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diff --git a/old/1281-h.zip b/old/1281-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d997414 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1281-h.zip diff --git a/old/1281-h/1281-h.htm b/old/1281-h/1281-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6df462f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1281-h/1281-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9673 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of Tom Swift and his Aerial Warship, +by Victor Appleton +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Aerial Warship, by Victor Appleton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tom Swift and his Aerial Warship + or, The Naval Terror of the Seas + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Posting Date: July 17, 2008 [EBook #1281] +Release Date: April, 1998 +[Last updated: July 12, 2013] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP *** + + + + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP +</H1> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +or +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +The Naval Terror of the Seas +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +VICTOR APPLETON +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">CHAPTER</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">TOM IS PUZZLED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">A FIRE ALARM</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">A DESPERATE BATTLE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">SUSPICIONS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">A QUEER STRANGER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">THE AERIAL WARSHIP</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">WARNINGS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">A SUSPECTED PLOT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">THE RECOIL CHECK</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">THE NEW MEN</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">A DAY OFF</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">A NIGHT ALARM</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">THE CAPTURE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">THE FIRST FLIGHT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">IN DANGER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">TOM IS WORRIED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">AN OCEAN FLIGHT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">IN A STORM</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">QUEER HAPPENINGS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">THE STOWAWAYS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">PRISONERS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">APPREHENSIONS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">ACROSS THE SEA</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">THE LIGHTNING BOLT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap25">FREEDOM</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP +</H1> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +TOM IS PUZZLED +</H3> + +<P> +"What's the matter, Tom? You look rather blue!" +</P> + +<P> +"Blue! Say, Ned, I'd turn red, green, yellow, or any other color of the +rainbow, if I thought it would help matters any." +</P> + +<P> +"Whew!" +</P> + +<P> +Ned Newton, the chum and companion of Tom Swift, gave vent to a whistle +of surprise, as he gazed at the young fellow sitting opposite him, near +a bench covered with strange-looking tools and machinery, while +blueprints and drawings were scattered about. +</P> + +<P> +Ranged on the sides of the room were models of many queer craft, most +of them flying machines of one sort or another, while through the open +door that led into a large shed could be seen the outlines of a speedy +monoplane. +</P> + +<P> +"As bad as that, eh, Tom?" went on Ned. "I thought something was up +when I first came in, but, if you'll excuse a second mention of the +color scheme, I should say it was blue—decidedly blue. You look as +though you had lost your last friend, and I want to assure you that if +you do feel that way, it's dead wrong. There's myself, for one, and +I'm sure Mr. Damon—" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my gasoline tank!" exclaimed Tom, with a laugh, in imitation of +the gentleman Ned Newton had mentioned, "I know that! I'm not worrying +over the loss of any friends." +</P> + +<P> +"And there are Eradicate, and Koku, the giant, just to mention a couple +of others," went on Ned, with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +"That's enough!" exclaimed Tom. "It isn't that, I tell you." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what is it then? Here I go and get a half-holiday off from the +bank, and just at the busiest time, too, to come and see you, and I +find you in a brown study, looking as blue as indigo, and maybe you're +all yellow inside from a bilious attack, for all I know." +</P> + +<P> +"Quite a combination of colors," admitted Tom. "But it isn't what you +think. It's just that I'm puzzled, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"Puzzled?" and Ned raised his eyebrows to indicate how surprised he was +that anything should puzzle his friend. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, genuinely puzzled." +</P> + +<P> +"Has anything gone wrong?" Ned asked. "No one is trying to take any of +your pet inventions away from you, is there?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, not exactly that, though it is about one of my inventions I am +puzzled. I guess I haven't shown you my very latest; have I, Ned?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't know, Tom. Time was when I could keep track of you and +your inventions, but that was in your early days, when you started with +a motorcycle and were glad enough to have a motorboat. But, since +you've taken to aerial navigation and submarine work, not to mention +one or two other lines of activity, I give up. I don't know where to +look next, Tom, for something new." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, this isn't so very new," went on the young inventor, for Tom +Swift had designed and patented many new machines of the air, earth and +water. "I'm just trying to work out some new problems in aerial +navigation, Ned," he went on. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought there weren't any more," spoke Ned, soberly enough. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, now, none of that!" exclaimed Tom, with a laugh. "Why, the +surface of aerial navigation has only been scratched. The science is +far from being understood, or even made safe, not to say perfected, as +water and land travel have been. There's lots of chance yet." +</P> + +<P> +"And you're working on something new?" asked Ned, as he looked around +the shop where he and Tom were sitting. As the young bank employee had +said, he had come away from the institution that afternoon to have a +little holiday with his chum, but Tom, seated in the midst of his +inventions, seemed little inclined to jollity. +</P> + +<P> +Through the open windows came the hum of distant machinery, for Tom +Swift and his father were the heads of a company founded to manufacture +and market their many inventions, and about their home were grouped +several buildings. From a small plant the business had grown to be a +great tree, under the direction of Tom and his father. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I'm working on something new," admitted Tom, after a moment of +silence. +</P> + +<P> +"And, Ned," he went on, "there's no reason why you shouldn't see it. +I've been keeping it a bit secret, until I had it a little further +advanced, but I've got to a point now where I'm stuck, and perhaps it +will do me good to talk to someone about it." +</P> + +<P> +"Not to talk to me, though, I'm afraid. What I don't know about +machinery, Tom, would fill a great many books. I don't see how I can +help you," and Ned laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps you can, just the same, though you may not know a lot of +technical things about machines. It sometimes helps me just to tell my +troubles to a disinterested person, and hear him ask questions. I've +got dad half distracted trying to solve the problem, so I've had to let +up on him for a while. Come on out and see what you make of it." +</P> + +<P> +"Sure, Tom, anything to oblige. If you want me to sit in front of your +photo-telephone, and have my picture taken, I'm agreeable, even if you +shoot off a flashlight at my ear. Or, if you want me to see how long I +can stay under water without breathing I'll try that, too, provided you +don't leave me under too long, lead the way—I'm agreeable as far as +I'm able, old man." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it isn't anything like that," Tom answered with a laugh. "I might +as well give you a few hints, so you'll know what I'm driving at. Then +I'll take you out and show it to you." +</P> + +<P> +"What is it—air, earth or water?" asked Ned Newton, for he knew his +chum's activities led along all three lines. +</P> + +<P> +"This happens to be air." +</P> + +<P> +"A new balloon?" +</P> + +<P> +"Something like that. I call it my aerial warship, though." +</P> + +<P> +"Aerial warship, Tom! That sounds rather dangerous!" +</P> + +<P> +"It will be dangerous, too, if I can get it to work. That's what it's +intended for." +</P> + +<P> +"But a warship of the air!" cried Ned. "You can't mean it. A warship +carries guns, mortars, bombs, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know," interrupted Tom, "and I appreciate all that when I +called my newest craft an aerial warship." +</P> + +<P> +"But," objected Ned, "an aircraft that will carry big guns will be so +large that—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, mine is large enough," Tom broke in. +</P> + +<P> +"Then it's finished!" cried Ned eagerly, for he was much interested in +his chum's inventions. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, not exactly," Tom said. "But what I was going to tell you was +that all guns are not necessarily large. You can get big results with +small guns and projectiles now, for high-powered explosives come in +small packages. So it isn't altogether a question of carrying a certain +amount of weight. Of course, an aerial warship will have to be big, for +it will have to carry extra machinery to give it extra speed, and it +will have to carry a certain armament, and a large crew will be needed. +So, as I said, it will need to be large. But that problem isn't +worrying me." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what is it, then?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"It's the recoil," said Tom, with a gesture of despair. +</P> + +<P> +"The recoil?" questioned Ned, wonderingly. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, from the guns, you know. I haven't been able to overcome that, +and, until I do, I'm afraid my latest invention will be a failure." +</P> + +<P> +Ned shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid I can't help you any," he said. "The only thing I know +about recoils is connected with an old shotgun my father used to own. +</P> + +<P> +"I took that once, when he didn't know it," Ned proceeded. "It was +pretty heavily loaded, for the crows had been having fun in our +cornfield, and dad had been shooting at them. This time I thought I'd +take a chance. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I fired the gun. But it must have had a double charge in it and +been rusted at that. All I know is that after I pulled the trigger I +thought the end of the world had come. I heard a clap of thunder, and +then I went flying over backward into a blackberry patch." +</P> + +<P> +"That was the recoil," said Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"The what?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"The recoil. The recoil of the gun knocked you over." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes," observed Ned, rubbing his shoulder in a reflective sort of +way. "I always thought it was something like that. But, at the time I +put it down to an explosion, and let it go at that." +</P> + +<P> +"No, it wasn't an explosion, properly speaking," said Tom. "You see, +when powder explodes, in a gun, or otherwise, its force is exerted in +all directions, up, down and every way." +</P> + +<P> +"This went mostly backward—in my direction," said Ned ruefully. +</P> + +<P> +"You only thought so," returned Tom. "Most of the power went out in +front, to force out the shot. Part of it, of course, was exerted on the +barrel of the gun—that was sideways—but the strength of the steel +held it in. And part of the force went backward against your shoulder. +That part was the recoil, and it is the recoil of the guns I figure on +putting aboard my aerial warship that is giving me such trouble." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that what makes you look so blue?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"That's it. I can't seem to find a way by which to take up the recoil, +and the force of it, from all the guns I want to carry, will just about +tear my ship to pieces, I figure." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you haven't actually tried it out yet?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Not the guns, no. I have the warship of the air nearly done, but I've +worked out on paper the problem of the guns far enough so that I know +I'm up against it. It can't be done, and an aerial warship without guns +wouldn't be worth much, I'm afraid." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose not," agreed Ned. "And is it only the recoil that is +bothering you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Mostly. But come, take a look at my latest pet," and Tom arose to lead +the way to another shed, a large one in the distance, toward which he +waved his hand to indicate to his chum that there was housed the +wonderful invention. +</P> + +<P> +The two chums crossed the yard, threading their way through the various +buildings, until they stood in front of the structure to which Tom had +called attention. +</P> + +<P> +"It's in here," he said. "I don't mind admitting that I'm quite proud +of it, Ned; that is, proud as far as I've gone. But the gun business +sure has me worried. I'm going to talk it off on you. Hello!" cried +Tom suddenly, as he put a key in the complicated lock on the door, +"someone has been in here. I wonder who it is?" +</P> + +<P> +Ned was a little startled at the look on Tom's face and the sound of +alarm in his chum's voice. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A FIRE ALARM +</H3> + +<P> +Tom Swift quickly opened the door of the big shed. It was built to +house a dirigible balloon, or airship of some sort. Ned could easily +tell that from his knowledge of Tom's previous inventions. +</P> + +<P> +"Something wrong?" asked the young bank clerk. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," returned Tom, and then as he looked inside the place, +he breathed a sigh of relief. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it's you, is it, Koku?" he asked, as a veritable giant of a man +came forward. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, master, it is only Koku and your father," spoke the big chap, +with rather a strange accent. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, is my father here?" asked Tom. "I was wondering who had opened the +door of this shed." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Tom," responded the elder Swift, coming up to them, "I had a new +idea in regard to some of those side guy wires, and I wanted to try it +out. I brought Koku with me to use his strength on some of them." +</P> + +<P> +"That's all right, Dad. Ned and I came out to wrestle with that recoil +problem again. I want to try some guns on the craft soon, but—" +</P> + +<P> +"You'd better not, Tom," warned his father. "It will never work, I tell +you. You can't expect to take up quick-firing guns and bombs in an +airship, and have them work properly. Better give it up." +</P> + +<P> +"I never will. I'll make it work, Dad!" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe you will, Tom. This time you have bitten off more than +you can chew, to use a homely but expressive statement." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Dad, we'll see," began Tom easily. "There she is, Ned," he went +on. "Now, if you'll come around here..." +</P> + +<P> +But Tom never finished that sentence, for at that moment there came +running into the airship shed an elderly, short, stout, fussy +gentleman, followed by an aged colored man. Both of them seemed very +much excited. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my socks, Tom!" cried the short, stout man. "There sure is +trouble!" +</P> + +<P> +"I should say So, Massa Tom!" added the colored man. "I done did +prognosticate dat some day de combustible material of which dat shed am +composed would conflaggrate—" +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter?" interrupted Tom, jumping forward. "Speak out! +Eradicate! Mr. Damon, what is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"The red shed!" cried the short little man. "The red shed, Tom!" +</P> + +<P> +"It's on fire!" yelled the colored man. +</P> + +<P> +"Great thunderclaps!" cried Tom. "Come on—everybody on the job!" he +yelled. "Koku, pull the alarm! If that red shed goes—" +</P> + +<P> +Instantly the place was in confusion. Tom and Ned, looking from a +window of the hangar, saw a billow of black smoke roll across the yard. +But already the private fire bell was clanging out its warning. And, +while the work of fighting the flames is under way, I will halt the +progress of this story long enough to give my new readers a little idea +of who Tom Swift is, so they may read this book more intelligently. +Those of you who have perused the previous volumes may skip this part. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift, though rather young in years, was an inventor of note. His +tastes and talents were developed along the line of machinery and +locomotion. Motorcycles, automobiles, motorboats, submarine craft, and, +latest of all, craft of the air, had occupied the attention of Tom +Swift and his father for some years. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Swift was a widower, and lived with Tom, his only son, in the +village of Shopton, New York State. Mrs. Baggert kept house for them, +and an aged colored man, Eradicate Sampson, with his mule, Boomerang, +did "odd jobs" about the Shopton home and factories. +</P> + +<P> +Among Tom's friends was a Mr. Wakefield Damon, from a nearby village. +Mr. Damon was always blessing something, from his hat to his shoes, a +harmless sort of habit that seemed to afford him much comfort. Then +there was Ned Newton, a boyhood chum of Tom's, who worked in the +Shopton bank. I will just mention Mary Nestor, a young lady of Shopton, +in whom Tom was more than ordinarily interested. I have spoken of Koku, +the giant. He really was a giant of a man, of enormous strength, and +was one of two whom Tom had brought with him from a strange land where +Tom was held captive for a time. You may read about it in a book +devoted to those adventures. +</P> + +<P> +Tom took Koku into his service, somewhat to the dismay of Eradicate, +who was desperately jealous. But poor Eradicate was getting old, and +could not do as much as he thought he could. So, in a great measure, +Koku replaced him, and Tom found much use for the giant's strength. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had begun his inventive work when, some years before this story +opens, he had bargained for Mr. Damon's motorcycle, after that machine +had shot its owner into a tree. Mr. Damon was, naturally, perhaps, much +disgusted, and sold the affair cheap. Tom repaired it, made some +improvements, and, in the first volume of this series, entitled "Tom +Swift and His Motor-cycle," you may read of his rather thrilling +adventures on his speedy road-steed. +</P> + +<P> +From then on Tom had passed a busy life, making many machines and +having some thrilling times with them. Just previous to the opening of +this story Tom had made a peculiar instrument, described in the volume +entitled "Tom Swift and His Photo-Telephone." With that a person +talking could not only see the features of the person with whom he was +conversing, but, by means of a selenium plate and a sort of camera, a +permanent picture could be taken of the person at either end of the +wire. +</P> + +<P> +By means of this invention Tom had been able to make a picture that had +saved a fortune. But Tom did not stop there. With him to invent was as +natural and necessary as breathing. He simply could not stop it. And so +we find him now about to show to his chum, Ned Newton, his latest +patent, an aerial warship, which, however, was not the success Tom had +hoped for. +</P> + +<P> +But just at present other matters than the warship were in Tom's mind. +The red shed was on fire. +</P> + +<P> +That mere statement might not mean anything special to the ordinary +person, but to Tom, his father, and those who knew about his shops, it +meant much. +</P> + +<P> +"The red shed!" Tom cried. "We mustn't let that get the best of us! +Everybody at work! Father, not you, though. You mustn't excite +yourself!" +</P> + +<P> +Even in the midst of the alarm Tom thought of his father, for the aged +man had a weak heart, and had on one occasion nearly expired, being +saved just in time by the arrival of a doctor, whom Tom brought to the +scene after a wonderful race through the air. +</P> + +<P> +"But, Tom, I can help," objected the aged inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, you just take care of yourself, Father!" Tom cried. "There are +enough of us to look after this fire, I think." +</P> + +<P> +"But, Tom, it—it's the red shed!" gasped Mr. Swift. +</P> + +<P> +"I realize that, Dad. But it can't have much of a start yet. Is the +alarm ringing, Koku?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Master," replied the giant, in correct but stilted English. "I +have set the indicator to signal the alarm in every shop on the +premises." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right." Tom sprang toward the door. "Eradicate!" he called. +</P> + +<P> +"Yais, sah! Heah I is!" answered the colored man. "I'll go git mah +mule, Boomerang, right away, an' he—" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you bring Boomerang on the scene!" Tom yelled. "When I want that +shed kicked apart I can do it better than by using a mule's heels. And +you know you can't do a thing with Boomerang when he sees fire." +</P> + +<P> +"Now dat's so, Massa Tom. But I could put blinkers on him, an'—" +</P> + +<P> +"No, you let Boomerang stay where he is. Come on, Ned. We'll see what +we can do. Mr. Damon—" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Tom, I'm right here," answered the peculiar man, for he had come +over from his home in Waterford to pay a visit to his friends, Tom and +Mr. Swift. "I'll do anything I can to help you, Tom, bless my necktie!" +he went on. "Only say the word!" +</P> + +<P> +"We've got to get some of the stuff out of the place!" Tom cried. "We +may be able to save it, but I can't take a chance on putting out the +fire and letting some of the things in there go up in smoke. Come on!" +</P> + +<P> +Those in the shed where was housed what Tom hoped would prove to be a +successful aerial warship rushed to the open. From the other shops and +buildings nearby were pouring men and boys, for the Swift plant +employed a number of hands now. +</P> + +<P> +Above the shouts and yells, above the crackle of flames, could be heard +the clanging of the alarm bell, set ringing by Koku, who had pulled the +signal in the airship shed. From there it had gone to every building in +the plant, being relayed by the telephone operator, whose duty it was +to look after that. +</P> + +<P> +"My, you've got a big enough fire-fighting force, Tom!" cried Ned in +his chum's ear. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I guess we can master it, if it hasn't gotten the best of us. +Say, it's going some, though!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom pointed to where a shed, painted red—a sign of danger—could be +seen partly enveloped in smoke, amid the black clouds of which shot out +red tongues of flame. +</P> + +<P> +"What have you got it painted red for?" Ned asked pantingly, as they +ran on. +</P> + +<P> +"Because—" Tom began, but the rest of the sentence was lost in a yell. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had caught sight of Eradicate and the giant, Koku, unreeling from a +central standpipe a long line of hose. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't take that!" Tom cried. "Don't use that hose! Drop it!" +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter? Is it rotten?" Ned wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"No, but if they pull it out the water will be turned on automatically." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, isn't that what you want at a fire—water?" Ned demanded. +</P> + +<P> +"Not at this fire," was Tom's answer. "There's a lot of calcium carbide +in that red shed—that's why it's red—to warn the men of danger. You +know what happens when water gets on carbide—there's an explosion, and +there's enough carbide in that shed to send the whole works sky high. +</P> + +<P> +"Drop that hose!" yelled Tom in louder tones. "Drop it, Rad—Koku! Do +you want to kill us all!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A DESPERATE BATTLE +</H3> + +<P> +Tom's tones and voice were so insistent that the giant and the colored +man had no choice but to obey. They dropped the hose which, half +unreeled, lay like some twisted snake in the grass. Had it been pulled +out all the way the water would have spurted from the nozzle, for it +was of the automatic variety, with which Tom had equipped all his plant. +</P> + +<P> +"But what are you going to do, Tom, if you don't use water?" asked Ned, +wonderingly. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know—yet, but I know water is the worst thing you can put on +carbide," returned Tom. For all he spoke Slowly his brain was working +fast. Already, even now, he was planning how best to give battle to the +flames. +</P> + +<P> +It needed but an instant's thought on the part of Ned to make him +understand that Tom was right. It would be well-nigh fatal to use water +on carbide. Those of you who have bicycle lanterns, in which that not +very pleasant-smelling chemical is used, know that if a few drops of +water are allowed to drip slowly on the gray crystals acetylene gas is +generated, which makes a brilliant light. But, if the water drips too +fast, the gas is generated too quickly, and an explosion results. In +lamps, of course, and in lighting plants where carbide is used, there +are automatic arrangements to prevent the water flowing too freely to +the chemical. But Tom knew if the hose were turned on the fire in the +red shed a great explosion would result, for some of the tins of +carbide would be melted by the heat. +</P> + +<P> +Yet the fire needed to be coped with. Already the flames were coming +through the roof, and the windows and door were spouting red fire and +volumes of smoke. +</P> + +<P> +Several other employees of Tom's plant had made ready to unreel more +hose, but the warning of the young inventor, shouted to Eradicate and +Koku, had had its effect. Every man dropped the line he had begun to +unreel. +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! Massa Tom say drop de hose, but how yo' gwine t' squirt watah on +a fire wifout a hose; answer me dat?" and Eradicate looked at Koku. +</P> + +<P> +"Me no know," was the slow answer. "I guess Koku go pull shed down and +stamp out fire." +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! Maybe yo' could do dat in cannibal land, where yo' all come +from," spoke Eradicate, "but yo' can't do dat heah! 'Sides, de red shed +will blow up soon. Dere's suffin' else in dere except carbide, an' +dat's gwine t' go up soon, dat's suah!" +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe you get your strong man-mule, Boomerang," suggested Koku. +"Nothing ever hurt him—explosion or nothing. He can kick shed all to +pieces, and put out fire." +</P> + +<P> +"Dat's what I wanted t' do, but Massa Tom say I cain't," explained the +colored man. "Golly! Look at dat fire!" +</P> + +<P> +Indeed the blaze was now assuming alarming proportions. The red shed, +which was not a small structure, was blazing on all sides. About it +stood the men from the various shops. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom, you must do something," said Mr. Swift. "If the flames once reach +that helmanite—" +</P> + +<P> +"I know, Father. But that explosive is in double vacuum containers, and +it will be safe for some time yet. Besides, it's in the cellar. It's +the carbide I'm most worried about. We daren't use water." +</P> + +<P> +"But something will have to be done!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Bless my +red necktie, if we don't—" +</P> + +<P> +"Better get back a way," suggested Tom. "Something may go off!" +</P> + +<P> +His words of warning had their effect, and the whole circle moved back +several paces. +</P> + +<P> +"Is there anything of value in the shed?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"I should say there was!" Tom answered. "I hoped we could get some of +them out, but we can't now—until the fire dies down a bit, at any +rate." +</P> + +<P> +"Look, Tom! The pattern shop roof is catching!" shouted Mr. Swift, +pointing to where a little spurt of flame showed on the roof of a +distant building. +</P> + +<P> +"It's from sparks!" Tom said. +</P> + +<P> +"Any danger of using water there?" Ned wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"No, use all you like! That's the only thing to do. Come on, you with +the hose!" Tom yelled. "Save the other buildings!" +</P> + +<P> +"But are you going to let the red shed burn?" asked Mr. Swift. "You +know what it means, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Father, I know. And I'm going to fight that fire in a new way. +But we must save the other buildings, too. Play water on all the other +sheds and structures!" ordered the young inventor. "I'll tackle this +one myself. Oh, Ned!" he called. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered his chum. "What is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"You take charge of protecting the place where the new aerial warship +is stored. Will you? I can't afford to lose that." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll look after it, Tom. No harm in using water there, though; is +there?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not if you don't use too much. Some of the woodwork isn't varnished +yet, and I wouldn't want it to be wet. But do the best you can. Take +Koku and Eradicate with you. They can't do any good here." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean to say you're going to give up and let this burn?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit of it, Ned. But I have another plan I want to try. Lively +now! The wind's changing, and it's blowing over toward my aerial +warship shed. If that catches—" +</P> + +<P> +Tom shook his head protestingly, and Ned set off on the run, calling to +the colored man and the giant to get out another line of hose. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what Tom is going to do?" mused Ned, as he neared the big +shed he and the others had left on the alarm of fire. +</P> + +<P> +Tom, himself, seemed in no doubt as to his procedure. With one look at +the blazing red shed, as if to form an opinion as to how much longer it +could burn without getting entirely beyond control, Tom set off on a +run toward another large structure. Ned, glancing toward his chum, +observed: +</P> + +<P> +"The dirigible shed! I wonder what his game is? Surely that can't be +in danger—it's too far off!" +</P> + +<P> +Ned was right as to the last statement. The shed, where was housed a +great dirigible balloon Tom had made, but which he seldom used of late, +was sufficiently removed from the zone of fire to be out of danger. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile several members of the fire-fighting force that had been +summoned from the various shops by the alarm, had made an effort to +save from the red shed some of the more valuable of the contents. There +were some machines in there, as well as explosives and chemicals, in +addition to the store of carbide. +</P> + +<P> +But the fire was now too hot to enable much to be done in the way of +salvage. One or two small things were carried out from a little +addition to the main structure, and then the rescuers were driven back +by the heat of the flames, as well as by the rolling clouds of black +smoke. +</P> + +<P> +"Keep away!" warned Mr. Swift. "It will explode soon. Keep back!" +</P> + +<P> +"That's right!" added Mr. Damon. "Bless my powder-horn! We may all be +going sky-high soon, and without aid from any of Tom Swift's +aeroplanes, either." +</P> + +<P> +Warned by the aged inventor, the throng of men began slowly moving away +from the immediate neighborhood of the blazing shed. Though it may +seem to the reader that some time has elapsed since the first sounding +of the alarm, all that I have set down took place in a very short +period—hardly three minutes elapsing since Tom and the others came +rushing out of the aerial warship building. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly a cry arose from the crowd of men near the red shed. Ned, who +stood ready with several lines of hose, in charge of Koku, Eradicate +and others, to turn them on the airship shed, in case of need, looked +in the direction of the excited throng. +</P> + +<P> +The young bank clerk saw a strange sight. From the top of the dirigible +balloon shed a long, black, cigar-shaped body arose, floating gradually +upward. The very roof of the shed slid back out of the way, as Tom +pressed the operating lever, and the dirigible was free to rise—as +free as though it had been in an open field. +</P> + +<P> +"He's going up!" cried Ned in surprise. "Making an ascent at a time +like this, when he ought to stay here to fight the fire! What's gotten +into Tom, I'd like to know? I wonder if he can be—" +</P> + +<P> +Ned did not finish his half-formed sentence. A dreadful thought came +into his mind. What if the sudden fire, and the threatened danger, as +well as the prospective loss that confronted Tom, had affected his mind? +</P> + +<P> +"It certainly looks so," mused Ned, as he saw the big balloon float +free from the shed. There was no doubt but that Tom was in it. He could +be seen standing within the pilot-house, operating the various wheels +and levers that controlled the ship of the air. +</P> + +<P> +"What can he be up to?" marveled Ned. "Is he going to run away from the +fire?" +</P> + +<P> +Koku, Eradicate and several others were attracted by the sight of the +great dirigible, now a considerable distance up in the air. Certainly +it looked as though Tom Swift were running away. Yet Ned knew his chum +better than that. +</P> + +<P> +Then, as they watched, Ned and the others saw the direction of the +balloon change. She turned around in response to the influence of the +rudders and propellers, and was headed straight for the blazing shed, +but some distance above it. +</P> + +<P> +"What can he be planning?" wondered Ned. +</P> + +<P> +He did not have long to wait to find out. +</P> + +<P> +An instant later Tom's plan was made clear to his chum. He saw Tom +circling over the burning red shed, and then the bank clerk saw what +looked like fine rain dropping from the lower part of the balloon +straight into the flames. +</P> + +<P> +"He can't be dousing water on from up above there," reasoned Ned. +"Pouring water on carbide from a height is just as bad as spurting it +on from a hose, though perhaps not so dangerous to the persons doing +it. But it can't be—" +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove!" suddenly exclaimed Ned, as he had a better view of what was +going on. "It's sand, that's what it is! Tom is giving battle to the +flames with sand from the ballast bags of the dirigible! Hurray? That's +the ticket! Sand! The only thing safe to use in case of an explosive +chemical fire. +</P> + +<P> +"Fine for you. Tom Swift! Fine!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SUSPICIONS +</H3> + +<P> +High up aloft, over the blazing red shed, with its dangerous contents +that any moment might explode, Tom Swift continued to hold his big +dirigible balloon as near the flames as possible. And as he stood +outside on the small deck in front of the pilot-house, where were +located the various controls, the young inventor pulled the levers that +emptied bag after bag of fine sand on the spouting flames that, +already, were beginning to die down as a result of this effectual +quenching. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom's done the trick!" yelled Ned, paying little attention now to the +big airship shed, since he saw that the danger was about over. +</P> + +<P> +"Dhat's what he suah hab done!" agreed Eradicate. "Mah ole mule +Boomerang couldn't 'a' done any better." +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! Your mule afraid of fire," remarked Koku. +</P> + +<P> +"What's dat? Mah mule afraid ob fire?" cried the colored man. "Look +heah, yo' great, big, overgrowed specimen ob an equilateral quadruped, +I'll hab yo' all understand dat when yo' all speaks dat way about a +friend ob mine dat yo'—" +</P> + +<P> +"That'll do, Rad!" broke in Ned, with a laugh. He knew that when Tom's +helper grew excited on the subject of his mule there was no stopping +him, and Boomerang was a point on which Eradicate and Koku were always +arguing. "The fire is under control now." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it seems to have gone visiting," observed Koku. +</P> + +<P> +"Visiting?" queried Ned, in some surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that is, it is going out," went on Koku. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I understand!" laughed Ned. "Yes, and I hope it doesn't pay us +another visit soon. Oh, look at Tom, would you!" he cried, for the +young aviator had swung his ship about over the flames, to bring +another row of sand bags directly above a place where the fire was +hottest. +</P> + +<P> +Down showered more sand from the bags which Tom opened. No fire could +long continue to blaze under that treatment. The supply of air was cut +off, and without that no fire can exist. Water would have been worse +than useless, because of the carbide, but the sand covered it up so +that it was made perfectly harmless. +</P> + +<P> +Moving slowly, the airship hovered over every part of the now slowly +expiring flames, the burned opening in the roof of the shed making it +possible for the sand to reach the spots where it was most needed. The +flames died out in section after section, until no more could be +seen—only clouds of black smoke. +</P> + +<P> +"How is it now?" came Tom's voice, as he spoke from the deck of the +balloon through a megaphone. +</P> + +<P> +"Almost out," answered Mr. Damon. "A little more sand, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +The eccentric man had caught up a piece of paper and, rolling it into a +cone, made an improvised megaphone of that. +</P> + +<P> +"Haven't much more sand left," was Tom's comment, as he sent down a +last shower. "That will have to do. Hustle that carbide and other +explosive stuff out of there now, while you have a chance." +</P> + +<P> +"That's it!" cried Ned, who caught his chums meaning. "Come on, Koku. +There's work for you." +</P> + +<P> +"Me like work," answered the giant, stretching out his great arms. +</P> + +<P> +The last of the sand had completely smothered the fire, and Tom, +observing from aloft that his work was well done, moved away in the +dirigible, sending it to a landing space some little distance away from +the shed whence it had arisen. It was impossible to drop it back again +through the roof of the hangar, as the balloon was of such bulk that +even a little breeze would deflect it so that it could not be +accurately anchored. But Tom had it under very good control, and soon +it was being held down on the ground by some of his helpers. +</P> + +<P> +As all the sand ballast had been allowed to run out Tom was obliged to +open the gas-valves and let some of the lifting vapor escape, or he +could not have descended. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, now!" cried the inventor, as he leaped from the deck of his +sky craft. "Let's clean out the red shed. That fire is only smothered, +and there may be sparks smoldering under that sand, which will burst +into flame, if we're not careful. Let's get the explosives out of the +way." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my insurance policy, yes," exclaimed Mr. Damon. "That was a fine +move of yours." +</P> + +<P> +"It was the only way I could think of to put out the fire," Tom +replied. "I knew water was out of the question, and sand was the next +thing." +</P> + +<P> +"But I didn't know where to get any until I happened to think of the +ballast bags of my dirigible. Then I knew, if I could get above the +fire, I could do the trick. I had to fly pretty high, though, as the +fire was hot, and I was afraid it might explode the gas bag and wreck +me." +</P> + +<P> +"You were taking a chance," remarked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, you have to take chances in this business," observed Tom, +with a smile. "Now, then, let's finish this work." +</P> + +<P> +The sand, falling from the ballast bags of the dirigible, had so +effectually quenched the fire that it was soon cool enough to permit +close approach. Koku, Tom and some of the men who best knew how to +handle the explosives, were soon engaged in the work of salvage. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I could help you, Tom," said his aged father. "I don't seem +able to do anything but stand here and look on," and he gazed about him +rather sadly. +</P> + +<P> +"Never you mind, Dad!" Tom exclaimed. "We'll get along all right now. +You'd better go up to the house. Mr. Damon will go with you." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, of course!" exclaimed the odd man, catching a wink from Tom, who +wanted his father not to get too excited on account of his weak heart. +"Come along, Professor Swift. The danger is all over." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," assented the aged inventor, with a look at the still +smoking shed. +</P> + +<P> +"And, Dad, when you haven't anything else to do," went on Tom, rather +whimsically, "you might be thinking up some plan to take up the recoil +of those guns on my aerial warship. I confess I'm clean stumped on that +point." +</P> + +<P> +"Your aerial warship will never be a success," declared Mr. Swift. "You +might as well give that up, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you believe it, Dad!" cried Tom, with more of a jolly air of one +chum toward another than as though the talk was between father and son. +"You solve the recoil problem for me, and I'll take care of the rest, +and make the air warship sail. But we've got something else to do just +now. Lively, boys." +</P> + +<P> +While Mr. Swift, taking Mr. Damon's arm, walked toward the house, Tom, +Ned, Koku, and some of the workmen began carrying out the explosives +which had so narrowly escaped the fire. With long hooks the men pulled +the shed apart, where the side walls had partly been burned through. +Tom maintained an efficient firefighting force at his works, and the +men had the proper tools with which to work. +</P> + +<P> +Soon large openings were made on three sides of the red shed, or +rather, what was left of it, and through these the dangerous chemicals +and carbide, in sheet-iron cans, were carried out to a place of safety. +In a little while nothing remained but a heap of hot sand, some charred +embers and certain material that had been burned. +</P> + +<P> +"Much loss, Tom?" asked Ned, as they surveyed the ruins. They were both +black and grimy, tired and dirty, but there was a great sense of +satisfaction. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes, there's more lost than I like to think of," answered Tom +slowly, "but it would have been a heap sight worse if the stuff had +gone up. Still, I can replace what I've lost, except a few models I +kept in this place. I really oughtn't to have stored them here, but +since I've been working on my new aerial warship I have sort of let +other matters slide. I intended to make the red shed nothing but a +storehouse for explosive chemicals, but I still had some of my plans +and models in it when it caught." +</P> + +<P> +"Only for the sand the whole place might have gone," said Ned in a low +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. It's lucky I had plenty of ballast aboard the dirigible. You +see, I've been running it alone lately, and I had to take on plenty of +sand to make up for the weight of the several passengers I usually +carry. So I had plenty of stuff to shower down on the fire. I wonder +how it started, anyhow? I must investigate this." +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Damon and Eradicate seem to have seen it first," remarked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. At least they gave the alarm. Guess I'll ask Eradicate how he +happened to notice. Oh, I say, Rad!" Tom called to the colored man. +</P> + +<P> +"Yais, sah, Massa Tom! I'se comin'!" the darky cried, as he finished +piling up, at a safe distance from the fire, a number of cans of +carbide. +</P> + +<P> +"How'd you happen to see the red shed ablaze?" Tom asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, it was jest dish yeah way, Massa Tom," began the colored man. "I +had jest been feedin' mah mule, Boomerang. He were pow'ful hungry, +Boomerang were, an', when I give him some oats, wif a carrot sliced up +in 'em—no, hole on—did I gib him a carrot t'day, or was it +yist'day?—I done fo'got. No, it were yist'day I done gib him de +carrot, I 'member now, 'case—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, never mind the carrot, or Boomerang, either, Rad!" broke in Tom, +"I'm asking you about the fire." +</P> + +<P> +"An' I'se tellin' yo', Massa Tom," declared Eradicate, with a rather +reproachful look at his master. "But I wanted t' do it right an' +proper. I were comin' from Boomerang's stable, an' I see suffin' red +spoutin' up at one corner ob de red shed. I knowed it were fire right +away, an' I yelled." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I heard you yell," Tom said. "But what I wanted to know is, did +you see anyone near the red shed at the time?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Massa Tom, I done didn't." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if Mr. Damon did? I must ask him," went on the young +inventor. "Come, on, Ned, we'll go up to the house. Everything is all +right here, I think. Whew! But that was some excitement. And I didn't +show you my aerial warship after all! Nor have you settled that recoil +problem for me." +</P> + +<P> +"Time enough, I guess," responded Ned. "You sure did have a lucky +escape, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right. Well, Koku, what is it?" for the giant had approached, +holding out something in his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Koku found this in red shed," went on the giant, holding out a round, +blackened object. "Maybe him powder; go bang-bang!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you think it's something explosive, eh?" asked Tom, as he took the +object from the giant. +</P> + +<P> +"Koku no think much," was the answer. "Him look funny." +</P> + +<P> +Tom did not speak for a moment. Then he cried: +</P> + +<P> +"Look funny! I should say it did! See here, Ned, if this isn't +suspicious I'll eat my hat!" and Tom beckoned excitedly to his chum, +who had walked on a little in advance. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A QUEER STRANGER +</H3> + +<P> +What Tom Swift held in his hand looked like a small cannon ball, but it +could not have been solid or the young aviator would not so easily have +held it out at arm's length for his friend Ned Newton to look at. +</P> + +<P> +"This puts a different face on it, Ned," Tom went on, as he turned the +object over. +</P> + +<P> +"Is that likely to go off?" the bank clerk asked, as he came to a halt +a little distance from his friend. +</P> + +<P> +"Go off? No, it's done all the damage it could, I guess." +</P> + +<P> +"Damage? It looks to me as though it had suffered the most damage +itself. What is it, one of your models? Looks like a bomb to me." +</P> + +<P> +"And that's what it is, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"Not one of those you're going to use on your aerial warship, is it, +Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not exactly. I never saw this before, but it's what started the fire +in the red shed all right; I'm sure of that." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you really mean it?" cried Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"I sure do." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if that's the case, I wouldn't leave such dangerous things +around where there are explosives, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't, Ned. I wouldn't have had this within a hundred miles of my +shed, if I could have had my way. It's a fire bomb, and it was set to +go off at a certain time. Only I think something went wrong, and the +bomb started a fire ahead of time. +</P> + +<P> +"If it had worked at night, when we were all asleep, we might not have +put the fire out so easily. This sure is suspicious! I'm glad you found +this, Koku." +</P> + +<P> +Tom was carefully examining the bomb, as Ned had correctly named it. +The bank clerk, now that he was assured by his chum that the object had +done all the harm it could, approached closer. +</P> + +<P> +What he saw was merely a hollow shell of iron, with a small opening in +it, as though intended for a place through which to put a charge of +explosives and a fuse. +</P> + +<P> +"But there was no explosion, Tom," explained Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"I know it," said Tom quietly. "It wasn't an explosive bomb. Smell +that!" +</P> + +<P> +He held the object under Ned's nose so suddenly that the young bank +clerk jumped back. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't get nervous," laughed Tom. "It can't hurt you now. But what +does that smell like?" +</P> + +<P> +Ned sniffed, sniffed again, thought for a moment, and then sniffed a +third time. +</P> + +<P> +"Why," he said slowly, "I don't just know the name of it, but it's that +funny stuff you mix up sometimes to put in the oxygen tanks when we go +up in the rarefied atmosphere in the balloon or airship." +</P> + +<P> +"Manganese and potash," spoke Tom. "That and two or three other things +that form a chemical combination which goes off by itself of +spontaneous combustion after a certain time. Only the person who put +this bomb together didn't get the chemical mixture just right, and it +went off ahead of time; for which we have to be duly thankful." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you really think that, Tom?" cried Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm positive of it," was the quiet answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Why—why—that would mean some one tried to set fire to the red shed, +Tom!" +</P> + +<P> +"They not only tried it, but did it," responded Tom, more coolly than +seemed natural under the circumstances. "Only for the fact that the +mixture went off before it was intended to, and found us all alert and +ready—well, I don't like to think what might have happened," and Tom +cast a look about at his group of buildings with their valuable +contents. +</P> + +<P> +"You mean some one purposely put that bomb in the red shed, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's exactly what I mean. Some enemy, who wanted to do me an injury, +planned this thing deliberately. He filled this steel shell with +chemicals which, of themselves, after a certain time, would send out a +hot tongue of flame through this hole," and Tom pointed to the opening +in the round steel shell. +</P> + +<P> +"He knew the fire would be practically unquenchable by ordinary means, +and he counted on its soon eating its way into the carbide and other +explosives. Only it didn't." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Tom!" cried Ned. "It was just like one of those alarm-clock +dynamite bombs—set to go off at a certain time." +</P> + +<P> +"Exactly," Tom said, "only this was more delicate, and, if it had +worked properly, there wouldn't have been a vestige left to give us a +clue. But the fire, thanks to the ballast sand in the dirigible, was +put out in time. The fuse burned itself out, but I can tell by the +smell that chemicals were in it. That's all, Koku," he went on to the +giant who had stood waiting, not understanding all the talk between Tom +and Ned. "I'll take care of this now." +</P> + +<P> +"Bad man put it there?" asked the giant, who at least comprehended that +something was wrong. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes, I guess you could say it was a bad man," replied Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! If Koku find bad man—bad for that man!" muttered the giant, as he +clasped his two enormous hands together, as though they were already on +the fellow who had tried to do Tom Swift such an injury. +</P> + +<P> +"I wouldn't like to be that man, if Koku catches him," observed Ned. +"Have you any idea who it could be, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not the least. Of course I know I have enemies, Ned. Every successful +inventor has persons who imagine he has stolen their ideas, whether he +has ever seen them or not. It may have been one of those persons, or +some half-mad crank, who was jealous. It would be impossible to say, +Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"It wouldn't be Andy Foger, would it?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; I don't believe Andy has been in this neighborhood for some time. +The last lesson we gave him sickened him, I guess." +</P> + +<P> +"How about those diamond-makers, whose secret you discovered? They +wouldn't be trying to get back at you, would they?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's possible, Ned. But I don't imagine so. They seem to have +been pretty well broken up. No, I don't believe it was the +diamond-makers who put this fire bomb in the red shed. Their line of +activities didn't include this branch. It takes a chemist to know just +how to blend the things contained in the bomb, and even a good chemist +is likely to fail—as this one did, as far as time went." +</P> + +<P> +"What are you going to do about it?" Ned asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," and Tom spoke slowly, "I hoped I was done with all that +sort of thing," he went on; "fighting enemies whom I have never +knowingly injured. But it seems they are still after me. Well, Ned, +this gives us something to do, at all events." +</P> + +<P> +"You mean trying to find out who these fellows are?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; that is, if you are willing to help." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I guess I am!" cried the bank clerk with sparkling eyes. "I +wouldn't ask anything better. We've been in things like this before, +Tom, and we'll go in again—and win! I'll help you all I can. Now, +let's see if we can pick up any other clues. This is like old times!" +and Ned laughed, for he, like Tom, enjoyed a good "fight," and one in +which the odds were against them. +</P> + +<P> +"We sure will have our hands full," declared the young inventor. +"Trying to solve the problem of carrying guns on an aerial warship, and +finding out who set this fire." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you're not going to give up your aerial warship idea?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed!" Tom cried. "What made you think that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the way your father spoke—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, dear old dad!" exclaimed Tom affectionately. "I don't want to +argue with him, but he's dead wrong!" +</P> + +<P> +"Then you are going to make a go of it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I sure am, Ned! All I have to solve is the recoil proposition, and, as +soon as we get straightened out from this fire, we'll tackle that +problem again—you and I. But I sure would like to know who put this in +my red shed," and Tom looked in a puzzled manner at the empty fire bomb +he still held. +</P> + +<P> +Tom paused, on his way to the house, to put the bomb in one of his +offices. +</P> + +<P> +"No use letting dad know about this," he went on. "It would only be +something else for him to worry about." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," agreed Ned. +</P> + +<P> +By this time nearly all evidences of the fire, except for the blackened +ruins of the shed, had been cleared away. High in the air hung a cloud +of black smoke, caused by some chemicals that had burned harmlessly +save for that pall. Tom Swift had indeed had a lucky escape. +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor, finding his father quieted down and conversing +easily with Mr. Damon, who was blessing everything he could think of, +motioned to Ned to follow him out of the house again. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll leave dad here," said Tom, "and do a little investigating on our +own account. We'll look for clues while they're fresh." +</P> + +<P> +But, it must be confessed, after Tom and Ned had spent the rest of that +day in and about the burned shed, they were little wiser than when they +started. They found the place where the fire bomb had evidently been +placed, right inside the main entrance to the shed. Tom knew it had +been there because there were peculiar marks on the charred wood, and a +certain queer smell of chemicals that confirmed his belief. +</P> + +<P> +"They put the bomb there to prevent anyone going in at the first alarm +and saving anything," Tom said. "They didn't count on the roof burning +through first, giving me a chance to use the sand. I made the roof of +the red shed flimsy just on that account, so the force of the explosion +if one ever came, would be mostly upward. You know the expanding gases, +caused by an explosion or by rapid combustion, always do just as +electricity does, seek the shortest and easiest route. In this case I +made the roof the easiest route." +</P> + +<P> +"A lucky provision," observed Ned. +</P> + +<P> +That night Tom had to confess himself beaten, as far as finding clues +was concerned. The empty fire bomb was the only one, and that seemed +valueless. +</P> + +<P> +Close questioning of the workmen failed to disclose anything. Tom was +particularly anxious to discover if any mysterious strangers had been +seen about the works. There was a strict rule about admitting them to +the plant, however, and it could not be learned that this had been +violated. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll just have to lay that aside for a while," Tom said the +next day, when Ned again came to pay a visit. "Now, what do you say to +tackling, with me, that recoil problem on the aerial warship?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm ready, if you are," Ned agreed, "though I know about as much of +those things as a snake does about dancing. But I'm game." +</P> + +<P> +The two friends walked out toward the shed where Tom's new craft was +housed. As yet Ned had not seen it. On the way they saw Eradicate +walking along, talking to himself, as he often did. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what he has on his mind," remarked Ned musingly. +</P> + +<P> +"Something does seem to be worrying him," agreed Tom. +</P> + +<P> +As they neared the colored man, they could hear him saying: +</P> + +<P> +"He suah did hab nerve, dat's what he did! De idea ob askin' me all dem +questions, an' den wantin' t' know if I'd sell him!" +</P> + +<P> +"What's that, Eradicate?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it's a man I met when I were comin' back from de ash dump," +Eradicate explained. One of the colored man's duties was to cart ashes +away from Tom's various shops, and dump them in a certain swampy lot. +With an old ramshackle cart, and his mule, Boomerang, Eradicate did +this task to perfection. +</P> + +<P> +"A man—what sort of a man?" asked Tom, always ready to be suspicious +of anything unusual. +</P> + +<P> +"He were a queer man," went on the aged colored helper. "First he +stopped me an' asted me fo' a ride. He was a dressed-up gen'man, too, +an' I were suah s'prised at him wantin' t' set in mah ole ash cart," +said Eradicate. "But I done was polite t' him, an' fixed a blanket so's +he wouldn't git too dirty. Den he asted me ef I didn't wuk fo' yo', +Massa Tom, an' of course I says as how I did. Den he asted me about de +fire, an' how much damage it done, an' how we put it out. An' he end up +by sayin' he'd laik t' buy mah mule, Boomerang, an' he wants t' come +heah dis arternoon an' talk t' me about it." +</P> + +<P> +"He does, eh?" cried Tom. "What sort of a man was he, Rad?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, a gen'man sort ob man, Massa Tom. Stranger t' me. I nebber seed +him afo'. He suah was monstrous polite t' ole black Eradicate, an' he +gib me a half-dollar, too, jest fo' a little ride. But I aint' gwine t' +sell Boomerang, no indeedy, I ain't!" and Eradicate shook his gray, +kinky head decidedly. +</P> + +<P> +"Ned, there may be something in this!" said Tom, in an excited whisper +to his chum. "I don't like the idea of a mysterious stranger +questioning Eradicate!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE AERIAL WARSHIP +</H3> + +<P> +Ned Newton looked at Tom questioningly. Then he glanced at the +unsuspicious colored man, who was industriously polishing the +half-dollar the mysterious stranger had given him. +</P> + +<P> +"Rad, just exactly what sort of a man was this one you speak of?" asked +Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, he were a gen'man—" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know that much. You've said it before. But was he an +Englishman, an American—or—" +</P> + +<P> +Tom paused and waited for an answer. +</P> + +<P> +"I think he were a Frenchman," spoke Eradicate. "I done didn't see him +eat no frogs' laigs, but he smoked a cigarette dat had a funny smell, +and he suah was monstrous polite. He suah was a Frenchman. I think." +</P> + +<P> +Tom and Ned laughed at Eradicate's description of the man, but Tom's +face was soon grave again. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell us more about him, Rad," he suggested. "Did he seem especially +interested in the fire?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sah, Massa Tom, he seemed laik he was more special interested in +mah mule, Boomerang. He done asted how long I had him, an' how much I +wanted fo' him, an' how old he was." +</P> + +<P> +"But every once in a while he put in some question about the fire, or +about our shops, didn't he, Rad?" Tom wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +The colored man scratched his kinky head, and glanced with a queer look +at Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"How yo' all done guess dat?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Answer my question," insisted Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sah, he done did ask about yo', and de wuks, ebery now and den," +Rad confessed. "But how yo' all knowed dat, Massa Tom, when I were +a-tellin' yo' all about him astin' fo' mah mule, done gets me—dat's +what it suah does." +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind, Rad. He asked questions about the plant, that's all I want +to know. But you didn't tell him much, did you?" +</P> + +<P> +Eradicate looked reproachfully at his master. +</P> + +<P> +"Yo' all done knows me bettah dan dat, Massa Tom," the old colored man +said. "Yo' all know yo' done gib orders fo' nobody t' talk about yo' +projections." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know I gave those orders," Tom said, with a smile, "but I want +to make sure that they have been followed." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I done follered 'em, Massa Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you didn't tell this queer stranger, Frenchman, or whatever he +is, much about my place?" +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't tell him nuffin', sah. I done frowed dust in his eyes." +</P> + +<P> +Ned uttered an exclamation of surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Eradicate is speaking figuratively," Tom said, with a laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Dat's what I means," the colored man went on. "I done fooled him. When +he asted me about de fire I said it didn't do no damage at all—in fack +dat we'd rather hab de fire dan not hab it, 'case it done gib us a +chance t' practice our hose drill." +</P> + +<P> +"That's good," laughed Tom. "What else?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he done sort ob hinted t' me ef we all knowed how de fire done +start. I says as how we did, dat we done start it ourse'ves fo' +practice, an dat we done expected it all along, an' were ready fo' it. +Course I knows dat were a sort of fairy story, Massa Tom, but den dat +cigarette-smokin' Frenchman didn't hab no right t' asted me so many +questions, did he?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed, Rad. And I'm glad you didn't give him straight answers. So +he's coming here later on, is he?" +</P> + +<P> +"T' see ef I wants t' sell mah mule, Boomerang, yais, sah. I sort ob +thought maybe you'd want t' hab a look at dat man, so I tole him t' +come on. Course I doan't want t' sell Boomerang, but ef he was t' offer +me a big lot ob money fo' him I'd take it." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course," Tom answered. "Very well, Rad. You may go on now, and +don't say anything to anyone about what you have told me." +</P> + +<P> +"I won't, Massa Tom," promised the colored man, as he went off +muttering to himself. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what do you make of it, Tom?" asked Ned of his chum, as they +walked on toward the shed of the new, big aerial warship. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know just what to think, Ned. Of course things like this have +happened before—persons trying to worm secrets out of Eradicate, or +some of the other men." +</P> + +<P> +"They never succeeded in getting much, I'm glad to say, but it always +keeps me worried for fear something will happen," Tom concluded. +</P> + +<P> +"But about this Frenchman?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he must be a new one. And, now I come to think of it, I did hear +some of the men speaking about a foreigner—a stranger—being around +town last week. It was just a casual reference, and I paid little +attention to it. Now it looks as though there might be something in it." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think he'll come to bargain with Eradicate about the mule?" Ned +asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Hardly. That was only talk to make Eradicate unsuspicious. The +stranger, whoever he was, sized Rad up partly right. I surmised, when +Rad said he asked a lot of questions about the mule, that was only to +divert suspicion, and that he'd come back to the subject of the fire +every chance he got." +</P> + +<P> +"And you were right." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, so it seems. But I don't believe the fellow will come around +here. It would be too risky. All the same, we'll be prepared for him. +I'll just rig up one of my photo-telephone machines, so that, if he +does come to have a talk with Rad, we can both see and hear him." +</P> + +<P> +"That's great, Tom! But do you think this fellow had anything to do +with the fire?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know. He knew about it, of course. This isn't the first fire +we've had in the works, and, though we always fight them ourselves, +still news of it will leak out to the town. So he could easily have +known about it. And he might be in with those who set it, for I firmly +believe the fire was set by someone who has an object in injuring me." +</P> + +<P> +"It's too bad!" declared Ned. "Seems as though they might let you +alone, if they haven't gumption enough to invent things for themselves." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, don't worry. Maybe it will come out all right," returned Tom. +"Now, let's go and have a look at my aerial warship. I haven't shown it +to you yet. Then we'll get ready for that mysterious Frenchman, if he +comes—but I don't believe he will." +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor unlocked the door of the shed where he kept his +latest "pet," and at the sight which met his eyes Ned Newton uttered an +exclamation of surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom, what is it?" he cried in an awed voice. +</P> + +<P> +"My aerial warship!" was the quiet answer. +</P> + +<P> +Ned Newton gave vent to a long whistle, and then began a detailed +examination of the wonderful craft he saw before him. That is, he made +as detailed an examination as was possible under the circumstances, for +it was a long time before the young bank clerk fully appreciated all +Tom Swift had accomplished in building the Mars, which was the warlike +name painted in red letters on the big gas container that tugged and +swayed overhead. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom, however did you do it?" gasped Ned at length. +</P> + +<P> +"By hard work," was the modest reply. "I've been at this for a longer +time than you'd suppose, working on it at odd moments. I had a lot of +help, too, or I never could have done it. And now it is nearly all +finished, as far as the ship itself is concerned. The only thing that +bothers me is to provide for the recoil of the guns I want to carry. +Maybe you can help me with that. Come on, now, I'll explain how the +affair works, and what I hope to accomplish with it." +</P> + +<P> +In brief Tom's aerial warship was a sort of German Zeppelin type of +dirigible balloon, rising in the air by means of a gas container, or, +rather, several of them, for the section for holding the lifting gas +element was divided by bulkheads. +</P> + +<P> +The chief difference between dirigible balloons and ordinary +aeroplanes, as you all know, is that the former are lifted from the +earth by a gas, such as hydrogen, which is lighter than air, while the +aeroplane lifts itself by getting into motion, when broad, flat planes, +or surfaces, hold it up, just as a flat stone is held up when you sail +it through the air. The moment the stone, or aeroplane, loses its +forward motion, it begins to fall. +</P> + +<P> +This is not so with a dirigible balloon. It is held in the air by means +of the lifting gas, and once so in the air can be sent in any direction +by means of propellers and rudders. +</P> + +<P> +Tom's aerial warship contained many new features. While it was as large +as some of the war-type Zeppelins, it differed from them materially. +But the details would be of more interest to a scientific builder of +such things than to the ordinary reader, so I will not weary you with +them. +</P> + +<P> +Sufficient to say that Tom's craft consisted first of a great +semi-rigid bag, or envelope, made of specially prepared oiled silk and +aluminum, to hold the gas, which was manufactured on board. There were +a number of gas-tight compartments, so that if one, or even if a number +of them burst, or were shot by an enemy, the craft would still remain +afloat. +</P> + +<P> +Below the big gas bag was the ship proper, a light but strong and rigid +framework about which were built enclosed cabins. These cabins, or +compartments, housed the driving machinery, the gas-generating plant, +living, sleeping and dining quarters, and a pilot-house, whence the +ship could be controlled. +</P> + +<P> +But this was not all. +</P> + +<P> +Ned, making a tour of the Mars, as she swayed gently in the big shed, +saw where several aluminum pedestals were mounted, fore and aft and on +either beam of the ship. +</P> + +<P> +"They look just like places where you intend to mount guns," said Ned +to Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"And that's exactly what they are," the young inventor replied. "I +have the guns nearly ready for mounting, but I can't seem to think of a +way of providing for the recoil. And if I don't take care of that, I'm +likely to find my ship coming apart under me, after we bombard the +enemy with a broadside or two." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you intend to fight with this ship?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, no; not exactly personally. I was thinking of offering it to the +United States Government. Foreign nations are getting ready large +fleets of aerial warships, so why shouldn't we? Matters in Europe are +mighty uncertain. There may be a great war there in which aerial craft +will play a big part. I am conceited enough to think I can build one +that will measure up to the foreign ones, and I'll soon be in a +position to know." +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean I have already communicated with our government experts, and +they are soon to come and inspect this craft. I have sent them word +that it is about finished. There is only the matter of the guns, and +some of the ordnance officers may be able to help me out with a +suggestion, for I admit I am stuck!" exclaimed Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you're going to do the same with this aerial warship as you did +with your big lantern and that immense gun you perfected?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," confirmed Tom. My former readers will know to what Ned +Newton referred, and those of you who do not may learn the details of +how Tom helped Uncle Sam, by reading the previous volumes, "Tom Swift +and His Great Searchlight," and "Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon." +</P> + +<P> +"When do you expect the government experts?" Ned asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Within a few days, now. But I'll have to hustle to get ready for them, +as this fire has put me back. There are quite a number of details I +need to change. Well, now, let me explain about that gun recoil +business. Maybe you can help me." +</P> + +<P> +"Fire away," laughed Ned. "I'll do the best I can." +</P> + +<P> +Tom led the way from the main shed, where the aerial warship was +housed, to a small private office. As Ned entered, the door, pulled by +a strong spring, swung after him. He held back his hand to prevent it +from slamming, but there was no need, for a patent arrangement took up +all the force, and the door closed gently. Ned looked around, not much +surprised, for the same sort of door-check was in use at his bank. But +a sudden idea came to him. +</P> + +<P> +"There you are, Tom!" he cried. "Why not take up the recoil of the guns +on your aerial warship by some such device as that?" and Ned pointed to +the door-check. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WARNINGS +</H3> + +<P> +For a moment or two Tom Swift did not seem to comprehend what Ned had +said. He remained staring, first at his chum, who stood pointing, and +from him Tom's gaze wandered to the top of the door. It may have been, +and probably was, that Tom was thinking of other matters at that +instant. But Ned said again: +</P> + +<P> +"Wouldn't that do, Tom? Check the recoil of the gun with whatever stuff +is in that arrangement!" +</P> + +<P> +A sudden change came over Tom's face. It was lighted up with a gleam of +understanding. +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove, Ned, old man!" he cried. "I believe you've struck it! And to +think that has been under my nose, or, rather, over my head, all this +while, and I never thought of it. Hurray! That will solve the problem!" +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think it will?" asked Ned, glad that he had contributed +something, if only an idea, to Tom's aerial warship. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm almost sure it will. I'll give it a trial right away." +</P> + +<P> +"What's in that door-check?" Ned asked. "I never stopped before to +think what useful things they are, though at the bank, with the big, +heavy doors, they are mighty useful." +</P> + +<P> +"They are a combination of springs and hydrostatic valves," began Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Good-night!" laughed Ned. "Excuse the slang, Tom, but what in the +world is a hydrostatic valve?" +</P> + +<P> +"A valve through which liquids pass. In this door-check there may be a +mixture of water, alcohol and glycerine, the alcohol to prevent +freezing in cold weather, and the glycerine to give body to the mixture +so it will not flow through the valves too freely." +</P> + +<P> +"And do you think you can put something like that on your guns, so the +recoil will be taken up?" Ned wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"I think so," spoke Tom. "I'm going to work on it right away, and we'll +soon see how it will turn out. It's mighty lucky you thought of that, +for I sure was up against it, as the boys say." +</P> + +<P> +"It just seemed to come to me," spoke Ned, "seeing how easily the door +closed." +</P> + +<P> +"If the thing works I'll give you due credit for it," promised Tom. +"Now, I've got to figure out how much force a modified hydrostatic +valve check like that will take up, and how much recoil my biggest gun +will have." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you're going to put several guns on the Mars?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, four quick-firers, at least, two on each side, and heavier guns +at the bow and stern, to throw explosive shells in a horizontal or +upward direction. For a downward direction we won't need any guns, we +can simply drop the bombs, or shells, from a release clutch." +</P> + +<P> +"Drop them on other air craft?" Ned wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if it's necessary, yes. Though I guess there won't be much +chance of doing that to a rival aeroplane or dirigible. But in flying +over cities or forts, explosive bombs can be dropped very nicely. For +use in attacking other air craft I am going to depend on my lateral +fire, from the guns mounted on either beam, and in the bow and stern." +</P> + +<P> +"You speak as though you, yourself, were going into a battle of the +air," said Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I don't believe I'll go that far," Tom replied. "Though, if the +government wants my craft, I may have to go aloft and fire shots at +targets for them to show them how things work. +</P> + +<P> +"Please don't think that I am in favor of war, Ned," went on Tom +earnestly. "I hate it, and I wish the time would come when all nations +would disarm. But if the other countries are laying themselves out to +have aerial battleships, it is time the United States did also. We must +not be left behind, especially in view of what is taking place in +Europe." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose that's right," agreed Ned. "Have you any of your guns ready?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, all but the mounting of them on the supports aboard the Mars. I +haven't dared do that yet, and fire them, until I provided some means +of taking up the recoil. Now I'm going to get right to work on that +problem." +</P> + +<P> +There was considerable detailed figuring and computation work ahead of +Tom Swift, and I will not weary you by going into the details of higher +mathematics. Even Ned lost interest after the start of the problem, +though he was interested when Tom took down the door-check and began +measuring the amount of force it would take up, computing it on scales +and spring balances. +</P> + +<P> +Once this had been done, and Tom had figured just how much force could +be expected to be taken up by a larger check, with stronger hydrostatic +valves, the young inventor explained: +</P> + +<P> +"And now to see how much recoil force my guns develop!" +</P> + +<P> +"Are you really going to fire the guns?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Surely," answered Tom. "That's the only way to get at real results. +I'll have the guns taken out and mounted in a big field. Then we'll +fire them, and measure the recoil." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that may be some fun," spoke Ned, with a grin. "More fun than +all these figures," and he looked at the mass of details on Tom's desk. +</P> + +<P> +This was the second or third day after the fire in the red shed, and in +the interim Tom had been busy making computations. These were about +finished. Meanwhile further investigation had been made of clues +leading to the origin of the blaze in the shed, but nothing had been +learned. +</P> + +<P> +A photo-telephone had been installed near Eradicate's quarters, in the +hope that the mysterious stranger might keep his promise, and come to +see about the mule. In that case something would have been learned +about him. But, as Tom feared, the man did not appear. +</P> + +<P> +Ned was much interested in the guns, and, a little later, he helped Tom +and Koku mount them in a vacant lot. The giant's strength came in handy +in handling the big parts. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Swift strolled past, as the guns were being mounted for the +preliminary test, and inquired what his son was doing. +</P> + +<P> +"It will never work, Tom, never!" declared the aged inventor, when +informed. "You can't take up those guns in your air craft, and fire +them with any degree of safety." +</P> + +<P> +"You wait, Dad," laughed Tom. "You haven't yet seen how the Newton +hydrostatic recoil operates." +</P> + +<P> +Ned smiled with pleasure at this. +</P> + +<P> +It took nearly a week to get all the guns mounted, for some of them +required considerable work, and it was also necessary to attach gauges +to them to register the recoil and pressure. In the meanwhile Tom had +been in further communication with government experts who were soon to +call on him to inspect the aerial warship, with a view to purchase. +</P> + +<P> +"When are they coming?" asked Ned, as he and Tom went out one morning +to make the first test of the guns. +</P> + +<P> +"They will be here any day, now. They didn't set any definite date. I +suppose they want to take us unawares, to see that I don't 'frame-up' +any game on them. Well, I'll be ready any time they come. Now, Koku, +bring along those shells, and don't drop any of them, for that new +powder is freakish stuff." +</P> + +<P> +"Me no drop any, Master," spoke the giant, as he lifted the boxes of +explosives in his strong arms. +</P> + +<P> +The largest gun was loaded and aimed at a distant hill, for Tom knew +that if the recoil apparatus would take care of the excess force of his +largest gun, the problem of the smaller ones would be easy to solve. +</P> + +<P> +"Here, Rad, where are you going?" Tom asked, as he noticed the colored +man walking away, after having completed a task assigned to him. +</P> + +<P> +"Where's I gwine, Massa Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Rad, that's what I asked you." +</P> + +<P> +"I—I'se gwine t' feed mah mule, Boomerang," said the colored man +slowly. "It's his eatin' time, jest now, Massa Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense! It isn't anywhere near noon yet." +</P> + +<P> +"Yais, sab, Massa Tom, I knows dat," said Eradicate, as he carefully +edged away from the big gun, "but I'se done changed de eatin' hours ob +dat mule. He had a little touch ob indigestion de udder day, an' I'se +feedin' him diff'rent now. So I guess as how yo'll hab t' 'scuse me +now, Massa Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, trot along," laughed the young inventor. "I guess we won't +need you. Is everything all right there, Koku?" +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Master." +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Ned, if you'll stand here," went on Tom, "and note the extreme +point to which the hand on the pressure gauge goes, I'll be obliged to +you. Just jot it down on this pad." +</P> + +<P> +"Here comes someone," remarked the bank clerk, as he saw that his +pencil was sharpened. He pointed to the field back of them. +</P> + +<P> +"It's Mr. Damon," observed Tom. "We'll wait until he arrives. He'll be +interested in this." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my collar button, Tom! What's going on?" asked the eccentric +man, as he came up. "Has war been declared?" +</P> + +<P> +"Just practicing," replied the young inventor. "Getting ready to put +the armament on my aerial warship." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, as long as I'm behind the guns I'm all right, I suppose?" +</P> + +<P> +"Perfectly," Tom replied. "Now then, Ned, I think we'll fire." +</P> + +<P> +There was a moment of inspection, to see that nothing had been +forgotten, and then the big gun was discharged. There was a loud +report, not as heavy, though, as Ned had expected, but there was no +puff of smoke, for Tom was using smokeless powder. Only a little flash +of flame was observed. +</P> + +<P> +"Catch the figure, Ned!" Tom cried. +</P> + +<P> +"I have it!" was the answer. "Eighty thousand!" +</P> + +<P> +"Good! And I can build a recoil check that will take up to one hundred +and twenty thousand pounds pressure. That ought to be margin of safety +enough. Now we'll try another shot." +</P> + +<P> +The echoes of the first had hardly died away before the second gun was +ready for the test. That, too, was satisfactory, and then the smaller +ones were operated. These were not quite so satisfactory, as the recoil +developed was larger, in proportion to their size, than Tom had figured. +</P> + +<P> +"But I can easily put a larger hydrostatic check on them," he said. +"Now, we'll fire by batteries, and see what the total is." +</P> + +<P> +Then began a perfect bombardment of the distant hillside, service +charges being used, and explosive shells sent out so that dirt, +stones and gravel flew in all directions. Danger signs and flags had +been posted, and a cordon of Tom's men kept spectators away from the +hill, so no one would be in the danger zone. +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor was busy making some calculations after the last of +the firing had been completed. Koku was packing up the unfired shells, +and Mr. Damon was blessing his ear-drums, and the pieces of cotton he +had stuffed in to protect them, when a tall, erect man was observed +strolling over the fields in the direction of the guns. +</P> + +<P> +"Somebody's coming, Tom," warned Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and a stranger, too," observed Tom. "I wonder if that can be +Eradicate's Frenchman?" +</P> + +<P> +But a look at the stranger's face disproved that surmise. He had a +frank and pleasant countenance, obviously American. +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon," he began, addressing everyone in general, "but I +am looking for Tom Swift. I was told he was here." +</P> + +<P> +"I am Tom Swift," replied our hero. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! Well, I am Lieutenant Marbury, with whom you had some +correspondence recently about—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, Lieutenant Marbury, of the United States Navy," interrupted +Tom. "I'm glad to see you," he went on, holding out his hand. "We are +just completing some tests with the guns. You called, I presume, in +reference to my aerial warship?" +</P> + +<P> +"That is it—yes. Have you it ready for a trial flight?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, almost. It can be made ready in a few hours. You see, I have +been delayed. There was a fire in the plant." +</P> + +<P> +"A fire!" exclaimed the officer in surprise. "How was that? We heard +nothing of it in Washington." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I kept it rather quiet," Tom explained. "We had reason to suspect +that it was a fire purposely set, in a shed where I kept a quantity of +explosives." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha!" exclaimed Lieutenant Marbury. "This fits in with what I have +heard. And did you not receive warning?" he asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Warning? No. Of what?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of foreign spies!" was the unexpected answer. "I am sorry. Some of +our Secret Service men unearthed something of a plot against you, and I +presumed you had been told to watch out. If you had, the fire might not +have occurred. There must have been some error in Washington. But let +me tell you now, Tom Swift—be on your guard!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A SUSPECTED PLOT +</H3> + +<P> +The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started. Ned +Newton, too, showed the effect he felt. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to +make sure his father was not present. On account of Professor Swift's +weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry. +</P> + +<P> +"I certainly do mean it," insisted Lieutenant Marbury. "And, while I am +rather amazed at the news of the fire, for I did not think the plotters +would be so bold as that, it is in line with what I expected, and what +we suspected in Washington." +</P> + +<P> +"And that was—what?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"The existence of a well-laid plot, not only against our government, +but against you!" +</P> + +<P> +"And why have they singled me out?" Tom demanded. +</P> + +<P> +"I might as well tell it from the beginning," the officer went on. "As +long as you have not received any official warning from Washington you +had better hear the whole story. But are you sure you had no word?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, now, I won't be so sure," Tom confessed. "I have been working +very hard, the last two days, making some intricate calculations. I +have rather neglected my mail, to tell you the truth. +</P> + +<P> +"And, come to think of it, there were several letters received with the +Washington postmark. But, I supposed they had to do with some of my +patents, and I only casually glanced over them. There was one letter, +though, that I couldn't make head or tail of." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! That was it!" cried the lieutenant. "It was the warning in cipher +or code. I didn't think they would neglect to send it to you." +</P> + +<P> +"But what good would it do me if I couldn't read it?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"You must also have received a method of deciphering the message," the +officer said. "Probably you overlooked that. The Secret Service men +sent you the warning in code, so it would not be found out by the +plotters, and, to make sure you could understand it, a method of +translating the cipher was sent in a separate envelope. It is too bad +you missed it." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, for I might have been on my guard," agreed Tom. "The red shed +might not have burned, but, as it was, only slight damage was done." +</P> + +<P> +"Owing to the fact that Tom put the fire out with sand ballast from his +dirigible!" cried Ned. "You should have seen it!" +</P> + +<P> +"I should have liked to be here," the lieutenant spoke. "But, if I were +you, Tom Swift, I would take means to prevent a repetition of such +things." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall," Tom decided. "But, if we want to talk, we had better go to +my office, where we can be more private. I don't want the workmen to +hear too much." +</P> + +<P> +Now that the firing was over, a number of Tom's men from the shops had +assembled around the cannon. Most of them, the young inventor felt, +could be trusted, but in so large a gathering one could never be sure. +</P> + +<P> +"Did you come on from Washington yesterday?" asked Tom, as he, Ned and +the officer strolled toward the shed where was housed the aerial +warship. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and I spent the night in New York. I arrived in town a short time +ago, and came right on out here. At your house I was told you were over +in the fields conducting experiments, so I came on here." +</P> + +<P> +"Glad you did," Tom said. "I'll soon have something to show you, I +hope. But I am interested in hearing the details of this suspected +plot. Are you sure one exists?" +</P> + +<P> +"Perfectly sure," was the answer. "We don't know all the details yet, +nor who are concerned in it, but we are working on the case. The Secret +Service has several agents in the field. +</P> + +<P> +"We are convinced in Washington," went on Lieutenant Marbury, when he, +Tom and Ned were seated in the private office, "that foreign spies are +at work against you and against our government." +</P> + +<P> +"Why against me?" asked Tom, in wonder. +</P> + +<P> +"Because of the inventions you have perfected and turned over to Uncle +Sam—notably the giant cannon, which rivals anything foreign European +powers have, and the great searchlight, which proved so effective +against the border smugglers. The success of those two alone, to say +nothing of your submarine, has not only made foreign nations jealous, +but they fear you—and us," the officer went on. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if they only take it out in fear—" +</P> + +<P> +"But they won't!" interrupted the officer—"They are seeking to destroy +those inventions. More than once, of late, we have nipped a plot just +in time." +</P> + +<P> +"Have they really tried to damage the big gun?" asked Tom, referring to +one he had built and set up at Panama. +</P> + +<P> +"They have. And now this fire proves that they are taking other +measures—they are working directly against you." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I wonder?" +</P> + +<P> +"Either to prevent you from making further inventions, or to stop you +from completing your latest—the aerial warship." +</P> + +<P> +"But I didn't know the foreign governments knew about that," Tom +exclaimed. "It was a secret." +</P> + +<P> +"Few secrets are safe from foreign Spies," declared Lieutenant Marbury. +"They have a great ferreting-out system on the other side. We are just +beginning to appreciate it. But our own men have not been idle." +</P> + +<P> +"Have they really learned anything?" Tom asked. "Nothing definite +enough to warrant us in acting," was the answer of the government man. +"But we know enough to let us see that the plot is far-reaching." +</P> + +<P> +"Are the French in it?" asked Ned impulsively. +</P> + +<P> +"The French! Why do you ask that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Tell him about Eradicate, and the man who wanted to buy the mule, +Tom," suggested Ned. +</P> + +<P> +Thereupon the young inventor mentioned the story told by Eradicate. He +also brought out the fire-bomb, and explained his theory as to how it +had operated to set the red shed ablaze. +</P> + +<P> +"I think you are right," said Lieutenant Marbury. "And, as regards the +French, I might say they are not the only nation banded to obtain our +secrets—yours and the government's!" +</P> + +<P> +"But I thought the French and the English were friendly toward us!" Ned +exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"So they are, in a certain measure," the officer went on. "And Russia +is, too. But, in all foreign countries there are two parties, the war +party, as it might be called, and the peace element. +</P> + +<P> +"But I might add that it is neither France, England, nor Russia that we +must fear. It is a certain other great nation, which at present I will +not name." +</P> + +<P> +"And you think spies set this fire?" +</P> + +<P> +"I certainly do." +</P> + +<P> +"But what measures shall I adopt against this plot?" Tom asked. +</P> + +<P> +"We will talk that over," said Lieutenant Marbury. "But, before I go +into details, I want to give you another warning. You must be very +careful about—" +</P> + +<P> +A sudden knock on the door interrupted the speaker. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE RECOIL CHECK +</H3> + +<P> +"Who is that?" asked Ned Newton, with a quick glance at his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," Tom answered. "I left orders we weren't to be disturbed +unless it was something important." +</P> + +<P> +"May be something has happened," suggested the navy officer, "another +fire, perhaps, or a—" +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't a fire," Tom answered. "The automatic alarm would be ringing +before this in that case." +</P> + +<P> +The knock was repeated. Tom went softly to the door and opened it +quickly, to disclose, standing in the corridor, one of the messengers +employed about the shops. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what is it?" asked Tom a bit sharply. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, if you please, Mr. Swift," said the boy, "a man has applied for +work at the main office, and you know you left orders there that if any +machinists came along, we were to—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, so I did," Tom exclaimed. "I had forgotten about that," he went on +to Lieutenant Marbury and Ned. "I am in need of helpers to rush through +the finishing touches on my aerial warship, and I left word, if any +applied, as they often do, coming here from other cities, that I wanted +to see them. How many are there?" Tom asked of the messenger. +</P> + +<P> +"Two, this time. They both say they're good mechanics." +</P> + +<P> +"That's what they all say," interposed Tom, with a smile. "But, though +they may be good mechanics in their own line, they need to have special +qualifications to work on airships. Tell them to wait, Rodney," Tom +went on to the lad, "and I'll see them presently." +</P> + +<P> +As the boy went away, and Tom closed the door, he turned to Lieutenant +Marbury. +</P> + +<P> +"You were about to give me another warning when that interruption came. +You might complete it now." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it was another warning," spoke the officer, "and one I hope you +will heed. It concerns yourself, personally." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean he is in danger?" asked Ned quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"That's exactly what I do mean," was the prompt reply. "In danger of +personal injury, if not something worse." +</P> + +<P> +Tom did not seem as alarmed as he might reasonably have been under the +circumstances. +</P> + +<P> +"Danger, eh?" he repeated coolly. "On the part of whom?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's just where I can't warn you," the officer replied. "I can only +give you that hint, and beg of you to be careful." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean you are not allowed to tell?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed; it isn't that!" the lieutenant hastened to assure the +young man. "I would gladly tell, if I knew. But this plot, like the +other one, directed against the inventions themselves, is so shrouded +in mystery that I cannot get to the bottom of it. +</P> + +<P> +"Our Secret Service men have been working on it for some time, not only +in order to protect you, because of what you have done for the +government, but because Uncle Sam wishes to protect his own property, +especially the searchlight and the big cannon. But, though our agents +have worked hard, they have not been able to get any clues that would +put them on the right trail. +</P> + +<P> +"So we can only warn you to be careful, and this I do in all +earnestness. That was part of my errand in coming here, though, of +course, I am anxious to inspect the new aerial warship you have +constructed. So watch out for two things—your inventions, and, more +than all, your life!" +</P> + +<P> +"Do you really think they would do me bodily harm?" Tom asked, a trifle +skeptical. +</P> + +<P> +"I certainly do. These foreign spies are desperate. If they cannot +secure the use of these inventions to their own country, they are +determined not to let this country have the benefit of them." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'll be careful," Tom promised. "I'm no more anxious than anyone +else to run my head into danger, and I certainly don't want any of my +shops or inventions destroyed. The fire in the red shed was as close as +I want anything to come." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right!" agreed Ned. "And, if there's anything I can do, Tom, +don't hesitate to call on me." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, old man. I won't forget. And now, perhaps, you would like +to see the Mars," he said to the lieutenant. +</P> + +<P> +"I certainly would," was the ready answer. "But hadn't you better see +those men who are waiting to find out about positions here?" +</P> + +<P> +"There's no hurry about them," Tom said. "We have applicants every day, +and it's earlier than the hour when I usually see them. They can wait. +Now I want your opinion on my new craft. But, you must remember that +it is not yet completed, and only recently did I begin to solve the +problem of mounting the guns. So be a little easy with your +criticisms." +</P> + +<P> +Followed by Ned and Lieutenant Marbury, Tom led the way into the big +airship shed. There, swaying about at its moorings, was the immense +aerial warship. To Ned's eyes it looked complete enough, but, when Tom +pointed out the various parts, and explained to the government officer +how it was going to work, Ned understood that considerable yet remained +to be done on it. +</P> + +<P> +Tom showed his official guest how a new system of elevation and +depressing rudders had been adopted, how a new type of propeller was to +be used and indicated several other improvements. The lower, or cabin, +part of the aircraft could be entered by mounting a short ladder from +the ground, and Tom took Ned and Lieutenant Marbury through the +engine-room and other compartments of the Mars. +</P> + +<P> +"It certainly is most complete," the officer observed. "And when you +get the guns mounted I shall be glad to make an official test. You +understand," he went on, to Tom, "that we are vitally interested in the +guns, since we now have many aircraft that can be used purely for +scouting purposes. What we want is something for offense, a veritable +naval terror of the seas." +</P> + +<P> +"I understand," Tom answered. "And I am going to begin work on mounting +the guns at once. I am going to use the Newton recoil check," he added. +"Ned, here, is responsible for that." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that so?" asked the lieutenant, as Tom clapped his chum on the back. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's his invention." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it isn't anything of the sort," Ned objected. "I just—" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, he just happened to solve the problem for me!" interrupted Tom, +as he told the story of the door-spring. +</P> + +<P> +"A good idea!" commented Lieutenant Marbury. +</P> + +<P> +Tom then briefly described the principle on which his aerial warship +would work, explaining how the lifting gas would raise it, with its +load of crew, guns and explosives, high into the air; how it could then +be sent ahead, backward, to either side, or around in a circle, by +means of the propellers and the rudders, and how it could be raised or +lowered, either by rudders or by forcing more gas into the lifting +bags, or by letting some of the vapor out. +</P> + +<P> +And, while this was being done by the pilot or captain in charge, the +crew could be manning the guns with which hostile airships would be +attacked, and bombs dropped on the forts or battleships of the enemy. +</P> + +<P> +"It seems very complete," observed the lieutenant. "I shall be glad +when I can give it an official test." +</P> + +<P> +"Which ought to be in about a week," Tom said. "Meanwhile I shall be +glad if you will be my guest here." +</P> + +<P> +And so that was arranged. +</P> + +<P> +Leaving Ned and the lieutenant to entertain each other, Tom went to see +the mechanics who had applied for places. He found them satisfactory +and engaged them. One of them had worked for him before. The other was +a stranger, but he had been employed in a large aeroplane factory, and +brought good recommendations. +</P> + +<P> +There followed busy days at the Swift plant, and work was pushed on the +aerial warship. The hardest task was the mounting of the guns, and +equipping them with the recoil check, without which it would be +impossible to fire them with the craft sailing through the air. +</P> + +<P> +But finally one of the big guns, and two of the smaller ones were in +place, with the apparatus designed to reduce the recoil shock, and then +Tom decided to have a test of the Mars. +</P> + +<P> +"Up in the air, do you mean?" asked Ned, who was spending all his spare +time with his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, a little way up in the air, at least," Tom answered. "I'll make +a sort of captive balloon of my craft, and see how she behaves. I don't +want to take too many chances with that new recoil check, though it +seems to work perfectly in theory." +</P> + +<P> +The day came when, for the first time, the Mars was to come out of the +big shed where she had been constructed. The craft was not completed +for a flight as yet, but could be made so in a few days, with rush +work. The roof of the great shed slid back, and the big envelope +containing the buoyant gas rose slowly upward. There was a cry of +surprise from the many workmen in the yard, as they saw, most of them +for the first time, the wonderful new craft. It did not go up very +high, being held in place with anchor ropes. +</P> + +<P> +The sun glistened on the bright brass and nickel parts, and glinted +from the gleaming barrels of the quick-firing guns. +</P> + +<P> +"That's enough!" Tom called to the men below, who were paying out the +ropes from the windlasses. "Hold her there." +</P> + +<P> +Tom, Ned, Lieutenant Marbury and Mr. Damon were aboard the captive Mars. +</P> + +<P> +Looking about, to see that all was in readiness, Tom gave orders to +load the guns, blank charges being used, of course. +</P> + +<P> +The recoil apparatus was in place, and it now remained to see if it +would do the work for which it was designed. +</P> + +<P> +"All ready?" asked the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my accident insurance policy!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I'm as +ready as ever I shall be, Tom. Let 'em go!" +</P> + +<P> +"Hold fast!" cried Tom, as he prepared to press the electrical switch +which would set off the guns. Ned and Lieutenant Marbury stood near the +indicators to notice how much of the recoil would be neutralized by the +check apparatus. +</P> + +<P> +"Here we go!" cried the young inventor, and, at the same moment, from +down below on the ground, came a warning cry: +</P> + +<P> +"Don't shoot, Massa Tom. Don't shoot! Mah mule, Boomerang—" +</P> + +<P> +But Eradicate had spoken too late. Tom pressed the switch; there was a +deafening crash, a spurt of flame, and then followed wild cries and +confused shouts, while the echoes of the reports rolled about the hills +surrounding Shopton. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE NEW MEN +</H3> + +<P> +"What was the matter down there?" +</P> + +<P> +"Was anyone hurt?" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't forget to look at those pressure gauges!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my ham sandwich!" +</P> + +<P> +Thus came the cries from those aboard the captive Mars. Ned, Lieutenant +Marbury and Tom had called out in the order named. And, of course, I +do not need to tell you what remark Mr. Damon made. Tom glanced toward +where Ned and the government man stood, and saw that they had made +notes of the pressure recorded on the recoil checks directly after the +guns were fired. Mr. Damon, blessing innumerable objects under his +breath, was looking over the side of the rail to discover the cause of +the commotion and cries of warning from below. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe it was anything serious, Tom," said the odd man. "No +one seems to be hurt." "Look at Eradicate!" suddenly exclaimed Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"And his mule! I guess that's what the trouble was, Tom!" +</P> + +<P> +They looked to where the young bank employee pointed, and saw the old +colored man, seated on the seat of his ramshackle wagon, doing his best +to pull down to a walk the big galloping mule, which was dragging the +vehicle around in a circle. +</P> + +<P> +"Whoa, dere!" Eradicate was shouting, as he pulled on the lines. "Whoa, +dere! Dat's jest laik yo', Boomerang, t' run when dere ain't no call +fo' it, nohow! Ef I done wanted yo' t' git a move on, yo'd lay down +'side de road an' go to sleep. Whoa, now!" +</P> + +<P> +But the noise of the shots had evidently frightened the long-eared +animal, and he was in no mood for stopping, now that he had once +started. It was not until some of the workmen ran out from the group +where they had gathered to watch Tom's test, and got in front of +Boomerang, that they succeeded in bringing him to a halt. +</P> + +<P> +Eradicate climbed slowly down from the seat, and limped around until he +stood in front of his pet. +</P> + +<P> +"Yo'—yo're a nice one, ain't yo'?" he demanded in sarcastic tones. +"Yo' done enough runnin' in a few minutes fo' a week ob Sundays, an' +now I won't be able t' git a move out ob ye! I'se ashamed ob yo', dat's +what I is! Puffickly ashamed ob yo'. Go 'long, now, an' yo' won't git +no oats dish yeah day! No sah!" and, highly indignant, Eradicate led +the now slowly-ambling mule off to the stable. +</P> + +<P> +"I won't shoot again until you have him shut up, Rad!" laughed Tom. "I +didn't know you were so close when I set off those guns." +</P> + +<P> +"Dat's all right, Massa Tom," was the reply. "I done called t' you t' +wait, but yo' didn't heah me, I 'spects. But it doan't mattah, now. +Shoot all yo' laik, Boomerang won't run any mo' dis week. He done +runned his laigs off now. Shoot away!" +</P> + +<P> +But Tom was not quite ready to do this. He wanted to see what effect +the first shots had had on his aerial warship, and to learn whether or +not the newly devised recoil check had done what was expected of it. +</P> + +<P> +"No more shooting right away," called the young inventor. "I want to +see how we made out with the first round. How did she check up, Ned?" +</P> + +<P> +"Fine, as far as I can tell." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, indeed," added Lieutenant Marbury. "The recoil was hardly +noticeable, though, of course, with the full battery of guns in use, it +might be more so." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope not," answered Tom. "I haven't used the full strength of the +recoil check yet. I can tune it up more, and when I do, and when I have +it attached to all the guns, big and little, I think we'll do the +trick. But now for a harder test." +</P> + +<P> +The rest of that day was spent in trying out the guns, firing them with +practice and service charges, though none of the shells used contained +projectiles. It would not have been possible to shoot these, with the +Mars held in place in the midst of Tom's factory buildings. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, is she a success, Tom?" asked Ned, when the experimenting was +over for the time being. +</P> + +<P> +"I think I can say so—yes," was the answer, with a questioning look at +the officer. +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed it is—a great success! We must give the Newton shock absorber +due credit." +</P> + +<P> +Ned blushed with pleasure. +</P> + +<P> +"It was only my suggestion," he said. "Tom worked it all out." +</P> + +<P> +"But I needed the suggestion to start with," the young inventor replied. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course something may develop when you take your craft high in the +air, and discharge the guns there," said the lieutenant. "In a +rarefied atmosphere the recoil check may not be as effective as at the +earth's surface. But, in such case doubtless, you can increase the +strength of the springs and the hydrostatic valves." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I counted on that," Tom explained. "I shall have to work out that +formula, though, and be ready for it. But, on the whole, I am pretty +well satisfied." +</P> + +<P> +"And indeed you may well feel that way," commented the government +official. +</P> + +<P> +The Mars was hauled back into the shed, and the roof slid shut over the +craft. Much yet remained to do on it, but now that Tom was sure the +important item of armament was taken care of, he could devote his +entire time to the finishing touches. +</P> + +<P> +As his plant was working on several other pieces of machinery, some of +it for the United States Government, and some designed for his own use, +Tom found himself obliged to hire several new hands. An advertisement +in a New York newspaper brought a large number of replies, and for a +day or two Tom was kept busy sifting out the least desirable, and +arranging to see those whose answers showed they knew something of the +business requirements. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Lieutenant Marbury remained as Tom's guest, and was helpful +in making suggestions that would enable the young inventor to meet the +government's requirements. +</P> + +<P> +"I'd like, also, to get on the track of those spies who, I am sure, +wish to do you harm," said the lieutenant, "but clues seem to be scarce +around here." +</P> + +<P> +"They are, indeed," agreed Tom. "I guess the way in which we handled +that fire in the red shed sort of discouraged them." +</P> + +<P> +Lieutenant Marbury shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"They're not so easily discouraged as that," he remarked. "And, with +the situation in Europe growing more acute every day, I am afraid some +of those foreigners will take desperate measures to gain their ends." +</P> + +<P> +"What particular ends do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I think they will either try to so injure you that you will not +be able to finish this aerial warship, or they will damage the craft +itself, steal your plans, or damage some of your other inventions." +</P> + +<P> +"But what object would they have in doing such a thing?" Tom wanted to +know. "How would that help France, Germany or Russia, to do me an +injury?" +</P> + +<P> +"They are seeking to strike at the United States through you," was the +answer. "They don't want Uncle Sam to have such formidable weapons as +your great searchlight, the giant cannon, or this new warship of the +clouds." +</P> + +<P> +"But why not, as long as the United States does not intend to go to war +with any of the foreign nations?" Tom inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"No, it is true we do not intend to go to war with any of the +conflicting European nations," admitted Lieutenant Marbury, "but you +have no idea how jealous each of those foreign nations is of all the +others. Each one fears that the United States will cease to be neutral, +and will aid one or the other." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, so that's it?" exclaimed Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, each nation, which may, at a moments notice, be drawn into a war +with one or more rival nations, fears that we may throw in our lot with +its enemies." +</P> + +<P> +"And, to prevent that, they want to destroy some of my inventions?" +asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"That's the way I believe it will work out. So you must be careful, +especially since you have taken on so many new men." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," agreed the young inventor. "I have had to engage more +strangers than ever before, for I am anxious to get the Mars finished +and give it a good test. And, now that you have mentioned it, there are +some of those men of whom I am a bit suspicious." +</P> + +<P> +"Have they done anything to make you feel that way?" asked the +lieutenant. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, not exactly; it is more their bearing, and the manner in which +they go about the works. I must keep my eye on them, for it takes only +a few discontented men to spoil a whole shop full. I will be on my +guard." +</P> + +<P> +"And not only about your new airship and other inventions," said the +officer, "but about yourself, personally. Will you do that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, though I don't imagine anything like that will happen." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, be on your guard, at all events," warned Lieutenant Marbury. +</P> + +<P> +As Tom had said, he had been obliged to hire a number of new men. Some +of these were machinists who had worked for him, or his father, on +previous occasions, and, when tasks were few, had been dismissed, to go +to other shops. These men, Tom felt sure, could be relied upon. +</P> + +<P> +But there were a number of others, from New York, and other large +cities, of whom Tom was not so sure. +</P> + +<P> +"You have more foreigners than I ever knew you to hire before, Tom," +his father said to him one day, coming back from a tour of the shops. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I have quite a number," Tom admitted. "But they are all good +workmen. They stood the test." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, some of them are too good," observed the older inventor. "I saw +one of them making up a small motor the other day, and he was winding +the armature a new way. I spoke to him about it, and he tried to prove +that his way was an improvement on yours. Why, he'd have had it +short-circuited in no time if I hadn't stopped him." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that so?" asked Tom. "That is news to me. I must look into this." +</P> + +<P> +"Are any of the new men employed on the Mars?" Mr. Swift asked. +</P> + +<P> +"No, not yet, but I shall have to shift some there from other work I +think, in order to get finished on time." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, they will bear watching I think," his father said. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, have you seen anything—do you—" began the young man, for Mr. +Swift had not been told of the suspicions of the lieutenant. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it isn't anything special," the older inventor went on. "Only I +wouldn't let a man I didn't know much about get too much knowledge of +my latest invention." +</P> + +<P> +"I won't, Dad. Thanks for telling me. This latest craft is sure going +to be a beauty." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you think it will work, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure of it, Dad!" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Swift shook his head in doubt. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A DAY OFF +</H3> + +<P> +Tom Swift pondered long and intently over what his father had said to +him. He sat for several minutes in his private office, after the aged +inventor had passed out, reviewing in his mind the talk just finished. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder," said Tom slowly, "if any of the new men could have obtained +work here for the purpose of furthering that plot the lieutenant +suspects? I wonder if that could be true?" +</P> + +<P> +And the more Tom thought of it, the more he was convinced that such a +thing was at least possible. +</P> + +<P> +"I must make a close inspection, and weed out any suspicious +characters," he decided, "though I need every man I have working now, +to get the Mars finished in time. Yes, I must look into this." +</P> + +<P> +Tom had reached a point in his work where he could leave much to his +helpers. He had several good foremen, and, with his father to take +general supervision over more important details, the young inventor had +more time to himself. Of course he did not lay too many burdens on his +father's shoulders since Mr. Swift's health was not of the best. +</P> + +<P> +But Tom's latest idea, the aerial warship, was so well on toward +completion that his presence was not needed in that shop more than two +or three times a day. +</P> + +<P> +"When I'm not there I'll go about in the other shops, and sort of size +up the situation," he decided. "I may be able to get a line on some of +those plotters, if there are any here." +</P> + +<P> +Lieutenant Marbury had departed for a time, to look after some personal +matters, but he was to return inside of a week, when it was hoped to +give the aerial warship its first real test in flight, and under some +of the conditions that it would meet with in actual warfare. +</P> + +<P> +As Tom was about to leave his office, to put into effect his new +resolution to make a casual inspection of the other shops, he met Koku, +the giant, coming in. Koku's hands and face were black with oil and +machine filings. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what have you been doing?" Tom wanted to know. "Did you have an +accident?" For Koku had no knowledge of machinery, and could not even +be trusted to tighten up a simple nut by himself. But if some one +stood near him, and directed him how to apply his enormous strength, +Koku could do more than several machines. +</P> + +<P> +"No accident, Master," he replied. "I help man lift that hammer-hammer +thing that pounds so. It get stuck!" +</P> + +<P> +"What, the hammer of the drop forger?" cried Tom. "Was that out of +order again?" +</P> + +<P> +"Him stuck," explained Koku simply. +</P> + +<P> +There was an automatic trip-hammer in one of the shops, used for +pounding out drop forgings, and this hammer seemed to take especial +delight in getting out of order. Very often it jammed, or "stuck," as +Koku described it, and if the hammer could not be forced back on the +channel or upright guide-plates, it meant that it must be taken apart, +and valuable time lost. Once Koku had been near when the hammer got out +of order, and while the workmen were preparing to dismantle it, the +giant seized the big block of steel, and with a heave of his mighty +shoulders forced it back on the guides. +</P> + +<P> +"And is that what you did this time?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Master. Me fix hammer," Koku answered. "I get dirty, I no care. +Man say I no can fix. I show him I can!" +</P> + +<P> +"What man said that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Man who run hammer. Ha! I lift him by one finger! He say he no like to +work on hammer. He want to work on airship. I tell him I tell you, +maybe you give him job—he baby! Koku can work hammer. Me fix it when +it get stuck." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, maybe you know what you're talking about, but I don't," said +Tom, with a pleasant smile at his big helper. "Come on, Koku, we'll go +see what it all means." +</P> + +<P> +"Koku work hammer, maybe?" asked the giant hope fully. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'll see," half promised Tom. "If it's going to get out of gear +all the while it might pay me to keep you at it so you could get it +back in place whenever it kicked up a fuss, and so save time. I'll see +about it." +</P> + +<P> +Koku led the way to the shop where the triphammer was installed. It was +working perfectly now, as Tom could tell by the thundering blows it +struck. The man operating it looked up as Tom approached, and, at a +gesture from the young inventor, shut off the power. +</P> + +<P> +"Been having trouble here?" asked Tom, noting that the workman was one +of the new hands he had hired. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, a little," was the respectful answer. "This hammer goes on a +strike every now and then, and gets jammed. Your giant there forced it +back into place, which is more than I could do with a big bar for a +lever. He sure has some muscle." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," agreed Tom, "he's pretty strong. But what's this you said about +wanting to give up this job, and go on the airship construction." +</P> + +<P> +The man turned red under his coat of grime. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't intend him to repeat that to you, Mr. Swift," he said. "I was +a little put out at the way this hammer worked. I lose so much time at +it that I said I'd like to be transferred to the airship department. +I've worked in one before. But I'm not making a kick," he added quickly. +"Work is too scarce for that." +</P> + +<P> +"I understand," said Tom. "I have been thinking of making a change. +Koku seems to like this hammer, and knows how to get it in order once +it gets off the guides. You say you have had experience in airship +construction?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir. I've worked on the engines, and on the planes." +</P> + +<P> +"Know anything about dirigible balloons?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I've worked on them, too, but the engineering part is my +specialty. I'm a little out of my element on a trip-hammer." +</P> + +<P> +"I see. Well, perhaps I'll give you a trial. Meanwhile you might break +Koku in on operating this machine. If I transfer you I'll put him on +this hammer." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, Mr. Swift! I'll show him all I know about it. Oh, there +goes the hammer again!" he exclaimed, for, as he started it up, as Tom +turned away, the big piece of steel once more jammed on the +channel-plates. +</P> + +<P> +"Me fix!" exclaimed the giant eagerly, anxious for a chance to exhibit +his great strength. +</P> + +<P> +"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Tom. "I want to get a look at that machine." +</P> + +<P> +He inspected it carefully before he signaled for Koku to force the +hammer back into place. But, if Tom saw anything suspicious, he said +nothing. There was, however, a queer look on his face as he turned +aside, and he murmured to himself, as he walked away: +</P> + +<P> +"So you want to be transferred to the airship department, do you? Well, +we'll see about that. We'll see." +</P> + +<P> +Tom had more problems to solve than those of making an aerial warship +that would be acceptable to the United States Government. +</P> + +<P> +Ned Newton called on his chum that evening. The two talked of many +things, gradually veering around to the subject uppermost in Tom's +mind—his new aircraft. +</P> + +<P> +"You're thinking too much of that." Ned warned him. "You're as bad as +the time you went for your first flight." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose I am," admitted Tom. "But the success of the Mars means a +whole lot to me. And that's something I nearly forgot. I've got to go +out to the shop now. Want to come along, Ned?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sure, though I tell you that you're working too hard—burning the +electric light at both ends." +</P> + +<P> +"This is just something simple," Tom said. "It won't take long." +</P> + +<P> +He went out, followed by his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"But this isn't the way to the airship shed," objected the young bank +clerk, as he noted in which direction Tom was leading him. +</P> + +<P> +"I know it isn't," Tom replied. "But I want to look at one of the +trip-hammers in the forge shop when none of the men is around. I've +been having a little trouble there." +</P> + +<P> +"Trouble!" exclaimed his chum. "Has that plot Lieutenant Marbury spoke +of developed?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not exactly. This is something else," and Tom told of the trouble with +the big hammer. +</P> + +<P> +"I had an idea," the young inventor said, "that the man at the machine +let it get out of order purposely, so I'd change him. I want to see if +my suspicions are correct." +</P> + +<P> +Tom carefully inspected the hammer by the light of a powerful portable +electric lamp Ned held. +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! There it is!" Tom suddenly exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"Something wrong?" Ned inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. This is what's been throwing the hammer off the guides all the +while," and Tom pulled out a small steel bolt that had been slipped +into an oil hole. A certain amount of vibration, he explained to Ned, +would rattle the bolt out so that it would force the hammer to one +side, throwing it off the channel-plates, and rendering it useless for +the time being. +</P> + +<P> +"A foxy trick," commented Tom. "No wonder the machine got out of kilter +so easily." