tom swift in the land of wonders(汤姆·史威夫特-奇境)-第4节
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
did not give all the details in that article。 I will tell you some of them。 I
have brought copies of the documents with me；〃 and he opened a small
valise and took out several bundles tied with pink tape。
〃As Mr。 Damon said；〃 he went on while arranging his papers； 〃he met
me on the train； and he was so taken by the story of the idol of gold that he
agreed to accompany me to Central America。〃
〃On one condition！〃 put in the eccentric man。
〃What's that？ You didn't make any conditions while we were
talking；〃 said the scientist。
〃Yes； I said I'd go if Tom Swift did。〃
〃Oh； yes。 You did say that。 But I don't call that a condition； for of
course Tom Swift will go。 Now let me tell you something more than I
could impart over the telephone。
〃Soon after I called you up； Tomand it was quite a coincidence that it
should have been at a time when you had just finished my magazine
article。 Soon after that； as I was saying； I arranged to come on to
Shopton。 And now I'm glad we're all here together。
〃But how comes it； Ned Newton； that you are not in the bank？〃
〃I've left there；〃 explained Ned。
〃He's now general financial man for the Swift Company；〃 Tom
explained。 〃My father and I found that we could not look after the
inventing and experimental end； and money matters； too； and as Ned had
had considerable experience this way we made him take over those
worries；〃 and Tom laughed genially。
〃No worries at all； as far as the Swift Company is concerned；〃 returned
Ned。
〃Well； I guess you earn your salary；〃 laughed Tom。 〃But now；
Professor Bumper； let's hear from you。 Is there anything more about this
idol of gold that you can tell us？〃
〃Plenty； Tom； plenty。 I could talk all day； and not get to the end of
the story。 But a lot of it would be scientific detail that might be too dry
for you in spite of this excellent lemonade；〃
Between them Koku and Eradicate had managed to make a pitcher of
the beverage； though Mrs。 Baggert； the housekeeper； told Tom afterward
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
that the two had a quarrel in the kitchen as to who should squeeze the
lemons； the giant insisting that he had the better right to 〃punch〃 them。
〃So； not to go into too many details；〃 went on the professor； 〃I'll just
give you a brief outline of this story of the idol of gold。
〃Honduras； as you of course know； is a republic of Central America；
and it gets its name from something that happened on the fourth voyage of
Columbus。 He and his men had had days of weary sailing and had
sought in vain for shallow water in which they might come to an
anchorage。 Finally they reached the point now known as Cape Gracias…
a…Dios； and when they let the anchor go； and found that in a short time it
came to rest on the floor of the ocean； some one of the sailorsperhaps
Columbus himself is said to have remarked：
〃‘Thank the Lord； we have left the deep waters （honduras）' that being
the Spanish word for unfathomable depths。 So Honduras it was called；
and has been to this day。
〃It is a queer land with many traces of an ancient civilization； a
civilization which I believe dates back farther than some in the far East。
On the sculptured stones in the Copan valley there are characters which
seem to resemble very ancient writing； but this pictographic writing is
largely untranslatable。
〃Honduras； I might add； is about the size of our state of Ohio。 It is
rather an elevated table… land； though there are stretches of tropical forest；
but it is not so tropical a country as many suppose it to be。 There is much
gold scattered throughout Honduras； though of late it has not been found
in large quantities。
〃In the old days； however； before the Spaniards came； it was plentiful；
so much； so that the natives made idols of it。 And it is one of the largest
of these idolsby name Quitzelthat I am going to seek。〃
〃Do you know where it is？〃 asked Ned。
〃Well； it isn't locked up in a safe deposit box； of that I'm sure；〃 laughed
the professor。 〃No； I don't know exactly where it is； except that it is
somewhere in an ancient and buried city known as Kurzon。 If I knew
exactly where it was there wouldn't be much fun in going after it。 And if
it was known to others it would have been taken away long ago。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
〃No； we've got to hunt for the idol of gold in this land of wonders
where I hope soon to be。 Later on I'll show you the documents that put me
on the track of this idol。 Enough now to show you an old map I found； or；
rather； a copy of it； and some of the papers that tell of the idol；〃 and he
spread out his packet of papers on the table in front of him； his eyes
shining with excitement and pleasure。 Mr。 Damon； too； leaned eagerly
forward。
〃So； Tom Swift；〃 went on the professor； 〃I come to you for help in this
matter。 I want you to aid me in organizing an expedition to go to
Honduras after the idol of gold。 Will you？〃
〃I'll help you； of course；〃 said Tom。 〃You may use any of my
inventions you choosemy airships； my motor boats and submarines； even
my giant cannon if you think you can take it with you。 And as for the
money part； Ned will arrange that for you。 But as for going with you
myself； it is out of the question。 I can't。 No Honduras for me！〃
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
CHAPTER IX
FENIMORE BEECHER
Had Tom Swift's giant cannon been discharged somewhere in the
vicinity of his home it could have caused but little more astonishment to
Mr。 Damon and Professor Bumper than did the simple announcement of
the young inventor。 The professor seemed to shrink back in his chair；
collapsing like an automobile tire when the air is let out。 As for Mr。
Damon he jumped up and cried：
〃Bless my！〃
But that is as far as he gotat least just then。 He did not seem to know
what to bless； but he looked as though he would have liked to include
most of the universe。
〃Surely you don't mean it； Tom Swift；〃 gasped Professor Bumper at
length。 〃Won't you come with us？〃
〃No；〃 said Tom； slowly。 〃Really I can't go。 I'm working on an
invention of a new aeroplane stabilizer； and if I go now it will be just at a
time when I am within striking distance of success。 And the stabilizer is
very much needed。〃
〃If it's a question of making a profit on it； Tom；〃 began Mr。 Damon； 〃I
can let you have some money until〃
〃Oh； no！ It isn't the money！〃 cried Tom。 〃Don't think that for a moment。
You see the European war has called for the use of a large number of
aeroplanes； and as the pilots of them frequently have to fight； and so can
not give their whole attention to the machines； some form of automatic
stabilizer is needed to prevent them turning turtle； or going off at a wrong
tangent。
〃So I have been working out a sort of modified gyroscope； and it
seems to answer the purpose。 I have already received advance orders for
a number of my devices from abroad； and as they are destined to save
lives I feel that I ought to keep on with my work。
〃I'd like to go； don't misunderstand me； but I can't go at this time。 It
is out of the question。 If you wait a year； or maybe six months〃
〃No； it is impossible to wait； Tom；〃 declared Professor Bumper。
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