tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第30节
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〃While I stop the camera； Mr。 Damon； I think you and Mr。 Nestor might
put the airship down to the ground。 I want some views on the level。〃
〃What！ Go down to earth with this awful volcano spouting fire？〃 cried
Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my comb and brush！〃
〃We can get well down the side of the mountain；〃 said Tom。 〃I won't
go into any danger； much less ask any one else to do so； and I certainly
don't want my ship damaged。 We can land down there；〃 he said； pointing
to a spot on the side of the volcanic mountain； that was some distance
removed from the mouth of the crater。 It won't take me long to get one reel
of views； and then I'll come up again。〃
The two men finally gave in to Tom's argument； that there was
comparatively little danger； for they admitted that they could quickly rise
up at the first sign of danger； and accordingly the Flyer descended。 Tom
quickly had a fresh reel of film inserted； and started his camera to working；
standing it on a tripod some distance from the airship。
Once more the volcano was 〃doing its prettiest；〃 as Tom expressed it。
He glanced around； as another big explosion took place； to see if any other
picture men were on hand； but the terrible mountain seemed deserted；
though of course someone might be on the other side。
〃What's that？〃 suddenly cried Ned； looking apprehensively at his
chum。 At the same time Tom jumped to his feet； for he had been kneeling
near the camera。
〃Bless my〃 began Mr。 Damon； but he got no farther； for suddenly the
solid ground began to tremble and shake。
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〃An earthquake！〃 shouted Mr。 Nestor。 〃Come； Tom！ Get back to the
ship！〃 The young inventor and Ned had been the only ones to leave it； as it
rested on a spur of the mountain。
As Tom and Ned leaped forward to save the camera which was
toppling to one side； there came a great fissure in the side of the volcano；
and a stream of molten rock； glowing white with heat； gushed out。 It was a
veritable river of melted stone； and it was coming straight for the two lads。
〃Run！ Run！〃 cried Mr。 Nestor。 〃We have everything ready for a quick
flight。 〃Run； Tom！ Ned！〃
The lads leaped for the Flyer； the molten rock coming nearer and
nearer； and then with a cry Koku sprang overboard and made a dash
toward his master。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
CHAPTER XXV
THE EARTHQUAKECONCLUSION
〃Here； Mr。 Tom。 Me carry you an' Ned。 You hold picture machine！〃
cried the giant。 〃Me run faster。〃
As he spoke he lifted Ned up under one arm； and caught Tom in the
other。 For they were but as children to his immense strength。 Tom held on
to his camera； and； thus laden down； Koku ran as he had never run before；
toward the waiting airship。
〃Come on！ Come on！〃 shouted Mr。 Damon； for he could see what Tom；
Ned and Koku could not； that the stream of lava was nearing them rapidly。
〃It's hot！〃 cried Ned； as a wave of warm air fanned his cheek。
〃I should say so！〃 cried Tom。 〃The volcano is full of red…hot melted
stone。〃
There came a sickening shake of the earth。 Koku staggered as he ran
on； but he kept his feet； and did not fall。 Again came a tremendous
explosion； and a shower of fine ashes sifted over the airship； and on Koku
and his living burdens。
〃This is the worst ever！〃 gasped Tom。 〃But I've got some dandy
pictures； if we ever get away from here alive to develop them。〃
〃Hurry； Koku！ Hurry！〃 begged Mr。 Nestor。 〃Bless my shoe laces！〃
yelled Mr。 Damon； who was fairly jumping up and down on the deck of
the Flyer。 〃I'll never go near a volcano again！〃
Once more the ground shook and trembled； as the earthquake rent it。
Several cracks appeared in Koku's path； but he leaped over them with
tremendous energy。 A moment later he had thrust Tom and Ned over the
rail； to the deck； and leaped aboard himself。
〃Let her go！〃 cried Tom。 〃I'll do the rest of my moving picture work；
around volcanoes and earthquakes； from up in the air！〃
The Flyer shot upward； and scarcely a moment too soon； for； an instant
after she left the ground； the stream of hot； burning and bubbling lava
rolled beneath her； and those on board could feel the heat of it ascending。
〃Say； I'm glad we got out of that when we did；〃 gasped Ned； as he
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looked down。 〃You're all right； Koku。〃
〃That no trouble；〃 replied the giant with a cheerful grin。 〃Me carry
four fellows like you；〃 and he stretched out his big arms。 Tom had at once
set his camera to working again； taking view after view。
It was a terrifying but magnificent sight that our friends beheld； for the
earth was trembling and heaving。 Great fissures opened in many places。
Into some of them streams of lava poured； for now the volcano had opened
in several places； and from each crack the melted rocks belched out。 The
crater； however； was not sending into the air such volumes of smoke and
ashes as before； as most of the tremendous energy had passed； or was
being used to spout out the lava。
The earthquake was confined to the region right about the volcano； or
there might have been a great loss of life in the city。 As it was； the damage
done was comparatively slight。
Tom continued to take views； some showing the earth as it was twisted
and torn； and other different aspects of the crater。 Then； as suddenly as the
earthquake had begun； it subsided； and the volcano was less active。
〃My！ I'm glad to see that！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon。 〃I've had about
enough of horrors！〃
〃And I have too；〃 added Tom。 〃I'm on my last roll of film； and I can't
take many more pictures。 But I guess I have all Mr。 Period needs； and we'll
start for home； as soon as I finish the next roll。 But I'm going to save that
for a night view。 That will he a novelty。〃
The volcano became active again after dark； and presented a
magnificent though terrifying aspect。 As the airship hovered above it； Tom
got some of his best pictures； and then； as the last bit of film slipped along
back of the lens； the airship was headed north。
〃Now for Shopton！〃 cried Tom。 〃Our trip is ended。〃
〃It's too had you didn't have more film；〃 said Ned。 〃I thought you had
plenty。〃
〃Well； I used more than I counted on； but there are enough pictures as
it is。〃
〃Plenty；〃 agreed Mr。 Nestor。 〃I'm sure our company will be very well
satisfied with them； Tom。 We can't get home any too soon to suit me。 I've
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had enough excitement。〃
〃And we didn't see anything of those other fellows whom we heard
about；〃 spoke Mr。 Damon； as the big airship flew on。
〃No；〃 said Tom。 〃But I'm not worrying about them。〃
They made another stop in Lima； on their homeward trip； to renew
their supply of gasolene； and there learned that the rival picture men had
arrived at the volcano too late to see it in operation。 This news came to a
relative of one of the two men who lived in Lima。
〃Then our views of the earthquake and the smoking mountain will be
the only ones； and your company can control the rights；〃 said Tom to Mr。
Nestor； who agreed with him。
In due time； and without anything out of the ordinary happening the
Flyer reached Shopton； where Tom found a warm welcome awaiting him；
not only from his father； but from a certain young lady； whose name I do
not need to mention。
〃And so you got everything you went after； didn't you； Tom；〃
exclaimed Mr。 Period； a few days later； when he had come from New York
to get the remainder of the films。
〃Yes； and some things I didn't expect；〃 replied Tom。 〃There was〃
〃Yes！ Yes！ I know！〃 interrupted the odd picture man。 〃It was that
jungle fire。 That's a magnificent series。 None better。 And those scoundrels
took your camera； eh？〃
〃Yes。 Could you connect them with Turbot and Eckert？〃 asked Tom。
〃No
