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worked nearly free。 The young inventor had done this while he leered at
his captors。
Tom was not going to submit tamely to the nonsense； and from the
moment he had been tied； he had been trying to get loose。 He had nearly
succeeded in freeing one hand when the crowd of masked boys moved off
to one side； where they presently began to talk in excited whispers。
〃I wonder how they came to catch me；〃 thought the prisoner； as he
worked feverishly to further loosen the ropes。 〃This looks as if it was a
put…up job； with the masks； and everything。〃 Later he learned that the
idea was the outcome of a proposal of one of the new arrivals in town。 He
had organized the 〃Deep Forest Throng；〃 as a sort of secret society； and
Andy and his cronies had been induced to join。 It was Andy's proposal to
capture Tom； though； and； having seen him depart for Mansburg on his
motor… cycle； and knowing that he would return along a road that ran near
the woods where the Throng met； suggested that they take Tom captive。
The idea was enthusiastically received； and Andy and his cronies thought
they saw a chance to be revenged。
Tom； while he picked at the ropes； listened to what the boys were
saying。 He heard frequent mention of tar and feathers； and began to
believe； that unless he could get free； while they were off there consulting；
he might be forced to submit to the humiliating ordeal。
He managed to get one hand comparatively free； so that he could move
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
it about； but then he struck several hard knots； and could make no further
progress。 The conference seemed on the point of breaking up。
〃One of you go for a big kettle to boil the tar in；〃 ordered the leader；
〃and the rest of you dig up some feathers。〃
〃I must get loose！〃 thought Tom desperately。 〃If they try to tar and
feather me it will be a risky business。 I've got to get loose！ They may burn
me severely！〃
But； though he tried with all his strength； the ropes would not loosen
another bit。 He had one hand free； and that was all。 The crowd was moving
back toward him。
〃My knife！〃 thought the captive quickly。 〃If I can reach that in my
pocket I can cut the ropes！ Once I get loose I'll fight the whole crowd！〃
He managed to get his free hand into his pocket。 His fingers touched
something。 It was not his knife； and； for a moment he felt a pang of
disappointment。 Then； as he realized what it was that he had grasped； a
new idea came to him。
〃This will be better than the knife！〃 he thought exultantly。 The crowd
of lads was now surrounding him； some distance from the fire； which
burned in front of the captive。
〃Sentence has been passed upon you；〃 remarked the leader。 〃Prepare to
meet thy doom！ Get the materials； brothers！〃
〃One moment！〃 called Tom； for he wanted the crowd all present to
witness what he was about to do。 〃I'll give you one chance to let me go
peaceably。 If you don't〃
〃Well； what will you do？〃 demanded Andy sneeringly； as he pulled his
mask further over his face。 〃I guess you won't do anything； Tom Swift。〃
〃I'll give you one chance to let me go； and I'll agree to say nothing
about this joke；〃 went on Tom。 〃If you don't I'll blow this place up！〃
For a moment there was a silence。
〃Ha！ Ha！ Ho！ Ho！〃 laughed Sam Snedecker。 〃Listen to him！ He'll blow
the place up！ I'd like to see you do it！ You can't get loose in the first place；
and you haven't anything to blow it up with in the second。 I'd like to see
you do it； hey； fellers？〃
〃Sure；〃 came the answering chorus。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃Would you？〃 asked Tom quickly。 〃Then watch。 Stand back if you
don't want to get hurt； and remember that I gave you a chance to let me
go！〃
Tom made a rapid motion with the hand he had gotten loose。 He threw
something to ward the blazing fire； which was now burning well。
Something white sailed through the air； and fell amid the hot embers。
There was a moment's pause； and then a blinding flash of blue fire
lighted up the woods； and a dull rumble； as when gun…powder is lighted in
the open followed。 A great cloud of white smoke arose； as the vivid blue
glare died away； and it seemed as if a great wind swept over the place。
Several of the masked lads were knocked down by the explosion； and
when the rumble died away； and deep blackness succeeded the intense
blue light； there came cries of pain and terror。 The fire had been scattered；
and extinguished by the explosion which Tom； though still bound to the
tree had caused to happen in the midst of the Deep Forest Throng。 Then；
as the smoke rolled away； Andy Foger cried：
〃Come on； fellows！ Something's happened。 I guess a volcano blew
up！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER IX
TOM IS RESCUED
The Deep Forest Throng needed no urging to flee from the place of
the mysterious explosion。 Their prisoner； helpless as he had seemed； had
proved too much for them。 Slipping and stumbling along in the darkness；
the masked lads had but one thoughtto get away before they saw more of
that blue fire； and the force of the concussion。
〃Gee！ My eyebrows are all singed off！〃 cried Sam Snedecker； as he
tore loose his mask which had been rent in the explosion； and felt of his
face。
〃And my hands are burned；〃 added Pete Bailey。 〃I stood closer to the
fire than any of you。〃
〃You did not！ I got the worst of it！〃 cried Andy。 〃I was knocked down
by the explosion； and I'll bet I'm hurt somewhere。 I guessOh！ Help！ I'm
falling in a mud hole！〃
There was a splash； and the bully disappeared from the sight of his
companions who； now that the moon had risen； could better see to flee
from their prisoner。
〃Help me out； somebody！〃 pleaded Andy。 〃I'm in a mud hole！〃
They pulled him out； a sorry looking sight； and the red…haired lad；
whose locks were now black with muck； began to lament his lot。
〃Dry up！〃 commanded Sid Holton。 〃It's all your fault； for proposing
such a fool trick as capturing Tom Swift。 We might have known he would
get the best of us。〃
〃What was that stuff he used； anyhow？〃 asked Cecil Hedden； the lad
responsible for the organization of the Deep Forest Throng。 〃He must be a
wonder。 Does he do sleight…of…hand tricks？〃
〃He does all sorts of tricks；〃 replied Pete Bailey； feeling of a big lump
on his head； caused by falling on a stone in the mad rush。 〃I guess we were
chumps to tackle him。 He must have put some kind of chemical in the fire；
to make it blow up。〃
〃Or else he summoned his airship by wireless； and had that balloonist；
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
Mr。 Sharp； drop a bomb in the blaze；〃 suggested another lad。
〃But how could he do anything？ Wasn't he tied fast to that tree？〃 asked
Cecil； the leader。
〃You never know when you've got Tom Swift tied；〃 declared Jack
Reynolds。 〃You think you've got him； and you haven't。 He's too slick for
us。 It's Andy's fault； for proposing to capture him。〃
〃That's right！ Blame it all on me；〃 whined the squint…eyed bully。 〃You
was just as anxious as I was to tar and feather him。〃
〃Well； we didn't do it；〃 commented Pete Bailey； dryly。 〃I s'pose he's
loose now； laughin' at us。 Gee； but that was an explosion though！ It's a
wonder some of us weren't killed！ I guess I've had enough of this Deep
Forest Throng business。 No more for mine。〃
〃Aw； don't be afraid；〃 urged Cecil。 〃The next time we get him we'll be
on our guard。〃
〃You'll never catch Tom Swift again；〃 predicted Pete。
〃I'll go back now to where he is； if you will；〃 agreed Cecil； who was
older than the