overcome, and I feel that I risk failure without your
young energy and your inventive mind to aid in the work and to suggest
possible means of attaining our object. Come, Tom, reconsider, and
decide to make the trip."

"And my promise to go was dependent on Tom's agreement to accompany
us," said Mr. Damon.

"Come on!" urged the professor, much as one boy might urge another to
take part in a ball game. "Don't let my rival get ahead of me."

"I wouldn't like to see that," Tom said slowly. "Who is he--any one I
know?"

"I don't believe so, Tom. He's connected with a large, new college
that has plenty of money to spend on explorations and research work.
Beecher is his name--Fenimore Beecher."

"Beecher!" exclaimed Tom, and there was such a change in his manner
that his friends could not help noticing it. He jumped to his feet,
his eyes snapping, and he looked eagerly and anxiously at Professor
Bumper.

"Did you say his name was Fenimore Beecher?" Tom asked in a tense voice.

"That's what it is--Professor Fenimore Beecher. He is really a learned
young man, and thoroughly in earnest, though I do not like his manner.
But he is trying to get ahead of me, which may account for my feeling."

Tom Swift did not answer. Instead he hurried from the room with a
murmured apology.

"I'll be back in about five minutes," he said, as he went out.

"Well, what's up now?" asked Mr. Damon of Ned, as the young inventor
departed. "What set him off that way?"

"The mention of Beecher's name, evidently. Though I never heard him
mention such a person before."

"Nor did I ever hear Professor Beecher speak of Tom," said the
bald-headed scientist. "Well, we'll just have to wait until----"

At that moment Tom came back into the room.

"Gentlemen," he said, "I have reconsidered my refusal to go to the
Copan valley after the idol of gold. I'm going with you!"

"Good!" cried Professor Bumper.

"Fine!" ejaculated Mr. Damon. "Bless my time-table! I thought you'd
come around, Tom Swift."

"But what about your stabilizer?" asked Ned.

"I was just talking to my father about it," the young inventor replied.
"He will be able to put the finishing touches on it. So I'll leave it
with him. As soon as I can get ready I'll go, since you say haste is
necessary, Professor Bumper."

"It is, if we are to get ahead of Beecher."

"Then we'll get ahead of him!" cried Tom. "I'm with you now from the
start to the finish. I'll show