“What a wealth of historic information I shall find here!” murmured Professor Bumper, as he caught sight of many inscriptions in strange characters on the walls and buildings.  “I shall never get to the end of them.”

“But what about the idol of gold?” asked Mr. Damon, “Do you think you’ll find that?”

“We must hurry on to the temple over there,” said the scientist, indicating a building further along.

“And then we must see about rescuing your rivals, Professor,” put in Tom.

“Yes, Tom.  But fortunately we are on the ground here before them,” agreed the professor.

Undoubtedly it was the chief temple, or place of worship, of the long-dead race which the explorers now entered.  It was a building beautiful in its barbaric style, and yet simple.  There were massive walls, and a great inner court, at the end of which seemed to be some sort of altar.  And then, as they lighted fresh torches, and pressed forward with them and their electric lights, they saw that which caused a cry of satisfaction to burst from all of them.

“The idol of gold!”

Yes, there it squatted, an ugly, misshapen, figure, a cross between a toad and a gila monster, half man, half beast, with big red eyes—­rubies probably—­that gleamed in the repulsive golden face.  And the whole figure, weighing many pounds, seemed to be of solid gold!

Eagerly the others followed Professor Bumper up the altar steps to the very throne of the golden idol.  The scientist touched it, tried to raise it and make sure of its solidity and material.

“This is it!” he cried.  “It is the idol of gold!  I have found We have found it, for it belongs to all of us!”

“Hurray!” cried Tom Swift, and Ned and Mr. Damon joined in the cry.

There was no need for silence or caution now; and yet, as they stood about the squat and ugly figure, which, in spite of its hideousness, was worth a fortune intrinsically and as an antique, they heard from the direction of the stone passage a noise.

“What is it?” asked Tom Swift.

There was a murmur of voices.

“Indians!” cried Professor Bumper, recognizing the language—­a mixture of Spanish and Indian.

The cave was illuminated by the glare of other torches which seemed to rush forward.  A moment later it was seen that they were being carried by a number of Indians.

“Friends,” murmured Goosal, using the Spanish term, “Amigos.”

“They are our own Indians!” cried Tom Swift.  “I see Tolpec!” and he pointed to the native who had deserted from Jacinto’s force to help them.

“How did they get here?” asked Professor Bumper.

This was quickly told.  In their camp, where, under the leadership of Tolpec they had been left to do the excavating, the natives had heard, seen and felt the effects of the storm and the earthquake, though it did little damage in their vicinity.  But they became alarmed for the safety of the professor and his party and, at Tolpec’s suggestion, set off in search of them.