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〃Well； is every little thing all right； Tom？〃 asked Ned； as he saw a
cheerful grin spread itself over his chum's face。
〃I should say it is； and then some！ Look here； Ned。 This is a letter
from〃
〃I know。 Mary Nestor。 Go on。〃
〃How'd you guess？〃
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〃Oh； I'm a mind…reader。〃
〃Huh！ Well； you know she was away when I went to call to say good…
bye； and I was a little afraid Beecher had got an inside edge on me。〃
〃Had he？〃
〃No； but he tried hard enough。 He went to see Mary in Fayetteville；
just as you heard； be… fore he came on to join his party； but he didn't pay
much of a visit to her。〃
〃No？〃
〃No。 Mary told him he'd better hurry along to Central America； or
wherever it was he intended going； as she didn't care for him as much as
he flattered himself she did。〃
〃Good！〃 cried Ned。 〃Shake； old man。 I'm glad！〃
They shook hands。
〃Well； what's the matter？ Didn't you read all of her letter？〃 asked
Ned when he saw his chum once more perusing the epistle。
〃No。 There's a postscript here。
〃‘Sorry I couldn't see you before you left。 It was a mistake； but
when you come back'
〃Oh； that part isn't any of your affair！〃 and； blushing under his tan；
Tom thrust the letter into his pocket and strode away； while Ned laughed
happily。
With the idol of gold safe in their possession； Professor Bumper's party
could devote their time to making other explorations in the buried city。
This they did； as is testified to by a long list of books and magazine
articles since turned out by the scientist； dealing strictly with archaeo…
logical subjects； touching on the ancient Mayan race and its civilization；
with particular reference to their system of computing time。
Professor Beecher； young and foolish； would not consent to delve into
the riches of the ancient city； being too much chagrined over the loss of
the idol。 It seems he had really promised to give a part of it to Mary
Nestor。 But he never got the chance。
His colleagues； after their first disappointment at being beaten； joined
forces with Professor Bumper in exploring the old city； and made many
valuable discoveries。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
In one point Professor Bumper had done his rival an injustice。 That
was in thinking Professor Beecher was responsible for the treachery of
Jacinto。 That was due to the plotter's own work。 It was true that
Professor Beecher had tentatively engaged Jacinto； and had sent word to
him to keep other explorers away from the vicinity of the ancient city if
possible； but Jacinto； who did not return Professor Bumper's money； as he
had promised； had acted treacherously in order to enrich himself。
Professor Beecher had nothing to do with that； nor had he with the taking
of the map； as has been seen； the loss of which； after all； was a blessing in
disguise； for Kurzon would never have been located by following the
directions given there； as it was very inaccurate。
In another point it was demonstrated that the old documents were at
fault。 This was in reference to the golden idol having been overthrown
and another set up in its place； an act which had caused the destruction of
Kurzon。
It is true that the city was destroyed； or rather； buried； but this
catastrophe was probably brought about by an earthquake。 And another
great idol； one of clay； was found； perhaps a rival of Quitzel； but it was
this clay image which was thrown down and broken； and not the golden
one。
Perhaps an effort had been made； just before the burying of the city； to
change idols and the system of worship； but Quitzel seemed to have held
his own。 The old manuscripts were not very reliable； it was found；
except in general。
〃Well； I guess this will hold Beecher for a while；〃 said Tom； the night
of the arrival of Mary's letter； and after he had written one in answer；
which was dispatched by a runner to the nearest place whence mail could
be forwarded。
〃Yes； luck seems to favor you；〃 replied Ned。 〃You've had a hand in the
discovery of the idol of gold； and〃
〃Yes。 And I discovered something else I wasn't quite sure of；〃
interrupted Tom； as he felt to make sure he had a certain letter safe in his
pocket。
It was several weeks later that the explorations of Kurzon came to an
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
enda temporary end； for the rainy season set in； when the tropics are
unsuitable for white men。 Tom； Professor Bumper； Ned and Mr。 Damon
set sail for the United States； the valuable idol of gold safe on board。
And there； with their vessel plowing the blue waters of the Caribbean
Sea； we will take leave of Tom Swift and his friends。
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