Tom Swift in the Land of Wonders

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"Ahem!" exclaimed Tom, with unnecessary
emphasis it seemed. "I'll help you go over your
papers, Professor," he added, and with a wink
and a motion of his hand, he enjoined silence on
his friend. Ned looked around for a reason for
this, and observed a man, evidently of Spanish
extraction, passing them as he paced up and
down the deck.

"What's the matter?" asked the scientist in
a whisper, as the man went on. "Do you know
him? Is he a----?"

"I don't know anything about him," said Tom;
"but it is best not to speak of our trip before
strangers."

"You are right, Tom," said Professor Bumper.
"I'll be more careful."

A storm was brewing, that was certain. A
dull, sickly yellow began to obscure the sky, and
the water, from a beautiful blue, turned a slate
color and ran along the sides of the vessel with a
hissing sound as though the sullen waves would
ask nothing better than to suck the craft down
into their depths. The wind, which had been
freshening, now sang in louder tones as it
hummed through the rigging and the funnel stays
and bowled over the receiving conductors of the
wireless.

Sharp commands from the ship's officers
hastened the work of the crew in making things
snug, and life lines were strung along deck for
the safety of such of the passengers as might
venture up when the blow began.

The storm was not long in coming. The
howling of the wind grew louder, flecks of foam
began to separate themselves from the crests of
the waves, and the vessel pitched, rolled and
tossed more violently. At first Tom and his
friends thought they were in for no more than
an ordinary blow, but as the storm progressed,
and the passengers became aware of the anxiety
on the part of the officers and crew, the alarm
spread among them.

It really was a violent storm, approaching a
hurricane in force, and at one time it seemed as
though the craft, having been heeled far over
under a staggering wave that swept her decks,
would not come back to an even keel.

There was a panic among some of the
passengers, and a few excited men behaved in a
way that caused prompt action on the part of
the first officer, who drove them back to the
main cabin under threat of a revolver. For the
men were determined to get to the lifeboats, and
a small craft would not have had a minute to live
in such seas as were running.

But the vessel proved herself sturdier than the
timid ones had dared to hope, and she was soon
running before the blast, going out of her course,
it is true, but avoiding the danger among the
many cays, or small islands, that dot the Caribbean
Sea.

There was nothing to do but to let the storm
blow itself out, which it did in two days. Then
came a period of delightful weather. The cargo
had shifted somewhat, which gave the steamer
a rather undignified list.

This, as well as the loss of a deckhand
overboard, was the effect of the hurricane, and
though the end of the trip came amid sunshine
and sweet-scented tropical breezes, many could
not forget the dangers through which they had
passed.

In due time Tom and his party found
themselves safely housed in the small hotel at Puerto
Cortes, their belongings stored in a convenient
warehouse and themselves, rather weary by reason
of the stress of weather, ready for the start
into the interior wilds of Honduras.

"How are we going to make the trip?" asked
Ned, as they sat at supper, the first night after
their arrival, eating of several dishes, the red-
pepper condiments of which caused frequent trips
to the water pitcher.

"We can go in two ways, and perhaps we shall
find it to our advantage to use both means," said
Professor Bumper. "To get to this city of Kurzon,"
he proceeded in a low voice, so that none
of the others in the dining-room would hear
them, "we will have to go either by mule back
or boat to a point near Copan. As near as I
can tell by the ancient maps, Kurzon is in the
Copan valley.

"Now the Chamelecon river seems to run to
within a short distance of there, but there is
no telling how far up it may be navigable. If
we can go by boat it will be much more comfortable.
Travel by mules and ox-carts is slow and
sure, but the roads are very bad, as I have heard
from friends who have made explorations in
Honduras.

"And, as I said, we may have to use both land
and water travel to get us where we want to go.
We can proceed as far as possible up the river,
and then take to the mules."

"What about arranging for boats and animals?"
asked Tom. "I should think----"

He suddenly ceased talking and reached for
the water, taking several large swallows.

"Whew!" he exclaimed, when he could catch his breath.
"That was a hot one."

"What did you do?" asked Ned.

"Bit into a nest of red pepper. Guess I'll have
to tell that cook to scatter his hits. He's bunching
'em too much in my direction," and Tom
wiped the tears from his eyes.

"To answer your question," said Professor
Bumper, "I will say that I have made partial
arrangements for men and animals, and boats
if it is found feasible to use them. I've been in
correspondence with one of the merchants here,
and he promised to make arrangements for us."

