TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
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Victor Appleton >> TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
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And a hard climb the adventurers did find it. The road was
almost as bad as the one along the edge of the chasm, but they
managed to negotiate it, and finally found themselves on a fairly
good trail.
"We'll soon be there," Bill assured them. "After you get in the
little cave, where I'm going to hide you, I'll have to leave you
for a spell, until I get my ghost rigging fixed up again. But
I'll see that you have plenty of food and drink."
A little later their guide came to a sudden halt, and peered
around anxiously.
"What's the matter?" asked Tom.
"I was just looking to see if any of the men were about," he
answered. "But I guess not--it looks all right. The entrance is
right here."
They were on a side of the mountain, near the summit. Below
stretched a magnificent scene. A great valley lay at their feet,
and they could look off to many distant peaks. The main trail to
Leadville, and the one to the settlement of Indian Ridge, was in
sight.
Suddenly Tom, who had been using a small but powerful
telescope, uttered an exclamation, and focussed the instrument on
a speck that seemed moving along on the trail below.
"A man--coming up the mountain," cried Tom. "And--it can't be--yet
it is--it's Farley Munson--the stowaway!" he cried. "He's coming here!"
"Let me look!" begged Mr. Jenks, taking the glass from Tom. An
instant later the diamond man exclaimed: "Yes, it's Munson!"
"Then in here with you--quick!" cried Renshaw. "He can't see us
yet, and we'll be out of sight in another minute."
The former spirit pulled aside some thick bushes, and pointed
to a hole which was disclosed.
"The entrance to the secret cave," he announced. "Slip in all
of you."
Tom, after another glance at the man toiling his way up the
mountain, entered the cavern. He was followed by the others. Bill
was the last to enter, and he replaced the bushes over the
entrance.
"At last!" exclaimed Mr. Jenks, as he gazed up at the roof of
the dimly-lighted vault in which they found themselves.
"Yes, we're in the diamond makers' secret cave," added Tom.
"Now to catch them at work!"
"Come on," advised Bill, in a low tone, "We're not safe yet,"
and he produced a lantern from some hidden recess, lighted the
wick, and led the way. As the others followed they were aware of
a subdued noise in the great cavern.
CHAPTER XX--MAKING THE DIAMONDS
"What's that noise?" asked Tom, as their guide flashed the
lantern to show them the way.
"That's the men getting ready to make diamonds, I guess," was
the answer. "You see it takes quite a while to get the stuff
ready. I don't know what they use--they never tell me any of
their secrets."
"Oh, I know the ingredients well enough," said Mr. Jenks, "but
I don't know the secret of how they apply the terrific heat and
pressure necessary to fuse the materials into diamonds."
"Well, you'll soon know," declared Bill Renshaw. "Of course it
isn't always successful. I've known 'em to try half a dozen times
before they got any diamonds big enough to satisfy 'em. They gave
me some of the small ones when I asked for my wages.
"How did you come to get in with these men?" asked Tom, curious
to understand how a person seemingly as honest as Renshaw
appeared to be had cast his lot in with the men who had broken
faith with Mr. Jenks.
"Oh, I've lived around these parts all my life," was the
answer. "I knew of this cave before these diamond fellers came to
it. In fact, I showed it to 'em. It was several years ago that a
party of men who were prospecting around here came to me and
asked if I knew of a small cave near the top of a high mountain,
where lightning storms were frequent. I told them about Phantom
Mountain, as it was called then, and also of this cave. If
there's any place where they have worse lightning storms than
here, I'd like to know it. They scare me, sometimes, like the
night when that landslide happened, and I'm sort of used to 'em.
"Well, I took these men to the cave, and they hired me as a
sort of lookout. Then they began their work, and at first I
didn't know what they were up to, but finally I caught on. Then
Mr. Jenks came, and disappeared mysteriously, though then I
didn't know that they had played a trick on him. I was outside
most of the time, pretending I was the ghost. So that's how I
came to get in with 'em, and I wish I was out."
"You soon will be, I think," declared Mr. Jenks. "But won't our
talking be heard by the men?"
"No danger. There is a thick wall between this part of the
cave, and the part where they live and work. I'll soon have you
well hid, and then you wait until I come back."
"What about Munson?" asked Tom. "He is evidently on his way
here to tell his confederates about us."
"He won't know what has happened to us," said Mr. Jenks, "and
he won't see anything of us. I guess we're safe enough."
