II10-1957-TOM SWIFT and His Ultrasonic Cycloplane by Victor Appleton II

Author:Victor Appleton II [pseud.] [Appleton, Victor II]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Published: 1957-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

"Ah, come to beautiful New Guinea!

Vacation spot of the world!

This island paradise—"

"—is a right good place to go loco!" Chow finished sourly.

The others laughed and began hacking their way again. Just before noon they reached a deep chasm, spanned by a swaying, rickety bridge made of vines apparently woven together by the natives.

"Only way to get across," Slim commented. "Look below!"

The ravine, sheering downward a hundred feet or more, seemed deep enough to hold a tall building. Below lay a tangled mass of trees and vegetation so thickly matted and intertwined that it seemed to form a continuous green carpet across the floor of the gulch.

"What now, Tom?" Slim Davis asked.

"I'll go first and test the bridge."

There was an instant outcry. "No, don't do that, skipper!" Red Jones exclaimed. "That thing's not safe."

Chow put in, "If anyone goes, it'd better be ole Chow here. Reckon if that bridge'll hold me, it'll hold anyone!"

But Tom brushed aside their protests. "I got you fellows to come on this expedition," he pointed out quietly, "and I don't expect any of you to take a risk I wouldn't take. Besides, these natives are clever at vine weaving. Here goes!"

Advancing step by step, he proceeded cautiously onto the narrow span. The men held their breaths. The bridge bounced and swayed dizzily over the yawning gulf.

"I don't like this here business," Chow said worriedly.

"Nor I," added Sam Barker.

Tom was almost at the halfway point, when Doc Simpson, who was watching his progress through field glasses, gave a yell of alarm. "The anchor ropes on the far side are giving way!" he screamed.

The vines were now held by only a few strands!

Tom had halted at the doctor's cry and looked back. His frantic friends were signaling with their arms for him to return. A chorus of voices broke into agonized shouts:

"Come back! Come back!"

Uncertain, Tom hesitated for an instant. Then, looking ahead, he saw what was happening and turned to dash back to safety.

He was too late. With a creaking screech, the far end of the bridge gave way. Tom plunged toward the bottom of the chasm!

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.