Tom Swift and His Polar-Ray Dynasphere by Victor Appleton II

Author:Victor Appleton II
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

LUMBERING LIMOS

TOM and his party jolted back in shock at the very authentic report of the gun as a tiny hole winked into existence in the canopy just above Prince Vusungira! The patio crowd started—then murmured appreciatively at the realistic open-air entertainment.

The prince stared but showed no emotion. He nodded once and stood.

"Eysan maja’nehjhi!" gasped Vusungira’s bodyguard in protest, but the Crown Prince silenced him with a curt gesture.

"Your Majesty," began Tom in a whisper, but the prince interrupted.

"I will do as he asks. I will not endanger this crowd. Remain seated. Brimonghu, ni abqong d’yomtala." The bodyguard reluctantly lowered the gun he had drawn.

Tom and Bud watched in breathless suspense as Vusungira left the patio and approached the two men, who held their pistols casually but were clearly ready to use them to make a point.

Tom could see Bud’s muscles bunched beneath his shirt. "Flyboy, we should do as Vusungira told us," urged the young inventor quietly.

But Bud was already on the rise. "He’s not King yet!"

Prince Vusungira was steps away from the man who had spoken, who now gestured for the Prince to precede him in the direction of the shoreline, where a small motorboat bobbed. The three began to stroll across the broad lawn.

Then the growl of a motor surged across the bay. The three halted suddenly as a speedboat came roaring into view, arrowing toward the beach! "Look—the kidnappers didn’t expect this!" Tom exclaimed. In moments the speedboat slammed into the shore and four men, daggers drawn, sprang out!

"Now, Tom?"

"Okay."

As the four thugs from the boat rushed toward him, Vusungira turned to meet their attack. As if forgetting the guns in their hands the two kidnappers fell back in confusion as the four men charged them like a football phalanx, daggers targeting not only the prince but the kidnappers as well.

But Bud Barclay was first on the scene, Tom, Harlan Ames, and the bodyguard, Brimonghu, a few legs back. The athletic youth threw himself at the dagger-wielder approaching Vusungira, knocking the man’s arm skyward and sending the dagger spinning away. The man bellowed and shot a fist at Bud’s head, barely ducked.

What followed was indeed a battle royal with eleven participants—reduced to nine as the original two kidnappers whirled and fled across the hotel lawn toward the boulevard. The Shoptonians and Brimonghu struggled to pry the determined attackers away from the prince, with many a thud but little progress. Vusungira engaged in wily combat with his dagger-slashing opponent, landing a few blows and dancing away. But the prince took a misstep. The bearded attacker seized his chance and felled Vusungira with a blow to the head.

"Your Majesty!" choked Tom.

"I’ve got him," gritted Ames, loping over to yank the prince to his feet and shove him violently away from the bearded dacoit.

The four attackers hesitated for an instant, regrouping for a fresh charge en masse. Yet it was only a feint. As Bud swiveled to take a stronger defensive position, one thug darted sideway toward him

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