her took it personally, or one of his party did.
And yet I can't understand how they could have come here without our
seeing them," and the professor shook his head in puzzled despair.

A more detailed search did not reveal the missing map, and Mr. Damon
and his friend the scientist were on the point of departing for the
camp of their rivals, less than a mile away, when Tom had what really
amounted to an inspiration.

"Look here, Professor!" he cried. "Can you remember any of the details
of your map--say, for instance, where we ought to begin excavating to
get at the wonders of the underground city?"

"Well, Tom, I did intend to compare my map with the configuration of
the country about here. There is a certain mountain which serves as a
landmark and a guide for a starting point. I think that is it over
there," and the scientist pointed to a distant snow-capped peak.

The party had left the low and marshy land of the true jungle, and were
among the foothills, though all about them was dense forest and
underbush, which, in reality, was as much a jungle as the lower plains,
but was less wet.

"The point where I believe we should start to dig," said the professor,
"is near the spot where the top of the mountain casts a shadow when the
sun is one hour high. At least that is the direction given in the old
manuscripts. So, though we can do little without the map, we might
make a start by digging there."

"No, not there!" exclaimed Tom.

"Why not?"

"Because we don't want to let Beecher's crowd know that we are on the
track of the idol of gold."

"But they know anyhow, for they have the map," commented Ned, puzzled
by his chum's words.

"Maybe not," said Tom slowly. "I think this is a time for a big bluff.
It may work and it may not. Beecher's crowd either has the map or they
have not. If they have it they will lose no time in trying to find the
right place to start digging and then they'll begin excavating.

"Very good! If they do that we have a right to dig near the same place.
But if they have not the map, which is possible, and if we start to dig
where the professor's memory tells him is the right spot, we'll only
give them the tip, and they'll dig there also."

"I'm sure they have the map," the professor said. "But I believe your
plan is a good one, Tom."

"Just what do you propose doing?" asked Ned.

"Fooling 'em!" exclaimed Tom quickly. "We'll dig in some place remote
from the spot where the