& his big tunnel(汤姆·史威夫特和他的大遂道)-第6节
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business。 I must see some samples of this rock in order to know what kind
of explosive force is needed to rend it。〃
〃I have some in New York；〃 went on the contractor。 〃I'll have it sent to
you at once。 I would have brought it； only it is too heavy to carry easily；
and I was not sure I could engage you。〃
〃Did that fellowWaddington； I believe you called him get away
from you？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃Clean away；〃 the contractor answered。
〃He was a better runner than I。〃
〃It doesn't matter much；〃 Tom said。 〃He didn't hear anything that
would benefit him； and I'll give my men orders to be on the lookout for
him。 What sort of fellow is he； Mr。 Titus？〃
The contractor described the eavesdropper； and Mr。 Damon exclaimed：
〃Bless my turkey wish…bone！ I'm sure I passed that chap when I was
riding over to see you a while ago； Tom。〃
〃You did？〃
〃Yes； on the highway。 He inquired the way to your place。 But there
was nothing strange in that； since you employ a number of men； and I
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thought this one was coming to look for work。 I can't say I liked his
appearance； though。〃
〃No； he isn't a very prepossessing individual；〃 commented Mr。 Titus。
〃Well； now what's the first thing to be done； Tom Swift？〃
〃Get me some samples of the rock； so I can begin my experiments。〃
〃I'll do that。 And now let us consider about going to Peru。 For I'm sure
you will be successful in your experiments； and will find for us just the
powder or explosive we need。〃
〃We can go together。〃 said Mr。 Damon。 〃I shall certainly feel more at
home in that wild country if I know Tom Swift is with me； and I will
appreciate the help of you and your friends； Mr。 Titus； in straightening out
the tangles of our drug business。〃
〃I'll do all I can for you； Mr。 Damon。〃
The three then talked at some length regarding possible plans。 Tom
sent out word to one of his men to keep a sharp watch around the house
and grounds； against the possible return of Waddington； but nothing more
was seen of him； at least for the time being。
Mr。 Titus drew up a sort of tentative agreement with Tom； binding his
firm to pay a large sum in case the young inventor was successful； and
then the contractor left； promising to have the rock samples come on later
by express。
Mr。 Damon； after blessing a few dozen more or less impersonal objects；
took his departure； his fractious horse having quieted down in the
meanwhile； and Tom was left to himself。
〃I wonder what I've let myself in for now；〃 the youth mused； as he
went back to his laboratory。 〃It's a new field for metunnel blasting。 Well；
perhaps something may come of it。〃
But of the strange adventure that was to follow his agreement to help
Mr。 Titus； our hero； Tom Swift； had not the least inkling。
Tom went back to his labors over the gyroscope problem； but he could
arrive at no satisfactory conclusion； and； tossing aside the papers； covered
with intricate figures； he exclaimed：
〃Oh； I'm going for a walk！ This thing is getting on my nerves。〃
He strolled through the Shopton streets； and as he reached the outskirts
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of the town； he saw just ahead of him the figure of a girl。 Tom quickened
his pace； and presently was beside her。
〃Where are you going； Mary？〃 he asked。
〃Oh； Tom！ How you startled me！〃 she exclaimed； turning around。 〃I
was just thinking of you。〃
〃Thanks！ Something nice？〃
〃I shan't tell you！〃 and she blushed。 〃But where are you going？〃
〃Walking with you！〃
Tom was nothing if not bold。
〃Hadn't you better wait until you're asked？〃 she retorted；
mischievously。
〃If I did I might not get an invitation。 So I'm going to invite myself；
and then I'm going to invite you in here to have an ice cream soda；〃 and he
and Miss Nestor were soon seated at a table in a candy shop。
Tom had nearly finished his ice cream when he glanced toward the
door； and started at the sight of a man who was entering the place。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked Mary。 〃Did you drop some ice cream；
Tom？〃
〃No； Mary。 But that man〃
Mary turned in time to see an excited man hurry out of the candy shop
after a hasty glance at Tom Swift。
〃Who was he？〃 the girl asked。
〃Ieroh； some one I thought I knew； but I guess I don't；〃 said Tom；
quickly。 〃Have some more cream； Mary？〃
〃No； thank you。 Not now。〃
Tom was glad she did not care for any； as he was anxious to get
outside； and have a look at the man； for he thought he had recognized the
face as the same that had peered in his window。 But when he and Miss
Nestor reached the front of the shop the strange man was not in sight。
〃I guess he came in to cool off after his run；〃 mused Tom； 〃but when
he saw me he didn't care about it。 I wonder if that was Waddington？ He's a
persistent individual if it was he。〃
〃Are you undertaking any new adventures； Tom？〃 asked Mary。
〃Well； I'm thinking of going to Peru。〃
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〃Peru！〃 she cried。 〃Oh； what a long way to go！ And when you get there
will you write to me？ I'm collecting stamps； and I haven't any from Peru。〃
〃Is thaterthe only reason you want me to write？〃 asked Tom。
〃No；〃 said Mary softly； as she ran up the walk。
Tom smiled as he turned away。
Three days later he received a box from New York。 It contained the
samples from the Andes tunnel； and Tom at once began his experiments to
discover a suitable explosive for rending the hard stone。
〃It is compressed molten lava；〃 said Mr。 Swift。 〃You'll never get an
explosive that will successfully blast that； Tom。〃
〃We'll see；〃 declared the young inventor。
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CHAPTER V
Mary's Present
Outside a rudely…constructed shack； in the middle of a large field；
about a mile away from the nearest of the buildings owned by Tom Swift
and his father； were gathered a group of figures one morning。 From the
shack； trailing over the ground； were two insulated wires； which led to a
pile of rocks and earth some distance off。 Out of the temporary building
came Koku； the giant； bearing in his arms a big rock； of peculiar
formation。
〃That's it； Koku！〃 exclaimed Tom Swift。 〃Now don't drop it on your
toes。〃
〃No； Master； me no drop；〃 the giant said； as he strode off with the
heavy load as easily as a boy might carry a stone for his sling…shot。
Koku placed the big rock on top of the pile of dirt and stones and came
back to the hut； just as Eradicate； the colored man…of…all…work； emerged。
Koku was not looking ahead； and ran into Eradicate with such force that
the latter would have fallen had not the giant clasped his big arms about
him。
〃Heah now！ Whut yo' all doin' t' me？〃 angrily demanded Eradicate。
〃Yo' done gone an' knocked de breff outen me； dat's whut yo' all done！ I'll
bash yo' wif a rock； dat's what I'll do！〃
Koku； laughing； tried to explain that it was all an accident； but
Eradicate would not listen。 He looked about for a stone to throw at the
giant； though it was doubtful； with his feeble strength； and considering the
great frame of the big man； if any damage would have been done。 But
Eradicate saw no rocks nearer than the pile in which ended the two
insulated wires； and； with mutterings； the negro set off in that direction；
shuffling along on his rheumatic legs。
From the shack Tom Swift hailed：
〃Hi there； Rad！ Come back！ Where are you going？〃
〃I'se gwine t' git a rock； Massa Tom； an' bash de haid ob dat big
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