tom swift & his electric runabout(汤姆史威特和他的电力小轿车)-第13章
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securely fastened to a tree； not far from the camp…fire； which was
replenished from time to time。
〃Now for the judgment！〃 called one of the masked lads； in what he
meant to be a sepulchral tone。 〃What is the charge against the prisoner？
Brother Number One of the Deep Forest Throng； what is your
accusation？〃
〃He's a regular snob； that's what's the trouble；〃 answered Andy
Foger； though whether he was 〃Brother Number One；〃 did not appear。
〃He's too fresh andand〃
〃I'll make you wish you felt fresh when I get hold of you； Andy；〃
murmured Tom。
〃Quiet！〃 cried a tall lad。 〃What's the next charge？〃
〃He keeps an old colored man on guard at his place；〃 was the answer；
and Tom had no difficulty in recognizing the voice of Sid Holton。 〃The
coon throws whitewash all over us。 I got some of it。〃
〃You wouldn't have； if you'd minded your own business；〃 retorted Tom。
〃It served you right！〃
〃What is the verdict on the prisoner？〃 asked one who seemed to be the
leader。
〃I say let's tar and feather him！〃 cried Andy suddenly。 〃There's a barrel
of tar back in the woods here； and we can get some feathers from a
chicken coop。 That would make him so he wouldn't be so uppish； I guess！〃
〃That's right！ Tar and feathers！〃 exclaimed several。
Our hero's heart sank。 He was not afraid； but he did not relish the
indignity that was proposed。 He resolved to fight to the last ounce of his
strength against the masked lads。
〃Can we get a kettle to heat the tar in？〃 asked some one。
〃We'll find one；〃 answered Sam Snedecker。 〃Come on； let's do it。
You'll look pretty； Tom Swift； when we're through with you；〃 he exulted。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
Tom did not answer； but there was fierce anger in his heart。 The tar and
feather proposal seemed to meet with general favor。
〃Members of the Deep Forest Throng； we will hold a consultation；〃
proposed the leader； in his assumed deep voice。 〃Come over here； to one
side。 Brother Number Six； guard the prisoner well。〃
〃There ain't no need to；〃 answered a lad who had been instructed to
mount guard over Tom。 〃He's tied so tight he can't move。 I want to hear
what you say。〃
〃Very well then；〃 assented the leader； 〃But look to his bonds。〃
The lad made a hasty examination of the ropes binding the young
inventor to the tree； and Tom was glad that the examination was a hasty
one。 For he feared the guard might discover that one hand had been
worked nearly free。 The young inventor had done this while he leered at
his captors。
Tom was not going to submit tamely to the nonsense； and from the
moment he had been tied； he had been trying to get loose。 He had nearly
succeeded in freeing one hand when the crowd of masked boys moved off
to one side； where they presently began to talk in excited whispers。
〃I wonder how they came to catch me；〃 thought the prisoner； as he
worked feverishly to further loosen the ropes。 〃This looks as if it was a
put…up job； with the masks； and everything。〃 Later he learned that the
idea was the outcome of a proposal of one of the new arrivals in town。 He
had organized the 〃Deep Forest Throng；〃 as a sort of secret society； and
Andy and his cronies had been induced to join。 It was Andy's proposal to
capture Tom； though； and； having seen him depart for Mansburg on his
motor… cycle； and knowing that he would return along a road that ran near
the woods where the Throng met； suggested that they take Tom captive。
The idea was enthusiastically received； and Andy and his cronies thought
they saw a chance to be revenged。
Tom； while he picked at the ropes； listened to what the boys were
saying。 He heard frequent mention of tar and feathers； and began to
believe； that unless he could get free； while they were off there consulting；
he might be forced to submit to the humiliating ordeal。
He managed to get one hand comparatively free； so that he could move
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
it about； but then he struck several hard knots； and could make no further
progress。 The conference seemed on the point of breaking up。
〃One of you go for a big kettle to boil the tar in；〃 ordered the leader；
〃and the rest of you dig up some feathers。〃
〃I must get loose！〃 thought Tom desperately。 〃If they try to tar and
feather me it will be a risky business。 I've got to get loose！ They may burn
me severely！〃
But； though he tried with all his strength； the ropes would not loosen
another bit。 He had one hand free； and that was all。 The crowd was moving
back toward him。
〃My knife！〃 thought the captive quickly。 〃If I can reach that in my
pocket I can cut the ropes！ Once I get loose I'll fight the whole crowd！〃
He managed to get his free hand into his pocket。 His fingers touched
something。 It was not his knife； and； for a moment he felt a pang of
disappointment。 Then； as he realized what it was that he had grasped； a
new idea came to him。
〃This will be better than the knife！〃 he thought exultantly。 The crowd
of lads was now surrounding him； some distance from the fire； which
burned in front of the captive。
〃Sentence has been passed upon you；〃 remarked the leader。 〃Prepare to
meet thy doom！ Get the materials； brothers！〃
〃One moment！〃 called Tom； for he wanted the crowd all present to
witness what he was about to do。 〃I'll give you one chance to let me go
peaceably。 If you don't〃
〃Well； what will you do？〃 demanded Andy sneeringly； as he pulled his
mask further over his face。 〃I guess you won't do anything； Tom Swift。〃
〃I'll give you one chance to let me go； and I'll agree to say nothing
about this joke；〃 went on Tom。 〃If you don't I'll blow this place up！〃
For a moment there was a silence。
〃Ha！ Ha！ Ho！ Ho！〃 laughed Sam Snedecker。 〃Listen to him！ He'll blow
the place up！ I'd like to see you do it！ You can't get loose in the first place；
and you haven't anything to blow it up with in the second。 I'd like to see
you do it； hey； fellers？〃
〃Sure；〃 came the answering chorus。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃Would you？〃 asked Tom quickly。 〃Then watch。 Stand back if you
don't want to get hurt； and remember that I gave you a chance to let me
go！〃
Tom made a rapid motion with the hand he had gotten loose。 He threw
something to ward the blazing fire； which was now burning well。
Something white sailed through the air； and fell amid the hot embers。
There was a moment's pause； and then a blinding flash of blue fire
lighted up the woods； and a dull rumble； as when gun…powder is lighted in
the open followed。 A great cloud of white smoke arose； as the vivid blue
glare died away； and it seemed as if a great wind swept over the place。
Several of the masked