Through the dark passage they followed Bill Renshaw until he
came to a halt in a place that suddenly widened and broadened
into a good-sized cave.
"Here's your stopping place," said the former ghost. "Now if
you follow that passage, off to the left," and he pointed to it,
"you'll come to the larger part of the cave where the diamond
makers are. But go cautiously, and don't make any noise. I won't
be responsible for what happens."
"We'll take all the risk," interrupted Tom.
"All right. Now there's a couple of lanterns around here. I'll
light them, and leave you for a while until I can get some grub.
I'll be back as soon as I can."
He glided away, after lighting two lanterns, by the gleams of
which the adventurers could see that they were in a vaulted
cavern that had evidently been fitted up as a living apartment.
The sides, roof and floor were of stone. It was clean, and the
air was fresh. There were some chairs, a table, and several cots,
with pieces of bagging for bedding, though it was warm in the
place.
"I guess we can stay here until we discover the secret," spoke
Tom.
"Bless my watch! We can if we have something to eat," came from
Mr. Damon, with something like a sigh. "I'm hungry!"
"And I want to make some observations," said Mr. Parker. "From
what I have seen of this mountain, I would not be surprised if
this cave was to be suddenly destroyed by a landslide or a
lightning bolt. I will make some further investigations."
"Well, if it's going to cause you to make such gloomy
prophecies as that, I'd just as soon you wouldn't look any
further," spoke Tom, in a low voice. But Mr. Parker, taking one
of the lanterns, set about examining the rock of which the cave
consisted.
In a short time Bill Renshaw returned with enough food to last
for two days. He said he was going out on the mountain once more
to act the part of a lookout, and would visit the adventurers
again the next day.
"In the meanwhile you can do just as you please," he said.
"Nobody is likely to disturb you here, and you can sneak up and
take a look at the men in the other cave whenever you're ready.
Only be careful--that's all I've got to say. They're desperate
men."
It was not very pleasant, eating in the gloomy cavern, but they
made the best of it. They cooked on a small oil-stove they found
in the place, and after some hot coffee they felt much better.
"Well," remarked Tom, after a while, "shall we take a chance,
and go look at the men at work?"
"I think so," answered Mr. Jenks. "The sooner we discover this
mystery, the better. Then we can go back home."
"And recover my airship," added Tom, who was a bit uneasy
regarding the safety of the Red Cloud.
"Then, bless my finger-rings! let's go and see if we can find
the big cave your friend the ghost told us of," suggested Mr.
Damon.
Cautiously they made their way along the passage Bill had
pointed out. As they went forward the subdued noise became
louder, and finally they could feel the vibration of machinery.
"This is the place," whispered Mr. Jenks. "That sound we hear
is one of the mixing machines, for grinding the materials--carbon
and the other substances--which go to make up the diamonds. I
remember hearing that when I was in the cave before."
"Then we must be near the place," observed Tom.
"Yes, but I didn't have much chance to look around when I was
here before. They wouldn't let me. I never even knew of the small
cave Bill took us to."
"Well, if we're close to it, we'd better go cautiously, and not
talk any more than we're obliged to," suggested Mr. Parker, and
they agreed that this was good advice.
They walked on softly. Suddenly Tom, who was in the lead, saw a
gleam of light.
"We're here," he whispered. "I'll put out our lantern, now,"
which he did. Then, stealing forward he and the others beheld a
curious sight. The tunnel they were in ended at a small hole
which opened into a large cavern, and, fortunately, this opening
was concealed from the view of those in the main place.
"The diamond makers!" whispered Tom, hoarsely, pointing to
several men grouped about a number of strange machines.
"Yes--the very place where I was," answered Mr. Jenks, "and
there is the apparatus--the steel box--from which the diamonds
are taken--now to see how they make them."
Fascinated, the adventurers looked into the cave. The men there
were unaware of the presence of our friends, and were busily
engaged. Some attended to the grinding machine, the roar and
clatter of which made it possible for Tom and the others to talk
and move about without being overheard. Into this machine certain
ingredients were put, and they were then pulverized, and taken
out in powdery form.
The power to run the mixing machine was a gasoline motor, which
chug-chugged away in one corner of the cave.
As the powder was taken out, other men fashioned it into small
balls, which were put on pan, and into a sort of oven, that was
heated by a gasoline stove.
"Is that how they make the diamonds?" asked Mr. Damon.
