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diff --git a/1282-0.txt b/1282-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cdb0480 --- /dev/null +++ b/1282-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5423 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1282 *** + +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS + +or The Secret of Phantom Mountain + +By Victor Appleton + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER + + I A SUSPICIOUS JEWELER + II A MIDNIGHT VISIT + III A STRANGE STORY + IV ANDY FOGER GETS A FRIGHT + V A MYSTERIOUS MAN + VI MR. DAMON IS ON HAND + VII MR. PARKER PREDICTS + VIII OFF FOR THE WEST + IX A WARNING BY WIRELESS + X DROPPING THE STOWAWAY + XI A WEARY SEARCH + XII THE GREAT STONE HEAD + XIII ON PHANTOM MOUNTAIN + XIV WARNED BACK + XV THE LANDSLIDE + XVI THE VAST CAVERN + XVII THE PHANTOM CAPTURED + XVIII BILL RENSHAW WILL HELP + XIX IN THE SECRET CAVE + XX MAKING THE DIAMONDS + XXI FLASHING GEMS + XXII PRISONERS + XXIII BROKEN BONDS + XXIV IN GREAT PERIL + XXV THE MOUNTAIN SHATTERED--CONCLUSION + + + + +CHAPTER I--A SUSPICIOUS JEWELER + + +“Well, Tom Swift, I don't believe you will make any mistake if you buy +that diamond,” said the jeweler to a young man who was inspecting a tray +of pins, set with the sparkling stones. “It is of the first water, and +without a flaw.” + +“It certainly seems so, Mr. Track. I don't know much about diamonds, and +I'm depending on you. But this one looks to be all right.” + +“Is it for yourself, Tom?” + +“Er--no--that is, not exactly,” and Tom Swift, the young inventor of +airships and submarines, blushed slightly. + +“Ah, I see. It's for your housekeeper, Mrs. Baggert. Well, I think she +would like a pin of this sort. True, it's rather expensive, but--” + +“No, it isn't for Mrs. Baggert, Mr. Track,” and Tom seemed a bit +embarrassed. + +“No? Well, then, Tom--of course it's none of my affair, except to +sell you a good stone, But if this brooch is for a young lady, I can't +recommend anything nicer. Do you think you will take this; or do you +prefer to look at some others?” + +“Oh, I think this will do, Mr. Track. I guess I'll take--” + +Tom's words were interrupted by a sudden action on the part of the +jeweler. Mr. Track ran from behind the showcase and hastened toward the +front door. + +“Did you see him, Tom?” he cried. “I wonder which way he went?” + +“Who?” asked the lad, following the shopkeeper. + +“That man. He's been walking up and down in front of my place for the +last ten minutes--ever since you've been in here, in fact, and I don't +like his looks.” + +“What did he do?” + +“Nothing much, except to stare in here as if he was sizing my place up.” + +“Sizing it up?” + +“Yes. Getting the lay of the land, so he or some confederate could +commit a robbery, maybe.” + +“A robbery? Do you think that man was a thief?” + +“I don't know that he was, Tom, and yet a jeweler has to be always +on the watch, and that isn't a joke, either, Tom Swift. Swindlers and +thieves are always on the alert for a chance to rob a jewelry store, and +they work many games.” + +“I didn't notice any particular man looking in here,” said Tom, who +still held the diamond brooch in his hand. + +“Well I did,” went on the jeweler. “I happened to glance out of the +window when you were looking at the pins, and I saw his eyes staring in +here in a suspicious manner. He may have a confederate with him, and, +when you're gone, one may come in, and pretend to want to look at some +diamonds. Then, when I'm showing him some, the other man will enter, +engage my attention, and the first man will slip out with a diamond ring +or pin. It's often done.” + +“You seem to have it all worked out, Mr. Track,” observed the lad, with +a smile. “How do you know but what I'm in with a gang of thieves, and +that I'm only pretending to want to buy a diamond pin?” + +“Oh, I guess I haven't known you, Tom Swift, ever since you were +big enough to toddle, not to be sure about what you're up to. But I +certainly didn't like the looks of that man. However, let's forget about +him. He seems to have gone down the street, and, after all, perhaps I +was mistaken. Just wait until I show you a few more styles before you +decide. The young lady may like one of these,” and the jeweler went to +another showcase and took out some more trays of brooches. + +“What makes you think she's a young lady, Mr. Track?” asked the lad. + +“Oh, it's easy guessing, Tom. We jewelers are good readers of character. +I can size up a young fellow coming in here to buy an engagement or a +wedding ring, as soon as he enters the door. I suppose you'll soon be +in the market for one of those, Tom, if all the reports I hear about you +are true--you and a certain Mary Nestor.” + +“I--er--I think I don't care for any of these pins,” spoke Tom, quickly, +with a blush. “I like the first lot best. I think I'll take the one I +had in my hand when that man alarmed you. Ha! That's odd! What did I do +with it?” + +Tom looked about on the showcase, and glanced down on the floor. He had +mislaid the brooch, but the jeweler, with a laugh, lifted it out of a +tray a moment later. + +“I saw you lay it down,” he said. “We jewelers have to be on the watch. +Here it is. I'll just put it in a box, and--” + +With an exclamation, Mr. Track gave a hasty glance toward his big show +window. Tom looked up, and saw a man's face peering in. At the sight of +it, he, too, uttered a cry of surprise. + +The next instant the man outside knocked on the glass, apparently with +a piece of metal, making a sharp sound. As soon as he heard it, the +jeweler once more sprang from behind the showcase, and leaped for the +door crying: + +“There's the thief! He's trying to cut a hole through my show window and +reach in and get something! It's an old trick. I'll get the police! Tom, +you stay here on guard!” and before the lad could utter a protest, the +jeweler had opened the door, and was speeding down the street in the +gathering darkness. + +Tom stared about him in some bewilderment. He was left alone in charge +of a very valuable stock of jewelry, the owner of which was racing after +a supposed thief, crying: + +“Police! Help! Thieves! Stop him, somebody!” + +“This is a queer go,” mused Tom. “I wonder who that man was? He looked +like somebody I know, and yet I can't seem to place his face. I +wonder if he was trying to rob the place? Maybe there's another one--a +confederate--around here.” + +This thought rather alarmed Tom, so he went to the door, and looked up +and down the street. He could see no suspicious characters, but in the +direction in which the jeweler was running there was a little throng of +people, following Mr. Track after the man who had knocked on the window. + +“I wish I was there, instead of here,” mused the lad. “Still I can't +leave, or a thief might come in. Perhaps that was the game, and one of +the gang is hanging around, hoping the store will be deserted, so he can +enter and take what he likes.” + +Tom had read of such cases, and he at once resolved that he would not +only remain in the jewelry shop, but that he would lock the door, which +he at once proceeded to do. Then he breathed easier. + +The town of Shopton, in the outskirts of which Tom lived with his +father, and where the scene above narrated took place, was none too well +lighted at night, and the lad had his doubts about the jeweler catching +the oddly-acting man, especially as the latter had a good start. + +“But some one may head him off,” reasoned Tom. “Though if they do catch +him, I don't see what they can prove against him. Hello, here I am +carrying this diamond pin around. I might lose it. Guess I'll put it +back on the tray.” + +He replaced in the proper receptacle one of the pins he had been +examining when the excitement occurred. + +“I wonder if Mary will like that?” he said, softly. “I hope she does. +Perhaps it would be better if she could come here herself and pick out +one--” + +Tom's musing was suddenly interrupted by a sharp tattoo on the glass +door of the jewelry shop. With a start, he looked up, to see staring in +on him the face of the man who had been there before--the man of whom +the jeweler was even then in chase. + +“Why--why----” stammered Tom. + +The man knocked again. + +“Tom--Tom Swift!” he called. “Don't you know me?” + +“Know you--you?” repeated the lad. + +“Yes--don't you remember Earthquake Island--how we were nearly killed +there--don't you remember Mr. Jenks?” + +“Mr. Jenks?” + +Tom was so startled that he could only repeat words after the strange +man, who was talking to him from outside the glass door. + +“Yes, Mr. Jenks,” was the reply. “Mr. Barcoe Jenks, who makes diamonds. +I saw you in the store about to buy a diamond--I wanted to tell you not +to--I'll give you a better diamond than you can buy--I just arrived in +this place--I must have a private talk with you--Come out--I'll share a +wonderful secret with you.” + +A flood of memory came to Tom. He did recall the very strange man who +walked around Earthquake Island--where Tom and some friends had been +marooned recently--walked about with a pocketful of what he said were +diamonds. Now Barcoe Jenks was here. + +“I must see you privately, Tom Swift,” went on Mr. Jenks, as he once +more tapped on the glass. “Don't waste money buying diamonds, when you +and I can make better ones. Where can I have a talk with you? I--” Mr. +Jenks suddenly looked down the dimly-lighted street. “They're coming +back!” he cried. “I don't want to be seen. I'll call at your house later +to-night--be on the watch for me--until then--good-by!” + +He waved his hand, and was gone in an instant. Tom stood staring at the +glass door. He hardly knew whether to believe it or not--perhaps it was +all a dream. + +He pinched himself to make sure that he was awake. Very substantial +flesh met his thumb and finger, and he felt the pain. + +“I'm awake all right,” he murmured. “But Barcoe Jenks here--and still +talking that nonsense about his manufactured diamonds. I think he must +be crazy. I wonder--” + +Once more the lad's musing was interrupted. He heard a murmur of excited +voices outside the store, on the street. Then the door of the jewelry +shop was tried. Mr. Track's face was pressed against the glass. + +“Open the door! Let me in, Tom!” he called. “I've caught the thief,” and +as the lad unlocked the portal he saw that the jeweler held by the arm +a ragged lad. “Ah; you scoundrel! I've caught you!” cried the diamond +merchant, shaking the small chap, while Tom looked on, more mystified +than ever. + + + + +CHAPTER II--A MIDNIGHT VISIT + + +While Mr. Track, the jeweler, and several citizens, attracted by the +chase after the supposed thief, are crowded into the store, anxious to +hear explanations of the strange affair, I will take the opportunity to +tell you something of Tom Swift, the lad who is to figure in this story. + +Many of you have already made his acquaintance, when he has been +speeding about in his airship or fast electric runabout, and to others +we will state that our hero first made his bow to the public in the +book called “Tom Swift and His Motor-Cycle,” the initial volume of this +series. + +In that story there was related how Tom made the acquaintance of an +odd individual, named Mr. Wakefield Damon, who was continually blessing +himself, some part of his anatomy, or his possessions. Mr. Damon was +riding a motor-cycle, and it started to climb a tree, to his pain and +fright. Afterward Tom purchased the machine, and had many adventures +on it, including a chase after a gang of men who had stolen a valuable +patent model belonging to Mr. Swift. + +Mr. Swift and his son were both inventors. They lived together in a +fine house in the suburbs of Shopton, New York, and with them dwelt Mrs. +Baggert, the housekeeper (for Tom's mother was dead), and also Garret +Jackson, an expert engineer, who aided the young inventor and his father +in perfecting many machines. + +There was also another semi-member of the household, to wit, Eradicate +Sampson, an eccentric colored man, who owned a mule called Boomerang. +Eradicate did odd jobs around the place, and the mule assisted his +owner--that is when the mule felt like it. + +In the second volume of the series, entitled “Tom Swift and His +Motor-Boat,” there was related the incidents following a pursuit after +a gang of unprincipled men, who sought to get possession of some of Mr. +Swift's patents, and it was while in this boat that Tom, his father, and +a friend, Ned Newton, rescued from Lake Carlopa a Mr. John Sharp, who +fell from his burning balloon. Mr. Sharp was a skilled aeronaut, and +after his recovery he joined Tom in building a big airship, called the +Red Cloud. Tom's adventures in this craft are set down in detail in the +third volume of the series, called “Tom Swift and His Airship.” Not only +did he and Mr. Sharp and Mr. Damon make a great trip, but they captured +some bank robbers, and incidentally cleared themselves from the +imputation of having looted the vault of seventy-five thousand dollars, +which charge was fostered by a certain Mr. Foger, and his son Andy, who +was Tom's enemy. + +Not satisfied with having conquered the air, Tom and his father set +to work to gain a victory over the ocean. They built a boat that could +navigate under water, and, in the fourth book of the series, called “Tom +Swift and His Submarine Boat,” you will find an account of how they went +under the ocean to secure a sunken treasure, and the fight they had with +their enemies who sought to get it away from them. They went through +many perils, not the least of which was capture by a foreign warship. + +In the fifth book, entitled “Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout,” there +was told the story of a wonderfully speedy electric automobile the young +inventor constructed, and how he made a great race in it, and saved from +ruin a bank, in which his father and Mr. Damon were interested. + +Tom's ability as an inventor had, by this time, become well known. One +day, as related in a volume called “Tom Swift and His Wireless Message,” + he received a letter from a Mr. Hosmer Fenwick, of Philadelphia, asking +his aid in perfecting an airship which the resident of the Quaker +City had built, but which would not work. In his small monoplane, the +Butterfly, Tom and Mr. Damon went to Philadelphia, as Mr. Damon was +acquainted with Mr. Fenwick. + +Tom carefully inspected the Whizzer which was the name of Mr. Fenwick's +airship, and, after some difficulties, succeeded in getting the electric +craft in shape to make a flight. + +Tom, Mr. Damon and Mr. Fenwick started to make a trip to Cape May in the +Whizzer, but were caught in a terrific storm, and blown out to sea. +The wind became a hurricane, the airship was disabled, and wrecked in +mid-air. When it fell to earth it landed on one of the small West Indian +islands, but what was the terror of the three castaways to find that the +island was subject to earthquake shocks. + +But the earth-tremors were not the only surprise in store for Tom and +his two friends, On the island they found five men and two ladies, who, +by strange chance, had been stranded there when the yacht Resolute, +owned by Mr. George Hosbrook, was wrecked in the same storm that +disabled the airship. Mr. Hosbrook, a millionaire, was taking a party of +friends to the West Indies. + +When the castaways (among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Amos Nestor, parents +of Mary Nestor, a girl of whom Tom was very fond) found that there was +danger of the island being destroyed in an earthquake, they were in +despair. There seemed no way of being rescued, as the island was out of +the line of regular ship travel. + +Tom, however, was resourceful. With the electrical apparatus from the +wrecked airship, he built a wireless plant, and sent messages for help, +broadcast over the ocean. + +They were finally heard, and answered, by an operator on board the +steamer Camberanian, which came on under forced draught, and rescued +Tom and his friends. It was only just in time, for, no sooner had +they gotten aboard the steamer in lifeboats, than the whole island was +destroyed by an earthquake shock. + +But Tom, the parents of Mary Nestor, Mr. Damon, Mr. Fenwick, and all the +others, got safely home. Among the survivors from the yacht Resolute +was a Mr. Barcoe Jenks, who now, most unexpectedly, had confronted Tom +through the glass window of the jewelry store. Mr. Jenks was a peculiar +man. Tom discovered this on Earthquake Island. Mr. Jenks carried with +him some stones which he said were diamonds. He asserted that he had +made them, but Tom did not know whether or not to believe this. + +When it seemed that the castaways would not be saved Mr. Jenks offered +Tom a large sum in these same diamonds for some plan whereby he might +escape the earthquakes. Mr. Jenks said there was a certain secret in +connection with the manufactured diamonds that he had to solve--that he +had been defrauded of his rights--and that a certain Phantom Mountain +figured in it. But Tom, at that time, paid little attention to Mr. +Jenks' talk. The time was to come, however, when he would attach much +importance to it. + +When this story opens, Tom was more interested in Mr. Barcoe Jenks than +in any one else, and was wondering what he wanted to see him about. The +young inventor could not quite understand how Mr. Track, the jeweler, +could come back with a lad he suspected of being a thief, when the +person who had acted so suspiciously, and who had knocked on the glass, +was the queer man, Mr. Jenks. + +“Yes, Tom I caught him,” the jeweler went on. “I chased after him, and +nabbed him. It was hard work, too, for I'm not a good runner. Now, you +little rascal, tell me why you tried to rob my store?” and the diamond +merchant shook the lad roughly. + +“I--I didn't try to rob your store,” was the timid answer. + +“Well, perhaps you didn't, exactly, but your confederates did. Why did +you rap on the glass, and why were you staring in so intently?” + +“I wasn't lookin' in.” + +“Well, if it wasn't you, it was some one just like you. But why did you +run when I raced down the street?” + +“I--I don't know,” and the lad began to snivel. “I--I jest ran--that's +all--'cause I see everybody else runnin', an' I thought there was a +fire.” + +“Ha! That's a likely story! You ran because you are guilty! I'm going to +hand you over to the police.” + +“Did he get anything, Mr. Track?” asked one of the men who had joined +the jeweler in the chase. + +“No, I can't say that he did. He didn't get a chance. Tom Swift was +in here at the time. But this fellow was only waiting for a chance to +steal, or else to aid his confederates.” + +“But, if he didn't take anything, I don't see how you can have him +arrested,” went on the man. + +“On suspicion; that's how!” asserted Mr. Track. “Will some one get me a +constable?” + +“I wouldn't call a constable,” said Tom, quietly. + +“Why not?” + +“Because that isn't the person who looked in your window.” + +“How do you know, Tom?” + +“Because that person came back while you were out. I saw him.” + +“You saw him? Did he try to steal any of my diamonds, Tom?” + +“No, I guess he doesn't need any.” + +“Why not?” There was wonder in the jeweler's tone. + +“Why, he claims he can make all he wants.” + +“Make diamonds?” + +“So he says.” + +“Why, he must be crazy!” and Mr. Track laughed. + +“Perhaps he is,” admitted Tom, “I'm only telling you what he says. He's +the person who acted so suspiciously. He came back here, I'm telling +you, while you were running down the street, and spoke to me.” + +“Oh, then you know him?” The jeweler's voice was suspicious. + +“I didn't at first,” admitted Tom. “But when he said he was Mr. +Barcoe Jenks, I remembered that I had met him when I was cast away on +Earthquake Island.” + +“And he says he can make diamonds?” asked Mr. Track. + +“What did he want of you?” and the jeweler looked at Tom, quizzically. + +“He wanted to have a talk with me,” replied the lad, “and when he saw +me in your store, he tried to attract my attention by knocking on the +glass.” + +“That's a queer way to do,” declared Mr. Track. “What did he want?” + +“I don't know exactly,” answered Tom, not caring to go into details just +then. “But I'm sure, Mr. Track, that you've got the wrong person there. +That lad never looked in the window, nor knocked on the glass.” + +“That's right--I didn't,” asserted the captive. + +The jeweler looked doubtful. + +“Why did you run?” he asked. + +“I told you, I thought there was a fire.” + +“That's right, I don't believe he's the fellow you want,” put in another +man. “I was standing on the corner, near White's grocery store, and +I noticed this lad. That was before I heard you yelling, and saw you +coming, and then I joined in the chase. I guess the man you were after +got away, Track.” + +“He did,” asserted Tom. “He came back here, a little while ago, and he +ran away just now, as he heard you coming.” + +“Where did he go?” asked the jeweler, eagerly. + +“I don't know,” answered Tom. “Only you've got the wrong lad here.” + +“Well, perhaps I have,” admitted the diamond merchant. “You can go, +youngster, but next time, don't run if you're not guilty.” + +“I thought there was a fire,” repeated the lad, as he hurriedly slipped +through the crowd in the store, and disappeared down the dark street. + +“Well, I guess the excitement's all over, and, anyhow, you weren't +robbed, Track,” said a stout man, as he left the store. The others soon +followed, and Tom and the jeweler were once more alone in the shop. + +“Can you tell me something about this man, Tom?” asked Mr. Track, +eagerly. “So he really makes diamonds. Who is he?” + +“I'd rather not tell--just now,” replied the young inventor. “I don't +take much stock in him, myself. I think he's visionary. He may think he +has made diamonds, and he may have made some stones that look like them. +I'm very skeptical.” + +“If you could bring me some, Tom, I could soon tell whether they were +real or not. Can you?” + +The lad shook his head. + +“I don't expect to see Mr. Jenks again,” he said. “He talked +rather wildly about waiting to meet me, but that man is odd--crazy, +perhaps--and I don't imagine I'll see him. He's harmless, but he's +eccentric. Well, there was quite some excitement for a time.” + +“I should say there was. I thought it was a plan to rob me,” and the +jeweler began putting away the diamond pins. In fact, the excitement +so filled the minds of himself and Tom that neither of them thought any +more of the object of the lad's visit, and the young inventor departed +without purchasing the pin he had come after. + +It was not until he was out on the street, walking toward his home, that +the matter came back to his mind. + +“I declare!” he exclaimed. “I didn't get that pin for Mary, after all! +Well, never mind, I have a week until her birthday, and I can get it +to-morrow.” + +He walked rapidly toward home, for the weather looked threatening, and +Tom had no umbrella. He was musing on the happenings of the evening when +he reached his house. His father was out, as was Garret Jackson, the +engineer; and Mrs. Baggert, the housekeeper, was entertaining a lady in +the sitting-room, so, as Tom was rather tired, he went directly to his +own room, and, a little later got into bed. + +It was shortly after midnight when he was awakened by hearing a rattling +on the window of his room. The reason he was able to fix the time +so accurately was because as soon as he awakened he pressed a little +electric button, and it illuminated the face of a small clock on his +bureau. The hands pointed to five minutes past twelve. + +“Humph! That sounds like hail!” exclaimed Tom, as he arose, and looked +out of the casement. “I wonder if any of the skylights of the airship +shed are open? There might be some damage. Guess I'd better go out and +take a look.” + +He had mentally reasoned this far before he had looked out, and when +he saw that the moon was brightly shining in a clear sky, he was a bit +surprised. + +“Why--that wasn't hail,” he murmured. “It isn't even raining. I wonder +what it was?” + +He was answered a moment later, for a shower of fine gravel from the +walk flew up and clattered against the glass. With a start, Tom looked +down, and saw a dark figure standing under an apple tree. + +“Hello! Who's there?” called the lad, after he had raised the sash. + +“It's I--Mr. Jenks,” was the surprising answer. + +“Mr. Jenks?” repeated Tom. + +“Yes--Barcoe Jenks, of Earthquake Island.” + +“You here? What do you want?” + +“Can you come down?” + +“What for?” + +“Tom Swift, I've something very important to tell you,” was the answer +in a low voice, yet which carried to Tom's ears perfectly. “Do you want +to make a fortune for yourself--and for me?” + +“How?” Tom was beginning to think more and more that Mr. Jenks was +crazy. + +“How? By helping me to discover the secret of Phantom Mountain, where +the diamonds are made! Will you?” + +“Wait a minute--I'll come down,” answered Tom, and he began to grope for +his clothes in the dim light of the little electric lamp. + +What was the secret of Phantom Mountain? What did Mr. Jenks really want? +Could he make diamonds? Tom asked himself these questions as he hastily +dressed to go down to his midnight visitor. + + + + +CHAPTER III--A STRANGE STORY + + +“Well, Mr. Jenks,” began Tom, when he had descended to the garden, and +greeted the man who had acted so strangely on Earthquake Island, “this +is rather an odd time for a visit.” + +“I realize that, Tom Swift,” was the answer, and the lad noticed that +the man spoke much more calmly than he had that evening at the jewelry +shop. “I realize that, but I have to be cautious in my movements.” + +“Why?” + +“Because there are enemies on my track. If they thought I was seeking +aid to discover the secret of Phantom Mountain, my life might pay the +forfeit.” + +“Are you in earnest, Mr. Jenks?” + +“I certainly am, and, while I must apologize for awakening you at this +unseemly hour, and for the mysterious nature of my visit, if you will +let me tell my story, you will see the need of secrecy.” + +“Oh, I don't mind being awakened,” answered Tom, good-naturedly, “but +I will be frank with you, Mr. Jenks. I hardly can believe what you have +stated to me several times--that you know how diamonds can be made.” + +“I can prove it to you,” was the quiet answer. + +“Yes, I know. For centuries men have tried to discover the secret of +transmuting base metals into gold, and how to make diamonds by chemical +means. But they have all been failures.” + +“All except this process--the process used at Phantom Mountain,” + insisted the queer man. “Do you want to hear my story?” + +“I have no objections.” + +“Then let me warn you,” went on Mr. Jenks, “that if you do hear it, you +will be so fascinated by it that I am sure you will want to cast your +lot in with mine, and aid me to get my rights, and solve the mystery. +And I also want to warn you that if you do, there is a certain amount of +danger connected with it.” + +“I'm used to danger,” answered Tom, quietly. “Let me hear your story. +But first explain how you came to come here, and why you acted so +strangely at the jewelry store.” + +“Willingly. I tried to attract your attention at the store, because I +saw that you were going to buy a diamond, and I didn't want you to.” + +“Why not?” + +“Because I want to present you with a beautiful stone, that will answer +your purpose as well or better, than any one you could buy. That will +prove my story better than any amount of words or argument. But I could +not attract your attention without also attracting that of the jeweler. +He became suspicious, gave chase, and I thought it best to vanish. I +hope no one was made to suffer for what may have been my imprudence.” + +“No, the lad whom Mr. Track caught was let go. But how did you happen to +come to Shopton?” + +“To see you. I got your address from the owner of the yacht Resolute. I +knew that if there was one person who could aid me to recover my rights, +it would be you, Tom Swift. Will you help me? Will you come with me to +discover the secret of Phantom Mountain? If we go, it will have to be in +an airship, for in no other way, I think, can we come upon the place, as +it is closely guarded. Will you come? I will pay you well.” + +“Perhaps I had better hear your story,” said the young inventor. “But +first let me suggest that we move farther away from the house. My +father, or Mr. Jackson, or the housekeeper, may hear us talking, and it +may disturb them. Come with me to my private shop,” and Tom led the way +to a small building where he did experimental work. He unlocked the door +with a key he carried, turned on the lights, which were run by a storage +battery, and motioned Mr. Jenks to a seat. + +“Now I'll hear your story,” said Tom. + +“I'll make it as short as possible,” went on the queer man. “To begin +with, it is now several years ago since a poorly dressed stranger +applied to me one night for money enough to get a meal and a bed to +sleep in. I was living in New York City at the time, and this was +midnight, as I was returning home from my club. + +“I was touched by the man's appearance, and gave him some money. He +asked for my card, saying he would repay me some day. I gave it to him, +little thinking I would hear from the man again. But I did. He called +at my apartments about a week later, saying he had secured work as an +expert setter of diamonds, and wanted to repay me. I did not want to +take his money, but the fact that such a sorry looking specimen of +manhood as he had been when I aided him, was an expert handler of gems +interested me. I talked with the man, and he made a curious statement. + +“This man, who gave his name as Enos Folwell, said he knew a place where +diamonds could be made, partly in a scientific manner, and partly by the +forces of nature. I laughed at him, but he told me so many details that +I began to believe him. He said he and some other friends of his, who +were diamond cutters, had a plant in the midst of the Rocky Mountains, +where they had succeeded in making several small, but very perfect +diamonds. They had come to the end of their rope, though, so to speak, +because they could not afford to buy the materials needed. Folwell +said that he and his companions had temporarily separated, had left the +mountain where they made diamonds, and agreed to meet there later when +they had more money with which to purchase materials. They had all +agreed to go out into civilization, and work for enough funds to enable +them to go on with their diamond making. + +“I hardly knew whether to believe the man or not, but he offered proof. +He had several small, but very perfect diamonds with him, and he gave +them to me, to have tested in any way I desired. + +“I promised to look into the matter, and, as I was quite wealthy, as, +in fact I am now, and if I found that the stones he gave me were real, I +said I might invest some money in the plant.” + +“Were the diamonds good?” asked Tom, who was beginning to be interested. + +“They were--stones of the first water, though small. An expert gem +merchant, to whom I took them, said he had never seen any diamonds like +them, and he wanted to know where I got them. Of course I did not tell +him. + +“To make a long story short, I saw Folwell again, told him to +communicate with his companions, and to tell them that I would agree to +supply the cash needed, if I could share in the diamond making. To this +they agreed, and, after some weeks spent in preparation, a party of us +set out for Phantom Mountain.” + +“Phantom Mountain?” interrupted Tom. “Where is it?” + +“I don't know, exactly--it's somewhere in the Rockies, but the exact +location is a mystery. That is why I need your help. You will soon +understand the reason. Well, as I said, myself, Folwell and the others, +who were not exactly prepossessing sort of men, started west. When we +got to a small town, called Indian Ridge, near Leadville, Colorado, +the men insisted that I must now proceed in secret, and consent to be +blindfolded, as they were not yet ready to reveal the secret of the +place where they made the diamonds. + +“I did not want to agree to this, but they insisted, and I gave in, +foolishly perhaps. At any rate I was blindfolded one night, placed in +a wagon, and we drove off into the mountains. After traveling for some +distance I was led, still blindfolded, up a steep trail. + +“When the bandage was taken off my eyes I saw that I was in a large +cave. The men were with me, and they apologized for the necessity that +caused them to blindfold me. They said they were ready to proceed with +the making of diamonds, but I must promise not to seek to discover the +secret until they gave me permission, nor was I to attempt to leave the +cave. I had to agree. + +“Next they demanded that I give them a large sum, which I had promised +when they showed me, conclusively, that they could make diamonds. I +refused to do this until I had seen some of the precious stones, and +they agreed that this was fair, but said I would have to wait a few +days. + +“Well, I waited, and, all that while, I was virtually a prisoner in the +cave. All I could learn was that it was in the midst of a great range, +near the top, and that one of the peaks was called Phantom Mountain. +Why, I did not learn until later. + +“At last one night, during a terrific thunder storm, the leader of the +diamond makers--Folwell--announced that I could now see the stones made. +The men had been preparing their chemicals for some days previous. I +was taken into a small chamber of the cave, and there saw quite a +complicated apparatus. Part of it was a great steel box, with a lever on +it. + +“We will let you make some diamonds for yourself,” Folwell said to me, +and he directed me to pull the lever of the box, at a certain signal. +The signal came, just as a terrific crash of thunder shook the very +mountain inside of which we were. The box of steel got red-hot, and when +it cooled off it was opened, and was given a handful of white stones. + +“Were they diamonds?” asked Tom, eagerly. + +Mr. Jenks held out one hand. In the palm glittered a large +stone--ostensibly a diamond. In the rays of the moon it showed all the +colors of the rainbow--a beautiful gem. “That is one of the stones I +made--or rather that I supposed I had made,” went on Mr. Jenks. “It is +one of several I have, but they have not all been cut and polished as +has this one. + +“Naturally I was much impressed by what I saw, and, after I had made +certain tests which convinced me that the stones in the steel box were +diamonds, I paid over the money as I had promised. That was my undoing.” + +“How?” + +“As soon as the men got the cash, they had no further use for me. The +next I remember is eating a rude meal, while we discussed the future of +making diamonds. I knew nothing more until I found myself back in the +small hotel at Indian Ridge, whence I had gone some time previous, with +the men, to the cave in the mountain.” + +“What happened?” asked Tom, much surprised by the unexpected outcome of +the affair. + +“I had been tricked, that was all! As soon as the men had my +money they had no further use for me. They did not want me to learn the +secret of their diamond making, and they drugged me, carried me away +from the cave, and left me in the hotel.” + +“Didn't you try to find the cave again?” + +“I did, but without avail. I spent some time in the Rockies, but no one +could tell where Phantom Mountain was; in fact, few had heard of it, and +I was nearly lost searching for it. + +“I came back East, determined to get even. I had given the men a +very large sum of money, and, in exchange, they had given me several +diamonds. Probably the stones are worth nearly as much as the money I +invested, but I was cheated, for I was promised an equal share in the +profits. These were denied me, and I was tricked. I determined to be +revenged, or at least to discover the secret of making diamonds. It is +my right.” + +“I agree with you,” spoke Tom. + +“But, up to the time I met you on Earthquake Island, I could form no +plan for discovering Phantom Mountain, and learning the secret of the +diamond makers,” went on Mr. Jenks. “I carried the gems about with me, +as you doubtless saw when we were on the island. But I knew I needed an +airship in which to fly over the mountains, and pick out the location of +the cave where the diamonds are made.” + +“But how can you locate it, if you were blindfolded when you were taken +there, Mr. Jenks?” + +“I forgot to tell you that, on our journey into the mountains, and just +before I was carried into the cave, I managed to raise one corner of +the bandage. I caught a glimpse of a very peculiarly shaped cliff--it +is like a great head, standing out in bold relief against the moonlight, +when I saw it. That head of rock is near the cave. It may be the +landmark by which we can locate Phantom Mountain.” + +“Perhaps,” admitted the young inventor. + +“What I want to know is this,” went on Mr. Jenks. “Will you go with me +on this quest--go in your airship to discover the secret of the diamond +makers? If you will, I will share with you whatever diamonds we can +discover, or make; besides paying all expenses. Will you go, Tom Swift?” + +The young inventor did not know what to answer. How far was Mr. Jenks +to be trusted? Were the stones he had real diamonds? Was his story, +fantastical as it sounded--true? Would it be safe for Tom to go? + +The lad asked himself these questions. Mr. Jenks saw his hesitation. + +“Here,” said the strange man, “I will prove what I say. Take this +diamond. I intended it for you, anyhow, for what you did for me on +Earthquake Island. Take it, and--and give it to the person for whom you +were about to purchase a diamond to-night. But, first of all, take it to +a gem expert, and get his opinion. That will prove the truth of what +I say, Tom Swift, and I feel sure that you will cast your lot in with +mine, and help me to discover the secret of Phantom Mountain, and aid me +to get my rights from the diamond makers!” + + + + +CHAPTER IV--ANDY FOGER GETS A FRIGHT + + +Tom Swift considered a few minutes. On the face of it, the proposition +appealed to him. He had been home some time now after his adventures on +Earthquake Island, and he was beginning to long for more excitement. The +search for the mysterious mountain, and the cave of the diamond makers, +might offer a new field for him. But there came to him a certain +distrust of Mr. Jenks. + +“I don't like to doubt your word,” began Tom, slowly, “but you know, +Mr. Jenks, that some of the greatest chemists have tried in vain to make +diamonds; or, at best, they have made only tiny ones. To think that any +man, or set of men, made real diamonds as large as the ones you have, +doesn't seem--well--” and Tom hesitated. + +“You mean you can hardly believe me?” asked Mr. Jenks. + +“I guess that's it,” assented Tom. + +“I don't blame you a bit!” exclaimed the odd man. “In fact, I didn't +believe it when they told me they could make diamonds. But they proved +it to me. I'm ready now to prove it to you.” + +“I'll tell you what I'll do. Here's this one stone, cut ready for +setting. Here's another, uncut,” and Mr. Jenks drew from his pocket +what looked like a piece of crystal. “Take them to any jeweler,” he +resumed--“to the one in whose place I saw you to-night. I'll abide by +the verdict you get, and I'll come here to-morrow night, and hear what +you have to say.” + +“Why do you come at night?” asked Tom, thinking there was something +suspicious in that. + +“Because my life might be in danger if I was seen talking to you, and +showing you diamonds in the daytime--especially just now. + +“Why at this particular time?” + +“For the reason that the diamond makers are on my trail. As long as I +remained quiet, after their shabby treatment of me, and did not try to +discover their secret, they were all right. But, after I realized that +I had been cheated out of my rights, and when I began to make an +investigation, with a view to discovering their secret whereabouts, I +received mysterious and anonymous warnings to stop.” + +“But I did not. I came East, and tried to get help to discover the cave +of the diamond makers, but I was unsuccessful. I needed an airship, as +I said, and no person who could operate one, would agree to go with +me on the quest. Again I received a warning to drop all search for the +diamond makers, but I persisted, and about a week ago I found I was +being shadowed.” + +“Shadowed; by whom?” asked Tom. + +“By a man I never remember seeing, but who, I have no doubt, is one of +the diamond-making gang.” + +“Do you think he means you harm?” + +“I'm sure of it. That is the reason I have to act so in secret, and come +to see you at night. I don't want those scoundrels to find out what I am +about to do. On my return from Earthquake Island, I again endeavored to +interest an airship man in my plan, but he evidently thought me insane. +Then I thought of you, as I had done before, but I was afraid you, too, +would laugh at my proposition. However, I decided to come here, and I +did. It seemed almost providential that my first view of you was in +a jewelry shop, looking at diamonds. I took it as a good omen. Now it +remains with you. May I call here to-morrow night, and get your answer?” + +Tom Swift made up his mind quickly. After all it would be easy enough to +find out if the diamonds were real. If they were, he could then decide +whether or not to go with Mr. Jenks on the mysterious quest. So he +answered: + +“I'll consider the matter, Mr. Jenks. I'll meet you here to-morrow +night. In the meanwhile, for my own satisfaction, I'll let an expert +look at these stones.” + +“Get the greatest diamond expert in the world, and he'll pronounce them +perfect!” predicted the odd man. “Now I'll bid you goodnight, and be +going. I'll be here at this time to-morrow.” + +As Mr. Jenks turned aside there was a movement among the trees in the +orchard, and a shadowy figure was seen hurrying away. + +“Who's that?” asked the diamond man, in a hoarse whisper. “Did you see +that, Tom Swift? Some one was here--listening to what I said! Perhaps it +was the man who has been shadowing me!” + +“I think not. I guess it was Eradicate Sampson, a colored man who does +work for us,” said Tom. “Is that you, Rad?” he called. + +“Yais, sah, Massa Tom, heah I is!” answered the voice of the negro, +but it came from an entirely different direction than that in which the +shadowy figure had been seen. + +“Where are you, Rad?” called the young inventor. + +“Right heah,” was the reply, and the colored man came from the direction +of the stable. “I were jest out seein' if mah mule Boomerang were all +right. Sometimes he's restless, an' don't sleep laik he oughter.” + +“Then that wasn't you over in the orchard?” asked Tom, in some +uneasiness. + +“No, sah, I ain't been in de orchard. I were sleepin' in mah shack, till +jest a few minutes ago, when I got up, an' went in t' see Boomerang. +I had a dream dat some coon were tryin t' steal him, an' it sort ob +'sturbed me, laik.” + +“If it wasn't your man, it was some one else,” said Mr. Jenks, +decidedly. + +“We'll have a look!” exclaimed Tom. “Here, Rad, come over and scurry +among those trees. We just saw some one sneaking around.” + +“I'll sure do dat!” cried the colored man. “Mebby it were somebody arter +Boomerang! I'll find 'em.” + +“I don't believe it was any one after the mule,” murmured Mr. Jenks, +“but it certainly was some one--more likely some one after me.” + +The three made a hasty search among the trees, but the intruder had +vanished, leaving no trace. They went out into the road, which the moon +threw into bold relief along its white stretch, but there was no figure +scurrying away. + +“Whoever it was, is gone,” spoke Tom. “You can go back to bed, Rad,” + for the colored man, of late, had been sleeping in a shack on the Swift +premises. + +“And I guess it's time for me to go, too,” added Mr. Jenks. “I'll be +here to-morrow night, Tom, and I hope your answer will be favorable.” + +Tom did not sleep well the remainder of the night, for his fitful +slumbers were disturbed by dreams of enormous caves, filled with +diamonds, with dark, shadowy figures trying to put him into a red-hot +steel box. Once he awakened with a start, and put his hand under his +pillow to feel if the two stones Mr. Jenks had given him, were still +there. They had not been disturbed. + +Tom made up his mind to find out if the stones were really diamonds, +before saying anything to his father about the chance of going to seek +Phantom Mountain. And the young inventor wished to get the opinion of +some other jeweler than Mr. Track--at least, at first. + +“Though if this one proves to be a good gem, I'll have Mr. Track set it +in a brooch, and give it to Mary for her birthday,” decided the young +inventor. “Guess I'll take a run over to Chester in the Butterfly, and +see what one of the jewelers there has to say.” + +In addition to his big airship, Red Cloud, Tom owned a small, swift +monoplane, which he called Butterfly. This had been damaged by Andy +Foger just before Tom left on the trip that ended at Earthquake Island, +but the monoplane had been repaired, and Andy had left town, not having +returned since. + +Telling his father that he was going off on a little business trip, +which he often did in his aeroplane, Tom, with the aid of Mr. Jackson, +the engineer, wheeled the Butterfly out of its shed. + +Adjusting the mechanism, and seeing that it was in good shape, Tom took +his place in one of the two seats, for the monoplane would carry two. +Mr. Jackson then spun the propellers, and, with a crackle and roar the +motor started. Over the ground ran the dainty, little aeroplane, until, +having momentum enough, Tom tilted the wing planes and the machine +sailed up into the air. + +Rising about a thousand feet, and circling about several times to test +the wind currents, Tom headed his craft toward Chester, a city about +fifty miles from Shopton. In his pocket, snugly tucked away, were the +two stones Mr. Jenks had given him. + +It was not long before Tom saw, looming up in the distance the church +spires and towering factory chimneys of Chester, for his machine was a +speedy one, and could make ninety miles an hour when driven. But now a +slower speed satisfied our hero. + +“I'll just drop down outside of the city,” he reasoned, “for too much +of a crowd gathers when I land in the street. Besides I might frighten +horses, and then, too, it's hard to get a good start from the street. +I'll leave it in some barn until I want to go back.” + +Tom sent his craft down, in order to pick out a safe place for a +landing. He was then over the suburbs of the city, and was following the +line of a straight country road. + +“Looks like a good place there,” he murmured. “I'll shut off the motor, +and vol-plane down.” + +Suiting the action to the word, Tom shut off his power. The little craft +dipped toward the ground, but the lad threw up the forward planes, and +caught a current of air that sent him skimming along horizontally. + +As he got nearer to the ground, he saw the figure of a lad riding a +bicycle along the country highway. Something about the figure struck Tom +as being familiar, and he recognized the cyclist a moment later. + +“It's Andy Foger!” said Tom, in a whisper. “I wondered where he had been +keeping himself since he damaged the Butterfly. Evidently he doesn't +dare venture back to Shopton. Well, here's where I give him a scare.” + +Tom's monoplane was making no more noise, now, than a soaring bird. He +was gliding swiftly toward the earth, and, with the plan in his mind of +administering some sort of punishment to the bully, he aimed the machine +directly at him. + +Nearer and nearer shot the monoplane, as quietly as a sheet of paper +might fall. Andy pedaled on, never looking up nor behind him, A moment +later, as Tom threw up his headplanes, to make his landing more easy, +and just as he swooped down at one side of the cyclist, our hero let out +a most alarming yell, right into Andy's ear. + +“Now I've got you!” he shouted. “I'll teach you to slash my aeroplane! +Come with me!” + +Andy gave one look at the white bird-like apparatus that had flown up +beside him so noiselessly, and, being too frightened to recognize Tom's +voice, must have thought that he had been overtaken by some supernatural +visitor. + +Andy gave a yell like an Indian, about to do a stage scalping act, and +fairly dived over the handlebars of his bicycle, sprawling in a heap on +the dusty road. + +“I guess that will hold you for a while,” observed Tom, grimly, as he +put on the ground-brake and brought his monoplane to a stop not far from +the fallen rider. + + + + +CHAPTER V--A MYSTERIOUS MAN + + +For several minutes Andy Foger did not arise. He remained prostrate in +the dust, and Tom, observing him, thought perhaps the bully might have +been seriously injured. But, a little later, Andy cautiously raised his +head, and inquired in a frightened voice: + +“Is it--is it gone?” + +“Is what gone?” asked Tom, grimly. + +At the sound of his voice, Andy looked up. “Was that you, Tom Swift?” he +demanded. “Did you knock me off my wheel?” + +“My monoplane and I together did,” was the reply; “or, rather, we +didn't. It was the nervous reaction caused by your fright, and +the knowledge that you had done wrong, that made you jump over the +handlebars. That's the scientific explanation.” + +“You--you did it!” stammered Andy, getting to his feet. He wasn't hurt +much, Tom thought. + +“Have it your own way,” resumed our hero. “Did you think it was a +hob-goblin in a chariot of fire after you, Andy?” + +“Huh! Never mind what I thought! I'll have you arrested for this!” + +“Will you? Delighted, as the boys say. Hop in my airship and I'll take +you right into town. And when I get you there I'll make a charge of +malicious mischief against you, for breaking the propeller of the +Butterfly and slashing her wings. I've mended her up, however, so she +goes better than ever, and I can take you to the police station in jig +time. Want to come, Andy?” + +This was too much for the bully. He knew that Tom would have a clear +case against him, and he did not dare answer. Instead he shuffled over +to where his wheel lay, picked it up, and rode slowly off. + +“Good riddance,” murmured Tom. He looked about, and saw that he was near +a house, in the rear of which was a good-sized barn. “Guess I'll ask +if I can leave the Butterfly there,” he murmured, and, ringing the +doorbell, he was greeted by a man. + +“I'll pay you if you'll let me store my machine in the barn a little +while, until I go into the city, and return,” spoke the lad. + +“Indeed, you're welcome to leave it there without pay,” was the answer. +“I'm interested in airships, and, I'll consider it a favor if you'll let +me look yours over while it's here.” + +Tom readily agreed, and a few minutes later he had caught a trolley +going into the city. He was soon in one of the largest jewelry stores of +Chester. + +“I'd like to get an expert opinion as to whether or not those stones are +diamonds,” spoke Tom, to the polite clerk who came up to wait on him, +and our hero handed over the two gems which Mr. Jenks had given him. +“I'm willing to pay for the appraisement, of course,” the young inventor +added, as he saw the clerk looking rather doubtfully at him, for Tom had +on a rough suit, which he always donned when he flew in his monoplane. + +“I'll turn them over to our Mr. Porter, a gem expert,” said the clerk. +“Please be seated.” + +The young man disappeared into a private office with the stones, and Tom +waited. He wondered if he was going to have his trouble for his pains. +Presently two elderly gentlemen came from the little room, on the glass +door of which appeared the word “Diamonds.” + +“Who brought these stones in?” asked one of the men, evidently the +proprietor, from the deference paid him by the clerk. The latter +motioned to Tom. + +“Will you kindly step inside here?” requested the elderly man. When the +door was closed, Tom found himself in a room which was mostly taken up +with a bench for the display of precious stones, a few chairs, and some +lights arranged peculiarly; while various scales and instruments stood +on a table. + +“You wished an opinion on--on these?” queried the proprietor of the +place. Tom noticed at once that the word “diamonds” was not used. + +“I wanted to find out if they were of any value,” he said. “Are they +diamonds?” + +“Would you mind stating where you got them?” asked the other of the two +men. + +“Is that necessary?” inquired the lad. “I came by them in a legitimate +manner, if that's what you mean, and I can satisfy you on that point. +I am willing to pay for any information you may give me as to their +value.” + +“Oh, it isn't that,” the proprietor hastened to assure him. “But these +are diamonds of such a peculiar kind, so perfect and without a flaw, +that I wondered from what part of the world they came.” + +“Then they are diamonds?” asked Tom, eagerly. + +“The finest I have ever tested!” declared the other man, evidently Mr. +Porter, the gem expert. “They are a joy to look at, Mr. Roberts,” he +went on, turning to the proprietor. “If it is possible to get a supply +of them you would be justified in asking half as much again as we charge +for African or Indian diamonds. The Kimberly products are not to be +compared to these,” and he looked at the two stones in his hand--the one +cut, and sparkling brilliantly, the other in a rough state. + +“Do you care to state where these diamonds came from?” asked Mr. +Roberts, looking critically at Tom. + +“I had rather not,” answered the lad. “It is enough for me to know that +they are diamonds. How much is your charge?” + +“Nothing,” was the unexpected answer. “We are very glad to have had the +opportunity of seeing such stones. Is there any chance of getting any +more?” + +“Perhaps,” answered Tom, as he accepted the gems which the expert held +out to him. + +“Then might we speak for a supply?” went on Mr. Roberts, eagerly. “We +will pay you the full market price.” + +“What is the value of these stones?” asked Tom. + +Mr. Roberts looked at his gem expert. + +“It is difficult to say,” was the answer of the man who had handed Tom +the gems. “They are so far superior to the usual run of diamonds, that +I feel justified in saying that the cut one would bring fifteen hundred +dollars, anywhere. In fact, I would offer that for it. The other is +larger, though what it would lose in cutting would be hard to say. I +should say it was worth two thousand dollars as it is now.” + +“Thirty-five hundred dollars for these two stones!” exclaimed Tom. + +“They are worth every cent of it,” declared Mr. Roberts. “Do you want to +sell?” + +Tom shook his head. He could scarcely believe the good news. Mr. Jenks +had told the truth. Now the young inventor could go with him to seek the +diamond makers. + +“Can you get any more of these?” went on Mr. Roberts. + +“I think so--that is I don't know--I am going to try,” answered the lad. + +“Then if you succeed I wish you would sell us some,” fairly begged the +proprietor of the store. + +“I will,” promised Tom, but he little knew what lay before him, or +perhaps he would not have made that promise. He thanked the diamond +merchant for his kindness, and arranged to have the cut stone set in a +pin for Miss Nestor. The uncut gem Tom took away with him. + +Thinking of many things, and wondering how best to start in his airship +Red Cloud for the mysterious Phantom Mountain, Tom hurried back to where +he had left the monoplane, wheeled it out, and was soon soaring through +the air toward Shopton. + +“I think I'll go with Mr. Jenks,” he decided, as he prepared for a +landing in the open space near his aeroplane shed. “It will be a +risky trip, perhaps, but I've taken risks before. When Mr. Jenks comes +to-night I'll tell him I'll help him to get his rights, and discover the +secret of the diamond makers.” + +As Tom was wheeling the Butterfly into the shed, Eradicate came out to +help him. + +“Dere's a gen'man here to see yo', Massa Tom,” said the colored man. + +“Who is it?” + +“I dunno. He keep askin' ef yo' de lad what done bust up Earthquake +Island, an' send lightnin' flashes up to de sky, an' all sech questions +laik dat.” + +“It isn't Mr. Damon; is it, Rad? He hasn't been around in some time.” + +“No, Massa Tom, it ain't him. I knows dat blessin' man good an' proper. +I jest wish he'd bless mah mule Boomerang some day, an' take some oh +de temper out ob him. No, sah, it ain't Massa Damon. De gen'man's in de +airship shed waitin' fo' you.” + +“In the airship shed! No strangers are allowed in there, Rad.” + +“I knows it, Massa Tom, but he done persisted his se'f inter it, an' +he wouldn't come out when I told him; an' your pa an' Mr. Jackson ain't +home.” + +“I'll see about this,” exclaimed Tom, striding to the large shed, where +the Red Cloud was kept. As he entered it he saw a man looking over the +wonderful craft. + +“Did you want to see me?” asked Tom, sharply, for he did not like +strangers prowling around. + +“I did, and I apologize for entering here, but I am interested in +airships, and I thought you might want to hire a pilot. I am in need +of employment, and I have had considerable to do with balloons and +aeroplanes, but never with an airship like this, which combines the two +features. Do you wish to hire any one.” + +“No, I don't!” replied Tom, sharply, for he did not like the looks of +the man. + +“I was told that you did,” was the rather surprising answer. + +“Who told you?” + +The man looked all around the shed, before replying, as if fearful of +being overheard. Then, stepping close to Tom, he whispered: + +“Mr. Jenks told me!” + +“Mr. Jenks?” Tom could not conceal his astonishment. + +“Yes. Mr. Barcoe Jenks. But I did not come here to merely ask you for +employment. I would like to hire out to you, but the real object of my +visit was to say this to you.” + +The man approached still closer to Tom, and, in a lower voice, and one +that could scarcely be heard, he fairly hissed: + +“Don't go with Barcoe Jenks to seek the diamond makers!” + +Then, before Tom could put out a hand to detain him, had the lad so +wished, the man turned suddenly, and fairly ran from the shed. + + + + +CHAPTER VI--MR. DAMON IS ON HAND + + +The young inventor stood almost spellbound for a few moments. Then +recovering himself he made a dash for the door through which the +mysterious man had disappeared. Tom saw him sprinting down the road, and +was half-minded to take after him, but a cooler thought warned him that +he had better not. + +“He may be one of those men who are on Mr. Jenks' trail,” reasoned Tom, +in which case it might not be altogether safe to attempt to stop him, +and make him explain. Or