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think it was done purposely?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm not going to say. But I'm going to watch that man. He +wants to be transferred to the airship department. He put this in the +hammer, perhaps, to have an excuse for a change. Well, I'll give it to +him." +</P> + +<P> +"You don't mean that you'd take a fellow like that and put him to work +on your new aerial warship, do you, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I think I will, Ned. You see, I look at it this way: I haven't +any real proof against him now. He could only laugh at me if I accused +him. But you've heard the proverb about giving a calf rope enough and +he'll hang himself, haven't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think I have." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm going to give this fellow a little rope. I'll transfer him, +as he asks, and I'll keep a close watch on him." +</P> + +<P> +"But won't it be risky?" +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps, but no more so than leaving him in here to work mischief. If +he is hatching a plot, the sooner it's over with the better I shall +like it. I don't like a shot to hang fire. I'm warned now, and I'll be +ready for him. I have a line on whom to suspect. This is the first +clue," and Tom held up the incriminating bolt. +</P> + +<P> +"I think you're taking too big a risk, Tom," his chum said. "Why not +discharge the man?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because that might only smooth things over for a time. If this plot is +being laid the sooner it comes to a head, and breaks, the better. Have +it done, short, sharp and quick, is my motto. Yes, I'll shift him in +the morning. Oh, but I wish it was all over, and the Mars was accepted +by Uncle Sam!" and Tom put his hand to his head with a tired gesture. +</P> + +<P> +"Say, old man!" exclaimed Ned, "what you want is a day off, and I'm +going to see that you get it. You need a little vacation." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps I do," assented Tom wearily. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you'll have it!" cried Ned. "There's going to be a little picnic +to-morrow. Why can't you go with Mary Nestor? She'd like you to take +her, I'm sure. Her cousin, Helen Randall, is on from New York, and she +wants to go, also." +</P> + +<P> +"How do you know?" asked Tom quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"Because she said so," laughed Ned. "I was over to the house to call. I +have met Helen before, and I suggested that you and I would take the +two girls, and have a day off. You'll come, won't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't know," spoke Tom slowly. "I ought to—" +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense! Give up work for one day!" urged Ned. "Come along. It'll do +you good—get the cobwebs out of your head." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, I'll go," assented Tom, after a moment's thought. +</P> + +<P> +The next day, having instructed his father and the foremen to look well +to the various shops, and having seen that the work on the new aerial +warship was progressing favorably, Tom left for a day's outing with his +chum and the two girls. +</P> + +<P> +The picnic was held in a grove that surrounded a small lake, and after +luncheon the four friends went for a ride in a launch Tom hired. They +went to the upper end of the lake, in rather a pretty but lonesome +locality. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom, you look tired," said Mary. "I'm sure you've been working too +hard!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I'm not working any harder than usual," Tom insisted. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, he is, too!" declared Ned, "and he's running more chances, too." +</P> + +<P> +"Chances?" repeated Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that's all bosh!" laughed Tom. "Come on, let's go ashore and walk." +</P> + +<P> +"That suits me," spoke Ned. Helen and Mary assented, and soon the four +young persons were strolling through the shady wood. +</P> + +<P> +After a bit the couples became separated, and Tom found himself walking +beside Mary in a woodland path. The girl glanced at her companion's +face, and ventured: +</P> + +<P> +"A penny for your thoughts, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"They're worth more than that," he replied gallantly. "I was thinking +of—you." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, how nicely you say it!" she laughed. "But I know better! You're +puzzling over some problem. Tell me, what did Ned mean when he hinted +at danger? Is there any, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"None at all," he assured her. "It's just a sort of notion—" +</P> + +<P> +Mary made a sudden gesture of silence. +</P> + +<P> +"Hark!" she whispered to Tom, "I heard someone mention your name then. +Listen!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A NIGHT ALARM +</H3> + +<P> +Mary Nestor spoke with such earnestness, and her action in catching +hold of Tom's arm to enjoin silence was so pronounced that, though he +had at first regarded the matter in the light of a joke, he soon +thought otherwise. He glanced from the girl's face to the dense +underbrush on either side of the woodland path. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it, Mary?" he asked in a whisper. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't just know. I heard whispering, and thought it was the rustling +of the leaves of the trees. Then someone spoke your name quite loudly. +Didn't you hear it?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom shook his head in negation. +</P> + +<P> +"It may be Ned and his friend," he whispered, his lips close to Mary's +ear. +</P> + +<P> +"I think not," was her answer. "Listen; there it is again." +</P> + +<P> +Distinctly then, Tom heard, from some opening in the screen of bushes, +his own name spoken. "Did you hear it?" asked Mary, barely forming the +words with her lips. But Tom could read their motion. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," he nodded. Then, motioning to Mary to remain where she was, he +stepped forward, taking care to tread only on grassy places where there +were no little twigs or branches to break and betray his presence. He +was working his way toward the sound of the unseen voice. +</P> + +<P> +There was a sudden movement in the bushes, just beyond the spot Tom was +making for. He halted quickly and peered ahead. Mary, too, was looking +on anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +Tom saw the forms of two men, partially concealed by bushes, walking +away from him. The men took no pains to conceal their movements, so Tom +was emboldened to advance with less caution. He hurried to where he +could get a good view, and, at the sight of one of the men, he uttered +an exclamation. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Mary, who was now at his side. She had seen that +Tom had thrown aside caution, and she had come up to join him. +</P> + +<P> +"That man—I know him!" the young inventor exclaimed. "It is +Feldman—the one who wanted to be changed from the trip-hammer to the +airship department. But who is that with him?" +</P> + +<P> +As Tom spoke the other turned, and at the sight of his face Mary Nestor +said: +</P> + +<P> +"He looks like a Frenchman, with that little mustache and imperial." +</P> + +<P> +"So he is!" exclaimed Tom, in a hoarse whisper. "He must be the +Frenchman that Eradicate spoke about. I wonder what this can mean? I +didn't know Feldman had left the shop." +</P> + +<P> +"You may know what you're talking about, but I don't, Tom," said Mary, +with a smile at her companion. "Are they friends of yours?" +</P> + +<P> +"Hardly," spoke the young inventor dryly. "That one, Feldman, is one of +my workmen. He had charge of a drop-forge press and trip-hammer that—" +</P> + +<P> +"Spare me the details, Tom!" interrupted Mary. "You know I don't +understand a thing about machinery. The wireless you erected on +Earthquake Island was as much as I could comprehend." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, a trip-hammer isn't as complicated as that," spoke Tom, with a +laugh, as he noticed that the two men were far enough away so they +could not hear him. "What I was going to say was, that one of those men +works in our shops. The other I don't know, but I agree with you that +he does look like a Frenchman, and old Eradicate had a meeting with a +man whom he described as being of that nationality." +</P> + +<P> +"And you say they are not friends of yours?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have no reason to believe they are." +</P> + +<P> +"Then they must be enemies!" exclaimed Mary with quick intuition. "Oh, +Tom, you will be careful, won't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I will, little girl," he said, a note of fondness creeping +into his voice, as he covered the small hand with his own large one. +"But there is no danger." +</P> + +<P> +"Then why were these men discussing you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know that they were, Mary." +</P> + +<P> +"They mentioned your name." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that may be. Probably one of them, Feldman, who works for me, +was speaking to his companion about the chance for a position. My +father and I employ a number of men, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I suppose it is all right, Tom, and I surely hope it is. But +you will be careful, won't you? And you look more worried than you +used to. Has anything gone wrong?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not a thing, little girl. Everything is going fine. My new aerial +warship will soon make a trial flight, and I'd be pleased to have you +as a passenger." +</P> + +<P> +"Would you really, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course. Consider that you have the first invitation." +</P> + +<P> +"That's awfully nice of you. But you do look worried, Tom. Has anything +troubled you?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, not much. Everything is going all right now. We did have a little +trouble at a fire in one of my buildings—" +</P> + +<P> +"A fire! Oh, Tom! You never told me!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it didn't amount to much—the only suspicious fact about it was +that it seemed to have been of incendiary origin." +</P> + +<P> +Mary seemed much alarmed, and again begged Tom to be on his guard, +which he promised to do. Had Mary known the warnings uttered by +Lieutenant Marbury she might have had more occasion for worry. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you suppose that hammer man of yours came to these woods to meet +that Frenchman and talk about you, Tom?" asked his companion, when the +two men had strolled out of sight, and the young people were on their +way back to the launch. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's possible. I have been warned that foreign spies are trying +to get hold of some of my patents, and also to hamper the government in +the use of some others I have sold. But they'll have their own troubles +to get away with anything. The works are pretty well guarded, and you +forget I have the giant, Koku, who is almost a personal bodyguard." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but he can't be everywhere at once. Oh, you will be careful, +won't you, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Mary, I will," promised the young inventor. "But don't say +anything to Ned about what we just saw and heard." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because he's been at me to hire a couple of detectives to watch over +me, and this would give him another excuse. Just don't say anything, +and I'll adopt all the precautions I think are needful." +</P> + +<P> +"I will on condition that you do that." +</P> + +<P> +"And I promise I will." +</P> + +<P> +With that Mary had to be content. A little later they joined Ned and +his friend, and soon they were moving swiftly down the lake in the +launch. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, hasn't it done you good to take a day off?" Ned demanded of his +chum, when they were on their homeward way. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I think it has," agreed Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"You swung your thoughts into a new channel, didn't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I found something new to think about," admitted the young +inventor, with a quick look at Mary. +</P> + +<P> +But, though Tom thus passed off lightly the little incident of the day, +he gave it serious thought when he was alone. +</P> + +<P> +"Those fellows were certainly talking about me," he reasoned. "I +wonder what for? And Feldman left the shop without my knowledge. I'll +have to look into that. I wonder if that Frenchy looking chap I saw was +the one who tried to pump Eradicate? Another point to settle." +</P> + +<P> +The last was easily disposed of, for, on reaching his shops that +afternoon, Tom cross-questioned the colored man, and obtained a most +accurate description of the odd foreigner. It tallied in every detail +with the man Tom had seen in the woods. +</P> + +<P> +"And now about Feldman," mused Tom, as he went to the foreman of the +shop where the suspected man had been employed. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Feldman asked for a day off," the foreman said in response to +Tom's question. "He claimed his mother was sick, and he wanted to go to +see her. I knew you wouldn't object, as we were not rushed in his +department." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that's all right," said Tom quickly. "Did he say where his mother +lived?" +</P> + +<P> +"Over Lafayette way." +</P> + +<P> +"Humph!" murmured Tom. To himself he added: "Queer that he should be +near Lake Loraine, in an opposite direction from Lafayette. This will +bear an investigation." +</P> + +<P> +The next day Tom made it his business to pass near the hammer that was +so frequently out of order. He found Feldman busy instructing Koku in +its operation. Tom resolved on a little strategy. +</P> + +<P> +"How is it working, Feldman?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, Mr. Swift. There doesn't seem to be any trouble at all, but +it may happen any minute. Koku seems to take to it like a duck to +water." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, when he is ready to assume charge let me know." +</P> + +<P> +"And then am I to go into the aeroplane shop?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll see. By the way, how is your mother?" he asked quickly, looking +Feldman full in the face. +</P> + +<P> +"She is much better. I took a day off yesterday to go to see her," the +man replied quietly enough, and without sign of embarrassment. +</P> + +<P> +"That's good. Let me see, she lives over near Lake Loraine, doesn't +she?" +</P> + +<P> +This time Feldman could not repress a start. But he covered it +admirably by stooping over to pick up a tool that fell to the floor. +</P> + +<P> +"No, my mother is in Lafayette," he said. "I don't know where Lake +Loraine is." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh," said Tom, as he turned aside to hide a smile. He was sure now he +knew at least one of the plotters. +</P> + +<P> +But Tom was not yet ready to show his hand. He wanted better evidence +than any he yet possessed. It would take a little more time. +</P> + +<P> +Work on the aerial warship was rushed, and it seemed likely that a +trial flight could be made before the date set. Lieutenant Marbury sent +word that he would be on hand when needed, and in some of the shops, +where fittings for the Mars were being made, night and day shifts were +working. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if everything goes well, we'll take her for a trial flight +to-morrow," said Tom, coming in from the shops one evening. +</P> + +<P> +"Guns and all?" asked Ned, who had come over to pay his chum a visit. +Mr. Damon was also on hand, invoking occasional blessings. +</P> + +<P> +"Guns and all," replied Tom. +</P> + +<P> +Ned had a little vacation from the bank, and was to stay all night, as +was Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +What time it was, save that it must be near midnight, Tom could not +tell, but he was suddenly awakened by hearing yells from Eradicate: +</P> + +<P> +"Massa Tom! Massa Tom!" yelled the excited colored man. "Git up! Git +up! Suffin' turrible am happenin' in de balloon shop. Hurry! An' yo' +stan' still, Boomerang, or I'll twist yo' tail, dat's what I will! +Hurry, Massa Tom!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom leaped out of bed. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE CAPTURE +</H3> + +<P> +Tom Swift was something like a fireman. He had lived so long in an +atmosphere of constant alarms and danger, that he was always ready for +almost any emergency. His room was equipped with the end in view that +he could act promptly and effectively. +</P> + +<P> +So, when he heard Eradicate's alarm, though he wondered what the old +colored man was doing out of bed at that hour, Tom did not stop to +reason out that puzzle. He acted quickly. +</P> + +<P> +His first care was to throw on the main switch, connected with a big +storage battery, and to which were attached the wires of the lighting +system. This at once illuminated every shop in the plant, and also the +grounds themselves. Tom wanted to see what was going on. The use of a +storage battery eliminated the running of the dynamo all night. +</P> + +<P> +And once he had done this, Tom began pulling on some clothes and a pair +of shoes. At the same time he reached out with one hand and pressed a +button that sounded an alarm in the sleeping quarters of Koku, the +giant, and in the rooms of some of the older and most trusted men. +</P> + +<P> +All this while Eradicate was shouting away, down in the yard. +</P> + +<P> +"Massa Tom! Massa Tom!" he called. "Hurry! Hurry! Dey is killin' Koku!" +</P> + +<P> +"Killing Koku!" exclaimed Tom, as he finished his hasty dressing. "Then +my giant must already be in the fracas. I wonder what it's all about, +anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +"What's up, Tom?" came Ned's voice from the adjoining room. "I thought +I heard a noise." +</P> + +<P> +"Your thoughts do you credit, Ned!" Tom answered. "If you listen right +close, you'll hear several noises." +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove! You're right, old man!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom could hear his chum bound out of bed to the floor, and, at the same +time, from the big shed where Tom was building his aerial warship came +a series of yells and shouts. +</P> + +<P> +"That's Koku's voice!" Tom exclaimed, as he recognized the tones of the +giant. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm coming, Tom!" Ned informed his chum. "Wait a minute." +</P> + +<P> +"No time to wait," Tom replied, buttoning his coat as he sped down the +hall. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Tom, what is it?" asked Mrs. Baggert, the housekeeper, looking +from her room. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know. But don't let dad get excited, no matter what happens. +Just put him off until I come back. I think it isn't anything serious." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon, who roomed next to Ned, came out of his own apartment +partially dressed. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my suspenders!" he cried to Tom, those articles just then +dangling over his hips. "What is it? What has happened? Bless my steam +gauge, don't tell me it's a fire!" +</P> + +<P> +"I think it isn't that," Tom answered. "No alarm has rung. Koku seems +to be in trouble." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he's big enough to look after himself, that's one consolation," +chuckled Mr. Damon. "I'll be right with you." +</P> + +<P> +By this time Ned had run out into the hall, and, together, he and Tom +sped down the corridor. They could not hear the shouts of Eradicate so +plainly now, as he was on the other side of the house. +</P> + +<P> +But when the two young men reached the front porch, they could hear the +yells given with redoubled vigor. And, in the glare of the electric +lights, Tom saw Eradicate leading along Boomerang, the old mule. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it, Rad? What is it?" demanded the young inventor breathlessly. +</P> + +<P> +"Trouble, Massa Tom! Dat's what it am! Trouble!" +</P> + +<P> +"I know that—but what kind?" +</P> + +<P> +"De worstest kind, I 'spects, Massa Tom. Listen to it!" +</P> + +<P> +From the interior of the big shed, not far from the house, Tom and Ned +heard a confused jumble of shouts, cries and pleadings, mingled with +the rattle of pieces of metal, and the banging of bits of wood. And, +above all that, like the bellowing of a bull, was noted the rumbling +voice of Koku, the giant. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, Ned!" Tom cried. +</P> + +<P> +"It's suah trouble, all right," went on Eradicate. "Mah mule, +Boomerang, had a touch ob de colic, an' I got up t' gib him some hot +drops an' walk him around, when I heard de mostest terrific +racket-sound, and den I 'spected trouble was comm." +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't coming—it's here!" called Tom, as he sped toward the big +shop. Ned was but a step behind him. The big workshop where the aerial +warship was being built was, like the other buildings, brilliantly +illuminated by the lights Tom had switched on. The young inventor also +saw several of his employees speeding toward the same point. +</P> + +<P> +Tom was the first to reach the small door of the shed. This was built +in one of the two large main doors, which could be swung open when it +was desired to slide the Mars in from the ground, and not admit it +through the roof. +</P> + +<P> +"Look!" cried Tom, pointing. +</P> + +<P> +Ned looked over his chum's shoulder and saw the giant, Koku, struggling +with four men—powerful men they were, too, and they seemed bent on +mischief. +</P> + +<P> +For they came at Koku from four sides, seeking to hold his hands and +feet so that he could not fight them back. On the floor near where the +struggle was taking place was a coil of rope, and it was evident that +it had been the intention of the men to overcome Koku and truss him up, +so that he would not interfere with what they intended to do. But Koku +was a match for even the four men, powerful as they were. +</P> + +<P> +"We're here, Koku!" cried Tom. "Watch for an opening, Ned!" he called +to his chum. +</P> + +<P> +The sound of Tom's voice disconcerted at least two of the attackers, +for they looked around quickly, and this was fatal to their chances. +</P> + +<P> +Though such a big man, Koku was exceptionally quick, and no sooner did +he see his advantage, as two of the men turned their gaze away from +him, than he seized it. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly tearing loose his hands from the grip of the two men who had +looked around, Koku shot out his right and left fists, and secured good +hold on the necks of two of his enemies. The other two, at his back, +were endeavoring to pull him over, but the giant's sturdy legs still +held. +</P> + +<P> +So big was Koku's hands that they almost encircled the necks of his +antagonists. Then happened a curious thing. +</P> + +<P> +With a shout that might have done credit to some ancient cave-dweller +of the stone age, Koku spread out his mighty arms, and held apart the +two men he had grasped. In vain they struggled to free themselves from +that terrible grip. Their faces turned purple, and their eyes bulged +out. +</P> + +<P> +"He's choking them to death!" shouted Ned. +</P> + +<P> +But Koku was not needlessly cruel. +</P> + +<P> +A moment later, with a quick and sudden motion he bent his arms, +bringing toward each other the two men he held as captives. Their +heads came together with a dull thud, and a second later Koku allowed +two limp bodies to slip from his grip to the floor. +</P> + +<P> +"He's done for them!" Tom cried. "Knocked them unconscious. Good for +you, Koku!" +</P> + +<P> +The giant grunted, and then, with a quick motion, slung himself around, +hoping to bring the enemies at his back within reach of his powerful +arms. But there was no need of this. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the other two ruffians had seen their companions fall to the +floor of the shop they turned and fled, leaping from an open window. +</P> + +<P> +"There they go!" cried Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Some of the other men can chase them," said the young inventor. "We'll +tie up the two Koku has captured." +</P> + +<P> +As he approached nearer to the unconscious captives Tom uttered a cry +of surprise, for he recognized them as two of the new men he had +employed. +</P> + +<P> +"What can this mean?" he asked wonderingly. +</P> + +<P> +He glanced toward the window through which the two men had jumped to +escape, and he was just in time to see one of them run past the open +door. The face of this one was under a powerful electric light, and Tom +at once recognized the man as Feldman, the worker who had had so much +trouble with the trip-hammer. +</P> + +<P> +"This sure is a puzzle," marveled Tom. "My own men in the plot! But +why did they attack Koku?" +</P> + +<P> +The giant, bending over the men he had knocked unconscious by beating +their heads together, seemed little worse for the attack. +</P> + +<P> +"We tie 'em up," he said grimly, as he brought over the rope that had +been intended for himself. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE FIRST FLIGHT +</H3> + +<P> +Little time was lost in securing the two men who had been so +effectively rendered helpless by Koku's ready, if rough, measures. One +of them was showing signs of returning consciousness now, and Tom, not +willing to inflict needless pain, even on an enemy, told one of his +men, summoned by the alarm, to bring water. Soon the two men opened +their eyes, and looked about them in dazed fashion. +</P> + +<P> +"Did—did anything hit me?" asked one meekly. +</P> + +<P> +"It must have been a thunderbolt," spoke the other dreamily. "But it +didn't look like a storm." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, dere was a storm, all right," chuckled Eradicate, who, having left +his mule, Boomerang outside, came into the shed. "It was a giant storm +all right." +</P> + +<P> +The men put their hands to their heads, and seemed to comprehend. They +looked at the rope that bound their feet. Their forearms had been +loosened to allow them to take a drink of water. +</P> + +<P> +"What does this mean—Ransom—Kurdy?" asked Tom sternly, when the men +seemed able to talk. "Did you attack Koku?" +</P> + +<P> +"It looks as though he had the best of us, whether we did or not," said +the man Tom knew as Kurdy. "Whew, how my head aches!" +</P> + +<P> +"Me sorry," said Koku simply. +</P> + +<P> +"Not half as sorry as we are," returned Ransom ruefully. +</P> + +<P> +"What does it mean?" asked Tom sternly. "There were four of you. +Feldman and one other got away." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, trust Feldman for getting away," sneered Kurdy. "He always leaves +his friends in the lurch." +</P> + +<P> +"Was this a conspiracy?" demanded Tom. +</P> + +<P> +The two captives looked at one another, sitting bound on the floor of +the shop, their backs against some boxes. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess it's all up, and we might as well make a clean breast of it," +admitted Kurdy. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps it would be better," said Tom quietly. "Eradicate," he went +on, to the colored man, "go to the house and tell Mrs. Baggert that +everything is all right and no one hurt." +</P> + +<P> +"No one hurt, Massa Tom? What about dem dere fellers?" and the colored +man pointed to the captives. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, they're not hurt much," and Tom permitted himself a little +smile. "I don't want my father to worry. Tell him everything is all +right." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Massa Tom. I'se gwine right off. I'se got t' look after mah +mule, Boomerang, too. I'se gwine," and he shuffled away. +</P> + +<P> +"Who else besides Feldman got away?" asked Tom, looking alternately at +the prisoners. +</P> + +<P> +They hesitated a moment about answering. +</P> + +<P> +"We might as well give up, I tell you," spoke Kurdy to Ransom. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, go ahead, we'll have to take our medicine. I might have +known it would turn out this way—going in for this sort of thing. It's +the first bit of crooked business I ever tried," the man said +earnestly, "and it will be the last—believe me!" +</P> + +<P> +"Who was the fourth man?" Tom repeated. +</P> + +<P> +"Harrison," answered Kurdy, naming one of the most efficient of the new +machinists Tom had hired during the rush. +</P> + +<P> +"Harrison, who has been working on the motor?" cried the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Ransom. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry to learn that," Tom went on in a low voice. "He was an +expert in his line. But what was your object, anyhow, in attacking +Koku?" +</P> + +<P> +"We didn't intend to attack him," explained Ransom, "but he came in +when we were at work, and as he went for us we tried to stand him off. +Then your colored man heard the racket, and—well, I guess you know the +rest." +</P> + +<P> +"But I don't understand why you came into this shed at night," went on +Tom. "No one is allowed in here. You had no right, and Koku knew that. +What did you want?" +</P> + +<P> +"Look here!" exclaimed Kurdy, "I said we'd make a clean breast of it, +and we will. We're only a couple of tools, and we were foolish ever to +go in with those fellows; or rather, in with that Frenchman, who +promised us big money if we succeeded." +</P> + +<P> +"Succeeded in what?" demanded the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"In damaging your new aerial warship, or in getting certain parts of it +so he could take them away with him." +</P> + +<P> +Tom gave a surprised whistle. +</P> + +<P> +"A frenchman!" he exclaimed. "Is he one of the—?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, he's one of the foreign spies," interrupted Ransom. "You'd find +it out, anyhow, if we didn't tell you. They are after you, Tom Swift, +and after your machines. They had vowed to get them by fair means or +foul, for some of the European governments are desperate." +</P> + +<P> +"But we were only tools in their hands. So were Feldman and Harrison, +but they knew more about the details. We were only helping them." +</P> + +<P> +"Then we must try to capture them," decided Tom. "Ned, see if the chase +had any results. I'll look after these chaps—Koku and I." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we give in," admitted Kurdy. "We know when we've had enough," and +he rubbed his head gently where the giant had banged it against that of +his fellow-conspirator. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean that you four came into this shop, at midnight, to damage +the Mars?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"That's about it, Mr. Swift," replied Kurdy rather shamefacedly. "We +were to damage it beyond repair, set fire to the whole place, if need +be, and, at the same time, take away certain vital parts. +</P> + +<P> +"Harrison, Feldman, Ransom and I came in, thinking the coast was clear. +But Koku must have seen us enter, or he suspected we were here, for he +came in after us, and the fight began. We couldn't stop him, and he did +for us. I'm rather glad of it, too, for I never liked the work. It was +only that they tempted me with a promise of big money." +</P> + +<P> +"Who tempted you?" demanded Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"That Frenchman—La Foy, he calls himself, and some other foreigners in +your shops." +</P> + +<P> +"Are there foreigners here?" cried Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my chest protector!" cried Mr. Damon, who had come in and had +been a silent listener to this. "Can it be possible?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's the case," went on Kurdy. "A lot of the new men you took on are +foreign spies from different European nations. They are trying to learn +all they can about your plans, Mr. Swift!" +</P> + +<P> +"Are they friendly among themselves?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"No; each one is trying to get ahead of the other. So far the Frenchman +seems to have had the best of it. But to-night his plan failed." +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me more about it," urged Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"That's about all we know," spoke Ransom. "We were only hired to do the +rough work. Those higher up didn't appear. Feldman was only a step +above us." +</P> + +<P> +"Then my suspicions of him were justified," thought Tom. "He evidently +met La Foy in the woods to make plans. But Koku and Eradicate spoiled +them." +</P> + +<P> +The two captives seemed willing enough to make a confession, but they +did not know much. As they said, they were merely tools, acting for +others. And events had happened just as they had said. +</P> + +<P> +The four conspirators had managed, by means of a false key, and by +disconnecting the burglar alarm, to enter the airship shed. They were +about to proceed with their work of destruction when Koku came on the +scene. +</P> + +<P> +The giant's appearance was due to accident. He acted as a sort of night +watchman, making a tour of the buildings, but he entered the shed where +the Mars was because, that day, he had left his knife in there, and +wanted to get it. Only for that he would not have gone in. When he +entered he surprised the four men. +</P> + +<P> +Of course he attacked them at once, and they sprang at him. Then +ensued a terrific fight. Eradicate, arising to doctor his mule, as he +had said, heard the noise, and saw what was going on. He gave the +alarm. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Ned, any luck?" asked Tom, as his chum came in. +</P> + +<P> +"No, they got away, Tom. I had a lot of your men out helping me search +the grounds, but it wasn't of much use." +</P> + +<P> +"Particularly if you depended on some of my men," said Tom bitterly. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean that the place is filled with spies, Ned! But we will sift them +out in the morning. This has been a lucky night for me. It was touch +and go. Now, then, Koku, take these fellows and lock them up somewhere +until morning. Ned, you and I will remain on guard here the rest of the +night." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm with you, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Will you be a bit easy on us, considering what we told you?" asked +Kurdy. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll do the best I can," said Tom, gently, making no promises. +</P> + +<P> +The two captives were put in secure quarters, and the rest of the night +passed quietly. During the fight in the airship shed some machinery and +tools had been broken, but no great amount of damage was done. Tom and +Ned passed the remaining hours of darkness there. +</P> + +<P> +A further search was made in the morning for the two conspirators who +had escaped, but no trace of them was found. Tom then realized why +Feldman was so anxious to be placed in the aeroplane department—it was +in order that he might have easier access to the Mars. +</P> + +<P> +A technical charge was made against the two prisoners, sufficient to +hold them for some time. Then Tom devoted a day to weeding out the +suspected foreigners in his place. All the new men were discharged, +though some protested against this action. +</P> + +<P> +"Probably I am hitting some of the innocent in punishing those who, if +they had the chance, would become guilty," Tom said to his chum, "but +it cannot be helped—I can't afford to take any chances." +</P> + +<P> +The Mars was being put in shape for her first flight. The guns, fitted +with the recoil shock absorbers, were mounted, and Lieutenant Marbury +had returned to go aloft in the big aerial warship. He congratulated +Tom on discovering at least one plot in time. +</P> + +<P> +"But there may be more," he warned the young inventor. "You are not +done with them yet." +</P> + +<P> +The Mars was floated out of her hangar, and made ready for an ascent. +Tom, Ned, Lieutenant Marbury, Mr. Damon, and several workmen were to be +the first passengers. Tom was busy going over the various parts to see +that nothing had been forgotten. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I guess we're ready," he finally announced. "All aboard!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my insurance policy!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Now that the time +comes I almost wish I wasn't going." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom. "You're not going to back out at the last +minute. All aboard! Cast off the ropes!" he cried to the assistants. +</P> + +<P> +A moment later the Mars, the biggest airship Tom Swift had ever +constructed, arose from the earth like some great bird, and soared +aloft. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IN DANGER +</H3> + +<P> +"Well, Tom, we're moving!" cried Ned Newton, clapping his chum on the +back, as he stood near him in the pilot-house. "We're going up, old +sport!" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course we are," replied Tom. "You didn't think it wouldn't go up, +did you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I wasn't quite sure," Ned confessed. "You know you were so +worried about—" +</P> + +<P> +"Not about the ship sailing," interrupted Tom. "It was only the effect +the firing of the guns might have. But I think we have that taken care +of." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my pin cushion!" cried Mr. Damon, as he looked over the rail at +the earth below. "We're moving fast, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we can make a quicker ascent in this than in most aeroplanes," +Tom said, "for they have to go up in a slanting direction. But we can't +quite equal their lateral speed." +</P> + +<P> +"Just how fast do you think you can travel when you are in first-class +shape?" asked Lieutenant Marbury, as he noted how the Mars was +behaving on this, the first trip. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I set a limit of seventy-five miles an hour," the young inventor +replied, as he shifted various levers and handles, to change the speed +of the mechanism. "But I'm afraid we won't quite equal that with all +our guns on board. But I'm safe in saying sixty, I think." +</P> + +<P> +"That will more than satisfy the government requirements," the officer +said. "But, of course, your craft will have to come up to expectations +and requirements in the matter of armament." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll give you every test you want," declared Tom, with a smile. "And +now we'll see what the Mars can do when put to it." +</P> + +<P> +Up and up went the big dirigible aerial warship. Had you been fortunate +enough to have seen her you would have observed a craft not unlike, in +shape, the German Zeppelins. But it differed from those war balloons in +several important particulars. +</P> + +<P> +Tom's craft was about six hundred feet long, and the diameter of the +gas bag, amidships, was sixty feet, slightly larger than the largest +Zeppelin. Below the bag, which, as I have explained, was made up of a +number of gas-tight compartments, hung from wire cables three cabins. +The forward one was a sort of pilot-house, containing various +instruments for navigating the ship of the air, observation rooms, +gauges for calculating firing ranges, and the steering apparatus. +</P> + +<P> +Amidships, suspended below the great bag, were the living and sleeping +quarters, where food was cooked and served and where those who operated +the craft could spend their leisure time. Extra supplies were also +stored there. +</P> + +<P> +At the stern of the big bag was the motor-room, where gas was generated +to fill the balloon compartments when necessary, where the gasoline and +electrical apparatus were installed, and where the real motive power of +the craft was located. Here, also, was carried the large quantity of +gasoline and oil needed for a long voyage. The Mars could carry +sufficient fuel to last for over a week, provided no accidents occurred. +</P> + +<P> +There was also an arrangement in the motor compartment, so that the +ship could be steered and operated from there. This was in case the +forward pilot-house should be shot away by an enemy. And, also, in the +motor compartment were the sleeping quarters for the crew. +</P> + +<P> +All three suspended cabins were connected by a long covered runway, so +that one could pass from the pilot-house to the motor-room and back +again through the amidship cabin. +</P> + +<P> +At the extreme end of the big bag were the various rudders and planes, +designed to keep the craft on a level keel, automatically, and to +enable it to make headway against a strong wind. The motive power +consisted of three double-bladed wooden propellers, which could be +operated together or independently. A powerful gasoline engine was the +chief motive power, though there was an auxiliary storage battery, +which would operate an electrical motor and send the ship along for +more than twenty-four hours in case of accident to the gasoline engine. +</P> + +<P> +There were many other pieces of apparatus aboard, some not completely +installed, the uses of which I shall mention from time to time, as the +story progresses. The gas-generating machine was of importance, for +there would be a leakage and shrinking of the vapor from the big bag, +and some means must be provided for replenishing it. +</P> + +<P> +"You don't seem to have forgotten anything, Tom," said Ned admiringly, +as they soared upward. +</P> + +<P> +"We can tell better after we've flown about a bit," observed the young +inventor, with a smile. "I expect we shall have to make quite a number +of changes." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you going far?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, you're not frightened, are you?" inquired Tom. "You have been up +in airships with me before." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, I'm not frightened!" exclaimed the odd man. "Bless my +suspenders, no! But I promised my wife I'd be back this evening, and..." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll sail over toward Waterford," broke in Tom, "and I'll drop you +down in your front yard." +</P> + +<P> +"No, don't do that! Don't! I beg of you!" cried Mr. Damon. "You +see—er—Tom, my wife doesn't like me to make these trips. Of course, I +understand there is no danger, and I like them. But it's just as well +not to make her worry-you understand!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, all right," replied Tom, with a laugh. "Well, we're not going far +on this trip. What I want to do, most of all, is to test the guns, and +see if the recoil check will work as well when we are aloft as it did +down on the ground. You know a balloon isn't a very stable base for a +gun, even one of light caliber." +</P> + +<P> +"No, it certainly is not," agreed Lieutenant Marbury, "and I am +interested in seeing how you will overcome the recoil." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll have a test soon," announced Tom. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile the Mars, having reached a considerable height, being up so +far, in fact, that the village of Shopton could scarcely be +distinguished, Tom set the signal that told the engine-room force to +start the propellers. This would send them ahead. +</P> + +<P> +Some of Tom's most trusted workmen formed the operating crew, the young +inventor taking charge of the pilot-house himself. +</P> + +<P> +"Well she seems to run all right," observed Lieutenant Marbury, as the +big craft surged ahead just below a stratum of white, fleecy clouds. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but not as fast as I'd like to see her go," Tom replied. "Of +course the machinery is new, and it will take some little time for it +to wear down smooth. I'll speed her up a little now." +</P> + +<P> +They had been running for perhaps ten minutes when Tom shoved over the +hand of an indicator that communicated with the engine-room from the +pilot-house. At once the Mars increased her speed. +</P> + +<P> +"She can do it!" cried Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my-hat! I should say so!" cried Mr. Damon, for he was standing +outside the pilot-house just then, on the "bridge," and the sudden +increase of speed lifted his hat from his head. +</P> + +<P> +"There you are—caught on the fly!" cried Ned, as he put up his hand +just in time to catch the article in question. +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks! Guess I'd better tie it fast," remarked the odd man, putting +his hat on tightly. +</P> + +<P> +The aerial warship was put through several evolutions to test her +stability, and to each one she responded well, earning the praise of +the government officer. Up and down, to one side and the other, around +in big circles, and even reversing, Tom sent his craft with a true hand +and eye. In a speed test fifty-five miles was registered against a +slight wind, and the young inventor said he knew he could do better +than that as soon as some of the machinery was running more smoothly. +</P> + +<P> +"And now suppose we get ready for the gun tests," suggested Tom, when +they had been running for about an hour. +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I'm mostly interested in," said Lieutenant Marbury. "It's +easy enough to get several good types of dirigible balloons, but few of +them will stand having a gun fired from them, to say nothing of several +guns." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm not making any rash promises," Tom went on, "but I think we +can turn the trick." +</P> + +<P> +The armament of the Mars was located around the center cabin. There +were two large guns, fore and aft, throwing a four-inch projectile, and +two smaller calibered quick-firers on either beam. The guns were +mounted on pedestals that enabled the weapons to fire in almost any +direction, save straight up, and of course the balloon bag being above +them prevented this. However, there was an arrangement whereby a small +automatic quick-firer could be sent up to a platform built on top of +the gas envelope itself, and a man stationed there could shoot at a +rival airship directly overhead. +</P> + +<P> +But the main deck guns could be elevated to an angle of nearly +forty-five degrees, so they could take care of nearly any hostile +aircraft that approached. +</P> + +<P> +"But where are the bombs I heard you speaking of?" asked Ned, as they +finished looking at the guns. +</P> + +<P> +"Here they are," spoke Tom, as he pointed to a space in the middle of +the main cabin floor. He lifted a brass plate, and disclosed three +holes, covered with a strong wire netting that could be removed. "The +bombs will be dropped through those holes," explained the young +inventor, "being released by a magnetic control when the operator +thinks he has reached a spot over the enemy's city or fortification +where the most damage will be done. I'll show you how they work a +little later. Now we'll have a test of some of the guns." +</P> + +<P> +Tom called for some of his men to take charge of the steering and +running of the Mars while he and Lieutenant Marbury prepared to fire +the two larger weapons. This was to be one of the most important tests. +</P> + +<P> +Service charges had been put in, though, of course, no projectiles +would be used, since they were then flying over a large city not far +from Shopton. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll have to wait until we get out over the ocean to give a complete +test, with a bursting shell," Tom said. +</P> + +<P> +He and Lieutenant Marbury were beside a gun, and were about to fire it, +when suddenly, from the stern of the ship, came a ripping, tearing +sound, and, at the same time, confused shouts came from the crew's +quarters. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" cried Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"One of the propellers!" was the answer. "It's split, and has torn a +big hole in the gas bag!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my overshoes!" cried Mr. Damon. "We're going down!" +</P> + +<P> +All on board the Mars became aware of a sudden sinking sensation. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +TOM IS WORRIED +</H3> + +<P> +"Steady, all!" came in even tones from Tom Swift. Not for an instant +had he lost his composure. For it was an accident, that much was +certain, and one that might endanger the lives of all on board. +</P> + +<P> +Above the noise of the machinery in the motor room could be heard the +thrashing and banging of the broken or loose propeller-blade. Just +what its condition was, could not be told, as a bulge of the gas bag +hid it from the view of those gathered about the gun, which was about +to be fired when the alarm was given. +</P> + +<P> +"We're sinking!" cried Mr. Damon. "We're going down, Tom!" +</P> + +<P> +"That's nothing," was the cool answer. "It is only for a moment. Only a +few of the gas compartments can be torn. There will soon enough +additional gas in the others to lift us again." +</P> + +<P> +And so it proved. The moment the pressure of the lifting gas in the big +oiled silk and aluminum container was lowered, it started the +generating machine, and enough extra gas was pumped into the uninjured +compartments to compensate for the loss. +</P> + +<P> +"We're not falling so fast now," observed Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"No, and we'll soon stop falling altogether," calmly declared Tom. "Too +bad this accident had to happen, though." +</P> + +<P> +"It might have been much worse, my boy!" exclaimed the lieutenant. +"That's a great arrangement of yours—the automatic gas machine." +</P> + +<P> +"It's on the same principle as the air brakes of a trolley car," +explained Tom, when a look at the indicators showed that the Mars had +ceased falling and remained stationary in the air. Tom had also sent a +signal to the engine-room to shut off the power, so that the two +undamaged propellers, as well as the broken one, ceased revolving. +</P> + +<P> +"In a trolley car, you see," Tom went on, when the excitement had +calmed down, "as soon as the air pressure in the tanks gets below a +certain point, caused by using the air for a number of applications of +the brakes, it lets a magnetized bar fall, and this establishes an +electrical connection, starting the air pump. The pump forces more air +into the tanks until the pressure is enough to throw the pump switch +out of connection, when the pump stops. I use the same thing here." +</P> + +<P> +"And very clever it is," said Mr. Damon. "Do you suppose the danger is +all over, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"For the time being, yes. But we must unship that damaged propeller, +and go on with the two." +</P> + +<P> +The necessary orders were given, and several men from the engine-room +at once began the removal of the damaged blades. +</P> + +<P> +As several spare ones were carried aboard one could be put on in place +of the broken one, had this been desired. But Tom thought the accident +a good chance to see how his craft would act with only two-thirds of +her motive force available, so he did not order the damaged propeller +replaced. When it was lowered to the deck it was carefully examined. +</P> + +<P> +"What made it break?" Ned wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"That's a question I can't answer," Tom replied. "There may have been a +defect in the wood, but I had it all carefully examined before I used +it." +</P> + +<P> +The propeller was one of the "built-up" type, with alternate layers of +ash and mahogany, but some powerful force had torn and twisted the +blades. The wood was splintered and split, and some jagged pieces, +flying off at a tangent, so great was the centrifugal force, had torn +holes in the strong gas bag. +</P> + +<P> +"Did something hit it; or did it hit something?" asked Ned as he saw +Tom carefully examining the broken blades. +</P> + +<P> +"Hard to say. I'll have a good look at this when we get back. Just now +I want to finish that gun test we didn't get a chance to start." +</P> + +<P> +"You don't mean to say you're going to keep on, and with the balloon +damaged; are you?" cried Mr. Damon, in surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly—why not?" Tom replied. "In warfare accidents may happen, +and if the Mars can't go on, after a little damage like this, what is +going to happen when she's fired on by a hostile ship? Of course I'm +going on!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my necktie!" ejaculated the odd man. +</P> + +<P> +"That's the way to talk!" exclaimed Lieutenant Marbury. "I'm with you." +</P> + +<P> +There really was very little danger in proceeding. The Mars was just as +buoyant as before, for more gas had been automatically made, and forced +into the uninjured compartments of the bag. At the same time enough +sand ballast had been allowed to run out to make the weight to be +lifted less in proportion to the power remaining. +</P> + +<P> +True, the speed would be less, with two propellers instead of three, +and the craft would not steer as well, with the torn ends of the gas +bag floating out behind. But this made a nearer approach to war +conditions, and Tom was always glad to give his inventions the most +severe tests possible. +</P> + +<P> +So, after a little while, during which it was seen that the Mars was +proceeding almost normally, the matter of discharging the guns was +taken up again. +</P> + +<P> +The weapons were all ready to fire, and when Tom had attached the +pressure gauges to note how much energy was expended in the recoil, he +gave the word to fire. +</P> + +<P> +The two big weapons were discharged together, and for a moment after +the report echoed out among the cloud masses every soul on the ship +feared another accident had happened. +</P> + +<P> +For the big craft rolled and twisted, and seemed about to turn turtle. +Her forward progress was halted, momentarily, and a cry of fear came +from several of the members of the crew, who had had only a little +experience in aircraft. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter?" cried Ned. "Something go wrong?" +</P> + +<P> +"A little," admitted Tom, with a rueful look on his face. "Those +recoil checks didn't work as well in practice as they did in theory." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure they are strong enough?" asked Lieutenant Marbury. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought so," spoke Tom. "I'll put more tension on the spring next +time." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my watch chain!" cried Mr. Damon. "You aren't going to fire +those guns again; are you, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why not? We can't tell what's the matter, nor get things right +without experimenting. There's no danger." +</P> + +<P> +"No danger! Don't you call nearly upsetting the ship danger?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, if she turns over she'll right herself again," Tom said. +"The center of gravity is low, you see. She can't float in any position +but right side up, though she may turn over once or twice." +</P> + +<P> +"Excuse me!" said Mr. Damon firmly. "I'd rather go down, if it's all +the same to you. If my wife ever knew I was here I'd never hear the +last of it!" +</P> + +<P> +"We'll go down soon," Tom promised. "But I must fire a couple of shots +more. You wouldn't call the recoil checks a success, would you?" and +the young inventor appealed to the government inspector. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I certainly would not," was the prompt answer. "I am sorry, too, +for they seemed to be just what was needed. Of course I understand this +is not an official test, and I am not obliged to make a report of this +trial. But had it been, I should have had to score against you. +</P> + +<P> +"I realize that, and I'm not asking any favors, but I'll try it again +with the recoil checks tightened up. I think the hydrostatic valves +were open too much, also." +</P> + +<P> +Preparations were now made for firing the four-inch guns once more. All +this while the Mars had been speeding around in space, being about two +miles up in the air. Tom's craft was not designed to reach as great an +elevation as would be possible in an aeroplane, since to work havoc to +an enemy's fortifications by means of aerial bombs they do not need to +be dropped from a great height. +</P> + +<P> +In fact, experiments in Germany have shown that bombs falling from a +great height are less effective than those falling from an airship +nearer the earth. For a bomb, falling from a height of two miles, +acquires enough momentum to penetrate far into the earth, so that much +of the resultant explosive force is expended in a downward direction, +and little damage is done to the fortifications. A bomb dropped from a +lower altitude, expending its force on all sides, does much more damage. +</P> + +<P> +On the other hand, in destroying buildings, it has been found desirable +to drop a bomb from a good height so that it may penetrate even a +protected roof, and explode inside. +</P> + +<P> +Once more Tom made ready to fire, this time having given the recoil +checks greater resistance. But though there was less motion imparted to +the airship when the guns were discharged, there was still too much for +comfort, or even safety. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, something's wrong, that's sure," remarked Tom, in rather +disappointed tones as he noted the effect of the second shots. "If we +get as much recoil from the two guns, what would happen if we fired +them all at once?" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't do it! Don't do it, I beg of you!" entreated Mr. Damon. "Bless +my toothbrush—don't do it!" +</P> + +<P> +"I won't—just at present," Tom said, ruefully. "I'm afraid I'll have +to begin all over again, and proceed along new lines." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps you will," said the lieutenant. "But you may invent +something much better than anything you have now. There is no great +rush. Take your time, and do something good." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'll get busy on it right away," Tom declared. "We'll go down now, +and start right to work. I'm afraid, Ned, that our idea of a +door-spring check isn't going to work." +</P> + +<P> +"I might have known my idea wouldn't amount to anything," said the +young bank clerk. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, the idea is all right," declared Tom, "but it wants modifying. +There is more power to those recoils than I figured, though our first +experiments seemed to warrant us in believing that we had solved the +problem." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you going to try the bomb-dropping device?" asked the lieutenant. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, there can't be any recoil from that," Tom said. "I'll drop a few +blank ones, and see how accurate the range finders are." +</P> + +<P> +While his men were getting ready for this test Tom bent over the broken +propeller, looking from that to the recoil checks, which had not come +up to expectations. Then he shook his head in a worried and puzzled +manner. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +AN OCEAN FLIGHT +</H3> + +<P> +Dropping bombs from an aeroplane, or a dirigible balloon, is a +comparatively simple matter. Of course there are complications that may +ensue, from the danger of carrying high explosives in the limited +quarters of an airship, with its inflammable gasoline fuel, and +ever-present electric spark, to the possible premature explosion of the +bomb itself. But they seem to be considered minor details now. +</P> + +<P> +On the other hand, while it is comparatively easy to drop a bomb from a +moving aeroplane, or dirigible balloon, it is another matter to make +the bomb fall just where it will do the most damage to the enemy. It is +not easy to gauge distances, high up in the air, and then, too, +allowance must be made for the speed of the aircraft, the +ever-increasing velocity of a falling body, and the deflection caused +by air currents. +</P> + +<P> +The law of velocity governing falling bodies is well known. It varies, +of course, according to the height, but in general a body falling +freely toward the earth, as all high-school boys know, is accelerated +at the rate of thirty-two feet per second. This law has been taken +advantage of by the French in the present European war. The French drop +from balloons, or aeroplanes, a steel dart about the size of a lead +pencil, and sharpened in about the same manner. Dropping from a height +of a mile or so, that dart will acquire enough velocity to penetrate a +man from his head all the way through his body to his feet. +</P> + +<P> +But in dropping bombs from an airship the damage intended does not so +much depend on velocity. It is necessary to know how fast the bomb +falls in order to know when to set the time fuse that will explode it; +though some bombs will explode on concussion. +</P> + +<P> +At aeroplane meets there are often bomb-dropping contests, and balls +filled with a white powder (that will make a dust-cloud on falling, and +so show where they strike) are used to demonstrate the birdman's +accuracy. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll see how our bomb-release works," Tom went on. "But we'll have to +descend a bit in order to watch the effect." +</P> + +<P> +"You're not going to use real bombs, are you, Tom?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed not. Just chalk-dust ones for practice. Now here is where the +bombs will be placed," and he pointed to the three openings in the +floor of the amidship cabin. The wire nettings were taken out and one +could look down through the holes to the earth below, the ground being +nearer now, as Tom had let out some of the lifting gas. +</P> + +<P> +"Here is the range-finder and the speed calculator," the young inventor +went on as he indicated the various instruments. "The operator sits +here, where he can tell when is the most favorable moment for releasing +the bomb." +</P> + +<P> +Tom took his place before a complicated set of instruments, and began +manipulating them. One of his assistants, under the direction of +Lieutenant Marbury, placed in the three openings bombs, made of light +cardboard, just the size of a regular bomb, but filled with a white +powder that would, on breaking, make a dust-cloud which could be +observed from the airship. +</P> + +<P> +"I have first to determine where I want to drop the bomb," Tom +explained, "and then I have to get my distance from it on the +range-finder. Next I have to know how fast I am traveling, and how far +up in the air I am, to tell what the velocity of the falling bomb will +attain at a certain time. This I can do by means of these instruments, +some of which I have adapted from those used by the government," he +said, with a nod to the officer. +</P> + +<P> +"That's right—take all the information you can get," was the smiling +response. +</P> + +<P> +"We will now assume that the bombs are in place in the holes in the +floor of the cabin," Tom went on. "As I sit here I have before me three +buttons. They control the magnets that hold the bombs in place. If I +press one of the buttons it breaks the electrical current, the magnet +no longer has any attraction, and it releases the explosive. Now look +down. I am going to try and drop a chalk bomb near that stone fence." +</P> + +<P> +The Mars was then flying over a large field and a stone fence was in +plain view. +</P> + +<P> +"Here she goes!" cried Tom, as he made some rapid calculations from his +gauge instruments. There was a little click and the chalk bomb dropped. +There was a plate glass floor in part of the cabin, and through this +the progress of the pasteboard bomb could be observed. +</P> + +<P> +"She'll never go anywhere near the fence!" declared Ned. "You let it +drop too soon, Tom!" +</P> + +<P> +"Did I? You just watch. I had to allow for the momentum that would be +given the bomb by the forward motion of the balloon." +</P> + +<P> +Hardly had Tom spoken than a puff of white was seen on the very top of +the fence. +</P> + +<P> +"There it goes?" cried the lieutenant. "You did the trick, Swift!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I thought I would. Well, that shows my gauges are correct, +anyhow. Now we'll try the other two bombs." +</P> + +<P> +In succession they were released from the bottom of the cabin, at other +designated objects. The second one was near a tree. It struck within +five feet, which was considered good. +</P> + +<P> +"And I'll let the last one down near that scarecrow in the field," said +Tom, pointing to a ragged figure in the middle of a patch of corn. +</P> + +<P> +Down went the cardboard bomb, and so good was the aim of the young +inventor that the white dust arose in a cloud directly back of the +scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +And then a queer thing happened. For the figure seemed to come to life, +and Ned, who was watching through a telescope, saw a very much excited +farmer looking up with an expression of the greatest wonder on his +face. He saw the balloon over his head, and shook his fist at it, +evidently thinking he had had a narrow escape. But the pasteboard bomb +was so light that, had it hit him, he would not have been injured, +though he might have been well dusted. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, that was a man! Bless my pocketbook!" cried Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess it was," agreed Tom. "I took it for a scarecrow." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it proved the accuracy of your aim, at any rate," observed +Lieutenant Marbury. "The bomb dropping device of your aerial warship is +perfect—I can testify to that." +</P> + +<P> +"And I'll have the guns fixed soon, so there will be no danger of a +recoil, too," added Tom Swift, with a determined look on his face. +</P> + +<P> +"What's next?" asked Mr. Damon, looking at his watch. "I really ought +to be home, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"We're going back now, and down. Are you sure you don't want me to drop +you in your own front yard, or even on your roof? I think I could +manage that." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my stovepipe, no, Tom! My wife would have hysterics. Just land +me at Shopton and I'll take a car home." +</P> + +<P> +The damaged airship seemed little the worse for the test to which she +had been subjected, and made her way at good speed in the direction of +Tom's home. Several little experiments were tried on the way back. They +all worked well, and the only two problems Tom had to solve were the +taking care of the recoil from the guns and finding out why the +propeller had broken. +</P> + +<P> +A safe landing was made, and the Mars once more put away in her hangar. +Mr. Damon departed for his home, and Lieutenant Marbury again took up +his residence in the Swift household. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Tom, how did it go?" asked his father. +</P> + +<P> +"Not so very well. Too much recoil from the guns." +</P> + +<P> +"I was afraid so. You had better drop this line of work, and go at +something else." +</P> + +<P> +"No, Dad!" Tom cried. "I'm going to make this work. I never had +anything stump me yet, and I'm not going to begin now!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's a good spirit to show," said the aged inventor, with a +shake of his head, "but I don't believe you'll succeed, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes I will, Dad! You just wait." +</P> + +<P> +Tom decided to begin on the problem of the propeller first, as that +seemed more simple. He knew that the gun question would take longer. +</P> + +<P> +"Just what are you trying to find out, Tom?" asked Ned, a few nights +later, when he found his chum looking at the broken parts of the +propeller. +</P> + +<P> +"Trying to discover what made this blade break up and splinter that +way. It couldn't have been centrifugal force, for it wasn't strong +enough." +</P> + +<P> +Tom was "poking" away amid splinters, and bits of broken wood, when he +suddenly uttered an exclamation, and held up something. "Look!" he +cried. "I believe I've found it." +</P> + +<P> +"What?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"The thing that weakened the propeller. Look at this, and smell!" He +held out a piece of wood toward Ned. The bank employee saw where a +half-round hole had been bored in what remained of the blade, and from +that hole came a peculiar odor. +</P> + +<P> +"It's some kind of acid," ventured Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"That's it!" cried Tom. "Someone bored a hole in the propeller, and put +in some sort of receptacle, or capsule, containing a corrosive acid. In +due time, which happened to be when we took our first flight, the acid +ate through whatever it was contained in, and then attacked the wood of +the propeller blade. It weakened the wood so that the force used in +whirling it around broke it." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure of that?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"As sure as I am that I'm here! Now I know what caused the accident!" +</P> + +<P> +"But who would play such a trick?" asked Ned. "We might all have been +killed." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know we might," said Tom. "It must be the work of some of those +foreign spies whose first plot we nipped in the bud. I must tell +Marbury of this, but don't mention it to dad." +</P> + +<P> +"I won't," promised Ned. +</P> + +<P> +Lieutenant Marbury agreed with Tom that someone had surreptitiously +bored a small hole in the propeller blade, and had inserted a corrosive +acid that would take many hours to operate. The hole had been varnished +over, probably, so it would not show. +</P> + +<P> +"And that means I've got to examine the other two blades," Tom said. +"They may be doctored too." +</P> + +<P> +But they did not prove to be. A careful examination showed nothing +wrong. An effort was made to find out who had tried to destroy the Mars +in midair, but it came to nothing. The two men in custody declared they +knew nothing of it, and there was no way of proving that they did. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile, the torn gas bag was repaired, and Tom began working on the +problem of doing away with the gun recoil. He tried several schemes, +and almost was on the point of giving up when suddenly he received a +hint by reading an account of how the recoil was taken care of on some +of the German Zeppelins. +</P> + +<P> +The guns there were made double, with the extra barrel filled with +water or sand, that could be shot out as was the regular charge. As +both barrels were fired at the same time, and in opposite directions, +with the same amount of powder, one neutralized the other, and the +recoil was canceled, the ship remaining steady after fire. +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove! I believe that will do the trick!" cried Tom. "I'm going to +try it." +</P> + +<P> +"Good luck to you!" cried Ned. +</P> + +<P> +It was no easy matter to change all the guns of the Mars, and fit them +with double barrels. But by working day and night shifts Tom managed +it. Meanwhile, a careful watch was kept over the shops. Several new men +applied for work, and some of them were suspicious enough in looks, but +Tom took on no new hands. +</P> + +<P> +Finally the new guns were made, and tried with the Mars held on the +ground. They behaved perfectly, the shooting of sand or water from the +dummy barrel neutralizing the shot from the service barrel. +</P> + +<P> +"And now to see how it works in practice!" cried Tom one day. "Are you +with me for a long flight, Ned?" +</P> + +<P> +"I sure am!" +</P> + +<P> +The next evening the Mars, with a larger crew than before, and with +Tom, Ned, Mr. Damon and Lieutenant Marbury aboard, set sail. +</P> + +<P> +"But why start at night?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll see in the morning," Tom answered. +</P> + +<P> +The Mars flew slowly all night, life aboard her, at about the level of +the clouds, going on almost as naturally as though the occupants of the +cabins were on the earth. Excellent meals were served. +</P> + +<P> +"But when are you going to try the guns?" asked Ned, as he got ready to +turn in. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell you in the morning," replied Tom, with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +And, in the morning, when Ned looked down through the plate glass in +the cabin floor, he uttered a cry. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Tom! We're over the ocean!" he cried. +</P> + +<P> +"I rather thought we'd be," was the calm reply. "I told George to head +straight for the Atlantic. Now we'll have a test with service charges +and projectiles!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IN A STORM +</H3> + +<P> +Surprise, for the moment, held Mr. Damon, Ned and Lieutenant Marbury +speechless. They looked from the heaving waters of the ocean below them +to the young pilot of the Mars. He smiled at their astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"What—what does it mean, Tom?" asked Ned. "You never said you were +going to take a trip as far as this." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," chimed in Mr. Damon. "Bless my nightcap! If I had known +I was going to be brought so far away from home I'd never have come." +</P> + +<P> +"You're not so very far from Waterford," put in Tom. "We didn't make +any kind of speed coming from Shopton, and we could be back again +inside of four hours if we had to." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you didn't travel fast during the night?" asked the government +man. +</P> + +<P> +"No, we just drifted along," Tom answered. "I gave orders to run the +machinery slowly, as I wanted to get it in good shape for the other +tests that will come soon. But I told George, whom I left in charge +when I turned in, to head for New York. I wanted to get out over the +ocean to try the guns with the new recoil arrangement." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we're over the ocean all right," spoke Ned, as he looked down at +the heaving waters. +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't the first time," replied Tom cheerfully. "Koku, you may serve +breakfast now," for the giant had been taken along as a sort of cook +and waiter. Koku manifested no surprise or alarm when he found the +airship floating over the sea. Whatever Tom did was right to him. He +had great confidence in his master. +</P> + +<P> +"No, it isn't the first time we've taken a water flight," spoke Ned. "I +was only surprised at the suddenness of it, that's all." +</P> + +<P> +"It's my first experience so far out above the water," observed +Lieutenant Marbury, "though of course I've sailed on many seas. Why, +we're out of sight of land." +</P> + +<P> +"About ten miles out, yes," admitted Tom. "Far enough to make it safe +to test the guns with real projectiles. That is what I want to do." +</P> + +<P> +"And we've been running all night?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but at slow speed. The engines are in better shape now than ever +before," Tom said. "Well, if you're ready we'll have breakfast." +</P> + +<P> +The meal was served by Koku with as much unconcern as though they were +in the Swift homestead back in Shopton, instead of floating near the +clouds. And while it was being eaten in the main cabin, and while the +crew was having breakfast in their quarters, the aerial warship was +moving along over the ocean in charge of George Watson, one of Tom's +engineers, who was stationed in the forward pilot-house. +</P> + +<P> +"So you're going to give the guns a real test this time, is that it, +Tom?" asked Ned, as he pushed back his plate, a signal that he had +eaten enough. +</P> + +<P> +"That's about it." +</P> + +<P> +"But don't you think it's a bit risky out over the water this way. +Supposing something should—should happen?" Ned hesitated. +</P> + +<P> +"You mean we might fall?" asked Tom, with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; or turn upside down." +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing like that could happen. I'm so sure that I have solved the +problem of the recoil of the guns that I'm willing to take chances. But +if any of you want to get off the Mars while the test is being made, I +have a small boat I can lower, and let you row about in that until—" +</P> + +<P> +"No, thank you!" interrupted Mr. Damon, as he looked below. There was +quite a heavy swell on, and the ocean did not appear very attractive. +They would be much more comfortable in the big Mars. +</P> + +<P> +"I think you won't have any trouble," asserted Lieutenant Marbury. "I +believe Tom Swift has the right idea about the guns, and there will be +so small a shock from the recoil that it will not be noticeable." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll soon know," spoke Tom. "I'm going to get ready for the test now." +</P> + +<P> +They were now well out from shore, over the Atlantic, but to make +certain no ships would be endangered by the projectiles, Tom and the +others searched the waters to the horizon with powerful glasses. +Nothing was seen and the work of loading the guns was begun. The bomb +tubes, in the main cabin, were also to be given a test. +</P> + +<P> +As service charges were to be used, and as the projectiles were filled +with explosives, great care was needed in handling them. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll try dropping bombs first," Tom suggested. "We know they will +work, and that will be so much out of the way." +</P> + +<P> +To make the test a severe one, small floating targets were first +dropped overboard from the Mars. Then the aerial warship, circling +about, came on toward them. Tom, seated at the range-finders, pressed +the button that released the shells containing the explosives. One +after another they dropped into the sea, exploding as they fell, and +sending up a great column of salt water. +</P> + +<P> +"Every one a hit!" reported Lieutenant Marbury, who was keeping "score." +</P> + +<P> +"That's good," responded Tom. "But the others won't be so easy. We +have nothing to shoot at." +</P> + +<P> +They had to fire the other guns without targets at which to aim. But, +after all, it was the absence of recoil they wanted to establish, and +this could be done without shooting at any particular object. +</P> + +<P> +One after another the guns were loaded. As has been explained, they +were now made double, one barrel carrying the projectile, and the other +a charge of water. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you ready?" asked Tom, when it was time to fire. Lieutenant +Marbury, Ned and Mr. Damon were helping, by being stationed at the +pressure gauges to note the results. +</P> + +<P> +"All ready," answered Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think we'd better put on life preservers, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense! What for?" +</P> + +<P> +"In case—in case anything happens." +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing will happen. Look out now, I'm going to fire." +</P> + +<P> +The guns were to be fired simultaneously by means of an electric +current, when Tom pressed a button. +</P> + +<P> +"Here they go!" exclaimed the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +There was a moment of waiting, and then came a thundering roar. The +Mars trembled, but she did not shift to either side from an even keel. +From one barrel of the guns shot out the explosive projectiles, and +from the other spurted a jet of water, sent out by a charge of powder, +equal in weight to that which forced out the shot. +</P> + +<P> +As the projectile was fired in one direction, and the water in one +directly opposite, the two discharges neutralized one another. +</P> + +<P> +Out flew the pointed steel shells, to fall harmlessly into the sea, +where they exploded, sending up columns of water. +</P> + +<P> +"Well!" cried Tom as the echoes died away. "How was it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Couldn't have been better," declared Lieutenant Marbury. "There +wasn't the least shock of recoil. Tom Swift, you have solved the +problem, I do believe! Your aerial warship is a success!" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm glad to hear you say so. There are one or two little things that +need changing, but I really think I have about what the United States +Government wants." +</P> + +<P> +"I am, also, of that belief, Tom. If only—" The officer stopped +suddenly. +</P> + +<P> +"Well?" asked Tom suggestively. +</P> + +<P> +"I was going to say if only those foreign spies don't make trouble." +</P> + +<P> +"I think we've seen the last of them," Tom declared. "Now we'll go on +with the tests." +</P> + +<P> +More guns were fired, singly and in batteries, and in each case the +Mars stood the test perfectly. The double barrel had solved the recoil +problem. +</P> + +<P> +For some little time longer they remained out over the sea, going +through some evolutions to test the rudder control, and then as their +present object had been accomplished Tom gave orders to head back to +Shopton, which place was reached in due time. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Tom, how was it?" asked Mr. Swift, for though his son had said +nothing to his friends about the prospective test, the aged inventor +knew about it. +</P> + +<P> +"Successful, Dad, in every particular." +</P> + +<P> +"That's good. I didn't think you could do it. But you did. I tell you +it isn't much that can get the best of a Swift!" exclaimed the aged man +proudly. "Oh, by the way, Tom, here's a telegram that came while you +were gone," and he handed his son the yellow envelope. +</P> + +<P> +Tom ripped it open with a single gesture, and in a flash his eyes took +in the words. He read: +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Look out for spies during trial flights." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The message was signed with a name Tom did not recognize. +</P> + +<P> +"Any bad news?" asked Mr. Swift. +</P> + +<P> +"No—oh, no," replied Tom, as he crumpled up the paper and thrust it +into his pocket. "No bad news, Dad." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm glad to hear that," went on Mr. Swift. "I don't like +telegrams." +</P> + +<P> +When Tom showed the message to Lieutenant Marbury, that official, after +one glance at the signature, said: +</P> + +<P> +"Pierson, eh? Well, when he sends out a warning it generally means +something." +</P> + +<P> +"Who's Pierson?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Head of the Secret Service department that has charge of this airship +matter. There must be something in the wind, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +Extra precautions were taken about the shops. Strangers were not +permitted to enter, and all future work on the Mars was kept secret. +Nevertheless, Tom was worried. He did not want his work to be spoiled +just when it was about to be a success. For that it was a success, +Lieutenant Marbury assured him. The government man said he would have +no hesitation in recommending the purchase of Tom's aerial warship. +</P> + +<P> +"There's just one other test I want to see made," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"What is that?" Tom inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"In a storm. You know we can't always count on having good weather, and +I'd like to see how she behaves in a gale." +</P> + +<P> +"You shall!" declared the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +For the next week, during which finishing touches were put on the big +craft, Tom anxiously waited for signs of a storm. At last they came. +Danger signals were put up all along the coast, and warnings were sent +out broadcast by the Weather Bureau at Washington. +</P> + +<P> +One dull gray morning Tom roused his friends early and announced that +the Mars was going up. +</P> + +<P> +"A big storm is headed this way," Tom said, "and we'll have a chance to +see how she behaves in it." +</P> + +<P> +And even as the flight began, the forerunning wind and rain came in a +gust of fury. Into the midst of it shot the big aerial warship, with +her powerful propellers beating the moisture-laden air. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +QUEER HAPPENINGS +</H3> + +<P> +"Say, Tom, are you sure you're all right?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I am! What do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +It was Ned Newton who asked the question, and Tom Swift who answered +it. The chums were in the pilot-house of the dipping, swaying Mars, +which was nosing her way into the storm, fighting on an upward slant, +trying, if possible, to get above the area of atmospheric disturbance. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I mean are you sure your craft will stand all this straining, +pulling and hauling?" went on Ned, as he clung to a brass hand rail, +built in the side of the pilot-house wall for the very purpose to which +it was now being put. +</P> + +<P> +"If she doesn't stand it she's no good!" cried Tom, as he clung to the +steering wheel, which was nearly torn from his hands by the deflections +of the rudders. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's taking a big chance, it seems to me," went on Ned, as he +peered through the rain-spotted bull's-eyes of the pilot-house. +</P> + +<P> +"There's no danger," declared Tom. "I wanted to give the ship the +hardest test possible before I formally offered her to the government. +If she can't stand a blow like this she isn't what I thought her, and +I'll have to build another. But I'm sure she will stand the racket, +Ned. She's built strongly, and even if part of the gas bag is carried +away, as it was when our propeller shattered, we can still sail. If you +think this is anything, wait until we turn about and begin to fight our +way against the wind." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you going to do that, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"I certainly am. We're going with the gale now, to see what is the +highest rate of speed we can attain. Pretty soon I'm going to turn her +around, and see if she can make any headway in the other direction. Of +course I know she won't make much, if any speed, against the gale; but +I must give her that test." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Tom, you know best, of course," admitted Ned. "But to me it +seems like taking a big risk." +</P> + +<P> +And indeed it did seem, not only to Ned, but to some of the experienced +men of Tom's crew, that the young inventor was taking more chances than +ever before, and Tom, as my old readers well know, had, in his career, +taken some big ones. +</P> + +<P> +The storm grew worse as the day progressed, until it was a veritable +hurricane of wind and rain. The warnings of the Weather Bureau had not +been exaggerated. But through the fierce blow the Mars fought her way. +As Tom had said, she was going with the wind. This was comparatively +easy. But what would happen when she headed into the storm? +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon, in the main cabin, sat and looked at Lieutenant Marbury, the +eccentric man now and then blessing something as he happened to think +of it. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you—do you think we are in any danger?" he finally asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Not at present," replied the government expert. +</P> + +<P> +"You mean we will be—later?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's hard to say. I guess Tom Swift knows his business, though." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my accident insurance policy!" murmured Mr. Damon. "I wish I had +stayed home. If my wife ever hears of this—" He did not seem able to +finish the sentence. +</P> + +<P> +In the engine-room the crew were busy over the various machines. Some +of the apparatus was being strained to keep the ship on her course in +the powerful wind, and would be under a worse stress when Tom turned +his craft about. But, so far, nothing had given way, and everything was +working smoothly. +</P> + +<P> +As hour succeeded hour and nothing happened, the timid ones aboard +began to take more courage. Tom never for a moment lost heart. He knew +what his craft could do, and he had taken her up in a terrific storm +with a definite purpose in view. He was the calmest person aboard, with +the exception, perhaps, of Koku. The giant did not seem to know what +fear was. He depended entirely on Tom, and as long as his young master +had charge of matters the giant was content to obey orders. +</P> + +<P> +There was to be no test of the guns this time. They had worked +sufficiently well, and, if need be, could have been fired in the gale. +But Tom did not want his men to take unnecessary risks, nor was he +foolhardy himself. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll have our hands full when we turn around and head into the wind," +he said to his chum. "That will be enough." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you're really going to give the Mars that test?" +</P> + +<P> +"I surely am. I don't want any comebacks from Uncle Sam after he +accepts my aerial warship. I've guaranteed that she'll stand up and +make headway against a gale, and I'm going to prove it." +</P> + +<P> +Lieutenant Marbury was told of the coming trial, and he prepared to +take official note of it. While matters were being gotten in readiness +Tom turned the wheel over to his assistant pilot and went to the +engine-room to see that everything was in good shape to cope with any +emergency. The rudders had been carefully examined before the flight +was made, to make sure they would not fail, for on them depended the +progress of the ship against the powerful wind. +</P> + +<P> +"I rather guess those foreign spies have given up trying to do Tom an +injury," remarked Ned to the lieutenant as they sat in the main cabin, +listening to the howl of the wind, and the dash of the rain. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I certainly hope so," was the answer. "But I wouldn't be too +sure. The folks in Washington evidently think something is likely to +happen, or they wouldn't have sent that warning telegram." +</P> + +<P> +"But we haven't seen anything of the spies," Ned remarked. +</P> + +<P> +"No, but that isn't any sign they are not getting ready to make +trouble. This may be the calm before the storm. Tom must still be on +the lookout. It isn't as though his inventions alone were in danger, +for they would not hesitate to inflict serious personal injury if their +plans were thwarted." +</P> + +<P> +"They must be desperate." +</P> + +<P> +"They are. But here comes Tom now. He looks as though something new was +about to happen." +</P> + +<P> +"Take care of yourselves now," advised the young aero-inventor, as he +entered the cabin, finding it hard work to close the door against the +terrific wind pressure. +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Because we are going to turn around and fight our way back against the +gale. We may be turned topsy-turvy for a second or two." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my shoe-horn!" cried Mr. Damon. "Do you mean upside down, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, not that exactly. But watch out!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom went forward to the pilot-house, followed by Ned and the +lieutenant. The latter wanted to take official note of what happened. +Tom relieved the man at the wheel, and gradually began to alter the +direction of the craft. +</P> + +<P> +At first no change was noticeable. So strong was the force of the wind +that it seemed as though the Mars was going in the same direction. But +Ned, noticing a direction compass on the wall, saw that the needle was +gradually shifting. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold fast!" cried Tom suddenly. Then with a quick shift of the rudder +something happened. It seemed as though the Mars was trying to turn +over, and slide along on her side, or as if she wanted to turn about +and scud before the gale, instead of facing it. But Tom held her to the +reverse course. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you get her around?" cried the lieutenant above the roar of the +gale. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I'm going to!" muttered Tom through his set teeth. +</P> + +<P> +Inch by inch he fought the big craft through the storm. Inch by inch +the indicator showed the turning, until at last the grip of the gale +was overcome. +</P> + +<P> +"Now she's headed right into it!" cried Tom in exultation. "She's +nosing right into it!" +</P> + +<P> +And the Mars was. There was no doubt of it. She had succeeded, under +Tom's direction, in changing squarely about, and was now going against +the wind, instead of with it. +</P> + +<P> +"But we can't expect to make much speed," Tom said, as he signaled for +more power, for he had lowered it somewhat in making the turn. +</P> + +<P> +But Tom himself scarcely had reckoned on the force of his craft, for as +the propellers whirled more rapidly the aerial warship did begin to +make headway, and that in the teeth of a terrific wind. +</P> + +<P> +"She's doing it, Tom! She's doing it!" cried Ned exultingly. +</P> + +<P> +"I believe she is," agreed the lieutenant. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, so much the better," Tom said, trying to be calm. "If she can +keep this up a little while I'll give her a rest and we'll go up above +the storm area, and beat back home." +</P> + +<P> +The Mars, so far, had met every test. Tom had decided on ten minutes +more of gale-fighting, when from the tube that communicated with the +engine-room came a shrill whistle. +</P> + +<P> +"See what that is, Ned," Tom directed. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," called Ned into the mouthpiece. "What's the matter?" +</P> + +<P> +"Short circuit in the big motor," was the reply. "We've got to run on +storage battery. Send Tom back here! Something queer has happened!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE STOWAWAYS +</H3> + +<P> +Ned repeated the message breathlessly. +</P> + +<P> +"Short circuit!" gasped Tom. "Run on storage battery! I'll have to see +to that. Take the wheel somebody!" +</P> + +<P> +"Wouldn't it be better to turn about, and run before the wind, so as +not to put too great a strain on the machinery?" asked Lieutenant +Marbury. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps," agreed Tom. "Hold her this way, though, until I see what's +wrong!" +</P> + +<P> +Ned and the government man took the wheel, while Tom hurried along the +runway leading from the pilot-house to the machinery cabin. The gale +was still blowing fiercely. +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor cast a hasty look about the interior of the place as +he entered. He sniffed the air suspiciously, and was aware of the odor +of burning insulation. +</P> + +<P> +"What happened?" he asked, noting that already the principal motive +power was coming from the big storage battery. The shift had been made +automatically, when the main motor gave out. +</P> + +<P> +"It's hard to say," was the answer of the chief engineer. "We were +running along all right, and we got your word to switch on more power, +after the turn. We did that all right, and she was running as smooth as +a sewing-machine, when, all of a sudden, she short-circuited, and the +storage battery cut in automatically." +</P> + +<P> +"Think you put too heavy a load on the motor?" Tom asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Couldn't have been that. The shunt box would have taken that up, and +the circuit-breaker would have worked, saving us a burn-out, and that's +what happened—a burn-out. The motor will have to be rewound." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, no use trying to fight this gale with the storage battery," Tom +said, after a moment's thought. "We'll run before it. That's the +easiest way. Then we'll try to rise above the wind." +</P> + +<P> +He sent the necessary message to the pilot-house. A moment later the +shift was made, and once more the Mars was scudding before the storm. +Then Tom gave his serious attention to what had happened in the engine +room. +</P> + +<P> +As he bent over the burned-out motor, looking at the big shiny +connections, he saw something that startled him. With a quick motion +Tom Swift picked up a bar of copper. It was hot to the touch—so hot +that he dropped it with a cry of pain, though he had let go so quickly +that the burn was only momentary. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter?" asked Jerry Mound, Tom's engineer. +</P> + +<P> +"Matter!" cried Tom. "A whole lot is the matter! That copper bar is +what made the short circuit. It's hot yet from the electric current. +How did it fall on the motor connections?" +</P> + +<P> +The engine room force gathered about the young inventor. No one could +explain how the copper bar came to be where it was. Certainly no one +of Tom's employees had put it there, and it could not have fallen by +accident, for the motor connections were protected by a mesh of wire, +and a hand would have to be thrust under them to put the bar in place. +Tom gave a quick look at his men. He knew he could trust them—every +one. But this was a queer happening. +</P> + +<P> +For a moment Tom did not know what to think, and then, as the memory of +that warning telegram came to him, he had an idea. +</P> + +<P> +"Were any strangers in this cabin before the start was made?" he asked +Mr. Mound. +</P> + +<P> +"Not that I know of," was the answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, there may be some here now," Tom said grimly. "Look about." +</P> + +<P> +But a careful search revealed no one. Yet the young inventor was sure +the bar of copper, which had done the mischief of short-circuiting the +motor, had been put in place deliberately. +</P> + +<P> +In reality there was no danger to the craft, since there was power +enough in the storage battery to run it for several hours. But the +happening showed Tom he had still to reckon with his enemies. +</P> + +<P> +He looked at the height gauge on the wall of the motor-room, and noted +that the Mars was going up. In accordance with Tom's instructions they +were sending her above the storm area. Once there, with no gale to +fight, they could easily beat their way back to a point above Shopton, +and make the best descent possible. +</P> + +<P> +And that was done while, under Tom's direction, his men took the +damaged motor apart, with a view to repairing it. +</P> + +<P> +"What was it, Tom?" asked Ned, coming back to join his chum, after +George Ventor, the assistant pilot, had taken charge of the wheel. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't exactly know, Ned," was the answer. "But I feel certain that +some of my enemies came aboard here and worked this mischief." +</P> + +<P> +"Your enemies came aboard?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and they must be here now. The placing of that copper bar proves +it." +</P> + +<P> +"Then let's make a search and find them, Tom. It must be some of those +foreign spies." +</P> + +<P> +"Just what I think." +</P> + +<P> +But a more careful search of the craft than the one Tom had casually +made revealed the presence of no one. All the crew and helpers were +accounted for, and, as they had been in Tom's service for some time, +they were beyond suspicion. Yet the fact remained that a seemingly +human agency had acted to put the main motor out of commission. Tom +could not understand it. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it sure is queer," observed Ned, as the search came to nothing. +</P> + +<P> +"It's worse than queer," declared Tom, "it's alarming! I don't know +when I'll be safe if we have ghosts aboard." +</P> + +<P> +"Ghosts?" repeated Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, when we can't find out who put that bar in place I might as well +admit it was a ghost," spoke Tom. "Certainly, if it was done by a man, +he didn't jump overboard after doing it, and he isn't here now. It sure +is queer!" +</P> + +<P> +Ned agreed with the last statement, at any rate. +</P> + +<P> +In due time the Mars, having fought her way above the storm, came over +Shopton, and then, the wind having somewhat died out, she fought her +way down, and, after no little trouble, was housed in the hangar. +</P> + +<P> +Tom cautioned his friends and workmen to say nothing to his father +about the mysterious happening on board. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll just tell him we had a slight accident, and let it go at that," +Tom decided. "No use in causing him worry." +</P> + +<P> +"But what are you going to do about it?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to keep careful watch over the aerial warship, at any rate," +declared Tom. "If there's a hidden enemy aboard, I'll starve him out." +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly, a guard, under the direction of Koku, was posted about the +big shed, but nothing came of it. No stranger was observed to sneak out +of the ship, after it had been deserted by the crew. The mystery seemed +deeper than ever. +</P> + +<P> +It took nearly a week to repair the big motor, and, during this time, +Tom put some improvements on the airship, and added the finishing +touches. +</P> + +<P> +He was getting it ready for the final government test, for the +authorities in Washington had sent word that they would have Captain +Warner, in addition to Lieutenant Marbury, make the final inspection +and write a report. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile several little things occurred to annoy Tom. He was besieged +with applications from new men who wanted to work, and many of these +men seemed to be foreigners. Tom was sure they were either spies of +some European nations, or the agents of spies, and they got no further +than the outer gate. +</P> + +<P> +But some strangers did manage to sneak into the works, though they were +quickly detected and sent about their business. Also, once or twice, +small fires were discovered in outbuildings, but they were soon +extinguished with little damage. Extra vigilance was the watchword. +</P> + +<P> +"And yet, with all my precautions, they may get me, or damage +something," declared Tom. "It is very annoying!" +</P> + +<P> +"It is," agreed Ned, "and we must be doubly on the lookout." +</P> + +<P> +So impressed was Ned with the necessity for caution that he arranged to +take his vacation at this time, so as to be on hand to help his chum, +if necessary. +</P> + +<P> +The Mars was nearing completion. The repaired motor was better than +ever, and everything was in shape for the final test. Mr. Damon was +persuaded to go along, and Koku was to be taken, as well as the two +government officials. +</P> + +<P> +The night before the trip the guards about the airship shed were +doubled, and Tom made two visits to the place before midnight. But +there was no alarm. +</P> + +<P> +Consequently, when the Mars started off on her final test, it was +thought that all danger from the spies was over. +</P> + +<P> +"She certainly is a beauty," said Captain Warner, as the big craft shot +upward. "I shall be interested in seeing how she stands gun fire, +though." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, she'll stand it," declared Lieutenant Marbury. The trip was to +consume several days of continuous flying, to test the engines. A large +supply of food and ammunition was aboard. +</P> + +<P> +It was after supper of the first day out, and our friends were seated +in the main cabin laying out a program for the next day, when sudden +yells came from a part of the motor cabin devoted to storage. Koku, who +had been sent to get out a barrel of oil, was heard to shout. +</P> + +<P> +"What's up?" asked Tom, starting to his feet. He was answered almost at +once by more yells. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Master! Come quickly!" cried the giant. "There are many men here. +There are stowaways aboard!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PRISONERS +</H3> + +<P> +For a moment, after hearing Koku's reply, neither Tom nor his friends +spoke. Then Ned, in a dazed sort of way, repeated: +</P> + +<P> +"Stowaways!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my—" began Mr. Damon, but that was as far as he got. +</P> + +<P> +From the engine compartment, back of the amidship cabin, came a sound +of cries and heavy blows. The yells of Koku could be heard above those +of the others. +</P> + +<P> +Then the door of the cabin where Tom Swift and his friends were was +suddenly burst open, and seven or eight men threw themselves within. +They were led by a man with a small, dark mustache and a little tuft of +whiskers on his chin—an imperial. He looked the typical Frenchman, and +his words, snapped out, bore out that belief. +</P> + +<P> +What he said was in French, as Tom understood, though he knew little of +that language. Also, what the Frenchman said produced an immediate +result, for the men following him sprang at our friends with +overwhelming fierceness. +</P> + +<P> +Before Tom, Ned, Captain Warner, Mr. Damon or Lieutenant Marbury could +grasp any weapon with which to defend themselves, had their intentions +been to do so, they were seized. +</P> + +<P> +Against such odds little could be done, though our friends did not give +up without a struggle. +</P> + +<P> +"What does this mean?" angrily demanded Tom Swift. "Who are you? What +are you doing aboard my craft? Who are—" +</P> + +<P> +His words were lost in smothered tones, for one of his assailants put a +heavy cloth over his mouth, and tied it there, gagging him. Another +man, with a quick motion, whipped a rope about Tom's hands and feet, +and he was soon securely bound. +</P> + +<P> +In like manner the others were treated, and, despite the struggles of +Mr. Damon, the two government men and Ned, they were soon put in a +position where they could do nothing—helplessly bound, and laid on a +bench in the main cabin, staring blankly up at the ceiling. Each one +was gagged so effectively that he could not utter more than a faint +moan. +</P> + +<P> +Of the riot of thoughts that ran through the heads of each one, I leave +you to imagine. +</P> + +<P> +What did it all mean? Where had the strange men come from? What did +they mean by thus assaulting Tom and his companions? And what had +happened to the others of the crew—Koku, Jerry Mound, the engineer, +and George Ventor, the assistant pilot? +</P> + +<P> +These were only a few of the questions Tom asked himself, as he lay +there, bound and helpless. Doubtless Mr. Damon and the others were +asking themselves similar questions. +</P> + +<P> +One thing was certain—whatever the stowaways, as Koku had called them, +had done, they had not neglected the Mars, for she was running along at +about the same speed, though in what direction Tom could not tell. He +strained to get a view of the compass on the forward wall of the cabin, +but he could not see it. +</P> + +<P> +It had been a rough-and-tumble fight, by which our friends were made +prisoners, but no one seemed to have been seriously, or even slightly, +hurt. The invaders, under the leadership of the Frenchman, were rather +ruffled, but that was all. +</P> + +<P> +Pantingly they stood in line, surveying their captives, while the man +with the mustache and imperial smiled in a rather superior fashion at +the row of bound ones. He spoke in his own tongue to the men, who, with +the exception of one, filed out, going, as Tom and the others could +note, to the engine-room in the rear. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope I have not had to hurt any of you," the Frenchman observed, +with sarcastic politeness. "I regret the necessity that caused me to do +this, but, believe me, it was unavoidable." +</P> + +<P> +He spoke with some accent, and Tom at once decided this was the same +man who had once approached Eradicate. He also recognized him as the +man he had seen in the woods the day of the outing. +</P> + +<P> +"He's one of the foreign spies," thought Tom "and he's got us and the +ship, too. They were too many for us!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom's anxiety to speak, to hold some converse with the captor, was so +obvious that the Frenchman said: +</P> + +<P> +"I am going to treat you as well as I can under the circumstances. You +and your other friends, who are also made prisoners, will be allowed to +be together, and then you can talk to your hearts' content." +</P> + +<P> +The other man, who had remained with the evident ringleader of the +stowaways, asked a question, in French, and he used the name La Foy. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah!" thought Tom. "This is the leader of the gang that attacked Koku +in the shop that night. They have been waiting their chance, and now +they have made good. But where did they come from? Could they have +boarded us from some other airship?" +</P> + +<P> +Yet, as Tom asked himself that question, he knew it could hardly have +been possible. The men must have been in hiding on his own craft, they +must have been, as Koku had cried out—stowaways—and have come out at +a preconcerted signal to overpower the aviators. +</P> + +<P> +"If you will but have patience a little longer," went on La Foy, for +that was evidently the name of the leader, "you will all be together. +We are just considering where best to put you so that you will not +suffer too much. It is quite a problem to deal with so many prisoners, +but we have no choice." +</P> + +<P> +The two Frenchmen conversed rapidly in their own language for a few +minutes, and then there came into the cabin another of the men who had +helped overpower Tom and his friends. What he told La Foy seemed to +give that individual satisfaction, for he smiled. +</P> + +<P> +"We are going to put you all together in the largest storeroom, which +is partly empty," La Foy said. "There you will be given food and drink, +and treated as well as possible under the circumstances. You will also +be unbound, and may converse among yourselves. I need hardly point +out," he went on, "that calling for help will be useless. We are a mile +or so in the air, and have no intention of descending," and he smiled +mockingly. +</P> + +<P> +"They must know how to navigate my aerial warship," thought Tom. "I +wonder what their game is, anyhow?" +</P> + +<P> +Night had fallen, but the cabin was aglow with electric lights. The +foreigners in charge of the Mars seemed to know their way about +perfectly, and how to manage the big craft. By the vibration Tom could +tell that the motor was running evenly and well. +</P> + +<P> +"But what happened to the others—to Mound, Ventor and Koku?" wondered +Tom. +</P> + +<P> +A moment later several of the foreigners entered. Some of them did not +look at all like Frenchmen, and Tom was sure one was a German and +another a Russian. +</P> + +<P> +"This will be your prison—for a while," said La Foy significantly, and +Tom wondered how long this would be the case. A sharp thought came to +him—how long would they be prisoners? Did not some other, and more +terrible, fate await them? +</P> + +<P> +As La Foy spoke, he opened a storeroom door that led off from the main, +or amidship, cabin. This room was intended to contain the supplies and +stores that would be taken on a long voyage. It was one of two, being +the larger, and now contained only a few odds and ends of little +importance. It made a strong prison, as Tom well knew, having planned +it. +</P> + +<P> +One by one, beginning with Tom, the prisoners were taken up and placed +in a recumbent position on the floor of the storeroom. Then were +brought in the engineer and assistant pilot, as well as Koku and a +machinist whom Tom had brought along to help him. Now the young +inventor and all his friends were together. It took four men to carry +Koku in, the giant being covered with a network of ropes. +</P> + +<P> +"On second thought," said La Foy, as he saw Koku being placed with his +friends, "I think we will keep the big man with us. We had trouble +enough to subdue him. Carry him back to the engine-room." +</P> + +<P> +So Koku, trussed up like some roped steer, was taken out again. +</P> + +<P> +"Now then," said La Foy to his prisoners, as he stood in the door of +the room, "I will unbind one of you, and he may loose the bonds of the +others." +</P> + +<P> +As he spoke, he took the rope from Tom's hands, and then, quickly +slipping out, locked and barred the door. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +APPREHENSIONS +</H3> + +<P> +For a moment or two, after the ropes binding his hands were loosed, Tom +Swift did nothing. He was not only stunned mentally, but the bonds had +been pulled so tightly about his wrists that the circulation was +impeded, and his cramped muscles required a little time in which to +respond. +</P> + +<P> +But presently he felt the tingle of the coursing blood, and he found he +could move his arms. He raised them to his head, and then his first +care was to remove the pad of cloth that formed a gag over his mouth. +Now he could talk. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I'll loosen you all in just a second," he said, as he bent over to +pick at the knot of the rope around his legs. His own voice sounded +strange to him. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know what it's all about, any more than you do," he went on, +speaking to the others. "It's a fierce game we're up against, and we've +got to make the best of it. As soon as we can move, and talk, we'll +decide what's best to do. Whoever these fellows are, and I believe they +are the foreign spies I've been warned about, they are in complete +possession of the airship." +</P> + +<P> +Tom found it no easy matter to loosen the bonds on his feet. The ropes +were well tied, and Tom's fingers were stiff from the lack of +circulation of blood. But finally he managed to free himself. When he +stood up in the dim storeroom, that was now a prison for all save Koku, +he found that he could not walk. He almost toppled over, so weak were +his legs from the tightness of the ropes. He sat down and worked his +muscles until they felt normal again. +</P> + +<P> +A few minutes later, weak and rather tottery, he managed to reach Mr. +Damon, whom he first unbound. He realized that Mr. Damon was the oldest +of his friends, and, consequently, would suffer most. And it was +characteristic of the eccentric gentleman that, as soon as his gag was +removed he burst out with: +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my wristlets, Tom! What does it all mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's more than I can say, Mr. Damon," replied Tom, with a mournful +shake of his head. "I'm very sorry it happened, for it looks as though +I hadn't taken proper care. The idea of those men stowing themselves +away on board here, and me not knowing it; and then coming out +unexpectedly and getting possession of the craft! It doesn't speak +very well for my smartness." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, Tom, anyone might have been fooled by those plotting +foreigners," said Mr. Damon. "Now, we'll try to turn matters about and +get the best of them. Oh, but it feels good to be free once more!" +</P> + +<P> +He stretched his benumbed and stiffened limbs and then helped Tom free +the others. They stood up, looking at each other in their dimly lighted +prison. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if this isn't the limit I don't know what is!" cried Ned Newton. +</P> + +<P> +"They got the best of you, Tom," spoke Lieutenant Marbury. +</P> + +<P> +"Are they really foreign spies?" asked Captain Warner. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied his assistant. "They managed to carry out the plot we +tried to frustrate. It was a good trick, too, hiding on board, and +coming out with a rush." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that what they did?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"It looks so," observed Tom. "The attack must have started in the +engine-room," he went on, with a look at Mound and Ventor. "What +happened there?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's about the way it was," answered the engineer. "We were +working away, making some adjustments, oiling the parts and seeing that +everything was running smoothly, when, all at once, I heard Koku yell. +He had gone in the oil room. At first I thought something had gone +wrong with the ship, but, when I looked at the giant, I saw he was +being attacked by four strange men. And, before I, or any of the other +men, could do anything, they all swarmed down on us. +</P> + +<P> +"There must have been a dozen of them, and they simply overwhelmed us. +One of them hit Koku on the head with an iron bar, and that took all +the fight out of the giant, or the story might have been a different +one. As it was, we were overpowered, and that's all I know until we +were carried in here, and saw you folks all tied up as we were." +</P> + +<P> +"They burst in on us in the same way," Tom explained. "But where did +they come from? Where were they hiding?" +</P> + +<P> +"In the oil and gasoline storeroom that opens out of the motor +compartment," answered Mound, the engineer. "It isn't half full, you +know, and there's room for more than a dozen men in it. They must have +gone in some time last night, when the airship was in the hangar, and +remained hidden among the boxes and barrels until they got ready to +come out and overpower us." +</P> + +<P> +"That's it," decided Tom. "But I don't understand how they got in. The +hangar was well guarded all night." +</P> + +<P> +"Some of your men might have been bribed," suggested Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that is so," admitted Tom, and, later, he learned that such had +been the case. The foreign spies, for such they were, had managed to +corrupt one of Tom's trusted employees, who had looked the other way +when La Foy and his fellow-conspirators sneaked into the airship shed +and secreted themselves. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, discussing how they got on board isn't going to do us any good +now," Tom remarked ruefully. "The question is—what are we going to do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon. "There's only one thing to +do!" +</P> + +<P> +"What is that?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, get out of here, call a policeman, and have these scoundrels +arrested. I'll prosecute them! I'll have my lawyer on hand to see that +they get the longest terms the statutes call for! Bless my pocketbook, +but I will!" and Mr. Damon waxed quite indignant. +</P> + +<P> +"That's easier said than done," observed Tom Swift, quietly. "In the +first place, it isn't going to be an easy matter to get out of here." +</P> + +<P> +He looked around the storeroom, which was then their prison. It was +illuminated by a single electric light, which showed some boxes and +barrels piled in the rear. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing in them to help us get out," Tom went on, for he knew what the +contents were. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we'll get out," declared Ned confidently, "but I don't believe +we'll find a policeman ready to take our complaint. The upper air isn't +very well patrolled as yet." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," agreed Mr. Damon. "I forgot that we were in an airship. +But what is to be done, Tom? We really are captives aboard our own +craft." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, worse luck," returned the young inventor. "I feel foolish when I +think how we let them take us prisoners." +</P> + +<P> +"We couldn't help it," Ned commented. "They came on us too suddenly. We +didn't have a chance. And they outnumbered us two to one. If they could +take care of big Koku, what chance did we have?" +</P> + +<P> +"Very little," said Engineer Mound. "They were desperate fellows. They +know something about aircraft, too. For, as soon as Koku, Ventor and I +were disposed of, some of them went at the machinery as if they had +been used to running it all their lives." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, the foreigners are experts when it comes to craft of the air," +said Captain Warner. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, they seem to be running her, all right," admitted the young +inventor, "and at good speed, too. They have increased our running +rate, if I am any judge." +</P> + +<P> +"By several miles an hour," confirmed the assistant pilot. "Though in +which direction they are heading, and what they are going to do with us +is more than I can guess." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so!" agreed Mr. Damon. "What is to become of us? They may heave +us overboard into the ocean!" +</P> + +<P> +"Into the ocean!" cried Ned apprehensively. "Are we near the sea?" +</P> + +<P> +"We must be, by this time," spoke Tom. "We were headed in that +direction, and we have come almost far enough to put us somewhere over +the Atlantic, off the Jersey coast." +</P> + +<P> +A look of apprehension was on the faces of all. But Tom's face did not +remain clouded long. +</P> + +<P> +"We won't try to swim until we have to," he said. "Now, let's take an +account of stock, and see if we have any means of getting out of this +prison." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ACROSS THE SEA +</H3> + +<P> +With one accord the hands of the captives sought their pockets. +Probably the first thought of each one was a knife—a pocket knife. But +blank looks succeeded their first hopeful ones, for the hands came out +empty. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a thing!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Not a blessed thing! They have +even taken my keys and—my fountain pen!" +</P> + +<P> +"I guess they searched us all while they were struggling with us, tying +us up," suggested Ned. "I had a knife with a big, strong blade, but +it's gone." +</P> + +<P> +"So is mine," echoed Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"And I haven't even a screwdriver, or a pocket-wrench," declared the +engineer, "though I had both." +</P> + +<P> +"They evidently knew what they were doing," said Lieutenant Marbury. "I +don't usually carry a revolver, but of late I have had a small +automatic in my pocket. That's gone, too." +</P> + +<P> +"And so are all my things," went on his naval friend. "That Frenchman, +La Foy, was taking no chances." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if we haven't any weapons, or means of getting out of here, we +must make them," said Tom, as hopefully as he could under the +circumstances. "I don't know all the things that were put in this +storeroom, and perhaps there may be something we can use." +</P> + +<P> +"Shall we make the try now?" asked Ned. "I'm getting thirsty, at least. +Lucky we had supper before they came out at us." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, there isn't any water in here, or anything to eat, of so much I +am sure," went on Tom "So we will have to depend on our captors for +that." +</P> + +<P> +"At least we can shout and ask for water," said Lieutenant Marbury. +"They have no excuse for being needlessly cruel." +</P> + +<P> +They all agreed that this might not be a bad plan, and were preparing +to raise a united shout, when there came a knock on the door of their +prison. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you willing to listen to reason?" asked a voice they recognized as +that of La Foy. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean by reason?" asked Tom bitterly. "You have no right to +impose any conditions on us." +</P> + +<P> +"I have the right of might, and I intend exercising it," was the sharp +rejoinder. "If you will listen to reason—" +</P> + +<P> +"Which kind—yours or ours?" asked Tom pointedly. +</P> + +<P> +"Mine, in this case," snapped back the Frenchman. "What I was going to +say was that I do not intend to starve you, or cause you discomfort by +thirst. I am going to open the door and put in food and water. But I +warn you that any attempt to escape will be met with severe measures. +</P> + +<P> +"We are in sufficient force to cope with you. I think you have seen +that." He spoke calmly and in perfect English, though with a marked +accent. "My men are armed, and will stand here ready to meet violence +with violence," he went on. "Is that understood?" +</P> + +<P> +For a moment none of the captives replied. +</P> + +<P> +"I think it will be better to give in to him at least for a while," +said Captain Warner in a low voice to Tom. "We need water, and will +soon need food. We can think and plan better if we are well nourished." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you think I should promise not to raise a row?" +</P> + +<P> +"For the time being—yes." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I am waiting!" came in sharp tones from the other side of the +portal. +</P> + +<P> +"Our answer is—yes," spoke Tom. "We will not try to get out—just +yet," he added significantly. +</P> + +<P> +A key was heard grating in the lock, and, a moment later, the door slid +back. Through the opening could be seen La Foy and some of his men +standing armed. Others had packages of food and jugs of water. A +plentiful supply of the latter was carried aboard the Mars. +</P> + +<P> +"Keep back from the door!" was the stern command of La Foy. "The food +and drink will be passed in only if you keep away from the entrance. +Remember my men are armed!" +</P> + +<P> +The warning was hardly needed, for the weapons could plainly be seen. +Tom had half a notion that perhaps a concerted rush would carry the day +for him and his friends, but he was forced to abandon that idea. +</P> + +<P> +While the guards looked on, others of the "pirate crew," as Ned dubbed +them, passed in food and water. Then the door was locked again. +</P> + +<P> +They all felt better after drinking the water, which was made cool by +evaporation, for the airship was quite high above the earth when Tom's +enemies captured it, and the young inventor felt sure it had not +descended any. +</P> + +<P> +No one felt much like eating, however, so the food was put away for a +time. And then, somewhat refreshed, they began looking about for some +means of getting out of their prison. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course we might batter down the door, in time, by using some of +these boxes as rams," said Tom. "But the trouble is, that would make a +noise, and they could stand outside and drive us back with guns and +pistols, of which they seem to have plenty." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and they could turn some of your own quick-firers on us," added +Captain Warner. "No, we must work quietly, I think, and take them +unawares, as they took us. That is our only plan." +</P> + +<P> +"We will be better able to see what we have here by daylight," Tom +said. "Suppose we wait until morning?" +</P> + +<P> +That plan was deemed best, and preparations made for spending the night +in their prison. +</P> + +<P> +It was a most uncomfortable night for all of them. The floor was their +only bed, and their only covering some empty bags that had contained +supplies. But even under these circumstances they managed to doze off +fitfully. +</P> + +<P> +Once they were all awakened by a violent plunging of the airship. The +craft seemed to be trying to stand on her head, and then she rocked +violently from side to side, nearly turning turtle. "What is it?" +gasped Ned, who was lying next to Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"They must be trying some violent stunts," replied the young inventor, +"or else we have run into a storm." +</P> + +<P> +"I think the latter is the case," observed Lieutenant Marbury. +</P> + +<P> +And, as the motion of the craft kept up, though less violently, this +was accepted as the explanation. Through the night the Mars flew, but +whither the captives knew not. +</P> + +<P> +The first gray streaks of dawn finally shone through the only window of +their prison. Sore, lame and stiff, wearied in body and disturbed in +mind, the captives awoke. Tom's first move was toward the window. It +was high up, but, by standing on a box, he could look through it. He +uttered an exclamation. