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that act of vandalism in breaking his lamp。
But； just as he was free of the seat； he was surrounded by a dozen
persons； 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 little
later； was dragged off into the woods in the darkness by the masked
figures。 His arms were securely bound with ropes； and a handkerchief was
tied over his eyes。 Tom Swift was a prisoner。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER VIII
A BLINDING FLASH
Stumbling on through the dark woods； led by his captors； Tom tried
to pierce the gloom and identify the persons who had firm grips on either
side of him。 But it was useless。 A little light sifted down from the starlit
sky above； but it was not sufficient。 The young inventor was beginning to
think； after all； that he had fallen into the hands of the Happy Harry gang；
and he knew that if this was so he need expect no mercy。
But two things were against this belief。 One was that the principal
members of the gang were still in jail； or at least they were supposed to be；
and another was that there were too many of the captors。 Happy Harry's
crowd never numbered so many。
〃Maybe they're highwaymen；〃 thought our hero； as he was dragged
along 〃But that can't be；〃 he reasoned further。 〃If they wanted to rob me
they'd have done it back there in the road； and not brought me off here in
the woods。 Besides； I haven't anything for them to steal。〃
Suddenly Tom stumbled over a projecting root； and nearly fell；
dragging along with him the person who had hold of his left arm。
〃Look out there！ What's the matter with you？〃 exclaimed one of the
throng quickly； and at the sound of the voice Tom started。
〃Andy Foger！〃 cried the young inventor； as he recovered himself； for
he had recognized the voice of the red…haired bully。 〃What do you mean
by holding me up in this way？〃 he demanded。
〃Quiet！〃 urged a voice in his ear； and the tones were unfamiliar。
〃Mention no names！〃
〃I'm on to your game！〃 retorted Tom。 〃I know you're here； Andy； and
Sam and Pete； and Jack Reynolds and Sid Holton；〃 and he named two
rather loose…charactered lads； who were often in the company of Andy and
his cronies。 〃You'd better quit this nonsense；〃 Tom went on。 〃I'll cause the
arrest of all of you if you make trouble for me。 I know who you are now！〃
〃You think you do；〃 answered the voice in his ear； and the young
inventor concluded that it must be some lad whom he did not know。 〃Nor
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
is this nonsense；〃 the other went on。 〃You are about to receive the
punishment due you。〃
Our hero did not answer； but he was doing some hard thinking。 He
wondered why Andy and his crowd had captured him。
Suddenly the blackness of the woods was illuminated by the fitful
gleam of a distant fire。 Tom could see more plainly now； and he managed
to count about ten dusky figures hurrying along； four being close to him；
to prevent his escape； and the others running on ahead。 The light became
stronger； and； a moment later the prisoner and his captors emerged into a
little clearing； where a fire was burning。 Two figures； masked with black
cloth； as were all in the crowd； stood about the blaze； putting on sticks of
wood。
〃Did you get him？〃 asked one of these figures eagerly。
〃Yes； they got me； Sam Snedecker；〃 answered Tom quickly；
recognizing Sam's tones。 〃And they'll wish they hadn't before I'm done
with them。〃
〃Quiet！〃 ordered an unknown voice。 〃Members of the Deep Forest
Throng； the prisoner is here！〃 the lad went on。
〃'Tis well； bind the captive to the sacrificial tree；〃 was the response
from some one in the crowd。
Tom laughed。 He was at ease now； for he recognized that those who
had taken him prisoner were all lads of Andy's character。 Most of them
were Shopton youths； but some； evidently； were strangers in town。 Tom
felt he had little to fear。
〃Bring him over here；〃 ordered one； and Tom cried out：
〃You wouldn't be giving those orders； Andy Foger； if my arms weren't
tied。 And if you'll untie me； I'll fight any two of you at once；〃 offered the
young inventor fiercely； for he hated the humiliation to which he was
being subjected。
〃Don't do it！ Don't untie him！〃 begged some one。
〃No danger； they won't。 They're afraid to； Pete Bailey；〃 replied Tom
quickly； for he had recognized the voice of the other one of Andy's
particular cronies。
〃Aw； he knows who we are；〃 whispered Sam； but not so low but that
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
our hero heard him。
〃No matter；〃 was Andy's retort。 〃Let's go ahead with it。 Tie him to that
tree。〃
It was useless for Tom to struggle。 He was bound too tightly by the
rope； and the crowd was too many for him。 In a few minutes he was
securely fastened to a tree； not far from the camp…fire； which was
replenished from time to time。
〃Now for the judgment！〃 called one of the masked lads； in what he
meant to be a sepulchral tone。 〃What is the charge against the prisoner？
Brother Number One of the Deep Forest Throng； what is your
accusation？〃
〃He's a regular snob； that's what's the trouble；〃 answered Andy
Foger； though whether he was 〃Brother Number One；〃 did not appear。
〃He's too fresh andand〃
〃I'll make you wish you felt fresh when I get hold of you； Andy；〃
murmured Tom。
〃Quiet！〃 cried a tall lad。 〃What's the next charge？〃
〃He keeps an old colored man on guard at his place；〃 was the answer；
and Tom had no difficulty in recognizing the voice of Sid Holton。 〃The
coon throws whitewash all over us。 I got some of it。〃
〃You wouldn't have； if you'd minded your own business；〃 retorted Tom。
〃It served you right！〃
〃What is the verdict on the prisoner？〃 asked one who seemed to be the
leader。
〃I say let's tar and feather him！〃 cried Andy suddenly。 〃There's a barrel
of tar back in the woods here； and we can get some feathers from a
chicken coop。 That would make him so he wouldn't be so uppish； I guess！〃
〃That's right！ Tar and feathers！〃 exclaimed several。
Our hero's heart sank。 He was not afraid； but he did not relish the
indignity that was proposed。 He resolved to fight to the last ounce of his
strength against the masked lads。
〃Can we get a kettle to heat the tar in？〃 asked some one。
〃We'll find one；〃 answered Sam Snedecker。 〃Come on； let's do it。
You'll look pretty； Tom Swift； when we're through with you；〃 he exulted。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
Tom did not answer； but there was fierce anger in his heart。 The tar and
feather proposal seemed to meet with general favor。
〃Members of the Deep Forest Throng； we will hold a consultation；〃
proposed the leader； in his assumed deep voice。 〃Come over here； to one
side。 Brother Number Six； guard the prisoner well。〃
〃There ain't no need to；〃 answered a lad who had been instructed to
mount guard over Tom。 〃He's tied so tight he can't move。 I want to hear
what you say。〃
〃Very well then；〃 assented the leader； 〃But look to his bonds。〃
The lad made a hasty examination of the ropes binding the young
inventor to the tree； and Tom was glad that the examination was a hasty
one。 For he feared the guard might discover that one hand had been
worked nearly free。 The young inventor had done this while he leered at
h