he may be a lunatic, and in that case it +wouldn't be altogether healthy to interfere with him. + +“I'll just let him go, and tell Mr. Jenks about him when he comes +to-night. But I must warn Rad never to let him in here again. He might +damage the airship.” + +Calling to the colored man, Tom pointed to the stranger, who was almost +out of sight down the road, and said earnestly: + +“Rad, do you see that fellow?” + +“I sho do, Massa Tom, but I sorter has t' strain my eyes t' do it. He's +goin' laik my mule Boomerang does when he's comm' home t' dinnah.” + +“That's right, Rad. Well, never let that man set foot inside our fence +again! If he comes, and I'm home, call me. If I'm away, call dad or Mr. +Jackson, and if you're here alone, drive him away, somehow.” + +“I will, Massa Tom!” exclaimed the colored man, earnestly, “an' if I +can't do it alone, I'll get Boomerang t' help. Once let dat ar' mule +git his heels on a pusson, an' dat pusson ain't goin' t' come bodderin' +around any mo'--that is, not right away.” + +“I believe you, Rad. Well, keep a lookout for him, and don't let him +in,” and with that Tom entered the house to think over matters. They +were beginning to assume an aspect he did not altogether like. Not that +Tom was afraid of danger, but he preferred to meet it in the open, and +the warning, or threat, of the mysterious man disquieted him. + +When Mr. Swift came home, a little later, his son told him of the +midnight interview with Mr. Jenks, for, up to this time, the aged +inventor was unaware of it, and Tom also gave an account of the +diamonds, speaking of their value. + +“And do you propose to go to Phantom Mountain, in search of the makers +of these gems, Tom?” asked Mr. Swift. + +“I had about decided to do so, dad.” + +“And you're going in the Red Cloud?' + +“Yes.” + +“Who are going with you?” + +“Well, Mr. Jenks will go, of course, and I've no doubt but that if I +mention the prospective trip to Mr. Damon, that he'll bless his skating +cap, or something like that, and come along.” + +“I suppose so, Tom, and I'd like to have you take him. But I think +you'll need some one else.” + +“Because, from what you have told me, you are going out to a dangerous +part of the country, and you may have to deal with unscrupulous men. +Three of you are hardly enough to cope with them. You ought to have at +least another member of your party. If I was not busy on my invention of +a new wireless motor I would go along, but I can't leave. You might take +Mr. Jackson.” + +“No, you need him here to help you, dad.” + +“How about Eradicate?” + +Tom smiled. + +“Rad would get homesick for his mule Boomerang, and I'd have to bring +him back just when we'd found the diamonds,” replied the young inventor. +“No, we'll have to think of some one else. I'll ask Mr. Damon, and then +I'll consider matters further. I expect to see Mr. Jenks to-night, and +he may have some one in mind.” + +“Perhaps that will be a good plan. Well, Tom, I trust you will take good +care of yourself, and not run into unnecessary danger. Is the Red Cloud +in good shape for the voyage?” + +“It needs looking over. I'm going to get right at it.” + +“It's a pretty indefinite sort of a quest you're going on, Tom, my son. +How do you expect to find Phantom Mountain?” + +“Well, it's going to be quite a task. In the first place we'll head for +Leadville, Colorado, and then we'll go to Indian Ridge and make some +inquiries. We may get on the track of the place that way. If we don't, +why I'll take the airship up as high as is necessary and sort of +prospect until we see that big cliff that's shaped like a head. That +will give us something to go by.” + +“Well, do the best you can. If you can discover the secret of making +diamonds it will be a valuable one.” + +“I guess it will, dad; and Mr. Jenks is entitled to know it, for he paid +his good money to that end. He has promised to go halves with me, as +payment for the use of the airship, and I must say the two diamonds he +gave me last night have proved very valuable.” + +“Two diamonds, Tom? You only showed me one, an uncut gem;” and Mr. Swift +looked at his son. + +“Oh, the other--er--the other is--I left it with a jeweler,” and Tom +blushed a trifle, as he thought of the present he contemplated making to +Mary Nestor. + +That afternoon, as Tom was out in the shed of the Red Cloud looking over +the airship, to see what would be necessary to do to it in order to get +it in shape for a long trip, he heard voices outside. + +“Yes--yes, I know the way in perfectly well,” he caught. “You needn't +bother to come, my good fellow. Just step this way, and I'll show you +something worth seeing.” + +“I wonder if it's that mysterious man coming back?” thought Tom. He +dropped the tool he was using, and hurried to the door. As he approached +it he heard the voice continue. + +“Why bless my shoe laces, Mr. Parker! You'll see a wonderful airship, I +promise you. Wonderful! Bless my hatband, but I hope Tom is here!” + +“Mr. Damon!” exclaimed our hero, as he recognized the tones of his +eccentric friend. “But who is with him?” + +A moment later he caught sight of the gentleman who was always blessing +himself, or something. Behind him stood another man, whose features Tom +could not see plainly. + +“Hello, Tom Swift!” called Mr. Damon. “Looking over the Red Cloud, eh? +Does that mean you're off on another trip?” + +“I guess it does,” answered the lad. + +“Where to this time? if I may ask.” + +“I'm thinking of going off to the mountains to find a band of men +engaged in making diamonds,” replied Tom. + +“Making diamonds! Bless my finger ring! Making diamonds! A trip to the +mountains! Bless my disposition! but do you know I'd like to go with +you!” + +“I was thinking of asking you, Mr. Damon.” + +“Were you? Bless my heart, I'm glad you thought of me. You don't by any +possible chance want another person; do you?” + +“We were thinking of having four in the party, Mr. Damon,” and Tom +wondered who was with his eccentric friend. + +“Then bless my election ticket! This is the very chance for you, Mr. +Parker!” cried Mr. Damon. “Will you go with us? It will be just what you +need,” and Mr. Damon stepped aside, revealing to Tom the features of Mr. +Ralph Parker, the scientist who had correctly predicted the destruction +of Earthquake Island. + + + + +CHAPTER VII--MR. PARKER PREDICTS + + +Tom Swift was a most generous lad, but when he saw that Mr. Damon had +with him Mr. Parker, the gloomy scientist, who seemed to take delight in +predicting disasters, our hero's spirits were not exactly of the best. +He would have much preferred not to take Mr. Parker on the quest for the +diamond makers, but, since Mr. Damon had mentioned it, he did not see +how he could very well refuse. + +“But perhaps he won't care to go,” thought Tom. + +He was undeceived a moment later, however, for the scientist remarked: + +I am very glad to meet you once more, Mr. Swift. I have scarcely thanked +you enough for what you did for us in erecting your wireless station on +Earthquake Island, which, as you recall, I predicted would sink into +the sea. It did, I am glad to say, not because I like to see islands +destroyed, but because science has been vindicated. Now I have just +heard you remark that you are about to set off to the mountains in +search of some men who are making diamonds. I need hardly state that +this is utterly useless, for no diamonds, commercially valuable, can be +made by men. But the trip may be valuable in that it will permit me to +demonstrate some scientific facts. + +“Therefore, if you will permit me, I will be very glad to accompany you +and Mr. Damon. I shall be delighted, in short, and I can start as soon +as you are ready.” + +“There's no hope for it!” thought Tom, dismally. “I suppose he'll wake +up every morning, and predict that before night the world will come to +an end, or he'll prophesy that the airship will blow up, and vanish, +when about seven miles above the clouds. Well, there's no way out of it, +so here goes.” + +Thereupon Tom welcomed the scientist as cordially as he could, and +invited him to form one of the party that would set off in the airship +to search for Phantom Mountain. + +“Bless my jewelry box!” exclaimed Mr. Damon, when this formality was +over. “Tell me more about it, Tom.” + +Which our hero did, stating the need of maintaining secrecy on account +of the danger to Mr. Jenks. Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker both agreed to say +nothing about the matter, and then the scientist became much interested +in the Red Cloud, which he closely examined. He even complimented Tom on +the skill shown in making it, and, contrary to our hero's expectation, +did not predict that it would blow up the next time it was used. + +“How did you happen to arrive just at this time, Mr. Damon?” asked Tom. + +“It was partly due to Mr. Parker,” was the answer. “I had not seen him +since we were rescued from the island, until a few days ago he called +on me at my home. I happened to mention that you lived near here, and +suggested that he might like to see some of your inventions. He agreed, +and we came over in my auto. And now, bless my liver-pin! I find you +about to start off on another trip.” + +“And have you fully decided to go with me?” asked Tom. “There may be +danger, and I don't like the way that mysterious man behaved.” + +“Oh, bless my revolver!” cried Mr. Damon. “I'm used to danger by this +time. Of course I'm going, and so is Mr. Parker. Do you know,” and the +man, who was always blessing something, came closer to the lad, and +whispered: “Do you know, Tom, Mr. Parker is a very peculiar individual.” + +“I'm sure of it,” answered the young inventor, looking at the gentleman +in question, who was then inside the airship cabin. + +“But he's all right, even if he is predicting unpleasant things,” went +on Mr. Damon. “I think we'll get better acquainted with him after a +bit.” + +“I hope so,” agreed Tom, but he did not realize then how close his +companionship with Mr. Parker was to be, nor what dangers they were to +share later. + +The friends talked at considerable length of the prospective trip, and +Tom, by this time, had ascertained what needed to be done to the airship +to get it in shape to travel. It would take about a week, and, in the +meanwhile, Mr. Damon would go home and get his affairs in order for +the voyage. Tom's father was introduced to Mr. Parker, and, the former, +finding that the scientist held some views in common with him, invited +the gloomy predictor to remain at the Swift home until the Red Cloud was +ready to sail. Tom could not repress a groan at this, but he decided he +would have to make the best of it. + +Mr. Damon left for home that afternoon, promising to be on hand at the +time set to start for Phantom Mountain. + +Tom was up waiting for Mr. Jenks at twelve o'clock that night. Shortly +after the hour he saw a dark figure steal into the orchard. At first he +feared lest it might be one of the spies who were, he was now convinced, +on the trail of the man who was seeking to discover the secret of the +diamond makers. But a whistle, which came to the lad's ear a moment +later (that being a signal Mr. Jenks had agreed to sound), told Tom that +it was none other than the visitor he expected. + +“All right, Mr. Jenks, I'm here,” called Tom, cautiously. “Come over +this way,” and he went out from the shadow of the house, where he had +been waiting, and met the men. “We'll go into my private work-shop,” the +youth added, leading the way. + +“Have you decided to go with me?” asked Mr. Jenks, in an anxious +whisper. “Did you find the diamonds to be real ones?” + +“I did; and I'm going,” spoke Tom. + +“Good! That relieves my mind. But we are still in danger. I was followed +by my shadower to-day, and only succeeded in shaking him off just before +coming here. I don't believe he knows what I am about to do.” + +“Oh, yes he does,” said Tom. + +“He does? How?” + +“Because he was here, and warned me against you!” + +“You don't mean it! Well, they are getting desperate! We must be on our +guard. What sort of a man was he?” + +Tom described the fellow, and Mr. Jenks stated that this tallied with +the appearance of the person who had been shadowing him. + +“But we'll fool them yet!” cried Tom, who had now fully entered into the +spirit of the affair. “If they can follow us in the Red Cloud they're +welcome to. I think we'll get ahead of them.” + +He then told of Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker, and Mr. Jenks agreed that +it would add to the strength of the party to take these two gentlemen +along. + +“Though I can't say I care so much for Mr. Parker,” he added. “But now +as to ways and means. When can we start?” + +Thereupon he and Tom talked over details in the seclusion of the little +office, and arranged to leave Shopton in about a week. In the meanwhile +the airship would be overhauled, stocked with supplies and provisions, +and be made ready for a swift dash to the mountains. + +“And now I must be going,” said Mr. Jenks. “I have a great deal to do +before I can start on this trip, and I hope I am not prevented by any of +those men who seem to be trailing me.” + +“How could they prevent you?” Tom wanted to know. + +“Oh, there are any number of ways,” was the answer. “But I'm glad you +found that my diamonds were real. We'll soon have plenty, if all goes +well.” + +As Mr. Jenks left the shop, he started back, in some alarm. + +“What's the matter?” asked Tom. + +“Over there--I thought I saw a figure sneaking along under the +trees--that man--perhaps--” + +“That's Eradicate, our colored helper,” replied Tom, with a laugh. +“I posted him there to see that no strangers came into the orchard. +Everything all right, Rad?” he asked, raising his voice. + +“Yais, sah, Massa Tom. Nobody been around yeah this night.” + +“That's good. You can go to bed now,” and Eradicate, yawning loudly, +went to his shack. A little later Tom sought his own room, Mr. Jenks +having hurried off to town, where he was boarding. + +The next few days saw Tom busily engaged on the airship, making some +changes and a few repairs that were needed. His father, Eradicate and +Mr. Jackson helped him. As for Mr. Parker, the scientist, he went about +the place, being much interested in the various machines which Tom or +Mr. Swift had patented. + +At other times the scientist would stroll about the extensive grounds, +making what he said were “observations.” One afternoon Tom saw him, +apparently much excited, kneeling down back of a shed, with his ear to +the ground. + +“What is the matter?” asked the lad, thinking perhaps Mr. Parker might +be ill. + +“Have you ever had any earthquakes here, Tom Swift?” asked the +scientist, quietly. + +“Earthquakes? No. We had enough of them on the island.” + +“And you are going to have one here, in about two minutes!” cried Mr. +Parker. “I predict that this place will be shaken by a tremendous shock +very soon. We had all better get away from the vicinity of buildings.” + +“What makes you think there will be an earthquake?” asked Tom. + +“Because I can hear the rumbling beneath the ground at this very minute. +It is increasing in volume, showing that the tremors are working this +way. There will soon be a great subterranean upheaval! Listen for +yourself.” + +Tom cast himself down on the grass. Placing his ear close to the ground +he did hear a series of dull thuds. He arose, not a little alarmed. +There had never been any earthquakes in Shopton, yet he had great +respect for Mr. Parker's scientific attainments. + +Just then Eradicate Sampson came along. He saw Tom and Mr. Parker lying +flat on the ground, and surprise showed on his honest, black face. + +“Fo' de land sakes!” cried Eradicate. “What am de mattah now, Massa +Tom?” + +“Earthquake coming,” answered Tom, briefly. “Better get away from the +buildings, Rad. They might fall!” Tom's face showed the alarm he felt. +What would happen to all of his valuable machines--to the Red Cloud? + +“Earthquake?” murmured Eradicate, and he, too, cast himself down to +listen. A moment later he arose with a laugh. + +“What's the matter?” cried Tom. + +“Why, dat ain't no earthquake!” declared the colored man. + +“No. Then perhaps you know what it is,” said Mr. Parker, somewhat +sharply. + +“Course I knows what it am,” answered Eradicate, with dignity. “Dat +noise am my mule Boomerang, kickin' in his stable, on account oh me not +feedin' him yet. Dat's what it am. I'se gwine right now t' gib him his +oats, and den yo' see dat de noise stop. Boomerang allers kick dat way +when he's hungry. I show yo'!” + +And, sure enough, when Eradicate had gone to the mule's stable, +which was near where Mr. Parker had heard the mysterious sounds, they +immediately ceased. + +“Dat mule was all de earthquake dere was around here,” said the colored +man as he came out. + +Mr. Parker walked away, saying nothing, and Tom did not make any +comments--just then. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII--OFF FOR THE WEST + + +It was a great relief to Tom, to find that there was no danger from an +earth tremor. Now that he had made up his mind to go in search of +the diamond makers, he wanted nothing to interfere with it. Lest the +feelings of Mr. Parker might be hurt by the mistake he had made, the +young inventor cautioned Eradicate not to say anything more about the +matter. + +“'Deed an' I won't,” the colored man promised. “I'se only too glad dere +wa'n't no earthquake, dat's what I is.” + +As for Mr. Parker, he did not appear much put out by his error in +predicting. + +“I am sure that what I heard was a tremor, due to some distant +earthquake shock,” he said. “The mule's kicking was only a coincidence.” + +And Tom let him have his way about it. The week was drawing to a close, +and the Red Cloud was nearly in shape for the voyage. At almost the +last minute Tom found that he needed some electrical apparatus for the +airship, and as he had to go to Chester for it, he decided he would make +the trip in his monoplane, and, while in the city, would also get the +diamond pin he was having made for Mary Nestor. + +He started off early one morning, in the swift little craft Butterfly, +and soon had reached Chester. The diamond brooch was ready for him. + +“It is one of the most beautiful stones we have ever set,” the diamond +merchant told him. “Don't forget, if you find any more, Mr. Swift, to +let us have a chance to bid on them.” + +“I may,” Tom promised, rather indefinitely. Then, having purchased his +electrical supplies, he made a quick trip to Shopton, stopping on the +way to call on Miss Nestor. + +“Why Tom, I'm delighted to see you!” cried the girl, blushing prettily. +“Did you come for some apple turnovers?” and she laughed, as she +referred to a call Tom had once paid, when a new cook had been engaged, +and when the pastry formed a feature of the meal. + +“No turnovers this time,” said the young inventor. “I came to wish you +many happy returns of the day.” + +“Oh, you remembered my birthday! How nice of you!” + +“And here is something else,” added our hero, rather awkwardly, as he +handed her the diamond pin. + +“Oh, Tom! This for me! Oh, it's too lovely--it's far too much!” + +“It isn't half enough!” he declared, warmly. + +“Oh, what a large diamond!” Mary cried as she saw the sparkling stone. +“I never saw one so large and beautiful!” + +“It's just as easy to make them large as small,” explained Tom. + +“Make them?” she looked the surprise she felt. + +“Yes, I'm about to start for the place where diamonds are made.” + +“Oh, Tom! But isn't it dangerous? I mean won't you have to go to some +far country--like Africa--to get to where diamonds are made?” + +“Well, we are going on quite a trip, but not as far as that. And as +for the danger--well, we'll have to take what comes,” and he told her +something of the proposed quest. + +“Oh, it sounds--sounds scary!” Mary exclaimed, when she had heard of Mr. +Jenks' experience. “Do be careful, Tom!” + +“I will,” he promised, and, somehow he was glad that she had cautioned +him thus--and in such tones as she had used. For Mary Nestor was a girl +that any young chap would have been glad to have manifest an interest in +him. + +“Well, I guess I'll have to say good-by,” spoke Tom, at length. “We +expect to start in a couple of days, and I may not get another chance to +see you.” + +“Oh, I--I hope you come back safely,” faltered Mary, and then she held +out her hand, and Tom--well, it's none of our affair what Tom did +after that, except to say that he hurried out, fairly jumped into his +monoplane, and completed the trip home. + +As the Red Cloud has been fully described in the volume entitled “Tom +Swift and His Airship,” we will not go into details about it now. +Sufficient to say that it was a combination of a biplane and dirigible +balloon. It could be used either as one or the other, and the gas-bag +feature was of value when the wind was too great to allow the use of the +planes, or when the motive power, for some reason stopped. In that event +the airship could remain suspended far above the clouds if necessary. +There was provision for manufacturing the gas on board. + +The Red Cloud was fitted up to accommodate about ten persons, though it +was seldom that this number was carried. Two persons could successfully +operate the machinery. There were sleeping berths, and in the main cabin +a sitting-room, a dining-room, and a kitchen. There was also the motor +compartment, and a steering tower, from which the engines could be +controlled. + +It was in this craft that the seekers after the diamond makers proposed +undertaking the trip. Mr. Damon came on from his home in Waterfield +about two days before the date set to leave, and Mr. Jenks, had, three +days before this, taken up his abode at the Swift home. Mr. Parker, as +has been stated, was already there, and he had put in his time making +a number of scientific observations, though he had made no more +predictions. + +Nothing more had been seen of the mysterious man who had warned Tom, +and the young inventor and Mr. Jenks began to hope that they had thrown +their enemies off the track. + +“Though I don't imagine they'll give up altogether,” said Mr. Jenks. +“They're too desperate for that. We'll have trouble with them yet.” + +“Well, it can't be helped,” decided Tom. “We'll try and be ready for it, +when it comes,” and then, dismissing the matter from his mind, he busied +himself about the airship. + +The food and supplies had all been put aboard, and they expected to +start the next morning. In order to make sure that any stones which they +might succeed in getting from the diamond makers were real gems, a set +of testing apparatus was taken along. Mr. Parker had had some experience +in this line, and, in spite of the fact that he might make direful +predictions, Tom was rather glad, after all, that the scientist was +going to accompany them. + +“But what is worrying me,” said Mr. Damon, “is what we are going to do +after we get to Phantom Mountain. What are your plans, Mr. Jenks? Will +you go in, and demand your share of the diamond-making business?” + +“I have a right to it, as I invested a large sum in it, and I am +entitled to more than a half-share. But, of course, I can't say what +I'll do until I get there. We may have to act very secretly.” + +“I'm inclined to think we will,” said Tom. “My plan would be to gain +access to the cave, if possible, and watch them at work. We might be +able to discover the secret of making diamonds, and, after all, that's +what you want, isn't it, Mr. Jenks?” + +“Yes, I paid my money for the secret, and I ought to have it. If I can +get it quietly, so much the better. If not, I'll fight for my rights!” + and he looked very determined. + +“Bless my powder horn!” cried Mr. Damon. “That's the way to talk! And +so we're to go cruising about in the air, looking for a mountain shaped +like a man's head.” + +“That's it,” agreed Mr. Jenks, “and when we find it we will be near +Phantom Mountain, and the diamond makers.” + +The final details were completed that night. The last of the supplies +had been put aboard, the larder was well stocked, the diamond testing +apparatus was stored safely away, and all that remained was for the +adventurers to board the Red Cloud in the morning, and soar away. + +That night Tom was uneasy. Several times he got up, and looked toward +the shed where the airship was stored. He could not rid himself of +the idea that the men to whose interest it was that the diamond-making +secret remain undiscovered, might attempt to wreck the airship before +the start. Consequently both Eradicate Sampson and Engineer Jackson were +on guard. Tom looked from his window, to the shed where the Red Cloud +was housed. He saw nothing to cause him any uneasiness. + +“I guess I'm just nervous,” he mused. “But, all the same, I'll be glad +when we've started.” + +They were all up early the next morning, Mr. Damon beginning the day by +blessing the sunrise, and many other things that struck his fancy. +The airship was wheeled out of the shed, and Tom gave her a final +inspection. + +“It's all right,” he declared. “All aboard!” + +“Now, do be careful,” begged Mr. Swift. “Don't take too many chances, +Tom.” + +“I'll not.” + +The adventurers were in the forward part of the ship, and Tom had taken +his place at the wheels and levers in the pilot house. As he was about +to start the motor he looked toward the road, and saw a horse and +carriage. In the vehicle was a girlish figure, at the sight of which Tom +blushed and smiled. He waved his hand. + +“I came to wish you good luck!” cried Mary Nestor, for it was she in the +carriage. + +“Thanks!” cried Tom, leaning from the window of the pilot house. “It was +good of you to get up so early.” + +“Oh. I'm always up early,” she informed him. + +“Look out that the motor doesn't scare your horse,” Tom warned her. + +“Old Dobbin doesn't mind anything,” was her answer. “I'll see that he +doesn't run away with me, as long as you're not on earth to rescue me. +Good-by, Tom!” + +“Good-by!” he called, and then he pulled the lever that set in motion +the motor, and whirled the great propellers about. They whizzed around +with a roar, and the Red Cloud, shivering and trembling with the +vibration, rose in the air like some great bird. + +“We're off for the West and Phantom Mountain!” called Tom to his +companions. + +As the airship soared upward, Eradicate Sampson ran forward from where +he had been standing near his mule Boomerang. He waved his hands, and +shouted something. + +“Bless my hatband! What does he want?” asked Mr. Damon, watching him +curiously. + +“It sounds as if he were calling to us to come back,” spoke Mr. Parker. + +“It's too late now,” decided Tom. “Maybe he forgot to tell us good-by,” + but, he felt a vague wonder at Eradicate's odd motions; for the colored +man was pointing toward the stern of the airship, as if there was +something wrong there. But the Red Cloud soared on. + + + + +CHAPTER IX--A WARNING BY WIRELESS + + +Rapidly the airship ascended, and, when it was high over the town of +Shopton, Tom headed the craft due west. Looking down he tried to descry +Mary Nestor, in her carriage, but the trees were in the way, their +interlocking branches hiding the girl. Tom did see crowds of other +persons, though, thronging the streets of Shopton, for, though the young +inventor had made many flights, there was always a novelty about them, +that brought out the curious. + +“A good start, Tom Swift,” complimented Mr. Parker. “Is it always as +easy as this?” + +“Starting always is,” was the answer, “though, as the Irishman said, +coming down isn't sometimes quite so comfortable.” + +“Bless my gizzard! That's so,” cried the eccentric Mr. Damon. “Can we +vol-plane to earth in the Red Cloud, Tom?” + +“Yes, but not as easily as in the Butterfly. However I hope we will not +have to. Now, Mr. Damon, if you will just take charge of the steering +apparatus for a minute, I want to go aft.” + +“What for?” + +“I wish to see if everything is all right. I can't imagine why Eradicate +was making those queer motions.” + +Mr. Damon, who knew how to operate the Red Cloud, was soon guiding her +on the course, while Tom made his way to the rear compartments, through +the motor room, where the stores of supplies and food were kept. He made +a careful examination, looking from an after window, and even going out +on a small, open platform, but could discover nothing wrong. + +“I guess Rad was just capering about without any special object,” mused +Tom, but it was not long after this that they learned to their dismay, +that the colored man had had a method in his madness. + +On his way back through the motor room Tom looked to the machinery, +and adjusted some of the auxiliary oil feeders. The various pieces of +apparatus were working well, though the engine had not yet been speeded +up to its limit. Tom wanted it to “warm-up” first. + +“Everything all right?” asked Mr. Damon, as Tom rejoined them in the +pilot house, which was just forward of the living room in the main +cabin. + +“Yes, I can't imagine what made Rad act that way. But I'll set the +automatic steering gear now, Mr. Damon, and then you will be relieved.” + +Mr. Jenks was gazing off toward the west--to where he hoped to discover +the secret of Phantom Mountain. + +“How do you like it?” asked Tom. + +“It's great,” replied the diamond man. “I've never been in an airship +before, and it's different than what I expected; but