mable depths. So Honduras it was called,
and has been to this day.

"It is a queer land with many traces of an ancient civilization, a
civilization which I believe dates back farther than some in the far
East. On the sculptured stones in the Copan valley there are
characters which seem to resemble very ancient writing, but this
pictographic writing is largely untranslatable.

"Honduras, I might add, is about the size of our state of Ohio. It is
rather an elevated tableland, though there are stretches of tropical
forest, but it is not so tropical a country as many suppose it to be.
There is much gold scattered throughout Honduras, though of late it has
not been found in large quantities.

"In the old days, however, before the Spaniards came, it was plentiful,
so much, so that the natives made idols of it. And it is one of the
largest of these idols--by name Quitzel--that I am going to seek."

"Do you know where it is?" asked Ned.

"Well, it isn't locked up in a safe deposit box, of that I'm sure,"
laughed the professor. "No, I don't know exactly where it is, except
that it is somewhere in an ancient and buried city known as Kurzon. If
I knew exactly where it was there wouldn't be much fun in going after
it. And if it was known to others it would have been taken away long
ago.

"No, we've got to hunt for the idol of gold in this land of wonders
where I hope soon to be. Later on I'll show you the documents that put
me on the track of this idol. Enough now to show you an old map I
found, or, rather, a copy of it, and some of the papers that tell of
the idol," and he spread out his packet of papers on the table in front
of him, his eyes shining with excitement and pleasure. Mr. Damon, too,
leaned eagerly forward.

"So, Tom Swift," went on the professor, "I come to you for help in this
matter. I want you to aid me in organizing an expedition to go to
Honduras after the idol of gold. Will you?"

"I'll help you, of course," said Tom. "You may use any of my
inventions you choose--my airships, my motor boats and submarines, even
my giant cannon if you think you can take it with you. And as for the
money part, Ned will arrange that for you. But as for going with you
myself, it is out of the question. I can't. No Honduras for me!"

CHAPTER IV

FENIMORE BEECHER

Had Tom Swift's giant cannon been discharged somewhere in the vicinity
of his home it could have caused but little more astonishment t