& his big tunnel(汤姆·史威夫特和他的大遂道)-第3章
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You've been to wilder countries； and farther away than that。〃
〃Yes； I knowit'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
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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。
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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
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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 meMr。 DamonMr。 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
