dig his big tunnel. There must be some other
reason."

Ned did some more thinking. Then he
clapped his hands together, and a smile spread
over his face.

"I believe I have it!" he cried. "The little
green god as compared to the idol of gold!
That's it. I'm going to make a call on my way home."

This he did, stopping at the home of Mary
Nestor, a pretty girl, who, rumor had it, was
tacitly engaged to Tom. Mary was not at home,
but Mr. Nestor was, and for Ned's purpose this
answered.

"Well, well, glad to see you!" exclaimed
Mary's father. "Isn't Tom with you?" he asked
a moment later, seeing that Ned was alone.

"No, Tom isn't with me this evening," Ned
answered. "The fact is, he's getting ready to
go off on another expedition, and I'm going with him."

"You young men are always going somewhere,"
remarked Mrs. Nestor. "Where is it to this time?"

"Some place in Central America," Ned
answered, not wishing to be too particular. He