“Before we do any exploring, I think we’d better take some more gold back to the balloon,” suggested Tom, “and I think I’ll just move the balloon itself more out of sight, so that if any persons come along, and look into the temple, they won’t see our airship without looking for it.”

This was done, and a considerable quantity of the precious metal, including a number of the larger-sized statues, were stored in the balloon car.

“We can’t take much more,” Tom warned his friends, “or we’ll be over-weighted.”

“We’ve got enough now, to make us all rich,” said Ned, contentedly.

“I want moah,” spoke Eradicate with a grin.

They went back to the underground city and began to explore it with a view of taking back to civilization some word of its wonders and beauties.

“Didn’t Mr. Illingway, in his letters, say something about an immense golden statue here?” asked Ned, when they had almost completed a circuit of the underground place.

“So he did!” exclaimed Tom.  “I’d almost forgotten.  It must be somewhere in the centre of this place I should think.  Let’s have a hunt for it.  We can’t take it with us, but maybe we could get part of an arm or a leg to keep as a relic.  Come on.”

It was easy to reach the centre of the underground city, for it was laid out on a regular plan.  In a short time they were in sight of the central plaza and, even before they reached it the glare of their gas lamps showed them something glittering golden yellow.  It was on a tall, golden pedestal.

“There it is!” cried Ned.

“Yes, there’s the big golden image all right,” agreed Tom, hurrying forward, and a moment later they stood before a most wonderful statue.

CHAPTER XXII

TRAPPED

“Well, that sure is a big statue!” exclaimed Ned as he walked around it.

“An’ to t’ink dat it’s solid gold!” cried Eradicate his eyes big with wonder.  “I suah wish I had dat all fo’ mahse’f!”

“We never could carry that in the balloon,” spoke Tom with a shake of his head.  “I guess we’ll have to leave it here.  But I would like to take say the head.  It would be worth a lot as a relic to some museum—­worth more than the value of the gold itself.  I’ve a notion to do it.”

“How could you get the head off?” asked Mr. Damon.

“Oh, pull the statue down or overturn it, as the American patriots did to the Bowling Green, New York, lead statue of King George III during the Revolutionary days,” answered Tom.  “I think that’s what I’ll do.”

“I say, look here!” called Ned, who had made a circuit of the statue.  “There’s some sort of an inscription here.  See if you can read it, Tom.”

They went around to the front of the big, golden image where Ned stood.  On a sort of a plate, with raised letters, was an inscription in a strange language.  Part of it seemed to be the name of the person or god whom the statue represented, and what followed none could make out.