Tom Swift and His Wizard Camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)

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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA

TOM SWIFT AND HIS

WIZARD CAMERA

(OR Thrilling Adventures While Taking Moving

Pictures)

VICTOR APPLETON

TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA

CHAPTER I

A STRANGE OFFER

"Some one to see you, Mr. Tom."

It was Koku, or August, as he was sometimes called, the new giant

servant of Tom Swift, who made this announcement to the young inventor.

"Who is it, Koku?" inquired Tom, looking up from his work-bench in

the machine shop, where he was busy over a part of the motor for his new

noiseless airship. "Any one I know? Is it the 'Blessing Man?'" for so Koku

had come to call Mr. Damon, an eccentric friend of Tom's.

"No, not him. A strange man. I never see before. He say he got quick

business."

"Quick business; eh? I guess you mean important, Koku," for this

gigantic man, one of a pair that Tom had brought with him after his

captivity in "Giant Land," as he called it, could not speak English very

well, as yet. "Important business; eh, Koku? Did he send in his card?"

"No, Mr. Tom. Him say he have no card. You not know him, but he

very much what you call--recited."

"Excited I guess you mean, Koku. Well, tell him to wait a few minutes,

and I'll see him. You can show him in then. But I say, Koku," and Tom

paused as he looked at the big man, who had attached himself to our hero,

as a sort of personal helper and bodyguard.

"Yes, Mr. Tom; what is it?"

"Don't let him go poking around the shop. He might look at some of

my machines that I haven't got fully patented yet. Is he in the front

office?"

"That's where him am. He be lookin' at pictures on the walls."

"Oh, that's all right then. Just keep him there. And, Koku, don't let him

come back in the shop here, until I get ready to see him. I'll ring the bell

when I am."

"All right, Mr. Tom."

Koku, very proud of his, mission of keeping guard over the strange

TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA

visitor, marched from the room with his big strides, his long arms and

powerful hands swinging at his sides, for Koku, or August, as Tom had

rechristened him, and as he often called him (for it was in the month of

August that he had located the giants) was a very powerful man. A

veritable giant, being extremely tall, and big in proportion.

"Be sure. Don't let him in here, Koku!" called Tom, in an additional

warning, as his new servant left the main shop.

"Sure not!" exclaimed Koku, very earnestly.

"I don't know who he may be," mused Tom, as he began putting away

the parts to his new noiseless motor, so that the stranger could not see

them, and profit thereby. "It looks rather funny, not sending in his name. It

may be some one who thinks he can spring a trick on me, and get some

points about my inventions, or dad's.

"It may even be somebody sent on by Andy Foger, or his father. I can't

be too careful. I'll just put everything away that isn't fully covered by

patents, and then if he wants to infringe on any of the machines I can sue

him."

Tom looked about the shop, which was filled with strange machinery,

most of which had been made by himself, or his father, or under their

combined directions. There was a big biplane in one corner, a small

monoplane in another, parts of a submarine boat hanging up overhead, and

a small, but very powerful, electric auto waiting to have some repairs

made to it, for on his last trip in it Tom Swift had suffered a slight

accident.

"There, I guess he can't see anything but what I want him to," mused

Tom, as he put away the last part of a new kind of motor, from which he

hoped great things. "Let's see, yes, it's out of sight now. I wish Ned

Newton, or Mr. Damon were here to be a witness in case he starts anything.

But then I have Koku, even if he doesn't speak much English yet. If it

comes to blows--well, I wouldn't want that giant to hit me," finished Tom

with a laugh, as he rang the bell to announce to his servant that the visitor

might be shown in.

There was a sound outside the door that separated the business office

from the main shop, and Tom heard Koku exclaim:

TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA

"Hold on! Wait! I go first. You wait!"

"What's the matter with me going ahead?" demanded a quick, snappy

voice. "I'm in a hurry, and--"

"You wait! I go first," was the giant's reply, and then came the sound

of a scuffle.

"Ouch! Say! Hold on there, my man! Take your hand off my shoulder!

You're crushing me with those big fingers of yours!"

This was evidently the visitor remonstrating with the giant.

"Humph! I guess Koku must have grabbed him," said Tom softly. "I

don't like that sort of a visitor. What's his hurry getting in here?" and our

hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.

Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which

they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed. Tom saw a

heavy iron bar at hand, and knew this would serve to protect him.

"You come after me!" exclaimed Koku, when the voice of the other

had ceased. "Do you stand under me?"

"Oh, yes, I understand all right. I'll keep back. But I didn't mean

anything. I'm just in a hurry to see Tom Swift, that is all. I'm always in a

hurry in fact. I've lost nearly a thousand dollars this morning, just by this

delay. I want to see Mr. Swift at once; and have a talk with him."

"Another crank, I guess," mused Tom. "Well, I'm not going to waste

much time on him."

A moment later the door opened, and into the shop stepped Koku,

followed by a short, stout, fussy little man, wearing a flaming red tie, but

otherwise his clothes were not remarkable.

"Is this Mr. Tom Swift?" asked the stranger, as he advanced and held

out his hand to the young man.

"Yes," answered Tom, looking carefully at the visitor. He did not seem

to be dangerous, he had no weapon, and, Tom was relieved to note that he

did not carry some absurd machine, or appliance, that he had made,

hoping to get help in completing it. The youth was trying to remember if

he had ever seen the stranger before, but came to the conclusion that he

had not.

"Sorry to take up your time," went on the man, "but I just had to see

TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA

you. No one else will do. I've heard lots about you. That was a great stunt

you pulled off, getting those giants for the circus. This is one; isn't he?"

and he nodded toward Koku.

"Yes," replied Tom, wondering if the little man was in such a hurry

why he did not get down to business.

"I thought so," the caller went on, as he shook hands with Tom. "Once

you felt his grip you'd know he was a giant, even if you didn't see him. Yes,

that was a great stunt. And going to the caves of ice, too, and that

diamond-making affair. All of 'em great. I--"

"How did you know about them?" interrupted Tom, wishing the man

would tell his errand.

"Oh, you're better known than you have any idea of, Tom Swift. As

soon as I got this idea of mine I said right away, to some of the others in

my business, I says, says I, 'Tom Swift is the boy for us. I'll get him to

undertake this work, and then it will be done to the Queen's taste. Tom's

the boy who can do it,' I says, and they all agreed with me. So I came here

to-day, and I'm sorry I had to wait to see you, for I'm the busiest man in

the world, I believe, and, as I said, I've lost about a thousand dollars

waiting to have a talk with you. I--"

"I am sorry," interrupted Tom, and he was not very cordial. "But I was

busy, and--"

"All right! All right! Don't apologize!" broke in the man in rapid tones,

while both Tom, and his servant, Koku, looked in surprise at the quick

flow of language that came from him. "Don't apologize for the world. It's

my fault for bothering you. And I'll lose several thousand dollars, willingly,

if you'll undertake this job. I'll make money from it as it is. It's worth ten

thousand dollars to you, I should say, and I'm willing to pay that."

He looked about, as though for a seat, and Tom, apologizing for his

neglect in offering one, shoved a box forward.

"We don't have chairs in here," said the young inventor with a smile.

"Now if you will tell me what you--"

"I'm coming right to it. I'll get down to business in a moment,"

interrupted the man as he sat down on the box, not without a grunt or two,

I for he was very stout. "I'm going to introduce myself in just a second,

TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA

and then I'm going to tell you who I am. And I hope you'll take up my

offer, though it may seem a strange one."

The man took out a pocketbook, and began searching through it,

evidently for some card or paper.

"He's as odd as Mr. Damon is, when he's blessing everything," mused

Tom, as he watched the man.

"I thought I had a card with me, but I haven't," the visitor went on. "No

matter. I'm James Period--promoter of all kinds of amusement enterprises,

from a merry-go-'round to a theatrical performance. I want you to--"

"No more going after giants," interrupted. Tom. "It's too dangerous,

and I haven't time--"

"No, it has nothing to do with giants," spoke Mr. Period, as he glanced

up at Koku, who towered over him as he sat on the box near Tom.

"Well?" returned Tom.

"This is something entirely new. It has never been done before, though

if you should happen to be able to get a picture of giants don't miss the

opportunity."

"Get a picture?" exclaimed Tom, wondering if, after all, his visitor

might not be a little insane.

