第26章

"But," began Mr.Damon, "I don't see how--""Oh, we'll find a way," interrupted Tom."It isn't the first time I've been pretty well stranded on an expedition of this kind, and sometimes from the same cause--the actions of a rival.Now we'll turn the tables on the other fellows and see how they like it.The professor's right --let's have breakfast.Jacinto seems to have told the truth.Nothing of ours is missing."Tom and Ned got the meal, and then a consultation was held as to what was best to be done.

"We can't go on any further by water, that's sure," said Tom."In the first place the river is too shallow, and secondly we have no canoes.So the only thing is to go on foot through the jungle.""But how can we, and carry all this stuff?" asked Ned.

"We needn't carry it!" cried Professor Bumper."We'll leave it here, where it will be safe enough, and tramp on to the nearest Indian village.There we'll hire bearers to take our stuff on until we can get mules.I'm not going to turn back!""Good!" cried Mr.Damon."Bless my rubber boots! but that's what I say--keep on!""Oh, no! we'll never turn back," agreed Tom."But how can we manage it?" asked Ned.

"We've just got to! And when you have to do a thing, it's a whole lot easier to do than if you just feel as though you ought to.So, lively is the word!" cried Tom, in answer.

"We'll pack up what we can carry and leave the rest," added the scientist.

Being an experienced traveler Professor Bumper had arranged his baggage so that it could be carried by porters if necessary.Everything could be put into small packages, including the tents and food supply.

"There are four of us," remarked Tom, "and if we can not pack enough along with us to enable us to get to the nearest village, we had better go back to civilization.I'm not afraid to try.""Nor I!" cried Mr.Damon.

The baggage, stores and supplies that were to be left behind were made as snug as possible, and so piled up that wild beasts could do the least harm.Then a pack was made up for each one to carry.

They would take weapons, of course, Tom Swift's electric rifle being the one he choose for himself.They expected to be able to shoot game on their way, and this would provide them food in addition to the concentrated supply they carried.Small tents, in sections, were carried, there being two, one for Tom and Ned and one for Mr.Damon and the professor.

As far as could be learned from a casual inspection, Jacinto and his deserting Indians had taken back with them only a small quantity of food.They were traveling light and down stream, and could reach the town much more quickly than they had come away from it.

"That Beecher certainly was slick," commented Professor Bumper when they were ready to start."He must have known about what time I would arrive, and he had Jacinto waiting for us.I thought it was too good to be true, to get an experienced guide like him so easily.But it was all planned, and I was so engrossed in thinking of the ancient treasures I hope to find that I never thought of a possible trick.Well, let's start!" and he led the way into the jungle, carrying his heavy pack as lightly as did Tom.Professor Bumper had a general idea in which direction lay a number of native villages, and it was determined to head for them, blazing a path through the wilderness, so that the Indians could follow it back to the goods left behind.

It was with rather heavy hearts that the party set off, but Tom's spirits could not long stay clouded, and the scientist was so good-natured about the affair and seemed so eager to do the utmost to render Beecher's trick void, that the others fell into a lighter mood, and went on more cheerfully, though the way was rough and the packs heavy.

They stopped at noon under a bower they made of palms, and, spreading the nets over them, got a little rest after a lunch.Then, when the sun was less hot, they started off again.

"Forward is the word!" cried Ned cheerfully."Forward!"'

They had not gone more than an hour on the second stage of theirtramp when Tom, who was in the lead, following the direction laid out by the compass, suddenly stopped, and reached around for his electric rifle, which he was carrying at his back.

"What is it?" asked Ned in a whisper.

"I don't know, but it's some big animal there in the bushes," was Tom's low-voiced answer."I'm ready for it."The rustling increased, and a form could be seen indistinctly.Tom aimed the deadly gun and stood ready to pull the trigger.

Ned, tho had a side view into the underbrush, gave a sudden cry."Don't shoot, Tom!" he yelled."It's a man!"