it's great! It's +the only craft that will serve our purpose among the towering mountain +peaks, where the diamond makers are hidden. I hope we can find them.” + +In a little while the Red Cloud was skimming along at faster speed, +guided by the automatic rudders, so that no one was needed in the pilot +house, since there was no danger of collisions. Airships are not quite +numerous enough for that, yet, though they may soon become so. + +Tom and the others devoted several hours to arranging their staterooms +and bunks, and getting their clothing stowed away, and when this was +done Mr. Parker and Mr. Jenks sat gazing off into space. + +“It's hard to realize that we are really in an airship,” observed the +diamond man. “At first I thought I would be frightened, but I'm not a +bit. It doesn't seem as if anything could happen.” + +“Something is likely to happen soon,” said Mr. Parker, suddenly, as he +gazed at some weather instruments on the cabin wall. + +“Bless my soul! Don't say that!” cried Mr. Damon. “What is it?” + +“I think, from my observations, that we will soon have a hurricane,” + said the scientific man. “There is every indication of it;” and he +seemed quite delighted at the prospect of his prediction coming true. + +“A hurricane!” cried Mr. Damon. “I hope it isn't like the one that blew +us to Earthquake Island.” + +“Oh, I think there will be no danger,” spoke Tom. “If it comes on to +blow we will ascend or descend out of the path of the storm. This craft +is not like the ill-fated Whizzer. I can more easily handle the Red +Cloud; even in a bad storm.” + +“I'm glad to hear that,” remarked Mr. Jenks. “It would be too bad to be +wrecked before we got to Phantom Mountain.” + +“Well, I predict that we will have a bad storm,” insisted Mr. Parker, +and Tom could not help wishing that the scientist would keep his gloomy +forebodings to himself. + +However the storm had not developed up to noon, when Tom, with Mr. +Damon's help, served a fine meal in the dining-room. In the afternoon +the speed of the ship was increased, and by night they had covered +several hundred miles. Through the darkness the Red Cloud kept on, +making good time. Tom got up, occasionally, to look to the machinery, +but it was all automatically controlled, and an alarm bell would sound +in his stateroom when anything went wrong. + +“Bless my napkin!” exclaimed Mr. Damon the next morning, as they sat +down to a breakfast of fruit, ham and eggs and fragrant coffee, “this is +living as well as in a hotel, and yet we are--how far are we above the +earth, Tom?” he asked, turning to the young inventor. + +“About two miles now. I just sent her up, as I thought I detected that +storm Mr. Parker spoke of.” + +“I told you it would come,” declared the scientist, and there was a +small hurricane below them that morning, but only the lower edge of it +caught the Red Cloud, and when Tom sent her up still higher she found a +comparatively quiet zone, where she slid along at good speed. + +That afternoon Tom busied himself about some wires and a number of +complicated pieces of apparatus which were in one corner of the main +cabin. + +“What are you doing now?” asked Mr. Jenks, who had been talking with Mr. +Parker, and showing that scientist some of the manufactured diamonds. + +“Getting our wireless apparatus in shape,” answered the lad. “I should +have done it before, but I had so much to do that I couldn't get at it. +I'm going to send off some messages. Dad will want to know how we are +doing.” + +As he worked away, he also made up his mind to send another message, in +care of his father, for there was a receiving station in the Swift home. +And to whom this message was addressed Tom did not say, but we fancy +some of our readers can guess. + +Finally, after several hours of work, the wireless was in shape to send +and receive messages. Tom pulled over the lever, and a crackling sound +was heard, as the electricity leaped from the transmitters into space. +Then he clamped the receiver on his ear. + +“All ready,” he announced. “Has anybody any messages they wish sent?” + For, with the courtesy of a true host he was ready to serve his guests +before he forwarded his own wireless notes. + +“Just tell my wife that I'm enjoying myself,” requested Mr. Damon. +“Bless my footstool! But this is great! We're off the earth yet, +connected with it.” + +Mr. Jenks had no one to whom he wanted to send any word, but Mr. Parker +wish to wire to a fellow scientist the result of some observations made +in the upper air. + +Tom noted all the messages down, and then, when all was in readiness he +began to call his home station. He knew that either his father or Mr. +Jackson, the engineer, could receive the wireless. + +But, no sooner had the young inventor sent off the first few dots and +dashes representing “S. I.”--his home station call--than he started and +a look of surprise came over his face. + +“They're calling us!” he exclaimed. + +“Who is?” asked Mr. Jenks. + +“My house--my father. He--he's been trying to get us ever since we +started, but I didn't have the wireless in shape to receive messages. +Oh, I hope it's not too late!” + +“Too late! Bless my soul, too late for what?” gasped Mr. Damon, somewhat +alarmed by Tom's manner. + +The lad did not answer at once. He was intently listening to a series +of dots and dashes that clicked in the telephone receiver clamped to his +left ear. On his face there was a look of worriment. + +“Father has just sent me a message,” he said. “It's a warning flashed +through space! He's been trying to get it to me since yesterday!” + +“What is it?” asked Mr. Jenks, rising from his seat. + +“The mysterious man is aboard the airship--hidden away!” cried Tom. +“That's what Eradicate was trying to call to our attention as we started +off. Eradicate saw his face at a rear window, and tried to warn us! The +mysterious man is a stowaway on board!” + + + + +CHAPTER X--DROPPING THE STOWAWAY + + +Tom's excited announcement startled Mr. Damon and the others as much as +if the young inventor had informed them that the airship had exploded +and was about to dash with them to the earth. The men leaped to their +feet, and stared at the lad. + +“A stowaway on board!” cried Mr. Damon. “Bless my soul! How did he--” + +“Are you sure that message is straight?” asked Mr. Jenks. “Did Eradicate +see the man?” + +“He says he did,” answered Tom. “The man is hidden away on board +now--probably among the stores and supplies.” + +“Bless my tomato sauce!” exploded Mr. Damon. “I hope he doesn't eat them +all up!” + +“We must get him out at once!” declared Mr. Jenks. + +“I knew something would happen on this voyage,” came from Mr. Parker. “I +predicted it from the first!” + +Tom thought considerable, but he did not answer the scientist just +then. Another communication was coming to him by wireless. He listened +intently. + +“Father says,” the lad told his companions “that Eradicate only had +a glimpse of the man at the last moment. He was looking from the rear +storeroom window--he's the same man who called on me that time--Rad +remembers him very well.” + +“Bless my shoes! What's to be done?” inquired Mr. Damon, looking around +helplessly. + +“We must get him out, that's all,” decided Mr. Jenks; with vigor. “Get +him out and drop him overboard!” + +“Drop him overboard!” cried Mr. Parker, in horror. + +“Not exactly, but get rid of him,” proceeded the diamond seeker. “That +man is one of my enemies. He has been sent by the band of diamond makers +hidden among the mountains, to spy on me, and, if possible, prevent me +from seeking to discover their secret. He tried to work on Tom's Swift's +fears, and frighten him from using his airship on this quest. Then, when +he failed, the man must have sneaked into the shed, and hidden himself +in the ship. We must get rid of him, or he may wreck the Red Cloud!” + +“That's so!” cried Tom. “We must try to capture him. I think we had +better--” the lad paused, and again listened to the wireless message. +“Father says Eradicate saw the man have a gun, so we must be careful,” + the young inventor translated the dots and dashes. + +“Bless my powder horn!” exploded Mr. Damon. + +“We shall have to proceed cautiously then,” spoke Mr. Jenks. “If he is +like any others in the gang he is a desperate man.” + +“Better sneak up on him then, if we can,” proposed Mr. Parker. “There +are enough of us to cope with one man, even if he is armed. You have +weapons aboard, haven't you?” he inquired of Tom. + +“Yes,” was the hesitating answer, “but I don't want to use them if I +can help it. Not only because of the danger, and a dislike of shedding +blood, but because a stray bullet might pierce the gas bag and damage +the ship.” + +“That's so,” agreed Mr. Jenks. “Well, I guess if we go at it the right +way we can capture him without any shooting. But we must talk more +quietly--we ought to have whispered--he may have heard us.” + +“I don't think so,” replied Tom. “The storeroom is far enough off so +that he couldn't hear us. Besides, the motor makes such a racket that +he couldn't distinguish what we were talking about, even if he heard our +voices. So, unless he heard the wireless working, and suspects something +from that, he probably doesn't know that we are aware of his presence +aboard.” + +“But why do you think he has remained quiet all this while, Tom?” asked +Mr. Damon. + +“Probably he wants to wait until the ship is farther out west,” + suggested Mr. Jenks. “Then he will be nearer his friends, and can get +help, if he needs it.” + +“And do you really believe he would destroy the Red Cloud?” asked Mr. +Parker. + +“I think that all he is waiting for is a favorable chance,” declared +the diamond seeker. “He would destroy the craft, and us too, if he could +prevent us from discovering the secret of Phantom Mountain, I believe.” + +“Then we must get ahead of him,” decided Tom, quietly. “I have just +flashed to dad a message, telling him that we will heed his warning. Now +to capture the stowaway!” + +“And while we're about it, give him a good scare when we do get him,” + suggested Mr. Jenks. + +“How?” asked Tom. + +“Threaten to drop him overboard. Perhaps that will make him tell how +he happened to get in our ship, and what are the plans of the gang of +diamond makers. We may get valuable information that way.” + +“I don't believe you can scare such fellows much,” was Tom's opinion, +but it was agreed to try. + +“How are you going to capture him?” asked Mr. Parker. “If he has a gun +it won't be any too easy to go in the storeroom, and drag him out.” + +“We'll have to use a little strategy,” decided Tom, and then they +discussed several plans. The one finally adopted was that Tom and Mr. +Damon should enter the storeroom, casually, as if in search of food to +cook for supper. They would discuss various dishes, and Mr. Damon was to +express a preference for something in the food line, the box containing +which, was well back in the room. This would give the two a chance +to penetrate to the far end of the apartment, without arousing the +suspicions of the hidden man, who, doubtless, would be listening to the +conversation. + +“And as soon as we get sight of him, you and I will jump right at him, +Mr. Damon,” said Tom. “Jump before he has a chance to use his gun. Mr. +Jenks and Mr. Parker will be waiting outside the room, to catch him if +he gets away from us. I'll have some ropes ready, and we'll tie him up, +and--well, we'll decide later what to do with him.” + +“All right. I'm ready as soon as you are, Tom,” said the eccentric man. +“Come ahead.” + +They went softly to the storeroom, and listened at the door. There was +no sound heard save that made by the machinery. + +“I wonder if he's really here?” whispered Mr. Damon. + +“We'll soon find out,” answered Tom. “Let's go in.” + +They entered, and, in pursuance of their plan, Tom and his friend talked +of various foods. + +“I think I'd like some of that canned lobster, with French dressing on,” + spoke the eccentric man. + +“That's away in the back end of the room,” said Tom, in a loud voice. +“It's under a lot of boxes.” + +“Then I'll help you get it out! Bless my frying pan! but I am very fond +of lobster!” exclaimed Mr. Damon, in as natural tones as was possible +under the circumstances. + +He and Tom moved cautiously back among the boxes and barrels. They were +glancing about with eager eyes. Tom switched on an electric light, and, +the instant he did so, he was aware of a movement in a little space +formed by one box which was placed on top, of two others. The lad saw a +dark figure moving, as if to get farther out of sight. + +“I've got him!” cried Tom, making a dive for the shadow. + +A moment later the young inventor was bowled over, as a dark figure +leaped over his head. + +“Catch him, Mr. Damon!” he cried. + +“Bless my hatband! I--I--” Mr. Damon's voice ended in a grunt. He, too, +had been knocked down by the fleeing man. + +“Look out, Mr. Jenks!” cried Tom, to warn those on guard at the door of +the storeroom. + +There was the report of a gun, some excited shouts, and when Tom could +scramble to his feet, and rush out, he beheld Mr. Parker calmly sitting +on a struggling man, while Mr. Jenks held a gun, that was still smoking. + +“We caught him!” cried the scientist. + +“Anybody hurt?” asked Tom, anxiously. + +“No, I knocked up his gun as he fired,” explained Mr. Jenks. “Where are +the ropes, Tom?” + +The cords were produced and the man, who had now ceased to struggle, +was tightly bound. He uttered not a word, but he smiled grimly when Mr. +Damon remarked: + +“I guess I'll go back in the storeroom, Tom, and see how much food he +ate.” + +“Oh, I guess he didn't take much,” declared the lad. “He wasn't there +long enough.” + +“Well, Farley Munson, so it's you, is it?” asked Mr. Jenks, as he +surveyed the prisoner. + +“Do you know him?” asked Tom, in some surprise. + +“He was in with the diamond makers,” said Mr. Jenks. “He was one of +those who took me to the secret cave. But it will be the last time he +ever goes there. How high up are we, Tom?” + +“About two miles. Why?” + +“I guess that will be far enough to let him fall,” went on the diamond +seeker. “Come on, Mr. Damon, help me throw him overboard!” + +“You--you're not going to throw me over--with the airship two miles +high; are you?” gasped the man. + +“Will you tell us what we want to know, if we don't?” asked Mr. Jenks. + +“What do you want to know?” + +“How you got aboard, and what your object was in coming.” + +“That's easy enough. I had been hanging around the shed for several +days, watching a chance to get in. Finally I saw it, when that colored +man went to feed his mule, and I slipped in, and hid in the airship. The +stores were all in then, and I stowed myself away among the boxes. I had +food and water, so I didn't touch any of yours,” and he looked at Mr. +Damon, who seemed much relieved. + +“And what was your object?” demanded Mr. Jenks. + +“I wanted to prevent you from going to Phantom Mountain.” + +“How?” + +“By destroying the airship if need be. But I hoped to accomplish it by +other means. I would have stopped at nothing, though, to prevent you. +You must keep away from there!” + +“And if we refuse?” asked Tom. + +“Then you'll have to take what comes!” + +“But not from you!” exclaimed Mr. Jenks. “We're going to get rid of +you.” + +The man's face showed the alarm he felt. + +“Oh, don't worry,” said Mr. Jenks, quickly, “we're not going to toss you +overboard. We're not as desperate as your crowd. But we're going to +get rid of you, and then go on before you can send any word to your +confederates. We'll put you off in the most lonesome spot we can find, +and I guess you'll be some time getting back to civilization. By that +time we'll have the secret of the diamonds.” + +“You never will!” declared the man, firmly. And he would say nothing +more, though by threats and promises Mr. Jenks tried to get from him +something about the men in with him, and where the cave of the diamonds +was located. + +Heavily bound with ropes the man was locked in a small closet, to be +kept there until a favorable spot was reached for letting him go. Mr. +Jenks' plan, of dropping him down in some place where he would have +difficulty in sending on word to his confederates was considered a good +one. + +Three days later, in crossing over a lonely region, near the Nebraska +National Forest, Farley Munson, which was one of the names the spy went +by, was dropped off the airship, when it was sent down to within a few +feet of the earth. + +“It will take you some time to get to a telegraph office,” said Mr. +Jenks, as a package of food, and a flask of water was tossed down to the +stowaway. He shook his fist at those in the airship, and shouted after +them: + +“You'll never discover the secret of Phantom Mountain!” + +“Yes, we will,” declared Tom, as he sent the Red Cloud high into the air +again. + + + +CHAPTER XI--A WEARY SEARCH + + +During the three days when the stowaway had been kept a prisoner, the +Red Cloud had made good time on her western trip. She was now about two +hundred and fifty miles from Leadville, Colorado, and Tom knew he could +accomplish that distance in a short time. It was necessary, therefore, +since they were so close to the place where the real search would begin, +to make some more definite plans. + +“We will need to replenish our supply of gasoline,” said Tom, shortly +after the stowaway had been dropped, and when the young inventor had +made a general inspection of the airship. + +“Is it all gone?” inquired Mr. Damon. + +“Not all, but we will soon be in the wildest part of the Rocky +Mountains, and gasoline is difficult to procure there. So I want to fill +all our reserve tanks. But I would rather do that before we get far into +Colorado.” + +“Why?” inquired Mr. Parker. + +“Because airships are not so common but what the appearance of one +attracts attention. Ours is sure to be talked about, and commented on. +In that case, in spite of our precaution in putting Munson off in this +lonely place, word of the Red Cloud being in the vicinity of Leadville +may reach the diamond makers, and put them on their guard. We want to +take them unawares if we can.” + +“That's so,” agreed Mr. Jenks. “We had better get our gasoline at the +first stopping place, then, and proceed with our search. Our first +object ought to be to look for the landmark--the head of stone. Then we +can begin to prospect about a bit.” + +“My idea, exactly,” declared Tom. “Well, then, I'll go down at the +first place we cross, where we can get gasoline, and then we'll be in a +position to hover in the air for a long time, without descending.” + +The airship kept on her way, traveling slowly the remainder of that day, +and at dusk, when there was less chance of big crowds seeing them, the +Red Cloud was sent down on the outskirts of a large village. Tom and Mr. +Damon went to a supply store, and arranged to have a sufficient quantity +of the gasoline taken out to the airship. It was delivered after dark, +and little talk was occasioned by the few who were aware of the presence +of the craft. Then, once more, they went aloft, and Tom sent several +wireless messages to Shopton, including one to Miss Nestor. + +“Please tell my wife that I am well, and that I have a good appetite,” + said Mr. Damon. + +Mr. Parker also sent a message to a scientific friend of his, stating +that he made some observations among the mountains, of the region in +which the airship then was, and that the indications were that a great +landslide would soon take place. + +“That won't worry us,” spoke Tom, “for we'll be far above it.” + +“I hope we will be near enough to enable me to observe it, and make +some scientific notes,” came from Mr. Parker. “I am positive that one +of these mountain peaks that we saw to-day will disappear in a landslide +within a few days. I have an instrument somewhat like the one that +records earthquakes, and it has been acting strangely of late.” + +Tom wondered what enjoyment Mr. Parker got out of life, when he was +always looking for some calamity to happen, but the scientist seemed +to take as much pleasure in his gloomy forebodings now, as he had on +Earthquake Island. + +They reached the vicinity of Leadville the next day, but took care to +keep high above the city, so that the airship could not be observed. +With powerful glasses they examined the mountainous country, looking for +the little settlement of Indian Ridge. + +“There it is!” exclaimed Mr. Jenks, just as dusk was settling down. “I +can make out the hotel I stopped at. Now we can really begin our search. +The next thing is to find the stone head, and then, I think, I will have +my bearings.” + +“We'll begin the hunt for that landmark in the morning,” said Tom. + +High in the air hovered the Red Cloud. At that distance above the earth +she must have looked like some great bird, and the adventurers thought +it unlikely that any one in the vicinity of Leadville would observe +them. + +The quest for the great mountain peak, that looked like a stone head, +was under way. Back and forth sailed the airship. Sometimes she was +enveloped in fog, and no sight could be had of the earth below. At +other times there were rain storms, which likewise prevented a view. Mr. +Parker was on the lookout for his predicted mountain landslide, but it +did not occur, and he was much disappointed. + +“It's queer I can't pick out that landmark,” said Mr. Jenks after two +days of weary searching, when their eyes were strained from long peering +through telescopes. “I'm sure it was around Indian Ridge, yet we've +covered almost all the ground in this neighborhood, and I haven't had a +glimpse of it.” + +“Perhaps it was destroyed in a landslide, or some cataclysm of nature,” + suggested Mr. Parker. “That is very possible.” + +“If that's the case we're going to have a hard time to locate the cave +of the diamond makers,” answered Mr. Jenks, “but I hope it isn't so.” + +They continued the search for another day, and then Tom, as they sat +in the comfortable cabin of the airship that night, hovering almost +motionless (for the motor had been shut down) made a proposition. + +“Why not descend in some secluded place,” he suggested, “and wander +around on foot, making inquiries of the miners. They may know where the +stone head is, or they may even know about Phantom Mountain.” + +“Good idea,” spoke Mr. Jenks. “We'll do it.” + +Accordingly, the next morning, the Red Cloud was lowered in a good but +lonely landing place, and securely moored. It was in a valley, well +screened from observation, and the craft was not likely to be seen, +but, to guard against any damage being done to it by passing hunters or +miners, Mr. Parker and Mr. Damon agreed to remain on guard in it, while +Tom and Mr. Jenks spent a day or two traveling around, making inquiries. + +The young inventor and his companion proceeded on foot to a small +settlement, where they hired horses on which to make their way about. +They were to be gone two days, and in that time they hoped to get on the +right trail. + + + + +CHAPTER XII--THE GREAT STONE HEAD + + +It was a wild and desolate country in which Tom Swift and Mr. Jenks +were traveling. Villages were far apart, and they were at best but +small settlements. In their journeys from place to place they met few +travelers. + +But of these few they made cautious inquiries as to the location +of Phantom Mountain, or the landmark known as the great stone head. +Prospectors, miners and hunters, whom they asked, shook their heads. + +“I've heard of Phantom Mountain,” said one grizzled miner, “but I +couldn't say where it is. Maybe it's only a fish story--the place may +not even exist.” + +“Oh, it does, for I've been there!” exclaimed Mr. Jenks. + +“Then why don't you go back to it?” asked the miner. + +“Because I can't locate it again,” was the reply. + +“Humph! Mighty queer if you've seen a place once, and can't get to it +again,” and the man looked as if he thought there was something strange +about Tom and his companion. Mr. Jenks did not want to say that he had +been taken to the mountain blindfolded, for that would have caused too +much talk. + +“I think if we spent to-night in a place where the miners congregate, +listened to their talk, and put a few casual questions to them, more as +if we were only asking out of idle curiosity, we might learn something,” + suggested Tom. + +“Very well, we'll try that scheme.” + +Accordingly, after they had left the suspicious miner the two proceeded +to a small milling town, not far from Indian Ridge. There they engaged +rooms for the night at the only hotel, and, after supper they sat around +the combined dance hall and gambling place. + +There were wild, rough scenes, which were distasteful to Tom, and to Mr. +Jenks, but they felt that this was their only chance to get on the right +trail, and so they stayed. As strangers in a western mining settlement +they were made roughly welcome, and in response to their inquiries about +the country, they were told many tales, some of which were evidently +gotten up for the benefit of the “tenderfeet.” + +“Is there a place around here called Phantom Mountain?” asked Tom, at +length, as quietly as he could. + +“Never heard of it, stranger,” replied a miner who had done most of the +talking. “I never heard of it, and what Bill Slatterly don't know ain't +worth knowin'. I'm Bill Slatterly,” he added, lest there be some doubt +on that score. + +“Isn't there some sort of a landmark around here shaped like a great +stone head?” went on Tom, after some unimportant questions. “Seems to me +I've heard of that.” + +“Nary a one,” answered Mr. Slatterly. “No stone heads, and no Phantom +Mountains--nary a one. + +“Who says there ain't no Phantom Mountains?” demanded an elderly miner, +who had been dozing in one corner of the room, but who was awakened by +Slatterly's loud voice. “Who says so?” + +“I do,” answered the one who claimed to know everything. + +“Then you're wrong!” Tom's heart commenced beating faster than usual. + +“Do you mean to say you've seen Phantom Mountain, Jed Nugg?” demanded +Slatterly. + +“No, I ain't exactly seen it, an' I don't want to, but there is such +a place, about sixty mile from here. Folks says it's haunted, and them +sort of places I steer clear from.” + +“Can you tell me about it?” asked Mr. Jenks, eagerly. “I am interested +in such things.” + +“I can't tell you much about it,” was the reply, “and I wouldn't git too +interested, if I was you. It might not be healthy. All I know is that +one time my partner and I were in hard luck. We got grub-staked, and +went out prospectin'. We strayed into a wild part of the country about +sixty mile from here, and one night we camped on a mountain--a wild, +desolate place it was too.” + +The miner stopped, and began leisurely filling his pipe. + +“Well?” asked Tom, trying not to let his voice sound too eager. + +“Well, that was Phantom Mountain.” + +The miner seemed to have finished his story. + +“Is that all?” asked Mr. Jenks. “How did you know it was Phantom +Mountain?” + +“'Cause we seen the ghost--my partner and I--that's why!” exclaimed the +man, puffing on his pipe. “As I said, we was campin' there, and 'long +about midnight we seen somethin' tall and white, and all shimmerin', +with a sort of yellow fire, slidin' down the side of the mountain. It +made straight for our camp.” + +“Huh! Guess you run, didn't you, Jed?” asked Bill Slatterly. + +“Course we did. You'd a run too, if you seen a ghost comm' at you, an' +firin' a gun.” + +“Ghosts can't fire guns!” declared Bill. “I guess you dreamed it, Jed.” + +“Ghosts can't fire guns, eh? That's all you know about it. This one did, +and to prove I didn't dream it, there was a bullet hole in my hat next +mornin'. I could prove it, too, only I ain't got that hat any more. But +that was Phantom Mountain, strangers, an' my advice to you is to keep +away from it. I was on it but I didn't exactly see it, 'cause it was +dark at the time.” + +“Was it near a peak that looked like a stone head?” asked Tom. + +“It were, stranger, but I didn't take much notice of it. Me and my +partner got out of them diggin's next day, and I never went back. I +ain't never said much about this place, but it's called Phantom Mountain +all right, and I ain't the only one that's seen a ghost there. Other +grub-stakers has had the same experience.” + +“Why ain't I never heard about it?” demanded Bill, suspiciously. + +“'Cause as why you're allers so busy talkin' that you don't never listen +to nothin' I reckon,” was Jed's answer, amid laughter. + +“Can you tell us what trail to take to get there?” asked Tom, of the +miner. + +“Yes, it's called the old silver trail, and you strike it by goin' to a +place called Black Gulch, about forty mile from here. Then it's twenty +mile farther on. But take my advice and don't go.” + +“Can it be reached by way of Indian Ridge?” asked Mr. Jenks, wondering +how he had been taken to the cave of the diamond makers. He did not +remember Black Gulch. + +“Yes, you can git there by Indian Ridge way, but it's more dangerous. +You're likely to lose your way, for that's a trail that's seldom +traveled.” Mr. Jenks thought that, perhaps, was the reason the gang had +taken him that way. “It's easier to get to the stone head and Phantom +Mountain by Black Gulch, but it ain't healthy to go there, strangers, +take my advice on that,” concluded the miner, as he prepared to go to +sleep again. + +Tom could scarcely contain the exultation he felt. At last, it seemed, +they were on the trail. He motioned to Mr. Jenks, and they slipped +quietly from the place, just as another dance was beginning. + +“Now for Black Gulch!” cried Tom. “We must hurry back to the airship, +and tell the good news. + +“It's too late to-night,” decided Mr. Jenks, and so they waited until +morning, when they made an early start. + +They found Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker anxiously awaiting their return. Mr. +Damon blessed so many things that he was nearly out of breath, and Mr. +Parker related something of the observations he had made. + +“I think I have discovered traces of a dormant volcano,” he said. “I am +in hopes that it will have an eruption while we are here.” + +“I'm not,” spoke Tom, decidedly. “We'll start for Black Gulch as soon as +possible.” + +The airship once more rose in the air, and, following the directions +the miner had given him, Tom pointed his craft for the depression in the +mountains which had been given the name Black Gulch. It was reached in +a short time, and then, making a turn up a long valley the airship +proceeded at reduced speed. + +“We ought to see that stone head soon now,” spoke Tom, as he peered from +the windows of the pilot house. + +“It's queer we didn't notice it when we were up in the air,” remarked +Mr. Jenks. “We've been over this place before, I'm sure of it.” + +The next moment Mr. Damon uttered a cry. “Bless my watch-chain!” he +exclaimed. “Look at that!” + +He pointed off to the left. There, jutting out from the side of a steep +mountain peak was a mass of stone--black stone--which, as the airship +slowly approached, took the form and shape of a giant's head. + +“That's it! That's it!” cried Tom. “The great stone head!” + +“And now for Phantom Mountain and the diamonds!” shouted Mr. Jenks, as +Tom let the airship slowly settle to the bottom of the valley. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII--ON PHANTOM MOUNTAIN + + +Out from the Red Cloud piled Tom and the others. They made a rush for +the irregular mass of rock which bore so strong a resemblance to the +head of some gigantic man. + +“That's the one! That's the thing I saw when they were taking me along +here blindfolded!” exclaimed Mr. Jenks. “I'm sure we're on the right +trail, now!” + +“But what gets me, though,” remarked Mr. Damon, “is why we couldn't see +that landmark when we were up in the air. We had a fine view, and ought +to have been able to pick it out with the telescopes.” + +The adventurers saw the reason a few seconds later. The image was +visible only from one place, and that was directly looking up the +valley. If one went too far to the right or left the head disappeared +from view behind jutting crags, and it was impossible to see it from +overhead, because the head was almost under a great spur of a mighty +mountain. + +“We might have hunted for it a week in the airship, and been directly +over it,” said Tom, “and yet we would never have seen it.” + +“Yes, but we never would have gotten here in such good shape if it +hadn't been for your wonderful craft,” declared Mr. Jenks. “It brought +us here safely and quickly, and enabled us to elude the men who tried to +keep us back. We're here in spite of them. If we had traveled by train +they might have interfered with us in a dozen ways.” + +“That's so,” agreed Mr. Damon. “Well, now we're here, what's to be +done? Which way do we start to reach the cave where the diamonds are +manufactured, Mr. Jenks?” + +“That I can't say. As you know, I only had a momentary glimpse of this +stone head as they were taking me along the trail. Then one of the men +noticed that the bandage had slipped and he pulled it into place. So I +really can't say which direction to take now, in order to discover the +secret.” + +“How long after you saw the head before you reached the cave?” asked +Tom. “In that way we may be able to tell how far away it is.” + +“Well, I should say it was about two or three hours after I saw the +head, before we got to the halting place, and I was carried into the +cave. That would make it several miles from here, for we went in a +wagon.” + +“Yes, and they might have driven in a round-about way, in order to +deceive you,” suggested Mr. Damon. “At best we have but a faint idea +where the diamond cave is, but we must search for it; eh, Tom?” + +“Certainly. We'll start right in. And as the airship will be of but +little service to us now, I suggest that we leave it in this valley. +It is very much secluded, and no one will harm it, I think. We can then +start off prospecting, for I have a large portable tent, and we can +carry enough food with us, with what game we can shoot, to enable us to +live. I have a regular camping outfit on board.” + +“Fine!” cried Mr. Parker, “and that will give me a chance to make some +observations among the mountains, and perhaps I can predict when a +landslide, or an eruption of some dormant volcano, may occur.” + +“Bless my stars!” cried Mr. Damon. “I don't wish you any bad luck, Mr. +Parker, but I sincerely hope nothing of the sort happens! We had enough +of that on Earthquake Island!” + +“One can not halt the forces of nature,” said the scientist, solemnly. +“There are many towering peaks around here which may contain old +volcanoes. And I notice the presence of iron ore all about. This must be +a wonderful place in a thunder and lightning storm.” + +“Why?” asked Tom, curiously. + +“Because lightning would be powerfully attracted here by the presence +of the metal. In fact there is evidence that many of the peaks have been +struck by lightning,” and the scientist showed curious, livid scars on +the stone faces of the peaks within sight. + +“Then this is a good place to stay away from in a storm,” observed Mr. +Damon. “However, we won't worry about that now. If this is the landmark +Mr. Jenks was searching for, then we must be in the vicinity of Phantom +Mountain.” + +“I think we are,” declared the diamond seeker. “Probably it is within +sight now, but there are so many peaks, and this is such a wild and +desolate part of the country that we may have trouble in locating it.” + +“We've got to make a beginning, anyhow,” decided Tom, “and the sooner +the better. Come, we'll make up our camping kits, and start out.” + +It was something to know that they were on the right trail, and it was a +relief to be able to busy oneself, and not be aimlessly searching for a +mysterious landmark. They all felt this, and soon the airship was taken +to a secluded part of the valley, where it was well hidden from sight in +a grove of trees. + +Tom and Mr. Damon then served a good meal, and preparations were made +to start on their search among the mountains--a search which they hoped +would lead them to Phantom Mountain, and the cave of the diamond makers. + +The tent which would afford them shelter was in sections, and could +be laced together. They carried food, compressed into small packages, +coffee, a few cooking utensils; and each one had a gun, Tom carrying a +combination rifle and shotgun, for game. + +“We can't live very high while we're on the trail,” said the young +inventor, “but it won't be much worse than it was on Earthquake Island. +Are we all ready?” + +“I guess so,” answered Mr. Damon. “How long are we going to be away?” + +“Until we find the diamond makers!” declared Tom, firmly. + +Shouldering their packs, the adventurers started off. Tom turned for a +last look at his airship, dimly seen amid the trees. Would he ever come +back to the Red Cloud? Would she be there when he did return? Would +their quest be successful? These questions the lad asked himself, as he +followed his companions along the rocky trail. + +“Perhaps we can find the road by which these men go in and out of the +cave,” suggested Mr. Damon, when they had gone on for several miles. + +“I fancy not,” replied Mr. Jenks. “They probably take great pains to +hide it. I think though, that our best plan will be to go here and +there, looking for the entrance to the cave. I believe I would remember +the place.” + +“But why can't you follow the directions given by the miner who told you +about Phantom Mountain?” asked Mr. Damon. + +“Because his talk was too indefinite,” answered Mr. Jenks. “He was so +frightened by seeing what he believed to be a ghost, that he didn't take +much notice of the location of the place. All he knows is that Phantom +Mountain is somewhere around here.” + +“And we've got to hunt until we find it; is that the idea?” asked Mr. +Parker. + +“Or until we see the phantom,” added Tom, in a low voice. + +“Bless my topknot!” exclaimed Mr. Damon. “You don't mean to say you +expect to see that ghost; do you Tom?” + +“Perhaps,” answered the young inventor, and he did not add something +else of which he was thinking. For Tom had a curious theory regarding +the phantom. + +They tramped about the remainder of that day. Toward evening Tom shot +some birds, which made a welcome addition to their supper. Then the tent +was put together, some spruce and hemlock boughs were cut to make a soft +bed, and on these, while the light of a campfire gleamed in on them, the +adventurers slept. + +Their experience the following day was similar to the first. They saw no +evidence of a large cave such as Mr. Jenks had described, nor were there +any traces of men having gone back and forth among the mountains, as +might have been expected of the diamond makers, for, as Mr. Jenks had +said, they made frequent journeys to the settlement for food, and other +supplies. + +“Well, I haven't begun to give up yet,” announced Tom, on the third day, +when their quest was still unsuccessful. “But I think we are making one +mistake.” + +“What is that?” inquired Mr. Jenks. + +“I think we should go up higher. In my opinion the cave is near the top +of some peak; isn't it, Mr. Jenks?” + +“I have that impression, though, as you know, I never saw the outside of +it. Still, it might not be a bad idea to ascend some of these peaks.” + +Following this suggestion, they laid their trail more toward the sky, +and that night found them encamped several thousand feet above the +sea-level. It was quite cool, and the campfire was a big one about which +they sat after supper, talking of many things. + +Tom did not sleep well that night. He tossed from side to side on the +bed of boughs, and once or twice got up to replenish the fire, which had +burned low. His companions were in deep slumber. + +“I wonder what time it is?” mused Tom, when he had been up the third +time to throw wood on the blaze. “Must be near morning.” He looked at +his watch, and was somewhat startled to see that it was only a little +after twelve. Somehow it seemed much later. + +As he was putting the timepiece back into his pocket the lad looked +around at the dark and gloomy mountains, amid which they were encamped. +As his gaze wandered toward the peak of the one on the side of which the +tent was pitched, he gave a start of surprise. + +For, coming down a place where, that afternoon, Tom had noticed a sort +of indefinite trail was a figure in white. A tall, waving figure, which +swayed this way and that--a figure which halted and then came on again. + +“I wonder--I wonder if that can be a wisp of fog?” mused the young +inventor. He rubbed his eyes, thinking it might be a swirling of the +night mist or a defect of vision. Then, as he saw more plainly, he +noticed the thing in white rushing toward him. + +“It's the phantom--the phantom!” cried Tom, aloud. “It's the thing the +miner saw! We're on Phantom Mountain now!” + + + + +CHAPTER XIV--WARNED BACK + + +Tom's cries awakened the sleepers in the tent. Mr. Damon was the first +to rush out. + +“Bless my nightcap, Tom!” he cried. “What is it? What has happened? Are +we attacked by a mountain lion?” + +For answer the young inventor pointed up the mountain, to where, in the +dim light from a crescent moon, there stood boldly revealed, the figure +in white. + +“Bless--bless my very existence!” cried the odd man. “What is it, Tom?” + +“The phantom,” was the quiet answer. “Watch it, and see what it does.” + +By this time Mr. Jenks and Mr. Parker had joined Tom and Mr. Damon. +The four diamond seekers stood gazing at the apparition. And, as they +looked, the thing in white, seemingly too tall for any human being, slid +slowly forward, with a gliding motion. Then it raised its long, white +arms, and waved them threateningly at the adventurers. + +“It's motioning us to go back,” said Mr. Parker in an awed whisper. “It +doesn't want us to go any farther.” + +“Very likely,” agreed Tom, coolly. “But we're not going to be frightened +by anything like that; are we?” + +“Not much!” exclaimed Mr. Jenks. “I expected this. A ghost can't drive +me back from getting my rights from those scoundrels!” + +“Suppose it uses a revolver to back up its demand?” asked the scientist. + +“Wait until it does,” answered Mr. Jenks. But the figure in white +evidently had no such intentions. It came on a little distance +farther, still waving the long arms threateningly, and then it suddenly +disappeared, seeming to dissolve in the misty shadows of the night. + +“Bless my suspenders!” cried Mr. Damon. “That's a very strange +proceeding! Very strange! What do you make of it, Tom?” + +“It is evidently some man dressed up in a sheet,” declared Mr. Jenks. “I +expected as much.” + +“The work of those diamond makers; do you think?” continued Mr. Damon. + +“I believe so,” answered Tom, slowly, for he was trying to think it out. +“I believe they are the cause of the phantom, though I don't know that +it's a man dressed in a sheet.” + +“Why isn't it?” demanded Mr. Jenks. + +“Because it was too tall for a man, unless he's a giant.” + +“He may have been on stilts,” suggested Mr. Parker. + +“No man on stilts could walk along that way,” declared Tom, confidently. +“He glided along too easily. I am inclined to think it may be some sort +of a light.” + +“A light?” queried Mr. Damon. + +“Yes, the diamond makers may be hidden in some small cave near here, and +they may have some sort of a magic lantern or a similar arrangement, for +throwing a shadow picture. They could arrange it to move as they liked, +and could cause it to disappear at will. That, I think, is the ghost we +have just seen.” + +“But the diamond makers have only been in this mountain recently,” + objected Mr. Jenks, “and the phantom was here before them. In fact, that +was what gave the place its name.” + +“That may be,” admitted the lad. “There are many places that have the +name of being haunted, but no one ever sees the ghost. It is always some +one else, who has heard of some one who has seen it. That may have been +the case here. I grant that this place may have been called 'Phantom +Mountain' for a number of years, due to the superstitious tales of +miners. The diamond makers came along, found the conditions just right +for their work, and adopted the ghost, so to speak. As there wasn't any +real spirit they made one, and they use it to scare people away. I think +that's what we've just seen, though I may be wrong in my theory as to +what the phantom is.” + +“Well, it's gone now, at any rate,” said Mr. Jenks, “and I think we'd +better get back inside the tent. It's cold out here.” + +“Aren't some of us going to stand guard?” demanded Mr. Damon. + +“What for?” asked Mr. Jenks. + +“Why--er--bless my key-ring! Suppose that ghost takes a notion to come +down here, and use his gun, as he did on the miners?” + +“I don't believe that will happen,” remarked Tom. “The diamond makers, +if the white thing had anything to do with them, have given us a +warning, and I think they'll at least wait until morning to see how we +heed it.” + +“We aren't going to heed it!” burst out Mr. Jenks. “I'm going to go +right ahead and find that cave where they make diamonds!” + +“And we're with you!” exclaimed Tom. “We'll have a good fire going the +rest of the night, and that may keep intruders away. In the morning +we'll begin our search, and we'll go up the trail where we saw the white +figure.” + +A big pile of wood had been collected for the fire, and Tom now piled +some logs and branches on the blaze. It would last for some time now, +and the adventurers, still talking of the “ghost” went back into the +tent. It was over an hour before they all got to sleep again, and Mr. +Jenks and Mr. Damon took turns in getting up once or twice during the +remainder of the night to replenish the fire. + +Morning dawned without anything further having occurred to disturb them, +and, after a hearty breakfast, to which Tom added some fish he caught in +a nearby mountain stream, they set off up the trail on Phantom Mountain. + +They had left their tent standing, as they proposed making that spot +their headquarters until they located the cave they were seeking. What +their course would be after that would depend on the circumstances. + +If they had expected to have an easy task locating the cavern in which +Mr. Jenks had seen diamonds made, the adventurers were disappointed. All +that day they tramped up and down the mountain, looking for some secret +entrance, but none was disclosed. The higher they went up the great +peak, the fainter became the trail, until, at length it vanished +completely. + +But this was not to be wondered at, since it was on solid rock, in which +no footsteps would leave an impression. + +“They never brought you up here in a wagon, Mr. Jenks,” decided Tom, +when he saw how steep the place was. + +“I'm inclined to think so myself,” admitted the diamond man. “They must +have reached the cave from some other way. As a matter of fact, I walked +some distance after getting out of the vehicle, before we got to the +cavern. But, even at that, I don't believe we came this way.” + +“Yet the phantom was here,” persisted Tom, “and I'm convinced that the +cave is in this neighborhood. It's up to us to find it!” + +But they searched the remainder of that day in vain, and as night was +coming on, they made their way back to the camp. As Tom, who was in +the lead, approached the tent, he saw something black fastened to the +entrance. + +“Hello!” he cried. “Some one's been here. That wasn't on the tent when +we left this morning.” + +“What is it?” asked Mr. Damon. + +“A black piece of paper, written on with white ink,” replied the lad. He +was reading it, and, as he perused it a look of surprise came over his +face. + +“Listen to this!” called Tom. “It's evidently from the diamond makers.” + +Holding up the black paper, on which the white writing stood out in bold +relief Tom read aloud: + + +“Be warned in time! Go back before it is too late! You are near to +death! Go back!” + + +“Bless my shoelaces!” cried Mr. Damon. “This is getting serious.” + + + + +CHAPTER XV--THE LANDSLIDE + + +Gathered about the young inventor, the three men looked at the warning. +The writing was poor, and it was evident that an attempt had been made +to disguise it. But there was no misspelling of words, and there were no +rudely drawn daggers, or bloody hands or anything of that sort. In fact, +it was a very business-like sort of warning. + +“Rather odd,” commented Mr. Jenks. “Black paper and white ink.” + +“White ink is easy enough to make,” stated Mr. Parker. “I fancy they +wanted it as conspicuous as possible.” + +“Yes,” agreed Tom, “and this warning, together with the antics of the +thing in white last night, shows that they are aware of our presence +here, and perhaps know who we are. We will have to be on our guard.” + +“Do you think that fellow Munson, whom we left in the forest, could have +gotten here and warned them?” asked Mr. Damon. + +“It's possible,” admitted Tom, “but now let's see if the person who +pinned this warning on our tent took any of our things.” + +A hasty examination, however, showed that nothing had been disturbed, +and Tom and Mr. Damon were soon getting supper ready, everyone talking, +during the progress of the meal, about the events of the day, and the +rather weird culmination of it. + +“Well, we haven't had a great deal of success--so far,” admitted Tom, as +they sat about the fire, in the fast gathering dusk. “I think, perhaps, +we'd better try on the other side of the mountain to-morrow. We've +explored this side pretty thoroughly.” + +“Good idea,” commented Mr. Jenks. “We'll do it, and move our camp. I +only hope those fellows don't find our airship and destroy it. We'll +have a hard time getting back to civilization again, if we have to walk +all the way.” + +This contingency caused Tom some uneasiness. He did not like to think +that the unscrupulous men might damage the Red Cloud, that had been +built only after hard labor. But he knew he could accomplish nothing by +worrying, and he tried to dismiss the matter from his mind. + +They rather expected to see the thing in white again that night, but it +did not appear, and morning came without anything having disturbed their +heavy sleep, for they were tired from the day's tramp. + +It took them the greater part of the day to make a circuit of the base +of Phantom Mountain in order to get to a place where a sort of trail led +upward. + +“It's too late to do anything to-night,” decided Tom, as they set up the +tent. “We'll rest, and start the first thing in the morning.” + +“And the ghost isn't likely to find us here,” added Mr. Damon. “Where +are you going, Mr. Parker?” he asked, as he saw the scientist tramping a +little way up the side of the mountain. + +“I am going to make some observations,” was the answer, and no one paid +any more attention to him for some time. Supper was nearly ready when +Mr. Parker returned. His face wore a rather serious air, and Mr. Damon, +noting it, asked laughingly: + +“Well, did you discover any volcanoes, that may erupt during the night, +and scare us to death?” + +“No,” replied Mr. Parker, calmly, “but there is every indication that we +will soon have a terrific electrical storm. From a high peak I caught a +glimpse of one working this way across the mountains.” + +“Then we'd better fasten the tent well down,” called Tom. “We don't want +it to blow away.” + +“There will not be much danger from wind,” was Mr. Parker's opinion. + +“From what then?” asked Mr. Jenks. + +“From the discharges of lightning among these mountain peaks, which +contain so much iron ore. We will be in grave danger.” + +The fact that the scientist had not always made correct predictions was +not now considered by his hearers, and Tom and the two men gazed at Mr. +Parker in some alarm. + +“Is there anything we can do to avoid it?” asked Mr. Jenks. + +“The only thing to do would be to leave the mountain,” was the answer, +“and, as the iron ore extends for miles, we can not get out of the +danger zone before the storm will reach us. It will be here in less than +half an hour.” + +“Then we'd better have supper,” remarked Tom, practically, “and get +ready for it. Perhaps it may not be as bad as Mr. Parker fears.” + +“It will be bad enough,” declared the gloomy scientist, and he seemed to +find pleasure in his announcement. + +The meal was soon over, and Tom busied himself in looking to the guy +ropes of the tent, for he feared lest there might be wind with the +storm. That it was coming was evident, for now low mutterings of thunder +could be heard off toward the west. + +Black clouds rapidly obscured the heavens, and the sound of thunder +increased. Fitful flashes of lightning could be seen forking across the +sky in jagged chains of purple light. + +“It's going to be a heavy storm,” Tom admitted to himself. “I hope +lightning doesn't strike around here.” + +The storm came on rapidly, but there was a curious quietness in the air +that was more alarming than if a wind had blown. The campfire burned +steadily, and there was a certain oppressiveness in the atmosphere. + +It was now quite dark, save when the fitful lightning flashes came, +and they illuminated the scene brilliantly for a few seconds. Then, by +contrast, it was blacker than ever. + +Suddenly, as Tom was gazing up toward the peak of Phantom Mountain, he +saw something that caused him to cry out in alarm. He pointed upward, +and whispered hoarsely: + +“The ghost again! There's our friend in white!” + +The others looked, and saw the same weird figure that had menaced them +when they were encamped on the other side of the peak. + +“They must have followed us,” said Mr. Jenks, in a low voice. + +Slowly the figure advanced, It waved the long white arms, as if in +warning. At times it would be only dimly visible in the blackness, then, +suddenly it would stand out in bold relief as a great flash of fire +split the clouds. + +The thunder, meanwhile, had been growing louder and sharper, indicating +the nearer approach of the storm. Each lightning flash was followed in a +second or two, by a terrific clap. Still there was no wind nor rain, and +the campfire burned steadily. + +All at once there was a crash as if the very mountain had split asunder, +and the adventurers saw a great ball of purple-bluish fire shoot down, +as if from some cloud, and strike against the side of the crag, not a +hundred feet from where stood the ghostly figure in white. + +“That was a bad one,” cried Mr. Damon, shouting so as to be heard above +the echoes of the thunderclap. + +Almost as he spoke there came another explosion, even louder than the +one preceding. A great ball of fire, pear shaped, leaped for the same +spot in the mountain. + +“There's a mass of iron ore there!” yelled Mr. Parker. “The lightning is +attracted to it!” + +His voice was swallowed up in the terrific crash that followed, and, +as there came another flash of the celestial fire, the figure in +white could be seen hurrying back up the mountain trail. Evidently the +electrical storm, with lightning bolts discharging so close, was too +much for the “ghost.” + +In another instant it looked as if the whole place about where the +diamond seekers stood, was a mass of fire. Great forked tongues of +lightning leaped from the clouds, and seemed to lick the ground. There +was a rattle and bang of thunder, like the firing of a battery of guns. +Tom and the others felt themselves tingling all over, as if they had +hold of an electrical battery, and there was a strong smell of sulphur +in the air. + +“We are in the midst of the storm!” cried Mr. Parker. “We are standing +on a mass of iron ore! Any minute may be our last!” + +But fate had not intended the adventurers for death by lightning. Almost +as suddenly as it had begun, the discharge of the tongues of fire ceased +in the immediate vicinity of our friends. They stood still--awed--not +knowing what to do. + +Then, once more, came a terrific clap! A great mass of fire, like some +red-hot ingot from a foundry, was hurled through the air, straight at +the face of the mountain, and at the spot where the figure in white had +stood but a few minutes before. + +Instantly the earth trembled, as it had at Earthquake Island, but it was +not the same. It was over in a few seconds. Then, as the diamond seekers +looked, they saw in the glare of a score of lightning flashes that +followed the one great clap, the whole side of the mountain slip away, +and go crashing into the valley below. + +“A landslide!” cried Mr. Parker. “That is the landslide which I +predicted! The lightning bolt has split Phantom Mountain!” + + + + +CHAPTER XVI--THE VAST CAVERN + + +For a time the roiling, slipping, sliding and tumbling of the mass of +earth and stones, down the side of the mountain, effectually drowned +all other sounds. Even the thunder was stilled, and though Tom and his +companions called to one another in terror, their voices could not rise +above that terrific tumult. + +Finally, when they found that the direction of the slide was away from +their tent, and that they were not likely to be engulfed, they grew more +calm. + +Gradually the noise subsided. The great boulders had rolled to the +bottom of the valley, and now only a mass of earth and stones was +sliding down. Even this stopped in about five minutes, and, as though +satisfied with what it had done, the electrical storm passed. Not a drop +of rain had fallen. + +“Bless my shirt studs!” exclaimed Mr. Damon, who was the first to speak +after the din had quieted. “Bless my soul! But that was awful!” + +“It was just what I expected,” said Mr. Parker, calmly. “I knew, from +my observations, that we were in a region where landslides and terrific +electrical storms may be expected at any time. I fully looked for this.” + +“Well,” remarked Mr. Jenks, rather sarcastically, “I hope it came up to +your expectations, Mr. Parker.” + +“Oh, fully,” was the answer, “though I wish it could have happened +in daylight, so that I could better have observed certain phenomena +regarding the landslide. They are very interesting.” + +“At a distance,” admitted Tom, with a laugh of relief. “Well, I'm glad +it's over, though we'll have to wait until morning to see what damage +has been done. Lucky we weren't struck by lightning. I never saw such +bolts!” + +“Me, either!” declared Mr. Damon. “This mountain seems to attract them.” + +“It is like a magnet,” said Mr. Parker. “I think I shall be able to make +some fine observations here.” + +“If we live through it,” murmured Mr. Jenks. + +They watched the play of lightning about a distant bank of clouds, +but the storm was now far away, only a faint rumbling of thunder being +heard. + +“I'm wondering what happened to the phantom,” said Tom, after a pause. +“Seems to me he was right in that track of the storm.” + +“Do you think it was a 'he'?” asked