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

``Matter? What do you mean?''

``I mean what made you make up your mind so quickly to go on this
expedition when you heard Beecher was going?''

``Oh -- er -- well, you wouldn't want to see our old friend Professor
Bumper left, would you, after he had worked out the secret of the idol of
gold? You wouldn't want some young whipper-snapper to beat him in the race,
would you, Ned?''

``No, of course not.''

``Neither would I. That's why I changed my mind. This Beecher isn't
going to get that idol if I can stop him!''

``You seem rather bitter against him.''

``Bitter? Oh, not at all. I simply don't want to see my friends
disappointed.''

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-39-

``Then Beecher isn't a friend of yours?''

``Oh, I've met him, that is all,'' and Tom tried to speak
indifferently.

``Humph!'' mused Ned, ``there's more here than I dreamed of. I'm going
to get at the bottom of it.''

But though Ned tried to pump Tom, he was not successful. The young
inventor admitted knowing the youthful scientist, but that was all, Tom
reiterating his determination not to let Professor Bumper be beaten in the
race for the idol of gold.

``Let me see,'' mused Ned, as he went home that evening. ``Tom did not
change his mind until he heard Beecher's name mentioned. Now this shows
that Beecher had something to do with it. The only reason Tom doesn't want
Beecher to get this idol or find the buried city is because Professor
Bumper is after it. And yet the professor is not an old or close friend of
Tom's. They met only when Tom went to dig his big tunnel. 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!