"When do we leave?" asked Mr. Damon.

"As soon as possible. I am not going to risk
anything by delay," and it was evident the professor
referred to his young rival whose arrival
might be expected almost any time.

As the party was about to leave the table,
they were approached by a tall, dignified Spaniard
who bowed low, rather exaggeratedly low,
Ned thought, and addressed them in fairly good
English.

"Your pardons, Senors," he began, "but if it
will please you to avail yourself of the humble
services of myself, I shall have great pleasure
in guiding you into the interior. I have at my
command both mules and boats."

"How do you know we are going into the
interior?" asked Tom, a bit sharply, for he did
not like the assurance of the man.

"Pardon, Senor. I saw that you are from the
States. And those from the States do not come
to Honduras except for two reasons. To travel
and make explorations or to start trade, and
professors do not usually engage in trade," and
he bowed to Professor Bumper.

"I saw your name on the register," he proceeded,
"and it was not difficult to guess your mission,"
and he flashed a smile on the party, his
white teeth showing brilliantly beneath his
small, black moustache.

"I make it my business to outfit traveling
parties, either for business, pleasure or scientific
matters. I am, at your service, Val Jacinto,"
and he introduced himself with another low bow.

For a moment Tom and his friends hardly
knew how to accept this offer. It might be,
as the man had said, that he was a professional
tour conductor, like those who have charge of
Egyptian donkey-boys and guides. Or might he
not be a spy?

This occurred to Tom no less than to Professor
Bumper. They looked at one another while
Val Jacinto bowed again and murmured:

"At your service!"

"Can you provide means for taking us to the
Copan valley?" asked the professor. "You are
right in one respect. I am a scientist and I purpose
doing some exploring near Copan. Can
you get us there?"

"Most expensively--I 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 boat as far as the river travel is good, and
then have mules and ox-carts in waiting."

"How far is it?" asked Tom.

"A hundred miles as the vulture flies, Senor,
but much farther by river and road. We shall
be a week going."

"A hundred miles in a week!" groaned Ned.
"Say, Tom, if you had your aeroplane we'd be
there in an hour."

"Yes, but we haven't it. However, we're in
no great rush."

"But we must not lose time," said Professor
Bumper. "I shall consider your offer," he added
to Val Jacinto.

"Very good, Senor. I am sure you will be
pleased with the humble service I may offer 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 the hotel, or
rather one large room, containing several beds.

"He's a pretty slick article," said Mr. Damon.
"Bless my check-book! but he spotted us at
once, in spite of our secrecy."

"I guess these guide purveyors are trained
for that sort of thing," observed the scientist.
"I know my friends have often spoken of having
had the same experience. However, I shall
ask my friend, who is in business here, about
this Val Jacinto, and if I find him all right we
may engage him "

Inquiries next morning brought the information,
from the head of a rubber exporting firm
with whom the professor was acquainted, that
the Spaniard was regularly engaged in transporting
parties into the interior, and was considered
efficient, careful and as honest as pos-
sible, considering the men he engaged as workers.

"So we have decided to engage you," Professor
Bumper informed Val Jacinto the afternoon
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 to Ned a little
later. "I'd have been better pleased if he had
said he'd guide us into the wilds and out again."

If Tom could have seen the crafty smile on
the face of the Spaniard as the man left the
hotel, the young inventor might have felt even
less confidence in the guide.

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 provided for the transportation of
the party up the Chamelecon river, for the first
stage of their journey into the wilds of
Honduras. "All aboard! This reminds me of my
old camping days, Tom."

It brought those days back, in a measure, to
Tom also. For there were a number of canoes
filled with the goods of the party, while the
members themselves occupied a larger one with their
personal baggage. Strong, half-naked Indian
paddlers were in charge of the canoes which
were of sturdy construction and light draft, since
the river, like most tropical streams, was of
uncertain depths, choked here and there with sand
bars or tropical growths.

Finding that Val Jacinto was regularly engaged
in the business of taking explorers and
mine prospectors into the interior, Professor
Bumper had engaged the man. He seemed to be
efficient. At the promised time he had the
canoes and paddlers on hand and the goods safely
stowed away while one big craft was fitted up
as comfortably as possible for the men of the
party.

As Ned remarked, it did look like a camping
party, for in the canoes were tents, cooking
utensils and, most important, mosquito canopies
of heavy netting.

