& his big tunnel(汤姆·史威夫特和他的大遂道)-第1节
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
TOM SWIFT AND HIS
BIG TUNNEL
（or The Hidden City of the Andes）
Victor Appleton
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
CHAPTER I
An Appeal for Aid
Tom Swift； seated in his laboratory engaged in trying to solve a
puzzling question that had arisen over one of his inventions； was startled
by a loud knock on the door。 So emphatic； in fact； was the summons that
the door trembled； and Tom started to his feet in some alarm。
〃Hello there！〃 he cried。 〃Don't break the door； Koku！〃 and then he
laughed。 〃No one but my giant would knock like that；〃 he said to himself。
〃He never does seem able to do things gently。 But I wonder why he is
knocking。 I told him to get the engine out of the airship； and Eradicate said
he'd be around to answer the telephone and bell。 I wonder if anything has
happened？
Tom shoved back his chair； pushed aside the mass of papers over
which he had been puzzling； and strode to the door。 Flinging it open he
confronted a veritable giant of a man； nearly eight feet tall； and big in
proportion。 The giant； Koku； for that was his name； smiled in a good…
natured way； reminding one of an overgrown boy。
〃Master hear my knock？〃 the giant asked cheerfully。
〃Hear you； Koku？ Say； I couldn't hear anything else！〃 exclaimed Tom。
〃Did you think you had to arouse the whole neighborhood just to let me
know you were at the door？ Jove！ I thought you'd have it off the hinges。〃
〃If me break； me fix；〃 said Koku； who； from his appearance and from
his imperfect command of English； was evidently a foreigner。
〃Yes； I know you can fix lots of things； Koku；〃 Tom went on； kindly
enough。 〃But you musn't forget what enormous strength you have。 That's
the reason I sent you to take the engine out of the airship。 You can lift it
without using the chain hoist； and I can't get the chain hoist fast unless I
remove all the superstructure。 I don't want to do that。 Did you get the
engine out？〃
〃Not quite。 Almost； Master。〃
〃Then why are you here？ Has anything gone wrong？〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
〃No； everything all right； Master。 But man come to machine shop
and say he must have talk with you。 I no let him come past the gate； but I
say I come and call you。〃
〃That's right； Koku。 Don't let any strangers past the gate。 But why
didn't Eradicate come and call me。 He isn't doing anything； is he？ Unless；
indeed； he has gone to feed his mule； Boomerang。〃
〃Eradicate； he come to call you； but that black man no good！〃 and
Koku chuckled so heartily that he shook the floor of the office。
〃What's the matter with Eradicate？〃 asked Tom； somewhat anxiously。
〃I hope you and he haven't had another row？〃 Eradicate had served Tom
and his father long before Koku； the giant； had been brought back from
one of the young inventor's many strange trips； and ever since then there
had been a jealous rivalry between the twain as to who should best serve
Tom。
〃No trouble； Master；〃 said Koku。 〃Eradicate he start to come and tell
you strange man want to have talk； but Eradicate he no come fast enough。
So I pick him up； and I set him down by gate to stand on guard； and I
come to tell you。 Koku come quick！〃
〃Oh； I knew it must be something like that！〃 exclaimed Tom in some
vexation。 〃Now I'll have Eradicate complaining to me that you mauled
him。 Picked him up and set him down again；
〃Sure。 One hand！〃 boasted the giant。 〃Eradicate him not be heavy。
More as a sack of flour now。〃
〃No； poor Eradicate is getting pretty old and thin；〃 commented Tom。
〃He can't move very quickly。 But you should have let him come； Koku。 It
makes him feel badly when he thinks he can't be of service to me any
more。
〃Man say he in hurry。〃 The giant spoke softly； as though he felt the
gentle rebuke Tom administered。 〃Koku run quick tell youbang on door。〃
〃Yes； you banged all right； Koku。 Well； it can't be helped； I reckon。
Where is this strange man？ Who is he？ Did you ever see him before？〃
〃Me no can tell； Master。 Not sure。 But him now be at the outer gate。
Eradicate watch。〃
〃All right。 I'll go and see who it is。 I don't want any strangers poking
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
around here； especially With the plans of my new gyroscope lying in plain
view。〃
Before he left the laboratory Tom swept into a desk drawer the mass of
papers and blue prints； and locked the receptacle。
〃No use taking any chances；〃 he remarked。 〃I've had too much trouble
with people trying to get inside information about dad's and my patents。
Now； Koku； I'll go and see this man。〃
The buildings composing the plant of Tom Swift and his father at
Shopton were enclosed by a high； board fence； and at one of the entrances
was a sort of gate…house； where some one was always on guard。 Only
those who could give a good account of themselves； workmen in the plant；
or those known to the sentinel were admitted。
It happened that the colored man； Eradicate； was on guard at the gates
this day when the stranger asked to see Tom。 Koku； working on the airship
engine not far away； saw the stranger。 Hearing the man say he was in a
hurry and noting the slow progress of the aged Eradicate； who was
troubled with rheumatism； the giant took matters into his own hands。
Tom Swift entered the gate…house and saw； seated in a chair； a man
who was impatiently tapping the floor with his thick…soled shoe。
〃Looks like a detective or a policeman in disguise；〃 thought Tom； for；
almost invariably； members of this profession wear very thick…soled shoes。
Opposite the stranger sat Eradicate； a much…injured look on his honest；
black face。
〃Oh； Massa Tom！〃 exclaimed Eradicate； as soon as the young inventor
entered。 〃Dat Koku hehehe done gone and cotch me by de collar ob
mah coat； an' den he lif' me up； an' he sot me down so hardso harddat
he jar loose all mah back teef！〃 and Eradicate opened his mouth wide to
display his gleaming ivories。
〃Eradicate； he no can come quick。 He walk like so fashion！〃 and Koku；
who had followed the young inventor； imitated the limping gait of the
colored man with such a queer effect that Tom could not help laughing；
and the stranger smiled。
〃Ef I gits holt on yo'ef I does； yo' great； big； overgrown lummox；
Ah'llAh'll〃 began the colored man； stammeringly。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
〃There。 That will do now！〃 interrupted Tom。 〃Don't quarrel in here。
Koku； get back to that engine and lift out the motor。 Eradicate； didn't
father tell you to whitewash the chicken coops to…day？〃
〃Dat's what he done； Massa Tom。
〃Well； go and see about that。 I'll stay here for a while； and when I
leave I'll call one of you； or some one else； to be on guard。 Skip now！〃
Having thus disposed of the warring factions； Tom turned to the
stranger and after apologizing for the little interruption； asked：
〃You wished to see me？〃
〃If you're Tom Swift； yes。〃
〃Well； I'm Tom Swift；〃 and the young owner of the name smiled。
〃I hope you will pardon a stranger for calling on you；〃 resumed the
man； 〃but I'm in a lot of trouble； and I think you are the only one who can
help me out。〃
〃What sort of trouble？〃 Tom inquired。
〃Contracting troubletunnel blasting； to be exact。 But if you have a
few minutes to spare perhaps you will listen to my story。 You will then be
better able to understand my difficulty。〃
Tom Swift considered a moment。 He was used to having appeals for
help made to him； and usually they were of a begging nature。 He was often
