〃
〃That's right；〃 agreed Ned。 〃He may get up in the night； dig up this
city and skip with that golden image before we know it。〃
〃Hardly；〃 grinned Tom。
〃No；〃 said Professor Bumper。 〃Excavating buried cities in the jungle
of Honduras is not as simple as that。 There is much work to be done。
But accidents may happen； and in case one should occur to me； and I be
unable to prosecute the search； I want one of you to do it。 For that reason
I am going to show you the maps and ancient documents and point out to
you where I believe the lost city lies。 Now； if you will give me your
attention； I'll proceed。〃
The professor went over in detail the story of how he had found the
old documents relating to the lost city of Kurzon； and of how； after much
labor and research； he had located the city in the Copan valley。 The great
idol of gold was one of the chief possessions of Kurzon； and it was often
referred to in the old papers； copies and translations of which the professor
had with him。
〃But this is the most valuable of all；〃 he said； as he opened an oiled…
silk packet。 〃And before I show it to you； suppose you two young men
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take a look outside the tent。〃
〃What for？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃To make sure that no emissaries from the Beecher crowd are sneaking
around to overhear what we say；〃 was the somewhat bitter answer of the
scientist。 〃I do not trust him； in spite of his attempted denial。〃
Tom and Ned took a quick but thorough observation outside the tent。
The blackness of the jungle night was in strange contrast to the light they
had just left。
〃Doesn't seem to be any one around here；〃 remarked Ned； after
waiting a minute or two。
〃No。 All's quiet along the Potomac。 Those Beecher natives are
having some sort of a song… fest； though。〃
In the distance； and from the direction of their rivals' camp； came the
weird chant。
〃Well； as long as they stay there we'll be all right；〃 said Tom。 〃Come
on in。 I'm anxious to hear what the professor has to say。〃
〃Everything's quiet；〃 reported Ned。
〃Then give me your attention；〃 begged the scientist。
Carefully； as though about to exhibit some； precious jewel； he
loosened the oiled…silk wrappings and showed a large map； on thin but
tough paper。
〃This is drawn from the old charts；〃 the professor explained。 〃I
worked on it many months； and it is the only copy in the world。 If it
were to be destroyed I should have to go all the way back to New York to
make another copy。 I have the original there in a safe deposit vault。〃
〃Wouldn't it have been wise to make two copies？〃 asked Tom。
〃It would have only increased the risk。 With one copy； and that
constantly in my possession； I can be sure of my ground。 Otherwise not。
That is why I am so careful of this。 Now I will show you why I believe
we are about over the ancient city of Kurzon。〃
〃Over it！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my gunpowder！ What do you
mean？〃 and he
