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take a look outside the tent。〃
〃What for？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃To make sure that no emissaries from the Beecher crowd are sneaking
around to overhear what we say；〃 was the somewhat bitter answer of the
scientist。 〃I do not trust him； in spite of his attempted denial。〃
Tom and Ned took a quick but thorough observation outside the tent。
The blackness of the jungle night was in strange contrast to the light they
had just left。
〃Doesn't seem to be any one around here；〃 remarked Ned； after
waiting a minute or two。
〃No。 All's quiet along the Potomac。 Those Beecher natives are
having some sort of a song… fest； though。〃
In the distance； and from the direction of their rivals' camp； came the
weird chant。
〃Well； as long as they stay there we'll be all right；〃 said Tom。 〃Come
on in。 I'm anxious to hear what the professor has to say。〃
〃Everything's quiet；〃 reported Ned。
〃Then give me your attention；〃 begged the scientist。
Carefully； as though about to exhibit some； precious jewel； he
loosened the oiled…silk wrappings and showed a large map； on thin but
tough paper。
〃This is drawn from the old charts；〃 the professor explained。 〃I
worked on it many months； and it is the only copy in the world。 If it
were to be destroyed I should have to go all the way back to New York to
make another copy。 I have the original there in a safe deposit vault。〃
〃Wouldn't it have been wise to make two copies？〃 asked Tom。
〃It would have only increased the risk。 With one copy； and that
constantly in my possession； I can be sure of my ground。 Otherwise not。
That is why I am so careful of this。 Now I will show you why I believe
we are about over the ancient city of Kurzon。〃
〃Over it！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my gunpowder！ What do you
mean？〃 and he looked down at the earthen floor of the tent as though
expecting it to open and swallow him。
〃I mean that the city； like many others of Central and South America；
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
is buried below the refuse of centuries；〃 went on the professor。 〃Very soon；
if we are fortunate； we shall be looking on the civilization of hundreds of
years agohow long no one knows。
〃Considerable excavation has been done in Central America；〃 went on
Professor Bumper； 〃and certain ruins have been brought to light。 Near us
are those of Copan； while toward the frontier are those of Quirigua； which
are even better preserved than the former。 We may visit them if we have
time。 But I have reason to believe that in this section of Copan is a large
city； the existence of which has not been made certain of by any one save
myselfand； perhaps； Professor Beecher。
〃Certainly no part of it has seen the light of day for many centuries。
It shall be our pleasure to uncover it； if possible； and secure the idol of
gold。〃
〃How long ago do you think the city was buried？〃 asked Tom。
〃It would be hard to say。 From the carvings and hieroglyphics I have
studied it would seem that the Mayan civilization lasted about five
hundred years； and that it began perhaps in the year A。 D。 five
hundred。〃
〃That would mean；〃 said Mr。 Damon； 〃that the ancient cities were in
ruins； buried； perhaps； long before Columbus discovered the new world。〃
〃Yes；〃 assented the professor。 〃Probably Kurzon； which we now seek；
was buried deep for nearly five hundred years before Columbus landed at
San Salvadore。 The specimens of writing and architecture heretofore
disclosed indicate that。 But； as a matter of fact； it is very hard to decipher
the Mayan pictographs。 So far； little but the ability to read their
calendars and numerical system is possessed by us； though we are
gradually making headway。
〃Now this is the map of the district； and by the markings you can see
where I hope to find what I seek。 We shall begin digging here；〃 and he
made a small mark with a pencil on the map。
〃Of course；〃 the professor explained； 〃I may be wrong； and it will take
some time to discover the error if we make one。 When a city is buried
thirty or forty feet deep beneath earth and great trees have grown over it； it
is not easy to dig down to it。〃
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
〃How do you ever expect to find it？〃 asked Ned。
〃Well； we will sink shafts here and there。 If we find carved stones；
the remains of ancient pottery and weapons； parts of buildings or building
stones； we shall know we are on the right track；〃 was the answer。 〃And
now that I have shown you the map； and explained how valuable it is； I
will put it away again。 We shall begin our excavations in the morning。〃
〃At what point？〃 asked Tom。
〃At a point I shall indicate after a further consultation of the map。 I
must see the configuration of the country by daylight to decide。 And now
let's get some rest。 We have had a hard day。〃
The two tents housing the four white members of the Bumper party
were close together； and it was decided that the night would be divided
into four watches； to guard against possible treachery on the part of the
Beecher crowd。
〃It seems an unkind precaution to take against a fellow scientist；〃 said
Professor Bumper； 〃but I can not afford to take chances after what has
occurred。〃
The others agreed with him； and though standing guard was not
pleasant it was done。 However the night passed without incident； and
then came morning and the excitement of getting breakfast； over which the
Indians made merry。 They did not like the cold and darkness； and always
welcomed the sun； no matter how hot。
〃And now；〃 cried Tom； when the meal was over； 〃let us begin the work
that has brought us here。〃
〃Yes；〃 agreed Professor Bumper； 〃I will consult the map； and start the
diggers where I think the city lies； far below the surface。 Now；
gentlemen； if you will give me your attention〃
He was seeking through his outer coat pockets； after an ineffectual
search in the inner one。 A strange look came over his face。
〃What's the