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said。 〃This is Tom Swift and Mr。 Damon；〃 thus hurriedly he introduced
them。 〃What happened； Walter？〃
〃Premature blast。 Third one this week。 Somebody is working against
us！〃
〃Never mind that now；〃 cried Job Titus。 〃We must see to the poor
fellows who are hurt。〃 〃I guess there aren't many；〃 his brother said。 〃They
were on their way out when the charge went off。 Some more of Blakeson
& Grinder's work； I'll wager！〃
They were rushing in to the smoke…filled tunnel now； followed by Tom；
Mr。 Damon and Koku； who would follow his young master anywhere。
Tom saw that the tunnel was lighted with incandescent lamps； suspended
here and there from the rocky roof or sides。 The electric lights were
supplied with current from a dynamo run by a gasoline engine。
〃Where is it； Serato？ Where was the blast？〃 asked Walter Titus； of a
tall Indian； who seemed to be in some authority。
〃Back at second turn；〃 was the answer； in fairly good English。 〃I go
get beds。〃
〃He means stretchers；〃 translated Job。 〃That's our Peruvian foreman。 A
good fellow； but easily scared。〃
They ran on into the tunnel； Tom and Mr。 Damon noticing that a small
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narrow…gage railroad was laid on the floor； mules being the motive power
to bring out the small dump cars loaded with rock and dirt； excavated from
the big hole。
〃Mind the turn！〃 called Job Titus； who was ahead of Tom and Mr。
Damon。 〃It's rough here。〃
Tom found it so； for he slipped over some pieces of rock； and would
have fallen had not Koku held him up。
〃Thanks；〃 gasped Tom； as on he ran。
A little later he came to a place where a cluster of electric lights gave
better illumination； and he could see it was there that the damage had been
done。
A number of men were lying on the dirt and rock floor of the tunnel；
and some of them were bleeding。 Others were staggering about as though
shocked or stunned。
〃We must get the injured ones out of here！〃 cried Walter Titus。 〃Where
are the men with stretchers？〃
〃I sint that Spalapeen Serato for thim！〃 broke in a voice； rich in Irish
brogue。 〃But he's thot stupid he might think I was after sindin' him fer
wather！〃
〃No； Tim。 Serato is after the stretchers all right；〃 said Walter。 〃We
passed him on the way。〃
〃That's Tim Sullivan； our Irish foreman； though he has only a few of
his own kind to boss；〃 explained Job Titus in a whisper。
Some of the workmen （all of whom save the few Irish referred to were
Peruvian Indians） had now recovered from their shock； or fright； and
began to help the Titus brothers； Tom； Mr。 Damon and Koku in looking
after the injured。 Of these there were five； only two of whom were；
seemingly； seriously hurt。
〃Me take them out；〃 said Koku； and placing one gently over his left
shoulder； and the other over his right； out of the tunnel he stalked with
them； not waiting for the stretchers。
And it was well he did so； for one man was in need of an immediate
operation； which was performed at the rude hospital the contractors
maintained at the tunnel mouth。 The other man died as Koku was carrying
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him out； but the giant had saved one life。
Serato； the Indian foreman； with some of his men now came in； and
the other injured were carried out on stretchers； being attended to by the
two doctors who formed part of the tunnel force。 Among a large body of
men some were always falling ill or getting hurt； and in that wild country a
doctor had to be kept near at hand。
When the excitement had died down； and it was found that one death
would be the total toll of the accident and that the premature blast had
done no damage to the tunnel； the two Titus brothers began to consider
matters。
Tom； Mr。 Damon and the two contractors sat in the main office and
talked things over。 Koku was eating supper； though the others had finished。
but； naturally； it took Koku twice as long as any one else。 Professor
Bumper was busy transcribing material in his note…book。
〃Well； I'm glad you've come back； Job；〃 said his brother。 〃Things have
been going at sixes and sevens here since you went to get some new kind
of blasting powder。 By the way； I hope you got it； for we are practically at
a standstill。〃
〃Oh； I got it all rightsome of Tom Swift's best specially made for us。
And； better still； I've brought Tom back with me。〃
〃So I see。 Well； I'm glad he's here。〃
〃Now what about this accident to…day？〃 went on Job。
〃Well； as I said； it's the third this week。 All of them seemed to be
premature blasts。 But I've sent for some of the fuses used。 I'm going to get
at the bottom of this。 Here is Sullivan with them now。 Come in； Tim；〃 he
called； as the Irishman knocked at the door。
〃Are they the fuses used in the blasts？〃 Walter asked。
〃They are； sor。 An' they mostly burn five minutes； which is plenty of
time fer all th' min t' git out of danger。 Only this time th' fuse didn't seem
to burn more than a minute； an' I lit it meself。〃
〃Let's see how long they burn now；〃 suggested Job。
One of the longer fuses was lighted。 It spluttered and smoked； while
the contractors timed it with their watches。
〃Four minutes！〃 exclaimed Job。 〃That's queer； and they're the regular
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ten minute length。 I wonder what this means。
He took up another fuse； and examined it closely。
〃Why！〃 he cried。 〃These aren't our fuses at all。 They're another make；
and much more rapid in burning。 No wonder you've been having
premature blasts。 They go off in about half the time they should。〃
〃I can't understhand thot！〃 said Tim； thoughtfully。 〃I keep all the fuses
locked up； and only take thim out when I need thim。〃
〃Then somebody has been at your box； Tim； and they took out our
regular fuses and put in these quicker ones。 It's a game to make trouble for
us among our men； and to damage the tunnel。〃
〃Bless my rubber boots！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Who would do a thing
like that？〃
〃Our rivals； perhaps； though I do not like to accuse any man on such
small evidence；〃 said Walter