Tom Swift in the Land of Wonders | Page 6

my scarfpin! he was coming to see
you also."
"Well, I'm doubly glad," answered Tom.
"So here we are," went on Mr. Damon, "and you've simply got to come,
Tom Swift. You must go with us!" and Mr. Damon, in his enthusiasm,
banged his fist down on the table with such force that he knocked some
books to the floor.
Koku, the giant, who was in the hall, opened the door and in his
imperfect English asked:
"Master Tom knock for him bigs man?"
"No," answered Tom with a smile, "I didn't knock or call you, Koku.
Some books fell, that is all."
"Massa Tom done called fo' me, dat's what he done!" broke in the
petulant voice of Eradicate.
"No, Rad, I don't need anything," Tom said. "Though you might make a
pitcher of lemonade. It's rather warm."
"Right away, Massa Tom! Right away!" cried the old colored man,
eager to be of service.

"Me help, too!" rumbled Koku, in his deep voice. "Me punch de
lemons!" and away he hurried after Eradicate, fearful lest the old
servant do all the honors.
"Same old Rad and Koku," observed Mr. Damon with a smile. "But
now, Tom, while they're making the lemonade, let's get down to
business. You're going with us, of course!"
"Where?" asked Tom, more from habit than because he did not know.
"Where? Why to Honduras, of course! After the idol of gold! Why,
bless my fountain pen, it's the most wonderful story I ever heard of!
You've read Professor Bumper's article, of course. He told me you had.
I read it on the train coming over. He also told me about it, and---- Well,
I'm going with him, Tom Swift.
"And think of all the adventures that may befall us! We'll get lost in
buried cities, ride down raging torrents on a raft, fall over a cliff maybe
and be rescued. Why, it makes me feel quite young again!" and Mr.
Damon arose, to pace excitedly up and down the room.
Up to this time Professor Bumper had said very little. He had sat still in
his chair listening to Mr. Damon. But now that the latter had ceased, at
least for a time, Tom and Ned looked toward the scientist.
"I understand, Tom," he said, "that you read my article in the magazine,
about the possibility of locating some of the lost and buried cities of
Honduras?"
"Yes, Ned and I each read it. It was quite wonderful."
"And yet there are more wonders to tell," went on the professor. "I did
not give all the details in that article. I will tell you some of them. I
have brought copies of the documents with me," and he opened a small
valise and took out several bundles tied with pink tape.
"As Mr. Damon said," he went on while arranging his papers, "he met
me on the train, and he was so taken by the story of the idol of gold that

he agreed to accompany me to Central America."
"On one condition!" put in the eccentric man.
"What's that? You didn't make any conditions while we were talking,"
said the scientist.
"Yes, I said I'd go if Tom Swift did."
"Oh, yes. You did say that. But I don't call that a condition, for of
course Tom Swift will go. Now let me tell you something more than I
could impart over the telephone.
"Soon after I called you up, Tom--and it was quite a coincidence that it
should have been at a time when you had just finished my magazine
article. Soon after that, as I was saying, I arranged to come on to
Shopton. And now I'm glad we're all here together.
"But how comes it, Ned Newton, that you are not in the bank?"
"I've left there," explained Ned.
"He's now general financial man for the Swift Company," Tom
explained. "My father and I found that we could not look after the
inventing and experimental end, and money matters, too, and as Ned
had had considerable experience this way we made him take over those
worries," and Tom laughed genially.
"No worries at all, as far as the Swift Company is concerned," returned
Ned.
"Well, I guess you earn your salary," laughed Tom. "But now,
Professor Bumper, let's hear from you. Is there anything more about
this idol of gold that you can tell us?"
"Plenty, Tom, plenty. I could talk all day, and not get to the end of the
story. But a lot of it would be scientific detail that might be too dry for
you in spite of this excellent lemonade,"

Between them Koku and Eradicate had managed to make a pitcher of
the beverage, though Mrs. Baggert, the housekeeper, told Tom
afterward that the two had a quarrel in the