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field all to himself now； and her father likes him。 That's in his favor。 I
guess Mr。 Nestor has never quite forgiven me for that mistake about the
dynamite box； and that wasn't my fault。 Then； too； the Beecher and
Nestor families have been friends for years。 Yes； he surely has the inside
edge on me； and if he gets her to throw me over Well； I won't give up
without a fight！〃 and Tom mentally girded himself for a battle of wits。
〃He's relying on the prestige he'll get out of this idol of gold if his
party finds it；〃 thought on the young inventor。 〃But I'll help find it first。
I'm glad to have a little start of him； anyhow； even if it isn't more than two
days。 Though if our vessel is held back much by storms he may get on
the ground first。 However； that can't be helped。 I'll do the best I can。〃
These thoughts shot through Tom's mind even as Ned was asking his
questions and making comments。 Then the young inventor； shaking his
shoulders as though to rid them of some weight； remarked：
〃Well； come on out and see the sights。 It will be long before we look
on Broadway again。〃
When the chums returned from their sightseeing excursion； they found
that Professor Bumper had arrived。
〃Where's Professor Bumper？〃 asked Ned； the next day。
〃In his room； going over books； papers and maps to make sure he has
everything。〃
〃And Mr。 Damon？〃
Tom did not have to answer that last question。 Into the apartment came
bursting the excited individual himself。
〃Bless my overshoes！〃 he cried； 〃I've been looking everywhere for you！
Come on； there's no time to lose！〃
〃What's the matter now？〃 asked Ned。 〃Is the hotel on fire？〃
〃Has anything happened to Professor Bumper？〃 Tom demanded； a
wild idea forming in his head that perhaps some one of the Beecher party
had tried to kidnap the discoverer of the lost city of Pelone。
〃Oh； everything is all right；〃 answered Mr。 Damon。 〃But it's nearly
time for the show to start； and we don't want to be late。 I have tickets。〃
〃For what？〃 asked Tom and Ned together。
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〃The movies；〃 was the laughing reply。 〃Bless my loose ribs！ but I
wouldn't miss him for anything。 He's in a new play called ‘Up in a Balloon
Boys。' It's great！〃 and Mr。 Damon named a certain comic moving picture
star in whose horse…play Mr。 Damon took a curious interest。 Tom and Ned
were glad enough to go； Tom that he might have a chance to do a certain
amount of thinking； and Ned because he was still boy enough to like
moving pictures。
〃I wonder； Tom；〃 said Mr。 Damon； as they came out of the theater two
hours later； all three chuckling at the remembrance of what they had seen；
〃I wonder you never turned your inventive mind to the movies。〃 〃Maybe
I will； some day；〃 said Tom。
He spoke rather uncertainly。 The truth of the matter was that he was
still thinking deeply of the visit of Professor Beecher to Mary Nestor； and
wondering what it portended。
But if Tom's sleep was troubled that night he said nothing of it to his
friends。 He was up early the next morning； for they were to leave that
day； and there was still considerable to be done in seeing that their
baggage and supplies were safely loaded； and in attending to the last
details of some business matters。
While at the hotel they had several glimpses of the members of the
Beecher party who were awaiting the arrival of the young professor who
was to lead them into the wilds of Honduras。 But our friends did not seek
the acquaintance of their rivals。 The latter； likewise； remained by
themselves； though they knew doubtless that there was likely to be a
strenuous race for the possession of the idol of gold； then； it was presumed；
buried deep in some forest…covered city。
Professor Bumper had made his arrangements carefully。 As he
explained to his friends； they would take the steamer from New York to
Puerto Cortes； one of the principal seaports of Honduras。 This is a town
of about three thousand inhabitants； with an excellent harbor and a big pier
along which vessels can tie up and discharge their cargoes directly into
waiting cars。
The preparations were finally completed。 The party went aboard the
steamer； which was a large freight vessel； carrying a limited number of
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
passengers； and late one afternoon swung down New York Bay。
〃Off for Honduras！〃 cried Ned gaily； as they passed the Statue of
Liberty。 〃I wonder what will happen before we see that little lady again。〃
〃Who knows？〃 asked Tom； shrugging his shoulders； Spanish fashion。
And there came before him the vision of a certain 〃little lady；〃 about
whom he had been thinking deeply of late。
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CHAPTER IX
VAL JACINTO
〃Rather tame； isn't it； Tom？〃
〃Well； Ned； it isn't exactly like going up in an airship；〃 and Tom Swift
who was gazing over the rail down into the deep blue water of the
Caribbean Sea； over which their vessel was then steaming； looked at his
chum beside him。
〃No； and your submarine voyage had it all over this one for
excitement；〃 went on Ned。 〃When I think of that〃
〃Bless my sea legs！〃 interrupted Mr。 Damon； overhearing the
conversation。 〃Don't speak of THAT trip。 My wife never forgave me
for going on it。 But I had a fine time；〃 he added with a twinkle of his
eyes。
〃Yes； that was quite a trip；〃 observed Tom； as his mind went back to it。
〃But this one isn't over yet remember。 And I shouldn't be surprised if we
had a little excitement very soon。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Ned。
Up to this time the voyage from New York down into the tropical seas
had been anything but exciting。 There were not many passengers besides
themselves； and the weather had been fine。
At first； used as they were to the actions of unscrupulous r