The insect pests of Honduras, as in all tropical
countries, are annoying and dangerous. Therefore
it was imperative to sleep under mosquito
netting.

On the advice of Val Jacinto, who was to
accompany them, the travelers were to go up the
river about fifty miles. This was as far as it
would be convenient to use the canoes, the guide
told Tom and his friends, and from there on
the trip to the Copan valley would be made on
the backs of mules, which would carry most of
the baggage and equipment. The heavier portions
would be transported in ox-carts.

As Professor Bumper expected to do considerable
excavating in order to locate the buried
city, or cities, as the case might be, he had to
contract for a number of Indian diggers and
laborers. These could be hired in Copan, it was
said.

The plan, therefore, was to travel by canoes
during the less heated parts of the day, and tie
up at night, making camp on shore in the net-
protected tents. As for the Indians, they did
not seem to mind the bites of the insects. They
sometimes made a smudge fire, Val Jacinto had
said, but that was all.

"Well, we haven't seen anything of Beecher
and his friends," remarked the young inventor
as they were about to start.

"No, he doesn't seem to have arrived," agreed
Professor Bumper. "We'll get ahead of him,
and so much the better.

"Well, are we all ready to start?" he continued,
as he looked over the little flotilla which carried
his party and his goods.

"The sooner the better!" cried Tom, and Ned
fancied his chum was unusually eager.

"I guess he wants to make good before Beecher
gets the chance to show Mary Nestor what
he can do," thought Ned. "Tom sure is after
that idol of gold."

"You may start, Senor Jacinto," said the
professor, and the guide called something in Indian
dialect to the rowers. Lines were cast off and
the boats moved out into the stream under the
influence of the sturdy paddlers.

"Well, this isn't so bad," observed Ned, as he
made himself comfortable in his canoe. "How
about it, Tom?"

"Oh, no. But this is only the beginning."

A canopy had been arranged over their boat
to keep off the scorching rays of the sun. The
boat containing the exploring party and Val
Jacinto took the lead, the baggage craft following.
At the place where it flowed into the bay
on which Puerto Cortes was built, the stream
was wide and deep.

The guide called something to the Indians,
who increased their stroke.

"I tell them to pull hard and that at the end
of the day's journey they will have much rest
and refreshment," he translated to Professor
Bumper and the others.

"Bless my ham sandwich, but they'll need
plenty of some sort of refreshment," said Mr.
Damon, with a sigh. "I never knew it to be
so hot."

"Don't complain yet," advised Tom, with a
laugh. "The worst is yet to come."

It really was not unpleasant traveling, aside
from the heat. And they had expected that,
coming as they had to a tropical land. But, as
Tom said, what lay before them might be worse.

In a little while they had left behind them all
signs of civilization. The river narrowed and
flowed sluggishly between the banks which were
luxuriant with tropical growth. Now and then
some lonely Indian hut could be seen, and
occasionally a craft propelled by a man who was
trying to gain a meager living from the rubber
forest which hemmed in the stream on either
side.

As the canoe containing the men was paddled
along, there floated down beside it what seemed
to be a big, rough log.

"I wonder if that is mahogany," remarked Mr.
Damon, reaching over to touch it. "Mahogany
is one of the most valuable woods of Honduras,
and if this is a log of that nature----

"Bless my watch chain!" he suddenly cried. It's alive!"

And the "log" was indeed so, for there was a
sudden flash of white teeth, a long red opening
showed, and then came a click as an immense
alligator, having opened and closed his mouth,
sank out of sight in a swirl of water.

Mr. Damon drew back so suddenly that he
tilted the canoe, and the black paddlers looked
around wonderingly.

"Alligator," explained Jacinto succinctly, in
their tongue.

"Ugh!" they grunted.

"Bless my--bless my----" hesitated Mr.
Damon, and for one of the very few times in
his life his language failed him.

"Are there many of them hereabouts?" asked
Ned, looking back at the swirl left by the saurian.

"Plenty," said the guide, with a shrug of his
shoulders. He seemed to do as much talking that
way, and with his hands, as he did in speech.
"The river is full of them."

"Dangerous?" queried Tom.

"Don't go in swimming," was the significant
advice. "Wait, I'll show you," and he called
up the canoe just behind.

