"Maybe you left it in another coat," suggested Ned.
"Or maybe some of the Beecher crowd took it!" snapped Tom.
CHAPTER XVIII
"EL TIGRE!"
The four men gazed at one another.
Consternation showed on the face of Professor
Bumper, and was reflected, more or less, on the
countenances of his companions.
"Are you sure the map is gone?" asked Tom.
"I know how easy it is to mislay anything in a
camp of this sort. I couldn't at first find my
safety razor this morning, and when I did locate
it the hoe was in one of my shoes. I'm sure a
rat or some jungle animal must have dragged
it there. Now maybe they took your map,
Professor. That oiled silk in which it was wrapped
might have appealed to the taste of a rat or a
snake."
"It is no joking matter," said Professor
Bumper. "But I know you appreciate the seriousness
of it as much as I do, Tom. But I had the map
in the pocket of this coat, and now it is gone!"
"When did you put it there?" asked Ned.
"This morning, just before I came to breakfast."
"Oh, then you have had it since last night!"
Tom ejaculated.
"Yes, I slept with it under my clothes that I
rolled up for a pillow, and when it was my turn
to stand guard I took it with me. Then I put
it back again and went to sleep. When I awoke
and dressed I put the packet in my pocket and
ate breakfast. Now when I look for it--why,
it's gone!"
"The map or the oiled-silk package?" asked
Mr. Damon, who, once having been a businessman,
was sometimes a stickler for small points.
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