& his big tunnel(汤姆·史威夫特和他的大遂道)-第15节
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〃I wish you would；〃 returned Mr。 Titus。
Later on； in their stateroom； the contractor remarked to the young
inventor：
〃Sort of queer； isn't it？〃
〃What？〃 asked Tom。 〃His not remembering us？〃
〃No； though that was odd。 But I suppose he is forgetful； or pretends to
be。 I mean it's queer he is going to Rimac。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Tom。
〃Well； I don't know exactly what I mean；〃 went on the tunnel
contractor； 〃but our tunnel happens to start at Rimac； which is a small
town at the base of the mountains。〃
〃Maybe the professor is a geologist；〃 suggested Tom； 〃and he may
want to get some samples of that hard rock。〃
〃Maybe；〃 admitted Mr。 Titus。 〃But I shall keep my eyes on him all the
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same。 I'm not going to have any strangers； who happen to be around when
bombs drop near us； get into my tunnel。〃
〃I think you're wrong to doubt Professor Bumper；〃 Tom said。
A few days after this； when Tom and Mr。 Titus were casually
discussing the weather on deck and wondering how much longer it would
be before they reached Callao； Mr。 Damon； who had been playing
numberless games of chess； came up for a breath of air。
〃Mr。 Damon；〃 called Tom； 〃come over here and meet a friend of ours；
Professor Bumper；〃 and he was about to introduce them； for the two； as far
as Tom knew； had not yet met。 But no sooner had the professor and Mr。
Damon caught sight of each other than there was a look of mutual
recognition。
〃Bless my fountain pen！〃 cried the eccentric man。 〃If it isn't my old
friend！〃
〃Mr。 Damon！〃 cried the professor。 〃I am delighted to see you again。 I
did not know you were on board！〃
〃Nor I you。 Bless my apple dumpling！ Are you still after those
Peruvian antiquities？〃
〃I am； Mr。 Damon。 But I did not know you were acquainted with Mr。
Swift。〃
〃Oh； Tom and I are old friends。〃
〃Professor Bumper saved the lives of Mr。 Titus and myself；〃 said Tom；
〃or at least he saved us from severe injury by a bomb。〃
〃Pray do not mention it； my friends；〃 put in the professor； casually。 〃It
was nothing。〃
Of course he did not mean it just that way。
Then； naturally； Mr。 Damon had to be told all about the bomb for the
first time； and his wonder was great。 He blessed everything he could think
of。
〃And to think it should be my old friend； Professor Bumper； who
saved you；〃 said the odd man to Tom and Mr。 Titus later that day。
〃Do you know him well？〃 asked Mr。 Titus。
〃Very well indeed。 Our drug concern sells him many chemicals for his
experiments。〃
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〃Well； if you know him I guess he can't be what I thought he was；〃 the
contractor went on。 〃I'm glad to know it。 Why is he going to the Andes？〃
〃Oh； for many years he has been interested in collecting Peruvian
antiquities。 He has a certain theory in regard to something or other about
their ancient civilization； but just what it is I have； at this moment；
forgotten。 Only I know you can thoroughly trust Professor Bumper； for a
finer man never lived； though he is a bit absent…minded at times。 But you
will like him very much。〃
Thus the last lingering doubt of Professor Bumper was removed。 Mr。
Damon told something of how the scientist had been honored by degrees
from many colleges and was regarded as an authority on Peruvian matters。
But who had placed the bomb on deck remained a mystery。
In due time Callao； the seaport of Lima； was reached and our friends
disembarked。 Tom saw to the unloading of the explosive； which was to be
sent direct to the tunnel at Rimac。 Mr。 Titus； Tom and Mr。 Damon would
remain in Lima a day or so。
Professor Bumper disembarked with our friends； and stopped at the
same hotel。 Tom kept a lookout for Senor Pinto； but did not see him； and
concluded that the Spaniard was ill； and would be carried ashore on a
stretcher； perhaps。
Lima； the principal city and capital of Peru； proved an interesting place。
It was about eight miles inland and was built on an arid plain about five
hundred feet above sea level。 Yet； though it was on what might be termed
a desert； the place； by means of irrigation； had been made into a beauty
spot。
Tom found the older part of the city was laid out with mathematical
regularity； each street crossing the other at right angles。 But in the new
portions there was not this adherence to straightness。
〃Bless my transfer！ Why； they have electric cars here！〃 exclaimed Mr。
Damon； catching sight of one on the line between Callao and the capital。
〃What did you think they'd have？〃 asked Mr。 Titus； 〃elephants or
camels？〃
〃II didn't just know；〃 was the answer。
〃Oh； you'll find a deal of civilization here；〃 the contractor said。 〃Of
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course much of the population is negro or Indian； but they are often rich
and able to buy what they want。 There is a population of over 150；000；
and there are two steam railroads between Callao and Lima； while there is
one running into the interior for 130 miles； crossing the Andes at an
elevation of over three miles。 It is a branch of that road； together with a
branch of the one running to Ancon； that I am to connect with a tunnel。〃
Tom found some beautiful churches and cathedrals in Lima； and spent
some time visiting them。 He and Mr。 Damon also visited； in the outskirts；
the tobacco； cocoa and other factories。
Three days after reaching the capital； Mr。 Titus having attended to
some necessary business while Mr。 Damon set on foot matters connected
with his affairs； it was decided to strike inland to Rimac； and to try the
effect of Tom Swift's explosive on the tunnel。
The journey was to be made in part by rail； though the last stages of it
were over a rough mountain trail； with llamas for beasts of burden； while
our friends rode mules。
As Tom； Mr。 Damon； Koku； and Mr。 Titus were going to the railroad
station they saw Professor Bumper also leaving the hotel。
〃I believe our roads lie together for a time；〃 said the bald…headed
scientist； 〃and； if you have no objections； I will accompany you。〃
〃Come； and welcome！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Titus； all his suspicions now
gone。
〃And it may be that you will be able to help me；〃 the scientist went on。
〃Help youhow？〃 asked Tom。
〃I will tell you when we reach the Andes；〃 was the mysterious answer。
It was a day later when they left the train at a small station； and struck
off into the foothills of the great Andes Mountains； where the tunnel was
started； that the professor again mentioned his object。
〃Friends；〃 he said； as he gazed up at the towering cliffs and crags； 〃I
am searching for the lost city of Pelone； located somewhere in these
mountains。 Will you help me to find it？〃
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CHAPTER XII
The Tunnel
Mr。 Damon； of the three who heard Professor Bumper make this
statement； showed the least sign of astonishment。 It would have been more
correct to say that he showed none at all。 But Tom could not restrain
himself。
〃The lost city of Pelone！〃 he exclaimed。
〃Is it herein these mountains？〃 asked Mr。 Titus。
〃I have reason to hope that it is；〃 went on the professor。 〃The golden
tablets are very vague； but I have tried many locations； and now I am
about to try here。 I hope I shall succeed。 At any rate； I shall have agreeable
company； which has not always been my luck on my previous expeditions
seeking to find the lost city。〃
〃Oh； Professor； are you still on that quest？〃 asked Mr。 Damon； in a
matter…of…fact tone。
〃Yes； Mr。 Damon； I am。 And now that I look about me； and see the
shape of these
