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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/953-h.zip b/953-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2b41481 --- /dev/null +++ b/953-h.zip diff --git a/953-h/953-h.htm b/953-h/953-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9195f77 --- /dev/null +++ b/953-h/953-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9425 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of Tom Swift and his Big Tunnel, +by Victor Appleton +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Big Tunnel, by Victor Appleton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tom Swift and his Big Tunnel + or, The Hidden City of the Andes + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Posting Date: July 13, 2008 [EBook #953] +Release Date: June, 1997 +[Last updated: June 17, 2012] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL *** + + + + +Produced by Anthony Matonac. + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL +</H1> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +or +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +The Hidden City of the Andes +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +by +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Victor Appleton +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">An Appeal for Aid</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">Explanations</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">A Face at the Window</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">Tom's Experiments</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">Mary's Present</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">Mr. Nestor's Letter</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">Off for Peru</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">The Bearded Man</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">The Bomb</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">Professor Bumper</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">In the Andes</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">The Tunnel</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">Tom's Explosive</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">Mysterious Disappearances</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">Frightened Indians</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">On the Watch</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">The Condor</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">The Indian Strike</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">A Woman Tells</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">Despair</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">A New Explosive</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">The Fight</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">A Great Blast</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">The Hidden City</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap25">Success</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter I +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +An Appeal for Aid +</H3> + +<P> +Tom Swift, seated in his laboratory engaged in trying to solve a +puzzling question that had arisen over one of his inventions, was +startled by a loud knock on the door. So emphatic, in fact, was the +summons that the door trembled, and Tom started to his feet in some +alarm. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello there!" he cried. "Don't break the door, Koku!" and then he +laughed. "No one but my giant would knock like that," he said to +himself. "He never does seem able to do things gently. But I wonder why +he is knocking. I told him to get the engine out of the airship, and +Eradicate said he'd be around to answer the telephone and bell. I +wonder if anything has happened?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom shoved back his chair, pushed aside the mass of papers over which +he had been puzzling, and strode to the door. Flinging it open he +confronted a veritable giant of a man, nearly eight feet tall, and big +in proportion. The giant, Koku, for that was his name, smiled in a +good-natured way, reminding one of an overgrown boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Master hear my knock?" the giant asked cheerfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Hear you, Koku? Say, I couldn't hear anything else!" exclaimed Tom. +"Did you think you had to arouse the whole neighborhood just to let me +know you were at the door? Jove! I thought you'd have it off the +hinges." +</P> + +<P> +"If me break, me fix," said Koku, who, from his appearance and from his +imperfect command of English, was evidently a foreigner. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know you can fix lots of things, Koku," Tom went on, kindly +enough. "But you musn't forget what enormous strength you have. That's +the reason I sent you to take the engine out of the airship. You can +lift it without using the chain hoist, and I can't get the chain hoist +fast unless I remove all the superstructure. I don't want to do that. +Did you get the engine out?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not quite. Almost, Master." +</P> + +<P> +"Then why are you here? Has anything gone wrong?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, everything all right, Master. But man come to machine shop and +say he must have talk with you. I no let him come past the gate, but I +say I come and call you." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right, Koku. Don't let any strangers past the gate. But why +didn't Eradicate come and call me. He isn't doing anything, is he? +Unless, indeed, he has gone to feed his mule, Boomerang." +</P> + +<P> +"Eradicate, he come to call you, but that black man no good!" and Koku +chuckled so heartily that he shook the floor of the office. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter with Eradicate?" asked Tom, somewhat anxiously. "I +hope you and he haven't had another row?" Eradicate had served Tom and +his father long before Koku, the giant, had been brought back from one +of the young inventor's many strange trips, and ever since then there +had been a jealous rivalry between the twain as to who should best +serve Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"No trouble, Master," said Koku. "Eradicate he start to come and tell +you strange man want to have talk, but Eradicate he no come fast +enough. So I pick him up, and I set him down by gate to stand on guard, +and I come to tell you. Koku come quick!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I knew it must be something like that!" exclaimed Tom in some +vexation. "Now I'll have Eradicate complaining to me that you mauled +him. Picked him up and set him down again." +</P> + +<P> +"Sure. One hand!" boasted the giant. "Eradicate him not be heavy. More +as a sack of flour now." +</P> + +<P> +"No, poor Eradicate is getting pretty old and thin," commented Tom. "He +can't move very quickly. But you should have let him come, Koku. It +makes him feel badly when he thinks he can't be of service to me any +more." +</P> + +<P> +"Man say he in hurry." The giant spoke softly, as though he felt the +gentle rebuke Tom administered. "Koku run quick tell you—bang on door." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you banged all right, Koku. Well, it can't be helped, I reckon. +Where is this strange man? Who is he? Did you ever see him before?" +</P> + +<P> +"Me no can tell, Master. Not sure. But him now be at the outer gate. +Eradicate watch." +</P> + +<P> +"All right. I'll go and see who it is. I don't want any strangers +poking around here, especially with the plans of my new gyroscope lying +in plain view." +</P> + +<P> +Before he left the laboratory Tom swept into a desk drawer the mass of +papers and blue prints, and locked the receptacle. +</P> + +<P> +"No use taking any chances," he remarked. "I've had too much trouble +with people trying to get inside information about dad's and my +patents. Now, Koku, I'll go and see this man." +</P> + +<P> +The buildings composing the plant of Tom Swift and his father at +Shopton were enclosed by a high, board fence, and at one of the +entrances was a sort of gate-house, where some one was always on guard. +Only those who could give a good account of themselves, workmen in the +plant, or those known to the sentinel were admitted. +</P> + +<P> +It happened that the colored man, Eradicate, was on guard at the gates +this day when the stranger asked to see Tom. Koku, working on the +airship engine not far away, saw the stranger. Hearing the man say he +was in a hurry and noting the slow progress of the aged Eradicate, who +was troubled with rheumatism, the giant took matters into his own hands. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift entered the gate-house and saw, seated in a chair, a man who +was impatiently tapping the floor with his thick-soled shoe. +</P> + +<P> +"Looks like a detective or a policeman in disguise," thought Tom, for, +almost invariably, members of this profession wear very thick-soled +shoes. Opposite the stranger sat Eradicate, a much-injured look on his +honest, black face. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Massa Tom!" exclaimed Eradicate, as soon as the young inventor +entered. "Dat Koku he—he—he done gone and cotch me by de collar ob +mah coat, an' den he lif' me up, an' he sot me down so hard—so +hard—dat he jar loose all mah back teef!" and Eradicate opened his +mouth wide to display his gleaming ivories. +</P> + +<P> +"Eradicate, he no can come quick. He walk like so fashion!" and Koku, +who had followed the young inventor, imitated the limping gait of the +colored man with such a queer effect that Tom could not help laughing, +and the stranger smiled. +</P> + +<P> +"Ef I gits holt on yo'—ef I does, yo' great, big, overgrown lummox, +Ah'll—Ah'll—" began the colored man, stammeringly. +</P> + +<P> +"There. That will do now!" interrupted Tom. "Don't quarrel in here. +Koku, get back to that engine and lift out the motor. Eradicate, didn't +father tell you to whitewash the chicken coops to-day?" +</P> + +<P> +"Dat's what he done, Massa Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, go and see about that. I'll stay here for a while, and when I +leave I'll call one of you, or some one else, to be on guard. Skip now!" +</P> + +<P> +Having thus disposed of the warring factions, Tom turned to the +stranger and after apologizing for the little interruption, asked: +</P> + +<P> +"You wished to see me?" +</P> + +<P> +"If you're Tom Swift; yes." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm Tom Swift," and the young owner of the name smiled. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope you will pardon a stranger for calling on you," resumed the +man, "but I'm in a lot of trouble, and I think you are the only one who +can help me out." +</P> + +<P> +"What sort of trouble?" Tom inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"Contracting trouble—tunnel blasting, to be exact. But if you have a +few minutes to spare perhaps you will listen to my story. You will then +be better able to understand my difficulty." +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift considered a moment. He was used to having appeals for help +made to him, and usually they were of a begging nature. He was often +asked for money to help some struggling inventor complete his machine. +</P> + +<P> +In many cases the machines would have been of absolutely no use if +perfected. In other cases the inventions were of the utterly hopeless +class, incapable of perfection, like some perpetual motion apparatus. +In these cases Tom turned a deaf ear, though if the inventor were in +want our hero relieved him. +</P> + +<P> +But this case did not seem to be like anything Tom had ever met with +before. +</P> + +<P> +"Contracting trouble—blasting," repeated the youth, as he mused over +what he had heard. +</P> + +<P> +"That's it," the man went on. "Permit me to introduce myself" and he +held out a card, on which was the name +</P> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MR. JOB TITUS +</H3> + +<BR> + +<P> +Down in the lower left-hand corner was a line: +<BR><BR> +"Titus Brothers, Contractors." +</P> + +<P> +"I am glad to meet you, Mr. Titus," Tom said warmly, offering his hand. +"I don't know anything about the contracting business, but if you do +blasting I suppose you use explosives, and I know a little about them." +</P> + +<P> +"So I have heard, and that's why I came to you," the contractor went +on. "Now if you'll give me a few minutes of your time—" +</P> + +<P> +"You had better come up to the house," interrupted Tom. "We can talk +more quietly there." +</P> + +<P> +Calling a young fellow who was at work near by to occupy the +gate-house, Tom led Mr. Titus toward the Swift homestead, and, a little +later, ushered him into the library. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I'll listen to you," the youth said, "though I can't promise to +aid you." +</P> + +<P> +"I realize that," returned Mr. Titus. "This is a sort of last chance +I'm taking. My brother and I have heard a lot about you, and when he +wrote to me that he was unable to proceed with his contract of +tunneling the Andes Mountains for the Peruvian government, I made up my +mind you were the one who could help us if you would." +</P> + +<P> +"Tunneling the Andes Mountains!" exclaimed Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. The firm represented by my brother and myself have a contract to +build a railroad for the Peruvian government. At a point some distance +back in the district east of Lima, Peru, we are making a tunnel under +the mountain. That is, we have it started, but now we can't advance any +further." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because of the peculiar character of the rock, which seems to defy the +strongest explosive we can get. Now I understand you used a powder in +your giant cannon that—" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Titus paused in his explanation, for at that moment there arose +such a clatter out on the front piazza as effectually to drown +conversation. There was a noise of the hoofs of a horse, the fall of a +heavy body, a tattoo on the porch floor and then came an excited shout: +</P> + +<P> +"Whoa there! Whoa! Stop! Look out where you're kicking! Bless my +saddle blanket! Ouch! There I go!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter II +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Explanations +</H3> + +<P> +"What in the world is that?" cried Mr. Job Titus, in alarm. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift did not answer. Instead he jumped up from his chair and ran +toward the front door. Mr. Titus followed. They both saw a strange +sight. +</P> + +<P> +Standing on the front porch, which he seemed to occupy completely, was +a large horse, with a saddle twisted underneath him. The animal was +looking about him as calmly as though he always made it a practice to +come up on the front piazza when stopping at a house. +</P> + +<P> +Off to one side, with a crushed hat on the back of his head, with a +coat split up the back, with a broken riding crop in one hand and a +handkerchief in the other, sat a dignified, elderly gentleman. +</P> + +<P> +That is, he would have been dignified had it not been for his position +and condition. No gentleman can look dignified with a split coat and a +crushed hat on, sitting under the nose of a horse on a front piazza, +with his raiment otherwise much disheveled, while he wipes his +scratched and bleeding face with a handkerchief. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my—bless my—" began the elderly gentleman, and he seemed at a +loss what particular portion of his anatomy or that of the horse, to +bless, or what portion of the universe to appeal to, for he ended up +with: "Bless everything, Tom Swift!" +</P> + +<P> +"I heartily agree with you, Mr. Damon!" cried Tom. "But what in the +world happened?" +</P> + +<P> +"That!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, pointing with his broken crop at the horse +on the piazza. "I was riding him when he ran away—just as my +motorcycle tried to climb a tree. No more horses for me! I'll stick to +airships," and slamming his riding crop down on the porch floor with +such force that the horse started back, Mr. Damon arose, painfully +enough if the contortions on his face and his grunts of pain went for +anything. +</P> + +<P> +"Let me help you!" begged Tom, striding forward. "Mr. Titus, perhaps +you will kindly lead the horse down off the piazza?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly!" answered the tunnel contractor. "Whoa now!" he called +soothingly, as the steed evinced a disposition to sit down on the side +railing. "Steady now!" +</P> + +<P> +The horse finally allowed himself to be led down the broad front steps, +sadly marking them, as well as the floor of the piazza, with his sharp +shoes. +</P> + +<P> +"Ouch! Oh, my back!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as Tom helped him to stand up. +</P> + +<P> +"Is it hurt?" asked Tom, anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I've just got what old-fashioned folks call a 'crick' in it," +explained the elderly horseman. "But it feels more like a river than a +'crick.' I'll be all right presently." +</P> + +<P> +"How did it happen?" asked Tom, as he led his guest toward the hall. +Meanwhile Mr. Titus, wondering what it was all about, had tied the +horse to a post out near the street curb, and had re-entered the +library. +</P> + +<P> +"I was riding over to see you, Tom, to ask you if you wouldn't go to +South America with me," began Mr. Damon, rubbing his leg tenderly. +</P> + +<P> +"South America?" cried Tom, with a sudden look at Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, South America. Why, there isn't anything strange in that, is +there? You've been to wilder countries, and farther away than that." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know—it's just a coincidence. Go on." +</P> + +<P> +"Let me get where I can sit down," begged Mr. Damon. "I think that +crick in my back is running down into my legs, Tom. I feel a bit weak. +Let me sit down, and get me a glass of water. I shall be all right +presently." +</P> + +<P> +Between them Tom and Mr. Titus assisted the horseman into an easy +chair, and there, under the influence of a cup of hot tea, which Mrs. +Baggert, the housekeeper, insisted on making for him, he said he felt +much better, and would explain the reason for his call which had +culminated in such a sensational manner. +</P> + +<P> +And while Mr. Damon is preparing his explanation I will take just a few +moments to acquaint my new readers with some facts about Tom Swift, and +the previous volumes of this series in which he has played such +prominent parts. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift was the son of an inventor, and not only inherited his +father's talents, but had greatly added to them, so that now Tom had a +wonderful reputation. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Swift was a widower, and he and Tom lived in a big house in +Shopton, New York State, with Mrs. Baggert for a housekeeper. About the +house, from time to time, shops and laboratories had been erected, +until now there was a large and valuable establishment belonging to Tom +and his father. +</P> + +<P> +The first volume of this series is entitled, "Tom Swift and His Motor +Cycle." It was through a motor cycle that Tom became acquainted with +Mr. Wakefield Damon, who lived in a neighboring town. Mr. Damon had +bought the motor cycle for himself, but, as he said, one day in riding +it the machine tried to climb a tree near the Swift house. +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor (for even then he was working on several patents) +ministered to Mr. Damon, who, disgusted with the motor cycle, and +wishing to reward Tom, let the young fellow have the machine. +</P> + +<P> +Tom's career began from that hour. For he learned to ride the motor +cycle, after making some improvements in it, and from then on the youth +had led a busy life. Soon afterward he secured a motor boat and from +that it was but a step to an airship. +</P> + +<P> +The medium of the air having been conquered, Tom again turned his +attention to the water, or rather, under the water, and he and his +father made a submarine. Then he built an electric runabout, the +speediest car on the road. +</P> + +<P> +It was when Ton Swift had occasion to send his wireless message from a +lonely island where he had been shipwrecked that he was able to do Mr. +and Mrs. Nestor a valuable service, and this increased the regard which +Miss Mary Nestor felt for the young inventor, a regard that bid fair, +some day, to ripen into something stronger. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift might have made a fortune when he set out to discover the +secret of the diamond makers. But Fate intervened, and soon after that +quest he went to the caves of ice, where he and his friends met with +disaster. In his sky racer Tom broke all records for speed, and when he +went to Africa to rescue a missionary, had it not been for his electric +rifle the tide of battle would have gone against him and his party. +</P> + +<P> +Marvelous, indeed, were the adventures underground, which came to Tom +when he went to look for the city of gold, but the treasure there was +not more valuable than the platinum which Tom sought in dreary Siberia +by means of his air glider. +</P> + +<P> +Tom thought his end had come when he fell into captivity among the +giants; but even that turned out well, and he brought two of the giants +away with him. Koku, one of the two giants, became devotedly attached +to the lad, much to the disgust of Eradicate Sampson, the old negro who +had worked for the Swifts for a generation, and who, with his mule +Boomerang, "eradicated" from the place as much dirt as possible. +</P> + +<P> +With his wizard camera Tom did much to advance the cause of science. +His great searchlight was of great help to the United States government +in putting a stop to the Canadian smugglers, while his giant cannon was +a distinct advance in ordnance, not excepting the great German guns +used in the European war. +</P> + +<P> +When Tom perfected his photo telephone the last objection to rendering +telephonic conversation admissible evidence in a law court was done +away with, for by this invention a person was able to see, as well as +to hear, over the telephone wire. One practically stood face to face +with the person, miles away, to whom one was talking. +</P> + +<P> +The volume immediately preceding this present one is called: "Tom Swift +and His Aerial Warship." The young inventor perfected a marvelous +aircraft that was the naval terror of the seas, and many governments, +recognizing what an important part aircraft were going to play in all +future conflicts, were anxious to secure Tom's machine. But he was true +to his own country, though his rivals were nearly successful in their +plots against him. +</P> + +<P> +The Mars, which was the name of Tom's latest craft, proved to be a +great success, and the United States government purchased it. It was +not long after the completion of this transaction that the events +narrated in the first chapter of this book took place. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon and Tom had been firm friends ever since the episode of the +motor cycle, and the eccentric gentleman (who blessed so many things) +often went with Tom on his trips. Besides Mary Nestor, Tom had other +friends. The one, after Miss Nestor, for whom he cared most (if we +except Mr. Damon) was Ned Newton, who was employed in a Shopton bank. +Ned also had often gone with Tom, though lately, having a better +position, he had less time to spare. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, do you feel better, Mr. Damon?" asked Tom, after a bit. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, very much, thank you. Bless my pen wiper! but I thought I was +done for when I saw my horse bolt for your front stoop. He rushed up +it, fell down, but, fortunately, I managed to get out of his way, +though the saddle girth slipped. And all I could think of was that my +wife would say: 'I told you so!' for she warned me not to ride this +animal. +</P> + +<P> +"But he never ran away with me before, and I was in a hurry to get over +to see you, Tom. Now then, let's get down to business. Will you go to +South America with me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Whereabout in South America are you going, Mr. Damon, and why?" Tom +asked. +</P> + +<P> +"To Peru, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"What a coincidence!" exclaimed Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon?" said Mr. Damon, interrogatively. +</P> + +<P> +"I said what a coincidence. I am going there myself." +</P> + +<P> +"Excuse me," interposed Tom, "I don't believe, in the excitement of the +moment, I introduced you gentlemen. Allow me—Mr. Damon—Mr. Titus." +</P> + +<P> +The presentation over, Mr. Damon went on: +</P> + +<P> +"You see, Tom, I have lately invested considerable money in a wholesale +drug concern. We deal largely in Peruvian remedies, principally the +bark of the cinchona tree, from which quinine is made. Of late there +has been some trouble over our concession from the Peruvian government, +and the company has decided to send me down there to investigate. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, as soon as I made up my mind to go I thought of you. So I +came over to see if you would not accompany me. All went well until I +reached your front gate. Then my horse became frightened by a yellow +toy balloon some boy was blowing up in the street and bolted with me. I +suppose if it had been a red or green balloon the effect would have +been the same. However, here I am, somewhat the worse for wear. Now +Tom, what do you say? Will you go to South America—to Peru—with me, +and help look up this Quinine business?" +</P> + +<P> +Once more Mr. Titus and Tom looked at each other. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter III +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Face at the Window +</H3> + +<P> +"What is the matter?" asked Mr. Damon, catching the glance between Tom +and the contractor. "Is there anything wrong with South America—Peru? +I know they have lots of revolutions in those countries, but I don't +believe Peru is what they call a 'banana republic'; is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," and Mr. Titus shook his head. "It isn't a question of +revolutions." +</P> + +<P> +"But it's something!" insisted Mr. Damon. "Bless my ink bottle! but +it's something. As soon as I mention Peru, Tom, you and Mr. Titus eye +each other as if I'd said something dreadful. Out with it! What is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's just—just a coincidence," Tom said. "But go on, Mr. Damon. +Finish what you have to say and then we'll explain." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I guess I've told you all you need to know for the present. I +went into this wholesale drug concern, hoping to make some money, but +now, on account of the trouble down in Peru, we stand to lose +considerable unless I can get back the cinchona concession." +</P> + +<P> +"What does that mean?" Tom asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it means that our concern secured from the Peruvian government +the right to take this quinine-producing bark from the trees in a +certain tropical section. But there has been a change in the government +in the district where our men were working, and now the privilege, or +concession, has been withdrawn. I'm going down to see if I can't get it +back. And I want you to go with me." +</P> + +<P> +"And I came here for very nearly the same thing," went on Mr. Titus. +"That is where the coincidence comes in. It is strange that we should +both appeal to Mr. Swift at the same time." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Tom's a valuable helper!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I know him of +old, for I've been on many a trip with him." +</P> + +<P> +"This is the first time I have had the pleasure of meeting him," +resumed the tunnel contractor, "but I have heard of him. I did not ask +him to go to South America for us. I only wanted to get some superior +explosive for my brother, who is in charge of driving the railroad +tunnel through a spur of the Andes. I look after matters up North here, +but I may have to go to Peru myself. +</P> + +<P> +"As I told Mr. Swift, I had read of his invention of the giant cannon +and the special powder he used in it to send a projectile such a +distance. The cannon is now mounted as one of the pieces of ordnance +for the defense of the Panama Canal, is it not?" he asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor nodded in assent. +</P> + +<P> +"Having heard of you, and the wonderful explosive used in your big +cannon," the contractor went on, "I wrote to my brother that I would +try and get some for him. +</P> + +<P> +"You see," he resumed, "this is the situation. Back in the Andes +Mountains, a couple of hundred miles east of Lima, the government is +building a short railroad line to connect two others. If this is done +it will mean that the products of Peru—quinine bark, coffee, cocoa, +sugar, rubber, incense and gold can more easily be transported. But to +connect the two railroad lines a big tunnel must be constructed. +</P> + +<P> +"My brother and I make a specialty of such work, and when we saw bids +advertised for, our firm put in an estimate. There was some trouble +with a rival firm, which also bid, but we secured the contract, and +bound ourselves to have the tunnel finished within a certain time, or +forfeit a large sum. +</P> + +<P> +"That was over a year ago. Since then our men, aided by the native +Indians of Peru, have been tunneling the mountain, until, about a month +back, we struck a snag." +</P> + +<P> +"What sort of snag?" Tom asked. +</P> + +<P> +"A snag in the shape of extra hard rock," replied the tunnel +contractor. "Briefly, Paleozoic rocks make up the eastern part of the +Andean Mountains in Peru, while the western range is formed of Mesozoic +beds, volcanic ashes and lava of comparatively recent date. Near the +coast the lower hills are composed of crystalline rocks, syenite and +granite, with, here and there, a strata of sandstone or limestone. +These are, undoubtedly, relics of the lower Cretaceous age, and we, or +rather, my brother, states that he has found them covered with marine +Tertiary deposits. +</P> + +<P> +"Now this Mesozoic band varies greatly. Porphyritic tuffs and massive +limestone compose the western chain of the Andes above Lima, while in +the Oroya Valley we find carbonaceous sandstones. Some of the tuffs may +be of the Jurassic age, though the Cretaceous period is also largely +represented. +</P> + +<P> +"Now while these different masses of rock formation offer hard enough +problems to the tunnel digger, still we are more or less prepared to +meet them, and we figured on a certain percentage of them. Up to the +present time we have met with just about what we expected, but what we +did not expect was something we came upon when the tunnel had been +driven three miles into the mountain." +</P> + +<P> +"What did you find?" asked Tom, who knew enough about geology to +understand the terms used. Mr. Damon did not, however, and when Mr. +Titus rolled off some of the technical words, the drug investor softly +murmured such expressions as +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my thermometer! Bless my porous plaster!" +</P> + +<P> +"We found," resumed Mr. Titus, "after we had bored for a considerable +distance into the mountain, a mass of volcanic rock which is so hard +that our best diamond drills are dulled in a short time, and the +explosives we use merely shatter the face of the cutting, and give us +hardly any progress at all. +</P> + +<P> +"It was after several trials, and when my brother found that he was +making scarcely any progress, compared to the energy of his men and the +blasting, that he wrote to me, explaining matters. I at once thought of +you, Tom Swift, and your powerful explosive, for I had read about it. +</P> + +<P> +"Now then, will you sell us some of your powder—explosive or whatever +you call it—Mr. Swift, or tell us where we can get it? We need it +soon, for we are losing valuable time." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Titus paused to draw on a piece of paper a rough map of Peru, and +the district where the tunnel was being constructed. He showed where +the two railroad lines were, and where the new route would bring them +together, the tunnel eliminating a big grade up which it would have +been impossible to haul trains of any weight. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you say, Mr. Swift?" the contractor concluded. "Will you let +us have some of your powder? Or, better still, will you come to Peru +yourself? That would suit us immensely, for you could be right on the +ground. And you could carry out your plan of going with your friend +here," and Mr. Titus nodded toward Mr. Damon. "That is, if you were +thinking of going." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I was thinking of it," Tom admitted. "Mr. Damon and I have been +on so many trips together that it seems sort of natural for us to 'team +it.' I have never been to Peru, and I should like to see the country. +There is only one matter though, that bothers me." +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Mr. Titus quickly. "If it is a question of money +dismiss it from your mind. The Peruvian government is paying a large +sum for this tunnel, and we stand to make considerable, even if we were +the lowest bidders. We can afford to pay you well—that is, we shall be +able to if we can complete the bore on time. That is what is bothering +me now—the unexpected strata of hard rock we have met with, which +seems impossible to blast. But I feel sure we can do it with the +explosive used in your giant cannon." +</P> + +<P> +"That is just the point!" Tom exclaimed. "I am not so sure my explosive +would do." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" the tunnel contractor asked. "It's powerful enough; isn't +it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it is powerful enough, but whether it will have the right effect +on volcanic rock is hard to say. I should like to see a rock sample." +</P> + +<P> +"I can telegraph to have some sent here to you," said Mr. Titus +eagerly. "Meantime, here is a description of it. I can read you that"; +and, taking a letter from his pocket, he read to Tom a geological +description of the hard rock. +</P> + +<P> +"Hum! Yes," mused Tom, as he listened. "It seems to be of the nature of +obsidian." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my watch chain!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Obsidian is a volcanic rock—a sort of combination of glass and flint +for hardness," Tom explained. "It is brittle, black in color, and the +natives of the Admiralty Islands use it for tipping their spears with +which they slay victims for their cannibalistic feasts." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my—bless my ear-drums!" gasped Mr. Damon. "Cannibals!" +</P> + +<P> +"Obsidian was also used by the ancient Mexicans to make knives and +daggers," Tom went on. "When Cortez conquered Mexico he found the +priests cutting the hearts from their living victims with knives made +from this volcanic glass-like rock, known as obsidian. It may be that +your brother has met with a vein of that in the tunnel," Tom said to +the contractor. +</P> + +<P> +"Possibly," admitted Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"In that case," Tom stated, "I may have to use a new kind of explosive. +That used for my giant cannon would merely crumble the hard rock for a +short distance." +</P> + +<P> +"Then will you accept the contract, and help us out?" asked Mr. Titus +eagerly. "We will pay you well. Will you come to Peru and look over the +ground?" +</P> + +<P> +"And kill two birds with one stone, and come with me also?" put in Mr. +Damon. +</P> + +<P> +Tom pondered for a moment. He was about to answer when the tunnel +contractor, who was looking from the library window, suddenly jumped +from his chair crying: +</P> + +<P> +"There he is again! Once more dogging me!" +</P> + +<P> +As he rushed from the room, Tom and Mr. Damon had a glimpse of a face +at one of the low library windows—a face that had an evil look. It +disappeared as Mr. Titus ran from the room. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter IV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Tom's Experiments +</H3> + +<P> +"Bless my looking glass, Tom, what does that mean?" exclaimed Mr. +Damon. "That face!" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," answered the young inventor. "But the sight of some one +looking in here seemed to disturb Mr. Titus. We must follow him." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps he saw your giant Koku looking in," suggested the odd, little +man who blessed everything he could think of. "The sight of his face, +to any one not knowing him, Tom, would be enough to cause fright." +</P> + +<P> +"It wasn't Koku who looked in the window," said Tom, decidedly. "It was +some stranger. Come on." +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor and Mr. Damon hurried out after the tunnel +contractor, who was running down the road that led in front of the +Swift homestead. +</P> + +<P> +"He's chasing some one, Tom," called Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I see he is. But who?" +</P> + +<P> +"I can't see any one," reported Mr. Damon, who had run down to the +gate, at which his horse was still standing. Mr. Damon had washed the +dirt from his hands and face, and was wearing one of Mr. Swift's coats +in place of his own split one. +</P> + +<P> +Tom joined the eccentric man and together they looked down the road +after the running Mr. Titus. They were in half a mind to join him, when +they saw him pull up short, raise his hands as though he had given over +the pursuit, and turn back. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess he got away, whoever he was," remarked Tom. "We'll walk down +and meet Mr. Titus, and ask him what it all means." +</P> + +<P> +Shortly afterward they came up to the contractor, who was breathing +heavily after his run, for he was evidently not used to such exercise. +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon, Tom Swift, for leaving you and Mr. Damon in such a +fashion," said Mr. Titus, "but I had to act quickly or lose the chance +of catching that rascal. As it was, he got away, but I think I gave him +a scare, and he knows that I saw him. It will make him more cautious in +the future." +</P> + +<P> +"Who was it?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I didn't have as close a look as I could have wished for," the +contractor said, as he walked back toward the house with Tom and Mr. +Damon, "but I'm pretty sure the face that peered in at us through the +library window was that of Isaac Waddington." +</P> + +<P> +"And who is he, if it isn't asking information that ought not be given +out?" inquired Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, certainly. I can tell you," said the contractor. "Only +perhaps we had better wait until we get back to the house. +</P> + +<P> +"Since one of their men was seen lurking around here there may be +others," went on Mr. Titus, when the three were once more seated in the +Swift library. "It is best to be on the safe side. The face I saw, I'm +sure, was that of Waddington, who is a tool of Blakeson & Grinder, +rival tunnel contractors. They put in a bid on this Andes tunnel, but +we were lower in our figures by several thousand dollars, and the +contract was awarded to us. +</P> + +<P> +"Blakeson & Grinder tried, by every means in their power, to get the +job away from us. They even invoked the aid of some Peruvian +revolutionists and politicians, but we held our ground and began the +work. Since then they have had spies and emissaries on our trail, +trying their best to make us fail in our work, so the Peruvian +officials might abrogate the contract and give it to them. +</P> + +<P> +"But, so far, we've managed to come out ahead. This Waddington is a +sort of spy, and I've found him dodging me several times of late. I +suppose he wants to find out my plans so as to be ready to jump in the +breach in case we fail." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think your rivals had anything to do with the difficulties you +are now meeting with in digging the tunnel?" asked Mr. Damon. Mr. Titus +shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"The present difficulties are all of Nature's doing," he said. "It's +just the abnormally hard rock that is bothering us. Only for that we'd +be all right, though we might have petty difficulties because of the +mean acts of Blakeson & Grinder. But I don't fear them." +</P> + +<P> +"How do you think this Waddington, if it was he, knew you were coming +here?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"I can only guess. My brother and I have had some correspondence +regarding you, Tom Swift. That is, I announced my intention of coming +to see you, and my brother wrote me to use my discretion. I wrote back +that I would consult you. +</P> + +<P> +"Our main office is in New York, where we employ a large clerical and +expert force. There is nothing to prevent one of our stenographers, for +instance, turning traitor and giving copies of the letters of my +brother and myself to our rivals. +</P> + +<P> +"Mind you, I don't say this was done, and I don't suspect any of our +employees, but it would be an easy matter for any one to know my plans. +I never thought of making a secret of them, or of my trip here. In some +way Waddington found out about the last, and he must have followed me +here. Then he sneaked up under the window, and tried to hear what we +said." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think he did?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"I wouldn't be surprised. We took no pains to lower our voices. But, +after all, he hasn't learned much that he didn't know before, if he +knew I was coming here. He didn't learn the secret of the explosive +that must be used, and that is the vital thing. For I defy him, or any +other contractor, to blast that hard rock with any known explosive. +We've tried every kind on the market and we've failed. We'll have to +depend on you, Tom Swift, to help us out with some of your giant cannon +powder." +</P> + +<P> +"And I'm not sure that will work," said the young inventor. "I think +I'll have to experiment and make a new explosive, if I conclude to go +to Peru." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you'll go all right!" declared Mr. Titus with a smile. "I can see +that you are eager for the adventures I am sure you'll find there, and, +besides, your friend here, Mr. Damon, needs you." +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I do, Tom!" exclaimed the odd man. "Bless my excursion +ticket, but you must come!" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll have to invent the new powder first," Tom said. +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I like to hear!" exclaimed Mr. Titus. "It shows you are +thinking of coming with us." +</P> + +<P> +Tom only smiled. +</P> + +<P> +"I am so anxious to get the proper explosive," went on Mr. Titus, "that +I would even purchase it from our rivals, Blakeson & Grinder, if I +thought they had it. But I'm sure they have not, though they may think +they can get it. +</P> + +<P> +"That may be the reason they are following me so closely. They may +want to know just when we will fail, and have to give up the contract, +and they may think they can step in and finish the work. But I don't +believe, without your help, Tom Swift, that they can blast that hard +rock, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'll say this," interrupted Tom, "first come, first served with +me, other things being equal. You have applied to me and, like a +lawyer, I won't go over to the other side now. I consider myself +retained by your firm, Mr. Titus, to invent some sort of explosive, and +if I am successful I shall expect to be paid." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, of course!" cried the contractor eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"Very good," Tom went on. "You needn't fear that I'll help the other +fellows. Now to get down to business. I must see some samples of this +rock in order to know what kind of explosive force is needed to rend +it." +</P> + +<P> +"I have some in New York," went on the contractor. "I'll have it sent +to you at once. I would have brought it, only it is too heavy to carry +easily, and I was not sure I could engage you." +</P> + +<P> +"Did that fellow—Waddington, I believe you called him—get away from +you?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Clean away," the contractor answered. "He was a better runner than I." +</P> + +<P> +"It doesn't matter much," Tom said. "He didn't hear anything that would +benefit him, and I'll give my men orders to be on the lookout for him. +What sort of fellow is he, Mr. Titus?" +</P> + +<P> +The contractor described the eavesdropper, and Mr. Damon exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my turkey wish-bone! I'm sure I passed that chap when I was +riding over to see you a while ago, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"You did?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, on the highway. He inquired the way to your place. But there was +nothing strange in that, since you employ a number of men, and I +thought this one was coming to look for work. I can't say I liked his +appearance, though." +</P> + +<P> +"No, he isn't a very prepossessing individual," commented Mr. Titus. +"Well, now what's the first thing to be done, Tom Swift?" +</P> + +<P> +"Get me some samples of the rock, so I can begin my experiments." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll do that. And now let us consider about going to Peru. For I'm +sure you will be successful in your experiments, and will find for us +just the powder or explosive we need." +</P> + +<P> +"We can go together." said Mr. Damon. "I shall certainly feel more at +home in that wild country if I know Tom Swift is with me, and I will +appreciate the help of you and your friends, Mr. Titus, in +straightening out the tangles of our drug business." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll do all I can for you, Mr. Damon." +</P> + +<P> +The three then talked at some length regarding possible plans. Tom sent +out word to one of his men to keep a sharp watch around the house and +grounds, against the possible return of Waddington, but nothing more +was seen of him, at least for the time being. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Titus drew up a sort of tentative agreement with Tom, binding his +firm to pay a large sum in case the young inventor was successful, and +then the contractor left, promising to have the rock samples come on +later by express. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon, after blessing a few dozen more or less impersonal objects, +took his departure, his fractious horse having quieted down in the +meanwhile, and Tom was left to himself. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what I've let myself in for now," the youth mused, as he went +back to his laboratory. "It's a new field for me—tunnel blasting. +Well, perhaps something may come of it." +</P> + +<P> +But of the strange adventure that was to follow his agreement to help +Mr. Titus, our hero, Tom Swift, had not the least inkling. +</P> + +<P> +Tom went back to his labors over the gyroscope problem, but he could +arrive at no satisfactory conclusion, and, tossing aside the papers, +covered with intricate figures, he exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm going for a walk! This thing is getting on my nerves." +</P> + +<P> +He strolled through the Shopton streets, and as he reached the +outskirts of the town, he saw just ahead of him the figure of a girl. +Tom quickened his pace, and presently was beside her. +</P> + +<P> +"Where are you going, Mary?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Tom! How you startled me!" she exclaimed, turning around. "I was +just thinking of you." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks! Something nice?" +</P> + +<P> +"I shan't tell you!" and she blushed. "But where are you going?" +</P> + +<P> +"Walking with you!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom was nothing if not bold. +</P> + +<P> +"Hadn't you better wait until you're asked?" she retorted, +mischievously. +</P> + +<P> +"If I did I might not get an invitation. So I'm going to invite myself, +and then I'm going to invite you in here to have an ice cream soda," +and he and Miss Nestor were soon seated at a table in a candy shop. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had nearly finished his ice cream when he glanced toward the door, +and started at the sight of a man who was entering the place. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter?" asked Mary. "Did you drop some ice cream, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Mary. But that man—" +</P> + +<P> +Mary turned in time to see an excited man hurry out of the candy shop +after a hasty glance at Tom Swift. +</P> + +<P> +"Who was he?" the girl asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I—er—oh, some one I thought I knew, but I guess I don't," said Tom, +quickly. "Have some more cream, Mary?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, thank you. Not now." +</P> + +<P> +Tom was glad she did not care for any, as he was anxious to get +outside, and have a look at the man, for he thought he had recognized +the face as the same that had peered in his window. But when he and +Miss Nestor reached the front of the shop the strange man was not in +sight. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess he came in to cool off after his run," mused Tom, "but when he +saw me he didn't care about it. I wonder if that was Waddington? He's a +persistent individual if it was he." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you undertaking any new adventures, Tom?" asked Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm thinking of going to Peru." +</P> + +<P> +"Peru!" she cried. "Oh, what a long way to go! And when you get there +will you write to me? I'm collecting stamps, and I haven't any from +Peru." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that—er—the only reason you want me to write?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Mary softly, as she ran up the walk. +</P> + +<P> +Tom smiled as he turned away. +</P> + +<P> +Three days later he received a box from New York. It contained the +samples from the Andes tunnel, and Tom at once began his experiments to +discover a suitable explosive for rending the hard stone. +</P> + +<P> +"It is compressed molten lava," said Mr. Swift. "You'll never get an +explosive that will successfully blast that, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll see," declared the young inventor. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter V +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Mary's Present +</H3> + +<P> +Outside a rudely-constructed shack, in the middle of a large field, +about a mile away from the nearest of the buildings owned by Tom Swift +and his father, were gathered a group of figures one morning. From the +shack, trailing over the ground, were two insulated wires, which led to +a pile of rocks and earth some distance off. Out of the temporary +building came Koku, the giant, bearing in his arms a big rock, of +peculiar formation. +</P> + +<P> +"That's it, Koku!" exclaimed Tom Swift. "Now don't drop it on your +toes." +</P> + +<P> +"No, Master, me no drop," the giant said, as he strode off with the +heavy load as easily as a boy might carry a stone for his sling-shot. +</P> + +<P> +Koku placed the big rock on top of the pile of dirt and stones and came +back to the hut, just as Eradicate, the colored man-of-all-work, +emerged. Koku was not looking ahead, and ran into Eradicate with such +force that the latter would have fallen had not the giant clasped his +big arms about him. +</P> + +<P> +"Heah now! Whut yo' all doin' t' me?" angrily demanded Eradicate. "Yo' +done gone an' knocked de breff outen me, dat's whut yo' all done! I'll +bash yo' wif a rock, dat's what I'll do!" +</P> + +<P> +Koku, laughing, tried to explain that it was all an accident, but +Eradicate would not listen. He looked about for a stone to throw at the +giant, though it was doubtful, with his feeble strength, and +considering the great frame of the big man, if any damage would have +been done. But Eradicate saw no rocks nearer than the pile in which +ended the two insulated wires, and, with mutterings, the negro set off +in that direction, shuffling along on his rheumatic legs. +</P> + +<P> +From the shack Tom Swift hailed: +</P> + +<P> +"Hi there, Rad! Come back! Where are you going?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'se gwine t' git a rock, Massa Tom, an' bash de haid ob dat big +lummox ob a giant! He done knocked de breff outen me, so he did." +</P> + +<P> +"You come back from that stone pile!" Tom ordered. "I'm going to blow +it up in a minute, and if you get too near you'll have the breath +knocked out of you worse than Koku did it. Come back, I say!" +</P> + +<P> +But Eradicate was obstinate and kept on. Tom, who was adjusting a +firing battery in the shack, laughed, and then in exasperation cried: +</P> + +<P> +"Koku, go and get him and bring him back. Carry him if he won't come +any other way. I don't want the dear old chump to get the fright of his +life, and he sure will if he goes too close. Bring him back!" +</P> + +<P> +"Koku bring, Master," was the giant's answer. +</P> + +<P> +He ran toward Eradicate, who, seeing his tormentor approaching, +redoubled his shuffling pace toward the stone pile. But he was no match +for the giant, who, ignoring his struggles, picked up Eradicate, and, +flinging him over his shoulder like a sack of meal, brought him to the +shack. +</P> + +<P> +"There him be, Master!" said the giant. +</P> + +<P> +"So I see," laughed Tom. "Now you stay here, Rad." +</P> + +<P> +"No, sah! No, sah, Massa Tom! I—I'se gwine t' git a rock an'—an' +bash his haid—dat's what I'se gwine t' do!" and the colored man tried +to struggle to his feet. +</P> + +<P> +"Look out now!" cried Tom, suddenly. "If things go right there won't be +a rock left for you to 'bash' anybody's head with, Rad. Look out!" +</P> + +<P> +The three cowered inside the shack, which, though it was rudely made, +was built of heavy logs and planks, with a fronting of sod and bags of +sand. +</P> + +<P> +Tom turned a switch. There was a loud report, and where the stone pile +had been there was a big hole in the ground, while the air was filled +with fragments of rock and dirt. These came down in a shower on the +roof of the shack, and Eradicate covered his ears with his trembling +hands. +</P> + +<P> +"Am—am de world comin' to de end, Massa Tom?" he asked. "Am dat +Gabriel's trump I done heah?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, you dear old goose!" laughed the young inventor. "That was just a +charge of my new explosive—a small charge, too. But it seems to have +done the work." +</P> + +<P> +He ran from the shack to the place where the rock pile had been, and +picked up several small fragments. +</P> + +<P> +"Busted all to pieces!" exulted Tom Swift. "Not a piece left as big as +a hickory nut. That's going some! I've got the right mixture at last. +If an ounce did that, a few hundred pounds ought to knock that Andes +tunnel through the mountain in no time. I'll telegraph to Mr. Titus." +</P> + +<P> +Leaving Koku and Rad to collect the wires and firing apparatus, there +being no danger now, as no explosive was left in the shack, Tom made +his way back to the house. His father met him. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Tom," he asked, "another failure?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Dad! Success! This time I turned the trick. I seem to have gotten +just the right mixture. Look, these are some of the pieces left from +the big rock—one of the samples Mr. Titus sent me. It was all cracked +up as small as this," and he held out the fragments he had picked up in +the field. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Swift regarded them for a few moments. +</P> + +<P> +"That's better, Tom," he said. "I didn't think you could get an +explosive that would successfully shatter that hard rock, but you seem +to have done it. Have you the formula all worked out?" +</P> + +<P> +"All worked out, Dad. I only made a small quantity, but the same +proportions will hold good for the larger amounts. I'm going to start +in and make it now. And then—Ho! for Peru!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom struck an attitude, such as some old discoverer might have assumed, +and then he hurried into the house to telephone a telegram to the +Shopton office. The message was to Mr. Titus, and read: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Explosive success. Start making it at once. Ready for Peru in month's +time." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Thirteen words," repeated Tom, as the operator called them back to +him. "I hope that doesn't mean bad luck." +</P> + +<P> +The experiment which Tom Swift had just brought to a successful +conclusion was one of many he had conducted, extending over several +wearying weeks. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as Tom had received the samples of the rock he had begun to +experiment. First he tried some of the explosive that was so successful +in the giant cannon. As he had feared, it was not what was needed. It +cracked the rock, but did not disintegrate it, and that was what was +needed. The hard rock must be broken up into fragments that could be +easily handled. Merely to crack it necessitated further explosions, +which would only serve to split it more and perhaps wedge it fast in +the tunnel. +</P> + +<P> +So Tom tried different mixtures, using various chemicals, but none +seemed to be just right. The trials were not without danger, either. +Once, in mixing some ingredients, there was an explosion that injured +one man, and blew Tom some distance away. Fortunately for him, there +was an open window in the direction in which he was propelled, and he +went through that, escaping with only some cuts and bruises. +</P> + +<P> +Another time there was a hang-fire, and the explosive burned instead of +detonating, so that one of the shops caught, and there was no little +work in subduing the flames. +</P> + +<P> +But Tom would not give up, and finally, after many trials, he hit on +what he felt to be the right mixture. This he took out to the big lot, +and having made a miniature tunnel with some of the sample rock, and +having put some of the explosive in a hole bored in the big chunk Koku +carried, Tom fired the charge. The result we have seen. It was a +success. +</P> + +<P> +A day after receiving Tom's message Mr. Titus came on and a +demonstration was given of the powerful explosive. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom, that's great!" cried the tunnel contractor. "Our troubles are at +an end now." +</P> + +<P> +But, had he known it, new ones were only just beginning. +</P> + +<P> +Tom at once began preparations for making the explosive on a large +scale, as much of it would be needed in the Andes tunnel. Then, having +turned the manufacturing end of it over to his men, Tom began his +preparations for going to Peru. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon was also getting ready, and it was arranged that he, with Tom +and Mr. Titus, should take a vessel from San Francisco, crossing the +continent by train. The supply of explosive would follow them by +special freight. +</P> + +<P> +"We might have gone by Panama except for the slide in the canal," Tom +said. "And I suppose I could take you across the continent in my +airship, Mr. Titus, if you object to railroad travel." +</P> + +<P> +"No, thank you, Tom. If it's just the same to you, I'd rather stay on +the ground," the contractor said. "I'm more used to it." +</P> + +<P> +A day or so before the start for San Francisco was to be made, Tom, +passing a store in Shopton, saw something in the window he thought Mary +Nestor would like. It was a mahogany work-box, of unique design, +beautifully decorated, and Tom purchased it. +</P> + +<P> +"Shall I have it sent?" asked the clerk. +</P> + +<P> +"No, thank you," Tom answered. +</P> + +<P> +He knew the young lady who had waited on him, and, for reasons of his +own, he did not want her to know that Mary was to get the box. +</P> + +<P> +Carrying the present to his laboratory, Tom prepared to wrap it up +suitably to send to Mary, with a note. Just, however, as he was looking +for a box suitable to contain the gift, he received a summons to the +telephone. Mr. Titus, in New York, wanted to speak to him. +</P> + +<P> +"Here, Rad!" Tom called. "Just box this up for me, like a good fellow, +and then take it to Miss Nestor at this address; will you?" and Tom +handed his man the addressed letter he had written to Mary. "Be careful +of it," Tom cautioned. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'll be careful, Massa Tom," was the reply. "I'll shore be +careful." +</P> + +<P> +And Eradicate was—all too careful. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter VI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Mr. Nestor's Letter +</H3> + +<P> +"Got t' git a good strong box fo' dish yeah," murmured Eradicate, as he +looked at the beautiful mahogany present Tom had turned over to him to +take to Mary. "Mah Landy! Dat suttinly am nice; Ah! Um! Jest laik some +ob de old mahogany furniture dat was in our fambily down Souf." +Eradicate did not mean his family, exactly, but the one in which he had +been a slave. +</P> + +<P> +"Yassum, dat shore am nice!" he went on, talking to himself as he +admired the present. "I shore got t' put dat in a good box! An' dish +year note, too. Let's see what it done say on de outside." +</P> + +<P> +Eradicate held the envelope carefully upside down, and read—or rather +pretended to read—the name and address. Eradicate knew well enough +where Mary lived, for this was not the first time he had gone there +with messages from his young master. +</P> + +<P> +"Massa Tom shore am a fine writer," mused the negro, as he slowly +turned the envelope around. "I cain't read nobody's writin' but hisen, +nohow." +</P> + +<P> +Had Eradicate been strictly honest with himself, he would have +confessed that he could not read any writing, or printing either. His +education had been very limited, but one could show him, say, a printed +sign and tell him it read "Danger" or "Five miles to Branchville," or +anything like that, and the next time he saw it, Eradicate would know +what that sign said. He seemed to fix a picture of it in his mind, +though the letters and figures by themselves meant nothing to him. So +when Tom told him the envelope contained the name and address of Miss +Nestor, Eradicate needed nothing more. +</P> + +<P> +He rummaged about in some odds and ends in the corner of the +laboratory, and brought out a strong, wooden box, which had a cover +that screwed down. +</P> + +<P> +"Dat'll be de ticket!" Eradicate exclaimed. "De mahogany present will +jest fit." Eradicate took some excelsior to pad the box, and then, +dropping inside it the gift, already wrapped in tissue paper, he +proceeded to screw on the cover. +</P> + +<P> +There was something printed in red letters on the outside box, but +Eradicate could not read, so it did not trouble him. +</P> + +<P> +"Dat Miss Nestor shore will laik her present," he murmured. "An' I'll +be mighty keerful ob it' laik Massa Tom tole me. He wouldn't trust dat +big lummox Koku wif anyt'ing laik dis." +</P> + +<P> +Screwing on the cover, and putting a piece of wrapping paper outside +the rough, wooden box, with the letter in his hand, Eradicate, full of +his own importance, set off for Miss Nestor's house. Tom had not +returned from the telephone, over which he was talking to Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +The message was an important one. The contractor said he had received +word from his brother in Peru that his presence was urgently needed +there. +</P> + +<P> +"Could you arrange to get off sooner than we planned, Tom?" asked Mr. +Titus. "I am afraid something has happened down there. Have you sent +the first shipment of explosive?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that went three days ago. It ought to arrive at Lima soon after +we do. Why yes, I can start to-night if we have to. I'll find out if +Mr. Damon can be with us on such short notice." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you would," came from Mr. Titus. "And say, Tom, do you think +you could take that giant Koku with you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I think he'd come in handy. There are some pretty rough +characters in those Andes Mountains, and your big friend might be +useful." +</P> + +<P> +"All right. I was thinking of it, anyhow. Glad you mentioned it. Now +I'll call up Mr. Damon, and I'll let you know, in an hour or so, if he +can make it." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my hair brush, yes, Tom!" exclaimed the eccentric man, when told +of the change in plans. "I can leave to-night as well as not." +</P> + +<P> +Word to this effect was sent on to Mr. Titus, and then began some +hurrying on the part of Tom Swift. He told Koku to get ready to leave +for New York at once, where he and the giant would join Mr. Titus and +Mr. Damon, and start across the continent to take for steamer for Lima, +Peru. +</P> + +<P> +"Rad, did you send that present to Miss Nestor?" asked Tom, later, as +he finished packing his grip. +</P> + +<P> +"Yas, sah. I done did it. Took it mase'f!" +</P> + +<P> +"That's good! I guess I'll have to say good-bye to Mary over the +telephone. I won't have time to call. I'm glad I thought of the +present." +</P> + +<P> +Tom got the Nestor house on the wire. But Mary was not in. +</P> + +<P> +"There's a package here for her," said the girl's mother. "Did you—?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I sent that," Tom said. "Sorry I won't be able to call and say +good-bye, but I'm in a terrible rush. I'll see her as soon as I get +back, and I'll write as soon as I arrive." +</P> + +<P> +"Do," urged Mrs. Nestor. "We'll all be glad to hear from you," for Tom +and Mary were tentatively engaged to be married. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and Koku went on with their hurried preparations to leave for New +York. Eradicate begged to be taken along, but Tom gently told the +faithful old servant that it was out of the question. +</P> + +<P> +"Besides, Rad," he said, "it's dangerous in those Andes Mountains. Why, +they have birds there, as big as cows, and they can swoop down and +carry off a man your size." +</P> + +<P> +"Am dat shorely so, Massa Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course it is! You get the dictionary and read about the condors of +the Andes Mountains." +</P> + +<P> +"Dat's what I'll do, Massa Tom. Birds as big as cows what kin pick up a +man in dere beaks, an' carry him off! Oh, my! No, sah, Massa Tom! I +don't want t' go. I'll stay right yeah!" +</P> + +<P> +Shortly before Tom and Koku departed for the railroad station, where +they were to take a train for New York, Mary Nestor returned home. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom called you on the telephone to say good-bye," her mother informed +her, "and said he was sorry he could not see you. But he sent some sort +of gift." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, how sweet of him!" Mary exclaimed. "Where is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"On the dining room table. Eradicate brought it with a note." +</P> + +<P> +Mary read the note first. +</P> + +<P> +In it Tom begged Mary to accept the little token, and to think of him +when she used it. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! I wonder what it can be," she cried in delight. +</P> + +<P> +"Better open it and see," advised Mr. Nestor, who had come in at that +moment. +</P> + +<P> +Mary cut the string of the outside paper, and folded back the wrapper. +A wooden box was exposed to view, a solid, oblong, wooden box, and on +the top, in bold, red letters Mary, her father and her mother read: +</P> + +<H3 ALIGN="center" STYLE="color: red"> +DYNAMITE! HANDLE WITH CARE! +</H3> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Oh! Oh!" murmured Mrs. Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +"Dynamite! Handle with care!" repeated Mr. Nestor, in a sort of dazed +voice. "Quick! Get a pail of water! Dump it in the bathtub! Soak it +good, and then telephone for the police. Dynamite! What does this mean?" +</P> + +<P> +He rushed toward the kitchen, evidently with the intention of getting a +pail of water, but Mary clasped him by the arm. +</P> + +<P> +"Father!" she exclaimed. "Don't get so excited!" +</P> + +<P> +"Excited!" he cried. "Who's excited? Dynamite! We'll all be blown up! +This is some plot! I don't believe Tom sent this at all! Look out! Call +the police! Excited! Who's getting excited?" +</P> + +<P> +"You are, Daddy dear!" said Mary calmly. "This is some mistake. Tom did +send this—I know his writing. And wasn't it Eradicate who brought this +package, Mother?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, my dear. But your father is right. Let him put it in water, then +it will be safe. Oh, we'll all be blown up. Get the water!" +</P> + +<P> +"No!" cried Mary. "There is some mistake. Tom wouldn't send me +dynamite. There must be a present for me in there. Tom must have put +it in the wrong box by mistake. I'm going to open it." +</P> + +<P> +Mary's calmness had its effect on her parents. Mr. Nestor cooled down, +as did his wife, and a closer examination of the outer box did not seem +to show that it was an infernal machine of any kind. +</P> + +<P> +"It's all a mistake, Daddy," Mary said. "I'll show you. Get me a screw +driver." +</P> + +<P> +After some delay one was found, and Mr. Nestor himself opened the box. +When the tissue paper wrappings of the mahogany gift were revealed he +gave a sigh of relief, and when Mary undid the wrappings, and saw what +Tom had sent her, she cried: +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, how perfectly dear! Just what I wanted! I wonder how he knew? Oh, +I just love it!" and she hugged the beautiful box in her arms. +</P> + +<P> +"Humph!" exclaimed Mr. Nestor, a slowly gathering light of anger +showing in his eyes. "It is a nice present, but that is a very poor +sort of joke to play, in my estimation." +</P> + +<P> +"Joke! What joke?" asked Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Putting a present in a box labeled Dynamite, and giving us such a +scare," went on her father. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Father, I'm sure he didn't mean to do it!" Mary said, earnestly. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, maybe he didn't! He may have thought it a joke, and he may not +have! But, at any rate, it was a piece of gross carelessness on his +part, and I don't care to consider for a son-in-law a young man as +careless as that!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Daddy!" expostulated Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, now! Tut, tut!" exclaimed Mr. Nestor. "It isn't your fault, Mary, +but this Tom Swift must be taught a lesson. He was careless, if nothing +worse, and, for all he knew, there might have been some stray bits of +dynamite in that packing box. It won't do! It won't do! I'll write him +a letter, and give him a piece of my mind!" +</P> + +<P> +And in spite of all his wife and his daughter could say, Mr. Nestor did +write Tom a scathing letter. He accused him of either perpetrating a +joke, or of being careless, or both, and he intimated that the less he +saw of Tom at the Nestor home hereafter the better pleased he would be. +</P> + +<P> +"There! I guess that will make him wish he hadn't done it!" exclaimed +Mr. Nestor, as he called a messenger and sent the letter to Tom's house. +</P> + +<P> +Mary and her mother did not know the contents of the note, but Mary +tried to get Tom on the wire and explain. However, she was unable to +reach him, as Tom was on the point of leaving. +</P> + +<P> +The messenger, with Mr. Nestor's letter, arrived just as our hero was +receiving the late afternoon mail from the postman, and just as Tom and +Koku were getting in an automobile to leave for the depot. +</P> + +<P> +"Good-bye, Dad!" Tom called. "Good-bye, Mrs. Baggert!" He thrust Mr. +Nestor's letter, unopened, together with some other mail matter, which +he took to be merely circulars, into an inner pocket, and jumped into +the car. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and Koku were off on the first stage of their journey. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter VII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Off for Peru +</H3> + +<P> +"Well, Tom Swift, you're on time I see," was Mr. Job Titus' greeting, +when our hero, and Koku, the giant, alighted from a taxicab in New +York, in front of the hotel the contractor had appointed as a meeting +place. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I'm here." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you have a good trip?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, all right, yes. Nothing happened to speak of, though we were +delayed by a freight wreck. Has Mr. Damon got here yet?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not yet, Tom. But I had a message saying he was on his way. Come on up +to the rooms I have engaged. Hello, what's all the crowd here for?" +asked the contractor in some surprise, for a throng had gathered at the +hotel entrance. +</P> + +<P> +"I expect it's Koku they're staring at," announced Tom, and the giant +it was who had attracted the attention. He was carrying his own big +valise, and a small steamer trunk belonging to Tom, as easily as though +they weighed nothing, the trunk being under one arm. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess they don't see men of his size outside of circuses," commented +the contractor. "We can pretty nearly, though not quite match him, down +in Peru though, Tom. Some of the Indians are big fellows." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll get up a wrestling match between one of them and Koku," +suggested Tom. "Come on!" he called to the giant, who was surrounded by +a crowd. +</P> + +<P> +Koku pushed his way through as easily as a bull might make his way +through a throng of puppies about his heels, and as Tom, Mr. Titus and +the giant were entering the hotel corridor, the chauffeur of the +taxicab called out with a laugh: +</P> + +<P> +"I say, boss, don't you think you ought to pay double rates on that +chap," and he nodded in the direction of the giant. +</P> + +<P> +"That's right!" added some one in the crowd with a laugh. "He might +have broken the springs." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," assented Tom, good-naturedly, tossing the chauffeur a +coin. "Here you are, have a cigar on the giant." +</P> + +<P> +There was more laughter, and even Koku grinned, though it is doubtful +if he knew what about, for he could not understand much unless Tom +spoke to him in a sort of code they had arranged between them. +</P> + +<P> +"Sorry to have hastened your departure," began Mr. Titus when he and +Tom sat in the comfortable hotel rooms, while Koku stood at a window, +looking out at what to him were the marvelous wonders of the New York +streets. +</P> + +<P> +"It didn't make any difference," replied the young inventor. "I was +about ready to come anyhow. I just had to hustle a little," and he +thought of how he had had to send Mary's present to her instead of +taking it himself. As yet he was all unaware of the commotion it had +caused. +</P> + +<P> +"Did you get the powder shipment off all right?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and it will be there almost as soon as we. Other shipments will +follow as we need them. My father will see to that." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm glad you hit on the right kind of powder," went on the contractor. +"I guess I didn't make any mistake in coming to you, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I hope not. Of course the explosive worked all right in +experimental charges with samples of the tunnel rock. It remains to be +seen what it will do under actual conditions, and in big service +charges." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I've no doubt it will work all right." +</P> + +<P> +"What time do we leave here?" Tom asked. +</P> + +<P> +"At two-thirty this afternoon. We have just time to get a good dinner +and have our baggage transferred to the Chicago limited. In less than a +week we ought to be in San Francisco and aboard the steamer. I hope Mr. +Damon arrives on time." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you can generally depend on him," said Tom. "I telephoned him, +just before I started from Shopton, and he said—" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my carpet slippers!" cried a voice outside the hotel apartment. +"But I can find my way all right. I know the number of the room. No! +you needn't take my bag. I can carry it my self!" +</P> + +<P> +"There he is!" laughed Tom, opening the door to disclose the eccentric +gentleman himself, struggling to keep possession of his valise against +the importunities of a bellboy. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, Tom—Mr. Titus! Glad to see you!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I—I am a +little late, I fear—had an accident—wait until I get my breath," and +he sank, panting, into a chair. +</P> + +<P> +"Accident?" cried Tom. "Are you—?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes—my taxicab ran into another. Nobody hurt though." +</P> + +<P> +"But you're all out of breath," said Mr. Titus. "Did you run?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, but I walked upstairs." +</P> + +<P> +"What! Seven flights?" exclaimed Tom. "Weren't the hotel elevators +running?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but I don't like them. I'd rather walk. And I did—carried my +valise—bellboy tried to take it away from me every step—here you are, +son—it wasn't the tip I was trying to get out of," and he tossed the +waiting and grinning lad a quarter. +</P> + +<P> +"There, I'm better now," went on Mr. Damon, when Tom had given him a +glass of water. "Bless my paper weight! The drug concern will have to +vote me an extra dividend for what I've gone through. Well, I'm here, +anyhow. How is everything?" +</P> + +<P> +"Fine!" cried Tom. "We'll soon be off for Peru!" +</P> + +<P> +They talked over plans and made sure nothing had been forgotten. Their +railroad tickets had been secured by Mr. Titus so there was nothing +more to do save wait for train-time. +</P> + +<P> +"I've never been to Peru," Tom remarked shortly before lunch. "What +sort of country is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Quite a wonderful country," Mr. Titus answered. "I have been very much +interested in it since my brother and I accepted this tunnel contract. +Peru seems to have taken its name from Peru, a small river on the west +coast of Colombia, where Pizarro landed. The country, geographically, +may be divided into three sections longitudinally. The coast region is +a sandy desert, with here and there rivers flowing through fertile +valleys. The sierra region is the Andes division, about two hundred and +fifty miles in width." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that where we're going?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. And beyond the Andes (which in Peru consist of great chains of +mountains, some very high, interspersed with table lands, rich plains +and valleys) there is the montana region of tropical forests, running +down to the valley of the Amazon. +</P> + +<P> +"That sounds interesting," commented Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"It is interesting," declared Mr. Titus. "For it is from this tropical +region that your quinine comes, Mr. Damon, though you may not have to +go there to straighten out your affairs. I think you can do better +bargaining with the officials in Lima, or near there." +</P> + +<P> +"Are there any wild animals in Peru?" Tom inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, not many. Of course there are the llamas and alpacas, which are +the beasts of burden—almost like little camels you might say, though +much more gentle. Then there is the wild vicuna, the fleece of which is +made into a sort of wool, after which a certain kind of cloth is named. +</P> + +<P> +"Then there is the taruco, a kind of deer, the viscacha, which is a big +rat, the otoc, a sort of wild dog, or fox, and the ucumari, a black +bear with a white nose. This bear is often found on lofty mountain +tops, but only when driven there in search of food. +</P> + +<P> +"The condors, of course, are big birds of prey in the Andes. You must +have read about them; how they seem to lie in the upper regions of the +air, motionless, until suddenly they catch sight of some dead animal +far down below when they sweep toward it with the swiftness of the +wink. There is another bird of the vulture variety, with wings of black +and white feathers. The ancient Incas used to decorate their head +dresses with these wing feathers." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm glad I'm going to Peru," said Tom. "I never knew it was such +an interesting country. But I don't suppose we'll have time to see much +of it." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I think you will," commented Mr. Titus. "We don't always have to +work on the tunnel. There are numerous holidays, or holy-days, which +our Indian workers take off, and we can do nothing without them. I'll +see that you have a chance to do some exploring if you wish." +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" exclaimed Tom. "I brought my electric rifle with me, and I may +get a chance to pop over one of those bears with a white nose. Are they +good to eat?" +</P> + +<P> +"The Indians eat them, I believe, when they can get them, but I +wouldn't fancy the meat," said the contractor. +</P> + +<P> +Luncheon over, the three travelers departed with their baggage for the +Chicago Limited, which left from the Pennsylvania Station at +Twenty-third Street. As usual, Koku attracted much attention because of +his size. +</P> + +<P> +The trip to San Francisco was without incident worth narrating and in +due time our friends reached the Golden Gate where they were to go +aboard their steamer. They had to wait a day, during which time Tom and +Mr. Titus made inquiries regarding the first powder shipment. They had +had unexpected good luck, for the explosive, having been sent on ahead +by fast freight, was awaiting them. +</P> + +<P> +"So we can take it with us on the Bellaconda," said, Tom, naming the +vessel on which they were to sail. +</P> + +<P> +The powder was safely stowed away, and our friends having brought their +baggage aboard, putting what was wanted on the voyage in their +staterooms, went out on deck to watch the lines being cast off. +</P> + +<P> +A bell clanged and an officer cried: +</P> + +<P> +"All ashore that's going ashore!" +</P> + +<P> +There were hasty good-byes, a scramble on the part of those who had +come to bid friends farewell, and preparations were made to haul in the +gangplank. +</P> + +<P> +Just as the tugs were slowly pushing against the Bellaconda to get her +in motion to move her away from the wharf, there was a shout down the +pier and a taxicab, driven at reckless speed, dashed up. +</P> + +<P> +"Wait a minute! Hold that gangway. I have a passenger for you!" cried +the chauffeur. +</P> + +<P> +He pulled up with a screeching of brakes, and a man with a heavy black +beard fairly leaped from the vehicle, running toward the plank which +was all but cast off. +</P> + +<P> +"My fare! My fare!" yelled the taxicab driver. +</P> + +<P> +"Take it out of that! Keep the change!" cried the bearded man over his +shoulder, tossing a crumpled bill to the chauffeur. And then, clutching +his valise in a firm hand, the belated passenger rushed up the +gangplank just in time to board the steamer which was moving away from +the dock. +</P> + +<P> +"Close shave—that," observed Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," assented Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we're off for Peru!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as the vessel moved +down the bay. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter VIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Bearded Man +</H3> + +<P> +Travel to Tom and Mr. Damon presented no novelties. They had been on +too many voyages over the sea, under the sea and even in the air above +the sea to find anything unusual in merely taking a trip on a steamer. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Titus, though he admitted he had never been in a submarine or +airship, had done considerable traveling about the world in his time, +and had visited many countries, either for business or pleasure, so he +was an old hand at it. +</P> + +<P> +But to Koku, who, since he had been brought from the land where Tom +Swift had been made captive, had gone about but little, everything was +novel, and he did not know at what to look first. +</P> + +<P> +The giant was interested in the ship, in the water, in the passengers, +in the crew and in the sights to be seen as they progressed down the +harbor. +</P> + +<P> +And the big man himself was a source of wonder to all save his own +party. Everywhere he went about the decks, or below, he was followed by +a staring but respectful crowd. Koku took it all good-naturedly, +however, and even consented to show his great strength by lifting heavy +weights. Once when several sailors were shifting one of the smaller +anchors (a sufficiently heavy one for all that) Koku pushed them aside +with a sweep of his big arm, and, picking up the big "hook," turned to +the second mate and asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Where you want him?" +</P> + +<P> +"Good land, man!" cried the astonished officer. "You'll kill yourself!" +</P> + +<P> +But Koku carried the anchor where it ought to go, and from then on he +was looked up to with awe and admiration by the sailors. +</P> + +<P> +From San Francisco to Callao, Peru (the latter city being the seaport +of Lima, which is situated inland), is approximately nine hundred +miles. But as the Bellaconda was a coasting steamer, and would make +several stops on her trip, it would be more than a week before our +friends would land at Callao, then to proceed to Lima, where they +expected to remain a day or so before striking into the interior to +where the tunnel was being bored through the mountain. +</P> + +<P> +The first day was spent in getting settled, becoming used to their new +surroundings, finding their places and neighbors at table, and in +making acquaintances. There were some interesting men and women aboard +the Bellaconda, and Tom Swift, Mr. Damon and Mr. Titus soon made +friends with them. This usually came about through the medium of Koku, +the giant. Persons seeing him would inquire about him, and when they +learned he was Tom Swift's helper it was an easy topic with which to +open conversation. +</P> + +<P> +Tom told, modestly enough, how he had come to get Koku in his escape +from captivity, but Mr. Damon was not so simple in describing Tom's +feats, so that before many days had passed our hero found himself +regarded as a personage of considerable importance, which was not at +all to his liking. +</P> + +<P> +"But bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon, when Tom objected to so +much notoriety. "You did it all; didn't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know. But these people won't believe it." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes they will!" said the odd man. "I'll take good care that they +believe it." +</P> + +<P> +"If any one say it not so, you tell me!" broke Koku, shaking his huge +fist. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I guess I'd better keep still," said Tom, with a laugh. +</P> + +<P> +The weather was pleasant, if we except a shower or two, and as the +vessel proceeded south, tropical clothing became the order of the day, +while all who could, spent most of their time on deck under the shade +of awnings. +</P> + +<P> +"Did you ever hear anything more of that fellow, Waddington?" asked Tom +of Mr. Titus one day. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a thing. He seems to have dropped out of sight." +</P> + +<P> +"And are your rivals, Blakeson & Grinder, making any trouble?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not that I've heard of. Though just what the situation may be down in +Peru I don't know. I fancy everything isn't going just right or my +brother would not be so anxious for me to come on in such a hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you anticipate any real trouble?" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Titus paused a moment before answering. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes," he said, finally, "I do!" +</P> + +<P> +"What sort?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"That I can't say. I'll be perfectly frank with you, Tom. You know I +told you at the time that we were in for difficulties. I didn't want +you to go into this thing blindly." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm not afraid of trouble," Tom hastened to assure his friend. +"I've had more or less of it in my life, and I'm willing to meet it +again. Only I like to know what kind it is." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I can't tell you—exactly," went on the tunnel contractor. +"Those rivals of ours, Blakeson & Grinder, are unscrupulous fellows. +They feel very bitter about not getting the contract, I hear. And they +would be only too glad to have us fail in the work. That would mean +that they, as the next lowest bidders, would be given the job. And we +would have to make up the difference out of our pockets, as well as +lose all the work we have, so far, put on the tunnel." +</P> + +<P> +"And you don't want that to happen!" +</P> + +<P> +"I guess not, my boy! Well, it won't happen if we get there in time +with this new explosive of yours. That will do the business I'm sure." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so," murmured Tom. "Well, we'll soon see. And now I think I'll +go and write a few letters. We are going to put in at Panama, and I can +mail them there." +</P> + +<P> +Tom started for his stateroom, and rapidly put his hand in the inner +pocket of his coat. He drew out a bundle of letters and papers, and, as +he looked at them, a cry of astonishment came from his lips. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"Matter!" cried Tom. "Why here's a letter from Mary—from Mr. Nestor," +he went on, as he scanned the familiar handwriting. "I never opened it! +Let's see—when did I get that?" +</P> + +<P> +His memory went back to the day of his departure from Shopton when he +had sent Mary the gift, and he recalled that the letter had arrived +just as he was getting into the automobile. +</P> + +<P> +"I stuck it in my pocket with some other mail," he mused, "and I never +thought of it again until just now. But this is the first time I've +worn this coat since that day. A letter from Mr. Nestor! Probably Mary +wrote, thanking me for the box, and her father addressed the envelope +for her. Well, let's see what it says." +</P> + +<P> +Tom retired to the privacy of his stateroom to read the note, but he +had not glanced over more than the first half of it before he cried out: +</P> + +<P> +"Dynamite! Great Scott! What does this mean? 'Gross carelessness! Poor +idea of a joke! No person with your idea of responsibility will ever be +my son-in-law!' Box labeled 'open with care!' Why—why—what does it +all mean?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom read the letter over again, and his murmurs of astonishment were so +loud that Mr. Damon, in the next room, called out: +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter, Tom? Get bad news?" +</P> + +<P> +"Bad news? I should say so! Mary—her father—he forbids me to see her +again. Says I tried to dynamite them all—or at least scare them into +believing I was going to. I can't understand it!" +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me about it, Tom," suggested Mr. Damon, coming into Tom's +stateroom. "Bless my gunpowder keg! what does it mean?" +</P> + +<P> +Thereupon Tom told of having purchased the gift for Mary, and of +having, at the last minute, told Eradicate to put it in a box and +deliver it at the Nestor home. +</P> + +<P> +"Which he evidently did," Tom went on, "but when it got there Mary's +present was in a box labeled 'Dynamite. Handle with care.' I never sent +that." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon read over Mr. Nestor's letter which had lain so long in Tom's +pocket unopened. +</P> + +<P> +"I think I see how it happened," said the old man. "Eradicate can't +read; can he, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, but he pretends he can." +</P> + +<P> +"And did you have any empty boxes marked dynamite in your laboratory?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why yes, I believe I did. I used dynamite as one of the ingredients of +my new explosive." +</P> + +<P> +"Well then, it's as clear as daylight. Eradicate, being unable to read, +took one of the empty dynamite boxes in which to pack Mary's present. +That's how it happened." +</P> + +<P> +Tom thought for a moment. Then he burst into a laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"That's it," he said, a bit ruefully. "That's the explanation. No +wonder Mr. Nestor was roiled. He thought I was playing a joke. I'll +have to explain. But how?" +</P> + +<P> +"By letter," said Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Too slow. I'll send a wireless," decided Tom, and he began the +composition of a message that cost him considerable in tolls before he +had hit on the explanation that suited him. +</P> + +<P> +"That ought to clear the atmosphere," he said when the wireless had +shot his message into the ether. "Whew! And to think, all this while, +Mary and her folks have believed that I tried to play a miserable joke +on them! My! My! I wonder if they'll ever forgive me. When I get hold +of Eradicate—" +</P> + +<P> +"Better teach him to read if he's going to do up love packages," +interrupted Mr. Damon, dryly. +</P> + +<P> +"I will," decided the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +The Bellaconda stopped at Panama and then kept on her way south. Soon +after that she ran into a severe tropical storm, and for a time there +was some excitement among the passengers. The more timid of them put on +life preservers, though the captain and his officers assured them there +was no danger. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and Mr. Titus, descending from the deck, whence they had been +warned by one of the mates, were on their way to their stateroom, +walking with some difficulty owing to the roll of the ship. +</P> + +<P> +As they approached their quarters the door of a stateroom farther up +the passage opened, and a head was thrust out. +</P> + +<P> +"Will you send a steward to me?" a man requested. "I am feeling very +ill, and need assistance." +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly," Tom answered, and at that moment he heard Mr. Titus utter +an exclamation. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Tom, for the man who had appealed for help, had +withdrawn his head. +</P> + +<P> +"That—that man!" exclaimed the contractor. "That was Waddington, the +tool of our rivals." +</P> + +<P> +"Waddington!" repeated Tom, with a look at the now closed door. "Why, +the bearded man has that stateroom—the bearded man who so nearly lost +the steamer. He isn't Waddington!" +</P> + +<P> +"And I tell you Waddington is in that room!" insisted the contractor. +"I only saw the upper part of his face, but I'd know his eyes anywhere. +Waddington is spying on us!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter IX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Bomb +</H3> + +<P> +Tom Swift and Mr. Titus withdrew a little way down the corridor, around +a bulkhead and out of sight of any one who might look out from the +stateroom whence had come the appeal for help. But, at the same time, +they could keep watch over it. +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you Waddington is in there!" insisted Mr. Titus, hoarsely +whispering. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps he may be," admitted Tom. "But several times I have seen +the bearded man going in there, and it's only a single stateroom, for +it's so marked on the deck plan." +</P> + +<P> +"Waddington might be disguised with a false beard, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, he might. But did the man who just now looked out have a beard?" +</P> + +<P> +"I couldn't tell, as I saw only the upper part of his face. But those +were Waddington's shifty eyes, I'm positive." +</P> + +<P> +"If Waddington were on board don't you suppose you would have seen him +before this?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not positively, no. If he and the bearded man are one and the same +that would account for it. But I haven't noticed the bearded man once +since he came aboard in such a hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"Nor have I, now that I come to think of it," Tom admitted. "However, +there is an easy way to prove who is in there." +</P> + +<P> +"How?" +</P> + +<P> +"We'll knock on the door and go in." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps he won't let us." +</P> + +<P> +"He'll think it's the steward he called for. Come, you know Waddington +better than I do. You knock and go in." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know Waddington very well," admitted the contractor. "I have +only seen him a few times, but I am sure that was he. But what shall I +do when he sees I'm not the steward?" +</P> + +<P> +"Tell him you have sent for one. I'll go with the message, so it will +be true enough. Even if you have only a momentary glance at him in +close quarters you ought to be able to tell whether or not he has on a +false beard, and whether or not it is Waddington." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Titus considered for a moment, and then he said: +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I guess that is a good plan. You go for the steward, Tom, and +I'll see if I can get in that stateroom. But I'm sure I'm not mistaken. +I'll find Waddington in there, perhaps in the person of the bearded +man, disguised. Or else they are using a single stateroom as a double +one." And while Tom went off down the pitching and rolling corridor to +find a steward, Mr. Titus, not without some apprehension, advanced to +knock on the door of the suspect. +</P> + +<P> +"If it is Waddington he'll know me at once, of course," thought the +contractor, "and there may be a row. Well, I can't help it. The success +of my brother and myself depends on finishing that tunnel, and we can't +have Waddington, and those whose tool he is, interfering. Here goes!" +</P> + +<P> +He tapped on the door, and a faint voice called: +</P> + +<P> +"Come in!" +</P> + +<P> +The contractor entered, and saw the bearded man lying in his berth. +</P> + +<P> +"Is there anything I can do for you?" asked the contractor, bending +close over the man. He wanted to see if the beard were false. Somewhat +to his surprise the contractor saw that undoubtedly it was real. +</P> + +<P> +"Steward, will you kindly get me—Oh, you're not the steward!" the +bearded man exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"No, my friend and I heard you call," replied the contractor. "He has +gone for the steward, who will be here soon. Can I do anything for you +in the meanwhile?" +</P> + +<P> +"No—not a thing!" was the rather snappish answer, and the man turned +his face away. "I beg your pardon," he went on, as if conscious that he +had acted rudely, "but I am suffering very much. The steward knows just +what I want. I have had these attacks before. I am a poor sailor. If +you will send the steward to me I will be obliged to you. He can fix me +up." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," assented Mr. Titus. "But if there is anything I can do—" +</P> + +<P> +At that moment footsteps and voices were heard in the corridor, and as +the door of the bearded man's stateroom was opened, Mr. Titus had a +glimpse of Tom and one of the stewards. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I'll look after him," the steward said "He's been this way +before. Thank you, sir, for calling me." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess the steward has been well tipped," thought Tom. As Mr. Titus +came out and the door was shut, the young inventor asked in a whisper, +</P> + +<P> +"Well, was it he?" +</P> + +<P> +The contractor shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"No," he answered. "I never was more surprised in my life. I felt sure +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." +</P> + +<P> +"Where?" Tom inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"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. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +"Better not mention the fact of the explosives on board," suggested Mr. +Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"And there's no trace of Waddington?" asked Tom of Mr. Titus, as they +were discussing matters in their stateroom one day. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a trace. He seems to have dropped out of sight, and I'm glad of +it." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps Blakeson & Grinder have given up the fight against you." +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +Senor Pinto had recovered from his seasickness, the steward told Tom +and Mr. Titus, but still he kept to his stateroom. +</P> + +<P> +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: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Have information from New York office that rivals are after you. Look +out for explosive." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"What does that mean?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" Tom demanded. +</P> + +<P> +"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?" +</P> + +<P> +"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 taken out of the hold, though." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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: +</P> + +<P> +"It a bomb!" +</P> + +<P> +He darted toward it, but Mr. Titus pulled him back. +</P> + +<P> +"Run!" yelled the contractor. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"Look out!" yelled Mr. Titus, crouching low. "That's an explosive bomb! +Toss it overboard!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter X +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Professor Bumper +</H3> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +For a moment neither Tom nor Mr. Titus could speak. They felt an +inexpressible sense of relief. Then Tom managed to gasp out: +</P> + +<P> +"You—you saved our lives!" +</P> + +<P> +The little man who had stepped on the fuse, and had then torn it from +the bomb, looked at the object in his hand as though it were the most +natural thing in the world to pick explosives up off the deck of +passenger steamers, as he remarked: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps I did. Yes, I think it would have gone off in another +second or two. Rather curious; isn't it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Curious? Curious!" asked and exclaimed Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, yes," went on the little man, in the most matter of fact tone. +"You see, most explosive bombs are round, made that way so the force +will be equal in all directions. But this one, you notice, has a bulge, +or protuberance, on one side, so to speak. Very curious! +</P> + +<P> +"It might have been made that way to prevent its rolling overboard, or +the bomb's walls might be weaker near that bulge to make sure that the +force of the explosion would be in that direction. And the bulge was +pointed toward you gentlemen, if you noticed." +</P> + +<P> +"I should say I did!" cried Mr. Titus. "My dear sir, you have put us +under a heavy debt to you! You saved our lives! I—I am in no frame of +mind to thank you now, but—" +</P> + +<P> +He strode over to the little man, holding out his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, I'd better keep it," went on the person who had rendered the +bomb ineffective. "You might drop it you know. You are nervous—your +hand shakes." +</P> + +<P> +"I want to shake hands with you!" exclaimed Mr. Titus—"to thank you!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that's it. I thought you wanted the bomb. Shake hands? Certainly!" +</P> + +<P> +And while this ceremony was being gone through with, Tom had a moment +to study the appearance of the man who had saved their lives. He had +seen the passenger once or twice before, but had taken no special +notice of him. Now he had good reason to observe him. +</P> + +<P> +Tom beheld a little, thin man, little in the sense of being of the +"bean pole" construction. His head was as bald as a billiard ball, as +the young inventor could notice when the stranger took off his hat to +bow formally in response to the greeting of some ladies who passed, +while Mr. Titus was shaking hands with him. +</P> + +<P> +The bald head was sunk down between two high shoulders, and when the +owner wished to observe anything closely, as he was now observing the +bomb, the head was thrust forward somewhat as an eagle might do. And +Tom noticed that the eyes of the little man were as bright as those of +an eagle. Nothing seemed to escape them. +</P> + +<P> +"I want to add my thanks to those of Mr. Titus for saving our lives," +said Tom, as he advanced. "We don't know what to make of it all, but +you certainly stopped that bomb from going off." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, perhaps I did," admitted the little man coolly and calmly, as +though preventing bomb explosions was his daily exercise before +breakfast. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and Mr. Titus introduced themselves by name. +</P> + +<P> +"I am Professor Swyington Bumper," said the bomb-holder, with a bow, +removing his hat, and again disclosing his shiny bald head. "I am very +glad to have met you indeed." +</P> + +<P> +"And we are more than glad," said Tom, fervently, as he glanced at the +explosive. +</P> + +<P> +"Now that the danger is over," went on Mr. Titus, "suppose we make an +investigation, and find out how this bomb came to be here." +</P> + +<P> +"Just what I was about to suggest," remarked Professor Bumper. "Bombs, +such as this, do not sprout of themselves on bare decks. And I take it +this one is explosive." +</P> + +<P> +"Let me look at it," suggested Tom. "I know something of explosives." +</P> + +<P> +It needed but a casual examination on the part of one who had done +considerable experimenting with explosives to disclose the fact that it +had every characteristic of a dangerous bomb. Only the pulling out of +the fuse had rendered it harmless. +</P> + +<P> +"If it had gone off," said Tom, "we would both have been killed, or, at +least, badly injured, Mr. Titus." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe you, Tom. And we owe our lives to Professor Bumper." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm glad I could be of service, gentlemen," the scientist remarked, in +an easy tone. "Explosives are out of my line, but I guessed it was +rather dangerous to let this go off. Have you any idea how it got +here?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not in the least," said Tom. "But some one must have placed it here, +or dropped it behind us." +</P> + +<P> +"Would any one have an object in doing such a thing?" the professor +asked. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and Mr. Titus looked at one another. +</P> + +<P> +"Waddington!" murmured the contractor. "If he were on board I should +say he might have done it to get us out of the way, though I would not +go so far as to say he meant to kill us. It may be this bomb has only a +light charge in it, and he only meant to cripple us." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll find out about that," said Tom. "I'll open it." +</P> + +<P> +"Better be careful," urged Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"I will," the young inventor promised. "I beg your pardon," he went on +to Professor Bumper. "We have been talking about something of which you +know nothing. Briefly, there is a certain man who is trying to +interfere in some work in which Mr. Titus and I are interested, and we +think, if he were on board, he might have placed this bomb where it +would injure us." +</P> + +<P> +"Is he here?" asked the professor. +</P> + +<P> +"No. And that is what makes it all the more strange," said Mr. Titus. +"At one time I thought he was here, but I was mistaken." +</P> + +<P> +Tom took the now harmless bomb to his stateroom, and there, after +taking the infernal machine apart, he discovered that it was not as +dangerous as he had at first believed. +</P> + +<P> +The bomb contained no missiles, and though it held a quantity of +explosive, it was of a slow burning kind. Had it gone off it would have +sent out a sheet of flame that would have severely burned him and Mr. +Titus, but unless complications had set in death would not have +resulted. +</P> + +<P> +"They just wanted to disable us," said the contractor. "That was their +game. Tom, who did it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know. Did you ever see this Professor Bumper before?" +</P> + +<P> +"I never did." +</P> + +<P> +"And did it strike you as curious that he should happen to be so near +at hand when the bomb fell behind us?" +</P> + +<P> +"I hadn't thought of that," admitted the contractor. "Do you mean that +he might have dropped it himself?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that," replied Tom, slowly. "But +I think it would be a good idea to find out all we can of Professor +Swyington Bumper." +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you, Tom. We'll investigate him." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +In the Andes +</H3> + +<P> +Professor Swyington Bumper seemed to live in a region all by himself. +Though he was on board the Bellaconda, he might just as well have been +in an airship, or riding along on the back of a donkey, as far as his +knowledge, or recognition, of his surroundings went. He seemed to be +thinking thoughts far, far away, and he was never without a +book—either a bound volume or a note-book. In the former he buried his +hawk-like nose, and Tom, looking over his shoulder once, saw that the +book was printed in curious characters, which, later, he learned were +Sanskrit. If he had a note-book the bald-headed professor was +continually jotting down memoranda in it. +</P> + +<P> +"I can hardly think of him as a conspirator against us," said Tom to +Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"After you have been in the contracting business as long as I have +you'll distrust every one," was the answer. "Waddington isn't on +board, or I'd distrust him. That Spaniard, Senor Pinto, seems to be out +of consideration, and there only remains the professor. We must watch +him." +</P> + +<P> +But Professor Bumper proved to be above suspicion. Carefully guarded +inquiries made of the captain, the purser and other ships' officers, +brought out the fact that he was well known to all of them, having +traveled on the line before. +</P> + +<P> +"He is making a search for something, but he won't say what it is," the +captain said. "At first we thought it was gold or jewels, for he goes +away off into the Andes Mountains, where both gold and jewels have been +found. He never looks for treasure, though, for though some of his +party have made rather rich discoveries, he takes no interest in them." +</P> + +<P> +"What is he after then?" asked Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"No one knows, and he won't tell. But whatever it is he has never found +it yet. Always, when he comes back, unsuccessful, from a trip to the +interior and goes back North with us, he will remark that he has not +the right directions. That he must seek again. +</P> + +<P> +"Back he comes next season, as full of hope as before, but only to be +disappointed. Each time he goes to a new place in the mountains where +he digs and delves, so members of the parties he hires tell me, but +with no success. He carries with him something in a small iron box, +and, whatever this is, he consults it from time to time. It may be +directions for finding whatever he is after. But there seems to be +something wrong." +</P> + +<P> +"This is quite a mystery," remarked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"It certainly is. But Professor Bumper is a fine man. I have known him +for years." +</P> + +<P> +"This seems to dispose of the theory that he planted the bomb, and that +he is one of the plotters in the pay of Blakeson & Grinder," said Mr. +Titus, when he and Tom were alone. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I guess it does. But who can have done it?" +</P> + +<P> +That was a question neither could answer. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had a theory, which he did not disclose to Mr. Titus, that, after +all, the somewhat mysterious Senor Pinto might, in some way, be mixed +up in the bomb attempt. But a close questioning of the steward on duty +near the foreigner's cabin at the time disclosed the fact that Pinto +had been ill in his berth all that day. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, unless the bomb fell from some passing airship, I don't see how +it got on deck," said Tom with a shake of his head. "And I'm sure no +airship passed over us." +</P> + +<P> +They had kept the matter secret, not telling even Mr. Damon, for they +feared the eccentric man would make a fuss and alarm the whole vessel. +So Mr. Damon, occasionally blessing his necktie or his shoe laces, +played chess with his elderly gentleman friend and was perfectly happy. +</P> + +<P> +That Professor Bumper not only had kept his promise about not +mentioning the bomb, but that he had forgotten all about it, was +evident a day or two after the happening. Tom and Mr. Titus passed him +on deck, and bowed cordially. The professor returned the salutation, +but looked at the two in a puzzled sort of fashion. +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon," he remarked, "but your faces are familiar, though +I cannot recall your names. Haven't I seen you before?" +</P> + +<P> +"You have," said Tom, with a smile. "You saved our lives from a bomb +the other day." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes! So I did! So I did!" exclaimed Professor Bumper. "I felt +sure I had seen you before. Are you all right?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. There haven't been any more bombs thrown at us," the contractor +said. "By the way, Professor Bumper, I understand you are quite a +traveler in the Andes, in the vicinity of Lima." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I have been there," admitted the bald-headed scientist in guarded +tones. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I am digging a tunnel in that vicinity," went on Mr. Titus, "and +if you ever get near Rimac, where the first cutting is made, I wish you +would come and see me—Tom too, as he is associated with me." +</P> + +<P> +"Rimac-Rimac," murmured the professor, looking sharply at the +contractor. "Digging a tunnel there? Why are you doing that?" and he +seemed to resent the idea. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, the Peruvian government engaged me to do it to connect the two +railroad lines," was the answer. "Do you know anything about the place?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not so much as I hope to later on," was the unexpected answer. "As it +happens I am going to Rimac, and I may visit your tunnel." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you would," returned Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +Later on, in their stateroom, the contractor remarked to the young +inventor: +</P> + +<P> +"Sort of queer; isn't it?" +</P> + +<P> +"What?" asked Tom. "His not remembering us?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, though that was odd. But I suppose he is forgetful, or pretends to +be. I mean it's queer he is going to Rimac." +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't know exactly what I mean," went on the tunnel +contractor, "but our tunnel happens to start at Rimac, which is a small +town at the base of the mountains." +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe the professor is a geologist," suggested Tom, "and he may want +to get some samples of that hard rock." +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe," admitted Mr. Titus. "But I shall keep my eyes on him all the +same. I'm not going to have any strangers, who happen to be around when +bombs drop near us, get into my tunnel." +</P> + +<P> +"I think you're wrong to doubt Professor Bumper," Tom said. +</P> + +<P> +A few days after this, when Tom and Mr. Titus were casually discussing +the weather on deck and wondering how much longer it would be before +they reached Callao, Mr. Damon, who had been playing numberless games +of chess, came up for a breath of air. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Damon," called Tom, "come over here and meet a friend of ours, +Professor Bumper," and he was about to introduce them, for the two, as +far as Tom knew, had not yet met. But no sooner had the professor and +Mr. Damon caught sight of each other than there was a look of mutual +recognition. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my fountain pen!" cried the eccentric man. "If it isn't my old +friend!" +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Damon!" cried the professor. "I am delighted to see you again. I +did not know you were on board!" +</P> + +<P> +"Nor I you. Bless my apple dumpling! Are you still after those Peruvian +antiquities?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am, Mr. Damon. But I did not know you were acquainted with Mr. +Swift." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Tom and I are old friends." +</P> + +<P> +"Professor Bumper saved the lives of Mr. Titus and myself," said Tom, +"or at least he saved us from severe injury by a bomb." +</P> + +<P> +"Pray do not mention it, my friends," put in the professor, casually. +"It was nothing." +</P> + +<P> +Of course he did not mean it just that way. +</P> + +<P> +Then, naturally, Mr. Damon had to be told all about the bomb for the +first time, and his wonder was great. He blessed everything he could +think of. +</P> + +<P> +"And to think it should be my old friend, Professor Bumper, who saved +you," said the odd man to Tom and Mr. Titus later that day. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know him well?" asked Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well indeed. Our drug concern sells him many chemicals for his +experiments." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if you know him I guess he can't be what I thought he was," the +contractor went on. "I'm glad to know it. Why is he going to the Andes?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, for many years he has been interested in collecting Peruvian +antiquities. He has a certain theory in regard to something or other +about their ancient civilization, but just what it is I have, at this +moment, forgotten. Only I know you can thoroughly trust Professor +Bumper, for a finer man never lived, though he is a bit absent-minded +at times. But you will like him very much." +</P> + +<P> +Thus the last lingering doubt of Professor Bumper was removed. Mr. +Damon told something of how the scientist had been honored by degrees +from many colleges and was regarded as an authority on Peruvian matters. +</P> + +<P> +But who had placed the bomb on deck remained a mystery. +</P> + +<P> +In due time Callao, the seaport of Lima, was reached and our friends +disembarked. Tom saw to the unloading of the explosive, which was to be +sent direct to the tunnel at Rimac. Mr. Titus, Tom and Mr. Damon would +remain in Lima a day or so. +</P> + +<P> +Professor Bumper disembarked with our friends, and stopped at the same +hotel. Tom kept a lookout for Senor Pinto, but did not see him, and +concluded that the Spaniard was ill, and would be carried ashore on a +stretcher, perhaps. +</P> + +<P> +Lima, the principal city and capital of Peru, proved an interesting +place. It was about eight miles inland and was built on an arid plain +about five hundred feet above sea level. Yet, though it was on what +might be termed a desert, the place, by means of irrigation, had been +made into a beauty spot. +</P> + +<P> +Tom found the older part of the city was laid out with mathematical +regularity, each street crossing the other at right angles. But in the +new portions there was not this adherence to straightness. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my transfer! Why, they have electric cars here!" exclaimed Mr. +Damon, catching sight of one on the line between Callao and the capital. +</P> + +<P> +"What did you think they'd have?" asked Mr. Titus, "elephants or +camels?" +</P> + +<P> +"I—I didn't just know," was the answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you'll find a deal of civilization here," the contractor said. "Of +course much of the population is negro or Indian, but they are often +rich and able to buy what they want. There is a population of over +150,000, and there are two steam railroads between Callao and Lima, +while there is one running into the interior for 130 miles, crossing +the Andes at an elevation of over three miles. It is a branch of that +road, together with a branch of the one running to Ancon, that I am to +connect with a tunnel." +</P> + +<P> +Tom found some beautiful churches and cathedrals in Lima, and spent +some time visiting them. He and Mr. Damon also visited, in the +outskirts, the tobacco, cocoa and other factories. +</P> + +<P> +Three days after reaching the capital, Mr. Titus having attended to +some necessary business while Mr. Damon set on foot matters connected +with his affairs, it was decided to strike inland to Rimac, and to try +the effect of Tom Swift's explosive on the tunnel. +</P> + +<P> +The journey was to be made in part by rail, though the last stages of +it were over a rough mountain trail, with llamas for beasts of burden, +while our friends rode mules. +</P> + +<P> +As Tom, Mr. Damon, Koku, and Mr. Titus were going to the railroad +station they saw Professor Bumper also leaving the hotel. +</P> + +<P> +"I believe our roads lie together for a time," said the bald-headed +scientist, "and, if you have no objections, I will accompany you." +</P> + +<P> +"Come, and welcome!" exclaimed Mr. Titus, all his suspicions now gone. +</P> + +<P> +"And it may be that you will be able to help me," the scientist went on. +</P> + +<P> +"Help you—how?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"I will tell you when we reach the Andes," was the mysterious answer. +</P> + +<P> +It was a day later when they left the train at a small station, and +struck off into the foothills of the great Andes Mountains, where the +tunnel was started, that the professor again mentioned his object. +</P> + +<P> +"Friends," he said, as he gazed up at the towering cliffs and crags, "I +am searching for the lost city of Pelone, located somewhere in these +mountains. Will you help me to find it?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Tunnel +</H3> + +<P> +Mr. Damon, of the three who heard Professor Bumper make this statement, +showed the least sign of astonishment. It would have been more correct +to say that he showed none at all. But Tom could not restrain himself. +</P> + +<P> +"The lost city of Pelone!" he exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"Is it here—in these mountains?" asked Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"I have reason to hope that it is," went on the professor. "The golden +tablets are very vague, but I have tried many locations, and now I am +about to try here. I hope I shall succeed. At any rate, I shall have +agreeable company, which has not always been my luck on my previous +expeditions seeking to find the lost city." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Professor, are you still on that quest?" asked Mr. Damon, in a +matter-of-fact tone. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Mr. Damon, I am. And now that I look about me, and see the shape +of these mountains, I feel that they conform more to the description on +the golden plates than any location I have yet tried. Somehow I feel +that I shall be successful here." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you know Professor Bumper was searching for a lost city of the +Andes?" asked Tom, of his eccentric friend. +</P> + +<P> +"Why yes," answered Mr. Damon. "He has been searching for years to +locate it." +</P> + +<P> +"Why didn't you tell us?" inquired Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I never thought of it. Bless my memorandum book! it never +occurred to me. I did not think you would be interested. Tell them +your story, Professor Bumper." +</P> + +<P> +"I will soon. Just now I must see to my equipment. The story will keep." +</P> + +<P> +And though Tom and Mr. Titus were both anxious to hear about the lost +city, they, too, had much to do to get ready for the trip into the +interior. +</P> + +<P> +The beginning of the tunnel under one of the smaller of the ranges of +the Andes lay two days journey from the end of the railroad line. And +the trip must be made on mules, with llamas as beasts of burden, +transporting the powder and other supplies. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll only need to take enough food with us for the two days," said +Mr. Titus. "We have a regular camp at the tunnel mouth, and my brother +has supplies of grub and other things constantly coming in. We also +have shacks to live in; but on this trip we will use tents, as the +weather at this season is fine." +</P> + +<P> +It was quite a little expedition that set off up the mountain trail +that afternoon, for they had arrived at the end of the railroad line +shortly before dinner, and had eaten at a rather poor restaurant. +</P> + +<P> +Professor Bumper had made up his own exploring party, consisting of +himself and three native Indian diggers with their picks and shovels. +They were to do whatever excavating he decided was necessary to locate +the hidden city. +</P> + +<P> +Several mules and llamas, laden with the new explosive, and burdened +with camp equipment and food, and a few Indian servants made up the +cavalcade of Tom, the contractor, Mr. Damon and Koku. The giant was +almost as much a source of wonder to the Peruvians as he had been on +board the ship. And he was a great help, too. For some of the Indians +were under-sized, and could not lift the heavy boxes and packages to +the backs of the beasts of burden. +</P> + +<P> +But Koku, thrusting the little men aside, grasped with one hand what +two of them had tried in vain to lift, and set it on the back of mule +or llama. +</P> + +<P> +The way was rough but they took their time to it, for the trail was an +ascending one. Above and beyond them towered the great Andes, and Tom, +gazing up into the sky, which in places seemed almost pierced by the +snow-covered peaks, saw some small black specks moving about. +</P> + +<P> +"Condors," said Mr. Titus, when his attention was called to them. "Some +of them are powerful birds, and they sometimes pick up a sheep and make +off with it, though usually their food consists of carrion." +</P> + +<P> +They went into camp before the sun went down, for it grew dark soon +after sunset, and they wanted to be prepared. Supper was made ready by +the Indian helpers, and when this was over, and they sat about a camp +fire, Tom said: +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Professor Bumper, perhaps you'll explain about the lost city." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I could explain about it," began the scientist. "For years I +have dreamed of finding it, but always I have been disappointed. Now, +perhaps, my luck may change." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think it may be near here?" asked Mr. Titus, motioning toward +the dark and frowning peaks all about them. +</P> + +<P> +"It may be. The signs are most encouraging. In brief, the story of the +lost city of Pelone is this. Thousands of years ago—in fact I do not +know how many—there existed somewhere in Peru an ancient city that was +the centre of civilization for this region. Older it was than the +civilization of the Mexicans—the Montezumas—older and more cultured. +</P> + +<P> +"It is many years since I became interested in Peruvian antiquities, +and then I had no idea of the lost city. But some of the antiques I +picked up contained in their inscriptions references to Pelone. At +first I conceived this to be a sort of god, a deity, or perhaps a +powerful ruler. But as I went on in my work of gathering ancient +things from Peru, I saw that the name Pelone referred to a city—a seat +of government, whence everything had its origin. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I got on the track more closely. I examined ancient documents. I +found traces of an ancient language and writings, different from +anything else in the world. I managed to construct an alphabet and to +read some of the documents. From them I learned that Pelone was a city +situated in some fertile valley of the Andes. It had existed for +thousands of years; it was the seat of learning and culture. Much light +would be thrown on the lives of the people who lived in Peru before the +present races inhabited it, if I could but locate Pelone. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I came across two golden tablets on which were graven the +information that Pelone had utterly vanished." +</P> + +<P> +"How?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"The golden tablets did not say. They simply stated the fact that +Pelone was lost, and one sentence read: 'He who shall find it again +shall be richly rewarded.' But it is not for that that I seek. It is +that I may give to the world the treasures it must contain—the +treasures of an ancient civilization." +</P> + +<P> +"And how do you think the city disappeared?" asked Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"I do not know. Whether it was destroyed by enemies, whether it was +buried under the ashes of a volcano, whether it still exists, deserted +and solitary in some valley amid the mountain fastnesses of the Andes, +I do not know. But I am certain the city once existed, and it may exist +yet, though it may be in dust-covered ruins. That is what I seek to +find. See! Here are the tablets telling about it. I got them from an +old Peruvian grave." +</P> + +<P> +He took from a box two thin sheets of yellow metal. They were covered +with curious marks, but Tom and the others could make nothing of them. +Only Professor Bumper was able to decipher them. +</P> + +<P> +"And that is the story of the lost city of Pelone—as much as I know," +he said. "For years I have sought it. If I can find it I shall be +famous, for I shall have added to human knowledge." +</P> + +<P> +"If the people of that city wrote on golden tablets, the yellow metal +must have been plentiful," commented Mr. Titus. "You might strike a +rich mine." +</P> + +<P> +"I have no use for riches," said the professor. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I have," the contractor said, with a laugh. "That's why I'm +putting through this tunnel. And if my brother and I don't do it we'll +be in a bad way financially. We have struck traces of gold, but not in +paying quantities. I should like to see this lost city of yours, +Professor Bumper. It may contain gold." +</P> + +<P> +"You may have all the gold, if I am allowed to keep the antiquities we +find," stipulated the scientist. "Then you will help me in my search?" +</P> + +<P> +"As much as we can spare time for from the tunnel work," promised Mr. +Titus. "I'll instruct my men to keep their eyes open for any sign of +ancient writings on the rocks we blast out." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," said the professor. +</P> + +<P> +The night passed uneventfully enough, if one excepts the mosquitoes +which seemed to get through the nets, making life miserable for all. +And once Tom thought he heard gruntings in the bush back of the tent, +which noises might, he imagined, have been caused by a bear. Toward +morning he heard an unearthly screech in the woods, and one of the +Indians, tending the fire, grunted out a word which meant pumas. +</P> + +<P> +"I can see it isn't going to be dull here," Tom mused, as he turned +over and tried to sleep. +</P> + +<P> +Breakfast made them all feel better, and they set off on the final +stage of their journey. +</P> + +<P> +"If all goes well we'll be at the tunnel entrance and camp to-night," +said the contractor. "This second half of the trip is the roughest." +</P> + +<P> +There was no need of saying that, for it was perfectly evident. The +trail was a most precarious one, and only a mule or llama could have +traveled it. The mules were most sure-footed, but, as it was, one +slipped, and came near falling over a cliff. +</P> + +<P> +But no real accident occurred, and finally, about an hour before +sunset, the cavalcade turned down the slope and emerged on a level +plain, which ended against the face of a great cliff. +</P> + +<P> +As Tom rode nearer the cliff he could make out around it groups of rude +buildings, covered with corrugated iron. There was quite a settlement +it seemed. +</P> + +<P> +Then, in the face of the cliff there showed something black—like a +blot of ink, though more regular in outline. +</P> + +<P> +"The mouth of the tunnel," said Mr. Titus to Tom. "Come on over to the +office and I'll introduce you to my brother. I guess he will be glad +we've arrived." +</P> + +<P> +Tom dismounted from his mule, an example followed by the others. +Professor Bumper gazed up at the great mountains and murmured: +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if the lost city of Pelone lies among them?" +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the silence of the evening was broken by a dull, rumbling +sound. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my court plaster!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's that?" +</P> + +<P> +"A blast," answered Mr. Titus. "But I never knew them to set off one so +late before. I hope nothing is wrong!" +</P> + +<P> +And, as he spoke, panic-stricken men began running out of the mouth of +the tunnel, while those outside hastened toward them, shouting and +calling. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Tom's Explosive +</H3> + +<P> +"Something has happened!" cried Mr. Titus as he ran forward, followed +by Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku. Professor Bumper started with them, but on +the way he saw a curious bit of rock which he stopped to pick up and +examine. +</P> + +<P> +At the entrance of the tunnel, from which came rushing dirt-stained and +powder-blackened men, Mr. Titus was met by a man who seemed to be in +authority. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello, Job!" he cried. "Glad you're back. We're in trouble!" +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter?" was the question. "This is my brother Walter," he +said. "This is Tom Swift and Mr. Damon," thus hurriedly he introduced +them. "What happened, Walter?" +</P> + +<P> +"Premature blast. Third one this week. Somebody is working against us!" +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind that now," cried Job Titus. "We must see to the poor +fellows who are hurt." "I guess there aren't many," his brother said. +"They were on their way out when the charge went off. Some more of +Blakeson & Grinder's work, I'll wager!" +</P> + +<P> +They were rushing in to the smoke-filled tunnel now, followed by Tom, +Mr. Damon and Koku, who would follow his young master anywhere. Tom saw +that the tunnel was lighted with incandescent lamps, suspended here and +there from the rocky roof or sides. The electric lights were supplied +with current from a dynamo run by a gasoline engine. +</P> + +<P> +"Where is it, Serato? Where was the blast?" asked Walter Titus, of a +tall Indian, who seemed to be in some authority. +</P> + +<P> +"Back at second turn," was the answer, in fairly good English. "I go +get beds." +</P> + +<P> +"He means stretchers," translated Job. "That's our Peruvian foreman. A +good fellow, but easily scared." +</P> + +<P> +They ran on into the tunnel, Tom and Mr. Damon noticing that a small +narrow-gage railroad was laid on the floor, mules being the motive +power to bring out the small dump cars loaded with rock and dirt, +excavated from the big hole. +</P> + +<P> +"Mind the turn!" called Job Titus, who was ahead of Tom and Mr. Damon. +"It's rough here." +</P> + +<P> +Tom found it so, for he slipped over some pieces of rock, and would +have fallen had not Koku held him up. +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks," gasped Tom, as on he ran. +</P> + +<P> +A little later he came to a place where a cluster of electric lights +gave better illumination, and he could see it was there that the damage +had been done. +</P> + +<P> +A number of men were lying on the dirt and rock floor of the tunnel, +and some of them were bleeding. Others were staggering about as though +shocked or stunned. +</P> + +<P> +"We must get the injured ones out of here!" cried Walter Titus. "Where +are the men with stretchers?" +</P> + +<P> +"I sint that Spalapeen Serato for thim!" broke in a voice, rich in +Irish brogue. "But he's thot stupid he might think I was after sindin' +him fer wather!" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Tim. Serato is after the stretchers all right," said Walter. "We +passed him on the way." +</P> + +<P> +"That's Tim Sullivan, our Irish foreman, though he has only a few of +his own kind to boss," explained Job Titus in a whisper. +</P> + +<P> +Some of the workmen (all of whom save the few Irish referred to were +Peruvian Indians) had now recovered from their shock, or fright, and +began to help the Titus brothers, Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku in looking +after the injured. Of these there were five, only two of whom were, +seemingly, seriously hurt. +</P> + +<P> +"Me take them out," said Koku, and placing one gently over his left +shoulder, and the other over his right, out of the tunnel he stalked +with them, not waiting for the stretchers. +</P> + +<P> +And it was well he did so, for one man was in need of an immediate +operation, which was performed at the rude hospital the contractors +maintained at the tunnel mouth. The other man died as Koku was carrying +him out, but the giant had saved one life. +</P> + +<P> +Serato, the Indian foreman, with some of his men now came in, and the +other injured were carried out on stretchers, being attended to by the +two doctors who formed part of the tunnel force. Among a large body of +men some were always falling ill or getting hurt, and in that wild +country a doctor had to be kept near at hand. +</P> + +<P> +When the excitement had died down, and it was found that one death +would be the total toll of the accident and that the premature blast +had done no damage to the tunnel, the two Titus brothers began to +consider matters. +</P> + +<P> +Tom, Mr. Damon and the two contractors sat in the main office and +talked things over. Koku was eating supper, though the others had +finished, but, naturally, it took Koku twice as long as any one else. +Professor Bumper was busy transcribing material in his note-book. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm glad you've come back, Job," said his brother. "Things have +been going at sixes and sevens here since you went to get some new kind +of blasting powder. By the way, I hope you got it, for we are +practically at a standstill." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I got it all right—some of Tom Swift's best—specially made for +us. And, better still, I've brought Tom back with me." +</P> + +<P> +"So I see. Well, I'm glad he's here." +</P> + +<P> +"Now what about this accident to-day?" went on Job. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, as I said, it's the third this week. All of them seemed to be +premature blasts. But I've sent for some of the fuses used. I'm going +to get at the bottom of this. Here is Sullivan with them now. Come in, +Tim," he called, as the Irishman knocked at the door. +</P> + +<P> +"Are they the fuses used in the blasts?" Walter asked. +</P> + +<P> +"They are, sor. An' they mostly burn five minutes, which is plenty of +time fer all th' min t' git out of danger. Only this time th' fuse +didn't seem to burn more than a minute, an' I lit it meself." +</P> + +<P> +"Let's see how long they burn now," suggested Job. +</P> + +<P> +One of the longer fuses was lighted. It spluttered and smoked, while +the contractors timed it with their watches. +</P> + +<P> +"Four minutes!" exclaimed Job. "That's queer, and they're the regular +ten minute length. I wonder what this means. +</P> + +<P> +He took up another fuse, and examined it closely. +</P> + +<P> +"Why!" he cried. "These aren't our fuses at all. They're another make, +and much more rapid in burning. No wonder you've been having premature +blasts. They go off in about half the time they should." +</P> + +<P> +"I can't understhand thot!" said Tim, thoughtfully. "I keep all the +fuses locked up, and only take thim out when I need thim." +</P> + +<P> +"Then somebody has been at your box, Tim, and they took out our regular +fuses and put in these quicker ones. It's a game to make trouble for us +among our men, and to damage the tunnel." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my rubber boots!" cried Mr. Damon. "Who would do a thing like +that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Our rivals, perhaps, though I do not like to accuse any man on such +small evidence," said Walter. "But we must adopt new measures." +</P> + +<P> +"And be very careful of the fuses," said Job. +</P> + +<P> +"Thot's what I will!" declared Tim. "I'll put th' supply in a new +place. No wonder there was blasts before th' min could git out th' way! +Bad cess t' th' imps thot did this!" and he banged his big fist down on +the table. +</P> + +<P> +Since the trouble began a guard had been always posted around the +tunnel entrance and surrounding buildings, and this night the patrol +was doubled. Tom, Mr. Damon and the two Titus brothers sat up quite +late, talking over plans and ideas. +</P> + +<P> +Professor Bumper went to bed early, as he said he was going to set off +before sunrise to make a search for the lost city. +</P> + +<P> +"I regard him as more or less of a visionary," said Mr. Job Titus; "but +he seems a harmless gentleman, and we'll do all we can to help him." +</P> + +<P> +"Surely," agreed his brother. +</P> + +<P> +The night was not marked by any disturbance, and after breakfast, Tom, +under the guidance of the Titus brothers, looked over the tunnel with a +view to making his first experiment with the new explosive. +</P> + +<P> +The tunnel was being driven straight into the face of one of the +smaller ranges of the Andes Mountains. It was to be four miles in +length, and when it emerged on the other side it would enable trains to +make connections between the two railroads, thus tapping a rich and +fertile country. +</P> + +<P> +On the site of the tunnel, which was two days' mule travel east from +Rimac, the Titus brothers had assembled their heavy machinery. They had +brought some of their own men, including Tim Sullivan, with them, but +the other labor was that of Peruvian Indians, with a native foreman, +Serato, over them. +</P> + +<P> +There were engines, boilers, dynamos, motors, diamond drills, steam +shovels and a miniature railway, with mules as the motive power. A +small village had sprung up at the tunnel mouth, and there was a +general store, besides many buildings for the sleeping and eating +quarters of the laborers, as well as places where the white men could +live. Their quarters were some distance from the native section. +</P> + +<P> +Powder, supplies, in fact everything save what game could be obtained +in the forest, or what grains or fruits were brought in by natives +living near by, had to be brought over the rough trail. But Titus +Brothers had a large experience in engineering matters in wild and +desolate countries, and they knew how to be as comfortable as possible. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon learned that one of the districts whence his company had been +in the habit of getting quinine was distant a day's journey over the +mountain, so he decided to make the trip, with a native guide, and see +if he could get at the bottom of the difficulty in forwarding shipments. +</P> + +<P> +This was a few days after the arrival of our friends. Meanwhile, Tom +had been shown all through the tunnel by the Titus Brothers and had had +his first sight of the hard cliff of rock which seemed to be a +veritable stone wall in the way of progress—or at least such progress +as was satisfactory to the contractors. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll try what some of my explosive will do," said Tom, when he +had finished the examination. "I don't claim it will be as successful +as the sample blast we set off at Shopton, but we'll do our best." +</P> + +<P> +Holes were drilled in the face of the rock, and several charges of the +new explosive tamped in. Wires were attached to the fuses, which were +of a new kind, and warning was given to clear the tunnel. The wires ran +out to the mouth of the horizontal shaft and Tom, holding the switch in +his hand made ready to set off the blast. +</P> + +<P> +"Are they all out?" he asked Tim Sullivan, who had emerged, herding the +Indian laborers before him. Tim insisted on being the last man to seek +safety when an explosion was to take place. +</P> + +<P> +"All ready, sor," answered the foreman. +</P> + +<P> +"Here she goes!" cried Tom, as his fingers closed the circuit. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Mysterious Disappearances +</H3> + +<P> +There was a dull, muffled report, a sort of rumbling that seemed to +extend away down under the earth and then echo back again until the +ground near the mouth of the tunnel, where the party was standing, +appeared to rock and heave. There followed a cloud of yellow, heavy +smoke which made one choke and gasp, and Tom, seeing it, cried: +</P> + +<P> +"Down! Down, everybody! There's a back draft, and if you breathe any of +that powder vapor you'll have a fearful headache! Get down, until the +smoke rises!" +</P> + +<P> +The tunnel contractors and their men understood the danger, for they +had handled explosives before. It is a well-known fact that the fumes +of dynamite and other giant powders will often produce severe +headaches, and even illness. Tom's explosive contained a certain +percentage of dynamite, and he knew its ill effects. Stretched prone, +or crouching on the ground, there was little danger, as the fumes, +being lighter than air, rose. The yellow haze soon drifted away, and it +was safe to rise. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I wonder how much rock your explosive tore loose for us, Tom," +observed Job Titus, as he looked at the thin, yellowish cloud of smoke +that was still lazily drifting from the tunnel. +</P> + +<P> +"Can't tell until we go in and take a look," replied the young +inventor. "It won't be safe to go in for a while yet, though. That +smoke will hang in there a long time. I didn't think there'd be a back +draft." +</P> + +<P> +"There is, for we've often had the same trouble with our shots," Walter +Titus said. "I can't account for it unless there is some opening in the +shaft, connecting with the outer air, which admits a wind that drives +the smoke out of the mouth, instead of forward into the blast hole. +It's a queer thing and we haven't been able to get at the bottom of it." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," agreed his brother. "We've looked for some opening, or +natural shaft, but haven't been able to find it. Sometimes we shoot +off a charge and everything goes well, the smoke disappears in a few +minutes. Again it will all blow out this way and we lose half a day +waiting for the air to clear. There's a hidden shaft, or natural +chimney, I'm sure, but we can't find it." +</P> + +<P> +"Thot blast didn't make much racket," commented Tim Sullivan. "I doubt +thot much rock come down. An' thot's not sayin' anythin' ag'in yer +powder, lad," he went on to Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that's all right," Tom Swift replied, with a laugh. "My explosive +doesn't work by sound. It has lots of power, but it doesn't produce +much concussion." +</P> + +<P> +"We've often made more noise with our blasts," confirmed Job Titus, +"but I can't say much for our results." +</P> + +<P> +They were all anxious, Tom included, to hurry into the tunnel to see +how much rock had been loosened by the blast, but it was not safe to +venture in until the fumes had been allowed to disperse. In about an +hour, however, Tim Sullivan, venturing part way in, sniffed the air and +called: +</P> + +<P> +"It's all right, byes! Air's clear. Now come on!" +</P> + +<P> +They all hurried eagerly into the shaft, Mr. Damon stumbling along at +Tom's side, as anxious as the lad himself. Before they reached the face +of the cliff against which the bore had been driven, and which was as a +solid wall of rock to further progress, they began to tread on +fragments of stone. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it blew some as far back as here," said Walter Titus. "That's a +good sign." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so," Tom remarked. +</P> + +<P> +There were still some fumes noticeable in the tunnel, and Mr. Damon +complained of a slight feeling of illness, while Koku, who kept at +Tom's side, murmured that it made his eyes smart. But the sensations +soon passed. +</P> + +<P> +They came to a stop as the face of the cliff loomed into view in the +glare of a searchlight which Job Titus switched on. Then a murmur of +wonder came from every one, save from Tom Swift. He, modestly, kept +silent. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my breakfast orange!" cried Mr. Damon. "What a big hole!" +</P> + +<P> +There was a great gash blown in the hard rock which had acted as a bar +to the further progress of the tunnel. A great heap of rock, broken +into small fragments, was on the floor of the shaft, and there was a +big hole filled with debris which would have to be removed before the +extent of the blast could be seen. +</P> + +<P> +"That's doing the work!" cried Job Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"It beats any two blasts we ever set off," declared his brother. +</P> + +<P> +"Much fine!" muttered the Peruvian foreman, Serato. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a lalapaloosa, lad! Thot's what it is!" enthusiastically +exclaimed Tim Sullivan. "Now the black beggars will have some rock to +shovel! Come on there, Serato, git yer lazy imps t' work cartin' this +stuff away. We've got a man on th' job now in this new powder of Tom +Swift's. Git busy!" +</P> + +<P> +"Um!" grunted the Indian, and he called to his men who were soon busy +with picks and shovels, loading the loosened rock and earth into the +mule-hauled dump cars which took it to the mouth of the tunnel, whence +it was shunted off on another small railroad to fill in a big gulch to +save bridging it. +</P> + +<P> +Tom's first blast was very successful, and enough rock was loosed to +keep the laborers busy for a week. The contractors were more than +satisfied. +</P> + +<P> +"At this rate we'll finish ahead of time, and earn a premium," said Job +to his brother. +</P> + +<P> +"That's right. You didn't make any mistake in appealing to Tom Swift. +But I wonder if Blakeson & Grinder have given up trying to get the job +away from us?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know. I'd never trust them. We must watch out for Waddington. +That bomb on the vessel had a funny look, even if it was not meant to +kill Tom or me. I won't relax any." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I guess it wouldn't be safe." +</P> + +<P> +But a week went by without any manifestation having been made by the +rival tunnel contractors. During that week more of Tom's explosive +arrived, and he busied himself getting ready another blast which could +be set off as soon as the debris from the first should have been +cleared away. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile, Professor Bumper, with his Indian guides and helpers, had +made several trips into the mountain regions about Rimac, but each time +that he returned to the tunnel camp to renew his supplies, he had only +a story of failure to recite. +</P> + +<P> +"But I am positive that somewhere in this vicinity is the lost Peruvian +city of Pelone," he said. "Every indication points to this as the +region, and the more I study the plates of gold, and read their +message, the more I am convinced that this is the place spoken of. +</P> + +<P> +"But we have been over many mountains, and in more valleys, without +finding a trace of the ancient civilization I feel sure once flourished +here. There are no relics of a lost race—not so much as an arrow or +spear head. But, somehow or other, I feel that I shall find the lost +city. And when I do I shall be famous!" +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Damon and I will help you all we can," Tom said. "As soon as I get +ready the next blast I'll have a little time to myself, and we will go +with you on a trip or two." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall be very glad to have you," the bald-headed scientist remarked. +</P> + +<P> +Tom's second blast was even more successful than the first, and enough +of the hard rock was loosed and pulverized to give the Indian laborers +ten days' work in removing it from the tunnel. +</P> + +<P> +Then, as the services of the young inventor would not be needed for a +week or more, he decided to go on a little trip with Professor Bumper. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll come too," said Mr. Damon. "One of the sub-contractors whose men +are gathering the cinchona bark for our firm has his headquarters in +the region where you are going, and I can go over there and see why he +isn't up to the mark." +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly, preparations having been made to spend a week in camp in +the forests of the Andes, Tom and his party set off one morning. +Professor Bumper's Indian helpers would do the hard work, and, of +course, Koku, who went wherever Tom went, would be on hand in case some +feat of strength were needed. +</P> + +<P> +It was a blind search, this hunt for a lost city, and as much luck +might be expected going in one direction as in another; so the party +had no fixed point toward which to travel. Only Mr. Damon stipulated +that he wanted to reach a certain village, and they planned to include +that on their route. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift took his electric rifle with him, and with it he was able to +bring down a couple of deer which formed a welcome addition to the camp +fare. +</P> + +<P> +The rifle was a source of great wonder to the Peruvians. They were +familiar with ordinary firearms, and some of them possessed +old-fashioned guns. But Tom's electric weapon, which made not a sound, +but killed with the swiftness of light, was awesome to them. The +interpreter accompanying Professor Bumper confided privately to Tom +that the other Indians regarded the young inventor as a devil who +could, if he wished, slay by the mere winking of an eye. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon located the quinine-gathering force he was anxious to see, +and, through the interpreter, told the chief that more bark must be +brought in to keep up to the terms of the contract. +</P> + +<P> +But something seemed to be the matter. The Indian chief was indifferent +to the interpreted demands of Mr. Damon, and that gentleman, though he +blessed any number of animate and inanimate objects, seemed to make no +impression. +</P> + +<P> +"No got men to gather bark, him say," translated the interpreter. +</P> + +<P> +"Hasn't got any men!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Why, look at all the lazy +beggars around the village." +</P> + +<P> +This was true enough, for there were any number of able-bodied Indians +lolling in the shade. +</P> + +<P> +"Him say him no got," repeated the translator, doggedly. +</P> + +<P> +At that moment screams arose back of one the grass huts, and a child +ran out into the open, followed by a savage dog which was snapping at +the little one's bare legs. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my rat trap!" gasped Mr. Damon. "A mad dog!" +</P> + +<P> +Shouts and cries arose from among the Indians. Women screamed, and +those who had children gathered them up in their arms to run to +shelter. The men threw all sorts of missiles at the infuriated animal, +but seemed afraid to approach it to knock it over with a club, or to go +to the relief of the frightened child which was now only a few feet +ahead of the animal, running in a circle. +</P> + +<P> +"Me git him!" cried Koku, jumping forward. +</P> + +<P> +"No, Wait!" exclaimed Tom Swift. "You can kill the dog all right, +Koku," he said, "but a scratch from his tooth might be fatal. I'll fix +him!" +</P> + +<P> +Snatching his electric rifle from the Indian bearer who carried it, Tom +took quick aim. There was no flash, no report and no puff of smoke, but +the dog suddenly crumpled up in a heap, and, with a dying yelp, rolled +to one side. The child was saved. +</P> + +<P> +The little one, aware that something had happened, turned and saw the +stretched out form of its enemy. Then, sobbing and crying, it ran +toward its mother who had just heard the news. +</P> + +<P> +While the mothers gathered about the child, and while the older boys +and girls made a ring at a respectful distance from the dog, there was +activity noticed among the men of the village. They began hurrying out +along the forest paths. +</P> + +<P> +"Where are they going?" asked Tom. "Is there some trouble? Was that a +sacred dog, and did I get in bad by killing it?" +</P> + +<P> +The interpreter and the native chief conversed rapidly for a moment and +then the former, turning to Tom, said: +</P> + +<P> +"Men go git cinchona bark now. Plenty get for him," and he pointed to +Mr. Damon. "They no like stay in village. T'ink yo' got lightning in +yo' pocket," and he pointed to the electric rifle. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I see!" laughed Tom. "They think I'm a sort of wizard. Well, so I +am. Tell them if they don't get lots of quinine bark I'll have to stay +here until all the mad dogs are shot." +</P> + +<P> +The interpreter translated, and when the chief had ceased replying, Tom +and the others were told: +</P> + +<P> +"Plenty bark git. Plenty much. Yo' go away with yo' lightning. All +right now." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's a good thing I keeled over that dog," Tom said. "It was the +best object lesson I could give them." +</P> + +<P> +And from then on there was no more trouble in this district about +getting a supply of the medicinal bark. +</P> + +<P> +A week passed and Professor Bumper was no nearer finding the lost city +than he had been at first. Reluctantly, he returned to the tunnel camp +to get more provisions. +</P> + +<P> +"And then I'll start out again," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll go with you some other time," promised Tom. "But now I expect +I'll have to get another blast ready." +</P> + +<P> +He found the debris brought down by the second one all removed, and in +a few days, preparations for exploding more of the powder were under +way. +</P> + +<P> +Many holes had been drilled in the face of the cliff of hard rock, and +the charges tamped in. Electric wires connected them, and they were run +out to the tunnel mouth where the switch was located. +</P> + +<P> +This was done late one afternoon, and it was planned to set off the +blast at the close of the working day, to allow all night for the fumes +to be blown away by the current of air in the tunnel. +</P> + +<P> +"Get the men out, Tim," said Tom, when all was ready. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, sor," was the answer, and the Irish foreman went back +toward the far end of the bore to tell the last shift of laborers to +come out so the blast could be set off. +</P> + +<P> +But in a little while Tim came running back with a queer look on his +face. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter?" asked Tom. "Why didn't you bring the men with you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because, sor, they're not there!" +</P> + +<P> +"Not in the tunnel? Why, they were working there a little while ago, +when I made the last connection!" +</P> + +<P> +"I know they were, but they've disappeared." +</P> + +<P> +"Disappeared?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yis sir. There's no way out except at this end an' you didn't see thim +come out: did you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Then they've disappeared! That's all there is to it! Bad goin's on, +thot's what it is, sor! Bad!" and Tim shook his head mournfully. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Frightened Indians +</H3> + +<P> +"There must be some mistake," said Tom, wondering if the Irish foreman +were given to joking. Yet he did not seem that kind of man. +</P> + +<P> +"Mistake? How can there be a mistake, sor? I wint in there to tell th' +black imps t' come out, but they're not there to tell!" +</P> + +<P> +"What's the trouble?" asked Job Titus, coming out of the office near +the tunnel mouth. "What's wrong, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I sent Tim in to tell the men to come out, as I was going to set +off a blast, but he says the men aren't in there. And I'm sure the last +shift hasn't come out." +</P> + +<P> +By this time Koku, Mr. Damon and Walter Titus had come up to find out +what the trouble was. +</P> + +<P> +"The min have disappeared—that's all there is to it!" Tim said. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps they have missed their way—the lights may have gone out, and +they might have wandered into some abandoned cutting," suggested Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"There aren't any abandoned cuttin's," declared Tim. "It's a straight +bore, not a shaft of any kind. I've looked everywhere, and th' min +aren't there I tell ye!" +</P> + +<P> +"Are the lights going?" asked Job. "You might have missed them in the +dark, Tim." +</P> + +<P> +"The lights are going all right, Mr. Titus," said the young man in +charge of the electrical arrangements. "The dynamo hasn't been stopped +to-day." +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, we'll have a look," proposed Walter Titus. "There must be +some mistake. Hold back the blast, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," and the young inventor disconnected the electrical +detonating switch. "I'll come along and have a look too," he added. +"Don't let anybody meddle with the wires, Jack," he said to the young +Englishman who was in charge of the dynamo. +</P> + +<P> +Into the dimly-lit tunnel advanced the party of investigators, with Tim +Sullivan in the lead. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a man could I find!" he said, murmuring to himself. "Not a man! +An' I mind th' time in Oireland whin th' little people made vanish a +whole village like this, jist bekase ould Mike Maguire uprooted a bed +of shamrocks." +</P> + +<P> +"That's enough of your superstitions, Tim," warned Job Titus. "If some +of the other Indians hear you go on this way they'll desert as they did +once before." +</P> + +<P> +"Did they do that?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we had trouble that way when we first began the work. The place +here was a howling wilderness then, and there were lots of pumas around. +</P> + +<P> +"A puma is a small sized lion, you know, not specially dangerous unless +cornered. Well, some of the men had their families here with them, and +a couple of children disappeared. The story got started that there was +a big puma—the king of them all—carrying off the little ones, and my +brother and I awoke one morning to find every laborer missing. They +departed bag and baggage. Afraid of the pumas." +</P> + +<P> +"What did you do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we organized ourselves and our white helpers into a hunting +party and killed a lot of the beasts. There wasn't any big one though." +</P> + +<P> +"And what had become of the children?" +</P> + +<P> +"They weren't eaten at all. They had wandered off into the woods, and +some natives found them and took care of them. Eventually, they got +back home. But it was a long while before we could persuade the Indians +to come back. Since then we haven't had any trouble, and I don't want +Tim, with his superstitious fancies, to start any." +</P> + +<P> +"But the min are gone!" insisted the Irish foreman, who had listened to +this story as he and the others walked along. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll find them," declared Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +But though they looked all along the big shaft, and though the place +was well lighted by extra lamps that were turned on when the +investigation started, no trace could be found of the workmen, who had +been left in the tunnel to finish tamping the blast charges. The party +reached the rocky heading, in the face of which the powerful explosive +had been placed, and not an Indian was in sight. Nor, as far as could +be told, was there any side niche, or blind shaft, in which they could +be hiding. +</P> + +<P> +Sometimes, when small blasts were set off, the men would go behind a +projecting shoulder of rock to wait until the charge had been fired, +but now none was in such a refuge. +</P> + +<P> +"It is queer," admitted Walter Titus. "Where can the men have gone?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I want to know!" exclaimed Tim. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure they didn't come out the mouth of the tunnel?" asked Job +Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"Positive," asserted Tom. I was there all the while, rigging up the +fires." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll call the roll, and check up," decided Job Titus. "Get Serato to +help." +</P> + +<P> +The Indian foreman had not been in the tunnel with the last shift of +men, having left them to Tim Sullivan to get out in time. The Indian +foreman was called from his supper in the shack where he had his +headquarters, and the roll of workmen was called. +</P> + +<P> +Ten men were missing, and when this fact became known there were uneasy +looks among the others. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said Mr. Titus, after a pause. "The men are either in the +tunnel or out of it. If they're in we don't dare set off the blast, and +if they're out they'll show up, sooner or later, for supper. I never +knew any of 'em to miss a meal." +</P> + +<P> +"If such a thing were possible," said Walter Titus, "I would say that +our rivals had a hand in this, and had induced our men to bolt in order +to cripple our force. But we haven't seen any of Blakeson & Grinder's +emissaries about, and, if they were, how could they get the ten men out +of the tunnel without our seeing them? It's impossible!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what did happen then?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm inclined to think that the men came out and neither you, nor any +one else, saw them. They ran away for reasons of their own. We'll take +another look in the morning, and then set off the blast." +</P> + +<P> +And this was done. There being no trace of the men in the tunnel it was +deemed safe to explode the charges. This was done, a great amount of +rock being loosened. +</P> + +<P> +The laborers hung back when the orders were given to go in and clean +up. There were mutterings among them. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter?" asked Job Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"Them afraid," answered Serato. "Them say devil in tunnel eat um up! No +go in." +</P> + +<P> +"They won't go in, eh?" cried Tim Sullivan. "Well, they will thot! If +there's a divil inside there's a worse one outside, an' thot's me! Git +in there now, ye black-livered spalapeens!" and catching up a big club +the Irishman made a rush for the hesitating laborers. With a howl they +rushed into the tunnel, and were soon loading rock into the dump cars. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +On the Watch +</H3> + +<P> +The mystery of the disappearance of the ten men—for mystery it +was—remained, and as no side opening or passage could be found within +the tunnel, it came to be the generally accepted explanation that the +laborers had come out unobserved, and, for reasons of their own, had +run away. +</P> + +<P> +This habit on the part of the Peruvian workers was not unusual. In +fact, the Titus brothers had to maintain a sort of permanent employment +agency in Lima to replace the deserters. But they were used to this. +The difference was that the Indians used to vanish from camp at night, +and invariably after pay-day. +</P> + +<P> +"And that's the only reason I have a slight doubt that they walked out +of the tunnel," said Job Titus. "There was money due em." +</P> + +<P> +"They never came out of the front entrance of the tunnel," said Tom. +"Of that I'm positive." +</P> + +<P> +But there was no way of proving his assertion. +</P> + +<P> +The third blast, while not as successful as the second in the amount of +rock loosened, was better than the first, and made a big advance in the +tunnel progress. Tom was beginning to understand the nature of the +mountain into which the big shaft was being driven and he learned how +better to apply the force of his explosive. +</P> + +<P> +That was the work which he had charge of—the placing of the giant +powder so it would do the most effective work. Then, when the fumes +from the blast had cleared away, in would surge the workmen to clear +away the debris. +</P> + +<P> +Under the direction of Mr. Swift, left at Shopton to oversee the +manufacture of the explosive, new shipments came on promptly to Lima, +and were brought out to the tunnel on the backs of mules, or in the +case of small quantities, on the llamas. But the latter brutes will not +carry a heavy load, lying down and refusing to get up if they are +overburdened, whereas one has yet to find a mule's limit. +</P> + +<P> +After his first success in getting the natives to take a more active +interest in the gathering of the cinchona bark, Mr. Damon found it +rather easy, for the story of Tom's electric rifle and how it had +killed the mad dog spread among the tribes, and Mr. Damon had but to +announce that the "lightning shooter," as Tom was called, was a friend +of the drug concern to bring about the desired results. Mr. Damon, by +paying a sort of bribe, disguised under the name "tax," secured the +help of Peruvian officials so he had no trouble on that score. +</P> + +<P> +Koku was in his element. He liked a wild life and Peru was much more +like the country of giants where Tom had found him, than any place the +big man had since visited. Koku had great strength and wanted to use +it, and after a week or so of idleness he persuaded Tom to let him go +in the tunnel to work. +</P> + +<P> +The giant was made a sort of foreman under Tim, and the two became +great friends. The only trouble with Koku was that he would do a thing +himself instead of letting his men do it, as, of course, all proper +foremen should do. If the giant saw two or three of the Indians trying +to lift a big rock into the little dump cars, and failing because of +its great weight, he would good-naturedly thrust them aside, pick up +the big stone in his mighty arms, and deposit it in its place. +</P> + +<P> +And once when an unusually big load had been put in a car, and the mule +attached found it impossible to pull it out to the tunnel mouth, Koku +unhitched the creature and, slipping the harness around his waist, +walked out, dragging the load as easily as if pulling a child on a sled. +</P> + +<P> +Professor Bumper kept on with his search for the lost city of Pelone. +Back and forth he wandered among the wild Andes Mountains, now hopeful +that he was on the right trail, and again in despair. Tom and Mr. Damon +went with him once more for a week, and though they enjoyed the trip, +for the professor was a delightful companion, there were no results. +But the scientist would not give up. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift was kept busy looking after the shipments of the explosive, +and arranging for the blasts. He had letters from Ned Newton in which +news of Shopton was given, and Mr. Swift wrote occasionally. But the +mails in the wilderness of the Andes were few and far between. +</P> + +<P> +Tom wrote a letter of explanation to Mr. Nestor, in addition to the +wireless he had sent regarding the box labeled dynamite, but he got no +answer. Nor were his letters to Mary answered. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what's wrong?" Tom mused. "It can't be that they think I did +that on purpose. And even if Mr. Nestor is angry at me for something +that wasn't my fault, Mary ought to write." +</P> + +<P> +But she did not, and Tom grew a bit despondent as the days went by and +no word came. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose they might be offended because I left Rad to do up that +package instead of attending to it myself," thought Tom. "Well, I did +make a mistake there, but I didn't mean to. I never thought about +Eradicate's not reading. I'll make him go to night school as soon as I +get back. But maybe I'll never get another chance to send Mary +anything. If I do, I'll not let Rad deliver it—that's sure." +</P> + +<P> +The feeling of alarm engendered among the Indians by the disappearance +of their ten fellow-workers seemed to have disappeared. There were +rumors that some of the mysterious ten had been seen in distant +villages and settlements, but the Titus brothers could not confirm this. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think anything serious happened to them, anyhow," said Job +Titus one day. "And I should hate to think our work was responsible for +harm to any one." +</P> + +<P> +"Your rivals don't seem to be doing much to hamper you," observed Tom. +"I guess Waddington gave up. +</P> + +<P> +"I won't be too sure of that," said Mr. Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, what has happened?" Tom asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, nothing down here—that is, directly—but we are meeting with +trouble on the financial end. The Peruvian government is holding back +payments." +</P> + +<P> +"Why is that?" +</P> + +<P> +"They claim we are not as far advanced as we ought to be." +</P> + +<P> +"Aren't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Practically, yes. There was no set limit of work to be done for the +intermediate payments. We bonded ourselves to have the tunnel done at a +certain date. +</P> + +<P> +"If we fail, we lose a large sum, and if we get it done ahead of time +we get a big premium. There was no question as to completing a certain +amount of footage before we received certain payments. But Senor +Belasdo, the government representative, claims that we will not be done +in time, and therefore he is holding back money due us. I'm sure the +rival contractors have set him up to this, because he was always decent +to us before. +</P> + +<P> +"Another matter, too, makes me suspicious. We have tried to raise money +in New York to tide us over while the government is holding up our +funds here. But our New York office is meeting with difficulties. They +report there is a story current to the effect that we are going to +fail, and while that isn't so, you know how hard it is to borrow money +in the face of such rumors. We are doing all we can to fight them, of +course, and maybe we'll beat out our rivals yet. +</P> + +<P> +"But that isn't all. I'm sure some one is on the ground here trying to +make trouble among our workers. I never knew so many men to leave, one +after another. It's keeping the employment agency in Lima busy +supplying us with new workers. And so many of them are unskilled. They +aren't able to do half the work of the old men, and poor Tim Sullivan +is in despair." +</P> + +<P> +"You think some one here is causing dissensions and desertions among +your men?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure of it! I've tried to ferret out who it is, but the spy, for +such he must be, keeps his identity well hidden." +</P> + +<P> +Tom thought for a moment. Then he said: +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Titus, with your permission, I'll see if I can find out about this +for you." +</P> + +<P> +"Find out what, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"What is causing the men to leave. I don't believe it's the scare about +the ten missing ones." +</P> + +<P> +"Nor do I. That's past and gone. But how are you going to get at the +bottom of it?" +</P> + +<P> +"By keeping watch. I've got nothing to do now for the next week. We've +just set off a big blast, and I've got the powder for the following one +all ready. The men will be busy for some time getting out the broken +rock. Now what I propose to do is to go in the tunnel and work among +them until I can learn something. +</P> + +<P> +"I can understand the language pretty well now, though I can't speak +much of it. I'll go in the tunnel every day and find out what's going +on." +</P> + +<P> +"But you'll be known, and if one of our men, or one who we suppose is +one, turns out to be a spy, he'll be very cautious while you're in +there." +</P> + +<P> +"He won't know me," Tom said. "This is how I'll work it. I'll go off +with Professor Bumper the next time he starts on one of his weekly +expeditions into the woods. But I won't go far until I turn around and +come back. I'll adopt some sort of disguise, and I'll apply to you for +work. You can tell Tim to put me on. You might let him into the secret, +but no one else." +</P> + +<P> +A few days later Tom was seen departing with Professor Bumper into the +interior, presumably to help look for the lost city. Mr. Damon was away +from camp on business connected with the drug concern, and Koku, to his +delight, had been given charge of a stationary hoisting engine outside +the tunnel, so he would not come in contact with Tom. It was not +thought wise to take the giant into the secret. +</P> + +<P> +Then one day, shortly after Professor Bumper and Tom had disappeared +into the forest, a ragged and unkempt white man applied at the tunnel +camp for work. There was just the barest wink as he accosted Mr. Titus, +who winked in turn, and then the new man was handed over to Tim +Sullivan, as a sort of helper. +</P> + +<P> +And so Tom Swift began his watch. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Condor +</H3> + +<P> +Left to himself, with only the rather silent gang of Peruvian Indians +as company, Tom Swift looked about him. There was not much active work +to be done, only to see that the Indians filled the dump cars evenly +full, so none of the broken rock would spill over the side and litter +the tramway. Then, too, he had to keep the Indians up to the mark +working, for these men were no different from any other, and they were +just as inclined to "loaf on the job" when the eye of the "boss" was +turned away. +</P> + +<P> +They did not talk much, murmuring among themselves now and then, and +little of what they said was intelligible to Tom. But he knew enough +of the language to give them orders, the main one of which was: +</P> + +<P> +"Hurry up!" +</P> + +<P> +Now, having seen to it that the gang of which he was in temporary +charge was busily engaged, Tom had a chance to look about him. The +tunnel was not new to him. Much of his time in the past month had been +spent in its black depths, illuminated, more or less, by the string of +incandescent lights. +</P> + +<P> +"What I want to find," mused Tom, as he walked to and fro, "is the +place where those Indians disappeared. For I'm positive they got away +through some hole in this tunnel. They never came out the main +entrance." +</P> + +<P> +Tom held to this view in spite of the fact that nearly every one else +believed the contrary—that the men had left by the tunnel mouth, near +which Tom happened to be alone at the time. +</P> + +<P> +Now, left to himself, with merely nominal duties, and so disguised that +none of the workmen would know him for the trim young inventor who +oversaw the preparing of the blast charges, Tom Swift walked to and +fro, looking for some carefully hidden passage or shaft by means of +which the men had got away. +</P> + +<P> +"For it must be well hidden to have escaped observation so long," Tom +decided. "And it must be a natural shaft, or hole, for we are boring +into native rock, and it isn't likely that these Indians ever tried to +make a tunnel here. There must be some natural fissure communicating +with the outside of the mountain, in a place where no one would see the +men coming out." +</P> + +<P> +But though Tom believed this it was another matter to demonstrate his +belief. In the intervals of seeing that the natives properly loaded the +dump cars, and removed as much of the debris as possible, Tom looked +carefully along the walls and roof of the tunnel thus far excavated. +</P> + +<P> +There were cracks and fissures, it is true, but they were all +superficial ones, as Tom ascertained by poking a long pole up into them. +</P> + +<P> +"No getting out that way," he said, as he met with failure after +failure. +</P> + +<P> +Once, while thus engaged, he saw Serato, the Indian foreman looking +narrowly at him, and Serato said something in his own language which +Tom could not understand. But just then along came Tim Sullivan, who, +grasping the situation, exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"Thot's all roight, now, Serri, me lad!" for thus he contracted the +Indian's name. "Thot's a new helper I have, a broth of a bye, an' yez +kin kape yer hands off him. He's takin' orders from me!" +</P> + +<P> +"Um!" grunted the Indian. "Wha for he fish in tunnel roof?" for Tom's +pole was one like those the Indians used when, on off days, they +emulated Izaak Walton. +</P> + +<P> +"Fishin' is it!" exclaimed Tim. "Begorra 'tis flyin' fish he's after +I'm thinkin'. Lave him alone though, Serri! I'm his boss!" +</P> + +<P> +"Um!" grunted the Indian again, as he moved off into the farther +darkness. +</P> + +<P> +"Be careful, Tom," whispered the Irishman, when the native had gone. +"These black imps is mighty suspicious. Maybe thot fellah had a hand in +th' disappearances hisself." +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe," admitted Tom. "He may get a percentage on all new hands that +are hired." +</P> + +<P> +Tom kept on with his search, always hoping he might find some hidden +means of getting out of the tunnel. But as the days went by, and he +discovered nothing, he began to despair. +</P> + +<P> +"The queer thing about it," mused Tom, "is what has become of the ten +men. Even if they did find some secret means of leaving, what has +become of them? They couldn't completely disappear, and they have +families and relatives that would make some sort of fuss if they were +out of sight completely this long. I wonder if any inquiries have been +made about them?" +</P> + +<P> +When Tom came off duty he asked the Titus brothers whether or not any +of the relatives of the missing men had come to seek news about them. +None had. +</P> + +<P> +"Then," said Tom, "you can depend on it the men are all right, and +their relatives know it. I wonder how it would do to make inquiries at +that end? Question some of the relatives." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my hat band!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, who was at the conference. "I +never thought of that. I'll do it for you." +</P> + +<P> +The odd man had gotten his quinine gathering business well under way +now, and he had some spare time. So, with an interpreter who could be +trusted, he went to the native village whence had come nearly all of +the ten missing men. But though Mr. Damon found some of their +relatives, the latter, with shrugs of their shoulders, declared they +had seen nothing of the ones sought. +</P> + +<P> +"And they didn't seem to worry much, either," reported Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Then we can depend on it," remarked Tom, "that the men are all right +and their relatives know it. There's some conspiracy here." +</P> + +<P> +So it seemed. But who was at the bottom of it? +</P> + +<P> +"I can't figure out where Blakeson & Grinder come in," said Job Titus. +"They would have an object in crippling us, but they seem to be working +from the financial end, trying to make us fail there. I haven't seen +any of their sneaking agents around here lately, and as for Waddington +he seems to have stayed up North." +</P> + +<P> +Tom resumed his vigil in the tunnel, poking here and there, but with +little success. His week was about up, and he would soon have to resume +his character as powder expert, for the debris was nearly all cleaned +up, and another blast would have to be fired shortly. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm stumped!" Tom admitted, the day when he was to come on duty +for the last time as a pretended foreman. "I've hunted all over, and I +can't find any secret passage." +</P> + +<P> +It was warm in the tunnel, and Tom, having seen one train of the dump +cars loaded, sat down to rest on an elevated ledge of rock, where he +had made a sort of easy chair for himself, with empty cement bags for +cushions. +</P> + +<P> +The heat, his weariness and the monotonous clank-clank of a water pump +near by, and the equally monotonous thump of the lumps of rocks in the +cars made Tom drowsy. Almost before he knew it he was asleep. +</P> + +<P> +What suddenly awakened him he could not tell. Perhaps it was some +influence on the brain cells, as when a vivid dream causes us to start +up from slumber, or it may have been a voice. For certainly Tom heard a +voice, he declared afterward. +</P> + +<P> +As he roused up he found himself staring at the rocky wall of the +tunnel. And yet the wall seemed to have an opening in it and in the +opening, as if it were in the frame of a picture, appeared the face Tom +had seen at his library the day Job Titus called on him—the face of +Waddington! +</P> + +<P> +Tom sat up so quickly that he hit his head sharply on a projecting rock +spur, and, for the moment he "saw stars." And with the appearance of +these twinkling points of light the face of Waddington seemed to fade +away, as might a vision in a dream. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my salt mackerel, as Mr. Damon would say!" cried Tom. "What have +I discovered?" +</P> + +<P> +He rubbed his head where he had struck it, and then passed his hand +before his eyes, to make sure he was awake. But the vision, if vision +it was, had vanished, and he saw only the bare rock wall. However, the +echo of the voice remained in his ears, and, looking down toward the +tunnel floor Tom saw Serato, the Indian foreman. +</P> + +<P> +"Were you speaking to me?" asked Tom, for the man understood and spoke +English fairly well. +</P> + +<P> +"No, sar. I not know you there!" and the foreman seemed startled at +seeing Tom. Clearly he was in a fright. +</P> + +<P> +"You were speaking!" insisted Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"No, sar!" The man shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"To some one up there!" went on the young inventor, waving his hand +toward the spot where he had seen the face in the rock. +</P> + +<P> +"Me speak to roof? No, sar!" Serato laughed. +</P> + +<P> +Tom did not know what to believe. +</P> + +<P> +"You hear me tell um lazy man to much hurry," the Indian went on. "Me +not know you sleep there, sar!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, all right," Tom said, recollecting that he must keep up his +disguise. "Maybe I was dreaming." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sar," and the foreman hurried on, with a backward glance over his +shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"Now was I dreaming or not?" thought Tom. "I'm going to have a look at +that place though, where I saw Waddington's face. Or did I imagine it?" +</P> + +<P> +He got a long pole and a powerful flash lamp, and when he had a chance, +unobserved, he poked around in the vicinity where he had seen the face. +</P> + +<P> +But there was only solid rock. +</P> + +<P> +"It must have been a dream," Tom concluded. "I've been thinking too +much about this business. I'll have to give up. I can't solve the +mystery of the missing men." +</P> + +<P> +The next day, much disappointed, he resumed his own character as +explosive expert, and prepared for another blast. The net result of his +watch was that he became suspicious of Serato, and so informed the +Titus Brothers. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, but you're mistaken," said Job. "We have had him for years, on +other contracts in Peru, and we trust him." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't," Tom said, but he had to let it go at that. +</P> + +<P> +Another blast was set off, but it was not very successful. +</P> + +<P> +"The rock seems to be getting harder the farther in we go," commented +Walter Titus. "We're not up to where we ought to be." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll have to look into it," answered Tom. "I may have to change the +powder mixture. Guess I'll go up the mountain a way, and see if there +are any outcroppings of rock there that would give me an idea of what +lies underneath." +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly, while the men in the tunnel were clearing away the rock +loosened by the blast, Tom, one day, taking his electric rifle with +him, went up the mountain under which the big bore ran. +</P> + +<P> +He located, by computation, the spot beneath which the end of the +tunnel then was, and began collecting samples of the outcropping ledge. +He wanted to analyze these pieces of stone later. Koku was with him, +and, giving the giant a bag of stones to carry, Tom walked on rather +idly. +</P> + +<P> +It was a wild and desolate region in which he found himself on the side +of the mountain. Beyond him stretched towering and snow-clad peaks, and +high in the air were small specks, which he knew to be condors, +watching with their eager eyes for their offal food. +</P> + +<P> +As Tom and Koku made their way along the mountain trail they came +unexpectedly upon an Indian workman who was gathering herbs and bark, +an industry by which many of the natives added to their scanty +livelihood. The woman was familiar with the appearance of the white +men, and nodded in friendly fashion. +</P> + +<P> +Tom passed on, thinking of many things, when he was suddenly startled +by a scream from the woman. It was a scream of such terror and agony +that, for the moment, Tom was stunned into inactivity. Then, as he +turned, he saw a great condor sweeping down out of the air, the wind +fairly whistling through the big, outstretched wings. +</P> + +<P> +"Jove!" ejaculated Tom. "Can the bird be going to attack the woman?" +</P> + +<P> +But this was not the object of the condor. It was aiming to strike, +with its fierce talons, at a point some paces distant from where the +woman stood, and in the intervals between her screams Tom heard her +cry, in her native tongue: +</P> + +<P> +"My baby! My baby! The beast-bird will carry off my baby!" +</P> + +<P> +Then Tom understood. The woman herb-gatherer had brought her infant +with her on her quest, and had laid it down on a bed of soft grass +while she worked. And it was this infant, wrapped as Tom afterward saw +in a piece of deer-skin, at which the condor was aiming. +</P> + +<P> +"Master shoot!" cried Koku, pointing to the down-sweeping bird. +</P> + +<P> +"You bet I'll shoot!" cried Tom. +</P> + +<P> +Throwing his electric rifle to his shoulder, Tom pressed the switch +trigger. The unseen but powerful force shot straight at the condor. +</P> + +<P> +The outstretched wings fell limp, the great body seemed to shrivel up, +and, with a crash, the bird fell into the underbrush, breaking the +twigs and branches with its weight. The electric rifle, a full account +of which was given in the volume entitled "Tom Swift and His Electric +Rifle," had done its work well. +</P> + +<P> +With a scream, in which was mingled a cry of thanks, the woman threw +herself on the sleeping child. The condor had fallen dead not three +paces from it. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift had shot just in time. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Indian Strike +</H3> + +<P> +Snatching up in her arms the now awakened child, the woman gazed for a +moment into its face, which she covered with kisses. Then the +herb-gatherer looked over to the dead, limp body of the great condor, +and from thence to Tom. +</P> + +<P> +In another moment the woman had rushed forward, and knelt at the feet +of the young inventor. Holding the baby in one arm, in her other hand +the woman seized Tom's and kissed it fervently, at the same time pouring +forth a torrent of impassioned language, of which Tom could only make +out a word now and then. But he gathered that the woman was thanking +him for having saved the child. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that's all right," Tom said, rather embarrassed by the +hand-kissing. "It was an easy shot." +</P> + +<P> +An Indian came bursting through the bushes, evidently the woman's +husband by the manner in which she greeted him, and Tom recognized the +newcomer as one of the tunnel workers. There was some quick +conversation between the husband and wife, in which the latter made all +sorts of motions, including in their scope Tom, his rifle, the dead +condor and the now smiling baby. +</P> + +<P> +The man took off his hat and approached Tom, genuflecting as he might +have done in church. +</P> + +<P> +"She say you save baby from condor," the man said in his halting +English. "She t'ank you—me, I t'ank you. Bird see babe in deer +skin—t'ink um dead animal. Maybe so bird carry baby off, drop um on +sharp stone, baby smile no more. You have our lives, senor! We do +anyt'ing we can for you." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks," said Tom, easily. "I'm glad I happened to be around. I +supposed condors only went for things dead, but I reckon, as you say, +it mistook the baby in the deer skin for a dead animal. And I guess it +might have carried your little one off, or at least lifted it up, and +then it might have dropped it far enough to have killed it. It sure is +a big bird," and Tom strolled over to look at what he had bagged. +</P> + +<P> +The condor of the Andes is the largest bird of prey in existence. One +in the Bronx Zoo, in New York, with his wings spread out, measured a +little short of ten feet from tip to tip. Measure ten feet out on the +ground and then imagine a bird with that wing stretch. +</P> + +<P> +This same condor in the park was made angry by a boy throwing a feather +boa up into the air outside the cage. The condor raised himself from +the ground, and hurled himself against the heavy wire netting so that +the whole, big cage shook. And the breeze caused by the flapping wings +blew off the hats of several spectators. So powerful was the air force +from the condor's wings that it reminded one of the current caused when +standing behind the propellers of an aeroplane in motion. The condor +rarely attacks living persons or animals, though it has been known to +carry off big sheep when driven by hunger. +</P> + +<P> +It was one of these animals Tom Swift had shot with his electric rifle. +</P> + +<P> +"We do anyt'ing you want," the man gratefully repeated. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I've got about all I want," Tom said. "But if you could tell me +where those ten missing men are, and how they got out of the tunnel, +I'd be obliged to you." +</P> + +<P> +The woman did not seem to comprehend Tom's talk, but the man did. He +started, and fear seemed to come over him. +</P> + +<P> +"Me—I—I can not tell," he murmured. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I don't suppose you can," said Tom, musingly. "Well, it doesn't +matter, I guess I'll have to cross it off my books. I'll never find +out." +</P> + +<P> +Again the Indian and his wife expressed their gratitude, and Tom, after +letting the little brown baby cling to his finger, and patting its +chubby cheek, went on his way with Koku. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that was some excitement," mused Tom, who made little of the +shot itself, for the condor was such a mark that he would have had to +aim very badly indeed to miss it. And perhaps only the electric rifle +could have killed quickly enough to prevent the baby's being injured in +some way by the big bird, even though it was dying. +</P> + +<P> +"Master heap good shot!" exclaimed Koku, admiringly. +</P> + +<P> +The tunnel work went on, though not so well as when Tom's explosive was +first used. The rock was indeed getting harder and was not so easily +shattered. Tom made tests of the pieces he had obtained from the +outcropping ledge on the mountain where he had shot the condor, and +decided to make a change in the powder. +</P> + +<P> +Shipments were regularly received from Shopton, Mr. Swift keeping +things in progress there. Mr. Damon's business was going on +satisfactorily, and he lent what aid he could to Tom. As for Professor +Bumper he kept on with his search for the lost city of Pelone, but with +no success. +</P> + +<P> +The scientist wanted Tom and Mr. Damon to go on another trip with him, +this time to a distant sierra, or fertile valley, where it was reported +a race of Indians lived, different from others in that region. +</P> + +<P> +"It may be that they are descendants from the Pelonians," suggested the +professor. Tom was too busy to go, but Mr. Damon went. The expedition +had all sorts of trouble, losing its way and getting into a swamp from +which escape was not easy. Then, too, the strange Indians proved +hostile, and the professor and his party could not get nearer than the +boundaries of the valley. +</P> + +<P> +"But the difficulties and the hostile attitude of these natives only +makes me surer that I am on the right track," said Mr. Bumper. "I shall +try again." +</P> + +<P> +Tom was busy over a problem in explosives one day when he saw Tim +Sullivan hurrying into the office of the two brothers. The Irishman +seemed excited. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope there hasn't been another premature blast," mused Tom. "But if +there had been I think I'd have heard it." +</P> + +<P> +He hastened out to see Job and Walter Titus in excited conversation +with Tim. +</P> + +<P> +"They didn't come out, an' thot's all there is to it," the foreman was +saying. "I sint thim in mesilf, and they worked until it was time t' +set off th' blast. I wint t' get th' fuse, an' I was goin' t' send th' +black imps out of danger, whin—whist—they was gone whin I got +back—fifteen of 'em this time!" +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean that fifteen more of our men have vanished as the first +ten did?" asked Job Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I mean," asserted the Irishman. +</P> + +<P> +"It can't be!" declared Walter. +</P> + +<P> +"Look for yersilf!" returned Tim. "They're not in th' tunnel!" +</P> + +<P> +"And they didn't come out?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ask th' time-keeper," and Tim motioned to a young Englishman who, +since the other disappearance, had been stationed at the mouth of the +tunnel to keep a record of who went in and came out. +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir! Nobody kime hout, sir!" the Englishman declared. "Hi 'aven't +been away frim 'ere, sir, not since hi wint on duty, sir. An' no one +kime out, no, sir!" +</P> + +<P> +"We've got to stop this!" declared Job Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"I should say so!" agreed his brother. +</P> + +<P> +With Tom and Tim the Titus brothers went into the tunnel. It was +deserted, and not a trace of the men could be found. Their tools were +where they had been dropped, but of the men not a sign. +</P> + +<P> +"There must be some secret way out," declared Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Then we'll find it," asserted the brothers. +</P> + +<P> +Work on the tunnel was stopped for a day, and, keeping out all natives, +the contractors, with Tom and such white men as they had in their +employ, went over every foot of roof, sides and floor in the big shaft. +But not a crack or fissure, large enough to permit the passage of a +child, much less a man, could be found. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I give up!" cried Walter Titus in despair. "There must be +witchcraft at work here!" +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense!" exclaimed his brother. "It's more likely the craft of +Blakeson & Grinder, with Waddington helping them." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if a human agency made these twenty-five men disappear, prove +it!" insisted Walter. +</P> + +<P> +His brother did not know what to say. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, go on with the work," was Job's final conclusion. "We'll have +one of the white men constantly in the tunnel after this whenever a +gang is working. We won't leave the natives alone even long enough to +go to get a fuse. They'll be under constant supervision." +</P> + +<P> +The tunnel was opened for work, but there were no workers. The morning +after the investigation, when the starting whistle blew there was no +line of Indians ready to file into the big, black hole. The huts where +they slept were deserted. A strange silence brooded over the tunnel +camp. +</P> + +<P> +"Where are the men, Serato?" asked Tom of the Indian foreman. +</P> + +<P> +"Men um gone. No work any more. What you call a hit." +</P> + +<P> +"You mean a strike?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Sure—strike—hit—all um same. No more work—um 'fraid!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Woman Tells +</H3> + +<P> +"Well, if this isn't the limit!" cried Tom Swift. "As if we didn't +have trouble enough without a strike on our hands!" +</P> + +<P> +"I should say yes!" chimed in Job Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean that the men won't work any more?" asked his brother of +the native foreman. +</P> + +<P> +"Sure, no more work—um much 'fraid big devil in tunnel carry um off +an' eat um." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't know that I blame 'em for being a bit frightened," +commented Job. "It is a queer proceeding how twenty-five men can +disappear like that. Where have the men gone, Serato?" +</P> + +<P> +"Gone home. No more work. Go on hit—strike—same like white men." +</P> + +<P> +"They waited until pay day to go on strike," commented the bookkeeper, +a youth about Tom's age. +</P> + +<P> +This was true. The men had been paid off the day before, and usually on +such occasions many of them remained away, celebrating in the nearest +village. But this time all had left, and evidently did not intend to +come back. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll have to get a new gang," said Job. "And it's going to delay us +just at the wrong time. Well, there's no help for it. Get busy, Serato. +You and Tim go and see how many men you can gather. Tell them we'll +give them a sol a week more if they do good work. (A sol is the +standard silver coin of Peru, and is worth in United States gold about +fifty cents.) +</P> + +<P> +"Half a dollar a day more will look mighty big to them," went on the +contractor. "Get the men, Serato, and we'll raise your wages two sols a +week." +</P> + +<P> +The eyes of the Indian gleamed, and he went off, saying. +</P> + +<P> +"Um try, but men much 'fraid." +</P> + +<P> +Whether Serato used his best arguments could not, of course, be +learned, but he came back at the close of the day, unaccompanied by any +workers, and he shook his head despondently. +</P> + +<P> +"Indians no come for one sol, mebby not for two," he said. "I no can +git." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I'll try!" cried Job. "I'll get the workers. I'll make our old +ones come back, for they'll be the best." +</P> + +<P> +Accompanied by his brother and Tom he went to the various Indian +villages, including the one whence most of the men now on strike had +come. The fifteen missing ones were not found, though, as before, their +relatives, and, in some cases, their families, did not seem alarmed. +But the men who had gone on strike were found lolling about their +cabins and huts, smoking and taking their ease, and no amount of +persuasion could induce them to return. +</P> + +<P> +Some of them said they had worked long enough and were tired, needing a +rest. Others declared they had money enough and did not want more. Even +two more sols a week would not induce them to return. +</P> + +<P> +And many were frankly afraid. They said so, declaring that if they went +back to the tunnel some unknown devil might carry them off under the +earth. +</P> + +<P> +Job Titus and his brother, who could speak the language fairly well, +tried to argue against this. They declared the tunnel was perfectly +safe. But one native worker, who had been the best in the gang, asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Where um men go?" +</P> + +<P> +The contractors could not answer. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a trick," declared Walter. "Our rivals have induced the men to go +on strike in order to hamper us with the work so they'll get the job." +</P> + +<P> +But the closest inquiry failed to prove this statement. If Blakeson & +Grinder, or any of their agents, had a hand in the strike they covered +their operations well. Though diligent inquiry was made, no trace of +Waddington, or any other tool, could be found. +</P> + +<P> +Tom, who had some sort of suspicion of the bearded man on the steamer, +tried to find him, even taking a trip in to Lima, but without avail. +</P> + +<P> +The tunnel work was at a standstill, for there was little use in +setting off blasts if there were no men to remove the resulting piles +of debris. So, though Tom was ready with some specially powerful +explosive, he could not use it. +</P> + +<P> +Efforts were made to get laborers from another section of the country, +but without effect. The contractors heard of a big force of Italians +who had finished work on a railroad about a hundred miles away, and +they were offered places in the tunnel. But they would not come. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we may as well give up," said Walter, despondently, to his +brother one day. "We'll never get the tunnel done on time now." +</P> + +<P> +"We still have a margin of safety," declared job. "If we could get the +men inside of a couple of weeks, and if Tom's new powder rips out more +rock, we'll finish in time." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but there are too many ifs. We may as well admit we've failed." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll never do that!" +</P> + +<P> +"What will you do?" +</P> + +<P> +But Job did not know. +</P> + +<P> +"If we could git a gang of min from the ould sod—th' kind I used t' +work wit in N'Yark," said Tim Sullivan, "I'd show yez whot could be +done! We'd make th' rock fly!" +</P> + +<P> +But that efficient labor was out of the question now. The tunnel camp +was a deserted place. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, Koku, we'll go hunting," said Tom one day. "There's no use +hanging around here, and some venison wouldn't go bad on the table." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll come, too," said Mr. Damon. "I haven't anything to do." +</P> + +<P> +The Titus brothers had gone to a distant village, on the forlorn hope +of getting laborers, so Tom was left to his own devices, and he decided +to go hunting with his electric rifle. +</P> + +<P> +The taruco, or native deer, had been plentiful in the vicinity of the +tunnel until the presence of so many men and the frequent blasts had +driven them farther off, and it was not until after a tramp of several +miles that Tom saw one. Then, after stalking it a little way, he +managed to kill it with the electric rifle. +</P> + +<P> +Koku hoisted the animal to his big shoulders, and, as this would +provide meat enough for some time, Tom started back for camp. +</P> + +<P> +As he and Mr. Damon, with Koku in the rear, passed through a little +clearing, they saw, on the far side, a native hut. And from it rushed +a woman, who approached Tom, casting herself on her knees, while she +pressed his free hand to her head. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my scarf pin!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "What does this mean, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, this is the mother of the child I saved from the condor," said +Tom. "Every time she sees me she thanks me all over again. How is the +baby?" he asked in the Indian tongue, for he was a fair master of it by +now. +</P> + +<P> +"The baby is well. Will the mighty hunter permit himself to enter my +miserable hovel and partake of some milk and cakes?" +</P> + +<P> +"What do you say, Mr. Damon?" Tom asked. "She's clean and neat, and she +makes a drink of goat's milk that isn't bad. She bakes some kind of +meal cakes that are good, too. I'm hungry." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Tom, I'll do as you say." +</P> + +<P> +A little later they were partaking of a rude, but none the less +welcome, lunch in the woman's hut, while the baby whose life Tom had +saved cooed in the rough log cradle. +</P> + +<P> +"Say, Masni," asked Tom, addressing the woman by name, "don't you know +where we can get some men to work the tunnel?" Of course Tom spoke the +Indian language, and he had to adapt himself to the comprehension of +Masni. +</P> + +<P> +"Men no work tunnel?" she inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"No, they've all skipped out—vamoosed. Afraid of some spirit." +</P> + +<P> +The woman looked around, as though in fear. Then she approached Tom +closely and whispered: +</P> + +<P> +"No spirit in tunnel—bad man!" +</P> + +<P> +"What!" cried Tom, almost jumping off his stool. "What do you mean, +Masni?" +</P> + +<P> +"Me tell mighty hunter," she went on, lowering her voice still more. +"My man he no want to tell, he 'fraid, but I tell. Mighty hunter save +Vashni," and she looked toward the baby. "Me help friends of mighty +hunter. Bad man in tunnel—no spirit! +</P> + +<P> +"Men go. Spirit no take um—bad man take um." +</P> + +<P> +"Where are they now?" asked Tom. "Jove, if I could find them the secret +would be solved!" +</P> + +<P> +The woman looked fearfully around the hut and then whispered: +</P> + +<P> +"You come—me show!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my toothbrush!" cried Mr. Damon. "What is going to happen, Tom +Swift?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," was the answer, "but something sure is in the wind. I +guess I shot better than I knew when I killed that condor." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Despair +</H3> + +<P> +Calling to a girl of about thirteen years to look after her baby, Masni +slipped along up a rough mountain trail, motioning to Tom, Mr. Damon +and Koku to follow. Or rather, the woman gave the sign to Tom, ignoring +the others, who, naturally, would not be left behind. Masni seemed to +have eyes for no one but the young inventor, and the manner in which +she looked at him showed the deep gratitude she felt toward him for +having saved her baby from the great condor. +</P> + +<P> +"Come," she said, in her strange Indian tongue, which Tom could +interpret well enough for himself now. +</P> + +<P> +"But where are we going, Masni?" he asked. "This isn't the way to the +tunnel." +</P> + +<P> +"Me know. Not go to tunnel now," was her answer. "Me show you men." +</P> + +<P> +"But which men do you mean, Masni?" inquired Tom. "The lost men, or the +bad ones, who are making trouble for us? Which men do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +Masni only shook her head, and murmured: "Me show." +</P> + +<P> +Probably Tom's attempt to talk her language was not sufficiently clear +to her. +</P> + +<P> +"My man—he good man," she said, coming to a pause on the rough trail +after a climb which was not easy. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know he is," Tom said. "But he went on a strike with the +others, Masni. He no work. He go on a 'hit,' as Serato calls it," and +Tom laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"My man he good man—but he 'fraid," said the wife. "He want to tell +you of bad mans, but he 'fraid. You save my baby, I no 'fraid. I tell." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I see," said Tom. "Your husband would have given away the secret, +only he's afraid of the bad men. He likes me, too?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sure!" Masni exclaimed. "He want tell, but 'fraid. He go 'way, I tell." +</P> + +<P> +Tom was not quite sure what it all meant, but it seemed that after his +slaying of the condor both parents were so filled with gratitude that +they wanted to reveal some secret about the tunnel, only Masni's +husband was afraid. She, however, had been braver. +</P> + +<P> +"Something is going to happen," said Tom Swift. "I feel it in my bones!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my porous plaster!" cried Mr. Damon. "I hope it isn't anything +serious." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll see," Tom went on. +</P> + +<P> +They resumed their journey up the mountain trail. It wound in and out +in a region none of them had before visited. Though it could not be +far from the tunnel, it was almost a strange country to Tom. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Masni stopped in a narrow gorge where the walls of rock rose +high on either hand. She seemed looking for something. Her sharp, black +eyes scanned the cliff and then with an exclamation of satisfaction she +approached a certain place. With a quick motion she pulled aside a mass +of tangled vines, and disclosed a path leading down through a V shaped +crack in the cliff. +</P> + +<P> +"Mans down there," she said. "You go look." +</P> + +<P> +For a moment Tom hesitated. Was this a trap? If he and his friends +entered this narrow and dark opening might not the Indian woman roll +down some rock back of them, cutting off forever the way of escape? +</P> + +<P> +Tom turned and looked at Masni. Then he was ashamed of his suspicion, +for the honest black face, smiling at him, showed no trace of guile. +</P> + +<P> +"You go—you see lost men," the woman urged. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" cried Tom. "I believe we're on the track of the mystery!" +</P> + +<P> +He led the way, followed by Mr. Damon, while Koku came next and then +Masni. It could be no trap since she entered it herself. +</P> + +<P> +The path widened, but not much. There was only room for one to walk at +a time. The trail twisted and turned, and Tom was wondering how far it +led, when, from behind him, came the cry of the woman: +</P> + +<P> +"Watch now—no fall down." +</P> + +<P> +Tom halted around a sharp turn, and stood transfixed at the sight which +met his gaze. He found himself looking out through a crack in the face +of a sheer stone cliff that went straight down for a hundred feet or +more to a green-carpeted valley. +</P> + +<P> +Tom was standing in a narrow cleft of rock—the same rock through which +they had made their way. And at the foot of the cliff was a little +encampment of Indians. There were a dozen huts, and wandering about +them, or sitting in the shade, were a score or more of Indians. +</P> + +<P> +"There men from tunnel," said Masni, and, as he looked, wondering, Tom +saw some of the workers he knew. One especially, was a laborer who +walked with a peculiar limp. +</P> + +<P> +"The missing men!" gasped the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my almanac!" cried Mr. Damon. "Where?" +</P> + +<P> +"Here," answered Tom. "If you squeeze past me you can see them." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon did so. +</P> + +<P> +"How did they get here?" asked the odd man, as he looked down in the +little valley where the missing ones were sequestered. +</P> + +<P> +"That's what we've got to find out," Tom said. "At any rate here they +are, and they seem to be enjoying life while we've been worrying as to +what had become of them. How did they get here, Masni?" +</P> + +<P> +"Me show you. Come." +</P> + +<P> +"Wait until I take another look," said Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Be careful they don't see you," cautioned Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"They can't very well. The cleft is screened by bushes." +</P> + +<P> +Tom looked down once more on the group of men who had so mysteriously +disappeared. The little valley stretched out away from the face of the +cliff, through which, by means of the crack, or cleft in it, Tom and +the others had come. Tom looked down the wall of rock. It was as smooth +as the side of a building, and offered no means of getting down or up. +Doubtless there was an easier entrance to the valley on the other side. +It was like looking down into some vast hall through an upper window or +from a balcony. +</P> + +<P> +"And those men have been in hiding, or been hidden here, ever since +they disappeared from the tunnel," said Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"It doesn't look as though they were detained by force," Tom remarked. +"I think they are being paid to stay away. How did they get here, +Masni?" +</P> + +<P> +"Me show you. Come!" +</P> + +<P> +They went back along the trail that led through the split in the rock, +until they had come to the place where the natural curtain of vines +concealed the entrance. Tom took particular notice of this place so he +would know it again. +</P> + +<P> +Then Masni led them over the mountain, and this time Tom saw that they +were approaching the tunnel. He recognized some places where he had +taken samples of rock from the outcropping to test the strength of his +explosive. +</P> + +<P> +Reaching a certain wild and desolate place, Masni made a signal of +caution. She seemed to be listening intently. Then, as if satisfied +there was no danger, she parted some bushes and glided in, motioning +the others to follow. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I wonder what's up," Tom mused. +</P> + +<P> +He and the others were soon informed. +</P> + +<P> +Masni stopped in front of a pile of brush. With a few vigorous motions +of her arms she swept it aside and revealed a smooth slab of rock. In +the centre was what seemed to be a block of metal Masni placed her foot +on this and pressed heavily. +</P> + +<P> +And those watching saw a strange thing. +</P> + +<P> +The slab of rock tilted to one side, as if on a pivot, revealing a +square opening which seemed to lead through solid stone. And at the far +end of the opening Tom Swift saw a glimmer of light. +</P> + +<P> +Stooping down, he looked through the hole thus strangely opened and +what he saw caused him to cry out in wonder. +</P> + +<P> +"It's the tunnel!" he cried. "I can look right down into the tunnel. +It's the incandescent lights I see. I can look right at the ledge of +rock where I kept watch that day, and where I saw—where I saw the face +of Waddington!" he cried. "It wasn't a dream after all. This is a +shaft connecting with the tunnel. We didn't discover it because this +rock fits right in the opening in the roof. It must have been there all +the while, and some blast brought it to light. Is this how the men got +out, or were taken out of the tunnel, Masni?" Tom asked. +</P> + +<P> +"This how," said the Indian woman. "See, here rope!" +</P> + +<P> +She pawed aside a mound of earth, and disclosed a rope buried there, a +rope knotted at intervals. This, let down through the hole in the roof +of the tunnel, provided a means of escape, and in such a manner that +the disappearance of the men was most mysterious. +</P> + +<P> +"I see how it is!" cried Tom. "Some one interested, Waddington +probably, who knew about this old secret shaft going down into the +earth, used it as soon as our blasting was opened that far. They got +the men out this way, and hid them in the secret valley." +</P> + +<P> +"But what for?" cried Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"To cripple us! To cause the strike by making our other workers afraid +of some evil spirit! The men were taken away secretly, and, doubtless, +have been kept in idleness ever since—paid to stay away so the mystery +would be all the deeper. Our rivals finding they couldn't stop us in +any other way have taken our laborers away from us." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my meal ticket! It does look like that!" cried Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course that's the secret!" cried Tom. "Blakeson & Grinder, or some +of their tools—probably the bearded man or Waddington—found out about +this shaft which led down into our tunnel. They induced the first ten +men to quit, and when Tim went to get the fuse the rope was let down, +and the men climbed up here, one after the other. Those Indians can +climb like cats. Once the ten were out the shaft was closed with the +rock, and the ten men taken off to the valley to be secreted there. +</P> + +<P> +"The same was done with the next fifteen, and, I suppose, if the strike +hadn't come, more of our workers would have been induced to leave in +this way. They're probably being better paid than when earning their +wages; and their relatives must know where they are, and also be given +a bonus to keep still. No wonder they didn't make a fuss. +</P> + +<P> +"And no wonder we couldn't find any opening in the tunnel roof. This +rock must fit in as smoothly as a secret drawer in the kind of old desk +where missing wills are found in stories." +</P> + +<P> +"You say you saw Waddington, or the bearded man?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"At the time," replied Tom, "I thought it was a dream. Now I know it +wasn't. He must have opened the shaft just as I awakened from a doze. +He saw me and closed it again. He may have been getting ready then to +take off more of our men, so as to scare the others. Well, we've found +out the trick." +</P> + +<P> +"And what are you going to do next?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Get those missing men back. That will break the hoodoo, and the others +will come back to work. Then we'll get on the trail of Waddington, or +Blakeson & Grinder, and put a stop to this business. We know their +secret now." +</P> + +<P> +"You mean to get the men out of the secret valley, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. There must be some other way into it than down the rock where we +were. How about it, Masni?" and he inquired as to the valley. The +Indian woman gave Tom to understand that there was another entrance. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, close up this shaft now before some one sees us at it—the +bearded man, for example," Tom suggested. He took another look down +into the tunnel, which was now deserted on account of the strike, and +then Masni pressed on the mechanism that worked the stone. She showed +Tom how to do it. +</P> + +<P> +"Just a counter-balanced rock operating on the same principle as does a +window," Tom explained, after a brief examination. "Probably some of +the old Indian tribes made this shaft for ceremonial purposes. They +never dreamed we would drive a tunnel along at the bottom of it. The +shaft probably opened into a cave, and one of our blasts made it part +of the tunnel. Well, this is part of the secret, anyhow. Much obliged +to you, Masni!" +</P> + +<P> +The Indian woman had indeed revealed valuable information. They +covered the secret rock with brush, as it had been, hid the rope and +came away. But Tom knew how to find the place again. +</P> + +<P> +Events moved rapidly from then on. The Titus brothers were more than +astonished when Tom told them what he had learned. Masni had told him +how to get into the secret valley by a round about, but easy trail, and +thither Tom, the contractors, Mr. Damon and some of the white tunnel +workers went the next day. +</P> + +<P> +The sequestered men, taken completely by surprise, tried to bolt when +they saw that they were discovered, and then, shamefacedly enough, +admitted their part in the trick. +</P> + +<P> +They would not, however, reveal who had helped them escape from the +tunnel. Threats and promises of rewards were alike unavailing, but Tom +and his employers knew well enough who it was. The tunnel workers +seemed rather tired of living in comparative luxury and idleness, and +agreed to come back to their labors. +</P> + +<P> +They packed up their few belongings, mostly cooking pots and pans, and +marched out of the valley to the village at Rimac. +</P> + +<P> +And so the strike was broken. +</P> + +<P> +The reappearance of the missing men, in better health and spirits than +when they went away, acted like magic. The other men, who had missed +their wages, crowded back into the shaft, and the sounds of picks and +shovels were heard again in the tunnel. +</P> + +<P> +Whether the missing ones told the real story, or whether they made up +some tale to account for their absence, Tom and his friends could not +learn. Nor did the bearded man (if he it were who had helped in the +plot), nor any representative of Blakeson & Grinder appear. The work on +the tunnel was resumed as if nothing had happened. But Tom arranged a +bright light so it would reflect on the spot in the roof where the +moving rock was, so that if the evil face of the bearded man, or of +Waddington, appeared there again, it would quickly be seen. A search of +the neighborhood, and diligent inquiries, failed to disclose the +presence of any of the plotters. +</P> + +<P> +And then, as if Fate was not making it hard enough for the tunnel +contractors, they encountered more trouble. It was after Tom had set +off a big blast that Tim Sullivan, after inspecting what had happened, +came out to ask. +</P> + +<P> +"I soy, Mr. Swift, why didn't yez use more powder?" +</P> + +<P> +"More powder!" cried Tom. "Why, this is the most I have ever set off." +</P> + +<P> +"Then somethin's wrong, sor. Fer there's only a little rock down. Come +an' see fer yersilf." +</P> + +<P> +Tom hastened in. As the foreman had said, the effect of the blast was +small indeed. Only a little rock had been shaled off. Tom picked up +some of this and took it outside for examination. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, it's harder than the hardest flint we've found yet," he said. +"The powder didn't make any impression on it at all. I'll have to use +terrific charges." +</P> + +<P> +This was done, but with little better effect. The explosive, powerful +as it was, ate only a little way into the rock. Blast after blast had +the same poor effect. +</P> + +<P> +"This won't do," said Job Titus, despairingly, one day. "We aren't +making any progress at all. There's a half mile of this rock, according +to my calculations, and at this rate we'll be six months getting +through it. By that time our limit will be up, and we'll be forced to +give up the contract What can we do, Tom Swift?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A New Explosive +</H3> + +<P> +The young inventor was idly handling some pieces of the very hard rock +that had cropped out in the tunnel cut. Tom had tested it, he had +pulverized it (as well as he was able), he had examined it under the +microscope, and he had taken great slabs of it and set off under it, or +on top of it, charges of explosive of various power to note the effect. +But the results had not been at all what he had hoped for. +</P> + +<P> +"What's to be done, Tom?" repeated the contractor. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Mr. Titus," was the answer, "the only thing I see to do is to +make a new explosive." +</P> + +<P> +"Can you do it, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +The reply was characteristic. +</P> + +<P> +"I can try." +</P> + +<P> +And in the days that followed, Tom began work on a new line. He had +brought from Shopton with him much of the needful apparatus, and he +found he could obtain in Lima what he lacked. +</P> + +<P> +A message to his father brought the reply that the new ingredients Tom +needed would be shipped. +</P> + +<P> +"The kind of explosive we need to rend that very hard rock," the young +inventor explained to the Titus brothers, "is one that works slowly." +</P> + +<P> +"I thought all explosions had to be as quick as a flash," said Walter. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, in a sense, they do. Yet we have quick burning and slow-burning +powders, the same as we have fuses. A quick-burning explosive is all +right in soft rock, or in soil with rock and earth mingled. But in rock +that is harder than flint if you use a quick explosive, only the outer +surface of the rock will be scaled off. +</P> + +<P> +"If you take a hammer and bring it down with all your force on a hard +rock you may chip off a lot of little pieces, or you may crack the +rock, but you won't, under ordinary circumstances, pulverize it as we +want to do in the tunnel. +</P> + +<P> +"On the other hand, if you take a smaller hammer, and keep tapping the +rock with comparatively gentle blows, you will set up a series of +vibrations, that, in time, will cause the hard rock to break up into +any number of small pieces. +</P> + +<P> +"Now that is the kind of explosive I want—one that will deal a +succession of constant blows at the hard rock instead of one great big +blast." +</P> + +<P> +"Can you make it, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't know. I'll do the best I can." +</P> + +<P> +From then on Tom was busy with his experiments. +</P> + +<P> +Work on the tunnel did not cease while he was searching for a new +explosive. There was plenty of the old explosive left and charges of +this were set off as fast as holes could be drilled to receive it. But +comparatively little was accomplished. Sometimes more rock would be +loosed than at others, and the native laborers, now seemingly perfectly +contented, would be kept busy. Again, when a heavy blast would be set +off hardly a dozen dump cars could be filled. +</P> + +<P> +But the work must go on. Already the time limit was getting perilously +close, and the contractors did not doubt that their rivals were only +waiting for a chance to step in and take their places. +</P> + +<P> +Nothing more had been seen or heard of the bearded man, Waddington, or +Blakeson & Grinder. But that the rival firm had not given up was +evidenced by the efforts made in New York to cripple, financially, the +firm in which Tom was interested. In fact, at one time the Titus +brothers were so tied up that they could not get money enough to pay +their men. But Tom cabled his father, who was quite wealthy, and Mr. +Swift loaned the contractors enough to proceed with until they could +dispose of some securities. +</P> + +<P> +It might be mentioned that Tom was to get a large sum if the tunnel +were completed on time, so it was to his interest and his father's, to +bring this about if he could. +</P> + +<P> +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 +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. +</P> + +<P> +It must not be supposed that Professor Bumper was idle all this while. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"No luck," he would report. "The hidden city of Pelone is still lost." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +But in a week or so he would come back, worn out and discouraged again. +</P> + +<P> +"The ruins were only those of a native village," he would say. "No +trace of an ancient civilization there." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +There seemed to be no further trouble among the Indian tunnel workers. +Those who had disappeared—who had, seemingly, gone willingly up the +knotted rope to hide themselves in the valley—kept on with their work. +If they told their fellows why and where they had gone, the others 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. +</P> + +<P> +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: +</P> + +<P> +"I think I have it!" +</P> + +<P> +"Have you? Good!" cried Job Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"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?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we have some big slabs in there." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I guess we're ready," announced the young inventor, as he looked +about him. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +Tom held the electric switch in his hand, and was about to press it. +</P> + +<P> +"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!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom pressed the switch and, as he did so, there was a cry of alarm from +Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my safety match, Tom!" cried the old man. "Look! Koku!" +</P> + +<P> +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 +fragments by Tom's new explosive. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Fight +</H3> + +<P> +"Get off there, Koku!" +</P> + +<P> +"Stand up!" +</P> + +<P> +"Run!" +</P> + +<P> +"Get out of the way! That's going up!" +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"Get up! Get up!" cried Tom, frantically. The powder is going off, +Koku!" +</P> + +<P> +"Can't you stop it?" asked Job Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"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!" +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +Then Mr. Damon had an inspiration. +</P> + +<P> +"Call him to come to you, Tom!" shouted the odd man. "He always comes +to you in a hurry, you know. Call him!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom acted on the suggestion at once. +</P> + +<P> +"Here, Koku!" he cried. "Come here, I want you! Kelos!" +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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 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: +</P> + +<P> +"Me come, Master!" +</P> + +<P> +"You'd better!" cried the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my handkerchief!" cried Mr. Damon. "Think of what might have +happened to Koku if he had been sitting there." +</P> + +<P> +"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 +afterward—well, he might have been pretty well shaken up. He got away +just in time." +</P> + +<P> +The giant looked thoughtfully back toward the place of the experimental +blast. +</P> + +<P> +"Master, him do that?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +"Um," murmured the giant. "Koku—he—he—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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll try not to have that happen," said Tom, with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +"If you're going to use bigger charges of this new explosive, Tom, +won't more rock be brought down?" asked Walter Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I hope." +</P> + +<P> +"Then we'll need more laborers to bring it out of the tunnel." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we could use more I guess. The faster the blasted rock is +removed, the quicker I can put in new charges." +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +The Indian foreman readily agreed to get more laborers. +</P> + +<P> +"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. +</P> + +<P> +"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. +</P> + +<P> +"Sure, get all the giants you can," Tom said. "But I guess there aren't +any in Peru." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"Say, he's a whopper all right!" exclaimed Tom. "But he isn't as big or +as strong as Koku." +</P> + +<P> +"He comes pretty near it," said Job Titus. "With a dozen like him we'd +finish the tunnel on time, thanks to your explosive." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +The charge was fired and a great mass of broken rock brought down +inside the tunnel. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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. +</P> + +<P> +Tom was about to make a remark when Tim Sullivan came running out of +the tunnel, his face showing fright and wonder. +</P> + +<P> +"What's up now, I wonder," said Mr. Titus. "More men missing?" +</P> + +<P> +"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!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Great Blast +</H3> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"That's thim!" cried Tim. "They're chawin' each other up!" +</P> + +<P> +"Koku and that Indian giant fighting!" cried Tom. "What's it all about?" +</P> + +<P> +"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. +</P> + +<P> +"And it will be some fight!" mused the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +With their arms locked about one another, they swayed this way and +that—a 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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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 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. +</P> + +<P> +"Look out, Koku!" yelled Tom. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my bath sponge!" cried Mr. Damon. "This is awful!" +</P> + +<P> +"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!" +</P> + +<P> +"Koku, stop!" called Tom. "You must not fight any more!" +</P> + +<P> +"No fight more!" gasped the giant, through his clenched teeth. "This +end fight!" +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah!" breathed Koku, stretching himself, and extending his brawny arms. +"Fight all over, Master." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, so it seems, Koku," said Tom, solemnly, "but you have killed him. +Shame on you!" and he spoke bitterly. +</P> + +<P> +Job Titus had hurried over to the fallen giant. +</P> + +<P> +"He isn't dead," he called, "but I guess he won't wrestle or fight any +more. He's badly crippled." +</P> + +<P> +"And him no more try to blow up tunnel, either," said Koku in his +hoarse voice. "Me fix: him! No more him take powder, and make tunnel +all bust." +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean, Koku?" asked Tom. "Is that why you fought him? Did +he try to wreck the tunnel?" +</P> + +<P> +"So him done, Master. But Koku see—Koku stop. Then um fight." +</P> + +<P> +"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?" +</P> + +<P> +Then the giant explained in his own language, Tom Swift translating, +for Koku spoke English but indifferently well. +</P> + +<P> +"Koku says," rendered Tom, "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." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my shoe string!" gasped Mr. Damon. "And a terrible end it was. +Will Lamos die?" +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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 brought Lamos here. We'll fire him!" +</P> + +<P> +This was done, though the Indian protested his innocence. But he could +not be trusted. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +"What is that?" asked Walter Titus. +</P> + +<P> +"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?" +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"Take the chance!" exclaimed Job. "It's sink or swim anyhow. Set off +the big blast, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"All right. We'll get ready for it as soon as we can." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +Professor Bumper came and went as he pleased, but his quest was +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +Everything was in readiness. What would the morrow bring—success or +failure? +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Hidden City +</H3> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"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. +</P> + +<P> +"All out, sor," Tim responded. "Yez kin fire whin ready, Mr. Swift." +</P> + +<P> +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 there should be time to prepare one. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we may as well have it over with," said Tom in a low voice. +Every one was very quiet—tensely quiet. +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor looked up to see Professor Bumper observing him. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Professor!" Tom exclaimed, "I thought you had gone off to the +mountains again, looking for the lost city." +</P> + +<P> +"I am going, Tom, very soon. I thought I would stop and see the effect +of your big blast. This is my last trip. If I do not find the hidden +city of Pelone this time, I am going to give up." +</P> + +<P> +"Give up!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my fountain pen!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, not altogether," went on the bald-headed scientist. "I mean I +will give up searching in this part of Peru, and go elsewhere. But I +will never completely give up the search, for I am sure the hidden city +exists somewhere under these mountains," and he looked off toward the +snow-covered peaks of the Andes. +</P> + +<P> +Tom looked at the battery box. He drew a long breath, and said: +</P> + +<P> +"Here she goes!" +</P> + +<P> +There was a contraction of his hand as he pressed the switch over, and +then, for perhaps a half second, nothing happened. Just for an instant +Tom feared something had gone wrong that the electric current had +failed, or that the wires had become disconnected—perhaps through some +action of the plotting rivals. +</P> + +<P> +And then, gently at first, but with increasing intensity, the solid +ground on which they were all standing seemed to rock and sway, to +heave itself up, and then sink down. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my—" began Mr. Damon, but he got no further, for a mighty gust +of wind swept out of the tunnel, and blew off his hat. That gust was +but a gentle breeze, though, compared to what followed. For there came +such a rush of air that it almost blew over those standing near the +opening of the great shaft driven under the mountain. There was a roar +as of Niagara, a howling as in the Cave of the Winds, and they all bent +to the blast. +</P> + +<P> +Then followed a dull, rumbling roar, not as loud as might have been +expected, but awful in its intensity. Deep down under the very +foundations of the earth it seemed to rumble. +</P> + +<P> +"Run! Run back!" cried Tom Swift. "There's a back-draft and the powder +gas is poisonous. Stoop down and run back!" +</P> + +<P> +They understood what he meant. The vapor from the powder was deadly if +breathed in a confined space. Even in the open it gave one a terrible +headache. And Tom could see floating out of the tunnel the first wisps +of smoke from the fired explosive. It was lighter than air, and would +rise. Hence the necessity, as in a smoke-filled room, of keeping low +down where the air is purer. +</P> + +<P> +They all rushed back, stooping low. Mr. Damon stumbled and fell, but +Koku picked him up and, tucking him under one arm, as he might have +done a child, the giant followed Tom to a place of safety. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Tom, it went off all right," said Mr. Job Titus, as they stood +among the shacks of the workmen and watched the smoke pouring out of +the tunnel mouth. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it went off. But did it do the work? That's what we've got to +find out." +</P> + +<P> +They waited impatiently for the deadly vapor to clear out of the +tunnel. It was more than an hour before they dared venture in, and then +it was with smarting eyes and puckered throats. But the atmosphere was +quickly clearing. +</P> + +<P> +"Switch on the lights," cried Tom to Tim, for the illuminating current +had been cut off when the blast was fired. "Let's see what we've +brought down." +</P> + +<P> +Following the eager young inventor came the contractors, some of the +white workers, Mr. Damon and Professor Bumper. The little scientist +said he would like to see the effect of the big blast. +</P> + +<P> +Along they stumbled over pieces of rock, large and small. +</P> + +<P> +"Some force to it," observed Job Titus, as he observed pieces of rock +close to the mouth of the tunnel. "If it only exerted the force the +other way, against the face of the rock, as well as back this way, +we'll be all right." +</P> + +<P> +"The greater force was in the opposite direction," Tom said. +</P> + +<P> +A big search-light had been got ready to flash on the place where the +blast had been set off. This was to enable them to see how much rock +had been torn away. And, as they reached the place where the flint-like +wall had been, they saw a strange sight. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my strawberry short-cake!" gasped Mr. Damon. "What a hole!" +</P> + +<P> +"It is a hole," admitted Tom, in a low voice. "A bigger hole than I +dared hope for." +</P> + +<P> +For a great cave, seemingly, had been blown in the face of the rock +wall that had hindered the progress of the tunnel. A great black void +confronted them. +</P> + +<P> +"Shift the light over this way," called Tom to Walter Titus, who was +operating it. "I can't see anything." +</P> + +<P> +The great beam of light flashed into the void, and then a murmur of awe +came from every throat. +</P> + +<P> +For there, revealed in the powerful electrical rays, was what seemed to +be a long tunnel, high and wide, as smooth as a paved street. And on +either side of it were what appeared to be buildings, some low, others +taller. And, branching off from the main tunnel, or street, were other +passages, also lined with buildings, some of which had crumbled to +ruins. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my dictionary!" cried Mr. Damon. "What is it?" +</P> + +<P> +Professor Bumper had crawled forward over the mass of broken rock. He +gazed as if fascinated at what the searchlight showed, and then he +cried: +</P> + +<P> +"I have found it! I have found it! The hidden city of Pelone!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Success +</H3> + +<P> +Had it not been for Tom Swift, the excited professor would have rushed +pellmell over the jagged pile of rocks into the great cave which had +been opened by the blast, the cave in which the scientist declared was +the lost city for which he had been searching. But the young inventor +grasped Mr. Bumper by the arm. +</P> + +<P> +"Better wait a bit," Tom suggested. "There may be powder gas in there. +Some of it must have blown forward." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care!" excitedly cried the professor. "That is the hidden +city! I'm sure of it! I have found it at last! I must go in and examine +it!" +</P> + +<P> +"There'll be plenty of time," said Tom. "It isn't going to run away. +Wait until I make a test Tim, hand me one of those torches." +</P> + +<P> +Some torches of a very inflammable wood were used to test for the +presence of the deadly smoke-gas. Lighting one of these, Tom tossed it +into the big excavation. +</P> + +<P> +It fell to the stone floor—to the stone street to be more exact—and, +flaring up brightly, further revealed the rows of houses as they stood, +silent and uninhabited. +</P> + +<P> +"It's all right," Tom announced. "There's no danger so long as the +torch burns. You can go on, Professor." +</P> + +<P> +And Professor Bumper rushed forward, scrambling over the pile of +blasted rock, followed by Tom and the others. Some of the debris from +the explosion had fallen into the cave, and was scattered for some +distance along the main street of what had been Pelone. But beyond that +the way was clear. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it is Pelone," cried Professor Bumper. "See!" +</P> + +<P> +He pointed to inscriptions in queer characters over the doorway of some +of the houses, but he alone could read them. +</P> + +<P> +"I have found Pelone!" he kept repeating over and over again. +</P> + +<P> +And that is just what had happened. That last great blast Tom Swift had +set off had broken down the rock wall that hid the lost city from view. +There it was, buried deep down under the mountain, where it had been +covered from sight ages ago by some mighty earthquake or landslide; +perhaps both. And the earth and rocks had fallen over the main portion +of the city of Pelone in such a way—in such an arch formation—that +the greater part of it was preserved from the pressure of the mountain +above it. +</P> + +<P> +The outlying portions were crushed into dust by the awful pressure of +the mountain—millions of tons of stone—but where the natural arch had +formed the weight was kept off the buildings, most of which were as +perfect as they had been before the cataclysm came. +</P> + +<P> +The buildings were of stone block construction, mostly only one story +in height, though some were two. They were simply made, somewhat after +the fashion of the Aztecs. A look into some of them by the light of +portable electric lamps showed that the houses were furnished with some +degree of taste and luxury. There were traces of an ancient +civilization. +</P> + +<P> +But of the inhabitants, there was not a trace: either they had fled +before the earthquake or the volcanic eruption had engulfed the city, +or the countless centuries had turned their very bones to dust. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, what a find! What a find!" murmured Professor Bumper. "I shall be +famous! And so will you, Tom Swift. For it was your blast that revealed +the lost city of Pelone. Your name will be honored by every +archeological society in the world, and all will be eager to make you +an honorary member." +</P> + +<P> +"That's all very nice," said Tom, "but what pleases me better is that +this tunnel is a success." +</P> + +<P> +"Success!" cried Mr. Damon. "I should call it a failure, Tom Swift. +Why, you've run smack into an old city, and you'll have either to curve +the tunnel to one side, or start a new one." +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing of the sort!" laughed Tom. "Don't you see? The tunnel comes +right up to the main street of Pelone. And the street is as straight as +a die, and just the width and height of the tunnel. All we will have to +do will be to keep on blasting away, where the main street comes to an +end, and our tunnel will be finished. The street is over half a mile +long, I should judge, and we'll save all that blasting. The tunnel will +be finished in time!" +</P> + +<P> +"So it will!" cried Job Titus. "We can use the main street of the +hidden city as part of the tunnel." +</P> + +<P> +"Use the street all you like," said Mr. Bumper, "but leave the houses +to me. They are a perfect mine of ancient lore and information. At last +I have found it! The ancient, hidden city of Pelone, spoken of on the +Peruvian tablets, of gold." +</P> + +<P> +The story of the discoveries the scientist made in Pelone is an +enthralling one. But this is a story of Tom Swift and his big tunnel, +and no place for telling of the archeological discoveries. +</P> + +<P> +Suffice it to say that Professor Bumper, though he found no gold, for +which the contractors hoped, made many curious finds in the ancient +houses. He came upon traces of a strange civilization, though he could +find no record of what had caused the burial of Pelone beneath the +mountains. He wrote many books about his discovery, giving Tom Swift +due credit for uncovering the place with the mighty blast. Other +scientists came in flocks, and for a time Pelone was almost as busy a +place as it had been originally. +</P> + +<P> +Even when the tunnel was completed and trains ran through it, the +scientists kept on with their work of classifying what they found. An +underground station was built on the main street of the old city, and +visitors often wandered through the ancient houses, wherein was the +bone-dust of the dead and gone people. +</P> + +<P> +But to go back to the story of Tom Swift. Tom's surmise was right. He +and the contractors were able to use the main street of Pelone as part +of their tunnel, and a good half mile of blasting through solid rock +was saved. The flint came to an end at the extremity of Pelone, and the +last part of the tunnel had only to be dug through sand-stone and soft +dirt, an easy undertaking. +</P> + +<P> +So the big bore was finished on time—ahead of time in fact, and Titus +Brothers received from Senor Belasdo, the Peruvian representative, a +large bonus of money, in which Tom Swift shared. +</P> + +<P> +"So our rivals didn't balk us after all," said Walter Titus, "though +they tried mighty hard." +</P> + +<P> +The big tunnel was finished—at least Tom Swift's work on it. All that +remained to do was to clear away the debris and lay the connecting +rails. Tom and Mr. Damon prepared to go back home. The latter's work +was done. As for Professor Bumper, nothing could take him from Pelone. +He said he was going to live there, and, practically, he did. +</P> + +<P> +Tom, Koku and Mr. Damon returned to Lima, thence to go to Callao to +take the steamer for San Francisco. One day the manager of the hotel +spoke to them. +</P> + +<P> +"You are Americans, are you not?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Tom. "Why?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because there is another American here. He is friendless and alone, +and he is dying. He has no friends, he says. Perhaps—" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course we'll do what we can for him," said Tom, impulsively. "Where +is he?" +</P> + +<P> +With Mr. Damon he entered the room where the dying man lay. He had +caught a fever, the hotel manager said, and could not recover. Tom, +catching sight of the sufferer, cried: +</P> + +<P> +"The bearded man! Waddington!" +</P> + +<P> +He had recognized the mysterious person who had been on the Bellaconda, +and the man whose face had stared at him through the secret shaft of +the tunnel. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, the 'bearded man' now," said the sufferer in a hoarse voice, "and +some one else too. You are right. I am Waddington!" +</P> + +<P> +And so it proved. He had grown a beard to disguise himself so he might +better follow Tom Swift and Mr. Titus. And he had followed them, +seeking to prevent the completion of the tunnel. But he had not been +successful. +</P> + +<P> +Waddington it was who had thrown the bomb, though he declared he only +hoped to disable Tom and Mr. Titus, and not to injure them. He was +fighting for delay. And it was Waddington, working in conjunction with +the rascally foreman Serato, who had induced the tunnel workers to +desert so mysteriously, hoping to scare the other Indians away. He +nearly succeeded too, had it not been for the gratitude of the woman +whose baby Tom had saved from the condor. +</P> + +<P> +Waddington had been an actor before he became involved with the rival +contractors. He was smooth shaven when first he went to Shopton, to spy +on Mr. Titus, whose movements he had been commanded to follow by +Blakeson & Grinder. Then he disappeared after Mr. Titus chased him, +only to reappear, in disguise, on board the Bellaconda, as Senor Pinto. +</P> + +<P> +Waddington, meanwhile, had grown a beard and this, with his knowledge +of theatrical makeup, enabled him to deceive even Mr. Titus. Of course +it was comparatively easy to deceive Tom, who had not known him. +Waddington had really been ill when he called for help on the ship, and +he had not noticed that it was Tom and Mr. Titus who came into his +stateroom to his aid. When he did recognize them, he relied on his +disguise to screen him from recognition, and he was successful. He had +only pretended to be ill, though, the time he slipped out and threw the +bomb. +</P> + +<P> +Reaching Peru he at once began his plotting. Serato told him about the +secret shaft leading into the tunnel, and with the knotted rope, and +with the aid of the faithless foreman, the men were got out of the +tunnel and paid to hide away. Waddington was planning further +disappearances when Tom saw him, but thought it a dream. +</P> + +<P> +Masni, the Indian woman, out herb-hunting one day, had seen Waddington, +'the bearded man' as he then was—working the secret stone. Hidden, she +observed him and told her husband, who was afraid to reveal what he +knew. But when Tom saved the baby the woman rewarded him in the only +way possible. And it was Serato, who, at Waddington's suggestion, +caused the "hit" among the men by working on their superstitious fears. +</P> + +<P> +Waddington, knowing that he was dying, confessed everything, and begged +forgiveness from Tom and his friends, which was granted, in as much as +no real harm had been done. Waddington was but a tool in the hands of +the rival contractors, who deserted him in his hour of need. His last +hours, however, were made as comfortable as possible by the generosity +of Tom and Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +No effort was made to bring Blakeson & Grinder to justice, as there was +no evidence against them after Waddington died. And, as the tunnel was +finished, the Titus brothers had no further cause for worry. +</P> + +<P> +"But if it had not been for Tom's big blast, and the discovery of the +hidden city of Pelone just in the right place, we might be digging at +that tunnel yet," said Job Titus. +</P> + +<P> +The day before the steamer was to sail, Tom Swift received a cable +message. Its receipt seemed to fill him with delight, so that Mr. Damon +asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Is it from your father, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"No it's from Mary Nestor. She says her father has forgiven me. They +have been away, and Mary has been ill, which accounts for no letters up +to now. But everything is all right now, and they feel that the +dynamite trick wasn't my fault. But, all the same, I'm going to teach +Eradicate to read," concluded Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"I think it would be a good idea," agreed Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku, bidding farewell to the friends they had made +in Peru, went aboard the steamer, Job Titus and his brother coming to +see them off. +</P> + +<P> +"Give us an option on all that explosive you make, Tom Swift!" begged +Walter Titus. "We were so successful with this tunnel, thanks to you, +that the government is going to have us dig another. Will you come +down and help?" +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe," said Tom, with a smile. "But I'm going home first," and once +more he read the message from Mary Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +And as Tom, on the deck of the steamer, waved his hands to Professor +Bumper and his other friends whom he was leaving in Peru, we also, will +say farewell. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Big Tunnel, by Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL *** + +***** This file should be named 953-h.htm or 953-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/5/953/ + +Produced by Anthony Matonac. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tom Swift and his Big Tunnel + or, The Hidden City of the Andes + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Posting Date: July 13, 2008 [EBook #953] +Release Date: June, 1997 +[Last updated: June 17, 2012] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL *** + + + + +Produced by Anthony Matonac. + + + + + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL + +or + +The Hidden City of the Andes + + +by + +Victor Appleton + + + + +CONTENTS + + I An Appeal for Aid + II Explanations + III A Face at the Window + IV Tom's Experiments + V Mary's Present + VI Mr. Nestor's Letter + VII Off for Peru + VIII The Bearded Man + IX The Bomb + X Professor Bumper + XI In the Andes + XII The Tunnel + XIII Tom's Explosive + XIV Mysterious Disappearances + XV Frightened Indians + XVI On the Watch + XVII The Condor + XVIII The Indian Strike + XIX A Woman Tells + XX Despair + XXI A New Explosive + XXII The Fight + XXIII A Great Blast + XXIV The Hidden City + XXV Success + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL + + + + +Chapter I + +An Appeal for Aid + + +Tom Swift, seated in his laboratory engaged in trying to solve a +puzzling question that had arisen over one of his inventions, was +startled by a loud knock on the door. So emphatic, in fact, was the +summons that the door trembled, and Tom started to his feet in some +alarm. + +"Hello there!" he cried. "Don't break the door, Koku!" and then he +laughed. "No one but my giant would knock like that," he said to +himself. "He never does seem able to do things gently. But I wonder why +he is knocking. I told him to get the engine out of the airship, and +Eradicate said he'd be around to answer the telephone and bell. I +wonder if anything has happened?" + +Tom shoved back his chair, pushed aside the mass of papers over which +he had been puzzling, and strode to the door. Flinging it open he +confronted a veritable giant of a man, nearly eight feet tall, and big +in proportion. The giant, Koku, for that was his name, smiled in a +good-natured way, reminding one of an overgrown boy. + +"Master hear my knock?" the giant asked cheerfully. + +"Hear you, Koku? Say, I couldn't hear anything else!" exclaimed Tom. +"Did you think you had to arouse the whole neighborhood just to let me +know you were at the door? Jove! I thought you'd have it off the +hinges." + +"If me break, me fix," said Koku, who, from his appearance and from his +imperfect command of English, was evidently a foreigner. + +"Yes, I know you can fix lots of things, Koku," Tom went on, kindly +enough. "But you musn't forget what enormous strength you have. That's +the reason I sent you to take the engine out of the airship. You can +lift it without using the chain hoist, and I can't get the chain hoist +fast unless I remove all the superstructure. I don't want to do that. +Did you get the engine out?" + +"Not quite. Almost, Master." + +"Then why are you here? Has anything gone wrong?" + +"No, everything all right, Master. But man come to machine shop and +say he must have talk with you. I no let him come past the gate, but I +say I come and call you." + +"That's right, Koku. Don't let any strangers past the gate. But why +didn't Eradicate come and call me. He isn't doing anything, is he? +Unless, indeed, he has gone to feed his mule, Boomerang." + +"Eradicate, he come to call you, but that black man no good!" and Koku +chuckled so heartily that he shook the floor of the office. + +"What's the matter with Eradicate?" asked Tom, somewhat anxiously. "I +hope you and he haven't had another row?" Eradicate had served Tom and +his father long before Koku, the giant, had been brought back from one +of the young inventor's many strange trips, and ever since then there +had been a jealous rivalry between the twain as to who should best +serve Tom. + +"No trouble, Master," said Koku. "Eradicate he start to come and tell +you strange man want to have talk, but Eradicate he no come fast +enough. So I pick him up, and I set him down by gate to stand on guard, +and I come to tell you. Koku come quick!" + +"Oh, I knew it must be something like that!" exclaimed Tom in some +vexation. "Now I'll have Eradicate complaining to me that you mauled +him. Picked him up and set him down again." + +"Sure. One hand!" boasted the giant. "Eradicate him not be heavy. More +as a sack of flour now." + +"No, poor Eradicate is getting pretty old and thin," commented Tom. "He +can't move very quickly. But you should have let him come, Koku. It +makes him feel badly when he thinks he can't be of service to me any +more." + +"Man say he in hurry." The giant spoke softly, as though he felt the +gentle rebuke Tom administered. "Koku run quick tell you--bang on door." + +"Yes, you banged all right, Koku. Well, it can't be helped, I reckon. +Where is this strange man? Who is he? Did you ever see him before?" + +"Me no can tell, Master. Not sure. But him now be at the outer gate. +Eradicate watch." + +"All right. I'll go and see who it is. I don't want any strangers +poking around here, especially with the plans of my new gyroscope lying +in plain view." + +Before he left the laboratory Tom swept into a desk drawer the mass of +papers and blue prints, and locked the receptacle. + +"No use taking any chances," he remarked. "I've had too much trouble +with people trying to get inside information about dad's and my +patents. Now, Koku, I'll go and see this man." + +The buildings composing the plant of Tom Swift and his father at +Shopton were enclosed by a high, board fence, and at one of the +entrances was a sort of gate-house, where some one was always on guard. +Only those who could give a good account of themselves, workmen in the +plant, or those known to the sentinel were admitted. + +It happened that the colored man, Eradicate, was on guard at the gates +this day when the stranger asked to see Tom. Koku, working on the +airship engine not far away, saw the stranger. Hearing the man say he +was in a hurry and noting the slow progress of the aged Eradicate, who +was troubled with rheumatism, the giant took matters into his own hands. + +Tom Swift entered the gate-house and saw, seated in a chair, a man who +was impatiently tapping the floor with his thick-soled shoe. + +"Looks like a detective or a policeman in disguise," thought Tom, for, +almost invariably, members of this profession wear very thick-soled +shoes. Opposite the stranger sat Eradicate, a much-injured look on his +honest, black face. + +"Oh, Massa Tom!" exclaimed Eradicate, as soon as the young inventor +entered. "Dat Koku he--he--he done gone and cotch me by de collar ob +mah coat, an' den he lif' me up, an' he sot me down so hard--so +hard--dat he jar loose all mah back teef!" and Eradicate opened his +mouth wide to display his gleaming ivories. + +"Eradicate, he no can come quick. He walk like so fashion!" and Koku, +who had followed the young inventor, imitated the limping gait of the +colored man with such a queer effect that Tom could not help laughing, +and the stranger smiled. + +"Ef I gits holt on yo'--ef I does, yo' great, big, overgrown lummox, +Ah'll--Ah'll--" began the colored man, stammeringly. + +"There. That will do now!" interrupted Tom. "Don't quarrel in here. +Koku, get back to that engine and lift out the motor. Eradicate, didn't +father tell you to whitewash the chicken coops to-day?" + +"Dat's what he done, Massa Tom." + +"Well, go and see about that. I'll stay here for a while, and when I +leave I'll call one of you, or some one else, to be on guard. Skip now!" + +Having thus disposed of the warring factions, Tom turned to the +stranger and after apologizing for the little interruption, asked: + +"You wished to see me?" + +"If you're Tom Swift; yes." + +"Well, I'm Tom Swift," and the young owner of the name smiled. + +"I hope you will pardon a stranger for calling on you," resumed the +man, "but I'm in a lot of trouble, and I think you are the only one who +can help me out." + +"What sort of trouble?" Tom inquired. + +"Contracting trouble--tunnel blasting, to be exact. But if you have a +few minutes to spare perhaps you will listen to my story. You will then +be better able to understand my difficulty." + +Tom Swift considered a moment. He was used to having appeals for help +made to him, and usually they were of a begging nature. He was often +asked for money to help some struggling inventor complete his machine. + +In many cases the machines would have been of absolutely no use if +perfected. In other cases the inventions were of the utterly hopeless +class, incapable of perfection, like some perpetual motion apparatus. +In these cases Tom turned a deaf ear, though if the inventor were in +want our hero relieved him. + +But this case did not seem to be like anything Tom had ever met with +before. + +"Contracting trouble--blasting," repeated the youth, as he mused over +what he had heard. + +"That's it," the man went on. "Permit me to introduce myself" and he +held out a card, on which was the name + +MR. JOB TITUS + + +Down in the lower left-hand corner was a line: + +"Titus Brothers, Contractors." + +"I am glad to meet you, Mr. Titus," Tom said warmly, offering his hand. +"I don't know anything about the contracting business, but if you do +blasting I suppose you use explosives, and I know a little about them." + +"So I have heard, and that's why I came to you," the contractor went +on. "Now if you'll give me a few minutes of your time--" + +"You had better come up to the house," interrupted Tom. "We can talk +more quietly there." + +Calling a young fellow who was at work near by to occupy the +gate-house, Tom led Mr. Titus toward the Swift homestead, and, a little +later, ushered him into the library. + +"Now I'll listen to you," the youth said, "though I can't promise to +aid you." + +"I realize that," returned Mr. Titus. "This is a sort of last chance +I'm taking. My brother and I have heard a lot about you, and when he +wrote to me that he was unable to proceed with his contract of +tunneling the Andes Mountains for the Peruvian government, I made up my +mind you were the one who could help us if you would." + +"Tunneling the Andes Mountains!" exclaimed Tom. + +"Yes. The firm represented by my brother and myself have a contract to +build a railroad for the Peruvian government. At a point some distance +back in the district east of Lima, Peru, we are making a tunnel under +the mountain. That is, we have it started, but now we can't advance any +further." + +"Why not?" + +"Because of the peculiar character of the rock, which seems to defy the +strongest explosive we can get. Now I understand you used a powder in +your giant cannon that--" + +Mr. Titus paused in his explanation, for at that moment there arose +such a clatter out on the front piazza as effectually to drown +conversation. There was a noise of the hoofs of a horse, the fall of a +heavy body, a tattoo on the porch floor and then came an excited shout: + +"Whoa there! Whoa! Stop! Look out where you're kicking! Bless my +saddle blanket! Ouch! There I go!" + + + + +Chapter II + +Explanations + + +"What in the world is that?" cried Mr. Job Titus, in alarm. + +Tom Swift did not answer. Instead he jumped up from his chair and ran +toward the front door. Mr. Titus followed. They both saw a strange +sight. + +Standing on the front porch, which he seemed to occupy completely, was +a large horse, with a saddle twisted underneath him. The animal was +looking about him as calmly as though he always made it a practice to +come up on the front piazza when stopping at a house. + +Off to one side, with a crushed hat on the back of his head, with a +coat split up the back, with a broken riding crop in one hand and a +handkerchief in the other, sat a dignified, elderly gentleman. + +That is, he would have been dignified had it not been for his position +and condition. No gentleman can look dignified with a split coat and a +crushed hat on, sitting under the nose of a horse on a front piazza, +with his raiment otherwise much disheveled, while he wipes his +scratched and bleeding face with a handkerchief. + +"Bless my--bless my--" began the elderly gentleman, and he seemed at a +loss what particular portion of his anatomy or that of the horse, to +bless, or what portion of the universe to appeal to, for he ended up +with: "Bless everything, Tom Swift!" + +"I heartily agree with you, Mr. Damon!" cried Tom. "But what in the +world happened?" + +"That!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, pointing with his broken crop at the horse +on the piazza. "I was riding him when he ran away--just as my +motorcycle tried to climb a tree. No more horses for me! I'll stick to +airships," and slamming his riding crop down on the porch floor with +such force that the horse started back, Mr. Damon arose, painfully +enough if the contortions on his face and his grunts of pain went for +anything. + +"Let me help you!" begged Tom, striding forward. "Mr. Titus, perhaps +you will kindly lead the horse down off the piazza?" + +"Certainly!" answered the tunnel contractor. "Whoa now!" he called +soothingly, as the steed evinced a disposition to sit down on the side +railing. "Steady now!" + +The horse finally allowed himself to be led down the broad front steps, +sadly marking them, as well as the floor of the piazza, with his sharp +shoes. + +"Ouch! Oh, my back!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as Tom helped him to stand up. + +"Is it hurt?" asked Tom, anxiously. + +"No, I've just got what old-fashioned folks call a 'crick' in it," +explained the elderly horseman. "But it feels more like a river than a +'crick.' I'll be all right presently." + +"How did it happen?" asked Tom, as he led his guest toward the hall. +Meanwhile Mr. Titus, wondering what it was all about, had tied the +horse to a post out near the street curb, and had re-entered the +library. + +"I was riding over to see you, Tom, to ask you if you wouldn't go to +South America with me," began Mr. Damon, rubbing his leg tenderly. + +"South America?" cried Tom, with a sudden look at Mr. Titus. + +"Yes, South America. Why, there isn't anything strange in that, is +there? You've been to wilder countries, and farther away than that." + +"Yes, I know--it's just a coincidence. Go on." + +"Let me get where I can sit down," begged Mr. Damon. "I think that +crick in my back is running down into my legs, Tom. I feel a bit weak. +Let me sit down, and get me a glass of water. I shall be all right +presently." + +Between them Tom and Mr. Titus assisted the horseman into an easy +chair, and there, under the influence of a cup of hot tea, which Mrs. +Baggert, the housekeeper, insisted on making for him, he said he felt +much better, and would explain the reason for his call which had +culminated in such a sensational manner. + +And while Mr. Damon is preparing his explanation I will take just a few +moments to acquaint my new readers with some facts about Tom Swift, and +the previous volumes of this series in which he has played such +prominent parts. + +Tom Swift was the son of an inventor, and not only inherited his +father's talents, but had greatly added to them, so that now Tom had a +wonderful reputation. + +Mr. Swift was a widower, and he and Tom lived in a big house in +Shopton, New York State, with Mrs. Baggert for a housekeeper. About the +house, from time to time, shops and laboratories had been erected, +until now there was a large and valuable establishment belonging to Tom +and his father. + +The first volume of this series is entitled, "Tom Swift and His Motor +Cycle." It was through a motor cycle that Tom became acquainted with +Mr. Wakefield Damon, who lived in a neighboring town. Mr. Damon had +bought the motor cycle for himself, but, as he said, one day in riding +it the machine tried to climb a tree near the Swift house. + +The young inventor (for even then he was working on several patents) +ministered to Mr. Damon, who, disgusted with the motor cycle, and +wishing to reward Tom, let the young fellow have the machine. + +Tom's career began from that hour. For he learned to ride the motor +cycle, after making some improvements in it, and from then on the youth +had led a busy life. Soon afterward he secured a motor boat and from +that it was but a step to an airship. + +The medium of the air having been conquered, Tom again turned his +attention to the water, or rather, under the water, and he and his +father made a submarine. Then he built an electric runabout, the +speediest car on the road. + +It was when Ton Swift had occasion to send his wireless message from a +lonely island where he had been shipwrecked that he was able to do Mr. +and Mrs. Nestor a valuable service, and this increased the regard which +Miss Mary Nestor felt for the young inventor, a regard that bid fair, +some day, to ripen into something stronger. + +Tom Swift might have made a fortune when he set out to discover the +secret of the diamond makers. But Fate intervened, and soon after that +quest he went to the caves of ice, where he and his friends met with +disaster. In his sky racer Tom broke all records for speed, and when he +went to Africa to rescue a missionary, had it not been for his electric +rifle the tide of battle would have gone against him and his party. + +Marvelous, indeed, were the adventures underground, which came to Tom +when he went to look for the city of gold, but the treasure there was +not more valuable than the platinum which Tom sought in dreary Siberia +by means of his air glider. + +Tom thought his end had come when he fell into captivity among the +giants; but even that turned out well, and he brought two of the giants +away with him. Koku, one of the two giants, became devotedly attached +to the lad, much to the disgust of Eradicate Sampson, the old negro who +had worked for the Swifts for a generation, and who, with his mule +Boomerang, "eradicated" from the place as much dirt as possible. + +With his wizard camera Tom did much to advance the cause of science. +His great searchlight was of great help to the United States government +in putting a stop to the Canadian smugglers, while his giant cannon was +a distinct advance in ordnance, not excepting the great German guns +used in the European war. + +When Tom perfected his photo telephone the last objection to rendering +telephonic conversation admissible evidence in a law court was done +away with, for by this invention a person was able to see, as well as +to hear, over the telephone wire. One practically stood face to face +with the person, miles away, to whom one was talking. + +The volume immediately preceding this present one is called: "Tom Swift +and His Aerial Warship." The young inventor perfected a marvelous +aircraft that was the naval terror of the seas, and many governments, +recognizing what an important part aircraft were going to play in all +future conflicts, were anxious to secure Tom's machine. But he was true +to his own country, though his rivals were nearly successful in their +plots against him. + +The Mars, which was the name of Tom's latest craft, proved to be a +great success, and the United States government purchased it. It was +not long after the completion of this transaction that the events +narrated in the first chapter of this book took place. + +Mr. Damon and Tom had been firm friends ever since the episode of the +motor cycle, and the eccentric gentleman (who blessed so many things) +often went with Tom on his trips. Besides Mary Nestor, Tom had other +friends. The one, after Miss Nestor, for whom he cared most (if we +except Mr. Damon) was Ned Newton, who was employed in a Shopton bank. +Ned also had often gone with Tom, though lately, having a better +position, he had less time to spare. + +"Well, do you feel better, Mr. Damon?" asked Tom, after a bit. + +"Yes, very much, thank you. Bless my pen wiper! but I thought I was +done for when I saw my horse bolt for your front stoop. He rushed up +it, fell down, but, fortunately, I managed to get out of his way, +though the saddle girth slipped. And all I could think of was that my +wife would say: 'I told you so!' for she warned me not to ride this +animal. + +"But he never ran away with me before, and I was in a hurry to get over +to see you, Tom. Now then, let's get down to business. Will you go to +South America with me?" + +"Whereabout in South America are you going, Mr. Damon, and why?" Tom +asked. + +"To Peru, Tom." + +"What a coincidence!" exclaimed Mr. Titus. + +"I beg your pardon?" said Mr. Damon, interrogatively. + +"I said what a coincidence. I am going there myself." + +"Excuse me," interposed Tom, "I don't believe, in the excitement of the +moment, I introduced you gentlemen. Allow me--Mr. Damon--Mr. Titus." + +The presentation over, Mr. Damon went on: + +"You see, Tom, I have lately invested considerable money in a wholesale +drug concern. We deal largely in Peruvian remedies, principally the +bark of the cinchona tree, from which quinine is made. Of late there +has been some trouble over our concession from the Peruvian government, +and the company has decided to send me down there to investigate. + +"Of course, as soon as I made up my mind to go I thought of you. So I +came over to see if you would not accompany me. All went well until I +reached your front gate. Then my horse became frightened by a yellow +toy balloon some boy was blowing up in the street and bolted with me. I +suppose if it had been a red or green balloon the effect would have +been the same. However, here I am, somewhat the worse for wear. Now +Tom, what do you say? Will you go to South America--to Peru--with me, +and help look up this Quinine business?" + +Once more Mr. Titus and Tom looked at each other. + + + + +Chapter III + +A Face at the Window + + +"What is the matter?" asked Mr. Damon, catching the glance between Tom +and the contractor. "Is there anything wrong with South America--Peru? +I know they have lots of revolutions in those countries, but I don't +believe Peru is what they call a 'banana republic'; is it?" + +"No," and Mr. Titus shook his head. "It isn't a question of +revolutions." + +"But it's something!" insisted Mr. Damon. "Bless my ink bottle! but +it's something. As soon as I mention Peru, Tom, you and Mr. Titus eye +each other as if I'd said something dreadful. Out with it! What is it?" + +"It's just--just a coincidence," Tom said. "But go on, Mr. Damon. +Finish what you have to say and then we'll explain." + +"Well, I guess I've told you all you need to know for the present. I +went into this wholesale drug concern, hoping to make some money, but +now, on account of the trouble down in Peru, we stand to lose +considerable unless I can get back the cinchona concession." + +"What does that mean?" Tom asked. + +"Well, it means that our concern secured from the Peruvian government +the right to take this quinine-producing bark from the trees in a +certain tropical section. But there has been a change in the government +in the district where our men were working, and now the privilege, or +concession, has been withdrawn. I'm going down to see if I can't get it +back. And I want you to go with me." + +"And I came here for very nearly the same thing," went on Mr. Titus. +"That is where the coincidence comes in. It is strange that we should +both appeal to Mr. Swift at the same time." + +"Well, Tom's a valuable helper!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I know him of +old, for I've been on many a trip with him." + +"This is the first time I have had the pleasure of meeting him," +resumed the tunnel contractor, "but I have heard of him. I did not ask +him to go to South America for us. I only wanted to get some superior +explosive for my brother, who is in charge of driving the railroad +tunnel through a spur of the Andes. I look after matters up North here, +but I may have to go to Peru myself. + +"As I told Mr. Swift, I had read of his invention of the giant cannon +and the special powder he used in it to send a projectile such a +distance. The cannon is now mounted as one of the pieces of ordnance +for the defense of the Panama Canal, is it not?" he asked Tom. + +The young inventor nodded in assent. + +"Having heard of you, and the wonderful explosive used in your big +cannon," the contractor went on, "I wrote to my brother that I would +try and get some for him. + +"You see," he resumed, "this is the situation. Back in the Andes +Mountains, a couple of hundred miles east of Lima, the government is +building a short railroad line to connect two others. If this is done +it will mean that the products of Peru--quinine bark, coffee, cocoa, +sugar, rubber, incense and gold can more easily be transported. But to +connect the two railroad lines a big tunnel must be constructed. + +"My brother and I make a specialty of such work, and when we saw bids +advertised for, our firm put in an estimate. There was some trouble +with a rival firm, which also bid, but we secured the contract, and +bound ourselves to have the tunnel finished within a certain time, or +forfeit a large sum. + +"That was over a year ago. Since then our men, aided by the native +Indians of Peru, have been tunneling the mountain, until, about a month +back, we struck a snag." + +"What sort of snag?" Tom asked. + +"A snag in the shape of extra hard rock," replied the tunnel +contractor. "Briefly, Paleozoic rocks make up the eastern part of the +Andean Mountains in Peru, while the western range is formed of Mesozoic +beds, volcanic ashes and lava of comparatively recent date. Near the +coast the lower hills are composed of crystalline rocks, syenite and +granite, with, here and there, a strata of sandstone or limestone. +These are, undoubtedly, relics of the lower Cretaceous age, and we, or +rather, my brother, states that he has found them covered with marine +Tertiary deposits. + +"Now this Mesozoic band varies greatly. Porphyritic tuffs and massive +limestone compose the western chain of the Andes above Lima, while in +the Oroya Valley we find carbonaceous sandstones. Some of the tuffs may +be of the Jurassic age, though the Cretaceous period is also largely +represented. + +"Now while these different masses of rock formation offer hard enough +problems to the tunnel digger, still we are more or less prepared to +meet them, and we figured on a certain percentage of them. Up to the +present time we have met with just about what we expected, but what we +did not expect was something we came upon when the tunnel had been +driven three miles into the mountain." + +"What did you find?" asked Tom, who knew enough about geology to +understand the terms used. Mr. Damon did not, however, and when Mr. +Titus rolled off some of the technical words, the drug investor softly +murmured such expressions as + +"Bless my thermometer! Bless my porous plaster!" + +"We found," resumed Mr. Titus, "after we had bored for a considerable +distance into the mountain, a mass of volcanic rock which is so hard +that our best diamond drills are dulled in a short time, and the +explosives we use merely shatter the face of the cutting, and give us +hardly any progress at all. + +"It was after several trials, and when my brother found that he was +making scarcely any progress, compared to the energy of his men and the +blasting, that he wrote to me, explaining matters. I at once thought of +you, Tom Swift, and your powerful explosive, for I had read about it. + +"Now then, will you sell us some of your powder--explosive or whatever +you call it--Mr. Swift, or tell us where we can get it? We need it +soon, for we are losing valuable time." + +Mr. Titus paused to draw on a piece of paper a rough map of Peru, and +the district where the tunnel was being constructed. He showed where +the two railroad lines were, and where the new route would bring them +together, the tunnel eliminating a big grade up which it would have +been impossible to haul trains of any weight. + +"What do you say, Mr. Swift?" the contractor concluded. "Will you let +us have some of your powder? Or, better still, will you come to Peru +yourself? That would suit us immensely, for you could be right on the +ground. And you could carry out your plan of going with your friend +here," and Mr. Titus nodded toward Mr. Damon. "That is, if you were +thinking of going." + +"Well, I was thinking of it," Tom admitted. "Mr. Damon and I have been +on so many trips together that it seems sort of natural for us to 'team +it.' I have never been to Peru, and I should like to see the country. +There is only one matter though, that bothers me." + +"What is it?" asked Mr. Titus quickly. "If it is a question of money +dismiss it from your mind. The Peruvian government is paying a large +sum for this tunnel, and we stand to make considerable, even if we were +the lowest bidders. We can afford to pay you well--that is, we shall be +able to if we can complete the bore on time. That is what is bothering +me now--the unexpected strata of hard rock we have met with, which +seems impossible to blast. But I feel sure we can do it with the +explosive used in your giant cannon." + +"That is just the point!" Tom exclaimed. "I am not so sure my explosive +would do." + +"Why not?" the tunnel contractor asked. "It's powerful enough; isn't +it?" + +"Yes, it is powerful enough, but whether it will have the right effect +on volcanic rock is hard to say. I should like to see a rock sample." + +"I can telegraph to have some sent here to you," said Mr. Titus +eagerly. "Meantime, here is a description of it. I can read you that"; +and, taking a letter from his pocket, he read to Tom a geological +description of the hard rock. + +"Hum! Yes," mused Tom, as he listened. "It seems to be of the nature of +obsidian." + +"Bless my watch chain!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's that?" + +"Obsidian is a volcanic rock--a sort of combination of glass and flint +for hardness," Tom explained. "It is brittle, black in color, and the +natives of the Admiralty Islands use it for tipping their spears with +which they slay victims for their cannibalistic feasts." + +"Bless my--bless my ear-drums!" gasped Mr. Damon. "Cannibals!" + +"Obsidian was also used by the ancient Mexicans to make knives and +daggers," Tom went on. "When Cortez conquered Mexico he found the +priests cutting the hearts from their living victims with knives made +from this volcanic glass-like rock, known as obsidian. It may be that +your brother has met with a vein of that in the tunnel," Tom said to +the contractor. + +"Possibly," admitted Mr. Titus. + +"In that case," Tom stated, "I may have to use a new kind of explosive. +That used for my giant cannon would merely crumble the hard rock for a +short distance." + +"Then will you accept the contract, and help us out?" asked Mr. Titus +eagerly. "We will pay you well. Will you come to Peru and look over the +ground?" + +"And kill two birds with one stone, and come with me also?" put in Mr. +Damon. + +Tom pondered for a moment. He was about to answer when the tunnel +contractor, who was looking from the library window, suddenly jumped +from his chair crying: + +"There he is again! Once more dogging me!" + +As he rushed from the room, Tom and Mr. Damon had a glimpse of a face +at one of the low library windows--a face that had an evil look. It +disappeared as Mr. Titus ran from the room. + + + + +Chapter IV + +Tom's Experiments + + +"Bless my looking glass, Tom, what does that mean?" exclaimed Mr. +Damon. "That face!" + +"I don't know," answered the young inventor. "But the sight of some one +looking in here seemed to disturb Mr. Titus. We must follow him." + +"Perhaps he saw your giant Koku looking in," suggested the odd, little +man who blessed everything he could think of. "The sight of his face, +to any one not knowing him, Tom, would be enough to cause fright." + +"It wasn't Koku who looked in the window," said Tom, decidedly. "It was +some stranger. Come on." + +The young inventor and Mr. Damon hurried out after the tunnel +contractor, who was running down the road that led in front of the +Swift homestead. + +"He's chasing some one, Tom," called Mr. Damon. + +"Yes, I see he is. But who?" + +"I can't see any one," reported Mr. Damon, who had run down to the +gate, at which his horse was still standing. Mr. Damon had washed the +dirt from his hands and face, and was wearing one of Mr. Swift's coats +in place of his own split one. + +Tom joined the eccentric man and together they looked down the road +after the running Mr. Titus. They were in half a mind to join him, when +they saw him pull up short, raise his hands as though he had given over +the pursuit, and turn back. + +"I guess he got away, whoever he was," remarked Tom. "We'll walk down +and meet Mr. Titus, and ask him what it all means." + +Shortly afterward they came up to the contractor, who was breathing +heavily after his run, for he was evidently not used to such exercise. + +"I beg your pardon, Tom Swift, for leaving you and Mr. Damon in such a +fashion," said Mr. Titus, "but I had to act quickly or lose the chance +of catching that rascal. As it was, he got away, but I think I gave him +a scare, and he knows that I saw him. It will make him more cautious in +the future." + +"Who was it?" asked Tom. + +"Well, I didn't have as close a look as I could have wished for," the +contractor said, as he walked back toward the house with Tom and Mr. +Damon, "but I'm pretty sure the face that peered in at us through the +library window was that of Isaac Waddington." + +"And who is he, if it isn't asking information that ought not be given +out?" inquired Mr. Damon. + +"Oh, no, certainly. I can tell you," said the contractor. "Only +perhaps we had better wait until we get back to the house. + +"Since one of their men was seen lurking around here there may be +others," went on Mr. Titus, when the three were once more seated in the +Swift library. "It is best to be on the safe side. The face I saw, I'm +sure, was that of Waddington, who is a tool of Blakeson & Grinder, +rival tunnel contractors. They put in a bid on this Andes tunnel, but +we were lower in our figures by several thousand dollars, and the +contract was awarded to us. + +"Blakeson & Grinder tried, by every means in their power, to get the +job away from us. They even invoked the aid of some Peruvian +revolutionists and politicians, but we held our ground and began the +work. Since then they have had spies and emissaries on our trail, +trying their best to make us fail in our work, so the Peruvian +officials might abrogate the contract and give it to them. + +"But, so far, we've managed to come out ahead. This Waddington is a +sort of spy, and I've found him dodging me several times of late. I +suppose he wants to find out my plans so as to be ready to jump in the +breach in case we fail." + +"Do you think your rivals had anything to do with the difficulties you +are now meeting with in digging the tunnel?" asked Mr. Damon. Mr. Titus +shook his head. + +"The present difficulties are all of Nature's doing," he said. "It's +just the abnormally hard rock that is bothering us. Only for that we'd +be all right, though we might have petty difficulties because of the +mean acts of Blakeson & Grinder. But I don't fear them." + +"How do you think this Waddington, if it was he, knew you were coming +here?" asked Tom. + +"I can only guess. My brother and I have had some correspondence +regarding you, Tom Swift. That is, I announced my intention of coming +to see you, and my brother wrote me to use my discretion. I wrote back +that I would consult you. + +"Our main office is in New York, where we employ a large clerical and +expert force. There is nothing to prevent one of our stenographers, for +instance, turning traitor and giving copies of the letters of my +brother and myself to our rivals. + +"Mind you, I don't say this was done, and I don't suspect any of our +employees, but it would be an easy matter for any one to know my plans. +I never thought of making a secret of them, or of my trip here. In some +way Waddington found out about the last, and he must have followed me +here. Then he sneaked up under the window, and tried to hear what we +said." + +"Do you think he did?" asked Tom. + +"I wouldn't be surprised. We took no pains to lower our voices. But, +after all, he hasn't learned much that he didn't know before, if he +knew I was coming here. He didn't learn the secret of the explosive +that must be used, and that is the vital thing. For I defy him, or any +other contractor, to blast that hard rock with any known explosive. +We've tried every kind on the market and we've failed. We'll have to +depend on you, Tom Swift, to help us out with some of your giant cannon +powder." + +"And I'm not sure that will work," said the young inventor. "I think +I'll have to experiment and make a new explosive, if I conclude to go +to Peru." + +"Oh, you'll go all right!" declared Mr. Titus with a smile. "I can see +that you are eager for the adventures I am sure you'll find there, and, +besides, your friend here, Mr. Damon, needs you." + +"That's what I do, Tom!" exclaimed the odd man. "Bless my excursion +ticket, but you must come!" + +"I'll have to invent the new powder first," Tom said. + +"That's what I like to hear!" exclaimed Mr. Titus. "It shows you are +thinking of coming with us." + +Tom only smiled. + +"I am so anxious to get the proper explosive," went on Mr. Titus, "that +I would even purchase it from our rivals, Blakeson & Grinder, if I +thought they had it. But I'm sure they have not, though they may think +they can get it. + +"That may be the reason they are following me so closely. They may +want to know just when we will fail, and have to give up the contract, +and they may think they can step in and finish the work. But I don't +believe, without your help, Tom Swift, that they can blast that hard +rock, and--" + +"Well, I'll say this," interrupted Tom, "first come, first served with +me, other things being equal. You have applied to me and, like a +lawyer, I won't go over to the other side now. I consider myself +retained by your firm, Mr. Titus, to invent some sort of explosive, and +if I am successful I shall expect to be paid." + +"Oh, of course!" cried the contractor eagerly. + +"Very good," Tom went on. "You needn't fear that I'll help the other +fellows. Now to get down to business. I must see some samples of this +rock in order to know what kind of explosive force is needed to rend +it." + +"I have some in New York," went on the contractor. "I'll have it sent +to you at once. I would have brought it, only it is too heavy to carry +easily, and I was not sure I could engage you." + +"Did that fellow--Waddington, I believe you called him--get away from +you?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Clean away," the contractor answered. "He was a better runner than I." + +"It doesn't matter much," Tom said. "He didn't hear anything that would +benefit him, and I'll give my men orders to be on the lookout for him. +What sort of fellow is he, Mr. Titus?" + +The contractor described the eavesdropper, and Mr. Damon exclaimed: + +"Bless my turkey wish-bone! I'm sure I passed that chap when I was +riding over to see you a while ago, Tom." + +"You did?" + +"Yes, on the highway. He inquired the way to your place. But there was +nothing strange in that, since you employ a number of men, and I +thought this one was coming to look for work. I can't say I liked his +appearance, though." + +"No, he isn't a very prepossessing individual," commented Mr. Titus. +"Well, now what's the first thing to be done, Tom Swift?" + +"Get me some samples of the rock, so I can begin my experiments." + +"I'll do that. And now let us consider about going to Peru. For I'm +sure you will be successful in your experiments, and will find for us +just the powder or explosive we need." + +"We can go together." said Mr. Damon. "I shall certainly feel more at +home in that wild country if I know Tom Swift is with me, and I will +appreciate the help of you and your friends, Mr. Titus, in +straightening out the tangles of our drug business." + +"I'll do all I can for you, Mr. Damon." + +The three then talked at some length regarding possible plans. Tom sent +out word to one of his men to keep a sharp watch around the house and +grounds, against the possible return of Waddington, but nothing more +was seen of him, at least for the time being. + +Mr. Titus drew up a sort of tentative agreement with Tom, binding his +firm to pay a large sum in case the young inventor was successful, and +then the contractor left, promising to have the rock samples come on +later by express. + +Mr. Damon, after blessing a few dozen more or less impersonal objects, +took his departure, his fractious horse having quieted down in the +meanwhile, and Tom was left to himself. + +"I wonder what I've let myself in for now," the youth mused, as he went +back to his laboratory. "It's a new field for me--tunnel blasting. +Well, perhaps something may come of it." + +But of the strange adventure that was to follow his agreement to help +Mr. Titus, our hero, Tom Swift, had not the least inkling. + +Tom went back to his labors over the gyroscope problem, but he could +arrive at no satisfactory conclusion, and, tossing aside the papers, +covered with intricate figures, he exclaimed: + +"Oh, I'm going for a walk! This thing is getting on my nerves." + +He strolled through the Shopton streets, and as he reached the +outskirts of the town, he saw just ahead of him the figure of a girl. +Tom quickened his pace, and presently was beside her. + +"Where are you going, Mary?" he asked. + +"Oh, Tom! How you startled me!" she exclaimed, turning around. "I was +just thinking of you." + +"Thanks! Something nice?" + +"I shan't tell you!" and she blushed. "But where are you going?" + +"Walking with you!" + +Tom was nothing if not bold. + +"Hadn't you better wait until you're asked?" she retorted, +mischievously. + +"If I did I might not get an invitation. So I'm going to invite myself, +and then I'm going to invite you in here to have an ice cream soda," +and he and Miss Nestor were soon seated at a table in a candy shop. + +Tom had nearly finished his ice cream when he glanced toward the door, +and started at the sight of a man who was entering the place. + +"What's the matter?" asked Mary. "Did you drop some ice cream, Tom?" + +"No, Mary. But that man--" + +Mary turned in time to see an excited man hurry out of the candy shop +after a hasty glance at Tom Swift. + +"Who was he?" the girl asked. + +"I--er--oh, some one I thought I knew, but I guess I don't," said Tom, +quickly. "Have some more cream, Mary?" + +"No, thank you. Not now." + +Tom was glad she did not care for any, as he was anxious to get +outside, and have a look at the man, for he thought he had recognized +the face as the same that had peered in his window. But when he and +Miss Nestor reached the front of the shop the strange man was not in +sight. + +"I guess he came in to cool off after his run," mused Tom, "but when he +saw me he didn't care about it. I wonder if that was Waddington? He's a +persistent individual if it was he." + +"Are you undertaking any new adventures, Tom?" asked Mary. + +"Well, I'm thinking of going to Peru." + +"Peru!" she cried. "Oh, what a long way to go! And when you get there +will you write to me? I'm collecting stamps, and I haven't any from +Peru." + +"Is that--er--the only reason you want me to write?" asked Tom. + +"No," said Mary softly, as she ran up the walk. + +Tom smiled as he turned away. + +Three days later he received a box from New York. It contained the +samples from the Andes tunnel, and Tom at once began his experiments to +discover a suitable explosive for rending the hard stone. + +"It is compressed molten lava," said Mr. Swift. "You'll never get an +explosive that will successfully blast that, Tom." + +"We'll see," declared the young inventor. + + + + +Chapter V + +Mary's Present + + +Outside a rudely-constructed shack, in the middle of a large field, +about a mile away from the nearest of the buildings owned by Tom Swift +and his father, were gathered a group of figures one morning. From the +shack, trailing over the ground, were two insulated wires, which led to +a pile of rocks and earth some distance off. Out of the temporary +building came Koku, the giant, bearing in his arms a big rock, of +peculiar formation. + +"That's it, Koku!" exclaimed Tom Swift. "Now don't drop it on your +toes." + +"No, Master, me no drop," the giant said, as he strode off with the +heavy load as easily as a boy might carry a stone for his sling-shot. + +Koku placed the big rock on top of the pile of dirt and stones and came +back to the hut, just as Eradicate, the colored man-of-all-work, +emerged. Koku was not looking ahead, and ran into Eradicate with such +force that the latter would have fallen had not the giant clasped his +big arms about him. + +"Heah now! Whut yo' all doin' t' me?" angrily demanded Eradicate. "Yo' +done gone an' knocked de breff outen me, dat's whut yo' all done! I'll +bash yo' wif a rock, dat's what I'll do!" + +Koku, laughing, tried to explain that it was all an accident, but +Eradicate would not listen. He looked about for a stone to throw at the +giant, though it was doubtful, with his feeble strength, and +considering the great frame of the big man, if any damage would have +been done. But Eradicate saw no rocks nearer than the pile in which +ended the two insulated wires, and, with mutterings, the negro set off +in that direction, shuffling along on his rheumatic legs. + +From the shack Tom Swift hailed: + +"Hi there, Rad! Come back! Where are you going?" + +"I'se gwine t' git a rock, Massa Tom, an' bash de haid ob dat big +lummox ob a giant! He done knocked de breff outen me, so he did." + +"You come back from that stone pile!" Tom ordered. "I'm going to blow +it up in a minute, and if you get too near you'll have the breath +knocked out of you worse than Koku did it. Come back, I say!" + +But Eradicate was obstinate and kept on. Tom, who was adjusting a +firing battery in the shack, laughed, and then in exasperation cried: + +"Koku, go and get him and bring him back. Carry him if he won't come +any other way. I don't want the dear old chump to get the fright of his +life, and he sure will if he goes too close. Bring him back!" + +"Koku bring, Master," was the giant's answer. + +He ran toward Eradicate, who, seeing his tormentor approaching, +redoubled his shuffling pace toward the stone pile. But he was no match +for the giant, who, ignoring his struggles, picked up Eradicate, and, +flinging him over his shoulder like a sack of meal, brought him to the +shack. + +"There him be, Master!" said the giant. + +"So I see," laughed Tom. "Now you stay here, Rad." + +"No, sah! No, sah, Massa Tom! I--I'se gwine t' git a rock an'--an' +bash his haid--dat's what I'se gwine t' do!" and the colored man tried +to struggle to his feet. + +"Look out now!" cried Tom, suddenly. "If things go right there won't be +a rock left for you to 'bash' anybody's head with, Rad. Look out!" + +The three cowered inside the shack, which, though it was rudely made, +was built of heavy logs and planks, with a fronting of sod and bags of +sand. + +Tom turned a switch. There was a loud report, and where the stone pile +had been there was a big hole in the ground, while the air was filled +with fragments of rock and dirt. These came down in a shower on the +roof of the shack, and Eradicate covered his ears with his trembling +hands. + +"Am--am de world comin' to de end, Massa Tom?" he asked. "Am dat +Gabriel's trump I done heah?" + +"No, you dear old goose!" laughed the young inventor. "That was just a +charge of my new explosive--a small charge, too. But it seems to have +done the work." + +He ran from the shack to the place where the rock pile had been, and +picked up several small fragments. + +"Busted all to pieces!" exulted Tom Swift. "Not a piece left as big as +a hickory nut. That's going some! I've got the right mixture at last. +If an ounce did that, a few hundred pounds ought to knock that Andes +tunnel through the mountain in no time. I'll telegraph to Mr. Titus." + +Leaving Koku and Rad to collect the wires and firing apparatus, there +being no danger now, as no explosive was left in the shack, Tom made +his way back to the house. His father met him. + +"Well, Tom," he asked, "another failure?" + +"No, Dad! Success! This time I turned the trick. I seem to have gotten +just the right mixture. Look, these are some of the pieces left from +the big rock--one of the samples Mr. Titus sent me. It was all cracked +up as small as this," and he held out the fragments he had picked up in +the field. + +Mr. Swift regarded them for a few moments. + +"That's better, Tom," he said. "I didn't think you could get an +explosive that would successfully shatter that hard rock, but you seem +to have done it. Have you the formula all worked out?" + +"All worked out, Dad. I only made a small quantity, but the same +proportions will hold good for the larger amounts. I'm going to start +in and make it now. And then--Ho! for Peru!" + +Tom struck an attitude, such as some old discoverer might have assumed, +and then he hurried into the house to telephone a telegram to the +Shopton office. The message was to Mr. Titus, and read: + + +"Explosive success. Start making it at once. Ready for Peru in month's +time." + + +"Thirteen words," repeated Tom, as the operator called them back to +him. "I hope that doesn't mean bad luck." + +The experiment which Tom Swift had just brought to a successful +conclusion was one of many he had conducted, extending over several +wearying weeks. + +As soon as Tom had received the samples of the rock he had begun to +experiment. First he tried some of the explosive that was so successful +in the giant cannon. As he had feared, it was not what was needed. It +cracked the rock, but did not disintegrate it, and that was what was +needed. The hard rock must be broken up into fragments that could be +easily handled. Merely to crack it necessitated further explosions, +which would only serve to split it more and perhaps wedge it fast in +the tunnel. + +So Tom tried different mixtures, using various chemicals, but none +seemed to be just right. The trials were not without danger, either. +Once, in mixing some ingredients, there was an explosion that injured +one man, and blew Tom some distance away. Fortunately for him, there +was an open window in the direction in which he was propelled, and he +went through that, escaping with only some cuts and bruises. + +Another time there was a hang-fire, and the explosive burned instead of +detonating, so that one of the shops caught, and there was no little +work in subduing the flames. + +But Tom would not give up, and finally, after many trials, he hit on +what he felt to be the right mixture. This he took out to the big lot, +and having made a miniature tunnel with some of the sample rock, and +having put some of the explosive in a hole bored in the big chunk Koku +carried, Tom fired the charge. The result we have seen. It was a +success. + +A day after receiving Tom's message Mr. Titus came on and a +demonstration was given of the powerful explosive. + +"Tom, that's great!" cried the tunnel contractor. "Our troubles are at +an end now." + +But, had he known it, new ones were only just beginning. + +Tom at once began preparations for making the explosive on a large +scale, as much of it would be needed in the Andes tunnel. Then, having +turned the manufacturing end of it over to his men, Tom began his +preparations for going to Peru. + +Mr. Damon was also getting ready, and it was arranged that he, with Tom +and Mr. Titus, should take a vessel from San Francisco, crossing the +continent by train. The supply of explosive would follow them by +special freight. + +"We might have gone by Panama except for the slide in the canal," Tom +said. "And I suppose I could take you across the continent in my +airship, Mr. Titus, if you object to railroad travel." + +"No, thank you, Tom. If it's just the same to you, I'd rather stay on +the ground," the contractor said. "I'm more used to it." + +A day or so before the start for San Francisco was to be made, Tom, +passing a store in Shopton, saw something in the window he thought Mary +Nestor would like. It was a mahogany work-box, of unique design, +beautifully decorated, and Tom purchased it. + +"Shall I have it sent?" asked the clerk. + +"No, thank you," Tom answered. + +He knew the young lady who had waited on him, and, for reasons of his +own, he did not want her to know that Mary was to get the box. + +Carrying the present to his laboratory, Tom prepared to wrap it up +suitably to send to Mary, with a note. Just, however, as he was looking +for a box suitable to contain the gift, he received a summons to the +telephone. Mr. Titus, in New York, wanted to speak to him. + +"Here, Rad!" Tom called. "Just box this up for me, like a good fellow, +and then take it to Miss Nestor at this address; will you?" and Tom +handed his man the addressed letter he had written to Mary. "Be careful +of it," Tom cautioned. + +"Oh, I'll be careful, Massa Tom," was the reply. "I'll shore be +careful." + +And Eradicate was--all too careful. + + + + +Chapter VI + +Mr. Nestor's Letter + + +"Got t' git a good strong box fo' dish yeah," murmured Eradicate, as he +looked at the beautiful mahogany present Tom had turned over to him to +take to Mary. "Mah Landy! Dat suttinly am nice; Ah! Um! Jest laik some +ob de old mahogany furniture dat was in our fambily down Souf." +Eradicate did not mean his family, exactly, but the one in which he had +been a slave. + +"Yassum, dat shore am nice!" he went on, talking to himself as he +admired the present. "I shore got t' put dat in a good box! An' dish +year note, too. Let's see what it done say on de outside." + +Eradicate held the envelope carefully upside down, and read--or rather +pretended to read--the name and address. Eradicate knew well enough +where Mary lived, for this was not the first time he had gone there +with messages from his young master. + +"Massa Tom shore am a fine writer," mused the negro, as he slowly +turned the envelope around. "I cain't read nobody's writin' but hisen, +nohow." + +Had Eradicate been strictly honest with himself, he would have +confessed that he could not read any writing, or printing either. His +education had been very limited, but one could show him, say, a printed +sign and tell him it read "Danger" or "Five miles to Branchville," or +anything like that, and the next time he saw it, Eradicate would know +what that sign said. He seemed to fix a picture of it in his mind, +though the letters and figures by themselves meant nothing to him. So +when Tom told him the envelope contained the name and address of Miss +Nestor, Eradicate needed nothing more. + +He rummaged about in some odds and ends in the corner of the +laboratory, and brought out a strong, wooden box, which had a cover +that screwed down. + +"Dat'll be de ticket!" Eradicate exclaimed. "De mahogany present will +jest fit." Eradicate took some excelsior to pad the box, and then, +dropping inside it the gift, already wrapped in tissue paper, he +proceeded to screw on the cover. + +There was something printed in red letters on the outside box, but +Eradicate could not read, so it did not trouble him. + +"Dat Miss Nestor shore will laik her present," he murmured. "An' I'll +be mighty keerful ob it' laik Massa Tom tole me. He wouldn't trust dat +big lummox Koku wif anyt'ing laik dis." + +Screwing on the cover, and putting a piece of wrapping paper outside +the rough, wooden box, with the letter in his hand, Eradicate, full of +his own importance, set off for Miss Nestor's house. Tom had not +returned from the telephone, over which he was talking to Mr. Titus. + +The message was an important one. The contractor said he had received +word from his brother in Peru that his presence was urgently needed +there. + +"Could you arrange to get off sooner than we planned, Tom?" asked Mr. +Titus. "I am afraid something has happened down there. Have you sent +the first shipment of explosive?" + +"Yes, that went three days ago. It ought to arrive at Lima soon after +we do. Why yes, I can start to-night if we have to. I'll find out if +Mr. Damon can be with us on such short notice." + +"I wish you would," came from Mr. Titus. "And say, Tom, do you think +you could take that giant Koku with you?" + +"Why?" + +"Well, I think he'd come in handy. There are some pretty rough +characters in those Andes Mountains, and your big friend might be +useful." + +"All right. I was thinking of it, anyhow. Glad you mentioned it. Now +I'll call up Mr. Damon, and I'll let you know, in an hour or so, if he +can make it." + +"Bless my hair brush, yes, Tom!" exclaimed the eccentric man, when told +of the change in plans. "I can leave to-night as well as not." + +Word to this effect was sent on to Mr. Titus, and then began some +hurrying on the part of Tom Swift. He told Koku to get ready to leave +for New York at once, where he and the giant would join Mr. Titus and +Mr. Damon, and start across the continent to take for steamer for Lima, +Peru. + +"Rad, did you send that present to Miss Nestor?" asked Tom, later, as +he finished packing his grip. + +"Yas, sah. I done did it. Took it mase'f!" + +"That's good! I guess I'll have to say good-bye to Mary over the +telephone. I won't have time to call. I'm glad I thought of the +present." + +Tom got the Nestor house on the wire. But Mary was not in. + +"There's a package here for her," said the girl's mother. "Did you--?" + +"Yes, I sent that," Tom said. "Sorry I won't be able to call and say +good-bye, but I'm in a terrible rush. I'll see her as soon as I get +back, and I'll write as soon as I arrive." + +"Do," urged Mrs. Nestor. "We'll all be glad to hear from you," for Tom +and Mary were tentatively engaged to be married. + +Tom and Koku went on with their hurried preparations to leave for New +York. Eradicate begged to be taken along, but Tom gently told the +faithful old servant that it was out of the question. + +"Besides, Rad," he said, "it's dangerous in those Andes Mountains. Why, +they have birds there, as big as cows, and they can swoop down and +carry off a man your size." + +"Am dat shorely so, Massa Tom?" + +"Of course it is! You get the dictionary and read about the condors of +the Andes Mountains." + +"Dat's what I'll do, Massa Tom. Birds as big as cows what kin pick up a +man in dere beaks, an' carry him off! Oh, my! No, sah, Massa Tom! I +don't want t' go. I'll stay right yeah!" + +Shortly before Tom and Koku departed for the railroad station, where +they were to take a train for New York, Mary Nestor returned home. + +"Tom called you on the telephone to say good-bye," her mother informed +her, "and said he was sorry he could not see you. But he sent some sort +of gift." + +"Oh, how sweet of him!" Mary exclaimed. "Where is it?" + +"On the dining room table. Eradicate brought it with a note." + +Mary read the note first. + +In it Tom begged Mary to accept the little token, and to think of him +when she used it. + +"Oh! I wonder what it can be," she cried in delight. + +"Better open it and see," advised Mr. Nestor, who had come in at that +moment. + +Mary cut the string of the outside paper, and folded back the wrapper. +A wooden box was exposed to view, a solid, oblong, wooden box, and on +the top, in bold, red letters Mary, her father and her mother read: + +DYNAMITE! HANDLE WITH CARE! + + +"Oh! Oh!" murmured Mrs. Nestor. + +"Dynamite! Handle with care!" repeated Mr. Nestor, in a sort of dazed +voice. "Quick! Get a pail of water! Dump it in the bathtub! Soak it +good, and then telephone for the police. Dynamite! What does this mean?" + +He rushed toward the kitchen, evidently with the intention of getting a +pail of water, but Mary clasped him by the arm. + +"Father!" she exclaimed. "Don't get so excited!" + +"Excited!" he cried. "Who's excited? Dynamite! We'll all be blown up! +This is some plot! I don't believe Tom sent this at all! Look out! Call +the police! Excited! Who's getting excited?" + +"You are, Daddy dear!" said Mary calmly. "This is some mistake. Tom did +send this--I know his writing. And wasn't it Eradicate who brought this +package, Mother?" + +"Yes, my dear. But your father is right. Let him put it in water, then +it will be safe. Oh, we'll all be blown up. Get the water!" + +"No!" cried Mary. "There is some mistake. Tom wouldn't send me +dynamite. There must be a present for me in there. Tom must have put +it in the wrong box by mistake. I'm going to open it." + +Mary's calmness had its effect on her parents. Mr. Nestor cooled down, +as did his wife, and a closer examination of the outer box did not seem +to show that it was an infernal machine of any kind. + +"It's all a mistake, Daddy," Mary said. "I'll show you. Get me a screw +driver." + +After some delay one was found, and Mr. Nestor himself opened the box. +When the tissue paper wrappings of the mahogany gift were revealed he +gave a sigh of relief, and when Mary undid the wrappings, and saw what +Tom had sent her, she cried: + +"Oh, how perfectly dear! Just what I wanted! I wonder how he knew? Oh, +I just love it!" and she hugged the beautiful box in her arms. + +"Humph!" exclaimed Mr. Nestor, a slowly gathering light of anger +showing in his eyes. "It is a nice present, but that is a very poor +sort of joke to play, in my estimation." + +"Joke! What joke?" asked Mary. + +"Putting a present in a box labeled Dynamite, and giving us such a +scare," went on her father. + +"Oh, Father, I'm sure he didn't mean to do it!" Mary said, earnestly. + +"Well, maybe he didn't! He may have thought it a joke, and he may not +have! But, at any rate, it was a piece of gross carelessness on his +part, and I don't care to consider for a son-in-law a young man as +careless as that!" + +"Oh, Daddy!" expostulated Mary. + +"Now, now! Tut, tut!" exclaimed Mr. Nestor. "It isn't your fault, Mary, +but this Tom Swift must be taught a lesson. He was careless, if nothing +worse, and, for all he knew, there might have been some stray bits of +dynamite in that packing box. It won't do! It won't do! I'll write him +a letter, and give him a piece of my mind!" + +And in spite of all his wife and his daughter could say, Mr. Nestor did +write Tom a scathing letter. He accused him of either perpetrating a +joke, or of being careless, or both, and he intimated that the less he +saw of Tom at the Nestor home hereafter the better pleased he would be. + +"There! I guess that will make him wish he hadn't done it!" exclaimed +Mr. Nestor, as he called a messenger and sent the letter to Tom's house. + +Mary and her mother did not know the contents of the note, but Mary +tried to get Tom on the wire and explain. However, she was unable to +reach him, as Tom was on the point of leaving. + +The messenger, with Mr. Nestor's letter, arrived just as our hero was +receiving the late afternoon mail from the postman, and just as Tom and +Koku were getting in an automobile to leave for the depot. + +"Good-bye, Dad!" Tom called. "Good-bye, Mrs. Baggert!" He thrust Mr. +Nestor's letter, unopened, together with some other mail matter, which +he took to be merely circulars, into an inner pocket, and jumped into +the car. + +Tom and Koku were off on the first stage of their journey. + + + + +Chapter VII + +Off for Peru + + +"Well, Tom Swift, you're on time I see," was Mr. Job Titus' greeting, +when our hero, and Koku, the giant, alighted from a taxicab in New +York, in front of the hotel the contractor had appointed as a meeting +place. + +"Yes, I'm here." + +"Did you have a good trip?" + +"Oh, all right, yes. Nothing happened to speak of, though we were +delayed by a freight wreck. Has Mr. Damon got here yet?" + +"Not yet, Tom. But I had a message saying he was on his way. Come on up +to the rooms I have engaged. Hello, what's all the crowd here for?" +asked the contractor in some surprise, for a throng had gathered at the +hotel entrance. + +"I expect it's Koku they're staring at," announced Tom, and the giant +it was who had attracted the attention. He was carrying his own big +valise, and a small steamer trunk belonging to Tom, as easily as though +they weighed nothing, the trunk being under one arm. + +"I guess they don't see men of his size outside of circuses," commented +the contractor. "We can pretty nearly, though not quite match him, down +in Peru though, Tom. Some of the Indians are big fellows." + +"We'll get up a wrestling match between one of them and Koku," +suggested Tom. "Come on!" he called to the giant, who was surrounded by +a crowd. + +Koku pushed his way through as easily as a bull might make his way +through a throng of puppies about his heels, and as Tom, Mr. Titus and +the giant were entering the hotel corridor, the chauffeur of the +taxicab called out with a laugh: + +"I say, boss, don't you think you ought to pay double rates on that +chap," and he nodded in the direction of the giant. + +"That's right!" added some one in the crowd with a laugh. "He might +have broken the springs." + +"All right," assented Tom, good-naturedly, tossing the chauffeur a +coin. "Here you are, have a cigar on the giant." + +There was more laughter, and even Koku grinned, though it is doubtful +if he knew what about, for he could not understand much unless Tom +spoke to him in a sort of code they had arranged between them. + +"Sorry to have hastened your departure," began Mr. Titus when he and +Tom sat in the comfortable hotel rooms, while Koku stood at a window, +looking out at what to him were the marvelous wonders of the New York +streets. + +"It didn't make any difference," replied the young inventor. "I was +about ready to come anyhow. I just had to hustle a little," and he +thought of how he had had to send Mary's present to her instead of +taking it himself. As yet he was all unaware of the commotion it had +caused. + +"Did you get the powder shipment off all right?" + +"Yes, and it will be there almost as soon as we. Other shipments will +follow as we need them. My father will see to that." + +"I'm glad you hit on the right kind of powder," went on the contractor. +"I guess I didn't make any mistake in coming to you, Tom." + +"Well, I hope not. Of course the explosive worked all right in +experimental charges with samples of the tunnel rock. It remains to be +seen what it will do under actual conditions, and in big service +charges." + +"Oh, I've no doubt it will work all right." + +"What time do we leave here?" Tom asked. + +"At two-thirty this afternoon. We have just time to get a good dinner +and have our baggage transferred to the Chicago limited. In less than a +week we ought to be in San Francisco and aboard the steamer. I hope Mr. +Damon arrives on time." + +"Oh, you can generally depend on him," said Tom. "I telephoned him, +just before I started from Shopton, and he said--" + +"Bless my carpet slippers!" cried a voice outside the hotel apartment. +"But I can find my way all right. I know the number of the room. No! +you needn't take my bag. I can carry it my self!" + +"There he is!" laughed Tom, opening the door to disclose the eccentric +gentleman himself, struggling to keep possession of his valise against +the importunities of a bellboy. + +"Ah, Tom--Mr. Titus! Glad to see you!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I--I am a +little late, I fear--had an accident--wait until I get my breath," and +he sank, panting, into a chair. + +"Accident?" cried Tom. "Are you--?" + +"Yes--my taxicab ran into another. Nobody hurt though." + +"But you're all out of breath," said Mr. Titus. "Did you run?" + +"No, but I walked upstairs." + +"What! Seven flights?" exclaimed Tom. "Weren't the hotel elevators +running?" + +"Yes, but I don't like them. I'd rather walk. And I did--carried my +valise--bellboy tried to take it away from me every step--here you are, +son--it wasn't the tip I was trying to get out of," and he tossed the +waiting and grinning lad a quarter. + +"There, I'm better now," went on Mr. Damon, when Tom had given him a +glass of water. "Bless my paper weight! The drug concern will have to +vote me an extra dividend for what I've gone through. Well, I'm here, +anyhow. How is everything?" + +"Fine!" cried Tom. "We'll soon be off for Peru!" + +They talked over plans and made sure nothing had been forgotten. Their +railroad tickets had been secured by Mr. Titus so there was nothing +more to do save wait for train-time. + +"I've never been to Peru," Tom remarked shortly before lunch. "What +sort of country is it?" + +"Quite a wonderful country," Mr. Titus answered. "I have been very much +interested in it since my brother and I accepted this tunnel contract. +Peru seems to have taken its name from Peru, a small river on the west +coast of Colombia, where Pizarro landed. The country, geographically, +may be divided into three sections longitudinally. The coast region is +a sandy desert, with here and there rivers flowing through fertile +valleys. The sierra region is the Andes division, about two hundred and +fifty miles in width." + +"Is that where we're going?" asked Tom. + +"Yes. And beyond the Andes (which in Peru consist of great chains of +mountains, some very high, interspersed with table lands, rich plains +and valleys) there is the montana region of tropical forests, running +down to the valley of the Amazon. + +"That sounds interesting," commented Mr. Damon. + +"It is interesting," declared Mr. Titus. "For it is from this tropical +region that your quinine comes, Mr. Damon, though you may not have to +go there to straighten out your affairs. I think you can do better +bargaining with the officials in Lima, or near there." + +"Are there any wild animals in Peru?" Tom inquired. + +"Well, not many. Of course there are the llamas and alpacas, which are +the beasts of burden--almost like little camels you might say, though +much more gentle. Then there is the wild vicuna, the fleece of which is +made into a sort of wool, after which a certain kind of cloth is named. + +"Then there is the taruco, a kind of deer, the viscacha, which is a big +rat, the otoc, a sort of wild dog, or fox, and the ucumari, a black +bear with a white nose. This bear is often found on lofty mountain +tops, but only when driven there in search of food. + +"The condors, of course, are big birds of prey in the Andes. You must +have read about them; how they seem to lie in the upper regions of the +air, motionless, until suddenly they catch sight of some dead animal +far down below when they sweep toward it with the swiftness of the +wink. There is another bird of the vulture variety, with wings of black +and white feathers. The ancient Incas used to decorate their head +dresses with these wing feathers." + +"Well, I'm glad I'm going to Peru," said Tom. "I never knew it was such +an interesting country. But I don't suppose we'll have time to see much +of it." + +"Oh, I think you will," commented Mr. Titus. "We don't always have to +work on the tunnel. There are numerous holidays, or holy-days, which +our Indian workers take off, and we can do nothing without them. I'll +see that you have a chance to do some exploring if you wish." + +"Good!" exclaimed Tom. "I brought my electric rifle with me, and I may +get a chance to pop over one of those bears with a white nose. Are they +good to eat?" + +"The Indians eat them, I believe, when they can get them, but I +wouldn't fancy the meat," said the contractor. + +Luncheon over, the three travelers departed with their baggage for the +Chicago Limited, which left from the Pennsylvania Station at +Twenty-third Street. As usual, Koku attracted much attention because of +his size. + +The trip to San Francisco was without incident worth narrating and in +due time our friends reached the Golden Gate where they were to go +aboard their steamer. They had to wait a day, during which time Tom and +Mr. Titus made inquiries regarding the first powder shipment. They had +had unexpected good luck, for the explosive, having been sent on ahead +by fast freight, was awaiting them. + +"So we can take it with us on the Bellaconda," said, Tom, naming the +vessel on which they were to sail. + +The powder was safely stowed away, and our friends having brought their +baggage aboard, putting what was wanted on the voyage in their +staterooms, went out on deck to watch the lines being cast off. + +A bell clanged and an officer cried: + +"All ashore that's going ashore!" + +There were hasty good-byes, a scramble on the part of those who had +come to bid friends farewell, and preparations were made to haul in the +gangplank. + +Just as the tugs were slowly pushing against the Bellaconda to get her +in motion to move her away from the wharf, there was a shout down the +pier and a taxicab, driven at reckless speed, dashed up. + +"Wait a minute! Hold that gangway. I have a passenger for you!" cried +the chauffeur. + +He pulled up with a screeching of brakes, and a man with a heavy black +beard fairly leaped from the vehicle, running toward the plank which +was all but cast off. + +"My fare! My fare!" yelled the taxicab driver. + +"Take it out of that! Keep the change!" cried the bearded man over his +shoulder, tossing a crumpled bill to the chauffeur. And then, clutching +his valise in a firm hand, the belated passenger rushed up the +gangplank just in time to board the steamer which was moving away from +the dock. + +"Close shave--that," observed Tom. + +"That's right," assented Mr. Titus. + +"Well, we're off for Peru!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as the vessel moved +down the bay. + + + + +Chapter VIII + +The Bearded Man + + +Travel to Tom and Mr. Damon presented no novelties. They had been on +too many voyages over the sea, under the sea and even in the air above +the sea to find anything unusual in merely taking a trip on a steamer. + +Mr. Titus, though he admitted he had never been in a submarine or +airship, had done considerable traveling about the world in his time, +and had visited many countries, either for business or pleasure, so he +was an old hand at it. + +But to Koku, who, since he had been brought from the land where Tom +Swift had been made captive, had gone about but little, everything was +novel, and he did not know at what to look first. + +The giant was interested in the ship, in the water, in the passengers, +in the crew and in the sights to be seen as they progressed down the +harbor. + +And the big man himself was a source of wonder to all save his own +party. Everywhere he went about the decks, or below, he was followed by +a staring but respectful crowd. Koku took it all good-naturedly, +however, and even consented to show his great strength by lifting heavy +weights. Once when several sailors were shifting one of the smaller +anchors (a sufficiently heavy one for all that) Koku pushed them aside +with a sweep of his big arm, and, picking up the big "hook," turned to +the second mate and asked: + +"Where you want him?" + +"Good land, man!" cried the astonished officer. "You'll kill yourself!" + +But Koku carried the anchor where it ought to go, and from then on he +was looked up to with awe and admiration by the sailors. + +From San Francisco to Callao, Peru (the latter city being the seaport +of Lima, which is situated inland), is approximately nine hundred +miles. But as the Bellaconda was a coasting steamer, and would make +several stops on her trip, it would be more than a week before our +friends would land at Callao, then to proceed to Lima, where they +expected to remain a day or so before striking into the interior to +where the tunnel was being bored through the mountain. + +The first day was spent in getting settled, becoming used to their new +surroundings, finding their places and neighbors at table, and in +making acquaintances. There were some interesting men and women aboard +the Bellaconda, and Tom Swift, Mr. Damon and Mr. Titus soon made +friends with them. This usually came about through the medium of Koku, +the giant. Persons seeing him would inquire about him, and when they +learned he was Tom Swift's helper it was an easy topic with which to +open conversation. + +Tom told, modestly enough, how he had come to get Koku in his escape +from captivity, but Mr. Damon was not so simple in describing Tom's +feats, so that before many days had passed our hero found himself +regarded as a personage of considerable importance, which was not at +all to his liking. + +"But bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon, when Tom objected to so +much notoriety. "You did it all; didn't you?" + +"Yes, I know. But these people won't believe it." + +"Oh, yes they will!" said the odd man. "I'll take good care that they +believe it." + +"If any one say it not so, you tell me!" broke Koku, shaking his huge +fist. + +"No, I guess I'd better keep still," said Tom, with a laugh. + +The weather was pleasant, if we except a shower or two, and as the +vessel proceeded south, tropical clothing became the order of the day, +while all who could, spent most of their time on deck under the shade +of awnings. + +"Did you ever hear anything more of that fellow, Waddington?" asked Tom +of Mr. Titus one day. + +"Not a thing. He seems to have dropped out of sight." + +"And are your rivals, Blakeson & Grinder, making any trouble?" + +"Not that I've heard of. Though just what the situation may be down in +Peru I don't know. I fancy everything isn't going just right or my +brother would not be so anxious for me to come on in such a hurry." + +"Do you anticipate any real trouble?" + +Mr. Titus paused a moment before answering. + +"Well, yes," he said, finally, "I do!" + +"What sort?" asked Tom. + +"That I can't say. I'll be perfectly frank with you, Tom. You know I +told you at the time that we were in for difficulties. I didn't want +you to go into this thing blindly." + +"Oh, I'm not afraid of trouble," Tom hastened to assure his friend. +"I've had more or less of it in my life, and I'm willing to meet it +again. Only I like to know what kind it is." + +"Well, I can't tell you--exactly," went on the tunnel contractor. +"Those rivals of ours, Blakeson & Grinder, are unscrupulous fellows. +They feel very bitter about not getting the contract, I hear. And they +would be only too glad to have us fail in the work. That would mean +that they, as the next lowest bidders, would be given the job. And we +would have to make up the difference out of our pockets, as well as +lose all the work we have, so far, put on the tunnel." + +"And you don't want that to happen!" + +"I guess not, my boy! Well, it won't happen if we get there in time +with this new explosive of yours. That will do the business I'm sure." + +"I hope so," murmured Tom. "Well, we'll soon see. And now I think I'll +go and write a few letters. We are going to put in at Panama, and I can +mail them there." + +Tom started for his stateroom, and rapidly put his hand in the inner +pocket of his coat. He drew out a bundle of letters and papers, and, as +he looked at them, a cry of astonishment came from his lips. + +"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Titus. + +"Matter!" cried Tom. "Why here's a letter from Mary--from Mr. Nestor," +he went on, as he scanned the familiar handwriting. "I never opened it! +Let's see--when did I get that?" + +His memory went back to the day of his departure from Shopton when he +had sent Mary the gift, and he recalled that the letter had arrived +just as he was getting into the automobile. + +"I stuck it in my pocket with some other mail," he mused, "and I never +thought of it again until just now. But this is the first time I've +worn this coat since that day. A letter from Mr. Nestor! Probably Mary +wrote, thanking me for the box, and her father addressed the envelope +for her. Well, let's see what it says." + +Tom retired to the privacy of his stateroom to read the note, but he +had not glanced over more than the first half of it before he cried out: + +"Dynamite! Great Scott! What does this mean? 