"That is evidently the first step," said Mr. Jenks. "Those
balls of powdered chemicals are partly baked, and then they are
put into the steel box. In some way terrific heat and pressure
are applied, and the diamonds are made. But how the heat and
pressure are obtained is what we have yet to learn."
He paused to watch the men at work. They were all busy, some
attending to the machines, and others coming and going in and out
of the cave. In one part a man was apparently getting ready a
meal.
Suddenly there rushed into the cave a man who seemed much
excited.
"Are you nearly ready with that stuff?" he cried. "There's a
good storm gathering on the mountain!"
"Yes, we'll be ready in half an hour," answered one of the men
at the mixing machine.
"Good. It will be flashing lightning bolts then, and we can see
what luck we have. The last batch was a failure." The man hurried
out again. Mr. Parker touched Tom and Mr. Jenks on their
shoulders.
"What is it?" asked Tom.
"I know the secret of making the diamonds," said the scientist.
"What?" cried Mr. Jenks.
"It is by the awful power of the lightning bolts!" whispered
Mr. Parker. "Everything is explained now--the reason why they
make diamonds in this lonely place, near the top of the mountain.
They need a place where the lightning is powerful. I can
understand it now--I suspected it before. They make diamonds by
lightning!"
"Are you sure?" cried Mr. Jenks.
"Positive."
"I agree with you," said Tom Swift. "I was just getting on that
track myself, when I saw the electric wires running to the steel
box. That explains the upright rod on the top of the mountain.
The man says a storm is coming--very well; we'll stay here and
watch them make diamonds!"
As he spoke there came the mutter of thunder, and the mountain
vibrated slightly. The men in the cave redoubled their activity.
Tom and his friends felt that the secret process they had so long
sought was about to be demonstrated before their eyes.
CHAPTER XXI--FLASHING GEMS
Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end
of the passage into the larger cave. The men opened the small
oven in which the balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had
been baked, and a pile of things, that looked like irregularly-shaped
marbles, were placed in the steel box.
This box, which was about the size of a trunk, was of massive
metal. It was placed in a recess in the solid rock, and all about
were layers of asbestos and other substances that were nonconductors
of heat.
"That box becomes red hot," exclaimed Mr. Jenks, in a whisper.
"When things are in readiness, that lever is pulled and the
diamonds are made. I pulled it once, but I did not then know the
process involved. I supposed that the lightning had nothing to do
with making the diamonds."
"It has--a most important part," said Mr. Parker. The hidden
adventurers could talk in perfect safety now, for the men in the
large cave were too excited to pay much attention to them. The
muttering of the thunder grew louder, and at times a particularly
loud crash told that a bolt had struck somewhere in the vicinity
of the cave.
"But, bless my watch-charm!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "I didn't
know lightning made diamonds."
"It does not--always," went on the scientist. "But great heat
and pressure are necessary to create the gems. In nature this was
probably obtained by prehistoric volcanic fires, and by the
terrific pressure of immense rocks. It is possible to make
diamonds in the laboratory of the chemist, but they are so minute
as to be practically valueless.
"However, these men seem to have hit upon a new plan. They
utilize the terrific heat of lightning, and the pressure which is
instantaneously obtained when the bolt strikes. I am anxious to
see how it is done. Look, I think they are getting ready to make
the gems."
Indeed there seemed to be an air of expectancy among the
diamond makers. The mixing machine had now been stopped, and, as
it was more quiet in the cave, our friends, in their hiding-place,
had to speak in mere whispers. All the men were now gathered
about the great steel box.
This receptacle had been closed by a solid metal door, which
was screwed and clamped tight. Then one of the men examined a
number of heavily insulated electric wires that extended from the
box off into the darkness where Tom and his companions could not
discern them.
"That's Folwell--the man I befriended, and who got me into this
game," whispered Mr. Jenks. "He was also one of the first to turn
against me. I think he's one of the leaders."
Folwell came back, after having gone into a dark part of the
cave. He went over to an electrical switch on one of the stone
walls.
"It's almost time," Tom heard him say to his confederates. "The
storm is coming up rapidly."
"Will it be severe enough?" asked one of the helpers. "We had
all our work for nothing last time. The flashes weren't heavy
enough."
"These will be," asserted Folwell. "The indicator shows nearly
a million volts now, and it's increasing."
"A million volts!" exclaimed Tom. "I hope it doesn't strike
anywhere around here."
"Oh, it will probably be harmlessly conducted down on the heavy
wires," said Mr. Parker. "We are in no danger, at present, though
ultimately I expect to see the whole mountain shattered by a
lightning bolt."
