And waiting is about the
hardest work there is.
But there was nothing for it but to wait, and
it might be at least a week, Professor Bumper
said, before the Indian could return with a party
of porters and mules to move their baggage.
"Yes, Tolpec has not only to locate the
settlement," Tom admitted, "but he must persuade the
natives to come back with him. He may have
trouble in that, especially if it is known that he
has left Jacinto, who, I imagine, is a power among
the tribes here."
But there were only two things left to do--wait
and hope. The travelers did both. Four days
passed and there was no sign of Tolpec. Eager-
ly, and not a little anxiously, they watched the
jungle path along which he had disappeared.
"Oh, come on!" exclaimed Tom one morning,
when the day seemed a bit cooler than its
predecessor. "Let's go for a hunt, or something!
I'm tired of sitting around camp."
"Bless my watch hands! So am I!" cried Mr. Damon.
"Let's all go for a trip. It will do us good."
"And perhaps I can get some specimens of interest,"
added Professor Bumper, who, in addition to being
an archaeologist, was something of a naturalist.
Accordingly, having made everything snug in
camp, the party, Tom and Ned equipped with
electric rifles, and the professor with a butterfly
net and specimen boxes, set forth. Mr. Damon
said he would carry a stout club as his weapon.
The jungle, as usual, was teeming with life,
but as Ned and Tom did not wish to kill wantonly
they refrained from shooting until later in the
day.
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