按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
it was Waddington in there； but it wasn't。 That man's beard is real； and
while he has a look like Waddington about the eyes and upper part of his
face； the man is a stranger to me。 That is I think so； but in spite of all that；
I have a queer feeling that I have met him before。〃
〃Where？〃 Tom inquired。
〃That I can't say；〃 and the tunnel contractor shook his head。 〃Whew！
That was a bad one！〃 he exclaimed； as the steamer pitched and tossed in
an alarming manner。
〃Yes； the storm seems to be getting worse instead of better；〃 agreed
Tom。 〃I hope none of the cargo shifts and comes banging up against my
new explosive。 If it does； there'll be no more tunnel digging for any of us。〃
〃Better not mention the fact of the explosives on board；〃 suggested Mr。
Titus。
〃I won't；〃 promised Tom。 〃The passengers are frightened enough as it
is。 But I watched the powder being stored away。 I guess it is safe。〃
The storm raged for two days before it began to die away。 Meanwhile；
nothing was seen； on deck or in the dining cabins； of the bearded man。
Tom and Mr。 Titus made some guarded inquiries of the steward who
had attended the sick man； and from him learned that he was down on the
passenger list as Senor Pinto； from Rio de Janeiro； Brazil。 He was
traveling in the interests of a large firm of coffee importers of the United
States； and was going to Lima。
〃And there's no trace of Waddington？〃 asked Tom of Mr。 Titus； as they
were discussing matters in their stateroom one day。
〃Not a trace。 He seems to have dropped out of sight； and I'm glad of
51
… Page 52…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
it。〃
〃Perhaps Blakeson & Grinder have given up the fight against you。〃
〃I wish they had； though I don't look for any such good luck。 But I'm
willing to fight them； now that we have an even chance； thanks to your
explosive。〃
The storm blew itself out。 The Bellaconda 〃crossed the line；〃 and there
was the usual horseplay among the sailors when Father Neptune came
aboard to hold court。 Those who had never before been below the equator
were made to undergo more or less of an initiation； being lathered and
shaved； and then pushed backward into a canvas tank of water on deck。
While Tom enjoyed the voyage； with the possible exception of the
storm； he was anxious； and so was Mr。 Titus； for the time to come when
they should get to the tunnel and try the effect of the new explosive。 Mr。
Damon found an elderly gentleman as fond of playing chess as was the
eccentric man himself； and his days were fully occupied with castles；
pawns； knights； kings； queens and so on。 As for Koku he was taken in
charge by the sailors and found life forward very agreeable。
Senor Pinto had recovered from his seasickness； the steward told Tom
and Mr。 Titus； but still he kept to his stateroom。
It was when the Bellaconda was within a day or two of Callao that a
wireless message was received for Mr。 Titus。 It was from his brother。 The
message read：
〃Have information from New York office that rivals are after you。
Look out for explosive。〃
〃What does that mean？〃 asked Tom。
〃Well； I presume it means our rival contractors know we have a supply
of your new powder on board； and they may try to get it away from us。〃
〃Why？〃 Tom demanded。
〃To prevent our using it to complete the tunnel。 In that case they'll get
the secret of it to use for themselves； when the contract goes to them by
default。 Can we do anything to protect the powder； Tom？〃
〃Well； I don't know that we'll need to while it's stowed away in the
cargo。 They can't get at it any more than we can； until the ship unloads。 I
guess it's safe enough。 We'll just have to keep our eyes open when it's
52
… Page 53…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
taken out of the hold； though。〃
Tom and Mr。 Titus； both of whom were fond of fresh air and exercise；
had made it a practice to get up an hour before breakfast and take a
constitutional about the steamer deck。 They did this as usual the morning
after the wireless warning was received； and they were standing near the
port rail； talking about this； when they heard a thud on the deck behind
them。 Both turned quickly； and saw a round black object rolling toward
them。 From the object projected what seemed to be a black cord； and the
end of this cord was glowing and smoking。
For a moment neither Tom nor Mr。 Titus spoke。 Then； as a slow
motion of the ship rolled the round black thing toward Tom； he cried：
〃It a bomb！〃
He darted toward it； but Mr。 Titus pulled him back。
〃Run！〃 yelled the contractor。
Before either of them could do anything； a queer figure of an elderly
gentleman stepped partly from behind a deck… house； and stooped over the
smoking object。
〃Look out！〃 yelled Mr。 Titus； crouching low。 〃That's an explosive
bomb！ Toss it overboard！〃
53
… Page 54…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
CHAPTER X
Professor Bumper
Fairly fascinated by the spluttering fuse； neither Tom nor Mr。 Titus
moved for a second； while the deadly fire crept on through the black
string…like affair； nearer and nearer to the bomb itself。
Then； just as Tom； holding back his natural fear； was about to thrust
the thing overboard with his foot； hardly realizing that it might be even
more deadly to the ship in the water than it was on the deck； the foot of the
newcomer was suddenly thrust out from behind the deck…house； and the
sizzling fuse was trodden upon。
It went out in a puff of smoke； but the owner of the foot was not
satisfied with that for a hand reached down； lifted the bomb； the fuse of
which still showed a smouldering spark of fire； and calmly pulled out the
〃tail〃 of the explosive。 It was harmless then； for the fuse； with a trail of
smoke following； was tossed into the sea； and the little man came out from
behind the deck…house； holding the unexploded bomb。
For a moment neither Tom nor Mr。 Titus could speak。 They felt an
inexpressible sense of relief。 Then Tom managed