burned with a steady glow。 That test was conclusive at least。 They
made ready to enter。
Torches of a light bark； that glowed with a steady flame and little
smoke； had been provided； as well as a good supply of electric dry…battery
lamps； and the way into the cavern was thus well lighted。 At first the
Indians were afraid to enter； but a word or two from Goosal reassured
them； and they followed Professor Bumper； Tom； and the others into the
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cavern。
For several hundred feet there was nothing remarkable about the cave。
It was like any other cavern of the mountains； though wonderful for the
number of crystal formations on the root and wallsformations that
sparkled like a million diamonds in the flickering lights。
〃Talk about a wonderland！〃 cried Tom。 〃This is fairyland！〃
A moment later； as Goosal walked on beside the professor and Tom；
the aged Indian came to a pause； and； pointing ahead； murmured：
〃The city of the dead！〃
They saw the niches cut in the rock walls。 niches that held the
countless bones of those who had died many； many years before。 It was
a vast Indian grave。
〃Doubtless a wealth of material of historic interest here；〃 said
Professor Bumper； flashing his torch on the skeletons。 〃But it will keep。
Where is the city you spoke of； Goosal？〃
〃Farther on； Senor。 Follow me。〃
Past the stone graves they went； deeper and deeper into the great cave。
Their footsteps echoed and re…echoed。 Suddenly Tom； who with Ned had
gone a little ahead； came to a sudden halt and said：
〃Well； this may be a burial place sure enough； but I think I see
something alive all rightif it isn't a ghost。〃
He pointed ahead。 Surely those were lights flickering and moving
about； and； yes； there were men carrying them。 The Bumper party came
to a surprised halt。 The other lights advanced； and then； to the great
astonishment of Professor Bumper and his friends； there confronted them
in the cave several scientists of Professor Beecher's party and a score or
more of Indians。 Professor Hylop； who was known to Professor Bumper；
stepped forward and asked sharply：
〃What are you doing here？〃
〃I might ask you the same thing；〃 was the retort。
〃You might； but you would not be answered；〃 came sharply。 〃We
have a right here； having discovered this cavern； and we claim it under a
concession of the Honduras Government。 I shall have to ask you to
withdraw。〃
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〃Do you mean leave here？〃 asked Mr Damon。
〃That is it； exactly。 We first discovered this cave。 We have been
conducting explorations in it for several days； and we wish no outsiders。〃
〃Are you speaking for Professor Beecher〃' asked Tom。
〃I am。 But he is here in the cave； and will speak for himself if you
desire it。 But I represent him； and I order you to leave。 If you do not go
peaceably we will use force。 We have plenty of it；〃 and he glanced back
at the Indians grouped behind himscowling savage Indians。
〃We have no wish to intrude；〃 observed Professor Bumper； 〃and I fully
recognize the right of prior discovery。 But one member of our party （he
did not say which one） was in this cave many years ago。 He led us to it。〃
〃Ours is a government concession！〃 exclaimed Professor Hylop
harshly。 〃We want no intruders！ Go！〃 and he pointed toward the
direction whence Tom's party had come。
〃Drive them out！〃 he ordered the Indians in Spanish； and with
muttered threats the dark… skinned men advanced toward Tom and the
others。
〃You need not use force；〃 said Professor Bumper。
He and Professor Hylop had quarreled bitterly years before on some
scientific matter； and the matter was afterward found to be wrong。
Perhaps this made him vindictive。
Tom stepped forward and started to protest； but Professor Bumper
interposed。
〃I guess there is no help for it but to go。 It seems to be theirs by right
of discovery and government concession；〃 he said； in disappointed tone。
〃Come friends〃； and dejectedly they retraced their steps。
Followed by the threatening Indians； the Bumper party made its way
back to the entrance。 They had hoped for great things； but if the cavern
gave access to the buried citythe ancient city of Kurzon on the chief altar
of which stood the golden idol； Quitzelit looked as though they were
never to enter it。
〃We'll have to get our Indians and drive those fellows out！〃 declared
Tom。 〃I'm not going to be beaten this wayand by Beecher！〃
〃It is galling；〃 declared Professor Bumper。 〃Still he has right on his
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side； and I must give in to priority； as I would expect him to。 It is the
unwritten law。〃
〃Then we've failed！〃 cried Tom bitterly。
〃Not yet；〃 said Professor Bumper。 〃If I can not unearth that buried
city I may find another in this wonderland。 I shall not give up。〃
〃Hark！ What's that noise？〃 asked Tom； as they approached the
entrance to the cave。
〃Sounds like a great wind blowing；〃 commented Ned。
It was。 As they stood in the entrance they looked out to find a fierce
storm raging。 The wind was sweeping down the rocky trail； the rain was
falling in veritable bucketfuls from the overhanging cliff； and deafening
thunder and blinding lightning roared and flashed。
〃Surely you would not drive us out in this storm；〃 said Professor
Bumper to his former rival。
〃You can not stay in the cave！ You must get out！〃 was the answer； as a
louder crash of thunder than usual seemed to shake the very mountain。
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TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
CHAPTER XXIII
ENTOMBED ALIVE
For an instant Tom and his friends paused at the entrance to the
wonderful cavern； and looked at the raging storm。 It seemed madness to
venture out into it； yet they had been driven from the cave by those who
had every right of discovery to say who； and who should not； partake of its
hospitality。
〃We can't go out into that blow！〃 cried Ned。 〃It's enough to loosen the
very mountains！〃
〃Let's stay here and defy them！〃 murmured Tom。 〃If theif what we
seekis here we have as good a right to it as they have。〃
〃We must go out；〃 said Professor Bumper simply。 〃I recognize the
right of my rival to dispossess us。〃
〃He may have the right； but it isn't human；〃 said Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless
my overshoes！ If Beecher himself were here he wouldn't have the heart to
send us out in this storm。〃
〃I would not give him the satisfaction of appealing to him；〃 remarked
Professor Bumper。 〃Come； we will go out。 We have our ponchos； and we
are not fair…weather explorers。 If we can't get to the lost city one way we
will another。 Come my friends。〃
And despite the downpour； the deafening thunder and the lightning
that seemed ready to sear one's eyes； he walked out of the cave entrance；
followed by Tom and the others。
〃Come on！〃 cried Tom； in a voice he tried to render confident； as they
went out into the terrible storm。 〃We'll beat 'em yet！〃
The rain fell harder than ever。 Small torrents were now rushing down
the trail； and it was only a question of a few minutes before the place
where they stood would be a raging river； so quickly does the rain collect
in the mountains and speed toward the valleys。
〃We must take to the forest！〃 cried Tom。 〃There'll be some shelter
there； and I don't like the way the geography of t
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