lic squares; and images, not at all beautiful, for they
seemed to be of man-monsters--doubtless ancient gods. There were
smoothly paved streets; wondrously carved fountains, some in ruins, all
now as dry as bone, but which must have been places of beauty where
youths and maidens gathered in the ancient days.

Of the ancient population there was not a trace left. Tom and his
friends penetrated some of the houses, but not so much as a bone or a
heap of mouldering dust showed where the remains of the people were.
Either they had fled at the approaching doom of the city and were
buried elsewhere, or some strange fire or other force of nature had
consumed and obliterated them.

"What a wealth of historic information I shall find here!" murmured
Professor Bumper, as he caught sight of many inscriptions in strange
characters on the walls and buildings. "I shall never get to the end
of them."

"But what about the idol of gold?" asked Mr. Damon, "Do you think
you'll find that?"

"We must hurry on to the temple over there," said the scientist,
indicating a building further along.

"And then we must see about rescuing your rivals, Professor," put in
Tom.

"Yes, Tom. But fortunately we are on the ground here before them,"
agreed the professor.

Undoubtedly it was the chief temple, or place of worship, of the
long-dead race which the explorers now entered. It was a building
beautiful in its barbaric style, and yet simple. There were massive
walls, and a great inner court, at the end of which seemed to be some
sort of altar. And then, as they lighted fresh torches, and pressed
forward with them and their electric lights, they saw that which caused
a cry of satisfaction to burst from all of them.

"The idol of gold!"

Yes, there it squatted, an ugly, misshapen, figure, a cross between a
toad and a gila monster, half man, half beast, with big red
eyes--rubies probably--that gleamed in the repulsive golden face. And
the whole figure, weighing many pounds, seemed to be of SOLID GOLD!

Eagerly the others followed Professor Bumper up the altar steps to the
very throne of the golden idol. The scientist touched it, tried to
raise it and make sure of its solidity and material.

"This is it!" he cried. "It is the idol of gold! I have found-- We have
found it, for it belongs to all of us!"

"Hurray!" cried Tom Swift, and Ned and Mr. Damon joined in the cry.

There was no need for silence or caution now; and yet, as t