tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第7节
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
he jerked his hand back。
The next instant there was a series of happenings。 Tom's elbow came
in contact with another jar of acid； knocking it over； and spilling it into the
retort where he had been mixing the first two liquids。 There was a hissing
sound； as the acids combined； and a thick； white vapor arose； puffing into
Tom's face； and making him gasp。
He staggered back； brushed against the heavy iron shaft in the corner；
and it fell sideways against him； knocking him to the floor； and dropping
across his thighs。 The padding on it saved him from broken bones； but the
shaft was so heavy； that after it was on him； Tom could not move。 He was
held fast on the floor of his shop； unable to use his legs； and prevented
from getting up。
For a moment Tom was stunned； and then he called：
〃Help！ Help！ Eradicate！ Koku！ Help！〃
He waited a moment； but there was only a silence。
And then Tom smelled a strange odoran odor of a choking gas that
seemed to smother him。
〃It's the acids！〃 he cried。 〃They're generating gas！ And I'm held fast
here！ The place is closed up tight； and I can't move！ Help！ Help！〃
But there was no one at hand to aid Tom； and every moment the fumes
of the gas became stronger。 Desperately the youth struggled to rid himself
of the weight of the shaft； but he could not。 And then he felt his senses
leaving him； for the powerful gas was making him unconscious。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
CHAPTER V
TOM GETS A WARNING
〃Bless my shoe buttons！〃 exclaimed a voice； as a man came toward
Tom's shop； a little later。 〃Bless my very necktie！ This is odd。 I go to the
house； and find no one there。 I come out here； and not a soul is about。 Tom
Swift can't have gone off on another one of his wonderful trips； without
sending me word。 I know he wouldn't do that。 And yet； bless my watch
and chain； I can't find any one！〃
It was Mr。 Damon who spoke； as my old readers have already guessed。
He peered into one of the shop windows； and saw something like a fog
filling the place。 〃That's strange；〃 he went on。 〃I don't see Tom there； and
yet it looks as if an experiment was going on。 I wonder〃
Mr。 Damon heard some one coming up behind him； and turned to see
Koku the giant； who was returning 。 from the errand on which Tom had
sent him。
〃Oh； Koku； it's you； is it？〃 the odd man asked。 〃Bless my cuff buttons！
Where is Tom？〃
〃In shop I guess。〃
〃I don't see him。 Still I had better look。 There doesn't seem to be any
one about。〃
Mr。 Damon opened the shop door； and was met by such an outward
rush of choking gas that he staggered back。
〃Bless my〃 he began but he had to stop； to cough and gasp。 〃There
must have been some sort of an accident；〃 he cried； as he got his lungs full
of fresh air。 〃A bad accident！ Tom could never work in that atmosphere。
Whew！〃
〃Accident！ What is matter？〃 cried Koku stepping to the doorway。 He；
too choked and gasped； but his was such a strong and rugged nature； and
his lungs held such a supply of air； that it took more than mere gas to
knock him out。 He peered in through the wreaths of the acid vapor； and
saw the body of his master； lying on the floorheld down by the heavy
iron。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
In another instant Koku had rushed in； holding his breath； for； now that
he was inside the place； the gas made even him feel weak。
〃Come back！ Come back！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 'You'll be smothered！
Wait until the gas escapes！〃
〃Then Mr。 Tom die！〃 cried the giant。 〃I get himor I no come out。〃
With one heave of his powerful right arm； Koku lifted the heavy shaft
from Tom's legs。 Then； gathering the lad up in his left arm； as if he were a
baby； Koku staggered out into the fresh air； almost falling with his burden；
as he neared Mr。 Damon； for the giant was； well…nigh overcome。
〃Bless my soul！〃 cried the odd man。 〃Is heis he〃
He did not finish the sentence； but； as Koku laid Tom down on the
overcoat of Mr。 Damon； which the latter quickly spread on the snow； the
eccentric man put his hand over the heart of the young inventor。
〃It beats！〃 he murmured。 〃He's alive； but very weak。 We must get a
doctor at once。 I'll do what I can。 There's no time to spare。 Bless my〃
But Mr。 Damon concluded that there was no time for blessing anything；
and so he stopped short。
〃Carry him up to the house； Koku；〃 he said。 〃I know where there are
some medicines； and I'll try to revive him while we're waiting for the
doctor Hurry！〃
Tom was laid on a lounge； and； just then； Mrs。 Baggert came in。
〃Telephone for the doctor！〃 cried Mr。 Damon to the housekeeper； who
kept her nerve； and did not get excited。 〃I'll give Tom some ammonia； and
other stimulants； and see if I can bring him around。 Koku； get me some
cold water。〃
The telephone was soon carrying the message to the doctor； who
promised to come at once。 Koku； in spite of his size； was quick； and soon
brought the water； into which Mr。 Damon put some strong medicine； that
he found in a closet。 Tom's eyelids fluttered as the others forced some
liquid between his lips。
〃He's coming around！〃 cried the eccentric man。 〃I guess he'll be all
right； Koku。〃
〃Koku glad；〃 said the giant simply； for he loved Tom with a deep
devotion。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
〃Yes； Koku； if it hadn't been for you； though； I don't believe that he
would be alive。 That was powerful gas； and a few seconds more in there
might have meant the end of Tom。 I didn't see him lying on the floor； until
after you rushed in。 Bless my thermometer！ It is very strange。〃
They gave Tom more medicine； rubbed his arms and legs； and held
ammonia under his nose。 Slowly he opened his eyes； and in a faint voice
asked：
〃WhereamI？〃
〃In your own house；〃 replied Mr。 Damon； cheerfully。 〃How do you
feel？〃
〃I'mallrightnow；〃 said Tom slowly。 He； felt his strength coming
gradually back； and he remembered what had happened； though he did not
yet know how he had been saved。 The doctor came in at this moment； with
a small medical battery； which completed the restorative work begun by
the others。 Soon Tom could sit up； though he was still weak and rather
sick。
〃Who brought me out？〃 he asked； when he had briefly told how the
accident occurred。
〃Koku did；〃 replied Mr。 Damon。 〃I guess none of the rest of us could
have lifted the iron shaft from your legs。〃
〃It's queer how that fell；〃 said Tom； with a puzzled look on his face。 〃I
didn't hit it hard enough to bring it down。 Beside； I had it tied to nails；
driven into the wall； to prevent just such an accident as this。 I must see
about it when I get well。〃
〃Not for a couple of days；〃 exclaimed the doctor grimly。 〃You've got to
stay in bed a while yet。 You had a narrow escape； Tom Swift。〃
〃Well； I'm glad I went to Giant Land；〃 said the young inventor； with a
wan smile。 〃Otherwise I'd never have Koku；〃 and he looked affectionately
at the big man； who laughed happily。 In nature Koku was much like a
child。
Mr。 Swift came home a little later； and Ned Newton called； both being
very much surprised to hear of the accident。 As for Eradicate； the poor old
colored man was much affected； and would have sat beside Tom's bed all
night； had they allowed him。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
Our hero recovered rapidly； once the fumes of the gas left his system；
and； two days later； he was able to go out to the shop again。 At his request
everything had been left just as it was after he had been brought out。 Of
course the fumes of the gas were soon dissipated； when the door was
opened； and the acids； after mingling and giving off the vapor； had become
neutralized； so that they were now harmless。
〃Now I'm g
