tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第24章
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been taking pictures； but now with the young inventor to manage it； better
results would be obtained。
Tom aimed it here and there； at the most spectacular parts of the
avalanche。 The others gathered around him； after Ned had made an
inspection； and found that a broken electrical wire had caused the
propellers to stop。 This was soon repaired and then； as they were hanging
in the air like a balloon； Tom took picture after picture of the wonderful
sight below them。 Forest after forest was demolished。
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〃This will be a great film！〃 Tom shouted to Ned； as the latter informed
him that the machinery was all right again。 〃Send me up a little。 I want to
get a view from the top； looking down。〃
His chum made the necessary adjustments to the mechanism and then；
there being nothing more to slide down the mountainside the avalanche
was ended。 But what a mass of wreck and ruin there was！ It was as if a
mighty earthquake had torn the mountain asunder。
〃It's a good thing it wasn't on a side of the mountain where people
lived；〃 commented Ned； as the airship rose high toward the clouds。 〃If it
had been； there'd be nothing left of 'em。 What hair…raising stunt are you
going to try next； Tom？〃
〃I don't know。 I expect to hear from Mr。 Period soon。
〃Hear from Mr。 Period？〃 exclaimed Mr。 Nestor。 〃How are you going to
do that； Tom？〃
〃He said he would telegraph me at Berne； Switzerland； at a certain
date； as he knew I was coming to the Alps to try for some avalanche
pictures。 It's two or three days yet； before I can expect the telegram； which
of course will have to come part way by cable。 In the meanwhile； I think
we'll take a little rest； and a vacation。 I want to give the airship an
overhauling； and look to my camera。 There's no telling what Mr。 Period
may want next。〃
〃Then he didn't make out your programme completely before you
started？〃 asked Mr。 Nestor。
〃No； he said he'd communicate with me from time to time。 He is in
touch with what is going on in the world； you know； and if he hears of
anything exciting at any place； I'm to go there at once。 You see he wants
the most sensational films he can get。〃
〃Yes； our company is out to give the best pictures we can secure；〃
spoke Mary's father； 〃and I think we are lucky to have Tom Swift working
for us。 We already have films that no other concern can get。 And we need
them。〃
〃I wonder what became of those men who started to make so much
trouble for you； Tom？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃Well； they seem to have disappeared；〃 replied our hero。 〃Of course
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they may be after me any day now； but for the time being； I've thrown
them off my track。〃
〃So then you don't know where you're going next？〃 asked Ned。
〃No； it may be to Japan； or to the North Pole。 Well； I'm ready for
anything。 We've got plenty of gasolene； and the Flyer can certainly go；〃
said Tom。
They went down to earth in a quiet spot； just outside of a little village；
and there they remained three days； to the no small wonder of the
inhabitants。 Tom wanted to see if his camera was working properly。 So he
developed some of the avalanche pictures； and found them excellent。 The
rest of the time was spent in making some needed repairs to the airship；
while the young inventor overhauled his Wizard machine； that he found
needed a few adjustments。
Their arrival in Berne created quite a sensation； but they were used to
that。 Tom anchored his airship just outside the city； and； accompanied by
Ned； made his way to the telegraph office。 Some of the officials there
could speak English； though not very well。
〃I am expecting a message；〃 said Tom。
〃Yes？ Who for？〃 asked the clerk。
〃Tom Swift。 It will be from America。〃
As Tom said this he observed a man sitting in the corner of the office
get up hurriedly and go out。 All at once his suspicions were aroused。 He
thought of the attempts that had been made to get his Wizard Camera
away from him。
〃Who was that man？〃 he quickly asked the agent。
〃Him？ Oh； he； too； is expecting a message from America。 He has been
here some time。〃
〃Why did he go out so quickly？〃 Ned wanted to know。
〃Why； I can not tell。 He is an Englishman。 They do strange things。〃
〃My telegram？ Is it here？〃 asked Tom impatiently。 He wanted to get
whatever word there was from Mr。 Period； and be on his way to whatever
destination the picture man might select。 Perhaps； after all； his suspicions；
against the man who had so suddenly left； were unfounded。
〃Yes； there is a cablegram here for you； Monsieur Swift；〃 said the man；
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who was French。 〃There are charges on it； however。〃
〃Pay 'em； Ned； while I see what this is；〃 directed the young inventor；
as he tore open the envelope。
〃Whew！〃 he whistled a moment later。 〃This is going some。〃
〃Where to now？〃 asked Ned。 〃The North Pole？〃
〃No； just the opposite。 Mr。 Period wants me to go to Africa the
Congo Free State。 There's an uprising among the natives there； and he
wants some war pictures。 Well； I guess I'll have to go。〃
As Tom spoke he looked toward the door of the telegraph office； and
he saw the man； who had so hurriedly gone out a few moments before；
looking in at him。
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CHAPTER XVII
SUSPICIOUS STRANGERS
〃Off to Africa； eh？〃 remarked Ned； as Tom put the envelope in his
pocket。 〃That's another long jump。 But I guess the Flyer can do it；
〃Yes； I think so。 I say Ned； not so loud；〃 said Tom； who had hurried to
the side of his chum； whispered the last words。
〃What's up？〃 inquired Ned quickly。 〃Anything wrong？〃
〃I don't know。 But I think we are being watched。 Did you notice that
fellow who was in here a minute ago； when I asked for a telegram？〃
〃Yes； what about him？〃
〃Well； he's looking in the door now I think。 Don't turn round。 Just look
up into that mirror on the wall； and you can see his reflection。〃
〃I understand；〃 whispered Ned； as he turned his gaze toward the mirror
in question； a large one； with advertisements around the frame。 〃I see
him；〃 he went on。 〃There's some one with him。〃
〃That's what I thought；〃 replied Tom。 〃Take a good look。 Whom do
you think the other chap is？〃
Ned looked long and earnestly。 By means of the mirror； he could see；
perfectly plain； two men standing just outside the door of the telegraph
office。 The portal was only partly open。 Ned drew an old letter from his
pocket； and pretended to be showing it to Tom。 But； all the while he was
gazing earnestly at the two men。 Suddenly one of them moved； giving
Tom's chum a better view of his face。
〃By Jove； Tom！〃 the lad exclaimed
