tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第1章
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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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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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〃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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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 Tom； and his servant； Koku； looked in surprise at the quick
flow of language that came from him。 〃Don't apologize for the world。 It's
my fault for bothering you。 And I'll lose several thousand dollars； willingly；
if you'll undertake this job。 I'll make money from it as it is。 It's worth ten
thousand dollars to you； I should say； and I'm willing to pay that。〃
He looked about； as though for a seat； and Tom； apologizing for his
neglect in offering one； shoved a box forward。
〃We don't have chairs in here；〃 said the young inventor with a smile。
〃Now if you will tell me what you〃
〃I'm coming right to it。 I'll get down to business in a moment；〃
interrupted the man as he sat down on the box； not without a grunt or two；
I for he was very stout。 〃I'm going to introduce myself in just a second；
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and then I'm going to tell you who I am。 And I hope you'll take up my
offer； though it may seem a strange one。〃
The man took out a pocketbook； and began searching through it；
evidently for some card or paper。
〃He's as odd as Mr。 Damon is； when he's blessing everything；〃 mused
Tom； as he watched the man。
〃I thought I had a card with me； but I haven't；〃 the visitor went on。 〃No
matter。 I'm James Periodpromoter of all kinds of amusement enterprises；
from a merry…go…'round to a theatrical performance。 I want you to〃
〃No more going after giants；〃 interrupted。 Tom。 〃It's too dangerous；
and I haven't time〃
〃No； it has nothing to do with giants；〃 spoke Mr。 Period； as he glanced
up at Koku； who towered over him as he sat on the box near Tom。
〃Well？〃 returned Tom。
〃This is something entirely new。 It has never been done before； thoug
