Tom has had enough of adventure and swears he is going to stay home and live the life of a sedate scientist, working on his many patent applications. He spots a magazine article written by Professor Bumper describing a fabulous underground city containing a large gold idol. Tom's attitude is "Hrumpf! Gold. Underground city. Savages. Lions. Tigers. Bears. Been there, done that." Next thing we know, Professor Bumper and Mr. Damon show up. It takes about 4 pages to turn Tom around, but not for the usual reasons (i.e. wealth, fame, glory and excitement.) It seems a young, handsome, rival archeologist--one Professor Fenimore Beecher--is also interested in said idol. His plan is to give a part of it to Mary Nestor, Tom's sweetie. This is as an enticement to upgrade her betrothal to a real professional--none of this common inventor stuff. Jealousy rears its' green-eyed head, and we are shortly thereafter off, willy-nilly, to the land of big alligators and bigger mosquitoes. Review written by JP Karenko. Perfect reading for the young student aged 9 to 12. Ideal for Home Schoolers. This is not a scanned copy but a newly typeset book with a beautiful cover made utilyzing images from the original dust jacket. A must read for all Tom Swift fans, young and old alike!