Mr. Jenks. + +“I think we'll find that it's some sort of a man,” answered the young +inventor. “We may find out very soon, now. I've changed my theory about +the ghost being reflections of light.” + +“How's that?” Mr. Damon wanted to know. + +“Well, I think we are on the side of Phantom Mountain where the diamond +cave is,” went on the lad. “The fact that the phantom appeared here, +soon after we arrived, shows that the men kept close track of our +movements. It also shows, I think, that the phantom did not have to +travel far to be on the spot, whereas we had to make quite a trip to get +around the base of the mountain. I think the cave is up there,” and +Tom pointed toward the spot where the weird figure had been last seen, +before the storm drove it back. + +“There may be two phantoms,” suggested Mr. Jenks. “They may keep one on +this side of the mountain, and one on the other, to warn intruders away. + +“It's possible,” admitted Tom. “Well, we'll see how things look in the +morning, when we'll take up our march again, and go up the mountain. +We'll reach the top, if possible, which we couldn't do from the other +side, as it was too steep.” + +“I hope we shall be able to go forward in the morning,” came from Mr. +Jenks. + +“What do you mean?” asked the lad, struck by a peculiar significance in +the diamond man's tones. + +“Why, that landslide may have opened a great gully in the side of +Phantom Mountain, which will prevent us from passing. It was a terrific +lot of earth and stones that slid away,” answered Mr. Jenks. + +“It certainly was,” agreed Mr. Parker. “I would not be surprised if +the mountain was half destroyed, and it may be that the diamond cave no +longer exists.” + +“Not very cheerful, to say the least,” murmured Mr. Jenks to Tom, and, +as it was getting quite chilly, following the storm, they went inside +the tent. + +Tom could hardly wait for daylight, to get up and see what havoc the +landslide had wrought. As soon as the first faint flush of dawn showed +over the eastern peaks, he hurried from the tent. Mr. Damon heard him +arise, and followed. + +A curious scene met their eyes. All about were great rocks rent and torn +by the awful power of the lightning. The fronts of the stone cliffs +were scarred and burned by the electrical fire, and fantastic markings, +grotesque faces, and leering animals seemed to have been drawn by some +gigantic artist who used a bolt from heaven for his brush. + +But the eyes of Tom and Mr. Damon took all this in at a glance, and then +their gaze went forward to where the avalanche had torn away a great +part of the mountain. + +“Whew! I should say it was a landslide!” cried Tom. + +“Bless my wishbone, yes!” agreed Mr. Damon. + +Below them, in the valley, lay piled immense masses of earth and stones. +Boulders were heaped up on boulders, and rocks upon rocks, being tossed +about in heaps, strung about in long ridges, and swirled about in +curves, as though some cyclone had toyed with them after the lightning +flash had tossed them there. + +“But the mountain isn't half gone,” said Tom, as his eyes took in what +was left of the phantom berg. “I guess it will take a few more bolts +like that one, to put this hill out of business.” + +Though the landslide had been a great one, the larger part of the +mountain still stood. An immense slice had been taken from one side, but +the summit was untouched. + +“And there's where the diamond cave is!” cried Tom, pointing to it. + +“I think so myself,” agreed Mr. Jenks, who came from the tent at that +moment, and joined the lad and Mr. Damon. “I think we shall find the +cave somewhere up there. We must start for it, as soon as we have eaten, +and we may reach it by night.” + +The three stood gazing up toward the summit of the great mountain. +Suddenly, as the sun rose higher in the heavens, it sent a shaft of rosy +light on the face of the berg that had been scarred by the landslide. +Tom Swift uttered an exclamation, and pointed at something. + +“See!” he cried. “Look where the trail is--the trail down which the +phantom must have come. It is on the edge of a cliff now!” + +They looked, and saw that this was so. The increasing light had just +revealed it to them. When the lightning bolt had torn away a great +portion of the mountain it had cut sheer down for a great depth and +when the earth and stones fell away they left a narrow pathway, winding +around the mountain, but so near the edge of a great chasm, that there +was room but for one person at a time to walk on that footway. The +uncertain trail up Phantom Mountain had all but been destroyed. + +“The way up to the peak is by that path, now,” spoke Tom, in a low +voice. + +“Bless my soul!” cried Mr. Damon. “It's as much as a man's life is worth +to attempt it. If he got dizzy, he'd topple over, and fall a thousand +feet. Dare we risk it?” + +“It's the only way to get up,” went on Tom. “It's either that way, or +not at all. We've tried the other side without success. We must go up +this way--or turn back.” + +“Then we'll go up!” cried Mr. Jenks. “It may not be as dangerous as it +looks from here.” + +But it was even more dangerous than it appeared, when they went part way +up it after a hasty breakfast. The trail was a mere ledge of rock now, +and in some places, to get around a projecting edge of the mountain, +they had to stand with their backs to the dizzy depths at their feet, +and with both arms outstretched work their way around to where the trail +was wider. + +“Shall we risk it?” asked Tom, when they had tried the way, and found +it so dangerous. “We can't take anything with us--even our guns, for +we couldn't carry them, and if we reach the mouth of the cave, and find +those men there--” + +He paused significantly. The adventurers looked at one another. The +search for the diamond makers was becoming more and more dangerous. + +“I say let's go on!” decided Mr. Damon, suddenly. “We want to locate +that cave, first of all. Perhaps, when we do find it, we may see some +easier way of getting to it than this. And if those diamond makers do +attack us--well, I don't believe they'll shoot defenseless men, and they +may listen to reason, and give Mr. Jenks his rights--tell him how to +make diamonds in return for the money he gave them.” + +“I don't believe those scoundrels will listen to reason,” replied the +diamond man, “but I agree with Mr. Damon that we ought to go on. We may +find some other means of reaching the cave--if we can discover it, and +we'll take a chance with the men.” + +“Forward it is, then!” cried Tom. “I have a revolver, and I can supply +one of you gentlemen with another. They may come in useful in an +emergency. Let's go back to camp, take a little lunch in our pockets, +and try to scale the mountain.” + +They were soon on their way up the dizzy path once more, and, as they +advanced, they found it growing more and more dangerous. In some places +they found it almost impossible to get around certain corners, where +there was barely room for their feet. As Tom remarked grimly, a fat man +never could have done it. Fortunately they were all comparatively thin, +for their hard work, and not too abundant food, since they had left the +airship, had reduced their weight. + +Up and up they went, higher and higher, sometimes finding the path wide +enough for two to walk abreast, and again seeing it narrow almost to +a ribbon. They hardly dared look down into the chasm at their left--a +chasm filled, in part, with the rocks and boulders tossed into it by the +lightning bolt. + +Tom was in the lead, and had just made a dangerous turn around a +shoulder of rock--one of those places where he had to extend both arms, +and fairly hug the cliff before he could get around. + +But, when he had made it, and found himself on a broad pathway, cut +in the living rock, he gave a great shout--a shout that caused his +companions to hasten to his side. They found the young inventor pointing +to a clump of bushes and small trees. + +But it was not the shrubbery that Tom desired to call to their +attention. They saw that in an instant, for, dimly seen through the +leaves, was something black, and, as they looked more closely, they saw +that it was a great hole in the side of the mountain--a vast cavern, +opening like a tunnel. + +“The cave! The cave!” cried Tom. “The diamond makers' cave!” + +Hardly had he spoken than two men, each one carrying a gun, showed +themselves in the mouth of the cavern, and, instant later they both ran +toward the little party of adventurers. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII--THE PHANTOM CAPTURED + + +Surprise held Tom and his friends almost spellbound for the moment. +The young inventor's hand went toward the pocket where he carried his +revolver. Mr. Jenks, who had the only other weapon, sought to draw it, +but he was stopped by a gesture of one of the two men with guns. + +“Hold on, strangers!” the man cried. “I know what you're up to! Better +not try to draw anything--it might not be healthy. Now, then, who are +you, and what do you want?” + +The question came rather as a surprise, at least to Tom and Mr. Jenks. +They had taken it for granted that these men--if they were the diamond +makers--would know Mr. Jenks, and guess at his errand in coming back +to Phantom Mountain. But, it seemed, that they took them all for casual +strangers. + +No one answered for a moment. Tom caught the eye of Mr. Jenks, and there +was a look of hope in it. If ever there was a time for strategy, it was +now. Evidently Munson, the stowaway on the airship, had not yet been +able to send a warning to his confederates. And neither of the two men +recognized Mr. Jenks as the man who had been defrauded of his rights. +It might be possible to conceal the real object of the adventurers until +they had time to formulate a plan of action. + +“Well,” exclaimed the man with the gun, impatiently, “I ask you folks a +question. What do you want?” + +Fortunately, neither Mr. Damon nor Mr. Parker replied. The former +because he deferred to Tom and Mr. Jenks, and the scientist because he +was busy inspecting some curious rocks he picked up. As it turned out +this was the luckiest thing he could have done. It lent color to what +Mr. Jenks said a moment later. + +“What are you doing up here?” demanded the man again. “Don't you know +this is private property?” + +“We--we were just looking around,” answered Mr. Jenks, which was true +enough; as far as it went. + +“Prospecting,” added Tom. + +“After gold?” demanded the second man, suspiciously. + +“We'd be glad to find some,” retorted the lad. At that moment Mr. Parker +began breaking off bits of rock with a small geologist's hammer which he +carried. The men with the guns looked at him. + +“So you think you'll find gold up here?” asked the one who had first +spoken. + +“Is there any?” inquired Tom, trying to make his voice sound eager. + +“Nary a bit, strangers,” was the answer, and the two men laughed +heartily. “Now, we don't want to seem harsh,” went on the man who seemed +to be the spokesman, “but you'd better get away from here. This is +private ground, and dangerous too--how'd you ever get up the trail--we +heard it was destroyed.” + +“There is still a narrow path,” said Mr. Jenks. “We came up that--the +lightning and landslide haven't left much of it, though.” + +Mr. Parker looked quickly up from the rocks at which he was tapping with +his small hammer. “You have terrific lightning up here,” he said. “I am +much interested in it, from a scientific standpoint. I predict that some +day the entire mountain will be destroyed by a blast from the sky.” + +“I hope it won't be right away,” spoke one of the men. “Now I guess you +folks had better be leaving while there's a path left to go down by.” + +“Might I ask,” broke in Mr. Parker, as calmly as though he was lecturing +to a class of students, “might I ask if you have noticed any peculiar +effect of the lightning up here on the summit of the mountain? Does it +fuse and melt rocks, so to speak?” + +“What's that?” cried the spokesman, with a sudden flash of anger. The +two men looked at each other. + +“I wanted to know, merely for scientific reasons, whether the lightning +up here ever melted rocks?” repeated Mr. Jenks. + +“Well, whether it's for scientific reasons or for any other, I'm not +going to answer you!” snapped the man. “It's none of your affair what +the lightning does up here. Now you'd all better 'vamoose'--clear out!” + +“All right--we'll go,” said Tom, quickly, at the same time motioning to +Mr. Jenks to agree with him. The eyes of the young inventor were +roving about. He saw what looked like a second trail, leading down the +mountain, from the far side of the cave. He was convinced now that there +was another way to get to it. Possibly they might find it. At any rate +nothing more could be done now. They must go back, for the cavern was +too well guarded to attempt to enter it by force--at least just yet. + +“Yes, we'll go back,” assented Mr. Jenks. + +Mr. Parker was tapping away at the rocks. He looked toward the black +mouth of the big cave. On what corresponded to the roof of it, some +distance back from the entrance, he saw a slender metal rod sticking up +into the air. + +“May I ask if that's a lightning rod?” he inquired innocently. “If +it is, I should like to ask about its action in a mountain that is so +impregnated with iron ore. + +“You may ask until you get tired!” cried the spokesman, again showing +unreasoning anger, “but you'll get no answer from us. Now get away from +here before we do something desperate. You're on private ground and +you're not wanted. Clear out while you have the chance.” + +There was no help for it. Slowly our friends turned and began to go +down the dangerous trail. They were soon out of sight of the two men who +stood before the cave, with their guns ready, but neither Tom nor any of +his companions spoke for some time. + +When they had rounded one of the most dangerous turns the young inventor +sat down to rest, an example followed by the others. + +“Well,” asked Tom, “do you think those are some of the diamond makers, +Mr. Jenks?” + +“I certainly do, though I never saw those two men before. If I could +once get inside the cave, I could tell whether or not it was the one +where I was practically held a prisoner. But I'm sure it is. I know some +of the men used to go off every day with guns, and not come back until +night. I have no doubt they were on guard, just as these two are. And, +also, I think I heard them speak of a second entrance to the cavern. The +one we just saw may not be the main one, through which I was taken.” + +“I believe we are on the right track,” ventured Mr. Damon, “but we will +either have to go up there after dark, which will be risky, on account +of the narrow trail, or else we will have to find some other path.” + +“The last would be better,” spoke Tom. + +“That rod of metal sticking up on top of the cave interested me,” said +the scientist. “Did you hear anything of that when you were here before, +Mr. Jenks?” + +“No. Probably that is only a lightning rod, or it may be a staff for a +signal flag. But what surprises me is that those men didn't suspect +that we were seeking to discover their secret. They took us for ordinary +prospectors.” + +“So much the better,” remarked Tom. “We have a chance now of getting +inside that cave. But we will have to go back to camp, and make other +plans. And we must hurry, or it will be dark before we get there.” + +They hastened their steps, pausing only briefly to eat some of the lunch +they had brought along, and to drink from a spring that bubbled from the +side of the mountain. It was getting dusk when they got back to their +tent. They found nothing disturbed. + +“I wonder if we'll see that phantom again to-night?” ventured Tom, as +they were sitting about the campfire a little later. + +“Probably not,” remarked Mr. Jenks. “I don't believe the ghost will +venture down the dangerous trail after dark, and the gang may think +that the warning given us by the two men on guard at the cave will be +sufficient. But if we don't leave here by to-morrow I think we will have +another visit from the thing in white.” + +It was about an hour after this when Tom was collecting some wood in a +pile nearer the fire, so as to have it ready to throw on, in case there +was any alarm in the night, that he happened to look up toward the +summit of the mountain. A slight noise, as of loose stones rolling down, +attracted his attention, and, at first, he feared lest another landslide +was beginning, but a moment later he saw what caused it. + +There, advancing down the steep and dangerous trail was the figure +in white--the phantom. Instantly a daring plan came into Tom's head. +Dropping the wood softly, he moved back out of the glare of the fire. + +“Mr. Jenks!” he called in a whisper. + +The diamond man, who was behind the tent, came toward Tom. + +“What is it?” he asked. Then, as he saw the ghostly visitor, he added: +“Oh--the phantom again! What's it up to?” + +“The same thing,” replied Tom, “but it won't do it long, if my plan +succeeds.” + +“What plan is that, Tom?” + +“I'm going to try to capture that--that man--or whatever it is. Will you +help?” + +“Surely!” + +“Then let's work around behind it, while Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker come +up from in front. We'll solve this part of the mystery, anyhow, if it's +possible!” + +The two other men were soon told of the plan. Meanwhile the thing in +white had advanced slowly, until within a few hundred feet of the camp. +They could see now that it was no shaft of light, but some white body, +shaped like a tall, thin man, draped in a white garment. The long arms +waved to and fro. There was no semblance of a head. + +“You and Mr. Parker go right toward it, slowly, Mr. Damon,” advised +Tom. “Mr. Jenks and I will make a circle, and get in back. Then, if it's +anything alive we'll have it.” + +The “ghost” continued to advance. Tom and the diamond man stole off to +one side, their buckskin moccasins making no sound. Mr. Damon and the +scientist went boldly forward. + +This movement appeared to disconcert the spirit. It halted, waved the +arms with greater vigor than before, and seemed to indicate to the +adventurers that it was dangerous to advance. But Mr. Damon and Mr. +Parker kept on. They wanted to give Tom and Mr. Jenks time enough to +make the circuit. + +Suddenly the stillness of the night was broken by a low whistle. It was +Tom's signal that he and Mr. Jenks were ready. + +“Come on! Run!” cried Mr. Damon. + +The scientist and the eccentric man leaped forward. + +The “ghost” heard the whistle, and heard the spoken words. The thing in +white hesitated a moment, and then raised one arm. There was a flash of +fire, and a loud report. + +“He's firing in the air!” cried Tom. “Come on, we have him now!” + +Undaunted by the display of firearms, Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker kept on. +They could hear Tom and Mr. Jenks running up in back of the figure. +The latter also heard this, and suddenly turned. Caught between the two +forces of our friends, the “ghost” was at a loss what to do. + +The next instant Tom, who had distanced Mr. Jenks, made a flying tackle +for the figure in white, and caught it around the legs. Very substantial +legs they were, too, Tom felt--the legs of a man. + +“Wow!” yelled the “ghost,” as he went down in a heap, the revolver +falling from his hand. + +“Come on!” cried Tom. “I have him!” + +His friends rushed to his aid. There was a confused mass of dark bodies, +arms and legs mingled with something tall and thin, all in white. +Suddenly the moon came from behind a cloud and they could see what they +had captured--for captured the phantom was. + +It proved to be a rather small man, who wore upon his shoulders a +framework of wood, over which some white cloth was draped. It had fallen +off him when Tom made that tackle. + +“Well,” remarked the young inventor, as he sat on the struggling man's +chest. “I guess we've got you.” + +“I rather guess you have, stranger,” was the cool reply. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII--BILL RENSHAW WILL HELP + + +They were all panting from the exertion of the run up the mountain and +the contest with the phantom--a phantom no longer--though, truth to +tell, the struggle was not nearly so fierce as Tom had expected. He +thought the “ghost” would put up a stiff fight. + +“Got any ropes to tie him with?” asked Mr. Damon, who was helping Tom +hold the man down. + +“Ropes? You aren't going to tie me up are you, strangers?” asked the +captive. + +“That's what we are!” exclaimed Mr. Jenks. “We've had trouble enough in +this matter, and if I've got one of the gang, perhaps I can get some of +the others, and have my rights. So tie him up, Tom, and we'll take him +to camp. + +“Oh, you needn't go to all that trouble, strangers,” went on the man, +calmly. “If one of you will get off my chest, and the other gentleman +ease up on my stomach a bit, I'll walk wherever you want me, and not +make any trouble. I haven't got a gun.” + +“Bless my gloves! But you're a cool one,” commented Mr. Damon, as he +complied with the man's request, and got up from his stomach. “But look +out for him, Tom. He had a gun, for he fired it in the air.” + +“He hasn't it now,” answered the young inventor. “I knocked it from his +hand when I leaped for him.” + +“That's what you did,” assented the man, as he got up, while Tom kept a +tight hold of him, as did Mr. Jenks. “What kind of a grizzly bear hug do +you call that, anyhow, that you gave me?” + +“That was a football tackle,” explained Tom. + +“I allers heard that was a dangerous game!” remarked the former phantom +simply. “Well, now you've got me, what are you going to do with me?” + +“Take you where we can have a good look at you,” replied Mr. Jenks, as +he kicked aside the wooden framework, and the sheet which had made the +“ghost” appear so tall. “So this is how you worked it; eh?” + +“Yep. That was the 'haunt' stranger. I made it myself, and it worked all +right until you folks come along. I rather suspicioned from the first, +when I played the trick over on 'tother side of the mountain, that you +wouldn't be so easy to fool as most prospectors are.” + +“Oh, so you're the only ghost then?” asked Tom. + +“I'm the only one.” + +By this time they had reached the camp. Tom threw some light logs on the +fire, which blazed up brightly. As the flames illuminated the face of +their captive, Mr. Jenks looked at him, and cried out: + +“Why it's Bill Renshaw!” + +“That's me,” admitted the man who had played the part of the phantom, +“and thunder-turtles! if it ain't Mr. Jenks who was once in the diamond +cave with us. Whatever happened to you? I never heard. The others said +you got tired and went away.” + +“They took me away--defrauded me of my rights!” declared Mr. Jenks, +bitterly. “But I'll get them back! To think of Bill Renshaw playing the +part of a ghost!” + +“They made me do it,” went on the man, somewhat dejectedly. “I wanted to +be at work in the cave, but they wouldn't let me.” + +“Is this man one of the diamond makers?” asked Tom, in great surprise. + +“He is--one of the helpers, though I don't believe he knows the secret +of making the gems,” explained Mr. Jenks. “He was one of the men in the +cave when I was there before, and he and I struck up quite a friendship; +didn't we, Renshaw?” + +“That's what, and there ain't no reason why we can't be friends now; +that is unless you hold a grudge against me for firing at you. But I +only shot in the air, to scare you away. Them's my instructions. I'm +supposed to be on guard, and scare away strangers. I'm tired of the +work, too, for I don't get my share, and those other fellows, in the +cave, get all the money from the diamonds.” + +Tom Swift uttered an exclamation. A sudden plan had come to him. Quickly +he whispered to Mr. Jenks: + +“Make a friend of this man if possible. He evidently is dissatisfied. +Offer him a sum to show us another way into the cave, and we may yet +discover the secret of the diamond makers.” + +“I will,” declared Mr. Jenks, quietly. Then, turning to Renshaw, he +added: + +“Bill, come over here. I want to have a talk with you. Perhaps it will +be to our mutual advantage.” + +He led the former phantom to one side, and for some time conversed +earnestly with him. Mr. Jenks told the story of how he had been deceived +by Folwell and the others who were at the head of the gang of diamond +makers. The rich man related how they had taken his money, and, after +promising to disclose the secret process to him, had broken faith, and +had drugged him, afterward taking him out of the cave. + +“I want only my rights, and that for which I paid,” concluded Mr. Jenks. +“Now, I gather that these men haven't treated you altogether fairly, +Bill.” + +“Indeed they haven't. I helped 'em to the best of my ability, and all +I get out of it is to stay out on this lonely side of the mountain, +and play ghost. They owe me money, too, and they won't pay me, either, +though they have lots, for they sold some diamonds lately.” + +“Then they are still making diamonds?” asked Mr. Jenks, eagerly. “Have +you seen them? Do you know the secret?” + +“No, I don't know it, for they won't let me in on it. I'm always sent +out of the cave just before they make the gems. But I know they've made +some lately, and have sold 'em. I want my share.” + +“Look here!” exclaimed Mr. Jenks, quickly, wishing to strike while the +iron was hot. “I'll make you a proposition. Show us how to get into that +cave, unknown to the diamond makers, and I'll pay you twice what they +agreed to. Is it a bargain?” + +Bill Renshaw considered a moment. Then he thrust out his hand, clasped +that of Mr. Jenks, and exclaimed: + +“It is. I'll take you into the cave by an entrance that's seldom used. +There are four ways to get in. The one where the two men drove you back +is the rear one. The front one is on the other side of the mountain, but +it's so well concealed that you'd never find it. But I can take you to +one where you can get in, and those fellows will never know it. And, +what's more, I'll help you if it comes to a fight!” + +“Good!” exclaimed Mr. Jenks. “I think we'll discover the secret of the +diamond makers this time,” and he went to tell the others of the success +of his talk. Bill Renshaw had been converted from an enemy into a +friend, and the former phantom was now ready to lead Tom and the others +into the secret cave. + +“We'll start in the morning,” decided Mr. Jenks, who, after many +disappointments, at last saw success ahead of him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX--IN THE SECRET CAVE + + +Tom Swift was up at break of day, and the others were not far behind +him. + +“Now for the secret cave!” cried the young inventor as he gazed up +the mountain, in the interior of which the mysterious band of men were +making the diamonds. + +“Have you made any plans, Bill?” asked Mr. Jenks of the former phantom, +who had cast his lot in with the adventurers. “What will be the best +course for us to follow?” + +“You just leave it to me, Mr. Jenks,” was the answer. “I'll get you into +the cave, and those fellows, who, I believe, are trying to do me out of +my rights, as they did you out of yours, will never know a thing about +it.” + +“Bless my finger-nails!” cried Mr. Damon. “That will be great! We can +get in the cave, and watch them make the diamonds at our leisure.” + +“They don't make them every day,” explained Renshaw. “It seems they +have to wait for certain occasions. Mostly they make the diamonds when +there's a big storm.” + +“A big storm,” asked the scientist with a sudden show of interest. +“Do you mean one of those electrical storms, such as we had the other +night?” + +“That's it, Mr. Parker, though why they wait until there's a storm is +more than I can tell.” + +“Perhaps they know that on such occasions no one will venture up the +mountain,” spoke Mr. Damon. + +“No, it isn't that,” declared the scientist. “I think I am on the +track of a great scientific discovery, and I will soon be able to make +observations that will confirm it.” + +“Well, I'm going to make an observation right now,” said Tom, with a +laugh. “I'm going to see what there is for breakfast.” + +“And that reminds me,” came from Mr. Jenks, “shall we move our camp, +Bill, and take the tent with us to the cave?” + +“I hardly think so,” was the answer. “I think the best plan would be to +conceal the tent somewhere around here, in case you might need it again. +You can also store what food you have left.” + +“But, bless my appetite, we don't want to starve in that diamond cave!” + objected Mr. Damon. + +“I'll see that you don't,” declared Bill Renshaw. “I'll take you in +there, unbeknownst to those fellows, and I'll provide you with plenty +of food and water. You see the cave is so big that there are some parts +they never visit.” + +“And we can stay in one of those parts, and eat?” asked Tom. + +“Sure,” answered Bill. + +“And watch the diamond makers at work?” asked Mr. Jenks. + +“That's it,” replied the former phantom. + +“Then the sooner we get started the better,” remarked Mr. Damon. Mr. +Parker said nothing. He appeared to be thinking deeply, and was tapping +at some rocks with his little hammer. + +The advice of Bill Renshaw was followed, and the tent, and what food +remained, was concealed in the bushes, with rocks piled over to keep +away prowling animals. Then they started for