第9章

"Of course you are!" insisted Tom, as if that settled it."And I'm sure Mr.Damon will go also.I haven't seen him in some time.I hope he isn't ill."Tom started work on his Wizard Camera, as he called it, the next day-- that is he began drawing the designs, and planning how to construct it.Ned helped him, and Koku was on hand in case he was needed, but there was little he could do, as yet.Tom made an inspection of his shop themorning after the chicken thief scare, but nothing seemed to have been disturbed.

A week passed, and Tom had all the plans drawn for the camera.He had made several experiments with different forms of electricity for operating the mechanism, and had decided on a small, but very powerful, storage battery to move the film, and take the pictures.

This storage battery, which would be inside the camera, would operate it automatically.That is, the camera could be set up any place, in the jungle, or on the desert, it could be left alone, and would take pictures without any one being near it.Tom planned to have it operate at a certain set time, and stop at a certain time, and he could set the dials to make this time any moment of the day or night.For there was to be a powerful light in connection with the camera, in order that night views might be taken.Besides being automatic the camera could be worked by hand.

When it was not necessary to have the camera operate by the storage battery, it could be connected to wires and worked by an ordinary set of batteries, or by a dynamo.This was for use on the airship, where there was a big electrical machine.I shall tell you more about the camera as the story proceeds.

One afternoon Tom was alone in the shop, for he had sent Koku on an errand, and Eradicate was off in a distant part of the grounds, doing some whitewashing, which was his specialty.Ned had not come over, and Mr.Swift, having gone to see some friends, and Mrs.Baggert being at the store, Tom, at this particular time, was rather isolated.

He was conducting some delicate electrical experiments, and to keep the measuring instruments steady he had closed all the windows and doors of his shop.The young inventor was working at a bench in one corner, and near him, standing upright, was a heavy shaft of iron, part of his submarine, wrapped in burlap, and padded, to keep it from rusting.

"Now," said Tom to himself, as he mixed two kinds of acid in a jar, to produce a new sort of electrical current, "I will see if this is any better than the first way in which I did it."He was careful about pouring out the powerful stuff, but, in spite of this, he spilled a drop on his finger.It burned like fire, and, instinctively,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 odor--an 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.