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tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第1部分

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                TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA 



 TOM SWIFT AND HIS 

   WIZARD CAMERA 



(OR Thrilling Adventures While Taking Moving 

                             Pictures) 



                     VICTOR APPLETON 



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                        TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA 



                               CHAPTER I 



                                A STRANGE OFFER 



     〃Some one to see you; Mr。 Tom。〃 

     It   was   Koku;   or August;   as   he   was   sometimes   called;   the   new   giant 

servant of Tom Swift; who made this announcement to the young inventor。 

     〃Who is it; Koku?〃 inquired Tom; looking up from his work…bench in 

the machine shop; where he was busy over a part of the motor for his new 

noiseless airship。 〃Any one I know? Is it the 'Blessing Man?'〃 for so Koku 

had come to call Mr。 Damon; an eccentric friend of Tom's。 

     〃No; not him。 A strange man。 I never see before。 He say he got quick 

business。〃 

     〃Quick   business;   eh?   I   guess   you   mean   important;   Koku;〃   for   this 

gigantic   man;   one   of   a   pair   that   Tom   had   brought   with   him   after   his 

captivity   in   〃Giant   Land;〃   as   he   called   it;   could   not   speak   English   very 

well; as yet。 〃Important business; eh; Koku? Did he send in his card?〃 

     〃No; Mr。 Tom。 Him say he have no card。 You not know him; but he 

very much what you callrecited。〃 

     〃Excited I guess you mean; Koku。 Well; tell him to wait a few minutes; 

and I'll see   him。 You   can show him  in then。  But I say;  Koku;〃 and Tom 

paused as he looked at the big man; who had attached himself to our hero; 

as a sort of personal helper and bodyguard。 

     〃Yes; Mr。 Tom; what is it?〃 

     〃Don't let him go poking around the shop。 He might look at some of 

my   machines      that  I  haven't  got  fully   patented   yet。  Is  he  in  the  front 

office?〃 

     〃That's where him am。 He be lookin' at pictures on the walls。〃 

     〃Oh; that's all right then。 Just keep him there。 And; Koku; don't let him 

come back in the shop here; until I get ready to see him。 I'll ring the bell 

when I am。〃 

     〃All right; Mr。 Tom。〃 

    Koku;   very   proud   of   his;   mission   of   keeping   guard   over   the   strange 



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                         TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA 



visitor;   marched   from   the   room   with   his   big   strides;   his   long   arms   and 

powerful   hands   swinging   at his   sides;   for   Koku;  or August;  as Tom  had 

rechristened him; and as he often called him (for it was in the month of 

August      that  he   had   located   the   giants)   was   a  very    powerful    man。    A 

veritable giant; being extremely tall; and big in proportion。 

     〃Be sure。 Don't let him in here; Koku!〃 called Tom; in an additional 

warning; as his new servant left the main shop。 

     〃Sure not!〃 exclaimed Koku; very earnestly。 

     〃I don't know who he may be;〃 mused Tom; as he began putting away 

the   parts   to   his   new   noiseless   motor;   so   that   the   stranger   could   not   see 

them; and profit thereby。 〃It looks rather funny; not sending in his name。 It 

may be some one who thinks he can spring a trick on me; and get some 

points about my inventions; or dad's。 

     〃It may even be somebody sent on by Andy Foger; or his father。 I can't 

be   too   careful。   I'll   just   put   everything   away   that   isn't   fully   covered   by 

patents; and then if he wants to infringe on any of the machines I can sue 

him。〃 

     Tom looked about the shop; which was filled with strange machinery; 

most   of   which   had   been   made   by   himself;   or   his   father;   or   under   their 

combined       directions。    There    was   a  big   biplane   in  one   corner;    a  small 

monoplane in another; parts of a submarine boat hanging up overhead; and 

a   small;   but   very   powerful;   electric   auto   waiting   to   have   some   repairs 

made   to   it;   for   on   his   last   trip   in  it   Tom   Swift   had   suffered   a   slight 

accident。 

     〃There; I guess he can't see anything but what I want him to;〃 mused 

Tom; as he put away the last part of a new kind of motor; from which he 

hoped   great   things。   〃Let's   see;   yes;   it's   out   of   sight   now。   I   wish   Ned 

