第 7 节
作者:千顷寒      更新:2021-02-20 15:27      字数:9322
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  he jerked his hand back。
  The next instant there was a series of happenings。 Tom's elbow came
  in contact with another jar of acid; knocking it over; and spilling it into the
  retort where he had been mixing the first two liquids。 There was a hissing
  sound; as the acids combined; and a thick; white vapor arose; puffing into
  Tom's face; and making him gasp。
  He staggered back; brushed against the heavy iron shaft in the corner;
  and it fell sideways against him; knocking him to the floor; and dropping
  across his thighs。 The padding on it saved him from broken bones; but the
  shaft was so heavy; that after it was on him; Tom could not move。 He was
  held   fast on   the  floor   of  his shop;  unable to   use  his legs;  and   prevented
  from getting up。
  For a moment Tom was stunned; and then he called:
  〃Help! Help! Eradicate! Koku! Help!〃
  He waited a moment; but there was only a silence。
  And then Tom smelled a strange odoran odor of a choking gas that
  seemed to smother him。
  〃It's   the   acids!〃   he   cried。   〃They're   generating  gas! And   I'm  held   fast
  here! The place is closed up tight; and I can't move! Help! Help!〃
  But there was no one at hand to aid Tom; and every moment the fumes
  of the gas became stronger。 Desperately the youth struggled to rid himself
  of the weight of the shaft; but   he could not。 And then he   felt his   senses
  leaving him; for the powerful gas was making him unconscious。
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  CHAPTER V
  TOM GETS A WARNING
  〃Bless my shoe buttons!〃 exclaimed a voice; as a man came toward
  Tom's shop; a little later。 〃Bless my very necktie! This is odd。 I go to the
  house; and find no one there。 I come out here; and not a soul is about。 Tom
  Swift can't have gone off on another one of his wonderful trips; without
  sending me word。 I   know he wouldn't   do that。 And   yet; bless my  watch
  and chain; I can't find any one!〃
  It was Mr。 Damon who spoke; as my old readers have already guessed。
  He peered   into one   of the   shop   windows;  and saw  something   like   a   fog
  filling the place。    〃That's strange;〃 he went on。 〃I don't see Tom there; and
  yet it looks as if an experiment was going on。 I wonder〃
  Mr。 Damon heard some one coming up behind him; and turned to see
  Koku the giant; who was returning 。 from the errand on which Tom had
  sent him。
  〃Oh; Koku; it's you; is it?〃 the odd man asked。 〃Bless my cuff buttons!
  Where is Tom?〃
  〃In shop I guess。〃
  〃I don't see him。 Still I had better look。 There doesn't seem to be any
  one about。〃
  Mr。 Damon   opened   the shop door;  and   was   met by  such   an   outward
  rush of choking gas that he staggered back。
  〃Bless my〃 he began but he had to stop; to cough and gasp。 〃There
  must have been some sort of an accident;〃 he cried; as he got his lungs full
  of fresh air。 〃A bad accident! Tom could never work in that atmosphere。
  Whew!〃
  〃Accident! What is matter?〃 cried Koku stepping to the doorway。 He;
  too choked and gasped; but his was such a strong and rugged nature; and
  his   lungs   held   such   a   supply   of   air;   that   it   took   more   than   mere   gas   to
  knock him out。 He peered in through the wreaths of the acid vapor; and
  saw  the   body  of   his   master;  lying   on the   floorheld down   by  the   heavy
  iron。
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  In another instant Koku had rushed in; holding his breath; for; now that
  he was inside the place; the gas made even him feel weak。
  〃Come   back!   Come   back!〃   cried   Mr。   Damon。   'You'll   be   smothered!
