& his big tunnel(汤姆·史威夫特和他的大遂道)-第34章
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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。〃
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〃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！〃
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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
thata 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
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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
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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 seeKoku 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' p
