tom swift in the land of wonders(汤姆·史威夫特-奇境)-第5节
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〃No； it is impossible to wait； Tom；〃 declared Professor Bumper。
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〃Is it so important then to hurry？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃You did not
mention that to me； Professor Bumper。〃
〃No； I did not have time。 There are so many ends to my concerns。
But； Tom Swift； you simply must go！〃
〃I can't； my dear professor； much as I should like to。〃
〃But； Tom； think of it！〃 cried Mr。 Damon； who was as much excited as
was the little bald… headed scientist。 〃You never saw such an idol of gold
as this。 What's its name？〃 and he looked questioningly at the professor。
〃Quitzel the idol is called；〃 supplied Professor Bumper。 〃And it is
supposed to be in a buried city named Kurzon； somewhere in the Sierra de
Merendon range of mountains； in the vicinity of the Copan valley。
Copan is a city； or maybe we'll find it only a town when we get there； and
it is not far from the borders of Guatemala。
〃Tom； if I could show you the translations I have made of the ancient
documents； referring to this idol and the wonderful city over which it kept
guard； I'm sure you'd come with us。〃
〃Please don't tempt me；〃 Tom said with a laugh。 〃I'm only too
anxious to go； and if it wasn't for the stabilizer I'd be with you in a minute。
But Well； you'll have to get along without me。 Maybe I can join you
later。〃
〃What's this about the idol keeping guard over the ancient city？〃 asked
Ned； for he was interested in strange stories。
〃It seems；〃 explained the professor； 〃that in the early days there was a
strange race of people； inhabiting Central America； with a somewhat high
civilization； only traces of which remained when the Spaniards came。
〃But these traces； and such hieroglyphics； or； to be more exact
pictographs； as I have been able to decipher from the old documents； tell
of one country； or perhaps it was only a city； over which this great golden
idol of Quitzel presided。
〃There is in some of these papers a description of the idol； which is not
exactly a beauty； judged from modern standards。 But the main fact is
that it is made of solid gold； and may weigh anywhere from one to two
tons。〃
〃Two tons of gold！〃 cried New Newton。 〃Why； if that's the case it
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would be worth〃 and he fell to doing a sum in mental arithmetic。
〃I am not so concerned about the monetary value of the statue as I am
about its antiquity；〃 went on Professor Bumper。 〃There are other statues
in this buried city of Kurzon； and though they may not be so valuable they
will give me a wealth of material for my research work。〃
〃How do you know there are other statues？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃Because my documents tell me so。 It was because the people made
other idols； in opposition； as it were； to Quitzel； that their city or country
was destroyed。 At least that is the legend。 Quitzel； so the story goes；
wanted to be the chief god； and when the image of a rival was set up in the
temple near him； he toppled over in anger； and part of the temple went
with him； the whole place being buried in ruins。 All the inhabitants were
killed； and trace of the ancient city was lost forever。 No； I hope not
forever； for I expect to find it。〃
〃If all the people were killed； and the city buried； how did the story of
Quitzel become known？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃One only of the priests in the temple of Quitzel escaped and set down
part of the tale；〃 said the professor。 〃It is his narrative； or one based on it；
that I have given you。〃
〃And now； what I want to do； is to go and make a search for this
buried city。 I have fairly good directions as to how it may be reached。
We will have little difficulty in getting to Honduras； as there are fruit
steamers frequently sailing。 Of course going into the interiorto the
Copan valleyis going to be harder。 But an expedition from a large
college was recently there and succeeded； after much labor； in ex… cavating
part of a buried city。 Whether or not it was Kurzon I am unable to say。
〃But if there was one ancient city there must be more。 So I want to
make an attempt。 And I counted on you； Tom。 You have had
considerable experience in strange quarters of the earth； and you're just the
one to help me。 I don't need money； for I have interested a certain
millionaire； and my own college will put up part of the funds。〃
〃Oh； it isn't a question of money；〃 said Tom。 〃It's time。〃
〃That's just what it is with me！〃 exclaimed Professor Bumper。 〃I
haven't any time to lose。 My rivals may； even now； be on their way to
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Honduras！〃
〃Your rivals！〃 cried Tom。 〃You didn't say anything about them！〃
〃No； I believe I didn't There were so many other things to talk about。
But there is a rival archaeologist who would ask nothing better than to get
ahead of me in this matter。 He is younger than I am； and youth is a big
asset nowadays。〃
〃Pooh！ You're not old！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃You're no older than I am；
and I'm still young。 I'm a lot younger than some of these boys who are
afraid to tackle a trip through a tropical wilderness；〃 and he playfully
nudged Tom in the ribs。
〃I'm not a bit afraid！〃 retorted the young inventor。
〃No； I know you're not；〃 laughed Mr。 Damon。 〃But I've got to say
something； Tom； to stir you up。 Ned； how about you？ Would you go？〃
〃I can't； unless Tom does。 You see I'm his financial man now。〃
〃There you are； Tom Swift！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃You see you are
holding back a number of persons just because you don't want to go。〃
〃I certainly wouldn't like to go without Tom；〃 said the professor slowly。
〃I really need his help。 You know； Tom； we would never have found the
city of Pelone if it had not been for you and your marvelous powder。 The
conditions in the Copan valley are likely to be still more difficult to
overcome； and I feel that I risk failure without your young energy and
your inventive mind to aid in the work and to suggest possible means of
attaining our object。 Come； Tom； reconsider； and decide to make the
trip。〃
〃And my promise to go was dependent on Tom's agreement to
accompany us；〃 said Mr。 Damon
〃Come on！〃 urged the professor； much as one boy might urge another
to take part in a ball game。 〃Don't let my rival get ahead of me。〃
〃I wouldn't like to see that；〃 Tom said slowly。 〃Who is heany one I
know？〃
〃I don't believe so； Tom。 He's connected with a large； new college
that has plenty of money to spend on explorations and research work。
Beecher is his nameFenimore Beecher。〃
〃Beecher！〃 exclaimed Tom； and there was such a change in his manner
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that his friends could not help noticing it。 He jumped to his feet； his eyes
snapping； and he looked eagerly and anxiously at Professor Bumper。
〃Did you say his name was Fenimore Beecher？〃 Tom asked in a tense
voice。
〃That's what it isProfessor Fenimore Beecher。 He is really a learned
young man； and thoroughly in earnest； though I do not like his manner。
But he is trying to get ahead of me； which may account for my feeling。〃
Tom Swift did not answer。 Instead he hurried from the room with a
murmured apology。
〃I'll be back in about five minutes；〃 he said； as he went out。
〃Well； what's up now？〃 asked Mr。 Damon of Ned； as the young
inventor departed。 〃What set him off that way？〃
〃The mention of Beecher's name； evidently。 Though I never heard him
m
