Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > & his big tunnel(ÌÀÄ·¡¤Ê·Íþ·òÌغÍËûµÄ´óËìµÀ) >

µÚ31½Ú

& his big tunnel(ÌÀÄ·¡¤Ê·Íþ·òÌغÍËûµÄ´óËìµÀ)-µÚ31½Ú


°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡a¡¡mighty¡¡effort¡¡he¡¡broke¡¡the¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡Lamos'¡¡arms¡£¡¡Then¡¡stooping¡¡

suddenly¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡seized¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡rival¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡middle£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡tremendous¡¡

heave£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡muscles¡¡¡¡¡¡stood¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡bunches¡¡¡¡¡¡while¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡

bones¡¡¡¡¡¡seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡crack£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Koku¡¡¡¡¡¡raised¡¡¡¡¡¡Lamos¡¡¡¡¡¡high¡¡in¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡air¡£¡¡¡¡Up¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡

head¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡raised¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡mass¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡muscle£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡bone¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡flesh£»¡¡¡¡¡¡squirming¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

wriggling£»¡¡trying¡¡in¡¡vain¡¡to¡¡save¡¡itself¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Up¡¡and¡¡up¡¡Koku¡¡raised¡¡Lamos¡¡as¡¡the¡¡murmur¡¡of¡¡those¡¡watching¡¡grew¡¡

to¡¡a¡¡shout¡¡of¡¡amazement¡¡and¡¡terror¡£¡¡Never¡¡had¡¡the¡¡like¡¡been¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡that¡¡

land¡¡for¡¡¡¡generations¡£¡¡¡¡Up¡¡and¡¡up¡¡one¡¡giant¡¡¡¡¡¡raised¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡Then¡¡¡¡¡¡calling¡¡

out¡¡something¡¡in¡¡his¡¡native¡¡tongue¡¡Koku¡¡hurled¡¡the¡¡other¡¡from¡¡him£»¡¡clear¡¡

across¡¡the¡¡tunnel¡¡and¡¡up¡¡against¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡rocky¡¡wall¡£¡¡The¡¡murmuring¡¡

died¡¡to¡¡frightened¡¡whispers¡¡as¡¡Lamos¡¡fell¡¡in¡¡a¡¡shapeless¡¡heap¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Ah£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡breathed¡¡¡¡¡¡Koku£»¡¡¡¡¡¡stretching¡¡¡¡¡¡himself£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡extending¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡brawny¡¡

arms¡£¡¡¡¨Fight¡¡all¡¡over£»¡¡Master¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡seems£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Koku£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡Tom£»¡¡¡¡¡¡solemnly£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨but¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡killed¡¡

him¡£¡¡Shame¡¡on¡¡you£¡¡¨¡¡and¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡bitterly¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Job¡¡Titus¡¡had¡¡hurried¡¡over¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fallen¡¡giant¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨He¡¡isn't¡¡dead£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡called£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡I¡¡guess¡¡he¡¡won't¡¡wrestle¡¡or¡¡fight¡¡any¡¡

more¡£¡¡He's¡¡badly¡¡crippled¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡try¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡blow¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡tunnel£»¡¡¡¡¡¡either£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡Koku¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡127¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡128¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡TOM¡¡SWIFT¡¡AND¡¡HIS¡¡BIG¡¡TUNNEL¡¡



hoarse¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¨Me¡¡fix£º¡¡him£¡¡¡No¡¡more¡¡him¡¡take¡¡powder£»¡¡and¡¡make¡¡tunnel¡¡

all¡¡bust¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡mean£»¡¡Koku£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Tom¡£¡¡¡¨Is¡¡that¡¡why¡¡you¡¡fought¡¡him£¿¡¡

Did¡¡he¡¡try¡¡to¡¡wreck¡¡the¡¡tunnel£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨So¡¡him¡¡done£»¡¡Master¡£¡¡But¡¡Koku¡¡seeKoku¡¡stop¡£¡¡Then¡¡um¡¡fight¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Be¡¡jabbers¡¡an'¡¡I¡¡wouldn't¡¡wonder¡¡but¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡right£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡Tim¡¡

