登陆注册
5146100000018

第18章

Our hero's heart sank.He was not afraid, but he did not relish the indignity that was proposed.He resolved to fight to the last ounce of his strength against the masked lads.

"Can we get a kettle to heat the tar in?" asked some one.

"We'll find one," answered Sam Snedecker."Come on, let's do it.You'll look pretty, Tom Swift, when we're through with you," he exulted.

Tom did not answer, but there was fierce anger in his heart.The tar and feather proposal seemed to meet with general favor.

"Members of the Deep Forest Throng, we will hold a consultation," proposed the leader, in his assumed deep voice."Come over here, to one side.Brother Number Six, guard the prisoner well.""There ain't no need to," answered a lad who had been instructed to mount guard over Tom."He's tied so tight he can't move.I want to hear what you say.""Very well then," assented the leader,"But look to his bonds."The lad made a hasty examination of the ropes binding the young inventor to the tree, and Tom was glad that the examination was a hasty one.For he feared the guard might discover that one hand had been worked nearly free.The young inventor had done this while he leered at his captors.

Tom was not going to submit tamely to the nonsense, and from the moment he had been tied, he had been trying to get loose.He had nearly succeeded in freeing one hand when the crowd of masked boys moved off to one side, where they presently began to talk in excited whispers.

"I wonder how they came to catch me," thought the prisoner, as he worked feverishly to further loosen the ropes."This looks as if it was a put-up job, with the masks, and everything." Later he learned that the idea was the outcome of a proposal of one of the new arrivals in town.He had organized the "Deep Forest Throng," as a sort of secret society, and Andy and his cronies had been induced to join.It was Andy's proposal to capture Tom, though, and, having seen him depart for Mansburg on his motor- cycle, and knowing that he would return along a road that ran near the woods where the Throng met, suggested that they take Tom captive.The idea was enthusiastically received, and Andy and his cronies thought they saw a chance to be revenged.

Tom, while he picked at the ropes, listened to what the boys were saying.He heard frequent mention of tar and feathers, and began to believe, that unless he could get free, while they were off there consulting, he might be forced to submit to the humiliating ordeal.

He managed to get one hand comparatively free, so that he could moveit about, but then he struck several hard knots, and could make no further progress.The conference seemed on the point of breaking up.

"One of you go for a big kettle to boil the tar in," ordered the leader, "and the rest of you dig up some feathers.""I must get loose!" thought Tom desperately."If they try to tar and feather me it will be a risky business.I've got to get loose! They may burn me severely!"But, though he tried with all his strength, the ropes would not loosen another bit.He had one hand free, and that was all.The crowd was moving back toward him.

"My knife!" thought the captive quickly."If I can reach that in my pocket I can cut the ropes! Once I get loose I'll fight the whole crowd!"He managed to get his free hand into his pocket.His fingers touched something.It was not his knife, and, for a moment he felt a pang of disappointment.Then, as he realized what it was that he had grasped, a new idea came to him.

"This will be better than the knife!" he thought exultantly.The crowd of lads was now surrounding him, some distance from the fire, which burned in front of the captive.

"Sentence has been passed upon you," remarked the leader."Prepare to meet thy doom! Get the materials, brothers!""One moment!" called Tom, for he wanted the crowd all present to witness what he was about to do."I'll give you one chance to let me go peaceably.If you don't--""Well, what will you do?" demanded Andy sneeringly, as he pulled his mask further over his face."I guess you won't do anything, Tom Swift.""I'll give you one chance to let me go, and I'll agree to say nothing about this joke," went on Tom."If you don't I'll blow this place up!"For a moment there was a silence.

"Ha! Ha! Ho! Ho!" laughed Sam Snedecker."Listen to him! He'll blow the place up! I'd like to see you do it! You can't get loose in the first place, and you haven't anything to blow it up with in the second.I'd like to see you do it; hey, fellers?""Sure," came the answering chorus.

"Would you?" asked Tom quickly."Then watch.Stand back if you don't want to get hurt, and remember that I gave you a chance to let me go!"Tom made a rapid motion with the hand he had gotten loose.He threw something to ward the blazing fire, which was now burning well.Something white sailed through the air, and fell amid the hot embers.

