CHAPTER VII
TOM IS CAPTURED
Meanwhile the young inventor, aided by his father, Mr. Sharp and GarretJackson, the engineer, worked hard over his new car, and the powerfulbatteries. A month passed, and such was the progress made that Tom feltjustified in making formal entry of his vehicle for the races to beheld by the Touring Club of America.
He paid a contingent fee and was listed as one of the competitors. Asis usual in an affair of this kind, the promoters of it desiredpublicity, and they sought it through the papers.
Consequently each new entrant's name was published. In additionsomething was said about his previous achievements in the speed line.
No sooner was the name of Tom Swift received by the officials of theclub, than it was at once recalled that young Swift had had a prominentpart in the airship Red Cloud, and the submarine Advance. This gave anenterprising reporter a chance for a "special" for the Sundaysupplement of a New York newspaper.
Tom, it was stated, was building a car which would practicallyannihilate distance and time, and there were many weird pictures,showing him flying along without touching the ground, in a car, thepictorial construction of which was at once fearful and wonderful.
Tom and his friends laughed at the yarn, at first, but it soon hadundesirable results. The young inventor had desired to keep secret thefact that he was building a new electric vehicle, and a novel storagebattery, but the article in the paper aroused considerable interest.Many persons came a long distance, hoping for a sight of the wonderfulcar, as pictured in the Sunday supplement, but they had to be denied.The news, thus leaking out, kept the Swift shops almost constantlybesieged by many curious ones, who sought, by various means, to gainadmission. Finally Tom and his father, after posting large signs,warning persons to keep away, added others to the effect thatundesirable visitors might find themselves unexpectedly shocked byelectricity, if they ventured too close. This had the desired effect,though the wires which were strung about carried such a mild chargethat it would not have harmed a child. Then the only bothersomecharacters were the boys of the town, and, fearless and careless lads,they persisted in hanging around the Swift homestead, in the hope ofseeing Tom dash away at the rate of five hundred miles an hour, whichone enthusiastic writer predicted he would do.
"I've got a plan!" exclaimed Tom one day when the boys had beenparticularly troublesome.
"What is it?" asked his father.
"We'll hire Eradicate Sampson to stand guard with a bucket ofwhitewash. He'll keep the boys away."
The plan was put into operation, and Eradicate and his mule, Boomerang,were installed on the premises.
"Deed an' Ah'll keep dem lads away," promised the colored man. "Ah'llsplash white stuff all ober 'em, if dey comes traipsin' around me."
He was as good as his word, and, when one or two lads had received adose of the stuff, which punishment was followed by more severe fromhome, for having gotten their clothes soiled, the nuisance ceased, to acertain extent. Sam Snedecker and Pete Bailey were two who received aliberal sprinkling of the lime, and they vowed vengeance on Tom.
"And Andy Foger will help us, too," added Sam, as he withdrew, after anencounter with Eradicate.
"Doan't let dat worry yo', Mistah Swift!" exclaimed the darkey. "Jestlet dat low-down-good-fo-nuffin' Andy Foger come 'round me, an' Ah'llmake him t'ink he's de inside ob a chicken coop, dat's what Ah will."
Perhaps Andy heard of this, and kept away. In the meanwhile Tom kept onperfecting his car and battery. From the club secretary he learned thata number of inventors were working on electric cars, and there promisedto be many of the speedy vehicles in the race.
After considerable labor Tom had succeeded in getting together one setof the batteries. He had them completed one afternoon, and wanted togive them a test that night. But, when he went to his father's chemicallaboratory for a certain powder, which he needed to use in the batterysolution, he found there was none.
"I'll have to ride in to Mansburg for some," he decided. "I'll go aftersupper, on my motor-cycle, and test the battery to-night."
The young inventor left his house immediately after the evening meal.Along the road toward Mansburg he speeded, and, as he came to the footof a hill, where once Andy Foger had put a big tree, hoping Tom wouldrun into it and be injured, the youth recalled that circumstance.
"Andy has been keeping out of my way lately," mused Tom. "I wonder ifhe's up to any mischief? I don't like the way Sam Snedecker is hangingaround the shop, either. It looks as if they were plotting something.But I guess Eradicate and his pail of whitewash will scare them off."
Tom got the powdered chemical he wanted in the drug store, and, afterrefreshing himself with some ice cream soda, he started back. As herode along through the streets of the town he kept a lookout, and thoseof you who know how fond the lad was of a certain young lady, do notneed to be told for whom he was looking. But he did not see her, andsoon turned into the main highway leading to Shopton.
It was dark when he reached the hill, where once he had been so near anaccident, and he slowed up as he coasted down it, using the brake atintervals.
Tom got safely to the bottom of the declivity, and was about to turn onthe power of his machine, when, from the bushes that lined either sideof the roadway, several figures sprang suddenly. They ranged themselvesacross the road, and one cried: "Halt!" in tones that were meant to bestern, but which seemed to Tom, to tremble somewhat. The young inventorwas so surprised that he did not open the gasolene throttle, nor switchon his spark. As a consequence his motor-cycle lost momentum, and hehad to take one foot from the pedal and touch the ground, to preventhimself from toppling over.
"Hold on there!" cried another voice. "We've got you where we want you,now! Hold on! Don't go!"
"I wasn't going to go," responded Tom calmly, trying to recognize thevoice, which seemed to be unnatural. "What do you want, and who areyou?"
"Never mind who we are. We want you and we've got you! Get off thatwheel!"
"I don't see why I should!" exclaimed Tom, and he suddenly shifted hishandle bars, so as to flash the bright headlight he carried, upon thecircle of dark figures that opposed his progress. As the light flashedon them he was surprised to see that all the figures wore masks overtheir faces.
Tom started. Was this the Happy Harry gang after him again? He hopednot, yet the fact that the persons had on masks made the hold-up havean ugly look. Once more Tom flashed the light on the throng. There wereexclamations of dismay.
"Douse that glim, somebody!" called a sharp voice, which Tom could notrecognize.
A stone came whizzing through the air, from some one in the crowd.There was a smashing of glass as it hit the lantern, and the road wasplunged in darkness. Tom tried to throw one leg over the saddle, andlet down the supporting stand from the rear wheel, so the motor-cyclewould remain upright without him holding it. He determined to haverevenge for that act of vandalism in breaking his lamp.
But, just as he was free of the seat, he was surrounded by a dozenpersons, and several hands were laid on him.
"We've got you now!" some one fairly hissed in his ear. "Come along,and get what's coming to you!"
Tom tried to fight, but he was overpowered by numbers and, a littlelater, was dragged off into the woods in the darkness by the maskedfigures. His arms were securely bound with ropes, and a handkerchiefwas tied over his eyes. Tom Swift was a prisoner.