Followed by the threatening Indians, the
Bumper party made its way back to the entrance.
They had hoped for great things, but if the cavern
gave access to the buried city--the ancient
city of Kurzon on the chief altar of which stood
the golden idol, Quitzel--it looked as though
they were never to enter it.
"We'll have to get our Indians and drive those
fellows out!" declared Tom. "I'm not going to
be beaten this way--and by Beecher!"
"It is galling," declared Professor Bumper.
"Still he has right on his side, and I must give
in to priority, as I would expect him to. It is
the unwritten law."
"Then we've failed!" cried Tom bitterly.
"Not yet," said Professor Bumper. "If I can
not unearth that buried city I may find another
in this wonderland. I shall not give up."
"Hark! What's that noise?" asked Tom, as
they approached the entrance to the cave.
"Sounds like a great wind blowing," commented Ned.
It was. As they stood in the entrance they
looked out to find a fierce storm raging. The
wind was sweeping down the rocky trail, the
rain was falling in veritable bucketfuls from the
overhanging cliff, and deafening thunder and
blinding lightning roared and flashed.
"Surely you would not drive us out in this
storm," said Professor Bumper to his former
rival.
"You can not stay in the cave! You must get
out!" was the answer, as a louder crash of thunder
than usual seemed to shake the very mountain.
CHAPTER XXIII
ENTOMBED ALIVE
For an instant Tom and his friends paused at
the entrance to the wonderful cavern, and looked
at the raging storm.
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