& his big tunnel(汤姆·史威夫特和他的大遂道)-第16节
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shape of these mountains； I feel that they conform more to the description
on the golden plates than any location I have yet tried。 Somehow I feel
that I shall be successful here。〃
〃Did you know Professor Bumper was searching for a lost city of the
Andes？〃 asked Tom； of his eccentric friend。
〃Why yes；〃 answered Mr。 Damon。 〃He has been searching for years to
locate it。〃
〃Why didn't you tell us？〃 inquired Mr。 Titus。
〃Why； I never thought of it。 Bless my memorandum book！ it never
occurred to me。 I did not think you would be interested。 Tell them your
story； Professor Bumper。〃
〃I will soon。 Just now I must see to my equipment。 The story will
keep。〃
And though Tom and Mr。 Titus were both anxious to hear about the
lost city； they； too； had much to do to get ready for the trip into the interior。
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The beginning of the tunnel under one of the smaller of the ranges of
the Andes lay two days journey from the end of the railroad line。 And the
trip must be made on mules； with llamas as beasts of burden； transporting
the powder and other supplies。
〃We'll only need to take enough food with us for the two days；〃 said
Mr。 Titus。 〃We have a regular camp at the tunnel mouth； and my brother
has supplies of grub and other things constantly coming in。 We also have
shacks to live in； but on this trip we will use tents； as the weather at this
season is fine。〃
It was quite a little expedition that set off up the mountain trail that
afternoon； for they had arrived at the end of the railroad line shortly before
dinner； and had eaten at a rather poor restaurant。
Professor Bumper had made up his own exploring party； consisting of
himself and three native Indian diggers with their picks and shovels。 They
were to do whatever excavating he decided was necessary to locate the
hidden city。
Several mules and llamas； laden with the new explosive； and burdened
with camp equipment and food； and a few Indian servants made up the
cavalcade of Tom； the contractor； Mr。 Damon and Koku。 The giant was
almost as much a source of wonder to the Peruvians as he had been on
board the ship。 And he was a great help； too。 For some of the Indians were
under…sized； and could not lift the heavy boxes and packages to the backs
of the beasts of burden。
But Koku； thrusting the little men aside； grasped with one hand what
two of them had tried in vain to lift； and set it on the back of mule or
llama。
The way was rough but they took their time to it； for the trail was an
ascending one。 Above and beyond them towered the great Andes； and Tom；
gazing up into the sky； which in places seemed almost pierced by the
snow…covered peaks； saw some small black specks moving about。
〃Condors；〃 said Mr。 Titus； when his attention was called to them。
〃Some of them are powerful birds； and they sometimes pick up a sheep
and make off with it； though usually their food consists of carrion。〃
They went into camp before the sun went down； for it grew dark soon
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after sunset； and they wanted to be prepared。 Supper was made ready by
the Indian helpers； and when this was over； and they sat about a camp fire；
Tom said：
〃Now； Professor Bumper； perhaps you'll explain about the lost city。〃
〃I wish I could explain about it；〃 began the scientist。 〃For years I have
dreamed of finding it； but always I have been disappointed。 Now； perhaps；
my luck may change。〃
〃Do you think it may be near here？〃 asked Mr。 Titus； motioning
toward the dark and frowning peaks all about them。
〃It may be。 The signs are most encouraging。 In brief； the story of the
lost city of Pelone is this。 Thousands of years agoin fact I do not know
how manythere existed somewhere in Peru an ancient city that was the
centre of civilization for this region。 Older it was than the civilization of
the Mexicansthe Montezumasolder and more cultured。
〃It is many years since I became interested in Peruvian antiquities； and
then I had no idea of the lost city。 But some of the antiques I picked up
contained in their inscriptions references to Pelone。 At first I conceived
this to be a sort of god； a deity； or perhaps a powerful ruler。 But as I went
on in my work of gathering ancient things from Peru； I saw that the name
Pelone referred to a citya seat of government； whence everything had its
origin。
〃Then I got on the track more closely。 I examined ancient documents。 I
found traces of an ancient language and writings； different from anything
else in the world。 I managed to construct an alphabet and to read some of
the documents。 From them I learned that Pelone was a city situated in
some fertile valley of the Andes。 It had existed for thousands of years； it
was the seat of learning and culture。 Much light would be thrown on the
lives of the people who lived in Peru before the present races inhabited it；
if I could but locate Pelone。
〃Then I came across two golden tablets on which were graven the
information that Pelone had utterly vanished。〃
〃How？〃 asked Tom。
〃The golden tablets did not say。 They simply stated the fact that Pelone
was lost； and one sentence read： 'He who shall find it again shall be richly
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rewarded。' But it is not for that that I seek。 It is that I may give to the
world the treasures it must containthe treasures of an ancient
civilization。〃
〃And how do you think the city disappeared？〃 asked Mr。 Titus。
〃I do not know。 Whether it was destroyed by enemies； whether it was
buried under the ashes of a volcano； whether it still exists； deserted and
solitary in some valley amid the mountain fastnesses of the Andes； I do not
know。 But I am certain the city once existed； and it may exist yet； though it
may be in dust…covered ruins。 That is what I seek to find。 See！ Here are the
tablets telling about it。 I got them from an old Peruvian grave。〃
He took from a box two thin sheets of yellow metal。 They were
covered with curious marks； but Tom and the others could make nothing
of them。 Only Professor Bumper was able to decipher them。
〃And that is the story of the lost city of Pelone as much as I know；〃
he said。 〃For years I have sought it。 If I can find it I shall be famous； for I
shall have added to human knowledge。〃
〃If the people of that city wrote on golden tablets； the yellow metal
must have been plentiful；〃 commented Mr。 Titus。 〃You might strike a rich
mine。〃
〃I have no use for riches；〃 said the professor。
〃Well； I have；〃 the contractor said； with a laugh。 〃That's why I'm
putting through this tunnel。 And if my brother and I don't do it we'll be in a
bad way financially。 We have struck traces of gold； but not in paying
quantities。 I should like to see this lost city of yours； Professor Bumper。 It
may contain gold。〃
〃You may have all the gold； if I am allowed to keep the antiquities we
find；〃 stipulated the scientist。 〃Then you will help me in my search？〃
〃As much as we can spare time for from the tunnel work；〃 promised
Mr。 Titus。 〃I'll instruct my men to keep their eyes open for any sign of
ancient writings on the rocks we blast out。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said the professor。
The night passed uneventfully enough； if one excepts the mosquitoes
which seemed to get through the nets； making life miserable for all。 And
once Tom thought he heard gruntings in the bush back of the tent； which
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noises might； he imagined； have been caused by a bear。 Toward morning
he heard an unearthly screech in the woods； and one of the Indians；
tending the fire； grunted out a word which meant pumas。
〃I can see it isn't going to be dull here；〃 Tom mused； as he turned over
and tried to sleep。
Breakfast made them all feel better；