Sullivan£»¡¡excitedly¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡did¡¡see¡¡that¡¡beggar¡£¡¨¡¡and¡¡he¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡Lamos£»¡¡who¡¡

was¡¡¡¡¡¡slowly¡¡¡¡¡¡crawling¡¡¡¡¡¡away£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡chist¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡kape¡¡¡¡¡¡th'¡¡¡¡¡¡powder£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

thought¡¡nothin'¡¡of¡¡it¡¡at¡¡th'¡¡time¡£¡¡What¡¡did¡¡he¡¡try¡¡t'¡¡do£»¡¡Koku£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡giant¡¡explained¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡language£»¡¡Tom¡¡Swift¡¡translating£»¡¡

for¡¡Koku¡¡spoke¡¡English¡¡but¡¡indifferently¡¡well¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Koku¡¡says£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡rendered¡¡Torn£»¡¡¡¡¡¨that¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡Lamos¡¡¡¡¡¡trying¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡put¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡big¡¡

charge¡¡of¡¡powder¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡place¡¡where¡¡the¡¡balanced¡¡rock¡¡fits¡¡in¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡

opening¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡tunnel¡¡¡¡¡¡roof¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡charge¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡ready¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡fire£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

giant¡¡had¡¡set¡¡it¡¡off¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡brought¡¡down¡¡the¡¡roof¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tunnel¡¡and¡¡

so¡¡choked¡¡it¡¡up¡¡that¡¡we'd¡¡have¡¡been¡¡months¡¡cleaning¡¡it¡¡out¡£¡¡Koku¡¡saw¡¡him¡¡

and¡¡stopped¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡fight¡¡began¡£¡¡We¡¡only¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡end¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Bless¡¡my¡¡shoe¡¡string£¡¡¨¡¡gasped¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Damon¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡a¡¡terrible¡¡end¡¡it¡¡was¡£¡¡

Will¡¡Lamos¡¡die£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡so£»¡¨¡¡answered¡¡Job¡¡Titus¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡he¡¡will¡¡be¡¡a¡¡cripple¡¡for¡¡life¡£¡¡

Not¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡wrecked¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡tunnel£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡killed¡¡

many¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡set¡¡¡¡¡¡off¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡blast¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Koku¡¡¡¡¡¡saved¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡

seems¡¡too¡¡bad¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡An¡¡investigation¡¡showed¡¡that¡¡Koku¡¡spoke¡¡truly¡£¡¡The¡¡charge£»¡¡all¡¡ready¡¡

to¡¡set¡¡off£»¡¡was¡¡found¡¡where¡¡he¡¡had¡¡knocked¡¡it¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡of¡¡Lamos¡£¡¡

And¡¡so¡¡Tom's¡¡giant¡¡saved¡¡the¡¡day¡£¡¡Lamos¡¡was¡¡sent¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡village£»¡¡

a¡¡broken¡¡and¡¡humbled¡¡giant¡£¡¡And¡¡to¡¡this¡¡day£»¡¡in¡¡that¡¡part¡¡of¡¡Peru£»¡¡the¡¡great¡¡

struggle¡¡between¡¡Koku¡¡and¡¡Lamos¡¡is¡¡spoken¡¡of¡¡with¡¡awe¡¡where¡¡Indians¡¡

gather¡¡about¡¡their¡¡council¡¡fires£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡tell¡¡their¡¡children¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Titanic¡¡

fight¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plot£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Job¡¡Titus¡¡when¡¡the¡¡usual¡¡blast¡¡had¡¡been¡¡

set¡¡off¡¡that¡¡day£»¡¡with¡¡not¡¡very¡¡good¡¡results¡£¡¡¡¨This¡¡giant¡¡was¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡us¡¡by¡¡

our¡¡rivals¡£¡¡They¡¡wanted¡¡him¡¡to¡¡hamper¡¡our¡¡work£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡see¡¡we¡¡have¡¡a¡¡

chance¡¡to¡¡finish¡¡on¡¡time¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡foreman£»¡¡Serato£»¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡the¡¡plot¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡128¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡129¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡TOM¡¡SWIFT¡¡AND¡¡HIS¡¡BIG¡¡TUNNEL¡¡



brought¡¡Lamos¡¡here¡£¡¡We'll¡¡fire¡¡him£¡¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡done£»¡¡¡¡¡¡though¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Indian¡¡¡¡¡¡protested¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡innocence¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡

could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡trusted¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡can't¡¡take¡¡any¡¡chances£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Job¡¡Titus¡£¡¡¡¨Our¡¡time¡¡is¡¡too¡¡nearly¡¡up¡£¡¡