"Pictures, yes. Listen. I'm James Period. Jim, if you like it better, or

just plain 'Spotty.' That's what most of my friends call me. Get the idea? A

period is a spot. I'm a Period, therefor I'm a spot. But that isn't the real

reason. It's because I'm always Johnny on the Spot when anything is

happening. If it's a big boxing exhibition, I'm there. If it's a coronation, I'm

there, or some of my men are. If it's a Durbar in India, you'll find Spotty

on the spot. That's me. If there's going to be a building blown up with

dynamite--I'm on hand; or some of my men. If there's a fire I get there as

soon as the engines do--if it's a big one. Always on the spot--that's me--

James Period--Spotty for short. Do you get me?" and he drew a long

breath and looked at Tom, his head on one side.

"I understand that you are--"

"In the moving picture business," interrupted Mr. Period, who never

seemed to let Tom finish a sentence. "I'm the biggest moving picture man

in the world--not in size, but in business. I make all the best films. You've

TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA

seen some of 'em I guess. Every one of 'em has my picture on the end of

the film. Shows up great. Advertising scheme--get me?"

"Yes," replied Tom, as he recalled that he had seen some of the films in

question, and good ones they were too. "I see your point, but--"

"You want to know why I come to you; don't you?" again interrupted

"Spotty," with a laugh. "Well, I'll tell you. I need you in my business. I

want you to invent a new kind of moving picture camera. A small light

one--worked by electricity--a regular wizard camera. I want you to take it

up in an airship with you, and then go to all sorts of wild and strange

countries, Africa, India--the jungles--get pictures of wild animals at peace

and fighting--herds of elephants--get scenes of native wars-- earthquakes--

eruptions of volcanoes--all the newest and most wonderful pictures you

can. You'll have to make a new kind of camera to do it. The kind we use

won't do the trick.

"Now do you get me? I'm going to give you ten thousand dollars,

above all your expenses, for some films such as I've been speaking of. I

want novelty. Got to have it in my business! You can do it. Now will

you?"

"I hardly think--" began Tom.

"Don't answer me now," broke in Mr. Period. "Take four minutes to

think it over. Or even five. I guess I can wait that long. Take five minutes.

I'll wait while you make up your mind, but I know you'll do it. Five

minutes--no more,' and hastily getting up off the box Mr. Period began

impatiently pacing up and down the shop.

TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA

CHAPTER II

A MAN IN THE SNOW BANK

Tom Swift looked somewhat in surprise at his strange visitor. It had

all happened so suddenly, the offer had been such a strange one, the man

himself--Mr. Period--was so odd, that our hero hardly knew what to think.

The moving picture agent continued pacing up and down the room now

and then looking at his watch as if to note when the five minutes had

passed.

"No," said Tom to himself. "I'm not going to take this offer. There's too

much work and risk attached to it. I want to stay at home and work on my

noiseless motor for the airship. After that-- well--I don't know what I'll do.

I'll tell Mr. Period that he needn't wait the five minutes. My mind is made

up now!"

But as Tom was about to make this announcement, and dismiss his

caller, he looked again at the visitor. There was something attractive about

him--about his hasty way of talking, about his manner of interrupting,

about the way he proposed matters. Tom was interested in spite of himself.

"Well," he reflected, "I may as well wait until the five minutes are up,

anyhow."

Koku, the giant servant, glanced at his young master, as if to ask if

there was anything that he could do. Tom shook his head, and then the big

man strolled over to the other side of the machine shop, at the same time

keeping a careful eye on Mr. Period.

While Tom is waiting for the time to expire, I will take a few minutes

to tell you something more about him. Those of my friends who have read

the previous books in this series need no introduction to my hero, but

those who may chance upon this as their first book in the Tom Swift series,

will like to be more formally introduced.

Tom, whose mother had been dead some years, lived with his father,

Barton Swift, in the town of Shopton. Mr. Swift was an inventor of

prominence, and his son was fast following in his footsteps. A Mrs.

Baggert kept house for the Swifts, and another member of the household

TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA

was Eradicate Sampson, an aged colored man, who said he used to

"eradicate" the dirt. He had been with Tom on many trips, but of late was

getting old and feeble. Then there was Garret Jackson, an engineer

employed by the Swifts. These were all the immediate members of the

household.

