按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
begged forgiveness from Tom and his friends； which was granted； in as
much as no real harm had been done。 Waddington was but a tool in the
hands of the rival contractors； who deserted him in his hour of need。 His
last hours； however； were made as comfortable as possible by the
generosity of Tom and Mr。 Damon。
No effort was made to bring Blakeson & Grinder to justice； as there
was no evidence against them after Waddington died。 And； as the tunnel
was finished； the Titus brothers had no further cause for worry。
〃But if it had not been for Tom's big blast； and the discovery of the
139
… Page 140…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
hidden city of Pelone just in the right place； we might be digging at that
tunnel yet；〃 said Job Titus。
The day before the steamer was to sail； Tom Swift received a cable
message。 Its receipt seemed to fill him with delight； so that Mr。 Damon
asked：
〃Is it from your father； Tom？〃
〃No it's from Mary Nestor。 She says her father has forgiven me。 They
have been away； and Mary has been ill； which accounts for no letters up to
now。 But everything is all right now； and they feel that the dynamite trick
wasn't my fault。 But； all the same； I'm going to teach Eradicate to read；〃
concluded Tom。
〃I think it would be a good idea；〃 agreed Mr。 Damon。
Tom； Mr。 Damon and Koku； bidding farewell to the friends they had
made in Peru； went。 aboard the steamer； Job Titus and his brother coming
to see them off。
〃Give us an option on all that explosive you make； Tom Swift！〃
begged Walter Titus。 〃We were so successful with this tunnel； thanks to
you； that the government is going to have us dig another。 Will you come
down and help？〃
〃Maybe；〃 said Tom； with a smile。 〃But I'm going home first；〃 and once
more he read the message from Mary Nestor。
And as Tom； on the deck of the steamer； waved his hands to Professor
Bumper and his other friends whom he was leaving in Peru； we also； will
say farewell。
140