And the whole figure, weighing many
pounds, seemed to be of SOLID GOLD!
Eagerly the others followed Professor Bumper
up the altar steps to the very throne of the golden
idol. The scientist touched it, tried to raise it
and make sure of its solidity and material.
"This is it!" he cried. "It is the idol of gold!
I have found We have found it, for it
belongs to all of us!"
"Hurray!" cried Tom Swift, and Ned and Mr.
Damon joined in the cry.
There was no need for silence or caution now;
and yet, as they stood about the squat and ugly
figure, which, in spite of its hideousness, was
worth a fortune intrinsically and as an antique,
they heard from the direction of the stone passage
a noise.
"What is it?" asked Tom Swift.
There was a murmur of voices.
"Indians!" cried Professor Bumper, recognizing
the language--a mixture of Spanish and Indian.
The cave was illuminated by the glare of other
torches which seemed to rush forward. A moment
later it was seen that they were being carried
by a number of Indians.
"Friends," murmured Goosal, using the
Spanish term, "Amigos."
"They are our own Indians!" cried Tom Swift.
"I see Tolpec!" and he pointed to the native who
had deserted from Jacinto's force to help them.
"How did they get here?" asked Professor Bumper.
This was quickly told. In their camp, where,
under the leadership of Tolpec they had been
left to do the excavating, the natives had heard,
seen and felt the effects of the storm and the
earthquake, though it did little damage in their
vicinity.
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