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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
lost five hundred dollars by coming here to…night。 Still； I don't regret it。
I'm going back now； and I'll expect to hear from you when you are ready
to start。 There's my address。 Good…bye；〃 and thrusting a card into Tom's
hand he hurried out of the room。
〃Won't you stop all night？〃 called Mr。 Swift after him。
〃Sorry。 I'd like to but can't。 Got a big contract I must close in New
York to…morrow morning。 I've ordered a special train to be at the Shopton
station in half an hour； and I must catch that。 Good night！〃 and Mr。 Period
hurried away。
〃Say； he's a hustler all right！〃 exclaimed Ned。
〃Yes； and I've got to hustle if I invent that camera；〃 added Tom。 〃It's
got to be a specially fast one； and one that can take pictures from a long
distance。 Electricity is the thing to use； I guess。〃
〃Then you are really going off on this trip。 Tom？〃 asked his father；
rather wistfully。
〃I'm afraid I am；〃 replied his son。 〃I thought I could stay at home for a
while； but it seems not。〃
〃I was in hopes you could give me a little time to help me on my
gyroscope invention；〃 went on the aged man。 〃But I suppose it will keep
until you come back。 It is nearly finished。〃
〃Yes； and I don't like stopping work on my noiseless motor；〃 spoke
Tom。 〃But that will have to wait； too。〃
〃Do you know where you are going？〃 inquired Ned。
〃Well； I'll have to do considerable traveling I suppose to get all the
films he wants。 But once I'm started I'll like it I guess。 Of course you're
coming； Ned。〃
〃I hope so。〃
〃Of course you are！〃 insisted Tom； as if that settled it。 〃And I'm sure
Mr。 Damon will go also。 I haven't seen him in some time。 I hope he isn't
ill。〃
Tom started work on his Wizard Camera； as he called it； the next day
that is he began drawing the designs； and planning how to construct it。
Ned helped him； and Koku was on hand in case he was needed； but there
was little he could do； as yet。 Tom made an inspection of his shop the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
morning after the chicken thief scare； but nothing seemed to have been
disturbed。
A week passed； and Tom had all the plans drawn for the camera。 He
had made several experiments with different forms of electricity for
operating the mechanism； and had decided on a small； but very powerful；
storage battery to move the film； and take the pictures。
This storage battery； which would be inside the camera； would operate
it automatically。 That is； the camera could be set up any place； in the
jungle； or on the desert； it could be left alone； and would take pictures
without any one being near it。 Tom planned to have it operate at a certain
set time； and stop at a certain time； and he could set the dials to make this
time any moment of the day or night。 For there was to be a powerful light
in connection with the camera； in order that night views might be taken。
Besides being automatic the camera could be worked by hand。
When it was not necessary to have the camera operate by the storage
battery； it could be connected to wires and worked by an ordinary set of
batteries； or by a dynamo。 This was for use on the airship； where there was
a big electrical machine。 I shall tell you more about the camera as the story
proceeds。
One afternoon Tom was alone in the shop； for he had sent Koku on an
errand； and Eradicate was off in a distant part of the grounds； doing some
whitewashing； which was his specialty。 Ned had not come over； and Mr。
Swift； having gone to see some friends； and Mrs。 Baggert being at the
store； Tom； at this particular time； was rather isolated。
He was conducting some delicate electrical experiments； and to keep
the measuring instruments steady he had closed all the windows and doors
of his shop。 The young inventor was working at a bench in one corner； and
near him； standing upright； was a heavy shaft of iron； part of his
submarine； wrapped in burlap； and padded； to keep it from rusting。
〃Now；〃 said Tom to himself； as he mixed two kinds of acid in a jar； to
produce a new sort of electrical current； 〃I will see if this is any better than
the first way in which I did it。〃
He was careful about pouring out the powerful stuff； but； in spite of
this； he spilled a drop on his finger。 It burned like fire； and； instinctively；
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
he jerked his hand back。
The next instant there was a series of happenings。 Tom's elbow came
in contact with another jar of acid； knocking it over； and spilling it into the
retort where he had been mixing the first two liquids。 There was a hissing
sound； as the acids combined； and a thick； white vapor arose； puffing into
Tom's face； and making him gasp。
He staggered back； brushed against the heavy iron shaft in the corner；
and it fell sideways against him； knocking him to the floor； and dropping
across his thighs。 The padding on it saved him from broken bones； but the
shaft was so heavy； that after it was on him； Tom could not move。 He was
held fast on the floor of his shop； unable to use his legs； and prevented
from getting up。
For a moment Tom was stunned； and then he called：
〃Help！ Help！ Eradicate！ Koku！ Help！〃
He waited a moment； but there was only a silence。
And then Tom smelled a strange odoran odor of a choking gas that
seemed to smother him。
〃It's the acids！〃 he cried。 〃They're generating gas！ And I'm held fast
here！ The place is closed up tight； and I can't move！ Help！ Help！〃
But there was no one at hand to aid Tom； and every moment the fumes
of the gas became stronger。 Desperately the youth struggled to rid himself
of the weight of the shaft； but he could not。 And then he felt his senses
leaving him； for the powerful gas was making him unconscious。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
CHAPTER V
TOM GETS A WARNING
〃Bless my shoe buttons！〃 exclaimed a voice； as a man came toward
Tom's shop； a little later。 〃Bless my very necktie！ This is odd。 I go to the
house； and find no one there。 I come out here； and not a soul is about。 Tom
Swift can't