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Ned, swaying to and fro from the violent motion of +the aerial warship. +</P> + +<P> +"We are away out over the sea," spoke Tom, "and in the midst of a bad +storm." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE LIGHTNING BOLT +</H3> + +<P> +Tom turned away from the window, to find his companions regarding him +anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +"A storm," repeated Ned. "What sort?" +</P> + +<P> +"It might turn into any sort," replied Tom. "All I can see now is a lot +of black clouds, and the wind must be blowing pretty hard, for there's +quite a sea on." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my galvanometer!" cried Mr. Damon. "Then we are out over the +ocean again, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, there's no doubt of it." +</P> + +<P> +"What part?" asked the assistant pilot. +</P> + +<P> +"That's more than I can tell," Tom answered. +</P> + +<P> +"Suppose I take a look?" suggested Captain Warner. "I've done quite a +bit of sailing in my time." +</P> + +<P> +But, when he had taken a look through the window at which Tom had been +standing, the naval officer descended, shaking his head. +</P> + +<P> +"There isn't a landmark in sight," he announced. "We might be over the +middle of the Atlantic, for all I could tell." +</P> + +<P> +"Hardly as far as that," spoke Tom. "They haven't been pushing the Mars +at that speed. But we may be across to the other side before we realize +it." +</P> + +<P> +"How's that?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the ship is in the possession of these foreign spies," went on +Tom. "All their interests are in Europe, though it would be hard to say +what nationality is in command here. I think there are even some +Englishmen among those who attacked us, as well as French, Germans, +Italians and Russians." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it seems to be a combination of European nations against us," +admitted Captain Warner. "Probably, after they have made good their +seizure of Tom's aerial warship, they will portion her out among +themselves, or use her as a model from which to make others." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think that is their object?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Undoubtedly," was the captain's answer. "It has been the object of +these foreign spies, all along, not only to prevent the United States +from enjoying the benefits of these progressive inventions, but to use +them for themselves. They would stop at nothing to gain their ends. It +seems we did not sufficiently appreciate their power and daring." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, they've got us, at any rate," observed Tom, "and they may take +us and the ship to some far-off foreign country." +</P> + +<P> +"If they don't heave us overboard half-way there," commented Ned, in +rather gloomy tones. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, of course, there's that possibility," admitted Tom. "They are +desperate characters." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we must do something," declared Lieutenant Marbury. "Come, it's +daylight now, and we can see to work better. Let's see if we can't find +a way to get out of this prison. Say, but this sure is a storm!" he +cried, as the airship rolled and pitched violently. +</P> + +<P> +"They are handling her well, though," observed Tom, as the craft came +quickly to an even keel. "Either they have a number of expert birdmen +on board, or they can easily adapt themselves to a new aircraft. She is +sailing splendidly." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, let's eat something, and set to work," proposed Ned. +</P> + +<P> +They brought out the food which had been given to them the night +before, but before they could eat this, there came a knock on the door, +and more food and fresh water was handed in, under the same precautions +as before. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and his companions indignantly demanded to be released, but their +protests were only laughed at, and while the guards stood with ready +weapons the door was again shut and locked. +</P> + +<P> +But the prisoners were not the kind to sit idly down in the face of +this. Under Tom's direction they set about looking through their place +of captivity for something by which they could release themselves. At +first they found nothing, and Ned even suggested trying to cut a way +through the wooden walls with a fingernail file, which he found in one +of his pockets, when Tom, who had gone to the far end of the storeroom, +uttered a cry. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it—a way out?" asked Lieutenant Marbury anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +"No, but means to that end," Tom replied. "Look, a file and a saw, left +here by some of my workmen, perhaps," and he brought out the tools. He +had found them behind a barrel in the far end of the compartment. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurray!" cried Ned. "That's the ticket! Now we'll soon show these +fellows what's what!" +</P> + +<P> +"Go easy!" cautioned Tom. "We must work carefully. It won't do to slam +around and try to break down the door with these. I think we had better +select a place on the side wall, break through that, and make an +opening where we can come out unnoticed. Then, when we are ready, we +can take them by surprise. We'll have to do something like that, for +they outnumber us, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"That is so," agreed Captain Warner. "We must use strategy." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, where would be a good place to begin to burrow out?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Here," said Tom, indicating a place far back in the room. "We can work +there in turns, sawing a hole through the wall. It will bring us out in +the passage between the aft and amidship cabins, and we can go either +way." +</P> + +<P> +"Then let's begin!" cried Ned enthusiastically, and they set to work. +</P> + +<P> +While the aerial warship pitched and tossed in the storm, over some +part of the Atlantic, Tom and his friends took turns in working their +way to freedom. With the sharp end of the file a small hole was made, +the work being done as slowly as a rat gnaws, so as to make no noise +that would be heard by their captors. In time the hole was large enough +to admit the end of the saw. +</P> + +<P> +But this took many hours, and it was not until the second day of their +captivity that they had the hole nearly large enough for the passage of +one person at a time. They had not been discovered, they thought. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile they had been given food and water at intervals, but to all +demands that they be released, or at least told why they were held +prisoners, a deaf ear was turned. +</P> + +<P> +They could only guess at the fate of Koku. Probably the giant was kept +bound, for once he got the chance to use his enormous strength it might +go hard with the foreigners. +</P> + +<P> +The Mars continued to fly through the air. Sometimes, as Tom and his +friends could tell by the motion, she was almost stationary in the +upper regions, and again she seemed to be flying at top speed. +Occasionally there came the sound of firing. +</P> + +<P> +"They're trying my guns," observed Tom grimly. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you suppose they are being attacked?" asked Ned, hopefully. +</P> + +<P> +"Hardly," replied Captain Warner. "The United States possesses no craft +able to cope with this one in aerial warfare, and they are hardly +engaging in part of the European war yet. I think they are just trying +Tom's new guns." +</P> + +<P> +Later our friends learned that such was the case. +</P> + +<P> +The storm had either passed, or the Mars had run out of the path of it, +for, after the first few hours of pitching and tossing, the atmosphere +seemed reduced to a state of calm. +</P> + +<P> +All the while they were secretly working to gain their freedom so they +might attack and overpower their enemies, they took occasional +observations from the small window. But they could learn nothing of +their whereabouts. They could only view the heaving ocean, far below +them, or see a mass of cloud-mist, which hid the earth, if so be that +the Mars was sailing over land. +</P> + +<P> +"But how much longer can they keep it up?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we have fuel and supplies aboard for nearly two weeks," Tom +answered. +</P> + +<P> +"And by the end of that time we may all be dead," spoke the young bank +clerk despondently. +</P> + +<P> +"No, we'll be out of here before then!" declared Lieutenant Marbury. +</P> + +<P> +Indeed the hole was now almost large enough to enable them to crawl out +one at a time. They could not, of course, see how it looked from the +outside, but Tom had selected a place for its cutting so that the +sawdust and the mark of the panel that was being removed, would not +ordinarily be noticeable. +</P> + +<P> +They set night as the time for making the attempt—late at night, when +it was hoped that most of their captors would be asleep. +</P> + +<P> +Finally the last cut was made, and a piece of wood hung over the +opening only by a shred, all ready to knock out. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll do it at midnight," announced Tom. +</P> + +<P> +Anxious, indeed, were those last hours of waiting. The time had almost +arrived for the attempt, when Tom, who had been nervously pacing to and +fro, remarked: +</P> + +<P> +"We must be running into another storm. Feel how she heaves and rolls!" +</P> + +<P> +Indeed the Mars was most unsteady. +</P> + +<P> +"It sure is a storm!" cried Ned, "and a heavy one, too," for there came +a burst of thunder, that seemed like a report of Tom's giant cannon. +</P> + +<P> +In another instant they were in the midst of a violent thunderstorm, +the airship pitching and tossing in a manner to almost throw them from +their feet. +</P> + +<P> +As Tom reached up to switch on the electric light again, there came a +flash of lightning that well nigh blinded them. And so close after it +as to seem simultaneous, there came such a crash of thunder as to stun +them all. There was a tingling, as of a thousand pins and needles in +the body of each of the captives, and a strong smell of sulphur. Then, +as the echoes of the clap died away, Tom yelled: +</P> + +<P> +"She's been struck! The airship has been struck!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +FREEDOM +</H3> + +<P> +For a moment there was silence, following Tom's wild cry and the noise +of the thunderclap. Then, as other, though less loud reverberations of +the storm continued to sound, the captives awoke to a realization of +what had happened. They had been partially stunned, and were almost as +in a dream. +</P> + +<P> +"Are—are we all right?" stammered Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my soul! What has happened?" cried Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"We've been struck by lightning!" Tom repeated. "I don't know whether +we're all right or not." +</P> + +<P> +"We seem to be falling!" exclaimed Lieutenant Marbury. +</P> + +<P> +"If the whole gas bag isn't ripped to pieces we're lucky," commented +Jerry Mound. +</P> + +<P> +Indeed, it was evident that the Mars was sinking rapidly. To all there +came the sensation of riding in an elevator in a skyscraper and being +dropped a score of stories. +</P> + +<P> +Then, as they stood there in the darkness, illuminated only by flashes +from the lightning outside the window, waiting for an unknown fate, Tom +Swift uttered a cry of delight. +</P> + +<P> +"We've stopped falling!" he cried. "The automatic gas machine is +pumping. Part of the gas bag was punctured, but the unbroken +compartments hold!" +</P> + +<P> +"If part of the gas leaked out I don't see why it wasn't all set on +fire and exploded," observed Captain Warner. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a non-burnable gas," Tom quickly explained. "But come on. This +may be our very chance. There seems to be something going on that may +be in our favor." +</P> + +<P> +Indeed the captives could hear confused cries and the running to and +fro of many feet. +</P> + +<P> +He made for the sawed panel, and, in another instant, had burst out and +was through it, out into the passageway between the after and amidship +cabins. His companions followed him. +</P> + +<P> +They looked into the rear cabin, or motor compartment, and a scene of +confusion met their gaze. Two of the foreign men who had seized the +ship lay stretched out on the floor near the humming machinery, which +had been left to run itself. A look in the other direction, toward the +main cabin, showed a group of the foreign spies bending over the inert +body of La Foy, the Frenchman, stretched out on a couch. +</P> + +<P> +"What has happened?" cried Ned. "What does it all mean?' +</P> + +<P> +"The lightning!" exclaimed Tom. "The bolt that struck the ship has +knocked out some of our enemies! Now is the time to attack them!" +</P> + +<P> +The Mars seemed to have passed completely through a narrow storm belt. +She was now in a quiet atmosphere, though behind her could be seen the +fitful play of lightning, and there could be heard the distant rumble +of thunder. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" cried Tom. "We must act quickly, while they are demoralized! +Come on!" +</P> + +<P> +His friends needed no further urging. Jerry Mound and the machinist +rushed to the engine-room, to look after any of the enemy that might be +there, while Tom, Ned and the others ran into the middle cabin. +</P> + +<P> +"Grab 'em! Tie 'em up!" cried Tom, for they had no weapons with which +to make an attack. +</P> + +<P> +But none were needed. So stunned were the foreigners by the lightning +bolt, which had miraculously passed our friends, and so unnerved by the +striking down of La Foy, their leader, that they seemed like men half +asleep. Before they could offer any resistance they were bound with the +same ropes that had held our friends in bondage. That is, all but the +big Frenchman himself. He seemed beyond the need of binding. +</P> + +<P> +Mound, the engineer, and his assistant, came hurrying in from the +motor-room, followed by Koku. +</P> + +<P> +"We found him chained up," Jerry explained, as the big giant, freed +from his captivity, rubbed his chafed wrists. +</P> + +<P> +"Are there any of the foreigners back there?' +</P> + +<P> +"Only those two knocked out by the lightning," the engineer explained. +"We've made them secure. I see you've got things here in shape." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Tom. "And now to see where we are, and to get back home. +Whew! But this has been a time! Koku, what happened to you?" +</P> + +<P> +"They no let anything happen. I be in chains all the while," the giant +answered. "Jump on me before I can do anything!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you're out, now, and I think we'll have you stand guard over +these men. The tables are turned, Koku." +</P> + +<P> +The bound ones were carried to the same prison whence our friends had +escaped, but their bonds were not taken off, and Koku was put in the +place with them. By this time La Foy and the two other stricken men +showed signs of returning life. They had only been stunned. +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor and his friends, once more in possession of their +airship, lost little time in planning to return. They found that the +spies were all expert aeronauts, and had kept a careful chart of their +location. They were then halfway across the Atlantic, and in a short +time longer would probably have been in some foreign country. But Tom +turned the Mars about. +</P> + +<P> +The craft had only been slightly damaged by the lightning bolt, though +three of the gas bag compartments were torn, The others sufficed, +however, to make the ship sufficiently buoyant. +</P> + +<P> +When morning came Tom and his friends had matters running almost as +smoothly as before their capture. +</P> + +<P> +The prisoners had no chance to escape, and, indeed, they seemed to have +been broken in spirit. La Foy was no longer the insolent, mocking +Frenchman that he had been, and the two chief foreign engineers seemed +to have lost some of their reason when the lightning struck them. +</P> + +<P> +"But it was a mighty lucky and narrow escape for us," said Ned, as he +and Tom sat in the pilot-house the second day of the return trip. +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," agreed his chum. +</P> + +<P> +Once again they were above the earth, and, desiring to get rid as soon +as possible of the presence of the spies, a landing was made near New +York City, and the government authorities communicated with. Captain +Warner and Lieutenant Marbury took charge of the prisoners, with some +Secret Service men, and the foreigners were soon safely locked up. +</P> + +<P> +"And now what are you going to do, Tom?" asked Ned, when, once more, +they had the airship to themselves. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going back to Shopton, fix up the gas bag, and give her another +government trial," was the answer. +</P> + +<P> +And, in due time, this was done. Tom added some improvements to the +aircraft, making it better than ever, and when she was given the test +required by the government, she was an unqualified success, and the +rights to the Mars were purchased for a large sum. In sailing, and in +the matter of guns and bombs, Tom's craft answered every test. +</P> + +<P> +"So you see I was right, after all, Dad," the young inventor said, when +informed that he had succeeded. "We can shoot off even bigger guns than +I thought from the deck of the Mars." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Tom," replied the aged inventor, "I admit I was wrong." +</P> + +<P> +Tom's aerial warship was even a bigger success than he had dared to +hope. Once the government men fully understood how to run it, in which +Tom played a prominent part in giving instructions, they put the Mars +to a severe test. She was taken out over the ocean, and her guns +trained on an obsolete battleship. Her bombs and projectiles blew the +craft to pieces. +</P> + +<P> +"The Mars will be the naval terror of the seas in any future war," +predicted Captain Warner. +</P> + +<P> +The Secret Service men succeeded in unearthing all the details of the +plot against Tom. His life, at times, had been in danger, but at the +last minute the man detailed to harm him lost his nerve. +</P> + +<P> +It was Tom's enemies who had set on fire the red shed, and who later +tried to destroy the ship by putting a corrosive acid in one of the +propellers. That plot, though, was not wholly successful. Then came the +time when one of the spies hid on board, and dropped the copper bar on +the motor, short-circuiting it. But for the storage-battery that scheme +might have wrought fearful damage. The spy who had stowed himself away +on the craft escaped at night by the connivance of one of Tom's corrupt +employees. +</P> + +<P> +The foreign spies were tried and found guilty, receiving merited +punishment. Of course the governments to which they belonged disclaimed +any part in the seizure of Tom's aerial warship. +</P> + +<P> +It came out at the trial that one of Tom's most trusted employees had +proved a traitor, and had the night before the test, allowed the +foreign spies to secrete themselves on board, to rush out at an +opportune time to overpower our hero and his friends. But luck was with +Tom at the end. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what are you going to tackle next, Tom?" asked Ned, one day +about a month after these exciting experiences. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," was the slow answer. "I think a self-swinging hammock, +under an apple tree, with a never-emptying pitcher of ice-cold lemonade +would be about the thing." +</P> + +<P> +"Good, Tom! And, if you'll invent that, I'll share it with you." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, come on, let's begin now," laughed Tom. "I need a vacation, +anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +But it is very much to be doubted if Tom Swift, even on a vacation, +could refrain from trying to invent something, either in the line of +airships, water, or land craft. And so, until he again comes to the +front with something new, we will take leave of him. +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<HR> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3> +THE TOM SWIFT SERIES +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +By VICTOR APPLETON +</P> + +<P> +These spirited tales convey in a realistic way, the wonderful advances +in land and sea locomotion. Stories like these are impressed upon the +memory and their reading is productive only of good. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE<BR> +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS<BR> +TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE<BR> +TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER<BR> +TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL<BR> +TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH<BR> +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +BY VICTOR APPLETON +</P> + +<P> +Moving pictures and photo plays are famous the world over, and in this +line of books the reader is given a full description of how the films +are made—the scenes of little dramas, indoors and out, trick pictures +to satisfy the curious, soul-stirring pictures of city affairs, life in +the Wild West, among the cowboys and Indians, thrilling rescues along +the seacoast, the daring of picture hunters in the jungle among savage +beasts, and the great risks run in picturing conditions in a land of +earthquakes. The volumes teem with adventures and will be found +interesting from first chapter to last. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AND THE FLOOD<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT PANAMA<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS UNDER THE SEA<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE WAR FRONT<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON FRENCH BATTLEFIELDS<BR> +MOVING PICTURE BOYS FIRST SHOWHOUSE<BR> +MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT SEASIDE PARK<BR> +MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON BROADWAY<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS OUTDOOR EXHIBITION<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS NEW IDEA<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Swift and his Aerial Warship, by +Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP *** + +***** This file should be named 1281-h.htm or 1281-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/8/1281/ + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tom Swift and his Aerial Warship + or, The Naval Terror of the Seas + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Posting Date: July 17, 2008 [EBook #1281] +Release Date: April, 1998 +[Last updated: July 12, 2013] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP *** + + + + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + + + + + + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP + +or + +The Naval Terror of the Seas + + +BY + +VICTOR APPLETON + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I TOM IS PUZZLED + II A FIRE ALARM + III A DESPERATE BATTLE + IV SUSPICIONS + V A QUEER STRANGER + VI THE AERIAL WARSHIP + VII WARNINGS + VIII A SUSPECTED PLOT + IX THE RECOIL CHECK + X THE NEW MEN + XI A DAY OFF + XII A NIGHT ALARM + XIII THE CAPTURE + XIV THE FIRST FLIGHT + XV IN DANGER + XVI TOM IS WORRIED + XVII AN OCEAN FLIGHT + XVIII IN A STORM + XIX QUEER HAPPENINGS + XX THE STOWAWAYS + XXI PRISONERS + XXII APPREHENSIONS + XXIII ACROSS THE SEA + XXIV THE LIGHTNING BOLT + XXV FREEDOM + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP + + + + +CHAPTER I + +TOM IS PUZZLED + + +"What's the matter, Tom? You look rather blue!" + +"Blue! Say, Ned, I'd turn red, green, yellow, or any other color of the +rainbow, if I thought it would help matters any." + +"Whew!" + +Ned Newton, the chum and companion of Tom Swift, gave vent to a whistle +of surprise, as he gazed at the young fellow sitting opposite him, near +a bench covered with strange-looking tools and machinery, while +blueprints and drawings were scattered about. + +Ranged on the sides of the room were models of many queer craft, most +of them flying machines of one sort or another, while through the open +door that led into a large shed could be seen the outlines of a speedy +monoplane. + +"As bad as that, eh, Tom?" went on Ned. "I thought something was up +when I first came in, but, if you'll excuse a second mention of the +color scheme, I should say it was blue--decidedly blue. You look as +though you had lost your last friend, and I want to assure you that if +you do feel that way, it's dead wrong. There's myself, for one, and +I'm sure Mr. Damon--" + +"Bless my gasoline tank!" exclaimed Tom, with a laugh, in imitation of +the gentleman Ned Newton had mentioned, "I know that! I'm not worrying +over the loss of any friends." + +"And there are Eradicate, and Koku, the giant, just to mention a couple +of others," went on Ned, with a smile. + +"That's enough!" exclaimed Tom. "It isn't that, I tell you." + +"Well, what is it then? Here I go and get a half-holiday off from the +bank, and just at the busiest time, too, to come and see you, and I +find you in a brown study, looking as blue as indigo, and maybe you're +all yellow inside from a bilious attack, for all I know." + +"Quite a combination of colors," admitted Tom. "But it isn't what you +think. It's just that I'm puzzled, Ned." + +"Puzzled?" and Ned raised his eyebrows to indicate how surprised he was +that anything should puzzle his friend. + +"Yes, genuinely puzzled." + +"Has anything gone wrong?" Ned asked. "No one is trying to take any of +your pet inventions away from you, is there?" + +"No, not exactly that, though it is about one of my inventions I am +puzzled. I guess I haven't shown you my very latest; have I, Ned?" + +"Well, I don't know, Tom. Time was when I could keep track of you and +your inventions, but that was in your early days, when you started with +a motorcycle and were glad enough to have a motorboat. But, since +you've taken to aerial navigation and submarine work, not to mention +one or two other lines of activity, I give up. I don't know where to +look next, Tom, for something new." + +"Well, this isn't so very new," went on the young inventor, for Tom +Swift had designed and patented many new machines of the air, earth and +water. "I'm just trying to work out some new problems in aerial +navigation, Ned," he went on. + +"I thought there weren't any more," spoke Ned, soberly enough. + +"Come, now, none of that!" exclaimed Tom, with a laugh. "Why, the +surface of aerial navigation has only been scratched. The science is +far from being understood, or even made safe, not to say perfected, as +water and land travel have been. There's lots of chance yet." + +"And you're working on something new?" asked Ned, as he looked around +the shop where he and Tom were sitting. As the young bank employee had +said, he had come away from the institution that afternoon to have a +little holiday with his chum, but Tom, seated in the midst of his +inventions, seemed little inclined to jollity. + +Through the open windows came the hum of distant machinery, for Tom +Swift and his father were the heads of a company founded to manufacture +and market their many inventions, and about their home were grouped +several buildings. From a small plant the business had grown to be a +great tree, under the direction of Tom and his father. + +"Yes, I'm working on something new," admitted Tom, after a moment of +silence. + +"And, Ned," he went on, "there's no reason why you shouldn't see it. +I've been keeping it a bit secret, until I had it a little further +advanced, but I've got to a point now where I'm stuck, and perhaps it +will do me good to talk to someone about it." + +"Not to talk to me, though, I'm afraid. What I don't know about +machinery, Tom, would fill a great many books. I don't see how I can +help you," and Ned laughed. + +"Well, perhaps you can, just the same, though you may not know a lot of +technical things about machines. It sometimes helps me just to tell my +troubles to a disinterested person, and hear him ask questions. I've +got dad half distracted trying to solve the problem, so I've had to let +up on him for a while. Come on out and see what you make of it." + +"Sure, Tom, anything to oblige. If you want me to sit in front of your +photo-telephone, and have my picture taken, I'm agreeable, even if you +shoot off a flashlight at my ear. Or, if you want me to see how long I +can stay under water without breathing I'll try that, too, provided you +don't leave me under too long, lead the way--I'm agreeable as far as +I'm able, old man." + +"Oh, it isn't anything like that," Tom answered with a laugh. "I might +as well give you a few hints, so you'll know what I'm driving at. Then +I'll take you out and show it to you." + +"What is it--air, earth or water?" asked Ned Newton, for he knew his +chum's activities led along all three lines. + +"This happens to be air." + +"A new balloon?" + +"Something like that. I call it my aerial warship, though." + +"Aerial warship, Tom! That sounds rather dangerous!" + +"It will be dangerous, too, if I can get it to work. That's what it's +intended for." + +"But a warship of the air!" cried Ned. "You can't mean it. A warship +carries guns, mortars, bombs, and--" + +"Yes, I know," interrupted Tom, "and I appreciate all that when I +called my newest craft an aerial warship." + +"But," objected Ned, "an aircraft that will carry big guns will be so +large that--" + +"Oh, mine is large enough," Tom broke in. + +"Then it's finished!" cried Ned eagerly, for he was much interested in +his chum's inventions. + +"Well, not exactly," Tom said. "But what I was going to tell you was +that all guns are not necessarily large. You can get big results with +small guns and projectiles now, for high-powered explosives come in +small packages. So it isn't altogether a question of carrying a certain +amount of weight. Of course, an aerial warship will have to be big, for +it will have to carry extra machinery to give it extra speed, and it +will have to carry a certain armament, and a large crew will be needed. +So, as I said, it will need to be large. But that problem isn't +worrying me." + +"Well, what is it, then?" asked Ned. + +"It's the recoil," said Tom, with a gesture of despair. + +"The recoil?" questioned Ned, wonderingly. + +"Yes, from the guns, you know. I haven't been able to overcome that, +and, until I do, I'm afraid my latest invention will be a failure." + +Ned shook his head. + +"I'm afraid I can't help you any," he said. "The only thing I know +about recoils is connected with an old shotgun my father used to own. + +"I took that once, when he didn't know it," Ned proceeded. "It was +pretty heavily loaded, for the crows had been having fun in our +cornfield, and dad had been shooting at them. This time I thought I'd +take a chance. + +"Well, I fired the gun. But it must have had a double charge in it and +been rusted at that. All I know is that after I pulled the trigger I +thought the end of the world had come. I heard a clap of thunder, and +then I went flying over backward into a blackberry patch." + +"That was the recoil," said Tom. + +"The what?" asked Ned. + +"The recoil. The recoil of the gun knocked you over." + +"Oh, yes," observed Ned, rubbing his shoulder in a reflective sort of +way. "I always thought it was something like that. But, at the time I +put it down to an explosion, and let it go at that." + +"No, it wasn't an explosion, properly speaking," said Tom. "You see, +when powder explodes, in a gun, or otherwise, its force is exerted in +all directions, up, down and every way." + +"This went mostly backward--in my direction," said Ned ruefully. + +"You only thought so," returned Tom. "Most of the power went out in +front, to force out the shot. Part of it, of course, was exerted on the +barrel of the gun--that was sideways--but the strength of the steel +held it in. And part of the force went backward against your shoulder. +That part was the recoil, and it is the recoil of the guns I figure on +putting aboard my aerial warship that is giving me such trouble." + +"Is that what makes you look so blue?" asked Ned. + +"That's it. I can't seem to find a way by which to take up the recoil, +and the force of it, from all the guns I want to carry, will just about +tear my ship to pieces, I figure." + +"Then you haven't actually tried it out yet?" asked Ned. + +"Not the guns, no. I have the warship of the air nearly done, but I've +worked out on paper the problem of the guns far enough so that I know +I'm up against it. It can't be done, and an aerial warship without guns +wouldn't be worth much, I'm afraid." + +"I suppose not," agreed Ned. "And is it only the recoil that is +bothering you?" + +"Mostly. But come, take a look at my latest pet," and Tom arose to lead +the way to another shed, a large one in the distance, toward which he +waved his hand to indicate to his chum that there was housed the +wonderful invention. + +The two chums crossed the yard, threading their way through the various +buildings, until they stood in front of the structure to which Tom had +called attention. + +"It's in here," he said. "I don't mind admitting that I'm quite proud +of it, Ned; that is, proud as far as I've gone. But the gun business +sure has me worried. I'm going to talk it off on you. Hello!" cried +Tom suddenly, as he put a key in the complicated lock on the door, +"someone has been in here. I wonder who it is?" + +Ned was a little startled at the look on Tom's face and the sound of +alarm in his chum's voice. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A FIRE ALARM + + +Tom Swift quickly opened the door of the big shed. It was built to +house a dirigible balloon, or airship of some sort. Ned could easily +tell that from his knowledge of Tom's previous inventions. + +"Something wrong?" asked the young bank clerk. + +"I don't know," returned Tom, and then as he looked inside the place, +he breathed a sigh of relief. + +"Oh, it's you, is it, Koku?" he asked, as a veritable giant of a man +came forward. + +"Yes, master, it is only Koku and your father," spoke the big chap, +with rather a strange accent. + +"Oh, is my father here?" asked Tom. "I was wondering who had opened the +door of this shed." + +"Yes, Tom," responded the elder Swift, coming up to them, "I had a new +idea in regard to some of those side guy wires, and I wanted to try it +out. I brought Koku with me to use his strength on some of them." + +"That's all right, Dad. Ned and I came out to wrestle with that recoil +problem again. I want to try some guns on the craft soon, but--" + +"You'd better not, Tom," warned his father. "It will never work, I tell +you. You can't expect to take up quick-firing guns and bombs in an +airship, and have them work properly. Better give it up." + +"I never will. I'll make it work, Dad!" + +"I don't believe you will, Tom. This time you have bitten off more than +you can chew, to use a homely but expressive statement." + +"Well, Dad, we'll see," began Tom easily. "There she is, Ned," he went +on. "Now, if you'll come around here..." + +But Tom never finished that sentence, for at that moment there came +running into the airship shed an elderly, short, stout, fussy +gentleman, followed by an aged colored man. Both of them seemed very +much excited. + +"Bless my socks, Tom!" cried the short, stout man. "There sure is +trouble!" + +"I should say So, Massa Tom!" added the colored man. "I done did +prognosticate dat some day de combustible material of which dat shed am +composed would conflaggrate--" + +"What's the matter?" interrupted Tom, jumping forward. "Speak out! +Eradicate! Mr. Damon, what is it?" + +"The red shed!" cried the short little man. "The red shed, Tom!" + +"It's on fire!" yelled the colored man. + +"Great thunderclaps!" cried Tom. "Come on--everybody on the job!" he +yelled. "Koku, pull the alarm! If that red shed goes--" + +Instantly the place was in confusion. Tom and Ned, looking from a +window of the hangar, saw a billow of black smoke roll across the yard. +But already the private fire bell was clanging out its warning. And, +while the work of fighting the flames is under way, I will halt the +progress of this story long enough to give my new readers a little idea +of who Tom Swift is, so they may read this book more intelligently. +Those of you who have perused the previous volumes may skip this part. + +Tom Swift, though rather young in years, was an inventor of note. His +tastes and talents were developed along the line of machinery and +locomotion. Motorcycles, automobiles, motorboats, submarine craft, and, +latest of all, craft of the air, had occupied the attention of Tom +Swift and his father for some years. + +Mr. Swift was a widower, and lived with Tom, his only son, in the +village of Shopton, New York State. Mrs. Baggert kept house for them, +and an aged colored man, Eradicate Sampson, with his mule, Boomerang, +did "odd jobs" about the Shopton home and factories. + +Among Tom's friends was a Mr. Wakefield Damon, from a nearby village. +Mr. Damon was always blessing something, from his hat to his shoes, a +harmless sort of habit that seemed to afford him much comfort. Then +there was Ned Newton, a boyhood chum of Tom's, who worked in the +Shopton bank. I will just mention Mary Nestor, a young lady of Shopton, +in whom Tom was more than ordinarily interested. I have spoken of Koku, +the giant. He really was a giant of a man, of enormous strength, and +was one of two whom Tom had brought with him from a strange land where +Tom was held captive for a time. You may read about it in a book +devoted to those adventures. + +Tom took Koku into his service, somewhat to the dismay of Eradicate, +who was desperately jealous. But poor Eradicate was getting old, and +could not do as much as he thought he could. So, in a great measure, +Koku replaced him, and Tom found much use for the giant's strength. + +Tom had begun his inventive work when, some years before this story +opens, he had bargained for Mr. Damon's motorcycle, after that machine +had shot its owner into a tree. Mr. Damon was, naturally, perhaps, much +disgusted, and sold the affair cheap. Tom repaired it, made some +improvements, and, in the first volume of this series, entitled "Tom +Swift and His Motor-cycle," you may read of his rather thrilling +adventures on his speedy road-steed. + +From then on Tom had passed a busy life, making many machines and +having some thrilling times with them. Just previous to the opening of +this story Tom had made a peculiar instrument, described in the volume +entitled "Tom Swift and His Photo-Telephone." With that a person +talking could not only see the features of the person with whom he was +conversing, but, by means of a selenium plate and a sort of camera, a +permanent picture could be taken of the person at either end of the +wire. + +By means of this invention Tom had been able to make a picture that had +saved a fortune. But Tom did not stop there. With him to invent was as +natural and necessary as breathing. He simply could not stop it. And so +we find him now about to show to his chum, Ned Newton, his latest +patent, an aerial warship, which, however, was not the success Tom had +hoped for. + +But just at present other matters than the warship were in Tom's mind. +The red shed was on fire. + +That mere statement might not mean anything special to the ordinary +person, but to Tom, his father, and those who knew about his shops, it +meant much. + +"The red shed!" Tom cried. "We mustn't let that get the best of us! +Everybody at work! Father, not you, though. You mustn't excite +yourself!" + +Even in the midst of the alarm Tom thought of his father, for the aged +man had a weak heart, and had on one occasion nearly expired, being +saved just in time by the arrival of a doctor, whom Tom brought to the +scene after a wonderful race through the air. + +"But, Tom, I can help," objected the aged inventor. + +"Now, you just take care of yourself, Father!" Tom cried. "There are +enough of us to look after this fire, I think." + +"But, Tom, it--it's the red shed!" gasped Mr. Swift. + +"I realize that, Dad. But it can't have much of a start yet. Is the +alarm ringing, Koku?" + +"Yes, Master," replied the giant, in correct but stilted English. "I +have set the indicator to signal the alarm in every shop on the +premises." + +"That's right." Tom sprang toward the door. "Eradicate!" he called. + +"Yais, sah! Heah I is!" answered the colored man. "I'll go git mah +mule, Boomerang, right away, an' he--" + +"Don't you bring Boomerang on the scene!" Tom yelled. "When I want that +shed kicked apart I can do it better than by using a mule's heels. And +you know you can't do a thing with Boomerang when he sees fire." + +"Now dat's so, Massa Tom. But I could put blinkers on him, an'--" + +"No, you let Boomerang stay where he is. Come on, Ned. We'll see what +we can do. Mr. Damon--" + +"Yes, Tom, I'm right here," answered the peculiar man, for he had come +over from his home in Waterford to pay a visit to his friends, Tom and +Mr. Swift. "I'll do anything I can to help you, Tom, bless my necktie!" +he went on. "Only say the word!" + +"We've got to get some of the stuff out of the place!" Tom cried. "We +may be able to save it, but I can't take a chance on putting out the +fire and letting some of the things in there go up in smoke. Come on!" + +Those in the shed where was housed what Tom hoped would prove to be a +successful aerial warship rushed to the open. From the other shops and +buildings nearby were pouring men and boys, for the Swift plant +employed a number of hands now. + +Above the shouts and yells, above the crackle of flames, could be heard +the clanging of the alarm bell, set ringing by Koku, who had pulled the +signal in the airship shed. From there it had gone to every building in +the plant, being relayed by the telephone operator, whose duty it was +to look after that. + +"My, you've got a big enough fire-fighting force, Tom!" cried Ned in +his chum's ear. + +"Yes, I guess we can master it, if it hasn't gotten the best of us. +Say, it's going some, though!" + +Tom pointed to where a shed, painted red--a sign of danger--could be +seen partly enveloped in smoke, amid the black clouds of which shot out +red tongues of flame. + +"What have you got it painted red for?" Ned asked pantingly, as they +ran on. + +"Because--" Tom began, but the rest of the sentence was lost in a yell. + +Tom had caught sight of Eradicate and the giant, Koku, unreeling from a +central standpipe a long line of hose. + +"Don't take that!" Tom cried. "Don't use that hose! Drop it!" + +"What's the matter? Is it rotten?" Ned wanted to know. + +"No, but if they pull it out the water will be turned on automatically." + +"Well, isn't that what you want at a fire--water?" Ned demanded. + +"Not at this fire," was Tom's answer. "There's a lot of calcium carbide +in that red shed--that's why it's red--to warn the men of danger. You +know what happens when water gets on carbide--there's an explosion, and +there's enough carbide in that shed to send the whole works sky high. + +"Drop that hose!" yelled Tom in louder tones. "Drop it, Rad--Koku! Do +you want to kill us all!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A DESPERATE BATTLE + + +Tom's tones and voice were so insistent that the giant and the colored +man had no choice but to obey. They dropped the hose which, half +unreeled, lay like some twisted snake in the grass. Had it been pulled +out all the way the water would have spurted from the nozzle, for it +was of the automatic variety, with which Tom had equipped all his plant. + +"But what are you going to do, Tom, if you don't use water?" asked Ned, +wonderingly. + +"I don't know--yet, but I know water is the worst thing you can put on +carbide," returned Tom. For all he spoke Slowly his brain was working +fast. Already, even now, he was planning how best to give battle to the +flames. + +It needed but an instant's thought on the part of Ned to make him +understand that Tom was right. It would be well-nigh fatal to use water +on carbide. Those of you who have bicycle lanterns, in which that not +very pleasant-smelling chemical is used, know that if a few drops of +water are allowed to drip slowly on the gray crystals acetylene gas is +generated, which makes a brilliant light. But, if the water drips too +fast, the gas is generated too quickly, and an explosion results. In +lamps, of course, and in lighting plants where carbide is used, there +are automatic arrangements to prevent the water flowing too freely to +the chemical. But Tom knew if the hose were turned on the fire in the +red shed a great explosion would result, for some of the tins of +carbide would be melted by the heat. + +Yet the fire needed to be coped with. Already the flames were coming +through the roof, and the windows and door were spouting red fire and +volumes of smoke. + +Several other employees of Tom's plant had made ready to unreel more +hose, but the warning of the young inventor, shouted to Eradicate and +Koku, had had its effect. Every man dropped the line he had begun to +unreel. + +"Ha! Massa Tom say drop de hose, but how yo' gwine t' squirt watah on +a fire wifout a hose; answer me dat?" and Eradicate looked at Koku. + +"Me no know," was the slow answer. "I guess Koku go pull shed down and +stamp out fire." + +"Huh! Maybe yo' could do dat in cannibal land, where yo' all come +from," spoke Eradicate, "but yo' can't do dat heah! 'Sides, de red shed +will blow up soon. Dere's suffin' else in dere except carbide, an' +dat's gwine t' go up soon, dat's suah!" + +"Maybe you get your strong man-mule, Boomerang," suggested Koku. +"Nothing ever hurt him--explosion or nothing. He can kick shed all to +pieces, and put out fire." + +"Dat's what I wanted t' do, but Massa Tom say I cain't," explained the +colored man. "Golly! Look at dat fire!" + +Indeed the blaze was now assuming alarming proportions. The red shed, +which was not a small structure, was blazing on all sides. About it +stood the men from the various shops. + +"Tom, you must do something," said Mr. Swift. "If the flames once reach +that helmanite--" + +"I know, Father. But that explosive is in double vacuum containers, and +it will be safe for some time yet. Besides, it's in the cellar. It's +the carbide I'm most worried about. We daren't use water." + +"But something will have to be done!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Bless my +red necktie, if we don't--" + +"Better get back a way," suggested Tom. "Something may go off!" + +His words of warning had their effect, and the whole circle moved back +several paces. + +"Is there anything of value in the shed?" asked Ned. + +"I should say there was!" Tom answered. "I hoped we could get some of +them out, but we can't now--until the fire dies down a bit, at any +rate." + +"Look, Tom! The pattern shop roof is catching!" shouted Mr. Swift, +pointing to where a little spurt of flame showed on the roof of a +distant building. + +"It's from sparks!" Tom said. + +"Any danger of using water there?" Ned wanted to know. + +"No, use all you like! That's the only thing to do. Come on, you with +the hose!" Tom yelled. "Save the other buildings!" + +"But are you going to let the red shed burn?" asked Mr. Swift. "You +know what it means, Tom." + +"Yes, Father, I know. And I'm going to fight that fire in a new way. +But we must save the other buildings, too. Play water on all the other +sheds and structures!" ordered the young inventor. "I'll tackle this +one myself. Oh, Ned!" he called. + +"Yes," answered his chum. "What is it?" + +"You take charge of protecting the place where the new aerial warship +is stored. Will you? I can't afford to lose that." + +"I'll look after it, Tom. No harm in using water there, though; is +there?" + +"Not if you don't use too much. Some of the woodwork isn't varnished +yet, and I wouldn't want it to be wet. But do the best you can. Take +Koku and Eradicate with you. They can't do any good here." + +"Do you mean to say you're going to give up and let this burn?" + +"Not a bit of it, Ned. But I have another plan I want to try. Lively +now! The wind's changing, and it's blowing over toward my aerial +warship shed. If that catches--" + +Tom shook his head protestingly, and Ned set off on the run, calling to +the colored man and the giant to get out another line of hose. + +"I wonder what Tom is going to do?" mused Ned, as he neared the big +shed he and the others had left on the alarm of fire. + +Tom, himself, seemed in no doubt as to his procedure. With one look at +the blazing red shed, as if to form an opinion as to how much longer it +could burn without getting entirely beyond control, Tom set off on a +run toward another large structure. Ned, glancing toward his chum, +observed: + +"The dirigible shed! I wonder what his game is? Surely that can't be +in danger--it's too far off!" + +Ned was right as to the last statement. The shed, where was housed a +great dirigible balloon Tom had made, but which he seldom used of late, +was sufficiently removed from the zone of fire to be out of danger. + +Meanwhile several members of the fire-fighting force that had been +summoned from the various shops by the alarm, had made an effort to +save from the red shed some of the more valuable of the contents. There +were some machines in there, as well as explosives and chemicals, in +addition to the store of carbide. + +But the fire was now too hot to enable much to be done in the way of +salvage. One or two small things were carried out from a little +addition to the main structure, and then the rescuers were driven back +by the heat of the flames, as well as by the rolling clouds of black +smoke. + +"Keep away!" warned Mr. Swift. "It will explode soon. Keep back!" + +"That's right!" added Mr. Damon. "Bless my powder-horn! We may all be +going sky-high soon, and without aid from any of Tom Swift's +aeroplanes, either." + +Warned by the aged inventor, the throng of men began slowly moving away +from the immediate neighborhood of the blazing shed. Though it may +seem to the reader that some time has elapsed since the first sounding +of the alarm, all that I have set down took place in a very short +period--hardly three minutes elapsing since Tom and the others came +rushing out of the aerial warship building. + +Suddenly a cry arose from the crowd of men near the red shed. Ned, who +stood ready with several lines of hose, in charge of Koku, Eradicate +and others, to turn them on the airship shed, in case of need, looked +in the direction of the excited throng. + +The young bank clerk saw a strange sight. From the top of the dirigible +balloon shed a long, black, cigar-shaped body arose, floating gradually +upward. The very roof of the shed slid back out of the way, as Tom +pressed the operating lever, and the dirigible was free to rise--as +free as though it had been in an open field. + +"He's going up!" cried Ned in surprise. "Making an ascent at a time +like this, when he ought to stay here to fight the fire! What's gotten +into Tom, I'd like to know? I wonder if he can be--" + +Ned did not finish his half-formed sentence. A dreadful thought came +into his mind. What if the sudden fire, and the threatened danger, as +well as the prospective loss that confronted Tom, had affected his mind? + +"It certainly looks so," mused Ned, as he saw the big balloon float +free from the shed. There was no doubt but that Tom was in it. He could +be seen standing within the pilot-house, operating the various wheels +and levers that controlled the ship of the air. + +"What can he be up to?" marveled Ned. "Is he going to run away from the +fire?" + +Koku, Eradicate and several others were attracted by the sight of the +great dirigible, now a considerable distance up in the air. Certainly +it looked as though Tom Swift were running away. Yet Ned knew his chum +better than that. + +Then, as they watched, Ned and the others saw the direction of the +balloon change. She turned around in response to the influence of the +rudders and propellers, and was headed straight for the blazing shed, +but some distance above it. + +"What can he be planning?" wondered Ned. + +He did not have long to wait to find out. + +An instant later Tom's plan was made clear to his chum. He saw Tom +circling over the burning red shed, and then the bank clerk saw what +looked like fine rain dropping from the lower part of the balloon +straight into the flames. + +"He can't be dousing water on from up above there," reasoned Ned. +"Pouring water on carbide from a height is just as bad as spurting it +on from a hose, though perhaps not so dangerous to the persons doing +it. But it can't be--" + +"By Jove!" suddenly exclaimed Ned, as he had a better view of what was +going on. "It's sand, that's what it is! Tom is giving battle to the +flames with sand from the ballast bags of the dirigible! Hurray? That's +the ticket! Sand! The only thing safe to use in case of an explosive +chemical fire. + +"Fine for you. Tom Swift! Fine!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +SUSPICIONS + + +High up aloft, over the blazing red shed, with its dangerous contents +that any moment might explode, Tom Swift continued to hold his big +dirigible balloon as near the flames as possible. And as he stood +outside on the small deck in front of the pilot-house, where were +located the various controls, the young inventor pulled the levers that +emptied bag after bag of fine sand on the spouting flames that, +already, were beginning to die down as a result of this effectual +quenching. + +"Tom's done the trick!" yelled Ned, paying little attention now to the +big airship shed, since he saw that the danger was about over. + +"Dhat's what he suah hab done!" agreed Eradicate. "Mah ole mule +Boomerang couldn't 'a' done any better." + +"Huh! Your mule afraid of fire," remarked Koku. + +"What's dat? Mah mule afraid ob fire?" cried the colored man. "Look +heah, yo' great, big, overgrowed specimen ob an equilateral quadruped, +I'll hab yo' all understand dat when yo' all speaks dat way about a +friend ob mine dat yo'--" + +"That'll do, Rad!" broke in Ned, with a laugh. He knew that when Tom's +helper grew excited on the subject of his mule there was no stopping +him, and Boomerang was a point on which Eradicate and Koku were always +arguing. "The fire is under control now." + +"Yes, it seems to have gone visiting," observed Koku. + +"Visiting?" queried Ned, in some surprise. + +"Yes, that is, it is going out," went on Koku. + +"Oh, I understand!" laughed Ned. "Yes, and I hope it doesn't pay us +another visit soon. Oh, look at Tom, would you!" he cried, for the +young aviator had swung his ship about over the flames, to bring +another row of sand bags directly above a place where the fire was +hottest. + +Down showered more sand from the bags which Tom opened. No fire could +long continue to blaze under that treatment. The supply of air was cut +off, and without that no fire can exist. Water would have been worse +than useless, because of the carbide, but the sand covered it up so +that it was made perfectly harmless. + +Moving slowly, the airship hovered over every part of the now slowly +expiring flames, the burned opening in the roof of the shed making it +possible for the sand to reach the spots where it was most needed. The +flames died out in section after section, until no more could be +seen--only clouds of black smoke. + +"How is it now?" came Tom's voice, as he spoke from the deck of the +balloon through a megaphone. + +"Almost out," answered Mr. Damon. "A little more sand, Tom." + +The eccentric man had caught up a piece of paper and, rolling it into a +cone, made an improvised megaphone of that. + +"Haven't much more sand left," was Tom's comment, as he sent down a +last shower. "That will have to do. Hustle that carbide and other +explosive stuff out of there now, while you have a chance." + +"That's it!" cried Ned, who caught his chums meaning. "Come on, Koku. +There's work for you." + +"Me like work," answered the giant, stretching out his great arms. + +The last of the sand had completely smothered the fire, and Tom, +observing from aloft that his work was well done, moved away in the +dirigible, sending it to a landing space some little distance away from +the shed whence it had arisen. It was impossible to drop it back again +through the roof of the hangar, as the balloon was of such bulk that +even a little breeze would deflect it so that it could not be +accurately anchored. But Tom had it under very good control, and soon +it was being held down on the ground by some of his helpers. + +As all the sand ballast had been allowed to run out Tom was obliged to +open the gas-valves and let some of the lifting vapor escape, or he +could not have descended. + +"Come on, now!" cried the inventor, as he leaped from the deck of his +sky craft. "Let's clean out the red shed. That fire is only smothered, +and there may be sparks smoldering under that sand, which will burst +into flame, if we're not careful. Let's get the explosives out of the +way." + +"Bless my insurance policy, yes," exclaimed Mr. Damon. "That was a fine +move of yours." + +"It was the only way I could think of to put out the fire," Tom +replied. "I knew water was out of the question, and sand was the next +thing." + +"But I didn't know where to get any until I happened to think of the +ballast bags of my dirigible. Then I knew, if I could get above the +fire, I could do the trick. I had to fly pretty high, though, as the +fire was hot, and I was afraid it might explode the gas bag and wreck +me." + +"You were taking a chance," remarked Ned. + +"Oh, well, you have to take chances in this business," observed Tom, +with a smile. "Now, then, let's finish this work." + +The sand, falling from the ballast bags of the dirigible, had so +effectually quenched the fire that it was soon cool enough to permit +close approach. Koku, Tom and some of the men who best knew how to +handle the explosives, were soon engaged in the work of salvage. + +"I wish I could help you, Tom," said his aged father. "I don't seem +able to do anything but stand here and look on," and he gazed about him +rather sadly. + +"Never you mind, Dad!" Tom exclaimed. "We'll get along all right now. +You'd better go up to the house. Mr. Damon will go with you." + +"Yes, of course!" exclaimed the odd man, catching a wink from Tom, who +wanted his father not to get too excited on account of his weak heart. +"Come along, Professor Swift. The danger is all over." + +"All right," assented the aged inventor, with a look at the still +smoking shed. + +"And, Dad, when you haven't anything else to do," went on Tom, rather +whimsically, "you might be thinking up some plan to take up the recoil +of those guns on my aerial warship. I confess I'm clean stumped on that +point." + +"Your aerial warship will never be a success," declared Mr. Swift. "You +might as well give that up, Tom." + +"Don't you believe it, Dad!" cried Tom, with more of a jolly air of one +chum toward another than as though the talk was between father and son. +"You solve the recoil problem for me, and I'll take care of the rest, +and make the air warship sail. But we've got something else to do just +now. Lively, boys." + +While Mr. Swift, taking Mr. Damon's arm, walked toward the house, Tom, +Ned, Koku, and some of the workmen began carrying out the explosives +which had so narrowly escaped the fire. With long hooks the men pulled +the shed apart, where the side walls had partly been burned through. +Tom maintained an efficient firefighting force at his works, and the +men had the proper tools with which to work. + +Soon large openings were made on three sides of the red shed, or +rather, what was left of it, and through these the dangerous chemicals +and carbide, in sheet-iron cans, were carried out to a place of safety. +In a little while nothing remained but a heap of hot sand, some charred +embers and certain material that had been burned. + +"Much loss, Tom?" asked Ned, as they surveyed the ruins. They were both +black and grimy, tired and dirty, but there was a great sense of +satisfaction. + +"Well, yes, there's more lost than I like to think of," answered Tom +slowly, "but it would have been a heap sight worse if the stuff had +gone up. Still, I can replace what I've lost, except a few models I +kept in this place. I really oughtn't to have stored them here, but +since I've been working on my new aerial warship I have sort of let +other matters slide. I intended to make the red shed nothing but a +storehouse for explosive chemicals, but I still had some of my plans +and models in it when it caught." + +"Only for the sand the whole place might have gone," said Ned in a low +voice. + +"Yes. It's lucky I had plenty of ballast aboard the dirigible. You +see, I've been running it alone lately, and I had to take on plenty of +sand to make up for the weight of the several passengers I usually +carry. So I had plenty of stuff to shower down on the fire. I wonder +how it started, anyhow? I must investigate this." + +"Mr. Damon and Eradicate seem to have seen it first," remarked Ned. + +"Yes. At least they gave the alarm. Guess I'll ask Eradicate how he +happened to notice. Oh, I say, Rad!" Tom called to the colored man. + +"Yais, sah, Massa Tom! I'se comin'!" the darky cried, as he finished +piling up, at a safe distance from the fire, a number of cans of +carbide. + +"How'd you happen to see the red shed ablaze?" Tom asked. + +"Why, it was jest dish yeah way, Massa Tom," began the colored man. "I +had jest been feedin' mah mule, Boomerang. He were pow'ful hungry, +Boomerang were, an', when I give him some oats, wif a carrot sliced up +in 'em--no, hole on--did I gib him a carrot t'day, or was it +yist'day?--I done fo'got. No, it were yist'day I done gib him de +carrot, I 'member now, 'case--" + +"Oh, never mind the carrot, or Boomerang, either, Rad!" broke in Tom, +"I'm asking you about the fire." + +"An' I'se tellin' yo', Massa Tom," declared Eradicate, with a rather +reproachful look at his master. "But I wanted t' do it right an' +proper. I were comin' from Boomerang's stable, an' I see suffin' red +spoutin' up at one corner ob de red shed. I knowed it were fire right +away, an' I yelled." + +"Yes, I heard you yell," Tom said. "But what I wanted to know is, did +you see anyone near the red shed at the time?" + +"No, Massa Tom, I done didn't." + +"I wonder if Mr. Damon did? I must ask him," went on the young +inventor. "Come, on, Ned, we'll go up to the house. Everything is all +right here, I think. Whew! But that was some excitement. And I didn't +show you my aerial warship after all! Nor have you settled that recoil +problem for me." + +"Time enough, I guess," responded Ned. "You sure did have a lucky +escape, Tom." + +"That's right. Well, Koku, what is it?" for the giant had approached, +holding out something in his hand. + +"Koku found this in red shed," went on the giant, holding out a round, +blackened object. "Maybe him powder; go bang-bang!" + +"Oh, you think it's something explosive, eh?" asked Tom, as he took the +object from the giant. + +"Koku no think much," was the answer. "Him look funny." + +Tom did not speak for a moment. Then he cried: + +"Look funny! I should say it did! See here, Ned, if this isn't +suspicious I'll eat my hat!" and Tom beckoned excitedly to his chum, +who had walked on a little in advance. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A QUEER STRANGER + + +What Tom Swift held in his hand looked like a small cannon ball, but it +could not have been solid or the young aviator would not so easily have +held it out at arm's length for his friend Ned Newton to look at. + +"This puts a different face on it, Ned," Tom went on, as he turned the +object over. + +"Is that likely to go off?" the bank clerk asked, as he came to a halt +a little distance from his friend. + +"Go off? No, it's done all the damage it could, I guess." + +"Damage? It looks to me as though it had suffered the most damage +itself. What is it, one of your models? Looks like a bomb to me." + +"And that's what it is, Ned." + +"Not one of those you're going to use on your aerial warship, is it, +Tom?" + +"Not exactly. I never saw this before, but it's what started the fire +in the red shed all right; I'm sure of that." + +"Do you really mean it?" cried Ned. + +"I sure do." + +"Well, if that's the case, I wouldn't leave such dangerous things +around where there are explosives, Tom." + +"I didn't, Ned. I wouldn't have had this within a hundred miles of my +shed, if I could have had my way. It's a fire bomb, and it was set to +go off at a certain time. Only I think something went wrong, and the +bomb started a fire ahead of time. + +"If it had worked at night, when we were all asleep, we might not have +put the fire out so easily. This sure is suspicious! I'm glad you found +this, Koku." + +Tom was carefully examining the bomb, as Ned had correctly named it. +The bank clerk, now that he was assured by his chum that the object had +done all the harm it could, approached closer. + +What he saw was merely a hollow shell of iron, with a small opening in +it, as though intended for a place through which to put a charge of +explosives and a fuse. + +"But there was no explosion, Tom," explained Ned. + +"I know it," said Tom quietly. "It wasn't an explosive bomb. Smell +that!" + +He held the object under Ned's nose so suddenly that the young bank +clerk jumped back. + +"Oh, don't get nervous," laughed Tom. "It can't hurt you now. But what +does that smell like?" + +Ned sniffed, sniffed again, thought for a moment, and then sniffed a +third time. + +"Why," he said slowly, "I don't just know the name of it, but it's that +funny stuff you mix up sometimes to put in the oxygen tanks when we go +up in the rarefied atmosphere in the balloon or airship." + +"Manganese and potash," spoke Tom. "That and two or three other things +that form a chemical combination which goes off by itself of +spontaneous combustion after a certain time. Only the person who put +this bomb together didn't get the chemical mixture just right, and it +went off ahead of time; for which we have to be duly thankful." + +"Do you really think that, Tom?" cried Ned. + +"I'm positive of it," was the quiet answer. + +"Why--why--that would mean some one tried to set fire to the red shed, +Tom!" + +"They not only tried it, but did it," responded Tom, more coolly than +seemed natural under the circumstances. "Only for the fact that the +mixture went off before it was intended to, and found us all alert and +ready--well, I don't like to think what might have happened," and Tom +cast a look about at his group of buildings with their valuable +contents. + +"You mean some one purposely put that bomb in the red shed, Tom?" + +"That's exactly what I mean. Some enemy, who wanted to do me an injury, +planned this thing deliberately. He filled this steel shell with +chemicals which, of themselves, after a certain time, would send out a +hot tongue of flame through this hole," and Tom pointed to the opening +in the round steel shell. + +"He knew the fire would be practically unquenchable by ordinary means, +and he counted on its soon eating its way into the carbide and other +explosives. Only it didn't." + +"Why, Tom!" cried Ned. "It was just like one of those alarm-clock +dynamite bombs--set to go off at a certain time." + +"Exactly," Tom said, "only this was more delicate, and, if it had +worked properly, there wouldn't have been a vestige left to give us a +clue. But the fire, thanks to the ballast sand in the dirigible, was +put out in time. The fuse burned itself out, but I can tell by the +smell that chemicals were in it. That's all, Koku," he went on to the +giant who had stood waiting, not understanding all the talk between Tom +and Ned. "I'll take care of this now." + +"Bad man put it there?" asked the giant, who at least comprehended that +something was wrong. + +"Well, yes, I guess you could say it was a bad man," replied Tom. + +"Ha! If Koku find bad man--bad for that man!" muttered the giant, as he +clasped his two enormous hands together, as though they were already on +the fellow who had tried to do Tom Swift such an injury. + +"I wouldn't like to be that man, if Koku catches him," observed Ned. +"Have you any idea who it could be, Tom?" + +"Not the least. Of course I know I have enemies, Ned. Every successful +inventor has persons who imagine he has stolen their ideas, whether he +has ever seen them or not. It may have been one of those persons, or +some half-mad crank, who was jealous. It would be impossible to say, +Ned." + +"It wouldn't be Andy Foger, would it?" + +"No; I don't believe Andy has been in this neighborhood for some time. +The last lesson we gave him sickened him, I guess." + +"How about those diamond-makers, whose secret you discovered? They +wouldn't be trying to get back at you, would they?" + +"Well, it's possible, Ned. But I don't imagine so. They seem to have +been pretty well broken up. No, I don't believe it was the +diamond-makers who put this fire bomb in the red shed. Their line of +activities didn't include this branch. It takes a chemist to know just +how to blend the things contained in the bomb, and even a good chemist +is likely to fail--as this one did, as far as time went." + +"What are you going to do about it?" Ned asked. + +"I don't know," and Tom spoke slowly, "I hoped I was done with all that +sort of thing," he went on; "fighting enemies whom I have never +knowingly injured. But it seems they are still after me. Well, Ned, +this gives us something to do, at all events." + +"You mean trying to find out who these fellows are?" + +"Yes; that is, if you are willing to help." + +"Well, I guess I am!" cried the bank clerk with sparkling eyes. "I +wouldn't ask anything better. We've been in things like this before, +Tom, and we'll go in again--and win! I'll help you all I can. Now, +let's see if we can pick up any other clues. This is like old times!" +and Ned laughed, for he, like Tom, enjoyed a good "fight," and one in +which the odds were against them. + +"We sure will have our hands full," declared the young inventor. +"Trying to solve the problem of carrying guns on an aerial warship, and +finding out who set this fire." + +"Then you're not going to give up your aerial warship idea?" + +"No, indeed!" Tom cried. "What made you think that?" + +"Well, the way your father spoke--" + +"Oh, dear old dad!" exclaimed Tom affectionately. "I don't want to +argue with him, but he's dead wrong!" + +"Then you are going to make a go of it?" + +"I sure am, Ned! All I have to solve is the recoil proposition, and, as +soon as we get straightened out from this fire, we'll tackle that +problem again--you and I. But I sure would like to know who put this in +my red shed," and Tom looked in a puzzled manner at the empty fire bomb +he still held. + +Tom paused, on his way to the house, to put the bomb in one of his +offices. + +"No use letting dad know about this," he went on. "It would only be +something else for him to worry about." + +"That's right," agreed Ned. + +By this time nearly all evidences of the fire, except for the blackened +ruins of the shed, had been cleared away. High in the air hung a cloud +of black smoke, caused by some chemicals that had burned harmlessly +save for that pall. Tom Swift had indeed had a lucky escape. + +The young inventor, finding his father quieted down and conversing +easily with Mr. Damon, who was blessing everything he could think of, +motioned to Ned to follow him out of the house again. + +"We'll leave dad here," said Tom, "and do a little investigating on our +own account. We'll look for clues while they're fresh." + +But, it must be confessed, after Tom and Ned had spent the rest of that +day in and about the burned shed, they were little wiser than when they +started. They found the place where the fire bomb had evidently been +placed, right inside the main entrance to the shed. Tom knew it had +been there because there were peculiar marks on the charred wood, and a +certain queer smell of chemicals that confirmed his belief. + +"They put the bomb there to prevent anyone going in at the first alarm +and saving anything," Tom said. "They didn't count on the roof burning +through first, giving me a chance to use the sand. I made the roof of +the red shed flimsy just on that account, so the force of the explosion +if one ever came, would be mostly upward. You know the expanding gases, +caused by an explosion or by rapid combustion, always do just as +electricity does, seek the shortest and easiest route. In this case I +made the roof the easiest route." + +"A lucky provision," observed Ned. + +That night Tom had to confess himself beaten, as far as finding clues +was concerned. The empty fire bomb was the only one, and that seemed +valueless. + +Close questioning of the workmen failed to disclose anything. Tom was +particularly anxious to discover if any mysterious strangers had been +seen about the works. There was a strict rule about admitting them to +the plant, however, and it could not be learned that this had been +violated. + +"Well, we'll just have to lay that aside for a while," Tom said the +next day, when Ned again came to pay a visit. "Now, what do you say to +tackling, with me, that recoil problem on the aerial warship?" + +"I'm ready, if you are," Ned agreed, "though I know about as much of +those things as a snake does about dancing. But I'm game." + +The two friends walked out toward the shed where Tom's new craft was +housed. As yet Ned had not seen it. On the way they saw Eradicate +walking along, talking to himself, as he often did. + +"I wonder what he has on his mind," remarked Ned musingly. + +"Something does seem to be worrying him," agreed Tom. + +As they neared the colored man, they could hear him saying: + +"He suah did hab nerve, dat's what he did! De idea ob askin' me all dem +questions, an' den wantin' t' know if I'd sell him!" + +"What's that, Eradicate?" asked Tom. + +"Oh, it's a man I met when I were comin' back from de ash dump," +Eradicate explained. One of the colored man's duties was to cart ashes +away from Tom's various shops, and dump them in a certain swampy lot. +With an old ramshackle cart, and his mule, Boomerang, Eradicate did +this task to perfection. + +"A man--what sort of a man?" asked Tom, always ready to be suspicious +of anything unusual. + +"He were a queer man," went on the aged colored helper. "First he +stopped me an' asted me fo' a ride. He was a dressed-up gen'man, too, +an' I were suah s'prised at him wantin' t' set in mah ole ash cart," +said Eradicate. "But I done was polite t' him, an' fixed a blanket so's +he wouldn't git too dirty. Den he asted me ef I didn't wuk fo' yo', +Massa Tom, an' of course I says as how I did. Den he asted me about de +fire, an' how much damage it done, an' how we put it out. An' he end up +by sayin' he'd laik t' buy mah mule, Boomerang, an' he wants t' come +heah dis arternoon an' talk t' me about it." + +"He does, eh?" cried Tom. "What sort of a man was he, Rad?" + +"Well, a gen'man sort ob man, Massa Tom. Stranger t' me. I nebber seed +him afo'. He suah was monstrous polite t' ole black Eradicate, an' he +gib me a half-dollar, too, jest fo' a little ride. But I aint' gwine t' +sell Boomerang, no indeedy, I ain't!" and Eradicate shook his gray, +kinky head decidedly. + +"Ned, there may be something in this!" said Tom, in an excited whisper +to his chum. "I don't like the idea of a mysterious stranger +questioning Eradicate!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE AERIAL WARSHIP + + +Ned Newton looked at Tom questioningly. Then he glanced at the +unsuspicious colored man, who was industriously polishing the +half-dollar the mysterious stranger had given him. + +"Rad, just exactly what sort of a man was this one you speak of?" asked +Tom. + +"Why, he were a gen'man--" + +"Yes, I know that much. You've said it before. But was he an +Englishman, an American--or--" + +Tom paused and waited for an answer. + +"I think he were a Frenchman," spoke Eradicate. "I done didn't see him +eat no frogs' laigs, but he smoked a cigarette dat had a funny smell, +and he suah was monstrous polite. He suah was a Frenchman. I think." + +Tom and Ned laughed at Eradicate's description of the man, but Tom's +face was soon grave again. + +"Tell us more about him, Rad," he suggested. "Did he seem especially +interested in the fire?" + +"No, sah, Massa Tom, he seemed laik he was more special interested in +mah mule, Boomerang. He done asted how long I had him, an' how much I +wanted fo' him, an' how old he was." + +"But every once in a while he put in some question about the fire, or +about our shops, didn't he, Rad?" Tom wanted to know. + +The colored man scratched his kinky head, and glanced with a queer look +at Tom. + +"How yo' all done guess dat?" he asked. + +"Answer my question," insisted Tom. + +"Yes, sah, he done did ask about yo', and de wuks, ebery now and den," +Rad confessed. "But how yo' all knowed dat, Massa Tom, when I were +a-tellin' yo' all about him astin' fo' mah mule, done gets me--dat's +what it suah does." + +"Never mind, Rad. He asked questions about the plant, that's all I want +to know. But you didn't tell him much, did you?" + +Eradicate looked reproachfully at his master. + +"Yo' all done knows me bettah dan dat, Massa Tom," the old colored man +said. "Yo' all know yo' done gib orders fo' nobody t' talk about yo' +projections." + +"Yes, I know I gave those orders," Tom said, with a smile, "but I want +to make sure that they have been followed." + +"Well, I done follered 'em, Massa Tom." + +"Then you didn't tell this queer stranger, Frenchman, or whatever he +is, much about my place?" + +"I didn't tell him nuffin', sah. I done frowed dust in his eyes." + +Ned uttered an exclamation of surprise. + +"Eradicate is speaking figuratively," Tom said, with a laugh. + +"Dat's what I means," the colored man went on. "I done fooled him. When +he asted me about de fire I said it didn't do no damage at all--in fack +dat we'd rather hab de fire dan not hab it, 'case it done gib us a +chance t' practice our hose drill." + +"That's good," laughed Tom. "What else?" + +"Well, he done sort ob hinted t' me ef we all knowed how de fire done +start. I says as how we did, dat we done start it ourse'ves fo' +practice, an dat we done expected it all along, an' were ready fo' it. +Course I knows dat were a sort of fairy story, Massa Tom, but den dat +cigarette-smokin' Frenchman didn't hab no right t' asted me so many +questions, did he?" + +"No, indeed, Rad. And I'm glad you didn't give him straight answers. So +he's coming here later on, is he?" + +"T' see ef I wants t' sell mah mule, Boomerang, yais, sah. I sort ob +thought maybe you'd want t' hab a look at dat man, so I tole him t' +come on. Course I doan't want t' sell Boomerang, but ef he was t' offer +me a big lot ob money fo' him I'd take it." + +"Of course," Tom answered. "Very well, Rad. You may go on now, and +don't say anything to anyone about what you have told me." + +"I won't, Massa Tom," promised the colored man, as he went off +muttering to himself. + +"Well, what do you make of it, Tom?" asked Ned of his chum, as they +walked on toward the shed of the new, big aerial warship. + +"I don't know just what to think, Ned. Of course things like this have +happened before--persons trying to worm secrets out of Eradicate, or +some of the other men." + +"They never succeeded in getting much, I'm glad to say, but it always +keeps me worried for fear something will happen," Tom concluded. + +"But about this Frenchman?" + +"Well, he must be a new one. And, now I come to think of it, I did hear +some of the men speaking about a foreigner--a stranger--being around +town last week. It was just a casual reference, and I paid little +attention to it. Now it looks as though there might be something in it." + +"Do you think he'll come to bargain with Eradicate about the mule?" Ned +asked. + +"Hardly. That was only talk to make Eradicate unsuspicious. The +stranger, whoever he was, sized Rad up partly right. I surmised, when +Rad said he asked a lot of questions about the mule, that was only to +divert suspicion, and that he'd come back to the subject of the fire +every chance he got." + +"And you were right." + +"Yes, so it seems. But I don't believe the fellow will come around +here. It would be too risky. All the same, we'll be prepared for him. +I'll just rig up one of my photo-telephone machines, so that, if he +does come to have a talk with Rad, we can both see and hear him." + +"That's great, Tom! But do you think this fellow had anything to do +with the fire?" + +"I don't know. He knew about it, of course. This isn't the first fire +we've had in the works, and, though we always fight them ourselves, +still news of it will leak out to the town. So he could easily have +known about it. And he might be in with those who set it, for I firmly +believe the fire was set by someone who has an object in injuring me." + +"It's too bad!" declared Ned. "Seems as though they might let you +alone, if they haven't gumption enough to invent things for themselves." + +"Well, don't worry. Maybe it will come out all right," returned Tom. +"Now, let's go and have a look at my aerial warship. I haven't shown it +to you yet. Then we'll get ready for that mysterious Frenchman, if he +comes--but I don't believe he will." + +The young inventor unlocked the door of the shed where he kept his +latest "pet," and at the sight which met his eyes Ned Newton uttered an +exclamation of surprise. + +"Tom, what is it?" he cried in an awed voice. + +"My aerial warship!" was the quiet answer. + +Ned Newton gave vent to a long whistle, and then began a detailed +examination of the wonderful craft he saw before him. That is, he made +as detailed an examination as was possible under the circumstances, for +it was a long time before the young bank clerk fully appreciated all +Tom Swift had accomplished in building the Mars, which was the warlike +name painted in red letters on the big gas container that tugged and +swayed overhead. + +"Tom, however did you do it?" gasped Ned at length. + +"By hard work," was the modest reply. "I've been at this for a longer +time than you'd suppose, working on it at odd moments. I had a lot of +help, too, or I never could have done it. And now it is nearly all +finished, as far as the ship itself is concerned. The only thing that +bothers me is to provide for the recoil of the guns I want to carry. +Maybe you can help me with that. Come on, now, I'll explain how the +affair works, and what I hope to accomplish with it." + +In brief Tom's aerial warship was a sort of German Zeppelin type of +dirigible balloon, rising in the air by means of a gas container, or, +rather, several of them, for the section for holding the lifting gas +element was divided by bulkheads. + +The chief difference between dirigible balloons and ordinary +aeroplanes, as you all know, is that the former are lifted from the +earth by a gas, such as hydrogen, which is lighter than air, while the +aeroplane lifts itself by getting into motion, when broad, flat planes, +or surfaces, hold it up, just as a flat stone is held up when you sail +it through the air. The moment the stone, or aeroplane, loses its +forward motion, it begins to fall. + +This is not so with a dirigible balloon. It is held in the air by means +of the lifting gas, and once so in the air can be sent in any direction +by means of propellers and rudders. + +Tom's aerial warship contained many new features. While it was as large +as some of the war-type Zeppelins, it differed from them materially. +But the details would be of more interest to a scientific builder of +such things than to the ordinary reader, so I will not weary you with +them. + +Sufficient to say that Tom's craft consisted first of a great +semi-rigid bag, or envelope, made of specially prepared oiled silk and +aluminum, to hold the gas, which was manufactured on board. There were +a number of gas-tight compartments, so that if one, or even if a number +of them burst, or were shot by an enemy, the craft would still remain +afloat. + +Below the big gas bag was the ship proper, a light but strong and rigid +framework about which were built enclosed cabins. These cabins, or +compartments, housed the driving machinery, the gas-generating plant, +living, sleeping and dining quarters, and a pilot-house, whence the +ship could be controlled. + +But this was not all. + +Ned, making a tour of the Mars, as she swayed gently in the big shed, +saw where several aluminum pedestals were mounted, fore and aft and on +either beam of the ship. + +"They look just like places where you intend to mount guns," said Ned +to Tom. + +"And that's exactly what they are," the young inventor replied. "I +have the guns nearly ready for mounting, but I can't seem to think of a +way of providing for the recoil. And if I don't take care of that, I'm +likely to find my ship coming apart under me, after we bombard the +enemy with a broadside or two." + +"Then you intend to fight with this ship?" asked Ned. + +"Well, no; not exactly personally. I was thinking of offering it to the +United States Government. Foreign nations are getting ready large +fleets of aerial warships, so why shouldn't we? Matters in Europe are +mighty uncertain. There may be a great war there in which aerial craft +will play a big part. I am conceited enough to think I can build one +that will measure up to the foreign ones, and I'll soon be in a +position to know." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean I have already communicated with our government experts, and +they are soon to come and inspect this craft. I have sent them word +that it is about finished. There is only the matter of the guns, and +some of the ordnance officers may be able to help me out with a +suggestion, for I admit I am stuck!" exclaimed Tom. + +"Then you're going to do the same with this aerial warship as you did +with your big lantern and that immense gun you perfected?" asked Ned. + +"That's right," confirmed Tom. My former readers will know to what Ned +Newton referred, and those of you who do not may learn the details of +how Tom helped Uncle Sam, by reading the previous volumes, "Tom Swift +and His Great Searchlight," and "Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon." + +"When do you expect the government experts?" Ned asked. + +"Within a few days, now. But I'll have to hustle to get ready for them, +as this fire has put me back. There are quite a number of details I +need to change. Well, now, let me explain about that gun recoil +business. Maybe you can help me." + +"Fire away," laughed Ned. "I'll do the best I can." + +Tom led the way from the main shed, where the aerial warship was +housed, to a small private office. As Ned entered, the door, pulled by +a strong spring, swung after him. He held back his hand to prevent it +from slamming, but there was no need, for a patent arrangement took up +all the force, and the door closed gently. Ned looked around, not much +surprised, for the same sort of door-check was in use at his bank. But +a sudden idea came to him. + +"There you are, Tom!" he cried. "Why not take up the recoil of the guns +on your aerial warship by some such device as that?" and Ned pointed to +the door-check. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +WARNINGS + + +For a moment or two Tom Swift did not seem to comprehend what Ned had +said. He remained staring, first at his chum, who stood pointing, and +from him Tom's gaze wandered to the top of the door. It may have been, +and probably was, that Tom was thinking of other matters at that +instant. But Ned said again: + +"Wouldn't that do, Tom? Check the recoil of the gun with whatever stuff +is in that arrangement!" + +A sudden change came over Tom's face. It was lighted up with a gleam of +understanding. + +"By Jove, Ned, old man!" he cried. "I believe you've struck it! And to +think that has been under my nose, or, rather, over my head, all this +while, and I never thought of it. Hurray! That will solve the problem!" + +"Do you think it will?" asked Ned, glad that he had contributed +something, if only an idea, to Tom's aerial warship. + +"I'm almost sure it will. I'll give it a trial right away." + +"What's in that door-check?" Ned asked. "I never stopped before to +think what useful things they are, though at the bank, with the big, +heavy doors, they are mighty useful." + +"They are a combination of springs and hydrostatic valves," began Tom. + +"Good-night!" laughed Ned. "Excuse the slang, Tom, but what in the +world is a hydrostatic valve?" + +"A valve through which liquids pass. In this door-check there may be a +mixture of water, alcohol and glycerine, the alcohol to prevent +freezing in cold weather, and the glycerine to give body to the mixture +so it will not flow through the valves too freely." + +"And do you think you can put something like that on your guns, so the +recoil will be taken up?" Ned wanted to know. + +"I think so," spoke Tom. "I'm going to work on it right away, and we'll +soon see how it will turn out. It's mighty lucky you thought of that, +for I sure was up against it, as the boys say." + +"It just seemed to come to me," spoke Ned, "seeing how easily the door +closed." + +"If the thing works I'll give you due credit for it," promised Tom. +"Now, I've got to figure out how much force a modified hydrostatic +valve check like that will take up, and how much recoil my biggest gun +will have." + +"Then you're going to put several guns on the Mars?" asked Ned. + +"Yes, four quick-firers, at least, two on each side, and heavier guns +at the bow and stern, to throw explosive shells in a horizontal or +upward direction. For a downward direction we won't need any guns, we +can simply drop the bombs, or shells, from a release clutch." + +"Drop them on other air craft?" Ned wanted to know. + +"Well, if it's necessary, yes. Though I guess there won't be much +chance of doing that to a rival aeroplane or dirigible. But in flying +over cities or forts, explosive bombs can be dropped very nicely. For +use in attacking other air craft I am going to depend on my lateral +fire, from the guns mounted on either beam, and in the bow and stern." + +"You speak as though you, yourself, were going into a battle of the +air," said Ned. + +"No, I don't believe I'll go that far," Tom replied. "Though, if the +government wants my craft, I may have to go aloft and fire shots at +targets for them to show them how things work. + +"Please don't think that I am in favor of war, Ned," went on Tom +earnestly. "I hate it, and I wish the time would come when all nations +would disarm. But if the other countries are laying themselves out to +have aerial battleships, it is time the United States did also. We must +not be left behind, especially in view of what is taking place in +Europe." + +"I suppose that's right," agreed Ned. "Have you any of your guns ready?" + +"Yes, all but the mounting of them on the supports aboard the Mars. I +haven't dared do that yet, and fire them, until I provided some means +of taking up the recoil. Now I'm going to get right to work on that +problem." + +There was considerable detailed figuring and computation work ahead of +Tom Swift, and I will not weary you by going into the details of higher +mathematics. Even Ned lost interest after the start of the problem, +though he was interested when Tom took down the door-check and began +measuring the amount of force it would take up, computing it on scales +and spring balances. + +Once this had been done, and Tom had figured just how much force could +be expected to be taken up by a larger check, with stronger hydrostatic +valves, the young inventor explained: + +"And now to see how much recoil force my guns develop!" + +"Are you really going to fire the guns?" asked Ned. + +"Surely," answered Tom. "That's the only way to get at real results. +I'll have the guns taken out and mounted in a big field. Then we'll +fire them, and measure the recoil." + +"Well, that may be some fun," spoke Ned, with a grin. "More fun than +all these figures," and he looked at the mass of details on Tom's desk. + +This was the second or third day after the fire in the red shed, and in +the interim Tom had been busy making computations. These were about +finished. Meanwhile further investigation had been made of clues +leading to the origin of the blaze in the shed, but nothing had been +learned. + +A photo-telephone had been installed near Eradicate's quarters, in the +hope that the mysterious stranger might keep his promise, and come to +see about the mule. In that case something would have been learned +about him. But, as Tom feared, the man did not appear. + +Ned was much interested in the guns, and, a little later, he helped Tom +and Koku mount them in a vacant lot. The giant's strength came in handy +in handling the big parts. + +Mr. Swift strolled past, as the guns were being mounted for the +preliminary test, and inquired what his son was doing. + +"It will never work, Tom, never!" declared the aged inventor, when +informed. "You can't take up those guns in your air craft, and fire +them with any degree of safety." + +"You wait, Dad," laughed Tom. "You haven't yet seen how the Newton +hydrostatic recoil operates." + +Ned smiled with pleasure at this. + +It took nearly a week to get all the guns mounted, for some of them +required considerable work, and it was also necessary to attach gauges +to them to register the recoil and pressure. In the meanwhile Tom had +been in further communication with government experts who were soon to +call on him to inspect the aerial warship, with a view to purchase. + +"When are they coming?" asked Ned, as he and Tom went out one morning +to make the first test of the guns. + +"They will be here any day, now. They didn't set any definite date. I +suppose they want to take us unawares, to see that I don't 'frame-up' +any game on them. Well, I'll be ready any time they come. Now, Koku, +bring along those shells, and don't drop any of them, for that new +powder is freakish stuff." + +"Me no drop any, Master," spoke the giant, as he lifted the boxes of +explosives in his strong arms. + +The largest gun was loaded and aimed at a distant hill, for Tom knew +that if the recoil apparatus would take care of the excess force of his +largest gun, the problem of the smaller ones would be easy to solve. + +"Here, Rad, where are you going?" Tom asked, as he noticed the colored +man walking away, after having completed a task assigned to him. + +"Where's I gwine, Massa Tom?" + +"Yes, Rad, that's what I asked you." + +"I--I'se gwine t' feed mah mule, Boomerang," said the colored man +slowly. "It's his eatin' time, jest now, Massa Tom." + +"Nonsense! It isn't anywhere near noon yet." + +"Yais, sab, Massa Tom, I knows dat," said Eradicate, as he carefully +edged away from the big gun, "but I'se done changed de eatin' hours ob +dat mule. He had a little touch ob indigestion de udder day, an' I'se +feedin' him diff'rent now. So I guess as how yo'll hab t' 'scuse me +now, Massa Tom." + +"Oh, well, trot along," laughed the young inventor. "I guess we won't +need you. Is everything all right there, Koku?" + +"All right, Master." + +"Now, Ned, if you'll stand here," went on Tom, "and note the extreme +point to which the hand on the pressure gauge goes, I'll be obliged to +you. Just jot it down on this pad." + +"Here comes someone," remarked the bank clerk, as he saw that his +pencil was sharpened. He pointed to the field back of them. + +"It's Mr. Damon," observed Tom. "We'll wait until he arrives. He'll be +interested in this." + +"Bless my collar button, Tom! What's going on?" asked the eccentric +man, as he came up. "Has war been declared?" + +"Just practicing," replied the young inventor. "Getting ready to put +the armament on my aerial warship." + +"Well, as long as I'm behind the guns I'm all right, I suppose?" + +"Perfectly," Tom replied. "Now then, Ned, I think we'll fire." + +There was a moment of inspection, to see that nothing had been +forgotten, and then the big gun was discharged. There was a loud +report, not as heavy, though, as Ned had expected, but there was no +puff of smoke, for Tom was using smokeless powder. Only a little flash +of flame was observed. + +"Catch the figure, Ned!" Tom cried. + +"I have it!" was the answer. "Eighty thousand!" + +"Good! And I can build a recoil check that will take up to one hundred +and twenty thousand pounds pressure. That ought to be margin of safety +enough. Now we'll try another shot." + +The echoes of the first had hardly died away before the second gun was +ready for the test. That, too, was satisfactory, and then the smaller +ones were operated. These were not quite so satisfactory, as the recoil +developed was larger, in proportion to their size, than Tom had figured. + +"But I can easily put a larger hydrostatic check on them," he said. +"Now, we'll fire by batteries, and see what the total is." + +Then began a perfect bombardment of the distant hillside, service +charges being used, and explosive shells sent out so that dirt, +stones and gravel flew in all directions. Danger signs and flags had +been posted, and a cordon of Tom's men kept spectators away from the +hill, so no one would be in the danger zone. + +The young inventor was busy making some calculations after the last of +the firing had been completed. Koku was packing up the unfired shells, +and Mr. Damon was blessing his ear-drums, and the pieces of cotton he +had stuffed in to protect them, when a tall, erect man was observed +strolling over the fields in the direction of the guns. + +"Somebody's coming, Tom," warned Ned. + +"Yes, and a stranger, too," observed Tom. "I wonder if that can be +Eradicate's Frenchman?" + +But a look at the stranger's face disproved that surmise. He had a +frank and pleasant countenance, obviously American. + +"I beg your pardon," he began, addressing everyone in general, "but I +am looking for Tom Swift. I was told he was here." + +"I am Tom Swift," replied our hero. + +"Ah! Well, I am Lieutenant Marbury, with whom you had some +correspondence recently about--" + +"Oh, yes, Lieutenant Marbury, of the United States Navy," interrupted +Tom. "I'm glad to see you," he went on, holding out his hand. "We are +just completing some tests with the guns. You called, I presume, in +reference to my aerial warship?" + +"That is it--yes. Have you it ready for a trial flight?" + +"Well, almost. It can be made ready in a few hours. You see, I have +been delayed. There was a fire in the plant." + +"A fire!" exclaimed the officer in surprise. "How was that? We heard +nothing of it in Washington." + +"No, I kept it rather quiet," Tom explained. "We had reason to suspect +that it was a fire purposely set, in a shed where I kept a quantity of +explosives." + +"Ha!" exclaimed Lieutenant Marbury. "This fits in with what I have +heard. And did you not receive warning?" he asked Tom. + +"Warning? No. Of what?" + +"Of foreign spies!" was the unexpected answer. "I am sorry. Some of +our Secret Service men unearthed something of a plot against you, and I +presumed you had been told to watch out. If you had, the fire might not +have occurred. There must have been some error in Washington. But let +me tell you now, Tom Swift--be on your guard!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A SUSPECTED PLOT + + +The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started. Ned +Newton, too, showed the effect he felt. + +"Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking around to +make sure his father was not present. On account of Professor Swift's +weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all possible worry. + +"I certainly do mean it," insisted Lieutenant Marbury. "And, while I am +rather amazed at the news of the fire, for I did not think the plotters +would be so bold as that, it is in line with what I expected, and what +we suspected in Washington." + +"And that was--what?" asked Tom. + +"The existence of a well-laid plot, not only against our government, +but against you!" + +"And why have they singled me out?" Tom demanded. + +"I might as well tell it from the beginning," the officer went on. "As +long as you have not received any official warning from Washington you +had better hear the whole story. But are you sure you had no word?" + +"Well, now, I won't be so sure," Tom confessed. "I have been working +very hard, the last two days, making some intricate calculations. I +have rather neglected my mail, to tell you the truth. + +"And, come to think of it, there were several letters received with the +Washington postmark. But, I supposed they had to do with some of my +patents, and I only casually glanced over them. There was one letter, +though, that I couldn't make head or tail of." + +"Ha! That was it!" cried the lieutenant. "It was the warning in cipher +or code. I didn't think they would neglect to send it to you." + +"But what good would it do me if I couldn't read it?" asked Tom. + +"You must also have received a method of deciphering the message," the +officer said. "Probably you overlooked that. The Secret Service men +sent you the warning in code, so it would not be found out by the +plotters, and, to make sure you could understand it, a method of +translating the cipher was sent in a separate envelope. It is too bad +you missed it." + +"Yes, for I might have been on my guard," agreed Tom. "The red shed +might not have burned, but, as it was, only slight damage was done." + +"Owing to the fact that Tom put the fire out with sand ballast from his +dirigible!" cried Ned. "You should have seen it!" + +"I should have liked to be here," the lieutenant spoke. "But, if I were +you, Tom Swift, I would take means to prevent a repetition of such +things." + +"I shall," Tom decided. "But, if we want to talk, we had better go to +my office, where we can be more private. I don't want the workmen to +hear too much." + +Now that the firing was over, a number of Tom's men from the shops had +assembled around the cannon. Most of them, the young inventor felt, +could be trusted, but in so large a gathering one could never be sure. + +"Did you come on from Washington yesterday?" asked Tom, as he, Ned and +the officer strolled toward the shed where was housed the aerial +warship. + +"Yes, and I spent the night in New York. I arrived in town a short time +ago, and came right on out here. At your house I was told you were over +in the fields conducting experiments, so I came on here." + +"Glad you did," Tom said. "I'll soon have something to show you, I +hope. But I am interested in hearing the details of this suspected +plot. Are you sure one exists?" + +"Perfectly sure," was the answer. "We don't know all the details yet, +nor who are concerned in it, but we are working on the case. The Secret +Service has several agents in the field. + +"We are convinced in Washington," went on Lieutenant Marbury, when he, +Tom and Ned were seated in the private office, "that foreign spies are +at work against you and against our government." + +"Why against me?" asked Tom, in wonder. + +"Because of the inventions you have perfected and turned over to Uncle +Sam--notably the giant cannon, which rivals anything foreign European +powers have, and the great searchlight, which proved so effective +against the border smugglers. The success of those two alone, to say +nothing of your submarine, has not only made foreign nations jealous, +but they fear you--and us," the officer went on. + +"Well, if they only take it out in fear--" + +"But they won't!" interrupted the officer--"They are seeking to destroy +those inventions. More than once, of late, we have nipped a plot just +in time." + +"Have they really tried to damage the big gun?" asked Tom, referring to +one he had built and set up at Panama. + +"They have. And now this fire proves that they are taking other +measures--they are working directly against you." + +"Why, I wonder?" + +"Either to prevent you from making further inventions, or to stop you +from completing your latest--the aerial warship." + +"But I didn't know the foreign governments knew about that," Tom +exclaimed. "It was a secret." + +"Few secrets are safe from foreign Spies," declared Lieutenant Marbury. +"They have a great ferreting-out system on the other side. We are just +beginning to appreciate it. But our own men have not been idle." + +"Have they really learned anything?" Tom asked. "Nothing definite +enough to warrant us in acting," was the answer of the government man. +"But we know enough to let us see that the plot is far-reaching." + +"Are the French in it?" asked Ned impulsively. + +"The French! Why do you ask that?" + +"Tell him about Eradicate, and the man who wanted to buy the mule, +Tom," suggested Ned. + +Thereupon the young inventor mentioned the story told by Eradicate. He +also brought out the fire-bomb, and explained his theory as to how it +had operated to set the red shed ablaze. + +"I think you are right," said Lieutenant Marbury. "And, as regards the +French, I might say they are not the only nation banded to obtain our +secrets--yours and the government's!" + +"But I thought the French and the English were friendly toward us!" Ned +exclaimed. + +"So they are, in a certain measure," the officer went on. "And Russia +is, too. But, in all foreign countries there are two parties, the war +party, as it might be called, and the peace element. + +"But I might add that it is neither France, England, nor Russia that we +must fear. It is a certain other great nation, which at present I will +not name." + +"And you think spies set this fire?" + +"I certainly do." + +"But what measures shall I adopt against this plot?" Tom asked. + +"We will talk that over," said Lieutenant Marbury. "But, before I go +into details, I want to give you another warning. You must be very +careful about--" + +A sudden knock on the door interrupted the speaker. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE RECOIL CHECK + + +"Who is that?" asked Ned Newton, with a quick glance at his chum. + +"I don't know," Tom answered. "I left orders we weren't to be disturbed +unless it was something important." + +"May be something has happened," suggested the navy officer, "another +fire, perhaps, or a--" + +"It isn't a fire," Tom answered. "The automatic alarm would be ringing +before this in that case." + +The knock was repeated. Tom went softly to the door and opened it +quickly, to disclose, standing in the corridor, one of the messengers +employed about the shops. + +"Well, what is it?" asked Tom a bit sharply. + +"Oh, if you please, Mr. Swift," said the boy, "a man has applied for +work at the main office, and you know you left orders there that if any +machinists came along, we were to--" + +"Oh, so I did," Tom exclaimed. "I had forgotten about that," he went on +to Lieutenant Marbury and Ned. "I am in need of helpers to rush through +the finishing touches on my aerial warship, and I left word, if any +applied, as they often do, coming here from other cities, that I wanted +to see them. How many are there?" Tom asked of the messenger. + +"Two, this time. They both say they're good mechanics." + +"That's what they all say," interposed Tom, with a smile. "But, though +they may be good mechanics in their own line, they need to have special +qualifications to work on airships. Tell them to wait, Rodney," Tom +went on to the lad, "and I'll see them presently." + +As the boy went away, and Tom closed the door, he turned to Lieutenant +Marbury. + +"You were about to give me another warning when that interruption came. +You might complete it now." + +"Yes, it was another warning," spoke the officer, "and one I hope you +will heed. It concerns yourself, personally." + +"Do you mean he is in danger?" asked Ned quickly. + +"That's exactly what I do mean," was the prompt reply. "In danger of +personal injury, if not something worse." + +Tom did not seem as alarmed as he might reasonably have been under the +circumstances. + +"Danger, eh?" he repeated coolly. "On the part of whom?" + +"That's just where I can't warn you," the officer replied. "I can only +give you that hint, and beg of you to be careful." + +"Do you mean you are not allowed to tell?" asked Ned. + +"No, indeed; it isn't that!" the lieutenant hastened to assure the +young man. "I would gladly tell, if I knew. But this plot, like the +other one, directed against the inventions themselves, is so shrouded +in mystery that I cannot get to the bottom of it. + +"Our Secret Service men have been working on it for some time, not only +in order to protect you, because of what you have done for the +government, but because Uncle Sam wishes to protect his own property, +especially the searchlight and the big cannon. But, though our agents +have worked hard, they have not been able to get any clues that would +put them on the right trail. + +"So we can only warn you to be careful, and this I do in all +earnestness. That was part of my errand in coming here, though, of +course, I am anxious to inspect the new aerial warship you have +constructed. So watch out for two things--your inventions, and, more +than all, your life!" + +"Do you really think they would do me bodily harm?" Tom asked, a trifle +skeptical. + +"I certainly do. These foreign spies are desperate. If they cannot +secure the use of these inventions to their own country, they are +determined not to let this country have the benefit of them." + +"Well, I'll be careful," Tom promised. "I'm no more anxious than anyone +else to run my head into danger, and I certainly don't want any of my +shops or inventions destroyed. The fire in the red shed was as close as +I want anything to come." + +"That's right!" agreed Ned. "And, if there's anything I can do, Tom, +don't hesitate to call on me." + +"All right, old man. I won't forget. And now, perhaps, you would like +to see the Mars," he said to the lieutenant. + +"I certainly would," was the ready answer. "But hadn't you better see +those men who are waiting to find out about positions here?" + +"There's no hurry about them," Tom said. "We have applicants every day, +and it's earlier than the hour when I usually see them. They can wait. +Now I want your opinion on my new craft. But, you must remember that +it is not yet completed, and only recently did I begin to solve the +problem of mounting the guns. So be a little easy with your +criticisms." + +Followed by Ned and Lieutenant Marbury, Tom led the way into the big +airship shed. There, swaying about at its moorings, was the immense +aerial warship. To Ned's eyes it looked complete enough, but, when Tom +pointed out the various parts, and explained to the government officer +how it was going to work, Ned understood that considerable yet remained +to be done on it. + +Tom showed his official guest how a new system of elevation and +depressing rudders had been adopted, how a new type of propeller was to +be used and indicated several other improvements. The lower, or cabin, +part of the aircraft could be entered by mounting a short ladder from +the ground, and Tom took Ned and Lieutenant Marbury through the +engine-room and other compartments of the Mars. + +"It certainly is most complete," the officer observed. "And when you +get the guns mounted I shall be glad to make an official test. You +understand," he went on, to Tom, "that we are vitally interested in the +guns, since we now have many aircraft that can be used purely for +scouting purposes. What we want is something for offense, a veritable +naval terror of the seas." + +"I understand," Tom answered. "And I am going to begin work on mounting +the guns at once. I am going to use the Newton recoil check," he added. +"Ned, here, is responsible for that." + +"Is that so?" asked the lieutenant, as Tom clapped his chum on the back. + +"Yes, that's his invention." + +"Oh, it isn't anything of the sort," Ned objected. "I just--" + +"Yes, he just happened to solve the problem for me!" interrupted Tom, +as he told the story of the door-spring. + +"A good idea!" commented Lieutenant Marbury. + +Tom then briefly described the principle on which his aerial warship +would work, explaining how the lifting gas would raise it, with its +load of crew, guns and explosives, high into the air; how it could then +be sent ahead, backward, to either side, or around in a circle, by +means of the propellers and the rudders, and how it could be raised or +lowered, either by rudders or by forcing more gas into the lifting +bags, or by letting some of the vapor out. + +And, while this was being done by the pilot or captain in charge, the +crew could be manning the guns with which hostile airships would be +attacked, and bombs dropped on the forts or battleships of the enemy. + +"It seems very complete," observed the lieutenant. "I shall be glad +when I can give it an official test." + +"Which ought to be in about a week," Tom said. "Meanwhile I shall be +glad if you will be my guest here." + +And so that was arranged. + +Leaving Ned and the lieutenant to entertain each other, Tom went to see +the mechanics who had applied for places. He found them satisfactory +and engaged them. One of them had worked for him before. The other was +a stranger, but he had been employed in a large aeroplane factory, and +brought good recommendations. + +There followed busy days at the Swift plant, and work was pushed on the +aerial warship. The hardest task was the mounting of the guns, and +equipping them with the recoil check, without which it would be +impossible to fire them with the craft sailing through the air. + +But finally one of the big guns, and two of the smaller ones were in +place, with the apparatus designed to reduce the recoil shock, and then +Tom decided to have a test of the Mars. + +"Up in the air, do you mean?" asked Ned, who was spending all his spare +time with his chum. + +"Well, a little way up in the air, at least," Tom answered. "I'll make +a sort of captive balloon of my craft, and see how she behaves. I don't +want to take too many chances with that new recoil check, though it +seems to work perfectly in theory." + +The day came when, for the first time, the Mars was to come out of the +big shed where she had been constructed. The craft was not completed +for a flight as yet, but could be made so in a few days, with rush +work. The roof of the great shed slid back, and the big envelope +containing the buoyant gas rose slowly upward. There was a cry of +surprise from the many workmen in the yard, as they saw, most of them +for the first time, the wonderful new craft. It did not go up very +high, being held in place with anchor ropes. + +The sun glistened on the bright brass and nickel parts, and glinted +from the gleaming barrels of the quick-firing guns. + +"That's enough!" Tom called to the men below, who were paying out the +ropes from the windlasses. "Hold her there." + +Tom, Ned, Lieutenant Marbury and Mr. Damon were aboard the captive Mars. + +Looking about, to see that all was in readiness, Tom gave orders to +load the guns, blank charges being used, of course. + +The recoil apparatus was in place, and it now remained to see if it +would do the work for which it was designed. + +"All ready?" asked the young inventor. + +"Bless my accident insurance policy!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I'm as +ready as ever I shall be, Tom. Let 'em go!" + +"Hold fast!" cried Tom, as he prepared to press the electrical switch +which would set off the guns. Ned and Lieutenant Marbury stood near the +indicators to notice how much of the recoil would be neutralized by the +check apparatus. + +"Here we go!" cried the young inventor, and, at the same moment, from +down below on the ground, came a warning cry: + +"Don't shoot, Massa Tom. Don't shoot! Mah mule, Boomerang--" + +But Eradicate had spoken too late. Tom pressed the switch; there was a +deafening crash, a spurt of flame, and then followed wild cries and +confused shouts, while the echoes of the reports rolled about the hills +surrounding Shopton. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE NEW MEN + + +"What was the matter down there?" + +"Was anyone hurt?" + +"Don't forget to look at those pressure gauges!" + +"Bless my ham sandwich!" + +Thus came the cries from those aboard the captive Mars. Ned, Lieutenant +Marbury and Tom had called out in the order named. And, of course, I +do not need to tell you what remark Mr. Damon made. Tom glanced toward +where Ned and the government man stood, and saw that they had made +notes of the pressure recorded on the recoil checks directly after the +guns were fired. Mr. Damon, blessing innumerable objects under his +breath, was looking over the side of the rail to discover the cause of +the commotion and cries of warning from below. + +"I don't believe it was anything serious, Tom," said the odd man. "No +one seems to be hurt." "Look at Eradicate!" suddenly exclaimed Ned. + +"And his mule! I guess that's what the trouble was, Tom!" + +They looked to where the young bank employee pointed, and saw the old +colored man, seated on the seat of his ramshackle wagon, doing his best +to pull down to a walk the big galloping mule, which was dragging the +vehicle around in a circle. + +"Whoa, dere!" Eradicate was shouting, as he pulled on the lines. "Whoa, +dere! Dat's jest laik yo', Boomerang, t' run when dere ain't no call +fo' it, nohow! Ef I done wanted yo' t' git a move on, yo'd lay down +'side de road an' go to sleep. Whoa, now!" + +But the noise of the shots had evidently frightened the long-eared +animal, and he was in no mood for stopping, now that he had once +started. It was not until some of the workmen ran out from the group +where they had gathered to watch Tom's test, and got in front of +Boomerang, that they succeeded in bringing him to a halt. + +Eradicate climbed slowly down from the seat, and limped around until he +stood in front of his pet. + +"Yo'--yo're a nice one, ain't yo'?" he demanded in sarcastic tones. +"Yo' done enough runnin' in a few minutes fo' a week ob Sundays, an' +now I won't be able t' git a move out ob ye! I'se ashamed ob yo', dat's +what I is! Puffickly ashamed ob yo'. Go 'long, now, an' yo' won't git +no oats dish yeah day! No sah!" and, highly indignant, Eradicate led +the now slowly-ambling mule off to the stable. + +"I won't shoot again until you have him shut up, Rad!" laughed Tom. "I +didn't know you were so close when I set off those guns." + +"Dat's all right, Massa Tom," was the reply. "I done called t' you t' +wait, but yo' didn't heah me, I 'spects. But it doan't mattah, now. +Shoot all yo' laik, Boomerang won't run any mo' dis week. He done +runned his laigs off now. Shoot away!" + +But Tom was not quite ready to do this. He wanted to see what effect +the first shots had had on his aerial warship, and to learn whether or +not the newly devised recoil check had done what was expected of it. + +"No more shooting right away," called the young inventor. "I want to +see how we made out with the first round. How did she check up, Ned?" + +"Fine, as far as I can tell." + +"Yes, indeed," added Lieutenant Marbury. "The recoil was hardly +noticeable, though, of course, with the full battery of guns in use, it +might be more so." + +"I hope not," answered Tom. "I haven't used the full strength of the +recoil check yet. I can tune it up more, and when I do, and when I have +it attached to all the guns, big and little, I think we'll do the +trick. But now for a harder test." + +The rest of that day was spent in trying out the guns, firing them with +practice and service charges, though none of the shells used contained +projectiles. It would not have been possible to shoot these, with the +Mars held in place in the midst of Tom's factory buildings. + +"Well, is she a success, Tom?" asked Ned, when the experimenting was +over for the time being. + +"I think I can say so--yes," was the answer, with a questioning look at +the officer. + +"Indeed it is--a great success! We must give the Newton shock absorber +due credit." + +Ned blushed with pleasure. + +"It was only my suggestion," he said. "Tom worked it all out." + +"But I needed the suggestion to start with," the young inventor replied. + +"Of course something may develop when you take your craft high in the +air, and discharge the guns there," said the lieutenant. "In a +rarefied atmosphere the recoil check may not be as effective as at the +earth's surface. But, in such case doubtless, you can increase the +strength of the springs and the hydrostatic valves." + +"Yes, I counted on that," Tom explained. "I shall have to work out that +formula, though, and be ready for it. But, on the whole, I am pretty +well satisfied." + +"And indeed you may well feel that way," commented the government +official. + +The Mars was hauled back into the shed, and the roof slid shut over the +craft. Much yet remained to do on it, but now that Tom was sure the +important item of armament was taken care of, he could devote his +entire time to the finishing touches. + +As his plant was working on several other pieces of machinery, some of +it for the United States Government, and some designed for his own use, +Tom found himself obliged to hire several new hands. An advertisement +in a New York newspaper brought a large number of replies, and for a +day or two Tom was kept busy sifting out the least desirable, and +arranging to see those whose answers showed they knew something of the +business requirements. + +Meanwhile Lieutenant Marbury remained as Tom's guest, and was helpful +in making suggestions that would enable the young inventor to meet the +government's requirements. + +"I'd like, also, to get on the track of those spies who, I am sure, +wish to do you harm," said the lieutenant, "but clues seem to be scarce +around here." + +"They are, indeed," agreed Tom. "I guess the way in which we handled +that fire in the red shed sort of discouraged them." + +Lieutenant Marbury shook his head. + +"They're not so easily discouraged as that," he remarked. "And, with +the situation in Europe growing more acute every day, I am afraid some +of those foreigners will take desperate measures to gain their ends." + +"What particular ends do you mean?" + +"Well, I think they will either try to so injure you that you will not +be able to finish this aerial warship, or they will damage the craft +itself, steal your plans, or damage some of your other inventions." + +"But what object would they have in doing such a thing?" Tom wanted to +know. "How would that help France, Germany or Russia, to do me an +injury?" + +"They are seeking to strike at the United States through you," was the +answer. "They don't want Uncle Sam to have such formidable weapons as +your great searchlight, the giant cannon, or this new warship of the +clouds." + +"But why not, as long as the United States does not intend to go to war +with any of the foreign nations?" Tom inquired. + +"No, it is true we do not intend to go to war with any of the +conflicting European nations," admitted Lieutenant Marbury, "but you +have no idea how jealous each of those foreign nations is of all the +others. Each one fears that the United States will cease to be neutral, +and will aid one or the other." + +"Oh, so that's it?" exclaimed Tom. + +"Yes, each nation, which may, at a moments notice, be drawn into a war +with one or more rival nations, fears that we may throw in our lot with +its enemies." + +"And, to prevent that, they want to destroy some of my inventions?" +asked Tom. + +"That's the way I believe it will work out. So you must be careful, +especially since you have taken on so many new men." + +"That's so," agreed the young inventor. "I have had to engage more +strangers than ever before, for I am anxious to get the Mars finished +and give it a good test. And, now that you have mentioned it, there are +some of those men of whom I am a bit suspicious." + +"Have they done anything to make you feel that way?" asked the +lieutenant. + +"Well, not exactly; it is more their bearing, and the manner in which +they go about the works. I must keep my eye on them, for it takes only +a few discontented men to spoil a whole shop full. I will be on my +guard." + +"And not only about your new airship and other inventions," said the +officer, "but about yourself, personally. Will you do that?" + +"Yes, though I don't imagine anything like that will happen." + +"Well, be on your guard, at all events," warned Lieutenant Marbury. + +As Tom had said, he had been obliged to hire a number of new men. Some +of these were machinists who had worked for him, or his father, on +previous occasions, and, when tasks were few, had been dismissed, to go +to other shops. These men, Tom felt sure, could be relied upon. + +But there were a number of others, from New York, and other large +cities, of whom Tom was not so sure. + +"You have more foreigners than I ever knew you to hire before, Tom," +his father said to him one day, coming back from a tour of the shops. + +"Yes, I have quite a number," Tom admitted. "But they are all good +workmen. They stood the test." + +"Yes, some of them are too good," observed the older inventor. "I saw +one of them making up a small motor the other day, and he was winding +the armature a new way. I spoke to him about it, and he tried to prove +that his way was an improvement on yours. Why, he'd have had it +short-circuited in no time if I hadn't stopped him." + +"Is that so?" asked Tom. "That is news to me. I must look into this." + +"Are any of the new men employed on the Mars?" Mr. Swift asked. + +"No, not yet, but I shall have to shift some there from other work I +think, in order to get finished on time." + +"Well, they will bear watching I think," his father said. + +"Why, have you seen anything--do you--" began the young man, for Mr. +Swift had not been told of the suspicions of the lieutenant. + +"Oh, it isn't anything special," the older inventor went on. "Only I +wouldn't let a man I didn't know much about get too much knowledge of +my latest invention." + +"I won't, Dad. Thanks for telling me. This latest craft is sure going +to be a beauty." + +"Then you think it will work, Tom?" + +"I'm sure of it, Dad!" + +Mr. Swift shook his head in doubt. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A DAY OFF + + +Tom Swift pondered long and intently over what his father had said to +him. He sat for several minutes in his private office, after the aged +inventor had passed out, reviewing in his mind the talk just finished. + +"I wonder," said Tom slowly, "if any of the new men could have obtained +work here for the purpose of furthering that plot the lieutenant +suspects? I wonder if that could be true?" + +And the more Tom thought of it, the more he was convinced that such a +thing was at least possible. + +"I must make a close inspection, and weed out any suspicious +characters," he decided, "though I need every man I have working now, +to get the Mars finished in time. Yes, I must look into this." + +Tom had reached a point in his work where he could leave much to his +helpers. He had several good foremen, and, with his father to take +general supervision over more important details, the young inventor had +more time to himself. Of course he did not lay too many burdens on his +father's shoulders since Mr. Swift's health was not of the best. + +But Tom's latest idea, the aerial warship, was so well on toward +completion that his presence was not needed in that shop more than two +or three times a day. + +"When I'm not there I'll go about in the other shops, and sort of size +up the situation," he decided. "I may be able to get a line on some of +those plotters, if there are any here." + +Lieutenant Marbury had departed for a time, to look after some personal +matters, but he was to return inside of a week, when it was hoped to +give the aerial warship its first real test in flight, and under some +of the conditions that it would meet with in actual warfare. + +As Tom was about to leave his office, to put into effect his new +resolution to make a casual inspection of the other shops, he met Koku, +the giant, coming in. Koku's hands and face were black with oil and +machine filings. + +"Well, what have you been doing?" Tom wanted to know. "Did you have an +accident?" For Koku had no knowledge of machinery, and could not even +be trusted to tighten up a simple nut by himself. But if some one +stood near him, and directed him how to apply his enormous strength, +Koku could do more than several machines. + +"No accident, Master," he replied. "I help man lift that hammer-hammer +thing that pounds so. It get stuck!" + +"What, the hammer of the drop forger?" cried Tom. "Was that out of +order again?" + +"Him stuck," explained Koku simply. + +There was an automatic trip-hammer in one of the shops, used for +pounding out drop forgings, and this hammer seemed to take especial +delight in getting out of order. Very often it jammed, or "stuck," as +Koku described it, and if the hammer could not be forced back on the +channel or upright guide-plates, it meant that it must be taken apart, +and valuable time lost. Once Koku had been near when the hammer got out +of order, and while the workmen were preparing to dismantle it, the +giant seized the big block of steel, and with a heave of his mighty +shoulders forced it back on the guides. + +"And is that what you did this time?