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the snake； though an immense one； and one that short of decapitation
could have received many injuries without losing power； seemed to shrivel
up。
Its folds relaxed； and the coils of the great body fell in a heap at the
roots of the two trees； between which the scientist had been standing。
Professor Bumper seemed to fall backward as the grip of the serpent
relaxed； but Tom； dropping his rifle； and calling to Ned to keep an eye on
the snake； leaped forward and caught his friend。
〃Are you hurt？〃 asked Tom； carrying the limp form over to a grassy
place。 There was no answer； the savant's eyes were closed and he
breathed but faintly。
Ned Newton fired two more electric bullets into the still writhing body
of the boa。
〃I guess he's all in；〃 he called to Tom。
〃Bless my horseradish！ And so our friend seems to be；〃 commented
Mr。 Damon。 〃Have you anything with which to revive him； Tom？〃
〃Yes。 Some ammonia。 See if you can find a little water。〃
〃I have some in my flask。〃
Tom mixed a dose of the spirits which he carried with him； and this；
forced between the pallid lips of the scientist； revived him。
〃What happened？〃 he asked faintly as he opened his eyes。 〃Oh； yes；
I remember；〃 he added slowly。 〃The boa〃
〃Don't try to talk；〃 urged Tom。 〃You're all right。 The snake is dead；
or dying。 Are you much hurt？〃
Professor Bumper appeared to be considering。 He moved first one
limb； then another。 He seemed to have the power over all his muscles。
〃I see how it happened；〃 he said； as he sat up； after taking a little more
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of the ammonia。 〃I was following the iguana； and when the big lizard
came to a stop； in a little hollow place in the ground； at the foot of those
two trees； I leaned over to slip a noose of rope about its neck。 Then I felt
myself caught； as if in the hands of a giant； and bound fast between the
two trees。〃
〃It was the big boa that whipped itself around you； as you leaned
over；〃 explained Tom； as Ned came up to announce that the snake was no
longer dangerous。 〃But when it coiled around you it also coiled around
the two trees； you； fortunately slipping between them。 Had it not been
that their trunks took off some of the pressure of the coils you wouldn't
have lasted a minute。〃
〃Well； I was pretty badly squeezed as it was；〃 remarked the professor。
〃I hardly had breath enough left to call to you。 I tried to fight off the
serpent； but it was of no use。〃
〃I should say not！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my circus ring！ one
might as well try to combat an elephant！ But； my dear professor； are you
all right now？〃
〃I think soyes。 Though I shall be lame and stiff for a few days； I
fear。 I can hardly walk。〃
Professor Bumper was indeed unable to go about much for a few days
after his encounter with the great serpent。 He stretched out in a
hammock under trees in the camp clearing； and with his friends waited for
the possible return of Tolpec and the porters。
Ned and Tom made one or two short hunting trips； and on these
occasions they kept a lookout in the direction the Indian had taken when
he went away。
〃For he's sure to come back that wayif he comes at all；〃 declared Ned；
〃which I am beginning to doubt。〃
〃Well； he may not come；〃 agreed Tom； who was beginning to lose
some of his first hope。 〃But he won't necessarily come from the same
direction he took。 He may have had to go in an entirely different way to
get help。 We'll hope for the best。〃
A week passed。 Professor Bumper was able to be about； and Tom
and Ned noticed that there was an anxious look on his face。 Was he； too；
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beginning to despair？
〃Well； this isn't hunting for golden idols very fast；〃 said Mr。 Damon；
the morning of the eighth day after their desertion by the faithless Jacinto。
〃What do you say； Professor Bumper； ought we not to start off on our own
account？〃
〃We had better if Tolpec does not return today；〃 was the answer。
They had eaten breakfast； had put their camp in order； and were about
to have a consultation on what was best to do； when Tom suddenly called
to Ned； who was whistling：
〃Hark！〃
Through the jungle came a faint sound of singing not a harmonious
air； but the somewhat barbaric chant of the natives。
〃It is Tolpec coming back！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Hurray！ Now our
troubles are over t Bless my meal ticket！ Now we can start！〃
〃It may be Jacinto；〃 suggested Ned。
〃Nonsense！ you old cold…water pitcher！〃 cried Tom。 〃It's Tolpec！ I
can see him！ He's a good scout all right！〃
And then； walking at the head of a band of Indians who were weirdly
chanting while behind them came a train of mules； was Tolpec； a cheerful
grin covering his honest； if homely； dark face。
〃Me come back！〃 he exclaimed in gutteral English； using about half of
his foreign vocabulary。
〃I see you did；〃 answered Professor Bumper in the man's own tongue。
〃Glad to see you。 Is everything all right？〃
〃All right；〃 was the answer。 〃These Indians will take you where you
want to go； and will not leave you as Jacinto did。〃
〃We'll start in the morning！〃 exclaimed the savant his own cheerful
self again； now that there was a prospect of going further into the interior。
〃Tell the men to get something to eat； Tolpec。 There is plenty for all。〃
〃Good！〃 grunted the new guide and soon the hungry Indians； who had
come far； were satisfying their hunger。
As they ate Tolpec explained to Professor Bumper； who repeated it to
the youths and Mr。 Damon； that it had been necessary to go farther than he
had intended to get the porters and mules。 But the Indians were a
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friendly tribe； of which he was a member； and could be depended on。
There was a feast and a sort of celebration in camp that night。 Tom
and Ned shot two deer； and these formed the main part of the feast and the
Indians made merry ab