tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第4节
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outside the window。 Fortunately the sash had been up； and Koku had
tossed Mr。 Period through the open window。 Otherwise； had there been
glass； the well…meaning； but unreasoning giant would probably have
thrown his victim through that； and he might have been badly cut。 Tom
had the window open for fresh air； as it was rather close in the shop。
〃Why； Koku！〃 exclaimed the young inventor； as he leaned out of the
window； and extended his hand to the moving picture man to help him out
of the drift。 〃What do von mean by that？〃 Have you gone crazy？〃
〃No； but no one shall lay hands on my master！〃 declared the giant half
savagely。 〃I have vowed to always protect you from danger； in return for
what you did for me。 I saw this man lay his hand on you。 In another
moment he might have killed you； had not Koku been here。 There is no
danger when I am by；〃 and he stretched out his huge arms； and looked
ferocious。 〃I have turned over that man； your enemy！〃 he added。
〃Yes； you overturned me all right；〃 admitted Mr。 Period； as he got to
his feet； and crawled in through the window to the shop again。 〃I went
head over heels。 I'm glad it was clean snow； and not a mud bank； Tom。
What in the world is the matter with him？〃
〃I guess he thought you were going to harm me； said Tom in a low
voice； as the picture man came in the shop。 〃Koku is very devoted to me；
and sometimes he makes trouble；〃 the youth went on。 〃But he means it all
for the best。 I am very sorry for what happened；〃 and Tom aided Mr。
Period in brushing the snow off his garments。 〃Koku； you must beg the
pardon of this gentleman；〃 Tom directed。
〃What for？〃 the giant wanted to know。
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〃For throwing him into the snow。 It is not allowed to do such things in
this country； even though it is in Giant Land。 Beg his pardon。
〃I shall not；〃 said the giant calmly； for Tom had taught him to speak
fairly good English； though sometimes he got his words backwards。
〃The man was about to kill you； and I stopped himI will stop him
once more； though if he does not like the snow； I can throw him
somewhere else。〃
〃No！ No！ You must not do it！〃 cried Tom。 〃He meant no harm。 He is
my friend。〃
〃I am glad to hear you say that；〃 exclaimed the picture man。 〃I have
hopes that you will do what I want。〃
〃He your friend？〃 asked Koku wonderingly。 〃Certainly； and you must
beg his pardon for what you did；〃 insisted Tom。
〃Very well。 I am glad you did not hurt yourself；〃 said the giant； and
with that 〃apology〃 he stalked out of the room； his feelings evidently very
much disturbed。
〃Ha！ Ha！〃 laughed Mr。 Period。 〃I guess he can't see any one but you；
Tom。 But never mind。 I know he didn't mean anything； and； as I'm none
the worse I'll forgive him。 My necktie isn't spotted； is it？〃
〃No； the snow didn't seem to do that any harm；〃 replied the young
inventor； as he looked at the brilliant piece of red silk around Mr。 Period's
collar。
〃I am very particular about my neckties；〃 went on the picture man。 〃I
always wear one color。 My friends never forget me then。〃
Tom wondered how they could ever forget him； even though he wore
no tie； for his figure and face were such as to not easily be forgotten。
〃I'm glad it's not soiled；〃 went on 〃Spotty〃 as he liked to be called。
〃Now； Tom； you said you were my friend。 Prove it by accepting my offer。
Build that wizard camera； and get me some moving pictures that will be a
sensation。 Say you will！〃
He looked appealingly at Tom； and； remembering the rather rude and
unexpected treatment to which Koku had submitted the gentleman； Tom
felt his mind changing。 Still he was not yet ready to give in。 He rather
liked the idea the more he thought of it； but he felt that he had other duties；
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and much to occupy him at home； especially if he perfected his silent
motor。
〃Will you go？〃 asked Mr。 Period； picking up his fountain pen and
check book； that he had laid aside when he walked over to Tom； just
before the giant grasped him。 〃Say you will。〃
The young inventor was silent a moment。 He thought over the many
adventures he had gone throughin the caves of ice； in the city of gold；
escaping from the giants； and the red pygmiesHe went over the details of
his trips through the air； of the dangers under the seas； of those he had
escaped from on Earthquake Island。 Surely e was entitled to a little rest at
home。
And yet there was a lure to it all。 A certain fascination that was hard to
resist。 Mr。 Period must have seen what was going on in Tom's mind； for he
said：
〃I know you're going。 I can see it。 Why； it will be just the very thing
you need。 You'll get more fame out of this thing than from any of your
other inventions。 Come； say you'll do it。
〃I'll tell you what I'll do ！〃 he went on eagerly。 〃After you make the
camera； and take a lot of films； showing strange and wonderful scenes； I'll
put at the end of each film； next to my picture； your name； and a statement
showing that you took the originals。 How's that？ Talk about being
advertised！ Why you can't beat it！ Millions of people will read your name
at the picture shows every night。〃
〃I am not looking for advertisements；〃 said Tom； with a laugh。
〃Well； then； think of the benefit you will be to science；〃 went on Mr。
Period quickly。 〃Think of the few people who have seen wild animals as
they are； of those who have ever seen an earth… quake； or a volcano in
action。 You can go to Japan； and get pictures of earthquakes。 They have
them on tap there。 And as for volcanoes； why the Andes mountains are full
of 'em。 Think of how many people will be thankful to you for showing
them these wonderful scenes。〃
〃And think of what might happen if I should take a tumble into a crack
in the earth； or down a hot volcano； or fall into a jungle when there was a
fight on among the elephants；〃 suggested Tom。 〃My airship might take a
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notion to go down when I was doing the photographing；〃 he added。
〃No。 Nothing like that will happen to Tom Swift；〃 was the confident
answer of the picture man。 〃I've read of your doings。 You don't have
accidents that you can't get the better of。 But come； I know you're thinking
of it； and I'm sure you'll go。 Let me make you out this check； sign a
contract which I have all ready； and then get to work on the camera。〃
Tom was silent a moment。 Then he said：
〃Well； I admit that there is something attractive about it。 I hoped I was
going to stay home。 for a long time。 But〃
〃Then you'll go！〃 cried Mr。 Period eagerly。 〃Here's the money；〃 and he
quickly filled out a check for Tom's first expenses； holding the slip of
paper toward the young inventor。
〃Wait a minute！ Hold on！〃 cried Tom。 〃Not so fast if you please。 I
haven't yet made up my mind。〃
〃But you will； won't you？〃 asked Mr。 Period。
〃Well； I'll make up my mind； one way or the other；〃 replied the young
man。 〃I won't say I'll go； but〃
〃I'll tell you what I'll do！〃 interrupted Mr。 Period。 〃I'm a busy man； and
every second is worth money to me。 But I'll wait for you to make up your
mind。 I'll give you until to…morrow night。 How's that？ Fair； isn't it？〃
〃YesI think so。 I am afraid〃
〃I'm not！〃 broke in the picture man。 〃I know you'll decide to go。 Think
of the fun and excitement you'll have。 Now I've taken up a lot of your time；
and I'm going to leave you alone。 I'll be back tomorrow evening for my
answer。 But I know you're going to get those moving pictures for me。 Is
that giant of yours anywhere about？〃 he asked； as he looked cautiously
around before leaving the shop。 〃I don't want to fall into his hands again。〃
〃I don't blame you；〃 agreed Tom。 〃I never knew him to act that way
before。 But I