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, Master. Me fix hammer," Koku answered. "I get dirty, I no care. +Man say I no can fix. I show him I can!" + +"What man said that?" + +"Man who run hammer. Ha! I lift him by one finger! He say he no like to +work on hammer. He want to work on airship. I tell him I tell you, +maybe you give him job--he baby! Koku can work hammer. Me fix it when +it get stuck." + +"Well, maybe you know what you're talking about, but I don't," said +Tom, with a pleasant smile at his big helper. "Come on, Koku, we'll go +see what it all means." + +"Koku work hammer, maybe?" asked the giant hope fully. + +"Well, I'll see," half promised Tom. "If it's going to get out of gear +all the while it might pay me to keep you at it so you could get it +back in place whenever it kicked up a fuss, and so save time. I'll see +about it." + +Koku led the way to the shop where the triphammer was installed. It was +working perfectly now, as Tom could tell by the thundering blows it +struck. The man operating it looked up as Tom approached, and, at a +gesture from the young inventor, shut off the power. + +"Been having trouble here?" asked Tom, noting that the workman was one +of the new hands he had hired. + +"Yes, sir, a little," was the respectful answer. "This hammer goes on a +strike every now and then, and gets jammed. Your giant there forced it +back into place, which is more than I could do with a big bar for a +lever. He sure has some muscle." + +"Yes," agreed Tom, "he's pretty strong. But what's this you said about +wanting to give up this job, and go on the airship construction." + +The man turned red under his coat of grime. + +"I didn't intend him to repeat that to you, Mr. Swift," he said. "I was +a little put out at the way this hammer worked. I lose so much time at +it that I said I'd like to be transferred to the airship department. +I've worked in one before. But I'm not making a kick," he added quickly. +"Work is too scarce for that." + +"I understand," said Tom. "I have been thinking of making a change. +Koku seems to like this hammer, and knows how to get it in order once +it gets off the guides. You say you have had experience in airship +construction?" + +"Yes, sir. I've worked on the engines, and on the planes." + +"Know anything about dirigible balloons?" + +"Yes, I've worked on them, too, but the engineering part is my +specialty. I'm a little out of my element on a trip-hammer." + +"I see. Well, perhaps I'll give you a trial. Meanwhile you might break +Koku in on operating this machine. If I transfer you I'll put him on +this hammer." + +"Thank you, Mr. Swift! I'll show him all I know about it. Oh, there +goes the hammer again!" he exclaimed, for, as he started it up, as Tom +turned away, the big piece of steel once more jammed on the +channel-plates. + +"Me fix!" exclaimed the giant eagerly, anxious for a chance to exhibit +his great strength. + +"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Tom. "I want to get a look at that machine." + +He inspected it carefully before he signaled for Koku to force the +hammer back into place. But, if Tom saw anything suspicious, he said +nothing. There was, however, a queer look on his face as he turned +aside, and he murmured to himself, as he walked away: + +"So you want to be transferred to the airship department, do you? Well, +we'll see about that. We'll see." + +Tom had more problems to solve than those of making an aerial warship +that would be acceptable to the United States Government. + +Ned Newton called on his chum that evening. The two talked of many +things, gradually veering around to the subject uppermost in Tom's +mind--his new aircraft. + +"You're thinking too much of that." Ned warned him. "You're as bad as +the time you went for your first flight." + +"I suppose I am," admitted Tom. "But the success of the Mars means a +whole lot to me. And that's something I nearly forgot. I've got to go +out to the shop now. Want to come along, Ned?" + +"Sure, though I tell you that you're working too hard--burning the +electric light at both ends." + +"This is just something simple," Tom said. "It won't take long." + +He went out, followed by his chum. + +"But this isn't the way to the airship shed," objected the young bank +clerk, as he noted in which direction Tom was leading him. + +"I know it isn't," Tom replied. "But I want to look at one of the +trip-hammers in the forge shop when none of the men is around. I've +been having a little trouble there." + +"Trouble!" exclaimed his chum. "Has that plot Lieutenant Marbury spoke +of developed?" + +"Not exactly. This is something else," and Tom told of the trouble with +the big hammer. + +"I had an idea," the young inventor said, "that the man at the machine +let it get out of order purposely, so I'd change him. I want to see if +my suspicions are correct." + +Tom carefully inspected the hammer by the light of a powerful portable +electric lamp Ned held. + +"Ha! There it is!" Tom suddenly exclaimed. + +"Something wrong?" Ned inquired. + +"Yes. This is what's been throwing the hammer off the guides all the +while," and Tom pulled out a small steel bolt that had been slipped +into an oil hole. A certain amount of vibration, he explained to Ned, +would rattle the bolt out so that it would force the hammer to one +side, throwing it off the channel-plates, and rendering it useless for +the time being. + +"A foxy trick," commented Tom. "No wonder the machine got out of kilter +so easily." + +"Do you think it was done purposely?" + +"Well, I'm not going to say. But I'm going to watch that man. He +wants to be transferred to the airship department. He put this in the +hammer, perhaps, to have an excuse for a change. Well, I'll give it to +him." + +"You don't mean that you'd take a fellow like that and put him to work +on your new aerial warship, do you, Tom?" + +"Yes, I think I will, Ned. You see, I look at it this way: I haven't +any real proof against him now. He could only laugh at me if I accused +him. But you've heard the proverb about giving a calf rope enough and +he'll hang himself, haven't you?" + +"I think I have." + +"Well, I'm going to give this fellow a little rope. I'll transfer him, +as he asks, and I'll keep a close watch on him." + +"But won't it be risky?" + +"Perhaps, but no more so than leaving him in here to work mischief. If +he is hatching a plot, the sooner it's over with the better I shall +like it. I don't like a shot to hang fire. I'm warned now, and I'll be +ready for him. I have a line on whom to suspect. This is the first +clue," and Tom held up the incriminating bolt. + +"I think you're taking too big a risk, Tom," his chum said. "Why not +discharge the man?" + +"Because that might only smooth things over for a time. If this plot is +being laid the sooner it comes to a head, and breaks, the better. Have +it done, short, sharp and quick, is my motto. Yes, I'll shift him in +the morning. Oh, but I wish it was all over, and the Mars was accepted +by Uncle Sam!" and Tom put his hand to his head with a tired gesture. + +"Say, old man!" exclaimed Ned, "what you want is a day off, and I'm +going to see that you get it. You need a little vacation." + +"Perhaps I do," assented Tom wearily. + +"Then you'll have it!" cried Ned. "There's going to be a little picnic +to-morrow. Why can't you go with Mary Nestor? She'd like you to take +her, I'm sure. Her cousin, Helen Randall, is on from New York, and she +wants to go, also." + +"How do you know?" asked Tom quickly. + +"Because she said so," laughed Ned. "I was over to the house to call. I +have met Helen before, and I suggested that you and I would take the +two girls, and have a day off. You'll come, won't you?" + +"Well, I don't know," spoke Tom slowly. "I ought to--" + +"Nonsense! Give up work for one day!" urged Ned. "Come along. It'll do +you good--get the cobwebs out of your head." + +"All right, I'll go," assented Tom, after a moment's thought. + +The next day, having instructed his father and the foremen to look well +to the various shops, and having seen that the work on the new aerial +warship was progressing favorably, Tom left for a day's outing with his +chum and the two girls. + +The picnic was held in a grove that surrounded a small lake, and after +luncheon the four friends went for a ride in a launch Tom hired. They +went to the upper end of the lake, in rather a pretty but lonesome +locality. + +"Tom, you look tired," said Mary. "I'm sure you've been working too +hard!" + +"Why, I'm not working any harder than usual," Tom insisted. + +"Yes, he is, too!" declared Ned, "and he's running more chances, too." + +"Chances?" repeated Mary. + +"Oh, that's all bosh!" laughed Tom. "Come on, let's go ashore and walk." + +"That suits me," spoke Ned. Helen and Mary assented, and soon the four +young persons were strolling through the shady wood. + +After a bit the couples became separated, and Tom found himself walking +beside Mary in a woodland path. The girl glanced at her companion's +face, and ventured: + +"A penny for your thoughts, Tom." + +"They're worth more than that," he replied gallantly. "I was thinking +of--you." + +"Oh, how nicely you say it!" she laughed. "But I know better! You're +puzzling over some problem. Tell me, what did Ned mean when he hinted +at danger? Is there any, Tom?" + +"None at all," he assured her. "It's just a sort of notion--" + +Mary made a sudden gesture of silence. + +"Hark!" she whispered to Tom, "I heard someone mention your name then. +Listen!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A NIGHT ALARM + + +Mary Nestor spoke with such earnestness, and her action in catching +hold of Tom's arm to enjoin silence was so pronounced that, though he +had at first regarded the matter in the light of a joke, he soon +thought otherwise. He glanced from the girl's face to the dense +underbrush on either side of the woodland path. + +"What is it, Mary?" he asked in a whisper. + +"I don't just know. I heard whispering, and thought it was the rustling +of the leaves of the trees. Then someone spoke your name quite loudly. +Didn't you hear it?" + +Tom shook his head in negation. + +"It may be Ned and his friend," he whispered, his lips close to Mary's +ear. + +"I think not," was her answer. "Listen; there it is again." + +Distinctly then, Tom heard, from some opening in the screen of bushes, +his own name spoken. "Did you hear it?" asked Mary, barely forming the +words with her lips. But Tom could read their motion. + +"Yes," he nodded. Then, motioning to Mary to remain where she was, he +stepped forward, taking care to tread only on grassy places where there +were no little twigs or branches to break and betray his presence. He +was working his way toward the sound of the unseen voice. + +There was a sudden movement in the bushes, just beyond the spot Tom was +making for. He halted quickly and peered ahead. Mary, too, was looking +on anxiously. + +Tom saw the forms of two men, partially concealed by bushes, walking +away from him. The men took no pains to conceal their movements, so Tom +was emboldened to advance with less caution. He hurried to where he +could get a good view, and, at the sight of one of the men, he uttered +an exclamation. + +"What is it?" asked Mary, who was now at his side. She had seen that +Tom had thrown aside caution, and she had come up to join him. + +"That man--I know him!" the young inventor exclaimed. "It is +Feldman--the one who wanted to be changed from the trip-hammer to the +airship department. But who is that with him?" + +As Tom spoke the other turned, and at the sight of his face Mary Nestor +said: + +"He looks like a Frenchman, with that little mustache and imperial." + +"So he is!" exclaimed Tom, in a hoarse whisper. "He must be the +Frenchman that Eradicate spoke about. I wonder what this can mean? I +didn't know Feldman had left the shop." + +"You may know what you're talking about, but I don't, Tom," said Mary, +with a smile at her companion. "Are they friends of yours?" + +"Hardly," spoke the young inventor dryly. "That one, Feldman, is one of +my workmen. He had charge of a drop-forge press and trip-hammer that--" + +"Spare me the details, Tom!" interrupted Mary. "You know I don't +understand a thing about machinery. The wireless you erected on +Earthquake Island was as much as I could comprehend." + +"Well, a trip-hammer isn't as complicated as that," spoke Tom, with a +laugh, as he noticed that the two men were far enough away so they +could not hear him. "What I was going to say was, that one of those men +works in our shops. The other I don't know, but I agree with you that +he does look like a Frenchman, and old Eradicate had a meeting with a +man whom he described as being of that nationality." + +"And you say they are not friends of yours?" + +"I have no reason to believe they are." + +"Then they must be enemies!" exclaimed Mary with quick intuition. "Oh, +Tom, you will be careful, won't you?" + +"Of course I will, little girl," he said, a note of fondness creeping +into his voice, as he covered the small hand with his own large one. +"But there is no danger." + +"Then why were these men discussing you?" + +"I don't know that they were, Mary." + +"They mentioned your name." + +"Well, that may be. Probably one of them, Feldman, who works for me, +was speaking to his companion about the chance for a position. My +father and I employ a number of men, you know." + +"Well, I suppose it is all right, Tom, and I surely hope it is. But +you will be careful, won't you? And you look more worried than you +used to. Has anything gone wrong?" + +"Not a thing, little girl. Everything is going fine. My new aerial +warship will soon make a trial flight, and I'd be pleased to have you +as a passenger." + +"Would you really, Tom?" + +"Of course. Consider that you have the first invitation." + +"That's awfully nice of you. But you do look worried, Tom. Has anything +troubled you?" + +"No, not much. Everything is going all right now. We did have a little +trouble at a fire in one of my buildings--" + +"A fire! Oh, Tom! You never told me!" + +"Well, it didn't amount to much--the only suspicious fact about it was +that it seemed to have been of incendiary origin." + +Mary seemed much alarmed, and again begged Tom to be on his guard, +which he promised to do. Had Mary known the warnings uttered by +Lieutenant Marbury she might have had more occasion for worry. + +"Do you suppose that hammer man of yours came to these woods to meet +that Frenchman and talk about you, Tom?" asked his companion, when the +two men had strolled out of sight, and the young people were on their +way back to the launch. + +"Well, it's possible. I have been warned that foreign spies are trying +to get hold of some of my patents, and also to hamper the government in +the use of some others I have sold. But they'll have their own troubles +to get away with anything. The works are pretty well guarded, and you +forget I have the giant, Koku, who is almost a personal bodyguard." + +"Yes, but he can't be everywhere at once. Oh, you will be careful, +won't you, Tom?" + +"Yes, Mary, I will," promised the young inventor. "But don't say +anything to Ned about what we just saw and heard." + +"Why not?" + +"Because he's been at me to hire a couple of detectives to watch over +me, and this would give him another excuse. Just don't say anything, +and I'll adopt all the precautions I think are needful." + +"I will on condition that you do that." + +"And I promise I will." + +With that Mary had to be content. A little later they joined Ned and +his friend, and soon they were moving swiftly down the lake in the +launch. + +"Well, hasn't it done you good to take a day off?" Ned demanded of his +chum, when they were on their homeward way. + +"Yes, I think it has," agreed Tom. + +"You swung your thoughts into a new channel, didn't you?" + +"Oh, yes, I found something new to think about," admitted the young +inventor, with a quick look at Mary. + +But, though Tom thus passed off lightly the little incident of the day, +he gave it serious thought when he was alone. + +"Those fellows were certainly talking about me," he reasoned. "I +wonder what for? And Feldman left the shop without my knowledge. I'll +have to look into that. I wonder if that Frenchy looking chap I saw was +the one who tried to pump Eradicate? Another point to settle." + +The last was easily disposed of, for, on reaching his shops that +afternoon, Tom cross-questioned the colored man, and obtained a most +accurate description of the odd foreigner. It tallied in every detail +with the man Tom had seen in the woods. + +"And now about Feldman," mused Tom, as he went to the foreman of the +shop where the suspected man had been employed. + +"Yes, Feldman asked for a day off," the foreman said in response to +Tom's question. "He claimed his mother was sick, and he wanted to go to +see her. I knew you wouldn't object, as we were not rushed in his +department." + +"Oh, that's all right," said Tom quickly. "Did he say where his mother +lived?" + +"Over Lafayette way." + +"Humph!" murmured Tom. To himself he added: "Queer that he should be +near Lake Loraine, in an opposite direction from Lafayette. This will +bear an investigation." + +The next day Tom made it his business to pass near the hammer that was +so frequently out of order. He found Feldman busy instructing Koku in +its operation. Tom resolved on a little strategy. + +"How is it working, Feldman?" he asked. + +"Very well, Mr. Swift. There doesn't seem to be any trouble at all, but +it may happen any minute. Koku seems to take to it like a duck to +water." + +"Well, when he is ready to assume charge let me know." + +"And then am I to go into the aeroplane shop?" + +"I'll see. By the way, how is your mother?" he asked quickly, looking +Feldman full in the face. + +"She is much better. I took a day off yesterday to go to see her," the +man replied quietly enough, and without sign of embarrassment. + +"That's good. Let me see, she lives over near Lake Loraine, doesn't +she?" + +This time Feldman could not repress a start. But he covered it +admirably by stooping over to pick up a tool that fell to the floor. + +"No, my mother is in Lafayette," he said. "I don't know where Lake +Loraine is." + +"Oh," said Tom, as he turned aside to hide a smile. He was sure now he +knew at least one of the plotters. + +But Tom was not yet ready to show his hand. He wanted better evidence +than any he yet possessed. It would take a little more time. + +Work on the aerial warship was rushed, and it seemed likely that a +trial flight could be made before the date set. Lieutenant Marbury sent +word that he would be on hand when needed, and in some of the shops, +where fittings for the Mars were being made, night and day shifts were +working. + +"Well, if everything goes well, we'll take her for a trial flight +to-morrow," said Tom, coming in from the shops one evening. + +"Guns and all?" asked Ned, who had come over to pay his chum a visit. +Mr. Damon was also on hand, invoking occasional blessings. + +"Guns and all," replied Tom. + +Ned had a little vacation from the bank, and was to stay all night, as +was Mr. Damon. + +What time it was, save that it must be near midnight, Tom could not +tell, but he was suddenly awakened by hearing yells from Eradicate: + +"Massa Tom! Massa Tom!" yelled the excited colored man. "Git up! Git +up! Suffin' turrible am happenin' in de balloon shop. Hurry! An' yo' +stan' still, Boomerang, or I'll twist yo' tail, dat's what I will! +Hurry, Massa Tom!" + +Tom leaped out of bed. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE CAPTURE + + +Tom Swift was something like a fireman. He had lived so long in an +atmosphere of constant alarms and danger, that he was always ready for +almost any emergency. His room was equipped with the end in view that +he could act promptly and effectively. + +So, when he heard Eradicate's alarm, though he wondered what the old +colored man was doing out of bed at that hour, Tom did not stop to +reason out that puzzle. He acted quickly. + +His first care was to throw on the main switch, connected with a big +storage battery, and to which were attached the wires of the lighting +system. This at once illuminated every shop in the plant, and also the +grounds themselves. Tom wanted to see what was going on. The use of a +storage battery eliminated the running of the dynamo all night. + +And once he had done this, Tom began pulling on some clothes and a pair +of shoes. At the same time he reached out with one hand and pressed a +button that sounded an alarm in the sleeping quarters of Koku, the +giant, and in the rooms of some of the older and most trusted men. + +All this while Eradicate was shouting away, down in the yard. + +"Massa Tom! Massa Tom!" he called. "Hurry! Hurry! Dey is killin' Koku!" + +"Killing Koku!" exclaimed Tom, as he finished his hasty dressing. "Then +my giant must already be in the fracas. I wonder what it's all about, +anyhow." + +"What's up, Tom?" came Ned's voice from the adjoining room. "I thought +I heard a noise." + +"Your thoughts do you credit, Ned!" Tom answered. "If you listen right +close, you'll hear several noises." + +"By Jove! You're right, old man!" + +Tom could hear his chum bound out of bed to the floor, and, at the same +time, from the big shed where Tom was building his aerial warship came +a series of yells and shouts. + +"That's Koku's voice!" Tom exclaimed, as he recognized the tones of the +giant. + +"I'm coming, Tom!" Ned informed his chum. "Wait a minute." + +"No time to wait," Tom replied, buttoning his coat as he sped down the +hall. + +"Oh, Tom, what is it?" asked Mrs. Baggert, the housekeeper, looking +from her room. + +"I don't know. But don't let dad get excited, no matter what happens. +Just put him off until I come back. I think it isn't anything serious." + +Mr. Damon, who roomed next to Ned, came out of his own apartment +partially dressed. + +"Bless my suspenders!" he cried to Tom, those articles just then +dangling over his hips. "What is it? What has happened? Bless my steam +gauge, don't tell me it's a fire!" + +"I think it isn't that," Tom answered. "No alarm has rung. Koku seems +to be in trouble." + +"Well, he's big enough to look after himself, that's one consolation," +chuckled Mr. Damon. "I'll be right with you." + +By this time Ned had run out into the hall, and, together, he and Tom +sped down the corridor. They could not hear the shouts of Eradicate so +plainly now, as he was on the other side of the house. + +But when the two young men reached the front porch, they could hear the +yells given with redoubled vigor. And, in the glare of the electric +lights, Tom saw Eradicate leading along Boomerang, the old mule. + +"What is it, Rad? What is it?" demanded the young inventor breathlessly. + +"Trouble, Massa Tom! Dat's what it am! Trouble!" + +"I know that--but what kind?" + +"De worstest kind, I 'spects, Massa Tom. Listen to it!" + +From the interior of the big shed, not far from the house, Tom and Ned +heard a confused jumble of shouts, cries and pleadings, mingled with +the rattle of pieces of metal, and the banging of bits of wood. And, +above all that, like the bellowing of a bull, was noted the rumbling +voice of Koku, the giant. + +"Come on, Ned!" Tom cried. + +"It's suah trouble, all right," went on Eradicate. "Mah mule, +Boomerang, had a touch ob de colic, an' I got up t' gib him some hot +drops an' walk him around, when I heard de mostest terrific +racket-sound, and den I 'spected trouble was comm." + +"It isn't coming--it's here!" called Tom, as he sped toward the big +shop. Ned was but a step behind him. The big workshop where the aerial +warship was being built was, like the other buildings, brilliantly +illuminated by the lights Tom had switched on. The young inventor also +saw several of his employees speeding toward the same point. + +Tom was the first to reach the small door of the shed. This was built +in one of the two large main doors, which could be swung open when it +was desired to slide the Mars in from the ground, and not admit it +through the roof. + +"Look!" cried Tom, pointing. + +Ned looked over his chum's shoulder and saw the giant, Koku, struggling +with four men--powerful men they were, too, and they seemed bent on +mischief. + +For they came at Koku from four sides, seeking to hold his hands and +feet so that he could not fight them back. On the floor near where the +struggle was taking place was a coil of rope, and it was evident that +it had been the intention of the men to overcome Koku and truss him up, +so that he would not interfere with what they intended to do. But Koku +was a match for even the four men, powerful as they were. + +"We're here, Koku!" cried Tom. "Watch for an opening, Ned!" he called +to his chum. + +The sound of Tom's voice disconcerted at least two of the attackers, +for they looked around quickly, and this was fatal to their chances. + +Though such a big man, Koku was exceptionally quick, and no sooner did +he see his advantage, as two of the men turned their gaze away from +him, than he seized it. + +Suddenly tearing loose his hands from the grip of the two men who had +looked around, Koku shot out his right and left fists, and secured good +hold on the necks of two of his enemies. The other two, at his back, +were endeavoring to pull him over, but the giant's sturdy legs still +held. + +So big was Koku's hands that they almost encircled the necks of his +antagonists. Then happened a curious thing. + +With a shout that might have done credit to some ancient cave-dweller +of the stone age, Koku spread out his mighty arms, and held apart the +two men he had grasped. In vain they struggled to free themselves from +that terrible grip. Their faces turned purple, and their eyes bulged +out. + +"He's choking them to death!" shouted Ned. + +But Koku was not needlessly cruel. + +A moment later, with a quick and sudden motion he bent his arms, +bringing toward each other the two men he held as captives. Their +heads came together with a dull thud, and a second later Koku allowed +two limp bodies to slip from his grip to the floor. + +"He's done for them!" Tom cried. "Knocked them unconscious. Good for +you, Koku!" + +The giant grunted, and then, with a quick motion, slung himself around, +hoping to bring the enemies at his back within reach of his powerful +arms. But there was no need of this. + +As soon as the other two ruffians had seen their companions fall to the +floor of the shop they turned and fled, leaping from an open window. + +"There they go!" cried Ned. + +"Some of the other men can chase them," said the young inventor. "We'll +tie up the two Koku has captured." + +As he approached nearer to the unconscious captives Tom uttered a cry +of surprise, for he recognized them as two of the new men he had +employed. + +"What can this mean?" he asked wonderingly. + +He glanced toward the window through which the two men had jumped to +escape, and he was just in time to see one of them run past the open +door. The face of this one was under a powerful electric light, and Tom +at once recognized the man as Feldman, the worker who had had so much +trouble with the trip-hammer. + +"This sure is a puzzle," marveled Tom. "My own men in the plot! But +why did they attack Koku?" + +The giant, bending over the men he had knocked unconscious by beating +their heads together, seemed little worse for the attack. + +"We tie 'em up," he said grimly, as he brought over the rope that had +been intended for himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE FIRST FLIGHT + + +Little time was lost in securing the two men who had been so +effectively rendered helpless by Koku's ready, if rough, measures. One +of them was showing signs of returning consciousness now, and Tom, not +willing to inflict needless pain, even on an enemy, told one of his +men, summoned by the alarm, to bring water. Soon the two men opened +their eyes, and looked about them in dazed fashion. + +"Did--did anything hit me?" asked one meekly. + +"It must have been a thunderbolt," spoke the other dreamily. "But it +didn't look like a storm." + +"Oh, dere was a storm, all right," chuckled Eradicate, who, having left +his mule, Boomerang outside, came into the shed. "It was a giant storm +all right." + +The men put their hands to their heads, and seemed to comprehend. They +looked at the rope that bound their feet. Their forearms had been +loosened to allow them to take a drink of water. + +"What does this mean--Ransom--Kurdy?" asked Tom sternly, when the men +seemed able to talk. "Did you attack Koku?" + +"It looks as though he had the best of us, whether we did or not," said +the man Tom knew as Kurdy. "Whew, how my head aches!" + +"Me sorry," said Koku simply. + +"Not half as sorry as we are," returned Ransom ruefully. + +"What does it mean?" asked Tom sternly. "There were four of you. +Feldman and one other got away." + +"Oh, trust Feldman for getting away," sneered Kurdy. "He always leaves +his friends in the lurch." + +"Was this a conspiracy?" demanded Tom. + +The two captives looked at one another, sitting bound on the floor of +the shop, their backs against some boxes. + +"I guess it's all up, and we might as well make a clean breast of it," +admitted Kurdy. + +"Perhaps it would be better," said Tom quietly. "Eradicate," he went +on, to the colored man, "go to the house and tell Mrs. Baggert that +everything is all right and no one hurt." + +"No one hurt, Massa Tom? What about dem dere fellers?" and the colored +man pointed to the captives. + +"Well, they're not hurt much," and Tom permitted himself a little +smile. "I don't want my father to worry. Tell him everything is all +right." + +"All right, Massa Tom. I'se gwine right off. I'se got t' look after mah +mule, Boomerang, too. I'se gwine," and he shuffled away. + +"Who else besides Feldman got away?" asked Tom, looking alternately at +the prisoners. + +They hesitated a moment about answering. + +"We might as well give up, I tell you," spoke Kurdy to Ransom. + +"All right, go ahead, we'll have to take our medicine. I might have +known it would turn out this way--going in for this sort of thing. It's +the first bit of crooked business I ever tried," the man said +earnestly, "and it will be the last--believe me!" + +"Who was the fourth man?" Tom repeated. + +"Harrison," answered Kurdy, naming one of the most efficient of the new +machinists Tom had hired during the rush. + +"Harrison, who has been working on the motor?" cried the young inventor. + +"Yes," said Ransom. + +"I'm sorry to learn that," Tom went on in a low voice. "He was an +expert in his line. But what was your object, anyhow, in attacking +Koku?" + +"We didn't intend to attack him," explained Ransom, "but he came in +when we were at work, and as he went for us we tried to stand him off. +Then your colored man heard the racket, and--well, I guess you know the +rest." + +"But I don't understand why you came into this shed at night," went on +Tom. "No one is allowed in here. You had no right, and Koku knew that. +What did you want?" + +"Look here!" exclaimed Kurdy, "I said we'd make a clean breast of it, +and we will. We're only a couple of tools, and we were foolish ever to +go in with those fellows; or rather, in with that Frenchman, who +promised us big money if we succeeded." + +"Succeeded in what?" demanded the young inventor. + +"In damaging your new aerial warship, or in getting certain parts of it +so he could take them away with him." + +Tom gave a surprised whistle. + +"A frenchman!" he exclaimed. "Is he one of the--?" + +"Yes, he's one of the foreign spies," interrupted Ransom. "You'd find +it out, anyhow, if we didn't tell you. They are after you, Tom Swift, +and after your machines. They had vowed to get them by fair means or +foul, for some of the European governments are desperate." + +"But we were only tools in their hands. So were Feldman and Harrison, +but they knew more about the details. We were only helping them." + +"Then we must try to capture them," decided Tom. "Ned, see if the chase +had any results. I'll look after these chaps--Koku and I." + +"Oh, we give in," admitted Kurdy. "We know when we've had enough," and +he rubbed his head gently where the giant had banged it against that of +his fellow-conspirator. + +"Do you mean that you four came into this shop, at midnight, to damage +the Mars?" asked Tom. + +"That's about it, Mr. Swift," replied Kurdy rather shamefacedly. "We +were to damage it beyond repair, set fire to the whole place, if need +be, and, at the same time, take away certain vital parts. + +"Harrison, Feldman, Ransom and I came in, thinking the coast was clear. +But Koku must have seen us enter, or he suspected we were here, for he +came in after us, and the fight began. We couldn't stop him, and he did +for us. I'm rather glad of it, too, for I never liked the work. It was +only that they tempted me with a promise of big money." + +"Who tempted you?" demanded Tom. + +"That Frenchman--La Foy, he calls himself, and some other foreigners in +your shops." + +"Are there foreigners here?" cried Tom. + +"Bless my chest protector!" cried Mr. Damon, who had come in and had +been a silent listener to this. "Can it be possible?" + +"That's the case," went on Kurdy. "A lot of the new men you took on are +foreign spies from different European nations. They are trying to learn +all they can about your plans, Mr. Swift!" + +"Are they friendly among themselves?" asked Tom. + +"No; each one is trying to get ahead of the other. So far the Frenchman +seems to have had the best of it. But to-night his plan failed." + +"Tell me more about it," urged Tom. + +"That's about all we know," spoke Ransom. "We were only hired to do the +rough work. Those higher up didn't appear. Feldman was only a step +above us." + +"Then my suspicions of him were justified," thought Tom. "He evidently +met La Foy in the woods to make plans. But Koku and Eradicate spoiled +them." + +The two captives seemed willing enough to make a confession, but they +did not know much. As they said, they were merely tools, acting for +others. And events had happened just as they had said. + +The four conspirators had managed, by means of a false key, and by +disconnecting the burglar alarm, to enter the airship shed. They were +about to proceed with their work of destruction when Koku came on the +scene. + +The giant's appearance was due to accident. He acted as a sort of night +watchman, making a tour of the buildings, but he entered the shed where +the Mars was because, that day, he had left his knife in there, and +wanted to get it. Only for that he would not have gone in. When he +entered he surprised the four men. + +Of course he attacked them at once, and they sprang at him. Then +ensued a terrific fight. Eradicate, arising to doctor his mule, as he +had said, heard the noise, and saw what was going on. He gave the +alarm. + +"Well, Ned, any luck?" asked Tom, as his chum came in. + +"No, they got away, Tom. I had a lot of your men out helping me search +the grounds, but it wasn't of much use." + +"Particularly if you depended on some of my men," said Tom bitterly. + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean that the place is filled with spies, Ned! But we will sift them +out in the morning. This has been a lucky night for me. It was touch +and go. Now, then, Koku, take these fellows and lock them up somewhere +until morning. Ned, you and I will remain on guard here the rest of the +night." + +"I'm with you, Tom." + +"Will you be a bit easy on us, considering what we told you?" asked +Kurdy. + +"I'll do the best I can," said Tom, gently, making no promises. + +The two captives were put in secure quarters, and the rest of the night +passed quietly. During the fight in the airship shed some machinery and +tools had been broken, but no great amount of damage was done. Tom and +Ned passed the remaining hours of darkness there. + +A further search was made in the morning for the two conspirators who +had escaped, but no trace of them was found. Tom then realized why +Feldman was so anxious to be placed in the aeroplane department--it was +in order that he might have easier access to the Mars. + +A technical charge was made against the two prisoners, sufficient to +hold them for some time. Then Tom devoted a day to weeding out the +suspected foreigners in his place. All the new men were discharged, +though some protested against this action. + +"Probably I am hitting some of the innocent in punishing those who, if +they had the chance, would become guilty," Tom said to his chum, "but +it cannot be helped--I can't afford to take any chances." + +The Mars was being put in shape for her first flight. The guns, fitted +with the recoil shock absorbers, were mounted, and Lieutenant Marbury +had returned to go aloft in the big aerial warship. He congratulated +Tom on discovering at least one plot in time. + +"But there may be more," he warned the young inventor. "You are not +done with them yet." + +The Mars was floated out of her hangar, and made ready for an ascent. +Tom, Ned, Lieutenant Marbury, Mr. Damon, and several workmen were to be +the first passengers. Tom was busy going over the various parts to see +that nothing had been forgotten. + +"Well, I guess we're ready," he finally announced. "All aboard!" + +"Bless my insurance policy!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Now that the time +comes I almost wish I wasn't going." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom. "You're not going to back out at the last +minute. All aboard! Cast off the ropes!" he cried to the assistants. + +A moment later the Mars, the biggest airship Tom Swift had ever +constructed, arose from the earth like some great bird, and soared +aloft. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +IN DANGER + + +"Well, Tom, we're moving!" cried Ned Newton, clapping his chum on the +back, as he stood near him in the pilot-house. "We're going up, old +sport!" + +"Of course we are," replied Tom. "You didn't think it wouldn't go up, +did you?" + +"Well, I wasn't quite sure," Ned confessed. "You know you were so +worried about--" + +"Not about the ship sailing," interrupted Tom. "It was only the effect +the firing of the guns might have. But I think we have that taken care +of." + +"Bless my pin cushion!" cried Mr. Damon, as he looked over the rail at +the earth below. "We're moving fast, Tom." + +"Yes, we can make a quicker ascent in this than in most aeroplanes," +Tom said, "for they have to go up in a slanting direction. But we can't +quite equal their lateral speed." + +"Just how fast do you think you can travel when you are in first-class +shape?" asked Lieutenant Marbury, as he noted how the Mars was +behaving on this, the first trip. + +"Well, I set a limit of seventy-five miles an hour," the young inventor +replied, as he shifted various levers and handles, to change the speed +of the mechanism. "But I'm afraid we won't quite equal that with all +our guns on board. But I'm safe in saying sixty, I think." + +"That will more than satisfy the government requirements," the officer +said. "But, of course, your craft will have to come up to expectations +and requirements in the matter of armament." + +"I'll give you every test you want," declared Tom, with a smile. "And +now we'll see what the Mars can do when put to it." + +Up and up went the big dirigible aerial warship. Had you been fortunate +enough to have seen her you would have observed a craft not unlike, in +shape, the German Zeppelins. But it differed from those war balloons in +several important particulars. + +Tom's craft was about six hundred feet long, and the diameter of the +gas bag, amidships, was sixty feet, slightly larger than the largest +Zeppelin. Below the bag, which, as I have explained, was made up of a +number of gas-tight compartments, hung from wire cables three cabins. +The forward one was a sort of pilot-house, containing various +instruments for navigating the ship of the air, observation rooms, +gauges for calculating firing ranges, and the steering apparatus. + +Amidships, suspended below the great bag, were the living and sleeping +quarters, where food was cooked and served and where those who operated +the craft could spend their leisure time. Extra supplies were also +stored there. + +At the stern of the big bag was the motor-room, where gas was generated +to fill the balloon compartments when necessary, where the gasoline and +electrical apparatus were installed, and where the real motive power of +the craft was located. Here, also, was carried the large quantity of +gasoline and oil needed for a long voyage. The Mars could carry +sufficient fuel to last for over a week, provided no accidents occurred. + +There was also an arrangement in the motor compartment, so that the +ship could be steered and operated from there. This was in case the +forward pilot-house should be shot away by an enemy. And, also, in the +motor compartment were the sleeping quarters for the crew. + +All three suspended cabins were connected by a long covered runway, so +that one could pass from the pilot-house to the motor-room and back +again through the amidship cabin. + +At the extreme end of the big bag were the various rudders and planes, +designed to keep the craft on a level keel, automatically, and to +enable it to make headway against a strong wind. The motive power +consisted of three double-bladed wooden propellers, which could be +operated together or independently. A powerful gasoline engine was the +chief motive power, though there was an auxiliary storage battery, +which would operate an electrical motor and send the ship along for +more than twenty-four hours in case of accident to the gasoline engine. + +There were many other pieces of apparatus aboard, some not completely +installed, the uses of which I shall mention from time to time, as the +story progresses. The gas-generating machine was of importance, for +there would be a leakage and shrinking of the vapor from the big bag, +and some means must be provided for replenishing it. + +"You don't seem to have forgotten anything, Tom," said Ned admiringly, +as they soared upward. + +"We can tell better after we've flown about a bit," observed the young +inventor, with a smile. "I expect we shall have to make quite a number +of changes." + +"Are you going far?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Why, you're not frightened, are you?" inquired Tom. "You have been up +in airships with me before." + +"Oh, no, I'm not frightened!" exclaimed the odd man. "Bless my +suspenders, no! But I promised my wife I'd be back this evening, and..." + +"We'll sail over toward Waterford," broke in Tom, "and I'll drop you +down in your front yard." + +"No, don't do that! Don't! I beg of you!" cried Mr. Damon. "You +see--er--Tom, my wife doesn't like me to make these trips. Of course, I +understand there is no danger, and I like them. But it's just as well +not to make her worry-you understand!" + +"Oh, all right," replied Tom, with a laugh. "Well, we're not going far +on this trip. What I want to do, most of all, is to test the guns, and +see if the recoil check will work as well when we are aloft as it did +down on the ground. You know a balloon isn't a very stable base for a +gun, even one of light caliber." + +"No, it certainly is not," agreed Lieutenant Marbury, "and I am +interested in seeing how you will overcome the recoil." + +"We'll have a test soon," announced Tom. + +Meanwhile the Mars, having reached a considerable height, being up so +far, in fact, that the village of Shopton could scarcely be +distinguished, Tom set the signal that told the engine-room force to +start the propellers. This would send them ahead. + +Some of Tom's most trusted workmen formed the operating crew, the young +inventor taking charge of the pilot-house himself. + +"Well she seems to run all right," observed Lieutenant Marbury, as the +big craft surged ahead just below a stratum of white, fleecy clouds. + +"Yes, but not as fast as I'd like to see her go," Tom replied. "Of +course the machinery is new, and it will take some little time for it +to wear down smooth. I'll speed her up a little now." + +They had been running for perhaps ten minutes when Tom shoved over the +hand of an indicator that communicated with the engine-room from the +pilot-house. At once the Mars increased her speed. + +"She can do it!" cried Ned. + +"Bless my-hat! I should say so!" cried Mr. Damon, for he was standing +outside the pilot-house just then, on the "bridge," and the sudden +increase of speed lifted his hat from his head. + +"There you are--caught on the fly!" cried Ned, as he put up his hand +just in time to catch the article in question. + +"Thanks! Guess I'd better tie it fast," remarked the odd man, putting +his hat on tightly. + +The aerial warship was put through several evolutions to test her +stability, and to each one she responded well, earning the praise of +the government officer. Up and down, to one side and the other, around +in big circles, and even reversing, Tom sent his craft with a true hand +and eye. In a speed test fifty-five miles was registered against a +slight wind, and the young inventor said he knew he could do better +than that as soon as some of the machinery was running more smoothly. + +"And now suppose we get ready for the gun tests," suggested Tom, when +they had been running for about an hour. + +"That's what I'm mostly interested in," said Lieutenant Marbury. "It's +easy enough to get several good types of dirigible balloons, but few of +them will stand having a gun fired from them, to say nothing of several +guns." + +"Well, I'm not making any rash promises," Tom went on, "but I think we +can turn the trick." + +The armament of the Mars was located around the center cabin. There +were two large guns, fore and aft, throwing a four-inch projectile, and +two smaller calibered quick-firers on either beam. The guns were +mounted on pedestals that enabled the weapons to fire in almost any +direction, save straight up, and of course the balloon bag being above +them prevented this. However, there was an arrangement whereby a small +automatic quick-firer could be sent up to a platform built on top of +the gas envelope itself, and a man stationed there could shoot at a +rival airship directly overhead. + +But the main deck guns could be elevated to an angle of nearly +forty-five degrees, so they could take care of nearly any hostile +aircraft that approached. + +"But where are the bombs I heard you speaking of?" asked Ned, as they +finished looking at the guns. + +"Here they are," spoke Tom, as he pointed to a space in the middle of +the main cabin floor. He lifted a brass plate, and disclosed three +holes, covered with a strong wire netting that could be removed. "The +bombs will be dropped through those holes," explained the young +inventor, "being released by a magnetic control when the operator +thinks he has reached a spot over the enemy's city or fortification +where the most damage will be done. I'll show you how they work a +little later. Now we'll have a test of some of the guns." + +Tom called for some of his men to take charge of the steering and +running of the Mars while he and Lieutenant Marbury prepared to fire +the two larger weapons. This was to be one of the most important tests. + +Service charges had been put in, though, of course, no projectiles +would be used, since they were then flying over a large city not far +from Shopton. + +"We'll have to wait until we get out over the ocean to give a complete +test, with a bursting shell," Tom said. + +He and Lieutenant Marbury were beside a gun, and were about to fire it, +when suddenly, from the stern of the ship, came a ripping, tearing +sound, and, at the same time, confused shouts came from the crew's +quarters. + +"What is it?" cried Tom. + +"One of the propellers!" was the answer. "It's split, and has torn a +big hole in the gas bag!" + +"Bless my overshoes!" cried Mr. Damon. "We're going down!" + +All on board the Mars became aware of a sudden sinking sensation. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +TOM IS WORRIED + + +"Steady, all!" came in even tones from Tom Swift. Not for an instant +had he lost his composure. For it was an accident, that much was +certain, and one that might endanger the lives of all on board. + +Above the noise of the machinery in the motor room could be heard the +thrashing and banging of the broken or loose propeller-blade. Just +what its condition was, could not be told, as a bulge of the gas bag +hid it from the view of those gathered about the gun, which was about +to be fired when the alarm was given. + +"We're sinking!" cried Mr. Damon. "We're going down, Tom!" + +"That's nothing," was the cool answer. "It is only for a moment. Only a +few of the gas compartments can be torn. There will soon enough +additional gas in the others to lift us again." + +And so it proved. The moment the pressure of the lifting gas in the big +oiled silk and aluminum container was lowered, it started the +generating machine, and enough extra gas was pumped into the uninjured +compartments to compensate for the loss. + +"We're not falling so fast now," observed Ned. + +"No, and we'll soon stop falling altogether," calmly declared Tom. "Too +bad this accident had to happen, though." + +"It might have been much worse, my boy!" exclaimed the lieutenant. +"That's a great arrangement of yours--the automatic gas machine." + +"It's on the same principle as the air brakes of a trolley car," +explained Tom, when a look at the indicators showed that the Mars had +ceased falling and remained stationary in the air. Tom had also sent a +signal to the engine-room to shut off the power, so that the two +undamaged propellers, as well as the broken one, ceased revolving. + +"In a trolley car, you see," Tom went on, when the excitement had +calmed down, "as soon as the air pressure in the tanks gets below a +certain point, caused by using the air for a number of applications of +the brakes, it lets a magnetized bar fall, and this establishes an +electrical connection, starting the air pump. The pump forces more air +into the tanks until the pressure is enough to throw the pump switch +out of connection, when the pump stops. I use the same thing here." + +"And very clever it is," said Mr. Damon. "Do you suppose the danger is +all over, Tom?" + +"For the time being, yes. But we must unship that damaged propeller, +and go on with the two." + +The necessary orders were given, and several men from the engine-room +at once began the removal of the damaged blades. + +As several spare ones were carried aboard one could be put on in place +of the broken one, had this been desired. But Tom thought the accident +a good chance to see how his craft would act with only two-thirds of +her motive force available, so he did not order the damaged propeller +replaced. When it was lowered to the deck it was carefully examined. + +"What made it break?" Ned wanted to know. + +"That's a question I can't answer," Tom replied. "There may have been a +defect in the wood, but I had it all carefully examined before I used +it." + +The propeller was one of the "built-up" type, with alternate layers of +ash and mahogany, but some powerful force had torn and twisted the +blades. The wood was splintered and split, and some jagged pieces, +flying off at a tangent, so great was the centrifugal force, had torn +holes in the strong gas bag. + +"Did something hit it; or did it hit something?" asked Ned as he saw +Tom carefully examining the broken blades. + +"Hard to say. I'll have a good look at this when we get back. Just now +I want to finish that gun test we didn't get a chance to start." + +"You don't mean to say you're going to keep on, and with the balloon +damaged; are you?" cried Mr. Damon, in surprise. + +"Certainly--why not?" Tom replied. "In warfare accidents may happen, +and if the Mars can't go on, after a little damage like this, what is +going to happen when she's fired on by a hostile ship? Of course I'm +going on!" + +"Bless my necktie!" ejaculated the odd man. + +"That's the way to talk!" exclaimed Lieutenant Marbury. "I'm with you." + +There really was very little danger in proceeding. The Mars was just as +buoyant as before, for more gas had been automatically made, and forced +into the uninjured compartments of the bag. At the same time enough +sand ballast had been allowed to run out to make the weight to be +lifted less in proportion to the power remaining. + +True, the speed would be less, with two propellers instead of three, +and the craft would not steer as well, with the torn ends of the gas +bag floating out behind. But this made a nearer approach to war +conditions, and Tom was always glad to give his inventions the most +severe tests possible. + +So, after a little while, during which it was seen that the Mars was +proceeding almost normally, the matter of discharging the guns was +taken up again. + +The weapons were all ready to fire, and when Tom had attached the +pressure gauges to note how much energy was expended in the recoil, he +gave the word to fire. + +The two big weapons were discharged together, and for a moment after +the report echoed out among the cloud masses every soul on the ship +feared another accident had happened. + +For the big craft rolled and twisted, and seemed about to turn turtle. +Her forward progress was halted, momentarily, and a cry of fear came +from several of the members of the crew, who had had only a little +experience in aircraft. + +"What's the matter?" cried Ned. "Something go wrong?" + +"A little," admitted Tom, with a rueful look on his face. "Those +recoil checks didn't work as well in practice as they did in theory." + +"Are you sure they are strong enough?" asked Lieutenant Marbury. + +"I thought so," spoke Tom. "I'll put more tension on the spring next +time." + +"Bless my watch chain!" cried Mr. Damon. "You aren't going to fire +those guns again; are you, Tom?" + +"Why not? We can't tell what's the matter, nor get things right +without experimenting. There's no danger." + +"No danger! Don't you call nearly upsetting the ship danger?" + +"Oh, well, if she turns over she'll right herself again," Tom said. +"The center of gravity is low, you see. She can't float in any position +but right side up, though she may turn over once or twice." + +"Excuse me!" said Mr. Damon firmly. "I'd rather go down, if it's all +the same to you. If my wife ever knew I was here I'd never hear the +last of it!" + +"We'll go down soon," Tom promised. "But I must fire a couple of shots +more. You wouldn't call the recoil checks a success, would you?" and +the young inventor appealed to the government inspector. + +"No, I certainly would not," was the prompt answer. "I am sorry, too, +for they seemed to be just what was needed. Of course I understand this +is not an official test, and I am not obliged to make a report of this +trial. But had it been, I should have had to score against you. + +"I realize that, and I'm not asking any favors, but I'll try it again +with the recoil checks tightened up. I think the hydrostatic valves +were open too much, also." + +Preparations were now made for firing the four-inch guns once more. All +this while the Mars had been speeding around in space, being about two +miles up in the air. Tom's craft was not designed to reach as great an +elevation as would be possible in an aeroplane, since to work havoc to +an enemy's fortifications by means of aerial bombs they do not need to +be dropped from a great height. + +In fact, experiments in Germany have shown that bombs falling from a +great height are less effective than those falling from an airship +nearer the earth. For a bomb, falling from a height of two miles, +acquires enough momentum to penetrate far into the earth, so that much +of the resultant explosive force is expended in a downward direction, +and little damage is done to the fortifications. A bomb dropped from a +lower altitude, expending its force on all sides, does much more damage. + +On the other hand, in destroying buildings, it has been found desirable +to drop a bomb from a good height so that it may penetrate even a +protected roof, and explode inside. + +Once more Tom made ready to fire, this time having given the recoil +checks greater resistance. But though there was less motion imparted to +the airship when the guns were discharged, there was still too much for +comfort, or even safety. + +"Well, something's wrong, that's sure," remarked Tom, in rather +disappointed tones as he noted the effect of the second shots. "If we +get as much recoil from the two guns, what would happen if we fired +them all at once?" + +"Don't do it! Don't do it, I beg of you!" entreated Mr. Damon. "Bless +my toothbrush--don't do it!" + +"I won't--just at present," Tom said, ruefully. "I'm afraid I'll have +to begin all over again, and proceed along new lines." + +"Well, perhaps you will," said the lieutenant. "But you may invent +something much better than anything you have now. There is no great +rush. Take your time, and do something good." + +"Oh, I'll get busy on it right away," Tom declared. "We'll go down now, +and start right to work. I'm afraid, Ned, that our idea of a +door-spring check isn't going to work." + +"I might have known my idea wouldn't amount to anything," said the +young bank clerk. + +"Oh, the idea is all right," declared Tom, "but it wants modifying. +There is more power to those recoils than I figured, though our first +experiments seemed to warrant us in believing that we had solved the +problem." + +"Are you going to try the bomb-dropping device?" asked the lieutenant. + +"Yes, there can't be any recoil from that," Tom said. "I'll drop a few +blank ones, and see how accurate the range finders are." + +While his men were getting ready for this test Tom bent over the broken +propeller, looking from that to the recoil checks, which had not come +up to expectations. Then he shook his head in a worried and puzzled +manner. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +AN OCEAN FLIGHT + + +Dropping bombs from an aeroplane, or a dirigible balloon, is a +comparatively simple matter. Of course there are complications that may +ensue, from the danger of carrying high explosives in the limited +quarters of an airship, with its inflammable gasoline fuel, and +ever-present electric spark, to the possible premature explosion of the +bomb itself. But they seem to be considered minor details now. + +On the other hand, while it is comparatively easy to drop a bomb from a +moving aeroplane, or dirigible balloon, it is another matter to make +the bomb fall just where it will do the most damage to the enemy. It is +not easy to gauge distances, high up in the air, and then, too, +allowance must be made for the speed of the aircraft, the +ever-increasing velocity of a falling body, and the deflection caused +by air currents. + +The law of velocity governing falling bodies is well known. It varies, +of course, according to the height, but in general a body falling +freely toward the earth, as all high-school boys know, is accelerated +at the rate of thirty-two feet per second. This law has been taken +advantage of by the French in the present European war. The French drop +from balloons, or aeroplanes, a steel dart about the size of a lead +pencil, and sharpened in about the same manner. Dropping from a height +of a mile or so, that dart will acquire enough velocity to penetrate a +man from his head all the way through his body to his feet. + +But in dropping bombs from an airship the damage intended does not so +much depend on velocity. It is necessary to know how fast the bomb +falls in order to know when to set the time fuse that will explode it; +though some bombs will explode on concussion. + +At aeroplane meets there are often bomb-dropping contests, and balls +filled with a white powder (that will make a dust-cloud on falling, and +so show where they strike) are used to demonstrate the birdman's +accuracy. + +"We'll see how our bomb-release works," Tom went on. "But we'll have to +descend a bit in order to watch the effect." + +"You're not going to use real bombs, are you, Tom?" asked Ned. + +"Indeed not. Just chalk-dust ones for practice. Now here is where the +bombs will be placed," and he pointed to the three openings in the +floor of the amidship cabin. The wire nettings were taken out and one +could look down through the holes to the earth below, the ground being +nearer now, as Tom had let out some of the lifting gas. + +"Here is the range-finder and the speed calculator," the young inventor +went on as he indicated the various instruments. "The operator sits +here, where he can tell when is the most favorable moment for releasing +the bomb." + +Tom took his place before a complicated set of instruments, and began +manipulating them. One of his assistants, under the direction of +Lieutenant Marbury, placed in the three openings bombs, made of light +cardboard, just the size of a regular bomb, but filled with a white +powder that would, on breaking, make a dust-cloud which could be +observed from the airship. + +"I have first to determine where I want to drop the bomb," Tom +explained, "and then I have to get my distance from it on the +range-finder. Next I have to know how fast I am traveling, and how far +up in the air I am, to tell what the velocity of the falling bomb will +attain at a certain time. This I can do by means of these instruments, +some of which I have adapted from those used by the government," he +said, with a nod to the officer. + +"That's right--take all the information you can get," was the smiling +response. + +"We will now assume that the bombs are in place in the holes in the +floor of the cabin," Tom went on. "As I sit here I have before me three +buttons. They control the magnets that hold the bombs in place. If I +press one of the buttons it breaks the electrical current, the magnet +no longer has any attraction, and it releases the explosive. Now look +down. I am going to try and drop a chalk bomb near that stone fence." + +The Mars was then flying over a large field and a stone fence was in +plain view. + +"Here she goes!" cried Tom, as he made some rapid calculations from his +gauge instruments. There was a little click and the chalk bomb dropped. +There was a plate glass floor in part of the cabin, and through this +the progress of the pasteboard bomb could be observed. + +"She'll never go anywhere near the fence!" declared Ned. "You let it +drop too soon, Tom!" + +"Did I? You just watch. I had to allow for the momentum that would be +given the bomb by the forward motion of the balloon." + +Hardly had Tom spoken than a puff of white was seen on the very top of +the fence. + +"There it goes?" cried the lieutenant. "You did the trick, Swift!" + +"Yes, I thought I would. Well, that shows my gauges are correct, +anyhow. Now we'll try the other two bombs." + +In succession they were released from the bottom of the cabin, at other +designated objects. The second one was near a tree. It struck within +five feet, which was considered good. + +"And I'll let the last one down near that scarecrow in the field," said +Tom, pointing to a ragged figure in the middle of a patch of corn. + +Down went the cardboard bomb, and so good was the aim of the young +inventor that the white dust arose in a cloud directly back of the +scarecrow. + +And then a queer thing happened. For the figure seemed to come to life, +and Ned, who was watching through a telescope, saw a very much excited +farmer looking up with an expression of the greatest wonder on his +face. He saw the balloon over his head, and shook his fist at it, +evidently thinking he had had a narrow escape. But the pasteboard bomb +was so light that, had it hit him, he would not have been injured, +though he might have been well dusted. + +"Why, that was a man! Bless my pocketbook!" cried Mr. Damon. + +"I guess it was," agreed Tom. "I took it for a scarecrow." + +"Well, it proved the accuracy of your aim, at any rate," observed +Lieutenant Marbury. "The bomb dropping device of your aerial warship is +perfect--I can testify to that." + +"And I'll have the guns fixed soon, so there will be no danger of a +recoil, too," added Tom Swift, with a determined look on his face. + +"What's next?" asked Mr. Damon, looking at his watch. "I really ought +to be home, Tom." + +"We're going back now, and down. Are you sure you don't want me to drop +you in your own front yard, or even on your roof? I think I could +manage that." + +"Bless my stovepipe, no, Tom! My wife would have hysterics. Just land +me at Shopton and I'll take a car home." + +The damaged airship seemed little the worse for the test to which she +had been subjected, and made her way at good speed in the direction of +Tom's home. Several little experiments were tried on the way back. They +all worked well, and the only two problems Tom had to solve were the +taking care of the recoil from the guns and finding out why the +propeller had broken. + +A safe landing was made, and the Mars once more put away in her hangar. +Mr. Damon departed for his home, and Lieutenant Marbury again took up +his residence in the Swift household. + +"Well, Tom, how did it go?" asked his father. + +"Not so very well. Too much recoil from the guns." + +"I was afraid so. You had better drop this line of work, and go at +something else." + +"No, Dad!" Tom cried. "I'm going to make this work. I never had +anything stump me yet, and I'm not going to begin now!" + +"Well, that's a good spirit to show," said the aged inventor, with a +shake of his head, "but I don't believe you'll succeed, Tom." + +"Yes I will, Dad! You just wait." + +Tom decided to begin on the problem of the propeller first, as that +seemed more simple. He knew that the gun question would take longer. + +"Just what are you trying to find out, Tom?" asked Ned, a few nights +later, when he found his chum looking at the broken parts of the +propeller. + +"Trying to discover what made this blade break up and splinter that +way. It couldn't have been centrifugal force, for it wasn't strong +enough." + +Tom was "poking" away amid splinters, and bits of broken wood, when he +suddenly uttered an exclamation, and held up something. "Look!" he +cried. "I believe I've found it." + +"What?" asked Ned. + +"The thing that weakened the propeller. Look at this, and smell!" He +held out a piece of wood toward Ned. The bank employee saw where a +half-round hole had been bored in what remained of the blade, and from +that hole came a peculiar odor. + +"It's some kind of acid," ventured Ned. + +"That's it!" cried Tom. "Someone bored a hole in the propeller, and put +in some sort of receptacle, or capsule, containing a corrosive acid. In +due time, which happened to be when we took our first flight, the acid +ate through whatever it was contained in, and then attacked the wood of +the propeller blade. It weakened the wood so that the force used in +whirling it around broke it." + +"Are you sure of that?" asked Ned. + +"As sure as I am that I'm here! Now I know what caused the accident!" + +"But who would play such a trick?" asked Ned. "We might all have been +killed." + +"Yes, I know we might," said Tom. "It must be the work of some of those +foreign spies whose first plot we nipped in the bud. I must tell +Marbury of this, but don't mention it to dad." + +"I won't," promised Ned. + +Lieutenant Marbury agreed with Tom that someone had surreptitiously +bored a small hole in the propeller blade, and had inserted a corrosive +acid that would take many hours to operate. The hole had been varnished +over, probably, so it would not show. + +"And that means I've got to examine the other two blades," Tom said. +"They may be doctored too." + +But they did not prove to be. A careful examination showed nothing +wrong. An effort was made to find out who had tried to destroy the Mars +in midair, but it came to nothing. The two men in custody declared they +knew nothing of it, and there was no way of proving that they did. + +Meanwhile, the torn gas bag was repaired, and Tom began working on the +problem of doing away with the gun recoil. He tried several schemes, +and almost was on the point of giving up when suddenly he received a +hint by reading an account of how the recoil was taken care of on some +of the German Zeppelins. + +The guns there were made double, with the extra barrel filled with +water or sand, that could be shot out as was the regular charge. As +both barrels were fired at the same time, and in opposite directions, +with the same amount of powder, one neutralized the other, and the +recoil was canceled, the ship remaining steady after fire. + +"By Jove! I believe that will do the trick!" cried Tom. "I'm going to +try it." + +"Good luck to you!" cried Ned. + +It was no easy matter to change all the guns of the Mars, and fit them +with double barrels. But by working day and night shifts Tom managed +it. Meanwhile, a careful watch was kept over the shops. Several new men +applied for work, and some of them were suspicious enough in looks, but +Tom took on no new hands. + +Finally the new guns were made, and tried with the Mars held on the +ground. They behaved perfectly, the shooting of sand or water from the +dummy barrel neutralizing the shot from the service barrel. + +"And now to see how it works in practice!" cried Tom one day. "Are you +with me for a long flight, Ned?" + +"I sure am!" + +The next evening the Mars, with a larger crew than before, and with +Tom, Ned, Mr. Damon and Lieutenant Marbury aboard, set sail. + +"But why start at night?" asked Ned. + +"You'll see in the morning," Tom answered. + +The Mars flew slowly all night, life aboard her, at about the level of +the clouds, going on almost as naturally as though the occupants of the +cabins were on the earth. Excellent meals were served. + +"But when are you going to try the guns?" asked Ned, as he got ready to +turn in. + +"Tell you in the morning," replied Tom, with a smile. + +And, in the morning, when Ned looked down through the plate glass in +the cabin floor, he uttered a cry. + +"Why, Tom! We're over the ocean!" he cried. + +"I rather thought we'd be," was the calm reply. "I told George to head +straight for the Atlantic. Now we'll have a test with service charges +and projectiles!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +IN A STORM + + +Surprise, for the moment, held Mr. Damon, Ned and Lieutenant Marbury +speechless. They looked from the heaving waters of the ocean below them +to the young pilot of the Mars. He smiled at their astonishment. + +"What--what does it mean, Tom?" asked Ned. "You never said you were +going to take a trip as far as this." + +"That's right," chimed in Mr. Damon. "Bless my nightcap! If I had known +I was going to be brought so far away from home I'd never have come." + +"You're not so very far from Waterford," put in Tom. "We didn't make +any kind of speed coming from Shopton, and we could be back again +inside of four hours if we had to." + +"Then you didn't travel fast during the night?" asked the government +man. + +"No, we just drifted along," Tom answered. "I gave orders to run the +machinery slowly, as I wanted to get it in good shape for the other +tests that will come soon. But I told George, whom I left in charge +when I turned in, to head for New York. I wanted to get out over the +ocean to try the guns with the new recoil arrangement." + +"Well, we're over the ocean all right," spoke Ned, as he looked down at +the heaving waters. + +"It isn't the first time," replied Tom cheerfully. "Koku, you may serve +breakfast now," for the giant had been taken along as a sort of cook +and waiter. Koku manifested no surprise or alarm when he found the +airship floating over the sea. Whatever Tom did was right to him. He +had great confidence in his master. + +"No, it isn't the first time we've taken a water flight," spoke Ned. "I +was only surprised at the suddenness of it, that's all." + +"It's my first experience so far out above the water," observed +Lieutenant Marbury, "though of course I've sailed on many seas. Why, +we're out of sight of land." + +"About ten miles out, yes," admitted Tom. "Far enough to make it safe +to test the guns with real projectiles. That is what I want to do." + +"And we've been running all night?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Yes, but at slow speed. The engines are in better shape now than ever +before," Tom said. "Well, if you're ready we'll have breakfast." + +The meal was served by Koku with as much unconcern as though they were +in the Swift homestead back in Shopton, instead of floating near the +clouds. And while it was being eaten in the main cabin, and while the +crew was having breakfast in their quarters, the aerial warship was +moving along over the ocean in charge of George Watson, one of Tom's +engineers, who was stationed in the forward pilot-house. + +"So you're going to give the guns a real test this time, is that it, +Tom?" asked Ned, as he pushed back his plate, a signal that he had +eaten enough. + +"That's about it." + +"But don't you think it's a bit risky out over the water this way. +Supposing something should--should happen?" Ned hesitated. + +"You mean we might fall?" asked Tom, with a smile. + +"Yes; or turn upside down." + +"Nothing like that could happen. I'm so sure that I have solved the +problem of the recoil of the guns that I'm willing to take chances. But +if any of you want to get off the Mars while the test is being made, I +have a small boat I can lower, and let you row about in that until--" + +"No, thank you!" interrupted Mr. Damon, as he looked below. There was +quite a heavy swell on, and the ocean did not appear very attractive. +They would be much more comfortable in the big Mars. + +"I think you won't have any trouble," asserted Lieutenant Marbury. "I +believe Tom Swift has the right idea about the guns, and there will be +so small a shock from the recoil that it will not be noticeable." + +"We'll soon know," spoke Tom. "I'm going to get ready for the test now." + +They were now well out from shore, over the Atlantic, but to make +certain no ships would be endangered by the projectiles, Tom and the +others searched the waters to the horizon with powerful glasses. +Nothing was seen and the work of loading the guns was begun. The bomb +tubes, in the main cabin, were also to be given a test. + +As service charges were to be used, and as the projectiles were filled +with explosives, great care was needed in handling them. + +"We'll try dropping bombs first," Tom suggested. "We know they will +work, and that will be so much out of the way." + +To make the test a severe one, small floating targets were first +dropped overboard from the Mars. Then the aerial warship, circling +about, came on toward them. Tom, seated at the range-finders, pressed +the button that released the shells containing the explosives. One +after another they dropped into the sea, exploding as they fell, and +sending up a great column of salt water. + +"Every one a hit!" reported Lieutenant Marbury, who was keeping "score." + +"That's good," responded Tom. "But the others won't be so easy. We +have nothing to shoot at." + +They had to fire the other guns without targets at which to aim. But, +after all, it was the absence of recoil they wanted to establish, and +this could be done without shooting at any particular object. + +One after another the guns were loaded. As has been explained, they +were now made double, one barrel carrying the projectile, and the other +a charge of water. + +"Are you ready?" asked Tom, when it was time to fire. Lieutenant +Marbury, Ned and Mr. Damon were helping, by being stationed at the +pressure gauges to note the results. + +"All ready," answered Ned. + +"Do you think we'd better put on life preservers, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Nonsense! What for?" + +"In case--in case anything happens." + +"Nothing will happen. Look out now, I'm going to fire." + +The guns were to be fired simultaneously by means of an electric +current, when Tom pressed a button. + +"Here they go!" exclaimed the young inventor. + +There was a moment of waiting, and then came a thundering roar. The +Mars trembled, but she did not shift to either side from an even keel. +From one barrel of the guns shot out the explosive projectiles, and +from the other spurted a jet of water, sent out by a charge of powder, +equal in weight to that which forced out the shot. + +As the projectile was fired in one direction, and the water in one +directly opposite, the two discharges neutralized one another. + +Out flew the pointed steel shells, to fall harmlessly into the sea, +where they exploded, sending up columns of water. + +"Well!" cried Tom as the echoes died away. "How was it?" + +"Couldn't have been better," declared Lieutenant Marbury. "There +wasn't the least shock of recoil. Tom Swift, you have solved the +problem, I do believe! Your aerial warship is a success!" + +"I'm glad to hear you say so. There are one or two little things that +need changing, but I really think I have about what the United States +Government wants." + +"I am, also, of that belief, Tom. If only--" The officer stopped +suddenly. + +"Well?" asked Tom suggestively. + +"I was going to say if only those foreign spies don't make trouble." + +"I think we've seen the last of them," Tom declared. "Now we'll go on +with the tests." + +More guns were fired, singly and in batteries, and in each case the +Mars stood the test perfectly. The double barrel had solved the recoil +problem. + +For some little time longer they remained out over the sea, going +through some evolutions to test the rudder control, and then as their +present object had been accomplished Tom gave orders to head back to +Shopton, which place was reached in due time. + +"Well, Tom, how was it?" asked Mr. Swift, for though his son had said +nothing to his friends about the prospective test, the aged inventor +knew about it. + +"Successful, Dad, in every particular." + +"That's good. I didn't think you could do it. But you did. I tell you +it isn't much that can get the best of a Swift!" exclaimed the aged man +proudly. "Oh, by the way, Tom, here's a telegram that came while you +were gone," and he handed his son the yellow envelope. + +Tom ripped it open with a single gesture, and in a flash his eyes took +in the words. He read: + + +"Look out for spies during trial flights." + + +The message was signed with a name Tom did not recognize. + +"Any bad news?" asked Mr. Swift. + +"No--oh, no," replied Tom, as he crumpled up the paper and thrust it +into his pocket. "No bad news, Dad." + +"Well, I'm glad to hear that," went on Mr. Swift. "I don't like +telegrams." + +When Tom showed the message to Lieutenant Marbury, that official, after +one glance at the signature, said: + +"Pierson, eh? Well, when he sends out a warning it generally means +something." + +"Who's Pierson?" asked Tom. + +"Head of the Secret Service department that has charge of this airship +matter. There must be something in the wind, Tom." + +Extra precautions were taken about the shops. Strangers were not +permitted to enter, and all future work on the Mars was kept secret. +Nevertheless, Tom was worried. He did not want his work to be spoiled +just when it was about to be a success. For that it was a success, +Lieutenant Marbury assured him. The government man said he would have +no hesitation in recommending the purchase of Tom's aerial warship. + +"There's just one other test I want to see made," he said. + +"What is that?" Tom inquired. + +"In a storm. You know we can't always count on having good weather, and +I'd like to see how she behaves in a gale." + +"You shall!" declared the young inventor. + +For the next week, during which finishing touches were put on the big +craft, Tom anxiously waited for signs of a storm. At last they came. +Danger signals were put up all along the coast, and warnings were sent +out broadcast by the Weather Bureau at Washington. + +One dull gray morning Tom roused his friends early and announced that +the Mars was going up. + +"A big storm is headed this way," Tom said, "and we'll have a chance to +see how she behaves in it." + +And even as the flight began, the forerunning wind and rain came in a +gust of fury. Into the midst of it shot the big aerial warship, with +her powerful propellers beating the moisture-laden air. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +QUEER HAPPENINGS + + +"Say, Tom, are you sure you're all right?" + +"Of course I am! What do you mean?" + +It was Ned Newton who asked the question, and Tom Swift who answered +it. The chums were in the pilot-house of the dipping, swaying Mars, +which was nosing her way into the storm, fighting on an upward slant, +trying, if possible, to get above the area of atmospheric disturbance. + +"Well, I mean are you sure your craft will stand all this straining, +pulling and hauling?" went on Ned, as he clung to a brass hand rail, +built in the side of the pilot-house wall for the very purpose to which +it was now being put. + +"If she doesn't stand it she's no good!" cried Tom, as he clung to the +steering wheel, which was nearly torn from his hands by the deflections +of the rudders. + +"Well, it's taking a big chance, it seems to me," went on Ned, as he +peered through the rain-spotted bull's-eyes of the pilot-house. + +"There's no danger," declared Tom. "I wanted to give the ship the +hardest test possible before I formally offered her to the government. +If she can't stand a blow like this she isn't what I thought her, and +I'll have to build another. But I'm sure she will stand the racket, +Ned. She's built strongly, and even if part of the gas bag is carried +away, as it was when our propeller shattered, we can still sail. If you +think this is anything, wait until we turn about and begin to fight our +way against the wind." + +"Are you going to do that, Tom?" + +"I certainly am. We're going with the gale now, to see what is the +highest rate of speed we can attain. Pretty soon I'm going to turn her +around, and see if she can make any headway in the other direction. Of +course I know she won't make much, if any speed, against the gale; but +I must give her that test." + +"Well, Tom, you know best, of course," admitted Ned. "But to me it +seems like taking a big risk." + +And indeed it did seem, not only to Ned, but to some of the experienced +men of Tom's crew, that the young inventor was taking more chances than +ever before, and Tom, as my old readers well know, had, in his career, +taken some big ones. + +The storm grew worse as the day progressed, until it was a veritable +hurricane of wind and rain. The warnings of the Weather Bureau had not +been exaggerated. But through the fierce blow the Mars fought her way. +As Tom had said, she was going with the wind. This was comparatively +easy. But what would happen when she headed into the storm? + +Mr. Damon, in the main cabin, sat and looked at Lieutenant Marbury, the +eccentric man now and then blessing something as he happened to think +of it. + +"Do you--do you think we are in any danger?" he finally asked. + +"Not at present," replied the government expert. + +"You mean we will be--later?" + +"It's hard to say. I guess Tom Swift knows his business, though." + +"Bless my accident insurance policy!" murmured Mr. Damon. "I wish I had +stayed home. If my wife ever hears of this--" He did not seem able to +finish the sentence. + +In the engine-room the crew were busy over the various machines. Some +of the apparatus was being strained to keep the ship on her course in +the powerful wind, and would be under a worse stress when Tom turned +his craft about. But, so far, nothing had given way, and everything was +working smoothly. + +As hour succeeded hour and nothing happened, the timid ones aboard +began to take more courage. Tom never for a moment lost heart. He knew +what his craft could do, and he had taken her up in a terrific storm +with a definite purpose in view. He was the calmest person aboard, with +the exception, perhaps, of Koku. The giant did not seem to know what +fear was. He depended entirely on Tom, and as long as his young master +had charge of matters the giant was content to obey orders. + +There was to be no test of the guns this time. They had worked +sufficiently well, and, if need be, could have been fired in the gale. +But Tom did not want his men to take unnecessary risks, nor was he +foolhardy himself. + +"We'll have our hands full when we turn around and head into the wind," +he said to his chum. "That will be enough." + +"Then you're really going to give the Mars that test?" + +"I surely am. I don't want any comebacks from Uncle Sam after he +accepts my aerial warship. I've guaranteed that she'll stand up and +make headway against a gale, and I'm going to prove it." + +Lieutenant Marbury was told of the coming trial, and he prepared to +take official note of it. While matters were being gotten in readiness +Tom turned the wheel over to his assistant pilot and went to the +engine-room to see that everything was in good shape to cope with any +emergency. The rudders had been carefully examined before the flight +was made, to make sure they would not fail, for on them depended the +progress of the ship against the powerful wind. + +"I rather guess those foreign spies have given up trying to do Tom an +injury," remarked Ned to the lieutenant as they sat in the main cabin, +listening to the howl of the wind, and the dash of the rain. + +"Well, I certainly hope so," was the answer. "But I wouldn't be too +sure. The folks in Washington evidently think something is likely to +happen, or they wouldn't have sent that warning telegram." + +"But we haven't seen anything of the spies," Ned remarked. + +"No, but that isn't any sign they are not getting ready to make +trouble. This may be the calm before the storm. Tom must still be on +the lookout. It isn't as though his inventions alone were in danger, +for they would not hesitate to inflict serious personal injury if their +plans were thwarted." + +"They must be desperate." + +"They are. But here comes Tom now. He looks as though something new was +about to happen." + +"Take care of yourselves now," advised the young aero-inventor, as he +entered the cabin, finding it hard work to close the door against the +terrific wind pressure. + +"Why?" asked Ned. + +"Because we are going to turn around and fight our way back against the +gale. We may be turned topsy-turvy for a second or two." + +"Bless my shoe-horn!" cried Mr. Damon. "Do you mean upside down, Tom?" + +"No, not that exactly. But watch out!" + +Tom went forward to the pilot-house, followed by Ned and the +lieutenant. The latter wanted to take official note of what happened. +Tom relieved the man at the wheel, and gradually began to alter the +direction of the craft. + +At first no change was noticeable. So strong was the force of the wind +that it seemed as though the Mars was going in the same direction. But +Ned, noticing a direction compass on the wall, saw that the needle was +gradually shifting. + +"Hold fast!" cried Tom suddenly. Then with a quick shift of the rudder +something happened. It seemed as though the Mars was trying to turn +over, and slide along on her side, or as if she wanted to turn about +and scud before the gale, instead of facing it. But Tom held her to the +reverse course. + +"Can you get her around?" cried the lieutenant above the roar of the +gale. + +"I--I'm going to!" muttered Tom through his set teeth. + +Inch by inch he fought the big craft through the storm. Inch by inch +the indicator showed the turning, until at last the grip of the gale +was overcome. + +"Now she's headed right into it!" cried Tom in exultation. "She's +nosing right into it!" + +And the Mars was. There was no doubt of it. She had succeeded, under +Tom's direction, in changing squarely about, and was now going against +the wind, instead of with it. + +"But we can't expect to make much speed," Tom said, as he signaled for +more power, for he had lowered it somewhat in making the turn. + +But Tom himself scarcely had reckoned on the force of his craft, for as +the propellers whirled more rapidly the aerial warship did begin to +make headway, and that in the teeth of a terrific wind. + +"She's doing it, Tom! She's doing it!" cried Ned exultingly. + +"I believe she is," agreed the lieutenant. + +"Well, so much the better," Tom said, trying to be calm. "If she can +keep this up a little while I'll give her a rest and we'll go up above +the storm area, and beat back home." + +The Mars, so far, had met every test. Tom had decided on ten minutes +more of gale-fighting, when from the tube that communicated with the +engine-room came a shrill whistle. + +"See what that is, Ned," Tom directed. + +"Yes," called Ned into the mouthpiece. "What's the matter?" + +"Short circuit in the big motor," was the reply. "We've got to run on +storage battery. Send Tom back here! Something queer has happened!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE STOWAWAYS + + +Ned repeated the message breathlessly. + +"Short circuit!" gasped Tom. "Run on storage battery! I'll have to see +to that. Take the wheel somebody!" + +"Wouldn't it be better to turn about, and run before the wind, so as +not to put too great a strain on the machinery?" asked Lieutenant +Marbury. + +"Perhaps," agreed Tom. "Hold her this way, though, until I see what's +wrong!" + +Ned and the government man took the wheel, while Tom hurried along the +runway leading from the pilot-house to the machinery cabin. The gale +was still blowing fiercely. + +The young inventor cast a hasty look about the interior of the place as +he entered. He sniffed the air suspiciously, and was aware of the odor +of burning insulation. + +"What happened?" he asked, noting that already the principal motive +power was coming from the big storage battery. The shift had been made +automatically, when the main motor gave out. + +"It's hard to say," was the answer of the chief engineer. "We were +running along all right, and we got your word to switch on more power, +after the turn. We did that all right, and she was running as smooth as +a sewing-machine, when, all of a sudden, she short-circuited, and the +storage battery cut in automatically." + +"Think you put too heavy a load on the motor?" Tom asked. + +"Couldn't have been that. The shunt box would have taken that up, and +the circuit-breaker would have worked, saving us a burn-out, and that's +what happened--a burn-out. The motor will have to be rewound." + +"Well, no use trying to fight this gale with the storage battery," Tom +said, after a moment's thought. "We'll run before it. That's the +easiest way. Then we'll try to rise above the wind." + +He sent the necessary message to the pilot-house. A moment later the +shift was made, and once more the Mars was scudding before the storm. +Then Tom gave his serious attention to what had happened in the engine +room. + +As he bent over the burned-out motor, looking at the big shiny +connections, he saw something that startled him. With a quick motion +Tom Swift picked up a bar of copper. It was hot to the touch--so hot +that he dropped it with a cry of pain, though he had let go so quickly +that the burn was only momentary. + +"What's the matter?" asked Jerry Mound, Tom's engineer. + +"Matter!" cried Tom. "A whole lot is the matter! That copper bar is +what made the short circuit. It's hot yet from the electric current. +How did it fall on the motor connections?" + +The engine room force gathered about the young inventor. No one could +explain how the copper bar came to be where it was. Certainly no one +of Tom's employees had put it there, and it could not have fallen by +accident, for the motor connections were protected by a mesh of wire, +and a hand would have to be thrust under them to put the bar in place. +Tom gave a quick look at his men. He knew he could trust them--every +one. But this was a queer happening. + +For a moment Tom did not know what to think, and then, as the memory of +that warning telegram came to him, he had an idea. + +"Were any strangers in this cabin before the start was made?" he asked +Mr. Mound. + +"Not that I know of," was the answer. + +"Well, there may be some here now," Tom said grimly. "Look about." + +But a careful search revealed no one. Yet the young inventor was sure +the bar of copper, which had done the mischief of short-circuiting the +motor, had been put in place deliberately. + +In reality there was no danger to the craft, since there was power +enough in the storage battery to run it for several hours. But the +happening showed Tom he had still to reckon with his enemies. + +He looked at the height gauge on the wall of the motor-room, and noted +that the Mars was going up. In accordance with Tom's instructions they +were sending her above the storm area. Once there, with no gale to +fight, they could easily beat their way back to a point above Shopton, +and make the best descent possible. + +And that was done while, under Tom's direction, his men took the +damaged motor apart, with a view to repairing it. + +"What was it, Tom?" asked Ned, coming back to join his chum, after +George Ventor, the assistant pilot, had taken charge of the wheel. + +"I don't exactly know, Ned," was the answer. "But I feel certain that +some of my enemies came aboard here and worked this mischief." + +"Your enemies came aboard?" + +"Yes, and they must be here now. The placing of that copper bar proves +it." + +"Then let's make a search and find them, Tom. It must be some of those +foreign spies." + +"Just what I think." + +But a more careful search of the craft than the one Tom had casually +made revealed the presence of no one. All the crew and helpers were +accounted for, and, as they had been in Tom's service for some time, +they were beyond suspicion. Yet the fact remained that a seemingly +human agency had acted to put the main motor out of commission. Tom +could not understand it. + +"Well, it sure is queer," observed Ned, as the search came to nothing. + +"It's worse than queer," declared Tom, "it's alarming! I don't know +when I'll be safe if we have ghosts aboard." + +"Ghosts?" repeated Ned. + +"Well, when we can't find out who put that bar in place I might as well +admit it was a ghost," spoke Tom. "Certainly, if it was done by a man, +he didn't jump overboard after doing it, and he isn't here now. It sure +is queer!" + +Ned agreed with the last statement, at any rate. + +In due time the Mars, having fought her way above the storm, came over +Shopton, and then, the wind having somewhat died out, she fought her +way down, and, after no little trouble, was housed in the hangar. + +Tom cautioned his friends and workmen to say nothing to his father +about the mysterious happening on board. + +"I'll just tell him we had a slight accident, and let it go at that," +Tom decided. "No use in causing him worry." + +"But what are you going to do about it?" asked Ned. + +"I'm going to keep careful watch over the aerial warship, at any rate," +declared Tom. "If there's a hidden enemy aboard, I'll starve him out." + +Accordingly, a guard, under the direction of Koku, was posted about the +big shed, but nothing came of it. No stranger was observed to sneak out +of the ship, after it had been deserted by the crew. The mystery seemed +deeper than ever. + +It took nearly a week to repair the big motor, and, during this time, +Tom put some improvements on the airship, and added the finishing +touches. + +He was getting it ready for the final government test, for the +authorities in Washington had sent word that they would have Captain +Warner, in addition to Lieutenant Marbury, make the final inspection +and write a report. + +Meanwhile several little things occurred to annoy Tom. He was besieged +with applications from new men who wanted to work, and many of these +men seemed to be foreigners. Tom was sure they were either spies of +some European nations, or the agents of spies, and they got no further +than the outer gate. + +But some strangers did manage to sneak into the works, though they were +quickly detected and sent about their business. Also, once or twice, +small fires were discovered in outbuildings, but they were soon +extinguished with little damage. Extra vigilance was the watchword. + +"And yet, with all my precautions, they may get me, or damage +something," declared Tom. "It is very annoying!" + +"It is," agreed Ned, "and we must be doubly on the lookout." + +So impressed was Ned with the necessity for caution that he arranged to +take his vacation at this time, so as to be on hand to help his chum, +if necessary. + +The Mars was nearing completion. The repaired motor was better than +ever, and everything was in shape for the final test. Mr. Damon was +persuaded to go along, and Koku was to be taken, as well as the two +government officials. + +The night before the trip the guards about the airship shed were +doubled, and Tom made two visits to the place before midnight. But +there was no alarm. + +Consequently, when the Mars started off on her final test, it was +thought that all danger from the spies was over. + +"She certainly is a beauty," said Captain Warner, as the big craft shot +upward. "I shall be interested in seeing how she stands gun fire, +though." + +"Oh, she'll stand it," declared Lieutenant Marbury. The trip was to +consume several days of continuous flying, to test the engines. A large +supply of food and ammunition was aboard. + +It was after supper of the first day out, and our friends were seated +in the main cabin laying out a program for the next day, when sudden +yells came from a part of the motor cabin devoted to storage. Koku, who +had been sent to get out a barrel of oil, was heard to shout. + +"What's up?" asked Tom, starting to his feet. He was answered almost at +once by more yells. + +"Oh, Master! Come quickly!" cried the giant. "There are many men here. +There are stowaways aboard!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +PRISONERS + + +For a moment, after hearing Koku's reply, neither Tom nor his friends +spoke. Then Ned, in a dazed sort of way, repeated: + +"Stowaways!" + +"Bless my--" began Mr. Damon, but that was as far as he got. + +From the engine compartment, back of the amidship cabin, came a sound +of cries and heavy blows. The yells of Koku could be heard above those +of the others. + +Then the door of the cabin where Tom Swift and his friends were was +suddenly burst open, and seven or eight men threw themselves within. +They were led by a man with a small, dark mustache and a little tuft of +whiskers on his chin--an imperial. He looked the typical Frenchman, and +his words, snapped out, bore out that belief. + +What he said was in French, as Tom understood, though he knew little of +that language. Also, what the Frenchman said produced an immediate +result, for the men following him sprang at our friends with +overwhelming fierceness. + +Before Tom, Ned, Captain Warner, Mr. Damon or Lieutenant Marbury could +grasp any weapon with which to defend themselves, had their intentions +been to do so, they were seized. + +Against such odds little could be done, though our friends did not give +up without a struggle. + +"What does this mean?" angrily demanded Tom Swift. "Who are you? What +are you doing aboard my craft? Who are--" + +His words were lost in smothered tones, for one of his assailants put a +heavy cloth over his mouth, and tied it there, gagging him. Another +man, with a quick motion, whipped a rope about Tom's hands and feet, +and he was soon securely bound. + +In like manner the others were treated, and, despite the struggles of +Mr. Damon, the two government men and Ned, they were soon put in a +position where they could do nothing--helplessly bound, and laid on a +bench in the main cabin, staring blankly up at the ceiling. Each one +was gagged so effectively that he could not utter more than a faint +moan. + +Of the riot of thoughts that ran through the heads of each one, I leave +you to imagine. + +What did it all mean? Where had the strange men come from? What did +they mean by thus assaulting Tom and his companions? And what had +happened to the others of the crew--Koku, Jerry Mound, the engineer, +and George Ventor, the assistant pilot? + +These were only a few of the questions Tom asked himself, as he lay +there, bound and helpless. Doubtless Mr. Damon and the others were +asking themselves similar questions. + +One thing was certain--whatever the stowaways, as Koku had called them, +had done, they had not neglected the Mars, for she was running along at +about the same speed, though in what direction Tom could not tell. He +strained to get a view of the compass on the forward wall of the cabin, +but he could not see it. + +It had been a rough-and-tumble fight, by which our friends were made +prisoners, but no one seemed to have been seriously, or even slightly, +hurt. The invaders, under the leadership of the Frenchman, were rather +ruffled, but that was all. + +Pantingly they stood in line, surveying their captives, while the man +with the mustache and imperial smiled in a rather superior fashion at +the row of bound ones. He spoke in his own tongue to the men, who, with +the exception of one, filed out, going, as Tom and the others could +note, to the engine-room in the rear. + +"I hope I have not had to hurt any of you," the Frenchman observed, +with sarcastic politeness. "I regret the necessity that caused me to do +this, but, believe me, it was unavoidable." + +He spoke with some accent, and Tom at once decided this was the same +man who had once approached Eradicate. He also recognized him as the +man he had seen in the woods the day of the outing. + +"He's one of the foreign spies," thought Tom "and he's got us and the +ship, too. They were too many for us!" + +Tom's anxiety to speak, to hold some converse with the captor, was so +obvious that the Frenchman said: + +"I am going to treat you as well as I can under the circumstances. You +and your other friends, who are also made prisoners, will be allowed to +be together, and then you can talk to your hearts' content." + +The other man, who had remained with the evident ringleader of the +stowaways, asked a question, in French, and he used the name La Foy. + +"Ah!" thought Tom. "This is the leader of the gang that attacked Koku +in the shop that night. They have been waiting their chance, and now +they have made good. But where did they come from? Could they have +boarded us from some other airship?" + +Yet, as Tom asked himself that question, he knew it could hardly have +been possible. The men must have been in hiding on his own craft, they +must have been, as Koku had cried out--stowaways--and have come out at +a preconcerted signal to overpower the aviators. + +"If you will but have patience a little longer," went on La Foy, for +that was evidently the name of the leader, "you will all be together. +We are just considering where best to put you so that you will not +suffer too much. It is quite a problem to deal with so many prisoners, +but we have no choice." + +The two Frenchmen conversed rapidly in their own language for a few +minutes, and then there came into the cabin another of the men who had +helped overpower Tom and his friends. What he told La Foy seemed to +give that individual satisfaction, for he smiled. + +"We are going to put you all together in the largest storeroom, which +is partly empty," La Foy said. "There you will be given food and drink, +and treated as well as possible under the circumstances. You will also +be unbound, and may converse among yourselves. I need hardly point +out," he went on, "that calling for help will be useless. We are a mile +or so in the air, and have no intention of descending," and he smiled +mockingly. + +"They must know how to navigate my aerial warship," thought Tom. "I +wonder what their game is, anyhow?" + +Night had fallen, but the cabin was aglow with electric lights. The +foreigners in charge of the Mars seemed to know their way about +perfectly, and how to manage the big craft. By the vibration Tom could +tell that the motor was running evenly and well. + +"But what happened to the others--to Mound, Ventor and Koku?" wondered +Tom. + +A moment later several of the foreigners entered. Some of them did not +look at all like Frenchmen, and Tom was sure one was a German and +another a Russian. + +"This will be your prison--for a while," said La Foy significantly, and +Tom wondered how long this would be the case. A sharp thought came to +him--how long would they be prisoners? Did not some other, and more +terrible, fate await them? + +As La Foy spoke, he opened a storeroom door that led off from the main, +or amidship, cabin. This room was intended to contain the supplies and +stores that would be taken on a long voyage. It was one of two, being +the larger, and now contained only a few odds and ends of little +importance. It made a strong prison, as Tom well knew, having planned +it. + +One by one, beginning with Tom, the prisoners were taken up and placed +in a recumbent position on the floor of the storeroom. Then were +brought in the engineer and assistant pilot, as well as Koku and a +machinist whom Tom had brought along to help him. Now the young +inventor and all his friends were together. It took four men to carry +Koku in, the giant being covered with a network of ropes. + +"On second thought," said La Foy, as he saw Koku being placed with his +friends, "I think we will keep the big man with us. We had trouble +enough to subdue him. Carry him back to the engine-room." + +So Koku, trussed up like some roped steer, was taken out again. + +"Now then," said La Foy to his prisoners, as he stood in the door of +the room, "I will unbind one of you, and he may loose the bonds of the +others." + +As he spoke, he took the rope from Tom's hands, and then, quickly +slipping out, locked and barred the door. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +APPREHENSIONS + + +For a moment or two, after the ropes binding his hands were loosed, Tom +Swift did nothing. He was not only stunned mentally, but the bonds had +been pulled so tightly about his wrists that the circulation was +impeded, and his cramped muscles required a little time in which to +respond. + +But presently he felt the tingle of the coursing blood, and he found he +could move his arms. He raised them to his head, and then his first +care was to remove the pad of cloth that formed a gag over his mouth. +Now he could talk. + +"I--I'll loosen you all in just a second," he said, as he bent over to +pick at the knot of the rope around his legs. His own voice sounded +strange to him. + +"I don't know what it's all about, any more than you do," he went on, +speaking to the others. "It's a fierce game we're up against, and we've +got to make the best of it. As soon as we can move, and talk, we'll +decide what's best to do. Whoever these fellows are, and I believe they +are the foreign spies I've been warned about, they are in complete +possession of the airship." + +Tom found it no easy matter to loosen the bonds on his feet. The ropes +were well tied, and Tom's fingers were stiff from the lack of +circulation of blood. But finally he managed to free himself. When he +stood up in the dim storeroom, that was now a prison for all save Koku, +he found that he could not walk. He almost toppled over, so weak were +his legs from the tightness of the ropes. He sat down and worked his +muscles until they felt normal again. + +A few minutes later, weak and rather tottery, he managed to reach Mr. +Damon, whom he first unbound. He realized that Mr. Damon was the oldest +of his friends, and, consequently, would suffer most. And it was +characteristic of the eccentric gentleman that, as soon as his gag was +removed he burst out with: + +"Bless my wristlets, Tom! What does it all mean?" + +"That's more than I can say, Mr. Damon," replied Tom, with a mournful +shake of his head. "I'm very sorry it happened, for it looks as though +I hadn't taken proper care. The idea of those men stowing themselves +away on board here, and me not knowing it; and then coming out +unexpectedly and getting possession of the craft! It doesn't speak +very well for my smartness." + +"Oh, well, Tom, anyone might have been fooled by those plotting +foreigners," said Mr. Damon. "Now, we'll try to turn matters about and +get the best of them. Oh, but it feels good to be free once more!" + +He stretched his benumbed and stiffened limbs and then helped Tom free +the others. They stood up, looking at each other in their dimly lighted +prison. + +"Well, if this isn't the limit I don't know what is!" cried Ned Newton. + +"They got the best of you, Tom," spoke Lieutenant Marbury. + +"Are they really foreign spies?" asked Captain Warner. + +"Yes," replied his assistant. "They managed to carry out the plot we +tried to frustrate. It was a good trick, too, hiding on board, and +coming out with a rush." + +"Is that what they did?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"It looks so," observed Tom. "The attack must have started in the +engine-room," he went on, with a look at Mound and Ventor. "What +happened there?" he asked. + +"Well, that's about the way it was," answered the engineer. "We were +working away, making some adjustments, oiling the parts and seeing that +everything was running smoothly, when, all at once, I heard Koku yell. +He had gone in the oil room. At first I thought something had gone +wrong with the ship, but, when I looked at the giant, I saw he was +being attacked by four strange men. And, before I, or any of the other +men, could do anything, they all swarmed down on us. + +"There must have been a dozen of them, and they simply overwhelmed us. +One of them hit Koku on the head with an iron bar, and that took all +the fight out of the giant, or the story might have been a different +one. As it was, we were overpowered, and that's all I know until we +were carried in here, and saw you folks all tied up as we were." + +"They burst in on us in the same way," Tom explained. "But where did +they come from? Where were they hiding?" + +"In the oil and gasoline storeroom that opens out of the motor +compartment," answered Mound, the engineer. "It isn't half full, you +know, and there's room for more than a dozen men in it. They must have +gone in some time last night, when the airship was in the hangar, and +remained hidden among the boxes and barrels until they got ready to +come out and overpower us." + +"That's it," decided Tom. "But I don't understand how they got in. The +hangar was well guarded all night." + +"Some of your men might have been bribed," suggested Ned. + +"Yes, that is so," admitted Tom, and, later, he learned that such had +been the case. The foreign spies, for such they were, had managed to +corrupt one of Tom's trusted employees, who had looked the other way +when La Foy and his fellow-conspirators sneaked into the airship shed +and secreted themselves. + +"Well, discussing how they got on board isn't going to do us any good +now," Tom remarked ruefully. "The question is--what are we going to do?" + +"Bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon. "There's only one thing to +do!" + +"What is that?" asked Ned. + +"Why, get out of here, call a policeman, and have these scoundrels +arrested. I'll prosecute them! I'll have my lawyer on hand to see that +they get the longest terms the statutes call for! Bless my pocketbook, +but I will!" and Mr. Damon waxed quite indignant. + +"That's easier said than done," observed Tom Swift, quietly. "In the +first place, it isn't going to be an easy matter to get out of here." + +He looked around the storeroom, which was then their prison. It was +illuminated by a single electric light, which showed some boxes and +barrels piled in the rear. + +"Nothing in them to help us get out," Tom went on, for he knew what the +contents were. + +"Oh, we'll get out," declared Ned confidently, "but I don't believe +we'll find a policeman ready to take our complaint. The upper air isn't +very well patrolled as yet." + +"That's so," agreed Mr. Damon. "I forgot that we were in an airship. +But what is to be done, Tom? We really are captives aboard our own +craft." + +"Yes, worse luck," returned the young inventor. "I feel foolish when I +think how we let them take us prisoners." + +"We couldn't help it," Ned commented. "They came on us too suddenly. We +didn't have a chance. And they outnumbered us two to one. If they could +take care of big Koku, what chance did we have?" + +"Very little," said Engineer Mound. "They were desperate fellows. They +know something about aircraft, too. For, as soon as Koku, Ventor and I +were disposed of, some of them went at the machinery as if they had +been used to running it all their lives." + +"Oh, the foreigners are experts when it comes to craft of the air," +said Captain Warner. + +"Well, they seem to be running her, all right," admitted the young +inventor, "and at good speed, too. They have increased our running +rate, if I am any judge." + +"By several miles an hour," confirmed the assistant pilot. "Though in +which direction they are heading, and what they are going to do with us +is more than I can guess." + +"That's so!" agreed Mr. Damon. "What is to become of us? They may heave +us overboard into the ocean!" + +"Into the ocean!" cried Ned apprehensively. "Are we near the sea?" + +"We must be, by this time," spoke Tom. "We were headed in that +direction, and we have come almost far enough to put us somewhere over +the Atlantic, off the Jersey coast." + +A look of apprehension was on the faces of all. But Tom's face did not +remain clouded long. + +"We won't try to swim until we have to," he said. "Now, let's take an +account of stock, and see if we have any means of getting out of this +prison." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +ACROSS THE SEA + + +With one accord the hands of the captives sought their pockets. +Probably the first thought of each one was a knife--a pocket knife. But +blank looks succeeded their first hopeful ones, for the hands came out +empty. + +"Not a thing!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Not a blessed thing! They have +even taken my keys and--my fountain pen!" + +"I guess they searched us all while they were struggling with us, tying +us up," suggested Ned. "I had a knife with a big, strong blade, but +it's gone." + +"So is mine," echoed Tom. + +"And I haven't even a screwdriver, or a pocket-wrench," declared the +engineer, "though I had both." + +"They evidently knew what they were doing," said Lieutenant Marbury. "I +don't usually carry a revolver, but of late I have had a small +automatic in my pocket. That's gone, too." + +"And so are all my things," went on his naval friend. "That Frenchman, +La Foy, was taking no chances." + +"Well, if we haven't any weapons, or means of getting out of here, we +must make them," said Tom, as hopefully as he could under the +circumstances. "I don't know all the things that were put in this +storeroom, and perhaps there may be something we can use." + +"Shall we make the try now?" asked Ned. "I'm getting thirsty, at least. +Lucky we had supper before they came out at us." + +"Well, there isn't any water in here, or anything to eat, of so much I +am sure," went on Tom "So we will have to depend on our captors for +that." + +"At least we can shout and ask for water," said Lieutenant Marbury. +"They have no excuse for being needlessly cruel." + +They all agreed that this might not be a bad plan, and were preparing +to raise a united shout, when there came a knock on the door of their +prison. + +"Are you willing to listen to reason?" asked a voice they recognized as +that of La Foy. + +"What do you mean by reason?" asked Tom bitterly. "You have no right to +impose any conditions on us." + +"I have the right of might, and I intend exercising it," was the sharp +rejoinder. "If you will listen to reason--" + +"Which kind--yours or ours?" asked Tom pointedly. + +"Mine, in this case," snapped back the Frenchman. "What I was going to +say was that I do not intend to starve you, or cause you discomfort by +thirst. I am going to open the door and put in food and water. But I +warn you that any attempt to escape will be met with severe measures. + +"We are in sufficient force to cope with you. I think you have seen +that." He spoke calmly and in perfect English, though with a marked +accent. "My men are armed, and will stand here ready to meet violence +with violence," he went on. "Is that understood?" + +For a moment none of the captives replied. + +"I think it will be better to give in to him at least for a while," +said Captain Warner in a low voice to Tom. "We need water, and will +soon need food. We can think and plan better if we are well nourished." + +"Then you think I should promise not to raise a row?" + +"For the time being--yes." + +"Well, I am waiting!" came in sharp tones from the other side of the +portal. + +"Our answer is--yes," spoke Tom. "We will not try to get out--just +yet," he added significantly. + +A key was heard grating in the lock, and, a moment later, the door slid +back. Through the opening could be seen La Foy and some of his men +standing armed. Others had packages of food and jugs of water. A +plentiful supply of the latter was carried aboard the Mars. + +"Keep back from the door!" was the stern command of La Foy. "The food +and drink will be passed in only if you keep away from the entrance. +Remember my men are armed!" + +The warning was hardly needed, for the weapons could plainly be seen. +Tom had half a notion that perhaps a concerted rush would carry the day +for him and his friends, but he was forced to abandon that idea. + +While the guards looked on, others of the "pirate crew," as Ned dubbed +them, passed in food and water. Then the door was locked again. + +They all felt better after drinking the water, which was made cool by +evaporation, for the airship was quite high above the earth when Tom's +enemies captured it, and the young inventor felt sure it had not +descended any. + +No one felt much like eating, however, so the food was put away for a +time. And then, somewhat refreshed, they began looking about for some +means of getting out of their prison. + +"Of course we might batter down the door, in time, by using some of +these boxes as rams," said Tom. "But the trouble is, that would make a +noise, and they could stand outside and drive us back with guns and +pistols, of which they seem to have plenty." + +"Yes, and they could turn some of your own quick-firers on us," added +Captain Warner. "No, we must work quietly, I think, and take them +unawares, as they took us. That is our only plan." + +"We will be better able to see what we have here by daylight," Tom +said. "Suppose we wait until morning?" + +That plan was deemed best, and preparations made for spending the night +in their prison. + +It was a most uncomfortable night for all of them. The floor was their +only bed, and their only covering some empty bags that had contained +supplies. But even under these circumstances they managed to doze off +fitfully. + +Once they were all awakened by a violent plunging of the airship. The +craft seemed to be trying to stand on her head, and then she rocked +violently from side to side, nearly turning turtle. "What is it?" +gasped Ned, who was lying next to Tom. + +"They must be trying some violent stunts," replied the young inventor, +"or else we have run into a storm." + +"I think the latter is the case," observed Lieutenant Marbury. + +And, as the motion of the craft kept up, though less violently, this +was accepted as the explanation. Through the night the Mars flew, but +whither the captives knew not. + +The first gray streaks of dawn finally shone through the only window of +their prison. Sore, lame and stiff, wearied in body and disturbed in +mind, the captives awoke. Tom's first move was toward the window. It +was high up, but, by standing on a box, he could look through it. He +uttered an exclamation. + +"What is it?" asked Ned, swaying to and fro from the violent motion of +the aerial warship. + +"We are away out over the sea," spoke Tom, "and in the midst of a bad +storm." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE LIGHTNING BOLT + + +Tom turned away from the window, to find his companions regarding him +anxiously. + +"A storm," repeated Ned. "What sort?" + +"It might turn into any sort," replied Tom. "All I can see now is a lot +of black clouds, and the wind must be blowing pretty hard, for there's +quite a sea on." + +"Bless my galvanometer!" cried Mr. Damon. "Then we are out over the +ocean again, Tom?" + +"Yes, there's no doubt of it." + +"What part?" asked the assistant pilot. + +"That's more than I can tell," Tom answered. + +"Suppose I take a look?" suggested Captain Warner. "I've done quite a +bit of sailing in my time." + +But, when he had taken a look through the window at which Tom had been +standing, the naval officer descended, shaking his head. + +"There isn't a landmark in sight," he announced. "We might be over the +middle of the Atlantic, for all I could tell." + +"Hardly as far as that," spoke Tom. "They haven't been pushing the Mars +at that speed. But we may be across to the other side before we realize +it." + +"How's that?" asked Ned. + +"Well, the ship is in the possession of these foreign spies," went on +Tom. "All their interests are in Europe, though it would be hard to say +what nationality is in command here. I think there are even some +Englishmen among those who attacked us, as well as French, Germans, +Italians and Russians." + +"Yes, it seems to be a combination of European nations against us," +admitted Captain Warner. "Probably, after they have made good their +seizure of Tom's aerial warship, they will portion her out among +themselves, or use her as a model from which to make others." + +"Do you think that is their object?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Undoubtedly," was the captain's answer. "It has been the object of +these foreign spies, all along, not only to prevent the United States +from enjoying the benefits of these progressive inventions, but to use +them for themselves. They would stop at nothing to gain their ends. It +seems we did not sufficiently appreciate their power and daring." + +"Well, they've got us, at any rate," observed Tom, "and they may take +us and the ship to some far-off foreign country." + +"If they don't heave us overboard half-way there," commented Ned, in +rather gloomy tones. + +"Well, of course, there's that possibility," admitted Tom. "They are +desperate characters." + +"Well, we must do something," declared Lieutenant Marbury. "Come, it's +daylight now, and we can see to work better. Let's see if we can't find +a way to get out of this prison. Say, but this sure is a storm!" he +cried, as the airship rolled and pitched violently. + +"They are handling her well, though," observed Tom, as the craft came +quickly to an even keel. "Either they have a number of expert birdmen +on board, or they can easily adapt themselves to a new aircraft. She is +sailing splendidly." + +"Well, let's eat something, and set to work," proposed Ned. + +They brought out the food which had been given to them the night +before, but before they could eat this, there came a knock on the door, +and more food and fresh water was handed in, under the same precautions +as before. + +Tom and his companions indignantly demanded to be released, but their +protests were only laughed at, and while the guards stood with ready +weapons the door was again shut and locked. + +But the prisoners were not the kind to sit idly down in the face of +this. Under Tom's direction they set about looking through their place +of captivity for something by which they could release themselves. At +first they found nothing, and Ned even suggested trying to cut a way +through the wooden walls with a fingernail file, which he found in one +of his pockets, when Tom, who had gone to the far end of the storeroom, +uttered a cry. + +"What is it--a way out?" asked Lieutenant Marbury anxiously. + +"No, but means to that end," Tom replied. "Look, a file and a saw, left +here by some of my workmen, perhaps," and he brought out the tools. He +had found them behind a barrel in the far end of the compartment. + +"Hurray!" cried Ned. "That's the ticket! Now we'll soon show these +fellows what's what!" + +"Go easy!" cautioned Tom. "We must work carefully. It won't do to slam +around and try to break down the door with these. I think we had better +select a place on the side wall, break through that, and make an +opening where we can come out unnoticed. Then, when we are ready, we +can take them by surprise. We'll have to do something like that, for +they outnumber us, you know." + +"That is so," agreed Captain Warner. "We must use strategy." + +"Well, where would be a good place to begin to burrow out?" asked Ned. + +"Here," said Tom, indicating a place far back in the room. "We can work +there in turns, sawing a hole through the wall. It will bring us out in +the passage between the aft and amidship cabins, and we can go either +way." + +"Then let's begin!" cried Ned enthusiastically, and they set to work. + +While the aerial warship pitched and tossed in the storm, over some +part of the Atlantic, Tom and his friends took turns in working their +way to freedom. With the sharp end of the file a small hole was made, +the work being done as slowly as a rat gnaws, so as to make no noise +that would be heard by their captors. In time the hole was large enough +to admit the end of the saw. + +But this took many hours, and it was not until the second day of their +captivity that they had the hole nearly large enough for the passage of +one person at a time. They had not been discovered, they thought. + +Meanwhile they had been given food and water at intervals, but to all +demands that they be released, or at least told why they were held +prisoners, a deaf ear was turned. + +They could only guess at the fate of Koku. Probably the giant was kept +bound, for once he got the chance to use his enormous strength it might +go hard with the foreigners. + +The Mars continued to fly through the air. Sometimes, as Tom and his +friends could tell by the motion, she was almost stationary in the +upper regions, and again she seemed to be flying at top speed. +Occasionally there came the sound of firing. + +"They're trying my guns," observed Tom grimly. + +"Do you suppose they are being attacked?" asked Ned, hopefully. + +"Hardly," replied Captain Warner. "The United States possesses no craft +able to cope with this one in aerial warfare, and they are hardly +engaging in part of the European war yet. I think they are just trying +Tom's new guns." + +Later our friends learned that such was the case. + +The storm had either passed, or the Mars had run out of the path of it, +for, after the first few hours of pitching and tossing, the atmosphere +seemed reduced to a state of calm. + +All the while they were secretly working to gain their freedom so they +might attack and overpower their enemies, they took occasional +observations from the small window. But they could learn nothing of +their whereabouts. They could only view the heaving ocean, far below +them, or see a mass of cloud-mist, which hid the earth, if so be that +the Mars was sailing over land. + +"But how much longer can they keep it up?" asked Ned. + +"Well, we have fuel and supplies aboard for nearly two weeks," Tom +answered. + +"And by the end of that time we may all be dead," spoke the young bank +clerk despondently. + +"No, we'll be out of here before then!" declared Lieutenant Marbury. + +Indeed the hole was now almost large enough to enable them to crawl out +one at a time. They could not, of course, see how it looked from the +outside, but Tom had selected a place for its cutting so that the +sawdust and the mark of the panel that was being removed, would not +ordinarily be noticeable. + +They set night as the time for making the attempt--late at night, when +it was hoped that most of their captors would be asleep. + +Finally the last cut was made, and a piece of wood hung over the +opening only by a shred, all ready to knock out. + +"We'll do it at midnight," announced Tom. + +Anxious, indeed, were those last hours of waiting. The time had almost +arrived for the attempt, when Tom, who had been nervously pacing to and +fro, remarked: + +"We must be running into another storm. Feel how she heaves and rolls!" + +Indeed the Mars was most unsteady. + +"It sure is a storm!" cried Ned, "and a heavy one, too," for there came +a burst of thunder, that seemed like a report of Tom's giant cannon. + +In another instant they were in the midst of a violent thunderstorm, +the airship pitching and tossing in a manner to almost throw them from +their feet. + +As Tom reached up to switch on the electric light again, there came a +flash of lightning that well nigh blinded them. And so close after it +as to seem simultaneous, there came such a crash of thunder as to stun +them all. There was a tingling, as of a thousand pins and needles in +the body of each of the captives, and a strong smell of sulphur. Then, +as the echoes of the clap died away, Tom yelled: + +"She's been struck! The airship has been struck!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +FREEDOM + + +For a moment there was silence, following Tom's wild cry and the noise +of the thunderclap. Then, as other, though less loud reverberations of +the storm continued to sound, the captives awoke to a realization of +what had happened. They had been partially stunned, and were almost as +in a dream. + +"Are--are we all right?" stammered Ned. + +"Bless my soul! What has happened?