rn 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
g