& his big tunnel(汤姆·史威夫特和他的大遂道)-第24节
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watching with their eager eyes for their offal food。
As Tom and Koku made their way along the mountain trail they came
unexpectedly upon an Indian workman who was gathering herbs and bark；
an industry by which many of the natives added to their scanty livelihood。
The woman was familiar with the appearance of the white men； and
nodded in friendly fashion。
Tom passed on； thinking of many things； when he was suddenly
startled by a scream from the woman。 It was a scream of such terror and
agony that； for the moment； Tom was stunned into inactivity。 Then； as he
turned； he saw a great condor sweeping down out of the air； the wind
fairly whistling through the big； outstretched wings。
〃Jove！〃 ejaculated Tom。 〃Can the bird be going to attack the woman？〃
But this was not the object of the condor。 It was aiming to strike； with
its fierce talons； at a point some paces distant from where the woman
stood； and in the intervals between her screams Tom heard her cry； in her
native tongue：
〃My baby！ My baby！ The beast…bird will carry off my baby！〃
Then Tom understood。 The woman herb…gatherer had brought her
infant with her on her quest； and had laid it down on a bed of soft grass
while she worked。 And it was this infant； wrapped as Tom afterward saw
in a piece of deer…skin； at which the condor was aiming。
〃Master shoot！〃 cried Koku； pointing to the down…sweeping bird。
〃You bet I'll shoot！〃 cried Tom。
Throwing his electric rifle to his shoulder； Tom pressed the switch
trigger。 The unseen but powerful force shot straight at the condor。
The outstretched wings fell limp； the great body seemed to shrivel up；
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and； with a crash； the bird fell into the underbrush； breaking the twigs and
branches with its weight。 The electric rifle； a full account of which was
given in the volume entitled 〃Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle；〃 had done
its work well。
With a scream； in which was mingled a cry of thanks； the woman
threw himself on the sleeping child。 The condor bad fallen dead not three
paces from it。
Tom Swift had shot just in time。
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CHAPTER XVIII
The Indian Strike
Snatching up in her arms the now awakened child； the woman gazed
for a moment into its face； which she covered with kisses。 Then the herb…
gatherer looked over to the dead； limp body of the great condor； and from
thence to Tom。
In another moment the woman had rushed forward； and knelt at the
feet of the young inventor。 Holding the baby in one arm； in her other hand
the woman seized Toms and kissed it fervently； at the same time pouring
forth a torrent of impassioned language； of which Tom could only make
out a word now and then。 But he gathered that the woman was thanking
him for having saved the child。
〃Oh； that's all right；〃 Tom said； rather embarrassed by the hand…kissing。
〃It was an easy shot。〃
An Indian came bursting through the bushes； evidently the woman's
husband by the manner in which she greeted him； and Tom recognized the
newcomer as one of the tunnel workers。 There was some quick
conversation between the husband and wife； in which the latter made all
sorts of motions； including in their scope Tom； his rifle； the dead condor
and the now smiling baby。
The man took off his hat and approached Tom； genuflecting as he
might have done in church。
〃She say you save baby from condor；〃 the man said in his halting
English。 〃She t'ank youme； I t'ank you。 Bird see babe in deer skint'ink
um dead animal。 Maybe so bird carry baby off； drop um on sharp stone；
baby smile no more。 You have our lives； senor！ We do anyt'ing we can for
you。〃
〃Thanks；〃 said Tom； easily。 〃I'm glad I happened to be around。 I
supposed condors only went for things dead； but I reckon； as you say； it
mistook the baby in the deer skin for a dead animal。 And I guess it might
have carried your little one off； or at least lifted it up； and then it might
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
have dropped it far enough to have killed it。 It sure is a big bird；〃 and Tom
strolled over to look at what he had bagged。
The condor of the Andes is the largest bird of prey in existence。 One in
the Bronx Zoo； in New York； with his wings spread out； measured a little
short of ten feet from tip to tip。 Measure ten feet out on the ground and
then imagine a bird with that wing stretch。
This same condor in the park was made angry by a boy throwing a
feather boa up into the air outside the cage。 The condor raised himself
from the ground； and hurled himself against the heavy wire netting so that
the whole； big cage shook。 And the breeze caused by the flapping wings
blew off the hats of several spectators。 So powerful was the air force from
the condor's wings that it reminded one of the current caused when
standing behind the propellers of an aeroplane in motion。 The condor
rarely attacks living persons or animals； though it has been known to carry
off big sheep when driven by hunger。
It was one of these animals Tom Swift had shot with his electric rifle。
〃We do anyt'ing you want；〃 the man gratefully repeated。
〃Well； I've got about all I want；〃 Tom said。 〃But if you could tell me
where those ten missing men are； and how they got out of the tunnel； I'd
be obliged to you。〃
The woman did not seem to comprehend Tom's talk； but the man did。
He started； and fear seemed to come over him。
〃MeII can not tell；〃 he murmured。
〃No； I don't suppose you can；〃 said Tom； musingly。 〃Well；〃 it doesn't
matter； I guess I'll have to cross it off my books。 I'll never find out。〃
Again the Indian and his wife expressed their gratitude； and Tom； after
letting the little brown baby cling to his finger； and patting its chubby
cheek； went on his way with Koku。
〃Well； that was some excitement；〃 mused Tom； who made little of the
shot itself； for the condor was such a mark that he would have had to aim
very badly indeed to miss it。 And perhaps only the electric rifle could have
killed quickly enough to prevent the baby's being injured in some way by
the big bird； even though it was dying。
〃Master heap good shot！〃 exclaimed Koku； admiringly。
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The tunnel work went on； though not so well as when Tom's explosive
was first used。 The rock was indeed getting harder and was not so easily
shattered。 Tom made tests of the pieces he had obtained from the
outcropping ledge on the mountain where he had shot the condor； and
decided to make a change in the powder。
Shipments were regularly received from Shop ton； Mr。 Swift keeping
things in progress there。 Mr。 Damon's business was going on satisfactorily；
and he lent what aid he could to Tom。 As for Professor Bumper he kept on
with his search for the lost city of Pelone； but with no success。
The scientist wanted Tom and Mr。 Damon to go on another trip with
him； this time to a distant sierra； or fertile valley； where it was reported a
race of Indians lived； different from others in that region。
〃It may be that they are descendants from the Pelonians；〃 suggested
the professor。 Tom was too busy to go； but Mr。 Damon went。 The
expedition had all sorts of trouble； losing its way and getting into a swamp
from which escape was not easy。 Then； too； the strange Indians proved
hostile； and the professor and his party could not get nearer than the
boundaries of the valley。
〃But the difficulties and the hostile attitude of these natives only
makes me surer that I am on the right track；〃 said Mr。 Bumper。 〃I shall try
again。〃
Tom was busy over a problem in explosives one day when he saw Tim
Sullivan hurrying into the office of the two brothers。 The Irishman seemed