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"We've been struck by lightning!" Tom repeated. "I don't know whether +we're all right or not." + +"We seem to be falling!" exclaimed Lieutenant Marbury. + +"If the whole gas bag isn't ripped to pieces we're lucky," commented +Jerry Mound. + +Indeed, it was evident that the Mars was sinking rapidly. To all there +came the sensation of riding in an elevator in a skyscraper and being +dropped a score of stories. + +Then, as they stood there in the darkness, illuminated only by flashes +from the lightning outside the window, waiting for an unknown fate, Tom +Swift uttered a cry of delight. + +"We've stopped falling!" he cried. "The automatic gas machine is +pumping. Part of the gas bag was punctured, but the unbroken +compartments hold!" + +"If part of the gas leaked out I don't see why it wasn't all set on +fire and exploded," observed Captain Warner. + +"It's a non-burnable gas," Tom quickly explained. "But come on. This +may be our very chance. There seems to be something going on that may +be in our favor." + +Indeed the captives could hear confused cries and the running to and +fro of many feet. + +He made for the sawed panel, and, in another instant, had burst out and +was through it, out into the passageway between the after and amidship +cabins. His companions followed him. + +They looked into the rear cabin, or motor compartment, and a scene of +confusion met their gaze. Two of the foreign men who had seized the +ship lay stretched out on the floor near the humming machinery, which +had been left to run itself. A look in the other direction, toward the +main cabin, showed a group of the foreign spies bending over the inert +body of La Foy, the Frenchman, stretched out on a couch. + +"What has happened?" cried Ned. "What does it all mean?' + +"The lightning!" exclaimed Tom. "The bolt that struck the ship has +knocked out some of our enemies! Now is the time to attack them!" + +The Mars seemed to have passed completely through a narrow storm belt. +She was now in a quiet atmosphere, though behind her could be seen the +fitful play of lightning, and there could be heard the distant rumble +of thunder. + +"Come on!" cried Tom. "We must act quickly, while they are demoralized! +Come on!" + +His friends needed no further urging. Jerry Mound and the machinist +rushed to the engine-room, to look after any of the enemy that might be +there, while Tom, Ned and the others ran into the middle cabin. + +"Grab 'em! Tie 'em up!" cried Tom, for they had no weapons with which +to make an attack. + +But none were needed. So stunned were the foreigners by the lightning +bolt, which had miraculously passed our friends, and so unnerved by the +striking down of La Foy, their leader, that they seemed like men half +asleep. Before they could offer any resistance they were bound with the +same ropes that had held our friends in bondage. That is, all but the +big Frenchman himself. He seemed beyond the need of binding. + +Mound, the engineer, and his assistant, came hurrying in from the +motor-room, followed by Koku. + +"We found him chained up," Jerry explained, as the big giant, freed +from his captivity, rubbed his chafed wrists. + +"Are there any of the foreigners back there?' + +"Only those two knocked out by the lightning," the engineer explained. +"We've made them secure. I see you've got things here in shape." + +"Yes," replied Tom. "And now to see where we are, and to get back home. +Whew! But this has been a time! Koku, what happened to you?" + +"They no let anything happen. I be in chains all the while," the giant +answered. "Jump on me before I can do anything!" + +"Well, you're out, now, and I think we'll have you stand guard over +these men. The tables are turned, Koku." + +The bound ones were carried to the same prison whence our friends had +escaped, but their bonds were not taken off, and Koku was put in the +place with them. By this time La Foy and the two other stricken men +showed signs of returning life. They had only been stunned. + +The young inventor and his friends, once more in possession of their +airship, lost little time in planning to return. They found that the +spies were all expert aeronauts, and had kept a careful chart of their +location. They were then halfway across the Atlantic, and in a short +time longer would probably have been in some foreign country. But Tom +turned the Mars about. + +The craft had only been slightly damaged by the lightning bolt, though +three of the gas bag compartments were torn, The others sufficed, +however, to make the ship sufficiently buoyant. + +When morning came Tom and his friends had matters running almost as +smoothly as before their capture. + +The prisoners had no chance to escape, and, indeed, they seemed to have +been broken in spirit. La Foy was no longer the insolent, mocking +Frenchman that he had been, and the two chief foreign engineers seemed +to have lost some of their reason when the lightning struck them. + +"But it was a mighty lucky and narrow escape for us," said Ned, as he +and Tom sat in the pilot-house the second day of the return trip. + +"That's right," agreed his chum. + +Once again they were above the earth, and, desiring to get rid as soon +as possible of the presence of the spies, a landing was made near New +York City, and the government authorities communicated with. Captain +Warner and Lieutenant Marbury took charge of the prisoners, with some +Secret Service men, and the foreigners were soon safely locked up. + +"And now what are you going to do, Tom?" asked Ned, when, once more, +they had the airship to themselves. + +"I'm going back to Shopton, fix up the gas bag, and give her another +government trial," was the answer. + +And, in due time, this was done. Tom added some improvements to the +aircraft, making it better than ever, and when she was given the test +required by the government, she was an unqualified success, and the +rights to the Mars were purchased for a large sum. In sailing, and in +the matter of guns and bombs, Tom's craft answered every test. + +"So you see I was right, after all, Dad," the young inventor said, when +informed that he had succeeded. "We can shoot off even bigger guns than +I thought from the deck of the Mars." + +"Yes, Tom," replied the aged inventor, "I admit I was wrong." + +Tom's aerial warship was even a bigger success than he had dared to +hope. Once the government men fully understood how to run it, in which +Tom played a prominent part in giving instructions, they put the Mars +to a severe test. She was taken out over the ocean, and her guns +trained on an obsolete battleship. Her bombs and projectiles blew the +craft to pieces. + +"The Mars will be the naval terror of the seas in any future war," +predicted Captain Warner. + +The Secret Service men succeeded in unearthing all the details of the +plot against Tom. His life, at times, had been in danger, but at the +last minute the man detailed to harm him lost his nerve. + +It was Tom's enemies who had set on fire the red shed, and who later +tried to destroy the ship by putting a corrosive acid in one of the +propellers. That plot, though, was not wholly successful. Then came the +time when one of the spies hid on board, and dropped the copper bar on +the motor, short-circuiting it. But for the storage-battery that scheme +might have wrought fearful damage. The spy who had stowed himself away +on the craft escaped at night by the connivance of one of Tom's corrupt +employees. + +The foreign spies were tried and found guilty, receiving merited +punishment. Of course the governments to which they belonged disclaimed +any part in the seizure of Tom's aerial warship. + +It came out at the trial that one of Tom's most trusted employees had +proved a traitor, and had the night before the test, allowed the +foreign spies to secrete themselves on board, to rush out at an +opportune time to overpower our hero and his friends. But luck was with +Tom at the end. + +"Well, what are you going to tackle next, Tom?" asked Ned, one day +about a month after these exciting experiences. + +"I don't know," was the slow answer. "I think a self-swinging hammock, +under an apple tree, with a never-emptying pitcher of ice-cold lemonade +would be about the thing." + +"Good, Tom! And, if you'll invent that, I'll share it with you." + +"Well, come on, let's begin now," laughed Tom. "I need a vacation, +anyhow." + +But it is very much to be doubted if Tom Swift, even on a vacation, +could refrain from trying to invent something, either in the line of +airships, water, or land craft. And so, until he again comes to the +front with something new, we will take leave of him. + + + + + +THE TOM SWIFT SERIES + +By VICTOR APPLETON + + +These spirited tales convey in a realistic way, the wonderful advances +in land and sea locomotion. Stories like these are impressed upon the +memory and their reading is productive only of good. + + TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE + TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP + TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE + TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS + TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE + TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER + TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE + TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER + TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY + TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA + TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON + TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP + TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL + TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS + TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH + TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS + TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE + + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES + +BY VICTOR APPLETON + + +Moving pictures and photo plays are famous the world over, and in this +line of books the reader is given a full description of how the films +are made--the scenes of little dramas, indoors and out, trick pictures +to satisfy the curious, soul-stirring pictures of city affairs, life in +the Wild West, among the cowboys and Indians, thrilling rescues along +the seacoast, the daring of picture hunters in the jungle among savage +beasts, and the great risks run in picturing conditions in a land of +earthquakes. The volumes teem with adventures and will be found +interesting from first chapter to last. + + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AND THE FLOOD + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT PANAMA + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS UNDER THE SEA + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE WAR FRONT + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON FRENCH BATTLEFIELDS + MOVING PICTURE BOYS FIRST SHOWHOUSE + MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT SEASIDE PARK + MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON BROADWAY + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS OUTDOOR EXHIBITION + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS NEW IDEA + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Swift and his Aerial Warship, by +Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP *** + +***** This file should be named 1281.txt or 1281.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/8/1281/ + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This Etext was prepared for Project Gutenberg by Anthony Matonac. + + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP +or +The Naval Terror of the Seas + +BY +VICTOR APPLETON + + +CONTENTS +CHAPTER + +I TOM IS PUZZLED +II A FIRE ALARM +III A DESPERATE BATTLE +IV SUSPICIONS +V A QUEER STRANGER +VI THE AERIAL WARSHIP +VII WARNINGS +VIII A SUSPECTED PLOT +IX THE RECOIL CHECK +X THE NEW MEN +XI A DAY OFF +XII A NIGHT ALARM +XIII THE CAPTURE +XIV THE FIRST FLIGHT +XV IN DANGER +XVI TOM IS WORRIED +XVII AN OCEAN FLIGHT +XVIII IN A STORM +XIX QUEER HAPPENINGS +XX THE STOWAWAYS +XXI PRISONERS +XXII APPREHENSIONS +XXIII ACROSS THE SEA +XXIV THE LIGHTNING BOLT +XXV FREEDOM + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP + + + +CHAPTER I + +TOM IS PUZZLED + + +"What's the matter, Tom? You look rather blue!" + +"Blue! Say, Ned, I'd turn red, green, yellow, or any other +color of the rainbow, if I thought it would help matters any." + +"Whew!" + +Ned Newton, the chum and companion of Tom Swift, gave vent to a +whistle of surprise, as he gazed at the young fellow sitting +opposite him, near a bench covered with strange-looking tools and +machinery, while blueprints and drawings were scattered about. + +Ranged on the sides of the room were models of many queer +craft, most of them flying machines of one sort or another, while +through the open door that led into a large shed could be seen +the outlines of a speedy monoplane. + +"As bad as that, eh, Tom?" went on Ned. "I thought something +was up when I first came in, but, if you'll excuse a second +mention of the color scheme, I should say it was blue--decidedly +blue. You look as though you had lost your last friend, and I +want to assure you that if you do feel that way, it's dead wrong. +There's myself, for one, and I'm sure Mr. Damon--" + +"Bless my gasoline tank!" exclaimed Tom, with a laugh, in +imitation of the gentleman Ned Newton had mentioned, "I know +that! I'm not worrying over the loss of any friends." + +"And there are Eradicate, and Koku, the giant, just to mention +a couple of others," went on Ned, with a smile. + +"That's enough!" exclaimed Tom. "It isn't that, I tell you." + +"Well, what is it then? Here I go and get a half-holiday off +from the bank, and just at the busiest time, too, to come and see +you, and I find you in a brown study, looking as blue as indigo, +and maybe you're all yellow inside from a bilious attack, for all +I know." + +"Quite a combination of colors," admitted Tom. "But it isn't +what you think. It's just that I'm puzzled, Ned." + +"Puzzled?" and Ned raised his eyebrows to indicate how +surprised he was that anything should puzzle his friend. + +"Yes, genuinely puzzled." + +"Has anything gone wrong?" Ned asked. "No one is trying to take +any of your pet inventions away from you, is there?" + +"No, not exactly that, though it is about one of my inventions +I am puzzled. I guess I haven't shown you my very latest; have I, Ned?" + +"Well, I don't know, Tom. Time was when I could keep track of +you and your inventions, but that was in your early days, when +you started with a motorcycle and were glad enough to have a +motorboat. But, since you've taken to aerial navigation and +submarine work, not to mention one or two other lines of activity, +I give up. I don't know where to look next, Tom, for something new." + +"Well, this isn't so very new," went on the young inventor, for +Tom Swift had designed and patented many new machines of the air, +earth and water. "I'm just trying to work out some new problems +in aerial navigation, Ned," he went on. + +"I thought there weren't any more," spoke Ned, soberly enough. + +"Come, now, none of that!" exclaimed Tom, with a laugh. "Why, +the surface of aerial navigation has only been scratched. The +science is far from being understood, or even made safe, not to +say perfected, as water and land travel have been. There's lots +of chance yet." + +"And you're working on something new?" asked Ned, as he looked +around the shop where he and Tom were sitting. As the young bank +employee had said, he had come away from the institution that +afternoon to have a little holiday with his chum, but Tom, seated +in the midst of his inventions, seemed little inclined to jollity. + +Through the open windows came the hum of distant machinery, for +Tom Swift and his father were the heads of a company founded to +manufacture and market their many inventions, and about their +home were grouped several buildings. From a small plant the +business had grown to be a great tree, under the direction of Tom +and his father. + +"Yes, I'm working on something new," admitted Tom, after a +moment of silence. + +"And, Ned," he went on, "there's no reason why you shouldn't +see it. I've been keeping it a bit secret, until I had it a +little further advanced, but I've got to a point now where I'm +stuck, and perhaps it will do me good to talk to someone about +it." + +"Not to talk to me, though, I'm afraid. What I don't know about +machinery, Tom, would fill a great many books. I don't see how I +can help you," and Ned laughed. + +"Well, perhaps you can, just the same, though you may not know +a lot of technical things about machines. It sometimes helps me +just to tell my troubles to a disinterested person, and hear him +ask questions. I've got dad half distracted trying to solve the +problem, so I've had to let up on him for a while. Come on out +and see what you make of it." + +"Sure, Tom, anything to oblige. If you want me to sit in front +of your photo-telephone, and have my picture taken, I'm +agreeable, even if you shoot off a flashlight at my ear. Or, if +you want me to see how long I can stay under water without +breathing I'll try that, too, provided you don't leave me under +too long, lead the way--I'm agreeable as far as I'm able, old +man." + +"Oh, it isn't anything like that," Tom answered with a laugh. +"I might as well give you a few hints, so you'll know what I'm +driving at. Then I'll take you out and show it to you." + +"What is it--air, earth or water?" asked Ned Newton, for he +knew his chum's activities led along all three lines. + +"This happens to be air." + +"A new balloon?" + +"Something like that. I call it my aerial warship, though." + +"Aerial warship, Tom! That sounds rather dangerous!" + +"It will be dangerous, too, if I can get it to work. That's +what it's intended for." + +"But a warship of the air!" cried Ned. "You can't mean it. A +warship carries guns, mortars, bombs, and--" + +"Yes, I know," interrupted Tom, "and I appreciate all that when +I called my newest craft an aerial warship." + +"But," objected Ned, "an aircraft that will carry big guns will +be so large that--" + +"Oh, mine is large enough," Tom broke in. + +"Then it's finished!" cried Ned eagerly, for he was much +interested in his chum's inventions. + +"Well, not exactly," Tom said. "But what I was going to tell +you was that all guns are not necessarily large. You can get big +results with small guns and projectiles now, for high-powered +explosives come in small packages. So it isn't altogether a +question of carrying a certain amount of weight. Of course, an +aerial warship will have to be big, for it will have to carry +extra machinery to give it extra speed, and it will have to carry +a certain armament, and a large crew will be needed. So, as I said, +it will need to be large. But that problem isn't worrying me." + +"Well, what is it, then?" asked Ned. + +"It's the recoil," said Tom, with a gesture of despair. + +"The recoil?" questioned Ned, wonderingly. + +"Yes, from the guns, you know. I haven't been able to overcome that, +and, until I do, I'm afraid my latest invention will be a failure." + +Ned shook his head. + +"I'm afraid I can't help you any," he said. "The only thing I +know about recoils is connected with an old shotgun my father +used to own. + +"I took that once, when he didn't know it," Ned proceeded. "It +was pretty heavily loaded, for the crows had been having fun in +our cornfield, and dad had been shooting at them. This time I +thought I'd take a chance. + +"Well, I fired the gun. But it must have had a double charge in +it and been rusted at that. All I know is that after I pulled the +trigger I thought the end of the world had come. I heard a clap of +thunder, and then I went flying over backward into a blackberry patch." + +"That was the recoil," said Tom. + +"The what?" asked Ned. + +"The recoil. The recoil of the gun knocked you over." + +"Oh, yes," observed Ned, rubbing his shoulder in a reflective +sort of way. "I always thought it was something like that. But, +at the time I put it down to an explosion, and let it go at that." + +"No, it wasn't an explosion, properly speaking," said Tom. "You +see, when powder explodes, in a gun, or otherwise, its force is +exerted in all directions, up, down and every way." + +"This went mostly backward--in my direction," said Ned ruefully. + +"You only thought so," returned Tom. "Most of the power went +out in front, to force out the shot. Part of it, of course, was +exerted on the barrel of the gun--that was sideways--but the +strength of the steel held it in. And part of the force went +backward against your shoulder. That part was the recoil, and it +is the recoil of the guns I figure on putting aboard my aerial +warship that is giving me such trouble." + +"Is that what makes you look so blue?" asked Ned. + +"That's it. I can't seem to find a way by which to take up the +recoil, and the force of it, from all the guns I want to carry, +will just about tear my ship to pieces, I figure." + +"Then you haven't actually tried it out yet?" asked Ned. + +"Not the guns, no. I have the warship of the air nearly done, +but I've worked out on paper the problem of the guns far enough +so that I know I'm up against it. It can't be done, and an aerial +warship without guns wouldn't be worth much, I'm afraid." + +"I suppose not," agreed Ned. "And is it only the recoil that is +bothering you?" + +"Mostly. But come, take a look at my latest pet," and Tom arose +to lead the way to another shed, a large one in the distance, +toward which he waved his hand to indicate to his chum that there +was housed the wonderful invention. + +The two chums crossed the yard, threading their way through the +various buildings, until they stood in front of the structure to +which Tom had called attention. + +"It's in here," he said. "I don't mind admitting that I'm quite +proud of it, Ned; that is, proud as far as I've gone. But the gun +business sure has me worried. I'm going to talk it off on you. +Hello!" cried Tom suddenly, as he put a key in the complicated +lock on the door, "someone has been in here. I wonder who it is?" + +Ned was a little startled at the look on Tom's face and the +sound of alarm in his chum's voice. + + + +CHAPTER II +A FIRE ALARM + + +Tom Swift quickly opened the door of the big shed. It was built +to house a dirigible balloon, or airship of some sort. Ned could +easily tell that from his knowledge of Tom's previous inventions. + +"Something wrong?" asked the young bank clerk. + +"I don't know," returned Tom, and then as he looked inside the +place, he breathed a sigh of relief. + +"Oh, it's you, is it, Koku?" he asked, as a veritable giant of +a man came forward. + +"Yes, master, it is only Koku and your father," spoke the big +chap, with rather a strange accent. + +"Oh, is my father here?" asked Tom. "I was wondering who had +opened the door of this shed." + +"Yes, Tom," responded the elder Swift, coming up to them, "I +had a new idea in regard to some of those side guy wires, and I +wanted to try it out. I brought Koku with me to use his strength +on some of them." + +"That's all right, Dad. Ned and I came out to wrestle with that +recoil problem again. I want to try some guns on the craft soon, +but--" + +"You'd better not, Tom," warned his father. "It will never +work, I tell you. You can't expect to take up quick-firing guns +and bombs in an airship, and have them work properly. Better give +it up." + +"I never will. I'll make it work, Dad!" + +"I don't believe you will, Tom. This time you have bitten off +more than you can chew, to use a homely but expressive +statement." + +"Well, Dad, we'll see," began Tom easily. "There she is, Ned," +he went on. "Now, if you'll come around here . . ." + +But Tom never finished that sentence, for at that moment there +came running into the airship shed an elderly, short, stout, +fussy gentleman, followed by an aged colored man. Both of them +seemed very much excited. + +"Bless my socks, Tom!" cried the short, stout man. "There sure +is trouble!" + +"I should say So, Massa Tom!" added the colored man. "I done +did prognosticate dat some day de combustible material of which +dat shed am composed would conflaggrate--" + +"What's the matter?" interrupted Tom, jumping forward. "Speak +out! Eradicate! Mr. Damon, what is it?" + +"The red shed!" cried the short little man. "The red shed, Tom!" + +"It's on fire!" yelled the colored man. + +"Great thunderclaps!" cried Tom. "Come on--everybody on the +job!" he yelled. "Koku, pull the alarm! If that red shed goes--" + +Instantly the place was in confusion. Tom and Ned, looking from +a window of the hangar, saw a billow of black smoke roll across +the yard. But already the private fire bell was clanging out its +warning. And, while the work of fighting the flames is under way, +I will halt the progress of this story long enough to give my new +readers a little idea of who Tom Swift is, so they may read this +book more intelligently. Those of you who have perused the +previous volumes may skip this part. + +Tom Swift, though rather young in years, was an inventor of +note. His tastes and talents were developed along the line of +machinery and locomotion. Motorcycles, automobiles, motorboats, +submarine craft, and, latest of all, craft of the air, had occupied +the attention of Tom Swift and his father for some years. + +Mr. Swift was a widower, and lived with Tom, his only son, in +the village of Shopton, New York State. Mrs. Baggert kept house +for them, and an aged colored man, Eradicate Sampson, with his +mule, Boomerang, did "odd jobs" about the Shopton home and +factories. + +Among Tom's friends was a Mr. Wakefield Damon, from a nearby +village. Mr. Damon was always blessing something, from his hat to +his shoes, a harmless sort of habit that seemed to afford him +much comfort. Then there was Ned Newton, a boyhood chum of Tom's, +who worked in the Shopton bank. I will just mention Mary Nestor, +a young lady of Shopton, in whom Tom was more than ordinarily +interested. I have spoken of Koku, the giant. He really was a +giant of a man, of enormous strength, and was one of two whom Tom +had brought with him from a strange land where Tom was held +captive for a time. You may read about it in a book devoted to +those adventures. + +Tom took Koku into his service, somewhat to the dismay of +Eradicate, who was desperately jealous. But poor Eradicate was +getting old, and could not do as much as he thought he could. So, +in a great measure, Koku replaced him, and Tom found much use for +the giant's strength. + +Tom had begun his inventive work when, some years before this +story opens, he had bargained for Mr. Damon's motorcycle, after +that machine had shot its owner into a tree. Mr. Damon was, +naturally, perhaps, much disgusted, and sold the affair cheap. +Tom repaired it, made some improvements, and, in the first +volume of this series, entitled "Tom Swift and His Motorcycles," +you may read of his rather thrilling adventures on his speedy +road-steed. + +From then on Tom had passed a busy life, making many machines +and having some thrilling times with them. Just previous to the +opening of this story Tom had made a peculiar instrument, +described in the volume entitled "Tom Swift and His Photo- +Telephone." With that a person talking could not only see the +features of the person with whom he was conversing, but, by means +of a selenium plate and a sort of camera, a permanent picture +could be taken of the person at either end of the wire. + +By means of this invention Tom had been able to make a picture +that had saved a fortune. But Tom did not stop there. With him to +invent was as natural and necessary as breathing. He simply could +not stop it. And so we find him now about to show to his chum, +Ned Newton, his latest patent, an aerial warship, which, however, +was not the success Tom had hoped for. + +But just at present other matters than the warship were in +Tom's mind. The red shed was on fire. + +That mere statement might not mean anything special to the +ordinary person, but to Tom, his father, and those who knew about +his shops, it meant much. + +"The red shed!" Tom cried. "We mustn't let that get the best of +us! Everybody at work! Father, not you, though. You mustn't +excite yourself!" + +Even in the midst of the alarm Tom thought of his father, for +the aged man had a weak heart, and had on one occasion nearly +expired, being saved just in time by the arrival of a doctor, +whom Tom brought to the scene after a wonderful race through the +air. + +"But, Tom, I can help," objected the aged inventor. + +"Now, you just take care of yourself, Father!" Tom cried. +"There are enough of us to look after this fire, I think." + +"But, Tom, it--it's the red shed!" gasped Mr. Swift. + +"I realize that, Dad. But it can't have much of a start yet. Is +the alarm ringing, Koku?" + +"Yes, Master," replied the giant, in correct but stilted +English. "I have set the indicator to signal the alarm in every +shop on the premises." + +"That's right." Tom sprang toward the door. "Eradicate!" he +called. + +"Yais, sah! Heah I is!" answered the colored man. "I'll go git +mah mule, Boomerang, right away, an' he--" + +"Don't you bring Boomerang on the scene!" Tom yelled. "When I +want that shed kicked apart I can do it better than by using a +mule's heels. And you know you can't do a thing with Boomerang +when he sees fire." + +"Now dat's so, Massa Tom. But I could put blinkers on him, +an'--" + +"No, you let Boomerang stay where he is. Come on, Ned. We'll +see what we can do. Mr. Damon--" + +"Yes, Tom, I'm right here," answered the peculiar man, for he +had come over from his home in Waterford to pay a visit to his +friends, Tom and Mr. Swift. "I'll do anything I can to help you, +Tom, bless my necktie!" he went on. "Only say the word!" + +"We've got to get some of the stuff out of the place!" Tom +cried. "We may be able to save it, but I can't take a chance on +putting out the fire and letting some of the things in there go +up in smoke. Come on!" + +Those in the shed where was housed what Tom hoped would prove +to be a successful aerial warship rushed to the open. From the +other shops and buildings nearby were pouring men and boys, for +the Swift plant employed a number of hands now. + +Above the shouts and yells, above the crackle of flames, could +be heard the clanging of the alarm bell, set ringing by Koku, who +had pulled the signal in the airship shed. From there it had gone +to every building in the plant, being relayed by the telephone +operator, whose duty it was to look after that. + +"My, you've got a big enough fire-fighting force, Tom!" cried +Ned in his chum's ear. + +"Yes, I guess we can master it, if it hasn't gotten the best of +us. Say, it's going some, though!" + +Tom pointed to where a shed, painted red--a sign of danger-- +could be seen partly enveloped in smoke, amid the black clouds of +which shot out red tongues of flame. + +"What have you got it painted red for?" Ned asked pantingly, as +they ran on. + +"Because--" Tom began, but the rest of the sentence was lost in +a yell. + +Tom had caught sight of Eradicate and the giant, Koku, +unreeling from a central standpipe a long line of hose. + +"Don't take that!" Tom cried. "Don't use that hose! Drop it!" + +"What's the matter? Is it rotten?" Ned wanted to know. + +"No, but if they pull it out the water will be turned on +automatically." + +"Well, isn't that what you want at a fire--water?" Ned +demanded. + +"Not at this fire," was Tom's answer. "There's a lot of calcium +carbide in that red shed--that's why it's red--to warn the men of +danger. You know what happens when water gets on carbide--there's +an explosion, and there's enough carbide in that shed to send the +whole works sky high. + +"Drop that hose!" yelled Tom in louder tones. "Drop it, Rad-- +Koku! Do you want to kill us all!" + + + +CHAPTER III +A DESPERATE BATTLE + + +Tom's tones and voice were so insistent that the giant and the +colored man had no choice but to obey. They dropped the hose +which, half unreeled, lay like some twisted snake in the grass. +Had it been pulled out all the way the water would have spurted +from the nozzle, for it was of the automatic variety, with which +Tom had equipped all his plant. + +"But what are you going to do, Tom, if you don't use water?" +asked Ned, wonderingly. + +"I don't know--yet, but I know water is the worst thing you can +put on carbide," returned Tom. For all he spoke Slowly his brain +was working fast. Already, even now, he was planning how best to +give battle to the flames. + +It needed but an instant's thought on the part of Ned to make +him understand that Tom was right. It would be well-nigh fatal to +use water on carbide. Those of you who have bicycle lanterns, in +which that not very pleasant-smelling chemical is used, know that +if a few drops of water are allowed to drip slowly on the gray +crystals acetylene gas is generated, which makes a brilliant +light. But, if the water drips too fast, the gas is generated too +quickly, and an explosion results. In lamps, of course, and in +lighting plants where carbide is used, there are automatic +arrangements to prevent the water flowing too freely to the +chemical. But Tom knew if the hose were turned on the fire in the +red shed a great explosion would result, for some of the tins of +carbide would be melted by the heat. + +Yet the fire needed to be coped with. Already the flames were +coming through the roof, and the windows and door were spouting +red fire and volumes of smoke. + +Several other employees of Tom's plant had made ready to unreel +more hose, but the warning of the young inventor, shouted to +Eradicate and Koku, had had its effect. Every man dropped the +line he had begun to unreel. + +"Ha! Massa Tom say drop de hose, but how yo' gwine t' squirt +watah on a fire wifout a hose; answer me dat?" and Eradicate +looked at Koku. + +"Me no know," was the slow answer. "I guess Koku go pull shed +down and stamp out fire." + +"Huh! Maybe yo' could do dat in cannibal land, where yo' all +come from," spoke Eradicate, "but yo' can't do dat heah! 'Sides, +de red shed will blow up soon. Dere's suffin' else in dere except +carbide, an' dat's gwine t' go up soon, dat's suah!" + +"Maybe you get your strong man-mule, Boomerang," suggested +Koku. "Nothing ever hurt him--explosion or nothing. He can kick +shed all to pieces, and put out fire." + +"Dat's what I wanted t' do, but Massa Tom say I cain't," +explained the colored man. "Golly! Look at dat fire!" + +Indeed the blaze was now assuming alarming proportions. The red +shed, which was not a small structure, was blazing on all sides. +About it stood the men from the various shops. + +"Tom, you must do something," said Mr. Swift. "If the flames +once reach that helmanite--" + +"I know, Father. But that explosive is in double vacuum +containers, and it will be safe for some time yet. Besides, it's +in the cellar. It's the carbide I'm most worried about. We +daren't use water." + +"But something will have to be done!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. +"Bless my red necktie, if we don't--" + +"Better get back a way," suggested Tom. "Something may go off!" + +His words of warning had their effect, and the whole circle +moved back several paces. + +"Is there anything of value in the shed?" asked Ned. + +"I should say there was!" Tom answered. "I hoped we could get +some of them out, but we can't now--until the fire dies down a +bit, at any rate." + +"Look, Tom! The pattern shop roof is catching!" shouted Mr. +Swift, pointing to where a little spurt of flame showed on the +roof of a distant building. + +"It's from sparks!" Tom said. + +"Any danger of using water there?" Ned wanted to know. + +"No, use all you like! That's the only thing to do. Come on, +you with the hose!" Tom yelled. "Save the other buildings!" + +"But are you going to let the red shed burn?" asked Mr. Swift. +"You know what it means, Tom." + +"Yes, Father, I know. And I'm going to fight that fire in a new +way. But we must save the other buildings, too. Play water on all +the other sheds and structures!" ordered the young inventor. +"I'll tackle this one myself. Oh, Ned!" he called. + +"Yes," answered his chum. "What is it?" + +"You take charge of protecting the place where the new aerial +warship is stored. Will you? I can't afford to lose that." + +"I'll look after it, Tom. No harm in using water there, though; +is there?" + +"Not if you don't use too much. Some of the woodwork isn't +varnished yet, and I wouldn't want it to be wet. But do the best +you can. Take Koku and Eradicate with you. They can't do any good +here." + +"Do you mean to say you're going to give up and let this burn?" + +"Not a bit of it, Ned. But I have another plan I want to try. +Lively now! The wind's changing, and it's blowing over toward my +aerial warship shed. If that catches--" + +Tom shook his head protestingly, and Ned set off on the run, +calling to the colored man and the giant to get out another line +of hose. + +"I wonder what Tom is going to do?" mused Ned, as he neared the +big shed he and the others had left on the alarm of fire. + +Tom, himself, seemed in no doubt as to his procedure With one +look at the blazing red shed, as if to form an opinion as to how +much longer it could burn without getting entirely beyond +control, Tom set off on a run toward another large structure. +Ned, glancing toward his chum, observed: + +"The dirigible shed! I wonder what his game is? Surely that +can't be in danger--it's too far off!" + +Ned was right as to the last statement. The shed, where was +housed a great dirigible balloon Tom had made, but which he +seldom used of late, was sufficiently removed from the zone of +fire to be out of danger. + +Meanwhile several members of the fire-fighting force that had +been summoned from the various shops by the alarm, had made an +effort to save from the red shed some of the more valuable of the +contents. There were some machines in there, as well as +explosives and chemicals, in addition to the store of carbide. + +But the fire was now too hot to enable much to be done in the +way of salvage. One or two small things were carried out from a +little addition to the main structure, and then the rescuers were +driven back by the heat of the flames, as well as by the rolling +clouds of black smoke. + +"Keep away!" warned Mr. Swift. "It will explode soon. Keep +back!" + +"That's right!" added Mr. Damon. "Bless my powder-horn! We may +all be going sky-high soon, and without aid from any of Tom +Swift's aeroplanes, either." + +Warned by the aged inventor, the throng of men began slowly +moving away from the immediate neighborhood of the blazing shed. +Though it may seem to the reader that some time has elapsed since +the first sounding of the alarm, all that I have set down took +place in a very short period--hardly three minutes elapsing since +Tom and the others came rushing out of the aerial warship +building. + +Suddenly a cry arose from the crowd of men near the red shed. +Ned, who stood ready with several lines of hose, in charge of +Koku, Eradicate and others, to turn them on the airship shed, in +case of need, looked in the direction of the excited throng. + +The young bank clerk saw a strange sight. From the top of the +dirigible balloon shed a long, black, cigar-shaped body arose, +floating gradually upward. The very roof of the shed slid back +out of the way, as Tom pressed the operating lever, and the +dirigible was free to rise--as free as though it had been in an +open field. + +"He's going up!" cried Ned in surprise. "Making an ascent at a +time like this, when he ought to stay here to fight the fire! +What's gotten into Tom, I'd like to know? I wonder if he can +be--" + +Ned did not finish his half-formed sentence. A dreadful thought +came into his mind. What if the sudden fire, and the threatened +danger, as well as the prospective loss that confronted Tom, had +affected his mind? + +"It certainly looks so," mused Ned, as he saw the big balloon +float free from the shed. There was no doubt but that Tom was in +it. He could be seen standing within the pilot-house, operating +the various wheels and levers that controlled the ship of the +air. + +"What can he be up to?" marveled Tom. "Is he going to run away +from the fire?" + +Koku, Eradicate and several others were attracted by the sight +of the great dirigible, now a considerable distance up in the +air. Certainly it looked as though Tom Swift were running away. +Yet Ned knew his chum better than that. + +Then, as they watched, Ned and the others saw the direction of +the balloon change. She turned around in response to the +influence of the rudders and propellers, and was headed straight +for the blazing shed, but some distance above it. + +"What can he be planning?" wondered Ned. + +He did not have long to wait to find out. + +An instant later Tom's plan was made clear to his chum. He saw +Tom circling over the burning red shed, and then the bank clerk +saw what looked like fine rain dropping from the lower part of +the balloon straight into the flames. + +"He can't be dousing water on from up above there," reasoned +Ned. "Pouring water on carbide from a height is just as bad as +spurting it on from a hose, though perhaps not so dangerous to +the persons doing it. But it can't be--" + +"By Jove!" suddenly exclaimed Ned, as he had a better view of +what was going on. "It's sand, that's what it is! Tom is giving +battle to the flames with sand from the ballast bags of the +dirigible! Hurray? That's the ticket! Sand! The only thing safe +to use in case of an explosive chemical fire. + +"Fine for you. Tom Swift! Fine!" + + + +CHAPTER IV +SUSPICIONS + + +High up aloft, over the blazing red shed, with its dangerous +contents that any moment might explode, Tom Swift continued to +hold his big dirigible balloon as near the flames as possible. +And as he stood outside on the small deck in front of the +pilot-house, where were located the various controls, the young +inventor pulled the levers that emptied bag after bag of fine +sand on the spouting flames that, already, were beginning to die +down as a result of this effectual quenching. + +"Tom's done the trick!" yelled Ned, paying little attention now +to the big airship shed, since he saw that the danger was about +over. + +"Dhat's what he suah hab done!" agreed Eradicate. "Mah ole mule +Boomerang couldn't 'a' done any better." + +"Huh! Your mule afraid of fire," remarked Koku. + +"What's dat? Mah mule afraid ob fire?" cried the colored man. +"Look heah, yo' great, big, overgrowed specimen ob an equilateral +quadruped, I'll hab yo' all understand dat when yo' all speaks +dat way about a friend ob mine dat yo'--" + +"That'll do, Rad!" broke in Ned, with a laugh. He knew that +when Tom's helper grew excited on the subject of his mule there +was no Stopping him, and Boomerang was a point on which Eradicate +and Koku were always arguing. "The fire is under control now." + +"Yes, it seems to have gone visiting," observed Koku. + +"Visiting?" queried Ned, in some surprise. + +"Yes, that is, it is going out," went on Koku. + +"Oh, I understand!" laughed Ned. "Yes, and I hope it doesn't +pay us another visit soon. Oh, look at Tom, would you!" he cried, +for the young aviator had swung his ship about over the flames, +to bring another row of sand bags directly above a place where +the fire was hottest. + +Down showered more sand from the bags which Tom opened. No fire +could long continue to blaze under that treatment. The supply of +air was cut off, and without that no fire can exist. Water would +have been worse than useless, because of the carbide, but the +sand covered it up so that it was made perfectly harmless. + +Moving slowly, the airship hovered over every part of the now +slowly expiring flames, the burned opening in the roof of the +shed making it possible for the sand to reach the spots where it +was most needed. The flames died out in section after section, +until no more could be seen--only clouds of black smoke. + +"How is it now?" came Tom's voice, as he spoke from the deck of +the balloon through a megaphone. + +"Almost out," answered Mr. Damon. "A little more sand, Tom." + +The eccentric man had caught up a piece of paper and, rolling +it into a cone, made an improvised megaphone of that. + +"Haven't much more sand left," was Tom's comment, as he sent +down a last shower. "That will have to do. Hustle that carbide +and other explosive stuff out of there now, while you have a +chance." + +"That's it!" cried Ned, who caught his chums meaning. "Come on, +Koku. There's work for you." + +"Me like work," answered the giant, stretching out his great +arms. + +The last of the sand had completely smothered the fire, and +Tom, observing from aloft that his work was well done, moved away +in the dirigible, sending it to a landing space some little +distance away from the shed whence it had arisen. It was +impossible to drop it back again through the roof of the hangar, +as the balloon was of such bulk that even a little breeze would +deflect it so that it could not be accurately anchored. But Tom +had it under very good control, and soon it was being held down +on the ground by some of his helpers. + +As all the sand ballast had been allowed to run out Tom was +obliged to open the gas-valves and let some of the lifting vapor +escape, or he could not have descended. + +"Come on, now!" cried the inventor, as he leaped from the deck +of his sky craft. "Let's clean out the red shed. That fire is +only smothered, and there may be sparks smoldering under that +sand, which will burst into flame, if we're not careful. Let's +get the explosives out of the way." + +"Bless my insurance policy, yes," exclaimed Mr. Damon. "That +was a fine move of yours." + +"It was the only way I could think of to put out the fire," Tom +replied. "I knew water was out of the question, and sand was the +next thing." + +"But I didn't know where to get any until I happened to think +of the ballast bags of my dirigible. Then I knew, if I could get +above the fire, I could do the trick. I had to fly pretty high, +though, as the fire was hot, and I was afraid it might explode +the gas bag and wreck me." + +"You were taking a chance," remarked Ned. + +"Oh, well, you have to take chances in this business," observed +Tom, with a smile. "Now, then, let's finish this work." + +The sand, falling from the ballast bags of the dirigible, had +so effectually quenched the fire that it was soon cool enough to +permit close approach. Koku, Tom and some of the men who best +knew how to handle the explosives, were soon engaged in the work +of salvage. + +"I wish I could help you, Tom," said his aged father. "I don't +seem able to do anything but stand here and look on," and he +gazed about him rather sadly. + +"Never you mind, Dad!" Tom exclaimed. "We'll get along all +right now. You'd better go up to the house. Mr. Damon will go +with you." + +"Yes, of course!" exclaimed the odd man, catching a wink from +Tom, who wanted his father not to get too excited on account of +his weak heart. "Come along, Professor Swift. The danger is all +over." + +"All right," assented the aged inventor, with a look at the +still smoking shed. + +"And, Dad, when you haven't anything else to do," went on Tom, +rather whimsically, "you might be thinking up some plan to take +up the recoil of those guns on my aerial warship. I confess I'm +clean stumped on that point." + +"Your aerial warship will never be a success," declared Mr. +Swift. "You might as well give that up, Tom." + +"Don't you believe it, Dad!" cried Tom, with more of a jolly +air of one chum toward another than as though the talk was +between father and son. "You solve the recoil problem for me, and +I'll take care of the rest, and make the air warship sail. But +we've got something else to do just now. Lively, boys." + +While Mr. Swift, taking Mr. Damon's arm, walked toward the +house, Tom, Ned, Koku, and some of the workmen began carrying out +the explosives which had so narrowly escaped the fire. With long +hooks the men pulled the shed apart, where the side walls had +partly been burned through. Tom maintained an efficient +firefighting force at his works, and the men had the proper tools +with which to work. + +Soon large openings were made on three sides of the red shed, +or rather, what was left of it, and through these the dangerous +chemicals and carbide, in sheet-iron cans, were carried out to a +place of safety. In a little while nothing remained but a heap of +hot sand, some charred embers and certain material that had been +burned. + +"Much loss, Tom?" asked Ned, as they surveyed the ruins. They +were both black and grimy, tired and dirty, but there was a great +sense of satisfaction. + +"Well, yes, there's more lost than I like to think of," +answered Tom slowly, "but it would have been a heap sight worse +if the stuff had gone up. Still, I can replace what I've lost, +except a few models I kept in this place. I really oughtn't to +have stored them here, but since I've been working on my new +aerial warship I have sort of let other matters slide. I intended +to make the red shed nothing but a storehouse for explosive +chemicals, but I still had some of my plans and models in it when +it caught." + +"Only for the sand the whole place might have gone," said Ned +in a low voice. + +"Yes. It's lucky I had plenty of ballast aboard the dirigible. +You see, I've been running it alone lately, and I had to take on +plenty of sand to make up for the weight of the several +passengers I usually carry. So I had plenty of stuff to shower +down on the fire. I wonder how it started, anyhow? I must +investigate this." + +"Mr. Damon and Eradicate seem to have seen it first," remarked +Ned. + +"Yes. At least they gave the alarm. Guess I'll ask Eradicate +how he happened to notice. Oh, I say, Rad!" Tom called to the +colored man. + +"Yais, sah, Massa Tom! I'se comin'!" the darky cried, as he +finished piling up, at a safe distance from the fire, a number of +cans of carbide. + +"How'd you happen to see the red shed ablaze?" Tom asked. + +"Why, it was jest dish yeah way, Massa Tom," began the colored +man. "I had jest been feedin' mah mule, Boomerang. He were +pow'ful hungry, Boomerang were, an', when I give him some oats, +wif a carrot sliced up in 'em--no, hole on--did I gib him a +carrot t'day, or was it yist'day?--I done fo'got. No, it were +yist'day I done gib him de carrot, I 'member now, 'case--" + +"Oh, never mind the carrot, or Boomerang, either, Rad!" broke +in Tom, "I'm asking you about the fire." + +"An' I'se tellin' yo', Massa Tom," declared Eradicate, with a +rather reproachful look at his master. "But I wanted t' do it +right an' proper. I were comin' from Boomerang's stable, an' I +see suffin' red spoutin' up at one corner ob de red shed. I +knowed it were fire right away, an' I yelled." + +"Yes, I heard you yell," Tom said. "But what I wanted to know +is, did you see anyone near the red shed at the time?" + +"No, Massa Tom, I done didn't." + +"I wonder if Mr. Damon did? I must ask him," went on the young +inventor. "Come, on, Ned, we'll go up to the house. Everything is +all right here, I think. Whew! But that was some excitement. And +I didn't show you my aerial warship after all! Nor have you +settled that recoil problem for me." + +"Time enough, I guess," responded Ned. "You sure did have a +lucky escape, Tom." + +"That's right. Well, Koku, what is it?" for the giant had +approached, holding out something in his hand. + +"Koku found this in red shed," went on the giant, holding out a +round, blackened object. "Maybe him powder; go bang-bang!" + +"Oh, you think it's something explosive, eh?" asked Tom, as he +took the object from the giant. + +"Koku no think much," was the answer. "Him look funny." + +Tom did not speak for a moment. Then he cried: + +"Look funny! I should say it did! See here, Ned, if this isn't +suspicious I'll eat my hat!" and Tom beckoned excitedly to his +chum, who had walked on a little in advance. + + + +CHAPTER V +A QUEER STRANGER + + +What Tom Swift held in his hand looked like a small cannon +ball, but it could not have been solid or the young aviator would +not so easily have held it out at arm's length for his friend Ned +Newton to look at. + +"This puts a different face on it, Ned," Tom went on, as he +turned the object over. + +"Is that likely to go off?" the bank clerk asked, as he came to +a halt a little distance from his friend. + +"Go off? No, it's done all the damage it could, I guess." + +"Damage? It looks to me as though it had suffered the most +damage itself. What is it, one of your models? Looks like a bomb +to me." + +"And that's what it is, Ned." + +"Not one of those you're going to use on your aerial warship, +is it, Tom?" + +"Not exactly. I never saw this before, but it's what started +the fire in the red shed all right; I'm sure of that." + +"Do you really mean it?" cried Ned. + +"I sure do." + +"Well, if that's the case, I wouldn't leave such dangerous +things around where there are explosives, Tom." + +"I didn't, Ned. I wouldn't have had this within a hundred miles +of my shed, if I could have had my way. It's a fire bomb, and it +was set to go off at a certain time. Only I think something went +wrong, and the bomb started a fire ahead of time. + +"If it had worked at night, when we were all asleep, we might +not have put the fire out so easily. This sure is suspicious! I'm +glad you found this, Koku." + +Tom was carefully examining the bomb, as Ned had correctly +named it. The bank clerk, now that he was assured by his chum +that the, object had done all the harm it could, approached +closer. + +What he saw was merely a hollow shell of iron, with a small +opening in it, as though intended for a place through which to +put a charge of explosives and a fuse. + +"But there was no explosion, Tom," explained Ned. + +"I know it," said Tom quietly. "It wasn't an explosive bomb. +Smell that!" + +He held the object under Ned's nose so suddenly that the young +bank clerk jumped back. + +"Oh, don't get nervous," laughed Tom. "It can't hurt you now. +But what does that smell like?" + +Ned sniffed, sniffed again, thought for a moment, and then +sniffed a third time. + +"Why," he said slowly, "I don't just know the name of it, but +it's that funny stuff you mix up sometimes to put in the oxygen +tanks when we go up in the rarefied atmosphere in the balloon or +airship." + +"Manganese and potash," spoke Tom. "That and two or three other +things that form a chemical combination which goes off by itself +of spontaneous combustion after a certain time. Only the person +who put this bomb together didn't get the chemical mixture just +right, and it went off ahead of time; for which we have to be +duly thankful." + +"Do you really think that, Tom?" cried Ned. + +"I'm positive of it," was the quiet answer. + +"Why--why--that would mean some one tried to set fire to the +red shed, Tom!" + +"They not only tried it, but did it," responded Tom, more +coolly than seemed natural under the circumstances. "Only for the +fact that the mixture went off before it was intended to, and +found us all alert and ready--well, I don't like to think what +might have happened," and Tom cast a look about at his group of +buildings with their valuable contents. + +"You mean some one purposely put that bomb in the red shed, +Tom?" + +"That's exactly what I mean. Some enemy, who wanted to do me an +injury, planned this thing deliberately. He filled this steel +shell with chemicals which, of themselves, after a certain time, +would send out a hot tongue of flame through this hole," and Tom +pointed to the opening in the round steel shell. + +"He knew the fire would be practically unquenchable by ordinary +means, and he counted on its soon eating its way into the carbide +and other explosives. Only it didn't." + +"Why, Tom!" cried Ned. "It was just like one of those alarm- +clock dynamite bombs--set to go off at a certain time." + +"Exactly," Tom said, "only this was more delicate, and, if it +had worked properly, there wouldn't have been a vestige left to +give us a clue. But the fire, thanks to the ballast sand in the +dirigible, was put out in time. The fuse burned itself out, but I +can tell by the smell that chemicals were in it. That's all, +Koku," he went on to the giant who had stood waiting, not +understanding all the talk between Tom and Ned. "I'll take care +of this now." + +"Bad man put it there?" asked the giant, who at least +comprehended that something was wrong. + +"Well, yes, I guess you could say it was a bad man," replied +Tom. + +"Ha! If Koku find bad man--bad for that man!" muttered the +giant, as he clasped his two enormous hands together, as though +they were already on the fellow who had tried to do Tom Swift +such an injury. + +"I wouldn't like to be that man, if Koku catches him," observed +Ned. "Have you any idea who it could be, Tom?" + +"Not the least. Of course I know I have enemies, Ned. Every +successful inventor has persons who imagine he has stolen their +ideas, whether he has ever seen them or not. It may have been one +of those persons, or some half-mad crank, who was jealous. It +would be impossible to say, Ned." + +"It wouldn't be Andy Foger, would it?" + +"No; I don't believe Andy has been in this neighborhood for +some time. The last lesson we gave him sickened him, I guess." + +"How about those diamond-makers, whose secret you discovered? +They wouldn't be trying to get back at you, would they?" + +"Well, it's possible, Ned. But I don't imagine so. They seem to +have been pretty well broken up. No, I don't believe it was the +diamond-makers who put this fire bomb in the red shed. Their line +of activities didn't include this branch. It takes a chemist to +know just how to blend the things contained in the bomb, and even +a good chemist is likely to fail--as this one did, as far as time +went." + +"What are you going to do about it?" Ned asked. + +"I don't know," and Tom spoke slowly, "I hoped I was done with +all that sort of thing," he went on; "fighting enemies whom I +have never knowingly injured. But it seems they are still after +me. Well, Ned, this gives us something to do, at all events." + +"You mean trying to find out who these fellows are?" + +"Yes; that is, if you are willing to help." + +"Well, I guess I am!" cried the bank clerk with sparkling eyes. +"I wouldn't ask anything better. We've been in things like this +before, Tom, and we'll go in again--and win! I'll help you all I +can. Now, let's see if we can pick up any other clues. This is +like old times!" and Ned laughed, for he, like Tom, enjoyed a +good "fight," and one in which the odds were against them. + +"We sure will have our hands full," declared the young +inventor. "Trying to solve the problem of carrying guns on an +aerial warship, and finding out who set this fire." + +"Then you're not going to give up your aerial warship idea?" + +"No, indeed!" Tom cried. "What made you think that?" + +"Well, the way your father spoke--" + +"Oh, dear old dad!" exclaimed Tom affectionately. "I don't want +to argue with him, but he's dead wrong!" + +"Then you are going to make a go of it?" + +"I sure am, Ned! All I have to solve is the recoil proposition, +and, as soon as we get straightened out from this fire, we'll +tackle that problem again--you and I. But I sure would like to +know who put this in my red shed," and Tom looked in a puzzled +manner at the empty fire bomb he still held. + +Tom paused, on his way to the house, to put the bomb in one of +his offices. + +"No use letting dad know about this," he went on. "It would only +be something else for him to worry about." + +"That's right," agreed Ned. + +By this time nearly all evidences of the fire, except for the +blackened ruins of the shed, had been cleared away. High in the +air hung a cloud of black smoke, caused by some chemicals that +had burned harmlessly save for that pall. Tom Swift had indeed +had a lucky escape. + +The young inventor, finding his father quieted down and +conversing easily with Mr. Damon, who was blessing everything he +could think of, motioned to Ned to follow him out of the house +again. + +"We'll leave dad here," said Tom, "and do a little +investigating on our own account. We'll look for clues while +they're fresh." + +But, it must be confessed, after Tom and Ned had spent the rest +of that day in and about the burned shed, they were little wiser +than when they started. They found the place where the fire bomb +had evidently been placed, right inside the main entrance to the +shed. Tom knew it had been there because there were peculiar +marks on the charred wood, and a certain queer smell of chemicals +that confirmed his belief. + +"They put the bomb there to prevent anyone going in at the +first alarm and saving anything," Tom said. "They didn't count on +the roof burning through first, giving me a chance to use the +sand. I made the roof of the red shed flimsy just on that +account, so the force of the explosion if one ever came, would be +mostly upward. You know the expanding gases, caused by an +explosion or by rapid combustion, always do just as electricity +does, seek the shortest and easiest route. In this case I made +the roof the easiest route." + +"A lucky provision," observed Ned. + +That night Tom had to confess himself beaten, as far as finding +clues was concerned. The empty fire bomb was the only one, and +that seemed valueless. + +Close questioning of the workmen failed to disclose anything. +Tom was particularly anxious to discover if any mysterious +strangers had been seen about the works. There was a strict rule +about admitting them to the plant, however, and it could not be +learned that this had been violated. + +"Well, we'll just have to lay that aside for a while," Tom said +the next day, when Ned again came to pay a visit. "Now, what do +you say to tackling, with me, that recoil problem on the aerial +warship?" + +"I'm ready, if you are," Ned agreed, "though I know about as +much of those things as a snake does about dancing. But I'm +game." + +The two friends walked out toward the shed where Tom's new +craft was housed. As yet Ned had not seen it. On the way they saw +Eradicate walking along, talking to himself, as he often did. + +"I wonder what he has on his mind," remarked Ned musingly. + +"Something does seem to be worrying him," agreed Tom. + +As they neared the colored man, they could hear him saying: + +"He suah did hab nerve, dat's what he did! De idea ob askin' me +all dem questions, an' den wantin' t' know if I'd sell him!" + +"What's that, Eradicate?" asked Tom. + +"Oh, it's a man I met when I were comin' back from de ash +dump," Eradicate explained. One of the colored man's duties was +to cart ashes away from Tom's various shops, and dump them in a +certain swampy lot. With an old ramshackle cart, and his mule, +Boomerang, Eradicate did this task to perfection. + +"A man--what sort of a man?" asked Tom, always ready to be +suspicious of anything unusual. + +"He were a queer man," went on the aged colored helper. "First +he stopped me an' asted me fo' a ride. He was a dressed-up +gen'man, too, an' I were suah s'prised at him wantin' t' set in +mah ole ash cart," said Eradicate. "But I done was polite t' him, +an' fixed a blanket so's he wouldn't git too dirty. Den he asted +me ef I didn't wuk fo' yo', Massa Tom, an' of course I says as +how I did. Den he asted me about de fire, an' how much damage it +done, an' how we put it out. An' he end up by sayin' he'd laik t' +buy mah mule, Boomerang, an' he wants t' come heah dis arternoon +an' talk t' me about it." + +"He does, eh?" cried Tom. "What sort of a man was he, Rad?" + +"Well, a gen'man sort ob man, Massa Tom. Stranger t' me. I +nebber seed him afo'. He suah was monstrous polite t' ole black +Eradicate, an' he gib me a half-dollar, too, jest fo' a little +ride. But I aint' gwine t' sell Boomerang, no indeedy, I ain't!" +and Eradicate shook his gray, kinky head decidedly. + +"Ned, there may be something in this!" said Tom, in an excited +whisper to his chum. "I don't like the idea of a mysterious +stranger questioning Eradicate!" + + + +CHAPTER VI +THE AERIAL WARSHIP + + +Ned Newton looked at Tom questioningly. Then he glanced at the +unsuspicious colored man, who was industriously polishing the +half-dollar the mysterious stranger had given him. + +"Rad, just exactly what sort of a man was this one you speak +of?" asked Tom. + +"Why, he were a gen'man--" + +"Yes, I know that much. You've said it before. But was he an +Englishman, an American--or--" + +Tom paused and waited for an answer. + +"I think he were a Frenchman," spoke Eradicate. "I done didn't +see him eat no frogs' laigs, but he smoked a cigarette dat had a +funny smell, and he suah was monstrous polite. He suah was a +Frenchman. I think." + +Tom and Ned laughed at Eradicate's description of the man, but +Tom's face was soon grave again. + +"Tell us more about him, Rad," he suggested. "Did he seem +especially interested in the fire?" + +"No, sah, Massa Tom, he seemed laik he was more special +interested in mah mule, Boomerang. He done asted how long I had +him, an' how much I wanted fo' him, an' how old he was." + +"But every once in a while he put in some question about the +fire, or about our shops, didn't he, Rad?" Tom wanted to know. + +The colored man scratched his kinky head, and glanced with a +queer look at Tom. + +"How yo' all done guess dat?" he asked. + +"Answer my question," insisted Tom. + +"Yes, sah, he done did ask about yo', and de wuks, ebery now +and den," Rad confessed. "But how yo' all knowed dat, Massa Tom, +when I were a-tellin' yo' all about him astin' fo' mah mule, done +gets me--dat's what it suah does." + +"Never mind, Rad. He asked questions about the plant, that's +all I want to know. But you didn't tell him much, did you?" + +Eradicate looked reproachfully at his master. + +"Yo' all done knows me bettah dan dat, Massa Tom," the old +colored man said. "Yo' all know yo' done gib orders fo' nobody t' +talk about yo' projections." + +"Yes, I know I gave those orders," Tom said, with a smile, "but +I want to make sure that they have been followed." + +"Well, I done follered 'em, Massa Tom." + +"Then you didn't tell this queer stranger, Frenchman, or +whatever he is, much about my place?" + +"I didn't tell him nuffin', sah. I done frowed dust in his +eyes." + +Ned uttered an exclamation of surprise. + +"Eradicate is speaking figuratively," Tom said, with a laugh. + +"Dat's what I means," the colored man went on. "I done fooled +him. When he asted me about de fire I said it didn't do no damage +at all--in fack dat we'd rather hab de fire dan not hab it, +'case it done gib us a chance t' practice our hose drill." + +"That's good," laughed Tom. "What else?" + +"Well, he done sort ob hinted t' me ef we all knowed how de +fire done start. I says as how we did, dat we done start it +ourse'ves fo' practice, an dat we done expected it all along, an' +were ready fo' it. Course I knows dat were a sort of fairy story, +Massa Tom, but den dat cigarette-smokin' Frenchman didn't hab no +right t' asted me so many questions, did he?" + +"No, indeed, Rad. And I'm glad you didn't give him straight +answers. So he's coming here later on, is he?" + +"T' see ef I wants t' sell mah mule, Boomerang, yais, sah. I +sort ob thought maybe you'd want t' hab a look at dat man, so I +tole him t' come on. Course I doan't want t' sell Boomerang, but +ef he was t' offer me a big lot ob money fo' him I'd take it." + +"Of course," Tom answered. "Very well, Rad. You may go on now, +and don't say anything to anyone about what you have told me." + +"I won't, Massa Tom," promised the colored man, as he went off +muttering to himself. + +"Well, what do you make of it, Tom?" asked Ned of his chum, as +they walked on toward the shed of the new, big aerial warship. + +"I don't know just what to think, Ned. Of course things like +this have happened before--persons trying to worm secrets out of +Eradicate, or some of the other men." + +"They never succeeded in getting much, I'm glad to say, but it +always keeps me worried for fear something will happen," Tom +concluded. + +"But about this Frenchman?" + +"Well, he must be a new one. And, now I come to think of it, I +did hear some of the men speaking about a foreigner--a stranger-- +being around town last week. It was just a casual reference, and +I paid little attention to it. Now it looks as though there might +be something in it." + +"Do you think he'll come to bargain with Eradicate about the +mule?" Ned asked. + +"Hardly. That was only talk to make Eradicate unsuspicious. The +stranger, whoever he was, sized Rad up partly right. I surmised, +when Rad said he asked a lot of questions about the mule, that +was only to divert suspicion, and that he'd come back to the +subject of the fire every chance he got." + +"And you were right." + +"Yes, so it seems. But I don't believe the fellow will come +around here. It would be too risky. All the same, we'll be +prepared for him. I'll just rig up one of my photo-telephone +machines, so that, if he does come to have a talk with Rad, we +can both see and hear him." + +"That's great, Tom! But do you think this fellow had anything +to do with the fire?" + +"I don't know. He knew about it, of course. This isn't the +first fire we've had in the works, and, though we always fight +them ourselves, still news of it will leak out to the town. So he +could easily have known about it. And he might be in with those +who set it, for I firmly believe the fire was set by someone who +has an object in injuring me." + +"It's too bad!" declared Ned. "Seems as though they might let +you alone, if they haven't gumption enough to invent things for +themselves." + +"Well, don't worry. Maybe it will come out all right," returned +Tom. "Now, let's go and have a look at my aerial warship. I +haven't shown it to you yet. Then we'll get ready for that +mysterious Frenchman, if he comes--but I don't believe he will." + +The young inventor unlocked the door of the shed where he kept +his latest "pet," and at the sight which met his eyes Ned Newton +uttered an exclamation of surprise. + +"Tom, what is it?" he cried in an awed voice. + +"My aerial warship!" was the quiet answer. + +Ned Newton gave vent to a long whistle, and then began a +detailed examination of the wonderful craft he saw before him. +That is, he made as detailed an examination as was possible under +the circumstances, for it was a long time before the young bank +clerk fully appreciated all Tom Swift had accomplished in +building the Mars, which was the warlike name painted in red +letters on the big gas container that tugged and swayed overhead. + +"Tom, however did you do it?" gasped Ned at length. + +"By hard work," was the modest reply. "I've been at this for a +longer time than you'd suppose, working on it at odd moments. I +had a lot of help, too, or I never could have done it. And now it +is nearly all finished, as far as the ship itself is concerned. +The only thing that bothers me is to provide for the recoil of +the guns I want to carry. Maybe you can help me with that. Come +on, now, I'll explain how the affair works, and what I hope to +accomplish with it." + +In brief Tom's aerial warship was a sort of German Zeppelin +type of dirigible balloon, rising in the air by means of a gas +container, or, rather, several of them, for the section for +holding the lifting gas element was divided by bulkheads. + +The chief difference between dirigible balloons and ordinary +aeroplanes, as you all know, is that the former are lifted from +the earth by a gas, such as hydrogen, which is lighter than air, +while the aeroplane lifts itself by getting into motion, when +broad, flat planes, or surfaces, hold it up, just as a flat stone +is held up when you sail it through the air. The moment the +stone, or aeroplane, loses its forward motion, it begins to fall. + +This is not so with a dirigible balloon. It is held in the air +by means of the lifting gas, and once so in the air can be sent +in any direction by means of propellers and rudders. + +Tom's aerial warship contained many new features. While it was +as large as some of the war-type Zeppelins, it differed from them +materially. But the details would be of more interest to a +scientific builder of such things than to the ordinary reader, so +I will not weary you with them. + +Sufficient to say that Tom's craft consisted first of a great +semi-rigid bag, or envelope, made of specially prepared oiled +silk and aluminum, to hold the gas, which was manufactured on +board. There were a number of gas-tight compartments, so that if +one, or even if a number of them burst, or were shot by an enemy, +the craft would still remain afloat. + +Below the big gas bag was the ship proper, a light but strong +and rigid framework about which were built enclosed cabins. These +cabins, or compartments, housed the driving machinery, the +gas-generating plant, living, sleeping and dining quarters, and a +pilot-house, whence the ship could be controlled. + +But this was not all. + +Ned, making a tour of the Mars, as she swayed gently in the big +shed, saw where several aluminum pedestals were mounted, fore and +aft and on either beam of the ship. + +"They look just like places where you intend to mount guns," +said Ned to Tom. + +"And that's exactly what they are," the young inventor replied. +"I have the guns nearly ready for mounting, but I can't seem to +think of a way of providing for the recoil. And if I don't take +care of that, I'm likely to find my ship coming apart under me, +after we bombard the enemy with a broadside or two." + +"Then you intend to fight with this ship?" asked Ned. + +"Well, no; not exactly personally. I was thinking of offering +it to the United States Government. Foreign nations are getting +ready large fleets of aerial warships, so why shouldn't we? +Matters in Europe are mighty uncertain. There may be a great war +there in which aerial craft will play a big part. I am conceited +enough to think I can build one that will measure up to the +foreign ones, and I'll soon be in a position to know." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean I have already communicated with our government +experts, and they are soon to come and inspect this craft. I have +sent them word that it is about finished. There is only the +matter of the guns, and some of the ordnance officers may be able +to help me out with a suggestion, for I admit I am stuck!" +exclaimed Tom. + +"Then you're going to do the same with this aerial warship as +you did with your big lantern and that immense gun you +perfected?" asked Ned. + +"That's right," confirmed Tom. My former readers will know to +what Ned Newton referred, and those of you who do not may learn +the details of how Tom helped Uncle Sam, by reading the previous +volumes, "Tom Swift and His Great Searchlight," and "Tom Swift +and His Giant Cannon." + +"When do you expect the government experts?" Ned asked. + +"Within a few days, now. But I'll have to hustle to get ready +for them, as this fire has put me back. There are quite a number +of details I need to change. Well, now, let me explain about that +gun recoil business. Maybe you can help me." + +"Fire away," laughed Ned. "I'll do the best I can." + +Tom led the way from the main shed, where the aerial warship +was housed, to a small private office. As Ned entered, the door, +pulled by a strong spring, swung after him. He held back his hand +to prevent it from slamming, but there was no need, for a patent +arrangement took up all the force, and the door closed gently. +Ned looked around, not much surprised, for the same sort of +door-check was in use at his bank. But a sudden idea came to him. + +"There you are, Tom!" he cried. "Why not take up the recoil of +the guns on your aerial warship by some such device as that?" and +Ned pointed to the door-check. + + + +CHAPTER VII +WARNINGS + + +For a moment or two Tom Swift did not seem to comprehend what +Ned had said. He remained staring, first at his chum, who stood +pointing, and from him Tom's gaze wandered to the top of the +door. It may have been, and probably was, that Tom was thinking +of other matters at that instant. But Ned said again: + +"Wouldn't that do, Tom? Check the recoil of the gun with +whatever stuff is in that arrangement!" + +A sudden change came over Tom's face. It was lighted up with a +gleam of understanding. + +"By Jove, Ned, old man!" he cried. "I believe you've struck it! +And to think that has been under my nose, or, rather, over my +head, all this while, and I never thought of it. Hurray! That +will solve the problem!" + +"Do you think it will?" asked Ned, glad that he had contributed +something, if only an idea, to Tom's aerial warship. + +"I'm almost sure it will. I'll give it a trial right away." + +"What's in that door-check?" Ned asked. "I never stopped before +to think what useful things they are, though at the bank, with +the big, heavy doors, they are mighty useful." + +"They are a combination of springs and hydrostatic valves," +began Tom. + +"Good-night!" laughed Ned. "Excuse the slang, Tom, but what in +the world is a hydrostatic valve?" + +"A valve through which liquids pass. In this door-check there +may be a mixture of water, alcohol and glycerine, the alcohol to +prevent freezing in cold weather, and the glycerine to give body +to the mixture so it will not flow through the valves too +freely." + +"And do you think you can put something like that on your guns, +so the recoil will be taken up?" Ned wanted to know. + +"I think so," spoke Tom. "I'm going to work on it right away, +and we'll soon see how it will turn out It's mighty lucky you +thought of that, for I sure was up against it, as the boys say." + +"It just seemed to come to me," spoke Ned, "seeing how easily +the door closed." + +"If the thing works I'll give you due credit for it," promised +Tom. "Now, I've got to figure out how much force a modified +hydrostatic valve check like that will take up, and how much +recoil my biggest gun will have." + +"Then you're going to put several guns on the Mars?" asked Ned. + +"Yes, four quick-firers, at least, two on each side, and +heavier guns at the bow and stern, to throw explosive shells in a +horizontal or upward direction. For a downward direction we won't +need any guns, we can simply drop the bombs, or shells, from a +release clutch." + +"Drop them on other air craft?" Ned wanted to know. + +"Well, if it's necessary, yes. Though I guess there won't be +much chance of doing that to a rival aeroplane or dirigible. But +in flying over cities or forts, explosive bombs can be dropped +very nicely. For use in attacking other air craft I am going to +depend on my lateral fire, from the guns mounted on either beam, +and in the bow and stern." + +"You speak as though you, yourself, were going into a battle of +the air," said Ned. + +"No, I don't believe I'll go that far," Tom replied. "Though, +if the government wants my craft, I may have to go aloft and fire +shots at targets for them to show them how things work. + +"Please don't think that I am in favor of war, Ned," went on +Tom earnestly. "I hate it, and I wish the time would come when +all nations would disarm. But if the other countries are laying +themselves out to have aerial battleships, it is time the United +States did also. We must not be left behind, especially in view +of what is taking place in Europe." + +"I suppose that's right," agreed Ned. "Have you any of your +guns ready?" + +"Yes, all but the mounting of them on the supports aboard the +Mars. I haven't dared do that yet, and fire them, until I +provided some means of taking up the recoil. Now I'm going to get +right to work on that problem." + +There was considerable detailed figuring and computation work +ahead of Tom Swift, and I will not weary you by going into the +details of higher mathematics. Even Ned lost interest after the +start of the problem, though he was interested when Tom took down +the door-check and began measuring the amount of force it would +take up, computing it on scales and spring balances. + +Once this had been done, and Tom had figured just how much +force could be expected to be taken up by a larger check, with +stronger hydrostatic valves, the young inventor explained: + +"And now to see how much recoil force my guns develop!" + +"Are you really going to fire the guns?" asked Ned. + +"Surely," answered Tom. "That's the only way to get at real +results. I'll have the guns taken out and mounted in a big field. +Then we'll fire them, and measure the recoil." + +"Well, that may be some fun," spoke Ned, with a grin. "More fun +than all these figures," and he looked at the mass of details on +Tom's desk. + +This was the second or third day after the fire in the red +shed, and in the interim Tom had been busy making computations. +These were about finished. Meanwhile further investigation bad +been made of clues leading to the origin of the blaze in the +shed, but nothing had been learned. + +A photo-telephone had been installed near Eradicate's quarters, +in the hope that the mysterious stranger might keep his promise, +and come to see about the mule. In that case something would have +been learned about him. But, as Tom feared, the man did not +appear. + +Ned was much interested in the guns, and, a little later, he +helped Tom and Koku mount them in a vacant lot. The giant's +strength came in handy in handling the big parts. + +Mr. Swift strolled past, as the guns were being mounted for the +preliminary test, and inquired what his son was doing. + +"It will never work, Tom, never!" declared the aged inventor, +when informed. "You can't take up those guns in your air craft, +and fire them with any degree of safety." + +"You wait, Dad," laughed Tom. "You haven't yet seen how the +Newton hydrostatic recoil operates." + +Ned smiled with pleasure at this. + +It took nearly a week to get all the guns mounted, for some of +them required considerable work, and it was also necessary to +attach gauges to them to register the recoil and pressure. In the +meanwhile Tom had been in further communication with government +experts who were soon to call on him to inspect the aerial +warship, with a view to purchase. + +"When are they coming?" asked Ned, as he and Tom went out one +morning to make the first test of the guns. + +"They will be here any day, now. They didn't set any definite +date. I suppose they want to take us unawares, to see that I +don't 'frame-up' any game on them. Well, I'll be ready any time +they come. Now, Koku, bring along those shells, and don't drop +any of them, for that new powder is freakish stuff." + +"Me no drop any, Master," spoke the giant, as he lifted the +boxes of explosives in his strong arms. + +The largest gun was loaded and aimed at a distant hill, for Tom +knew that if the recoil apparatus would take care of the excess +force of his largest gun, the problem of the smaller ones would +be easy to solve. + +"Here, Rad, where are you going?" Tom asked, as he noticed the +colored man walking away, after having completed a task assigned +to him. + +"Where's I gwine, Massa Tom?" + +"Yes, Rad, that's what I asked you." + +"I--I'se gwine t' feed mah mule, Boomerang," said the colored +man slowly. "It's his eatin' time, jest now, Massa Tom." + +"Nonsense! It isn't anywhere near noon yet." + +"Yais, sab, Massa Tom, I knows dat," said Eradicate, as he +carefully edged away from the big gun, "but I'se done changed de +eatin' hours ob dat mule. He had a little touch ob indigestion de +udder day, an' I'se feedin' him diff'rent now. So I guess as how +yo'll hab t' 'scuse me now, Massa Tom." + +"Oh, well, trot along," laughed the young inventor. "I guess we +won't need you. Is everything all right there, Koku?" + +"All right, Master." + +"Now, Ned, if you'll stand here," went on Tom, "and note the +extreme point to which the hand on the pressure gauge goes, I'll +be obliged to you. Just jot it down on this pad." + +"Here comes someone," remarked the bank clerk, as he saw that +his pencil was sharpened. He pointed to the field back of them. + +"It's Mr. Damon," observed Tom. "We'll wait until he arrives. +He'll be interested in this." + +"Bless my collar button, Tom! What's going on?" asked the +eccentric man, as he came up. "Has war been declared?" + +"Just practicing," replied the young inventor. "Getting ready +to put the armament on my aerial warship." + +"Well, as long as I'm behind the guns I'm all right, I +suppose?" + +"Perfectly," Tom replied. "Now then, Ned, I think we'll fire." + +There was a moment of inspection, to see that nothing had been +forgotten, and then the big gun was discharged. There was a loud +report, not as heavy, though, as Ned had expected, but there was +no puff of smoke, for Tom was using smokeless powder. Only a +little flash of flame was observed. + +"Catch the figure, Ned!" Tom cried. + +"I have it!" was the answer. "Eighty thousand!" + +"Good! And I can build a recoil check that will take up to one +hundred and twenty thousand pounds pressure. That ought to be +margin of safety enough. Now we'll try another shot." + +The echoes of the first had hardly died away before the second +gun was ready for the test. That, too, was satisfactory, and then +the smaller ones were operated. These were not quite so +satisfactory, as the recoil developed was larger, in proportion +to their size, than Tom had figured. + +"But I can easily put a larger hydrostatic check on them," he +said. "Now, we'll fire by batteries, and see what the total is." + +Then began a perfect bombardment of the distant hillside, +service charges being used v, and explosive shells sent out so that +dirt, stones and gravel flew in all directions. Danger signs and +flags had been posted, and a cordon of Tom's men kept spectators +away from the hill, so no one would be in the danger zone. + +The young inventor was busy making some calculations after the +last of the firing had been completed. Koku was packing up the +unfired shells, and Mr. Damon was blessing his ear-drums, and the +pieces of cotton he had stuffed in to protect them, when a tall, +erect man was observed strolling over the fields in the direction +of the guns. + +"Somebody's coming, Tom," warned Ned. + +"Yes, and a stranger, too," observed Tom. "I wonder if that can +be Eradicate's Frenchman?" + +But a look at the stranger's face disproved that surmise. He +had a frank and pleasant countenance, obviously American. + +"I beg your pardon," he began, addressing everyone in general, +"but I am looking for Tom Swift. I was told he was here." + +"I am Tom Swift," replied our hero. + +"Ah! Well, I am Lieutenant Marbury, with whom you had some +correspondence recently about--" + +"Oh, yes, Lieutenant Marbury, of the United States Navy," +interrupted Tom. "I'm glad to see you," he went on, holding out +his hand. "We are just completing some tests with the guns. You +called, I presume, in reference to my aerial warship?" + +"That is it--yes. Have you it ready for a trial flight?" + +"Well, almost. It can be made ready in a few hours. You see, I +have been delayed. There was a fire in the plant." + +"A fire!" exclaimed the officer in surprise. "How was that? We +heard nothing of it in Washington." + +"No, I kept it rather quiet," Tom explained. "We had reason to +suspect that it was a fire purposely set, in a shed where I kept +a quantity of explosives." + +"Ha!" exclaimed Lieutenant Marbury. "This fits in with what I +have heard. And did you not receive warning?" he asked Tom. + +"Warning? No. Of what?" + +"Of foreign spies!" was the unexpected answer. "I am sorry. +Some of our Secret Service men unearthed something of a plot +against you, and I presumed you had been told to watch out. If +you had, the fire might not have occurred. There must have been +some error in Washington. But let me tell you now, Tom Swift--be +on your guard!" + + + +CHAPTER VIII +A SUSPECTED PLOT + + +The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom +started. Ned Newton, too, showed the effect he felt. + +"Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking +around to make sure his father was not present. On account of +Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all +possible worry. + +"I certainly do mean it," insisted Lieutenant Marbury. "And, +while I am rather amazed at the news of the fire, for I did not +think the plotters would be so bold as that, it is in line with +what I expected, and what we suspected in Washington." + +"And that was--what?" asked Tom. + +"The existence of a well-laid plot, not only against our +government, but against you!" + +"And why have they singled me out?" Tom demanded. + +"I might as well tell it from the beginning," the officer went +on. "As long as you have not received any official warning from +Washington you had better hear the whole story. But are you sure +you had no word?" + +"Well, now, I won't be so sure," Tom confessed. "I have been +working very hard, the last two days, making some intricate +calculations. I have rather neglected my mail, to tell you the +truth. + +"And, come to think of it, there were several letters received +with the Washington postmark. But, I supposed they had to do with +some of my patents, and I only casually glanced over them. There +was one letter, though, that I couldn't make head or tail of." + +"Ha! That was it!" cried the lieutenant. "It was the warning in +cipher or code. I didn't think they would neglect to send it to +you." + +"But what good would it do me if I couldn't read it?" asked +Tom. + +"You must also have received a method of deciphering the +message," the officer said. "Probably you overlooked that. The +Secret Service men sent you the warning in code, so it would not +be found out by the plotters, and, to make sure you could +understand it, a method of translating the cipher was sent in a +separate envelope. It is too bad you missed it." + +"Yes, for I might have been on my guard," agreed Tom. "The red +shed might not have burned, but, as it was, only slight damage +was done." + +"Owing to the fact that Tom put the fire out with sand ballast +from his dirigible!" cried Ned. "You should have seen it!" + +"I should have liked to be here," the lieutenant spoke. "But, +if I were you, Tom Swift, I would take means to prevent a +repetition of such things." + +"I shall," Tom decided. "But, if we want to talk, we had better +go to my office, where we can be more private. I don't want the +workmen to hear too much." + +Now that the firing was over, a number of Tom's men from the +shops had assembled around the cannon. Most of them, the young +inventor felt, could be trusted, but in so large a gathering one +could never be sure. + +"Did you come on from Washington yesterday?" asked Tom, as he, +Ned and the officer strolled toward the shed where was housed the +aerial warship. + +"Yes, and I spent the night in New York. I arrived in town a +short time ago, and came right on out here. At your house I was +told you were over in the fields conducting experiments, so I +came on here." + +"Glad you did," Tom said. "I'll soon have something to show +you, I hope. But I am interested in hearing the details of this +suspected plot. Are you sure one exists?" + +"Perfectly sure," was the answer. "We don't know all the +details yet, nor who are concerned in it, but we are working on +the case. The Secret Service has several agents in the field. + +"We are convinced in Washington," went on Lieutenant Marbury, +when he, Tom and Ned were seated in the private office, "that +foreign spies are at work against you and against our +government." + +"Why against me?" asked Tom, in wonder. + +"Because of the inventions you have perfected and turned over +to Uncle Sam--notably the giant cannon, which rivals anything +foreign European powers have, and the great searchlight, which +proved so effective against the border smugglers. The success of +those two alone, to say nothing of your submarine, has not only +made foreign nations jealous, but they fear you--and us," the +officer went on. + +"Well, if they only take it out in fear--" + +"But they won't!" interrupted the officer--"They are seeking to +destroy those inventions. More than once, of late, we have nipped +a plot just in time." + +"Have they really tried to damage the big gun?" asked Tom, +referring to one he had built and set up at Panama. + +"They have. And now this fire proves that they are taking other +measures--they are working directly against you." + +"Why, I wonder?" + +"Either to prevent you from making further inventions, or to +stop you from completing your latest--the aerial warship." + +"But I didn't know the foreign governments knew about that," +Tom exclaimed. "It was a secret." + +"Few secrets are safe from foreign Spies," declared Lieutenant +Marbury. "They have a great ferreting-out system on the other +side. We are just beginning to appreciate it. But our own men +have not been idle." + +"Have they really learned anything?" Tom asked. +"Nothing definite enough to warrant us in acting," was the +answer of the government man. "But we know enough to let us see +that the plot is far-reaching." + +"Are the French in it?" asked Ned impulsively. + +"The French! Why do you ask that?" + +"Tell him about Eradicate, and the man who wanted to buy the +mule, Tom," suggested Ned. + +Thereupon the young inventor mentioned the story told by +Eradicate. He also brought out the fire-bomb, and explained his +theory as to how it had operated to set the red shed ablaze. + +"I think you are right," said Lieutenant Marbury. "And, as +regards the French, I might say they are not the only nation +banded to obtain our secrets--yours and the government's!" + +"But I thought the French and the English were friendly toward +us!" Ned exclaimed. + +"So they are, in a certain measure," the officer went on. "And +Russia is, too. But, in all foreign countries there are two +parties, the war party, as it might be called, and the peace +element. + +"But I might add that it is neither France, England, nor Russia +that we must fear. It is a certain other great nation, which at +present I will not name." + +"And you think spies set this fire?" + +"I certainly do." + +"But what measures shall I adopt against this plot?" Tom asked. + +"We will talk that over," said Lieutenant Marbury. "But, before +I go into details, I want to give you another warning. You must +be very careful about--" + +A sudden knock on the door interrupted the speaker. + + + +CHAPTER IX +THE RECOIL CHECK + + +"Who is that?" asked Ned Newton, with a quick glance at his chum. + +"I don't know," Tom answered. "I left orders we weren't to be +disturbed unless it was something important." + +"May be something has happened," suggested the navy officer, +"another fire, perhaps, or a--" + +"It isn't a fire," Tom answered. "The automatic alarm would be +ringing before this in that case." + +The knock was repeated. Tom went softly to the door and opened +it quickly, to disclose, standing in the corridor, one of the +messengers employed about the shops. + +"Well, what is it?" asked Tom a bit sharply. + +"Oh, if you please, Mr. Swift," said the boy, "a man has applied +for work at the main office, and you know you left orders there +that if any machinists came along, we were to--" + +"Oh, so I did," Tom exclaimed. "I had forgotten about that," +he went on to Lieutenant Marbury and Ned. "I am in need of +helpers to rush through the finishing touches on my aerial +warship, and I left word, if any applied, as they often do, +coming here from other cities, that I wanted to see them. How +many are there?" Tom asked of the messenger. + +"Two, this time. They both say they're good mechanics." + +"That's what they all say," interposed Tom, with a smile. "But, +though they may be good mechanics in their own line, they need to +have special qualifications to work on airships. Tell them to +wait, Rodney," Tom went on to the lad, "and I'll see them +presently." + +As the boy went away, and Tom closed the door, he turned to +Lieutenant Marbury. + +"You were about to give me another warning when that +interruption came. You might complete it now." + +"Yes, it was another warning," spoke the officer, "and one I +hope you will heed. It concerns yourself, personally." + +"Do you mean he is in danger?" asked Ned quickly. + +"That's exactly what I do mean," was the prompt reply. "In +danger of personal injury, if not something worse." + +Tom did not seem as alarmed as he might reasonably have been +under the circumstances. + +"Danger, eh?" he repeated coolly. "On the part of whom?" + +"That's just where I can't warn you," the officer replied. "I +can only give you that hint, and beg of you to be careful." + +"Do you mean you are not allowed to tell?" asked Ned + +"No, indeed; it isn't that!" the lieutenant hastened to assure +the young man. "I would gladly tell, if I knew. But this plot, +like the other one, directed against the inventions themselves, +is so shrouded in mystery that I cannot get to the bottom of it. + +"Our Secret Service men have been working on it for some time, +not only in order to protect you, because of what you have done +for the government, but because Uncle Sam wishes to protect his +own property, especially the searchlight and the big cannon. But, +though our agents have worked hard, they have not been able to +get any clues that would put them on the right trail. + +"So we can only warn you to be careful, and this I do in all +earnestness. That was part of my errand in coming here, though, +of course, I am anxious to inspect the new aerial warship you +have constructed. So watch out for two things--your inventions, +and, more than all, your life!" + +"Do you really think they would do me bodily harm?" Tom asked, +a trifle skeptical. + +"I certainly do. These foreign spies are desperate. If they +cannot secure the use of these inventions to their own country, +they are determined not to let this country have the benefit of +them." + +"Well, I'll be careful," Tom promised. "I'm no more anxious +than anyone else to run my head into danger, and I certainly +don't want any of my shops or inventions destroyed. The fire in +the red shed was as close as I want anything to come." + +"That's right!" agreed Ned. "And, if there's anything I can do, +Tom, don't hesitate to call on me." + +"All right, old man. I won't forget. And now, perhaps, you +would like to see the Mars," he said to the lieutenant. + +"I certainly would," was the ready answer. "But hadn't you +better see those men who are waiting to find out about positions +here?" + +"There's no hurry about them," Tom said. "We have applicants +every day, and it's earlier than the hour when I usually see +them. They can wait. Now I want your opinion on my new craft. +But, you must remember that it is not yet completed, and only +recently did I begin to solve the problem of mounting the guns. +So be a little easy with your criticisms." + +Followed by Ned and Lieutenant Marbury, Tom led the way into +the big airship shed. There, Swaying about at its moorings, was +the immense aerial warship. To Ned's eyes it looked complete +enough, but, when Tom pointed out the various parts, and +explained to the government officer how it was going to work, Ned +understood that considerable yet remained to be done on it. + +Tom showed his official guest how a new system of elevation and +depressing rudders had ben adopted, how a new type of propeller +was to be used and indicated several other improvements. The +lower, or cabin, part of the aircraft could be entered by +mounting a short ladder from the ground, and Tom took Ned and +Lieutenant Marbury through the engine-room and other compartments +of the Mars. + +"It certainly is most complete," the officer observed. "And +when you get the guns mounted I shall be glad to make an official +test. You understand," he went on, to Tom, "that we are vitally +interested in the guns, since we now have many aircraft that can +be used purely for scouting purposes. What we want is something +for offense, a veritable naval terror of the seas." + +"I understand," Tom answered. "And I am going to begin work on +mounting the guns at once. I am going to use the Newton recoil +check," he added. "Ned, here, is responsible for that." + +"Is that so?" asked the lieutenant, as Tom clapped his chum on +the back. + +"Yes, that's his invention." + +"Oh, it isn't anything of the sort," Ned objected. "I just--" + +"Yes, he just happened to solve the problem for me!" +interrupted Tom, as he told the story of the door-spring. + +"A good idea!" commented Lieutenant Marbury. + +Tom then briefly described the principle on which his aerial +warship would work, explaining how the lifting gas would raise +it, with its load of crew, guns and explosives, high into the +air; how it could then be sent ahead, backward, to either side, +or around in a circle, by means of the propellers and the +rudders, and how it could be raised or lowered, either by rudders +or by forcing more gas into the lifting bags, or by letting some +of the vapor out. + +And, while this was being done by the pilot or captain in +charge, the crew could be manning the guns with which hostile +airships would be attacked, and bombs dropped on the forts or +battleships of the enemy. + +"It seems very complete," observed the lieutenant. "I shall be +glad when I can give it an official test." + +"Which ought to be in about a week," Tom said. "Meanwhile I +shall be glad if you will be my guest here." + +And so that was arranged. + +Leaving Ned and the lieutenant to entertain each other, Tom +went to see the mechanics who had applied for places. He found +them satisfactory and engaged them. One of them had worked for +him before. The other was a stranger, but he had been employed in +a large aeroplane factory, and brought good recommendations. + +There followed busy days at the Swift plant, and work was +pushed on the aerial warship. The hardest task was the mounting +of the guns, and equipping them with the recoil check, without +which it would be impossible to fire them with the craft sailing +through the air. + +But finally one of the big guns, and two of the smaller ones +were in place, with the apparatus designed to reduce the recoil +shock, and then Tom decided to have a test of the Mars. + +"Up in the air, do you mean?" asked Ned, who was spending all +his spare time with his chum. + +"Well, a little way up in the air, at least," Tom answered. +"I'll make a sort of captive balloon of my craft, and see how she +behaves. I don't want to take too many chances with that new +recoil check, though it seems to work perfectly in theory." + +The day came when, for the first time, the Mars was to come out +of the big shed where she had been constructed. The craft was not +completed for a flight as yet, but could be made so in a few +days, with rush work. The roof of the great shed slid back, and +the big envelope containing the buoyant gas rose slowly upward. +There was a cry of surprise from the many workmen in the yard, as +they saw, most of them for the first time, the wonderful new +craft. It did not go up very high, being held in place with +anchor ropes. + +The sun glistened on the bright brass and nickel parts, and +glinted from the gleaming barrels of the quick-firing guns. + +"That's enough!" Tom called to the men below, who were paying +out the ropes from the windlasses. "Hold her there." + +Tom, Ned, Lieutenant Marbury and Mr. Damon were aboard the +captive Mars. + +Looking about, to see that all was in readiness, Tom gave +orders to load the guns, blank charges being used, of course. + +The recoil apparatus was in place, and it now remained to see +if it would do the work for which it was designed. + +"All ready?" asked the young inventor. + +"Bless my accident insurance policy!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I'm +as ready as ever I shall be, Tom. Let 'em go!" + +"Hold fast!" cried Tom, as he prepared to press the electrical +switch which would set off the guns. Ned and Lieutenant Marbury +stood near the indicators to notice how much of the recoil would +be neutralized by the check apparatus. + +"Here we go!" cried the young inventor, and, at the same +moment, from down below on the ground, came a warning cry: + +"Don't shoot, Massa Tom. Don't shoot! Mah mule, Boomerang--" + +But Eradicate had spoken too late. Tom pressed the switch; +there was a deafening crash, a spurt of flame, and then followed +wild cries and confused shouts, while the echoes of the reports +rolled about the hills surrounding Shopton. + + + +CHAPTER X +THE NEW MEN + + +"What was the matter down there?" + +"Was anyone hurt?" + +"Don't forget to look at those pressure gauges!" + +"Bless my ham sandwich!" + +Thus came the cries from those aboard the captive Mars. Ned, +Lieutenant Marbury and Tom had called out in the order named. +And, of course, I do not need to tell you what remark Mr. Damon +made. Tom glanced toward where Ned and the government man stood, +and saw that they had made notes of the pressure recorded on the +recoil checks directly after the guns were fired. Mr. Damon, +blessing innumerable objects under his breath, was looking over +the side of the rail to discover the cause of the commotion and +cries of warning from below. + +"I don't believe it was anything serious, Tom," said the odd +man. "No one seems to be hurt." "Look at Eradicate!" suddenly +exclaimed Ned. + +"And his mule! I guess that's what the trouble was, Tom!" + +They looked to where the young bank employee pointed, and saw +the old colored man, seated on the seat of his ramshackle wagon, +doing his best to pull down to a walk the big galloping mule, +which was dragging the vehicle around in a circle. + +"Whoa, dere!" Eradicate was shouting, as he pulled on the +lines. "Whoa, dere! Dat's jest laik yo', Boomerang, t' run when +dere ain't no call fo' it, nohow! Ef I done wanted yo' t' git a +move on, yo'd lay down 'side de road an' go to sleep. Whoa, now!" + +But the noise of the shots had evidently frightened the long- +eared animal, and he was in no mood for stopping, now that he had +once started. It was not until some of the workmen ran out from +the group where they had gathered to watch Tom's test, and got in +front of Boomerang, that they succeeded in bringing him to a +halt. + +Eradicate climbed slowly down from the seat, and limped around +until he stood in front of his pet. + +"Yo'--yo're a nice one, ain't yo'?" he demanded in sarcastic +tones. "Yo' done enough runnin' in a few minutes fo' a week ob +Sundays, an' now I won't be able t' git a move out ob ye! I'se +ashamed ob yo', dat's what I is! Puffickly ashamed ob yo'. Go +'long, now, an' yo' won't git no oats dish yeah day! No sah!" +and, highly indignant, Eradicate led the now slowly-ambling mule +off to the stable. + +"I won't shoot again until you have him shut up, Rad!" laughed +Tom. "I didn't know you were so close when I set off those guns." + +"Dat's all right, Mass a Tom," was the reply. "I done called t' +you t' wait, but yo' didn't heah me, I 'spects. But it doan't +mattah, now. Shoot all yo' laik, Boomerang won't run any mo' dis +week. He done runned his laigs off now. Shoot away!" + +But Tom was not quite ready to do this. He wanted to see what +effect the first shots had had on his aerial warship, and to +learn whether or not the newly devised recoil check had done what +was expected of it. + +"No more shooting right away," called the young inventor. "I +want to see how we made out with the first round. How did she +check up, Ned?" + +"Fine, as far as I can tell." + +"Yes, indeed," added Lieutenant Marbury. "The recoil was hardly +noticeable, though, of course, with the full battery of guns in +use, it might be more so." + +"I hope not," answered Tom. "I haven't used the full strength +of the recoil check yet. I can tune it up more, and when I do, +and when I have it attached to all the guns, big and little, I +think we'll do the trick. But now for a harder test." + +The rest of that day was spent in trying out the guns, firing +them with practice and service charges, though none of the shells +used contained projectiles. It would not have been possible to +shoot these, with the Mars held in place in the midst of Tom's +factory buildings. + +"Well, is she a success, Tom?" asked Ned, when the +experimenting was over for the time being. + +"I think I can say so--yes," was the answer, with a questioning +look at the officer. + +"Indeed it is--a great success! We must give the Newton shock +absorber due credit." + +Ned blushed with pleasure. + +"It was only my suggestion," he said. "Tom worked it all out." + +"But I needed the Suggestion to start with," the young inventor +replied. + +"Of course something may develop when you take your craft high +in the air, and discharge the guns there," said the lieutenant. +"In a rarefied atmosphere the recoil check may not be as +effective as at the earth's surface. But, in such case doubtless, +you can increase the strength of the springs and the hydrostatic +valves." + +"Yes, I counted on that," Tom explained. "I shall have to work +out that formula, though, and be ready for it. But, on the whole, +I am pretty well satisfied." + +"And indeed you may well feel that way," commented the +government official. + +The Mars was hauled back into the shed, and the roof slid shut +over the craft. Much yet remained to do on it, but now that Tom +was sure the important item of armament was taken care of, he +could devote his entire time to the finishing touches. + +As his plant was working on several other pieces of machinery, +some of it for the United States Government, and some designed +for his own use, Tom found himself obliged to hire several new +hands. An advertisement in a New York newspaper brought a large +number of replies, and for a day or two Tom was kept busy sifting +out the least desirable, and arranging to see those whose answers +showed they knew something of the business requirements. + +Meanwhile Lieutenant Marbury remained as Tom's guest, and was +helpful in making suggestions that would enable the young +inventor to meet the government's requirements. + +"I'd like, also, to get on the track of those spies who, I am +sure, wish to do you harm," said the lieutenant, "but clues seem +to be scarce around here." + +"They are, indeed," agreed Tom. "I guess the way in which we +handled that fire in the red shed sort of discouraged them." + +Lieutenant Marbury shook his head. + +"They're not so easily discouraged as that," he remarked. "And, +with the situation in Europe growing more acute every day, I am +afraid some of those foreigners will take desperate measures to +gain their ends." + +"What particular ends do you mean?" + +"Well, I think they will either try to so injure you that you +will not be able to finish this aerial warship, or they will +damage the craft itself, steal your plans, or damage some of your +other inventions." + +"But what object would they have in doing such a thing?" Tom +wanted to know. "How would that help France, Germany or Russia, +to do me an injury?" + +"They are seeking to strike at the United States through you," +was the answer. "They don't want Uncle Sam to have such +formidable weapons as your great searchlight, the giant cannon, +or this new warship of the clouds." + +"But why not, as long as the United States does not intend to +go to war with any of the foreign nations?" Tom inquired. + +"No, it is true we do not intend to go to war with any of the +conflicting European nations," admitted Lieutenant Marbury, "but +you have no idea how jealous each of those foreign nations is of +all the others. Each one fears that the United States will cease +to be neutral, and will aid one or the other." + +"Oh, so that's' it?" exclaimed Tom. + +"Yes, each nation, which may, at a moments notice, be drawn +into a war with one or more rival nations, fears that we may +throw in our lot with its enemies." + +"And, to prevent that, they want to destroy some of my +inventions?" asked Tom. + +"That's the way I believe it will work out. So you must be +careful, especially since you have taken on so many new men." + +"That's so," agreed the young inventor. "I have had to engage +more strangers than ever before, for I am anxious to get the +Mars finished and give it a good test. And, now that you have +mentioned it, there are some of those men of whom I am a bit +suspicious." + +"Have they done anything to make you feel that way?" asked the +lieutenant. + +"Well, not exactly; it is more their bearing, and the manner in +which they go about the works. I must keep my eye on them, for it +takes only a few discontented men to spoil a whole shop full. I +will be on my guard." + +"And not only about your new airship and other inventions," +said the officer, "but about yourself, personally. Will you do +that?" + +"Yes, though I don't imagine anything like that will happen." + +"Well, be on your guard, at all events," warned Lieutenant +Marbury. + +As Tom had said, he had been obliged to hire a number of new +men. Some of these were machinists who had worked for him, or his +father, on previous occasions, and, when tasks were few, had been +dismissed, to go to other shops. These men, Tom felt sure, could +be relied upon. + +But there were a number of others, from New York, and other +large cities, of whom Tom was not so sure. + +"You have more foreigners than I ever knew you to hire before, +Tom," his father said to him one day, coming back from a tour of +the shops. + +"Yes, I have quite a number," Tom admitted. "But they are all +good workmen. They stood the test." + +"Yes, some of them are too good," observed the older inventor. +"I saw one of them making up a small motor the other day, and he +was winding the armature a new way. I spoke to him about it, and +he tried to prove that his way was an improvement on yours. Why, +he'd have had it short-circuited in no time if I hadn't stopped +him." + +"Is that so?" asked Tom. "That is news to me. I must look into +this." + +"Are any of the new men employed on the Mars?" Mr. Swift asked. + +"No, not yet, but I shall have to shift some there from other +work I think, in order to get finished on time." + +"Well, they will bear watching I think," his father said. + +"Why, have you seen anything--do you--" began the young man, +for Mr. Swift had not been told of the suspicions of the +lieutenant. + +"Oh, it isn't anything special," the older inventor went on. +"Only I wouldn't let a man I didn't know much about get too much +knowledge of my latest invention." + +"I won't, Dad. Thanks for telling me. This latest craft is sure +going to be a beauty." + +"Then you think it will work, Tom?" + +"I'm sure of it, Dad!" + +Mr. Swift shook his head in doubt + + + +CHAPTER XI +A DAY OFF + + +Tom Swift pondered long and intently over what his father had +said to him. He sat for several minutes in his private office, +after the aged inventor had passed out, reviewing in his mind the +talk just finished. + +"I wonder," said Tom slowly, "if any of the new men could have +obtained work here for the purpose of furthering that plot the +lieutenant suspects? I wonder if that could be true?" + +And the more Tom thought of it, the more he was convinced that +such a thing was at least possible. + +"I must make a close inspection, and weed out any suspicious +characters," he decided, "though I need every man I have working +now, to get the Mars finished in time. Yes, I must look into +this." + +Tom had reached a point in his work where he could leave much +to his helpers. He had several good foremen, and, with his father +to take general supervision over more important details, the +young inventor had more time to himself. Of course he did not lay +too many burdens on his father's shoulders since Mr. Swift's +health was not of the best. + +But Tom's latest idea, the aerial warship, was so well on toward +completion that his presence was not needed in that shop more +than two or three times a day. + +"When I'm not there I'll go about in the other shops, and sort +of size up the situation," he decided. "I may be able to get a +line on some of those plotters, if there are any here." + +Lieutenant Marbury had departed for a time, to look after some +personal matters, but he was to return inside of a week, when it +was hoped to give the aerial warship its first real test in +flight, and under some of the conditions that it would meet with +in actual warfare. + +As Tom was about to leave his office, to put into effect his +new resolution to make a casual inspection of the other shops, he +met Koku, the giant, coming in. Koku's hands and face were black +with oil and machine filings. + +"Well, what have you been doing?" Tom wanted to know. "Did you +have an accident?" For Koku had no knowledge of machinery, and +could not even be trusted to tighten up a simple nut by himself. +But if some one stood near him, and directed him how to apply his +enormous strength, Koku could do more than several machines. + +"No accident, Master," he replied. "I help man lift that +hammer-hammer thing that pounds so. It get stuck!" + +"What, the hammer of the drop forger?" cried Tom. "Was that out +of order again?" + +"Him stuck," explained Koku simply. + +There was an automatic trip-hammer in one of the shops, used +for pounding out drop forgings, and this hammer seemed to take +especial delight in getting out of order. Very often it jammed, +or "stuck," as Koku described it, and if the hammer could not be +forced back on the channel or upright guide-plates, it meant that +it must be taken apart, and valuable time lost. Once Koku had +been near when the hammer got out of order, and while the workmen +were preparing to dismantle it, the giant seized the big block of +steel, and with a heave of his mighty shoulders forced it back on +the guides. + +"And is that what you did this time?" asked Tom. + +"Yes, Master. Me fix hammer," Koku answered. "I get dirty, I no +care. Man say I no can fix. I show him I can!" + +"What man said that?" + +"Man who run hammer. Ha! I lift him by one finger! He say he no +like to work on hammer. He want to work on airship. I tell him I +tell you, maybe you give him job--he baby! Koku can work hammer. +Me fix it when it get stuck." + +"Well, maybe you know what you're talking about, but I don't," +said Tom, with a pleasant smile at his big helper. "Come on, +Koku, we'll go see what it all means." + +"Koku work hammer, maybe?" asked the giant hope fully. + +"Well, I'll see," half promised Tom. "If it's going to get out +of gear all the while it might pay me to keep you at it so you +could get it back in place whenever it kicked up a fuss, and so +save time. I'll see about it." + +Koku led the way to the shop where the triphammer was +installed. It was working perfectly now, as Tom could tell by +the thundering blows it struck. The man operating it looked up +as Tom approached, and, at a gesture from the young inventor, +shut off the power. + +"Been having trouble here?" asked Tom, noting that the workman +was one of the new hands he had hired. + +"Yes, sir, a little," was the respectful answer. "This hammer +goes on a strike every now and then, and gets jammed. Your giant +there forced it back into place, which is more than I could do +with a big bar for a lever. He sure has some muscle." + +"Yes," agreed Tom, "he's pretty strong. But what's this you +said about wanting to give up this job, and go on the airship +construction." + +The man turned red under his coat of grime. + +"I didn't intend him to repeat that to you, Mr. Swift," he +said. "I was a little put out at the way this hammer worked. I +lose so much time at it that I said I'd like to be transferred to +the airship department. I've worked in one before But I'm not +making a kick," he added quickly. "Work is too scarce for that." + +"I understand," said Tom. "I have been thinking of making a +change. Koku seems to like this hammer, and knows how to get it +in order once it gets off the guides. You say you have had +experience in airship construction?" + +"Yes, sir. I've worked on the engines, and on the planes." + +"Know anything about dirigible balloons?" + +"Yes, I've worked on them, too, but the engineering part is my +specialty. I'm a little out of my element on a trip-hammer." + +"I see. Well, perhaps I'll give you a trial. Meanwhile you +might break Koku in on operating this machine. If I transfer you +I'll put him on this hammer." + +"Thank you, Mr. Swift! I'll show him all I know about it. Oh, +there goes the hammer again!" he exclaimed, for, as he started it +up, as Tom turned away, the big piece of steel once more jammed +on the channel-plates. + +"Me fix!" exclaimed the giant eagerly, anxious +for a chance to exhibit his great strength. + +"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Tom. "I want to get a look at that +machine." + +He inspected it carefully before he signaled for Koku to force +the hammer back into place. But, if Tom saw anything suspicious, +he said nothing. There was, however, a queer look on his face as +he turned aside, and he murmured to himself, as he walked away: + +"So you want to be transferred to the airship department, do +you? Well, we'll see about that We'll see." + +Tom had more problems to solve than those of making an aerial +warship that would be acceptable to the United States Government. + +Ned Newton called on his chum that evening. The two talked of +many things, gradually veering around to the subject uppermost in +Tom's mind--his new aircraft. + +"You're thinking too much of that." Ned warned him. "You're as +bad as the time you went for your first flight." + +"I suppose I am," admitted Tom. "But the success of the Mars +means a whole lot to me. And that's something I nearly forgot. +I've got to go out to the shop now. Want to come along, Ned?" + +"Sure, though I tell you that you're working too hard--burning +the electric light at both ends." + +"This is just something simple," Tom said. "It won't take +long." + +He went out, followed by his chum. + +"But this isn't the way to the airship shed," objected the +young bank clerk, as he noted in which direction Tom was leading +him. + +"I know it isn't," Tom replied. "But I want to look at one of +the trip-hammers in the forge shop when none of the men is +around. I've been having a little trouble there." + +"Trouble!" exclaimed his chum. "Has that plot Lieutenant +Marbury spoke of developed?" + +"Not exactly. This is something else," and Tom told of the +trouble with the big hammer. + +"I had an idea," the young inventor said, "that the man at the +machine let it get out of order purposely, so I'd change him. I +want to see if my suspicions are correct." + +Tom carefully inspected the hammer by the light of a powerful +portable electric lamp Ned held. + +"Ha! There it is!" Tom suddenly exclaimed. + +"Something wrong?" Ned inquired. + +"Yes. This is what's been throwing the hammer off the guides +all the while," and Tom pulled out a small steel bolt that had +been slipped into an oil hole. A certain amount of vibration, he +explained to Ned, would rattle the bolt out so that it would +force the hammer to one side, throwing it off the channel-plates, +and rendering it useless for the time being. + +"A foxy trick," commented Tom. "No wonder the machine got out +of kilter so easily." + +"Do you think it was done purposely?" + +"Well, I'm not going to say. But I'm going to watch that man. +He wants to be transferred to the airship department. He put this +in the hammer, perhaps, to have an excuse for a change. Well, +I'll give it to him." + +"You don't mean that you'd take a fellow like that and put him +to work on your new aerial warship, do you, Tom?" + +"Yes, I think I will, Ned. You see, I look at it this way: I +haven't any real proof against him now. He could only laugh at me +if I accused him. But you've heard the proverb about giving a +calf rope enough and he'll hang himself, haven't you?" + +"I think I have." + +"Well, I'm going to give this fellow a little rope. I'll +transfer him, as he asks, and I'll keep a close watch on him." + +"But won't it be risky?" + +"Perhaps, but no more so than leaving him in here to work +mischief. If he is hatching a plot, the sooner it's over with the +better I shall like it. I don't like a shot to hang fire. I'm +warned now, and I'll be ready for him. I have a line on whom to +suspect. This is the first clue," and Tom held up the +incriminating bolt. + +"I think you're taking too big a risk, Tom," his chum said. +"Why not discharge the man?" + +"Because that might only smooth things over for a time. If this +plot is being laid the sooner it comes to a head, and breaks, the +better. Have it done, short, sharp and quick, is my motto. Yes, +I'll shift him in the morning. Oh, but I wish it was all over, +and the Mars was accepted by Uncle Sam!" and Tom put his hand to +his head with a tired gesture. + +"Say, old man!" exclaimed Ned, "what you want is a day off, and +I'm going to see that you get it. You need a little vacation." + +"Perhaps I do," assented Tom wearily. + +"Then you'll have it!" cried Ned. "There's going to be a little +picnic to-morrow. Why can't you go with Mary Nestor? She'd like +you to take her, I'm sure. Her cousin, Helen Randall, is on from +New York, and she wants to go, also." + +"How do you know?" asked Tom quickly. + +"Because she said so," laughed Ned. "I was over to the house to +call. I have met Helen before, and I suggested that you and I +would take the two girls, and have a day off. You'll come, won't +you?" + +"Well, I don't know," spoke Tom slowly. "I ought to--" + +"Nonsense! Give up work for one day!" urged Ned. "Come along. +It'll do you good--get the cobwebs out of your head." + +"All right, I'll go," assented Tom, after a moment's thought. + +The next day, having instructed his father and the foremen to +look well to the various shops, and having seen that the work on +the new aerial warship was progressing favorably, Tom left for a +day's outing with his chum and the two girls. + +The picnic was held in a grove that surrounded a small lake, +and after luncheon the four friends went for a ride in a launch +Tom hired. They went to the upper end of the lake, in rather a +pretty but lonesome locality. + +"Tom, you look tired," said Mary. "I'm sure you've been working +too hard!" + +"Why, I'm not working any harder than usual," Tom insisted. + +"Yes, he is, too!" declared Ned, "and he's running more +chances, too." + +"Chances?" repeated Mary. + +"Oh, that's all bosh!" laughed Tom. "Come on, let's go ashore +and walk." + +"That suits me," spoke Ned. Helen and Mary assented, and soon +the four young persons were strolling through the shady wood. + +After a bit the couples became separated, and Tom found himself +walking beside Mary in a woodland path. The girl glanced at her +companion's face, and ventured: + +"A penny for your thoughts, Tom." + +"They're worth more than that," he replied gallantly. "I was +thinking of--you." + +"Oh, how nicely you say it!" she laughed. "But I know better! +You're puzzling over some problem. Tell me, what did Ned mean +when he hinted at danger? Is there any, Tom?" + +"None at all," he assured her. "It's just a soft of notion--" + +Mary made a sudden gesture of silence. + +"Hark!" she whispered to Tom, "I heard someone mention your +name then. Listen!" + + + +CHAPTER XII +A NIGHT ALARM + + +Mary Nestor spoke with such earnestness, and her action in +catching hold of Tom's arm to enjoin silence was so pronounced +that, though he had at first regarded the matter in the light of +a joke, he soon thought otherwise. He glanced from the girl's +face to the dense underbrush on either side of the woodland path. + +"What is it, Mary?" he asked in a whisper. + +"I don't just know. I heard whispering, and thought it was the +rustling of the leaves of the trees. Then someone spoke your name +quite loudly. Didn't you hear it?" + +Tom shook his head in negation. + +"It may be Ned and his friend," he whispered, his lips close to +Mary's ear. + +"I think not," was her answer. "Listen; there it is again." + +Distinctly then, Tom heard, from some opening in the screen of +bushes, his own name spoken. "Did you hear it?" asked Mary, +barely forming the words with her lips. But Tom could read their +motion. + +"Yes," he nodded. Then, motioning to Mary to remain where she +was, he stepped forward, taking care to tread only on grassy +places where there were no little twigs or branches to break and +betray his presence. He was working his way toward the sound of +the unseen voice. + +There was a sudden movement in the bushes, just beyond the spot +Tom was making for. He halted quickly and peered ahead. Mary, +too, was looking on anxiously. + +Tom saw the forms of two men, partially concealed by bushes, +walking away from him. The men took no pains to conceal their +movements, so Tom was emboldened to advance with less caution. He +hurried to where he could get a good view, and, at the sight of +one of the men, he uttered an exclamation. + +"What is it?" asked Mary, who was now at his side. She had seen +that Tom had thrown aside caution, and she had come up to join +him. + +"That man--I know him!" the young inventor exclaimed. "It is +Feldman--the one who wanted to be changed from the trip-hammer to +the airship department. But who is that with him?" + +As Tom spoke the other turned, and at the sight of his face +Mary Nestor said: + +"He looks like a Frenchman, with that little mustache and +imperial." + +"So he is!" exclaimed Tom, in a hoarse whisper. "He must be the +Frenchman that Eradicate spoke about. I wonder what this can +mean? I didn't know Feldman had left the shop." + +"You may know what you're talking about, but I don't, Tom," +said Mary, with a smile at her companion. "Are they friends of +yours?" + +"Hardly," spoke the young inventor dryly. "That one, Feldman, +is one of my workmen. He had charge of a drop-forge press and +trip-hammer that--" + +"Spare me the details, Tom!" interrupted Mary. "You know I +don't understand a thing about machinery. The wireless you +erected on Earthquake Island was as much as I could comprehend." + +"Well, a trip-hammer isn't as complicated as that," spoke Tom, +with a laugh, as he noticed that the two men were far enough away +so they could not hear him. "What I was going to say was, that +one of those men works in our shops. The other I don't know, but +I agree with you that he does look like a Frenchman, and