brush and stones at a certain place,
an entrance to a great cavern was revealed. This, it appeared, was the
Indian burial ground, and had been used for generations.

Goosal, though in fear and trembling, was lead through it, and came to
another cavern, vaster than the first. And there he saw strange and
wonderful sights, for it was the remains of a buried city, that had
once been the home of a great and powerful tribe unlike the
Indians--the ancient Mayas it would seem.

"Can you take us to this cavern?" asked the professor.

"Yes," answered Goosal. "I will lead to it those who saved the life of
Tal--them and their friends. I will take you to the lost city!"

"Good!" cried Mr. Damon, when this had been translated. "Now let
Beecher try to play any more tricks on us! Ho! for the cavern and the
lost city of Kurzon."

"And the idol of gold," said Tom Swift to himself. "I hope we can get
it ahead of Beecher. Perhaps if I can help in that--Oh, well, here's
hoping, that's all!" and a little smile curved his lips.

Greatly excited by the strange news, but maintaining as calm an air
outwardly as possible, so as not to excite the Indians, Tom and his
friends returned to camp to prepare for their trip. Goosal had said
the cavern lay distant more than a two-days' journey into the jungle.

CHAPTER XXII

THE STORM

"Now," remarked Tom, once they were back again in their camp, "we must
go about this trip to the cavern in a way that will cause no suspicion
over there as to what our object is," and he nodded in the direction of
the quarters of his rival.

"Do you mean to go off quietly?" asked Ned.

"Yes. And to keep the work going on here, at these shafts," put in the
scientist, "so that if any of their spies happen to come here they will
think we still believe the buried city to be just below us. To that
end we must keep the Indians digging, though I am convinced now that it
is useless."

Accordingly preparations were made for an expedition into the jungle
under the leadership of Goosal. Tal had not sufficiently recovered
from the jaguar wounds to go with the party, but the old man, in spite
of his years, was hale and hearty and capable of withstanding hardships.

One of the most intelligent of the Indians was put in charge of the
digging gangs as foreman, and told to keep them at work, and not to let
them stray. Tolpec, whose brother Tom had tried to save, proved a
treasure. He agreed to remain b