登陆注册
15678700000020

第20章

"Some people in Waterford saw you going down," went on Mr.Damon, "and they told me.""It was a false alarm," replied Tom."And now, Mr.Damon, if you want to smell some perfumes come with me.""Are you going into that line, Tom?" asked the eccentric man."Bless my handkerchief, my wife will be glad of that!""I mean I'm going to experiment some more with fire- extinguishing chemicals," laughed the young inventor."If you want to--""Bless my gas mask, I should say not!" cried Mr.Damon."I don't see how you stand those odors, Tom Swift.""Guess I'm used to 'em," was the answer.And then, leaving his father to entertain Mr.Damon and to make arrangements for Mr.Baxter's use of the main laboratory, he betook himself to his own private quarters.

The next week or so was a busy time for Tom; so busy, in fact, that he had little chance to see Mr.Baxter.All he knew was that the unfortunateman was also laboring in his own line, and Tom wished him success.He knew that if the man made any discoveries that would help with the fire- extinguishing fluid he would report, as he had promised.

"Well, Tom, how goes it?" asked Ned one day when he came over to call on his chum."Are you ready to accept contracts for putting out skyscraper blazes in all big cities?""Not yet," was the answer."But I'm going to make another attempt, Ned.""You mean another experiment?"

"Yes, I have evolved a new combination of chemicals, using something of the carbonate idea as a basis.I found that I couldn't get away from that, much as I wanted to.But my application is entirely new, at least I hope it will prove so.""When are you going to try it?" asked Ned.

"Right away.All I have to do is to put the chemicals in the metal tank." "Then I'd better get my leather suit on," remarked Ned, starting to takeoff his street coat.Tom kept for his chum a full outfit of flying garments, one suit being electrically heated.

"Oh, we aren't going up in any airship," Tom said.

"Why, I thought you were going to test your aerial fire fighting dingus!" exclaimed Ned.

"So I am.But I want to stay on the ground and watch the effect on the blaze as the tank bursts and scatters the chemical fluid.""Then you want me, and perhaps Mr.Damon to take the stuff up in the machine? Excuse me.I don't believe I care to run an airship myself.""No," went on Tom, "there isn't any question of an airship this time.No one is going up.Come on out into the yard and I'll show you."Ned Newton followed his chum out into the big yard near one of the shops.Erected in it, and evidently a new structure, was a large wooden scaffold in square tower shape with a long overhanging arm and a platform on the extremity.Beneath it was a pit dug in the earth, and in this pit, which was directly under the outstanding arm of the tower, was a pile of wood and shavings, oil-soaked.

"Oh, I see the game," remarked Ned."You're going to drop the stufffrom this height instead of doing it from an airship.""Yes," Tom answered."There will be time enough to go on with the airship end of it after I get the right combination of chemicals.And by having a metal container with the stuff in dropped from this frame work, I can station myself as near the burning pit as I can get and watch what happens.""It's a good idea," decided Ned."I wonder you didn't try that before." "Mr.Baxter suggested it," replied Tom."That helpful idea more thanpays me for what I have done for him.So now, if you're ready, I'd like to have you watch with me and make some notes, one of us on one side of the pit, and one on the other.There are always two sides to a fire, the leeward and the windward, and I want to see how my chemicals act in both positions.""I'm with you," said Ned."Who's going to drop the stuff-- Koku?" "No, he is a bit too heavy for the framework, which I had put up in ahurry.I'd have Rad do it, but he's out of the game.""Poor old Rad!" murmured Ned."Do you think he'll ever get better, Tom?""I don't know," sighed the young inventor."All I can do is to hope.He is very patient, and Koku is devoted to him.All their little bickerings and squabbles seem to have been forgotten."Tom called some of his workmen, some of them to start the blaze of inflammable material in the pit, while one climbed up to the top of the tower of scantlings and made his way out on the extended arm, where there was a little platform for him to stand until it was time to drop the chemicals.

"Light her up!" cried Tom Swift, and a match was thrown in among the oiled wood.In an instant a fierce blaze shot up, as hot, in proportion, as would come from any burning building.

