第 13 节
作者:千顷寒      更新:2021-02-20 15:27      字数:9321
  you    there。   Get   me    some    pictures   of   the  Durbar;    of   elephants    being
  captured; of tiger fights; anything exciting。〃
  〃I'll do my〃 began Tom。
  〃Wait; I'm  not through;〃   interrupted the   excitable man。  〃Then go   get
  some      volcanoes;      earthquakesanything         that   you     think    would     be
  interesting。 I'll keep in touch with you; and cable occasionally。 Get all the
  films you can。 When will you start?〃
  〃I can leave inside of two weeks;〃 replied Tom。
  〃Then do it; and; meanwhile; be on your guard。〃
  It was found that a few changes were needed on the camera。 And some
  adjustments      to   the  airship。   Another     trial  flight  was   made;    and   some
  excellent   pictures   taken。  Then   Tom   and   his   friends   prepared   to   take   the
  airship   apart。   and   pack   it   for   shipment   to   Calcutta。   It   was   to   go   on   the
  same   steamer   as   themselves;   and   of   course   the   Wizard   Camera   would
  accompany Tom。 He took along many rolls of films; enough; he thought;
  for many views。 He was also to send back to Mr。 Period from time to time;
  the exposed rolls of film; so they could be developed; and printed in the
  United States; as Tom would not have very good facilities for this on the
  airship; and to reproduce them there was almost out of the question。 Still
  he did fit up a small dark room aboard the Flyer; where he could develop
  pictures if he wished。
  There   was     much    to  be   done;   but  hard   work    accomplished      it;  and
  finally the party was ready to start for India。 Tom said good…bye to Mary
  Nestor; of   course;  and   her   father   accompanied   our   hero   from  the   Nestor
  house to the Swift homestead; where the start was to take place。
  Eradicate bade his master a tearful good…bye; and there was moisture
  in the eyes of Mr。 Swift; as he shook hands with his son。
  〃Take care of yourself; Tom;〃 he said。 〃Don't run too many risks。 This
  moving picture taking isn't as easy as it sounds。 It's more than just pointing
  your camera at things。 Write if you get a chance; or send me a message。〃
  Tom   promised;       and   then  bade    farewell   to  Mrs。   Baggert。    All   were
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  assembled; Koku; Mr。 Damon; who blessed everything he saw; and some
  things he did not; Ned; Mr。 Nestor and Tom。 The five were to go by train
  to New York; there to go aboard the steamer。
  Their journey to the metropolis was uneventful。 Mr。 Period met them
  at the steamship dock; after Tom had seen to it that the baggage; and the
  parts of the airship were safely aboard。
  〃I wish I were going along!〃 exclaimed the picture man。 〃It's going to
  be a great trip。 But I can't spare the time。 I'm the busiest man in the world。
  I lose about a thousand dollars just coming down to see you off; but it's a
  good investment。 I don't mind it。 Now; Tom; good luck; and don't forget; I
  want exciting views。〃
  〃I'll try〃 began our here;。
  〃Wait;    I  know  what   you're  going   to  say!〃  interrupted  Mr。  Period。
  〃You'll do it; of course。 Well; I must be going。 I will Great Scott!〃 and
  Mr。 Period interrupted himself。 〃He has the nerve to come here!〃
  〃Who?〃 asked Tom。
  〃Wilson Turbot; the rascal! He's trying to balk me at the last minute; I
  believe。 I'm going to see what he means!〃 and with this; the excited Mr。
  Period   rushed   down    the   gangplank;   toward  the   man   at  whom   he  had
  pointedone of the men who had tried to buy Tom's picture taking camera。
  A moment later the steamer's whistle blew; the last belated passenger
  rushed up the gangplank; it was drawn in; and the vessel began to move
  away from the dock。 Tom and his friends were on their way to India; and
  the last glimpse they had of Mr。 Period was as he was chasing along the
  pier; after Mr。 Turbot。
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  CHAPTER X
  UNEXPECTED EXCITEMENT
  〃Well; what do you know about that; Tom?〃 asked Ned; as they stood
  on   deck   watching   the   chase。   〃Isn't   he   the   greatest   ever   Mr。   Period;   I
  mean?〃
  〃He   certainly   is。   I'd   like   to   see   what   happens   when   he   catches   that
