Tom Swift and His Big Tunnel; Or, The Hidden City of the Andes

peal

arisen over one of his inventions, was startled by a loud knock on the door. So emphatic,

said to himself. "He never does seem able to do things gently. But I wonder why he is knocking. I told him to get the engine

e door. Flinging it open he confronted a veritable giant of a man, nearly eight feet tall, and big in propor

nock?" the giant

id you think you had to arouse the whole neighborhood just to let me kn

m his appearance and from his imperfect co

have. That's the reason I sent you to take the engine out of the airship. You can lift it without using the chain hoist, and

e. Almost

u here? Has anyt

hine shop and say he must have talk with you. I no let

why didn't Eradicate come and call me. He isn't doing anything,

lack man no good!" and Koku chuckled so hea

te had served Tom and his father long before Koku, the giant, had been brought back from one of the young inventor's ma

man want to have talk, but Eradicate he no come fast enough. So I pick him up, and

in some vexation. "Now I'll have Eradicate complaining to m

iant. "Eradicate him not be hea

can't move very quickly. But you should have let him come, Koku. It ma

as though he felt the gentle rebuke Tom admin

n't be helped, I reckon. Where is this strang

sure. But him now be at the

any strangers poking around here, especially with

into a desk drawer the mass of papers an

h trouble with people trying to get inside information abou

e, and at one of the entrances was a sort of gate-house, where some one was always on guard. Only those who

Koku, working on the airship engine not far away, saw the stranger. Hearing the man say he was in a hurry and noting

eated in a chair, a man who was impatiently

t invariably, members of this profession wear very thick-soled shoes. Opposi

one and cotch me by de collar ob mah coat, an' den he lif' me up, an' he sot me down so hard-so hard-d

followed the young inventor, imitated the limping gait of the colored man with

reat, big, overgrown lummox, Ah'll-Ah'l

e. Koku, get back to that engine and lift out the motor. Eradicat

t he done,

r a while, and when I leave I'll call one of yo

s, Tom turned to the stranger and after apo

shed to

e Tom Swi

," and the young own

u," resumed the man, "but I'm in a lot of trouble, a

f trouble?"

have a few minutes to spare perhaps you will listen to my st

made to him, and usually they were of a begging nature. He was often

ntions were of the utterly hopeless class, incapable of perfection, like some perpetual motion appara

m to be like anything Tom

," repeated the youth, as he

it me to introduce myself" and he h

JOB

er left-hand co

thers, Con

. "I don't know anything about the contracting business, but if you do

o you," the contractor went on. "Now if y

e house," interrupted Tom. "W

the gate-house, Tom led Mr. Titus toward the Swift home

the youth said, "though I

a lot about you, and when he wrote to me that he was unable to proceed with his contract of tunneling the And

Andes Mountains

eruvian government. At a point some distance back in the district east of Lima, Peru, we are maki

y n

eems to defy the strongest explosive we can get. Now I

he front piazza as effectually to drown conversation. There was a noise of the hoofs of a h

where you're kicking! Bless my s