tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第3节
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The first book of the series was called 〃Tom Swift and His Motor…
Cycle；〃 and related how Tom bought the cycle from Mr。 Damon； after the
latter had met with an accident on it； and it was in this way that our hero
became acquainted with the odd man。
Tom had many adventures on his motor…cycle； and； later on he secured
a motor…boat； in which he beat his enemy； Andy Foger； in a race。 Next
Tom built an airship； and in this he went on a wonderful trip。 Returning
from this he and his father heard about a treasure sunken under the ocean。
In his submarine boat Tom secured the valuables； and made a large sum
for himself。
In his electric runabout； which was the swiftest car on the road； Tom
was able to save from ruin a bank in which his father was interested； and；
a short time after that； he went on a trip in an airship； with a man who had
invented a new kind。 The airship was smashed； and fell to Earthquake
Island； where there were some refugees from a shipwreck； among them
being the parents of Mary Nestor。 In the volume called 〃Tom Swift and
His Wireless Message；〃 I told how he saved these people。
When Tom went among the diamond makers he had more strange
adventures； on that trip discovering the secret of phantom mountain。 He
had bad luck when he went to the caves of ice； for there his airship was
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wrecked。
When Tom made the trip in his sky racer he broke all records for an
aerial flight； incidentally saving his father's life。 It was some time after this
when he invented an electric rifle； and went to elephant land； to rescue
some missionaries from the red pygmies。
The eleventh volume of the series is called 〃Tom Swift in the Land of
Gold；〃 and relates his adventures underground； while the next one tells of
a new machine he inventedan air…glider which he used to save the
exiles of Siberia； incidentally； on that trip； finding a valuable deposit of
platinum。
As I have said； it was on his trip to giant land that Tom got his big
servant。 This book； the thirteenth of the series； is called 〃Tom Swift in
Captivity；〃 for the giants captured him and his friends； and it was only by
means of their airship that they made their daring escape。
Tom had been back from the strange land some time now。 One giant he
had turned over to the circus representative for whom he had undertaken
the mission； and the other he retained to work around his shop； as
Eradicate was getting too old。 It was now winter； and there had been quite
a fall of snow the day before Mr。 Period； the odd moving picture man；
called on Tom。 There were many big drifts outside the building。
Tom had fitted up a well…equipped shop； where he and his father
worked on their inventions。 Occasionally Ned Newton； or Mr。 Damon；
would come over to help them； but of late Tom had been so busy on his
noiseless motor that he had not had time to even see his friends。
〃'Well； I guess the five minutes have passed； and my mind is made
up；〃 thought Tom； as he looked at his watch。 〃I might as well tell Mr。
Period that I can't undertake his commission。 In the first place it isn't going
to be an easy matter to make an electric moving picture camera。 I'd have to
spend a lot of time studying up the subject； and then I might not be able to
get it to work right。
〃And； again； I can't spare the time to go to all sorts of wild and
impossible places to get the pictures。 It's all well enough to talk about
getting moving pictures of natives in battle； or wild beasts fighting； or
volcanoes in action； but it isn't so easy to do it。 Then； too； I'd have to make
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some changes in my airship if I went on that trip。 No； I can't go。 I'll tell
him he'll have to find some one else。〃
Mr。 Period pulled out his watch； opened it quickly； snapped it shut
again； and exclaimed：
〃Well； how about it； Tom Swift？ When can you start！ The sooner the
better for me！ You'll want some money for expenses I think。 I brought my
check book along； also a fountain pen。 I'll give you a thousand dollars now；
for I know making an electric moving picture camera isn't going to be
cheap work。 Then； when you get ready to start off in your airship； you'll
need more money。 I'll be Johnny…on…the…spot all right； and have it ready
for you。 Now when do you think you can start？〃
He sat down at a bench； and began filling out a check。
〃Hold on！〃 cried Tom； amused in spite of himself。 〃Don't sign that
check； Mr。 Period。 I'm not going。〃
〃Not going？〃 The man's face showed blank amazement。
〃No；〃 went on Tom。 〃I can't spare the time。 I'm sorry； but you'll have to
get some one else。〃
〃Some one else？ But who can I get？〃
〃Why； there are plenty who would be glad of the chance。〃
〃But they can't invent an electric moving picture camera； and； if they
could； they wouldn't know enough to take pictures with it。 It's got to be
you or no one； Tom Swift。 Look here； I'll make it fifteen thousand dollars
above expenses。〃
〃No； I'm sorry； but I can't go。 My work here keeps me too busy。
〃Oh； pshaw！ Now； look here； Tom Swift！ Do you know who sent me to
see you？〃
〃It was Mr。 Nestor； who has a daughter named Mary； I believe。 Mr。
Nestor is one of the directors in our company； and one day； when he told
me about you sending a wireless message from Earthquake Island； I knew
you would be the very man for me。 So now you see you'll be doing Mr。
Nestor a favor； as well as me； if you go on this trip。〃
Tom was somewhat surprised； yet he realized that Mr。 Period was
speaking the truth。 Mr。 Nestor was identified with many new enterprises。
Yet the youth was firm。
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〃I really can't go；〃 said our hero。 〃I'd like to； but I can't。 I'd like to
oblige Mr。 Nestor； forwell； for more reasons than one；〃 and Tom blushed
slightly。 〃But it is out of the question。 I really can't go。〃
〃But you must！〃 insisted the camera man。 〃I won't take 'no' for an
answer。 You've got to go； Tom Swift； do you hear that？ You've go to go？〃
Mr。 Period was apparently very much excited。 He strode over to Tom
and smote his hands together to emphasize what he said。 Then he shook
his finger at Tom； to impress the importance of the matter on our hero。
〃You've just got to go！〃 he cried。 〃You're the only one who can help
me； Tom。 Do go！ I'll pay you well； andoh； well； I know you don't need
the money； exactly； butsay； you've got to go！〃
In his earnestness Mr。 Period laid his hand on Tom's arm。 The next
instant something happened。
With a few big strides Koku was beside the picture man。 With great
quickness he grasped Mr。 Period by the coat collar； lifted him off his feet
with one hand； and walked over to a window with him； easily lifting him
above the floor。
With one fling the giant tossed the short； stout gentleman out into a
snow bank； while Tom looked on； too surprised to do anything； even if he
had had the chance。
〃There。 You touch Tom Swift again； and I sit on you and keep you
under snow！〃 cried the giant； while Mr。 Period kicked and squirmed about
in the drift； as Tom made a leap forward to help him out。
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CHAPTER III
TOM MAKES UP HIS MIND
〃Great Scott！〃 yelled the picture man。 〃What in the world happened
to me？ Did I get kicked by that mule Boomerang of Eradicate's； that I've
heard so much about？ Or was it an earthquake； such as I want to get a
picture of？ What happened？〃
He was still floundering about in the deep bank of snow that was just
outside the window。 Fortunately the sash
