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search in the inner one。 A strange look came over his face。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked Tom。
〃The mapthe map！〃 gasped the professor。 〃The map I was showing
you last night！ The map that tells where we are to dig for the idol of gold！
It's gone！〃
〃The map gone？〃 gasped Mr。 Damon。
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〃II'm afraid so；〃 faltered the professor。 〃I put it away carefully； but
now〃
He ceased speaking to make a further search in all his pockets。
〃Maybe you left it in another coat；〃 suggested Ned。
〃Or maybe some of the Beecher crowd took it！〃 snapped Tom。
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CHAPTER XVIII
〃EL TIGRE！〃
The four men gazed at one another。 Consternation showed on the face
of Professor Bumper； and was reflected； more or less； on the countenances
of his companions。
〃Are you sure the map is gone？〃 asked Tom。 〃I know how easy it is to
mislay anything in a camp of this sort。 I couldn't at first find my safety
razor this morning； and when I did locate it the hoe was in one of my
shoes。 I'm sure a rat or some jungle animal must have dragged it there。
Now maybe they took your map； Professor。 That oiled silk in which it
was wrapped might have appealed to the taste of a rat or a snake。〃
〃It is no joking matter；〃 said Professor Bumper。 〃But I know you
appreciate the seriousness of it as much as I do； Tom。 But I had the map
in the pocket of this coat； and now it is gone！〃
〃When did you put it there？〃 asked Ned。
〃This morning； just before I came to breakfast。〃
〃Oh； then you have had it since last night！〃 Tom ejaculated。
〃Yes； I slept with it under my clothes that I rolled up for a pillow； and
when it was my turn to stand guard I took it with me。 Then I put it back
again and went to sleep。 When I awoke and dressed I put the packet in
my pocket and ate breakfast。 Now when I look for itwhy； it's gone！〃
〃The map or the oiled…silk package？〃 asked Mr。 Damon； who； once
having been a businessman； was sometimes a stickler for small points。
〃Both；〃 answered the professor。 〃I opened the silk to tie it more
smoothly； so it would not be such a lump in my pocket； and I made sure
the map was inside。〃
〃Then the whole thing has been takenor you have lost it；〃 suggested
Ned。
〃I am not in the habit of losing valuable maps；〃 retorted the scientist。
〃And the pocket of my coat I had made deep； for the purpose of carrying
the long map。 It could not drop out。〃
〃Well； we mustn't overlook any possible chances；〃 suggested Tom。
〃Come on now； we'll search every inch of the ground over which you
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traveled this morning； Professor。〃
〃It MUST be found；〃 murmured the scientist。 〃Without it all our work
will go for naught。〃
They all went into the tent where the professor and Mr。 Damon had
slept when they were not on guard。 The camp was a busy place； with the
Indians finishing their morning meal； and getting ready for the work of the
day。 For word had been given out that there would be no more long
periods of travel。
In consequence； efforts were being directed by the head men of the
bearers to making a more permanent camp in the wilderness。 Shelters of
palm…thatched huts were being built； a site for cooking fires made； and； at
the direction of Mr。 Damon； to whom this part was entrusted； some
sanitary regulations were insisted on。
Leaving this busy scene； the four； with solemn faces； proceeded to the
tent where it was hoped the map would be found。 But though they went
through everything； and traced and retraced every place the professor
could remember having traversed about the canvas shelter； no signs of the
important document could be found。
〃I don't believe I dropped it out of my pocket；〃 said the scientist； for
perhaps the twentieth time。
〃Then it was taken；〃 declared Tom。
〃That's what I say！〃 chimed in Ned。 〃And by some of Beecher's
party！〃
〃Easy； my boy；〃 cautioned Mr。 Damon。 〃We don't want to make
accusations we can't prove。〃
〃That is true；〃 agreed Professor Bumper。 〃But； though I am sorry to
say it of a fellow archaelogist； I can not help thinking Beecher had
something to do with the taking of my map。〃
〃But how could any of them get it？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃You say you
had the map this morning； and certainly none of them has been in our
camp since dawn； though of course it is possible that some of them
sneaked in during the night。〃
〃It does seem a mystery how it could have been taken in open daylight；
while we were about camp together；〃 said Tom。 〃But is the loss such a
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grave one； Professor Bumper？〃
〃Very grave。 In fact I may say it is impossible to proceed with the
excavating without the map。〃
〃Then what are we to do？〃 asked Ned。
〃We must get it back！〃 declared Tom。
〃Yes；〃 agreed the scientist； 〃we can not work without it。 As soon as I
make a little further search； to make sure it could not have dropped in
some out…of…the…way place； I shall go over to Professor Beecher's camp
and demand that he give me back my property。〃
〃Suppose he says he hasn't taken it？〃 asked Tom。
〃Well； I'm sure he either took it personally； or one of his party did。
And yet I can't understand how they could have come here without our
seeing them；〃 and the professor shook his head in puzzled despair。
A more detailed search did not reveal the missing map； and Mr。
Damon and his friend the scientist were on the point of departing for the
camp of their rivals； less than a mile away； when Tom had what really
amounted to an inspiration。
〃Look here； Professor！〃 he cried。 〃Can you