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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:16:49 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:16:49 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/1284-0.txt b/1284-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7753b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/1284-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5759 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1284 *** + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT + +or + +Uncle Sam's Mastery of the Sky + + +by + +Victor Appleton + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I A SKY RIDE + II A NEW IDEA + III THE BIG OFFER + IV MR. DAMON'S WHIZZER + V TOM'S PROJECT + VI MAKING PLANS + VII A PROBLEM IN SOUND + VIII THROUGH THE ROOF + IX AFTER A SPY + X A BIG SPLASH + XI A NIGHT TRIP + XII THE CRY FOR HELP + XIII SOMETHING QUEER + XIV THE TELEPHONE CALL + XV A VAIN SEARCH + XVI THE LONG NIGHT + XVII SILENT SAM + XVIII SUSPICIONS + XIX ANOTHER FLIGHT + XX QUEER MARKS + XXI THE DESERTED CABIN + XXII CLEWS AT LAST + XXIII THE GOVERNMENT TEST + XXIV IN THE MOONLIGHT + XXV THE GOLD TOOTH + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A SKY RIDE + + +"Oh Tom, is it really safe?" + +A young lady--an exceedingly pretty young lady, she could be +called--stood with one small, gloved hand on the outstretched wing of +an aeroplane, and looked up at a young man, attired in a leather, +fur-lined suit, who sat in the cockpit of the machine just above her. + +"Safe, Mary?" repeated the pilot, as he reached in under the hood of +the craft to make sure about one of the controls. "Why, you ought to +know by this time that I wouldn't go up if it wasn't safe!" + +"Oh, yes, I know, Tom. It may be all right for you, but I've never been +up in this kind of airship before, and I want to know if it's safe for +me." + +The young man leaned over the edge of the padded cockpit, and clasped +in his rather grimy hand the neatly gloved one of the young lady. And +though the glove was new, and fitted the hand perfectly, there was no +attempt to withdraw it. Instead, the young lady seemed to be very glad +indeed that her hand was in such safe keeping. + +"Mary!" exclaimed the young man, "if it wasn't safe--as safe as a +church--I wouldn't dream of taking you up!" and at the mention of +"church" Mary Nestor blushed just the least bit. Or perhaps it was that +the prospective excitement of the moment caused the blood to surge into +her cheeks. Have it as you will. + +"Come, Mary! you're not going to back out the last minute, are you?" +asked Tom Swift. "Everything is all right. I've made a trial flight, +and you've seen me come down as safely as a bird. You promised to go +up with me. I won't go very high if you don't like it, but my +experience has been that, once you're off the ground, it doesn't make +any difference how high you go. You'll find it very fascinating. So +skip along to the house, and Mrs. Baggert will help you get into your +togs." + +"Shall I have to wear all those things--such as you have on?" asked +Mary, blushing again. + +"Well, you'll be more comfortable in a fur-lined leather suit," +asserted Tom. "And if it does make you look like an Eskimo, why I'm +sure it will be very becoming. Not that you don't look nice now," he +hastened to assure Miss Nestor, "but an aviation suit will be +very--well, fetching, I should say." + +"If I could be sure it would 'fetch' me back safe, Tom--" + +"That'll do! That'll do!" laughed the young aviator. "One joke like +that is enough in a morning. It was pretty good, though. Now go on in +and tog up." + +"You're sure it's safe, Tom?" + +"Positive! Trot along now. I want to fix a wire and--" + +"Oh, is anything broken?" and the girl, who had started away from the +aeroplane, turned back again. + +"No, not broken. It's only a little auxiliary dingus I put on to make +it easier to read the barograph, but I think I'll go back to the old +system. Nothing to do with flying at all, except to tell how high up +one is." + +"That's just what I don't care to know, Tom," said Mary Nestor, with a +smile. "If I could imagine I was sailing along only about ten feet in +the air I wouldn't mind so much." + +"Flying at that height would be the worst sort of danger. You leave it +to me, Mary. I won't take you up above the clouds on this sky ride; +though, later, I'm sure you'll want to try that. This is only a little +flight. You've been promising long enough to take a trip with me, and +now I believe you're trying to back out." + +"No, really I'm not, Tom! Only, at the last minute, the machine looks +so small and frail, and the sky is so--big--" + +She glanced up and seemed to shiver just a trifle. + +"Don't be thinking of those things, Mary!" laughed Tom Swift. "Trot +along and get ready. The motor never worked better, and we may break a +few speed records this morning. No traffic cops to stop us, either, as +there might be if we were in an auto." + +"There you go, Mary!" exclaimed Tom, as if struck with a new thought. +"You've ridden in an auto with me many a time, and you never were a bit +afraid, though we were in more danger than we'll be this morning." + +"Danger, Tom, in an auto? How?" + +"Why, danger of a wheel collapsing as we were going full speed; or the +steering knuckle breaking and sending us into a tree; danger of running +into a stone wall or a ditch; danger of some one running into us, or of +us running into some one else. There isn't one of these dangers on a +sky ride." + +"No," said Mary slowly. "But there's the danger of falling." + +"One against twenty. That's the safety margin. And, if we do fall, it +will be like landing in a feather bed! There, don't wait any longer. Go +and get ready." + +Mary sighed, and then, seeming to summon her nerve to her aid, she +smiled brightly, waved her hand to Tom, and hastened toward his home, +where Mrs. Baggert the matronly housekeeper, was waiting to help the +girl attire herself in a flying-suit of leather. + +Mary Nestor, who had a very warm place in the heart of Tom Swift, had, +as he stated, some time since promised to take a trip in the air with +the young inventor. But she had kept putting it off, for one reason or +another, until Tom began to despair of ever getting her to accompany +him. To-day, however, when she had called to inquire about his father, +who had been slightly ill, Tom had, after the social visit, insisted on +the promise being kept. + +He had his mechanic get out one of the safest, though a speedy, double +machine, and, with Mary to watch, Tom had taken a trial flight, just to +show her how easy it was. It was not the first time she had seen him +take to the air, but now she watched with different emotions, for she +was vitally interested. + +Tom had sailed down from aloft, making a landing in the aviation field +he had constructed near his home, and then he had insisted that Mary +should keep her promise to take a sky ride with him. + +"Don't be too long now!" called Tom to the girl, as she hurried toward +the house. "Never mind about your hair, or whether your hat's on +straight. You're going to wear a cap, anyhow, and tuck your hair up +under that. It's hot down here, but it will be cold up above; so tell +Mrs. Baggert to see that you're warmly dressed." + +"All right," and gaily she waved her hand to him. Now that she had made +her decision, and was really going up, she was not half so frightened +as she had been in the contemplation of it. + +As Tom climbed out of the machine, to give it a careful inspection, +though he was certain there was nothing wrong, an aged colored man +shuffled toward him. + +"Yo'--yo'll be mighty careful ob Miss Nestor now, won't yo', Massa +Tom?" asked the man. + +"Of course I will, Eradicate," was the young inventor's answer. + +"Case we ain't got many laik her no mo', an' dat's de truf, Massa Tom," +went on the old man. "So be mighty careful laik!" + +"That's what I will, Rad! And, while I'm up in the air, don't you and +Koku have any trouble." + +"Ho! Trouble wif dat onery no-'count giant! I guess not!" and the +colored man limped off, highly indignant. + +Satisfied, from an inspection of his machine, that it was as nearly +mechanically perfect as it was possible to be, Tom Swift finished his +trip around it and stood near the big propeller, waiting for Mary +Nestor to reappear. Presently she did so, and Tom gaily waved his hand +to her. + +"You're a picture!" he cried, as he saw how particularly "fetching" she +looked in the aviator's costume which was like his own. Because of the +danger of entanglement, Miss Nestor had doffed her skirts, and wore the +costume of all aviators--men and women. + +"I wish I had my camera!" cried Tom. "You look--stunning!" + +"I hope that isn't any comment on how I'm going to feel if we have to +make a--forced landing, I believe you call it," she retorted. + +"Oh, I'll take care of that!" exclaimed Tom. "Now up you go, and we'll +start," and he helped her to climb into the padded seat of the cockpit, +behind where he was to sit. + +"Oh, Tom! Don't be in such a hurry!" expostulated Mary. "Let me get my +breath!" + +"No!" laughed the young inventor. "If I did you might back out. Get +in, fasten the strap around you and sit still. That's all you have to +do. Don't be afraid, I'll be very careful. And don't try to yell at me +to go slower or lower once we're up in the air. + +"Why not?" Mary wanted to know, as she settled herself in her seat. + +"Because I can't very well hear you, or talk to you. The motor makes so +much noise, you know. We can do a little talking through this speaking +tube," and he indicated one, "but it isn't very satisfactory. So if you +have anything to say--" + +"In the language of the poets," interrupted Mary, "if I have words to +spill, prepare to spill them now. Well, I haven't! Now I'm here, go +ahead! I shall probably be too frightened to talk, anyhow." + +"Oh, no you won't--after the first little sensation," Tom assured her. +"You'll be crazy about it. Come on, Jackson!" he called to the +mechanician. "Start the ball rolling!" + +Tom was in his place, his goggles and cap well down over his face, and +he was adjusting the switch as the mechanic prepared to spin the +propellers. + +Suddenly a man came running from the Swift house, waving his arms not +unlike the blades of an aircraft propeller, he also shouted, but Tom, +whose ears were covered with his fur cap, could not hear. However, +Jackson did, and stopped whirling the blades, turning about to see what +was wanted. + +"Why, it's Mr. Damon!" exclaimed Tom, as he caught sight of the excited +man. "Hello, what's the matter?" the youth asked, pulling aside one +flap of his head-covering so he might hear the answer. + +"Tom! Wait a minute! Bless my mouse trap!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "I want +to speak to you!" He was panting from his run across the field. "I just +got to your house--saw your father--he said you were going up with Miss +Nestor, but--bless my dog biscuit--" + +"Can't stop now, Mr. Damon!" answered Tom, with a laugh. "I have only +just succeeded, by hard work, in getting Mary to a point where she has +consented to take a sky ride. If I stop now she'll back out and I'll +never get her in again. See you when I come back," and Tom pulled the +covering over his ear once more. + +"But, Tom, bless my shoe laces! This is important!" + +"So's this!" answered Tom, with a grin. He saw, by the motion of Mr. +Damon's lips, what the latter had said. + +Around swung the propeller blades. The gasoline vapor in the cylinders +was being compressed. + +"Contact!" called Tom sharply, as he pressed the switch to give the +igniting spark at the proper moment. The mechanic had stepped back out +of the way, in case there should be a premature starting of the +powerful engine, in which event the blades would have cut him to pieces. + +"Wait, Tom! Wait! This is very important! Bless my collar button, Tom +Swift, but this is--" + +Bang! Bang! Bang! + +With a series of explosions, like those of a machine gun, the motor +started, and further talk was out of the question. Tom turned on more +gas. The propellers became almost invisible blades of light and shadow, +and the aeroplane began moving over the grassy field. The mechanic had +sprung out of the way, pulling Mr. Damon with him. + +"Come back! Come back! Wait a minute, Tom Swift! Bless my pansy +blossoms, I want to tell you something!" cried the little man. + +But Tom Swift was away and out of hearing. He had started on his sky +ride with Mary Nestor. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A NEW IDEA + + +Any one who has taken a flight in an aeroplane or gone up in a balloon, +will know exactly how Mary Nestor felt on this, her first sky ride of +any distance. For a moment, as she looked over the side of the machine, +she had a distinct impression, not that she was going up, but that some +one had pulled the earth down from beneath her and, at the same time, +given her a shove off into space. Such is the first sensation of going +aloft. Then the rush of air all about her, the slightly swaying motion +of the craft, and the vibration caused by the motor took her attention. +But the sensation of the earth dropping away from beneath her remained +with Mary for some time. + +This sensation is much greater in a balloon than in an aeroplane, for a +balloon, unless there is a strong wind blowing, goes straight up, while +an aeroplane ascends on a long slant, and always into the teeth of the +wind, to take advantage of its lifting power on the underside of the +planes. The reason for this sensation--that of the earth's dropping +down, instead of one's feeling, what really happens, that one is +ascending--is because there are no objects by which comparison can be +made. If one starts off on the earth's surface at slow, or at great +speed, one passes stationary objects--houses, posts, trees, and the +like--and judges the speed by the rapidity with which these are left +behind. + +Going up is unlike this. There is nothing to pass. One simply cleaves +the air, and only as it rushes past can one be sure of movement. And as +the air is void of color and form, there is no sensation of passing +anything. + +So Mary Nestor, as she shot into the air with Tom Swift, had a +sensation as though the earth were dropping from beneath her. For a +moment she felt as though she were in some vast void--floating in +space--and she had a great fear. Then she calmed herself. She looked at +Tom sitting in front of her. Of course, all she could see was his back, +but it looked to be a very sturdy back, indeed, and he sat there in the +aircraft as calmly as though in a chair on the ground. Then Mary took +courage, and ceased to grasp the sides of the cockpit with a grip that +stiffened all her muscles. She was beginning to "find herself." + +On and on, and up and up, went Mary and Tom, in this the girl's first +big sky ride. The earth below seemed farther and farther away. The +wide, green fields became little emerald squares, and the houses like +those in a toy Noah's ark. + +Down below, Mr. Wakefield Damon, who had hurried over from his home in +Waterfield to see Tom Swift, gazed aloft at the fast disappearing +aeroplane and its passengers. + +"Bless my coal bin!" cried the eccentric man, "but Tom is in a hurry +this morning. Too bad he couldn't have stopped and spoken to me. It +might have been greatly to his advantage. But I suppose I shall have to +wait." + +"You want to see Master?" asked a voice behind Mr. Damon, and, turning, +he beheld a veritable giant. + +"Yes, Koku, I did," Mr. Damon answered, and he did not appear at all +surprised at the sight of the towering form beside him. "I wanted to +see Tom most particularly. But I shall have to wait. I'll go in and +talk to Mr. Swift." + +"Yaas, an' I go talk to Radicate," said the giant. "Him diggin' up +ground where Master told me to make garden. Radicate not strong enough +for dat!" + +"Huh! there's trouble as soon as those two get to disputing," mused Mr. +Damon, as he went toward the house. + +Meanwhile, Mary was beginning to enjoy herself. The sensation of moving +rapidly through the air in a machine as skillfully guided as was the +one piloted by Tom Swift was delightful. Up and up they went, and then +suddenly Mary felt a lurch, and the plane, which was now about a +thousand feet high, seemed to slip to one side. + +Mary screamed, and began reaching for the buckle of the safety belt +that fastened her to her seat. She saw that something unusual had +occurred, for Tom was working frantically at the mechanism in front of +him. + +But, in spite of this, he seemed aware that Mary was in danger, not so +much, perhaps, from what might happen to the machine, as what she might +do in her terror. + +"Oh! Oh!" cried the girl, and Tom heard her above the terrific noise of +the motor, for she was speaking with her lips close to the tube that +served as a sort of inter-communicating telephone for the craft. "Oh, +we are falling! I'm going to jump!" + +"Sit still! Sit still for your life!" cried Tom Swift. "I'll save you +all right! Only sit still! Don't jump!" + +Mary, her red cheeks white, sank back, and the young inventor redoubled +his efforts at the controls and other mechanisms. + +And that Tom was perfectly qualified to make a safe landing, even with +engine trouble, Mary Nestor well knew. Those of you who have read the +previous books of this series know it also, but, for the benefit of my +new readers, I shall state that this was by no means Tom's first ride +in an aeroplane. + +He had operated and built gasoline engines ever since he was about +sixteen years old. As related in the initial volume of this series, +entitled, "Tom Swift and His Motorcycle," he became possessed of this +machine after it had started to climb a tree with Mr. Damon on board. +After that experience the eccentric man--blessing everything he could +think of--had no liking for the speedy motorcycle and sold it to Tom at +a low price. + +That was the beginning of a friendship between the two, and also +started Tom on his career as an inventor and a possessor of many +gasoline craft. For he was not content with merely riding the repaired +motorcycle. He made improvements on it. + +Tom lived with his father in the town of Shopton, their home being +looked after, since the death of Mrs. Swift, by Mrs. Baggert. Mr. +Wakefield Damon lived in the neighboring town of Waterfield, and spent +much time at Tom's home, often going on trips with him in various +vehicles of the land, sea or air. + +As related in the various volumes of this series, Tom was not content +to remain on earth. He built a speedy motor boat, and then secured an +airship, following that with a submarine. He also made an electric +runabout that was the speediest car on the road. Sending wireless +messages, having thrilling experiences among the diamond makers, +journeying to the caves of ice, and making perilous trips in his sky +racer took up part of the young inventor's time. + +With his electric rifle he did some wonderful shooting, and in the +"City of Gold" made some strange discoveries, part of the fortune he +secured enabling him to build his sky racer. It was in a land of giants +that Tom was made captive, but he succeeded in escaping, and brought +two giants, of whom Koku was one, away with him. + +Following this achievement Tom invented a wizard camera and a great +searchlight, which, with his giant cannon, was purchased by the United +States Government. Work on his photo-telephone and his aerial warship, +the problem of digging a big tunnel, and then traveling to the land of +wonders, kept Tom Swift very busy, and he had just completed a +wonderful piece of work when the present story opens. + +This last achievement was the perfecting of a machine to aid in the +great World War and you will find the details set down in the volume +which immediately precedes this. "Tom Swift and His War Tank," it is +called, and in that is related how he not only invented a marvelous +machine, but succeeded in keeping its secret from the plotters who +tried to take it from him. In this Tom was helped by the inspiration of +Mary Nestor, whom he hoped some day to marry, and by Ned Newton, a +chum, who, though no inventor himself, could admire one. + +Ned and Tom had been chums a long while, but Ned inclined more to +financial and office matters than to machinery. At times he had managed +affairs for Tom, and helped him finance projects. Ned was now an +important bank official, and since the United States had entered the +war had had charge of some Red Cross work, as well as Liberty Bond +campaigns. + +Somehow, as she sat there in the craft which seemed disabled, Mary +Nestor could not help thinking of Tom's many activities, in some of +which she had shared. + +"Oh, if he falls now, and is killed!" she thought. "Oh, what will +happen to us?" + +"It's all right, Mary! Don't worry! It's all right!" cried Tom, through +the speaking tube. + +"What's that? I can't hear you very well!" she called back. + +"No wonder, with the racket this motor is making," he answered. "Why +can't something be done so you can talk in an aeroplane as well as in a +balloon? That's an idea! If I could tell you what was the matter now +you wouldn't be a bit frightened, for it isn't anything. But, as it +is--" + +"What are you saying, Tom? I can't hear you!" cried Mary, still much +frightened. + +"I say it's all right--don't get scared. And don't jump!" Tom shouted +until his ears buzzed. "It's all nonsense--having a motor making so +much noise one can't talk!" he went on, irritatedly. + +A strange idea had come to the young inventor, but there was no time to +think of it now. Mentally he registered a vow to take up this idea and +work on it as soon as possible. But, just now, the aeroplane needed all +his attention. + +As he had told Mary, there was really nothing approaching any great +danger. But it was rather an anxious moment. If Tom had been alone he +would have thought little of it, but with Mary along he felt a double +responsibility. + +What had happened was that the craft had suddenly gone into an "air +pocket" or partial vacuum, and there had been a sudden fall and a slide +slip. In trying to stop this too quickly Tom had broken one of his +controls, and he was busily engaged in putting an auxiliary one in +place and trying to reassure Mary at the same time. + +"But it's mighty hard trying to do that through a speaking tube with a +motor making a noise like a boiler factory," mused the young inventor. +Tom worked quickly and to good purpose. In a few moments, though to +Mary they seemed like hours, the machine was again gliding along on a +level keel, and Tom breathed more easily. + +"And now for my great idea!" he told himself. + +But it was some time before he could give his attention to that. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE BIG OFFER + + +Working with all the skill he possessed, Tom had got the aeroplane in +proper working order again. As has been said, the accident was a +trivial one, and had he been alone, or with an experienced aviator, he +would have thought little of it. Then, very likely, he would have +volplaned to earth and made the repairs there. But he did not want to +frighten Mary Nestor, so he fixed the control while gliding along, and +made light of it. Thus his passenger was reassured. + +"Are we all right?" asked Mary through the tube, as they sailed along. + +"Right as a fiddle," answered Tom, shouting through the same means of +communication. + +"What's that about a riddle?" asked Mary, in surprise at his seeming +flippancy at such a time. + +"I didn't say anything about a riddle--I said we are as fit as a +fiddle!" cried Tom. "Never mind. No use trying to talk with the racket +this motor makes, and it isn't the noisiest of its kind, either. I'll +tell you when we get down. Do you like it?" + +"Yes, I like it better than I did at first," answered Mary, for she had +managed to understand the last of Tom's questions. Then he sailed a +little higher, circled about, and, a little later, not to get Mary too +tired and anxious, he headed for his landing field. + +"I'll take you home in the auto," he cried to his passenger. "We could +go up to your house this way--in style--if there was a field near by +large enough to land in. But there isn't. So it will have to be a +plain, every-day auto." + +"That's good enough for me," said Mary. "Though this trip is +wonderful--glorious! I'll go again any time you ask me." + +"Well, I'll ask you," said Tom. "And when I do maybe it won't be so +hard to hold a conversation. It will be more like this," and he shut +off the motor and began to glide gently down. The quiet succeeding the +terrific noise of the motor exhaust was almost startling, and Tom and +Mary could converse easily without using the tube. + +Then followed the landing on the soft, springy turf, a little glide +over the ground, and the machine came to a halt, while mechanics ran +out of the hangar to take charge of it. + +"I'll just go in and change these togs," said Mary, as she alighted and +looked at her leather costume. + +"No, don't," advised Tom. "You look swell in em. Keep 'em on. They're +yours, and you'll need 'em when we go up again. Here comes the auto. +I'll take you right home in it. Keep the aviation suit on. + +"I wonder what Mr. Damon could have wanted," remarked Tom, as he drove +Mary along the country road. + +"He seemed very much excited," she replied. + +"Oh, he almost always is that way--blessing everything he can think of. +You know that. But this time it was different, I'll admit. I hope +nothing is the matter. I might have stopped and spoken to him, but I +was afraid if I did you'd back out and wouldn't come for a sky ride." + +"Well, I might have. But now that I've had one, even with an accident +thrown in, I'll go any time you ask me, Tom," and Mary smiled at the +young inventor. + +"Shucks, that wasn't a real accident!" he laughed. "But I do wonder +what Mr. Damon wanted." + +"Better go back and find out, Tom," advised Mary, as they stopped in +front of her house. + +"Oh, I want to come in and talk to you. Haven't had a chance for a good +talk today, that motor made such a racket." + +"No, go along now, but come back and see me this afternoon if you like." + +"I do like, all right! And I suppose Mr. Damon will be fussing until he +sees me. Well, glad you liked your first ride in the air, Mary--that +is, the first one of any account," for Mary had been in an aeroplane +before, though only up a little way--a sort of "grass-cutting stunt," +Tom called it. + +Waving farewell to the pretty girl, the young aviator turned the auto +about and speeded for his home and the shops adjoining it. His father +had not been well, of late, and Tom was a bit anxious about him. + +"Mr. Damon may bother him, though he wouldn't mean to," thought Tom. +"He seemed to have his mind filled with some new idea. I wonder if it +is anything like mine? No, it couldn't be. Well, I'll soon find out," +and, putting his foot on the accelerator, Tom sent the machine along at +a pace that soon brought him within sight of his home. + +"Is father all right?" he asked Mrs. Baggert, who was out on the front +porch, as though waiting for him. + +"Oh, yes, Tom, he's all right," the housekeeper answered. + +"Is Mr. Damon with him?" + +"No." + +"He hasn't gone home, has he?" + +"No, he's around somewhere. But some one else is with your father. Some +visitors." + +"Any relations?" + +"No; strangers. They came to see you, and they're rather impatient. I +came out to see if you were in sight. Your father sent me." + +"Are they bothering him--talking business that I ought to attend to +when he's ill? That mustn't be." + +"Well, I suppose it is business that the strangers are talking over +with your father, Tom," said Mrs. Baggert, "for I heard sums of money +spoken of. But your father seems to be all right, only a trifle anxious +that you should come." + +"Well, I'm here now and I'll attend to things. Where are the strangers, +and who are they?" + +"I don't know," answered the housekeeper. "I never saw them before, but +they're in the library with your father. Do you think they'll stay to +dinner? If you do, I'll have Eradicate or Koku catch and kill a +chicken." + +"If you let one do it don't tell the other about it," said Tom with a +laugh, "or you'll have a chicken race around the yard that will make +the visitors sit up and take notice." + +There was great rivalry between Eradicate Sampson, the aged colored +man, and Koku, the giant, and they were continually disputing. Each one +loved and served Tom in his own way, and there was jealousy between +them. Koku, the giant Tom had brought with him from the land where the +young inventor had been made captive, was a big, powerful man, and +could do things the aged colored servant could not attempt. But "Rad," +as he was often called, and his mule "Boomerang" had long been fixtures +on the Swift homestead. But old age crept on apace with Eradicate, +though he hated to admit it, and Koku did many things the colored man +had formerly attended to, and Rad was always on the lookout not to be +supplanted. Hence Tom's warning to Mrs. Baggert about letting the two +be entrusted with the same mission of catching a chicken for the pot. + +"Better get the fowl yourself and say nothing to either of them about +it," Tom advised the housekeeper. "Mr. Damon will stay to dinner, as he +always does when he comes, and as it's near twelve now, and as I may be +delayed talking business to these strangers, you'd better get up a +bigger meal than usual." + +"I will, Tom," promised Mrs. Baggert. And then the young inventor, +having seen that one of the men took the automobile to the garage, went +into the house. + +"Oh, here you are!" was his father's greeting, as he came out into the +hall from the library. "I've been waiting anxiously for you, my boy. I +couldn't think what was keeping you." + +"Oh, I had a little trouble with the air machine--nothing serious." + +A moment later Tom was standing before two well-dressed, +prosperous-looking business men, who smiled pleasantly at him. + +"Mr. Thomas Swift?" interrogated one, the elder, as he held out his +hand. + +"That's my name," answered Tom, pleasantly. + +"I'm Peton Gale, and this gentleman is Boland Ware," went on the man +who had taken Tom's hand. "I'm president and he's treasurer of the +Universal Flying Machine Company, of New York." + +"Oh, yes," said Tom, as he shook hands with Mr. Ware. "I have heard of +your concern. You are doing a lot of government work, are you not?" + +"Yes; war orders. And we're up to our neck in them. This war is going +to be almost as much fought in the air as on the ground, Mr. Swift." + +"I can well believe that," agreed Tom. "Won't you have a chair?" + +"Well, we didn't come to stay long," said Mr. Gale with a laugh, which, +somehow or other, grated on Tom and seemed to him insincere. "Our +business is such a rushing one that we don't spend much time anywhere. +To get down to brass tacks, we have come to see you to put a certain +proposition before you, Mr. Swift. You are open to a business +proposition, aren't you?" + +"Oh, yes," answered Tom. "That's what I'm here for." + +"I thought so. Well, now I'll tell you, in brief, what we want, and +then Mr. Ware, our treasurer, can elaborate on it, and give you facts +and figures about which I never bother myself. I attend to the +executive end and leave the details to others," and again came that +laugh which Tom did not like. + +"You came here to make me an offer?" asked the young inventor, +wondering to which of his many machines the visitors had reference. + +"Yes," went on Mr. Gale, "we came here to make you a big offer. In +short, Mr. Swift, we want you to work for our company, and we are +willing to pay you ten thousand dollars a year for the benefit of your +advice and your inventive abilities. Ten thousand dollars a year! Do +you accept?" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +MR. DAMON'S WHIZZER + + +Characteristic it was of Tom Swift that he did not seem at all +surprised at what most young men would call a liberal offer. Certainly +not many youths of Tom's age would be sought out by a big manufacturing +concern, and offered ten thousand dollars a year "right off the reel," +as Ned Newton expressed it later. But Tom only smiled and shook his +head in negation. + +"What!" cried Mr. Gale, "you mean you won't accept our offer?" + +"I can't," answered Tom. + +"You can't!" exclaimed the treasurer, Mr. Ware. "Oh, I see. Mr. Gale, a +word with you. Excuse us a moment," he added to Tom and his father. + +The two men consulted in a corner of the library for a moment, and +then, with smiles on their faces, once more turned toward the young +inventor. + +"Well, perhaps you are right, Tom Swift," said Mr. Gale. "Of course, we +recognize your talents and ability, but you cannot blame us for trying +to get talent, as well as material for our airships, in the cheapest +market. But we are not hide-bound, nor sticklers for any set sum. We'll +make that offer fifteen thousand dollars a year, if you will sign a +five-year contract and agree that we shall have first claim on anything +and everything you may patent or invent in that time. Now, how does +that strike you? Fifteen thousand dollars a year--paid weekly if you +wish, and our Mr. Ware, here, has a form of contract which can be fixed +up and signed within ten minutes, if you agree." + +"Well, I don't like to be disagreeable," said Tom with a smile; "but, +really, as I said before, I can't accept your very kind offer. I may +say liberal offer. I appreciate that." + +"You can't accept!" cried Mr. Gale. + +"Are you sure you don't mean 'won't'?" asked Mr. Ware, in a half growl. + +"You may call it that if you like," replied Tom, a bit coolly, for he +did not like the other's tone, "Only, as I say, I cannot accept. I have +other plans." + +"Oh, you--" began the brusk treasurer, but Mr. Gale, the president of +the Universal Flying Machine Company, stopped his associate with a +warning look. + +"Just a moment, Mr. Swift," begged the president. "Don't be hasty. We +are prepared to make you a last and final offer, and I do not believe +you can refuse it." + +"Well, I certainly will not refuse it without hearing it," said Tom, +with a smile he meant to make good-natured. Yet, truth to tell, he did +not at all like the two visitors. There was something about them that +aroused his antagonism, and he said later that even if they had offered +him a sum which he felt he ought not, in justice to himself and his +father, refuse, he would have felt a distaste in working for a company +represented by the twain. + +"This is our offer," said Mr. Gale, and he spoke in a pompous manner +which seemed to say: "If you don't take it, why, it will be the worse +for you." He looked at his treasurer for a confirmatory nod and, +receiving it, went on. "We are prepared to offer and pay you, and will +enter into such a contract, with the stipulation about the inventions +that I mentioned before--we are prepared to pay you--twenty thousand +dollars a year! Now what do you say to that, Tom Swift? + +"Twenty-thousand-dollars-a-year!" repeated Mr. Gale unctuously, rolling +the words off his tongue. "Twen-ty-thou-sand-dol-lars-a-year! Think of +it!" + +"I am thinking of it," said Tom Swift gently, "and I thank you for your +offer. It is, indeed, very generous. But I must give you the same +answer. I cannot accept." + +"Tom!" exclaimed his aged father. + +"Mr. Swift!" exclaimed the two visitors. + +Tom smiled and shook his head. + +"Oh, I know very well what I am saying, and what I am turning down," he +said. "But I simply cannot accept. I have other plans. I am sorry you +have had your trip for nothing," he added to the visitors, "but, +really, I must refuse." + +"Is that your final answer?" asked Mr. Gale. + +"Yes." + +"Don't you want to take a day or two to think it over?" asked the +treasurer. "Don't be hasty. Remember that very few young men can +command that salary, and I may say you will find us liberal in other +ways. You would have some time to yourself." + +"That is what I most need," returned Tom. "Time to myself. No, thank +you, gentlemen, I cannot accept." + +"Be careful!" warned Mr. Gale, and it sounded as though there might be +a threat in his voice. "This is our last offer, and your last chance. +We will not renew this. If you do not accept our twenty thousand +dollars now, you will never get it again." + +"I realize that," said Tom, "and I am prepared to take the consequences. + +"Very well, then," said Mr. Gale. "There seems nothing for us to do, +Mr. Ware, but to go back to New York. I bid you good-day," and he bowed +stiffly to Tom. "I hope you will not regret your refusal of our offer." + +"I hope so myself," said Tom, lightly. + +When the visitors had gone Mr. Swift turned toward his son, and, +shaking his head, remarked: + +"Of course, you know your own business best, Tom. Yet I cannot but feel +you have made a mistake." + +"How?" asked Tom. "By not taking that money? I can easily make that in +a year, with an idea I have in mind for an improvement on an airship. +And your new electric motor will soon be ready for the market. Besides, +we don't really need the money." + +"No, not now, Tom, but there is no telling when we may," said Mr. +Swift, slowly. "This big war has made many changes, and things that +brought us in a good income before, hardly sell at all, now." + +"Oh, don't worry, Dad! We still have a few shots left in the locker--in +other words, the bank. I'm expecting Ned Newton over any moment now, to +give us the annual statement of our account, and then we'll know where +we stand. I'm not afraid from the money end. Our business has done +well, and it is going to do better. I have a new idea." + +"That's all very well, Tom," said Mr. Swift, who seemed oppressed by +something. "As you say, money isn't everything, and I know we shall +always have enough to live on. But there is something about those two +men I do not like. They were very angry at your refusal of their offer. +I could see that. Tom, I don't want to be a croaker, but I think you'll +have to watch out for those men. They're going to be your enemies--your +rivals in the airship field," and Mr. Swift shook his head dolefully. + +"Well, rivalry, when it's clean and above board, is the spice of trade +and invention," returned Tom, lightly. "I'm not afraid of that." + +"No, but it may be unfair and underhand," said Mr. Swift. "I think it +would have been better, Tom, to have accepted their offer. Twenty +thousand a year, clear money, is a good sum." + +"Yes, but I may make twice that with something that occurred to me only +a little while ago. Forget about those men, Dad, and I'll tell you my +new idea. But wait, I want Mr. Damon to hear it, too. Where is he?" + +"He was here a little while ago. He went out when those two men came +and--" + +At that moment, from the garden at the side of the library, the sound +of voices in dispute could be heard. + +"Now yo' all g'wan 'way from yeah!" exclaimed some one who could be +none other than Eradicate Sampson. "Whut fo' yo' all want to clutter up +dish yeah place fo'? Massa Tom said I was to do de garden wuk, an' I'se +gwine to do it! G'wan 'way, Giant!" + +"Ho! You want me to get out, s'pose you put me, black face!" cried a +big voice, that of Koku, the giant. + +"There they go! At it again!" cried Tom with a smile. "Might have known +if I told Rad to do anything that Koku would be jealous. Well, I'll +have to go out now and give that giant something to do that will tax +his strength." + +But as Tom was about to leave the room another voice was heard in the +garden. + +"Now, boys, be nice," said some one soothingly. "The garden is large +enough for you both to work in. Rad, you begin at the lower end and +spade toward the middle. Koku, you begin at the upper end and work +down. Whoever gets to the middle first will win." + +"Ha! Den I'll show dat giant some spade wuk as is spade wuk!" cried the +colored man. "Garden wuk is mah middle name." + +"Be careful, Rad!" laughed Mr. Damon, for he it was who was trying to +act as peacemaker. "Remember that Koku is very strong." + +"Yas, sah! He may be strong, but he's clumsy!" chuckled Eradicate. "You +watch me beat him!" + +"Ho! Black man get stuck in mud!" challenged Koku. "I show him!" + +Then there was silence, and Tom and his father, looking out, saw the +two disputants beginning to spade the soil while Mr. Damon, satisfied +that he had, for the time being, stopped a quarrel, turned toward the +house. + +"I was just coming to look for you," said Tom. "Sorry I had to go off +in such a hurry and leave you, but I had promised to take Mary for a +ride, and as it was her first one, for a distance, I didn't want her to +back out." + +"That's all right, Tom, that's all right!" said Mr. Damon genially. +"Ladies first every time. But I do want to see you, and it's about +something important." + +"No trouble, I hope?" queried Tom, for the manner of the eccentric man +was rather grave. + +"Trouble? Oh, no! Bless my frying pan, no trouble, Tom! In fact, it may +be the other way about. Tom, I have an idea, and there may be millions +in it! That's it--millions!" + +"Good!" cried the young inventor. "Might as well bite off a big lump +while you're at it. So you have a new idea! Well, I have myself, but +I'll listen to yours first. What is it, Mr. Damon?" + +"It's a new kind of airship, Tom. I haven't got it all worked out yet, +but I can give you a rough outline. On my way over I got to thinking +about balloons, aeroplanes and the like, and it occurred to me that the +present principles are all wrong." + +"So I evolved a new type of machine. I'm going to call it the Damon +Whizzer. Maybe Demon Whizzer would be more appropriate, but we won't +decide on that now. Anyhow, it's going to be a whizzer, and I want to +talk to you about it. There is an entirely new principle of elevation +and propulsion involved in my Whizzer, and I--" + +At that moment there came a crash and clatter of steel and wood from +the garden, out of sight of which Tom and Mr. Damon had walked while +talking. Then followed a jangle of words. + +"They're at it again!" cried Tom, as he ran toward the side of the +house. "I guess it's a fight this time!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +TOM'S PROJECT + + +Curious was the sight that met the gaze of Tom Swift and Mr. Wakefield +Damon as they rounded the corner of the house and looked into the newly +spaded garden. There stood the giant, Koku, holding aloft in the air, +by one hand, the form of the struggling colored man, Eradicate Sampson. +And Eradicate was vainly trying to get at his enemy and rival, but was +prevented by the long-distance hold the giant had on him. + +"Yo' let me go, now! Yo' let me go, big man," cried Eradicate. "Ef yo' +don't I'll bust yo' wide open, dat's whut I'll do! An' 'sides, I'll +tell Massa Tom on yo', dat's whut I'll do!" + +"Ho! You tell--I let you fall!" threatened Koku. + +His threat was dire enough, for such was his size and strength that he +held the colored man nearly nine feet from the ground, and a fall from +that distance would seriously jar Eradicate, if it did nothing else. +The colored man's eyes opened wide as he heard what Koku said, and then +he cried: + +"Let me down! Let me down, an' I won't say nuffin!" + +"An' you let me scatter dirt?" asked Koku, for such was the giant's +idea of working in the garden. + +"Yes, yo' kin scatter de dirt seben ways from Sunday fo' all I keers!" +conceded Eradicate. Then, as he was lowered to the ground, he and the +giant turned and saw Mr. Damon and Tom approaching. + +"What's wrong?" asked the young inventor. + +"'Scuse me, Massa Tom," began Eradicate, "but didn't yo' tell me to +spade de garden?" + +"I guess I did," admitted Tom Swift. + +"An' you tell me help--yes?" questioned Koku. + +"Well, I thought it would be a little too much for you, Rad," said Tom, +gently. "I thought perhaps you'd like help." + +"Hu! Not him, anyhow!" declared the colored man in great disgust. "When +I git so old dat I cain't spade a garden, den me an' Boomerang, we-all +gwine to die, dat's all I got to say. I was a-spadin' my part ob de +garden, Massa Tom, same laik Mr. Damon done tole me to, an' dish yeah +big mess ob bones steps on my side ob de middle an--" + +"Him too slow. Koku scatter dirt twice times so fast!" declared the +giant, whose English was not much better than Eradicate's. + +"Yes, I see," said Tom. "You are so strong, Koku, that you finished +your part before Eradicate did. Well, it was good of you to want to +help him." + +At this the giant grinned at his rival. + +"At the same time," went on Tom, winking an eye at Mr. Damon, +"Eradicate knows a little more about garden work, on account of having +done it so many years." + +"Ha! Whut I tell yo', Giant!" boasted the colored man. It was his turn +to smile. + +"And so," went on Tom, judicially, "I guess I'll let Rad finish spading +the garden, and you, Koku, can come and help me lift some heavy engine +parts. Mr. Damon wants to explain something to me." + +"Ha! Nothing what so heavy Koku not lift!" boasted the giant. + +"Go on! Lift yo'se'f 'way from heah!" muttered Eradicate as he picked +up his dropped spade. And then, with a smile of satisfaction, he fell +to work in the mellow soil while Tom led Koku to one of the shops where +he set him to lifting heavy motor parts about in order to get at a +certain machine that was stored away in the back of one of the rooms. + +"That will keep him busy," said the young inventor. "And now, Mr. +Damon, I can listen to you. Do you really think you have a new idea in +airships?" + +"I really think so, Tom. My Whizzer is bound to revolutionize travel in +the air. Let me tell you what I mean. Now cast your mind back. How many +ways are now used to propel an airship or a dirigible balloon through +the air? How many ways?" + +"Two, as far as I know," said Tom. "At least there are only two that +have proved to be practical." + +"Exactly," said Mr. Damon. "One with the propeller, or propellers, in +front, and that is the tractor type. The other has the propeller in the +rear, and that is the pusher type. Both good as far as they go, but I +have something better." + +"What?" asked Tom with a smile. + +"It's a Whizzer," said the eccentric man. "Bless my gold tooth! but +that is the best name I can think of for it. And, really, the propeller +I'm thinking of inventing does whiz around." + +"But are you going to use a tractor or pusher type?" Tom wanted to know. + +"It's a combination of both," answered Mr. Damon. "As it is now, Tom, +you have to get an aeroplane in pretty speedy motion before it will +rise from the ground, don't you?" + +"Yes, of course. That's the principle on which an aeroplane rises and +keeps aloft, by its speed in the air. As soon as that speed stops it +begins to fall, or volplane, as we call it." + +"Exactly. Now, instead of having to depend on the speed of the +aeroplane for this, why not depend on the speed of the propeller--in +other words, the whizzer?" + +"Well, we do," said Tom, a bit puzzled as to what his friend was trying +to get at. "If the propeller didn't move the airship wouldn't +rise--that is, unless it's of the balloon type." + +"What I mean," said Mr. Damon, "is to have an aeroplane that will move +in the air the same as a boat moves in the water. You don't have to get +the propeller of a boat racing around at the rate of a million +revolutions a minute, more or less, before your boat will travel, do +you? If the engine turns the screw, or propeller, just over say fifty +times a minute you would get some motion of the boat, wouldn't you?" + +"Why, yes, some," admitted Tom. + +"And what causes it?" asked Mr. Damon, anticipating a triumph. + +"The resistance of the water to the blades of the screw, or propeller," +answered Tom. + +"Exactly! And it's the resistance of the air to the blades of an +airship propeller that sends the craft along, isn't it?" + +"Yes. And because of the difference in density between air and water it +becomes necessary to revolve an aeroplane propeller many times faster +than a boat propeller. It's the density that makes the difference, Mr. +Damon. If air were as dense as water we could have comparatively +slow-moving motors and propellers and--" + +"Ha! There you have it, Tom! And there is where my Whizzer--Wakefield +Damon's Whizzer--is going to revolutionize air travel!" cried the +eccentric man. "The difference in density! If air were as dense as +water the problem would be solved. And I have solved it! I'm going to +turn the trick, Tom! One more question. How can air be made as dense as +water, Tom Swift?" + +"Why, by condensation or compression, I suppose," was the rather slow +answer. "You know they have condensed, or compressed, air until it is +liquid. I've done it myself, as an experiment." + +"That's it, Tom! That's it!" cried Mr. Damon in delight. "Compressed +air will do the trick! Not compressed to a liquid, exactly, but almost +so. I'm going to revolve the propellers of my new airship in compressed +air, so dense that they will not have to have a speed of more than +seven hundred revolutions a minute. What's that compared to the three +to ten thousand revolutions of the propellers now used? The propellers +of Damon's Whizzer will be of the pusher type, and will revolve in +dense, compressed air, almost like water, and that will do away with +high speed motors, with all their complications, and make traveling in +the clouds as simple as taking out a little one-cylinder motor boat. +How's that, Tom Swift? How's that for an idea?" + +To Mr. Damon's disappointment, Tom was not enthusiastic. The young +inventor gazed at his eccentric friend, and then said slowly: + +"Well, that's all right in theory, but how is it going to work out in +practice?" + +"That's what I came to see you about, Tom," was the reply. "Bless my +tall hat! but that's just why I hurried over here. I wanted to tell you +when I saw you going off on a trip with Miss Nestor. That's my big +idea--Damon's Whizzer--propellers revolving in compressed air like +water. Isn't that great?" + +"I'm sorry to shatter your air castle," said Tom; "but for the life of +me I can't see how it will work. Of course, in theory, if you could +revolve a big-bladed propeller in very dense, or in liquid, air, there +would be more resistance than in the rarefied atmosphere of the upper +regions. And, if this could be done, I grant you that you could use +slower motors and smaller propeller blades--more like those of a motor +boat. But how are you going to get the condensed air?" + +"Make it!" said Mr. Damon promptly. "Air pumps are cheap. Just carry +one or two on board the aeroplane, and condense the air as you go +along. That's a small detail that can easily be worked out. I leave +that to you." + +"I'd rather you wouldn't," said Tom. "That's the whole +difficulty--compressing your air. Wait! I'll explain it to you." + +Then the young inventor went into details. He told of the ponderous +machinery needed to condense air to a form approximating water, and +spoke of the terrible pressure exerted by the liquid atmosphere. + +"Anything that you would gain by having a slow-speed motor and smaller +propeller blades, would be lost by the ponderous air-condensing +machinery you would need," Tom told Mr. Damon. "Besides, if you could +surround your propellers with a strata of condensed air, it would +create such terrible cold as to freeze the propeller blades and make +them as brittle as glass. + +"Why, I have taken a heavy piece of metal, dipped it into liquid air, +and I could shatter the steel with a hammer as easily as a sheet of +ice. The cold of liquid air is beyond belief. + +"Attempts have been made to make motors run with liquid air, but they +have not succeeded. To condense air and to carry it about so that +propellers might revolve in it, would be out of the question." + +"You think so, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"I'm sure of it!" + +"Oh, dear! That's too bad. Bless my overshoes, but I thought I had a +new idea. Well, you ought to know. So Damon's Whizzer goes on the scrap +heap before ever it's built. Well, we'll say no more about it. You +ought to know best, Tom. I wasn't thinking of it so much for myself as +for you. I thought you'd like some new idea to work on." + +"Much obliged, Mr. Damon, but I have a new idea," said Tom. + +"You have? What is it? Tell me--that is, if it isn't a secret," went on +the eccentric man, as much delighted over Tom's new plan as he had been +over his own Whizzer, doomed to failure so soon. + +"It isn't a secret from you," said Tom. "I got the idea while I was +riding with Mary. I wanted to talk to her--to tell her not to jump out +when we had a little accident--but I had trouble making myself +understood because of the noise of the motor." + +"They do make a great racket," conceded Mr. Damon. "But I don't suppose +anything can be done about it." + +"I don't see why there can't!" exclaimed Tom. "And that's my new +idea--to make a silent aircraft motor--perhaps silent propeller blades, +though it's the motor that makes the most noise. And that's what I'm +going to do--invent a silent aeroplane. Not because I want so much to +talk when I take passengers up in the air, but I believe such a motor +would be valuable, especially for scouting planes in war work. To go +over the enemy's lines and not be heard would be valuable many times. + +"And that's what I'm going to do--work on a silent motor for Uncle Sam. +I've got the germ of an idea and now--" + +"Excuse me," said a voice behind Mr. Damon and Tom, and, turning, the +young inventor beheld the form of Mr. Peton Gale, president of the +Universal Flying Machine Company. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +MAKING PLANS + + +Tom Swift had drawn pencil and paper from his pocket, and, as he and +Mr. Damon were sitting on the steps of one of the shops, the young +inventor was about to demonstrate by a drawing part of his new project, +when the interruption came in the shape of one of the men who had, an +hour before, made a business offer to Tom. + +"Excuse me," went on Mr. Peton Gale, "but Mr. Ware and I got to talking +it over on our way to the station--the matter of having you in our +company, Mr. Swift--and we concluded that it was worth twenty-five +thousand dollars a year for us to have you. So I came back--" + +"It isn't of the slightest use, Mr. Gale, I assure you," said Tom, a +bit heatedly, for he did not like the persistency of this man, nor did +he like his coming on the factory grounds unannounced and in this +secret manner. "I told you I could not accept your offer. It is not +altogether a matter of money. My word was final." + +"Oh very well, if you put it that way," said Mr. Gale stiffly, "of +course there is nothing more to say. But I thought perhaps you did not +consider we had offered you enough and--" + +"Your offer is fair enough from a financial standpoint," said Tom; "but +I simply cannot accept it. I have other plans. Jackson!" he called to +one of his mechanics who was passing, "kindly see Mr. Gale to the gate, +and then let me know how it was any one came in here without a permit." + +"Yes, sir," said the mechanic, as he stood significantly waiting. + +"There was no one at the gate when I came in," said Mr. Gale, and his +manner was antagonizing. "I wanted to speak to you--to ask you to +reconsider your offer--so I came back." + +"It is against the rules to admit strangers to the shop grounds," said +Tom. "Good-day!" + +The president of the Universal Flying Machine Company did not respond, +but there was a look on his face as he turned away that, had Tom seen +it, might have caused him some uneasiness. But he did not see. Instead, +he resumed his talk with Mr. Damon. + +"Tom, your idea is most interesting," declared the eccentric man. "I +hope you will be able to work it out!" + +"I'm going to try," said the young inventor. "I hope that man--Mr. +Gale--didn't hear anything of what I was saying. He sneaked up on us +before I was aware any one was near but ourselves." + +"I don't imagine he heard very much, Tom," said Mr. Damon. "He may have +heard you mention a silent motor--" + +"That's just what I wish he hadn't heard," broke in Tom. "That's the +germ of the idea, and once it becomes known that I am working on that-- +Well, there's no use crying over spilled milk," and he smiled at the +homely proverb. "I'll have to work in secret, once I've started." + +"Do you think the government would use it, Tom?" asked his friend. + +"I should think it would be glad to. Consider what a wonderful part +airships are playing in the present war. It really is a struggle to see +which will be the master of the sky--the Allies or the Germans--and, up +to recently, the Huns had the advantage. Then the Allies, recognizing +how vital it was, began to forge ahead, and now Uncle Sam with his +troops under General Pershing is leading everything, or will lead +shortly. We have been a bit slow with our aircraft production, but now +we are booming along. Uncle Sam will soon have the mastery of the sky." + +"I hope so," sighed Mr. Damon. "We must beat the Germans!" + +Briefly, Tom spoke of what Pershing's men were doing with their +aeroplanes in France, and mention was made of what the French and +British had done prior to the entrance of the United States into the +World War. + +"While we were yet neutral, Americans had made gallant names for +themselves flying for France, and with my silent motor they ought to do +better," declared Tom. + +"Is silence its chief recommendation?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Yes," replied Tom. "Or rather, it will be when I have it perfected. +Aeroplane motors now are about as compact and speedy as they can be +made. It is only the terrific noise that is a handicap. It is a +handicap to the pilots and observers in the craft, as they cannot +communicate except through a special speaking tube, and this is not +always satisfactory or sure. Then, too, the noise of an airship +proclaims its approach to the enemy, sometimes long before it can be +seen. + +"With a silent motor all this would be done away with. With my new +craft, in case I can perfect it, the enemy's lines can be approached as +silently as the Indians used to approach the log cabins of the white +settlers. That will be its great advantage--not that conversation can +be more easily carried on, for that is, after all, an unimportant +detail. But to approach the enemy's lines in the silence of the night +would be a distinct gain." + +"I believe it would, Tom!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "And I should think, +too, that Uncle Sam would be glad to get such a motor," he added. + +"Well, he'll have one to take if he wants it, if I can make my plans a +success," declared Tom. "That is, unless those other fellows get ahead +of me." + +"What other fellows?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Gale, Ware and their crowd," was the answer. "I fancy they are +provoked because I wouldn't agree to work for them, and now, that Gale +overheard--as he must have--what I propose working on, they may try +that game themselves." + +"You mean try to turn out a silent motor?" + +"Yes. It would be a big feather in their cap for their company, so far, +hasn't been very successful on government orders. That's why they came +to me, I guess." + +"I shouldn't be surprised, Tom," conceded Mr. Damon. "Since the +government accepted your giant cannon and your great searchlight, you +have come into greater prominence than ever before. And those two +things are a wonderful success." + +"Yes," admitted Tom, modestly enough, "the big electric light seems to +have been of some benefit on the European battle front, and though they +haven't been able to make and transport as many of my giant cannons as +I'd like to see over there, it is progressing, I understand." + +And this is true. For the details of these two inventions of Tom +Swift's I refer my readers to the books bearing those titles. +Sufficient to state here that the government was using these two +inventions, and there had been no necessity for commandeering them +either, since Tom had freely offered them at the declaration of war +with Germany. + +"Well, since I can't help you with my 'Whizzer,'" said Mr. Damon, with +a smile, "let me do what I can toward your silent motor, Tom. What are +you going to call it?" + +"Oh, I don't know--hadn't thought of a name. I guess 'Air Scout' would +be as good as any. That's what it will be--a machine for silently +scouting in the air. And now to get down to brass tacks, as the poet +says, I believe I will--" + +"Gentleman to see you, Mr. Swift," interrupted Jackson. + +"Bless my penwiper!" cried Mr. Damon. "More visitors! I hope it isn't +Gale or Ware come back to see what they can spy on!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A PROBLEM IN SOUND + + +Tom Swift looked up with a distinct appearance of being annoyed that +was unusual with him, for he was, nearly always, good-natured. But the +frown that had replaced the pleasant look on his face while he was +talking to Mr. Damon about the projected new air scout was at once +wiped away as he looked at the card Jackson held out to him. + +"Bring him in right away!" he ordered. "He needn't have stood on that +ceremony." + +"Well, he said it was a business call," returned the mechanician with a +cheerful grin, "and he said he wanted it done according to form. So he +gave me his card to bring you." + +"Who is it?" asked Mr. Damon, with the privilege of an old friend. + +"It's Ned Newton," Tom answered; "though why he's putting on all this +formality I can't fathom." + +Jackson went back to the main gate and told the man on guard there to +admit Ned, who had so formally sent in his card. + +"Ah, Mr. Swift, I believe?" began the bank employee with that suave, +formal air which usually precedes a business meeting. + +"That is my name," said Tom, with a suppressed grin, and he spoke as +stiffly as though to a perfect stranger. + +"Mr. Tom Swift, the great inventor?" went on Ned. + +"Yes." + +"Ah, then I am at the right place. Just sign here, please, on the +dotted line," and he held out a blank form, and a fountain pen to Tom, +who took them half mechanically. + +"Huh? What's the big idea, Ned?" asked the young inventor, unable +longer to carry on the joke. "Is this a warrant for my arrest, or +merely a testimonial to you. If it's the latter, and concerns your +nerve, I'll gladly sign it." + +"Well, it's something like that!" laughed Ned. "That's your application +for another block of Liberty Bonds, Tom, and I want you, as a personal +favor to me, as a business favor to the bank, and as your plain duty to +Uncle Sam, to double your last subscription." + +Tom looked at the sum Ned had filled in on the blank form, and uttered +a slight whistle of surprise. + +"That's all right now," said Ned, with the air of a professional +salesman. "You can stand that and more, too. I'm letting you off easy. +Why, I got Mary's father--Mr. Nestor--for twice what he took last time, +and Mary herself--hard as she's working for the Red Cross--gave me a +nice application. So it's up to you to--" + +"Nuff said!" exclaimed Tom, sententiously, as he signed his name. "I +may have to reconsider my recent refusal of the offer of the Universal +Flying Machine Company, though, if I haven't money enough to meet this +subscription, Ned." + +"Oh, you'll meet it all right! Much obliged," and Ned folded the +Liberty Bond subscription paper and put it in his pocket. "But did you +turn down the offer from those people?" + +"I did," answered Tom. "But how did you know about it, Ned?" + +"First let me say that I'm glad you decided to have nothing to do with +them. They're a rich firm, and have lots of money, but I wouldn't trust +'em, even if they have some government contracts. The way I happened +to know they were likely to make you an offer is this," continued Ned +Newton. + +"They do business with one of the New York banks with which my +bank--notice the accent on the my, Tom--is connected. The other day I +happened to see some correspondence about you. These flying machine +people asked our bank to find out certain things about you, and, as a +matter of business, we had to give the information. Sort of a +commercial agency report, you know, nothing unusual, and it isn't the +first time it's been done since your business got so large. But that's +how I happened to know these fellows contemplated dickering with you." + +"Do you know Gale or Ware?" Tom asked. + +"Not personally. But in a business way, Tom, I'd warn you to look out +for them, as they're sharp dealers. They put one over on the government +all right, and there may be some unpleasant publicity to it later. But +they're putting up a big bluff, and pretending they can turn out a lot +of flying machines for use in Europe. Why don't you get busy on that +end of the game, Tom?" + +"I know you've more than done your bit, with Liberty Bonds, +subscriptions to the Y. M. C. A. and other war work, besides your war +tank and other inventions. But you're such a shark on flying machines I +should think you'd offer your factory to the government for the +production of aeroplanes." + +"I would in a minute, Ned, and you know it; but the fact of the matter +is my shops aren't equipped for the production of anything in large +numbers. We do mostly an experimenting business here, making only one +or two of a certain machine. I have told the government officials they +can have anything I've got, and you know they wouldn't let me enlist +when I was working on the war tank." + +"Yes, I remember that," said Ned. "You're no slacker! I wanted to +shoulder a rifle, too, but they keep me at this Liberty Loan work. +Well, Uncle Sam ought to know." + +"That's what I say," agreed Tom, "and that's why I haven't gone to the +front myself. And now, as it happens, I've got something else in mind +that may help Uncle Sam." + +"What is it?" + +"A silent flying machine for scout work on the battle front," Tom told +his friend, and then he gave a few details, such as those he had been +telling Mr. Damon. + +"Then I don't wonder you turned down the offer of the Universal +people," remarked Ned, at the conclusion of the recital. "This will be +a heap more help to the government, Tom, than working for those people, +even at twenty-five thousand dollars a year. And if you get short, and +can't meet your newest Liberty Bond payments, why, I guess the bank +will stretch your credit a little." + +"Thanks!" laughed Tom, "but I'll try not to ask them." + +The friends talked together a little longer, and then Ned had to take +his departure to solicit more subscriptions, while Mr. Damon went with +him, the eccentric man saying he would go home to Waterfield. + +"But, bless my overshoes, Tom!" he exclaimed, as he departed, "don't +forget to let me know when you have your silent motor working. I want +to see it." + +"I'll let you know," was the promise given by the young inventor. + +"And watch out for those Universal people," warned Ned. "I'm not +telling you this as a bank official, for I'm not supposed to, but it's +personal." + +"I'll be on the watch," said Tom. And, as he went into his private +workshop, he wondered why it was his father and Ned had both warned him +not to trust Gale and Ware. + +The next few days were busy ones for Tom Swift. Once he had made up his +mind to go to work seriously on a silent motor, all else was put aside. +He sent a note to Mary Nestor, telling her what he was going to do, +and, asking her to say nothing about it, which, of course, Mary agreed +to. + +"Come and see me when you can," she sent back word, "but I know you +won't have much chance when you're experimenting with your invention. +And I shall be working so hard for the Red Cross that I sha'n't get +much chance to entertain you. But the war can't last forever." + +"No," agreed Tom with a sigh, as he put away her letter, "and thank +goodness that it can't!" + +The young inventor threw himself into the perplexing work of inventing +a silent motor with all the fervor he had given to the production of +his war tank, his giant cannon, his wonderful searchlight and other +machines. + +"And," mused Tom, as he sat at his work table with pencil and paper +before him, "since this is a problem in acoustics, I had best begin I +suppose by going back to first principles, and after determining what +makes an aeroplane engine noisy, try to figure out how to make it +quiet. Now as to the first, the principle causes of noise are--" + +And at that instant there broke on Tom's ears a succession of +discordant sounds which seemed to be a combination of an Indian's war +whoop and a college student's yells at a football game. + +"Now I wonder what that is!" mused the young inventor as he hastily +arose. "Better solve that problem before I tackle the aeroplane motor." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THROUGH THE ROOF + + + +Tom rushed from his private office, and when he reached the outer door +he heard with more distinctness the sounds that had alarmed him. They +seemed to come from a small building given over to electrical +apparatus, and which, at the time, was not supposed to be in use. It +had been Tom's workroom, so to speak, when he was developing his +electric runabout and rifle, but of late he had not spent much time in +it. + +"Somebody's in there!" reflected the young inventor, as he heard yells +coming from the open door of the place. "And if it isn't Koku and +Eradicate I miss my guess! Wonder what they can be doing there." + +He crossed the yard between his private office and the electrical shop +in a few rapid strides, and, as he entered the latter place, he was +greeted with a series of wild yells. + +"Good volume of sound here, at all events," mused Tom. "Almost as much +as my motor made when I was trying to talk to Mary. Hello there! What's +going on? Is any one hurt? What's the matter?" he cried, for, at first, +he could see no one in the dim light of the place. The interior was a +maze of electrical apparatus. + +"Who's here?" demanded Tom, as he advanced. + +"Oh, Master! Come quick! Koku 'most dead an' no can let go!" was the +cry. + +"Yo' jest bet yo' cain't let go!" chimed in the voice of Eradicate. "I +done knowed yo would git into trouble ef yo' come heah, an' I'se glad +ob it! So I is!" + +"What is it, Rad? What has happened to Koku?" cried Tom, running +forward, for though no very powerful current could be turned on in the +electrical shop at this period of unuse, there was enough to be very +painful. "What is it, Rad?" + +"Oh, dat big foolish giant, Koku, done got his se'f into trouble!" +chuckled the colored man. "He done got holt ob one ob dem air +contraptions, Massa Tom, an' he cain't let go! Ha! Ha! Golly! Look at +him squirm!" and Rad laughed shrilly, which accounted for some of the +sounds Tom had heard. + +Then came yells of rage and pain from the giant, and they were so loud +and vigorous, mingling with Eradicate's as they did, that it was no +wonder Tom was startled. The sounds were heard in the other shops, and +men came running out. But before then Tom had put an end to the trouble. + +One look showed him what had happened. Just how or why Koku and +Eradicate had entered the electrical shop Tom did not then stop to +inquire. But he saw that the giant had grasped the handles of one of +the electric machines, designed for charging Leyden jars used in Tom's +experiments, and the powerful, though not dangerous, current had so +paralyzed, temporarily, the muscles of the giant's hands and arms that +he could not let go, and there he was, squirming, and not knowing how +to turn off the current, and unable to ease himself, while Eradicate +stood and laughed at him, fairly howling with delight. + +"Ha! Guess yo' won't do no mo' spadin' in' Massa Tom's garden right +away, big man!" taunted Eradicate. + +"Be quiet, Rad!" ordered Tom, as he reached up and pulled out the +switch, thus shutting off the current. "This isn't anything to laugh +at." + +"But he done look so funny, Massa Tom!" pleaded the colored man. "He +done squirm laik--" + +But Eradicate did not finish what he intended to say. Once free from +the powerful current, the giant looked at his numb hands, and then, +seeming to think that Eradicate was the cause of it all, he sprang at +the colored man with a yell. But Eradicate did not stay to see what +would happen. With a howl of terror, he raced out of the door, and, old +and rheumatic as he was, he managed to gain the stable of his mule, +Boomerang, over which he had his humble but comfortable quarters. + +"Well, I guess he's safe for a while!" laughed Tom, as he saw the giant +turn away, shaking his fist at the closed door, for Koku, big as he +was, stood in mortal terror of the mule's heels. + +Tom locked the door of the electrical shop and went back to his +interrupted problem. From Jackson he learned that Koku and Eradicate +had merely happened to stroll into the forbidden place, which had been +left open by accident. There, it appeared, Koku had handled some of the +machinery, ending by switching on the current of the machine the +handles of which he later unsuspectingly picked up. Then he received a +shock he long remembered, and for many days he believed Eradicate had +been responsible for it, and there was more than the usual hostile +feeling between the two. But Eradicate was innocent of that trick, at +all events. + +"Though," said Tom, telling his father about it later, "Rad would have +turned on the current if he had known he could make trouble for Koku by +it. I never saw their like for having disagreements!" + +"Yes, but they are both devoted to you, Tom," said the aged inventor. +"But what is this you hinted at--a silent motor you called it, I +believe? Are you really serious in trying to invent one?" + +"Yes, Dad, I am. I think there's a big field for an aeroplane that +could travel along over the enemy's lines--particularly at night--and +not be heard from below. Think of the scout work that could be done. + +"Well, yes, it could be done if you could get a silent motor, or +propellers that made no noise, Tom. But I don't believe it can be done." + +"Well, maybe not, Dad. But I'm going to try!" and Tom, after a further +talk with his father, began work in earnest on the big problem. That it +was a big one Tom was not disposed to deny, and that it would be a +valuable invention even his somewhat skeptical father admitted. + +"How are you going to start, Tom?" asked Mr. Swift, several days after +the big idea had come to the young man. + +"I'm going to experiment a bit, at first. I've got a lot of old motors, +that weren't speedy enough for any of my flying machines, and I'm going +to make them over. If I spoil them the loss won't amount to anything, +and if I succeed--well, maybe I can help out Uncle Sam a bit more." + +As Tom had said he would do, he began at the very foundation, and +studied the fundamental principles of sound. + +"Sound," the young inventor told Ned Newton, in speaking about the +problem, "is a sensation which is peculiar to the ear, though the +vibrations caused by sound waves may be felt in many parts of the body. +But the ear is the great receiver of sound." + +"You aren't going to invent a sort of muffler for the ears, are you, +Tom?" asked Ned. "That would be an easy way of solving the problem, but +I doubt if you could get the Germans to wear your ear-tabs so they +wouldn't hear the sound of the Allied aeroplanes." + +"No, I'm not figuring on doing the trick that way," said Tom with a +laugh. "I've really got to cut down the sound of the motor and the +propeller blades, so a person, listening with all his ears, won't hear +any noise, unless he's within a few feet of the plane." + +"Well, I can tell you, right off the reel, how to do it," said the bank +employee. + +"How?" asked Tom eagerly. + +"Run your engine and propellers in a vacuum," was the prompt reply. + +"Hum!" said Tom, musingly. "Yes, that would be a simple way out, and +I'll do it, if you'll tell me how to breathe in a vacuum." + +"Oh, I didn't agree to do that," laughed Ned. + +But he had spoken the truth, as those who have studied physics well +know. There must be an atmosphere for the transmission of sound, which +is the reason all is cold and silent and still at the moon. There is no +atmosphere there. Sound implies vibration. Something, such as liquid, +gas, or solid, must be set in motion to produce sound, and for the +purpose of science the air we breathe may be considered a gas, being +composed of two. + +Not only must the object, either solid, liquid, or gaseous, be in +motion to produce sound, but the air surrounding the vibrating body +must also be moving in unison with it. And lastly there must be some +medium of receiving the sound waves--the ear or some part of the body. +Totally deaf persons may be made aware of sound through the vibrations +received through their hands or feet. They receive, of course, only the +more intense, or largest, sound waves, and can not hear notes of music +nor spoken words, though they may feel the vibration when a piano is +played. And, as Ned has said, no sound is produced in a vacuum. + +"But," said Tom, "since I can't run my aeroplane in a vacuum, or even +have the propellers revolve in one, it's up to me to solve the problem +some other way. The propellers don't really make noise enough to worry +about when they're high in the air. It's the exhaust from the motor, +and to get rid of that will be my first attempt." + +"Can it be done?" asked Ned. + +"I don't know," was Tom's frank answer. + +"They do it on an automobile to a great extent," went on Ned. "Some of +'em you cant hardly hear." + +"Yes, but an aeroplane engine runs many, many times faster than the +motor of an auto," said Tom, "and there are more explosions to muffle. +I doubt if the muffler of an auto would cut down the sound of an aero +engine to any appreciable extent. But, of course, I'll try along those +lines." + +"They have mufflers or silencers for guns and rifles," went on Ned. +"Couldn't you make a big one of those contraptions and put it on an +aeroplane?" + +"I doubt it," said Tom, shaking his head. "Of course it's the same +principle as that in an auto muffler, or on a motor boat--a series of +baffle plates arranged within a hollow cylinder. But all such devices +cut down power, and I don't want to do that. However, I'm going to +solve the problem or--bust!" + +And Tom came near "busting," Ned remarked later, when he and his friend +talked over the progress of the invention. + +Two weeks had passed since the start of his evolution of his new idea, +and following the visiting of the representatives of the Universal +Flying Machine Company. Since then neither Gale nor Ware had +communicated with Tom. + +"But I must be on the watch against them," thought the young inventor. +"I'm pretty sure Gale heard me mention what I was going to try to +invent, and he may get ahead of me, and put a silent motor on the +market first. Not that I'm afraid of being done out of any profits, but +I simply don't want to be beaten." + +The details of Tom's invention cannot be gone into, but, roughly, it +was based on the principle of not only a muffler but also of producing +less noise when the charges of gasoline exploded in the cylinders. It +is, of course, the explosion of gasoline mixed with air that causes an +internal combustion engine to operate. And it is the expulsion of the +burned gases that causes the exhaust and makes the noise that is heard. + +Tom was working along the well-known line of the rate of travel of +sound, which progresses at the rate of about 1090 feet a second when +air is at the freezing point. And, roughly, with every degree increase +in the atmosphere's temperature the velocity of sound increases by one +foot. Thus at a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or 68 degrees +above freezing, there would be added to the 1090 feet the 68 feet, +making sound travel at 100 degrees Fahrenheit about 1158 feet a second. + +Tom had set up in his shop a powerful, but not very speedy, old +aeroplane engine, and had attached to it the device he hoped would help +him toward solving his problem of cutting down the noise. He had had +some success with it, and, after days and nights of labor, he invited +his father and Ned, as well as Mr. Damon, over to see what he hoped +would be a final experiment. + +His visitors had assembled in the shop, and Eradicate was setting out +some refreshments which Tom had provided, the colored man being in his +element now. + +"What's all this figuring, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon, as he saw a series of +calculations on some sheets of paper lying on Tom's desk. + +"That's where I worked out how much faster sound traveled in hydrogen +gas than in the ordinary atmosphere," was the answer. "It goes about +four times as fast, or nearly four thousand two hundred feet a second. +You remember the rule, I suppose. 'The speed of sonorous vibrations +through gases varies inversely as the squares of the weights of equal +volumes of the gases,' or, in other words--" + +"Give it to us chiefly in 'other words,' if you please, Tom!" pleaded +Ned, with a laugh. "Let that go and do some tricks. Start the engine +and let's see if we can hear it." + +"Oh, you can hear it all right," said Tom, as he approached the motor, +which was mounted on a testing block. "The thing isn't perfected yet, +but I hope to have it soon. Rad! Where is that black rascal? Oh, there +you are! Come here, Rad!" + +"Yaas sah, Massa Tom! Is I gwine to help yo' all in dish yeah job?" + +"Yes. Just take hold of this lever, and when I say so pull it as hard +as you can." + +"Dat's whut I will, Massa Tom. Golly! ef dat no 'count giant was heah +now he'd see he ain't de only one whut's got muscle. I'll pull good +an' hard, Massa Tom." + +"Yes, that's what I want you to. Now I guess we're all ready. Can you +see, Dad--and Ned and Mr. Damon?" + +"Yes," they answered. They stood near the side wall of the shop, while +Tom and Eradicate were at the testing block, on which the motor, with +the noise-eliminating devices attached, had been temporarily mounted. + +"All ready," called the young inventor, as he turned on the gas and +threw over the electrical switch. "All ready! Pull the starting lever, +Rad, and when it's been running a little I'll throw on the silencer and +you can see the difference." + +The motor began to hum, and there was a deafening roar, just as there +always is when the engine of an aeroplane starts. It was as though half +a dozen automobile engines were being run with the mufflers cut out. + +"Now I'll show you the difference!" yelled Tom, though such was the +noise that not a word could be heard. "This shows you what my silencer +will do." + +Tom pulled another lever. There was at once a cessation of the +deafening racket, though it was not altogether ended. Then, after a +moment or two, there suddenly came a roar as though a blast had been +let off in the shop. + +Tom and Eradicate were tossed backward, head over heels, as though by +the giant hands of Koku himself, and Mr. Damon, Ned, and Tom's father +saw the motor fly from the testing block and shoot through the roof of +the building with a rending, crashing, and splintering sound that could +be heard for a mile. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +AFTER A SPY + + +Curious as it may seem, Eradicate, the oldest and certainly not the +most energetic of the party assembled in the experiment room, was the +first to recover himself and arise. Tottering to his feet he gave one +look at the testing block, whence the motor had torn itself. Then he +looked at the prostrate figures around him, none of them hurt, but all +stunned and very much startled. Then the gaze of Eradicate traveled to +the hole in the roof. It was a gaping, ragged hole, for the motor was +heavy and the roof of flimsy material. And then the colored man +exclaimed: + +"Good land ob massy! Did I do dat?" + +His tone was one of such startled contrition, and so tragic, that Tom +Swift, rueful as he felt over the failure of his experiment and the +danger they had all been in, could not help laughing. + +"I take it, hearing that from you, Tom, that we're all right," said Ned +Newton, as he recovered himself and brushed some dirt off his coat. Ned +was a natty dresser. + +"Yes, we seem to be all right," replied Tom slowly. "I can't say what +damage the flying motor has done outside, but--" + +"Bless my insurance policy! but what happened?" asked Mr. Damon. "I saw +Eradicate pull on that lever as you told him to, Tom, and then things +all went topsy-turvy! Did he pull the wrong handle?" + +"No, it wasn't Rad's fault at all," said Tom. "The trouble was, as I +guess I'll find when I investigate, that I put too much power into the +motor, and the muffler didn't give any chance for the accumulated +exhaust gases to expand and escape. I didn't allow for that, and they +simply backed up, compressed and exploded. I guess that's the whole +explanation." + +"I'm inclined to agree with you, Son," said Mr. Swift dryly. "Don't +try to get rid of all the noise at once. Eliminate it by degrees and it +will be safer." + +"I guess so," agreed Tom. + +By this time a score of workmen from the other shops had congregated +around the one though the roof of which the motor had been blown. Tom +opened the door to assure Jackson and the others that no one was hurt, +and then the young inventor saw the exploded motor had buried in the +dirt a short distance away from the experiment building. + +"Lucky none of us were standing over it when it went up," said Tom, as +he made an inspection of the broken machine. "We'd have gone through +the roof with it." + +"She certainly went sailing!" commented Ned. "Must have been a lot of +power there, Tom." + +And this was evidenced by the bent and twisted rods that had held the +motor to the testing block, and by the cylinders, some of which were +torn apart as though made of paper instead of heavy steel. But for the +fact that all the force of the explosion was directly upward, instead +of at the sides, none might have been left alive in the shop. All had +escaped most fortunately, and they realized this. + +"Well," queried Ned, as Tom gave orders to have the damaged machine +removed and the roof repaired, "does this end the wonderful silent +motor, Tom?" + +"End it! What do you mean--" + +"I mean are you going to experiment any further?" + +"Why, of course! Just because I've had one failure doesn't mean that +I'm going to give up. Especially when I know what the matter was--not +leaving any vent for the escaping gases. Why this isn't anything. When +I was perfecting my giant cannon I was nearly blown up more than once, +and you remember how we got stuck in the submarine." + +"I should say I did!" exclaimed Ned with a shudder. "I don't want any +more of that. But as between being blown through a roof and held at the +bottom of the sea, I don't know that there's much choice." + +"Well, perhaps not," agreed Tom. "But as for ending my experiments, I +wouldn't dream of such a thing! Why, I've only just begun! I'll have a +silent motor yet!" + +"And a non-explosive one, I hope," added Mr. Damon dryly. "Bless my +shoe buttons, Tom, but if my wife knew what danger I'd been in she'd +never let me come over to see you any more." + +"Well, the next time I invite you to a test I'll be more careful," +promised the young inventor. + +"There isn't going to be any next time as far as I'm concerned!" +laughed Ned. "I think it's safer to sell Liberty Bonds." + +And, though they joked about it, they all realized the narrow escape +they had had. As for Eradicate, once he knew he had not been the one +who caused the damage, he felt rather proud of the part he had taken in +the mishap, and for many days he boasted about it to Koku. + +True to his determination, Tom Swift did not give up his experimental +work on the silent motor. The machine that had been blown through the +roof was useless now, and it was sent to the scrap heap, after as much +of it as possible had been salvaged. Then Tom got another piece of +apparatus out of his store room and began all over again. + +He worked along the same lines as at first--providing a chamber for the +escaping gases of the exhaust to expend their noise and energy in, at +the same time laboring to cut down the concussion of the explosions in +the cylinder without reducing their force any. And that it was no easy +problem to do either of these, Tom had to admit as he progressed. All +previous types of mufflers or silencers had to be discarded and a new +one evolved. + +"Jackson, I need some one to help me," said Tom to his chief +mechanician one day. "Haven't you a good man who is used to +experimental work that you can let me take from the works?" + +"Why, yes," was the answer. "Let me see. Roberts is busy on the new +bomb you got up, but I could take him off that--" + +"No, don't!" interposed Tom. "I want that work to go on. Isn't there +some one else you can let me have?" + +"Well, there's a new man who came to me well recommended. I took him on +last week, and he's a wonderful mechanic. Knows a lot about gas +engines. I could let you have him--Bower his name is. The only thing +about it, though, is that I don't like to give you a man of whom I am +not dead certain, when you're working on a new device." + +"Oh, that will be all right," said Tom. "There won't be any secrets he +can get, if you mean you think he might be up to spy work." + +"That's what I did mean, Tom. You never can tell, you know, and you +have some bitter enemies." + +"Yes, but I'll take care this man doesn't see the plans, or any of my +drawings. I only want some one to do the heavy assembling work on the +experimental muffler I'm getting up. We can let him think it's for a +new kind of automobile." + +"Oh, then I guess it will be all right. I'll send Bower to you." + +Tom rather liked the new workman, who seemed quiet and efficient. He +did not ask questions, either, about the machine on which he was +engaged, but did as he was told. As Tom had said, he kept his plans and +drawing under lock and key--in a safe to be exact--and he did not think +they were in any danger from his new helper. + +But Tom Swift held into altogether too slight regard the powers of +those who were opposed to him. He did not appreciate the depths to +which they would stoop to gain their ends. + +He had been working hard on his new device, and had reached a point +further along than when the other motor had exploded. He began to see +success ahead of him, and he was jubilant. Whether this made him +careless does not matter, but the fact was that he left Bower more to +himself, and alone in the experimental shop several times. + +And it was on one of these occasions, when Tom had been for some time +in one of the other shops, where he and Jackson were in consultation +over a new machine, that as he came back to the test room unexpectedly, +he saw Bower move hastily away from in front of the safe. Moreover, Tom +was almost certain he had heard the steel door clang shut as he +approached the building. + +And then, before he could ask his helper a question, Tom looked from a +window and saw a stranger running hastily along the side of the +building where his trial motor was being set up. + +"Who's that? Who is that man? Did he come in here? Was he tampering +with my safe?" cried Tom. He saw Bower hesitate and change color, and +Tom knew it was time to act. + +The window was open, and with one bound the young inventor was out and +running after the stranger he had seen departing in such a hurry. The +man was but a short distance ahead of him, and Tom saw he was stuffing +some papers into his pocket. + +"Here! Come back! Stop!" ordered Tom, but the man ran on the faster. + +"That's a spy as sure as guns!" reflected Tom Swift. "And Bower is in +with him!" he added. "I've got to catch that fellow!" and he speeded +his pace as he ran after the fellow. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A BIG SPLASH + + +There was no question in the mind of Tom Swift but that the man he was +running after was guilty of some wrong-doing. In the first place he was +a stranger, and had no right inside the big fence that surrounded the +Swift machine plant. Then, too, the very fact that he ran away was +suspicious. + +And this, coupled with the confusion on the part of Bower, and his +proximity to the safe, made Tom fear that some of his plans had been +stolen. These he was very anxious to recover if this strange man had +them, and so he raced after him with all speed. + +"Stop! Stop!" called Tom, but the on-racing stranger did not heed. + +The cries of the young inventor soon attracted the attention of his +men, and Jackson and some of the others came running from their various +shops to give whatever aid was needed. But they were all too far away +to give effective chase. + +"Bower might have come with me if he had wanted to help," thought Tom. +But a backward glance over his shoulder did not show that the new +helper was engaging in the pursuit, and he could have started almost on +the same terms as Tom himself. + +The runaway, looking back to see how near the young inventor was to +him, suddenly changed his course, and, noting this, Tom Swift thought: + +"I've got him now! He'll be bogged if he runs that way," for the way +led to a piece of swampy land that, after the recent rains, was a +veritable bog which was dangerous for cattle at least; and more than +one man had been caught there. + +"He can't run across the swamp, that's sure," reflected Tom with some +satisfaction. "I'll get him all right!" + +But he wanted to capture the man, if possible, before he reached the +bog, and, to this end, Tom increased his speed to such good end that +presently, on the firm ground that bordered the swamp, Tom was almost +within reaching distance of the stranger. + +But the latter kept up running, and dodged and turned so that Tom could +not lay hands on him. Suddenly, turning around a clump of trees the +fleeing man headed straight for a veritable mud hole that lay directly +in his path. It was part of the swamp--the most liquid part of the bog +and a home of frogs and lizards. + +Too late, the man, who was evidently unaware of the proximity of the +swamp, saw his danger. His further flight was cut off by the mud hole, +but it was too late to turn back. Tom Swift was at his heels now, and +seeing that it was impossible to grab the man, Tom did the next best +thing. He stuck out his foot and tripped him, and tripped him right on +the edge of the mud hole, so that the man fell in with a big splash, +the muddy water flying all around, some even over the young inventor. + +For a moment the man disappeared completely beneath the surface, for +the mud hole was rather deep just where Tom had thrown him. Then there +was another violent agitation of the surface, and a very woebegone and +muddy face was raised from the slough, followed by the rest of the +figure of the man. Slowly he got to his feet, mud and water dripping +from him. He cleared his face by rubbing his hands over it, not that it +made his countenance clean, but it removed masses of mud from his eyes, +nose, and mouth, so that he could see and speak, though his first +operation was to gasp for breath. + +"What--what are you doin'?" he demanded of Tom, and as the man opened +his mouth to speak Tom was aware of a glitter, which disclosed the +'fact that the man had a large front tooth of gold. + +"What am I doing?" repeated Tom. "I think it's up to you to answer that +question, not me. What are you doing?" + +"You--you tripped me into this mud hole!" declared the man. + +"I did, yes; because you were trespassing on my property, and ran away +instead of stopping when I told you to," went on Tom. "Who are you and +what are you doing? What were you doing with Bower at my shop?" + +"Nothin'! I wasn't doin' nothin'!" + +"Well, we'll inquire into that. I want to see what you have in your +pockets before I believe you. Come on out!" + +"You haven't any right to go through my pockets!" blustered the +stranger. + +"Oh, haven't I? Well, I'm going to take the right. Jackson--Koku--just +see that he doesn't get away. We'll take him back and search him," and +Tom motioned to his chief machinist and the giant, who had reached the +scene, to take charge of the man. But Koku was sufficient for this +purpose, and the mud-bespattered stranger seemed to shrink as he saw +the big creature approach him. There was no question of running away +after that. + +"Bring him along," ordered Tom, and Koku, taking a tight grip on the +man by the slack of his garments behind, walked him along toward the +office, the mud and water splashing and oozing from his shoes at every +step. + +"Now you look here!" the gold-toothed man cried, as he was forced +along, "you ain't got any right to detain me. I ain't done nothin'!" +And each time he spoke the bright tooth in his mouth glittered in the +sun. + +"I don't know whether you've done anything or not," said Tom. "I'm +going to take you back and see what you and Bower have to say. He may +know something about this." + +"If he does I don't believe he'll tell," said Jackson. + +"Why not?" asked Tom, quickly. + +"Because he's gone." + +"Gone! Bower gone?" + +"Yes," answered Jackson. "I saw him running out of the experiment shop +as we raced along to help you. I didn't think, at the time, that he was +doing more than go for aid, perhaps. But I see the game now." + +"Oh, you mean--him?" and Tom pointed to the dripping figure. + +"Yes," said Jackson in a low voice, as Koku went on ahead with his +prisoner. "If, as you say, this man was in league with Bower, the +latter has smelled a rat and skipped. He has run away, and I only hope +he hasn't done any damage or got hold of any of your plans." + +"We'll soon know about that," said Tom. "I wonder who is at the bottom +of this?" + +"Maybe those men you wouldn't work for," suggested the machinist. + +"You mean Gale and Ware of the Universal Flying Machine Company?" + +"Yes." + +"Oh, I don't believe they'd stoop to any such measures as this--sending +spies around," replied Tom. "But I can't be too careful. We'll +investigate." + +The first result of the investigation was to disclose the fact that +Bower was gone. He had taken his few possessions and left the Swift +plant while Tom was racing after the stranger. A hasty examination of +the safe did not reveal anything missing, as Tom's plans and papers +were intact. But they showed evidences of having been looked over, for +they were out of the regular order in which the young inventor kept +them. + +"I begin to see it," said Tom, musingly. "Bower must have managed to +open the safe while I was gone, and he must have made a hasty copy of +some of the drawings of the silent motor, and passed them out of the +window to this gold-tooth man, who tried to make off with them. Did you +find anything on him?" he asked, as one of the men who had been +instructed to search the stranger came into the office just then. + +"Not a thing, Mr. Swift! Not a thing!" was the answer. "We took off +every bit of his clothes and wrapped him in a blanket. He's in the +engine room getting dry now. But there isn't a thing in any of his +pockets." + +"But I saw him stuffing some papers in as he ran away from me," said +Tom. "We must be sure about this. And don't let the fellow get away +until I question him." + +"Oh, he's safe enough," answered the man. "Koku is guarding him. He +won't get away." + +"Then I'll have a look at his clothes," decided Tom. "He may have a +secret pocket." + +But nothing like this was disclosed, and the most careful search did +not reveal anything incriminating in the man's garments. + +"He might have thrown away any papers Bower gave him," said Tom. "Maybe +they're at the bottom of the mud hole! If they're there they're safe +enough. But have a search made of the ground where this man ran." + +This was done, but without result. Some of the workmen even dragged the +mud hole without finding anything. Then Tom and his father had a talk +with the stranger, who refused to give his name. The man was sullen and +angry. He talked loudly about his innocence and of "having the law on" +Tom for having tripped him into the mud. + +"All right, if you want to make a complaint, go ahead," said the young +inventor. "I'll make one against you for trespass. Why did you come on +my grounds?" + +"I was going to ask for work. I'm a good machinist and I wanted a job." + +"How did you get in? Who admitted you at the gate?" + +"I--I jest walked in," said the man, but Tom knew this could not be +true, as no strangers were admitted without a permit and none had been +issued. The man denied knowing anything about Bower, but the latter's +flight was evidence enough that something was wrong. + +Not wishing to go to the trouble of having the man arrested merely as a +trespasser, Tom let him go after his clothes had been dried on a boiler +in one of the shops. + +"Take him to the gate, and tell him if he comes back he'll get another +dose of the same kind of medicine," ordered Tom to one of the guards at +the plant, and when the latter had reported that this had been done, he +added in an earnest tone: + +"He went off talking to himself and saying he'd get even with you, Mr. +Swift." + +"All right," said Tom easily. "I'll be on the watch." + +The young inventor made a thorough examination of his experiment shop +and the test motor. No damage seemed to have been done, and Tom began +to think he had been too quick for the conspirators, if such they were. +His plans and drawings were intact, and though Bower might have given a +copy to the stranger with the gold tooth, the latter did not take any +away with him. That he had some papers he wished to conceal and escape +with, seemed certain, but the splash into the mud hole had ended this. + +No trace was found of Bower, and an effort Tom made to ascertain if the +man was a spy in the employ of Gale and Ware came to naught. The +machinist had come well recommended, and the firm where he was last +employed had nothing but good to say of him. + +"Well, it's a mystery," decided Tom. "However, I got out of it pretty +well. Only if that gold-tooth individual shows up again he won't get +off so easily." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A NIGHT TRIP + + +Taking a lesson from what had happened, Tom was very much more careful +in the following experiments on his new, silent motor. He made some +changes in his shop, and took Jackson in to help on the new machine, +thus insuring perfect secrecy as the apparatus developed. + +Tom also changed the safe in which he kept his plans, for the one he +had used previous to the episode in which Bower and the stranger who +took the mud bath figured, was one the combination of which could +easily be ascertained by an expert. The new safe was more complicated, +and Tom felt that his plans, specifications, and formulae which he had +worked out were in less danger. + +"I can just about figure out what happened," said Ned Newton to Tom, +when told of the circumstances. "These Universal people were provoked +because you wouldn't give them the benefit of your experience on their +flying machines, and so they sent a spy to get work with you. They, +perhaps, hoped to secure some of your ideas for their own, or they may +have had a deeper motive." + +"What deeper motive could they have, Ned?" + +"They might have hoped to disable you, or some of your machines, so that +you couldn't compete with them. They're unscrupulous, I hear, and will +do anything to succeed and make money. So be on your guard against +them." + +"I will," Tom promised. "But I don't believe there's any more danger +now. Anyhow, I have to take some chances." + +"Yes, but be as careful as you can. How is the silent motor coming on?" + +"Pretty good. I've had a lot of failures, and the thing isn't so easy +as I at first imagined it would be. Noise is a funny thing, and I'm +just beginning to understand some of the laws of acoustics we learned +at high school. But I think I'm on the right track with the muffler and +the cutting down of the noise of the explosions in the cylinders. I'm +working both ends, you see--making a motor that doesn't cause as much +racket as those now in use, and also providing means to take care of +the noise that is made. It isn't possible to make a completely silent +motor of an explosive gas type. The only thing that can be done is to +kill the noise after it is made." + +"What about the propeller blades?" + +"Oh, they aren't giving me any trouble. The noise they make can't be +heard a hundred feet in the air, but I am also working on improvements +to the blades. Take it altogether, I'll have an almost silent aeroplane +if my plans come out all right." + +"Have you said anything to the government yet?" + +"No; I want to have it pretty well perfected before I do. Besides, I +don't want any publicity about it until I'm ready. If these Universal +people are after me I'll fool 'em." + +"That's right, Tom! Well, I must go. Another week of this Liberty Bond +campaign!" + +"I suppose you'll be glad when it's over." + +"Well, I don't know," said Ned slowly. "It's part of my small +contribution to Uncle Sam. I'm not like you--I can't invent things." + +"But you have an awful smooth line of talk, Ned!" laughed his chum. "I +believe you could sell chloride of sodium to some of the fishes in the +Great Salt Lake--that is if it has fishes." + +"I don't know that it has, Tom. And, anyhow, I'm not posing as a salt +salesman," and Ned grinned. "But I must really go. Our bank hasn't +reached its quota in the sale of Liberty Bonds yet, and it's up to me +to see that it doesn't fall down." + +"Go to it, Ned! And I'll get busy on my silent motor." + +"Getting busy" was Tom Swift's favorite occupation, and when he was +working on a new idea, as was the case now, he was seldom idle, night +or day. + +"I have hardly seen you for two weeks," Mary Nestor wrote him one day. +"Aren't you ever coming to see me any more, or take me for a ride?" + +"Yes," Tom wrote back. "I'll be over soon. And perhaps on the next ride +we take I won't have to shout at you through a speaking tube because +the motor makes so much noise." + +From this it may be gathered that Tom was on the verge of success. +While not altogether satisfied with his progress, the young inventor +felt that he was on the right track. There were certain changes that +needed to be made in the apparatus he was building--certain refinements +that must be added, and when this should be done Tom was pretty certain +that he would have what would prove to be a very quiet aeroplane, if +not an absolutely silent one. + +The young inventor was engaged one day with some of the last details of +the experiment. The new motor, with the silencer and the changed +cylinders, had been attached to one of Tom's speedy aeroplanes, and he +was making some intricate calculations in relation to a new cylinder +block, to be used when he started to make a completely new machine of +the improved type. + +Tom had set down on paper some computations regarding the cross-section +of one of the cylinders, and was working out the amount of stress to +which he could subject a shoulder strut, when a shadow was cast across +the drawing board he had propped up in his lap. + +In an instant Tom pulled a blank sheet over his mass of figures and +looked up, a sudden fear coming over him that another spy was at hand. +But a hearty voice reassured him. + +"Bless my rice pudding!" cried Mr. Damon, "you shut yourself up here, +Tom, like a hermit in the mountains. Why don't you come out and enjoy +life?" + +"Hello! Glad to see you!" cried Tom, joyfully. "You're just in time!" + +"Time for what--dinner?" asked the eccentric man, with a chuckle. "If +so, my reference to rice pudding was very proper." + +"Why, yes, I imagine there must be a dinner in prospect somewhere, Mr. +Damon," said Tom with a smile. "We'll have to see Mrs. Baggert about +that. But what I meant was that you're just in time to have a ride with +me, if you want to go." + +"Go where?" + +"Oh, up in cloudland. I have just finished my first sample of a silent +motor, and I'm going to try it this evening. Would you like to come +along?" + +"I would!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Bless my onion soup, Tom, but I would! +But why fly at night? Isn't it safer by daylight?" + +"Oh, that doesn't make much difference. It's safe enough at any time. +The reason I'm going to make my first flight after dark is that I don't +want any spies about." + +"Oh, I see! Are they camping on your trail?" + +"Not exactly. But I can't tell where they may be. If I should start out +in daylight and be forced to make a landing-- Well, you know what a +crowd always collects to see a stranded airship." + +"That's right, Tom." + +"That decided me to start off after dark. Then if we have to come down +because of some sort of engine trouble or because my new attachment +doesn't work right, we sha'n't have any prying eyes." + +"I see! Well, Tom, I'll go with you. Fortunately I didn't tell my wife +where I was going when I started out this afternoon, so she won't worry +until after it's over, and then it won't hurt her. I'm ready any time +you are." + +"Good! Stay to dinner and I'll show you what I've made. Then we'll take +a flight after dark." + +This suited the eccentric man, and a little later, after he had eaten +one of Mrs. Baggert's best meals, including rice pudding, of which he +was very fond, Mr. Damon accompanied Tom to one of the big hangars +where the new aeroplane had been set up. + +"So that's the Air Scout, is it, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon, as he viewed +the machine. + +"Yes, that's the girl. 'Air Scout' is as good a name as any, until I +see what she'll do." + +"It doesn't look different from one of your regular craft of the skies, +Tom." + +"No, she isn't. The main difference is here," and Tom showed his friend +where a peculiar apparatus had been attached to the motor. This was the +silencer--the whole secret of the invention, so to speak. + +To Mr. Damon it seemed to consist of an amazing collection of pipes, +valves, baffle-plates, chambers, cylinders and reducers, which took the +hot exhaust gases as they came from the motor and "ate them up," as he +expressed it. + +"The cylinders, too, and the spark plugs are differently arranged in +the motor itself, if you could see them," said Tom to his friend. "But +the main work of cutting down the noise is done right here," and he put +his hand on the steel case attached to the motor, the case containing +the apparatus already briefly described. + +"Well, I'm ready when you are, Tom," said Mr. Damon. + +"We'll go as soon as it's dark," was the reply. "But first I'll give +you a demonstration. Start the motor, Jackson!" Tom called to his chief +helper. + +Mr. Damon had ridden in aeroplanes before, and had stood near when Tom +started them; so he was prepared for a great rush of air as the +propellers whirled about, and for deafening explosions from the engine. + +The big blades, of new construction, were turned until the gas in the +cylinders was sufficiently compressed. Then Jackson stepped back out of +danger while Tom threw over the switch. + +"Contact!" cried the young inventor. + +Jackson gave the blades a quarter pull, and, a moment later, as he +leaped back out of the way, they began to revolve with the swiftness of +light. There was the familiar rush of air as the wooden wings cut +through the atmosphere, but there was scarcely any noise. Mr. Damon +could hardly believe his ears. + +"I'm not running her at full speed," said Tom. "If I did she'd tear +loose from the holding blocks. But you can see what little racket she +makes." + +"Bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon. "You are right, Tom Swift! +Why, I can hear you talk almost as easily as if no engine were going. +And I don't have to shout my head off, either." + +This was perfectly true. Tom could converse with Mr. Damon in almost +ordinary tones. The exhaust from the motor was nearly completely +muffled. + +"Out in the air it will seem even more quiet," said Tom. "I'll soon +give you a chance to verify that statement." + +He ran the engine a little longer, the aeroplane quivering with the +vibrations, but remaining almost silent. + +"I'm anxious to see what she'll do when in motion," said Tom, as he +shut off the gas and spark. + +Soon after supper, when the shades of evening were falling, he and Mr. +Damon took their places in the first of the Air Scouts, to give it the +preliminary test in actual flying. + +Would Tom's hopes be justified or would he be disappointed? + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE CRY FOR HELP + + +"All ready, Mr. Damon?" asked Tom, as he looked to see that all the +levers, wheels, valves, and other controls were in working order on his +Air Scout. + +"As ready as I ever shall be, Tom," was the answer. "I don't know why +it is, but somehow I feel that something is going to happen on this +trip." + +"Nonsense!" laughed Tom. "You're nervous; that's all." + +"I suppose so. Don't think I'm going to back out, or anything like +that, but I wish it were successfully over with, Tom Swift, I most +certainly do." + +"It will be in a little while," returned Tom, as he settled himself +comfortably in his seat and pulled the safety strap tight. "You've gone +up in this same plane before, when it didn't have the silent motor +aboard." + +"Yes, I know I have. Oh, I dare say it will be all right, Tom. And +yet, somehow, I can't help feeling--" + +But Tom Swift felt that the best way to set Mr. Damon's premonitions to +rest was to start the motor, and this he gave orders to have done, +Jackson and some others of the men from the shops congregating about +the craft to see the beginning of the night flight. Mr. Swift was there +also, and Eradicate. Mary Nestor had been invited, but her Red Cross +work engaged her that evening, she said. Ned Newton was away from town +on Liberty Bond business, and he could not be present at the test. + +However, as Tom expected to have other trials when his motor was in +even better shape, he was not exactly sorry for the absence of his +friends. + +"Contact!" called the young inventor, when Jackson had stepped back, +indicating it was time to throw over the switch. + +"Let her go!" cried Tom, and the next moment the motor was in +operation, but so silently that his voice and that of Mr. Damon's could +easily be heard above the machinery. + +"Good, Tom! That's good!" cried Mr. Swift, and Tom easily heard his +father's voice, though under other, and ordinary, circumstances this +would have been impossible. + +True, the hearing of Tom and Mr. Damon was muffled to a certain extent +by the heavy leather and fur-lined caps they wore. But Tom had several +small eyelet holes set into the flaps just over the opening of the +ears, and these holes were sufficient to admit sounds, while keeping +out most of the cold that obtains in the upper regions. + +The aeroplane moved swiftly along the level starting ground, and away +from the lighted hangars. Faster and faster it swung along as Tom +headed it into the wind, and then, as the speed of the motor increased, +the Air Scout suddenly left the earth and went soaring aloft as she had +done before. + +But there was this difference. She moved almost as silently as a great +owl which swoops down out of the darkness--a bit of the velvety +blackness itself. Up and up, and onward and onward, went the Air Scout. +Tom Swift's improved, silent motor urged it onward, and as the young +inventor listened to catch the noise of the machinery, his heart gave a +bound of hope. For he could detect only very slight sounds. + +"She's a success!" exulted Tom to himself. "She's a success, but she +isn't perfect yet," he added. "I've got to make the muffler bigger and +put in more baffle-plates. Then I think I can turn the trick." + +He swung the machine out over the open country, and then, when they +were up at a height and sailing along easily, he called back to Mr. +Damon in the seat behind him: + +"How do you like it?" + +"Great!" exclaimed the eccentric man. "Bless my postage stamp, but it's +great! Why, there's hardly a sound, Tom, and I can hear you quite +easily." + +"And I can hear you," added Tom. "I don't believe, down below there," +and he nodded toward the earth, though Mr. Damon could not see this, as +the airship, save for a tiny light over the instrument board, was in +darkness, "they know that we're flying over their heads." + +"I agree with you," was the answer. "Tom, my boy, I believe you've +solved the trick! You have produced a silent aeroplane, and now it's up +to the government to make use of it." + +"I'm not quite ready for that yet," replied the young inventor. "I +have several improvements to make. But, when they are finished, I'll +let Uncle Sam know what I have. Then it's up to him." + +"And you must be careful, Tom, that some of your rivals don't hear of +your success and get it away from you," warned Mr. Damon, as Tom guided +the Air Scout along the aerial way--an unlighted and limitless path in +the silent darkness. + +"Oh, they'll have to get up pretty early in the morning to do that!" +boasted Tom, and afterward he was to recall those words with a bit of +chagrin. + +On and on they sailed, and as Tom increased the speed of the motor, and +noted how silently it ran, he began to have high hopes that he had +builded better than he knew. For even with the motor running at almost +full speed there was not noise enough to hinder talk between himself +and Mr. Damon. + +Of course there was some little sound. Even the most perfect electric +motor has a sort of hum which can be detected when one is close to it. +But at a little distance a great dynamo in operation appears to be +silence itself. + +"I can go this one better, though," said Tom as he sailed along in the +night. "I see where I've made a few mistakes in the baffle plate of the +silencer. I'll correct that and--" + +As he spoke the machine gave a lurch, and the motor, instead of +remaining silent, began to cough and splutter as in the former days. + +"Bless my rubber boots, Tom! what's the matter?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"Something's gone wrong," Tom answered, barely able to hear and make +himself heard above the sudden noise. "I'll have to shut off the power +and glide down. We can make a landing in this big field," for just then +the moon came out from behind a cloud, and Tom saw, below them, a great +meadow, not far from the home of Mary Nestor. He had often landed in +this same place. + +"Something has broken in the muffler, I think, letting out some of the +exhaust," he said to Mr. Damon, for, now that the motor was shut off, +Tom could speak in his ordinary tones. "I'll soon have it fixed, or, if +I can't, we can go back in the old style--with the machine making as +much racket as it pleases." + +So Tom guided the machine down. It went silently now, of course, +making, with the motor shut off, no more sound than a falling leaf. +Down to the soft, springy turf in the green meadow Tom guided the +machine. As it came to a stop, and he and Mr. Damon got out, there was +borne to their ears a wild cry: + +"Help! Help!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +SOMETHING QUEER + + +"Did you hear that?" asked Tom Swift of his companion. + +"Hear it? Bless my ear drums, I should say I did hear it! Some one is +in trouble, Tom. Caught in a bog, most likely, the same as that spy +chap who was at your place. That's it--caught in a bog!" + +"There isn't any bog or swamp around here, Mr. Damon. If there was I +shouldn't have tried a landing. No, it's something else besides that. +Hark!" + +Again the cry sounded, seeming to come from a point behind the landing +place of the silent airship. It was clear and distinct: + +"Help! Help! They are--" + +The voice seemed to die away in a gurgle, as though the person's mouth +had been covered quickly. + +"He's sinking, Tom! He's sinking!" cried Mr. Damon. "I once heard a man +who almost drowned cry out, and it sounded exactly like that!" + +"But there isn't any water around here for any one to drown in," +declared Tom. "It's a big, dry meadow. I know where we are." + +"Then what is it?" + +"I don't know, but we're going to find out. Some one attacked by some +one else--or something, I should say," ventured the young inventor. + +"Something! do you mean a wild beast, Tom?" + +"No, for there aren't any of those here any more than there is water. +Though it may be that some farmer's bull or a savage dog has got loose +and has attacked some traveler. But, in that case I think we would hear +bellows or barks, and all I heard was a cry for help." + +"The same with me, Tom. Let's investigate;" + +"That's what I intend doing. Come on. The airship will be all right +until we come back." + +"Better take a light--hadn't you? It's dark, even if the moon does show +now and then," suggested Mr. Damon. + +"Guess you are right," agreed Tom. Aboard his airship there were +several small but powerful portable electric lights, and after securing +one of these Tom and Mr. Damon started for the spot whence the call for +help had come. As they walked along, their feet making no noise on the +soft turf, they listened intently for a repetition of the call for aid. + +"I don't hear anything," said Tom, after a bit. + +"Nor I," added Mr. Damon. "We don't know exactly which way to go, Tom." + +"That's right. Guess we'd better give him a hail; whoever it is." + +Tom came to a halt, and raising his voice to a shout called: + +"Hello there! What's the matter? We'll help you if you can tell us +which way to come!" + +They both listened intently, but no voice answered them. At the same +time, however, they were aware of a sound as of hurrying feet, and +there seemed to be muttered imprecations not far away. Tom and Mr. +Damon looked in the direction of the sound, and the young inventor +flashed his light. But there was a clump of bushes and trees at that +point and the electrical rays did not penetrate very far. + +"Some one's over there!" exclaimed Tom in a whisper. "We'd better go +and see what it is." + +"All right," agreed Mr. Damon, and he, too, spoke in a low voice. + +Why they did this when their previous talk had been in ordinary tones, +and when Tom had shouted so loudly, they did not stop to reason about +or explain just then. But later they both admitted that they whispered +because they thought there was something wrong on foot--because they +feared a crime was being committed and they wanted to surprise the +perpetrators if they could. + +And it was this fact of their whispering that enabled the two to hear +something that, otherwise, they might not have heard. And this was the +sound of some vehicle hurrying away--an automobile, if Tom was any +judge. The cries for help had been succeeded by stifled vocal sounds, +and these, in turn, by the noise of wheels on the ground. + +"What does it all mean?" asked Mr. Damon in a whisper. + +"I don't know," answered Tom, resolutely, "but we've got to find out. +Come on." + +They advanced toward the dark clump of trees and low bushes. There was +no need to be especially cautious in regard to being silent, as their +feet made little, if any, sound on the deep grass. And, as Tom walked +in advance, now and then flashing his light, Mr. Damon suddenly caught +him by the coat. + +"What is it?" asked the young inventor. + +"Look! Just over the top of that hill, where the moon shines. Don't +you see an automobile outlined?" + +Tom looked quickly. + +"I do," he answered. "There's a road from here, just the other side of +those trees, to that hill. The auto must have gone that way. Well, +there's no use in trying to follow it now. Whoever it was has gotten +away." + +"But they may have left some one behind, Tom. We'd better look in and +around those trees." + +"I suppose we had, but I don't believe we'll find anything. I can +pretty nearly guess, now, what it was." + +"What?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Well, some chauffeur was out for a ride in his employer's car without +permission. He got here, had an accident--maybe some friends he took +for a ride were hurt and they called for help. The chauffeur knew if +there was any publicity he'd be blamed, and so he got away as quickly +as he could. Guess the accident--if that's what it was--didn't amount +to much, or they couldn't have run the car off. We've had our trouble +for our pains." + +"Well, maybe you're right, Tom Swift, but all the same, I'd like to +have a look among those trees," said Mr. Damon. + +"Oh. we'll look, all right," assented Tom, "but I doubt if we find +anything." + +And he was right. They walked in and about the little grove, flashing +the light at intervals, but beyond marks of auto wheels in the dust of +the road, which was near the clump of maples, there was nothing to +indicate what had happened. + +"Though there was some sort of fracas," declared Tom. "Look where the +dust is trampled down. There were several men here, perhaps skylarking, +or perhaps it was a fight." + +"Some one must have been hurt, or they wouldn't have cried for help," +said Mr. Damon. + +"Well, that's so. But perhaps it was some one not used to riding in +autos, and he may have imagined the accident was worse than it was, and +called for help involuntarily. There is no evidence of any serious +accident having happened--no spots of blood, at any rate," and Tom +laughed at his own grimness. "It was a new car, too, or at least one +with new tires on." + +"How do you know?