Newton; or Mr。 Damon were here to be a witness in case he starts anything。 

But   then   I   have   Koku;   even   if   he   doesn't   speak   much   English   yet。   If   it 

comes to blowswell; I wouldn't want that giant to hit me;〃 finished Tom 

with a laugh; as he rang the bell to announce to his servant that the visitor 

might be shown in。 

     There was a sound outside the door that separated the business office 

from the main shop; and Tom heard Koku exclaim: 



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                         TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA 



     〃Hold on! Wait! I go first。 You wait!〃 

     〃What's the matter with me going ahead?〃 demanded a quick; snappy 

voice。 〃I'm in a hurry; and〃 

     〃You wait! I go first;〃 was the giant's reply; and then came the sound 

of a scuffle。 

     〃Ouch! Say! Hold on there; my man! Take your hand off my shoulder! 

You're crushing me with those big fingers of yours!〃 

     This was evidently the visitor remonstrating with the giant。 

     〃Humph! I guess Koku must have grabbed him;〃 said Tom softly。  〃I 

don't like that sort of a visitor。 What's his hurry getting in here?〃 and our 

hero looked about; to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack。 

Often cranks had forced their way into his shop; with pet inventions which 

they wanted him  to   perfect after   they  had   themselves failed。 Tom  saw   a 

heavy iron bar at hand; and knew this would serve to protect him。 

     〃You   come   after   me!〃   exclaimed   Koku;  when   the   voice   of   the   other 

had ceased。 〃Do you stand under me?〃 

     〃Oh;   yes;   I   understand   all   right。   I'll   keep   back。   But   I   didn't   mean 

anything。 I'm just in a hurry to see Tom Swift; that is all。 I'm always in a 

hurry in fact。 I've lost nearly a thousand dollars this morning; just by this 

delay。 I want to see Mr。 Swift at once; and have a talk with him。〃 

     〃Another crank; I guess;〃 mused Tom。 〃Well; I'm not going to waste 

much time on him。〃 

     A   moment   later   the   door   opened;   and   into   the   shop   stepped   Koku; 

followed by a short; stout; fussy little man; wearing a flaming red tie; but 

otherwise his clothes were not remarkable。 

     〃Is this Mr。 Tom Swift?〃 asked the stranger; as he advanced and held 

out his hand to the young man。 

     〃Yes;〃 answered Tom; looking carefully at the visitor。 He did not seem 

to be dangerous; he had no weapon; and; Tom was relieved to note that he 

did    not  carry   some    absurd   machine;     or  appliance;    that  he   had   made; 

hoping to get help in completing it。 The youth was trying to remember if 

he had ever seen the stranger before; but came to the conclusion that he 

had not。 

     〃Sorry to take up your time;〃 went on the man; 〃but I just had to see 



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                         TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA 



you。 No one else will do。 I've heard lots about you。 That was a great stunt 

you pulled off; getting those giants for the circus。 This is one; isn't he?〃 

and he nodded toward Koku。 

     〃Yes;〃   replied   Tom;   wondering   if   the   little   man   was   in   such   a   hurry 

why he did not get down to business。 

     〃I thought so;〃 the caller went on; as he shook hands with Tom。 〃Once 

you felt his grip you'd know he was a giant; even if you didn't see him。 Yes; 

that   was    a  great  stunt。   And    going   to  the   caves   of  ice;  too;   and   that 

diamond…making affair。 All of 'em great。 I〃 

     〃How did you know about them?〃 interrupted Tom; wishing the man 

would tell his errand。 

     〃Oh;  you're   better   known than   you   have   any  idea of; Tom  Swift。 As 

soon as I got this idea of mine I said right away; to some of the others in 

my business; I says; says   I; 'Tom  Swift is the boy for   us。 I'll get him  to 

undertake this work; and then it will be done to the Queen's taste。 Tom's 

the boy who can do it;' I says; and they all agreed with me。 So I came here 

to…day; and I'm sorry I had to wait to see you; for I'm the busiest man in 

the   world;   I   believe;   and;   as   I   said;   I've   lost   about   a   thousand   dollars 

waiting to have a talk with you。 I〃 

     〃I am sorry;〃 interrupted Tom; and he was not very cordial。 〃But I was 

busy; and〃 

     〃All right! All right! Don't apologize!〃 broke in the man in rapid tones; 

while   both   
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