Tom Swift in the City of Gold; Or, Marvelous Adventures Underground

or you, T

glecting me," and the young inventor took the missive which the Shopton postman ha

much you can beat the birds, you're either hunting elephants in Africa, or diving down under the ocean, or out in a diamond mine, or

other persons do when getting a strange letter, instead of opening it to see from whom it has come, Tom tried to guess by looking at

er's a 'K' I guess," and Mr. Wilson turned

out a 'G'

--Twamba--that's what it is--Gumba Tw

y old geography, is Gumba Twamb

e foreign countries. I don't often handle letters from there, so I

velope, through the cracks of which some parts of the letter already could be seen, showing that

as Tom started to read the mysterious letter. "I'm late a

the first few lines than his eyes began to open wide in wonder, and his manner plainly indicated his surprise. He

you, dad? Say, Mrs. Baggert," he called as he saw the motherly hous

think. I believe Mr.

om as he made his way to the shop where his father, also an inventor like himself, spent m

achinery, queer tools and odd devices, many of them having to do with the manufact

he letter above his head, "what d

in," and an aged man, beside whom a younger one was standing, held up a hand of ca

doing?" dema

ther be doing but inventing something new, as he always is. I guess he's working on his new gyroscope, though it is o

Damon," spoke Mr. Swift

I've got some great news--simply great, and your gyroscope can

rom?" asked

s to get a letter from, and such a letter! such news in it. Why, it's simply great! You remember Mr. and Mrs. Illingway; don't you Mr. Damon? How we went to

e red Pygmies I mean, not the missionaries. But what is Mr. Illingway writing to you about now,

n on a packing box. "It would take too long to read the

is worshiped by a tribe of Africans in a settlement not far from

" interrupte

that there is no gold in that part of Africa, and for a time he was at a loss how to account for the golden image. He made some inquiries and learned that it was once the property of a white traveler who made his home with the tribe th

ey clung to their own beliefs until he died. Then, probably thinking to do his memory hon

xclaimed Mr. Damon. "Wh

t, as he was so good to them, some of his virtues had passed into the gold. Then, too, they may have thought it was part of his religio

, in that far-off African village. But I haven't got to the

ground city--a regular city of gold--nearly everything in it that was capable of being made of metal, being construc

says is three feet high. Why, if there are any larger they must be nearly life size, and think of a solid gold statue as large as a man--it would weigh--well, I'm afraid,

'm not saying it's true. Mr. Illing

d Mr. Damon. "Bless my shirt s

himself. He had met a native who had located it, and who had brought out some of the gold, including several of

m?" asked Mr. Swift. "Doesn't Mr. Illin

graphy, but some of the tribesmen whom the white traveler taught, could draw rude maps, and Mr. Illin

map?" suddenly cried Mr. Damon

the envelope a piece of paper covered wit

u're not going to let such a chance as this slip past; are

answered the young

on another wild expedition?

ve to," answered hi

rst out Mr. Damon. "And I'm

gold. He thought, after my travels in Africa, that to find a buried city in Mexico wou

rfecting my gyroscope!" exclaime

ome back, dad. I want t

e rich eno

the rumor among the African natives, there is not only gold in plenty, and a number of small gold statues, but one immense big one--of solid g

he big gold statue. And if I could bring it away," cried Tom in great excitement as he waved the missionary's letter above his

of gold, Tom, I can see that," said Mr. Swift, with a faint smile. "And if you go,

idently. "Ho! for the city of gold and the ima

certainly am!" and the little man excitedly shook hands with Tom Swift, while the