第18章

"No," he answered."I never was more surprised in my life.I felt sure it was Waddington in there, but it wasn't.That man's beard is real, and while he has a look like Waddington about the eyes and upper part of his face, the man is a stranger to me.That is I think so, but in spite of all that, I have a queer feeling that I have met him before.""Where?" Tom inquired.

"That I can't say," and the tunnel contractor shook his head."Whew! That was a bad one!" he exclaimed, as the steamer pitched and tossed in an alarming manner.

"Yes, the storm seems to be getting worse instead of better," agreed Tom."I hope none of the cargo shifts and comes banging up against my new explosive.If it does, there'll be no more tunnel digging for any of us." "Better not mention the fact of the explosives on board," suggested Mr.Titus.

"I won't," promised Tom."The passengers are frightened enough as it is.But I watched the powder being stored away.I guess it is safe."The storm raged for two days before it began to die away.Meanwhile, nothing was seen, on deck or in the dining cabins, of the bearded man.

Tom and Mr.Titus made some guarded inquiries of the steward who had attended the sick man, and from him learned that he was down on the passenger list as Senor Pinto, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.He was traveling in the interests of a large firm of coffee importers of the United States, and was going to Lima.

"And there's no trace of Waddington?" asked Tom of Mr.Titus, as they were discussing matters in their stateroom one day.

"Not a trace.He seems to have dropped out of sight, and I'm glad ofit."

"Perhaps Blakeson & Grinder have given up the fight against you.""I wish they had, though I don't look for any such good luck.But I'mwilling to fight them, now that we have an even chance, thanks to your explosive."The storm blew itself out.The Bellaconda "crossed the line," and there was the usual horseplay among the sailors when Father Neptune came aboard to hold court.Those who had never before been below the equator were made to undergo more or less of an initiation, being lathered and shaved, and then pushed backward into a canvas tank of water on deck.

While Tom enjoyed the voyage, with the possible exception of the storm, he was anxious, and so was Mr.Titus, for the time to come when they should get to the tunnel and try the effect of the new explosive.Mr.Damon found an elderly gentleman as fond of playing chess as was the eccentric man himself, and his days were fully occupied with castles, pawns, knights, kings, queens and so on.As for Koku he was taken in charge by the sailors and found life forward very agreeable.

Senor Pinto had recovered from his seasickness, the steward told Tom and Mr.Titus, but still he kept to his stateroom.

It was when the Bellaconda was within a day or two of Callao that a wireless message was received for Mr.Titus.It was from his brother.The message read:

"Have information from New York office that rivals are after you.Look out for explosive.""What does that mean?" asked Tom.

"Well, I presume it means our rival contractors know we have a supply of your new powder on board, and they may try to get it away from us.""Why?" Tom demanded.

"To prevent our using it to complete the tunnel.In that case they'll get the secret of it to use for themselves, when the contract goes to them by default.Can we do anything to protect the powder, Tom?""Well, I don't know that we'll need to while it's stowed away in the cargo.They can't get at it any more than we can, until the ship unloads.I guess it's safe enough.We'll just have to keep our eyes open when it'staken out of the hold, though."

Tom and Mr.Titus, both of whom were fond of fresh air and exercise, had made it a practice to get up an hour before breakfast and take a constitutional about the steamer deck.They did this as usual the morning after the wireless warning was received, and they were standing near the port rail, talking about this, when they heard a thud on the deck behind them.Both turned quickly, and saw a round black object rolling toward them.From the object projected what seemed to be a black cord, and the end of this cord was glowing and smoking.

For a moment neither Tom nor Mr.Titus spoke.Then, as a slow motion of the ship rolled the round black thing toward Tom, he cried:

"It a bomb!"

He darted toward it, but Mr.Titus pulled him back."Run!" yelled the contractor.

Before either of them could do anything, a queer figure of an elderly gentleman stepped partly from behind a deck- house, and stooped over the smoking object.

"Look out!" yelled Mr.Titus, crouching low."That's an explosive bomb! Toss it overboard!"