& his big tunnel(汤姆·史威夫特和他的大遂道)-第30节
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but afterwardwell； he might have been pretty well shaken up。 He got
away just in time。〃
The giant looked thoughtfully back toward the place of the
experimental blast。
〃Master； him do that？〃 he asked。
〃I did；〃 Tom replied。 〃But I didn't think you'd walk out of the woods；
just at the wrong time； and sit down on that rock。〃
〃Um；〃 murmured the giant。 〃Kokuhehe Oh； by golly！〃 he yelled。
And then； as if realizing what he had escaped； and being incapable of
expressing it； the giant with a yell ran into the tunnel and stayed there for
some time。 The experiment was pronounced a great success and； now
that Tom had discovered the right kind of explosive to rend the very hard
rock； he proceeded to have it made in sufficiently large quantities to be
used in the tunnel。
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〃We'll have to hustle；〃 said Job Titus。 〃We haven't much of our
contract time left； and I have reason to believe the Peruvian government
will not give any extension。 It is to their interest to have us fail； for they
will profit by all the work we have done； even if they have to pay our
rivals a higher price than we contracted for。 It is our firm that will pocket
the loss。〃
〃Well； we'll try not to have that happen；〃 said Tom； with a smile。
〃If you're going to use bigger charges of this new explosive； Tom；
won't more rock be brought down？〃 asked Walter Titus。
〃That's what I hope。〃
〃Then we'll need more laborers to bring it out of the tunnel。〃
〃Yes； we could use more I guess。 The faster the blasted rock is
removed； the quicker I can put in new charges。〃
〃I'll get more men；〃 decided the contractor。 〃There won't be any
trouble now that the hoodoo of the missing workers is solved。 I'll tell
Serato to scare up all his dusky brethren he can find； and we'll offer a
bonus for good work。〃
The Indian foreman readily agreed to get more laborers。
〃And get some big ones； Serato；〃 urged Job Titus。 〃Get some fellows
like Koku；〃 for the giant did the work of three men in the tunnel； not
because he was obliged to； but because his enormous strength must find an
outlet in action。
〃Um want mans like him？〃 asked the Indian； nodding toward the giant。
He and Koku were not on good terms； for once； when Koku was a hurry；
he had picked up the Indian （no mean sized man himself） and had calmly
set him to one side。 Serato never forgave that。
〃Sure； get all the giants you can；〃 Tom said。 〃But I guess there aren't
any in Peru。〃
Where Serato found his man； no one knew； and the foreman would not
tell； but a day or so later he appeared at the tunnel camp with an Indian so
large in size that he made the others look like pygmies； and many of them
were above the average in height； too。
〃Say； he's a whopper all right！〃 exclaimed Tom。 〃But he isn't as big or
as strong as Koku。〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
〃He comes pretty near it；〃 said Job Titus。 〃With a dozen like him we'd
finish the tunnel on time； thanks to your explosive。〃
Lamos； the Indian giant； was not quite as large as Koku。 That is； he
was not as tall； but he was broader of shoulder。 And as to the strength of
the two； well； it was destined to be tried out in a startling fashion。
In about a week Tom was ready with his first charges of the new
explosive。 The extra Indians were on hand； including Lamos； and great
hopes of fast progress were held by the contractors。
The charge was fired and a great mass of broken rock brought down
inside the tunnel。
〃That's tearing it up！〃 cried Job Titus； when the fumes had blown away；
the secret shaft having been opened to facilitate this。 〃A few more shots
like that and we'll be through the strata of hard rock。〃
The Indians； Koku and Lamos doing their share of the work； were
rushed in to clear away the debris； so another charge might be fired as
soon as possible。 This would be in a day or so。 The contract time was
getting uncomfortably close。
Blast after blast was set off； and good progress was made。 But instead
of half a mile of the extra hard rock the contractors found it would be
nearer three quarters。
〃It's going to be touch and go； whether or not we finish on time；〃 said
Mr。 Job Titus one afternoon； when a clearance had been made and the men
had filed out to give the drillers a chance to make holes for a new blast。
Tom was about to make a remark when Tim Sullivan came running out
of the tunnel； his face showing fright and wonder。
〃What's up now； I wonder；〃 said Mr。 Titus。 〃More men missing？〃
〃Quick！ Come quick！〃 cried the Irishman。 〃Thim two giants is fightin'
in there； an' they'll tear th' tunnel apart if we don't stop 'em。 It's an awful
fight！ Awful！〃
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CHAPTER XXIII
A Great Blast
Hardly comprehending what the Irish foreman had said； Tom Swift；
the Titus brothers and Mr。 Damon followed Tim Sullivan back into the
tunnel。 They had not gone far before they heard the murmur of many
voices； and mingled with that were roarings like those of wild beasts。
〃That's thim！〃 cried Tim。 〃They're chawin' each other up！〃
〃Koku and that Indian giant fighting！〃 cried Tom。 〃What's it all
about？〃
〃Don't ask me！〃 shouted Tim。 〃They've been on bad terms iver since
they met。〃 This was true enough； for one giant was jealous of the other's
power； and they were continually trying feats of strength against one
another。 Probably this had culminated in a fight； Tom concluded。
〃And it will be some fight！〃 mused the young inventor。
Hurrying on； Tom and his companions came upon a strange and not
altogether pleasant sight。 In an open place in the tunnel； where the lights
were brightest； and in front of the rocky wall which offered a bar to further
progress and which was soon to be blasted away； struggled the two giants。
With their arms locked about one another； they swayed this way and
thata struggle between two Titans。 Of nearly the same height and bigness；
it was a wrestling match such as had never been seen before。 Had it been
merely a friendly test of strength it would have been good to look upon。
But it needed only a glance into the faces of either giant to show that it
was a struggle in deadly earnest。
Back and forth they reeled over the rocky floor of the tunnel； bones
and sinews cracking。 One sought to throw the other； and first； as Koku
would gain a slight advantage； his friends would call encouragement；
while； when Lamos seemed about to triumph； the Indians favoring him
would let out a yell of triumph。
For a few minutes Tom and his friends watched； fascinated。 Then they
saw Koku slip； while Lamos bent him farther toward the earth。 The Indian
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giant raised his big fist； and Tom saw in it a rock； which the big man was
about to bring down on Koku's head。
〃Look out； Koku！〃 yelled Tom。
Tom's giant slid to one side only just in time； for the blow descended；
catching him on his muscular shoulder where it only raised a bruise。 And
then Koku gathered himself for a mighty effort。 His face flamed with rage
at the unfair trick。
〃Bless my bath sponge！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃This is awful！〃
〃They must stop！〃 said Job Titus。 〃We can't have them fighting like
this。 It is bad for the others。 If it were in fun it would be all right； but they
are in deadly earnest。 They must stop！〃
〃Koku； stop！〃 called Tom。 〃You must not fight any more！〃
〃No fight more！〃 gasped the giant； through his clenched teeth。 〃This
end fight！〃
With a mighty effort he broke the hold of Lamos' arms。 Then stooping
suddenly he seized hi