In¡¡fact¡¡I'm¡¡afraid¡¡we¡¡won't¡¡finish¡¡on¡¡time¡¡as¡¡it¡¡is¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡too¡¡much¡¡of¡¡that¡¡

hard¡¡rock¡¡to¡¡cut¡¡through¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨There's¡¡only¡¡one¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Tom£»¡¡after¡¡an¡¡investigation¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨As¡¡

you¡¡say£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡more¡¡of¡¡that¡¡hard¡¡rock¡¡than¡¡we¡¡calculated¡¡on¡£¡¡To¡¡try¡¡to¡¡

blast¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡take¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡ordinary¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡useless¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡try¡¡

desperate¡¡means¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡is¡¡that£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Walter¡¡Titus¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡must¡¡set¡¡off¡¡the¡¡biggest¡¡blast¡¡we¡¡can¡¡with¡¡safety¡£¡¡We'll¡¡bore¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡

of¡¡extra¡¡holes£»¡¡and¡¡put¡¡in¡¡double¡¡charges¡¡of¡¡the¡¡explosive¡£¡¡I'll¡¡add¡¡some¡¡

ingredients¡¡to¡¡it¡¡that¡¡will¡¡make¡¡it¡¡stronger¡£¡¡It's¡¡our¡¡last¡¡chance¡£¡¡Either¡¡we'll¡¡

blow¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡tunnel¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡pieces£»¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡we'll¡¡¡¡loosen¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡enough¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡rock¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡make¡¡

sufficient¡¡progress¡¡so¡¡we¡¡can¡¡finish¡¡on¡¡time¡£¡¡What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡say£¿¡¡Shall¡¡we¡¡

take¡¡the¡¡chance£¿¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Titus¡¡¡¡¡¡brothers¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡another¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Failure¡¡¡¡¡¡stared¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

face¡£¡¡Unless¡¡they¡¡completed¡¡the¡¡tunnel¡¡very¡¡soon¡¡they¡¡would¡¡lose¡¡all¡¡the¡¡

money¡¡they¡¡had¡¡sunk¡¡in¡¡it¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Take¡¡the¡¡chance£¡¡¨¡¡exclaimed¡¡Job¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡sink¡¡or¡¡swim¡¡anyhow¡£¡¡Set¡¡off¡¡

the¡¡big¡¡blast£»¡¡Tom¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡right¡£¡¡We'll¡¡get¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡it¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡we¡¡can¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡day¡¡preparations¡¡were¡¡made¡¡for¡¡setting¡¡off¡¡a¡¡great¡¡charge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡

powerful¡¡explosive¡£¡¡The¡¡work¡¡was¡¡hurried¡¡as¡¡fast¡¡as¡¡was¡¡consistent¡¡with¡¡

safety£»¡¡but¡¡even¡¡then¡¡progress¡¡was¡¡rather¡¡slow¡£¡¡Precautions¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡taken£»¡¡

and¡¡the¡¡guards¡¡about¡¡the¡¡tunnel¡¡were¡¡doubled¡£¡¡For¡¡it¡¡was¡¡feared¡¡that¡¡some¡¡

word¡¡of¡¡what¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done¡¡would¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡rival¡¡firm£»¡¡who¡¡might¡¡

try¡¡desperate¡¡means¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡completion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡work¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡plenty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡explosive¡¡on¡¡hand£»¡¡for¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Swift¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡Tom¡¡

a¡¡large¡¡shipment¡£¡¡All¡¡this¡¡while¡¡no¡¡word¡¡had¡¡come¡¡from¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Nestor£»¡¡and¡¡

Tom¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡beginning¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡think¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡prospective¡¡¡¡¡¡father¡­in¡­law¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡

angry¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡Nor¡¡had¡¡Mary¡¡written¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Professor¡¡¡¡¡¡Bumper¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡went¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡pleased£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡quest¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡129¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡130¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡TOM¡¡SWIFT¡¡AND¡¡HIS¡¡BIG¡¡TUNNEL¡¡



regarded¡¡as¡¡hopeless¡¡now¡£¡¡Tom¡¡and¡¡his¡¡friends¡¡had¡¡little¡¡time¡¡for¡¡the¡¡bald¡­¡¡

headed¡¡scientist£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡were¡¡too¡¡much¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡the¡¡success¡¡of¡¡the¡¡

