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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
origin。
〃Then I got on the track more closely。 I examined ancient documents。 I
found traces of an ancient language and writings； different from anything
else in the world。 I managed to construct an alphabet and to read some of
the documents。 From them I learned that Pelone was a city situated in
some fertile valley of the Andes。 It had existed for thousands of years； it
was the seat of learning and culture。 Much light would be thrown on the
lives of the people who lived in Peru before the present races inhabited it；
if I could but locate Pelone。
〃Then I came across two golden tablets on which were graven the
information that Pelone had utterly vanished。〃
〃How？〃 asked Tom。
〃The golden tablets did not say。 They simply stated the fact that Pelone
was lost； and one sentence read： 'He who shall find it again shall be richly
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rewarded。' But it is not for that that I seek。 It is that I may give to the
world the treasures it must containthe treasures of an ancient
civilization。〃
〃And how do you think the city disappeared？〃 asked Mr。 Titus。
〃I do not know。 Whether it was destroyed by enemies； whether it was
buried under the ashes of a volcano； whether it still exists； deserted and
solitary in some valley amid the mountain fastnesses of the Andes； I do not
know。 But I am certain the city once existed； and it may exist yet； though it
may be in dust…covered ruins。 That is what I seek to find。 See！ Here are the
tablets telling about it。 I got them from an old Peruvian grave。〃
He took from a box two thin sheets of yellow metal。 They were
covered with curious marks； but Tom and the others could make nothing
of them。 Only Professor Bumper was able to decipher them。
〃And that is the story of the lost city of Pelone as much as I know；〃
he said。 〃For years I have sought it。 If I can find it I shall be famous； for I
shall have added to human knowledge。〃
〃If the people of that city wrote on golden tablets； the yellow metal
must have been plentiful；〃 commented Mr。 Titus。 〃You might strike a rich
mine。〃
〃I have no use for riches；〃 said the professor。
〃Well； I have；〃 the contractor said； with a laugh。 〃That's why I'm
putting through this tunnel。 And if my brother and I don't do it we'll be in a
bad way financially。 We have struck traces of gold； but not in paying
quantities。 I should like to see this lost city of yours； Professor Bumper。 It
may contain gold。〃
〃You may have all the gold； if I am allowed to keep the antiquities we
find；〃 stipulated the scientist。 〃Then you will help me in my search？〃
〃As much as we can spare time for from the tunnel work；〃 promised
Mr。 Titus。 〃I'll instruct my men to keep their eyes open for any sign of
ancient writings on the rocks we blast out。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said the professor。
The night passed uneventfully enough； if one excepts the mosquitoes
which seemed to get through the nets； making life miserable for all。 And
once Tom thought he heard gruntings in the bush back of the tent； which
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noises might； he imagined； have been caused by a bear。 Toward morning
he heard an unearthly screech in the woods； and one of the Indians；
tending the fire； grunted out a word which meant pumas。
〃I can see it isn't going to be dull here；〃 Tom mused； as he turned over
and tried to sleep。
Breakfast made them all feel better； and they set off on the final stage
of their journey。
〃If all goes well we'll be at the tunnel entrance and camp to…night；〃
said the contractor。 〃This second half of the trip is the roughest。〃
There was no need of saying that； for it was perfectly evident。 The trail
was a most precarious one； and only a mule or llama could have traveled it。
The mules were most sure…footed； but； as it was； one slipped； and came
near falling over a cliff。
But no real accident occurred； and finally； about an hour before sunset；
the cavalcade turned down the slope and emerged on a level plain； which
ended against the face of a great cliff。
As Tom rode nearer the cliff he could make out around it groups of
rude buildings； covered with corrugated iron。 There was quite a settlement
it seemed。
Then； in the face of the cliff there showed something blacklike a blot
of ink； though more regular in outline。
〃The mouth of the tunnel；〃 said Mr。 Titus to Tom。 〃Come on over to
the office and I'll introduce you to my brother。 I guess he will be glad
we've arrived。〃
Tom dismounted from his mule； an example followed by the others。
Professor Bumper gazed up at the great mountains and murmured：
〃I wonder if the lost city of Pelone lies among them？〃
Suddenly the silence of the evening was broken by a dull； rumbling
sound。
〃Bless my court plaster！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃What's that？〃
〃A blast；〃 answered Mr。 Titus。 〃But I never knew them to set off one
so late before。 I hope nothing is wrong！〃
And； as he spoke； panic…stricken men began running out of the mouth
of the tunnel； while those outside hastened toward them； shouting and
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calling。
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CHAPTER XIII
Tom's Explosive
〃Something has happened！〃 cried Mr。 Titus as he ran forward；
followed by Tom； Mr。 Damon and Koku。 Professor Bumper started with
them； but on the way he saw a curious bit of rock which he stopped to pick
up and examine。
At the entrance of the tunnel； from which came rushing dirt…stained
and powder…blackened men； Mr。 Titus was met by a man who seemed to
be in authority。
〃Hello； Job！〃 he cried。 〃Glad you're back。 We're in trouble！〃
〃What's the matter？〃 was the question。 〃This is my brother Walter；〃 he
said。 〃This is Tom Swift and Mr。 Damon；〃 thus hurrie