"Cheerful prospect," murmured Tom.
There was a terrific crash outside. The rocky floor of the cave
trembled.
"Here she comes!" cried Folwell. "Get back, everybody! I'm
going to throw over the switch now!"
The men retreated well away from the steel box. Folwell threw
over the lever--the same one Mr. Jenks remembered pulling. Then
the man ran to the electric switch on the wall, and snapped that
into place, establishing a connection.
There was a moment's pause, as Folwell ran to join the others
in their place of safety. Then from without there came a most
nerve-racking and terrifying crash. It seemed as if the very
mountain would be rent into fragments.
Watching with eager eyes, the adventurers saw sparks flash from
the steel box. Instantly it became red hot, and then glowed white
and incandescent. It was almost at the melting point.
Then came comparative quiet, as the echoes of the thunder died
away amid the mountain peaks.
"I guess that did the trick!" cried Folwell. "It was a terrific
crash all right!"
He and the others ran forward. The steel box was now a cherry
red, for it was cooling. Folwell threw back the lever, and
another man disconnected the switch. There was a period of
waiting until the box was cool enough to open. Then the heavy
door was swung back.
With a long iron rod Folwell drew something from the retort. It
was the tray which had held the white balls. But they were white
no longer, for they had been turned into diamonds. From their
hiding-place Tom and the others could see the flashing gems, for,
in spite of the fact that the diamonds were uncut, some of them
sparkled most brilliantly, due to the peculiar manner in which
they were made.
"We have the secret of the diamonds!" whispered Mr. Jenks.
"There must be a quart of the gems there!"
The men gathered about Folwell, uttering exclamations of
delight. The diamonds were too hot to handle yet.
"That's going some!" exclaimed the chief of the diamond makers.
"We have a small fortune here."
The was a sudden commotion at one end of the cave. A man rushed
in. At the sight of him Tom stared and uttered an exclamation.
"Munson--the stowaway!" he whispered.
"Hello!" cried Folwell, as he saw his confederate. "I thought
you were East, keeping Jenks away from here."
"He got the best of me!" cried Munson, "he and that Tom Swift!
I stowed away on their airship, but they found me out by a
wireless message, and marooned me in the woods. I've been trying
to get here ever since! Didn't you get my messages of warning?"
"No--what warnings ?" cried Folwell.
"About Jenks, Tom Swift and the others. They're here--they must
be on Phantom Mountain now. In fact, I shouldn't be surprised if
they were in this cave. I traced them to their camp, but they're
gone. They may be among us now--in some of the secret recesses!"
For an instant Folwell stared at the bearer of these tidings.
Then he cried out:
"Scatter men, and find these fellows! We must get them before
they discover our secret!"
"It's too late--we know it!" exulted Tom Swift. Then he
whispered to the others to hurry to the part of the cave where
Bill Renshaw had first hidden them.
CHAPTER XXII--PRISONERS
"Do you think there is any danger of them finding us?" asked
Mr. Damon, as he hurried along beside Tom.
"I'm afraid so," was the answer. "I've been worried ever since
we saw Munson heading this way. But we couldn't do any differently."
"Perhaps Bill Renshaw may be able to conceal us," suggested Mr.
Jenks. "Very likely he knows that Munson is on hand. Perhaps we
will be safe for a while. I want to make a few more observations
as to how they manufacture the diamonds, and then, with what I
already know, I'll have the secret."
"And I'd like to make some scientific tests of the sides and
bottom rocks of the cave," spoke Mr. Parker. "I think it will
bear out my theory that the mountain will soon be destroyed."
"Well, you were right about Earthquake Island, and you may be
right about this mountain," said Tom, "but if it is going to be
annihilated I hope we get far enough away from it."
"We can keep our presence here a secret for a few more days, I
think that will be long enough," proceeded Mr. Jenks. "Then we
will leave."
"And, in the meanwhile, they'll be searching for us," objected
Mr. Damon. "I wish that ghost-chap would come back and tell us
what to do. Bless my liver-pin, but we are going to be in
considerable danger, I'm afraid! Those men may capture us, and
decide to make diamond dust from us."
"Come on--hurry to the little cave," urged Tom. "Then we'll get
ready to defend ourselves."
"The main cave is a large one," said Mr. Jenks, "and there are
many hiding places in it. In fact, it is so large that it will
take those fellows several days to complete a circuit of it. By
that time Bill Renshaw may come back, and take us to some place
in which they have already searched for us. Then we'll be
comparatively safe."