  Wait until the gas escapes!〃
  〃Then Mr。 Tom die!〃 cried the giant。 〃I get himor I no come out。〃
  With one heave of his powerful right arm; Koku lifted the heavy shaft
  from Tom's legs。 Then; gathering the lad up in his left arm; as if he were a
  baby; Koku staggered out into the fresh air; almost falling with his burden;
  as he neared Mr。 Damon; for the giant was; well…nigh overcome。
  〃Bless my soul!〃 cried the odd man。 〃Is heis he〃
  He   did   not   finish   the   sentence;   but;   as   Koku   laid   Tom   down   on   the
  overcoat of Mr。 Damon; which the latter quickly spread on the snow; the
  eccentric man put his hand over the heart of the young inventor。
  〃It   beats!〃   he   murmured。   〃He's   alive;   but   very  weak。 We   must   get   a
  doctor at once。 I'll do what I can。 There's no time to spare。 Bless my〃
  But Mr。 Damon concluded that there was no time for blessing anything;
  and so he stopped short。
  〃Carry him up to the house; Koku;〃 he said。 〃I know where there are
  some   medicines;   and   I'll   try   to   revive   him   while   we're   waiting   for   the
  doctor Hurry!〃
  Tom was laid on a lounge; and; just then; Mrs。 Baggert came in。
  〃Telephone for the doctor!〃 cried Mr。 Damon to the housekeeper; who
  kept her nerve; and did not get excited。 〃I'll give Tom some ammonia; and
  other stimulants; and see if I can bring him around。 Koku; get me   some
  cold water。〃
  The    telephone     was   soon   carrying    the   message     to  the  doctor;   who
  promised to come at once。 Koku; in spite of his size; was quick; and soon
  brought the water; into which Mr。 Damon put some strong medicine; that
  he   found   in   a   closet。   Tom's   eyelids   fluttered   as   the   others   forced   some
  liquid between his lips。
  〃He's   coming   around!〃   cried   the   eccentric   man。   〃I   guess   he'll   be   all
  right; Koku。〃
  〃Koku   glad;〃   said   the   giant   simply;   for   he   loved   Tom   with   a   deep
  devotion。
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  〃Yes; Koku; if it hadn't   been for  you; though;  I don't   believe that   he
  would be alive。 That was powerful gas; and a few seconds more in there
  might have meant the end of Tom。 I didn't see him lying on the floor; until
  after you rushed in。 Bless my thermometer! It is very strange。〃
  They   gave   Tom   more   medicine;   rubbed   his   arms   and   legs;   and   held
  ammonia under his nose。 Slowly he opened his eyes; and in a faint voice
  asked:
  〃WhereamI?〃
  〃In   your   own   house;〃   replied   Mr。   Damon;   cheerfully。   〃How   do   you
  feel?〃
  〃I'mallrightnow;〃   said   Tom   slowly。   He;   felt   his   strength   coming
  gradually back; and he remembered what had happened; though he did not
  yet know how he had been saved。 The doctor came in at this moment; with
  a small   medical battery; which   completed the restorative work begun by
  the  others。   Soon   Tom   could   sit   up;   though   he   was   still   weak   and   rather
  sick。
  〃Who brought me out?〃 he asked; when he   had briefly told how  the
  accident occurred。
  〃Koku did;〃 replied Mr。 Damon。 〃I guess none of the rest of us could
  have lifted the iron shaft from your legs。〃
  〃It's queer how that fell;〃 said Tom; with a puzzled look on his face。 〃I
  didn't hit   it   hard   enough   to   bring   it down。   Beside;   I   had   it   tied   to   nails;
  driven into the   wall; to prevent   just   such   an   accident as this。  I   must see
  about it when I get well。〃
  〃Not for a couple of days;〃 exclaimed the doctor grimly。 〃You've got to
  stay in bed a while yet。 You had a narrow escape; Tom Swift。〃
  〃Well; I'm glad I went to Giant Land;〃 said the young inventor; with a
  wan smile。 〃Otherwise I'd never have Koku;〃 and he looked affectionately
  at   the   big   man;   who   laughed   happily。   In   nature   Koku   was   much   like   a
  child。
  Mr。 Swift came home a little later; and Ned Newton called; both being
  very much surprised to hear of the accident。 As for Eradicate; the poor old
  colored man was much affected; and would have sat beside Tom's bed all
  night; had they allowed him。
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  Our hero recovered rapidly; once the fumes of the gas left his system;
  and; two days later; he was able to go out to the shop again。 At his request
  everything had been left just as it was after he had been brought out。 Of
  course   the   fumes   of   the   gas   were   soon   dissipated;   when   the   door   was
  opened; and the acids; after mingling and giving off the vapor; had become
  neutralized; so that they were now harmless。
  〃Now I'm g