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首页 » 英文科幻小说 » 汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇 Tom Swift and His Moto » Chapter 7 Off on a Spin
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Chapter 7 Off on a Spin
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Tom's first impulse was to run after the automobile1, the red tail-light of which glowed through the blackness like a ruby2 eye. Then herealized that it was going from him at such a swift pace that itwould be impossible to get near it, even if his bicycle was inworking order.
"But if I had my motor-cycle I'd catch up to them," he murmured. "Asit is, I must hurry home and tell dad. This is another link in thequeer chain that seems to be winding3 around us. I wonder who thatman was, and what he wanted by asking so many personal questionsabout dad?"
Trundling his wheel before him, with the chain dangling4 from thehandle-bar, Tom splashed on through the mud and rain. It was alonesome, weary walk, tired as he was with the happenings of theday, and the young inventor breathed a sigh of thankfulness as thelights of his home shone out in the mist of the storm. As he trampedup the steps of the side porch, his wheel bumping along ahead ofhim, a door was thrown open.
"Why, it's Tom!" exclaimed Mrs. Baggert. "Whatever happened to you?"and she hurried forward with kindly5 solicitude6, for the housekeeperwas almost a second mother to the youth.
"Chain broke," answered the lad laconically7. "Where's dad?"
"Out in the shop, working at his latest invention, I expect. But areyou hurt?"
"Oh, no. I fell easily. The mud was like a feather-bed, you know,except that it isn't so good for the clothes," and the younginventor looked down at his splashed and bedraggled garments.
Mr. Swift was very much surprised when Tom told him of the happeningon the road, and related the conversation and the subsequent alarmof the man on learning Tom's identity.
"Who do you suppose he could have been?" asked Tom, when he hadfinished.
"I am pretty certain he was one of that crowd of financiers of whomAnson Morse seems to be a representative," said Mr. Swift. "Are yousure the man was one of those you saw in the restaurant?"
"Positive. I had a good look at him both times. Do you think heimagined he could come here and get possession of some of yoursecrets?"
"I hardly know what to think, Tom. But we will take everyprecaution. We will set the burglar alarm wires, which I haveneglected for some time, as I fancied everything would be securehere. Then I will take my plans and the model of the turbine motorinto the house. I'll run no chances to-night."
Mr. Swift, who was adjusting some of the new bolts that Tom hadbrought home that day; began to gather up his tools and material.
"I'll help you, dad," said Tom, and he began connecting the burglaralarm wires, there being an elaborate system of them about thehouse, shops and grounds.
Neither Tom nor his father slept well that night. Several times oneor the other of them arose, thinking they heard unusual noises, butit was only some disturbance8 caused by the storm, and morningarrived without anything unusual having taken place. The rain stillcontinued, and Tom, looking from his window and seeing the downpour,remarked:
"I'm glad of it!"
"Why?" asked his father, who was in the next room.
"Because I'll have a good excuse for staying in and working on mymotor-cycle."
"But you must do some studying," declared Mr. Swift. "I will hearyou in mathematics right after breakfast."
"All right, dad. I guess you'll find I have my lessons."
Tom had graduated with honors from a local academy, and when it cameto a question of going further in his studies, he had elected tocontinue with his father for a tutor, instead of going to college.Mr. Swift was a very learned man, and this arrangement wassatisfactory to him, as it allowed Tom more time at home, so hecould aid his father on the inventive work and also plan things forhimself. Tom showed a taste for mechanics, and his father wiselydecided that such training as his son needed could be given at hometo better advantage than in a school or college.
Lessons over, Tom hurried to his own particular shop, and begantaking apart the damaged motor-cycle.
"First I'll straighten the handle-bars, and then I'll fix the motorand transmission," he decided9. "The front wheel I can buy in town,as this one would hardly pay for repairing." Tom was soon busy withwrenches, hammers, pliers and screw-driver. He was in his element,and was whistling over his task. The motor he found in goodcondition, but it was not such an easy task as he had hoped tochange the transmission. He had finally to appeal to his father, inorder to get the right proportion between the back and front gears,for the motor-cycle was operated by a sprocket chain, instead of abelt drive, as is the case with some.