the secret cave. + +The man who played the part of a ghost picked up the framework and white +cloth that had formed his disguise. + +“I'll still have to use this,” he explained, “for I don't want those +fellows to know that I'm helping you. I'll continue to play the spirit +of the mountain, but there won't be much need of it. I don't think any +more people will come prospecting out here.” + +“Have you heard of the arrival of Farley Munson?” asked Tom, as he +related the facts about the stowaway. + +“He hadn't arrived up to a day or so ago,” answered Bill. “I guess he's +still traveling. Farley is one of the heads of the gang,” he added, “and +a dangerous man.” + +As Bill led the way toward the cave, taking a route that the adventurers +had never suspected led to it, he explained that the cavern was a large +one, capable of holding an army. + +“But there's only a small part of it used by the diamond makers,” he +added. “They work in a small recess, near the summit of the mountain. +The little cave, where I'm going to take you, opens off from it by a +long passage. And, except that you'll be pretty much in the dark, you'll +be quite comfortable. There are tables, chairs, and some bunks in the +place. I can get you some lights, and plenty of food.” + +“But, if you are seen taking away food, won't the others suspect +something?” asked Tom. + +“I do pretty much as I please,” said Bill. “I go and come when I like. +All I'm supposed to do is to watch my two sides of the mountain, play +the ghost, and give warning when any one is coming. Sometimes I leave +black and white messages, like the one I put on your tent. Those fellows +fix 'em up for me. I've told 'em about you, though I didn't know who you +were, and they think you have gone, for the two men on guard at the rear +entrance so reported. Sometimes I stay out on the mountain for a couple +of days at a time, when the weather's good, and don't go back to the +cave. Those times I take food with me, and so if they see me making off +with some supplies they'll think I'm going to camp out.” + +“It doesn't look as though we'd ever get into a cave near the top of the +mountain, going this way,” said Tom, as they marched along. “We're going +down, instead of up.” + +“That's the secret of this trail,” explained Bill. “We go down in a +sort of valley, and then go up a pretty stiff place, and then we're on +a direct trail to the entrance I told you about. It's a steep road to +climb, but I guess we can manage it.” + +And a hard climb the adventurers did find it. The road was almost as bad +as the one along the edge of the chasm, but they managed to negotiate +it, and finally found themselves on a fairly good trail. + +“We'll soon be there,” Bill assured them. “After you get in the little +cave, where I'm going to hide you, I'll have to leave you for a spell, +until I get my ghost rigging fixed up again. But I'll see that you have +plenty of food and drink.” + +A little later their guide came to a sudden halt, and peered around +anxiously. + +“What's the matter?” asked Tom. + +“I was just looking to see if any of the men were about,” he answered. +“But I guess not--it looks all right. The entrance is right here.” + +They were on a side of the mountain, near the summit. Below stretched a +magnificent scene. A great valley lay at their feet, and they could look +off to many distant peaks. The main trail to Leadville, and the one to +the settlement of Indian Ridge, was in sight. + +Suddenly Tom, who had been using a small but powerful telescope, uttered +an exclamation, and focussed the instrument on a speck that seemed +moving along on the trail below. + +“A man--coming up the mountain,” cried Tom. “And--it can't be--yet it +is--it's Farley Munson--the stowaway!” he cried. “He's coming here!” + +“Let me look!” begged Mr. Jenks, taking the glass from Tom. An instant +later the diamond man exclaimed: “Yes, it's Munson!” + +“Then in here with you--quick!” cried Renshaw. “He can't see us yet, and +we'll be out of sight in another minute.” + +The former spirit pulled aside some thick bushes, and pointed to a hole +which was disclosed. + +“The entrance to the secret cave,” he announced. “Slip in all of you.” + +Tom, after another glance at the man toiling his way up the mountain, +entered the cavern. He was followed by the others. Bill was the last to +enter, and he replaced the bushes over the entrance. + +“At last!” exclaimed Mr. Jenks, as he gazed up at the roof of the +dimly-lighted vault in which they found themselves. + +“Yes, we're in the diamond makers' secret cave,” added Tom. “Now to +catch them at work!” + +“Come on,” advised Bill, in a low tone, “We're not safe yet,” and he +produced a lantern from some hidden recess, lighted the wick, and led +the way. As the others followed they were aware of a subdued noise in +the great cavern. + + + + +CHAPTER XX--MAKING THE DIAMONDS + + +“What's that noise?” asked Tom, as their guide flashed the lantern to +show them the way. + +“That's the men getting ready to make diamonds, I guess,” was the +answer. “You see it takes quite a while to get the stuff ready. I don't +know what they use--they never tell me any of their secrets.” + +“Oh, I know the ingredients well enough,” said Mr. Jenks, “but I +don't know the secret of how they apply the terrific heat and pressure +necessary to fuse the materials into diamonds.” + +“Well, you'll soon know,” declared Bill Renshaw. “Of course it isn't +always successful. I've known 'em to try half a dozen times before they +got any diamonds big enough to satisfy 'em. They gave me some of the +small ones when I asked for my wages. + +“How did you come to get in with these men?” asked Tom, curious to +understand how a person seemingly as honest as Renshaw appeared to be +had cast his lot in with the men who had broken faith with Mr. Jenks. + +“Oh, I've lived around these parts all my life,” was the answer. “I knew +of this cave before these diamond fellers came to it. In fact, I +showed it to 'em. It was several years ago that a party of men who were +prospecting around here came to me and asked if I knew of a small cave +near the top of a high mountain, where lightning storms were frequent. +I told them about Phantom Mountain, as it was called then, and also of +this cave. If there's any place where they have worse lightning storms +than here, I'd like to know it. They scare me, sometimes, like the night +when that landslide happened, and I'm sort of used to 'em. + +“Well, I took these men to the cave, and they hired me as a sort of +lookout. Then they began their work, and at first I didn't know what +they were up to, but finally I caught on. Then Mr. Jenks came, and +disappeared mysteriously, though then I didn't know that they had played +a trick on him. I was outside most of the time, pretending I was the +ghost. So that's how I came to get in with 'em, and I wish I was out.” + +“You soon will be, I think,” declared Mr. Jenks. “But won't our talking +be heard by the men?” + +“No danger. There is a thick wall between this part of the cave, and the +part where they live and work. I'll soon have you well hid, and then you +wait until I come back.” + +“What about Munson?” asked Tom. “He is evidently on his way here to tell +his confederates about us.” + +“He won't know what has happened to us,” said Mr. Jenks, “and he won't +see anything of us. I guess we're safe enough.” + +Through the dark passage they followed Bill Renshaw until he came to a +halt in a place that suddenly widened and broadened into a good-sized +cave. + +“Here's your stopping place,” said the former ghost. “Now if you follow +that passage, off to the left,” and he pointed to it, “you'll come +to the larger part of the cave where the diamond makers are. But go +cautiously, and don't make any noise. I won't be responsible for what +happens.” + +“We'll take all the risk,” interrupted Tom. + +“All right. Now there's a couple of lanterns around here. I'll light +them, and leave you for a while until I can get some grub. I'll be back +as soon as I can.” + +He glided away, after lighting two lanterns, by the gleams of which +the adventurers could see that they were in a vaulted cavern that had +evidently been fitted up as a living apartment. The sides, roof and +floor were of stone. It was clean, and the air was fresh. There were +some chairs, a table, and several cots, with pieces of bagging for +bedding, though it was warm in the place. + +“I guess we can stay here until we discover the secret,” spoke Tom. + +“Bless my watch! We can if we have something to eat,” came from Mr. +Damon, with something like a sigh. “I'm hungry!” + +“And I want to make some observations,” said Mr. Parker. “From what I +have seen of this mountain, I would not be surprised if this cave was +to be suddenly destroyed by a landslide or a lightning bolt. I will make +some further investigations.” + +“Well, if it's going to cause you to make such gloomy prophecies as +that, I'd just as soon you wouldn't look any further,” spoke Tom, in +a low voice. But Mr. Parker, taking one of the lanterns, set about +examining the rock of which the cave consisted. + +In a short time Bill Renshaw returned with enough food to last for two +days. He said he was going out on the mountain once more to act the part +of a lookout, and would visit the adventurers again the next day. + +“In the meanwhile you can do just as you please,” he said. “Nobody is +likely to disturb you here, and you can sneak up and take a look at the +men in the other cave whenever you're ready. Only be careful--that's all +I've got to say. They're desperate men.” + +It was not very pleasant, eating in the gloomy cavern, but they made the +best of it. They cooked on a small oil-stove they found in the place, +and after some hot coffee they felt much better. + +“Well,” remarked Tom, after a while, “shall we take a chance, and go +look at the men at work?” + +“I think so,” answered Mr. Jenks. “The sooner we discover this mystery, +the better. Then we can go back home.” + +“And recover my airship,” added Tom, who was a bit uneasy regarding the +safety of the Red Cloud. + +“Then, bless my finger-rings! let's go and see if we can find the big +cave your friend the ghost told us of,” suggested Mr. Damon. + +Cautiously they made their way along the passage Bill had pointed out. +As they went forward the subdued noise became louder, and finally they +could feel the vibration of machinery. + +“This is the place,” whispered Mr. Jenks. “That sound we hear is one of +the mixing machines, for grinding the materials--carbon and the other +substances--which go to make up the diamonds. I remember hearing that +when I was in the cave before.” + +“Then we must be near the place,” observed Tom. + +“Yes, but I didn't have much chance to look around when I was here +before. They wouldn't let me. I never even knew of the small cave Bill +took us to.” + +“Well, if we're close to it, we'd better go cautiously, and not talk any +more than we're obliged to,” suggested Mr. Parker, and they agreed that +this was good advice. + +They walked on softly. Suddenly Tom, who was in the lead, saw a gleam of +light. + +“We're here,” he whispered. “I'll put out our lantern, now,” which he +did. Then, stealing forward he and the others beheld a curious sight. +The tunnel they were in ended at a small hole which opened into a large +cavern, and, fortunately, this opening was concealed from the view of +those in the main place. + +“The diamond makers!” whispered Tom, hoarsely, pointing to several men +grouped about a number of strange machines. + +“Yes--the very place where I was,” answered Mr. Jenks, “and there is the +apparatus--the steel box--from which the diamonds are taken--now to see +how they make them.” + +Fascinated, the adventurers looked into the cave. The men there were +unaware of the presence of our friends, and were busily engaged. Some +attended to the grinding machine, the roar and clatter of which made +it possible for Tom and the others to talk and move about without being +overheard. Into this machine certain ingredients were put, and they were +then pulverized, and taken out in powdery form. + +The power to run the mixing machine was a gasoline motor, which +chug-chugged away in one corner of the cave. + +As the powder was taken out, other men fashioned it into small balls, +which were put on pan, and into a sort of oven, that was heated by a +gasoline stove. + +“Is that how they make the diamonds?” asked Mr. Damon. + +“That is evidently the first step,” said Mr. Jenks. “Those balls of +powdered chemicals are partly baked, and then they are put into the +steel box. In some way terrific heat and pressure are applied, and the +diamonds are made. But how the heat and pressure are obtained is what we +have yet to learn.” + +He paused to watch the men at work. They were all busy, some attending +to the machines, and others coming and going in and out of the cave. In +one part a man was apparently getting ready a meal. + +Suddenly there rushed into the cave a man who seemed much excited. + +“Are you nearly ready with that stuff?” he cried. “There's a good storm +gathering on the mountain!” + +“Yes, we'll be ready in half an hour,” answered one of the men at the +mixing machine. + +“Good. It will be flashing lightning bolts then, and we can see what +luck we have. The last batch was a failure.” The man hurried out again. +Mr. Parker touched Tom and Mr. Jenks on their shoulders. + +“What is it?” asked Tom. + +“I know the secret of making the diamonds,” said the scientist. + +“What?” cried Mr. Jenks. + +“It is by the awful power of the lightning bolts!” whispered Mr. Parker. +“Everything is explained now--the reason why they make diamonds in this +lonely place, near the top of the mountain. They need a place where the +lightning is powerful. I can understand it now--I suspected it before. +They make diamonds by lightning!” + +“Are you sure?” cried Mr. Jenks. + +“Positive.” + +“I agree with you,” said Tom Swift. “I was just getting on that track +myself, when I saw the electric wires running to the steel box. That +explains the upright rod on the top of the mountain. The man says +a storm is coming--very well; we'll stay here and watch them make +diamonds!” + +As he spoke there came the mutter of thunder, and the mountain vibrated +slightly. The men in the cave redoubled their activity. Tom and his +friends felt that the secret process they had so long sought was about +to be demonstrated before their eyes. + + + +CHAPTER XXI--FLASHING GEMS + + +Eagerly the adventurers looked through the opening at the end of the +passage into the larger cave. The men opened the small oven in which the +balls of white chemicals and carbon mixed, had been baked, and a pile of +things, that looked like irregularly-shaped marbles, were placed in the +steel box. + +This box, which was about the size of a trunk, was of massive metal. It +was placed in a recess in the solid rock, and all about were layers of +asbestos and other substances that were nonconductors of heat. + +“That box becomes red hot,” exclaimed Mr. Jenks, in a whisper. “When +things are in readiness, that lever is pulled and the diamonds are +made. I pulled it once, but I did not then know the process involved. I +supposed that the lightning had nothing to do with making the diamonds.” + +“It has--a most important part,” said Mr. Parker. The hidden adventurers +could talk in perfect safety now, for the men in the large cave were too +excited to pay much attention to them. The muttering of the thunder +grew louder, and at times a particularly loud crash told that a bolt had +struck somewhere in the vicinity of the cave. + +“But, bless my watch-charm!” exclaimed Mr. Damon, “I didn't know +lightning made diamonds.” + +“It does not--always,” went on the scientist. “But great heat and +pressure are necessary to create the gems. In nature this was probably +obtained by prehistoric volcanic fires, and by the terrific pressure of +immense rocks. It is possible to make diamonds in the laboratory of the +chemist, but they are so minute as to be practically valueless. + +“However, these men seem to have hit upon a new plan. They utilize the +terrific heat of lightning, and the pressure which is instantaneously +obtained when the bolt strikes. I am anxious to see how it is done. +Look, I think they are getting ready to make the gems.” + +Indeed there seemed to be an air of expectancy among the diamond makers. +The mixing machine had now been stopped, and, as it was more quiet +in the cave, our friends, in their hiding-place, had to speak in mere +whispers. All the men were now gathered about the great steel box. + +This receptacle had been closed by a solid metal door, which was screwed +and clamped tight. Then one of the men examined a number of heavily +insulated electric wires that extended from the box off into the +darkness where Tom and his companions could not discern them. + +“That's Folwell--the man I befriended, and who got me into this game,” + whispered Mr. Jenks. “He was also one of the first to turn against me. I +think he's one of the leaders.” + +Folwell came back, after having gone into a dark part of the cave. He +went over to an electrical switch on one of the stone walls. + +“It's almost time,” Tom heard him say to his confederates. “The storm is +coming up rapidly.” + +“Will it be severe enough?” asked one of the helpers. “We had all our +work for nothing last time. The flashes weren't heavy enough.” + +“These will be,” asserted Folwell. “The indicator shows nearly a million +volts now, and it's increasing.” + +“A million volts!” exclaimed Tom. “I hope it doesn't strike anywhere +around here.” + +“Oh, it will probably be harmlessly conducted down on the heavy wires,” + said Mr. Parker. “We are in no danger, at present, though ultimately I +expect to see the whole mountain shattered by a lightning bolt.” + +“Cheerful prospect,” murmured Tom. + +There was a terrific crash outside. The rocky floor of the cave +trembled. + +“Here she comes!” cried Folwell. “Get back, everybody! I'm going to +throw over the switch now!” + +The men retreated well away from the steel box. Folwell threw over the +lever--the same one Mr. Jenks remembered pulling. Then the man ran +to the electric switch on the wall, and snapped that into place, +establishing a connection. + +There was a moment's pause, as Folwell ran to join the others in their +place of safety. Then from without there came a most nerve-racking and +terrifying crash. It seemed as if the very mountain would be rent into +fragments. + +Watching with eager eyes, the adventurers saw sparks flash from the +steel box. Instantly it became red hot, and then glowed white and +incandescent. It was almost at the melting point. + +Then came comparative quiet, as the echoes of the thunder died away amid +the mountain peaks. + +“I guess that did the trick!” cried Folwell. “It was a terrific crash +all right!” + +He and the others ran forward. The steel box was now a cherry red, +for it was cooling. Folwell threw back the lever, and another man +disconnected the switch. There was a period of waiting until the box was +cool enough to open. Then the heavy door was swung back. + +With a long iron rod Folwell drew something from the retort. It was the +tray which had held the white balls. But they were white no longer, for +they had been turned into diamonds. From their hiding-place Tom and the +others could see the flashing gems, for, in spite of the fact that the +diamonds were uncut, some of them sparkled most brilliantly, due to the +peculiar manner in which they were made. + +“We have the secret of the diamonds!” whispered Mr. Jenks. “There must +be a quart of the gems there!” + +The men gathered about Folwell, uttering exclamations of delight. The +diamonds were too hot to handle yet. + +“That's going some!” exclaimed the chief of the diamond makers. “We have +a small fortune here.” + +The was a sudden commotion at one end of the cave. A man rushed in. At +the sight of him Tom stared and uttered an exclamation. + +“Munson--the stowaway!” he whispered. + +“Hello!” cried Folwell, as he saw his confederate. “I thought you were +East, keeping Jenks away from here.” + +“He got the best of me!” cried Munson, “he and that Tom Swift! I stowed +away on their airship, but they found me out by a wireless message, +and marooned me in the woods. I've been trying to get here ever since! +Didn't you get my messages of warning?” + +“No--what warnings?” cried Folwell. + +“About Jenks, Tom Swift and the others. They're here--they must be on +Phantom Mountain now. In fact, I shouldn't be surprised if they were in +this cave. I traced them to their camp, but they're gone. They may be +among us now--in some of the secret recesses!” + +For an instant Folwell stared at the bearer of these tidings. Then he +cried out: + +“Scatter men, and find these fellows! We must get them before they +discover our secret!” + +“It's too late--we know it!” exulted Tom Swift. Then he whispered to +the others to hurry to the part of the cave where Bill Renshaw had first +hidden them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII--PRISONERS + + +“Do you think there is any danger of them finding us?” asked Mr. Damon, +as he hurried along beside Tom. + +“I'm afraid so,” was the answer. “I've been worried ever since we saw +Munson heading this way. But we couldn't do any differently.” + +“Perhaps Bill Renshaw may be able to conceal us,” suggested Mr. Jenks. +“Very likely he knows that Munson is on hand. Perhaps we will be safe +for a while. I want to make a few more observations as to how they +manufacture the diamonds, and then, with what I already know, I'll have +the secret.” + +“And I'd like to make some scientific tests of the sides and bottom +rocks of the cave,” spoke Mr. Parker. “I think it will bear out my +theory that the mountain will soon be destroyed.” + +“Well, you were right about Earthquake Island, and you may be right +about this mountain,” said Tom, “but if it is going to be annihilated I +hope we get far enough away from it.” + +“We can keep our presence here a secret for a few more days, I think +that will be long enough,” proceeded Mr. Jenks. “Then we will leave.” + +“And, in the meanwhile, they'll be searching for us,” objected Mr. +Damon. “I wish that ghost-chap would come back and tell us what to do. +Bless my liver-pin, but we are going to be in considerable danger, I'm +afraid! Those men may capture us, and decide to make diamond dust from +us.” + +“Come on--hurry to the little cave,” urged Tom. “Then we'll get ready to +defend ourselves.” + +“The main cave is a large one,” said Mr. Jenks, “and there are many +hiding places in it. In fact, it is so large that it will take those +fellows several days to complete a circuit of it. By that time Bill +Renshaw may come back, and take us to some place in which they have +already searched for us. Then we'll be comparatively safe.” + +This thought was some consolation to them, as they made their way +through the dark passage, dimly illuminated by the lantern they had +rekindled, to the place where Bill had hidden them. They found things +as they had left them, and proceeded to get a meal, though Tom said it +would be best not to cook anything, or even to make coffee, for fear the +odors would enable the searchers to trail them. + +So they ate cold food, glad to get that. Silently they sat about the +dimly-lighted cavern, and discussed the situation. True they might even +now retreat, going out of the entrance Bill had showed them, and so +escape. But Mr. Jenks felt that his mission was not completed yet, and +they all agreed to stay with him. + +“For there are several points about making diamonds that are not +quite clear to me,” he said. “I need to know how that steel box is +constructed, how the electrical switches are arranged, what kind of +lightning rods they use, and how they regulate the pressure. The other +things, and how to mix the ingredients, I already know.” + +“Then we'll do our best to help you,” promised Tom. “But now I think we +had better see what sort of a defense we can put up. We have our guns +and revolvers, and with these chairs and tables we can build a sort of +barricade behind which we can take refuge if those fellows do discover +our hiding place.” + +This was conceded to be a good idea, and soon a rude sort of fort was +made, behind which the adventurers could take their stand and fight, if +necessary, though they hoped this would not come to pass. + +They remained quietly in the cave the remainder of that day, and, when +it was night, as they could tell by their timepieces--there was no +daylight--they divided the hours into watches, taking turns standing +guard. + +Morning, at least in point of time, came without any disturbance, and +they made a cold breakfast. They hoped that Bill Renshaw would come, but +he did not appear. + +After sitting in the dark cave until afternoon, Tom said: + +“I think we might as well go and take another observation of the big +cave. We can tell what the men are doing, then, for they don't seem to +have been near us. Maybe they have given up the search for us, and we +can see them at work, and Mr. Jenks can gain what further knowledge he +needs.” + +“That will be a good plan,” agreed the diamond man. “It's maddening to +sit here, doing nothing.” + +“And it will be comparatively safe to go from here to our former post of +observation,” added Tom, “for there doesn't seem to be any opening along +the tunnel, into the larger cave, except the place where we were.” + +Accordingly they started off. Cautiously they looked through the opening +into the apartment where they had seen the diamonds made. + +“There's not a soul here!” exclaimed Tom, in a whisper. The others +looked. The place was deserted--the machinery silent. Mr. Jenks peered +in for a moment, and then exclaimed: + +“I'm going in! Now's my chance to find out all that I wish to know! It +may never come again, and then we can soon leave Phantom Mountain!” + +It was a daring plan, but it seemed to be the best one to follow. They +were all tired of inactivity. Mr. Jenks managed to get through the +opening, and dropped into the big cave. The others followed. Mr. Jenks +hurried over to the steel box, and began an examination of it. Tom Swift +was looking at the electrical switch. He saw how it was constructed. Mr. +Damon and Mr. Parker were peering interestedly about. + +Suddenly the sound of voices was heard, and the echo of footsteps. Mr. +Jenks started. + +“They're coming back!” he whispered hoarsely. “Run!” + +They all turned and sped toward their hiding place. But they were too +late. An instant later Folwell, Munson and the other diamond makers +confronted them. Our friends made a bold rush, but were caught before +they could go ten feet. + +“We have them!” cried Munson. “They walked right into our hands!” + +It was true. Tom Swift and the others were the prisoners of the diamond +makers. