tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第32章
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before the fireworks started up。 I guess we've got time enough； but we
won't waste any。〃
〃And I guess Montgomery and Kenneth won't be there to make trouble
for us；〃 put in Ned。 〃It will be some time before they get away from that
African town； I think。〃
They began work that day on taking the airship apart for transportation
to the steamer that was to carry them across the ocean。 Tom decided on
going to Panama； to get a series of pictures on the work of digging that
vast canal。 On inquiry he learned that a steamer was soon to sail for Colon；
so he took passage for his friends and himself on that； also arranging for
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the carrying of the parts of his airship。
It was rather hard work to take the Flyer apart； but it was finally done；
and； in about a week from the time of arriving in Paris； they left that
beautiful city。 The pictures already taken were forwarded to Mr。 Period；
with a letter of explanation of Tom's adventures thus far； and an account of
how his rivals had acted。
Just before sailing； Tom received another message from his strange
employer。 The cablegram read：
〃Understand our rivals are also going to try for volcano pictures。
Can't find out who will represent Turbot and Eckert； but watch out。 Be
suspicious of strangers。〃
〃That's what I will！〃 cried Tom。 〃If they get my camera away from
me again； it will be my own fault。〃
The voyage to Colon was not specially interesting。 They ran into a
terrific storm； about half way over； and Tom took some pictures from the
steamer's bridge； the captain allowing him to do so； but warning him to be
careful。
〃I'll take Koku up there with me；〃 said the young inventor； 〃and if a
wave tries to wash me overboard he'll grab me。〃
And it was a good thing that he took this precaution； for； while a wave
did not get as high as the bridge； one big； green roller smashed over the
bow of the vessel； staggering her so that Tom was tossed against the rail。
He would have been seriously hurt； and his camera might have been
broken； but for the quickness of the giant。
Koku caught his master； camera and all； in a mighty arm； and with the
other clung to a stanchion； holding Tom in safety until the ship was on a
level keel once more。
〃Thanks； Koku！〃 gasped Tom。 〃You always seem to be around when I
need you。〃 The giant grinned happily。
The storm blew out in a few days； and； from then on； there was
pleasant sailing。 When Tom's airship had been reassembled at Colon； it
created quite a sensation among the small army of canal workers； and； for
their benefit； our hero gave several flying exhibitions。
He then took some of the engineers on a little trip； and in turn； they did
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him the favor of letting him get moving pictures of parts of the work not
usually seen。
〃And now for the volcano！〃 cried Tom one morning； when having
shipped to Mr。 Period the canal pictures； the Flyer was sent aloft； and her
nose pointed toward Arequipa。 〃We've got quite a run before us。〃
〃How long？〃 asked Ned。
〃About two thousand miles。 But I'm going to speed her up to the
limit。〃 Tom was as good as his word； and soon the Flyer was shooting
along at her best rate； reeling off mile after mile； just below the clouds。
It was a wild and desolate region over which the travelers found
themselves most of the time； though the scenery was magnificent。 They
sailed over Quito； that city on the equator； and； a little later； they passed
above the Cotopaxi and Chimbarazo volcanoes。 But neither of them was in
action。 The Andes Mountains； as you all know； has many volcanoes
scattered along the range。 Lima was the next large city； and there Tom
made a descent to inquire about the burning mountain he was shortly to
photograph。
〃It will soon be in action；〃 the United States counsel said。 〃I had a
letter from a correspondent near there only yesterday； and he said the
people in the town were getting anxious。 They are fearing a shower of
burning ashes； or that the eruption may be accompanied by an
earthquake。〃
〃Good！〃 cried Tom。 〃Oh； I don't mean it exactly that way；〃 he hastened
to add； as he saw the counsel looking queerly at him。 〃I meant that I could
get pictures of both earthquake and volcano then。 I don't wish the poor
people any harm。〃
〃Well； you're the first one I ever saw who was anxious to get next door
to a volcano；〃 remarked the counsel。 〃Hold on； though； that's not quite
right。 I heard yesterday that a couple of young fellows passed through here
on their way to the same place。 Come to think of it； they were moving
picture men； also。〃
〃Great Scott！〃 cried Tom。 〃Those must be my rivals； I'll wager。 I must
get right on the job。 Thanks for the information；〃 and hurrying front the
office he joined his friends on the airship。 and was soon aloft again。
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〃Look； Tom； what's that？〃 cried Ned； about noon the next day when
the Flyer； according to their calculations must be nearing the city of
Arequipa。 〃See that black cloud over there。 I hope it isn't a tornado； or a
cyclone； or whatever they call the big wind storms down here。〃
Tom； and the others； looked to where Ned pointed。 There was a
column of dense smoke hovering in the air； lazily swirling this way and
that。 The airship was rapidly approaching it。
〃Why that〃 began Tom； but before he could complete the sentence
the smoke was blown violently upward。 It became streaked with fire； and；
a moment later； there was the echo of a tremendous explosion。
〃The volcano！〃 cried Tom。 〃The Arequipa volcano！ We're here just in
time； for she's in eruption now！ Come on； Ned； help me get out the camera！
Mr。 Damon； you and Mr。 Nestor manage the airship！ Put us as close as you
dare！ I'm going to get some crackerjack pictures！〃
Once more came a great report。
〃Bless my toothpick！〃 gasped Mr。 Damon。 〃This is awful！〃 And the
airship rushed on toward the volcano which could be plainly seen now；
belching forth fire； smoke and ashes。
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CHAPTER XXIV
THE MOLTEN RIVER
〃Whew！〃 gasped Ned； as he stood beside Tom in the bow of the
airship。 〃What's that choking us； Tom？〃
〃Sulphur； I guess； and gases from the volcano。 The wind blew 'em over
this way。 They're not dangerous； as long as there is no carbonic acid gas
given off； and I don't smell any of that； yet。 Say； Ned； it's erupting all right；
isn't it？〃
〃I should say so！〃 cried his chum。
〃Put us a little to one side； Mr。 Damon；〃 called Tom to his friend； who
was in the pilot house。 〃I can't get good pictures through so much smoke。
〃I