This thought was some consolation to them, as they made their
way through the dark passage, dimly illuminated by the lantern
they had rekindled, to the place where Bill had hidden them. They
found things as they had left them, and proceeded to get a meal,
though Tom said it would be best not to cook anything, or even to
make coffee, for fear the odors would enable the searchers to
trail them.
So they ate cold food, glad to get that. Silently they sat
about the dimly-lighted cavern, and discussed the situation. True
they might even now retreat, going out of the entrance Bill had
showed them, and so escape. But Mr. Jenks felt that his mission
was not completed yet, and they all agreed to stay with him.
"For there are several points about making diamonds that are
not quite clear to me," he said. "I need to know how that steel
box is constructed, how the electrical switches are arranged,
what kind of lightning rods they use, and how they regulate the
pressure. The other things, and how to mix the ingredients, I
already know."
"Then we'll do our best to help you," promised Tom. "But now I
think we had better see what sort of a defense we can put up. We
have our guns and revolvers, and with these chairs and tables we
can build a sort of barricade behind which we can take refuge if
those fellows do discover our hiding place."
This was conceded to be a good idea, and soon a rude sort of
fort was made, behind which the adventurers could take their
stand and fight, if necessary, though they hoped this would not
come to pass.
They remained quietly in the cave the remainder of that day,
and, when it was night, as they could tell by their timepieces--there
was no daylight--they divided the hours into watches, taking turns
standing guard.
Morning, at least in point of time, came without any
disturbance, and they made a cold breakfast. They hoped that Bill
Renshaw would come, but he did not appear.
After sitting in the dark cave until afternoon, Tom said:
"I think we might as well go and take another observation of
the big cave. We can tell what the men are doing, then, for they
don't seem to have been near us. Maybe they have given up the
search for us, and we can see them at work, and Mr. Jenks can
gain what further knowledge he needs."
"That will be a good plan," agreed the diamond man. "It's
maddening to sit here, doing nothing."
"And it will be comparatively safe to go from here to our
former post of observation," added Tom, "for there doesn't seem
to be any opening along the tunnel, into the larger cave, except
the place where we were."
Accordingly they started off. Cautiously they looked through
the opening into the apartment where they had seen the diamonds
made.
"There's not a soul here!" exclaimed Tom, in a whisper. The
others looked. The place was deserted--the machinery silent. Mr.
Jenks peered in for a moment, and then exclaimed:
"I'm going in! Now's my chance to find out all that I wish to
know! It may never come again, and then we can soon leave Phantom
Mountain!"
It was a daring plan, but it seemed to be the best one to
follow. They were all tired of inactivity. Mr. Jenks managed to
get through the opening, and dropped into the big cave. The
others followed. Mr. Jenks hurried over to the steel box, and
began an examination of it. Tom Swift was looking at the
electrical switch. He saw how it was constructed. Mr. Damon and
Mr. Parker were peering interestedly about.
Suddenly the sound of voices was heard, and the echo of
footsteps. Mr. Jenks started.
"They're coming back!" he whispered hoarsely. "Run!"
They all turned and sped toward their hiding place. But they
were too late. An instant later Folwell, Munson and the other
diamond makers confronted them. Our friends made a bold rush, but
were caught before they could go ten feet.
"We have them!" cried Munson. "They walked right into our
hands!"
It was true. Tom Swift and the others were the prisoners of the
diamond makers.
CHAPTER XXIII--BROKEN BONDS
"Well," remarked Tom Swift, in mournful tones, "this looks as
if we were up against it; doesn't it?"
"Bless my umbrella, it certainly does," agreed Mr. Damon.
"And it's all my fault," said Mr. Jenks. "I shouldn't have gone
into the big cave. I might have known those men would come back
any time."
The above conversation took place as our friends lay securely
bound in a small cave, or recess, opening from the larger cavern,
where, about an hour before, they had been captured and made
prisoners by the diamond makers. Despite their struggles they had
been overpowered and bound, being carried to the cave, where they
were laid in a row on some old bags.
"It certainly is a most unpleasant situation, to say the
least," observed Mr. Parker.
"And all my fault," repeated Mr. Jenks.
"Oh, no it isn't," declared Tom Swift, quickly. "We were just
as ready to follow you into that cave as you were to go. No one
could tell that the men would return so soon. It's nobody's
fault. It's just our bad luck."
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