You know, Tom, we would never have
found the city of Pelone if it had not been for
you and your marvelous powder. The conditions
in the Copan valley are likely to be still
more difficult to overcome, and I feel that I risk
failure without your young energy and your
inventive mind to aid in the work and to suggest
possible means of attaining our object. Come,
Tom, reconsider, and decide to make the trip."
"And my promise to go was dependent on
Tom's agreement to accompany us," said Mr.
Damon
"Come on!" urged the professor, much as one boy
might urge another to take part in a ball game.
"Don't let my rival get ahead of me."
"I wouldn't like to see that," Tom said slowly.
"Who is he--any one I know?"
"I don't believe so, Tom. He's connected
with a large, new college that has plenty of
money to spend on explorations and research
work. Beecher is his name--Fenimore Beecher."
"Beecher!" exclaimed Tom, and there was
such a change in his manner that his friends
could not help noticing it. He jumped to his
feet, his eyes snapping, and he looked eagerly
and anxiously at Professor Bumper.
"Did you say his name was Fenimore Beecher?"
Tom asked in a tense voice.
"That's what it is--Professor Fenimore Beecher.
He is really a learned young man, and
thoroughly in earnest, though I do not like his
manner. But he is trying to get ahead of me,
which may account for my feeling."
Tom Swift did not answer. Instead he hurried
from the room with a murmured apology.
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