old +Eradicate had a meeting with a man whom he described as being of +that nationality." + +"And you say they are not friends of yours?" + +"I have no reason to believe they are." + +"Then they must be enemies!" exclaimed Mary with quick +intuition. "Oh, Tom, you will be careful, won't you?" + +"Of course I will, little girl," he said, a note of fondness +creeping into his voice, as he covered the small hand with his +own large one. "But there is no danger." + +"Then why were these men discussing you?" + +"I don't know that they were, Mary." + +"They mentioned your name." + +"Well, that may be. Probably one of them, Feldman, who works +for me, was speaking to his companion about the chance for a +position. My father and I employ a number of men, you know." + +"Well, I suppose it is all right, Tom, and I surely hope it is. +But you will be careful, won't you? And you look more worried +than you used to. Has anything gone wrong?" + +"Not a thing, little girl. Everything is going fine. My new +aerial warship will soon make a trial flight, and I'd be pleased +to have you as a passenger." + +"Would you really, Tom?" + +"Of course. Consider that you have the first invitation." + +"That's awfully nice of you. But you do look worried, Tom. Has +anything troubled you?" + +"No, not much. Everything is going all right now. We did have a +little trouble at a fire in one of my buildings--" + +"A fire! Oh, Tom! You never told me!" + +"Well, it didn't amount to much--the only suspicious fact about +it was that it seemed to have been of incendiary origin." + +Mary seemed much alarmed, and again begged Tom to be on his +guard, which he promised to do. Had Mary known the warnings +uttered by Lieutenant Marbury she might have had more occasion +for worry. + +"Do you suppose that hammer man of yours came to these woods to +meet that Frenchman and talk about you, Tom?" asked his +companion, when the two men had strolled out of sight, and the +young people were on their way back to the launch. + +"Well, it's possible. I have been warned that foreign spies are +trying to get hold of some of my patents, and also to hamper the +government in the use of some others I have sold. But they'll +have their own troubles to get away with anything. The works are +pretty well guarded, and you forget I have the giant, Koku, who +is almost a personal bodyguard." + +"Yes, but he can't be everywhere at once. Oh, you will be +careful, won't you, Tom?" + +"Yes, Mary, I will," promised the young inventor. "But don't +say anything to Ned about what we just saw and heard." + +"Why not?" + +"Because he's been at me to hire a couple of detectives to +watch over me, and this would give him another excuse. Just don't +say anything, and I'll adopt all the precautions I think are +needful." + +"I will on condition that you do that." + +"And I promise I will." + +With that Mary had to be content. A little later they joined +Ned and his friend, and soon they were moving swiftly down the +lake in the launch. + +"Well, hasn't it done you good to take a day off?" Ned demanded +of his chum, when they were on their homeward way. + +"Yes, I think it has," agreed Tom. + +"You swung your thoughts into a new channel, didn't you?" + +"Oh, yes, I found something new to think about," admitted the +young inventor, with a quick look at Mary. + +But, though Tom thus passed off lightly the little incident of +the day, he gave it serious thought when he was alone. + +"Those fellows were certainly talking about me," he reasoned. +"I wonder what for? And Feldman left the shop without my +knowledge. I'll have to look into that. I wonder if that Frenchy +looking chap I saw was the one who tried to pump Eradicate? +Another point to settle." + +The last was easily disposed of, for, on reaching his shops +that afternoon, Tom cross-questioned the colored man, and +obtained a most accurate description of the odd foreigner. It +tallied in every detail with the man Tom had seen in the woods. + +"And now about Feldman," mused Tom, as he went to the foreman +of the shop where the suspected man had been employed. + +"Yes, Feldman asked for a day off," the foreman said in +response to Tom's question. "He claimed his mother was sick, and +he wanted to go to see her. I knew you wouldn't object, as we +were not rushed in his department." + +"Oh, that's all right," said Tom quickly. "Did he say where his +mother lived?" + +"Over Lafayette way." + +"Humph!" murmured Tom. To himself he added: "Queer that he +should be near Lake Loraine, in an opposite direction from +Lafayette. This will bear an investigation." + +The next day Tom made it his business to pass near the hammer +that was so frequently out of order. He found Feldman busy +instructing Koku in its operation. Tom resolved on a little +strategy. + +"How is it working, Feldman?" he asked. + +"Very well, Mr. Swift. There doesn't seem to be any trouble at +all, but it may happen any minute. Koku seems to take to it like +a duck to water." + +"Well, when he is ready to assume charge let me know." + +"And then am I to go into the aeroplane shop?" + +"I'll see. By the way, how is your mother?" he asked quickly, +looking Feldman full in the face. + +"She is much better. I took a day off yesterday to go to see +her," the man replied quietly enough, and without sign of +embarrassment. + +"That's good. Let me see, she lives over near Lake Loraine, +doesn't she?" + +This time Feldman could not repress a start. But he covered it +admirably by stooping over to pick up a tool that fell to the +floor. + +"No, my mother is in Lafayette," he said. "I don't know where +Lake Loraine is." + +"Oh," said Tom, as he turned aside to hide a smile. He was sure +now he knew at least one of the plotters. + +But Tom was not yet ready to show his hand. He wanted better +evidence than any he yet possessed. It would take a little more +time. + +Work on the aerial warship was rushed, and it seemed likely +that a trial flight could be made before the date set. Lieutenant +Marbury sent word that he would be on hand when needed, and in +some of the shops, where fittings for the Mars were being made, +night and day shifts were working. + +"Well, if everything goes well, we'll take her for a trial +flight to-morrow," said Tom, coming in from the shops one +evening. + +"Guns and all?" asked Ned, who had come over to pay his chum a +visit. Mr. Damon was also on hand, invoking occasional blessings. + +"Guns and all," replied Tom. + +Ned had a little vacation from the bank, and was to stay all +night, as was Mr. Damon. + +What time it was, save that it must be near midnight, Tom could +not tell, but he was suddenly awakened by hearing yells from +Eradicate: + +"Massa Tom! Massa Tom!" yelled the excited colored man. "Git +up! Git up! Suffin' turrible am happenin' in de balloon shop. +Hurry! An' yo' stan' still, Boomerang, or I'll twist yo' tail, +dat's what I will! Hurry, Massa Tom!" + +Tom leaped out of bed. + + + +CHAPTER XIII +THE CAPTURE + + +Tom Swift was something like a fireman. He had lived so long in +an atmosphere of constant alarms and danger, that he was always +ready for almost any emergency. His room was equipped with the +end in view that he could act promptly and effectively. + +So, when he heard Eradicate's alarm, though he wondered what +the old colored man was doing out of bed at that hour, Tom did +not stop to reason out that puzzle. He acted quickly. + +His first care was to throw on the main switch, connected with +a big storage battery, and to which were attached the wires of +the lighting system. This at once illuminated every shop in the +plant, and also the grounds themselves. Tom wanted to see what +was going on. The use of a storage battery eliminated the running +of the dynamo all night. + +And once he had done this, Tom began pulling on some clothes +and a pair of shoes. At the same time he reached out with one +hand and pressed a button that sounded an alarm in the sleeping +quarters of Koku, the giant, and in the rooms of some of the +older and most trusted men. + +All this while Eradicate was shouting away, down in the yard. + +"Massa Tom! Massa Tom!" he called. "Hurry! Hurry! Dey is +killin' Koku!" + +"Killing Koku!" exclaimed Tom, as he finished his hasty +dressing. "Then my giant must already be in the fracas. I wonder +what it's all about, anyhow." + +"What's up, Tom?" came Ned's voice from the adjoining room. "I +thought I heard a noise." + +"Your thoughts do you credit, Ned!" Tom answered. "If you +listen right close, you'll hear several noises." + +"By Jove! You're right, old man!" + +Tom could hear his chum bound out of bed to the floor, and, at +the same time, from the big shed where Tom was building his +aerial warship came a series of yells and shouts. + +"That's Koku's voice!" Tom exclaimed, as he recognized the +tones of the giant. + +"I'm coming, Tom!" Ned informed his chum. "Wait a minute." + +"No time to wait," Tom replied, buttoning his coat as he sped +down the hall. + +"Oh, Tom, what is it?" asked Mrs. Baggert, the housekeeper, +looking from her room. + +"I don't know. But don't let dad get excited, no matter what +happens. Just put him off until I come back. I think it isn't +anything serious." + +Mr. Damon, who roomed next to Ned, came out of his own +apartment partially dressed. + +"Bless my suspenders!" he cried to Tom, those articles just +then dangling over his hips. "What is it? What has happened? +Bless my steam gauge, don't tell me it's a fire!" + +"I think it isn't that," Tom answered. "No alarm has rung. Koku +seems to be in trouble." + +"Well, he's big enough to look after himself, that's one +consolation," chuckled Mr. Damon. "I'll be right with you." + +By this time Ned had run out into the hall, and, together, he +and Tom sped down the corridor. They could not hear the shouts of +Eradicate so plainly now, as he was on the other side of the +house. + +But when the two young men reached the front porch, they could +hear the yells given with redoubled vigor. And, in the glare of +the electric lights, Tom saw Eradicate leading along Boomerang, +the old mule. + +"What is it, Rad? What is it?" demanded the young inventor +breathlessly. + +"Trouble, Massa Tom! Dat's what it am! Trouble!" + +"I know that--but what kind?" + +"De worstest kind, I 'spects, Massa Tom. Listen to it!" + +From the interior of the big shed, not far from the house, Tom +and Ned heard a confused jumble of shouts, cries and pleadings, +mingled with the rattle of pieces of metal, and the banging of +bits of wood. And, above all that, like the bellowing of a bull, +was noted the rumbling voice of Koku, the giant. + +"Come on, Ned!" Tom cried. + +"It's suah trouble, all right," went on Eradicate. "Mah mule, +Boomerang, had a touch ob de colic, an' I got up t' gib him some +hot drops an' walk him around, when I heard de mostest terrific +racket-sound, and den I 'spected trouble was comm." + +"It isn't coming--it's here!" called Tom, as he sped toward the +big shop. Ned was but a step behind him. The big workshop where +the aerial warship was being built was, like the other buildings, +brilliantly illuminated by the lights Tom had switched on. The +young inventor also saw several of his employees speeding toward +the same point. + +Torn was the first to reach the small door of the shed. This +was built in one of the two large main doors, which could be +swung open when it was desired to slide the Mars in from the +ground, and not admit it through the roof. + +"Look!" cried Tom, pointing. + +Ned looked over his chum's shoulder and saw the giant, Koku, +struggling with four men--powerful men they were, too, and they +seemed bent on mischief. + +For they came at Koku from four sides, seeking to hold his +hands and feet so that he could not fight them back. On the floor +near where the struggle was taking place was a coil of rope, and +it was evident that it had been the intention of the men to +overcome Koku and truss him up, so that he would not interfere +with what they intended to do. But Koku was a match for even the +four men, powerful as they were. + +"We're here, Koku!" cried Tom. "Watch for an opening, Ned!" he +called to his chum. + +The sound of Tom's voice disconcerted at least two of the +attackers, for they looked around quickly, and this was fatal to +their chances. + +Though such a big man, Koku was exceptionally quick, and no +sooner did he see his advantage, as two of the men turned their +gaze away from him, than he seized it. + +Suddenly tearing loose his hands from the grip of the two men +who had looked around, Koku shot out his right and left fists, +and secured good hold on the necks of two of his enemies. The +other two, at his back, were endeavoring to pull him over, but +the giant's sturdy legs still held. + +So big was Koku's hands that they almost encircled the necks of +his antagonists. Then happened a curious thing. + +With a shout that might have done credit to some ancient cave- +dweller of the stone age, Koku spread out his mighty arms, and +held apart the two men he had grasped. In vain they struggled to +free themselves from that terrible grip. Their faces turned +purple, and their eyes bulged out. + +"He's choking them to death!" shouted Ned. + +But Koku was not needlessly cruel. + +A moment later, with a quick and sudden motion he bent his +arms, bringing toward each other the two men he held as captives. +Their heads came together with a dull thud, and a second later +Koku allowed two limp bodies to slip from his grip to the floor. + +"He's done for them!" Tom cried. "Knocked them unconscious. +Good for you, Koku!" + +The giant grunted, and then, with a quick motion, slung himself +around, hoping to bring the enemies at his back within reach of +his powerful arms. But there was no need of this. + +As soon as the other two ruffians had seen their companions +fall to the floor of the shop they turned and fled, leaping from +an open window. + +"There they go!" cried Ned. + +"Some of the other men can chase them," said the young +inventor. "We'll tie up the two Koku has captured." + +As he approached nearer to the unconscious captives Tom uttered +a cry of surprise, for he recognized them as two of the new men +he had employed. + +"What can this mean?" he asked wonderingly. + +He glanced toward the window through which the two men had +jumped to escape, and he was just in time to see one of them run +past the open door. The face of this one was under a powerful +electric light, and Tom at once recognized the man as Feldman, +the worker who had had so much trouble with the trip-hammer. + +"This sure is a puzzle," marveled Tom. "My own men in the plot! +But why did they attack Koku?" + +The giant, bending over the men he had knocked unconscious by +beating their heads together, seemed little worse for the attack. + +"We tie 'em up," he said grimly, as he brought over the rope +that had been intended for himself. + + + +CHAPTER XIV +THE FIRST FLIGHT + + +Little time was lost in securing the two men who bad been so +effectively rendered helpless by Koku's ready, if rough, +measures. One of them was showing signs of returning +consciousness now, and Tom, not willing to inflict needless pain, +even on an enemy, told one of his men, summoned by the alarm, to +bring water. Soon the two men opened their eyes, and looked about +them in dazed fashion. + +"Did--did anything hit me?" asked one meekly. + +"It must have been a thunderbolt," spoke the other dreamily. +"But it didn't look like a storm." + +"Oh, dere was a storm, all right," chuckled Eradicate, who, +having left his mule, Boomerang outside, came into the shed. "It +was a giant storm all right." + +The men put their hands to their heads, and seemed to +comprehend. They looked at the rope that bound their feet. Their +forearms had been loosened to allow them to take a drink of +water. + +"What does this mean--Ransom--Kurdy?" asked Tom sternly, when +the men seemed able to talk. "Did you attack Koku?" + +"It looks as though he had the best of us, whether we did or +not," said the man Tom knew as Kurdy. "Whew, how my head aches!" + +"Me sorry," said Koku simply. + +"Not half as sorry as we are," returned Ransom ruefully. + +"What does it mean?" asked Tom sternly. "There were four of +you. Feldman and one other got away." + +"Oh, trust Feldman for getting away," sneered Kurdy. "He always +leaves his friends in the lurch." + +"Was this a conspiracy?" demanded Tom. + +The two captives looked at one another, sitting bound on the +floor of the shop, their backs against some boxes. + +"I guess it's all up, and we might as well make a clean breast +of it," admitted Kurdy. + +"Perhaps it would be better," said Tom +quietly. "Eradicate," he went on, to the colored man, "go to the +house and tell Mrs. Baggert that everything is all right and no +one hurt." + +"No one hurt, Massa Tom? What about dem dere fellers?" and the +colored man pointed to the captives. + +"Well, they're not hurt much," and Tom permitted himself a +little smile. "I don't want my father to worry. Tell him +everything is all right." + +"All right, Massa Tom. I'se gwine right off. I'se got t' look +after mah mule, Boomerang, too. I'se gwine," and he shuffled +away. + +"Who else besides Feldman got away?" asked Tom, looking +alternately at the prisoners. + +They hesitated a moment about answering. + +"We might as well give up, I tell you," spoke Kurdy to Ransom. + +"All right, go ahead, we'll have to take our medicine. I might +have known it would turn out this way--going in for this sort of +thing. It's the first bit of crooked business I ever tried," the +man said earnestly, "and it will be the last--believe me!" + +"Who was the fourth man?" Tom repeated. + +"Harrison," answered Kurdy, naming one of the most efficient of +the new machinists Tom had hired during the rush. + +"Harrison, who has been working on the motor?" cried the young +inventor. + +"Yes," said Ransom. + +"I'm sorry to learn that," Tom went on in a low voice. "He was +an expert in his line. But what was your object, anyhow, in +attacking Koku?" + +"We didn't intend to attack him," explained Ransom, "but he +came in when we were at work, and as he went for us we tried to +stand him off. Then your colored man heard the racket, and--well, +I guess you know the rest." + +"But I don't understand why you came into this shed at night," +went on Tom. "No one is allowed in here. You had no right, and +Koku knew that. What did you want?" + +"Look here!" exclaimed Kurdy, "I said we'd make a clean breast +of it, and we will. We're only a couple of tools, and we were +foolish ever to go in with those fellows; or rather, in with that +Frenchman, who promised us big money if we succeeded." + +"Succeeded in what?" demanded the young inventor. + +"In damaging your new aerial warship, or in getting certain +parts of it so he could take them away with him." + +Tom gave a surprised whistle. + +"A frenchman!" he exclaimed. "Is he one of the--?" + +"Yes, he's one of the foreign spies," interrupted Ransom. +"You'd find it out, anyhow, if we didn't tell you. They are after +you, Tom Swift, and after your machines. They had vowed to get +them by fair means or foul, for some of the European governments +are desperate." + +"But we were only tools in their hands. So were Feldman and +Harrison, but they knew more about the details. We were only +helping them." + +"Then we must try to capture them," decided Tom. "Ned, see if +the chase had any results. I'll look after these chaps--Koku and +I." + +"Oh, we give in," admitted Kurdy. "We know when we've had +enough," and he rubbed his head gently where the giant had banged +it against that of his fellow-conspirator. + +"Do you mean that you four came into this shop, at midnight, to +damage the Mars?" asked Tom. + +"That's about it, Mr. Swift," replied Kurdy rather +shamefacedly. "We were to damage it beyond repair, set fire to +the whole place, if need be, and, at the same time, take away +certain vital parts. + +"Harrison, Feldman, Ransom and I came in, thinking the coast +was clear. But Koku must have seen us enter, or he suspected we +were here, for he came in after us, and the fight began. We +couldn't stop him, and he did for us. I'm rather glad of it, too, +for I never liked the work. It was only that they tempted me with +a promise of big money." + +"Who tempted you?" demanded Tom. + +"That Frenchman--La Foy, he calls himself, and some other +foreigners in your shops." + +"Are there foreigners here?" cried Tom. + +"Bless my chest protector!" cried Mn Damon, who had come in and +had been a silent listener to this. "Can it be possible?" + +"That's the case," went on Kurdy. "A lot of the new men you +took on are foreign spies from different European nations. They +are trying to learn all they can about your plans, Mr. Swift!" + +"Are they friendly among themselves?" asked Tom. + +"No; each one is trying to get ahead of the other. So far the +Frenchman seems to have had the best of it. But to-night his plan +failed." + +"Tell me more about it," urged Tom. + +"That's about all we know," spoke Ransom. "We were only hired +to do the rough work. Those higher up didn't appear. Feldman was +only a step above us." + +"Then my suspicions of him were justified," thought Tom. "He +evidently met La Foy in the woods to make plans. But Koku and +Eradicate spoiled them." + +The two captives seemed willing enough to make a confession, +but they did not know much. As they said, they were merely tools, +acting for others. And events had happened just as they had said. + +The four conspirators had managed, by means of a false key, and +by disconnecting the burglar alarm, to enter the airship shed. +They were about to proceed with their work of destruction when +Koku came on the scene. + +The giant's appearance was due to accident. He acted as a sort +of night watchman, making a tour of the buildings, but he entered +the shed where the Mars was because, that day, he had left his +knife in there, and wanted to get it. Only for that he would not +have gone in. When he entered he surprised the four men. + +Of course he attacked them at once, and they sprang at him. +Then ensued a terrific fight. Eradicate, arising to doctor his +mule, as he had said, heard the noise, and saw what was going on. +He gave the alarm. + +"Well, Ned, any luck?" asked Tom, as his chum came in. + +"No, they got away, Tom. I had a lot of your men out helping me +search the grounds, but it wasn't of much use." + +"Particularly if you depended on some of my men," said Tom +bitterly. + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean that the place is filled with spies, Ned! But we will +sift them out in the morning. This has been a lucky night for me. +It was touch and go. Now, then, Koku, take these fellows and lock +them up somewhere until morning. Ned, you and I will remain on +guard here the rest of the night." + +"I'm with you, Tom." + +"Will you be a bit easy on us, considering what we told you?" +asked Kurdy. + +"I'll do the best I can," said Tom, gently, making no promises. + +The two captives were put in secure quarters, and the rest of +the night passed quietly. During the fight in the airship shed +some machinery and tools had been broken, but no great amount of +damage was done. Tom and Ned passed the remaining hours of +darkness there. + +A further search was made in the morning for the two +conspirators who had escaped, but no trace of them was found. Tom +then realized why Feldman was so anxious to be placed in the +aeroplane department--it was in order that he might have easier +access to the Mars. + +A technical charge was made against the two prisoners, +sufficient to hold them for some time. Then Tom devoted a day to +weeding out the suspected foreigners in his place. All the new +men were discharged, though some protested against this action. + +"Probably I am hitting some of the innocent in punishing those +who, if they had the chance, would become guilty," Tom said to +his chum, "but it cannot be helped--I can't afford to take any +chances." + +The Mars was being put in shape for her first flight. The guns, +fitted with the recoil shock absorbers, were mounted, and +Lieutenant Marbury had returned to go aloft in the big aerial +warship. He congratulated Tom on discovering at least one plot in +time. + +"But there may be more," he warned the young inventor. "You are +not done with them yet." + +The Mars was floated out of her hangar, and made ready for an +ascent. Tom, Ned, Lieutenant Marbury, Mr. Damon, and several +workmen were to be the first passengers. Tom was busy going over +the various parts to see that nothing had been forgotten. + +"Well, I guess we re ready," he finally announced. "All +aboard!" + +"Bless my insurance policy!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Now that the +time comes I almost wish I wasn't going." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom. "You're not going to back out at the +last minute. All aboard! Cast off the ropes!" he cried to the +assistants. + +A moment later the Mars, the biggest airship Tom Swift had ever +constructed, arose from the earth like some great bird, and +soared aloft. + + + +CHAPTER XV +IN DANGER + + +"Well, Tom, we're moving!" cried Ned Newton, clapping his chum +on the back, as he stood near him in the pilot-house. "We're +going up, old sport!" + +"Of course we are," replied Tom. "You didn't think it wouldn't +go up, did you?" + +"Well, I wasn't quite sure," Ned confessed. "You know you were +so worried about--" + +"Not about the ship sailing," interrupted Tom. "It was only the +effect the firing of the guns might have. But I think we have +that taken care of." + +"Bless my pin cushion!" cried Mr. Damon, as he looked over the +rail at the earth below. "We're moving fast, Tom." + +"Yes, we can make a quicker ascent in this than in most +aeroplanes," Tom said, "for they have to go up in a slanting +direction. But we can't quite equal their lateral speed." + +"Just how fast do you think you can travel when you are in +first-class shape?" asked Lieu tenant Marbury, as he noted how +the Mars was behaving on this, the first trip. + +"Well, I set a limit of seventy-five miles an hour," the young +inventor replied, as he shifted various levers and handles, to +change the speed of the mechanism. "But I'm afraid we won't quite +equal that with all our guns on board. But I'm safe in saying +sixty, I think." + +"That will more than satisfy the government requirements," the +officer said. "But, of course, your craft will have to come up to +expectations and requirements in the matter of armament." + +"I'll give you every test you want," declared Tom, with a +smile. "And now we'll see what the Mars can do when put to it." + +Up and up went the big dirigible aerial warship. Had you been +fortunate enough to have seen her you would have observed a craft +not unlike, in shape, the German Zeppelins. But it differed from +those war balloons in several important particulars. + +Tom's craft was about six hundred feet long, and the diameter +of the gas bag, amidships, was sixty feet, slightly larger than +the largest Zeppelin. Below the bag, which, as I have explained, +was made up of a number of gas-tight compartments, hung from wire +cables three cabins. The forward one was a sort of pilot-house, +containing various instruments for navigating the ship of the +air, observation rooms, gauges for calculating firing ranges, and +the steering apparatus. + +Amidships, suspended below the great bag, were the living and +sleeping quarters, where food was cooked and served and where +those who operated the craft could spend their leisure time. +Extra supplies were also stored there. + +At the stern of the big bag was the motor-room, where gas was +generated to fill the balloon compartments when necessary, where +the gasoline and electrical apparatus were installed, and where +the real motive power of the craft was located. Here, also, was +carried the large quantity of gasoline and oil needed for a long +voyage. The Mars could carry sufficient fuel to last for over a +week, provided no accidents occurred. + +There was also an arrangement in the motor compartment, so that +the ship could be steered and operated from there. This was in +case the forward pilot-house should be shot away by an enemy. +And, also, in the motor compartment were the sleeping quarters +for the crew. + +All three suspended cabins were connected by a long covered +runway, so that one could pass from the pilot-house to the motor- +room and back again through the amidship cabin. + +At the extreme end of the big bag were the various rudders and +planes, designed to keep the craft on a level keel, +automatically, and to enable it to make headway against a strong +wind. The motive power consisted of three double-bladed wooden +propellers, which could be operated together or independently. A +powerful gasoline engine was the chief motive power, though there +was an auxiliary storage battery, which would operate an +electrical motor and send the ship along for more than twenty- +four hours in case of accident to the gasoline engine. + +There were many other pieces of apparatus aboard, some not +completely installed, the uses of which I shall mention from time +to time, as the story progresses. The gas-generating machine was +of importance, for there would be a leakage and shrinking of the +vapor from the big bag, and some means must be provided for +replenishing it. + +"You don't seem to have forgotten anything, Tom," said Ned +admiringly, as they soared upward. + +"We can tell better after we've flown about a bit," observed +the young inventor, with a smile. "I expect we shall have to make +quite a number of changes." + +"Are you going far?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Why, you're not frightened, are you?" inquired Tom. "You have +been up in airships with me before." + +"Oh, no, I'm not frightened!" exclaimed the odd man. "Bless my +suspenders, no! But I promised my wife I'd be back this evening, +and . . . " + +"We'll sail over toward Waterford," broke in Tom, "and I'll +drop you down in your front yard." + +"No, don't do that! Don't! I beg of you!" cried Mr. Damon. "You +see--er--Tom, my wife doesn't like me to make these trips. Of +course, I understand there is no danger, and I like them. But +it's just as well not to make her worry-you understand!" + +"Oh, all right," replied Tom, with a laugh. "Well, we're not +going far on this trip. What I want to do, most of all, is to +test the guns, and see if the recoil check will work as well when +we are aloft as it did down on the ground. You know a balloon +isn't a very stable base for a gun, even one of light caliber." + +"No, it certainly is not," agreed Lieutenant Marbury, "and I am +interested in seeing how you will overcome the recoil." + +"We'll have a test soon," announced Tom. + +Meanwhile the Mars, having reached a considerable height, being +up so far, in fact, that the village of Shopton could scarcely be +distinguished, Tom set the signal that told the engine-room force +to start the propellers. This would send them ahead. + +Some of Tom's most trusted workmen formed the operating crew, +the young inventor taking charge of the pilot-house himself. + +"Well she seems to run all right," observed Lieutenant Marbury, +as the big craft surged ahead just below a stratum of white, +fleecy clouds. + +"Yes, but not as fast as I'd like to see her go," Tom replied. +"Of course the machinery is new, and it will take some little +time for it to wear down smooth. I'll speed her up a little now." + +They had been running for perhaps ten minutes when Tom shoved +over the hand of an indicator that communicated with the engine- +room from the pilot-house. At once the Mars increased her speed. + +"She can do it!" cried Ned. + +"Bless my-hat! I should say so!" cried Mr. Damon, for he was +standing outside the pilot-house just then, on the "bridge," and +the sudden increase of speed lifted his hat from his head. + +"There you are--caught on the fly!" cried Ned, as he put up his +hand just in time to catch the article in question. + +"Thanks! Guess I'd better tie it fast," remarked the odd man, +putting his hat on tightly. + +The aerial warship was put through several evolutions to test +her stability, and to each one she responded well, earning the +praise of the government officer. Up and down, to one side and +the other, around in big circles, and even reversing, Tom sent +his craft with a true hand and eye. In a speed test fifty-five +miles was registered against a slight wind, and the young +inventor said he knew he could do better than that as soon as +some of the machinery was running more smoothly. + +"And now suppose we get ready for the gun tests," suggested +Tom, when they had been running for about an hour. + +"That's what I'm mostly interested in," said Lieutenant +Marbury. "It's easy enough to get several good types of dirigible +balloons, but few of them will stand having a gun fired from +them, to say nothing of several guns." + +"Well, I'm not making any rash promises," Tom went on, "but I +think we can turn the trick." + +The armament of the Mars was located around the center cabin. +There were two large guns, fore and aft, throwing a four-inch +projectile, and two smaller calibered quick-firers on either +beam. The guns were mounted on pedestals that enabled the weapons +to fire in almost any direction, save straight up, and of course +the balloon bag being above them prevented this. However, there +was an arrangement whereby a small automatic quick-firer could be +sent up to a platform built on top of the gas envelope itself, +and a man stationed there could shoot at a rival airship directly +overhead. + +But the main deck guns could be elevated to an angle of nearly +forty-five degrees, so they could take care of nearly any hostile +aircraft that approached. + +"But where are the bombs I heard you speaking of?" asked Ned, +as they finished looking at the guns. + +"Here they are," spoke Tom, as he pointed to a space in the +middle of the main cabin floor. He lifted a brass plate, and +disclosed three holes, covered with a strong wire netting that +could be removed. "The bombs will be dropped through those +holes," explained the young inventor, "being released by a +magnetic control when the operator thinks he has reached a spot +over the enemy's city or fortification where the most damage will +be done. I'll show you how they work a little later. Now we'll +have a test of some of the guns." + +Tom called for some of his men to take charge of the steering +and running of the Mars while he and Lieutenant Marbury prepared +to fire the two larger weapons. This was to be one of the most +important tests. + +Service charges had been put in, though, of course, no +projectiles would be used, since they were then flying over a +large city not far from Shopton. + +"We'll have to wait until we get out over the ocean to give a +complete test, with a bursting shell," Tom said. + +He and Lieutenant Marbury were beside a gun, and were about to +fire it, when suddenly, from the stern of the ship, came a +ripping, tearing sound, and, at the same time, confused shouts +came from the crew's quarters. + +"What is it?" cried Tom. + +"One of the propellers!" was the answer. "It's split, and has +torn a big hole in the gas bag!" + +"Bless my overshoes!" cried Mr. Damon. "We're going down!" + +All on board the Mars became aware of a sudden sinking +sensation. + + + +CHAPTER XVI +TOM IS WORRIED + + +"Steady, all!" came in even tones from Tom Swift. Not for an instant +had he lost his composure. For it was an accident, that much was certain, +and one that might endanger the lives of all on board. + +Above the noise of the machinery in the motor room could be +heard the thrashing and banging of the broken or loose propeller- +blade. Just what its condition was, could not be told, as a bulge +of the gas bag hid it from the view of those gathered about the +gun, which was about to be fired when the alarm was given. + +"We're sinking!" cried Mr. Damon. "We're going down, Tom!" + +"That's nothing," was the cool answer. "It is only for a +moment. Only a few of the gas compartments can be torn. There +will soon enough additional gas in the others to lift us again." + +And so it proved. The moment the pressure of the lifting gas in +the big oiled silk and aluminum container was lowered, it started +the generating machine, and enough extra gas was pumped into the +uninjured compartments to compensate for the loss. + +"We're not falling so fast now," observed Ned. + +"No, and we'll soon stop falling altogether," calmly declared +Tom. "Too bad this accident had to happen, though." + +"It might have been much worse, my boy!" exclaimed the +lieutenant. "That's a great arrangement of yours--the automatic +gas machine." + +"It's on the same principle as the air brakes of a trolley +car," explained Tom, when a look at the indicators showed that +the Mars had ceased falling and remained stationary in the air. +Tom had also sent a signal to the engine-room to shut off the +power, so that the two undamaged propellers, as well as the +broken one, ceased revolving. + +"In a trolley car, you see," Tom went on, when the excitement +had calmed down, "as soon as the air pressure in the tanks gets +below a certain point, caused by using the air for a number of +applications of the brakes, it lets a magnetized bar fall, and +this establishes an electrical connection, starting the air pump. +The pump forces more air into the tanks until the pressure is +enough to throw the pump switch out of connection, when the pump +stops. I use the same thing here." + +"And very clever it is," said Mr. Damon. "Do you suppose the +danger is all over, Tom?" + +"For the time being, yes. But we must unship that damaged +propeller, and go on with the two." + +The necessary orders were given, and several men from the +engine-room at once began the removal of the damaged blades. + +As several spare ones were carried aboard one could be put on +in place of the broken one, had this been desired. But Tom +thought the accident a good chance to see how his craft would act +with only two-thirds of her motive force available, so he did not +order the damaged propeller replaced. When it was lowered to the +deck it was carefully examined. + +"What made it break?" Ned wanted to know. + +"That's a question I can't answer," Tom replied. "There may +have been a defect in the wood, but I had it all carefully +examined before I used it." + +The propeller was one of the "built-up" type, with alternate +layers of ash and mahogany, but some powerful force had torn and +twisted the blades. The wood was splintered and split, and some +jagged pieces, flying off at a tangent, so great was the +centrifugal force, had torn holes in the strong gas bag. + +"Did something hit it; or did it hit something?" asked Ned as +he saw Tom carefully examining the broken blades. + +"Hard to say. I'll have a good look at this when we get back. +Just now I want to finish that gun test we didn't get a chance to +start." + +"You don't mean to say you're going to keep on, and with the +balloon damaged; are you?" cried Mr. Damon, in surprise. + +"Certainly--why not?" Tom replied. "In warfare accidents may +happen, and if the Mars can't go on, after a little damage like +this, what is going to happen when she's fired on by a hostile +ship? Of course I'm going on!" + +"Bless my necktie!" ejaculated the odd man. + +"That's the way to talk!" exclaimed Lieutenant Marbury. "I'm +with you." + +There really was very little danger in proceeding. The Mars was +just as buoyant as before, for more gas had been automatically +made, and forced into the uninjured compartments of the bag. At +the same time enough sand ballast had been allowed to run out to +make the weight to be lifted less in proportion to the power +remaining. + +True, the speed would be less, with two propellers instead of +three, and the craft would not steer as well, with the torn ends +of the gas bag floating out behind. But this made a nearer +approach to war conditions, and Tom was always glad to give his +inventions the most severe tests possible. + +So, after a little while, during which it was seen that the +Mars was proceeding almost normally, the matter of discharging +the guns was taken up again. + +The weapons were all ready to fire, and when Tom had attached +the pressure gauges to note how much energy was expended in the +recoil, he gave the word to fire. + +The two big weapons were discharged together, and for a moment +after the report echoed out among the cloud masses every soul on +the ship feared another accident had happened. + +For the big craft rolled and twisted, and seemed about to turn +turtle. Her forward progress was halted, momentarily, and a cry +of fear came from several of the members of the crew, who had had +only a little experience in aircraft. + +"What's the matter?" cried Ned. "Something go wrong?" + +"A little," admitted Tom, with a rueful look on his face. +"Those recoil checks didn't work as well in practice as they did +in theory." + +"Are you sure they are strong enough?" asked Lieutenant +Marbury. + +"I thought so," spoke Tom. "I'll put more tension on the spring +next time." + +"Bless my watch chain!" cried Mr. Damon. "You aren't going to +fire those guns again; are you, Tom?" + +"Why not? We can't tell what's the matter, nor get things +right without experimenting. There's no danger." + +"No danger! Don't you call nearly upsetting the ship danger?" + +"Oh, well, if she turns over she'll right herself again," Tom +said. "The center of gravity is low, you see. She can't float in +any position but right side up, though she may turn over once or +twice." + +"Excuse me!" said Mr. Damon firmly. "I'd rather go down, if +it's all the same to you. If my wife ever knew I was here I'd +never hear the last of it!" + +"We'll go down soon," Tom promised. "But I must fire a couple +of shots more. You wouldn't call the recoil checks a success, +would you?" and the young inventor appealed to the government +inspector. + +"No, I certainly would not," was the prompt answer. "I am +sorry, too, for they seemed to be just what was needed. Of course +I understand this is not an official test, and I am not obliged +to make a report of this trial. But had it been, I should have +had to score against you. + +"I realize that, and I'm not asking any favors. but I'll try it +again with the recoil checks tightened up. I think the +hydrostatic valves were open too much, also." + +Preparations were now made for firing the four-inch guns once +more. All this while the Mars had been speeding around in space, +being about two miles up in the air. Tom's craft was not designed +to reach as great an elevation as would be possible in an +aeroplane, since to work havoc to an enemy's fortifications by +means of aerial bombs they do not need to be dropped from a great +height. + +In fact, experiments in Germany have shown that bombs falling +from a great height are less effective than those falling from an +airship nearer the earth. For a bomb, falling from a height of +two miles, acquires enough momentum to penetrate far into the +earth, so that much of the resultant explosive force is expended +in a downward direction, and little damage is done to the +fortifications. A bomb dropped from a lower altitude, expending +its force on all sides, does much more damage. + +On the other hand, in destroying buildings, it has been found +desirable to drop a bomb from a good height so that it may +penetrate even a protected roof, and explode inside. + +Once more Tom made ready to fire, this time having given the +recoil checks greater resistance. But though there was less +motion imparted to the airship when the guns were discharged, +there was still too much for comfort, or even safety. + +"Well, something's wrong, that's sure," remarked Tom, in rather +disappointed tones as he noted the effect of the second shots. +"If we get as much recoil from the two guns, what would happen if +we fired them all at once?" + +"Don't do it! Don't do it, I beg of you!" entreated Mr. Damon. +"Bless my toothbrush--don't do it!" + +"I won't--just at present," Tom said, ruefully. "I'm afraid +I'll have to begin all over again, and proceed along new lines." + +"Well, perhaps you will," said the lieutenant. "But you may +invent something much better than anything you have now. There is +no great rush. Take your time, and do something good." + +"Oh, I'll get busy on it right away," Tom declared. "We'll go +down now, and start right to work. I'm afraid, Ned, that our idea +of a door-spring check isn't going to work." + +"I might have known my idea wouldn't amount to anything," said +the young bank clerk. + +"Oh, the idea is all right," declared Tom, "but it wants +modifying. There is more power to those recoils than I figured, +though our first experiments seemed to warrant us in believing +that we had solved the problem." + +"Are you going to try the bomb-dropping device?" asked the +lieutenant. + +"Yes, there can't be any recoil from that," Tom said. "I'll +drop a few blank ones, and see how accurate the range finders +are." + +While his men were getting ready for this test Tom bent over +the broken propeller, looking from that to the recoil checks, +which had not come up to expectations. Then he shook his head in +a worried and puzzled manner. + + + +CHAPTER XVII +AN OCEAN FLIGHT + + +Dropping bombs from an aeroplane, or a dirigible balloon, is a +comparatively simple matter. Of course there are complications +that may ensue, from the danger of carrying high explosives in +the limited quarters of an airship, with its inflammable gasoline +fuel, and ever-present electric spark, to the possible premature +explosion of the bomb itself. But they seem to be considered +minor details now. + +On the other hand, while it is comparatively easy to drop a +bomb from a moving aeroplane, or dirigible balloon, it is another +matter to make the bomb fall just where it will do the most +damage to the enemy. It is not easy to gauge distances, high up +in the air, and then, too, allowance must be made for the speed +of the aircraft, the ever-increasing velocity of a falling body, +and the deflection caused by air currents. + +The law of velocity governing falling bodies is well known. It +varies, of course, according to the height, but in general a body +falling freely toward the earth, as all high-school boys know, is +accelerated at the rate of thirty-two feet per second. This law +has been taken advantage of by the French in the present European +war. The French drop from balloons, or aeroplanes, a steel dart +about the size of a lead pencil, and sharpened in about the same +manner. Dropping from a height of a mile or so, that dart will +acquire enough velocity to penetrate a man from his head all the +way through his body to his feet. + +But in dropping bombs from an airship the damage intended does +not so much depend on velocity. It is necessary to know how fast +the bomb falls in order to know when to set the time fuse that +will explode it; though some bombs will explode on concussion. + +At aeroplane meets there are often bomb-dropping contests, and +balls filled with a white powder (that will make a dust-cloud on +falling, and so show where they strike) are used to demonstrate +the birdman's accuracy. + +"We'll see how our bomb-release works," Tom went on. "But we'll +have to descend a bit in order to watch the effect." + +"You're not going to use real bombs, are you, Tom?" asked Ned. + +"Indeed not. Just chalk-dust ones for practice. Now here is +where the bombs will be placed," and he pointed to the three +openings in the floor of the amidship cabin. The wire nettings +were taken out and one could look down through the holes to the +earth below, the ground being nearer now, as Tom had let out some +of the lifting gas. + +"Here is the range-finder and the speed calculator," the young +inventor went on as he indicated the various instruments. "The +operator sits here, where he can tell when is the most favorable +moment for releasing the bomb." + +Tom took his place before a complicated set of instruments, and +began manipulating them. One of his assistants, under the +direction of Lieutenant Marbury, placed in the three openings +bombs, made of light cardboard, just the size of a regular bomb, +but filled with a white powder that would, on breaking, make a +dust-cloud which could be observed from the airship. + +"I have first to determine where I want to drop the bomb," Tom +explained, "and then I have to get my distance from it on the +range-finder. Next I have to know how fast I am traveling, and +how far up in the air I am, to tell what the velocity of the +falling bomb will attain at a certain time. This I can do by +means of these instruments, some of which I have adapted from +those used by the government," he said, with a nod to the +officer. + +"That's right--take all the information you can get," was the +smiling response. + +"We will now assume that the bombs are in place in the holes in +the floor of the cabin," Tom went on. "As I sit here I have +before me three buttons. They control the magnets that hold the +bombs in place. If I press one of the buttons it breaks the +electrical current, the magnet no longer has any attraction, and +it releases the explosive. Now look down. I am going to try and +drop a chalk bomb near that stone fence." + +The Mars was then flying over a large field and a stone fence +was in plain view. + +"Here she goes!" cried Tom, as he made some rapid calculations +from his gauge instruments. There was a little click and the +chalk bomb dropped. There was a plate glass floor in part of the +cabin, and through this the progress of the pasteboard bomb could +be observed. + +"She'll never go anywhere near the fence!" declared Ned. "You +let it drop too soon, Tom!" + +"Did I? You just watch. I had to allow for the momentum that +would be given the bomb by the forward motion of the balloon." + +Hardly had Tom spoken than a puff of white was seen on the very +top of the fence. + +"There it goes?" cried the lieutenant. "You did the trick, +Swift!" + +"Yes, I thought I would. Well, that shows my gauges are +correct, anyhow. Now we'll try the other two bombs." + +In succession they were released from the bottom of the cabin, +at other designated objects. The second one was near a tree. It +struck within five feet, which was considered good. + +"And I'll let the last one down near that scarecrow in the +field," said Tom, pointing to a ragged figure in the middle of a +patch of corn. + +Down went the cardboard bomb, and so good was the aim of the +young inventor that the white dust arose in a cloud directly back +of the scarecrow. + +And then a queer thing happened. For the figure seemed to come +to life, and Ned, who was watching through a telescope, saw a +very much excited farmer looking up with an expression of the +greatest wonder on his face. He saw the balloon over his head, +and shook his fist at it, evidently thinking he had had a narrow +escape. But the pasteboard bomb was so light that, had it hit +him, he would not have been injured, though he might have been +well dusted. + +"Why, that was a man! Bless my pocketbook!" cried Mr. Damon. + +"I guess it was," agreed Tom. "I took it for a scarecrow." + +"Well, it proved the accuracy of your aim, at any rate," +observed Lieutenant Marbury. "The bomb dropping device of your +aerial warship is perfect--I can testify to that." + +"And I'll have the guns fixed soon, so there will be no danger +of a recoil, too," added Tom Swift, with a determined look on his +face. + +"What's next?" asked Mr. Damon, looking at his watch. "I really +ought to be home, Tom." + +"We're going back now, and down. Are you sure you don't want me +to drop you in your own front yard, or even on your roof? I think +I could manage that." + +"Bless my stovepipe, no, Tom! My wife would have hysterics. +Just land me at Shopton and I'll take a car home." + +The damaged airship seemed little the worse for the test to +which she had been subjected, and made her way at good speed in +the direction of Tom's home. Several little experiments were +tried on the way back. They all worked well, and the only two +problems Tom had to solve were the taking care of the recoil from +the guns and finding out why the propeller had broken. + +A safe landing was made, and the Mars once more put away in her +hangar. Mr. Damon departed for his home, and Lieutenant Marbury +again took up his residence in the Swift household. + +"Well, Tom, how did it go?" asked his father. + +"Not so very well. Too much recoil from the guns." + +"I was afraid so. You had better drop this line of work, and go +at something else." + +"No, Dad!" Tom cried. "I'm going to make this work. I never had +anything stump me yet, and I'm not going to begin now!" + +"Well, that's a good spirit to show," said the aged inventor, +with a shake of his head, "but I don't believe you'll succeed, +Tom." + +"Yes I will, Dad! You just wait." + +Tom decided to begin on the problem of the propeller first, as +that seemed more simple. He knew that the gun question would take +longer. + +"Just what are you trying to find out, Tom?" asked Ned, a few +nights later, when he found his chum looking at the broken parts +of the propeller. + +"Trying to discover what made this blade break up and splinter +that way. It couldn't have been centrifugal force, for it wasn't +strong enough." + +Tom was "poking" away amid splinters, and bits of broken wood, +when he suddenly uttered an exclamation, and held up something. +"Look!" he cried. "I believe I've found it." + +"What?" asked Ned. + +"The thing that weakened the propeller. Look at this, and +smell!" He held out a piece of wood toward Ned. The bank employee +saw where a half-round hole had been bored in what remained of +the blade, and from that hole came a peculiar odor. + +"It's some kind of acid," ventured Ned. + +"That's it!" cried Tom. "Someone bored a hole in the propeller, +and put in some sort of receptacle, or capsule, containing a +corrosive acid. In due time, which happened to be when we took +our first flight, the acid ate through whatever it was contained +in, and then attacked the wood of the propeller blade. It +weakened the wood so that the force used in whirling it around +broke it." + +"Are you sure of that?" asked Ned. + +"As sure as I am that I'm here! Now I know what caused the +accident!" + +"But who would play such a trick?" asked Ned. "We might all +have been killed." + +"Yes, I know we might," said Tom. "It must be the work of some +of those foreign spies whose first plot we nipped in the bud. I +must tell Marbury of this, but don't mention it to dad." + +"I won't," promised Ned. + +Lieutenant Marbury agreed with Tom that someone had +surreptitiously bored a small hole in the propeller blade, and +had inserted a corrosive acid that would take many hours to +operate. The hole had been varnished over, probably, so it would +not show. + +"And that means I've got to examine the other two blades," Tom +said. "They may be doctored too." + +But they did not prove to be. A careful examination showed +nothing wrong. An effort was made to find out who had tried to +destroy the Mars in midair, but it came to nothing. The two men +in custody declared they knew nothing of it, and there was no way +of proving that they did. + +Meanwhile, the torn gas bag was repaired, and Tom began working +on the problem of doing away with the gun recoil. He tried +several schemes, and almost was on the point of giving up when +suddenly he received a hint by reading an account of how the +recoil was taken care of on some of the German Zeppelins. + +The guns there were made double, with the extra barrel filled +with water or sand, that could be shot out as was the regular +charge. As both barrels were fired at the same time, and in +opposite directions, with the same amount of powder, one +neutralized the other, and the recoil was canceled, the ship +remaining steady after fire. + +"By Jove! I believe that will do the trick!" cried Tom. "I'm +going to try it." + +"Good luck to you!" cried Ned. + +It was no easy matter to change all the guns of the Mars, and +fit them with double barrels. But by working day and night shifts +Tom managed it. Meanwhile, a careful watch was kept over the +shops. Several new men applied for work, and some of them were +suspicious enough in looks, but Tom took on no new hands. + +Finally the new guns were made, and tried with the Mars held on +the ground. They behaved perfectly, the shooting of sand or water +from the dummy barrel neutralizing the shot from the service +barrel. + +"And now to see how it works in practice!" cried Tom one day. +"Are you with me for a long flight, Ned?" + +"I sure am!" + +The next evening the Mars, with a larger crew than before, and +with Tom, Ned, Mr. Damon and Lieutenant Marbury aboard, set +sail. + +"But why start at night?" asked Ned. + +"You'll see in the morning," Tom answered. + +The Mars flew slowly all night, life aboard her, at about the +level of the clouds, going on almost as naturally as though the +occupants of the cabins were on the earth. Excellent meals were +served. + +"But when are you going to try the guns?" asked Ned, as he got +ready to turn in. + +"Tell you in the morning," replied Tom, with a smile. + +And, in the morning, when Ned looked down through the plate +glass in the cabin floor, he uttered a cry. + +"Why, Tom! We're over the ocean!" he cried. + +"I rather thought we'd be," was the calm reply. "I told George +to head straight for the Atlantic. Now we'll have a test with +service charges and projectiles!" + + + +CHAPTER XVIII +IN A STORM + + +Surprise, for the moment, held Mr. Damon, Ned and Lieutenant +Marbury speechless. They looked from the heaving waters of the +ocean below them to the young pilot of the Mars. He smiled at +their astonishment. + +"What--what does it mean, Tom?" asked Ned. "You never said you +were going to take a trip as far as this." + +"That's right," chimed in Mr. Damon. "Bless my nightcap! If I +had known I was going to be brought so far away from home I'd +never have come." + +"You're not so very far from Water ford," put in Tom. "We +didn't make any kind of speed coming from Shopton, and we could +be back again inside of four hours if we had to." + +"Then you didn't travel fast during the night?" asked the +government man. + +"No, we just drifted along," Tom answered. "I gave orders to +run the machinery slowly, as I wanted to get it in good shape for +the other tests that will come soon. But I told George, whom I +left in charge when I turned in, to head for New York. I wanted +to get out over the ocean to try the guns with the new recoil +arrangement." + +"Well, we're over the ocean all right," spoke Ned, as he looked +down at the heaving waters. + +"It isn't the first time," replied Tom cheerfully. "Koku, you +may serve breakfast now," for the giant had been taken along as a +sort of cook and waiter. Koku manifested no surprise or alarm +when he found the airship floating over the sea. Whatever Tom did +was right to him. He had great confidence in his master. + +"No, it isn't the first time we've taken a water flight," spoke +Ned. "I was only surprised at the suddenness of it, that's all." + +"It's my first experience so far out above the water," observed +Lieutenant Marbury, "though of course I've sailed on many seas. +Why, we're out of sight of land." + +"About ten miles out, yes," admitted Tom. "Far enough to make +it safe to test the guns with real projectiles. That is what I +want to do." + +"And we've been running all night?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Yes, but at slow speed. The engines are in better shape now +than ever before," Tom said. "Well, if you're ready we'll have +breakfast." + +The meal was served by Koku with as much unconcern as though +they were in the Swift homestead back in Shopton, instead of +floating near the clouds. And while it was being eaten in the +main cabin, and while the crew was having breakfast in their +quarters, the aerial warship was moving along over the ocean in +charge of George Watson, one of Tom's engineers, who was +stationed in the forward pilot-house. + +"So you're going to give the guns a real test this time, is +that it, Tom?" asked Ned, as he pushed back his plate, a signal +that he had eaten enough. + +"That's about it." + +"But don't you think it's a bit risky out over the water this +way. Supposing something should--should happen?" Ned hesitated. + +"You mean we might fall?" asked Tom, with a smile. + +"Yes; or turn upside down." + +"Nothing like that could happen. I'm so sure that I have solved +the problem of the recoil of the guns that I'm willing to take +chances. But if any of you want to get off the Mars while the +test is being made, I have a small boat I can lower, and let you +row about in that until--" + +"No, thank you!" interrupted Mr. Damon, as he looked below. +There was quite a heavy swell on, and the ocean did not appear +very attractive. They would be much more comfortable in the big +Mars. + +"I think you won't have any trouble," asserted Lieutenant +Marbury. "I believe Tom Swift has the right idea about the guns, +and there will be so small a shock from the recoil that it will +not be noticeable." + +"We'll soon know," spoke Tom. "I'm going to get ready for the +test now." + +They were now well out from shore, over the Atlantic, but to +make certain no ships would be endangered by the projectiles, Tom +and the others searched the waters to the horizon with powerful +glasses. Nothing was seen and the work of loading the guns was +begun. The bomb tubes, in the main cabin, were also to be given a +test. + +As service charges were to be used, and as the projectiles were +filled with explosives, great care was needed in handling them. + +"We'll try dropping bombs first," Tom suggested. "We know they +will work, and that will be so much out of the way." + +To make the test a severe one, small floating targets were +first dropped overboard from the Mars. Then the aerial warship, +circling about, came on toward them. Tom, seated at the range- +finders, pressed the button that released the shells containing +the explosives. One after another they dropped into the sea, +exploding as they fell, and sending up a great column of salt +water. + +"Every one a hit!" reported Lieutenant Marbury, who was keeping +"score." + +"That's good," responded Tom. "But the others won't be so easy. +We have nothing to shoot at." + +They had to fire the other guns without targets at which to +aim. But, after all, it was the absence of recoil they wanted to +establish, and this could be done without shooting at any +particular object. + +One after another the guns were loaded. As has been explained, +they were now made double, one barrel carrying the projectile, +and the other a charge of water. + +"Are you ready?" asked Tom, when it was time to fire. +Lieutenant Marbury, Ned and Mr. Damon were helping, by being +stationed at the pressure gauges to note the results. + +"All ready," answered Ned. + +"Do you think we'd better put on life preservers, Tom?" asked +Mr. Damon. + +"Nonsense! What for?" + +"In case--in case anything happens." + +"Nothing will happen. Look out now, I'm going to fire." + +The guns were to be fired simultaneously by means of an +electric current, when Tom pressed a button. + +"Here they go!" exclaimed the young inventor. + +There was a moment of waiting, and then came a thundering roar. +The Mars trembled, but she did not shift to either side from an +even keel. From one barrel of the guns shot out the explosive +projectiles, and from the other spurted a jet of water, sent out +by a charge of powder, equal in weight to that which forced out +the shot. + +As the projectile was fired in one direction, and the water in +one directly opposite, the two discharges neutralized one +another. + +Out flew the pointed steel shells, to fall harmlessly into the +sea, where they exploded, sending up columns of water. + +"Well!" cried Tom as the echoes died away. "How was it?" + +"Couldn't have been better," declared Lieutenant Marbury. +"There wasn't the least shock of recoil. Tom Swift, you have +solved the problem, I do believe! Your aerial warship is a +success!" + +"I'm glad to hear you say so. There are one or two little +things that need changing, but I really think I have about what +the United States Government wants." + +"I am, also, of that belief, Tom. If only--" The officer +stopped suddenly. + +"Well?" asked Tom suggestively. + +"I was going to say if only those foreign spies don't make +trouble." + +"I think we've seen the last of them," Tom declared. "Now we'll +go on with the tests." + +More guns were fired, singly and in batteries, and in each case +the Mars stood the test perfectly. The double barrel had solved +the recoil problem. + +For some little time longer they remained out over the sea, +going through some evolutions to test the rudder control, and +then as their present object had been accomplished Tom gave +orders to head back to Shopton, which place was reached in due +time. + +"Well, Tom, how was it?" asked Mr. Swift, for though his son +had said nothing to his friends about the prospective test, the +aged inventor knew about it. + +"Successful, Dad, in every particular." + +"That's good. I didn't think you could do it. But you did. I +tell you it isn't much that can get the best of a Swift!" +exclaimed the aged man proudly. "Oh, by the way, Tom, here's a +telegram that came while you were gone," and he handed his son +the yellow envelope. + +Tom ripped it open with a single gesture, and in a flash his +eyes took in the words. He read: + + +"Look out for spies during trial flights." + + +The message was signed with a name Tom did not recognize. + +"Any bad news?" asked Mr. Swift. + +"No--oh, no," replied Tom, as he crumpled up the paper and +thrust it into his pocket. "No bad news, Dad." + +"Well, I'm glad to hear that," went on Mr. Swift. "I don't like +telegrams." + +When Tom showed the message to Lieutenant Marbury, that +official, after one glance at the signature, said: + +"Pierson, eh? Well, when he sends out a warning it generally +means something." + +"Who's Pierson?" asked Tom. + +"Head of the Secret Service department that has charge of this +airship matter. There must be something in the wind, Tom." + +Extra precautions were taken about the shops. Strangers were +not permitted to enter, and all future work on the Mars was kept +secret. Nevertheless, Tom was worried. He did not want his work +to be spoiled just when it was about to be a success. For that it +was a success, Lieutenant Marbury assured him. The government man +said he would have no hesitation in recommending the purchase of +Tom's aerial warship. + +"There's just one other test I want to see made," he said. + +"What is that?" Tom inquired. + +"In a storm. You know we can't always count on having good +weather, and I'd like to see how she behaves in a gale." + +"You shall!" declared the young inventor. + +For the next week, during which finishing touches were put on +the big craft, Tom anxiously waited for signs of a storm. At last +they came. Danger signals were put up all along the coast, and +warnings were sent out broadcast by the Weather Bureau at +Washington. + +One dull gray morning Tom roused his friends early and +announced that the Mars was going up. + +"A big storm is headed this way," Tom said, "and we'll have a +chance to see how she behaves in it." + +And even as the flight began, the forerunning wind and rain +came in a gust of fury. Into the midst of it shot the big aerial +warship, with her powerful propellers beating the moisture-laden +air. + + + +CHAPTER XIX +QUEER HAPPENINGS + + +"Say, Tom, are you sure you're all right?" + +"Of course I am! What do you mean?" + +It was Ned Newton who asked the question, and Tom Swift who +answered it. The chums were in the pilot-house of the dipping, +swaying Mars, which was nosing her way into the storm, fighting +on an upward slant, trying, if possible, to get above the area of +atmospheric disturbance. + +"Well, I mean are you sure your craft will stand all this +straining, pulling and hauling?" went on Ned, as he clung to a +brass hand rail, built in the side of the pilot-house wall for +the very purpose to which it was now being put. + +"If she doesn't stand it she's no good!" cried Tom, as he clung +to the steering wheel, which was nearly torn from his hands by +the deflections of the rudders. + +"Well, it's taking a big chance, it seems to me," went on Ned, +as he peered through the rain-spotted bull's-eyes of the pilot- +house. + +"There's no danger," declared Tom. "I wanted to give the ship +the hardest test possible before I formally offered her to the +government. If she can't stand a blow like this she isn't what I +thought her, and I'll have to build another. But I'm sure she +will stand the racket, Ned. She's built strongly, and even if +part of the gas bag is carried away, as it was when our propeller +shattered, we can still sail. If you think this is anything, wait +until we turn about and begin to fight our way against the wind." + +"Are you going to do that, Tom?" + +"I certainly am. We're going with the gale now, to see what is +the highest rate of speed we can attain. Pretty soon I'm going to +turn her around, and see if she can make any headway in the other +direction. Of course I know she won't make much, if any speed, +against the gale; but I must give her that test." + +"Well, Tom, you know best, of course," admitted Ned. "But to me +it seems like taking a big risk." + +And indeed it did seem, not only to Ned, but to some of the +experienced men of Tom's crew, that the young inventor was taking +more chances than ever before, and Tom, as my old readers well +know, had, in his career, taken some big ones. + +The storm grew worse as the day progressed, until it was a +veritable hurricane of wind and rain. The warnings of the Weather +Bureau had not been exaggerated. But through the fierce blow the +Mars fought her way. As Tom had said, she was going with the +wind. This was comparatively easy. But what would happen when she +headed into the storm? + +Mr. Damon, in the main cabin, sat and looked at Lieutenant +Marbury, the eccentric man now and then blessing something as he +happened to think of it. + +"Do you--do you think we are in any danger?" he finally asked. + +"Not at present," replied the government expert. + +"You mean we will be--later?" + +"It's hard to say. I guess Tom Swift knows his business, +though." + +"Bless my accident insurance policy!" murmured Mr. Damon. "I +wish I had stayed home. If my wife ever hears of this--" He did +not seem able to finish the sentence. + +In the engine-room the crew were busy over the various +machines. Some of the apparatus was being strained to keep the +ship on her course in the powerful wind, and would be under a +worse stress when Tom turned his craft about. But, so far, +nothing had given way, and everything was working smoothly. + +As hour succeeded hour and nothing happened, the timid ones +aboard began to take more courage. Tom never for a moment lost +heart. He knew what his craft could do, and he had taken her up +in a terrific storm with a definite purpose in view. He was the +calmest person aboard, with the exception, perhaps, of Koku. The +giant did not seem to know what fear was. He depended entirely on +Tom, and as long as his young master had charge of matters the +giant was content to obey orders. + +There was to be no test of the guns this time. They had worked +sufficiently well, and, if need be, could have been fired in the +gale. But Tom did not want his men to take unnecessary risks, nor +was he foolhardy himself. + +"We'll have our hands full when we turn around and head into +the wind," he said to his chum. "That will be enough." + +"Then you're really going to give the Mars that test?" + +"I surely am. I don't want any comebacks from Uncle Sam after +he accepts my aerial warship. I've guaranteed that she'll stand +up and make headway against a gale, and I'm going to prove it." + +Lieutenant Marbury was told of the coming trial, and he +prepared to take official note of it. While matters were being +gotten in readiness Tom turned the wheel over to his assistant +pilot and went to the engine-room to see that everything was in +good shape to cope with any emergency. The rudders had been +carefully examined before the flight was made, to make sure they +would not fail, for on them depended the progress of the ship +against the powerful wind. + +"I rather guess those foreign spies have given up trying to do +Tom an injury," remarked Ned to the lieutenant as they sat in the +main cabin, listening to the howl of the wind, and the dash of +the rain. + +"Well, I certainly hope so," was the answer. "But I wouldn't be +too sure. The folks in Washington evidently think something is +likely to happen, or they wouldn't have sent that warning +telegram." + +"But we haven't seen anything of the spies," Ned remarked. + +"No, but that isn't any sign they are not getting ready to make +trouble. This may be the calm before the storm. Tom must still be +on the lookout. It isn't as though his inventions alone were in +danger, for they would not hesitate to inflict serious personal +injury if their plans were thwarted." + +"They must be desperate." + +"They are. But here comes Tom now. He looks as though something +new was about to happen." + +"Take care of yourselves now," advised the young aero-inventor, +as he entered the cabin, finding it hard work to close the door +against the terrific wind pressure. + +"Why?" asked Ned. + +"Because we are going to turn around and fight our way back +against the gale. We may be turned topsy-turvy for a second or +two." + +"Bless my shoe-horn!" cried Mr. Damon. "Do you mean upside +down, Tom?" + +"No, not that exactly. But watch out!" + +Tom went forward to the pilot-house, followed by Ned and the +lieutenant. The latter wanted to take official note of what +happened. Tom relieved the man at the wheel, and gradually began +to alter the direction of the craft. + +At first no change was noticeable. So strong was the force of +the wind that it seemed as though the Mars was going in the same +direction. But Ned, noticing a direction compass on the wall, saw +that the needle was gradually shifting. + +"Hold fast!" cried Tom suddenly. Then with a quick shift of the +rudder something happened. It seemed as though the Mars was +trying to turn over, and slide along on her side, or as if she +wanted to turn about and scud before the gale, instead of facing +it. But Tom held her to the reverse course. + +"Can you get her around?" cried the lieutenant above the roar +of the gale. + +"I--I'm going to!" muttered Tom through his set teeth. + +Inch by inch he fought the big craft through the storm. Inch by +inch the indicator showed the turning, until at last the grip of +the gale was overcome. + +"Now she's headed right into it!" cried Tom in exultation. +"She's nosing right into it!" + +And the Mars was. There was no doubt of it. She had succeeded, +under Tom's direction, in changing squarely about, and was now +going against the wind, instead of with it. + +"But we can't expect to make much speed," Tom said, as he +signaled for more power, for he had lowered it somewhat in making +the turn. + +But Tom himself scarcely had reckoned on the force of his +craft, for as the propellers whirled more rapidly the aerial +warship did begin to make headway, and that in the teeth of a +terrific wind. + +"She's doing it, Tom! She's doing it!" cried Ned exultingly. + +"I believe she is," agreed the lieutenant. + +"Well, so much the better," Tom said, trying to be calm. "If +she can keep this up a little while I'll give her a rest and +we'll go up above the storm area, and beat back home." + +The Mars, so far, had met every test. Tom had decided on ten +minutes more of gale-fighting, when from the tube that +communicated with the engine-room came a shrill whistle. + +"See what that is, Ned," Tom directed. + +"Yes," called Ned into the mouthpiece. "What's the matter?" + +"Short circuit in the big motor," was the reply. "We've got to +run on storage battery. Send Tom back here! Something queer has +happened!" + + + +CHAPTER XX +THE STOWAWAYS + + +Ned repeated the message breathlessly. + +"Short circuit!" gasped Tom. "Run on storage battery! I'll have +to see to that. Take the wheel somebody!" + +"Wouldn't it be better to turn about, and run before the wind, +so as not to put too great a strain on the machinery?" asked +Lieutenant Marbury. + +"Perhaps," agreed Tom. "Hold her this way, though, until I see +what's wrong!" + +Ned and the government man took the wheel, while Tom hurried +along the runway leading from the pilot-house to the machinery +cabin. The gale was still blowing fiercely. + +The young inventor cast a hasty look about the interior of the +place as he entered. He sniffed the air suspiciously, and was +aware of the odor of burning insulation. + +"What happened?" he asked, noting that already the principal +motive power was coming from the big storage battery. The shift +had been made automatically, when the main motor gave out. + +"It's hard to say," was the answer of the chief engineer. "We +were running along all right, and we got your word to switch on +more power, after the turn. We did that all right, and she was +running as smooth as a sewing-machine, when, all of a sudden, she +short-circuited, and the storage battery cut in automatically." + +"Think you put too heavy a load on the motor?" Tom asked. + +"Couldn't have been that. The shunt box would have taken that +up, and the circuit-breaker would have worked, saving us a burn- +out, and that's what happened-a burn-out. The motor will have to +be rewound." + +"Well, no use trying to fight this gale with the storage +battery," Tom said, after a moment's thought. "We'll run before +it. That's the easiest way. Then we'll try to rise above the +wind." + +He sent the necessary message to the pilot-house. A moment +later the shift was made, and once more the Mars was scudding +before the storm. Then Tom gave his serious attention to what had +happened in the engine room. + +As he bent over the burned-out motor, looking at the big shiny +connections, he saw something that startled him. With a quick +motion Tom Swift picked up a bar of copper. It was hot to the +touch--so hot that he dropped it with a cry of pain, though he +had let go so quickly that the burn was only momentary. + +"What's the matter?" asked Jerry Mound, Tom's engineer. + +"Matter!" cried Tom. "A whole lot is the matter! That copper +bar is what made the short circuit. It's hot yet from the +electric current. How did it fall on the motor connections?" + +The engine room force gathered about the young inventor. No one +could explain how the copper bar came to be where it was. +Certainly no one of Tom's employees had put it there, and it +could not have fallen by accident, for the motor connections were +protected by a mesh of wire, and a hand would have to be thrust +under them to put the bar in place. Tom gave a quick look at his +men. He knew he could trust them--every one. But this was a queer +happening. + +For a moment Tom did not know what to think, and then, as the +memory of that warning telegram came to him, he had an idea. + +"Were any strangers in this cabin before the start was made?" +he asked Mr. Mound. + +"Not that I know of," was the answer. + +"Well, there may be some here now," Tom said grimly. "Look +about." + +But a careful search revealed no one. Yet the young inventor +was sure the bar of copper, which had done the mischief of +short-circuiting the motor, had been put in place deliberately. + +In reality there was no danger to the craft, since there was +power enough in the storage battery to run it for several hours. +But the happening showed Tom he had still to reckon with his +enemies. + +He looked at the height gauge on the wall of the motor-room, +and noted that the Mars was going up. In accordance with Tom's +instructions they were sending her above the storm area. Once +there, with no gale to fight, they could easily beat their way +back to a point above Shopton, and make the best descent +possible. + +And that was done while, under Tom's direction, his men took +the damaged motor apart, with a view to repairing it. + +"What was it, Tom?" asked Ned, coming back to join his chum, +after George Ventor, the assistant pilot, had taken charge of the +wheel. + +"I don't exactly know, Ned," was the answer. "But I feel +certain that some of my enemies came aboard here and worked this +mischief." + +"Your enemies came aboard?" + +"Yes, and they must be here now. The placing of that copper bar +proves it." + +"Then let's make a search and find them, Tom. It must be some +of those foreign spies." + +"Just what I think." + +But a more careful search of the craft than the one Tom had +casually made revealed the presence of no one. All the crew and +helpers were accounted for, and, as they had been in Tom's +service for some time, they were beyond suspicion. Yet the fact +remained that a seemingly human agency had acted to put the main +motor out of commission. Tom could not understand it. + +"Well, it sure is queer," observed Ned, as the search came to +nothing. + +"It's worse than queer," declared Tom, "it's alarming! I don't +know when I'll be safe if we have ghosts aboard." + +"Ghosts?" repeated Ned. + +"Well, when we can't find out who put that bar in place I might +as well admit it was a ghost," spoke Tom. "Certainly, if it was +done by a man, he didn't jump overboard after doing it, and he +isn't here now. It sure is queer!" + +Ned agreed with the last statement, at any rate. + +In due time the Mars, having fought her way above the storm, +came over Shopton, and then, the wind having somewhat died out, +she fought her way down, and, after no little trouble, was housed +in the hangar. + +Tom cautioned his friends and workmen to say nothing to his +father about the mysterious happening on board. + +"I'll just tell him we had a slight accident, and let it go at +that," Tom decided. "No use in causing him worry." + +"But what are you going to do about it?" asked Ned. + +"I'm going to keep careful watch over the aerial warship, at +any rate," declared Tom. "If there's a hidden enemy aboard, I'll +starve him out." + +Accordingly, a guard, under the direction of Koku, was posted +about the big shed, but nothing came of it. No stranger was +observed to sneak out of the ship, after it had been deserted by +the crew. The mystery seemed deeper than ever. + +It took nearly a week to repair the big motor, and, during this +time, Tom put some improvements on the airship, and added the +finishing touches. + +He was getting it ready for the final government test, for the +authorities in Washington had sent word that they would have +Captain Warner, in addition to Lieutenant Marbury, make the final +inspection and write a report. + +Meanwhile several little things occurred to annoy Tom. He was +besieged with applications from new men who wanted to work, and +many of these men seemed to be foreigners. Tom was sure they were +either spies of some European nations, or the agents of spies, +and they got no further than the outer gate. + +But some strangers did manage to sneak into the works, though +they were quickly detected and sent about their business. Also, +once or twice, small fires were discovered in outbuildings, but +they were soon extinguished with little damage. Extra vigilance +was the watchword. + +"And yet, with all my precautions, they may get me, or damage +something," declared Tom. "It is very annoying!" + +"It is," agreed Ned, "and we must be doubly on the lookout." + +So impressed was Ned with the necessity for caution that he +arranged to take his vacation at this time, so as to be on hand +to help his chum, if necessary. + +The Mars was nearing completion. The repaired motor was better +than ever, and everything was in shape for the final test. Mr. +Damon was persuaded to go along, and Koku was to be taken, as +well as the two government officials. + +The night before the trip the guards about the airship shed +were doubled, and Tom made two visits to the place before +midnight. But there was no alarm. + +Consequently, when the Mars started off on her final test, it +was thought that all danger from the spies was over. + +"She certainly is a beauty," said Captain Warner, as the big +craft shot upward. "I shall be interested in seeing how she +stands gun fire, though." + +"Oh, she'll stand it," declared Lieutenant Marbury. The trip +was to consume several days of continuous flying, to test the +engines. A large supply of food and ammunition was aboard. + +It was after supper of the first day out, and our friends were +seated in the main cabin laying out a program for the next day, +when sudden yells came from a part of the motor cabin devoted to +storage. Koku, who had been sent to get out a barrel of oil, was +heard to shout. + +"What's up?" asked Tom, starting to his feet. He was answered +almost at once by more yells. + +"Oh, Master! Come quickly!" cried the giant. "There are many +men here. There are stowaways aboard!" + + + +CHAPTER XXI +PRISONERS + + +For a moment, after hearing Koku's reply, neither Tom nor his +friends spoke. Then Ned, in a dazed sort of way, repeated: + +"Stowaways!" + +"Bless my--" began Mr. Damon, but that was as far as he got. + +From the engine compartment, back of the amidship cabin, came a +sound of cries and heavy blows. The yells of Koku could be heard +above those of the others. + +Then the door of the cabin where Tom Swift and his friends were +was suddenly burst open, and seven or eight men threw themselves +within. They were led by a man with a small, dark mustache and a +little tuft of whiskers on his chin--an imperial. He looked the +typical Frenchman, and his words, snapped out, bore out that +belief. + +What he said was in French, as Tom understood, though he knew +little of that language. Also, what the Frenchman said produced an +immediate result, for the men following him sprang at our +friends with overwhelming fierceness. + +Before Tom, Ned, Captain Warner, Mr. Damon or Lieutenant +Marbury could grasp any weapon with which to defend themselves, +had their intentions been to do so, they were seized. + +Against such odds little could be done, though our friends did +not give up without a struggle. + +"What does this mean?" angrily demanded Tom Swift. "Who are +you? What are you doing aboard my craft? Who are--" + +His words were lost in smothered tones, for one of his +assailants put a heavy cloth over his mouth, and tied it there, +gagging him. Another man, with a quick motion, whipped a rope +about Tom's hands and feet, and he was soon securely bound. + +In like manner the others were treated, and, despite the +struggles of Mr. Damon, the two government men and Ned, they were +soon put in a position where they could do nothing--helplessly +bound, and laid on a bench in the main cabin, staring blankly up +at the ceiling. Each one was gagged so effectively that he could +not utter more than a faint moan. + +Of the riot of thoughts that ran through the heads of each one, +I leave you to imagine. + +What did it all mean? Where had the strange men come from? What +did they mean by thus assaulting Tom and his companions? And what +had happened to the others of the crew--Koku, Jerry Mound, the +engineer, and George Ventor, the assistant pilot? + +These were only a few of the questions Tom asked himself, as he +lay there, bound and helpless. Doubtless Mr. Damon and the others +were asking themselves similar questions. + +One thing was certain--whatever the stowaways, as Koku had +called them, had done, they had not neglected the Mars, for she +was running along at about the same speed, though in what +direction Tom could not tell. He strained to get a view of the +compass on the forward wall of the cabin, but he could not see +it. + +It had been a rough-and-tumble fight, by which our friends were +made prisoners, but no one seemed to have been seriously, or even +slightly, hurt. The invaders, under the leadership of the +Frenchman, were rather ruffled, but that was all. + +Pantingly they stood in line, surveying their captives, while +the man with the mustache and imperial smiled in a rather +superior fashion at the row of bound ones. He spoke in his own +tongue to the men, who, with the exception of one, filed out, +going, as Tom and the others could note, to the engine-room in +the rear. + +"I hope I have not had to hurt any of you," the Frenchman +observed, with sarcastic politeness. "I regret the necessity that +caused me to do this, but, believe me, it was unavoidable." + +He spoke with some accent, and Tom at once decided this was the +same man who had once approached Eradicate. He also recognized +him as the man he had seen in the woods the day of the outing. + +"He's one of the foreign spies," thought Tom "and he's got us +and the ship, too. They were too many for us!" + +Tom's anxiety to speak, to hold some converse with the captor, +was so obvious that the Frenchman said: + +"I am going to treat you as well as I can under the +circumstances. You and your other friends, who are also made +prisoners, will be allowed to be together, and then you can talk +to your hearts' content." + +The other man, who had remained with the evident ringleader of +the stowaways, asked a question, in French, and he used the name +La Foy. + +"Ah!" thought Tom. "This is the leader of the gang that +attacked Koku in the shop that night. They have been waiting +their chance, and now they have made good. But where did they +come from? Could they have boarded us from some other airship?" + +Yet, as Tom asked himself that question, he knew it could +hardly have been possible. The men must have been in hiding on +his own craft, they must have been, as Koku had cried out-- +stowaways--and have come out at a preconcerted signal to +overpower the aviators. + +"If you will but have patience a little longer," went on La +Foy, for that was evidently the name of the leader, "you will all +be together. We are just considering where best to put you so +that you will not suffer too much. It is quite a problem to deal +with so many prisoners, but we have no choice." + +The two Frenchmen conversed rapidly in their own language for a +few minutes, and then there came into the cabin another of the +men who had helped overpower Tom and his friends. What he told La +Foy seemed to give that individual satisfaction, for he smiled. + +"We are going to put you all together in the largest storeroom, +which is partly empty," La Foy said. "There you will be given +food and drink, and treated as well as possible under the +circumstances. You will also be unbound, and may converse among +yourselves. I need hardly point out," he went on, "that calling +for help will be useless. We are a mile or so in the air, and +have no intention of descending," and he smiled mockingly. + +"They must know how to navigate my aerial warship," thought +Tom. "I wonder what their game is, anyhow?" + +Night had fallen, but the cabin was aglow with electric lights. +The foreigners in charge of the Mars seemed to know their way +about perfectly, and how to manage the big craft. By the +vibration Tom could tell that the motor was running evenly and +well. + +"But what happened to the others--to Mound, Ventor and Koku?" +wondered Tom. + +A moment later several of the foreigners entered. Some of them +did not look at all like Frenchmen, and Tom was sure one was a +German and another a Russian. + +"This will be your prison--for a while," said La Foy +significantly, and Tom wondered how long this would be the case. +A sharp thought came to him--how long would they be prisoners? +Did not some other, and more terrible, fate await them? + +As La Foy spoke, he opened a storeroom door that led off from +the main, or amidship, cabin. This room was intended to contain +the supplies and stores that would be taken on a long voyage. It +was one of two, being the larger, and now contained only a few +odds and ends of little importance. It made a strong prison, as +Tom well knew, having planned it. + +One by one, beginning with Tom, the prisoners were taken up and +placed in a recumbent position on the floor of the storeroom. +Then were brought in the engineer and assistant pilot, as well as +Koku and a machinist whom Tom had brought along to help him. Now +the young inventor and all his friends were together. It took +four men to carry Koku in, the giant being covered with a network +of ropes. + +"On second thought," said La Foy, as he saw Koku being placed +with his friends, "I think we will keep the big man with us. We +had trouble enough to subdue him. Carry him back to the engine- +room." + +So Koku, trussed up like some roped steer, was taken out again. + +"Now then," said La Foy to his prisoners, as he stood in the +door of the room, "I will unbind one of you, and he may loose the +bonds of the others." + +As he spoke, he took the rope from Tom's hands, and then, +quickly slipping out, locked and barred the door. + + + +CHAPTER XXII +APPREHENSIONS + + +For a moment or two, after the ropes binding his hands were +loosed, Tom Swift did nothing. He was not only stunned mentally, +but the bonds had been pulled so tightly about his wrists that +the circulation was impeded, and his cramped muscles required a +little time in which to respond. + +But presently he felt the tingle of the coursing blood, and he +found he could move his arms. He raised them to his head, and +then his first care was to remove the pad of cloth that formed a +gag over his mouth. Now he could talk. + +"I--I'll loosen you all in lust a second," he said, as he bent +over to pick at the knot of the rope around his legs. His own +voice sounded strange to him. + +"I don't know what it's all about, any more than you do," he +went on, speaking to the others. "It's a fierce game we're up +against, and we've got to make the best of it. As soon as we can +move, and talk, we'll decide what's best to do. Whoever these +fellows are, and I believe they are the foreign spies I've been +warned about, they are in complete possession of the airship." + +Tom found it no easy matter to loosen the bonds on his feet. +The ropes were well tied, and Tom's fingers were stiff from the +lack of circulation of blood. But finally he managed to free +himself. When he stood up in the dim storeroom, that was now a +prison for all save Koku, he found that he could not walk. He +almost toppled over, so weak were his legs from the tightness of +the ropes. He sat down and worked his muscles until they felt +normal again. + +A few minutes later, weak and rather tottery, he managed to +reach Mr. Damon, whom he first unbound. He realized that Mr. +Damon was the oldest of his friends, and, consequently, would +suffer most. And it was characteristic of the eccentric gentleman +that, as soon as his gag was removed he burst out with: + +"Bless my wristlets, Tom! What does it all mean?" + +"That's more than I can say, Mr. Damon," replied Tom, with a +mournful shake of his head. "I'm very sorry it happened, for it +looks as though I hadn't taken proper care. The idea of those men +stowing themselves away on board here, and me not knowing it; and +then coming out unexpectedly and getting possession of the craft! +It doesn't speak very well for my smartness." + +"Oh, well, Tom, anyone might have been fooled by those plotting +foreigners," said Mr. Damon. "Now, we'll try to turn matters +about and get the best of them. Oh, but it feels good to be free +once more!" + +He stretched his benumbed and stiffened limbs and then helped +Tom free the others. They stood up, looking at each other in +their dimly lighted prison. + +"Well, if this isn't the limit I don't know what is!" cried Ned +Newton. + +"They got the best of you, Tom," spoke Lieutenant Marbury. + +"Are they really foreign spies?" asked Captain Warner. + +"Yes," replied his assistant. "They managed to carry out the +plot we tried to frustrate. It was a good trick, too, hiding on +board, and coming out with a rush." + +"Is that what they did?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"It looks so," observed Tom. "The attack must have started in +the engine-room," he went on, with a look at Mound and Ventor. +"What happened there?" he asked. + +"Well, that's about the way it was," answered the engineer. "We +were working away, making some adjustments, oiling the parts and +seeing that everything was running smoothly, when, all at once, I +heard Koku yell. He had gone in the oil room. At first I thought +something had gone wrong with the ship, but, when I looked at the +giant, I saw he was being attacked by four strange men. And, +before I, or any of the other men, could do anything, they all +swarmed down on us. + +"There must have been a dozen of them, and they simply +overwhelmed us. One of them hit Koku on the head with an iron +bar, and that took all the fight out of the giant, or the story +might have been a different one. As it was, we were overpowered, +and that's all I know until we were carried in here, and saw you +folks all tied up as we were." + +"They burst in on us in the same way," Tom explained. "But +where did they come from? Where were they hiding?" + +"In the oil and gasoline storeroom that opens out of the motor +compartment," answered Mound, the engineer. "It isn't half full, +you know, and there's room for more than a dozen men in it. They +must have gone in some time last night, when the airship was in +the hangar, and remained hidden among the boxes and barrels until +they got ready to come out and overpower us." + +"That's it," decided Tom. "But I don't understand how they got +in. The hangar was well guarded all night." + +"Some of your men might have been bribed," +suggested Ned. + +"Yes, that is so," admitted Tom, and, later, he learned that +such had been the case. The foreign spies, for such they were, +had managed to corrupt one of Tom's trusted employees, who had +looked the other way when La Foy and his fellow-conspirators +sneaked into the airship shed and secreted themselves. + +"Well, discussing how they got on board isn't going to do us +any good now," Tom remarked ruefully. "The question is--what are +we going to do?" + +"Bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon. "There's only one +thing to do!" + +"What is that?" asked Ned. + +"Why, get out of here, call a policeman, and have these +scoundrels arrested. I'll prosecute them! I'll have my lawyer on +hand to see that they get the longest terms the statutes call +for! Bless my pocketbook, but I will!" and Mr. Damon waxed quite +indignant. + +"That's easier said than done," observed Torn Swift, quietly. +"In the first place, it isn't going to be an easy matter to get +out of here." + +He looked around the storeroom, which was then their prison. It +was illuminated by a single electric light, which showed some +boxes and barrels piled in the rear. + +"Nothing in them to help us get out," Tom went on, for he knew +what the contents were. + +"Oh, we'll get out," declared Ned confidently, "but I don't +believe we'll find a policeman ready to take our complaint. The +upper air isn't very well patrolled as yet." + +"That's so," agreed Mr. Damon. "I forgot that we were in an +airship. But what is to be done, Tom? We really are captives +aboard our own craft." + +"Yes, worse luck," returned the young inventor. "I feel foolish +when I think how we let them take us prisoners." + +"We couldn't help it," Ned commented. "They came on us too +suddenly. We didn't have a chance. And they outnumbered us two to +one. If they could take care of big Koku, what chance did we +have?" + +"Very little," said Engineer Mound. "They were desperate +fellows. They know something about aircraft, too. For, as soon as +Koku, Ventor and I were disposed of, some of them went at the +machinery as if they had been used to running it all their +lives." + +"Oh, the foreigners are experts when it comes to craft of the +air," said Captain Warner. + +"Well, they seem to be running her, all right," admitted the +young inventor, "and at good speed, too. They have increased our +running rate, if I am any judge." + +"By several miles an hour," confirmed the assistant pilot. +"Though in which direction they are heading, and what they are +going to do with us is more than I can guess." + +"That's so!" agreed Mr. Damon. "What is to become of us? They +may heave us overboard into the ocean!" + +"Into the ocean!" cried Ned apprehensively. "Are we near the +sea?" + +"We must be, by this time," spoke Tom. "We were headed in that +direction, and we have come almost far enough to put us somewhere +over the Atlantic, off the Jersey coast." + +A look of apprehension was on the faces of all. But Tom's face +did not remain clouded long. + +"We won't try to swim until we have to," he said. "Now, let's +take an account of stock, and see if we have any means of getting +out of this prison." + + + +CHAPTER XXIII +ACROSS THE SEA + + +With one accord the hands of the captives sought their pockets. +Probably the first thought of each one was a knife--a pocket +knife. But blank looks succeeded their first hopeful ones, for +the hands came out empty. + +"Not a thing!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Not a blessed thing! They +have even taken my keys and--my fountain pen!" + +"I guess they searched us all while they were struggling with +us, tying us up," suggested Ned. "I had a knife with a big, +strong blade, but it's gone." + +"So is mine," echoed Tom. + +"And I haven't even a screwdriver, or a pocket-wrench," +declared the engineer, "though I had both." + +"They evidently knew what they were doing," said Lieutenant +Marbury. "I don't usually carry a revolver, but of late I have +had a small automatic in my pocket. That's gone, too." + +"And so are all my things," went on his naval friend. "That +Frenchman, La Foy, was taking no chances." + +"Well, if we haven't any weapons, or means of getting out of +here, we must make them," said Tom, as hopefully as he could +under the circumstances. "I don't know all the things that were +put in this storeroom, and perhaps there may be something we can +use." + +"Shall we make the try now?" asked Ned. "I'm getting thirsty, +at least. Lucky we had supper before they came out at us." + +"Well, there isn't any water in here, or anything to eat, of so +much I am sure," went on Tom "So we will have to depend on our +captors for that." + +"At least we can shout and ask for water," said Lieutenant +Marbury. "They have no excuse for being needlessly cruel." + +They all agreed that this might not be a bad plan, and were +preparing to raise a united shout, when there came a knock on the +door of their prison. + +"Are you willing to listen to reason?" asked a voice they +recognized as that of La Foy. + +"What do you mean by reason?" asked Tom bitterly. "You have no +right to impose any conditions on us." + +"I have the right of might, and I intend exercising it," was +the sharp rejoinder. "If you will listen to reason--" + +"Which kind--yours or ours?" asked Tom pointedly. + +"Mine, in this case," snapped back the Frenchman. "What I was +going to say was that I do not intend to starve you, or cause you +discomfort by thirst. I am going to open the door and put in food +and water. But I warn you that any attempt to escape will be met +with severe measures. + +"We are in sufficient force to cope with you. I think you have +seen that." He spoke calmly and in perfect English, though with a +marked accent. "My men are armed, and will stand here ready to +meet violence with violence," he went on. "Is that understood?" + +For a moment none of the captives replied. + +"I think it will be better to give in to him at least for a +while," said Captain Warner in a low voice to Tom. "We need +water, and will soon need food. We can think and plan better if +we are well nourished." + +"Then you think I should promise not to raise a row?" + +"For the time being--yes." + +"Well, I am waiting!" came in sharp tones from the other side +of the portal. + +"Our answer is--yes," spoke Tom. "We will not try to get out-- +just yet," he added significantly. + +A key was heard grating in the lock, and, a moment later, the +door slid back. Through the opening could be seen La Foy and some +of his men standing armed. Others had packages of food and jugs +of water. A plentiful supply of the latter was carried aboard the +Mars. + +"Keep back from the door!" was the stern command of La Foy. +"The food and drink will be passed in only if you keep away from +the entrance. Remember my men are armed!" + +The warning was hardly needed, for the weapons could plainly be +seen. Tom had half a notion that perhaps a concerted rush would +carry the day for him and his friends, but he was forced to +abandon that idea. + +While the guards looked on, others of the "pirate crew," as Ned +dubbed them, passed in food and water. Then the door was locked +again. + +They all felt better after drinking the water, which was made +cool by evaporation, for the airship was quite high above the +earth when Tom's enemies captured it, and the young inventor felt +sure it had not descended any. + +No one felt much like eating, however, so the food was put away +for a time. And then, somewhat refreshed, they began looking +about for some means of getting out of their prison. + +"Of course we might batter down the door, in time, by using +some of these boxes as rams," said Tom. "But the trouble is, that +would make a noise, and they could stand outside and drive us +back with guns and pistols, of which they seem to have plenty." + +"Yes, and they could turn some of your own quick-firers on us," +added Captain Warner. "No, we must work quietly, I think, and +take them unawares, as they took us. That is our only plan." + +"We will be better able to see what we have here by daylight," +Tom said. "Suppose we wait until morning?" + +That plan was deemed best, and preparations made for spending +the night in their prison. + +It was a most uncomfortable night for all of them. The floor +was their only bed, and their only covering some empty bags that +had contained supplies. But even under these circumstances they +managed to doze off fitfully. + +Once they were all awakened by a violent plunging of the +airship. The craft seemed to be trying to stand on her head, and +then she rocked violently from side to side, nearly turning +turtle. "What is it?" gasped Ned, who was lying next to Tom. + +"They must be trying some violent stunts," replied the young +inventor, "or else we have run into a storm." + +"I think the latter is the case," observed Lieutenant Marbury. + +And, as the motion of the craft kept up, though less violently, +this was accepted as the explanation. Through the night the Mars +flew, but whither the captives knew not. + +The first gray streaks of dawn finally shone through the only +window of their prison. Sore, lame and stiff, wearied in body and +disturbed in mind, the captives awoke. Tom's first move was +toward the window. It was high up, but, by standing on a box, he +could look through it. He uttered an exclamation. + +"What is it?" asked Ned, swaying to and fro from the violent +motion ef the aerial warship. + +"We are away out over the sea," spoke Tom, "and in the midst of +a bad storm." + + + +CHAPTER XXIV +THE LIGHTNING BOLT + + +Tom turned away from the window, to find his companions +regarding him anxiously. + +"A storm," repeated Ned. "What sort?" + +"It might turn into any sort," replied Tom. "All I can see now +is a lot of black clouds, and the wind must be blowing pretty +hard, for there's quite a sea on." + +"Bless my galvanometer!" cried Mr. Damon. "Then we are out over +the ocean again, Tom?" + +"Yes, there's no doubt of it." + +"What part?" asked the assistant pilot. + +"That's more than I can tell," Tom answered. + +"Suppose I take a look?" suggested Captain Warner. "I've done +quite a bit of sailing in my time." + +But, when he had taken a look through the window at which Tom +had been standing, the naval officer descended, shaking his head. + +"There isn't a landmark in sight," he announced. "We might be +over the middle of the Atlantic, for all I could tell." + +"Hardly as far as that," spoke Tom. "They haven't been pushing +the Mars at that speed. But we may be across to the other side +before we realize it." + +"How's that?" asked Ned. + +"Well, the ship is in the possession of these foreign spies," +went on Tom. "All their interests are in Europe, though it would +be hard to say what nationality is in command here. I think there +are even some Englishmen among those who attacked us, as well as +French, Germans, Italians and Russians." + +"Yes, it seems to be a combination of European nations against +us," admitted Captain Warner. "Probably, after they have made +good their seizure of Tom's aerial warship, they will portion her +out among themselves, or use her as a model from which to make +others." + +"Do you think that is their object?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Undoubtedly," was the captain's answer. "It has been the +object of these foreign spies, all along, not only to prevent the +United States from enjoying the benefits of these progressive +inventions, but to use them for themselves. They would stop at +nothing to gain their ends. It seems we did not sufficiently +appreciate their power and daring." + +"Well, they've got us, at any rate," observed Tom, "and they +may take us and the ship to some far-off foreign country." + +"If they don't heave us overboard half-way there," commented +Ned, in rather gloomy tones. + +"Well, of course, there's that possibility," admitted Tom. +"They are desperate characters." + +"Well, we must do something," declared Lieutenant Marbury. +"Come, it's daylight now, and we can see to work better. Let's +see if we can't find a way to get out of this prison. Say, but +this sure is a storm!" he cried, as the airship rolled and +pitched violently. + +"They are handling her well, though," observed Tom, as the +craft came quickly to an even keel. "Either they have a number of +expert birdmen on board, or they can easily adapt themselves to a +new aircraft. She is sailing splendidly." + +"Well, let's eat something, and set to work," proposed Ned. + +They brought out the food which had been given to them the +night before, but before they could eat this, there came a knock +on the door, and more food and fresh water was handed in, under +the same precautions as before. + +Tom and his companions indignantly demanded to be released, but +their protests were only laughed at, and while the guards stood +with ready weapons the door was again shut and locked. + +But the prisoners were not the kind to sit idly down in the +face of this. Under Tom's direction they set about looking +through their place of captivity for something by which they +could release themselves. At first they found nothing, and Ned +even suggested trying to cut a way through the wooden walls with +a fingernail file, which he found in one of his pockets, when +Tom, who had gone to the far end of the storeroom, uttered a cry. + +"What is it--a way out?" asked Lieutenant Marbury anxiously. + +"No, but means to that end," Tom replied. "Look, a file and a +saw, left here by some of my workmen, perhaps," and he brought +out the tools. He had found them behind a barrel in the far end +of the compartment. + +"Hurray!" cried Ned. "That's the ticket! Now we'll soon show +these fellows what's what!" + +"Go easy!" cautioned Tom. "We must work carefully. It won't do +to slam around and try to break down the door with these. I think +we had better select a place on the side wall, break through +that, and make an opening where we can come out unnoticed. Then, +when we are ready, we can take them by surprise. We'll have to do +something like that, for they outnumber us, you know." + +"That is so," agreed Captain Warner. "We must use strategy." + +"Well, where would be a good place to begin to burrow out?" +asked Ned. + +"Here," said Tom, indicating a place far back in the room. "We +can work there in turns, sawing a hole through the wall. It will +bring us out in the passage between the aft and amidship cabins, +and we can go either way." + +"Then let's begin!" cried Ned enthusiastically, and they set to +work. + +While the aerial warship pitched and tossed in the storm, over +some part of the Atlantic, Tom and his friends took turns in +working their way to freedom. With the sharp end of the file a +small hole was made, the work being done as slowly as a rat +gnaws, so as to make no noise that would be heard by their +captors. In time the hole was large enough to admit the end of +the saw. + +But this took many hours, and it was not until the second day +of their captivity that they had the hole nearly large enough for +the passage of one person at a time. They had not been +discovered, they thought. + +Meanwhile they had been given food and water at intervals, but +to all demands that they be released, or at least told why they +were held prisoners, a deaf ear was turned. + +They could only guess at the fate of Koku. Probably the giant +was kept bound, for once he got the chance to use his enormous +strength it might go hard with the foreigners. + +The Mars continued to fly through the air. Sometimes, as Tom +and his friends could tell by the motion, she was almost +stationary in the upper regions, and again she seemed to be +flying at top speed. Occasionally there came the sound of firing. + +"They're trying my guns," observed Tom grimly. + +"Do you suppose they are being attacked?" asked Ned, hopefully. + +"Hardly," replied Captain Warner. "The United States possesses +no craft able to cope with this one in aerial warfare, and they +are hardly engaging in part of the European war yet. I think they +are just trying Tom's new guns." + +Later our friends learned that such was the case. + +The storm had either passed, or the Mars had run out of the +path of it, for, after the first few hours of pitching and +tossing, the atmosphere seemed reduced to a state of calm. + +All the while they were secretly working to gain their freedom +so they might attack and overpower their enemies, they took +occasional observations from the small window. But they could +learn nothing of their whereabouts. They could only view the +heaving ocean, far below them, or see a mass of cloud-mist, which +hid the earth, if so be that the Mars was sailing over land. + +"But how much longer can they keep it up?" asked Ned. + +"Well, we have fuel and supplies aboard for nearly two weeks," +Tom answered. + +"And by the end of that time we may all be dead," spoke the +young bank clerk despondently. + +"No, we'll be out of here before then!" declared Lieutenant +Marbury. + +Indeed the hole was now almost large enough to enable them to +crawl out one at a time. They could not, of course, see how it +looked from the outside, but Tom had selected a place for its +cutting so that the sawdust and the mark of the panel that was +being removed, would not ordinarily be noticeable. + +Their set night as the time for making the attempt--late at +night, when it was hoped that most of their captors would be +asleep. + +Finally the last cut was made, and a piece of wood hung over +the opening only by a shred, all ready to knock out. + +"We'll do it at midnight," announced Tom. + +Anxious, indeed, were those last hours of waiting. The time had +almost arrived for the attempt, when Tom, who had been nervously +pacing to and fro, remarked: + +"We must be running into another storm. Feel how she heaves and +rolls!" + +Indeed the Mars was most unsteady. + +"It sure is a storm!" cried Ned, "and a heavy one, too," for +there came a burst of thunder, that seemed like a report of Tom's +giant cannon. + +In another instant they were in the midst of a violent +thunderstorm, the airship pitching and tossing in a manner to +almost throw them from their feet. + +As Tom reached up to switch on the electric light again, there +came a flash of lightning that well nigh blinded them. And so +close after it as to seem simultaneous, there came such a crash +of thunder as to stun them all. There was a tingling, as of a +thousand pins and needles in the body of each of the captives, +and a strong smell of sulphur. Then, as the echoes of the clap +died away, Tom yelled: + +"She's been struck! The airship has been struck!" + + + +CHAPTER XXV +FREEDOM + + +For a moment there was silence, following Tom's wild cry and +the noise of the thunderclap. Then, as other, though less loud +reverberations of the storm continued to sound, the captives +awoke to a realization of what had happened. They had been +partially stunned, and were almost as in a dream. + +"Are--are we all right?" stammered Ned. + +"Bless my soul! What has happened?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"We've been struck by lightning!" Tom repeated. "I don't know +whether we're all right or not." + +"We seem to be falling!" exclaimed Lieutenant Marbury. + +"If the whole gas bag isn't ripped to pieces we're lucky," +commented Jerry Mound. + +Indeed, it was evident that the Mars was sinking rapidly. To +all there came the sensation of riding in an elevator in a +skyscraper and being dropped a score of stories. + +Then, as they stood there in the darkness, illuminated only by +flashes from the lightning outside the window, waiting for an +unknown fate, Tom Swift uttered a cry of delight. + +"We've stopped falling!" he cried. "The automatic gas machine +is pumping. Part of the gas bag was punctured, but the unbroken +compartments hold!" + +"If part of the gas leaked out I don't see why it wasn't all +set on fire and exploded," observed Captain Warner. + +"It's a non-burnable gas," Tom quickly explained. "But come on. +This may be our very chance. There seems to be something going on +that may be in our favor." + +Indeed the captives could hear confused cries and the running +to and fro of many feet. + +He made for the sawed panel, and, in another instant, had burst +out and was through it, out into the passageway between the after +and amidship cabins. His companions followed him. + +They looked into the rear cabin, or motor compartment, and a +scene of confusion met their gaze. Two of the foreign men who had +seized the ship lay stretched out on the floor near the humming +machinery, which had been left to run itself. A look in the other +direction, toward the main cabin, showed a group of the foreign +spies bending over the inert body of La Foy, the Frenchman, +stretched out on a couch. + +"What has happened?" cried Ned. "What does it all mean?' + +"The lightning!" exclaimed Tom. "The bolt that struck the ship +has knocked out some of our enemies! Now is the time to attack +them!" + +The Mars seemed to have passed completely through a narrow +storm belt. She was now in a quiet atmosphere, though behind her +could be seen the fitful play of lightning, and there could be +heard the distant rumble of thunder. + +"Come on!" cried Tom. "We must act quickly, while they are +demoralized! Come on!" + +His friends needed no further urging. Jerry Mound and the +machinist rushed to the engine-room, to look after any of the +enemy that might be there, while Tom, Ned and the others ran into +the middle cabin. + +"Grab 'em! Tie 'em up!" cried Tom, for they had no weapons with +which to make an attack. + +But none were needed. So stunned were the foreigners by the +lightning bolt, which had miraculously passed our friends, and so +unnerved by the striking down of La Foy, their leader, that they +seemed like men half asleep. Before they could offer any +resistance they were bound with the same ropes that had held our +friends in bondage. That is, all but the big Frenchman himself. +He seemed beyond the need of binding. + +Mound, the engineer, and his assistant, came hurrying in from +the motor-room, followed by Koku. + +"We found him chained up," Jerry explained, as the big giant, +freed from his captivity, rubbed his chafed wrists. + +"Are there any of the foreigners back there?' + +"Only those two knocked out by the lightning," the engineer +explained. "We've made them secure. I see you've got things here +in shape." + +"Yes," replied Tom. "And now to see where we are, and to get +back home. Whew! But this has been a time! Koku, what happened to +you?" + +"They no let anything happen. I be in chains all the while," +the giant answered. "Jump on me before I can do anything!" + +"Well, you're out, now, and I think we'll have you stand guard +over these men. The tables are turned, Koku." + +The bound ones were carried to the same prison whence our +friends had escaped, but their bonds were not taken off, and Koku +was put in the place with them. By this time La Foy and the two +other stricken men showed signs of returning life. They had only +been stunned. + +The young inventor and his friends, once more in possession of +their airship, lost little time in planning to return. They +found that the spies were all expert aeronauts, and had kept a +careful chart of their location. They were then halfway across +the Atlantic, and in a short time longer would probably have been +in some foreign country. But Tom turned the Mars about. + +The craft had only been slightly damaged by the lightning bolt, +though three of the gas bag compartments were torn, The others +sufficed, however, to make the ship sufficiently buoyant. + +When morning came Tom and his friends had matters running +almost as smoothly as before their capture. + +The prisoners had no chance to escape, and, indeed, they seemed +to have been broken in spirit. La Foy was no longer the insolent, +mocking Frenchman that he had been, and the two chief foreign +engineers seemed to have lost some of their reason when the +lightning struck them. + +"But it was a mighty lucky and narrow escape for us," said Ned, +as he and Tom sat in the pilot-house the second day of the return +trip. + +"That's right," agreed his chum. + +Once again they were above the earth, and, desiring to get rid +as soon as possible of the presence of the spies, a landing was +made near New York City, and the government authorities +communicated with. Captain Warner and Lieutenant Marbury took +charge of the prisoners, with some Secret Service men, and the +foreigners were soon safely locked up. + +"And now what are you going to do, Tom?" asked Ned, when, once +more, they had the airship to themselves. + +"I'm going back to Shopton, fix up the gas bag, and give her +another government trial," was the answer. + +And, in due time, this was done. Tom added some improvements +to the aircraft, making it better than ever, and when she was +given the test required by the government, she was an unqualified +success, and the rights to the Mars were purchased for a large +sum. In sailing, and in the matter of guns and bombs, Tom's craft +answered every test. + +"So you see I was right, after all, Dad," the young inventor +said, when informed that he had succeeded. "We can shoot off even +bigger guns than I thought from the deck of the Mars." + +"Yes, Tom," replied the aged inventor, "I admit I was wrong." + +Tom's aerial warship was even a bigger success than he had +dared to hope. Once the government men fully understood how to +run it, in which Tom played a prominent part in giving +instructions, they put the Mars to a severe test. She was taken +out over the ocean, and her guns trained on an obsolete +battleship. Her bombs and projectiles blew the craft to pieces. + +"The Mars will be the naval terror of the seas in any future +war," predicted Captain Warner. + +The Secret Service men succeeded in unearthing all the details +of the plot against Tom. His life, at times, had been in danger, +but at the last minute the man detailed to harm him lost his +nerve. + +It was Tom's enemies who had set on fire the red shed, and who +later tried to destroy the ship by putting a corrosive acid in +one of the propellers. That plot, though, was not wholly +successful. Then came the time when one of the spies hid on +board, and dropped the copper bar on the motor, short-circuiting +it. But for the storage-battery that scheme might have wrought +fearful damage. The spy who had stowed himself away on the craft +escaped at night by the connivance of one of Tom's corrupt +employees. + +The foreign spies were tried and found guilty, receiving +merited punishment. Of course the governments to which they +belonged disclaimed any part in the seizure of Tom's aerial +warship. + +It came out at the trial that one of Tom's most trusted +employees had proved a traitor, and had the night before the +test, allowed the foreign spies to secrete themselves on board, +to rush out at an opportune time to overpower our hero and his +friends. But luck was with Tom at the end. + +"Well, what are you going to tackle next, Tom?" asked Ned, one +day about a month after these exciting experiences. + +"I don't know," was the slow answer. "I think a self-swinging +hammock, under an apple tree, with a never-emptying pitcher of +ice-cold lemonade would be about the thing." + +"Good, Tom! And, if you'll invent that, I'll share it with +you." + +"Well, come on, let's begin now," laughed Tom. "I need a +vacation, anyhow." + +But it is very much to be doubted if Tom Swift, even on a +vacation, could refrain from trying to invent something, either +in the line of airships, water, or land craft. And so, until he +again comes to the front with something flew, we will take leave +of him. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Tom Swift And His Aerial Warship + + + + + +THE TOM SWIFT SERIES + +By VICTOR APPLETON + + +These spirited tales convey in a realistic way, the wonderful +advances in land and sea locomotion. Stories like these are +impressed upon the memory and their reading is productive only of +good. + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS +TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE +TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER +TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON +TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP +TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL +TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE + + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES + +BY VICTOR APPLETON + + +Moving pictures and photo plays are famous the world over, and +in this line of books the reader is given a full description of +how the films are made--the scenes of little dramas, indoors and +out, trick pictures to satisfy the curious, soul-stirring +pictures of city affairs, life in the Wild West, among the +cowboys and Indians, thrilling rescues along the seacoast, the +daring of picture hunters in the jungle among savage beasts, and +the great risks run in picturing conditions in a land of +earthquakes. The volumes teem with adventures and will be found +interesting from first chapter to last. + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AND THE FLOOD +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT PANAMA +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS UNDER THE SEA +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE WAR FRONT +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON FRENCH BATTLEFIELDS +MOVING PICTURE BOYS FIRST SHOWHOUSE +MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT SEASIDE PARK +MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON BROADWAY +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS OUTDOOR EXHIBITION +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS NEW IDEA + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Tom Swift And His Aerial Warship + diff --git a/old/old/18tom10.zip b/old/old/18tom10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..74e5c3e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/18tom10.zip diff --git a/old/old/18tom10h.htm b/old/old/18tom10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5e4278f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/18tom10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6532 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>Tom Swift And His Aerial Warship</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {margin:10%; text-align:justify} +blockquote {font-size:14pt} +P {font-size:14pt} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<p>*Project Gutenberg's Etext of Tom Swift And His Aerial +Warship* #18 in the Victor Appleton's Tom Swift Series<br> +</p> + +<p>We name the Tom Swift files as they are numbered in the +books-i.e. This is #18 in the series so the file name is +18tomxxx.xxx where the x's are place holders for editon # and +file type such as 18tom10.txt and 18tom10.zip, when we do a .htm, +18tom10h.htm<br> +</p> + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! +<br> +<p>Please take a look at the important information in this +header. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN +ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END*<br> +</p> + +<br> +<p><br> +</p> + +This Etext was prepared for Project Gutenberg by Anthony Matonac. +<br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<br><br><br> + +<h1>TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP</h1> +<br><br> +<h3>or The Naval Terror of the Seas</h3><br> +<br><br> + +<h2>BY VICTOR APPLETON</h2> <br> +<br> +<br><br><br> + +<h2 id="ref_1">CHAPTER I</h2> + +TOM IS PUZZLED <br> +<p>"What's the matter, Tom? You look rather blue!"<br> +</p> + +"Blue! Say, Ned, I'd turn red, green, yellow, or any other color +of the rainbow, if I thought it would help matters any." <br> +<p>"Whew!"<br> +</p> + +Ned Newton, the chum and companion of Tom Swift, gave vent to a +whistle of surprise, as he gazed at the young fellow sitting +opposite him, near a bench covered with strange-looking tools and +machinery, while blueprints and drawings were scattered about. +<br> +<p>Ranged on the sides of the room were models of many queer +craft, most of them flying machines of one sort or another, while +through the open door that led into a large shed could be seen +the outlines of a speedy monoplane.