big¡¡blast¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡we'll¡¡set¡¡her¡¡off¡¡to¡­morrow£»¡¨¡¡Tom¡¡said¡¡one¡¡night£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡hard¡¡

day's¡¡work¡£¡¡¡¨The¡¡rocky¡¡wall¡¡is¡¡honeycombed¡¡with¡¡explosive¡£¡¡If¡¡all¡¡goes¡¡

well¡¡we¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡down¡¡enough¡¡¡¡¡¡rock¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡gangs¡¡busy¡¡¡¡night¡¡

and¡¡day¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Everything¡¡was¡¡in¡¡readiness¡£¡¡What¡¡would¡¡the¡¡morrow¡¡bring¡¡success¡¡

or¡¡failure£¿¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡130¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡131¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡TOM¡¡SWIFT¡¡AND¡¡HIS¡¡BIG¡¡TUNNEL¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡CHAPTER¡¡XXIV¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Hidden¡¡City¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Gathered¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡mouth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tunnel£»¡¡far¡¡enough¡¡away¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the¡¡

wind¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡blast¡¡would¡¡not¡¡bowl¡¡them¡¡over¡¡like¡¡ten¡¡pins£»¡¡stood¡¡Tom¡¡

Swift¡¡and¡¡his¡¡friends¡£¡¡In¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡Tom¡¡held¡¡the¡¡battery¡¡box£»¡¡the¡¡setting¡¡of¡¡

the¡¡switch¡¡in¡¡which¡¡would¡¡complete¡¡the¡¡electrical¡¡circuit¡¡and¡¡set¡¡off¡¡the¡¡

hundreds¡¡of¡¡pounds¡¡of¡¡explosive¡¡buried¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hard¡¡rock¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Are¡¡all¡¡the¡¡men¡¡out£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡young¡¡inventor¡¡of¡¡Tim¡¡Sullivan£»¡¡who¡¡

had¡¡¡¡¡¡charge¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡important¡¡¡¡¡¡matter¡£¡¡Tim¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡sole¡¡¡¡¡¡charge¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡foreman¡¡

now£»¡¡having¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡enough¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡language¡¡to¡¡get¡¡along¡¡without¡¡

an¡¡interpreter¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨All¡¡out£»¡¡sor£»¡¨¡¡Tim¡¡responded¡£¡¡¡¨Yez¡¡kin¡¡fire¡¡whin¡¡ready£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Swift¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡portentous¡¡¡¡¡¡moment¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡No¡¡¡¡¡¡wonder¡¡¡¡¡¡Tom¡¡¡¡¡¡Swift¡¡¡¡¡¡hesitated¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

sense¡¡he¡¡and¡¡his¡¡friends£»¡¡the¡¡contractors£»¡¡had¡¡staked¡¡their¡¡all¡¡on¡¡a¡¡single¡¡

throw¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡blast¡¡¡¡¡¡failed¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡likely¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡another¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡succeed£»¡¡

even¡¡if¡¡ther¡¡should¡¡be¡¡time¡¡to¡¡prepare¡¡one¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡time¡¡limit¡¡had¡¡almost¡¡expired£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡still¡¡a¡¡half¡¡mile¡¡of¡¡

hard¡¡rock¡¡between¡¡the¡¡last¡¡heading¡¡and¡¡the¡¡farther¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡big¡¡tunnel¡£¡¡If¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¡blast¡¡¡¡¡¡succeeded¡¡¡¡¡¡enough¡¡¡¡¡¡rock¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡brought¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡enable¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

work¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on£»¡¡by¡¡using¡¡a¡¡night¡¡and¡¡day¡¡shift¡¡of¡¡men¡£¡¡Then£»¡¡too£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡

the¡¡chance¡¡that¡¡the¡¡hard¡¡strata¡¡of¡¡rock¡¡would¡¡come¡¡to¡¡an¡¡end¡¡and¡¡softer¡¡

stone£»¡¡or¡¡easily¡­dug¡¡dirt£»¡¡be¡¡encountered¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡may¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡well¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡with£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡Tom¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡low¡¡voice¡£¡¡

Every¡¡one¡¡was¡¡very¡¡quiettensely¡¡quiet¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡young¡¡inventor¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Professor¡¡Bumper¡¡observing¡¡him¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Why£»¡¡Professor£¡¡¨¡¡Tom¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡thought¡¡you¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡off¡¡to¡¡the¡¡

mountains¡¡again£»¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡the¡¡lost¡¡city¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