  Turbot chap。〃
  〃Bless my pocket handkerchief!〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃I don't believe he
  will。 Mr。 Period's legs aren't long enough for fast running。〃
  〃Those   scoundrels   were   after   us;   up   to   the   last   minute;〃   spoke   Mr。
  Nestor; as the ship moved farther out from the dock。 Tom and his friends
  could no longer see the excitable picture man after his rival; but there was
  a commotion in the crowd; and it seemed as if he had caught the fellow。
  〃Well; we're free of him now;〃 spoke the young inventor; with a breath
  of relief。 〃That is; unless they have set some one else on our trail;〃 and he
  looked carefully at the passengers near him; to detect; if possible; any who
  might look like spies in the pay of the rival moving picture concern; or any
  suspicious characters who might try to steal the valuable camera; that was
  now safely locked in Tom's cabin。 Our hero; however; saw no one to worry
  about。 He resolved to remain on his guard。
  Friends   and   relatives   were   waving   farewells   to   one   another;   and   the
  band was playing; as the big vessel drew out into the North; or Hudson;
  river; and steamed for the open sea。
  Little of interest marked the first week of the voyage。 All save Koku
  had done much traveling before; and it was no novelty to them。 The giant;
  however;     was    amused    and   delighted    with   everything;    even   the  most
  commonplace things he saw。 He was a source of wonder to all the other
  passengers; and; in a way; he furnished much excitement。
  One day several of the sailors were on deck; shifting one of the heavy
  anchors。     They   went   about   it  in  their  usual  way;   all  taking  hold;   and
  〃heaving〃   together   with   a   〃chanty;〃   or   song;   to   enliven   their   work。   But
  they did not make much progress; and one of the mates got rather excited
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  about it。
  〃Here; shiver my timbers!〃 he cried。 〃Lively now! Lay about you; and
  get that over to the side!〃
  〃Yo!   Heave!   Ho!〃   called   the   leader   of   the   sailor   gang。 The   anchor
  did not move; for it had either caught on some projection; or the men were
  not using their strength。
  〃Lively! Lively!〃 cried the mate。
  Suddenly   Koku;   who   was   in   the   crowd   of   passengers   watching   the
  work; pushed his way to where the anchor lay。 With a powerful; but not
  rough action; he shoved the sailors aside。 Then; stooping over; he took a
  firm grip of the big piece of iron; planted his feet well apart on the deck;
  and lifted the immense mass in his arms。 There was a round of applause
  from the group of passengers。
  〃Where you want him?〃 Koku calmly asked of the mate; as he stood
  holding the anchor。
  〃Blast my marlin spikes!〃 cried the mate。 〃I never see the like of this
  afore! Put her over there; shipmate。 If I had you on a voyage or two you'd
  be running the ship; instead of letting the screw push her along。 Put her
  over there;〃 and he indicated where he wanted the anchor。
  Koku calmly walked along the deck; laid the anchor down as if it was
  an   ordinary   weight;   and   passed   over   to   where   Tom   stood   looking   on   in
  amused   silence。 There   were   murmurs   of   surprise   from  the   passengers   at
  the giant's strength; and the sailors went forward much abashed。
  〃Say; I'd give a good bit to have a bodyguard like that;〃 exclaimed a
  well…known millionaire passenger; who; it was reported; was in   constant
  fear of attacks; though they had never taken place。 〃I wonder if I could get
  him。〃
  He    spoke    to  Tom     about   it;  but  our   hero   would     not   listen  to  a
  proposition to part with Koku。 Besides; it is doubtful if the simple giant
  would leave the lad who had brought him away from his South American
  home。   But;   if   Koku   was   wonderfully   strong;   and;   seemingly   afraid   of
  nothing; there were certain things he feared。
  One   afternoon;   for   the   amusement   of   the   passengers;   a   net   was   put
  overboard; sunk to a considerable depth; and hauled up with a number of
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  fishes