& his big tunnel(汤姆·史威夫特和他的大遂道)-第2节
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help made to him； and usually they were of a begging nature。 He was often
asked for money to help some struggling inventor complete his machine。
In many cases the machines would have been of absolutely no use if
perfected。 In other cases the inventions were of the utterly hopeless class；
incapable of perfection； like some perpetual motion apparatus。 In these
cases Tom turned a deaf ear； though if the inventor were in want our hero
relieved him。
But this case did not seem to be like anything Tom had ever met with
before。
〃Contracting troubleblasting；〃 repeated the youth； as he mused over
what he had heard。
〃That's it；〃 the man went on。 〃Permit me to introduce myself〃 and he
held out a card； on which was the name
MR。 JOB TITUS
Down in the lower left…hand corner was a line：
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〃Titus Brothers； Contractors。〃
〃I am glad to meet you； 〃Mr。 Titus；〃 Tom said warmly； offering his
hand。 〃I don't know anything about the contracting business； but if you do
blasting I suppose you use explosives； and I know a little about them。〃
〃So I have heard； and that's why I came to you；〃 the contractor went
on。 〃Now if you'll give me a few minutes of your time〃
〃You had better come up to the house；〃 interrupted Tom。 〃We can talk
more quietly there。〃
Calling a young fellow who was at work near by to occupy the gate…
house； Tom led Mr。 Titus toward the Swift homestead； and； a little later；
ushered him into the library。
〃Now I'll listen to you；〃 the youth said； 〃though I can't promise to aid
you。〃
〃I realize that；〃 returned Mr。 Titus。 〃This is a sort of last chance I'm
taking。 My brother and I have heard a lot about you； and when he wrote to
me that he was unable to proceed with his contract of tunneling the Andes
Mountains for the Peruvian government； I made up my mind you were the
one who could help us if you would。〃
〃Tunneling the Andes Mountains！〃 exclaimed Tom。
〃Yes。 The firm represented by my brother and myself have a contract
to build a railroad for the Peruvian government。 At a point some distance
back in the district east of Lima； Peru； we are making a tunnel under the
mountain。 That is； we have it started； but now we can't advance any
further。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because of the peculiar character of the rock； which seems to defy the
strongest explosive we can get。 Now I understand you used a powder in
your giant cannon that〃
Mr。 Titus paused in his explanation； for at that moment there arose
such a clatter out on the front piazza as effectually to drown conversation。
There was a noise of the hoofs of a horse； the fall of a heavy body； a tattoo
on the porch floor and then came an excited shout：
〃Whoa there！ Whoa！ Stop！ Look out where you're kicking！ Bless my
saddle blanket！ Ouch！ There I go！〃
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CHAPTER II
Explanations
〃What in the world is that？〃 cried Mr。 Job Titus； in alarm。
Tom Swift did not answer。 Instead he jumped up from his chair and ran
toward the front door。 Mr。 Titus followed。 They both saw a strange sight。
Standing on the front porch； which he seemed to occupy completely；
was a large horse； with a saddle twisted underneath him。 The animal was
looking about him as calmly as though he always made it a practice to
come up on the front piazza when stopping at a house。
Off to one side； with a crushed hat on the back of his head； with a coat
split up the back； with a broken riding crop in one hand and a
handkerchief in the other； sat a dignified； elderly gentleman。
That is； he would have been dignified had it not been for his position
and condition。 No gentleman can look dignified with a split coat and a
crushed hat on； sitting under the nose of a horse on a front piazza； with his
raiment otherwise much disheveled； while he wipes his scratched and
bleeding face with a handkerchief。
〃Bless mybless my〃 began the elderly gentleman； and he seemed at
a loss what particular portion of his anatomy or that of the horse； to bless；
or what portion of the universe to appeal to； for he ended up with： 〃Bless
everything； Tom Swift！〃
〃I heartily agree with you； Mr。 Damon！〃 cried Tom。 〃But what in the
world happened？〃
〃That！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon； pointing with his broken crop at the
horse on the piazza。 〃I was riding him when he ran awayjust as my
motorcycle tried to climb a tree。 No more horses for me！ I'll stick to
airships；〃 and slamming his riding crop down on the porch floor with such
force that the horse started back； Mr。 Damon arose； painfully enough if the
contortions on his face and his grunts of pain went for anything。
〃Let me help you！〃 begged Tom； striding forward。 〃Mr。 Titus； perhaps
you will kindly lead the horse down off the piazza？〃
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〃Certainly！〃 answered the tunnel contractor。 〃Whoa now！〃 he called
soothingly； as the steed evinced a disposition to sit down on the side
railing。 〃Steady now！〃
The horse finally allowed himself to be led down the broad front steps；
sadly marking them； as well as the floor of the piazza； with his sharp
shoes。
〃Ouch！ Oh； my back！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon； as Tom helped him to
stand up。
〃Is it hurt？〃 asked Tom； anxiously。
〃No； I've just got what old…fashioned folks call a 'crick' in it；〃
explained the elderly horseman。 〃But it feels more like a river than a
'crick。' I'll be all right presently。〃
〃How did it happen？〃 asked Tom； as he led his guest toward the hall。
Meanwhile Mr。 Titus； wondering what it was all about； had tied the horse
to a post out near the street curb； and had re…entered the library。
〃I was riding over to see you； Tom； to ask you if you wouldn't go to
South America with me；〃 began Mr。 Damon； rubbing his leg tenderly。
〃South America？〃 cried Tom； with a sudden look at Mr。 Titus。
〃Yes； South America。 Why； there isn't anything strange in that； is there？
You've been to wilder countries； and farther away than that。〃
〃Yes； I knowit's just a coincidence。 Go on。〃
〃Let me get where I can sit down；〃 begged Mr。 Damon。 〃I think that
crick in my back is running down into my legs； Tom。 I feel a bit weak。 Let
me sit down； and get me a glass of water。 I shall be all right presently。〃
Between them Tom and Mr。 Titus assisted the horseman into an easy
chair； and there； under the influence of a cup of hot tea； which Mrs。
Baggert； the housekeeper； insisted on making for him； he said he felt much
better； and would explain the reason for his call which had culminated in
such a sensational manner。
And while Mr。 Damon is preparing his explanation I will take just a
few moments to acquaint my new readers with some facts about Tom
Swift； and the previous volumes of this series in which he has played such
prominent parts。
Tom Swift was the son of an inventor； and not only inherited his
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father's talents； but had greatly added to them； so that now Tom had a
wonderful reputation。
Mr。 Swift was a widower； and he and Tom lived in a big house in
Shopton； New York State； with Mrs。 Baggert for a housekeeper。 About the
house； from time to time； shops and laboratories had been erected； until
now there was a large and valuable establishment belonging to Tom and
his father。
The first volume of this series is entitled； 〃Tom Swift and His Motor
Cycle。〃 It was through a motor cycle that Tom became acquainted with Mr。
Wakefield Damon； who lived in a neighboring town。 Mr。 Damon had
bought the motor cycle for himself； but； as he said； one day in riding it the
machine tried to climb a tree near the Swift house。
The young inventor
