& his big tunnel(汤姆·史威夫特和他的大遂道)-第13章
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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；
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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。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
〃Thatthat 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 stateroomthe 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！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
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？〃
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〃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 meOh； 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？〃
〃Nonot 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 yo
