Damon. "Bless my galvanic battery! he sent me
a telegram at one o'clock this morning saying
he'd be sure to meet us in New York. No fear
of him not starting for the land of wonders."
"There are some other professors registered,
though," observed Ned, as he glanced at the
book, noting the names of several scientists of
whom he and Tom had read.
"Yes. I wonder what they're doing in New
York," replied Tom. "They are from New
England. Maybe there's a convention going on.
Well, we'll have to wait, that's all, until
Professor Bumper comes."
And during that wait Tom heard something
that surprised him and caused him no little
worry. It was when Ned came back to his
room, which adjoined Tom's, that the young
treasurer gave his chum the news.
"I say, Tom!" Ned exclaimed. "Who do you
think those professors are, whose names we saw
on the register?"
"I haven't the least idea."
"Why, they're of Beecher's party!"
"You don't mean it!"
"I surely do."
"How do you know?"
"I happened to overhear two of them talking
down in the lobby a while ago. They didn't
make any secret of it. They spoke freely of going
with Beecher to some ancient city in Honduras,
to look for an idol of gold."
"They did? But where is Beecher?"
"He hasn't joined them yet. Their plans
have been changed. Instead of leaving on the
same steamer we are to take in the morning
they are to come on a later one. The professors
here are waiting for Beecher to come.
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