tom swift in the land of wonders(汤姆·史威夫特-奇境)-第28节
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
And then； after some talk； this information came out。 Years before；
when Goosal was a young man； he had been taken by his grandfather on a
journey through the jungle。 They stopped one day at the foot of a high
mountain； and； clearing away the brush and stones at a certain place； an
entrance to a great cavern was revealed。 This； it appeared； was the Indian
burial ground； and had been used for generations。
Goosal； though in fear and trembling； was lead through it； and came to
another cavern； vaster than the first。 And there he saw strange and
wonderful sights； for it was the remains of a buried city； that had once
been the home of a great and powerful tribe unlike the Indiansthe ancient
Mayas it would seem。
〃Can you take us to this cavern？〃 asked the professor。
〃Yes；〃 answered Goosal。 〃I will lead to it those who saved the life of
Talthem and their friends。 I will take you to the lost city！〃
〃Good！〃 cried Mr。 Damon； when this had been translated。 〃Now let
Beecher try to play any more tricks on us！ Ho！ for the cavern and the lost
city of Kurzon。〃
〃And the idol of gold；〃 said Tom Swift to himself。 〃I hope we can
get it ahead of Beecher。 Perhaps if I can help in thatOh； well； here's
hoping； that's all！〃 and a little smile curved his lips。
Greatly excited by the strange news； but maintaining as calm an air
outwardly as possible； so as not to excite the Indians； Tom and his friends
returned to camp to prepare for their trip。 Goosal had said the cavern lay
distant more than a two… days' journey into the jungle。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
CHAPTER XXII
THE STORM
〃Now；〃 remarked Tom； once they were back again in their camp； 〃we
must go about this trip to the cavern in a way that will cause no suspicion
over there as to what our object is；〃 and he nodded in the direction of the
quarters of his rival。
〃Do you mean to go off quietly？〃 asked Ned。
〃Yes。 And to keep the work going on here； at these shafts；〃 put in the
scientist； 〃so that if any of their spies happen to come here they will think
we still believe the buried city to be just below us。 To that end we must
keep the Indians digging； though I am convinced now that it is useless。〃
Accordingly preparations were made for an expedition into the jungle
under the leadership of Goosal。 Tal had not sufficiently recovered from
the jaguar wounds to go with the party； but the old man； in spite of his
years； was hale and hearty and capable of withstanding hardships。
One of the most intelligent of the Indians was put in charge of the
digging gangs as foreman； and told to keep them at work； and not to let
them stray。 Tolpec； whose brother Tom had tried to save； proved a
treasure。 He agreed to remain behind and look after the interests of his
friends； and see that none of their baggage or stores were taken。
〃Well； I guess we're as ready as we ever shall be；〃 remarked Tom； as
the cavalcade made ready to start。 Mules carried the supplies that were
to be taken into the jungle； and others of the sturdy animals were to be
ridden by the travelers。 The trail was not an easy one； Goosal warned
them。
Tom and his friends found it even worse than they had expected； for all
their experience in jungle and mountain traveling。 In places it was
necessary to dismount and lead the mules along； sometimes pushing and
dragging them。 More than once the trail fairly hung on the edge of some
almost bottomless gorge； and again it wound its way between great walls
of rock； so poised that they appeared about to topple over and crush the
travelers。 But they kept on with dogged patience； through many
hardships。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
To add to their troubles they seemed to have entered the abode of the
fiercest mosquitoes encountered since coming to Honduras。 At times it
was necessary to ride along with hats covered with mosquito netting； and
hands encased in gloves。
They had taken plenty of condensed food with them； and they did not
suffer in this respect。 Game； too； was plentiful and the electric rifles of
Tom and Ned added to the larder。
One night； after a somewhat sound sleep induced by hard travel on the
trail that day； Tom awoke to hear some one or something moving about
among their goods； which included their provisions。
〃Who's there？〃 asked the young inventor sharply； as he reached for his
electric rifle。
There was no answer； but a rattling of the pans。
〃Speak； or I'll fire！〃 Tom warned； adding this in such Spanish as he
could muster； for he thought it might be one of the Indians。 No reply
came； and then； seeing by the light of the stars a dark form moving in front
of the tent occupied by himself and Ned； Tom fired。
There was a combined grunt and squeal of pain； then a savage growl；
and Ned yelled：
〃What's the matter； Tom？〃 for he had been awakened； and heard the
crackle of the electrical discharge。
〃I don't know；〃 Tom answered。 〃But I shot somethingor
somebody！〃
〃Maybe some of Beecher's crowd；〃 ventured his chum。 But when
they got their electric torches； and focused them on the inert； black object；
it was found to be a bear which had come to nose about the camp for
dainty morsels。
Bruin was quite dead； and as he was in prime condition there was a
feast of bear meat at the following dinner。 The white travelers found it
rather too strong for their palates； but the Indians reveled in it。
It was shortly after noon the next day； when Goosal； after remarking
that a storm seemed brewing； announced that they would be at the
entrance to the cavern in another hour。
〃Good！〃 cried Professor Bumper。 〃At last we are near the buried
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
city。〃
〃Don't be too sure；〃 advised Mr。 Damon； 〃We may be disappointed。
Though I hope not for your sake； my dear Professor。〃
Goosal now took the lead； and the old Indian； traveling on foot； for he
said he could better look for the old landmark that way than on the back of
a mule； walked slowly along a rough cliff。
〃Here。 somewhere； is the entrance to the cav… ern；〃 said the aged
man。 〃It was many years ago that I was heremany years。 But it seems
as though yesterday。 It is little changed。〃
Indeed little did change in that land of wonders。 Only nature caused
what alterations there were。 The hand of man had long been absent。
Slowly Goosal walked along the rocky trail； on one side a sheer rock；
towering a hundred feet or more toward the sky。 On the other side a deep
gash leading to a great fertile valley below。
Suddenly the old man paused； and looked about him as though
uncertain。 Then； more slowly still； he put out his hand and pulled at
some bushes that grew on a ledge of the rock。 They came away； having
no depth of earth； and a small opening was disclosed。
〃It is here；〃 said Goosal quietly。 〃The entrance to the cavern that
leads to the burial place of the dead； and the city that is dead also。 It is
here。〃
He stood aside while the others hurried forward。 It took but a few
minutes to prove that he was rightat least as to the existence of the
cavernfor the four men were soon peering into the opening。
〃Come on！〃 cried Tom； impetuously。
〃Wait a moment；〃 suggested the professor； 〃Sometimes the air in these
places is foul。 We must test it。〃 But a torch one of the Indians threw in
burned with a steady glow。 That test was conclusive at
