Victor Appleton Tom Swift in the Land of Wonders

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.I am a scientist and I purpose doingsome exploring near Copan.Can you get us there?""Most expensivelyI mean, most expeditionlessly," said Val Jacinto eagerly."Pardon my unhappy English.I forget at times.The charges will be most moderate.I can send you by boatas far as the river travel is good, and then have mules and oxcarts inwaiting.""How far is it?" asked Tom."A hundred miles as the vulture flies, Senor, but much farther by river androad.We shall be a week going.""A hundred miles in a week!" groaned Ned."Say, Tom, if you had your aeroplanewe'd be there in an hour."Tom Swift in the Land of WondersCHAPTER IX.VAL JACINTO30"Yes, but we haven't it.However, we're in no great rush."Page 27ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"But we must not lose time," said Professor Bumper."I shall consider youroffer," he added to Val Jacinto."Very good, Senor.I am sure you will be pleased with the humble service I mayoffer you, and my charges will be small.Adios," and he bowed himself away."What do you think of him?" asked Ned, as they went up to their rooms in thehotel, or rather one large room, containing several beds."He's a pretty slick article," said Mr.Damon."Bless my checkbook! but hespotted us at once, in spite of our secrecy.""I guess these guide purveyors are trained for that sort of thing," observedthe scientist."I know my friends have often spoken of having had the sameexperience.However, I shall ask my friend, who is in business here, aboutthis Val Jacinto, and if I find him all right we may engage him "Inquiries next morning brought the information, from the head of a rubberexporting firm with whom the professor was acquainted, that the Spaniard wasregularly engaged in transporting parties into the interior, and wasconsidered efficient, careful and as honest as pos sible, considering the menhe engaged as workers."So we have decided to engage you," Professor Bumper informed Val Jacinto theafternoon following the meeting."I am more than pleased, Senor.I shall take you into the wilds of Honduras.At your service!" and he bowed low."Humph! I don't just like the way our friend Val says that," observed Tom toNed a little later."I'd have been better pleased if he had said he'd guide usinto the wilds and out again."If Tom could have seen the crafty smile on the face of the Spaniard as the manleft the hotel, the young inventor might have felt even less confidence in theguide.CHAPTER X.IN THE WILDS"All aboard! Step lively now! This boat makes no stops this side of Boston!"cried Ned Newton gaily, as he got into one of the several tree canoes providedfor the transportation of the party up the Chamelecon river, for the firststage of their journey into the wilds of Honduras."All aboard! This remindsme of my old camping days, Tom."It brought those days back, in a measure, to Tom also.For there were a numberof canoes filled with the goods of the party, while the members themselvesoccupied a larger one with their personal baggage.Strong, halfnaked Indianpaddlers were in charge of the canoes which were of sturdy construction andlight draft, since the river, like most tropical streams, was of uncertaindepths, choked here and there with sand bars or tropical growths.Finding that Val Jacinto was regularly engaged in the business of takingexplorers and mine prospectors into the interior, Professor Bumper had engagedthe man.He seemed to be efficient.At the promised time he had the canoes andpaddlers on hand and the goods safely stowed away while one big craft wasfitted up as comfortably as possible for the men of the party.Tom Swift in the Land of WondersCHAPTER X.IN THE WILDS31As Ned remarked, it did look like a camping party, for in the canoes weretents, cooking utensils and, most important, mosquito canopies of heavynetting.The insect pests of Honduras, as in all tropical countries, are annoying anddangerous.Therefore it was imperative to sleep under mosquito netting.On the advice of Val Jacinto, who was to accompany them, the travelers were togo up the river about fifty miles.This was as far as it would be convenientto use the canoes, the guide told Tom and his friends, and from there on thetrip to the Copan valley would be made on the backs of mules, which wouldcarry most of the baggage and equipment.The heavier portions would betransported in oxcarts.Page 28ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlAs Professor Bumper expected to do considerable excavating in order to locatethe buried city, or cities, as the case might be, he had to contract for anumber of Indian diggers and laborers.These could be hired inCopan, it was said.The plan, therefore, was to travel by canoes during the less heated parts ofthe day, and tie up at night, making camp on shore in the net protected tents [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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