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Tell by the plain marks of the rubber tread in the dust," was the +answer. "Look," and Tom pointed to the wheel marks in the focus of his +electric lamp. "It's a new tire, too, with square protuberances on the +tread instead of the usual diamond or round ones. A new kind of tire, +all right." + +He and Mr. Damon remained for a few minutes looking about the place +whence had come the calls for help, and then the eccentric man remarked: + +"Well, as long as we can't do anything here, Tom, we might as well +travel on; what do you say?" + +"I agree with you. There isn't any use in staying. We'll get the Air +Scout fixed up and travel back home. But this was something queer," +mused Tom. "I hope it doesn't turn out later that a crime has been +committed, and we didn't show enough gumption to prevent it." + +"We couldn't prevent it. We heard the cries as soon as we landed." + +"Yes, but if we had rushed over at once we might have caught the +fellows. But I guess it was only a slight accident, and some one was +more frightened than hurt. We'll have to let it go at that." + +But the more he thought about it the more Tom Swift thought there was +something queer in that weird cry for help on the lonely meadow in the +darkness of the night. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE TELEPHONE CALL + + +The defect in the motor which had caused Tom Swift to shut off the +power and drift down to earth was soon remedied, once the young +inventor began an examination of the craft. One of the oil feeds had +become choked and this automatically cut down the gasoline supply, +causing one or more cylinders to miss. It was a safety device Tom had +installed to prevent the motor running dry, and so being damaged. + +Once the clogged oil feed was cleared the motor ran as before, and just +as silently, though, as Tom had said, he was not entirely satisfied +with the quietness, but intended to do further work toward perfecting +it. + +"I'll start the propellers now, Mr. Damon," said Tom, when the trouble +had been remedied. "You know how to throw the switch, don't you?" + +"I guess so," was the answer. Mr. Damon and Tom had traveled so often +together in gasoline craft that the young inventor had taught his +friend certain fundamentals about them, and in an emergency the +eccentric man could help start an aeroplane. This he now did, taking +charge of the controls which could be operated from his seat as well as +from Tom's. Tom whirled the propellers, and soon the motor was in +motion. + +Mr. Damon, once the big wooden blades were revolving, slowed down the +apparatus until Tom could jump aboard, after which the latter took +charge and soon speeded up the machine, sending it aloft. + +As the green meadow, dimly seen in the light of the moon, seemed to +drop away below them, and the clump of trees vanished from sight, both +Tom and Mr. Damon wondered who it was that had called for help, and if +the matter were at all serious. They were inclined to think it was not, +but Tom could not rid himself of a faint suspicion that there might +have been trouble. + +However, thoughts of his new silent Air Scout soon drove everything +else from his mind, and as he guided the comparatively silent machine +on its quiet way toward his own home he was thinking how he could best +improve the muffler. + +"Well, here we are again, safe and sound," remarked Tom, as he brought +the craft to a stop in front of the hangar, and Jackson and his +helpers, who were awaiting the return, hurried out to take charge. + +"Yes, everything seems to point to success, Tom," agreed Mr. Damon. +"That is, unless the slight accident we had means trouble." + +"Oh, no, that had nothing to do with the operation of the silencer. But +I'm going to do better yet. Some day I'll take you for a ride in a +silent machine which will make so little noise that you can hear a pin +drop." + +"Well," remarked Mr. Damon' with a laugh, "I don't know that listening +to falling pins will give me any great amount of pleasure, Tom, but I +appreciate your meaning." + +"Everything all right?" asked Mr. Swift, as he came out to hear the +details from his son. "Do you think you have solved the problem?" + +"Not completely, but I'll soon be able to write Q. E. D. after it. Some +refinements are all that are needed, Dad." + +"Glad to hear it. I was a bit anxious." + +Mr. Swift questioned his son about the technical details of the trip, +asking how the motor had acted under the pressure caused by so +completely muffling the exhaust, and for some minutes the two +inventors, young and old, indulged in talk which was not at all +interesting to Mr. Damon. They went into the house, and Tom asked to +have a little lunch, which Mrs. Baggert set out for him. + +"It's rather late to eat," said the young inventor, "but I always feel +hungry after I test a new machine and find that it works pretty well. +Will you join me in a sandwich or two, Mr. Damon?" + +"Why, bless my ketchup bottle, I believe I will." + +And so they ate and talked. Tom was on the point of telling his father +something of the queer cry for help they had heard on the lonely meadow +when Mrs. Baggert produced a letter which she said had come for Tom +that afternoon, but had been mislaid by a new maid who had been engaged +to help with the housework. + +"She took it to the shop after you had left, and only now told me about +it," explained Mrs. Baggert. "So I sent Eradicate for it." + +"How long ago was that?" asked Tom, as he took the missive. + +"Oh, an hour ago," answered Mrs. Baggert, with a smile. "But don't +blame poor Rad for that. He wanted to deliver the letter to you +personally, and so did Koku. The result was your giant kept after Rad, +trying to get the letter from him, and Rad kept hiding and slinking +about for a chance to see you himself until I saw what was going on, a +little while ago, and took the letter myself. Else you might never have +gotten it, so jealous are those two," and Mrs. Baggert laughed. + +"Guess it isn't of much importance," Tom said, as he tore open the +envelope. "It's from the Universal Flying Machine Company, of New York, +and I imagine they're trying to get me to reconsider my refusal to link +up with them." + +"Yes," he went on, as he read the missive, "that's it. They've raised +the amount to thirty thousand a year now, Dad, and they say they feel +sure I shall regret it if I do not accept. + +"This is a bit queer, though," went on the young inventor. "This +letter was written three days ago, but it reached Shopton only to-day. +And it says that unless they hear from me at once they will have to +take steps that will cause me great inconvenience. They have nerve, at +any rate, and impudence, too! I won't even bother to answer. But I +wonder what they mean, and why this letter was delayed?" + +"The mails are all late on account of the transportation congestion +caused by moving troops to the camps," said Mr. Damon. "Some of my +letters are delayed a week. But, as you say, Tom, these fellows are +very impudent to threaten that way." + +"It's all bluff," declared Tom. "I'm not worrying. And now, Dad, since +I've almost reached the top of the hill with my Air Scout, I may be +able to help you on that new electric motor you're puzzling over." + +"I wish you would, Tom. I am trying to invent a new system of +interchangeable brush contacts, but so far I've been unable to make +them work. However, there is no great hurry about that. If you are +going to offer your silent machine to the government finish that first. +We need all the aircraft we can get. The battles on the other side seem +to be all in favor of the Germans, so far." + +"We haven't got into our stride yet," declared Mr. Damon. "Once Uncle +Sam gets the boys over there in force, there'll be a different story to +tell. I only wish--" + +At that moment the telephone set up an insistent ringing, breaking in +on Mr. Damon's remarks. + +"I'll answer," said Tom, as Mrs. Baggert moved toward the instrument, +which was an extension from the main one. + +"Hello!" called the young inventor into the transmitter, and as he +received an answer a look of pleasure came over his face. + +"Yes, Mary, this is Tom," he said. He remained silent a moment, while +it was evident he was listening to the voice at the other end of the +wire. Then he suddenly exclaimed: + +"What's that? Tell him to come home? Why, he isn't here. I just came in +and--what--wait a minute!" + +With a rather strange look on his face Tom covered the mouth-piece of +the instrument with his hand, and, turning to his father, asked: + +"Is Mr. Nestor here?" + +"No," replied Mr. Swift slowly, "He was here, though. He came a little +while after you and Mr. Damon started off in the Air Scout. But he +didn't stay. Said he wanted to see you about something and would call +again." + +"Oh," remarked the young man. "I didn't know he had been there." + +"I meant to tell you," said Mrs. Baggert; "but getting the lunch made +me forget it, I guess." + +Tom uncovered the transmitter of the telephone again, and spoke to Mary +Nestor. + +"Hello," he said. "I was wrong, Mary. Your father was here, but he left +when he found I wasn't at home. How long ago? Wait a minute and I'll +inquire. + +"How long ago did Mr. Nestor leave?" asked the young inventor of the +housekeeper. "Nearly an hour," he said into the instrument, after he +had received the answer. Then, after listening a moment, he added: +"Yes, I guess he'll be home soon now. Probably stopped down town to see +some of his friends. Yes, Mr. Damon and I tried out the Air Scout. Yes, +she worked pretty well, for a starter, but there is something yet to be +done. Oh, yes, now I'll have time to come over to see you, and take you +for a ride too. We won't have to talk through a speaking tube, either. +Tell your father I am sorry I was out when he called. I'll come to see +him to-morrow, if he wants me to. Yes--yes. I guess so!" and Tom +laughed, it being evident that his remarks at the end of the +conversation had to do with personal matters. + +"A telegram has come for Mr. Nestor and they were anxious that he +should get it," Tom explained to his little audience as he hung up the +receiver and put aside the telephone. "I wonder what he wanted to see +me about?" + +"He didn't say," replied Mrs. Baggert. + +Mr. Damon, Tom, and his father remained in conversation a little while +longer, and the eccentric man was thinking that it was about time for +him to return home, when the telephone rang again. + +"Hello," answered Tom, as he was nearest the instrument. "Oh, yes, +Mary, this is he. What's that? Your father hasn't reached home yet? And +your mother is worried? Oh tell her there is no cause for alarm. As I +said, he probably stopped on his way to see some friends." + +Tom listened for perhaps half a minute to a talk that was inaudible to +the others in the room, and they noticed a grave look come over his +face. Then he said: + +"I'll be right over, Mary. Yes, I'll come at once. And tell your mother +not to worry. I'm sure nothing could have happened. I'll be with you +in a jiffy!" + +As Tom Swift hung up the receiver he said: + +"Mr. Nestor hasn't reached home yet, and as he promised to return at +once in case he didn't find me, his wife is much worried. I'll go over +and see what I can do." + +"I'll come along!" volunteered Mr. Damon. "It isn't late yet." + +"Yes, do come," urged Tom. "But I suppose when we get there we'll find +our friend has arrived safely. We'll go over in the electric runabout." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A VAIN SEARCH + + +Tom Swift's speedy little electric car was soon at the door in +readiness to take him and Mr. Damon to the Nestor home. The electric +runabout was a machine Tom had evolved in his early inventive days, and +though he had other automobiles, none was quite so fast or so simple to +run as this, which well merited the name of the most rapid machine on +the road. In it Tom had once won a great race, as has been related in +the book bearing the title, "Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout." + +"Mary didn't telephone again, did she?" Tom asked his father, as he +stopped at the house to get Mr. Damon, having gone out to see about +getting the electric runabout in readiness. + +"No," was the answer. "The telephone hasn't rung since." + +"Then, I guess, Mr. Nestor can't have arrived home," said Tom. "It's a +bit queer, his delay, but I'm sure it will be explained naturally. Only +Mary and her mother are alone and, very likely, they're nervous. I'll +telephone to let you know everything is all right as soon as I get +there," Tom promised his father and Mrs. Baggert as he drove off down +the road, partly illuminated by the new moon. + +Rapidly and almost as silently as his Air Scout Tom Swift drove the +speedy car down the highway. It was about three miles from his home to +that of Mary Nestor, and though the distance was quickly covered, to +Tom, at least, the space seemed interminable. But at length he drove +up to the door. There were lights in most of the rooms, which was +unusual at this time of night. + +The sound of the wheels had not ceased echoing on the gravel of the +drive before Mary was out on the porch, which she illuminated by an +overhead light. + +"Oh, Tom," she cried, "he hasn't come yet, and we are so worried! Did +you see anything of father as you came along?" + +"No," was Tom's answer. "But we didn't look for him along the road, as +we came by the turnpike, and he wouldn't travel that way. But he will +be along at any moment now. You must remember it's quite a walk from my +house, and--" + +"But he was on his bicycle," said Mary. "We wanted him to go in the +auto, but he said he wanted some exercise after supper, and he went +over on his wheel. He said he'd be right back, but he hasn't come yet." + +"Oh, he will!" said Tom reassuringly. "He may have had a puncture, or +something like that. Bicyclists are just as liable to them as +autoists," he added with a laugh. + +"Well, I'm sure I hope it will be all right," sighed Mary. "I wish you +could convince mother to that effect. She's as nervous as a cat. Come +in and tell us what to do." + +"Oh, he'll be all right," declared Mr. Damon, adding his assurances to +Tom's. + +They found Mrs. Nestor verging on an attack of hysteria. Though Mr. +Nestor often went out during the evening, he seldom stayed late. + +"And he said he'd be right back if he found you weren't at home, Tom," +said Mrs. Nestor. "I'm sure I don't know what can be keeping him!" + +"It's too soon to get worried yet," replied the young inventor +cheerfully. "I'll wait a little while, and then, if he doesn't come, +Mr. Damon and I will go back over the road and look carefully. He may +have had a slight fall--sprained his ankle or something like that--and +not be able to ride. We came by the turnpike, a road he probably +wouldn't take on his wheel. He's all right, you may be sure of that." + +Tom tried to speak reassuringly, but somehow, he did not believe +himself. He was beginning to think more and more how strange it was +that Mr. Nestor did not return home. + +"We'll wait just a bit longer before setting out on a search," he told +Mary and her mother. "But I'm sure he will be along any minute now." + +They went into the library, Mary and her mother, Tom and Mr. Damon. And +there they sat waiting. Tom tried to entertain Mary and Mrs. Nestor +with an account of his trial trip in the Air Scout, but the two women +scarcely heard what he said. + +All sat watching the clock, and looking from that to the telephone, +which they tried to hope would ring momentarily and transmit to them +good news. Then they would listen for the sound of footsteps or bicycle +wheels on the gravel walk. But they heard nothing, and as the seconds +were ticked off on the clock the nervousness of Mrs. Nestor increased, +until she exclaimed: + +"I can stand it no longer! We must notify the police--or do something!" + +"I wouldn't notify the police just yet," counseled Tom. "Mr. Damon and +I will start out and look along the road. If it should happen, as will +probably turn out to be the case, that Mr. Nestor has met with only a +simple accident, he would not like the notoriety, or publicity, of +having the police notified." + +"No, I am sure he would not," agreed Mary. "Tom's way is best, Mother." + +"All right, just as you say, only find my husband," and Mrs. Nestor +sighed, and turned her head away. + +"Even if Mr. Nestor had had a fall," reasoned Tom, "he could call for +help, and get some one to telephone, unless--" + +And as he reasoned thus Tom Swift gave a mental start at his own use of +the word "help." + +That weird cry on the lonely meadow came back to him with startling +distinctness. + +"Come on, Mr. Damon!" cried Tom, in a voice he tried to make cheerful. +"We'll find that Mr. Nestor is probably walking along, carrying his +disabled bicycle instead of having it carry him. We'll soon have him +safe back to you," he called to the two women. + +"I wish I could go with you, and help search," observed Mary. + +"Oh, I couldn't bear to be left alone!" exclaimed her mother. + +"We'll telephone as soon as we find him," called Tom to Mrs. Nestor, as +he and Mr. Damon again got into the runabout and started away from the +place. + +"What do you think of it, Tom?" asked the eccentric man, when they were +once more on the road. + +"Why, nothing much--as yet," Tom said. "That is, I think nothing more +than a simple accident has happened, if, indeed, it is anything more +than that he has delayed to talk to some friends." + +"Would he delay this long?" + +"I don't know." + +"And then, Tom--bless my spectacles! what of that cry we heard? Could +that have been Mr. Nestor?" + +There! It was out! The suspicion that Tom had been trying to keep his +mind away from came to the fore. Well, he might as well race the issue +now as later. + +"I've been thinking of that," he told Mr. Damon. "It might have been +Mary's father calling for help." + +"But we looked, Tom, near the trees, and couldn't discover anything. If +he had been calling for help--" + +Mr. Damon did not finish. + +"He may have fallen from his wheel and been hurt," said Tom, as he +turned the electric runabout into the highway that Mr. Nestor would, +most likely, have taken on his way from Shopton. "Then he may have +called for help, and some autoists, passing, may have heard and taken +him away." + +"Yes, but where, Tom? Whoever called for help was taken away, that's +sure. But where?" + +"To some hospital, I suppose." + +"Then hadn't we better inquire there? There are only two hospitals of +any account around here. The one in Shopton and the one in Waterfield. +My wife is on the board of Lady Managers there. We could call that +hospital up and--" + +"We'll look along the road first," said Tom. "If we begin to make +inquiries at the hospitals there will be a lot of questions asked, and +a general alarm may be sent out. Mr. Nestor wouldn't like that, if he +isn't in any danger. And it may turn out that he has met an old friend, +and has been talking with him all this while, forgetting all about the +passage of time." + +They were now driving along the highway that led from the little suburb +where Mr. Nestor lived, to the main part of Shopton, just beyond which +was Tom's home. This section was country-like, with very few houses and +those placed at rather infrequent intervals. The road was a good one, +though not the main-traveled one, and Mr. Nestor, as was known, +frequently used it when he rode his bicycle, an exercise of which he +was very fond. + +As Tom and Mr. Damon drove along, they scanned, as best they could in +the light from the young moon and the powerful lamps on the runabout, +every part of the highway. They were looking for some dark blot which +might indicate where a man had fallen from his wheel and was lying in +some huddled heap on the road. But they saw nothing like this, much to +their relief. + +"Do you know, Tom," said Mr. Damon, when they were nearing the town, +and their search, thus far, had been in vain, "I think we're going at +this the wrong way." + +"Why, so?" + +"Because Mr. Nestor may have fallen, and been hurt, and have been +carried into any one of a dozen houses along the road. In that case we +wouldn't see him. We've passed over the most lonely part of the journey +and haven't seen him. If the accident occurred near the houses his +cries would have brought some one out to help him. He is well known +around here, and, even if he were unconscious and couldn't tell who he +was, he could be identified by papers in his pockets. Then his family +would be notified by telephone." + +"Perhaps you are right, Mr. Damon. We may be wasting time this way. +What do you suggest?" asked Tom. + +"That we don't delay any longer, but call up the hospitals at once. If +he isn't in either of those he must be in some house, and in such +condition that his identity cannot be established. In that event it is +a case for the police. We haven't found him, and I think we had better +give the alarm." + +Tom Swift thought it over for a moment. Then he came to a sudden +decision. + +"You're right!" he told Mr. Damon. "We mustn't waste any more time. He +isn't along the road he ought to have traveled in coming from my house +to his home--that's sure. But before I call up the hospitals I want to +try out one more idea." + +"What's that, Tom?" + +"I want to go to the place where we heard that cry for help." + +"Do you think that could have been Mr. Nestor?" + +"It may have been. We'll go and take another look around there. Some +man was evidently hurt there, and was taken away. We may get a clew. +The lights on the runabout will give us a better chance to look around +than we had by the little pocket lamp. We'll try there, and, if we +don't find anything, then I'll call up the hospitals." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE LONG NIGHT + + +With the speedy runabout it did not take Tom Swift and Mr. Damon long +to reach the place where the Air Scout had been grounded a few hours +before, and where they had heard the cry for help. All was as dark and +as silent as when they had been there before. + +But, as Tom had said, the lights from his electric runabout would give +a brilliant illumination, and these he now directed toward the clump of +trees whence the cry for help had seemed to come. + +"Doesn't appear to have been visited by any one since we were here," +remarked Tom, as he observed the marks of the new automobile tire in +the dust. "Now we'll look about more carefully." + +This they did, but they were about to give up in despair and start for +the nearest telephone to call up the hospitals, when Mr. Damon gave an +exclamation. + +"What is it?" asked Tom. + +"Something bright and shining!" said his companion. "I saw it gleam in +the light of the lamps. You nearly put your foot on it, Tom. Just step +back a moment." + +Tom did so, and the eccentric man, with another exclamation, this time +of satisfaction, reached down and picked something up from the dusty +road. + +"It's a watch!" he exclaimed. "A gold watch! And it's been stepped on, +evidently, or run over by an auto. Not much damaged, but the case is a +bit bent and scratched. It's stopped, too!" he added as he held it to +his ear. + +"What time does it show?" asked Tom. + +"Eight forty-seven," answered Mr. Damon, as he consulted the dial. +"Why, Tom, that was just about when we heard the cries for help!" + +"Yes, it must have been. Let me see that watch." + +No sooner had the young inventor taken the timepiece into his hands +than he, too, uttered a cry of amazement. + +"Do you recognize it?" asked Mr. Damon, in great excitement. + +"It's Mr. Nestor's watch!" cried Tom. "He must have fallen here, and +been hurt. It was Mr. Nestor who cried for help, and who was taken away +by the autoists. They've probably taken him to some hospital. There's +been an accident all right." + +Tom and Mr. Damon were of one mind now in thinking that Mr. Nestor had +met with some mishap on the road--an automobile accident most +likely--and that he was the person who had called for help. + +"If they had only answered when we hallooed at them," said Tom, "we +wouldn't be in all this stew now. We could have told the strangers who +came to his aid who he was, and we might even have taken him to the +hospital in the airship." + +"Well, it's too late to think of that now," returned Mr. Damon. "We +had better get into communication with him as soon as we can, and then +send word to his wife and daughter. I hope he isn't badly hurt." + +Tom hoped so, too, with all his heart. + +There was nothing to do but to get back in the runabout and make all +speed for the nearest telephone, and Tom Swift lost little time in +doing this. They found a drug store which was open a little later than +usual, and at once Tom went into the booth and called up the Shopton +hospital. He was well known there, as he and his father were liberal +supporters of the institution, which was a private affair. Many of +Tom's men were treated at the dispensary, and, as accidents were of +more or less frequent occurrence at the works, the young inventor had +frequent occasions to call up the place. + +"Mr. Nestor would ask to be taken there, as it's nearest his home--that +is, if he was able to speak," Tom said to Mr. Damon, who agreed with +him. There was a little delay in getting the hospital on the wire, but +when Tom had it, and was talking to the superintendent, he was rather +surprised, to tell the truth, to be told that Mr. Nestor had not been +brought in. + +"We haven't had any accident cases all day, nor to-night, Mr. Swift," +the superintendent reported. "Was this some one special you were +inquiring about?" + +For Tom, determining not to give Mr. Nestor's name, except as a last +resort, had merely inquired whether any recent accident cases had been +brought in. + +"I'll let you know later, Mr. Millard," he told the superintendent, not +exactly answering the question. He hung up the receiver, and, opening +the door of the booth, said to Mr. Damon: "He isn't there." + +"Then try Waterfield," was the suggestion; and Tom did so, though he +could not imagine why an injured man, such as Mr. Nestor might prove to +be, should be taken as far as Waterfield, when the hospital at Shopton +was nearer. + +"Unless," he told Mr. Damon, "the people which ran down Mary's father +didn't know about our hospital." + +The reply from the institution in Mr. Damon's home town was just as +discouraging as had been the answer from Shopton. At first, when Tom +inquired, the head nurse had said there was an accident case at that +moment being brought in. Tom was all excitement until she went to +inquire the name and circumstances, and then he learned that it was the +case of a little boy who had fallen downstairs at his home and broken a +leg. There was no record of any one answering the description of Mr. +Nestor having been brought in that evening. + +"Hum! This is getting to be mysterious," mused Tom, as he came out of +the booth. "What shall we do--go back and tell Mrs. Nestor and Mary, or +communicate with the police?" + +"Why not try the Alexian Hospital?" asked Mr. Damon. "That's away over +in Centerford, to be sure, but it's more likely to be known to +passing tourists than either of our institutions around here, +especially if the autoists were strangers." + +"That's so," agreed Tom. The Alexian Hospital was operated under the +direction of the Brothers of that faith, and was well known in that +part of the state. Often cases of persons who had been injured by +passing automobiles had been taken there for treatment, for, as Mr. +Damon had said, it was well known, and Centerford was the nearest large +city. + +"I can just about see how it happened," said Tom. "They ran Mr. Nestor +down, and stopped to pick him up after they heard his cries for help. +And the Alexian Hospital was the first one they thought of. We should +have called that up first." + +But once more disappointment awaited the young inventor and his friend. +Word came back over the wire that no accident case, which bore any +resemblance to Mary's father, had been brought in. + +"Well, I'm stumped!" exclaimed Tom. "What shall we do now, Mr. Damon?" + +"Much as I dislike it," said the eccentric man who was too much +worried, now, to do any "blessing," which was his favorite expression, +"I think we ought to communicate with Mrs. Nestor. She will be very +anxious." + +"I guess we'll have to," said Tom. "But wait! I'll call up my house +first, and see if he has gone back there." + +But Mr. Nestor had not done this, and Mrs. Baggert, who answered the +telephone, said Mary had been calling frantically for Tom, as her +mother was now on the verge of complete collapse. + +"No help for it," said Tom, ruefully. "We've got to tell 'em we have no +news, and can't find him." + +And, hearing this, Mrs. Nestor did collapse, and a doctor was called in. + +Thereupon Tom, who with Mr. Damon had gone back to the Nestor home, +took charge of matters, sending for Mrs. Nestor's sister to come and +stay with her and take charge of the house. + +"You'll need some one to stay with you," he told Mary. + +"Yes, I shall," she admitted, trying bravely not to give way to her +emotion. "Oh, Tom, I wish you could stay, too. I'm sure something +dreadful must have happened to poor father. Please stay and help us +find him!" + +"I will," Tom promised. "As soon as your aunt comes I'll take Mr. Damon +home, and then I'll give the rest of my time to you." + +And this Tom did, sending word home that he would remain at the +Nestor's all night and part of the next day. + +Tom got but little sleep that night. He communicated with the police +and saw to it that a general alarm was sent out. He called up all +hospitals within a radius of fifty miles, but could get no trace of any +injured man whose description resembled that of Mr. Nestor. + +"What can have happened?" asked Mary tearfully. + +"Well, the way I figure it out is this," said Tom. "Your father left my +house soon after Mr. Damon and I did in the Air Scout. Mr. Nestor was +riding his bicycle, and he must have been run into by an automobile. +That is how his watch was damaged and that was when Mr. Damon and I +heard the cries for help." + +"Oh, do you think he was badly hurt?" asked Mary. + +"No, I don't," and Tom answered truthfully. "The voice sounded as +though he was in pain, certainly, but it was strong and vigorous, and +not at all as though he was dangerously hurt." + +"And what do you think happened to him after he was hurt?" asked Mary. + +"The autoists took him away," decided Tom. "In fact, we heard the +machine go, but of course we never connected the call for help and what +followed with your father. The autoists took him away." + +"Where?" + +"I should say to some hospital. Perhaps a private one of which we know +nothing, and which may be near here. I'll get a full list from the +Board of Health to-morrow. Or it may be that the autoists, seeing the +damage they had done, took your father to the home of one of +themselves, and summoned a doctor there." + +"Why would they do that?" + +"Well, they may have been so frightened they didn't realize what they +were doing, or they may have thought he would get better treatment in a +private house, if he were not badly injured, than if he should be taken +to a hospital. It may have been that one of the persons in the auto was +a physician, and wished to try his own skill on the man he had hurt." + +"You make me feel more comfortable, Tom," said Mary. "But, even +supposing all this, why couldn't they telephone to us that my father +was all right? He always carries an identification card with him, and +if he were unconscious it could be ascertained who he was." + +"That's what I can't understand," said Tom frankly. "It puzzles me. But +we'll find him--never fear!" + +And so he kept on with his telephone inquiries, while a physician and +her sister ministered to Mrs. Nestor. The night was very, very long, +and no good news came in. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SILENT SAM + + +Slowly the dawn broke through the mists of darkness, and made the earth +light. The sun came straggling in through cracks in the shutters in the +home of Mr. Nestor, the gradually increasing gleam paling the electric +lights, in the glare of which Tom Swift, Mary, and her aunt sat, +waiting for some word of the missing man. But none came. + +"What shall we do now?" asked Mary, as she looked at Tom. + +"Oh, there's lots to do," he said, trying to make his voice sound +cheerful. "We'll be busy all day. I sent word to have one of my touring +cars ready to hurry to any part of the country the moment we should get +word from your father." + +"And do you think we shall get word, Tom?" the girl went on wistfully. + +"Of course we shall!" he cried. "Word may come in at any time. Now get +ready, eat a good breakfast, and then you can go with me as soon as we +hear anything definite. Come, we'll have breakfast!" + +"I can't eat a thing!" protested Mary. + +"Oh, yes you can," said her aunt, who was a cheerful sort of person. +"I'll see about getting something for you and Mr. Swift, and see that +your mother is all right." + +She left the room to give orders to the servant about the meal, and +returned to say that Mrs. Nestor was sleeping quietly. She had been +given a sedative. Mary managed to eat a little, and she gave Tom the +address of several friends who were called up in the vain hope that, +somehow, Mr. Nestor might have gone to see them. + +"Tom, what do you really think has happened?" asked Mary again, as they +sat facing one another in the library, during a respite from the +telephone. + +Tom Swift repeated, to the girl his theory of what had happened with an +assumption of confidence he did not altogether feel. + +His prediction of a speedy end to the suspense did not come true that +day, nor for many days. No news was heard of Mr. Nestor. After the +first day, when there was no information and when no reports came of +any one of his description having been hurt in an automobile accident +or having been taken to any hospital, the police started an energetic +search. + +The authorities in all near-by cities were notified, and all thought of +keeping from the public what had happened was given over. Tom's story, +of how he and Mr. Damon had heard the cry for help on the lonely +meadow, was printed in the papers, though the young inventor did not +say that he had been out trying his new aeroplane. That was a detail +not needed in the finding of Mr. Nestor. + +But Mary's father was not found. The mystery regarding his +disappearance deepened, and there was no trace of him after he had left +Tom's house that eventful evening. Persons living along the roads he +might have taken in riding his bicycle were questioned, but they had +seen nothing of him, nor were they aware of any accident. Tom's +testimony and that of Mr. Damon was all the clew there was. + +"I don't believe he's dead!" stoutly declared the young inventor, when +this dire possibility had been hinted at. "I believe the persons who +were responsible for the accident are afraid to reveal his whereabouts +until he recovers from possible injuries. You'll see! Mr. Nestor will +come back safe!" + +And, somehow, though her mother was skeptical, Mary believed what Tom +said. + +The search was kept up, but without result, and Tom aided all he could. +But there was not much he could do. The police and other authorities +were at a total loss. + +In the intervals of visiting Mary and her mother, and doing what he +could for them, Tom worked on his new motor. He knew that he was on the +right track and that all that was needed now was to make certain +refinements and adjustments in the apparatus he had already +constructed, so that it would operate more quietly. + +"Absorbing the vibrations from the exhaust, caused by the exploded +gases in the cylinders, does the trick," Tom told his father. + +"But there is enormous pressure to overcome, Tom. You must be sure your +muffler will stand the strain. Otherwise she is going to blow out a +gasket some day, when you least expect it. Then the sudden resumption +of pressure outside the cylinders is going to cause a change in the +equilibrium, and you may turn turtle in the air." + +"I've thought of that," said Tom. "At worst it can't be any more than +looping the loop. But I'll make the muffler doubly strong." + +"Better provide an auxiliary chamber to take care of part of the +exhaust in case your main apparatus breaks," advised the older +inventor, and Tom said he would. He did, too, for he valued his +father's expert advice. + +Meanwhile he was busy fitting one of his latest aeroplanes with the new +motor. The motor he and Mr. Damon had used in their flight was one +patched up from an old one. But now Tom was working on a complete new +one, made after his revised model, and in which the silencer was an +integral part, instead of being built on. + +While giving Mary and her mother all the assistance in his power, Tom +still found time to work on his new, pet scheme. He had matters now +where he did not fear any tampering with his plans, for he had filed +away his papers in a safe place, and was making his new machine from +memory. + +"But if some one got in and had a look at the inside of your silencer +he could see how it is constructed, couldn't he?" asked Ned Newton. + +"Yes," assented Tom, "But they're not going to get in very easily. Koku +sleeps in the experiment shop now, and my machine is there." + +"Oh, well that explains your confidence. I feel sorry for the burglar +who makes the attempt, once Koku wakes up. Heard anything more from +those Universal people?" + +"No, not directly. I understand they are working hard on some new type +of plane for army use, but I haven't bothered my head about them. I'm +too much occupied with my own affairs and trying to help Mary." + +"Very strange about Mr. Nestor, isn't it?" + +"Worse than strange," said Tom. "If this keeps on, and he isn't heard +from, it will be tragic pretty soon." + +"He must be held a prisoner somewhere," declared Ned. + +"It begins to look that way," assented Tom. "Though who would have an +object in that I can't understand. He had no enemies, as far as is +known, and his business affairs were in excellent shape. Unless, as I +said, the persons who ran him down are, through fear, keeping him +hidden until he recovers, I can't imagine what has become of him." + +"Well, it certainly is a puzzle," said Ned. And Tom agreed with his +chum. + +It was about a week after the disappearance of Mr. Nestor that Mr. +Damon came over to see Tom. + +"Bless my shoe laces, Tom!" exclaimed the eccentric man, "but you are +as busy as ever." For he found the young inventor in the experiment +shop, surrounded by a mass of papers and all sorts of mechanical +devices. + +"Yes, I'm working a little," said Tom. "But you are just in time. Come +on out, I want to introduce you to Silent Sam." + +"'Silent Sam!'" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Have you been taking a new trip +to the Land of Wonders? Have you brought back some new kind of servant?" + +"Not exactly a servant," said Tom with a laugh, "though I hope Silent +Sam will serve me well." + +"'Silent Sam?' What does it mean? Is that a joke?" asked the puzzled +Mr. Damon. + +"I hope it doesn't turn out a joke," replied Tom. "But come on, I'll +introduce you to him, Mr. Damon." + +He led the way to one of the big hangars where his various machines of +the air were housed. On the way Mr. Damon asked about news of Mr. +Nestor, but was told there was none. + +Tom Swift opened the big, swinging doors and pulled aside an enveloping +canvas curtain. There stood revealed a big aeroplane, of somewhat new +pattern, the wings gleaming like silver from the varnish that had been +applied. In shape it was not unlike the machines already in use, except +that the propellers were of somewhat different design. + +The engine was mounted in front, and even with his slight knowledge of +mechanics Mr. Damon could tell that it was exceedingly powerful. But it +was certain devices attached to the engine that attracted his +attention, for they were totally different from any on any other +aeroplane, though they bore some resemblance to apparatus on the plane +in which Tom and the eccentric man had made the night flight. + +"Is this your new machine, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Yes." + +"Well, I don't see anything of that fellow you spoke of--Silent Sam." + +"This is Silent Sam," returned Tom, with a laugh. "I've named my new +noiseless aeroplane--my Air Scout--I've named that Silent Sam. Wait +until you hear it, or rather, don't hear it, and I think you'll agree +with me. Silent Sam for Uncle Sam!" + +"Good!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my dictionary, but that's a good name! +Does it sail silently, Tom?" + +"I'll let you judge presently. Silent Sam is all ready for his first +trial, and I'll be glad to have you with me. Now, I'll just--" + +Tom suddenly ceased speaking and held up a hand to enjoin silence. +Then, while Mr. Damon watched, the young inventor began moving +noiselessly toward the rear of the big shed, inside which was his new +machine. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +SUSPICIONS + + +"Who's there?" suddenly called Tom, and in such a sharp voice that Mr. +Damon started, ready as he was for something unusual. + +There was no answer and Tom suddenly switched on all the lights in the +shed. Up to then there had been only a few glowing--just enough for him +to show the new Air Scout to his friend. + +"Who's there?" asked Tom again, sharply. + +"Bless my opera glasses, Tom!" cried Mr. Damon, "but are you seeing +things?" + +"No; but I'm hearing them," answered Tom with a short laugh. "Did you +think you heard some one moving around near the rudders of Silent Sam, +Mr. Damon?" + +"No, I can't say that I did. Everything seems to me to be all right." + +"Well, it doesn't to me," went on Tom grimly. "I think there is an +intruder in this shed, though how any one could get in when the doors +have been locked all day, is more than I can figure out. But I'm going +to have a look." + +"I'll help you," offered Mr. Damon, and, in the bright glare from many +electric lights, the two began a search of the big hangar where the new +craft was kept. + +But though the young inventor and his friend went around to the rear of +the aeroplane, walking in opposite directions, they saw no one, nor did +any one try to escape past them. + +"And yet I was sure I heard some one in here," declared Tom, when a +search had revealed nothing. "It sounded as if some one were scuffling +softly about in rubber-soled shoes, trying to hide." + +"Bless my suspenders!" cried Mr. Damon, "who do you think it could have +been, Tom?" + +"Who else but some spy trying to get possession of my secrets?" was the +answer. "But I guess I was too quick for them. They couldn't learn much +from looking at the outside of my muffler, and it hasn't been +disturbed, as far as I can see." + +"Who would want to gain a knowledge of it in that unlawful way?" asked +Mr. Damon. + +"Perhaps some of the Universal crowd. They may have been disappointed +in perfecting a silent motor themselves, and think stealing my idea +would be the easiest way out of it." + +"Do they know you are working on such a model as this Silent Sam of +yours, Tom?" + +"Yes, I imagine they do. One of the firm members, as you recall, +overheard something, I think, that gave them a hint as to what my plans +were, though, thanks to the time I fooled the spy, they haven't any +real data to go by, I believe." + +"Let us hope not," said Mr. Damon. + +Tom and he made a thorough search of the big shed, but found no one, +nor was there any trace of an intruder. Tom notified Jackson, who, in +turn, told the guards and watchmen to be on the lookout for any +suspicious strangers, but none was seen in the vicinity of the Swift +works. + +"Well, everything seems to be all right, so we'll have the test," +remarked Tom, after a further search of the premises. "Now, Mr. +Damon, if all goes as I hope you will see what my new machine can do. +Strain your ears for a sound, and let me know how much you hear." + +His men helping him, Tom started the new motor which was tried for the +first time attached to the new craft. No flight was to be made yet, the +motor being tested as though on the block, though, in reality, the +craft was ready for instant flight if need be. + +Slowly the great propellers began to revolve, and then Tom, taking his +place in the cockpit, turned on more power. The new craft--Silent +Sam--was made fast so it could not progress even though the propellers +revolved at high speed. + +"I'm not sending her to the limit," said Tom to his friend, as the +young inventor throttled down the motor. "If I did I'd tear her loose +from the holding blocks." + +"Her!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my typewriter, Tom! but I thought Silent +Sam was a gentleman aeroplane. + +"So he is!" laughed the young man, frankly. "I forgot about 'Silent +Sam.' Guess I'll have to say 'him' instead of 'her,' though the latter +sounds more natural. Anyhow what do you think?" + +"I think it's wonderful!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "There the motor is, +going at almost full speed, and I can hardly hear a thing. You can the +easier believe that when I say that I can hear you talk perfectly well. +And I guess you hear me, don't you?" + +"Yes," replied Tom. "And we don't have to shout, either. This is the +best test ever! I think everything is a success." + +"Are you going to take her aloft, Tom?" the eccentric man went on. + +"Yes, now that I'm sure the engine is all right. Will you go for a +flight with me?" + +"I certainly will! I only wish we could find him, though. I'd go with a +better heart." + +"Oh! Mr. Nestor?" + +"Yes, I can't imagine what has become of him. It is almost as if the +earth had opened and swallowed him. His disappearance is a great +mystery." + +"It surely is," agreed Tom. "Can't seem to get any trace of him. But if +we hear another cry for help, when we have to land, you can make up +your mind I'll investigate more quickly than I did at first." + +"I agree with you," said Mr. Damon. + +It was nearly evening then, and until it was dark enough for his flight +Tom spent the time tuning up the engine and seeing that all was in +readiness for the latest test. He had decided not to go aloft while it +was light enough for curiosity seekers to note the flight. + +Tom rather wished Mary Nestor might have a sail with him in his latest +improved silent Air Scout, but the girl was too much occupied at home +and in trying to find some trace of her father. + +Tom, his father, and Mr. Damon had helped all they could, but there +were no results. A private detective had been engaged, but he had no +more of a clew than the regular police. + +At last it was dark enough for the flight, and Tom and Mr. Damon took +their places in the machine. Once more the propellers were turned +around, and when the compression had been made, and the spark switched +on, around spun the big wooden blades, and the great craft moved over +the grass. + +On and on and up and up sailed Tom and Mr. Damon, and as they left +behind them the shops and the Swift homestead, the two passengers were +aware of their almost silent flight. The big aeroplane, the exhaust of +which, ordinarily, would have nearly deafened them, was now as silent +as a bird. + +"Silent Sam for Uncle Sam!" cried Tom in delight, as he went on faster. +"I'm sure the government ought to be glad to get this plane for air +scout work. It's a success! A great success!" + +"Yes, so it is!" agreed Mr. Damon. "You do well to speak of it so, Tom." + +For, modest as the young inventor was, he felt, in justice to himself, +that he must acknowledge the fact that his craft was a success. For it +rose and sailed almost as silently as a bat, and a few hundred feet +away no one, not seeing it, would have believed a big aeroplane was in +motion. + +Tom and Mr. Damon flew about twenty miles at a swift pace, and all the +fault Tom had to find was that the machine was not as steady in flight +as she should have been. + +"But I can remedy that with the use of some of dad's gyroscope +stabilizers," he told Mr. Damon. + +They returned to the hangar safely, and the first trip of the new +Silent Sam was an assured success. + +It was the following day, when Tom was busy in the machine shop +installing the gyroscopes spoken of, that Jackson came to tell him +there was a visitor to see him. + +"Who is it?" asked the young inventor. + +"Mr. Gale of the Universal Company," was the answer. + +"I don't want to see him!" declared Tom quickly. "I have nothing to say +to him after his clumsy threats." + +"He seems very much in earnest," said Jackson. "Better see him, if only +for a minute or so." + +"All right, I will," assented Tom. "Show him in." + +Mr. Gale, as blusteringly bluff as ever, entered the shop. Tom had +carefully put away all papers and models, as well as the finished +machines, so he had no fear that his visitor might discover some secret. + +"Oh, Mr. Swift!" began the president of the Universal Company, when he +met the young inventor, "I wish to assure you that what has been done +was entirely without our knowledge. And, though this man may have acted +as our agent at one time, we repudiate any acts of his that might--" + +"What are you talking about?" asked Tom in surprise. "Have I been so +impolite as to sleep during part of your talk? I don't understand what +you are driving at." + +"Oh, I thought you did," said Gale, and he showed surprise. "I +understood that the man who--" + +"Do you mean there was some one here in the shed last night?" cried the +young inventor suddenly, all his suspicions aroused. + +"Some one here last night?" repeated Mr. Gale. "No, I don't refer to +last night. But perhaps I am making a mistake. I--er--I--" + +"Some one is making a mistake!" said Tom significantly. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +ANOTHER FLIGHT + + +For perhaps a quarter of a minute Tom Swift and the president of the +Universal Flying Machine Company of New York sat staring at one +another. Mr. Gale's face wore a puzzled expression, and so did Tom's. +And, after the last remark of the young inventor, the man who had +called to see him said: + +"Well, perhaps we are talking at cross purposes. I don't blame you for +not feeling very friendly toward us, and if I had had my way that last +correspondence with you would never have left our office." + +"It wasn't very business-like," said Tom dryly, referring to the veiled +threats when he had refused to sell his services to the rival company. + +"I realize that," said Mr. Gale. "But we have some peculiar men working +for us, and sometimes there is so much to do, so many possibilities of +which to take advantage, that we may get a little off our balance. But +what I called for was not to renew our offer to you. I understand that +is definitely settled." + +"As far as I am concerned, it is," said Tom, as his caller seemed to +want an answer. + +"Yes. Well, then, what I called to say was that if you are thinking of +taking any legal action against us because of the action of that man +Lydane, I wish to state that he had absolutely no authority to--" + +"Excuse me!" broke in Tom, "but by Lydane do you mean the man who also +posed as Bower, the spy?" + +"No, I do not. Though I regret to say that Bower once worked for us. +He, too, had no authority to come here and get a position. He was still +in our service when he did that." + +"So I have suspected," said Tom. "I realize now that he was a spy, who +came here to try to find out for you some of my secrets." + +"Not with my permission!" exclaimed Mr. Gale. "I was against that from +the first and I came to tell you so. But Bower really did you no harm." + +"No, he didn't get the chance!" chuckled Tom. "Nor did that other +spy--the one with the gold tooth. I wonder how he liked our mud hole?" + +"He was Lydane," said Mr. Gale. "It is about him I came." + +"You might have saved yourself the trouble," returned Tom. "I don't +wish to discuss him." + +"But I wish to make sure," said Mr. Gale, "that what he has done will +not come back on us. We repudiate him entirely. His methods we can not +countenance. He is too daring--" + +"Oh, don't worry!" interrupted Tom. "He hasn't done anything to me--he +didn't get the chance, as I guess he's told you. You needn't apologize +on his account. He did me no harm, and--" + +"But I understood from him that--" + +"Now I don't want to seem impolite!" broke in Tom, "nor do I want to +take pattern after some of your company's acts, if not your own. But I +am very busy. I have an important test to make for the government, and +my time is fully occupied. I am afraid I shall have to bid you +good-morning and--" + +"But won't you give me a chance to--" began the president. + +"Now, the less we discuss this matter the better!" interrupted Tom. +"Lydane, as you call the man with the gold tooth didn't really do +anything to me nor any great harm to any of my possessions, as far as I +can learn. His career is a closed book--a book with muddy covers!" and +the young inventor laughed. + +"Oh, well, if you look at it that way, there is nothing further for me +to say," said Mr. Gale stiffly. "I understood-- But hasn't my partner, +Mr. Ware, seen you?" he asked Tom quickly. + +"No. And I don't care to see him." + +"Oh, then that accounts for it," was the quick answer. "Well, if you +regard the matter as closed I suppose we should also. We are not to +blame for what Lydane does when he is no longer in our employ, and we +repudiate anything he may do, or may have done." + +This struck Tom, afterward, as being rather a queer remark, but he did +not think so at the time. + +The truth was that the young inventor wished very much to try out a new +device on his noiseless aeroplane and wanted to get rid of Mr. Gale +before doing so. So he did not pay as much attention to the remarks of +the president as, otherwise, he might have done. + +It was not until after Mr. Gale had taken his leave and Tom had +finished the particular work on which he was engaged when the president +of the rival company came in, that the young man did some hard +thinking. And this thinking was done after he had received a telephone +call from Mary Nestor, asking, if by any chance, he had heard anything +like a clew as to the whereabouts of her father. + +Tom had been obliged to tell her that he had not. Everything possible +was being done to find the missing man but he had disappeared as +completely as though he had ridden on his bicycle into the crater of +some extinct volcano on the meadow, and had fallen to the bottom. + +An effort was made to trace him through an automobile association which +had a large membership. That is, the members were asked to make +inquiries to ascertain, if possible, whether any one had heard of an +unreported accident--one in which Mr. Nestor might have been carried +away by persons who accidently ran him down. + +But this came to naught, and the police and other authorities were at a +loss how farther to proceed. It was a theory in some quarters that Mr. +Nestor was perfectly safe, but that he was out of his mind, and was +either wandering around, not knowing who he was, or was, in this +condition, detained somewhere, the persons having him in charge not +realizing that he was the missing man so widely sought. + +This belief was a relief to Mrs. Nestor and Mary in many ways for it +prevented them from giving way to the fear that Mr. Nestor was dead. +That he was alive was Tom Swift's firm opinion, and he was doing all he +could to prove it. + +It was not until the day after the visit of Mr. Gale that Tom, having +concluded some intricate calculations about the strength of cylinder +valves, uttered an exclamation. + +"I wonder if he could have meant that?" cried the young inventor. "I +wonder if he could have meant that? I must find out at once! Queer I +didn't think of that before!" + +He put in a long distance call to New York, asking to speak to Mr. +Gale. But when, eventually, he was connected with the office of the +Universal Flying Machine Company he was told that Mr. Gale and Mr. Ware +had sailed for France that day, going over as government +representatives to investigate aeroplane motors. Gale's visit to Tom +had been just previous to taking the boat, it was said. + +"This is tough luck!" mused Tom, his suspicions doubly aroused now. "I +can't let this rest here! I've got to get after it! As soon as I make +this final test, and invite Uncle Sam's experts out to see how my +noiseless motor works, I'll get after Gale and Ware if I have to follow +them to the battlefields of France! I wonder if it was that he was +hinting at all the while! I begin to believe it was!" + +Tom Swift had decided on another flight for his new craft before he +would let the government experts see it. + +"Silent Sam must do his very best work for Uncle Sam before I turn him +over," said the young inventor. + +"And after this flight I'll offer the machine to the government, and +then devote all my time to finding Mr. Nestor," said Tom. "I'd do it +now, but private matters, however deeply they affect us, must be put +aside to help win the war. But this will end my inventive work until +after Mr. Nestor is found--if he's alive." + +Preparations for the test flight went on apace, and one afternoon Tom +and Jackson took their places in the big, new aeroplane. He no longer +feared daylight crowds in case of an accident. They made a good start, +and the motor was so quiet that as Tom passed over his own plant the +men working in the yard, who did not know of the flight, did not look +up to see what was going on. They could not hear the engine. + +"I think we've got everything just as we want it, Jackson," said Tom, +much pleased. + +"I believe you," answered the mechanician. "It couldn't be better. Now +if--" + +And at that moment there came a loud explosion, and Silent Sam began +drifting rapidly toward the earth, as falls a bird with a broken wing. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +QUEER MARKS + + +"What happened?" cried Jackson to Tom, as he leaned forward in his seat +which was in the rear of the young inventor's. + +"Don't know, exactly," was the answer, as Tom quickly shifted the +rudders to correct the slanting fall of his craft. "Sounded as though +there was a tremendous back-fire, or else the muffler blew up. The +engine is dead." + +"Can you take her down safely?" + +"Oh, yes, I guess so. She's a bit out of control, but the stabilizer +will keep her on a level keel. Good thing we installed it." + +"You're right!" said Jackson. + +Now they were falling earthward with great rapidity, but, thanks to the +gyroscope stabilizer, the "side-slipping," than which there is no +motion more dreaded by an aviator, had nearly ceased. The craft was +volplaning down as it ought, and Tom had it under as perfect control as +was possible under the circumstances. + +"We'll get down all right if something else doesn't happen," he said to +Jackson, with grim humor. + +"Well, let's hope that it won't," said the mechanic. "We're a good +distance up yet." + +They were, as a matter of fact, for the explosion, or whatever had +happened to the craft, had occurred at a height of over two miles, and +they at once began falling. As yet Tom Swift was unaware of the exact +nature of the accident or its cause. All he knew was that there had +been a big noise and that the engine had stopped working. He could not +see the silencer from where he sat, as it was constructed on the +underside of the motor, but he had an idea that the same sort of mishap +had occurred as on the occasion when the test machine had sailed +through the roof of his workshop. + +"But, luckily, this wasn't as bad," mused Tom. "Anyhow the motor is out +of business." + +And this was very evident. The young inventor had tried to start the +apparatus after its stoppage by the explosion, but it had not responded +to his efforts, and then he had desisted, fearing to cause some further +damage, or, perhaps, endanger his own life and that of Jackson. + +Down, down swept Silent Sam--doubly silent now, and Tom began looking +about for a good place to make a landing. This was nothing new for +either him or his mechanician, and they accepted the outcome as a +matter of course. + +"Not a very lively place down there," remarked Jackson, as he looked +over the side of the cockpit. + +"If we have to depend for help on any one down there, I guess we'll be +a long time waiting," agreed Tom. They were about to land in a very +lonely spot. It was one he had never before visited, though he knew it +could not be much more than twenty miles from his own home, as they had +not flown much farther than that distance. + +But, somehow or other, Tom had not visited this particular section, and +knew nothing of it. He saw below him, as Jackson had seen, a lonely +stretch of country--a big field, once a wood-lot, evidently, as +scattered about were some stumps and some second growth trees. There +were also a number of evergreens--Christmas trees Jackson called them. +And this was the only open place for miles, the surrounding country +being a densely wooded one. There did not appear to be a house or other +building in sight where they might seek help. + +"But maybe we can make the repairs ourselves and keep on," the lad +thought. + +With practiced eye he picked out a smooth, grassy, level spot, in the +midst of scattered evergreen trees, and there Tom Swift skillfully +brought his Air Scout to rest. With a gentle thud the rubber-tired +wheels struck the Earth, rolled along a little distance, and then +called to a stop. + +Hardly had the aeroplane ceased moving when Tom and his companion +jumped out and began eagerly to examine the machinery to see the extent +of damage. + +"I thought so!" Tom exclaimed. "The silencer cracked under the strain. +Those exhaust gases have more pressure that I believed possible. I +increased the margin of safety on this muffler, too. But she's +cracked, and I can't use the machine until I put on a new one. Good +thing I didn't ask for a government inspection until after this trial +flight." + +"That's so," agreed Jackson. "But can't you patch it up, or go on +without a muffler, so we can get back home?" + +"I'm afraid not," Tom answered. "You see I removed all the old exhaust +pipe fittings when I put on my new silencer. Now if I took off my +attachment there wouldn't be anything to carry off the discharged +gases, and they'd form a regular cloud about us. We couldn't stand it +without gas masks, such as they use in the trenches, and we haven't any +of those with us." + +"That's right," agreed Jackson. "Well, what do you want to do? Have me +stay here and guard the machine while you go for help? Or shall I go?" + +"I don't know why we both can't go," said Tom. "There is no use trying +to patch up this machine here. I'll have to send a truck after it, and +dismantle it before I can get it home. + +"As for either of us staying here on guard, I don't quite see the need +of that. This looks like the jumping-off place to me. I don't believe +there's a native within miles. I didn't see any houses as we came down, +and I think Silent Sam will be perfectly safe here. No one can run off +with him, anyhow. He'd be as hard to start as an automobile with all +four wheels gone. Let's leave it here and both walk back." + +"All right," agreed Jackson. "That suits me. Might as well leave our +togs here, too. It will be easier walking without them," and he began +taking off the fur-lined suit, his cap, and his goggles, such as he and +Tom wore against the piercing cold of the upper regions. + +"We can stuff them in the cockpit and leave them," went on the +mechanician, as he divested himself of his garments. As he stowed them +away in his seat he gave one more look at the broken muffler. As Tom +Swift said, his new silencer had literally blown up, a large piece +having been torn from the gas chamber. + +Something that Jackson saw caused him to utter an exclamation that +brought Tom Swift to his side. + +"What is it?" asked the young inventor. + +"Look!" was the answer. "See! Just at the edge of that break! It's +been filed to make the metal thinner there than anywhere else. You +didn't do that, did you?" + +"I should say not!" cried Tom. "Why, to file there would mean to weaken +the whole structure." + +"And that's exactly what's happened!" declared Jackson, as he gave +another look. "Some one has filed this nearly through--leaving only a +thin metal skin, and when the gas pressure became too much it blew out. +That's what happened!" + +Tom Swift made a quick but thorough examination. + +"You're right, Jackson!" he exclaimed. "That was filed deliberately to +cause the accident. And it must have been done lately, for I carefully +inspected the silencer when I put it on, and it was in perfect order. +There's been spy work here. Some one got into the hangar and filed that +casing. Then the accumulated pressure of the gases did the rest." + +"As sure as you're alive!" agreed Jackson. "Maybe that's what Gale did +when he called." + +"No," returned Tom, shaking his head, "he didn't get a chance to do +anything like that. I watched him all the while. But perhaps this is +what he referred to when he said he and his company would repudiate any +act of that spy with the gold tooth--Lydane, so Gale said his name was. +Maybe that's what Lydane did." + +"He was capable of it," agreed the mechanic, "but he couldn't have done +it that time you tripped him into the mud puddle. This silencer wasn't +built then." + +"No, you're right," assented Tom. "Then he must have been around since, +doing some of his tricky work!" + +"I don't see how that could have been," said Jackson slowly. "We've +kept a very careful watch, and your shop has been specially guarded." + +"I know it has," said Tom. "There couldn't much get past Koku; but some +one seems to have done it, or else how could that filing have been +done?" + +Jackson shook his head. The problem was too much for him. He looked +carefully at the exploded and broken silencer, and Tom, too, gave it a +critical eye. There was no doubt but that it had been filed in several +places to weaken the structure of the metal. + +"When did you last see that it was in perfect condition?" asked Jackson. + +Tom named a certain date. + +"That was just before Gale called," observed the mechanician. "He +might have known of it." + +"I wish I'd known of it at the time," said Tom savagely. "He wouldn't +have gotten away as easily as he did. Well, there's no use standing +here talking about it. Let's get back to civilization and we'll send +back one of the trucks. Luckily I have another silencer I can put on +for the government test. This one will never be of any more use, though +I may be able to save some of the valves and baffle plates." + +Slowly they turned from the disabled aeroplane and started to look for +a path that would lead them out of the lonely place. Tom as the first +to strike what seemed to be a cow path, or perhaps what had been a road +into the wood lot in the early days. + +As he tramped along it, followed by Jackson, the young inventor +suddenly stopped, as he came to a sandy place, and, stooping over, +looked intently at some queer marks in the soil. + +"What is it?" asked the mechanician. + +"Looks like the marks of an automobile," said Tom slowly. "And I was +just trying to remember where I'd seen marks like these before." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE DESERTED CABIN + + +For several seconds the young inventor remained bending over the queer +marks in that little sandy path of the lonely field in the midst of the +silent woods. Jackson watched him curiously, and then Tom straightened +up, exclaiming as he did so: + +"I have it! Now I know where it was! I saw marks like these the night +Mr. Nestor disappeared. Mr. Damon and I noticed the marks in the dust +on the road the time we made the forced landing the first night we +tried out the silent motor. That's it! They are the same marks! I'm +sure of it!" + +"I wouldn't go so far as to say that," said Jackson slowly. He was more +deliberate than Tom Swift, a fact for which the young inventor was +often glad, as it saved him from impulsive mistakes. + +"This may not be the same auto," went on the mechanician. "I'll admit I +never saw square tire marks like those before. Most of the usual ones +are circular, diamond-shape or oblong. Some tire manufacturer must have +tried a new stunt. But as for saying these marks were made by the same +machine you saw evidences of the night Mr. Nestor disappeared, why, +that's going a little too far, Tom." + +"Yes, I suppose it is," admitted the young inventor. "But it's a clew +worth following. Maybe Mr. Nestor has been brought to some lonely place +like this, and is being held." + +"Why would any one want to do that?" asked Jackson. "He had no enemies." + +"Well, perhaps those who ran him down and injured him are afraid to let +him go for fear he will prosecute them and ask for heavy damages," +suggested Tom. "They may be holding him a captive until he gets well, +and aim on treating him so nicely that he won't bring suit." + +"That's a pretty far-fetched theory," said the mechanician as he +carefully looked at the tracks. "But of course it may be true. Anyhow, +these tire marks are rather recent, I should say, and they are made by +a new tire. Do you think we can follow them?" + +"I'm going to try!" declared Tom. "The only trouble is we can't tell +whether it was going or coming--that is we don't know which way to go." + +"That's so," agreed his companion. "And so the only thing to do is to +travel a bit both ways. The path, or road, or whatever you call it, is +plainly enough marked here, though you can't always pick out the tire +marks. They show only on bare ground. The grass doesn't leave any +tracks that we can see, though doubtless they are there. + +"But as for thinking this car is the same one the marks of which you +saw on the lonely moor, the night you heard the call for help--that's +going too far, Tom Swift." + +"Yes, I realize that. Of course there must be more than one car with +tires which have square protuberances. But it's worth taking a chance +on--following this clew." + +"Oh, sure!" agreed Jackson. + +"The only question is, then, which way to go," returned Tom. + +They settled that, arbitrarily enough, by going on in the direction +they had started after leaving the stranded airship. They followed a +half-defined path, and were rewarded by getting occasional glimpses on +bare ground of the odd tire marks. + +Through a devious winding way, now hidden amid a lane of trees, and +again cutting across an open space, the path led. They saw the marks +often enough to make sure they were on the right trail, and in one +place they saw several different patches of the odd marks. + +They went on perhaps half a mile more, when they came to a lonely road +and saw where the car had turned from that into the wood-lot, as Tom +called the place where his craft had settled down. + +"Look!" cried the young inventor to Jackson. "They've been here more +than once, and have gone along the road in both directions. They seem +to have used this turning into the lot as a sort of stopping place." + +This was plain enough from an examination of the marks in the sandy +soil of the road, which was one not often used. The automobile with the +queer, square marks on the tires had turned into the lot, coming and +going in both directions. + +"This settles it!" cried Tom, when he finished making an examination. +"There's something farther back in this lot that we've got to see. This +auto has been coming and going, and we should have followed the tracks +the other way from the point where we first saw them, instead of coming +this way." + +"Except that we've learned the place of departure," suggested Jackson. +"Evidently the wood-lot is a blind alley. The car goes in, but it can +come out only just at this point, or, at least, it does." + +"That's right!" agreed Tom. "Now the thing to do is to follow our track +back to where we started. There must be some place where the car went +to--some headquarters, or meeting place with some one, farther back in +the lot. If we can only follow the trail back as well as we did coming, +we may find out something." + +"Well, let's try, anyhow," suggested Jackson. + +They had no difficulty in making their way back to the spot where they +had first seen the queer marks. But from then on their task was not so +easy. For sandy or bare patches of earth were not frequent, and they +had to depend on these to give them direction, for the road was +overgrown and not well defined. + +Often they would search about for some time after leaving one patch of +the marks before they found another that would justify them in keeping +on. + +"They have headquarters, or a rendezvous, somewhere back in this lot!" +declared Tom, as they hurried on. "I think we're on the track of a +mystery." + +"Unless it turns out that some farmer has treated himself to an auto +with new tires of square tread, and is hauling wood," said Jackson. "It +may turn out that way." + +"Yes, it may," agreed Tom. "But, taking everything into consideration, +I think we're on the verge of finding out something. Even if we do +discover that the owner of this auto is only hauling wood, he may be +able to help us to a clew as to the whereabouts of Mr. Nestor." + +"How?" + +"Well, maybe he was in his machine on the moor the night the call for +help came. He may even have aided to carry Mr. Nestor away. And if he +doesn't know a thing about it--which, of course, is possible--the man +who bought these queer tires can tell us who makes them, or who deals +in them, and we can find out what autoists around here have their cars +equipped with this odd tread." + +"Yes," agreed Jackson, "that can be done." + +And so they kept on, scouting here and there to either side of the +half-defined path, until they were far back from the spot where they +had left the Air Scout. + +"We don't appear to be getting any warmer, as the children say," +remarked Jackson, as he straightened up and looked about, for his back +ached from so much stooping over to look for the odd marks. + +"We haven't seen anything yet, I'll admit," said Tom. "But it won't be +dark for another hour or so, and I vote that we keep on." + +"Oh, I wasn't thinking of giving up!" exclaimed Jackson. "If there's +anything here--at the end of the route, as you might say--we'll find +it. Only I hope it doesn't turn out to be just a wood pile, from which +some farmer has been hauling logs." + +"That would be a disappointment," assented Tom. + +The day was waning, and they realized that they ought not to spend too +much time on what might turn out to be a wild goose chase. They were in +a lonely neighborhood, and while they were not at all apprehensive of +danger, they felt it would be best to get to shelter before dark. + +"We'll want to send word to Mr. Swift that we're all right." + +"Yes," said Tom, "I'd like to get to a place where I can telephone to +him or Mrs. Baggert. Well, if we don't find something pretty soon we'll +have to turn back. I must complete work on the new motor, for if I'm to +offer it to Uncle Sam for air scout purposes, the sooner I can do so +the better. Things are getting pretty hot over in Europe, and if ever +the United States needed aircraft on the western front they need them +now. I want to help all I can, and I also want to help Mary--you +understand--Miss Nestor." + +"I understand," said Jackson simply. "I only hope you can help her. But +I'm afraid--this may turn out to be nothing--following these marks, you +know." + +"And yet," said Tom slowly, "it would be strange if it was only a +coincidence--the two tire marks being the same--the night Mr. Nestor +disappeared and now." + +And so they kept on, hoping. + +The half-defined path through the wood-lot led them in a series of +turns and twists, and it extended through a dense patch of woods, +growing thickly, where it was so dark that it seemed as if night had +fallen. + +"We can't spend much more time here," said Tom. "If we don't find +something in the next half mile we'll go back and take up the search +to-morrow. I'm going to find out what's at the end of this road--even +if it's only a wood pile." + +For ten minutes more the two went on, making sure, by occasional +glimpses at the marks, that they were on the right track. Then, +suddenly, they saw something which made them feel sure they had reached +their goal. + +In a clearing among the trees was a little cabin--a shack of logs--and +from the appearance it was deserted. There was not a sign of life +around. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +CLEWS AT LAST + + +For a moment, at sight of the deserted cabin, staring at Tom and his +friend, as it were, from its hiding place amid the trees, the young +inventor and his companion did not move. They just stood looking at the +place. + +"Well," said Tom, at length, "we found it, didn't we?" + +"We found something anyhow," agreed Jackson. "Whether it amounts to +anything or not, we've got to see." + +"Come on!" cried Tom, impulsively. "I'm going to see what's there." + +"There doesn't appear to be much of anything," said Jackson, as he +looked toward the lonely cabin with critical eyes. "I should say that +place hadn't been used, even as a chicken coop, in a long while." + +"We can soon tell!" exclaimed Tom, striding forward. + +"Wait just a minute!" cried his companion, catching him by the coat. +"Don't be in such a hurry." + +"Why not?" asked Tom. "There isn't any danger, is there?" + +"I don't know about that. There's no telling who may be hidden in that +cabin, in spite of its deserted appearance. And though there aren't any +'No Trespass' signs up, it may be that we wouldn't be welcome. If there +are some tramps there, which is possible, they might take a notion to +shoot at us first and ask questions as to our peaceable intentions +afterward--when it would be too late." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom. "There aren't any tramps there and, if there +were, they wouldn't dare shoot. I'm going to see what the mystery +is--if there is one." + +But there was no sign of life, and, taking this as an indication that +their advance would not be disputed, Jackson followed Tom. The latter +advanced until he could take in all the details of the shack. It was +made of logs, and once had been chinked with mud or clay. Some of this +had fallen out, leaving spaces between the tree trunks. + +"It wasn't a bad little shack at one time," decided Tom. "Maybe it was +a place where some one camped out during the summer. But it hasn't been +used of late. I never knew there was such a place around here, and I +thought I knew this locality pretty well." + +"I never heard of it, either," said Jackson. "Let's give a shout and +see if there's any one around. They may be asleep. Hello, there!" he +called in sufficiently vigorous tones to have awakened an ordinary +sleeper. + +Put there was no answer, and as the shadows of the night began to fall, +the place took on a most lonely aspect. + +"Let's go up and knock--or go in if the door's open," suggested Tom. +"We can't lose any more time, if we're to get out of here before night." + +"Go ahead," said Jackson, and together they went to the cabin door. + +"Locked!" exclaimed Tom, as he saw a padlock attached to a chain. It +appeared to be fastened through two staples, driven one into the door +and the other into the jamb, at right angles to one another and +overlapping. + +"Knock!" suggested Jackson. But when Tom had done so, and there was no +answer, the machinist took hold of the lock. To his own surprise and +that of Tom, one of the staples pulled out and the door swung open. The +place had evidently been forced before, and the lock had not been +opened by a key. The staple had been pulled out and replaced loosely in +the holes. + +For a moment nothing could be made out in the dark interior of the +shack. But as their eyes became used to the gloom, Tom and his +companion were able to see that the shack consisted of two rooms. + +In the first one there was a rusty stove, a table, and some chairs, and +it was evident, from pans and skillets hanging on the wall, as well as +from a small cupboard built on one side, that this was the kitchen and +living room combined. + +"Anybody here?" cried Tom, as he stepped inside. + +Only a dull echo answered. + +The two could now see where a door gave entrance to an inner room, and +this, a quick glance showed, was the sleeping apartment, two bunks +being built on the side walls. + +"Well, somebody had it pretty comfortable here," decided Tom, as he +looked around. "They've been cooking and sleeping here, and not so very +long ago, either. It wouldn't be such a bad place if it was cleaned +out." + +"That's right," agreed Jackson. "Wouldn't mind camping here myself, if +there was any fishing near." + +"The river can't be far away," suggested Tom. "And now let's see what +we can find, and see if we can get a line on who has been here. But +first we'll let in a little light." + +He opened a window in the sleeping room, and pushed back the heavy +plank shutter that had been closed. When the light entered it was seen +that both bunks bore evidence of having been lately slept in. The +blankets were tossed back, as if the occupants had risen, and in the +outer room, on the stove, were signs that indicated a meal had been +served not many days gone by. + +"Now," observed Tom musingly, as he wandered about the place, "if we +could only find out who owns this, and who has been here lately--" + +Jackson stooped over, and, thrusting aside an end of the blankets that +trailed on the floor from one of the bunks, picked up something. + +"What is it?" asked Tom. + +"Looks like a leather pocketbook," was the answer. "That's what it is," +the mechanic went on, as he held the object to the light. "It's a +wallet." + +"Let me see it!" exclaimed Tom quickly. He took the wallet from the +hands of Jackson. Then the young inventor uttered a cry. "A clew at +last!" he exclaimed. "A clew at last! Mr. Nestor has been in this +cabin!" + +"How do you know?" asked Jackson quickly. + +"This is his wallet," said Tom excitedly. "I've often seen him have it. +In fact he had it with him on Earthquake Island, the time I sent the +wireless message for help. I saw it several times then. He kept in it +what few papers he had saved from the wreck. And I've seen it often +enough since. That's Mr. Nestor's wallet all right. Besides, if you +want any other evidence--look!" He opened the leather flaps and showed +Jackson on one, stamped in gold letters, the name of Mary's father. + +"Well, what do you make of it, Tom?" asked the mechanician, as he +finished his examination of the wallet. "What does it mean? The +pocket-book is empty and that--" + +"Might mean almost anything," completed Tom. "But it's a clew all +right! He's been here, and I'm pretty certain he was brought here in +the auto with the odd tires--the one Mr. Damon and I saw traces of the +night we heard the cries for help." + +"But that doesn't help us now," said Jackson. "The point is to find out +how lately Mr. Nestor was here, and what has happened to him since. +There isn't anything in the wallet, is there?" + +"Nothing," answered Tom, making a careful examination so as to be sure. +"It's as empty as a last year's bird nest. He's been robbed--that's +what has happened to Mr. Nestor. He was waylaid that night, instead of +being run down as I thought--waylaid and robbed and then his body was +brought here." + +"There you go again, Tom! Jumping to conclusions!" said Jackson, with a +friendly smile, and with the familiarity of an old and valued helper. +"Maybe he's in perfectly good health. Just because you found his empty +wallet doesn't argue that your friend is in serious trouble. He may +have dropped this on the road and some one picked it up. I'll admit +they may have taken whatever was in it, but that doesn't prove +anything. The thing for us to do is to find out who knows about this +shack; who owns it, on whose land it is, and whether any one has been +seen here lately." + +"They've been here lately whether they've been seen or not," said Tom +positively. "There are the auto tracks. It rained two days ago, and the +tracks were made since. Mr. Nestor must have been here within two days." + +"He may or may not," said Jackson. "Say, rather, that some one was here +and left his wallet after him. Now see if we can find other clews!" + +They looked about in the fast fading light, but at first could discover +nothing more than evidences that three or four persons had been living +in the shack and at some recent date--probably within a day or two. + +They had had their meals there and had slept there. But this seemed to +be all that could be established, other than that Mr. Nestor's wallet +was there, stripped of its contents. + +Tom was looking through the closet, from which a frightened chipmunk +sprang as he opened the door. There were the remains of some food, +which accounted for the presence of the little striped animal. And, as +Tom poked about, his hand came in contact with something wrapped in +paper on an upper shelf. It was something that clinked metallicly. + +"What's that?" asked Jackson. "Knives, or some other weapons?" + +"Neither," answered Tom. "It's a couple of files, and they've been used +lately. I can see something in the grooves yet and--" + +Suddenly Tom ceased speaking and drew from his pocket a small but +powerful magnifying glass. Through this he looked at one of the files, +taking it out in front of the shack where the light was better. + +"I thought so!" he cried. "Look here, Jackson!" + +"What is it?" + +"Another clew!" answered Tom. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE GOVERNMENT TEST + + +For a moment Jackson thought Tom had discovered a clew to, or evidences +of, some crime. He had an unpleasant suspicion, for an instant, that +there was blood on the files, and that it might prove to be the blood +of Mr. Nestor. + +But the satisfaction that showed on Tom's face did not seem to indicate +such dire possibilities as these. + +"What is it?" asked Jackson, unable to guess at what Tom was looking +through the powerful glass. "What do you see?" + +"Metal filings on the grooves of these files," said the young inventor. +"And, unless I'm greatly mistaken, the particles of filings are from +the case of my aircraft silencer!" + +"What!" cried the machinist. "Do you mean those are the files used in +weakening the outer case of your new machine, so that it burst a little +while ago?" + +"That's what I think," answered Tom. "I know it sounds pretty +far-fetched," he went on. "But take a look for yourself. If those +particles on, the files aren't exactly of the same color and texture as +the material of which the silencer case is made, I'll never build +another machine." + +Jackson peered through the powerful glass moving out a little farther +from the shack, so as to get the best light possible on the subject of +his examination. It was fast getting dark, but there was enough glow in +the western sky for his purpose. + +"Am I right?" asked Tom. + +"You're right!" declared his helper. "This is exactly the same metal as +that of which your silencer case is made. It's a peculiar mixture of +aluminum and vanadium steel. I never knew it used in any shop but +yours, and these filings are certainly of that metal. It would seem, +Tom, that these were the files used to cut a crease in the case of your +silencer to weaken it so it would burst." + +"My idea exactly!" cried Tom. "The spy, who got into my shop in some +undiscovered manner, did his work and then fled here to hide. He left +his files behind. Mr. Nestor must have been here, either before or +after. No, I'll not say that, either. Finding his wallet here doesn't +prove that he was here. It might have been brought here by one of the +spies and dropped. But I'm sure we're on the track of the men who +damaged my airship, as well as those who know something of the mystery +of Mr. Nestor." + +"I agree with you," said Jackson. "Of course there's a possibility that +the same peculiar metal you used in your silencer case may have been +used in some other machine shop, and these files may have come from +there, and have been employed in perfectly regular work. But the +chances are--" + +"There's only one way to make sure," said Tom. "Let's take the files +with us and see if they fit in the grooves where the break came. We'll +take these back to where we left the Air Scout," and he clinked the +files he held. + +"We can just about make it before it gets black dark," returned +Jackson. "But that won't give us any more time to look around here," +and he indicated the hut. + +"I fancy we've seen all there is to see here," said Tom. "Mr. Nestor +isn't here, and whether he was or not is a question. Anyhow, some one +was here who had something to do with him after his disappearance, I'm +positive of that. And I'm sure some one was here who damaged my +airship. Now we'll run down both those clews, find out who owns this +place, who has been using it, and all we can along that line. So, if +you're ready, let's travel." + +The two set out to make their way back to where they had left the +stranded airship. It was fast becoming dark, but they could hurry along +with more speed now, as they did not have to stop to look for the marks +of the peculiar automobile tires. They had noticed the path along which +they had traveled, and in half the time they had spent coming they were +back where the Air Scout rested undisturbed in the meadow amid the +trees. + +Making sure that, as far as they could tell, no one had visited the +craft since they had left it, Tom and Jackson compared the file marks +on what was left of the broken silencer case with the files they had +found in the hut. They used a small, but powerful electric lamp to aid +them in this examination, as it was too dark to see otherwise, and what +they saw caused the young inventor to exclaim: + +"That settles it! These were the files used!" + +"That's right!" agreed his assistant. "You've called the turn, Tom. The +next thing to do is to find who connects with the files." + +"Yes. To do that and find Mr. Nestor," said Tom. "We have plenty of +work ahead of us. But let's get nearer civilization and send some word +to the folks at home. They'll be getting worried." + +"It doesn't seem as if there was a way out of here without using an +airship," remarked Jackson. + +But he and Tom finally reached the seldom-used road which ran along the +field that contained the lonely shack, and, following this, they +reached a farmhouse about a mile farther on. Greatly to their relief, +there was a telephone in the place. True it was only a party line, set +up by some neighboring farmers for their own private use, but one of +the subscribers, to whose home the private line ran, had a long +distance instrument, and after a talk with him, this man promised Tom +to call up Mr. Swift and acquaint him with the fact that his son and +Jackson were all right, and would be home later. + +"And now," said Tom, after thanking their temporary host, a farmer +named Bloise, "can you tell us anything about an old cabin that stands +back there?" and he indicated the location of the mysterious shack. + +"Well, yes, I can tell you a little about it, but not very much," said +Mr. Bloise. "It was built, some years ago, by a rich New Yorker, who +bought up a lot of land around here for a game preserve. But it didn't +pan out. This cabin was only the start of what he was going to call a +'hunting lodge,' I believe it was. There was to be a big building on +the same order, but it never was built. + +"Some say the fellow lost all his money in Wall Street, and others say +the state wouldn't let him make a game preserve here. However it was, +the thing petered out, and the old shack hasn't been used since." + +"Oh, yes, it has!" exclaimed Tom. "We just came from there, and there +are signs which show some one has been sleeping there and eating there." + +"There has!" exclaimed the farmer. "Well, I didn't know that." + +"I did," said his son, a young man about Tom's age. "I meant to speak +of it the other day. I saw an automobile turn into the old road that +the men used when they built the shack. I thought it was kind of queer +to see a touring car turn in there, and I meant to speak of it, but I +forgot. Yes, some one has been at the old cabin lately." + +"Do you know who they are?" asked Tom eagerly. "We are looking for a +Mr. Nestor, who disappeared mysteriously about two weeks ago, and I +just found his wallet there in the shack!" + +"You did!" exclaimed Mr. Bloise. "That's queer! You relatives of this +Mr. Nestor?" he asked. + +"Not exactly," Tom answered. "Just very close friends." + +"Well, it's too bad about his being missing in that way," went on the +farmer. "I read about it in the paper, but I never suspected he was +around here." + +"Oh, we're not sure that he was," said Tom quickly. "Finding his wallet +doesn't prove that," and he told the story of his own and Jackson's +appearance on the scene, to the no small wonder of the farmer and his +family. Tom said nothing about the finding of the files, nor the +evidence he deduced from them. That was another matter to be taken up +later. + +"Who were in the auto you saw?" asked Tom of the farmer's son. "Was +Mr. Nestor in the car?" + +"I couldn't be sure of that. There were two men in the machine, and +they were both strangers to me. They were talking together, pretty +earnestly, it seemed to me." + +"One did not appear as if he was being taken away against his will, did +he?" asked Tom. + +"No, I can't say that he did," was the answers "They looked to me, and +acted like, business men looking over land, or something like that. +They just turned in on the road that leads to the old hunting cabin, as +we call it around here, and didn't pay any attention to me. Then I +forgot all about them." + +"Neither of them could have been Mr. Nestor," decided Tom. "At least it +doesn't seem as if he'd talk at all companionably to a man who had +treated him as we think Mr. Nestor has been treated. I guess that clew +isn't going to amount to much." + +"It may!" insisted Jackson. "They may have had Mr. Nestor in the car +all the while--concealed in the back you know. We've got to find out +more about these men and their auto, Tom." + +"Well, yes, perhaps we have. But how?" + +"Station some one at the shack, or at the beginning of the private +road. The men may come back." + +"That's so--they may. We'll do that!" cried the young inventor. "We +must tell the police and Mr. Nestor's folks what we have learned. How +can we get back to Shopton in a hurry?" he asked the farmer. + +"Well, I can drive you to the railroad station," was the answer. + +"Thank you," remarked Tom. "We'll accept your offer. And as soon as we +get back we must send some one from the shop to stand guard over the +airship," he added in an aside to Jackson. "Those file fellows may come +back." + +"That's so, we can't take any chances." + +The farmer soon had his team at the door, and, after they had had a +hasty but satisfying supper at the farmhouse, the son drove Tom and +Jackson several miles to a railroad station, where they could catch a +train for Shopton. + +In due season Tom's home was reached. He intended to stop but a minute, +to assure his father that everything was all right, and then get out +his speedy runabout to go to see Mary, to tell her the news. + +But when Tom sought his father in the library, he was told that there +was a visitor in the house. + +"Tom," said his father, "this gentleman is from Washington. He wants to +arrange for a government test of your silent airship. I told him I +thought you were about ready for it." + +"A government test!" cried Tom. "Why, I didn't think the government +even knew I was working on such an idea!" Tom was greatly surprised. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +IN THE MOONLIGHT + + +With a reassuring smile the visitor from Washington looked at Tom Swift. + +"The government officials," he said, "know more than some people give +them credit for--especially in these war times. Our intelligence bureau +and secret service has been much enlarged of late. But don't be +alarmed, Mr. Swift," went on the caller, whose name was Mr. Blair +Terrill. "Your secret is safe with the government, but I think the time +is ripe to use it now--that is, if you have perfected it to a point +where we can use it." + +"Yes," answered Tom slowly, "the invention is practically finished and +it is a success, except for a few minor matters that will not take long +to complete. + +"Our accident this afternoon had nothing to do with the efficiency of +the silencer," Tom went on. "It was deliberately damaged by some spy. +I'll take that up later. That I am interested to know how you heard of +my Air Scout, as I call it." + +"Well, we have agents, you know, watching all the inventors who have +helped us in times past, and we haven't forgotten your giant cannon or +big searchlight. I might say, to end your curiosity and lull your +suspicions, that your friend, Ned Newton, who has been doing such good +Liberty Bond work, informed us of your progress on the silent motor." + +"Oh, so it was Ned!" exclaimed Tom. + +"Yes. He told us the time was about ripe for us to make you an offer +for your machine. I think we can use it to great advantage in scout +work on the western front," went on the agent, and he soon convinced +Tom that when it came to a knowledge of airships, he had some very +pertinent facts at his disposal. + +"When can you give me a test?" Mr. Terrill asked Tom. + +"As soon as I can get my craft back to the shop and fit on a new outer +case. That won't take long, as I have some spare ones. But I must help +the Nestors," he went on, speaking to his father. "I didn't mention it +over the wire," he added, "but we've found in the cabin a clew to the +missing man. I must tell Mary and her mother, and help them all I can." + +"And allow me to help, too," begged Mr. Terrill. "Since this affects +you, Mr. Swift, and since you are, in a way, working for Uncle Sam, you +must let him help you. This is the first I have heard of the missing +gentleman, of whom your father just told me something, but you must +allow me to help search for him. I will get the United States Secret +Service at work." + +"That will be fine!" cried Tom. "I wanted to get their aid, but I +didn't see how I could, as I knew they were too busy with army matters +and tracing seditious alien enemies, to bother with private cases. I'm +sure the Secret Service men can get trace of the persons responsible +for the detention of Mr. Nestor, wherever he is." + +"They'll do their best," said Mr. Terrill. "I'm a member of that body," +he went on, "and I'll give my personal attention to the matter." + +Then followed a busy time. Tom did not get to bed until nearly morning. +For he had to arrange to send some of his men to guard the stranded +airship, and then he went to see Mary and her mother, taking them the +good news that the search for Mr. Nestor would be prosecuted with +unprecedented vigor. + +"If it isn't too late!" sadly said the missing man's wife. + +"Oh, I'm sure it isn't!" declared Tom. + +In addition to sending a guard to the airship, other men, some of them +hastily summoned from the nearest federal agency, were sent to keep +watch in the vicinity of the lonely cabin. They had orders to arrest +whoever approached, and a relay of the men was provided, so that watch +could be kept up night and day. Besides this, other men from the Secret +Service began scouring the country around the locality of the cabin, +seeking a trace of the two persons the farmer's son had seen in the +automobile. + +"If Mr. Nestor is to be found, they'll find him!" declared Tom Swift. + +Mr. Damon, as might be expected, was very much excited and wrought up +over all these happenings. + +"Bless my watch chain, Tom Swift!" cried the eccentric man, "but +something is always happening to you. And to think I wasn't along when +this latest happened!" + +"Well, you can be in at the finish," promised Tom, and it was strange +how his promise was fulfilled. + +Meanwhile there was much to do. During the time the Secret Service men +were busy looking up clews which might lead to the finding of Mr. +Nestor and keeping watch in the vicinity of the hut, Tom had his +airship brought back to the hangar, and a new silencer was attached. +While this work was going on the place was guarded night and day by +responsible men, so there was no chance for an enemy spy to get in and +do further damage. + +An investigation was made of the Universal Flying Machine Company, but +nothing could be proved to link them with the outrage. Gale and Ware +were in Europe--ostensibly on government business, but it was said that +if anything could be proved connecting them with the attempt made on +Tom Swift's craft, they would be deprived of all official contracts and +punished. + +All this took time, and the waits were wearisome, particularly in the +case of Mr. Nestor. No further trace of him was found, though every +effort was made. Tom began to feel that his boast of his enemies having +to get up early in the morning to get ahead of him, had been premature, +to say the least. + +Tom Swift worked hard on his new Air Scout. He determined there would +be nothing lacking when it came to the government test, and not only +did he make sure that no enemy could tamper with his machine, but he +took pains to see that no inherent defect would mar the test. + +Jackson and the other men helped to the best of their ability, and Mr. +Swift suggested some improvements which were incorporated in the new +machine. + +One of the puzzles the Secret Service men had to solve was that of the +connection, if any, between the men who had to do with the missing Mr. +Nestor and those who had damaged Tom's airship by filing the muffler +case so it was weakened and burst. That there was some connection Tom +was certain, but he could not work it out, nor, so far, had the +government men. + +At last the day came when the big government test was to be made. Tom +had completed his Air Scout and had refined it to a point where even +his critical judgment was satisfied. All that remained now was to give +Mr. Terrill a chance to see how silently the big craft could fly, and +to this end a flight was arranged. + +Tom had put the silencer on a larger machine than the one he and +Jackson had used. It held three easily, and, on a pinch, four could be +carried. Tom's plan was to take Mr. Damon and Mr. Terrill, fly with +them for some time in the air, and demonstrate how quiet his new craft +was. Then, by contrast, a machine without the muffler and the new motor +with its improved propellers would be flown, making as much noise as +the usual craft did. + +"I only wish," said Tom, as the time arrived for the official +government test, "that Mary could be here to see it. She was the one +who really started me on this idea, so to speak, as it was because I +couldn't talk to her that I decided to get up a silent motor." + +But Mary Nestor was too grief-stricken over her missing father to come +to the test, which was to take place late one afternoon, starting from +the aerodrome of the Swift plant. + +"First," said Tom, to Mr. Terrill, "I'll show you how the machine works +on the ground. I'll run the motor while the plane is held down by means +of ropes and blocks. Then we'll go up in it." + +"That suits me," said the agent. "If it does all you say it will do, +and as much as I believe it will do, Uncle Sam will be your debtor, Mr. +Swift." + +"Well, we'll see," said Tom with a smile. + +Preparations were made with the greatest care, and Tom went over every +detail of the machine twice to make certain that, in spite of the +precautions, no spy had done any hidden damage, that might be +manifested at an inopportune moment. But everything seemed all right, +and, finally, the motor was started, while Mr. Terrill, and some of his +colleagues from the Army Aviation department looked on. + +"Contact!" cried Tom, as Jackson indicated that the compression had +been made. + +The mechanic nodded, gave the big propeller blades a quarter turn and +jumped back. In an instant the motor was operating, and the craft would +have leaped forward and cleaved the air but for the holding ropes and +blocks. Tom speeded the machinery up to almost the last notch, but +those in the aerodrome hardly heard a sound. It was as though some +great, silent dynamo were working. + +"Fine!" + +"Wonderful!" + +"Wouldn't have believed it possible!" + +These were some of the comments of the government inspectors. + +"And now for the final test--that in the air," said Mr. Terrill. + +Previous to this he and his colleagues had made a minute examination of +the machinery, and had been shown the interior construction of the +silencer by means of one built so that a sectional view could be had. +Tom's principles were pronounced fundamental and simple. + +"So simple, in fact, that it is a wonder no one thought of it before," +said a navy aviation expert. "It is the last word in aircraft +construction--a silent motor that will not apprise the enemy of its +approach! You have done wonders, Mr. Swift!" + +"I'd rather hear you say that after the air test," replied Tom, with a +laugh. "Are you ready, Mr. Terrill?" + +"Whenever you are." + +"How about you, Mr. Damon?" + +"Oh, I'm always ready to go with you, Tom Swift. Bless my trench +helmet, but you can't sail any too soon for me!" + +There was a genial laugh at his impetuosity, and the three took their +seats in the big craft. Once more the engine was started. It operated +as silently as before, and the first good impressions were confirmed. +Even as the machine moved along the ground, just previous to taking +flight into the air, there was no noise, save the slight crunch made by +the wheels. This, of course, would be obviated when Silent Sam was +aloft. + +Up and up soared the great craft, with Tom at the engine and guide +controls, while Mr. Terrill and Mr. Damon sat behind him, both eagerly +watching. Mr. Terrill was there to find fault if he could, but he was +glad he did not have to. + +"The machine works perfectly, Mr. Swift," he said. "My report cannot be +otherwise than favorable." + +"We mustn't be in too much of a hurry," said Tom, who had learned +caution some time ago. "I want to sail around for several hours. +Sometimes a machine will work well at first, but defects will develop +when it is overheated. I'm going to do my best to make a noise with +this new motor." + +But it seemed impossible. The machinery worked perfectly, and though +Silent Sam took his passengers high and low, in big circles and small +ones, there was no appreciable noise from the motor. The passengers +could converse as easily, and with as little effort, as in a balloon. + +"Of course that isn't the prime requisite," said Mr. Terrill, "but it +is a good one. What we want is a machine that can sail over the enemy's +lines at night without being heard, and I think this one will do it--in +fact, I'm sure it will. Of course the ability of the passengers to +converse and not have to use the uncertain tube is a great advantage." + +As Tom Swift sailed on and on, it became evident that the test was +going to be a success. The afternoon passed, and it began to grow dark, +but a glorious full moon came up. + +"Shall I take you down?" the young inventor asked Mr. Terrill. + +"Not quite yet. I thoroughly enjoy this, and it isn't often I get a +chance for a moonlight airship ride. Go a little lower, if you please, +and we'll see if we attract any attention from the inhabitants of the +earth. We'll see if they can possibly hear the machine, though I don't +see how they can." + +And they did not. Tom piloted the machine over Shopton, sailing +directly over the center of the town, where there was a big crowd +walking about. Though the airship sailed only a few hundred feet above +their heads, not a person was aware of it, since the craft's lights +were put out for this test. + +"That settles it," said Mr. Terrill. "You have succeeded, Tom Swift!" + +But Tom was not yet satisfied. He wanted a longer test. Hardly knowing +why he did it he sent the craft in the direction of Mary Nestor's home. +As he sailed across her lawn he saw, in the moonlight, that she and her +mother were walking in the garden. They did not look up as the +aircraft passed over their heads, and were totally unaware of its +presence, unless they caught a glimpse of it as it flitted silently +along, like some great bird of the night. + +"It is perfectly wonderful!" declared Mr. Terrill, and he spoke in +ordinary tones, that carried perfectly to the ears of Tom and Mr. Damon. + +"Wonderful!" cried the eccentric man. "Bless my chimney, but it's the +greatest invention in the world! Yes, it is! Don't tell me it 'isn't!" + +And no one did. + +Passing the Nestor home, the saddened occupants of which were unaware +of the passage, Tom sent the Air Scout about in a circle, intending to +proceed to the hangar. And then, some whim, perhaps, caused him to +guide Silent Sam out toward the lonely hut. Mr. Damon and Mr. Tenrill +seemed perfectly content to sail on and on indefinitely in the +moonlight. Tom thought he would take them over a lonely neighborhood, +and then bring them back. + +In a little while the craft was directly over the stretch of country +where the aeroplane accident had occurred, and where Tom and Jackson +had found the deserted hut. + +Rather idly Tom looked down, wondering if the Secret Service men were +on the watch and if they had discovered anything. + +Suddenly Tom was aware of an automobile moving along the field path +toward the cabin. There were two men in the car, both on the front +seat, and as Tom looked down the brilliant moonlight showed him the +figure of another man, behind, and huddled in the tonneau of the car. +The aeroplane was low enough for all these details to be seen by the +moon's gleam, but the men in the car, not hearing any noise, did not +look up, so they were unconscious of this aerial espionage. + +"Look! Look!" exclaimed Tom in a low voice to his companions. "Doesn't +that seem suspicious?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE GOLD TOOTH + + +Eagerly Mr. Damon and the government agent leaned over and looked down. +In the moonlight they saw the same sight that had attracted Tom Swift. +The touring car, the two men in front, and the huddled, bound figure in +the back. + +"Can you go down, Tom, without letting them hear you?" asked Mr. Damon, +using a low voice, as if fearful the men in the automobile would hear +him. + +"I guess so," answered the young inventor. "I can land nearer to the +cabin than Jackson and I did, and then we can see what these fellows +are up to. It looks suspicious to me. That is, unless they're some of +the Secret Service men, and have made a capture," he added to Mr. +Terrill. + +"Those aren't any of Uncle Sam's men," declared the agent. "That is, +unless the bound one is. I can't see him very well. Better go down, +and we'll see if we can surprise them." + +"My plan," voiced Tom. + +Quickly he shifted the rudder, and then, shutting off the motor, as he +wanted to volplane down, he headed his craft for an open spot that +showed in the bright moonlight. By this time the automobile and its +occupants were out of sight behind a clump of trees, but Tom and his +companions felt sure of the destination of the men--the deserted cabin +in the wood. + +As silently as a wisp of grass falling, the big craft came down on a +level spot, and then, leaping out, the young inventor and his two +companions crept along the path toward the cabin. Mr. Terrill was +armed, Tom carried a flashlight, while Mr. Damon picked up a heavy club. + +As soon as he came near a place where he thought the marks of the +automobile wheels would show, Tom flashed his light. + +"I thought so!" he exclaimed, as he saw the square, knobby tread marks +left by the tires. "It's the same gang, or some of them in the same +car. If we can only capture them!" + +"The Secret Service men ought to do that," returned Mr. Terrill, but, +as it developed later, they were not on hand, though through no fault +of theirs. + +On and on crept Tom and the two men, until they came within sight of +the cabin. They saw a light gleaming in it, and Tom whispered: + +"Now we have them! Work our way up quietly and make them surrender, if +we find they're what we think." + +"Is there a rear door?" asked Mr. Terrill in a whisper. + +Tom answered in the negative, and then all three, in fan shape, crept +up to the front portal. It was open, and silently reaching a place +where they could make an observation, Tom and his companions looked in. + +What they saw filled them with wild and righteous rage, and brought to +an end the mystery of the disappearance of Mr. Nestor. For there he +sat, bound in a chair, and at a table in front of him were two +forbidding-looking men. + +"What do you intend to do now?" asked Mr. Nestor in a faint voice. "I +cannot stand this captivity much longer. You admit that you don't want +me--that you never wanted me--so why do you keep me a prisoner? It +cannot do the least good." + +"There's no use going over that again!" exclaimed the harsh voice of +one of the men. "We told you that if you will promise to keep still +about what happened to you, and not to give the police any information +about us, we'll let you go gladly. We don't want you. It was all a +mistake, capturing you. You were the wrong man. But we're not going to +let you go and have you set the police on us as soon as you get a +chance. Give us your promise to say nothing, and we'll let you join +your friends. If you don't--" + +"Make no promises, Mr. Nestor!" cried Tom Swift in a ringing voice, as +he leaped from his hiding place, followed by his companions. "Your +friends are here, and you can tell them everything!" + +"Up with 'em!" called Mr. Terrill to the two conspirators as he +confronted them with his automatic pistol ready for firing. He had no +need to mention hands--they knew what he meant and took the +characteristic attitude. + +"Tom! Tom Swift!" cried Mr. Nestor, struggling ineffectually at his +bonds. "Is it really you?" + +"Well, I hope it isn't any imitation," was the grim answer. "We'll +tell you all about it later. Jove, but I'm glad we found you! If it +hadn't been for Silent Sam we might never have been able to." + +"Well, I don't know who Silent Sam is," said Mr. Nestor faintly. "But +I'm sure I'm much obliged to him and your other friends. It has been +very hard. Tell me, are my wife and Mary all right?" + +"In good health, yes, but, of course, worrying," said Tom. "We saw them +in the garden a little while ago. Now don't talk until I set you free." + +And as Tom cut the ropes from Mr. Nestor, Mr. Damon used them to bind +the two conspirators, while Mr. Terrill stood guard over them. And when +they were safely bound, and Mr. Nestor had somewhat recovered from the +shock, Tom had a chance to examine the prisoners. + +"What does it all mean? Who are you fellows, anyhow, and what's your +game?" he demanded. + +"Guess it--since you're so smart!" snapped one. + +And no sooner had he opened his mouth and Tom had a glance of something +gleaming brightly yellow, than the young inventor cried: + +"The gold tooth! So it's you again, is it, you spy?" + +The man shrugged his shoulders with an assumption of indifference. And, +as Tom took a closer look, he became aware that the man was surely none +other than Lydane, the spy he had chased into the mud puddle some weeks +before. His companion was a stranger to Tom. + +"What does it all mean, Mr. Nestor?" asked Tom. "Have these men held +you a prisoner ever since you called for help on the moor that night?" + +"Yes, Tom, they have. And I did call for help after they attacked me as +I was riding my wheel, but I didn't know any one heard me. I began to +be afraid no one would ever help me." + +"We've been trying to, a long time," said Mr. Damon, "but we couldn't +find you. Where did they keep you?" + +"Here, part of the time," was Mr. Nestor's answer. "And in other lonely +houses. They bound and gagged me when they took me from place to place." + +"But what was their object?" asked Tom, concluding it was useless to +question the two captives. "Why did they make you a prisoner, Mr. +Nestor?" + +"Because they took me for you, Tom." + +"For me?" + +"Yes. The night I called at your house, and found you were not at home, +I put back in my pocket a bundle of papers I had brought over to show +you. They were plans of a little kitchen appliance a friend of mine had +invented, and I wanted to ask your opinion of it." + +"These scoundrels must have followed me, or have seen the bundle of +papers, and, mistaking me for you, they followed, attacked me in a +lonely spot and, bundling me and my wrecked wheel into an auto, carried +me off. They first demanded that I gave up the 'plans,' and when I +wouldn't they choked off my cries for help and knocked me into +unconsciousness. Then they brought me here, and kept me here for +several days. + +"They soon learned that the plans I had weren't those they wanted, +though what they were then after I couldn't imagine. Only, from what I +later overheard, I knew they mistook me for you and that they were +bitterly disappointed in not getting plans of some new airship you were +working on. They have kept me a prisoner ever since, and though they +offered to let me go if I would keep silent, I refused. I did not +think, to secure my own comfort, I should let such men go unpunished if +I could bring about their arrest." + +"I should say not!" cried Tom. + +"Did they treat you brutally, Mr. Nestor?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Not after they found out who I was, by looking through my wallet. Of +course they didn't behave very decently, but they weren't actually +cruel, except that they bound and gagged me. Oh, but I'm glad you came, +Tom! How did it happen?" + +Then they told Mr. Nestor their story, and how the test of the new Air +Scout had led to his rescue. + +"But where are the Secret Service men?" asked Mr. Terrill, when it +became evident that none them was on guard at the cabin. + +Later it developed that, by following a false clew, the Secret Service +men had been drawn miles away from the cabin. And only that Tom and his +companions in the silent airship saw the men. Mr. Nestor might not +have been rescued for some further time. + +His version of what had happened was correct. He had been mistaken for +Tom, and the spy with the gold tooth and his accomplice had waylaid +Mary's father, under the belief that it was Tom Swift with the plans of +the new silent motor. Mr. Nestor had been attacked while riding his +wheel in a lonely place, and had been carried off and kept in hiding, a +prisoner even after his identity became known. + +"Well, this is a good night's work!" exclaimed Tom, when the two rogues +had been sent to jail and Mr. Nestor taken to the Bloise farmhouse, to +be refreshed before he went home. Word of his rescue was telephoned to +Mary and her mother, and it can be imagined how they regarded Tom Swift +for his part in the affair. + +Little the worse for his experience, save that he was very nervous, Mr. +Nestor was taken home. He gave the details of his being waylaid, and +told how the men, for many days, were at their wits' ends to keep him +concealed when they found what a stir his disappearance had created. +The conspirators were well supplied with money, and in the automobile +they took their prisoner from one place to another. They had usurped +the use of the cabin and had lived there nearly a week in hiding, +leaving just before the first visit of Tom and Jackson. The rifled +wallet had been dropped by accident. + +And it did not take much delving to disclose the fact that, Lydane, +"Gold Tooth," as he was called, and his crony, were spies in the pay of +the Universal Flying Machine Company. As the men went under several +aliases there is no need of giving their names. It is to be doubted if +they ever used their real ones--or if they had any. + +Of course, there was quite a sensation when Mr. Nestor was found, and a +greater one when it became known the part the Universal Flying Machine +people had in his disappearance in mistake for Tom. The officials of +the company were indicted, and several of the minor ones sent to jail +but Gale and Ware escaped by remaining abroad. + +It came out that they both knew of the acts of Lydane and his companion +in crime, and that the two officials realized the mistake that had been +made by their clumsy operatives. It was believed that this knowledge +led to the visit of Gale to Tom, the time the latter's suspicions were +first aroused. Gale made a clumsy attempt to clear his own skirts of +the conspiracy, but in vain, though he did escape his just punishment. + +What had happened, in brief, was this. Gale and Ware, unable to secure +Tom's services, even by the offer of a large sum of money, had stooped +to the sending of spies to his shop, to get possession of information +about his silent motor. This was after Gale had, by accident, heard Tom +speaking of it to Mr. Damon. + +But, thanks to Tom's vigilance, Bower was discovered. The man tripped +into the mud hole lost in the muck the plans Bower passed to him. They +were never recovered. Then Lydane tried again. He managed, through +bribery, to gain access to the hangar where the new silent machine was +kept, and, unable to get the silencer apart, tried to file it. In doing +so he weakened it so that it burst. + +The attempt to waylay Tom, and so get the plans from him, had been +tried before this, only a mistake had been made, and Mr. Nestor was +caught instead. Finding out their error, Lydane and his companions did +not tell the Universal people of their mistake, though Gale and Ware +knew the attempt was to be made against Tom Swift. + +Later, hearing that the young inventor was still at work on his +invention, Gale was much surprised, and paid his queer visit, in an +attempt to repudiate the actions of Lydane. At this time it was assumed +that Gale and his partner did not know that it was Mr. Nestor who had +been kidnapped by mistake or they might have insisted on his release. +As it was, Lydane had Mary's father, and was afraid to let him go, +though really their prisoner became a white elephant on the hands of +the conspirators and kidnappers. + +And it was after all this was cleared up, and Mr. Nestor restored to +his family and friends, that one day, Tom Swift received another visit +from Mr. Terrill, the government agent. + +"Well, Mr. Swift," was the genial greeting, "I have come to tell you +that the favorable report made by my friends and myself as to the +performance of your noiseless motor, has been accepted by the War +Department, and I have come to ask what your terms are. For how much +will you sell your patent to the United States?" + +Tom Swift arose. + +"The United States hasn't money enough to buy my patent of a noiseless +motor," he said. + +"Wha--what!" faltered Mr. Terrill. "Why, I understood--you don't +mean--they told me you were rather patriotic, and--" + +"I hope I am patriotic!" interrupted Tom with a smile. "And when I say +that the United States hasn't money enough to buy my latest invention I +mean just that." + +"My Air Scout is not for sale!" + +"You mean," faltered the government agent. "You say--" + +"I mean," went on Tom, "that Silent Sam is for Uncle Sam without one +cent of cost! My father and I take great pleasure in presenting such +machines as are already manufactured, those in process of making, and +the entire patents, and all other rights, to the government for the +winning of the war!" + +"Oh!" said Mr. Terrill in rather a strange voice. "Oh!" + +And that was all he could say for a little while. + +But Tom Swift reckoned without a knowledge of a peculiar law which +prohibits the United States from accepting gifts totally without +compensation, and so, in due season, the young inventor received a +check for the sum of one dollar in full payment for his silent motor, +and the patent rights thereto. And Tom has that check framed, and +hanging over his desk. + +And so the silent motor became an accomplished fact and a great +success. Those of you who have read of its work against the Boches, and +how it helped Uncle Sam to gain the mastery of the sky, need not be +reminded of this. By it many surprise attacks were made, and much +valuable information was obtained that otherwise could not have been +brought in. + +One day, after the rogues had been sent to prison for long terms, and +Tom had turned over to his government his silent aircraft--except one +which he was induced to keep for his own personal use--the young +inventor went to call on Mary Nestor. The object of his call, as I +believe he stated it, was to see how Mr. Nestor was, but that, of +course, was camouflage. + +"Would you like to come for a ride, Mary, in the silent airship?" asked +Tom, after he had paid his respects to Mr. Nestor and his wife. "We can +talk very easily on board Silent Sam without the use of a speaking +tube. Come on--we'll go for a moonlight sky ride." + +"It sounds enticing," said Mary, with a shy look at Tom. "But wouldn't +you just as soon sit on a bench in the garden? It's moonlight there, +and we can talk, and--and--" + +"I'd just as soon!" said Tom quickly. + +And out they went into the beautiful moonlight; and here we will leave +them and say good-bye. + + + + + +THE END + + +---------------------------------------------------------------- + + + +THE TOM SWIFT SERIES + +By VICTOR APPLETON + + +These spirited tales convey in a realistic way, the wonderful advances +in land and sea locomotion. Stories like these are impressed upon the +memory and their reading is productive only of good. + + TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE + TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP + TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE + TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS + TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE + TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER + TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE + TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER + TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY + TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA + TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON + TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP + TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL + TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS + TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH + TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS + TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE + + + + +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES + +By LAURA LEE HOPE + +Author of "The Bobbsey Twins Books," + +"The Bunny Brown Series," + +"The Make-Believe Series," Etc. + +Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into +immediate popularity. To know the six little Bunkers is to take them at +once to your heart, they are so intensely human, so full of fun and +cute sayings. Each story has a little plot of its own--one that can be +easily followed--and all are written in Miss Hope's most entertaining +manner. Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on the bookshelf of +every child in the land. + + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORDS + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S + + + + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES + + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AND THE FLOOD + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT PANAMA + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS UNDER THE SEA + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE WAR FRONT + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS SERIES + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' FIRST VENTURE + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT SEASIDE PARK + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS ON BROADWAY + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' OUTDOOR EXHIBITION + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' NEW IDEA + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT THE FAIR + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' WAR SPECTACLE + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Air Scout, by Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1284 *** diff --git a/1284-h/1284-h.htm b/1284-h/1284-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..08951db --- /dev/null +++ b/1284-h/1284-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8625 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of Tom Swift and his Air Scout, +by Victor Appleton +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1284 ***</div> + +<BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT +</H1> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +or +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Uncle Sam's Mastery of the Sky +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +by +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Victor Appleton +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%" summary=""> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">CHAPTER</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">A SKY RIDE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">A NEW IDEA</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">THE BIG OFFER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">MR. DAMON'S WHIZZER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">TOM'S PROJECT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">MAKING PLANS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">A PROBLEM IN SOUND</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">THROUGH THE ROOF</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">AFTER A SPY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">A BIG SPLASH</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">A NIGHT TRIP</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">THE CRY FOR HELP</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">SOMETHING QUEER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">THE TELEPHONE CALL</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">A VAIN SEARCH</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">THE LONG NIGHT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">SILENT SAM</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">SUSPICIONS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">ANOTHER FLIGHT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">QUEER MARKS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">THE DESERTED CABIN</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">CLEWS AT LAST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">THE GOVERNMENT TEST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">IN THE MOONLIGHT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap25">THE GOLD TOOTH</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A SKY RIDE +</H3> + +<P> +"Oh Tom, is it really safe?" +</P> + +<P> +A young lady—an exceedingly pretty young lady, she could be +called—stood with one small, gloved hand on the outstretched wing of +an aeroplane, and looked up at a young man, attired in a leather, +fur-lined suit, who sat in the cockpit of the machine just above her. +</P> + +<P> +"Safe, Mary?" repeated the pilot, as he reached in under the hood of +the craft to make sure about one of the controls. "Why, you ought to +know by this time that I wouldn't go up if it wasn't safe!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I know, Tom. It may be all right for you, but I've never been +up in this kind of airship before, and I want to know if it's safe for +me." +</P> + +<P> +The young man leaned over the edge of the padded cockpit, and clasped +in his rather grimy hand the neatly gloved one of the young lady. And +though the glove was new, and fitted the hand perfectly, there was no +attempt to withdraw it. Instead, the young lady seemed to be very glad +indeed that her hand was in such safe keeping. +</P> + +<P> +"Mary!" exclaimed the young man, "if it wasn't safe—as safe as a +church—I wouldn't dream of taking you up!" and at the mention of +"church" Mary Nestor blushed just the least bit. Or perhaps it was that +the prospective excitement of the moment caused the blood to surge into +her cheeks. Have it as you will. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, Mary! you're not going to back out the last minute, are you?" +asked Tom Swift. "Everything is all right. I've made a trial flight, +and you've seen me come down as safely as a bird. You promised to go +up with me. I won't go very high if you don't like it, but my +experience has been that, once you're off the ground, it doesn't make +any difference how high you go. You'll find it very fascinating. So +skip along to the house, and Mrs. Baggert will help you get into your +togs." +</P> + +<P> +"Shall I have to wear all those things—such as you have on?" asked +Mary, blushing again. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you'll be more comfortable in a fur-lined leather suit," +asserted Tom. "And if it does make you look like an Eskimo, why I'm +sure it will be very becoming. Not that you don't look nice now," he +hastened to assure Miss Nestor, "but an aviation suit will be +very—well, fetching, I should say." +</P> + +<P> +"If I could be sure it would 'fetch' me back safe, Tom—" +</P> + +<P> +"That'll do! That'll do!" laughed the young aviator. "One joke like +that is enough in a morning. It was pretty good, though. Now go on in +and tog up." +</P> + +<P> +"You're sure it's safe, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Positive! Trot along now. I want to fix a wire and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, is anything broken?" and the girl, who had started away from the +aeroplane, turned back again. +</P> + +<P> +"No, not broken. It's only a little auxiliary dingus I put on to make +it easier to read the barograph, but I think I'll go back to the old +system. Nothing to do with flying at all, except to tell how high up +one is." +</P> + +<P> +"That's just what I don't care to know, Tom," said Mary Nestor, with a +smile. "If I could imagine I was sailing along only about ten feet in +the air I wouldn't mind so much." +</P> + +<P> +"Flying at that height would be the worst sort of danger. You leave it +to me, Mary. I won't take you up above the clouds on this sky ride; +though, later, I'm sure you'll want to try that. This is only a little +flight. You've been promising long enough to take a trip with me, and +now I believe you're trying to back out." +</P> + +<P> +"No, really I'm not, Tom! Only, at the last minute, the machine looks +so small and frail, and the sky is so—big—" +</P> + +<P> +She glanced up and seemed to shiver just a trifle. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't be thinking of those things, Mary!" laughed Tom Swift. "Trot +along and get ready. The motor never worked better, and we may break a +few speed records this morning. No traffic cops to stop us, either, as +there might be if we were in an auto." +</P> + +<P> +"There you go, Mary!" exclaimed Tom, as if struck with a new thought. +"You've ridden in an auto with me many a time, and you never were a bit +afraid, though we were in more danger than we'll be this morning." +</P> + +<P> +"Danger, Tom, in an auto? How?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, danger of a wheel collapsing as we were going full speed; or the +steering knuckle breaking and sending us into a tree; danger of running +into a stone wall or a ditch; danger of some one running into us, or of +us running into some one else. There isn't one of these dangers on a +sky ride." +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Mary slowly. "But there's the danger of falling." +</P> + +<P> +"One against twenty. That's the safety margin. And, if we do fall, it +will be like landing in a feather bed! There, don't wait any longer. Go +and get ready." +</P> + +<P> +Mary sighed, and then, seeming to summon her nerve to her aid, she +smiled brightly, waved her hand to Tom, and hastened toward his home, +where Mrs. Baggert the matronly housekeeper, was waiting to help the +girl attire herself in a flying-suit of leather. +</P> + +<P> +Mary Nestor, who had a very warm place in the heart of Tom Swift, had, +as he stated, some time since promised to take a trip in the air with +the young inventor. But she had kept putting it off, for one reason or +another, until Tom began to despair of ever getting her to accompany +him. To-day, however, when she had called to inquire about his father, +who had been slightly ill, Tom had, after the social visit, insisted on +the promise being kept. +</P> + +<P> +He had his mechanic get out one of the safest, though a speedy, double +machine, and, with Mary to watch, Tom had taken a trial flight, just to +show her how easy it was. It was not the first time she had seen him +take to the air, but now she watched with different emotions, for she +was vitally interested. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had sailed down from aloft, making a landing in the aviation field +he had constructed near his home, and then he had insisted that Mary +should keep her promise to take a sky ride with him. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't be too long now!" called Tom to the girl, as she hurried toward +the house. "Never mind about your hair, or whether your hat's on +straight. You're going to wear a cap, anyhow, and tuck your hair up +under that. It's hot down here, but it will be cold up above; so tell +Mrs. Baggert to see that you're warmly dressed." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," and gaily she waved her hand to him. Now that she had made +her decision, and was really going up, she was not half so frightened +as she had been in the contemplation of it. +</P> + +<P> +As Tom climbed out of the machine, to give it a careful inspection, +though he was certain there was nothing wrong, an aged colored man +shuffled toward him. +</P> + +<P> +"Yo'—yo'll be mighty careful ob Miss Nestor now, won't yo', Massa +Tom?" asked the man. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I will, Eradicate," was the young inventor's answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Case we ain't got many laik her no mo', an' dat's de truf, Massa Tom," +went on the old man. "So be mighty careful laik!" +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I will, Rad! And, while I'm up in the air, don't you and +Koku have any trouble." +</P> + +<P> +"Ho! Trouble wif dat onery no-'count giant! I guess not!" and the +colored man limped off, highly indignant. +</P> + +<P> +Satisfied, from an inspection of his machine, that it was as nearly +mechanically perfect as it was possible to be, Tom Swift finished his +trip around it and stood near the big propeller, waiting for Mary +Nestor to reappear. Presently she did so, and Tom gaily waved his hand +to her. +</P> + +<P> +"You're a picture!" he cried, as he saw how particularly "fetching" she +looked in the aviator's costume which was like his own. Because of the +danger of entanglement, Miss Nestor had doffed her skirts, and wore the +costume of all aviators—men and women. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I had my camera!" cried Tom. "You look—stunning!" +</P> + +<P> +"I hope that isn't any comment on how I'm going to feel if we have to +make a—forced landing, I believe you call it," she retorted. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'll take care of that!" exclaimed Tom. "Now up you go, and we'll +start," and he helped her to climb into the padded seat of the cockpit, +behind where he was to sit. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Tom! Don't be in such a hurry!" expostulated Mary. "Let me get my +breath!" +</P> + +<P> +"No!" laughed the young inventor. "If I did you might back out. Get +in, fasten the strap around you and sit still. That's all you have to +do. Don't be afraid, I'll be very careful. And don't try to yell at me +to go slower or lower once we're up in the air. +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" Mary wanted to know, as she settled herself in her seat. +</P> + +<P> +"Because I can't very well hear you, or talk to you. The motor makes so +much noise, you know. We can do a little talking through this speaking +tube," and he indicated one, "but it isn't very satisfactory. So if you +have anything to say—" +</P> + +<P> +"In the language of the poets," interrupted Mary, "if I have words to +spill, prepare to spill them now. Well, I haven't! Now I'm here, go +ahead! I shall probably be too frightened to talk, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no you won't—after the first little sensation," Tom assured her. +"You'll be crazy about it. Come on, Jackson!" he called to the +mechanician. "Start the ball rolling!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom was in his place, his goggles and cap well down over his face, and +he was adjusting the switch as the mechanic prepared to spin the +propellers. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly a man came running from the Swift house, waving his arms not +unlike the blades of an aircraft propeller, he also shouted, but Tom, +whose ears were covered with his fur cap, could not hear. However, +Jackson did, and stopped whirling the blades, turning about to see what +was wanted. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, it's Mr. Damon!" exclaimed Tom, as he caught sight of the excited +man. "Hello, what's the matter?" the youth asked, pulling aside one +flap of his head-covering so he might hear the answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom! Wait a minute! Bless my mouse trap!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "I want +to speak to you!" He was panting from his run across the field. "I just +got to your house—saw your father—he said you were going up with Miss +Nestor, but—bless my dog biscuit—" +</P> + +<P> +"Can't stop now, Mr. Damon!" answered Tom, with a laugh. "I have only +just succeeded, by hard work, in getting Mary to a point where she has +consented to take a sky ride. If I stop now she'll back out and I'll +never get her in again. See you when I come back," and Tom pulled the +covering over his ear once more. +</P> + +<P> +"But, Tom, bless my shoe laces! This is important!" +</P> + +<P> +"So's this!" answered Tom, with a grin. He saw, by the motion of Mr. +Damon's lips, what the latter had said. +</P> + +<P> +Around swung the propeller blades. The gasoline vapor in the cylinders +was being compressed. +</P> + +<P> +"Contact!" called Tom sharply, as he pressed the switch to give the +igniting spark at the proper moment. The mechanic had stepped back out +of the way, in case there should be a premature starting of the +powerful engine, in which event the blades would have cut him to pieces. +</P> + +<P> +"Wait, Tom! Wait! This is very important! Bless my collar button, Tom +Swift, but this is—" +</P> + +<P> +Bang! Bang! Bang! +</P> + +<P> +With a series of explosions, like those of a machine gun, the motor +started, and further talk was out of the question. Tom turned on more +gas. The propellers became almost invisible blades of light and shadow, +and the aeroplane began moving over the grassy field. The mechanic had +sprung out of the way, pulling Mr. Damon with him. +</P> + +<P> +"Come back! Come back! Wait a minute, Tom Swift! Bless my pansy +blossoms, I want to tell you something!" cried the little man. +</P> + +<P> +But Tom Swift was away and out of hearing. He had started on his sky +ride with Mary Nestor. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A NEW IDEA +</H3> + +<P> +Any one who has taken a flight in an aeroplane or gone up in a balloon, +will know exactly how Mary Nestor felt on this, her first sky ride of +any distance. For a moment, as she looked over the side of the machine, +she had a distinct impression, not that she was going up, but that some +one had pulled the earth down from beneath her and, at the same time, +given her a shove off into space. Such is the first sensation of going +aloft. Then the rush of air all about her, the slightly swaying motion +of the craft, and the vibration caused by the motor took her attention. +But the sensation of the earth dropping away from beneath her remained +with Mary for some time. +</P> + +<P> +This sensation is much greater in a balloon than in an aeroplane, for a +balloon, unless there is a strong wind blowing, goes straight up, while +an aeroplane ascends on a long slant, and always into the teeth of the +wind, to take advantage of its lifting power on the underside of the +planes. The reason for this sensation—that of the earth's dropping +down, instead of one's feeling, what really happens, that one is +ascending—is because there are no objects by which comparison can be +made. If one starts off on the earth's surface at slow, or at great +speed, one passes stationary objects—houses, posts, trees, and the +like—and judges the speed by the rapidity with which these are left +behind. +</P> + +<P> +Going up is unlike this. There is nothing to pass. One simply cleaves +the air, and only as it rushes past can one be sure of movement. And as +the air is void of color and form, there is no sensation of passing +anything. +</P> + +<P> +So Mary Nestor, as she shot into the air with Tom Swift, had a +sensation as though the earth were dropping from beneath her. For a +moment she felt as though she were in some vast void—floating in +space—and she had a great fear. Then she calmed herself. She looked at +Tom sitting in front of her. Of course, all she could see was his back, +but it looked to be a very sturdy back, indeed, and he sat there in the +aircraft as calmly as though in a chair on the ground. Then Mary took +courage, and ceased to grasp the sides of the cockpit with a grip that +stiffened all her muscles. She was beginning to "find herself." +</P> + +<P> +On and on, and up and up, went Mary and Tom, in this the girl's first +big sky ride. The earth below seemed farther and farther away. The +wide, green fields became little emerald squares, and the houses like +those in a toy Noah's ark. +</P> + +<P> +Down below, Mr. Wakefield Damon, who had hurried over from his home in +Waterfield to see Tom Swift, gazed aloft at the fast disappearing +aeroplane and its passengers. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my coal bin!" cried the eccentric man, "but Tom is in a hurry +this morning. Too bad he couldn't have stopped and spoken to me. It +might have been greatly to his advantage. But I suppose I shall have to +wait." +</P> + +<P> +"You want to see Master?" asked a voice behind Mr. Damon, and, turning, +he beheld a veritable giant. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Koku, I did," Mr. Damon answered, and he did not appear at all +surprised at the sight of the towering form beside him. "I wanted to +see Tom most particularly. But I shall have to wait. I'll go in and +talk to Mr. Swift." +</P> + +<P> +"Yaas, an' I go talk to Radicate," said the giant. "Him diggin' up +ground where Master told me to make garden. Radicate not strong enough +for dat!" +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! there's trouble as soon as those two get to disputing," mused Mr. +Damon, as he went toward the house. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile, Mary was beginning to enjoy herself. The sensation of moving +rapidly through the air in a machine as skillfully guided as was the +one piloted by Tom Swift was delightful. Up and up they went, and then +suddenly Mary felt a lurch, and the plane, which was now about a +thousand feet high, seemed to slip to one side. +</P> + +<P> +Mary screamed, and began reaching for the buckle of the safety belt +that fastened her to her seat. She saw that something unusual had +occurred, for Tom was working frantically at the mechanism in front of +him. +</P> + +<P> +But, in spite of this, he seemed aware that Mary was in danger, not so +much, perhaps, from what might happen to the machine, as what she might +do in her terror. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! Oh!" cried the girl, and Tom heard her above the terrific noise of +the motor, for she was speaking with her lips close to the tube that +served as a sort of inter-communicating telephone for the craft. "Oh, +we are falling! I'm going to jump!" +</P> + +<P> +"Sit still! Sit still for your life!" cried Tom Swift. "I'll save you +all right! Only sit still! Don't jump!" +</P> + +<P> +Mary, her red cheeks white, sank back, and the young inventor redoubled +his efforts at the controls and other mechanisms. +</P> + +<P> +And that Tom was perfectly qualified to make a safe landing, even with +engine trouble, Mary Nestor well knew. Those of you who have read the +previous books of this series know it also, but, for the benefit of my +new readers, I shall state that this was by no means Tom's first ride +in an aeroplane. +</P> + +<P> +He had operated and built gasoline engines ever since he was about +sixteen years old. As related in the initial volume of this series, +entitled, "Tom Swift and His Motorcycle," he became possessed of this +machine after it had started to climb a tree with Mr. Damon on board. +After that experience the eccentric man—blessing everything he could +think of—had no liking for the speedy motorcycle and sold it to Tom at +a low price. +</P> + +<P> +That was the beginning of a friendship between the two, and also +started Tom on his career as an inventor and a possessor of many +gasoline craft. For he was not content with merely riding the repaired +motorcycle. He made improvements on it. +</P> + +<P> +Tom lived with his father in the town of Shopton, their home being +looked after, since the death of Mrs. Swift, by Mrs. Baggert. Mr. +Wakefield Damon lived in the neighboring town of Waterfield, and spent +much time at Tom's home, often going on trips with him in various +vehicles of the land, sea or air. +</P> + +<P> +As related in the various volumes of this series, Tom was not content +to remain on earth. He built a speedy motor boat, and then secured an +airship, following that with a submarine. He also made an electric +runabout that was the speediest car on the road. Sending wireless +messages, having thrilling experiences among the diamond makers, +journeying to the caves of ice, and making perilous trips in his sky +racer took up part of the young inventor's time. +</P> + +<P> +With his electric rifle he did some wonderful shooting, and in the +"City of Gold" made some strange discoveries, part of the fortune he +secured enabling him to build his sky racer. It was in a land of giants +that Tom was made captive, but he succeeded in escaping, and brought +two giants, of whom Koku was one, away with him. +</P> + +<P> +Following this achievement Tom invented a wizard camera and a great +searchlight, which, with his giant cannon, was purchased by the United +States Government. Work on his photo-telephone and his aerial warship, +the problem of digging a big tunnel, and then traveling to the land of +wonders, kept Tom Swift very busy, and he had just completed a +wonderful piece of work when the present story opens. +</P> + +<P> +This last achievement was the perfecting of a machine to aid in the +great World War and you will find the details set down in the volume +which immediately precedes this. "Tom Swift and His War Tank," it is +called, and in that is related how he not only invented a marvelous +machine, but succeeded in keeping its secret from the plotters who +tried to take it from him. In this Tom was helped by the inspiration of +Mary Nestor, whom he hoped some day to marry, and by Ned Newton, a +chum, who, though no inventor himself, could admire one. +</P> + +<P> +Ned and Tom had been chums a long while, but Ned inclined more to +financial and office matters than to machinery. At times he had managed +affairs for Tom, and helped him finance projects. Ned was now an +important bank official, and since the United States had entered the +war had had charge of some Red Cross work, as well as Liberty Bond +campaigns. +</P> + +<P> +Somehow, as she sat there in the craft which seemed disabled, Mary +Nestor could not help thinking of Tom's many activities, in some of +which she had shared. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, if he falls now, and is killed!" she thought. "Oh, what will +happen to us?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's all right, Mary! Don't worry! It's all right!" cried Tom, through +the speaking tube. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that? I can't hear you very well!" she called back. +</P> + +<P> +"No wonder, with the racket this motor is making," he answered. "Why +can't something be done so you can talk in an aeroplane as well as in a +balloon? That's an idea! If I could tell you what was the matter now +you wouldn't be a bit frightened, for it isn't anything. But, as it +is—" +</P> + +<P> +"What are you saying, Tom? I can't hear you!" cried Mary, still much +frightened. +</P> + +<P> +"I say it's all right—don't get scared. And don't jump!" Tom shouted +until his ears buzzed. "It's all nonsense—having a motor making so +much noise one can't talk!" he went on, irritatedly. +</P> + +<P> +A strange idea had come to the young inventor, but there was no time to +think of it now. Mentally he registered a vow to take up this idea and +work on it as soon as possible. But, just now, the aeroplane needed all +his attention. +</P> + +<P> +As he had told Mary, there was really nothing approaching any great +danger. But it was rather an anxious moment. If Tom had been alone he +would have thought little of it, but with Mary along he felt a double +responsibility. +</P> + +<P> +What had happened was that the craft had suddenly gone into an "air +pocket" or partial vacuum, and there had been a sudden fall and a slide +slip. In trying to stop this too quickly Tom had broken one of his +controls, and he was busily engaged in putting an auxiliary one in +place and trying to reassure Mary at the same time. +</P> + +<P> +"But it's mighty hard trying to do that through a speaking tube with a +motor making a noise like a boiler factory," mused the young inventor. +Tom worked quickly and to good purpose. In a few moments, though to +Mary they seemed like hours, the machine was again gliding along on a +level keel, and Tom breathed more easily. +</P> + +<P> +"And now for my great idea!" he told himself. +</P> + +<P> +But it was some time before he could give his attention to that. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BIG OFFER +</H3> + +<P> +Working with all the skill he possessed, Tom had got the aeroplane in +proper working order again. As has been said, the accident was a +trivial one, and had he been alone, or with an experienced aviator, he +would have thought little of it. Then, very likely, he would have +volplaned to earth and made the repairs there. But he did not want to +frighten Mary Nestor, so he fixed the control while gliding along, and +made light of it. Thus his passenger was reassured. +</P> + +<P> +"Are we all right?" asked Mary through the tube, as they sailed along. +</P> + +<P> +"Right as a fiddle," answered Tom, shouting through the same means of +communication. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that about a riddle?" asked Mary, in surprise at his seeming +flippancy at such a time. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't say anything about a riddle—I said we are as fit as a +fiddle!" cried Tom. "Never mind. No use trying to talk with the racket +this motor makes, and it isn't the noisiest of its kind, either. I'll +tell you when we get down. Do you like it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I like it better than I did at first," answered Mary, for she had +managed to understand the last of Tom's questions. Then he sailed a +little higher, circled about, and, a little later, not to get Mary too +tired and anxious, he headed for his landing field. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll take you home in the auto," he cried to his passenger. "We could +go up to your house this way—in style—if there was a field near by +large enough to land in. But there isn't. So it will have to be a +plain, every-day auto." +</P> + +<P> +"That's good enough for me," said Mary. "Though this trip is +wonderful—glorious! I'll go again any time you ask me." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'll ask you," said Tom. "And when I do maybe it won't be so +hard to hold a conversation. It will be more like this," and he shut +off the motor and began to glide gently down. The quiet succeeding the +terrific noise of the motor exhaust was almost startling, and Tom and +Mary could converse easily without using the tube. +</P> + +<P> +Then followed the landing on the soft, springy turf, a little glide +over the ground, and the machine came to a halt, while mechanics ran +out of the hangar to take charge of it. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll just go in and change these togs," said Mary, as she alighted and +looked at her leather costume. +</P> + +<P> +"No, don't," advised Tom. "You look swell in em. Keep 'em on. They're +yours, and you'll need 'em when we go up again. Here comes the auto. +I'll take you right home in it. Keep the aviation suit on. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what Mr. Damon could have wanted," remarked Tom, as he drove +Mary along the country road. +</P> + +<P> +"He seemed very much excited," she replied. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he almost always is that way—blessing everything he can think of. +You know that. But this time it was different, I'll admit. I hope +nothing is the matter. I might have stopped and spoken to him, but I +was afraid if I did you'd back out and wouldn't come for a sky ride." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I might have. But now that I've had one, even with an accident +thrown in, I'll go any time you ask me, Tom," and Mary smiled at the +young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Shucks, that wasn't a real accident!" he laughed. "But I do wonder +what Mr. Damon wanted." +</P> + +<P> +"Better go back and find out, Tom," advised Mary, as they stopped in +front of her house. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I want to come in and talk to you. Haven't had a chance for a good +talk today, that motor made such a racket." +</P> + +<P> +"No, go along now, but come back and see me this afternoon if you like." +</P> + +<P> +"I do like, all right! And I suppose Mr. Damon will be fussing until he +sees me. Well, glad you liked your first ride in the air, Mary—that +is, the first one of any account," for Mary had been in an aeroplane +before, though only up a little way—a sort of "grass-cutting stunt," +Tom called it. +</P> + +<P> +Waving farewell to the pretty girl, the young aviator turned the auto +about and speeded for his home and the shops adjoining it. His father +had not been well, of late, and Tom was a bit anxious about him. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Damon may bother him, though he wouldn't mean to," thought Tom. +"He seemed to have his mind filled with some new idea. I wonder if it +is anything like mine? No, it couldn't be. Well, I'll soon find out," +and, putting his foot on the accelerator, Tom sent the machine along at +a pace that soon brought him within sight of his home. +</P> + +<P> +"Is father all right?" he asked Mrs. Baggert, who was out on the front +porch, as though waiting for him. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, Tom, he's all right," the housekeeper answered. +</P> + +<P> +"Is Mr. Damon with him?" +</P> + +<P> +"No." +</P> + +<P> +"He hasn't gone home, has he?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, he's around somewhere. But some one else is with your father. Some +visitors." +</P> + +<P> +"Any relations?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; strangers. They came to see you, and they're rather impatient. I +came out to see if you were in sight. Your father sent me." +</P> + +<P> +"Are they bothering him—talking business that I ought to attend to +when he's ill? That mustn't be." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I suppose it is business that the strangers are talking over +with your father, Tom," said Mrs. Baggert, "for I heard sums of money +spoken of. But your father seems to be all right, only a trifle anxious +that you should come." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm here now and I'll attend to things. Where are the strangers, +and who are they?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," answered the housekeeper. "I never saw them before, but +they're in the library with your father. Do you think they'll stay to +dinner? If you do, I'll have Eradicate or Koku catch and kill a +chicken." +</P> + +<P> +"If you let one do it don't tell the other about it," said Tom with a +laugh, "or you'll have a chicken race around the yard that will make +the visitors sit up and take notice." +</P> + +<P> +There was great rivalry between Eradicate Sampson, the aged colored +man, and Koku, the giant, and they were continually disputing. Each one +loved and served Tom in his own way, and there was jealousy between +them. Koku, the giant Tom had brought with him from the land where the +young inventor had been made captive, was a big, powerful man, and +could do things the aged colored servant could not attempt. But "Rad," +as he was often called, and his mule "Boomerang" had long been fixtures +on the Swift homestead. But old age crept on apace with Eradicate, +though he hated to admit it, and Koku did many things the colored man +had formerly attended to, and Rad was always on the lookout not to be +supplanted. Hence Tom's warning to Mrs. Baggert about letting the two +be entrusted with the same mission of catching a chicken for the pot. +</P> + +<P> +"Better get the fowl yourself and say nothing to either of them about +it," Tom advised the housekeeper. "Mr. Damon will stay to dinner, as he +always does when he comes, and as it's near twelve now, and as I may be +delayed talking business to these strangers, you'd better get up a +bigger meal than usual." +</P> + +<P> +"I will, Tom," promised Mrs. Baggert. And then the young inventor, +having seen that one of the men took the automobile to the garage, went +into the house. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, here you are!" was his father's greeting, as he came out into the +hall from the library. "I've been waiting anxiously for you, my boy. I +couldn't think what was keeping you." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I had a little trouble with the air machine—nothing serious." +</P> + +<P> +A moment later Tom was standing before two well-dressed, +prosperous-looking business men, who smiled pleasantly at him. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Thomas Swift?" interrogated one, the elder, as he held out his +hand. +</P> + +<P> +"That's my name," answered Tom, pleasantly. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm Peton Gale, and this gentleman is Boland Ware," went on the man +who had taken Tom's hand. "I'm president and he's treasurer of the +Universal Flying Machine Company, of New York." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes," said Tom, as he shook hands with Mr. Ware. "I have heard of +your concern. You are doing a lot of government work, are you not?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; war orders. And we're up to our neck in them. This war is going +to be almost as much fought in the air as on the ground, Mr. Swift." +</P> + +<P> +"I can well believe that," agreed Tom. "Won't you have a chair?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we didn't come to stay long," said Mr. Gale with a laugh, which, +somehow or other, grated on Tom and seemed to him insincere. "Our +business is such a rushing one that we don't spend much time anywhere. +To get down to brass tacks, we have come to see you to put a certain +proposition before you, Mr. Swift. You are open to a business +proposition, aren't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes," answered Tom. "That's what I'm here for." +</P> + +<P> +"I thought so. Well, now I'll tell you, in brief, what we want, and +then Mr. Ware, our treasurer, can elaborate on it, and give you facts +and figures about which I never bother myself. I attend to the +executive end and leave the details to others," and again came that +laugh which Tom did not like. +</P> + +<P> +"You came here to make me an offer?" asked the young inventor, +wondering to which of his many machines the visitors had reference. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," went on Mr. Gale, "we came here to make you a big offer. In +short, Mr. Swift, we want you to work for our company, and we are +willing to pay you ten thousand dollars a year for the benefit of your +advice and your inventive abilities. Ten thousand dollars a year! Do +you accept?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MR. DAMON'S WHIZZER +</H3> + +<P> +Characteristic it was of Tom Swift that he did not seem at all +surprised at what most young men would call a liberal offer. Certainly +not many youths of Tom's age would be sought out by a big manufacturing +concern, and offered ten thousand dollars a year "right off the reel," +as Ned Newton expressed it later. But Tom only smiled and shook his +head in negation. +</P> + +<P> +"What!" cried Mr. Gale, "you mean you won't accept our offer?" +</P> + +<P> +"I can't," answered Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"You can't!" exclaimed the treasurer, Mr. Ware. "Oh, I see. Mr. Gale, a +word with you. Excuse us a moment," he added to Tom and his father. +</P> + +<P> +The two men consulted in a corner of the library for a moment, and +then, with smiles on their faces, once more turned toward the young +inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps you are right, Tom Swift," said Mr. Gale. "Of course, we +recognize your talents and ability, but you cannot blame us for trying +to get talent, as well as material for our airships, in the cheapest +market. But we are not hide-bound, nor sticklers for any set sum. We'll +make that offer fifteen thousand dollars a year, if you will sign a +five-year contract and agree that we shall have first claim on anything +and everything you may patent or invent in that time. Now, how does +that strike you? Fifteen thousand dollars a year—paid weekly if you +wish, and our Mr. Ware, here, has a form of contract which can be fixed +up and signed within ten minutes, if you agree." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't like to be disagreeable," said Tom with a smile; "but, +really, as I said before, I can't accept your very kind offer. I may +say liberal offer. I appreciate that." +</P> + +<P> +"You can't accept!" cried Mr. Gale. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure you don't mean 'won't'?" asked Mr. Ware, in a half growl. +</P> + +<P> +"You may call it that if you like," replied Tom, a bit coolly, for he +did not like the other's tone, "Only, as I say, I cannot accept. I have +other plans." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you—" began the brusk treasurer, but Mr. Gale, the president of +the Universal Flying Machine Company, stopped his associate with a +warning look. +</P> + +<P> +"Just a moment, Mr. Swift," begged the president. "Don't be hasty. We +are prepared to make you a last and final offer, and I do not believe +you can refuse it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I certainly will not refuse it without hearing it," said Tom, +with a smile he meant to make good-natured. Yet, truth to tell, he did +not at all like the two visitors. There was something about them that +aroused his antagonism, and he said later that even if they had offered +him a sum which he felt he ought not, in justice to himself and his +father, refuse, he would have felt a distaste in working for a company +represented by the twain. +</P> + +<P> +"This is our offer," said Mr. Gale, and he spoke in a pompous manner +which seemed to say: "If you don't take it, why, it will be the worse +for you." He looked at his treasurer for a confirmatory nod and, +receiving it, went on. "We are prepared to offer and pay you, and will +enter into such a contract, with the stipulation about the inventions +that I mentioned before—we are prepared to pay you—twenty thousand +dollars a year! Now what do you say to that, Tom Swift? +</P> + +<P> +"Twenty-thousand-dollars-a-year!" repeated Mr. Gale unctuously, rolling +the words off his tongue. "Twen-ty-thou-sand-dol-lars-a-year! Think of +it!" +</P> + +<P> +"I am thinking of it," said Tom Swift gently, "and I thank you for your +offer. It is, indeed, very generous. But I must give you the same +answer. I cannot accept." +</P> + +<P> +"Tom!" exclaimed his aged father. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Swift!" exclaimed the two visitors. +</P> + +<P> +Tom smiled and shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I know very well what I am saying, and what I am turning down," he +said. "But I simply cannot accept. I have other plans. I am sorry you +have had your trip for nothing," he added to the visitors, "but, +really, I must refuse." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that your final answer?" asked Mr. Gale. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you want to take a day or two to think it over?" asked the +treasurer. "Don't be hasty. Remember that very few young men can +command that salary, and I may say you will find us liberal in other +ways. You would have some time to yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"That is what I most need," returned Tom. "Time to myself. No, thank +you, gentlemen, I cannot accept." +</P> + +<P> +"Be careful!" warned Mr. Gale, and it sounded as though there might be +a threat in his voice. "This is our last offer, and your last chance. +We will not renew this. If you do not accept our twenty thousand +dollars now, you will never get it again." +</P> + +<P> +"I realize that," said Tom, "and I am prepared to take the consequences. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, then," said Mr. Gale. "There seems nothing for us to do, +Mr. Ware, but to go back to New York. I bid you good-day," and he bowed +stiffly to Tom. "I hope you will not regret your refusal of our offer." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so myself," said Tom, lightly. +</P> + +<P> +When the visitors had gone Mr. Swift turned toward his son, and, +shaking his head, remarked: +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, you know your own business best, Tom. Yet I cannot but feel +you have made a mistake." +</P> + +<P> +"How?" asked Tom. "By not taking that money? I can easily make that in +a year, with an idea I have in mind for an improvement on an airship. +And your new electric motor will soon be ready for the market. Besides, +we don't really need the money." +</P> + +<P> +"No, not now, Tom, but there is no telling when we may," said Mr. +Swift, slowly. "This big war has made many changes, and things that +brought us in a good income before, hardly sell at all, now." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't worry, Dad! We still have a few shots left in the locker—in +other words, the bank. I'm expecting Ned Newton over any moment now, to +give us the annual statement of our account, and then we'll know where +we stand. I'm not afraid from the money end. Our business has done +well, and it is going to do better. I have a new idea." +</P> + +<P> +"That's all very well, Tom," said Mr. Swift, who seemed oppressed by +something. "As you say, money isn't everything, and I know we shall +always have enough to live on. But there is something about those two +men I do not like. They were very angry at your refusal of their offer. +I could see that. Tom, I don't want to be a croaker, but I think you'll +have to watch out for those men. They're going to be your enemies—your +rivals in the airship field," and Mr. Swift shook his head dolefully. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, rivalry, when it's clean and above board, is the spice of trade +and invention," returned Tom, lightly. "I'm not afraid of that." +</P> + +<P> +"No, but it may be unfair and underhand," said Mr. Swift. "I think it +would have been better, Tom, to have accepted their offer. Twenty +thousand a year, clear money, is a good sum." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but I may make twice that with something that occurred to me only +a little while ago. Forget about those men, Dad, and I'll tell you my +new idea. But wait, I want Mr. Damon to hear it, too. Where is he?" +</P> + +<P> +"He was here a little while ago. He went out when those two men came +and—" +</P> + +<P> +At that moment, from the garden at the side of the library, the sound +of voices in dispute could be heard. +</P> + +<P> +"Now yo' all g'wan 'way from yeah!" exclaimed some one who could be +none other than Eradicate Sampson. "Whut fo' yo' all want to clutter up +dish yeah place fo'? Massa Tom said I was to do de garden wuk, an' I'se +gwine to do it! G'wan 'way, Giant!" +</P> + +<P> +"Ho! You want me to get out, s'pose you put me, black face!" cried a +big voice, that of Koku, the giant. +</P> + +<P> +"There they go! At it again!" cried Tom with a smile. "Might have known +if I told Rad to do anything that Koku would be jealous. Well, I'll +have to go out now and give that giant something to do that will tax +his strength." +</P> + +<P> +But as Tom was about to leave the room another voice was heard in the +garden. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, boys, be nice," said some one soothingly. "The garden is large +enough for you both to work in. Rad, you begin at the lower end and +spade toward the middle. Koku, you begin at the upper end and work +down. Whoever gets to the middle first will win." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! Den I'll show dat giant some spade wuk as is spade wuk!" cried the +colored man. "Garden wuk is mah middle name." +</P> + +<P> +"Be careful, Rad!" laughed Mr. Damon, for he it was who was trying to +act as peacemaker. "Remember that Koku is very strong." +</P> + +<P> +"Yas, sah! He may be strong, but he's clumsy!" chuckled Eradicate. "You +watch me beat him!" +</P> + +<P> +"Ho! Black man get stuck in mud!" challenged Koku. "I show him!" +</P> + +<P> +Then there was silence, and Tom and his father, looking out, saw the +two disputants beginning to spade the soil while Mr. Damon, satisfied +that he had, for the time being, stopped a quarrel, turned toward the +house. +</P> + +<P> +"I was just coming to look for you," said Tom. "Sorry I had to go off +in such a hurry and leave you, but I had promised to take Mary for a +ride, and as it was her first one, for a distance, I didn't want her to +back out." +</P> + +<P> +"That's all right, Tom, that's all right!" said Mr. Damon genially. +"Ladies first every time. But I do want to see you, and it's about +something important." +</P> + +<P> +"No trouble, I hope?" queried Tom, for the manner of the eccentric man +was rather grave. +</P> + +<P> +"Trouble? Oh, no! Bless my frying pan, no trouble, Tom! In fact, it may +be the other way about. Tom, I have an idea, and there may be millions +in it! That's it—millions!" +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" cried the young inventor. "Might as well bite off a big lump +while you're at it. So you have a new idea! Well, I have myself, but +I'll listen to yours first. What is it, Mr. Damon?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's a new kind of airship, Tom. I haven't got it all worked out yet, +but I can give you a rough outline. On my way over I got to thinking +about balloons, aeroplanes and the like, and it occurred to me that the +present principles are all wrong." +</P> + +<P> +"So I evolved a new type of machine. I'm going to call it the Damon +Whizzer. Maybe Demon Whizzer would be more appropriate, but we won't +decide on that now. Anyhow, it's going to be a whizzer, and I want to +talk to you about it. There is an entirely new principle of elevation +and propulsion involved in my Whizzer, and I—" +</P> + +<P> +At that moment there came a crash and clatter of steel and wood from +the garden, out of sight of which Tom and Mr. Damon had walked while +talking. Then followed a jangle of words. +</P> + +<P> +"They're at it again!" cried Tom, as he ran toward the side of the +house. "I guess it's a fight this time!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +TOM'S PROJECT +</H3> + +<P> +Curious was the sight that met the gaze of Tom Swift and Mr. Wakefield +Damon as they rounded the corner of the house and looked into the newly +spaded garden. There stood the giant, Koku, holding aloft in the air, +by one hand, the form of the struggling colored man, Eradicate Sampson. +And Eradicate was vainly trying to get at his enemy and rival, but was +prevented by the long-distance hold the giant had on him. +</P> + +<P> +"Yo' let me go, now! Yo' let me go, big man," cried Eradicate. "Ef yo' +don't I'll bust yo' wide open, dat's whut I'll do! An' 'sides, I'll +tell Massa Tom on yo', dat's whut I'll do!" +</P> + +<P> +"Ho! You tell—I let you fall!" threatened Koku. +</P> + +<P> +His threat was dire enough, for such was his size and strength that he +held the colored man nearly nine feet from the ground, and a fall from +that distance would seriously jar Eradicate, if it did nothing else. +The colored man's eyes opened wide as he heard what Koku said, and then +he cried: +</P> + +<P> +"Let me down! Let me down, an' I won't say nuffin!" +</P> + +<P> +"An' you let me scatter dirt?" asked Koku, for such was the giant's +idea of working in the garden. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yo' kin scatter de dirt seben ways from Sunday fo' all I keers!" +conceded Eradicate. Then, as he was lowered to the ground, he and the +giant turned and saw Mr. Damon and Tom approaching. +</P> + +<P> +"What's wrong?" asked the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"'Scuse me, Massa Tom," began Eradicate, "but didn't yo' tell me to +spade de garden?" +</P> + +<P> +"I guess I did," admitted Tom Swift. +</P> + +<P> +"An' you tell me help—yes?" questioned Koku. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I thought it would be a little too much for you, Rad," said Tom, +gently. "I thought perhaps you'd like help." +</P> + +<P> +"Hu! Not him, anyhow!" declared the colored man in great disgust. "When +I git so old dat I cain't spade a garden, den me an' Boomerang, we-all +gwine to die, dat's all I got to say. I was a-spadin' my part ob de +garden, Massa Tom, same laik Mr. Damon done tole me to, an' dish yeah +big mess ob bones steps on my side ob de middle an—" +</P> + +<P> +"Him too slow. Koku scatter dirt twice times so fast!" declared the +giant, whose English was not much better than Eradicate's. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I see," said Tom. "You are so strong, Koku, that you finished +your part before Eradicate did. Well, it was good of you to want to +help him." +</P> + +<P> +At this the giant grinned at his rival. +</P> + +<P> +"At the same time," went on Tom, winking an eye at Mr. Damon, +"Eradicate knows a little more about garden work, on account of having +done it so many years." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! Whut I tell yo', Giant!" boasted the colored man. It was his turn +to smile. +</P> + +<P> +"And so," went on Tom, judicially, "I guess I'll let Rad finish spading +the garden, and you, Koku, can come and help me lift some heavy engine +parts. Mr. Damon wants to explain something to me." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! Nothing what so heavy Koku not lift!" boasted the giant. +</P> + +<P> +"Go on! Lift yo'se'f 'way from heah!" muttered Eradicate as he picked +up his dropped spade. And then, with a smile of satisfaction, he fell +to work in the mellow soil while Tom led Koku to one of the shops where +he set him to lifting heavy motor parts about in order to get at a +certain machine that was stored away in the back of one of the rooms. +</P> + +<P> +"That will keep him busy," said the young inventor. "And now, Mr. +Damon, I can listen to you. Do you really think you have a new idea in +airships?" +</P> + +<P> +"I really think so, Tom. My Whizzer is bound to revolutionize travel in +the air. Let me tell you what I mean. Now cast your mind back. How many +ways are now used to propel an airship or a dirigible balloon through +the air? How many ways?" +</P> + +<P> +"Two, as far as I know," said Tom. "At least there are only two that +have proved to be practical." +</P> + +<P> +"Exactly," said Mr. Damon. "One with the propeller, or propellers, in +front, and that is the tractor type. The other has the propeller in the +rear, and that is the pusher type. Both good as far as they go, but I +have something better." +</P> + +<P> +"What?" asked Tom with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a Whizzer," said the eccentric man. "Bless my gold tooth! but +that is the best name I can think of for it. And, really, the propeller +I'm thinking of inventing does whiz around." +</P> + +<P> +"But are you going to use a tractor or pusher type?" Tom wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a combination of both," answered Mr. Damon. "As it is now, Tom, +you have to get an aeroplane in pretty speedy motion before it will +rise from the ground, don't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, of course. That's the principle on which an aeroplane rises and +keeps aloft, by its speed in the air. As soon as that speed stops it +begins to fall, or volplane, as we call it." +</P> + +<P> +"Exactly. Now, instead of having to depend on the speed of the +aeroplane for this, why not depend on the speed of the propeller—in +other words, the whizzer?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we do," said Tom, a bit puzzled as to what his friend was trying +to get at. "If the propeller didn't move the airship wouldn't +rise—that is, unless it's of the balloon type." +</P> + +<P> +"What I mean," said Mr. Damon, "is to have an aeroplane that will move +in the air the same as a boat moves in the water. You don't have to get +the propeller of a boat racing around at the rate of a million +revolutions a minute, more or less, before your boat will travel, do +you? If the engine turns the screw, or propeller, just over say fifty +times a minute you would get some motion of the boat, wouldn't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, yes, some," admitted Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"And what causes it?" asked Mr. Damon, anticipating a triumph. +</P> + +<P> +"The resistance of the water to the blades of the screw, or propeller," +answered Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Exactly! And it's the resistance of the air to the blades of an +airship propeller that sends the craft along, isn't it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. And because of the difference in density between air and water it +becomes necessary to revolve an aeroplane propeller many times faster +than a boat propeller. It's the density that makes the difference, Mr. +Damon. If air were as dense as water we could have comparatively +slow-moving motors and propellers and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! There you have it, Tom! And there is where my Whizzer—Wakefield +Damon's Whizzer—is going to revolutionize air travel!" cried the +eccentric man. "The difference in density! If air were as dense as +water the problem would be solved. And I have solved it! I'm going to +turn the trick, Tom! One more question. How can air be made as dense as +water, Tom Swift?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, by condensation or compression, I suppose," was the rather slow +answer. "You know they have condensed, or compressed, air until it is +liquid. I've done it myself, as an experiment." +</P> + +<P> +"That's it, Tom! That's it!" cried Mr. Damon in delight. "Compressed +air will do the trick! Not compressed to a liquid, exactly, but almost +so. I'm going to revolve the propellers of my new airship in compressed +air, so dense that they will not have to have a speed of more than +seven hundred revolutions a minute. What's that compared to the three +to ten thousand revolutions of the propellers now used? The propellers +of Damon's Whizzer will be of the pusher type, and will revolve in +dense, compressed air, almost like water, and that will do away with +high speed motors, with all their complications, and make traveling in +the clouds as simple as taking out a little one-cylinder motor boat. +How's that, Tom Swift? How's that for an idea?" +</P> + +<P> +To Mr. Damon's disappointment, Tom was not enthusiastic. The young +inventor gazed at his eccentric friend, and then said slowly: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's all right in theory, but how is it going to work out in +practice?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I came to see you about, Tom," was the reply. "Bless my +tall hat! but that's just why I hurried over here. I wanted to tell you +when I saw you going off on a trip with Miss Nestor. That's my big +idea—Damon's Whizzer—propellers revolving in compressed air like +water. Isn't that great?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry to shatter your air castle," said Tom; "but for the life of +me I can't see how it will work. Of course, in theory, if you could +revolve a big-bladed propeller in very dense, or in liquid, air, there +would be more resistance than in the rarefied atmosphere of the upper +regions. And, if this could be done, I grant you that you could use +slower motors and smaller propeller blades—more like those of a motor +boat. But how are you going to get the condensed air?" +</P> + +<P> +"Make it!" said Mr. Damon promptly. "Air pumps are cheap. Just carry +one or two on board the aeroplane, and condense the air as you go +along. That's a small detail that can easily be worked out. I leave +that to you." +</P> + +<P> +"I'd rather you wouldn't," said Tom. "That's the whole +difficulty—compressing your air. Wait! I'll explain it to you." +</P> + +<P> +Then the young inventor went into details. He told of the ponderous +machinery needed to condense air to a form approximating water, and +spoke of the terrible pressure exerted by the liquid atmosphere. +</P> + +<P> +"Anything that you would gain by having a slow-speed motor and smaller +propeller blades, would be lost by the ponderous air-condensing +machinery you would need," Tom told Mr. Damon. "Besides, if you could +surround your propellers with a strata of condensed air, it would +create such terrible cold as to freeze the propeller blades and make +them as brittle as glass. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I have taken a heavy piece of metal, dipped it into liquid air, +and I could shatter the steel with a hammer as easily as a sheet of +ice. The cold of liquid air is beyond belief. +</P> + +<P> +"Attempts have been made to make motors run with liquid air, but they +have not succeeded. To condense air and to carry it about so that +propellers might revolve in it, would be out of the question." +</P> + +<P> +"You think so, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure of it!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, dear! That's too bad. Bless my overshoes, but I thought I had a +new idea. Well, you ought to know. So Damon's Whizzer goes on the scrap +heap before ever it's built. Well, we'll say no more about it. You +ought to know best, Tom. I wasn't thinking of it so much for myself as +for you. I thought you'd like some new idea to work on." +</P> + +<P> +"Much obliged, Mr. Damon, but I have a new idea," said Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"You have? What is it? Tell me—that is, if it isn't a secret," went on +the eccentric man, as much delighted over Tom's new plan as he had been +over his own Whizzer, doomed to failure so soon. +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't a secret from you," said Tom. "I got the idea while I was +riding with Mary. I wanted to talk to her—to tell her not to jump out +when we had a little accident—but I had trouble making myself +understood because of the noise of the motor." +</P> + +<P> +"They do make a great racket," conceded Mr. Damon. "But I don't suppose +anything can be done about it." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't see why there can't!" exclaimed Tom. "And that's my new +idea—to make a silent aircraft motor—perhaps silent propeller blades, +though it's the motor that makes the most noise. And that's what I'm +going to do—invent a silent aeroplane. Not because I want so much to +talk when I take passengers up in the air, but I believe such a motor +would be valuable, especially for scouting planes in war work. To go +over the enemy's lines and not be heard would be valuable many times. +</P> + +<P> +"And that's what I'm going to do—work on a silent motor for Uncle Sam. +I've got the germ of an idea and now—" +</P> + +<P> +"Excuse me," said a voice behind Mr. Damon and Tom, and, turning, the +young inventor beheld the form of Mr. Peton Gale, president of the +Universal Flying Machine Company. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MAKING PLANS +</H3> + +<P> +Tom Swift had drawn pencil and paper from his pocket, and, as he and +Mr. Damon were sitting on the steps of one of the shops, the young +inventor was about to demonstrate by a drawing part of his new project, +when the interruption came in the shape of one of the men who had, an +hour before, made a business offer to Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Excuse me," went on Mr. Peton Gale, "but Mr. Ware and I got to talking +it over on our way to the station—the matter of having you in our +company, Mr. Swift—and we concluded that it was worth twenty-five +thousand dollars a year for us to have you. So I came back—" +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't of the slightest use, Mr. Gale, I assure you," said Tom, a +bit heatedly, for he did not like the persistency of this man, nor did +he like his coming on the factory grounds unannounced and in this +secret manner. "I told you I could not accept your offer. It is not +altogether a matter of money. My word was final." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh very well, if you put it that way," said Mr. Gale stiffly, "of +course there is nothing more to say. But I thought perhaps you did not +consider we had offered you enough and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Your offer is fair enough from a financial standpoint," said Tom; "but +I simply cannot accept it. I have other plans. Jackson!" he called to +one of his mechanics who was passing, "kindly see Mr. Gale to the gate, +and then let me know how it was any one came in here without a permit." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," said the mechanic, as he stood significantly waiting. +</P> + +<P> +"There was no one at the gate when I came in," said Mr. Gale, and his +manner was antagonizing. "I wanted to speak to you—to ask you to +reconsider your offer—so I came back." +</P> + +<P> +"It is against the rules to admit strangers to the shop grounds," said +Tom. "Good-day!" +</P> + +<P> +The president of the Universal Flying Machine Company did not respond, +but there was a look on his face as he turned away that, had Tom seen +it, might have caused him some uneasiness. But he did not see. Instead, +he resumed his talk with Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom, your idea is most interesting," declared the eccentric man. "I +hope you will be able to work it out!" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to try," said the young inventor. "I hope that man—Mr. +Gale—didn't hear anything of what I was saying. He sneaked up on us +before I was aware any one was near but ourselves." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't imagine he heard very much, Tom," said Mr. Damon. "He may have +heard you mention a silent motor—" +</P> + +<P> +"That's just what I wish he hadn't heard," broke in Tom. "That's the +germ of the idea, and once it becomes known that I am working on that— +Well, there's no use crying over spilled milk," and he smiled at the +homely proverb. "I'll have to work in secret, once I've started." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think the government would use it, Tom?" asked his friend. +</P> + +<P> +"I should think it would be glad to. Consider what a wonderful part +airships are playing in the present war. It really is a struggle to see +which will be the master of the sky—the Allies or the Germans—and, up +to recently, the Huns had the advantage. Then the Allies, recognizing +how vital it was, began to forge ahead, and now Uncle Sam with his +troops under General Pershing is leading everything, or will lead +shortly. We have been a bit slow with our aircraft production, but now +we are booming along. Uncle Sam will soon have the mastery of the sky." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so," sighed Mr. Damon. "We must beat the Germans!" +</P> + +<P> +Briefly, Tom spoke of what Pershing's men were doing with their +aeroplanes in France, and mention was made of what the French and +British had done prior to the entrance of the United States into the +World War. +</P> + +<P> +"While we were yet neutral, Americans had made gallant names for +themselves flying for France, and with my silent motor they ought to do +better," declared Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Is silence its chief recommendation?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Tom. "Or rather, it will be when I have it perfected. +Aeroplane motors now are about as compact and speedy as they can be +made. It is only the terrific noise that is a handicap. It is a +handicap to the pilots and observers in the craft, as they cannot +communicate except through a special speaking tube, and this is not +always satisfactory or sure. Then, too, the noise of an airship +proclaims its approach to the enemy, sometimes long before it can be +seen. +</P> + +<P> +"With a silent motor all this would be done away with. With my new +craft, in case I can perfect it, the enemy's lines can be approached as +silently as the Indians used to approach the log cabins of the white +settlers. That will be its great advantage—not that conversation can +be more easily carried on, for that is, after all, an unimportant +detail. But to approach the enemy's lines in the silence of the night +would be a distinct gain." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe it would, Tom!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "And I should think, +too, that Uncle Sam would be glad to get such a motor," he added. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he'll have one to take if he wants it, if I can make my plans a +success," declared Tom. "That is, unless those other fellows get ahead +of me." +</P> + +<P> +"What other fellows?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Gale, Ware and their crowd," was the answer. "I fancy they are +provoked because I wouldn't agree to work for them, and now, that Gale +overheard—as he must have—what I propose working on, they may try +that game themselves." +</P> + +<P> +"You mean try to turn out a silent motor?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. It would be a big feather in their cap for their company, so far, +hasn't been very successful on government orders. That's why they came +to me, I guess." +</P> + +<P> +"I shouldn't be surprised, Tom," conceded Mr. Damon. "Since the +government accepted your giant cannon and your great searchlight, you +have come into greater prominence than ever before. And those two +things are a wonderful success." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," admitted Tom, modestly enough, "the big electric light seems to +have been of some benefit on the European battle front, and though they +haven't been able to make and transport as many of my giant cannons as +I'd like to see over there, it is progressing, I understand." +</P> + +<P> +And this is true. For the details of these two inventions of Tom +Swift's I refer my readers to the books bearing those titles. +Sufficient to state here that the government was using these two +inventions, and there had been no necessity for commandeering them +either, since Tom had freely offered them at the declaration of war +with Germany. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, since I can't help you with my 'Whizzer,'" said Mr. Damon, with +a smile, "let me do what I can toward your silent motor, Tom. What are +you going to call it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know—hadn't thought of a name. I guess 'Air Scout' would +be as good as any. That's what it will be—a machine for silently +scouting in the air. And now to get down to brass tacks, as the poet +says, I believe I will—" +</P> + +<P> +"Gentleman to see you, Mr. Swift," interrupted Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my penwiper!" cried Mr. Damon. "More visitors! I hope it isn't +Gale or Ware come back to see what they can spy on!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A PROBLEM IN SOUND +</H3> + +<P> +Tom Swift looked up with a distinct appearance of being annoyed that +was unusual with him, for he was, nearly always, good-natured. But the +frown that had replaced the pleasant look on his face while he was +talking to Mr. Damon about the projected new air scout was at once +wiped away as he looked at the card Jackson held out to him. +</P> + +<P> +"Bring him in right away!" he ordered. "He needn't have stood on that +ceremony." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he said it was a business call," returned the mechanician with a +cheerful grin, "and he said he wanted it done according to form. So he +gave me his card to bring you." +</P> + +<P> +"Who is it?" asked Mr. Damon, with the privilege of an old friend. +</P> + +<P> +"It's Ned Newton," Tom answered; "though why he's putting on all this +formality I can't fathom." +</P> + +<P> +Jackson went back to the main gate and told the man on guard there to +admit Ned, who had so formally sent in his card. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, Mr. Swift, I believe?" began the bank employee with that suave, +formal air which usually precedes a business meeting. +</P> + +<P> +"That is my name," said Tom, with a suppressed grin, and he spoke as +stiffly as though to a perfect stranger. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Tom Swift, the great inventor?" went on Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, then I am at the right place. Just sign here, please, on the +dotted line," and he held out a blank form, and a fountain pen to Tom, +who took them half mechanically. +</P> + +<P> +"Huh? What's the big idea, Ned?" asked the young inventor, unable +longer to carry on the joke. "Is this a warrant for my arrest, or +merely a testimonial to you. If it's the latter, and concerns your +nerve, I'll gladly sign it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's something like that!" laughed Ned. "That's your application +for another block of Liberty Bonds, Tom, and I want you, as a personal +favor to me, as a business favor to the bank, and as your plain duty to +Uncle Sam, to double your last subscription." +</P> + +<P> +Tom looked at the sum Ned had filled in on the blank form, and uttered +a slight whistle of surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"That's all right now," said Ned, with the air of a professional +salesman. "You can stand that and more, too. I'm letting you off easy. +Why, I got Mary's father—Mr. Nestor—for twice what he took last time, +and Mary herself—hard as she's working for the Red Cross—gave me a +nice application. So it's up to you to—" +</P> + +<P> +"Nuff said!" exclaimed Tom, sententiously, as he signed his name. "I +may have to reconsider my recent refusal of the offer of the Universal +Flying Machine Company, though, if I haven't money enough to meet this +subscription, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you'll meet it all right! Much obliged," and Ned folded the +Liberty Bond subscription paper and put it in his pocket. "But did you +turn down the offer from those people?" +</P> + +<P> +"I did," answered Tom. "But how did you know about it, Ned?" +</P> + +<P> +"First let me say that I'm glad you decided to have nothing to do with +them. They're a rich firm, and have lots of money, but I wouldn't trust +'em, even if they have some government contracts. The way I happened +to know they were likely to make you an offer is this," continued Ned +Newton. +</P> + +<P> +"They do business with one of the New York banks with which my +bank—notice the accent on the my, Tom—is connected. The other day I +happened to see some correspondence about you. These flying machine +people asked our bank to find out certain things about you, and, as a +matter of business, we had to give the information. Sort of a +commercial agency report, you know, nothing unusual, and it isn't the +first time it's been done since your business got so large. But that's +how I happened to know these fellows contemplated dickering with you." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know Gale or Ware?" Tom asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Not personally. But in a business way, Tom, I'd warn you to look out +for them, as they're sharp dealers. They put one over on the government +all right, and there may be some unpleasant publicity to it later. But +they're putting up a big bluff, and pretending they can turn out a lot +of flying machines for use in Europe. Why don't you get busy on that +end of the game, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know you've more than done your bit, with Liberty Bonds, +subscriptions to the Y. M. C. A. and other war work, besides your war +tank and other inventions. But you're such a shark on flying machines I +should think you'd offer your factory to the government for the +production of aeroplanes." +</P> + +<P> +"I would in a minute, Ned, and you know it; but the fact of the matter +is my shops aren't equipped for the production of anything in large +numbers. We do mostly an experimenting business here, making only one +or two of a certain machine. I have told the government officials they +can have anything I've got, and you know they wouldn't let me enlist +when I was working on the war tank." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I remember that," said Ned. "You're no slacker! I wanted to +shoulder a rifle, too, but they keep me at this Liberty Loan work. +Well, Uncle Sam ought to know." +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I say," agreed Tom, "and that's why I haven't gone to the +front myself. And now, as it happens, I've got something else in mind +that may help Uncle Sam." +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"A silent flying machine for scout work on the battle front," Tom told +his friend, and then he gave a few details, such as those he had been +telling Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I don't wonder you turned down the offer of the Universal +people," remarked Ned, at the conclusion of the recital. "This will be +a heap more help to the government, Tom, than working for those people, +even at twenty-five thousand dollars a year. And if you get short, and +can't meet your newest Liberty Bond payments, why, I guess the bank +will stretch your credit a little." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks!" laughed Tom, "but I'll try not to ask them." +</P> + +<P> +The friends talked together a little longer, and then Ned had to take +his departure to solicit more subscriptions, while Mr. Damon went with +him, the eccentric man saying he would go home to Waterfield. +</P> + +<P> +"But, bless my overshoes, Tom!" he exclaimed, as he departed, "don't +forget to let me know when you have your silent motor working. I want +to see it." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll let you know," was the promise given by the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"And watch out for those Universal people," warned Ned. "I'm not +telling you this as a bank official, for I'm not supposed to, but it's +personal." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be on the watch," said Tom. And, as he went into his private +workshop, he wondered why it was his father and Ned had both warned him +not to trust Gale and Ware. +</P> + +<P> +The next few days were busy ones for Tom Swift. Once he had made up his +mind to go to work seriously on a silent motor, all else was put aside. +He sent a note to Mary Nestor, telling her what he was going to do, +and, asking her to say nothing about it, which, of course, Mary agreed +to. +</P> + +<P> +"Come and see me when you can," she sent back word, "but I know you +won't have much chance when you're experimenting with your invention. +And I shall be working so hard for the Red Cross that I sha'n't get +much chance to entertain you. But the war can't last forever." +</P> + +<P> +"No," agreed Tom with a sigh, as he put away her letter, "and thank +goodness that it can't!" +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor threw himself into the perplexing work of inventing +a silent motor with all the fervor he had given to the production of +his war tank, his giant cannon, his wonderful searchlight and other +machines. +</P> + +<P> +"And," mused Tom, as he sat at his work table with pencil and paper +before him, "since this is a problem in acoustics, I had best begin I +suppose by going back to first principles, and after determining what +makes an aeroplane engine noisy, try to figure out how to make it +quiet. Now as to the first, the principle causes of noise are—" +</P> + +<P> +And at that instant there broke on Tom's ears a succession of +discordant sounds which seemed to be a combination of an Indian's war +whoop and a college student's yells at a football game. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I wonder what that is!" mused the young inventor as he hastily +arose. "Better solve that problem before I tackle the aeroplane motor." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THROUGH THE ROOF +</H3> + +<P> +Tom rushed from his private office, and when he reached the outer door +he heard with more distinctness the sounds that had alarmed him. They +seemed to come from a small building given over to electrical +apparatus, and which, at the time, was not supposed to be in use. It +had been Tom's workroom, so to speak, when he was developing his +electric runabout and rifle, but of late he had not spent much time in +it. +</P> + +<P> +"Somebody's in there!" reflected the young inventor, as he heard yells +coming from the open door of the place. "And if it isn't Koku and +Eradicate I miss my guess! Wonder what they can be doing there." +</P> + +<P> +He crossed the yard between his private office and the electrical shop +in a few rapid strides, and, as he entered the latter place, he was +greeted with a series of wild yells. +</P> + +<P> +"Good volume of sound here, at all events," mused Tom. "Almost as much +as my motor made when I was trying to talk to Mary. Hello there! What's +going on? Is any one hurt? What's the matter?" he cried, for, at first, +he could see no one in the dim light of the place. The interior was a +maze of electrical apparatus. +</P> + +<P> +"Who's here?" demanded Tom, as he advanced. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Master! Come quick! Koku 'most dead an' no can let go!" was the +cry. +</P> + +<P> +"Yo' jest bet yo' cain't let go!" chimed in the voice of Eradicate. "I +done knowed yo would git into trouble ef yo' come heah, an' I'se glad +ob it! So I is!" +</P> + +<P> +"What is it, Rad? What has happened to Koku?" cried Tom, running +forward, for though no very powerful current could be turned on in the +electrical shop at this period of unuse, there was enough to be very +painful. "What is it, Rad?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, dat big foolish giant, Koku, done got his se'f into trouble!" +chuckled the colored man. "He done got holt ob one ob dem air +contraptions, Massa Tom, an' he cain't let go! Ha! Ha! Golly! Look at +him squirm!" and Rad laughed shrilly, which accounted for some of the +sounds Tom had heard. +</P> + +<P> +Then came yells of rage and pain from the giant, and they were so loud +and vigorous, mingling with Eradicate's as they did, that it was no +wonder Tom was startled. The sounds were heard in the other shops, and +men came running out. But before then Tom had put an end to the trouble. +</P> + +<P> +One look showed him what had happened. Just how or why Koku and +Eradicate had entered the electrical shop Tom did not then stop to +inquire. But he saw that the giant had grasped the handles of one of +the electric machines, designed for charging Leyden jars used in Tom's +experiments, and the powerful, though not dangerous, current had so +paralyzed, temporarily, the muscles of the giant's hands and arms that +he could not let go, and there he was, squirming, and not knowing how +to turn off the current, and unable to ease himself, while Eradicate +stood and laughed at him, fairly howling with delight. +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! Guess yo' won't do no mo' spadin' in' Massa Tom's garden right +away, big man!" taunted Eradicate. +</P> + +<P> +"Be quiet, Rad!" ordered Tom, as he reached up and pulled out the +switch, thus shutting off the current. "This isn't anything to laugh +at." +</P> + +<P> +"But he done look so funny, Massa Tom!" pleaded the colored man. "He +done squirm laik—" +</P> + +<P> +But Eradicate did not finish what he intended to say. Once free from +the powerful current, the giant looked at his numb hands, and then, +seeming to think that Eradicate was the cause of it all, he sprang at +the colored man with a yell. But Eradicate did not stay to see what +would happen. With a howl of terror, he raced out of the door, and, old +and rheumatic as he was, he managed to gain the stable of his mule, +Boomerang, over which he had his humble but comfortable quarters. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I guess he's safe for a while!" laughed Tom, as he saw the giant +turn away, shaking his fist at the closed door, for Koku, big as he +was, stood in mortal terror of the mule's heels. +</P> + +<P> +Tom locked the door of the electrical shop and went back to his +interrupted problem. From Jackson he learned that Koku and Eradicate +had merely happened to stroll into the forbidden place, which had been +left open by accident. There, it appeared, Koku had handled some of the +machinery, ending by switching on the current of the machine the +handles of which he later unsuspectingly picked up. Then he received a +shock he long remembered, and for many days he believed Eradicate had +been responsible for it, and there was more than the usual hostile +feeling between the two. But Eradicate was innocent of that trick, at +all events. +</P> + +<P> +"Though," said Tom, telling his father about it later, "Rad would have +turned on the current if he had known he could make trouble for Koku by +it. I never saw their like for having disagreements!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but they are both devoted to you, Tom," said the aged inventor. +"But what is this you hinted at—a silent motor you called it, I +believe? Are you really serious in trying to invent one?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Dad, I am. I think there's a big field for an aeroplane that +could travel along over the enemy's lines—particularly at night—and +not be heard from below. Think of the scout work that could be done. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes, it could be done if you could get a silent motor, or +propellers that made no noise, Tom. But I don't believe it can be done." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, maybe not, Dad. But I'm going to try!" and Tom, after a further +talk with his father, began work in earnest on the big problem. That it +was a big one Tom was not disposed to deny, and that it would be a +valuable invention even his somewhat skeptical father admitted. +</P> + +<P> +"How are you going to start, Tom?" asked Mr. Swift, several days after +the big idea had come to the young man. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to experiment a bit, at first. I've got a lot of old motors, +that weren't speedy enough for any of my flying machines, and I'm going +to make them over. If I spoil them the loss won't amount to anything, +and if I succeed—well, maybe I can help out Uncle Sam a bit more." +</P> + +<P> +As Tom had said he would do, he began at the very foundation, and +studied the fundamental principles of sound. +</P> + +<P> +"Sound," the young inventor told Ned Newton, in speaking about the +problem, "is a sensation which is peculiar to the ear, though the +vibrations caused by sound waves may be felt in many parts of the body. +But the ear is the great receiver of sound." +</P> + +<P> +"You aren't going to invent a sort of muffler for the ears, are you, +Tom?" asked Ned. "That would be an easy way of solving the problem, but +I doubt if you could get the Germans to wear your ear-tabs so they +wouldn't hear the sound of the Allied aeroplanes." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I'm not figuring on doing the trick that way," said Tom with a +laugh. "I've really got to cut down the sound of the motor and the +propeller blades, so a person, listening with all his ears, won't hear +any noise, unless he's within a few feet of the plane." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I can tell you, right off the reel, how to do it," said the bank +employee. +</P> + +<P> +"How?" asked Tom eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"Run your engine and propellers in a vacuum," was the prompt reply. +</P> + +<P> +"Hum!" said Tom, musingly. "Yes, that would be a simple way out, and +I'll do it, if you'll tell me how to breathe in a vacuum." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I didn't agree to do that," laughed Ned. +</P> + +<P> +But he had spoken the truth, as those who have studied physics well +know. There must be an atmosphere for the transmission of sound, which +is the reason all is cold and silent and still at the moon. There is no +atmosphere there. Sound implies vibration. Something, such as liquid, +gas, or solid, must be set in motion to produce sound, and for the +purpose of science the air we breathe may be considered a gas, being +composed of two. +</P> + +<P> +Not only must the object, either solid, liquid, or gaseous, be in +motion to produce sound, but the air surrounding the vibrating body +must also be moving in unison with it. And lastly there must be some +medium of receiving the sound waves—the ear or some part of the body. +Totally deaf persons may be made aware of sound through the vibrations +received through their hands or feet. They receive, of course, only the +more intense, or largest, sound waves, and can not hear notes of music +nor spoken words, though they may feel the vibration when a piano is +played. And, as Ned has said, no sound is produced in a vacuum. +</P> + +<P> +"But," said Tom, "since I can't run my aeroplane in a vacuum, or even +have the propellers revolve in one, it's up to me to solve the problem +some other way. The propellers don't really make noise enough to worry +about when they're high in the air. It's the exhaust from the motor, +and to get rid of that will be my first attempt." +</P> + +<P> +"Can it be done?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," was Tom's frank answer. +</P> + +<P> +"They do it on an automobile to a great extent," went on Ned. "Some of +'em you cant hardly hear." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but an aeroplane engine runs many, many times faster than the +motor of an auto," said Tom, "and there are more explosions to muffle. +I doubt if the muffler of an auto would cut down the sound of an aero +engine to any appreciable extent. But, of course, I'll try along those +lines." +</P> + +<P> +"They have mufflers or silencers for guns and rifles," went on Ned. +"Couldn't you make a big one of those contraptions and put it on an +aeroplane?" +</P> + +<P> +"I doubt it," said Tom, shaking his head. "Of course it's the same +principle as that in an auto muffler, or on a motor boat—a series of +baffle plates arranged within a hollow cylinder. But all such devices +cut down power, and I don't want to do that. However, I'm going to +solve the problem or—bust!" +</P> + +<P> +And Tom came near "busting," Ned remarked later, when he and his friend +talked over the progress of the invention. +</P> + +<P> +Two weeks had passed since the start of his evolution of his new idea, +and following the visiting of the representatives of the Universal +Flying Machine Company. Since then neither Gale nor Ware had +communicated with Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"But I must be on the watch against them," thought the young inventor. +"I'm pretty sure Gale heard me mention what I was going to try to +invent, and he may get ahead of me, and put a silent motor on the +market first. Not that I'm afraid of being done out of any profits, but +I simply don't want to be beaten." +</P> + +<P> +The details of Tom's invention cannot be gone into, but, roughly, it +was based on the principle of not only a muffler but also of producing +less noise when the charges of gasoline exploded in the cylinders. It +is, of course, the explosion of gasoline mixed with air that causes an +internal combustion engine to operate. And it is the expulsion of the +burned gases that causes the exhaust and makes the noise that is heard. +</P> + +<P> +Tom was working along the well-known line of the rate of travel of +sound, which progresses at the rate of about 1090 feet a second when +air is at the freezing point. And, roughly, with every degree increase +in the atmosphere's temperature the velocity of sound increases by one +foot. Thus at a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or 68 degrees +above freezing, there would be added to the 1090 feet the 68 feet, +making sound travel at 100 degrees Fahrenheit about 1158 feet a second. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had set up in his shop a powerful, but not very speedy, old +aeroplane engine, and had attached to it the device he hoped would help +him toward solving his problem of cutting down the noise. He had had +some success with it, and, after days and nights of labor, he invited +his father and Ned, as well as Mr. Damon, over to see what he hoped +would be a final experiment. +</P> + +<P> +His visitors had assembled in the shop, and Eradicate was setting out +some refreshments which Tom had provided, the colored man being in his +element now. +</P> + +<P> +"What's all this figuring, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon, as he saw a series of +calculations on some sheets of paper lying on Tom's desk. +</P> + +<P> +"That's where I worked out how much faster sound traveled in hydrogen +gas than in the ordinary atmosphere," was the answer. "It goes about +four times as fast, or nearly four thousand two hundred feet a second. +You remember the rule, I suppose. 'The speed of sonorous vibrations +through gases varies inversely as the squares of the weights of equal +volumes of the gases,' or, in other words—" +</P> + +<P> +"Give it to us chiefly in 'other words,' if you please, Tom!" pleaded +Ned, with a laugh. "Let that go and do some tricks. Start the engine +and let's see if we can hear it." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you can hear it all right," said Tom, as he approached the motor, +which was mounted on a testing block. "The thing isn't perfected yet, +but I hope to have it soon. Rad! Where is that black rascal? Oh, there +you are! Come here, Rad!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yaas sah, Massa Tom! Is I gwine to help yo' all in dish yeah job?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. Just take hold of this lever, and when I say so pull it as hard +as you can." +</P> + +<P> +"Dat's whut I will, Massa Tom. Golly! ef dat no 'count giant was heah +now he'd see he ain't de only one whut's got muscle. I'll pull good +an' hard, Massa Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's what I want you to. Now I guess we're all ready. Can you +see, Dad—and Ned and Mr. Damon?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," they answered. They stood near the side wall of the shop, while +Tom and Eradicate were at the testing block, on which the motor, with +the noise-eliminating devices attached, had been temporarily mounted. +</P> + +<P> +"All ready," called the young inventor, as he turned on the gas and +threw over the electrical switch. "All ready! Pull the starting lever, +Rad, and when it's been running a little I'll throw on the silencer and +you can see the difference." +</P> + +<P> +The motor began to hum, and there was a deafening roar, just as there +always is when the engine of an aeroplane starts. It was as though half +a dozen automobile engines were being run with the mufflers cut out. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I'll show you the difference!" yelled Tom, though such was the +noise that not a word could be heard. "This shows you what my silencer +will do." +</P> + +<P> +Tom pulled another lever. There was at once a cessation of the +deafening racket, though it was not altogether ended. Then, after a +moment or two, there suddenly came a roar as though a blast had been +let off in the shop. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and Eradicate were tossed backward, head over heels, as though by +the giant hands of Koku himself, and Mr. Damon, Ned, and Tom's father +saw the motor fly from the testing block and shoot through the roof of +the building with a rending, crashing, and splintering sound that could +be heard for a mile. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +AFTER A SPY +</H3> + +<P> +Curious as it may seem, Eradicate, the oldest and certainly not the +most energetic of the party assembled in the experiment room, was the +first to recover himself and arise. Tottering to his feet he gave one +look at the testing block, whence the motor had torn itself. Then he +looked at the prostrate figures around him, none of them hurt, but all +stunned and very much startled. Then the gaze of Eradicate traveled to +the hole in the roof. It was a gaping, ragged hole, for the motor was +heavy and the roof of flimsy material. And then the colored man +exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"Good land ob massy! Did I do dat?" +</P> + +<P> +His tone was one of such startled contrition, and so tragic, that Tom +Swift, rueful as he felt over the failure of his experiment and the +danger they had all been in, could not help laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"I take it, hearing that from you, Tom, that we're all right," said Ned +Newton, as he recovered himself and brushed some dirt off his coat. Ned +was a natty dresser. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we seem to be all right," replied Tom slowly. "I can't say what +damage the flying motor has done outside, but—" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my insurance policy! but what happened?" asked Mr. Damon. "I saw +Eradicate pull on that lever as you told him to, Tom, and then things +all went topsy-turvy! Did he pull the wrong handle?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, it wasn't Rad's fault at all," said Tom. "The trouble was, as I +guess I'll find when I investigate, that I put too much power into the +motor, and the muffler didn't give any chance for the accumulated +exhaust gases to expand and escape. I didn't allow for that, and they +simply backed up, compressed and exploded. I guess that's the whole +explanation." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm inclined to agree with you, Son," said Mr. Swift dryly. "Don't +try to get rid of all the noise at once. Eliminate it by degrees and it +will be safer." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess so," agreed Tom. +</P> + +<P> +By this time a score of workmen from the other shops had congregated +around the one though the roof of which the motor had been blown. Tom +opened the door to assure Jackson and the others that no one was hurt, +and then the young inventor saw the exploded motor had buried in the +dirt a short distance away from the experiment building. +</P> + +<P> +"Lucky none of us were standing over it when it went up," said Tom, as +he made an inspection of the broken machine. "We'd have gone through +the roof with it." +</P> + +<P> +"She certainly went sailing!" commented Ned. "Must have been a lot of +power there, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +And this was evidenced by the bent and twisted rods that had held the +motor to the testing block, and by the cylinders, some of which were +torn apart as though made of paper instead of heavy steel. But for the +fact that all the force of the explosion was directly upward, instead +of at the sides, none might have been left alive in the shop. All had +escaped most fortunately, and they realized this. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," queried Ned, as Tom gave orders to have the damaged machine +removed and the roof repaired, "does this end the wonderful silent +motor, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"End it! What do you mean—" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean are you going to experiment any further?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, of course! Just because I've had one failure doesn't mean that +I'm going to give up. Especially when I know what the matter was—not +leaving any vent for the escaping gases. Why this isn't anything. When +I was perfecting my giant cannon I was nearly blown up more than once, +and you remember how we got stuck in the submarine." +</P> + +<P> +"I should say I did!" exclaimed Ned with a shudder. "I don't want any +more of that. But as between being blown through a roof and held at the +bottom of the sea, I don't know that there's much choice." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps not," agreed Tom. "But as for ending my experiments, I +wouldn't dream of such a thing! Why, I've only just begun! I'll have a +silent motor yet!" +</P> + +<P> +"And a non-explosive one, I hope," added Mr. Damon dryly. "Bless my +shoe buttons, Tom, but if my wife knew what danger I'd been in she'd +never let me come over to see you any more." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the next time I invite you to a test I'll be more careful," +promised the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"There isn't going to be any next time as far as I'm concerned!" +laughed Ned. "I think it's safer to sell Liberty Bonds." +</P> + +<P> +And, though they joked about it, they all realized the narrow escape +they had had. As for Eradicate, once he knew he had not been the one +who caused the damage, he felt rather proud of the part he had taken in +the mishap, and for many days he boasted about it to Koku. +</P> + +<P> +True to his determination, Tom Swift did not give up his experimental +work on the silent motor. The machine that had been blown through the +roof was useless now, and it was sent to the scrap heap, after as much +of it as possible had been salvaged. Then Tom got another piece of +apparatus out of his store room and began all over again. +</P> + +<P> +He worked along the same lines as at first—providing a chamber for the +escaping gases of the exhaust to expend their noise and energy in, at +the same time laboring to cut down the concussion of the explosions in +the cylinder without reducing their force any. And that it was no easy +problem to do either of these, Tom had to admit as he progressed. All +previous types of mufflers or silencers had to be discarded and a new +one evolved. +</P> + +<P> +"Jackson, I need some one to help me," said Tom to his chief +mechanician one day. "Haven't you a good man who is used to +experimental work that you can let me take from the works?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, yes," was the answer. "Let me see. Roberts is busy on the new +bomb you got up, but I could take him off that—" +</P> + +<P> +"No, don't!" interposed Tom. "I want that work to go on. Isn't there +some one else you can let me have?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, there's a new man who came to me well recommended. I took him on +last week, and he's a wonderful mechanic. Knows a lot about gas +engines. I could let you have him—Bower his name is. The only thing +about it, though, is that I don't like to give you a man of whom I am +not dead certain, when you're working on a new device." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that will be all right," said Tom. "There won't be any secrets he +can get, if you mean you think he might be up to spy work." +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I did mean, Tom. You never can tell, you know, and you +have some bitter enemies." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but I'll take care this man doesn't see the plans, or any of my +drawings. I only want some one to do the heavy assembling work on the +experimental muffler I'm getting up. We can let him think it's for a +new kind of automobile." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, then I guess it will be all right. I'll send Bower to you." +</P> + +<P> +Tom rather liked the new workman, who seemed quiet and efficient. He +did not ask questions, either, about the machine on which he was +engaged, but did as he was told. As Tom had said, he kept his plans and +drawing under lock and key—in a safe to be exact—and he did not think +they were in any danger from his new helper. +</P> + +<P> +But Tom Swift held into altogether too slight regard the powers of +those who were opposed to him. He did not appreciate the depths to +which they would stoop to gain their ends. +</P> + +<P> +He had been working hard on his new device, and had reached a point +further along than when the other motor had exploded. He began to see +success ahead of him, and he was jubilant. Whether this made him +careless does not matter, but the fact was that he left Bower more to +himself, and alone in the experimental shop several times. +</P> + +<P> +And it was on one of these occasions, when Tom had been for some time +in one of the other shops, where he and Jackson were in consultation +over a new machine, that as he came back to the test room unexpectedly, +he saw Bower move hastily away from in front of the safe. Moreover, Tom +was almost certain he had heard the steel door clang shut as he +approached the building. +</P> + +<P> +And then, before he could ask his helper a question, Tom looked from a +window and saw a stranger running hastily along the side of the +building where his trial motor was being set up. +</P> + +<P> +"Who's that? Who is that man? Did he come in here? Was he tampering +with my safe?" cried Tom. He saw Bower hesitate and change color, and +Tom knew it was time to act. +</P> + +<P> +The window was open, and with one bound the young inventor was out and +running after the stranger he had seen departing in such a hurry. The +man was but a short distance ahead of him, and Tom saw he was stuffing +some papers into his pocket. +</P> + +<P> +"Here! Come back! Stop!" ordered Tom, but the man ran on the faster. +</P> + +<P> +"That's a spy as sure as guns!" reflected Tom Swift. "And Bower is in +with him!" he added. "I've got to catch that fellow!" and he speeded +his pace as he ran after the fellow. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A BIG SPLASH +</H3> + +<P> +There was no question in the mind of Tom Swift but that the man he was +running after was guilty of some wrong-doing. In the first place he was +a stranger, and had no right inside the big fence that surrounded the +Swift machine plant. Then, too, the very fact that he ran away was +suspicious. +</P> + +<P> +And this, coupled with the confusion on the part of Bower, and his +proximity to the safe, made Tom fear that some of his plans had been +stolen. These he was very anxious to recover if this strange man had +them, and so he raced after him with all speed. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop! Stop!" called Tom, but the on-racing stranger did not heed. +</P> + +<P> +The cries of the young inventor soon attracted the attention of his +men, and Jackson and some of the others came running from their various +shops to give whatever aid was needed. But they were all too far away +to give effective chase. +</P> + +<P> +"Bower might have come with me if he had wanted to help," thought Tom. +But a backward glance over his shoulder did not show that the new +helper was engaging in the pursuit, and he could have started almost on +the same terms as Tom himself. +</P> + +<P> +The runaway, looking back to see how near the young inventor was to +him, suddenly changed his course, and, noting this, Tom Swift thought: +</P> + +<P> +"I've got him now! He'll be bogged if he runs that way," for the way +led to a piece of swampy land that, after the recent rains, was a +veritable bog which was dangerous for cattle at least; and more than +one man had been caught there. +</P> + +<P> +"He can't run across the swamp, that's sure," reflected Tom with some +satisfaction. "I'll get him all right!" +</P> + +<P> +But he wanted to capture the man, if possible, before he reached the +bog, and, to this end, Tom increased his speed to such good end that +presently, on the firm ground that bordered the swamp, Tom was almost +within reaching distance of the stranger. +</P> + +<P> +But the latter kept up running, and dodged and turned so that Tom could +not lay hands on him. Suddenly, turning around a clump of trees the +fleeing man headed straight for a veritable mud hole that lay directly +in his path. It was part of the swamp—the most liquid part of the bog +and a home of frogs and lizards. +</P> + +<P> +Too late, the man, who was evidently unaware of the proximity of the +swamp, saw his danger. His further flight was cut off by the mud hole, +but it was too late to turn back. Tom Swift was at his heels now, and +seeing that it was impossible to grab the man, Tom did the next best +thing. He stuck out his foot and tripped him, and tripped him right on +the edge of the mud hole, so that the man fell in with a big splash, +the muddy water flying all around, some even over the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +For a moment the man disappeared completely beneath the surface, for +the mud hole was rather deep just where Tom had thrown him. Then there +was another violent agitation of the surface, and a very woebegone and +muddy face was raised from the slough, followed by the rest of the +figure of the man. Slowly he got to his feet, mud and water dripping +from him. He cleared his face by rubbing his hands over it, not that it +made his countenance clean, but it removed masses of mud from his eyes, +nose, and mouth, so that he could see and speak, though his first +operation was to gasp for breath. +</P> + +<P> +"What—what are you doin'?" he demanded of Tom, and as the man opened +his mouth to speak Tom was aware of a glitter, which disclosed the +'fact that the man had a large front tooth of gold. +</P> + +<P> +"What am I doing?" repeated Tom. "I think it's up to you to answer that +question, not me. What are you doing?" +</P> + +<P> +"You—you tripped me into this mud hole!" declared the man. +</P> + +<P> +"I did, yes; because you were trespassing on my property, and ran away +instead of stopping when I told you to," went on Tom. "Who are you and +what are you doing? What were you doing with Bower at my shop?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothin'! I wasn't doin' nothin'!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll inquire into that. I want to see what you have in your +pockets before I believe you. Come on out!" +</P> + +<P> +"You haven't any right to go through my pockets!" blustered the +stranger. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, haven't I? Well, I'm going to take the right. Jackson—Koku—just +see that he doesn't get away. We'll take him back and search him," and +Tom motioned to his chief machinist and the giant, who had reached the +scene, to take charge of the man. But Koku was sufficient for this +purpose, and the mud-bespattered stranger seemed to shrink as he saw +the big creature approach him. There was no question of running away +after that. +</P> + +<P> +"Bring him along," ordered Tom, and Koku, taking a tight grip on the +man by the slack of his garments behind, walked him along toward the +office, the mud and water splashing and oozing from his shoes at every +step. +</P> + +<P> +"Now you look here!" the gold-toothed man cried, as he was forced +along, "you ain't got any right to detain me. I ain't done nothin'!" +And each time he spoke the bright tooth in his mouth glittered in the +sun. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know whether you've done anything or not," said Tom. "I'm +going to take you back and see what you and Bower have to say. He may +know something about this." +</P> + +<P> +"If he does I don't believe he'll tell," said Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" asked Tom, quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"Because he's gone." +</P> + +<P> +"Gone! Bower gone?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Jackson. "I saw him running out of the experiment shop +as we raced along to help you. I didn't think, at the time, that he was +doing more than go for aid, perhaps. But I see the game now." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you mean—him?" and Tom pointed to the dripping figure. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Jackson in a low voice, as Koku went on ahead with his +prisoner. "If, as you say, this man was in league with Bower, the +latter has smelled a rat and skipped. He has run away, and I only hope +he hasn't done any damage or got hold of any of your plans." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll soon know about that," said Tom. "I wonder who is at the bottom +of this?" +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe those men you wouldn't work for," suggested the machinist. +</P> + +<P> +"You mean Gale and Ware of the Universal Flying Machine Company?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't believe they'd stoop to any such measures as this—sending +spies around," replied Tom. "But I can't be too careful. We'll +investigate." +</P> + +<P> +The first result of the investigation was to disclose the fact that +Bower was gone. He had taken his few possessions and left the Swift +plant while Tom was racing after the stranger. A hasty examination of +the safe did not reveal anything missing, as Tom's plans and papers +were intact. But they showed evidences of having been looked over, for +they were out of the regular order in which the young inventor kept +them. +</P> + +<P> +"I begin to see it," said Tom, musingly. "Bower must have managed to +open the safe while I was gone, and he must have made a hasty copy of +some of the drawings of the silent motor, and passed them out of the +window to this gold-tooth man, who tried to make off with them. Did you +find anything on him?" he asked, as one of the men who had been +instructed to search the stranger came into the office just then. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a thing, Mr. Swift! Not a thing!" was the answer. "We took off +every bit of his clothes and wrapped him in a blanket. He's in the +engine room getting dry now. But there isn't a thing in any of his +pockets." +</P> + +<P> +"But I saw him stuffing some papers in as he ran away from me," said +Tom. "We must be sure about this. And don't let the fellow get away +until I question him." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he's safe enough," answered the man. "Koku is guarding him. He +won't get away." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I'll have a look at his clothes," decided Tom. "He may have a +secret pocket." +</P> + +<P> +But nothing like this was disclosed, and the most careful search did +not reveal anything incriminating in the man's garments. +</P> + +<P> +"He might have thrown away any papers Bower gave him," said Tom. "Maybe +they're at the bottom of the mud hole! If they're there they're safe +enough. But have a search made of the ground where this man ran." +</P> + +<P> +This was done, but without result. Some of the workmen even dragged the +mud hole without finding anything. Then Tom and his father had a talk +with the stranger, who refused to give his name. The man was sullen and +angry. He talked loudly about his innocence and of "having the law on" +Tom for having tripped him into the mud. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, if you want to make a complaint, go ahead," said the young +inventor. "I'll make one against you for trespass. Why did you come on +my grounds?" +</P> + +<P> +"I was going to ask for work. I'm a good machinist and I wanted a job." +</P> + +<P> +"How did you get in? Who admitted you at the gate?" +</P> + +<P> +"I—I jest walked in," said the man, but Tom knew this could not be +true, as no strangers were admitted without a permit and none had been +issued. The man denied knowing anything about Bower, but the latter's +flight was evidence enough that something was wrong. +</P> + +<P> +Not wishing to go to the trouble of having the man arrested merely as a +trespasser, Tom let him go after his clothes had been dried on a boiler +in one of the shops. +</P> + +<P> +"Take him to the gate, and tell him if he comes back he'll get another +dose of the same kind of medicine," ordered Tom to one of the guards at +the plant, and when the latter had reported that this had been done, he +added in an earnest tone: +</P> + +<P> +"He went off talking to himself and saying he'd get even with you, Mr. +Swift." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," said Tom easily. "I'll be on the watch." +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor made a thorough examination of his experiment shop +and the test motor. No damage seemed to have been done, and Tom began +to think he had been too quick for the conspirators, if such they were. +His plans and drawings were intact, and though Bower might have given a +copy to the stranger with the gold tooth, the latter did not take any +away with him. That he had some papers he wished to conceal and escape +with, seemed certain, but the splash into the mud hole had ended this. +</P> + +<P> +No trace was found of Bower, and an effort Tom made to ascertain if the +man was a spy in the employ of Gale and Ware came to naught. The +machinist had come well recommended, and the firm where he was last +employed had nothing but good to say of him. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's a mystery," decided Tom. "However, I got out of it pretty +well. Only if that gold-tooth individual shows up again he won't get +off so easily." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A NIGHT TRIP +</H3> + +<P> +Taking a lesson from what had happened, Tom was very much more careful +in the following experiments on his new, silent motor. He made some +changes in his shop, and took Jackson in to help on the new machine, +thus insuring perfect secrecy as the apparatus developed. +</P> + +<P> +Tom also changed the safe in which he kept his plans, for the one he +had used previous to the episode in which Bower and the stranger who +took the mud bath figured, was one the combination of which could +easily be ascertained by an expert. The new safe was more complicated, +and Tom felt that his plans, specifications, and formulae which he had +worked out were in less danger. +</P> + +<P> +"I can just about figure out what happened," said Ned Newton to Tom, +when told of the circumstances. "These Universal people were provoked +because you wouldn't give them the benefit of your experience on their +flying machines, and so they sent a spy to get work with you. They, +perhaps, hoped to secure some of your ideas for their own, or they may +have had a deeper motive." +</P> + +<P> +"What deeper motive could they have, Ned?"</p> + +<p>"They might have hoped to +disable you, or some of your machines, so that you couldn't compete +with them. They're unscrupulous, I hear, and will do anything to +succeed and make money. So be on your guard against them." +</P> + +<P> +"I will," Tom promised. "But I don't believe there's any more danger +now. Anyhow, I have to take some chances." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but be as careful as you can. How is the silent motor coming on?" +</P> + +<P> +"Pretty good. I've had a lot of failures, and the thing isn't so easy +as I at first imagined it would be. Noise is a funny thing, and I'm +just beginning to understand some of the laws of acoustics we learned +at high school. But I think I'm on the right track with the muffler and +the cutting down of the noise of the explosions in the cylinders. I'm +working both ends, you see—making a motor that doesn't cause as much +racket as those now in use, and also providing means to take care of +the noise that is made. It isn't possible to make a completely silent +motor of an explosive gas type. The only thing that can be done is to +kill the noise after it is made." +</P> + +<P> +"What about the propeller blades?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, they aren't giving me any trouble. The noise they make can't be +heard a hundred feet in the air, but I am also working on improvements +to the blades. Take it altogether, I'll have an almost silent aeroplane +if my plans come out all right." +</P> + +<P> +"Have you said anything to the government yet?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; I want to have it pretty well perfected before I do. Besides, I +don't want any publicity about it until I'm ready. If these Universal +people are after me I'll fool 'em." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right, Tom! Well, I must go. Another week of this Liberty Bond +campaign!" +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose you'll be glad when it's over." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't know," said Ned slowly. "It's part of my small +contribution to Uncle Sam. I'm not like you—I can't invent things." +</P> + +<P> +"But you have an awful smooth line of talk, Ned!" laughed his chum. "I +believe you could sell chloride of sodium to some of the fishes in the +Great Salt Lake—that is if it has fishes." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know that it has, Tom. And, anyhow, I'm not posing as a salt +salesman," and Ned grinned. "But I must really go. Our bank hasn't +reached its quota in the sale of Liberty Bonds yet, and it's up to me +to see that it doesn't fall down." +</P> + +<P> +"Go to it, Ned! And I'll get busy on my silent motor." +</P> + +<P> +"Getting busy" was Tom Swift's favorite occupation, and when he was +working on a new idea, as was the case now, he was seldom idle, night +or day. +</P> + +<P> +"I have hardly seen you for two weeks," Mary Nestor wrote him one day. +"Aren't you ever coming to see me any more, or take me for a ride?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," Tom wrote back. "I'll be over soon. And perhaps on the next ride +we take I won't have to shout at you through a speaking tube because +the motor makes so much noise." +</P> + +<P> +From this it may be gathered that Tom was on the verge of success. +While not altogether satisfied with his progress, the young inventor +felt that he was on the right track. There were certain changes that +needed to be made in the apparatus he was building—certain refinements +that must be added, and when this should be done Tom was pretty certain +that he would have what would prove to be a very quiet aeroplane, if +not an absolutely silent one. +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor was engaged one day with some of the last details of +the experiment. The new motor, with the silencer and the changed +cylinders, had been attached to one of Tom's speedy aeroplanes, and he +was making some intricate calculations in relation to a new cylinder +block, to be used when he started to make a completely new machine of +the improved type. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had set down on paper some computations regarding the cross-section +of one of the cylinders, and was working out the amount of stress to +which he could subject a shoulder strut, when a shadow was cast across +the drawing board he had propped up in his lap. +</P> + +<P> +In an instant Tom pulled a blank sheet over his mass of figures and +looked up, a sudden fear coming over him that another spy was at hand. +But a hearty voice reassured him. