第4章

"What was?" asked Ned."Do you think I'm a mind reader to be able to guess?""No, indeed! I beg your pardon.I'll tell you at once.But I couldn'tbreak away.It was too important.To whom do you think I was talking just then?""I can imagine almost any one, seeing I know something of what you have done.It might be almost anybody from some person you met up in the caves of ice to a red pygmy from the wilds of Africa.""I'm afraid neither of them would be quite up to telephone talk yet," laughed Tom."No, this was the gentleman who wrote that interesting article about the idol of gold," and he motioned to the magazine Ned held in his hand.

"You don't mean Professor Bumper!" "That's just whom I do mean.""What did he want?Where did he call from?""He wants me to help organize an expedition to go to Central America--to the Copan valley, to be exact--to look for this somewhat mythical idol of gold.Incidentally the professor will gather in any other antiques of more or less value, if he can find any, and he hopes, even if he doesn't find the idol, to get enough historical material for half a dozen books, to say nothing of magazine articles.""Where did he call from; did you say?"

"I didn't say.But it was a long-distance call from New York.The Professor stopped off there on his way from Boston, where he has been lecturing before some society.And now he's coming here to see me," finished Tom.

"What! Is he going to lecture here?" cried Ned."If he is, and spouts a whole lot of that bone-dry stuff about the ancient Mayan civilization and their antiquities, with side lights on how the old-time Indians used to scalp their enemies, I'm going to the moving pictures! I'm willing to be your financial manager, Tom Swift, but please don't ask me to be a high-brow.I wasn't built for that.""Nor I, Ned.The professor isn't going to lecture.He's only going to talk, he says.""What about?"

"He's going 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 youcan 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 toTom 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!"