She paused and blushed slightly.

“Yes, and the other,” suggested Tom.

“I’ll put the other up in my room to remember you by,” she finished with a laugh, “so pick out one that is nicely carved.  Some of those foreign ones, such as the Chinese have, are hideous.”

“That’s right,” agreed Tom, “and I’ll see that you get a nice one.  Those Aztecs used to do some wonderful work in gold and silver carving.  I’ve seen specimens in the museum.”

Then the two young people fell to talking of the wonderful trip that lay before Tom, and Mary, several times, urged him to be careful of the dangers he would be likely to encounter.

Tom said nothing to her of the head-hunters.  He did not want to alarm Miss Nestor, and then, too, he thought the less he allowed his mind to dwell on that unpleasant feature of the journey, the less likely it would be to get on the nerves of all of them.

Ned was right when he predicted that Tom would make quite a lengthy visit.  There was much to talk about and he did not expect to see Mary again for some time.  But finally he realized that he must leave, and with a renewed promise to bring back with him the two small gold images, and after saying good-bye to Mr. and Mrs. Nestor, Tom took his leave.

“If you get marooned in the underground city, Tom,” said Mr. Nestor, “I hope you can rig up a wireless outfit, and get help, as you did for us on Earthquake Island.”

“I hope so,” answered our hero with a laugh, and then, a little saddened by his farewell, and pondering rather solemnly on what lay before him—­the dangers of travel as well as those of the head-hunters—­Tom hastened back to his own home.

The young inventor found Ned busy over the list of supplies, diligently checking it and comparing it with the one originally made out, to see that nothing had been omitted.  Mr. Damon had gone to his room, for he was to remain at the Swift house until he left with the gold-hunting expedition.

“Oh, you’ve got back, have you?” asked Tom’s chum, with a teasing air.  “I thought you’d given up the trip to the city of gold.”

“Oh, cheese it!” invited Tom.  “Come on, now I’ll help you.  Where’s Eradicate?  I want him to go out and see that the shop is locked up.”

“He was in here a while ago and he said he was going to look after things outside.  He told me quite a piece of news.”

“What was it?”

“It seems that the Foger house has been sold, the furniture was all moved out to-day, and the family has left, bag and baggage.  I asked Rad if he had heard where to, and he said someone down in the village was saying that Andy and his father have engaged passage on some ship that sails day after to-morrow.”

“Day after to-morrow!” cried Tom.  “Why, that’s when ours sails!  I hope Andy didn’t hear enough of our plans that night to try to follow us.”

“It would be just like him,” returned Ned, “but I don’t think they’ll do it.  They haven’t enough information to go on.  More likely Mr. Foger is going to try some new ventures to get back his lost fortune.”