<br> +</p> + +"As bad as that, eh, Tom?" went on Ned. "I thought something was +up when I first came in, but, if you'll excuse a second mention +of the color scheme, I should say it was blue--decidedly blue. +You look as though you had lost your last friend, and I want to +assure you that if you do feel that way, it's dead wrong. There's +myself, for one, and I'm sure Mr. Damon--" <br> +<p>"Bless my gasoline tank!" exclaimed Tom, with a laugh, in +imitation of the gentleman Ned Newton had mentioned, "I know +that! I'm not worrying over the loss of any friends."<br> +</p> + +"And there are Eradicate, and Koku, the giant, just to mention a +couple of others," went on Ned, with a smile. <br> +<p>"That's enough!" exclaimed Tom. "It isn't that, I tell +you."<br> +</p> + +"Well, what is it then? Here I go and get a half-holiday off from +the bank, and just at the busiest time, too, to come and see you, +and I find you in a brown study, looking as blue as indigo, and +maybe you're all yellow inside from a bilious attack, for all I +know." <br> +<p>"Quite a combination of colors," admitted Tom. "But it isn't +what you think. It's just that I'm puzzled, Ned."<br> +</p> + +"Puzzled?" and Ned raised his eyebrows to indicate how surprised +he was that anything should puzzle his friend. <br> +<p>"Yes, genuinely puzzled."<br> +</p> + +"Has anything gone wrong?" Ned asked. "No one is trying to take +any of your pet inventions away from you, is there?" <br> +<p>"No, not exactly that, though it is about one of my inventions +I am puzzled. I guess I haven't shown you my very latest; have I, +Ned?"<br> +</p> + +"Well, I don't know, Tom. Time was when I could keep track of you +and your inventions, but that was in your early days, when you +started with a motorcycle and were glad enough to have a +motorboat. But, since you've taken to aerial navigation and +submarine work, not to mention one or two other lines of +activity, I give up. I don't know where to look next, Tom, for +something new." <br> +<p>"Well, this isn't so very new," went on the young inventor, +for Tom Swift had designed and patented many new machines of the +air, earth and water. "I'm just trying to work out some new +problems in aerial navigation, Ned," he went on.<br> +</p> + +"I thought there weren't any more," spoke Ned, soberly enough. +<br> +<p>"Come, now, none of that!" exclaimed Tom, with a laugh. "Why, +the surface of aerial navigation has only been scratched. The +science is far from being understood, or even made safe, not to +say perfected, as water and land travel have been. There's lots +of chance yet."<br> +</p> + +"And you're working on something new?" asked Ned, as he looked +around the shop where he and Tom were sitting. As the young bank +employee had said, he had come away from the institution that +afternoon to have a little holiday with his chum, but Tom, seated +in the midst of his inventions, seemed little inclined to +jollity. <br> +<p>Through the open windows came the hum of distant machinery, +for Tom Swift and his father were the heads of a company founded +to manufacture and market their many inventions, and about their +home were grouped several buildings. From a small plant the +business had grown to be a great tree, under the direction of Tom +and his father.<br> +</p> + +"Yes, I'm working on something new," admitted Tom, after a moment +of silence. <br> +<p>"And, Ned," he went on, "there's no reason why you shouldn't +see it. I've been keeping it a bit secret, until I had it a +little further advanced, but I've got to a point now where I'm +stuck, and perhaps it will do me good to talk to someone about +it."<br> +</p> + +"Not to talk to me, though, I'm afraid. What I don't know about +machinery, Tom, would fill a great many books. I don't see how I +can help you," and Ned laughed. <br> +<p>"Well, perhaps you can, just the same, though you may not know +a lot of technical things about machines. It sometimes helps me +just to tell my troubles to a disinterested person, and hear him +ask questions. I've got dad half distracted trying to solve the +problem, so I've had to let up on him for a while. Come on out +and see what you make of it."<br> +</p> + +"Sure, Tom, anything to oblige. If you want me to sit in front of +your photo-telephone, and have my picture taken, I'm agreeable, +even if you shoot off a flashlight at my ear. Or, if you want me +to see how long I can stay under water without breathing I'll try +that, too, provided you don't leave me under too long, lead the +way--I'm agreeable as far as I'm able, old man." <br> +<p>"Oh, it isn't anything like that," Tom answered with a laugh. +"I might as well give you a few hints, so you'll know what I'm +driving at. Then I'll take you out and show it to you."<br> +</p> + +"What is it--air, earth or water?" asked Ned Newton, for he knew +his chum's activities led along all three lines. <br> +<p>"This happens to be air."<br> +</p> + +"A new balloon?" <br> +<p>"Something like that. I call it my aerial warship, +though."<br> +</p> + +"Aerial warship, Tom! That sounds rather dangerous!" <br> +<p>"It will be dangerous, too, if I can get it to work. That's +what it's intended for."<br> +</p> + +"But a warship of the air!" cried Ned. "You can't mean it. A +warship carries guns, mortars, bombs, and--" <br> +<p>"Yes, I know," interrupted Tom, "and I appreciate all that +when I called my newest craft an aerial warship."<br> +</p> + +"But," objected Ned, "an aircraft that will carry big guns will +be so large that--" <br> +<p>"Oh, mine is large enough," Tom broke in.<br> +</p> + +"Then it's finished!" cried Ned eagerly, for he was much +interested in his chum's inventions. <br> +<p>"Well, not exactly," Tom said. "But what I was going to tell +you was that all guns are not necessarily large. You can get big +results with small guns and projectiles now, for high-powered +explosives come in small packages. So it isn't altogether a +question of carrying a certain amount of weight. Of course, an +aerial warship will have to be big, for it will have to carry +extra machinery to give it extra speed, and it will have to carry +a certain armament, and a large crew will be needed. So, as I +said, it will need to be large. But that problem isn't worrying +me."<br> +</p> + +"Well, what is it, then?" asked Ned. <br> +<p>"It's the recoil," said Tom, with a gesture of despair.<br> +</p> + +"The recoil?" questioned Ned, wonderingly. <br> +<p>"Yes, from the guns, you know. I haven't been able to overcome +that, and, until I do, I'm afraid my latest invention will be a +failure."<br> +</p> + +Ned shook his head. <br> +<p>"I'm afraid I can't help you any," he said. "The only thing I +know about recoils is connected with an old shotgun my father +used to own.<br> +</p> + +"I took that once, when he didn't know it," Ned proceeded. "It +was pretty heavily loaded, for the crows had been having fun in +our cornfield, and dad had been shooting at them. This time I +thought I'd take a chance. <br> +<p>"Well, I fired the gun. But it must have had a double charge +in it and been rusted at that. All I know is that after I pulled +the trigger I thought the end of the world had come. I heard a +clap of thunder, and then I went flying over backward into a +blackberry patch."<br> +</p> + +"That was the recoil," said Tom. <br> +<p>"The what?" asked Ned.<br> +</p> + +"The recoil. The recoil of the gun knocked you over. <br> +<p>"Oh, yes," observed Ned, rubbing his shoulder in a reflective +sort of way. "I always thought it was something like that. But, +at the time I put it down to an explosion, and let it go at +that."<br> +</p> + +"No, it wasn't an explosion, properly speaking," said Tom. "You +see, when powder explodes, in a gun, or otherwise, its force is +exerted in all directions, up, down and every way. <br> +<p>"This went mostly backward--in my direction," said Ned +ruefully.<br> +</p> + +"You only thought so," returned Tom. "Most of the power went out +in front, to force out the shot. Part of it, of course, was +exerted on the barrel of the gun--that was sideways--but the +strength of the steel held it in. And part of the force went +backward against your shoulder. That part was the recoil, and it +is the recoil of the guns I figure on putting aboard my aerial +warship that is giving me such trouble." <br> +<p>"Is that what makes you look so blue?" asked Ned.<br> +</p> + +"That's it. I can't seem to find a way by which to take up the +recoil, and the force of it, from all the guns I want to carry, +will just about tear my ship to pieces, I figure." <br> +<p>"Then you haven't actually tried it out yet?" asked Ned.<br> +</p> + +"Not the guns, no. I have the warship of the air nearly done, but +I've worked out on paper the problem of the guns far enough so +that I know I'm up against it. It can't be done, and an aerial +warship without guns wouldn't be worth much, I'm afraid." <br> +<p>"I suppose not," agreed Ned. "And is it only the recoil that +is bothering you?"<br> +</p> + +"Mostly. But come, take a look at my latest pet," and Tom arose +to lead the way to another shed, a large one in the distance, +toward which he waved his hand to indicate to his chum that there +was housed the wonderful invention. <br> +<p>The two chums crossed the yard, threading their way through +the various buildings, until they stood in front of the structure +to which Tom had called attention.<br> +</p> + +"It's in here," he said. "I don't mind admitting that I'm quite +proud of it, Ned; that is, proud as far as I've gone. But the gun +business sure has me worried. I'm going to talk it off on you. +Hello!" cried Tom suddenly, as he put a key in the complicated +lock on the door, "someone has been in here. I wonder who it is?" +<br> +<p>Ned was a little startled at the look on Tom s face and the +sound of alarm in his chum's voice.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_2">CHAPTER II</h1> + +A FIRE ALARM <br> +Tom Swift quickly opened the door of the big shed. It was built +to house a dirigible balloon, or airship of some sort. Ned could +easily tell that from his knowledge of Tom's previous inventions. +<br> +<p>"Something wrong?" asked the young bank clerk.<br> +</p> + +"I don't know," returned Tom, and then as he looked inside the +place, he breathed a sigh of relief. <br> +<p>"Oh, it's you, is it, Koku?" he asked, as a veritable giant of +a man came forward.<br> +</p> + +"Yes, master, it is only Koku and your father," spoke the big +chap, with rather a strange accent. <br> +<p>"Oh, is my father here?" asked Tom. "I was wondering who had +opened the door of this shed."<br> +</p> + +"Yes, Tom," responded the elder Swift, coming up to them, "I had +a new idea in regard to some of those side guy wires, and I +wanted to try it out. I brought Koku with me to use his strength +on some of them." <br> +<p>"That's all right, Dad. Ned and I came out to wrestle with +that recoil problem again. I want to try some guns on the craft +soon, but--"<br> +</p> + +"You'd better not, Tom," warned his father. "It will never work, +I tell you. You can't expect to take up quick-firing guns and +bombs in an airship, and have them work properly. Better give it +up." <br> +<p>"I never will. I'll make it work, Dad!"<br> +</p> + +"I don't believe you will, Tom. This time you have bitten off +more than you can chew, to use a homely but expressive +statement." <br> +<p>"Well, Dad, we'll see," began Tom easily. "There she is, Ned," +he went on. "Now, if you'll come around here<br> +</p> + +But Tom never finished that sentence, for at that moment there +came running into the airship shed an elderly, short, stout, +fussy gentleman, followed by an aged colored man. Both of them +seemed very much excited. <br> +<p>"Bless my socks, Tom!" cried the short, stout man. "There sure +is trouble!"<br> +</p> + +"I should say So, Massa Tom!" added the colored man. "I done did +prognosticate dat some day de combustible material of which dat +shed am composed would conflaggrate--" <br> +<p>"What's the matter?" interrupted Tom, jumping forward. "Speak +out! Eradicate! Mr. Damon, what is it?"<br> +</p> + +"The red shed!" cried the short little man. "The red shed, Tom +<br> +<p>"It's on fire!" yelled the colored man.<br> +</p> + +"Great thunderclaps!" cried Tom. "Come on --everybody on the +job!" he yelled. "Koku, pull the alarm! If that red shed goes--" +<br> +<p>Instantly the place was in confusion. Tom and Ned, looking +from a window of the hangar, saw a billow of black smoke roll +across the yard. But already the private fire bell was clanging +out its warning. And, while the work of fighting the flames is +under way, I will halt the progress of this story long enough to +give my new readers a little idea of who Tom Swift is, so they +may read this book more intelligently. Those of you who have +perused the previous volumes may skip this part.<br> +</p> + +Tom Swift, though rather young in years, was an inventor of note. +His tastes and talents were developed along the line of machinery +and locomotion. Motorcycles, automobiles, motorboats, submarine +craft, and, latest of all, craft of the air, had occupied the +attention of Tom Swift and his father for some years. <br> +<p>Mr. Swift was a widower, and lived with Tom, his only son, in +the village of Shopton, New York State. Mrs. Baggert kept house +for them, and an aged colored man, Eradicate Sampson, with his +mule, Boomerang, did "odd jobs" about the Shopton home and +factories.<br> +</p> + +Among Tom's friends was a Mr. Wakefield Damon, from a nearby +village. Mr. Damon was always blessing something, from his hat to +his shoes, a harmless sort of habit that seemed to afford him +much comfort. Then there was Ned Newton, a boyhood chum of Tom's, +who worked in the Shopton bank. I will just mention Mary Nestor, +a young lady of Shopton, in whom Tom was more than ordinarily +interested. I have spoken of Koku, the giant. He really was a +giant of a man, of enormous strength, and was one of two whom Tom +had brought with him from a strange land where Tom was held +captive for a time. You may read about it in a book devoted to +those adventures. <br> +<p>Tom took Koku into his service, somewhat to the dismay of +Eradicate, who was desperately jealous. But poor Eradicate was +getting old, and could not do as much as he thought he could. So, +in a great measure, Koku replaced him, and Tom found much use for +the giant's strength.<br> +</p> + +Tom had begun his inventive work when, some years before this +story opens, he had bargained for Mr. Damon's motorcycle, after +that machine had shot its owner into a tree. Mr. Damon was, +naturally, perhaps, much disgusted, and sold the affair cheap. +Tom repaired it, made some improvements, and, in the first volume +of this series, entitled "Tom Swift and His Motorcycles," you may +read of his rather thrilling adventures on his speedy road-steed. +<br> +<p>From then on Tom had passed a busy life, making many machines +and having some thrilling times with them. Just previous to the +opening of this story Tom had made a peculiar instrument, +described in the volume entitled "Tom Swift and His +PhotoTelephone." With that a person talking could not only see +the features of the person with whom he was conversing, but, by +means of a selenium plate and a sort of camera, a permanent +picture could be taken of the person at either end of the +wire.<br> +</p> + +By means of this invention Tom had been able to make a picture +that had saved a fortune. But Tom did not stop there. With him to +invent was as natural and necessary as breathing. He simply could +not stop it. And so we find him now about to show to his chum, +Ned Newton, his latest patent, an aerial warship, which, however, +was not the success Tom had hoped for. <br> +<p>But just at present other matters than the warship were in +Tom's mind. The red shed was on fire.<br> +</p> + +That mere statement might not mean anything special to the +ordinary person, but to Tom, his father, and those who knew about +his shops, it meant much. <br> +<p>"The red shed!" Tom cried. "We mustn't let that get the best +of us! Everybody at work! Father, not you, though. You mustn't +excite yourself!"<br> +</p> + +Even in the midst of the alarm Tom thought of his father, for the +aged man had a weak heart, and had on one occasion nearly +expired, being saved just in time by the arrival of a doctor, +whom Tom brought to the scene after a wonderful race through the +air. <br> +<p>"But, Tom, I can help," objected the aged inventor.<br> +</p> + +"Now, you just take care of yourself, Father!" Tom cried. "There +are enough of us to look after this fire, I think." <br> +<p>"But, Tom, it--it's the red shed!" gasped Mr. Swift.<br> +</p> + +"I realize that, Dad. But it can't have much of a start yet. Is +the alarm ringing, Koku?" <br> +<p>"Yes, Master," replied the giant, in correct but stilted +English. "I have set the indicator to signal the alarm in every +shop on the premises."<br> +</p> + +"That's right." Tom sprang toward the door. "Eradicate!" he +called. <br> +<p>"Yais, sah! Heah I is!" answered the colored man. "I'll go git +mah mule, Boomerang, right away, an' he--"<br> +</p> + +"Don't you bring Boomerang on the scene!" Tom yelled. "When I +want that shed kicked apart I can do it better than by using a +mule's heels. And you know you can't do a thing with Boomerang +when he sees fire." <br> +<p>"Now dat's so, Massa Tom. But I could put blinkers on him, +an'--"<br> +</p> + +"No, you let Boomerang stay where he is. Come on, Ned. We'll see +what we can do. Mr. Damon--" <br> +<p>"Yes, Tom, I'm right here," answered the peculiar man, for he +had come over from his home in Waterford to pay a visit to his +friends, Tom and Mr. Swift. "I'll do anything I can to help you, +Tom, bless my necktie!" he went on. "Only say the word!"<br> +</p> + +"We've got to get some of the stuff out of the place!" Tom cried. +"We may be able to save it, but I can't take a chance on putting +out the fire and letting some of the things in there go up in +smoke. Come on!" <br> +<p>Those in the shed where was housed what Tom hoped would prove +to be a successful aerial warship rushed to the open. From the +other shops and buildings nearby were pouring men and boys, for +the Swift plant employed a number of hands now.<br> +</p> + +Above the shouts and yells, above the crackle of flames, could be +heard the clanging of the alarm bell, set ringing by Koku, who +had pulled the signal in the airship shed. From there it had gone +to every building in the plant, being relayed by the telephone +operator, whose duty it was to look after that. <br> +<p>"My, you've got a big enough fire-fighting force, Tom!" cried +Ned in his chum's ear.<br> +</p> + +"Yes, I guess we can master it, if it hasn't gotten the best of +us. Say, it's going some, though!" <br> +<p>Tom pointed to where a shed, painted red--a sign of +danger-could be seen partly enveloped in smoke, amid the black +clouds of which shot out red tongues of flame.<br> +</p> + +"What have you got it painted red for?" Ned asked pantingly, as +they ran on. <br> +<p>"Because--" Tom began, but the rest of the sentence was lost +in a yell.<br> +</p> + +Tom had caught sight of Eradicate and the giant, Koku, unreeling +from a central standpipe a long line of hose. <br> +<p>"Don't take that!" Tom cried. "Don't use that hose! Drop +it!"<br> +</p> + +"What's the matter? Is it rotten?" Ned wanted to know. <br> +<p>"No, but if they pull it out the water will be turned on +automatically."<br> +</p> + +"Well, isn't that what you want at a fire--water?" Ned demanded. +<br> +<p>"Not at this fire," was Tom's answer. "There's a lot of +calcium carbide in that red shed--that's why it's red--to warn +the men of danger. You know what happens when water gets on +carbide--there's an explosion, and there's enough carbide in that +shed to send the whole works sky high.<br> +</p> + +"Drop that hose!" yelled Tom in louder tones. "Drop it, Rad-Koku! +Do you want to kill us all!" <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_3">CHAPTER III</h1> + +A DESPERATE BATTLE <br> +<p>Tom's tones and voice were so insistent that the giant and the +colored man had no choice but to obey. They dropped the hose +which, half unreeled, lay like some twisted snake in the grass. +Had it been pulled out all the way the water would have spurted +from the nozzle, for it was of the automatic variety, with which +Tom had equipped all his plant.<br> +</p> + +"But what are you going to do, Tom, if you don't use water?" +asked Ned, wonderingly. <br> +<p>"I don't know--yet, but I know water is the worst thing you +can put on carbide," returned Tom. For all he spoke Slowly his +brain was working fast. Already, even now, he was planning how +best to give battle to the flames.<br> +</p> + +It needed but an instant's thought on the part of Ned to make him +understand that Tom was right. It would be well-nigh fatal to use +water on carbide. Those of you who have bicycle lanterns, in +which that not very pleasant-smelling chemical is used, know that +if a few drops of water are allowed to drip slowly on the gray +crystals acetylene gas is generated, which makes a brilliant +light. But, if the water drips too fast, the gas is generated too +quickly, and an explosion results. In lamps, of course, and in +lighting plants where carbide is used, there are automatic +arrangements to prevent the water flowing too freely to the +chemical. But Tom knew if the hose were turned on the fire in the +red shed a great explosion would result, for some of the tins of +carbide would be melted by the heat. <br> +<p>Yet the fire needed to be coped with. Already the flames were +coming through the roof, and the windows and door were spouting +red fire and volumes of smoke.<br> +</p> + +Several other employees of Tom's plant had made ready to unreel +more hose, but the warning of the young inventor, shouted to +Eradicate and Koku, had had its effect. Every man dropped the +line he had begun to unreel. <br> +<p>"Ha! Massa Tom say drop de hose, but how yo' gwine t' squirt +watah on a fire wifout a hose; answer me dat?" and Eradicate +looked at Koku.<br> +</p> + +"Me no know," was the slow answer. "I guess Koku go pull shed +down and stamp out fire." <br> +<p>"Huh! Maybe yo' could do dat in cannibal land, where yo' all +come from," spoke Eradicate, "but yo' can't do dat heah! 'Sides, +de red shed will blow up soon. Dere's suffin' else in dere except +carbide, an' dat's gwine t' go up soon, dat's suah!"<br> +</p> + +"Maybe you get your strong man-mule, Boomerang," suggested Koku. +"Nothing ever hurt him--explosion or nothing. He can kick shed +all to pieces, and put out fire." <br> +<p>"Dat's what I wanted t' do, but Massa Tom say I cain't," +explained the colored man. "Golly! Look at dat fire!"<br> +</p> + +Indeed the blaze was now assuming alarming proportions. The red +shed, which was not a small structure, was blazing on all sides. +About it stood the men from the various shops. <br> +<p>"Tom, you must do something," said Mr. Swift. "If the flames +once reach that helmanite--"<br> +</p> + +"I know, Father. But that explosive is in double vacuum +containers, and it will be safe for some time yet. Besides, it's +in the cellar. It's the carbide I'm most worried about. We +daren't use water." <br> +<p>"But something will have to be done!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. +"Bless my red necktie, if we don't--"<br> +</p> + +"Better get back a way," suggested Tom. "Something may go off!" +<br> +<p>His words of warning had their effect, and the whole circle +moved back several paces.<br> +</p> + +"Is there anything of value in the shed?" asked Ned. <br> +<p>"I should say there was!" Tom answered. "I hoped we could get +some of them out, but we can't now--until the fire dies down a +bit, at any rate."<br> +</p> + +"Look, Tom! The pattern shop roof is catching!" shouted Mr. +Swift, pointing to where a little spurt of flame showed on the +roof of a distant building. <br> +<p>"It's from sparks!" Tom said.<br> +</p> + +"Any danger of using water there?" Ned wanted to know. <br> +<p>"No, use all you like! That's the only thing to do. Come on, +you with the hose!" Tom yelled. "Save the other buildings!"<br> +</p> + +"But are you going to let the red shed burn?" asked Mr. Swift. +"You know what it means, Tom." <br> +<p>"Yes, Father, I know. And I'm going to fight that fire in a +new way. But we must save the other buildings, too. Play water on +all the other sheds and structures!" ordered the young inventor. +"I'll tackle this one myself. Oh, Ned!" he called.<br> +</p> + +"Yes," answered his chum. "What is it?" <br> +<p>"You take charge of protecting the place where the new aerial +warship is stored. Will you? I can't afford to lose that."<br> +</p> + +"I'll look after it, Tom. No harm in using water there, though; +is there?" <br> +<p>"Not if you don't use too much. Some of the woodwork isn't +varnished yet, and I wouldn't want it to be wet. But do the best +you can. Take Koku and Eradicate with you. They can't do any good +here."<br> +</p> + +"Do you mean to say you're going to give up and let this burn?" +<br> +<p>"Not a bit of it, Ned. But I have another plan I want to try. +Lively now! The wind's changing, and it's blowing over toward my +aerial warship shed. If that catches--"<br> +</p> + +Tom shook his head protestingly, and Ned set off on the run, +calling to the colored man and the giant to get out another line +of hose. <br> +<p>"I wonder what Tom is going to do?" mused Ned, as he neared +the big shed he and the others had left on the alarm of fire.<br> +</p> + +Tom, himself, seemed in no doubt as to his procedure With one +look at the blazing red shed, as if to form an opinion as to how +much longer it could burn without getting entirely beyond +control, Tom set off on a run toward another large structure. +Ned, glancing toward his chum, observed: <br> +<p>"The dirigible shed! I wonder what his game is? Surely that +can't be in danger--it's too far off!"<br> +</p> + +Ned was right as to the last statement. The shed, where was +housed a great dirigible balloon Tom had made, but which he +seldom used of late, was sufficiently removed from the zone of +fire to be out of danger. <br> +<p>Meanwhile several members of the fire-fighting force that had +been summoned from the various shops by the alarm, had made an +effort to save from the red shed some of the more valuable of the +contents. There were some machines in there, as well as +explosives and chemicals, in addition to the store of +carbide.<br> +</p> + +But the fire was now too hot to enable much to be done in the way +of salvage. One or two small things were carried out from a +little addition to the main structure, and then the rescuers were +driven back by the heat of the flames, as well as by the rolling +clouds of black smoke. <br> +<p>"Keep away!" warned Mr. Swift. "It will explode soon. Keep +back!"<br> +</p> + +"That's right!" added Mr. Damon. "Bless my powder-horn! We may +all be going sky-high soon, and without aid from any of Tom +Swift's aeroplanes, either." <br> +<p>Warned by the aged inventor, the throng of men began slowly +moving away from the immediate neighborhood of the blazing shed. +Though it may seem to the reader that some time has elapsed since +the first sounding of the alarm, all that I have set down took +place in a very short period--hardly three minutes elapsing since +Tom and the others came rushing out of the aerial warship +building.<br> +</p> + +Suddenly a cry arose from the crowd of men near the red shed. +Ned, who stood ready with several lines of hose, in charge of +Koku, Eradicate and others, to turn them on the airship shed, in +case of need, looked in the direction of the excited throng. <br> +<p>The young bank clerk saw a strange sight. From the top of the +dirigible balloon shed a long, black, cigar-shaped body arose, +floating gradually upward. The very roof of the shed slid back +out of the way, as Tom pressed the operating lever, and the +dirigible was free to rise--as free as though it had been in an +open field.<br> +</p> + +"He's going up!" cried Ned in surprise. "Making an ascent at a +time like this, when he ought to stay here to fight the fire! +What's gotten into Tom, I'd like to know? I wonder if he can +be--" <br> +<p>Ned did not finish his half-formed sentence. A dreadful +thought came into his mind. What if the sudden fire, and the +threatened danger, as well as the prospective loss that +confronted Tom, had affected his mind?<br> +</p> + +"It certainly looks so," mused Ned, as he saw the big balloon +float free from the shed. There was no doubt but that Tom was in +it. He could be seen standing within the pilot-house, operating +the various wheels and levers that controlled the ship of the +air. <br> +<p>"What can he be up to?" marveled Tom. "Is he going to run away +from the fire?"<br> +</p> + +Koku, Eradicate and several others were attracted by the sight of +the great dirigible, now a considerable distance up in the air. +Certainly it looked as though Tom Swift were running away. Yet +Ned knew his chum better than that. <br> +<p>Then, as they watched, Ned and the others saw the direction of +the balloon change. She turned around in response to the +influence of the rudders and propellers, and was headed straight +for the blazing shed, but some distance above it.<br> +</p> + +"What can he be planning?" wondered Ned. <br> +<p>He did not have long to wait to find out.<br> +</p> + +An instant later Tom's plan was made clear to his chum. He saw +Tom circling over the burning red shed, and then the bank clerk +saw what looked like fine rain dropping from the lower part of +the balloon straight into the flames. <br> +<p>"He can't be dousing water on from up above there," reasoned +Ned. "Pouring water on carbide from a height is just as bad as +spurting it on from a hose, though perhaps not so dangerous to +the persons doing it. But it can't be--"<br> +</p> + +"By Jove!" suddenly exclaimed Ned, as he had a better view of +what was going on. "It's sand, that's what it is! Tom is giving +battle to the flames with sand from the ballast bags of the +dirigible! Hurray? That's the ticket! Sand! The only thing safe +to use in case of an explosive chemical fire. <br> +<p>"Fine for you. Tom Swift! Fine!"<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_4">CHAPTER IV</h1> + +SUSPICIONS <br> +High up aloft, over the blazing red shed, with its dangerous +contents that any moment might explode, Tom Swift continued to +hold his big dirigible balloon as near the flames as possible. +And as he stood outside on the small deck in front of the +pilot-house, where were located the various controls, the young +inventor pulled the levers that emptied bag after bag of fine +sand on the spouting flames that, already, were beginning to die +down as a result of this effectual quenching. <br> +<p>"Tom's done the trick!" yelled Ned, paying little attention +now to the big airship shed, since he saw that the danger was +about over.<br> +</p> + +"Dhat's what he suah hab done!" agreed Eradicate. "Mah ole mule +Boomerang couldn't 'a' done any better." <br> +<p>"Huh! Your mule afraid of fire," remarked Koku.<br> +</p> + +"What's dat? Mah mule afraid ob fire?" cried the colored man. +"Look heah, yo' great, big, overgrowed specimen ob an equilateral +quadruped, I'll hab yo' all understand dat when yo' all speaks +dat way about a friend ob mine dat yo'--" <br> +<p>"That'll do, Rad!" broke in Ned, with a laugh. He knew that +when Tom's helper grew excited on the subject of his mule there +was no Stopping him, and Boomerang was a point on which Eradicate +and Koku were always arguing. "The fire is under control +now."<br> +</p> + +"Yes, it seems to have gone visiting," observed Koku. <br> +<p>"Visiting?" queried Ned, in some surprise.<br> +</p> + +"Yes, that is, it is going out," went on Koku. <br> +<p>"Oh, I understand!" laughed Ned. "Yes, and I hope it doesn't +pay us another visit soon. Oh, look at Tom, would you!" he cried, +for the young aviator had swung his ship about over the flames, +to bring another row of sand bags directly above a place where +the fire was hottest.<br> +</p> + +Down showered more sand from the bags which Tom opened. No fire +could long continue to blaze under that treatment. The supply of +air was cut off, and without that no fire can exist. Water would +have been worse than useless, because of the carbide, but the +sand covered it up so that it was made perfectly harmless. <br> +<p>Moving slowly, the airship hovered over every part of the now +slowly expiring flames, the burned opening in the roof of the +shed making it possible for the sand to reach the spots where it +was most needed. The flames died out in section after section, +until no more could be seen--only clouds of black smoke.<br> +</p> + +"How is it now?" came Tom's voice, as he spoke from the deck of +the balloon through a megaphone. <br> +<p>"Almost out," answered Mr. Damon. "A little more sand, +Tom."<br> +</p> + +The eccentric man had caught up a piece of paper and, rolling it +into a cone, made an improvised megaphone of that. <br> +<p>"Haven't much more sand left," was Tom's comment, as he sent +down a last shower. "That will have to do. Hustle that carbide +and other explosive stuff out of there now, while you have a +chance."<br> +</p> + +"That's it!" cried Ned, who caught his chums meaning. "Come on, +Koku. There's work for you." <br> +<p>"Me like work," answered the giant, stretching out his great +arms.<br> +</p> + +The last of the sand had completely smothered the fire, and Tom, +observing from aloft that his work was well done, moved away in +the dirigible, sending it to a landing space some little distance +away from the shed whence it had arisen. It was impossible to +drop it back again through the roof of the hangar, as the balloon +was of such bulk that even a little breeze would deflect it so +that it could not be accurately anchored. But Tom had it under +very good control, and soon it was being held down on the ground +by some of his helpers. <br> +<p>As all the sand ballast had been allowed to run out Tom was +obliged to open the gas-valves and let some of the lifting vapor +escape, or he could not have descended.<br> +</p> + +"Come on, now!" cried the inventor, as he leaped from the deck of +his sky craft. "Let's clean out the red shed. That fire is only +smothered, and there may be sparks smoldering under that sand, +which will burst into flame, if we're not careful. Let's get the +explosives out of the way. <br> +<p>"Bless my insurance policy, yes," exclaimed Mr. Damon. "That +was a fine move of yours."<br> +</p> + +"It was the only way I could think of to put out the fire," Tom +replied. "I knew water was out of the question, and sand was the +next thing." <br> +<p>"But I didn't know where to get any until I happened to think +of the ballast bags of my dirigible. Then I knew, if I could get +above the fire, I could do the trick. I had to fly pretty high, +though, as the fire was hot, and I was afraid it might explode +the gas bag and wreck me."<br> +</p> + +"You were taking a chance," remarked Ned. <br> +<p>"Oh, well, you have to take chances in this business," +observed Tom, with a smile. "Now, then, let's finish this +work."<br> +</p> + +The sand, falling from the ballast bags of the dirigible, had so +effectually quenched the fire that it was soon cool enough to +permit close approach. Koku, Tom and some of the men who best +knew how to handle the explosives, were soon engaged in the work +of salvage. <br> +<p>"I wish I could help you, Tom," said his aged father. "I don't +seem able to do anything but stand here and look on," and he +gazed about him rather sadly.<br> +</p> + +"Never you mind, Dad!" Tom exclaimed. "We'll get along all right +now. You'd better go up to the house. Mr. Damon will go with you. +<br> +<p>"Yes, of course!" exclaimed the odd man, catching a wink from +Tom, who wanted his father not to get too excited on account of +his weak heart. "Come along, Professor Swift. The danger is all +over."<br> +</p> + +"All right," assented the aged inventor, with a look at the still +smoking shed. <br> +<p>"And, Dad, when you haven't anything else to do," went on Tom, +rather whimsically, "you might be thinking up some plan to take +up the recoil of those guns on my aerial warship. I confess I'm +clean stumped on that point."<br> +</p> + +"Your aerial warship will never be a success," declared Mr. +Swift. "You might as well give that up, Tom." <br> +<p>"Don't you believe it, Dad!" cried Tom, with more of a jolly +air of one chum toward another than as though the talk was +between father and son. "You solve the recoil problem for me, and +I'll take care of the rest, and make the air warship sail. But +we've got something else to do just now. Lively, boys."<br> +</p> + +While Mr. Swift, taking Mr. Damon's arm, walked toward the house, +Tom, Ned, Koku, and some of the workmen began carrying out the +explosives which had so narrowly escaped the fire. With long +hooks the men pulled the shed apart, where the side walls had +partly been burned through. Tom maintained an efficient +firefighting force at his works, and the men had the proper tools +with which to work. <br> +<p>Soon large openings were made on three sides of the red shed, +or rather, what was left of it, and through these the dangerous +chemicals and carbide, in sheet-iron cans, were carried out to a +place of safety. In a little while nothing remained but a heap of +hot sand, some charred embers and certain material that had been +burned.<br> +</p> + +"Much loss, Tom?" asked Ned, as they surveyed the ruins. They +were both black and grimy, tired and dirty, but there was a great +sense of satisfaction. <br> +<p>"Well, yes, there's more lost than I like to think of," +answered Tom slowly, "but it would have been a heap sight worse +if the stuff had gone up. Still, I can replace what I've lost, +except a few models I kept in this place. I really oughtn't to +have stored them here, but since I've been working on my new +aerial warship I have sort of let other matters slide. I intended +to make the red shed nothing but a storehouse for explosive +chemicals, but I still had some of my plans and models in it when +it caught."<br> +</p> + +"Only for the sand the whole place might have gone," said Ned in +a low voice. <br> +<p>"Yes. It's lucky I had plenty of ballast aboard the dirigible. +You see, I've been running it alone lately, and I had to take on +plenty of sand to make up for the weight of the several +passengers I usually carry. So I had plenty of stuff to shower +down on the fire. I wonder how it started, anyhow? I must +investigate this."<br> +</p> + +"Mr. Damon and Eradicate seem to have seen it first," remarked +Ned. <br> +<p>"Yes. At least they gave the alarm. Guess I'll ask Eradicate +how he happened to notice. Oh, I say, Rad!" Tom called to the +colored man.<br> +</p> + +"Yais, sah, Massa Tom! I'se comin'!" the darky cried, as he +finished piling up, at a safe distance from the fire, a number of +cans of carbide. <br> +<p>"How'd you happen to see the red shed ablaze?" Tom asked.<br> +</p> + +"Why, it was jest dish yeah way, Massa Tom," began the colored +man. "I had jest been feedin' mah mule, Boomerang. He were +pow'ful hungry, Boomerang were, an', when I give him some oats, +wif a carrot sliced up in 'em--no, hole on--did I gib him a +carrot t'day, or was it yist'day?--I done fo'got. No, it were +yist'day I done gib him de carrot, I 'member now, 'case--" <br> +<p>"Oh, never mind the carrot, or Boomerang, either, Rad!" broke +in Tom, "I'm asking you about the fire."<br> +</p> + +"An' I'se tellin' yo', Massa Tom," declared Eradicate, with a +rather reproachful look at his master. "But I wanted t' do it +right an' proper. I were comin' from Boomerang's stable, an' I +see suffin' red spoutin' up at one corner ob de red shed. I +knowed it were fire right away, an' I yelled." <br> +<p>"Yes, I heard you yell," Tom said. "But what I wanted to know +is, did you see anyone near the red shed at the time?"<br> +</p> + +"No, Massa Tom, I done didn't." <br> +<p>"I wonder if Mr. Damon did? I must ask him," went on the young +inventor. "Come, on, Ned, we'll go up to the house. Everything is +all right here, I think. Whew! But that was some excitement. And +I didn't show you my aerial warship after all! Nor have you +settled that recoil problem for me."<br> +</p> + +"Time enough, I guess," responded Ned. "You sure did have a lucky +escape, Tom." <br> +<p>"That's right. Well, Koku, what is it?" for the giant had +approached, holding out something in his hand.<br> +</p> + +"Koku found this in red shed," went on the giant, holding out a +round, blackened object. "Maybe him powder; go bang-bang!" <br> +<p>"Oh, you think it's something explosive, eh?" asked Tom, as he +took the object from the giant.<br> +</p> + +"Koku no think much," was the answer. "Him look funny." <br> +<p>Tom did not speak for a moment. Then he cried:<br> +</p> + +"Look funny! I should say it did! See here, Ned, if this isn't +suspicious I'll eat my hat!" and Tom beckoned excitedly to his +chum, who had walked on a little in advance. <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_5">CHAPTER V</h1> + +A QUEER STRANGER <br> +<p>What Tom Swift held in his hand looked like a small cannon +ball, but it could not have been solid or the young aviator would +not so easily have held it out at arm's length for his friend Ned +Newton to look at.<br> +</p> + +"This puts a different face on it, Ned," Tom went on, as he +turned the object over. <br> +<p>"Is that likely to go off?" the bank clerk asked, as he came +to a halt a little distance from his friend.<br> +</p> + +"Go off? No, it's done all the damage it could, I guess." <br> +<p>"Damage? It looks to me as though it had suffered the most +damage itself. What is it, one of your models? Looks like a bomb +to me."<br> +</p> + +"And that's what it is, Ned." <br> +<p>"Not one of those you're going to use on your aerial warship, +is it, Tom?"<br> +</p> + +"Not exactly. I never saw this before, but it's what started the +fire in the red shed all right; I'm sure of that." <br> +<p>"Do you really mean it?" cried Ned.<br> +</p> + +"I sure do." <br> +<p>"Well, if that's the case, I wouldn't leave such dangerous +things around where there are explosives, Tom."<br> +</p> + +"I didn't, Ned. I wouldn't have had this within a hundred miles +of my shed, if I could have had my way. It's a fire bomb, and it +was set to go off at a certain time. Only I think something went +wrong, and the bomb started a fire ahead of time. <br> +<p>"If it had worked at night, when we were all asleep, we might +not have put the fire out so easily. This sure is suspicious! I'm +glad you found this, Koku."<br> +</p> + +Tom was carefully examining the bomb, as Ned had correctly named +it. The bank clerk, now that he was assured by his chum that the, +object had done all the harm it could, approached closer. <br> +<p>What he saw was merely a hollow shell of iron, with a small +opening in it, as though intended for a place through which to +put a charge of explosives and a fuse.<br> +</p> + +"But there was no explosion, Tom," explained Ned. <br> +<p>"I know it," said Tom quietly. "It wasn't an explosive bomb. +Smell that!"<br> +</p> + +He held the object under Ned's nose so suddenly that the young +bank clerk jumped back. <br> +<p>"Oh, don't get nervous," laughed Tom. "It can't hurt you now. +But what does that smell like?"<br> +</p> + +Ned sniffed, sniffed again, thought for a moment, and then +sniffed a third time. <br> +<p>"Why," he said slowly, "I don't just know the name of it, but +it's that funny stuff you mix up sometimes to put in the oxygen +tanks when we go up in the rarefied atmosphere in the balloon or +airship."<br> +</p> + +"Manganese and potash," spoke Tom. "That and two or three other +things that form a chemical combination which goes off by itself +of spontaneous combustion after a certain time. Only the person +who put this bomb together didn't get the chemical mixture just +right, and it went off ahead of time; for which we have to be +duly thankful." <br> +<p>"Do you really think that, Tom?" cried Ned.<br> +</p> + +"I'm positive of it," was the quiet answer. <br> +<p>"Why--why--that would mean some one tried to set fire to the +red shed, Tom!"<br> +</p> + +"They not only tried it, but did it," responded Tom, more coolly +than seemed natural under the circumstances. "Only for the fact +that the mixture went off before it was intended to, and found us +all alert and ready--well, I don't like to think what might have +happened," and Tom cast a look about at his group of buildings +with their valuable contents. <br> +<p>"You mean some one purposely put that bomb in the red shed, +Tom?"<br> +</p> + +"That's exactly what I mean. Some enemy, who wanted to do me an +injury, planned this thing deliberately. He filled this steel +shell with chemicals which, of themselves, after a certain time, +would send out a hot tongue of flame through this hole," and Tom +pointed to the opening in the round steel shell. <br> +<p>"He knew the fire would be practically unquenchable by +ordinary means, and he counted on its soon eating its way into +the carbide and other explosives. Only it didn't."<br> +</p> + +"Why, Tom!" cried Ned. "It was just like one of those alarmclock +dynamite bombs--set to go off at a certain time." <br> +<p>"Exactly," Tom said, "only this was more delicate, and, if it +had worked properly, there wouldn't have been a vestige left to +give us a clue. But the fire, thanks to the ballast sand in the +dirigible, was put out in time. The fuse burned itself out, but I +can tell by the smell that chemicals were in it. That's all, +Koku," he went on to the giant who had stood waiting, not +understanding all the talk between Tom and Ned. "I'll take care +of this now."<br> +</p> + +"Bad man put it there?" asked the giant, who at least +comprehended that something was wrong. <br> +<p>"Well, yes, I guess you could say it was a bad man," replied +Tom.<br> +</p> + +"Ha! If Koku find bad man--bad for that man!" muttered the giant, +as he clasped his two enormous hands together, as though they +were already on the fellow who had tried to do Tom Swift such an +injury. <br> +<p>"I wouldn't like to be that man, if Koku catches him," +observed Ned. "Have you any idea who it could be, Tom?"<br> +</p> + +"Not the least. Of course I know I have enemies, Ned. Every +successful inventor has persons who imagine he has stolen their +ideas, whether he has ever seen them or not. It may have been one +of those persons, or some half-mad crank, who was jealous. It +would be impossible to say, Ned." <br> +<p>"It wouldn't be Andy Foger, would it?"<br> +</p> + +"No; I don't believe Andy has been in this neighborhood for some +time. The last lesson we gave him sickened him, I guess." <br> +<p>"How about those diamond-makers, whose secret you discovered? +They wouldn't be trying to get back at you, would they?"<br> +</p> + +Well, it's possible, Ned. But I don't imagine so. They seem to +have been pretty well broken up. No, I don't believe it was the +diamond-makers who put this fire bomb in the red shed. Their line +of activities didn't include this branch. It takes a chemist to +know just how to blend the things contained in the bomb, and even +a good chemist is likely to fail--as this one did, as far as time +went." <br> +<p>"What are you going to do about it?" Ned asked.<br> +</p> + +"I don't know," and Tom spoke slowly, "I hoped I was done with +all that sort of thing," he went on; "fighting enemies whom I +have never knowingly injured. But it seems they are still after +me. Well, Ned, this gives us something to do, at all events." +<br> +<p>"You mean trying to find out who these fellows are?"<br> +</p> + +"Yes; that is, if you are willing to help." <br> +<p>"Well, I guess I am!" cried the bank clerk with sparkling +eyes. "I wouldn't ask anything better. We've been in things like +this before, Tom, and we'll go in again--and win! I'll help you +all I can. Now, let's see if we can pick up any other clues. This +is like old times!" and Ned laughed, for he, like Tom, enjoyed a +good "fight," and one in which the odds were against them.<br> +</p> + +"We sure will have our hands full," declared the young inventor. +"Trying to solve the problem of carrying guns on an aerial +warship, and finding out who set this fire." <br> +<p>"Then you're not going to give up your aerial warship +idea?"<br> +</p> + +"No, indeed!" Tom cried. "What made you think that?" <br> +<p>"Well, the way your father spoke--"<br> +</p> + +"Oh, dear old dad!" exclaimed Tom affectionately. "I don't want +to argue with him, but he's dead wrong!" <br> +<p>"Then you are going to make a go of it?"<br> +</p> + +"I sure am, Ned! All I have to solve is the recoil proposition, +and, as soon as we get straightened out from this fire, we'll +tackle that problem again--you and I. But I sure would like to +know who put this in my red shed," and Tom looked in a puzzled +manner at the empty fire bomb he still held. <br> +<p>Tom paused, on his way to the house, to put the bomb in one of +his offices.<br> +</p> + +"No use letting dad know about this," he went on. It would only +be something else for him to worry about." <br> +<p>"That's right," agreed Ned.<br> +</p> + +By this time nearly all evidences of the fire, except for the +blackened ruins of the shed, had been cleared away. High in the +air hung a cloud of black smoke, caused by some chemicals that +had burned harmlessly save for that pall. Tom Swift had indeed +had a lucky escape. <br> +<p>The young inventor, finding his father quieted down and +conversing easily with Mr. Damon, who was blessing everything he +could think of, motioned to Ned to follow him out of the house +again.<br> +</p> + +"We'll leave dad here," said Tom, "and do a little investigating +on our own account. We'll look for clues while they're fresh." +<br> +<p>But, it must be confessed, after Tom and Ned had spent the +rest of that day in and about the burned shed, they were little +wiser than when they started. They found the place where the fire +bomb had evidently been placed, right inside the main entrance to +the shed. Tom knew it had been there because there were peculiar +marks on the charred wood, and a certain queer smell of chemicals +that confirmed his belief.<br> +</p> + +"They put the bomb there to prevent anyone going in at the first +alarm and saving anything," Tom said. "They didn't count on the +roof burning through first, giving me a chance to use the sand. I +made the roof of the red shed flimsy just on that account, so the +force of the explosion if one ever came, would be mostly upward. +You know the expanding gases, caused by an explosion or by rapid +combustion, always do just as electricity does, seek the shortest +and easiest route. In this case I made the roof the easiest +route." <br> +<p>"A lucky provision," observed Ned.<br> +</p> + +That night Tom had to confess himself beaten, as far as finding +clues was concerned. The empty fire bomb was the only one, and +that seemed valueless. <br> +<p>Close questioning of the workmen failed to disclose anything. +Tom was particularly anxious to discover if any mysterious +strangers had been seen about the works. There was a strict rule +about admitting them to the plant, however, and it could not be +learned that this had been violated.<br> +</p> + +"Well, we'll just have to lay that aside for a while," Tom said +the next day, when Ned again came to pay a visit. "Now, what do +you say to tackling, with me, that recoil problem on the aerial +warship?" <br> +<p>"I'm ready, if you are," Ned agreed, "though I know about as +much of those things as a snake does about dancing. But I'm +game."<br> +</p> + +The two friends walked out toward the shed where Tom's new craft +was housed. As yet Ned had not seen it. On the way they saw +Eradicate walking along, talking to himself, as he often did. +<br> +<p>"I wonder what he has on his mind," remarked Ned musingly.<br> +</p> + +"Something does seem to be worrying him," agreed Tom. <br> +<p>As they neared the colored man, they could hear him +saying:<br> +</p> + +"He suah did hab nerve, dat's what he did! De idea ob askin' me +all dem questions, an' den wantin' t' know if I'd sell him!" <br> +<p>"What's that, Eradicate?" asked Tom.<br> +</p> + +"Oh, it's a man I met when I were comin' back from de ash dump," +Eradicate explained. One of the colored man's duties was to cart +ashes away from Tom's various shops, and dump them in a certain +swampy lot. With an old ramshackle cart, and his mule, Boomerang, +Eradicate did this task to perfection. <br> +<p>"A man--what sort of a man?" asked Tom, always ready to be +suspicious of anything unusual.<br> +</p> + +"He were a queer man," went on the aged colored helper. "First he +stopped me an' asted me fo' a ride. He was a dressed-up gen'man, +too, an' I were suah s'prised at him wantin' t" set in mah ole +ash cart," said Eradicate. "But I done was polite t' him, an' +fixed a blanket so's he wouldn't git too dirty. Den he asted me +ef I didn't wuk fo' yo', Massa Tom, an' of course I says as how I +did. Den he asted me about de fire, an' how much damage it done, +an' how we put it out. An' he end up by sayin' he'd laik t' buy +mah mule, Boomerang, an' he wants t' come heah dis arternoon an' +talk t' me about it." <br> +<p>"He does, eh?" cried Tom. "What sort of a man was he, +Rad?"<br> +</p> + +"Well, a gen'man sort ob man, Massa Tom. Stranger t' me. I nebber +seed him afo'. He suah was monstrous polite t' ole black +Eradicate, an' he gib me a half-dollar, too, jest fo' a little +ride. But I aint' gwine t' sell Boomerang, no indeedy, I ain't!" +and Eradicate shook his gray, kinky head decidedly. <br> +<p>"Ned, there may be something in this!" said Tom, in an excited +whisper to his chum. "I don't like the idea of a mysterious +stranger questioning Eradicate!"<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_6">CHAPTER VI</h1> + +THE AERIAL WARSHIP <br> +Ned Newton looked at Tom questioningly. Then he glanced at the +unsuspicious colored man, who was industriously polishing the +half-dollar the mysterious stranger had given him. <br> +<p>"Rad, just exactly what sort of a man was this one you speak +of?" asked Tom.<br> +</p> + +"Why, he were a gen'man--" <br> +<p>"Yes, I know that much. You've said it before. But was he an +Englishman, an American--or--"<br> +</p> + +Tom paused and waited for an answer. <br> +<p>"I think he were a Frenchman," spoke Eradicate. "I done didn't +see him eat no frogs' laigs, but he smoked a cigarette dat had a +funny smell, and he suah was monstrous polite. He suah was a +Frenchman. I think."<br> +</p> + +Tom and Ned laughed at Eradicate's description of the man, but +Tom's face was soon grave again. <br> +<p>"Tell us more about him, Rad," he suggested. "Did he seem +especially interested in the fire?"<br> +</p> + +"No, sah, Massa Tom, he seemed laik he was more special +interested in mah mule, Boomerang. He done asted how long I had +him, an' how much I wanted fo' him, an' how old he was." <br> +<p>"But every once in a while he put in some question about the +fire, or about our shops, didn't he, Rad?" Tom wanted to +know.<br> +</p> + +The colored man scratched his kinky head, and glanced with a +queer look at Tom. <br> +<p>"How yo' all done guess dat?" he asked.<br> +</p> + +"Answer my question," insisted Tom. <br> +<p>"Yes, sah, he done did ask about yo', and de wuks, ebery now +and den," Rad confessed. "But how yo' all knowed dat, Massa Tom, +when I were a-tellin' yo' all about him astin' fo' mah mule, done +gets me--dat's what it suah does."<br> +</p> + +"Never mind, Rad. He asked questions about the plant, that's all +I want to know. But you didn't tell him much, did you?" <br> +<p>Eradicate looked reproachfully at his master.<br> +</p> + +"Yo' all done knows me bettah dan dat, Massa Tom," the old +colored man said. "Yo' all know yo' done gib orders fo' nobody t' +talk about yo' projections." <br> +<p>"Yes, I know I gave those orders," Tom said, with a smile, +"but I want to make sure that they have been followed."<br> +</p> + +"Well, I done follered 'em, Massa Tom." <br> +<p>"Then you didn't tell this queer stranger, Frenchman, or +whatever he is, much about my place?"<br> +</p> + +"I didn't tell him nuffin', sah. I done frowed dust in his eyes. +<br> +<p>Ned uttered an exclamation of surprise.<br> +</p> + +"Eradicate is speaking figuratively," Tom said, with a laugh. +<br> +<p>"Dat's what I means," the colored man went on. "I done fooled +him. When he asted me about de fire I said it didn't do no damage +at all--in fack dat we'd rather hab de fire dan not hab it, 'case +it done gib us a chance t' practice our hose drill."<br> +</p> + +"That's good," laughed Tom. "What else?" <br> +<p>"Well, he done sort ob hinted t' me ef we all knowed how de +fire done start. I says as how we did, dat we done start it +ourse'ves fo' practice, an dat we done expected it all along, an' +were ready fo' it. Course I knows dat were a sort of fairy story, +Massa Tom, but den dat cigarette-smokin' Frenchman didn't hab no +right t' asted me so many questions, did he?"<br> +</p> + +"No, indeed, Rad. And I'm glad you didn't give him straight +answers. So he's coming here later on, is he?" <br> +<p>"T' see ef I wants t' sell mah mule, Boomerang, yais, sah. I +sort ob thought maybe you'd want t' hab a look at dat man, so I +tole him t' come on. Course I doan't want t' sell Boomerang, but +ef he was t' offer me a big lot ob money fo' him I'd take +it."<br> +</p> + +"Of course," Tom answered. "Very well, Rad. You may go on now, +and don't say anything to anyone about what you have told me." +<br> +<p>"I won't, Massa Tom," promised the colored man, as he went off +muttering to himself.<br> +</p> + +"Well, what do you make of it, Tom?" asked Ned of his chum, as +they walked on toward the shed of the new, big aerial warship. +<br> +<p>"I don't know just what to think, Ned. Of course things like +this have happened before--persons trying to worm secrets out of +Eradicate, or some of the other men."<br> +</p> + +"They never succeeded in getting much, I'm glad to say, but it +always keeps me worried for fear something will happen," Tom +concluded. <br> +<p>"But about this Frenchman?"<br> +</p> + +"Well, he must be a new one. And, now I come to think of it, I +did hear some of the men speaking about a foreigner--a +stranger-being around town last week. It was just a casual +reference, and I paid little attention to it. Now it looks as +though there might be something in it." <br> +<p>"Do you think he'll come to bargain with Eradicate about the +mule?" Ned asked.<br> +</p> + +"Hardly. That was only talk to make Eradicate unsuspicious. The +stranger, whoever he was, sized Rad up partly right. I surmised, +when Rad said he asked a lot of questions about the mule, that +was only to divert suspicion. and that he'd come back to the +subject of the fire every chance he got." <br> +<p>"And you were right."<br> +</p> + +"Yes, so it seems. But I don't believe the fellow will come +around here. It would be too risky. All the same, we'll be +prepared for him. I'll just rig up one of my photo-telephone +machines, so that, if he does come to have a talk with Rad, we +can both see and hear him." <br> +<p>"That's great, Tom! But do you think this fellow had anything +to do with the fire?"<br> +</p> + +"I don't know. He knew about it, of course. This isn't the first +fire we've had in the works, and, though we always fight them +ourselves, still news of it will leak out to the town. So he +could easily have known about it. And he might be in with those +who set it, for I firmly believe the fire was set by someone who +has an object in injuring me." <br> +<p>"It's too bad!" declared Ned. "Seems as though they might let +you alone, if they haven't gumption enough to invent things for +themselves."<br> +</p> + +"Well, don't worry. Maybe it will come out all right," returned +Tom. "Now, let's go and have a look at my aerial warship. I +haven't shown it to you yet. Then we'll get ready for that +mysterious Frenchman, if he comes--but I don't believe he will." +<br> +<p>The young inventor unlocked the door of the shed where he kept +his latest "pet," and at the sight which met his eyes Ned Newton +uttered an exclamation of surprise.<br> +</p> + +"Tom, what is it?" he cried in an awed voice. <br> +<p>"My aerial warship!" was the quiet answer.<br> +</p> + +Ned Newton gave vent to a long whistle, and then began a detailed +examination of the wonderful craft he saw before him. That is, he +made as detailed an examination as was possible under the +circumstances, for it was a long time before the young bank clerk +fully appreciated all Tom Swift had accomplished in building the +Mars, which was the warlike name painted in red letters on the +big gas container that tugged and swayed overhead. <br> +<p>"Tom, however did you do it?" gasped Ned at length.<br> +</p> + +"By hard work," was the modest reply. "I've been at this for a +longer time than you'd suppose, working on it at odd moments. I +had a lot of help, too, or I never could have done it. And now it +is nearly all finished, as far as the ship itself is concerned. +The only thing that bothers me is to provide for the recoil of +the guns I want to carry. Maybe you can help me with that. Come +on, now, I'll explain how the affair works, and what I hope to +accomplish with it." <br> +<p>In brief Tom's aerial warship was a sort of German Zeppelin +type of dirigible balloon, rising in the air by means of a gas +container, or, rather, several of them, for the section for +holding the lifting gas element was divided by bulkheads.<br> +</p> + +The chief difference between dirigible balloons and ordinary +aeroplanes, as you all know, is that the former are lifted from +the earth by a gas, such as hydrogen, which is lighter than air, +while the aeroplane lifts itself by getting into motion, when +broad, flat planes, or surfaces, hold it up, just as a flat stone +is held up when you sail it through the air. The moment the +stone, or aeroplane, loses its forward motion, it begins to fall. +<br> +<p>This is not so with a dirigible balloon. It is held in the air +by means of the lifting gas, and once so in the air can be sent +in any direction by means of propellers and rudders.<br> +</p> + +Tom's aerial warship contained many new features. While it was as +large as some of the war-type Zeppelins, it differed from them +materially. But the details would be of more interest to a +scientific builder of such things than to the ordinary reader, so +I will not weary you with them. <br> +<p>Sufficient to say that Tom's craft consisted first of a great +semi-rigid bag, or envelope, made of specially prepared oiled +silk and aluminum, to hold the gas, which was manufactured on +board. There were a number of gas-tight compartments, so that if +one, or even if a number of them burst, or were shot by an enemy, +the craft would still remain afloat.<br> +</p> + +Below the big gas bag was the ship proper, a light but strong and +rigid framework about which were built enclosed cabins. These +cabins, or compartments, housed the driving machinery, the +gas-generating plant, living, sleeping and dining quarters, and a +pilot-house, whence the ship could be controlled. <br> +<p>But this was not all.<br> +</p> + +Ned, making a tour of the Mars, as she swayed gently in the big +shed, saw where several aluminum pedestals were mounted, fore and +aft and on either beam of the ship. <br> +<p>"They look just like places where you intend to mount guns," +said Ned to Tom.<br> +</p> + +"And that's exactly what they are," the young inventor replied. +"I have the guns nearly ready for mounting, but I can't seem to +think of a way of providing for the recoil. And if I don't take +care of that, I'm likely to find my ship coming apart under me, +after we bombard the enemy with a broadside or two." <br> +<p>"Then you intend to fight with this ship?" asked Ned.<br> +</p> + +"Well, no; not exactly personally. I was thinking of offering it +to the United States Government. Foreign nations are getting +ready large fleets of aerial warships, so why shouldn't we? +Matters in Europe are mighty uncertain. There may be a great war +there in which aerial craft will play a big part. I am conceited +enough to think I can build one that will measure up to the +foreign ones, and I'll soon be in a position to know." <br> +<p>"What do you mean?"<br> +</p> + +"I mean I have already communicated with our government experts, +and they are soon to come and inspect this craft. I have sent +them word that it is about finished. There is only the matter of +the guns, and some of the ordnance officers may be able to help +me out with a suggestion, for I admit I am stuck!" exclaimed Tom. +<br> +<p>"Then you're going to do the same with this aerial warship as +you did with your big lantern and that immense gun you +perfected?" asked Ned.<br> +</p> + +"That's right," confirmed Tom. My former readers will know to +what Ned Newton referred, and those of you who do not may learn +the details of how Tom helped Uncle Sam, by reading the previous +volumes, "Tom Swift and His Great Searchlight," and "Tom Swift +and His Giant Cannon." <br> +<p>"When do you expect the government experts?," Ned asked.<br> +</p> + +"Within a few days, now. But I'll have to hustle to get ready for +them, as this fire has put me back. There are quite a number of +details I need to change. Well, now, let me explain about that +gun recoil business. Maybe you can help me." <br> +<p>"Fire away," laughed Ned. "I'll do the best I can."<br> +</p> + +Tom led the way from the main shed, where the aerial warship was +housed, to a small private office. As Ned entered, the door, +pulled by a strong spring, swung after him. He held back his hand +to prevent it from slamming, but there was no need, for a patent +arrangement took up all the force, and the door closed gently. +Ned looked around, not much surprised, for the same sort of +door-check was in use at his bank. But a sudden idea came to him. +<br> +<p>"There you are, Tom!" he cried. "Why not take up the recoil of +the guns on your aerial warship by some such device as that?" and +Ned pointed to the door-check.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_7">CHAPTER VII</h1> + +WARNINGS <br> +For a moment or two Tom Swift did not seem to comprehend what Ned +had said. He remained staring, first at his chum, who stood +pointing, and from him Tom's gaze wandered to the top of the +door. It may have been, and probably was, that Tom was thinking +of other matters at that instant. But Ned said again: <br> +<p>"Wouldn't that do, Tom? Check the recoil of the gun with +whatever stuff is in that arrangement!"<br> +</p> + +A sudden change came over Tom's face. It was lighted up with a +gleam of understanding. <br> +<p>"By Jove, Ned, old man!" he cried. "I believe you've struck +it! And to think that has been under my nose, or, rather, over my +head, all this while, and I never thought of it. Hurray! That +will solve the problem!"<br> +</p> + +"Do you think it will?" asked Ned, glad that he had contributed +something, if only an idea, to Tom's aerial warship. <br> +<p>"I'm almost sure it will. I'll give it a trial right +away."<br> +</p> + +"What's in that door-check?" Ned asked. "I never stopped before +to think what useful things they are, though at the bank, with +the big, heavy doors, they are mighty useful." <br> +<p>"They are a combination of springs and hydrostatic valves," +began Tom.<br> +</p> + +"Good-night!" laughed Ned. "Excuse the slang, Tom, but what in +the world is a hydrostatic valve?" <br> +<p>"A valve through which liquids pass. In this door-check there +may be a mixture of water, alcohol and glycerine, the alcohol to +prevent freezing in cold weather, and the glycerine to give body +to the mixture so it will not flow through the valves too +freely."<br> +</p> + +"And do you think you can put something like that on your guns, +so the recoil will be taken up?" Ned wanted to know. <br> +<p>"I think so," spoke Tom. "I'm going to work on it right away, +and we'll soon see how it will turn out It's mighty lucky you +thought of that, for I sure was up against it, as the boys +say."<br> +</p> + +"It just seemed to come to me," spoke Ned, "seeing how easily the +door closed." <br> +<p>"If the thing works I'll give you due credit for it," promised +Tom. "Now, I've got to figure out how much force a modified +hydrostatic valve check like that will take up, and how much +recoil my biggest gun will have."<br> +</p> + +"Then you're going to put several guns on the Mars?" asked Ned. +<br> +<p>"Yes, four quick-firers, at least, two on each side, and +heavier guns at the bow and stern, to throw explosive shells in a +horizontal or upward direction. For a downward direction we won't +need any guns, we can simply drop the bombs, or shells, from a +release clutch."<br> +</p> + +"Drop them on other air craft?" Ned wanted to know. <br> +<p>"Well, if it's necessary, yes. Though I guess there won't be +much chance of doing that to a rival aeroplane or dirigible. But +in flying over cities or forts, explosive bombs can be dropped +very nicely. For use in attacking other air craft I am going to +depend on my lateral fire, from the guns mounted on either beam, +and in the bow and stern."<br> +</p> + +"You speak as though you, yourself, were going into a battle of +the air," said Ned. <br> +<p>"No, I don't believe I'll go that far," Tom replied. "Though, +if the government wants my craft, I may have to go aloft and fire +shots at targets for them to show them how things work.<br> +</p> + +"Please don't think that I am in favor of war, Ned," went on Tom +earnestly. "I hate it, and I wish the time would come when all +nations would disarm. But if the other countries are laying +themselves out to have aerial battleships, it is time the United +States did also. We must not be left behind, especially in view +of what is taking place in Europe." <br> +<p>"I suppose that's right," agreed Ned. "Have you any of your +guns ready?"<br> +</p> + +"Yes, all but the mounting of them on the supports aboard the +Mars. I haven't dared do that yet, and fire them, until I +provided some means of taking up the recoil. Now I'm going to get +right to work on that problem." <br> +<p>There was considerable detailed figuring and computation work +ahead of Tom Swift, and I will not weary you by going into the +details of higher mathematics. Even Ned lost interest after the +start of the problem, though he was interested when Tom took down +the door-check and began measuring the amount of force it would +take up, computing it on scales and spring balances.<br> +</p> + +Once this had been done, and Tom had figured just how much force +could be expected to be taken up by a larger check, with stronger +hydrostatic valves, the young inventor explained: <br> +<p>"And now to see how much recoil force my guns develop!"<br> +</p> + +"Are you really going to fire the guns?" asked Ned. <br> +<p>"Surely," answered Tom. "That's the only way to get at real +results. I'll have the guns taken out and mounted in a big field. +Then we'll fire them, and measure the recoil."<br> +</p> + +"Well, that may be some fun," spoke Ned, with a grin. "More fun +than all these figures," and he looked at the mass of details on +Tom's desk. <br> +<p>This was the second or third day after the fire in the red +shed, and in the interim Tom had been busy making computations. +These were about finished. Meanwhile further investigation bad +been made of clues leading to the origin of the blaze in the +shed, but nothing had been learned.<br> +</p> + +A photo-telephone had been installed near Eradicate's quarters, +in the hope that the mysterious stranger might keep his promise, +and come to see about the mule. In that case something would have +been learned about him. But, as Tom feared, the man did not +appear. <br> +<p>Ned was much interested in the guns, and, a little later, he +helped Tom and Koku mount them in a vacant lot. The giant's +strength came in handy in handling the big parts.<br> +</p> + +Mr. Swift strolled past, as the guns were being mounted for the +preliminary test, and inquired what his son was doing <br> +<p>"It will never work, Tom, never!" declared the aged inventor, +when informed. "You can't take up those guns in your air craft, +and fire them with any degree of safety."<br> +</p> + +"You wait, Dad," laughed Tom. "You haven't yet seen how the +Newton hydrostatic recoil operates." <br> +<p>Ned smiled with pleasure at this.<br> +</p> + +It took nearly a week to get all the guns mounted, for some of +them required considerable work, and it was also necessary to +attach gauges to them to register the recoil and pressure. In the +meanwhile Tom had been in further communication with government +experts who were soon to call on him to inspect the aerial +warship, with a view to purchase. <br> +<p>"When are they coming?" asked Ned, as he and Tom went out one +morning to make the first test of the guns.<br> +</p> + +"They will be here any day, now. They didn't set any definite +date. I suppose they want to take us unawares, to see that I +don't 'frame-up' any game on them. Well, I'll be ready any time +they come. Now, Koku, bring along those shells, and don't drop +any of them, for that new powder is freakish stuff." <br> +<p>"Me no drop any, Master," spoke the giant, as he lifted the +boxes of explosives in his strong arms.<br> +</p> + +The largest gun was loaded and aimed at a distant hill, for Tom +knew that if the recoil apparatus would take care of the excess +force of his largest gun, the problem of the smaller ones would +be easy to solve. <br> +<p>"Here, Rad, where are you going?" Tom asked, as he noticed the +colored man walking away, after having completed a task assigned +to him.<br> +</p> + +"Where's I gwine, Massa Tom?" <br> +<p>"Yes, Rad, that's what I asked you."<br> +</p> + +"I--I'se gwine t' feed mah mule, Boomerang," said the colored man +slowly. "It's his eatin' time. jest now, Massa Tom." <br> +<p>"Nonsense! It isn't anywhere near noon yet."<br> +</p> + +"Yais, sab, Massa Tom, I knows dat," said Eradicate, as he +carefully edged away from the big gun, "but I'se done changed de +eatin' hours ob dat mule. He had a little touch ob indigestion de +udder day, an' I'se feedin' him diff'rent now. So I guess as how +yo'll hab t' 'scuse me now, Massa Tom." <br> +<p>"Oh, well, trot along," laughed the young inventor. "I guess +we won't need you. Is everything all right there, Koku?"<br> +</p> + +"All right, Master." <br> +<p>"Now, Ned, if you'll stand here," went on Tom, "and note the +extreme point to which the hand on the pressure gauge goes, I'll +be obliged to you. Just jot it down on this pad."<br> +</p> + +"Here comes someone," remarked the bank clerk, as he saw that his +pencil was sharpened. He pointed to the field back of them. <br> +<p>"It's Mr. Damon," observed Tom. "We'll wait until he arrives. +He'll be interested in this."<br> +</p> + +"Bless my collar button, Tom! What's going on?" asked the +eccentric man, as he came up. "Has war been declared?" <br> +<p>"Just practicing," replied the young inventor. "Getting ready +to put the armament on my aerial warship."<br> +</p> + +"Well, as long as I'm behind the guns I'm all right, I suppose?" +<br> +<p>"Perfectly," Tom replied. "Now then, Ned, I think we'll +fire."<br> +</p> + +There was a moment of inspection, to see that nothing had been +forgotten, and then the big gun was discharged. There was a loud +report, not as heavy, though, as Ned had expected, but there was +no puff of smoke, for Tom was using smokeless powder. Only a +little flash of flame was observed. <br> +<p>"Catch the figure, Ned!" Tom cried.<br> +</p> + +"I have it!" was the answer. "Eighty thousand!" <br> +<p>"Good! And I can build a recoil check that will take up to one +hundred and twenty thousand pounds pressure. That ought to be +margin of safety enough. Now we'll try another shot."<br> +</p> + +The echoes of the first had hardly died away before the second +gun was ready for the test. That, too, was satisfactory, and then +the smaller ones were operated. These were not quite so +satisfactory, as the recoil developed was larger, in proportion +to their size, than Tom had figured. <br> +<p>"But I can easily put a larger hydrostatic check on them," he +said. "Now, we'll fire by batteries, and see what the total +is."<br> +</p> + +Then began a perfect bombardment of the distant hillside, service +charges being used v, and explosive shells sent out so that dirt, +stones and gravel flew in all directions. Danger signs and flags +had been posted, and a cordon of Tom's men kept spectators away +from the hill, so no one would be in the danger zone. <br> +<p>The young inventor was busy making some calculations after the +last of the firing had been completed. Koku was packing up the +unfired shells, and Mr. Damon was blessing his ear-drums, and the +pieces of cotton he had stuffed in to protect them, when a tall, +erect man was observed strolling over the fields in the direction +of the guns.<br> +</p> + +"Somebody's coming, Tom," warned Ned. <br> +<p>"Yes, and a stranger, too," observed Tom. "I wonder if that +can be Eradicate's Frenchman?"<br> +</p> + +But a look at the stranger's face disproved that surmise. He had +a frank and pleasant countenance, obviously American. <br> +<p>"I beg your pardon," he began, addressing everyone in general, +"but I am looking for Tom Swift. I was told he was here."<br> +</p> + +"I am Tom Swift," replied our hero. <br> +<p>"Ah! Well, I am Lieutenant Marbury, with whom you had some +correspondence recently about--"<br> +</p> + +"Oh, yes, Lieutenant Marbury, of the United States Navy," +interrupted Tom. "I'm glad to see you," he went on, holding out +his hand. "We are just completing some tests with the guns. You +called, I presume, in reference to my aerial warship?" <br> +<p>"That is it--yes. Have you it ready for a trial flight?"<br> +</p> + +"Well, almost. It can be made ready in a few hours. You see, I +have been delayed. There was a fire in the plant <br> +<p>"A fire!" exclaimed the officer in surprise. "How was that? We +heard nothing of it in Washington."<br> +</p> + +"No, I kept it rather quiet," Tom explained. "We had reason to +suspect that it was a fire purposely set, in a shed where I kept +a quantity of explosives." <br> +<p>"Ha!" exclaimed Lieutenant Marbury. "This fits in with what I +have heard. And did you not receive warning?" he asked Tom.<br> +</p> + +"Warning? No. Of what?" <br> +<p>"Of foreign spies!" was the unexpected answer. "I am sorry. +Some of our Secret Service men unearthed something of a plot +against you, and I presumed you had been told to watch out. If +you had, the fire might not have occurred. There must have been +some error in Washington. But let me tell you now, Tom Swift--be +on your guard!"<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_8">CHAPTER VIII</h1> + +A SUSPECTED PLOT <br> +The officer's words were so filled with meaning that Tom started. +Ned Newton, too, showed the effect he felt. <br> +<p>"Do you really mean that?" asked the young inventor, looking +around to make sure his father was not present. On account of +Professor Swift's weak heart, Tom wished to spare him all +possible worry.<br> +</p> + +"I certainly do mean it," insisted Lieutenant Marbury. "And, +while I am rather amazed at the news of the fire, for I did not +think the plotters would be so bold as that, it is in line with +what I expected, and what we suspected in Washington." <br> +<p>"And that was--what?" asked Tom.<br> +</p> + +"The existence of a well-laid plot, not only against our +government, but against you!" <br> +<p>"And why have they singled me out?" Tom demanded.<br> +</p> + +"I might as well tell it from the beginning," the officer went +on. "As long as you have not received any official warning from +Washington you had better hear the whole story. But are you sure +you had no word?" <br> +<p>"Well, now, I won't be so sure," Tom confessed. "I have been +working very hard, the last two days, making some intricate +calculations. I have rather neglected my mail, to tell you the +truth.<br> +</p> + +"And, come to think of it, there were several letters received +with the Washington postmark. But, I supposed they had to do with +some of my patents, and I only casually glanced over them. There +was one letter, though, that I couldn't make head or tail of." +<br> +<p>"Ha! That was it!" cried the lieutenant. "It was the warning +in cipher or code. I didn't think they would neglect to send it +to you."<br> +</p> + +"But what good would it do me if I couldn't read it?" asked Tom. +<br> +<p>"You must also have received a method of deciphering the +message," the officer said. "Probably you overlooked that. The +Secret Service men sent you the warning in code, so it would not +be found out by the plotters, and, to make sure you could +understand it, a method of translating the cipher was sent in a +separate envelope. It is too bad you missed it."<br> +</p> + +"Yes, for I might have been on my guard," agreed Tom. "The red +shed might not have burned, but, as it was, only slight damage +was done." <br> +<p>"Owing to the fact that Tom put the fire out with sand ballast +from his dirigible!" cried Ned. "You should have seen it!"<br> +</p> + +"I should have liked to be here," the lieutenant spoke. "But, if +I were you, Tom Swift, I would take means to prevent a repetition +of such things." <br> +<p>"I shall," Tom decided. "But, if we want to talk, we had +better go to my office, where we can be more private. I don't +want the workmen to hear too much."<br> +</p> + +Now that the firing was over, a number of Tom's men from the +shops had assembled around the cannon. Most of them, the young +inventor felt, could be trusted, but in so large a gathering one +could never be sure. <br> +<p>"Did you come on from Washington yesterday?" asked Tom, as he, +Ned and the officer strolled toward the shed where was housed the +aerial warship.<br> +</p> + +"Yes, and I spent the night in New York. I arrived in town a +short time ago, and came right on out here. At your house I was +told you were over in the fields conducting experiments, so I +came on here." <br> +<p>"Glad you did," Tom said. "I'll soon have something to show +you, I hope. But I am interested in hearing the details of this +suspected plot. Are you sure one exists?"<br> +</p> + +"Perfectly sure," was the answer. "We don't know all the details +yet, nor who are concerned in it, but we are working on the case. +The Secret Service has several agents in the field. <br> +<p>"We are convinced in Washington," went on Lieutenant Marbury, +when he, Tom and Ned were seated in the private office, "that +foreign spies are at work against you and against our +government."<br> +</p> + +"Why against me?" asked Tom, in wonder. <br> +<p>"Because of the inventions you have perfected and turned over +to Uncle Sam--notably the giant cannon, which rivals anything +foreign European powers have, and the great searchlight, which +proved so effective against the border smugglers. The success of +those two alone, to say nothing of your submarine, has not only +made foreign nations jealous, but they fear you--and us," the +officer went on.<br> +</p> + +"Well, if they only take it out in fear--" <br> +<p>"But they won't!" interrupted the officer--"They are seeking +to destroy those inventions. More than once, of late, we have +nipped a plot just in time."<br> +</p> + +"Have they really tried to damage the big gun?" asked Tom, +referring to one he had built and set up at Panama. <br> +<p>"They have. And now this fire proves that they are taking +other measures--they are working directly against you."<br> +</p> + +"Why, I wonder?" <br> +<p>"Either to prevent you from making further inventions, or to +stop you from completing your latest--the aerial warship."<br> +</p> + +"But I didn't know the foreign governments knew about that," Tom +exclaimed. "It was a secret." <br> +<p>"Few secrets are safe from foreign Spies," declared Lieutenant +Marbury. "They have a great ferreting-out system on the other +side. We are just beginning to appreciate it. But our own men +have not been idle."<br> +</p> + +"Have they really learned anything?" Tom asked. "Nothing definite +enough to warrant us in acting," was the answer of the government +man. "But we know enough to let us see that the plot is +far-reaching." <br> +<p>"Are the French in it?" asked Ned impulsively.<br> +</p> + +"The French! Why do you ask that?" <br> +<p>"Tell him about Eradicate, and the man who wanted to buy the +mule, Tom," suggested Ned,<br> +</p> + +Thereupon the young inventor mentioned the story told by +Eradicate. He also brought out the fire-bomb, and explained his +theory as to how it had operated to set the red shed ablaze. <br> +<p>"I think you are right," said Lieutenant Marbury. "And, as +regards the French, I might say they are not the only nation +banded to obtain our secrets--yours and the government's!"<br> +</p> + +"But I thought the French and the English were friendly toward +us!" Ned exclaimed. <br> +<p>"So they are, in a certain measure," the officer went on. "And +Russia is, too. But, in all foreign countries there are two +parties, the war party, as it might be called, and the peace +element.<br> +</p> + +"But I might add that it is neither France, England, nor Russia +that we must fear. It is a certain other great nation, which at +present I will not name." <br> +<p>"And you think spies set this fire?"<br> +</p> + +"I certainly do." <br> +<p>"But what measures shall I adopt against this plot?" Tom +asked.<br> +</p> + +"We will talk that over," said Lieutenant Marbury. "But, before I +go into details, I want to give you another warning. You must be +very careful about--" <br> +<p>A sudden knock on the door interrupted the speaker.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_9">CHAPTER IX</h1> + +THE RECOIL CHECK <br> +"Who is that?" asked Ned Newton, with a quick glance at his chum. +<br> +<p>"I don't know," Tom answered. "I left orders we weren't to be +disturbed unless it was something important."<br> +</p> + +"May be something has happened," suggested the navy officer, +"another fire, perhaps, or a--" <br> +<p>"It isn't a fire," Tom answered. "The automatic alarm would be +ringing before this in that case."<br> +</p> + +The knock was repeated. Tom went softly to the door and opened it +quickly, to disclose, standing in the corridor, one of the +messengers employed about the shops. <br> +<p>"Well, what is it?" asked Tom a bit sharply.<br> +</p> + +"Oh, if you please, Mn Swift," said the boy, a man has applied +for work at the main office, and you know you left orders there +that if any machinists came along, we were to--" <br> +<p>"Oh, so I did," Tom exclaimed. "I had forgotten about that," +he went on to Lieutenant Marbury and Ned. "I am in need of +helpers to rush through the finishing touches on my aerial +warship, and I left word, if any applied, as they often do, +coming here from other cities, that I wanted to see them. How +many are there?" Tom asked of the messenger.<br> +</p> + +"Two, this time. They both say they're good mechanics." <br> +<p>"That's what they all say," interposed Tom, with a smile. +"But, though they may be good mechanics in their own line, they +need to have special qualifications to work on airships. Tell +them to wait, Rodney," Tom went on to the lad, "and I'll see them +presently."<br> +</p> + +As the boy went away, and Tom closed the door, he turned to +Lieutenant Marbury. <br> +<p>"You were about to give me another warning when that +interruption came. You might complete it now."<br> +</p> + +"Yes, it was another warning," spoke the officer, "and one I hope +you will heed. It concerns yourself, personally." <br> +<p>"Do you mean he is in danger?" asked Ned quickly.<br> +</p> + +"That's exactly what I do mean," was the prompt reply. "In danger +of personal injury, if not something worse." <br> +<p>Tom did not seem as alarmed as he might reasonably have been +under the circumstances.<br> +</p> + +"Danger, eh?" he repeated coolly. "On the part of whom?" <br> +<p>"That's just where I can't warn you," the officer replied. "I +can only give you that hint, and beg of you to be careful."<br> +</p> + +"Do you mean you are not allowed to tell?" asked Ned <br> +<p>"No, indeed; it isn't that!" the lieutenant hastened to assure +the young man. "I would gladly tell, if I knew. But this plot, +like the other one, directed against the inventions themselves, +is so shrouded in mystery that I cannot get to the bottom of +it.<br> +</p> + +"Our Secret Service men have been working on it for some time, +not only in order to protect you, because of what you have done +for the government, but because Uncle Sam wishes to protect his +own property, especially the searchlight and the big cannon. But, +though our agents have worked hard, they have not been able to +get any clues that would put them on the right trail. <br> +<p>"So we can only warn you to be careful, and this I do in all +earnestness. That was part of my errand in coming here, though, +of course, I am anxious to inspect the new aerial warship you +have constructed. So watch out for two things--your inventions, +and, more than all, your life!"<br> +</p> + +"Do you really think they would do me bodily harm?" Tom asked, a +trifle skeptical. <br> +<p>"I certainly do. These foreign spies are desperate. If they +cannot secure the use of these inventions to their own country, +they are determined not to let this country have the benefit of +them."<br> +</p> + +"Well, I'll be careful," Tom promised. "I'm no more anxious than +anyone else to run my head into danger, and I certainly don't +want any of my shops or inventions destroyed. The fire in the red +shed was as close as I want anything to come." <br> +<p>"That's right!" agreed Ned. "And, if there's anything I can +do, Tom, don't hesitate to call on me."<br> +</p> + +"All right, old man. I won't forget. And now, perhaps, you would +like to see the Mars," he said to the lieutenant. <br> +<p>"I certainly would," was the ready answer. "But hadn't you +better see those men who are waiting to find out about positions +here?"<br> +</p> + +"There's no hurry about them," Tom said. "We have applicants +every day, and it's earlier than the hour when I usually see +them. They can wait. Now I want your opinion on my new craft. +But, you must remember that it is not yet completed, and only +recently did I begin to solve the problem of mounting the guns. +So be a little easy with your criticisms." <br> +<p>Followed by Ned and Lieutenant Marbury, Tom led the way into +the big airship shed. There, Swaying about at its moorings, was +the immense aerial warship. To Ned's eyes it looked complete +enough, but, when Tom pointed out the various parts, and +explained to the government officer how it was going to work, Ned +understood that considerable yet remained to be done on it.<br> +</p> + +Tom showed his official guest how a new system of elevation and +depressing rudders had ben adopted, how a new type of propeller +was to be used and indicated several other improvements. The +lower, or cabin, part of the aircraft could be entered by +mounting a short ladder from the ground, and Tom took Ned and +Lieutenant Marbury through the engine-room and other compartments +of the Mars. <br> +<p>"It certainly is most complete," the officer observed. "And +when you get the guns mounted I shall be glad to make an official +test. You understand," he went on, to Tom, "that we are vitally +interested in the guns, since we now have many aircraft that can +be used purely for scouting purposes. What we want is something +for offense, a veritable naval terror of the seas."<br> +</p> + +"I understand," Tom answered. "And I am going to begin work on +mounting the guns at once. I am going to use the Newton recoil +check," he added. "Ned, here, is responsible for that." <br> +<p>"Is that so?" asked the lieutenant, as Tom clapped his chum on +the back.<br> +</p> + +"Yes, that's his invention." <br> +<p>"Oh, it isn't anything of the sort," Ned objected. "I +just--"<br> +</p> + +"Yes, he just happened to solve the problem for me!" interrupted +Tom, as he told the story of the door-spring. <br> +<p>"A good idea!" commented Lieutenant Marbury.<br> +</p> + +Tom then briefly described the principle on which his aerial +warship would work, explaining how the lifting gas would raise +it, with its load of crew, guns and explosives, high into the +air; how it could then be sent ahead, backward, to either side, +or around in a circle, by means of the propellers and the +rudders, and how it could be raised or lowered, either by rudders +or by forcing more gas into the lifting bags, or by letting some +of the vapor out. <br> +<p>And, while this was being done by the pilot or captain in +charge, the crew could be manning the guns with which hostile +airships would be attacked, and bombs dropped on the forts or +battleships of the enemy.<br> +</p> + +"It seems very complete," observed the lieutenant. "I shall be +glad when I can give it an official test." <br> +<p>"Which ought to be in about a week," Tom said. "Meanwhile I +shall be glad if you will be my guest here."<br> +</p> + +And so that was arranged. <br> +<p>Leaving Ned and the lieutenant to entertain each other, Tom +went to see the mechanics who had applied for places. He found +them satisfactory and engaged them. One of them had worked for +him before. The other was a stranger, but he had been employed in +a large aeroplane factory, and brought good recommendations.<br> +</p> + +There followed busy days at the Swift plant, and work was pushed +on the aerial warship. The hardest task was the mounting of the +guns, and equipping them with the recoil check, without which it +would be impossible to fire them with the craft sailing through +the air. <br> +<p>But finally one of the big guns, and two of the smaller ones +were in place, with the apparatus designed to reduce the recoil +shock, and then Tom decided to have a test of the Mars.<br> +</p> + +"Up in the air, do you mean?" asked Ned, who was spending all his +spare time with his chum. <br> +<p>"Well, a little way up in the air, at least," Tom answered. +"I'll make a sort of captive balloon of my craft, and see how she +behaves. I don't want to take too many chances with that new +recoil check, though it seems to work perfectly in theory."<br> +</p> + +The day came when, for the first time, the Mars was to come out +of the big shed where she had been constructed. The craft was not +completed for a flight as yet, but could be made so in a few +days, with rush work. The roof of the great shed slid back, and +the big envelope containing the buoyant gas rose slowly upward. +There was a cry of surprise from the many workmen in the yard, as +they saw, most of them for the first time, the wonderful new +craft. It did not go up very high, being held in place with +anchor ropes. <br> +<p>The sun glistened on the bright brass and nickel parts, and +glinted from the gleaming barrels of the quick-firing guns.<br> +</p> + +"That's enough!" Tom called to the men below, who were paying out +the ropes from the windlasses. "Hold her there." <br> +<p>Tom, Ned, Lieutenant Marbury and Mr. Damon were aboard the +captive Mars.<br> +</p> + +Looking about, to see that all was in readiness, Tom gave orders +to load the guns, blank charges being used, of course. <br> +<p>The recoil apparatus was in place, and it now remained to see +if it would do the work for which it was designed.<br> +</p> + +"All ready?" asked the young inventor. <br> +<p>"Bless my accident insurance policy!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. +"I'm as ready as ever I shall be, Tom. Let 'em go!"<br> +</p> + +"Hold fast!" cried Tom, as he prepared to press the electrical +switch which would set off the guns. Ned and Lieutenant Marbury +stood near the indicators to notice how much of the recoil would +be neutralized by the check apparatus. <br> +<p>"Here we go!" cried the young inventor, and, at the same +moment, from down below on the ground, came a warning cry:<br> +</p> + +"Don't shoot, Massa Tom. Don't shoot! Mah mule, Boomerang--" <br> +<p>But Eradicate had spoken too late. Tom pressed the switch; +there was a deafening crash, a spurt of flame, and then followed +wild cries and confused shouts, while the echoes of the reports +rolled about the hills surrounding Shopton.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_10">CHAPTER X</h1> + +THE NEW MEN <br> +"What was the matter down there?" <br> +<p>"Was anyone hurt?"<br> +</p> + +"Don't forget to look at those pressure gauges!" <br> +<p>"Bless my ham sandwich!"<br> +</p> + +Thus came the cries from those aboard the captive Mars. Ned, +Lieutenant Marbury and Tom had called out in the order named. +And, of course, I do not need to tell you what remark Mr. Damon +made. Tom glanced toward where Ned and the government man stood, +and saw that they had made notes of the pressure recorded on the +recoil checks directly after the guns were fired. Mr. Damon, +blessing innumerable objects under his breath, was looking over +the side of the rail to discover the cause of the commotion and +cries of warning from below. <br> +<p>"I don't believe it was anything serious, Tom," said the odd +man. "No one seems to be hurt." "Look at Eradicate!" suddenly +exclaimed Ned.<br> +</p> + +"And his mule! I guess that's what the trouble was, Tom!" <br> +<p>They looked to where the young bank employee pointed, and saw +the old colored man, seated on the seat of his ramshackle wagon, +doing his best to pull down to a walk the big galloping mule, +which was dragging the vehicle around in a circle.<br> +</p> + +"Whoa, dere!" Eradicate was shouting, as he pulled on the lines. +"Whoa, dere! Dat's jest laik yo', Boomerang, t' run when dere +ain't no call fo' it, nohow! Ef I done wanted yo' t' git a move +on, yo'd lay down 'side de road an' go to sleep. Whoa, now!" <br> +<p>But the noise of the shots had evidently frightened the +longeared animal, and he was in no mood for stopping, now that he +had once started. It was not until some of the workmen ran out +from the group where they had gathered to watch Tom's test, and +got in front of Boomerang, that they succeeded in bringing him to +a halt.<br> +</p> + +Eradicate climbed slowly down from the seat, and limped around +until he stood in front of his pet. <br> +<p>"Yo'--yo're a nice one, ain't yo'?" he demanded in sarcastic +tones. "Yo' done enough runnin' in a few minutes fo' a week ob +Sundays, an' now I won't be able t' git a move out ob ye! I'se +ashamed ob yo', dat's what I is! Puffickly ashamed ob yo'. Go +'long, now, an' yo' won't git no oats dish yeah day! No sah!" +and, highly indignant, Eradicate led the now slowly-ambling mule +off to the stable.<br> +</p> + +"I won't shoot again until you have him shut up, Rad!" laughed +Tom. "I didn't know you were so close when I set off those guns." +<br> +<p>"Dat's all right, Mass a Tom," was the reply. "I done called +t' you t' wait, but yo' didn't heah me, I 'spects. But it doan't +mattah, now. Shoot all yo' laik, Boomerang won't run any mo' dis +week. He done runned his laigs off now. Shoot away!"<br> +</p> + +But Tom was not quite ready to do this. He wanted to see what +effect the first shots had had on his aerial warship, and to +learn whether or not the newly devised recoil check had done what +was expected of it. <br> +<p>"No more shooting right away," called the young inventor. "I +want to see how we made out with the first round. How did she +check up, Ned?"<br> +</p> + +"Fine, as far as I can tell." <br> +<p>"Yes, indeed," added Lieutenant Marbury. "The recoil was +hardly noticeable, though, of course, with the full battery of +guns in use, it might be more so."<br> +</p> + +"I hope not," answered Tom. "I haven't used the full strength of +the recoil check yet. I can tune it up more, and when I do, and +when I have it attached to all the guns, big and little, I think +we'll do the trick. But now for a harder test." <br> +<p>The rest of that day was spent in trying out the guns, firing +them with practice and service charges, though none of the shells +used contained projectiles. It would not have been possible to +shoot these, with the Mars held in place in the midst of Tom's +factory buildings.<br> +</p> + +"Well, is she a success, Tom?" asked Ned, when the experimenting +was over for the time being. <br> +<p>"I think I can say so--yes," was the answer, with a +questioning look at the officer.<br> +</p> + +"Indeed it is--a great success! We must give the Newton shock +absorber due credit." <br> +<p>Ned blushed with pleasure.<br> +</p> + +"It was only my suggestion," he said. "Tom worked it all out." +<br> +<p>"But I needed the Suggestion to start with," the young +inventor replied.<br> +</p> + +"Of course something may develop when you take your craft high in +the air, and discharge the guns there," said the lieutenant. "In +a rarefied atmosphere the recoil check may not be as effective as +at the earth's surface. But, in such case doubtless, you can +increase the strength of the springs and the hydrostatic valves." +<br> +<p>"Yes, I counted on that," Tom explained. "I shall have to work +out that formula, though, and be ready for it. But, on the whole, +I am pretty well satisfied."<br> +</p> + +"And indeed you may well feel that way," commented the government +official. <br> +<p>The Mars was hauled back into the shed, and the roof slid shut +over the craft. Much yet remained to do on it, but now that Tom +was sure the important item of armament was taken care of, he +could devote his entire time to the finishing touches.<br> +</p> + +As his plant was working on several other pieces of machinery, +some of it for the United States Government, and some designed +for his own use, Tom found himself obliged to hire several new +hands. An advertisement in a New York newspaper brought a large +number of replies, and for a day or two Tom was kept busy sifting +out the least desirable, and arranging to see those whose answers +showed they knew something of the business requirements. <br> +<p>Meanwhile Lieutenant Marbury remained as Tom's guest, and was +helpful in making suggestions that would enable the young +inventor to meet the government's requirements.<br> +</p> + +"I'd like, also, to get on the track of those spies who, I am +sure, wish to do you harm," said the lieutenant, "but clues seem +to be scarce around here." <br> +<p>"They are, indeed," agreed Tom. "I guess the way in which we +handled that fire in the red shed sort of discouraged them."<br> +</p> + +Lieutenant Marbury shook his head. <br> +<p>"They're not so easily discouraged as that," he remarked. +"And, with the situation in Europe growing more acute every day, +I am afraid some of those foreigners will take desperate measures +to gain their ends."<br> +</p> + +"What particular ends do you mean?" <br> +<p>"Well, I think they will either try to so injure you that you +will not be able to finish this aerial warship, or they will +damage the craft itself, steal your plans, or damage some of your +other inventions."<br> +</p> + +"But what object would they have in doing such a thing?" Tom +wanted to know. "How would that help France, Germany or Russia, +to do me an injury?" <br> +<p>"They are seeking to strike at the United States through you," +was the answer. "They don't want Uncle Sam to have such +formidable weapons as your great searchlight, the giant cannon, +or this new warship of the clouds."<br> +</p> + +"But why not, as long as the United States does not intend to go +to war with any of the foreign nations?" Tom inquired. <br> +<p>"No, it is true we do not intend to go to war with any of the +conflicting European nations," admitted Lieutenant Marbury, "but +you have no idea how jealous each of those foreign nations is of +all the others. Each one fears that the United States will cease +to be neutral, and will aid one or the other."<br> +</p> + +"Oh, so that's' it?" exclaimed Tom. <br> +<p>"Yes, each nation, which may, at a moments notice, be drawn +into a war with one or more rival nations, fears that we may +throw in our lot with its enemies."<br> +</p> + +"And, to prevent that, they want to destroy some of my +inventions?" asked Tom. <br> +<p>"That's the way I believe it will work out. So you must be +careful, especially since you have taken on so many new men.<br> +</p> + +"That's so," agreed the young inventor. "I have had to engage +more strangers than ever before, for I am anxious to get the Mars +finished and give it a good test. And, now that you have +mentioned it, there are some of those men of whom I am a bit +suspicious." <br> +<p>"Have they done anything to make you feel that way?" asked the +lieutenant.<br> +</p> + +"Well, not exactly; it is more their bearing, and the manner in +which they go about the works. I must keep my eye on them, for it +takes only a few discontented men to spoil a whole shop full. I +will be on my guard." <br> +<p>"And not only about your new airship and other inventions," +said the officer, "but about yourself, personally. Will you do +that?"<br> +</p> + +"Yes, though I don't imagine anything like that will happen." +<br> +<p>"Well, be on your guard, at all events," warned Lieutenant +Marbury.<br> +</p> + +As Tom had said, he had been obliged to hire a number of new men. +Some of these were machinists who had worked for him, or his +father, on previous occasions, and, when tasks were few, had been +dismissed, to go to other shops. These men, Tom felt sure, could +be relied upon. <br> +<p>But there were a number of others, from New York, and other +large cities, of whom Tom was not so sure.<br> +</p> + +"You have more foreigners than I ever knew you to hire before, +Tom," his father said to him one day, coming back from a tour of +the shops. <br> +<p>"Yes, I have quite a number," Tom admitted. "But they are all +good workmen. They stood the test."<br> +</p> + +"Yes, some of them are too good," observed the older inventor. "I +saw one of them making up a small motor the other day, and he was +winding the armature a new way. I spoke to him about it, and he +tried to prove that his way was an improvement on yours. Why, +he'd have had it short-circuited in no time if I hadn't stopped +him." <br> +<p>"Is that so?" asked Tom. "That is news to me. I must look into +this."<br> +</p> + +"Are any of the new men employed on the Mars?" Mr. Swift asked. +<br> +<p>"No, not yet, but I shall have to shift some there from other +work I think, in order to get finished on time."<br> +</p> + +"Well, they will bear watching I think," his father said. <br> +<p>"Why, have you seen anything--do you--" began the young man, +for Mr. Swift had not been told of the suspicions of the +lieutenant.<br> +</p> + +"Oh, it isn't anything special," the older inventor went on. +"Only I wouldn't let a man I didn't know much about get too much +knowledge of my latest invention." <br> +<p>"I won't, Dad. Thanks for telling me. This latest craft is +sure going to be a beauty."<br> +</p> + +"Then you think it will work, Tom?" <br> +<p>"I'm sure of it, Dad!"<br> +</p> + +Mr. Swift shook his head in doubt <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_11">CHAPTER XI</h1> + +A DAY OFF <br> +<p>Tom Swift pondered long and intently over what his father had +said to him. He sat for several minutes in his private office, +after the aged inventor had passed out, reviewing in his mind the +talk just finished.<br> +</p> + +"I wonder," said Tom slowly, "if any of the new men could have +obtained work here for the purpose of furthering that plot the +lieutenant suspects? I wonder if that could be true?" <br> +<p>And the more Tom thought of it, the more he was convinced that +such a thing was at least possible.<br> +</p> + +"I must make a close inspection, and weed out any suspicious +characters," he decided, "though I need every man I have working +now, to get the Mars finished in time. Yes, I must look into +this." <br> +<p>Tom had reached a point in his work where he could leave much +to his helpers. He had several good foremen, and, with his father +to take general supervision over more important details, the +young inventor had more time to himself. Of course he did not lay +too many burdens on his father's shoulders since Mr. Swift's +health was not of the best.<br> +</p> + +But Tom's latest idea, the aerial warship, was so well on toward +completion that his presence was not needed in that shop more +than two or three times a day. <br> +<p>"When I'm not there I'll go about in the other shops, and sort +of size up the situation," he decided. "I may be able to get a +line on some of those plotters, if there are any here."<br> +</p> + +Lieutenant Marbury had departed for a time, to look after some +personal matters, but he was to return inside of a week, when it +was hoped to give the aerial warship its first real test in +flight, and under some of the conditions that it would meet with +in actual warfare. <br> +<p>As Tom was about to leave his office, to put into effect his +new resolution to make a casual inspection of the other shops, he +met Koku, the giant, coming in. Koku's hands and face were black +with oil and machine filings.<br> +</p> + +"Well, what have you been doing?" Tom wanted to know. "Did you +have an accident?" For Koku had no knowledge of machinery, and +could not even be trusted to tighten up a simple nut by himself. +But if some one stood near him, and directed him how to apply his +enormous strength, Koku could do more than several machines. <br> +<p>"No accident, Master," he replied. "I help man lift that +hammer-hammer thing that pounds so. It get stuck!"<br> +</p> + +"What, the hammer of the drop forger?" cried Tom. "Was that out +of order again?" <br> +<p>"Him stuck," explained Koku simply.<br> +</p> + +There was an automatic trip-hammer in one of the shops, used for +pounding out drop forgings, and this hammer seemed to take +especial delight in getting out of order. Very often it jammed, +or "stuck," as Koku described it, and if the hammer could not be +forced back on the channel or upright guide-plates, it meant that +it must be taken apart, and valuable time lost. Once Koku had +been near when the hammer got out of order, and while the workmen +were preparing to dismantle it, the giant seized the big block of +steel, and with a heave of his mighty shoulders forced it back on +the guides. <br> +<p>"And is that what you did this time?" asked Tom.<br> +</p> + +"Yes, Master. Me fix hammer," Koku answered. "I get dirty, I no +care. Man say I no can fix. I show him I can!" <br> +<p>"What man said that?"<br> +</p> + +"Man who run hammer. Ha! I lift him by one finger! He say he no +like to work on hammer. He want to work on airship. I tell him I +tell you, maybe you give him job--he baby! Koku can work hammer. +Me fix it when it get stuck." <br> +<p>"Well, maybe you know what you're talking about, but I don't," +said Tom, with a pleasant smile at his big helper. "Come on, +Koku, we'll go see what it all means."<br> +</p> + +"Koku work hammer, maybe?" asked the giant hope fully. <br> +<p>"Well, I'll see," half promised Tom. "If it's going to get out +of gear all the while it might pay me to keep you at it so you +could get it back in place whenever it kicked up a fuss, and so +save time. I'll see about it."<br> +</p> + +Koku led the way to the shop where the triphammer was installed. +It was working perfectly now, as Tom could tell by the thundering +blows it struck. The man operating it looked up as Tom +approached, and, at a gesture from the young inventor, shut off +the power. <br> +<p>"Been having trouble here?" asked Tom, noting that the workman +was one of the new hands he had hired.<br> +</p> + +"Yes, sir, a little," was the respectful answer. "This hammer +goes on a strike every now and then, and gets jammed. Your giant +there forced it back into place, which is more than I could do +with a big bar for a lever. He sure has some muscle." <br> +<p>"Yes," agreed Tom, "he's pretty strong. But what's this you +said about wanting to give up this job, and go on the airship +construction."<br> +</p> + +The man turned red under his coat of grime. <br> +<p>"I didn't intend him to repeat that to you, Mr. Swift," he +said. "I was a little put out at the way this hammer worked. I +lose so much time at it that I said I'd like to be transferred to +the airship department. I've worked in one before But I'm not +making a kick," he added quickly. "Work is too scarce for +that."<br> +</p> + +"I understand," said Tom. "I have been thinking of making a +change. Koku seems to like this hammer, and knows how to get it +in order once it gets off the guides. You say you have had +experience in airship construction?" <br> +<p>"Yes, sir. I've worked on the engines, and on the planes."<br> +</p> + +"Know anything about dirigible balloons?" <br> +<p>"Yes, I've worked on them, too, but the engineering part is my +specialty. I'm a little out of my element on a trip-hammer."<br> +</p> + +"I see. Well, perhaps I'll give you a trial. Meanwhile you might +break Koku in on operating this machine. If I transfer you I'll +put him on this hammer." <br> +<p>"Thank you, Mr. Swift! I'll show him all I know about it. Oh, +there goes the hammer again!" he exclaimed, for, as he started it +up, as Tom turned away, the big piece of steel once more jammed +on the channel-plates.<br> +</p> + +"Me fix!" exclaimed the giant eagerly, anxious for a chance to +exhibit his great strength. <br> +<p>"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Tom. "I want to get a look at that +machine."<br> +</p> + +He inspected it carefully before he signaled for Koku to force +the hammer back into place. But, if Tom saw anything suspicious, +he said nothing. There was, however, a queer look on his face as +he turned aside, and he murmured to himself, as he walked away: +<br> +<p>"So you want to be transferred to the airship department, do +you? Well, we'll see about that We'll see."<br> +</p> + +Tom had more problems to solve than those of making an aerial +warship that would be acceptable to the United States Government. +<br> +<p>Ned Newton called on his chum that evening. The two talked of +many things, gradually veering around to the subject uppermost in +Tom's mind--his new aircraft.<br> +</p> + +"You're thinking too much of that." Ned warned him. "You're as +bad as the time you went for your first flight." <br> +<p>"I suppose I am," admitted Tom. "But the success of the Mars +means a whole lot to me. And that's something I nearly forgot. +I've got to go out to the shop now. Want to come along, Ned?"<br> +</p> + +"Sure, though I tell you that you're working too hard--burning +the electric light at both ends." <br> +<p>"This is just something simple," Tom said. "It won't take +long."<br> +</p> + +He went out, followed by his chum. <br> +<p>"But this isn't the way to the airship shed," objected the +young bank clerk, as he noted in which direction Tom was leading +him.<br> +</p> + +"I know it isn't," Tom replied. "But I want to look at one of the +trip-hammers in the forge shop when none of the men is around. +I've been having a little trouble there." <br> +<p>"Trouble!" exclaimed his chum. "Has that plot Lieutenant +Marbury spoke of developed?"<br> +</p> + +"Not exactly. This is something else," and Tom told of the +trouble with the big hammer. <br> +<p>"I had an idea," the young inventor said, "that the man at the +machine let it get out of order purposely, so I'd change him. I +want to see if my suspicions are correct."<br> +</p> + +Tom carefully inspected the hammer by the light of a powerful +portable electric lamp Ned held. <br> +<p>"Ha! There it is!" Tom suddenly exclaimed.<br> +</p> + +"Something wrong?" Ned inquired. <br> +<p>"Yes. This is what's been throwing the hammer off the guides +all the while," and Tom pulled out a small steel bolt that had +been slipped into an oil hole. A certain amount of vibration, he +explained to Ned, would rattle the bolt out so that it would +force the hammer to one side, throwing it off the channel-plates, +and rendering it useless for the time being.<br> +</p> + +"A foxy trick," commented Tom. "No wonder the machine got out of +kilter so easily." <br> +<p>"Do you think it was done purposely?"<br> +</p> + +"Well, I'm not going to say. But I'm going to watch that man. He +wants to be transferred to the airship department. He put this in +the hammer, perhaps, to have an excuse for a change. Well, I'll +give it to him." <br> +<p>"You don't mean that you'd take a fellow like that and put him +to work on your new aerial warship, do you, Tom?"<br> +</p> + +"Yes, I think I will, Ned. You see, I look at it this way: I +haven't any real proof against him now. He could only laugh at me +if I accused him. But you've heard the proverb about giving a +calf rope enough and he'll hang himself, haven't you?" <br> +<p>"I think I have."<br> +</p> + +"Well, I'm going to give this fellow a little rope. I'll transfer +him, as he asks, and I'll keep a close watch on him." <br> +<p>"But won't it be risky?"<br> +</p> + +"Perhaps, but no more so than leaving him in here to work +mischief. If he is hatching a plot, the sooner it's over with the +better I shall like it. I don't like a shot to hang fire. I'm +warned now, and I'll be ready for him. I have a line on whom to +suspect. This is the first clue," and Tom held up the +incriminating bolt. <br> +<p>"I think you're taking too big a risk, Tom," his chum said. +"Why not discharge the man?"<br> +</p> + +"Because that might only smooth things over for a time. If this +plot is being laid the sooner it comes to a head, and breaks, the +better. Have it done, short, sharp and quick, is my motto. Yes, +I'll shift him in the morning. Oh, but I wish it was all over, +and the Mars was accepted by Uncle Sam!" and Tom put his hand to +his head with a tired gesture. <br> +<p>"Say, old man!" exclaimed Ned, "what you want is a day off, +and I'm going to see that you get it. You need a little +vacation."<br> +</p> + +"Perhaps I do," assented Tom wearily. <br> +<p>"Then you'll have it!" cried Ned. "There's going to be a +little picnic to-morrow. Why can't you go with Mary Nestor? She'd +like you to take her, I'm sure. Her cousin, Helen Randall, is on +from New York, and she wants to go, also."<br> +</p> + +"How do you know?" asked Tom quickly. <br> +<p>"Because she said so," laughed Ned. "I was over to the house +to call. I have met Helen before, and I suggested that you and I +would take the two girls, and have a day off. You'll come, won't +you?"<br> +</p> + +"Well, I don't know," spoke Tom slowly. "I ought to--" <br> +<p>"Nonsense! Give up work for one day!" urged Ned. "Come along. +It'll do you good--get the cobwebs out of your head."<br> +</p> + +"All right, I'll go," assented Tom, after a moment's thought. +<br> +<p>The next day, having instructed his father and the foremen to +look well to the various shops, and having seen that the work on +the new aerial warship was progressing favorably, Tom left for a +day's outing with his chum and the two girls.<br> +</p> + +The picnic was held in a grove that surrounded a small lake, and +after luncheon the four friends went for a ride in a launch Tom +hired. They went to the upper end of the lake, in rather a pretty +but lonesome locality. <br> +<p>"Tom, you look tired," said Mary. "I'm sure you've been +working too hard!"<br> +</p> + +"Why, I'm not working any harder than usual," Tom insisted. <br> +<p>"Yes, he is, too!" declared Ned, "and he's running more +chances, too."<br> +</p> + +"Chances?" repeated Mary. <br> +<p>"Oh, that's all bosh!" laughed Tom. "Come on, let's go ashore +and walk."<br> +</p> + +"That suits me," spoke Ned. Helen and Mary assented, and soon the +four young persons were strolling through the shady wood. <br> +<p>After a bit the couples became separated, and Tom found +himself walking beside Mary in a woodland path. The girl glanced +at her companion's face, and ventured:<br> +</p> + +"A penny for your thoughts, Tom." <br> +<p>"They're worth more than that," he replied gallantly. "I was +thinking of--you."<br> +</p> + +"Oh, how nicely you say it!" she laughed. "But I know better! +You're puzzling over some problem. Tell me, what did Ned mean +when he hinted at danger? Is there any, Tom?" <br> +<p>"None at all," he assured her. "It's just a soft of +notion--"<br> +</p> + +Mary made a sudden gesture of silence. <br> +<p>"Hark!" she whispered to Tom, "I heard someone mention your +name then. Listen!"<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_12">CHAPTER XII</h1> + +A NIGHT ALARM <br> +Mary Nestor spoke with such earnestness, and her action in +catching hold of Tom's arm to enjoin silence was so pronounced +that, though he had at first regarded the matter in the light of +a joke, he soon thought otherwise. He glanced from the girl's +face to the dense underbrush on either side of the woodland path. +<br> +<p>"What is it, Mary?" he asked in a whisper.<br> +</p> + +"I don't just know. I heard whispering, and thought it was the +rustling of the leaves of the trees. Then someone spoke your name +quite loudly. Didn't you hear it?" <br> +<p>Tom shook his head in negation.<br> +</p> + +"It may be Ned and his friend," he whispered, his lips close to +Mary's ear. <br> +<p>"I think not," was her answer. "Listen; there it is +again."<br> +</p> + +Distinctly then, Tom heard, from some opening in the screen of +bushes, his own name spoken. "Did you hear it?" asked Mary, +barely forming the words with her lips. But Tom could read their +motion. <br> +<p>"Yes," he nodded. Then, motioning to Mary to remain where she +was, he stepped forward, taking care to tread only on grassy +places where there were no little twigs or branches to break and +betray his presence. He was working his way toward the sound of +the unseen voice.<br> +</p> + +There was a sudden movement in the bushes, just beyond the spot +Tom was making for. He halted quickly and peered ahead. Mary, +too, was looking on anxiously. <br> +<p>Tom saw the forms of two men, partially concealed by bushes, +walking away from him. The men took no pains to conceal their +movements, so Tom was emboldened to advance with less caution. He +hurried to where he could get a good view, and, at the sight of +one of the men, he uttered an exclamation.<br> +</p> + +"What is it?" asked Mary, who was now at his side. She had seen +that Tom had thrown aside caution, and she had come up to join +him. <br> +<p>"That man--I know him!" the young inventor exclaimed. "It is +Feldman--the one who wanted to be changed from the trip-hammer to +the airship department. But who is that with him?"<br> +</p> + +As Tom spoke the other turned, and at the sight of his face Mary +Nestor said: <br> +<p>"He looks like a Frenchman, with that little mustache and +imperial."<br> +</p> + +"So he is!" exclaimed Tom, in a hoarse whisper. "He must be the +Frenchman that Eradicate spoke about. I wonder what this can +mean? I didn't know Feldman had left the shop." <br> +<p>"You may know what you're talking about, but I don't, Tom," +said Mary, with a smile at her companion. "Are they friends of +yours?"<br> +</p> + +"Hardly," spoke the young inventor dryly. "That one, Feldman, is +one of my workmen. He had charge of a drop-forge press and +trip-hammer that--" <br> +<p>"Spare me the details, Tom!" interrupted Mary. "You know I +don't understand a thing about machinery. The wireless you +erected on Earthquake Island was as much as I could +comprehend."<br> +</p> + +"Well, a trip-hammer isn't as complicated as that," spoke Tom, +with a laugh, as he noticed that the two men were far enough away +so they could not hear him. "What I was going to say was, that +one of those men works in our shops. The other I don't know, but +I agree with you that he does look like a Frenchman, and old +Eradicate had a meeting with a man whom he described as being of +that nationality." <br> +<p>"And you say they are not friends of yours?"<br> +</p> + +"I have no reason to believe they are." <br> +<p>"Then they must be enemies!" exclaimed Mary with quick +intuition. "Oh, Tom, you will be careful, won't you?"<br> +</p> + +"Of course I will, little girl," he said, a note of fondness +creeping into his voice, as he covered the small hand with his +own large one. "But there is no danger." <br> +<p>"Then why were these men discussing you?"<br> +</p> + +"I don't know that they were, Mary." <br> +<p>"They mentioned your name."<br> +</p> + +"Well, that may be. Probably one of them, Feldman, who works for +me, was speaking to his companion about the chance for a +position. My father and I employ a number of men, you know." <br> +<p>"Well, I suppose it is all right, Tom, and I surely hope it +is. But you will be careful, won't you? And you look more worried +than you used to. Has anything gone wrong?"<br> +</p> + +"Not a thing, little girl. Everything is going fine. My new +aerial warship will soon make a trial flight, and I'd be pleased +to have you as a passenger." <br> +<p>"Would you really, Tom?"<br> +</p> + +"Of course. Consider that you have the first invitation." <br> +<p>"That's awfully nice of you. But you do look worried, Tom. Has +anything troubled you?"<br> +</p> + +"No, not much. Everything is going all right now. We did have a +little trouble at a fire in one of my buildings--" <br> +<p>"A fire! Oh, Tom! You never told me!"<br> +</p> + +"Well, it didn't amount to much--the only suspicious fact about +it was that it seemed to have been of incendiary origin." <br> +<p>Mary seemed much alarmed, and again begged Tom to be on his +guard, which he promised to do. Had Mary known the warnings +uttered by Lieutenant Marbury she might have had more occasion +for worry.<br> +</p> + +"Do you suppose that hammer man of yours came to these woods to +meet that Frenchman and talk about you, Tom?" asked his +companion, when the two men had strolled out of sight, and the +young people were on their way back to the launch. <br> +<p>"Well, it's possible. I have been warned that foreign spies +are trying to get hold of some of my patents, and also to hamper +the government in the use of some others I have sold. But they'll +have their own troubles to get away with anything. The works are +pretty well guarded, and you forget I have the giant, Koku, who +is almost a personal bodyguard."<br> +</p> + +"Yes, but he can't be everywhere at once. Oh, you will be +careful, won't you, Tom?" <br> +<p>"Yes, Mary, I will," promised the young inventor. "But don't +say anything to Ned about what we just saw and heard."<br> +</p> + +"Why not?" <br> +<p>"Because he's been at me to hire a couple of detectives to +watch over me, and this would give him another excuse. Just don't +say anything, and I'll adopt all the precautions I think are +needful."<br> +</p> + +"I will on condition that you do that." <br> +<p>"And I promise I will."<br> +</p> + +With that Mary had to be content. A little later they joined Ned +and his friend, and soon they were moving swiftly down the lake +in the launch. <br> +<p>"Well, hasn't it done you good to take a day off?" Ned +demanded of his chum, when they were on their homeward way.<br> +</p> + +"Yes, I think it has," agreed Tom. <br> +<p>"You swung your thoughts into a new channel, didn't you?"<br> +</p> + +"Oh, yes, I found something new to think about," admitted the +young inventor, with a quick look at Mary. <br> +<p>But, though Tom thus passed off lightly the little incident of +the day, he gave it serious thought when he was alone.<br> +</p> + +"Those fellows were certainly talking about me," he reasoned. "I +wonder what for? And Feldman left the shop without my knowledge. +I'll have to look into that. I wonder if that Frenchy looking +chap I saw was the one who tried to pump Eradicate? Another point +to settle." <br> +<p>The last was easily disposed of, for, on reaching his shops +that afternoon, Tom cross-questioned the colored man, and +obtained a most accurate description of the odd foreigner. It +tallied in every detail with the man Tom had seen in the +woods.<br> +</p> + +"And now about Feldman," mused Tom, as he went to the foreman of +the shop where the suspected man had been employed. <br> +<p>"Yes, Feldman asked for a day off," the foreman said in +response to Tom's question. "He claimed his mother was sick, and +he wanted to go to see her. I knew you wouldn't object, as we +were not rushed in his department."<br> +</p> + +"Oh, that's all right," said Tom quickly. "Did he say where his +mother lived?" <br> +<p>"Over Lafayette way."<br> +</p> + +"Humph!" murmured Tom. To himself he added: "Queer that he should +be near Lake Loraine, in an opposite direction from Lafayette. +This will bear an investigation." <br> +<p>The next day Tom made it his business to pass near the hammer +that was so frequently out of order. He found Feldman busy +instructing Koku in its operation. Tom resolved on a little +strategy.<br> +</p> + +"How is it working, Feldman?" he asked. <br> +<p>"Very well, Mr. Swift. There doesn't seem to be any trouble at +all, but it may happen any minute. Koku seems to take to it like +a duck to water."<br> +</p> + +"Well, when he is ready to assume charge let me know." <br> +<p>"And then am I to go into the aeroplane shop?"<br> +</p> + +"I'll see. By the way, how is your mother?" he asked quickly, +looking Feldman full in the face. <br> +<p>"She is much better. I took a day off yesterday to go to see +her," the man replied quietly enough, and without sign of +embarrassment.<br> +</p> + +"That's good. Let me see, she lives over near Lake Loraine, +doesn't she?" <br> +<p>This time Feldman could not repress a start. But he covered it +admirably by stooping over to pick up a tool that fell to the +floor.