"Appleton, Victor - Tom Swift Sr 020 - Tom Swift in the Land of Wonders" - читать интересную книгу автора (Appleton Victor)

``But you spoke of `we.' ''

``I meant you and I are going.''

``Me, Tom?''

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-37-

``Sure, you! I wouldn't think of leaving you behind. You want Ned
along, don't you, Professor?''

``Of course. It will be an ideal party -- we four. We'll have to take
natives when we get to Honduras, and make up a mule pack-train for the
interior. I had some thoughts of asking you to take an airship along, but
it might frighten the Indians, and I shall have to depend on them for
guides, as well as for porters. So it will be an old-fashioned expedition,
in a way.''

Mr. Swift came in at this point to meet his old friends.

``The boy needs a little excitement,'' he said. ``He's been puttering
over that stabilizer invention too long. I can finish the model for him in
a very short time.''

Professor Bumper told Mr. Swift something about the proposed trip,
while Mr. Damon went out with Tom and Ned to one of the shops to look at a
new model aeroplane the young inventor had designed.

There was a merry party around the table at dinner, though now and
then Ned noticed that Tom had an abstracted and preoccupied air.

``Thinking about the idol of gold?'' asked Ned in a whisper to his
chum, when they were about to leave the table.

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-38-

``The idol of gold? Oh, yes! Of course! It will be great if we can
bring that back with us.'' But the manner in which he said this made Ned
feel sure that Tom had had other thoughts, and that he had used a little
subterfuge in his answer.

Ned was right, as he proved for himself a little later, when, Mr.
Damon and the professor having gone home, the young financial secretary
took his friend to a quiet corner and asked:

``What's the matter, Tom?''