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the mysterious explosion。 Their prisoner； helpless as he had seemed； had
proved too much for them。 Slipping and stumbling along in the darkness；
the masked lads had but one thoughtto get away before they saw more of
that blue fire； and the force of the concussion。
〃Gee！ My eyebrows are all singed off！〃 cried Sam Snedecker； as he
tore loose his mask which had been rent in the explosion； and felt of his
face。
〃And my hands are burned；〃 added Pete Bailey。 〃I stood closer to the
fire than any of you。〃
〃You did not！ I got the worst of it！〃 cried Andy。 〃I was knocked down
by the explosion； and I'll bet I'm hurt somewhere。 I guessOh！ Help！ I'm
falling in a mud hole！〃
There was a splash； and the bully disappeared from the sight of his
companions who； now that the moon had risen； could better see to flee
from their prisoner。
〃Help me out； somebody！〃 pleaded Andy。 〃I'm in a mud hole！〃
They pulled him out； a sorry looking sight； and the red…haired lad；
whose locks were now black with muck； began to lament his lot。
〃Dry up！〃 commanded Sid Holton。 〃It's all your fault； for proposing
such a fool trick as capturing Tom Swift。 We might have known he would
get the best of us。〃
〃What was that stuff he used； anyhow？〃 asked Cecil Hedden； the lad
responsible for the organization of the Deep Forest Throng。 〃He must be a
wonder。 Does he do sleight…of…hand tricks？〃
〃He does all sorts of tricks；〃 replied Pete Bailey； feeling of a big lump
on his head； caused by falling on a stone in the mad rush。 〃I guess we were
chumps to tackle him。 He must have put some kind of chemical in the fire；
to make it blow up。〃
〃Or else he summoned his airship by wireless； and had that balloonist；
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
Mr。 Sharp； drop a bomb in the blaze；〃 suggested another lad。
〃But how could he do anything？ Wasn't he tied fast to that tree？〃 asked
Cecil； the leader。
〃You never know when you've got Tom Swift tied；〃 declared Jack
Reynolds。 〃You think you've got him； and you haven't。 He's too slick for
us。 It's Andy's fault； for proposing to capture him。〃
〃That's right！ Blame it all on me；〃 whined the squint…eyed bully。 〃You
was just as anxious as I was to tar and feather him。〃
〃Well； we didn't do it；〃 commented Pete Bailey； dryly。 〃I s'pose he's
loose now； laughin' at us。 Gee； but that was an explosion though！ It's a
wonder some of us weren't killed！ I guess I've had enough of this Deep
Forest Throng business。 No more for mine。〃
〃Aw； don't be afraid；〃 urged Cecil。 〃The next time we get him we'll be
on our guard。〃
〃You'll never catch Tom Swift again；〃 predicted Pete。
〃I'll go back now to where he is； if you will；〃 agreed Cecil； who was
older than the others。
〃Not much！〃 cried Pete。 〃I've had enough。〃
This seemed to be the sentiment of all。 Away they stumbled through
the woods； and； emerging on the road； scattered to their several homes； not
one but who suffered from slight burns； contusions； torn and muddy
clothes or injured feelings as the outcome of the 〃joke〃 on the young
inventor。
But our hero was not yet free from the bonds of his enemies。 When
they scattered and ran； after the vivid blue light； and the dull explosion；
which； being unconfined； did no real damage； Tom was still fast to the tree。
As his eyes became accustomed to the semi…darkness that followed the
glare； he remarked：
〃Well； I don't know that I'm much better off。 I gave those fellows a
good scare； but I'm not loose。 But I can work to better advantage now。〃
Once more he resumed the effort to free himself； but in spite of the
crude manner in which the knots had been made； the lad could not get
loose。 The more he pulled and tugged the tighter they seemed to become。
〃This is getting serious；〃 Tom mused。 〃If I could only reach my knife I
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
could cut them； but it's in my pocket on the other side； and that bond's fast。
Guess I'll have to stay here all night。 Maybe I'd better call for help； but〃
His words； spoken half aloud； were suddenly interrupted by a crash in
the underbrush。 Somebody was approaching。 At first Tom thought it was
Andy and his cronies coming back； but a voice that called a moment later
proved that this was not so。
〃Is any one here？〃 shouted a man。 〃Any one hurt？ What was that fire
and explosion？〃
〃I'm here；〃 replied Tom。 〃I'm not hurt exactly； but I'm tied to a tree。 I'll
be much obliged if you'll loosen me。〃
〃Who are you？〃
〃Tom Swift。 Is that you； Mr。 Mason？〃
〃Yes。 By jinks！ I never expected to find you here； Tom。 Over this way；
men；〃 he added calling aloud。 〃I've found him； it's Tom Swift。〃
There was the flicker of several lanterns amid the trees； and soon a
number of men had joined Mr。 Mason； and surrounded Tom。 They were
farmers living in the neighborhood。
〃What in the name o' Tunket happened？〃 asked one。 〃Did you get hit
by a meteor or a comet？ Who tied you up； highwaymen？〃
〃Cut him loose first； and ask questions afterward；〃 suggested Mr。
Mason。
〃Yes；〃 added Tom； with a laugh； 〃I wish you would。 I'm beginning to
feel cramped。〃
With their knives； the farmers quickly cut the ropes； and some of them
rubbed the arms of the lad to restore the circulation。
〃What was ithighwaymen？〃 asked a man； unable to longer restrain
his curiosity。 〃Did they rob you？〃
〃No； it wasn't highwaymen；〃 replied the youth。 〃It was a trick of some
boys I know；〃 and to Tom's credit be it said that he did not mention their
names。 〃They did it for a joke；〃 he added。
〃Boys' trick？ Joke？〃 queried Mr。 Mason。 〃Pretty queer sort of a joke； I
think。 They ought to be arrested。〃
〃Oh； I fancy I gave them what was coming to them；〃 went on the
young inventor。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃Did they try to blow ye up； too？〃 asked Mr。 Hertford。 〃What in th'
name of Tunket was that blue light； and that explosion？ I heard it an' saw
it way over to my house。〃
〃So did I；〃 remarked Mr。 Mason； and several