<br> +</p> + +"No, my mother is in Lafayette," he said. "I don't know where +Lake Loraine is." <br> +<p>"Oh," said Tom, as he turned aside to hide a smile. He was +sure now he knew at least one of the plotters<br> +</p> + +But Tom was not yet ready to show his hand. He wanted better +evidence than any he yet possessed. It would take a little more +time. <br> +<p>Work on the aerial warship was rushed, and it seemed likely +that a trial flight could be made before the date set. Lieutenant +Marbury sent word that he would be on hand when needed, and in +some of the shops, where fittings for the Mars were being made, +night and day shifts were working.<br> +</p> + +"Well, if everything goes well, we'll take her for a trial flight +to-morrow," said Tom, coming in from the shops one evening. <br> +<p>"Guns and all?" asked Ned, who had come over to pay his chum a +visit. Mr. Damon was also on hand, invoking occasional +blessings.<br> +</p> + +"Guns and all," replied Tom. <br> +<p>Ned had a little vacation from the bank, and was to stay all +night, as was Mr. Damon.<br> +</p> + +What time it was, save that it must be near midnight, Tom could +not tell, but he was suddenly awakened by hearing yells from +Eradicate: <br> +<p>"Massa Tom! Massa Tom!" yelled the excited colored man. "Git +up! Git up! Suffin' turrible am happenin' in de balloon shop. +Hurry! An' yo' stan' still, Boomerang, or I'll twist yo' tail, +dat's what I will! Hurry, Massa Tom!"<br> +</p> + +Tom leaped out of bed. <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_13">CHAPTER XIII</h1> + +THE CAPTURE <br> +<p>Tom Swift was something like a fireman. He had lived so long +in an atmosphere of constant alarms and danger, that he was +always ready for almost any emergency. His room was equipped with +the end in view that he could act promptly and effectively.<br> +</p> + +So, when he heard Eradicate's alarm, though he wondered what the +old colored man was doing out of bed at that hour, Tom did not +stop to reason out that puzzle. He acted quickly. <br> +<p>His first care was to throw on the main switch, connected with +a big storage battery, and to which were attached the wires of +the lighting system. This at once illuminated every shop in the +plant, and also the grounds themselves. Tom wanted to see what +was going on. The use of a storage battery eliminated the running +of the dynamo all night.<br> +</p> + +And once he had done this, Tom began pulling on some clothes and +a pair of shoes. At the same time he reached out with one hand +and pressed a button that sounded an alarm in the sleeping +quarters of Koku, the giant, and in the rooms of some of the +older and most trusted men. <br> +<p>All this while Eradicate was shouting away, down in the +yard.<br> +</p> + +"Massa Tom! Massa Tom!" he called. "Hurry! Hurry! Dey is killin' +Koku!" <br> +<p>"Killing Koku!" exclaimed Tom, as he finished his hasty +dressing. "Then my giant must already be in the fracas. I wonder +what it's all about, anyhow."<br> +</p> + +"What's up, Tom?" came Ned's voice from the adjoining room. "I +thought I heard a noise." <br> +<p>"Your thoughts do you credit, Ned!" Tom answered. "If you +listen right close, you'll hear several noises."<br> +</p> + +"By Jove! You're right, old man!" <br> +<p>Tom could hear his chum bound out of bed to the floor, and, at +the same time, from the big shed where Tom was building his +aerial warship came a series of yells and shouts.<br> +</p> + +"That's Koku's voice!" Tom exclaimed, as he recognized the tones +of the giant. <br> +<p>"I'm coming, Tom!" Ned informed his chum. "Wait a minute."<br> +</p> + +"No time to wait," Tom replied, buttoning his coat as he sped +down the hall. <br> +<p>"Oh, Tom, what is it?" asked Mrs. Baggert, the housekeeper, +looking from her room.<br> +</p> + +"I don't know. But don't let dad get excited, no matter what +happens. Just put him off until I come back. I think it isn't +anything serious." <br> +<p>Mr. Damon, who roomed next to Ned, came out of his own +apartment partially dressed.<br> +</p> + +"Bless my suspenders!" he cried to Tom, those articles just then +dangling over his hips. "What is it? What has happened? Bless my +steam gauge, don't tell me it's a fire!" <br> +<p>"I think it isn't that," Tom answered. "No alarm has rung. +Koku seems to be in trouble."<br> +</p> + +"Well, he's big enough to look after himself, that's one +consolation," chuckled Mr. Damon. "I'll be right with you." <br> +<p>By this time Ned had run out into the hall, and, together, he +and Tom sped down the corridor. They could not hear the shouts of +Eradicate so plainly now, as he was on the other side of the +house.<br> +</p> + +But when the two young men reached the front porch, they could +hear the yells given with redoubled vigor. And, in the glare of +the electric lights, Tom saw Eradicate leading along Boomerang, +the old mule. <br> +<p>"What is it, Rad? What is it?" demanded the young inventor +breathlessly.<br> +</p> + +"Trouble, Massa Tom! Dat's what it am! Trouble!" <br> +<p>"I know that--but what kind?"<br> +</p> + +"De worstest kind, I 'spects, Massa Tom. Listen to it!" <br> +<p>From the interior of the big shed, not far from the house, Tom +and Ned heard a confused jumble of shouts, cries and pleadings, +mingled with the rattle of pieces of metal, and the banging of +bits of wood. And, above all that, like the bellowing of a bull, +was noted the rumbling voice of Koku, the giant.<br> +</p> + +"Come on, Ned!" Tom cried. <br> +<p>"It's suah trouble, all right," went on Eradicate. "Mah mule, +Boomerang, had a touch ob de colic, an' I got up t' gib him some +hot drops an' walk him around, when I heard de mostest terrific +racket-sound, and den I 'spected trouble was comm."<br> +</p> + +"It isn't coming--it's here!" called Tom, as he sped toward the +big shop. Ned was but a step behind him. The big workshop where +the aerial warship was being built was, like the other buildings, +brilliantly illuminated by the lights Tom had switched on. The +young inventor also saw several of his employees speeding toward +the same point. <br> +<p>Torn was the first to reach the small door of the shed. This +was built in one of the two large main doors, which could be +swung open when it was desired to slide the Mars in from the +ground, and not admit it through the roof.<br> +</p> + +"Look!" cried Tom, pointing. <br> +<p>Ned looked over his chum's shoulder and saw the giant, Koku, +struggling with four men--powerful men they were, too, and they +seemed bent on mischief.<br> +</p> + +For they came at Koku from four sides, seeking to hold his hands +and feet so that he could not fight them back. On the floor near +where the struggle was taking place was a coil of rope, and it +was evident that it had been the intention of the men to overcome +Koku and truss him up, so that he would not interfere with what +they intended to do. But Koku was a match for even the four men, +powerful as they were. <br> +<p>"We're here, Koku!" cried Tom. "Watch for an opening, Ned!" he +called to his chum.<br> +</p> + +The sound of Tom's voice disconcerted at least two of the +attackers, for they looked around quickly, and this was fatal to +their chances. <br> +<p>Though such a big man, Koku was exceptionally quick, and no +sooner did he see his advantage, as two of the men turned their +gaze away from him, than he seized it.<br> +</p> + +Suddenly tearing loose his hands from the grip of the two men who +had looked around, Koku shot out his right and left fists, and +secured good hold on the necks of two of his enemies. The other +two, at his back, were endeavoring to pull him over, but the +giant's sturdy legs still held. <br> +<p>So big was Koku's hands that they almost encircled the necks +of his antagonists. Then happened a curious thing.<br> +</p> + +With a shout that might have done credit to some ancient +cavedweller of the stone age, Koku spread out his mighty arms, +and held apart the two men he had grasped. In vain they struggled +to free themselves from that terrible grip. Their faces turned +purple, and their eyes bulged out. <br> +<p>"He's choking them to death!" shouted Ned.<br> +</p> + +But Koku was not needlessly cruel. <br> +<p>A moment later, with a quick and sudden motion he bent his +arms, bringing toward each other the two men he held as captives. +Their heads came together with a dull thud, and a second later +Koku allowed two limp bodies to slip from his grip to the +floor.<br> +</p> + +"He's done for them!" Tom cried. "Knocked them unconscious. Good +for you, Koku!" <br> +<p>The giant grunted, and then, with a quick motion, slung +himself around, hoping to bring the enemies at his back within +reach of his powerful arms. But there was no need of this.<br> +</p> + +As soon as the other two ruffians had seen their companions fall +to the floor of the shop they turned and fled, leaping from an +open window. <br> +<p>"There they go!" cried Ned.<br> +</p> + +"Some of the other men can chase them," said the young inventor. +"We'll tie up the two Koku has captured." <br> +<p>As he approached nearer to the unconscious captives Tom +uttered a cry of surprise, for he recognized them as two of the +new men he had employed.<br> +</p> + +"What can this mean?" he asked wonderingly. <br> +<p>He glanced toward the window through which the two men had +jumped to escape, and he was just in time to see one of them run +past the open door. The face of this one was under a powerful +electric light, and Tom at once recognized the man as Feldman, +the worker who had had so much trouble with the trip-hammer.<br> +</p> + +"This sure is a puzzle," marveled Tom. "My own men in the plot! +But why did they attack Koku?" <br> +<p>The giant, bending over the men he had knocked unconscious by +beating their heads together, seemed little worse for the +attack.<br> +</p> + +"We tie 'em up," he said grimly, as he brought over the rope that +had been intended for himself. <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_14">CHAPTER XIV</h1> + +THE FIRST FLIGHT <br> +<p>Little time was lost in securing the two men who bad been so +effectively rendered helpless by Koku's ready, if rough, +measures. One of them was showing signs of returning +consciousness now, and Tom, not willing to inflict needless pain, +even on an enemy, told one of his men, summoned by the alarm, to +bring water. Soon the two men opened their eyes, and looked about +them in dazed fashion.<br> +</p> + +"Did--did anything hit me?" asked one meekly. <br> +<p>"It must have been a thunderbolt," spoke the other dreamily. +"But it didn't look like a storm."<br> +</p> + +"Oh, dere was a storm, all right," chuckled Eradicate, who, +having left his mule, Boomerang outside, came into the shed. "It +was a giant storm all right." <br> +<p>The men put their hands to their heads, and seemed to +comprehend. They looked at the rope that bound their feet. Their +forearms had been loosened to allow them to take a drink of +water.<br> +</p> + +"What does this mean--Ransom--Kurdy?" asked Tom sternly, when the +men seemed able to talk. "Did you attack Koku?" <br> +<p>"It looks as though he had the best of us, whether we did or +not," said the man Tom knew as Kurdy. "Whew, how my head +aches!"<br> +</p> + +"Me sorry," said Koku simply. <br> +<p>"Not half as sorry as we are," returned Ransom ruefully.<br> +</p> + +"What does it mean?" asked Tom sternly. "There were four of you. +Feldman and one other got away." <br> +<p>"Oh, trust Feldman for getting away," sneered Kurdy. "He +always leaves his friends in the lurch."<br> +</p> + +"Was this a conspiracy?" demanded Tom. <br> +<p>The two captives looked at one another, sitting bound on the +floor of the shop, their backs against some boxes.<br> +</p> + +"I guess it's all up, and we might as well make a clean breast of +it," admitted Kurdy. <br> +<p>"Perhaps it would be better," said Tom quietly. "Eradicate," +he went on, to the colored man, "go to the house and tell Mrs. +Baggert that everything is all right and no one hurt."<br> +</p> + +"No one hurt, Massa Tom? What about dem dere fellers?" and the +colored man pointed to the captives. <br> +<p>"Well, they're not hurt much," and Tom permitted himself a +little smile. "I don't want my father to worry. Tell him +everything is all right."<br> +</p> + +"All right, Massa Tom. I'se gwine right off. I'se got t' look +after mah mule, Boomerang, too. I'se gwine," and he shuffled +away. <br> +<p>"Who else besides Feldman got away?" asked Tom, looking +alternately at the prisoners.<br> +</p> + +They hesitated a moment about answering. <br> +<p>"We might as well give up, I tell you," spoke Kurdy to +Ransom.<br> +</p> + +"All right, go ahead, we'll have to take our medicine. I might +have known it would turn out this way--going in for this sort of +thing. It's the first bit of crooked business I ever tried," the +man said earnestly, "and it will be the last--believe me!" <br> +<p>"Who was the fourth man?" Tom repeated.<br> +</p> + +"Harrison," answered Kurdy, naming one of the most efficient of +the new machinists Tom had hired during the rush. <br> +<p>"Harrison, who has been working on the motor?" cried the young +inventor.<br> +</p> + +"Yes," said Ransom. <br> +<p>"I'm sorry to learn that," Tom went on in a low voice. "He was +an expert in his line. But what was your object, anyhow, in +attacking Koku?"<br> +</p> + +"We didn't intend to attack him," explained Ransom, "but he came +in when we were at work, and as he went for us we tried to stand +him off. Then your colored man heard the racket, and--well, I +guess you know the rest." <br> +<p>"But I don't understand why you came into this shed at night," +went on Tom. "No one is allowed in here. You had no right, and +Koku knew that. What did you want?"<br> +</p> + +"Look here!" exclaimed Kurdy, "I said we'd make a clean breast of +it, and we will. We're only a couple of tools, and we were +foolish ever to go in with those fellows; or rather, in with that +Frenchman, who promised us big money if we succeeded." <br> +<p>"Succeeded in what?" demanded the young inventor.<br> +</p> + +"In damaging your new aerial warship, or in getting certain parts +of it so he could take them away with him." <br> +<p>Tom gave a surprised whistle.<br> +</p> + +"A frenchman!" he exclaimed. "Is he one of the--?" <br> +<p>"Yes, he's one of the foreign spies," interrupted Ransom. +"You'd find it out, anyhow, if we didn't tell you. They are after +you, Tom Swift, and after your machines. They had vowed to get +them by fair means or foul, for some of the European governments +are desperate."<br> +</p> + +"But we were only tools in their hands. So were Feldman and +Harrison, but they knew more about the details. We were only +helping them." <br> +<p>"Then we must try to capture them," decided Tom. "Ned, see if +the chase had any results. I'll look after these chaps--Koku and +I."<br> +</p> + +"Oh, we give in," admitted Kurdy. "We know when we've had +enough," and he rubbed his head gently where the giant had banged +it against that of his fellow-conspirator. <br> +<p>"Do you mean that you four came into this shop, at midnight, +to damage the Mars?" asked Tom.<br> +</p> + +"That's about it, Mr. Swift," replied Kurdy rather shamefacedly. +"We were to damage it beyond repair, set fire to the whole place, +if need be, and, at the same time, take away certain vital parts +<br> +<p>"Harrison, Feldman, Ransom and I came in, thinking the coast +was clear. But Koku must have seen us enter, or he suspected we +were here, for he came in after us, and the fight began. We +couldn't stop him, and he did for us. I'm rather glad of it, too, +for I never liked the work. It was only that they tempted me with +a promise of big money."<br> +</p> + +"Who tempted you?" demanded Tom. <br> +<p>"That Frenchman--La Foy, he calls himself, and some other +foreigners in your shops."<br> +</p> + +"Are there foreigners here?" cried Tom. <br> +<p>"Bless my chest protector!" cried Mn Damon, who had come in +and had been a silent listener to this. "Can it be possible?"<br> +</p> + +"That's the case," went on Kurdy. "A lot of the new men you took +on are foreign spies from different European nations. They are +trying to learn all they can about your plans, Mr. Swift!" <br> +<p>"Are they friendly among themselves?" asked Tom.<br> +</p> + +"No; each one is trying to get ahead of the other. So far the +Frenchman seems to have had the best of it. But to-night his plan +failed." <br> +<p>"Tell me more about it," urged Tom.<br> +</p> + +"That's about all we know," spoke Ransom. "We were only hired to +do the rough work. Those higher up didn't appear. Feldman was +only a step above us." <br> +<p>"Then my suspicions of him were justified," thought Tom. "He +evidently met La Foy in the woods to make plans. But Koku and +Eradicate spoiled them."<br> +</p> + +The two captives seemed willing enough to make a confession, but +they did not know much. As they said, they were merely tools, +acting for others. And events had happened just as they had said. +<br> +<p>The four conspirators had managed, by means of a false key, +and by disconnecting the burglar alarm, to enter the airship +shed. They were about to proceed with their work of destruction +when Koku came on the scene.<br> +</p> + +The giant's appearance was due to accident. He acted as a sort of +night watchman, making a tour of the buildings, but he entered +the shed where the Mars was because, that day, he had left his +knife in there, and wanted to get it. Only for that he would not +have gone in. When he entered he surprised the four men. <br> +<p>Of course he attacked them at once, and they sprang at him. +Then ensued a terrific fight. Eradicate, arising to doctor his +mule, as he had said, heard the noise, and saw what was going on. +He gave the alarm.<br> +</p> + +"Well, Ned, any luck?" asked Tom, as his chum came in. <br> +<p>"No, they got away, Tom. I had a lot of your men out helping +me search the grounds, but it wasn't of much use."<br> +</p> + +"Particularly if you depended on some of my men," said Tom +bitterly. <br> +<p>"What do you mean?"<br> +</p> + +"I mean that the place is filled with spies, Ned! But we will +sift them out in the morning. This has been a lucky night for me. +It was touch and go. Now, then, Koku, take these fellows and lock +them up somewhere until morning. Ned, you and I will remain on +guard here the rest of the night." <br> +<p>"I'm with you, Tom."<br> +</p> + +"Will you be a bit easy on us, considering what we told you?" +asked Kurdy. <br> +<p>"I'll do the best I can," said Tom, gently, making no +promises.<br> +</p> + +The two captives were put in secure quarters, and the rest of the +night passed quietly. During the fight in the airship shed some +machinery and tools had been broken, but no great amount of +damage was done. Tom and Ned passed the remaining hours of +darkness there. <br> +<p>A further search was made in the morning for the two +conspirators who had escaped, but no trace of them was found. Tom +then realized why Feldman was so anxious to be placed in the +aeroplane department--it was in order that he might have easier +access to the Mars.<br> +</p> + +A technical charge was made against the two prisoners, sufficient +to hold them for some time. Then Tom devoted a day to weeding out +the suspected foreigners in his place. All the new men were +discharged, though some protested against this action. <br> +<p>"Probably I am hitting some of the innocent in punishing those +who, if they had the chance, would become guilty," Tom said to +his chum, "but it cannot be helped--I can't afford to take any +chances."<br> +</p> + +The Mars was being put in shape for her first flight. The guns, +fitted with the recoil shock absorbers, were mounted, and +Lieutenant Marbury had returned to go aloft in the big aerial +warship. He congratulated Tom on discovering at least one plot in +time. <br> +<p>"But there may be more," he warned the young inventor. "You +are not done with them yet."<br> +</p> + +The Mars was floated out of her hangar, and made ready for an +ascent. Tom, Ned, Lieutenant Marbury, Mr. Damon, and several +workmen were to be the first passengers. Tom was busy going over +the various parts to see that nothing had been forgotten. <br> +<p>"Well, I guess we re ready," he finally announced. "All +aboard!"<br> +</p> + +"Bless my insurance policy!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Now that the +time comes I almost wish I wasn't going." <br> +<p>"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom. "You're not going to back out at +the last minute. All aboard! Cast off the ropes!" he cried to the +assistants.<br> +</p> + +A moment later the Mars, the biggest airship Tom Swift had ever +constructed, arose from the earth like some great bird, and +soared aloft. <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_15">CHAPTER XV</h1> + +IN DANGER <br> +<p>"Well, Tom, we're moving!" cried Ned Newton, clapping his chum +on the back, as he stood near him in the pilot-house. "We're +going up, old sport!"<br> +</p> + +"Of course we are," replied Tom. "You didn't think it wouldn't go +up, did you?" <br> +<p>"Well, I wasn't quite sure," Ned confessed. "You know you were +so worried about--"<br> +</p> + +"Not about the ship sailing," interrupted Tom. "It was only the +effect the firing of the guns might have. But I think we have +that taken care of." <br> +<p>"Bless my pin cushion!" cried Mr. Damon, as he looked over the +rail at the earth below. "We're moving fast, Tom."<br> +</p> + +"Yes, we can make a quicker ascent in this than in most +aeroplanes," Tom said, "for they have to go up in a slanting +direction. But we can't quite equal their lateral speed." <br> +<p>"Just how fast do you think you can travel when you are in +first-class shape?" asked Lieu tenant Marbury, as he noted how +the Mars was behaving on this, the first trip.<br> +</p> + +"Well, I set a limit of seventy-five miles an hour," the young +inventor replied, as he shifted various levers and handles, to +change the speed of the mechanism. "But I'm afraid we won't quite +equal that with all our guns on board. But I'm safe in saying +sixty, I think." <br> +<p>"That will more than satisfy the government requirements," the +officer said. "But, of course, your craft will have to come up to +expectations and requirements in the matter of armament."<br> +</p> + +"I'll give you every test you want," declared Tom, with a smile. +"And now we'll see what the Mars can do when put to it." <br> +<p>Up and up went the big dirigible aerial warship. Had you been +fortunate enough to have seen her you would have observed a craft +not unlike, in shape, the German Zeppelins. But it differed from +those war balloons in several important particulars.<br> +</p> + +Tom's craft was about six hundred feet long, and the diameter of +the gas bag, amidships, was sixty feet, slightly larger than the +largest Zeppelin. Below the bag, which, as I have explained, was +made up of a number of gas-tight compartments, hung from wire +cables three cabins. The forward one was a sort of pilot-house, +containing various instruments for navigating the ship of the +air, observation rooms, gauges for calculating firing ranges, and +the steering apparatus. <br> +<p>Amidships, suspended below the great bag, were the living and +sleeping quarters, where food was cooked and served and where +those who operated the craft could spend their leisure time. +Extra supplies were also stored there.<br> +</p> + +At the stern of the big bag was the motor-room, where gas was +generated to fill the balloon compartments when necessary, where +the gasoline and electrical apparatus were installed, and where +the real motive power of the craft was located. Here, also, was +carried the large quantity of gasoline and oil needed for a long +voyage. The Mars could carry sufficient fuel to last for over a +week, provided no accidents occurred. <br> +<p>There was also an arrangement in the motor compartment, so +that the ship could be steered and operated from there. This was +in case the forward pilot-house should be shot away by an enemy. +And, also, in the motor compartment were the sleeping quarters +for the crew.<br> +</p> + +All three suspended cabins were connected by a long covered +runway, so that one could pass from the pilot-house to the +motorroom and back again through the amidship cabin <br> +<p>At the extreme end of the big bag were the various rudders and +planes, designed to keep the craft on a level keel, +automatically, and to enable it to make headway against a strong +wind. The motive power consisted of three double-bladed wooden +propellers, which could be operated together or independently. A +powerful gasoline engine was the chief motive power, though there +was an auxiliary storage battery, which would operate an +electrical motor and send the ship along for more than twentyfour +hours in case of accident to the gasoline engine.<br> +</p> + +There were many other pieces of apparatus aboard, some not +completely installed, the uses of which I shall mention from time +to time, as the story progresses. The gas-generating machine was +of importance, for there would be a leakage and shrinking of the +vapor from the big bag, and some means must be provided for +replenishing it. <br> +<p>"You don't seem to have forgotten anything, Tom," said Ned +admiringly, as they soared upward.<br> +</p> + +"We can tell better after we've flown about a bit," observed the +young inventor, with a smile. "I expect we shall have to make +quite a number of changes." <br> +<p>"Are you going far?" asked Mr. Damon.<br> +</p> + +"Why, you're not frightened, are you?" inquired Tom. "You have +been up in airships with me before." <br> +<p>"Oh, no, I'm not frightened!" exclaimed the odd man. "Bless my +suspenders, no! But I promised my wife I'd be back this evening, +and<br> +</p> + +"We'll sail over toward Waterford," broke in Tom, "and I'll drop +you down in your front yard." <br> +<p>"No, don't do that! Don't! I beg of you!" cried Mr. Damon. +"You see--er--Tom, my wife doesn't like me to make these trips. +Of course, I understand there is no danger, and I like them. But +it's just as well not to make her worry-you understand!"<br> +</p> + +"Oh, all right," replied Tom, with a laugh. "Well, we're not +going far on this trip. What I want to do, most of all, is to +test the guns, and see if the recoil check will work as well when +we are aloft as it did down on the ground. You know a balloon +isn't a very stable base for a gun, even one of light caliber." +<br> +<p>"No, it certainly is not," agreed Lieutenant Marbury, "and I +am interested in seeing how you will overcome the recoil."<br> +</p> + +"We'll have a test soon," announced Tom. <br> +<p>Meanwhile the Mars, having reached a considerable height, +being up so far, in fact, that the village of Shopton could +scarcely be distinguished, Tom set the signal that told the +engine-room force to start the propellers. This would send them +ahead.<br> +</p> + +Some of Tom's most trusted workmen formed the operating crew, the +young inventor taking charge of the pilot-house himself. <br> +<p>"Well she seems to run all right," observed Lieutenant +Marbury, as the big craft surged ahead just below a stratum of +white, fleecy clouds.<br> +</p> + +"Yes, but not as fast as I'd like to see her go, Tom replied. "Of +course the machinery is new, and it will take some little time +for it to wear down smooth. I'll speed her up a little now." <br> +<p>They had been running for perhaps ten minutes when Tom shoved +over the hand of an indicator that communicated with the +engineroom from the pilot-house. At once the Mars increased her +speed.<br> +</p> + +"She can do it!" cried Ned. <br> +<p>"Bless my-hat! I should say so!" cried Mr. Damon, for he was +standing outside the pilot-house just then, on the "bridge," and +the sudden increase of speed lifted his hat from his head.<br> +</p> + +"There you are--caught on the fly!" cried Ned, as he put up his +hand just in time to catch the article in question. <br> +<p>"Thanks! Guess I'd better tie it fast," remarked the odd man, +putting his hat on tightly.<br> +</p> + +The aerial warship was put through several evolutions to test her +stability, and to each one she responded well, earning the praise +of the government officer. Up and down, to one side and the +other, around in big circles, and even reversing, Tom sent his +craft with a true hand and eye. In a speed test fifty-five miles +was registered against a slight wind, and the young inventor said +he knew he could do better than that as soon as some of the +machinery was running more smoothly. <br> +<p>"And now suppose we get ready for the gun tests," suggested +Tom, when they had been running for about an hour.<br> +</p> + +"That's what I'm mostly interested in," said Lieutenant Marbury. +"It's easy enough to get several good types of dirigible +balloons, but few of them will stand having a gun fired from +them, to say nothing of several guns." <br> +<p>"Well, I'm not making any rash promises," Tom went on, "but I +think we can turn the trick."<br> +</p> + +The armament of the Mars was located around the center cabin. +There were two large guns, fore and aft, throwing a four-inch +projectile, and two smaller calibered quick-firers on either +beam. The guns were mounted on pedestals that enabled the weapons +to fire in almost any direction, save straight up, and of course +the balloon bag being above them prevented this. However, there +was an arrangement whereby a small automatic quick-firer could be +sent up to a platform built on top of the gas envelope itself, +and a man stationed there could shoot at a rival airship directly +overhead. <br> +<p>But the main deck guns could be elevated to an angle of nearly +forty-five degrees, so they could take care of nearly any hostile +aircraft that approached.<br> +</p> + +"But where are the bombs I heard you speaking of?" asked Ned, as +they finished looking at the guns. <br> +<p>"Here they are," spoke Tom, as he pointed to a space in the +middle of the main cabin floor. He lifted a brass plate, and +disclosed three holes, covered with a strong wire netting that +could be removed. "The bombs will be dropped through those +holes," explained the young inventor, "being released by a +magnetic control when the operator thinks he has reached a spot +over the enemy's city or fortification where the most damage will +be done. I'll show you how they work a little later. Now we'll +have a test of some of the guns."<br> +</p> + +Tom called for some of his men to take charge of the steering and +running of the Mars while he and Lieutenant Marbury prepared to +fire the two larger weapons. This was to be one of the most +important tests. <br> +<p>Service charges had been put in, though, of course, no +projectiles would be used, since they were then flying over a +large city not far from Shopton.<br> +</p> + +"We'll have to wait until we get out over the ocean to give a +complete test, with a bursting shell," Tom said. <br> +<p>He and Lieutenant Marbury were beside a gun, and were about to +fire it, when suddenly, from the stern of the ship, came a +ripping, tearing sound, and, at the same time, confused shouts +came from the crew's quarters.<br> +</p> + +"What is it?" cried Tom. <br> +<p>"One of the propellers!" was the answer. "It's split, and has +torn a big hole in the gas bag!"<br> +</p> + +"Bless my overshoes!" cried Mr. Damon. "We're going down!" <br> +<p>All on board the Mars became aware of a sudden sinking +sensation.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_16">CHAPTER XVI</h1> + +TOM IS WORRIED <br> +"Steady, all!" came in even tones from Tom Swift. Not for an +instant had he lost his composure. For it was an accident, that +much was certain, and one that might endanger the lives of all on +board. <br> +<p>Above the noise of the machinery in the motor room could be +heard the thrashing and banging of the broken or loose +propellerblade. Just what its condition was, could not be told, +as a bulge of the gas bag hid it from the view of those gathered +about the gun, which was about to be fired when the alarm was +given.<br> +</p> + +"We're sinking!" cried Mr. Damon. "We're going down, Tom!" <br> +<p>"That's nothing," was the cool answer. "It is only for a +moment. Only a few of the gas compartments can be torn. There +will soon enough additional gas in the others to lift us +again."<br> +</p> + +And so it proved. The moment the pressure of the lifting gas in +the big oiled silk and aluminum container was lowered, it started +the generating machine, and enough extra gas was pumped into the +uninjured compartments to compensate for the loss. <br> +<p>"We're not falling so fast now," observed Ned.<br> +</p> + +"No, and we'll soon stop falling altogether," calmly declared +Tom. "Too bad this accident had to happen, though." <br> +<p>"It might have been much worse, my boy!" exclaimed the +lieutenant. "That's a great arrangement of yours--the automatic +gas machine."<br> +</p> + +"It's on the same principle as the air brakes of a trolley car," +explained Tom, when a look at the indicators showed that the Mars +had ceased falling and remained stationary in the air. Tom had +also sent a signal to the engine-room to shut off the power, so +that the two undamaged propellers, as well as the broken one, +ceased revolving. <br> +<p>"In a trolley car, you see," Tom went on, when the excitement +had calmed down, "as soon as the air pressure in the tanks gets +below a certain point, caused by using the air for a number of +applications of the brakes, it lets a magnetized bar fall, and +this establishes an electrical connection, starting the air pump. +The pump forces more air into the tanks until the pressure is +enough to throw the pump switch out of connection, when the pump +stops. I use the same thing here."<br> +</p> + +"And very clever it is," said Mr. Damon. "Do you suppose the +danger is all over, Tom?" <br> +<p>"For the time being, yes. But we must unship that damaged +propeller, and go on with the two."<br> +</p> + +The necessary orders were given, and several men from the +engine-room at once began the removal of the damaged blades. <br> +<p>As several spare ones were carried aboard one could be put on +in place of the broken one, had this been desired. But Tom +thought the accident a good chance to see how his craft would act +with only two-thirds of her motive force available, so he did not +order the damaged propeller replaced. When it was lowered to the +deck it was carefully examined.<br> +</p> + +"What made it break?" Ned wanted to know. <br> +<p>"That's a question I can't answer," Tom replied. "There may +have been a defect in the wood, but I had it all carefully +examined before I used it."<br> +</p> + +The propeller was one of the "built-up" type, with alternate +layers of ash and mahogany, but some powerful force had torn and +twisted the blades. The wood was splintered and split, and some +jagged pieces, flying off at a tangent, so great was the +centrifugal force, had torn holes in the strong gas bag. <br> +<p>"Did something hit it; or did it hit something?" asked Ned as +he saw Tom carefully examining the broken blades.<br> +</p> + +"Hard to say. I'll have a good look at this when we get back. +Just now I want to finish that gun test we didn't get a chance to +start." <br> +<p>"You don't mean to say you're going to keep on, and with the +balloon damaged; are you?" cried Mr. Damon, in surprise.<br> +</p> + +"Certainly--why not?" Tom replied. "In warfare accidents may +happen, and if the Mars can't go on, after a little damage like +this, what is going to happen when she's fired on by a hostile +ship? Of course I'm going on!" <br> +<p>"Bless my necktie!" ejaculated the odd man.<br> +</p> + +"That's the way to talk!" exclaimed Lieutenant Marbury. "I'm with +you." <br> +<p>There really was very little danger in proceeding. The Mars +was just as buoyant as before, for more gas had been +automatically made, and forced into the uninjured compartments of +the bag. At the same time enough sand ballast had been allowed to +run out to make the weight to be lifted less in proportion to the +power remaining.<br> +</p> + +True, the speed would be less, with two propellers instead of +three, and the craft would not steer as well, with the torn ends +of the gas bag floating out behind. But this made a nearer +approach to war conditions, and Tom was always glad to give his +inventions the most severe tests possible. <br> +<p>So, after a little while, during which it was seen that the +Mars was proceeding almost normally, the matter of discharging +the guns was taken up again.<br> +</p> + +The weapons were all ready to fire, and when Tom had attached the +pressure gauges to note how much energy was expended in the +recoil, he gave the word to fire. <br> +<p>The two big weapons were discharged together, and for a moment +after the report echoed out among the cloud masses every soul on +the ship feared another accident had happened.<br> +</p> + +For the big craft rolled and twisted, and seemed about to turn +turtle. Her forward progress was halted, momentarily, and a cry +of fear came from several of the members of the crew, who had had +only a little experience in aircraft. <br> +<p>"What's the matter?" cried Ned. "Something go wrong?"<br> +</p> + +"A little," admitted Tom, with a rueful look on his face. "Those +recoil checks didn't work as well in practice as they did in +theory." <br> +<p>"Are you sure they are strong enough?" asked Lieutenant +Marbury.<br> +</p> + +"I thought so," spoke Tom. "I'll put more tension on the spring +next time." <br> +<p>"Bless my watch chain!" cried Mr. Damon. "You aren't going to +fire those guns again; are you, Tom?"<br> +</p> + +"Why not? We can't tell what's the matter, nor get things right +without experimenting. There's no danger." <br> +<p>"No danger! Don't you call nearly upsetting the ship +danger?"<br> +</p> + +"Oh, well, if she turns over she'll right herself again," Tom +said. "The center of gravity is low, you see. She can't float in +any position but right side up, though she may turn over once or +twice." <br> +<p>"Excuse me!" said Mr. Damon firmly. "I'd rather go down, if +it's all the same to you. If my wife ever knew I was here I'd +never hear the last of it!"<br> +</p> + +"We'll go down soon," Tom promised. "But I must fire a couple of +shots more. You wouldn't call the recoil checks a success, would +you?" and the young inventor appealed to the government +inspector. <br> +<p>"No, I certainly would not," was the prompt answer. "I am +sorry, too, for they seemed to be just what was needed. Of course +I understand this is not an official test, and I am not obliged +to make a report of this trial. But had it been, I should have +had to score against you.<br> +</p> + +"I realize that, and I'm not asking any favors. but I'll try it +again with the recoil checks tightened up. I think the +hydrostatic valves were open too much, also." <br> +<p>Preparations were now made for firing the four-inch guns once +more. All this while the Mars had been speeding around in space, +being about two miles up in the air. Tom's craft was not designed +to reach as great an elevation as would be possible in an +aeroplane, since to work havoc to an enemy's fortifications by +means of aerial bombs they do not need to be dropped from a great +height.<br> +</p> + +In fact, experiments in Germany have shown that bombs falling +from a great height are less effective than those falling from an +airship nearer the earth. For a bomb, falling from a height of +two miles, acquires enough momentum to penetrate far into the +earth, so that much of the resultant explosive force is expended +in a downward direction, and little damage is done to the +fortifications. A bomb dropped from a lower altitude, expending +its force on all sides, does much more damage. <br> +<p>On the other hand, in destroying buildings, it has been found +desirable to drop a bomb from a good height so that it may +penetrate even a protected roof, and explode inside.<br> +</p> + +Once more Tom made ready to fire, this time having given the +recoil checks greater resistance. But though there was less +motion imparted to the airship when the guns were discharged, +there was still too much for comfort, or even safety. <br> +<p>"Well, something's wrong, that's sure," remarked Tom, in +rather disappointed tones as he noted the effect of the second +shots. "If we get as much recoil from the two guns, what would +happen if we fired them all at once?"<br> +</p> + +"Don't do it! Don't do it, I beg of you!" entreated Mr. Damon. +"Bless my toothbrush--don't do it!" <br> +<p>"I won't--just at present," Tom said, ruefully. "I'm afraid +I'll have to begin all over again, and proceed along new +lines."<br> +</p> + +"Well, perhaps you will," said the lieutenant. "But you may +invent something much better than anything you have now. There is +no great rush. Take your time, and do something good." <br> +<p>"Oh, I'll get busy on it right away," Tom declared. "We'll go +down now, and start right to work. I'm afraid, Ned, that our idea +of a door-spring check isn't going to work."<br> +</p> + +"I might have known my idea wouldn't amount to anything," said +the young bank clerk. <br> +<p>"Oh, the idea is all right," declared Tom, "but it wants +modifying. There is more power to those recoils than I figured, +though our first experiments seemed to warrant us in believing +that we had solved the problem."<br> +</p> + +"Are you going to try the bomb-dropping device?" asked the +lieutenant. <br> +<p>"Yes, there can't be any recoil from that," Tom said. "I'll +drop a few blank ones, and see how accurate the range finders +are.<br> +</p> + +While his men were getting ready for this test Tom bent over the +broken propeller, looking from that to the recoil checks, which +had not come up to expectations. Then he shook his head in a +worried and puzzled manner. <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_17">CHAPTER XVII</h1> + +AN OCEAN FLIGHT <br> +<p>Dropping bombs from an aeroplane, or a dirigible balloon, is a +comparatively simple matter. Of course there are complications +that may ensue, from the danger of carrying high explosives in +the limited quarters of an airship, with its inflammable gasoline +fuel, and ever-present electric spark, to the possible premature +explosion of the bomb itself. But they seem to be considered +minor details now.<br> +</p> + +On the other hand, while it is comparatively easy to drop a bomb +from a moving aeroplane, or dirigible balloon, it is another +matter to make the bomb fall just where it will do the most +damage to the enemy. It is not easy to gauge distances, high up +in the air, and then, too, allowance must be made for the speed +of the aircraft, the ever-increasing velocity of a falling body, +and the deflection caused by air currents. <br> +<p>The law of velocity governing falling bodies is well known. It +varies, of course, according to the height, but in general a body +falling freely toward the earth, as all high-school boys know, is +accelerated at the rate of thirty-two feet per second. This law +has been taken advantage of by the French in the present European +war. The French drop from balloons, or aeroplanes, a steel dart +about the size of a lead pencil, and sharpened in about the same +manner. Dropping from a height of a mile or so, that dart will +acquire enough velocity to penetrate a man from his head all the +way through his body to his feet.<br> +</p> + +But in dropping bombs from an airship the damage intended does +not so much depend on velocity. It is necessary to know how fast +the bomb falls in order to know when to set the time fuse that +will explode it; though some bombs will explode on concussion. +<br> +<p>At aeroplane meets there are often bomb-dropping contests, and +balls filled with a white powder (that will make a dust-cloud on +falling, and so show where they strike) are used to demonstrate +the birdman's accuracy.<br> +</p> + +"We'll see how our bomb-release works," Tom went on. "But we'll +have to descend a bit in order to watch the effect." <br> +<p>"You're not going to use real bombs, are you, Tom?" asked +Ned.<br> +</p> + +"Indeed not. Just chalk-dust ones for practice. Now here is where +the bombs will be placed," and he pointed to the three openings +in the floor of the amidship cabin. The wire nettings were taken +out and one could look down through the holes to the earth below, +the ground being nearer now, as Tom had let out some of the +lifting gas. <br> +<p>"Here is the range-finder and the speed calculator," the young +inventor went on as he indicated the various instruments. "The +operator sits here, where he can tell when is the most favorable +moment for releasing the bomb."<br> +</p> + +Tom took his place before a complicated set of instruments, and +began manipulating them. One of his assistants, under the +direction of Lieutenant Marbury, placed in the three openings +bombs, made of light cardboard, just the size of a regular bomb, +but filled with a white powder that would, on breaking, make a +dust-cloud which could be observed from the airship. <br> +<p>"I have first to determine where I want to drop the bomb," Tom +explained, "and then I have to get my distance from it on the +range-finder. Next I have to know how fast I am traveling, and +how far up in the air I am, to tell what the velocity of the +falling bomb will attain at a certain time. This I can do by +means of these instruments. some of which I have adapted from +those used by the government," he said, with a nod to the +officer.<br> +</p> + +"That's right--take all the information you can get," was the +smiling response. <br> +<p>"We will now assume that the bombs are in place in the holes +in the floor of the cabin," Tom went on. "As I sit here I have +before me three buttons. They control the magnets that hold the +bombs in place. If I press one of the buttons it breaks the +electrical current, the magnet no longer has any attraction, and +it releases the explosive. Now look down. I am going to try and +drop a chalk bomb near that stone fence."<br> +</p> + +The Mars was then flying over a large field and a stone fence was +in plain view. <br> +<p>"Here she goes!" cried Tom, as he made some rapid calculations +from his gauge instruments. There was a little click and the +chalk bomb dropped. There was a plate glass floor in part of the +cabin, and through this the progress of the pasteboard bomb could +be observed.<br> +</p> + +"She'll never go anywhere near the fence!" declared Ned. "You let +it drop too soon, Tom!" <br> +<p>"Did I? You just watch. I had to allow for the momentum that +would be given the bomb by the forward motion of the +balloon."<br> +</p> + +Hardly had Tom spoken than a puff of white was seen on the very +top of the fence. <br> +<p>"There it goes?" cried the lieutenant. "You did the trick, +Swift!"<br> +</p> + +"Yes, I thought I would. Well, that shows my gauges are correct, +anyhow. Now we'll try the other two bombs." <br> +<p>In succession they were released from the bottom of the cabin, +at other designated objects. The second one was near a tree. It +struck within five feet, which was considered good.<br> +</p> + +"And I'll let the last one down near that scarecrow in the +field," said Tom, pointing to a ragged figure in the middle of a +patch of corn. <br> +<p>Down went the cardboard bomb, and so good was the aim of the +young inventor that the white dust arose in a cloud directly back +of the scarecrow.<br> +</p> + +And then a queer thing happened. For the figure seemed to come to +life, and Ned, who was watching through a telescope, saw a very +much excited farmer looking up with an expression of the greatest +wonder on his face. He saw the balloon over his head, and shook +his fist at it, evidently thinking he had had a narrow escape. +But the pasteboard bomb was so light that, had it hit him, he +would not have been injured, though he might have been well +dusted. <br> +<p>"Why, that was a man! Bless my pocketbook!" cried Mr. +Damon.<br> +</p> + +"I guess it was," agreed Tom. "I took it for a scarecrow. <br> +<p>"Well, it proved the accuracy of your aim, at any rate," +observed Lieutenant Marbury. "The bomb dropping device of your +aerial warship is perfect--I can testify to that."<br> +</p> + +"And I'll have the guns fixed soon, so there will be no danger of +a recoil, too," added Tom Swift, with a determined look on his +face. <br> +<p>"What's next?" asked Mr. Damon, looking at his watch. "I +really ought to be home, Tom."<br> +</p> + +"We're going back now, and down. Are you sure you don't want me +to drop you in your own front yard, or even on your roof? I think +I could manage that." <br> +<p>"Bless my stovepipe, no, Tom! My wife would have hysterics. +Just land me at Shopton and I'll take a car home."<br> +</p> + +The damaged airship seemed little the worse for the test to which +she had been subjected, and made her way at good speed in the +direction of Tom's home. Several little experiments were tried on +the way back. They all worked well, and the only two problems Tom +had to solve were the taking care of the recoil from the guns and +finding out why the propeller had broken. <br> +<p>A safe landing was made, and the Mars once more put away in +her hangar. Mr. Damon departed for his home, and Lieutenant +Marbury again took up his residence in the Swift household.<br> +</p> + +"Well, Tom, how did it go?" asked his father. <br> +<p>"Not so very well. Too much recoil from the guns.<br> +</p> + +"I was afraid so. You had better drop this line of work, and go +at something else." <br> +<p>"No, Dad!" Tom cried. "I'm going to make this work. I never +had anything stump me yet, and I'm not going to begin now!"<br> +</p> + +"Well, that's a good spirit to show," said the aged inventor, +with a shake of his head, "but I don't believe you'll succeed, +Tom." <br> +<p>"Yes I will, Dad! You just wait."<br> +</p> + +Tom decided to begin on the problem of the propeller first, as +that seemed more simple. He knew that the gun question would take +longer. <br> +<p>"Just what are you trying to find out, Tom?" asked Ned, a few +nights later, when he found his chum looking at the broken parts +of the propeller.<br> +</p> + +"Trying to discover what made this blade break up and splinter +that way. It couldn't have been centrifugal force, for it wasn't +strong enough." <br> +<p>Tom was "poking" away amid splinters, and bits of broken wood, +when he suddenly uttered an exclamation, and held up something. +"Look!" he cried. "I believe I've found it."<br> +</p> + +"What?" asked Ned. <br> +<p>"The thing that weakened the propeller. Look at this, and +smell!" He held out a piece of wood toward Ned. The bank employee +saw where a half-round hole had been bored in what remained of +the blade, and from that hole came a peculiar odor.<br> +</p> + +"It's some kind of acid," ventured Ned. <br> +<p>"That's it!" cried Tom. "Someone bored a hole in the +propeller, and put in some sort of receptacle, or capsule, +containing a corrosive acid. In due time, which happened to be +when we took our first flight, the acid ate through whatever it +was contained in, and then attacked the wood of the propeller +blade. It weakened the wood so that the force used in whirling it +around broke it."<br> +</p> + +"Are you sure of that?" asked Ned. <br> +<p>"As sure as I am that I'm here! Now I know what caused the +accident!"<br> +</p> + +"But who would play such a trick?" asked Ned. "We might all have +been killed." <br> +<p>"Yes, I know we might," said Tom. "It must be the work of some +of those foreign spies whose first plot we nipped in the bud. I +must tell Marbury of this, but don't mention it to dad."<br> +</p> + +"I won't," promised Ned. <br> +<p>Lieutenant Marbury agreed with Tom that someone had +surreptitiously bored a small hole in the propeller blade, and +had inserted a corrosive acid that would take many hours to +operate. The hole had been varnished over, probably, so it would +not show.<br> +</p> + +"And that means I've got to examine the other two blades," Tom +said. "They may be doctored too." <br> +<p>But they did not prove to be. A careful examination showed +nothing wrong. An effort was made to find out who had tried to +destroy the Mars in midair, but it came to nothing. The two men +in custody declared they knew nothing of it, and there was no way +of proving that they did.<br> +</p> + +Meanwhile, the torn gas bag was repaired, and Tom began working +on the problem of doing away with the gun recoil. He tried +several schemes, and almost was on the point of giving up when +suddenly he received a hint by reading an account of how the +recoil was taken care of on some of the German Zeppelins. <br> +<p>The guns there were made double, with the extra barrel filled +with water or sand, that could be shot out as was the regular +charge. As both barrels were fired at the same time, and in +opposite directions, with the same amount of powder, one +neutralized the other, and the recoil was canceled, the ship +remaining steady after fire.<br> +</p> + +"By Jove! I believe that will do the trick!" cried Tom. "I'm +going to try it." <br> +<p>"Good luck to you!" cried Ned.<br> +</p> + +It was no easy matter to change all the guns of the Mars, and fit +them with double barrels. But by working day and night shifts Tom +managed it. Meanwhile, a careful watch was kept over the shops. +Several new men applied for work, and some of them were +suspicious enough in looks, but Tom took on no new hands. <br> +<p>Finally the new guns were made, and tried with the Mars held +on the ground. They behaved perfectly, the shooting of sand or +water from the dummy barrel neutralizing the shot from the +service barrel.<br> +</p> + +"And now to see how it works in practice!" cried Tom one day. +"Are you with me for a long flight, Ned?" <br> +<p>"I sure am!"<br> +</p> + +The next evening the Mars, with a larger crew than before, and +with Tom, Ned, Mr. Damon and Lieutenant Marbury aboard, set sail. +<br> +<p>"But why start at night?" asked Ned.<br> +</p> + +"You'll see in the morning," Tom answered. <br> +<p>The Mars flew slowly all night, life aboard her, at about the +level of the clouds, going on almost as naturally as though the +occupants of the cabins were on the earth. Excellent meals were +served.<br> +</p> + +"But when are you going to try the guns?" asked Ned, as he got +ready to turn in. <br> +<p>"Tell you in the morning," replied Tom, with a smile.<br> +</p> + +And, in the morning, when Ned looked down through the plate glass +in the cabin floor, he uttered a cry. <br> +<p>"Why, Tom! We're over the ocean!" he cried.<br> +</p> + +"I rather thought we'd be," was the calm reply. "I told George to +head straight for the Atlantic. Now we'll have a test with +service charges and projectiles!" <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_18">CHAPTER XVIII</h1> + +IN A STORM <br> +<p>Surprise, for the moment, held Mr. Damon, Ned and Lieutenant +Marbury speechless. They looked from the heaving waters of the +ocean below them to the young pilot of the Mars. He smiled at +their astonishment.<br> +</p> + +"What--what does it mean, Tom?" asked Ned. "You never said you +were going to take a trip as far as this." <br> +<p>"That's right," chimed in Mr. Damon. "Bless my nightcap! If I +had known I was going to be brought so far away from home I'd +never have come."<br> +</p> + +"You're not so very far from Water ford," put in Tom. "We didn't +make any kind of speed coming from Shopton, and we could be back +again inside of four hours if we had to." <br> +<p>"Then you didn't travel fast during the night?" asked the +government man.<br> +</p> + +"No, we just drifted along," Tom answered. "I gave orders to run +the machinery slowly, as I wanted to get it in good shape for the +other tests that will come soon. But I told George, whom I left +in charge when I turned in, to head for New York. I wanted to get +out over the ocean to try the guns with the new recoil +arrangement." <br> +<p>"Well, we're over the ocean all right," spoke Ned, as he +looked down at the heaving waters.<br> +</p> + +"It isn't the first time," replied Tom cheerfully. "Koku, you may +serve breakfast now," for the giant had been taken along as a +sort of cook and waiter. Koku manifested no surprise or alarm +when he found the airship floating over the sea. Whatever Tom did +was right to him. He had great confidence in his master. <br> +<p>"No, it isn't the first time we've taken a water flight," +spoke Ned. "I was only surprised at the suddenness of it, that's +all."<br> +</p> + +"It's my first experience so far out above the water," observed +Lieutenant Marbury, "though of course I've sailed on many seas. +Why, we're out of sight of land." <br> +<p>"About ten miles out, yes," admitted Tom. "Far enough to make +it safe to test the guns with real projectiles. That is what I +want to do."<br> +</p> + +"And we've been running all night?" asked Mr. Damon. <br> +<p>"Yes, but at slow speed. The engines are in better shape now +than ever before," Tom said. "Well, if you're ready we'll have +breakfast."<br> +</p> + +The meal was served by Koku with as much unconcern as though they +were in the Swift homestead back in Shopton, instead of floating +near the clouds. And while it was being eaten in the main cabin, +and while the crew was having breakfast in their quarters, the +aerial warship was moving along over the ocean in charge of +George Watson, one of Tom's engineers, who was stationed in the +forward pilot-house. <br> +<p>"So you're going to give the guns a real test this time, is +that it, Tom?" asked Ned, as he pushed back his plate, a signal +that he had eaten enough.<br> +</p> + +"That's about it." <br> +<p>"But don't you think it's a bit risky out over the water this +way. Supposing something should--should happen?" Ned +hesitated.<br> +</p> + +"You mean we might fall?" asked Tom, with a smile. <br> +<p>"Yes; or turn upside down."<br> +</p> + +"Nothing like that could happen. I'm so sure that I have solved +the problem of the recoil of the guns that I'm willing to take +chances. But if any of you want to get off the Mars while the +test is being made, I have a small boat I can lower, and let you +row about in that until--" <br> +<p>"No, thank you!" interrupted Mr. Damon, as he looked below. +There was quite a heavy swell on, and the ocean did not appear +very attractive. They would be much more comfortable in the big +Mars.<br> +</p> + +"I think you won't have any trouble," asserted Lieutenant +Marbury. "I believe Tom Swift has the right idea about the guns, +and there will be so small a shock from the recoil that it will +not be noticeable." <br> +<p>"We'll soon know," spoke Tom. "I'm going to get ready for the +test now.<br> +</p> + +They were now well out from shore, over the Atlantic, but to make +certain no ships would be endangered by the projectiles, Tom and +the others searched the waters to the horizon with powerful +glasses. Nothing was seen and the work of loading the guns was +begun. The bomb tubes, in the main cabin, were also to be given a +test. <br> +<p>As service charges were to be used, and as the projectiles +were filled with explosives, great care was needed in handling +them.<br> +</p> + +"We'll try dropping bombs first," Tom suggested. "We know they +will work, and that will be so much out of the way. <br> +<p>To make the test a severe one, small floating targets were +first dropped overboard from the Mars. Then the aerial warship, +circling about, came on toward them. Tom, seated at the +rangefinders, pressed the button that released the shells +containing the explosives. One after another they dropped into +the sea, exploding as they fell, and sending up a great column of +salt water.<br> +</p> + +"Every one a hit!" reported Lieutenant Marbury, who was keeping +"score." <br> +<p>"That's good," responded Tom. "But the others won't be so +easy. We have nothing to shoot at."<br> +</p> + +They had to fire the other guns without targets at which to aim. +But, after all, it was the absence of recoil they wanted to +establish, and this could be done without shooting at any +particular object. <br> +<p>One after another the guns were loaded. As has been explained, +they were now made double, one barrel carrying the projectile, +and the other a charge of water.<br> +</p> + +"Are you ready?" asked Tom, when it was time to fire. Lieutenant +Marbury, Ned and Mr. Damon were helping, by being stationed at +the pressure gauges to note the results. <br> +<p>"All ready," answered Ned.<br> +</p> + +"Do you think we'd better put on life preservers, Tom?" asked Mr. +Damon. <br> +<p>"Nonsense! What for?"<br> +</p> + +"In case--in case anything happens." <br> +<p>"Nothing will happen. Look out now, I'm going to fire."<br> +</p> + +The guns were to be fired simultaneously by means of an electric +current, when Tom pressed a button. <br> +<p>"Here they go!" exclaimed the young inventor.<br> +</p> + +There was a moment of waiting, and then came a thundering roar. +The Mars trembled, but she did not shift to either side from an +even keel. From one barrel of the guns shot out the explosive +projectiles, and from the other spurted a jet of water, sent out +by a charge of powder, equal in weight to that which forced out +the shot. <br> +<p>As the projectile was fired in one direction, and the water in +one directly opposite, the two discharges neutralized one +another.<br> +</p> + +Out flew the pointed steel shells, to fall harmlessly into the +sea, where they exploded, sending up columns of water. <br> +<p>"Well!" cried Tom as the echoes died away. "How was it?"<br> +</p> + +"Couldn't have been better," declared Lieutenant Marbury. "There +wasn't the least shock of recoil. Tom Swift, you have solved the +problem, I do believe! Your aerial warship is a success!" <br> +<p>"I'm glad to hear you say so. There are one or two little +things that need changing, but I really think I have about what +the United States Government wants."<br> +</p> + +"I am, also, of that belief, Tom. If only--" The officer stopped +suddenly. <br> +<p>"Well?" asked Tom suggestively.<br> +</p> + +"I was going to say if only those foreign spies don't make +trouble." <br> +<p>"I think we've seen the last of them," Tom declared. "Now +we'll go on with the tests."<br> +</p> + +More guns were fired, singly and in batteries, and in each case +the Mars stood the test perfectly. The double barrel had solved +the recoil problem. <br> +<p>For some little time longer they remained out over the sea, +going through some evolutions to test the rudder control, and +then as their present object had been accomplished Tom gave +orders to head back to Shopton, which place was reached in due +time.<br> +</p> + +"Well, Tom, how was it?" asked Mr. Swift, for though his son had +said nothing to his friends about the prospective test, the aged +inventor knew about it. <br> +<p>"Successful, Dad, in every particular."<br> +</p> + +"That's good. I didn't think you could do it. But you did. I tell +you it isn't much that can get the best of a Swift!" exclaimed +the aged man proudly. "Oh, by the way, Tom, here's a telegram +that came while you were gone," and he handed his son the yellow +envelope. <br> +<p>Tom ripped it open with a single gesture, and in a flash his +eyes took in the words. He read:<br> +</p> + +"Look out for spies during trial flights." <br> +<p>The message was signed with a name Tom did not recognize.<br> +</p> + +"Any bad news?" asked Mr. Swift. <br> +<p>"No--oh, no," replied Tom, as he crumpled up the paper and +thrust it into his pocket. "No bad news, Dad."<br> +</p> + +"Well, I'm glad to hear that," went on Mr. Swift. "I don't like +telegrams." <br> +<p>When Tom showed the message to Lieutenant Marbury, that +official, after one glance at the signature, said:<br> +</p> + +"Pierson, eh? Well, when he sends out a warning it generally +means something." <br> +<p>"Who's Pierson?" asked Tom.<br> +</p> + +"Head of the Secret Service department that has charge of this +airship matter. There must be something in the wind, Tom." <br> +<p>Extra precautions were taken about the shops. Strangers were +not permitted to enter, and all future work on the Mars was kept +secret. Nevertheless, Tom was worried. He did not want his work +to be spoiled just when it was about to be a success. For that it +was a success, Lieutenant Marbury assured him. The government man +said he would have no hesitation in recommending the purchase of +Tom's aerial warship.<br> +</p> + +"There's just one other test I want to see made," he said. <br> +<p>"What is that?" Tom inquired.<br> +</p> + +"In a storm. You know we can't always count on haying good +weather, and I'd like to see how she behaves in a gale." <br> +<p>"You shall!" declared the young inventor.<br> +</p> + +For the next week, during which finishing touches were put on the +big craft, Tom anxiously waited for signs of a storm. At last +they came. Danger signals were put up all along the coast, and +warnings were sent out broadcast by the Weather Bureau at +Washington. <br> +<p>One dull gray morning Tom roused his friends early and +announced that the Mars was going up.<br> +</p> + +"A big storm is headed this way," Tom said, "and we'll have a +chance to see how she behaves in it." <br> +<p>And even as the flight began, the forerunning wind and rain +came in a gust of fury. Into the midst of it shot the big aerial +warship, with her powerful propellers beating the moisture-laden +air.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_19">CHAPTER XIX</h1> + +QUEER HAPPENINGS <br> +"Say, Tom, are you sure you're all right?" <br> +<p>"Of course I am! What do you mean?"<br> +</p> + +It was Ned Newton who asked the question, and Tom Swift who +answered it. The chums were in the pilot-house of the dipping, +swaying Mars, which was nosing her way into the storm, fighting +on an upward slant, trying, if possible, to get above the area of +atmospheric disturbance. <br> +<p>"Well, I mean are you sure your craft will stand all this +straining, pulling and hauling?" went on Ned, as he clung to a +brass hand rail, built in the side of the pilot-house wall for +the very purpose to which it was now being put.<br> +</p> + +"If she doesn't stand it she's no good!" cried Tom, as he clung +to the steering wheel, which was nearly torn from his hands by +the deflections of the rudders. <br> +<p>"Well, it's taking a big chance, it seems to me," went on Ned, +as he peered through the rain-spotted bull's-eyes of the +pilothouse.<br> +</p> + +"There's no danger," declared Tom. "I wanted to give the ship the +hardest test possible before I formally offered her to the +government. If she can't stand a blow like this she isn't what I +thought her, and I'll have to build another. But I'm sure she +will stand the racket, Ned. She's built strongly, and even if +part of the gas bag is carried away, as it was when our propeller +shattered, we can still sail. If you think this is anything, wait +until we turn about and begin to fight our way against the wind." +<br> +<p>"Are you going to do that, Tom?"<br> +</p> + +"I certainly am. We're going with the gale now, to see what is +the highest rate of speed we can attain. Pretty soon I'm going to +turn her around, and see if she can make any headway in the other +direction. Of course I know she won't make much, if any speed, +against the gale; but I must give her that test." <br> +<p>"Well, Tom, you know best, of course," admitted Ned. "But to +me it seems like taking a big risk."<br> +</p> + +And indeed it did seem, not only to Ned, but to some of the +experienced men of Tom's crew, that the young inventor was taking +more chances than ever before, and Tom, as my old readers well +know, had, in his career, taken some big ones. <br> +<p>The storm grew worse as the day progressed, until it was a +veritable hurricane of wind and rain. The warnings of the Weather +Bureau had not been exaggerated. But through the fierce blow the +Mars fought her way. As Tom had said, she was going with the +wind. This was comparatively easy. But what would happen when she +headed into the storm?<br> +</p> + +Mr. Damon, in the main cabin, sat and looked at Lieutenant +Marbury, the eccentric man now and then blessing something as he +happened to think of it. <br> +<p>"Do you--do you think we are in any danger?" he finally +asked.<br> +</p> + +"Not at present," replied the government expert. <br> +<p>"You mean we will be--later?"<br> +</p> + +"It's hard to say. I guess Tom Swift knows his business, though." +<br> +<p>"Bless my accident insurance policy!" murmured Mr. Damon. "I +wish I had stayed home. If my wife ever hears of this--" He did +not seem able to finish the sentence.<br> +</p> + +In the engine-room the crew were busy over the various machines. +Some of the apparatus was being strained to keep the ship on her +course in the powerful wind, and would be under a worse stress +when Tom turned his craft about. But, so far, nothing had given +way, and everything was working smoothly. <br> +<p>As hour succeeded hour and nothing happened, the timid ones +aboard began to take more courage. Tom never for a moment lost +heart. He knew what his craft could do, and he had taken her up +in a terrific storm with a definite purpose in view. He was the +calmest person aboard, with the exception, perhaps, of Koku. The +giant did not seem to know what fear was. He depended entirely on +Tom, and as long as his young master had charge of matters the +giant was content to obey orders.<br> +</p> + +There was to be no test of the guns this time. They had worked +sufficiently well, and, if need be, could have been fired in the +gale. But Tom did not want his men to take unnecessary risks, nor +was he foolhardy himself. <br> +<p>"We'll have our hands full when we turn around and head into +the wind," he said to his chum. "That will be enough."<br> +</p> + +"Then you're really going to give the Mars that test?" <br> +<p>"I surely am. I don't want any comebacks from Uncle Sam after +he accepts my aerial warship. I've guaranteed that she'll stand +up and make headway against a gale, and I'm going to prove +it"<br> +</p> + +Lieutenant Marbury was told of the coming trial, and he prepared +to take official note of it. While matters were being gotten in +readiness Tom turned the wheel over to his assistant pilot and +went to the engine-room to see that everything was in good shape +to cope with any emergency. The rudders had been carefully +examined before the flight was made, to make sure they would not +fail, for on them depended the progress of the ship against the +powerful wind. <br> +<p>"I rather guess those foreign spies have given up trying to do +Tom an injury," remarked Ned to the lieutenant as they sat in the +main cabin, listening to the howl of the wind, and the dash of +the rain.<br> +</p> + +"Well, I certainly hope so," was the answer. "But I wouldn't be +too sure. The folks in Washington evidently think something is +likely to happen, or they wouldn't have sent that warning +telegram." <br> +<p>"But we haven't seen anything of the spies," Ned remarked.<br> +</p> + +"No, but that isn't any sign they are not getting ready to make +trouble. This may be the calm before the storm. Tom must still be +on the lookout. It isn't as though his inventions alone were in +danger, for they would not hesitate to inflict serious personal +injury if their plans were thwarted." <br> +<p>"They must be desperate."<br> +</p> + +"They are. But here comes Tom now. He looks as though something +new was about to happen." <br> +<p>"Take care of yourselves now," advised the young +aero-inventor, as he entered the cabin, finding it hard work to +close the door against the terrific wind pressure.<br> +</p> + +"Why?" asked Ned. <br> +<p>"Because we are going to turn around and fight our way back +against the gale. We may be turned topsy-turvy for a second or +two."<br> +</p> + +"Bless my shoe-horn!" cried Mr. Damon. "Do you mean upside down, +Tom?" <br> +<p>"No, not that exactly. But watch out!"<br> +</p> + +Tom went forward to the pilot-house, followed by Ned and the +lieutenant. The latter wanted to take official note of what +happened. Tom relieved the man at the wheel, and gradually began +to alter the direction of the craft. <br> +<p>At first no change was noticeable. So strong was the force of +the wind that it seemed as though the Mars was going in the same +direction. But Ned, noticing a direction compass on the wall, saw +that the needle was gradually shifting.<br> +</p> + +"Hold fast!" cried Tom suddenly. Then with a quick shift of the +rudder something happened. It seemed as though the Mars was +trying to turn over, and slide along on her side, or as if she +wanted to turn about and scud before the gale, instead of facing +it. But Tom held her to the reverse course. <br> +<p>"Can you get her around?" cried the lieutenant above the roar +of the gale.<br> +</p> + +"I--I'm going to!" muttered Tom through his set teeth. <br> +<p>Inch by inch he fought the big craft through the storm. Inch +by inch the indicator showed the turning, until at last the grip +of the gale was overcome.<br> +</p> + +"Now she's headed right into it!" cried Tom in exultation. "She's +nosing right into it!" <br> +<p>And the Mars was. There was no doubt of it. She had succeeded, +under Tom's direction, in changing squarely about, and was now +going against the wind, instead of with it.<br> +</p> + +"But we can't expect to make much speed," Tom said, as he +signaled for more power, for he had lowered it somewhat in making +the turn. <br> +<p>But Tom himself scarcely had reckoned on the force of his +craft, for as the propellers whirled more rapidly the aerial +warship did begin to make headway, and that in the teeth of a +terrific wind.<br> +</p> + +"She's doing it, Tom! She's doing it!" cried Ned exultingly. <br> +<p>"I believe she is," agreed the lieutenant.<br> +</p> + +"Well, so much the better," Tom said, trying to be calm. "If she +can keep this up a little while I'll give her a rest and we'll go +up above the storm area, and beat back home." <br> +<p>The Mars, so far, had met every test. Tom had decided on ten +minutes more of gale-fighting, when from the tube that +communicated with the engine-room came a shrill whistle.<br> +</p> + +"See what that is, Ned," Tom directed. <br> +<p>"Yes," called Ned into the mouthpiece. "What's the +matter?"<br> +</p> + +"Short circuit in the big motor," was the reply. "We've got to +run on storage battery. Send Tom back here! Something queer has +happened!" <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_20">CHAPTER XX</h1> + +THE STOWAWAYS <br> +<p>Ned repeated the message breathlessly.<br> +</p> + +"Short circuit!" gasped Tom. "Run on storage battery! I'll have +to see to that. Take the wheel somebody!" <br> +<p>"Wouldn't it be better to turn about, and run before the wind, +so as not to put too great a strain on the machinery?" asked +Lieutenant Marbury.<br> +</p> + +"Perhaps," agreed Tom. "Hold her this way, though, until I see +what's wrong!" <br> +<p>Ned and the government man took the wheel, while Tom hurried +along the runway leading from the pilot-house to the machinery +cabin. The gale was still blowing fiercely.<br> +</p> + +The young inventor cast a hasty look about the interior of the +place as he entered. He sniffed the air suspiciously, and was +aware of the odor of burning insulation. <br> +<p>"What happened?" he asked, noting that already the principal +motive power was coming from the big storage battery. The shift +had been made automatically, when the main motor gave out.<br> +</p> + +"It's hard to say," was the answer of the chief engineer. "We +were running along all right, and we got your word to switch on +more power, after the turn. We did that all right, and she was +running as smooth as a sewing-machine, when, all of a sudden, she +short-circuited, and the storage battery cut in automatically." +<br> +<p>"Think you put too heavy a load on the motor?" Tom asked.<br> +</p> + +"Couldn't have been that. The shunt box would have taken that up, +and the circuit-breaker would have worked, saving us a burnout, +and that's what happened-a burn-out. The motor will have to be +rewound." <br> +<p>"Well, no use trying to fight this gale with the storage +battery," Tom said, after a moment's thought. "We'll run before +it. That's the easiest way. Then we'll try to rise above the +wind."<br> +</p> + +He sent the necessary message to the pilot-house. A moment later +the shift was made, and once more the Mars was scudding before +the storm. Then Tom gave his serious attention to what had +happened in the engine room. <br> +<p>As he bent over the burned-out motor, looking at the big shiny +connections, he saw something that startled him. With a quick +motion Tom Swift picked up a bar of copper. It was hot to the +touch--so hot that he dropped it with a cry of pain, though he +had let go so quickly that the burn was only momentary.<br> +</p> + +"What's the matter?" asked Jerry Mound, Tom's engineer. <br> +<p>"Matter!" cried Tom. "A whole lot is the matter! That copper +bar is what made the short circuit. It's hot yet from the +electric current. How did it fall on the motor connections?"<br> +</p> + +The engine room force gathered about the young inventor. No one +could explain how the copper bar came to be where it was. +Certainly no one of Tom's employees had put it there, and it +could not have fallen by accident, for the motor connections were +protected by a mesh of wire, and a hand would have to be thrust +under them to put the bar in place. Tom gave a quick look at his +men. He knew he could trust them--every one. But this was a queer +happening. <br> +<p>For a moment Tom did not know what to think, and then, as the +memory of that warning telegram came to him, he had an idea.<br> +</p> + +"Were any strangers in this cabin before the start was made?" he +asked Mr. Mound. <br> +<p>"Not that I know of," was the answer.<br> +</p> + +"Well, there may be some here now," Tom said grimly. "Look +about." <br> +<p>But a careful search revealed no one. Yet the young inventor +was sure the bar of copper, which had done the mischief of +short-circuiting the motor, had been put in place +deliberately.<br> +</p> + +In reality there was no danger to the craft, since there was +power enough in the storage battery to run it for several hours. +But the happening showed Tom he had still to reckon with his +enemies. <br> +<p>He looked at the height gauge on the wall of the motor-room, +and noted that the Mars was going up. In accordance with Tom's +instructions they were sending her above the storm area. Once +there, with no gale to fight, they could easily beat their way +back to a point above Shopton, and make the best descent +possible.<br> +</p> + +And that was done while, under Tom's direction, his men took the +damaged motor apart, with a view to repairing it. <br> +<p>"What was it, Tom?" asked Ned, coming back to join his chum, +after George Ventor, the assistant pilot, had taken charge of the +wheel.<br> +</p> + +"I don't exactly know, Ned," was the answer. "But I feel certain +that some of my enemies came aboard here and worked this +mischief." <br> +<p>"Your enemies came aboard?"<br> +</p> + +"Yes, and they must be here now. The placing of that copper bar +proves it." <br> +<p>"Then let's make a search and find them, Tom. It must be some +of those foreign spies."<br> +</p> + +"Just what I think." <br> +<p>But a more careful search of the craft than the one Tom had +casually made revealed the presence of no one. All the crew and +helpers were accounted for, and, as they had been in Tom's +service for some time, they were beyond suspicion. Yet the fact +remained that a seemingly human agency had acted to put the main +motor out of commission. Tom could not understand it.<br> +</p> + +"Well, it sure is queer," observed Ned, as the search came to +nothing. <br> +<p>"It's worse than queer," declared Tom, "it's alarming! I don't +know when I'll be safe if we have ghosts aboard."<br> +</p> + +"Ghosts?" repeated Ned. <br> +<p>"Well, when we can't find out who put that bar in place I +might as well admit it was a ghost," spoke Tom. "Certainly, if it +was done by a man, he didn't jump overboard after doing it, and +he isn't here now. It sure is queer!"<br> +</p> + +Ned agreed with the last statement, at any rate. <br> +<p>In due time the Mars, having fought her way above the storm, +came over Shopton, and then, the wind having somewhat died out, +she fought her way down, and, after no little trouble, was housed +in the hangar.<br> +</p> + +Tom cautioned his friends and workmen to say nothing to his +father about the mysterious happening on board. <br> +<p>"I'll just tell him we had a slight accident, and let it go at +that," Tom decided. "No use in causing him worry."<br> +</p> + +"But what are you going to do about it?" asked Ned. <br> +<p>"I'm going to keep careful watch over the aerial warship, at +any rate," declared Tom. "If there's a hidden enemy aboard, I'll +starve him out."<br> +</p> + +Accordingly, a guard, under the direction of Koku, was posted +about the big shed, but nothing came of it. No stranger was +observed to sneak out of the ship, after it had been deserted by +the crew. The mystery seemed deeper than ever. <br> +<p>It took nearly a week to repair the big motor, and, during +this time, Tom put some improvements on the airship, and added +the finishing touches.<br> +</p> + +He was getting it ready for the final government test, for the +authorities in Washington had sent word that they would have +Captain Warner, in addition to Lieutenant Marbury, make the final +inspection and write a report. <br> +<p>Meanwhile several little things occurred to annoy Tom. He was +besieged with applications from new men who wanted to work, and +many of these men seemed to be foreigners. Tom was sure they were +either spies of some European nations, or the agents of spies, +and they got no further than the outer gate.<br> +</p> + +But some strangers did manage to sneak into the works, though +they were quickly detected and sent about their business. Also, +once or twice, small fires were discovered in outbuildings, but +they were soon extinguished with little damage. Extra vigilance +was the watchword. <br> +<p>"And yet, with all my precautions, they may get me, or damage +something," declared Tom. "It is very annoying!"<br> +</p> + +"It is," agreed Ned, "and we must be doubly on the lookout." <br> +<p>So impressed was Ned with the necessity for caution that he +arranged to take his vacation at this time, so as to be on hand +to help his chum, if necessary.<br> +</p> + +The Mars was nearing completion. The repaired motor was better +than ever, and everything was in shape for the final test. Mr. +Damon was persuaded to go along, and Koku was to be taken, as +well as the two government officials. <br> +<p>The night before the trip the guards about the airship shed +were doubled, and Tom made two visits to the place before +midnight. But there was no alarm.<br> +</p> + +Consequently, when the Mars started off on her final test, it was +thought that all danger from the spies was over. <br> +<p>"She certainly is a beauty," said Captain Warner, as the big +craft shot upward. "I shall be interested in seeing how she +stands gun fire, though."<br> +</p> + +"Oh, she'll stand it," declared Lieutenant Marbury. The trip was +to consume several days of continuous flying, to test the +engines. A large supply of food and ammunition was aboard. <br> +<p>It was after supper of the first day out, and our friends were +seated in the main cabin laying out a program for the next day, +when sudden yells came from a part of the motor cabin devoted to +storage. Koku, who had been sent to get out a barrel of oil, was +heard to shout.<br> +</p> + +"What's up?" asked Tom, starting to his feet. He was answered +almost at once by more yells. <br> +<p>"Oh, Master! Come quickly!" cried the giant. "There are many +men here. There are stowaways aboard!"<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_21">CHAPTER XXI</h1> + +PRISONERS <br> +For a moment, after hearing Koku's reply. neither Tom nor his +friends spoke. Then Ned, in a dazed sort of way, repeated: <br> +<p>"Stowaways!"<br> +</p> + +"Bless my--" began Mr. Damon, but that was as far as he got. <br> +<p>From the engine compartment, back of the amidship cabin, came +a sound of cries and heavy blows. The yells of Koku could be +heard above those of the others.<br> +</p> + +Then the door of the cabin where Tom Swift and his friends were +was suddenly burst open, and seven or eight men threw themselves +within. They were led by a man with a small, dark mustache and a +little tuft of whiskers on his chin--an imperial. He looked the +typical Frenchman, and his words, snapped out, bore out that +belief. <br> +<p>What he said was in French, as Tom understood, though he knew +little of that language. Also, what the Frenchman said produced +an immediate result, for the men following him sprang at our +friends with overwhelming fierceness.<br> +</p> + +Before Tom, Ned, Captain Warner, Mr. Damon or Lieutenant Marbury +could grasp any weapon with which to defend themselves, had their +intentions been to do so, they were seized. <br> +<p>Against such odds little could be done, though our friends did +not give up without a struggle.<br> +</p> + +"What does this mean?" angrily demanded Tom Swift. "Who are you? +What are you doing aboard my craft? Who are--" <br> +<p>His words were lost in smothered tones, for one of his +assailants put a heavy cloth over his mouth, and tied it there, +gagging him. Another man, with a quick motion, whipped a rope +about Tom's hands and feet, and he was soon securely bound.<br> +</p> + +In like manner the others were treated, and, despite the +struggles of Mr. Damon, the two government men and Ned, they were +soon put in a position where they could do nothing--helplessly +bound, and laid on a bench in the main cabin, staring blankly up +at the ceiling. Each one was gagged so effectively that he could +not utter more than a faint moan. <br> +<p>Of the riot of thoughts that ran through the heads of each +one, I leave you to imagine.<br> +</p> + +What did it all mean? Where had the strange men come from? What +did they mean by thus assaulting Tom and his companions? And what +had happened to the others of the crew--Koku, Jerry Mound, the +engineer, and George Ventor, the assistant pilot? <br> +<p>These were only a few of the questions Tom asked himself, as +he lay there, bound and helpless. Doubtless Mr. Damon and the +others were asking themselves similar questions.<br> +</p> + +One thing was certain--whatever the stowaways, as Koku had called +them, had done, they had not neglected the Mars, for she was +running along at about the same speed, though in what direction +Tom could not tell. He strained to get a view of the compass on +the forward wall of the cabin, but he could not see it. <br> +<p>It had been a rough-and-tumble fight, by which our friends +were made prisoners, but no one seemed to have been seriously, or +even slightly, hurt. The invaders, under the leadership of the +Frenchman, were rather ruffled, but that was all.<br> +</p> + +Pantingly they stood in line, surveying their captives, while the +man with the mustache and imperial smiled in a rather superior +fashion at the row of bound ones. He spoke in his own tongue to +the men, who, with the exception of one, filed out, going, as Tom +and the others could note, to the engine-room in the rear. <br> +<p>"I hope I have not had to hurt any of you," the Frenchman +observed, with sarcastic politeness. "I regret the necessity that +caused me to do this, but, believe me, it was unavoidable."<br> +</p> + +He spoke with some accent, and Tom at once decided this was the +same man who had once approached Eradicate. He also recognized +him as the man he had seen in the woods the day of the outing. +<br> +<p>"He's one of the foreign spies," thought Tom "and he's got us +and the ship, too. They were too many for us!"<br> +</p> + +Tom's anxiety to speak, to hold some converse with the captor, +was so obvious that the Frenchman said: <br> +<p>"I am going to treat you as well as I can under the +circumstances. You and your other friends, who are also made +prisoners, will be allowed to be together, and then you can talk +to your hearts' content."<br> +</p> + +The other man, who had remained with the evident ringleader of +the stowaways, asked a question, in French, and he used the name +La Foy. <br> +<p>"Ah!" thought Tom. "This is the leader of the gang that +attacked Koku in the shop that night. They have been waiting +their chance, and now they have made good. But where did they +come from? Could they have boarded us from some other +airship?"<br> +</p> + +Yet, as Tom asked himself that question, he knew it could hardly +have been possible. The men must have been in hiding on his own +craft, they must have been, as Koku had cried out-stowaways--and +have come out at a preconcerted signal to overpower the aviators. +<br> +<p>"If you will but have patience a little longer," went on La +Foy, for that was evidently the name of the leader, "you will all +be together. We are just considering where best to put you so +that you will not suffer too much. It is quite a problem to deal +with so many prisoners, but we have no choice."<br> +</p> + +The two Frenchmen conversed rapidly in their own language for a +few minutes, and then there came into the cabin another of the +men who had helped overpower Tom and his friends. What he told La +Foy seemed to give that individual satisfaction, for he smiled. +<br> +<p>"We are going to put you all together in the largest +storeroom, which is partly empty," La Foy said. "There you will +be given food and drink, and treated as well as possible under +the circumstances. You will also be unbound, and may converse +among yourselves. I need hardly point out," he went on, "that +calling for help will be useless. We are a mile or so in the air, +and have no intention of descending," and he smiled +mockingly.<br> +</p> + +"They must know how to navigate my aerial warship," thought Tom. +"I wonder what their game is, anyhow?" <br> +<p>Night had fallen, but the cabin was aglow with electric +lights. The foreigners in charge of the Mars seemed to know their +way about perfectly, and how to manage the big craft. By the +vibration Tom could tell that the motor was running evenly and +well.<br> +</p> + +"But what happened to the others--to Mound, Ventor and Koku?" +wondered Tom. <br> +<p>A moment later several of the foreigners entered. Some of them +did not look at all like Frenchmen, and Tom was sure one was a +German and another a Russian.<br> +</p> + +"This will be your prison--for a while," said La Foy +significantly, and Tom wondered how long this would be the case. +A sharp thought came to him--how long would they be prisoners? +Did not some other, and more terrible, fate await them? <br> +<p>As La Foy spoke, he opened a storeroom door that led off from +the main, or amidship, cabin. This room was intended to contain +the supplies and stores that would be taken on a long voyage. It +was one of two, being the larger, and now contained only a few +odds and ends of little importance. It made a strong prison, as +Tom well knew, having planned it.<br> +</p> + +One by one, beginning with Tom, the prisoners were taken up and +placed in a recumbent position on the floor of the storeroom. +Then were brought in the engineer and assistant pilot, as well as +Koku and a machinist whom Tom had brought along to help him. Now +the young inventor and all his friends were together. It took +four men to carry Koku in, the giant being covered with a network +of ropes. <br> +<p>"On second thought," said La Foy, as he saw Koku being placed +with his friends, "I think we will keep the big man with us. We +had trouble enough to subdue him. Carry him back to the +engineroom."<br> +</p> + +So Koku, trussed up like some roped steer, was taken out again. +<br> +<p>"Now then," said La Foy to his prisoners, as he stood in the +door of the room, "I will unbind one of you, and he may loose the +bonds of the others."<br> +</p> + +As he spoke, he took the rope from Tom's hands, and then, quickly +slipping out, locked and barred the door. <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_22">CHAPTER XXII</h1> + +APPREHENSIONS <br> +<p>For a moment or two, after the ropes binding his hands were +loosed, Tom Swift did nothing. He was not only stunned mentally, +but the bonds had been pulled so tightly about his wrists that +the circulation was impeded, and his cramped muscles required a +little time in which to respond.<br> +</p> + +But presently he felt the tingle of the coursing blood, and he +found he could move his arms. He raised them to his head, and +then his first care was to remove the pad of cloth that formed a +gag over his mouth. Now he could talk. <br> +<p>"I--I'll loosen you all in lust a second," he said, as he bent +over to pick at the knot of the rope around his legs. His own +voice sounded strange to him.<br> +</p> + +"I don't know what it's all about, any more than you do," he went +on, speaking to the others. "It's a fierce game we're up against, +and we've got to make the best of it. As soon as we can move, and +talk, we'll decide what's best to do. Whoever these fellows are, +and I believe they are the foreign spies I've been warned about, +they are in complete possession of the airship." <br> +<p>Tom found it no easy matter to loosen the bonds on his feet. +The ropes were well tied, and Tom's fingers were stiff from the +lack of circulation of blood. But finally he managed to free +himself. When he stood up in the dim storeroom, that was now a +prison for all save Koku, he found that he could not walk. He +almost toppled over, so weak were his legs from the tightness of +the ropes. He sat down and worked his muscles until they felt +normal again.<br> +</p> + +A few minutes later, weak and rather tottery, he managed to reach +Mr. Damon, whom he first unbound. He realized that Mr. Damon was +the oldest of his friends, and, consequently, would suffer most. +And it was characteristic of the eccentric gentleman that, as +soon as his gag was removed he burst out with: <br> +<p>"Bless my wristlets, Tom! What does it all mean?"<br> +</p> + +"That's more than I can say, Mr. Damon," replied Tom, with a +mournful shake of his head. "I'm very sorry it happened, for it +looks as though I hadn't taken proper care. The idea of those men +stowing themselves away on board here, and me not knowing it; and +then coming out unexpectedly and getting possession of the craft! +It doesn't speak very well for my smartness." <br> +<p>"Oh, well, Tom, anyone might have been fooled by those +plotting foreigners," said Mr. Damon. "Now, we'll try to turn +matters about and get the best of them. Oh, but it feels good to +be free once more!"<br> +</p> + +He stretched his benumbed and stiffened limbs and then helped Tom +free the others. They stood up, looking at each other in their +dimly lighted prison. <br> +<p>"Well, if this isn't the limit I don't know what is!" cried +Ned Newton.<br> +</p> + +"They got the best of you, Tom," spoke Lieutenant Marbury. <br> +<p>"Are they really foreign spies?" asked Captain Warner.<br> +</p> + +"Yes," replied his assistant. "They managed to carry out the plot +we tried to frustrate. It was a good trick, too, hiding on board, +and coming out with a rush." <br> +<p>"Is that what they did?" asked Mr. Damon.<br> +</p> + +"It looks so," observed Tom. "The attack must have started in the +engine-room," he went on, with a look at Mound and Ventor. "What +happened there?" he asked. <br> +<p>"Well, that's about the way it was," answered the engineer. +"We were working away, making some adjustments, oiling the parts +and seeing that everything was running smoothly, when, all at +once, I heard Koku yell. He had gone in the oil room. At first I +thought something had gone wrong with the ship, but, when I +looked at the giant, I saw he was being attacked by four strange +men. And, before I, or any of the other men, could do anything, +they all swarmed down on us.<br> +</p> + +"There must have been a dozen of them, and they simply +overwhelmed us. One of them hit Koku on the head with an iron +bar, and that took all the fight out of the giant, or the story +might have been a different one. As it was, we were overpowered, +and that's all I know until we were carried in here, and saw you +folks all tied up as we were." <br> +<p>"They burst in on us in the same way," Tom explained. "But +where did they come from? Where were they hiding?"<br> +</p> + +"In the oil and gasoline storeroom that opens out of the motor +compartment," answered Mound, the engineer. "It isn't half full, +you know, and there's room for more than a dozen men in it. They +must have gone in some time last night, when the airship was in +the hangar, and remained hidden among the boxes and barrels until +they got ready to come out and overpower us." <br> +<p>"That's it," decided Tom. "But I don't understand how they got +in. The hangar was well guarded all night."<br> +</p> + +"Some of your men might have been bribed," suggested Ned. <br> +<p>"Yes, that is so," admitted Tom, and, later, he learned that +such had been the case. The foreign spies, for such they were, +had managed to corrupt one of Tom's trusted employees, who had +looked the other way when La Foy and his fellow-conspirators +sneaked into the airship shed and secreted themselves.<br> +</p> + +"Well, discussing how they got on board isn't going to do us any +good now," Tom remarked ruefully. "The question is--what are we +going to do?" <br> +<p>"Bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon. "There's only one +thing to do!"<br> +</p> + +"What is that?" asked Ned. <br> +<p>"Why, get out of here, call a policeman, and have these +scoundrels arrested. I'll prosecute them! I'll have my lawyer on +hand to see that they get the longest terms the statutes call +for! Bless my pocketbook, but I will!" and Mr. Damon waxed quite +indignant.<br> +</p> + +"That's easier said than done," observed Torn Swift, quietly. "In +the first place, it isn't going to be an easy matter to get out +of here." <br> +<p>He looked around the storeroom, which was then their prison. +It was illuminated by a single electric light, which showed some +boxes and barrels piled in the rear.<br> +</p> + +"Nothing in them to help us get out," Tom went on, for he knew +what the contents were. <br> +<p>"Oh, we'll get out," declared Ned confidently, "but I don't +believe we'll find a policeman ready to take our complaint. The +upper air isn't very well patrolled as yet."<br> +</p> + +"That's so," agreed Mr. Damon. "I forgot that we were in an +airship. But what is to he done, Tom? We really are captives +aboard our own craft." <br> +<p>"Yes, worse luck," returned the young inventor. "I feel +foolish when I think how we let them take us prisoners."<br> +</p> + +"We couldn't help it," Ned commented. "They came on us too +suddenly. We didn't have a chance. And they outnumbered us two to +one. If they could take care of big Koku, what chance did we +have?" <br> +<p>"Very little," said Engineer Mound. "They were desperate +fellows. They know something about aircraft, too. For, as soon as +Koku, Ventor and I were disposed of, some of them went at the +machinery as if they had been used to running it all their +lives."<br> +</p> + +"Oh, the foreigners are experts when it comes to craft of the +air," said Captain Warner. <br> +<p>"Well, they seem to be running her, all right," admitted the +young inventor, "and at good speed, too. They have increased our +running rate, if I am any judge."<br> +</p> + +"By several miles an hour," confirmed the assistant pilot. +"Though in which direction they are heading, and what they are +going to do with us is more than I can guess." <br> +<p>"That's so!" agreed Mr. Damon. "What is to become of us? They +may heave us overboard into the ocean!"<br> +</p> + +"Into the ocean!" cried Ned apprehensively. "Are we near the +sea?" <br> +<p>"We must be, by this time," spoke Tom. "We were headed in that +direction, and we have come almost far enough to put us somewhere +over the Atlantic, off the Jersey coast."<br> +</p> + +A look of apprehension was on the faces of all. But Tom's face +did not remain clouded long. <br> +<p>"We won't try to swim until we have to," he said. "Now, let's +take an account of stock, and see if we have any means of getting +out of this prison.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_23">CHAPTER XXIII</h1> + +ACROSS THE SEA <br> +With one accord the hands of the captives sought their pockets. +Probably the first thought of each one was a knife--a pocket +knife. But blank looks succeeded their first hopeful ones, for +the hands came out empty. <br> +<p>"Not a thing!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Not a blessed thing! They +have even taken my keys and--my fountain pen!"<br> +</p> + +"I guess they searched us all while they were struggling with us, +tying us up," suggested Ned. "I had a knife with a big, strong +blade, but it's gone. <br> +<p>"So is mine," echoed Tom.<br> +</p> + +"And I haven't even a screwdriver, or a pocket-wrench," declared +the engineer, "though I had both." <br> +<p>"They evidently knew what they were doing," said Lieutenant +Marbury. "I don't usually carry a revolver, but of late I have +had a small automatic in my pocket. That's gone, too."<br> +</p> + +"And so are all my things," went on his naval friend. "That +Frenchman, La Foy, was taking no chances." <br> +<p>"Well," if we haven't any weapons, or means of getting out of +here, we must make them," said Tom, as hopefully as he could +under the circumstances. "I don't know all the things that were +put in this storeroom, and perhaps there may be something we can +use."<br> +</p> + +"Shall we make the try now?" asked Ned. "I'm getting thirsty, at +least. Lucky we had supper before they came out at us." <br> +<p>"Well, there isn't any water in here, or anything to eat, of +so much I am sure," went on Tom "So we will have to depend on our +captors for that."<br> +</p> + +"At least we can shout and ask for water," said Lieutenant +Marbury. "They have no excuse for being needlessly cruel." <br> +<p>They all agreed that this might not be a bad plan, and were +preparing to raise a united shout, when there came a knock on the +door of their prison.<br> +</p> + +"Are you willing to listen to reason?" asked a voice they +recognized as that of La Foy. <br> +<p>"What do you mean by reason?" asked Tom bitterly. "You have no +right to impose any conditions on us."<br> +</p> + +"I have the right of might, and I intend exercising it," was the +sharp rejoinder. "If you will listen to reason--" <br> +<p>"Which kind--yours or ours?" asked Tom pointedly.<br> +</p> + +"Mine, in this case," snapped back the Frenchman. "What I was +going to say was that I do not intend to starve you, or cause you +discomfort by thirst. I am going to open the door and put in food +and water. But I warn you that any attempt to escape will be met +with severe measures. <br> +<p>"We are in sufficient force to cope with you. I think you have +seen that." He spoke calmly and in perfect English, though with a +marked accent. "My men are armed, and will stand here ready to +meet violence with violence," he went on. "Is that +understood?"<br> +</p> + +For a moment none of the captives replied. <br> +<p>"I think it will be better to give in to him at least for a +while," said Captain Warner in a low voice to Tom. "We need +water, and will soon need food. We can think and plan better if +we are well nourished."<br> +</p> + +"Then you think I should promise not to raise a row?" <br> +<p>"For the time being--yes."<br> +</p> + +"Well, I am waiting!" came in sharp tones from the other side of +the portal. <br> +<p>"Our answer is--yes," spoke Tom. "We will not try to get +out-just yet," he added significantly.<br> +</p> + +A key was heard grating in the lock, and, a moment later, the +door slid back. Through the opening could be seen La Foy and some +of his men standing armed. Others had packages of food and jugs +of water. A plentiful supply of the latter was carried aboard the +Mars. <br> +<p>"Keep back from the door!" was the stern command of La Foy. +"The food and drink will be passed in only if you keep away from +the entrance. Remember my men are armed!"<br> +</p> + +The warning was hardly needed, for the weapons could plainly be +seen. Tom had half a notion that perhaps a concerted rush would +carry the day for him and his friends, but he was forced to +abandon that idea. <br> +<p>While the guards looked on, others of the "pirate crew," as +Ned dubbed them, passed in food and water. Then the door was +locked again.<br> +</p> + +They all felt better after drinking the water, which was made +cool by evaporation, for the airship was quite high above the +earth when Tom's enemies captured it, and the young inventor felt +sure it had not descended any. <br> +<p>No one felt much like eating, however, so the food was put +away for a time. And then, somewhat refreshed, they began looking +about for some means of getting out of their prison.<br> +</p> + +"Of course we might batter down the door, in time, by using some +of these boxes as rams," said Tom. "But the trouble is, that +would make a noise, and they could stand outside and drive us +back with guns and pistols, of which they seem to have plenty." +<br> +<p>"Yes, and they could turn some of your own quick-firers on +us," added Captain Warner. "No, we must work quietly, I think, +and take them unawares, as they took us. That is our only +plan."<br> +</p> + +"We will be better able to see what we have here by daylight," +Tom said. "Suppose we wait until morning?" <br> +<p>That plan was deemed best, and preparations made for spending +the night in their prison.<br> +</p> + +It was a most uncomfortable night for all of them. The floor was +their only bed, and their only covering some empty bags that had +contained supplies. But even under these circumstances they +managed to doze off fitfully. <br> +<p>Once they were all awakened by a violent plunging of the +airship. The craft seemed to be trying to stand on her head, and +then she rocked violently from side to side, nearly turning +turtle. "What is it?" gasped Ned, who was lying next to Tom.<br> +</p> + +"They must be trying some violent stunts," replied the young +inventor, "or else we have run into a storm." <br> +<p>"I think the latter is the case," observed Lieutenant +Marbury.<br> +</p> + +And, as the motion of the craft kept up, though less violently, +this was accepted as the explanation. Through the night the Mars +flew, but whither the captives knew not. <br> +<p>The first gray streaks of dawn finally shone through the only +window of their prison. Sore, lame and stiff, wearied in body and +disturbed in mind, the captives awoke. Tom's first move was +toward the window. It was high up, but, by standing on a box, he +could look through it. He uttered an exclamation.<br> +</p> + +"What is it?" asked Ned, swaying to and fro from the violent +motion ef the aerial warship. <br> +<p>"We are away out over the sea," spoke Tom, "and in the midst +of a bad storm."<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_24">CHAPTER XXIV</h1> + +THE LIGHTNING BOLT <br> +Tom turned away from the window, to find his companions regarding +him anxiously. <br> +<p>"A storm," repeated Ned. "What sort?"<br> +</p> + +"It might turn into any sort," replied Tom. "All I can see now is +a lot of black clouds, and the wind must be blowing pretty hard, +for there's quite a sea on." <br> +<p>"Bless my galvanometer!" cried Mr. Damon. "Then we are out +over the ocean again, Tom?"<br> +</p> + +"Yes, there's no doubt of it." <br> +<p>"What part?" asked the assistant pilot.<br> +</p> + +"That's more than I can tell," Tom answered. <br> +<p>"Suppose I take a look?" suggested Captain Warner. "I've done +quite a bit of sailing in my time."<br> +</p> + +But, when he had taken a look through the window at which Tom had +been standing, the naval officer descended, shaking his head. +<br> +<p>"There isn't a landmark in sight," he announced. "We might be +over the middle of the Atlantic, for all I could tell."<br> +</p> + +"Hardly as far as that," spoke Tom. "They haven't been pushing +the Mars at that speed. But we may be across to the other side +before we realize it." <br> +<p>"How's that?" asked Ned.<br> +</p> + +"Well, the ship is in the possession of these foreign spies," +went on Tom. "All their interests are in Europe, though it would +be hard to say what nationality is in command here. I think there +are even some Englishmen among those who attacked us, as well as +French, Germans, Italians and Russians." <br> +<p>"Yes, it seems to be a combination of European nations against +us," admitted Captain Warner. "Probably, after they have made +good their seizure of Tom's aerial warship, they will portion her +out among themselves, or use her as a model from which to make +others."<br> +</p> + +"Do you think that is their object?" asked Mr. Damon. <br> +<p>"Undoubtedly," was the captain's answer. "It has been the +object of these foreign spies, all along, not only to prevent the +United States from enjoying the benefits of these progressive +inventions, but to use them for themselves. They would stop at +nothing to gain their ends. It seems we did not sufficiently +appreciate their power and daring."<br> +</p> + +"Well, they've got us, at any rate," observed Tom, "and they may +take us and the ship to some far-off foreign country." <br> +<p>"If they don't heave us overboard half-way there," commented +Ned, in rather gloomy tones<br> +</p> + +"Well, of course, there's that possibility," admitted Tom. "They +are desperate characters." <br> +<p>"Well, we must do something," declared Lieutenant Marbury. +"Come, it's daylight now, and we can see to work better. Let's +see if we can't find a way to get out of this prison. Say, but +this sure is a storm!" he cried, as the airship rolled and +pitched violently.<br> +</p> + +"They are handling her well, though," observed Tom, as the craft +came quickly to an even keel. "Either they have a number of +expert birdmen on board, or they can easily adapt themselves to a +new aircraft. She is sailing splendidly." <br> +<p>"Well, let's eat something, and set to work," proposed +Ned.<br> +</p> + +They brought out the food which had been given to them the night +before, but before they could eat this, there came a knock on the +door, and more food and fresh water was handed in, under the same +precautions as before. <br> +<p>Tom and his companions indignantly demanded to be released, +but their protests were only laughed at, and while the guards +stood with ready weapons the door was again shut and locked.<br> +</p> + +But the prisoners were not the kind to sit idly down in the face +of this. Under Tom's direction they set about looking through +their place of captivity for something by which they could +release themselves. At first they found nothing, and Ned even +suggested trying to cut a way through the wooden walls with a +fingernail file, which he found in one of his pockets, when Tom, +who had gone to the far end of the storeroom, uttered a cry. <br> +<p>"What is it--a way out?" asked Lieutenant Marbury +anxiously.<br> +</p> + +"No, but means to that end," Tom replied. "Look, a file and a +saw, left here by some of my workmen, perhaps," and he brought +out the tools. He had found them behind a barrel in the far end +of the compartment. <br> +<p>"Hurray!" cried Ned. "That's the ticket! Now we'll soon show +these fellows what's what!"<br> +</p> + +"Go easy!" cautioned Tom. "We must work carefully. It won't do to +slam around and try to break down the door with these. I think we +had better select a place on the side wall, break through that, +and make an opening where we can come out unnoticed. Then, when +we are ready, we can take them by surprise. We'll have to do +something like that, for they outnumber us, you know." <br> +<p>"That is so," agreed Captain Warner. "We must use +strategy."<br> +</p> + +"Well, where would be a good place to begin to burrow out?" asked +Ned. <br> +<p>"Here," said Tom, indicating a place far back in the room. "We +can work there in turns, sawing a hole through the wall. It will +bring us out in the passage between the aft and amidship cabins, +and we can go either way."<br> +</p> + +"Then let's begin!" cried Ned enthusiastically, and they set to +work. <br> +<p>While the aerial warship pitched and tossed in the storm, over +some part of the Atlantic, Tom and his friends took turns in +working their way to freedom. With the sharp end of the file a +small hole was made, the work being done as slowly as a rat +gnaws, so as to make no noise that would be heard by their +captors. In time the hole was large enough to admit the end of +the saw.<br> +</p> + +But this took many hours, and it was not until the second day of +their captivity that they had the hole nearly large enough for +the passage of one person at a time. They had not been +discovered, they thought. <br> +<p>Meanwhile they had been given food and water at intervals, but +to all demands that they be released, or at least told why they +were held prisoners, a deaf ear was turned.<br> +</p> + +They could only guess at the fate of Koku. Probably the giant was +kept bound, for once he got the chance to use his enormous +strength it might go hard with the foreigners. <br> +<p>The Mars continued to fly through the air. Sometimes, as Tom +and his friends could tell by the motion, she was almost +stationary in the upper regions, and again she seemed to be +flying at top speed. Occasionally there came the sound of +firing.<br> +</p> + +"They're trying my guns," observed Tom grimly. <br> +<p>"Do you suppose they are being attacked?" asked Ned, +hopefully.<br> +</p> + +"Hardly," replied Captain Warner. "The United States possesses no +craft able to cope with this one in aerial warfare, and they are +hardly engaging in part of the European war yet. I think they are +just trying Tom's new guns." <br> +<p>Later our friends learned that such was the case.<br> +</p> + +The storm had either passed, or the Mars had run out of the path +of it, for, after the first few hours of pitching and tossing, +the atmosphere seemed reduced to a state of calm. <br> +<p>All the while they were secretly working to gain their freedom +so they might attack and overpower their enemies, they took +occasional observations from the small window. But they could +learn nothing of their whereabouts. They could only view the +heaving ocean, far below them, or see a mass of cloud-mist, which +hid the earth, if so be that the Mars was sailing over land.<br> +</p> + +"But how much longer can they keep it up?" asked Ned. <br> +<p>"Well, we have fuel and supplies aboard for nearly two weeks," +Tom answered.<br> +</p> + +"And by the end of that time we may all be dead," spoke the young +bank clerk despondently. <br> +<p>"No, we'll be out of here before then!" declared Lieutenant +Marbury.<br> +</p> + +Indeed the hole was now almost large enough to enable them to +crawl out one at a time. They could not, of course, see how it +looked from the outside, but Tom had selected a place for its +cutting so that the sawdust and the mark of the panel that was +being removed, would not ordinarily be noticeable. <br> +<p>Their set night as the time for making the attempt--late at +night, when it was hoped that most of their captors would be +asleep.<br> +</p> + +Finally the last cut was made, and a piece of wood hung over the +opening only by a shred, all ready to knock out. <br> +<p>"We'll do it at midnight," announced Tom.<br> +</p> + +Anxious, indeed, were those last hours of waiting. The time had +almost arrived for the attempt, when Tom, who had been nervously +pacing to and fro, remarked: <br> +<p>"We must be running into another storm. Feel how she heaves +and rolls!"<br> +</p> + +Indeed the Mars was most unsteady. <br> +<p>"It sure is a storm!" cried Ned, "and a heavy one, too," for +there came a burst of thunder, that seemed like a report of Tom's +giant cannon.<br> +</p> + +In another instant they were in the midst of a violent +thunderstorm, the airship pitching and tossing in a manner to +almost throw them from their feet. <br> +<p>As Tom reached up to switch on the electric light again, there +came a flash of lightning that well nigh blinded them. And so +close after it as to seem simultaneous, there came such a crash +of thunder as to stun them all. There was a tingling, as of a +thousand pins and needles in the body of each of the captives, +and a strong smell of sulphur. Then, as the echoes of the clap +died away, Tom yelled:<br> +</p> + +"She's been struck! The airship has been struck!" <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_25">CHAPTER XXV</h1> + +FREEDOM <br> +<p>For a moment there was silence, following Tom's wild cry and +the noise of the thunderclap. Then, as other, though less loud +reverberations of the storm continued to sound, the captives +awoke to a realization of what had happened. They had been +partially stunned, and were almost as in a dream.<br> +</p> + +"Are--are we all right?" stammered Ned. <br> +<p>"Bless my soul! What has happened?" cried Mr. Damon.<br> +</p> + +"We've been struck by lightning!" Tom repeated. "I don't know +whether we're all right or not." <br> +<p>"We seem to be falling!" exclaimed Lieutenant Marbury.<br> +</p> + +"If the whole gas bag isn't ripped to pieces we're lucky," +commented Jerry Mound. <br> +<p>Indeed, it was evident that the Mars was sinking rapidly. To +all there came the sensation of riding in an elevator in a +skyscraper and being dropped a score of stories.<br> +</p> + +Then, as they stood there in the darkness, illuminated only by +flashes from the lightning outside the window, waiting for an +unknown fate, Tom Swift uttered a cry of delight. <br> +<p>"We've stopped falling!" he cried. "The automatic gas machine +is pumping. Part of the gas bag was punctured, but the unbroken +compartments hold!"<br> +</p> + +"If part of the gas leaked out I don't see why it wasn't all set +on fire and exploded," observed Captain Warner. <br> +<p>"It's a non-burnable gas," Tom quickly explained. "But come +on. This may be our very chance. There seems to be something +going on that may be in our favor."<br> +</p> + +Indeed the captives could hear confused cries and the running to +and fro of many feet. <br> +<p>He made for the sawed panel, and, in another instant, had +burst out and was through it, out into the passageway between the +after and amidship cabins. His companions followed him.<br> +</p> + +They looked into the rear cabin, or motor compartment, and a +scene of confusion met their gaze. Two of the foreign men who had +seized the ship lay stretched out on the floor near the humming +machinery, which had been left to run itself. A look in the other +direction, toward the main cabin, showed a group of the foreign +spies bending over the inert body of La Foy, the Frenchman, +stretched out on a couch. <br> +<p>"What has happened?" cried Ned. "What does it all mean?,'<br> +</p> + +"The lightning!" exclaimed Tom. "The bolt that struck the ship +has knocked out some of our enemies! Now is the time to attack +them!" <br> +<p>The Mars seemed to have passed completely through a narrow +storm belt. She was now in a quiet atmosphere, though behind her +could be seen the fitful play of lightning, and there could be +heard the distant rumble of thunder.<br> +</p> + +"Come on!" cried Tom. "We must act quickly, while they are +demoralized! Come on!" <br> +<p>His friends needed no further urging. Jerry Mound and the +machinist rushed to the engine-room, to look after any of the +enemy that might be there, while Tom, Ned and the others ran into +the middle cabin.<br> +</p> + +"Grab 'em! Tie 'em up!" cried Tom, for they had no weapons with +which to make an attack. <br> +<p>But none were needed. So stunned were the foreigners by the +lightning bolt, which had miraculously passed our friends, and so +unnerved by the striking down of La Foy, their leader, that they +seemed like men half asleep. Before they could offer any +resistance they were bound with the same ropes that had held our +friends in bondage. That is, all but the big Frenchman himself. +He seemed beyond the need of binding.<br> +</p> + +Mound, the engineer, and his assistant, came hurrying in from the +motor-room, followed by Koku. <br> +<p>"We found him chained up," Jerry explained, as the big giant, +freed from his captivity, rubbed his chafed wrists.<br> +</p> + +"Are there any of the foreigners back there?,' <br> +<p>"Only those two knocked out by the lightning," the engineer +explained. "We've made them secure. I see you've got things here +in shape."<br> +</p> + +"Yes," replied Tom. "And now to see where. we are, and to get +back home. Whew! But this has been a time! Koku, what happened to +you?," <br> +<p>"They no let anything happen. I be in chains all the while," +the giant answered. "Jump on me before I can do anything!"<br> +</p> + +"Well, you're out, now, and I think we'll have you stand guard +over these men. The tables are turned, Koku." <br> +<p>The bound ones were carried to the same prison whence our +friends had escaped, but their bonds were not taken off, and Koku +was put in the place with them. By this time La Foy and the two +other stricken men showed signs of returning life. They had only +been stunned.<br> +</p> + +The young inventor and his friends, once more in possession of +their airship, lost little time in planning to return. They found +that the spies were all expert aeronauts, and had kept a careful +chart of their location. They were then halfway across the +Atlantic, and in a short time longer would probably have been in +some foreign country. But Tom turned the Mars about. <br> +<p>The craft had only been slightly damaged by the lightning +bolt, though three of the gas bag compartments were torn, The +others sufficed, however, to make the ship sufficiently +buoyant.<br> +</p> + +When morning came Tom and his friends had matters running almost +as smoothly as before their capture. <br> +<p>The prisoners had no chance to escape, and, indeed, they +seemed to have been broken in spirit. La Foy was no longer the +insolent, mocking Frenchman that he had been, and the two chief +foreign engineers seemed to have lost some of their reason when +the lightning struck them.<br> +</p> + +"But it was a mighty lucky and narrow escape for us," said Ned, +as he and Tom sat in the pilot-house the second day of the return +trip. <br> +<p>"That's right," agreed his chum.<br> +</p> + +Once again they were above the earth, and, desiring to get rid as +soon as possible of the presence of the spies, a landing was made +near New York City, and the government authorities communicated +with. Captain Warner and Lieutenant Marbury took charge of the +prisoners, with some Secret Service men, and the foreigners were +soon safely locked up. <br> +<p>"And now what are you going to do, Tom?" asked Ned, when, once +more, they had the airship to themselves.<br> +</p> + +"I'm going back to Shopton, fix up the gas bag, and give her +another government trial," was the answer. <br> +<p>And, in due time, this was done. Tom added some improvements +to the aircraft, making it better than ever, and when she was +given the test required by the government, she was an unqualified +success, and the rights to the Mars were purchased for a large +sum. In sailing, and in the matter of guns and bombs, Tom's craft +answered every test.<br> +</p> + +"So you see I was right, after all, Dad," the young inventor +said, when informed that he had succeeded. "We can shoot off even +bigger guns than I thought from the deck of the Mars." <br> +<p>"Yes, Tom," replied the aged inventor, "I admit I was +wrong."<br> +</p> + +Tom's aerial warship was even a bigger success than he had dared +to hope. Once the government men fully understood how to run it, +in which Tom played a prominent part in giving instructions, they +put the Mars to a severe test. She was taken out over the ocean, +and her guns trained on an obsolete battleship. Her bombs and +projectiles blew the craft to pieces. <br> +<p>"The Mars will be the naval terror of the seas in any future +war," predicted Captain Warner.<br> +</p> + +The Secret Service men succeeded in unearthing all the details of +the plot against Tom. His life, at times, had been in danger, but +at the last minute the man detailed to harm him lost his nerve. +<br> +<p>It was Tom's enemies who had set on fire the red shed, and who +later tried to destroy the ship by putting a corrosive acid in +one of the propellers. That plot, though, was not wholly +successful. Then came the time when one of the spies hid on +board, and dropped the copper bar on the motor, short-circuiting +it. But for the storage-battery that scheme might have wrought +fearful damage. The spy who had stowed himself away on the craft +escaped at night by the connivance of one of Tom's corrupt +employees.<br> +</p> + +The foreign spies were tried and found guilty, receiving merited +punishment. Of course the governments to which they belonged +disclaimed any part in the seizure of Tom's aerial warship. <br> +<p>It came out at the trial that one of Tom's most trusted +employees had proved a traitor, and had the night before the +test, allowed the foreign spies to secrete themselves on board, +to rush out at an opportune time to overpower our hero and his +friends. But luck was with Tom at the end.<br> +</p> + +"Well, what are you going to tackle next, Tom?" asked Ned, one +day about a month after these exciting experiences. <br> +<p>"I don't know," was the slow answer. "I think a self-swinging +hammock, under an apple tree, with a never-emptying pitcher of +ice-cold lemonade would be about the thing."<br> +</p> + +"Good, Tom! And, if you'll invent that, I'll share it with you." +<br> +<p>"Well, come on, let's begin now," laughed Tom. "I need a +vacation, anyhow."<br> +</p> + +But it is very much to be doubted if Tom Swift, even on a +vacation, could refrain from trying to invent something, either +in the line of airships, water, or land craft. And so, until he +again comes to the front with something flew, we will take leave +of him. <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<br> +<p>End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Tom Swift And His Aerial +Warship<br> +</p> + +<br> +<p><br> +</p> + +THE TOM SWIFT SERIES <br> +<p>By VICTOR APPLETON<br> +</p> + +These spirited tales convey in a realistic way, the wonderful +advances in land and sea locomotion. Stories like these are +impressed upon the memory and their reading is productive only of +good. <br> +<p>TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT TOM +SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT TOM SWIFT +AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE TOM +SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE TOM +SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE TOM +SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER TOM SWIFT +IN CAPTIVITY TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA TOM SWIFT AND HIS +GREAT SEARCHLIGHT TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON TOM SWIFT AND +HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP TOM SWIFT +AND HIS BIG TUNNEL TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS TOM SWIFT AND +HIS WAR TANK TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT TOM SWIFT AND HIS +UNDERSEA SEARCH TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS TOM SWIFT AND +HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE<br> +</p> + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES <br> +<p>BY VICTOR APPLETON<br> +</p> + +Moving pictures and photo plays are famous the world over, and in +this line of books the reader is given a full description of how +the films are made--the scenes of little dramas, indoors and out, +trick pictures to satisfy the curious, soul-stirring pictures of +city affairs, life in the Wild West, among the cowboys and +Indians, thrilling rescues along the seacoast, the daring of +picture hunters in the jungle among savage beasts, and the great +risks run in picturing conditions in a land of earthquakes. The +volumes teem with adventures and will be found interesting from +first chapter to last. <br> +<p>THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN +THE JUNGLE THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND THE MOVING +PICTURE BOYS AND THE FLOOD THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT PANAMA THE +MOVING PICTURE BOYS UNDER THE SEA THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE +WAR FRONT THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON FRENCH BATTLEFIELDS MOVING +PICTURE BOYS FIRST SHOWHOUSE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT SEASIDE PARK +MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON BROADWAY THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS OUTDOOR +EXHIBITION THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS NEW IDEA<br> +</p> + +<br> +<p><br> +</p> + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Tom Swift And His Aerial +Warship <br> +</body> +</html> + + diff --git a/old/old/18tom10h.zip b/old/old/18tom10h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..13b223a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/18tom10h.zip diff --git a/old/old/18tom10l.lit b/old/old/18tom10l.lit Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4c1a405 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/18tom10l.lit diff --git a/old/old/18tom10l.zip b/old/old/18tom10l.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1a4e47c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/18tom10l.zip diff --git a/old/old/18tom10p.prc b/old/old/18tom10p.prc Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7cb0ce --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/18tom10p.prc diff --git a/old/old/18tom10p.zip b/old/old/18tom10p.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a99a043 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/18tom10p.zip |