hall of the house saying:

"Now, my dear lady, don't trouble yourself. I can find my way in to
Tom Swift perfectly well by myself, and while I appreciate your
courtesy I do not want to trouble you."

"No, don't come, Mrs. Baggert," added another voice. "Bless my hat
band, I think I know my way about the house by this time!"

"Mr. Damon!" ejaculated Ned.

"And Professor Bumper is with him," added Tom. "Come in!" he cried,
opening the hall door, to confront a bald-headed man who stood peering
at our hero with bright snapping eyes, like those of some big bird
spying out the land from afar. "Come in, Professor Bumper; and you
too, Mr. Damon!"

CHAPTER III

BLESSINGS AND ENTHUSIASM

Greetings and inquiries as to health having been passed, not without
numerous blessings on the part of Mr. Damon, the little party gathered
in the library of the home of Tom Swift sat down and looked at one
another.

On Professor Bumper's face there was, plainly to be seen, a look of
expectation, and it seemed to be shared by Mr. Damon, who seemed eager
to burst into enthusiastic talk. On the other hand Tom Swift appeared
a bit indifferent.

Ned himself admitted that he was frankly curious. The story of the big
idol of gold had occupied his thoughts for many hours.

"Well, I'm glad to see you both," said Tom again. "You got here all
right, I see, Professor Bumper. But I didn't expect you to meet and
bring Mr. Damon with you."

"I met him on the train," explained the author of the book on the lost
city of Pelone, as well as books on other antiquities. "I had no
expectation of seeing him, and we were both surprised when we met on
the express."

"It stopped at Waterfield, Tom," explained Mr. Damon, "which it doesn't
usually do, being an aristocratic sort of train, not given even to
hesitating at our humble little town. There were some passengers to
get off, which caused the flier to stop, I suppose. And, as I wanted
to come over to see you, I got aboard."

"Glad you did," voiced Tom.

"Then I happened to see Professor Bumper a few seats ahead of me," went
on Mr. Damon, "and, bless my scarfpin! he was coming to see you also."

"Well, I'm doubly glad," answered Tom.

"So here we are," went on Mr. Damon, "and you've simply got to come,
Tom Swift. You must go with us!" and Mr. Damon, in his enthusiasm,
banged his fist down on the table with such force that he knocked some
books to the floor.

Koku, the giant,