Mr. Swift showed Tom how to figure out the number of teeth needed oneach sprocket, in order to get an increase of speed, and as therewas a sprocket wheel from a disused piece of machinery10 available,Tom took that. He soon had it in place, and then tried the motor. Tohis delight the number of revolutions of the rear wheel wereincreased about fifteen per cent.
"I guess I'll make some speed," he announced to his father.
"But it will take more gasolene to run the motor; don't forget that.You know the great principle of mechanics--that you can't get out ofa machine any more than you put into it, nor quite as much, as amatter of fact, for considerable is lost through friction11."
"Well, then, I'll enlarge the gasolene tank," declared Tom. "I wantto go fast when I'm going."
He reassembled the machine, and after several hours of work had itin shape to run, except that a front wheel was lacking.
"I think I'll go to town and get one," he remarked. "The rain isn'tquite so hard now."
In spite of his father's mild objections Tom went, using hisbicycle, the chain of which he had quickly repaired. He found justthe front wheel needed, and that night his motor-cycle was ready torun. But it was too dark to try it then, especially as he had nogood lantern, the one on the cycle having been smashed, and his ownbicycle light not being powerful enough. So he had to postpone12 histrial trip until the next day.
He was up early the following morning, and went out for a spinbefore breakfast. He came back, with flushed cheeks and bright eyes,just as Mr. Swift and Mrs. Baggert were sitting down to the table.
"To Reedville and back," announced Tom proudly.
"What, a round trip of thirty miles!" exclaimed Mr. Swift.
"That's what!" declared his son. "I went like a greased pig most ofthe way. I had to slow up going through Mansburg, but the rest of attime I let it out for all it was worth."
"You must be careful," cautioned his father. "You are not an expertyet."
"No, I realize that. Several times, when I wanted to slow up, Ibegan to back-pedal, forgetting that I wasn't on my bicycle. Then Ithought to shut off the power and put on the brake. But it'sglorious fun. I'm going out again as soon as I have something toeat. That is, unless you want me to help you, dad."
"No, not this morning. Learn to ride the motor-cycle. It may come inhandy."
Neither Tom nor his father realized what an important part themachine was soon to play in their lives.
Tom went out for another spin after breakfast, and in a differentdirection. He wanted to see what the machine would do on a hill, andthere was a long, steep one about five miles from home. The roadswere in fine shape after the rain, and he speeded up the incline ata rapid rate.
"It certainly does eat up the road," the lad murmured. "I haveimproved this machine considerably13. Wish I could take out a patenton it."
Reaching the crest14 of the slope, he started down the incline. Heturned off part of the power, and was gliding15 along joyously16, whenfrom a cross-road he suddenly saw turn into the main highway a mule17,drawing a ramshackle wagon18, loaded with fence posts. Beside theanimal walked an old colored man.
"I hope he gets out of the way in time," thought Tom. "He's movingas slow as molasses, and I'm going a bit faster than I like. GuessI'll shut off and put on the brakes."
The mule and wagon were now squarely across the road. Tom was comingnearer and nearer. He turned the handle-grip, controlling the supplyof gasolene, and to his horror he found that it was stuck. He couldnot stop the motor-cycle!
"Look out! Look out!" cried Tom to the negro. "Get out of the way! Ican't stop! Let me pass you!"
The darky looked up. He saw the approaching machine, and he seemedto lose possession of his senses.
"Whoa, Boomerang!" cried the negro. "Whoa! Suffin's gwine t'happen!"
"That's what!" muttered Tom desperately19, as he saw that there wasnot room for him to pass without going into the ditch, a proceedingthat would mean an upset. "Pull out of the way!" he yelled again.
But either the driver could not understand, or did not appreciatethe necessity. The mule stopped and reared up. The colored manhurried to the head of the animal to quiet it.
"Whoa, Boomerang! Jest yo' stand still!" he said.
