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asset nowadays。〃
〃Pooh！ You're not old！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃You're no older than I am；
and I'm still young。 I'm a lot younger than some of these boys who are
afraid to tackle a trip through a tropical wilderness；〃 and he playfully
nudged Tom in the ribs。
〃I'm not a bit afraid！〃 retorted the young inventor。
〃No； I know you're not；〃 laughed Mr。 Damon。 〃But I've got to say
something； Tom； to stir you up。 Ned； how about you？ Would you go？〃
〃I can't； unless Tom does。 You see I'm his financial man now。〃
〃There you are； Tom Swift！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃You see you are
holding back a number of persons just because you don't want to go。〃
〃I certainly wouldn't like to go without Tom；〃 said the professor slowly。
〃I really need his help。 You know； Tom； we would never have found the
city of Pelone if it had not been for you and your marvelous powder。 The
conditions in the Copan valley are likely to be still more difficult to
overcome； and I feel that I risk failure without your young energy and
your inventive mind to aid in the work and to suggest possible means of
attaining our object。 Come； Tom； reconsider； and decide to make the
trip。〃
〃And my promise to go was dependent on Tom's agreement to
accompany us；〃 said Mr。 Damon
〃Come on！〃 urged the professor； much as one boy might urge another
to take part in a ball game。 〃Don't let my rival get ahead of me。〃
〃I wouldn't like to see that；〃 Tom said slowly。 〃Who is heany one I
know？〃
〃I don't believe so； Tom。 He's connected with a large； new college
that has plenty of money to spend on explorations and research work。
Beecher is his nameFenimore Beecher。〃
〃Beecher！〃 exclaimed Tom； and there was such a change in his manner
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
that his friends could not help noticing it。 He jumped to his feet； his eyes
snapping； and he looked eagerly and anxiously at Professor Bumper。
〃Did you say his name was Fenimore Beecher？〃 Tom asked in a tense
voice。
〃That's what it isProfessor Fenimore Beecher。 He is really a learned
young man； and thoroughly in earnest； though I do not like his manner。
But he is trying to get ahead of me； which may account for my feeling。〃
Tom Swift did not answer。 Instead he hurried from the room with a
murmured apology。
〃I'll be back in about five minutes；〃 he said； as he went out。
〃Well； what's up now？〃 asked Mr。 Damon of Ned； as the young
inventor departed。 〃What set him off that way？〃
〃The mention of Beecher's name； evidently。 Though I never heard him
mention such a person before。〃
〃Nor did I ever hear Professor Beecher speak of Tom；〃 said the bald…
headed scientist。 〃Well； we'll just have to wait until〃
At that moment Tom came back into the room。
〃Gentlemen；〃 he said； 〃I have reconsidered my refusal to go to the
Copan valley after the idol of gold。 I'm going with you！〃
〃Good！〃 cried Professor Bumper。
〃Fine！〃 ejaculated Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my time…table！ I thought you'd
come around； Tom Swift。〃
〃But what about your stabilizer？〃 asked Ned。
〃I was just talking to my father about it；' the young inventor replied。
〃He will be able to put the finishing touches on it。 So I'll leave it with
him。 As soon as I can get ready I'll go； since you say haste is necessary；
Professor Bumper。〃
〃It is； if we are to get ahead of Beecher。〃
〃Then we'll get ahead of him！〃 cried Tom。 〃I'm with you now from the
start to the finish。 I'll show him what I can do！〃 he added； while Ned and
the others wondered at the sudden change in their friend's manner。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
CHAPTER V
THE LITTLE GREEN GOD
〃Tom how soon can we go？〃 asked Professor Bumper； as he began
arranging his papers； maps and documents ready to place them back in the
valise。
〃Within a week； if you want to start that soon。〃
〃The sooner the better。 A week will suit me。 I don't know just what
Beecher's plans are； but； he may try to get on the ground first。 Though；
without boasting； I may say that he has not had as much experience as I
have had； thanks to you； Tom； when you helped me find the lost city of
Pelone。〃
〃Well； I hope we'll be as successful this time；〃 murmured Tom。 〃I
don't want to see Beecher beat you。〃
〃I didn't know you knew him； Tom；〃 said the professor。
〃Oh； yes； I have met him。 once；〃 and there was something in Tom's
manner； though he tried to speak indifferently； that made Ned believe there
was more behind his chum's sudden change of determination than had yet
appeared。
〃He never mentioned you；〃 went on Professor Bumper； 〃yet the last
time I saw him I said I was coming to see you； though I did not tell him
why。〃
〃No； he wouldn't be likely to speak of me；〃 said Tom significantly。
〃Well； if that's all settled； I guess I'll go back home and pack up；〃 said
Mr。 Damon； making a move to depart。
〃There's no special rush；〃 Tom said。 〃We won't leave for a week。 I
can't get ready in much less time than that。〃
〃Bless my socks！ I know that；〃 ejaculated Mr。 Damon。 〃But if I get
my things packed I can go to a hotel to stay while my wife is away。 She
might take a notion to come home unexpectedly； and； though she is a dear；
good soul； she doesn't altogether approve of my going off on these wild
trips with you； Tom Swift。 But if I get all packed； and clear out； she can't
find me and she can't hold me back。 She is visiting her mother now。 I
can send her a wire from Kurzon after I get there。〃
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
〃I don't believe the telegraph there is work… ing；〃 laughed Professor
Bumper。 〃But suit yourself。 I must go back to New York to arrange for
the goods we'll have to take with us。 In a week； Tom； we'll start。〃
〃You must stay to dinner；〃 Tom said。 〃You can't get a train now
anyhow； and father wants to meet you again。 He's pretty well；
cons