Tom Swift in the Land of Wonders | Page 5

to try to induce me to join his expedition to the Copan
valley."
"Do you feel inclined to go?"
"No, Ned, I do not. I've got too many other irons in the fire. I shall have
to give the professor a polite but firm refusal."
"Well, maybe you're right, Tom; and yet that idol of
gold--GOLD--weighing how many pounds did you say?"
"Oh, you're thinking of its money value, Ned, old man!"
"Yes, I'd like to see what a big chunk of gold like that would bring. It
must be quite a nugget. But I'm not likely to get a glimpse of it if you
don't go with the professor."
"I don't see how I can go, Ned. But come over and meet the delightful

gentleman when he arrives. I expect him day after to-morrow."
"I'll be here," promised Ned; and then he went downtown to attend to
some matters con- nected with his new duties, which were much less
irksome than those he had had when he had been in the bank.
"Well, Tom, have you heard any more about your friend?" asked Ned,
two days later, as he came to the Swift home with some papers needing
the signature of the young inventor and his father.
"You mean----?"
"Professor Bumper."
"No, I haven't heard from him since he telephoned. But I guess he'll be
here all right. He's very punctual. Did you see anything of my giant
Koku as you came in?"
"Yes, he and Eradicate were having an argument about who should
move a heavy casting from one of the shops. Rad wanted to do it all
alone, but Koku said he was like a baby now."
"Poor Rad is getting old," said Tom with a sigh. "But he has been very
faithful. He and Koku never seem to get along well together."
Koku was an immense man, a veritable giant, one of two whom Tom
had brought back with him after an exciting trip to a strange land. The
giant's strength was very useful to the young inventor.
"Now Tom, about this business of leasing to the English Government
the right to manufac- ture that new explosive of yours," began Ned,
plunging into the business at hand. "I think if you stick out a little you
can get a better royalty price."
"But I don't want to gouge 'em, Ned. I'm satisfied with a fair profit. The
trouble with you is you think too much of money. Now----"
At that moment a voice was heard in the hall of the house saying:

"Now, my dear lady, don't trouble yourself. I can find my way in to
Tom Swift perfectly well by myself, and while I appreciate your
courtesy I do not want to trouble you."
"No, don't come, Mrs. Baggert," added another voice. "Bless my hat
band, I think I know my way about the house by this time!"
"Mr. Damon!" ejaculated Ned.
"And Professor Bumper is with him," added Tom. "Come in!" he cried,
opening the hall door, to confront a bald-headed man who stood
peering at our hero with bright snapping eyes, like those of some big
bird spying out the land from afar. "Come in, Professor Bumper; and
you too, Mr. Damon!"
CHAPTER III
BLESSINGS AND ENTHUSIASM
Greetings and inquiries as to health having been passed, not without
numerous blessings on the part of Mr. Damon, the little party gathered
in the library of the home of Tom Swift sat down and looked at one
another.
On Professor Bumper's face there was, plainly to be seen, a look of
expectation, and it seemed to be shared by Mr. Damon, who seemed
eager to burst into enthusiastic talk. On the other hand Tom Swift
appeared a bit indifferent.
Ned himself admitted that he was frankly curious. The story of the big
idol of gold had occupied his thoughts for many hours.
"Well, I'm glad to see you both," said Tom again. "You got here all
right, I see, Professor Bumper. But I didn't expect you to meet and
bring Mr. Damon with you."
"I met him on the train," explained the author of the book on the lost
city of Pelone, as well as books on other antiquities. "I had no

expectation of seeing him, and we were both surprised when we met on
the express."
"It stopped at Waterfield, Tom," explained Mr. Damon, "which it
doesn't usually do, being an aristocratic sort of train, not given even to
hesitating at our humble little town. There were some passengers to get
off, which caused the flier to stop, I suppose. And, as I wanted to come
over to see you, I got aboard."
"Glad you did," voiced Tom.
"Then I happened to see Professor Bumper a few seats ahead of me,"
went on Mr. Damon, "and, bless