But we got
out the way we came in. We did not enter the
tunnel as you did, but came in through another
entrance which was not closed by the landslide.
Then we made a turn through a gateway in a
tunnel connecting with ours--a gateway which
seems to have been opened by the earthquake--
and we came here, just now.
"Too late, I see, to claim the discovery of the
idol of gold," went on Mr. Hardy. "But I trust
you will be generous, and allow us to make
observations of the buildings and other relics."
"As much as you please, and with the greatest
pleasure in the world," was the prompt answer
of Professor Bumper. "All I lay sole
claim to is the golden idol. You are at liberty
to take whatever else you find in Kurzon and to
make what observations you like."
"That is generous of you, and quite in contrast
to--er--to the conduct of our leader. I trust
he may awaken to a sense of the injustice he
did you."
But Professor Beecher was not there to hear
this. He had stalked away in anger.
"Humph!" grunted Tom. Then he continued:
"That story about a government concession was all
a fake, Professor, else he'd have put up a fight now.
Contemptible sneak!"
In fact the story of Tom Swift's trip to the
underground land of wonders is ended, for with
the discovery of the idol of gold the main object
of the expedition was accomplished. But their
adventures were not over by any means, though
there is not room in this volume to record them.
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