& his big tunnel(汤姆·史威夫特和他的大遂道)-第29节
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this about if he could。
Tom kept on with his powder experiments。 Mr。 Damon helped him； for
that gentleman had succeeded in putting the affairs of the wholesale drug
business on a firm foundation； and there was no more trouble about
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getting the supplies of cinchona bark to market。 The natives seemed to
have taken kindly to the eccentric man； or perhaps it was the reputation of
Tom Swift and his electric rifle that induced them to work hard。
It must not be supposed that Professor Bumper was idle all this while。
He came and went at odd times； accompanied by his little retinue of
Indians； a guide and a native cook。 He would come back to the tunnel
camp； where he made his headquarters； travel stained； worn and weary；
with disappointment showing on his face。
〃No luck；〃 he would report。 〃The hidden city of Pelone is still lost。〃
Then he would retire to his tent； to pour over his note… books； and
make a new translation of the inscription on the golden plates。 In a day or
so； refreshed and rested； he would prepare for another start。
〃I'll find it this time； surely！〃 he would exclaim； as he marched off up
the mountain trail。 〃I have heard of a new valley； never before visited by a
white man； in which there are some old ruins。 I'm sure they must be those
of Pelone。〃
But in a week or so he would come back； worn out and discouraged
again。
〃The ruins were only those of a native village；〃 he would say。 〃No
trace of an ancient civilization there。〃
The professor took little or no interest in the tunnel； though he
expressed the hope that Tom and his friends would be successful。 But
industrial pursuits had no charm for the scientist。 He only lived to find the
hidden city which was to make him famous。
He heard the story of the queer shaft leading down into the bore under
the mountain； and； for a time； hoped that might be some clue to the lost
Pelone。 But； after an examination； he decided it was but the shaft to some
ancient mine which had not panned out； and so had been abandoned after
having been fitted with a balanced rocky door； perhaps for some heathen
religious rite。
There seemed to be no further trouble among the Indian tunnel
workers。 Those who had disappearedwho had； seemingly； gone willingly
up the knotted rope to hide themselves in the valleykept on with their
work。 If they told their fellows why and where they had gone； the others
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gave no sign。 The evil spirits of the tunnel had been exorcised； and there
was now peace； save for the blasts that were set off every so often。
Tom tried combination after combination； testing them inside and
outside the tunnel； always seeking for an explosive that would give a slow；
rending effect instead of a quick blow； the power of which was soon lost。
And at last he announced：
〃I think I have it！〃
〃Have you？ Good！〃 cried Job Titus。
〃Yes；〃 Tom went on； 〃I've got a mixture here that seems to give just
the effect I want。 I tried it on some small pieces of rock； and now I want to
test it on some large chunks。 Have you brought any down lately？〃
〃Yes； we have some big slabs in there。〃
Some large pieces of the hard rock； which had been brought down in a
recent blast； were taken outside the tunnel； and in them one afternoon Tom
placed； in holes drilled to receive it； some of his new explosive。 The rocks
were set some distance away from the tunnel camp； and Tom attached the
electric wires that were to detonate the charge
〃Well； I guess we're ready；〃 announced the young inventor； as he
looked about him。
The tunnel workers had been allowed to go for the day； and in a log
shack； where they would be safe from flying pieces of rock； were Tom； Mr。
Damon and the two Titus brothers。
Tom held the electric switch in his hand； and was about to press it。
〃This explosive works differently from any other；〃 he explained。
〃When the charge is fired there is not instantly a detonation and a bursting。
The powder burns slowly and generates an immense amount of gas。 It is
this gas； accumulating in the cracks and crevices of the rock； that I hope
will burst and disintegrate it。 Of course； an explosion eventually follows；
as you will see。 Here she goes！〃
Tom pressed the switch and； as he did so； there was a cry of alarm
from Mr。 Damon。
〃Bless my safety match； Tom！〃 cried the old man。 〃Look！ Koku！〃
For； as the charge was fired； the giant emerged from the woods and
calmly took a seat on the rock that was about to be broken up into
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fragments by Tom's new explosive。
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CHAPTER XXII
The Fight
〃Get off there； Koku！〃
〃Stand up！〃
〃Run！〃
〃Get out uf the way！ That's going up！〃
Thus cried Tom and his friends to the big； good…natured； but somewhat
stupid； giant who had sat down in the dangerous spot。 Koku looked toward
the hut； in front of which the young inventor and the others stood； waving
their hands to him and shouting。
〃Get up！ Get up！〃 cried Tom； frantically。 The powder is going off；
Koku！〃
〃Can't you stop it？〃 asked Job Titus。
〃No！〃 answered Tom。 〃The electric current has already ignited the
charge。 Only that it's slow…burning it would have been fired long ago。 Get
up； Koku！〃
But the giant did not seem to understand。 He waved his hand in
friendly greeting to Tom and the others； who dared not approach closer to
warn him； for the explosion would occur any second now。
Then Mr。 Damon had an inspiration。
〃Call him to come to you； Tom！〃 shouted the odd man。 〃He always
comes to you in a hurry； you know。 Call him！〃
Tom acted on the suggestion at once。
〃Here； Koku！〃 he cried。 〃Come here； I want you！ Kelos！〃
This last was a word in the giant's own language； meaning 〃hurry。〃
And Koku knew when Tom used that word that there was need of haste。
So； though he had sat down； evidently to take his ease after a long tramp
through the woods； Koku sprang up to obey his master's bidding。
And； as he did so； something happened。 The first spark from the fuse；
ignited by the electric current； had reached the slow…burning powder。
There was a crackle of flame； and a dull rumble。 Koku sprang up from the
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big stone as though shot。 What he saw and heard must have alarmed him；
for he gave a mighty jump and started to run； at the same time shouting：
〃Me come； Master！〃
〃You'd better！〃 cried the young inventor。
Koku got away only just in time； for when he was half way between
the group of his friends and the big rock； the utmost force of the explosion
was felt。 It was not so very loud； but the power of it made the earth
tremble。
The rock seemed to heave itself into the air； and when it settled back it
was seen to be broken up into many pieces。 Koku looked back over his
shoulder and gave another tremendous leap； which carried him out of the
way of the flying fragments； some of which rattled on the roof of the log
hut。
〃There！〃 cried Tom。 〃I guess something happened that time！ The rock
is broken up finer than any like it we tried to shatter before。 I think I've got
the mixture just right！〃
〃Bless my handkerchief！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Think of what might
have happened to Koku if he had been sitting there。〃
〃Well；〃 said Tom； 〃he might not have been killed； for he would
probably have been tossed well out of the way at the first slow explosion；
but afterwardwell； he might have been pretty well shaken up。 He got
away just in time。〃