'Gross carelessness! Poor +idea of a joke! No person with your idea of responsibility will ever be +my son-in-law!' Box labeled 'open with care!' Why--why--what does it +all mean?" + +Tom read the letter over again, and his murmurs of astonishment were so +loud that Mr. Damon, in the next room, called out: + +"What's the matter, Tom? Get bad news?" + +"Bad news? I should say so! Mary--her father--he forbids me to see her +again. Says I tried to dynamite them all--or at least scare them into +believing I was going to. I can't understand it!" + +"Tell me about it, Tom," suggested Mr. Damon, coming into Tom's +stateroom. "Bless my gunpowder keg! what does it mean?" + +Thereupon Tom told of having purchased the gift for Mary, and of +having, at the last minute, told Eradicate to put it in a box and +deliver it at the Nestor home. + +"Which he evidently did," Tom went on, "but when it got there Mary's +present was in a box labeled 'Dynamite. Handle with care.' I never sent +that." + +Mr. Damon read over Mr. Nestor's letter which had lain so long in Tom's +pocket unopened. + +"I think I see how it happened," said the old man. "Eradicate can't +read; can he, Tom?" + +"No, but he pretends he can." + +"And did you have any empty boxes marked dynamite in your laboratory?" + +"Why yes, I believe I did. I used dynamite as one of the ingredients of +my new explosive." + +"Well then, it's as clear as daylight. Eradicate, being unable to read, +took one of the empty dynamite boxes in which to pack Mary's present. +That's how it happened." + +Tom thought for a moment. Then he burst into a laugh. + +"That's it," he said, a bit ruefully. "That's the explanation. No +wonder Mr. Nestor was roiled. He thought I was playing a joke. I'll +have to explain. But how?" + +"By letter," said Mr. Damon. + +"Too slow. I'll send a wireless," decided Tom, and he began the +composition of a message that cost him considerable in tolls before he +had hit on the explanation that suited him. + +"That ought to clear the atmosphere," he said when the wireless had +shot his message into the ether. "Whew! And to think, all this while, +Mary and her folks have believed that I tried to play a miserable joke +on them! My! My! I wonder if they'll ever forgive me. When I get hold +of Eradicate--" + +"Better teach him to read if he's going to do up love packages," +interrupted Mr. Damon, dryly. + +"I will," decided the young inventor. + +The Bellaconda stopped at Panama and then kept on her way south. Soon +after that she ran into a severe tropical storm, and for a time there +was some excitement among the passengers. The more timid of them put on +life preservers, though the captain and his officers assured them there +was no danger. + +Tom and Mr. Titus, descending from the deck, whence they had been +warned by one of the mates, were on their way to their stateroom, +walking with some difficulty owing to the roll of the ship. + +As they approached their quarters the door of a stateroom farther up +the passage opened, and a head was thrust out. + +"Will you send a steward to me?" a man requested. "I am feeling very +ill, and need assistance." + +"Certainly," Tom answered, and at that moment he heard Mr. Titus utter +an exclamation. + +"What is it?" asked Tom, for the man who had appealed for help, had +withdrawn his head. + +"That--that man!" exclaimed the contractor. "That was Waddington, the +tool of our rivals." + +"Waddington!" repeated Tom, with a look at the now closed door. "Why, +the bearded man has that stateroom--the bearded man who so nearly lost +the steamer. He isn't Waddington!" + +"And I tell you Waddington is in that room!" insisted the contractor. +"I only saw the upper part of his face, but I'd know his eyes anywhere. +Waddington is spying on us!" + + + + +Chapter IX + +The Bomb + + +Tom Swift and Mr. Titus withdrew a little way down the corridor, around +a bulkhead and out of sight of any one who might look out from the +stateroom whence had come the appeal for help. But, at the same time, +they could keep watch over it. + +"I tell you Waddington is in there!" insisted Mr. Titus, hoarsely +whispering. + +"Well, perhaps he may be," admitted Tom. "But several times I have seen +the bearded man going in there, and it's only a single stateroom, for +it's so marked on the deck plan." + +"Waddington might be disguised with a false beard, Tom." + +"Yes, he might. But did the man who just now looked out have a beard?" + +"I couldn't tell, as I saw only the upper part of his face. But those +were Waddington's shifty eyes, I'm positive." + +"If Waddington were on board don't you suppose you would have seen him +before this?" + +"Not positively, no. If he and the bearded man are one and the same +that would account for it. But I haven't noticed the bearded man once +since he came aboard in such a hurry." + +"Nor have I, now that I come to think of it," Tom admitted. "However, +there is an easy way to prove who is in there." + +"How?" + +"We'll knock on the door and go in." + +"Perhaps he won't let us." + +"He'll think it's the steward he called for. Come, you know Waddington +better than I do. You knock and go in." + +"I don't know Waddington very well," admitted the contractor. "I have +only seen him a few times, but I am sure that was he. But what shall I +do when he sees I'm not the steward?" + +"Tell him you have sent for one. I'll go with the message, so it will +be true enough. Even if you have only a momentary glance at him in +close quarters you ought to be able to tell whether or not he has on a +false beard, and whether or not it is Waddington." + +Mr. Titus considered for a moment, and then he said: + +"Yes, I guess that is a good plan. You go for the steward, Tom, and +I'll see if I can get in that stateroom. But I'm sure I'm not mistaken. +I'll find Waddington in there, perhaps in the person of the bearded +man, disguised. Or else they are using a single stateroom as a double +one." And while Tom went off down the pitching and rolling corridor to +find a steward, Mr. Titus, not without some apprehension, advanced to +knock on the door of the suspect. + +"If it is Waddington he'll know me at once, of course," thought the +contractor, "and there may be a row. Well, I can't help it. The success +of my brother and myself depends on finishing that tunnel, and we can't +have Waddington, and those whose tool he is, interfering. Here goes!" + +He tapped on the door, and a faint voice called: + +"Come in!" + +The contractor entered, and saw the bearded man lying in his berth. + +"Is there anything I can do for you?" asked the contractor, bending +close over the man. He wanted to see if the beard were false. Somewhat +to his surprise the contractor saw that undoubtedly it was real. + +"Steward, will you kindly get me--Oh, you're not the steward!" the +bearded man exclaimed. + +"No, my friend and I heard you call," replied the contractor. "He has +gone for the steward, who will be here soon. Can I do anything for you +in the meanwhile?" + +"No--not a thing!" was the rather snappish answer, and the man turned +his face away. "I beg your pardon," he went on, as if conscious that he +had acted rudely, "but I am suffering very much. The steward knows just +what I want. I have had these attacks before. I am a poor sailor. If +you will send the steward to me I will be obliged to you. He can fix me +up." + +"Very well," assented Mr. Titus. "But if there is anything I can do--" + +At that moment footsteps and voices were heard in the corridor, and as +the door of the bearded man's stateroom was opened, Mr. Titus had a +glimpse of Tom and one of the stewards. + +"Yes, I'll look after him," the steward said "He's been this way +before. Thank you, sir, for calling me." + +"I guess the steward has been well tipped," thought Tom. As Mr. Titus +came out and the door was shut, the young inventor asked in a whisper, + +"Well, was it he?" + +The contractor shook his head. + +"No," he answered. "I never was more surprised in my life. I felt sure +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 +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 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!" + + + + +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 to gasp out: + +"You--you saved our lives!" + +The little man who had stepped on the fuse, and had then torn it from +the bomb, looked at the object in his hand as though it were the most +natural thing in the world to pick explosives up off the deck of +passenger steamers, as he remarked: + +"Well, perhaps I did. Yes, I think it would have gone off in another +second or two. Rather curious; isn't it?" + +"Curious? Curious!" asked and exclaimed Mr. Titus. + +"Why, yes," went on the little man, in the most matter of fact tone. +"You see, most explosive bombs are round, made that way so the force +will be equal in all directions. But this one, you notice, has a bulge, +or protuberance, on one side, so to speak. Very curious! + +"It might have been made that way to prevent its rolling overboard, or +the bomb's walls might be weaker near that bulge to make sure that the +force of the explosion would be in that direction. And the bulge was +pointed toward you gentlemen, if you noticed." + +"I should say I did!" cried Mr. Titus. "My dear sir, you have put us +under a heavy debt to you! You saved our lives! I--I am in no frame of +mind to thank you now, but--" + +He strode over to the little man, holding out his hand. + +"No, no, I'd better keep it," went on the person who had rendered the +bomb ineffective. "You might drop it you know. You are nervous--your +hand shakes." + +"I want to shake hands with you!" exclaimed Mr. Titus--"to thank you!" + +"Oh, that's it. I thought you wanted the bomb. Shake hands? Certainly!" + +And while this ceremony was being gone through with, Tom had a moment +to study the appearance of the man who had saved their lives. He had +seen the passenger once or twice before, but had taken no special +notice of him. Now he had good reason to observe him. + +Tom beheld a little, thin man, little in the sense of being of the +"bean pole" construction. His head was as bald as a billiard ball, as +the young inventor could notice when the stranger took off his hat to +bow formally in response to the greeting of some ladies who passed, +while Mr. Titus was shaking hands with him. + +The bald head was sunk down between two high shoulders, and when the +owner wished to observe anything closely, as he was now observing the +bomb, the head was thrust forward somewhat as an eagle might do. And +Tom noticed that the eyes of the little man were as bright as those of +an eagle. Nothing seemed to escape them. + +"I want to add my thanks to those of Mr. Titus for saving our lives," +said Tom, as he advanced. "We don't know what to make of it all, but +you certainly stopped that bomb from going off." + +"Yes, perhaps I did," admitted the little man coolly and calmly, as +though preventing bomb explosions was his daily exercise before +breakfast. + +Tom and Mr. Titus introduced themselves by name. + +"I am Professor Swyington Bumper," said the bomb-holder, with a bow, +removing his hat, and again disclosing his shiny bald head. "I am very +glad to have met you indeed." + +"And we are more than glad," said Tom, fervently, as he glanced at the +explosive. + +"Now that the danger is over," went on Mr. Titus, "suppose we make an +investigation, and find out how this bomb came to be here." + +"Just what I was about to suggest," remarked Professor Bumper. "Bombs, +such as this, do not sprout of themselves on bare decks. And I take it +this one is explosive." + +"Let me look at it," suggested Tom. "I know something of explosives." + +It needed but a casual examination on the part of one who had done +considerable experimenting with explosives to disclose the fact that it +had every characteristic of a dangerous bomb. Only the pulling out of +the fuse had rendered it harmless. + +"If it had gone off," said Tom, "we would both have been killed, or, at +least, badly injured, Mr. Titus." + +"I believe you, Tom. And we owe our lives to Professor Bumper." + +"I'm glad I could be of service, gentlemen," the scientist remarked, in +an easy tone. "Explosives are out of my line, but I guessed it was +rather dangerous to let this go off. Have you any idea how it got +here?" + +"Not in the least," said Tom. "But some one must have placed it here, +or dropped it behind us." + +"Would any one have an object in doing such a thing?" the professor +asked. + +Tom and Mr. Titus looked at one another. + +"Waddington!" murmured the contractor. "If he were on board I should +say he might have done it to get us out of the way, though I would not +go so far as to say he meant to kill us. It may be this bomb has only a +light charge in it, and he only meant to cripple us." + +"We'll find out about that," said Tom. "I'll open it." + +"Better be careful," urged Mr. Titus. + +"I will," the young inventor promised. "I beg your pardon," he went on +to Professor Bumper. "We have been talking about something of which you +know nothing. Briefly, there is a certain man who is trying to +interfere in some work in which Mr. Titus and I are interested, and we +think, if he were on board, he might have placed this bomb where it +would injure us." + +"Is he here?" asked the professor. + +"No. And that is what makes it all the more strange," said Mr. Titus. +"At one time I thought he was here, but I was mistaken." + +Tom took the now harmless bomb to his stateroom, and there, after +taking the infernal machine apart, he discovered that it was not as +dangerous as he had at first believed. + +The bomb contained no missiles, and though it held a quantity of +explosive, it was of a slow burning kind. Had it gone off it would have +sent out a sheet of flame that would have severely burned him and Mr. +Titus, but unless complications had set in death would not have +resulted. + +"They just wanted to disable us," said the contractor. "That was their +game. Tom, who did it?" + +"I don't know. Did you ever see this Professor Bumper before?" + +"I never did." + +"And did it strike you as curious that he should happen to be so near +at hand when the bomb fell behind us?" + +"I hadn't thought of that," admitted the contractor. "Do you mean that +he might have dropped it himself?" + +"Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that," replied Tom, slowly. "But +I think it would be a good idea to find out all we can of Professor +Swyington Bumper." + +"I agree with you, Tom. We'll investigate him." + + + + +Chapter XI + +In the Andes + + +Professor Swyington Bumper seemed to live in a region all by himself. +Though he was on board the Bellaconda, he might just as well have been +in an airship, or riding along on the back of a donkey, as far as his +knowledge, or recognition, of his surroundings went. He seemed to be +thinking thoughts far, far away, and he was never without a +book--either a bound volume or a note-book. In the former he buried his +hawk-like nose, and Tom, looking over his shoulder once, saw that the +book was printed in curious characters, which, later, he learned were +Sanskrit. If he had a note-book the bald-headed professor was +continually jotting down memoranda in it. + +"I can hardly think of him as a conspirator against us," said Tom to +Mr. Titus. + +"After you have been in the contracting business as long as I have +you'll distrust every one," was the answer. "Waddington isn't on +board, or I'd distrust him. That Spaniard, Senor Pinto, seems to be out +of consideration, and there only remains the professor. We must watch +him." + +But Professor Bumper proved to be above suspicion. Carefully guarded +inquiries made of the captain, the purser and other ships' officers, +brought out the fact that he was well known to all of them, having +traveled on the line before. + +"He is making a search for something, but he won't say what it is," the +captain said. "At first we thought it was gold or jewels, for he goes +away off into the Andes Mountains, where both gold and jewels have been +found. He never looks for treasure, though, for though some of his +party have made rather rich discoveries, he takes no interest in them." + +"What is he after then?" asked Mr. Titus. + +"No one knows, and he won't tell. But whatever it is he has never found +it yet. Always, when he comes back, unsuccessful, from a trip to the +interior and goes back North with us, he will remark that he has not +the right directions. That he must seek again. + +"Back he comes next season, as full of hope as before, but only to be +disappointed. Each time he goes to a new place in the mountains where +he digs and delves, so members of the parties he hires tell me, but +with no success. He carries with him something in a small iron box, +and, whatever this is, he consults it from time to time. It may be +directions for finding whatever he is after. But there seems to be +something wrong." + +"This is quite a mystery," remarked Tom. + +"It certainly is. But Professor Bumper is a fine man. I have known him +for years." + +"This seems to dispose of the theory that he planted the bomb, and that +he is one of the plotters in the pay of Blakeson & Grinder," said Mr. +Titus, when he and Tom were alone. + +"Yes, I guess it does. But who can have done it?" + +That was a question neither could answer. + +Tom had a theory, which he did not disclose to Mr. Titus, that, after +all, the somewhat mysterious Senor Pinto might, in some way, be mixed +up in the bomb attempt. But a close questioning of the steward on duty +near the foreigner's cabin at the time disclosed the fact that Pinto +had been ill in his berth all that day. + +"Well, unless the bomb fell from some passing airship, I don't see how +it got on deck," said Tom with a shake of his head. "And I'm sure no +airship passed over us." + +They had kept the matter secret, not telling even Mr. Damon, for they +feared the eccentric man would make a fuss and alarm the whole vessel. +So Mr. Damon, occasionally blessing his necktie or his shoe laces, +played chess with his elderly gentleman friend and was perfectly happy. + +That Professor Bumper not only had kept his promise about not +mentioning the bomb, but that he had forgotten all about it, was +evident a day or two after the happening. Tom and Mr. Titus passed him +on deck, and bowed cordially. The professor returned the salutation, +but looked at the two in a puzzled sort of fashion. + +"I beg your pardon," he remarked, "but your faces are familiar, though +I cannot recall your names. Haven't I seen you before?" + +"You have," said Tom, with a smile. "You saved our lives from a bomb +the other day." + +"Oh, yes! So I did! So I did!" exclaimed Professor Bumper. "I felt +sure I had seen you before. Are you all right?" + +"Yes. There haven't been any more bombs thrown at us," the contractor +said. "By the way, Professor Bumper, I understand you are quite a +traveler in the Andes, in the vicinity of Lima." + +"Yes, I have been there," admitted the bald-headed scientist in guarded +tones. + +"Well, I am digging a tunnel in that vicinity," went on Mr. Titus, "and +if you ever get near Rimac, where the first cutting is made, I wish you +would come and see me--Tom too, as he is associated with me." + +"Rimac-Rimac," murmured the professor, looking sharply at the +contractor. "Digging a tunnel there? Why are you doing that?" and he +seemed to resent the idea. + +"Why, the Peruvian government engaged me to do it to connect the two +railroad lines," was the answer. "Do you know anything about the place?" + +"Not so much as I hope to later on," was the unexpected answer. "As it +happens I am going to Rimac, and I may visit your tunnel." + +"I wish you would," returned Mr. Titus. + +Later on, in their stateroom, the contractor remarked to the young +inventor: + +"Sort of queer; isn't it?" + +"What?" asked Tom. "His not remembering us?" + +"No, though that was odd. But I suppose he is forgetful, or pretends to +be. I mean it's queer he is going to Rimac." + +"What do you mean?" asked Tom. + +"Well, I don't know exactly what I mean," went on the tunnel +contractor, "but our tunnel happens to start at Rimac, which is a small +town at the base of the mountains." + +"Maybe the professor is a geologist," suggested Tom, "and he may want +to get some samples of that hard rock." + +"Maybe," admitted Mr. Titus. "But I shall keep my eyes on him all the +same. I'm not going to have any strangers, who happen to be around when +bombs drop near us, get into my tunnel." + +"I think you're wrong to doubt Professor Bumper," Tom said. + +A few days after this, when Tom and Mr. Titus were casually discussing +the weather on deck and wondering how much longer it would be before +they reached Callao, Mr. Damon, who had been playing numberless games +of chess, came up for a breath of air. + +"Mr. Damon," called Tom, "come over here and meet a friend of ours, +Professor Bumper," and he was about to introduce them, for the two, as +far as Tom knew, had not yet met. But no sooner had the professor and +Mr. Damon caught sight of each other than there was a look of mutual +recognition. + +"Bless my fountain pen!" cried the eccentric man. "If it isn't my old +friend!" + +"Mr. Damon!" cried the professor. "I am delighted to see you again. I +did not know you were on board!" + +"Nor I you. Bless my apple dumpling! Are you still after those Peruvian +antiquities?" + +"I am, Mr. Damon. But I did not know you were acquainted with Mr. +Swift." + +"Oh, Tom and I are old friends." + +"Professor Bumper saved the lives of Mr. Titus and myself," said Tom, +"or at least he saved us from severe injury by a bomb." + +"Pray do not mention it, my friends," put in the professor, casually. +"It was nothing." + +Of course he did not mean it just that way. + +Then, naturally, Mr. Damon had to be told all about the bomb for the +first time, and his wonder was great. He blessed everything he could +think of. + +"And to think it should be my old friend, Professor Bumper, who saved +you," said the odd man to Tom and Mr. Titus later that day. + +"Do you know him well?" asked Mr. Titus. + +"Very well indeed. Our drug concern sells him many chemicals for his +experiments." + +"Well, if you know him I guess he can't be what I thought he was," the +contractor went on. "I'm glad to know it. Why is he going to the Andes?" + +"Oh, for many years he has been interested in collecting Peruvian +antiquities. He has a certain theory in regard to something or other +about their ancient civilization, but just what it is I have, at this +moment, forgotten. Only I know you can thoroughly trust Professor +Bumper, for a finer man never lived, though he is a bit absent-minded +at times. But you will like him very much." + +Thus the last lingering doubt of Professor Bumper was removed. Mr. +Damon told something of how the scientist had been honored by degrees +from many colleges and was regarded as an authority on Peruvian matters. + +But who had placed the bomb on deck remained a mystery. + +In due time Callao, the seaport of Lima, was reached and our friends +disembarked. Tom saw to the unloading of the explosive, which was to be +sent direct to the tunnel at Rimac. Mr. Titus, Tom and Mr. Damon would +remain in Lima a day or so. + +Professor Bumper disembarked with our friends, and stopped at the same +hotel. Tom kept a lookout for Senor Pinto, but did not see him, and +concluded that the Spaniard was ill, and would be carried ashore on a +stretcher, perhaps. + +Lima, the principal city and capital of Peru, proved an interesting +place. It was about eight miles inland and was built on an arid plain +about five hundred feet above sea level. Yet, though it was on what +might be termed a desert, the place, by means of irrigation, had been +made into a beauty spot. + +Tom found the older part of the city was laid out with mathematical +regularity, each street crossing the other at right angles. But in the +new portions there was not this adherence to straightness. + +"Bless my transfer! Why, they have electric cars here!" exclaimed Mr. +Damon, catching sight of one on the line between Callao and the capital. + +"What did you think they'd have?" asked Mr. Titus, "elephants or +camels?" + +"I--I didn't just know," was the answer. + +"Oh, you'll find a deal of civilization here," the contractor said. "Of +course much of the population is negro or Indian, but they are often +rich and able to buy what they want. There is a population of over +150,000, and there are two steam railroads between Callao and Lima, +while there is one running into the interior for 130 miles, crossing +the Andes at an elevation of over three miles. It is a branch of that +road, together with a branch of the one running to Ancon, that I am to +connect with a tunnel." + +Tom found some beautiful churches and cathedrals in Lima, and spent +some time visiting them. He and Mr. Damon also visited, in the +outskirts, the tobacco, cocoa and other factories. + +Three days after reaching the capital, Mr. Titus having attended to +some necessary business while Mr. Damon set on foot matters connected +with his affairs, it was decided to strike inland to Rimac, and to try +the effect of Tom Swift's explosive on the tunnel. + +The journey was to be made in part by rail, though the last stages of +it were over a rough mountain trail, with llamas for beasts of burden, +while our friends rode mules. + +As Tom, Mr. Damon, Koku, and Mr. Titus were going to the railroad +station they saw Professor Bumper also leaving the hotel. + +"I believe our roads lie together for a time," said the bald-headed +scientist, "and, if you have no objections, I will accompany you." + +"Come, and welcome!" exclaimed Mr. Titus, all his suspicions now gone. + +"And it may be that you will be able to help me," the scientist went on. + +"Help you--how?" asked Tom. + +"I will tell you when we reach the Andes," was the mysterious answer. + +It was a day later when they left the train at a small station, and +struck off into the foothills of the great Andes Mountains, where the +tunnel was started, that the professor again mentioned his object. + +"Friends," he said, as he gazed up at the towering cliffs and crags, "I +am searching for the lost city of Pelone, located somewhere in these +mountains. Will you help me to find it?" + + + + +Chapter XII + +The Tunnel + + +Mr. Damon, of the three who heard Professor Bumper make this statement, +showed the least sign of astonishment. It would have been more correct +to say that he showed none at all. But Tom could not restrain himself. + +"The lost city of Pelone!" he exclaimed. + +"Is it here--in these mountains?" asked Mr. Titus. + +"I have reason to hope that it is," went on the professor. "The golden +tablets are very vague, but I have tried many locations, and now I am +about to try here. I hope I shall succeed. At any rate, I shall have +agreeable company, which has not always been my luck on my previous +expeditions seeking to find the lost city." + +"Oh, Professor, are you still on that quest?" asked Mr. Damon, in a +matter-of-fact tone. + +"Yes, Mr. Damon, I am. And now that I look about me, and see the shape +of these mountains, I feel that they conform more to the description on +the golden plates than any location I have yet tried. Somehow I feel +that I shall be successful here." + +"Did you know Professor Bumper was searching for a lost city of the +Andes?" asked Tom, of his eccentric friend. + +"Why yes," answered Mr. Damon. "He has been searching for years to +locate it." + +"Why didn't you tell us?" inquired Mr. Titus. + +"Why, I never thought of it. Bless my memorandum book! it never +occurred to me. I did not think you would be interested. Tell them +your story, Professor Bumper." + +"I will soon. Just now I must see to my equipment. The story will keep." + +And though Tom and Mr. Titus were both anxious to hear about the lost +city, they, too, had much to do to get ready for the trip into the +interior. + +The beginning of the tunnel under one of the smaller of the ranges of +the Andes lay two days journey from the end of the railroad line. And +the trip must be made on mules, with llamas as beasts of burden, +transporting the powder and other supplies. + +"We'll only need to take enough food with us for the two days," said +Mr. Titus. "We have a regular camp at the tunnel mouth, and my brother +has supplies of grub and other things constantly coming in. We also +have shacks to live in; but on this trip we will use tents, as the +weather at this season is fine." + +It was quite a little expedition that set off up the mountain trail +that afternoon, for they had arrived at the end of the railroad line +shortly before dinner, and had eaten at a rather poor restaurant. + +Professor Bumper had made up his own exploring party, consisting of +himself and three native Indian diggers with their picks and shovels. +They were to do whatever excavating he decided was necessary to locate +the hidden city. + +Several mules and llamas, laden with the new explosive, and burdened +with camp equipment and food, and a few Indian servants made up the +cavalcade of Tom, the contractor, Mr. Damon and Koku. The giant was +almost as much a source of wonder to the Peruvians as he had been on +board the ship. And he was a great help, too. For some of the Indians +were under-sized, and could not lift the heavy boxes and packages to +the backs of the beasts of burden. + +But Koku, thrusting the little men aside, grasped with one hand what +two of them had tried in vain to lift, and set it on the back of mule +or llama. + +The way was rough but they took their time to it, for the trail was an +ascending one. Above and beyond them towered the great Andes, and Tom, +gazing up into the sky, which in places seemed almost pierced by the +snow-covered peaks, saw some small black specks moving about. + +"Condors," said Mr. Titus, when his attention was called to them. "Some +of them are powerful birds, and they sometimes pick up a sheep and make +off with it, though usually their food consists of carrion." + +They went into camp before the sun went down, for it grew dark soon +after sunset, and they wanted to be prepared. Supper was made ready by +the Indian helpers, and when this was over, and they sat about a camp +fire, Tom said: + +"Now, Professor Bumper, perhaps you'll explain about the lost city." + +"I wish I could explain about it," began the scientist. "For years I +have dreamed of finding it, but always I have been disappointed. Now, +perhaps, my luck may change." + +"Do you think it may be near here?" asked Mr. Titus, motioning toward +the dark and frowning peaks all about them. + +"It may be. The signs are most encouraging. In brief, the story of the +lost city of Pelone is this. Thousands of years ago--in fact I do not +know how many--there existed somewhere in Peru an ancient city that was +the centre of civilization for this region. Older it was than the +civilization of the Mexicans--the Montezumas--older and more cultured. + +"It is many years since I became interested in Peruvian antiquities, +and then I had no idea of the lost city. But some of the antiques I +picked up contained in their inscriptions references to Pelone. At +first I conceived this to be a sort of god, a deity, or perhaps a +powerful ruler. But as I went on in my work of gathering ancient +things from Peru, I saw that the name Pelone referred to a city--a seat +of government, whence everything had its origin. + +"Then I got on the track more closely. I examined ancient documents. I +found traces of an ancient language and writings, different from +anything else in the world. I managed to construct an alphabet and to +read some of the documents. From them I learned that Pelone was a city +situated in some fertile valley of the Andes. It had existed for +thousands of years; it was the seat of learning and culture. Much light +would be thrown on the lives of the people who lived in Peru before the +present races inhabited it, if I could but locate Pelone. + +"Then I came across two golden tablets on which were graven the +information that Pelone had utterly vanished." + +"How?" asked Tom. + +"The golden tablets did not say. They simply stated the fact that +Pelone was lost, and one sentence read: 'He who shall find it again +shall be richly rewarded.' But it is not for that that I seek. It is +that I may give to the world the treasures it must contain--the +treasures of an ancient civilization." + +"And how do you think the city disappeared?" asked Mr. Titus. + +"I do not know. Whether it was destroyed by enemies, whether it was +buried under the ashes of a volcano, whether it still exists, deserted +and solitary in some valley amid the mountain fastnesses of the Andes, +I do not know. But I am certain the city once existed, and it may exist +yet, though it may be in dust-covered ruins. That is what I seek to +find. See! Here are the tablets telling about it. I got them from an +old Peruvian grave." + +He took from a box two thin sheets of yellow metal. They were covered +with curious marks, but Tom and the others could make nothing of them. +Only Professor Bumper was able to decipher them. + +"And that is the story of the lost city of Pelone--as much as I know," +he said. "For years I have sought it. If I can find it I shall be +famous, for I shall have added to human knowledge." + +"If the people of that city wrote on golden tablets, the yellow metal +must have been plentiful," commented Mr. Titus. "You might strike a +rich mine." + +"I have no use for riches," said the professor. + +"Well, I have," the contractor said, with a laugh. "That's why I'm +putting through this tunnel. And if my brother and I don't do it we'll +be in a bad way financially. We have struck traces of gold, but not in +paying quantities. I should like to see this lost city of yours, +Professor Bumper. It may contain gold." + +"You may have all the gold, if I am allowed to keep the antiquities we +find," stipulated the scientist. "Then you will help me in my search?" + +"As much as we can spare time for from the tunnel work," promised Mr. +Titus. "I'll instruct my men to keep their eyes open for any sign of +ancient writings on the rocks we blast out." + +"Thank you," said the professor. + +The night passed uneventfully enough, if one excepts the mosquitoes +which seemed to get through the nets, making life miserable for all. +And once Tom thought he heard gruntings in the bush back of the tent, +which noises might, he imagined, have been caused by a bear. Toward +morning he heard an unearthly screech in the woods, and one of the +Indians, tending the fire, grunted out a word which meant pumas. + +"I can see it isn't going to be dull here," Tom mused, as he turned +over and tried to sleep. + +Breakfast made them all feel better, and they set off on the final +stage of their journey. + +"If all goes well we'll be at the tunnel entrance and camp to-night," +said the contractor. "This second half of the trip is the roughest." + +There was no need of saying that, for it was perfectly evident. The +trail was a most precarious one, and only a mule or llama could have +traveled it. The mules were most sure-footed, but, as it was, one +slipped, and came near falling over a cliff. + +But no real accident occurred, and finally, about an hour before +sunset, the cavalcade turned down the slope and emerged on a level +plain, which ended against the face of a great cliff. + +As Tom rode nearer the cliff he could make out around it groups of rude +buildings, covered with corrugated iron. There was quite a settlement +it seemed. + +Then, in the face of the cliff there showed something black--like a +blot of ink, though more regular in outline. + +"The mouth of the tunnel," said Mr. Titus to Tom. "Come on over to the +office and I'll introduce you to my brother. I guess he will be glad +we've arrived." + +Tom dismounted from his mule, an example followed by the others. +Professor Bumper gazed up at the great mountains and murmured: + +"I wonder if the lost city of Pelone lies among them?" + +Suddenly the silence of the evening was broken by a dull, rumbling +sound. + +"Bless my court plaster!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's that?" + +"A blast," answered Mr. Titus. "But I never knew them to set off one so +late before. I hope nothing is wrong!" + +And, as he spoke, panic-stricken men began running out of the mouth of +the tunnel, while those outside hastened toward them, shouting and +calling. + + + + +Chapter XIII + +Tom's Explosive + + +"Something has happened!" cried Mr. Titus as he ran forward, followed +by Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku. Professor Bumper started with them, but on +the way he saw a curious bit of rock which he stopped to pick up and +examine. + +At the entrance of the tunnel, from which came rushing dirt-stained and +powder-blackened men, Mr. Titus was met by a man who seemed to be in +authority. + +"Hello, Job!" he cried. "Glad you're back. We're in trouble!" + +"What's the matter?" was the question. "This is my brother Walter," he +said. "This is Tom Swift and Mr. Damon," thus hurriedly he introduced +them. "What happened, Walter?" + +"Premature blast. Third one this week. Somebody is working against us!" + +"Never mind that now," cried Job Titus. "We must see to the poor +fellows who are hurt." "I guess there aren't many," his brother said. +"They were on their way out when the charge went off. Some more of +Blakeson & Grinder's work, I'll wager!" + +They were rushing in to the smoke-filled tunnel now, followed by Tom, +Mr. Damon and Koku, who would follow his young master anywhere. Tom saw +that the tunnel was lighted with incandescent lamps, suspended here and +there from the rocky roof or sides. The electric lights were supplied +with current from a dynamo run by a gasoline engine. + +"Where is it, Serato? Where was the blast?" asked Walter Titus, of a +tall Indian, who seemed to be in some authority. + +"Back at second turn," was the answer, in fairly good English. "I go +get beds." + +"He means stretchers," translated Job. "That's our Peruvian foreman. A +good fellow, but easily scared." + +They ran on into the tunnel, Tom and Mr. Damon noticing that a small +narrow-gage railroad was laid on the floor, mules being the motive +power to bring out the small dump cars loaded with rock and dirt, +excavated from the big hole. + +"Mind the turn!" called Job Titus, who was ahead of Tom and Mr. Damon. +"It's rough here." + +Tom found it so, for he slipped over some pieces of rock, and would +have fallen had not Koku held him up. + +"Thanks," gasped Tom, as on he ran. + +A little later he came to a place where a cluster of electric lights +gave better illumination, and he could see it was there that the damage +had been done. + +A number of men were lying on the dirt and rock floor of the tunnel, +and some of them were bleeding. Others were staggering about as though +shocked or stunned. + +"We must get the injured ones out of here!" cried Walter Titus. "Where +are the men with stretchers?" + +"I sint that Spalapeen Serato for thim!" broke in a voice, rich in +Irish brogue. "But he's thot stupid he might think I was after sindin' +him fer wather!" + +"No, Tim. Serato is after the stretchers all right," said Walter. "We +passed him on the way." + +"That's Tim Sullivan, our Irish foreman, though he has only a few of +his own kind to boss," explained Job Titus in a whisper. + +Some of the workmen (all of whom save the few Irish referred to were +Peruvian Indians) had now recovered from their shock, or fright, and +began to help the Titus brothers, Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku in looking +after the injured. Of these there were five, only two of whom were, +seemingly, seriously hurt. + +"Me take them out," said Koku, and placing one gently over his left +shoulder, and the other over his right, out of the tunnel he stalked +with them, not waiting for the stretchers. + +And it was well he did so, for one man was in need of an immediate +operation, which was performed at the rude hospital the contractors +maintained at the tunnel mouth. The other man died as Koku was carrying +him out, but the giant had saved one life. + +Serato, the Indian foreman, with some of his men now came in, and the +other injured were carried out on stretchers, being attended to by the +two doctors who formed part of the tunnel force. Among a large body of +men some were always falling ill or getting hurt, and in that wild +country a doctor had to be kept near at hand. + +When the excitement had died down, and it was found that one death +would be the total toll of the accident and that the premature blast +had done no damage to the tunnel, the two Titus brothers began to +consider matters. + +Tom, Mr. Damon and the two contractors sat in the main office and +talked things over. Koku was eating supper, though the others had +finished, but, naturally, it took Koku twice as long as any one else. +Professor Bumper was busy transcribing material in his note-book. + +"Well, I'm glad you've come back, Job," said his brother. "Things have +been going at sixes and sevens here since you went to get some new kind +of blasting powder. By the way, I hope you got it, for we are +practically at a standstill." + +"Oh, I got it all right--some of Tom Swift's best--specially made for +us. And, better still, I've brought Tom back with me." + +"So I see. Well, I'm glad he's here." + +"Now what about this accident to-day?" went on Job. + +"Well, as I said, it's the third this week. All of them seemed to be +premature blasts. But I've sent for some of the fuses used. I'm going +to get at the bottom of this. Here is Sullivan with them now. Come in, +Tim," he called, as the Irishman knocked at the door. + +"Are they the fuses used in the blasts?" Walter asked. + +"They are, sor. An' they mostly burn five minutes, which is plenty of +time fer all th' min t' git out of danger. Only this time th' fuse +didn't seem to burn more than a minute, an' I lit it meself." + +"Let's see how long they burn now," suggested Job. + +One of the longer fuses was lighted. It spluttered and smoked, while +the contractors timed it with their watches. + +"Four minutes!" exclaimed Job. "That's queer, and they're the regular +ten minute length. I wonder what this means. + +He took up another fuse, and examined it closely. + +"Why!" he cried. "These aren't our fuses at all. They're another make, +and much more rapid in burning. No wonder you've been having premature +blasts. They go off in about half the time they should." + +"I can't understhand thot!" said Tim, thoughtfully. "I keep all the +fuses locked up, and only take thim out when I need thim." + +"Then somebody has been at your box, Tim, and they took out our regular +fuses and put in these quicker ones. It's a game to make trouble for us +among our men, and to damage the tunnel." + +"Bless my rubber boots!" cried Mr. Damon. "Who would do a thing like +that?" + +"Our rivals, perhaps, though I do not like to accuse any man on such +small evidence," said Walter. "But we must adopt new measures." + +"And be very careful of the fuses," said Job. + +"Thot's what I will!" declared Tim. "I'll put th' supply in a new +place. No wonder there was blasts before th' min could git out th' way! +Bad cess t' th' imps thot did this!" and he banged his big fist down on +the table. + +Since the trouble began a guard had been always posted around the +tunnel entrance and surrounding buildings, and this night the patrol +was doubled. Tom, Mr. Damon and the two Titus brothers sat up quite +late, talking over plans and ideas. + +Professor Bumper went to bed early, as he said he was going to set off +before sunrise to make a search for the lost city. + +"I regard him as more or less of a visionary," said Mr. Job Titus; "but +he seems a harmless gentleman, and we'll do all we can to help him." + +"Surely," agreed his brother. + +The night was not marked by any disturbance, and after breakfast, Tom, +under the guidance of the Titus brothers, looked over the tunnel with a +view to making his first experiment with the new explosive. + +The tunnel was being driven straight into the face of one of the +smaller ranges of the Andes Mountains. It was to be four miles in +length, and when it emerged on the other side it would enable trains to +make connections between the two railroads, thus tapping a rich and +fertile country. + +On the site of the tunnel, which was two days' mule travel east from +Rimac, the Titus brothers had assembled their heavy machinery. They had +brought some of their own men, including Tim Sullivan, with them, but +the other labor was that of Peruvian Indians, with a native foreman, +Serato, over them. + +There were engines, boilers, dynamos, motors, diamond drills, steam +shovels and a miniature railway, with mules as the motive power. A +small village had sprung up at the tunnel mouth, and there was a +general store, besides many buildings for the sleeping and eating +quarters of the laborers, as well as places where the white men could +live. Their quarters were some distance from the native section. + +Powder, supplies, in fact everything save what game could be obtained +in the forest, or what grains or fruits were brought in by natives +living near by, had to be brought over the rough trail. But Titus +Brothers had a large experience in engineering matters in wild and +desolate countries, and they knew how to be as comfortable as possible. + +Mr. Damon learned that one of the districts whence his company had been +in the habit of getting quinine was distant a day's journey over the +mountain, so he decided to make the trip, with a native guide, and see +if he could get at the bottom of the difficulty in forwarding shipments. + +This was a few days after the arrival of our friends. Meanwhile, Tom +had been shown all through the tunnel by the Titus Brothers and had had +his first sight of the hard cliff of rock which seemed to be a +veritable stone wall in the way of progress--or at least such progress +as was satisfactory to the contractors. + +"Well, we'll try what some of my explosive will do," said Tom, when he +had finished the examination. "I don't claim it will be as successful +as the sample blast we set off at Shopton, but we'll do our best." + +Holes were drilled in the face of the rock, and several charges of the +new explosive tamped in. Wires were attached to the fuses, which were +of a new kind, and warning was given to clear the tunnel. The wires ran +out to the mouth of the horizontal shaft and Tom, holding the switch in +his hand made ready to set off the blast. + +"Are they all out?" he asked Tim Sullivan, who had emerged, herding the +Indian laborers before him. Tim insisted on being the last man to seek +safety when an explosion was to take place. + +"All ready, sor," answered the foreman. + +"Here she goes!" cried Tom, as his fingers closed the circuit. + + + + +Chapter XIV + +Mysterious Disappearances + + +There was a dull, muffled report, a sort of rumbling that seemed to +extend away down under the earth and then echo back again until the +ground near the mouth of the tunnel, where the party was standing, +appeared to rock and heave. There followed a cloud of yellow, heavy +smoke which made one choke and gasp, and Tom, seeing it, cried: + +"Down! Down, everybody! There's a back draft, and if you breathe any of +that powder vapor you'll have a fearful headache! Get down, until the +smoke rises!" + +The tunnel contractors and their men understood the danger, for they +had handled explosives before. It is a well-known fact that the fumes +of dynamite and other giant powders will often produce severe +headaches, and even illness. Tom's explosive contained a certain +percentage of dynamite, and he knew its ill effects. Stretched prone, +or crouching on the ground, there was little danger, as the fumes, +being lighter than air, rose. The yellow haze soon drifted away, and it +was safe to rise. + +"Well, I wonder how much rock your explosive tore loose for us, Tom," +observed Job Titus, as he looked at the thin, yellowish cloud of smoke +that was still lazily drifting from the tunnel. + +"Can't tell until we go in and take a look," replied the young +inventor. "It won't be safe to go in for a while yet, though. That +smoke will hang in there a long time. I didn't think there'd be a back +draft." + +"There is, for we've often had the same trouble with our shots," Walter +Titus said. "I can't account for it unless there is some opening in the +shaft, connecting with the outer air, which admits a wind that drives +the smoke out of the mouth, instead of forward into the blast hole. +It's a queer thing and we haven't been able to get at the bottom of it." + +"That's right," agreed his brother. "We've looked for some opening, or +natural shaft, but haven't been able to find it. Sometimes we shoot +off a charge and everything goes well, the smoke disappears in a few +minutes. Again it will all blow out this way and we lose half a day +waiting for the air to clear. There's a hidden shaft, or natural +chimney, I'm sure, but we can't find it." + +"Thot blast didn't make much racket," commented Tim Sullivan. "I doubt +thot much rock come down. An' thot's not sayin' anythin' ag'in yer +powder, lad," he went on to Tom. + +"Oh, that's all right," Tom Swift replied, with a laugh. "My explosive +doesn't work by sound. It has lots of power, but it doesn't produce +much concussion." + +"We've often made more noise with our blasts," confirmed Job Titus, +"but I can't say much for our results." + +They were all anxious, Tom included, to hurry into the tunnel to see +how much rock had been loosened by the blast, but it was not safe to +venture in until the fumes had been allowed to disperse. In about an +hour, however, Tim Sullivan, venturing part way in, sniffed the air and +called: + +"It's all right, byes! Air's clear. Now come on!" + +They all hurried eagerly into the shaft, Mr. Damon stumbling along at +Tom's side, as anxious as the lad himself. Before they reached the face +of the cliff against which the bore had been driven, and which was as a +solid wall of rock to further progress, they began to tread on +fragments of stone. + +"Well, it blew some as far back as here," said Walter Titus. "That's a +good sign." + +"I hope so," Tom remarked. + +There were still some fumes noticeable in the tunnel, and Mr. Damon +complained of a slight feeling of illness, while Koku, who kept at +Tom's side, murmured that it made his eyes smart. But the sensations +soon passed. + +They came to a stop as the face of the cliff loomed into view in the +glare of a searchlight which Job Titus switched on. Then a murmur of +wonder came from every one, save from Tom Swift. He, modestly, kept +silent. + +"Bless my breakfast orange!" cried Mr. Damon. "What a big hole!" + +There was a great gash blown in the hard rock which had acted as a bar +to the further progress of the tunnel. A great heap of rock, broken +into small fragments, was on the floor of the shaft, and there was a +big hole filled with debris which would have to be removed before the +extent of the blast could be seen. + +"That's doing the work!" cried Job Titus. + +"It beats any two blasts we ever set off," declared his brother. + +"Much fine!" muttered the Peruvian foreman, Serato. + +"It's a lalapaloosa, lad! Thot's what it is!" enthusiastically +exclaimed Tim Sullivan. "Now the black beggars will have some rock to +shovel! Come on there, Serato, git yer lazy imps t' work cartin' this +stuff away. We've got a man on th' job now in this new powder of Tom +Swift's. Git busy!" + +"Um!" grunted the Indian, and he called to his men who were soon busy +with picks and shovels, loading the loosened rock and earth into the +mule-hauled dump cars which took it to the mouth of the tunnel, whence +it was shunted off on another small railroad to fill in a big gulch to +save bridging it. + +Tom's first blast was very successful, and enough rock was loosed to +keep the laborers busy for a week. The contractors were more than +satisfied. + +"At this rate we'll finish ahead of time, and earn a premium," said Job +to his brother. + +"That's right. You didn't make any mistake in appealing to Tom Swift. +But I wonder if Blakeson & Grinder have given up trying to get the job +away from us?" + +"I don't know. I'd never trust them. We must watch out for Waddington. +That bomb on the vessel had a funny look, even if it was not meant to +kill Tom or me. I won't relax any." + +"No, I guess it wouldn't be safe." + +But a week went by without any manifestation having been made by the +rival tunnel contractors. During that week more of Tom's explosive +arrived, and he busied himself getting ready another blast which could +be set off as soon as the debris from the first should have been +cleared away. + +Meanwhile, Professor Bumper, with his Indian guides and helpers, had +made several trips into the mountain regions about Rimac, but each time +that he returned to the tunnel camp to renew his supplies, he had only +a story of failure to recite. + +"But I am positive that somewhere in this vicinity is the lost Peruvian +city of Pelone," he said. "Every indication points to this as the +region, and the more I study the plates of gold, and read their +message, the more I am convinced that this is the place spoken of. + +"But we have been over many mountains, and in more valleys, without +finding a trace of the ancient civilization I feel sure once flourished +here. There are no relics of a lost race--not so much as an arrow or +spear head. But, somehow or other, I feel that I shall find the lost +city. And when I do I shall be famous!" + +"Mr. Damon and I will help you all we can," Tom said. "As soon as I get +ready the next blast I'll have a little time to myself, and we will go +with you on a trip or two." + +"I shall be very glad to have you," the bald-headed scientist remarked. + +Tom's second blast was even more successful than the first, and enough +of the hard rock was loosed and pulverized to give the Indian laborers +ten days' work in removing it from the tunnel. + +Then, as the services of the young inventor would not be needed for a +week or more, he decided to go on a little trip with Professor Bumper. + +"I'll come too," said Mr. Damon. "One of the sub-contractors whose men +are gathering the cinchona bark for our firm has his headquarters in +the region where you are going, and I can go over there and see why he +isn't up to the mark." + +Accordingly, preparations having been made to spend a week in camp in +the forests of the Andes, Tom and his party set off one morning. +Professor Bumper's Indian helpers would do the hard work, and, of +course, Koku, who went wherever Tom went, would be on hand in case some +feat of strength were needed. + +It was a blind search, this hunt for a lost city, and as much luck +might be expected going in one direction as in another; so the party +had no fixed point toward which to travel. Only Mr. Damon stipulated +that he wanted to reach a certain village, and they planned to include +that on their route. + +Tom Swift took his electric rifle with him, and with it he was able to +bring down a couple of deer which formed a welcome addition to the camp +fare. + +The rifle was a source of great wonder to the Peruvians. They were +familiar with ordinary firearms, and some of them possessed +old-fashioned guns. But Tom's electric weapon, which made not a sound, +but killed with the swiftness of light, was awesome to them. The +interpreter accompanying Professor Bumper confided privately to Tom +that the other Indians regarded the young inventor as a devil who +could, if he wished, slay by the mere winking of an eye. + +Mr. Damon located the quinine-gathering force he was anxious to see, +and, through the interpreter, told the chief that more bark must be +brought in to keep up to the terms of the contract. + +But something seemed to be the matter. The Indian chief was indifferent +to the interpreted demands of Mr. Damon, and that gentleman, though he +blessed any number of animate and inanimate objects, seemed to make no +impression. + +"No got men to gather bark, him say," translated the interpreter. + +"Hasn't got any men!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Why, look at all the lazy +beggars around the village." + +This was true enough, for there were any number of able-bodied Indians +lolling in the shade. + +"Him say him no got," repeated the translator, doggedly. + +At that moment screams arose back of one the grass huts, and a child +ran out into the open, followed by a savage dog which was snapping at +the little one's bare legs. + +"Bless my rat trap!" gasped Mr. Damon. "A mad dog!" + +Shouts and cries arose from among the Indians. Women screamed, and +those who had children gathered them up in their arms to run to +shelter. The men threw all sorts of missiles at the infuriated animal, +but seemed afraid to approach it to knock it over with a club, or to go +to the relief of the frightened child which was now only a few feet +ahead of the animal, running in a circle. + +"Me git him!" cried Koku, jumping forward. + +"No, Wait!" exclaimed Tom Swift. "You can kill the dog all right, +Koku," he said, "but a scratch from his tooth might be fatal. I'll fix +him!" + +Snatching his electric rifle from the Indian bearer who carried it, Tom +took quick aim. There was no flash, no report and no puff of smoke, but +the dog suddenly crumpled up in a heap, and, with a dying yelp, rolled +to one side. The child was saved. + +The little one, aware that something had happened, turned and saw the +stretched out form of its enemy. Then, sobbing and crying, it ran +toward its mother who had just heard the news. + +While the mothers gathered about the child, and while the older boys +and girls made a ring at a respectful distance from the dog, there was +activity noticed among the men of the village. They began hurrying out +along the forest paths. + +"Where are they going?" asked Tom. "Is there some trouble? Was that a +sacred dog, and did I get in bad by killing it?" + +The interpreter and the native chief conversed rapidly for a moment and +then the former, turning to Tom, said: + +"Men go git cinchona bark now. Plenty get for him," and he pointed to +Mr. Damon. "They no like stay in village. T'ink yo' got lightning in +yo' pocket," and he pointed to the electric rifle. + +"Oh, I see!" laughed Tom. "They think I'm a sort of wizard. Well, so I +am. Tell them if they don't get lots of quinine bark I'll have to stay +here until all the mad dogs are shot." + +The interpreter translated, and when the chief had ceased replying, Tom +and the others were told: + +"Plenty bark git. Plenty much. Yo' go away with yo' lightning. All +right now." + +"Well, it's a good thing I keeled over that dog," Tom said. "It was the +best object lesson I could give them." + +And from then on there was no more trouble in this district about +getting a supply of the medicinal bark. + +A week passed and Professor Bumper was no nearer finding the lost city +than he had been at first. Reluctantly, he returned to the tunnel camp +to get more provisions. + +"And then I'll start out again," he said. + +"We'll go with you some other time," promised Tom. "But now I expect +I'll have to get another blast ready." + +He found the debris brought down by the second one all removed, and in +a few days, preparations for exploding more of the powder were under +way. + +Many holes had been drilled in the face of the cliff of hard rock, and +the charges tamped in. Electric wires connected them, and they were run +out to the tunnel mouth where the switch was located. + +This was done late one afternoon, and it was planned to set off the +blast at the close of the working day, to allow all night for the fumes +to be blown away by the current of air in the tunnel. + +"Get the men out, Tim," said Tom, when all was ready. + +"All right, sor," was the answer, and the Irish foreman went back +toward the far end of the bore to tell the last shift of laborers to +come out so the blast could be set off. + +But in a little while Tim came running back with a queer look on his +face. + +"What's the matter?" asked Tom. "Why didn't you bring the men with you?" + +"Because, sor, they're not there!" + +"Not in the tunnel? Why, they were working there a little while ago, +when I made the last connection!" + +"I know they were, but they've disappeared." + +"Disappeared?" + +"Yis sir. There's no way out except at this end an' you didn't see thim +come out: did you?" + +"Then they've disappeared! That's all there is to it! Bad goin's on, +thot's what it is, sor! Bad!" and Tim shook his head mournfully. + + + + +Chapter XV + +Frightened Indians + + +"There must be some mistake," said Tom, wondering if the Irish foreman +were given to joking. Yet he did not seem that kind of man. + +"Mistake? How can there be a mistake, sor? I wint in there to tell th' +black imps t' come out, but they're not there to tell!" + +"What's the trouble?" asked Job Titus, coming out of the office near +the tunnel mouth. "What's wrong, Tom?" + +"Why, I sent Tim in to tell the men to come out, as I was going to set +off a blast, but he says the men aren't in there. And I'm sure the last +shift hasn't come out." + +By this time Koku, Mr. Damon and Walter Titus had come up to find out +what the trouble was. + +"The min have disappeared--that's all there is to it!" Tim said. + +"Perhaps they have missed their way--the lights may have gone out, and +they might have wandered into some abandoned cutting," suggested Tom. + +"There aren't any abandoned cuttin's," declared Tim. "It's a straight +bore, not a shaft of any kind. I've looked everywhere, and th' min +aren't there I tell ye!" + +"Are the lights going?" asked Job. "You might have missed them in the +dark, Tim." + +"The lights are going all right, Mr. Titus," said the young man in +charge of the electrical arrangements. "The dynamo hasn't been stopped +to-day." + +"Come on, we'll have a look," proposed Walter Titus. "There must be +some mistake. Hold back the blast, Tom." + +"All right," and the young inventor disconnected the electrical +detonating switch. "I'll come along and have a look too," he added. +"Don't let anybody meddle with the wires, Jack," he said to the young +Englishman who was in charge of the dynamo. + +Into the dimly-lit tunnel advanced the party of investigators, with Tim +Sullivan in the lead. + +"Not a man could I find!" he said, murmuring to himself. "Not a man! +An' I mind th' time in Oireland whin th' little people made vanish a +whole village like this, jist bekase ould Mike Maguire uprooted a bed +of shamrocks." + +"That's enough of your superstitions, Tim," warned Job Titus. "If some +of the other Indians hear you go on this way they'll desert as they did +once before." + +"Did they do that?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, we had trouble that way when we first began the work. The place +here was a howling wilderness then, and there were lots of pumas around. + +"A puma is a small sized lion, you know, not specially dangerous unless +cornered. Well, some of the men had their families here with them, and +a couple of children disappeared. The story got started that there was +a big puma--the king of them all--carrying off the little ones, and my +brother and I awoke one morning to find every laborer missing. They +departed bag and baggage. Afraid of the pumas." + +"What did you do?" + +"Well, we organized ourselves and our white helpers into a hunting +party and killed a lot of the beasts. There wasn't any big one though." + +"And what had become of the children?" + +"They weren't eaten at all. They had wandered off into the woods, and +some natives found them and took care of them. Eventually, they got +back home. But it was a long while before we could persuade the Indians +to come back. Since then we haven't had any trouble, and I don't want +Tim, with his superstitious fancies, to start any." + +"But the min are gone!" insisted the Irish foreman, who had listened to +this story as he and the others walked along. + +"We'll find them," declared Mr. Titus. + +But though they looked all along the big shaft, and though the place +was well lighted by extra lamps that were turned on when the +investigation started, no trace could be found of the workmen, who had +been left in the tunnel to finish tamping the blast charges. The party +reached the rocky heading, in the face of which the powerful explosive +had been placed, and not an Indian was in sight. Nor, as far as could +be told, was there any side niche, or blind shaft, in which they could +be hiding. + +Sometimes, when small blasts were set off, the men would go behind a +projecting shoulder of rock to wait until the charge had been fired, +but now none was in such a refuge. + +"It is queer," admitted Walter Titus. "Where can the men have gone?" + +"That's what I want to know!" exclaimed Tim. + +"Are you sure they didn't come out the mouth of the tunnel?" asked Job +Titus. + +"Positive," asserted Tom. I was there all the while, rigging up the +fires." + +"We'll call the roll, and check up," decided Job Titus. "Get Serato to +help." + +The Indian foreman had not been in the tunnel with the last shift of +men, having left them to Tim Sullivan to get out in time. The Indian +foreman was called from his supper in the shack where he had his +headquarters, and the roll of workmen was called. + +Ten men were missing, and when this fact became known there were uneasy +looks among the others. + +"Well," said Mr. Titus, after a pause. "The men are either in the +tunnel or out of it. If they're in we don't dare set off the blast, and +if they're out they'll show up, sooner or later, for supper. I never +knew any of 'em to miss a meal." + +"If such a thing were possible," said Walter Titus, "I would say that +our rivals had a hand in this, and had induced our men to bolt in order +to cripple our force. But we haven't seen any of Blakeson & Grinder's +emissaries about, and, if they were, how could they get the ten men out +of the tunnel without our seeing them? It's impossible!" + +"Well, what did happen then?" asked Tom. + +"I'm inclined to think that the men came out and neither you, nor any +one else, saw them. They ran away for reasons of their own. We'll take +another look in the morning, and then set off the blast." + +And this was done. There being no trace of the men in the tunnel it was +deemed safe to explode the charges. This was done, a great amount of +rock being loosened. + +The laborers hung back when the orders were given to go in and clean +up. There were mutterings among them. + +"What's the matter?" asked Job Titus. + +"Them afraid," answered Serato. "Them say devil in tunnel eat um up! No +go in." + +"They won't go in, eh?" cried Tim Sullivan. "Well, they will thot! If +there's a divil inside there's a worse one outside, an' thot's me! Git +in there now, ye black-livered spalapeens!" and catching up a big club +the Irishman made a rush for the hesitating laborers. With a howl they +rushed into the tunnel, and were soon loading rock into the dump cars. + + + + +Chapter XVI + +On the Watch + + +The mystery of the disappearance of the ten men--for mystery it +was--remained, and as no side opening or passage could be found within +the tunnel, it came to be the generally accepted explanation that the +laborers had come out unobserved, and, for reasons of their own, had +run away. + +This habit on the part of the Peruvian workers was not unusual. In +fact, the Titus brothers had to maintain a sort of permanent employment +agency in Lima to replace the deserters. But they were used to this. +The difference was that the Indians used to vanish from camp at night, +and invariably after pay-day. + +"And that's the only reason I have a slight doubt that they walked out +of the tunnel," said Job Titus. "There was money due em." + +"They never came out of the front entrance of the tunnel," said Tom. +"Of that I'm positive." + +But there was no way of proving his assertion. + +The third blast, while not as successful as the second in the amount of +rock loosened, was better than the first, and made a big advance in the +tunnel progress. Tom was beginning to understand the nature of the +mountain into which the big shaft was being driven and he learned how +better to apply the force of his explosive. + +That was the work which he had charge of--the placing of the giant +powder so it would do the most effective work. Then, when the fumes +from the blast had cleared away, in would surge the workmen to clear +away the debris. + +Under the direction of Mr. Swift, left at Shopton to oversee the +manufacture of the explosive, new shipments came on promptly to Lima, +and were brought out to the tunnel on the backs of mules, or in the +case of small quantities, on the llamas. But the latter brutes will not +carry a heavy load, lying down and refusing to get up if they are +overburdened, whereas one has yet to find a mule's limit. + +After his first success in getting the natives to take a more active +interest in the gathering of the cinchona bark, Mr. Damon found it +rather easy, for the story of Tom's electric rifle and how it had +killed the mad dog spread among the tribes, and Mr. Damon had but to +announce that the "lightning shooter," as Tom was called, was a friend +of the drug concern to bring about the desired results. Mr. Damon, by +paying a sort of bribe, disguised under the name "tax," secured the +help of Peruvian officials so he had no trouble on that score. + +Koku was in his element. He liked a wild life and Peru was much more +like the country of giants where Tom had found him, than any place the +big man had since visited. Koku had great strength and wanted to use +it, and after a week or so of idleness he persuaded Tom to let him go +in the tunnel to work. + +The giant was made a sort of foreman under Tim, and the two became +great friends. The only trouble with Koku was that he would do a thing +himself instead of letting his men do it, as, of course, all proper +foremen should do. If the giant saw two or three of the Indians trying +to lift a big rock into the little dump cars, and failing because of +its great weight, he would good-naturedly thrust them aside, pick up +the big stone in his mighty arms, and deposit it in its place. + +And once when an unusually big load had been put in a car, and the mule +attached found it impossible to pull it out to the tunnel mouth, Koku +unhitched the creature and, slipping the harness around his waist, +walked out, dragging the load as easily as if pulling a child on a sled. + +Professor Bumper kept on with his search for the lost city of Pelone. +Back and forth he wandered among the wild Andes Mountains, now hopeful +that he was on the right trail, and again in despair. Tom and Mr. Damon +went with him once more for a week, and though they enjoyed the trip, +for the professor was a delightful companion, there were no results. +But the scientist would not give up. + +Tom Swift was kept busy looking after the shipments of the explosive, +and arranging for the blasts. He had letters from Ned Newton in which +news of Shopton was given, and Mr. Swift wrote occasionally. But the +mails in the wilderness of the Andes were few and far between. + +Tom wrote a letter of explanation to Mr. Nestor, in addition to the +wireless he had sent regarding the box labeled dynamite, but he got no +answer. Nor were his letters to Mary answered. + +"I wonder what's wrong?" Tom mused. "It can't be that they think I did +that on purpose. And even if Mr. Nestor is angry at me for something +that wasn't my fault, Mary ought to write." + +But she did not, and Tom grew a bit despondent as the days went by and +no word came. + +"I suppose they might be offended because I left Rad to do up that +package instead of attending to it myself," thought Tom. "Well, I did +make a mistake there, but I didn't mean to. I never thought about +Eradicate's not reading. I'll make him go to night school as soon as I +get back. But maybe I'll never get another chance to send Mary +anything. If I do, I'll not let Rad deliver it--that's sure." + +The feeling of alarm engendered among the Indians by the disappearance +of their ten fellow-workers seemed to have disappeared. There were +rumors that some of the mysterious ten had been seen in distant +villages and settlements, but the Titus brothers could not confirm this. + +"I don't think anything serious happened to them, anyhow," said Job +Titus one day. "And I should hate to think our work was responsible for +harm to any one." + +"Your rivals don't seem to be doing much to hamper you," observed Tom. +"I guess Waddington gave up. + +"I won't be too sure of that," said Mr. Titus. + +"Why, what has happened?" Tom asked. + +"Well, nothing down here--that is, directly--but we are meeting with +trouble on the financial end. The Peruvian government is holding back +payments." + +"Why is that?" + +"They claim we are not as far advanced as we ought to be." + +"Aren't you?" + +"Practically, yes. There was no set limit of work to be done for the +intermediate payments. We bonded ourselves to have the tunnel done at a +certain date. + +"If we fail, we lose a large sum, and if we get it done ahead of time +we get a big premium. There was no question as to completing a certain +amount of footage before we received certain payments. But Senor +Belasdo, the government representative, claims that we will not be done +in time, and therefore he is holding back money due us. I'm sure the +rival contractors have set him up to this, because he was always decent +to us before. + +"Another matter, too, makes me suspicious. We have tried to raise money +in New York to tide us over while the government is holding up our +funds here. But our New York office is meeting with difficulties. They +report there is a story current to the effect that we are going to +fail, and while that isn't so, you know how hard it is to borrow money +in the face of such rumors. We are doing all we can to fight them, of +course, and maybe we'll beat out our rivals yet. + +"But that isn't all. I'm sure some one is on the ground here trying to +make trouble among our workers. I never knew so many men to leave, one +after another. It's keeping the employment agency in Lima busy +supplying us with new workers. And so many of them are unskilled. They +aren't able to do half the work of the old men, and poor Tim Sullivan +is in despair." + +"You think some one here is causing dissensions and desertions among +your men?" + +"I'm sure of it! I've tried to ferret out who it is, but the spy, for +such he must be, keeps his identity well hidden." + +Tom thought for a moment. Then he said: + +"Mr. Titus, with your permission, I'll see if I can find out about this +for you." + +"Find out what, Tom?" + +"What is causing the men to leave. I don't believe it's the scare about +the ten missing ones." + +"Nor do I. That's past and gone. But how are you going to get at the +bottom of it?" + +"By keeping watch. I've got nothing to do now for the next week. We've +just set off a big blast, and I've got the powder for the following one +all ready. The men will be busy for some time getting out the broken +rock. Now what I propose to do is to go in the tunnel and work among +them until I can learn something. + +"I can understand the language pretty well now, though I can't speak +much of it. I'll go in the tunnel every day and find out what's going +on." + +"But you'll be known, and if one of our men, or one who we suppose is +one, turns out to be a spy, he'll be very cautious while you're in +there." + +"He won't know me," Tom said. "This is how I'll work it. I'll go off +with Professor Bumper the next time he starts on one of his weekly +expeditions into the woods. But I won't go far until I turn around and +come back. I'll adopt some sort of disguise, and I'll apply to you for +work. You can tell Tim to put me on. You might let him into the secret, +but no one else." + +A few days later Tom was seen departing with Professor Bumper into the +interior, presumably to help look for the lost city. Mr. Damon was away +from camp on business connected with the drug concern, and Koku, to his +delight, had been given charge of a stationary hoisting engine outside +the tunnel, so he would not come in contact with Tom. It was not +thought wise to take the giant into the secret. + +Then one day, shortly after Professor Bumper and Tom had disappeared +into the forest, a ragged and unkempt white man applied at the tunnel +camp for work. There was just the barest wink as he accosted Mr. Titus, +who winked in turn, and then the new man was handed over to Tim +Sullivan, as a sort of helper. + +And so Tom Swift began his watch. + + + + +Chapter XVII + +The Condor + + +Left to himself, with only the rather silent gang of Peruvian Indians +as company, Tom Swift looked about him. There was not much active work +to be done, only to see that the Indians filled the dump cars evenly +full, so none of the broken rock would spill over the side and litter +the tramway. Then, too, he had to keep the Indians up to the mark +working, for these men were no different from any other, and they were +just as inclined to "loaf on the job" when the eye of the "boss" was +turned away. + +They did not talk much, murmuring among themselves now and then, and +little of what they said was intelligible to Tom. But he knew enough +of the language to give them orders, the main one of which was: + +"Hurry up!" + +Now, having seen to it that the gang of which he was in temporary +charge was busily engaged, Tom had a chance to look about him. The +tunnel was not new to him. Much of his time in the past month had been +spent in its black depths, illuminated, more or less, by the string of +incandescent lights. + +"What I want to find," mused Tom, as he walked to and fro, "is the +place where those Indians disappeared. For I'm positive they got away +through some hole in this tunnel. They never came out the main +entrance." + +Tom held to this view in spite of the fact that nearly every one else +believed the contrary--that the men had left by the tunnel mouth, near +which Tom happened to be alone at the time. + +Now, left to himself, with merely nominal duties, and so disguised that +none of the workmen would know him for the trim young inventor who +oversaw the preparing of the blast charges, Tom Swift walked to and +fro, looking for some carefully hidden passage or shaft by means of +which the men had got away. + +"For it must be well hidden to have escaped observation so long," Tom +decided. "And it must be a natural shaft, or hole, for we are boring +into native rock, and it isn't likely that these Indians ever tried to +make a tunnel here. There must be some natural fissure communicating +with the outside of the mountain, in a place where no one would see the +men coming out." + +But though Tom believed this it was another matter to demonstrate his +belief. In the intervals of seeing that the natives properly loaded the +dump cars, and removed as much of the debris as possible, Tom looked +carefully along the walls and roof of the tunnel thus far excavated. + +There were cracks and fissures, it is true, but they were all +superficial ones, as Tom ascertained by poking a long pole up into them. + +"No getting out that way," he said, as he met with failure after +failure. + +Once, while thus engaged, he saw Serato, the Indian foreman looking +narrowly at him, and Serato said something in his own language which +Tom could not understand. But just then along came Tim Sullivan, who, +grasping the situation, exclaimed: + +"Thot's all roight, now, Serri, me lad!" for thus he contracted the +Indian's name. "Thot's a new helper I have, a broth of a bye, an' yez +kin kape yer hands off him. He's takin' orders from me!" + +"Um!" grunted the Indian. "Wha for he fish in tunnel roof?" for Tom's +pole was one like those the Indians used when, on off days, they +emulated Izaak Walton. + +"Fishin' is it!" exclaimed Tim. "Begorra 'tis flyin' fish he's after +I'm thinkin'. Lave him alone though, Serri! I'm his boss!" + +"Um!" grunted the Indian again, as he moved off into the farther +darkness. + +"Be careful, Tom," whispered the Irishman, when the native had gone. +"These black imps is mighty suspicious. Maybe thot fellah had a hand in +th' disappearances hisself." + +"Maybe," admitted Tom. "He may get a percentage on all new hands that +are hired." + +Tom kept on with his search, always hoping he might find some hidden +means of getting out of the tunnel. But as the days went by, and he +discovered nothing, he began to despair. + +"The queer thing about it," mused Tom, "is what has become of the ten +men. Even if they did find some secret means of leaving, what has +become of them? They couldn't completely disappear, and they have +families and relatives that would make some sort of fuss if they were +out of sight completely this long. I wonder if any inquiries have been +made about them?" + +When Tom came off duty he asked the Titus brothers whether or not any +of the relatives of the missing men had come to seek news about them. +None had. + +"Then," said Tom, "you can depend on it the men are all right, and +their relatives know it. I wonder how it would do to make inquiries at +that end? Question some of the relatives." + +"Bless my hat band!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, who was at the conference. "I +never thought of that. I'll do it for you." + +The odd man had gotten his quinine gathering business well under way +now, and he had some spare time. So, with an interpreter who could be +trusted, he went to the native village whence had come nearly all of +the ten missing men. But though Mr. Damon found some of their +relatives, the latter, with shrugs of their shoulders, declared they +had seen nothing of the ones sought. + +"And they didn't seem to worry much, either," reported Mr. Damon. + +"Then we can depend on it," remarked Tom, "that the men are all right +and their relatives know it. There's some conspiracy here." + +So it seemed. But who was at the bottom of it? + +"I can't figure out where Blakeson & Grinder come in," said Job Titus. +"They would have an object in crippling us, but they seem to be working +from the financial end, trying to make us fail there. I haven't seen +any of their sneaking agents around here lately, and as for Waddington +he seems to have stayed up North." + +Tom resumed his vigil in the tunnel, poking here and there, but with +little success. His week was about up, and he would soon have to resume +his character as powder expert, for the debris was nearly all cleaned +up, and another blast would have to be fired shortly. + +"Well, I'm stumped!" Tom admitted, the day when he was to come on duty +for the last time as a pretended foreman. "I've hunted all over, and I +can't find any secret passage." + +It was warm in the tunnel, and Tom, having seen one train of the dump +cars loaded, sat down to rest on an elevated ledge of rock, where he +had made a sort of easy chair for himself, with empty cement bags for +cushions. + +The heat, his weariness and the monotonous clank-clank of a water pump +near by, and the equally monotonous thump of the lumps of rocks in the +cars made Tom drowsy. Almost before he knew it he was asleep. + +What suddenly awakened him he could not tell. Perhaps it was some +influence on the brain cells, as when a vivid dream causes us to start +up from slumber, or it may have been a voice. For certainly Tom heard a +voice, he declared afterward. + +As he roused up he found himself staring at the rocky wall of the +tunnel. And yet the wall seemed to have an opening in it and in the +opening, as if it were in the frame of a picture, appeared the face Tom +had seen at his library the day Job Titus called on him--the face of +Waddington! + +Tom sat up so quickly that he hit his head sharply on a projecting rock +spur, and, for the moment he "saw stars." And with the appearance of +these twinkling points of light the face of Waddington seemed to fade +away, as might a vision in a dream. + +"Bless my salt mackerel, as Mr. Damon would say!" cried Tom. "What have +I discovered?" + +He rubbed his head where he had struck it, and then passed his hand +before his eyes, to make sure he was awake. But the vision, if vision +it was, had vanished, and he saw only the bare rock wall. However, the +echo of the voice remained in his ears, and, looking down toward the +tunnel floor Tom saw Serato, the Indian foreman. + +"Were you speaking to me?" asked Tom, for the man understood and spoke +English fairly well. + +"No, sar. I not know you there!" and the foreman seemed startled at +seeing Tom. Clearly he was in a fright. + +"You were speaking!" insisted Tom. + +"No, sar!" The man shook his head. + +"To some one up there!" went on the young inventor, waving his hand +toward the spot where he had seen the face in the rock. + +"Me speak to roof? No, sar!" Serato laughed. + +Tom did not know what to believe. + +"You hear me tell um lazy man to much hurry," the Indian went on. "Me +not know you sleep there, sar!" + +"Oh, all right," Tom said, recollecting that he must keep up his +disguise. "Maybe I was dreaming." + +"Yes, sar," and the foreman hurried on, with a backward glance over his +shoulder. + +"Now was I dreaming or not?" thought Tom. "I'm going to have a look at +that place though, where I saw Waddington's face. Or did I imagine it?" + +He got a long pole and a powerful flash lamp, and when he had a chance, +unobserved, he poked around in the vicinity where he had seen the face. + +But there was only solid rock. + +"It must have been a dream," Tom concluded. "I've been thinking too +much about this business. I'll have to give up. I can't solve the +mystery of the missing men." + +The next day, much disappointed, he resumed his own character as +explosive expert, and prepared for another blast. The net result of his +watch was that he became suspicious of Serato, and so informed the +Titus Brothers. + +"Oh, but you're mistaken," said Job. "We have had him for years, on +other contracts in Peru, and we trust him." + +"Well, I don't," Tom said, but he had to let it go at that. + +Another blast was set off, but it was not very successful. + +"The rock seems to be getting harder the farther in we go," commented +Walter Titus. "We're not up to where we ought to be." + +"I'll have to look into it," answered Tom. "I may have to change the +powder mixture. Guess I'll go up the mountain a way, and see if there +are any outcroppings of rock there that would give me an idea of what +lies underneath." + +Accordingly, while the men in the tunnel were clearing away the rock +loosened by the blast, Tom, one day, taking his electric rifle with +him, went up the mountain under which the big bore ran. + +He located, by computation, the spot beneath which the end of the +tunnel then was, and began collecting samples of the outcropping ledge. +He wanted to analyze these pieces of stone later. Koku was with him, +and, giving the giant a bag of stones to carry, Tom walked on rather +idly. + +It was a wild and desolate region in which he found himself on the side +of the mountain. Beyond him stretched towering and snow-clad peaks, and +high in the air were small specks, which he knew to be condors, +watching with their eager eyes for their offal food. + +As Tom and Koku made their way along the mountain trail they came +unexpectedly upon an Indian workman who was gathering herbs and bark, +an industry by which many of the natives added to their scanty +livelihood. The woman was familiar with the appearance of the white +men, and nodded in friendly fashion. + +Tom passed on, thinking of many things, when he was suddenly startled +by a scream from the woman. It was a scream of such terror and agony +that, for the moment, Tom was stunned into inactivity. Then, as he +turned, he saw a great condor sweeping down out of the air, the wind +fairly whistling through the big, outstretched wings. + +"Jove!" ejaculated Tom. "Can the bird be going to attack the woman?" + +But this was not the object of the condor. It was aiming to strike, +with its fierce talons, at a point some paces distant from where the +woman stood, and in the intervals between her screams Tom heard her +cry, in her native tongue: + +"My baby! My baby! The beast-bird will carry off my baby!" + +Then Tom understood. The woman herb-gatherer had brought her infant +with her on her quest, and had laid it down on a bed of soft grass +while she worked. And it was this infant, wrapped as Tom afterward saw +in a piece of deer-skin, at which the condor was aiming. + +"Master shoot!" cried Koku, pointing to the down-sweeping bird. + +"You bet I'll shoot!" cried Tom. + +Throwing his electric rifle to his shoulder, Tom pressed the switch +trigger. The unseen but powerful force shot straight at the condor. + +The outstretched wings fell limp, the great body seemed to shrivel up, +and, with a crash, the bird fell into the underbrush, breaking the +twigs and branches with its weight. The electric rifle, a full account +of which was given in the volume entitled "Tom Swift and His Electric +Rifle," had done its work well. + +With a scream, in which was mingled a cry of thanks, the woman threw +herself on the sleeping child. The condor had fallen dead not three +paces from it. + +Tom Swift had shot just in time. + + + + +Chapter XVIII + +The Indian Strike + + +Snatching up in her arms the now awakened child, the woman gazed for a +moment into its face, which she covered with kisses. Then the +herb-gatherer looked over to the dead, limp body of the great condor, +and from thence to Tom. + +In another moment the woman had rushed forward, and knelt at the feet +of the young inventor. Holding the baby in one arm, in her other hand +the woman seized Tom's and kissed it fervently, at the same time pouring +forth a torrent of impassioned language, of which Tom could only make +out a word now and then. But he gathered that the woman was thanking +him for having saved the child. + +"Oh, that's all right," Tom said, rather embarrassed by the +hand-kissing. "It was an easy shot." + +An Indian came bursting through the bushes, evidently the woman's +husband by the manner in which she greeted him, and Tom recognized the +newcomer as one of the tunnel workers. There was some quick +conversation between the husband and wife, in which the latter made all +sorts of motions, including in their scope Tom, his rifle, the dead +condor and the now smiling baby. + +The man took off his hat and approached Tom, genuflecting as he might +have done in church. + +"She say you save baby from condor," the man said in his halting +English. "She t'ank you--me, I t'ank you. Bird see babe in deer +skin--t'ink um dead animal. Maybe so bird carry baby off, drop um on +sharp stone, baby smile no more. You have our lives, senor! We do +anyt'ing we can for you." + +"Thanks," said Tom, easily. "I'm glad I happened to be around. I +supposed condors only went for things dead, but I reckon, as you say, +it mistook the baby in the deer skin for a dead animal. And I guess it +might have carried your little one off, or at least lifted it up, and +then it might have dropped it far enough to have killed it. It sure is +a big bird," and Tom strolled over to look at what he had bagged. + +The condor of the Andes is the largest bird of prey in existence. One +in the Bronx Zoo, in New York, with his wings spread out, measured a +little short of ten feet from tip to tip. Measure ten feet out on the +ground and then imagine a bird with that wing stretch. + +This same condor in the park was made angry by a boy throwing a feather +boa up into the air outside the cage. The condor raised himself from +the ground, and hurled himself against the heavy wire netting so that +the whole, big cage shook. And the breeze caused by the flapping wings +blew off the hats of several spectators. So powerful was the air force +from the condor's wings that it reminded one of the current caused when +standing behind the propellers of an aeroplane in motion. The condor +rarely attacks living persons or animals, though it has been known to +carry off big sheep when driven by hunger. + +It was one of these animals Tom Swift had shot with his electric rifle. + +"We do anyt'ing you want," the man gratefully repeated. + +"Well, I've got about all I want," Tom said. "But if you could tell me +where those ten missing men are, and how they got out of the tunnel, +I'd be obliged to you." + +The woman did not seem to comprehend Tom's talk, but the man did. He +started, and fear seemed to come over him. + +"Me--I--I can not tell," he murmured. + +"No, I don't suppose you can," said Tom, musingly. "Well, it doesn't +matter, I guess I'll have to cross it off my books. I'll never find +out." + +Again the Indian and his wife expressed their gratitude, and Tom, after +letting the little brown baby cling to his finger, and patting its +chubby cheek, went on his way with Koku. + +"Well, that was some excitement," mused Tom, who made little of the +shot itself, for the condor was such a mark that he would have had to +aim very badly indeed to miss it. And perhaps only the electric rifle +could have killed quickly enough to prevent the baby's being injured in +some way by the big bird, even though it was dying. + +"Master heap good shot!" exclaimed Koku, admiringly. + +The tunnel work went on, though not so well as when Tom's explosive was +first used. The rock was indeed getting harder and was not so easily +shattered. Tom made tests of the pieces he had obtained from the +outcropping ledge on the mountain where he had shot the condor, and +decided to make a change in the powder. + +Shipments were regularly received from Shopton, Mr. Swift keeping +things in progress there. Mr. Damon's business was going on +satisfactorily, and he lent what aid he could to Tom. As for Professor +Bumper he kept on with his search for the lost city of Pelone, but with +no success. + +The scientist wanted Tom and Mr. Damon to go on another trip with him, +this time to a distant sierra, or fertile valley, where it was reported +a race of Indians lived, different from others in that region. + +"It may be that they are descendants from the Pelonians," suggested the +professor. Tom was too busy to go, but Mr. Damon went. The expedition +had all sorts of trouble, losing its way and getting into a swamp from +which escape was not easy. Then, too, the strange Indians proved +hostile, and the professor and his party could not get nearer than the +boundaries of the valley. + +"But the difficulties and the hostile attitude of these natives only +makes me surer that I am on the right track," said Mr. Bumper. "I shall +try again." + +Tom was busy over a problem in explosives one day when he saw Tim +Sullivan hurrying into the office of the two brothers. The Irishman +seemed excited. + +"I hope there hasn't been another premature blast," mused Tom. "But if +there had been I think I'd have heard it." + +He hastened out to see Job and Walter Titus in excited conversation +with Tim. + +"They didn't come out, an' thot's all there is to it," the foreman was +saying. "I sint thim in mesilf, and they worked until it was time t' +set off th' blast. I wint t' get th' fuse, an' I was goin' t' send th' +black imps out of danger, whin--whist--they was gone whin I got +back--fifteen of 'em this time!" + +"Do you mean that fifteen more of our men have vanished as the first +ten did?" asked Job Titus. + +"That's what I mean," asserted the Irishman. + +"It can't be!" declared Walter. + +"Look for yersilf!" returned Tim. "They're not in th' tunnel!" + +"And they didn't come out?" + +"Ask th' time-keeper," and Tim motioned to a young Englishman who, +since the other disappearance, had been stationed at the mouth of the +tunnel to keep a record of who went in and came out. + +"No, sir! Nobody kime hout, sir!" the Englishman declared. "Hi 'aven't +been away frim 'ere, sir, not since hi wint on duty, sir. An' no one +kime out, no, sir!" + +"We've got to stop this!" declared Job Titus. + +"I should say so!" agreed his brother. + +With Tom and Tim the Titus brothers went into the tunnel. It was +deserted, and not a trace of the men could be found. Their tools were +where they had been dropped, but of the men not a sign. + +"There must be some secret way out," declared Tom. + +"Then we'll find it," asserted the brothers. + +Work on the tunnel was stopped for a day, and, keeping out all natives, +the contractors, with Tom and such white men as they had in their +employ, went over every foot of roof, sides and floor in the big shaft. +But not a crack or fissure, large enough to permit the passage of a +child, much less a man, could be found. + +"Well, I give up!" cried Walter Titus in despair. "There must be +witchcraft at work here!" + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed his brother. "It's more likely the craft of +Blakeson & Grinder, with Waddington helping them." + +"Well, if a human agency made these twenty-five men disappear, prove +it!" insisted Walter. + +His brother did not know what to say. + +"Well, go on with the work," was Job's final conclusion. "We'll have +one of the white men constantly in the tunnel after this whenever a +gang is working. We won't leave the natives alone even long enough to +go to get a fuse. They'll be under constant supervision." + +The tunnel was opened for work, but there were no workers. The morning +after the investigation, when the starting whistle blew there was no +line of Indians ready to file into the big, black hole. The huts where +they slept were deserted. A strange silence brooded over the tunnel +camp. + +"Where are the men, Serato?" asked Tom of the Indian foreman. + +"Men um gone. No work any more. What you call a hit." + +"You mean a strike?" asked Tom. + +"Sure--strike--hit--all um same. No more work--um 'fraid!" + + + + +Chapter XIX + +A Woman Tells + + +"Well, if this isn't the limit!" cried Tom Swift. "As if we didn't +have trouble enough without a strike on our hands!" + +"I should say yes!" chimed in Job Titus. + +"Do you mean that the men won't work any more?" asked his brother of +the native foreman. + +"Sure, no more work--um much 'fraid big devil in tunnel carry um off +an' eat um." + +"Well, I don't know that I blame 'em for being a bit frightened," +commented Job. "It is a queer proceeding how twenty-five men can +disappear like that. Where have the men gone, Serato?" + +"Gone home. No more work. Go on hit--strike--same like white men." + +"They waited until pay day to go on strike," commented the bookkeeper, +a youth about Tom's age. + +This was true. The men had been paid off the day before, and usually on +such occasions many of them remained away, celebrating in the nearest +village. But this time all had left, and evidently did not intend to +come back. + +"We'll have to get a new gang," said Job. "And it's going to delay us +just at the wrong time. Well, there's no help for it. Get busy, Serato. +You and Tim go and see how many men you can gather. Tell them we'll +give them a sol a week more if they do good work. (A sol is the +standard silver coin of Peru, and is worth in United States gold about +fifty cents.) + +"Half a dollar a day more will look mighty big to them," went on the +contractor. "Get the men, Serato, and we'll raise your wages two sols a +week." + +The eyes of the Indian gleamed, and he went off, saying. + +"Um try, but men much 'fraid." + +Whether Serato used his best arguments could not, of course, be +learned, but he came back at the close of the day, unaccompanied by any +workers, and he shook his head despondently. + +"Indians no come for one sol, mebby not for two," he said. "I no can +git." + +"Then I'll try!" cried Job. "I'll get the workers. I'll make our old +ones come back, for they'll be the best." + +Accompanied by his brother and Tom he went to the various Indian +villages, including the one whence most of the men now on strike had +come. The fifteen missing ones were not found, though, as before, their +relatives, and, in some cases, their families, did not seem alarmed. +But the men who had gone on strike were found lolling about their +cabins and huts, smoking and taking their ease, and no amount of +persuasion could induce them to return. + +Some of them said they had worked long enough and were tired, needing a +rest. Others declared they had money enough and did not want more. Even +two more sols a week would not induce them to return. + +And many were frankly afraid. They said so, declaring that if they went +back to the tunnel some unknown devil might carry them off under the +earth. + +Job Titus and his brother, who could speak the language fairly well, +tried to argue against this. They declared the tunnel was perfectly +safe. But one native worker, who had been the best in the gang, asked: + +"Where um men go?" + +The contractors could not answer. + +"It's a trick," declared Walter. "Our rivals have induced the men to go +on strike in order to hamper us with the work so they'll get the job." + +But the closest inquiry failed to prove this statement. If Blakeson & +Grinder, or any of their agents, had a hand in the strike they covered +their operations well. Though diligent inquiry was made, no trace of +Waddington, or any other tool, could be found. + +Tom, who had some sort of suspicion of the bearded man on the steamer, +tried to find him, even taking a trip in to Lima, but without avail. + +The tunnel work was at a standstill, for there was little use in +setting off blasts if there were no men to remove the resulting piles +of debris. So, though Tom was ready with some specially powerful +explosive, he could not use it. + +Efforts were made to get laborers from another section of the country, +but without effect. The contractors heard of a big force of Italians +who had finished work on a railroad about a hundred miles away, and +they were offered places in the tunnel. But they would not come. + +"Well, we may as well give up," said Walter, despondently, to his +brother one day. "We'll never get the tunnel done on time now." + +"We still have a margin of safety," declared job. "If we could get the +men inside of a couple of weeks, and if Tom's new powder rips out more +rock, we'll finish in time." + +"Yes, but there are too many ifs. We may as well admit we've failed." + +"I'll never do that!" + +"What will you do?" + +But Job did not know. + +"If we could git a gang of min from the ould sod--th' kind I used t' +work wit in N'Yark," said Tim Sullivan, "I'd show yez whot could be +done! We'd make th' rock fly!" + +But that efficient labor was out of the question now. The tunnel camp +was a deserted place. + +"Come on, Koku, we'll go hunting," said Tom one day. "There's no use +hanging around here, and some venison wouldn't go bad on the table." + +"I'll come, too," said Mr. Damon. "I haven't anything to do." + +The Titus brothers had gone to a distant village, on the forlorn hope +of getting laborers, so Tom was left to his own devices, and he decided +to go hunting with his electric rifle. + +The taruco, or native deer, had been plentiful in the vicinity of the +tunnel until the presence of so many men and the frequent blasts had +driven them farther off, and it was not until after a tramp of several +miles that Tom saw one. Then, after stalking it a little way, he +managed to kill it with the electric rifle. + +Koku hoisted the animal to his big shoulders, and, as this would +provide meat enough for some time, Tom started back for camp. + +As he and Mr. Damon, with Koku in the rear, passed through a little +clearing, they saw, on the far side, a native hut. And from it rushed +a woman, who approached Tom, casting herself on her knees, while she +pressed his free hand to her head. + +"Bless my scarf pin!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "What does this mean, Tom?" + +"Oh, this is the mother of the child I saved from the condor," said +Tom. "Every time she sees me she thanks me all over again. How is the +baby?" he asked in the Indian tongue, for he was a fair master of it by +now. + +"The baby is well. Will the mighty hunter permit himself to enter my +miserable hovel and partake of some milk and cakes?" + +"What do you say, Mr. Damon?" Tom asked. "She's clean and neat, and she +makes a drink of goat's milk that isn't bad. She bakes some kind of +meal cakes that are good, too. I'm hungry." + +"All right, Tom, I'll do as you say." + +A little later they were partaking of a rude, but none the less +welcome, lunch in the woman's hut, while the baby whose life Tom had +saved cooed in the rough log cradle. + +"Say, Masni," asked Tom, addressing the woman by name, "don't you know +where we can get some men to work the tunnel?" Of course Tom spoke the +Indian language, and he had to adapt himself to the comprehension of +Masni. + +"Men no work tunnel?" she inquired. + +"No, they've all skipped out--vamoosed. Afraid of some spirit." + +The woman looked around, as though in fear. Then she approached Tom +closely and whispered: + +"No spirit in tunnel--bad man!" + +"What!" cried Tom, almost jumping off his stool. "What do you mean, +Masni?" + +"Me tell mighty hunter," she went on, lowering her voice still more. +"My man he no want to tell, he 'fraid, but I tell. Mighty hunter save +Vashni," and she looked toward the baby. "Me help friends of mighty +hunter. Bad man in tunnel--no spirit! + +"Men go. Spirit no take um--bad man take um." + +"Where are they now?" asked Tom. "Jove, if I could find them the secret +would be solved!" + +The woman looked fearfully around the hut and then whispered: + +"You come--me show!" + +"Bless my toothbrush!" cried Mr. Damon. "What is going to happen, Tom +Swift?" + +"I don't know," was the answer, "but something sure is in the wind. I +guess I shot better than I knew when I killed that condor." + + + + +Chapter XX + +Despair + + +Calling to a girl of about thirteen years to look after her baby, Masni +slipped along up a rough mountain trail, motioning to Tom, Mr. Damon +and Koku to follow. Or rather, the woman gave the sign to Tom, ignoring +the others, who, naturally, would not be left behind. Masni seemed to +have eyes for no one but the young inventor, and the manner in which +she looked at him showed the deep gratitude she felt toward him for +having saved her baby from the great condor. + +"Come," she said, in her strange Indian tongue, which Tom could +interpret well enough for himself now. + +"But where are we going, Masni?" he asked. "This isn't the way to the +tunnel." + +"Me know. Not go to tunnel now," was her answer. "Me show you men." + +"But which men do you mean, Masni?" inquired Tom. "The lost men, or the +bad ones, who are making trouble for us? Which men do you mean?" + +Masni only shook her head, and murmured: "Me show." + +Probably Tom's attempt to talk her language was not sufficiently clear +to her. + +"My man--he good man," she said, coming to a pause on the rough trail +after a climb which was not easy. + +"Yes, I know he is," Tom said. "But he went on a strike with the +others, Masni. He no work. He go on a 'hit,' as Serato calls it," and +Tom laughed. + +"My man he good man--but he 'fraid," said the wife. "He want to tell +you of bad mans, but he 'fraid. You save my baby, I no 'fraid. I tell." + +"Oh, I see," said Tom. "Your husband would have given away the secret, +only he's afraid of the bad men. He likes me, too?" + +"Sure!" Masni exclaimed. "He want tell, but 'fraid. He go 'way, I tell." + +Tom was not quite sure what it all meant, but it seemed that after his +slaying of the condor both parents were so filled with gratitude that +they wanted to reveal some secret about the tunnel, only Masni's +husband was afraid. She, however, had been braver. + +"Something is going to happen," said Tom Swift. "I feel it in my bones!" + +"Bless my porous plaster!" cried Mr. Damon. "I hope it isn't anything +serious." + +"We'll see," Tom went on. + +They resumed their journey up the mountain trail. It wound in and out +in a region none of them had before visited. Though it could not be +far from the tunnel, it was almost a strange country to Tom. + +Suddenly Masni stopped in a narrow gorge where the walls of rock rose +high on either hand. She seemed looking for something. Her sharp, black +eyes scanned the cliff and then with an exclamation of satisfaction she +approached a certain place. With a quick motion she pulled aside a mass +of tangled vines, and disclosed a path leading down through a V shaped +crack in the cliff. + +"Mans down there," she said. "You go look." + +For a moment Tom hesitated. Was this a trap? If he and his friends +entered this narrow and dark opening might not the Indian woman roll +down some rock back of them, cutting off forever the way of escape? + +Tom turned and looked at Masni. Then he was ashamed of his suspicion, +for the honest black face, smiling at him, showed no trace of guile. + +"You go--you see lost men," the woman urged. + +"Come on!" cried Tom. "I believe we're on the track of the mystery!" + +He led the way, followed by Mr. Damon, while Koku came next and then +Masni. It could be no trap since she entered it herself. + +The path widened, but not much. There was only room for one to walk at +a time. The trail twisted and turned, and Tom was wondering how far it +led, when, from behind him, came the cry of the woman: + +"Watch now--no fall down." + +Tom halted around a sharp turn, and stood transfixed at the sight which +met his gaze. He found himself looking out through a crack in the face +of a sheer stone cliff that went straight down for a hundred feet or +more to a green-carpeted valley. + +Tom was standing in a narrow cleft of rock--the same rock through which +they had made their way. And at the foot of the cliff was a little +encampment of Indians. There were a dozen huts, and wandering about +them, or sitting in the shade, were a score or more of Indians. + +"There men from tunnel," said Masni, and, as he looked, wondering, Tom +saw some of the workers he knew. One especially, was a laborer who +walked with a peculiar limp. + +"The missing men!" gasped the young inventor. + +"Bless my almanac!" cried Mr. Damon. "Where?" + +"Here," answered Tom. "If you squeeze past me you can see them." + +Mr. Damon did so. + +"How did they get here?" asked the odd man, as he looked down in the +little valley where the missing ones were sequestered. + +"That's what we've got to find out," Tom said. "At any rate here they +are, and they seem to be enjoying life while we've been worrying as to +what had become of them. How did they get here, Masni?" + +"Me show you. Come." + +"Wait until I take another look," said Tom. + +"Be careful they don't see you," cautioned Mr. Damon. + +"They can't very well. The cleft is screened by bushes." + +Tom looked down once more on the group of men who had so mysteriously +disappeared. The little valley stretched out away from the face of the +cliff, through which, by means of the crack, or cleft in it, Tom and +the others had come. Tom looked down the wall of rock. It was as smooth +as the side of a building, and offered no means of getting down or up. +Doubtless there was an easier entrance to the valley on the other side. +It was like looking down into some vast hall through an upper window or +from a balcony. + +"And those men have been in hiding, or been hidden here, ever since +they disappeared from the tunnel," said Mr. Damon. + +"It doesn't look as though they were detained by force," Tom remarked. +"I think they are being paid to stay away. How did they get here, +Masni?" + +"Me show you. Come!" + +They went back along the trail that led through the split in the rock, +until they had come to the place where the natural curtain of vines +concealed the entrance. Tom took particular notice of this place so he +would know it again. + +Then Masni led them over the mountain, and this time Tom saw that they +were approaching the tunnel. He recognized some places where he had +taken samples of rock from the outcropping to test the strength of his +explosive. + +Reaching a certain wild and desolate place, Masni made a signal of +caution. She seemed to be listening intently. Then, as if satisfied +there was no danger, she parted some bushes and glided in, motioning +the others to follow. + +"Now I wonder what's up," Tom mused. + +He and the others were soon informed. + +Masni stopped in front of a pile of brush. With a few vigorous motions +of her arms she swept it aside and revealed a smooth slab of rock. In +the centre was what seemed to be a block of metal Masni placed her foot +on this and pressed heavily. + +And those watching saw a strange thing. + +The slab of rock tilted to one side, as if on a pivot, revealing a +square opening which seemed to lead through solid stone. And at the far +end of the opening Tom Swift saw a glimmer of light. + +Stooping down, he looked through the hole thus strangely opened and +what he saw caused him to cry out in wonder. + +"It's the tunnel!" he cried. "I can look right down into the tunnel. +It's the incandescent lights I see. I can look right at the ledge of +rock where I kept watch that day, and where I saw--where I saw the face +of Waddington!" he cried. "It wasn't a dream after all. This is a +shaft connecting with the tunnel. We didn't discover it because this +rock fits right in the opening in the roof. It must have been there all +the while, and some blast brought it to light. Is this how the men got +out, or were taken out of the tunnel, Masni?" Tom asked. + +"This how," said the Indian woman. "See, here rope!" + +She pawed aside a mound of earth, and disclosed a rope buried there, a +rope knotted at intervals. This, let down through the hole in the roof +of the tunnel, provided a means of escape, and in such a manner that +the disappearance of the men was most mysterious. + +"I see how it is!" cried Tom. "Some one interested, Waddington +probably, who knew about this old secret shaft going down into the +earth, used it as soon as our blasting was opened that far. They got +the men out this way, and hid them in the secret valley." + +"But what for?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"To cripple us! To cause the strike by making our other workers afraid +of some evil spirit! The men were taken away secretly, and, doubtless, +have been kept in idleness ever since--paid to stay away so the mystery +would be all the deeper. Our rivals finding they couldn't stop us in +any other way have taken our laborers away from us." + +"Bless my meal ticket! It does look like that!" cried Mr. Damon. + +"Of course that's the secret!" cried Tom. "Blakeson & Grinder, or some +of their tools--probably the bearded man or Waddington--found out about +this shaft which led down into our tunnel. They induced the first ten +men to quit, and when Tim went to get the fuse the rope was let down, +and the men climbed up here, one after the other. Those Indians can +climb like cats. Once the ten were out the shaft was closed with the +rock, and the ten men taken off to the valley to be secreted there. + +"The same was done with the next fifteen, and, I suppose, if the strike +hadn't come, more of our workers would have been induced to leave in +this way. They're probably being better paid than when earning their +wages; and their relatives must know where they are, and also be given +a bonus to keep still. No wonder they didn't make a fuss. + +"And no wonder we couldn't find any opening in the tunnel roof. This +rock must fit in as smoothly as a secret drawer in the kind of old desk +where missing wills are found in stories." + +"You say you saw Waddington, or the bearded man?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"At the time," replied Tom, "I thought it was a dream. Now I know it +wasn't. He must have opened the shaft just as I awakened from a doze. +He saw me and closed it again. He may have been getting ready then to +take off more of our men, so as to scare the others. Well, we've found +out the trick." + +"And what are you going to do next?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Get those missing men back. That will break the hoodoo, and the others +will come back to work. Then we'll get on the trail of Waddington, or +Blakeson & Grinder, and put a stop to this business. We know their +secret now." + +"You mean to get the men out of the secret valley, Tom?" + +"Yes. There must be some other way into it than down the rock where we +were. How about it, Masni?" and he inquired as to the valley. The +Indian woman gave Tom to understand that there was another entrance. + +"Well, close up this shaft now before some one sees us at it--the +bearded man, for example," Tom suggested. He took another look down +into the tunnel, which was now deserted on account of the strike, and +then Masni pressed on the mechanism that worked the stone. She showed +Tom how to do it. + +"Just a counter-balanced rock operating on the same principle as does a +window," Tom explained, after a brief examination. "Probably some of +the old Indian tribes made this shaft for ceremonial purposes. They +never dreamed we would drive a tunnel along at the bottom of it. The +shaft probably opened into a cave, and one of our blasts made it part +of the tunnel. Well, this is part of the secret, anyhow. Much obliged +to you, Masni!" + +The Indian woman had indeed revealed valuable information. They +covered the secret rock with brush, as it had been, hid the rope and +came away. But Tom knew how to find the place again. + +Events moved rapidly from then on. The Titus brothers were more than +astonished when Tom told them what he had learned. Masni had told him +how to get into the secret valley by a round about, but easy trail, and +thither Tom, the contractors, Mr. Damon and some of the white tunnel +workers went the next day. + +The sequestered men, taken completely by surprise, tried to bolt when +they saw that they were discovered, and then, shamefacedly enough, +admitted their part in the trick. + +They would not, however, reveal who had helped them escape from the +tunnel. Threats and promises of rewards were alike unavailing, but Tom +and his employers knew well enough who it was. The tunnel workers +seemed rather tired of living in comparative luxury and idleness, and +agreed to come back to their labors. + +They packed up their few belongings, mostly cooking pots and pans, and +marched out of the valley to the village at Rimac. + +And so the strike was broken. + +The reappearance of the missing men, in better health and spirits than +when they went away, acted like magic. The other men, who had missed +their wages, crowded back into the shaft, and the sounds of picks and +shovels were heard again in the tunnel. + +Whether the missing ones told the real story, or whether they made up +some tale to account for their absence, Tom and his friends could not +learn. Nor did the bearded man (if he it were who had helped in the +plot), nor any representative of Blakeson & Grinder appear. The work on +the tunnel was resumed as if nothing had happened. But Tom arranged a +bright light so it would reflect on the spot in the roof where the +moving rock was, so that if the evil face of the bearded man, or of +Waddington, appeared there again, it would quickly be seen. A search of +the neighborhood, and diligent inquiries, failed to disclose the +presence of any of the plotters. + +And then, as if Fate was not making it hard enough for the tunnel +contractors, they encountered more trouble. It was after Tom had set +off a big blast that Tim Sullivan, after inspecting what had happened, +came out to ask. + +"I soy, Mr. Swift, why didn't yez use more powder?" + +"More powder!" cried Tom. "Why, this is the most I have ever set off." + +"Then somethin's wrong, sor. Fer there's only a little rock down. Come +an' see fer yersilf." + +Tom hastened in. As the foreman had said, the effect of the blast was +small indeed. Only a little rock had been shaled off. Tom picked up +some of this and took it outside for examination. + +"Why, it's harder than the hardest flint we've found yet," he said. +"The powder didn't make any impression on it at all. I'll have to use +terrific charges." + +This was done, but with little better effect. The explosive, powerful +as it was, ate only a little way into the rock. Blast after blast had +the same poor effect. + +"This won't do," said Job Titus, despairingly, one day. "We aren't +making any progress at all. There's a half mile of this rock, according +to my calculations, and at this rate we'll be six months getting +through it. By that time our limit will be up, and we'll be forced to +give up the contract What can we do, Tom Swift?" + + + + +Chapter XXI + +A New Explosive + + +The young inventor was idly handling some pieces of the very hard rock +that had cropped out in the tunnel cut. Tom had tested it, he had +pulverized it (as well as he was able), he had examined it under the +microscope, and he had taken great slabs of it and set off under it, or +on top of it, charges of explosive of various power to note the effect. +But the results had not been at all what he had hoped for. + +"What's to be done, Tom?" repeated the contractor. + +"Well, Mr. Titus," was the answer, "the only thing I see to do is to +make a new explosive." + +"Can you do it, Tom?" + +The reply was characteristic. + +"I can try." + +And in the days that followed, Tom began work on a new line. He had +brought from Shopton with him much of the needful apparatus, and he +found he could obtain in Lima what he lacked. + +A message to his father brought the reply that the new ingredients Tom +needed would be shipped. + +"The kind of explosive we need to rend that very hard rock," the young +inventor explained to the Titus brothers, "is one that works slowly." + +"I thought all explosions had to be as quick as a flash," said Walter. + +"Well, in a sense, they do. Yet we have quick burning and slow-burning +powders, the same as we have fuses. A quick-burning explosive is all +right in soft rock, or in soil with rock and earth mingled. But in rock +that is harder than flint if you use a quick explosive, only the outer +surface of the rock will be scaled off. + +"If you take a hammer and bring it down with all your force on a hard +rock you may chip off a lot of little pieces, or you may crack the +rock, but you won't, under ordinary circumstances, pulverize it as we +want to do in the tunnel. + +"On the other hand, if you take a smaller hammer, and keep tapping the +rock with comparatively gentle blows, you will set up a series of +vibrations, that, in time, will cause the hard rock to break up into +any number of small pieces. + +"Now that is the kind of explosive I want--one that will deal a +succession of constant blows at the hard rock instead of one great big +blast." + +"Can you make it, Tom?" + +"Well, I don't know. I'll do the best I can." + +From then on Tom was busy with his experiments. + +Work on the tunnel did not cease while he was searching for a new +explosive. There was plenty of the old explosive left and charges of +this were set off as fast as holes could be drilled to receive it. But +comparatively little was accomplished. Sometimes more rock would be +loosed than at others, and the native laborers, now seemingly perfectly +contented, would be kept busy. Again, when a heavy blast would be set +off hardly a dozen dump cars could be filled. + +But the work must go on. Already the time limit was getting perilously +close, and the contractors did not doubt that their rivals were only +waiting for a chance to step in and take their places. + +Nothing more had been seen or heard of the bearded man, Waddington, or +Blakeson & Grinder. But that the rival firm had not given up was +evidenced by the efforts made in New York to cripple, financially, the +firm in which Tom was interested. In fact, at one time the Titus +brothers were so tied up that they could not get money enough to pay +their men. But Tom cabled his father, who was quite wealthy, and Mr. +Swift loaned the contractors enough to proceed with until they could +dispose of some securities. + +It might be mentioned that Tom was to get a large sum if the tunnel +were completed on time, so it was to his interest and his father's, to +bring 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 +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 disappeared--who had, seemingly, gone willingly up the +knotted rope to hide themselves in the valley--kept on with their work. +If they told their fellows why and where they had gone, the others 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 +fragments by Tom's new explosive. + + + + +Chapter XXII + +The Fight + + +"Get off there, Koku!" + +"Stand up!" + +"Run!" + +"Get out of 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 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 +afterward--well, 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. "Koku--he--he--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. + +"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." + +"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!" + + + + +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 +that--a 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 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 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 +hoarse voice. "Me fix: 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 see--Koku 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 Tom, "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 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 +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? + + + + +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 there 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 quiet--tensely 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." + +"I am going, Tom, very soon. I thought I would stop and see the effect +of your big blast. This is my last trip. If I do not find the hidden +city of Pelone this time, I am going to give up." + +"Give up!