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scientist； 〃and； if you have no objections； I will accompany you。〃
〃Come； and welcome！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Titus； all his suspicions now
gone。
〃And it may be that you will be able to help me；〃 the scientist went on。
〃Help youhow？〃 asked Tom。
〃I will tell you when we reach the Andes；〃 was the mysterious answer。
It was a day later when they left the train at a small station； and struck
off into the foothills of the great Andes Mountains； where the tunnel was
started； that the professor again mentioned his object。
〃Friends；〃 he said； as he gazed up at the towering cliffs and crags； 〃I
am searching for the lost city of Pelone； located somewhere in these
mountains。 Will you help me to find it？〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
CHAPTER XII
The Tunnel
Mr。 Damon； of the three who heard Professor Bumper make this
statement； showed the least sign of astonishment。 It would have been more
correct to say that he showed none at all。 But Tom could not restrain
himself。
〃The lost city of Pelone！〃 he exclaimed。
〃Is it herein these mountains？〃 asked Mr。 Titus。
〃I have reason to hope that it is；〃 went on the professor。 〃The golden
tablets are very vague； but I have tried many locations； and now I am
about to try here。 I hope I shall succeed。 At any rate； I shall have agreeable
company； which has not always been my luck on my previous expeditions
seeking to find the lost city。〃
〃Oh； Professor； are you still on that quest？〃 asked Mr。 Damon； in a
matter…of…fact tone。
〃Yes； Mr。 Damon； I am。 And now that I look about me； and see the
shape of these mountains； I feel that they conform more to the description
on the golden plates than any location I have yet tried。 Somehow I feel
that I shall be successful here。〃
〃Did you know Professor Bumper was searching for a lost city of the
Andes？〃 asked Tom； of his eccentric friend。
〃Why yes；〃 answered Mr。 Damon。 〃He has been searching for years to
locate it。〃
〃Why didn't you tell us？〃 inquired Mr。 Titus。
〃Why； I never thought of it。 Bless my memorandum book！ it never
occurred to me。 I did not think you would be interested。 Tell them your
story； Professor Bumper。〃
〃I will soon。 Just now I must see to my equipment。 The story will
keep。〃
And though Tom and Mr。 Titus were both anxious to hear about the
lost city； they； too； had much to do to get ready for the trip into the interior。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
The beginning of the tunnel under one of the smaller of the ranges of
the Andes lay two days journey from the end of the railroad line。 And the
trip must be made on mules； with llamas as beasts of burden； transporting
the powder and other supplies。
〃We'll only need to take enough food with us for the two days；〃 said
Mr。 Titus。 〃We have a regular camp at the tunnel mouth； and my brother
has supplies of grub and other things constantly coming in。 We also have
shacks to live in； but on this trip we will use tents； as the weather at this
season is fine。〃
It was quite a little expedition that set off up the mountain trail that
afternoon； for they had arrived at the end of the railroad line shortly before
dinner； and had eaten at a rather poor restaurant。
Professor Bumper had made up his own exploring party； consisting of
himself and three native Indian diggers with their picks and shovels。 They
were to do whatever excavating he decided was necessary to locate the
hidden city。
Several mules and llamas； laden with the new explosive； and burdened
with camp equipment and food； and a few Indian servants made up the
cavalcade of Tom； the contractor； Mr。 Damon and Koku。 The giant was
almost as much a source of wonder to the Peruvians as he had been on
board the ship。 And he was a great help； too。 For some of the Indians were
under…sized； and could not lift the heavy boxes and packages to the backs
of the beasts of burden。
But Koku； thrusting the little men aside； grasped with one hand what
two of them had tried in vain to lift； and set it on the back of mule or
llama。
The way was rough but they took their time to it； for the trail was an
ascending one。 Above and beyond them towered the great Andes； and Tom；
gazing up into the sky； which in places seemed almost pierced by the
snow…covered peaks； saw some small black specks moving about。
〃Condors；〃 said Mr。 Titus； when his attention was called to them。
〃Some of them are powerful birds； and they sometimes pick up a sheep
and make off with it； though usually their food consists of carrion。〃
They went into camp before the sun went down； for it grew dark soon
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
after sunset； and they wanted to be prepared。 Supper was made ready by
the Indian helpers； and when this was over； and they sat about a camp fire；
Tom said：
〃Now； Professor Bumper； perhaps you'll explain about the lost city。〃
〃I wish I could explain about it；〃 began the scientist。 〃For years I have
dreamed of finding it； but always I have been disappointed。 Now； perhaps；
my luck may change。〃
〃Do you think it may be near here？〃 asked Mr。 Titus； motioning
toward the dark and frowning peaks all about them。
〃It may be。 The signs are most encouraging。 In brief； the story of the
lost city of Pelone is this。 Thousands of years agoin fact I do not know
how manythere existed somewhere in Peru an ancient city that was the
centre of civilization for this region。 Older it was than the civilization of
the Mexicansthe Montezumasolder and more cultured。
〃It is many years since I became interested in Peruvian antiquities； and
then I had no idea of the lost city。 But some of the antiques I picked up
contained in their inscriptions references to Pelone。 At first I conceived
this to be a sort of god； a deity； or perhaps a powerful ruler。 But as I went
on in my work of gathering ancient things from Peru； I saw that the name
Pelone referred to a citya seat of government； whence everything had its
orig