Tom, with a great effort, managed to twist the grip and finally shutoff the gasolene. But it was too late. He struck the darky with thefront wheel. Fortunately the youth had managed to somewhat reducehis speed by a quick application of the brake, or the result mighthave been serious. As it was, the colored man was gently lifted awayfrom the mule's head and tossed into the long grass in the ditch.Tom, by a great effort, succeeded in maintaining his seat in thesaddle, and then, bringing the machine to a stop, he leaped off andturned back.
The colored man was sitting up, looking dazed.
"Whoa, Boomerang!" he murmured. "Suffin's happened!"
But the mule, who had quieted down, only waggled his ears lazily,and Tom, ready to laugh, now that he saw he had not committedmanslaughter, hurried to where the colored man was sitting.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 automobile rP1yv     
n.汽车,机动车
参考例句:
  • He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
  • The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。
2 ruby iXixS     
n.红宝石,红宝石色
参考例句:
  • She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
  • On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。
3 winding Ue7z09     
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈
参考例句:
  • A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
  • The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。
4 dangling 4930128e58930768b1c1c75026ebc649     
悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 ); 摆动不定; 用某事物诱惑…; 吊胃口
参考例句:
  • The tooth hung dangling by the bedpost, now. 结果,那颗牙就晃来晃去吊在床柱上了。
  • The children sat on the high wall,their legs dangling. 孩子们坐在一堵高墙上,摇晃着他们的双腿。
5 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
参考例句:
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
6 solicitude mFEza     
n.焦虑
参考例句:
  • Your solicitude was a great consolation to me.你对我的关怀给了我莫大的安慰。
  • He is full of tender solicitude towards my sister.他对我妹妹满心牵挂。
7 laconically 09acdfe4bad4e976c830505804da4d5b     
adv.简短地,简洁地
参考例句:
  • "I have a key,'said Rhett laconically, and his eyes met Melanie's evenly. "我有钥匙,"瑞德直截了当说。他和媚兰的眼光正好相遇。 来自飘(部分)
  • 'says he's sick,'said Johnnie laconically. "他说他有玻"约翰尼要理不理的说。 来自飘(部分)
8 disturbance BsNxk     
n.动乱,骚动;打扰,干扰;(身心)失调
参考例句:
  • He is suffering an emotional disturbance.他的情绪受到了困扰。
  • You can work in here without any disturbance.在这儿你可不受任何干扰地工作。
9 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
10 machinery CAdxb     
n.(总称)机械,机器;机构
参考例句:
  • Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗?
  • Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。
11 friction JQMzr     
n.摩擦,摩擦力
参考例句:
  • When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后,他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
  • Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体,并使其停止。
12 postpone rP0xq     
v.延期,推迟
参考例句:
  • I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
  • She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。
13 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
14 crest raqyA     
n.顶点;饰章;羽冠;vt.达到顶点;vi.形成浪尖
参考例句:
  • The rooster bristled his crest.公鸡竖起了鸡冠。
  • He reached the crest of the hill before dawn.他于黎明前到达山顶。
15 gliding gliding     
v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的
参考例句:
  • Swans went gliding past. 天鹅滑行而过。
  • The weather forecast has put a question mark against the chance of doing any gliding tomorrow. 天气预报对明天是否能举行滑翔表示怀疑。
16 joyously 1p4zu0     
ad.快乐地, 高兴地
参考例句:
  • She opened the door for me and threw herself in my arms, screaming joyously and demanding that we decorate the tree immediately. 她打开门,直扑我的怀抱,欣喜地喊叫着要马上装饰圣诞树。
  • They came running, crying out joyously in trilling girlish voices. 她们边跑边喊,那少女的颤音好不欢快。 来自名作英译部分
17 mule G6RzI     
n.骡子,杂种,执拗的人
参考例句:
  • A mule is a cross between a mare and a donkey.骡子是母马和公驴的杂交后代。
  • He is an old mule.他是个老顽固。
18 wagon XhUwP     
n.四轮马车,手推车,面包车;无盖运货列车
参考例句:
  • We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
  • The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。
19 desperately cu7znp     
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地
参考例句:
  • He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
  • He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。


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