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII--BROKEN BONDS + + +“Well,” remarked Tom Swift, in mournful tones, “this looks as if we were +up against it; doesn't it?” + +“Bless my umbrella, it certainly does,” agreed Mr. Damon. + +“And it's all my fault,” said Mr. Jenks. “I shouldn't have gone into the +big cave. I might have known those men would come back any time.” + +The above conversation took place as our friends lay securely bound in +a small cave, or recess, opening from the larger cavern, where, about +an hour before, they had been captured and made prisoners by the diamond +makers. Despite their struggles they had been overpowered and bound, +being carried to the cave, where they were laid in a row on some old +bags. + +“It certainly is a most unpleasant situation, to say the least,” + observed Mr. Parker. + +“And all my fault,” repeated Mr. Jenks. + +“Oh, no it isn't,” declared Tom Swift, quickly. “We were just as ready +to follow you into that cave as you were to go. No one could tell that +the men would return so soon. It's nobody's fault. It's just our bad +luck.” + +From where he lay, tied hand and foot, the young inventor could look +out into the cave where he and the others had been caught. The diamond +makers were busily engaged, apparently in getting ready to manufacture +another batch of the precious stones. They paid little attention to +their captives, save to warn them, when they had first been taken into +the little cave, that it was useless to try to escape. + +“They needn't have told us that,” observed Tom, as he and the others +were talking over their situation in low voices. “I don't believe any +one could loosen these ropes.” + +“They certainly are pretty tight,” agreed Mr. Damon. “I've been tugging +and straining at mine for the last half hour, and all I've succeeded in +doing is to make the cords cut into my flesh.” + +“Better give it up,” advised Mr. Jenks. + +“We'll just have to wait.” + +“For what?” the scientist wanted to know. + +“To see what they'll do with us. They can't keep us here forever. +They'll have to let us go some time.” Following their capture, Folwell +and Munson, the latter the stowaway of the airship, had been in earnest +conversation regarding our friends, but what conclusion they had reached +the adventurers could only guess. + +“And we didn't have time to examine the diamond-making machinery close +enough so that we could duplicate it if necessary,” complained Tom, a +little later. + +“No,” agreed Mr. Jenks. “There are certain things about it that are not +clear to me. Well, I don't believe I'll have another chance to inspect +it. They'll take good care of that, though they seem to be getting ready +to make more diamonds.” + +“Perhaps they're going to manufacture a big batch, and then leave this +place,” suggested Mr. Damon. “They will probably go to some other secret +cave, and leave us here.” + +“I hope they untie us before they leave, and give us something to eat,” + remarked the young inventor. + +For two hours longer the captives lay there, in most uncomfortable +positions. Then Folwell and Munson, leaving the group of diamond makers +who were grouped about the machinery, approached the captives. + +“Well,” remarked Munson, “we got ahead of you after all; didn't we. You +thought you had our secret, but it will be a long while before you ever +make diamonds.” + +“What are you going to do with us?” asked Tom. + +“Never mind. You came where you had no right to, and you must take the +consequences.” + +“We did have a right to come here!” exclaimed Mr. Jenks. “I am entitled +to know how the diamonds are made. I paid for the information, and you +tricked me. If ever it's possible I'll have the whole gang arrested for +swindling.” + +“You'll never get the chance!” declared Folwell. “You were given some +diamonds for the money you invested, and that makes us square.” + +“No, it doesn't!” declared Mr. Jenks. “I invested the money to learn how +to make diamonds, and you know it! You tricked me, and I had a right +to try to discover your secret! I nearly have it, too, and I'll get it +completely before I'm done with you!” + +“No, you won't!” boasted Folwell. “But we didn't come here to tell you +that. We came to give you something to eat. We're not savages and +we'll treat you as well as we can in spite of the fact that you are +trespassers. We're going to give you some grub, but I warn you that any +attempt to escape will mean that some of you will get hurt.” + +He signalled to some of his confederates. These men unbound the +captives' arms, and stood over them while they ate some coarse food that +was brought into the small cave. They were given coffee to drink, and +then, when the simple meal was over, they were securely bound again, +and left to themselves, while the diamond makers went back to their +machinery. + +It was evident that they were going to attempt a big operation, for an +unusually large quantity of the white stuff was prepared. The prisoners +watched them idly. They could see some but not all of the operations. In +this way several hours passed. + +Gloom possessed the hearts of Tom and his friends. Not only had their +expedition been almost a failure so far, but the young inventor was +worried lest the gang might discover and wreck his airship. This would +prove a serious loss. Lying there in the semi-darkness the lad imagined +all sorts of unpleasant happenings. + +At times he dozed off, as did the others. They had become somewhat used +to the pain caused by the bonds, for their nerves were numb from the +strain and pressure. + +Once, as he was lightly sleeping, Tom was awakened by hearing loud +voices in the main cave. He looked out, rolling over slightly to get a +better view. He saw the man who, once before had run in to give news of +an approaching electrical storm. + +“Are you fellows all ready?” asked this same man again. + +“Yes. Is there another storm coming?” + +“Yes, and it's going to be a corker!” was the reply. “It's one of the +worst I've ever seen. It's sweeping right up the valley. It'll be here +in an hour.” + +“That's good. We need a big flash to make all the material we have +prepared into diamonds. It's the biggest batch we ever tried. I hope it +succeeds, for we're going to leave--” The rest was in so low a tone that +Tom could not catch it. + +The storm messenger departed. Folwell and Munson busied themselves about +the machinery. Tom dozed off again, dimly wondering what had become of +Bill Renshaw, and whether the former ghost knew of their plight. The +others were asleep, as the young inventor saw by the dim light of a +lantern in the cave. Then, he too, shut his eyes. + +Tom was suddenly awakened by feeling some one's hands moving about his +clothing. At first he thought it was one of the diamond-making gang, who +had sneaked in to rob him. “Here! What are you up to?” exclaimed Tom. + +“Quiet!” cautioned a voice. “Are you all here?” + +“All of us--yes. But who are you?” + +“Easy--keep quiet, Tom Swift! I'm Bill Renshaw! I've been searching all +over for you, since I got back to your cave and found it empty. Now I'm +going to free you. I got in here by a secret entrance. Wait, I'll cut +your ropes.” There was a slight sound, and an instant later Tom was +freed from his bonds. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV--IN GREAT PERIL + + +The young inventor could scarcely believe the good luck that had so +unexpectedly come to him and his companions. No sooner was Tom able to +move freely about than Bill Renshaw performed the same service for Mr. +Jenks and the others, cautioning them to be quiet as he awakened them, +and cut the ropes. + +“Bless my circulation!” exclaimed Mr. Damon, in a hoarse whisper. “How +did you ever get here. I'd given ourselves up for lost.” + +“Oh, I came in off the mountain, as there's a big storm due,” explained +the man. “There was no need of me playing the haunt in daytime, anyhow. +I went to the cave, found you and your things gone, and I surmised that +you might have walked into some trap.” + +“We did,” admitted Mr. Jenks, grimly. + +“Well, I hunted around until I found you,” went on Bill. “This mountain +is honeycombed with caves, all opening from the large one, I know them +better than these fellows do, so I could explore freely, and keep out of +their sight. They didn't know that there was a second entrance to this +place, but I did, and I made for it, when I couldn't find you in some of +the other caves where I looked. And, sure enough, here you were.” + +“Well, we can't thank you enough,” said Mr. Parker. “But you say there +is a big storm coming?” + +“One of the biggest that's been around these parts in some time,” + replied Bill. + +“Then perhaps the mountain will be destroyed,” went on the scientist, as +calmly as if he had remarked that it might rain. + +“I hope nothing like that happens until we get away,” spoke Mr. Damon, +fervently. + +“What had we better do?” inquired Tom. + +“Get away, unless you want to discover some more of their secrets,” + advised Bill. “Those fellows are planning something, but I can't find +out what it is. They are suspicious of me, I think. But they are up to +something, and I believe, it would be best for you to leave while you +have the chance. It may not be healthy to stay. That's why I did my best +to untie you.” + +“We appreciate what you have done,” declared Mr. Jenks, “but I want my +rights. I must learn a few more facts about how to make diamonds from +lightning flashes, and then I will have the same secret they cheated me +out of. I think if we wait a while we may be able to see the parts of +the process that are not quite clear to us. What do you say, Tom Swift?” + +“Well, I would like to learn the secret,” replied the lad, “and if Bill +thinks it's safe to stay here a while longer--” + +“Oh, I guess it will be safe enough,” was the reply. “Those fellows +won't bother about you now that they are about to make some more +diamonds. Besides, they think you're all tied up. Yes, you can stay here +and watch, I reckon. I've got a couple of guns, and--” + +“Then we'll stay,” decided Tom. “We can put up a better fight now.” + +Silently, in their prison, but which they could now leave whenever they +pleased, the adventurers watched the diamond makers once more. The same +process they had witnessed before was gone through with. The white balls +were put inside the steel box and sealed up. Then they waited for the +storm to reach its height. + +That this would not be long was evidenced by the mutterings of thunder +which every moment grew louder. The outburst of electrical fury was +likely to take place momentarily, and that it would be unusually severe +was shown by the precautions taken by the diamond makers. They attached +a number of extra wires, and brought out some insulated, hard rubber +platforms, on which they themselves stood. Tom and Mr. Jenks were much +interested in watching this detail of the work, and sought to learn how +each part of the process was done. + +“I almost think we can make diamonds, Tom, when we get back to +civilization,” whispered Mr. Jenks. + +“I hope we can,” answered Tom, “and we can't get back any too soon to +suit me. I want to be in my airship again.” + +“I don't blame you. But look, they are getting ready to adjust the +switch.” + +The adventurers ceased their whispered talk, and eagerly watched the +diamond makers. Folwell and Munson were hurrying to and fro in the big +cave, attending to the adjustments of the machinery. + +“On your insulated plates--all of you,” Folwell gave the order. “This +is going to be a terrific storm. The gage shows twice the power we have +ever used, and it's creeping up every minute! We'll have more diamonds +than ever had before!” + +“Yes, if the mountain isn't destroyed,” added Mr. Parker, in a low +voice. “I predict that it will be split from top to bottom!” + +“Comforting,” thought Tom, grimly. + +“I guess we're all ready,” said Folwell, in a low tone to Munson. “We'd +better get insulated ourselves. I'm going to throw the switch.” + +He did so. A moment later the man who had before given warning of the +storm came dashing in. He was very much excited. + +“It's awful!” he cried. “The lightning is striking all over! Big rocks +are being split like logs of wood!” + +“Well, it can't do any damage in here,” said Munson. “We are well +protected. Get on one of the plates,” and he motioned to one of the +hard-rubber platforms that was not occupied. The roar and rumble of the +storm outside had given place to short terrific crashes. In their small +cave the adventurers could feel the solid ground shake. + +A bluish light began dancing about the electrical wires. There was a +smell of sulphur in the air. Crash after crash resounded outside. A +flash of flame lit up the whole interior of the cave. It came from the +copper switch. + +“Something's wrong with the insulation!” cried Munson. + +“Don't go near it!” yelled Folwell. “If you value your life, stand +still!” + +Hardly had he spoken than inside the cavern there sounded a report like +that of a small cannon. A big ball of fire danced about the middle of +the cave and then leaped on top of the steel box. + +“This is a fearful storm,” cried Munson. + +The adventurers in the cave did not know what to say or do. They were in +deadly peril. + +Suddenly there came a crash louder than any that had preceded it. The +whole side of the cave where the switches were was a mass of bluish +flame. Then came a ripping, tearing sound, and a tangle of wires and +copper connections were thrown to the floor. At the same time the steel +box, containing the materials from which diamonds were made, turned +blue, and flames shot from it. + +“It's all up with us!” cried Munson. “Run for it, everybody! The wires +are down, and this place will be an electric furnace in another minute!” + +He leaped toward the exit from the cave. + +“What about those fellows?” asked Folwell, indicating the place where +Tom and the others had been tied. + +“They'll have to do the best they can! It's every man for himself, now!” + yelled Munson. There was a wild scramble from the cavern. + +“Come on!” cried Tom. “We must escape! It's our only chance!” + +He leaped into the big cave, followed by the others. Already long +tongues of electrical fire were shooting out from the walls and roof as +Tom Swift and his companions, evading them as best they could, sought +safety in flight. + + + +CHAPTER XXV--THE MOUNTAIN SHATTERED--CONCLUSION + + +“Can't we get some of the diamonds?” cried Mr. Damon, as he raced along +behind Tom. “Now's our chance. Those fellows have all gone!” The odd man +made a grab for something as he ran. + +“It's as much as our lives are worth,” declared the young inventor. “We +dare not stop! Come on!” + +“I'd like to investigate some of the machinery,” spoke Mr. Jenks, “but I +wouldn't stop, even for that.” + +“The storm is too dangerous,” called Bill Renshaw. “I can show you a +shorter way out than the one those fellows have taken. Follow me.” + +“No way can be too short,” said Mr. Parker, solemnly. “This mountain +will go to pieces shortly, I think!” + +Tom shuddered. He remembered how narrow had been their escape when +Earthquake Island sank into the sea. And that some terrific upheaval was +now imminent might be judged from the awful reports that sounded more +plainly as the adventurers raced toward the opening of the cave. It was +like the bombardment of some doomed city. + +Mr. Jenks and Tom cast one longing look behind at the complicated and +expensive machinery that had been installed in the cave by the diamond +makers. They had abandoned it, and in it lay the secret of making +precious gems. But there was no time to stop now, and investigate. + +“This way,” urged Bill Renshaw. “We'll soon be out.” + +“But won't it be dangerous to go outside?” asked Mr. Damon. “Shan't we +be struck by lightning? There is some protection in here.” + +“None at all,” said Mr. Parker, quickly. “This mountain is a natural +lightning rod. To stay here in this cave will be sure death when the +storm gets directly over it. And that will be very soon. We must get +on insulated ground. Is there any part of this mountain that does not +contain iron ore?” the scientist asked of the former spirit. + +“Yes; the way out by which we are going lands on a dirt hill.” + +“That's good; then we may be saved.” + +On they ran. They had no lanterns, but the blue light of the +electricity, as it leaped from point to point inside the cave, where +there were outcroppings of iron ore, made the place bright enough to +see. + +“Here we are!” cried Bill Renshaw at length. “Here's the way out!” + +Making a sudden turn in the winding passage he showed the adventurers +a small opening in the side of the crag. In an instant they had passed +through, and found themselves in daylight once more. The sudden glare +almost blinded them, for, though the sky was overcast by clouds, from +which jagged tongues of lightning played, the outside was much lighter +than the dark cave. + +“I should say it was a storm!” cried Tom Swift. “See, it is striking +every minute, and all around us!” + +In fact, lightning bolts were falling on every side of the adventurers. +Every time the balls of fire struck, they burst open great stones, +or seared a livid scar on the face of some cliff. As for Tom and the +others, they stood on a dry dirt hill, in which, fortunately, there was +no iron ore. To this fact they undoubtedly owed their lives, though +had there been rain, to moisten the ground and make the earth a good +conductor of electricity, they probably would have been badly shocked. +But the electrical outburst was not accompanied by rain. + +Tom looked up. He saw a compact mass of cloud moving toward the summit +of the mountain on the slope of which they stood. From this cloud there +played shafts of reddish-green fire. + +“Look!” called the young inventor to Mr. Parker. The instant the latter +saw the cloud, he cried: + +“We must get away from here by all means! That is the center of the +storm. As soon as it gets over the mountain, where that lightning rod +is, all the electrical fluid will be discharged in one bolt at the +mountain, and it will be destroyed! We must run, but keep on the dirt +places! Run for your lives!” + +They needed no second warning. Turning, they fled down the steep side of +the mountain, slipping and stumbling, but taking care not to step on any +iron ore. Behind them flashed the lightning bolts. + +Suddenly there was a most awful crash. It seemed as if the end of the +world had come, and the ear drums of Tom and his companion almost burst +with the fearful report. The concussion knocked them down, and they lay +stunned for a moment. + +Following the terrible report there was a low, rumbling sound. Hardly +knowing whether he was dead or alive, Tom opened his eyes and looked +about him. What he saw caused him to cry out in terror. + +The whole mountain seemed bathed in fire. Great blue, red and green +flashes played around it. Then the towering cliff seemed to melt and +crumble up, and the great peak, the top of it containing the diamond +makers' cave, from which they had fled but a few minutes before, the +entire summit was toppled over into the valley on the other side, and in +the direction opposite to that where the adventurers stood. + +Then came a profound silence, and the lightning ceased. The storm was +over, and only the rattle of stones and boulders, as they came to rest +in the valley below, reached the ears of our friends. + +“Phantom Mountain has been destroyed, just as I said it would be,” spoke +Mr. Parker, solemnly. Once more he had prophesied correctly. + +For a few minutes the adventurers hardly knew what to say. They arose +awkwardly from the ground where the shock had tossed them. Then Tom +remarked, as calmly as possible: + +“Well, it's all over. I guess we may as well get back to our airship.” + +“What became of Munson and the others?” asked Mr. Damon. + +Mr. Jenks pointed to the trail, far below. The figures of some men, +running madly, could be seen. + +“There they go,” he said; “I fancy we have seen the last of them.” And +they had, for some time at least. + +There was little use lingering any longer on Phantom Mountain--indeed +little of it was left on which to remain. Looking back toward the place +where the cave had been, Tom and the others started forward again. +The diamond-making machinery had all been destroyed. So, also, had the +finished diamonds stored in the cavern and the large supply which had +probably been made by the last terrific crash. No one would ever have +them now. Tom and Mr. Jenks felt a sense of disappointment, but they +were glad to have escaped with their lives. They sought their former +camp, but the tent and all their food was buried under tons of earth and +rocks. + +Three days later, after rather severe hardships, they were near the +place where they had left the Red Cloud. They had suffered cold and +hunger, for they had no food supplies, and, had it not been that Bill +Renshaw knew the haunts of some game, of which they managed to snare +some, they would have fared badly, for they had left their guns in the +cave. + +“Well, there are the trees behind which I hope my airship is hidden,” + announced Tom, as they came to the spot. “Good old Red Cloud! Maybe we +won't do some eating when we get aboard, eh?” + +“Bless my appetite! but we certainly will!” cried Mr. Damon. + +“There's somebody walking around the place,” spoke Mr. Jenks. + +“I hope it's no one who has damaged the ship,” came from Tom, +apprehensively. He broke into a run, and soon confronted an aged miner, +who seemed to have established a rude sort of camp near the airship. + +“Is anything the matter?” asked Tom, breathlessly. “Is my airship all +right?” + +“I guess she's all right, stranger,” was the reply. “I don't know much +about these contraptions, but I haven't touched her. I knowed she was an +airship, for I've seen pictures of 'em, and I've been waiting until the +owner came along.” + +“Why?” asked Tom, wonderingly. + +“Because I've got a proposition to make to you,” went on the miner, who +said his name was Abe Abercrombie. “I've been a miner for a good many +years, and I'm just back from Alaska, prospecting around here. I haven't +had any luck, but I know of a gold mine in Alaska that will make us all +rich. Only it needs an airship to get to it, and I've been figuring how +to hire one. Then I comes along, and I sees this big one, and I makes up +my mind to stay here until the owners come back. That's what I've done. +Now, if I prove that I'm telling the truth, will you go to Alaska--to +the valley of gold with me?” + +“I don't know,” answered Tom, to whom the proposition was rather sudden. +“We've just had some pretty startling adventures, and we're almost +starved. Wait until we get something to eat, and we'll talk. Come aboard +the Red Cloud,” and the lad led the way to his craft which was in as +good condition as when he left it to go to the diamond cave. Later he +listened to the miner's story. + +Tom Swift did go to the valley of gold in Alaska, and what happened to +him and his companions there will be told of in the next volume of this +series, to be called “Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice; or, the Wreck of +the Airship.” + +It did not take our friends long, after they had eaten a hearty meal, +to generate some fresh gas, and start the Red Cloud on her homeward way. +Tom wanted to take Bill Renshaw with him, but the old man said he would +rather remain among the mountains where he had been born. So, after +paying him well for his services, they said good-by to him. Abercrombie, +the miner, also remained behind, but promised to call and see Tom in a +few months. + +“Well, we didn't make any money out of this trip,” observed Mr. Jenks, +rather dubiously, as they were nearing Shopton, after an uneventful +trip. “I guess I owe you considerable, Tom Swift. I promised to get you +a lot of diamonds, but all I have are those I had from my first visit to +the cave.” + +“Oh, that's all right,” spoke Tom, easily. “The experience was worth all +the trip cost.” + +“Speaking of diamonds, look here!” exclaimed Mr. Damon, suddenly, and he +pulled out a double handful. + +“Where did you get them?” cried the others in astonishment. + +“I grabbed them up, as we ran from the cave,” said the eccentric man; +“but, bless my gaiters! I forgot all about them until you spoke. We'll +share them.” + +These diamonds, some of which were large, proved very valuable, though +the total sum was far below what Mr. Jenks hoped to make when he started +on the remarkable trip. Tom gave Mary Nestor a very fine stone, and it +was set in a ring, instead of a pin, this time. + +On their arrival in Shopton, where Mr. Swift, the housekeeper, Mr. +Jackson and Eradicate Sampson were much alarmed for Tom's safety, an +attempt was made to manufacture diamonds, using a powerful electric +current instead of lightning. But it was not a success, and so Mr. Jenks +concluded to give up his search for the secret which was lost on Phantom +Mountain. + +And now we will take leave of Tom Swift, to meet him again soon in other +adventures he is destined to have in the caves of ice and the valley of +gold. + + + + +THE END + + + + + THE TOM SWIFT SERIES + + By VICTOR APPLETON + + + TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE + Or Fun and Adventure on the Road + TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT + Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP + Or The Stirring Cruise of the Red Cloud + TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT + Or Under the Ocean for Sunken Treasure + TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT + Or The Speediest Car on the Road + TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE + Or The Castaways of Earthquake Island + TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS + Or The Secret of Phantom Mountain + TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE + Or The wreck of the Airship + TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER + Or The Quickest Flight on Record + TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE + Or Daring Adventures In Elephant Land + TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD + Or Marvelous Adventures Underground + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER + Or seeking the Platinum Treasure + TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY + Or A Daring Escape by Airship + TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA + Or The Perils of Moving Picture Taking + TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT + Or On the Border for Uncle Sam + TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON + Or The Longest Shots on Record + TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE + Or The Picture that Saved a Fortune + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP + Or The Naval Terror of the Seas + TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL + Or The Hidden City of the Andes + + + + + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS SERIES + + By VICTOR APPLETON + + + In these stories we follow the adventures of three boys, who, + after purchasing at auction the contents of a moving picture + house, open a theatre of their own. Their many trials and + tribulations, leading up to the final success of their venture, + make very entertaining stories. + + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' FIRST VENTURE + + Or Opening a Photo Playhouse in Fairlands. + + The adventures of Frank, Randy and Pep in running a Motion + Picture show. They had trials and tribulations but finally + succeed. + + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT SEASIDE PARK + + Or The Rival Photo Theatres of the Boardwalk. + + Their success at Fairlands encourages the boys to open their + show at Seaside Park, where they have exciting adventures--also a + profitable season. + + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS ON BROADWAY + + Or The Mystery of the Missing Cash Box. + + Backed by a rich western friend the chums established a photo + playhouse in the great metropolis, where new adventures await + them. + + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' OUTDOOR EXHIBITION + + Or The Film that Solved a Mystery. + + This time the playhouse was in a big summer park. How a + film that was shown gave a clew to an important mystery + is interestingly related. + + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' NEW IDEA + + Or The First Educational Photo Playhouse. + + In this book the scene is shifted to Boston, and there is + intense rivalry in the establishment of photo playhouses of + educational value. + + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT THE FAIR + + Or The Greatest Film Ever Exhibited. + + The chums go to San Francisco, where they have some trials + but finally meet with great success. + + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' WAR SPECTACLE + + Or The Film that Won the Prize. + + Through being of service to the writer of a great scenario, the + chums are enabled to produce it and win a prize. + + + + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH SERIES + + By GRAHAM B. FORBES + + + Never was there a cleaner, brighter, more manly boy than Frank + Allen, the hero of this series of boys tales, and never was there + a better crowd of lads to associate with than the students of the + School. All boys will read these stories with deep interest. The + rivalry between the towns along the river was of the keenest, and + plots and counterplots to win the champions, at baseball, at + football, at boat racing, at track athletics, and at ice hockey, + were without number. Any lad reading one volume of this series + will surely want the others. + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH + Or The All Around Rivals of the School + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE DIAMOND + Or Winning Out by Pluck + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE RIVER + Or The Boat Race Plot that Failed + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE GRIDIRON + Or The Struggle for the Silver Cup + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH ON THE ICE + Or Out for the Hockey Championship + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH IN TRACK ATHLETICS + Or A Long Run that Won + + THE BOYS OF COLUMBIA HIGH IN WINTER SPORTS + Or Stirring Doings on Skates and Iceboats + + + 12mo. Illustrated. Handsomely bound in cloth, with cover design + and wrappers in colors. + + GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + + THE OUTDOOR CHUMS SERIES + + By CAPTAIN QUINCY ALLEN + + + The outdoor chums are four wide-awake lads, Sons of wealthy men + of a small city located on a lake. The boys love outdoor life, + and are greatly interested in hunting, fishing, and picture + taking. They have motor cycles, motor boats, canoes, etc., and + during their vacations go everywhere and have all sorts of + thrilling adventures. The stories give full directions for + camping out, how to fish, how to hunt wild animals and prepare + the skins for stuffing, how to manage a canoe, how to swim, etc. + Full of the spirit of outdoor life. + + THE OUTDOOR CHUMS + Or The First Tour of the Rod, Gun and Camera Club. + + THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON THE LAKE + Or Lively Adventures on Wildcat Island. + + THE OUTDOOR CHUMS IN THE FOREST + Or Laying the Ghost of Oak Ridge. + + THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON THE GULF + Or Rescuing the Lost Balloonists. + + THE OUTDOOR CHUMS AFTER BIG GAME + Or Perilous Adventures in the Wilderness. + + THE OUTDOOR CHUMS ON A HOUSEBOAT + Or The Rivals of the Mississippi. + + THE OUTDOOR CHUMS IN THE BIG WOODS + Or The Rival Hunters at Lumber Run. + + THE OUTDOOR CHUMS AT CABIN POINT + Or The Golden Cup Mystery. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Swift Among The Diamond Makers, by +Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1282 *** |