Tom had a chum, Ned Newton, who used to work in a bank, and there

was a girl, Mary Nestor, a daughter of Amos Nestor, in which young lady

Tom was much interested.

Eradicate Sampson had a mule, Boomerang, of whom he thought

almost as much as he did of Tom. Eradicate was a faithful friend and

servant, but, of late, Koku, or August, the giant, had rather supplanted him.

I must not forget Mr. Wakefield Damon, of Waterfield, a village near

Shopton. Mr. Damon was an odd man, always blessing everything. He and

Tom were good friends, and had been on many trips together.

The first book of the series was called "Tom Swift and His Motor-

Cycle," and related how Tom bought the cycle from Mr. Damon, after the

latter had met with an accident on it, and it was in this way that our hero

became acquainted with the odd man.

Tom had many adventures on his motor-cycle, and, later on he secured

a motor-boat, in which he beat his enemy, Andy Foger, in a race. Next

Tom built an airship, and in this he went on a wonderful trip. Returning

from this he and his father heard about a treasure sunken under the ocean.

In his submarine boat Tom secured the valuables, and made a large sum

for himself.

In his electric runabout, which was the swiftest car on the road, Tom

was able to save from ruin a bank in which his father was interested, and,

a short time after that, he went on a trip in an airship, with a man who had

invented a new kind. The airship was smashed, and fell to Earthquake

Island, where there were some refugees from a shipwreck, among them

being the parents of Mary Nestor. In the volume called "Tom Swift and

His Wireless Message," I told how he saved these people.

When Tom went among the diamond makers he had more strange

adventures, on that trip discovering the secret of phantom mountain. He

had bad luck when he went to the caves of ice, for there his airship was

TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA

wrecked.

When Tom made the trip in his sky racer he broke all records for an

aerial flight, incidentally saving his father's life. It was some time after this

when he invented an electric rifle, and went to elephant land, to rescue

some missionaries from the red pygmies.

The eleventh volume of the series is called "Tom Swift in the Land of

Gold," and relates his adventures underground, while the next one tells of

a new machine he invented--an air-glider-- which he used to save the

exiles of Siberia, incidentally, on that trip, finding a valuable deposit of

platinum.

As I have said, it was on his trip to giant land that Tom got his big

servant. This book, the thirteenth of the series, is called "Tom Swift in

Captivity," for the giants captured him and his friends, and it was only by

means of their airship that they made their daring escape.

Tom had been back from the strange land some time now. One giant he

had turned over to the circus representative for whom he had undertaken

the mission, and the other he retained to work around his shop, as

Eradicate was getting too old. It was now winter, and there had been quite

a fall of snow the day before Mr. Period, the odd moving picture man,

called on Tom. There were many big drifts outside the building.

Tom had fitted up a well-equipped shop, where he and his father

worked on their inventions. Occasionally Ned Newton, or Mr. Damon,

would come over to help them, but of late Tom had been so busy on his

noiseless motor that he had not had time to even see his friends.

"'Well, I guess the five minutes have passed, and my mind is made

up," thought Tom, as he looked at his watch. "I might as well tell Mr.

Period that I can't undertake his commission. In the first place it isn't going

to be an easy matter to make an electric moving picture camera. I'd have to

spend a lot of time studying up the subject, and then I might not be able to

get it to work right.

"And, again, I can't spare the time to go to all sorts of wild and

impossible places to get the pictures. It's all well enough to talk about

getting moving pictures of natives in battle, or wild beasts fighting, or

volcanoes in action, but it isn't so easy to do it. Then, too, I'd have to make

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TOMSWIFTANDHISWIZARDCAMERA1TOMSWIFTANDHISWIZARDCAMERA(ORThrillingAdventuresWhileTakingMovingPictures)VICTORAPPLETONTOMSWIFTANDHISWIZARDCAMERA2CHAPTERIASTRANGEOFFER"Someonetoseeyou,Mr.Tom."ItwasKoku,orAugust,ashewassometimescalled,thenewgiantservantofTomSwift,whomadethisannouncementtotheyounginventor...

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