& his big tunnel(汤姆·史威夫特和他的大遂道)-第38章
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only pretended to be ill; though; the time he slipped out and threw the
bomb。
Reaching Peru he at once began his plotting。 Serato told him about the
secret shaft leading into the tunnel; and with the knotted rope; and with the
aid of the faithless foreman; the men were got out of the tunnel and paid to
hide away。 Waddington was planning further disappearances when Tom
saw him; but thought it a dream。
Masni; the Indian woman; out herb…hunting one day; had seen
Waddington; 'the bearded man' as he then wasworking the secret stone。
Hidden; she observed him and told her husband; who was afraid to reveal
what he knew。 But when Tom saved the baby the woman rewarded him in
the only way possible。 And it was Serato; who; at Waddington's suggestion;
caused the 〃hit〃 among the men by working on their superstitious fears。
Waddington; knowing that he was dying; confessed everything; and
begged forgiveness from Tom and his friends; which was granted; in as
much as no real harm had been done。 Waddington was but a tool in the
hands of the rival contractors; who deserted him in his hour of need。 His
last hours; however; were made as comfortable as possible by the
generosity of Tom and Mr。 Damon。
No effort was made to bring Blakeson & Grinder to justice; as there
was no evidence against them after Waddington died。 And; as the tunnel
was finished; the Titus brothers had no further cause for worry。
〃But if it had not been for Tom's big blast; and the discovery of the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
hidden city of Pelone just in the right place; we might be digging at that
tunnel yet;〃 said Job Titus。
The day before the steamer was to sail; Tom Swift received a cable
message。 Its receipt seemed to fill him with delight; so that Mr。 Damon
asked:
〃Is it from your father; Tom?〃
〃No it's from Mary Nestor。 She says her father has forgiven me。 They
have been away; and Mary has been ill; which accounts for no letters up to
now。 But everything is all right now; and they feel that the dynamite trick
wasn't my fault。 But; all the same; I'm going to teach Eradicate to read;〃
concluded Tom。
〃I think it would be a good idea;〃 agreed Mr。 Damon。
Tom; Mr。 Damon and Koku; bidding farewell to the friends they had
made in Peru; went。 aboard the steamer; Job Titus and his brother coming
to see them off。
〃Give us an option on all that explosive you make; Tom Swift!〃
begged Walter Titus。 〃We were so successful with this tunnel; thanks to
you; that the government is going to have us dig another。 Will you come
down and help?〃
〃Maybe;〃 said Tom; with a smile。 〃But I'm going home first;〃 and once
more he read the message from Mary Nestor。
And as Tom; on the deck of the steamer; waved his hands to Professor
Bumper and his other friends whom he was leaving in Peru; we also; will
say farewell。
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