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that they were being carried by a number of Indians。
〃Friends；〃 murmured Goosal； using the Spanish term； 〃Amigos。〃
〃They are our own Indians！〃 cried Tom Swift。 〃I see Tolpec！〃 and he
pointed to the native who had deserted from Jacinto's force to help them。
〃How did they get here？〃 asked Professor Bumper。
This was quickly told。 In their camp； where； under the leadership of
Tolpec they had been left to do the excavating； the natives had heard； seen
and felt the effects of the storm and the earthquake； though it did little
damage in their vicinity。 But they became alarmed for the safety of the
professor and his party and； at Tolpec's suggestion； set off in search of
them。
The Indians had seen； passing along the trail； the uprooted trees； and
had noted the footsteps of the explorers going down to the stone passage。
It was easy for them to determine that Tom and his friends had gone in；
since the marks of their boots were plainly in evidence in the soft soil。
None of the Indians was as much wrought up over the discovery of
Kurzon and the idol as were the white adventurers。 The gold； of course；
meant something to the natives； but they were indifferent to the wonders
of the underground city。 Perhaps they had heard too many legends
concerning such things to be impressed。
〃That statue is yoursall yours；〃 said old Goosal when he had talked
with his relatives and friends among the natives。 〃They all say what you
find you keep； and we will help you keep it。〃
〃That's good；〃 murmured Professor Bumper。 〃There was some doubt
in my mind as to our right to this； but after all； the natives who live in this
land are the original owners； and if they pass title to us it is clear。 That
settles the last difficulty。〃
〃Except that of getting the idol out；〃 said Mr。 Damon。
〃Oh； we'll accomplish that！〃 cried Tom。
〃I can hardly believe my good luck；〃 declared Professor Bumper。 〃I
shall write a whole book on this idol alone and then〃
Once more came an interruption。 This time it was from another
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direction； but it was of the same characteran approaching band of torch…
bearers。 They were Indians； too； but leading them were a number of
whites。
And at their head was no less personage than Professor Beecher
himself。
For a moment； as the three parties stood together in the ancient temple；
in the glare of many torches； no one spoke。 Then Professor Bumper
found his voice。
〃We are glad to see you；〃 he said to his rival。 〃That is glad to see you
alive； for we saw the landslide bury you。 And we were coming to dig
you out。 We thought this cavethe cave of the buried citywould lead us
to you easier than by digging through the slide。 We have just discovered
this idol；〃 and he put his hand on the grim golden image。
〃Oh； you have discovered it； have you？〃 asked Professor Beecher； and
his voice was bitter。
〃Yes； not ten minutes ago。 The natives have kindly acknowledged
my right to it under the law of priority。 I am sorry but〃
With a look of disgust and chagrined disappointment on his face；
Professor Beecher turned to the other scientists and said：
〃Let us go。 We are too late。 He has what I came after。〃
〃Well； it is the fortune of warand discovery；〃 put in Mr。 Hardy； one of
the party who seemed the least ill…natured。 〃Your luck might have been
ours； Professor Bumper。 I congratulate you。〃
〃Thank you！ Are you sure your party is all rightnot in need of
assistance？ How did you get out of the place you were buried？〃
〃Thank you！ We do not require any help。 It was good of you to think
of us。 But we got out the way we came in。 We did not enter the tunnel
as you did； but came in through another entrance which was not closed by
the landslide。 Then we made a turn through a gateway in a tunnel
connecting with oursa gateway which seems to have been opened by the
earthquake and we came here； just now。
〃Too late； I see； to claim the discovery of the idol of gold；〃 went on Mr。
Hardy。 〃But I trust you will be generous； and allow us to make
observations of the buildings and other relics。〃
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
〃As much as you please； and with the greatest pleasure in the world；〃
was the prompt answer of Professor Bumper。 〃All I lay sole claim to is
the golden idol。 You are at liberty to take whatever else you find in
Kurzon and to make what observations you like。〃
〃That is generous of you； and quite in contrast toerto the conduct of
our leader。 I trust he may awaken to a sense of the injustice he did you。〃
But Professor Beecher was not there to hear this。 He had stalked
away in anger。
〃Humph！〃 grunted Tom。 Then he continued： 〃That story about a
government concession was all a fake； Professor； else he'd have put up a
fight now。 Contemptible sneak！〃
In fact the story of Tom Swift's trip to the underground land of
wonders is ended； for with the discovery of the idol of gold the main
object of the expedition was accomplished。 But their adventures were
not over by any means； though there is not room in this volume to record
them。
Suffice it to say that means were at once taken to get the golden image
out of the cave of the ancient city。 It was not accomplished without hard
work； for the gold was heavy； and Professor Bumper would not； naturally；
consent to the shaving off of so much as an ear or part of the flat nose； to
say nothing of one of the half dozen extra arms and legs with which the
ugly idol was furnished。
Finally it was safely taken out of the cave； and along the stone passage
to the opening formed by the overthrown trees； and thence on to camp。
And at the camp a surprise awaited Tom。
Some long…delayed mail had been forwarded from the nearest place of
civilization and there were letters for all； including several for our hero。
One in particular he picked out first and read eagerly。
〃Well； is every little thing all right； Tom？〃 asked Ned； as he saw a
cheerful