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my fountain pen!" + +"Oh, not altogether," went on the bald-headed scientist. "I mean I +will give up searching in this part of Peru, and go elsewhere. But I +will never completely give up the search, for I am sure the hidden city +exists somewhere under these mountains," and he looked off toward the +snow-covered peaks of the Andes. + +Tom looked at the battery box. He drew a long breath, and said: + +"Here she goes!" + +There was a contraction of his hand as he pressed the switch over, and +then, for perhaps a half second, nothing happened. Just for an instant +Tom feared something had gone wrong that the electric current had +failed, or that the wires had become disconnected--perhaps through some +action of the plotting rivals. + +And then, gently at first, but with increasing intensity, the solid +ground on which they were all standing seemed to rock and sway, to +heave itself up, and then sink down. + +"Bless my--" began Mr. Damon, but he got no further, for a mighty gust +of wind swept out of the tunnel, and blew off his hat. That gust was +but a gentle breeze, though, compared to what followed. For there came +such a rush of air that it almost blew over those standing near the +opening of the great shaft driven under the mountain. There was a roar +as of Niagara, a howling as in the Cave of the Winds, and they all bent +to the blast. + +Then followed a dull, rumbling roar, not as loud as might have been +expected, but awful in its intensity. Deep down under the very +foundations of the earth it seemed to rumble. + +"Run! Run back!" cried Tom Swift. "There's a back-draft and the powder +gas is poisonous. Stoop down and run back!" + +They understood what he meant. The vapor from the powder was deadly if +breathed in a confined space. Even in the open it gave one a terrible +headache. And Tom could see floating out of the tunnel the first wisps +of smoke from the fired explosive. It was lighter than air, and would +rise. Hence the necessity, as in a smoke-filled room, of keeping low +down where the air is purer. + +They all rushed back, stooping low. Mr. Damon stumbled and fell, but +Koku picked him up and, tucking him under one arm, as he might have +done a child, the giant followed Tom to a place of safety. + +"Well, Tom, it went off all right," said Mr. Job Titus, as they stood +among the shacks of the workmen and watched the smoke pouring out of +the tunnel mouth. + +"Yes, it went off. But did it do the work? That's what we've got to +find out." + +They waited impatiently for the deadly vapor to clear out of the +tunnel. It was more than an hour before they dared venture in, and then +it was with smarting eyes and puckered throats. But the atmosphere was +quickly clearing. + +"Switch on the lights," cried Tom to Tim, for the illuminating current +had been cut off when the blast was fired. "Let's see what we've +brought down." + +Following the eager young inventor came the contractors, some of the +white workers, Mr. Damon and Professor Bumper. The little scientist +said he would like to see the effect of the big blast. + +Along they stumbled over pieces of rock, large and small. + +"Some force to it," observed Job Titus, as he observed pieces of rock +close to the mouth of the tunnel. "If it only exerted the force the +other way, against the face of the rock, as well as back this way, +we'll be all right." + +"The greater force was in the opposite direction," Tom said. + +A big search-light had been got ready to flash on the place where the +blast had been set off. This was to enable them to see how much rock +had been torn away. And, as they reached the place where the flint-like +wall had been, they saw a strange sight. + +"Bless my strawberry short-cake!" gasped Mr. Damon. "What a hole!" + +"It is a hole," admitted Tom, in a low voice. "A bigger hole than I +dared hope for." + +For a great cave, seemingly, had been blown in the face of the rock +wall that had hindered the progress of the tunnel. A great black void +confronted them. + +"Shift the light over this way," called Tom to Walter Titus, who was +operating it. "I can't see anything." + +The great beam of light flashed into the void, and then a murmur of awe +came from every throat. + +For there, revealed in the powerful electrical rays, was what seemed to +be a long tunnel, high and wide, as smooth as a paved street. And on +either side of it were what appeared to be buildings, some low, others +taller. And, branching off from the main tunnel, or street, were other +passages, also lined with buildings, some of which had crumbled to +ruins. + +"Bless my dictionary!" cried Mr. Damon. "What is it?" + +Professor Bumper had crawled forward over the mass of broken rock. He +gazed as if fascinated at what the searchlight showed, and then he +cried: + +"I have found it! I have found it! The hidden city of Pelone!" + + + + +Chapter XXV + +Success + + +Had it not been for Tom Swift, the excited professor would have rushed +pellmell over the jagged pile of rocks into the great cave which had +been opened by the blast, the cave in which the scientist declared was +the lost city for which he had been searching. But the young inventor +grasped Mr. Bumper by the arm. + +"Better wait a bit," Tom suggested. "There may be powder gas in there. +Some of it must have blown forward." + +"I don't care!" excitedly cried the professor. "That is the hidden +city! I'm sure of it! I have found it at last! I must go in and examine +it!" + +"There'll be plenty of time," said Tom. "It isn't going to run away. +Wait until I make a test Tim, hand me one of those torches." + +Some torches of a very inflammable wood were used to test for the +presence of the deadly smoke-gas. Lighting one of these, Tom tossed it +into the big excavation. + +It fell to the stone floor--to the stone street to be more exact--and, +flaring up brightly, further revealed the rows of houses as they stood, +silent and uninhabited. + +"It's all right," Tom announced. "There's no danger so long as the +torch burns. You can go on, Professor." + +And Professor Bumper rushed forward, scrambling over the pile of +blasted rock, followed by Tom and the others. Some of the debris from +the explosion had fallen into the cave, and was scattered for some +distance along the main street of what had been Pelone. But beyond that +the way was clear. + +"Yes, it is Pelone," cried Professor Bumper. "See!" + +He pointed to inscriptions in queer characters over the doorway of some +of the houses, but he alone could read them. + +"I have found Pelone!" he kept repeating over and over again. + +And that is just what had happened. That last great blast Tom Swift had +set off had broken down the rock wall that hid the lost city from view. +There it was, buried deep down under the mountain, where it had been +covered from sight ages ago by some mighty earthquake or landslide; +perhaps both. And the earth and rocks had fallen over the main portion +of the city of Pelone in such a way--in such an arch formation--that +the greater part of it was preserved from the pressure of the mountain +above it. + +The outlying portions were crushed into dust by the awful pressure of +the mountain--millions of tons of stone--but where the natural arch had +formed the weight was kept off the buildings, most of which were as +perfect as they had been before the cataclysm came. + +The buildings were of stone block construction, mostly only one story +in height, though some were two. They were simply made, somewhat after +the fashion of the Aztecs. A look into some of them by the light of +portable electric lamps showed that the houses were furnished with some +degree of taste and luxury. There were traces of an ancient +civilization. + +But of the inhabitants, there was not a trace: either they had fled +before the earthquake or the volcanic eruption had engulfed the city, +or the countless centuries had turned their very bones to dust. + +"Oh, what a find! What a find!" murmured Professor Bumper. "I shall be +famous! And so will you, Tom Swift. For it was your blast that revealed +the lost city of Pelone. Your name will be honored by every +archeological society in the world, and all will be eager to make you +an honorary member." + +"That's all very nice," said Tom, "but what pleases me better is that +this tunnel is a success." + +"Success!" cried Mr. Damon. "I should call it a failure, Tom Swift. +Why, you've run smack into an old city, and you'll have either to curve +the tunnel to one side, or start a new one." + +"Nothing of the sort!" laughed Tom. "Don't you see? The tunnel comes +right up to the main street of Pelone. And the street is as straight as +a die, and just the width and height of the tunnel. All we will have to +do will be to keep on blasting away, where the main street comes to an +end, and our tunnel will be finished. The street is over half a mile +long, I should judge, and we'll save all that blasting. The tunnel will +be finished in time!" + +"So it will!" cried Job Titus. "We can use the main street of the +hidden city as part of the tunnel." + +"Use the street all you like," said Mr. Bumper, "but leave the houses +to me. They are a perfect mine of ancient lore and information. At last +I have found it! The ancient, hidden city of Pelone, spoken of on the +Peruvian tablets, of gold." + +The story of the discoveries the scientist made in Pelone is an +enthralling one. But this is a story of Tom Swift and his big tunnel, +and no place for telling of the archeological discoveries. + +Suffice it to say that Professor Bumper, though he found no gold, for +which the contractors hoped, made many curious finds in the ancient +houses. He came upon traces of a strange civilization, though he could +find no record of what had caused the burial of Pelone beneath the +mountains. He wrote many books about his discovery, giving Tom Swift +due credit for uncovering the place with the mighty blast. Other +scientists came in flocks, and for a time Pelone was almost as busy a +place as it had been originally. + +Even when the tunnel was completed and trains ran through it, the +scientists kept on with their work of classifying what they found. An +underground station was built on the main street of the old city, and +visitors often wandered through the ancient houses, wherein was the +bone-dust of the dead and gone people. + +But to go back to the story of Tom Swift. Tom's surmise was right. He +and the contractors were able to use the main street of Pelone as part +of their tunnel, and a good half mile of blasting through solid rock +was saved. The flint came to an end at the extremity of Pelone, and the +last part of the tunnel had only to be dug through sand-stone and soft +dirt, an easy undertaking. + +So the big bore was finished on time--ahead of time in fact, and Titus +Brothers received from Senor Belasdo, the Peruvian representative, a +large bonus of money, in which Tom Swift shared. + +"So our rivals didn't balk us after all," said Walter Titus, "though +they tried mighty hard." + +The big tunnel was finished--at least Tom Swift's work on it. All that +remained to do was to clear away the debris and lay the connecting +rails. Tom and Mr. Damon prepared to go back home. The latter's work +was done. As for Professor Bumper, nothing could take him from Pelone. +He said he was going to live there, and, practically, he did. + +Tom, Koku and Mr. Damon returned to Lima, thence to go to Callao to +take the steamer for San Francisco. One day the manager of the hotel +spoke to them. + +"You are Americans, are you not?" he asked. + +"Yes," answered Tom. "Why?" + +"Because there is another American here. He is friendless and alone, +and he is dying. He has no friends, he says. Perhaps--" + +"Of course we'll do what we can for him," said Tom, impulsively. "Where +is he?" + +With Mr. Damon he entered the room where the dying man lay. He had +caught a fever, the hotel manager said, and could not recover. Tom, +catching sight of the sufferer, cried: + +"The bearded man! Waddington!" + +He had recognized the mysterious person who had been on the Bellaconda, +and the man whose face had stared at him through the secret shaft of +the tunnel. + +"Yes, the 'bearded man' now," said the sufferer in a hoarse voice, "and +some one else too. You are right. I am Waddington!" + +And so it proved. He had grown a beard to disguise himself so he might +better follow Tom Swift and Mr. Titus. And he had followed them, +seeking to prevent the completion of the tunnel. But he had not been +successful. + +Waddington it was who had thrown the bomb, though he declared he only +hoped to disable Tom and Mr. Titus, and not to injure them. He was +fighting for delay. And it was Waddington, working in conjunction with +the rascally foreman Serato, who had induced the tunnel workers to +desert so mysteriously, hoping to scare the other Indians away. He +nearly succeeded too, had it not been for the gratitude of the woman +whose baby Tom had saved from the condor. + +Waddington had been an actor before he became involved with the rival +contractors. He was smooth shaven when first he went to Shopton, to spy +on Mr. Titus, whose movements he had been commanded to follow by +Blakeson & Grinder. Then he disappeared after Mr. Titus chased him, +only to reappear, in disguise, on board the Bellaconda, as Senor Pinto. + +Waddington, meanwhile, had grown a beard and this, with his knowledge +of theatrical makeup, enabled him to deceive even Mr. Titus. Of course +it was comparatively easy to deceive Tom, who had not known him. +Waddington had really been ill when he called for help on the ship, and +he had not noticed that it was Tom and Mr. Titus who came into his +stateroom to his aid. When he did recognize them, he relied on his +disguise to screen him from recognition, and he was successful. He had +only pretended to be ill, though, the time he slipped out and threw the +bomb. + +Reaching Peru he at once began his plotting. Serato told him about the +secret shaft leading into the tunnel, and with the knotted rope, and +with the aid of the faithless foreman, the men were got out of the +tunnel and paid to hide away. Waddington was planning further +disappearances when Tom saw him, but thought it a dream. + +Masni, the Indian woman, out herb-hunting one day, had seen Waddington, +'the bearded man' as he then was--working the secret stone. Hidden, she +observed him and told her husband, who was afraid to reveal what he +knew. But when Tom saved the baby the woman rewarded him in the only +way possible. And it was Serato, who, at Waddington's suggestion, +caused the "hit" among the men by working on their superstitious fears. + +Waddington, knowing that he was dying, confessed everything, and begged +forgiveness from Tom and his friends, which was granted, in as much as +no real harm had been done. Waddington was but a tool in the hands of +the rival contractors, who deserted him in his hour of need. His last +hours, however, were made as comfortable as possible by the generosity +of Tom and Mr. Damon. + +No effort was made to bring Blakeson & Grinder to justice, as there was +no evidence against them after Waddington died. And, as the tunnel was +finished, the Titus brothers had no further cause for worry. + +"But if it had not been for Tom's big blast, and the discovery of the +hidden city of Pelone just in the right place, we might be digging at +that tunnel yet," said Job Titus. + +The day before the steamer was to sail, Tom Swift received a cable +message. Its receipt seemed to fill him with delight, so that Mr. Damon +asked: + +"Is it from your father, Tom?" + +"No it's from Mary Nestor. She says her father has forgiven me. They +have been away, and Mary has been ill, which accounts for no letters up +to now. But everything is all right now, and they feel that the +dynamite trick wasn't my fault. But, all the same, I'm going to teach +Eradicate to read," concluded Tom. + +"I think it would be a good idea," agreed Mr. Damon. + +Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku, bidding farewell to the friends they had made +in Peru, went aboard the steamer, Job Titus and his brother coming to +see them off. + +"Give us an option on all that explosive you make, Tom Swift!" begged +Walter Titus. "We were so successful with this tunnel, thanks to you, +that the government is going to have us dig another. Will you come +down and help?" + +"Maybe," said Tom, with a smile. "But I'm going home first," and once +more he read the message from Mary Nestor. + +And as Tom, on the deck of the steamer, waved his hands to Professor +Bumper and his other friends whom he was leaving in Peru, we also, will +say farewell. + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Big Tunnel, by Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL *** + +***** This file should be named 953.txt or 953.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/5/953/ + +Produced by Anthony Matonac. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL +or +The Hidden City of the Andes + +by +Victor Appleton + + + +CONTENTS + I An Appeal for Aid + II Explanations + III A Face at the Window + IV Tom's Experiments + V Mary's Present + VI Mr. Nestor's Letter + VII Off for Peru + VIII The Bearded Man + IX The Bomb + X Professor Bumper + XI In the Andes + XII The Tunnel + XIII Tom's Explosive + XIV Mysterious Disappearances + XV Frightened Indians + XVI On the Watch + XVII The Condor +XVIII The Indian Strike + XIX A Woman Tells + XX Despair + XXI A New Explosive + XXII The Fight +XXIII A Great Blast + XXIV The Hidden City + XXV Success + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL + + + + +Chapter I + +An Appeal for Aid + + + +Tom Swift, seated in his laboratory engaged in trying to +solve a puzzling question that had arisen over one of his +inventions, was startled by a loud knock on the door. So +emphatic, in fact, was the summons that the door trembled, +and Tom started to his feet in some alarm. + +"Hello there!" he cried. "Don't break the door, Koku!" and +then he laughed. "No one but my giant would knock like +that," he said to himself. "He never does seem able to do +things gently. But I wonder why he is knocking. I told him +to get the engine out of the airship, and Eradicate said +he'd be around to answer the telephone and bell. I wonder if +anything has happened?" + +Tom shoved back his chair, pushed aside the mass of papers +over which he had been puzzling, and strode to the door. +Flinging it open he confronted a veritable giant of a man, +nearly eight feet tall, and big in proportion. The giant, +Koku, for that was his name, smiled in a good-natured way, +reminding one of an overgrown boy. + +"Master hear my knock?" the giant asked cheerfully. + +"Hear you, Koku? Say, I couldn't hear anything else!" +exclaimed Tom. "Did you think you had to arouse the whole +neighborhood just to let me know you were at the door? Jove! +I thought you'd have it off the hinges." + +"If me break, me fix," said Koku, who, from his appearance +and from his imperfect command of English, was evidently a +foreigner. + +"Yes, I know you can fix lots of things, Koku," Tom went +on, kindly enough. "But you musn't forget what enormous +strength you have. That's the reason I sent you to take the +engine out of the airship. You can lift it without using the +chain hoist, and I can't get the chain hoist fast unless I +remove all the superstructure. I don't want to do that. Did +you get the engine out?" + +"Not quite. Almost, Master." + +"Then why are you here? Has anything gone wrong?" + +"No, everything all right, Master. But man come to +machine shop and say he must have talk with you. I no let +him come past the gate, but I say I come and call you." + +"That's right, Koku. Don't let any strangers past the +gate. But why didn't Eradicate come and call me. He isn't +doing anything, is he? Unless, indeed, he has gone to feed +his mule, Boomerang." + +"Eradicate, he come to call you, but that black man no +good!" and Koku chuckled so heartily that he shook the floor +of the office. + +"What's the matter with Eradicate?" asked Tom, somewhat +anxiously. "I hope you and he haven't had another row?" +Eradicate had served Tom and his father long before Koku, +the giant, had been brought back from one of the young +inventor's many strange trips, and ever since then there had +been a jealous rivalry between the twain as to who should +best serve Tom. + +"No trouble, Master," said Koku. "Eradicate he start to +come and tell you strange man want to have talk, but +Eradicate he no come fast enough. So I pick him up, and I +set him down by gate to stand on guard, and I come to tell +you. Koku come quick!" + +"Oh, I knew it must be something like that!" exclaimed Tom +in some vexation. "Now I'll have Eradicate complaining to me +that you mauled him. Picked him up and set him down again." + +"Sure. One hand!" boasted the giant. "Eradicate him not be +heavy. More as a sack of flour now." + +"No, poor Eradicate is getting pretty old and thin," +commented Tom. "He can't move very quickly. But you should +have let him come, Koku. It makes him feel badly when he +thinks he can't be of service to me any more." + +"Man say he in hurry." The giant spoke softly, as though +he felt the gentle rebuke Tom administered. "Koku run quick +tell you--bang on door." + +"Yes, you banged all right, Koku. Well, it can't be +helped, I reckon. Where is this strange man? Who is he? Did +you ever see him before?" + +"Me no can tell, Master. Not sure. But him now be at the +outer gate. Eradicate watch." + +"All right. I'll go and see who it is. I don't want any +strangers poking around here, especially with the plans of +my new gyroscope lying in plain view." + +Before he left the laboratory Tom swept into a desk drawer +the mass of papers and blue prints, and locked the +receptacle. + +"No use taking any chances," he remarked. "I've had too +much trouble with people trying to get inside information +about dad's and my patents. Now, Koku, I'll go and see this +man." + +The buildings composing the plant of Tom Swift and his +father at Shopton were enclosed by a high, board fence, and +at one of the entrances was a sort of gate-house, where some +one was always on guard. Only those who could give a good +account of themselves, workmen in the plant, or those known +to the sentinel were admitted. + +It happened that the colored man, Eradicate, was on guard +at the gates this day when the stranger asked to see Tom. +Koku, working on the airship engine not far away, saw the +stranger. Hearing the man say he was in a hurry and noting +the slow progress of the aged Eradicate, who was troubled +with rheumatism, the giant took matters into his own hands. + +Tom Swift entered the gate-house and saw, seated in a +chair, a man who was impatiently tapping the floor with his +thick-soled shoe. + +"Looks like a detective or a policeman in disguise," +thought Tom, for, almost invariably, members of this +profession wear very thick-soled shoes. Opposite the +stranger sat Eradicate, a much-injured look on his honest, +black face. + +"Oh, Massa Tom!" exclaimed Eradicate, as soon as the young +inventor entered. "Dat Koku he--he--he done gone and cotch +me by de collar ob mah coat, an' den he lif' me up, an' he +sot me down so hard--so hard--dat he jar loose all mah back +teef!" and Eradicate opened his mouth wide to display his +gleaming ivories. + +"Eradicate, he no can come quick. He walk like so +fashion!" and Koku, who had followed the young inventor, +imitated the limping gait of the colored man with such a +queer effect that Tom could not help laughing, and the +stranger smiled. + +"Ef I gits holt on yo'--ef I does, yo' great, big, +overgrown lummox, Ah'll--Ah'll--" began the colored man, +stammeringly. + +"There. That will do now!" interrupted Tom. "Don't quarrel +in here. Koku, get back to that engine and lift out the +motor. Eradicate, didn't father tell you to whitewash the +chicken coops to-day?" + +"Dat's what he done, Massa Tom." + +"Well, go and see about that. I'll stay here for a while, +and when I leave I'll call one of you, or some one else, to +be on guard. Skip now!" + +Having thus disposed of the warring factions, Tom turned +to the stranger and after apologizing for the little +interruption, asked: + +"You wished to see me?" + +"If you're Tom Swift; yes." + +"Well, I'm Tom Swift," and the young owner of the name +smiled. + +"I hope you will pardon a stranger for calling on you," +resumed the man, "but I'm in a lot of trouble, and I think +you are the only one who can help me out." + +"What sort of trouble?" Tom inquired. + +"Contracting trouble--tunnel blasting, to be exact. But if +you have a few minutes to spare perhaps you will listen to +my story. You will then be better able to understand my +difficulty." + +Tom Swift considered a moment. He was used to having +appeals for help made to him, and usually they were of a +begging nature. He was often asked for money to help some +struggling inventor complete his machine. + +In many cases the machines would have been of absolutely +no use if perfected. In other cases the inventions were of +the utterly hopeless class, incapable of perfection, like +some perpetual motion apparatus. In these cases Tom turned a +deaf ear, though if the inventor were in want our hero +relieved him. + +But this case did not seem to be like anything Tom had +ever met with before. + +"Contracting trouble--blasting," repeated the youth, as he +mused over what he had heard. + +"That's it," the man went on. "Permit me to introduce +myself" and he held out a card, on which was the name + +MR. JOB TITUS + + +Down in the lower left-hand corner was a line: + +"Titus Brothers, Contractors." + +"I am glad to meet you, Mr. Titus," Tom said warmly, +offering his hand. "I don't know anything about the +contracting business, but if you do blasting I suppose you +use explosives, and I know a little about them." + +"So I have heard, and that's why I came to you," the +contractor went on. "Now if you'll give me a few minutes of +your time--" + +"You had better come up to the house," interrupted Tom. +"We can talk more quietly there." + +Calling a young fellow who was at work near by to occupy +the gate-house, Tom led Mr. Titus toward the Swift +homestead, and, a little later, ushered him into the +library. + +"Now I'll listen to you," the youth said, "though I can't +promise to aid you." + +"I realize that," returned Mr. Titus. "This is a sort of +last chance I'm taking. My brother and I have heard a lot +about you, and when he wrote to me that he was unable to +proceed with his contract of tunneling the Andes Mountains +for the Peruvian government, I made up my mind you were the +one who could help us if you would." + +"Tunneling the Andes Mountains!" exclaimed Tom. + +"Yes. The firm represented by my brother and myself have a +contract to build a railroad for the Peruvian government. At +a point some distance back in the district east of Lima, +Peru, we are making a tunnel under the mountain. That is, we +have it started, but now we can't advance any further." + +"Why not?" + +"Because of the peculiar character of the rock, which +seems to defy the strongest explosive we can get. Now I +understand you used a powder in your giant cannon that--" + +Mr. Titus paused in his explanation, for at that moment +there arose such a clatter out on the front piazza as +effectually to drown conversation. There was a noise of the +hoofs of a horse, the fall of a heavy body, a tattoo on the +porch floor and then came an excited shout: + +"Whoa there! Whoa! Stop! Look out where you're kicking! +Bless my saddle blanket! Ouch! There I go!" + + + + +Chapter II + +Explanations + + + +"What in the world is that?" cried Mr. Job Titus, in alarm. + +Tom Swift did not answer. Instead he jumped up from his +chair and ran toward the front door. Mr. Titus followed. +They both saw a strange sight. + +Standing on the front porch, which he seemed to occupy +completely, was a large horse, with a saddle twisted +underneath him. The animal was looking about him as calmly +as though he always made it a practice to come up on the +front piazza when stopping at a house. + +Off to one side, with a crushed hat on the back of his +head, with a coat split up the back, with a broken riding +crop in one hand and a handkerchief in the other, sat a +dignified, elderly gentleman. + +That is, he would have been dignified had it not been for +his position and condition. No gentleman can look dignified +with a split coat and a crushed hat on, sitting under the +nose of a horse on a front piazza, with his raiment +otherwise much disheveled, while he wipes his scratched and +bleeding face with a handkerchief. + +"Bless my--bless my--" began the elderly gentleman, and he +seemed at a loss what particular portion of his anatomy or +that of the horse, to bless, or what portion of the universe +to appeal to, for he ended up with: "Bless everything, Tom +Swift!" + +"I heartily agree with you, Mr. Damon!" cried Tom. "But +what in the world happened?" + +"That!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, pointing with his broken crop +at the horse on the piazza. "I was riding him when he ran +away--just as my motorcycle tried to climb a tree. No more +horses for me! I'll stick to airships," and slamming his +riding crop down on the porch floor with such force that the +horse started back, Mr. Damon arose, painfully enough if the +contortions on his face and his grunts of pain went for +anything. + +"Let me help you!" begged Tom, striding forward. "Mr. +Titus, perhaps you will kindly lead the horse down off the +piazza?" + +"Certainly!" answered the tunnel contractor. "Whoa now!" +he called soothingly, as the steed evinced a disposition to +sit down on the side railing. "Steady now!" + +The horse finally allowed himself to be led down the broad +front steps, sadly marking them, as well as the floor of the +piazza, with his sharp shoes. + +"Ouch! Oh, my back!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as Tom helped +him to stand up. + +"Is it hurt?" asked Tom, anxiously. + +"No, I've just got what old-fashioned folks call a 'crick' +in it," explained the elderly horseman. "But it feels more +like a river than a 'crick.' I'll be all right presently." + +"How did it happen?" asked Tom, as he led his guest toward +the hall. Meanwhile Mr. Titus, wondering what it was all +about, had tied the horse to a post out near the street +curb, and had re-entered the library. + +"I was riding over to see you, Tom, to ask you if you +wouldn't go to South America with me," began Mr. Damon, +rubbing his leg tenderly. + +"South America?" cried Tom, with a sudden look at Mr. +Titus. + +"Yes, South America. Why, there isn't anything strange in +that, is there? You've been to wilder countries, and +farther away than that." + +"Yes, I know--it's just a coincidence. Go on." + +"Let me get where I can sit down," begged Mr. Damon. "I +think that crick in my back is running down into my legs, +Tom. I feel a bit weak. Let me sit down, and get me a glass +of water. I shall be all right presently." + +Between them Tom and Mr. Titus assisted the horseman into +an easy chair, and there, under the influence of a cup of +hot tea, which Mrs. Baggert, the housekeeper, insisted on +making for him, he said he felt much better, and would +explain the reason for his call which had culminated in such +a sensational manner. + +And while Mr. Damon is preparing his explanation I will +take just a few moments to acquaint my new readers with some +facts about Tom Swift, and the previous volumes of this +series in which he has played such prominent parts. + +Tom Swift was the son of an inventor, and not only +inherited his father's talents, but had greatly added to +them, so that now Tom had a wonderful reputation. + +Mr. Swift was a widower, and he and Tom lived in a big +house in Shopton, New York State, with Mrs. Baggert for a +housekeeper. About the house, from time to time, shops and +laboratories had been erected, until now there was a large +and valuable establishment belonging to Tom and his father. + +The first volume of this series is entitled, "Tom Swift +and His Motor Cycle." It was through a motor cycle that Tom +became acquainted with Mr. Wakefield Damon, who lived in a +neighboring town. Mr. Damon had bought the motor cycle for +himself, but, as he said, one day in riding it the machine +tried to climb a tree near the Swift house. + +The young inventor (for even then he was working on +several patents) ministered to Mr. Damon, who, disgusted +with the motor cycle, and wishing to reward Tom, let the +young fellow have the machine. + +Tom's career began from that hour. For he learned to ride +the motor cycle, after making some improvements in it, and +from then on the youth had led a busy life. Soon afterward +he secured a motor boat and from that it was but a step to +an airship. + +The medium of the air having been conquered, Tom again +turned his attention to the water, or rather, under the +water, and he and his father made a submarine. Then he built +an electric runabout, the speediest car on the road. + +It was when Ton Swift had occasion to send his wireless +message from a lonely island where he had been shipwrecked +that he was able to do Mr. and Mrs. Nestor a valuable +service, and this increased the regard which Miss Mary +Nestor felt for the young inventor, a regard that bid fair, +some day, to ripen into something stronger. + +Tom Swift might have made a fortune when he set out to +discover the secret of the diamond makers. But Fate +intervened, and soon after that quest he went to the caves +of ice, where he and his friends met with disaster. In his +sky racer Tom broke all records for speed, and when he went +to Africa to rescue a missionary, had it not been for his +electric rifle the tide of battle would have gone against +him and his party. + +Marvelous, indeed, were the adventures underground, which +came to Tom when he went to look for the city of gold, but +the treasure there was not more valuable than the platinum +which Tom sought in dreary Siberia by means of his air +glider. + +Tom thought his end had come when he fell into captivity +among the giants; but even that turned out well, and he +brought two of the giants away with him. Koku, one of the +two giants, became devotedly attached to the lad, much to +the disgust of Eradicate Sampson, the old negro who had +worked for the Swifts for a generation, and who, with his +mule Boomerang, "eradicated" from the place as much dirt as +possible. + +With his wizard camera Tom did much to advance the cause +of science. His great searchlight was of great help to the +United States government in putting a stop to the Canadian +smugglers, while his giant cannon was a distinct advance in +ordnance, not excepting the great German guns used in the +European war. + +When Tom perfected his photo telephone the last objection +to rendering telephonic conversation admissible evidence in +a law court was done away with, for by this invention a +person was able to see, as well as to hear, over the +telephone wire. One practically stood face to face with the +person, miles away, to whom one was talking. + +The volume immediately preceding this present one is +called: "Tom Swift and His Aerial Warship." The young +inventor perfected a marvelous aircraft that was the naval +terror of the seas, and many governments, recognizing what +an important part aircraft were going to play in all future +conflicts, were anxious to secure Tom's machine. But he was +true to his own country, though his rivals were nearly +successful in their plots against him. + +The Mars, which was the name of Tom's latest craft, proved +to be a great success, and the United States government +purchased it. It was not long after the completion of this +transaction that the events narrated in the first chapter of +this book took place. + +Mr. Damon and Tom had been firm friends ever since the +episode of the motor cycle, and the eccentric gentleman (who +blessed so many things) often went with Tom on his trips. +Besides Mary Nestor, Tom had other friends. The one, after +Miss Nestor, for whom he cared most (if we except Mr. Damon) +was Ned Newton, who was employed in a Shopton bank. Ned also +had often gone with Tom, though lately, having a better +position, he had less time to spare. + +"Well, do you feel better, Mr. Damon?" asked Tom, after a +bit. + +"Yes, very much, thank you. Bless my pen wiper! but I +thought I was done for when I saw my horse bolt for your +front stoop. He rushed up it, fell down, but, fortunately, I +managed to get out of his way, though the saddle girth +slipped. And all I could think of was that my wife would +say: 'I told you so!' for she warned me not to ride this +animal. + +"But he never ran away with me before, and I was in a +hurry to get over to see you, Tom. Now then, let's get down +to business. Will you go to South America with me?" + +"Whereabout in South America are you going, Mr. Damon, and +why?" Tom asked. + +"To Peru, Tom." + +"What a coincidence!" exclaimed Mr. Titus. + +"I beg your pardon?" said Mr. Damon, interrogatively. + +"I said what a coincidence. I am going there myself." + +"Excuse me," interposed Tom, "I don't believe, in the +excitement of the moment, I introduced you gentlemen. Allow +me--Mr. Damon--Mr. Titus." + +The presentation over, Mr. Damon went on: + +"You see, Tom, I have lately invested considerable money +in a wholesale drug concern. We deal largely in Peruvian +remedies, principally the bark of the cinchona tree, from +which quinine is made. Of late there has been some trouble +over our concession from the Peruvian government, and the +company has decided to send me down there to investigate. + +"Of course, as soon as I made up my mind to go I thought +of you. So I came over to see if you would not accompany me. +All went well until I reached your front gate. Then my horse +became frightened by a yellow toy balloon some boy was +blowing up in the street and bolted with me. I suppose if it +had been a red or green balloon the effect would have been +the same. However, here I am, somewhat the worse for wear. +Now Tom, what do you say? Will you go to South America--to +Peru--with me, and help look up this Quinine business?" + +Once more Mr. Titus and Tom looked at each other. + + + + +Chapter III + +A Face at the Window + + + +"What is the matter?" asked Mr. Damon, catching the glance +between Tom and the contractor. "Is there anything wrong +with South America--Peru? I know they have lots of +revolutions in those countries, but I don't believe Peru is +what they call a 'banana republic'; is it?" + +"No," and Mr. Titus shook his head. "It isn't a question +of revolutions." + +"But it's something!" insisted Mr. Damon. "Bless my ink +bottle! but it's something. As soon as I mention Peru, Tom, +you and Mr. Titus eye each other as if I'd said something +dreadful. Out with it! What is it?" + +"It's just--just a coincidence," Tom said. "But go on, Mr. +Damon. Finish what you have to say and then we'll explain." + +"Well, I guess I've told you all you need to know for the +present. I went into this wholesale drug concern, hoping to +make some money, but now, on account of the trouble down in +Peru, we stand to lose considerable unless I can get back +the cinchona concession." + +"What does that mean?" Tom asked. + +"Well, it means that our concern secured from the Peruvian +government the right to take this quinine-producing bark +from the trees in a certain tropical section. But there has +been a change in the government in the district where our +men were working, and now the privilege, or concession, has +been withdrawn. I'm going down to see if I can't get it +back. And I want you to go with me." + +"And I came here for very nearly the same thing," went on +Mr. Titus. "That is where the coincidence comes in. It is +strange that we should both appeal to Mr. Swift at the same +time." + +"Well, Tom's a valuable helper!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I +know him of old, for I've been on many a trip with him." + +"This is the first time I have had the pleasure of meeting +him," resumed the tunnel contractor, "but I have heard of +him. I did not ask him to go to South America for us. I only +wanted to get some superior explosive for my brother, who is +in charge of driving the railroad tunnel through a spur of +the Andes. I look after matters up North here, but I may +have to go to Peru myself. + +"As I told Mr. Swift, I had read of his invention of the +giant cannon and the special powder he used in it to send a +projectile such a distance. The cannon is now mounted as one +of the pieces of ordnance for the defense of the Panama +Canal, is it not?" he asked Tom. + +The young inventor nodded in assent. + +"Having heard of you, and the wonderful explosive used in +your big cannon," the contractor went on, "I wrote to my +brother that I would try and get some for him. + +"You see," he resumed, "this is the situation. Back in the +Andes Mountains, a couple of hundred miles east of Lima, the +government is building a short railroad line to connect two +others. If this is done it will mean that the products of +Peru--quinine bark, coffee, cocoa, sugar, rubber, incense +and gold can more easily be transported. But to connect the +two railroad lines a big tunnel must be constructed. + +"My brother and I make a specialty of such work, and when +we saw bids advertised for, our firm put in an estimate. +There was some trouble with a rival firm, which also bid, +but we secured the contract, and bound ourselves to have the +tunnel finished within a certain time, or forfeit a large +sum. + +"That was over a year ago. Since then our men, aided by +the native Indians of Peru, have been tunneling the +mountain, until, about a month back, we struck a snag." + +"What sort of snag?" Tom asked. + +"A snag in the shape of extra hard rock," replied the +tunnel contractor. "Briefly, Paleozoic rocks make up the +eastern part of the Andean Mountains in Peru, while the +western range is formed of Mesozoic beds, volcanic ashes and +lava of comparatively recent date. Near the coast the lower +hills are composed of crystalline rocks, syenite and +granite, with, here and there, a strata of sandstone or +limestone. These are, undoubtedly, relics of the lower +Cretaceous age, and we, or rather, my brother, states that +he has found them covered with marine Tertiary deposits. + +"Now this Mesozoic band varies greatly. Porphyritic tuffs +and massive limestone compose the western chain of the Andes +above Lima, while in the Oroya Valley we find carbonaceous +sandstones. Some of the tuffs may be of the Jurassic age, +though the Cretaceous period is also largely represented. + +"Now while these different masses of rock formation offer +hard enough problems to the tunnel digger, still we are more +or less prepared to meet them, and we figured on a certain +percentage of them. Up to the present time we have met with +just about what we expected, but what we did not expect was +something we came upon when the tunnel had been driven three +miles into the mountain." + +"What did you find?" asked Tom, who knew enough about +geology to understand the terms used. Mr. Damon did not, +however, and when Mr. Titus rolled off some of the technical +words, the drug investor softly murmured such expressions as + +"Bless my thermometer! Bless my porous plaster!" + +"We found," resumed Mr. Titus, "after we had bored for a +considerable distance into the mountain, a mass of volcanic +rock which is so hard that our best diamond drills are +dulled in a short time, and the explosives we use merely +shatter the face of the cutting, and give us hardly any +progress at all. + +"It was after several trials, and when my brother found +that he was making scarcely any progress, compared to the +energy of his men and the blasting, that he wrote to me, +explaining matters. I at once thought of you, Tom Swift, and +your powerful explosive, for I had read about it. + +"Now then, will you sell us some of your powder--explosive +or whatever you call it--Mr. Swift, or tell us where we can +get it? We need it soon, for we are losing valuable time." + +Mr. Titus paused to draw on a piece of paper a rough map +of Peru, and the district where the tunnel was being +constructed. He showed where the two railroad lines were, +and where the new route would bring them together, the +tunnel eliminating a big grade up which it would have been +impossible to haul trains of any weight. + +"What do you say, Mr. Swift?" the contractor concluded. +"Will you let us have some of your powder? Or, better still, +will you come to Peru yourself? That would suit us +immensely, for you could be right on the ground. And you +could carry out your plan of going with your friend here," +and Mr. Titus nodded toward Mr. Damon. "That is, if you were +thinking of going." + +"Well, I was thinking of it," Tom admitted. "Mr. Damon and +I have been on so many trips together that it seems sort of +natural for us to 'team it.' I have never been to Peru, and +I should like to see the country. There is only one matter +though, that bothers me." + +"What is it?" asked Mr. Titus quickly. "If it is a +question of money dismiss it from your mind. The Peruvian +government is paying a large sum for this tunnel, and we +stand to make considerable, even if we were the lowest +bidders. We can afford to pay you well--that is, we shall be +able to if we can complete the bore on time. That is what is +bothering me now--the unexpected strata of hard rock we have +met with, which seems impossible to blast. But I feel sure +we can do it with the explosive used in your giant cannon." + +"That is just the point!" Tom exclaimed. "I am not so sure +my explosive would do." + +"Why not?" the tunnel contractor asked. "It's powerful +enough; isn't it?" + +"Yes, it is powerful enough, but whether it will have the +right effect on volcanic rock is hard to say. I should like +to see a rock sample." + +"I can telegraph to have some sent here to you," said Mr. +Titus eagerly. "Meantime, here is a description of it. I can +read you that"; and, taking a letter from his pocket, he +read to Tom a geological description of the hard rock. + +"Hum! Yes," mused Tom, as he listened. "It seems to be of +the nature of obsidian." + +"Bless my watch chain!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's that?" + +"Obsidian is a volcanic rock--a sort of combination of +glass and flint for hardness," Tom explained. "It is +brittle, black in color, and the natives of the Admiralty +Islands use it for tipping their spears with which they slay +victims for their cannibalistic feasts." + +"Bless my--bless my ear-drums!" gasped Mr. Damon. +"Cannibals!" + +"Obsidian was also used by the ancient Mexicans to make +knives and daggers," Tom went on. "When Cortez conquered +Mexico he found the priests cutting the hearts from their +living victims with knives made from this volcanic glass- +like rock, known as obsidian. It may be that your brother +has met with a vein of that in the tunnel," Tom said to +the contractor. + +"Possibly," admitted Mr. Titus. + +"In that case," Tom stated, "I may have to use a new kind +of explosive. That used for my giant cannon would merely +crumble the hard rock for a short distance." + +"Then will you accept the contract, and help us out?" +asked Mr. Titus eagerly. "We will pay you well. Will you +come to Peru and look over the ground?" + +"And kill two birds with one stone, and come with me +also?" put in Mr. Damon. + +Tom pondered for a moment. He was about to answer when the +tunnel contractor, who was looking from the library window, +suddenly jumped from his chair crying: + +"There he is again! Once more dogging me!" + +As he rushed from the room, Tom and Mr. Damon had a +glimpse of a face at one of the low library windows--a face +that had an evil look. It disappeared as Mr. Titus ran from +the room. + + + + +Chapter IV + +Tom's Experiments + + + +"Bless my looking glass, Tom, what does that mean?" +exclaimed Mr. Damon. "That face!" + +"I don't know," answered the young inventor. "But the +sight of some one looking in here seemed to disturb Mr. +Titus. We must follow him." + +"Perhaps he saw your giant Koku looking in," suggested the +odd, little man who blessed everything he could think of. +"The sight of his face, to any one not knowing him, Tom, +would be enough to cause fright." + +"It wasn't Koku who looked in the window," said Tom, +decidedly. "It was some stranger. Come on." + +The young inventor and Mr. Damon hurried out after the +tunnel contractor, who was running down the road that led in +front of the Swift homestead. + +"He's chasing some one, Tom," called Mr. Damon. + +"Yes, I see he is. But who?" + +"I can't see any one," reported Mr. Damon, who had run +down to the gate, at which his horse was still standing. +Mr. Damon had washed the dirt from his hands and face, and +was wearing one of Mr. Swift's coats in place of his own +split one. + +Tom joined the eccentric man and together they looked down +the road after the running Mr. Titus. They were in half a +mind to join him, when they saw him pull up short, raise his +hands as though he had given over the pursuit, and turn +back. + +"I guess he got away, whoever he was," remarked Tom. +"We'll walk down and meet Mr. Titus, and ask him what it all +means." + +Shortly afterward they came up to the contractor, who was +breathing heavily after his run, for he was evidently not +used to such exercise. + +"I beg your pardon, Tom Swift, for leaving you and Mr. +Damon in such a fashion," said Mr. Titus, "but I had to act +quickly or lose the chance of catching that rascal. As it +was, he got away, but I think I gave him a scare, and he +knows that I saw him. It will make him more cautious in the +future." + +"Who was it?" asked Tom. + +"Well, I didn't have as close a look as I could have +wished for," the contractor said, as he walked back toward +the house with Tom and Mr. Damon, "but I'm pretty sure the +face that peered in at us through the library window was +that of Isaac Waddington." + +"And who is he, if it isn't asking information that ought +not be given out?" inquired Mr. Damon. + +"Oh, no, certainly. I can tell you," said the contractor. +"Only perhaps we had better wait until we get back to the +house. + +"Since one of their men was seen lurking around here there +may be others," went on Mr. Titus, when the three were once +more seated in the Swift library. "It is best to be on the +safe side. The face I saw, I'm sure, was that of Waddington, +who is a tool of Blakeson & Grinder, rival tunnel +contractors. They put in a bid on this Andes tunnel, but we +were lower in our figures by several thousand dollars, and +the contract was awarded to us. + +"Blakeson & Grinder tried, by every means in their power, +to get the job away from us. They even invoked the aid of +some Peruvian revolutionists and politicians, but we held +our ground and began the work. Since then they have had +spies and emissaries on our trail, trying their best to make +us fail in our work, so the Peruvian officials might +abrogate the contract and give it to them. + +"But, so far, we've managed to come out ahead. This +Waddington is a sort of spy, and I've found him dodging me +several times of late. I suppose he wants to find out my +plans so as to be ready to jump in the breach in case we +fail." + +"Do you think your rivals had anything to do with the +difficulties you are now meeting with in digging the +tunnel?" asked Mr. Damon. Mr. Titus shook his head. + +"The present difficulties are all of Nature's doing," he +said. "It's just the abnormally hard rock that is bothering +us. Only for that we'd be all right, though we might have +petty difficulties because of the mean acts of Blakeson & +Grinder. But I don't fear them." + +"How do you think this Waddington, if it was he, knew you +were coming here?" asked Tom. + +"I can only guess. My brother and I have had some +correspondence regarding you, Tom Swift. That is, I +announced my intention of coming to see you, and my brother +wrote me to use my discretion. I wrote back that I would +consult you. + +"Our main office is in New York, where we employ a large +clerical and expert force. There is nothing to prevent one +of our stenographers, for instance, turning traitor and +giving copies of the letters of my brother and myself to our +rivals. + +"Mind you, I don't say this was done, and I don't suspect +any of our employees, but it would be an easy matter for any +one to know my plans. I never thought of making a secret of +them, or of my trip here. In some way Waddington found out +about the last, and he must have followed me here. Then he +sneaked up under the window, and tried to hear what we +said." + +"Do you think he did?" asked Tom. + +"I wouldn't be surprised. We took no pains to lower our +voices. But, after all, he hasn't learned much that he +didn't know before, if he knew I was coming here. He didn't +learn the secret of the explosive that must be used, and +that is the vital thing. For I defy him, or any other +contractor, to blast that hard rock with any known +explosive. We've tried every kind on the market and we've +failed. We'll have to depend on you, Tom Swift, to help us +out with some of your giant cannon powder." + +"And I'm not sure that will work," said the young +inventor. "I think I'll have to experiment and make a new +explosive, if I conclude to go to Peru." + +"Oh, you'll go all right!" declared Mr. Titus with a +smile. "I can see that you are eager for the adventures I am +sure you'll find there, and, besides, your friend here, Mr. +Damon, needs you." + +"That's what I do, Tom!" exclaimed the odd man. "Bless my +excursion ticket, but you must come!" + +"I'll have to invent the new powder first," Tom said. + +"That's what I like to hear!" exclaimed Mr. Titus. "It +shows you are thinking of coming with us." + +Tom only smiled. + +"I am so anxious to get the proper explosive," went on Mr. +Titus, "that I would even purchase it from our rivals, +Blakeson & Grinder, if I thought they had it. But I'm sure +they have not, though they may think they can get it. + +"That may be the reason they are following me so closely. +They may want to know just when we will fail, and have to +give up the contract, and they may think they can step in +and finish the work. But I don't believe, without your help, +Tom Swift, that they can blast that hard rock, and--" + +"Well, I'll say this," interrupted Tom, "first come, first +served with me, other things being equal. You have applied +to me and, like a lawyer, I won't go over to the other side +now. I consider myself retained by your firm, Mr. Titus, to +invent some sort of explosive, and if I am successful I +shall expect to be paid." + +"Oh, of course!" cried the contractor eagerly. + +"Very good," Tom went on. "You needn't fear that I'll help +the other fellows. Now to get down to business. I must see +some samples of this rock in order to know what kind of +explosive force is needed to rend it." + +"I have some in New York," went on the contractor. "I'll +have it sent to you at once. I would have brought it, only +it is too heavy to carry easily, and I was not sure I could +engage you." + +"Did that fellow--Waddington, I believe you called him-- +get away from you?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Clean away," the contractor answered. "He was a better +runner than I." + +"It doesn't matter much," Tom said. "He didn't hear +anything that would benefit him, and I'll give my men orders +to be on the lookout for him. What sort of fellow is he, Mr. +Titus?" + +The contractor described the eavesdropper, and Mr. Damon +exclaimed: + +"Bless my turkey wish-bone! I'm sure I passed that chap +when I was riding over to see you a while ago, Tom." + +"You did?" + +"Yes, on the highway. He inquired the way to your place. +But there was nothing strange in that, since you employ a +number of men, and I thought this one was coming to look for +work. I can't say I liked his appearance, though." + +"No, he isn't a very prepossessing individual," commented +Mr. Titus. "Well, now what's the first thing to be done, Tom +Swift?" + +"Get me some samples of the rock, so I can begin my +experiments." + +"I'll do that. And now let us consider about going to +Peru. For I'm sure you will be successful in your +experiments, and will find for us just the powder or +explosive we need." + +"We can go together." said Mr. Damon. "I shall certainly +feel more at home in that wild country if I know Tom Swift +is with me, and I will appreciate the help of you and your +friends, Mr. Titus, in straightening out the tangles of our +drug business." + +"I'll do all I can for you, Mr. Damon." + +The three then talked at some length regarding possible +plans. Tom sent out word to one of his men to keep a sharp +watch around the house and grounds, against the possible +return of Waddington, but nothing more was seen of him, at +least for the time being. + +Mr. Titus drew up a sort of tentative agreement with Tom, +binding his firm to pay a large sum in case the young +inventor was successful, and then the contractor left, +promising to have the rock samples come on later by express. + +Mr. Damon, after blessing a few dozen more or less +impersonal objects, took his departure, his fractious horse +having quieted down in the meanwhile, and Tom was left to +himself. + +"I wonder what I've let myself in for now," the youth +mused, as he went back to his laboratory. "It's a new field +for me--tunnel blasting. Well, perhaps something may come of +it." + +But of the strange adventure that was to follow his +agreement to help Mr. Titus, our hero, Tom Swift, had not +the least inkling. + +Tom went back to his labors over the gyroscope problem, +but he could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion, and, +tossing aside the papers, covered with intricate figures, he +exclaimed: + +"Oh, I'm going for a walk! This thing is getting on my +nerves." + +He strolled through the Shopton streets, and as he reached +the outskirts of the town, he saw just ahead of him the +figure of a girl. Tom quickened his pace, and presently was +beside her. + +"Where are you going, Mary?" he asked. + +"Oh, Tom! How you startled me!" she exclaimed, turning +around. "I was just thinking of you." + +"Thanks! Something nice?" + +"I shan't tell you!" and she blushed. "But where are you +going?" + +"Walking with you!" + +Tom was nothing if not bold. + +"Hadn't you better wait until you're asked?" she retorted, +mischievously. + +"If I did I might not get an invitation. So I'm going to +invite myself, and then I'm going to invite you in here to +have an ice cream soda," and he and Miss Nestor were soon +seated at a table in a candy shop. + +Tom had nearly finished his ice cream when he glanced +toward the door, and started at the sight of a man who was +entering the place. + +"What's the matter?" asked Mary. "Did you drop some ice +cream, Tom?" + +"No, Mary. But that man--" + +Mary turned in time to see an excited man hurry out of the +candy shop after a hasty glance at Tom Swift. + +"Who was he?" the girl asked. + +"I--er--oh, some one I thought I knew, but I guess I +don't," said Tom, quickly. "Have some more cream, Mary?" + +"No, thank you. Not now." + +Tom was glad she did not care for any, as he was anxious +to get outside, and have a look at the man, for he thought +he had recognized the face as the same that had peered in +his window. But when he and Miss Nestor reached the front of +the shop the strange man was not in sight. + +"I guess he came in to cool off after his run," mused Tom, +"but when he saw me he didn't care about it. I wonder if +that was Waddington? He's a persistent individual if it was +he." + +"Are you undertaking any new adventures, Tom?" asked Mary. + +"Well, I'm thinking of going to Peru." + +"Peru!" she cried. "Oh, what a long way to go! And when +you get there will you write to me? I'm collecting stamps, +and I haven't any from Peru." + +"Is that--er--the only reason you want me to write?" asked +Tom. + +"No," said Mary softly, as she ran up the walk. + +Tom smiled as he turned away. + +Three days later he received a box from New York. It +contained the samples from the Andes tunnel, and Tom at once +began his experiments to discover a suitable explosive for +rending the hard stone. + +"It is compressed molten lava," said Mr. Swift. "You'll +never get an explosive that will successfully blast that, +Tom." + +"We'll see," declared the young inventor. + + + + +Chapter V + +Mary's Present + + + +Outside a rudely-constructed shack, in the middle of a +large field, about a mile away from the nearest of the +buildings owned by Tom Swift and his father, were gathered a +group of figures one morning. From the shack, trailing over +the ground, were two insulated wires, which led to a pile of +rocks and earth some distance off. Out of the temporary +building came Koku, the giant, bearing in his arms a big +rock, of peculiar formation. + +"That's it, Koku!" exclaimed Tom Swift. "Now don't drop it +on your toes." + +"No, Master, me no drop," the giant said, as he strode off +with the heavy load as easily as a boy might carry a stone +for his sling-shot. + +Koku placed the big rock on top of the pile of dirt and +stones and came back to the hut, just as Eradicate, the +colored man-of-all-work, emerged. Koku was not looking +ahead, and ran into Eradicate with such force that the +latter would have fallen had not the giant clasped his big +arms about him. + +"Heah now! Whut yo' all doin' t' me?" angrily demanded +Eradicate. "Yo' done gone an' knocked de breff outen me, +dat's whut yo' all done! I'll bash yo' wif a rock, dat's +what I'll do!" + +Koku, laughing, tried to explain that it was all an +accident, but Eradicate would not listen. He looked about +for a stone to throw at the giant, though it was doubtful, +with his feeble strength, and considering the great frame of +the big man, if any damage would have been done. But +Eradicate saw no rocks nearer than the pile in which ended +the two insulated wires, and, with mutterings, the negro set +off in that direction, shuffling along on his rheumatic +legs. + +From the shack Tom Swift hailed: + +"Hi there, Rad! Come back! Where are you going?" + +"I'se gwine t' git a rock, Massa Tom, an' bash de haid ob +dat big lummox ob a giant! He done knocked de breff outen +me, so he did." + +"You come back from that stone pile!" Tom ordered. "I'm +going to blow it up in a minute, and if you get too near +you'll have the breath knocked out of you worse than Koku +did it. Come back, I say!" + +But Eradicate was obstinate and kept on. Tom, who was +adjusting a firing battery in the shack, laughed, and then +in exasperation cried: + +"Koku, go and get him and bring him back. Carry him if he +won't come any other way. I don't want the dear old chump to +get the fright of his life, and he sure will if he goes too +close. Bring him back!" + +"Koku bring, Master," was the giant's answer. + +He ran toward Eradicate, who, seeing his tormentor +approaching, redoubled his shuffling pace toward the stone +pile. But he was no match for the giant, who, ignoring his +struggles, picked up Eradicate, and, flinging him over his +shoulder like a sack of meal, brought him to the shack. + +"There him be, Master!" said the giant. + +"So I see," laughed Torn. "Now you stay here, Rad." + +"No, sah! No, sah, Massa Tom! I--I'se gwine t' git a rock +an'--an' bash his haid--dat's what I'se gwine t' do!" and +the colored man tried to struggle to his feet. + +"Look out now!" cried Tom, suddenly. "If things go right +there won't be a rock left for you to 'bash' anybody's head +with, Rad. Look out!" + +The three cowered inside the shack, which, though it was +rudely made, was built of heavy logs and planks, with a +fronting of sod and bags of sand. + +Tom turned a switch. There was a loud report, and where +the stone pile had been there was a big hole in the ground, +while the air was filled with fragments of rock and dirt. +These came down in a shower on the roof of the shack, and +Eradicate covered his ears with his trembling hands. + +"Am--am de world comin' to de end, Massa Tom?" he asked. +"Am dat Gabriel's trump I done heah?" + +"No, you dear old goose!" laughed the young inventor. +"That was just a charge of my new explosive--a small charge, +too. But it seems to have done the work." + +He ran from the shack to the place where the rock pile had +been, and picked up several small fragments. + +"Busted all to pieces!" exulted Tom Swift. "Not a piece +left as big as a hickory nut. That's going some! I've got +the right mixture at last. If an ounce did that, a few +hundred pounds ought to knock that Andes tunnel through the +mountain in no time. I'll telegraph to Mr. Titus." + +Leaving Koku and Rad to collect the wires and firing +apparatus, there being no danger now, as no explosive was +left in the shack, Tom made his way back to the house. His +father met him. + +"Well, Tom," he asked, "another failure?" + +"No, Dad! Success! This time I turned the trick. I seem to +have gotten just the right mixture. Look, these are some of +the pieces left from the big rock--one of the samples Mr. +Titus sent me. It was all cracked up as small as this," and +he held out the fragments he had picked up in the field. + +Mr. Swift regarded them for a few moments. + +"That's better, Tom," he said. "I didn't think you could +get an explosive that would successfully shatter that hard +rock, but you seem to have done it. Have you the formula all +worked out?" + +"All worked out, Dad. I only made a small quantity, but +the same proportions will hold good for the larger amounts. +I'm going to start in and make it now. And then--Ho! for +Peru!" + +Tom struck an attitude, such as some old discoverer might +have assumed, and then he hurried into the house to +telephone a telegram to the Shopton office. The message +was to Mr. Titus, and read: + + +"Explosive success. Start making it at once. Ready for +Peru in month's time." + + +"Thirteen words," repeated Tom, as the operator called +them back to him. "I hope that doesn't mean bad luck." + +The experiment which Tom Swift had just brought to a +successful conclusion was one of many he had conducted, +extending over several wearying weeks. + +As soon as Tom had received the samples of the rock he had +begun to experiment. First he tried some of the explosive +that was so successful in the giant cannon. As he had +feared, it was not what was needed. It cracked the rock, +but did not disintegrate it, and that was what was needed. +The hard rock must be broken up into fragments that could be +easily handled. Merely to crack it necessitated further +explosions, which would only serve to split it more and +perhaps wedge it fast in the tunnel. + +So Tom tried different mixtures, using various chemicals, +but none seemed to be just right. The trials were not +without danger, either. Once, in mixing some ingredients, +there was an explosion that injured one man, and blew Tom +some distance away. Fortunately for him, there was an open +window in the direction in which he was propelled, and he +went through that, escaping with only some cuts and bruises. + +Another time there was a hang-fire, and the explosive +burned instead of detonating, so that one of the shops +caught, and there was no little work in subduing the flames. + +But Tom would not give up, and finally, after many trials, +he hit on what he felt to be the right mixture. This he took +out to the big lot, and having made a miniature tunnel with +some of the sample rock, and having put some of the +explosive in a hole bored in the big chunk Koku carried, Tom +fired the charge. The result we have seen. It was a success. + +A day after receiving Tom's message Mr. Titus came on and +a demonstration was given of the powerful explosive. + +"Tom, that's great!" cried the tunnel contractor. "Our +troubles are at an end now." + +But, had he known it, new ones were only just beginning. + +Tom at once began preparations for making the explosive on +a large scale, as much of it would be needed in the Andes +tunnel. Then, having turned the manufacturing end of it over +to his men, Tom began his preparations for going to Peru. + +Mr. Damon was also getting ready, and it was arranged that +he, with Tom and Mr. Titus, should take a vessel from San +Francisco, crossing the continent by train. The supply of +explosive would follow them by special freight. + +"We might have gone by Panama except for the slide in the +canal," Tom said. "And I suppose I could take you across the +continent in my airship, Mr. Titus, if you object to +railroad travel." + +"No, thank you, Tom. If it's just the same to you, I'd +rather stay on the ground," the contractor said. "I'm more +used to it." + +A day or so before the start for San Francisco was to be +made, Tom, passing a store in Shopton, saw something in the +window he thought Mary Nestor would like. It was a mahogany +work-box, of unique design, beautifully decorated, and Tom +purchased it. + +"Shall I have it sent?" asked the clerk. + +"No, thank you," Tom answered. + +He knew the young lady who had waited on him, and, for +reasons of his own, he did not want her to know that Mary +was to get the box. + +Carrying the present to his laboratory, Tom prepared to +wrap it up suitably to send to Mary, with a note. Just, +however, as he was looking for a box suitable to contain the +gift, he received a summons to the telephone. Mr. Titus, in +New York, wanted to speak to him. + +"Here, Rad!" Tom called. "Just box this up for me, like a +good fellow, and then take it to Miss Nestor at this +address; will you?" and Tom handed his man the addressed +letter he had written to Mary. "Be careful of it," Tom +cautioned. + +"Oh, I'll be careful, Massa Tom," was the reply. "I'll +shore be careful." + +And Eradicate was--all too careful. + + + + +Chapter VI + +Mr. Nestor's Letter + + + +"Got t' git a good strong box fo' dish yeah," murmured +Eradicate, as he looked at the beautiful mahogany present +Tom had turned over to him to take to Mary. "Mah Landy! Dat +suttinly am nice; Ah! Um! Jest laik some ob de old mahogany +furniture dat was in our fambily down Souf." Eradicate did +not mean his family, exactly, but the one in which he had +been a slave. + +"Yassum, dat shore am nice!" he went on, talking to +himself as he admired the present. "I shore got t' put dat +in a good box! An' dish year note, too. Let's see what it +done say on de outside." + +Eradicate held the envelope carefully upside down, and +read--or rather pretended to read--the name and address. +Eradicate knew well enough where Mary lived, for this was +not the first time he had gone there with messages from his +young master. + +"Massa Tom shore am a fine writer," mused the negro, as he +slowly turned the envelope around. "I cain't read nobody's +writin' but hisen, nohow." + +Had Eradicate been strictly honest with himself, he would +have confessed that he could not read any writing, or +printing either. His education had been very limited, but +one could show him, say, a printed sign and tell him it read +"Danger" or "Five miles to Branchville," or anything like +that, and the next time he saw it, Eradicate would know what +that sign said. He seemed to fix a picture of it in his +mind, though the letters and figures by themselves meant +nothing to him. So when Tom told him the envelope contained +the name and address of Miss Nestor, Eradicate needed +nothing more. + +He rummaged about in some odds and ends in the corner of +the laboratory, and brought out a strong, wooden box, which +had a cover that screwed down. + +"Dat'll be de ticket!" Eradicate exclaimed. "De mahogany +present will jest fit." Eradicate took some excelsior to pad +the box, and then, dropping inside it the gift, already +wrapped in tissue paper, he proceeded to screw on the cover. + +There was something printed in red letters on the outside +box, but Eradicate could not read, so it did not trouble +him. + +"Dat Miss Nestor shore will laik her present," he +murmured. "An' I'll be mighty keerful ob it' laik Massa Tom +tole me. He wouldn't trust dat big lummox Koku wif anyt'ing +laik dis." + +Screwing on the cover, and putting a piece of wrapping +paper outside the rough, wooden box, with the letter in his +hand, Eradicate, full of his own importance, set off for +Miss Nestor's house. Tom had not returned from the +telephone, over which he was talking to Mr. Titus. + +The message was an important one. The contractor said he +had received word from his brother in Peru that his presence +was urgently needed there. + +"Could you arrange to get off sooner than we planned, +Tom?" asked Mr. Titus. "I am afraid something has happened +down there. Have you sent the first shipment of explosive?" + +"Yes, that went three days ago. It ought to arrive at Lima +soon after we do. Why yes, I can start to-night if we have +to. I'll find out if Mr. Damon can be with us on such short +notice." + +"I wish you would," came from Mr. Titus. "And say, Tom, do +you think you could take that giant Koku with you?" + +"Why?" + +"Well, I think he'd come in handy. There are some pretty +rough characters in those Andes Mountains, and your big +friend might be useful." + +"All right. I was thinking of it, anyhow. Glad you +mentioned it. Now I'll call up Mr. Damon, and I'll let you +know, in an hour or so, if he can make it." + +"Bless my hair brush, yes, Tom!" exclaimed the eccentric +man, when told of the change in plans. "I can leave +to-night as well as not." + +Word to this effect was sent on to Mr. Titus, and then +began some hurrying on the part of Tom Swift. He told Koku +to get ready to leave for New York at once, where he and the +giant would join Mr. Titus and Mr. Damon, and start across +the continent to take for steamer for Lima, Peru. + +"Rad, did you send that present to Miss Nestor?" asked +Tom, later, as he finished packing his grip. + +"Yas, sah. I done did it. Took it mase'f!" + +"That's good! I guess I'll have to say good-bye to Mary +over the telephone. I won't have time to call. I'm glad I +thought of the present." + +Tom got the Nestor house on the wire. But Mary was not in. + +"There's a package here for her," said the girl's +mother. "Did you--?" + +"Yes, I sent that," Tom said. "Sorry I won't he able to +call and say good-bye, but I'm in a terrible rush. I'll see +her as soon as I get back, and I'll write as soon as I +arrive." + +"Do," urged Mrs. Nestor. "We'll all be glad to hear from +you," for Tom and Mary were tentatively engaged to be +married. + +Tom and Koku went on with their hurried preparations to +leave for New York. Eradicate begged to be taken along, but +Tom gently told the faithful old servant that it was out of +the question. + +"Besides, Rad," he said, "it's dangerous in those Andes +Mountains. Why, they have birds there, as big as cows, and +they can swoop down and carry off a man your size." + +"Am dat shorely so, Massa Tom?" + +"Of course it is! You get the dictionary and read about +the condors of the Andes Mountains." + +"Dat's what I'll do, Massa Tom. Birds as big as cows what +kin pick up a man in dere beaks, an' carry him off! Oh, my! +No, sah, Massa Tom! I don't want t' go. I'll stay right +yeah!" + +Shortly before Tom and Koku departed for the railroad +station, where they were to take a train for New York, Mary +Nestor returned home. + +"Tom called you on the telephone to say good-bye," her +mother informed her, "and said he was sorry he could not see +you. But he sent some sort of gift." + +"Oh, how sweet of him!" Mary exclaimed. "Where is it?" + +"On the dining room table. Eradicate brought it with a +note." + +Mary read the note first. + +In it Tom begged Mary to accept the little token, and to +think of him when she used it. + +"Oh! I wonder what it can be," she cried in delight. + +"Better open it and see," advised Mr. Nestor, who had come +in at that moment. + +Mary cut the string of the outside paper, and folded back +the wrapper. A wooden box was exposed to view, a solid, +oblong, wooden box, and on the top, in bold, red letters +Mary, her father and her mother read: + +DYNAMITE! HANDLE WITH CARE! + + +"Oh! Oh!" murmured Mrs. Nestor. + +"Dynamite! Handle with care!" repeated Mr. Nestor, in a +sort of dazed voice. "Quick! Get a pail of water! Dump it in +the bathtub! Soak it good, and then telephone for the +police. Dynamite! What does this mean?" + +He rushed toward the kitchen, evidently with the intention +of getting a pail of water, but Mary clasped him by the arm. + +"Father!" she exclaimed. "Don't get so excited!" + +"Excited!" he cried. "Who's excited? Dynamite! We'll all +be blown up! This is some plot! I don't believe Tom sent +this at all! Look out! Call the police! Excited! Who's +getting excited?" + +"You are, Daddy dear!" said Mary calmly. "This is some +mistake. Tom did send this--I know his writing. And wasn't +it Eradicate who brought this package, Mother?" + +"Yes, my dear. But your father is right. Let him put it in +water, then it will be safe. Oh, we'll all be blown up. Get +the water!" + +"No!" cried Mary. "There is some mistake. Tom wouldn't +send me dynamite. There must be a present for me in there. +Tom must have put it in the wrong box by mistake. I'm going +to open it." + +Mary's calmness had its effect on her parents. Mr. Nestor +cooled down, as did his wife, and a closer examination of +the outer box did not seem to show that it was an infernal +machine of any kind. + +"It's all a mistake, Daddy," Mary said. "I'll show you. +Get me a screw driver." + +After some delay one was found, and Mr. Nestor himself +opened the box. When the tissue paper wrappings of the +mahogany gift were revealed he gave a sigh of relief, and +when Mary undid the wrappings, and saw what Tom had sent +her, she cried: + +"Oh, how perfectly dear! Just what I wanted! I wonder how +he knew? Oh, I just love it!" and she hugged the beautiful +box in her arms. + +"Humph!" exclaimed Mr. Nestor, a slowly gathering light of +anger showing in his eyes. "It is a nice present, but that +is a very poor sort of joke to play, in my estimation." + +"Joke! What joke?" asked Mary. + +"Putting a present in a box labeled Dynamite, and giving +us such a scare," went on her father. + +"Oh, Father, I'm sure he didn't mean to do it!" Mary said, +earnestly. + +"Well, maybe he didn't! He may have thought it a joke, and +he may not have! But, at any rate, it was a piece of gross +carelessness on his part, and I don't care to consider for a +son-in-law a young man as careless as that!" + +"Oh, Daddy!" expostulated Mary. + +"Now, now! Tut, tut!" exclaimed Mr. Nestor. "It isn't your +fault, Mary, but this Tom Swift must be taught a lesson. He +was careless, if nothing worse, and, for all he knew, there +might have been some stray bits of dynamite in that packing +box. It won't do! It won't do! I'll write him a letter, and +give him a piece of my mind!" + +And in spite of all his wife and his daughter could say, +Mr. Nestor did write Tom a scathing letter. He accused him +of either perpetrating a joke, or of being careless, or +both, and he intimated that the less he saw of Tom at the +Nestor home hereafter the better pleased he would be. + +"There! I guess that will make him wish he hadn't done +it!" exclaimed Mr. Nestor, as he called a messenger and sent +the letter to Tom's house. + +Mary and her mother did not know the contents of the +note, but Mary tried to get Tom on the wire and explain. +However, she was unable to reach him, as Tom was on the +point of leaving. + +The messenger, with Mr. Nestor's letter, arrived just as +our hero was receiving the late afternoon mail from the +postman, and just as Tom and Koku were getting in an +automobile to leave for the depot. + +"Good-bye, Dad!" Tom called. "Good-bye, Mrs. Baggert!" He +thrust Mr. Nestor's letter, unopened, together with some +other mail matter, which he took to be merely circulars, +into an inner pocket, and jumped into the car. + +Tom and Koku were off on the first stage of their journey. + + + + +Chapter VII + +Off for Peru + + + +"Well, Tom Swift, you're on time I see," was Mr. Job +Titus' greeting, when our hero, and Koku, the giant, +alighted from a taxicab in New York, in front of the hotel +the contractor had appointed as a meeting place. + +"Yes, I'm here." + +"Did you have a good trip?" + +"Oh, all right, yes. Nothing happened to speak of, though +we were delayed by a freight wreck. Has Mr. Damon got here +yet?" + +"Not yet, Tom. But I had a message saying he was on his +way. Come on up to the rooms I have engaged. Hello, what's +all the crowd here for?" asked the contractor in some +surprise, for a throng had gathered at the hotel entrance. + +"I expect it's Koku they're staring at," announced Tom, +and the giant it was who had attracted the attention. He +was carrying his own big valise, and a small steamer trunk +belonging to Tom, as easily as though they weighed nothing, +the trunk being under one arm. + +"I guess they don't see men of his size outside of +circuses," commented the contractor. "We can pretty nearly, +though not quite match him, down in Peru though, Tom. Some +of the Indians are big fellows." + +"We'll get up a wrestling match between one of them and +Koku," suggested Tom. "Come on!" he called to the giant, who +was surrounded by a crowd. + +Koku pushed his way through as easily as a bull might make +his way through a throng of puppies about his heels, and as +Tom, Mr. Titus and the giant were entering the hotel +corridor, the chauffeur of the taxicab called out with a +laugh: + +"I say, boss, don't you think you ought to pay double +rates on that chap," and he nodded in the direction of the +giant. + +"That's right!" added some one in the crowd with a laugh. +"He might have broken the springs." + +"All right," assented Tom, good-naturedly, tossing the +chauffeur a coin. "Here you are, have a cigar on the giant." + +There was more laughter, and even Koku grinned, though it +is doubtful if he knew what about, for he could not +understand much unless Tom spoke to him in a sort of code +they had arranged between them. + +"Sorry to have hastened your departure," began Mr. Titus +when he and Tom sat in the comfortable hotel rooms, while +Koku stood at a window, looking out at what to him were the +marvelous wonders of the New York streets. + +"It didn't make any difference," replied the young +inventor. "I was about ready to come anyhow. I just had to +hustle a little," and he thought of how he had had to send +Mary's present to her instead of taking it himself. As yet +he was all unaware of the commotion it had caused. + +"Did you get the powder shipment off all right?" + +"Yes, and it will be there almost as soon as we. Other +shipments will follow as we need them. My father will see to +that." + +"I'm glad you hit on the right kind of powder," went on +the contractor. "I guess I didn't make any mistake in coming +to you, Tom." + +"Well, I hope not. Of course the explosive worked all +right in experimental charges with samples of the tunnel +rock. It remains to be seen what it will do under actual +conditions, and in big service charges." + +"Oh, I've no doubt it will work all right." + +"What time do we leave here?" Tom asked. + +"At two-thirty this afternoon. We have just time to get a +good dinner and have our baggage transferred to the Chicago +limited. In less than a week we ought to be in San Francisco +and aboard the steamer. I hope Mr. Damon arrives on time." + +"Oh, you can generally depend on him," said +Tom. "I telephoned him, just before I started +from Shopton, and he said--" + +"Bless my carpet slippers!" cried a voice outside the +hotel apartment. "But I can find my way all right. I know +the number of the room. No! you needn't take my bag. I can +carry it my self!" + +"There he is!" laughed Tom, opening the door to disclose +the eccentric gentleman himself, struggling to keep +possession of his valise against the importunities of a +bellboy. + +"Ah, Tom--Mr. Titus! Glad to see you!" exclaimed Mr. +Damon. "I--I am a little late, I fear--had an accident--wait +until I get my breath," and he sank, panting, into a chair. + +"Accident?" cried Tom. "Are you--?" + +"Yes--my taxicab ran into another. Nobody hurt though." + +"But you're all out of breath," said Mr. Titus. "Did you +run?" + +"No, but I walked upstairs." + +"What! Seven flights?" exclaimed Tom. "Weren't the hotel +elevators running?" + +"Yes, but I don't like them. I'd rather walk. And I did-- +carried my valise--bellboy tried to take it away from me +every step--here you are, son--it wasn't the tip I was +trying to get out of," and he tossed the waiting and +grinning lad a quarter. + +"There, I'm better now," went on Mr. Damon, when Tom had +given him a glass of water. "Bless my paper weight! The drug +concern will have to vote me an extra dividend for what I've +gone through. Well, I'm here, anyhow. How is everything?" + +"Fine!" cried Tom. "We'll soon be off for Peru!" + +They talked over plans and made sure nothing had been +forgotten. Their railroad tickets had been secured by Mr. +Titus so there was nothing more to do save wait for train- +time. + +"I've never been to Peru," Tom remarked shortly before +lunch. "What sort of country is it?" + +"Quite a wonderful country," Mr. Titus answered. "I have +been very much interested in it since my brother and I +accepted this tunnel contract. Peru seems to have taken its +name from Peru, a small river on the west coast of Colombia, +where Pizarro landed. The country, geographically, may be +divided into three sections longitudinally. The coast +region is a sandy desert, with here and there rivers flowing +through fertile valleys. The sierra region is the Andes +division, about two hundred and fifty miles in width." + +"Is that where we're going?" asked Tom. + +"Yes. And beyond the Andes (which in Peru consist of great +chains of mountains, some very high, interspersed with table +lands, rich plains and valleys) there is the montana region +of tropical forests, running down to the valley of the +Amazon. + +"That sounds interesting," commented Mr. Damon. + +"It is interesting," declared Mr. Titus. "For it is from +this tropical region that your quinine comes, Mr. Damon, +though you may not have to go there to straighten out your +affairs. I think you can do better bargaining with the +officials in Lima, or near there." + +"Are there any wild animals in Peru?" Tom inquired. + +"Well, not many. Of course there are the llamas and +alpacas, which are the beasts of burden--almost like little +camels you might say, though much more gentle. Then there is +the wild vicuna, the fleece of which is made into a sort of +wool, after which a certain kind of cloth is named. + +"Then there is the taruco, a kind of deer, the viscacha, +which is a big rat, the otoc, a sort of wild dog, or fox, +and the ucumari, a black bear with a white nose. This bear +is often found on lofty mountain tops, but only when driven +there in search of food. + +"The condors, of course, are big birds of prey in the +Andes. You must have read about them; how they seem to lie +in the upper regions of the air, motionless, until suddenly +they catch sight of some dead animal far down below when +they sweep toward it with the swiftness of the wink. There +is another bird of the vulture variety, with wings of black +and white feathers. The ancient Incas used to decorate their +head dresses with these wing feathers." + +"Well, I'm glad I'm going to Peru," said Tom. "I never +knew it was such an interesting country. But I don't suppose +we'll have time to see much of it." + +"Oh, I think you will," commented Mr. Titus. "We don't +always have to work on the tunnel. There are numerous +holidays, or holy-days, which our Indian workers take off, +and we can do nothing without them. I'll see that you have a +chance to do some exploring if you wish." + +"Good!" exclaimed Tom. "I brought my electric rifle with +me, and I may get a chance to pop over one of those bears +with a white nose. Are they good to eat?" + +"The Indians eat them, I believe, when they can get them, +but I wouldn't fancy the meat," said the contractor. + +Luncheon over, the three travelers departed with their +baggage for the Chicago Limited, which left from the +Pennsylvania Station at Twenty-third Street. As usual, Koku +attracted much attention because of his size. + +The trip to San Francisco was without incident worth +narrating and in due time our friends reached the Golden +Gate where they were to go aboard their steamer. They had to +wait a day, during which time Tom and Mr. Titus made +inquiries regarding the first powder shipment. They had had +unexpected good luck, for the explosive, having been sent on +ahead by fast freight, was awaiting them. + +"So we can take it with us on the Bellaconda," said, Tom, +naming the vessel on which they were to sail. + +The powder was safely stowed away, and our friends having +brought their baggage aboard, putting what was wanted on the +voyage in their staterooms, went out on deck to watch the +lines being cast off. + +A bell clanged and an officer cried: + +"All ashore that's going ashore!" + +There were hasty good-byes, a scramble on the part of +those who had come to bid friends farewell, and preparations +were made to haul in the gangplank. + +Just as the tugs were slowly pushing against the +Bellaconda to get her in motion to move her away from the +wharf, there was a shout down the pier and a taxicab, driven +at reckless speed, dashed up. + +"Wait a minute! Hold that gangway. I have a passenger for +you!" cried the chauffeur. + +He pulled up with a screeching of brakes, and a man with a +heavy black beard fairly leaped from the vehicle, running +toward the plank which was all but cast off. + +"My fare! My fare!" yelled the taxicab driver. + +"Take it out of that! Keep the change!" cried the bearded +man over his shoulder, tossing a crumpled bill to the +chauffeur. And then, clutching his valise in a firm hand, +the belated passenger rushed up the gangplank just in time +to board the steamer which was moving away from the dock. + +"Close shave--that," observed Tom. + +"That's right," assented Mr. Titus. + +"Well, we're off for Peru!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as the +vessel moved down the bay. + + + + +Chapter VIII + +The Bearded Man + + + +Travel to Tom and Mr. Damon presented no novelties. They +had been on too many voyages over the sea, under the sea and +even in the air above the sea to find anything unusual in +merely taking a trip on a steamer. + +Mr. Titus, though he admitted he had never been in a +submarine or airship, had done considerable traveling about +the world in his time, and had visited many countries, +either for business or pleasure, so he was an old hand at +it. + +But to Koku, who, since he had been brought from the land +where Tom Swift had been made captive, had gone about but +little, everything was novel, and he did not know at what to +look first. + +The giant was interested in the ship, in the water, in the +passengers, in the crew and in the sights to be seen as they +progressed down the harbor. + +And the big man himself was a source of wonder to all save +his own party. Everywhere he went about the decks, or below, +he was followed by a staring but respectful crowd. Koku +took it all good-naturedly, however, and even consented to +show his great strength by lifting heavy weights. Once when +several sailors were shifting one of the smaller anchors (a +sufficiently heavy one for all that) Koku pushed them aside +with a sweep of his big arm, and, picking up the big "hook," +turned to the second mate and asked: + +"Where you want him?" + +"Good land, man!" cried the astonished officer. "You'll +kill yourself!" + +But Koku carried the anchor where it ought to go, and from +then on he was looked up to with awe and admiration by the +sailors. + +From San Francisco to Callao, Peru (the latter city being +the seaport of Lima, which is situated inland), is +approximately nine hundred miles. But as the Bellaconda was +a coasting steamer, and would make several stops on her +trip, it would be more than a week before our friends would +land at Callao, then to proceed to Lima, where they expected +to remain a day or so before striking into the interior to +where the tunnel was being bored through the mountain. + +The first day was spent in getting settled, becoming used +to their new surroundings, finding their places and +neighbors at table, and in making acquaintances. There +were some interesting men and women aboard the Bellaconda, +and Tom Swift, Mr. Damon and Mr. Titus soon made friends +with them. This usually came about through the medium of +Koku, the giant. Persons seeing him would inquire about him, +and when they learned he was Tom Swift's helper it was an +easy topic with which to open conversation. + +Tom told, modestly enough, how he had come to get Koku in +his escape from captivity, but Mr. Damon was not so simple +in describing Tom's feats, so that before many days had +passed our hero found himself regarded as a personage of +considerable importance, which was not at all to his liking. + +"But bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon, when Tom +objected to so much notoriety. "You did it all; didn't you?" + +"Yes, I know. But these people won't believe it." + +"Oh, yes they will!" said the odd man. "I'll take good +care that they believe it." + +"If any one say it not so, you tell me!" broke Koku, +shaking his huge fist. + +"No, I guess I'd better keep still," said Tom, with a +laugh. + +The weather was pleasant, if we except a shower or two, +and as the vessel proceeded south, tropical clothing became +the order of the day, while all who could, spent most of +their time on deck under the shade of awnings. + +"Did you ever hear anything more of that fellow, +Waddington?" asked Tom of Mr. Titus one day. + +"Not a thing. He seems to have dropped out of sight." + +"And are your rivals, Blakeson & Grinder, making any +trouble?" + +"Not that I've heard of. Though just what the situation +may be down in Peru I don't know. I fancy everything isn't +going just right or my brother would not be so anxious for +me to come on in such a hurry." + +"Do you anticipate any real trouble?" + +Mr. Titus paused a moment before answering. + +"Well, yes," he said, finally, "I do!" + +"What sort?" asked Tom. + +"That I can't say. I'll be perfectly frank with you, Tom. +You know I told you at the time that we were in for +difficulties. I didn't want you to go into this thing +blindly." + +"Oh, I'm not afraid of trouble," Tom hastened to assure +his friend. "I've had more or less of it in my life, and I'm +willing to meet it again. Only I like to know what kind it +is." + +"Well, I can't tell you--exactly," went an the tunnel +contractor. "Those rivals of ours, Blakeson & Grinder, are +unscrupulous fellows. They feel very bitter about not +getting the contract, I hear. And they would be only too +glad to have us fail in the work. That would mean that they, +as the next lowest bidders, would be given the job. And we +would have to make up the difference out of our pockets, as +well as lose all the work we have, so far, put on the +tunnel." + +"And you don't want that to happen!" + +"I guess not, my boy! Well, it won't happen if we get +there in time with this new explosive of yours. That will do +the business I'm sure." + +"I hope so," murmured Tom. "Well, we'll soon see. And now +I think I'll go and write a few letters. We are going to put +in at Panama, and I can mail them there." + +Tom started for his stateroom, and rapidly put his hand in +the inner pocket of his coat. He drew out a bundle of +letters and papers, and, as he looked at them, a cry of +astonishment came from his lips. + +"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Titus. + +"Matter!" cried Tom. "Why here's a letter from Mary--from +Mr. Nestor," he went on, as he scanned the familiar +handwriting. "I never opened it! Let's see--when did I get +that?" + +His memory went back to the day of his departure from +Shopton when he had sent Mary the gift, and he recalled that +the letter had arrived just as he was getting into the +automobile. + +"I stuck it in my pocket with some other mail," he mused, +"and I never thought of it again until just now. But this is +the first time I've worn this coat since that day. A letter +from Mr. Nestor! Probably Mary wrote, thanking me for the +box, and her father addressed the envelope for her. Well, +let's see what it says." + +Tom retired to the privacy of his stateroom to read the +note, but he had not glanced over more than the first half +of it before he cried out: + +"Dynamite! Great Scott! What does this mean? 'Gross +carelessness! Poor idea of a joke! No person with your idea +of responsibility will ever be my son-in-law!' Box labeled +'open with care!' Why--why--what does it all mean?" + +Tom read the letter over again, and his murmurs of +astonishment were so loud that Mr. Damon, in the next room, +called out: + +"What's the matter, Tom?" Get bad news?" + +"Bad news? I should say so! Mary--her father--he forbids +me to see her again. Says I tried to dynamite them all--or +at least scare them into believing I was going to. I can't +understand it!" + +"Tell me about it, Tom," suggested Mr. Damon, coming into +Tom's stateroom. "Bless my gunpowder keg! what does it +mean?" + +Thereupon Tom told of having purchased the gift for Mary, +and of having, at the last minute, told Eradicate to put it +in a box and deliver it at the Nestor home. + +"Which he evidently did," Tom went on, "but when it got +there Mary's present was in a box labeled 'Dynamite. Handle +with care.' I never sent that." + +Mr. Damon read over Mr. Nestor's letter which had lain so +long in Tom's pocket unopened. + +"I think I see how it happened," said the old man. +"Eradicate can't read; can he, Tom?" + +"No, but he pretends he can." + +"And did you have any empty boxes marked dynamite in your +laboratory?" + +"Why yes, I believe I did. I used dynamite as one of the +ingredients of my new explosive." + +"Well then, it's as clear as daylight. Eradicate, being +unable to read, took one of the empty dynamite boxes in +which to pack Mary's present. That's how it happened." + +Tom thought for a moment. Then he burst into a laugh. + +"That's it," he said, a bit ruefully. "That's the +explanation. No wonder Mr. Nestor was roiled. He thought I +was playing a joke. I'll have to explain. But how?" + +"By letter," said Mr. Damon. + +"Too slow. I'll send a wireless," decided Tom, and he +began the composition of a message that cost him +considerable in tolls before he had hit on the explanation +that suited him. + +"That ought to clear the atmosphere," he said when the +wireless had shot his message into the ether. "Whew! And to +think, all this while, Mary and her folks have believed that +I tried to play a miserable joke on them! My! My! I wonder +if they'll ever forgive me. When I get hold of Eradicate--" + +"Better teach him to read if he's going to do up love +packages," interrupted Mr. Damon, dryly. + +"I will," decided the young inventor. + +The Bellaconda stopped at Panama and then kept on her way +south. Soon after that she ran into a severe tropical storm, +and for a time there was some excitement among the +passengers. The more timid of them put on life preservers, +though the captain and his officers assured them there was +no danger. + +Tom and Mr. Titus, descending from the deck, whence they +had been warned by one of the mates, were on their way to +their stateroom, walking with some difficulty owing to the +roll of the ship. + +As they approached their quarters the door of a stateroom +farther up the passage opened, and a head was thrust out. + +"Will you send a steward to me?" a man requested. "I am +feeling very ill, and need assistance." + +"Certainly," Tom answered, and at that moment he heard Mr. +Titus utter an exclamation. + +"What is it?" asked Tom, for the man who had appealed for +help, had withdrawn his head. + +"That--that man!" exclaimed the contractor. "That was +Waddington, the tool of our rivals." + +"Waddington!" repeated Tom, with a look at the now closed +door. "Why, the bearded man has that stateroom--the bearded +man who so nearly lost the steamer. He isn't Waddington!" + +"And I tell you Waddington is in that room!" insisted the +contractor. "I only saw the upper part of his face, but I'd +know his eyes anywhere. Waddington is spying on us!" + + + + +Chapter IV + +The Bomb + + + +Tom Swift and Mr. Titus withdrew a little way down the +corridor, around a bulkhead and out of sight of any one who +might look out from the stateroom whence had come the appeal +for help. But, at the same time, they could keep watch over +it. + +"I tell you Waddington is in there!" insisted Mr. Titus, +hoarsely whispering. + +"Well, perhaps he may be," admitted Tom. "But several +times I have seen the bearded man going in there, and it's +only a single stateroom, for it's so marked on the deck +plan." + +"Waddington might be disguised with a false beard, Tom." + +"Yes, he might. But did the man who just now looked out +have a beard?" + +"I couldn't tell, as I saw only the upper part of his +face. But those were Waddington's shifty eyes, I'm +positive." + +"If Waddington were on board don't you suppose you would +have seen him before this?" + +"Not positively, no. If he and the bearded man are one and +the same that would account for it. But I haven't noticed +the bearded man once since he came aboard in such a hurry." + +"Nor have I, now that I come to think of it," Tom +admitted. "However, there is an easy way to prove who is in +there." + +"How?" + +"We'll knock on the door and go in." + +"Perhaps he won't let us." + +"He'll think it's the steward he called for. Come, you +know Waddington better than I do. You knock and go in." + +"I don't know Waddington very well," admitted the +contractor. "I have only seen him a few times, but I am +sure that was he. But what shall I do when he sees I'm not +the steward?" + +"Tell him you have sent for one. I'll go with the message, +so it will be true enough. Even if you have only a momentary +glance at him in close quarters you ought to be able to tell +whether or not he has on a false beard, and whether or not +it is Waddington." + +Mr. Titus considered for a moment, and then he said: + +"Yes, I guess that is a good plan. You go for the steward, +Tom, and I'll see if I can get in that stateroom. But I'm +sure I'm not mistaken. I'll find Waddington in there, +perhaps in the person of the bearded man, disguised. Or else +they are using a single stateroom as a double one." And +while Tom went off down the pitching and rolling corridor to +find a steward, Mr. Titus, not without some apprehension, +advanced to knock on the door of the suspect. + +"If it is Waddington he'll know me at once, of course," +thought the contractor, "and there may be a row. Well, I +can't help it. The success of my brother and myself depends +on finishing that tunnel, and we can't have Waddington, and +those whose tool he is, interfering. Here goes!" + +He tapped on the door, and a faint voice called: + +"Come in!" + +The contractor entered, and saw the bearded man lying in +his berth. + +"Is there anything I can do for you?" asked the +contractor, bending close over the man. He wanted to see if +the beard were false. Somewhat to his surprise the +contractor saw that undoubtedly it was real. + +"Steward, will you kindly get me--Oh, you're not the +steward!" the bearded man exclaimed. + +"No, my friend and I heard you call," replied the +contractor. "He has gone for the steward, who will be here +soon. Can I do anything for you in the meanwhile?" + +"No--not a thing!" was the rather snappish answer, and the +man turned his face away. "I beg your pardon," he went on, +as if conscious that he had acted rudely, "but I am +suffering very much. The steward knows just what I want. I +have had these attacks before. I am a poor sailor. If you +will send the steward to me I will be obliged to you. He can +fix me up." + +"Very well," assented Mr. Titus. "But if there is anything +I can do--" + +At that moment footsteps and voices were heard in the +corridor, and as the door of the bearded man's stateroom was +opened, Mr. Titus had a glimpse of Tom and one of the +stewards. + +"Yes, I'll look after him," the steward said "He's been +this way before. Thank you, sir, for calling me." + +"I guess the steward has been well tipped," thought Tom. +As Mr. Titus came out and the door was shut, the young +inventor asked in a whisper, + +"Well, was it he?" + +The contractor shook his head. + +"No," he answered. "I never was more surprised in my life. +I felt sure 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 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 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!" + + + + +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 to +gasp out: + +"You--you saved our lives!" + +The little man who had stepped on the fuse, and had then +torn it from the bomb, looked at the object in his hand as +though it were the most natural thing in the world to pick +explosives up off the deck of passenger steamers, as he +remarked: + +"Well, perhaps I did. Yes, I think it would have gone off +in another second or two. Rather curious; isn't it?" + +"Curious? Curious!" asked and exclaimed Mr. Titus. + +"Why, yes," went on the little man, in the most matter of +fact tone. "You see, most explosive bombs are round, made +that way so the force will be equal in all directions. But +this one, you notice, has a bulge, or protuberance, on one +side, so to speak. Very curious! + +"It might have been made that way to prevent its rolling +overboard, or the bomb's walls might be weaker near that +bulge to make sure that the force of the explosion would be +in that direction. And the bulge was pointed toward you +gentlemen, if you noticed." + +"I should say I did!" cried Mr. Titus. "My dear sir, you +have put us under a heavy debt to you! You saved our lives! +I--I am in no frame of mind to thank you now, but--" + +He strode over to the little man, holding out his hand. + +"No, no, I'd better keep it," went on the person who had +rendered the bomb ineffective. "You might drop it you know. +You are nervous--your hand shakes." + +"I want to shake hands with you!" exclaimed Mr. Titus-- +"to thank you!" + +"Oh, that's it. I thought you wanted the bomb. Shake +hands? Certainly!" + +And while this ceremony was being gone through with, Tom +had a moment to study the appearance of the man who had +saved their lives. He had seen the passenger once or twice +before, but had taken no special notice of him. Now he had +good reason to observe him. + +Tom beheld a little, thin man, little in the sense of +being of the "bean pole" construction. His head was as bald +as a billiard ball, as the young inventor could notice when +the stranger took off his hat to bow formally in response to +the greeting of some ladies who passed, while Mr. Titus was +shaking hands with him. + +The bald head was sunk down between two high shoulders, +and when the owner wished to observe anything closely, as he +was now observing the bomb, the head was thrust forward +somewhat as an eagle might do. And Tom noticed that the +eyes of the little man were as bright as those of an eagle. +Nothing seemed to escape them. + +"I want to add my thanks to those of Mr. Titus for saving +our lives," said Tom, as he advanced. "We don't know what to +make of it all, but you certainly stopped that bomb from +going off." + +"Yes, perhaps I did," admitted the little man coolly and +calmly, as though preventing bomb explosions was his daily +exercise before breakfast. + +Tom and Mr. Titus introduced themselves by name. + +"I am Professor Swyington Bumper," said the bomb-holder, +with a bow, removing his hat, and again disclosing his shiny +bald head. "I am very glad to have met you indeed." + +"And we are more than glad," said Tom, fervently, as he +glanced at the explosive. + +"Now that the danger is over," went on Mr. Titus, "suppose +we make an investigation, and find out how this bomb came to +be here." + +"Just what I was about to suggest," remarked Professor +Bumper. "Bombs, such as this, do not sprout of themselves on +bare decks. And I take it this one is explosive." + +"Let me look at it," suggested Tom. "I know something of +explosives." + +It needed but a casual examination on the part of one who +had done considerable experimenting with explosives to +disclose the fact that it had every characteristic of a +dangerous bomb. Only the pulling out of the fuse had +rendered it harmless. + +"If it had gone off," said Tom, "we would both have been +killed, or, at least, badly injured, Mr. Titus." + +"I believe you, Tom. And we owe our lives to Professor +Bumper." + +"I'm glad I could be of service, gentlemen," the scientist +remarked, in an easy tone. "Explosives are out of my line, +but I guessed it was rather dangerous to let this go off. +Have you any idea how it got here?" + +"Not in the least," said Tom. "But some one must have +placed it here, or dropped it behind us." + +"Would any one have an object in doing such a thing?" the +professor asked. + +Tom and Mr. Titus looked at one another. + +"Waddington!" murmured the contractor. "If he were on +board I should say he might have done it to get us out of +the way, though I would not go so far as to say he meant to +kill us. It may be this bomb has only a light charge in it, +and he only meant to cripple us." + +"We'll find out about that," said Tom. "I'll open it." + +"Better be careful," urged Mr. Titus. + +"I will," the young inventor promised. "I beg your +pardon," he went on to Professor Bumper. "We have been +talking about something of which you know nothing. Briefly, +there is a certain man who is trying to interfere in some +work in which Mr. Titus and I are interested, and we think, +if he were on board, he might have placed this bomb where it +would injure us." + +"Is he here?" asked the professor. + +"No. And that is what makes it all the more strange," said +Mr. Titus. "At one time I thought he was here, but I was +mistaken." + +Tom took the now harmless bomb to his stateroom, and +there, after taking the infernal machine apart, he +discovered that it was not as dangerous as he had at first +believed. + +The bomb contained no missiles, and though it held a +quantity of explosive, it was of a slow burning kind. Had it +gone off it would have sent out a sheet of flame that would +have severely burned him and Mr. Titus, but unless +complications had set in death would not have resulted. + +"They just wanted to disable us," said the contractor. +"That was their game. Tom, who did it?" + +"I don't know. Did you ever see this Professor Bumper +before?" + +"I never did." + +"And did it strike you as curious that he should happen to +be so near at hand when the bomb fell behind us?" + +"I hadn't thought of that," admitted the contractor. "Do +you mean that he might have dropped it himself?" + +"Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that," replied Tom, +slowly. "But I think it would be a good idea to find out +all we can of Professor Swyington Bumper." + +"I agree with you, Tom. We'll investigate him." + + + + +Chapter XI + +In the Andes + + + +Professor Swyington Bumper seemed to live in a region all +by himself. Though he was on board the Bellaconda, he might +just as well have been in an airship, or riding along on the +back of a donkey, as far as his knowledge, or recognition, +of his surroundings went. He seemed to be thinking thoughts +far, far away, and he was never without a book--either a +bound volume or a note-book. In the former he buried his +hawk-like nose, and Tom, looking over his shoulder once, saw +that the book was printed in curious characters, which, +later, he learned were Sanskrit. If he had a note-book the +bald-headed professor was continually jotting down memoranda +in it. + +"I can hardly think of him as a conspirator against us," +said Tom to Mr. Titus. + +"After you have been in the contracting business as long +as I have you'll distrust every one," was the answer. +"Waddington isn't on board, or I'd distrust him. That +Spaniard, Senor Pinto, seems to be out of consideration, and +there only remains the professor. We must watch him." + +But Professor Bumper proved to be above suspicion. +Carefully guarded inquiries made of the captain, the purser +and other ships' officers, brought out the fact that he was +well known to all of them, having traveled on the line +before. + +"He is making a search for something, but he won't say +what it is," the captain said. "At first we thought it was +gold or jewels, for he goes away off into the Andes +Mountains, where both gold and jewels have been found. He +never looks for treasure, though, for though some of his +party have made rather rich discoveries, he takes no +interest in them." + +"What is he after then?" asked Mr. Titus. + +"No one knows, and he won't tell. But whatever it is he +has never found it yet. Always, when he comes back, +unsuccessful, from a trip to the interior and goes back +North with us, he will remark that he has not the right +directions. That he must seek again. + +"Back he comes next season, as full of hope as before, but +only to be disappointed. Each time he goes to a new place in +the mountains where he digs and delves, so members of the +parties he hires tell me, but with no success. He carries +with him something in a small iron box, and, whatever this +is, he consults it from time to time. It may be directions +for finding whatever he is after. But there seems to be +something wrong." + +"This is quite a mystery," remarked Tom. + +"It certainly is. But Professor Bumper is a fine man. I +have known him for years." + +"This seems to dispose of the theory that he planted the +bomb, and that he is one of the plotters in the pay of +Blakeson & Grinder," said Mr. Titus, when he and Tom were +alone. + +"Yes, I guess it does. But who can have done it?" + +That was a question neither could answer. + +Tom had a theory, which he did not disclose to Mr. Titus, +that, after all, the somewhat mysterious Senor Pinto might, +in some way, be mixed up in the bomb attempt. But a close +questioning of the steward on duty near the foreigner's +cabin at the time disclosed the fact that Pinto had been ill +in his berth all that day. + +"Well, unless the bomb fell from some passing airship, I +don't see how it got on deck," said Tom with a shake of his +head. "And I'm sure no airship passed over us." + +They had kept the matter secret, not telling even Mr. +Damon, for they feared the eccentric man would make a fuss +and alarm the whole vessel. So Mr. Damon, occasionally +blessing his necktie or his shoe laces, played chess with +his elderly gentleman friend and was perfectly happy. + +That Professor Bumper not only had kept his promise about +not mentioning the bomb, but that he had forgotten all about +it, was evident a day or two after the happening. Tom and +Mr. Titus passed him on deck, and bowed cordially. The +professor returned the salutation, but looked at the two in +a puzzled sort of fashion. + +"I beg your pardon," he remarked, "but your faces are +familiar, though I cannot recall your names. Haven't I seen +you before?" + +"You have," said Tom, with a smile. "You saved our lives +from a bomb the other day." + +"Oh, yes! So I did! So I did!" exclaimed Professor Bumper. +"I felt sure I had seen you before. Are you all right?" + +"Yes. There haven't been any more bombs thrown at us," the +contractor said. "By the way, Professor Bumper, I understand +you are quite a traveler in the Andes, in the vicinity of +Lima." + +"Yes, I have been there," admitted the bald-headed +scientist in guarded tones. + +"Well, I am digging a tunnel in that vicinity," went on +Mr. Titus, "and if you ever get near Rimac, where the first +cutting is made, I wish you would come and see me--Tom too, +as he is associated with me." + +"Rimac-Rimac," murmured the professor, looking sharply at +the contractor. "Digging a tunnel there? Why are you doing +that?" and he seemed to resent the idea. + +"Why, the Peruvian government engaged me to do it to +connect the two railroad lines," was the answer. "Do you +know anything about the place?" + +"Not so much as I hope to later on," was the unexpected +answer. "As it happens I am going to Rimac, and I may visit +your tunnel." + +"I wish you would," returned Mr. Titus. + +Later on, in their stateroom, the contractor remarked to +the young inventor: + +"Sort of queer; isn't it?" + +"What?" asked Tom. "His not remembering us?" + +"No, though that was odd. But I suppose he is forgetful, +or pretends to be. I mean it's queer he is going to Rimac." + +"What do you mean?" asked Tom. + +"Well, I don't know exactly what I mean," went on the +tunnel contractor, "but our tunnel happens to start at +Rimac, which is a small town at the base of the mountains." + +"Maybe the professor is a geologist," suggested Tom, "and +he may want to get some samples of that hard rock." + +"Maybe," admitted Mr. Titus. "But I shall keep my eyes on +him all the same. I'm not going to have any strangers, who +happen to be around when bombs drop near us, get into my +tunnel." + +"I think you're wrong to doubt Professor Bumper," Tom +said. + +A few days after this, when Tom and Mr. Titus were +casually discussing the weather on deck and wondering how +much longer it would be before they reached Callao, Mr. +Damon, who had been playing numberless games of chess, came +up for a breath of air. + +"Mr. Damon," called Tom, "come over here and meet a friend +of ours, Professor Bumper," and he was about to introduce +them, for the two, as far as Tom knew, had not yet met. But +no sooner had the professor and Mr. Damon caught sight of +each other than there was a look of mutual recognition. + +"Bless my fountain pen!" cried the eccentric man. "If it +isn't my old friend!" + +"Mr. Damon!" cried the professor. "I am delighted to see +you again. I did not know you were on board!" + +"Nor I you. Bless my apple dumpling! Are you still after +those Peruvian antiquities?" + +"I am, Mr. Damon. But I did not know you were acquainted +with Mr. Swift." + +"Oh, Tom and I are old friends." + +"Professor Bumper saved the lives of Mr. Titus and +myself," said Tom, "or at least he saved us from severe +injury by a bomb." + +"Pray do not mention it, my friends," put in the +professor, casually. "It was nothing." + +Of course he did not mean it just that way. + +Then, naturally, Mr. Damon had to be told all about the +bomb for the first time, and his wonder was great. He +blessed everything he could think of. + +"And to think it should be my old friend, Professor +Bumper, who saved you," said the odd man to Tom and Mr. +Titus later that day. + +"Do you know him well?" asked Mr. Titus. + +"Very well indeed. Our drug concern sells him many +chemicals for his experiments." + +"Well, if you know him I guess he can't be what I thought +he was," the contractor went on. "I'm glad to know it. Why +is he going to the Andes?" + +"Oh, for many years he has been interested in collecting +Peruvian antiquities. He has a certain theory in regard to +something or other about their ancient civilization, but +just what it is I have, at this moment, forgotten. Only I +know you can thoroughly trust Professor Bumper, for a finer +man never lived, though he is a bit absent-minded at times. +But you will like him very much." + +Thus the last lingering doubt of Professor Bumper was +removed. Mr. Damon told something of how the scientist had +been honored by degrees from many colleges and was regarded +as an authority on Peruvian matters. + +But who had placed the bomb on deck remained a mystery. + +In due time Callao, the seaport of Lima, was reached and +our friends disembarked. Tom saw to the unloading of the +explosive, which was to be sent direct to the tunnel at +Rimac. Mr. Titus, Tom and Mr. Damon would remain in Lima a +day or so. + +Professor Bumper disembarked with our friends, and stopped +at the same hotel. Tom kept a lookout for Senor Pinto, but +did not see him, and concluded that the Spaniard was ill, +and would be carried ashore on a stretcher, perhaps. + +Lima, the principal city and capital of Peru, proved an +interesting place. It was about eight miles inland and was +built on an arid plain about five hundred feet above sea +level. Yet, though it was on what might be termed a desert, +the place, by means of irrigation, had been made into a +beauty spot. + +Tom found the older part of the city was laid out with +mathematical regularity, each street crossing the other at +right angles. But in the new portions there was not this +adherence to straightness. + +"Bless my transfer! Why, they have electric cars here!" +exclaimed Mr. Damon, catching sight of one on the line +between Callao and the capital. + +"What did you think they'd have?" asked Mr. Titus, +"elephants or camels?" + +"I--I didn't just know," was the answer. + +"Oh, you'll find a deal of civilization here," the +contractor said. "Of course much of the population is negro +or Indian, but they are often rich and able to buy what they +want. There is a population of over 150,000, and there are +two steam railroads between Callao and Lima, while there is +one running into the interior for 130 miles, crossing the +Andes at an elevation of over three miles. It is a branch of +that road, together with a branch of the one running to +Ancon, that I am to connect with a tunnel." + +Tom found some beautiful churches and cathedrals in Lima, +and spent some time visiting them. He and Mr. Damon also +visited, in the outskirts, the tobacco, cocoa and other +factories. + +Three days after reaching the capital, Mr. Titus having +attended to some necessary business while Mr. Damon set on +foot matters connected with his affairs, it was decided to +strike inland to Rimac, and to try the effect of Tom Swift's +explosive on the tunnel. + +The journey was to be made in part by rail, though the +last stages of it were over a rough mountain trail, with +llamas for beasts of burden, while our friends rode mules. + +As Tom, Mr. Damon, Koku, and Mr. Titus were going to the +railroad station they saw Professor Bumper also leaving the +hotel. + +"I believe our roads lie together for a time," said the +bald-headed scientist, "and, if you have no objections, I +will accompany you." + +"Come, and welcome!" exclaimed Mr. Titus, all his +suspicions now gone. + +"And it may be that you will be able to help me," the +scientist went on. + +"Help you--how?" asked Tom. + +"I will tell you when we reach the Andes," was the +mysterious answer. + +It was a day later when they left the train at a small +station, and struck off into the foothills of the great +Andes Mountains, where the tunnel was started, that the +professor again mentioned his object. + +"Friends," he said, as he gazed up at the towering cliffs +and crags, "I am searching for the lost city of Pelone, +located somewhere in these mountains. Will you help me to +find it?" + + + + +Chapter XII + +The Tunnel + + + +Mr. Damon, of the three who heard Professor Bumper make +this statement, showed the least sign of astonishment. It +would have been more correct to say that he showed none at +all. But Tom could not restrain himself. + +"The lost city of Pelone!" he exclaimed. + +"Is it here--in these mountains?" asked Mr. Titus. + +"I have reason to hope that it is," went on the professor. +"The golden tablets are very vague, but I have tried many +locations, and now I am about to try here. I hope I shall +succeed. At any rate, I shall have agreeable company, which +has not always been my luck on my previous expeditions +seeking to find the lost city." + +"Oh, Professor, are you still on that quest?" asked Mr. +Damon, in a matter-of-fact tone. + +"Yes, Mr. Damon, I am. And now that I look about me, and +see the shape of these mountains, I feel that they conform +more to the description on the golden plates than any +location I have yet tried. Somehow I feel that I shall be +successful here." + +"Did you know Professor Bumper was searching for a lost +city of the Andes?" asked Tom, of his eccentric friend. + +"Why yes," answered Mr. Damon. "He has been searching for +years to locate it." + +"Why didn't you tell us?" inquired Mr. Titus. + +"Why, I never thought of it. Bless my memorandum book! it +never occurred to me. I did not think you would be +interested. Tell them your story, Professor Bumper." + +"I will soon. Just now I must see to my equipment. The +story will keep." + +And though Tom and Mr. Titus were both anxious to hear +about the lost city, they, too, had much to do to get ready +for the trip into the interior. + +The beginning of the tunnel under one of the smaller of +the ranges of the Andes lay two days journey from the end of +the railroad line. And the trip must be made on mules, with +llamas as beasts of burden, transporting the powder and +other supplies. + +"We'll only need to take enough food with us for the two +days," said Mr. Titus. "We have a regular camp at the tunnel +mouth, and my brother has supplies of grub and other things +constantly coming in. We also have shacks to live in; but on +this trip we will use tents, as the weather at this season +is fine." + +It was quite a little expedition that set off up the +mountain trail that afternoon, for they had arrived at the +end of the railroad line shortly before dinner, and had +eaten at a rather poor restaurant. + +Professor Bumper had made up his own exploring party, +consisting of himself and three native Indian diggers with +their picks and shovels. They were to do whatever excavating +he decided was necessary to locate the hidden city. + +Several mules and llamas, laden with the new explosive, +and burdened with camp equipment and food, and a few Indian +servants made up the cavalcade of Tom, the contractor, Mr. +Damon and Koku. The giant was almost as much a source of +wonder to the Peruvians as he had been on board the ship. +And he was a great help, too. For some of the Indians were +under-sized, and could not lift the heavy boxes and packages +to the backs of the beasts of burden. + +But Koku, thrusting the little men aside, grasped with one +hand what two of them had tried in vain to lift, and set it +on the back of mule or llama. + +The way was rough but they took their time to it, for the +trail was an ascending one. Above and beyond them towered +the great Andes, and Tom, gazing up into the sky, which in +places seemed almost pierced by the snow-covered peaks, saw +some small black specks moving about. + +"Condors," said Mr. Titus, when his attention was called +to them. "Some of them are powerful birds, and they +sometimes pick up a sheep and make off with it, though +usually their food consists of carrion." + +They went into camp before the sun went down, for it grew +dark soon after sunset, and they wanted to be prepared. +Supper was made ready by the Indian helpers, and when this +was over, and they sat about a camp fire, Tom said: + +"Now, Professor Bumper, perhaps you'll explain about the +lost city." + +"I wish I could explain about it," began the scientist. +"For years I have dreamed of finding it, but always I have +been disappointed. Now, perhaps, my luck may change." + +"Do you think it may be near here?" asked Mr. Titus, +motioning toward the dark and frowning peaks all about them. + +"It may be. The signs are most encouraging. In brief, the +story of the lost city of Pelone is this. Thousands of years +ago--in fact I do not know how many--there existed somewhere +in Peru an ancient city that was the centre of civilization +for this region. Older it was than the civilization of the +Mexicans--the Montezumas--older and more cultured. + +"It is many years since I became interested in Peruvian +antiquities, and then I had no idea of the lost city. But +some of the antiques I picked up contained in their +inscriptions references to Pelone. At first I conceived this +to be a sort of god, a deity, or perhaps a powerful ruler. +But as I went on in my work of gathering ancient things from +Peru, I saw that the name Pelone referred to a city--a seat +of government, whence everything had its origin. + +"Then I got on the track more closely. I examined ancient +documents. I found traces of an ancient language and +writings, different from anything else in the world. I +managed to construct an alphabet and to read some of the +documents. From them I learned that Pelone was a city +situated in some fertile valley of the Andes. It had existed +for thousands of years; it was the seat of learning and +culture. Much light would be thrown on the lives of the +people who lived in Peru before the present races inhabited +it, if I could but locate Pelone. + +"Then I came across two golden tablets on which were +graven the information that Pelone had utterly vanished." + +"How?" asked Tom. + +"The golden tablets did not say. They simply stated the +fact that Pelone was lost, and one sentence read: 'He who +shall find it again shall be richly rewarded.' But it is not +for that that I seek. It is that I may give to the world the +treasures it must contain--the treasures of an ancient +civilization." + +"And how do you think the city disappeared?" asked Mr. +Titus. + +"I do not know. Whether it was destroyed by enemies, +whether it was buried under the ashes of a volcano, whether +it still exists, deserted and solitary in some valley amid +the mountain fastnesses of the Andes, I do not know. But I +am certain the city once existed, and it may exist yet, +though it may be in dust-covered ruins. That is what I seek +to find. See! Here are the tablets telling about it. I got +them from an old Peruvian grave." + +He took from a box two thin sheets of yellow metal. They +were covered with curious marks, but Tom and the others +could make nothing of them. Only Professor Bumper was able +to decipher them. + +"And that is the story of the lost city of Pelone--as +much as I know," he said. "For years I have sought it. If I +can find it I shall be famous, for I shall have added to +human knowledge." + +"If the people of that city wrote on golden tablets, the +yellow metal must have been plentiful," commented Mr. Titus. +"You might strike a rich mine." + +"I have no use for riches," said the professor. + +"Well, I have," the contractor said, with a laugh. "That's +why I'm putting through this tunnel. And if my brother and I +don't do it we'll be in a bad way financially. We have +struck traces of gold, but not in paying quantities. I +should like to see this lost city of yours, Professor +Bumper. It may contain gold." + +"You may have all the gold, if I am allowed to keep the +antiquities we find," stipulated the scientist. "Then you +will help me in my search?" + +"As much as we can spare time for from the tunnel work," +promised Mr. Titus. "I'll instruct my men to keep their eyes +open for any sign of ancient writings on the rocks we blast +out." + +"Thank you," said the professor. + +The night passed uneventfully enough, if one excepts the +mosquitoes which seemed to get through the nets, making life +miserable for all. And once Tom thought he heard gruntings +in the bush back of the tent, which noises might, he +imagined, have been caused by a bear. Toward morning he +heard an unearthly screech in the woods, and one of the +Indians, tending the fire, grunted out a word which meant +pumas. + +"I can see it isn't going to be dull here," Tom mused, as +he turned over and tried to sleep. + +Breakfast made them all feel better, and they set off on +the final stage of their journey. + +"If all goes well we'll be at the tunnel entrance and camp +to-night," said the contractor. "This second half of the +trip is the roughest." + +There was no need of saying that, for it was perfectly +evident. The trail was a most precarious one, and only a +mule or llama could have traveled it. The mules were most +sure-footed, but, as it was, one slipped, and came near +falling over a cliff. + +But no real accident occurred, and finally, about an hour +before sunset, the cavalcade turned down the slope and +emerged on a level plain, which ended against the face of a +great cliff. + +As Tom rode nearer the cliff he could make out around it +groups of rude buildings, covered with corrugated iron. +There was quite a settlement it seemed. + +Then, in the face of the cliff there showed something +black--like a blot of ink, though more regular in outline. + +"The mouth of the tunnel," said Mr. Titus to Tom. "Come on +over to the office and I'll introduce you to my brother. I +guess he will be glad we've arrived." + +Tom dismounted from his mule, an example followed by the +others. Professor Bumper gazed up at the great mountains and +murmured: + +"I wonder if the lost city of Pelone lies among them?" + +Suddenly the silence of the evening was broken by a dull, +rumbling sound. + +"Bless my court plaster!