tom swift & his electric runabout(汤姆史威特和他的电力小轿车)-第32章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to the bridge； another to the car； and I guess we can get out of the mud。
We'll try； anyhow。〃
〃Well； I must say you looked pretty far ahead；〃 complimented Mr。
Damon。
From a box under the tonneau Tom took out a thin but strong rope and
two compound pulleys； which would enable considerable force to be
applied。 Mr。 Sharp detached one of the powerful oil lamps； and the three
travelers took a look at the auto。 It was indeed deep in the mud and it
seemed like a hopeless task to try to get it out unaided。 But Tom insisted
that they could do it； and the rope was soon attached； the hook of one
pulley being slipped around one of the braces of the bridge。
〃Now； all together！〃 cried the lad； as he and his friends grasped the
long rope。 They gave a great heave。 At first it seemed like pulling on a
stone wall。 The rope strained and the pulleys creaked。
〃Iguesswewillpullthebridgeover！〃 gasped Mr。 Sharp。
111
… Page 112…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃Something's got to give way！〃 puffed Tom。 〃Now； once more！ All
together！〃
Suddenly they felt the rope moving。 The pulleys creaked still more and；
by the light of the lamp； they could see that the auto was slowly being
pulled backward； out of the mud； and onto the hard road。 In a few minutes
it was ready to proceed again。
The rope and pulleys were put away； and； after Tom had made an
examination of the car to see that it had sustained no damage； they were
off again； making good time to the hotel in Burgfield； where they spent the
night。 They had an early breakfast； and； as Tom went out to the barn to
look at his car； he saw it surrounded by a curious throng of men and boys。
One of the boys was turning some of the handles and levers。
〃Here！ Quit that！〃 yelled Tom； and the meddlesome lad leaped down
in fright。 〃Do you want to start the car and have it smash into something？〃
demanded the young inventor。
〃Aw； nothin' happened；〃 retorted the lad。 〃I pulled every handle on it；
an' it didn't move。'~
〃Good reason；〃 murmured Tom； for he had taken the precaution to
remove a connecting plug； without which the machine could not be
started。
The three were soon under way again； and covered many miles over
the fine country roads； the weather conditions being delightful。 On inquiry
they found that by taking an infrequently used highway； they could save
several miles。 It was over an unoccupied part of country； rather wild and
desolate； but they did not mind that。
They were whizzing along； talking of Tom's chances for winning the
race when； after climbing a slight grade； the auto came to a sudden stop on
the summit。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp。 〃Why are you stopping here；
Tom？〃
〃I didn't stop；〃 was the surprising answer； and the lad shoved the
starting lever back and forth。
But there was no response。 There was no hum from the motor。 The
machine was 〃dead。〃
112
… Page 113…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃That's queer；〃 murmured the young inventor
〃Maybe a fuse blew out；〃 suggested Mr。 Damon； that seeming to be his
favorite form of trouble。
〃If it had you'd have known it；〃 remarked Mr。 Sharp。
〃There's plenty of current in the battery； according to the registering
gauge； murmured the lad。 〃I can't understand it。〃 He reversed the current；
thinking the wires might have become crossed； but the machine would
move neither backward nor forward； yet the dial indicated that there was
enough power stored away to send it a hundred miles or more。
〃Perhaps the dial hand has become caught；〃 suggested Mr。 Sharp。
〃That sometimes happens on a steam gauge； and indicates a high pressure
when there isn't any。 Hit it slightly； and see if the hand swings back。〃
Tom did so。 At once the hand fell to zero； indicating that there was not
an ampere of current left。 The battery was exhausted； but this fact had not
been indicated on the gauge。
〃I see now！〃 cried Tom。 〃It was those fellows at the hotel barn！ They
monkeyed with the mechanism； short circuited the battery； and jammed
the gauge so I couldn't tell when my power was gone。 If I had known there
wasn't enough to carry us I could have recharged the battery at the hotel。
But I figured that I had enough current for the entire trip； and so there
would have been； if it hadn't leaked away。 Now we're in a pretty pickle。〃
〃Bless my hat band！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Does that mean we can't
move？〃
〃Guess that's about it；〃 answered Mr。 Sharp； and Tom nodded。
〃Well； why can't we go on to some place where they sell electricity；
and get enough to take us where we want to go？〃 asked the odd character；
whose ideas of machinery were somewhat hazy。
〃The only trouble is we can't carry the heavy car with us；〃 replied Tom。
〃It's too big to pick up and take to a charging station。〃
〃Then we've got to wait until some one comes along with a team of
horses； and tows us in；〃 commented Mr。 Sharp。 〃And that will be some
time； on this lonely road。〃
Tom shook his head despondently。 He went all over the car again； but
was forced to the first conclusion； that the reserve current had leaked away；
113
… Page 114…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
in consequence of the meddling prank of the youth at the hotel。 The
situation was far from pleasant； and the delay would seriously interfere
with their plans。
Suddenly； as Tom was pacing up and down the road； he heard from
afar； a peculiar humming sound。 He paused to listen。
〃Trolley car；〃 observed Mr。 Sharp。 〃Maybe one of us could go
somewhere on the trolley and get help。 There it is；〃 and he pointed to the
electric vehicle； moving along about half a mile away； at the foot of a
gentle slope。
At the sight of the car Tom uttered a cry。 〃I have it！〃 he exclaimed。
〃None of us need go for help！ It's right at hand！〃 His companions looked
curiously； as the young inventor pointed triumphantly to the fast
disappearing electric。
114
… Page 115…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER XXIV
ON THE TRACK
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃Will the electric trolley pull
us to a charging station？〃
〃No； we'll not need to go to a station；〃 answered the youth。 〃If we can
get my car to the trolley tracks I can charge my battery from there。 And I
think we can push the auto near enough。 It's down hill； and I've got a long
wire so we won't have to go too close。〃
〃Good！〃 cried Mr。 Sharp。 〃But attach the rope to the front of the car；
Tom。 Mr。 Damon and I will pull it。 You'll have to ride in it to steer it。〃
〃We can take turns at riding；〃 was Tom's answer； for he did not want
his companions to do all the work。
〃Nonsense！ You ride；〃