In this canoe was a quantity of provisions.
There was a chunk of meat among other things,
a gristly piece, seeing which Mr. Damon had
objected to its being brought along, but the guide
had said it would do for fish bait. With a quick
motion of his hand, as he sat in the awning-
covered stern with Tom, Ned and the others,
Jacinto sent the chunk of meat out into the muddy
stream.

Hardly a second later there was a rushing in
the water as though a submarine were about
to come up. An ugly snout was raised, two
rows of keen teeth snapped shut as a scissors-
like jaw opened, and the meat was gone.

"See!" was the guide's remark, and something
like a cold shiver of fear passed over the white
members of the party. "This water is not made
in which to swim. Be careful!"

"We certainly shall," agreed Tom. "They're fierce."

"And always hungry," observed Jacinto grimly.

"And to think that I--that I nearly had my
hand on it," murmured Mr. Damon. "Ugh!
Bless my eyeglasses!"

"The alligator nearly had your hand," said the
guide. "They can turn in the water like a flash,
wherefore it is not wise to pat one on the tail
lest it present its mouth instead."

They paddled on up the river, the dusky Indians
now and then breaking out into a chant
that seemed to give their muscles new energy.
The song, if song it was, passed from one boat
to the other, and as the chant boomed forth
the craft shot ahead more swiftly.

They made a landing about noon, and lunch
was served. Tom and his friends were hungry
in spite of the heat. Moreover, they were
experienced travelers and had learned not to fret
over inconveniences and discomforts. the Ind-
ians ate by themselves, two acting as servants
to Jacinto and the professor's party.

As is usual in traveling in the tropics, a halt
was made during the heated middle of the day.
Then, as the afternoon shadows were waning,
the party again took to the canoes and paddled
on up the river.

"Do you know of a good place to stop during
the night?" asked Professor Bumper of Jacinto.

"Oh, yes; a most excellent place. It is where
I always bring scientific parties I am guiding.
You may rely on me."

It was within an hour of dusk--none too much
time to allow in which to pitch camp in the
tropics, where night follows day suddenly--when
a halt was called, as a turn of the river showed a
little clearing on the edge of the forest-bound
river.

"We stay here for the night," said Jacinto.
"It is a good place."

"It looks picturesque enough," observed Mr.
Damon. "But it is rather wild."

"We are a good distance from a settlement,"
agreed the guide. "But one can not explore--
and find treasure in cities," and he shrugged
his shoulders again.

"Find treasure? What do you mean?" asked Tom quickly.
"Do you think that we----?"

"Pardon, Senor," replied Jacinto softly. "I meant
no offense. I think that all you scientific
parties will take treasure if you can find it."

"We are looking for traces of the old Honduras
civilization," put in Professor Bumper.

"And doubtless you will find it," was the
somewhat too courteous answer of the guide.
"Make camp quickly!" he called to the Indians
in their tongue. "You must soon get under the
nets or you will be eaten alive!" he told Tom.
"There are many mosquitoes here."

The tents were set up, smudge fires built and
supper quickly prepared. Dusk fell rapidly, and
as Tom and Ned walked a little way down
toward the river before turning in under the
mosquito canopies, the young financial man said:

"Sort of lonesome and gloomy, isn't it, Tom?"

"Yes. But you didn't expect to find a moving
picture show in the wilds of Honduras, did you?"

"No, and yet-- Look out! What's that?"
suddenly cried Ned, as a great soft, black shadow
seemed to sweep out of a clump of trees toward
him. Involuntarily he clutched Tom's arm and
pointed, his face showing fear in the fast-gathering
darkness.

CHAPTER XI

THE VAMPIRES

Tom Swift looked deliberately around. It
was characteristic of him that, though by nature
he was prompt in action, he never acted so hurriedly
as to obscure his judgment. So, though
now Ned showed a trace of strange excitement,
Tom was cool.

"What is it?" asked the young inventor.
"What's the matter? What did you think you saw,
Ned; another alligator?"

"Alligator? Nonsense! Up on shore? I saw
a black shadow, and I didn't THINK I saw it,
either. I really did."

Tom laughed quietly.

"A shadow!" he exclaimed. "Since when
were you afraid of shadows, Ned?"

"I'm not afraid of ordinary shadows," answered
Ned, and in his voice there was an uncertain
tone. "I'm not afraid of my shadow or
yours, Tom, or anybody's that I can see. But
this wasn't any human shadow. It was as if a
great big blob of wet darkness had been waved
over your head."