There was a moment's pause, and then a blinding flash of blue fire lighted up the woods, and a dull rumble, as when gun-powder is lighted in the open followed.A great cloud of white smoke arose, as the vivid blue glare died away, and it seemed as if a great wind swept over the place.Several of the masked lads were knocked down by the explosion, and when the rumble died away, and deep blackness succeeded the intense blue light, there came cries of pain and terror.The fire had been scattered, and extinguished by the explosion which Tom, though still bound to the tree had caused to happen in the midst of the Deep Forest Throng.Then, as the smoke rolled away, Andy Foger cried:

"Come on, fellows! Something's happened.I guess a volcano blew up!"

同类推荐
  • 症因脉治

    症因脉治

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 无量寿经

    无量寿经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 正朝摘梅

    正朝摘梅

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • A Tale of Three Lions

    A Tale of Three Lions

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 黄帝内经素问补注释文

    黄帝内经素问补注释文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 佛说戒消灾经

    佛说戒消灾经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 恋上高冷足球小王子

    恋上高冷足球小王子

    不就是足球联谊赛吗?为嘛她做炮灰还不够,还要潜入做卧底?任务很硬,完成太难,某女哭天抢地,光刷男神还不行,还要pk粉丝后援团!好不容易契约上足球小王子,某女猖狂:哼!姐也开了挂!王子小心咯!
  • 台湾府舆图纂要

    台湾府舆图纂要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 斗破九霄之逆天三小姐

    斗破九霄之逆天三小姐

    前世,她是陈家的养女,一心一意奉献自己,却是被当成凝练玄力的靶子,送给冰家子弟任意欺凌。当心里充满仇恨,本性孤傲的她重生到一个一无是处的洛家废物身上后会发生什么?手无寸铁的废物,在这充满玄力的大陆上,又该如何生存?洛家七小姐,五根皆废,惨遭蓝家暗算,毒打致死。再度睁眼,风云骤变!今生,做了这具身体的主人,遇神杀神遇佛杀佛,天若欺我,我便破天!在这充满血腥战斗的艰险修炼道路之上,且看她逆天而行,斗破九霄,闯出一片自己的天下!金麟岂是池中物,一遇风云便化龙。谁说女子不如男,天地万象,定有她立足之处。风卷珠帘,紫烛摇曳,天下风云,谁才是她的真爱之人?一世烟火,谁与我共死同生,乱世浮沉中,我自萧然一生。……
  • 绿山墙的仿真人安妮

    绿山墙的仿真人安妮

    蒸汽机车喷着白烟驶进布莱特河这座小站时,站长悄悄地吹了声口哨,低头看了看自己的黄铜怀表,核对着工作日志上的到站时间,同时踮起脚尖前后摇晃着身体。有人告诉他,今天有一件很重要的货物要送来,所以他打算亲自监督货运车厢的卸货情况。让人激动的事情在爱德华王子岛上可不常有,他很想知道箱子里装的究竟是什么;人家对他说,到货后开箱时要小心些。火车嘎嚓嘎嚓地缓缓停了下来,站长扫了一眼那些车厢,确定一切都正常后才按下了胸前口袋上一个样式华丽但却稍嫌笨重的按钮。按钮嗡嗡地响了起来,接着发出一声刺耳的哨音,提醒乘客们可以安全下车了。
  • 释氏稽古略序吴兴有大比丘

    释氏稽古略序吴兴有大比丘

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 最强训犬员

    最强训犬员

    想过么?当有一天灾难来临,能发现你的,不一定是生命探测仪,而是救援犬;试过么?当你身处险境,能找到你的,不一定是卫星,而是救援犬;它们不被人熟知,但却一直无言战斗。它们是萌物,但它们也是战士!没错,这是一个关于无言战士的故事……
  • 《中华人民共和国就业促进法》释义及实用指南

    《中华人民共和国就业促进法》释义及实用指南

    本书由参加《中华人民共和国就业促进法》立法的通知撰写。全国人大常委会法制工作委员会经济法室参加本法立法的同志以促进就业发为蓝本,对本法的立法背景、立法主旨、实务中适用的规则进行了逐条的阐述。本书对就业管理方面的业内人员是不可或缺的工作指导。
  • 妖侠百录

    妖侠百录

    短篇小故事,有关于江湖的,有关于妖怪的,或离奇,或悲伤……
  • 小鱼跃农门

    小鱼跃农门

    穿越而来的小鱼姑娘种田吃饭打渣渣的幸福生活。小鱼的伟大理想:跟你们说,我要好多好多田,好多好多钱,我要当大齐最富有的地主婆!