“An’ would yo’ all look at dem golden statues!” cried Eradicate, “dey mus’ be millions ob ’em!  Oh, golly!  Ain’t I glad I comed along!” and he rushed into one of the many houses extending along the street of the golden city where they stood, and gatheredup a fairly large statue of gold—­an image exactly similar to the one he already had, except as to size.

“I never would have believed it possible!” gasped Tom.  “It’s a city of almost solid gold.  We’ll be millionaires a million times over!”

CHAPTER XVI

THE BIG IMAGE

Could the light of day have penetrated to that mysterious and ancient underground city of gold our friends might have had some idea of its magnificence.  As it was they could only view small parts of it at a time by the illumination of their electric torches.  But even with them they saw that it was a most wonderful place.

“I don’t believe there’s another city like it in all the world,” spoke Tom in awed accents, “there never was, and never will be again.  Those Aztecs must have brought all their treasures of gold here.”

“Bless my cake box! that’s so,” agreed Mr. Damon.

“Let’s take a look around,” advised Ned, “and then we can decide on what will be best to take away.”

“It won’t take me long t’ make up mah mind,” spoke Eradicate.  “I’s goin’ t’ take all dem images I kin find.”

“I was going to say we’d have plenty of time to look about and pick what we wanted,” said Tom, “but I think perhaps we’d better hurry.”

“Why?” asked Mr. Damon.

“There’s no telling when Delazes and his gang may find this place, and even the Fogers may be nearer than we think.  But I believe our best plan would be this:  To take some gold now, and several of the statues, go back to our balloon, and make some kind of big lamps, so we can light this place up.  Then, too, I think we’d better move the balloon into the old temple.  It will be safer there.  Then we can come back here, pack up as much gold as we can carry, and be off.  I don’t like to think of being underground when Delazes and the Fogers are on the surface.  It might not be altogether safe for us.”

“Bless my insurance policy!” cried the odd man.  “Now you’re giving me the cold shivers, Tom.  But I believe you’re right.  We must look ahead a bit.”

With all their electric flash lamps turned on, the four advanced farther into the underground city of gold.  As they went on they saw the precious yellow metal on every side of them.  It was used lavishly, showing that to the ancients it was as common as iron or steel is to-day.  But they did not use the gold merely as common material in the construction of buildings or objects of use.  Instead, the gold seemed to be brought into play to beautify the city.  An artistic scheme was carried out, and while it was true that in many buildings common objects were made of gold, yet each one was beautiful in itself.