"That's a queer explanation," Tom said in a
low voice. "A great big blob of wet darkness!"

"But that just describes it," went on Ned,
looking up and around. "It was just as if you were in
some dark room, and some one waved a wet
velvet cloak over your head--spooky like! It
didn't make a sound, but there was a smell as
if a den of some wild beast was near here. I
remember that odor from the time we went
hunting with your electric rifle in the jungle, and
got near the den in the rocks where the tigers
lived."

"Well, there is a wild beast smell all around
here," admitted Tom, sniffing the air. "It's the
alligators in the river I guess. You know they
have an odor of musk."

"Do you mean to say you didn't feel that
shadow flying over us just now?" asked Ned.

"Well, I felt something sail through the air,
but I took it to be a big bird. I didn't pay much
attention. To tell you the truth I was thinking
about Beecher--wondering when he would get
here," added Tom quickly as if to forestall any
question as to whether or not his thoughts had
to do with Beecher in connection with Tom's
affair of the heart.

"Well it wasn't a bird--at least not a regular
bird," said Ned in a low voice, as once more he
looked at the dark and gloomy jungle that
stretched back from the river and behind the
little clearing where the camp had been made.

"Come on!" cried Tom, in what he tried to
make a cheerful voice. "This is getting on your
nerves, Ned, and I didn't know you had any.
Let's go back and turn in. I'm dog-tired and
the mosquitoes are beginning to find that we're
here. Let's get under the nets. Then the black
shadows won't get you."

Not at all unwilling to leave so gloomy a scene,
Ned, after a brief glance up and down the dark
river, followed his chum. They found Professor
Bumper and Mr. Damon in their tent, a separate
one having been set up for the two men adjoining
that of the youths.

"Bless my fountain pen!" exclaimed Mr. Damon,
as he caught sight of Tom and Ned in the
flickering light of the smudge fire between the
two canvas shelters. "We were just wondering
what had become of you."

"We were chasing shadows!" laughed Tom.
"At least Ned was. But you look cozy enough in there."

It did, indeed, look cheerful in contrast to the
damp and dark jungle all about. Professor Bumper,
being an experienced traveler, knew how to
provide for such comforts as were possible. Folding
cots had been opened for himself, Mr. Damon
and the guide to sleep on, others, similar, being
set up in the tent where Tom and Ned were to
sleep. In the middle of the tent the professor
had made a table of his own and Mr.
Damon's suit cases, and on this placed a small
dry battery electric light. He was making some
notes, doubtless for a future book. Jacinto was
going about the camp, seeing that the Indians
were at their duties, though most of them had
gone directly to sleep after supper.

"Better get inside and under the nets," advised
Professor Bumper to Tom and Ned. "The mosquitoes
here are the worst I ever saw."

"We're beginning to believe that," returned
Ned, who was unusually quiet. "Come on,
Tom. I can't stand it any longer. I'm itching
in a dozen places now from their bites."

As Tom and Ned had no wish for a light,
which would be sure to attract insects, they
entered their tent in the dark, and were soon
stretched out in comparative comfort. Tom was
just on the edge of a deep sleep when he heard
Ned murmur:

"I can't understand it!"

"What's that?" asked the young inventor.

"I say I can't understand it."

"Understand what?"

"That shadow. It was real and yet----"

"Oh, go to sleep!" advised Tom, and, turning
over, he was soon breathing heavily and regularly,
indicating that he, at least, had taken his own advice.

Ned, too, finally succumbed to the overpowering
weariness of the first day of travel, and he,
too, slept, though it was an uneasy slumber,
disturbed by a feeling as though some one were
holding a heavy black quilt over his head,
preventing him from breathing.

The feeling, sensation or dream--whatever it
was--perhaps a nightmare--became at last so
real to Ned that he struggled himself into
wakefulness. With an effort he sat up, uttering an
inarticulate cry. To his surprise he was
answered. Some one asked:

"What is the matter?"

"Who--who are you?" asked Ned quickly,
trying to peer through the darkness.

"This is Jacinto--your guide," was the soft
answer. "I was walking about camp and, hearing
you murmuring, I came to your tent. Is
anything wrong?"

For a moment Ned did not answer. He
listened and could tell by the continued heavy
and regular breathing of his chum that Tom
was still asleep.

"Are you in our tent?" asked Ned, at length:

"Yes," answered Jacinto. "I came in to see
what was the matter with you. Are you ill?"

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