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's that?" + +"A blast," answered Mr. Titus. "But I never knew them to +set off one so late before. I hope nothing is wrong!" + +And, as he spoke, panic-stricken men began running out of +the mouth of the tunnel, while those outside hastened toward +them, shouting and calling. + + + + +Chapter XIII + +Tom's Explosive + + + +"Something has happened!" cried Mr. Titus as he ran +forward, followed by Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku. Professor +Bumper started with them, but on the way he saw a curious +bit of rock which he stopped to pick up and examine. + +At the entrance of the tunnel, from which came rushing +dirt-stained and powder-blackened men, Mr. Titus was met by +a man who seemed to be in authority. + +"Hello, Job!" he cried. "Glad you're back. We're in +trouble!" + +"What's the matter?" was the question. "This is my brother +Walter," he said. "This is Tom Swift and Mr. Damon," thus +hurriedly he introduced them. "What happened, Walter?" + +"Premature blast. Third one this week. Somebody is working +against us!" + +"Never mind that now," cried Job Titus. "We must see to +the poor fellows who are hurt." "I guess there aren't many," +his brother said. "They were on their way out when the +charge went off. Some more of Blakeson & Grinder's work, +I'll wager!" + +They were rushing in to the smoke-filled tunnel now, +followed by Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku, who would follow his +young master anywhere. Tom saw that the tunnel was lighted +with incandescent lamps, suspended here and there from the +rocky roof or sides. The electric lights were supplied with +current from a dynamo run by a gasoline engine. + +"Where is it, Serato? Where was the blast?" asked Walter +Titus, of a tall Indian, who seemed to be in some authority. + +"Back at second turn," was the answer, in fairly good +English. "I go get beds." + +"He means stretchers," translated Job. "That's our +Peruvian foreman. A good fellow, but easily scared." + +They ran on into the tunnel, Tom and Mr. Damon noticing +that a small narrow-gage railroad was laid on the floor, +mules being the motive power to bring out the small dump +cars loaded with rock and dirt, excavated from the big hole. + +"Mind the turn!" called Job Titus, who was ahead of Tom +and Mr. Damon. "It's rough here." + +Tom found it so, for he slipped over some pieces of rock, +and would have fallen had not Koku held him up. + +"Thanks," gasped Tom, as on he ran. + +A little later he came to a place where a cluster of +electric lights gave better illumination, and he could see +it was there that the damage had been done. + +A number of men were lying on the dirt and rock floor of +the tunnel, and some of them were bleeding. Others were +staggering about as though shocked or stunned. + +"We must get the injured ones out of here!" cried Walter +Titus. "Where are the men with stretchers?" + +"I sint that Spalapeen Serato for thim!" broke in a voice, +rich in Irish brogue. "But he's thot stupid he might think I +was after sindin' him fer wather!" + +"No, Tim. Serato is after the stretchers all right," said +Walter. "We passed him on the way." + +"That's Tim Sullivan, our Irish foreman, though he has +only a few of his own kind to boss," explained Job Titus in +a whisper. + +Some of the workmen (all of whom save the few Irish +referred to were Peruvian Indians) had now recovered from +their shock, or fright, and began to help the Titus +brothers, Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku in looking after the +injured. Of these there were five, only two of whom were, +seemingly, seriously hurt. + +"Me take them out," said Koku, and placing one gently over +his left shoulder, and the other over his right, out of the +tunnel he stalked with them, not waiting for the stretchers. + +And it was well he did so, for one man was in need of an +immediate operation, which was performed at the rude +hospital the contractors maintained at the tunnel mouth. The +other man died as Koku was carrying him out, but the giant +had saved one life. + +Serato, the Indian foreman, with some of his men now came +in, and the other injured were carried out on stretchers, +being attended to by the two doctors who formed part of the +tunnel force. Among a large body of men some were always +falling ill or getting hurt, and in that wild country a +doctor had to be kept near at hand. + +When the excitement had died down, and it was found that +one death would be the total toll of the accident and that +the premature blast had done no damage to the tunnel, the +two Titus brothers began to consider matters. + +Tom, Mr. Damon and the two contractors sat in the main +office and talked things over. Koku was eating supper, +though the others had finished, but, naturally, it took Koku +twice as long as any one else. Professor Bumper was busy +transcribing material in his note-book. + +"Well, I'm glad you've come back, Job," said his brother. +"Things have been going at sixes and sevens here since you +went to get some new kind of blasting powder. By the way, I +hope you got it, for we are practically at a standstill." + +"Oh, I got it all right--some of Tom Swift's best-- +specially made for us. And, better still, I've brought Tom +back with me." + +"So I see. Well, I'm glad he's here." + +"Now what about this accident to-day?" went on Job. + +"Well, as I said, it's the third this week. All of them +seemed to be premature blasts. But I've sent for some of the +fuses used. I'm going to get at the bottom of this. Here is +Sullivan with them now. Come in, Tim," he called, as the +Irishman knocked at the door. + +"Are they the fuses used in the blasts?" Walter asked. + +"They are, sor. An' they mostly burn five minutes, which +is plenty of time fer all th' min t' git out of danger. Only +this time th' fuse didn't seem to burn more than a minute, +an' I lit it meself." + +"Let's see how long they burn now," suggested Job. + +One of the longer fuses was lighted. It spluttered and +smoked, while the contractors timed it with their watches. + +"Four minutes!" exclaimed Job. "That's queer, and they're +the regular ten minute length. I wonder what this means. + +He took up another fuse, and examined it closely. + +"Why!" he cried. "These aren't our fuses at all. They're +another make, and much more rapid in burning. No wonder +you've been having premature blasts. They go off in about +half the time they should." + +"I can't understhand thot!" said Tim, thoughtfully. "I +keep all the fuses locked up, and only take thim out when I +need thim." + +"Then somebody has been at your box, Tim, and they took +out our regular fuses and put in these quicker ones. It's a +game to make trouble for us among our men, and to damage the +tunnel." + +"Bless my rubber boots!" cried Mr. Damon. "Who would do a +thing like that?" + +"Our rivals, perhaps, though I do not like to accuse any +man on such small evidence," said Walter. "But we must adopt +new measures." + +"And be very careful of the fuses," said Job. + +"Thot's what I will!" declared Tim. "I'll put th' supply +in a new place. No wonder there was blasts before th' min +could git out th' way! Bad cess t' th' imps thot did this!" +and he banged his big fist down on the table. + +Since the trouble began a guard had been always posted +around the tunnel entrance and surrounding buildings, and +this night the patrol was doubled. Tom, Mr. Damon and the +two Titus brothers sat up quite late, talking over plans +and ideas. + +Professor Bumper went to bed early, as he said he was +going to set off before sunrise to make a search for the +lost city. + +"I regard him as more or less of a visionary," said Mr. +Job Titus; "but he seems a harmless gentleman, and we'll do +all we can to help him." + +"Surely," agreed his brother. + +The night was not marked by any disturbance, and after +breakfast, Tom, under the guidance of the Titus brothers, +looked over the tunnel with a view to making his first +experiment with the new explosive. + +The tunnel was being driven straight into the face of one +of the smaller ranges of the Andes Mountains. It was to be +four miles in length, and when it emerged on the other side +it would enable trains to make connections between the two +railroads, thus tapping a rich and fertile country. + +On the site of the tunnel, which was two days' mule travel +east from Rimac, the Titus brothers had assembled their +heavy machinery. They had brought some of their own men, +including Tim Sullivan, with them, but the other labor was +that of Peruvian Indians, with a native foreman, Serato, +over them. + +There were engines, boilers, dynamos, motors, diamond +drills, steam shovels and a miniature railway, with mules as +the motive power. A small village had sprung up at the +tunnel mouth, and there was a general store, besides many +buildings for the sleeping and eating quarters of the +laborers, as well as places where the white men could live. +Their quarters were some distance from the native section. + +Powder, supplies, in fact everything save what game could +be obtained in the forest, or what grains or fruits were +brought in by natives living near by, had to be brought over +the rough trail. But Titus Brothers had a large experience +in engineering matters in wild and desolate countries, and +they knew how to be as comfortable as possible. + +Mr. Damon learned that one of the districts whence his +company had been in the habit of getting quinine was distant +a day's journey over the mountain, so he decided to make the +trip, with a native guide, and see if he could get at the +bottom of the difficulty in forwarding shipments. + +This was a few days after the arrival of our friends. +Meanwhile, Tom had been shown all through the tunnel by the +Titus Brothers and had had his first sight of the hard cliff +of rock which seemed to be a veritable stone wall in the way +of progress--or at least such progress as was satisfactory +to the contractors. + +"Well, we'll try what some of my explosive will do," said +Tom, when he had finished the examination. "I don't claim it +will be as successful as the sample blast we set off at +Shopton, but we'll do our best." + +Holes were drilled in the face of the rock, and several +charges of the new explosive tamped in. Wires were attached +to the fuses, which were of a new kind, and warning was +given to clear the tunnel. The wires ran out to the mouth of +the horizontal shaft and Tom, holding the switch in his hand +made ready to set off the blast. + +"Are they all out?" he asked Tim Sullivan, who had +emerged, herding the Indian laborers before him. Tim +insisted on being the last man to seek safety when an +explosion was to take place. + +"All ready, sor," answered the foreman. + +"Here she goes!" cried Tom, as his fingers closed the +circuit. + + + + +Chapter XIV + +Mysterious Disappearances + + + +There was a dull, muffled report, a sort of rumbling that +seemed to extend away down under the earth and then echo +back again until the ground near the mouth of the tunnel, +where the party was standing, appeared to rock and heave. +There followed a cloud of yellow, heavy smoke which made one +choke and gasp, and Tom, seeing it, cried: + +"Down! Down, everybody! There's a back draft, and if you +breathe any of that powder vapor you'll have a fearful +headache! Get down, until the smoke rises!" + +The tunnel contractors and their men understood the +danger, for they had handled explosives before. It is a +well-known fact that the fumes of dynamite and other giant +powders will often produce severe headaches, and even +illness. Tom's explosive contained a certain percentage of +dynamite, and he knew its ill effects. Stretched prone, or +crouching on the ground, there was little danger, as the +fumes, being lighter than air, rose. The yellow haze soon +drifted away, and it was safe to rise. + +"Well, I wonder how much rock your explosive tore loose +for us, Tom," observed Job Titus, as he looked at the thin, +yellowish cloud of smoke that was still lazily drifting from +the tunnel. + +"Can't tell until we go in and take a look," replied the +young inventor. "It won't be safe to go in for a while yet, +though. That smoke will hang in there a long time. I didn't +think there'd be a back draft." + +"There is, for we've often had the same trouble with our +shots," Walter Titus said. "I can't account for it unless +there is some opening in the shaft, connecting with the +outer air, which admits a wind that drives the smoke out of +the mouth, instead of forward into the blast hole. It's a +queer thing and we haven't been able to get at the bottom of +it." + +"That's right," agreed his brother. "We've looked for some +opening, or natural shaft, but haven't been able to find it. +Sometimes we shoot off a charge and everything goes well, +the smoke disappears in a few minutes. Again it will all +blow out this way and we lose half a day waiting for the air +to clear. There's a hidden shaft, or natural chimney, I'm +sure, but we can't find it." + +"Thot blast didn't make much racket," commented Tim +Sullivan. "I doubt thot much rock come down. An' thot's not +sayin' anythin' ag'in yer powder, lad," he went on to Tom. + +"Oh, that's all right," Tom Swift replied, with a laugh. +"My explosive doesn't work by sound. It has lots of power, +but it doesn't produce much concussion." + +"We've often made more noise with our blasts," confirmed +Job Titus, "but I can't say much for our results." + +They were all anxious, Tom included, to hurry into the +tunnel to see how much rock had been loosened by the blast, +but it was not safe to venture in until the fumes had been +allowed to disperse. In about an hour, however, Tim +Sullivan, venturing part way in, sniffed the air and called: + +"It's all right, byes! Air's clear. Now come on!" + +They all hurried eagerly into the shaft, Mr. Damon +stumbling along at Tom's side, as anxious as the lad +himself. Before they reached the face of the cliff against +which the bore had been driven, and which was as a solid +wall of rock to further progress, they began to tread on +fragments of stone. + +"Well, it blew some as far back as here," said Walter +Titus. "That's a good sign." + +"I hope so," Tom remarked. + +There were still some fumes noticeable in the tunnel, and +Mr. Damon complained of a slight feeling of illness, while +Koku, who kept at Tom's side, murmured that it made his eyes +smart. But the sensations soon passed. + +They came to a stop as the face of the cliff loomed into +view in the glare of a searchlight which Job Titus switched +on. Then a murmur of wonder came from every one, save from +Tom Swift. He, modestly, kept silent. + +"Bless my breakfast orange!" cried Mr. Damon. "What a big +hole!" + +There was a great gash blown in the hard rock which had +acted as a bar to the further progress of the tunnel. A +great heap of rock, broken into small fragments, was on the +floor of the shaft, and there was a big hole filled with +debris which would have to be removed before the extent of +the blast could be seen. + +"That's doing the work!" cried Job Titus. + +"It beats any two blasts we ever set off," declared his +brother. + +"Much fine!" muttered the Peruvian foreman, Serato. + +"It's a lalapaloosa, lad! Thot's what it is!" +enthusiastically exclaimed Tim Sullivan. "Now the black +beggars will have some rock to shovel! Come on there, +Serato, git yer lazy imps t' work cartin' this stuff away. +We've got a man on th' job now in this new powder of Tom +Swift's. Git busy!" + +"Um!" grunted the Indian, and he called to his men who +were soon busy with picks and shovels, loading the loosened +rock and earth into the mule-hauled dump cars which took it +to the mouth of the tunnel, whence it was shunted off on +another small railroad to fill in a big gulch to save +bridging it. + +Tom's first blast was very successful, and enough rock was +loosed to keep the laborers busy for a week. The contractors +were more than satisfied. + +"At this rate we'll finish ahead of time, and earn a +premium," said Job to his brother. + +"That's right. You didn't make any mistake in appealing to +Tom Swift. But I wonder if Blakeson & Grinder have given up +trying to get the job away from us?" + +"I don't know. I'd never trust them. We must watch out for +Waddington. That bomb on the vessel had a funny look, even +if it was not meant to kill Tom or me. I won't relax any." + +"No, I guess it wouldn't be safe." + +But a week went by without any manifestation having been +made by the rival tunnel contractors. During that week more +of Tom's explosive arrived, and he busied himself getting +ready another blast which could be set off as soon as the +debris from the first should have been cleared away. + +Meanwhile, Professor Bumper, with his Indian guides and +helpers, had made several trips into the mountain regions +about Rimac, but each time that he returned to the tunnel +camp to renew his supplies, he had only a story of failure +to recite. + +"But I am positive that somewhere in this vicinity is the +lost Peruvian city of Pelone," he said. "Every indication +points to this as the region, and the more I study the +plates of gold, and read their message, the more I am +convinced that this is the place spoken of. + +"But we have been over many mountains, and in more +valleys, without finding a trace of the ancient civilization +I feel sure once flourished here. There are no relics of a +lost race--not so much as an arrow or spear head. But, +somehow or other, I feel that I shall find the lost city. +And when I do I shall be famous!" + +"Mr. Damon and I will help you all we can," Tom said. "As +soon as I get ready the next blast I'll have a little time +to myself, and we will go with you on a trip or two." + +"I shall be very glad to have you," the bald-headed +scientist remarked. + +Tom's second blast was even more successful than the +first, and enough of the hard rock was loosed and pulverized +to give the Indian laborers ten days' work in removing it +from the tunnel. + +Then, as the services of the young inventor would not be +needed for a week or more, he decided to go on a little trip +with Professor Bumper. + +"I'll come too," said Mr. Damon. "One of the sub- +contractors whose men are gathering the cinchona bark for +our firm has his headquarters in the region where you are +going, and I can go over there and see why he isn't up to +the mark." + +Accordingly, preparations having been made to spend a week +in camp in the forests of the Andes, Tom and his party set +off one morning. Professor Bumper's Indian helpers would do +the hard work, and, of course, Koku, who went wherever Tom +went, would be on hand in case some feat of strength were +needed. + +It was a blind search, this hunt for a lost city, and as +much luck might be expected going in one direction as in +another; so the party had no fixed point toward which to +travel. Only Mr. Damon stipulated that he wanted to reach a +certain village, and they planned to include that on their +route. + +Tom Swift took his electric rifle with him, and with it he +was able to bring down a couple of deer which formed a +welcome addition to the camp fare. + +The rifle was a source of great wonder to the Peruvians. +They were familiar with ordinary firearms, and some of them +possessed old-fashioned guns. But Tom's electric weapon, +which made not a sound, but killed with the swiftness of +light, was awesome to them. The interpreter accompanying +Professor Bumper confided privately to Tom that the other +Indians regarded the young inventor as a devil who could, if +he wished, slay by the mere winking of an eye. + +Mr. Damon located the quinine-gathering force he was +anxious to see, and, through the interpreter, told the chief +that more bark must be brought in to keep up to the terms of +the contract. + +But something seemed to be the matter. The Indian chief +was indifferent to the interpreted demands of Mr. Damon, and +that gentleman, though he blessed any number of animate and +inanimate objects, seemed to make no impression. + +"No got men to gather bark, him say," translated the +interpreter. + +"Hasn't got any men!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Why, look at +all the lazy beggars around the village." + +This was true enough, for there were any number of able- +bodied Indians lolling in the shade. + +"Him say him no got," repeated the translator, doggedly. + +At that moment screams arose back of one the grass huts, +and a child ran out into the open, followed by a savage dog +which was snapping at the little one's bare legs. + +"Bless my rat trap!" gasped Mr. Damon. "A mad dog!" + +Shouts and cries arose from among the Indians. Women +screamed, and those who had children gathered them up in +their arms to run to shelter. The men threw all sorts of +missiles at the infuriated animal, but seemed afraid to +approach it to knock it over with a club, or to go to the +relief of the frightened child which was now only a few feet +ahead of the animal, running in a circle. + +"Me git him!" cried Koku, jumping forward. + +"No, Wait!" exclaimed Tom Swift. "You can kill the dog +all right, Koku," he said, "but a scratch from his tooth +might be fatal. I'll fix him!" + +Snatching his electric rifle from the Indian bearer who +carried it, Tom took quick aim. There was no flash, no +report and no puff of smoke, but the dog suddenly crumpled +up in a heap, and, with a dying yelp, rolled to one side. +The child was saved. + +The little one, aware that something had happened, turned +and saw the stretched out form of its enemy. Then, sobbing +and crying, it ran toward its mother who had just heard the +news. + +While the mothers gathered about the child, and while the +older boys and girls made a ring at a respectful distance +from the dog, there was activity noticed among the men of +the village. They began hurrying out along the forest paths. + +"Where are they going?" asked Tom. "Is there some trouble? +Was that a sacred dog, and did I get in bad by killing it?" + +The interpreter and the native chief conversed rapidly for +a moment and then the former, turning to Tom, said: + +"Men go git cinchona bark now. Plenty get for him," and he +pointed to Mr. Damon. "They no like stay in village. T'ink +yo' got lightning in yo' pocket," and he pointed to the +electric rifle. + +"Oh, I see!" laughed Tom. "They think I'm a sort of +wizard. Well, so I am. Tell them if they don't get lots of +quinine bark I'll have to stay here until all the mad dogs +are shot." + +The interpreter translated, and when the chief had ceased +replying, Tom and the others were told: + +"Plenty bark git. Plenty much. Yo' go away with yo' +lightning. All right now." + +"Well, it's a good thing I keeled over that dog," Tom +said. "It was the best object lesson I could give them." + +And from then on there was no more trouble in this +district about getting a supply of the medicinal bark. + +A week passed and Professor Bumper was no nearer finding +the lost city than he had been at first. Reluctantly, he +returned to the tunnel camp to get more provisions. + +"And then I'll start out again," he said. + +"We'll go with you some other time," promised Tom. "But +now I expect I'll have to get another blast ready." + +He found the debris brought down by the second one all +removed, and in a few days, preparations for exploding more +of the powder were under way. + +Many holes had been drilled in the face of the cliff of +hard rock, and the charges tamped in. Electric wires +connected them, and they were run out to the tunnel mouth +where the switch was located. + +This was done late one afternoon, and it was planned to +set off the blast at the close of the working day, to allow +all night for the fumes to be blown away by the current of +air in the tunnel. + +"Get the men out, Tim," said Tom, when all was ready. + +"All right, sor," was the answer, and the Irish foreman +went back toward the far end of the bore to tell the last +shift of laborers to come out so the blast could be set off. + +But in a little while Tim came running back with a queer +look on his face. + +"What's the matter?" asked Tom. "Why didn't you bring the +men with you?" + +"Because, sor, they're not there!" + +"Not in the tunnel? Why, they were working there a little +while ago, when I made the last connection!" + +"I know they were, but they've disappeared." + +"Disappeared?" + +"Yis sir. There's no way out except at this end an' you +didn't see thim come out: did you?" + +"Then they've disappeared! That's all there is to it! Bad +goin's on, thot's what it is, sor! Bad!" and Tim shook his +head mournfully. + + + + +Chapter XV + +Frightened Indians + + + +"There must be some mistake," said Tom, wondering if the +Irish foreman were given to joking. Yet he did not seem that +kind of man. + +"Mistake? How can there be a mistake, sor? I wint in there +to tell th' black imps t' come out, but they're not there to +tell!" + +"What's the trouble?" asked Job Titus, coming out of the +office near the tunnel mouth. "What's wrong, Tom?" + +"Why, I sent Tim in to tell the men to come out, as I was +going to set off a blast, but he says the men aren't in +there. And I'm sure the last shift hasn't come out." + +By this time Koku, Mr. Damon and Walter Titus had come up +to find out what the trouble was. + +"The min have disappeared--that's all there is to it!" Tim +said. + +"Perhaps they have missed their way--the lights may have +gone out, and they might have wandered into some abandoned +cutting," suggested Tom. + +"There aren't any abandoned cuttin's," declared Tim. "It's +a straight bore, not a shaft of any kind. I've looked +everywhere, and th' min aren't there I tell ye!" + +"Are the lights going?" asked Job. "You might have missed +them in the dark, Tim." + +"The lights are going all right, Mr. Titus," said the +young man in charge of the electrical arrangements. "The +dynamo hasn't been stopped to-day." + +"Come on, we'll have a look," proposed Walter Titus. +"There must be some mistake. Hold back the blast, Tom." + +"All right," and the young inventor disconnected the +electrical detonating switch. "I'll come along and have a +look too," he added. "Don't let anybody meddle with the +wires, Jack," he said to the young Englishman who was in +charge of the dynamo. + +Into the dimly-lit tunnel advanced the party of +investigators, with Tim Sullivan in the lead. + +"Not a man could I find!" he said, murmuring to himself. +"Not a man! An' I mind th' time in Oireland whin th' little +people made vanish a whole village like this, jist bekase +ould Mike Maguire uprooted a bed of shamrocks." + +"That's enough of your superstitions, Tim," warned Job +Titus. "If some of the other Indians hear you go on this way +they'll desert as they did once before." + +"Did they do that?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, we had trouble that way when we first began the +work. The place here was a howling wilderness then, and +there were lots of pumas around. + +"A puma is a small sized lion, you know, not specially +dangerous unless cornered. Well, some of the men had their +families here with them, and a couple of children +disappeared. The story got started that there was a big +puma--the king of them all--carrying off the little ones, +and my brother and I awoke one morning to find every laborer +missing. They departed bag and baggage. Afraid of the +pumas." + +"What did you do?" + +"Well, we organized ourselves and our white helpers into a +hunting party and killed a lot of the beasts. There wasn't +any big one though." + +"And what had become of the children?" + +"They weren't eaten at all. They had wandered off into the +woods, and some natives found them and took care of them. +Eventually, they got back home. But it was a long while +before we could persuade the Indians to come back. Since +then we haven't had any trouble, and I don't want Tim, with +his superstitious fancies, to start any." + +"But the min are gone!" insisted the Irish foreman, who +had listened to this story as he and the others walked +along. + +"We'll find them," declared Mr. Titus. + +But though they looked all along the big shaft, and though +the place was well lighted by extra lamps that were turned +on when the investigation started, no trace could be found +of the workmen, who had been left in the tunnel to finish +tamping the blast charges. The party reached the rocky +heading, in the face of which the powerful explosive had +been placed, and not an Indian was in sight. Nor, as far as +could be told, was there any side niche, or blind shaft, in +which they could be hiding. + +Sometimes, when small blasts were set off, the men would +go behind a projecting shoulder of rock to wait until the +charge had been fired, but now none was in such a refuge. + +"It is queer," admitted Walter Titus. "Where can the men +have gone?" + +"That's what I want to know!" exclaimed Tim. + +"Are you sure they didn't come out the mouth of the +tunnel?" asked Job Titus. + +"Positive," asserted Tom. I was there all the while, +rigging up the fires." + +"We'll call the roll, and check up," decided Job Titus. +"Get Serato to help." + +The Indian foreman had not been in the tunnel with the +last shift of men, having left them to Tim Sullivan to get +out in time. The Indian foreman was called from his supper +in the shack where he had his headquarters, and the roll of +workmen was called. + +Ten men were missing, and when this fact became known +there were uneasy looks among the others. + +"Well," said Mr. Titus, after a pause. "The men are either +in the tunnel or out of it. If they're in we don't dare set +off the blast, and if they're out they'll show up, sooner or +later, for supper. I never knew any of 'em to miss a meal." + +"If such a thing were possible," said Walter Titus, "I +would say that our rivals had a hand in this, and had +induced our men to bolt in order to cripple our force. But +we haven't seen any of Blakeson & Grinder's emissaries +about, and, if they were, how could they get the ten men out +of the tunnel without our Seeing them? It's impossible!" + +"Well, what did happen then?" asked Tom. + +"I'm inclined to think that the men came out and neither +you, nor any one else, saw them. They ran away for reasons +of their own. We'll take another look in the morning, and +then set off the blast." + +And this was done. There being no trace of the men in the +tunnel it was deemed safe to explode the charges. This was +done, a great amount of rock being loosened. + +The laborers hung back when the orders were given to go in +and clean up. There were mutterings among them. + +"What's the matter?" asked Job Titus. + +"Them afraid," answered Serato. "Them say devil in tunnel +eat um up! No go in." + +"They won't go in, eh?" cried Tim Sullivan. "Well, they +will thot! If there's a divil inside there's a worse one +outside, an' thot's me! Git in there now, ye black-livered +spalapeens!" and catching up a big club the Irishman made a +rush for the hesitating laborers. With a howl they rushed +into the tunnel, and were soon loading rock into the dump +cars. + + + + +Chapter XVI + +On the Watch + + + +The mystery of the disappearance of the ten men--for +mystery it was--remained, and as no side opening or passage +could be found within the tunnel, it came to be the +generally accepted explanation that the laborers had come +out unobserved, and, for reasons of their own, had run away. + +This habit on the part of the Peruvian workers was not +unusual. In fact, the Titus brothers had to maintain a sort +of permanent employment agency in Lima to replace the +deserters. But they were used to this. The difference was +that the Indians used to vanish from camp at night, and +invariably after pay-day. + +"And that's the only reason I have a slight doubt that +they walked out of the tunnel," said Job Titus. "There was +money due em." + +"They never came out of the front entrance of the tunnel," +said Tom. "Of that I'm positive." + +But there was no way of proving his assertion. + +The third blast, while not as successful as the second in +the amount of rock loosened, was better than the first, and +made a big advance in the tunnel progress. Tom was beginning +to understand the nature of the mountain into which the big +shaft was being driven and he learned how better to apply +the force of his explosive. + +That was the work which he had charge of--the placing of +the giant powder so it would do the most effective work. +Then, when the fumes from the blast had cleared away, in +would surge the workmen to clear away the debris. + +Under the direction of Mr. Swift, left at Shopton to +oversee the manufacture of the explosive, new shipments came +on promptly to Lima, and were brought out to the tunnel on +the backs of mules, or in the case of small quantities, on +the llamas. But the latter brutes will not carry a heavy +load, lying down and refusing to get up if they are +overburdened, whereas one has yet to find a mule's limit. + +After his first success in getting the natives to take a +more active interest in the gathering of the cinchona bark, +Mr. Damon found it rather easy, for the story of Tom's +electric rifle and how it had killed the mad dog spread +among the tribes, and Mr. Damon had but to announce that the +"lightning shooter," as Tom was called, was a friend of the +drug concern to bring about the desired results. Mr. Damon, +by paying a sort of bribe, disguised under the name "tax," +secured the help of Peruvian officials so he had no trouble +on that score. + +Koku was in his element. He liked a wild life and Peru was +much more like the country of giants where Tom had found +him, than any place the big man had since visited. Koku had +great strength and wanted to use it, and after a week or so +of idleness he persuaded Tom to let him go in the tunnel to +work. + +The giant was made a sort of foreman under Tim, and the +two became great friends. The only trouble with Koku was +that he would do a thing himself instead of letting his men +do it, as, of course, all proper foremen should do. If the +giant saw two or three of the Indians trying to lift a big +rock into the little dump cars, and failing because of its +great weight, he would good-naturedly thrust them aside, +pick up the big stone in his mighty arms, and deposit it in +its place. + +And once when an unusually big load had been put in a car, +and the mule attached found it impossible to pull it out to +the tunnel mouth, Koku unhitched the creature and, slipping +the harness around his waist, walked out, dragging the load +as easily as if pulling a child on a sled. + +Professor Bumper kept on with his search for the lost city +of Pelone. Back and forth he wandered among the wild Andes +Mountains, now hopeful that he was on the right trail, and +again in despair. Tom and Mr. Damon went with him once more +for a week, and though they enjoyed the trip, for the +professor was a delightful companion, there were no results. +But the scientist would not give up. + +Tom Swift was kept busy looking after the shipments of the +explosive, and arranging for the blasts. He had letters from +Ned Newton in which news of Shopton was given, and Mr. Swift +wrote occasionally. But the mails in the wilderness of the +Andes were few and far between. + +Tom wrote a letter of explanation to Mr. Nestor, in +addition to the wireless he had sent regarding the box +labeled dynamite, but he got no answer. Nor were his +letters to Mary answered. + +"I wonder what's wrong?" Tom mused. "It can't be that they +think I did that on purpose. And even if Mr. Nestor is angry +at me for something that wasn't my fault, Mary ought to +write." + +But she did not, and Tom grew a bit despondent as the days +went by and no word came. + +"I suppose they might be offended because I left Rad to do +up that package instead of attending to it myself," thought +Tom. "Well, I did make a mistake there, but I didn't mean +to. I never thought about Eradicate's not reading. I'll make +him go to night school as soon as I get back. But maybe I'll +never get another chance to send Mary anything. If I do, +I'll not let Rad deliver it--that's sure." + +The feeling of alarm engendered among the Indians by the +disappearance of their ten fellow-workers seemed to have +disappeared. There were rumors that some of the mysterious +ten had been seen in distant villages and settlements, but +the Titus brothers could not confirm this. + +"I don't think anything serious happened to them, anyhow," +said Job Titus one day. "And I should hate to think our work +was responsible for harm to any one." + +"Your rivals don't seem to be doing much to hamper you," +observed Tom. "I guess Waddington gave up. + +"I won't be too sure of that," said Mr. Titus. + +"Why, what has happened?" Tom asked. + +"Well, nothing down here--that is, directly--but we are +meeting with trouble on the financial end. The Peruvian +government is holding back payments." + +"Why is that?" + +"They claim we are not as far advanced as we ought to be." + +"Aren't you?" + +"Practically, yes. There was no set limit of work to be +done for the intermediate payments. We bonded ourselves to +have the tunnel done at a certain date. + +"If we fail, we lose a large sum, and if we get it done +ahead of time we get a big premium. There was no question as +to completing a certain amount of footage before we received +certain payments. But Senor Belasdo, the government +representative, claims that we will not be done in time, and +therefore he is holding back money due us. I'm sure the +rival contractors have set him up to this, because he was +always decent to us before. + +"Another matter, too, makes me suspicious. We have tried +to raise money in New York to tide us over while the +government is holding up our funds here. But our New York +office is meeting with difficulties. They report there is a +story current to the effect that we are going to fail, and +while that isn't so, you know how hard it is to borrow money +in the face of such rumors. We are doing all we can to +fight them, of course, and maybe we'll beat out our rivals +yet. + +"But that isn't all. I'm sure some one is on the ground +here trying to make trouble among our workers. I never knew +so many men to leave, one after another. It's keeping the +employment agency in Lima busy supplying us with new +workers. And so many of them are unskilled. They aren't able +to do half the work of the old men, and poor Tim Sullivan is +in despair." + +"You think some one here is causing dissensions and +desertions among your men?" + +"I'm sure of it! I've tried to ferret out who it is, but +the spy, for such he must be, keeps his identity well +hidden." + +Tom thought for a moment. Then he said: + +"Mr. Titus, with your permission, I'll see if I can find +out about this for you." + +"Find out what, Tom?" + +"What is causing the men to leave. I don't believe it's +the scare about the ten missing ones." + +"Nor do I. That's past and gone. But how are you going to +get at the bottom of it?" + +"By keeping watch. I've got nothing to do now for the next +week. We've just set off a big blast, and I've got the +powder for the following one all ready. The men will be busy +for some time getting out the broken rock. Now what I +propose to do is to go in the tunnel and work among them +until I can learn something. + +"I can understand the language pretty well now, though I +can't speak much of it. I'll go in the tunnel every day and +find out what's going on." + +"But you'll be known, and if one of our men, or one who we +suppose is one, turns out to be a spy, he'll be very +cautious while you're in there." + +"He won't know me," Tom said. "This is how I'll work it. +I'll go off with Professor Bumper the next time he starts on +one of his weekly expeditions into the woods. But I won't go +far until I turn around and come back. I'll adopt some sort +of disguise, and I'll apply to you for work. You can tell +Tim to put me on. You might let him into the secret, but no +one else." + +A few days later Tom was seen departing with Professor +Bumper into the interior, presumably to help look for the +lost city. Mr. Damon was away from camp on business +connected with the drug concern, and Koku, to his delight, +had been given charge of a stationary hoisting engine +outside the tunnel, so he would not come in contact with +Tom. It was not thought wise to take the giant into the +secret. + +Then one day, shortly after Professor Bumper and Tom had +disappeared into the forest, a ragged and unkempt white man +applied at the tunnel camp for work. There was just the +barest wink as he accosted Mr. Titus, who winked in turn, +and then the new man was handed over to Tim Sullivan, as a +sort of helper. + +And so Tom Swift began his watch. + + + + +Chapter XVII + +The Condor + + + +Left to himself, with only the rather silent gang of +Peruvian Indians as company, Tom Swift looked about him. +There was not much active work to be done, only to see that +the Indians filled the dump cars evenly full, so none of the +broken rock would spill over the side and litter the +tramway. Then, too, he had to keep the Indians up to the +mark working, for these men were no different from any +other, and they were just as inclined to "loaf on the job" +when the eye of the "boss" was turned away. + +They did not talk much, murmuring among themselves now and +then, and little of what they said was intelligible to Tom. +But he knew enough of the language to give them orders, the +main one of which was: + +"Hurry up!" + +Now, having seen to it that the gang of which he was in +temporary charge was busily engaged, Tom had a chance to +look about him. The tunnel was not new to him. Much of his +time in the past month had been spent in its black depths, +illuminated, more or less, by the string of incandescent +lights. + +"What I want to find," mused Tom, as he walked to and fro, +"is the place where those Indians disappeared. For I'm +positive they got away through some hole in this tunnel. +They never came out the main entrance." + +Tom held to this view in spite of the fact that nearly +every one else believed the contrary--that the men had left +by the tunnel mouth, near which Tom happened to be alone at +the time. + +Now, left to himself, with merely nominal duties, and so +disguised that none of the workmen would know him for the +trim young inventor who oversaw the preparing of the blast +charges, Tom Swift walked to and fro, looking for some +carefully hidden passage or shaft by means of which the men +had got away. + +"For it must be well hidden to have escaped observation so +long," Tom decided. "And it must be a natural shaft, or +hole, for we are boring into native rock, and it isn't +likely that these Indians ever tried to make a tunnel here. +There must be some natural fissure communicating with the +outside of the mountain, in a place where no one would see +the men coming out." + +But though Tom believed this it was another matter to +demonstrate his belief. In the intervals of seeing that the +natives properly loaded the dump cars, and removed as much +of the debris as possible, Tom looked carefully along the +walls and roof of the tunnel thus far excavated. + +There were cracks and fissures, it is true, but they were +all superficial ones, as Tom ascertained by poking a long +pole up into them. + +"No getting out that way," he said, as he met with failure +after failure. + +Once, while thus engaged, he saw Serato, the Indian +foreman looking narrowly at him, and Serato said something +in his own language which Tom could not understand. But +just then along came Tim Sullivan, who, grasping the +situation, exclaimed: + +"Thot's all roight, now, Serri, me lad!" for thus he +contracted the Indian's name. "Thot's a new helper I have, a +broth of a bye, an' yez kin kape yer hands off him. He's +takin' orders from me!" + +"Um!" grunted the Indian. "Wha for he fish +in tunnel roof?" for Tom's pole was one like those +the Indians used when, on off days, they emulated +Izaak Walton. + +"Fishin' is it!" exclaimed Tim. "Begorra 'tis flyin' fish +he's after I'm thinkin'. Lave him alone though, Serri! I'm +his boss!" + +"Um!" grunted the Indian again, as he moved off into the +farther darkness. + +"Be careful, Tom," whispered the Irishman, when the native +had gone. "These black imps is mighty suspicious. Maybe thot +fellah had a hand in th' disappearances hisself." + +"Maybe," admitted Tom. "He may get a percentage on all new +hands that are hired." + +Tom kept on with his search, always hoping he might find +some hidden means of getting out of the tunnel. But as the +days went by, and he discovered nothing, he began to +despair. + +"The queer thing about it," mused Tom, "is what has become +of the ten men. Even if they did find some secret means of +leaving, what has become of them? They couldn't completely +disappear, and they have families and relatives that would +make some sort of fuss if they were out of sight completely +this long. I wonder if any inquiries have been made about +them?" + +When Tom came off duty he asked the Titus brothers whether +or not any of the relatives of the missing men had come to +seek news about them. None had. + +"Then," said Tom, "you can depend on it the men are all +right, and their relatives know it. I wonder how it would do +to make inquiries at that end? Question some of the +relatives." + +"Bless my hat hand!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, who was at the +conference. "I never thought of that. I'll do it for you." + +The odd man had gotten his quinine gathering business well +under way now, and he had some spare time. So, with an +interpreter who could be trusted, he went to the native +village whence had come nearly all of the ten missing men. +But though Mr. Damon found some of their relatives, the +latter, with shrugs of their shoulders, declared they had +seen nothing of the ones sought. + +"And they didn't seem to worry much, either," reported Mr. +Damon. + +"Then we can depend on it," remarked Tom, "that the men +are all right and their relatives know it. There's some +conspiracy here." + +So it seemed. But who was at the bottom of it? + +"I can't figure out where Blakeson & Grinder come in," +said Job Titus. "They would have an object in crippling us, +but they seem to be working from the financial end, trying +to make us fail there. I haven't seen any of their sneaking +agents around here lately, and as for Waddington he seems to +have stayed up North." + +Tom resumed his vigil in the tunnel, poking here and +there, but with little success. His week was about up, and +he would soon have to resume his character as powder expert, +for the debris was nearly all cleaned up, and another blast +would have to be fired shortly. + +"Well, I'm stumped!" Tom admitted, the day when he was to +come on duty for the last time as a pretended foreman. "I've +hunted all over, and I can't find any secret passage." + +It was warm in the tunnel, and Tom, having seen one train +of the dump cars loaded, sat down to rest on an elevated +ledge of rock, where he had made a sort of easy chair for +himself, with empty cement bags for cushions. + +The heat, his weariness and the monotonous clank-clank of +a water pump near by, and the equally monotonous thump of +the lumps of rocks in the cars made Tom drowsy. Almost +before he knew it he was asleep. + +What suddenly awakened him he could not tell. Perhaps it +was some influence on the brain cells, as when a vivid dream +causes us to start up from slumber, or it may have been a +voice. For certainly Tom heard a voice, he declared +afterward. + +As he roused up he found himself staring at the rocky wall +of the tunnel. And yet the wall seemed to have an opening in +it and in the opening, as if it were in the frame of a +picture, appeared the face Tom had seen at his library the +day Job Titus called on him--the face of Waddington! + +Tom sat up so quickly that he hit his head sharply on a +projecting rock spur, and, for the moment he "saw stars." +And with the appearance of these twinkling points of light +the face of Waddington seemed to fade away, as might a +vision in a dream. + +"Bless my salt mackerel, as Mr. Damon would say!" cried +Tom. "What have I discovered?" + +He rubbed his head where he had struck it, and then passed +his hand before his eyes, to make sure he was awake. But the +vision, if vision it was, had vanished, and he saw only the +bare rock wall. However, the echo of the voice remained in +his ears, and, looking down toward the tunnel floor Tom saw +Serato, the Indian foreman. + +"Were you speaking to me?" asked Tom, for the man +understood and spoke English fairly well. + +"No, sar. I not know you there!" and the fore man seemed +startled at seeing Tom. Clearly he was in a fright. + +"You were speaking!" insisted Tom. + +"No, sar!" The man shook his head. + +"To some one up there!" went on the young inventor, waving +his hand toward the spot where he had seen the face in the +rock. + +"Me speak to roof? No, sar!" Serato laughed. + +Tom did not know what to believe. + +"You hear me tell um lazy man to much hurry," the Indian +went on. "Me not know you sleep there, sar!" + +"Oh, all right," Tom said, recollecting that he must keep +up his disguise. "Maybe I was dreaming." + +"Yes, sar," and the foreman hurried on, with a backward +glance over his shoulder. + +"Now was I dreaming or not?" thought Tom. "I'm going to +have a look at that place though, where I saw Waddington's +face. Or did I imagine it?" + +He got a long pole and a powerful flash lamp, and when he +had a chance, unobserved, he poked around in the vicinity +where he had seen the face. + +But there was only solid rock. + +"It must have been a dream," Tom concluded. "I've been +thinking too much about this business. I'll have to give up. +I can't solve the mystery of the missing men." + +The next day, much disappointed, he resumed his own +character as explosive expert, and prepared for another +blast. The net result of his watch was that he became +suspicious of Serato, and so informed the Titus Brothers. + +"Oh, but you're mistaken," said Job "We have had him for +years, on other contracts in Peru, and we trust him." + +"Well, I don't," Tom said, but he had to let it go at +that. + +Another blast was set off, but it was not very successful. + +"The rock seems to be getting harder the farther in we +go," commented Walter Titus. "We're not up to where we ought +to be." + +"I'll have to look into it," answered Tom. "I may have to +change the powder mixture. Guess I'll go up the mountain a +way, and see if there are any outcroppings of rock there +that would give me an idea of what lies underneath." + +Accordingly, while the men in the tunnel were clearing +away the rock loosened by the blast, Tom, one day, taking +his electric rifle with him, went up the mountain under +which the big bore ran. + +He located, by computation, the spot beneath which the end +of the tunnel then was, and began collecting samples of the +outcropping ledge. He wanted to analyze these pieces of +stone later. Koku was with him, and, giving the giant a bag +of stones to carry, Tom walked on rather idly. + +It was a wild and desolate region in which he found +himself on the side of the mountain. Beyond him stretched +towering and snow-clad peaks, and high in the air were small +specks, which he knew to be condors, watching with their +eager eyes for their offal food. + +As Tom and Koku made their way along the mountain trail +they came unexpectedly upon an Indian workman who was +gathering herbs and bark, an industry by which many of the +natives added to their scanty livelihood. The woman was +familiar with the appearance of the white men, and nodded in +friendly fashion. + +Tom passed on, thinking of many things, when he was +suddenly startled by a scream from the woman. It was a +scream of such terror and agony that, for the moment, Tom +was stunned into inactivity. Then, as he turned, he saw a +great condor sweeping down out of the air, the wind fairly +whistling through the big, outstretched wings. + +"Jove!" ejaculated Tom. "Can the bird be going to attack +the woman?" + +But this was not the object of the condor. It was aiming +to strike, with its fierce talons, at a point some paces +distant from where the woman stood, and in the intervals +between her screams Tom heard her cry, in her native tongue: + +"My baby! My baby! The beast-bird will carry off my baby!" + +Then Tom understood. The woman herb-gatherer had brought +her infant with her on her quest, and had laid it down on a +bed of soft grass while she worked. And it was this infant, +wrapped as Tom afterward saw in a piece of deer-skin, at +which the condor was aiming. + +"Master shoot!" cried Koku, pointing to the down-sweeping +bird. + +"You bet I'll shoot!" cried Tom. + +Throwing his electric rifle to his shoulder, Tom pressed +the switch trigger. The unseen but powerful force shot +straight at the condor. + +The outstretched wings fell limp, the great body seemed to +shrivel up, and, with a crash, the bird fell into the +underbrush, breaking the twigs and branches with its weight. +The electric rifle, a full account of which was given in the +volume entitled "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle," had done +its work well. + +With a scream, in which was mingled a cry of thanks, the +woman threw himself on the sleeping child. The condor had +fallen dead not three paces from it. + +Tom Swift had shot just in time. + + + + +Chapter XVIII + +The Indian Strike + + + +Snatching up in her arms the now awakened child, the woman +gazed for a moment into its face, which she covered with +kisses. Then the herb-gatherer looked over to the dead, limp +body of the great condor, and from thence to Tom. + +In another moment the woman had rushed forward, and knelt +at the feet of the young inventor. Holding the baby in one +arm, in her other hand the woman seized Toms and kissed it +fervently, at the same time pouring forth a torrent of +impassioned language, of which Tom could only make out a +word now and then. But he gathered that the woman was +thanking him for having saved the child. + +"Oh, that's all right," Tom said, rather embarrassed by +the hand-kissing. "It was an easy shot." + +An Indian came bursting through the bushes, evidently the +woman's husband by the manner in which she greeted him, and +Tom recognized the newcomer as one of the tunnel workers. +There was some quick conversation between the husband and +wife, in which the latter made all sorts of motions, +including in their scope Tom, his rifle, the dead condor and +the now smiling baby. + +The man took off his hat and approached Tom, genuflecting +as he might have done in church. + +"She say you save baby from condor," the man said in his +halting English. "She t'ank you--me, I t'ank you. Bird see +babe in deer skin--t'ink um dead animal. Maybe so bird carry +baby off, drop um on sharp stone, baby smile no more. You +have our lives, senor! We do anyt'ing we can for you." + +"Thanks," said Tom, easily. "I'm glad I happened to be +around. I supposed condors only went for things dead, but I +reckon, as you say, it mistook the baby in the deer skin for +a dead animal. And I guess it might have carried your little +one off, or at least lifted it up, and then it might have +dropped it far enough to have killed it. It sure is a big +bird," and Tom strolled over to look at what he had bagged. + +The condor of the Andes is the largest bird of prey in +existence. One in the Bronx Zoo, in New York, with his wings +spread out, measured a little short of ten feet from tip to +tip. Measure ten feet out on the ground and then imagine a +bird with that wing stretch. + +This same condor in the park was made angry by a boy +throwing a feather boa up into the air outside the cage. The +condor raised himself from the ground, and hurled himself +against the heavy wire netting so that the whole, big cage +shook. And the breeze caused by the flapping wings blew off +the hats of several spectators. So powerful was the air +force from the condor's wings that it reminded one of the +current caused when standing behind the propellers of an +aeroplane in motion. The condor rarely attacks living +persons or animals, though it has been known to carry off +big sheep when driven by hunger. + +It was one of these animals Tom Swift had shot with his +electric rifle. + +"We do anyt'ing you want," the man gratefully repeated. + +"Well, I've got about all I want," Tom said. "But if you +could tell me where those ten missing men are, and how they +got out of the tunnel, I'd be obliged to you." + +The woman did not seem to comprehend Tom's talk, but the +man did. He started, and fear seemed to come over him. + +"Me--I--I can not tell," he murmured. + +"No, I don't suppose you can," said Tom, musingly. "Well, +it doesn't matter, I guess I'll have to cross it off my +books. I'll never find out." + +Again the Indian and his wife expressed their gratitude, +and Tom, after letting the little brown baby cling to his +finger, and patting its chubby cheek, went on his way with +Koku. + +"Well, that was some excitement," mused Tom, who made +little of the shot itself, for the condor was such a mark +that he would have had to aim very badly indeed to miss it. +And perhaps only the electric rifle could have killed +quickly enough to prevent the baby's being injured in some +way by the big bird, even though it was dying. + +"Master heap good shot!" exclaimed Koku, admiringly. + +The tunnel work went on, though not so well as when Tom's +explosive was first used. The rock was indeed getting harder +and was not so easily shattered. Tom made tests of the +pieces he had obtained from the outcropping ledge on the +mountain where he had shot the condor, and decided to make a +change in the powder. + +Shipments were regularly received from Shopton, Mr. Swift +keeping things in progress there. Mr. Damon's business was +going on satisfactorily, and he lent what aid he could to +Tom. As for Professor Bumper he kept on with his search for +the lost city of Pelone, but with no success. + +The scientist wanted Tom and Mr. Damon to go on another +trip with him, this time to a distant sierra, or fertile +valley, where it was reported a race of Indians lived, +different from others in that region. + +"It may be that they are descendants from the Pelonians," +suggested the professor. Tom was too busy to go, but Mr. +Damon went. The expedition had all sorts of trouble, losing +its way and getting into a swamp from which escape was not +easy. Then, too, the strange Indians proved hostile, and +the professor and his party could not get nearer than the +boundaries of the valley. + +"But the difficulties and the hostile attitude of these +natives only makes me surer that I am on the right track," +said Mr. Bumper. "I shall try again." + +Tom was busy over a problem in explosives one day when he +saw Tim Sullivan hurrying into the office of the two +brothers. The Irishman seemed excited. + +"I hope there hasn't been another premature blast," mused +Tom. "But if there had been I think I'd have heard it." + +He hastened out to see Job and Walter Titus in excited +conversation with Tim. + +"They didn't come out, an' thot's all there is to it," the +foreman was saying. "I sint thim in mesilf, and they worked +until it was time t' set off th' blast. I wint t' get th' +fuse, an' I was goin' t' send th' black imps out of danger, +whin--whist--they was gone whin I got back--fifteen of 'em +this time!" + +"Do you mean that fifteen more of our men have vanished as +the first ten did?" asked Job Titus. + +"That's what I mean," asserted the Irishman. + +"It can't be!" declared Walter. + +"Look for yersilf!" returned Tim. "They're not in th' +tunnel!" + +"And they didn't come out?" + +"Ask th' time-keeper," and Tim motioned to a young +Englishman who, since the other disappearance, had been +stationed at the mouth of the tunnel to keep a record of who +went in and came out. + +"No, sir! Nobody kime hout, sir!" the Englishman declared. +"Hi 'aven't been away frim 'ere, sir, not since hi wint on +duty, sir. An' no one kime out, no, sir!" + +"We've got to stop this!" declared Job Titus. + +"I should say so!" agreed his brother. + +With Tom and Tim the Titus brothers went into the tunnel. +It was deserted, and not a trace of the men could be found. +Their tools were where they had been dropped, but of the men +not a sign. + +"There must be some secret way out," declared Tom. + +"Then we'll find it," asserted the brothers. + +Work on the tunnel was stopped for a day, and, keeping out +all natives, the contractors, with Tom and such white men as +they had in their employ, went over every foot of roof, +sides and floor in the big shaft. But not a crack or +fissure, large enough to permit the passage of a child, much +less a man, could be found. + +"Well, I give up!" cried Walter Titus in despair. "There +must be witchcraft at work here!" + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed his brother. "It's more likely the +craft of Blakeson & Grinder, with Waddington helping them." + +"Well, if a human agency made these twenty-five men +disappear, prove it!" insisted Walter. + +His brother did not know what to say. + +"Well, go on with the work," was Job's final conclusion. +"We'll have one of the white men constantly in the tunnel +after this whenever a gang is working. We won't leave the +natives alone even long enough to go to get a fuse. They'll +be under constant supervision." + +The tunnel was opened for work, but there were no workers. +The morning after the investigation, when the starting +whistle blew there was no line of Indians ready to file into +the big, black hole. The huts where they slept were +deserted. A strange silence brooded over the tunnel camp. + +"Where are the men, Serato?" asked Tom of the Indian +foreman. + +"Men um gone. No work any more. What you call a hit." + +"You mean a strike?" asked Tom. + +"Sure--strike--hit--all um same. No more work--um 'fraid!" + + + + +Chapter XIX + +A Woman Tells + + + +"Well, if this isn't the limit!" cried Torn Swift. "As if +we didn't have trouble enough without a strike on our +hands!" + +"I should say yes!" chimed in Job Titus. + +"Do you mean that the men won't work any more?" asked his +brother of the native foreman. + +"Sure, no more work--um much 'fraid big devil in tunnel +carry um off an' eat um." + +"Well, I don't know that I blame 'em for being a bit +frightened," commented Job. "It is a queer proceeding how +twenty-five men can disappear like that. Where have the men +gone, Serato?" + +"Gone home. No more work. Go on hit--strike--same like +white men." + +"They waited until pay day to go on strike," commented the +bookkeeper, a youth about Tom's age. + +This was true. The men had been paid off the day before, +and usually on such occasions many of them remained away, +celebrating in the nearest village. But this time all had +left, and evidently did not intend to come back. + +"We'll have to get a new gang," said Job. "And it's going +to delay us just at the wrong time. Well, there's no help +for it. Get busy, Serato. You and Tim go and see how many +men you can gather. Tell them we'll give them a sol a week +more if they do good work. (A sol is the standard silver +coin of Peru, and is worth in United States gold about fifty +cents.) + +"Half a dollar a day more will look mighty big to them," +went on the contractor. "Get the men, Serato, and we'll +raise your wages two sols a week." + +The eyes of the Indian gleamed, and he went off, saying. + +"Um try, but men much 'fraid." + +Whether Serato used his best arguments could not, of +course, be learned, but he came back at the close of the +day, unaccompanied by any workers, and he shook his head +despondently. + +"Indians no come for one sol, mebby not for two," he said. +"I no can git." + +"Then I'll try!" cried Job. "I'll get the workers. I'll +make our old ones come back, for they'll be the best." + +Accompanied by his brother and Tom he went to the various +Indian villages, including the one whence most of the men +now on strike had come. The fifteen missing ones were not +found, though, as before, their relatives, and, in some +cases, their families, did not seem alarmed. But the men who +had gone on strike were found lolling about their cabins and +huts, smoking and taking their ease, and no amount of +persuasion could induce them to return. + +Some of them said they had worked long enough and were +tired, needing a rest. Others declared they had money enough +and did not want more. Even two more sols a week would not +induce them to return. + +And many were frankly afraid. They said so, declaring that +if they went back to the tunnel some unknown devil might +carry them off under the earth. + +Job Titus and his brother, who could speak the language +fairly well, tried to argue against this. They declared the +tunnel was perfectly safe. But one native worker, who had +been the best in the gang, asked: + +"Where um men go?" + +The contractors could not answer. + +"It's a trick," declared Walter. "Our rivals have induced +the men to go on strike in order to hamper us with the work +so they'll get the job." + +But the closest inquiry failed to prove this statement. If +Blakeson & Grinder, or any of their agents, had a hand in +the strike they covered their operations well. Though +diligent inquiry was made, no trace of Waddington, or any +other tool, could be found. + +Tom, who had some sort of suspicion of the bearded man on +the steamer, tried to find him, even taking a trip in to +Lima, but without avail. + +The tunnel work was at a standstill, for there +was little use in setting off blasts if there were no men to +remove the resulting piles of debris. So, though Tom was +ready with some specially powerful explosive, he could not +use it. + +Efforts were made to get laborers from another section of +the country, but without effect. The contractors heard of a +big force of Italians who had finished work on a railroad +about a hundred miles away, and they were offered places in +the tunnel. But they would not come. + +"Well, we may as well give up," said Walter, despondently, +to his brother one day. "We'll never get the tunnel done on +time now." + +"We still have a margin of safety," declared job. "If we +could get the men inside of a couple of weeks, and if Tom's +new powder rips out more rock, we'll finish in time." + +"Yes, but there are too many ifs. We may as well admit +we've failed." + +"I'll never do that!" + +"What will you do?" + +But Job did not know. + +"If we could git a gang of min from the ould sod--th' kind +I used t' work wit in N'Yark," said Tim Sullivan, "I'd show +yez whot could be done! We'd make th' rock fly!" + +But that efficient labor was out of the question now. The +tunnel camp was a deserted place. + +"Come on, Koku, we'll go hunting," said Tom one day. +"There's no use hanging around here, and some venison +wouldn't go bad on the table." + +"I'll come, too," said Mr. Damon. "I haven't anything to +do." + +The Titus brothers had gone to a distant village, on the +forlorn hope of getting laborers, so Tom was left to his own +devices, and he decided to go hunting with his electric +rifle. + +The taruco, or native deer, had been plentiful in the +vicinity of the tunnel until the presence of so many men and +the frequent blasts had driven them farther off, and it was +not until after a tramp of several miles that Tom saw one. +Then, after stalking it a little way, he managed to kill it +with the electric rifle. + +Koku hoisted the animal to his big shoulders, and, as this +would provide meat enough for some time, Tom started back +for camp. + +As he and Mr. Damon, with Koku in the rear, passed through +a little clearing, they saw, on the far side, a native hut. +And from it rushed a woman, who approached Tom, casting +herself on her knees, while she pressed his free hand to her +head. + +"Bless my scarf pin!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "What does this +mean, Tom?" + +"Oh, this is the mother of the child I saved from the +condor," said Tom. "Every time she sees me she thanks me all +over again. How is the baby?" he asked in the Indian tongue, +for he was a fair master of it by now. + +"The baby is well. Will the mighty hunter permit himself +to enter my miserable hovel and partake of some milk and +cakes?" + +"What do you say, Mr. Damon?" Tom asked. "She's clean and +neat, and she makes a drink of goat's milk that isn't bad. +She bakes some kind of meal cakes that are good, too. I'm +hungry." + +"All right, Tom, I'll do as you say." + +A little later they were partaking of a rude, but none the +less welcome, lunch in the woman's hut, while the baby whose +life Tom had saved cooed in the rough log cradle. + +"Say, Masni," asked Tom, addressing the woman by name, +"don't you know where we can get some men to work the +tunnel?" Of course Tom spoke the Indian language, and he had +to adapt himself to the comprehension of Masni. + +"Men no work tunnel?" she inquired. + +"No, they've all skipped out--vamoosed. Afraid of some +spirit." + +The woman looked around, as though in fear. Then she +approached Tom closely and whispered: + +"No spirit in tunnel--bad man!" + +"What!" cried Tom, almost jumping off his stool. "What do +you mean, Masni?" + +"Me tell mighty hunter," she went on, lowering her voice +still more. "My man he no want to tell, he 'fraid, but I +tell. Mighty hunter save Vashni," and she looked toward the +baby. "Me help friends of mighty hunter. Bad man in tunnel-- +no spirit! + +"Men go. Spirit no take um--bad man take um." + +"Where are they now?" asked Tom. "Jove, if I could find +them the secret would be solved!" + +The woman looked fearfully around the hut and then +whispered: + +"You come--me show!" + +"Bless my toothbrush!" cried Mr. Damon. "What is going to +happen, Tom Swift?" + +"I don't know," was the answer, "but something sure is in +the wind. I guess I shot better than I knew when I killed +that condor." + + + + +Chapter XX + +Despair + + + +Calling to a girl of about thirteen years to look after +her baby, Masni slipped along up a rough mountain trail, +motioning to Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku to follow. Or rather, +the woman gave the sign to Tom, ignoring the others, who, +naturally, would not be left behind. Masni seemed to have +eyes for no one but the young inventor, and the manner in +which she looked at him showed the deep gratitude she felt +toward him for having saved her baby from the great condor. + +"Come," she said, in her strange Indian tongue, which Tom +could interpret well enough for himself now. + +"But where are we going, Masni?" he asked. "This isn't the +way to the tunnel." + +"Me know. Not go to tunnel now," was her answer. "Me show +you men." + +"But which men do you mean, Masni?" inquired Tom. "The +lost men, or the bad ones, who are making trouble for us? +Which men do you mean?" + +Masni only shook her head, and murmured: "Me show." + +Probably Tom's attempt to talk her language was not +sufficiently clear to her. + +"My man--he good man," she said, coming to a pause on the +rough trail after a climb which was not easy. + +"Yes, I know he is," Tom said. "But he went on a strike +with the others, Masni. He no work. He go on a 'hit,' as +Serato calls it," and Tom laughed. + +"My man he good man--but he 'fraid," said the wife. "He +want to tell you of bad mans, but he 'fraid. You save my +baby, I no 'fraid. I tell." + +"Oh, I see," said Tom. "Your husband would have given away +the secret, only he's afraid of the bad men. He likes me, +too?" + +"Sure!" Masni exclaimed. "He want tell, but 'fraid. He go +'way, I tell." + +Tom was not quite sure what it all meant, but it seemed +that after his slaying of the condor both parents were so +filled with gratitude that they wanted to reveal some secret +about the tunnel, only Masni's husband was afraid. She, +however, had been braver. + +"Something is going to happen," said Tom Swift. "I feel it +in my bones!" + +"Bless my porous plaster!" cried Mr. Damon. "I hope it +isn't anything serious." + +"We'll see," Tom went on. + +They resumed their journey up the mountain trail. It wound +in and out in a region none of them had before visited. +Though it could not be far from the tunnel, it was almost a +strange country to Tom. + +Suddenly Masni stopped in a narrow gorge where the walls +of rock rose high on either hand. She seemed looking for +something. Her sharp, black eyes scanned the cliff and then +with an exclamation of satisfaction she approached a certain +place. With a quick motion she pulled aside a mass of +tangled vines, and disclosed a path leading down through a +V shaped crack in the cliff. + +"Mans down there," she said. "You go look." + +For a moment Tom hesitated. Was this a trap? If he and his +friends entered this narrow and dark opening might not the +Indian woman roll down some rock back of them, cutting off +forever the way of escape? + +Tom turned and looked at Masni. Then he was ashamed of his +suspicion, for the honest black face, smiling at him, showed +no trace of guile. + +"You go--you see lost men," the woman urged. + +"Come on!" cried Tom. "I believe we're on the track of the +mystery!" + +He led the way, followed by Mr. Damon, while Koku came +next and then Masni. It could be no trap since she entered +it herself. + +The path widened, but not much. There was only room for +one to walk at a time. The trail twisted and turned, and Tom +was wondering how far it led, when, from behind him, came +the cry of the woman: + +"Watch now--no fall down." + +Tom halted around a sharp turn, and stood transfixed at +the sight which met his gaze. He found himself looking out +through a crack in the face of a sheer stone cliff that went +straight down for a hundred feet or more to a green-carpeted +valley. + +Tom was standing in a narrow cleft of rock--the same rock +through which they had made their way. And at the foot of +the cliff was a little encampment of Indians. There were a +dozen huts, and wandering about them, or sitting in the +shade, were a score or more of Indians. + +"There men from tunnel," said Masni, and, as he looked, +wondering, Tom saw some of the workers he knew. One +especially, was a laborer who walked with a peculiar limp. + +"The missing men!" gasped the young inventor. + +"Bless my almanac!" cried Mr. Damon. "Where?" + +"Here," answered Tom. "If you squeeze past me you can see +them." + +Mr. Damon did so. + +"How did they get here?" asked the odd man, as he looked +down in the little valley where the missing ones were +sequestered. + +"That's what we've got to find out," Tom said. "At any +rate here they are, and they seem to be enjoying life while +we've been worrying as to what had become of them. How did +they get here, Masni?" + +"Me show you. Come." + +"Wait until I take another look," said Tom. + +"Be careful they don't see you," cautioned Mr. Damon. + +"They can't very well. The cleft is screened by bushes." + +Tom looked down once more on the group of men who had so +mysteriously disappeared. The little valley stretched out +away from the face of the cliff, through which, by means of +the crack, or cleft in it, Tom and the others had come. Tom +looked down the wall of rock. It was as smooth as the side +of a building, and offered no means of getting down or up. +Doubtless there was an easier entrance to the valley on the +other side. It was like looking down into some vast hall +through an upper window or from a balcony. + +"And those men have been in hiding, or been hidden here, +ever since they disappeared from the tunnel," said Mr. +Damon. + +"It doesn't look as though they were detained by force," +Tom remarked. "I think they are being paid to stay away. How +did they get here, Masni?" + +"Me show you. Come!" + +They went back along the trail that led through the split +in the rock, until they had come to the place where the +natural curtain of vines concealed the entrance. Tom took +particular notice of this place so he would know it again. + +Then Masni led them over the mountain, and this time Tom +saw that they were approaching the tunnel. He recognized +some places where he had taken samples of rock from the +outcropping to test the strength of his explosive. + +Reaching a certain wild and desolate place, Masni made a +signal of caution. She seemed to be listening intently. +Then, as if satisfied there was no danger, she parted some +bushes and glided in, motioning the others to follow. + +"Now I wonder what's up," Tom mused. + +He and the others were soon informed. + +Masni stopped in front of a pile of brush. With a few +vigorous motions of her arms she swept it aside and revealed +a smooth slab of rock. In the centre was what seemed to be a +block of metal Masni placed her foot on this and pressed +heavily. + +And those watching saw a strange thing. + +The slab of rock tilted to one side, as if on a pivot, +revealing a square opening which seemed to lead through +solid stone. And at the far end of the opening Tom Swift saw +a glimmer of light. + +Stooping down, he looked through the hole thus strangely +opened and what he saw caused him to cry out in wonder. + +"It's the tunnel!" he cried. "I can look right down into +the tunnel. It's the incandescent lights I see. I can look +right at the ledge of rock where I kept watch that day, and +where I saw--where I saw the face of Waddington!" he cried. +"It wasn't a dream after all. This is a shaft connecting +with the tunnel. We didn't discover it because this rock +fits right in the opening in the roof. It must have been +there all the while, and some blast brought it to light. Is +this how the men got out, or were taken out of the tunnel, +Masni?" Tom asked. + +"This how," said the Indian woman. "See, here rope!" + +She pawed aside a mound of earth, and disclosed a rope +buried there, a rope knotted at intervals. This, let down +through the hole in the roof of the tunnel, provided a means +of escape, and in such a manner that the disappearance of +the men was most mysterious. + +"I see how it is!" cried Tom. "Some one interested, +Waddington probably, who knew about this old secret shaft +going down into the earth, used it as soon as our blasting +was opened that far. They got the men out this way, and hid +them in the secret valley." + +"But what for?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"To cripple us! To cause the strike by making our other +workers afraid of some evil spirit! The men were taken away +secretly, and, doubtless, have been kept in idleness ever +since--paid to stay away so the mystery would be all the +deeper. Our rivals finding they couldn't stop us in any +other way have taken our laborers away from us." + +"Bless my meal ticket! It does look like that!" cried Mr. +Damon. + +"Of course that's the secret!" cried Tom. "Blakeson & +Grinder, or some of their tools--probably the bearded man or +Waddington--found out about this shaft which led down into +our tunnel. They induced the first ten men to quit, and when +Tim went to get the fuse the rope was let down, and the men +climbed up here, one after the other. Those Indians can +climb like cats. Once the ten were out the shaft was closed +with the rock, and the ten men taken off to the valley to be +secreted there. + +"The same was done with the next fifteen, and, I suppose, +if the strike hadn't come, more of our workers would have +been induced to leave in this way. They're probably being +better paid than when earning their wages; and their +relatives must know where they are, and also be given a +bonus to keep still. No wonder they didn't make a fuss. + +"And no wonder we couldn't find any opening in the tunnel +roof. This rock must fit in as smoothly as a secret drawer +in the kind of old desk where missing wills are found in +stories." + +"You say you saw Waddington, or the bearded man?" asked +Mr. Damon. + +"At the time," replied Tom, "I thought it was a dream. Now +I know it wasn't. He must have opened the shaft just as I +awakened from a doze. He saw me and closed it again. He may +have been getting ready then to take off more of our men, so +as to scare the others. Well, we've found out the trick." + +"And what are you going to do next?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Get those missing men back. That will break the hoodoo, +and the others will come back to work. Then we'll get on the +trail of Waddington, or Blakeson & Grinder, and put a stop +to this business. We know their secret now." + +"You mean to get the men out of the secret valley, Tom?" + +"Yes. There must be some other way into it than down the +rock where we were. How about it, Masni?" and he inquired as +to the valley. The Indian woman gave Tom to understand that +there was another entrance. + +"Well, close up this shaft now before some one sees us at +it--the bearded man, for example," Tom suggested. He took +another look down into the tunnel, which was now deserted on +account of the strike, and then Masni pressed on the +mechanism that worked the stone. She showed Tom how to do +it. + +"Just a counter-balanced rock operating on the same +principle as does a window," Tom explained, after a brief +examination. "Probably some of the old Indian tribes made +this shaft for ceremonial purposes. They never dreamed we +would drive a tunnel along at the bottom of it. The shaft +probably opened into a cave, and one of our blasts made it +part of the tunnel. Well, this is part of the secret, +anyhow. Much obliged to you, Masni!" + +The Indian woman had indeed revealed valuable information. +They covered the secret rock with brush, as it had been, hid +the rope and came away. But Tom knew how to find the place +again. + +Events moved rapidly from then on. The Titus brothers were +more than astonished when Tom told them what he had learned. +Masni had told him how to get into the secret valley by a +round about, but easy trail, and thither Tom, the +contractors, Mr. Damon and some of the white tunnel workers +went the next day. + +The sequestered men, taken completely by surprise, tried +to bolt when they saw that they were discovered, and then, +shamefacedly enough, admitted their part in the trick. + +They would not, however, reveal who had helped them escape +from the tunnel. Threats and promises of rewards were alike +unavailing, but Tom and his employers knew well enough who +it was. The tunnel workers seemed rather tired of living in +comparative luxury and idleness, and agreed to come back to +their labors. + +They packed up their few belongings, mostly cooking pots +and pans, and marched out of the valley to the village at +Rimac. + +And so the strike was broken. + +The reappearance of the missing men, in better health and +spirits than when they went away, acted like magic. The +other men, who had missed their wages, crowded back into the +shaft, and the sounds of picks and shovels were heard again +in the tunnel. + +Whether the missing ones told the real story, or whether +they made up some tale to account for their absence, Tom and +his friends could not learn. Nor did the bearded man (if he +it were who had helped in the plot), nor any representative +of Blakeson & Grinder appear. The work on the tunnel was +resumed as if nothing had happened. But Tom arranged a +bright light so it would reflect on the spot in the roof +where the moving rock was, so that if the evil face of the +bearded man, or of Waddington, appeared there again, it +would quickly be seen. A search of the neighborhood, and +diligent inquiries, failed to disclose the presence of any +of the plotters. + +And then, as if Fate was not making it hard enough for the +tunnel contractors, they encountered more trouble. It was +after Tom had set off a big blast that Tim Sullivan, after +inspecting what had happened, came out to ask. + +"I soy, Mr. Swift, why didn't yez use more powder?" + +"More powder!" cried Tom. "Why, this is the most I have +ever set off." + +"Then somethin's wrong, sor. Fer there's only a little +rock down. Come an' see fer yersilf." + +Tom hastened in. As the foreman had said, the effect of +the blast was small indeed. Only a little rock had been +shaled off. Tom picked up some of this and took it outside +for examination. + +"Why, it's harder than the hardest flint we've found yet," +he said. "The powder didn't make any impression on it at +all. I'll have to use terrific charges." + +This was done, but with little better effect. The +explosive, powerful as it was, ate only a little way into +the rock. Blast after blast had the same poor effect. + +"This won't do," said Job Titus, despairingly, one day. +"We aren't making any progress at all. There's a half mile +of this rock, according to my calculations, and at this rate +we'll be six months getting through it. By that time our +limit will be up, and we'll be forced to give up the +contract What can we do, Tom Swift?" + + + + +Chapter XXI + +A New Explosive + + + +The young inventor was idly handling some pieces of the +very hard rock that had cropped out in the tunnel cut Tom +had tested it, he had pulverized it (as well as he was +able), he had examined it under the microscope, and he had +taken great slabs of it and set off under it, or on top of +it, charges of explosive of various power to note the +effect. But the results had not been at all what he had +hoped for. + +"What's to be done, Tom?" repeated the contractor. + +"Well, Mr. Titus," was the answer, "the only thing I see +to do is to make a new explosive." + +"Can you do it, Tom?" + +The reply was characteristic. + +"I can try." + +And in the days that followed, Tom began work on a new +line. He had brought from Shopton with him much of the +needful apparatus, and he found he could obtain in Lima what +he lacked. + +A message to his father brought the reply that the new +ingredients Tom needed would be shipped. + +"The kind of explosive we need to rend that very hard +rock," the young inventor explained to the Titus brothers, +"is one that works slowly." + +"I thought all explosions had to be as quick as a flash," +said Walter. + +"Well, in a sense, they do. Yet we have quick burning and +slow-burning powders, the same as we have fuses. A quick- +burning explosive is all right in soft rock, or in soil with +rock and earth mingled. But in rock that is harder than +flint if you use a quick explosive, only the outer surface +of the rock will be scaled off. + +"If you take a hammer and bring it down with all your +force on a hard rock you may chip off a lot of little +pieces, or you may crack the rock, but you won't, under +ordinary circumstances, pulverize it as we want to do in the +tunnel. + +"On the other hand, if you take a smaller hammer, and keep +tapping the rock with comparatively gentle blows, you will +set up a series of vibrations, that, in time, will cause the +hard rock to break up into any number of small pieces. + +"Now that is the kind of explosive I want one that will +deal a succession of constant blows at the hard rock instead +of one great big blast." + +"Can you make it, Tom?" + +"Well, I don't know. I'll do the best I can." + +From then on Tom was busy with his experiments. + +Work on the tunnel did not cease while he was searching +for a new explosive. There was plenty of the old explosive +left and charges of this were set off as fast as holes could +be drilled to receive it. But comparatively little was +accomplished. Sometimes more rock would be loosed than at +others, and the native laborers, now seemingly perfectly +contented, would be kept busy. Again, when a heavy blast +would be set off hardly a dozen dump cars could be filled. + +But the work must go on. Already the time limit was +getting perilously close, and the contractors did not doubt +that their rivals were only waiting for a chance to step in +and take their places. + +Nothing more had been seen or heard of the bearded man, +Waddington, or Blakeson & Grinder. But that the rival firm +had not given up was evidenced by the efforts made in New +York to cripple, financially, the firm in which Tom was +interested. In fact, at one time the Titus brothers were so +tied up that they could not get money enough to pay their +men. But Tom cabled his father, who was quite wealthy, and +Mr. Swift loaned the contractors enough to proceed with +until they could dispose of some securities. + +It might be mentioned that Tom was to get a large sum if +the tunnel were completed on time, so it was to his interest +and his father's, to bring 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 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 disappeared--who had, +seemingly, gone willingly up the knotted rope to hide +themselves in the valley--kept on with their work. If they +told their fellows why and where they had gone, the others +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 fragments by Tom's new explosive. + + + + +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 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 afterward--well, 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. "Koku--he--he--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. + +"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." + +"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!" + + + + +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 that--a 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 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 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 hoarse voice. "Me fix: 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 see--Koku 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 +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 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? + + + + +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 there 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 quiet--tensely 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." + +"I am going, Tom, very soon. I thought I would stop and +see the effect of your big blast. This is my last trip. If I +do not find the hidden city of Pelone this time, I am going +to give up." + +"Give up!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my fountain pen!" + +"Oh, not altogether," went on the bald-headed scientist. +"I mean I will give up searching in this part of Peru, and +go elsewhere. But I will never completely give up the +search, for I am sure the hidden city exists somewhere under +these mountains," and he looked off toward the snow-covered +peaks of the Andes. + +Tom looked at the battery box. He drew a long breath, and +said: + +"Here she goes!" + +There was a contraction of his hand as he pressed the +switch over, and then, for perhaps a half second, nothing +happened. Just for an instant Tom feared something had gone +wrong that the electric current had failed, or that the +wires had become disconnected--perhaps through some action +of the plotting rivals. + +And then, gently at first, but with increasing intensity, +the solid ground on which they were all standing seemed to +rock and sway, to heave itself up, and then sink down. + +"Bless my--" began Mr. Damon, but he got no further, for a +mighty gust of wind swept out of the tunnel, and blew off +his hat. That gust was but a gentle breeze, though, compared +to what followed. For there came such a rush of air that it +almost blew over those standing near the opening of the +great shaft driven under the mountain. There was a roar as +of Niagara, a howling as in the Cave of the Winds, and they +all bent to the blast. + +Then followed a dull, rumbling roar, not as loud as might +have been expected, but awful in its intensity. Deep down +under the very foundations of the earth it seemed to rumble. + +"Run! Run back!" cried Tom Swift. "There's a back-draft +and the powder gas is poisonous. Stoop down and run back!" + +They understood what he meant. The vapor from the powder +was deadly if breathed in a confined space. Even in the open +it gave one a terrible headache. And Tom could see floating +out of the tunnel the first wisps of smoke from the fired +explosive. It was lighter than air, and would rise. Hence +the necessity, as in a smoke-filled room, of keeping low +down where the air is purer. + +They all rushed back, stooping low. Mr. Damon stumbled and +fell, but Koku picked him up and, tucking him under one arm, +as he might have done a child, the giant followed Tom to a +place of safety. + +"Well, Tom, it went off all right," said Mr. Job Titus, as +they stood among the shacks of the workmen and watched the +smoke pouring out of the tunnel mouth. + +"Yes, it went off. But did it do the work? That's what +we've got to find out." + +They waited impatiently for the deadly vapor to clear out +of the tunnel. It was more than an hour before they dared +venture in, and then it was with smarting eyes and puckered +throats. But the atmosphere was quickly clearing. + +"Switch on the lights," cried Tom to Tim, for the +illuminating current had been cut off when the blast was +fired. "Let's see what we've brought down." + +Following the eager young inventor came the contractors, +some of the white workers, Mr. Damon and Professor Bumper. +The little scientist said he would like to see the effect of +the big blast. + +Along they stumbled over pieces of rock, large and small. + +"Some force to it," observed Job Titus, as he observed +pieces of rock close to the mouth of the tunnel. "If it only +exerted the force the other way, against the face of the +rock, as well as back this way, we'll be all right." + +"The greater force was in the opposite direction," Tom +said. + +A big search-light had been got ready to flash on the +place where the blast had been set off. This was to enable +them to see how much rock had been torn away. And, as they +reached the place where the flint-like wall had been, they +saw a strange sight. + +"Bless my strawberry short-cake!" gasped Mr. Damon. "What +a hole!" + +"It is a hole," admitted Tom, in a low voice. "A bigger +hole than I dared hope for." + +For a great cave, seemingly, had been blown in the face of +the rock wall that had hindered the progress of the tunnel. +A great black void confronted them. + +"Shift the light over this way," called Tom to Walter +Titus, who was operating it. "I can't see anything." + +The great beam of light flashed into the void, and then a +murmur of awe came from every throat. + +For there, revealed in the powerful electrical rays, was +what seemed to be a long tunnel, high and wide, as smooth as +a paved street. And on either side of it were what appeared +to be buildings, some low, others taller. And, branching off +from the main tunnel, or street, were other passages, also +lined with buildings, some of which had crumbled to ruins. + +"Bless my dictionary!" cried Mr. Damon. "What is it?" + +Professor Bumper had crawled forward over the mass of +broken rock. He gazed as if fascinated at what the +searchlight showed, and then he cried: + +"I have found it! I have found it! The hidden city of Pelone!" + + + + +Chapter XXV + +Success + + + +Had it not been for Tom Swift, the excited professor would +have rushed pellmell over the jagged pile of rocks into the +great cave which had been opened by the blast, the cave in +which the scientist declared was the lost city for which he +had been searching. But the young inventor grasped Mr. +Bumper by the arm. + +"Better wait a bit," Tom suggested. "There may be powder +gas in there. Some of it must have blown forward." + +"I don't care!" excitedly cried the professor. "That is +the hidden city! I'm sure of it! I have found it at last! I +must go in and examine it!" + +"There'll be plenty of time," said Tom. "It isn't going to +run away. Wait until I make a test Tim, hand me one of those +torches." + +Some torches of a very inflammable wood were used to test +for the presence of the deadly smoke-gas. Lighting one of +these, Tom tossed it into the big excavation. + +It fell to the stone floor--to the stone street to be more +exact--and, flaring up brightly, further revealed the rows +of houses as they stood, silent and uninhabited. + +"It's all right," Tom announced. "There's no danger so +long as the torch burns. You can go on, Professor." + +And Professor Bumper rushed forward, scrambling over the +pile of blasted rock, followed by Tom and the others. Some +of the debris from the explosion had fallen into the cave, +and was scattered for some distance along the main street of +what had been Pelone. But beyond that the way was clear. + +"Yes, it is Pelone," cried Professor Bumper. "See!" + +He pointed to inscriptions in queer characters over the +doorway of some of the houses, but he alone could read them. + +"I have found Pelone!" he kept repeating over and over +again. + +And that is just what had happened. That last great blast +Tom Swift had set off had broken down the rock wall that hid +the lost city from view. There it was, buried deep down +under the mountain, where it had been covered from sight +ages ago by some mighty earthquake or landslide; perhaps +both. And the earth and rocks had fallen over the main +portion of the city of Pelone in such a way--in such an arch +formation--that the greater part of it was preserved from +the pressure of the mountain above it. + +The outlying portions were crushed into dust by the awful +pressure of the mountain--millions of tons of stone--but +where the natural arch had formed the weight was kept off +the buildings, most of which were as perfect as they had +been before the cataclysm came. + +The buildings were of stone block construction, mostly +only one story in height, though some were two. They were +simply made, somewhat after the fashion of the Aztecs. A +look into some of them by the light of portable electric +lamps showed that the houses were furnished with some degree +of taste and luxury. There were traces of an ancient +civilization. + +But of the inhabitants, there was not a trace: either they +had fled before the earthquake or the volcanic eruption had +engulfed the city, or the countless centuries had turned +their very bones to dust. + +"Oh, what a find! What a find!" murmured Professor Bumper. +"I shall be famous! And so will you, Tom Swift. For it was +your blast that revealed the lost city of Pelone. Your name +will be honored by every archeological society in the world, +and all will be eager to make you an honorary member." + +"That's all very nice," said Tom, "but what pleases me +better is that this tunnel is a success." + +"Success!" cried Mr. Damon. "I should call it a failure, +Tom Swift. Why, you've run smack into an old city, and +you'll have either to curve the tunnel to one side, or start +a new one." + +"Nothing of the sort!" laughed Tom. "Don't you see? The +tunnel comes right up to the main street of Pelone. And the +street is as straight as a die, and just the width and +height of the tunnel. All we will have to do will be to keep +on blasting away, where the main street comes to an end, and +our tunnel will be finished. The street is over half a mile +long, I should judge, and we'll save all that blasting. The +tunnel will be finished in time!" + +"So it will!" cried Job Titus. "We can use the main street +of the hidden city as part of the tunnel." + +"Use the street all you like," said Mr. Bumper. "but leave +the houses to me. They are a perfect mine of ancient lore +and information. At last I have found it! The ancient, +hidden city of Pelone, spoken of on the Peruvian tablets, of +gold." + +The story of the discoveries the scientist made in Pelone +is an enthralling one. But this is a story of Tom Swift and +his big tunnel, and no place for telling of the +archeological discoveries. + +Suffice it to say that Professor Bumper, though be found +no gold, for which the contractors hoped, made many curious +finds in the ancient houses. He came upon traces of a +strange civilization, though he could find no record of what +had caused the burial of Pelone beneath the mountains. He +wrote many books about his discovery, giving Tom Swift due +credit for uncovering the place with the mighty blast. Other +scientists came in flocks, and for a time Pelone was almost +as busy a place as it had been originally. + +Even when the tunnel was completed and trains ran through +it, the scientists kept on with their work of classifying +what they found. An underground station was built on the +main street of the old city, and visitors often wandered +through the ancient houses, wherein was the bone-dust of the +dead and gone people. + +But to go back to the story of Tom Swift. Tom's surmise +was right. He and the contractors were able to use the main +street of Pelone as part of their tunnel, and a good half +mile of blasting through solid rock was saved. The flint +came to an end at the extremity of Pelone, and the last part +of the tunnel had only to be dug through sand-stone and soft +dirt, an easy undertaking. + +So the big bore was finished on time--ahead of time in +fact, and Titus Brothers received from Senor Belasdo, the +Peruvian representative, a large bonus of money, in which +Tom Swift shared. + +"So our rivals didn't balk us after all," said Walter +Titus, "though they tried mighty hard." + +The big tunnel was finished--at least Tom Swift's work on +it. All that remained to do was to clear away the debris and +lay the connecting rails. Tom and Mr. Damon prepared to go +back home. The latter's work was done. As for Professor +Bumper, nothing could take him from Pelone. He said he was +going to live there, and, practically, he did. + +Tom, Koku and Mr. Damon returned to Lima, thence to go to +Callao to take the steamer for San Francisco. One day the +manager of the hotel spoke to them. + +"You are Americans, are you not?" he asked. + +"Yes," answered Tom. "Why?" + +"Because there is another American here. He is friendless +and alone, and he is dying. He has no friends, he says. +Perhaps--" + +"Of course we'll do what we can for him," said Tom, +impulsively. "Where is he?" + +With Mr. Damon he entered the room where the dying man +lay. He had caught a fever, the hotel manager said, and +could not recover. Tom, catching sight of the sufferer, +cried: + +"The bearded man! Waddington!" + +He had recognized the mysterious person who had been on +the Bellaconda, and the man whose face had stared at him +through the secret shaft of the tunnel. + +"Yes, the 'bearded man' now," said the sufferer in a +hoarse voice, "and some one else too. You are right. I am +Waddington!" + +And so it proved. He had grown a beard to disguise himself +so he might better follow Tom Swift and Mr. Titus. And he +had followed them, seeking to prevent the completion of the +tunnel. But he had not been successful. + +Waddington it was who had thrown the bomb, though he +declared he only hoped to disable Tom and Mr. Titus, and not +to injure them. He was fighting for delay. And it was +Waddington, working in conjunction with the rascally foreman +Serato, who had induced the tunnel workers to desert so +mysteriously, hoping to scare the other Indians away. He +nearly succeeded too, had it not been for the gratitude of +the woman whose baby Tom had saved from the condor. + +Waddington had been an actor before he became involved +with the rival contractors. He was smooth shaven when first +he went to Shopton, to spy on Mr. Titus, whose movements he +had been commanded to follow by Blakeson & Grinder. Then he +disappeared after Mr. Titus chased him, only to reappear, in +disguise, on board the Bellaconda, as Senor Pinto. + +Waddington, meanwhile, had grown a beard and this, with +his knowledge of theatrical makeup, enabled him to deceive +even Mr. Titus. Of course it was comparatively easy to +deceive Tom, who had not known him. Waddington had really +been ill when he called for help on the ship, and he had not +noticed that it was Tom and Mr. Titus who came into his +stateroom to his aid. When he did recognize them, he relied +on his disguise to screen him from recognition, and he was +successful. He had only pretended to be ill, though, the +time he slipped out and threw the bomb. + +Reaching Peru he at once began his plotting. Serato told +him about the secret shaft leading into the tunnel, and with +the knotted rope, and with the aid of the faithless foreman, +the men were got out of the tunnel and paid to hide away. +Waddington was planning further disappearances when Tom saw +him, but thought it a dream. + +Masni, the Indian woman, out herb-hunting one day, had +seen Waddington, 'the bearded man' as he then was--working +the secret stone. Hidden, she observed him and told her +husband, who was afraid to reveal what he knew. But when Tom +saved the baby the woman rewarded him in the only way +possible. And it was Serato, who, at Waddington's +suggestion, caused the "hit" among the men by working on +their superstitious fears. + +Waddington, knowing that he was dying, confessed +everything, and begged forgiveness from Tom and his friends, +which was granted, in as much as no real harm had been done. +Waddington was but a tool in the hands of the rival +contractors, who deserted him in his hour of need. His last +hours, however, were made as comfortable as possible by the +generosity of Tom and Mr. Damon. + +No effort was made to bring Blakeson & Grinder to justice, +as there was no evidence against them after Waddington died. +And, as the tunnel was finished, the Titus brothers had no +further cause for worry. + +"But if it had not been for Tom's big blast, and the +discovery of the hidden city of Pelone just in the right +place, we might be digging at that tunnel yet," said Job +Titus. + +The day before the steamer was to sail, Tom Swift received +a cable message. Its receipt seemed to fill him with +delight, so that Mr. Damon asked: + +"Is it from your father, Tom?" + +"No it's from Mary Nestor. She says her father has +forgiven me. They have been away, and Mary has been ill, +which accounts for no letters up to now. But everything is +all right now, and they feel that the dynamite trick wasn't +my fault. But, all the same, I'm going to teach Eradicate to +read," concluded Tom. + +"I think it would be a good idea," agreed Mr. Damon. + +Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku, bidding farewell to the friends +they had made in Peru, went aboard the steamer, Job Titus +and his brother coming to see them off. + +"Give us an option on all that explosive you make, Tom Swift!" +begged Walter Titus. "We were so successful with this tunnel, +thanks to you, that the government is going to have us dig another. +Will you come down and help?" + +"Maybe," said Tom, with a smile. "But I'm going home first," +and once more he read the message from Mary Nestor. + +And as Tom, on the deck of the steamer, waved his hands to +Professor Bumper and his other friends whom he was leaving +in Peru, we also, will say farewell. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Tom Swift And His Big Tunnel + diff --git a/old/19tom10.zip b/old/19tom10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1e190cb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/19tom10.zip diff --git a/old/19tom10h.htm b/old/19tom10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9cc81a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/19tom10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8393 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2 Final//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> +<TITLE>The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Swift and His Big Tunnel</TITLE> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<meta name="author" content="Victor Appleton"> +</HEAD> +<BODY> +<P> + +<h1 align="center">The Project Gutenberg EBook of <a href="#start">Tom Swift and His Big Tunnel</a></H1> + +<h2>#19 in our series by Victor Appleton</h2> + +<p> +This Etext was prepared for Project Gutenberg by Anthony Matonac. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Tom Swift and His Big Tunnel + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Release Date: June, 1997 [EBook #953] +[Date last updated: December 17, 2004] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +************************************************************************ + +</PRE> + + + +<a name="start"></a> + +<h2>Tom Swift and His Big Tunnel</H2> + +<P> +or<BR> +The Hidden City of the Andes + +<P> +by Victor Appleton + + + +<P> +<H3>Contents</H3> +<P> +<A HREF="#I">I An Appeal for Aid</A><BR> +<A HREF="#II">II Explanations</A><BR> +<A HREF="#III">III A Face at the Window</A><BR> +<A HREF="#IV">IV Tom's Experiments</A><BR> +<A HREF="#V">V Mary's Present</A><BR> +<A HREF="#VI">VI Mr. Nestor's Letter</A><BR> +<A HREF="#VII">VII Off for Peru</A><BR> +<A HREF="#VIII">VIII The Bearded Man</A><BR> +<A HREF="#IX">IX The Bomb</A><BR> +<A HREF="#X">X Professor Bumper</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XI">XI In the Andes</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XII">XII The Tunnel</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XIII">XIII Tom's Explosive</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XIV">XIV Mysterious Disappearances</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XV">XV Frightened Indians</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XVI">XVI On the Watch</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XVII">XVII The Condor</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XVIII">XVIII The Indian Strike</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XIX">XIX A Woman Tells</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XX">XX Despair</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XXI">XXI A New Explosive</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XXII">XXII The Fight</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XXIII">XXIII A Great Blast</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XXIV">XXIV The Hidden City</A><BR> +<A HREF="#XXV">XXV Success</A> + + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="I"></A> +<H3>Chapter I An Appeal for Aid</H3> + + + +<P> +Tom Swift, seated in his laboratory engaged in trying to +solve a puzzling question that had arisen over one of his +inventions, was startled by a loud knock on the door. So +emphatic, in fact, was the summons that the door trembled, +and Tom started to his feet in some alarm. + +<P> +"Hello there!" he cried. "Don't break the door, Koku!" and +then he laughed. "No one but my giant would knock like +that," he said to himself. "He never does seem able to do +things gently. But I wonder why he is knocking. I told him +to get the engine out of the airship, and Eradicate said +he'd be around to answer the telephone and bell. I wonder if +anything has happened?" + +<P> +Tom shoved back his chair, pushed aside the mass of papers +over which he had been puzzling, and strode to the door. +Flinging it open he confronted a veritable giant of a man, +nearly eight feet tall, and big in proportion. The giant, +Koku, for that was his name, smiled in a good-natured way, +reminding one of an overgrown boy. + +<P> +"Master hear my knock?" the giant asked cheerfully. + +<P> +"Hear you, Koku? Say, I couldn't hear anything else!" +exclaimed Tom. "Did you think you had to arouse the whole +neighborhood just to let me know you were at the door? Jove! +I thought you'd have it off the hinges." + +<P> +"If me break, me fix," said Koku, who, from his appearance +and from his imperfect command of English, was evidently a +foreigner. + +<P> +"Yes, I know you can fix lots of things, Koku," Tom went +on, kindly enough. "But you musn't forget what enormous +strength you have. That's the reason I sent you to take the +engine out of the airship. You can lift it without using the +chain hoist, and I can't get the chain hoist fast unless I +remove all the superstructure. I don't want to do that. Did +you get the engine out?" + +<P> +"Not quite. Almost, Master." + +<P> +"Then why are you here? Has anything gone wrong?" + +<P> +"No, everything all right, Master. But man come to +machine shop and say he must have talk with you. I no let +him come past the gate, but I say I come and call you." + +<P> +"That's right, Koku. Don't let any strangers past the +gate. But why didn't Eradicate come and call me. He isn't +doing anything, is he? Unless, indeed, he has gone to feed +his mule, Boomerang." + +<P> +"Eradicate, he come to call you, but that black man no +good!" and Koku chuckled so heartily that he shook the floor +of the office. + +<P> +"What's the matter with Eradicate?" asked Tom, somewhat +anxiously. "I hope you and he haven't had another row?" +Eradicate had served Tom and his father long before Koku, +the giant, had been brought back from one of the young +inventor's many strange trips, and ever since then there had +been a jealous rivalry between the twain as to who should +best serve Tom. + +<P> +"No trouble, Master," said Koku. "Eradicate he start to +come and tell you strange man want to have talk, but +Eradicate he no come fast enough. So I pick him up, and I +set him down by gate to stand on guard, and I come to tell +you. Koku come quick!" + +<P> +"Oh, I knew it must be something like that!" exclaimed Tom +in some vexation. "Now I'll have Eradicate complaining to me +that you mauled him. Picked him up and set him down again." + +<P> +"Sure. One hand!" boasted the giant. "Eradicate him not be +heavy. More as a sack of flour now." + +<P> +"No, poor Eradicate is getting pretty old and thin," +commented Tom. "He can't move very quickly. But you should +have let him come, Koku. It makes him feel badly when he +thinks he can't be of service to me any more." + +<P> +"Man say he in hurry." The giant spoke softly, as though +he felt the gentle rebuke Tom administered. "Koku run quick +tell you--bang on door." + +<P> +"Yes, you banged all right, Koku. Well, it can't be +helped, I reckon. Where is this strange man? Who is he? Did +you ever see him before?" + +<P> +"Me no can tell, Master. Not sure. But him now be at the +outer gate. Eradicate watch." + +<P> +"All right. I'll go and see who it is. I don't want any +strangers poking around here, especially with the plans of +my new gyroscope lying in plain view." + +<P> +Before he left the laboratory Tom swept into a desk drawer +the mass of papers and blue prints, and locked the +receptacle. + +<P> +"No use taking any chances," he remarked. "I've had too +much trouble with people trying to get inside information +about dad's and my patents. Now, Koku, I'll go and see this +man." + +<P> +The buildings composing the plant of Tom Swift and his +father at Shopton were enclosed by a high, board fence, and +at one of the entrances was a sort of gate-house, where some +one was always on guard. Only those who could give a good +account of themselves, workmen in the plant, or those known +to the sentinel were admitted. + +<P> +It happened that the colored man, Eradicate, was on guard +at the gates this day when the stranger asked to see Tom. +Koku, working on the airship engine not far away, saw the +stranger. Hearing the man say he was in a hurry and noting +the slow progress of the aged Eradicate, who was troubled +with rheumatism, the giant took matters into his own hands. + +<P> +Tom Swift entered the gate-house and saw, seated in a +chair, a man who was impatiently tapping the floor with his +thick-soled shoe. + +<P> +"Looks like a detective or a policeman in disguise," +thought Tom, for, almost invariably, members of this +profession wear very thick-soled shoes. Opposite the +stranger sat Eradicate, a much-injured look on his honest, +black face. + +<P> +"Oh, Massa Tom!" exclaimed Eradicate, as soon as the young +inventor entered. "Dat Koku he--he--he done gone and cotch +me by de collar ob mah coat, an' den he lif' me up, an' he +sot me down so hard--so hard--dat he jar loose all mah back +teef!" and Eradicate opened his mouth wide to display his +gleaming ivories. + +<P> +"Eradicate, he no can come quick. He walk like so +fashion!" and Koku, who had followed the young inventor, +imitated the limping gait of the colored man with such a +queer effect that Tom could not help laughing, and the +stranger smiled. + +<P> +"Ef I gits holt on yo'--ef I does, yo' great, big, +overgrown lummox, Ah'll--Ah'll--" began the colored man, +stammeringly. + +<P> +"There. That will do now!" interrupted Tom. "Don't quarrel +in here. Koku, get back to that engine and lift out the +motor. Eradicate, didn't father tell you to whitewash the +chicken coops to-day?" + +<P> +"Dat's what he done, Massa Tom." + +<P> +"Well, go and see about that. I'll stay here for a while, +and when I leave I'll call one of you, or some one else, to +be on guard. Skip now!" + +<P> +Having thus disposed of the warring factions, Tom turned +to the stranger and after apologizing for the little +interruption, asked: + +<P> +"You wished to see me?" + +<P> +"If you're Tom Swift; yes." + +<P> +"Well, I'm Tom Swift," and the young owner of the name +smiled. + +<P> +"I hope you will pardon a stranger for calling on you," +resumed the man, "but I'm in a lot of trouble, and I think +you are the only one who can help me out." + +<P> +"What sort of trouble?" Tom inquired. + +<P> +"Contracting trouble--tunnel blasting, to be exact. But if +you have a few minutes to spare perhaps you will listen to +my story. You will then be better able to understand my +difficulty." + +<P> +Tom Swift considered a moment. He was used to having +appeals for help made to him, and usually they were of a +begging nature. He was often asked for money to help some +struggling inventor complete his machine. + +<P> +In many cases the machines would have been of absolutely +no use if perfected. In other cases the inventions were of +the utterly hopeless class, incapable of perfection, like +some perpetual motion apparatus. In these cases Tom turned a +deaf ear, though if the inventor were in want our hero +relieved him. + +<P> +But this case did not seem to be like anything Tom had +ever met with before. + +<P> +"Contracting trouble--blasting," repeated the youth, as he +mused over what he had heard. + +<P> +"That's it," the man went on. "Permit me to introduce +myself," and he held out a card, on which was the name + +<P> +<i>Mr. Job Titus</i> + + +<P> +Down in the lower left-hand corner was a line: + +<P> +"Titus Brothers, Contractors." + +<P> +"I am glad to meet you, Mr. Titus," Tom said warmly, +offering his hand. "I don't know anything about the +contracting business, but if you do blasting I suppose you +use explosives, and I know a little about them." + +<P> +"So I have heard, and that's why I came to you," the +contractor went on. "Now if you'll give me a few minutes of +your time--" + +<P> +"You had better come up to the house," interrupted Tom. +"We can talk more quietly there." + +<P> +Calling a young fellow who was at work near by to occupy +the gate-house, Tom led Mr. Titus toward the Swift +homestead, and, a little later, ushered him into the +library. + +<P> +"Now I'll listen to you," the youth said, "though I can't +promise to aid you." + +<P> +"I realize that," returned Mr. Titus. "This is a sort of +last chance I'm taking. My brother and I have heard a lot +about you, and when he wrote to me that he was unable to +proceed with his contract of tunneling the Andes Mountains +for the Peruvian government, I made up my mind you were the +one who could help us if you would." + +<P> +"Tunneling the Andes Mountains!" exclaimed Tom. + +<P> +"Yes. The firm represented by my brother and myself have a +contract to build a railroad for the Peruvian government. At +a point some distance back in the district east of Lima, +Peru, we are making a tunnel under the mountain. That is, we +have it started, but now we can't advance any further." + +<P> +"Why not?" + +<P> +"Because of the peculiar character of the rock, which +seems to defy the strongest explosive we can get. Now I +understand you used a powder in your giant cannon that--" + +<P> +Mr. Titus paused in his explanation, for at that moment +there arose such a clatter out on the front piazza as +effectually to drown conversation. There was a noise of the +hoofs of a horse, the fall of a heavy body, a tattoo on the +porch floor and then came an excited shout: + +<P> +"Whoa there! Whoa! Stop! Look out where you're kicking! +Bless my saddle blanket! Ouch! There I go!" + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="II"></A> +<H3>Chapter II Explanations</H3> + + + +<P> +"What in the world is that?" cried Mr. Job Titus, in alarm. + +<P> +Tom Swift did not answer. Instead he jumped up from his +chair and ran toward the front door. Mr. Titus followed. +They both saw a strange sight. + +<P> +Standing on the front porch, which he seemed to occupy +completely, was a large horse, with a saddle twisted +underneath him. The animal was looking about him as calmly +as though he always made it a practice to come up on the +front piazza when stopping at a house. + +<P> +Off to one side, with a crushed hat on the back of his +head, with a coat split up the back, with a broken riding +crop in one hand and a handkerchief in the other, sat a +dignified, elderly gentleman. + +<P> +That is, he would have been dignified had it not been for +his position and condition. No gentleman can look dignified +with a split coat and a crushed hat on, sitting under the +nose of a horse on a front piazza, with his raiment +otherwise much disheveled, while he wipes his scratched and +bleeding face with a handkerchief. + +<P> +"Bless my--bless my--" began the elderly gentleman, and he +seemed at a loss what particular portion of his anatomy or +that of the horse, to bless, or what portion of the universe +to appeal to, for he ended up with: "Bless everything, Tom +Swift!" + +<P> +"I heartily agree with you, Mr. Damon!" cried Tom. "But +what in the world happened?" + +<P> +"That!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, pointing with his broken crop +at the horse on the piazza. "I was riding him when he ran +away--just as my motorcycle tried to climb a tree. No more +horses for me! I'll stick to airships," and slamming his +riding crop down on the porch floor with such force that the +horse started back, Mr. Damon arose, painfully enough if the +contortions on his face and his grunts of pain went for +anything. + +<P> +"Let me help you!" begged Tom, striding forward. "Mr. +Titus, perhaps you will kindly lead the horse down off the +piazza?" + +<P> +"Certainly!" answered the tunnel contractor. "Whoa now!" +he called soothingly, as the steed evinced a disposition to +sit down on the side railing. "Steady now!" + +<P> +The horse finally allowed himself to be led down the broad +front steps, sadly marking them, as well as the floor of the +piazza, with his sharp shoes. + +<P> +"Ouch! Oh, my back!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as Tom helped +him to stand up. + +<P> +"Is it hurt?" asked Tom, anxiously. + +<P> +"No, I've just got what old-fashioned folks call a 'crick' +in it," explained the elderly horseman. "But it feels more +like a river than a 'crick.' I'll be all right presently." + +<P> +"How did it happen?" asked Tom, as he led his guest toward +the hall. Meanwhile Mr. Titus, wondering what it was all +about, had tied the horse to a post out near the street +curb, and had re-entered the library. + +<P> +"I was riding over to see you, Tom, to ask you if you +wouldn't go to South America with me," began Mr. Damon, +rubbing his leg tenderly. + +<P> +"South America?" cried Tom, with a sudden look at Mr. +Titus. + +<P> +"Yes, South America. Why, there isn't anything strange in +that, is there? You've been to wilder countries, and +farther away than that." + +<P> +"Yes, I know--it's just a coincidence. Go on." + +<P> +"Let me get where I can sit down," begged Mr. Damon. "I +think that crick in my back is running down into my legs, +Tom. I feel a bit weak. Let me sit down, and get me a glass +of water. I shall be all right presently." + +<P> +Between them Tom and Mr. Titus assisted the horseman into +an easy chair, and there, under the influence of a cup of +hot tea, which Mrs. Baggert, the housekeeper, insisted on +making for him, he said he felt much better, and would +explain the reason for his call which had culminated in such +a sensational manner. + +<P> +And while Mr. Damon is preparing his explanation I will +take just a few moments to acquaint my new readers with some +facts about Tom Swift, and the previous volumes of this +series in which he has played such prominent parts. + +<P> +Tom Swift was the son of an inventor, and not only +inherited his father's talents, but had greatly added to +them, so that now Tom had a wonderful reputation. + +<P> +Mr. Swift was a widower, and he and Tom lived in a big +house in Shopton, New York State, with Mrs. Baggert for a +housekeeper. About the house, from time to time, shops and +laboratories had been erected, until now there was a large +and valuable establishment belonging to Tom and his father. + +<P> +The first volume of this series is entitled, "Tom Swift +and His Motor Cycle." It was through a motor cycle that Tom +became acquainted with Mr. Wakefield Damon, who lived in a +neighboring town. Mr. Damon had bought the motor cycle for +himself, but, as he said, one day in riding it the machine +tried to climb a tree near the Swift house. + +<P> +The young inventor (for even then he was working on +several patents) ministered to Mr. Damon, who, disgusted +with the motor cycle, and wishing to reward Tom, let the +young fellow have the machine. + +<P> +Tom's career began from that hour. For he learned to ride +the motor cycle, after making some improvements in it, and +from then on the youth had led a busy life. Soon afterward +he secured a motor boat and from that it was but a step to +an airship. + +<P> +The medium of the air having been conquered, Tom again +turned his attention to the water, or rather, under the +water, and he and his father made a submarine. Then he built +an electric runabout, the speediest car on the road. + +<P> +It was when Ton Swift had occasion to send his wireless +message from a lonely island where he had been shipwrecked +that he was able to do Mr. and Mrs. Nestor a valuable +service, and this increased the regard which Miss Mary +Nestor felt for the young inventor, a regard that bid fair, +some day, to ripen into something stronger. + +<P> +Tom Swift might have made a fortune when he set out to +discover the secret of the diamond makers. But Fate +intervened, and soon after that quest he went to the caves +of ice, where he and his friends met with disaster. In his +sky racer Tom broke all records for speed, and when he went +to Africa to rescue a missionary, had it not been for his +electric rifle the tide of battle would have gone against +him and his party. + +<P> +Marvelous, indeed, were the adventures underground, which +came to Tom when he went to look for the city of gold, but +the treasure there was not more valuable than the platinum +which Tom sought in dreary Siberia by means of his air +glider. + +<P> +Tom thought his end had come when he fell into captivity +among the giants; but even that turned out well, and he +brought two of the giants away with him. Koku, one of the +two giants, became devotedly attached to the lad, much to +the disgust of Eradicate Sampson, the old negro who had +worked for the Swifts for a generation, and who, with his +mule Boomerang, "eradicated" from the place as much dirt as +possible. + +<P> +With his wizard camera Tom did much to advance the cause +of science. His great searchlight was of great help to the +United States government in putting a stop to the Canadian +smugglers, while his giant cannon was a distinct advance in +ordnance, not excepting the great German guns used in the +European war. + +<P> +When Tom perfected his photo telephone the last objection +to rendering telephonic conversation admissible evidence in +a law court was done away with, for by this invention a +person was able to see, as well as to hear, over the +telephone wire. One practically stood face to face with the +person, miles away, to whom one was talking. + +<P> +The volume immediately preceding this present one is +called: "Tom Swift and His Aerial Warship." The young +inventor perfected a marvelous aircraft that was the naval +terror of the seas, and many governments, recognizing what +an important part aircraft were going to play in all future +conflicts, were anxious to secure Tom's machine. But he was +true to his own country, though his rivals were nearly +successful in their plots against him. + +<P> +The <i>Mars</i>, which was the name of Tom's latest craft, proved +to be a great success, and the United States government +purchased it. It was not long after the completion of this +transaction that the events narrated in the first chapter of +this book took place. + +<P> +Mr. Damon and Tom had been firm friends ever since the +episode of the motor cycle, and the eccentric gentleman (who +blessed so many things) often went with Tom on his trips. +Besides Mary Nestor, Tom had other friends. The one, after +Miss Nestor, for whom he cared most (if we except Mr. Damon) +was Ned Newton, who was employed in a Shopton bank. Ned also +had often gone with Tom, though lately, having a better +position, he had less time to spare. + +<P> +"Well, do you feel better, Mr. Damon?" asked Tom, after a +bit. + +<P> +"Yes, very much, thank you. Bless my pen wiper! but I +thought I was done for when I saw my horse bolt for your +front stoop. He rushed up it, fell down, but, fortunately, I +managed to get out of his way, though the saddle girth +slipped. And all I could think of was that my wife would +say: 'I told you so!' for she warned me not to ride this +animal." + +<P> +"But he never ran away with me before, and I was in a +hurry to get over to see you, Tom. Now then, let's get down +to business. Will you go to South America with me?" + +<P> +"Whereabout in South America are you going, Mr. Damon, and +why?" Tom asked. + +<P> +"To Peru, Tom." + +<P> +"What a coincidence!" exclaimed Mr. Titus. + +<P> +"I beg your pardon?" said Mr. Damon, interrogatively. + +<P> +"I said what a coincidence. I am going there myself." + +<P> +"Excuse me," interposed Tom, "I don't believe, in the +excitement of the moment, I introduced you gentlemen. Allow +me--Mr. Damon--Mr. Titus." + +<P> +The presentation over, Mr. Damon went on: + +<P> +"You see, Tom, I have lately invested considerable money +in a wholesale drug concern. We deal largely in Peruvian +remedies, principally the bark of the cinchona tree, from +which quinine is made. Of late there has been some trouble +over our concession from the Peruvian government, and the +company has decided to send me down there to investigate." + +<P> +"Of course, as soon as I made up my mind to go I thought +of you. So I came over to see if you would not accompany me. +All went well until I reached your front gate. Then my horse +became frightened by a yellow toy balloon some boy was +blowing up in the street and bolted with me. I suppose if it +had been a red or green balloon the effect would have been +the same. However, here I am, somewhat the worse for wear. +Now Tom, what do you say? Will you go to South America--to +Peru--with me, and help look up this Quinine business?" + +<P> +Once more Mr. Titus and Tom looked at each other. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="III"></A> +<H3>Chapter III A Face at the Window</H3> + + + +<P> +"What is the matter?" asked Mr. Damon, catching the glance +between Tom and the contractor. "Is there anything wrong +with South America--Peru? I know they have lots of +revolutions in those countries, but I don't believe Peru is +what they call a 'banana republic'; is it?" + +<P> +"No," and Mr. Titus shook his head. "It isn't a question +of revolutions." + +<P> +"But it's something!" insisted Mr. Damon. "Bless my ink +bottle! but it's something. As soon as I mention Peru, Tom, +you and Mr. Titus eye each other as if I'd said something +dreadful. Out with it! What is it?" + +<P> +"It's just--just a coincidence," Tom said. "But go on, Mr. +Damon. Finish what you have to say and then we'll explain." + +<P> +"Well, I guess I've told you all you need to know for the +present. I went into this wholesale drug concern, hoping to +make some money, but now, on account of the trouble down in +Peru, we stand to lose considerable unless I can get back +the cinchona concession." + +<P> +"What does that mean?" Tom asked. + +<P> +"Well, it means that our concern secured from the Peruvian +government the right to take this quinine-producing bark +from the trees in a certain tropical section. But there has +been a change in the government in the district where our +men were working, and now the privilege, or concession, has +been withdrawn. I'm going down to see if I can't get it +back. And I want you to go with me." + +<P> +"And I came here for very nearly the same thing," went on +Mr. Titus. "That is where the coincidence comes in. It is +strange that we should both appeal to Mr. Swift at the same +time." + +<P> +"Well, Tom's a valuable helper!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I +know him of old, for I've been on many a trip with him." + +<P> +"This is the first time I have had the pleasure of meeting +him," resumed the tunnel contractor, "but I have heard of +him. I did not ask him to go to South America for us. I only +wanted to get some superior explosive for my brother, who is +in charge of driving the railroad tunnel through a spur of +the Andes. I look after matters up North here, but I may +have to go to Peru myself." + +<P> +"As I told Mr. Swift, I had read of his invention of the +giant cannon and the special powder he used in it to send a +projectile such a distance. The cannon is now mounted as one +of the pieces of ordnance for the defense of the Panama +Canal, is it not?" he asked Tom. + +<P> +The young inventor nodded in assent. + +<P> +"Having heard of you, and the wonderful explosive used in +your big cannon," the contractor went on, "I wrote to my +brother that I would try and get some for him." + +<P> +"You see," he resumed, "this is the situation. Back in the +Andes Mountains, a couple of hundred miles east of Lima, the +government is building a short railroad line to connect two +others. If this is done it will mean that the products of +Peru--quinine bark, coffee, cocoa, sugar, rubber, incense +and gold can more easily be transported. But to connect the +two railroad lines a big tunnel must be constructed." + +<P> +"My brother and I make a specialty of such work, and when +we saw bids advertised for, our firm put in an estimate. +There was some trouble with a rival firm, which also bid, +but we secured the contract, and bound ourselves to have the +tunnel finished within a certain time, or forfeit a large +sum." + +<P> +"That was over a year ago. Since then our men, aided by +the native Indians of Peru, have been tunneling the +mountain, until, about a month back, we struck a snag." + +<P> +"What sort of snag?" Tom asked. + +<P> +"A snag in the shape of extra hard rock," replied the +tunnel contractor. "Briefly, Paleozoic rocks make up the +eastern part of the Andean Mountains in Peru, while the +western range is formed of Mesozoic beds, volcanic ashes and +lava of comparatively recent date. Near the coast the lower +hills are composed of crystalline rocks, syenite and +granite, with, here and there, a strata of sandstone or +limestone. These are, undoubtedly, relics of the lower +Cretaceous age, and we, or rather, my brother, states that +he has found them covered with marine Tertiary deposits." + +<P> +"Now this Mesozoic band varies greatly. Porphyritic tuffs +and massive limestone compose the western chain of the Andes +above Lima, while in the Oroya Valley we find carbonaceous +sandstones. Some of the tuffs may be of the Jurassic age, +though the Cretaceous period is also largely represented." + +<P> +"Now while these different masses of rock formation offer +hard enough problems to the tunnel digger, still we are more +or less prepared to meet them, and we figured on a certain +percentage of them. Up to the present time we have met with +just about what we expected, but what we did not expect was +something we came upon when the tunnel had been driven three +miles into the mountain." + +<P> +"What did you find?" asked Tom, who knew enough about +geology to understand the terms used. Mr. Damon did not, +however, and when Mr. Titus rolled off some of the technical +words, the drug investor softly murmured such expressions as + +<P> +"Bless my thermometer! Bless my porous plaster!" + +<P> +"We found," resumed Mr. Titus, "after we had bored for a +considerable distance into the mountain, a mass of volcanic +rock which is so hard that our best diamond drills are +dulled in a short time, and the explosives we use merely +shatter the face of the cutting, and give us hardly any +progress at all." + +<P> +"It was after several trials, and when my brother found +that he was making scarcely any progress, compared to the +energy of his men and the blasting, that he wrote to me, +explaining matters. I at once thought of you, Tom Swift, and +your powerful explosive, for I had read about it." + +<P> +"Now then, will you sell us some of your powder--explosive +or whatever you call it--Mr. Swift, or tell us where we can +get it? We need it soon, for we are losing valuable time." + +<P> +Mr. Titus paused to draw on a piece of paper a rough map +of Peru, and the district where the tunnel was being +constructed. He showed where the two railroad lines were, +and where the new route would bring them together, the +tunnel eliminating a big grade up which it would have been +impossible to haul trains of any weight. + +<P> +"What do you say, Mr. Swift?" the contractor concluded. +"Will you let us have some of your powder? Or, better still, +will you come to Peru yourself? That would suit us +immensely, for you could be right on the ground. And you +could carry out your plan of going with your friend here," +and Mr. Titus nodded toward Mr. Damon. "That is, if you were +thinking of going." + +<P> +"Well, I was thinking of it," Tom admitted. "Mr. Damon and +I have been on so many trips together that it seems sort of +natural for us to 'team it.' I have never been to Peru, and +I should like to see the country. There is only one matter +though, that bothers me." + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Mr. Titus quickly. "If it is a +question of money dismiss it from your mind. The Peruvian +government is paying a large sum for this tunnel, and we +stand to make considerable, even if we were the lowest +bidders. We can afford to pay you well--that is, we shall be +able to if we can complete the bore on time. That is what is +bothering me now--the unexpected strata of hard rock we have +met with, which seems impossible to blast. But I feel sure +we can do it with the explosive used in your giant cannon." + +<P> +"That is just the point!" Tom exclaimed. "I am not so sure +my explosive would do." + +<P> +"Why not?" the tunnel contractor asked. "It's powerful +enough; isn't it?" + +<P> +"Yes, it is powerful enough, but whether it will have the +right effect on volcanic rock is hard to say. I should like +to see a rock sample." + +<P> +"I can telegraph to have some sent here to you," said Mr. +Titus eagerly. "Meantime, here is a description of it. I can +read you that," and, taking a letter from his pocket, he +read to Tom a geological description of the hard rock. + +<P> +"Hum! Yes," mused Tom, as he listened. "It seems to be of +the nature of obsidian." + +<P> +"Bless my watch chain!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's that?" + +<P> +"Obsidian is a volcanic rock--a sort of combination of +glass and flint for hardness," Tom explained. "It is +brittle, black in color, and the natives of the Admiralty +Islands use it for tipping their spears with which they slay +victims for their cannibalistic feasts." + +<P> +"Bless my--bless my ear-drums!" gasped Mr. Damon. +"Cannibals!" + +<P> +"Obsidian was also used by the ancient Mexicans to make knives and +daggers," Tom went on. "When Cortez conquered Mexico he found the +priests cutting the hearts from their living victims with knives made +from this volcanic glass-like rock, known as obsidian. It may be that +your brother has met with a vein of that in the tunnel," Tom said to +the contractor. + +<P> +"Possibly," admitted Mr. Titus. + +<P> +"In that case," Tom stated, "I may have to use a new kind +of explosive. That used for my giant cannon would merely +crumble the hard rock for a short distance." + +<P> +"Then will you accept the contract, and help us out?" +asked Mr. Titus eagerly. "We will pay you well. Will you +come to Peru and look over the ground?" + +<P> +"And kill two birds with one stone, and come with me +also?" put in Mr. Damon. + +<P> +Tom pondered for a moment. He was about to answer when the +tunnel contractor, who was looking from the library window, +suddenly jumped from his chair crying: + +<P> +"There he is again! Once more dogging me!" + +<P> +As he rushed from the room, Tom and Mr. Damon had a +glimpse of a face at one of the low library windows--a face +that had an evil look. It disappeared as Mr. Titus ran from +the room. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="IV"></A> +<H3>Chapter IV Tom's Experiments</H3> + + + +<P> +"Bless my looking glass, Tom, what does that mean?" +exclaimed Mr. Damon. "That face!" + +<P> +"I don't know," answered the young inventor. "But the +sight of some one looking in here seemed to disturb Mr. +Titus. We must follow him." + +<P> +"Perhaps he saw your giant Koku looking in," suggested the +odd, little man who blessed everything he could think of. +"The sight of his face, to any one not knowing him, Tom, +would be enough to cause fright." + +<P> +"It wasn't Koku who looked in the window," said Tom, +decidedly. "It was some stranger. Come on." + +<P> +The young inventor and Mr. Damon hurried out after the +tunnel contractor, who was running down the road that led in +front of the Swift homestead. + +<P> +"He's chasing some one, Tom," called Mr. Damon. + +<P> +"Yes, I see he is. But who?" + +<P> +"I can't see any one," reported Mr. Damon, who had run +down to the gate, at which his horse was still standing. +Mr. Damon had washed the dirt from his hands and face, and +was wearing one of Mr. Swift's coats in place of his own +split one. + +<P> +Tom joined the eccentric man and together they looked down +the road after the running Mr. Titus. They were in half a +mind to join him, when they saw him pull up short, raise his +hands as though he had given over the pursuit, and turn +back. + +<P> +"I guess he got away, whoever he was," remarked Tom. +"We'll walk down and meet Mr. Titus, and ask him what it all +means." + +<P> +Shortly afterward they came up to the contractor, who was +breathing heavily after his run, for he was evidently not +used to such exercise. + +<P> +"I beg your pardon, Tom Swift, for leaving you and Mr. +Damon in such a fashion," said Mr. Titus, "but I had to act +quickly or lose the chance of catching that rascal. As it +was, he got away, but I think I gave him a scare, and he +knows that I saw him. It will make him more cautious in the +future." + +<P> +"Who was it?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Well, I didn't have as close a look as I could have +wished for," the contractor said, as he walked back toward +the house with Tom and Mr. Damon, "but I'm pretty sure the +face that peered in at us through the library window was +that of Isaac Waddington." + +<P> +"And who is he, if it isn't asking information that ought +not be given out?" inquired Mr. Damon. + +<P> +"Oh, no, certainly. I can tell you," said the contractor. +"Only perhaps we had better wait until we get back to the +house." + +<P> +"Since one of their men was seen lurking around here there +may be others," went on Mr. Titus, when the three were once +more seated in the Swift library. "It is best to be on the +safe side. The face I saw, I'm sure, was that of Waddington, +who is a tool of Blakeson & Grinder, rival tunnel +contractors. They put in a bid on this Andes tunnel, but we +were lower in our figures by several thousand dollars, and +the contract was awarded to us." + +<P> +"Blakeson & Grinder tried, by every means in their power, +to get the job away from us. They even invoked the aid of +some Peruvian revolutionists and politicians, but we held +our ground and began the work. Since then they have had +spies and emissaries on our trail, trying their best to make +us fail in our work, so the Peruvian officials might +abrogate the contract and give it to them." + +<P> +"But, so far, we've managed to come out ahead. This +Waddington is a sort of spy, and I've found him dodging me +several times of late. I suppose he wants to find out my +plans so as to be ready to jump in the breach in case we +fail." + +<P> +"Do you think your rivals had anything to do with the +difficulties you are now meeting with in digging the +tunnel?" asked Mr. Damon. Mr. Titus shook his head. + +<P> +"The present difficulties are all of Nature's doing," he +said. "It's just the abnormally hard rock that is bothering +us. Only for that we'd be all right, though we might have +petty difficulties because of the mean acts of Blakeson & +Grinder. But I don't fear them." + +<P> +"How do you think this Waddington, if it was he, knew you +were coming here?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"I can only guess. My brother and I have had some +correspondence regarding you, Tom Swift. That is, I +announced my intention of coming to see you, and my brother +wrote me to use my discretion. I wrote back that I would +consult you. + +<P> +"Our main office is in New York, where we employ a large +clerical and expert force. There is nothing to prevent one +of our stenographers, for instance, turning traitor and +giving copies of the letters of my brother and myself to our +rivals." + +<P> +"Mind you, I don't say this was done, and I don't suspect +any of our employees, but it would be an easy matter for any +one to know my plans. I never thought of making a secret of +them, or of my trip here. In some way Waddington found out +about the last, and he must have followed me here. Then he +sneaked up under the window, and tried to hear what we +said." + +<P> +"Do you think he did?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"I wouldn't be surprised. We took no pains to lower our +voices. But, after all, he hasn't learned much that he +didn't know before, if he knew I was coming here. He didn't +learn the secret of the explosive that must be used, and +that is the vital thing. For I defy him, or any other +contractor, to blast that hard rock with any known +explosive. We've tried every kind on the market and we've +failed. We'll have to depend on you, Tom Swift, to help us +out with some of your giant cannon powder." + +<P> +"And I'm not sure that will work," said the young +inventor. "I think I'll have to experiment and make a new +explosive, if I conclude to go to Peru." + +<P> +"Oh, you'll go all right!" declared Mr. Titus with a +smile. "I can see that you are eager for the adventures I am +sure you'll find there, and, besides, your friend here, Mr. +Damon, needs you." + +<P> +"That's what I do, Tom!" exclaimed the odd man. "Bless my +excursion ticket, but you must come!" + +<P> +"I'll have to invent the new powder first," Tom said. + +<P> +"That's what I like to hear!" exclaimed Mr. Titus. "It +shows you are thinking of coming with us." + +<P> +Tom only smiled. + +<P> +"I am so anxious to get the proper explosive," went on Mr. +Titus, "that I would even purchase it from our rivals, +Blakeson & Grinder, if I thought they had it. But I'm sure +they have not, though they may think they can get it." + +<P> +"That may be the reason they are following me so closely. +They may want to know just when we will fail, and have to +give up the contract, and they may think they can step in +and finish the work. But I don't believe, without your help, +Tom Swift, that they can blast that hard rock, and--" + +<P> +"Well, I'll say this," interrupted Tom, "first come, first +served with me, other things being equal. You have applied +to me and, like a lawyer, I won't go over to the other side +now. I consider myself retained by your firm, Mr. Titus, to +invent some sort of explosive, and if I am successful I +shall expect to be paid." + +<P> +"Oh, of course!" cried the contractor eagerly. + +<P> +"Very good," Tom went on. "You needn't fear that I'll help +the other fellows. Now to get down to business. I must see +some samples of this rock in order to know what kind of +explosive force is needed to rend it." + +<P> +"I have some in New York," went on the contractor. "I'll +have it sent to you at once. I would have brought it, only +it is too heavy to carry easily, and I was not sure I could +engage you." + +<P> +"Did that fellow--Waddington, I believe you called him--get away from +you?" asked Mr. Damon. + +<P> +"Clean away," the contractor answered. "He was a better +runner than I." + +<P> +"It doesn't matter much," Tom said. "He didn't hear +anything that would benefit him, and I'll give my men orders +to be on the lookout for him. What sort of fellow is he, Mr. +Titus?" + +<P> +The contractor described the eavesdropper, and Mr. Damon +exclaimed: + +<P> +"Bless my turkey wish-bone! I'm sure I passed that chap +when I was riding over to see you a while ago, Tom." + +<P> +"You did?" + +<P> +"Yes, on the highway. He inquired the way to your place. +But there was nothing strange in that, since you employ a +number of men, and I thought this one was coming to look for +work. I can't say I liked his appearance, though." + +<P> +"No, he isn't a very prepossessing individual," commented +Mr. Titus. "Well, now what's the first thing to be done, Tom +Swift?" + +<P> +"Get me some samples of the rock, so I can begin my +experiments." + +<P> +"I'll do that. And now let us consider about going to +Peru. For I'm sure you will be successful in your +experiments, and will find for us just the powder or +explosive we need." + +<P> +"We can go together." said Mr. Damon. "I shall certainly +feel more at home in that wild country if I know Tom Swift +is with me, and I will appreciate the help of you and your +friends, Mr. Titus, in straightening out the tangles of our +drug business." + +<P> +"I'll do all I can for you, Mr. Damon." + +<P> +The three then talked at some length regarding possible +plans. Tom sent out word to one of his men to keep a sharp +watch around the house and grounds, against the possible +return of Waddington, but nothing more was seen of him, at +least for the time being. + +<P> +Mr. Titus drew up a sort of tentative agreement with Tom, +binding his firm to pay a large sum in case the young +inventor was successful, and then the contractor left, +promising to have the rock samples come on later by express. + +<P> +Mr. Damon, after blessing a few dozen more or less +impersonal objects, took his departure, his fractious horse +having quieted down in the meanwhile, and Tom was left to +himself. + +<P> +"I wonder what I've let myself in for now," the youth +mused, as he went back to his laboratory. "It's a new field +for me--tunnel blasting. Well, perhaps something may come of +it." + +<P> +But of the strange adventure that was to follow his +agreement to help Mr. Titus, our hero, Tom Swift, had not +the least inkling. + +<P> +Tom went back to his labors over the gyroscope problem, +but he could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion, and, +tossing aside the papers, covered with intricate figures, he +exclaimed: + +<P> +"Oh, I'm going for a walk! This thing is getting on my +nerves." + +<P> +He strolled through the Shopton streets, and as he reached +the outskirts of the town, he saw just ahead of him the +figure of a girl. Tom quickened his pace, and presently was +beside her. + +<P> +"Where are you going, Mary?" he asked. + +<P> +"Oh, Tom! How you startled me!" she exclaimed, turning +around. "I was just thinking of you." + +<P> +"Thanks! Something nice?" + +<P> +"I shan't tell you!" and she blushed. "But where are you +going?" + +<P> +"Walking with you!" + +<P> +Tom was nothing if not bold. + +<P> +"Hadn't you better wait until you're asked?" she retorted, +mischievously. + +<P> +"If I did I might not get an invitation. So I'm going to +invite myself, and then I'm going to invite you in here to +have an ice cream soda," and he and Miss Nestor were soon +seated at a table in a candy shop. + +<P> +Tom had nearly finished his ice cream when he glanced +toward the door, and started at the sight of a man who was +entering the place. + +<P> +"What's the matter?" asked Mary. "Did you drop some ice +cream, Tom?" + +<P> +"No, Mary. But that man--" + +<P> +Mary turned in time to see an excited man hurry out of the +candy shop after a hasty glance at Tom Swift. + +<P> +"Who was he?" the girl asked. + +<P> +"I--er--oh, some one I thought I knew, but I guess I +don't," said Tom, quickly. "Have some more cream, Mary?" + +<P> +"No, thank you. Not now." + +<P> +Tom was glad she did not care for any, as he was anxious +to get outside, and have a look at the man, for he thought +he had recognized the face as the same that had peered in +his window. But when he and Miss Nestor reached the front of +the shop the strange man was not in sight. + +<P> +"I guess he came in to cool off after his run," mused Tom, +"but when he saw me he didn't care about it. I wonder if +that was Waddington? He's a persistent individual if it was +he." + +<P> +"Are you undertaking any new adventures, Tom?" asked Mary. + +<P> +"Well, I'm thinking of going to Peru." + +<P> +"Peru!" she cried. "Oh, what a long way to go! And when +you get there will you write to me? I'm collecting stamps, +and I haven't any from Peru." + +<P> +"Is that--er--the only reason you want me to write?" asked +Tom. + +<P> +"No," said Mary softly, as she ran up the walk. + +<P> +Tom smiled as he turned away. + +<P> +Three days later he received a box from New York. It +contained the samples from the Andes tunnel, and Tom at once +began his experiments to discover a suitable explosive for +rending the hard stone. + +<P> +"It is compressed molten lava," said Mr. Swift. "You'll +never get an explosive that will successfully blast that, +Tom." + +<P> +"We'll see," declared the young inventor. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="V"></A> +<H3>Chapter V Mary's Present</H3> + + + +<P> +Outside a rudely-constructed shack, in the middle of a +large field, about a mile away from the nearest of the +buildings owned by Tom Swift and his father, were gathered a +group of figures one morning. From the shack, trailing over +the ground, were two insulated wires, which led to a pile of +rocks and earth some distance off. Out of the temporary +building came Koku, the giant, bearing in his arms a big +rock, of peculiar formation. + +<P> +"That's it, Koku!" exclaimed Tom Swift. "Now don't drop it +on your toes." + +<P> +"No, Master, me no drop," the giant said, as he strode off +with the heavy load as easily as a boy might carry a stone +for his sling-shot. + +<P> +Koku placed the big rock on top of the pile of dirt and +stones and came back to the hut, just as Eradicate, the +colored man-of-all-work, emerged. Koku was not looking +ahead, and ran into Eradicate with such force that the +latter would have fallen had not the giant clasped his big +arms about him. + +<P> +"Heah now! Whut yo' all doin' t' me?" angrily demanded +Eradicate. "Yo' done gone an' knocked de breff outen me, +dat's whut yo' all done! I'll bash yo' wif a rock, dat's +what I'll do!" + +<P> +Koku, laughing, tried to explain that it was all an +accident, but Eradicate would not listen. He looked about +for a stone to throw at the giant, though it was doubtful, +with his feeble strength, and considering the great frame of +the big man, if any damage would have been done. But +Eradicate saw no rocks nearer than the pile in which ended +the two insulated wires, and, with mutterings, the negro set +off in that direction, shuffling along on his rheumatic +legs. + +<P> +From the shack Tom Swift hailed: + +<P> +"Hi there, Rad! Come back! Where are you going?" + +<P> +"I'se gwine t' git a rock, Massa Tom, an' bash de haid ob +dat big lummox ob a giant! He done knocked de breff outen +me, so he did." + +<P> +"You come back from that stone pile!" Tom ordered. "I'm +going to blow it up in a minute, and if you get too near +you'll have the breath knocked out of you worse than Koku +did it. Come back, I say!" + +<P> +But Eradicate was obstinate and kept on. Tom, who was +adjusting a firing battery in the shack, laughed, and then +in exasperation cried: + +<P> +"Koku, go and get him and bring him back. Carry him if he +won't come any other way. I don't want the dear old chump to +get the fright of his life, and he sure will if he goes too +close. Bring him back!" + +<P> +"Koku bring, Master," was the giant's answer. + +<P> +He ran toward Eradicate, who, seeing his tormentor +approaching, redoubled his shuffling pace toward the stone +pile. But he was no match for the giant, who, ignoring his +struggles, picked up Eradicate, and, flinging him over his +shoulder like a sack of meal, brought him to the shack. + +<P> +"There him be, Master!" said the giant. + +<P> +"So I see," laughed Torn. "Now you stay here, Rad." + +<P> +"No, sah! No, sah, Massa Tom! I--I'se gwine t' git a rock +an'--an' bash his haid--dat's what I'se gwine t' do!" and +the colored man tried to struggle to his feet. + +<P> +"Look out now!" cried Tom, suddenly. "If things go right +there won't be a rock left for you to 'bash' anybody's head +with, Rad. Look out!" + +<P> +The three cowered inside the shack, which, though it was +rudely made, was built of heavy logs and planks, with a +fronting of sod and bags of sand. + +<P> +Tom turned a switch. There was a loud report, and where +the stone pile had been there was a big hole in the ground, +while the air was filled with fragments of rock and dirt. +These came down in a shower on the roof of the shack, and +Eradicate covered his ears with his trembling hands. + +<P> +"Am--am de world comin' to de end, Massa Tom?" he asked. +"Am dat Gabriel's trump I done heah?" + +<P> +"No, you dear old goose!" laughed the young inventor. +"That was just a charge of my new explosive--a small charge, +too. But it seems to have done the work." + +<P> +He ran from the shack to the place where the rock pile had +been, and picked up several small fragments. + +<P> +"Busted all to pieces!" exulted Tom Swift. "Not a piece +left as big as a hickory nut. That's going some! I've got +the right mixture at last. If an ounce did that, a few +hundred pounds ought to knock that Andes tunnel through the +mountain in no time. I'll telegraph to Mr. Titus." + +<P> +Leaving Koku and Rad to collect the wires and firing +apparatus, there being no danger now, as no explosive was +left in the shack, Tom made his way back to the house. His +father met him. + +<P> +"Well, Tom," he asked, "another failure?" + +<P> +"No, Dad! Success! This time I turned the trick. I seem to +have gotten just the right mixture. Look, these are some of +the pieces left from the big rock--one of the samples Mr. +Titus sent me. It was all cracked up as small as this," and +he held out the fragments he had picked up in the field. + +<P> +Mr. Swift regarded them for a few moments. + +<P> +"That's better, Tom," he said. "I didn't think you could +get an explosive that would successfully shatter that hard +rock, but you seem to have done it. Have you the formula all +worked out?" + +<P> +"All worked out, Dad. I only made a small quantity, but +the same proportions will hold good for the larger amounts. +I'm going to start in and make it now. And then--Ho! for +Peru!" + +<P> +Tom struck an attitude, such as some old discoverer might +have assumed, and then he hurried into the house to +telephone a telegram to the Shopton office. The message +was to Mr. Titus, and read: + + +<P> +"Explosive success. Start making it at once. Ready for +Peru in month's time." + + +<P> +"Thirteen words," repeated Tom, as the operator called +them back to him. "I hope that doesn't mean bad luck." + +<P> +The experiment which Tom Swift had just brought to a +successful conclusion was one of many he had conducted, +extending over several wearying weeks. + +<P> +As soon as Tom had received the samples of the rock he had +begun to experiment. First he tried some of the explosive +that was so successful in the giant cannon. As he had +feared, it was not what was needed. It cracked the rock, +but did not disintegrate it, and that was what was needed. +The hard rock must be broken up into fragments that could be +easily handled. Merely to crack it necessitated further +explosions, which would only serve to split it more and +perhaps wedge it fast in the tunnel. + +<P> +So Tom tried different mixtures, using various chemicals, +but none seemed to be just right. The trials were not +without danger, either. Once, in mixing some ingredients, +there was an explosion that injured one man, and blew Tom +some distance away. Fortunately for him, there was an open +window in the direction in which he was propelled, and he +went through that, escaping with only some cuts and bruises. + +<P> +Another time there was a hang-fire, and the explosive +burned instead of detonating, so that one of the shops +caught, and there was no little work in subduing the flames. + +<P> +But Tom would not give up, and finally, after many trials, +he hit on what he felt to be the right mixture. This he took +out to the big lot, and having made a miniature tunnel with +some of the sample rock, and having put some of the +explosive in a hole bored in the big chunk Koku carried, Tom +fired the charge. The result we have seen. It was a success. + +<P> +A day after receiving Tom's message Mr. Titus came on and +a demonstration was given of the powerful explosive. + +<P> +"Tom, that's great!" cried the tunnel contractor. "Our +troubles are at an end now." + +<P> +But, had he known it, new ones were only just beginning. + +<P> +Tom at once began preparations for making the explosive on +a large scale, as much of it would be needed in the Andes +tunnel. Then, having turned the manufacturing end of it over +to his men, Tom began his preparations for going to Peru. + +<P> +Mr. Damon was also getting ready, and it was arranged that +he, with Tom and Mr. Titus, should take a vessel from San +Francisco, crossing the continent by train. The supply of +explosive would follow them by special freight. + +<P> +"We might have gone by Panama except for the slide in the +canal," Tom said. "And I suppose I could take you across the +continent in my airship, Mr. Titus, if you object to +railroad travel." + +<P> +"No, thank you, Tom. If it's just the same to you, I'd +rather stay on the ground," the contractor said. "I'm more +used to it." + +<P> +A day or so before the start for San Francisco was to be +made, Tom, passing a store in Shopton, saw something in the +window he thought Mary Nestor would like. It was a mahogany +work-box, of unique design, beautifully decorated, and Tom +purchased it. + +<P> +"Shall I have it sent?" asked the clerk. + +<P> +"No, thank you," Tom answered. + +<P> +He knew the young lady who had waited on him, and, for +reasons of his own, he did not want her to know that Mary +was to get the box. + +<P> +Carrying the present to his laboratory, Tom prepared to +wrap it up suitably to send to Mary, with a note. Just, +however, as he was looking for a box suitable to contain the +gift, he received a summons to the telephone. Mr. Titus, in +New York, wanted to speak to him. + +<P> +"Here, Rad!" Tom called. "Just box this up for me, like a +good fellow, and then take it to Miss Nestor at this +address; will you?" and Tom handed his man the addressed +letter he had written to Mary. "Be careful of it," Tom +cautioned. + +<P> +"Oh, I'll be careful, Massa Tom," was the reply. "I'll +shore be careful." + +<P> +And Eradicate was--all too careful. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="VI"></A> +<H3>Chapter VI Mr. Nestor's Letter</H3> + + + +<P> +"Got t' git a good strong box fo' dish yeah," murmured +Eradicate, as he looked at the beautiful mahogany present +Tom had turned over to him to take to Mary. "Mah Landy! Dat +suttinly am nice; Ah! Um! Jest laik some ob de old mahogany +furniture dat was in our fambily down Souf." Eradicate did +not mean his family, exactly, but the one in which he had +been a slave. + +<P> +"Yassum, dat shore am nice!" he went on, talking to +himself as he admired the present. "I shore got t' put dat +in a good box! An' dish year note, too. Let's see what it +done say on de outside." + +<P> +Eradicate held the envelope carefully upside down, and +read--or rather pretended to read--the name and address. +Eradicate knew well enough where Mary lived, for this was +not the first time he had gone there with messages from his +young master. + +<P> +"Massa Tom shore am a fine writer," mused the negro, as he +slowly turned the envelope around. "I cain't read nobody's +writin' but hisen, nohow." + +<P> +Had Eradicate been strictly honest with himself, he would +have confessed that he could not read any writing, or +printing either. His education had been very limited, but +one could show him, say, a printed sign and tell him it read +"Danger" or "Five miles to Branchville," or anything like +that, and the next time he saw it, Eradicate would know what +that sign said. He seemed to fix a picture of it in his +mind, though the letters and figures by themselves meant +nothing to him. So when Tom told him the envelope contained +the name and address of Miss Nestor, Eradicate needed +nothing more. + +<P> +He rummaged about in some odds and ends in the corner of +the laboratory, and brought out a strong, wooden box, which +had a cover that screwed down. + +<P> +"Dat'll be de ticket!" Eradicate exclaimed. "De mahogany +present will jest fit." Eradicate took some excelsior to pad +the box, and then, dropping inside it the gift, already +wrapped in tissue paper, he proceeded to screw on the cover. + +<P> +There was something printed in red letters on the outside +box, but Eradicate could not read, so it did not trouble +him. + +<P> +"Dat Miss Nestor shore will laik her present," he +murmured. "An' I'll be mighty keerful ob it' laik Massa Tom +tole me. He wouldn't trust dat big lummox Koku wif anyt'ing +laik dis." + +<P> +Screwing on the cover, and putting a piece of wrapping +paper outside the rough, wooden box, with the letter in his +hand, Eradicate, full of his own importance, set off for +Miss Nestor's house. Tom had not returned from the +telephone, over which he was talking to Mr. Titus. + +<P> +The message was an important one. The contractor said he +had received word from his brother in Peru that his presence +was urgently needed there. + +<P> +"Could you arrange to get off sooner than we planned, +Tom?" asked Mr. Titus. "I am afraid something has happened +down there. Have you sent the first shipment of explosive?" + +<P> +"Yes, that went three days ago. It ought to arrive at Lima +soon after we do. Why yes, I can start to-night if we have +to. I'll find out if Mr. Damon can be with us on such short +notice." + +<P> +"I wish you would," came from Mr. Titus. "And say, Tom, do +you think you could take that giant Koku with you?" + +<P> +"Why?" + +<P> +"Well, I think he'd come in handy. There are some pretty +rough characters in those Andes Mountains, and your big +friend might be useful." + +<P> +"All right. I was thinking of it, anyhow. Glad you +mentioned it. Now I'll call up Mr. Damon, and I'll let you +know, in an hour or so, if he can make it." + +<P> +"Bless my hair brush, yes, Tom!" exclaimed the eccentric +man, when told of the change in plans. "I can leave +to-night as well as not." + +<P> +Word to this effect was sent on to Mr. Titus, and then +began some hurrying on the part of Tom Swift. He told Koku +to get ready to leave for New York at once, where he and the +giant would join Mr. Titus and Mr. Damon, and start across +the continent to take for steamer for Lima, Peru. + +<P> +"Rad, did you send that present to Miss Nestor?" asked +Tom, later, as he finished packing his grip. + +<P> +"Yas, sah. I done did it. Took it mase'f!" + +<P> +"That's good! I guess I'll have to say good-bye to Mary +over the telephone. I won't have time to call. I'm glad I +thought of the present." + +<P> +Tom got the Nestor house on the wire. But Mary was not in. + +<P> +"There's a package here for her," said the girl's +mother. "Did you--?" + +<P> +"Yes, I sent that," Tom said. "Sorry I won't he able to +call and say good-bye, but I'm in a terrible rush. I'll see +her as soon as I get back, and I'll write as soon as I +arrive." + +<P> +"Do," urged Mrs. Nestor. "We'll all be glad to hear from +you," for Tom and Mary were tentatively engaged to be +married. + +<P> +Tom and Koku went on with their hurried preparations to +leave for New York. Eradicate begged to be taken along, but +Tom gently told the faithful old servant that it was out of +the question. + +<P> +"Besides, Rad," he said, "it's dangerous in those Andes +Mountains. Why, they have birds there, as big as cows, and +they can swoop down and carry off a man your size." + +<P> +"Am dat shorely so, Massa Tom?" + +<P> +"Of course it is! You get the dictionary and read about +the condors of the Andes Mountains." + +<P> +"Dat's what I'll do, Massa Tom. Birds as big as cows what +kin pick up a man in dere beaks, an' carry him off! Oh, my! +No, sah, Massa Tom! I don't want t' go. I'll stay right +yeah!" + +<P> +Shortly before Tom and Koku departed for the railroad +station, where they were to take a train for New York, Mary +Nestor returned home. + +<P> +"Tom called you on the telephone to say good-bye," her +mother informed her, "and said he was sorry he could not see +you. But he sent some sort of gift." + +<P> +"Oh, how sweet of him!" Mary exclaimed. "Where is it?" + +<P> +"On the dining room table. Eradicate brought it with a +note." + +<P> +Mary read the note first. + +<P> +In it Tom begged Mary to accept the little token, and to +think of him when she used it. + +<P> +"Oh! I wonder what it can be," she cried in delight. + +<P> +"Better open it and see," advised Mr. Nestor, who had come +in at that moment. + +<P> +Mary cut the string of the outside paper, and folded back +the wrapper. A wooden box was exposed to view, a solid, +oblong, wooden box, and on the top, in bold, red letters +Mary, her father and her mother read: + +<P> +<i>Dynamite! Handle With Care!</i> + + +<P> +"Oh! Oh!" murmured Mrs. Nestor. + +<P> +"Dynamite! Handle with care!" repeated Mr. Nestor, in a +sort of dazed voice. "Quick! Get a pail of water! Dump it in +the bathtub! Soak it good, and then telephone for the +police. Dynamite! What does this mean?" + +<P> +He rushed toward the kitchen, evidently with the intention +of getting a pail of water, but Mary clasped him by the arm. + +<P> +"Father!" she exclaimed. "Don't get so excited!" + +<P> +"Excited!" he cried. "Who's excited? Dynamite! We'll all +be blown up! This is some plot! I don't believe Tom sent +this at all! Look out! Call the police! Excited! Who's +getting excited?" + +<P> +"You are, Daddy dear!" said Mary calmly. "This is some +mistake. Tom did send this--I know his writing. And wasn't +it Eradicate who brought this package, Mother?" + +<P> +"Yes, my dear. But your father is right. Let him put it in +water, then it will be safe. Oh, we'll all be blown up. Get +the water!" + +<P> +"No!" cried Mary. "There is some mistake. Tom wouldn't +send me dynamite. There must be a present for me in there. +Tom must have put it in the wrong box by mistake. I'm going +to open it." + +<P> +Mary's calmness had its effect on her parents. Mr. Nestor +cooled down, as did his wife, and a closer examination of +the outer box did not seem to show that it was an infernal +machine of any kind. + +<P> +"It's all a mistake, Daddy," Mary said. "I'll show you. +Get me a screw driver." + +<P> +After some delay one was found, and Mr. Nestor himself +opened the box. When the tissue paper wrappings of the +mahogany gift were revealed he gave a sigh of relief, and +when Mary undid the wrappings, and saw what Tom had sent +her, she cried: + +<P> +"Oh, how perfectly dear! Just what I wanted! I wonder how +he knew? Oh, I just love it!" and she hugged the beautiful +box in her arms. + +<P> +"Humph!" exclaimed Mr. Nestor, a slowly gathering light of +anger showing in his eyes. "It is a nice present, but that +is a very poor sort of joke to play, in my estimation." + +<P> +"Joke! What joke?" asked Mary. + +<P> +"Putting a present in a box labeled Dynamite, and giving +us such a scare," went on her father. + +<P> +"Oh, Father, I'm sure he didn't mean to do it!" Mary said, +earnestly. + +<P> +"Well, maybe he didn't! He may have thought it a joke, and +he may not have! But, at any rate, it was a piece of gross +carelessness on his part, and I don't care to consider for a +son-in-law a young man as careless as that!" + +<P> +"Oh, Daddy!" expostulated Mary. + +<P> +"Now, now! Tut, tut!" exclaimed Mr. Nestor. "It isn't your +fault, Mary, but this Tom Swift must be taught a lesson. He +was careless, if nothing worse, and, for all he knew, there +might have been some stray bits of dynamite in that packing +box. It won't do! It won't do! I'll write him a letter, and +give him a piece of my mind!" + +<P> +And in spite of all his wife and his daughter could say, +Mr. Nestor did write Tom a scathing letter. He accused him +of either perpetrating a joke, or of being careless, or +both, and he intimated that the less he saw of Tom at the +Nestor home hereafter the better pleased he would be. + +<P> +"There! I guess that will make him wish he hadn't done +it!" exclaimed Mr. Nestor, as he called a messenger and sent +the letter to Tom's house. + +<P> +Mary and her mother did not know the contents of the +note, but Mary tried to get Tom on the wire and explain. +However, she was unable to reach him, as Tom was on the +point of leaving. + +<P> +The messenger, with Mr. Nestor's letter, arrived just as +our hero was receiving the late afternoon mail from the +postman, and just as Tom and Koku were getting in an +automobile to leave for the depot. + +<P> +"Good-bye, Dad!" Tom called. "Good-bye, Mrs. Baggert!" He +thrust Mr. Nestor's letter, unopened, together with some +other mail matter, which he took to be merely circulars, +into an inner pocket, and jumped into the car. + +<P> +Tom and Koku were off on the first stage of their journey. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="VII"></A> +<H3>Chapter VII Off for Peru</H3> + + + +<P> +"Well, Tom Swift, you're on time I see," was Mr. Job +Titus' greeting, when our hero, and Koku, the giant, +alighted from a taxicab in New York, in front of the hotel +the contractor had appointed as a meeting place. + +<P> +"Yes, I'm here." + +<P> +"Did you have a good trip?" + +<P> +"Oh, all right, yes. Nothing happened to speak of, though +we were delayed by a freight wreck. Has Mr. Damon got here +yet?" + +<P> +"Not yet, Tom. But I had a message saying he was on his +way. Come on up to the rooms I have engaged. Hello, what's +all the crowd here for?" asked the contractor in some +surprise, for a throng had gathered at the hotel entrance. + +<P> +"I expect it's Koku they're staring at," announced Tom, +and the giant it was who had attracted the attention. He +was carrying his own big valise, and a small steamer trunk +belonging to Tom, as easily as though they weighed nothing, +the trunk being under one arm. + +<P> +"I guess they don't see men of his size outside of +circuses," commented the contractor. "We can pretty nearly, +though not quite match him, down in Peru though, Tom. Some +of the Indians are big fellows." + +<P> +"We'll get up a wrestling match between one of them and +Koku," suggested Tom. "Come on!" he called to the giant, who +was surrounded by a crowd. + +<P> +Koku pushed his way through as easily as a bull might make +his way through a throng of puppies about his heels, and as +Tom, Mr. Titus and the giant were entering the hotel +corridor, the chauffeur of the taxicab called out with a +laugh: + +<P> +"I say, boss, don't you think you ought to pay double +rates on that chap," and he nodded in the direction of the +giant. + +<P> +"That's right!" added some one in the crowd with a laugh. +"He might have broken the springs." + +<P> +"All right," assented Tom, good-naturedly, tossing the +chauffeur a coin. "Here you are, have a cigar on the giant." + +<P> +There was more laughter, and even Koku grinned, though it +is doubtful if he knew what about, for he could not +understand much unless Tom spoke to him in a sort of code +they had arranged between them. + +<P> +"Sorry to have hastened your departure," began Mr. Titus +when he and Tom sat in the comfortable hotel rooms, while +Koku stood at a window, looking out at what to him were the +marvelous wonders of the New York streets. + +<P> +"It didn't make any difference," replied the young +inventor. "I was about ready to come anyhow. I just had to +hustle a little," and he thought of how he had had to send +Mary's present to her instead of taking it himself. As yet +he was all unaware of the commotion it had caused. + +<P> +"Did you get the powder shipment off all right?" + +<P> +"Yes, and it will be there almost as soon as we. Other +shipments will follow as we need them. My father will see to +that." + +<P> +"I'm glad you hit on the right kind of powder," went on +the contractor. "I guess I didn't make any mistake in coming +to you, Tom." + +<P> +"Well, I hope not. Of course the explosive worked all +right in experimental charges with samples of the tunnel +rock. It remains to be seen what it will do under actual +conditions, and in big service charges." + +<P> +"Oh, I've no doubt it will work all right." + +<P> +"What time do we leave here?" Tom asked. + +<P> +"At two-thirty this afternoon. We have just time to get a +good dinner and have our baggage transferred to the Chicago +limited. In less than a week we ought to be in San Francisco +and aboard the steamer. I hope Mr. Damon arrives on time." + +<P> +"Oh, you can generally depend on him," said +Tom. "I telephoned him, just before I started +from Shopton, and he said--" + +<P> +"Bless my carpet slippers!" cried a voice outside the +hotel apartment. "But I can find my way all right. I know +the number of the room. No! you needn't take my bag. I can +carry it my self!" + +<P> +"There he is!" laughed Tom, opening the door to disclose +the eccentric gentleman himself, struggling to keep +possession of his valise against the importunities of a +bellboy. + +<P> +"Ah, Tom--Mr. Titus! Glad to see you!" exclaimed Mr. +Damon. "I--I am a little late, I fear--had an accident--wait +until I get my breath," and he sank, panting, into a chair. + +<P> +"Accident?" cried Tom. "Are you--?" + +<P> +"Yes--my taxicab ran into another. Nobody hurt though." + +<P> +"But you're all out of breath," said Mr. Titus. "Did you +run?" + +<P> +"No, but I walked upstairs." + +<P> +"What! Seven flights?" exclaimed Tom. "Weren't the hotel +elevators running?" + +<P> +"Yes, but I don't like them. I'd rather walk. And I did--carried my +valise--bellboy tried to take it away from me every step--here you +are, son--it wasn't the tip I was trying to get out of," and he tossed +the waiting and grinning lad a quarter. + +<P> +"There, I'm better now," went on Mr. Damon, when Tom had +given him a glass of water. "Bless my paper weight! The drug +concern will have to vote me an extra dividend for what I've +gone through. Well, I'm here, anyhow. How is everything?" + +<P> +"Fine!" cried Tom. "We'll soon be off for Peru!" + +<P> +They talked over plans and made sure nothing had been forgotten. Their +railroad tickets had been secured by Mr. Titus so there was nothing +more to do save wait for train-time. + +<P> +"I've never been to Peru," Tom remarked shortly before +lunch. "What sort of country is it?" + +<P> +"Quite a wonderful country," Mr. Titus answered. "I have +been very much interested in it since my brother and I +accepted this tunnel contract. Peru seems to have taken its +name from Peru, a small river on the west coast of Colombia, +where Pizarro landed. The country, geographically, may be +divided into three sections longitudinally. The coast +region is a sandy desert, with here and there rivers flowing +through fertile valleys. The sierra region is the Andes +division, about two hundred and fifty miles in width." + +<P> +"Is that where we're going?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Yes. And beyond the Andes (which in Peru consist of great +chains of mountains, some very high, interspersed with table +lands, rich plains and valleys) there is the montana region +of tropical forests, running down to the valley of the +Amazon." + +<P> +"That sounds interesting," commented Mr. Damon. + +<P> +"It is interesting," declared Mr. Titus. "For it is from +this tropical region that your quinine comes, Mr. Damon, +though you may not have to go there to straighten out your +affairs. I think you can do better bargaining with the +officials in Lima, or near there." + +<P> +"Are there any wild animals in Peru?" Tom inquired. + +<P> +"Well, not many. Of course there are the llamas and +alpacas, which are the beasts of burden--almost like little +camels you might say, though much more gentle. Then there is +the wild vicuna, the fleece of which is made into a sort of +wool, after which a certain kind of cloth is named." + +<P> +"Then there is the taruco, a kind of deer, the viscacha, +which is a big rat, the otoc, a sort of wild dog, or fox, +and the ucumari, a black bear with a white nose. This bear +is often found on lofty mountain tops, but only when driven +there in search of food." + +<P> +"The condors, of course, are big birds of prey in the +Andes. You must have read about them; how they seem to lie +in the upper regions of the air, motionless, until suddenly +they catch sight of some dead animal far down below when +they sweep toward it with the swiftness of the wink. There +is another bird of the vulture variety, with wings of black +and white feathers. The ancient Incas used to decorate their +head dresses with these wing feathers." + +<P> +"Well, I'm glad I'm going to Peru," said Tom. "I never +knew it was such an interesting country. But I don't suppose +we'll have time to see much of it." + +<P> +"Oh, I think you will," commented Mr. Titus. "We don't +always have to work on the tunnel. There are numerous +holidays, or holy-days, which our Indian workers take off, +and we can do nothing without them. I'll see that you have a +chance to do some exploring if you wish." + +<P> +"Good!" exclaimed Tom. "I brought my electric rifle with +me, and I may get a chance to pop over one of those bears +with a white nose. Are they good to eat?" + +<P> +"The Indians eat them, I believe, when they can get them, +but I wouldn't fancy the meat," said the contractor. + +<P> +Luncheon over, the three travelers departed with their +baggage for the Chicago Limited, which left from the +Pennsylvania Station at Twenty-third Street. As usual, Koku +attracted much attention because of his size. + +<P> +The trip to San Francisco was without incident worth +narrating and in due time our friends reached the Golden +Gate where they were to go aboard their steamer. They had to +wait a day, during which time Tom and Mr. Titus made +inquiries regarding the first powder shipment. They had had +unexpected good luck, for the explosive, having been sent on +ahead by fast freight, was awaiting them. + +<P> +"So we can take it with us on the <i>Bellaconda</i>," said, Tom, +naming the vessel on which they were to sail. + +<P> +The powder was safely stowed away, and our friends having +brought their baggage aboard, putting what was wanted on the +voyage in their staterooms, went out on deck to watch the +lines being cast off. + +<P> +A bell clanged and an officer cried: + +<P> +"All ashore that's going ashore!" + +<P> +There were hasty good-byes, a scramble on the part of +those who had come to bid friends farewell, and preparations +were made to haul in the gangplank. + +<P> +Just as the tugs were slowly pushing against the +<i>Bellaconda</i> to get her in motion to move her away from the +wharf, there was a shout down the pier and a taxicab, driven +at reckless speed, dashed up. + +<P> +"Wait a minute! Hold that gangway. I have a passenger for +you!" cried the chauffeur. + +<P> +He pulled up with a screeching of brakes, and a man with a +heavy black beard fairly leaped from the vehicle, running +toward the plank which was all but cast off. + +<P> +"My fare! My fare!" yelled the taxicab driver. + +<P> +"Take it out of that! Keep the change!" cried the bearded +man over his shoulder, tossing a crumpled bill to the +chauffeur. And then, clutching his valise in a firm hand, +the belated passenger rushed up the gangplank just in time +to board the steamer which was moving away from the dock. + +<P> +"Close shave--that," observed Tom. + +<P> +"That's right," assented Mr. Titus. + +<P> +"Well, we're off for Peru!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as the +vessel moved down the bay. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="VIII"></A> +<H3>Chapter VIII The Bearded Man</H3> + + + +<P> +Travel to Tom and Mr. Damon presented no novelties. They +had been on too many voyages over the sea, under the sea and +even in the air above the sea to find anything unusual in +merely taking a trip on a steamer. + +<P> +Mr. Titus, though he admitted he had never been in a +submarine or airship, had done considerable traveling about +the world in his time, and had visited many countries, +either for business or pleasure, so he was an old hand at +it. + +<P> +But to Koku, who, since he had been brought from the land +where Tom Swift had been made captive, had gone about but +little, everything was novel, and he did not know at what to +look first. + +<P> +The giant was interested in the ship, in the water, in the +passengers, in the crew and in the sights to be seen as they +progressed down the harbor. + +<P> +And the big man himself was a source of wonder to all save +his own party. Everywhere he went about the decks, or below, +he was followed by a staring but respectful crowd. Koku +took it all good-naturedly, however, and even consented to +show his great strength by lifting heavy weights. Once when +several sailors were shifting one of the smaller anchors (a +sufficiently heavy one for all that) Koku pushed them aside +with a sweep of his big arm, and, picking up the big "hook," +turned to the second mate and asked: + +<P> +"Where you want him?" + +<P> +"Good land, man!" cried the astonished officer. "You'll +kill yourself!" + +<P> +But Koku carried the anchor where it ought to go, and from +then on he was looked up to with awe and admiration by the +sailors. + +<P> +From San Francisco to Callao, Peru (the latter city being +the seaport of Lima, which is situated inland), is +approximately nine hundred miles. But as the <i>Bellaconda</i> was +a coasting steamer, and would make several stops on her +trip, it would be more than a week before our friends would +land at Callao, then to proceed to Lima, where they expected +to remain a day or so before striking into the interior to +where the tunnel was being bored through the mountain. + +<P> +The first day was spent in getting settled, becoming used +to their new surroundings, finding their places and +neighbors at table, and in making acquaintances. There +were some interesting men and women aboard the <i>Bellaconda</i>, +and Tom Swift, Mr. Damon and Mr. Titus soon made friends +with them. This usually came about through the medium of +Koku, the giant. Persons seeing him would inquire about him, +and when they learned he was Tom Swift's helper it was an +easy topic with which to open conversation. + +<P> +Tom told, modestly enough, how he had come to get Koku in +his escape from captivity, but Mr. Damon was not so simple +in describing Tom's feats, so that before many days had +passed our hero found himself regarded as a personage of +considerable importance, which was not at all to his liking. + +<P> +"But bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon, when Tom +objected to so much notoriety. "You did it all; didn't you?" + +<P> +"Yes, I know. But these people won't believe it." + +<P> +"Oh, yes they will!" said the odd man. "I'll take good +care that they believe it." + +<P> +"If any one say it not so, you tell me!" broke Koku, +shaking his huge fist. + +<P> +"No, I guess I'd better keep still," said Tom, with a +laugh. + +<P> +The weather was pleasant, if we except a shower or two, +and as the vessel proceeded south, tropical clothing became +the order of the day, while all who could, spent most of +their time on deck under the shade of awnings. + +<P> +"Did you ever hear anything more of that fellow, +Waddington?" asked Tom of Mr. Titus one day. + +<P> +"Not a thing. He seems to have dropped out of sight." + +<P> +"And are your rivals, Blakeson & Grinder, making any +trouble?" + +<P> +"Not that I've heard of. Though just what the situation +may be down in Peru I don't know. I fancy everything isn't +going just right or my brother would not be so anxious for +me to come on in such a hurry." + +<P> +"Do you anticipate any real trouble?" + +<P> +Mr. Titus paused a moment before answering. + +<P> +"Well, yes," he said, finally, "I do!" + +<P> +"What sort?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"That I can't say. I'll be perfectly frank with you, Tom. +You know I told you at the time that we were in for +difficulties. I didn't want you to go into this thing +blindly." + +<P> +"Oh, I'm not afraid of trouble," Tom hastened to assure +his friend. "I've had more or less of it in my life, and I'm +willing to meet it again. Only I like to know what kind it +is." + +<P> +"Well, I can't tell you--exactly," went an the tunnel +contractor. "Those rivals of ours, Blakeson & Grinder, are +unscrupulous fellows. They feel very bitter about not +getting the contract, I hear. And they would be only too +glad to have us fail in the work. That would mean that they, +as the next lowest bidders, would be given the job. And we +would have to make up the difference out of our pockets, as +well as lose all the work we have, so far, put on the +tunnel." + +<P> +"And you don't want that to happen!" + +<P> +"I guess not, my boy! Well, it won't happen if we get +there in time with this new explosive of yours. That will do +the business I'm sure." + +<P> +"I hope so," murmured Tom. "Well, we'll soon see. And now +I think I'll go and write a few letters. We are going to put +in at Panama, and I can mail them there." + +<P> +Tom started for his stateroom, and rapidly put his hand in +the inner pocket of his coat. He drew out a bundle of +letters and papers, and, as he looked at them, a cry of +astonishment came from his lips. + +<P> +"What's the matter?" asked Mr. Titus. + +<P> +"Matter!" cried Tom. "Why here's a letter from Mary--from +Mr. Nestor," he went on, as he scanned the familiar +handwriting. "I never opened it! Let's see--when did I get +that?" + +<P> +His memory went back to the day of his departure from +Shopton when he had sent Mary the gift, and he recalled that +the letter had arrived just as he was getting into the +automobile. + +<P> +"I stuck it in my pocket with some other mail," he mused, +"and I never thought of it again until just now. But this is +the first time I've worn this coat since that day. A letter +from Mr. Nestor! Probably Mary wrote, thanking me for the +box, and her father addressed the envelope for her. Well, +let's see what it says." + +<P> +Tom retired to the privacy of his stateroom to read the +note, but he had not glanced over more than the first half +of it before he cried out: + +<P> +"Dynamite! Great Scott! What does this mean? 'Gross +carelessness! Poor idea of a joke! No person with your idea +of responsibility will ever be my son-in-law!' Box labeled +'open with care!' Why--why--what does it all mean?" + +<P> +Tom read the letter over again, and his murmurs of +astonishment were so loud that Mr. Damon, in the next room, +called out: + +<P> +"What's the matter, Tom? Get bad news?" + +<P> +"Bad news? I should say so! Mary--her father--he forbids +me to see her again. Says I tried to dynamite them all--or +at least scare them into believing I was going to. I can't +understand it!" + +<P> +"Tell me about it, Tom," suggested Mr. Damon, coming into +Tom's stateroom. "Bless my gunpowder keg! what does it +mean?" + +<P> +Thereupon Tom told of having purchased the gift for Mary, +and of having, at the last minute, told Eradicate to put it +in a box and deliver it at the Nestor home. + +<P> +"Which he evidently did," Tom went on, "but when it got +there Mary's present was in a box labeled 'Dynamite. Handle +with care.' I never sent that." + +<P> +Mr. Damon read over Mr. Nestor's letter which had lain so +long in Tom's pocket unopened. + +<P> +"I think I see how it happened," said the old man. +"Eradicate can't read; can he, Tom?" + +<P> +"No, but he pretends he can." + +<P> +"And did you have any empty boxes marked dynamite in your +laboratory?" + +<P> +"Why yes, I believe I did. I used dynamite as one of the +ingredients of my new explosive." + +<P> +"Well then, it's as clear as daylight. Eradicate, being +unable to read, took one of the empty dynamite boxes in +which to pack Mary's present. That's how it happened." + +<P> +Tom thought for a moment. Then he burst into a laugh. + +<P> +"That's it," he said, a bit ruefully. "That's the +explanation. No wonder Mr. Nestor was roiled. He thought I +was playing a joke. I'll have to explain. But how?" + +<P> +"By letter," said Mr. Damon. + +<P> +"Too slow. I'll send a wireless," decided Tom, and he +began the composition of a message that cost him +considerable in tolls before he had hit on the explanation +that suited him. + +<P> +"That ought to clear the atmosphere," he said when the +wireless had shot his message into the ether. "Whew! And to +think, all this while, Mary and her folks have believed that +I tried to play a miserable joke on them! My! My! I wonder +if they'll ever forgive me. When I get hold of Eradicate--" + +<P> +"Better teach him to read if he's going to do up love +packages," interrupted Mr. Damon, dryly. + +<P> +"I will," decided the young inventor. + +<P> +The <i>Bellaconda</i> stopped at Panama and then kept on her way +south. Soon after that she ran into a severe tropical storm, +and for a time there was some excitement among the +passengers. The more timid of them put on life preservers, +though the captain and his officers assured them there was +no danger. + +<P> +Tom and Mr. Titus, descending from the deck, whence they +had been warned by one of the mates, were on their way to +their stateroom, walking with some difficulty owing to the +roll of the ship. + +<P> +As they approached their quarters the door of a stateroom +farther up the passage opened, and a head was thrust out. + +<P> +"Will you send a steward to me?" a man requested. "I am +feeling very ill, and need assistance." + +<P> +"Certainly," Tom answered, and at that moment he heard Mr. +Titus utter an exclamation. + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Tom, for the man who had appealed for +help, had withdrawn his head. + +<P> +"That--that man!" exclaimed the contractor. "That was +Waddington, the tool of our rivals." + +<P> +"Waddington!" repeated Tom, with a look at the now closed +door. "Why, the bearded man has that stateroom--the bearded +man who so nearly lost the steamer. He isn't Waddington!" + +<P> +"And I tell you Waddington is in that room!" insisted the +contractor. "I only saw the upper part of his face, but I'd +know his eyes anywhere. Waddington is spying on us!" + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="IX"></A> +<H3>Chapter IX The Bomb</H3> + + + +<P> +Tom Swift and Mr. Titus withdrew a little way down the +corridor, around a bulkhead and out of sight of any one who +might look out from the stateroom whence had come the appeal +for help. But, at the same time, they could keep watch over +it. + +<P> +"I tell you Waddington is in there!" insisted Mr. Titus, +hoarsely whispering. + +<P> +"Well, perhaps he may be," admitted Tom. "But several +times I have seen the bearded man going in there, and it's +only a single stateroom, for it's so marked on the deck +plan." + +<P> +"Waddington might be disguised with a false beard, Tom." + +<P> +"Yes, he might. But did the man who just now looked out +have a beard?" + +<P> +"I couldn't tell, as I saw only the upper part of his +face. But those were Waddington's shifty eyes, I'm +positive." + +<P> +"If Waddington were on board don't you suppose you would +have seen him before this?" + +<P> +"Not positively, no. If he and the bearded man are one and +the same that would account for it. But I haven't noticed +the bearded man once since he came aboard in such a hurry." + +<P> +"Nor have I, now that I come to think of it," Tom +admitted. "However, there is an easy way to prove who is in +there." + +<P> +"How?" + +<P> +"We'll knock on the door and go in." + +<P> +"Perhaps he won't let us." + +<P> +"He'll think it's the steward he called for. Come, you +know Waddington better than I do. You knock and go in." + +<P> +"I don't know Waddington very well," admitted the +contractor. "I have only seen him a few times, but I am +sure that was he. But what shall I do when he sees I'm not +the steward?" + +<P> +"Tell him you have sent for one. I'll go with the message, +so it will be true enough. Even if you have only a momentary +glance at him in close quarters you ought to be able to tell +whether or not he has on a false beard, and whether or not +it is Waddington." + +<P> +Mr. Titus considered for a moment, and then he said: + +<P> +"Yes, I guess that is a good plan. You go for the steward, +Tom, and I'll see if I can get in that stateroom. But I'm +sure I'm not mistaken. I'll find Waddington in there, +perhaps in the person of the bearded man, disguised. Or else +they are using a single stateroom as a double one." And +while Tom went off down the pitching and rolling corridor to +find a steward, Mr. Titus, not without some apprehension, +advanced to knock on the door of the suspect. + +<P> +"If it is Waddington he'll know me at once, of course," +thought the contractor, "and there may be a row. Well, I +can't help it. The success of my brother and myself depends +on finishing that tunnel, and we can't have Waddington, and +those whose tool he is, interfering. Here goes!" + +<P> +He tapped on the door, and a faint voice called: + +<P> +"Come in!" + +<P> +The contractor entered, and saw the bearded man lying in +his berth. + +<P> +"Is there anything I can do for you?" asked the +contractor, bending close over the man. He wanted to see if +the beard were false. Somewhat to his surprise the +contractor saw that undoubtedly it was real. + +<P> +"Steward, will you kindly get me--Oh, you're not the +steward!" the bearded man exclaimed. + +<P> +"No, my friend and I heard you call," replied the +contractor. "He has gone for the steward, who will be here +soon. Can I do anything for you in the meanwhile?" + +<P> +"No--not a thing!" was the rather snappish answer, and the +man turned his face away. "I beg your pardon," he went on, +as if conscious that he had acted rudely, "but I am +suffering very much. The steward knows just what I want. I +have had these attacks before. I am a poor sailor. If you +will send the steward to me I will be obliged to you. He can +fix me up." + +<P> +"Very well," assented Mr. Titus. "But if there is anything +I can do --" + +<P> +At that moment footsteps and voices were heard in the +corridor, and as the door of the bearded man's stateroom was +opened, Mr. Titus had a glimpse of Tom and one of the +stewards. + +<P> +"Yes, I'll look after him," the steward said "He's been +this way before. Thank you, sir, for calling me." + +<P> +"I guess the steward has been well tipped," thought Tom. +As Mr. Titus came out and the door was shut, the young +inventor asked in a whisper, + +<P> +"Well, was it he?" + +<P> +The contractor shook his head. + +<P> +"No," he answered. "I never was more surprised in my life. +I felt sure 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." + +<P> +"Where?" Tom inquired. + +<P> +"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. + +<P> +"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." + +<P> +"Better not mention the fact of the explosives on board," +suggested Mr. Titus. + +<P> +"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." + +<P> +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. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"And there's no trace of Waddington?" asked Tom of Mr. +Titus, as they were discussing matters in their stateroom +one day. + +<P> +"Not a trace. He seems to have dropped out of sight, and +I'm glad of it." + +<P> +"Perhaps Blakeson & Grinder have given up the fight +against you." + +<P> +"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." + +<P> +The storm blew itself out. The <i>Bellaconda</i> "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. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +Senor Pinto had recovered from his seasickness, the +steward told Tom and Mr. Titus, but still he kept to his +stateroom. + +<P> +It was when the <i>Bellaconda</i> 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: + + +<P> +"Have information from New York office that rivals are +after you. Look out for explosive." + +<P> +"What does that mean?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"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." + +<P> +"Why?" Tom demanded. + +<P> +"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?" + +<P> +"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 taken out of the +hold, though." + +<P> +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. + +<P> +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: + +<P> +"It a bomb!" + +<P> +He darted toward it, but Mr. Titus pulled him back. + +<P> +"Run!" yelled the contractor. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"Look out!" yelled Mr. Titus, crouching low. "That's an +explosive bomb! Toss it overboard!" + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="X"></A> +<H3>Chapter X Professor Bumper</H3> + + + +<P> +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. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +For a moment neither Tom nor Mr. Titus could speak. They +felt an inexpressible sense of relief. Then Tom managed to +gasp out: + +<P> +"You--you saved our lives!" + +<P> +The little man who had stepped on the fuse, and had then +torn it from the bomb, looked at the object in his hand as +though it were the most natural thing in the world to pick +explosives up off the deck of passenger steamers, as he +remarked: + +<P> +"Well, perhaps I did. Yes, I think it would have gone off +in another second or two. Rather curious; isn't it?" + +<P> +"Curious? Curious!" asked and exclaimed Mr. Titus. + +<P> +"Why, yes," went on the little man, in the most matter of +fact tone. "You see, most explosive bombs are round, made +that way so the force will be equal in all directions. But +this one, you notice, has a bulge, or protuberance, on one +side, so to speak. Very curious!" + +<P> +"It might have been made that way to prevent its rolling +overboard, or the bomb's walls might be weaker near that +bulge to make sure that the force of the explosion would be +in that direction. And the bulge was pointed toward you +gentlemen, if you noticed." + +<P> +"I should say I did!" cried Mr. Titus. "My dear sir, you +have put us under a heavy debt to you! You saved our lives! +I--I am in no frame of mind to thank you now, but--" + +<P> +He strode over to the little man, holding out his hand. + +<P> +"No, no, I'd better keep it," went on the person who had +rendered the bomb ineffective. "You might drop it you know. +You are nervous--your hand shakes." + +<P> +"I want to shake hands with you!" exclaimed Mr. Titus--"to thank you!" + +<P> +"Oh, that's it. I thought you wanted the bomb. Shake +hands? Certainly!" + +<P> +And while this ceremony was being gone through with, Tom +had a moment to study the appearance of the man who had +saved their lives. He had seen the passenger once or twice +before, but had taken no special notice of him. Now he had +good reason to observe him. + +<P> +Tom beheld a little, thin man, little in the sense of +being of the "bean pole" construction. His head was as bald +as a billiard ball, as the young inventor could notice when +the stranger took off his hat to bow formally in response to +the greeting of some ladies who passed, while Mr. Titus was +shaking hands with him. + +<P> +The bald head was sunk down between two high shoulders, +and when the owner wished to observe anything closely, as he +was now observing the bomb, the head was thrust forward +somewhat as an eagle might do. And Tom noticed that the +eyes of the little man were as bright as those of an eagle. +Nothing seemed to escape them. + +<P> +"I want to add my thanks to those of Mr. Titus for saving +our lives," said Tom, as he advanced. "We don't know what to +make of it all, but you certainly stopped that bomb from +going off." + +<P> +"Yes, perhaps I did," admitted the little man coolly and +calmly, as though preventing bomb explosions was his daily +exercise before breakfast. + +<P> +Tom and Mr. Titus introduced themselves by name. + +<P> +"I am Professor Swyington Bumper," said the bomb-holder, +with a bow, removing his hat, and again disclosing his shiny +bald head. "I am very glad to have met you indeed." + +<P> +"And we are more than glad," said Tom, fervently, as he +glanced at the explosive. + +<P> +"Now that the danger is over," went on Mr. Titus, "suppose +we make an investigation, and find out how this bomb came to +be here." + +<P> +"Just what I was about to suggest," remarked Professor +Bumper. "Bombs, such as this, do not sprout of themselves on +bare decks. And I take it this one is explosive." + +<P> +"Let me look at it," suggested Tom. "I know something of +explosives." + +<P> +It needed but a casual examination on the part of one who +had done considerable experimenting with explosives to +disclose the fact that it had every characteristic of a +dangerous bomb. Only the pulling out of the fuse had +rendered it harmless. + +<P> +"If it had gone off," said Tom, "we would both have been +killed, or, at least, badly injured, Mr. Titus." + +<P> +"I believe you, Tom. And we owe our lives to Professor +Bumper." + +<P> +"I'm glad I could be of service, gentlemen," the scientist +remarked, in an easy tone. "Explosives are out of my line, +but I guessed it was rather dangerous to let this go off. +Have you any idea how it got here?" + +<P> +"Not in the least," said Tom. "But some one must have +placed it here, or dropped it behind us." + +<P> +"Would any one have an object in doing such a thing?" the +professor asked. + +<P> +Tom and Mr. Titus looked at one another. + +<P> +"Waddington!" murmured the contractor. "If he were on +board I should say he might have done it to get us out of +the way, though I would not go so far as to say he meant to +kill us. It may be this bomb has only a light charge in it, +and he only meant to cripple us." + +<P> +"We'll find out about that," said Tom. "I'll open it." + +<P> +"Better be careful," urged Mr. Titus. + +<P> +"I will," the young inventor promised. "I beg your +pardon," he went on to Professor Bumper. "We have been +talking about something of which you know nothing. Briefly, +there is a certain man who is trying to interfere in some +work in which Mr. Titus and I are interested, and we think, +if he were on board, he might have placed this bomb where it +would injure us." + +<P> +"Is he here?" asked the professor. + +<P> +"No. And that is what makes it all the more strange," said +Mr. Titus. "At one time I thought he was here, but I was +mistaken." + +<P> +Tom took the now harmless bomb to his stateroom, and +there, after taking the infernal machine apart, he +discovered that it was not as dangerous as he had at first +believed. + +<P> +The bomb contained no missiles, and though it held a +quantity of explosive, it was of a slow burning kind. Had it +gone off it would have sent out a sheet of flame that would +have severely burned him and Mr. Titus, but unless +complications had set in death would not have resulted. + +<P> +"They just wanted to disable us," said the contractor. +"That was their game. Tom, who did it?" + +<P> +"I don't know. Did you ever see this Professor Bumper +before?" + +<P> +"I never did." + +<P> +"And did it strike you as curious that he should happen to +be so near at hand when the bomb fell behind us?" + +<P> +"I hadn't thought of that," admitted the contractor. "Do +you mean that he might have dropped it himself?" + +<P> +"Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that," replied Tom, +slowly. "But I think it would be a good idea to find out +all we can of Professor Swyington Bumper." + +<P> +"I agree with you, Tom. We'll investigate him." + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XI"></A> +<H3>Chapter XI In the Andes</H3> + + + +<P> +Professor Swyington Bumper seemed to live in a region all +by himself. Though he was on board the <i>Bellaconda</i>, he might +just as well have been in an airship, or riding along on the +back of a donkey, as far as his knowledge, or recognition, +of his surroundings went. He seemed to be thinking thoughts +far, far away, and he was never without a book--either a +bound volume or a note-book. In the former he buried his +hawk-like nose, and Tom, looking over his shoulder once, saw +that the book was printed in curious characters, which, +later, he learned were Sanskrit. If he had a note-book the +bald-headed professor was continually jotting down memoranda +in it. + +<P> +"I can hardly think of him as a conspirator against us," +said Tom to Mr. Titus. + +<P> +"After you have been in the contracting business as long +as I have you'll distrust every one," was the answer. +"Waddington isn't on board, or I'd distrust him. That +Spaniard, Senor Pinto, seems to be out of consideration, and +there only remains the professor. We must watch him." + +<P> +But Professor Bumper proved to be above suspicion. +Carefully guarded inquiries made of the captain, the purser +and other ships' officers, brought out the fact that he was +well known to all of them, having traveled on the line +before. + +<P> +"He is making a search for something, but he won't say +what it is," the captain said. "At first we thought it was +gold or jewels, for he goes away off into the Andes +Mountains, where both gold and jewels have been found. He +never looks for treasure, though, for though some of his +party have made rather rich discoveries, he takes no +interest in them." + +<P> +"What is he after then?" asked Mr. Titus. + +<P> +"No one knows, and he won't tell. But whatever it is he +has never found it yet. Always, when he comes back, +unsuccessful, from a trip to the interior and goes back +North with us, he will remark that he has not the right +directions. That he must seek again." + +<P> +"Back he comes next season, as full of hope as before, but +only to be disappointed. Each time he goes to a new place in +the mountains where he digs and delves, so members of the +parties he hires tell me, but with no success. He carries +with him something in a small iron box, and, whatever this +is, he consults it from time to time. It may be directions +for finding whatever he is after. But there seems to be +something wrong." + +<P> +"This is quite a mystery," remarked Tom. + +<P> +"It certainly is. But Professor Bumper is a fine man. I +have known him for years." + +<P> +"This seems to dispose of the theory that he planted the +bomb, and that he is one of the plotters in the pay of +Blakeson & Grinder," said Mr. Titus, when he and Tom were +alone. + +<P> +"Yes, I guess it does. But who can have done it?" + +<P> +That was a question neither could answer. + +<P> +Tom had a theory, which he did not disclose to Mr. Titus, +that, after all, the somewhat mysterious Senor Pinto might, +in some way, be mixed up in the bomb attempt. But a close +questioning of the steward on duty near the foreigner's +cabin at the time disclosed the fact that Pinto had been ill +in his berth all that day. + +<P> +"Well, unless the bomb fell from some passing airship, I +don't see how it got on deck," said Tom with a shake of his +head. "And I'm sure no airship passed over us." + +<P> +They had kept the matter secret, not telling even Mr. +Damon, for they feared the eccentric man would make a fuss +and alarm the whole vessel. So Mr. Damon, occasionally +blessing his necktie or his shoe laces, played chess with +his elderly gentleman friend and was perfectly happy. + +<P> +That Professor Bumper not only had kept his promise about +not mentioning the bomb, but that he had forgotten all about +it, was evident a day or two after the happening. Tom and +Mr. Titus passed him on deck, and bowed cordially. The +professor returned the salutation, but looked at the two in +a puzzled sort of fashion. + +<P> +"I beg your pardon," he remarked, "but your faces are +familiar, though I cannot recall your names. Haven't I seen +you before?" + +<P> +"You have," said Tom, with a smile. "You saved our lives +from a bomb the other day." + +<P> +"Oh, yes! So I did! So I did!" exclaimed Professor Bumper. +"I felt sure I had seen you before. Are you all right?" + +<P> +"Yes. There haven't been any more bombs thrown at us," the +contractor said. "By the way, Professor Bumper, I understand +you are quite a traveler in the Andes, in the vicinity of +Lima." + +<P> +"Yes, I have been there," admitted the bald-headed +scientist in guarded tones. + +<P> +"Well, I am digging a tunnel in that vicinity," went on +Mr. Titus, "and if you ever get near Rimac, where the first +cutting is made, I wish you would come and see me--Tom too, +as he is associated with me." + +<P> +"Rimac-Rimac," murmured the professor, looking sharply at +the contractor. "Digging a tunnel there? Why are you doing +that?" and he seemed to resent the idea. + +<P> +"Why, the Peruvian government engaged me to do it to +connect the two railroad lines," was the answer. "Do you +know anything about the place?" + +<P> +"Not so much as I hope to later on," was the unexpected +answer. "As it happens I am going to Rimac, and I may visit +your tunnel." + +<P> +"I wish you would," returned Mr. Titus. + +<P> +Later on, in their stateroom, the contractor remarked to +the young inventor: + +<P> +"Sort of queer; isn't it?" + +<P> +"What?" asked Tom. "His not remembering us?" + +<P> +"No, though that was odd. But I suppose he is forgetful, +or pretends to be. I mean it's queer he is going to Rimac." + +<P> +"What do you mean?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Well, I don't know exactly what I mean," went on the +tunnel contractor, "but our tunnel happens to start at +Rimac, which is a small town at the base of the mountains." + +<P> +"Maybe the professor is a geologist," suggested Tom, "and +he may want to get some samples of that hard rock." + +<P> +"Maybe," admitted Mr. Titus. "But I shall keep my eyes on +him all the same. I'm not going to have any strangers, who +happen to be around when bombs drop near us, get into my +tunnel." + +<P> +"I think you're wrong to doubt Professor Bumper," Tom +said. + +<P> +A few days after this, when Tom and Mr. Titus were +casually discussing the weather on deck and wondering how +much longer it would be before they reached Callao, Mr. +Damon, who had been playing numberless games of chess, came +up for a breath of air. + +<P> +"Mr. Damon," called Tom, "come over here and meet a friend +of ours, Professor Bumper," and he was about to introduce +them, for the two, as far as Tom knew, had not yet met. But +no sooner had the professor and Mr. Damon caught sight of +each other than there was a look of mutual recognition. + +<P> +"Bless my fountain pen!" cried the eccentric man. "If it +isn't my old friend!" + +<P> +"Mr. Damon!" cried the professor. "I am delighted to see +you again. I did not know you were on board!" + +<P> +"Nor I you. Bless my apple dumpling! Are you still after +those Peruvian antiquities?" + +<P> +"I am, Mr. Damon. But I did not know you were acquainted +with Mr. Swift." + +<P> +"Oh, Tom and I are old friends." + +<P> +"Professor Bumper saved the lives of Mr. Titus and +myself," said Tom, "or at least he saved us from severe +injury by a bomb." + +<P> +"Pray do not mention it, my friends," put in the +professor, casually. "It was nothing." + +<P> +Of course he did not mean it just that way. + +<P> +Then, naturally, Mr. Damon had to be told all about the +bomb for the first time, and his wonder was great. He +blessed everything he could think of. + +<P> +"And to think it should be my old friend, Professor +Bumper, who saved you," said the odd man to Tom and Mr. +Titus later that day. + +<P> +"Do you know him well?" asked Mr. Titus. + +<P> +"Very well indeed. Our drug concern sells him many +chemicals for his experiments." + +<P> +"Well, if you know him I guess he can't be what I thought +he was," the contractor went on. "I'm glad to know it. Why +is he going to the Andes?" + +<P> +"Oh, for many years he has been interested in collecting +Peruvian antiquities. He has a certain theory in regard to +something or other about their ancient civilization, but +just what it is I have, at this moment, forgotten. Only I +know you can thoroughly trust Professor Bumper, for a finer +man never lived, though he is a bit absent-minded at times. +But you will like him very much." + +<P> +Thus the last lingering doubt of Professor Bumper was +removed. Mr. Damon told something of how the scientist had +been honored by degrees from many colleges and was regarded +as an authority on Peruvian matters. + +<P> +But who had placed the bomb on deck remained a mystery. + +<P> +In due time Callao, the seaport of Lima, was reached and +our friends disembarked. Tom saw to the unloading of the +explosive, which was to be sent direct to the tunnel at +Rimac. Mr. Titus, Tom and Mr. Damon would remain in Lima a +day or so. + +<P> +Professor Bumper disembarked with our friends, and stopped +at the same hotel. Tom kept a lookout for Senor Pinto, but +did not see him, and concluded that the Spaniard was ill, +and would be carried ashore on a stretcher, perhaps. + +<P> +Lima, the principal city and capital of Peru, proved an +interesting place. It was about eight miles inland and was +built on an arid plain about five hundred feet above sea +level. Yet, though it was on what might be termed a desert, +the place, by means of irrigation, had been made into a +beauty spot. + +<P> +Tom found the older part of the city was laid out with +mathematical regularity, each street crossing the other at +right angles. But in the new portions there was not this +adherence to straightness. + +<P> +"Bless my transfer! Why, they have electric cars here!" +exclaimed Mr. Damon, catching sight of one on the line +between Callao and the capital. + +<P> +"What did you think they'd have?" asked Mr. Titus, +"elephants or camels?" + +<P> +"I--I didn't just know," was the answer. + +<P> +"Oh, you'll find a deal of civilization here," the +contractor said. "Of course much of the population is negro +or Indian, but they are often rich and able to buy what they +want. There is a population of over 150,000, and there are +two steam railroads between Callao and Lima, while there is +one running into the interior for 130 miles, crossing the +Andes at an elevation of over three miles. It is a branch of +that road, together with a branch of the one running to +Ancon, that I am to connect with a tunnel." + +<P> +Tom found some beautiful churches and cathedrals in Lima, +and spent some time visiting them. He and Mr. Damon also +visited, in the outskirts, the tobacco, cocoa and other +factories. + +<P> +Three days after reaching the capital, Mr. Titus having +attended to some necessary business while Mr. Damon set on +foot matters connected with his affairs, it was decided to +strike inland to Rimac, and to try the effect of Tom Swift's +explosive on the tunnel. + +<P> +The journey was to be made in part by rail, though the +last stages of it were over a rough mountain trail, with +llamas for beasts of burden, while our friends rode mules. + +<P> +As Tom, Mr. Damon, Koku, and Mr. Titus were going to the +railroad station they saw Professor Bumper also leaving the +hotel. + +<P> +"I believe our roads lie together for a time," said the +bald-headed scientist, "and, if you have no objections, I +will accompany you." + +<P> +"Come, and welcome!" exclaimed Mr. Titus, all his +suspicions now gone. + +<P> +"And it may be that you will be able to help me," the +scientist went on. + +<P> +"Help you--how?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"I will tell you when we reach the Andes," was the +mysterious answer. + +<P> +It was a day later when they left the train at a small +station, and struck off into the foothills of the great +Andes Mountains, where the tunnel was started, that the +professor again mentioned his object. + +<P> +"Friends," he said, as he gazed up at the towering cliffs +and crags, "I am searching for the lost city of Pelone, +located somewhere in these mountains. Will you help me to +find it?" + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XII The Tunnel</H3> + + + +<P> +Mr. Damon, of the three who heard Professor Bumper make +this statement, showed the least sign of astonishment. It +would have been more correct to say that he showed none at +all. But Tom could not restrain himself. + +<P> +"The lost city of Pelone!" he exclaimed. + +<P> +"Is it here--in these mountains?" asked Mr. Titus. + +<P> +"I have reason to hope that it is," went on the professor. +"The golden tablets are very vague, but I have tried many +locations, and now I am about to try here. I hope I shall +succeed. At any rate, I shall have agreeable company, which +has not always been my luck on my previous expeditions +seeking to find the lost city." + +<P> +"Oh, Professor, are you still on that quest?" asked Mr. +Damon, in a matter-of-fact tone. + +<P> +"Yes, Mr. Damon, I am. And now that I look about me, and +see the shape of these mountains, I feel that they conform +more to the description on the golden plates than any +location I have yet tried. Somehow I feel that I shall be +successful here." + +<P> +"Did you know Professor Bumper was searching for a lost +city of the Andes?" asked Tom, of his eccentric friend. + +<P> +"Why yes," answered Mr. Damon. "He has been searching for +years to locate it." + +<P> +"Why didn't you tell us?" inquired Mr. Titus. + +<P> +"Why, I never thought of it. Bless my memorandum book! it +never occurred to me. I did not think you would be +interested. Tell them your story, Professor Bumper." + +<P> +"I will soon. Just now I must see to my equipment. The +story will keep." + +<P> +And though Tom and Mr. Titus were both anxious to hear +about the lost city, they, too, had much to do to get ready +for the trip into the interior. + +<P> +The beginning of the tunnel under one of the smaller of +the ranges of the Andes lay two days journey from the end of +the railroad line. And the trip must be made on mules, with +llamas as beasts of burden, transporting the powder and +other supplies. + +<P> +"We'll only need to take enough food with us for the two +days," said Mr. Titus. "We have a regular camp at the tunnel +mouth, and my brother has supplies of grub and other things +constantly coming in. We also have shacks to live in; but on +this trip we will use tents, as the weather at this season +is fine." + +<P> +It was quite a little expedition that set off up the +mountain trail that afternoon, for they had arrived at the +end of the railroad line shortly before dinner, and had +eaten at a rather poor restaurant. + +<P> +Professor Bumper had made up his own exploring party, +consisting of himself and three native Indian diggers with +their picks and shovels. They were to do whatever excavating +he decided was necessary to locate the hidden city. + +<P> +Several mules and llamas, laden with the new explosive, +and burdened with camp equipment and food, and a few Indian +servants made up the cavalcade of Tom, the contractor, Mr. +Damon and Koku. The giant was almost as much a source of +wonder to the Peruvians as he had been on board the ship. +And he was a great help, too. For some of the Indians were +under-sized, and could not lift the heavy boxes and packages +to the backs of the beasts of burden. + +<P> +But Koku, thrusting the little men aside, grasped with one +hand what two of them had tried in vain to lift, and set it +on the back of mule or llama. + +<P> +The way was rough but they took their time to it, for the +trail was an ascending one. Above and beyond them towered +the great Andes, and Tom, gazing up into the sky, which in +places seemed almost pierced by the snow-covered peaks, saw +some small black specks moving about. + +<P> +"Condors," said Mr. Titus, when his attention was called +to them. "Some of them are powerful birds, and they +sometimes pick up a sheep and make off with it, though +usually their food consists of carrion." + +<P> +They went into camp before the sun went down, for it grew +dark soon after sunset, and they wanted to be prepared. +Supper was made ready by the Indian helpers, and when this +was over, and they sat about a camp fire, Tom said: + +<P> +"Now, Professor Bumper, perhaps you'll explain about the +lost city." + +<P> +"I wish I could explain about it," began the scientist. +"For years I have dreamed of finding it, but always I have +been disappointed. Now, perhaps, my luck may change." + +<P> +"Do you think it may be near here?" asked Mr. Titus, +motioning toward the dark and frowning peaks all about them. + +<P> +"It may be. The signs are most encouraging. In brief, the +story of the lost city of Pelone is this. Thousands of years +ago--in fact I do not know how many--there existed somewhere +in Peru an ancient city that was the centre of civilization +for this region. Older it was than the civilization of the +Mexicans--the Montezumas--older and more cultured." + +<P> +"It is many years since I became interested in Peruvian +antiquities, and then I had no idea of the lost city. But +some of the antiques I picked up contained in their +inscriptions references to Pelone. At first I conceived this +to be a sort of god, a deity, or perhaps a powerful ruler. +But as I went on in my work of gathering ancient things from +Peru, I saw that the name Pelone referred to a city--a seat +of government, whence everything had its origin." + +<P> +"Then I got on the track more closely. I examined ancient +documents. I found traces of an ancient language and +writings, different from anything else in the world. I +managed to construct an alphabet and to read some of the +documents. From them I learned that Pelone was a city +situated in some fertile valley of the Andes. It had existed +for thousands of years; it was the seat of learning and +culture. Much light would be thrown on the lives of the +people who lived in Peru before the present races inhabited +it, if I could but locate Pelone." + +<P> +"Then I came across two golden tablets on which were +graven the information that Pelone had utterly vanished." + +<P> +"How?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"The golden tablets did not say. They simply stated the +fact that Pelone was lost, and one sentence read: 'He who +shall find it again shall be richly rewarded.' But it is not +for that that I seek. It is that I may give to the world the +treasures it must contain--the treasures of an ancient +civilization." + +<P> +"And how do you think the city disappeared?" asked Mr. +Titus. + +<P> +"I do not know. Whether it was destroyed by enemies, +whether it was buried under the ashes of a volcano, whether +it still exists, deserted and solitary in some valley amid +the mountain fastnesses of the Andes, I do not know. But I +am certain the city once existed, and it may exist yet, +though it may be in dust-covered ruins. That is what I seek +to find. See! Here are the tablets telling about it. I got +them from an old Peruvian grave." + +<P> +He took from a box two thin sheets of yellow metal. They +were covered with curious marks, but Tom and the others +could make nothing of them. Only Professor Bumper was able +to decipher them. + +<P> +"And that is the story of the lost city of Pelone--as +much as I know," he said. "For years I have sought it. If I +can find it I shall be famous, for I shall have added to +human knowledge." + +<P> +"If the people of that city wrote on golden tablets, the +yellow metal must have been plentiful," commented Mr. Titus. +"You might strike a rich mine." + +<P> +"I have no use for riches," said the professor. + +<P> +"Well, I have," the contractor said, with a laugh. "That's +why I'm putting through this tunnel. And if my brother and I +don't do it we'll be in a bad way financially. We have +struck traces of gold, but not in paying quantities. I +should like to see this lost city of yours, Professor +Bumper. It may contain gold." + +<P> +"You may have all the gold, if I am allowed to keep the +antiquities we find," stipulated the scientist. "Then you +will help me in my search?" + +<P> +"As much as we can spare time for from the tunnel work," +promised Mr. Titus. "I'll instruct my men to keep their eyes +open for any sign of ancient writings on the rocks we blast +out." + +<P> +"Thank you," said the professor. + +<P> +The night passed uneventfully enough, if one excepts the +mosquitoes which seemed to get through the nets, making life +miserable for all. And once Tom thought he heard gruntings +in the bush back of the tent, which noises might, he +imagined, have been caused by a bear. Toward morning he +heard an unearthly screech in the woods, and one of the +Indians, tending the fire, grunted out a word which meant +pumas. + +<P> +"I can see it isn't going to be dull here," Tom mused, as +he turned over and tried to sleep. + +<P> +Breakfast made them all feel better, and they set off on +the final stage of their journey. + +<P> +"If all goes well we'll be at the tunnel entrance and camp +to-night," said the contractor. "This second half of the +trip is the roughest." + +<P> +There was no need of saying that, for it was perfectly +evident. The trail was a most precarious one, and only a +mule or llama could have traveled it. The mules were most +sure-footed, but, as it was, one slipped, and came near +falling over a cliff. + +<P> +But no real accident occurred, and finally, about an hour +before sunset, the cavalcade turned down the slope and +emerged on a level plain, which ended against the face of a +great cliff. + +<P> +As Tom rode nearer the cliff he could make out around it +groups of rude buildings, covered with corrugated iron. +There was quite a settlement it seemed. + +<P> +Then, in the face of the cliff there showed something +black--like a blot of ink, though more regular in outline. + +<P> +"The mouth of the tunnel," said Mr. Titus to Tom. "Come on +over to the office and I'll introduce you to my brother. I +guess he will be glad we've arrived." + +<P> +Tom dismounted from his mule, an example followed by the +others. Professor Bumper gazed up at the great mountains and +murmured: + +<P> +"I wonder if the lost city of Pelone lies among them?" + +<P> +Suddenly the silence of the evening was broken by a dull, +rumbling sound. + +<P> +"Bless my court plaster!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's that?" + +<P> +"A blast," answered Mr. Titus. "But I never knew them to +set off one so late before. I hope nothing is wrong!" + +<P> +And, as he spoke, panic-stricken men began running out of +the mouth of the tunnel, while those outside hastened toward +them, shouting and calling. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XIII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XIII Tom's Explosive</H3> + + + +<P> +"Something has happened!" cried Mr. Titus as he ran +forward, followed by Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku. Professor +Bumper started with them, but on the way he saw a curious +bit of rock which he stopped to pick up and examine. + +<P> +At the entrance of the tunnel, from which came rushing +dirt-stained and powder-blackened men, Mr. Titus was met by +a man who seemed to be in authority. + +<P> +"Hello, Job!" he cried. "Glad you're back. We're in +trouble!" + +<P> +"What's the matter?" was the question. "This is my brother +Walter," he said. "This is Tom Swift and Mr. Damon," thus +hurriedly he introduced them. "What happened, Walter?" + +<P> +"Premature blast. Third one this week. Somebody is working +against us!" + +<P> +"Never mind that now," cried Job Titus. "We must see to +the poor fellows who are hurt." + +<P> +"I guess there aren't many," his brother said. "They were on their way +out when the charge went off. Some more of Blakeson & Grinder's +work, I'll wager!" + +<P> +They were rushing in to the smoke-filled tunnel now, +followed by Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku, who would follow his +young master anywhere. Tom saw that the tunnel was lighted +with incandescent lamps, suspended here and there from the +rocky roof or sides. The electric lights were supplied with +current from a dynamo run by a gasolene engine. + +<P> +"Where is it, Serato? Where was the blast?" asked Walter +Titus, of a tall Indian, who seemed to be in some authority. + +<P> +"Back at second turn," was the answer, in fairly good +English. "I go get beds." + +<P> +"He means stretchers," translated Job. "That's our +Peruvian foreman. A good fellow, but easily scared." + +<P> +They ran on into the tunnel, Tom and Mr. Damon noticing +that a small narrow-gage railroad was laid on the floor, +mules being the motive power to bring out the small dump +cars loaded with rock and dirt, excavated from the big hole. + +<P> +"Mind the turn!" called Job Titus, who was ahead of Tom +and Mr. Damon. "It's rough here." + +<P> +Tom found it so, for he slipped over some pieces of rock, +and would have fallen had not Koku held him up. + +<P> +"Thanks," gasped Tom, as on he ran. + +<P> +A little later he came to a place where a cluster of +electric lights gave better illumination, and he could see +it was there that the damage had been done. + +<P> +A number of men were lying on the dirt and rock floor of +the tunnel, and some of them were bleeding. Others were +staggering about as though shocked or stunned. + +<P> +"We must get the injured ones out of here!" cried Walter +Titus. "Where are the men with stretchers?" + +<P> +"I sint that Spalapeen Serato for thim!" broke in a voice, +rich in Irish brogue. "But he's thot stupid he might think I +was after sindin' him fer wather!" + +<P> +"No, Tim. Serato is after the stretchers all right," said +Walter. "We passed him on the way." + +<P> +"That's Tim Sullivan, our Irish foreman, though he has +only a few of his own kind to boss," explained Job Titus in +a whisper. + +<P> +Some of the workmen (all of whom save the few Irish +referred to were Peruvian Indians) had now recovered from +their shock, or fright, and began to help the Titus +brothers, Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku in looking after the +injured. Of these there were five, only two of whom were, +seemingly, seriously hurt. + +<P> +"Me take them out," said Koku, and placing one gently over +his left shoulder, and the other over his right, out of the +tunnel he stalked with them, not waiting for the stretchers. + +<P> +And it was well he did so, for one man was in need of an +immediate operation, which was performed at the rude +hospital the contractors maintained at the tunnel mouth. The +other man died as Koku was carrying him out, but the giant +had saved one life. + +<P> +Serato, the Indian foreman, with some of his men now came +in, and the other injured were carried out on stretchers, +being attended to by the two doctors who formed part of the +tunnel force. Among a large body of men some were always +falling ill or getting hurt, and in that wild country a +doctor had to be kept near at hand. + +<P> +When the excitement had died down, and it was found that +one death would be the total toll of the accident and that +the premature blast had done no damage to the tunnel, the +two Titus brothers began to consider matters. + +<P> +Tom, Mr. Damon and the two contractors sat in the main +office and talked things over. Koku was eating supper, +though the others had finished, but, naturally, it took Koku +twice as long as any one else. Professor Bumper was busy +transcribing material in his note-book. + +<P> +"Well, I'm glad you've come back, Job," said his brother. +"Things have been going at sixes and sevens here since you +went to get some new kind of blasting powder. By the way, I +hope you got it, for we are practically at a standstill." + +<P> +"Oh, I got it all right--some of Tom Swift's best--specially made for +us. And, better still, I've brought Tom back with me." + +<P> +"So I see. Well, I'm glad he's here." + +<P> +"Now what about this accident to-day?" went on Job. + +<P> +"Well, as I said, it's the third this week. All of them +seemed to be premature blasts. But I've sent for some of the +fuses used. I'm going to get at the bottom of this. Here is +Sullivan with them now. Come in, Tim," he called, as the +Irishman knocked at the door. + +<P> +"Are they the fuses used in the blasts?" Walter asked. + +<P> +"They are, sor. An' they mostly burn five minutes, which +is plenty of time fer all th' min t' git out of danger. Only +this time th' fuse didn't seem to burn more than a minute, +an' I lit it meself." + +<P> +"Let's see how long they burn now," suggested Job. + +<P> +One of the longer fuses was lighted. It spluttered and +smoked, while the contractors timed it with their watches. + +<P> +"Four minutes!" exclaimed Job. "That's queer, and they're +the regular ten minute length. I wonder what this means." + +<P> +He took up another fuse, and examined it closely. + +<P> +"Why!" he cried. "These aren't our fuses at all. They're +another make, and much more rapid in burning. No wonder +you've been having premature blasts. They go off in about +half the time they should." + +<P> +"I can't understhand thot!" said Tim, thoughtfully. "I +keep all the fuses locked up, and only take thim out when I +need thim." + +<P> +"Then somebody has been at your box, Tim, and they took +out our regular fuses and put in these quicker ones. It's a +game to make trouble for us among our men, and to damage the +tunnel." + +<P> +"Bless my rubber boots!" cried Mr. Damon. "Who would do a +thing like that?" + +<P> +"Our rivals, perhaps, though I do not like to accuse any +man on such small evidence," said Walter. "But we must adopt +new measures." + +<P> +"And be very careful of the fuses," said Job. + +<P> +"Thot's what I will!" declared Tim. "I'll put th' supply +in a new place. No wonder there was blasts before th' min +could git out th' way! Bad cess t' th' imps thot did this!" +and he banged his big fist down on the table. + +<P> +Since the trouble began a guard had been always posted +around the tunnel entrance and surrounding buildings, and +this night the patrol was doubled. Tom, Mr. Damon and the +two Titus brothers sat up quite late, talking over plans +and ideas. + +<P> +Professor Bumper went to bed early, as he said he was +going to set off before sunrise to make a search for the +lost city. + +<P> +"I regard him as more or less of a visionary," said Mr. +Job Titus; "but he seems a harmless gentleman, and we'll do +all we can to help him." + +<P> +"Surely," agreed his brother. + +<P> +The night was not marked by any disturbance, and after +breakfast, Tom, under the guidance of the Titus brothers, +looked over the tunnel with a view to making his first +experiment with the new explosive. + +<P> +The tunnel was being driven straight into the face of one +of the smaller ranges of the Andes Mountains. It was to be +four miles in length, and when it emerged on the other side +it would enable trains to make connections between the two +railroads, thus tapping a rich and fertile country. + +<P> +On the site of the tunnel, which was two days' mule travel +east from Rimac, the Titus brothers had assembled their +heavy machinery. They had brought some of their own men, +including Tim Sullivan, with them, but the other labor was +that of Peruvian Indians, with a native foreman, Serato, +over them. + +<P> +There were engines, boilers, dynamos, motors, diamond +drills, steam shovels and a miniature railway, with mules as +the motive power. A small village had sprung up at the +tunnel mouth, and there was a general store, besides many +buildings for the sleeping and eating quarters of the +laborers, as well as places where the white men could live. +Their quarters were some distance from the native section. + +<P> +Powder, supplies, in fact everything save what game could +be obtained in the forest, or what grains or fruits were +brought in by natives living near by, had to be brought over +the rough trail. But Titus Brothers had a large experience +in engineering matters in wild and desolate countries, and +they knew how to be as comfortable as possible. + +<P> +Mr. Damon learned that one of the districts whence his +company had been in the habit of getting quinine was distant +a day's journey over the mountain, so he decided to make the +trip, with a native guide, and see if he could get at the +bottom of the difficulty in forwarding shipments. + +<P> +This was a few days after the arrival of our friends. +Meanwhile, Tom had been shown all through the tunnel by the +Titus Brothers and had had his first sight of the hard cliff +of rock which seemed to be a veritable stone wall in the way +of progress--or at least such progress as was satisfactory +to the contractors. + +<P> +"Well, we'll try what some of my explosive will do," said +Tom, when he had finished the examination. "I don't claim it +will be as successful as the sample blast we set off at +Shopton, but we'll do our best." + +<P> +Holes were drilled in the face of the rock, and several +charges of the new explosive tamped in. Wires were attached +to the fuses, which were of a new kind, and warning was +given to clear the tunnel. The wires ran out to the mouth of +the horizontal shaft and Tom, holding the switch in his hand +made ready to set off the blast. + +<P> +"Are they all out?" he asked Tim Sullivan, who had +emerged, herding the Indian laborers before him. Tim +insisted on being the last man to seek safety when an +explosion was to take place. + +<P> +"All ready, sor," answered the foreman. + +<P> +"Here she goes!" cried Tom, as his fingers closed the +circuit. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XIV"></A> +<H3>Chapter XIV Mysterious Disappearances</H3> + + + +<P> +There was a dull, muffled report, a sort of rumbling that +seemed to extend away down under the earth and then echo +back again until the ground near the mouth of the tunnel, +where the party was standing, appeared to rock and heave. +There followed a cloud of yellow, heavy smoke which made one +choke and gasp, and Tom, seeing it, cried: + +<P> +"Down! Down, everybody! There's a back draft, and if you +breathe any of that powder vapor you'll have a fearful +headache! Get down, until the smoke rises!" + +<P> +The tunnel contractors and their men understood the +danger, for they had handled explosives before. It is a +well-known fact that the fumes of dynamite and other giant +powders will often produce severe headaches, and even +illness. Tom's explosive contained a certain percentage of +dynamite, and he knew its ill effects. Stretched prone, or +crouching on the ground, there was little danger, as the +fumes, being lighter than air, rose. The yellow haze soon +drifted away, and it was safe to rise. + +<P> +"Well, I wonder how much rock your explosive tore loose +for us, Tom," observed Job Titus, as he looked at the thin, +yellowish cloud of smoke that was still lazily drifting from +the tunnel. + +<P> +"Can't tell until we go in and take a look," replied the +young inventor. "It won't be safe to go in for a while yet, +though. That smoke will hang in there a long time. I didn't +think there'd be a back draft." + +<P> +"There is, for we've often had the same trouble with our +shots," Walter Titus said. "I can't account for it unless +there is some opening in the shaft, connecting with the +outer air, which admits a wind that drives the smoke out of +the mouth, instead of forward into the blast hole. It's a +queer thing and we haven't been able to get at the bottom of +it." + +<P> +"That's right," agreed his brother. "We've looked for some +opening, or natural shaft, but haven't been able to find it. +Sometimes we shoot off a charge and everything goes well, +the smoke disappears in a few minutes. Again it will all +blow out this way and we lose half a day waiting for the air +to clear. There's a hidden shaft, or natural chimney, I'm +sure, but we can't find it." + +<P> +"Thot blast didn't make much racket," commented Tim +Sullivan. "I doubt thot much rock come down. An' thot's not +sayin' anythin' ag'in yer powder, lad," he went on to Tom. + +<P> +"Oh, that's all right," Tom Swift replied, with a laugh. +"My explosive doesn't work by sound. It has lots of power, +but it doesn't produce much concussion." + +<P> +"We've often made more noise with our blasts," confirmed +Job Titus, "but I can't say much for our results." + +<P> +They were all anxious, Tom included, to hurry into the +tunnel to see how much rock had been loosened by the blast, +but it was not safe to venture in until the fumes had been +allowed to disperse. In about an hour, however, Tim +Sullivan, venturing part way in, sniffed the air and called: + +<P> +"It's all right, byes! Air's clear. Now come on!" + +<P> +They all hurried eagerly into the shaft, Mr. Damon +stumbling along at Tom's side, as anxious as the lad +himself. Before they reached the face of the cliff against +which the bore had been driven, and which was as a solid +wall of rock to further progress, they began to tread on +fragments of stone. + +<P> +"Well, it blew some as far back as here," said Walter +Titus. "That's a good sign." + +<P> +"I hope so," Tom remarked. + +<P> +There were still some fumes noticeable in the tunnel, and +Mr. Damon complained of a slight feeling of illness, while +Koku, who kept at Tom's side, murmured that it made his eyes +smart. But the sensations soon passed. + +<P> +They came to a stop as the face of the cliff loomed into +view in the glare of a searchlight which Job Titus switched +on. Then a murmur of wonder came from every one, save from +Tom Swift. He, modestly, kept silent. + +<P> +"Bless my breakfast orange!" cried Mr. Damon. "What a big +hole!" + +<P> +There was a great gash blown in the hard rock which had +acted as a bar to the further progress of the tunnel. A +great heap of rock, broken into small fragments, was on the +floor of the shaft, and there was a big hole filled with +debris which would have to be removed before the extent of +the blast could be seen. + +<P> +"That's doing the work!" cried Job Titus. + +<P> +"It beats any two blasts we ever set off," declared his +brother. + +<P> +"Much fine!" muttered the Peruvian foreman, Serato. + +<P> +"It's a lalapaloosa, lad! Thot's what it is!" +enthusiastically exclaimed Tim Sullivan. "Now the black +beggars will have some rock to shovel! Come on there, +Serato, git yer lazy imps t' work cartin' this stuff away. +We've got a man on th' job now in this new powder of Tom +Swift's. Git busy!" + +<P> +"Um!" grunted the Indian, and he called to his men who +were soon busy with picks and shovels, loading the loosened +rock and earth into the mule-hauled dump cars which took it +to the mouth of the tunnel, whence it was shunted off on +another small railroad to fill in a big gulch to save +bridging it. + +<P> +Tom's first blast was very successful, and enough rock was +loosed to keep the laborers busy for a week. The contractors +were more than satisfied. + +<P> +"At this rate we'll finish ahead of time, and earn a +premium," said Job to his brother. + +<P> +"That's right. You didn't make any mistake in appealing to +Tom Swift. But I wonder if Blakeson & Grinder have given up +trying to get the job away from us?" + +<P> +"I don't know. I'd never trust them. We must watch out for +Waddington. That bomb on the vessel had a funny look, even +if it was not meant to kill Tom or me. I won't relax any." + +<P> +"No, I guess it wouldn't be safe." + +<P> +But a week went by without any manifestation having been +made by the rival tunnel contractors. During that week more +of Tom's explosive arrived, and he busied himself getting +ready another blast which could be set off as soon as the +debris from the first should have been cleared away. + +<P> +Meanwhile, Professor Bumper, with his Indian guides and +helpers, had made several trips into the mountain regions +about Rimac, but each time that he returned to the tunnel +camp to renew his supplies, he had only a story of failure +to recite. + +<P> +"But I am positive that somewhere in this vicinity is the +lost Peruvian city of Pelone," he said. "Every indication +points to this as the region, and the more I study the +plates of gold, and read their message, the more I am +convinced that this is the place spoken of." + +<P> +"But we have been over many mountains, and in more +valleys, without finding a trace of the ancient civilization +I feel sure once flourished here. There are no relics of a +lost race--not so much as an arrow or spear head. But, +somehow or other, I feel that I shall find the lost city. +And when I do I shall be famous!" + +<P> +"Mr. Damon and I will help you all we can," Tom said. "As +soon as I get ready the next blast I'll have a little time +to myself, and we will go with you on a trip or two." + +<P> +"I shall be very glad to have you," the bald-headed +scientist remarked. + +<P> +Tom's second blast was even more successful than the +first, and enough of the hard rock was loosed and pulverized +to give the Indian laborers ten days' work in removing it +from the tunnel. + +<P> +Then, as the services of the young inventor would not be +needed for a week or more, he decided to go on a little trip +with Professor Bumper. + +<P> +"I'll come too," said Mr. Damon. "One of the sub-contractors whose men +are gathering the cinchona bark for our firm has his headquarters in +the region where you are going, and I can go over there and see why he +isn't up to the mark." + +<P> +Accordingly, preparations having been made to spend a week +in camp in the forests of the Andes, Tom and his party set +off one morning. Professor Bumper's Indian helpers would do +the hard work, and, of course, Koku, who went wherever Tom +went, would be on hand in case some feat of strength were +needed. + +<P> +It was a blind search, this hunt for a lost city, and as +much luck might be expected going in one direction as in +another; so the party had no fixed point toward which to +travel. Only Mr. Damon stipulated that he wanted to reach a +certain village, and they planned to include that on their +route. + +<P> +Tom Swift took his electric rifle with him, and with it he +was able to bring down a couple of deer which formed a +welcome addition to the camp fare. + +<P> +The rifle was a source of great wonder to the Peruvians. +They were familiar with ordinary firearms, and some of them +possessed old-fashioned guns. But Tom's electric weapon, +which made not a sound, but killed with the swiftness of +light, was awesome to them. The interpreter accompanying +Professor Bumper confided privately to Tom that the other +Indians regarded the young inventor as a devil who could, if +he wished, slay by the mere winking of an eye. + +<P> +Mr. Damon located the quinine-gathering force he was +anxious to see, and, through the interpreter, told the chief +that more bark must be brought in to keep up to the terms of +the contract. + +<P> +But something seemed to be the matter. The Indian chief +was indifferent to the interpreted demands of Mr. Damon, and +that gentleman, though he blessed any number of animate and +inanimate objects, seemed to make no impression. + +<P> +"No got men to gather bark, him say," translated the +interpreter. + +<P> +"Hasn't got any men!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Why, look at +all the lazy beggars around the village." + +<P> +This was true enough, for there were any number of able-bodied Indians +lolling in the shade. + +<P> +"Him say him no got," repeated the translator, doggedly. + +<P> +At that moment screams arose back of one the grass huts, +and a child ran out into the open, followed by a savage dog +which was snapping at the little one's bare legs. + +<P> +"Bless my rat trap!" gasped Mr. Damon. "A mad dog!" + +<P> +Shouts and cries arose from among the Indians. Women +screamed, and those who had children gathered them up in +their arms to run to shelter. The men threw all sorts of +missiles at the infuriated animal, but seemed afraid to +approach it to knock it over with a club, or to go to the +relief of the frightened child which was now only a few feet +ahead of the animal, running in a circle. + +<P> +"Me git him!" cried Koku, jumping forward. + +<P> +"No, Wait!" exclaimed Tom Swift. "You can kill the dog +all right, Koku," he said, "but a scratch from his tooth +might be fatal. I'll fix him!" + +<P> +Snatching his electric rifle from the Indian bearer who +carried it, Tom took quick aim. There was no flash, no +report and no puff of smoke, but the dog suddenly crumpled +up in a heap, and, with a dying yelp, rolled to one side. +The child was saved. + +<P> +The little one, aware that something had happened, turned +and saw the stretched out form of its enemy. Then, sobbing +and crying, it ran toward its mother who had just heard the +news. + +<P> +While the mothers gathered about the child, and while the +older boys and girls made a ring at a respectful distance +from the dog, there was activity noticed among the men of +the village. They began hurrying out along the forest paths. + +<P> +"Where are they going?" asked Tom. "Is there some trouble? +Was that a sacred dog, and did I get in bad by killing it?" + +<P> +The interpreter and the native chief conversed rapidly for +a moment and then the former, turning to Tom, said: + +<P> +"Men go git cinchona bark now. Plenty get for him," and he +pointed to Mr. Damon. "They no like stay in village. T'ink +yo' got lightning in yo' pocket," and he pointed to the +electric rifle. + +<P> +"Oh, I see!" laughed Tom. "They think I'm a sort of +wizard. Well, so I am. Tell them if they don't get lots of +quinine bark I'll have to stay here until all the mad dogs +are shot." + +<P> +The interpreter translated, and when the chief had ceased +replying, Tom and the others were told: + +<P> +"Plenty bark git. Plenty much. Yo' go away with yo' +lightning. All right now." + +<P> +"Well, it's a good thing I keeled over that dog," Tom +said. "It was the best object lesson I could give them." + +<P> +And from then on there was no more trouble in this +district about getting a supply of the medicinal bark. + +<P> +A week passed and Professor Bumper was no nearer finding +the lost city than he had been at first. Reluctantly, he +returned to the tunnel camp to get more provisions. + +<P> +"And then I'll start out again," he said. + +<P> +"We'll go with you some other time," promised Tom. "But +now I expect I'll have to get another blast ready." + +<P> +He found the debris brought down by the second one all +removed, and in a few days, preparations for exploding more +of the powder were under way. + +<P> +Many holes had been drilled in the face of the cliff of +hard rock, and the charges tamped in. Electric wires +connected them, and they were run out to the tunnel mouth +where the switch was located. + +<P> +This was done late one afternoon, and it was planned to +set off the blast at the close of the working day, to allow +all night for the fumes to be blown away by the current of +air in the tunnel. + +<P> +"Get the men out, Tim," said Tom, when all was ready. + +<P> +"All right, sor," was the answer, and the Irish foreman +went back toward the far end of the bore to tell the last +shift of laborers to come out so the blast could be set off. + +<P> +But in a little while Tim came running back with a queer +look on his face. + +<P> +"What's the matter?" asked Tom. "Why didn't you bring the +men with you?" + +<P> +"Because, sor, they're not there!" + +<P> +"Not in the tunnel? Why, they were working there a little +while ago, when I made the last connection!" + +<P> +"I know they were, but they've disappeared." + +<P> +"Disappeared?" + +<P> +"Yis sir. There's no way out except at this end an' you +didn't see thim come out, did you?" + +<P> +"Then they've disappeared! That's all there is to it! Bad +goin's on, thot's what it is, sor! Bad!" and Tim shook his +head mournfully. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XV"></A> +<H3>Chapter XV Frightened Indians</H3> + + + +<P> +"There must be some mistake," said Tom, wondering if the +Irish foreman were given to joking. Yet he did not seem that +kind of man. + +<P> +"Mistake? How can there be a mistake, sor? I wint in there +to tell th' black imps t' come out, but they're not there to +tell!" + +<P> +"What's the trouble?" asked Job Titus, coming out of the +office near the tunnel mouth. "What's wrong, Tom?" + +<P> +"Why, I sent Tim in to tell the men to come out, as I was +going to set off a blast, but he says the men aren't in +there. And I'm sure the last shift hasn't come out." + +<P> +By this time Koku, Mr. Damon and Walter Titus had come up +to find out what the trouble was. + +<P> +"The min have disappeared--that's all there is to it!" Tim +said. + +<P> +"Perhaps they have missed their way--the lights may have +gone out, and they might have wandered into some abandoned +cutting," suggested Tom. + +<P> +"There aren't any abandoned cuttin's," declared Tim. "It's +a straight bore, not a shaft of any kind. I've looked +everywhere, and th' min aren't there I tell ye!" + +<P> +"Are the lights going?" asked Job. "You might have missed +them in the dark, Tim." + +<P> +"The lights are going all right, Mr. Titus," said the +young man in charge of the electrical arrangements. "The +dynamo hasn't been stopped to-day." + +<P> +"Come on, we'll have a look," proposed Walter Titus. +"There must be some mistake. Hold back the blast, Tom." + +<P> +"All right," and the young inventor disconnected the +electrical detonating switch. "I'll come along and have a +look too," he added. "Don't let anybody meddle with the +wires, Jack," he said to the young Englishman who was in +charge of the dynamo. + +<P> +Into the dimly-lit tunnel advanced the party of +investigators, with Tim Sullivan in the lead. + +<P> +"Not a man could I find!" he said, murmuring to himself. +"Not a man! An' I mind th' time in Oireland whin th' little +people made vanish a whole village like this, jist bekase +ould Mike Maguire uprooted a bed of shamrocks." + +<P> +"That's enough of your superstitions, Tim," warned Job +Titus. "If some of the other Indians hear you go on this way +they'll desert as they did once before." + +<P> +"Did they do that?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Yes, we had trouble that way when we first began the +work. The place here was a howling wilderness then, and +there were lots of pumas around." + +<P> +"A puma is a small sized lion, you know, not specially +dangerous unless cornered. Well, some of the men had their +families here with them, and a couple of children +disappeared. The story got started that there was a big +puma--the king of them all--carrying off the little ones, +and my brother and I awoke one morning to find every laborer +missing. They departed bag and baggage. Afraid of the +pumas." + +<P> +"What did you do?" + +<P> +"Well, we organized ourselves and our white helpers into a +hunting party and killed a lot of the beasts. There wasn't +any big one though." + +<P> +"And what had become of the children?" + +<P> +"They weren't eaten at all. They had wandered off into the +woods, and some natives found them and took care of them. +Eventually, they got back home. But it was a long while +before we could persuade the Indians to come back. Since +then we haven't had any trouble, and I don't want Tim, with +his superstitious fancies, to start any." + +<P> +"But the min are gone!" insisted the Irish foreman, who +had listened to this story as he and the others walked +along. + +<P> +"We'll find them," declared Mr. Titus. + +<P> +But though they looked all along the big shaft, and though +the place was well lighted by extra lamps that were turned +on when the investigation started, no trace could be found +of the workmen, who had been left in the tunnel to finish +tamping the blast charges. The party reached the rocky +heading, in the face of which the powerful explosive had +been placed, and not an Indian was in sight. Nor, as far as +could be told, was there any side niche, or blind shaft, in +which they could be hiding. + +<P> +Sometimes, when small blasts were set off, the men would +go behind a projecting shoulder of rock to wait until the +charge had been fired, but now none was in such a refuge. + +<P> +"It is queer," admitted Walter Titus. "Where can the men +have gone?" + +<P> +"That's what I want to know!" exclaimed Tim. + +<P> +"Are you sure they didn't come out the mouth of the +tunnel?" asked Job Titus. + +<P> +"Positive," asserted Tom. "I was there all the while, +rigging up the fires." + +<P> +"We'll call the roll, and check up," decided Job Titus. +"Get Serato to help." + +<P> +The Indian foreman had not been in the tunnel with the +last shift of men, having left them to Tim Sullivan to get +out in time. The Indian foreman was called from his supper +in the shack where he had his headquarters, and the roll of +workmen was called. + +<P> +Ten men were missing, and when this fact became known +there were uneasy looks among the others. + +<P> +"Well," said Mr. Titus, after a pause. "The men are either +in the tunnel or out of it. If they're in we don't dare set +off the blast, and if they're out they'll show up, sooner or +later, for supper. I never knew any of 'em to miss a meal." + +<P> +"If such a thing were possible," said Walter Titus, "I +would say that our rivals had a hand in this, and had +induced our men to bolt in order to cripple our force. But +we haven't seen any of Blakeson & Grinder's emissaries +about, and, if they were, how could they get the ten men out +of the tunnel without our seeing them? It's impossible!" + +<P> +"Well, what did happen then?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"I'm inclined to think that the men came out and neither +you, nor any one else, saw them. They ran away for reasons +of their own. We'll take another look in the morning, and +then set off the blast." + +<P> +And this was done. There being no trace of the men in the +tunnel it was deemed safe to explode the charges. This was +done, a great amount of rock being loosened. + +<P> +The laborers hung back when the orders were given to go in +and clean up. There were mutterings among them. + +<P> +"What's the matter?" asked Job Titus. + +<P> +"Them afraid," answered Serato. "Them say devil in tunnel +eat um up! No go in." + +<P> +"They won't go in, eh?" cried Tim Sullivan. "Well, they +will thot! If there's a divil inside there's a worse one +outside, an' thot's me! Git in there now, ye black-livered +spalapeens!" and catching up a big club the Irishman made a +rush for the hesitating laborers. With a howl they rushed +into the tunnel, and were soon loading rock into the dump +cars. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XVI"></A> +<H3>Chapter XVI On the Watch</H3> + + + +<P> +The mystery of the disappearance of the ten men--for +mystery it was--remained, and as no side opening or passage +could be found within the tunnel, it came to be the +generally accepted explanation that the laborers had come +out unobserved, and, for reasons of their own, had run away. + +<P> +This habit on the part of the Peruvian workers was not +unusual. In fact, the Titus brothers had to maintain a sort +of permanent employment agency in Lima to replace the +deserters. But they were used to this. The difference was +that the Indians used to vanish from camp at night, and +invariably after pay-day. + +<P> +"And that's the only reason I have a slight doubt that +they walked out of the tunnel," said Job Titus. "There was +money due em." + +<P> +"They never came out of the front entrance of the tunnel," +said Tom. "Of that I'm positive." + +<P> +But there was no way of proving his assertion. + +<P> +The third blast, while not as successful as the second in +the amount of rock loosened, was better than the first, and +made a big advance in the tunnel progress. Tom was beginning +to understand the nature of the mountain into which the big +shaft was being driven and he learned how better to apply +the force of his explosive. + +<P> +That was the work which he had charge of--the placing of +the giant powder so it would do the most effective work. +Then, when the fumes from the blast had cleared away, in +would surge the workmen to clear away the debris. + +<P> +Under the direction of Mr. Swift, left at Shopton to +oversee the manufacture of the explosive, new shipments came +on promptly to Lima, and were brought out to the tunnel on +the backs of mules, or in the case of small quantities, on +the llamas. But the latter brutes will not carry a heavy +load, lying down and refusing to get up if they are +overburdened, whereas one has yet to find a mule's limit. + +<P> +After his first success in getting the natives to take a +more active interest in the gathering of the cinchona bark, +Mr. Damon found it rather easy, for the story of Tom's +electric rifle and how it had killed the mad dog spread +among the tribes, and Mr. Damon had but to announce that the +"lightning shooter," as Tom was called, was a friend of the +drug concern to bring about the desired results. Mr. Damon, +by paying a sort of bribe, disguised under the name "tax," +secured the help of Peruvian officials so he had no trouble +on that score. + +<P> +Koku was in his element. He liked a wild life and Peru was +much more like the country of giants where Tom had found +him, than any place the big man had since visited. Koku had +great strength and wanted to use it, and after a week or so +of idleness he persuaded Tom to let him go in the tunnel to +work. + +<P> +The giant was made a sort of foreman under Tim, and the +two became great friends. The only trouble with Koku was +that he would do a thing himself instead of letting his men +do it, as, of course, all proper foremen should do. If the +giant saw two or three of the Indians trying to lift a big +rock into the little dump cars, and failing because of its +great weight, he would good-naturedly thrust them aside, +pick up the big stone in his mighty arms, and deposit it in +its place. + +<P> +And once when an unusually big load had been put in a car, +and the mule attached found it impossible to pull it out to +the tunnel mouth, Koku unhitched the creature and, slipping +the harness around his waist, walked out, dragging the load +as easily as if pulling a child on a sled. + +<P> +Professor Bumper kept on with his search for the lost city +of Pelone. Back and forth he wandered among the wild Andes +Mountains, now hopeful that he was on the right trail, and +again in despair. Tom and Mr. Damon went with him once more +for a week, and though they enjoyed the trip, for the +professor was a delightful companion, there were no results. +But the scientist would not give up. + +<P> +Tom Swift was kept busy looking after the shipments of the +explosive, and arranging for the blasts. He had letters from +Ned Newton in which news of Shopton was given, and Mr. Swift +wrote occasionally. But the mails in the wilderness of the +Andes were few and far between. + +<P> +Tom wrote a letter of explanation to Mr. Nestor, in +addition to the wireless he had sent regarding the box +labeled dynamite, but he got no answer. Nor were his +letters to Mary answered. + +<P> +"I wonder what's wrong?" Tom mused. "It can't be that they +think I did that on purpose. And even if Mr. Nestor is angry +at me for something that wasn't my fault, Mary ought to +write." + +<P> +But she did not, and Tom grew a bit despondent as the days +went by and no word came. + +<P> +"I suppose they might be offended because I left Rad to do +up that package instead of attending to it myself," thought +Tom. "Well, I did make a mistake there, but I didn't mean +to. I never thought about Eradicate's not reading. I'll make +him go to night school as soon as I get back. But maybe I'll +never get another chance to send Mary anything. If I do, +I'll not let Rad deliver it--that's sure." + +<P> +The feeling of alarm engendered among the Indians by the +disappearance of their ten fellow-workers seemed to have +disappeared. There were rumors that some of the mysterious +ten had been seen in distant villages and settlements, but +the Titus brothers could not confirm this. + +<P> +"I don't think anything serious happened to them, anyhow," +said Job Titus one day. "And I should hate to think our work +was responsible for harm to any one." + +<P> +"Your rivals don't seem to be doing much to hamper you," +observed Tom. "I guess Waddington gave up." + +<P> +"I won't be too sure of that," said Mr. Titus. + +<P> +"Why, what has happened?" Tom asked. + +<P> +"Well, nothing down here--that is, directly--but we are +meeting with trouble on the financial end. The Peruvian +government is holding back payments." + +<P> +"Why is that?" + +<P> +"They claim we are not as far advanced as we ought to be." + +<P> +"Aren't you?" + +<P> +"Practically, yes. There was no set limit of work to be +done for the intermediate payments. We bonded ourselves to +have the tunnel done at a certain date." + +<P> +"If we fail, we lose a large sum, and if we get it done +ahead of time we get a big premium. There was no question as +to completing a certain amount of footage before we received +certain payments. But Senor Belasdo, the government +representative, claims that we will not be done in time, and +therefore he is holding back money due us. I'm sure the +rival contractors have set him up to this, because he was +always decent to us before." + +<P> +"Another matter, too, makes me suspicious. We have tried +to raise money in New York to tide us over while the +government is holding up our funds here. But our New York +office is meeting with difficulties. They report there is a +story current to the effect that we are going to fail, and +while that isn't so, you know how hard it is to borrow money +in the face of such rumors. We are doing all we can to +fight them, of course, and maybe we'll beat out our rivals +yet." + +<P> +"But that isn't all. I'm sure some one is on the ground +here trying to make trouble among our workers. I never knew +so many men to leave, one after another. It's keeping the +employment agency in Lima busy supplying us with new +workers. And so many of them are unskilled. They aren't able +to do half the work of the old men, and poor Tim Sullivan is +in despair." + +<P> +"You think some one here is causing dissensions and +desertions among your men?" + +<P> +"I'm sure of it! I've tried to ferret out who it is, but +the spy, for such he must be, keeps his identity well +hidden." + +<P> +Tom thought for a moment. Then he said: + +<P> +"Mr. Titus, with your permission, I'll see if I can find +out about this for you." + +<P> +"Find out what, Tom?" + +<P> +"What is causing the men to leave. I don't believe it's +the scare about the ten missing ones." + +<P> +"Nor do I. That's past and gone. But how are you going to +get at the bottom of it?" + +<P> +"By keeping watch. I've got nothing to do now for the next +week. We've just set off a big blast, and I've got the +powder for the following one all ready. The men will be busy +for some time getting out the broken rock. Now what I +propose to do is to go in the tunnel and work among them +until I can learn something." + +<P> +"I can understand the language pretty well now, though I +can't speak much of it. I'll go in the tunnel every day and +find out what's going on." + +<P> +"But you'll be known, and if one of our men, or one who we +suppose is one, turns out to be a spy, he'll be very +cautious while you're in there." + +<P> +"He won't know me," Tom said. "This is how I'll work it. +I'll go off with Professor Bumper the next time he starts on +one of his weekly expeditions into the woods. But I won't go +far until I turn around and come back. I'll adopt some sort +of disguise, and I'll apply to you for work. You can tell +Tim to put me on. You might let him into the secret, but no +one else." + +<P> +A few days later Tom was seen departing with Professor +Bumper into the interior, presumably to help look for the +lost city. Mr. Damon was away from camp on business +connected with the drug concern, and Koku, to his delight, +had been given charge of a stationary hoisting engine +outside the tunnel, so he would not come in contact with +Tom. It was not thought wise to take the giant into the +secret. + +<P> +Then one day, shortly after Professor Bumper and Tom had +disappeared into the forest, a ragged and unkempt white man +applied at the tunnel camp for work. There was just the +barest wink as he accosted Mr. Titus, who winked in turn, +and then the new man was handed over to Tim Sullivan, as a +sort of helper. + +<P> +And so Tom Swift began his watch. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XVII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XVII The Condor</H3> + + + +<P> +Left to himself, with only the rather silent gang of +Peruvian Indians as company, Tom Swift looked about him. +There was not much active work to be done, only to see that +the Indians filled the dump cars evenly full, so none of the +broken rock would spill over the side and litter the +tramway. Then, too, he had to keep the Indians up to the +mark working, for these men were no different from any +other, and they were just as inclined to "loaf on the job" +when the eye of the "boss" was turned away. + +<P> +They did not talk much, murmuring among themselves now and +then, and little of what they said was intelligible to Tom. +But he knew enough of the language to give them orders, the +main one of which was: + +<P> +"Hurry up!" + +<P> +Now, having seen to it that the gang of which he was in +temporary charge was busily engaged, Tom had a chance to +look about him. The tunnel was not new to him. Much of his +time in the past month had been spent in its black depths, +illuminated, more or less, by the string of incandescent +lights. + +<P> +"What I want to find," mused Tom, as he walked to and fro, +"is the place where those Indians disappeared. For I'm +positive they got away through some hole in this tunnel. +They never came out the main entrance." + +<P> +Tom held to this view in spite of the fact that nearly +every one else believed the contrary--that the men had left +by the tunnel mouth, near which Tom happened to be alone at +the time. + +<P> +Now, left to himself, with merely nominal duties, and so +disguised that none of the workmen would know him for the +trim young inventor who oversaw the preparing of the blast +charges, Tom Swift walked to and fro, looking for some +carefully hidden passage or shaft by means of which the men +had got away. + +<P> +"For it must be well hidden to have escaped observation so +long," Tom decided. "And it must be a natural shaft, or +hole, for we are boring into native rock, and it isn't +likely that these Indians ever tried to make a tunnel here. +There must be some natural fissure communicating with the +outside of the mountain, in a place where no one would see +the men coming out." + +<P> +But though Tom believed this it was another matter to +demonstrate his belief. In the intervals of seeing that the +natives properly loaded the dump cars, and removed as much +of the debris as possible, Tom looked carefully along the +walls and roof of the tunnel thus far excavated. + +<P> +There were cracks and fissures, it is true, but they were +all superficial ones, as Tom ascertained by poking a long +pole up into them. + +<P> +"No getting out that way," he said, as he met with failure +after failure. + +<P> +Once, while thus engaged, he saw Serato, the Indian +foreman looking narrowly at him, and Serato said something +in his own language which Tom could not understand. But +just then along came Tim Sullivan, who, grasping the +situation, exclaimed: + +<P> +"Thot's all roight, now, Serri, me lad!" for thus he +contracted the Indian's name. "Thot's a new helper I have, a +broth of a bye, an' yez kin kape yer hands off him. He's +takin' orders from me!" + +<P> +"Um!" grunted the Indian. "Wha for he fish +in tunnel roof?" for Tom's pole was one like those +the Indians used when, on off days, they emulated +Izaak Walton. + +<P> +"Fishin' is it!" exclaimed Tim. "Begorra 'tis flyin' fish +he's after I'm thinkin'. Lave him alone though, Serri! I'm +his boss!" + +<P> +"Um!" grunted the Indian again, as he moved off into the +farther darkness. + +<P> +"Be careful, Tom," whispered the Irishman, when the native +had gone. "These black imps is mighty suspicious. Maybe thot +fellah had a hand in th' disappearances hisself." + +<P> +"Maybe," admitted Tom. "He may get a percentage on all new +hands that are hired." + +<P> +Tom kept on with his search, always hoping he might find +some hidden means of getting out of the tunnel. But as the +days went by, and he discovered nothing, he began to +despair. + +<P> +"The queer thing about it," mused Tom, "is what has become +of the ten men. Even if they did find some secret means of +leaving, what has become of them? They couldn't completely +disappear, and they have families and relatives that would +make some sort of fuss if they were out of sight completely +this long. I wonder if any inquiries have been made about +them?" + +<P> +When Tom came off duty he asked the Titus brothers whether +or not any of the relatives of the missing men had come to +seek news about them. None had. + +<P> +"Then," said Tom, "you can depend on it the men are all +right, and their relatives know it. I wonder how it would do +to make inquiries at that end? Question some of the +relatives." + +<P> +"Bless my hat hand!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, who was at the +conference. "I never thought of that. I'll do it for you." + +<P> +The odd man had gotten his quinine gathering business well +under way now, and he had some spare time. So, with an +interpreter who could be trusted, he went to the native +village whence had come nearly all of the ten missing men. +But though Mr. Damon found some of their relatives, the +latter, with shrugs of their shoulders, declared they had +seen nothing of the ones sought. + +<P> +"And they didn't seem to worry much, either," reported Mr. +Damon. + +<P> +"Then we can depend on it," remarked Tom, "that the men +are all right and their relatives know it. There's some +conspiracy here." + +<P> +So it seemed. But who was at the bottom of it? + +<P> +"I can't figure out where Blakeson & Grinder come in," +said Job Titus. "They would have an object in crippling us, +but they seem to be working from the financial end, trying +to make us fail there. I haven't seen any of their sneaking +agents around here lately, and as for Waddington he seems to +have stayed up North." + +<P> +Tom resumed his vigil in the tunnel, poking here and +there, but with little success. His week was about up, and +he would soon have to resume his character as powder expert, +for the debris was nearly all cleaned up, and another blast +would have to be fired shortly. + +<P> +"Well, I'm stumped!" Tom admitted, the day when he was to +come on duty for the last time as a pretended foreman. "I've +hunted all over, and I can't find any secret passage." + +<P> +It was warm in the tunnel, and Tom, having seen one train +of the dump cars loaded, sat down to rest on an elevated +ledge of rock, where he had made a sort of easy chair for +himself, with empty cement bags for cushions. + +<P> +The heat, his weariness and the monotonous clank-clank of +a water pump near by, and the equally monotonous thump of +the lumps of rocks in the cars made Tom drowsy. Almost +before he knew it he was asleep. + +<P> +What suddenly awakened him he could not tell. Perhaps it +was some influence on the brain cells, as when a vivid dream +causes us to start up from slumber, or it may have been a +voice. For certainly Tom heard a voice, he declared +afterward. + +<P> +As he roused up he found himself staring at the rocky wall +of the tunnel. And yet the wall seemed to have an opening in +it and in the opening, as if it were in the frame of a +picture, appeared the face Tom had seen at his library the +day Job Titus called on him--the face of Waddington! + +<P> +Tom sat up so quickly that he hit his head sharply on a +projecting rock spur, and, for the moment he "saw stars." +And with the appearance of these twinkling points of light +the face of Waddington seemed to fade away, as might a +vision in a dream. + +<P> +"Bless my salt mackerel, as Mr. Damon would say!" cried +Tom. "What have I discovered?" + +<P> +He rubbed his head where he had struck it, and then passed +his hand before his eyes, to make sure he was awake. But the +vision, if vision it was, had vanished, and he saw only the +bare rock wall. However, the echo of the voice remained in +his ears, and, looking down toward the tunnel floor Tom saw +Serato, the Indian foreman. + +<P> +"Were you speaking to me?" asked Tom, for the man +understood and spoke English fairly well. + +<P> +"No, sar. I not know you there!" and the fore man seemed +startled at seeing Tom. Clearly he was in a fright. + +<P> +"You were speaking!" insisted Tom. + +<P> +"No, sar!" The man shook his head. + +<P> +"To some one up there!" went on the young inventor, waving +his hand toward the spot where he had seen the face in the +rock. + +<P> +"Me speak to roof? No, sar!" Serato laughed. + +<P> +Tom did not know what to believe. + +<P> +"You hear me tell um lazy man to much hurry," the Indian +went on. "Me not know you sleep there, sar!" + +<P> +"Oh, all right," Tom said, recollecting that he must keep +up his disguise. "Maybe I was dreaming." + +<P> +"Yes, sar," and the foreman hurried on, with a backward +glance over his shoulder. + +<P> +"Now was I dreaming or not?" thought Tom. "I'm going to +have a look at that place though, where I saw Waddington's +face. Or did I imagine it?" + +<P> +He got a long pole and a powerful flash lamp, and when he +had a chance, unobserved, he poked around in the vicinity +where he had seen the face. + +<P> +But there was only solid rock. + +<P> +"It must have been a dream," Tom concluded. "I've been +thinking too much about this business. I'll have to give up. +I can't solve the mystery of the missing men." + +<P> +The next day, much disappointed, he resumed his own +character as explosive expert, and prepared for another +blast. The net result of his watch was that he became +suspicious of Serato, and so informed the Titus Brothers. + +<P> +"Oh, but you're mistaken," said Job "We have had him for +years, on other contracts in Peru, and we trust him." + +<P> +"Well, I don't," Tom said, but he had to let it go at +that. + +<P> +Another blast was set off, but it was not very successful. + +<P> +"The rock seems to be getting harder the farther in we +go," commented Walter Titus. "We're not up to where we ought +to be." + +<P> +"I'll have to look into it," answered Tom. "I may have to +change the powder mixture. Guess I'll go up the mountain a +way, and see if there are any outcroppings of rock there +that would give me an idea of what lies underneath." + +<P> +Accordingly, while the men in the tunnel were clearing +away the rock loosened by the blast, Tom, one day, taking +his electric rifle with him, went up the mountain under +which the big bore ran. + +<P> +He located, by computation, the spot beneath which the end +of the tunnel then was, and began collecting samples of the +outcropping ledge. He wanted to analyze these pieces of +stone later. Koku was with him, and, giving the giant a bag +of stones to carry, Tom walked on rather idly. + +<P> +It was a wild and desolate region in which he found +himself on the side of the mountain. Beyond him stretched +towering and snow-clad peaks, and high in the air were small +specks, which he knew to be condors, watching with their +eager eyes for their offal food. + +<P> +As Tom and Koku made their way along the mountain trail +they came unexpectedly upon an Indian workman who was +gathering herbs and bark, an industry by which many of the +natives added to their scanty livelihood. The woman was +familiar with the appearance of the white men, and nodded in +friendly fashion. + +<P> +Tom passed on, thinking of many things, when he was +suddenly startled by a scream from the woman. It was a +scream of such terror and agony that, for the moment, Tom +was stunned into inactivity. Then, as he turned, he saw a +great condor sweeping down out of the air, the wind fairly +whistling through the big, outstretched wings. + +<P> +"Jove!" ejaculated Tom. "Can the bird be going to attack +the woman?" + +<P> +But this was not the object of the condor. It was aiming +to strike, with its fierce talons, at a point some paces +distant from where the woman stood, and in the intervals +between her screams Tom heard her cry, in her native tongue: + +<P> +"My baby! My baby! The beast-bird will carry off my baby!" + +<P> +Then Tom understood. The woman herb-gatherer had brought +her infant with her on her quest, and had laid it down on a +bed of soft grass while she worked. And it was this infant, +wrapped as Tom afterward saw in a piece of deer-skin, at +which the condor was aiming. + +<P> +"Master shoot!" cried Koku, pointing to the down-sweeping +bird. + +<P> +"You bet I'll shoot!" cried Tom. + +<P> +Throwing his electric rifle to his shoulder, Tom pressed +the switch trigger. The unseen but powerful force shot +straight at the condor. + +<P> +The outstretched wings fell limp, the great body seemed to +shrivel up, and, with a crash, the bird fell into the +underbrush, breaking the twigs and branches with its weight. +The electric rifle, a full account of which was given in the +volume entitled "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle," had done +its work well. + +<P> +With a scream, in which was mingled a cry of thanks, the +woman threw himself on the sleeping child. The condor had +fallen dead not three paces from it. + +<P> +Tom Swift had shot just in time. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XVIII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XVIII The Indian Strike</H3> + + + +<P> +Snatching up in her arms the now awakened child, the woman +gazed for a moment into its face, which she covered with +kisses. Then the herb-gatherer looked over to the dead, limp +body of the great condor, and from thence to Tom. + +<P> +In another moment the woman had rushed forward, and knelt +at the feet of the young inventor. Holding the baby in one +arm, in her other hand the woman seized Toms and kissed it +fervently, at the same time pouring forth a torrent of +impassioned language, of which Tom could only make out a +word now and then. But he gathered that the woman was +thanking him for having saved the child. + +<P> +"Oh, that's all right," Tom said, rather embarrassed by +the hand-kissing. "It was an easy shot." + +<P> +An Indian came bursting through the bushes, evidently the +woman's husband by the manner in which she greeted him, and +Tom recognized the newcomer as one of the tunnel workers. +There was some quick conversation between the husband and +wife, in which the latter made all sorts of motions, +including in their scope Tom, his rifle, the dead condor and +the now smiling baby. + +<P> +The man took off his hat and approached Tom, genuflecting +as he might have done in church. + +<P> +"She say you save baby from condor," the man said in his +halting English. "She t'ank you--me, I t'ank you. Bird see +babe in deer skin--t'ink um dead animal. Maybe so bird carry +baby off, drop um on sharp stone, baby smile no more. You +have our lives, senor! We do anyt'ing we can for you." + +<P> +"Thanks," said Tom, easily. "I'm glad I happened to be +around. I supposed condors only went for things dead, but I +reckon, as you say, it mistook the baby in the deer skin for +a dead animal. And I guess it might have carried your little +one off, or at least lifted it up, and then it might have +dropped it far enough to have killed it. It sure is a big +bird," and Tom strolled over to look at what he had bagged. + +<P> +The condor of the Andes is the largest bird of prey in +existence. One in the Bronx Zoo, in New York, with his wings +spread out, measured a little short of ten feet from tip to +tip. Measure ten feet out on the ground and then imagine a +bird with that wing stretch. + +<P> +This same condor in the park was made angry by a boy +throwing a feather boa up into the air outside the cage. The +condor raised himself from the ground, and hurled himself +against the heavy wire netting so that the whole, big cage +shook. And the breeze caused by the flapping wings blew off +the hats of several spectators. So powerful was the air +force from the condor's wings that it reminded one of the +current caused when standing behind the propellers of an +aeroplane in motion. The condor rarely attacks living +persons or animals, though it has been known to carry off +big sheep when driven by hunger. + +<P> +It was one of these animals Tom Swift had shot with his +electric rifle. + +<P> +"We do anyt'ing you want," the man gratefully repeated. + +<P> +"Well, I've got about all I want," Tom said. "But if you +could tell me where those ten missing men are, and how they +got out of the tunnel, I'd be obliged to you." + +<P> +The woman did not seem to comprehend Tom's talk, but the +man did. He started, and fear seemed to come over him. + +<P> +"Me--I--I can not tell," he murmured. + +<P> +"No, I don't suppose you can," said Tom, musingly. "Well, +it doesn't matter, I guess I'll have to cross it off my +books. I'll never find out." + +<P> +Again the Indian and his wife expressed their gratitude, +and Tom, after letting the little brown baby cling to his +finger, and patting its chubby cheek, went on his way with +Koku. + +<P> +"Well, that was some excitement," mused Tom, who made +little of the shot itself, for the condor was such a mark +that he would have had to aim very badly indeed to miss it. +And perhaps only the electric rifle could have killed +quickly enough to prevent the baby's being injured in some +way by the big bird, even though it was dying. + +<P> +"Master heap good shot!" exclaimed Koku, admiringly. + +<P> +The tunnel work went on, though not so well as when Tom's +explosive was first used. The rock was indeed getting harder +and was not so easily shattered. Tom made tests of the +pieces he had obtained from the outcropping ledge on the +mountain where he had shot the condor, and decided to make a +change in the powder. + +<P> +Shipments were regularly received from Shopton, Mr. Swift +keeping things in progress there. Mr. Damon's business was +going on satisfactorily, and he lent what aid he could to +Tom. As for Professor Bumper he kept on with his search for +the lost city of Pelone, but with no success. + +<P> +The scientist wanted Tom and Mr. Damon to go on another +trip with him, this time to a distant sierra, or fertile +valley, where it was reported a race of Indians lived, +different from others in that region. + +<P> +"It may be that they are descendants from the Pelonians," +suggested the professor. Tom was too busy to go, but Mr. +Damon went. The expedition had all sorts of trouble, losing +its way and getting into a swamp from which escape was not +easy. Then, too, the strange Indians proved hostile, and +the professor and his party could not get nearer than the +boundaries of the valley. + +<P> +"But the difficulties and the hostile attitude of these +natives only makes me surer that I am on the right track," +said Mr. Bumper. "I shall try again." + +<P> +Tom was busy over a problem in explosives one day when he +saw Tim Sullivan hurrying into the office of the two +brothers. The Irishman seemed excited. + +<P> +"I hope there hasn't been another premature blast," mused +Tom. "But if there had been I think I'd have heard it." + +<P> +He hastened out to see Job and Walter Titus in excited +conversation with Tim. + +<P> +"They didn't come out, an' thot's all there is to it," the +foreman was saying. "I sint thim in mesilf, and they worked +until it was time t' set off th' blast. I wint t' get th' +fuse, an' I was goin' t' send th' black imps out of danger, +whin--whist--they was gone whin I got back--fifteen of 'em +this time!" + +<P> +"Do you mean that fifteen more of our men have vanished as +the first ten did?" asked Job Titus. + +<P> +"That's what I mean," asserted the Irishman. + +<P> +"It can't be!" declared Walter. + +<P> +"Look for yersilf!" returned Tim. "They're not in th' +tunnel!" + +<P> +"And they didn't come out?" + +<P> +"Ask th' time-keeper," and Tim motioned to a young +Englishman who, since the other disappearance, had been +stationed at the mouth of the tunnel to keep a record of who +went in and came out. + +<P> +"No, sir! Nobody kime hout, sir!" the Englishman declared. +"Hi 'aven't been away frim 'ere, sir, not since hi wint on +duty, sir. An' no one kime out, no, sir!" + +<P> +"We've got to stop this!" declared Job Titus. + +<P> +"I should say so!" agreed his brother. + +<P> +With Tom and Tim the Titus brothers went into the tunnel. +It was deserted, and not a trace of the men could be found. +Their tools were where they had been dropped, but of the men +not a sign. + +<P> +"There must be some secret way out," declared Tom. + +<P> +"Then we'll find it," asserted the brothers. + +<P> +Work on the tunnel was stopped for a day, and, keeping out +all natives, the contractors, with Tom and such white men as +they had in their employ, went over every foot of roof, +sides and floor in the big shaft. But not a crack or +fissure, large enough to permit the passage of a child, much +less a man, could be found. + +<P> +"Well, I give up!" cried Walter Titus in despair. "There +must be witchcraft at work here!" + +<P> +"Nonsense!" exclaimed his brother. "It's more likely the +craft of Blakeson & Grinder, with Waddington helping them." + +<P> +"Well, if a human agency made these twenty-five men +disappear, prove it!" insisted Walter. + +<P> +His brother did not know what to say. + +<P> +"Well, go on with the work," was Job's final conclusion. +"We'll have one of the white men constantly in the tunnel +after this whenever a gang is working. We won't leave the +natives alone even long enough to go to get a fuse. They'll +be under constant supervision." + +<P> +The tunnel was opened for work, but there were no workers. +The morning after the investigation, when the starting +whistle blew there was no line of Indians ready to file into +the big, black hole. The huts where they slept were +deserted. A strange silence brooded over the tunnel camp. + +<P> +"Where are the men, Serato?" asked Tom of the Indian +foreman. + +<P> +"Men um gone. No work any more. What you call a hit." + +<P> +"You mean a strike?" asked Tom. + +<P> +"Sure--strike--hit--all um same. No more work--um 'fraid!" + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XIX"></A> +<H3>Chapter XIX A Woman Tells</H3> + + + +<P> +"Well, if this isn't the limit!" cried Tom Swift. "As if +we didn't have trouble enough without a strike on our +hands!" + +<P> +"I should say yes!" chimed in Job Titus. + +<P> +"Do you mean that the men won't work any more?" asked his +brother of the native foreman. + +<P> +"Sure, no more work--um much 'fraid big devil in tunnel +carry um off an' eat um." + +<P> +"Well, I don't know that I blame 'em for being a bit +frightened," commented Job. "It is a queer proceeding how +twenty-five men can disappear like that. Where have the men +gone, Serato?" + +<P> +"Gone home. No more work. Go on hit--strike--same like +white men." + +<P> +"They waited until pay day to go on strike," commented the +bookkeeper, a youth about Tom's age. + +<P> +This was true. The men had been paid off the day before, +and usually on such occasions many of them remained away, +celebrating in the nearest village. But this time all had +left, and evidently did not intend to come back. + +<P> +"We'll have to get a new gang," said Job. "And it's going +to delay us just at the wrong time. Well, there's no help +for it. Get busy, Serato. You and Tim go and see how many +men you can gather. Tell them we'll give them a sol a week +more if they do good work. (A sol is the standard silver +coin of Peru, and is worth in United States gold about fifty +cents.)" + +<P> +"Half a dollar a day more will look mighty big to them," +went on the contractor. "Get the men, Serato, and we'll +raise your wages two sols a week." + +<P> +The eyes of the Indian gleamed, and he went off, saying. + +<P> +"Um try, but men much 'fraid." + +<P> +Whether Serato used his best arguments could not, of +course, be learned, but he came back at the close of the +day, unaccompanied by any workers, and he shook his head +despondently. + +<P> +"Indians no come for one sol, mebby not for two," he said. +"I no can git." + +<P> +"Then I'll try!" cried Job. "I'll get the workers. I'll +make our old ones come back, for they'll be the best." + +<P> +Accompanied by his brother and Tom he went to the various +Indian villages, including the one whence most of the men +now on strike had come. The fifteen missing ones were not +found, though, as before, their relatives, and, in some +cases, their families, did not seem alarmed. But the men who +had gone on strike were found lolling about their cabins and +huts, smoking and taking their ease, and no amount of +persuasion could induce them to return. + +<P> +Some of them said they had worked long enough and were +tired, needing a rest. Others declared they had money enough +and did not want more. Even two more sols a week would not +induce them to return. + +<P> +And many were frankly afraid. They said so, declaring that +if they went back to the tunnel some unknown devil might +carry them off under the earth. + +<P> +Job Titus and his brother, who could speak the language +fairly well, tried to argue against this. They declared the +tunnel was perfectly safe. But one native worker, who had +been the best in the gang, asked: + +<P> +"Where um men go?" + +<P> +The contractors could not answer. + +<P> +"It's a trick," declared Walter. "Our rivals have induced +the men to go on strike in order to hamper us with the work +so they'll get the job." + +<P> +But the closest inquiry failed to prove this statement. If +Blakeson & Grinder, or any of their agents, had a hand in +the strike they covered their operations well. Though +diligent inquiry was made, no trace of Waddington, or any +other tool, could be found. + +<P> +Tom, who had some sort of suspicion of the bearded man on +the steamer, tried to find him, even taking a trip in to +Lima, but without avail. + +<P> +The tunnel work was at a standstill, for there +was little use in setting off blasts if there were no men to +remove the resulting piles of debris. So, though Tom was +ready with some specially powerful explosive, he could not +use it. + +<P> +Efforts were made to get laborers from another section of +the country, but without effect. The contractors heard of a +big force of Italians who had finished work on a railroad +about a hundred miles away, and they were offered places in +the tunnel. But they would not come. + +<P> +"Well, we may as well give up," said Walter, despondently, +to his brother one day. "We'll never get the tunnel done on +time now." + +<P> +"We still have a margin of safety," declared job. "If we +could get the men inside of a couple of weeks, and if Tom's +new powder rips out more rock, we'll finish in time." + +<P> +"Yes, but there are too many ifs. We may as well admit +we've failed." + +<P> +"I'll never do that!" + +<P> +"What will you do?" + +<P> +But Job did not know. + +<P> +"If we could git a gang of min from the ould sod--th' kind +I used t' work wit in N'Yark," said Tim Sullivan, "I'd show +yez whot could be done! We'd make th' rock fly!" + +<P> +But that efficient labor was out of the question now. The +tunnel camp was a deserted place. + +<P> +"Come on, Koku, we'll go hunting," said Tom one day. +"There's no use hanging around here, and some venison +wouldn't go bad on the table." + +<P> +"I'll come, too," said Mr. Damon. "I haven't anything to +do." + +<P> +The Titus brothers had gone to a distant village, on the +forlorn hope of getting laborers, so Tom was left to his own +devices, and he decided to go hunting with his electric +rifle. + +<P> +The taruco, or native deer, had been plentiful in the +vicinity of the tunnel until the presence of so many men and +the frequent blasts had driven them farther off, and it was +not until after a tramp of several miles that Tom saw one. +Then, after stalking it a little way, he managed to kill it +with the electric rifle. + +<P> +Koku hoisted the animal to his big shoulders, and, as this +would provide meat enough for some time, Tom started back +for camp. + +<P> +As he and Mr. Damon, with Koku in the rear, passed through +a little clearing, they saw, on the far side, a native hut. +And from it rushed a woman, who approached Tom, casting +herself on her knees, while she pressed his free hand to her +head. + +<P> +"Bless my scarf pin!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "What does this +mean, Tom?" + +<P> +"Oh, this is the mother of the child I saved from the +condor," said Tom. "Every time she sees me she thanks me all +over again. How is the baby?" he asked in the Indian tongue, +for he was a fair master of it by now. + +<P> +"The baby is well. Will the mighty hunter permit himself +to enter my miserable hovel and partake of some milk and +cakes?" + +<P> +"What do you say, Mr. Damon?" Tom asked. "She's clean and +neat, and she makes a drink of goat's milk that isn't bad. +She bakes some kind of meal cakes that are good, too. I'm +hungry." + +<P> +"All right, Tom, I'll do as you say." + +<P> +A little later they were partaking of a rude, but none the +less welcome, lunch in the woman's hut, while the baby whose +life Tom had saved cooed in the rough log cradle. + +<P> +"Say, Masni," asked Tom, addressing the woman by name, +"don't you know where we can get some men to work the +tunnel?" Of course Tom spoke the Indian language, and he had +to adapt himself to the comprehension of Masni. + +<P> +"Men no work tunnel?" she inquired. + +<P> +"No, they've all skipped out--vamoosed. Afraid of some +spirit." + +<P> +The woman looked around, as though in fear. Then she +approached Tom closely and whispered: + +<P> +"No spirit in tunnel--bad man!" + +<P> +"What!" cried Tom, almost jumping off his stool. "What do +you mean, Masni?" + +<P> +"Me tell mighty hunter," she went on, lowering her voice still +more. "My man he no want to tell, he 'fraid,' but I tell. Mighty hunter +save Vashni," and she looked toward the baby. "Me help friends of +mighty hunter. Bad man in tunnel--no spirit!" + +<P> +"Men go. Spirit no take um--bad man take um." + +<P> +"Where are they now?" asked Tom. "Jove, if I could find +them the secret would be solved!" + +<P> +The woman looked fearfully around the hut and then +whispered: + +<P> +"You come--me show!" + +<P> +"Bless my toothbrush!" cried Mr. Damon. "What is going to +happen, Tom Swift?" + +<P> +"I don't know," was the answer, "but something sure is in +the wind. I guess I shot better than I knew when I killed +that condor." + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XX"></A> +<H3>Chapter XX Despair</H3> + + + +<P> +Calling to a girl of about thirteen years to look after +her baby, Masni slipped along up a rough mountain trail, +motioning to Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku to follow. Or rather, +the woman gave the sign to Tom, ignoring the others, who, +naturally, would not be left behind. Masni seemed to have +eyes for no one but the young inventor, and the manner in +which she looked at him showed the deep gratitude she felt +toward him for having saved her baby from the great condor. + +<P> +"Come," she said, in her strange Indian tongue, which Tom +could interpret well enough for himself now. + +<P> +"But where are we going, Masni?" he asked. "This isn't the +way to the tunnel." + +<P> +"Me know. Not go to tunnel now," was her answer. "Me show +you men." + +<P> +"But which men do you mean, Masni?" inquired Tom. "The +lost men, or the bad ones, who are making trouble for us? +Which men do you mean?" + +<P> +Masni only shook her head, and murmured: "Me show." + +<P> +Probably Tom's attempt to talk her language was not +sufficiently clear to her. + +<P> +"My man--he good man," she said, coming to a pause on the +rough trail after a climb which was not easy. + +<P> +"Yes, I know he is," Tom said. "But he went on a strike +with the others, Masni. He no work. He go on a 'hit,' as +Serato calls it," and Tom laughed. + +<P> +"My man he good man--but he 'fraid," said the wife. "He +want to tell you of bad mans, but he 'fraid. You save my +baby, I no 'fraid. I tell." + +<P> +"Oh, I see," said Tom. "Your husband would have given away +the secret, only he's afraid of the bad men. He likes me, +too?" + +<P> +"Sure!" Masni exclaimed. "He want tell, but 'fraid. He go +'way, I tell." + +<P> +Tom was not quite sure what it all meant, but it seemed +that after his slaying of the condor both parents were so +filled with gratitude that they wanted to reveal some secret +about the tunnel, only Masni's husband was afraid. She, +however, had been braver. + +<P> +"Something is going to happen," said Tom Swift. "I feel it +in my bones!" + +<P> +"Bless my porous plaster!" cried Mr. Damon. "I hope it +isn't anything serious." + +<P> +"We'll see," Tom went on. + +<P> +They resumed their journey up the mountain trail. It wound +in and out in a region none of them had before visited. +Though it could not be far from the tunnel, it was almost a +strange country to Tom. + +<P> +Suddenly Masni stopped in a narrow gorge where the walls +of rock rose high on either hand. She seemed looking for +something. Her sharp, black eyes scanned the cliff and then +with an exclamation of satisfaction she approached a certain +place. With a quick motion she pulled aside a mass of +tangled vines, and disclosed a path leading down through a +V shaped crack in the cliff. + +<P> +"Mans down there," she said. "You go look." + +<P> +For a moment Tom hesitated. Was this a trap? If he and his +friends entered this narrow and dark opening might not the +Indian woman roll down some rock back of them, cutting off +forever the way of escape? + +<P> +Tom turned and looked at Masni. Then he was ashamed of his +suspicion, for the honest black face, smiling at him, showed +no trace of guile. + +<P> +"You go--you see lost men," the woman urged. + +<P> +"Come on!" cried Tom. "I believe we're on the track of the +mystery!" + +<P> +He led the way, followed by Mr. Damon, while Koku came +next and then Masni. It could be no trap since she entered +it herself. + +<P> +The path widened, but not much. There was only room for +one to walk at a time. The trail twisted and turned, and Tom +was wondering how far it led, when, from behind him, came +the cry of the woman: + +<P> +"Watch now--no fall down." + +<P> +Tom halted around a sharp turn, and stood transfixed at +the sight which met his gaze. He found himself looking out +through a crack in the face of a sheer stone cliff that went +straight down for a hundred feet or more to a green-carpeted +valley. + +<P> +Tom was standing in a narrow cleft of rock--the same rock +through which they had made their way. And at the foot of +the cliff was a little encampment of Indians. There were a +dozen huts, and wandering about them, or sitting in the +shade, were a score or more of Indians. + +<P> +"There men from tunnel," said Masni, and, as he looked, +wondering, Tom saw some of the workers he knew. One +especially, was a laborer who walked with a peculiar limp. + +<P> +"The missing men!" gasped the young inventor. + +<P> +"Bless my almanac!" cried Mr. Damon. "Where?" + +<P> +"Here," answered Tom. "If you squeeze past me you can see +them." + +<P> +Mr. Damon did so. + +<P> +"How did they get here?" asked the odd man, as he looked +down in the little valley where the missing ones were +sequestered. + +<P> +"That's what we've got to find out," Tom said. "At any +rate here they are, and they seem to be enjoying life while +we've been worrying as to what had become of them. How did +they get here, Masni?" + +<P> +"Me show you. Come." + +<P> +"Wait until I take another look," said Tom. + +<P> +"Be careful they don't see you," cautioned Mr. Damon. + +<P> +"They can't very well. The cleft is screened by bushes." + +<P> +Tom looked down once more on the group of men who had so +mysteriously disappeared. The little valley stretched out +away from the face of the cliff, through which, by means of +the crack, or cleft in it, Tom and the others had come. Tom +looked down the wall of rock. It was as smooth as the side +of a building, and offered no means of getting down or up. +Doubtless there was an easier entrance to the valley on the +other side. It was like looking down into some vast hall +through an upper window or from a balcony. + +<P> +"And those men have been in hiding, or been hidden here, +ever since they disappeared from the tunnel," said Mr. +Damon. + +<P> +"It doesn't look as though they were detained by force," +Tom remarked. "I think they are being paid to stay away. How +did they get here, Masni?" + +<P> +"Me show you. Come!" + +<P> +They went back along the trail that led through the split +in the rock, until they had come to the place where the +natural curtain of vines concealed the entrance. Tom took +particular notice of this place so he would know it again. + +<P> +Then Masni led them over the mountain, and this time Tom +saw that they were approaching the tunnel. He recognized +some places where he had taken samples of rock from the +outcropping to test the strength of his explosive. + +<P> +Reaching a certain wild and desolate place, Masni made a +signal of caution. She seemed to be listening intently. +Then, as if satisfied there was no danger, she parted some +bushes and glided in, motioning the others to follow. + +<P> +"Now I wonder what's up," Tom mused. + +<P> +He and the others were soon informed. + +<P> +Masni stopped in front of a pile of brush. With a few +vigorous motions of her arms she swept it aside and revealed +a smooth slab of rock. In the centre was what seemed to be a +block of metal Masni placed her foot on this and pressed +heavily. + +<P> +And those watching saw a strange thing. + +<P> +The slab of rock tilted to one side, as if on a pivot, +revealing a square opening which seemed to lead through +solid stone. And at the far end of the opening Tom Swift saw +a glimmer of light. + +<P> +Stooping down, he looked through the hole thus strangely +opened and what he saw caused him to cry out in wonder. + +<P> +"It's the tunnel!" he cried. "I can look right down into +the tunnel. It's the incandescent lights I see. I can look +right at the ledge of rock where I kept watch that day, and +where I saw--where I saw the face of Waddington!" he cried. +"It wasn't a dream after all. This is a shaft connecting +with the tunnel. We didn't discover it because this rock +fits right in the opening in the roof. It must have been +there all the while, and some blast brought it to light. Is +this how the men got out, or were taken out of the tunnel, +Masni?" Tom asked. + +<P> +"This how," said the Indian woman. "See, here rope!" + +<P> +She pawed aside a mound of earth, and disclosed a rope +buried there, a rope knotted at intervals. This, let down +through the hole in the roof of the tunnel, provided a means +of escape, and in such a manner that the disappearance of +the men was most mysterious. + +<P> +"I see how it is!" cried Tom. "Some one interested, +Waddington probably, who knew about this old secret shaft +going down into the earth, used it as soon as our blasting +was opened that far. They got the men out this way, and hid +them in the secret valley." + +<P> +"But what for?" cried Mr. Damon. + +<P> +"To cripple us! To cause the strike by making our other +workers afraid of some evil spirit! The men were taken away +secretly, and, doubtless, have been kept in idleness ever +since--paid to stay away so the mystery would be all the +deeper. Our rivals finding they couldn't stop us in any +other way have taken our laborers away from us." + +<P> +"Bless my meal ticket! It does look like that!" cried Mr. +Damon. + +<P> +"Of course that's the secret!" cried Tom. "Blakeson & +Grinder, or some of their tools--probably the bearded man or +Waddington--found out about this shaft which led down into +our tunnel. They induced the first ten men to quit, and when +Tim went to get the fuse the rope was let down, and the men +climbed up here, one after the other. Those Indians can +climb like cats. Once the ten were out the shaft was closed +with the rock, and the ten men taken off to the valley to be +secreted there." + +<P> +"The same was done with the next fifteen, and, I suppose, +if the strike hadn't come, more of our workers would have +been induced to leave in this way. They're probably being +better paid than when earning their wages; and their +relatives must know where they are, and also be given a +bonus to keep still. No wonder they didn't make a fuss." + +<P> +"And no wonder we couldn't find any opening in the tunnel +roof. This rock must fit in as smoothly as a secret drawer +in the kind of old desk where missing wills are found in +stories." + +<P> +"You say you saw Waddington, or the bearded man?" asked +Mr. Damon. + +<P> +"At the time," replied Tom, "I thought it was a dream. Now +I know it wasn't. He must have opened the shaft just as I +awakened from a doze. He saw me and closed it again. He may +have been getting ready then to take off more of our men, so +as to scare the others. Well, we've found out the trick." + +<P> +"And what are you going to do next?" asked Mr. Damon. + +<P> +"Get those missing men back. That will break the hoodoo, +and the others will come back to work. Then we'll get on the +trail of Waddington, or Blakeson & Grinder, and put a stop +to this business. We know their secret now." + +<P> +"You mean to get the men out of the secret valley, Tom?" + +<P> +"Yes. There must be some other way into it than down the +rock where we were. How about it, Masni?" and he inquired as +to the valley. The Indian woman gave Tom to understand that +there was another entrance. + +<P> +"Well, close up this shaft now before some one sees us at +it--the bearded man, for example," Tom suggested. He took +another look down into the tunnel, which was now deserted on +account of the strike, and then Masni pressed on the +mechanism that worked the stone. She showed Tom how to do +it. + +<P> +"Just a counter-balanced rock operating on the same +principle as does a window," Tom explained, after a brief +examination. "Probably some of the old Indian tribes made +this shaft for ceremonial purposes. They never dreamed we +would drive a tunnel along at the bottom of it. The shaft +probably opened into a cave, and one of our blasts made it +part of the tunnel. Well, this is part of the secret, +anyhow. Much obliged to you, Masni!" + +<P> +The Indian woman had indeed revealed valuable information. +They covered the secret rock with brush, as it had been, hid +the rope and came away. But Tom knew how to find the place +again. + +<P> +Events moved rapidly from then on. The Titus brothers were +more than astonished when Tom told them what he had learned. +Masni had told him how to get into the secret valley by a +round about, but easy trail, and thither Tom, the +contractors, Mr. Damon and some of the white tunnel workers +went the next day. + +<P> +The sequestered men, taken completely by surprise, tried +to bolt when they saw that they were discovered, and then, +shamefacedly enough, admitted their part in the trick. + +<P> +They would not, however, reveal who had helped them escape +from the tunnel. Threats and promises of rewards were alike +unavailing, but Tom and his employers knew well enough who +it was. The tunnel workers seemed rather tired of living in +comparative luxury and idleness, and agreed to come back to +their labors. + +<P> +They packed up their few belongings, mostly cooking pots +and pans, and marched out of the valley to the village at +Rimac. + +<P> +And so the strike was broken. + +<P> +The reappearance of the missing men, in better health and +spirits than when they went away, acted like magic. The +other men, who had missed their wages, crowded back into the +shaft, and the sounds of picks and shovels were heard again +in the tunnel. + +<P> +Whether the missing ones told the real story, or whether +they made up some tale to account for their absence, Tom and +his friends could not learn. Nor did the bearded man (if he +it were who had helped in the plot), nor any representative +of Blakeson & Grinder appear. The work on the tunnel was +resumed as if nothing had happened. But Tom arranged a +bright light so it would reflect on the spot in the roof +where the moving rock was, so that if the evil face of the +bearded man, or of Waddington, appeared there again, it +would quickly be seen. A search of the neighborhood, and +diligent inquiries, failed to disclose the presence of any +of the plotters. + +<P> +And then, as if Fate was not making it hard enough for the +tunnel contractors, they encountered more trouble. It was +after Tom had set off a big blast that Tim Sullivan, after +inspecting what had happened, came out to ask. + +<P> +"I soy, Mr. Swift, why didn't yez use more powder?" + +<P> +"More powder!" cried Tom. "Why, this is the most I have +ever set off." + +<P> +"Then somethin's wrong, sor. Fer there's only a little +rock down. Come an' see fer yersilf." + +<P> +Tom hastened in. As the foreman had said, the effect of +the blast was small indeed. Only a little rock had been +shaled off. Tom picked up some of this and took it outside +for examination. + +<P> +"Why, it's harder than the hardest flint we've found yet," +he said. "The powder didn't make any impression on it at +all. I'll have to use terrific charges." + +<P> +This was done, but with little better effect. The +explosive, powerful as it was, ate only a little way into +the rock. Blast after blast had the same poor effect. + +<P> +"This won't do," said Job Titus, despairingly, one day. +"We aren't making any progress at all. There's a half mile +of this rock, according to my calculations, and at this rate +we'll be six months getting through it. By that time our +limit will be up, and we'll be forced to give up the +contract. What can we do, Tom Swift?" + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXI"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXI A New Explosive</H3> + + + +<P> +The young inventor was idly handling some pieces of the +very hard rock that had cropped out in the tunnel cut. Tom +had tested it, he had pulverized it (as well as he was +able), he had examined it under the microscope, and he had +taken great slabs of it and set off under it, or on top of +it, charges of explosive of various power to note the +effect. But the results had not been at all what he had +hoped for. + +<P> +"What's to be done, Tom?" repeated the contractor. + +<P> +"Well, Mr. Titus," was the answer, "the only thing I see +to do is to make a new explosive." + +<P> +"Can you do it, Tom?" + +<P> +The reply was characteristic. + +<P> +"I can try." + +<P> +And in the days that followed, Tom began work on a new +line. He had brought from Shopton with him much of the +needful apparatus, and he found he could obtain in Lima what +he lacked. + +<P> +A message to his father brought the reply that the new +ingredients Tom needed would be shipped. + +<P> +"The kind of explosive we need to rend that very hard +rock," the young inventor explained to the Titus brothers, +"is one that works slowly." + +<P> +"I thought all explosions had to be as quick as a flash," +said Walter. + +<P> +"Well, in a sense, they do. Yet we have quick burning and slow-burning +powders, the same as we have fuses. A quick-burning explosive is all +right in soft rock, or in soil with rock and earth mingled. But in +rock that is harder than flint if you use a quick explosive, only the +outer surface of the rock will be scaled off." + +<P> +"If you take a hammer and bring it down with all your +force on a hard rock you may chip off a lot of little +pieces, or you may crack the rock, but you won't, under +ordinary circumstances, pulverize it as we want to do in the +tunnel." + +<P> +"On the other hand, if you take a smaller hammer, and keep +tapping the rock with comparatively gentle blows, you will +set up a series of vibrations, that, in time, will cause the +hard rock to break up into any number of small pieces." + +<P> +"Now that is the kind of explosive I want one that will +deal a succession of constant blows at the hard rock instead +of one great big blast." + +<P> +"Can you make it, Tom?" + +<P> +"Well, I don't know. I'll do the best I can." + +<P> +From then on Tom was busy with his experiments. + +<P> +Work on the tunnel did not cease while he was searching +for a new explosive. There was plenty of the old explosive +left and charges of this were set off as fast as holes could +be drilled to receive it. But comparatively little was +accomplished. Sometimes more rock would be loosed than at +others, and the native laborers, now seemingly perfectly +contented, would be kept busy. Again, when a heavy blast +would be set off hardly a dozen dump cars could be filled. + +<P> +But the work must go on. Already the time limit was +getting perilously close, and the contractors did not doubt +that their rivals were only waiting for a chance to step in +and take their places. + +<P> +Nothing more had been seen or heard of the bearded man, +Waddington, or Blakeson & Grinder. But that the rival firm +had not given up was evidenced by the efforts made in New +York to cripple, financially, the firm in which Tom was +interested. In fact, at one time the Titus brothers were so +tied up that they could not get money enough to pay their +men. But Tom cabled his father, who was quite wealthy, and +Mr. Swift loaned the contractors enough to proceed with +until they could dispose of some securities. + +<P> +It might be mentioned that Tom was to get a large sum if +the tunnel were completed on time, so it was to his interest +and his father's, to bring this about if he could. + +<P> +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 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. + +<P> +It must not be supposed that Professor Bumper was idle all +this while. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"No luck," he would report. "The hidden city of Pelone is +still lost." + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"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." + +<P> +But in a week or so he would come back, worn out and +discouraged again. + +<P> +"The ruins were only those of a native village," he would +say. "No trace of an ancient civilization there." + +<P> +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. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +There seemed to be no further trouble among the Indian +tunnel workers. Those who had disappeared--who had, +seemingly, gone willingly up the knotted rope to hide +themselves in the valley--kept on with their work. If they +told their fellows why and where they had gone, the others +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. + +<P> +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: + +<P> +"I think I have it!" + +<P> +"Have you? Good!" cried Job Titus. + +<P> +"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?" + +<P> +"Yes, we have some big slabs in there." + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"Well, I guess we're ready," announced the young inventor, +as he looked about him. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +Tom held the electric switch in his hand, and was about to +press it. + +<P> +"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!" + +<P> +Tom pressed the switch and, as he did so, there was a cry +of alarm from Mr. Damon. + +<P> +"Bless my safety match, Tom!" cried the old man. "Look! +Koku!" + +<P> +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 fragments by Tom's new explosive. + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXII The Fight</H3> + + + +<P> +"Get off there, Koku!" + +<P> +"Stand up!" + +<P> +"Run!" + +<P> +"Get out uf the way! That's going up!" + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"Get up! Get up!" cried Tom, frantically. "The powder is +going off, Koku!" + +<P> +"Can't you stop it?" asked Job Titus. + +<P> +"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!" + +<P> +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. + +<P> +Then Mr. Damon had an inspiration. + +<P> +"Call him to come to you, Tom!" shouted the odd man. "He +always comes to you in a hurry, you know. Call him!" + +<P> +Tom acted on the suggestion at once. + +<P> +"Here, Koku!" he cried. "Come here, I want you! Kelos!" + +<P> +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. + +<P> +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 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: + +<P> +"Me come, Master!" + +<P> +"You'd better!" cried the young inventor. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"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!" + +<P> +"Bless my handkerchief!" cried Mr. Damon. "Think of what +might have happened to Koku if he had been sitting there." + +<P> +"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 afterward--well, he might have +been pretty well shaken up. He got away just in time." + +<P> +The giant looked thoughtfully back toward the place of the +experimental blast. + +<P> +"Master, him do that?" he asked. + +<P> +"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." + +<P> +"Um," murmured the giant. "Koku--he--he --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. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"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." + +<P> +"Well, we'll try not to have that happen," said Tom, with +a smile. + +<P> +"If you're going to use bigger charges of this new +explosive, Tom, won't more rock be brought down?" asked +Walter Titus. + +<P> +"That's what I hope." + +<P> +"Then we'll need more laborers to bring it out of the +tunnel." + +<P> +"Yes, we could use more I guess. The faster the blasted +rock is removed, the quicker I can put in new charges." + +<P> +"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." + +<P> +The Indian foreman readily agreed to get more laborers. + +<P> +"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. + +<P> +"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. + +<P> +"Sure, get all the giants you can," Tom said. "But I guess +there aren't any in Peru." + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"Say, he's a whopper all right!" exclaimed Tom. "But he +isn't as big or as strong as Koku." + +<P> +"He comes pretty near it," said Job Titus. "With a dozen +like him we'd finish the tunnel on time, thanks to your +explosive." + +<P> +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. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +The charge was fired and a great mass of broken rock +brought down inside the tunnel. + +<P> +"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." + +<P> +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. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"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. + +<P> +Tom was about to make a remark when Tim Sullivan came +running out of the tunnel, his face showing fright and +wonder. + +<P> +"What's up now, I wonder," said Mr. Titus. "More men +missing?" + +<P> +"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!" + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXIII"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXIII A Great Blast</H3> + + + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"That's thim!" cried Tim. "They're chawin' each other up!" + +<P> +"Koku and that Indian giant fighting!" cried Tom. "What's +it all about?" + +<P> +"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. + +<P> +"And it will be some fight!" mused the young inventor. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +With their arms locked about one another, they swayed this +way and that--a 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. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +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 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. + +<P> +"Look out, Koku!" yelled Tom. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"Bless my bath sponge!" cried Mr. Damon. "This is awful!" + +<P> +"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!" + +<P> +"Koku, stop!" called Tom. "You must not fight any more!" + +<P> +"No fight more!" gasped the giant, through his clenched +teeth. "This end fight!" + +<P> +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. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"Ah!" breathed Koku, stretching himself, and extending his +brawny arms. "Fight all over, Master." + +<P> +"Yes, so it seems, Koku," said Tom, solemnly, "but you +have killed him. Shame on you!" and he spoke bitterly. + +<P> +Job Titus had hurried over to the fallen giant. + +<P> +"He isn't dead," he called, "but I guess he won't wrestle +or fight any more. He's badly crippled." + +<P> +"And him no more try to blow up tunnel, either," said Koku +in his hoarse voice. "Me fix him! No more him take powder, +and make tunnel all bust." + +<P> +"What do you mean, Koku?" asked Tom. "Is that why you +fought him? Did he try to wreck the tunnel?" + +<P> +"So him done, Master. But Koku see--Koku stop. Then um +fight." + +<P> +"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?" + +<P> +Then the giant explained in his own language, Tom Swift +translating, for Koku spoke English but indifferently well. + +<P> +"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." + +<P> +"Bless my shoe string!" gasped Mr. Damon. "And a terrible +end it was. Will Lamos die?" + +<P> +"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." + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"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 +brought Lamos here. We'll fire him!" + +<P> +This was done, though the Indian protested his innocence. +But he could not be trusted. + +<P> +"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." + +<P> +"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." + +<P> +"What is that?" asked Walter Titus. + +<P> +"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?" + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"Take the chance!" exclaimed Job. "It's sink or swim +anyhow. Set off the big blast, Tom." + +<P> +"All right. We'll get ready for it as soon as we can." + +<P> +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. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +Professor Bumper came and went as he pleased, but his +quest was 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. + +<P> +"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." + +<P> +Everything was in readiness. What would the morrow bring--success or +failure? + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXIV"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXIV The Hidden City</H3> + + + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"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. + +<P> +"All out, sor," Tim responded. "Yez kin fire whin ready, +Mr. Swift." + +<P> +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 there should be +time to prepare one. + +<P> +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. + +<P> +"Well, we may as well have it over with," said Tom in a +low voice. Every one was very quiet--tensely quiet. + +<P> +The young inventor looked up to see Professor Bumper +observing him. + +<P> +"Why, Professor!" Tom exclaimed, "I thought you had gone +off to the mountains again, looking for the lost city." + +<P> +"I am going, Tom, very soon. I thought I would stop and +see the effect of your big blast. This is my last trip. If I +do not find the hidden city of Pelone this time, I am going +to give up." + +<P> +"Give up!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my fountain pen!" + +<P> +"Oh, not altogether," went on the bald-headed scientist. +"I mean I will give up searching in this part of Peru, and +go elsewhere. But I will never completely give up the +search, for I am sure the hidden city exists somewhere under +these mountains," and he looked off toward the snow-covered +peaks of the Andes. + +<P> +Tom looked at the battery box. He drew a long breath, and +said: + +<P> +"Here she goes!" + +<P> +There was a contraction of his hand as he pressed the +switch over, and then, for perhaps a half second, nothing +happened. Just for an instant Tom feared something had gone +wrong that the electric current had failed, or that the +wires had become disconnected--perhaps through some action +of the plotting rivals. + +<P> +And then, gently at first, but with increasing intensity, +the solid ground on which they were all standing seemed to +rock and sway, to heave itself up, and then sink down. + +<P> +"Bless my--" began Mr. Damon, but he got no further, for a +mighty gust of wind swept out of the tunnel, and blew off +his hat. That gust was but a gentle breeze, though, compared +to what followed. For there came such a rush of air that it +almost blew over those standing near the opening of the +great shaft driven under the mountain. There was a roar as +of Niagara, a howling as in the Cave of the Winds, and they +all bent to the blast. + +<P> +Then followed a dull, rumbling roar, not as loud as might +have been expected, but awful in its intensity. Deep down +under the very foundations of the earth it seemed to rumble. + +<P> +"Run! Run back!" cried Tom Swift. "There's a back-draft +and the powder gas is poisonous. Stoop down and run back!" + +<P> +They understood what he meant. The vapor from the powder +was deadly if breathed in a confined space. Even in the open +it gave one a terrible headache. And Tom could see floating +out of the tunnel the first wisps of smoke from the fired +explosive. It was lighter than air, and would rise. Hence +the necessity, as in a smoke-filled room, of keeping low +down where the air is purer. + +<P> +They all rushed back, stooping low. Mr. Damon stumbled and +fell, but Koku picked him up and, tucking him under one arm, +as he might have done a child, the giant followed Tom to a +place of safety. + +<P> +"Well, Tom, it went off all right," said Mr. Job Titus, as +they stood among the shacks of the workmen and watched the +smoke pouring out of the tunnel mouth. + +<P> +"Yes, it went off. But did it do the work? That's what +we've got to find out." + +<P> +They waited impatiently for the deadly vapor to clear out +of the tunnel. It was more than an hour before they dared +venture in, and then it was with smarting eyes and puckered +throats. But the atmosphere was quickly clearing. + +<P> +"Switch on the lights," cried Tom to Tim, for the +illuminating current had been cut off when the blast was +fired. "Let's see what we've brought down." + +<P> +Following the eager young inventor came the contractors, +some of the white workers, Mr. Damon and Professor Bumper. +The little scientist said he would like to see the effect of +the big blast. + +<P> +Along they stumbled over pieces of rock, large and small. + +<P> +"Some force to it," observed Job Titus, as he observed +pieces of rock close to the mouth of the tunnel. "If it only +exerted the force the other way, against the face of the +rock, as well as back this way, we'll be all right." + +<P> +"The greater force was in the opposite direction," Tom +said. + +<P> +A big search-light had been got ready to flash on the +place where the blast had been set off. This was to enable +them to see how much rock had been torn away. And, as they +reached the place where the flint-like wall had been, they +saw a strange sight. + +<P> +"Bless my strawberry short-cake!" gasped Mr. Damon. "What +a hole!" + +<P> +"It is a hole," admitted Tom, in a low voice. "A bigger +hole than I dared hope for." + +<P> +For a great cave, seemingly, had been blown in the face of +the rock wall that had hindered the progress of the tunnel. +A great black void confronted them. + +<P> +"Shift the light over this way," called Tom to Walter +Titus, who was operating it. "I can't see anything." + +<P> +The great beam of light flashed into the void, and then a +murmur of awe came from every throat. + +<P> +For there, revealed in the powerful electrical rays, was +what seemed to be a long tunnel, high and wide, as smooth as +a paved street. And on either side of it were what appeared +to be buildings, some low, others taller. And, branching off +from the main tunnel, or street, were other passages, also +lined with buildings, some of which had crumbled to ruins. + +<P> +"Bless my dictionary!" cried Mr. Damon. "What is it?" + +<P> +Professor Bumper had crawled forward over the mass of +broken rock. He gazed as if fascinated at what the +searchlight showed, and then he cried: + +<P> +"I have found it! I have found it! The hidden city of Pelone!" + + + + +<P> +<A NAME="XXV"></A> +<H3>Chapter XXV Success</H3> + + + +<P> +Had it not been for Tom Swift, the excited professor would +have rushed pellmell over the jagged pile of rocks into the +great cave which had been opened by the blast, the cave in +which the scientist declared was the lost city for which he +had been searching. But the young inventor grasped Mr. +Bumper by the arm. + +<P> +"Better wait a bit," Tom suggested. "There may be powder +gas in there. Some of it must have blown forward." + +<P> +"I don't care!" excitedly cried the professor. "That is +the hidden city! I'm sure of it! I have found it at last! I +must go in and examine it!" + +<P> +"There'll be plenty of time," said Tom. "It isn't going to +run away. Wait until I make a test. Tim, hand me one of those +torches." + +<P> +Some torches of a very inflammable wood were used to test +for the presence of the deadly smoke-gas. Lighting one of +these, Tom tossed it into the big excavation. + +<P> +It fell to the stone floor--to the stone street to be more +exact--and, flaring up brightly, further revealed the rows +of houses as they stood, silent and uninhabited. + +<P> +"It's all right," Tom announced. "There's no danger so +long as the torch burns. You can go on, Professor." + +<P> +And Professor Bumper rushed forward, scrambling over the +pile of blasted rock, followed by Tom and the others. Some +of the debris from the explosion had fallen into the cave, +and was scattered for some distance along the main street of +what had been Pelone. But beyond that the way was clear. + +<P> +"Yes, it is Pelone," cried Professor Bumper. "See!" + +<P> +He pointed to inscriptions in queer characters over the +doorway of some of the houses, but he alone could read them. + +<P> +"I have found Pelone!" he kept repeating over and over +again. + +<P> +And that is just what had happened. That last great blast +Tom Swift had set off had broken down the rock wall that hid +the lost city from view. There it was, buried deep down +under the mountain, where it had been covered from sight +ages ago by some mighty earthquake or landslide; perhaps +both. And the earth and rocks had fallen over the main +portion of the city of Pelone in such a way--in such an arch +formation--that the greater part of it was preserved from +the pressure of the mountain above it. + +<P> +The outlying portions were crushed into dust by the awful +pressure of the mountain--millions of tons of stone--but +where the natural arch had formed the weight was kept off +the buildings, most of which were as perfect as they had +been before the cataclysm came. + +<P> +The buildings were of stone block construction, mostly +only one story in height, though some were two. They were +simply made, somewhat after the fashion of the Aztecs. A +look into some of them by the light of portable electric +lamps showed that the houses were furnished with some degree +of taste and luxury. There were traces of an ancient +civilization. + +<P> +But of the inhabitants, there was not a trace: either they +had fled before the earthquake or the volcanic eruption had +engulfed the city, or the countless centuries had turned +their very bones to dust. + +<P> +"Oh, what a find! What a find!" murmured Professor Bumper. +"I shall be famous! And so will you, Tom Swift. For it was +your blast that revealed the lost city of Pelone. Your name +will be honored by every archeological society in the world, +and all will be eager to make you an honorary member." + +<P> +"That's all very nice," said Tom, "but what pleases me +better is that this tunnel is a success." + +<P> +"Success!" cried Mr. Damon. "I should call it a failure, +Tom Swift. Why, you've run smack into an old city, and +you'll have either to curve the tunnel to one side, or start +a new one." + +<P> +"Nothing of the sort!" laughed Tom. "Don't you see? The +tunnel comes right up to the main street of Pelone. And the +street is as straight as a die, and just the width and +height of the tunnel. All we will have to do will be to keep +on blasting away, where the main street comes to an end, and +our tunnel will be finished. The street is over half a mile +long, I should judge, and we'll save all that blasting. The +tunnel will be finished in time!" + +<P> +"So it will!" cried Job Titus. "We can use the main street +of the hidden city as part of the tunnel." + +<P> +"Use the street all you like," said Mr. Bumper. "but leave +the houses to me. They are a perfect mine of ancient lore +and information. At last I have found it! The ancient, +hidden city of Pelone, spoken of on the Peruvian tablets, of +gold." + +<P> +The story of the discoveries the scientist made in Pelone +is an enthralling one. But this is a story of Tom Swift and +his big tunnel, and no place for telling of the +archeological discoveries. + +<P> +Suffice it to say that Professor Bumper, though be found +no gold, for which the contractors hoped, made many curious +finds in the ancient houses. He came upon traces of a +strange civilization, though he could find no record of what +had caused the burial of Pelone beneath the mountains. He +wrote many books about his discovery, giving Tom Swift due +credit for uncovering the place with the mighty blast. Other +scientists came in flocks, and for a time Pelone was almost +as busy a place as it had been originally. + +<P> +Even when the tunnel was completed and trains ran through +it, the scientists kept on with their work of classifying +what they found. An underground station was built on the +main street of the old city, and visitors often wandered +through the ancient houses, wherein was the bone-dust of the +dead and gone people. + +<P> +But to go back to the story of Tom Swift. Tom's surmise +was right. He and the contractors were able to use the main +street of Pelone as part of their tunnel, and a good half +mile of blasting through solid rock was saved. The flint +came to an end at the extremity of Pelone, and the last part +of the tunnel had only to be dug through sand-stone and soft +dirt, an easy undertaking. + +<P> +So the big bore was finished on time--ahead of time in +fact, and Titus Brothers received from Senor Belasdo, the +Peruvian representative, a large bonus of money, in which +Tom Swift shared. + +<P> +"So our rivals didn't balk us after all," said Walter +Titus, "though they tried mighty hard." + +<P> +The big tunnel was finished--at least Tom Swift's work on +it. All that remained to do was to clear away the debris and +lay the connecting rails. Tom and Mr. Damon prepared to go +back home. The latter's work was done. As for Professor +Bumper, nothing could take him from Pelone. He said he was +going to live there, and, practically, he did. + +<P> +Tom, Koku and Mr. Damon returned to Lima, thence to go to +Callao to take the steamer for San Francisco. One day the +manager of the hotel spoke to them. + +<P> +"You are Americans, are you not?" he asked. + +<P> +"Yes," answered Tom. "Why?" + +<P> +"Because there is another American here. He is friendless +and alone, and he is dying. He has no friends, he says. +Perhaps--" + +<P> +"Of course we'll do what we can for him," said Tom, +impulsively. "Where is he?" + +<P> +With Mr. Damon he entered the room where the dying man +lay. He had caught a fever, the hotel manager said, and +could not recover. Tom, catching sight of the sufferer, +cried: + +<P> +"The bearded man! Waddington!" + +<P> +He had recognized the mysterious person who had been on +the <i>Bellaconda</i>, and the man whose face had stared at him +through the secret shaft of the tunnel. + +<P> +"Yes, the 'bearded man' now," said the sufferer in a +hoarse voice, "and some one else too. You are right. I am +Waddington!" + +<P> +And so it proved. He had grown a beard to disguise himself +so he might better follow Tom Swift and Mr. Titus. And he +had followed them, seeking to prevent the completion of the +tunnel. But he had not been successful. + +<P> +Waddington it was who had thrown the bomb, though he +declared he only hoped to disable Tom and Mr. Titus, and not +to injure them. He was fighting for delay. And it was +Waddington, working in conjunction with the rascally foreman +Serato, who had induced the tunnel workers to desert so +mysteriously, hoping to scare the other Indians away. He +nearly succeeded too, had it not been for the gratitude of +the woman whose baby Tom had saved from the condor. + +<P> +Waddington had been an actor before he became involved +with the rival contractors. He was smooth shaven when first +he went to Shopton, to spy on Mr. Titus, whose movements he +had been commanded to follow by Blakeson & Grinder. Then he +disappeared after Mr. Titus chased him, only to reappear, in +disguise, on board the <i>Bellaconda</i>, as Senor Pinto. + +<P> +Waddington, meanwhile, had grown a beard and this, with +his knowledge of theatrical makeup, enabled him to deceive +even Mr. Titus. Of course it was comparatively easy to +deceive Tom, who had not known him. Waddington had really +been ill when he called for help on the ship, and he had not +noticed that it was Tom and Mr. Titus who came into his +stateroom to his aid. When he did recognize them, he relied +on his disguise to screen him from recognition, and he was +successful. He had only pretended to be ill, though, the +time he slipped out and threw the bomb. + +<P> +Reaching Peru he at once began his plotting. Serato told +him about the secret shaft leading into the tunnel, and with +the knotted rope, and with the aid of the faithless foreman, +the men were got out of the tunnel and paid to hide away. +Waddington was planning further disappearances when Tom saw +him, but thought it a dream. + +<P> +Masni, the Indian woman, out herb-hunting one day, had +seen Waddington, 'the bearded man' as he then was--working +the secret stone. Hidden, she observed him and told her +husband, who was afraid to reveal what he knew. But when Tom +saved the baby the woman rewarded him in the only way +possible. And it was Serato, who, at Waddington's +suggestion, caused the "hit" among the men by working on +their superstitious fears. + +<P> +Waddington, knowing that he was dying, confessed +everything, and begged forgiveness from Tom and his friends, +which was granted, in as much as no real harm had been done. +Waddington was but a tool in the hands of the rival +contractors, who deserted him in his hour of need. His last +hours, however, were made as comfortable as possible by the +generosity of Tom and Mr. Damon. + +<P> +No effort was made to bring Blakeson & Grinder to justice, +as there was no evidence against them after Waddington died. +And, as the tunnel was finished, the Titus brothers had no +further cause for worry. + +<P> +"But if it had not been for Tom's big blast, and the +discovery of the hidden city of Pelone just in the right +place, we might be digging at that tunnel yet," said Job +Titus. + +<P> +The day before the steamer was to sail, Tom Swift received +a cable message. Its receipt seemed to fill him with +delight, so that Mr. Damon asked: + +<P> +"Is it from your father, Tom?" + +<P> +"No it's from Mary Nestor. She says her father has +forgiven me. They have been away, and Mary has been ill, +which accounts for no letters up to now. But everything is +all right now, and they feel that the dynamite trick wasn't +my fault. But, all the same, I'm going to teach Eradicate to +read," concluded Tom. + +<P> +"I think it would be a good idea," agreed Mr. Damon. + +<P> +Tom, Mr. Damon and Koku, bidding farewell to the friends +they had made in Peru, went aboard the steamer, Job Titus +and his brother coming to see them off. + +<P> +"Give us an option on all that explosive you make, Tom Swift!" +begged Walter Titus. "We were so successful with this tunnel, +thanks to you, that the government is going to have us dig another. +Will you come down and help?" + +<P> +"Maybe," said Tom, with a smile. "But I'm going home first," +and once more he read the message from Mary Nestor. + +<P> +And as Tom, on the deck of the steamer, waved his hands to +Professor Bumper and his other friends whom he was leaving +in Peru, we also, will say farewell. + +<PRE> +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Swift and His Big Tunnel +by Victor Appleton + +************************************************************************ + +This file should be named 19tom10h.htm or 19tom10h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 19tom11.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 19tom10a.htm + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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