tom swift in the land of wonders(汤姆·史威夫特-奇境)-第7节
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There must be some other reason。〃
Ned did some more thinking。 Then he clapped his hands together；
and a smile spread over his face。
〃I believe I have it！〃 he cried。 〃The little green god as compared to
the idol of gold！ That's it。 I'm going to make a call on my way home。〃
This he did； stopping at the home of Mary Nestor； a pretty girl； who；
rumor had it； was tacitly engaged to Tom。 Mary was not at home； but Mr。
Nestor was； and for Ned's purpose this answered。
〃Well； well； glad to see you！〃 exclaimed Mary's father。 〃Isn't Tom
with you？〃 he asked a moment later； seeing that Ned was alone。
〃No； Tom isn't with me this evening；〃 Ned answered。 〃The fact is；
he's getting ready to go off on another expedition； and I'm going with
him。〃
〃You young men are always going somewhere；〃 remarked Mrs。 Nestor。
〃Where is it to this time？〃
〃Some place in Central America；〃 Ned answered； not wishing to be too
particular。 He was wondering how he could find out what he wanted to
know； when Mary's mother unexpectedly gave him just the information he
was after。
〃Central America！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Why； Father；〃 and she looked at
her husband； 〃that's where Professor Beecher is going； isn't it？〃
〃Yes； I believe he did mention something about that。〃
〃Professor Beecher； the man who is an author… ity on Aztec ruins？〃
asked Ned； taking a shot in the dark。
〃Yes；〃 said Mr。 Nestor。 〃And a mighty fine young man he is； too。 I
knew his father well。 He was here on a visit not long ago； young Beecher
was； and he talked most entertainingly about his discoveries。 You
remember how interested Mary was； Mother？〃
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〃Yes； she seemed to be；〃 said Mrs。 Nestor。 〃Tom Swift dropped in
during the course of the evening；〃 she added to Ned； 〃and Mary
introduced him to Professor Beecher。 But I can't say that Tom was much
interested in the professor's talk。〃
〃No？〃 questioned Ned。
〃No； not at all。 But Tom did not stay long。 He left just as Mary and
the professor were drawing a map so the professor could indicate where he
had once made a big discovery。〃
〃I see；〃 murmured Ned。 〃Well； I suppose Tom must have been
thinking of something else at the time。〃
〃Very likely；〃 agreed Mr。 Nestor。 〃But Tom missed a very profitable
talk。 I was very much interested myself in what the professor told us；
and so was Mary。 She invited Mr。 Beecher to come again。 He takes
after his father in being very thorough in what he does。
〃Sometimes I think；〃 went on Mr。 Nestor； 〃that Tom isn't quite steady
enough。 He's thinking of so many things； perhaps； that he can't get his
mind down to the commonplace。 I remember he once sent something
here in a box labeled ‘dynamite。' Though there was no explosive in it； it
gave us a great fright。 But Tom is a boy； in spite of his years。 Professor
Beecher seems much older。 We all like him very much。〃
〃That's nice；〃 said Ned； as he took his departure。 He had found out
what he had come to learn。
〃I knew it！〃 Ned exclaimed as he walked home。 〃I knew something
was in the wind。 The little green god of jealousy has Tom in his clutches。
That's why my inventive friend was so anxious to go on this expedition
when he learned Beecher was to go。 He wants to beat him。 I guess the
professor has plainly shown that he wouldn't like anything better than to
cut Tom out with Mary。 Whew！ that's something to think about！〃
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
CHAPTER VI
UNPLEASANT NEWS
Ned Newton decided to keep to himself what he had heard at the
Nestor home。 Not for the world would he let Tom Swift know of the
situation。
〃That is； I won't let him know that I know；〃 said Ned to himself；
〃though he is probably as well aware of the situation as I am。 But it sure
is queer that this Professor Beecher should have taken such a fancy to
Mary； and that her father should regard him so well。 That is natural； I
suppose。 But I wonder how Mary herself feels about it。 That is the part
Tom would be most interested in。
〃No wonder Tom wants to get ahead of this young college chap； who
probably thinks he's the whole show。 If he can find the buried city； and
get the idol of gold； it would be a big feather in his cap。
〃He'd have no end of honors heaped on him； and I suppose his hat
wouldn't come within three sizes of fitting him。 Then he'd stand in better
than ever with Mr。 Nestor。 And； maybe； with Mary； too； though I think
she is loyal to Tom。 But one never can tell。
〃However； I'm glad I know about it。 I'll do all I can to help Tom；
without letting him know that I know。 And if I can do anything to help in
finding that idol of gold for Professor Bumper； and； incidentally； Tom； I'll
do it；〃 and he spoke aloud in his enthusiasm。
Ned； who was walking along in the darkness； clapped his open hand
down on Tom's magazine he was carrying home to read again； and the
resultant noise was a sharp crack。 As it sounded a figure jumped from
behind a tree and called tensely：
〃Hold on there！〃
Ned stopped short； thinking he was to be the victim of a holdup； but
his fears were allayed when he beheld one of the police force of Shopton
confronting him。
〃I heard what you said about gettin' the gold；〃 went on the officer。 〃I
was walkin' along and I heard you talkin'。 Where's your pal？〃
〃I haven't any； Mr。 Newbold；〃 answered Ned with a laugh； as he
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
recognized the man。
〃Oh； pshaw！ It's Ned Newton！〃 exclaimed the disappointed officer。
〃I thought you was talkin' to a confederate about gold； and figured maybe
you was goin' to rob the bank。〃
〃No； nothing like that；〃 answered Ned； still much amused。 〃I was
talking to myself about a trip Tom Swift and I are going to take and〃
〃Oh； that's all right；〃 responded the policeman。 〃I can understand it；
if it had anything to do with Tom。 He's a great boy。〃
〃Indeed he is；〃 agreed Ned； making a mental resolve not to be so
public with his thoughts in the future。 He chatted for a moment with the
officer； and then； bidding him good…night； walked on to his home； his
mind in a whirl with conglomerate visions of buried cities； great grinning
idols of gold； and rival professors seeking to be first at the goal。
The next few days were busy ones for Tom； Ned and； in fact； the
whole Swift household。 Tom and his father had several consultations and
conducted several experiments in regard to the new stabilizer； the
completion of which was so earnestly desired。 Mr。 Swift was sure he
could carry the invention to a successful conclusion。
Ned was engaged in putting the financial affairs of the Swift Company
in shape； so they would practically run themselves during his ab… sence。
Then； too； there was the packing of their baggage which must be seen to。
Of course； the main details of the trip were left to Professor Bumper；
who knew just what to do。 He had told Tom and Ned that all they and
Mr。 Damon would have to do would be to meet him at the pier in New
York； where they would find all arrangements made。
One day； near the end of the week （the beginning of the next being set
for the start） Eradicate came shuffling into the room where Tom was
sorting out the possessions he desired to take with him； Ned assisting him
in the task。
〃Well； Rad； what is it？〃 asked Tom； with businesslike energy。
〃I done heah； Massa Tom； dat yo' all's gw