For the second time Tom was about to make a test on a fairly large scale of his experimental extinguisher mixture.

"All ready up there?" he called to his helper perched high in the air."All ready!" came back the answer above the roar and crackle of theflames that made Tom and Ned step back.

Would success or failure attend the young inventor's project?

同类推荐
  • 瓶粟斋诗话

    瓶粟斋诗话

    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。
  • 北游记

    北游记

    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。
  • 五灯会元

    五灯会元

    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。
  • 樵隐词

    樵隐词

    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。
  • The Lifted Veil

    The Lifted Veil

    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。
热门推荐
  • 王传福的创新智慧

    王传福的创新智慧

    王传福作为新近崛起的中国首富,以独特的成本控制和市场竞争方式获得了巴菲特的青睐。半自动化代替自动化,规避专利,无一不体现了他的这独特的创新方式。本书以案例加启示的体例深入挖掘王传福独特的创新方式,力图再现王传福及比亚迪的成长与辉煌,对读者具有巨大的借鉴价值。
  • 豪门婚恋:冷艳娇妻

    豪门婚恋:冷艳娇妻

    本来敌对的两人走上了恋爱之路,霸气总裁撩冰冷女王…
  • 纵横异度空间

    纵横异度空间

    我们所居住的空间被称为“三维空间”,但是三维以外的空间,你了解吗?陈凡一名普通的高中生,因为父母的失踪,决心要靠自己的力量回到父母的身边。黑耀上古幻兽的传承者,因为一次意外来到了“三维空间”与陈凡相遇,“吞噬之格”上古神格之一,在陈凡的身上能发出怎样的光芒。
  • 永恒的亚当
  • 衍道者

    衍道者

    百年后,我会如何?千年后,世间会如何?我想知道的,不仅是这些。诸天万域的古往今来,沉沦了多少人,又崛起了多少人。听浪声涛涛,那是谁在咏叹浮沉,又是谁在逆天改命。一朵浪花,一个世界。衍之一字,又有何种解释?他们曾经辉煌一时,却又销声匿迹,为何……
  • 心理医生手记

    心理医生手记

    根据资深心理医生的真实案列改编的小说,本小说大部分都是真实的,非常适合心理学爱好者观看。普通人看了也可以掌握一些心理学知识。非常有益。本小说是本人出于爱好而写,不图挣钱,不是商业小说,因此有时候出现断更,请原谅。
  • 春秋古道

    春秋古道

    春秋末期,各诸侯战争不断,但是于此不同的却是文化的极端发展,造就了一个黄金时代,孔子泣麒而笔绝春秋,老子骑青牛走函谷关,墨子口拦公输班之战,三教九流各显神通,一直很向往那个时代,故而有此书——春秋古道。
  • 三生三世,浮若花开

    三生三世,浮若花开

    (新手上路忘多多关照不喜欢的勿喷)三个男孩同时爱上一个女孩,曲曲折折,误误会会,但最终他们还是输了,用他的话来说“三生三世你们可能追上吗?呵!”某男:“菡儿,三生树开花了,你看见了吗?我马上要来找你了,不知道你还记不记得我。”某女:“你是谁?什么三生三世,我只知道我不认识你,请不要在缠着我了,谢谢!”某男:“老婆,我们入洞房吧!”三生三世,浮若花开…………
  • 田箩姑娘历险记

    田箩姑娘历险记

    不信奉田螺姑娘的“阴险”田箩,有一天栽到了凡人将军手里。做暗人、当丫环,她只求早点报完恩早点自由。可是,为什么有些陌生情绪开始在她心里繁衍疯长?求而不得她又该何去何从?
  • 穿越之最爱不过咫尺天涯

    穿越之最爱不过咫尺天涯

    一个21世纪的女生因为一场车祸而导致她离开了这个世界,她原本以为她已经死了,可醒来的时候却发现自己到了另外一个世界,她以为到了天堂,可...才知道她穿越了,而且已经结婚了...