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my rice pudding!" cried Mr. Damon, "you shut yourself up here, +Tom, like a hermit in the mountains. Why don't you come out and enjoy +life?" +</P> + +<P> +"Hello! Glad to see you!" cried Tom, joyfully. "You're just in time!" +</P> + +<P> +"Time for what—dinner?" asked the eccentric man, with a chuckle. "If +so, my reference to rice pudding was very proper." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, yes, I imagine there must be a dinner in prospect somewhere, Mr. +Damon," said Tom with a smile. "We'll have to see Mrs. Baggert about +that. But what I meant was that you're just in time to have a ride with +me, if you want to go." +</P> + +<P> +"Go where?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, up in cloudland. I have just finished my first sample of a silent +motor, and I'm going to try it this evening. Would you like to come +along?" +</P> + +<P> +"I would!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Bless my onion soup, Tom, but I would! +But why fly at night? Isn't it safer by daylight?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that doesn't make much difference. It's safe enough at any time. +The reason I'm going to make my first flight after dark is that I don't +want any spies about." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I see! Are they camping on your trail?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not exactly. But I can't tell where they may be. If I should start out +in daylight and be forced to make a landing— Well, you know what a +crowd always collects to see a stranded airship." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"That decided me to start off after dark. Then if we have to come down +because of some sort of engine trouble or because my new attachment +doesn't work right, we sha'n't have any prying eyes." +</P> + +<P> +"I see! Well, Tom, I'll go with you. Fortunately I didn't tell my wife +where I was going when I started out this afternoon, so she won't worry +until after it's over, and then it won't hurt her. I'm ready any time +you are." +</P> + +<P> +"Good! Stay to dinner and I'll show you what I've made. Then we'll take +a flight after dark." +</P> + +<P> +This suited the eccentric man, and a little later, after he had eaten +one of Mrs. Baggert's best meals, including rice pudding, of which he +was very fond, Mr. Damon accompanied Tom to one of the big hangars +where the new aeroplane had been set up. +</P> + +<P> +"So that's the Air Scout, is it, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon, as he viewed +the machine. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's the girl. 'Air Scout' is as good a name as any, until I +see what she'll do." +</P> + +<P> +"It doesn't look different from one of your regular craft of the skies, +Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"No, she isn't. The main difference is here," and Tom showed his friend +where a peculiar apparatus had been attached to the motor. This was the +silencer—the whole secret of the invention, so to speak. +</P> + +<P> +To Mr. Damon it seemed to consist of an amazing collection of pipes, +valves, baffle-plates, chambers, cylinders and reducers, which took the +hot exhaust gases as they came from the motor and "ate them up," as he +expressed it. +</P> + +<P> +"The cylinders, too, and the spark plugs are differently arranged in +the motor itself, if you could see them," said Tom to his friend. "But +the main work of cutting down the noise is done right here," and he put +his hand on the steel case attached to the motor, the case containing +the apparatus already briefly described. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm ready when you are, Tom," said Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll go as soon as it's dark," was the reply. "But first I'll give +you a demonstration. Start the motor, Jackson!" Tom called to his chief +helper. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon had ridden in aeroplanes before, and had stood near when Tom +started them; so he was prepared for a great rush of air as the +propellers whirled about, and for deafening explosions from the engine. +</P> + +<P> +The big blades, of new construction, were turned until the gas in the +cylinders was sufficiently compressed. Then Jackson stepped back out of +danger while Tom threw over the switch. +</P> + +<P> +"Contact!" cried the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +Jackson gave the blades a quarter pull, and, a moment later, as he +leaped back out of the way, they began to revolve with the swiftness of +light. There was the familiar rush of air as the wooden wings cut +through the atmosphere, but there was scarcely any noise. Mr. Damon +could hardly believe his ears. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not running her at full speed," said Tom. "If I did she'd tear +loose from the holding blocks. But you can see what little racket she +makes." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon. "You are right, Tom Swift! +Why, I can hear you talk almost as easily as if no engine were going. +And I don't have to shout my head off, either." +</P> + +<P> +This was perfectly true. Tom could converse with Mr. Damon in almost +ordinary tones. The exhaust from the motor was nearly completely +muffled. +</P> + +<P> +"Out in the air it will seem even more quiet," said Tom. "I'll soon +give you a chance to verify that statement." +</P> + +<P> +He ran the engine a little longer, the aeroplane quivering with the +vibrations, but remaining almost silent. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm anxious to see what she'll do when in motion," said Tom, as he +shut off the gas and spark. +</P> + +<P> +Soon after supper, when the shades of evening were falling, he and Mr. +Damon took their places in the first of the Air Scouts, to give it the +preliminary test in actual flying. +</P> + +<P> +Would Tom's hopes be justified or would he be disappointed? +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE CRY FOR HELP +</H3> + +<P> +"All ready, Mr. Damon?" asked Tom, as he looked to see that all the +levers, wheels, valves, and other controls were in working order on his +Air Scout. +</P> + +<P> +"As ready as I ever shall be, Tom," was the answer. "I don't know why +it is, but somehow I feel that something is going to happen on this +trip." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense!" laughed Tom. "You're nervous; that's all." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose so. Don't think I'm going to back out, or anything like +that, but I wish it were successfully over with, Tom Swift, I most +certainly do." +</P> + +<P> +"It will be in a little while," returned Tom, as he settled himself +comfortably in his seat and pulled the safety strap tight. "You've gone +up in this same plane before, when it didn't have the silent motor +aboard." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know I have. Oh, I dare say it will be all right, Tom. And +yet, somehow, I can't help feeling—" +</P> + +<P> +But Tom Swift felt that the best way to set Mr. Damon's premonitions to +rest was to start the motor, and this he gave orders to have done, +Jackson and some others of the men from the shops congregating about +the craft to see the beginning of the night flight. Mr. Swift was there +also, and Eradicate. Mary Nestor had been invited, but her Red Cross +work engaged her that evening, she said. Ned Newton was away from town +on Liberty Bond business, and he could not be present at the test. +</P> + +<P> +However, as Tom expected to have other trials when his motor was in +even better shape, he was not exactly sorry for the absence of his +friends. +</P> + +<P> +"Contact!" called the young inventor, when Jackson had stepped back, +indicating it was time to throw over the switch. +</P> + +<P> +"Let her go!" cried Tom, and the next moment the motor was in +operation, but so silently that his voice and that of Mr. Damon's could +easily be heard above the machinery. +</P> + +<P> +"Good, Tom! That's good!" cried Mr. Swift, and Tom easily heard his +father's voice, though under other, and ordinary, circumstances this +would have been impossible. +</P> + +<P> +True, the hearing of Tom and Mr. Damon was muffled to a certain extent +by the heavy leather and fur-lined caps they wore. But Tom had several +small eyelet holes set into the flaps just over the opening of the +ears, and these holes were sufficient to admit sounds, while keeping +out most of the cold that obtains in the upper regions. +</P> + +<P> +The aeroplane moved swiftly along the level starting ground, and away +from the lighted hangars. Faster and faster it swung along as Tom +headed it into the wind, and then, as the speed of the motor increased, +the Air Scout suddenly left the earth and went soaring aloft as she had +done before. +</P> + +<P> +But there was this difference. She moved almost as silently as a great +owl which swoops down out of the darkness—a bit of the velvety +blackness itself. Up and up, and onward and onward, went the Air Scout. +Tom Swift's improved, silent motor urged it onward, and as the young +inventor listened to catch the noise of the machinery, his heart gave a +bound of hope. For he could detect only very slight sounds. +</P> + +<P> +"She's a success!" exulted Tom to himself. "She's a success, but she +isn't perfect yet," he added. "I've got to make the muffler bigger and +put in more baffle-plates. Then I think I can turn the trick." +</P> + +<P> +He swung the machine out over the open country, and then, when they +were up at a height and sailing along easily, he called back to Mr. +Damon in the seat behind him: +</P> + +<P> +"How do you like it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Great!" exclaimed the eccentric man. "Bless my postage stamp, but it's +great! Why, there's hardly a sound, Tom, and I can hear you quite +easily." +</P> + +<P> +"And I can hear you," added Tom. "I don't believe, down below there," +and he nodded toward the earth, though Mr. Damon could not see this, as +the airship, save for a tiny light over the instrument board, was in +darkness, "they know that we're flying over their heads." +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you," was the answer. "Tom, my boy, I believe you've +solved the trick! You have produced a silent aeroplane, and now it's up +to the government to make use of it." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not quite ready for that yet," replied the young inventor. "I +have several improvements to make. But, when they are finished, I'll +let Uncle Sam know what I have. Then it's up to him." +</P> + +<P> +"And you must be careful, Tom, that some of your rivals don't hear of +your success and get it away from you," warned Mr. Damon, as Tom guided +the Air Scout along the aerial way—an unlighted and limitless path in +the silent darkness. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, they'll have to get up pretty early in the morning to do that!" +boasted Tom, and afterward he was to recall those words with a bit of +chagrin. +</P> + +<P> +On and on they sailed, and as Tom increased the speed of the motor, and +noted how silently it ran, he began to have high hopes that he had +builded better than he knew. For even with the motor running at almost +full speed there was not noise enough to hinder talk between himself +and Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +Of course there was some little sound. Even the most perfect electric +motor has a sort of hum which can be detected when one is close to it. +But at a little distance a great dynamo in operation appears to be +silence itself. +</P> + +<P> +"I can go this one better, though," said Tom as he sailed along in the +night. "I see where I've made a few mistakes in the baffle plate of the +silencer. I'll correct that and—" +</P> + +<P> +As he spoke the machine gave a lurch, and the motor, instead of +remaining silent, began to cough and splutter as in the former days. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my rubber boots, Tom! what's the matter?" cried Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Something's gone wrong," Tom answered, barely able to hear and make +himself heard above the sudden noise. "I'll have to shut off the power +and glide down. We can make a landing in this big field," for just then +the moon came out from behind a cloud, and Tom saw, below them, a great +meadow, not far from the home of Mary Nestor. He had often landed in +this same place. +</P> + +<P> +"Something has broken in the muffler, I think, letting out some of the +exhaust," he said to Mr. Damon, for, now that the motor was shut off, +Tom could speak in his ordinary tones. "I'll soon have it fixed, or, if +I can't, we can go back in the old style—with the machine making as +much racket as it pleases." +</P> + +<P> +So Tom guided the machine down. It went silently now, of course, +making, with the motor shut off, no more sound than a falling leaf. +Down to the soft, springy turf in the green meadow Tom guided the +machine. As it came to a stop, and he and Mr. Damon got out, there was +borne to their ears a wild cry: +</P> + +<P> +"Help! Help!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SOMETHING QUEER +</H3> + +<P> +"Did you hear that?" asked Tom Swift of his companion. +</P> + +<P> +"Hear it? Bless my ear drums, I should say I did hear it! Some one is +in trouble, Tom. Caught in a bog, most likely, the same as that spy +chap who was at your place. That's it—caught in a bog!" +</P> + +<P> +"There isn't any bog or swamp around here, Mr. Damon. If there was I +shouldn't have tried a landing. No, it's something else besides that. +Hark!" +</P> + +<P> +Again the cry sounded, seeming to come from a point behind the landing +place of the silent airship. It was clear and distinct: +</P> + +<P> +"Help! Help! They are—" +</P> + +<P> +The voice seemed to die away in a gurgle, as though the person's mouth +had been covered quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"He's sinking, Tom! He's sinking!" cried Mr. Damon. "I once heard a man +who almost drowned cry out, and it sounded exactly like that!" +</P> + +<P> +"But there isn't any water around here for any one to drown in," +declared Tom. "It's a big, dry meadow. I know where we are." +</P> + +<P> +"Then what is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know, but we're going to find out. Some one attacked by some +one else—or something, I should say," ventured the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Something! do you mean a wild beast, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, for there aren't any of those here any more than there is water. +Though it may be that some farmer's bull or a savage dog has got loose +and has attacked some traveler. But, in that case I think we would hear +bellows or barks, and all I heard was a cry for help." +</P> + +<P> +"The same with me, Tom. Let's investigate;" +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I intend doing. Come on. The airship will be all right +until we come back." +</P> + +<P> +"Better take a light—hadn't you? It's dark, even if the moon does show +now and then," suggested Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Guess you are right," agreed Tom. Aboard his airship there were +several small but powerful portable electric lights, and after securing +one of these Tom and Mr. Damon started for the spot whence the call for +help had come. As they walked along, their feet making no noise on the +soft turf, they listened intently for a repetition of the call for aid. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't hear anything," said Tom, after a bit. +</P> + +<P> +"Nor I," added Mr. Damon. "We don't know exactly which way to go, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right. Guess we'd better give him a hail; whoever it is." +</P> + +<P> +Tom came to a halt, and raising his voice to a shout called: +</P> + +<P> +"Hello there! What's the matter? We'll help you if you can tell us +which way to come!" +</P> + +<P> +They both listened intently, but no voice answered them. At the same +time, however, they were aware of a sound as of hurrying feet, and +there seemed to be muttered imprecations not far away. Tom and Mr. +Damon looked in the direction of the sound, and the young inventor +flashed his light. But there was a clump of bushes and trees at that +point and the electrical rays did not penetrate very far. +</P> + +<P> +"Some one's over there!" exclaimed Tom in a whisper. "We'd better go +and see what it is." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," agreed Mr. Damon, and he, too, spoke in a low voice. +</P> + +<P> +Why they did this when their previous talk had been in ordinary tones, +and when Tom had shouted so loudly, they did not stop to reason about +or explain just then. But later they both admitted that they whispered +because they thought there was something wrong on foot—because they +feared a crime was being committed and they wanted to surprise the +perpetrators if they could. +</P> + +<P> +And it was this fact of their whispering that enabled the two to hear +something that, otherwise, they might not have heard. And this was the +sound of some vehicle hurrying away—an automobile, if Tom was any +judge. The cries for help had been succeeded by stifled vocal sounds, +and these, in turn, by the noise of wheels on the ground. +</P> + +<P> +"What does it all mean?" asked Mr. Damon in a whisper. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," answered Tom, resolutely, "but we've got to find out. +Come on." +</P> + +<P> +They advanced toward the dark clump of trees and low bushes. There was +no need to be especially cautious in regard to being silent, as their +feet made little, if any, sound on the deep grass. And, as Tom walked +in advance, now and then flashing his light, Mr. Damon suddenly caught +him by the coat. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Look! Just over the top of that hill, where the moon shines. Don't +you see an automobile outlined?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom looked quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"I do," he answered. "There's a road from here, just the other side of +those trees, to that hill. The auto must have gone that way. Well, +there's no use in trying to follow it now. Whoever it was has gotten +away." +</P> + +<P> +"But they may have left some one behind, Tom. We'd better look in and +around those trees." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose we had, but I don't believe we'll find anything. I can +pretty nearly guess, now, what it was." +</P> + +<P> +"What?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, some chauffeur was out for a ride in his employer's car without +permission. He got here, had an accident—maybe some friends he took +for a ride were hurt and they called for help. The chauffeur knew if +there was any publicity he'd be blamed, and so he got away as quickly +as he could. Guess the accident—if that's what it was—didn't amount +to much, or they couldn't have run the car off. We've had our trouble +for our pains." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, maybe you're right, Tom Swift, but all the same, I'd like to +have a look among those trees," said Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh. we'll look, all right," assented Tom, "but I doubt if we find +anything." +</P> + +<P> +And he was right. They walked in and about the little grove, flashing +the light at intervals, but beyond marks of auto wheels in the dust of +the road, which was near the clump of maples, there was nothing to +indicate what had happened. +</P> + +<P> +"Though there was some sort of fracas," declared Tom. "Look where the +dust is trampled down. There were several men here, perhaps skylarking, +or perhaps it was a fight." +</P> + +<P> +"Some one must have been hurt, or they wouldn't have cried for help," +said Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's so. But perhaps it was some one not used to riding in +autos, and he may have imagined the accident was worse than it was, and +called for help involuntarily. There is no evidence of any serious +accident having happened—no spots of blood, at any rate," and Tom +laughed at his own grimness. "It was a new car, too, or at least one +with new tires on." +</P> + +<P> +"How do you know?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell by the plain marks of the rubber tread in the dust," was the +answer. "Look," and Tom pointed to the wheel marks in the focus of his +electric lamp. "It's a new tire, too, with square protuberances on the +tread instead of the usual diamond or round ones. A new kind of tire, +all right." +</P> + +<P> +He and Mr. Damon remained for a few minutes looking about the place +whence had come the calls for help, and then the eccentric man remarked: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, as long as we can't do anything here, Tom, we might as well +travel on; what do you say?" +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you. There isn't any use in staying. We'll get the Air +Scout fixed up and travel back home. But this was something queer," +mused Tom. "I hope it doesn't turn out later that a crime has been +committed, and we didn't show enough gumption to prevent it." +</P> + +<P> +"We couldn't prevent it. We heard the cries as soon as we landed." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but if we had rushed over at once we might have caught the +fellows. But I guess it was only a slight accident, and some one was +more frightened than hurt. We'll have to let it go at that." +</P> + +<P> +But the more he thought about it the more Tom Swift thought there was +something queer in that weird cry for help on the lonely meadow in the +darkness of the night. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE TELEPHONE CALL +</H3> + +<P> +The defect in the motor which had caused Tom Swift to shut off the +power and drift down to earth was soon remedied, once the young +inventor began an examination of the craft. One of the oil feeds had +become choked and this automatically cut down the gasoline supply, +causing one or more cylinders to miss. It was a safety device Tom had +installed to prevent the motor running dry, and so being damaged. +</P> + +<P> +Once the clogged oil feed was cleared the motor ran as before, and just +as silently, though, as Tom had said, he was not entirely satisfied +with the quietness, but intended to do further work toward perfecting +it. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll start the propellers now, Mr. Damon," said Tom, when the trouble +had been remedied. "You know how to throw the switch, don't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I guess so," was the answer. Mr. Damon and Tom had traveled so often +together in gasoline craft that the young inventor had taught his +friend certain fundamentals about them, and in an emergency the +eccentric man could help start an aeroplane. This he now did, taking +charge of the controls which could be operated from his seat as well as +from Tom's. Tom whirled the propellers, and soon the motor was in +motion. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon, once the big wooden blades were revolving, slowed down the +apparatus until Tom could jump aboard, after which the latter took +charge and soon speeded up the machine, sending it aloft. +</P> + +<P> +As the green meadow, dimly seen in the light of the moon, seemed to +drop away below them, and the clump of trees vanished from sight, both +Tom and Mr. Damon wondered who it was that had called for help, and if +the matter were at all serious. They were inclined to think it was not, +but Tom could not rid himself of a faint suspicion that there might +have been trouble. +</P> + +<P> +However, thoughts of his new silent Air Scout soon drove everything +else from his mind, and as he guided the comparatively silent machine +on its quiet way toward his own home he was thinking how he could best +improve the muffler. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, here we are again, safe and sound," remarked Tom, as he brought +the craft to a stop in front of the hangar, and Jackson and his +helpers, who were awaiting the return, hurried out to take charge. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, everything seems to point to success, Tom," agreed Mr. Damon. +"That is, unless the slight accident we had means trouble." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, that had nothing to do with the operation of the silencer. But +I'm going to do better yet. Some day I'll take you for a ride in a +silent machine which will make so little noise that you can hear a pin +drop." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," remarked Mr. Damon' with a laugh, "I don't know that listening +to falling pins will give me any great amount of pleasure, Tom, but I +appreciate your meaning." +</P> + +<P> +"Everything all right?" asked Mr. Swift, as he came out to hear the +details from his son. "Do you think you have solved the problem?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not completely, but I'll soon be able to write Q. E. D. after it. Some +refinements are all that are needed, Dad." +</P> + +<P> +"Glad to hear it. I was a bit anxious." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Swift questioned his son about the technical details of the trip, +asking how the motor had acted under the pressure caused by so +completely muffling the exhaust, and for some minutes the two +inventors, young and old, indulged in talk which was not at all +interesting to Mr. Damon. They went into the house, and Tom asked to +have a little lunch, which Mrs. Baggert set out for him. +</P> + +<P> +"It's rather late to eat," said the young inventor, "but I always feel +hungry after I test a new machine and find that it works pretty well. +Will you join me in a sandwich or two, Mr. Damon?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, bless my ketchup bottle, I believe I will." +</P> + +<P> +And so they ate and talked. Tom was on the point of telling his father +something of the queer cry for help they had heard on the lonely meadow +when Mrs. Baggert produced a letter which she said had come for Tom +that afternoon, but had been mislaid by a new maid who had been engaged +to help with the housework. +</P> + +<P> +"She took it to the shop after you had left, and only now told me about +it," explained Mrs. Baggert. "So I sent Eradicate for it." +</P> + +<P> +"How long ago was that?" asked Tom, as he took the missive. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, an hour ago," answered Mrs. Baggert, with a smile. "But don't +blame poor Rad for that. He wanted to deliver the letter to you +personally, and so did Koku. The result was your giant kept after Rad, +trying to get the letter from him, and Rad kept hiding and slinking +about for a chance to see you himself until I saw what was going on, a +little while ago, and took the letter myself. Else you might never have +gotten it, so jealous are those two," and Mrs. Baggert laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"Guess it isn't of much importance," Tom said, as he tore open the +envelope. "It's from the Universal Flying Machine Company, of New York, +and I imagine they're trying to get me to reconsider my refusal to link +up with them." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," he went on, as he read the missive, "that's it. They've raised +the amount to thirty thousand a year now, Dad, and they say they feel +sure I shall regret it if I do not accept. +</P> + +<P> +"This is a bit queer, though," went on the young inventor. "This +letter was written three days ago, but it reached Shopton only to-day. +And it says that unless they hear from me at once they will have to +take steps that will cause me great inconvenience. They have nerve, at +any rate, and impudence, too! I won't even bother to answer. But I +wonder what they mean, and why this letter was delayed?" +</P> + +<P> +"The mails are all late on account of the transportation congestion +caused by moving troops to the camps," said Mr. Damon. "Some of my +letters are delayed a week. But, as you say, Tom, these fellows are +very impudent to threaten that way." +</P> + +<P> +"It's all bluff," declared Tom. "I'm not worrying. And now, Dad, since +I've almost reached the top of the hill with my Air Scout, I may be +able to help you on that new electric motor you're puzzling over." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you would, Tom. I am trying to invent a new system of +interchangeable brush contacts, but so far I've been unable to make +them work. However, there is no great hurry about that. If you are +going to offer your silent machine to the government finish that first. +We need all the aircraft we can get. The battles on the other side seem +to be all in favor of the Germans, so far." +</P> + +<P> +"We haven't got into our stride yet," declared Mr. Damon. "Once Uncle +Sam gets the boys over there in force, there'll be a different story to +tell. I only wish—" +</P> + +<P> +At that moment the telephone set up an insistent ringing, breaking in +on Mr. Damon's remarks. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll answer," said Tom, as Mrs. Baggert moved toward the instrument, +which was an extension from the main one. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello!" called the young inventor into the transmitter, and as he +received an answer a look of pleasure came over his face. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Mary, this is Tom," he said. He remained silent a moment, while +it was evident he was listening to the voice at the other end of the +wire. Then he suddenly exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"What's that? Tell him to come home? Why, he isn't here. I just came in +and—what—wait a minute!" +</P> + +<P> +With a rather strange look on his face Tom covered the mouth-piece of +the instrument with his hand, and, turning to his father, asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Is Mr. Nestor here?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Mr. Swift slowly, "He was here, though. He came a little +while after you and Mr. Damon started off in the Air Scout. But he +didn't stay. Said he wanted to see you about something and would call +again." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh," remarked the young man. "I didn't know he had been there." +</P> + +<P> +"I meant to tell you," said Mrs. Baggert; "but getting the lunch made +me forget it, I guess." +</P> + +<P> +Tom uncovered the transmitter of the telephone again, and spoke to Mary +Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello," he said. "I was wrong, Mary. Your father was here, but he left +when he found I wasn't at home. How long ago? Wait a minute and I'll +inquire. +</P> + +<P> +"How long ago did Mr. Nestor leave?" asked the young inventor of the +housekeeper. "Nearly an hour," he said into the instrument, after he +had received the answer. Then, after listening a moment, he added: +"Yes, I guess he'll be home soon now. Probably stopped down town to see +some of his friends. Yes, Mr. Damon and I tried out the Air Scout. Yes, +she worked pretty well, for a starter, but there is something yet to be +done. Oh, yes, now I'll have time to come over to see you, and take you +for a ride too. We won't have to talk through a speaking tube, either. +Tell your father I am sorry I was out when he called. I'll come to see +him to-morrow, if he wants me to. Yes—yes. I guess so!" and Tom +laughed, it being evident that his remarks at the end of the +conversation had to do with personal matters. +</P> + +<P> +"A telegram has come for Mr. Nestor and they were anxious that he +should get it," Tom explained to his little audience as he hung up the +receiver and put aside the telephone. "I wonder what he wanted to see +me about?" +</P> + +<P> +"He didn't say," replied Mrs. Baggert. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon, Tom, and his father remained in conversation a little while +longer, and the eccentric man was thinking that it was about time for +him to return home, when the telephone rang again. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello," answered Tom, as he was nearest the instrument. "Oh, yes, +Mary, this is he. What's that? Your father hasn't reached home yet? And +your mother is worried? Oh tell her there is no cause for alarm. As I +said, he probably stopped on his way to see some friends." +</P> + +<P> +Tom listened for perhaps half a minute to a talk that was inaudible to +the others in the room, and they noticed a grave look come over his +face. Then he said: +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be right over, Mary. Yes, I'll come at once. And tell your mother +not to worry. I'm sure nothing could have happened. I'll be with you +in a jiffy!" +</P> + +<P> +As Tom Swift hung up the receiver he said: +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Nestor hasn't reached home yet, and as he promised to return at +once in case he didn't find me, his wife is much worried. I'll go over +and see what I can do." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll come along!" volunteered Mr. Damon. "It isn't late yet." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, do come," urged Tom. "But I suppose when we get there we'll find +our friend has arrived safely. We'll go over in the electric runabout." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A VAIN SEARCH +</H3> + +<P> +Tom Swift's speedy little electric car was soon at the door in +readiness to take him and Mr. Damon to the Nestor home. The electric +runabout was a machine Tom had evolved in his early inventive days, and +though he had other automobiles, none was quite so fast or so simple to +run as this, which well merited the name of the most rapid machine on +the road. In it Tom had once won a great race, as has been related in +the book bearing the title, "Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout." +</P> + +<P> +"Mary didn't telephone again, did she?" Tom asked his father, as he +stopped at the house to get Mr. Damon, having gone out to see about +getting the electric runabout in readiness. +</P> + +<P> +"No," was the answer. "The telephone hasn't rung since." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, I guess, Mr. Nestor can't have arrived home," said Tom. "It's a +bit queer, his delay, but I'm sure it will be explained naturally. Only +Mary and her mother are alone and, very likely, they're nervous. I'll +telephone to let you know everything is all right as soon as I get +there," Tom promised his father and Mrs. Baggert as he drove off down +the road, partly illuminated by the new moon. +</P> + +<P> +Rapidly and almost as silently as his Air Scout Tom Swift drove the +speedy car down the highway. It was about three miles from his home to +that of Mary Nestor, and though the distance was quickly covered, to +Tom, at least, the space seemed interminable. But at length he drove +up to the door. There were lights in most of the rooms, which was +unusual at this time of night. +</P> + +<P> +The sound of the wheels had not ceased echoing on the gravel of the +drive before Mary was out on the porch, which she illuminated by an +overhead light. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Tom," she cried, "he hasn't come yet, and we are so worried! Did +you see anything of father as you came along?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," was Tom's answer. "But we didn't look for him along the road, as +we came by the turnpike, and he wouldn't travel that way. But he will +be along at any moment now. You must remember it's quite a walk from my +house, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"But he was on his bicycle," said Mary. "We wanted him to go in the +auto, but he said he wanted some exercise after supper, and he went +over on his wheel. He said he'd be right back, but he hasn't come yet." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he will!" said Tom reassuringly. "He may have had a puncture, or +something like that. Bicyclists are just as liable to them as +autoists," he added with a laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm sure I hope it will be all right," sighed Mary. "I wish you +could convince mother to that effect. She's as nervous as a cat. Come +in and tell us what to do." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he'll be all right," declared Mr. Damon, adding his assurances to +Tom's. +</P> + +<P> +They found Mrs. Nestor verging on an attack of hysteria. Though Mr. +Nestor often went out during the evening, he seldom stayed late. +</P> + +<P> +"And he said he'd be right back if he found you weren't at home, Tom," +said Mrs. Nestor. "I'm sure I don't know what can be keeping him!" +</P> + +<P> +"It's too soon to get worried yet," replied the young inventor +cheerfully. "I'll wait a little while, and then, if he doesn't come, +Mr. Damon and I will go back over the road and look carefully. He may +have had a slight fall—sprained his ankle or something like that—and +not be able to ride. We came by the turnpike, a road he probably +wouldn't take on his wheel. He's all right, you may be sure of that." +</P> + +<P> +Tom tried to speak reassuringly, but somehow, he did not believe +himself. He was beginning to think more and more how strange it was +that Mr. Nestor did not return home. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll wait just a bit longer before setting out on a search," he told +Mary and her mother. "But I'm sure he will be along any minute now." +</P> + +<P> +They went into the library, Mary and her mother, Tom and Mr. Damon. And +there they sat waiting. Tom tried to entertain Mary and Mrs. Nestor +with an account of his trial trip in the Air Scout, but the two women +scarcely heard what he said. +</P> + +<P> +All sat watching the clock, and looking from that to the telephone, +which they tried to hope would ring momentarily and transmit to them +good news. Then they would listen for the sound of footsteps or bicycle +wheels on the gravel walk. But they heard nothing, and as the seconds +were ticked off on the clock the nervousness of Mrs. Nestor increased, +until she exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"I can stand it no longer! We must notify the police—or do something!" +</P> + +<P> +"I wouldn't notify the police just yet," counseled Tom. "Mr. Damon and +I will start out and look along the road. If it should happen, as will +probably turn out to be the case, that Mr. Nestor has met with only a +simple accident, he would not like the notoriety, or publicity, of +having the police notified." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I am sure he would not," agreed Mary. "Tom's way is best, Mother." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, just as you say, only find my husband," and Mrs. Nestor +sighed, and turned her head away. +</P> + +<P> +"Even if Mr. Nestor had had a fall," reasoned Tom, "he could call for +help, and get some one to telephone, unless—" +</P> + +<P> +And as he reasoned thus Tom Swift gave a mental start at his own use of +the word "help." +</P> + +<P> +That weird cry on the lonely meadow came back to him with startling +distinctness. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, Mr. Damon!" cried Tom, in a voice he tried to make cheerful. +"We'll find that Mr. Nestor is probably walking along, carrying his +disabled bicycle instead of having it carry him. We'll soon have him +safe back to you," he called to the two women. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I could go with you, and help search," observed Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I couldn't bear to be left alone!" exclaimed her mother. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll telephone as soon as we find him," called Tom to Mrs. Nestor, as +he and Mr. Damon again got into the runabout and started away from the +place. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you think of it, Tom?" asked the eccentric man, when they were +once more on the road. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, nothing much—as yet," Tom said. "That is, I think nothing more +than a simple accident has happened, if, indeed, it is anything more +than that he has delayed to talk to some friends." +</P> + +<P> +"Would he delay this long?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know." +</P> + +<P> +"And then, Tom—bless my spectacles! what of that cry we heard? Could +that have been Mr. Nestor?" +</P> + +<P> +There! It was out! The suspicion that Tom had been trying to keep his +mind away from came to the fore. Well, he might as well race the issue +now as later. +</P> + +<P> +"I've been thinking of that," he told Mr. Damon. "It might have been +Mary's father calling for help." +</P> + +<P> +"But we looked, Tom, near the trees, and couldn't discover anything. If +he had been calling for help—" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon did not finish. +</P> + +<P> +"He may have fallen from his wheel and been hurt," said Tom, as he +turned the electric runabout into the highway that Mr. Nestor would, +most likely, have taken on his way from Shopton. "Then he may have +called for help, and some autoists, passing, may have heard and taken +him away." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but where, Tom? Whoever called for help was taken away, that's +sure. But where?" +</P> + +<P> +"To some hospital, I suppose." +</P> + +<P> +"Then hadn't we better inquire there? There are only two hospitals of +any account around here. The one in Shopton and the one in Waterfield. +My wife is on the board of Lady Managers there. We could call that +hospital up and—" +</P> + +<P> +"We'll look along the road first," said Tom. "If we begin to make +inquiries at the hospitals there will be a lot of questions asked, and +a general alarm may be sent out. Mr. Nestor wouldn't like that, if he +isn't in any danger. And it may turn out that he has met an old friend, +and has been talking with him all this while, forgetting all about the +passage of time." +</P> + +<P> +They were now driving along the highway that led from the little suburb +where Mr. Nestor lived, to the main part of Shopton, just beyond which +was Tom's home. This section was country-like, with very few houses and +those placed at rather infrequent intervals. The road was a good one, +though not the main-traveled one, and Mr. Nestor, as was known, +frequently used it when he rode his bicycle, an exercise of which he +was very fond. +</P> + +<P> +As Tom and Mr. Damon drove along, they scanned, as best they could in +the light from the young moon and the powerful lamps on the runabout, +every part of the highway. They were looking for some dark blot which +might indicate where a man had fallen from his wheel and was lying in +some huddled heap on the road. But they saw nothing like this, much to +their relief. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know, Tom," said Mr. Damon, when they were nearing the town, +and their search, thus far, had been in vain, "I think we're going at +this the wrong way." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, so?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because Mr. Nestor may have fallen, and been hurt, and have been +carried into any one of a dozen houses along the road. In that case we +wouldn't see him. We've passed over the most lonely part of the journey +and haven't seen him. If the accident occurred near the houses his +cries would have brought some one out to help him. He is well known +around here, and, even if he were unconscious and couldn't tell who he +was, he could be identified by papers in his pockets. Then his family +would be notified by telephone." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps you are right, Mr. Damon. We may be wasting time this way. +What do you suggest?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"That we don't delay any longer, but call up the hospitals at once. If +he isn't in either of those he must be in some house, and in such +condition that his identity cannot be established. In that event it is +a case for the police. We haven't found him, and I think we had better +give the alarm." +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift thought it over for a moment. Then he came to a sudden +decision. +</P> + +<P> +"You're right!" he told Mr. Damon. "We mustn't waste any more time. He +isn't along the road he ought to have traveled in coming from my house +to his home—that's sure. But before I call up the hospitals I want to +try out one more idea." +</P> + +<P> +"What's that, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"I want to go to the place where we heard that cry for help." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think that could have been Mr. Nestor?" +</P> + +<P> +"It may have been. We'll go and take another look around there. Some +man was evidently hurt there, and was taken away. We may get a clew. +The lights on the runabout will give us a better chance to look around +than we had by the little pocket lamp. We'll try there, and, if we +don't find anything, then I'll call up the hospitals." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE LONG NIGHT +</H3> + +<P> +With the speedy runabout it did not take Tom Swift and Mr. Damon long +to reach the place where the Air Scout had been grounded a few hours +before, and where they had heard the cry for help. All was as dark and +as silent as when they had been there before. +</P> + +<P> +But, as Tom had said, the lights from his electric runabout would give +a brilliant illumination, and these he now directed toward the clump of +trees whence the cry for help had seemed to come. +</P> + +<P> +"Doesn't appear to have been visited by any one since we were here," +remarked Tom, as he observed the marks of the new automobile tire in +the dust. "Now we'll look about more carefully." +</P> + +<P> +This they did, but they were about to give up in despair and start for +the nearest telephone to call up the hospitals, when Mr. Damon gave an +exclamation. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Something bright and shining!" said his companion. "I saw it gleam in +the light of the lamps. You nearly put your foot on it, Tom. Just step +back a moment." +</P> + +<P> +Tom did so, and the eccentric man, with another exclamation, this time +of satisfaction, reached down and picked something up from the dusty +road. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a watch!" he exclaimed. "A gold watch! And it's been stepped on, +evidently, or run over by an auto. Not much damaged, but the case is a +bit bent and scratched. It's stopped, too!" he added as he held it to +his ear. +</P> + +<P> +"What time does it show?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Eight forty-seven," answered Mr. Damon, as he consulted the dial. +"Why, Tom, that was just about when we heard the cries for help!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it must have been. Let me see that watch." +</P> + +<P> +No sooner had the young inventor taken the timepiece into his hands +than he, too, uttered a cry of amazement. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you recognize it?" asked Mr. Damon, in great excitement. +</P> + +<P> +"It's Mr. Nestor's watch!" cried Tom. "He must have fallen here, and +been hurt. It was Mr. Nestor who cried for help, and who was taken away +by the autoists. They've probably taken him to some hospital. There's +been an accident all right." +</P> + +<P> +Tom and Mr. Damon were of one mind now in thinking that Mr. Nestor had +met with some mishap on the road—an automobile accident most +likely—and that he was the person who had called for help. +</P> + +<P> +"If they had only answered when we hallooed at them," said Tom, "we +wouldn't be in all this stew now. We could have told the strangers who +came to his aid who he was, and we might even have taken him to the +hospital in the airship." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's too late to think of that now," returned Mr. Damon. "We +had better get into communication with him as soon as we can, and then +send word to his wife and daughter. I hope he isn't badly hurt." +</P> + +<P> +Tom hoped so, too, with all his heart. +</P> + +<P> +There was nothing to do but to get back in the runabout and make all +speed for the nearest telephone, and Tom Swift lost little time in +doing this. They found a drug store which was open a little later than +usual, and at once Tom went into the booth and called up the Shopton +hospital. He was well known there, as he and his father were liberal +supporters of the institution, which was a private affair. Many of +Tom's men were treated at the dispensary, and, as accidents were of +more or less frequent occurrence at the works, the young inventor had +frequent occasions to call up the place. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Nestor would ask to be taken there, as it's nearest his home—that +is, if he was able to speak," Tom said to Mr. Damon, who agreed with +him. There was a little delay in getting the hospital on the wire, but +when Tom had it, and was talking to the superintendent, he was rather +surprised, to tell the truth, to be told that Mr. Nestor had not been +brought in. +</P> + +<P> +"We haven't had any accident cases all day, nor to-night, Mr. Swift," +the superintendent reported. "Was this some one special you were +inquiring about?" +</P> + +<P> +For Tom, determining not to give Mr. Nestor's name, except as a last +resort, had merely inquired whether any recent accident cases had been +brought in. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll let you know later, Mr. Millard," he told the superintendent, not +exactly answering the question. He hung up the receiver, and, opening +the door of the booth, said to Mr. Damon: "He isn't there." +</P> + +<P> +"Then try Waterfield," was the suggestion; and Tom did so, though he +could not imagine why an injured man, such as Mr. Nestor might prove to +be, should be taken as far as Waterfield, when the hospital at Shopton +was nearer. +</P> + +<P> +"Unless," he told Mr. Damon, "the people which ran down Mary's father +didn't know about our hospital." +</P> + +<P> +The reply from the institution in Mr. Damon's home town was just as +discouraging as had been the answer from Shopton. At first, when Tom +inquired, the head nurse had said there was an accident case at that +moment being brought in. Tom was all excitement until she went to +inquire the name and circumstances, and then he learned that it was the +case of a little boy who had fallen downstairs at his home and broken a +leg. There was no record of any one answering the description of Mr. +Nestor having been brought in that evening. +</P> + +<P> +"Hum! This is getting to be mysterious," mused Tom, as he came out of +the booth. "What shall we do—go back and tell Mrs. Nestor and Mary, or +communicate with the police?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why not try the Alexian Hospital?" asked Mr. Damon. "That's away over +in Centerford, to be sure, but it's more likely to be known to +passing tourists than either of our institutions around here, +especially if the autoists were strangers." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," agreed Tom. The Alexian Hospital was operated under the +direction of the Brothers of that faith, and was well known in that +part of the state. Often cases of persons who had been injured by +passing automobiles had been taken there for treatment, for, as Mr. +Damon had said, it was well known, and Centerford was the nearest large +city. +</P> + +<P> +"I can just about see how it happened," said Tom. "They ran Mr. Nestor +down, and stopped to pick him up after they heard his cries for help. +And the Alexian Hospital was the first one they thought of. We should +have called that up first." +</P> + +<P> +But once more disappointment awaited the young inventor and his friend. +Word came back over the wire that no accident case, which bore any +resemblance to Mary's father, had been brought in. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm stumped!" exclaimed Tom. "What shall we do now, Mr. Damon?" +</P> + +<P> +"Much as I dislike it," said the eccentric man who was too much +worried, now, to do any "blessing," which was his favorite expression, +"I think we ought to communicate with Mrs. Nestor. She will be very +anxious." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess we'll have to," said Tom. "But wait! I'll call up my house +first, and see if he has gone back there." +</P> + +<P> +But Mr. Nestor had not done this, and Mrs. Baggert, who answered the +telephone, said Mary had been calling frantically for Tom, as her +mother was now on the verge of complete collapse. +</P> + +<P> +"No help for it," said Tom, ruefully. "We've got to tell 'em we have no +news, and can't find him." +</P> + +<P> +And, hearing this, Mrs. Nestor did collapse, and a doctor was called in. +</P> + +<P> +Thereupon Tom, who with Mr. Damon had gone back to the Nestor home, +took charge of matters, sending for Mrs. Nestor's sister to come and +stay with her and take charge of the house. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll need some one to stay with you," he told Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I shall," she admitted, trying bravely not to give way to her +emotion. "Oh, Tom, I wish you could stay, too. I'm sure something +dreadful must have happened to poor father. Please stay and help us +find him!" +</P> + +<P> +"I will," Tom promised. "As soon as your aunt comes I'll take Mr. Damon +home, and then I'll give the rest of my time to you." +</P> + +<P> +And this Tom did, sending word home that he would remain at the +Nestor's all night and part of the next day. +</P> + +<P> +Tom got but little sleep that night. He communicated with the police +and saw to it that a general alarm was sent out. He called up all +hospitals within a radius of fifty miles, but could get no trace of any +injured man whose description resembled that of Mr. Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +"What can have happened?" asked Mary tearfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the way I figure it out is this," said Tom. "Your father left my +house soon after Mr. Damon and I did in the Air Scout. Mr. Nestor was +riding his bicycle, and he must have been run into by an automobile. +That is how his watch was damaged and that was when Mr. Damon and I +heard the cries for help." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, do you think he was badly hurt?" asked Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I don't," and Tom answered truthfully. "The voice sounded as +though he was in pain, certainly, but it was strong and vigorous, and +not at all as though he was dangerously hurt." +</P> + +<P> +"And what do you think happened to him after he was hurt?" asked Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"The autoists took him away," decided Tom. "In fact, we heard the +machine go, but of course we never connected the call for help and what +followed with your father. The autoists took him away." +</P> + +<P> +"Where?" +</P> + +<P> +"I should say to some hospital. Perhaps a private one of which we know +nothing, and which may be near here. I'll get a full list from the +Board of Health to-morrow. Or it may be that the autoists, seeing the +damage they had done, took your father to the home of one of +themselves, and summoned a doctor there." +</P> + +<P> +"Why would they do that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, they may have been so frightened they didn't realize what they +were doing, or they may have thought he would get better treatment in a +private house, if he were not badly injured, than if he should be taken +to a hospital. It may have been that one of the persons in the auto was +a physician, and wished to try his own skill on the man he had hurt." +</P> + +<P> +"You make me feel more comfortable, Tom," said Mary. "But, even +supposing all this, why couldn't they telephone to us that my father +was all right? He always carries an identification card with him, and +if he were unconscious it could be ascertained who he was." +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I can't understand," said Tom frankly. "It puzzles me. But +we'll find him—never fear!" +</P> + +<P> +And so he kept on with his telephone inquiries, while a physician and +her sister ministered to Mrs. Nestor. The night was very, very long, +and no good news came in. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SILENT SAM +</H3> + +<P> +Slowly the dawn broke through the mists of darkness, and made the earth +light. The sun came straggling in through cracks in the shutters in the +home of Mr. Nestor, the gradually increasing gleam paling the electric +lights, in the glare of which Tom Swift, Mary, and her aunt sat, +waiting for some word of the missing man. But none came. +</P> + +<P> +"What shall we do now?" asked Mary, as she looked at Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, there's lots to do," he said, trying to make his voice sound +cheerful. "We'll be busy all day. I sent word to have one of my touring +cars ready to hurry to any part of the country the moment we should get +word from your father." +</P> + +<P> +"And do you think we shall get word, Tom?" the girl went on wistfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course we shall!" he cried. "Word may come in at any time. Now get +ready, eat a good breakfast, and then you can go with me as soon as we +hear anything definite. Come, we'll have breakfast!" +</P> + +<P> +"I can't eat a thing!" protested Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes you can," said her aunt, who was a cheerful sort of person. +"I'll see about getting something for you and Mr. Swift, and see that +your mother is all right." +</P> + +<P> +She left the room to give orders to the servant about the meal, and +returned to say that Mrs. Nestor was sleeping quietly. She had been +given a sedative. Mary managed to eat a little, and she gave Tom the +address of several friends who were called up in the vain hope that, +somehow, Mr. Nestor might have gone to see them. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom, what do you really think has happened?" asked Mary again, as they +sat facing one another in the library, during a respite from the +telephone. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift repeated, to the girl his theory of what had happened with an +assumption of confidence he did not altogether feel. +</P> + +<P> +His prediction of a speedy end to the suspense did not come true that +day, nor for many days. No news was heard of Mr. Nestor. After the +first day, when there was no information and when no reports came of +any one of his description having been hurt in an automobile accident +or having been taken to any hospital, the police started an energetic +search. +</P> + +<P> +The authorities in all near-by cities were notified, and all thought of +keeping from the public what had happened was given over. Tom's story, +of how he and Mr. Damon had heard the cry for help on the lonely +meadow, was printed in the papers, though the young inventor did not +say that he had been out trying his new aeroplane. That was a detail +not needed in the finding of Mr. Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +But Mary's father was not found. The mystery regarding his +disappearance deepened, and there was no trace of him after he had left +Tom's house that eventful evening. Persons living along the roads he +might have taken in riding his bicycle were questioned, but they had +seen nothing of him, nor were they aware of any accident. Tom's +testimony and that of Mr. Damon was all the clew there was. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe he's dead!" stoutly declared the young inventor, when +this dire possibility had been hinted at. "I believe the persons who +were responsible for the accident are afraid to reveal his whereabouts +until he recovers from possible injuries. You'll see! Mr. Nestor will +come back safe!" +</P> + +<P> +And, somehow, though her mother was skeptical, Mary believed what Tom +said. +</P> + +<P> +The search was kept up, but without result, and Tom aided all he could. +But there was not much he could do. The police and other authorities +were at a total loss. +</P> + +<P> +In the intervals of visiting Mary and her mother, and doing what he +could for them, Tom worked on his new motor. He knew that he was on the +right track and that all that was needed now was to make certain +refinements and adjustments in the apparatus he had already +constructed, so that it would operate more quietly. +</P> + +<P> +"Absorbing the vibrations from the exhaust, caused by the exploded +gases in the cylinders, does the trick," Tom told his father. +</P> + +<P> +"But there is enormous pressure to overcome, Tom. You must be sure your +muffler will stand the strain. Otherwise she is going to blow out a +gasket some day, when you least expect it. Then the sudden resumption +of pressure outside the cylinders is going to cause a change in the +equilibrium, and you may turn turtle in the air." +</P> + +<P> +"I've thought of that," said Tom. "At worst it can't be any more than +looping the loop. But I'll make the muffler doubly strong." +</P> + +<P> +"Better provide an auxiliary chamber to take care of part of the +exhaust in case your main apparatus breaks," advised the older +inventor, and Tom said he would. He did, too, for he valued his +father's expert advice. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile he was busy fitting one of his latest aeroplanes with the new +motor. The motor he and Mr. Damon had used in their flight was one +patched up from an old one. But now Tom was working on a complete new +one, made after his revised model, and in which the silencer was an +integral part, instead of being built on. +</P> + +<P> +While giving Mary and her mother all the assistance in his power, Tom +still found time to work on his new, pet scheme. He had matters now +where he did not fear any tampering with his plans, for he had filed +away his papers in a safe place, and was making his new machine from +memory. +</P> + +<P> +"But if some one got in and had a look at the inside of your silencer +he could see how it is constructed, couldn't he?" asked Ned Newton. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," assented Tom, "But they're not going to get in very easily. Koku +sleeps in the experiment shop now, and my machine is there." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well that explains your confidence. I feel sorry for the burglar +who makes the attempt, once Koku wakes up. Heard anything more from +those Universal people?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, not directly. I understand they are working hard on some new type +of plane for army use, but I haven't bothered my head about them. I'm +too much occupied with my own affairs and trying to help Mary." +</P> + +<P> +"Very strange about Mr. Nestor, isn't it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Worse than strange," said Tom. "If this keeps on, and he isn't heard +from, it will be tragic pretty soon." +</P> + +<P> +"He must be held a prisoner somewhere," declared Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"It begins to look that way," assented Tom. "Though who would have an +object in that I can't understand. He had no enemies, as far as is +known, and his business affairs were in excellent shape. Unless, as I +said, the persons who ran him down are, through fear, keeping him +hidden until he recovers, I can't imagine what has become of him." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it certainly is a puzzle," said Ned. And Tom agreed with his +chum. +</P> + +<P> +It was about a week after the disappearance of Mr. Nestor that Mr. +Damon came over to see Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my shoe laces, Tom!" exclaimed the eccentric man, "but you are +as busy as ever." For he found the young inventor in the experiment +shop, surrounded by a mass of papers and all sorts of mechanical +devices. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I'm working a little," said Tom. "But you are just in time. Come +on out, I want to introduce you to Silent Sam." +</P> + +<P> +"'Silent Sam!'" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Have you been taking a new trip +to the Land of Wonders? Have you brought back some new kind of servant?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not exactly a servant," said Tom with a laugh, "though I hope Silent +Sam will serve me well." +</P> + +<P> +"'Silent Sam?' What does it mean? Is that a joke?" asked the puzzled +Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope it doesn't turn out a joke," replied Tom. "But come on, I'll +introduce you to him, Mr. Damon." +</P> + +<P> +He led the way to one of the big hangars where his various machines of +the air were housed. On the way Mr. Damon asked about news of Mr. +Nestor, but was told there was none. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift opened the big, swinging doors and pulled aside an enveloping +canvas curtain. There stood revealed a big aeroplane, of somewhat new +pattern, the wings gleaming like silver from the varnish that had been +applied. In shape it was not unlike the machines already in use, except +that the propellers were of somewhat different design. +</P> + +<P> +The engine was mounted in front, and even with his slight knowledge of +mechanics Mr. Damon could tell that it was exceedingly powerful. But it +was certain devices attached to the engine that attracted his +attention, for they were totally different from any on any other +aeroplane, though they bore some resemblance to apparatus on the plane +in which Tom and the eccentric man had made the night flight. +</P> + +<P> +"Is this your new machine, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't see anything of that fellow you spoke of—Silent Sam." +</P> + +<P> +"This is Silent Sam," returned Tom, with a laugh. "I've named my new +noiseless aeroplane—my Air Scout—I've named that Silent Sam. Wait +until you hear it, or rather, don't hear it, and I think you'll agree +with me. Silent Sam for Uncle Sam!" +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my dictionary, but that's a good name! +Does it sail silently, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll let you judge presently. Silent Sam is all ready for his first +trial, and I'll be glad to have you with me. Now, I'll just—" +</P> + +<P> +Tom suddenly ceased speaking and held up a hand to enjoin silence. +Then, while Mr. Damon watched, the young inventor began moving +noiselessly toward the rear of the big shed, inside which was his new +machine. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SUSPICIONS +</H3> + +<P> +"Who's there?" suddenly called Tom, and in such a sharp voice that Mr. +Damon started, ready as he was for something unusual. +</P> + +<P> +There was no answer and Tom suddenly switched on all the lights in the +shed. Up to then there had been only a few glowing—just enough for him +to show the new Air Scout to his friend. +</P> + +<P> +"Who's there?" asked Tom again, sharply. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my opera glasses, Tom!" cried Mr. Damon, "but are you seeing +things?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; but I'm hearing them," answered Tom with a short laugh. "Did you +think you heard some one moving around near the rudders of Silent Sam, +Mr. Damon?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I can't say that I did. Everything seems to me to be all right." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it doesn't to me," went on Tom grimly. "I think there is an +intruder in this shed, though how any one could get in when the doors +have been locked all day, is more than I can figure out. But I'm going +to have a look." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll help you," offered Mr. Damon, and, in the bright glare from many +electric lights, the two began a search of the big hangar where the new +craft was kept. +</P> + +<P> +But though the young inventor and his friend went around to the rear of +the aeroplane, walking in opposite directions, they saw no one, nor did +any one try to escape past them. +</P> + +<P> +"And yet I was sure I heard some one in here," declared Tom, when a +search had revealed nothing. "It sounded as if some one were scuffling +softly about in rubber-soled shoes, trying to hide." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my suspenders!" cried Mr. Damon, "who do you think it could have +been, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Who else but some spy trying to get possession of my secrets?" was the +answer. "But I guess I was too quick for them. They couldn't learn much +from looking at the outside of my muffler, and it hasn't been +disturbed, as far as I can see." +</P> + +<P> +"Who would want to gain a knowledge of it in that unlawful way?" asked +Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps some of the Universal crowd. They may have been disappointed +in perfecting a silent motor themselves, and think stealing my idea +would be the easiest way out of it." +</P> + +<P> +"Do they know you are working on such a model as this Silent Sam of +yours, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I imagine they do. One of the firm members, as you recall, +overheard something, I think, that gave them a hint as to what my plans +were, though, thanks to the time I fooled the spy, they haven't any +real data to go by, I believe." +</P> + +<P> +"Let us hope not," said Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and he made a thorough search of the big shed, but found no one, +nor was there any trace of an intruder. Tom notified Jackson, who, in +turn, told the guards and watchmen to be on the lookout for any +suspicious strangers, but none was seen in the vicinity of the Swift +works. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, everything seems to be all right, so we'll have the test," +remarked Tom, after a further search of the premises. "Now, Mr. +Damon, if all goes as I hope you will see what my new machine can do. +Strain your ears for a sound, and let me know how much you hear." +</P> + +<P> +His men helping him, Tom started the new motor which was tried for the +first time attached to the new craft. No flight was to be made yet, the +motor being tested as though on the block, though, in reality, the +craft was ready for instant flight if need be. +</P> + +<P> +Slowly the great propellers began to revolve, and then Tom, taking his +place in the cockpit, turned on more power. The new craft—Silent +Sam—was made fast so it could not progress even though the propellers +revolved at high speed. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not sending her to the limit," said Tom to his friend, as the +young inventor throttled down the motor. "If I did I'd tear her loose +from the holding blocks." +</P> + +<P> +"Her!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my typewriter, Tom! but I thought Silent +Sam was a gentleman aeroplane. +</P> + +<P> +"So he is!" laughed the young man, frankly. "I forgot about 'Silent +Sam.' Guess I'll have to say 'him' instead of 'her,' though the latter +sounds more natural. Anyhow what do you think?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think it's wonderful!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "There the motor is, +going at almost full speed, and I can hardly hear a thing. You can the +easier believe that when I say that I can hear you talk perfectly well. +And I guess you hear me, don't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Tom. "And we don't have to shout, either. This is the +best test ever! I think everything is a success." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you going to take her aloft, Tom?" the eccentric man went on. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, now that I'm sure the engine is all right. Will you go for a +flight with me?" +</P> + +<P> +"I certainly will! I only wish we could find him, though. I'd go with a +better heart." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! Mr. Nestor?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I can't imagine what has become of him. It is almost as if the +earth had opened and swallowed him. His disappearance is a great +mystery." +</P> + +<P> +"It surely is," agreed Tom. "Can't seem to get any trace of him. But if +we hear another cry for help, when we have to land, you can make up +your mind I'll investigate more quickly than I did at first." +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you," said Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +It was nearly evening then, and until it was dark enough for his flight +Tom spent the time tuning up the engine and seeing that all was in +readiness for the latest test. He had decided not to go aloft while it +was light enough for curiosity seekers to note the flight. +</P> + +<P> +Tom rather wished Mary Nestor might have a sail with him in his latest +improved silent Air Scout, but the girl was too much occupied at home +and in trying to find some trace of her father. +</P> + +<P> +Tom, his father, and Mr. Damon had helped all they could, but there +were no results. A private detective had been engaged, but he had no +more of a clew than the regular police. +</P> + +<P> +At last it was dark enough for the flight, and Tom and Mr. Damon took +their places in the machine. Once more the propellers were turned +around, and when the compression had been made, and the spark switched +on, around spun the big wooden blades, and the great craft moved over +the grass. +</P> + +<P> +On and on and up and up sailed Tom and Mr. Damon, and as they left +behind them the shops and the Swift homestead, the two passengers were +aware of their almost silent flight. The big aeroplane, the exhaust of +which, ordinarily, would have nearly deafened them, was now as silent +as a bird. +</P> + +<P> +"Silent Sam for Uncle Sam!" cried Tom in delight, as he went on faster. +"I'm sure the government ought to be glad to get this plane for air +scout work. It's a success! A great success!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, so it is!" agreed Mr. Damon. "You do well to speak of it so, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +For, modest as the young inventor was, he felt, in justice to himself, +that he must acknowledge the fact that his craft was a success. For it +rose and sailed almost as silently as a bat, and a few hundred feet +away no one, not seeing it, would have believed a big aeroplane was in +motion. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and Mr. Damon flew about twenty miles at a swift pace, and all the +fault Tom had to find was that the machine was not as steady in flight +as she should have been. +</P> + +<P> +"But I can remedy that with the use of some of dad's gyroscope +stabilizers," he told Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +They returned to the hangar safely, and the first trip of the new +Silent Sam was an assured success. +</P> + +<P> +It was the following day, when Tom was busy in the machine shop +installing the gyroscopes spoken of, that Jackson came to tell him +there was a visitor to see him. +</P> + +<P> +"Who is it?" asked the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Gale of the Universal Company," was the answer. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't want to see him!" declared Tom quickly. "I have nothing to say +to him after his clumsy threats." +</P> + +<P> +"He seems very much in earnest," said Jackson. "Better see him, if only +for a minute or so." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, I will," assented Tom. "Show him in." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Gale, as blusteringly bluff as ever, entered the shop. Tom had +carefully put away all papers and models, as well as the finished +machines, so he had no fear that his visitor might discover some secret. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Mr. Swift!" began the president of the Universal Company, when he +met the young inventor, "I wish to assure you that what has been done +was entirely without our knowledge. And, though this man may have acted +as our agent at one time, we repudiate any acts of his that might—" +</P> + +<P> +"What are you talking about?" asked Tom in surprise. "Have I been so +impolite as to sleep during part of your talk? I don't understand what +you are driving at." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I thought you did," said Gale, and he showed surprise. "I +understood that the man who—" +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean there was some one here in the shed last night?" cried the +young inventor suddenly, all his suspicions aroused. +</P> + +<P> +"Some one here last night?" repeated Mr. Gale. "No, I don't refer to +last night. But perhaps I am making a mistake. I—er—I—" +</P> + +<P> +"Some one is making a mistake!" said Tom significantly. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ANOTHER FLIGHT +</H3> + +<P> +For perhaps a quarter of a minute Tom Swift and the president of the +Universal Flying Machine Company of New York sat staring at one +another. Mr. Gale's face wore a puzzled expression, and so did Tom's. +And, after the last remark of the young inventor, the man who had +called to see him said: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps we are talking at cross purposes. I don't blame you for +not feeling very friendly toward us, and if I had had my way that last +correspondence with you would never have left our office." +</P> + +<P> +"It wasn't very business-like," said Tom dryly, referring to the veiled +threats when he had refused to sell his services to the rival company. +</P> + +<P> +"I realize that," said Mr. Gale. "But we have some peculiar men working +for us, and sometimes there is so much to do, so many possibilities of +which to take advantage, that we may get a little off our balance. But +what I called for was not to renew our offer to you. I understand that +is definitely settled." +</P> + +<P> +"As far as I am concerned, it is," said Tom, as his caller seemed to +want an answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. Well, then, what I called to say was that if you are thinking of +taking any legal action against us because of the action of that man +Lydane, I wish to state that he had absolutely no authority to—" +</P> + +<P> +"Excuse me!" broke in Tom, "but by Lydane do you mean the man who also +posed as Bower, the spy?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I do not. Though I regret to say that Bower once worked for us. +He, too, had no authority to come here and get a position. He was still +in our service when he did that." +</P> + +<P> +"So I have suspected," said Tom. "I realize now that he was a spy, who +came here to try to find out for you some of my secrets." +</P> + +<P> +"Not with my permission!" exclaimed Mr. Gale. "I was against that from +the first and I came to tell you so. But Bower really did you no harm." +</P> + +<P> +"No, he didn't get the chance!" chuckled Tom. "Nor did that other +spy—the one with the gold tooth. I wonder how he liked our mud hole?" +</P> + +<P> +"He was Lydane," said Mr. Gale. "It is about him I came." +</P> + +<P> +"You might have saved yourself the trouble," returned Tom. "I don't +wish to discuss him." +</P> + +<P> +"But I wish to make sure," said Mr. Gale, "that what he has done will +not come back on us. We repudiate him entirely. His methods we can not +countenance. He is too daring—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't worry!" interrupted Tom. "He hasn't done anything to me—he +didn't get the chance, as I guess he's told you. You needn't apologize +on his account. He did me no harm, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"But I understood from him that—" +</P> + +<P> +"Now I don't want to seem impolite!" broke in Tom, "nor do I want to +take pattern after some of your company's acts, if not your own. But I +am very busy. I have an important test to make for the government, and +my time is fully occupied. I am afraid I shall have to bid you +good-morning and—" +</P> + +<P> +"But won't you give me a chance to—" began the president. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, the less we discuss this matter the better!" interrupted Tom. +"Lydane, as you call the man with the gold tooth didn't really do +anything to me nor any great harm to any of my possessions, as far as I +can learn. His career is a closed book—a book with muddy covers!" and +the young inventor laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, if you look at it that way, there is nothing further for me +to say," said Mr. Gale stiffly. "I understood— But hasn't my partner, +Mr. Ware, seen you?" he asked Tom quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"No. And I don't care to see him." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, then that accounts for it," was the quick answer. "Well, if you +regard the matter as closed I suppose we should also. We are not to +blame for what Lydane does when he is no longer in our employ, and we +repudiate anything he may do, or may have done." +</P> + +<P> +This struck Tom, afterward, as being rather a queer remark, but he did +not think so at the time. +</P> + +<P> +The truth was that the young inventor wished very much to try out a new +device on his noiseless aeroplane and wanted to get rid of Mr. Gale +before doing so. So he did not pay as much attention to the remarks of +the president as, otherwise, he might have done. +</P> + +<P> +It was not until after Mr. Gale had taken his leave and Tom had +finished the particular work on which he was engaged when the president +of the rival company came in, that the young man did some hard +thinking. And this thinking was done after he had received a telephone +call from Mary Nestor, asking, if by any chance, he had heard anything +like a clew as to the whereabouts of her father. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had been obliged to tell her that he had not. Everything possible +was being done to find the missing man but he had disappeared as +completely as though he had ridden on his bicycle into the crater of +some extinct volcano on the meadow, and had fallen to the bottom. +</P> + +<P> +An effort was made to trace him through an automobile association which +had a large membership. That is, the members were asked to make +inquiries to ascertain, if possible, whether any one had heard of an +unreported accident—one in which Mr. Nestor might have been carried +away by persons who accidently ran him down. +</P> + +<P> +But this came to naught, and the police and other authorities were at a +loss how farther to proceed. It was a theory in some quarters that Mr. +Nestor was perfectly safe, but that he was out of his mind, and was +either wandering around, not knowing who he was, or was, in this +condition, detained somewhere, the persons having him in charge not +realizing that he was the missing man so widely sought. +</P> + +<P> +This belief was a relief to Mrs. Nestor and Mary in many ways for it +prevented them from giving way to the fear that Mr. Nestor was dead. +That he was alive was Tom Swift's firm opinion, and he was doing all he +could to prove it. +</P> + +<P> +It was not until the day after the visit of Mr. Gale that Tom, having +concluded some intricate calculations about the strength of cylinder +valves, uttered an exclamation. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if he could have meant that?" cried the young inventor. "I +wonder if he could have meant that? I must find out at once! Queer I +didn't think of that before!" +</P> + +<P> +He put in a long distance call to New York, asking to speak to Mr. +Gale. But when, eventually, he was connected with the office of the +Universal Flying Machine Company he was told that Mr. Gale and Mr. Ware +had sailed for France that day, going over as government +representatives to investigate aeroplane motors. Gale's visit to Tom +had been just previous to taking the boat, it was said. +</P> + +<P> +"This is tough luck!" mused Tom, his suspicions doubly aroused now. "I +can't let this rest here! I've got to get after it! As soon as I make +this final test, and invite Uncle Sam's experts out to see how my +noiseless motor works, I'll get after Gale and Ware if I have to follow +them to the battlefields of France! I wonder if it was that he was +hinting at all the while! I begin to believe it was!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift had decided on another flight for his new craft before he +would let the government experts see it. +</P> + +<P> +"Silent Sam must do his very best work for Uncle Sam before I turn him +over," said the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"And after this flight I'll offer the machine to the government, and +then devote all my time to finding Mr. Nestor," said Tom. "I'd do it +now, but private matters, however deeply they affect us, must be put +aside to help win the war. But this will end my inventive work until +after Mr. Nestor is found—if he's alive." +</P> + +<P> +Preparations for the test flight went on apace, and one afternoon Tom +and Jackson took their places in the big, new aeroplane. He no longer +feared daylight crowds in case of an accident. They made a good start, +and the motor was so quiet that as Tom passed over his own plant the +men working in the yard, who did not know of the flight, did not look +up to see what was going on. They could not hear the engine. +</P> + +<P> +"I think we've got everything just as we want it, Jackson," said Tom, +much pleased. +</P> + +<P> +"I believe you," answered the mechanician. "It couldn't be better. Now +if—" +</P> + +<P> +And at that moment there came a loud explosion, and Silent Sam began +drifting rapidly toward the earth, as falls a bird with a broken wing. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +QUEER MARKS +</H3> + +<P> +"What happened?" cried Jackson to Tom, as he leaned forward in his seat +which was in the rear of the young inventor's. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't know, exactly," was the answer, as Tom quickly shifted the +rudders to correct the slanting fall of his craft. "Sounded as though +there was a tremendous back-fire, or else the muffler blew up. The +engine is dead." +</P> + +<P> +"Can you take her down safely?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I guess so. She's a bit out of control, but the stabilizer +will keep her on a level keel. Good thing we installed it." +</P> + +<P> +"You're right!" said Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +Now they were falling earthward with great rapidity, but, thanks to the +gyroscope stabilizer, the "side-slipping," than which there is no +motion more dreaded by an aviator, had nearly ceased. The craft was +volplaning down as it ought, and Tom had it under as perfect control as +was possible under the circumstances. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll get down all right if something else doesn't happen," he said to +Jackson, with grim humor. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, let's hope that it won't," said the mechanic. "We're a good +distance up yet." +</P> + +<P> +They were, as a matter of fact, for the explosion, or whatever had +happened to the craft, had occurred at a height of over two miles, and +they at once began falling. As yet Tom Swift was unaware of the exact +nature of the accident or its cause. All he knew was that there had +been a big noise and that the engine had stopped working. He could not +see the silencer from where he sat, as it was constructed on the +underside of the motor, but he had an idea that the same sort of mishap +had occurred as on the occasion when the test machine had sailed +through the roof of his workshop. +</P> + +<P> +"But, luckily, this wasn't as bad," mused Tom. "Anyhow the motor is out +of business." +</P> + +<P> +And this was very evident. The young inventor had tried to start the +apparatus after its stoppage by the explosion, but it had not responded +to his efforts, and then he had desisted, fearing to cause some further +damage, or, perhaps, endanger his own life and that of Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +Down, down swept Silent Sam—doubly silent now, and Tom began looking +about for a good place to make a landing. This was nothing new for +either him or his mechanician, and they accepted the outcome as a +matter of course. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a very lively place down there," remarked Jackson, as he looked +over the side of the cockpit. +</P> + +<P> +"If we have to depend for help on any one down there, I guess we'll be +a long time waiting," agreed Tom. They were about to land in a very +lonely spot. It was one he had never before visited, though he knew it +could not be much more than twenty miles from his own home, as they had +not flown much farther than that distance. +</P> + +<P> +But, somehow or other, Tom had not visited this particular section, and +knew nothing of it. He saw below him, as Jackson had seen, a lonely +stretch of country—a big field, once a wood-lot, evidently, as +scattered about were some stumps and some second growth trees. There +were also a number of evergreens—Christmas trees Jackson called them. +And this was the only open place for miles, the surrounding country +being a densely wooded one. There did not appear to be a house or other +building in sight where they might seek help. +</P> + +<P> +"But maybe we can make the repairs ourselves and keep on," the lad +thought. +</P> + +<P> +With practiced eye he picked out a smooth, grassy, level spot, in the +midst of scattered evergreen trees, and there Tom Swift skillfully +brought his Air Scout to rest. With a gentle thud the rubber-tired +wheels struck the Earth, rolled along a little distance, and then +called to a stop. +</P> + +<P> +Hardly had the aeroplane ceased moving when Tom and his companion +jumped out and began eagerly to examine the machinery to see the extent +of damage. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought so!" Tom exclaimed. "The silencer cracked under the strain. +Those exhaust gases have more pressure that I believed possible. I +increased the margin of safety on this muffler, too. But she's +cracked, and I can't use the machine until I put on a new one. Good +thing I didn't ask for a government inspection until after this trial +flight." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," agreed Jackson. "But can't you patch it up, or go on +without a muffler, so we can get back home?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid not," Tom answered. "You see I removed all the old exhaust +pipe fittings when I put on my new silencer. Now if I took off my +attachment there wouldn't be anything to carry off the discharged +gases, and they'd form a regular cloud about us. We couldn't stand it +without gas masks, such as they use in the trenches, and we haven't any +of those with us." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," agreed Jackson. "Well, what do you want to do? Have me +stay here and guard the machine while you go for help? Or shall I go?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know why we both can't go," said Tom. "There is no use trying +to patch up this machine here. I'll have to send a truck after it, and +dismantle it before I can get it home. +</P> + +<P> +"As for either of us staying here on guard, I don't quite see the need +of that. This looks like the jumping-off place to me. I don't believe +there's a native within miles. I didn't see any houses as we came down, +and I think Silent Sam will be perfectly safe here. No one can run off +with him, anyhow. He'd be as hard to start as an automobile with all +four wheels gone. Let's leave it here and both walk back." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," agreed Jackson. "That suits me. Might as well leave our +togs here, too. It will be easier walking without them," and he began +taking off the fur-lined suit, his cap, and his goggles, such as he and +Tom wore against the piercing cold of the upper regions. +</P> + +<P> +"We can stuff them in the cockpit and leave them," went on the +mechanician, as he divested himself of his garments. As he stowed them +away in his seat he gave one more look at the broken muffler. As Tom +Swift said, his new silencer had literally blown up, a large piece +having been torn from the gas chamber. +</P> + +<P> +Something that Jackson saw caused him to utter an exclamation that +brought Tom Swift to his side. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Look!" was the answer. "See! Just at the edge of that break! It's +been filed to make the metal thinner there than anywhere else. You +didn't do that, did you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I should say not!" cried Tom. "Why, to file there would mean to weaken +the whole structure." +</P> + +<P> +"And that's exactly what's happened!" declared Jackson, as he gave +another look. "Some one has filed this nearly through—leaving only a +thin metal skin, and when the gas pressure became too much it blew out. +That's what happened!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift made a quick but thorough examination. +</P> + +<P> +"You're right, Jackson!" he exclaimed. "That was filed deliberately to +cause the accident. And it must have been done lately, for I carefully +inspected the silencer when I put it on, and it was in perfect order. +There's been spy work here. Some one got into the hangar and filed that +casing. Then the accumulated pressure of the gases did the rest." +</P> + +<P> +"As sure as you're alive!" agreed Jackson. "Maybe that's what Gale did +when he called." +</P> + +<P> +"No," returned Tom, shaking his head, "he didn't get a chance to do +anything like that. I watched him all the while. But perhaps this is +what he referred to when he said he and his company would repudiate any +act of that spy with the gold tooth—Lydane, so Gale said his name was. +Maybe that's what Lydane did." +</P> + +<P> +"He was capable of it," agreed the mechanic, "but he couldn't have done +it that time you tripped him into the mud puddle. This silencer wasn't +built then." +</P> + +<P> +"No, you're right," assented Tom. "Then he must have been around since, +doing some of his tricky work!" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't see how that could have been," said Jackson slowly. "We've +kept a very careful watch, and your shop has been specially guarded." +</P> + +<P> +"I know it has," said Tom. "There couldn't much get past Koku; but some +one seems to have done it, or else how could that filing have been +done?" +</P> + +<P> +Jackson shook his head. The problem was too much for him. He looked +carefully at the exploded and broken silencer, and Tom, too, gave it a +critical eye. There was no doubt but that it had been filed in several +places to weaken the structure of the metal. +</P> + +<P> +"When did you last see that it was in perfect condition?" asked Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +Tom named a certain date. +</P> + +<P> +"That was just before Gale called," observed the mechanician. "He +might have known of it." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I'd known of it at the time," said Tom savagely. "He wouldn't +have gotten away as easily as he did. Well, there's no use standing +here talking about it. Let's get back to civilization and we'll send +back one of the trucks. Luckily I have another silencer I can put on +for the government test. This one will never be of any more use, though +I may be able to save some of the valves and baffle plates." +</P> + +<P> +Slowly they turned from the disabled aeroplane and started to look for +a path that would lead them out of the lonely place. Tom as the first +to strike what seemed to be a cow path, or perhaps what had been a road +into the wood lot in the early days. +</P> + +<P> +As he tramped along it, followed by Jackson, the young inventor +suddenly stopped, as he came to a sandy place, and, stooping over, +looked intently at some queer marks in the soil. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked the mechanician. +</P> + +<P> +"Looks like the marks of an automobile," said Tom slowly. "And I was +just trying to remember where I'd seen marks like these before." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE DESERTED CABIN +</H3> + +<P> +For several seconds the young inventor remained bending over the queer +marks in that little sandy path of the lonely field in the midst of the +silent woods. Jackson watched him curiously, and then Tom straightened +up, exclaiming as he did so: +</P> + +<P> +"I have it! Now I know where it was! I saw marks like these the night +Mr. Nestor disappeared. Mr. Damon and I noticed the marks in the dust +on the road the time we made the forced landing the first night we +tried out the silent motor. That's it! They are the same marks! I'm +sure of it!" +</P> + +<P> +"I wouldn't go so far as to say that," said Jackson slowly. He was more +deliberate than Tom Swift, a fact for which the young inventor was +often glad, as it saved him from impulsive mistakes. +</P> + +<P> +"This may not be the same auto," went on the mechanician. "I'll admit I +never saw square tire marks like those before. Most of the usual ones +are circular, diamond-shape or oblong. Some tire manufacturer must have +tried a new stunt. But as for saying these marks were made by the same +machine you saw evidences of the night Mr. Nestor disappeared, why, +that's going a little too far, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I suppose it is," admitted the young inventor. "But it's a clew +worth following. Maybe Mr. Nestor has been brought to some lonely place +like this, and is being held." +</P> + +<P> +"Why would any one want to do that?" asked Jackson. "He had no enemies." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps those who ran him down and injured him are afraid to let +him go for fear he will prosecute them and ask for heavy damages," +suggested Tom. "They may be holding him a captive until he gets well, +and aim on treating him so nicely that he won't bring suit." +</P> + +<P> +"That's a pretty far-fetched theory," said the mechanician as he +carefully looked at the tracks. "But of course it may be true. Anyhow, +these tire marks are rather recent, I should say, and they are made by +a new tire. Do you think we can follow them?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to try!" declared Tom. "The only trouble is we can't tell +whether it was going or coming—that is we don't know which way to go." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," agreed his companion. "And so the only thing to do is to +travel a bit both ways. The path, or road, or whatever you call it, is +plainly enough marked here, though you can't always pick out the tire +marks. They show only on bare ground. The grass doesn't leave any +tracks that we can see, though doubtless they are there. +</P> + +<P> +"But as for thinking this car is the same one the marks of which you +saw on the lonely moor, the night you heard the call for help—that's +going too far, Tom Swift." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I realize that. Of course there must be more than one car with +tires which have square protuberances. But it's worth taking a chance +on—following this clew." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, sure!" agreed Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +"The only question is, then, which way to go," returned Tom. +</P> + +<P> +They settled that, arbitrarily enough, by going on in the direction +they had started after leaving the stranded airship. They followed a +half-defined path, and were rewarded by getting occasional glimpses on +bare ground of the odd tire marks. +</P> + +<P> +Through a devious winding way, now hidden amid a lane of trees, and +again cutting across an open space, the path led. They saw the marks +often enough to make sure they were on the right trail, and in one +place they saw several different patches of the odd marks. +</P> + +<P> +They went on perhaps half a mile more, when they came to a lonely road +and saw where the car had turned from that into the wood-lot, as Tom +called the place where his craft had settled down. +</P> + +<P> +"Look!" cried the young inventor to Jackson. "They've been here more +than once, and have gone along the road in both directions. They seem +to have used this turning into the lot as a sort of stopping place." +</P> + +<P> +This was plain enough from an examination of the marks in the sandy +soil of the road, which was one not often used. The automobile with the +queer, square marks on the tires had turned into the lot, coming and +going in both directions. +</P> + +<P> +"This settles it!" cried Tom, when he finished making an examination. +"There's something farther back in this lot that we've got to see. This +auto has been coming and going, and we should have followed the tracks +the other way from the point where we first saw them, instead of coming +this way." +</P> + +<P> +"Except that we've learned the place of departure," suggested Jackson. +"Evidently the wood-lot is a blind alley. The car goes in, but it can +come out only just at this point, or, at least, it does." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right!" agreed Tom. "Now the thing to do is to follow our track +back to where we started. There must be some place where the car went +to—some headquarters, or meeting place with some one, farther back in +the lot. If we can only follow the trail back as well as we did coming, +we may find out something." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, let's try, anyhow," suggested Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +They had no difficulty in making their way back to the spot where they +had first seen the queer marks. But from then on their task was not so +easy. For sandy or bare patches of earth were not frequent, and they +had to depend on these to give them direction, for the road was +overgrown and not well defined. +</P> + +<P> +Often they would search about for some time after leaving one patch of +the marks before they found another that would justify them in keeping +on. +</P> + +<P> +"They have headquarters, or a rendezvous, somewhere back in this lot!" +declared Tom, as they hurried on. "I think we're on the track of a +mystery." +</P> + +<P> +"Unless it turns out that some farmer has treated himself to an auto +with new tires of square tread, and is hauling wood," said Jackson. "It +may turn out that way." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it may," agreed Tom. "But, taking everything into consideration, +I think we're on the verge of finding out something. Even if we do +discover that the owner of this auto is only hauling wood, he may be +able to help us to a clew as to the whereabouts of Mr. Nestor." +</P> + +<P> +"How?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, maybe he was in his machine on the moor the night the call for +help came. He may even have aided to carry Mr. Nestor away. And if he +doesn't know a thing about it—which, of course, is possible—the man +who bought these queer tires can tell us who makes them, or who deals +in them, and we can find out what autoists around here have their cars +equipped with this odd tread." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," agreed Jackson, "that can be done." +</P> + +<P> +And so they kept on, scouting here and there to either side of the +half-defined path, until they were far back from the spot where they +had left the Air Scout. +</P> + +<P> +"We don't appear to be getting any warmer, as the children say," +remarked Jackson, as he straightened up and looked about, for his back +ached from so much stooping over to look for the odd marks. +</P> + +<P> +"We haven't seen anything yet, I'll admit," said Tom. "But it won't be +dark for another hour or so, and I vote that we keep on." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I wasn't thinking of giving up!" exclaimed Jackson. "If there's +anything here—at the end of the route, as you might say—we'll find +it. Only I hope it doesn't turn out to be just a wood pile, from which +some farmer has been hauling logs." +</P> + +<P> +"That would be a disappointment," assented Tom. +</P> + +<P> +The day was waning, and they realized that they ought not to spend too +much time on what might turn out to be a wild goose chase. They were in +a lonely neighborhood, and while they were not at all apprehensive of +danger, they felt it would be best to get to shelter before dark. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll want to send word to Mr. Swift that we're all right." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Tom, "I'd like to get to a place where I can telephone to +him or Mrs. Baggert. Well, if we don't find something pretty soon we'll +have to turn back. I must complete work on the new motor, for if I'm to +offer it to Uncle Sam for air scout purposes, the sooner I can do so +the better. Things are getting pretty hot over in Europe, and if ever +the United States needed aircraft on the western front they need them +now. I want to help all I can, and I also want to help Mary—you +understand—Miss Nestor." +</P> + +<P> +"I understand," said Jackson simply. "I only hope you can help her. But +I'm afraid—this may turn out to be nothing—following these marks, you +know." +</P> + +<P> +"And yet," said Tom slowly, "it would be strange if it was only a +coincidence—the two tire marks being the same—the night Mr. Nestor +disappeared and now." +</P> + +<P> +And so they kept on, hoping. +</P> + +<P> +The half-defined path through the wood-lot led them in a series of +turns and twists, and it extended through a dense patch of woods, +growing thickly, where it was so dark that it seemed as if night had +fallen. +</P> + +<P> +"We can't spend much more time here," said Tom. "If we don't find +something in the next half mile we'll go back and take up the search +to-morrow. I'm going to find out what's at the end of this road—even +if it's only a wood pile." +</P> + +<P> +For ten minutes more the two went on, making sure, by occasional +glimpses at the marks, that they were on the right track. Then, +suddenly, they saw something which made them feel sure they had reached +their goal. +</P> + +<P> +In a clearing among the trees was a little cabin—a shack of logs—and +from the appearance it was deserted. There was not a sign of life +around. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CLEWS AT LAST +</H3> + +<P> +For a moment, at sight of the deserted cabin, staring at Tom and his +friend, as it were, from its hiding place amid the trees, the young +inventor and his companion did not move. They just stood looking at the +place. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said Tom, at length, "we found it, didn't we?" +</P> + +<P> +"We found something anyhow," agreed Jackson. "Whether it amounts to +anything or not, we've got to see." +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" cried Tom, impulsively. "I'm going to see what's there." +</P> + +<P> +"There doesn't appear to be much of anything," said Jackson, as he +looked toward the lonely cabin with critical eyes. "I should say that +place hadn't been used, even as a chicken coop, in a long while." +</P> + +<P> +"We can soon tell!" exclaimed Tom, striding forward. +</P> + +<P> +"Wait just a minute!" cried his companion, catching him by the coat. +"Don't be in such a hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" asked Tom. "There isn't any danger, is there?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know about that. There's no telling who may be hidden in that +cabin, in spite of its deserted appearance. And though there aren't any +'No Trespass' signs up, it may be that we wouldn't be welcome. If there +are some tramps there, which is possible, they might take a notion to +shoot at us first and ask questions as to our peaceable intentions +afterward—when it would be too late." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom. "There aren't any tramps there and, if there +were, they wouldn't dare shoot. I'm going to see what the mystery +is—if there is one." +</P> + +<P> +But there was no sign of life, and, taking this as an indication that +their advance would not be disputed, Jackson followed Tom. The latter +advanced until he could take in all the details of the shack. It was +made of logs, and once had been chinked with mud or clay. Some of this +had fallen out, leaving spaces between the tree trunks. +</P> + +<P> +"It wasn't a bad little shack at one time," decided Tom. "Maybe it was +a place where some one camped out during the summer. But it hasn't been +used of late. I never knew there was such a place around here, and I +thought I knew this locality pretty well." +</P> + +<P> +"I never heard of it, either," said Jackson. "Let's give a shout and +see if there's any one around. They may be asleep. Hello, there!" he +called in sufficiently vigorous tones to have awakened an ordinary +sleeper. +</P> + +<P> +Put there was no answer, and as the shadows of the night began to fall, +the place took on a most lonely aspect. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's go up and knock—or go in if the door's open," suggested Tom. +"We can't lose any more time, if we're to get out of here before night." +</P> + +<P> +"Go ahead," said Jackson, and together they went to the cabin door. +</P> + +<P> +"Locked!" exclaimed Tom, as he saw a padlock attached to a chain. It +appeared to be fastened through two staples, driven one into the door +and the other into the jamb, at right angles to one another and +overlapping. +</P> + +<P> +"Knock!" suggested Jackson. But when Tom had done so, and there was no +answer, the machinist took hold of the lock. To his own surprise and +that of Tom, one of the staples pulled out and the door swung open. The +place had evidently been forced before, and the lock had not been +opened by a key. The staple had been pulled out and replaced loosely in +the holes. +</P> + +<P> +For a moment nothing could be made out in the dark interior of the +shack. But as their eyes became used to the gloom, Tom and his +companion were able to see that the shack consisted of two rooms. +</P> + +<P> +In the first one there was a rusty stove, a table, and some chairs, and +it was evident, from pans and skillets hanging on the wall, as well as +from a small cupboard built on one side, that this was the kitchen and +living room combined. +</P> + +<P> +"Anybody here?" cried Tom, as he stepped inside. +</P> + +<P> +Only a dull echo answered. +</P> + +<P> +The two could now see where a door gave entrance to an inner room, and +this, a quick glance showed, was the sleeping apartment, two bunks +being built on the side walls. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, somebody had it pretty comfortable here," decided Tom, as he +looked around. "They've been cooking and sleeping here, and not so very +long ago, either. It wouldn't be such a bad place if it was cleaned +out." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," agreed Jackson. "Wouldn't mind camping here myself, if +there was any fishing near." +</P> + +<P> +"The river can't be far away," suggested Tom. "And now let's see what +we can find, and see if we can get a line on who has been here. But +first we'll let in a little light." +</P> + +<P> +He opened a window in the sleeping room, and pushed back the heavy +plank shutter that had been closed. When the light entered it was seen +that both bunks bore evidence of having been lately slept in. The +blankets were tossed back, as if the occupants had risen, and in the +outer room, on the stove, were signs that indicated a meal had been +served not many days gone by. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," observed Tom musingly, as he wandered about the place, "if we +could only find out who owns this, and who has been here lately—" +</P> + +<P> +Jackson stooped over, and, thrusting aside an end of the blankets that +trailed on the floor from one of the bunks, picked up something. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Looks like a leather pocketbook," was the answer. "That's what it is," +the mechanic went on, as he held the object to the light. "It's a +wallet." +</P> + +<P> +"Let me see it!" exclaimed Tom quickly. He took the wallet from the +hands of Jackson. Then the young inventor uttered a cry. "A clew at +last!" he exclaimed. "A clew at last! Mr. Nestor has been in this +cabin!" +</P> + +<P> +"How do you know?" asked Jackson quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"This is his wallet," said Tom excitedly. "I've often seen him have it. +In fact he had it with him on Earthquake Island, the time I sent the +wireless message for help. I saw it several times then. He kept in it +what few papers he had saved from the wreck. And I've seen it often +enough since. That's Mr. Nestor's wallet all right. Besides, if you +want any other evidence—look!" He opened the leather flaps and showed +Jackson on one, stamped in gold letters, the name of Mary's father. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what do you make of it, Tom?" asked the mechanician, as he +finished his examination of the wallet. "What does it mean? The +pocket-book is empty and that—" +</P> + +<P> +"Might mean almost anything," completed Tom. "But it's a clew all +right! He's been here, and I'm pretty certain he was brought here in +the auto with the odd tires—the one Mr. Damon and I saw traces of the +night we heard the cries for help." +</P> + +<P> +"But that doesn't help us now," said Jackson. "The point is to find out +how lately Mr. Nestor was here, and what has happened to him since. +There isn't anything in the wallet, is there?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing," answered Tom, making a careful examination so as to be sure. +"It's as empty as a last year's bird nest. He's been robbed—that's +what has happened to Mr. Nestor. He was waylaid that night, instead of +being run down as I thought—waylaid and robbed and then his body was +brought here." +</P> + +<P> +"There you go again, Tom! Jumping to conclusions!" said Jackson, with a +friendly smile, and with the familiarity of an old and valued helper. +"Maybe he's in perfectly good health. Just because you found his empty +wallet doesn't argue that your friend is in serious trouble. He may +have dropped this on the road and some one picked it up. I'll admit +they may have taken whatever was in it, but that doesn't prove +anything. The thing for us to do is to find out who knows about this +shack; who owns it, on whose land it is, and whether any one has been +seen here lately." +</P> + +<P> +"They've been here lately whether they've been seen or not," said Tom +positively. "There are the auto tracks. It rained two days ago, and the +tracks were made since. Mr. Nestor must have been here within two days." +</P> + +<P> +"He may or may not," said Jackson. "Say, rather, that some one was here +and left his wallet after him. Now see if we can find other clews!" +</P> + +<P> +They looked about in the fast fading light, but at first could discover +nothing more than evidences that three or four persons had been living +in the shack and at some recent date—probably within a day or two. +</P> + +<P> +They had had their meals there and had slept there. But this seemed to +be all that could be established, other than that Mr. Nestor's wallet +was there, stripped of its contents. +</P> + +<P> +Tom was looking through the closet, from which a frightened chipmunk +sprang as he opened the door. There were the remains of some food, +which accounted for the presence of the little striped animal. And, as +Tom poked about, his hand came in contact with something wrapped in +paper on an upper shelf. It was something that clinked metallicly. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that?" asked Jackson. "Knives, or some other weapons?" +</P> + +<P> +"Neither," answered Tom. "It's a couple of files, and they've been used +lately. I can see something in the grooves yet and—" +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Tom ceased speaking and drew from his pocket a small but +powerful magnifying glass. Through this he looked at one of the files, +taking it out in front of the shack where the light was better. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought so!" he cried. "Look here, Jackson!" +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Another clew!" answered Tom. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE GOVERNMENT TEST +</H3> + +<P> +For a moment Jackson thought Tom had discovered a clew to, or evidences +of, some crime. He had an unpleasant suspicion, for an instant, that +there was blood on the files, and that it might prove to be the blood +of Mr. Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +But the satisfaction that showed on Tom's face did not seem to indicate +such dire possibilities as these. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Jackson, unable to guess at what Tom was looking +through the powerful glass. "What do you see?" +</P> + +<P> +"Metal filings on the grooves of these files," said the young inventor. +"And, unless I'm greatly mistaken, the particles of filings are from +the case of my aircraft silencer!" +</P> + +<P> +"What!" cried the machinist. "Do you mean those are the files used in +weakening the outer case of your new machine, so that it burst a little +while ago?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I think," answered Tom. "I know it sounds pretty +far-fetched," he went on. "But take a look for yourself. If those +particles on, the files aren't exactly of the same color and texture as +the material of which the silencer case is made, I'll never build +another machine." +</P> + +<P> +Jackson peered through the powerful glass moving out a little farther +from the shack, so as to get the best light possible on the subject of +his examination. It was fast getting dark, but there was enough glow in +the western sky for his purpose. +</P> + +<P> +"Am I right?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"You're right!" declared his helper. "This is exactly the same metal as +that of which your silencer case is made. It's a peculiar mixture of +aluminum and vanadium steel. I never knew it used in any shop but +yours, and these filings are certainly of that metal. It would seem, +Tom, that these were the files used to cut a crease in the case of your +silencer to weaken it so it would burst." +</P> + +<P> +"My idea exactly!" cried Tom. "The spy, who got into my shop in some +undiscovered manner, did his work and then fled here to hide. He left +his files behind. Mr. Nestor must have been here, either before or +after. No, I'll not say that, either. Finding his wallet here doesn't +prove that he was here. It might have been brought here by one of the +spies and dropped. But I'm sure we're on the track of the men who +damaged my airship, as well as those who know something of the mystery +of Mr. Nestor." +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you," said Jackson. "Of course there's a possibility that +the same peculiar metal you used in your silencer case may have been +used in some other machine shop, and these files may have come from +there, and have been employed in perfectly regular work. But the +chances are—" +</P> + +<P> +"There's only one way to make sure," said Tom. "Let's take the files +with us and see if they fit in the grooves where the break came. We'll +take these back to where we left the Air Scout," and he clinked the +files he held. +</P> + +<P> +"We can just about make it before it gets black dark," returned +Jackson. "But that won't give us any more time to look around here," +and he indicated the hut. +</P> + +<P> +"I fancy we've seen all there is to see here," said Tom. "Mr. Nestor +isn't here, and whether he was or not is a question. Anyhow, some one +was here who had something to do with him after his disappearance, I'm +positive of that. And I'm sure some one was here who damaged my +airship. Now we'll run down both those clews, find out who owns this +place, who has been using it, and all we can along that line. So, if +you're ready, let's travel." +</P> + +<P> +The two set out to make their way back to where they had left the +stranded airship. It was fast becoming dark, but they could hurry along +with more speed now, as they did not have to stop to look for the marks +of the peculiar automobile tires. They had noticed the path along which +they had traveled, and in half the time they had spent coming they were +back where the Air Scout rested undisturbed in the meadow amid the +trees. +</P> + +<P> +Making sure that, as far as they could tell, no one had visited the +craft since they had left it, Tom and Jackson compared the file marks +on what was left of the broken silencer case with the files they had +found in the hut. They used a small, but powerful electric lamp to aid +them in this examination, as it was too dark to see otherwise, and what +they saw caused the young inventor to exclaim: +</P> + +<P> +"That settles it! These were the files used!" +</P> + +<P> +"That's right!" agreed his assistant. "You've called the turn, Tom. The +next thing to do is to find who connects with the files." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. To do that and find Mr. Nestor," said Tom. "We have plenty of +work ahead of us. But let's get nearer civilization and send some word +to the folks at home. They'll be getting worried." +</P> + +<P> +"It doesn't seem as if there was a way out of here without using an +airship," remarked Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +But he and Tom finally reached the seldom-used road which ran along the +field that contained the lonely shack, and, following this, they +reached a farmhouse about a mile farther on. Greatly to their relief, +there was a telephone in the place. True it was only a party line, set +up by some neighboring farmers for their own private use, but one of +the subscribers, to whose home the private line ran, had a long +distance instrument, and after a talk with him, this man promised Tom +to call up Mr. Swift and acquaint him with the fact that his son and +Jackson were all right, and would be home later. +</P> + +<P> +"And now," said Tom, after thanking their temporary host, a farmer +named Bloise, "can you tell us anything about an old cabin that stands +back there?" and he indicated the location of the mysterious shack. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes, I can tell you a little about it, but not very much," said +Mr. Bloise. "It was built, some years ago, by a rich New Yorker, who +bought up a lot of land around here for a game preserve. But it didn't +pan out. This cabin was only the start of what he was going to call a +'hunting lodge,' I believe it was. There was to be a big building on +the same order, but it never was built. +</P> + +<P> +"Some say the fellow lost all his money in Wall Street, and others say +the state wouldn't let him make a game preserve here. However it was, +the thing petered out, and the old shack hasn't been used since." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, it has!" exclaimed Tom. "We just came from there, and there +are signs which show some one has been sleeping there and eating there." +</P> + +<P> +"There has!" exclaimed the farmer. "Well, I didn't know that." +</P> + +<P> +"I did," said his son, a young man about Tom's age. "I meant to speak +of it the other day. I saw an automobile turn into the old road that +the men used when they built the shack. I thought it was kind of queer +to see a touring car turn in there, and I meant to speak of it, but I +forgot. Yes, some one has been at the old cabin lately." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know who they are?" asked Tom eagerly. "We are looking for a +Mr. Nestor, who disappeared mysteriously about two weeks ago, and I +just found his wallet there in the shack!" +</P> + +<P> +"You did!" exclaimed Mr. Bloise. "That's queer! You relatives of this +Mr. Nestor?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Not exactly," Tom answered. "Just very close friends." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's too bad about his being missing in that way," went on the +farmer. "I read about it in the paper, but I never suspected he was +around here." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we're not sure that he was," said Tom quickly. "Finding his wallet +doesn't prove that," and he told the story of his own and Jackson's +appearance on the scene, to the no small wonder of the farmer and his +family. Tom said nothing about the finding of the files, nor the +evidence he deduced from them. That was another matter to be taken up +later. +</P> + +<P> +"Who were in the auto you saw?" asked Tom of the farmer's son. "Was +Mr. Nestor in the car?" +</P> + +<P> +"I couldn't be sure of that. There were two men in the machine, and +they were both strangers to me. They were talking together, pretty +earnestly, it seemed to me." +</P> + +<P> +"One did not appear as if he was being taken away against his will, did +he?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I can't say that he did," was the answers "They looked to me, and +acted like, business men looking over land, or something like that. +They just turned in on the road that leads to the old hunting cabin, as +we call it around here, and didn't pay any attention to me. Then I +forgot all about them." +</P> + +<P> +"Neither of them could have been Mr. Nestor," decided Tom. "At least it +doesn't seem as if he'd talk at all companionably to a man who had +treated him as we think Mr. Nestor has been treated. I guess that clew +isn't going to amount to much." +</P> + +<P> +"It may!" insisted Jackson. "They may have had Mr. Nestor in the car +all the while—concealed in the back you know. We've got to find out +more about these men and their auto, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes, perhaps we have. But how?" +</P> + +<P> +"Station some one at the shack, or at the beginning of the private +road. The men may come back." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so—they may. We'll do that!" cried the young inventor. "We +must tell the police and Mr. Nestor's folks what we have learned. How +can we get back to Shopton in a hurry?" he asked the farmer. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I can drive you to the railroad station," was the answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," remarked Tom. "We'll accept your offer. And as soon as we +get back we must send some one from the shop to stand guard over the +airship," he added in an aside to Jackson. "Those file fellows may come +back." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so, we can't take any chances." +</P> + +<P> +The farmer soon had his team at the door, and, after they had had a +hasty but satisfying supper at the farmhouse, the son drove Tom and +Jackson several miles to a railroad station, where they could catch a +train for Shopton. +</P> + +<P> +In due season Tom's home was reached. He intended to stop but a minute, +to assure his father that everything was all right, and then get out +his speedy runabout to go to see Mary, to tell her the news. +</P> + +<P> +But when Tom sought his father in the library, he was told that there +was a visitor in the house. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom," said his father, "this gentleman is from Washington. He wants to +arrange for a government test of your silent airship. I told him I +thought you were about ready for it." +</P> + +<P> +"A government test!" cried Tom. "Why, I didn't think the government +even knew I was working on such an idea!" Tom was greatly surprised. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IN THE MOONLIGHT +</H3> + +<P> +With a reassuring smile the visitor from Washington looked at Tom Swift. +</P> + +<P> +"The government officials," he said, "know more than some people give +them credit for—especially in these war times. Our intelligence bureau +and secret service has been much enlarged of late. But don't be +alarmed, Mr. Swift," went on the caller, whose name was Mr. Blair +Terrill. "Your secret is safe with the government, but I think the time +is ripe to use it now—that is, if you have perfected it to a point +where we can use it." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Tom slowly, "the invention is practically finished and +it is a success, except for a few minor matters that will not take long +to complete. +</P> + +<P> +"Our accident this afternoon had nothing to do with the efficiency of +the silencer," Tom went on. "It was deliberately damaged by some spy. +I'll take that up later. That I am interested to know how you heard of +my Air Scout, as I call it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we have agents, you know, watching all the inventors who have +helped us in times past, and we haven't forgotten your giant cannon or +big searchlight. I might say, to end your curiosity and lull your +suspicions, that your friend, Ned Newton, who has been doing such good +Liberty Bond work, informed us of your progress on the silent motor." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, so it was Ned!" exclaimed Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. He told us the time was about ripe for us to make you an offer +for your machine. I think we can use it to great advantage in scout +work on the western front," went on the agent, and he soon convinced +Tom that when it came to a knowledge of airships, he had some very +pertinent facts at his disposal. +</P> + +<P> +"When can you give me a test?" Mr. Terrill asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"As soon as I can get my craft back to the shop and fit on a new outer +case. That won't take long, as I have some spare ones. But I must help +the Nestors," he went on, speaking to his father. "I didn't mention it +over the wire," he added, "but we've found in the cabin a clew to the +missing man. I must tell Mary and her mother, and help them all I can." +</P> + +<P> +"And allow me to help, too," begged Mr. Terrill. "Since this affects +you, Mr. Swift, and since you are, in a way, working for Uncle Sam, you +must let him help you. This is the first I have heard of the missing +gentleman, of whom your father just told me something, but you must +allow me to help search for him. I will get the United States Secret +Service at work." +</P> + +<P> +"That will be fine!" cried Tom. "I wanted to get their aid, but I +didn't see how I could, as I knew they were too busy with army matters +and tracing seditious alien enemies, to bother with private cases. I'm +sure the Secret Service men can get trace of the persons responsible +for the detention of Mr. Nestor, wherever he is." +</P> + +<P> +"They'll do their best," said Mr. Terrill. "I'm a member of that body," +he went on, "and I'll give my personal attention to the matter." +</P> + +<P> +Then followed a busy time. Tom did not get to bed until nearly morning. +For he had to arrange to send some of his men to guard the stranded +airship, and then he went to see Mary and her mother, taking them the +good news that the search for Mr. Nestor would be prosecuted with +unprecedented vigor. +</P> + +<P> +"If it isn't too late!" sadly said the missing man's wife. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm sure it isn't!" declared Tom. +</P> + +<P> +In addition to sending a guard to the airship, other men, some of them +hastily summoned from the nearest federal agency, were sent to keep +watch in the vicinity of the lonely cabin. They had orders to arrest +whoever approached, and a relay of the men was provided, so that watch +could be kept up night and day. Besides this, other men from the Secret +Service began scouring the country around the locality of the cabin, +seeking a trace of the two persons the farmer's son had seen in the +automobile. +</P> + +<P> +"If Mr. Nestor is to be found, they'll find him!" declared Tom Swift. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon, as might be expected, was very much excited and wrought up +over all these happenings. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my watch chain, Tom Swift!" cried the eccentric man, "but +something is always happening to you. And to think I wasn't along when +this latest happened!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you can be in at the finish," promised Tom, and it was strange +how his promise was fulfilled. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile there was much to do. During the time the Secret Service men +were busy looking up clews which might lead to the finding of Mr. +Nestor and keeping watch in the vicinity of the hut, Tom had his +airship brought back to the hangar, and a new silencer was attached. +While this work was going on the place was guarded night and day by +responsible men, so there was no chance for an enemy spy to get in and +do further damage. +</P> + +<P> +An investigation was made of the Universal Flying Machine Company, but +nothing could be proved to link them with the outrage. Gale and Ware +were in Europe—ostensibly on government business, but it was said that +if anything could be proved connecting them with the attempt made on +Tom Swift's craft, they would be deprived of all official contracts and +punished. +</P> + +<P> +All this took time, and the waits were wearisome, particularly in the +case of Mr. Nestor. No further trace of him was found, though every +effort was made. Tom began to feel that his boast of his enemies having +to get up early in the morning to get ahead of him, had been premature, +to say the least. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift worked hard on his new Air Scout. He determined there would +be nothing lacking when it came to the government test, and not only +did he make sure that no enemy could tamper with his machine, but he +took pains to see that no inherent defect would mar the test. +</P> + +<P> +Jackson and the other men helped to the best of their ability, and Mr. +Swift suggested some improvements which were incorporated in the new +machine. +</P> + +<P> +One of the puzzles the Secret Service men had to solve was that of the +connection, if any, between the men who had to do with the missing Mr. +Nestor and those who had damaged Tom's airship by filing the muffler +case so it was weakened and burst. That there was some connection Tom +was certain, but he could not work it out, nor, so far, had the +government men. +</P> + +<P> +At last the day came when the big government test was to be made. Tom +had completed his Air Scout and had refined it to a point where even +his critical judgment was satisfied. All that remained now was to give +Mr. Terrill a chance to see how silently the big craft could fly, and +to this end a flight was arranged. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had put the silencer on a larger machine than the one he and +Jackson had used. It held three easily, and, on a pinch, four could be +carried. Tom's plan was to take Mr. Damon and Mr. Terrill, fly with +them for some time in the air, and demonstrate how quiet his new craft +was. Then, by contrast, a machine without the muffler and the new motor +with its improved propellers would be flown, making as much noise as +the usual craft did. +</P> + +<P> +"I only wish," said Tom, as the time arrived for the official +government test, "that Mary could be here to see it. She was the one +who really started me on this idea, so to speak, as it was because I +couldn't talk to her that I decided to get up a silent motor." +</P> + +<P> +But Mary Nestor was too grief-stricken over her missing father to come +to the test, which was to take place late one afternoon, starting from +the aerodrome of the Swift plant. +</P> + +<P> +"First," said Tom, to Mr. Terrill, "I'll show you how the machine works +on the ground. I'll run the motor while the plane is held down by means +of ropes and blocks. Then we'll go up in it." +</P> + +<P> +"That suits me," said the agent. "If it does all you say it will do, +and as much as I believe it will do, Uncle Sam will be your debtor, Mr. +Swift." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll see," said Tom with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +Preparations were made with the greatest care, and Tom went over every +detail of the machine twice to make certain that, in spite of the +precautions, no spy had done any hidden damage, that might be +manifested at an inopportune moment. But everything seemed all right, +and, finally, the motor was started, while Mr. Terrill, and some of his +colleagues from the Army Aviation department looked on. +</P> + +<P> +"Contact!" cried Tom, as Jackson indicated that the compression had +been made. +</P> + +<P> +The mechanic nodded, gave the big propeller blades a quarter turn and +jumped back. In an instant the motor was operating, and the craft would +have leaped forward and cleaved the air but for the holding ropes and +blocks. Tom speeded the machinery up to almost the last notch, but +those in the aerodrome hardly heard a sound. It was as though some +great, silent dynamo were working. +</P> + +<P> +"Fine!" +</P> + +<P> +"Wonderful!" +</P> + +<P> +"Wouldn't have believed it possible!" +</P> + +<P> +These were some of the comments of the government inspectors. +</P> + +<P> +"And now for the final test—that in the air," said Mr. Terrill. +</P> + +<P> +Previous to this he and his colleagues had made a minute examination of +the machinery, and had been shown the interior construction of the +silencer by means of one built so that a sectional view could be had. +Tom's principles were pronounced fundamental and simple. +</P> + +<P> +"So simple, in fact, that it is a wonder no one thought of it before," +said a navy aviation expert. "It is the last word in aircraft +construction—a silent motor that will not apprise the enemy of its +approach! You have done wonders, Mr. Swift!" +</P> + +<P> +"I'd rather hear you say that after the air test," replied Tom, with a +laugh. "Are you ready, Mr. Terrill?" +</P> + +<P> +"Whenever you are." +</P> + +<P> +"How about you, Mr. Damon?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm always ready to go with you, Tom Swift. Bless my trench +helmet, but you can't sail any too soon for me!" +</P> + +<P> +There was a genial laugh at his impetuosity, and the three took their +seats in the big craft. Once more the engine was started. It operated +as silently as before, and the first good impressions were confirmed. +Even as the machine moved along the ground, just previous to taking +flight into the air, there was no noise, save the slight crunch made by +the wheels. This, of course, would be obviated when Silent Sam was +aloft. +</P> + +<P> +Up and up soared the great craft, with Tom at the engine and guide +controls, while Mr. Terrill and Mr. Damon sat behind him, both eagerly +watching. Mr. Terrill was there to find fault if he could, but he was +glad he did not have to. +</P> + +<P> +"The machine works perfectly, Mr. Swift," he said. "My report cannot be +otherwise than favorable." +</P> + +<P> +"We mustn't be in too much of a hurry," said Tom, who had learned +caution some time ago. "I want to sail around for several hours. +Sometimes a machine will work well at first, but defects will develop +when it is overheated. I'm going to do my best to make a noise with +this new motor." +</P> + +<P> +But it seemed impossible. The machinery worked perfectly, and though +Silent Sam took his passengers high and low, in big circles and small +ones, there was no appreciable noise from the motor. The passengers +could converse as easily, and with as little effort, as in a balloon. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course that isn't the prime requisite," said Mr. Terrill, "but it +is a good one. What we want is a machine that can sail over the enemy's +lines at night without being heard, and I think this one will do it—in +fact, I'm sure it will. Of course the ability of the passengers to +converse and not have to use the uncertain tube is a great advantage." +</P> + +<P> +As Tom Swift sailed on and on, it became evident that the test was +going to be a success. The afternoon passed, and it began to grow dark, +but a glorious full moon came up. +</P> + +<P> +"Shall I take you down?" the young inventor asked Mr. Terrill. +</P> + +<P> +"Not quite yet. I thoroughly enjoy this, and it isn't often I get a +chance for a moonlight airship ride. Go a little lower, if you please, +and we'll see if we attract any attention from the inhabitants of the +earth. We'll see if they can possibly hear the machine, though I don't +see how they can." +</P> + +<P> +And they did not. Tom piloted the machine over Shopton, sailing +directly over the center of the town, where there was a big crowd +walking about. Though the airship sailed only a few hundred feet above +their heads, not a person was aware of it, since the craft's lights +were put out for this test. +</P> + +<P> +"That settles it," said Mr. Terrill. "You have succeeded, Tom Swift!" +</P> + +<P> +But Tom was not yet satisfied. He wanted a longer test. Hardly knowing +why he did it he sent the craft in the direction of Mary Nestor's home. +As he sailed across her lawn he saw, in the moonlight, that she and her +mother were walking in the garden. They did not look up as the +aircraft passed over their heads, and were totally unaware of its +presence, unless they caught a glimpse of it as it flitted silently +along, like some great bird of the night. +</P> + +<P> +"It is perfectly wonderful!" declared Mr. Terrill, and he spoke in +ordinary tones, that carried perfectly to the ears of Tom and Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Wonderful!" cried the eccentric man. "Bless my chimney, but it's the +greatest invention in the world! Yes, it is! Don't tell me it 'isn't!" +</P> + +<P> +And no one did. +</P> + +<P> +Passing the Nestor home, the saddened occupants of which were unaware +of the passage, Tom sent the Air Scout about in a circle, intending to +proceed to the hangar. And then, some whim, perhaps, caused him to +guide Silent Sam out toward the lonely hut. Mr. Damon and Mr. Tenrill +seemed perfectly content to sail on and on indefinitely in the +moonlight. Tom thought he would take them over a lonely neighborhood, +and then bring them back. +</P> + +<P> +In a little while the craft was directly over the stretch of country +where the aeroplane accident had occurred, and where Tom and Jackson +had found the deserted hut. +</P> + +<P> +Rather idly Tom looked down, wondering if the Secret Service men were +on the watch and if they had discovered anything. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Tom was aware of an automobile moving along the field path +toward the cabin. There were two men in the car, both on the front +seat, and as Tom looked down the brilliant moonlight showed him the +figure of another man, behind, and huddled in the tonneau of the car. +The aeroplane was low enough for all these details to be seen by the +moon's gleam, but the men in the car, not hearing any noise, did not +look up, so they were unconscious of this aerial espionage. +</P> + +<P> +"Look! Look!" exclaimed Tom in a low voice to his companions. "Doesn't +that seem suspicious?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE GOLD TOOTH +</H3> + +<P> +Eagerly Mr. Damon and the government agent leaned over and looked down. +In the moonlight they saw the same sight that had attracted Tom Swift. +The touring car, the two men in front, and the huddled, bound figure in +the back. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you go down, Tom, without letting them hear you?" asked Mr. Damon, +using a low voice, as if fearful the men in the automobile would hear +him. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess so," answered the young inventor. "I can land nearer to the +cabin than Jackson and I did, and then we can see what these fellows +are up to. It looks suspicious to me. That is, unless they're some of +the Secret Service men, and have made a capture," he added to Mr. +Terrill. +</P> + +<P> +"Those aren't any of Uncle Sam's men," declared the agent. "That is, +unless the bound one is. I can't see him very well. Better go down, +and we'll see if we can surprise them." +</P> + +<P> +"My plan," voiced Tom. +</P> + +<P> +Quickly he shifted the rudder, and then, shutting off the motor, as he +wanted to volplane down, he headed his craft for an open spot that +showed in the bright moonlight. By this time the automobile and its +occupants were out of sight behind a clump of trees, but Tom and his +companions felt sure of the destination of the men—the deserted cabin +in the wood. +</P> + +<P> +As silently as a wisp of grass falling, the big craft came down on a +level spot, and then, leaping out, the young inventor and his two +companions crept along the path toward the cabin. Mr. Terrill was +armed, Tom carried a flashlight, while Mr. Damon picked up a heavy club. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as he came near a place where he thought the marks of the +automobile wheels would show, Tom flashed his light. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought so!" he exclaimed, as he saw the square, knobby tread marks +left by the tires. "It's the same gang, or some of them in the same +car. If we can only capture them!" +</P> + +<P> +"The Secret Service men ought to do that," returned Mr. Terrill, but, +as it developed later, they were not on hand, though through no fault +of theirs. +</P> + +<P> +On and on crept Tom and the two men, until they came within sight of +the cabin. They saw a light gleaming in it, and Tom whispered: +</P> + +<P> +"Now we have them! Work our way up quietly and make them surrender, if +we find they're what we think." +</P> + +<P> +"Is there a rear door?" asked Mr. Terrill in a whisper. +</P> + +<P> +Tom answered in the negative, and then all three, in fan shape, crept +up to the front portal. It was open, and silently reaching a place +where they could make an observation, Tom and his companions looked in. +</P> + +<P> +What they saw filled them with wild and righteous rage, and brought to +an end the mystery of the disappearance of Mr. Nestor. For there he +sat, bound in a chair, and at a table in front of him were two +forbidding-looking men. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you intend to do now?" asked Mr. Nestor in a faint voice. "I +cannot stand this captivity much longer. You admit that you don't want +me—that you never wanted me—so why do you keep me a prisoner? It +cannot do the least good." +</P> + +<P> +"There's no use going over that again!" exclaimed the harsh voice of +one of the men. "We told you that if you will promise to keep still +about what happened to you, and not to give the police any information +about us, we'll let you go gladly. We don't want you. It was all a +mistake, capturing you. You were the wrong man. But we're not going to +let you go and have you set the police on us as soon as you get a +chance. Give us your promise to say nothing, and we'll let you join +your friends. If you don't—" +</P> + +<P> +"Make no promises, Mr. Nestor!" cried Tom Swift in a ringing voice, as +he leaped from his hiding place, followed by his companions. "Your +friends are here, and you can tell them everything!" +</P> + +<P> +"Up with 'em!" called Mr. Terrill to the two conspirators as he +confronted them with his automatic pistol ready for firing. He had no +need to mention hands—they knew what he meant and took the +characteristic attitude. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom! Tom Swift!" cried Mr. Nestor, struggling ineffectually at his +bonds. "Is it really you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I hope it isn't any imitation," was the grim answer. "We'll +tell you all about it later. Jove, but I'm glad we found you! If it +hadn't been for Silent Sam we might never have been able to." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't know who Silent Sam is," said Mr. Nestor faintly. "But +I'm sure I'm much obliged to him and your other friends. It has been +very hard. Tell me, are my wife and Mary all right?" +</P> + +<P> +"In good health, yes, but, of course, worrying," said Tom. "We saw them +in the garden a little while ago. Now don't talk until I set you free." +</P> + +<P> +And as Tom cut the ropes from Mr. Nestor, Mr. Damon used them to bind +the two conspirators, while Mr. Terrill stood guard over them. And when +they were safely bound, and Mr. Nestor had somewhat recovered from the +shock, Tom had a chance to examine the prisoners. +</P> + +<P> +"What does it all mean? Who are you fellows, anyhow, and what's your +game?" he demanded. +</P> + +<P> +"Guess it—since you're so smart!" snapped one. +</P> + +<P> +And no sooner had he opened his mouth and Tom had a glance of something +gleaming brightly yellow, than the young inventor cried: +</P> + +<P> +"The gold tooth! So it's you again, is it, you spy?" +</P> + +<P> +The man shrugged his shoulders with an assumption of indifference. And, +as Tom took a closer look, he became aware that the man was surely none +other than Lydane, the spy he had chased into the mud puddle some weeks +before. His companion was a stranger to Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"What does it all mean, Mr. Nestor?" asked Tom. "Have these men held +you a prisoner ever since you called for help on the moor that night?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Tom, they have. And I did call for help after they attacked me as +I was riding my wheel, but I didn't know any one heard me. I began to +be afraid no one would ever help me." +</P> + +<P> +"We've been trying to, a long time," said Mr. Damon, "but we couldn't +find you. Where did they keep you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Here, part of the time," was Mr. Nestor's answer. "And in other lonely +houses. They bound and gagged me when they took me from place to place." +</P> + +<P> +"But what was their object?" asked Tom, concluding it was useless to +question the two captives. "Why did they make you a prisoner, Mr. +Nestor?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because they took me for you, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"For me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. The night I called at your house, and found you were not at home, +I put back in my pocket a bundle of papers I had brought over to show +you. They were plans of a little kitchen appliance a friend of mine had +invented, and I wanted to ask your opinion of it." +</P> + +<P> +"These scoundrels must have followed me, or have seen the bundle of +papers, and, mistaking me for you, they followed, attacked me in a +lonely spot and, bundling me and my wrecked wheel into an auto, carried +me off. They first demanded that I gave up the 'plans,' and when I +wouldn't they choked off my cries for help and knocked me into +unconsciousness. Then they brought me here, and kept me here for +several days. +</P> + +<P> +"They soon learned that the plans I had weren't those they wanted, +though what they were then after I couldn't imagine. Only, from what I +later overheard, I knew they mistook me for you and that they were +bitterly disappointed in not getting plans of some new airship you were +working on. They have kept me a prisoner ever since, and though they +offered to let me go if I would keep silent, I refused. I did not +think, to secure my own comfort, I should let such men go unpunished if +I could bring about their arrest." +</P> + +<P> +"I should say not!" cried Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Did they treat you brutally, Mr. Nestor?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Not after they found out who I was, by looking through my wallet. Of +course they didn't behave very decently, but they weren't actually +cruel, except that they bound and gagged me. Oh, but I'm glad you came, +Tom! How did it happen?" +</P> + +<P> +Then they told Mr. Nestor their story, and how the test of the new Air +Scout had led to his rescue. +</P> + +<P> +"But where are the Secret Service men?" asked Mr. Terrill, when it +became evident that none them was on guard at the cabin. +</P> + +<P> +Later it developed that, by following a false clew, the Secret Service +men had been drawn miles away from the cabin. And only that Tom and his +companions in the silent airship saw the men. Mr. Nestor might not +have been rescued for some further time. +</P> + +<P> +His version of what had happened was correct. He had been mistaken for +Tom, and the spy with the gold tooth and his accomplice had waylaid +Mary's father, under the belief that it was Tom Swift with the plans of +the new silent motor. Mr. Nestor had been attacked while riding his +wheel in a lonely place, and had been carried off and kept in hiding, a +prisoner even after his identity became known. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, this is a good night's work!" exclaimed Tom, when the two rogues +had been sent to jail and Mr. Nestor taken to the Bloise farmhouse, to +be refreshed before he went home. Word of his rescue was telephoned to +Mary and her mother, and it can be imagined how they regarded Tom Swift +for his part in the affair. +</P> + +<P> +Little the worse for his experience, save that he was very nervous, Mr. +Nestor was taken home. He gave the details of his being waylaid, and +told how the men, for many days, were at their wits' ends to keep him +concealed when they found what a stir his disappearance had created. +The conspirators were well supplied with money, and in the automobile +they took their prisoner from one place to another. They had usurped +the use of the cabin and had lived there nearly a week in hiding, +leaving just before the first visit of Tom and Jackson. The rifled +wallet had been dropped by accident. +</P> + +<P> +And it did not take much delving to disclose the fact that, Lydane, +"Gold Tooth," as he was called, and his crony, were spies in the pay of +the Universal Flying Machine Company. As the men went under several +aliases there is no need of giving their names. It is to be doubted if +they ever used their real ones—or if they had any. +</P> + +<P> +Of course, there was quite a sensation when Mr. Nestor was found, and a +greater one when it became known the part the Universal Flying Machine +people had in his disappearance in mistake for Tom. The officials of +the company were indicted, and several of the minor ones sent to jail +but Gale and Ware escaped by remaining abroad. +</P> + +<P> +It came out that they both knew of the acts of Lydane and his companion +in crime, and that the two officials realized the mistake that had been +made by their clumsy operatives. It was believed that this knowledge +led to the visit of Gale to Tom, the time the latter's suspicions were +first aroused. Gale made a clumsy attempt to clear his own skirts of +the conspiracy, but in vain, though he did escape his just punishment. +</P> + +<P> +What had happened, in brief, was this. Gale and Ware, unable to secure +Tom's services, even by the offer of a large sum of money, had stooped +to the sending of spies to his shop, to get possession of information +about his silent motor. This was after Gale had, by accident, heard Tom +speaking of it to Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +But, thanks to Tom's vigilance, Bower was discovered. The man tripped +into the mud hole lost in the muck the plans Bower passed to him. They +were never recovered. Then Lydane tried again. He managed, through +bribery, to gain access to the hangar where the new silent machine was +kept, and, unable to get the silencer apart, tried to file it. In doing +so he weakened it so that it burst. +</P> + +<P> +The attempt to waylay Tom, and so get the plans from him, had been +tried before this, only a mistake had been made, and Mr. Nestor was +caught instead. Finding out their error, Lydane and his companions did +not tell the Universal people of their mistake, though Gale and Ware +knew the attempt was to be made against Tom Swift. +</P> + +<P> +Later, hearing that the young inventor was still at work on his +invention, Gale was much surprised, and paid his queer visit, in an +attempt to repudiate the actions of Lydane. At this time it was assumed +that Gale and his partner did not know that it was Mr. Nestor who had +been kidnapped by mistake or they might have insisted on his release. +As it was, Lydane had Mary's father, and was afraid to let him go, +though really their prisoner became a white elephant on the hands of +the conspirators and kidnappers. +</P> + +<P> +And it was after all this was cleared up, and Mr. Nestor restored to +his family and friends, that one day, Tom Swift received another visit +from Mr. Terrill, the government agent. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Mr. Swift," was the genial greeting, "I have come to tell you +that the favorable report made by my friends and myself as to the +performance of your noiseless motor, has been accepted by the War +Department, and I have come to ask what your terms are. For how much +will you sell your patent to the United States?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift arose. +</P> + +<P> +"The United States hasn't money enough to buy my patent of a noiseless +motor," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Wha—what!" faltered Mr. Terrill. "Why, I understood—you don't +mean—they told me you were rather patriotic, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"I hope I am patriotic!" interrupted Tom with a smile. "And when I say +that the United States hasn't money enough to buy my latest invention I +mean just that." +</P> + +<P> +"My Air Scout is not for sale!" +</P> + +<P> +"You mean," faltered the government agent. "You say—" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean," went on Tom, "that Silent Sam is for Uncle Sam without one +cent of cost! My father and I take great pleasure in presenting such +machines as are already manufactured, those in process of making, and +the entire patents, and all other rights, to the government for the +winning of the war!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh!" said Mr. Terrill in rather a strange voice. "Oh!" +</P> + +<P> +And that was all he could say for a little while. +</P> + +<P> +But Tom Swift reckoned without a knowledge of a peculiar law which +prohibits the United States from accepting gifts totally without +compensation, and so, in due season, the young inventor received a +check for the sum of one dollar in full payment for his silent motor, +and the patent rights thereto. And Tom has that check framed, and +hanging over his desk. +</P> + +<P> +And so the silent motor became an accomplished fact and a great +success. Those of you who have read of its work against the Boches, and +how it helped Uncle Sam to gain the mastery of the sky, need not be +reminded of this. By it many surprise attacks were made, and much +valuable information was obtained that otherwise could not have been +brought in. +</P> + +<P> +One day, after the rogues had been sent to prison for long terms, and +Tom had turned over to his government his silent aircraft—except one +which he was induced to keep for his own personal use—the young +inventor went to call on Mary Nestor. The object of his call, as I +believe he stated it, was to see how Mr. Nestor was, but that, of +course, was camouflage. +</P> + +<P> +"Would you like to come for a ride, Mary, in the silent airship?" asked +Tom, after he had paid his respects to Mr. Nestor and his wife. "We can +talk very easily on board Silent Sam without the use of a speaking +tube. Come on—we'll go for a moonlight sky ride." +</P> + +<P> +"It sounds enticing," said Mary, with a shy look at Tom. "But wouldn't +you just as soon sit on a bench in the garden? It's moonlight there, +and we can talk, and—and—" +</P> + +<P> +"I'd just as soon!" said Tom quickly. +</P> + +<P> +And out they went into the beautiful moonlight; and here we will leave +them and say good-bye. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="finis"> +THE END +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<HR> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3> +THE TOM SWIFT SERIES +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +By VICTOR APPLETON +</P> + +<P> +These spirited tales convey in a realistic way, the wonderful advances +in land and sea locomotion. Stories like these are impressed upon the +memory and their reading is productive only of good. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE<BR> +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS<BR> +TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE<BR> +TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER<BR> +TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL<BR> +TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH<BR> +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +By LAURA LEE HOPE +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Author of "The Bobbsey Twins Books," +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"The Bunny Brown Series," +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"The Make-Believe Series," Etc. +</P> + +<P> +Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into +immediate popularity. To know the six little Bunkers is to take them at +once to your heart, they are so intensely human, so full of fun and +cute sayings. Each story has a little plot of its own—one that can be +easily followed—and all are written in Miss Hope's most entertaining +manner. Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on the bookshelf of +every child in the land. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'S<BR> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'S<BR> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'S<BR> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORDS<BR> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'S<BR> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'S<BR> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AND THE FLOOD<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT PANAMA<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS UNDER THE SEA<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE WAR FRONT<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS SERIES<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' FIRST VENTURE<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT SEASIDE PARK<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS ON BROADWAY<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' OUTDOOR EXHIBITION<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' NEW IDEA<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT THE FAIR<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' WAR SPECTACLE<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1284 ***</div> +</BODY> + +</HTML> + + diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tom Swift and his Air Scout + or, Uncle Sam's Mastery of the Sky + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Posting Date: July 17, 2008 [EBook #1284] +Release Date: April, 1998 +[Last updated: July 12, 2013] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT *** + + + + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT +</H1> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +or +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Uncle Sam's Mastery of the Sky +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +by +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Victor Appleton +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%" summary=""> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">CHAPTER</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">A SKY RIDE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">A NEW IDEA</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">THE BIG OFFER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">MR. DAMON'S WHIZZER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">TOM'S PROJECT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">MAKING PLANS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">A PROBLEM IN SOUND</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">THROUGH THE ROOF</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">AFTER A SPY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">A BIG SPLASH</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">A NIGHT TRIP</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">THE CRY FOR HELP</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">SOMETHING QUEER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">THE TELEPHONE CALL</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">A VAIN SEARCH</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">THE LONG NIGHT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">SILENT SAM</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">SUSPICIONS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">ANOTHER FLIGHT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">QUEER MARKS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">THE DESERTED CABIN</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">CLEWS AT LAST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">THE GOVERNMENT TEST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">IN THE MOONLIGHT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap25">THE GOLD TOOTH</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A SKY RIDE +</H3> + +<P> +"Oh Tom, is it really safe?" +</P> + +<P> +A young lady—an exceedingly pretty young lady, she could be +called—stood with one small, gloved hand on the outstretched wing of +an aeroplane, and looked up at a young man, attired in a leather, +fur-lined suit, who sat in the cockpit of the machine just above her. +</P> + +<P> +"Safe, Mary?" repeated the pilot, as he reached in under the hood of +the craft to make sure about one of the controls. "Why, you ought to +know by this time that I wouldn't go up if it wasn't safe!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I know, Tom. It may be all right for you, but I've never been +up in this kind of airship before, and I want to know if it's safe for +me." +</P> + +<P> +The young man leaned over the edge of the padded cockpit, and clasped +in his rather grimy hand the neatly gloved one of the young lady. And +though the glove was new, and fitted the hand perfectly, there was no +attempt to withdraw it. Instead, the young lady seemed to be very glad +indeed that her hand was in such safe keeping. +</P> + +<P> +"Mary!" exclaimed the young man, "if it wasn't safe—as safe as a +church—I wouldn't dream of taking you up!" and at the mention of +"church" Mary Nestor blushed just the least bit. Or perhaps it was that +the prospective excitement of the moment caused the blood to surge into +her cheeks. Have it as you will. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, Mary! you're not going to back out the last minute, are you?" +asked Tom Swift. "Everything is all right. I've made a trial flight, +and you've seen me come down as safely as a bird. You promised to go +up with me. I won't go very high if you don't like it, but my +experience has been that, once you're off the ground, it doesn't make +any difference how high you go. You'll find it very fascinating. So +skip along to the house, and Mrs. Baggert will help you get into your +togs." +</P> + +<P> +"Shall I have to wear all those things—such as you have on?" asked +Mary, blushing again. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you'll be more comfortable in a fur-lined leather suit," +asserted Tom. "And if it does make you look like an Eskimo, why I'm +sure it will be very becoming. Not that you don't look nice now," he +hastened to assure Miss Nestor, "but an aviation suit will be +very—well, fetching, I should say." +</P> + +<P> +"If I could be sure it would 'fetch' me back safe, Tom—" +</P> + +<P> +"That'll do! That'll do!" laughed the young aviator. "One joke like +that is enough in a morning. It was pretty good, though. Now go on in +and tog up." +</P> + +<P> +"You're sure it's safe, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Positive! Trot along now. I want to fix a wire and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, is anything broken?" and the girl, who had started away from the +aeroplane, turned back again. +</P> + +<P> +"No, not broken. It's only a little auxiliary dingus I put on to make +it easier to read the barograph, but I think I'll go back to the old +system. Nothing to do with flying at all, except to tell how high up +one is." +</P> + +<P> +"That's just what I don't care to know, Tom," said Mary Nestor, with a +smile. "If I could imagine I was sailing along only about ten feet in +the air I wouldn't mind so much." +</P> + +<P> +"Flying at that height would be the worst sort of danger. You leave it +to me, Mary. I won't take you up above the clouds on this sky ride; +though, later, I'm sure you'll want to try that. This is only a little +flight. You've been promising long enough to take a trip with me, and +now I believe you're trying to back out." +</P> + +<P> +"No, really I'm not, Tom! Only, at the last minute, the machine looks +so small and frail, and the sky is so—big—" +</P> + +<P> +She glanced up and seemed to shiver just a trifle. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't be thinking of those things, Mary!" laughed Tom Swift. "Trot +along and get ready. The motor never worked better, and we may break a +few speed records this morning. No traffic cops to stop us, either, as +there might be if we were in an auto." +</P> + +<P> +"There you go, Mary!" exclaimed Tom, as if struck with a new thought. +"You've ridden in an auto with me many a time, and you never were a bit +afraid, though we were in more danger than we'll be this morning." +</P> + +<P> +"Danger, Tom, in an auto? How?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, danger of a wheel collapsing as we were going full speed; or the +steering knuckle breaking and sending us into a tree; danger of running +into a stone wall or a ditch; danger of some one running into us, or of +us running into some one else. There isn't one of these dangers on a +sky ride." +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Mary slowly. "But there's the danger of falling." +</P> + +<P> +"One against twenty. That's the safety margin. And, if we do fall, it +will be like landing in a feather bed! There, don't wait any longer. Go +and get ready." +</P> + +<P> +Mary sighed, and then, seeming to summon her nerve to her aid, she +smiled brightly, waved her hand to Tom, and hastened toward his home, +where Mrs. Baggert the matronly housekeeper, was waiting to help the +girl attire herself in a flying-suit of leather. +</P> + +<P> +Mary Nestor, who had a very warm place in the heart of Tom Swift, had, +as he stated, some time since promised to take a trip in the air with +the young inventor. But she had kept putting it off, for one reason or +another, until Tom began to despair of ever getting her to accompany +him. To-day, however, when she had called to inquire about his father, +who had been slightly ill, Tom had, after the social visit, insisted on +the promise being kept. +</P> + +<P> +He had his mechanic get out one of the safest, though a speedy, double +machine, and, with Mary to watch, Tom had taken a trial flight, just to +show her how easy it was. It was not the first time she had seen him +take to the air, but now she watched with different emotions, for she +was vitally interested. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had sailed down from aloft, making a landing in the aviation field +he had constructed near his home, and then he had insisted that Mary +should keep her promise to take a sky ride with him. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't be too long now!" called Tom to the girl, as she hurried toward +the house. "Never mind about your hair, or whether your hat's on +straight. You're going to wear a cap, anyhow, and tuck your hair up +under that. It's hot down here, but it will be cold up above; so tell +Mrs. Baggert to see that you're warmly dressed." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," and gaily she waved her hand to him. Now that she had made +her decision, and was really going up, she was not half so frightened +as she had been in the contemplation of it. +</P> + +<P> +As Tom climbed out of the machine, to give it a careful inspection, +though he was certain there was nothing wrong, an aged colored man +shuffled toward him. +</P> + +<P> +"Yo'—yo'll be mighty careful ob Miss Nestor now, won't yo', Massa +Tom?" asked the man. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I will, Eradicate," was the young inventor's answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Case we ain't got many laik her no mo', an' dat's de truf, Massa Tom," +went on the old man. "So be mighty careful laik!" +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I will, Rad! And, while I'm up in the air, don't you and +Koku have any trouble." +</P> + +<P> +"Ho! Trouble wif dat onery no-'count giant! I guess not!" and the +colored man limped off, highly indignant. +</P> + +<P> +Satisfied, from an inspection of his machine, that it was as nearly +mechanically perfect as it was possible to be, Tom Swift finished his +trip around it and stood near the big propeller, waiting for Mary +Nestor to reappear. Presently she did so, and Tom gaily waved his hand +to her. +</P> + +<P> +"You're a picture!" he cried, as he saw how particularly "fetching" she +looked in the aviator's costume which was like his own. Because of the +danger of entanglement, Miss Nestor had doffed her skirts, and wore the +costume of all aviators—men and women. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I had my camera!" cried Tom. "You look—stunning!" +</P> + +<P> +"I hope that isn't any comment on how I'm going to feel if we have to +make a—forced landing, I believe you call it," she retorted. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'll take care of that!" exclaimed Tom. "Now up you go, and we'll +start," and he helped her to climb into the padded seat of the cockpit, +behind where he was to sit. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Tom! Don't be in such a hurry!" expostulated Mary. "Let me get my +breath!" +</P> + +<P> +"No!" laughed the young inventor. "If I did you might back out. Get +in, fasten the strap around you and sit still. That's all you have to +do. Don't be afraid, I'll be very careful. And don't try to yell at me +to go slower or lower once we're up in the air. +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" Mary wanted to know, as she settled herself in her seat. +</P> + +<P> +"Because I can't very well hear you, or talk to you. The motor makes so +much noise, you know. We can do a little talking through this speaking +tube," and he indicated one, "but it isn't very satisfactory. So if you +have anything to say—" +</P> + +<P> +"In the language of the poets," interrupted Mary, "if I have words to +spill, prepare to spill them now. Well, I haven't! Now I'm here, go +ahead! I shall probably be too frightened to talk, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no you won't—after the first little sensation," Tom assured her. +"You'll be crazy about it. Come on, Jackson!" he called to the +mechanician. "Start the ball rolling!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom was in his place, his goggles and cap well down over his face, and +he was adjusting the switch as the mechanic prepared to spin the +propellers. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly a man came running from the Swift house, waving his arms not +unlike the blades of an aircraft propeller, he also shouted, but Tom, +whose ears were covered with his fur cap, could not hear. However, +Jackson did, and stopped whirling the blades, turning about to see what +was wanted. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, it's Mr. Damon!" exclaimed Tom, as he caught sight of the excited +man. "Hello, what's the matter?" the youth asked, pulling aside one +flap of his head-covering so he might hear the answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom! Wait a minute! Bless my mouse trap!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "I want +to speak to you!" He was panting from his run across the field. "I just +got to your house—saw your father—he said you were going up with Miss +Nestor, but—bless my dog biscuit—" +</P> + +<P> +"Can't stop now, Mr. Damon!" answered Tom, with a laugh. "I have only +just succeeded, by hard work, in getting Mary to a point where she has +consented to take a sky ride. If I stop now she'll back out and I'll +never get her in again. See you when I come back," and Tom pulled the +covering over his ear once more. +</P> + +<P> +"But, Tom, bless my shoe laces! This is important!" +</P> + +<P> +"So's this!" answered Tom, with a grin. He saw, by the motion of Mr. +Damon's lips, what the latter had said. +</P> + +<P> +Around swung the propeller blades. The gasoline vapor in the cylinders +was being compressed. +</P> + +<P> +"Contact!" called Tom sharply, as he pressed the switch to give the +igniting spark at the proper moment. The mechanic had stepped back out +of the way, in case there should be a premature starting of the +powerful engine, in which event the blades would have cut him to pieces. +</P> + +<P> +"Wait, Tom! Wait! This is very important! Bless my collar button, Tom +Swift, but this is—" +</P> + +<P> +Bang! Bang! Bang! +</P> + +<P> +With a series of explosions, like those of a machine gun, the motor +started, and further talk was out of the question. Tom turned on more +gas. The propellers became almost invisible blades of light and shadow, +and the aeroplane began moving over the grassy field. The mechanic had +sprung out of the way, pulling Mr. Damon with him. +</P> + +<P> +"Come back! Come back! Wait a minute, Tom Swift! Bless my pansy +blossoms, I want to tell you something!" cried the little man. +</P> + +<P> +But Tom Swift was away and out of hearing. He had started on his sky +ride with Mary Nestor. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A NEW IDEA +</H3> + +<P> +Any one who has taken a flight in an aeroplane or gone up in a balloon, +will know exactly how Mary Nestor felt on this, her first sky ride of +any distance. For a moment, as she looked over the side of the machine, +she had a distinct impression, not that she was going up, but that some +one had pulled the earth down from beneath her and, at the same time, +given her a shove off into space. Such is the first sensation of going +aloft. Then the rush of air all about her, the slightly swaying motion +of the craft, and the vibration caused by the motor took her attention. +But the sensation of the earth dropping away from beneath her remained +with Mary for some time. +</P> + +<P> +This sensation is much greater in a balloon than in an aeroplane, for a +balloon, unless there is a strong wind blowing, goes straight up, while +an aeroplane ascends on a long slant, and always into the teeth of the +wind, to take advantage of its lifting power on the underside of the +planes. The reason for this sensation—that of the earth's dropping +down, instead of one's feeling, what really happens, that one is +ascending—is because there are no objects by which comparison can be +made. If one starts off on the earth's surface at slow, or at great +speed, one passes stationary objects—houses, posts, trees, and the +like—and judges the speed by the rapidity with which these are left +behind. +</P> + +<P> +Going up is unlike this. There is nothing to pass. One simply cleaves +the air, and only as it rushes past can one be sure of movement. And as +the air is void of color and form, there is no sensation of passing +anything. +</P> + +<P> +So Mary Nestor, as she shot into the air with Tom Swift, had a +sensation as though the earth were dropping from beneath her. For a +moment she felt as though she were in some vast void—floating in +space—and she had a great fear. Then she calmed herself. She looked at +Tom sitting in front of her. Of course, all she could see was his back, +but it looked to be a very sturdy back, indeed, and he sat there in the +aircraft as calmly as though in a chair on the ground. Then Mary took +courage, and ceased to grasp the sides of the cockpit with a grip that +stiffened all her muscles. She was beginning to "find herself." +</P> + +<P> +On and on, and up and up, went Mary and Tom, in this the girl's first +big sky ride. The earth below seemed farther and farther away. The +wide, green fields became little emerald squares, and the houses like +those in a toy Noah's ark. +</P> + +<P> +Down below, Mr. Wakefield Damon, who had hurried over from his home in +Waterfield to see Tom Swift, gazed aloft at the fast disappearing +aeroplane and its passengers. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my coal bin!" cried the eccentric man, "but Tom is in a hurry +this morning. Too bad he couldn't have stopped and spoken to me. It +might have been greatly to his advantage. But I suppose I shall have to +wait." +</P> + +<P> +"You want to see Master?" asked a voice behind Mr. Damon, and, turning, +he beheld a veritable giant. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Koku, I did," Mr. Damon answered, and he did not appear at all +surprised at the sight of the towering form beside him. "I wanted to +see Tom most particularly. But I shall have to wait. I'll go in and +talk to Mr. Swift." +</P> + +<P> +"Yaas, an' I go talk to Radicate," said the giant. "Him diggin' up +ground where Master told me to make garden. Radicate not strong enough +for dat!" +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! there's trouble as soon as those two get to disputing," mused Mr. +Damon, as he went toward the house. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile, Mary was beginning to enjoy herself. The sensation of moving +rapidly through the air in a machine as skillfully guided as was the +one piloted by Tom Swift was delightful. Up and up they went, and then +suddenly Mary felt a lurch, and the plane, which was now about a +thousand feet high, seemed to slip to one side. +</P> + +<P> +Mary screamed, and began reaching for the buckle of the safety belt +that fastened her to her seat. She saw that something unusual had +occurred, for Tom was working frantically at the mechanism in front of +him. +</P> + +<P> +But, in spite of this, he seemed aware that Mary was in danger, not so +much, perhaps, from what might happen to the machine, as what she might +do in her terror. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! Oh!" cried the girl, and Tom heard her above the terrific noise of +the motor, for she was speaking with her lips close to the tube that +served as a sort of inter-communicating telephone for the craft. "Oh, +we are falling! I'm going to jump!" +</P> + +<P> +"Sit still! Sit still for your life!" cried Tom Swift. "I'll save you +all right! Only sit still! Don't jump!" +</P> + +<P> +Mary, her red cheeks white, sank back, and the young inventor redoubled +his efforts at the controls and other mechanisms. +</P> + +<P> +And that Tom was perfectly qualified to make a safe landing, even with +engine trouble, Mary Nestor well knew. Those of you who have read the +previous books of this series know it also, but, for the benefit of my +new readers, I shall state that this was by no means Tom's first ride +in an aeroplane. +</P> + +<P> +He had operated and built gasoline engines ever since he was about +sixteen years old. As related in the initial volume of this series, +entitled, "Tom Swift and His Motorcycle," he became possessed of this +machine after it had started to climb a tree with Mr. Damon on board. +After that experience the eccentric man—blessing everything he could +think of—had no liking for the speedy motorcycle and sold it to Tom at +a low price. +</P> + +<P> +That was the beginning of a friendship between the two, and also +started Tom on his career as an inventor and a possessor of many +gasoline craft. For he was not content with merely riding the repaired +motorcycle. He made improvements on it. +</P> + +<P> +Tom lived with his father in the town of Shopton, their home being +looked after, since the death of Mrs. Swift, by Mrs. Baggert. Mr. +Wakefield Damon lived in the neighboring town of Waterfield, and spent +much time at Tom's home, often going on trips with him in various +vehicles of the land, sea or air. +</P> + +<P> +As related in the various volumes of this series, Tom was not content +to remain on earth. He built a speedy motor boat, and then secured an +airship, following that with a submarine. He also made an electric +runabout that was the speediest car on the road. Sending wireless +messages, having thrilling experiences among the diamond makers, +journeying to the caves of ice, and making perilous trips in his sky +racer took up part of the young inventor's time. +</P> + +<P> +With his electric rifle he did some wonderful shooting, and in the +"City of Gold" made some strange discoveries, part of the fortune he +secured enabling him to build his sky racer. It was in a land of giants +that Tom was made captive, but he succeeded in escaping, and brought +two giants, of whom Koku was one, away with him. +</P> + +<P> +Following this achievement Tom invented a wizard camera and a great +searchlight, which, with his giant cannon, was purchased by the United +States Government. Work on his photo-telephone and his aerial warship, +the problem of digging a big tunnel, and then traveling to the land of +wonders, kept Tom Swift very busy, and he had just completed a +wonderful piece of work when the present story opens. +</P> + +<P> +This last achievement was the perfecting of a machine to aid in the +great World War and you will find the details set down in the volume +which immediately precedes this. "Tom Swift and His War Tank," it is +called, and in that is related how he not only invented a marvelous +machine, but succeeded in keeping its secret from the plotters who +tried to take it from him. In this Tom was helped by the inspiration of +Mary Nestor, whom he hoped some day to marry, and by Ned Newton, a +chum, who, though no inventor himself, could admire one. +</P> + +<P> +Ned and Tom had been chums a long while, but Ned inclined more to +financial and office matters than to machinery. At times he had managed +affairs for Tom, and helped him finance projects. Ned was now an +important bank official, and since the United States had entered the +war had had charge of some Red Cross work, as well as Liberty Bond +campaigns. +</P> + +<P> +Somehow, as she sat there in the craft which seemed disabled, Mary +Nestor could not help thinking of Tom's many activities, in some of +which she had shared. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, if he falls now, and is killed!" she thought. "Oh, what will +happen to us?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's all right, Mary! Don't worry! It's all right!" cried Tom, through +the speaking tube. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that? I can't hear you very well!" she called back. +</P> + +<P> +"No wonder, with the racket this motor is making," he answered. "Why +can't something be done so you can talk in an aeroplane as well as in a +balloon? That's an idea! If I could tell you what was the matter now +you wouldn't be a bit frightened, for it isn't anything. But, as it +is—" +</P> + +<P> +"What are you saying, Tom? I can't hear you!" cried Mary, still much +frightened. +</P> + +<P> +"I say it's all right—don't get scared. And don't jump!" Tom shouted +until his ears buzzed. "It's all nonsense—having a motor making so +much noise one can't talk!" he went on, irritatedly. +</P> + +<P> +A strange idea had come to the young inventor, but there was no time to +think of it now. Mentally he registered a vow to take up this idea and +work on it as soon as possible. But, just now, the aeroplane needed all +his attention. +</P> + +<P> +As he had told Mary, there was really nothing approaching any great +danger. But it was rather an anxious moment. If Tom had been alone he +would have thought little of it, but with Mary along he felt a double +responsibility. +</P> + +<P> +What had happened was that the craft had suddenly gone into an "air +pocket" or partial vacuum, and there had been a sudden fall and a slide +slip. In trying to stop this too quickly Tom had broken one of his +controls, and he was busily engaged in putting an auxiliary one in +place and trying to reassure Mary at the same time. +</P> + +<P> +"But it's mighty hard trying to do that through a speaking tube with a +motor making a noise like a boiler factory," mused the young inventor. +Tom worked quickly and to good purpose. In a few moments, though to +Mary they seemed like hours, the machine was again gliding along on a +level keel, and Tom breathed more easily. +</P> + +<P> +"And now for my great idea!" he told himself. +</P> + +<P> +But it was some time before he could give his attention to that. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BIG OFFER +</H3> + +<P> +Working with all the skill he possessed, Tom had got the aeroplane in +proper working order again. As has been said, the accident was a +trivial one, and had he been alone, or with an experienced aviator, he +would have thought little of it. Then, very likely, he would have +volplaned to earth and made the repairs there. But he did not want to +frighten Mary Nestor, so he fixed the control while gliding along, and +made light of it. Thus his passenger was reassured. +</P> + +<P> +"Are we all right?" asked Mary through the tube, as they sailed along. +</P> + +<P> +"Right as a fiddle," answered Tom, shouting through the same means of +communication. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that about a riddle?" asked Mary, in surprise at his seeming +flippancy at such a time. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't say anything about a riddle—I said we are as fit as a +fiddle!" cried Tom. "Never mind. No use trying to talk with the racket +this motor makes, and it isn't the noisiest of its kind, either. I'll +tell you when we get down. Do you like it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I like it better than I did at first," answered Mary, for she had +managed to understand the last of Tom's questions. Then he sailed a +little higher, circled about, and, a little later, not to get Mary too +tired and anxious, he headed for his landing field. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll take you home in the auto," he cried to his passenger. "We could +go up to your house this way—in style—if there was a field near by +large enough to land in. But there isn't. So it will have to be a +plain, every-day auto." +</P> + +<P> +"That's good enough for me," said Mary. "Though this trip is +wonderful—glorious! I'll go again any time you ask me." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'll ask you," said Tom. "And when I do maybe it won't be so +hard to hold a conversation. It will be more like this," and he shut +off the motor and began to glide gently down. The quiet succeeding the +terrific noise of the motor exhaust was almost startling, and Tom and +Mary could converse easily without using the tube. +</P> + +<P> +Then followed the landing on the soft, springy turf, a little glide +over the ground, and the machine came to a halt, while mechanics ran +out of the hangar to take charge of it. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll just go in and change these togs," said Mary, as she alighted and +looked at her leather costume. +</P> + +<P> +"No, don't," advised Tom. "You look swell in em. Keep 'em on. They're +yours, and you'll need 'em when we go up again. Here comes the auto. +I'll take you right home in it. Keep the aviation suit on. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what Mr. Damon could have wanted," remarked Tom, as he drove +Mary along the country road. +</P> + +<P> +"He seemed very much excited," she replied. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he almost always is that way—blessing everything he can think of. +You know that. But this time it was different, I'll admit. I hope +nothing is the matter. I might have stopped and spoken to him, but I +was afraid if I did you'd back out and wouldn't come for a sky ride." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I might have. But now that I've had one, even with an accident +thrown in, I'll go any time you ask me, Tom," and Mary smiled at the +young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Shucks, that wasn't a real accident!" he laughed. "But I do wonder +what Mr. Damon wanted." +</P> + +<P> +"Better go back and find out, Tom," advised Mary, as they stopped in +front of her house. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I want to come in and talk to you. Haven't had a chance for a good +talk today, that motor made such a racket." +</P> + +<P> +"No, go along now, but come back and see me this afternoon if you like." +</P> + +<P> +"I do like, all right! And I suppose Mr. Damon will be fussing until he +sees me. Well, glad you liked your first ride in the air, Mary—that +is, the first one of any account," for Mary had been in an aeroplane +before, though only up a little way—a sort of "grass-cutting stunt," +Tom called it. +</P> + +<P> +Waving farewell to the pretty girl, the young aviator turned the auto +about and speeded for his home and the shops adjoining it. His father +had not been well, of late, and Tom was a bit anxious about him. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Damon may bother him, though he wouldn't mean to," thought Tom. +"He seemed to have his mind filled with some new idea. I wonder if it +is anything like mine? No, it couldn't be. Well, I'll soon find out," +and, putting his foot on the accelerator, Tom sent the machine along at +a pace that soon brought him within sight of his home. +</P> + +<P> +"Is father all right?" he asked Mrs. Baggert, who was out on the front +porch, as though waiting for him. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, Tom, he's all right," the housekeeper answered. +</P> + +<P> +"Is Mr. Damon with him?" +</P> + +<P> +"No." +</P> + +<P> +"He hasn't gone home, has he?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, he's around somewhere. But some one else is with your father. Some +visitors." +</P> + +<P> +"Any relations?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; strangers. They came to see you, and they're rather impatient. I +came out to see if you were in sight. Your father sent me." +</P> + +<P> +"Are they bothering him—talking business that I ought to attend to +when he's ill? That mustn't be." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I suppose it is business that the strangers are talking over +with your father, Tom," said Mrs. Baggert, "for I heard sums of money +spoken of. But your father seems to be all right, only a trifle anxious +that you should come." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm here now and I'll attend to things. Where are the strangers, +and who are they?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," answered the housekeeper. "I never saw them before, but +they're in the library with your father. Do you think they'll stay to +dinner? If you do, I'll have Eradicate or Koku catch and kill a +chicken." +</P> + +<P> +"If you let one do it don't tell the other about it," said Tom with a +laugh, "or you'll have a chicken race around the yard that will make +the visitors sit up and take notice." +</P> + +<P> +There was great rivalry between Eradicate Sampson, the aged colored +man, and Koku, the giant, and they were continually disputing. Each one +loved and served Tom in his own way, and there was jealousy between +them. Koku, the giant Tom had brought with him from the land where the +young inventor had been made captive, was a big, powerful man, and +could do things the aged colored servant could not attempt. But "Rad," +as he was often called, and his mule "Boomerang" had long been fixtures +on the Swift homestead. But old age crept on apace with Eradicate, +though he hated to admit it, and Koku did many things the colored man +had formerly attended to, and Rad was always on the lookout not to be +supplanted. Hence Tom's warning to Mrs. Baggert about letting the two +be entrusted with the same mission of catching a chicken for the pot. +</P> + +<P> +"Better get the fowl yourself and say nothing to either of them about +it," Tom advised the housekeeper. "Mr. Damon will stay to dinner, as he +always does when he comes, and as it's near twelve now, and as I may be +delayed talking business to these strangers, you'd better get up a +bigger meal than usual." +</P> + +<P> +"I will, Tom," promised Mrs. Baggert. And then the young inventor, +having seen that one of the men took the automobile to the garage, went +into the house. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, here you are!" was his father's greeting, as he came out into the +hall from the library. "I've been waiting anxiously for you, my boy. I +couldn't think what was keeping you." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I had a little trouble with the air machine—nothing serious." +</P> + +<P> +A moment later Tom was standing before two well-dressed, +prosperous-looking business men, who smiled pleasantly at him. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Thomas Swift?" interrogated one, the elder, as he held out his +hand. +</P> + +<P> +"That's my name," answered Tom, pleasantly. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm Peton Gale, and this gentleman is Boland Ware," went on the man +who had taken Tom's hand. "I'm president and he's treasurer of the +Universal Flying Machine Company, of New York." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes," said Tom, as he shook hands with Mr. Ware. "I have heard of +your concern. You are doing a lot of government work, are you not?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; war orders. And we're up to our neck in them. This war is going +to be almost as much fought in the air as on the ground, Mr. Swift." +</P> + +<P> +"I can well believe that," agreed Tom. "Won't you have a chair?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we didn't come to stay long," said Mr. Gale with a laugh, which, +somehow or other, grated on Tom and seemed to him insincere. "Our +business is such a rushing one that we don't spend much time anywhere. +To get down to brass tacks, we have come to see you to put a certain +proposition before you, Mr. Swift. You are open to a business +proposition, aren't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes," answered Tom. "That's what I'm here for." +</P> + +<P> +"I thought so. Well, now I'll tell you, in brief, what we want, and +then Mr. Ware, our treasurer, can elaborate on it, and give you facts +and figures about which I never bother myself. I attend to the +executive end and leave the details to others," and again came that +laugh which Tom did not like. +</P> + +<P> +"You came here to make me an offer?" asked the young inventor, +wondering to which of his many machines the visitors had reference. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," went on Mr. Gale, "we came here to make you a big offer. In +short, Mr. Swift, we want you to work for our company, and we are +willing to pay you ten thousand dollars a year for the benefit of your +advice and your inventive abilities. Ten thousand dollars a year! Do +you accept?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MR. DAMON'S WHIZZER +</H3> + +<P> +Characteristic it was of Tom Swift that he did not seem at all +surprised at what most young men would call a liberal offer. Certainly +not many youths of Tom's age would be sought out by a big manufacturing +concern, and offered ten thousand dollars a year "right off the reel," +as Ned Newton expressed it later. But Tom only smiled and shook his +head in negation. +</P> + +<P> +"What!" cried Mr. Gale, "you mean you won't accept our offer?" +</P> + +<P> +"I can't," answered Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"You can't!" exclaimed the treasurer, Mr. Ware. "Oh, I see. Mr. Gale, a +word with you. Excuse us a moment," he added to Tom and his father. +</P> + +<P> +The two men consulted in a corner of the library for a moment, and +then, with smiles on their faces, once more turned toward the young +inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps you are right, Tom Swift," said Mr. Gale. "Of course, we +recognize your talents and ability, but you cannot blame us for trying +to get talent, as well as material for our airships, in the cheapest +market. But we are not hide-bound, nor sticklers for any set sum. We'll +make that offer fifteen thousand dollars a year, if you will sign a +five-year contract and agree that we shall have first claim on anything +and everything you may patent or invent in that time. Now, how does +that strike you? Fifteen thousand dollars a year—paid weekly if you +wish, and our Mr. Ware, here, has a form of contract which can be fixed +up and signed within ten minutes, if you agree." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't like to be disagreeable," said Tom with a smile; "but, +really, as I said before, I can't accept your very kind offer. I may +say liberal offer. I appreciate that." +</P> + +<P> +"You can't accept!" cried Mr. Gale. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure you don't mean 'won't'?" asked Mr. Ware, in a half growl. +</P> + +<P> +"You may call it that if you like," replied Tom, a bit coolly, for he +did not like the other's tone, "Only, as I say, I cannot accept. I have +other plans." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you—" began the brusk treasurer, but Mr. Gale, the president of +the Universal Flying Machine Company, stopped his associate with a +warning look. +</P> + +<P> +"Just a moment, Mr. Swift," begged the president. "Don't be hasty. We +are prepared to make you a last and final offer, and I do not believe +you can refuse it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I certainly will not refuse it without hearing it," said Tom, +with a smile he meant to make good-natured. Yet, truth to tell, he did +not at all like the two visitors. There was something about them that +aroused his antagonism, and he said later that even if they had offered +him a sum which he felt he ought not, in justice to himself and his +father, refuse, he would have felt a distaste in working for a company +represented by the twain. +</P> + +<P> +"This is our offer," said Mr. Gale, and he spoke in a pompous manner +which seemed to say: "If you don't take it, why, it will be the worse +for you." He looked at his treasurer for a confirmatory nod and, +receiving it, went on. "We are prepared to offer and pay you, and will +enter into such a contract, with the stipulation about the inventions +that I mentioned before—we are prepared to pay you—twenty thousand +dollars a year! Now what do you say to that, Tom Swift? +</P> + +<P> +"Twenty-thousand-dollars-a-year!" repeated Mr. Gale unctuously, rolling +the words off his tongue. "Twen-ty-thou-sand-dol-lars-a-year! Think of +it!" +</P> + +<P> +"I am thinking of it," said Tom Swift gently, "and I thank you for your +offer. It is, indeed, very generous. But I must give you the same +answer. I cannot accept." +</P> + +<P> +"Tom!" exclaimed his aged father. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Swift!" exclaimed the two visitors. +</P> + +<P> +Tom smiled and shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I know very well what I am saying, and what I am turning down," he +said. "But I simply cannot accept. I have other plans. I am sorry you +have had your trip for nothing," he added to the visitors, "but, +really, I must refuse." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that your final answer?" asked Mr. Gale. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you want to take a day or two to think it over?" asked the +treasurer. "Don't be hasty. Remember that very few young men can +command that salary, and I may say you will find us liberal in other +ways. You would have some time to yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"That is what I most need," returned Tom. "Time to myself. No, thank +you, gentlemen, I cannot accept." +</P> + +<P> +"Be careful!" warned Mr. Gale, and it sounded as though there might be +a threat in his voice. "This is our last offer, and your last chance. +We will not renew this. If you do not accept our twenty thousand +dollars now, you will never get it again." +</P> + +<P> +"I realize that," said Tom, "and I am prepared to take the consequences. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, then," said Mr. Gale. "There seems nothing for us to do, +Mr. Ware, but to go back to New York. I bid you good-day," and he bowed +stiffly to Tom. "I hope you will not regret your refusal of our offer." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so myself," said Tom, lightly. +</P> + +<P> +When the visitors had gone Mr. Swift turned toward his son, and, +shaking his head, remarked: +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, you know your own business best, Tom. Yet I cannot but feel +you have made a mistake." +</P> + +<P> +"How?" asked Tom. "By not taking that money? I can easily make that in +a year, with an idea I have in mind for an improvement on an airship. +And your new electric motor will soon be ready for the market. Besides, +we don't really need the money." +</P> + +<P> +"No, not now, Tom, but there is no telling when we may," said Mr. +Swift, slowly. "This big war has made many changes, and things that +brought us in a good income before, hardly sell at all, now." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't worry, Dad! We still have a few shots left in the locker—in +other words, the bank. I'm expecting Ned Newton over any moment now, to +give us the annual statement of our account, and then we'll know where +we stand. I'm not afraid from the money end. Our business has done +well, and it is going to do better. I have a new idea." +</P> + +<P> +"That's all very well, Tom," said Mr. Swift, who seemed oppressed by +something. "As you say, money isn't everything, and I know we shall +always have enough to live on. But there is something about those two +men I do not like. They were very angry at your refusal of their offer. +I could see that. Tom, I don't want to be a croaker, but I think you'll +have to watch out for those men. They're going to be your enemies—your +rivals in the airship field," and Mr. Swift shook his head dolefully. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, rivalry, when it's clean and above board, is the spice of trade +and invention," returned Tom, lightly. "I'm not afraid of that." +</P> + +<P> +"No, but it may be unfair and underhand," said Mr. Swift. "I think it +would have been better, Tom, to have accepted their offer. Twenty +thousand a year, clear money, is a good sum." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but I may make twice that with something that occurred to me only +a little while ago. Forget about those men, Dad, and I'll tell you my +new idea. But wait, I want Mr. Damon to hear it, too. Where is he?" +</P> + +<P> +"He was here a little while ago. He went out when those two men came +and—" +</P> + +<P> +At that moment, from the garden at the side of the library, the sound +of voices in dispute could be heard. +</P> + +<P> +"Now yo' all g'wan 'way from yeah!" exclaimed some one who could be +none other than Eradicate Sampson. "Whut fo' yo' all want to clutter up +dish yeah place fo'? Massa Tom said I was to do de garden wuk, an' I'se +gwine to do it! G'wan 'way, Giant!" +</P> + +<P> +"Ho! You want me to get out, s'pose you put me, black face!" cried a +big voice, that of Koku, the giant. +</P> + +<P> +"There they go! At it again!" cried Tom with a smile. "Might have known +if I told Rad to do anything that Koku would be jealous. Well, I'll +have to go out now and give that giant something to do that will tax +his strength." +</P> + +<P> +But as Tom was about to leave the room another voice was heard in the +garden. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, boys, be nice," said some one soothingly. "The garden is large +enough for you both to work in. Rad, you begin at the lower end and +spade toward the middle. Koku, you begin at the upper end and work +down. Whoever gets to the middle first will win." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! Den I'll show dat giant some spade wuk as is spade wuk!" cried the +colored man. "Garden wuk is mah middle name." +</P> + +<P> +"Be careful, Rad!" laughed Mr. Damon, for he it was who was trying to +act as peacemaker. "Remember that Koku is very strong." +</P> + +<P> +"Yas, sah! He may be strong, but he's clumsy!" chuckled Eradicate. "You +watch me beat him!" +</P> + +<P> +"Ho! Black man get stuck in mud!" challenged Koku. "I show him!" +</P> + +<P> +Then there was silence, and Tom and his father, looking out, saw the +two disputants beginning to spade the soil while Mr. Damon, satisfied +that he had, for the time being, stopped a quarrel, turned toward the +house. +</P> + +<P> +"I was just coming to look for you," said Tom. "Sorry I had to go off +in such a hurry and leave you, but I had promised to take Mary for a +ride, and as it was her first one, for a distance, I didn't want her to +back out." +</P> + +<P> +"That's all right, Tom, that's all right!" said Mr. Damon genially. +"Ladies first every time. But I do want to see you, and it's about +something important." +</P> + +<P> +"No trouble, I hope?" queried Tom, for the manner of the eccentric man +was rather grave. +</P> + +<P> +"Trouble? Oh, no! Bless my frying pan, no trouble, Tom! In fact, it may +be the other way about. Tom, I have an idea, and there may be millions +in it! That's it—millions!" +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" cried the young inventor. "Might as well bite off a big lump +while you're at it. So you have a new idea! Well, I have myself, but +I'll listen to yours first. What is it, Mr. Damon?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's a new kind of airship, Tom. I haven't got it all worked out yet, +but I can give you a rough outline. On my way over I got to thinking +about balloons, aeroplanes and the like, and it occurred to me that the +present principles are all wrong." +</P> + +<P> +"So I evolved a new type of machine. I'm going to call it the Damon +Whizzer. Maybe Demon Whizzer would be more appropriate, but we won't +decide on that now. Anyhow, it's going to be a whizzer, and I want to +talk to you about it. There is an entirely new principle of elevation +and propulsion involved in my Whizzer, and I—" +</P> + +<P> +At that moment there came a crash and clatter of steel and wood from +the garden, out of sight of which Tom and Mr. Damon had walked while +talking. Then followed a jangle of words. +</P> + +<P> +"They're at it again!" cried Tom, as he ran toward the side of the +house. "I guess it's a fight this time!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +TOM'S PROJECT +</H3> + +<P> +Curious was the sight that met the gaze of Tom Swift and Mr. Wakefield +Damon as they rounded the corner of the house and looked into the newly +spaded garden. There stood the giant, Koku, holding aloft in the air, +by one hand, the form of the struggling colored man, Eradicate Sampson. +And Eradicate was vainly trying to get at his enemy and rival, but was +prevented by the long-distance hold the giant had on him. +</P> + +<P> +"Yo' let me go, now! Yo' let me go, big man," cried Eradicate. "Ef yo' +don't I'll bust yo' wide open, dat's whut I'll do! An' 'sides, I'll +tell Massa Tom on yo', dat's whut I'll do!" +</P> + +<P> +"Ho! You tell—I let you fall!" threatened Koku. +</P> + +<P> +His threat was dire enough, for such was his size and strength that he +held the colored man nearly nine feet from the ground, and a fall from +that distance would seriously jar Eradicate, if it did nothing else. +The colored man's eyes opened wide as he heard what Koku said, and then +he cried: +</P> + +<P> +"Let me down! Let me down, an' I won't say nuffin!" +</P> + +<P> +"An' you let me scatter dirt?" asked Koku, for such was the giant's +idea of working in the garden. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yo' kin scatter de dirt seben ways from Sunday fo' all I keers!" +conceded Eradicate. Then, as he was lowered to the ground, he and the +giant turned and saw Mr. Damon and Tom approaching. +</P> + +<P> +"What's wrong?" asked the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"'Scuse me, Massa Tom," began Eradicate, "but didn't yo' tell me to +spade de garden?" +</P> + +<P> +"I guess I did," admitted Tom Swift. +</P> + +<P> +"An' you tell me help—yes?" questioned Koku. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I thought it would be a little too much for you, Rad," said Tom, +gently. "I thought perhaps you'd like help." +</P> + +<P> +"Hu! Not him, anyhow!" declared the colored man in great disgust. "When +I git so old dat I cain't spade a garden, den me an' Boomerang, we-all +gwine to die, dat's all I got to say. I was a-spadin' my part ob de +garden, Massa Tom, same laik Mr. Damon done tole me to, an' dish yeah +big mess ob bones steps on my side ob de middle an—" +</P> + +<P> +"Him too slow. Koku scatter dirt twice times so fast!" declared the +giant, whose English was not much better than Eradicate's. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I see," said Tom. "You are so strong, Koku, that you finished +your part before Eradicate did. Well, it was good of you to want to +help him." +</P> + +<P> +At this the giant grinned at his rival. +</P> + +<P> +"At the same time," went on Tom, winking an eye at Mr. Damon, +"Eradicate knows a little more about garden work, on account of having +done it so many years." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! Whut I tell yo', Giant!" boasted the colored man. It was his turn +to smile. +</P> + +<P> +"And so," went on Tom, judicially, "I guess I'll let Rad finish spading +the garden, and you, Koku, can come and help me lift some heavy engine +parts. Mr. Damon wants to explain something to me." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! Nothing what so heavy Koku not lift!" boasted the giant. +</P> + +<P> +"Go on! Lift yo'se'f 'way from heah!" muttered Eradicate as he picked +up his dropped spade. And then, with a smile of satisfaction, he fell +to work in the mellow soil while Tom led Koku to one of the shops where +he set him to lifting heavy motor parts about in order to get at a +certain machine that was stored away in the back of one of the rooms. +</P> + +<P> +"That will keep him busy," said the young inventor. "And now, Mr. +Damon, I can listen to you. Do you really think you have a new idea in +airships?" +</P> + +<P> +"I really think so, Tom. My Whizzer is bound to revolutionize travel in +the air. Let me tell you what I mean. Now cast your mind back. How many +ways are now used to propel an airship or a dirigible balloon through +the air? How many ways?" +</P> + +<P> +"Two, as far as I know," said Tom. "At least there are only two that +have proved to be practical." +</P> + +<P> +"Exactly," said Mr. Damon. "One with the propeller, or propellers, in +front, and that is the tractor type. The other has the propeller in the +rear, and that is the pusher type. Both good as far as they go, but I +have something better." +</P> + +<P> +"What?" asked Tom with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a Whizzer," said the eccentric man. "Bless my gold tooth! but +that is the best name I can think of for it. And, really, the propeller +I'm thinking of inventing does whiz around." +</P> + +<P> +"But are you going to use a tractor or pusher type?" Tom wanted to know. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a combination of both," answered Mr. Damon. "As it is now, Tom, +you have to get an aeroplane in pretty speedy motion before it will +rise from the ground, don't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, of course. That's the principle on which an aeroplane rises and +keeps aloft, by its speed in the air. As soon as that speed stops it +begins to fall, or volplane, as we call it." +</P> + +<P> +"Exactly. Now, instead of having to depend on the speed of the +aeroplane for this, why not depend on the speed of the propeller—in +other words, the whizzer?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we do," said Tom, a bit puzzled as to what his friend was trying +to get at. "If the propeller didn't move the airship wouldn't +rise—that is, unless it's of the balloon type." +</P> + +<P> +"What I mean," said Mr. Damon, "is to have an aeroplane that will move +in the air the same as a boat moves in the water. You don't have to get +the propeller of a boat racing around at the rate of a million +revolutions a minute, more or less, before your boat will travel, do +you? If the engine turns the screw, or propeller, just over say fifty +times a minute you would get some motion of the boat, wouldn't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, yes, some," admitted Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"And what causes it?" asked Mr. Damon, anticipating a triumph. +</P> + +<P> +"The resistance of the water to the blades of the screw, or propeller," +answered Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Exactly! And it's the resistance of the air to the blades of an +airship propeller that sends the craft along, isn't it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. And because of the difference in density between air and water it +becomes necessary to revolve an aeroplane propeller many times faster +than a boat propeller. It's the density that makes the difference, Mr. +Damon. If air were as dense as water we could have comparatively +slow-moving motors and propellers and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! There you have it, Tom! And there is where my Whizzer—Wakefield +Damon's Whizzer—is going to revolutionize air travel!" cried the +eccentric man. "The difference in density! If air were as dense as +water the problem would be solved. And I have solved it! I'm going to +turn the trick, Tom! One more question. How can air be made as dense as +water, Tom Swift?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, by condensation or compression, I suppose," was the rather slow +answer. "You know they have condensed, or compressed, air until it is +liquid. I've done it myself, as an experiment." +</P> + +<P> +"That's it, Tom! That's it!" cried Mr. Damon in delight. "Compressed +air will do the trick! Not compressed to a liquid, exactly, but almost +so. I'm going to revolve the propellers of my new airship in compressed +air, so dense that they will not have to have a speed of more than +seven hundred revolutions a minute. What's that compared to the three +to ten thousand revolutions of the propellers now used? The propellers +of Damon's Whizzer will be of the pusher type, and will revolve in +dense, compressed air, almost like water, and that will do away with +high speed motors, with all their complications, and make traveling in +the clouds as simple as taking out a little one-cylinder motor boat. +How's that, Tom Swift? How's that for an idea?" +</P> + +<P> +To Mr. Damon's disappointment, Tom was not enthusiastic. The young +inventor gazed at his eccentric friend, and then said slowly: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's all right in theory, but how is it going to work out in +practice?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I came to see you about, Tom," was the reply. "Bless my +tall hat! but that's just why I hurried over here. I wanted to tell you +when I saw you going off on a trip with Miss Nestor. That's my big +idea—Damon's Whizzer—propellers revolving in compressed air like +water. Isn't that great?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry to shatter your air castle," said Tom; "but for the life of +me I can't see how it will work. Of course, in theory, if you could +revolve a big-bladed propeller in very dense, or in liquid, air, there +would be more resistance than in the rarefied atmosphere of the upper +regions. And, if this could be done, I grant you that you could use +slower motors and smaller propeller blades—more like those of a motor +boat. But how are you going to get the condensed air?" +</P> + +<P> +"Make it!" said Mr. Damon promptly. "Air pumps are cheap. Just carry +one or two on board the aeroplane, and condense the air as you go +along. That's a small detail that can easily be worked out. I leave +that to you." +</P> + +<P> +"I'd rather you wouldn't," said Tom. "That's the whole +difficulty—compressing your air. Wait! I'll explain it to you." +</P> + +<P> +Then the young inventor went into details. He told of the ponderous +machinery needed to condense air to a form approximating water, and +spoke of the terrible pressure exerted by the liquid atmosphere. +</P> + +<P> +"Anything that you would gain by having a slow-speed motor and smaller +propeller blades, would be lost by the ponderous air-condensing +machinery you would need," Tom told Mr. Damon. "Besides, if you could +surround your propellers with a strata of condensed air, it would +create such terrible cold as to freeze the propeller blades and make +them as brittle as glass. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I have taken a heavy piece of metal, dipped it into liquid air, +and I could shatter the steel with a hammer as easily as a sheet of +ice. The cold of liquid air is beyond belief. +</P> + +<P> +"Attempts have been made to make motors run with liquid air, but they +have not succeeded. To condense air and to carry it about so that +propellers might revolve in it, would be out of the question." +</P> + +<P> +"You think so, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure of it!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, dear! That's too bad. Bless my overshoes, but I thought I had a +new idea. Well, you ought to know. So Damon's Whizzer goes on the scrap +heap before ever it's built. Well, we'll say no more about it. You +ought to know best, Tom. I wasn't thinking of it so much for myself as +for you. I thought you'd like some new idea to work on." +</P> + +<P> +"Much obliged, Mr. Damon, but I have a new idea," said Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"You have? What is it? Tell me—that is, if it isn't a secret," went on +the eccentric man, as much delighted over Tom's new plan as he had been +over his own Whizzer, doomed to failure so soon. +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't a secret from you," said Tom. "I got the idea while I was +riding with Mary. I wanted to talk to her—to tell her not to jump out +when we had a little accident—but I had trouble making myself +understood because of the noise of the motor." +</P> + +<P> +"They do make a great racket," conceded Mr. Damon. "But I don't suppose +anything can be done about it." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't see why there can't!" exclaimed Tom. "And that's my new +idea—to make a silent aircraft motor—perhaps silent propeller blades, +though it's the motor that makes the most noise. And that's what I'm +going to do—invent a silent aeroplane. Not because I want so much to +talk when I take passengers up in the air, but I believe such a motor +would be valuable, especially for scouting planes in war work. To go +over the enemy's lines and not be heard would be valuable many times. +</P> + +<P> +"And that's what I'm going to do—work on a silent motor for Uncle Sam. +I've got the germ of an idea and now—" +</P> + +<P> +"Excuse me," said a voice behind Mr. Damon and Tom, and, turning, the +young inventor beheld the form of Mr. Peton Gale, president of the +Universal Flying Machine Company. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +MAKING PLANS +</H3> + +<P> +Tom Swift had drawn pencil and paper from his pocket, and, as he and +Mr. Damon were sitting on the steps of one of the shops, the young +inventor was about to demonstrate by a drawing part of his new project, +when the interruption came in the shape of one of the men who had, an +hour before, made a business offer to Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Excuse me," went on Mr. Peton Gale, "but Mr. Ware and I got to talking +it over on our way to the station—the matter of having you in our +company, Mr. Swift—and we concluded that it was worth twenty-five +thousand dollars a year for us to have you. So I came back—" +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't of the slightest use, Mr. Gale, I assure you," said Tom, a +bit heatedly, for he did not like the persistency of this man, nor did +he like his coming on the factory grounds unannounced and in this +secret manner. "I told you I could not accept your offer. It is not +altogether a matter of money. My word was final." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh very well, if you put it that way," said Mr. Gale stiffly, "of +course there is nothing more to say. But I thought perhaps you did not +consider we had offered you enough and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Your offer is fair enough from a financial standpoint," said Tom; "but +I simply cannot accept it. I have other plans. Jackson!" he called to +one of his mechanics who was passing, "kindly see Mr. Gale to the gate, +and then let me know how it was any one came in here without a permit." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," said the mechanic, as he stood significantly waiting. +</P> + +<P> +"There was no one at the gate when I came in," said Mr. Gale, and his +manner was antagonizing. "I wanted to speak to you—to ask you to +reconsider your offer—so I came back." +</P> + +<P> +"It is against the rules to admit strangers to the shop grounds," said +Tom. "Good-day!" +</P> + +<P> +The president of the Universal Flying Machine Company did not respond, +but there was a look on his face as he turned away that, had Tom seen +it, might have caused him some uneasiness. But he did not see. Instead, +he resumed his talk with Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom, your idea is most interesting," declared the eccentric man. "I +hope you will be able to work it out!" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to try," said the young inventor. "I hope that man—Mr. +Gale—didn't hear anything of what I was saying. He sneaked up on us +before I was aware any one was near but ourselves." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't imagine he heard very much, Tom," said Mr. Damon. "He may have +heard you mention a silent motor—" +</P> + +<P> +"That's just what I wish he hadn't heard," broke in Tom. "That's the +germ of the idea, and once it becomes known that I am working on that— +Well, there's no use crying over spilled milk," and he smiled at the +homely proverb. "I'll have to work in secret, once I've started." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think the government would use it, Tom?" asked his friend. +</P> + +<P> +"I should think it would be glad to. Consider what a wonderful part +airships are playing in the present war. It really is a struggle to see +which will be the master of the sky—the Allies or the Germans—and, up +to recently, the Huns had the advantage. Then the Allies, recognizing +how vital it was, began to forge ahead, and now Uncle Sam with his +troops under General Pershing is leading everything, or will lead +shortly. We have been a bit slow with our aircraft production, but now +we are booming along. Uncle Sam will soon have the mastery of the sky." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so," sighed Mr. Damon. "We must beat the Germans!" +</P> + +<P> +Briefly, Tom spoke of what Pershing's men were doing with their +aeroplanes in France, and mention was made of what the French and +British had done prior to the entrance of the United States into the +World War. +</P> + +<P> +"While we were yet neutral, Americans had made gallant names for +themselves flying for France, and with my silent motor they ought to do +better," declared Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Is silence its chief recommendation?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Tom. "Or rather, it will be when I have it perfected. +Aeroplane motors now are about as compact and speedy as they can be +made. It is only the terrific noise that is a handicap. It is a +handicap to the pilots and observers in the craft, as they cannot +communicate except through a special speaking tube, and this is not +always satisfactory or sure. Then, too, the noise of an airship +proclaims its approach to the enemy, sometimes long before it can be +seen. +</P> + +<P> +"With a silent motor all this would be done away with. With my new +craft, in case I can perfect it, the enemy's lines can be approached as +silently as the Indians used to approach the log cabins of the white +settlers. That will be its great advantage—not that conversation can +be more easily carried on, for that is, after all, an unimportant +detail. But to approach the enemy's lines in the silence of the night +would be a distinct gain." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe it would, Tom!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "And I should think, +too, that Uncle Sam would be glad to get such a motor," he added. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he'll have one to take if he wants it, if I can make my plans a +success," declared Tom. "That is, unless those other fellows get ahead +of me." +</P> + +<P> +"What other fellows?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Gale, Ware and their crowd," was the answer. "I fancy they are +provoked because I wouldn't agree to work for them, and now, that Gale +overheard—as he must have—what I propose working on, they may try +that game themselves." +</P> + +<P> +"You mean try to turn out a silent motor?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. It would be a big feather in their cap for their company, so far, +hasn't been very successful on government orders. That's why they came +to me, I guess." +</P> + +<P> +"I shouldn't be surprised, Tom," conceded Mr. Damon. "Since the +government accepted your giant cannon and your great searchlight, you +have come into greater prominence than ever before. And those two +things are a wonderful success." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," admitted Tom, modestly enough, "the big electric light seems to +have been of some benefit on the European battle front, and though they +haven't been able to make and transport as many of my giant cannons as +I'd like to see over there, it is progressing, I understand." +</P> + +<P> +And this is true. For the details of these two inventions of Tom +Swift's I refer my readers to the books bearing those titles. +Sufficient to state here that the government was using these two +inventions, and there had been no necessity for commandeering them +either, since Tom had freely offered them at the declaration of war +with Germany. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, since I can't help you with my 'Whizzer,'" said Mr. Damon, with +a smile, "let me do what I can toward your silent motor, Tom. What are +you going to call it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't know—hadn't thought of a name. I guess 'Air Scout' would +be as good as any. That's what it will be—a machine for silently +scouting in the air. And now to get down to brass tacks, as the poet +says, I believe I will—" +</P> + +<P> +"Gentleman to see you, Mr. Swift," interrupted Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my penwiper!" cried Mr. Damon. "More visitors! I hope it isn't +Gale or Ware come back to see what they can spy on!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A PROBLEM IN SOUND +</H3> + +<P> +Tom Swift looked up with a distinct appearance of being annoyed that +was unusual with him, for he was, nearly always, good-natured. But the +frown that had replaced the pleasant look on his face while he was +talking to Mr. Damon about the projected new air scout was at once +wiped away as he looked at the card Jackson held out to him. +</P> + +<P> +"Bring him in right away!" he ordered. "He needn't have stood on that +ceremony." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he said it was a business call," returned the mechanician with a +cheerful grin, "and he said he wanted it done according to form. So he +gave me his card to bring you." +</P> + +<P> +"Who is it?" asked Mr. Damon, with the privilege of an old friend. +</P> + +<P> +"It's Ned Newton," Tom answered; "though why he's putting on all this +formality I can't fathom." +</P> + +<P> +Jackson went back to the main gate and told the man on guard there to +admit Ned, who had so formally sent in his card. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, Mr. Swift, I believe?" began the bank employee with that suave, +formal air which usually precedes a business meeting. +</P> + +<P> +"That is my name," said Tom, with a suppressed grin, and he spoke as +stiffly as though to a perfect stranger. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Tom Swift, the great inventor?" went on Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, then I am at the right place. Just sign here, please, on the +dotted line," and he held out a blank form, and a fountain pen to Tom, +who took them half mechanically. +</P> + +<P> +"Huh? What's the big idea, Ned?" asked the young inventor, unable +longer to carry on the joke. "Is this a warrant for my arrest, or +merely a testimonial to you. If it's the latter, and concerns your +nerve, I'll gladly sign it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's something like that!" laughed Ned. "That's your application +for another block of Liberty Bonds, Tom, and I want you, as a personal +favor to me, as a business favor to the bank, and as your plain duty to +Uncle Sam, to double your last subscription." +</P> + +<P> +Tom looked at the sum Ned had filled in on the blank form, and uttered +a slight whistle of surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"That's all right now," said Ned, with the air of a professional +salesman. "You can stand that and more, too. I'm letting you off easy. +Why, I got Mary's father—Mr. Nestor—for twice what he took last time, +and Mary herself—hard as she's working for the Red Cross—gave me a +nice application. So it's up to you to—" +</P> + +<P> +"Nuff said!" exclaimed Tom, sententiously, as he signed his name. "I +may have to reconsider my recent refusal of the offer of the Universal +Flying Machine Company, though, if I haven't money enough to meet this +subscription, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you'll meet it all right! Much obliged," and Ned folded the +Liberty Bond subscription paper and put it in his pocket. "But did you +turn down the offer from those people?" +</P> + +<P> +"I did," answered Tom. "But how did you know about it, Ned?" +</P> + +<P> +"First let me say that I'm glad you decided to have nothing to do with +them. They're a rich firm, and have lots of money, but I wouldn't trust +'em, even if they have some government contracts. The way I happened +to know they were likely to make you an offer is this," continued Ned +Newton. +</P> + +<P> +"They do business with one of the New York banks with which my +bank—notice the accent on the my, Tom—is connected. The other day I +happened to see some correspondence about you. These flying machine +people asked our bank to find out certain things about you, and, as a +matter of business, we had to give the information. Sort of a +commercial agency report, you know, nothing unusual, and it isn't the +first time it's been done since your business got so large. But that's +how I happened to know these fellows contemplated dickering with you." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know Gale or Ware?" Tom asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Not personally. But in a business way, Tom, I'd warn you to look out +for them, as they're sharp dealers. They put one over on the government +all right, and there may be some unpleasant publicity to it later. But +they're putting up a big bluff, and pretending they can turn out a lot +of flying machines for use in Europe. Why don't you get busy on that +end of the game, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know you've more than done your bit, with Liberty Bonds, +subscriptions to the Y. M. C. A. and other war work, besides your war +tank and other inventions. But you're such a shark on flying machines I +should think you'd offer your factory to the government for the +production of aeroplanes." +</P> + +<P> +"I would in a minute, Ned, and you know it; but the fact of the matter +is my shops aren't equipped for the production of anything in large +numbers. We do mostly an experimenting business here, making only one +or two of a certain machine. I have told the government officials they +can have anything I've got, and you know they wouldn't let me enlist +when I was working on the war tank." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I remember that," said Ned. "You're no slacker! I wanted to +shoulder a rifle, too, but they keep me at this Liberty Loan work. +Well, Uncle Sam ought to know." +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I say," agreed Tom, "and that's why I haven't gone to the +front myself. And now, as it happens, I've got something else in mind +that may help Uncle Sam." +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"A silent flying machine for scout work on the battle front," Tom told +his friend, and then he gave a few details, such as those he had been +telling Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I don't wonder you turned down the offer of the Universal +people," remarked Ned, at the conclusion of the recital. "This will be +a heap more help to the government, Tom, than working for those people, +even at twenty-five thousand dollars a year. And if you get short, and +can't meet your newest Liberty Bond payments, why, I guess the bank +will stretch your credit a little." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks!" laughed Tom, "but I'll try not to ask them." +</P> + +<P> +The friends talked together a little longer, and then Ned had to take +his departure to solicit more subscriptions, while Mr. Damon went with +him, the eccentric man saying he would go home to Waterfield. +</P> + +<P> +"But, bless my overshoes, Tom!" he exclaimed, as he departed, "don't +forget to let me know when you have your silent motor working. I want +to see it." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll let you know," was the promise given by the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"And watch out for those Universal people," warned Ned. "I'm not +telling you this as a bank official, for I'm not supposed to, but it's +personal." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be on the watch," said Tom. And, as he went into his private +workshop, he wondered why it was his father and Ned had both warned him +not to trust Gale and Ware. +</P> + +<P> +The next few days were busy ones for Tom Swift. Once he had made up his +mind to go to work seriously on a silent motor, all else was put aside. +He sent a note to Mary Nestor, telling her what he was going to do, +and, asking her to say nothing about it, which, of course, Mary agreed +to. +</P> + +<P> +"Come and see me when you can," she sent back word, "but I know you +won't have much chance when you're experimenting with your invention. +And I shall be working so hard for the Red Cross that I sha'n't get +much chance to entertain you. But the war can't last forever." +</P> + +<P> +"No," agreed Tom with a sigh, as he put away her letter, "and thank +goodness that it can't!" +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor threw himself into the perplexing work of inventing +a silent motor with all the fervor he had given to the production of +his war tank, his giant cannon, his wonderful searchlight and other +machines. +</P> + +<P> +"And," mused Tom, as he sat at his work table with pencil and paper +before him, "since this is a problem in acoustics, I had best begin I +suppose by going back to first principles, and after determining what +makes an aeroplane engine noisy, try to figure out how to make it +quiet. Now as to the first, the principle causes of noise are—" +</P> + +<P> +And at that instant there broke on Tom's ears a succession of +discordant sounds which seemed to be a combination of an Indian's war +whoop and a college student's yells at a football game. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I wonder what that is!" mused the young inventor as he hastily +arose. "Better solve that problem before I tackle the aeroplane motor." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THROUGH THE ROOF +</H3> + +<P> +Tom rushed from his private office, and when he reached the outer door +he heard with more distinctness the sounds that had alarmed him. They +seemed to come from a small building given over to electrical +apparatus, and which, at the time, was not supposed to be in use. It +had been Tom's workroom, so to speak, when he was developing his +electric runabout and rifle, but of late he had not spent much time in +it. +</P> + +<P> +"Somebody's in there!" reflected the young inventor, as he heard yells +coming from the open door of the place. "And if it isn't Koku and +Eradicate I miss my guess! Wonder what they can be doing there." +</P> + +<P> +He crossed the yard between his private office and the electrical shop +in a few rapid strides, and, as he entered the latter place, he was +greeted with a series of wild yells. +</P> + +<P> +"Good volume of sound here, at all events," mused Tom. "Almost as much +as my motor made when I was trying to talk to Mary. Hello there! What's +going on? Is any one hurt? What's the matter?" he cried, for, at first, +he could see no one in the dim light of the place. The interior was a +maze of electrical apparatus. +</P> + +<P> +"Who's here?" demanded Tom, as he advanced. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Master! Come quick! Koku 'most dead an' no can let go!" was the +cry. +</P> + +<P> +"Yo' jest bet yo' cain't let go!" chimed in the voice of Eradicate. "I +done knowed yo would git into trouble ef yo' come heah, an' I'se glad +ob it! So I is!" +</P> + +<P> +"What is it, Rad? What has happened to Koku?" cried Tom, running +forward, for though no very powerful current could be turned on in the +electrical shop at this period of unuse, there was enough to be very +painful. "What is it, Rad?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, dat big foolish giant, Koku, done got his se'f into trouble!" +chuckled the colored man. "He done got holt ob one ob dem air +contraptions, Massa Tom, an' he cain't let go! Ha! Ha! Golly! Look at +him squirm!" and Rad laughed shrilly, which accounted for some of the +sounds Tom had heard. +</P> + +<P> +Then came yells of rage and pain from the giant, and they were so loud +and vigorous, mingling with Eradicate's as they did, that it was no +wonder Tom was startled. The sounds were heard in the other shops, and +men came running out. But before then Tom had put an end to the trouble. +</P> + +<P> +One look showed him what had happened. Just how or why Koku and +Eradicate had entered the electrical shop Tom did not then stop to +inquire. But he saw that the giant had grasped the handles of one of +the electric machines, designed for charging Leyden jars used in Tom's +experiments, and the powerful, though not dangerous, current had so +paralyzed, temporarily, the muscles of the giant's hands and arms that +he could not let go, and there he was, squirming, and not knowing how +to turn off the current, and unable to ease himself, while Eradicate +stood and laughed at him, fairly howling with delight. +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! Guess yo' won't do no mo' spadin' in' Massa Tom's garden right +away, big man!" taunted Eradicate. +</P> + +<P> +"Be quiet, Rad!" ordered Tom, as he reached up and pulled out the +switch, thus shutting off the current. "This isn't anything to laugh +at." +</P> + +<P> +"But he done look so funny, Massa Tom!" pleaded the colored man. "He +done squirm laik—" +</P> + +<P> +But Eradicate did not finish what he intended to say. Once free from +the powerful current, the giant looked at his numb hands, and then, +seeming to think that Eradicate was the cause of it all, he sprang at +the colored man with a yell. But Eradicate did not stay to see what +would happen. With a howl of terror, he raced out of the door, and, old +and rheumatic as he was, he managed to gain the stable of his mule, +Boomerang, over which he had his humble but comfortable quarters. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I guess he's safe for a while!" laughed Tom, as he saw the giant +turn away, shaking his fist at the closed door, for Koku, big as he +was, stood in mortal terror of the mule's heels. +</P> + +<P> +Tom locked the door of the electrical shop and went back to his +interrupted problem. From Jackson he learned that Koku and Eradicate +had merely happened to stroll into the forbidden place, which had been +left open by accident. There, it appeared, Koku had handled some of the +machinery, ending by switching on the current of the machine the +handles of which he later unsuspectingly picked up. Then he received a +shock he long remembered, and for many days he believed Eradicate had +been responsible for it, and there was more than the usual hostile +feeling between the two. But Eradicate was innocent of that trick, at +all events. +</P> + +<P> +"Though," said Tom, telling his father about it later, "Rad would have +turned on the current if he had known he could make trouble for Koku by +it. I never saw their like for having disagreements!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but they are both devoted to you, Tom," said the aged inventor. +"But what is this you hinted at—a silent motor you called it, I +believe? Are you really serious in trying to invent one?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Dad, I am. I think there's a big field for an aeroplane that +could travel along over the enemy's lines—particularly at night—and +not be heard from below. Think of the scout work that could be done. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes, it could be done if you could get a silent motor, or +propellers that made no noise, Tom. But I don't believe it can be done." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, maybe not, Dad. But I'm going to try!" and Tom, after a further +talk with his father, began work in earnest on the big problem. That it +was a big one Tom was not disposed to deny, and that it would be a +valuable invention even his somewhat skeptical father admitted. +</P> + +<P> +"How are you going to start, Tom?" asked Mr. Swift, several days after +the big idea had come to the young man. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to experiment a bit, at first. I've got a lot of old motors, +that weren't speedy enough for any of my flying machines, and I'm going +to make them over. If I spoil them the loss won't amount to anything, +and if I succeed—well, maybe I can help out Uncle Sam a bit more." +</P> + +<P> +As Tom had said he would do, he began at the very foundation, and +studied the fundamental principles of sound. +</P> + +<P> +"Sound," the young inventor told Ned Newton, in speaking about the +problem, "is a sensation which is peculiar to the ear, though the +vibrations caused by sound waves may be felt in many parts of the body. +But the ear is the great receiver of sound." +</P> + +<P> +"You aren't going to invent a sort of muffler for the ears, are you, +Tom?" asked Ned. "That would be an easy way of solving the problem, but +I doubt if you could get the Germans to wear your ear-tabs so they +wouldn't hear the sound of the Allied aeroplanes." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I'm not figuring on doing the trick that way," said Tom with a +laugh. "I've really got to cut down the sound of the motor and the +propeller blades, so a person, listening with all his ears, won't hear +any noise, unless he's within a few feet of the plane." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I can tell you, right off the reel, how to do it," said the bank +employee. +</P> + +<P> +"How?" asked Tom eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"Run your engine and propellers in a vacuum," was the prompt reply. +</P> + +<P> +"Hum!" said Tom, musingly. "Yes, that would be a simple way out, and +I'll do it, if you'll tell me how to breathe in a vacuum." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I didn't agree to do that," laughed Ned. +</P> + +<P> +But he had spoken the truth, as those who have studied physics well +know. There must be an atmosphere for the transmission of sound, which +is the reason all is cold and silent and still at the moon. There is no +atmosphere there. Sound implies vibration. Something, such as liquid, +gas, or solid, must be set in motion to produce sound, and for the +purpose of science the air we breathe may be considered a gas, being +composed of two. +</P> + +<P> +Not only must the object, either solid, liquid, or gaseous, be in +motion to produce sound, but the air surrounding the vibrating body +must also be moving in unison with it. And lastly there must be some +medium of receiving the sound waves—the ear or some part of the body. +Totally deaf persons may be made aware of sound through the vibrations +received through their hands or feet. They receive, of course, only the +more intense, or largest, sound waves, and can not hear notes of music +nor spoken words, though they may feel the vibration when a piano is +played. And, as Ned has said, no sound is produced in a vacuum. +</P> + +<P> +"But," said Tom, "since I can't run my aeroplane in a vacuum, or even +have the propellers revolve in one, it's up to me to solve the problem +some other way. The propellers don't really make noise enough to worry +about when they're high in the air. It's the exhaust from the motor, +and to get rid of that will be my first attempt." +</P> + +<P> +"Can it be done?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," was Tom's frank answer. +</P> + +<P> +"They do it on an automobile to a great extent," went on Ned. "Some of +'em you cant hardly hear." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but an aeroplane engine runs many, many times faster than the +motor of an auto," said Tom, "and there are more explosions to muffle. +I doubt if the muffler of an auto would cut down the sound of an aero +engine to any appreciable extent. But, of course, I'll try along those +lines." +</P> + +<P> +"They have mufflers or silencers for guns and rifles," went on Ned. +"Couldn't you make a big one of those contraptions and put it on an +aeroplane?" +</P> + +<P> +"I doubt it," said Tom, shaking his head. "Of course it's the same +principle as that in an auto muffler, or on a motor boat—a series of +baffle plates arranged within a hollow cylinder. But all such devices +cut down power, and I don't want to do that. However, I'm going to +solve the problem or—bust!" +</P> + +<P> +And Tom came near "busting," Ned remarked later, when he and his friend +talked over the progress of the invention. +</P> + +<P> +Two weeks had passed since the start of his evolution of his new idea, +and following the visiting of the representatives of the Universal +Flying Machine Company. Since then neither Gale nor Ware had +communicated with Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"But I must be on the watch against them," thought the young inventor. +"I'm pretty sure Gale heard me mention what I was going to try to +invent, and he may get ahead of me, and put a silent motor on the +market first. Not that I'm afraid of being done out of any profits, but +I simply don't want to be beaten." +</P> + +<P> +The details of Tom's invention cannot be gone into, but, roughly, it +was based on the principle of not only a muffler but also of producing +less noise when the charges of gasoline exploded in the cylinders. It +is, of course, the explosion of gasoline mixed with air that causes an +internal combustion engine to operate. And it is the expulsion of the +burned gases that causes the exhaust and makes the noise that is heard. +</P> + +<P> +Tom was working along the well-known line of the rate of travel of +sound, which progresses at the rate of about 1090 feet a second when +air is at the freezing point. And, roughly, with every degree increase +in the atmosphere's temperature the velocity of sound increases by one +foot. Thus at a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or 68 degrees +above freezing, there would be added to the 1090 feet the 68 feet, +making sound travel at 100 degrees Fahrenheit about 1158 feet a second. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had set up in his shop a powerful, but not very speedy, old +aeroplane engine, and had attached to it the device he hoped would help +him toward solving his problem of cutting down the noise. He had had +some success with it, and, after days and nights of labor, he invited +his father and Ned, as well as Mr. Damon, over to see what he hoped +would be a final experiment. +</P> + +<P> +His visitors had assembled in the shop, and Eradicate was setting out +some refreshments which Tom had provided, the colored man being in his +element now. +</P> + +<P> +"What's all this figuring, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon, as he saw a series of +calculations on some sheets of paper lying on Tom's desk. +</P> + +<P> +"That's where I worked out how much faster sound traveled in hydrogen +gas than in the ordinary atmosphere," was the answer. "It goes about +four times as fast, or nearly four thousand two hundred feet a second. +You remember the rule, I suppose. 'The speed of sonorous vibrations +through gases varies inversely as the squares of the weights of equal +volumes of the gases,' or, in other words—" +</P> + +<P> +"Give it to us chiefly in 'other words,' if you please, Tom!" pleaded +Ned, with a laugh. "Let that go and do some tricks. Start the engine +and let's see if we can hear it." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you can hear it all right," said Tom, as he approached the motor, +which was mounted on a testing block. "The thing isn't perfected yet, +but I hope to have it soon. Rad! Where is that black rascal? Oh, there +you are! Come here, Rad!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yaas sah, Massa Tom! Is I gwine to help yo' all in dish yeah job?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. Just take hold of this lever, and when I say so pull it as hard +as you can." +</P> + +<P> +"Dat's whut I will, Massa Tom. Golly! ef dat no 'count giant was heah +now he'd see he ain't de only one whut's got muscle. I'll pull good +an' hard, Massa Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's what I want you to. Now I guess we're all ready. Can you +see, Dad—and Ned and Mr. Damon?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," they answered. They stood near the side wall of the shop, while +Tom and Eradicate were at the testing block, on which the motor, with +the noise-eliminating devices attached, had been temporarily mounted. +</P> + +<P> +"All ready," called the young inventor, as he turned on the gas and +threw over the electrical switch. "All ready! Pull the starting lever, +Rad, and when it's been running a little I'll throw on the silencer and +you can see the difference." +</P> + +<P> +The motor began to hum, and there was a deafening roar, just as there +always is when the engine of an aeroplane starts. It was as though half +a dozen automobile engines were being run with the mufflers cut out. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I'll show you the difference!" yelled Tom, though such was the +noise that not a word could be heard. "This shows you what my silencer +will do." +</P> + +<P> +Tom pulled another lever. There was at once a cessation of the +deafening racket, though it was not altogether ended. Then, after a +moment or two, there suddenly came a roar as though a blast had been +let off in the shop. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and Eradicate were tossed backward, head over heels, as though by +the giant hands of Koku himself, and Mr. Damon, Ned, and Tom's father +saw the motor fly from the testing block and shoot through the roof of +the building with a rending, crashing, and splintering sound that could +be heard for a mile. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +AFTER A SPY +</H3> + +<P> +Curious as it may seem, Eradicate, the oldest and certainly not the +most energetic of the party assembled in the experiment room, was the +first to recover himself and arise. Tottering to his feet he gave one +look at the testing block, whence the motor had torn itself. Then he +looked at the prostrate figures around him, none of them hurt, but all +stunned and very much startled. Then the gaze of Eradicate traveled to +the hole in the roof. It was a gaping, ragged hole, for the motor was +heavy and the roof of flimsy material. And then the colored man +exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"Good land ob massy! Did I do dat?" +</P> + +<P> +His tone was one of such startled contrition, and so tragic, that Tom +Swift, rueful as he felt over the failure of his experiment and the +danger they had all been in, could not help laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"I take it, hearing that from you, Tom, that we're all right," said Ned +Newton, as he recovered himself and brushed some dirt off his coat. Ned +was a natty dresser. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we seem to be all right," replied Tom slowly. "I can't say what +damage the flying motor has done outside, but—" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my insurance policy! but what happened?" asked Mr. Damon. "I saw +Eradicate pull on that lever as you told him to, Tom, and then things +all went topsy-turvy! Did he pull the wrong handle?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, it wasn't Rad's fault at all," said Tom. "The trouble was, as I +guess I'll find when I investigate, that I put too much power into the +motor, and the muffler didn't give any chance for the accumulated +exhaust gases to expand and escape. I didn't allow for that, and they +simply backed up, compressed and exploded. I guess that's the whole +explanation." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm inclined to agree with you, Son," said Mr. Swift dryly. "Don't +try to get rid of all the noise at once. Eliminate it by degrees and it +will be safer." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess so," agreed Tom. +</P> + +<P> +By this time a score of workmen from the other shops had congregated +around the one though the roof of which the motor had been blown. Tom +opened the door to assure Jackson and the others that no one was hurt, +and then the young inventor saw the exploded motor had buried in the +dirt a short distance away from the experiment building. +</P> + +<P> +"Lucky none of us were standing over it when it went up," said Tom, as +he made an inspection of the broken machine. "We'd have gone through +the roof with it." +</P> + +<P> +"She certainly went sailing!" commented Ned. "Must have been a lot of +power there, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +And this was evidenced by the bent and twisted rods that had held the +motor to the testing block, and by the cylinders, some of which were +torn apart as though made of paper instead of heavy steel. But for the +fact that all the force of the explosion was directly upward, instead +of at the sides, none might have been left alive in the shop. All had +escaped most fortunately, and they realized this. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," queried Ned, as Tom gave orders to have the damaged machine +removed and the roof repaired, "does this end the wonderful silent +motor, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"End it! What do you mean—" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean are you going to experiment any further?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, of course! Just because I've had one failure doesn't mean that +I'm going to give up. Especially when I know what the matter was—not +leaving any vent for the escaping gases. Why this isn't anything. When +I was perfecting my giant cannon I was nearly blown up more than once, +and you remember how we got stuck in the submarine." +</P> + +<P> +"I should say I did!" exclaimed Ned with a shudder. "I don't want any +more of that. But as between being blown through a roof and held at the +bottom of the sea, I don't know that there's much choice." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps not," agreed Tom. "But as for ending my experiments, I +wouldn't dream of such a thing! Why, I've only just begun! I'll have a +silent motor yet!" +</P> + +<P> +"And a non-explosive one, I hope," added Mr. Damon dryly. "Bless my +shoe buttons, Tom, but if my wife knew what danger I'd been in she'd +never let me come over to see you any more." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the next time I invite you to a test I'll be more careful," +promised the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"There isn't going to be any next time as far as I'm concerned!" +laughed Ned. "I think it's safer to sell Liberty Bonds." +</P> + +<P> +And, though they joked about it, they all realized the narrow escape +they had had. As for Eradicate, once he knew he had not been the one +who caused the damage, he felt rather proud of the part he had taken in +the mishap, and for many days he boasted about it to Koku. +</P> + +<P> +True to his determination, Tom Swift did not give up his experimental +work on the silent motor. The machine that had been blown through the +roof was useless now, and it was sent to the scrap heap, after as much +of it as possible had been salvaged. Then Tom got another piece of +apparatus out of his store room and began all over again. +</P> + +<P> +He worked along the same lines as at first—providing a chamber for the +escaping gases of the exhaust to expend their noise and energy in, at +the same time laboring to cut down the concussion of the explosions in +the cylinder without reducing their force any. And that it was no easy +problem to do either of these, Tom had to admit as he progressed. All +previous types of mufflers or silencers had to be discarded and a new +one evolved. +</P> + +<P> +"Jackson, I need some one to help me," said Tom to his chief +mechanician one day. "Haven't you a good man who is used to +experimental work that you can let me take from the works?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, yes," was the answer. "Let me see. Roberts is busy on the new +bomb you got up, but I could take him off that—" +</P> + +<P> +"No, don't!" interposed Tom. "I want that work to go on. Isn't there +some one else you can let me have?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, there's a new man who came to me well recommended. I took him on +last week, and he's a wonderful mechanic. Knows a lot about gas +engines. I could let you have him—Bower his name is. The only thing +about it, though, is that I don't like to give you a man of whom I am +not dead certain, when you're working on a new device." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that will be all right," said Tom. "There won't be any secrets he +can get, if you mean you think he might be up to spy work." +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I did mean, Tom. You never can tell, you know, and you +have some bitter enemies." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but I'll take care this man doesn't see the plans, or any of my +drawings. I only want some one to do the heavy assembling work on the +experimental muffler I'm getting up. We can let him think it's for a +new kind of automobile." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, then I guess it will be all right. I'll send Bower to you." +</P> + +<P> +Tom rather liked the new workman, who seemed quiet and efficient. He +did not ask questions, either, about the machine on which he was +engaged, but did as he was told. As Tom had said, he kept his plans and +drawing under lock and key—in a safe to be exact—and he did not think +they were in any danger from his new helper. +</P> + +<P> +But Tom Swift held into altogether too slight regard the powers of +those who were opposed to him. He did not appreciate the depths to +which they would stoop to gain their ends. +</P> + +<P> +He had been working hard on his new device, and had reached a point +further along than when the other motor had exploded. He began to see +success ahead of him, and he was jubilant. Whether this made him +careless does not matter, but the fact was that he left Bower more to +himself, and alone in the experimental shop several times. +</P> + +<P> +And it was on one of these occasions, when Tom had been for some time +in one of the other shops, where he and Jackson were in consultation +over a new machine, that as he came back to the test room unexpectedly, +he saw Bower move hastily away from in front of the safe. Moreover, Tom +was almost certain he had heard the steel door clang shut as he +approached the building. +</P> + +<P> +And then, before he could ask his helper a question, Tom looked from a +window and saw a stranger running hastily along the side of the +building where his trial motor was being set up. +</P> + +<P> +"Who's that? Who is that man? Did he come in here? Was he tampering +with my safe?" cried Tom. He saw Bower hesitate and change color, and +Tom knew it was time to act. +</P> + +<P> +The window was open, and with one bound the young inventor was out and +running after the stranger he had seen departing in such a hurry. The +man was but a short distance ahead of him, and Tom saw he was stuffing +some papers into his pocket. +</P> + +<P> +"Here! Come back! Stop!" ordered Tom, but the man ran on the faster. +</P> + +<P> +"That's a spy as sure as guns!" reflected Tom Swift. "And Bower is in +with him!" he added. "I've got to catch that fellow!" and he speeded +his pace as he ran after the fellow. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A BIG SPLASH +</H3> + +<P> +There was no question in the mind of Tom Swift but that the man he was +running after was guilty of some wrong-doing. In the first place he was +a stranger, and had no right inside the big fence that surrounded the +Swift machine plant. Then, too, the very fact that he ran away was +suspicious. +</P> + +<P> +And this, coupled with the confusion on the part of Bower, and his +proximity to the safe, made Tom fear that some of his plans had been +stolen. These he was very anxious to recover if this strange man had +them, and so he raced after him with all speed. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop! Stop!" called Tom, but the on-racing stranger did not heed. +</P> + +<P> +The cries of the young inventor soon attracted the attention of his +men, and Jackson and some of the others came running from their various +shops to give whatever aid was needed. But they were all too far away +to give effective chase. +</P> + +<P> +"Bower might have come with me if he had wanted to help," thought Tom. +But a backward glance over his shoulder did not show that the new +helper was engaging in the pursuit, and he could have started almost on +the same terms as Tom himself. +</P> + +<P> +The runaway, looking back to see how near the young inventor was to +him, suddenly changed his course, and, noting this, Tom Swift thought: +</P> + +<P> +"I've got him now! He'll be bogged if he runs that way," for the way +led to a piece of swampy land that, after the recent rains, was a +veritable bog which was dangerous for cattle at least; and more than +one man had been caught there. +</P> + +<P> +"He can't run across the swamp, that's sure," reflected Tom with some +satisfaction. "I'll get him all right!" +</P> + +<P> +But he wanted to capture the man, if possible, before he reached the +bog, and, to this end, Tom increased his speed to such good end that +presently, on the firm ground that bordered the swamp, Tom was almost +within reaching distance of the stranger. +</P> + +<P> +But the latter kept up running, and dodged and turned so that Tom could +not lay hands on him. Suddenly, turning around a clump of trees the +fleeing man headed straight for a veritable mud hole that lay directly +in his path. It was part of the swamp—the most liquid part of the bog +and a home of frogs and lizards. +</P> + +<P> +Too late, the man, who was evidently unaware of the proximity of the +swamp, saw his danger. His further flight was cut off by the mud hole, +but it was too late to turn back. Tom Swift was at his heels now, and +seeing that it was impossible to grab the man, Tom did the next best +thing. He stuck out his foot and tripped him, and tripped him right on +the edge of the mud hole, so that the man fell in with a big splash, +the muddy water flying all around, some even over the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +For a moment the man disappeared completely beneath the surface, for +the mud hole was rather deep just where Tom had thrown him. Then there +was another violent agitation of the surface, and a very woebegone and +muddy face was raised from the slough, followed by the rest of the +figure of the man. Slowly he got to his feet, mud and water dripping +from him. He cleared his face by rubbing his hands over it, not that it +made his countenance clean, but it removed masses of mud from his eyes, +nose, and mouth, so that he could see and speak, though his first +operation was to gasp for breath. +</P> + +<P> +"What—what are you doin'?" he demanded of Tom, and as the man opened +his mouth to speak Tom was aware of a glitter, which disclosed the +'fact that the man had a large front tooth of gold. +</P> + +<P> +"What am I doing?" repeated Tom. "I think it's up to you to answer that +question, not me. What are you doing?" +</P> + +<P> +"You—you tripped me into this mud hole!" declared the man. +</P> + +<P> +"I did, yes; because you were trespassing on my property, and ran away +instead of stopping when I told you to," went on Tom. "Who are you and +what are you doing? What were you doing with Bower at my shop?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothin'! I wasn't doin' nothin'!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll inquire into that. I want to see what you have in your +pockets before I believe you. Come on out!" +</P> + +<P> +"You haven't any right to go through my pockets!" blustered the +stranger. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, haven't I? Well, I'm going to take the right. Jackson—Koku—just +see that he doesn't get away. We'll take him back and search him," and +Tom motioned to his chief machinist and the giant, who had reached the +scene, to take charge of the man. But Koku was sufficient for this +purpose, and the mud-bespattered stranger seemed to shrink as he saw +the big creature approach him. There was no question of running away +after that. +</P> + +<P> +"Bring him along," ordered Tom, and Koku, taking a tight grip on the +man by the slack of his garments behind, walked him along toward the +office, the mud and water splashing and oozing from his shoes at every +step. +</P> + +<P> +"Now you look here!" the gold-toothed man cried, as he was forced +along, "you ain't got any right to detain me. I ain't done nothin'!" +And each time he spoke the bright tooth in his mouth glittered in the +sun. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know whether you've done anything or not," said Tom. "I'm +going to take you back and see what you and Bower have to say. He may +know something about this." +</P> + +<P> +"If he does I don't believe he'll tell," said Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" asked Tom, quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"Because he's gone." +</P> + +<P> +"Gone! Bower gone?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Jackson. "I saw him running out of the experiment shop +as we raced along to help you. I didn't think, at the time, that he was +doing more than go for aid, perhaps. But I see the game now." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you mean—him?" and Tom pointed to the dripping figure. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Jackson in a low voice, as Koku went on ahead with his +prisoner. "If, as you say, this man was in league with Bower, the +latter has smelled a rat and skipped. He has run away, and I only hope +he hasn't done any damage or got hold of any of your plans." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll soon know about that," said Tom. "I wonder who is at the bottom +of this?" +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe those men you wouldn't work for," suggested the machinist. +</P> + +<P> +"You mean Gale and Ware of the Universal Flying Machine Company?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't believe they'd stoop to any such measures as this—sending +spies around," replied Tom. "But I can't be too careful. We'll +investigate." +</P> + +<P> +The first result of the investigation was to disclose the fact that +Bower was gone. He had taken his few possessions and left the Swift +plant while Tom was racing after the stranger. A hasty examination of +the safe did not reveal anything missing, as Tom's plans and papers +were intact. But they showed evidences of having been looked over, for +they were out of the regular order in which the young inventor kept +them. +</P> + +<P> +"I begin to see it," said Tom, musingly. "Bower must have managed to +open the safe while I was gone, and he must have made a hasty copy of +some of the drawings of the silent motor, and passed them out of the +window to this gold-tooth man, who tried to make off with them. Did you +find anything on him?" he asked, as one of the men who had been +instructed to search the stranger came into the office just then. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a thing, Mr. Swift! Not a thing!" was the answer. "We took off +every bit of his clothes and wrapped him in a blanket. He's in the +engine room getting dry now. But there isn't a thing in any of his +pockets." +</P> + +<P> +"But I saw him stuffing some papers in as he ran away from me," said +Tom. "We must be sure about this. And don't let the fellow get away +until I question him." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he's safe enough," answered the man. "Koku is guarding him. He +won't get away." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I'll have a look at his clothes," decided Tom. "He may have a +secret pocket." +</P> + +<P> +But nothing like this was disclosed, and the most careful search did +not reveal anything incriminating in the man's garments. +</P> + +<P> +"He might have thrown away any papers Bower gave him," said Tom. "Maybe +they're at the bottom of the mud hole! If they're there they're safe +enough. But have a search made of the ground where this man ran." +</P> + +<P> +This was done, but without result. Some of the workmen even dragged the +mud hole without finding anything. Then Tom and his father had a talk +with the stranger, who refused to give his name. The man was sullen and +angry. He talked loudly about his innocence and of "having the law on" +Tom for having tripped him into the mud. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, if you want to make a complaint, go ahead," said the young +inventor. "I'll make one against you for trespass. Why did you come on +my grounds?" +</P> + +<P> +"I was going to ask for work. I'm a good machinist and I wanted a job." +</P> + +<P> +"How did you get in? Who admitted you at the gate?" +</P> + +<P> +"I—I jest walked in," said the man, but Tom knew this could not be +true, as no strangers were admitted without a permit and none had been +issued. The man denied knowing anything about Bower, but the latter's +flight was evidence enough that something was wrong. +</P> + +<P> +Not wishing to go to the trouble of having the man arrested merely as a +trespasser, Tom let him go after his clothes had been dried on a boiler +in one of the shops. +</P> + +<P> +"Take him to the gate, and tell him if he comes back he'll get another +dose of the same kind of medicine," ordered Tom to one of the guards at +the plant, and when the latter had reported that this had been done, he +added in an earnest tone: +</P> + +<P> +"He went off talking to himself and saying he'd get even with you, Mr. +Swift." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," said Tom easily. "I'll be on the watch." +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor made a thorough examination of his experiment shop +and the test motor. No damage seemed to have been done, and Tom began +to think he had been too quick for the conspirators, if such they were. +His plans and drawings were intact, and though Bower might have given a +copy to the stranger with the gold tooth, the latter did not take any +away with him. That he had some papers he wished to conceal and escape +with, seemed certain, but the splash into the mud hole had ended this. +</P> + +<P> +No trace was found of Bower, and an effort Tom made to ascertain if the +man was a spy in the employ of Gale and Ware came to naught. The +machinist had come well recommended, and the firm where he was last +employed had nothing but good to say of him. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's a mystery," decided Tom. "However, I got out of it pretty +well. Only if that gold-tooth individual shows up again he won't get +off so easily." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A NIGHT TRIP +</H3> + +<P> +Taking a lesson from what had happened, Tom was very much more careful +in the following experiments on his new, silent motor. He made some +changes in his shop, and took Jackson in to help on the new machine, +thus insuring perfect secrecy as the apparatus developed. +</P> + +<P> +Tom also changed the safe in which he kept his plans, for the one he +had used previous to the episode in which Bower and the stranger who +took the mud bath figured, was one the combination of which could +easily be ascertained by an expert. The new safe was more complicated, +and Tom felt that his plans, specifications, and formulae which he had +worked out were in less danger. +</P> + +<P> +"I can just about figure out what happened," said Ned Newton to Tom, +when told of the circumstances. "These Universal people were provoked +because you wouldn't give them the benefit of your experience on their +flying machines, and so they sent a spy to get work with you. They, +perhaps, hoped to secure some of your ideas for their own, or they may +have had a deeper motive." +</P> + +<P> +"What deeper motive could they have, Ned?"</p> + +<p>"They might have hoped to +disable you, or some of your machines, so that you couldn't compete +with them. They're unscrupulous, I hear, and will do anything to +succeed and make money. So be on your guard against them." +</P> + +<P> +"I will," Tom promised. "But I don't believe there's any more danger +now. Anyhow, I have to take some chances." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but be as careful as you can. How is the silent motor coming on?" +</P> + +<P> +"Pretty good. I've had a lot of failures, and the thing isn't so easy +as I at first imagined it would be. Noise is a funny thing, and I'm +just beginning to understand some of the laws of acoustics we learned +at high school. But I think I'm on the right track with the muffler and +the cutting down of the noise of the explosions in the cylinders. I'm +working both ends, you see—making a motor that doesn't cause as much +racket as those now in use, and also providing means to take care of +the noise that is made. It isn't possible to make a completely silent +motor of an explosive gas type. The only thing that can be done is to +kill the noise after it is made." +</P> + +<P> +"What about the propeller blades?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, they aren't giving me any trouble. The noise they make can't be +heard a hundred feet in the air, but I am also working on improvements +to the blades. Take it altogether, I'll have an almost silent aeroplane +if my plans come out all right." +</P> + +<P> +"Have you said anything to the government yet?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; I want to have it pretty well perfected before I do. Besides, I +don't want any publicity about it until I'm ready. If these Universal +people are after me I'll fool 'em." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right, Tom! Well, I must go. Another week of this Liberty Bond +campaign!" +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose you'll be glad when it's over." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't know," said Ned slowly. "It's part of my small +contribution to Uncle Sam. I'm not like you—I can't invent things." +</P> + +<P> +"But you have an awful smooth line of talk, Ned!" laughed his chum. "I +believe you could sell chloride of sodium to some of the fishes in the +Great Salt Lake—that is if it has fishes." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know that it has, Tom. And, anyhow, I'm not posing as a salt +salesman," and Ned grinned. "But I must really go. Our bank hasn't +reached its quota in the sale of Liberty Bonds yet, and it's up to me +to see that it doesn't fall down." +</P> + +<P> +"Go to it, Ned! And I'll get busy on my silent motor." +</P> + +<P> +"Getting busy" was Tom Swift's favorite occupation, and when he was +working on a new idea, as was the case now, he was seldom idle, night +or day. +</P> + +<P> +"I have hardly seen you for two weeks," Mary Nestor wrote him one day. +"Aren't you ever coming to see me any more, or take me for a ride?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," Tom wrote back. "I'll be over soon. And perhaps on the next ride +we take I won't have to shout at you through a speaking tube because +the motor makes so much noise." +</P> + +<P> +From this it may be gathered that Tom was on the verge of success. +While not altogether satisfied with his progress, the young inventor +felt that he was on the right track. There were certain changes that +needed to be made in the apparatus he was building—certain refinements +that must be added, and when this should be done Tom was pretty certain +that he would have what would prove to be a very quiet aeroplane, if +not an absolutely silent one. +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor was engaged one day with some of the last details of +the experiment. The new motor, with the silencer and the changed +cylinders, had been attached to one of Tom's speedy aeroplanes, and he +was making some intricate calculations in relation to a new cylinder +block, to be used when he started to make a completely new machine of +the improved type. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had set down on paper some computations regarding the cross-section +of one of the cylinders, and was working out the amount of stress to +which he could subject a shoulder strut, when a shadow was cast across +the drawing board he had propped up in his lap. +</P> + +<P> +In an instant Tom pulled a blank sheet over his mass of figures and +looked up, a sudden fear coming over him that another spy was at hand. +But a hearty voice reassured him. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my rice pudding!" cried Mr. Damon, "you shut yourself up here, +Tom, like a hermit in the mountains. Why don't you come out and enjoy +life?" +</P> + +<P> +"Hello! Glad to see you!" cried Tom, joyfully. "You're just in time!" +</P> + +<P> +"Time for what—dinner?" asked the eccentric man, with a chuckle. "If +so, my reference to rice pudding was very proper." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, yes, I imagine there must be a dinner in prospect somewhere, Mr. +Damon," said Tom with a smile. "We'll have to see Mrs. Baggert about +that. But what I meant was that you're just in time to have a ride with +me, if you want to go." +</P> + +<P> +"Go where?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, up in cloudland. I have just finished my first sample of a silent +motor, and I'm going to try it this evening. Would you like to come +along?" +</P> + +<P> +"I would!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Bless my onion soup, Tom, but I would! +But why fly at night? Isn't it safer by daylight?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that doesn't make much difference. It's safe enough at any time. +The reason I'm going to make my first flight after dark is that I don't +want any spies about." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I see! Are they camping on your trail?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not exactly. But I can't tell where they may be. If I should start out +in daylight and be forced to make a landing— Well, you know what a +crowd always collects to see a stranded airship." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"That decided me to start off after dark. Then if we have to come down +because of some sort of engine trouble or because my new attachment +doesn't work right, we sha'n't have any prying eyes." +</P> + +<P> +"I see! Well, Tom, I'll go with you. Fortunately I didn't tell my wife +where I was going when I started out this afternoon, so she won't worry +until after it's over, and then it won't hurt her. I'm ready any time +you are." +</P> + +<P> +"Good! Stay to dinner and I'll show you what I've made. Then we'll take +a flight after dark." +</P> + +<P> +This suited the eccentric man, and a little later, after he had eaten +one of Mrs. Baggert's best meals, including rice pudding, of which he +was very fond, Mr. Damon accompanied Tom to one of the big hangars +where the new aeroplane had been set up. +</P> + +<P> +"So that's the Air Scout, is it, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon, as he viewed +the machine. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that's the girl. 'Air Scout' is as good a name as any, until I +see what she'll do." +</P> + +<P> +"It doesn't look different from one of your regular craft of the skies, +Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"No, she isn't. The main difference is here," and Tom showed his friend +where a peculiar apparatus had been attached to the motor. This was the +silencer—the whole secret of the invention, so to speak. +</P> + +<P> +To Mr. Damon it seemed to consist of an amazing collection of pipes, +valves, baffle-plates, chambers, cylinders and reducers, which took the +hot exhaust gases as they came from the motor and "ate them up," as he +expressed it. +</P> + +<P> +"The cylinders, too, and the spark plugs are differently arranged in +the motor itself, if you could see them," said Tom to his friend. "But +the main work of cutting down the noise is done right here," and he put +his hand on the steel case attached to the motor, the case containing +the apparatus already briefly described. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm ready when you are, Tom," said Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll go as soon as it's dark," was the reply. "But first I'll give +you a demonstration. Start the motor, Jackson!" Tom called to his chief +helper. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon had ridden in aeroplanes before, and had stood near when Tom +started them; so he was prepared for a great rush of air as the +propellers whirled about, and for deafening explosions from the engine. +</P> + +<P> +The big blades, of new construction, were turned until the gas in the +cylinders was sufficiently compressed. Then Jackson stepped back out of +danger while Tom threw over the switch. +</P> + +<P> +"Contact!" cried the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +Jackson gave the blades a quarter pull, and, a moment later, as he +leaped back out of the way, they began to revolve with the swiftness of +light. There was the familiar rush of air as the wooden wings cut +through the atmosphere, but there was scarcely any noise. Mr. Damon +could hardly believe his ears. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not running her at full speed," said Tom. "If I did she'd tear +loose from the holding blocks. But you can see what little racket she +makes." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon. "You are right, Tom Swift! +Why, I can hear you talk almost as easily as if no engine were going. +And I don't have to shout my head off, either." +</P> + +<P> +This was perfectly true. Tom could converse with Mr. Damon in almost +ordinary tones. The exhaust from the motor was nearly completely +muffled. +</P> + +<P> +"Out in the air it will seem even more quiet," said Tom. "I'll soon +give you a chance to verify that statement." +</P> + +<P> +He ran the engine a little longer, the aeroplane quivering with the +vibrations, but remaining almost silent. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm anxious to see what she'll do when in motion," said Tom, as he +shut off the gas and spark. +</P> + +<P> +Soon after supper, when the shades of evening were falling, he and Mr. +Damon took their places in the first of the Air Scouts, to give it the +preliminary test in actual flying. +</P> + +<P> +Would Tom's hopes be justified or would he be disappointed? +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE CRY FOR HELP +</H3> + +<P> +"All ready, Mr. Damon?" asked Tom, as he looked to see that all the +levers, wheels, valves, and other controls were in working order on his +Air Scout. +</P> + +<P> +"As ready as I ever shall be, Tom," was the answer. "I don't know why +it is, but somehow I feel that something is going to happen on this +trip." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense!" laughed Tom. "You're nervous; that's all." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose so. Don't think I'm going to back out, or anything like +that, but I wish it were successfully over with, Tom Swift, I most +certainly do." +</P> + +<P> +"It will be in a little while," returned Tom, as he settled himself +comfortably in his seat and pulled the safety strap tight. "You've gone +up in this same plane before, when it didn't have the silent motor +aboard." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I know I have. Oh, I dare say it will be all right, Tom. And +yet, somehow, I can't help feeling—" +</P> + +<P> +But Tom Swift felt that the best way to set Mr. Damon's premonitions to +rest was to start the motor, and this he gave orders to have done, +Jackson and some others of the men from the shops congregating about +the craft to see the beginning of the night flight. Mr. Swift was there +also, and Eradicate. Mary Nestor had been invited, but her Red Cross +work engaged her that evening, she said. Ned Newton was away from town +on Liberty Bond business, and he could not be present at the test. +</P> + +<P> +However, as Tom expected to have other trials when his motor was in +even better shape, he was not exactly sorry for the absence of his +friends. +</P> + +<P> +"Contact!" called the young inventor, when Jackson had stepped back, +indicating it was time to throw over the switch. +</P> + +<P> +"Let her go!" cried Tom, and the next moment the motor was in +operation, but so silently that his voice and that of Mr. Damon's could +easily be heard above the machinery. +</P> + +<P> +"Good, Tom! That's good!" cried Mr. Swift, and Tom easily heard his +father's voice, though under other, and ordinary, circumstances this +would have been impossible. +</P> + +<P> +True, the hearing of Tom and Mr. Damon was muffled to a certain extent +by the heavy leather and fur-lined caps they wore. But Tom had several +small eyelet holes set into the flaps just over the opening of the +ears, and these holes were sufficient to admit sounds, while keeping +out most of the cold that obtains in the upper regions. +</P> + +<P> +The aeroplane moved swiftly along the level starting ground, and away +from the lighted hangars. Faster and faster it swung along as Tom +headed it into the wind, and then, as the speed of the motor increased, +the Air Scout suddenly left the earth and went soaring aloft as she had +done before. +</P> + +<P> +But there was this difference. She moved almost as silently as a great +owl which swoops down out of the darkness—a bit of the velvety +blackness itself. Up and up, and onward and onward, went the Air Scout. +Tom Swift's improved, silent motor urged it onward, and as the young +inventor listened to catch the noise of the machinery, his heart gave a +bound of hope. For he could detect only very slight sounds. +</P> + +<P> +"She's a success!" exulted Tom to himself. "She's a success, but she +isn't perfect yet," he added. "I've got to make the muffler bigger and +put in more baffle-plates. Then I think I can turn the trick." +</P> + +<P> +He swung the machine out over the open country, and then, when they +were up at a height and sailing along easily, he called back to Mr. +Damon in the seat behind him: +</P> + +<P> +"How do you like it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Great!" exclaimed the eccentric man. "Bless my postage stamp, but it's +great! Why, there's hardly a sound, Tom, and I can hear you quite +easily." +</P> + +<P> +"And I can hear you," added Tom. "I don't believe, down below there," +and he nodded toward the earth, though Mr. Damon could not see this, as +the airship, save for a tiny light over the instrument board, was in +darkness, "they know that we're flying over their heads." +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you," was the answer. "Tom, my boy, I believe you've +solved the trick! You have produced a silent aeroplane, and now it's up +to the government to make use of it." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not quite ready for that yet," replied the young inventor. "I +have several improvements to make. But, when they are finished, I'll +let Uncle Sam know what I have. Then it's up to him." +</P> + +<P> +"And you must be careful, Tom, that some of your rivals don't hear of +your success and get it away from you," warned Mr. Damon, as Tom guided +the Air Scout along the aerial way—an unlighted and limitless path in +the silent darkness. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, they'll have to get up pretty early in the morning to do that!" +boasted Tom, and afterward he was to recall those words with a bit of +chagrin. +</P> + +<P> +On and on they sailed, and as Tom increased the speed of the motor, and +noted how silently it ran, he began to have high hopes that he had +builded better than he knew. For even with the motor running at almost +full speed there was not noise enough to hinder talk between himself +and Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +Of course there was some little sound. Even the most perfect electric +motor has a sort of hum which can be detected when one is close to it. +But at a little distance a great dynamo in operation appears to be +silence itself. +</P> + +<P> +"I can go this one better, though," said Tom as he sailed along in the +night. "I see where I've made a few mistakes in the baffle plate of the +silencer. I'll correct that and—" +</P> + +<P> +As he spoke the machine gave a lurch, and the motor, instead of +remaining silent, began to cough and splutter as in the former days. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my rubber boots, Tom! what's the matter?" cried Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Something's gone wrong," Tom answered, barely able to hear and make +himself heard above the sudden noise. "I'll have to shut off the power +and glide down. We can make a landing in this big field," for just then +the moon came out from behind a cloud, and Tom saw, below them, a great +meadow, not far from the home of Mary Nestor. He had often landed in +this same place. +</P> + +<P> +"Something has broken in the muffler, I think, letting out some of the +exhaust," he said to Mr. Damon, for, now that the motor was shut off, +Tom could speak in his ordinary tones. "I'll soon have it fixed, or, if +I can't, we can go back in the old style—with the machine making as +much racket as it pleases." +</P> + +<P> +So Tom guided the machine down. It went silently now, of course, +making, with the motor shut off, no more sound than a falling leaf. +Down to the soft, springy turf in the green meadow Tom guided the +machine. As it came to a stop, and he and Mr. Damon got out, there was +borne to their ears a wild cry: +</P> + +<P> +"Help! Help!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SOMETHING QUEER +</H3> + +<P> +"Did you hear that?" asked Tom Swift of his companion. +</P> + +<P> +"Hear it? Bless my ear drums, I should say I did hear it! Some one is +in trouble, Tom. Caught in a bog, most likely, the same as that spy +chap who was at your place. That's it—caught in a bog!" +</P> + +<P> +"There isn't any bog or swamp around here, Mr. Damon. If there was I +shouldn't have tried a landing. No, it's something else besides that. +Hark!" +</P> + +<P> +Again the cry sounded, seeming to come from a point behind the landing +place of the silent airship. It was clear and distinct: +</P> + +<P> +"Help! Help! They are—" +</P> + +<P> +The voice seemed to die away in a gurgle, as though the person's mouth +had been covered quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"He's sinking, Tom! He's sinking!" cried Mr. Damon. "I once heard a man +who almost drowned cry out, and it sounded exactly like that!" +</P> + +<P> +"But there isn't any water around here for any one to drown in," +declared Tom. "It's a big, dry meadow. I know where we are." +</P> + +<P> +"Then what is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know, but we're going to find out. Some one attacked by some +one else—or something, I should say," ventured the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Something! do you mean a wild beast, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, for there aren't any of those here any more than there is water. +Though it may be that some farmer's bull or a savage dog has got loose +and has attacked some traveler. But, in that case I think we would hear +bellows or barks, and all I heard was a cry for help." +</P> + +<P> +"The same with me, Tom. Let's investigate;" +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I intend doing. Come on. The airship will be all right +until we come back." +</P> + +<P> +"Better take a light—hadn't you? It's dark, even if the moon does show +now and then," suggested Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Guess you are right," agreed Tom. Aboard his airship there were +several small but powerful portable electric lights, and after securing +one of these Tom and Mr. Damon started for the spot whence the call for +help had come. As they walked along, their feet making no noise on the +soft turf, they listened intently for a repetition of the call for aid. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't hear anything," said Tom, after a bit. +</P> + +<P> +"Nor I," added Mr. Damon. "We don't know exactly which way to go, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right. Guess we'd better give him a hail; whoever it is." +</P> + +<P> +Tom came to a halt, and raising his voice to a shout called: +</P> + +<P> +"Hello there! What's the matter? We'll help you if you can tell us +which way to come!" +</P> + +<P> +They both listened intently, but no voice answered them. At the same +time, however, they were aware of a sound as of hurrying feet, and +there seemed to be muttered imprecations not far away. Tom and Mr. +Damon looked in the direction of the sound, and the young inventor +flashed his light. But there was a clump of bushes and trees at that +point and the electrical rays did not penetrate very far. +</P> + +<P> +"Some one's over there!" exclaimed Tom in a whisper. "We'd better go +and see what it is." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," agreed Mr. Damon, and he, too, spoke in a low voice. +</P> + +<P> +Why they did this when their previous talk had been in ordinary tones, +and when Tom had shouted so loudly, they did not stop to reason about +or explain just then. But later they both admitted that they whispered +because they thought there was something wrong on foot—because they +feared a crime was being committed and they wanted to surprise the +perpetrators if they could. +</P> + +<P> +And it was this fact of their whispering that enabled the two to hear +something that, otherwise, they might not have heard. And this was the +sound of some vehicle hurrying away—an automobile, if Tom was any +judge. The cries for help had been succeeded by stifled vocal sounds, +and these, in turn, by the noise of wheels on the ground. +</P> + +<P> +"What does it all mean?" asked Mr. Damon in a whisper. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," answered Tom, resolutely, "but we've got to find out. +Come on." +</P> + +<P> +They advanced toward the dark clump of trees and low bushes. There was +no need to be especially cautious in regard to being silent, as their +feet made little, if any, sound on the deep grass. And, as Tom walked +in advance, now and then flashing his light, Mr. Damon suddenly caught +him by the coat. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Look! Just over the top of that hill, where the moon shines. Don't +you see an automobile outlined?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom looked quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"I do," he answered. "There's a road from here, just the other side of +those trees, to that hill. The auto must have gone that way. Well, +there's no use in trying to follow it now. Whoever it was has gotten +away." +</P> + +<P> +"But they may have left some one behind, Tom. We'd better look in and +around those trees." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose we had, but I don't believe we'll find anything. I can +pretty nearly guess, now, what it was." +</P> + +<P> +"What?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, some chauffeur was out for a ride in his employer's car without +permission. He got here, had an accident—maybe some friends he took +for a ride were hurt and they called for help. The chauffeur knew if +there was any publicity he'd be blamed, and so he got away as quickly +as he could. Guess the accident—if that's what it was—didn't amount +to much, or they couldn't have run the car off. We've had our trouble +for our pains." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, maybe you're right, Tom Swift, but all the same, I'd like to +have a look among those trees," said Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh. we'll look, all right," assented Tom, "but I doubt if we find +anything." +</P> + +<P> +And he was right. They walked in and about the little grove, flashing +the light at intervals, but beyond marks of auto wheels in the dust of +the road, which was near the clump of maples, there was nothing to +indicate what had happened. +</P> + +<P> +"Though there was some sort of fracas," declared Tom. "Look where the +dust is trampled down. There were several men here, perhaps skylarking, +or perhaps it was a fight." +</P> + +<P> +"Some one must have been hurt, or they wouldn't have cried for help," +said Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's so. But perhaps it was some one not used to riding in +autos, and he may have imagined the accident was worse than it was, and +called for help involuntarily. There is no evidence of any serious +accident having happened—no spots of blood, at any rate," and Tom +laughed at his own grimness. "It was a new car, too, or at least one +with new tires on." +</P> + +<P> +"How do you know?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell by the plain marks of the rubber tread in the dust," was the +answer. "Look," and Tom pointed to the wheel marks in the focus of his +electric lamp. "It's a new tire, too, with square protuberances on the +tread instead of the usual diamond or round ones. A new kind of tire, +all right." +</P> + +<P> +He and Mr. Damon remained for a few minutes looking about the place +whence had come the calls for help, and then the eccentric man remarked: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, as long as we can't do anything here, Tom, we might as well +travel on; what do you say?" +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you. There isn't any use in staying. We'll get the Air +Scout fixed up and travel back home. But this was something queer," +mused Tom. "I hope it doesn't turn out later that a crime has been +committed, and we didn't show enough gumption to prevent it." +</P> + +<P> +"We couldn't prevent it. We heard the cries as soon as we landed." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but if we had rushed over at once we might have caught the +fellows. But I guess it was only a slight accident, and some one was +more frightened than hurt. We'll have to let it go at that." +</P> + +<P> +But the more he thought about it the more Tom Swift thought there was +something queer in that weird cry for help on the lonely meadow in the +darkness of the night. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE TELEPHONE CALL +</H3> + +<P> +The defect in the motor which had caused Tom Swift to shut off the +power and drift down to earth was soon remedied, once the young +inventor began an examination of the craft. One of the oil feeds had +become choked and this automatically cut down the gasoline supply, +causing one or more cylinders to miss. It was a safety device Tom had +installed to prevent the motor running dry, and so being damaged. +</P> + +<P> +Once the clogged oil feed was cleared the motor ran as before, and just +as silently, though, as Tom had said, he was not entirely satisfied +with the quietness, but intended to do further work toward perfecting +it. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll start the propellers now, Mr. Damon," said Tom, when the trouble +had been remedied. "You know how to throw the switch, don't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I guess so," was the answer. Mr. Damon and Tom had traveled so often +together in gasoline craft that the young inventor had taught his +friend certain fundamentals about them, and in an emergency the +eccentric man could help start an aeroplane. This he now did, taking +charge of the controls which could be operated from his seat as well as +from Tom's. Tom whirled the propellers, and soon the motor was in +motion. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon, once the big wooden blades were revolving, slowed down the +apparatus until Tom could jump aboard, after which the latter took +charge and soon speeded up the machine, sending it aloft. +</P> + +<P> +As the green meadow, dimly seen in the light of the moon, seemed to +drop away below them, and the clump of trees vanished from sight, both +Tom and Mr. Damon wondered who it was that had called for help, and if +the matter were at all serious. They were inclined to think it was not, +but Tom could not rid himself of a faint suspicion that there might +have been trouble. +</P> + +<P> +However, thoughts of his new silent Air Scout soon drove everything +else from his mind, and as he guided the comparatively silent machine +on its quiet way toward his own home he was thinking how he could best +improve the muffler. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, here we are again, safe and sound," remarked Tom, as he brought +the craft to a stop in front of the hangar, and Jackson and his +helpers, who were awaiting the return, hurried out to take charge. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, everything seems to point to success, Tom," agreed Mr. Damon. +"That is, unless the slight accident we had means trouble." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no, that had nothing to do with the operation of the silencer. But +I'm going to do better yet. Some day I'll take you for a ride in a +silent machine which will make so little noise that you can hear a pin +drop." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," remarked Mr. Damon' with a laugh, "I don't know that listening +to falling pins will give me any great amount of pleasure, Tom, but I +appreciate your meaning." +</P> + +<P> +"Everything all right?" asked Mr. Swift, as he came out to hear the +details from his son. "Do you think you have solved the problem?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not completely, but I'll soon be able to write Q. E. D. after it. Some +refinements are all that are needed, Dad." +</P> + +<P> +"Glad to hear it. I was a bit anxious." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Swift questioned his son about the technical details of the trip, +asking how the motor had acted under the pressure caused by so +completely muffling the exhaust, and for some minutes the two +inventors, young and old, indulged in talk which was not at all +interesting to Mr. Damon. They went into the house, and Tom asked to +have a little lunch, which Mrs. Baggert set out for him. +</P> + +<P> +"It's rather late to eat," said the young inventor, "but I always feel +hungry after I test a new machine and find that it works pretty well. +Will you join me in a sandwich or two, Mr. Damon?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, bless my ketchup bottle, I believe I will." +</P> + +<P> +And so they ate and talked. Tom was on the point of telling his father +something of the queer cry for help they had heard on the lonely meadow +when Mrs. Baggert produced a letter which she said had come for Tom +that afternoon, but had been mislaid by a new maid who had been engaged +to help with the housework. +</P> + +<P> +"She took it to the shop after you had left, and only now told me about +it," explained Mrs. Baggert. "So I sent Eradicate for it." +</P> + +<P> +"How long ago was that?" asked Tom, as he took the missive. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, an hour ago," answered Mrs. Baggert, with a smile. "But don't +blame poor Rad for that. He wanted to deliver the letter to you +personally, and so did Koku. The result was your giant kept after Rad, +trying to get the letter from him, and Rad kept hiding and slinking +about for a chance to see you himself until I saw what was going on, a +little while ago, and took the letter myself. Else you might never have +gotten it, so jealous are those two," and Mrs. Baggert laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"Guess it isn't of much importance," Tom said, as he tore open the +envelope. "It's from the Universal Flying Machine Company, of New York, +and I imagine they're trying to get me to reconsider my refusal to link +up with them." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," he went on, as he read the missive, "that's it. They've raised +the amount to thirty thousand a year now, Dad, and they say they feel +sure I shall regret it if I do not accept. +</P> + +<P> +"This is a bit queer, though," went on the young inventor. "This +letter was written three days ago, but it reached Shopton only to-day. +And it says that unless they hear from me at once they will have to +take steps that will cause me great inconvenience. They have nerve, at +any rate, and impudence, too! I won't even bother to answer. But I +wonder what they mean, and why this letter was delayed?" +</P> + +<P> +"The mails are all late on account of the transportation congestion +caused by moving troops to the camps," said Mr. Damon. "Some of my +letters are delayed a week. But, as you say, Tom, these fellows are +very impudent to threaten that way." +</P> + +<P> +"It's all bluff," declared Tom. "I'm not worrying. And now, Dad, since +I've almost reached the top of the hill with my Air Scout, I may be +able to help you on that new electric motor you're puzzling over." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you would, Tom. I am trying to invent a new system of +interchangeable brush contacts, but so far I've been unable to make +them work. However, there is no great hurry about that. If you are +going to offer your silent machine to the government finish that first. +We need all the aircraft we can get. The battles on the other side seem +to be all in favor of the Germans, so far." +</P> + +<P> +"We haven't got into our stride yet," declared Mr. Damon. "Once Uncle +Sam gets the boys over there in force, there'll be a different story to +tell. I only wish—" +</P> + +<P> +At that moment the telephone set up an insistent ringing, breaking in +on Mr. Damon's remarks. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll answer," said Tom, as Mrs. Baggert moved toward the instrument, +which was an extension from the main one. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello!" called the young inventor into the transmitter, and as he +received an answer a look of pleasure came over his face. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Mary, this is Tom," he said. He remained silent a moment, while +it was evident he was listening to the voice at the other end of the +wire. Then he suddenly exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"What's that? Tell him to come home? Why, he isn't here. I just came in +and—what—wait a minute!" +</P> + +<P> +With a rather strange look on his face Tom covered the mouth-piece of +the instrument with his hand, and, turning to his father, asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Is Mr. Nestor here?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Mr. Swift slowly, "He was here, though. He came a little +while after you and Mr. Damon started off in the Air Scout. But he +didn't stay. Said he wanted to see you about something and would call +again." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh," remarked the young man. "I didn't know he had been there." +</P> + +<P> +"I meant to tell you," said Mrs. Baggert; "but getting the lunch made +me forget it, I guess." +</P> + +<P> +Tom uncovered the transmitter of the telephone again, and spoke to Mary +Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello," he said. "I was wrong, Mary. Your father was here, but he left +when he found I wasn't at home. How long ago? Wait a minute and I'll +inquire. +</P> + +<P> +"How long ago did Mr. Nestor leave?" asked the young inventor of the +housekeeper. "Nearly an hour," he said into the instrument, after he +had received the answer. Then, after listening a moment, he added: +"Yes, I guess he'll be home soon now. Probably stopped down town to see +some of his friends. Yes, Mr. Damon and I tried out the Air Scout. Yes, +she worked pretty well, for a starter, but there is something yet to be +done. Oh, yes, now I'll have time to come over to see you, and take you +for a ride too. We won't have to talk through a speaking tube, either. +Tell your father I am sorry I was out when he called. I'll come to see +him to-morrow, if he wants me to. Yes—yes. I guess so!" and Tom +laughed, it being evident that his remarks at the end of the +conversation had to do with personal matters. +</P> + +<P> +"A telegram has come for Mr. Nestor and they were anxious that he +should get it," Tom explained to his little audience as he hung up the +receiver and put aside the telephone. "I wonder what he wanted to see +me about?" +</P> + +<P> +"He didn't say," replied Mrs. Baggert. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon, Tom, and his father remained in conversation a little while +longer, and the eccentric man was thinking that it was about time for +him to return home, when the telephone rang again. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello," answered Tom, as he was nearest the instrument. "Oh, yes, +Mary, this is he. What's that? Your father hasn't reached home yet? And +your mother is worried? Oh tell her there is no cause for alarm. As I +said, he probably stopped on his way to see some friends." +</P> + +<P> +Tom listened for perhaps half a minute to a talk that was inaudible to +the others in the room, and they noticed a grave look come over his +face. Then he said: +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be right over, Mary. Yes, I'll come at once. And tell your mother +not to worry. I'm sure nothing could have happened. I'll be with you +in a jiffy!" +</P> + +<P> +As Tom Swift hung up the receiver he said: +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Nestor hasn't reached home yet, and as he promised to return at +once in case he didn't find me, his wife is much worried. I'll go over +and see what I can do." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll come along!" volunteered Mr. Damon. "It isn't late yet." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, do come," urged Tom. "But I suppose when we get there we'll find +our friend has arrived safely. We'll go over in the electric runabout." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A VAIN SEARCH +</H3> + +<P> +Tom Swift's speedy little electric car was soon at the door in +readiness to take him and Mr. Damon to the Nestor home. The electric +runabout was a machine Tom had evolved in his early inventive days, and +though he had other automobiles, none was quite so fast or so simple to +run as this, which well merited the name of the most rapid machine on +the road. In it Tom had once won a great race, as has been related in +the book bearing the title, "Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout." +</P> + +<P> +"Mary didn't telephone again, did she?" Tom asked his father, as he +stopped at the house to get Mr. Damon, having gone out to see about +getting the electric runabout in readiness. +</P> + +<P> +"No," was the answer. "The telephone hasn't rung since." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, I guess, Mr. Nestor can't have arrived home," said Tom. "It's a +bit queer, his delay, but I'm sure it will be explained naturally. Only +Mary and her mother are alone and, very likely, they're nervous. I'll +telephone to let you know everything is all right as soon as I get +there," Tom promised his father and Mrs. Baggert as he drove off down +the road, partly illuminated by the new moon. +</P> + +<P> +Rapidly and almost as silently as his Air Scout Tom Swift drove the +speedy car down the highway. It was about three miles from his home to +that of Mary Nestor, and though the distance was quickly covered, to +Tom, at least, the space seemed interminable. But at length he drove +up to the door. There were lights in most of the rooms, which was +unusual at this time of night. +</P> + +<P> +The sound of the wheels had not ceased echoing on the gravel of the +drive before Mary was out on the porch, which she illuminated by an +overhead light. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Tom," she cried, "he hasn't come yet, and we are so worried! Did +you see anything of father as you came along?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," was Tom's answer. "But we didn't look for him along the road, as +we came by the turnpike, and he wouldn't travel that way. But he will +be along at any moment now. You must remember it's quite a walk from my +house, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"But he was on his bicycle," said Mary. "We wanted him to go in the +auto, but he said he wanted some exercise after supper, and he went +over on his wheel. He said he'd be right back, but he hasn't come yet." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he will!" said Tom reassuringly. "He may have had a puncture, or +something like that. Bicyclists are just as liable to them as +autoists," he added with a laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm sure I hope it will be all right," sighed Mary. "I wish you +could convince mother to that effect. She's as nervous as a cat. Come +in and tell us what to do." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he'll be all right," declared Mr. Damon, adding his assurances to +Tom's. +</P> + +<P> +They found Mrs. Nestor verging on an attack of hysteria. Though Mr. +Nestor often went out during the evening, he seldom stayed late. +</P> + +<P> +"And he said he'd be right back if he found you weren't at home, Tom," +said Mrs. Nestor. "I'm sure I don't know what can be keeping him!" +</P> + +<P> +"It's too soon to get worried yet," replied the young inventor +cheerfully. "I'll wait a little while, and then, if he doesn't come, +Mr. Damon and I will go back over the road and look carefully. He may +have had a slight fall—sprained his ankle or something like that—and +not be able to ride. We came by the turnpike, a road he probably +wouldn't take on his wheel. He's all right, you may be sure of that." +</P> + +<P> +Tom tried to speak reassuringly, but somehow, he did not believe +himself. He was beginning to think more and more how strange it was +that Mr. Nestor did not return home. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll wait just a bit longer before setting out on a search," he told +Mary and her mother. "But I'm sure he will be along any minute now." +</P> + +<P> +They went into the library, Mary and her mother, Tom and Mr. Damon. And +there they sat waiting. Tom tried to entertain Mary and Mrs. Nestor +with an account of his trial trip in the Air Scout, but the two women +scarcely heard what he said. +</P> + +<P> +All sat watching the clock, and looking from that to the telephone, +which they tried to hope would ring momentarily and transmit to them +good news. Then they would listen for the sound of footsteps or bicycle +wheels on the gravel walk. But they heard nothing, and as the seconds +were ticked off on the clock the nervousness of Mrs. Nestor increased, +until she exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"I can stand it no longer! We must notify the police—or do something!" +</P> + +<P> +"I wouldn't notify the police just yet," counseled Tom. "Mr. Damon and +I will start out and look along the road. If it should happen, as will +probably turn out to be the case, that Mr. Nestor has met with only a +simple accident, he would not like the notoriety, or publicity, of +having the police notified." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I am sure he would not," agreed Mary. "Tom's way is best, Mother." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, just as you say, only find my husband," and Mrs. Nestor +sighed, and turned her head away. +</P> + +<P> +"Even if Mr. Nestor had had a fall," reasoned Tom, "he could call for +help, and get some one to telephone, unless—" +</P> + +<P> +And as he reasoned thus Tom Swift gave a mental start at his own use of +the word "help." +</P> + +<P> +That weird cry on the lonely meadow came back to him with startling +distinctness. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, Mr. Damon!" cried Tom, in a voice he tried to make cheerful. +"We'll find that Mr. Nestor is probably walking along, carrying his +disabled bicycle instead of having it carry him. We'll soon have him +safe back to you," he called to the two women. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I could go with you, and help search," observed Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I couldn't bear to be left alone!" exclaimed her mother. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll telephone as soon as we find him," called Tom to Mrs. Nestor, as +he and Mr. Damon again got into the runabout and started away from the +place. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you think of it, Tom?" asked the eccentric man, when they were +once more on the road. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, nothing much—as yet," Tom said. "That is, I think nothing more +than a simple accident has happened, if, indeed, it is anything more +than that he has delayed to talk to some friends." +</P> + +<P> +"Would he delay this long?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know." +</P> + +<P> +"And then, Tom—bless my spectacles! what of that cry we heard? Could +that have been Mr. Nestor?" +</P> + +<P> +There! It was out! The suspicion that Tom had been trying to keep his +mind away from came to the fore. Well, he might as well race the issue +now as later. +</P> + +<P> +"I've been thinking of that," he told Mr. Damon. "It might have been +Mary's father calling for help." +</P> + +<P> +"But we looked, Tom, near the trees, and couldn't discover anything. If +he had been calling for help—" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon did not finish. +</P> + +<P> +"He may have fallen from his wheel and been hurt," said Tom, as he +turned the electric runabout into the highway that Mr. Nestor would, +most likely, have taken on his way from Shopton. "Then he may have +called for help, and some autoists, passing, may have heard and taken +him away." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but where, Tom? Whoever called for help was taken away, that's +sure. But where?" +</P> + +<P> +"To some hospital, I suppose." +</P> + +<P> +"Then hadn't we better inquire there? There are only two hospitals of +any account around here. The one in Shopton and the one in Waterfield. +My wife is on the board of Lady Managers there. We could call that +hospital up and—" +</P> + +<P> +"We'll look along the road first," said Tom. "If we begin to make +inquiries at the hospitals there will be a lot of questions asked, and +a general alarm may be sent out. Mr. Nestor wouldn't like that, if he +isn't in any danger. And it may turn out that he has met an old friend, +and has been talking with him all this while, forgetting all about the +passage of time." +</P> + +<P> +They were now driving along the highway that led from the little suburb +where Mr. Nestor lived, to the main part of Shopton, just beyond which +was Tom's home. This section was country-like, with very few houses and +those placed at rather infrequent intervals. The road was a good one, +though not the main-traveled one, and Mr. Nestor, as was known, +frequently used it when he rode his bicycle, an exercise of which he +was very fond. +</P> + +<P> +As Tom and Mr. Damon drove along, they scanned, as best they could in +the light from the young moon and the powerful lamps on the runabout, +every part of the highway. They were looking for some dark blot which +might indicate where a man had fallen from his wheel and was lying in +some huddled heap on the road. But they saw nothing like this, much to +their relief. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know, Tom," said Mr. Damon, when they were nearing the town, +and their search, thus far, had been in vain, "I think we're going at +this the wrong way." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, so?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because Mr. Nestor may have fallen, and been hurt, and have been +carried into any one of a dozen houses along the road. In that case we +wouldn't see him. We've passed over the most lonely part of the journey +and haven't seen him. If the accident occurred near the houses his +cries would have brought some one out to help him. He is well known +around here, and, even if he were unconscious and couldn't tell who he +was, he could be identified by papers in his pockets. Then his family +would be notified by telephone." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps you are right, Mr. Damon. We may be wasting time this way. +What do you suggest?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"That we don't delay any longer, but call up the hospitals at once. If +he isn't in either of those he must be in some house, and in such +condition that his identity cannot be established. In that event it is +a case for the police. We haven't found him, and I think we had better +give the alarm." +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift thought it over for a moment. Then he came to a sudden +decision. +</P> + +<P> +"You're right!" he told Mr. Damon. "We mustn't waste any more time. He +isn't along the road he ought to have traveled in coming from my house +to his home—that's sure. But before I call up the hospitals I want to +try out one more idea." +</P> + +<P> +"What's that, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"I want to go to the place where we heard that cry for help." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think that could have been Mr. Nestor?" +</P> + +<P> +"It may have been. We'll go and take another look around there. Some +man was evidently hurt there, and was taken away. We may get a clew. +The lights on the runabout will give us a better chance to look around +than we had by the little pocket lamp. We'll try there, and, if we +don't find anything, then I'll call up the hospitals." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE LONG NIGHT +</H3> + +<P> +With the speedy runabout it did not take Tom Swift and Mr. Damon long +to reach the place where the Air Scout had been grounded a few hours +before, and where they had heard the cry for help. All was as dark and +as silent as when they had been there before. +</P> + +<P> +But, as Tom had said, the lights from his electric runabout would give +a brilliant illumination, and these he now directed toward the clump of +trees whence the cry for help had seemed to come. +</P> + +<P> +"Doesn't appear to have been visited by any one since we were here," +remarked Tom, as he observed the marks of the new automobile tire in +the dust. "Now we'll look about more carefully." +</P> + +<P> +This they did, but they were about to give up in despair and start for +the nearest telephone to call up the hospitals, when Mr. Damon gave an +exclamation. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Something bright and shining!" said his companion. "I saw it gleam in +the light of the lamps. You nearly put your foot on it, Tom. Just step +back a moment." +</P> + +<P> +Tom did so, and the eccentric man, with another exclamation, this time +of satisfaction, reached down and picked something up from the dusty +road. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a watch!" he exclaimed. "A gold watch! And it's been stepped on, +evidently, or run over by an auto. Not much damaged, but the case is a +bit bent and scratched. It's stopped, too!" he added as he held it to +his ear. +</P> + +<P> +"What time does it show?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Eight forty-seven," answered Mr. Damon, as he consulted the dial. +"Why, Tom, that was just about when we heard the cries for help!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it must have been. Let me see that watch." +</P> + +<P> +No sooner had the young inventor taken the timepiece into his hands +than he, too, uttered a cry of amazement. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you recognize it?" asked Mr. Damon, in great excitement. +</P> + +<P> +"It's Mr. Nestor's watch!" cried Tom. "He must have fallen here, and +been hurt. It was Mr. Nestor who cried for help, and who was taken away +by the autoists. They've probably taken him to some hospital. There's +been an accident all right." +</P> + +<P> +Tom and Mr. Damon were of one mind now in thinking that Mr. Nestor had +met with some mishap on the road—an automobile accident most +likely—and that he was the person who had called for help. +</P> + +<P> +"If they had only answered when we hallooed at them," said Tom, "we +wouldn't be in all this stew now. We could have told the strangers who +came to his aid who he was, and we might even have taken him to the +hospital in the airship." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's too late to think of that now," returned Mr. Damon. "We +had better get into communication with him as soon as we can, and then +send word to his wife and daughter. I hope he isn't badly hurt." +</P> + +<P> +Tom hoped so, too, with all his heart. +</P> + +<P> +There was nothing to do but to get back in the runabout and make all +speed for the nearest telephone, and Tom Swift lost little time in +doing this. They found a drug store which was open a little later than +usual, and at once Tom went into the booth and called up the Shopton +hospital. He was well known there, as he and his father were liberal +supporters of the institution, which was a private affair. Many of +Tom's men were treated at the dispensary, and, as accidents were of +more or less frequent occurrence at the works, the young inventor had +frequent occasions to call up the place. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Nestor would ask to be taken there, as it's nearest his home—that +is, if he was able to speak," Tom said to Mr. Damon, who agreed with +him. There was a little delay in getting the hospital on the wire, but +when Tom had it, and was talking to the superintendent, he was rather +surprised, to tell the truth, to be told that Mr. Nestor had not been +brought in. +</P> + +<P> +"We haven't had any accident cases all day, nor to-night, Mr. Swift," +the superintendent reported. "Was this some one special you were +inquiring about?" +</P> + +<P> +For Tom, determining not to give Mr. Nestor's name, except as a last +resort, had merely inquired whether any recent accident cases had been +brought in. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll let you know later, Mr. Millard," he told the superintendent, not +exactly answering the question. He hung up the receiver, and, opening +the door of the booth, said to Mr. Damon: "He isn't there." +</P> + +<P> +"Then try Waterfield," was the suggestion; and Tom did so, though he +could not imagine why an injured man, such as Mr. Nestor might prove to +be, should be taken as far as Waterfield, when the hospital at Shopton +was nearer. +</P> + +<P> +"Unless," he told Mr. Damon, "the people which ran down Mary's father +didn't know about our hospital." +</P> + +<P> +The reply from the institution in Mr. Damon's home town was just as +discouraging as had been the answer from Shopton. At first, when Tom +inquired, the head nurse had said there was an accident case at that +moment being brought in. Tom was all excitement until she went to +inquire the name and circumstances, and then he learned that it was the +case of a little boy who had fallen downstairs at his home and broken a +leg. There was no record of any one answering the description of Mr. +Nestor having been brought in that evening. +</P> + +<P> +"Hum! This is getting to be mysterious," mused Tom, as he came out of +the booth. "What shall we do—go back and tell Mrs. Nestor and Mary, or +communicate with the police?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why not try the Alexian Hospital?" asked Mr. Damon. "That's away over +in Centerford, to be sure, but it's more likely to be known to +passing tourists than either of our institutions around here, +especially if the autoists were strangers." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," agreed Tom. The Alexian Hospital was operated under the +direction of the Brothers of that faith, and was well known in that +part of the state. Often cases of persons who had been injured by +passing automobiles had been taken there for treatment, for, as Mr. +Damon had said, it was well known, and Centerford was the nearest large +city. +</P> + +<P> +"I can just about see how it happened," said Tom. "They ran Mr. Nestor +down, and stopped to pick him up after they heard his cries for help. +And the Alexian Hospital was the first one they thought of. We should +have called that up first." +</P> + +<P> +But once more disappointment awaited the young inventor and his friend. +Word came back over the wire that no accident case, which bore any +resemblance to Mary's father, had been brought in. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm stumped!" exclaimed Tom. "What shall we do now, Mr. Damon?" +</P> + +<P> +"Much as I dislike it," said the eccentric man who was too much +worried, now, to do any "blessing," which was his favorite expression, +"I think we ought to communicate with Mrs. Nestor. She will be very +anxious." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess we'll have to," said Tom. "But wait! I'll call up my house +first, and see if he has gone back there." +</P> + +<P> +But Mr. Nestor had not done this, and Mrs. Baggert, who answered the +telephone, said Mary had been calling frantically for Tom, as her +mother was now on the verge of complete collapse. +</P> + +<P> +"No help for it," said Tom, ruefully. "We've got to tell 'em we have no +news, and can't find him." +</P> + +<P> +And, hearing this, Mrs. Nestor did collapse, and a doctor was called in. +</P> + +<P> +Thereupon Tom, who with Mr. Damon had gone back to the Nestor home, +took charge of matters, sending for Mrs. Nestor's sister to come and +stay with her and take charge of the house. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll need some one to stay with you," he told Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I shall," she admitted, trying bravely not to give way to her +emotion. "Oh, Tom, I wish you could stay, too. I'm sure something +dreadful must have happened to poor father. Please stay and help us +find him!" +</P> + +<P> +"I will," Tom promised. "As soon as your aunt comes I'll take Mr. Damon +home, and then I'll give the rest of my time to you." +</P> + +<P> +And this Tom did, sending word home that he would remain at the +Nestor's all night and part of the next day. +</P> + +<P> +Tom got but little sleep that night. He communicated with the police +and saw to it that a general alarm was sent out. He called up all +hospitals within a radius of fifty miles, but could get no trace of any +injured man whose description resembled that of Mr. Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +"What can have happened?" asked Mary tearfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the way I figure it out is this," said Tom. "Your father left my +house soon after Mr. Damon and I did in the Air Scout. Mr. Nestor was +riding his bicycle, and he must have been run into by an automobile. +That is how his watch was damaged and that was when Mr. Damon and I +heard the cries for help." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, do you think he was badly hurt?" asked Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I don't," and Tom answered truthfully. "The voice sounded as +though he was in pain, certainly, but it was strong and vigorous, and +not at all as though he was dangerously hurt." +</P> + +<P> +"And what do you think happened to him after he was hurt?" asked Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"The autoists took him away," decided Tom. "In fact, we heard the +machine go, but of course we never connected the call for help and what +followed with your father. The autoists took him away." +</P> + +<P> +"Where?" +</P> + +<P> +"I should say to some hospital. Perhaps a private one of which we know +nothing, and which may be near here. I'll get a full list from the +Board of Health to-morrow. Or it may be that the autoists, seeing the +damage they had done, took your father to the home of one of +themselves, and summoned a doctor there." +</P> + +<P> +"Why would they do that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, they may have been so frightened they didn't realize what they +were doing, or they may have thought he would get better treatment in a +private house, if he were not badly injured, than if he should be taken +to a hospital. It may have been that one of the persons in the auto was +a physician, and wished to try his own skill on the man he had hurt." +</P> + +<P> +"You make me feel more comfortable, Tom," said Mary. "But, even +supposing all this, why couldn't they telephone to us that my father +was all right? He always carries an identification card with him, and +if he were unconscious it could be ascertained who he was." +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I can't understand," said Tom frankly. "It puzzles me. But +we'll find him—never fear!" +</P> + +<P> +And so he kept on with his telephone inquiries, while a physician and +her sister ministered to Mrs. Nestor. The night was very, very long, +and no good news came in. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SILENT SAM +</H3> + +<P> +Slowly the dawn broke through the mists of darkness, and made the earth +light. The sun came straggling in through cracks in the shutters in the +home of Mr. Nestor, the gradually increasing gleam paling the electric +lights, in the glare of which Tom Swift, Mary, and her aunt sat, +waiting for some word of the missing man. But none came. +</P> + +<P> +"What shall we do now?" asked Mary, as she looked at Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, there's lots to do," he said, trying to make his voice sound +cheerful. "We'll be busy all day. I sent word to have one of my touring +cars ready to hurry to any part of the country the moment we should get +word from your father." +</P> + +<P> +"And do you think we shall get word, Tom?" the girl went on wistfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course we shall!" he cried. "Word may come in at any time. Now get +ready, eat a good breakfast, and then you can go with me as soon as we +hear anything definite. Come, we'll have breakfast!" +</P> + +<P> +"I can't eat a thing!" protested Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes you can," said her aunt, who was a cheerful sort of person. +"I'll see about getting something for you and Mr. Swift, and see that +your mother is all right." +</P> + +<P> +She left the room to give orders to the servant about the meal, and +returned to say that Mrs. Nestor was sleeping quietly. She had been +given a sedative. Mary managed to eat a little, and she gave Tom the +address of several friends who were called up in the vain hope that, +somehow, Mr. Nestor might have gone to see them. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom, what do you really think has happened?" asked Mary again, as they +sat facing one another in the library, during a respite from the +telephone. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift repeated, to the girl his theory of what had happened with an +assumption of confidence he did not altogether feel. +</P> + +<P> +His prediction of a speedy end to the suspense did not come true that +day, nor for many days. No news was heard of Mr. Nestor. After the +first day, when there was no information and when no reports came of +any one of his description having been hurt in an automobile accident +or having been taken to any hospital, the police started an energetic +search. +</P> + +<P> +The authorities in all near-by cities were notified, and all thought of +keeping from the public what had happened was given over. Tom's story, +of how he and Mr. Damon had heard the cry for help on the lonely +meadow, was printed in the papers, though the young inventor did not +say that he had been out trying his new aeroplane. That was a detail +not needed in the finding of Mr. Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +But Mary's father was not found. The mystery regarding his +disappearance deepened, and there was no trace of him after he had left +Tom's house that eventful evening. Persons living along the roads he +might have taken in riding his bicycle were questioned, but they had +seen nothing of him, nor were they aware of any accident. Tom's +testimony and that of Mr. Damon was all the clew there was. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe he's dead!" stoutly declared the young inventor, when +this dire possibility had been hinted at. "I believe the persons who +were responsible for the accident are afraid to reveal his whereabouts +until he recovers from possible injuries. You'll see! Mr. Nestor will +come back safe!" +</P> + +<P> +And, somehow, though her mother was skeptical, Mary believed what Tom +said. +</P> + +<P> +The search was kept up, but without result, and Tom aided all he could. +But there was not much he could do. The police and other authorities +were at a total loss. +</P> + +<P> +In the intervals of visiting Mary and her mother, and doing what he +could for them, Tom worked on his new motor. He knew that he was on the +right track and that all that was needed now was to make certain +refinements and adjustments in the apparatus he had already +constructed, so that it would operate more quietly. +</P> + +<P> +"Absorbing the vibrations from the exhaust, caused by the exploded +gases in the cylinders, does the trick," Tom told his father. +</P> + +<P> +"But there is enormous pressure to overcome, Tom. You must be sure your +muffler will stand the strain. Otherwise she is going to blow out a +gasket some day, when you least expect it. Then the sudden resumption +of pressure outside the cylinders is going to cause a change in the +equilibrium, and you may turn turtle in the air." +</P> + +<P> +"I've thought of that," said Tom. "At worst it can't be any more than +looping the loop. But I'll make the muffler doubly strong." +</P> + +<P> +"Better provide an auxiliary chamber to take care of part of the +exhaust in case your main apparatus breaks," advised the older +inventor, and Tom said he would. He did, too, for he valued his +father's expert advice. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile he was busy fitting one of his latest aeroplanes with the new +motor. The motor he and Mr. Damon had used in their flight was one +patched up from an old one. But now Tom was working on a complete new +one, made after his revised model, and in which the silencer was an +integral part, instead of being built on. +</P> + +<P> +While giving Mary and her mother all the assistance in his power, Tom +still found time to work on his new, pet scheme. He had matters now +where he did not fear any tampering with his plans, for he had filed +away his papers in a safe place, and was making his new machine from +memory. +</P> + +<P> +"But if some one got in and had a look at the inside of your silencer +he could see how it is constructed, couldn't he?" asked Ned Newton. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," assented Tom, "But they're not going to get in very easily. Koku +sleeps in the experiment shop now, and my machine is there." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well that explains your confidence. I feel sorry for the burglar +who makes the attempt, once Koku wakes up. Heard anything more from +those Universal people?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, not directly. I understand they are working hard on some new type +of plane for army use, but I haven't bothered my head about them. I'm +too much occupied with my own affairs and trying to help Mary." +</P> + +<P> +"Very strange about Mr. Nestor, isn't it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Worse than strange," said Tom. "If this keeps on, and he isn't heard +from, it will be tragic pretty soon." +</P> + +<P> +"He must be held a prisoner somewhere," declared Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"It begins to look that way," assented Tom. "Though who would have an +object in that I can't understand. He had no enemies, as far as is +known, and his business affairs were in excellent shape. Unless, as I +said, the persons who ran him down are, through fear, keeping him +hidden until he recovers, I can't imagine what has become of him." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it certainly is a puzzle," said Ned. And Tom agreed with his +chum. +</P> + +<P> +It was about a week after the disappearance of Mr. Nestor that Mr. +Damon came over to see Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my shoe laces, Tom!" exclaimed the eccentric man, "but you are +as busy as ever." For he found the young inventor in the experiment +shop, surrounded by a mass of papers and all sorts of mechanical +devices. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I'm working a little," said Tom. "But you are just in time. Come +on out, I want to introduce you to Silent Sam." +</P> + +<P> +"'Silent Sam!'" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Have you been taking a new trip +to the Land of Wonders? Have you brought back some new kind of servant?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not exactly a servant," said Tom with a laugh, "though I hope Silent +Sam will serve me well." +</P> + +<P> +"'Silent Sam?' What does it mean? Is that a joke?" asked the puzzled +Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope it doesn't turn out a joke," replied Tom. "But come on, I'll +introduce you to him, Mr. Damon." +</P> + +<P> +He led the way to one of the big hangars where his various machines of +the air were housed. On the way Mr. Damon asked about news of Mr. +Nestor, but was told there was none. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift opened the big, swinging doors and pulled aside an enveloping +canvas curtain. There stood revealed a big aeroplane, of somewhat new +pattern, the wings gleaming like silver from the varnish that had been +applied. In shape it was not unlike the machines already in use, except +that the propellers were of somewhat different design. +</P> + +<P> +The engine was mounted in front, and even with his slight knowledge of +mechanics Mr. Damon could tell that it was exceedingly powerful. But it +was certain devices attached to the engine that attracted his +attention, for they were totally different from any on any other +aeroplane, though they bore some resemblance to apparatus on the plane +in which Tom and the eccentric man had made the night flight. +</P> + +<P> +"Is this your new machine, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't see anything of that fellow you spoke of—Silent Sam." +</P> + +<P> +"This is Silent Sam," returned Tom, with a laugh. "I've named my new +noiseless aeroplane—my Air Scout—I've named that Silent Sam. Wait +until you hear it, or rather, don't hear it, and I think you'll agree +with me. Silent Sam for Uncle Sam!" +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my dictionary, but that's a good name! +Does it sail silently, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll let you judge presently. Silent Sam is all ready for his first +trial, and I'll be glad to have you with me. Now, I'll just—" +</P> + +<P> +Tom suddenly ceased speaking and held up a hand to enjoin silence. +Then, while Mr. Damon watched, the young inventor began moving +noiselessly toward the rear of the big shed, inside which was his new +machine. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +SUSPICIONS +</H3> + +<P> +"Who's there?" suddenly called Tom, and in such a sharp voice that Mr. +Damon started, ready as he was for something unusual. +</P> + +<P> +There was no answer and Tom suddenly switched on all the lights in the +shed. Up to then there had been only a few glowing—just enough for him +to show the new Air Scout to his friend. +</P> + +<P> +"Who's there?" asked Tom again, sharply. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my opera glasses, Tom!" cried Mr. Damon, "but are you seeing +things?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; but I'm hearing them," answered Tom with a short laugh. "Did you +think you heard some one moving around near the rudders of Silent Sam, +Mr. Damon?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I can't say that I did. Everything seems to me to be all right." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it doesn't to me," went on Tom grimly. "I think there is an +intruder in this shed, though how any one could get in when the doors +have been locked all day, is more than I can figure out. But I'm going +to have a look." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll help you," offered Mr. Damon, and, in the bright glare from many +electric lights, the two began a search of the big hangar where the new +craft was kept. +</P> + +<P> +But though the young inventor and his friend went around to the rear of +the aeroplane, walking in opposite directions, they saw no one, nor did +any one try to escape past them. +</P> + +<P> +"And yet I was sure I heard some one in here," declared Tom, when a +search had revealed nothing. "It sounded as if some one were scuffling +softly about in rubber-soled shoes, trying to hide." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my suspenders!" cried Mr. Damon, "who do you think it could have +been, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Who else but some spy trying to get possession of my secrets?" was the +answer. "But I guess I was too quick for them. They couldn't learn much +from looking at the outside of my muffler, and it hasn't been +disturbed, as far as I can see." +</P> + +<P> +"Who would want to gain a knowledge of it in that unlawful way?" asked +Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps some of the Universal crowd. They may have been disappointed +in perfecting a silent motor themselves, and think stealing my idea +would be the easiest way out of it." +</P> + +<P> +"Do they know you are working on such a model as this Silent Sam of +yours, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I imagine they do. One of the firm members, as you recall, +overheard something, I think, that gave them a hint as to what my plans +were, though, thanks to the time I fooled the spy, they haven't any +real data to go by, I believe." +</P> + +<P> +"Let us hope not," said Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and he made a thorough search of the big shed, but found no one, +nor was there any trace of an intruder. Tom notified Jackson, who, in +turn, told the guards and watchmen to be on the lookout for any +suspicious strangers, but none was seen in the vicinity of the Swift +works. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, everything seems to be all right, so we'll have the test," +remarked Tom, after a further search of the premises. "Now, Mr. +Damon, if all goes as I hope you will see what my new machine can do. +Strain your ears for a sound, and let me know how much you hear." +</P> + +<P> +His men helping him, Tom started the new motor which was tried for the +first time attached to the new craft. No flight was to be made yet, the +motor being tested as though on the block, though, in reality, the +craft was ready for instant flight if need be. +</P> + +<P> +Slowly the great propellers began to revolve, and then Tom, taking his +place in the cockpit, turned on more power. The new craft—Silent +Sam—was made fast so it could not progress even though the propellers +revolved at high speed. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not sending her to the limit," said Tom to his friend, as the +young inventor throttled down the motor. "If I did I'd tear her loose +from the holding blocks." +</P> + +<P> +"Her!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my typewriter, Tom! but I thought Silent +Sam was a gentleman aeroplane. +</P> + +<P> +"So he is!" laughed the young man, frankly. "I forgot about 'Silent +Sam.' Guess I'll have to say 'him' instead of 'her,' though the latter +sounds more natural. Anyhow what do you think?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think it's wonderful!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "There the motor is, +going at almost full speed, and I can hardly hear a thing. You can the +easier believe that when I say that I can hear you talk perfectly well. +And I guess you hear me, don't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Tom. "And we don't have to shout, either. This is the +best test ever! I think everything is a success." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you going to take her aloft, Tom?" the eccentric man went on. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, now that I'm sure the engine is all right. Will you go for a +flight with me?" +</P> + +<P> +"I certainly will! I only wish we could find him, though. I'd go with a +better heart." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! Mr. Nestor?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I can't imagine what has become of him. It is almost as if the +earth had opened and swallowed him. His disappearance is a great +mystery." +</P> + +<P> +"It surely is," agreed Tom. "Can't seem to get any trace of him. But if +we hear another cry for help, when we have to land, you can make up +your mind I'll investigate more quickly than I did at first." +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you," said Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +It was nearly evening then, and until it was dark enough for his flight +Tom spent the time tuning up the engine and seeing that all was in +readiness for the latest test. He had decided not to go aloft while it +was light enough for curiosity seekers to note the flight. +</P> + +<P> +Tom rather wished Mary Nestor might have a sail with him in his latest +improved silent Air Scout, but the girl was too much occupied at home +and in trying to find some trace of her father. +</P> + +<P> +Tom, his father, and Mr. Damon had helped all they could, but there +were no results. A private detective had been engaged, but he had no +more of a clew than the regular police. +</P> + +<P> +At last it was dark enough for the flight, and Tom and Mr. Damon took +their places in the machine. Once more the propellers were turned +around, and when the compression had been made, and the spark switched +on, around spun the big wooden blades, and the great craft moved over +the grass. +</P> + +<P> +On and on and up and up sailed Tom and Mr. Damon, and as they left +behind them the shops and the Swift homestead, the two passengers were +aware of their almost silent flight. The big aeroplane, the exhaust of +which, ordinarily, would have nearly deafened them, was now as silent +as a bird. +</P> + +<P> +"Silent Sam for Uncle Sam!" cried Tom in delight, as he went on faster. +"I'm sure the government ought to be glad to get this plane for air +scout work. It's a success! A great success!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, so it is!" agreed Mr. Damon. "You do well to speak of it so, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +For, modest as the young inventor was, he felt, in justice to himself, +that he must acknowledge the fact that his craft was a success. For it +rose and sailed almost as silently as a bat, and a few hundred feet +away no one, not seeing it, would have believed a big aeroplane was in +motion. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and Mr. Damon flew about twenty miles at a swift pace, and all the +fault Tom had to find was that the machine was not as steady in flight +as she should have been. +</P> + +<P> +"But I can remedy that with the use of some of dad's gyroscope +stabilizers," he told Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +They returned to the hangar safely, and the first trip of the new +Silent Sam was an assured success. +</P> + +<P> +It was the following day, when Tom was busy in the machine shop +installing the gyroscopes spoken of, that Jackson came to tell him +there was a visitor to see him. +</P> + +<P> +"Who is it?" asked the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Gale of the Universal Company," was the answer. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't want to see him!" declared Tom quickly. "I have nothing to say +to him after his clumsy threats." +</P> + +<P> +"He seems very much in earnest," said Jackson. "Better see him, if only +for a minute or so." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, I will," assented Tom. "Show him in." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Gale, as blusteringly bluff as ever, entered the shop. Tom had +carefully put away all papers and models, as well as the finished +machines, so he had no fear that his visitor might discover some secret. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Mr. Swift!" began the president of the Universal Company, when he +met the young inventor, "I wish to assure you that what has been done +was entirely without our knowledge. And, though this man may have acted +as our agent at one time, we repudiate any acts of his that might—" +</P> + +<P> +"What are you talking about?" asked Tom in surprise. "Have I been so +impolite as to sleep during part of your talk? I don't understand what +you are driving at." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I thought you did," said Gale, and he showed surprise. "I +understood that the man who—" +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean there was some one here in the shed last night?" cried the +young inventor suddenly, all his suspicions aroused. +</P> + +<P> +"Some one here last night?" repeated Mr. Gale. "No, I don't refer to +last night. But perhaps I am making a mistake. I—er—I—" +</P> + +<P> +"Some one is making a mistake!" said Tom significantly. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ANOTHER FLIGHT +</H3> + +<P> +For perhaps a quarter of a minute Tom Swift and the president of the +Universal Flying Machine Company of New York sat staring at one +another. Mr. Gale's face wore a puzzled expression, and so did Tom's. +And, after the last remark of the young inventor, the man who had +called to see him said: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps we are talking at cross purposes. I don't blame you for +not feeling very friendly toward us, and if I had had my way that last +correspondence with you would never have left our office." +</P> + +<P> +"It wasn't very business-like," said Tom dryly, referring to the veiled +threats when he had refused to sell his services to the rival company. +</P> + +<P> +"I realize that," said Mr. Gale. "But we have some peculiar men working +for us, and sometimes there is so much to do, so many possibilities of +which to take advantage, that we may get a little off our balance. But +what I called for was not to renew our offer to you. I understand that +is definitely settled." +</P> + +<P> +"As far as I am concerned, it is," said Tom, as his caller seemed to +want an answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. Well, then, what I called to say was that if you are thinking of +taking any legal action against us because of the action of that man +Lydane, I wish to state that he had absolutely no authority to—" +</P> + +<P> +"Excuse me!" broke in Tom, "but by Lydane do you mean the man who also +posed as Bower, the spy?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I do not. Though I regret to say that Bower once worked for us. +He, too, had no authority to come here and get a position. He was still +in our service when he did that." +</P> + +<P> +"So I have suspected," said Tom. "I realize now that he was a spy, who +came here to try to find out for you some of my secrets." +</P> + +<P> +"Not with my permission!" exclaimed Mr. Gale. "I was against that from +the first and I came to tell you so. But Bower really did you no harm." +</P> + +<P> +"No, he didn't get the chance!" chuckled Tom. "Nor did that other +spy—the one with the gold tooth. I wonder how he liked our mud hole?" +</P> + +<P> +"He was Lydane," said Mr. Gale. "It is about him I came." +</P> + +<P> +"You might have saved yourself the trouble," returned Tom. "I don't +wish to discuss him." +</P> + +<P> +"But I wish to make sure," said Mr. Gale, "that what he has done will +not come back on us. We repudiate him entirely. His methods we can not +countenance. He is too daring—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't worry!" interrupted Tom. "He hasn't done anything to me—he +didn't get the chance, as I guess he's told you. You needn't apologize +on his account. He did me no harm, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"But I understood from him that—" +</P> + +<P> +"Now I don't want to seem impolite!" broke in Tom, "nor do I want to +take pattern after some of your company's acts, if not your own. But I +am very busy. I have an important test to make for the government, and +my time is fully occupied. I am afraid I shall have to bid you +good-morning and—" +</P> + +<P> +"But won't you give me a chance to—" began the president. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, the less we discuss this matter the better!" interrupted Tom. +"Lydane, as you call the man with the gold tooth didn't really do +anything to me nor any great harm to any of my possessions, as far as I +can learn. His career is a closed book—a book with muddy covers!" and +the young inventor laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, if you look at it that way, there is nothing further for me +to say," said Mr. Gale stiffly. "I understood— But hasn't my partner, +Mr. Ware, seen you?" he asked Tom quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"No. And I don't care to see him." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, then that accounts for it," was the quick answer. "Well, if you +regard the matter as closed I suppose we should also. We are not to +blame for what Lydane does when he is no longer in our employ, and we +repudiate anything he may do, or may have done." +</P> + +<P> +This struck Tom, afterward, as being rather a queer remark, but he did +not think so at the time. +</P> + +<P> +The truth was that the young inventor wished very much to try out a new +device on his noiseless aeroplane and wanted to get rid of Mr. Gale +before doing so. So he did not pay as much attention to the remarks of +the president as, otherwise, he might have done. +</P> + +<P> +It was not until after Mr. Gale had taken his leave and Tom had +finished the particular work on which he was engaged when the president +of the rival company came in, that the young man did some hard +thinking. And this thinking was done after he had received a telephone +call from Mary Nestor, asking, if by any chance, he had heard anything +like a clew as to the whereabouts of her father. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had been obliged to tell her that he had not. Everything possible +was being done to find the missing man but he had disappeared as +completely as though he had ridden on his bicycle into the crater of +some extinct volcano on the meadow, and had fallen to the bottom. +</P> + +<P> +An effort was made to trace him through an automobile association which +had a large membership. That is, the members were asked to make +inquiries to ascertain, if possible, whether any one had heard of an +unreported accident—one in which Mr. Nestor might have been carried +away by persons who accidently ran him down. +</P> + +<P> +But this came to naught, and the police and other authorities were at a +loss how farther to proceed. It was a theory in some quarters that Mr. +Nestor was perfectly safe, but that he was out of his mind, and was +either wandering around, not knowing who he was, or was, in this +condition, detained somewhere, the persons having him in charge not +realizing that he was the missing man so widely sought. +</P> + +<P> +This belief was a relief to Mrs. Nestor and Mary in many ways for it +prevented them from giving way to the fear that Mr. Nestor was dead. +That he was alive was Tom Swift's firm opinion, and he was doing all he +could to prove it. +</P> + +<P> +It was not until the day after the visit of Mr. Gale that Tom, having +concluded some intricate calculations about the strength of cylinder +valves, uttered an exclamation. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if he could have meant that?" cried the young inventor. "I +wonder if he could have meant that? I must find out at once! Queer I +didn't think of that before!" +</P> + +<P> +He put in a long distance call to New York, asking to speak to Mr. +Gale. But when, eventually, he was connected with the office of the +Universal Flying Machine Company he was told that Mr. Gale and Mr. Ware +had sailed for France that day, going over as government +representatives to investigate aeroplane motors. Gale's visit to Tom +had been just previous to taking the boat, it was said. +</P> + +<P> +"This is tough luck!" mused Tom, his suspicions doubly aroused now. "I +can't let this rest here! I've got to get after it! As soon as I make +this final test, and invite Uncle Sam's experts out to see how my +noiseless motor works, I'll get after Gale and Ware if I have to follow +them to the battlefields of France! I wonder if it was that he was +hinting at all the while! I begin to believe it was!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift had decided on another flight for his new craft before he +would let the government experts see it. +</P> + +<P> +"Silent Sam must do his very best work for Uncle Sam before I turn him +over," said the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"And after this flight I'll offer the machine to the government, and +then devote all my time to finding Mr. Nestor," said Tom. "I'd do it +now, but private matters, however deeply they affect us, must be put +aside to help win the war. But this will end my inventive work until +after Mr. Nestor is found—if he's alive." +</P> + +<P> +Preparations for the test flight went on apace, and one afternoon Tom +and Jackson took their places in the big, new aeroplane. He no longer +feared daylight crowds in case of an accident. They made a good start, +and the motor was so quiet that as Tom passed over his own plant the +men working in the yard, who did not know of the flight, did not look +up to see what was going on. They could not hear the engine. +</P> + +<P> +"I think we've got everything just as we want it, Jackson," said Tom, +much pleased. +</P> + +<P> +"I believe you," answered the mechanician. "It couldn't be better. Now +if—" +</P> + +<P> +And at that moment there came a loud explosion, and Silent Sam began +drifting rapidly toward the earth, as falls a bird with a broken wing. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +QUEER MARKS +</H3> + +<P> +"What happened?" cried Jackson to Tom, as he leaned forward in his seat +which was in the rear of the young inventor's. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't know, exactly," was the answer, as Tom quickly shifted the +rudders to correct the slanting fall of his craft. "Sounded as though +there was a tremendous back-fire, or else the muffler blew up. The +engine is dead." +</P> + +<P> +"Can you take her down safely?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, I guess so. She's a bit out of control, but the stabilizer +will keep her on a level keel. Good thing we installed it." +</P> + +<P> +"You're right!" said Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +Now they were falling earthward with great rapidity, but, thanks to the +gyroscope stabilizer, the "side-slipping," than which there is no +motion more dreaded by an aviator, had nearly ceased. The craft was +volplaning down as it ought, and Tom had it under as perfect control as +was possible under the circumstances. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll get down all right if something else doesn't happen," he said to +Jackson, with grim humor. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, let's hope that it won't," said the mechanic. "We're a good +distance up yet." +</P> + +<P> +They were, as a matter of fact, for the explosion, or whatever had +happened to the craft, had occurred at a height of over two miles, and +they at once began falling. As yet Tom Swift was unaware of the exact +nature of the accident or its cause. All he knew was that there had +been a big noise and that the engine had stopped working. He could not +see the silencer from where he sat, as it was constructed on the +underside of the motor, but he had an idea that the same sort of mishap +had occurred as on the occasion when the test machine had sailed +through the roof of his workshop. +</P> + +<P> +"But, luckily, this wasn't as bad," mused Tom. "Anyhow the motor is out +of business." +</P> + +<P> +And this was very evident. The young inventor had tried to start the +apparatus after its stoppage by the explosion, but it had not responded +to his efforts, and then he had desisted, fearing to cause some further +damage, or, perhaps, endanger his own life and that of Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +Down, down swept Silent Sam—doubly silent now, and Tom began looking +about for a good place to make a landing. This was nothing new for +either him or his mechanician, and they accepted the outcome as a +matter of course. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a very lively place down there," remarked Jackson, as he looked +over the side of the cockpit. +</P> + +<P> +"If we have to depend for help on any one down there, I guess we'll be +a long time waiting," agreed Tom. They were about to land in a very +lonely spot. It was one he had never before visited, though he knew it +could not be much more than twenty miles from his own home, as they had +not flown much farther than that distance. +</P> + +<P> +But, somehow or other, Tom had not visited this particular section, and +knew nothing of it. He saw below him, as Jackson had seen, a lonely +stretch of country—a big field, once a wood-lot, evidently, as +scattered about were some stumps and some second growth trees. There +were also a number of evergreens—Christmas trees Jackson called them. +And this was the only open place for miles, the surrounding country +being a densely wooded one. There did not appear to be a house or other +building in sight where they might seek help. +</P> + +<P> +"But maybe we can make the repairs ourselves and keep on," the lad +thought. +</P> + +<P> +With practiced eye he picked out a smooth, grassy, level spot, in the +midst of scattered evergreen trees, and there Tom Swift skillfully +brought his Air Scout to rest. With a gentle thud the rubber-tired +wheels struck the Earth, rolled along a little distance, and then +called to a stop. +</P> + +<P> +Hardly had the aeroplane ceased moving when Tom and his companion +jumped out and began eagerly to examine the machinery to see the extent +of damage. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought so!" Tom exclaimed. "The silencer cracked under the strain. +Those exhaust gases have more pressure that I believed possible. I +increased the margin of safety on this muffler, too. But she's +cracked, and I can't use the machine until I put on a new one. Good +thing I didn't ask for a government inspection until after this trial +flight." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," agreed Jackson. "But can't you patch it up, or go on +without a muffler, so we can get back home?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid not," Tom answered. "You see I removed all the old exhaust +pipe fittings when I put on my new silencer. Now if I took off my +attachment there wouldn't be anything to carry off the discharged +gases, and they'd form a regular cloud about us. We couldn't stand it +without gas masks, such as they use in the trenches, and we haven't any +of those with us." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," agreed Jackson. "Well, what do you want to do? Have me +stay here and guard the machine while you go for help? Or shall I go?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know why we both can't go," said Tom. "There is no use trying +to patch up this machine here. I'll have to send a truck after it, and +dismantle it before I can get it home. +</P> + +<P> +"As for either of us staying here on guard, I don't quite see the need +of that. This looks like the jumping-off place to me. I don't believe +there's a native within miles. I didn't see any houses as we came down, +and I think Silent Sam will be perfectly safe here. No one can run off +with him, anyhow. He'd be as hard to start as an automobile with all +four wheels gone. Let's leave it here and both walk back." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," agreed Jackson. "That suits me. Might as well leave our +togs here, too. It will be easier walking without them," and he began +taking off the fur-lined suit, his cap, and his goggles, such as he and +Tom wore against the piercing cold of the upper regions. +</P> + +<P> +"We can stuff them in the cockpit and leave them," went on the +mechanician, as he divested himself of his garments. As he stowed them +away in his seat he gave one more look at the broken muffler. As Tom +Swift said, his new silencer had literally blown up, a large piece +having been torn from the gas chamber. +</P> + +<P> +Something that Jackson saw caused him to utter an exclamation that +brought Tom Swift to his side. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Look!" was the answer. "See! Just at the edge of that break! It's +been filed to make the metal thinner there than anywhere else. You +didn't do that, did you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I should say not!" cried Tom. "Why, to file there would mean to weaken +the whole structure." +</P> + +<P> +"And that's exactly what's happened!" declared Jackson, as he gave +another look. "Some one has filed this nearly through—leaving only a +thin metal skin, and when the gas pressure became too much it blew out. +That's what happened!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift made a quick but thorough examination. +</P> + +<P> +"You're right, Jackson!" he exclaimed. "That was filed deliberately to +cause the accident. And it must have been done lately, for I carefully +inspected the silencer when I put it on, and it was in perfect order. +There's been spy work here. Some one got into the hangar and filed that +casing. Then the accumulated pressure of the gases did the rest." +</P> + +<P> +"As sure as you're alive!" agreed Jackson. "Maybe that's what Gale did +when he called." +</P> + +<P> +"No," returned Tom, shaking his head, "he didn't get a chance to do +anything like that. I watched him all the while. But perhaps this is +what he referred to when he said he and his company would repudiate any +act of that spy with the gold tooth—Lydane, so Gale said his name was. +Maybe that's what Lydane did." +</P> + +<P> +"He was capable of it," agreed the mechanic, "but he couldn't have done +it that time you tripped him into the mud puddle. This silencer wasn't +built then." +</P> + +<P> +"No, you're right," assented Tom. "Then he must have been around since, +doing some of his tricky work!" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't see how that could have been," said Jackson slowly. "We've +kept a very careful watch, and your shop has been specially guarded." +</P> + +<P> +"I know it has," said Tom. "There couldn't much get past Koku; but some +one seems to have done it, or else how could that filing have been +done?" +</P> + +<P> +Jackson shook his head. The problem was too much for him. He looked +carefully at the exploded and broken silencer, and Tom, too, gave it a +critical eye. There was no doubt but that it had been filed in several +places to weaken the structure of the metal. +</P> + +<P> +"When did you last see that it was in perfect condition?" asked Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +Tom named a certain date. +</P> + +<P> +"That was just before Gale called," observed the mechanician. "He +might have known of it." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I'd known of it at the time," said Tom savagely. "He wouldn't +have gotten away as easily as he did. Well, there's no use standing +here talking about it. Let's get back to civilization and we'll send +back one of the trucks. Luckily I have another silencer I can put on +for the government test. This one will never be of any more use, though +I may be able to save some of the valves and baffle plates." +</P> + +<P> +Slowly they turned from the disabled aeroplane and started to look for +a path that would lead them out of the lonely place. Tom as the first +to strike what seemed to be a cow path, or perhaps what had been a road +into the wood lot in the early days. +</P> + +<P> +As he tramped along it, followed by Jackson, the young inventor +suddenly stopped, as he came to a sandy place, and, stooping over, +looked intently at some queer marks in the soil. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked the mechanician. +</P> + +<P> +"Looks like the marks of an automobile," said Tom slowly. "And I was +just trying to remember where I'd seen marks like these before." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE DESERTED CABIN +</H3> + +<P> +For several seconds the young inventor remained bending over the queer +marks in that little sandy path of the lonely field in the midst of the +silent woods. Jackson watched him curiously, and then Tom straightened +up, exclaiming as he did so: +</P> + +<P> +"I have it! Now I know where it was! I saw marks like these the night +Mr. Nestor disappeared. Mr. Damon and I noticed the marks in the dust +on the road the time we made the forced landing the first night we +tried out the silent motor. That's it! They are the same marks! I'm +sure of it!" +</P> + +<P> +"I wouldn't go so far as to say that," said Jackson slowly. He was more +deliberate than Tom Swift, a fact for which the young inventor was +often glad, as it saved him from impulsive mistakes. +</P> + +<P> +"This may not be the same auto," went on the mechanician. "I'll admit I +never saw square tire marks like those before. Most of the usual ones +are circular, diamond-shape or oblong. Some tire manufacturer must have +tried a new stunt. But as for saying these marks were made by the same +machine you saw evidences of the night Mr. Nestor disappeared, why, +that's going a little too far, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I suppose it is," admitted the young inventor. "But it's a clew +worth following. Maybe Mr. Nestor has been brought to some lonely place +like this, and is being held." +</P> + +<P> +"Why would any one want to do that?" asked Jackson. "He had no enemies." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps those who ran him down and injured him are afraid to let +him go for fear he will prosecute them and ask for heavy damages," +suggested Tom. "They may be holding him a captive until he gets well, +and aim on treating him so nicely that he won't bring suit." +</P> + +<P> +"That's a pretty far-fetched theory," said the mechanician as he +carefully looked at the tracks. "But of course it may be true. Anyhow, +these tire marks are rather recent, I should say, and they are made by +a new tire. Do you think we can follow them?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to try!" declared Tom. "The only trouble is we can't tell +whether it was going or coming—that is we don't know which way to go." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," agreed his companion. "And so the only thing to do is to +travel a bit both ways. The path, or road, or whatever you call it, is +plainly enough marked here, though you can't always pick out the tire +marks. They show only on bare ground. The grass doesn't leave any +tracks that we can see, though doubtless they are there. +</P> + +<P> +"But as for thinking this car is the same one the marks of which you +saw on the lonely moor, the night you heard the call for help—that's +going too far, Tom Swift." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I realize that. Of course there must be more than one car with +tires which have square protuberances. But it's worth taking a chance +on—following this clew." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, sure!" agreed Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +"The only question is, then, which way to go," returned Tom. +</P> + +<P> +They settled that, arbitrarily enough, by going on in the direction +they had started after leaving the stranded airship. They followed a +half-defined path, and were rewarded by getting occasional glimpses on +bare ground of the odd tire marks. +</P> + +<P> +Through a devious winding way, now hidden amid a lane of trees, and +again cutting across an open space, the path led. They saw the marks +often enough to make sure they were on the right trail, and in one +place they saw several different patches of the odd marks. +</P> + +<P> +They went on perhaps half a mile more, when they came to a lonely road +and saw where the car had turned from that into the wood-lot, as Tom +called the place where his craft had settled down. +</P> + +<P> +"Look!" cried the young inventor to Jackson. "They've been here more +than once, and have gone along the road in both directions. They seem +to have used this turning into the lot as a sort of stopping place." +</P> + +<P> +This was plain enough from an examination of the marks in the sandy +soil of the road, which was one not often used. The automobile with the +queer, square marks on the tires had turned into the lot, coming and +going in both directions. +</P> + +<P> +"This settles it!" cried Tom, when he finished making an examination. +"There's something farther back in this lot that we've got to see. This +auto has been coming and going, and we should have followed the tracks +the other way from the point where we first saw them, instead of coming +this way." +</P> + +<P> +"Except that we've learned the place of departure," suggested Jackson. +"Evidently the wood-lot is a blind alley. The car goes in, but it can +come out only just at this point, or, at least, it does." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right!" agreed Tom. "Now the thing to do is to follow our track +back to where we started. There must be some place where the car went +to—some headquarters, or meeting place with some one, farther back in +the lot. If we can only follow the trail back as well as we did coming, +we may find out something." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, let's try, anyhow," suggested Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +They had no difficulty in making their way back to the spot where they +had first seen the queer marks. But from then on their task was not so +easy. For sandy or bare patches of earth were not frequent, and they +had to depend on these to give them direction, for the road was +overgrown and not well defined. +</P> + +<P> +Often they would search about for some time after leaving one patch of +the marks before they found another that would justify them in keeping +on. +</P> + +<P> +"They have headquarters, or a rendezvous, somewhere back in this lot!" +declared Tom, as they hurried on. "I think we're on the track of a +mystery." +</P> + +<P> +"Unless it turns out that some farmer has treated himself to an auto +with new tires of square tread, and is hauling wood," said Jackson. "It +may turn out that way." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it may," agreed Tom. "But, taking everything into consideration, +I think we're on the verge of finding out something. Even if we do +discover that the owner of this auto is only hauling wood, he may be +able to help us to a clew as to the whereabouts of Mr. Nestor." +</P> + +<P> +"How?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, maybe he was in his machine on the moor the night the call for +help came. He may even have aided to carry Mr. Nestor away. And if he +doesn't know a thing about it—which, of course, is possible—the man +who bought these queer tires can tell us who makes them, or who deals +in them, and we can find out what autoists around here have their cars +equipped with this odd tread." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," agreed Jackson, "that can be done." +</P> + +<P> +And so they kept on, scouting here and there to either side of the +half-defined path, until they were far back from the spot where they +had left the Air Scout. +</P> + +<P> +"We don't appear to be getting any warmer, as the children say," +remarked Jackson, as he straightened up and looked about, for his back +ached from so much stooping over to look for the odd marks. +</P> + +<P> +"We haven't seen anything yet, I'll admit," said Tom. "But it won't be +dark for another hour or so, and I vote that we keep on." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I wasn't thinking of giving up!" exclaimed Jackson. "If there's +anything here—at the end of the route, as you might say—we'll find +it. Only I hope it doesn't turn out to be just a wood pile, from which +some farmer has been hauling logs." +</P> + +<P> +"That would be a disappointment," assented Tom. +</P> + +<P> +The day was waning, and they realized that they ought not to spend too +much time on what might turn out to be a wild goose chase. They were in +a lonely neighborhood, and while they were not at all apprehensive of +danger, they felt it would be best to get to shelter before dark. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll want to send word to Mr. Swift that we're all right." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Tom, "I'd like to get to a place where I can telephone to +him or Mrs. Baggert. Well, if we don't find something pretty soon we'll +have to turn back. I must complete work on the new motor, for if I'm to +offer it to Uncle Sam for air scout purposes, the sooner I can do so +the better. Things are getting pretty hot over in Europe, and if ever +the United States needed aircraft on the western front they need them +now. I want to help all I can, and I also want to help Mary—you +understand—Miss Nestor." +</P> + +<P> +"I understand," said Jackson simply. "I only hope you can help her. But +I'm afraid—this may turn out to be nothing—following these marks, you +know." +</P> + +<P> +"And yet," said Tom slowly, "it would be strange if it was only a +coincidence—the two tire marks being the same—the night Mr. Nestor +disappeared and now." +</P> + +<P> +And so they kept on, hoping. +</P> + +<P> +The half-defined path through the wood-lot led them in a series of +turns and twists, and it extended through a dense patch of woods, +growing thickly, where it was so dark that it seemed as if night had +fallen. +</P> + +<P> +"We can't spend much more time here," said Tom. "If we don't find +something in the next half mile we'll go back and take up the search +to-morrow. I'm going to find out what's at the end of this road—even +if it's only a wood pile." +</P> + +<P> +For ten minutes more the two went on, making sure, by occasional +glimpses at the marks, that they were on the right track. Then, +suddenly, they saw something which made them feel sure they had reached +their goal. +</P> + +<P> +In a clearing among the trees was a little cabin—a shack of logs—and +from the appearance it was deserted. There was not a sign of life +around. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CLEWS AT LAST +</H3> + +<P> +For a moment, at sight of the deserted cabin, staring at Tom and his +friend, as it were, from its hiding place amid the trees, the young +inventor and his companion did not move. They just stood looking at the +place. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said Tom, at length, "we found it, didn't we?" +</P> + +<P> +"We found something anyhow," agreed Jackson. "Whether it amounts to +anything or not, we've got to see." +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" cried Tom, impulsively. "I'm going to see what's there." +</P> + +<P> +"There doesn't appear to be much of anything," said Jackson, as he +looked toward the lonely cabin with critical eyes. "I should say that +place hadn't been used, even as a chicken coop, in a long while." +</P> + +<P> +"We can soon tell!" exclaimed Tom, striding forward. +</P> + +<P> +"Wait just a minute!" cried his companion, catching him by the coat. +"Don't be in such a hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" asked Tom. "There isn't any danger, is there?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know about that. There's no telling who may be hidden in that +cabin, in spite of its deserted appearance. And though there aren't any +'No Trespass' signs up, it may be that we wouldn't be welcome. If there +are some tramps there, which is possible, they might take a notion to +shoot at us first and ask questions as to our peaceable intentions +afterward—when it would be too late." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom. "There aren't any tramps there and, if there +were, they wouldn't dare shoot. I'm going to see what the mystery +is—if there is one." +</P> + +<P> +But there was no sign of life, and, taking this as an indication that +their advance would not be disputed, Jackson followed Tom. The latter +advanced until he could take in all the details of the shack. It was +made of logs, and once had been chinked with mud or clay. Some of this +had fallen out, leaving spaces between the tree trunks. +</P> + +<P> +"It wasn't a bad little shack at one time," decided Tom. "Maybe it was +a place where some one camped out during the summer. But it hasn't been +used of late. I never knew there was such a place around here, and I +thought I knew this locality pretty well." +</P> + +<P> +"I never heard of it, either," said Jackson. "Let's give a shout and +see if there's any one around. They may be asleep. Hello, there!" he +called in sufficiently vigorous tones to have awakened an ordinary +sleeper. +</P> + +<P> +Put there was no answer, and as the shadows of the night began to fall, +the place took on a most lonely aspect. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's go up and knock—or go in if the door's open," suggested Tom. +"We can't lose any more time, if we're to get out of here before night." +</P> + +<P> +"Go ahead," said Jackson, and together they went to the cabin door. +</P> + +<P> +"Locked!" exclaimed Tom, as he saw a padlock attached to a chain. It +appeared to be fastened through two staples, driven one into the door +and the other into the jamb, at right angles to one another and +overlapping. +</P> + +<P> +"Knock!" suggested Jackson. But when Tom had done so, and there was no +answer, the machinist took hold of the lock. To his own surprise and +that of Tom, one of the staples pulled out and the door swung open. The +place had evidently been forced before, and the lock had not been +opened by a key. The staple had been pulled out and replaced loosely in +the holes. +</P> + +<P> +For a moment nothing could be made out in the dark interior of the +shack. But as their eyes became used to the gloom, Tom and his +companion were able to see that the shack consisted of two rooms. +</P> + +<P> +In the first one there was a rusty stove, a table, and some chairs, and +it was evident, from pans and skillets hanging on the wall, as well as +from a small cupboard built on one side, that this was the kitchen and +living room combined. +</P> + +<P> +"Anybody here?" cried Tom, as he stepped inside. +</P> + +<P> +Only a dull echo answered. +</P> + +<P> +The two could now see where a door gave entrance to an inner room, and +this, a quick glance showed, was the sleeping apartment, two bunks +being built on the side walls. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, somebody had it pretty comfortable here," decided Tom, as he +looked around. "They've been cooking and sleeping here, and not so very +long ago, either. It wouldn't be such a bad place if it was cleaned +out." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," agreed Jackson. "Wouldn't mind camping here myself, if +there was any fishing near." +</P> + +<P> +"The river can't be far away," suggested Tom. "And now let's see what +we can find, and see if we can get a line on who has been here. But +first we'll let in a little light." +</P> + +<P> +He opened a window in the sleeping room, and pushed back the heavy +plank shutter that had been closed. When the light entered it was seen +that both bunks bore evidence of having been lately slept in. The +blankets were tossed back, as if the occupants had risen, and in the +outer room, on the stove, were signs that indicated a meal had been +served not many days gone by. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," observed Tom musingly, as he wandered about the place, "if we +could only find out who owns this, and who has been here lately—" +</P> + +<P> +Jackson stooped over, and, thrusting aside an end of the blankets that +trailed on the floor from one of the bunks, picked up something. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Looks like a leather pocketbook," was the answer. "That's what it is," +the mechanic went on, as he held the object to the light. "It's a +wallet." +</P> + +<P> +"Let me see it!" exclaimed Tom quickly. He took the wallet from the +hands of Jackson. Then the young inventor uttered a cry. "A clew at +last!" he exclaimed. "A clew at last! Mr. Nestor has been in this +cabin!" +</P> + +<P> +"How do you know?" asked Jackson quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"This is his wallet," said Tom excitedly. "I've often seen him have it. +In fact he had it with him on Earthquake Island, the time I sent the +wireless message for help. I saw it several times then. He kept in it +what few papers he had saved from the wreck. And I've seen it often +enough since. That's Mr. Nestor's wallet all right. Besides, if you +want any other evidence—look!" He opened the leather flaps and showed +Jackson on one, stamped in gold letters, the name of Mary's father. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what do you make of it, Tom?" asked the mechanician, as he +finished his examination of the wallet. "What does it mean? The +pocket-book is empty and that—" +</P> + +<P> +"Might mean almost anything," completed Tom. "But it's a clew all +right! He's been here, and I'm pretty certain he was brought here in +the auto with the odd tires—the one Mr. Damon and I saw traces of the +night we heard the cries for help." +</P> + +<P> +"But that doesn't help us now," said Jackson. "The point is to find out +how lately Mr. Nestor was here, and what has happened to him since. +There isn't anything in the wallet, is there?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing," answered Tom, making a careful examination so as to be sure. +"It's as empty as a last year's bird nest. He's been robbed—that's +what has happened to Mr. Nestor. He was waylaid that night, instead of +being run down as I thought—waylaid and robbed and then his body was +brought here." +</P> + +<P> +"There you go again, Tom! Jumping to conclusions!" said Jackson, with a +friendly smile, and with the familiarity of an old and valued helper. +"Maybe he's in perfectly good health. Just because you found his empty +wallet doesn't argue that your friend is in serious trouble. He may +have dropped this on the road and some one picked it up. I'll admit +they may have taken whatever was in it, but that doesn't prove +anything. The thing for us to do is to find out who knows about this +shack; who owns it, on whose land it is, and whether any one has been +seen here lately." +</P> + +<P> +"They've been here lately whether they've been seen or not," said Tom +positively. "There are the auto tracks. It rained two days ago, and the +tracks were made since. Mr. Nestor must have been here within two days." +</P> + +<P> +"He may or may not," said Jackson. "Say, rather, that some one was here +and left his wallet after him. Now see if we can find other clews!" +</P> + +<P> +They looked about in the fast fading light, but at first could discover +nothing more than evidences that three or four persons had been living +in the shack and at some recent date—probably within a day or two. +</P> + +<P> +They had had their meals there and had slept there. But this seemed to +be all that could be established, other than that Mr. Nestor's wallet +was there, stripped of its contents. +</P> + +<P> +Tom was looking through the closet, from which a frightened chipmunk +sprang as he opened the door. There were the remains of some food, +which accounted for the presence of the little striped animal. And, as +Tom poked about, his hand came in contact with something wrapped in +paper on an upper shelf. It was something that clinked metallicly. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that?" asked Jackson. "Knives, or some other weapons?" +</P> + +<P> +"Neither," answered Tom. "It's a couple of files, and they've been used +lately. I can see something in the grooves yet and—" +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Tom ceased speaking and drew from his pocket a small but +powerful magnifying glass. Through this he looked at one of the files, +taking it out in front of the shack where the light was better. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought so!" he cried. "Look here, Jackson!" +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Another clew!" answered Tom. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE GOVERNMENT TEST +</H3> + +<P> +For a moment Jackson thought Tom had discovered a clew to, or evidences +of, some crime. He had an unpleasant suspicion, for an instant, that +there was blood on the files, and that it might prove to be the blood +of Mr. Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +But the satisfaction that showed on Tom's face did not seem to indicate +such dire possibilities as these. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Jackson, unable to guess at what Tom was looking +through the powerful glass. "What do you see?" +</P> + +<P> +"Metal filings on the grooves of these files," said the young inventor. +"And, unless I'm greatly mistaken, the particles of filings are from +the case of my aircraft silencer!" +</P> + +<P> +"What!" cried the machinist. "Do you mean those are the files used in +weakening the outer case of your new machine, so that it burst a little +while ago?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I think," answered Tom. "I know it sounds pretty +far-fetched," he went on. "But take a look for yourself. If those +particles on, the files aren't exactly of the same color and texture as +the material of which the silencer case is made, I'll never build +another machine." +</P> + +<P> +Jackson peered through the powerful glass moving out a little farther +from the shack, so as to get the best light possible on the subject of +his examination. It was fast getting dark, but there was enough glow in +the western sky for his purpose. +</P> + +<P> +"Am I right?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"You're right!" declared his helper. "This is exactly the same metal as +that of which your silencer case is made. It's a peculiar mixture of +aluminum and vanadium steel. I never knew it used in any shop but +yours, and these filings are certainly of that metal. It would seem, +Tom, that these were the files used to cut a crease in the case of your +silencer to weaken it so it would burst." +</P> + +<P> +"My idea exactly!" cried Tom. "The spy, who got into my shop in some +undiscovered manner, did his work and then fled here to hide. He left +his files behind. Mr. Nestor must have been here, either before or +after. No, I'll not say that, either. Finding his wallet here doesn't +prove that he was here. It might have been brought here by one of the +spies and dropped. But I'm sure we're on the track of the men who +damaged my airship, as well as those who know something of the mystery +of Mr. Nestor." +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you," said Jackson. "Of course there's a possibility that +the same peculiar metal you used in your silencer case may have been +used in some other machine shop, and these files may have come from +there, and have been employed in perfectly regular work. But the +chances are—" +</P> + +<P> +"There's only one way to make sure," said Tom. "Let's take the files +with us and see if they fit in the grooves where the break came. We'll +take these back to where we left the Air Scout," and he clinked the +files he held. +</P> + +<P> +"We can just about make it before it gets black dark," returned +Jackson. "But that won't give us any more time to look around here," +and he indicated the hut. +</P> + +<P> +"I fancy we've seen all there is to see here," said Tom. "Mr. Nestor +isn't here, and whether he was or not is a question. Anyhow, some one +was here who had something to do with him after his disappearance, I'm +positive of that. And I'm sure some one was here who damaged my +airship. Now we'll run down both those clews, find out who owns this +place, who has been using it, and all we can along that line. So, if +you're ready, let's travel." +</P> + +<P> +The two set out to make their way back to where they had left the +stranded airship. It was fast becoming dark, but they could hurry along +with more speed now, as they did not have to stop to look for the marks +of the peculiar automobile tires. They had noticed the path along which +they had traveled, and in half the time they had spent coming they were +back where the Air Scout rested undisturbed in the meadow amid the +trees. +</P> + +<P> +Making sure that, as far as they could tell, no one had visited the +craft since they had left it, Tom and Jackson compared the file marks +on what was left of the broken silencer case with the files they had +found in the hut. They used a small, but powerful electric lamp to aid +them in this examination, as it was too dark to see otherwise, and what +they saw caused the young inventor to exclaim: +</P> + +<P> +"That settles it! These were the files used!" +</P> + +<P> +"That's right!" agreed his assistant. "You've called the turn, Tom. The +next thing to do is to find who connects with the files." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. To do that and find Mr. Nestor," said Tom. "We have plenty of +work ahead of us. But let's get nearer civilization and send some word +to the folks at home. They'll be getting worried." +</P> + +<P> +"It doesn't seem as if there was a way out of here without using an +airship," remarked Jackson. +</P> + +<P> +But he and Tom finally reached the seldom-used road which ran along the +field that contained the lonely shack, and, following this, they +reached a farmhouse about a mile farther on. Greatly to their relief, +there was a telephone in the place. True it was only a party line, set +up by some neighboring farmers for their own private use, but one of +the subscribers, to whose home the private line ran, had a long +distance instrument, and after a talk with him, this man promised Tom +to call up Mr. Swift and acquaint him with the fact that his son and +Jackson were all right, and would be home later. +</P> + +<P> +"And now," said Tom, after thanking their temporary host, a farmer +named Bloise, "can you tell us anything about an old cabin that stands +back there?" and he indicated the location of the mysterious shack. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes, I can tell you a little about it, but not very much," said +Mr. Bloise. "It was built, some years ago, by a rich New Yorker, who +bought up a lot of land around here for a game preserve. But it didn't +pan out. This cabin was only the start of what he was going to call a +'hunting lodge,' I believe it was. There was to be a big building on +the same order, but it never was built. +</P> + +<P> +"Some say the fellow lost all his money in Wall Street, and others say +the state wouldn't let him make a game preserve here. However it was, +the thing petered out, and the old shack hasn't been used since." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes, it has!" exclaimed Tom. "We just came from there, and there +are signs which show some one has been sleeping there and eating there." +</P> + +<P> +"There has!" exclaimed the farmer. "Well, I didn't know that." +</P> + +<P> +"I did," said his son, a young man about Tom's age. "I meant to speak +of it the other day. I saw an automobile turn into the old road that +the men used when they built the shack. I thought it was kind of queer +to see a touring car turn in there, and I meant to speak of it, but I +forgot. Yes, some one has been at the old cabin lately." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know who they are?" asked Tom eagerly. "We are looking for a +Mr. Nestor, who disappeared mysteriously about two weeks ago, and I +just found his wallet there in the shack!" +</P> + +<P> +"You did!" exclaimed Mr. Bloise. "That's queer! You relatives of this +Mr. Nestor?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Not exactly," Tom answered. "Just very close friends." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's too bad about his being missing in that way," went on the +farmer. "I read about it in the paper, but I never suspected he was +around here." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, we're not sure that he was," said Tom quickly. "Finding his wallet +doesn't prove that," and he told the story of his own and Jackson's +appearance on the scene, to the no small wonder of the farmer and his +family. Tom said nothing about the finding of the files, nor the +evidence he deduced from them. That was another matter to be taken up +later. +</P> + +<P> +"Who were in the auto you saw?" asked Tom of the farmer's son. "Was +Mr. Nestor in the car?" +</P> + +<P> +"I couldn't be sure of that. There were two men in the machine, and +they were both strangers to me. They were talking together, pretty +earnestly, it seemed to me." +</P> + +<P> +"One did not appear as if he was being taken away against his will, did +he?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I can't say that he did," was the answers "They looked to me, and +acted like, business men looking over land, or something like that. +They just turned in on the road that leads to the old hunting cabin, as +we call it around here, and didn't pay any attention to me. Then I +forgot all about them." +</P> + +<P> +"Neither of them could have been Mr. Nestor," decided Tom. "At least it +doesn't seem as if he'd talk at all companionably to a man who had +treated him as we think Mr. Nestor has been treated. I guess that clew +isn't going to amount to much." +</P> + +<P> +"It may!" insisted Jackson. "They may have had Mr. Nestor in the car +all the while—concealed in the back you know. We've got to find out +more about these men and their auto, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes, perhaps we have. But how?" +</P> + +<P> +"Station some one at the shack, or at the beginning of the private +road. The men may come back." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so—they may. We'll do that!" cried the young inventor. "We +must tell the police and Mr. Nestor's folks what we have learned. How +can we get back to Shopton in a hurry?" he asked the farmer. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I can drive you to the railroad station," was the answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," remarked Tom. "We'll accept your offer. And as soon as we +get back we must send some one from the shop to stand guard over the +airship," he added in an aside to Jackson. "Those file fellows may come +back." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so, we can't take any chances." +</P> + +<P> +The farmer soon had his team at the door, and, after they had had a +hasty but satisfying supper at the farmhouse, the son drove Tom and +Jackson several miles to a railroad station, where they could catch a +train for Shopton. +</P> + +<P> +In due season Tom's home was reached. He intended to stop but a minute, +to assure his father that everything was all right, and then get out +his speedy runabout to go to see Mary, to tell her the news. +</P> + +<P> +But when Tom sought his father in the library, he was told that there +was a visitor in the house. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom," said his father, "this gentleman is from Washington. He wants to +arrange for a government test of your silent airship. I told him I +thought you were about ready for it." +</P> + +<P> +"A government test!" cried Tom. "Why, I didn't think the government +even knew I was working on such an idea!" Tom was greatly surprised. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IN THE MOONLIGHT +</H3> + +<P> +With a reassuring smile the visitor from Washington looked at Tom Swift. +</P> + +<P> +"The government officials," he said, "know more than some people give +them credit for—especially in these war times. Our intelligence bureau +and secret service has been much enlarged of late. But don't be +alarmed, Mr. Swift," went on the caller, whose name was Mr. Blair +Terrill. "Your secret is safe with the government, but I think the time +is ripe to use it now—that is, if you have perfected it to a point +where we can use it." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Tom slowly, "the invention is practically finished and +it is a success, except for a few minor matters that will not take long +to complete. +</P> + +<P> +"Our accident this afternoon had nothing to do with the efficiency of +the silencer," Tom went on. "It was deliberately damaged by some spy. +I'll take that up later. That I am interested to know how you heard of +my Air Scout, as I call it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we have agents, you know, watching all the inventors who have +helped us in times past, and we haven't forgotten your giant cannon or +big searchlight. I might say, to end your curiosity and lull your +suspicions, that your friend, Ned Newton, who has been doing such good +Liberty Bond work, informed us of your progress on the silent motor." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, so it was Ned!" exclaimed Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. He told us the time was about ripe for us to make you an offer +for your machine. I think we can use it to great advantage in scout +work on the western front," went on the agent, and he soon convinced +Tom that when it came to a knowledge of airships, he had some very +pertinent facts at his disposal. +</P> + +<P> +"When can you give me a test?" Mr. Terrill asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"As soon as I can get my craft back to the shop and fit on a new outer +case. That won't take long, as I have some spare ones. But I must help +the Nestors," he went on, speaking to his father. "I didn't mention it +over the wire," he added, "but we've found in the cabin a clew to the +missing man. I must tell Mary and her mother, and help them all I can." +</P> + +<P> +"And allow me to help, too," begged Mr. Terrill. "Since this affects +you, Mr. Swift, and since you are, in a way, working for Uncle Sam, you +must let him help you. This is the first I have heard of the missing +gentleman, of whom your father just told me something, but you must +allow me to help search for him. I will get the United States Secret +Service at work." +</P> + +<P> +"That will be fine!" cried Tom. "I wanted to get their aid, but I +didn't see how I could, as I knew they were too busy with army matters +and tracing seditious alien enemies, to bother with private cases. I'm +sure the Secret Service men can get trace of the persons responsible +for the detention of Mr. Nestor, wherever he is." +</P> + +<P> +"They'll do their best," said Mr. Terrill. "I'm a member of that body," +he went on, "and I'll give my personal attention to the matter." +</P> + +<P> +Then followed a busy time. Tom did not get to bed until nearly morning. +For he had to arrange to send some of his men to guard the stranded +airship, and then he went to see Mary and her mother, taking them the +good news that the search for Mr. Nestor would be prosecuted with +unprecedented vigor. +</P> + +<P> +"If it isn't too late!" sadly said the missing man's wife. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm sure it isn't!" declared Tom. +</P> + +<P> +In addition to sending a guard to the airship, other men, some of them +hastily summoned from the nearest federal agency, were sent to keep +watch in the vicinity of the lonely cabin. They had orders to arrest +whoever approached, and a relay of the men was provided, so that watch +could be kept up night and day. Besides this, other men from the Secret +Service began scouring the country around the locality of the cabin, +seeking a trace of the two persons the farmer's son had seen in the +automobile. +</P> + +<P> +"If Mr. Nestor is to be found, they'll find him!" declared Tom Swift. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon, as might be expected, was very much excited and wrought up +over all these happenings. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my watch chain, Tom Swift!" cried the eccentric man, "but +something is always happening to you. And to think I wasn't along when +this latest happened!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you can be in at the finish," promised Tom, and it was strange +how his promise was fulfilled. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile there was much to do. During the time the Secret Service men +were busy looking up clews which might lead to the finding of Mr. +Nestor and keeping watch in the vicinity of the hut, Tom had his +airship brought back to the hangar, and a new silencer was attached. +While this work was going on the place was guarded night and day by +responsible men, so there was no chance for an enemy spy to get in and +do further damage. +</P> + +<P> +An investigation was made of the Universal Flying Machine Company, but +nothing could be proved to link them with the outrage. Gale and Ware +were in Europe—ostensibly on government business, but it was said that +if anything could be proved connecting them with the attempt made on +Tom Swift's craft, they would be deprived of all official contracts and +punished. +</P> + +<P> +All this took time, and the waits were wearisome, particularly in the +case of Mr. Nestor. No further trace of him was found, though every +effort was made. Tom began to feel that his boast of his enemies having +to get up early in the morning to get ahead of him, had been premature, +to say the least. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift worked hard on his new Air Scout. He determined there would +be nothing lacking when it came to the government test, and not only +did he make sure that no enemy could tamper with his machine, but he +took pains to see that no inherent defect would mar the test. +</P> + +<P> +Jackson and the other men helped to the best of their ability, and Mr. +Swift suggested some improvements which were incorporated in the new +machine. +</P> + +<P> +One of the puzzles the Secret Service men had to solve was that of the +connection, if any, between the men who had to do with the missing Mr. +Nestor and those who had damaged Tom's airship by filing the muffler +case so it was weakened and burst. That there was some connection Tom +was certain, but he could not work it out, nor, so far, had the +government men. +</P> + +<P> +At last the day came when the big government test was to be made. Tom +had completed his Air Scout and had refined it to a point where even +his critical judgment was satisfied. All that remained now was to give +Mr. Terrill a chance to see how silently the big craft could fly, and +to this end a flight was arranged. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had put the silencer on a larger machine than the one he and +Jackson had used. It held three easily, and, on a pinch, four could be +carried. Tom's plan was to take Mr. Damon and Mr. Terrill, fly with +them for some time in the air, and demonstrate how quiet his new craft +was. Then, by contrast, a machine without the muffler and the new motor +with its improved propellers would be flown, making as much noise as +the usual craft did. +</P> + +<P> +"I only wish," said Tom, as the time arrived for the official +government test, "that Mary could be here to see it. She was the one +who really started me on this idea, so to speak, as it was because I +couldn't talk to her that I decided to get up a silent motor." +</P> + +<P> +But Mary Nestor was too grief-stricken over her missing father to come +to the test, which was to take place late one afternoon, starting from +the aerodrome of the Swift plant. +</P> + +<P> +"First," said Tom, to Mr. Terrill, "I'll show you how the machine works +on the ground. I'll run the motor while the plane is held down by means +of ropes and blocks. Then we'll go up in it." +</P> + +<P> +"That suits me," said the agent. "If it does all you say it will do, +and as much as I believe it will do, Uncle Sam will be your debtor, Mr. +Swift." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll see," said Tom with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +Preparations were made with the greatest care, and Tom went over every +detail of the machine twice to make certain that, in spite of the +precautions, no spy had done any hidden damage, that might be +manifested at an inopportune moment. But everything seemed all right, +and, finally, the motor was started, while Mr. Terrill, and some of his +colleagues from the Army Aviation department looked on. +</P> + +<P> +"Contact!" cried Tom, as Jackson indicated that the compression had +been made. +</P> + +<P> +The mechanic nodded, gave the big propeller blades a quarter turn and +jumped back. In an instant the motor was operating, and the craft would +have leaped forward and cleaved the air but for the holding ropes and +blocks. Tom speeded the machinery up to almost the last notch, but +those in the aerodrome hardly heard a sound. It was as though some +great, silent dynamo were working. +</P> + +<P> +"Fine!" +</P> + +<P> +"Wonderful!" +</P> + +<P> +"Wouldn't have believed it possible!" +</P> + +<P> +These were some of the comments of the government inspectors. +</P> + +<P> +"And now for the final test—that in the air," said Mr. Terrill. +</P> + +<P> +Previous to this he and his colleagues had made a minute examination of +the machinery, and had been shown the interior construction of the +silencer by means of one built so that a sectional view could be had. +Tom's principles were pronounced fundamental and simple. +</P> + +<P> +"So simple, in fact, that it is a wonder no one thought of it before," +said a navy aviation expert. "It is the last word in aircraft +construction—a silent motor that will not apprise the enemy of its +approach! You have done wonders, Mr. Swift!" +</P> + +<P> +"I'd rather hear you say that after the air test," replied Tom, with a +laugh. "Are you ready, Mr. Terrill?" +</P> + +<P> +"Whenever you are." +</P> + +<P> +"How about you, Mr. Damon?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm always ready to go with you, Tom Swift. Bless my trench +helmet, but you can't sail any too soon for me!" +</P> + +<P> +There was a genial laugh at his impetuosity, and the three took their +seats in the big craft. Once more the engine was started. It operated +as silently as before, and the first good impressions were confirmed. +Even as the machine moved along the ground, just previous to taking +flight into the air, there was no noise, save the slight crunch made by +the wheels. This, of course, would be obviated when Silent Sam was +aloft. +</P> + +<P> +Up and up soared the great craft, with Tom at the engine and guide +controls, while Mr. Terrill and Mr. Damon sat behind him, both eagerly +watching. Mr. Terrill was there to find fault if he could, but he was +glad he did not have to. +</P> + +<P> +"The machine works perfectly, Mr. Swift," he said. "My report cannot be +otherwise than favorable." +</P> + +<P> +"We mustn't be in too much of a hurry," said Tom, who had learned +caution some time ago. "I want to sail around for several hours. +Sometimes a machine will work well at first, but defects will develop +when it is overheated. I'm going to do my best to make a noise with +this new motor." +</P> + +<P> +But it seemed impossible. The machinery worked perfectly, and though +Silent Sam took his passengers high and low, in big circles and small +ones, there was no appreciable noise from the motor. The passengers +could converse as easily, and with as little effort, as in a balloon. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course that isn't the prime requisite," said Mr. Terrill, "but it +is a good one. What we want is a machine that can sail over the enemy's +lines at night without being heard, and I think this one will do it—in +fact, I'm sure it will. Of course the ability of the passengers to +converse and not have to use the uncertain tube is a great advantage." +</P> + +<P> +As Tom Swift sailed on and on, it became evident that the test was +going to be a success. The afternoon passed, and it began to grow dark, +but a glorious full moon came up. +</P> + +<P> +"Shall I take you down?" the young inventor asked Mr. Terrill. +</P> + +<P> +"Not quite yet. I thoroughly enjoy this, and it isn't often I get a +chance for a moonlight airship ride. Go a little lower, if you please, +and we'll see if we attract any attention from the inhabitants of the +earth. We'll see if they can possibly hear the machine, though I don't +see how they can." +</P> + +<P> +And they did not. Tom piloted the machine over Shopton, sailing +directly over the center of the town, where there was a big crowd +walking about. Though the airship sailed only a few hundred feet above +their heads, not a person was aware of it, since the craft's lights +were put out for this test. +</P> + +<P> +"That settles it," said Mr. Terrill. "You have succeeded, Tom Swift!" +</P> + +<P> +But Tom was not yet satisfied. He wanted a longer test. Hardly knowing +why he did it he sent the craft in the direction of Mary Nestor's home. +As he sailed across her lawn he saw, in the moonlight, that she and her +mother were walking in the garden. They did not look up as the +aircraft passed over their heads, and were totally unaware of its +presence, unless they caught a glimpse of it as it flitted silently +along, like some great bird of the night. +</P> + +<P> +"It is perfectly wonderful!" declared Mr. Terrill, and he spoke in +ordinary tones, that carried perfectly to the ears of Tom and Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Wonderful!" cried the eccentric man. "Bless my chimney, but it's the +greatest invention in the world! Yes, it is! Don't tell me it 'isn't!" +</P> + +<P> +And no one did. +</P> + +<P> +Passing the Nestor home, the saddened occupants of which were unaware +of the passage, Tom sent the Air Scout about in a circle, intending to +proceed to the hangar. And then, some whim, perhaps, caused him to +guide Silent Sam out toward the lonely hut. Mr. Damon and Mr. Tenrill +seemed perfectly content to sail on and on indefinitely in the +moonlight. Tom thought he would take them over a lonely neighborhood, +and then bring them back. +</P> + +<P> +In a little while the craft was directly over the stretch of country +where the aeroplane accident had occurred, and where Tom and Jackson +had found the deserted hut. +</P> + +<P> +Rather idly Tom looked down, wondering if the Secret Service men were +on the watch and if they had discovered anything. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Tom was aware of an automobile moving along the field path +toward the cabin. There were two men in the car, both on the front +seat, and as Tom looked down the brilliant moonlight showed him the +figure of another man, behind, and huddled in the tonneau of the car. +The aeroplane was low enough for all these details to be seen by the +moon's gleam, but the men in the car, not hearing any noise, did not +look up, so they were unconscious of this aerial espionage. +</P> + +<P> +"Look! Look!" exclaimed Tom in a low voice to his companions. "Doesn't +that seem suspicious?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE GOLD TOOTH +</H3> + +<P> +Eagerly Mr. Damon and the government agent leaned over and looked down. +In the moonlight they saw the same sight that had attracted Tom Swift. +The touring car, the two men in front, and the huddled, bound figure in +the back. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you go down, Tom, without letting them hear you?" asked Mr. Damon, +using a low voice, as if fearful the men in the automobile would hear +him. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess so," answered the young inventor. "I can land nearer to the +cabin than Jackson and I did, and then we can see what these fellows +are up to. It looks suspicious to me. That is, unless they're some of +the Secret Service men, and have made a capture," he added to Mr. +Terrill. +</P> + +<P> +"Those aren't any of Uncle Sam's men," declared the agent. "That is, +unless the bound one is. I can't see him very well. Better go down, +and we'll see if we can surprise them." +</P> + +<P> +"My plan," voiced Tom. +</P> + +<P> +Quickly he shifted the rudder, and then, shutting off the motor, as he +wanted to volplane down, he headed his craft for an open spot that +showed in the bright moonlight. By this time the automobile and its +occupants were out of sight behind a clump of trees, but Tom and his +companions felt sure of the destination of the men—the deserted cabin +in the wood. +</P> + +<P> +As silently as a wisp of grass falling, the big craft came down on a +level spot, and then, leaping out, the young inventor and his two +companions crept along the path toward the cabin. Mr. Terrill was +armed, Tom carried a flashlight, while Mr. Damon picked up a heavy club. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as he came near a place where he thought the marks of the +automobile wheels would show, Tom flashed his light. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought so!" he exclaimed, as he saw the square, knobby tread marks +left by the tires. "It's the same gang, or some of them in the same +car. If we can only capture them!" +</P> + +<P> +"The Secret Service men ought to do that," returned Mr. Terrill, but, +as it developed later, they were not on hand, though through no fault +of theirs. +</P> + +<P> +On and on crept Tom and the two men, until they came within sight of +the cabin. They saw a light gleaming in it, and Tom whispered: +</P> + +<P> +"Now we have them! Work our way up quietly and make them surrender, if +we find they're what we think." +</P> + +<P> +"Is there a rear door?" asked Mr. Terrill in a whisper. +</P> + +<P> +Tom answered in the negative, and then all three, in fan shape, crept +up to the front portal. It was open, and silently reaching a place +where they could make an observation, Tom and his companions looked in. +</P> + +<P> +What they saw filled them with wild and righteous rage, and brought to +an end the mystery of the disappearance of Mr. Nestor. For there he +sat, bound in a chair, and at a table in front of him were two +forbidding-looking men. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you intend to do now?" asked Mr. Nestor in a faint voice. "I +cannot stand this captivity much longer. You admit that you don't want +me—that you never wanted me—so why do you keep me a prisoner? It +cannot do the least good." +</P> + +<P> +"There's no use going over that again!" exclaimed the harsh voice of +one of the men. "We told you that if you will promise to keep still +about what happened to you, and not to give the police any information +about us, we'll let you go gladly. We don't want you. It was all a +mistake, capturing you. You were the wrong man. But we're not going to +let you go and have you set the police on us as soon as you get a +chance. Give us your promise to say nothing, and we'll let you join +your friends. If you don't—" +</P> + +<P> +"Make no promises, Mr. Nestor!" cried Tom Swift in a ringing voice, as +he leaped from his hiding place, followed by his companions. "Your +friends are here, and you can tell them everything!" +</P> + +<P> +"Up with 'em!" called Mr. Terrill to the two conspirators as he +confronted them with his automatic pistol ready for firing. He had no +need to mention hands—they knew what he meant and took the +characteristic attitude. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom! Tom Swift!" cried Mr. Nestor, struggling ineffectually at his +bonds. "Is it really you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I hope it isn't any imitation," was the grim answer. "We'll +tell you all about it later. Jove, but I'm glad we found you! If it +hadn't been for Silent Sam we might never have been able to." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't know who Silent Sam is," said Mr. Nestor faintly. "But +I'm sure I'm much obliged to him and your other friends. It has been +very hard. Tell me, are my wife and Mary all right?" +</P> + +<P> +"In good health, yes, but, of course, worrying," said Tom. "We saw them +in the garden a little while ago. Now don't talk until I set you free." +</P> + +<P> +And as Tom cut the ropes from Mr. Nestor, Mr. Damon used them to bind +the two conspirators, while Mr. Terrill stood guard over them. And when +they were safely bound, and Mr. Nestor had somewhat recovered from the +shock, Tom had a chance to examine the prisoners. +</P> + +<P> +"What does it all mean? Who are you fellows, anyhow, and what's your +game?" he demanded. +</P> + +<P> +"Guess it—since you're so smart!" snapped one. +</P> + +<P> +And no sooner had he opened his mouth and Tom had a glance of something +gleaming brightly yellow, than the young inventor cried: +</P> + +<P> +"The gold tooth! So it's you again, is it, you spy?" +</P> + +<P> +The man shrugged his shoulders with an assumption of indifference. And, +as Tom took a closer look, he became aware that the man was surely none +other than Lydane, the spy he had chased into the mud puddle some weeks +before. His companion was a stranger to Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"What does it all mean, Mr. Nestor?" asked Tom. "Have these men held +you a prisoner ever since you called for help on the moor that night?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Tom, they have. And I did call for help after they attacked me as +I was riding my wheel, but I didn't know any one heard me. I began to +be afraid no one would ever help me." +</P> + +<P> +"We've been trying to, a long time," said Mr. Damon, "but we couldn't +find you. Where did they keep you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Here, part of the time," was Mr. Nestor's answer. "And in other lonely +houses. They bound and gagged me when they took me from place to place." +</P> + +<P> +"But what was their object?" asked Tom, concluding it was useless to +question the two captives. "Why did they make you a prisoner, Mr. +Nestor?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because they took me for you, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"For me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. The night I called at your house, and found you were not at home, +I put back in my pocket a bundle of papers I had brought over to show +you. They were plans of a little kitchen appliance a friend of mine had +invented, and I wanted to ask your opinion of it." +</P> + +<P> +"These scoundrels must have followed me, or have seen the bundle of +papers, and, mistaking me for you, they followed, attacked me in a +lonely spot and, bundling me and my wrecked wheel into an auto, carried +me off. They first demanded that I gave up the 'plans,' and when I +wouldn't they choked off my cries for help and knocked me into +unconsciousness. Then they brought me here, and kept me here for +several days. +</P> + +<P> +"They soon learned that the plans I had weren't those they wanted, +though what they were then after I couldn't imagine. Only, from what I +later overheard, I knew they mistook me for you and that they were +bitterly disappointed in not getting plans of some new airship you were +working on. They have kept me a prisoner ever since, and though they +offered to let me go if I would keep silent, I refused. I did not +think, to secure my own comfort, I should let such men go unpunished if +I could bring about their arrest." +</P> + +<P> +"I should say not!" cried Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Did they treat you brutally, Mr. Nestor?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Not after they found out who I was, by looking through my wallet. Of +course they didn't behave very decently, but they weren't actually +cruel, except that they bound and gagged me. Oh, but I'm glad you came, +Tom! How did it happen?" +</P> + +<P> +Then they told Mr. Nestor their story, and how the test of the new Air +Scout had led to his rescue. +</P> + +<P> +"But where are the Secret Service men?" asked Mr. Terrill, when it +became evident that none them was on guard at the cabin. +</P> + +<P> +Later it developed that, by following a false clew, the Secret Service +men had been drawn miles away from the cabin. And only that Tom and his +companions in the silent airship saw the men. Mr. Nestor might not +have been rescued for some further time. +</P> + +<P> +His version of what had happened was correct. He had been mistaken for +Tom, and the spy with the gold tooth and his accomplice had waylaid +Mary's father, under the belief that it was Tom Swift with the plans of +the new silent motor. Mr. Nestor had been attacked while riding his +wheel in a lonely place, and had been carried off and kept in hiding, a +prisoner even after his identity became known. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, this is a good night's work!" exclaimed Tom, when the two rogues +had been sent to jail and Mr. Nestor taken to the Bloise farmhouse, to +be refreshed before he went home. Word of his rescue was telephoned to +Mary and her mother, and it can be imagined how they regarded Tom Swift +for his part in the affair. +</P> + +<P> +Little the worse for his experience, save that he was very nervous, Mr. +Nestor was taken home. He gave the details of his being waylaid, and +told how the men, for many days, were at their wits' ends to keep him +concealed when they found what a stir his disappearance had created. +The conspirators were well supplied with money, and in the automobile +they took their prisoner from one place to another. They had usurped +the use of the cabin and had lived there nearly a week in hiding, +leaving just before the first visit of Tom and Jackson. The rifled +wallet had been dropped by accident. +</P> + +<P> +And it did not take much delving to disclose the fact that, Lydane, +"Gold Tooth," as he was called, and his crony, were spies in the pay of +the Universal Flying Machine Company. As the men went under several +aliases there is no need of giving their names. It is to be doubted if +they ever used their real ones—or if they had any. +</P> + +<P> +Of course, there was quite a sensation when Mr. Nestor was found, and a +greater one when it became known the part the Universal Flying Machine +people had in his disappearance in mistake for Tom. The officials of +the company were indicted, and several of the minor ones sent to jail +but Gale and Ware escaped by remaining abroad. +</P> + +<P> +It came out that they both knew of the acts of Lydane and his companion +in crime, and that the two officials realized the mistake that had been +made by their clumsy operatives. It was believed that this knowledge +led to the visit of Gale to Tom, the time the latter's suspicions were +first aroused. Gale made a clumsy attempt to clear his own skirts of +the conspiracy, but in vain, though he did escape his just punishment. +</P> + +<P> +What had happened, in brief, was this. Gale and Ware, unable to secure +Tom's services, even by the offer of a large sum of money, had stooped +to the sending of spies to his shop, to get possession of information +about his silent motor. This was after Gale had, by accident, heard Tom +speaking of it to Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +But, thanks to Tom's vigilance, Bower was discovered. The man tripped +into the mud hole lost in the muck the plans Bower passed to him. They +were never recovered. Then Lydane tried again. He managed, through +bribery, to gain access to the hangar where the new silent machine was +kept, and, unable to get the silencer apart, tried to file it. In doing +so he weakened it so that it burst. +</P> + +<P> +The attempt to waylay Tom, and so get the plans from him, had been +tried before this, only a mistake had been made, and Mr. Nestor was +caught instead. Finding out their error, Lydane and his companions did +not tell the Universal people of their mistake, though Gale and Ware +knew the attempt was to be made against Tom Swift. +</P> + +<P> +Later, hearing that the young inventor was still at work on his +invention, Gale was much surprised, and paid his queer visit, in an +attempt to repudiate the actions of Lydane. At this time it was assumed +that Gale and his partner did not know that it was Mr. Nestor who had +been kidnapped by mistake or they might have insisted on his release. +As it was, Lydane had Mary's father, and was afraid to let him go, +though really their prisoner became a white elephant on the hands of +the conspirators and kidnappers. +</P> + +<P> +And it was after all this was cleared up, and Mr. Nestor restored to +his family and friends, that one day, Tom Swift received another visit +from Mr. Terrill, the government agent. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Mr. Swift," was the genial greeting, "I have come to tell you +that the favorable report made by my friends and myself as to the +performance of your noiseless motor, has been accepted by the War +Department, and I have come to ask what your terms are. For how much +will you sell your patent to the United States?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift arose. +</P> + +<P> +"The United States hasn't money enough to buy my patent of a noiseless +motor," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Wha—what!" faltered Mr. Terrill. "Why, I understood—you don't +mean—they told me you were rather patriotic, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"I hope I am patriotic!" interrupted Tom with a smile. "And when I say +that the United States hasn't money enough to buy my latest invention I +mean just that." +</P> + +<P> +"My Air Scout is not for sale!" +</P> + +<P> +"You mean," faltered the government agent. "You say—" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean," went on Tom, "that Silent Sam is for Uncle Sam without one +cent of cost! My father and I take great pleasure in presenting such +machines as are already manufactured, those in process of making, and +the entire patents, and all other rights, to the government for the +winning of the war!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh!" said Mr. Terrill in rather a strange voice. "Oh!" +</P> + +<P> +And that was all he could say for a little while. +</P> + +<P> +But Tom Swift reckoned without a knowledge of a peculiar law which +prohibits the United States from accepting gifts totally without +compensation, and so, in due season, the young inventor received a +check for the sum of one dollar in full payment for his silent motor, +and the patent rights thereto. And Tom has that check framed, and +hanging over his desk. +</P> + +<P> +And so the silent motor became an accomplished fact and a great +success. Those of you who have read of its work against the Boches, and +how it helped Uncle Sam to gain the mastery of the sky, need not be +reminded of this. By it many surprise attacks were made, and much +valuable information was obtained that otherwise could not have been +brought in. +</P> + +<P> +One day, after the rogues had been sent to prison for long terms, and +Tom had turned over to his government his silent aircraft—except one +which he was induced to keep for his own personal use—the young +inventor went to call on Mary Nestor. The object of his call, as I +believe he stated it, was to see how Mr. Nestor was, but that, of +course, was camouflage. +</P> + +<P> +"Would you like to come for a ride, Mary, in the silent airship?" asked +Tom, after he had paid his respects to Mr. Nestor and his wife. "We can +talk very easily on board Silent Sam without the use of a speaking +tube. Come on—we'll go for a moonlight sky ride." +</P> + +<P> +"It sounds enticing," said Mary, with a shy look at Tom. "But wouldn't +you just as soon sit on a bench in the garden? It's moonlight there, +and we can talk, and—and—" +</P> + +<P> +"I'd just as soon!" said Tom quickly. +</P> + +<P> +And out they went into the beautiful moonlight; and here we will leave +them and say good-bye. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="finis"> +THE END +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<HR> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3> +THE TOM SWIFT SERIES +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +By VICTOR APPLETON +</P> + +<P> +These spirited tales convey in a realistic way, the wonderful advances +in land and sea locomotion. Stories like these are impressed upon the +memory and their reading is productive only of good. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE<BR> +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS<BR> +TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE<BR> +TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER<BR> +TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL<BR> +TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH<BR> +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS<BR> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +By LAURA LEE HOPE +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +Author of "The Bobbsey Twins Books," +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"The Bunny Brown Series," +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"The Make-Believe Series," Etc. +</P> + +<P> +Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into +immediate popularity. To know the six little Bunkers is to take them at +once to your heart, they are so intensely human, so full of fun and +cute sayings. Each story has a little plot of its own—one that can be +easily followed—and all are written in Miss Hope's most entertaining +manner. Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on the bookshelf of +every child in the land. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'S<BR> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'S<BR> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'S<BR> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORDS<BR> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'S<BR> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'S<BR> +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES +</H3> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AND THE FLOOD<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT PANAMA<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS UNDER THE SEA<BR> +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE WAR FRONT<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS SERIES<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' FIRST VENTURE<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT SEASIDE PARK<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS ON BROADWAY<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' OUTDOOR EXHIBITION<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' NEW IDEA<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT THE FAIR<BR> +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' WAR SPECTACLE<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Air Scout, by Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT *** + +***** This file should be named 1284-h.htm or 1284-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/8/1284/ + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</BODY> + +</HTML> + + diff --git a/old/1284.txt b/old/1284.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9adca82 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1284.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6150 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Air Scout, by Victor Appleton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tom Swift and his Air Scout + or, Uncle Sam's Mastery of the Sky + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Posting Date: July 17, 2008 [EBook #1284] +Release Date: April, 1998 +[Last updated: July 12, 2013] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT *** + + + + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + + + + + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT + +or + +Uncle Sam's Mastery of the Sky + + +by + +Victor Appleton + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I A SKY RIDE + II A NEW IDEA + III THE BIG OFFER + IV MR. DAMON'S WHIZZER + V TOM'S PROJECT + VI MAKING PLANS + VII A PROBLEM IN SOUND + VIII THROUGH THE ROOF + IX AFTER A SPY + X A BIG SPLASH + XI A NIGHT TRIP + XII THE CRY FOR HELP + XIII SOMETHING QUEER + XIV THE TELEPHONE CALL + XV A VAIN SEARCH + XVI THE LONG NIGHT + XVII SILENT SAM + XVIII SUSPICIONS + XIX ANOTHER FLIGHT + XX QUEER MARKS + XXI THE DESERTED CABIN + XXII CLEWS AT LAST + XXIII THE GOVERNMENT TEST + XXIV IN THE MOONLIGHT + XXV THE GOLD TOOTH + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A SKY RIDE + + +"Oh Tom, is it really safe?" + +A young lady--an exceedingly pretty young lady, she could be +called--stood with one small, gloved hand on the outstretched wing of +an aeroplane, and looked up at a young man, attired in a leather, +fur-lined suit, who sat in the cockpit of the machine just above her. + +"Safe, Mary?" repeated the pilot, as he reached in under the hood of +the craft to make sure about one of the controls. "Why, you ought to +know by this time that I wouldn't go up if it wasn't safe!" + +"Oh, yes, I know, Tom. It may be all right for you, but I've never been +up in this kind of airship before, and I want to know if it's safe for +me." + +The young man leaned over the edge of the padded cockpit, and clasped +in his rather grimy hand the neatly gloved one of the young lady. And +though the glove was new, and fitted the hand perfectly, there was no +attempt to withdraw it. Instead, the young lady seemed to be very glad +indeed that her hand was in such safe keeping. + +"Mary!" exclaimed the young man, "if it wasn't safe--as safe as a +church--I wouldn't dream of taking you up!" and at the mention of +"church" Mary Nestor blushed just the least bit. Or perhaps it was that +the prospective excitement of the moment caused the blood to surge into +her cheeks. Have it as you will. + +"Come, Mary! you're not going to back out the last minute, are you?" +asked Tom Swift. "Everything is all right. I've made a trial flight, +and you've seen me come down as safely as a bird. You promised to go +up with me. I won't go very high if you don't like it, but my +experience has been that, once you're off the ground, it doesn't make +any difference how high you go. You'll find it very fascinating. So +skip along to the house, and Mrs. Baggert will help you get into your +togs." + +"Shall I have to wear all those things--such as you have on?" asked +Mary, blushing again. + +"Well, you'll be more comfortable in a fur-lined leather suit," +asserted Tom. "And if it does make you look like an Eskimo, why I'm +sure it will be very becoming. Not that you don't look nice now," he +hastened to assure Miss Nestor, "but an aviation suit will be +very--well, fetching, I should say." + +"If I could be sure it would 'fetch' me back safe, Tom--" + +"That'll do! That'll do!" laughed the young aviator. "One joke like +that is enough in a morning. It was pretty good, though. Now go on in +and tog up." + +"You're sure it's safe, Tom?" + +"Positive! Trot along now. I want to fix a wire and--" + +"Oh, is anything broken?" and the girl, who had started away from the +aeroplane, turned back again. + +"No, not broken. It's only a little auxiliary dingus I put on to make +it easier to read the barograph, but I think I'll go back to the old +system. Nothing to do with flying at all, except to tell how high up +one is." + +"That's just what I don't care to know, Tom," said Mary Nestor, with a +smile. "If I could imagine I was sailing along only about ten feet in +the air I wouldn't mind so much." + +"Flying at that height would be the worst sort of danger. You leave it +to me, Mary. I won't take you up above the clouds on this sky ride; +though, later, I'm sure you'll want to try that. This is only a little +flight. You've been promising long enough to take a trip with me, and +now I believe you're trying to back out." + +"No, really I'm not, Tom! Only, at the last minute, the machine looks +so small and frail, and the sky is so--big--" + +She glanced up and seemed to shiver just a trifle. + +"Don't be thinking of those things, Mary!" laughed Tom Swift. "Trot +along and get ready. The motor never worked better, and we may break a +few speed records this morning. No traffic cops to stop us, either, as +there might be if we were in an auto." + +"There you go, Mary!" exclaimed Tom, as if struck with a new thought. +"You've ridden in an auto with me many a time, and you never were a bit +afraid, though we were in more danger than we'll be this morning." + +"Danger, Tom, in an auto? How?" + +"Why, danger of a wheel collapsing as we were going full speed; or the +steering knuckle breaking and sending us into a tree; danger of running +into a stone wall or a ditch; danger of some one running into us, or of +us running into some one else. There isn't one of these dangers on a +sky ride." + +"No," said Mary slowly. "But there's the danger of falling." + +"One against twenty. That's the safety margin. And, if we do fall, it +will be like landing in a feather bed! There, don't wait any longer. Go +and get ready." + +Mary sighed, and then, seeming to summon her nerve to her aid, she +smiled brightly, waved her hand to Tom, and hastened toward his home, +where Mrs. Baggert the matronly housekeeper, was waiting to help the +girl attire herself in a flying-suit of leather. + +Mary Nestor, who had a very warm place in the heart of Tom Swift, had, +as he stated, some time since promised to take a trip in the air with +the young inventor. But she had kept putting it off, for one reason or +another, until Tom began to despair of ever getting her to accompany +him. To-day, however, when she had called to inquire about his father, +who had been slightly ill, Tom had, after the social visit, insisted on +the promise being kept. + +He had his mechanic get out one of the safest, though a speedy, double +machine, and, with Mary to watch, Tom had taken a trial flight, just to +show her how easy it was. It was not the first time she had seen him +take to the air, but now she watched with different emotions, for she +was vitally interested. + +Tom had sailed down from aloft, making a landing in the aviation field +he had constructed near his home, and then he had insisted that Mary +should keep her promise to take a sky ride with him. + +"Don't be too long now!" called Tom to the girl, as she hurried toward +the house. "Never mind about your hair, or whether your hat's on +straight. You're going to wear a cap, anyhow, and tuck your hair up +under that. It's hot down here, but it will be cold up above; so tell +Mrs. Baggert to see that you're warmly dressed." + +"All right," and gaily she waved her hand to him. Now that she had made +her decision, and was really going up, she was not half so frightened +as she had been in the contemplation of it. + +As Tom climbed out of the machine, to give it a careful inspection, +though he was certain there was nothing wrong, an aged colored man +shuffled toward him. + +"Yo'--yo'll be mighty careful ob Miss Nestor now, won't yo', Massa +Tom?" asked the man. + +"Of course I will, Eradicate," was the young inventor's answer. + +"Case we ain't got many laik her no mo', an' dat's de truf, Massa Tom," +went on the old man. "So be mighty careful laik!" + +"That's what I will, Rad! And, while I'm up in the air, don't you and +Koku have any trouble." + +"Ho! Trouble wif dat onery no-'count giant! I guess not!" and the +colored man limped off, highly indignant. + +Satisfied, from an inspection of his machine, that it was as nearly +mechanically perfect as it was possible to be, Tom Swift finished his +trip around it and stood near the big propeller, waiting for Mary +Nestor to reappear. Presently she did so, and Tom gaily waved his hand +to her. + +"You're a picture!" he cried, as he saw how particularly "fetching" she +looked in the aviator's costume which was like his own. Because of the +danger of entanglement, Miss Nestor had doffed her skirts, and wore the +costume of all aviators--men and women. + +"I wish I had my camera!" cried Tom. "You look--stunning!" + +"I hope that isn't any comment on how I'm going to feel if we have to +make a--forced landing, I believe you call it," she retorted. + +"Oh, I'll take care of that!" exclaimed Tom. "Now up you go, and we'll +start," and he helped her to climb into the padded seat of the cockpit, +behind where he was to sit. + +"Oh, Tom! Don't be in such a hurry!" expostulated Mary. "Let me get my +breath!" + +"No!" laughed the young inventor. "If I did you might back out. Get +in, fasten the strap around you and sit still. That's all you have to +do. Don't be afraid, I'll be very careful. And don't try to yell at me +to go slower or lower once we're up in the air. + +"Why not?" Mary wanted to know, as she settled herself in her seat. + +"Because I can't very well hear you, or talk to you. The motor makes so +much noise, you know. We can do a little talking through this speaking +tube," and he indicated one, "but it isn't very satisfactory. So if you +have anything to say--" + +"In the language of the poets," interrupted Mary, "if I have words to +spill, prepare to spill them now. Well, I haven't! Now I'm here, go +ahead! I shall probably be too frightened to talk, anyhow." + +"Oh, no you won't--after the first little sensation," Tom assured her. +"You'll be crazy about it. Come on, Jackson!" he called to the +mechanician. "Start the ball rolling!" + +Tom was in his place, his goggles and cap well down over his face, and +he was adjusting the switch as the mechanic prepared to spin the +propellers. + +Suddenly a man came running from the Swift house, waving his arms not +unlike the blades of an aircraft propeller, he also shouted, but Tom, +whose ears were covered with his fur cap, could not hear. However, +Jackson did, and stopped whirling the blades, turning about to see what +was wanted. + +"Why, it's Mr. Damon!" exclaimed Tom, as he caught sight of the excited +man. "Hello, what's the matter?" the youth asked, pulling aside one +flap of his head-covering so he might hear the answer. + +"Tom! Wait a minute! Bless my mouse trap!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "I want +to speak to you!" He was panting from his run across the field. "I just +got to your house--saw your father--he said you were going up with Miss +Nestor, but--bless my dog biscuit--" + +"Can't stop now, Mr. Damon!" answered Tom, with a laugh. "I have only +just succeeded, by hard work, in getting Mary to a point where she has +consented to take a sky ride. If I stop now she'll back out and I'll +never get her in again. See you when I come back," and Tom pulled the +covering over his ear once more. + +"But, Tom, bless my shoe laces! This is important!" + +"So's this!" answered Tom, with a grin. He saw, by the motion of Mr. +Damon's lips, what the latter had said. + +Around swung the propeller blades. The gasoline vapor in the cylinders +was being compressed. + +"Contact!" called Tom sharply, as he pressed the switch to give the +igniting spark at the proper moment. The mechanic had stepped back out +of the way, in case there should be a premature starting of the +powerful engine, in which event the blades would have cut him to pieces. + +"Wait, Tom! Wait! This is very important! Bless my collar button, Tom +Swift, but this is--" + +Bang! Bang! Bang! + +With a series of explosions, like those of a machine gun, the motor +started, and further talk was out of the question. Tom turned on more +gas. The propellers became almost invisible blades of light and shadow, +and the aeroplane began moving over the grassy field. The mechanic had +sprung out of the way, pulling Mr. Damon with him. + +"Come back! Come back! Wait a minute, Tom Swift! Bless my pansy +blossoms, I want to tell you something!" cried the little man. + +But Tom Swift was away and out of hearing. He had started on his sky +ride with Mary Nestor. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A NEW IDEA + + +Any one who has taken a flight in an aeroplane or gone up in a balloon, +will know exactly how Mary Nestor felt on this, her first sky ride of +any distance. For a moment, as she looked over the side of the machine, +she had a distinct impression, not that she was going up, but that some +one had pulled the earth down from beneath her and, at the same time, +given her a shove off into space. Such is the first sensation of going +aloft. Then the rush of air all about her, the slightly swaying motion +of the craft, and the vibration caused by the motor took her attention. +But the sensation of the earth dropping away from beneath her remained +with Mary for some time. + +This sensation is much greater in a balloon than in an aeroplane, for a +balloon, unless there is a strong wind blowing, goes straight up, while +an aeroplane ascends on a long slant, and always into the teeth of the +wind, to take advantage of its lifting power on the underside of the +planes. The reason for this sensation--that of the earth's dropping +down, instead of one's feeling, what really happens, that one is +ascending--is because there are no objects by which comparison can be +made. If one starts off on the earth's surface at slow, or at great +speed, one passes stationary objects--houses, posts, trees, and the +like--and judges the speed by the rapidity with which these are left +behind. + +Going up is unlike this. There is nothing to pass. One simply cleaves +the air, and only as it rushes past can one be sure of movement. And as +the air is void of color and form, there is no sensation of passing +anything. + +So Mary Nestor, as she shot into the air with Tom Swift, had a +sensation as though the earth were dropping from beneath her. For a +moment she felt as though she were in some vast void--floating in +space--and she had a great fear. Then she calmed herself. She looked at +Tom sitting in front of her. Of course, all she could see was his back, +but it looked to be a very sturdy back, indeed, and he sat there in the +aircraft as calmly as though in a chair on the ground. Then Mary took +courage, and ceased to grasp the sides of the cockpit with a grip that +stiffened all her muscles. She was beginning to "find herself." + +On and on, and up and up, went Mary and Tom, in this the girl's first +big sky ride. The earth below seemed farther and farther away. The +wide, green fields became little emerald squares, and the houses like +those in a toy Noah's ark. + +Down below, Mr. Wakefield Damon, who had hurried over from his home in +Waterfield to see Tom Swift, gazed aloft at the fast disappearing +aeroplane and its passengers. + +"Bless my coal bin!" cried the eccentric man, "but Tom is in a hurry +this morning. Too bad he couldn't have stopped and spoken to me. It +might have been greatly to his advantage. But I suppose I shall have to +wait." + +"You want to see Master?" asked a voice behind Mr. Damon, and, turning, +he beheld a veritable giant. + +"Yes, Koku, I did," Mr. Damon answered, and he did not appear at all +surprised at the sight of the towering form beside him. "I wanted to +see Tom most particularly. But I shall have to wait. I'll go in and +talk to Mr. Swift." + +"Yaas, an' I go talk to Radicate," said the giant. "Him diggin' up +ground where Master told me to make garden. Radicate not strong enough +for dat!" + +"Huh! there's trouble as soon as those two get to disputing," mused Mr. +Damon, as he went toward the house. + +Meanwhile, Mary was beginning to enjoy herself. The sensation of moving +rapidly through the air in a machine as skillfully guided as was the +one piloted by Tom Swift was delightful. Up and up they went, and then +suddenly Mary felt a lurch, and the plane, which was now about a +thousand feet high, seemed to slip to one side. + +Mary screamed, and began reaching for the buckle of the safety belt +that fastened her to her seat. She saw that something unusual had +occurred, for Tom was working frantically at the mechanism in front of +him. + +But, in spite of this, he seemed aware that Mary was in danger, not so +much, perhaps, from what might happen to the machine, as what she might +do in her terror. + +"Oh! Oh!" cried the girl, and Tom heard her above the terrific noise of +the motor, for she was speaking with her lips close to the tube that +served as a sort of inter-communicating telephone for the craft. "Oh, +we are falling! I'm going to jump!" + +"Sit still! Sit still for your life!" cried Tom Swift. "I'll save you +all right! Only sit still! Don't jump!" + +Mary, her red cheeks white, sank back, and the young inventor redoubled +his efforts at the controls and other mechanisms. + +And that Tom was perfectly qualified to make a safe landing, even with +engine trouble, Mary Nestor well knew. Those of you who have read the +previous books of this series know it also, but, for the benefit of my +new readers, I shall state that this was by no means Tom's first ride +in an aeroplane. + +He had operated and built gasoline engines ever since he was about +sixteen years old. As related in the initial volume of this series, +entitled, "Tom Swift and His Motorcycle," he became possessed of this +machine after it had started to climb a tree with Mr. Damon on board. +After that experience the eccentric man--blessing everything he could +think of--had no liking for the speedy motorcycle and sold it to Tom at +a low price. + +That was the beginning of a friendship between the two, and also +started Tom on his career as an inventor and a possessor of many +gasoline craft. For he was not content with merely riding the repaired +motorcycle. He made improvements on it. + +Tom lived with his father in the town of Shopton, their home being +looked after, since the death of Mrs. Swift, by Mrs. Baggert. Mr. +Wakefield Damon lived in the neighboring town of Waterfield, and spent +much time at Tom's home, often going on trips with him in various +vehicles of the land, sea or air. + +As related in the various volumes of this series, Tom was not content +to remain on earth. He built a speedy motor boat, and then secured an +airship, following that with a submarine. He also made an electric +runabout that was the speediest car on the road. Sending wireless +messages, having thrilling experiences among the diamond makers, +journeying to the caves of ice, and making perilous trips in his sky +racer took up part of the young inventor's time. + +With his electric rifle he did some wonderful shooting, and in the +"City of Gold" made some strange discoveries, part of the fortune he +secured enabling him to build his sky racer. It was in a land of giants +that Tom was made captive, but he succeeded in escaping, and brought +two giants, of whom Koku was one, away with him. + +Following this achievement Tom invented a wizard camera and a great +searchlight, which, with his giant cannon, was purchased by the United +States Government. Work on his photo-telephone and his aerial warship, +the problem of digging a big tunnel, and then traveling to the land of +wonders, kept Tom Swift very busy, and he had just completed a +wonderful piece of work when the present story opens. + +This last achievement was the perfecting of a machine to aid in the +great World War and you will find the details set down in the volume +which immediately precedes this. "Tom Swift and His War Tank," it is +called, and in that is related how he not only invented a marvelous +machine, but succeeded in keeping its secret from the plotters who +tried to take it from him. In this Tom was helped by the inspiration of +Mary Nestor, whom he hoped some day to marry, and by Ned Newton, a +chum, who, though no inventor himself, could admire one. + +Ned and Tom had been chums a long while, but Ned inclined more to +financial and office matters than to machinery. At times he had managed +affairs for Tom, and helped him finance projects. Ned was now an +important bank official, and since the United States had entered the +war had had charge of some Red Cross work, as well as Liberty Bond +campaigns. + +Somehow, as she sat there in the craft which seemed disabled, Mary +Nestor could not help thinking of Tom's many activities, in some of +which she had shared. + +"Oh, if he falls now, and is killed!" she thought. "Oh, what will +happen to us?" + +"It's all right, Mary! Don't worry! It's all right!" cried Tom, through +the speaking tube. + +"What's that? I can't hear you very well!" she called back. + +"No wonder, with the racket this motor is making," he answered. "Why +can't something be done so you can talk in an aeroplane as well as in a +balloon? That's an idea! If I could tell you what was the matter now +you wouldn't be a bit frightened, for it isn't anything. But, as it +is--" + +"What are you saying, Tom? I can't hear you!" cried Mary, still much +frightened. + +"I say it's all right--don't get scared. And don't jump!" Tom shouted +until his ears buzzed. "It's all nonsense--having a motor making so +much noise one can't talk!" he went on, irritatedly. + +A strange idea had come to the young inventor, but there was no time to +think of it now. Mentally he registered a vow to take up this idea and +work on it as soon as possible. But, just now, the aeroplane needed all +his attention. + +As he had told Mary, there was really nothing approaching any great +danger. But it was rather an anxious moment. If Tom had been alone he +would have thought little of it, but with Mary along he felt a double +responsibility. + +What had happened was that the craft had suddenly gone into an "air +pocket" or partial vacuum, and there had been a sudden fall and a slide +slip. In trying to stop this too quickly Tom had broken one of his +controls, and he was busily engaged in putting an auxiliary one in +place and trying to reassure Mary at the same time. + +"But it's mighty hard trying to do that through a speaking tube with a +motor making a noise like a boiler factory," mused the young inventor. +Tom worked quickly and to good purpose. In a few moments, though to +Mary they seemed like hours, the machine was again gliding along on a +level keel, and Tom breathed more easily. + +"And now for my great idea!" he told himself. + +But it was some time before he could give his attention to that. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE BIG OFFER + + +Working with all the skill he possessed, Tom had got the aeroplane in +proper working order again. As has been said, the accident was a +trivial one, and had he been alone, or with an experienced aviator, he +would have thought little of it. Then, very likely, he would have +volplaned to earth and made the repairs there. But he did not want to +frighten Mary Nestor, so he fixed the control while gliding along, and +made light of it. Thus his passenger was reassured. + +"Are we all right?" asked Mary through the tube, as they sailed along. + +"Right as a fiddle," answered Tom, shouting through the same means of +communication. + +"What's that about a riddle?" asked Mary, in surprise at his seeming +flippancy at such a time. + +"I didn't say anything about a riddle--I said we are as fit as a +fiddle!" cried Tom. "Never mind. No use trying to talk with the racket +this motor makes, and it isn't the noisiest of its kind, either. I'll +tell you when we get down. Do you like it?" + +"Yes, I like it better than I did at first," answered Mary, for she had +managed to understand the last of Tom's questions. Then he sailed a +little higher, circled about, and, a little later, not to get Mary too +tired and anxious, he headed for his landing field. + +"I'll take you home in the auto," he cried to his passenger. "We could +go up to your house this way--in style--if there was a field near by +large enough to land in. But there isn't. So it will have to be a +plain, every-day auto." + +"That's good enough for me," said Mary. "Though this trip is +wonderful--glorious! I'll go again any time you ask me." + +"Well, I'll ask you," said Tom. "And when I do maybe it won't be so +hard to hold a conversation. It will be more like this," and he shut +off the motor and began to glide gently down. The quiet succeeding the +terrific noise of the motor exhaust was almost startling, and Tom and +Mary could converse easily without using the tube. + +Then followed the landing on the soft, springy turf, a little glide +over the ground, and the machine came to a halt, while mechanics ran +out of the hangar to take charge of it. + +"I'll just go in and change these togs," said Mary, as she alighted and +looked at her leather costume. + +"No, don't," advised Tom. "You look swell in em. Keep 'em on. They're +yours, and you'll need 'em when we go up again. Here comes the auto. +I'll take you right home in it. Keep the aviation suit on. + +"I wonder what Mr. Damon could have wanted," remarked Tom, as he drove +Mary along the country road. + +"He seemed very much excited," she replied. + +"Oh, he almost always is that way--blessing everything he can think of. +You know that. But this time it was different, I'll admit. I hope +nothing is the matter. I might have stopped and spoken to him, but I +was afraid if I did you'd back out and wouldn't come for a sky ride." + +"Well, I might have. But now that I've had one, even with an accident +thrown in, I'll go any time you ask me, Tom," and Mary smiled at the +young inventor. + +"Shucks, that wasn't a real accident!" he laughed. "But I do wonder +what Mr. Damon wanted." + +"Better go back and find out, Tom," advised Mary, as they stopped in +front of her house. + +"Oh, I want to come in and talk to you. Haven't had a chance for a good +talk today, that motor made such a racket." + +"No, go along now, but come back and see me this afternoon if you like." + +"I do like, all right! And I suppose Mr. Damon will be fussing until he +sees me. Well, glad you liked your first ride in the air, Mary--that +is, the first one of any account," for Mary had been in an aeroplane +before, though only up a little way--a sort of "grass-cutting stunt," +Tom called it. + +Waving farewell to the pretty girl, the young aviator turned the auto +about and speeded for his home and the shops adjoining it. His father +had not been well, of late, and Tom was a bit anxious about him. + +"Mr. Damon may bother him, though he wouldn't mean to," thought Tom. +"He seemed to have his mind filled with some new idea. I wonder if it +is anything like mine? No, it couldn't be. Well, I'll soon find out," +and, putting his foot on the accelerator, Tom sent the machine along at +a pace that soon brought him within sight of his home. + +"Is father all right?" he asked Mrs. Baggert, who was out on the front +porch, as though waiting for him. + +"Oh, yes, Tom, he's all right," the housekeeper answered. + +"Is Mr. Damon with him?" + +"No." + +"He hasn't gone home, has he?" + +"No, he's around somewhere. But some one else is with your father. Some +visitors." + +"Any relations?" + +"No; strangers. They came to see you, and they're rather impatient. I +came out to see if you were in sight. Your father sent me." + +"Are they bothering him--talking business that I ought to attend to +when he's ill? That mustn't be." + +"Well, I suppose it is business that the strangers are talking over +with your father, Tom," said Mrs. Baggert, "for I heard sums of money +spoken of. But your father seems to be all right, only a trifle anxious +that you should come." + +"Well, I'm here now and I'll attend to things. Where are the strangers, +and who are they?" + +"I don't know," answered the housekeeper. "I never saw them before, but +they're in the library with your father. Do you think they'll stay to +dinner? If you do, I'll have Eradicate or Koku catch and kill a +chicken." + +"If you let one do it don't tell the other about it," said Tom with a +laugh, "or you'll have a chicken race around the yard that will make +the visitors sit up and take notice." + +There was great rivalry between Eradicate Sampson, the aged colored +man, and Koku, the giant, and they were continually disputing. Each one +loved and served Tom in his own way, and there was jealousy between +them. Koku, the giant Tom had brought with him from the land where the +young inventor had been made captive, was a big, powerful man, and +could do things the aged colored servant could not attempt. But "Rad," +as he was often called, and his mule "Boomerang" had long been fixtures +on the Swift homestead. But old age crept on apace with Eradicate, +though he hated to admit it, and Koku did many things the colored man +had formerly attended to, and Rad was always on the lookout not to be +supplanted. Hence Tom's warning to Mrs. Baggert about letting the two +be entrusted with the same mission of catching a chicken for the pot. + +"Better get the fowl yourself and say nothing to either of them about +it," Tom advised the housekeeper. "Mr. Damon will stay to dinner, as he +always does when he comes, and as it's near twelve now, and as I may be +delayed talking business to these strangers, you'd better get up a +bigger meal than usual." + +"I will, Tom," promised Mrs. Baggert. And then the young inventor, +having seen that one of the men took the automobile to the garage, went +into the house. + +"Oh, here you are!" was his father's greeting, as he came out into the +hall from the library. "I've been waiting anxiously for you, my boy. I +couldn't think what was keeping you." + +"Oh, I had a little trouble with the air machine--nothing serious." + +A moment later Tom was standing before two well-dressed, +prosperous-looking business men, who smiled pleasantly at him. + +"Mr. Thomas Swift?" interrogated one, the elder, as he held out his +hand. + +"That's my name," answered Tom, pleasantly. + +"I'm Peton Gale, and this gentleman is Boland Ware," went on the man +who had taken Tom's hand. "I'm president and he's treasurer of the +Universal Flying Machine Company, of New York." + +"Oh, yes," said Tom, as he shook hands with Mr. Ware. "I have heard of +your concern. You are doing a lot of government work, are you not?" + +"Yes; war orders. And we're up to our neck in them. This war is going +to be almost as much fought in the air as on the ground, Mr. Swift." + +"I can well believe that," agreed Tom. "Won't you have a chair?" + +"Well, we didn't come to stay long," said Mr. Gale with a laugh, which, +somehow or other, grated on Tom and seemed to him insincere. "Our +business is such a rushing one that we don't spend much time anywhere. +To get down to brass tacks, we have come to see you to put a certain +proposition before you, Mr. Swift. You are open to a business +proposition, aren't you?" + +"Oh, yes," answered Tom. "That's what I'm here for." + +"I thought so. Well, now I'll tell you, in brief, what we want, and +then Mr. Ware, our treasurer, can elaborate on it, and give you facts +and figures about which I never bother myself. I attend to the +executive end and leave the details to others," and again came that +laugh which Tom did not like. + +"You came here to make me an offer?" asked the young inventor, +wondering to which of his many machines the visitors had reference. + +"Yes," went on Mr. Gale, "we came here to make you a big offer. In +short, Mr. Swift, we want you to work for our company, and we are +willing to pay you ten thousand dollars a year for the benefit of your +advice and your inventive abilities. Ten thousand dollars a year! Do +you accept?" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +MR. DAMON'S WHIZZER + + +Characteristic it was of Tom Swift that he did not seem at all +surprised at what most young men would call a liberal offer. Certainly +not many youths of Tom's age would be sought out by a big manufacturing +concern, and offered ten thousand dollars a year "right off the reel," +as Ned Newton expressed it later. But Tom only smiled and shook his +head in negation. + +"What!" cried Mr. Gale, "you mean you won't accept our offer?" + +"I can't," answered Tom. + +"You can't!" exclaimed the treasurer, Mr. Ware. "Oh, I see. Mr. Gale, a +word with you. Excuse us a moment," he added to Tom and his father. + +The two men consulted in a corner of the library for a moment, and +then, with smiles on their faces, once more turned toward the young +inventor. + +"Well, perhaps you are right, Tom Swift," said Mr. Gale. "Of course, we +recognize your talents and ability, but you cannot blame us for trying +to get talent, as well as material for our airships, in the cheapest +market. But we are not hide-bound, nor sticklers for any set sum. We'll +make that offer fifteen thousand dollars a year, if you will sign a +five-year contract and agree that we shall have first claim on anything +and everything you may patent or invent in that time. Now, how does +that strike you? Fifteen thousand dollars a year--paid weekly if you +wish, and our Mr. Ware, here, has a form of contract which can be fixed +up and signed within ten minutes, if you agree." + +"Well, I don't like to be disagreeable," said Tom with a smile; "but, +really, as I said before, I can't accept your very kind offer. I may +say liberal offer. I appreciate that." + +"You can't accept!" cried Mr. Gale. + +"Are you sure you don't mean 'won't'?" asked Mr. Ware, in a half growl. + +"You may call it that if you like," replied Tom, a bit coolly, for he +did not like the other's tone, "Only, as I say, I cannot accept. I have +other plans." + +"Oh, you--" began the brusk treasurer, but Mr. Gale, the president of +the Universal Flying Machine Company, stopped his associate with a +warning look. + +"Just a moment, Mr. Swift," begged the president. "Don't be hasty. We +are prepared to make you a last and final offer, and I do not believe +you can refuse it." + +"Well, I certainly will not refuse it without hearing it," said Tom, +with a smile he meant to make good-natured. Yet, truth to tell, he did +not at all like the two visitors. There was something about them that +aroused his antagonism, and he said later that even if they had offered +him a sum which he felt he ought not, in justice to himself and his +father, refuse, he would have felt a distaste in working for a company +represented by the twain. + +"This is our offer," said Mr. Gale, and he spoke in a pompous manner +which seemed to say: "If you don't take it, why, it will be the worse +for you." He looked at his treasurer for a confirmatory nod and, +receiving it, went on. "We are prepared to offer and pay you, and will +enter into such a contract, with the stipulation about the inventions +that I mentioned before--we are prepared to pay you--twenty thousand +dollars a year! Now what do you say to that, Tom Swift? + +"Twenty-thousand-dollars-a-year!" repeated Mr. Gale unctuously, rolling +the words off his tongue. "Twen-ty-thou-sand-dol-lars-a-year! Think of +it!" + +"I am thinking of it," said Tom Swift gently, "and I thank you for your +offer. It is, indeed, very generous. But I must give you the same +answer. I cannot accept." + +"Tom!" exclaimed his aged father. + +"Mr. Swift!" exclaimed the two visitors. + +Tom smiled and shook his head. + +"Oh, I know very well what I am saying, and what I am turning down," he +said. "But I simply cannot accept. I have other plans. I am sorry you +have had your trip for nothing," he added to the visitors, "but, +really, I must refuse." + +"Is that your final answer?" asked Mr. Gale. + +"Yes." + +"Don't you want to take a day or two to think it over?" asked the +treasurer. "Don't be hasty. Remember that very few young men can +command that salary, and I may say you will find us liberal in other +ways. You would have some time to yourself." + +"That is what I most need," returned Tom. "Time to myself. No, thank +you, gentlemen, I cannot accept." + +"Be careful!" warned Mr. Gale, and it sounded as though there might be +a threat in his voice. "This is our last offer, and your last chance. +We will not renew this. If you do not accept our twenty thousand +dollars now, you will never get it again." + +"I realize that," said Tom, "and I am prepared to take the consequences. + +"Very well, then," said Mr. Gale. "There seems nothing for us to do, +Mr. Ware, but to go back to New York. I bid you good-day," and he bowed +stiffly to Tom. "I hope you will not regret your refusal of our offer." + +"I hope so myself," said Tom, lightly. + +When the visitors had gone Mr. Swift turned toward his son, and, +shaking his head, remarked: + +"Of course, you know your own business best, Tom. Yet I cannot but feel +you have made a mistake." + +"How?" asked Tom. "By not taking that money? I can easily make that in +a year, with an idea I have in mind for an improvement on an airship. +And your new electric motor will soon be ready for the market. Besides, +we don't really need the money." + +"No, not now, Tom, but there is no telling when we may," said Mr. +Swift, slowly. "This big war has made many changes, and things that +brought us in a good income before, hardly sell at all, now." + +"Oh, don't worry, Dad! We still have a few shots left in the locker--in +other words, the bank. I'm expecting Ned Newton over any moment now, to +give us the annual statement of our account, and then we'll know where +we stand. I'm not afraid from the money end. Our business has done +well, and it is going to do better. I have a new idea." + +"That's all very well, Tom," said Mr. Swift, who seemed oppressed by +something. "As you say, money isn't everything, and I know we shall +always have enough to live on. But there is something about those two +men I do not like. They were very angry at your refusal of their offer. +I could see that. Tom, I don't want to be a croaker, but I think you'll +have to watch out for those men. They're going to be your enemies--your +rivals in the airship field," and Mr. Swift shook his head dolefully. + +"Well, rivalry, when it's clean and above board, is the spice of trade +and invention," returned Tom, lightly. "I'm not afraid of that." + +"No, but it may be unfair and underhand," said Mr. Swift. "I think it +would have been better, Tom, to have accepted their offer. Twenty +thousand a year, clear money, is a good sum." + +"Yes, but I may make twice that with something that occurred to me only +a little while ago. Forget about those men, Dad, and I'll tell you my +new idea. But wait, I want Mr. Damon to hear it, too. Where is he?" + +"He was here a little while ago. He went out when those two men came +and--" + +At that moment, from the garden at the side of the library, the sound +of voices in dispute could be heard. + +"Now yo' all g'wan 'way from yeah!" exclaimed some one who could be +none other than Eradicate Sampson. "Whut fo' yo' all want to clutter up +dish yeah place fo'? Massa Tom said I was to do de garden wuk, an' I'se +gwine to do it! G'wan 'way, Giant!" + +"Ho! You want me to get out, s'pose you put me, black face!" cried a +big voice, that of Koku, the giant. + +"There they go! At it again!" cried Tom with a smile. "Might have known +if I told Rad to do anything that Koku would be jealous. Well, I'll +have to go out now and give that giant something to do that will tax +his strength." + +But as Tom was about to leave the room another voice was heard in the +garden. + +"Now, boys, be nice," said some one soothingly. "The garden is large +enough for you both to work in. Rad, you begin at the lower end and +spade toward the middle. Koku, you begin at the upper end and work +down. Whoever gets to the middle first will win." + +"Ha! Den I'll show dat giant some spade wuk as is spade wuk!" cried the +colored man. "Garden wuk is mah middle name." + +"Be careful, Rad!" laughed Mr. Damon, for he it was who was trying to +act as peacemaker. "Remember that Koku is very strong." + +"Yas, sah! He may be strong, but he's clumsy!" chuckled Eradicate. "You +watch me beat him!" + +"Ho! Black man get stuck in mud!" challenged Koku. "I show him!" + +Then there was silence, and Tom and his father, looking out, saw the +two disputants beginning to spade the soil while Mr. Damon, satisfied +that he had, for the time being, stopped a quarrel, turned toward the +house. + +"I was just coming to look for you," said Tom. "Sorry I had to go off +in such a hurry and leave you, but I had promised to take Mary for a +ride, and as it was her first one, for a distance, I didn't want her to +back out." + +"That's all right, Tom, that's all right!" said Mr. Damon genially. +"Ladies first every time. But I do want to see you, and it's about +something important." + +"No trouble, I hope?" queried Tom, for the manner of the eccentric man +was rather grave. + +"Trouble? Oh, no! Bless my frying pan, no trouble, Tom! In fact, it may +be the other way about. Tom, I have an idea, and there may be millions +in it! That's it--millions!" + +"Good!" cried the young inventor. "Might as well bite off a big lump +while you're at it. So you have a new idea! Well, I have myself, but +I'll listen to yours first. What is it, Mr. Damon?" + +"It's a new kind of airship, Tom. I haven't got it all worked out yet, +but I can give you a rough outline. On my way over I got to thinking +about balloons, aeroplanes and the like, and it occurred to me that the +present principles are all wrong." + +"So I evolved a new type of machine. I'm going to call it the Damon +Whizzer. Maybe Demon Whizzer would be more appropriate, but we won't +decide on that now. Anyhow, it's going to be a whizzer, and I want to +talk to you about it. There is an entirely new principle of elevation +and propulsion involved in my Whizzer, and I--" + +At that moment there came a crash and clatter of steel and wood from +the garden, out of sight of which Tom and Mr. Damon had walked while +talking. Then followed a jangle of words. + +"They're at it again!" cried Tom, as he ran toward the side of the +house. "I guess it's a fight this time!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +TOM'S PROJECT + + +Curious was the sight that met the gaze of Tom Swift and Mr. Wakefield +Damon as they rounded the corner of the house and looked into the newly +spaded garden. There stood the giant, Koku, holding aloft in the air, +by one hand, the form of the struggling colored man, Eradicate Sampson. +And Eradicate was vainly trying to get at his enemy and rival, but was +prevented by the long-distance hold the giant had on him. + +"Yo' let me go, now! Yo' let me go, big man," cried Eradicate. "Ef yo' +don't I'll bust yo' wide open, dat's whut I'll do! An' 'sides, I'll +tell Massa Tom on yo', dat's whut I'll do!" + +"Ho! You tell--I let you fall!" threatened Koku. + +His threat was dire enough, for such was his size and strength that he +held the colored man nearly nine feet from the ground, and a fall from +that distance would seriously jar Eradicate, if it did nothing else. +The colored man's eyes opened wide as he heard what Koku said, and then +he cried: + +"Let me down! Let me down, an' I won't say nuffin!" + +"An' you let me scatter dirt?" asked Koku, for such was the giant's +idea of working in the garden. + +"Yes, yo' kin scatter de dirt seben ways from Sunday fo' all I keers!" +conceded Eradicate. Then, as he was lowered to the ground, he and the +giant turned and saw Mr. Damon and Tom approaching. + +"What's wrong?" asked the young inventor. + +"'Scuse me, Massa Tom," began Eradicate, "but didn't yo' tell me to +spade de garden?" + +"I guess I did," admitted Tom Swift. + +"An' you tell me help--yes?" questioned Koku. + +"Well, I thought it would be a little too much for you, Rad," said Tom, +gently. "I thought perhaps you'd like help." + +"Hu! Not him, anyhow!" declared the colored man in great disgust. "When +I git so old dat I cain't spade a garden, den me an' Boomerang, we-all +gwine to die, dat's all I got to say. I was a-spadin' my part ob de +garden, Massa Tom, same laik Mr. Damon done tole me to, an' dish yeah +big mess ob bones steps on my side ob de middle an--" + +"Him too slow. Koku scatter dirt twice times so fast!" declared the +giant, whose English was not much better than Eradicate's. + +"Yes, I see," said Tom. "You are so strong, Koku, that you finished +your part before Eradicate did. Well, it was good of you to want to +help him." + +At this the giant grinned at his rival. + +"At the same time," went on Tom, winking an eye at Mr. Damon, +"Eradicate knows a little more about garden work, on account of having +done it so many years." + +"Ha! Whut I tell yo', Giant!" boasted the colored man. It was his turn +to smile. + +"And so," went on Tom, judicially, "I guess I'll let Rad finish spading +the garden, and you, Koku, can come and help me lift some heavy engine +parts. Mr. Damon wants to explain something to me." + +"Ha! Nothing what so heavy Koku not lift!" boasted the giant. + +"Go on! Lift yo'se'f 'way from heah!" muttered Eradicate as he picked +up his dropped spade. And then, with a smile of satisfaction, he fell +to work in the mellow soil while Tom led Koku to one of the shops where +he set him to lifting heavy motor parts about in order to get at a +certain machine that was stored away in the back of one of the rooms. + +"That will keep him busy," said the young inventor. "And now, Mr. +Damon, I can listen to you. Do you really think you have a new idea in +airships?" + +"I really think so, Tom. My Whizzer is bound to revolutionize travel in +the air. Let me tell you what I mean. Now cast your mind back. How many +ways are now used to propel an airship or a dirigible balloon through +the air? How many ways?" + +"Two, as far as I know," said Tom. "At least there are only two that +have proved to be practical." + +"Exactly," said Mr. Damon. "One with the propeller, or propellers, in +front, and that is the tractor type. The other has the propeller in the +rear, and that is the pusher type. Both good as far as they go, but I +have something better." + +"What?" asked Tom with a smile. + +"It's a Whizzer," said the eccentric man. "Bless my gold tooth! but +that is the best name I can think of for it. And, really, the propeller +I'm thinking of inventing does whiz around." + +"But are you going to use a tractor or pusher type?" Tom wanted to know. + +"It's a combination of both," answered Mr. Damon. "As it is now, Tom, +you have to get an aeroplane in pretty speedy motion before it will +rise from the ground, don't you?" + +"Yes, of course. That's the principle on which an aeroplane rises and +keeps aloft, by its speed in the air. As soon as that speed stops it +begins to fall, or volplane, as we call it." + +"Exactly. Now, instead of having to depend on the speed of the +aeroplane for this, why not depend on the speed of the propeller--in +other words, the whizzer?" + +"Well, we do," said Tom, a bit puzzled as to what his friend was trying +to get at. "If the propeller didn't move the airship wouldn't +rise--that is, unless it's of the balloon type." + +"What I mean," said Mr. Damon, "is to have an aeroplane that will move +in the air the same as a boat moves in the water. You don't have to get +the propeller of a boat racing around at the rate of a million +revolutions a minute, more or less, before your boat will travel, do +you? If the engine turns the screw, or propeller, just over say fifty +times a minute you would get some motion of the boat, wouldn't you?" + +"Why, yes, some," admitted Tom. + +"And what causes it?" asked Mr. Damon, anticipating a triumph. + +"The resistance of the water to the blades of the screw, or propeller," +answered Tom. + +"Exactly! And it's the resistance of the air to the blades of an +airship propeller that sends the craft along, isn't it?" + +"Yes. And because of the difference in density between air and water it +becomes necessary to revolve an aeroplane propeller many times faster +than a boat propeller. It's the density that makes the difference, Mr. +Damon. If air were as dense as water we could have comparatively +slow-moving motors and propellers and--" + +"Ha! There you have it, Tom! And there is where my Whizzer--Wakefield +Damon's Whizzer--is going to revolutionize air travel!" cried the +eccentric man. "The difference in density! If air were as dense as +water the problem would be solved. And I have solved it! I'm going to +turn the trick, Tom! One more question. How can air be made as dense as +water, Tom Swift?" + +"Why, by condensation or compression, I suppose," was the rather slow +answer. "You know they have condensed, or compressed, air until it is +liquid. I've done it myself, as an experiment." + +"That's it, Tom! That's it!" cried Mr. Damon in delight. "Compressed +air will do the trick! Not compressed to a liquid, exactly, but almost +so. I'm going to revolve the propellers of my new airship in compressed +air, so dense that they will not have to have a speed of more than +seven hundred revolutions a minute. What's that compared to the three +to ten thousand revolutions of the propellers now used? The propellers +of Damon's Whizzer will be of the pusher type, and will revolve in +dense, compressed air, almost like water, and that will do away with +high speed motors, with all their complications, and make traveling in +the clouds as simple as taking out a little one-cylinder motor boat. +How's that, Tom Swift? How's that for an idea?" + +To Mr. Damon's disappointment, Tom was not enthusiastic. The young +inventor gazed at his eccentric friend, and then said slowly: + +"Well, that's all right in theory, but how is it going to work out in +practice?" + +"That's what I came to see you about, Tom," was the reply. "Bless my +tall hat! but that's just why I hurried over here. I wanted to tell you +when I saw you going off on a trip with Miss Nestor. That's my big +idea--Damon's Whizzer--propellers revolving in compressed air like +water. Isn't that great?" + +"I'm sorry to shatter your air castle," said Tom; "but for the life of +me I can't see how it will work. Of course, in theory, if you could +revolve a big-bladed propeller in very dense, or in liquid, air, there +would be more resistance than in the rarefied atmosphere of the upper +regions. And, if this could be done, I grant you that you could use +slower motors and smaller propeller blades--more like those of a motor +boat. But how are you going to get the condensed air?" + +"Make it!" said Mr. Damon promptly. "Air pumps are cheap. Just carry +one or two on board the aeroplane, and condense the air as you go +along. That's a small detail that can easily be worked out. I leave +that to you." + +"I'd rather you wouldn't," said Tom. "That's the whole +difficulty--compressing your air. Wait! I'll explain it to you." + +Then the young inventor went into details. He told of the ponderous +machinery needed to condense air to a form approximating water, and +spoke of the terrible pressure exerted by the liquid atmosphere. + +"Anything that you would gain by having a slow-speed motor and smaller +propeller blades, would be lost by the ponderous air-condensing +machinery you would need," Tom told Mr. Damon. "Besides, if you could +surround your propellers with a strata of condensed air, it would +create such terrible cold as to freeze the propeller blades and make +them as brittle as glass. + +"Why, I have taken a heavy piece of metal, dipped it into liquid air, +and I could shatter the steel with a hammer as easily as a sheet of +ice. The cold of liquid air is beyond belief. + +"Attempts have been made to make motors run with liquid air, but they +have not succeeded. To condense air and to carry it about so that +propellers might revolve in it, would be out of the question." + +"You think so, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"I'm sure of it!" + +"Oh, dear! That's too bad. Bless my overshoes, but I thought I had a +new idea. Well, you ought to know. So Damon's Whizzer goes on the scrap +heap before ever it's built. Well, we'll say no more about it. You +ought to know best, Tom. I wasn't thinking of it so much for myself as +for you. I thought you'd like some new idea to work on." + +"Much obliged, Mr. Damon, but I have a new idea," said Tom. + +"You have? What is it? Tell me--that is, if it isn't a secret," went on +the eccentric man, as much delighted over Tom's new plan as he had been +over his own Whizzer, doomed to failure so soon. + +"It isn't a secret from you," said Tom. "I got the idea while I was +riding with Mary. I wanted to talk to her--to tell her not to jump out +when we had a little accident--but I had trouble making myself +understood because of the noise of the motor." + +"They do make a great racket," conceded Mr. Damon. "But I don't suppose +anything can be done about it." + +"I don't see why there can't!" exclaimed Tom. "And that's my new +idea--to make a silent aircraft motor--perhaps silent propeller blades, +though it's the motor that makes the most noise. And that's what I'm +going to do--invent a silent aeroplane. Not because I want so much to +talk when I take passengers up in the air, but I believe such a motor +would be valuable, especially for scouting planes in war work. To go +over the enemy's lines and not be heard would be valuable many times. + +"And that's what I'm going to do--work on a silent motor for Uncle Sam. +I've got the germ of an idea and now--" + +"Excuse me," said a voice behind Mr. Damon and Tom, and, turning, the +young inventor beheld the form of Mr. Peton Gale, president of the +Universal Flying Machine Company. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +MAKING PLANS + + +Tom Swift had drawn pencil and paper from his pocket, and, as he and +Mr. Damon were sitting on the steps of one of the shops, the young +inventor was about to demonstrate by a drawing part of his new project, +when the interruption came in the shape of one of the men who had, an +hour before, made a business offer to Tom. + +"Excuse me," went on Mr. Peton Gale, "but Mr. Ware and I got to talking +it over on our way to the station--the matter of having you in our +company, Mr. Swift--and we concluded that it was worth twenty-five +thousand dollars a year for us to have you. So I came back--" + +"It isn't of the slightest use, Mr. Gale, I assure you," said Tom, a +bit heatedly, for he did not like the persistency of this man, nor did +he like his coming on the factory grounds unannounced and in this +secret manner. "I told you I could not accept your offer. It is not +altogether a matter of money. My word was final." + +"Oh very well, if you put it that way," said Mr. Gale stiffly, "of +course there is nothing more to say. But I thought perhaps you did not +consider we had offered you enough and--" + +"Your offer is fair enough from a financial standpoint," said Tom; "but +I simply cannot accept it. I have other plans. Jackson!" he called to +one of his mechanics who was passing, "kindly see Mr. Gale to the gate, +and then let me know how it was any one came in here without a permit." + +"Yes, sir," said the mechanic, as he stood significantly waiting. + +"There was no one at the gate when I came in," said Mr. Gale, and his +manner was antagonizing. "I wanted to speak to you--to ask you to +reconsider your offer--so I came back." + +"It is against the rules to admit strangers to the shop grounds," said +Tom. "Good-day!" + +The president of the Universal Flying Machine Company did not respond, +but there was a look on his face as he turned away that, had Tom seen +it, might have caused him some uneasiness. But he did not see. Instead, +he resumed his talk with Mr. Damon. + +"Tom, your idea is most interesting," declared the eccentric man. "I +hope you will be able to work it out!" + +"I'm going to try," said the young inventor. "I hope that man--Mr. +Gale--didn't hear anything of what I was saying. He sneaked up on us +before I was aware any one was near but ourselves." + +"I don't imagine he heard very much, Tom," said Mr. Damon. "He may have +heard you mention a silent motor--" + +"That's just what I wish he hadn't heard," broke in Tom. "That's the +germ of the idea, and once it becomes known that I am working on that-- +Well, there's no use crying over spilled milk," and he smiled at the +homely proverb. "I'll have to work in secret, once I've started." + +"Do you think the government would use it, Tom?" asked his friend. + +"I should think it would be glad to. Consider what a wonderful part +airships are playing in the present war. It really is a struggle to see +which will be the master of the sky--the Allies or the Germans--and, up +to recently, the Huns had the advantage. Then the Allies, recognizing +how vital it was, began to forge ahead, and now Uncle Sam with his +troops under General Pershing is leading everything, or will lead +shortly. We have been a bit slow with our aircraft production, but now +we are booming along. Uncle Sam will soon have the mastery of the sky." + +"I hope so," sighed Mr. Damon. "We must beat the Germans!" + +Briefly, Tom spoke of what Pershing's men were doing with their +aeroplanes in France, and mention was made of what the French and +British had done prior to the entrance of the United States into the +World War. + +"While we were yet neutral, Americans had made gallant names for +themselves flying for France, and with my silent motor they ought to do +better," declared Tom. + +"Is silence its chief recommendation?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Yes," replied Tom. "Or rather, it will be when I have it perfected. +Aeroplane motors now are about as compact and speedy as they can be +made. It is only the terrific noise that is a handicap. It is a +handicap to the pilots and observers in the craft, as they cannot +communicate except through a special speaking tube, and this is not +always satisfactory or sure. Then, too, the noise of an airship +proclaims its approach to the enemy, sometimes long before it can be +seen. + +"With a silent motor all this would be done away with. With my new +craft, in case I can perfect it, the enemy's lines can be approached as +silently as the Indians used to approach the log cabins of the white +settlers. That will be its great advantage--not that conversation can +be more easily carried on, for that is, after all, an unimportant +detail. But to approach the enemy's lines in the silence of the night +would be a distinct gain." + +"I believe it would, Tom!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "And I should think, +too, that Uncle Sam would be glad to get such a motor," he added. + +"Well, he'll have one to take if he wants it, if I can make my plans a +success," declared Tom. "That is, unless those other fellows get ahead +of me." + +"What other fellows?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Gale, Ware and their crowd," was the answer. "I fancy they are +provoked because I wouldn't agree to work for them, and now, that Gale +overheard--as he must have--what I propose working on, they may try +that game themselves." + +"You mean try to turn out a silent motor?" + +"Yes. It would be a big feather in their cap for their company, so far, +hasn't been very successful on government orders. That's why they came +to me, I guess." + +"I shouldn't be surprised, Tom," conceded Mr. Damon. "Since the +government accepted your giant cannon and your great searchlight, you +have come into greater prominence than ever before. And those two +things are a wonderful success." + +"Yes," admitted Tom, modestly enough, "the big electric light seems to +have been of some benefit on the European battle front, and though they +haven't been able to make and transport as many of my giant cannons as +I'd like to see over there, it is progressing, I understand." + +And this is true. For the details of these two inventions of Tom +Swift's I refer my readers to the books bearing those titles. +Sufficient to state here that the government was using these two +inventions, and there had been no necessity for commandeering them +either, since Tom had freely offered them at the declaration of war +with Germany. + +"Well, since I can't help you with my 'Whizzer,'" said Mr. Damon, with +a smile, "let me do what I can toward your silent motor, Tom. What are +you going to call it?" + +"Oh, I don't know--hadn't thought of a name. I guess 'Air Scout' would +be as good as any. That's what it will be--a machine for silently +scouting in the air. And now to get down to brass tacks, as the poet +says, I believe I will--" + +"Gentleman to see you, Mr. Swift," interrupted Jackson. + +"Bless my penwiper!" cried Mr. Damon. "More visitors! I hope it isn't +Gale or Ware come back to see what they can spy on!" + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A PROBLEM IN SOUND + + +Tom Swift looked up with a distinct appearance of being annoyed that +was unusual with him, for he was, nearly always, good-natured. But the +frown that had replaced the pleasant look on his face while he was +talking to Mr. Damon about the projected new air scout was at once +wiped away as he looked at the card Jackson held out to him. + +"Bring him in right away!" he ordered. "He needn't have stood on that +ceremony." + +"Well, he said it was a business call," returned the mechanician with a +cheerful grin, "and he said he wanted it done according to form. So he +gave me his card to bring you." + +"Who is it?" asked Mr. Damon, with the privilege of an old friend. + +"It's Ned Newton," Tom answered; "though why he's putting on all this +formality I can't fathom." + +Jackson went back to the main gate and told the man on guard there to +admit Ned, who had so formally sent in his card. + +"Ah, Mr. Swift, I believe?" began the bank employee with that suave, +formal air which usually precedes a business meeting. + +"That is my name," said Tom, with a suppressed grin, and he spoke as +stiffly as though to a perfect stranger. + +"Mr. Tom Swift, the great inventor?" went on Ned. + +"Yes." + +"Ah, then I am at the right place. Just sign here, please, on the +dotted line," and he held out a blank form, and a fountain pen to Tom, +who took them half mechanically. + +"Huh? What's the big idea, Ned?" asked the young inventor, unable +longer to carry on the joke. "Is this a warrant for my arrest, or +merely a testimonial to you. If it's the latter, and concerns your +nerve, I'll gladly sign it." + +"Well, it's something like that!" laughed Ned. "That's your application +for another block of Liberty Bonds, Tom, and I want you, as a personal +favor to me, as a business favor to the bank, and as your plain duty to +Uncle Sam, to double your last subscription." + +Tom looked at the sum Ned had filled in on the blank form, and uttered +a slight whistle of surprise. + +"That's all right now," said Ned, with the air of a professional +salesman. "You can stand that and more, too. I'm letting you off easy. +Why, I got Mary's father--Mr. Nestor--for twice what he took last time, +and Mary herself--hard as she's working for the Red Cross--gave me a +nice application. So it's up to you to--" + +"Nuff said!" exclaimed Tom, sententiously, as he signed his name. "I +may have to reconsider my recent refusal of the offer of the Universal +Flying Machine Company, though, if I haven't money enough to meet this +subscription, Ned." + +"Oh, you'll meet it all right! Much obliged," and Ned folded the +Liberty Bond subscription paper and put it in his pocket. "But did you +turn down the offer from those people?" + +"I did," answered Tom. "But how did you know about it, Ned?" + +"First let me say that I'm glad you decided to have nothing to do with +them. They're a rich firm, and have lots of money, but I wouldn't trust +'em, even if they have some government contracts. The way I happened +to know they were likely to make you an offer is this," continued Ned +Newton. + +"They do business with one of the New York banks with which my +bank--notice the accent on the my, Tom--is connected. The other day I +happened to see some correspondence about you. These flying machine +people asked our bank to find out certain things about you, and, as a +matter of business, we had to give the information. Sort of a +commercial agency report, you know, nothing unusual, and it isn't the +first time it's been done since your business got so large. But that's +how I happened to know these fellows contemplated dickering with you." + +"Do you know Gale or Ware?" Tom asked. + +"Not personally. But in a business way, Tom, I'd warn you to look out +for them, as they're sharp dealers. They put one over on the government +all right, and there may be some unpleasant publicity to it later. But +they're putting up a big bluff, and pretending they can turn out a lot +of flying machines for use in Europe. Why don't you get busy on that +end of the game, Tom?" + +"I know you've more than done your bit, with Liberty Bonds, +subscriptions to the Y. M. C. A. and other war work, besides your war +tank and other inventions. But you're such a shark on flying machines I +should think you'd offer your factory to the government for the +production of aeroplanes." + +"I would in a minute, Ned, and you know it; but the fact of the matter +is my shops aren't equipped for the production of anything in large +numbers. We do mostly an experimenting business here, making only one +or two of a certain machine. I have told the government officials they +can have anything I've got, and you know they wouldn't let me enlist +when I was working on the war tank." + +"Yes, I remember that," said Ned. "You're no slacker! I wanted to +shoulder a rifle, too, but they keep me at this Liberty Loan work. +Well, Uncle Sam ought to know." + +"That's what I say," agreed Tom, "and that's why I haven't gone to the +front myself. And now, as it happens, I've got something else in mind +that may help Uncle Sam." + +"What is it?" + +"A silent flying machine for scout work on the battle front," Tom told +his friend, and then he gave a few details, such as those he had been +telling Mr. Damon. + +"Then I don't wonder you turned down the offer of the Universal +people," remarked Ned, at the conclusion of the recital. "This will be +a heap more help to the government, Tom, than working for those people, +even at twenty-five thousand dollars a year. And if you get short, and +can't meet your newest Liberty Bond payments, why, I guess the bank +will stretch your credit a little." + +"Thanks!" laughed Tom, "but I'll try not to ask them." + +The friends talked together a little longer, and then Ned had to take +his departure to solicit more subscriptions, while Mr. Damon went with +him, the eccentric man saying he would go home to Waterfield. + +"But, bless my overshoes, Tom!" he exclaimed, as he departed, "don't +forget to let me know when you have your silent motor working. I want +to see it." + +"I'll let you know," was the promise given by the young inventor. + +"And watch out for those Universal people," warned Ned. "I'm not +telling you this as a bank official, for I'm not supposed to, but it's +personal." + +"I'll be on the watch," said Tom. And, as he went into his private +workshop, he wondered why it was his father and Ned had both warned him +not to trust Gale and Ware. + +The next few days were busy ones for Tom Swift. Once he had made up his +mind to go to work seriously on a silent motor, all else was put aside. +He sent a note to Mary Nestor, telling her what he was going to do, +and, asking her to say nothing about it, which, of course, Mary agreed +to. + +"Come and see me when you can," she sent back word, "but I know you +won't have much chance when you're experimenting with your invention. +And I shall be working so hard for the Red Cross that I sha'n't get +much chance to entertain you. But the war can't last forever." + +"No," agreed Tom with a sigh, as he put away her letter, "and thank +goodness that it can't!" + +The young inventor threw himself into the perplexing work of inventing +a silent motor with all the fervor he had given to the production of +his war tank, his giant cannon, his wonderful searchlight and other +machines. + +"And," mused Tom, as he sat at his work table with pencil and paper +before him, "since this is a problem in acoustics, I had best begin I +suppose by going back to first principles, and after determining what +makes an aeroplane engine noisy, try to figure out how to make it +quiet. Now as to the first, the principle causes of noise are--" + +And at that instant there broke on Tom's ears a succession of +discordant sounds which seemed to be a combination of an Indian's war +whoop and a college student's yells at a football game. + +"Now I wonder what that is!" mused the young inventor as he hastily +arose. "Better solve that problem before I tackle the aeroplane motor." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THROUGH THE ROOF + + + +Tom rushed from his private office, and when he reached the outer door +he heard with more distinctness the sounds that had alarmed him. They +seemed to come from a small building given over to electrical +apparatus, and which, at the time, was not supposed to be in use. It +had been Tom's workroom, so to speak, when he was developing his +electric runabout and rifle, but of late he had not spent much time in +it. + +"Somebody's in there!" reflected the young inventor, as he heard yells +coming from the open door of the place. "And if it isn't Koku and +Eradicate I miss my guess! Wonder what they can be doing there." + +He crossed the yard between his private office and the electrical shop +in a few rapid strides, and, as he entered the latter place, he was +greeted with a series of wild yells. + +"Good volume of sound here, at all events," mused Tom. "Almost as much +as my motor made when I was trying to talk to Mary. Hello there! What's +going on? Is any one hurt? What's the matter?" he cried, for, at first, +he could see no one in the dim light of the place. The interior was a +maze of electrical apparatus. + +"Who's here?" demanded Tom, as he advanced. + +"Oh, Master! Come quick! Koku 'most dead an' no can let go!" was the +cry. + +"Yo' jest bet yo' cain't let go!" chimed in the voice of Eradicate. "I +done knowed yo would git into trouble ef yo' come heah, an' I'se glad +ob it! So I is!" + +"What is it, Rad? What has happened to Koku?" cried Tom, running +forward, for though no very powerful current could be turned on in the +electrical shop at this period of unuse, there was enough to be very +painful. "What is it, Rad?" + +"Oh, dat big foolish giant, Koku, done got his se'f into trouble!" +chuckled the colored man. "He done got holt ob one ob dem air +contraptions, Massa Tom, an' he cain't let go! Ha! Ha! Golly! Look at +him squirm!" and Rad laughed shrilly, which accounted for some of the +sounds Tom had heard. + +Then came yells of rage and pain from the giant, and they were so loud +and vigorous, mingling with Eradicate's as they did, that it was no +wonder Tom was startled. The sounds were heard in the other shops, and +men came running out. But before then Tom had put an end to the trouble. + +One look showed him what had happened. Just how or why Koku and +Eradicate had entered the electrical shop Tom did not then stop to +inquire. But he saw that the giant had grasped the handles of one of +the electric machines, designed for charging Leyden jars used in Tom's +experiments, and the powerful, though not dangerous, current had so +paralyzed, temporarily, the muscles of the giant's hands and arms that +he could not let go, and there he was, squirming, and not knowing how +to turn off the current, and unable to ease himself, while Eradicate +stood and laughed at him, fairly howling with delight. + +"Ha! Guess yo' won't do no mo' spadin' in' Massa Tom's garden right +away, big man!" taunted Eradicate. + +"Be quiet, Rad!" ordered Tom, as he reached up and pulled out the +switch, thus shutting off the current. "This isn't anything to laugh +at." + +"But he done look so funny, Massa Tom!" pleaded the colored man. "He +done squirm laik--" + +But Eradicate did not finish what he intended to say. Once free from +the powerful current, the giant looked at his numb hands, and then, +seeming to think that Eradicate was the cause of it all, he sprang at +the colored man with a yell. But Eradicate did not stay to see what +would happen. With a howl of terror, he raced out of the door, and, old +and rheumatic as he was, he managed to gain the stable of his mule, +Boomerang, over which he had his humble but comfortable quarters. + +"Well, I guess he's safe for a while!" laughed Tom, as he saw the giant +turn away, shaking his fist at the closed door, for Koku, big as he +was, stood in mortal terror of the mule's heels. + +Tom locked the door of the electrical shop and went back to his +interrupted problem. From Jackson he learned that Koku and Eradicate +had merely happened to stroll into the forbidden place, which had been +left open by accident. There, it appeared, Koku had handled some of the +machinery, ending by switching on the current of the machine the +handles of which he later unsuspectingly picked up. Then he received a +shock he long remembered, and for many days he believed Eradicate had +been responsible for it, and there was more than the usual hostile +feeling between the two. But Eradicate was innocent of that trick, at +all events. + +"Though," said Tom, telling his father about it later, "Rad would have +turned on the current if he had known he could make trouble for Koku by +it. I never saw their like for having disagreements!" + +"Yes, but they are both devoted to you, Tom," said the aged inventor. +"But what is this you hinted at--a silent motor you called it, I +believe? Are you really serious in trying to invent one?" + +"Yes, Dad, I am. I think there's a big field for an aeroplane that +could travel along over the enemy's lines--particularly at night--and +not be heard from below. Think of the scout work that could be done. + +"Well, yes, it could be done if you could get a silent motor, or +propellers that made no noise, Tom. But I don't believe it can be done." + +"Well, maybe not, Dad. But I'm going to try!" and Tom, after a further +talk with his father, began work in earnest on the big problem. That it +was a big one Tom was not disposed to deny, and that it would be a +valuable invention even his somewhat skeptical father admitted. + +"How are you going to start, Tom?" asked Mr. Swift, several days after +the big idea had come to the young man. + +"I'm going to experiment a bit, at first. I've got a lot of old motors, +that weren't speedy enough for any of my flying machines, and I'm going +to make them over. If I spoil them the loss won't amount to anything, +and if I succeed--well, maybe I can help out Uncle Sam a bit more." + +As Tom had said he would do, he began at the very foundation, and +studied the fundamental principles of sound. + +"Sound," the young inventor told Ned Newton, in speaking about the +problem, "is a sensation which is peculiar to the ear, though the +vibrations caused by sound waves may be felt in many parts of the body. +But the ear is the great receiver of sound." + +"You aren't going to invent a sort of muffler for the ears, are you, +Tom?" asked Ned. "That would be an easy way of solving the problem, but +I doubt if you could get the Germans to wear your ear-tabs so they +wouldn't hear the sound of the Allied aeroplanes." + +"No, I'm not figuring on doing the trick that way," said Tom with a +laugh. "I've really got to cut down the sound of the motor and the +propeller blades, so a person, listening with all his ears, won't hear +any noise, unless he's within a few feet of the plane." + +"Well, I can tell you, right off the reel, how to do it," said the bank +employee. + +"How?" asked Tom eagerly. + +"Run your engine and propellers in a vacuum," was the prompt reply. + +"Hum!" said Tom, musingly. "Yes, that would be a simple way out, and +I'll do it, if you'll tell me how to breathe in a vacuum." + +"Oh, I didn't agree to do that," laughed Ned. + +But he had spoken the truth, as those who have studied physics well +know. There must be an atmosphere for the transmission of sound, which +is the reason all is cold and silent and still at the moon. There is no +atmosphere there. Sound implies vibration. Something, such as liquid, +gas, or solid, must be set in motion to produce sound, and for the +purpose of science the air we breathe may be considered a gas, being +composed of two. + +Not only must the object, either solid, liquid, or gaseous, be in +motion to produce sound, but the air surrounding the vibrating body +must also be moving in unison with it. And lastly there must be some +medium of receiving the sound waves--the ear or some part of the body. +Totally deaf persons may be made aware of sound through the vibrations +received through their hands or feet. They receive, of course, only the +more intense, or largest, sound waves, and can not hear notes of music +nor spoken words, though they may feel the vibration when a piano is +played. And, as Ned has said, no sound is produced in a vacuum. + +"But," said Tom, "since I can't run my aeroplane in a vacuum, or even +have the propellers revolve in one, it's up to me to solve the problem +some other way. The propellers don't really make noise enough to worry +about when they're high in the air. It's the exhaust from the motor, +and to get rid of that will be my first attempt." + +"Can it be done?" asked Ned. + +"I don't know," was Tom's frank answer. + +"They do it on an automobile to a great extent," went on Ned. "Some of +'em you cant hardly hear." + +"Yes, but an aeroplane engine runs many, many times faster than the +motor of an auto," said Tom, "and there are more explosions to muffle. +I doubt if the muffler of an auto would cut down the sound of an aero +engine to any appreciable extent. But, of course, I'll try along those +lines." + +"They have mufflers or silencers for guns and rifles," went on Ned. +"Couldn't you make a big one of those contraptions and put it on an +aeroplane?" + +"I doubt it," said Tom, shaking his head. "Of course it's the same +principle as that in an auto muffler, or on a motor boat--a series of +baffle plates arranged within a hollow cylinder. But all such devices +cut down power, and I don't want to do that. However, I'm going to +solve the problem or--bust!" + +And Tom came near "busting," Ned remarked later, when he and his friend +talked over the progress of the invention. + +Two weeks had passed since the start of his evolution of his new idea, +and following the visiting of the representatives of the Universal +Flying Machine Company. Since then neither Gale nor Ware had +communicated with Tom. + +"But I must be on the watch against them," thought the young inventor. +"I'm pretty sure Gale heard me mention what I was going to try to +invent, and he may get ahead of me, and put a silent motor on the +market first. Not that I'm afraid of being done out of any profits, but +I simply don't want to be beaten." + +The details of Tom's invention cannot be gone into, but, roughly, it +was based on the principle of not only a muffler but also of producing +less noise when the charges of gasoline exploded in the cylinders. It +is, of course, the explosion of gasoline mixed with air that causes an +internal combustion engine to operate. And it is the expulsion of the +burned gases that causes the exhaust and makes the noise that is heard. + +Tom was working along the well-known line of the rate of travel of +sound, which progresses at the rate of about 1090 feet a second when +air is at the freezing point. And, roughly, with every degree increase +in the atmosphere's temperature the velocity of sound increases by one +foot. Thus at a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or 68 degrees +above freezing, there would be added to the 1090 feet the 68 feet, +making sound travel at 100 degrees Fahrenheit about 1158 feet a second. + +Tom had set up in his shop a powerful, but not very speedy, old +aeroplane engine, and had attached to it the device he hoped would help +him toward solving his problem of cutting down the noise. He had had +some success with it, and, after days and nights of labor, he invited +his father and Ned, as well as Mr. Damon, over to see what he hoped +would be a final experiment. + +His visitors had assembled in the shop, and Eradicate was setting out +some refreshments which Tom had provided, the colored man being in his +element now. + +"What's all this figuring, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon, as he saw a series of +calculations on some sheets of paper lying on Tom's desk. + +"That's where I worked out how much faster sound traveled in hydrogen +gas than in the ordinary atmosphere," was the answer. "It goes about +four times as fast, or nearly four thousand two hundred feet a second. +You remember the rule, I suppose. 'The speed of sonorous vibrations +through gases varies inversely as the squares of the weights of equal +volumes of the gases,' or, in other words--" + +"Give it to us chiefly in 'other words,' if you please, Tom!" pleaded +Ned, with a laugh. "Let that go and do some tricks. Start the engine +and let's see if we can hear it." + +"Oh, you can hear it all right," said Tom, as he approached the motor, +which was mounted on a testing block. "The thing isn't perfected yet, +but I hope to have it soon. Rad! Where is that black rascal? Oh, there +you are! Come here, Rad!" + +"Yaas sah, Massa Tom! Is I gwine to help yo' all in dish yeah job?" + +"Yes. Just take hold of this lever, and when I say so pull it as hard +as you can." + +"Dat's whut I will, Massa Tom. Golly! ef dat no 'count giant was heah +now he'd see he ain't de only one whut's got muscle. I'll pull good +an' hard, Massa Tom." + +"Yes, that's what I want you to. Now I guess we're all ready. Can you +see, Dad--and Ned and Mr. Damon?" + +"Yes," they answered. They stood near the side wall of the shop, while +Tom and Eradicate were at the testing block, on which the motor, with +the noise-eliminating devices attached, had been temporarily mounted. + +"All ready," called the young inventor, as he turned on the gas and +threw over the electrical switch. "All ready! Pull the starting lever, +Rad, and when it's been running a little I'll throw on the silencer and +you can see the difference." + +The motor began to hum, and there was a deafening roar, just as there +always is when the engine of an aeroplane starts. It was as though half +a dozen automobile engines were being run with the mufflers cut out. + +"Now I'll show you the difference!" yelled Tom, though such was the +noise that not a word could be heard. "This shows you what my silencer +will do." + +Tom pulled another lever. There was at once a cessation of the +deafening racket, though it was not altogether ended. Then, after a +moment or two, there suddenly came a roar as though a blast had been +let off in the shop. + +Tom and Eradicate were tossed backward, head over heels, as though by +the giant hands of Koku himself, and Mr. Damon, Ned, and Tom's father +saw the motor fly from the testing block and shoot through the roof of +the building with a rending, crashing, and splintering sound that could +be heard for a mile. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +AFTER A SPY + + +Curious as it may seem, Eradicate, the oldest and certainly not the +most energetic of the party assembled in the experiment room, was the +first to recover himself and arise. Tottering to his feet he gave one +look at the testing block, whence the motor had torn itself. Then he +looked at the prostrate figures around him, none of them hurt, but all +stunned and very much startled. Then the gaze of Eradicate traveled to +the hole in the roof. It was a gaping, ragged hole, for the motor was +heavy and the roof of flimsy material. And then the colored man +exclaimed: + +"Good land ob massy! Did I do dat?" + +His tone was one of such startled contrition, and so tragic, that Tom +Swift, rueful as he felt over the failure of his experiment and the +danger they had all been in, could not help laughing. + +"I take it, hearing that from you, Tom, that we're all right," said Ned +Newton, as he recovered himself and brushed some dirt off his coat. Ned +was a natty dresser. + +"Yes, we seem to be all right," replied Tom slowly. "I can't say what +damage the flying motor has done outside, but--" + +"Bless my insurance policy! but what happened?" asked Mr. Damon. "I saw +Eradicate pull on that lever as you told him to, Tom, and then things +all went topsy-turvy! Did he pull the wrong handle?" + +"No, it wasn't Rad's fault at all," said Tom. "The trouble was, as I +guess I'll find when I investigate, that I put too much power into the +motor, and the muffler didn't give any chance for the accumulated +exhaust gases to expand and escape. I didn't allow for that, and they +simply backed up, compressed and exploded. I guess that's the whole +explanation." + +"I'm inclined to agree with you, Son," said Mr. Swift dryly. "Don't +try to get rid of all the noise at once. Eliminate it by degrees and it +will be safer." + +"I guess so," agreed Tom. + +By this time a score of workmen from the other shops had congregated +around the one though the roof of which the motor had been blown. Tom +opened the door to assure Jackson and the others that no one was hurt, +and then the young inventor saw the exploded motor had buried in the +dirt a short distance away from the experiment building. + +"Lucky none of us were standing over it when it went up," said Tom, as +he made an inspection of the broken machine. "We'd have gone through +the roof with it." + +"She certainly went sailing!" commented Ned. "Must have been a lot of +power there, Tom." + +And this was evidenced by the bent and twisted rods that had held the +motor to the testing block, and by the cylinders, some of which were +torn apart as though made of paper instead of heavy steel. But for the +fact that all the force of the explosion was directly upward, instead +of at the sides, none might have been left alive in the shop. All had +escaped most fortunately, and they realized this. + +"Well," queried Ned, as Tom gave orders to have the damaged machine +removed and the roof repaired, "does this end the wonderful silent +motor, Tom?" + +"End it! What do you mean--" + +"I mean are you going to experiment any further?" + +"Why, of course! Just because I've had one failure doesn't mean that +I'm going to give up. Especially when I know what the matter was--not +leaving any vent for the escaping gases. Why this isn't anything. When +I was perfecting my giant cannon I was nearly blown up more than once, +and you remember how we got stuck in the submarine." + +"I should say I did!" exclaimed Ned with a shudder. "I don't want any +more of that. But as between being blown through a roof and held at the +bottom of the sea, I don't know that there's much choice." + +"Well, perhaps not," agreed Tom. "But as for ending my experiments, I +wouldn't dream of such a thing! Why, I've only just begun! I'll have a +silent motor yet!" + +"And a non-explosive one, I hope," added Mr. Damon dryly. "Bless my +shoe buttons, Tom, but if my wife knew what danger I'd been in she'd +never let me come over to see you any more." + +"Well, the next time I invite you to a test I'll be more careful," +promised the young inventor. + +"There isn't going to be any next time as far as I'm concerned!" +laughed Ned. "I think it's safer to sell Liberty Bonds." + +And, though they joked about it, they all realized the narrow escape +they had had. As for Eradicate, once he knew he had not been the one +who caused the damage, he felt rather proud of the part he had taken in +the mishap, and for many days he boasted about it to Koku. + +True to his determination, Tom Swift did not give up his experimental +work on the silent motor. The machine that had been blown through the +roof was useless now, and it was sent to the scrap heap, after as much +of it as possible had been salvaged. Then Tom got another piece of +apparatus out of his store room and began all over again. + +He worked along the same lines as at first--providing a chamber for the +escaping gases of the exhaust to expend their noise and energy in, at +the same time laboring to cut down the concussion of the explosions in +the cylinder without reducing their force any. And that it was no easy +problem to do either of these, Tom had to admit as he progressed. All +previous types of mufflers or silencers had to be discarded and a new +one evolved. + +"Jackson, I need some one to help me," said Tom to his chief +mechanician one day. "Haven't you a good man who is used to +experimental work that you can let me take from the works?" + +"Why, yes," was the answer. "Let me see. Roberts is busy on the new +bomb you got up, but I could take him off that--" + +"No, don't!" interposed Tom. "I want that work to go on. Isn't there +some one else you can let me have?" + +"Well, there's a new man who came to me well recommended. I took him on +last week, and he's a wonderful mechanic. Knows a lot about gas +engines. I could let you have him--Bower his name is. The only thing +about it, though, is that I don't like to give you a man of whom I am +not dead certain, when you're working on a new device." + +"Oh, that will be all right," said Tom. "There won't be any secrets he +can get, if you mean you think he might be up to spy work." + +"That's what I did mean, Tom. You never can tell, you know, and you +have some bitter enemies." + +"Yes, but I'll take care this man doesn't see the plans, or any of my +drawings. I only want some one to do the heavy assembling work on the +experimental muffler I'm getting up. We can let him think it's for a +new kind of automobile." + +"Oh, then I guess it will be all right. I'll send Bower to you." + +Tom rather liked the new workman, who seemed quiet and efficient. He +did not ask questions, either, about the machine on which he was +engaged, but did as he was told. As Tom had said, he kept his plans and +drawing under lock and key--in a safe to be exact--and he did not think +they were in any danger from his new helper. + +But Tom Swift held into altogether too slight regard the powers of +those who were opposed to him. He did not appreciate the depths to +which they would stoop to gain their ends. + +He had been working hard on his new device, and had reached a point +further along than when the other motor had exploded. He began to see +success ahead of him, and he was jubilant. Whether this made him +careless does not matter, but the fact was that he left Bower more to +himself, and alone in the experimental shop several times. + +And it was on one of these occasions, when Tom had been for some time +in one of the other shops, where he and Jackson were in consultation +over a new machine, that as he came back to the test room unexpectedly, +he saw Bower move hastily away from in front of the safe. Moreover, Tom +was almost certain he had heard the steel door clang shut as he +approached the building. + +And then, before he could ask his helper a question, Tom looked from a +window and saw a stranger running hastily along the side of the +building where his trial motor was being set up. + +"Who's that? Who is that man? Did he come in here? Was he tampering +with my safe?" cried Tom. He saw Bower hesitate and change color, and +Tom knew it was time to act. + +The window was open, and with one bound the young inventor was out and +running after the stranger he had seen departing in such a hurry. The +man was but a short distance ahead of him, and Tom saw he was stuffing +some papers into his pocket. + +"Here! Come back! Stop!" ordered Tom, but the man ran on the faster. + +"That's a spy as sure as guns!" reflected Tom Swift. "And Bower is in +with him!" he added. "I've got to catch that fellow!" and he speeded +his pace as he ran after the fellow. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A BIG SPLASH + + +There was no question in the mind of Tom Swift but that the man he was +running after was guilty of some wrong-doing. In the first place he was +a stranger, and had no right inside the big fence that surrounded the +Swift machine plant. Then, too, the very fact that he ran away was +suspicious. + +And this, coupled with the confusion on the part of Bower, and his +proximity to the safe, made Tom fear that some of his plans had been +stolen. These he was very anxious to recover if this strange man had +them, and so he raced after him with all speed. + +"Stop! Stop!" called Tom, but the on-racing stranger did not heed. + +The cries of the young inventor soon attracted the attention of his +men, and Jackson and some of the others came running from their various +shops to give whatever aid was needed. But they were all too far away +to give effective chase. + +"Bower might have come with me if he had wanted to help," thought Tom. +But a backward glance over his shoulder did not show that the new +helper was engaging in the pursuit, and he could have started almost on +the same terms as Tom himself. + +The runaway, looking back to see how near the young inventor was to +him, suddenly changed his course, and, noting this, Tom Swift thought: + +"I've got him now! He'll be bogged if he runs that way," for the way +led to a piece of swampy land that, after the recent rains, was a +veritable bog which was dangerous for cattle at least; and more than +one man had been caught there. + +"He can't run across the swamp, that's sure," reflected Tom with some +satisfaction. "I'll get him all right!" + +But he wanted to capture the man, if possible, before he reached the +bog, and, to this end, Tom increased his speed to such good end that +presently, on the firm ground that bordered the swamp, Tom was almost +within reaching distance of the stranger. + +But the latter kept up running, and dodged and turned so that Tom could +not lay hands on him. Suddenly, turning around a clump of trees the +fleeing man headed straight for a veritable mud hole that lay directly +in his path. It was part of the swamp--the most liquid part of the bog +and a home of frogs and lizards. + +Too late, the man, who was evidently unaware of the proximity of the +swamp, saw his danger. His further flight was cut off by the mud hole, +but it was too late to turn back. Tom Swift was at his heels now, and +seeing that it was impossible to grab the man, Tom did the next best +thing. He stuck out his foot and tripped him, and tripped him right on +the edge of the mud hole, so that the man fell in with a big splash, +the muddy water flying all around, some even over the young inventor. + +For a moment the man disappeared completely beneath the surface, for +the mud hole was rather deep just where Tom had thrown him. Then there +was another violent agitation of the surface, and a very woebegone and +muddy face was raised from the slough, followed by the rest of the +figure of the man. Slowly he got to his feet, mud and water dripping +from him. He cleared his face by rubbing his hands over it, not that it +made his countenance clean, but it removed masses of mud from his eyes, +nose, and mouth, so that he could see and speak, though his first +operation was to gasp for breath. + +"What--what are you doin'?" he demanded of Tom, and as the man opened +his mouth to speak Tom was aware of a glitter, which disclosed the +'fact that the man had a large front tooth of gold. + +"What am I doing?" repeated Tom. "I think it's up to you to answer that +question, not me. What are you doing?" + +"You--you tripped me into this mud hole!" declared the man. + +"I did, yes; because you were trespassing on my property, and ran away +instead of stopping when I told you to," went on Tom. "Who are you and +what are you doing? What were you doing with Bower at my shop?" + +"Nothin'! I wasn't doin' nothin'!" + +"Well, we'll inquire into that. I want to see what you have in your +pockets before I believe you. Come on out!" + +"You haven't any right to go through my pockets!" blustered the +stranger. + +"Oh, haven't I? Well, I'm going to take the right. Jackson--Koku--just +see that he doesn't get away. We'll take him back and search him," and +Tom motioned to his chief machinist and the giant, who had reached the +scene, to take charge of the man. But Koku was sufficient for this +purpose, and the mud-bespattered stranger seemed to shrink as he saw +the big creature approach him. There was no question of running away +after that. + +"Bring him along," ordered Tom, and Koku, taking a tight grip on the +man by the slack of his garments behind, walked him along toward the +office, the mud and water splashing and oozing from his shoes at every +step. + +"Now you look here!" the gold-toothed man cried, as he was forced +along, "you ain't got any right to detain me. I ain't done nothin'!" +And each time he spoke the bright tooth in his mouth glittered in the +sun. + +"I don't know whether you've done anything or not," said Tom. "I'm +going to take you back and see what you and Bower have to say. He may +know something about this." + +"If he does I don't believe he'll tell," said Jackson. + +"Why not?" asked Tom, quickly. + +"Because he's gone." + +"Gone! Bower gone?" + +"Yes," answered Jackson. "I saw him running out of the experiment shop +as we raced along to help you. I didn't think, at the time, that he was +doing more than go for aid, perhaps. But I see the game now." + +"Oh, you mean--him?" and Tom pointed to the dripping figure. + +"Yes," said Jackson in a low voice, as Koku went on ahead with his +prisoner. "If, as you say, this man was in league with Bower, the +latter has smelled a rat and skipped. He has run away, and I only hope +he hasn't done any damage or got hold of any of your plans." + +"We'll soon know about that," said Tom. "I wonder who is at the bottom +of this?" + +"Maybe those men you wouldn't work for," suggested the machinist. + +"You mean Gale and Ware of the Universal Flying Machine Company?" + +"Yes." + +"Oh, I don't believe they'd stoop to any such measures as this--sending +spies around," replied Tom. "But I can't be too careful. We'll +investigate." + +The first result of the investigation was to disclose the fact that +Bower was gone. He had taken his few possessions and left the Swift +plant while Tom was racing after the stranger. A hasty examination of +the safe did not reveal anything missing, as Tom's plans and papers +were intact. But they showed evidences of having been looked over, for +they were out of the regular order in which the young inventor kept +them. + +"I begin to see it," said Tom, musingly. "Bower must have managed to +open the safe while I was gone, and he must have made a hasty copy of +some of the drawings of the silent motor, and passed them out of the +window to this gold-tooth man, who tried to make off with them. Did you +find anything on him?" he asked, as one of the men who had been +instructed to search the stranger came into the office just then. + +"Not a thing, Mr. Swift! Not a thing!" was the answer. "We took off +every bit of his clothes and wrapped him in a blanket. He's in the +engine room getting dry now. But there isn't a thing in any of his +pockets." + +"But I saw him stuffing some papers in as he ran away from me," said +Tom. "We must be sure about this. And don't let the fellow get away +until I question him." + +"Oh, he's safe enough," answered the man. "Koku is guarding him. He +won't get away." + +"Then I'll have a look at his clothes," decided Tom. "He may have a +secret pocket." + +But nothing like this was disclosed, and the most careful search did +not reveal anything incriminating in the man's garments. + +"He might have thrown away any papers Bower gave him," said Tom. "Maybe +they're at the bottom of the mud hole! If they're there they're safe +enough. But have a search made of the ground where this man ran." + +This was done, but without result. Some of the workmen even dragged the +mud hole without finding anything. Then Tom and his father had a talk +with the stranger, who refused to give his name. The man was sullen and +angry. He talked loudly about his innocence and of "having the law on" +Tom for having tripped him into the mud. + +"All right, if you want to make a complaint, go ahead," said the young +inventor. "I'll make one against you for trespass. Why did you come on +my grounds?" + +"I was going to ask for work. I'm a good machinist and I wanted a job." + +"How did you get in? Who admitted you at the gate?" + +"I--I jest walked in," said the man, but Tom knew this could not be +true, as no strangers were admitted without a permit and none had been +issued. The man denied knowing anything about Bower, but the latter's +flight was evidence enough that something was wrong. + +Not wishing to go to the trouble of having the man arrested merely as a +trespasser, Tom let him go after his clothes had been dried on a boiler +in one of the shops. + +"Take him to the gate, and tell him if he comes back he'll get another +dose of the same kind of medicine," ordered Tom to one of the guards at +the plant, and when the latter had reported that this had been done, he +added in an earnest tone: + +"He went off talking to himself and saying he'd get even with you, Mr. +Swift." + +"All right," said Tom easily. "I'll be on the watch." + +The young inventor made a thorough examination of his experiment shop +and the test motor. No damage seemed to have been done, and Tom began +to think he had been too quick for the conspirators, if such they were. +His plans and drawings were intact, and though Bower might have given a +copy to the stranger with the gold tooth, the latter did not take any +away with him. That he had some papers he wished to conceal and escape +with, seemed certain, but the splash into the mud hole had ended this. + +No trace was found of Bower, and an effort Tom made to ascertain if the +man was a spy in the employ of Gale and Ware came to naught. The +machinist had come well recommended, and the firm where he was last +employed had nothing but good to say of him. + +"Well, it's a mystery," decided Tom. "However, I got out of it pretty +well. Only if that gold-tooth individual shows up again he won't get +off so easily." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A NIGHT TRIP + + +Taking a lesson from what had happened, Tom was very much more careful +in the following experiments on his new, silent motor. He made some +changes in his shop, and took Jackson in to help on the new machine, +thus insuring perfect secrecy as the apparatus developed. + +Tom also changed the safe in which he kept his plans, for the one he +had used previous to the episode in which Bower and the stranger who +took the mud bath figured, was one the combination of which could +easily be ascertained by an expert. The new safe was more complicated, +and Tom felt that his plans, specifications, and formulae which he had +worked out were in less danger. + +"I can just about figure out what happened," said Ned Newton to Tom, +when told of the circumstances. "These Universal people were provoked +because you wouldn't give them the benefit of your experience on their +flying machines, and so they sent a spy to get work with you. They, +perhaps, hoped to secure some of your ideas for their own, or they may +have had a deeper motive." + +"What deeper motive could they have, Ned?" + +"They might have hoped to disable you, or some of your machines, so that +you couldn't compete with them. They're unscrupulous, I hear, and will +do anything to succeed and make money. So be on your guard against +them." + +"I will," Tom promised. "But I don't believe there's any more danger +now. Anyhow, I have to take some chances." + +"Yes, but be as careful as you can. How is the silent motor coming on?" + +"Pretty good. I've had a lot of failures, and the thing isn't so easy +as I at first imagined it would be. Noise is a funny thing, and I'm +just beginning to understand some of the laws of acoustics we learned +at high school. But I think I'm on the right track with the muffler and +the cutting down of the noise of the explosions in the cylinders. I'm +working both ends, you see--making a motor that doesn't cause as much +racket as those now in use, and also providing means to take care of +the noise that is made. It isn't possible to make a completely silent +motor of an explosive gas type. The only thing that can be done is to +kill the noise after it is made." + +"What about the propeller blades?" + +"Oh, they aren't giving me any trouble. The noise they make can't be +heard a hundred feet in the air, but I am also working on improvements +to the blades. Take it altogether, I'll have an almost silent aeroplane +if my plans come out all right." + +"Have you said anything to the government yet?" + +"No; I want to have it pretty well perfected before I do. Besides, I +don't want any publicity about it until I'm ready. If these Universal +people are after me I'll fool 'em." + +"That's right, Tom! Well, I must go. Another week of this Liberty Bond +campaign!" + +"I suppose you'll be glad when it's over." + +"Well, I don't know," said Ned slowly. "It's part of my small +contribution to Uncle Sam. I'm not like you--I can't invent things." + +"But you have an awful smooth line of talk, Ned!" laughed his chum. "I +believe you could sell chloride of sodium to some of the fishes in the +Great Salt Lake--that is if it has fishes." + +"I don't know that it has, Tom. And, anyhow, I'm not posing as a salt +salesman," and Ned grinned. "But I must really go. Our bank hasn't +reached its quota in the sale of Liberty Bonds yet, and it's up to me +to see that it doesn't fall down." + +"Go to it, Ned! And I'll get busy on my silent motor." + +"Getting busy" was Tom Swift's favorite occupation, and when he was +working on a new idea, as was the case now, he was seldom idle, night +or day. + +"I have hardly seen you for two weeks," Mary Nestor wrote him one day. +"Aren't you ever coming to see me any more, or take me for a ride?" + +"Yes," Tom wrote back. "I'll be over soon. And perhaps on the next ride +we take I won't have to shout at you through a speaking tube because +the motor makes so much noise." + +From this it may be gathered that Tom was on the verge of success. +While not altogether satisfied with his progress, the young inventor +felt that he was on the right track. There were certain changes that +needed to be made in the apparatus he was building--certain refinements +that must be added, and when this should be done Tom was pretty certain +that he would have what would prove to be a very quiet aeroplane, if +not an absolutely silent one. + +The young inventor was engaged one day with some of the last details of +the experiment. The new motor, with the silencer and the changed +cylinders, had been attached to one of Tom's speedy aeroplanes, and he +was making some intricate calculations in relation to a new cylinder +block, to be used when he started to make a completely new machine of +the improved type. + +Tom had set down on paper some computations regarding the cross-section +of one of the cylinders, and was working out the amount of stress to +which he could subject a shoulder strut, when a shadow was cast across +the drawing board he had propped up in his lap. + +In an instant Tom pulled a blank sheet over his mass of figures and +looked up, a sudden fear coming over him that another spy was at hand. +But a hearty voice reassured him. + +"Bless my rice pudding!" cried Mr. Damon, "you shut yourself up here, +Tom, like a hermit in the mountains. Why don't you come out and enjoy +life?" + +"Hello! Glad to see you!" cried Tom, joyfully. "You're just in time!" + +"Time for what--dinner?" asked the eccentric man, with a chuckle. "If +so, my reference to rice pudding was very proper." + +"Why, yes, I imagine there must be a dinner in prospect somewhere, Mr. +Damon," said Tom with a smile. "We'll have to see Mrs. Baggert about +that. But what I meant was that you're just in time to have a ride with +me, if you want to go." + +"Go where?" + +"Oh, up in cloudland. I have just finished my first sample of a silent +motor, and I'm going to try it this evening. Would you like to come +along?" + +"I would!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Bless my onion soup, Tom, but I would! +But why fly at night? Isn't it safer by daylight?" + +"Oh, that doesn't make much difference. It's safe enough at any time. +The reason I'm going to make my first flight after dark is that I don't +want any spies about." + +"Oh, I see! Are they camping on your trail?" + +"Not exactly. But I can't tell where they may be. If I should start out +in daylight and be forced to make a landing-- Well, you know what a +crowd always collects to see a stranded airship." + +"That's right, Tom." + +"That decided me to start off after dark. Then if we have to come down +because of some sort of engine trouble or because my new attachment +doesn't work right, we sha'n't have any prying eyes." + +"I see! Well, Tom, I'll go with you. Fortunately I didn't tell my wife +where I was going when I started out this afternoon, so she won't worry +until after it's over, and then it won't hurt her. I'm ready any time +you are." + +"Good! Stay to dinner and I'll show you what I've made. Then we'll take +a flight after dark." + +This suited the eccentric man, and a little later, after he had eaten +one of Mrs. Baggert's best meals, including rice pudding, of which he +was very fond, Mr. Damon accompanied Tom to one of the big hangars +where the new aeroplane had been set up. + +"So that's the Air Scout, is it, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon, as he viewed +the machine. + +"Yes, that's the girl. 'Air Scout' is as good a name as any, until I +see what she'll do." + +"It doesn't look different from one of your regular craft of the skies, +Tom." + +"No, she isn't. The main difference is here," and Tom showed his friend +where a peculiar apparatus had been attached to the motor. This was the +silencer--the whole secret of the invention, so to speak. + +To Mr. Damon it seemed to consist of an amazing collection of pipes, +valves, baffle-plates, chambers, cylinders and reducers, which took the +hot exhaust gases as they came from the motor and "ate them up," as he +expressed it. + +"The cylinders, too, and the spark plugs are differently arranged in +the motor itself, if you could see them," said Tom to his friend. "But +the main work of cutting down the noise is done right here," and he put +his hand on the steel case attached to the motor, the case containing +the apparatus already briefly described. + +"Well, I'm ready when you are, Tom," said Mr. Damon. + +"We'll go as soon as it's dark," was the reply. "But first I'll give +you a demonstration. Start the motor, Jackson!" Tom called to his chief +helper. + +Mr. Damon had ridden in aeroplanes before, and had stood near when Tom +started them; so he was prepared for a great rush of air as the +propellers whirled about, and for deafening explosions from the engine. + +The big blades, of new construction, were turned until the gas in the +cylinders was sufficiently compressed. Then Jackson stepped back out of +danger while Tom threw over the switch. + +"Contact!" cried the young inventor. + +Jackson gave the blades a quarter pull, and, a moment later, as he +leaped back out of the way, they began to revolve with the swiftness of +light. There was the familiar rush of air as the wooden wings cut +through the atmosphere, but there was scarcely any noise. Mr. Damon +could hardly believe his ears. + +"I'm not running her at full speed," said Tom. "If I did she'd tear +loose from the holding blocks. But you can see what little racket she +makes." + +"Bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon. "You are right, Tom Swift! +Why, I can hear you talk almost as easily as if no engine were going. +And I don't have to shout my head off, either." + +This was perfectly true. Tom could converse with Mr. Damon in almost +ordinary tones. The exhaust from the motor was nearly completely +muffled. + +"Out in the air it will seem even more quiet," said Tom. "I'll soon +give you a chance to verify that statement." + +He ran the engine a little longer, the aeroplane quivering with the +vibrations, but remaining almost silent. + +"I'm anxious to see what she'll do when in motion," said Tom, as he +shut off the gas and spark. + +Soon after supper, when the shades of evening were falling, he and Mr. +Damon took their places in the first of the Air Scouts, to give it the +preliminary test in actual flying. + +Would Tom's hopes be justified or would he be disappointed? + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE CRY FOR HELP + + +"All ready, Mr. Damon?" asked Tom, as he looked to see that all the +levers, wheels, valves, and other controls were in working order on his +Air Scout. + +"As ready as I ever shall be, Tom," was the answer. "I don't know why +it is, but somehow I feel that something is going to happen on this +trip." + +"Nonsense!" laughed Tom. "You're nervous; that's all." + +"I suppose so. Don't think I'm going to back out, or anything like +that, but I wish it were successfully over with, Tom Swift, I most +certainly do." + +"It will be in a little while," returned Tom, as he settled himself +comfortably in his seat and pulled the safety strap tight. "You've gone +up in this same plane before, when it didn't have the silent motor +aboard." + +"Yes, I know I have. Oh, I dare say it will be all right, Tom. And +yet, somehow, I can't help feeling--" + +But Tom Swift felt that the best way to set Mr. Damon's premonitions to +rest was to start the motor, and this he gave orders to have done, +Jackson and some others of the men from the shops congregating about +the craft to see the beginning of the night flight. Mr. Swift was there +also, and Eradicate. Mary Nestor had been invited, but her Red Cross +work engaged her that evening, she said. Ned Newton was away from town +on Liberty Bond business, and he could not be present at the test. + +However, as Tom expected to have other trials when his motor was in +even better shape, he was not exactly sorry for the absence of his +friends. + +"Contact!" called the young inventor, when Jackson had stepped back, +indicating it was time to throw over the switch. + +"Let her go!" cried Tom, and the next moment the motor was in +operation, but so silently that his voice and that of Mr. Damon's could +easily be heard above the machinery. + +"Good, Tom! That's good!" cried Mr. Swift, and Tom easily heard his +father's voice, though under other, and ordinary, circumstances this +would have been impossible. + +True, the hearing of Tom and Mr. Damon was muffled to a certain extent +by the heavy leather and fur-lined caps they wore. But Tom had several +small eyelet holes set into the flaps just over the opening of the +ears, and these holes were sufficient to admit sounds, while keeping +out most of the cold that obtains in the upper regions. + +The aeroplane moved swiftly along the level starting ground, and away +from the lighted hangars. Faster and faster it swung along as Tom +headed it into the wind, and then, as the speed of the motor increased, +the Air Scout suddenly left the earth and went soaring aloft as she had +done before. + +But there was this difference. She moved almost as silently as a great +owl which swoops down out of the darkness--a bit of the velvety +blackness itself. Up and up, and onward and onward, went the Air Scout. +Tom Swift's improved, silent motor urged it onward, and as the young +inventor listened to catch the noise of the machinery, his heart gave a +bound of hope. For he could detect only very slight sounds. + +"She's a success!" exulted Tom to himself. "She's a success, but she +isn't perfect yet," he added. "I've got to make the muffler bigger and +put in more baffle-plates. Then I think I can turn the trick." + +He swung the machine out over the open country, and then, when they +were up at a height and sailing along easily, he called back to Mr. +Damon in the seat behind him: + +"How do you like it?" + +"Great!" exclaimed the eccentric man. "Bless my postage stamp, but it's +great! Why, there's hardly a sound, Tom, and I can hear you quite +easily." + +"And I can hear you," added Tom. "I don't believe, down below there," +and he nodded toward the earth, though Mr. Damon could not see this, as +the airship, save for a tiny light over the instrument board, was in +darkness, "they know that we're flying over their heads." + +"I agree with you," was the answer. "Tom, my boy, I believe you've +solved the trick! You have produced a silent aeroplane, and now it's up +to the government to make use of it." + +"I'm not quite ready for that yet," replied the young inventor. "I +have several improvements to make. But, when they are finished, I'll +let Uncle Sam know what I have. Then it's up to him." + +"And you must be careful, Tom, that some of your rivals don't hear of +your success and get it away from you," warned Mr. Damon, as Tom guided +the Air Scout along the aerial way--an unlighted and limitless path in +the silent darkness. + +"Oh, they'll have to get up pretty early in the morning to do that!" +boasted Tom, and afterward he was to recall those words with a bit of +chagrin. + +On and on they sailed, and as Tom increased the speed of the motor, and +noted how silently it ran, he began to have high hopes that he had +builded better than he knew. For even with the motor running at almost +full speed there was not noise enough to hinder talk between himself +and Mr. Damon. + +Of course there was some little sound. Even the most perfect electric +motor has a sort of hum which can be detected when one is close to it. +But at a little distance a great dynamo in operation appears to be +silence itself. + +"I can go this one better, though," said Tom as he sailed along in the +night. "I see where I've made a few mistakes in the baffle plate of the +silencer. I'll correct that and--" + +As he spoke the machine gave a lurch, and the motor, instead of +remaining silent, began to cough and splutter as in the former days. + +"Bless my rubber boots, Tom! what's the matter?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"Something's gone wrong," Tom answered, barely able to hear and make +himself heard above the sudden noise. "I'll have to shut off the power +and glide down. We can make a landing in this big field," for just then +the moon came out from behind a cloud, and Tom saw, below them, a great +meadow, not far from the home of Mary Nestor. He had often landed in +this same place. + +"Something has broken in the muffler, I think, letting out some of the +exhaust," he said to Mr. Damon, for, now that the motor was shut off, +Tom could speak in his ordinary tones. "I'll soon have it fixed, or, if +I can't, we can go back in the old style--with the machine making as +much racket as it pleases." + +So Tom guided the machine down. It went silently now, of course, +making, with the motor shut off, no more sound than a falling leaf. +Down to the soft, springy turf in the green meadow Tom guided the +machine. As it came to a stop, and he and Mr. Damon got out, there was +borne to their ears a wild cry: + +"Help! Help!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +SOMETHING QUEER + + +"Did you hear that?" asked Tom Swift of his companion. + +"Hear it? Bless my ear drums, I should say I did hear it! Some one is +in trouble, Tom. Caught in a bog, most likely, the same as that spy +chap who was at your place. That's it--caught in a bog!" + +"There isn't any bog or swamp around here, Mr. Damon. If there was I +shouldn't have tried a landing. No, it's something else besides that. +Hark!" + +Again the cry sounded, seeming to come from a point behind the landing +place of the silent airship. It was clear and distinct: + +"Help! Help! They are--" + +The voice seemed to die away in a gurgle, as though the person's mouth +had been covered quickly. + +"He's sinking, Tom! He's sinking!" cried Mr. Damon. "I once heard a man +who almost drowned cry out, and it sounded exactly like that!" + +"But there isn't any water around here for any one to drown in," +declared Tom. "It's a big, dry meadow. I know where we are." + +"Then what is it?" + +"I don't know, but we're going to find out. Some one attacked by some +one else--or something, I should say," ventured the young inventor. + +"Something! do you mean a wild beast, Tom?" + +"No, for there aren't any of those here any more than there is water. +Though it may be that some farmer's bull or a savage dog has got loose +and has attacked some traveler. But, in that case I think we would hear +bellows or barks, and all I heard was a cry for help." + +"The same with me, Tom. Let's investigate;" + +"That's what I intend doing. Come on. The airship will be all right +until we come back." + +"Better take a light--hadn't you? It's dark, even if the moon does show +now and then," suggested Mr. Damon. + +"Guess you are right," agreed Tom. Aboard his airship there were +several small but powerful portable electric lights, and after securing +one of these Tom and Mr. Damon started for the spot whence the call for +help had come. As they walked along, their feet making no noise on the +soft turf, they listened intently for a repetition of the call for aid. + +"I don't hear anything," said Tom, after a bit. + +"Nor I," added Mr. Damon. "We don't know exactly which way to go, Tom." + +"That's right. Guess we'd better give him a hail; whoever it is." + +Tom came to a halt, and raising his voice to a shout called: + +"Hello there! What's the matter? We'll help you if you can tell us +which way to come!" + +They both listened intently, but no voice answered them. At the same +time, however, they were aware of a sound as of hurrying feet, and +there seemed to be muttered imprecations not far away. Tom and Mr. +Damon looked in the direction of the sound, and the young inventor +flashed his light. But there was a clump of bushes and trees at that +point and the electrical rays did not penetrate very far. + +"Some one's over there!" exclaimed Tom in a whisper. "We'd better go +and see what it is." + +"All right," agreed Mr. Damon, and he, too, spoke in a low voice. + +Why they did this when their previous talk had been in ordinary tones, +and when Tom had shouted so loudly, they did not stop to reason about +or explain just then. But later they both admitted that they whispered +because they thought there was something wrong on foot--because they +feared a crime was being committed and they wanted to surprise the +perpetrators if they could. + +And it was this fact of their whispering that enabled the two to hear +something that, otherwise, they might not have heard. And this was the +sound of some vehicle hurrying away--an automobile, if Tom was any +judge. The cries for help had been succeeded by stifled vocal sounds, +and these, in turn, by the noise of wheels on the ground. + +"What does it all mean?" asked Mr. Damon in a whisper. + +"I don't know," answered Tom, resolutely, "but we've got to find out. +Come on." + +They advanced toward the dark clump of trees and low bushes. There was +no need to be especially cautious in regard to being silent, as their +feet made little, if any, sound on the deep grass. And, as Tom walked +in advance, now and then flashing his light, Mr. Damon suddenly caught +him by the coat. + +"What is it?" asked the young inventor. + +"Look! Just over the top of that hill, where the moon shines. Don't +you see an automobile outlined?" + +Tom looked quickly. + +"I do," he answered. "There's a road from here, just the other side of +those trees, to that hill. The auto must have gone that way. Well, +there's no use in trying to follow it now. Whoever it was has gotten +away." + +"But they may have left some one behind, Tom. We'd better look in and +around those trees." + +"I suppose we had, but I don't believe we'll find anything. I can +pretty nearly guess, now, what it was." + +"What?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Well, some chauffeur was out for a ride in his employer's car without +permission. He got here, had an accident--maybe some friends he took +for a ride were hurt and they called for help. The chauffeur knew if +there was any publicity he'd be blamed, and so he got away as quickly +as he could. Guess the accident--if that's what it was--didn't amount +to much, or they couldn't have run the car off. We've had our trouble +for our pains." + +"Well, maybe you're right, Tom Swift, but all the same, I'd like to +have a look among those trees," said Mr. Damon. + +"Oh. we'll look, all right," assented Tom, "but I doubt if we find +anything." + +And he was right. They walked in and about the little grove, flashing +the light at intervals, but beyond marks of auto wheels in the dust of +the road, which was near the clump of maples, there was nothing to +indicate what had happened. + +"Though there was some sort of fracas," declared Tom. "Look where the +dust is trampled down. There were several men here, perhaps skylarking, +or perhaps it was a fight." + +"Some one must have been hurt, or they wouldn't have cried for help," +said Mr. Damon. + +"Well, that's so. But perhaps it was some one not used to riding in +autos, and he may have imagined the accident was worse than it was, and +called for help involuntarily. There is no evidence of any serious +accident having happened--no spots of blood, at any rate," and Tom +laughed at his own grimness. "It was a new car, too, or at least one +with new tires on." + +"How do you know?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Tell by the plain marks of the rubber tread in the dust," was the +answer. "Look," and Tom pointed to the wheel marks in the focus of his +electric lamp. "It's a new tire, too, with square protuberances on the +tread instead of the usual diamond or round ones. A new kind of tire, +all right." + +He and Mr. Damon remained for a few minutes looking about the place +whence had come the calls for help, and then the eccentric man remarked: + +"Well, as long as we can't do anything here, Tom, we might as well +travel on; what do you say?" + +"I agree with you. There isn't any use in staying. We'll get the Air +Scout fixed up and travel back home. But this was something queer," +mused Tom. "I hope it doesn't turn out later that a crime has been +committed, and we didn't show enough gumption to prevent it." + +"We couldn't prevent it. We heard the cries as soon as we landed." + +"Yes, but if we had rushed over at once we might have caught the +fellows. But I guess it was only a slight accident, and some one was +more frightened than hurt. We'll have to let it go at that." + +But the more he thought about it the more Tom Swift thought there was +something queer in that weird cry for help on the lonely meadow in the +darkness of the night. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE TELEPHONE CALL + + +The defect in the motor which had caused Tom Swift to shut off the +power and drift down to earth was soon remedied, once the young +inventor began an examination of the craft. One of the oil feeds had +become choked and this automatically cut down the gasoline supply, +causing one or more cylinders to miss. It was a safety device Tom had +installed to prevent the motor running dry, and so being damaged. + +Once the clogged oil feed was cleared the motor ran as before, and just +as silently, though, as Tom had said, he was not entirely satisfied +with the quietness, but intended to do further work toward perfecting +it. + +"I'll start the propellers now, Mr. Damon," said Tom, when the trouble +had been remedied. "You know how to throw the switch, don't you?" + +"I guess so," was the answer. Mr. Damon and Tom had traveled so often +together in gasoline craft that the young inventor had taught his +friend certain fundamentals about them, and in an emergency the +eccentric man could help start an aeroplane. This he now did, taking +charge of the controls which could be operated from his seat as well as +from Tom's. Tom whirled the propellers, and soon the motor was in +motion. + +Mr. Damon, once the big wooden blades were revolving, slowed down the +apparatus until Tom could jump aboard, after which the latter took +charge and soon speeded up the machine, sending it aloft. + +As the green meadow, dimly seen in the light of the moon, seemed to +drop away below them, and the clump of trees vanished from sight, both +Tom and Mr. Damon wondered who it was that had called for help, and if +the matter were at all serious. They were inclined to think it was not, +but Tom could not rid himself of a faint suspicion that there might +have been trouble. + +However, thoughts of his new silent Air Scout soon drove everything +else from his mind, and as he guided the comparatively silent machine +on its quiet way toward his own home he was thinking how he could best +improve the muffler. + +"Well, here we are again, safe and sound," remarked Tom, as he brought +the craft to a stop in front of the hangar, and Jackson and his +helpers, who were awaiting the return, hurried out to take charge. + +"Yes, everything seems to point to success, Tom," agreed Mr. Damon. +"That is, unless the slight accident we had means trouble." + +"Oh, no, that had nothing to do with the operation of the silencer. But +I'm going to do better yet. Some day I'll take you for a ride in a +silent machine which will make so little noise that you can hear a pin +drop." + +"Well," remarked Mr. Damon' with a laugh, "I don't know that listening +to falling pins will give me any great amount of pleasure, Tom, but I +appreciate your meaning." + +"Everything all right?" asked Mr. Swift, as he came out to hear the +details from his son. "Do you think you have solved the problem?" + +"Not completely, but I'll soon be able to write Q. E. D. after it. Some +refinements are all that are needed, Dad." + +"Glad to hear it. I was a bit anxious." + +Mr. Swift questioned his son about the technical details of the trip, +asking how the motor had acted under the pressure caused by so +completely muffling the exhaust, and for some minutes the two +inventors, young and old, indulged in talk which was not at all +interesting to Mr. Damon. They went into the house, and Tom asked to +have a little lunch, which Mrs. Baggert set out for him. + +"It's rather late to eat," said the young inventor, "but I always feel +hungry after I test a new machine and find that it works pretty well. +Will you join me in a sandwich or two, Mr. Damon?" + +"Why, bless my ketchup bottle, I believe I will." + +And so they ate and talked. Tom was on the point of telling his father +something of the queer cry for help they had heard on the lonely meadow +when Mrs. Baggert produced a letter which she said had come for Tom +that afternoon, but had been mislaid by a new maid who had been engaged +to help with the housework. + +"She took it to the shop after you had left, and only now told me about +it," explained Mrs. Baggert. "So I sent Eradicate for it." + +"How long ago was that?" asked Tom, as he took the missive. + +"Oh, an hour ago," answered Mrs. Baggert, with a smile. "But don't +blame poor Rad for that. He wanted to deliver the letter to you +personally, and so did Koku. The result was your giant kept after Rad, +trying to get the letter from him, and Rad kept hiding and slinking +about for a chance to see you himself until I saw what was going on, a +little while ago, and took the letter myself. Else you might never have +gotten it, so jealous are those two," and Mrs. Baggert laughed. + +"Guess it isn't of much importance," Tom said, as he tore open the +envelope. "It's from the Universal Flying Machine Company, of New York, +and I imagine they're trying to get me to reconsider my refusal to link +up with them." + +"Yes," he went on, as he read the missive, "that's it. They've raised +the amount to thirty thousand a year now, Dad, and they say they feel +sure I shall regret it if I do not accept. + +"This is a bit queer, though," went on the young inventor. "This +letter was written three days ago, but it reached Shopton only to-day. +And it says that unless they hear from me at once they will have to +take steps that will cause me great inconvenience. They have nerve, at +any rate, and impudence, too! I won't even bother to answer. But I +wonder what they mean, and why this letter was delayed?" + +"The mails are all late on account of the transportation congestion +caused by moving troops to the camps," said Mr. Damon. "Some of my +letters are delayed a week. But, as you say, Tom, these fellows are +very impudent to threaten that way." + +"It's all bluff," declared Tom. "I'm not worrying. And now, Dad, since +I've almost reached the top of the hill with my Air Scout, I may be +able to help you on that new electric motor you're puzzling over." + +"I wish you would, Tom. I am trying to invent a new system of +interchangeable brush contacts, but so far I've been unable to make +them work. However, there is no great hurry about that. If you are +going to offer your silent machine to the government finish that first. +We need all the aircraft we can get. The battles on the other side seem +to be all in favor of the Germans, so far." + +"We haven't got into our stride yet," declared Mr. Damon. "Once Uncle +Sam gets the boys over there in force, there'll be a different story to +tell. I only wish--" + +At that moment the telephone set up an insistent ringing, breaking in +on Mr. Damon's remarks. + +"I'll answer," said Tom, as Mrs. Baggert moved toward the instrument, +which was an extension from the main one. + +"Hello!" called the young inventor into the transmitter, and as he +received an answer a look of pleasure came over his face. + +"Yes, Mary, this is Tom," he said. He remained silent a moment, while +it was evident he was listening to the voice at the other end of the +wire. Then he suddenly exclaimed: + +"What's that? Tell him to come home? Why, he isn't here. I just came in +and--what--wait a minute!" + +With a rather strange look on his face Tom covered the mouth-piece of +the instrument with his hand, and, turning to his father, asked: + +"Is Mr. Nestor here?" + +"No," replied Mr. Swift slowly, "He was here, though. He came a little +while after you and Mr. Damon started off in the Air Scout. But he +didn't stay. Said he wanted to see you about something and would call +again." + +"Oh," remarked the young man. "I didn't know he had been there." + +"I meant to tell you," said Mrs. Baggert; "but getting the lunch made +me forget it, I guess." + +Tom uncovered the transmitter of the telephone again, and spoke to Mary +Nestor. + +"Hello," he said. "I was wrong, Mary. Your father was here, but he left +when he found I wasn't at home. How long ago? Wait a minute and I'll +inquire. + +"How long ago did Mr. Nestor leave?" asked the young inventor of the +housekeeper. "Nearly an hour," he said into the instrument, after he +had received the answer. Then, after listening a moment, he added: +"Yes, I guess he'll be home soon now. Probably stopped down town to see +some of his friends. Yes, Mr. Damon and I tried out the Air Scout. Yes, +she worked pretty well, for a starter, but there is something yet to be +done. Oh, yes, now I'll have time to come over to see you, and take you +for a ride too. We won't have to talk through a speaking tube, either. +Tell your father I am sorry I was out when he called. I'll come to see +him to-morrow, if he wants me to. Yes--yes. I guess so!" and Tom +laughed, it being evident that his remarks at the end of the +conversation had to do with personal matters. + +"A telegram has come for Mr. Nestor and they were anxious that he +should get it," Tom explained to his little audience as he hung up the +receiver and put aside the telephone. "I wonder what he wanted to see +me about?" + +"He didn't say," replied Mrs. Baggert. + +Mr. Damon, Tom, and his father remained in conversation a little while +longer, and the eccentric man was thinking that it was about time for +him to return home, when the telephone rang again. + +"Hello," answered Tom, as he was nearest the instrument. "Oh, yes, +Mary, this is he. What's that? Your father hasn't reached home yet? And +your mother is worried? Oh tell her there is no cause for alarm. As I +said, he probably stopped on his way to see some friends." + +Tom listened for perhaps half a minute to a talk that was inaudible to +the others in the room, and they noticed a grave look come over his +face. Then he said: + +"I'll be right over, Mary. Yes, I'll come at once. And tell your mother +not to worry. I'm sure nothing could have happened. I'll be with you +in a jiffy!" + +As Tom Swift hung up the receiver he said: + +"Mr. Nestor hasn't reached home yet, and as he promised to return at +once in case he didn't find me, his wife is much worried. I'll go over +and see what I can do." + +"I'll come along!" volunteered Mr. Damon. "It isn't late yet." + +"Yes, do come," urged Tom. "But I suppose when we get there we'll find +our friend has arrived safely. We'll go over in the electric runabout." + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +A VAIN SEARCH + + +Tom Swift's speedy little electric car was soon at the door in +readiness to take him and Mr. Damon to the Nestor home. The electric +runabout was a machine Tom had evolved in his early inventive days, and +though he had other automobiles, none was quite so fast or so simple to +run as this, which well merited the name of the most rapid machine on +the road. In it Tom had once won a great race, as has been related in +the book bearing the title, "Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout." + +"Mary didn't telephone again, did she?" Tom asked his father, as he +stopped at the house to get Mr. Damon, having gone out to see about +getting the electric runabout in readiness. + +"No," was the answer. "The telephone hasn't rung since." + +"Then, I guess, Mr. Nestor can't have arrived home," said Tom. "It's a +bit queer, his delay, but I'm sure it will be explained naturally. Only +Mary and her mother are alone and, very likely, they're nervous. I'll +telephone to let you know everything is all right as soon as I get +there," Tom promised his father and Mrs. Baggert as he drove off down +the road, partly illuminated by the new moon. + +Rapidly and almost as silently as his Air Scout Tom Swift drove the +speedy car down the highway. It was about three miles from his home to +that of Mary Nestor, and though the distance was quickly covered, to +Tom, at least, the space seemed interminable. But at length he drove +up to the door. There were lights in most of the rooms, which was +unusual at this time of night. + +The sound of the wheels had not ceased echoing on the gravel of the +drive before Mary was out on the porch, which she illuminated by an +overhead light. + +"Oh, Tom," she cried, "he hasn't come yet, and we are so worried! Did +you see anything of father as you came along?" + +"No," was Tom's answer. "But we didn't look for him along the road, as +we came by the turnpike, and he wouldn't travel that way. But he will +be along at any moment now. You must remember it's quite a walk from my +house, and--" + +"But he was on his bicycle," said Mary. "We wanted him to go in the +auto, but he said he wanted some exercise after supper, and he went +over on his wheel. He said he'd be right back, but he hasn't come yet." + +"Oh, he will!" said Tom reassuringly. "He may have had a puncture, or +something like that. Bicyclists are just as liable to them as +autoists," he added with a laugh. + +"Well, I'm sure I hope it will be all right," sighed Mary. "I wish you +could convince mother to that effect. She's as nervous as a cat. Come +in and tell us what to do." + +"Oh, he'll be all right," declared Mr. Damon, adding his assurances to +Tom's. + +They found Mrs. Nestor verging on an attack of hysteria. Though Mr. +Nestor often went out during the evening, he seldom stayed late. + +"And he said he'd be right back if he found you weren't at home, Tom," +said Mrs. Nestor. "I'm sure I don't know what can be keeping him!" + +"It's too soon to get worried yet," replied the young inventor +cheerfully. "I'll wait a little while, and then, if he doesn't come, +Mr. Damon and I will go back over the road and look carefully. He may +have had a slight fall--sprained his ankle or something like that--and +not be able to ride. We came by the turnpike, a road he probably +wouldn't take on his wheel. He's all right, you may be sure of that." + +Tom tried to speak reassuringly, but somehow, he did not believe +himself. He was beginning to think more and more how strange it was +that Mr. Nestor did not return home. + +"We'll wait just a bit longer before setting out on a search," he told +Mary and her mother. "But I'm sure he will be along any minute now." + +They went into the library, Mary and her mother, Tom and Mr. Damon. And +there they sat waiting. Tom tried to entertain Mary and Mrs. Nestor +with an account of his trial trip in the Air Scout, but the two women +scarcely heard what he said. + +All sat watching the clock, and looking from that to the telephone, +which they tried to hope would ring momentarily and transmit to them +good news. Then they would listen for the sound of footsteps or bicycle +wheels on the gravel walk. But they heard nothing, and as the seconds +were ticked off on the clock the nervousness of Mrs. Nestor increased, +until she exclaimed: + +"I can stand it no longer! We must notify the police--or do something!" + +"I wouldn't notify the police just yet," counseled Tom. "Mr. Damon and +I will start out and look along the road. If it should happen, as will +probably turn out to be the case, that Mr. Nestor has met with only a +simple accident, he would not like the notoriety, or publicity, of +having the police notified." + +"No, I am sure he would not," agreed Mary. "Tom's way is best, Mother." + +"All right, just as you say, only find my husband," and Mrs. Nestor +sighed, and turned her head away. + +"Even if Mr. Nestor had had a fall," reasoned Tom, "he could call for +help, and get some one to telephone, unless--" + +And as he reasoned thus Tom Swift gave a mental start at his own use of +the word "help." + +That weird cry on the lonely meadow came back to him with startling +distinctness. + +"Come on, Mr. Damon!" cried Tom, in a voice he tried to make cheerful. +"We'll find that Mr. Nestor is probably walking along, carrying his +disabled bicycle instead of having it carry him. We'll soon have him +safe back to you," he called to the two women. + +"I wish I could go with you, and help search," observed Mary. + +"Oh, I couldn't bear to be left alone!" exclaimed her mother. + +"We'll telephone as soon as we find him," called Tom to Mrs. Nestor, as +he and Mr. Damon again got into the runabout and started away from the +place. + +"What do you think of it, Tom?" asked the eccentric man, when they were +once more on the road. + +"Why, nothing much--as yet," Tom said. "That is, I think nothing more +than a simple accident has happened, if, indeed, it is anything more +than that he has delayed to talk to some friends." + +"Would he delay this long?" + +"I don't know." + +"And then, Tom--bless my spectacles! what of that cry we heard? Could +that have been Mr. Nestor?" + +There! It was out! The suspicion that Tom had been trying to keep his +mind away from came to the fore. Well, he might as well race the issue +now as later. + +"I've been thinking of that," he told Mr. Damon. "It might have been +Mary's father calling for help." + +"But we looked, Tom, near the trees, and couldn't discover anything. If +he had been calling for help--" + +Mr. Damon did not finish. + +"He may have fallen from his wheel and been hurt," said Tom, as he +turned the electric runabout into the highway that Mr. Nestor would, +most likely, have taken on his way from Shopton. "Then he may have +called for help, and some autoists, passing, may have heard and taken +him away." + +"Yes, but where, Tom? Whoever called for help was taken away, that's +sure. But where?" + +"To some hospital, I suppose." + +"Then hadn't we better inquire there? There are only two hospitals of +any account around here. The one in Shopton and the one in Waterfield. +My wife is on the board of Lady Managers there. We could call that +hospital up and--" + +"We'll look along the road first," said Tom. "If we begin to make +inquiries at the hospitals there will be a lot of questions asked, and +a general alarm may be sent out. Mr. Nestor wouldn't like that, if he +isn't in any danger. And it may turn out that he has met an old friend, +and has been talking with him all this while, forgetting all about the +passage of time." + +They were now driving along the highway that led from the little suburb +where Mr. Nestor lived, to the main part of Shopton, just beyond which +was Tom's home. This section was country-like, with very few houses and +those placed at rather infrequent intervals. The road was a good one, +though not the main-traveled one, and Mr. Nestor, as was known, +frequently used it when he rode his bicycle, an exercise of which he +was very fond. + +As Tom and Mr. Damon drove along, they scanned, as best they could in +the light from the young moon and the powerful lamps on the runabout, +every part of the highway. They were looking for some dark blot which +might indicate where a man had fallen from his wheel and was lying in +some huddled heap on the road. But they saw nothing like this, much to +their relief. + +"Do you know, Tom," said Mr. Damon, when they were nearing the town, +and their search, thus far, had been in vain, "I think we're going at +this the wrong way." + +"Why, so?" + +"Because Mr. Nestor may have fallen, and been hurt, and have been +carried into any one of a dozen houses along the road. In that case we +wouldn't see him. We've passed over the most lonely part of the journey +and haven't seen him. If the accident occurred near the houses his +cries would have brought some one out to help him. He is well known +around here, and, even if he were unconscious and couldn't tell who he +was, he could be identified by papers in his pockets. Then his family +would be notified by telephone." + +"Perhaps you are right, Mr. Damon. We may be wasting time this way. +What do you suggest?" asked Tom. + +"That we don't delay any longer, but call up the hospitals at once. If +he isn't in either of those he must be in some house, and in such +condition that his identity cannot be established. In that event it is +a case for the police. We haven't found him, and I think we had better +give the alarm." + +Tom Swift thought it over for a moment. Then he came to a sudden +decision. + +"You're right!" he told Mr. Damon. "We mustn't waste any more time. He +isn't along the road he ought to have traveled in coming from my house +to his home--that's sure. But before I call up the hospitals I want to +try out one more idea." + +"What's that, Tom?" + +"I want to go to the place where we heard that cry for help." + +"Do you think that could have been Mr. Nestor?" + +"It may have been. We'll go and take another look around there. Some +man was evidently hurt there, and was taken away. We may get a clew. +The lights on the runabout will give us a better chance to look around +than we had by the little pocket lamp. We'll try there, and, if we +don't find anything, then I'll call up the hospitals." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE LONG NIGHT + + +With the speedy runabout it did not take Tom Swift and Mr. Damon long +to reach the place where the Air Scout had been grounded a few hours +before, and where they had heard the cry for help. All was as dark and +as silent as when they had been there before. + +But, as Tom had said, the lights from his electric runabout would give +a brilliant illumination, and these he now directed toward the clump of +trees whence the cry for help had seemed to come. + +"Doesn't appear to have been visited by any one since we were here," +remarked Tom, as he observed the marks of the new automobile tire in +the dust. "Now we'll look about more carefully." + +This they did, but they were about to give up in despair and start for +the nearest telephone to call up the hospitals, when Mr. Damon gave an +exclamation. + +"What is it?" asked Tom. + +"Something bright and shining!" said his companion. "I saw it gleam in +the light of the lamps. You nearly put your foot on it, Tom. Just step +back a moment." + +Tom did so, and the eccentric man, with another exclamation, this time +of satisfaction, reached down and picked something up from the dusty +road. + +"It's a watch!" he exclaimed. "A gold watch! And it's been stepped on, +evidently, or run over by an auto. Not much damaged, but the case is a +bit bent and scratched. It's stopped, too!" he added as he held it to +his ear. + +"What time does it show?" asked Tom. + +"Eight forty-seven," answered Mr. Damon, as he consulted the dial. +"Why, Tom, that was just about when we heard the cries for help!" + +"Yes, it must have been. Let me see that watch." + +No sooner had the young inventor taken the timepiece into his hands +than he, too, uttered a cry of amazement. + +"Do you recognize it?" asked Mr. Damon, in great excitement. + +"It's Mr. Nestor's watch!" cried Tom. "He must have fallen here, and +been hurt. It was Mr. Nestor who cried for help, and who was taken away +by the autoists. They've probably taken him to some hospital. There's +been an accident all right." + +Tom and Mr. Damon were of one mind now in thinking that Mr. Nestor had +met with some mishap on the road--an automobile accident most +likely--and that he was the person who had called for help. + +"If they had only answered when we hallooed at them," said Tom, "we +wouldn't be in all this stew now. We could have told the strangers who +came to his aid who he was, and we might even have taken him to the +hospital in the airship." + +"Well, it's too late to think of that now," returned Mr. Damon. "We +had better get into communication with him as soon as we can, and then +send word to his wife and daughter. I hope he isn't badly hurt." + +Tom hoped so, too, with all his heart. + +There was nothing to do but to get back in the runabout and make all +speed for the nearest telephone, and Tom Swift lost little time in +doing this. They found a drug store which was open a little later than +usual, and at once Tom went into the booth and called up the Shopton +hospital. He was well known there, as he and his father were liberal +supporters of the institution, which was a private affair. Many of +Tom's men were treated at the dispensary, and, as accidents were of +more or less frequent occurrence at the works, the young inventor had +frequent occasions to call up the place. + +"Mr. Nestor would ask to be taken there, as it's nearest his home--that +is, if he was able to speak," Tom said to Mr. Damon, who agreed with +him. There was a little delay in getting the hospital on the wire, but +when Tom had it, and was talking to the superintendent, he was rather +surprised, to tell the truth, to be told that Mr. Nestor had not been +brought in. + +"We haven't had any accident cases all day, nor to-night, Mr. Swift," +the superintendent reported. "Was this some one special you were +inquiring about?" + +For Tom, determining not to give Mr. Nestor's name, except as a last +resort, had merely inquired whether any recent accident cases had been +brought in. + +"I'll let you know later, Mr. Millard," he told the superintendent, not +exactly answering the question. He hung up the receiver, and, opening +the door of the booth, said to Mr. Damon: "He isn't there." + +"Then try Waterfield," was the suggestion; and Tom did so, though he +could not imagine why an injured man, such as Mr. Nestor might prove to +be, should be taken as far as Waterfield, when the hospital at Shopton +was nearer. + +"Unless," he told Mr. Damon, "the people which ran down Mary's father +didn't know about our hospital." + +The reply from the institution in Mr. Damon's home town was just as +discouraging as had been the answer from Shopton. At first, when Tom +inquired, the head nurse had said there was an accident case at that +moment being brought in. Tom was all excitement until she went to +inquire the name and circumstances, and then he learned that it was the +case of a little boy who had fallen downstairs at his home and broken a +leg. There was no record of any one answering the description of Mr. +Nestor having been brought in that evening. + +"Hum! This is getting to be mysterious," mused Tom, as he came out of +the booth. "What shall we do--go back and tell Mrs. Nestor and Mary, or +communicate with the police?" + +"Why not try the Alexian Hospital?" asked Mr. Damon. "That's away over +in Centerford, to be sure, but it's more likely to be known to +passing tourists than either of our institutions around here, +especially if the autoists were strangers." + +"That's so," agreed Tom. The Alexian Hospital was operated under the +direction of the Brothers of that faith, and was well known in that +part of the state. Often cases of persons who had been injured by +passing automobiles had been taken there for treatment, for, as Mr. +Damon had said, it was well known, and Centerford was the nearest large +city. + +"I can just about see how it happened," said Tom. "They ran Mr. Nestor +down, and stopped to pick him up after they heard his cries for help. +And the Alexian Hospital was the first one they thought of. We should +have called that up first." + +But once more disappointment awaited the young inventor and his friend. +Word came back over the wire that no accident case, which bore any +resemblance to Mary's father, had been brought in. + +"Well, I'm stumped!" exclaimed Tom. "What shall we do now, Mr. Damon?" + +"Much as I dislike it," said the eccentric man who was too much +worried, now, to do any "blessing," which was his favorite expression, +"I think we ought to communicate with Mrs. Nestor. She will be very +anxious." + +"I guess we'll have to," said Tom. "But wait! I'll call up my house +first, and see if he has gone back there." + +But Mr. Nestor had not done this, and Mrs. Baggert, who answered the +telephone, said Mary had been calling frantically for Tom, as her +mother was now on the verge of complete collapse. + +"No help for it," said Tom, ruefully. "We've got to tell 'em we have no +news, and can't find him." + +And, hearing this, Mrs. Nestor did collapse, and a doctor was called in. + +Thereupon Tom, who with Mr. Damon had gone back to the Nestor home, +took charge of matters, sending for Mrs. Nestor's sister to come and +stay with her and take charge of the house. + +"You'll need some one to stay with you," he told Mary. + +"Yes, I shall," she admitted, trying bravely not to give way to her +emotion. "Oh, Tom, I wish you could stay, too. I'm sure something +dreadful must have happened to poor father. Please stay and help us +find him!" + +"I will," Tom promised. "As soon as your aunt comes I'll take Mr. Damon +home, and then I'll give the rest of my time to you." + +And this Tom did, sending word home that he would remain at the +Nestor's all night and part of the next day. + +Tom got but little sleep that night. He communicated with the police +and saw to it that a general alarm was sent out. He called up all +hospitals within a radius of fifty miles, but could get no trace of any +injured man whose description resembled that of Mr. Nestor. + +"What can have happened?" asked Mary tearfully. + +"Well, the way I figure it out is this," said Tom. "Your father left my +house soon after Mr. Damon and I did in the Air Scout. Mr. Nestor was +riding his bicycle, and he must have been run into by an automobile. +That is how his watch was damaged and that was when Mr. Damon and I +heard the cries for help." + +"Oh, do you think he was badly hurt?" asked Mary. + +"No, I don't," and Tom answered truthfully. "The voice sounded as +though he was in pain, certainly, but it was strong and vigorous, and +not at all as though he was dangerously hurt." + +"And what do you think happened to him after he was hurt?" asked Mary. + +"The autoists took him away," decided Tom. "In fact, we heard the +machine go, but of course we never connected the call for help and what +followed with your father. The autoists took him away." + +"Where?" + +"I should say to some hospital. Perhaps a private one of which we know +nothing, and which may be near here. I'll get a full list from the +Board of Health to-morrow. Or it may be that the autoists, seeing the +damage they had done, took your father to the home of one of +themselves, and summoned a doctor there." + +"Why would they do that?" + +"Well, they may have been so frightened they didn't realize what they +were doing, or they may have thought he would get better treatment in a +private house, if he were not badly injured, than if he should be taken +to a hospital. It may have been that one of the persons in the auto was +a physician, and wished to try his own skill on the man he had hurt." + +"You make me feel more comfortable, Tom," said Mary. "But, even +supposing all this, why couldn't they telephone to us that my father +was all right? He always carries an identification card with him, and +if he were unconscious it could be ascertained who he was." + +"That's what I can't understand," said Tom frankly. "It puzzles me. But +we'll find him--never fear!" + +And so he kept on with his telephone inquiries, while a physician and +her sister ministered to Mrs. Nestor. The night was very, very long, +and no good news came in. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SILENT SAM + + +Slowly the dawn broke through the mists of darkness, and made the earth +light. The sun came straggling in through cracks in the shutters in the +home of Mr. Nestor, the gradually increasing gleam paling the electric +lights, in the glare of which Tom Swift, Mary, and her aunt sat, +waiting for some word of the missing man. But none came. + +"What shall we do now?" asked Mary, as she looked at Tom. + +"Oh, there's lots to do," he said, trying to make his voice sound +cheerful. "We'll be busy all day. I sent word to have one of my touring +cars ready to hurry to any part of the country the moment we should get +word from your father." + +"And do you think we shall get word, Tom?" the girl went on wistfully. + +"Of course we shall!" he cried. "Word may come in at any time. Now get +ready, eat a good breakfast, and then you can go with me as soon as we +hear anything definite. Come, we'll have breakfast!" + +"I can't eat a thing!" protested Mary. + +"Oh, yes you can," said her aunt, who was a cheerful sort of person. +"I'll see about getting something for you and Mr. Swift, and see that +your mother is all right." + +She left the room to give orders to the servant about the meal, and +returned to say that Mrs. Nestor was sleeping quietly. She had been +given a sedative. Mary managed to eat a little, and she gave Tom the +address of several friends who were called up in the vain hope that, +somehow, Mr. Nestor might have gone to see them. + +"Tom, what do you really think has happened?" asked Mary again, as they +sat facing one another in the library, during a respite from the +telephone. + +Tom Swift repeated, to the girl his theory of what had happened with an +assumption of confidence he did not altogether feel. + +His prediction of a speedy end to the suspense did not come true that +day, nor for many days. No news was heard of Mr. Nestor. After the +first day, when there was no information and when no reports came of +any one of his description having been hurt in an automobile accident +or having been taken to any hospital, the police started an energetic +search. + +The authorities in all near-by cities were notified, and all thought of +keeping from the public what had happened was given over. Tom's story, +of how he and Mr. Damon had heard the cry for help on the lonely +meadow, was printed in the papers, though the young inventor did not +say that he had been out trying his new aeroplane. That was a detail +not needed in the finding of Mr. Nestor. + +But Mary's father was not found. The mystery regarding his +disappearance deepened, and there was no trace of him after he had left +Tom's house that eventful evening. Persons living along the roads he +might have taken in riding his bicycle were questioned, but they had +seen nothing of him, nor were they aware of any accident. Tom's +testimony and that of Mr. Damon was all the clew there was. + +"I don't believe he's dead!" stoutly declared the young inventor, when +this dire possibility had been hinted at. "I believe the persons who +were responsible for the accident are afraid to reveal his whereabouts +until he recovers from possible injuries. You'll see! Mr. Nestor will +come back safe!" + +And, somehow, though her mother was skeptical, Mary believed what Tom +said. + +The search was kept up, but without result, and Tom aided all he could. +But there was not much he could do. The police and other authorities +were at a total loss. + +In the intervals of visiting Mary and her mother, and doing what he +could for them, Tom worked on his new motor. He knew that he was on the +right track and that all that was needed now was to make certain +refinements and adjustments in the apparatus he had already +constructed, so that it would operate more quietly. + +"Absorbing the vibrations from the exhaust, caused by the exploded +gases in the cylinders, does the trick," Tom told his father. + +"But there is enormous pressure to overcome, Tom. You must be sure your +muffler will stand the strain. Otherwise she is going to blow out a +gasket some day, when you least expect it. Then the sudden resumption +of pressure outside the cylinders is going to cause a change in the +equilibrium, and you may turn turtle in the air." + +"I've thought of that," said Tom. "At worst it can't be any more than +looping the loop. But I'll make the muffler doubly strong." + +"Better provide an auxiliary chamber to take care of part of the +exhaust in case your main apparatus breaks," advised the older +inventor, and Tom said he would. He did, too, for he valued his +father's expert advice. + +Meanwhile he was busy fitting one of his latest aeroplanes with the new +motor. The motor he and Mr. Damon had used in their flight was one +patched up from an old one. But now Tom was working on a complete new +one, made after his revised model, and in which the silencer was an +integral part, instead of being built on. + +While giving Mary and her mother all the assistance in his power, Tom +still found time to work on his new, pet scheme. He had matters now +where he did not fear any tampering with his plans, for he had filed +away his papers in a safe place, and was making his new machine from +memory. + +"But if some one got in and had a look at the inside of your silencer +he could see how it is constructed, couldn't he?" asked Ned Newton. + +"Yes," assented Tom, "But they're not going to get in very easily. Koku +sleeps in the experiment shop now, and my machine is there." + +"Oh, well that explains your confidence. I feel sorry for the burglar +who makes the attempt, once Koku wakes up. Heard anything more from +those Universal people?" + +"No, not directly. I understand they are working hard on some new type +of plane for army use, but I haven't bothered my head about them. I'm +too much occupied with my own affairs and trying to help Mary." + +"Very strange about Mr. Nestor, isn't it?" + +"Worse than strange," said Tom. "If this keeps on, and he isn't heard +from, it will be tragic pretty soon." + +"He must be held a prisoner somewhere," declared Ned. + +"It begins to look that way," assented Tom. "Though who would have an +object in that I can't understand. He had no enemies, as far as is +known, and his business affairs were in excellent shape. Unless, as I +said, the persons who ran him down are, through fear, keeping him +hidden until he recovers, I can't imagine what has become of him." + +"Well, it certainly is a puzzle," said Ned. And Tom agreed with his +chum. + +It was about a week after the disappearance of Mr. Nestor that Mr. +Damon came over to see Tom. + +"Bless my shoe laces, Tom!" exclaimed the eccentric man, "but you are +as busy as ever." For he found the young inventor in the experiment +shop, surrounded by a mass of papers and all sorts of mechanical +devices. + +"Yes, I'm working a little," said Tom. "But you are just in time. Come +on out, I want to introduce you to Silent Sam." + +"'Silent Sam!'" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Have you been taking a new trip +to the Land of Wonders? Have you brought back some new kind of servant?" + +"Not exactly a servant," said Tom with a laugh, "though I hope Silent +Sam will serve me well." + +"'Silent Sam?' What does it mean? Is that a joke?" asked the puzzled +Mr. Damon. + +"I hope it doesn't turn out a joke," replied Tom. "But come on, I'll +introduce you to him, Mr. Damon." + +He led the way to one of the big hangars where his various machines of +the air were housed. On the way Mr. Damon asked about news of Mr. +Nestor, but was told there was none. + +Tom Swift opened the big, swinging doors and pulled aside an enveloping +canvas curtain. There stood revealed a big aeroplane, of somewhat new +pattern, the wings gleaming like silver from the varnish that had been +applied. In shape it was not unlike the machines already in use, except +that the propellers were of somewhat different design. + +The engine was mounted in front, and even with his slight knowledge of +mechanics Mr. Damon could tell that it was exceedingly powerful. But it +was certain devices attached to the engine that attracted his +attention, for they were totally different from any on any other +aeroplane, though they bore some resemblance to apparatus on the plane +in which Tom and the eccentric man had made the night flight. + +"Is this your new machine, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Yes." + +"Well, I don't see anything of that fellow you spoke of--Silent Sam." + +"This is Silent Sam," returned Tom, with a laugh. "I've named my new +noiseless aeroplane--my Air Scout--I've named that Silent Sam. Wait +until you hear it, or rather, don't hear it, and I think you'll agree +with me. Silent Sam for Uncle Sam!" + +"Good!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my dictionary, but that's a good name! +Does it sail silently, Tom?" + +"I'll let you judge presently. Silent Sam is all ready for his first +trial, and I'll be glad to have you with me. Now, I'll just--" + +Tom suddenly ceased speaking and held up a hand to enjoin silence. +Then, while Mr. Damon watched, the young inventor began moving +noiselessly toward the rear of the big shed, inside which was his new +machine. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +SUSPICIONS + + +"Who's there?" suddenly called Tom, and in such a sharp voice that Mr. +Damon started, ready as he was for something unusual. + +There was no answer and Tom suddenly switched on all the lights in the +shed. Up to then there had been only a few glowing--just enough for him +to show the new Air Scout to his friend. + +"Who's there?" asked Tom again, sharply. + +"Bless my opera glasses, Tom!" cried Mr. Damon, "but are you seeing +things?" + +"No; but I'm hearing them," answered Tom with a short laugh. "Did you +think you heard some one moving around near the rudders of Silent Sam, +Mr. Damon?" + +"No, I can't say that I did. Everything seems to me to be all right." + +"Well, it doesn't to me," went on Tom grimly. "I think there is an +intruder in this shed, though how any one could get in when the doors +have been locked all day, is more than I can figure out. But I'm going +to have a look." + +"I'll help you," offered Mr. Damon, and, in the bright glare from many +electric lights, the two began a search of the big hangar where the new +craft was kept. + +But though the young inventor and his friend went around to the rear of +the aeroplane, walking in opposite directions, they saw no one, nor did +any one try to escape past them. + +"And yet I was sure I heard some one in here," declared Tom, when a +search had revealed nothing. "It sounded as if some one were scuffling +softly about in rubber-soled shoes, trying to hide." + +"Bless my suspenders!" cried Mr. Damon, "who do you think it could have +been, Tom?" + +"Who else but some spy trying to get possession of my secrets?" was the +answer. "But I guess I was too quick for them. They couldn't learn much +from looking at the outside of my muffler, and it hasn't been +disturbed, as far as I can see." + +"Who would want to gain a knowledge of it in that unlawful way?" asked +Mr. Damon. + +"Perhaps some of the Universal crowd. They may have been disappointed +in perfecting a silent motor themselves, and think stealing my idea +would be the easiest way out of it." + +"Do they know you are working on such a model as this Silent Sam of +yours, Tom?" + +"Yes, I imagine they do. One of the firm members, as you recall, +overheard something, I think, that gave them a hint as to what my plans +were, though, thanks to the time I fooled the spy, they haven't any +real data to go by, I believe." + +"Let us hope not," said Mr. Damon. + +Tom and he made a thorough search of the big shed, but found no one, +nor was there any trace of an intruder. Tom notified Jackson, who, in +turn, told the guards and watchmen to be on the lookout for any +suspicious strangers, but none was seen in the vicinity of the Swift +works. + +"Well, everything seems to be all right, so we'll have the test," +remarked Tom, after a further search of the premises. "Now, Mr. +Damon, if all goes as I hope you will see what my new machine can do. +Strain your ears for a sound, and let me know how much you hear." + +His men helping him, Tom started the new motor which was tried for the +first time attached to the new craft. No flight was to be made yet, the +motor being tested as though on the block, though, in reality, the +craft was ready for instant flight if need be. + +Slowly the great propellers began to revolve, and then Tom, taking his +place in the cockpit, turned on more power. The new craft--Silent +Sam--was made fast so it could not progress even though the propellers +revolved at high speed. + +"I'm not sending her to the limit," said Tom to his friend, as the +young inventor throttled down the motor. "If I did I'd tear her loose +from the holding blocks." + +"Her!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my typewriter, Tom! but I thought Silent +Sam was a gentleman aeroplane. + +"So he is!" laughed the young man, frankly. "I forgot about 'Silent +Sam.' Guess I'll have to say 'him' instead of 'her,' though the latter +sounds more natural. Anyhow what do you think?" + +"I think it's wonderful!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "There the motor is, +going at almost full speed, and I can hardly hear a thing. You can the +easier believe that when I say that I can hear you talk perfectly well. +And I guess you hear me, don't you?" + +"Yes," replied Tom. "And we don't have to shout, either. This is the +best test ever! I think everything is a success." + +"Are you going to take her aloft, Tom?" the eccentric man went on. + +"Yes, now that I'm sure the engine is all right. Will you go for a +flight with me?" + +"I certainly will! I only wish we could find him, though. I'd go with a +better heart." + +"Oh! Mr. Nestor?" + +"Yes, I can't imagine what has become of him. It is almost as if the +earth had opened and swallowed him. His disappearance is a great +mystery." + +"It surely is," agreed Tom. "Can't seem to get any trace of him. But if +we hear another cry for help, when we have to land, you can make up +your mind I'll investigate more quickly than I did at first." + +"I agree with you," said Mr. Damon. + +It was nearly evening then, and until it was dark enough for his flight +Tom spent the time tuning up the engine and seeing that all was in +readiness for the latest test. He had decided not to go aloft while it +was light enough for curiosity seekers to note the flight. + +Tom rather wished Mary Nestor might have a sail with him in his latest +improved silent Air Scout, but the girl was too much occupied at home +and in trying to find some trace of her father. + +Tom, his father, and Mr. Damon had helped all they could, but there +were no results. A private detective had been engaged, but he had no +more of a clew than the regular police. + +At last it was dark enough for the flight, and Tom and Mr. Damon took +their places in the machine. Once more the propellers were turned +around, and when the compression had been made, and the spark switched +on, around spun the big wooden blades, and the great craft moved over +the grass. + +On and on and up and up sailed Tom and Mr. Damon, and as they left +behind them the shops and the Swift homestead, the two passengers were +aware of their almost silent flight. The big aeroplane, the exhaust of +which, ordinarily, would have nearly deafened them, was now as silent +as a bird. + +"Silent Sam for Uncle Sam!" cried Tom in delight, as he went on faster. +"I'm sure the government ought to be glad to get this plane for air +scout work. It's a success! A great success!" + +"Yes, so it is!" agreed Mr. Damon. "You do well to speak of it so, Tom." + +For, modest as the young inventor was, he felt, in justice to himself, +that he must acknowledge the fact that his craft was a success. For it +rose and sailed almost as silently as a bat, and a few hundred feet +away no one, not seeing it, would have believed a big aeroplane was in +motion. + +Tom and Mr. Damon flew about twenty miles at a swift pace, and all the +fault Tom had to find was that the machine was not as steady in flight +as she should have been. + +"But I can remedy that with the use of some of dad's gyroscope +stabilizers," he told Mr. Damon. + +They returned to the hangar safely, and the first trip of the new +Silent Sam was an assured success. + +It was the following day, when Tom was busy in the machine shop +installing the gyroscopes spoken of, that Jackson came to tell him +there was a visitor to see him. + +"Who is it?" asked the young inventor. + +"Mr. Gale of the Universal Company," was the answer. + +"I don't want to see him!" declared Tom quickly. "I have nothing to say +to him after his clumsy threats." + +"He seems very much in earnest," said Jackson. "Better see him, if only +for a minute or so." + +"All right, I will," assented Tom. "Show him in." + +Mr. Gale, as blusteringly bluff as ever, entered the shop. Tom had +carefully put away all papers and models, as well as the finished +machines, so he had no fear that his visitor might discover some secret. + +"Oh, Mr. Swift!" began the president of the Universal Company, when he +met the young inventor, "I wish to assure you that what has been done +was entirely without our knowledge. And, though this man may have acted +as our agent at one time, we repudiate any acts of his that might--" + +"What are you talking about?" asked Tom in surprise. "Have I been so +impolite as to sleep during part of your talk? I don't understand what +you are driving at." + +"Oh, I thought you did," said Gale, and he showed surprise. "I +understood that the man who--" + +"Do you mean there was some one here in the shed last night?" cried the +young inventor suddenly, all his suspicions aroused. + +"Some one here last night?" repeated Mr. Gale. "No, I don't refer to +last night. But perhaps I am making a mistake. I--er--I--" + +"Some one is making a mistake!" said Tom significantly. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +ANOTHER FLIGHT + + +For perhaps a quarter of a minute Tom Swift and the president of the +Universal Flying Machine Company of New York sat staring at one +another. Mr. Gale's face wore a puzzled expression, and so did Tom's. +And, after the last remark of the young inventor, the man who had +called to see him said: + +"Well, perhaps we are talking at cross purposes. I don't blame you for +not feeling very friendly toward us, and if I had had my way that last +correspondence with you would never have left our office." + +"It wasn't very business-like," said Tom dryly, referring to the veiled +threats when he had refused to sell his services to the rival company. + +"I realize that," said Mr. Gale. "But we have some peculiar men working +for us, and sometimes there is so much to do, so many possibilities of +which to take advantage, that we may get a little off our balance. But +what I called for was not to renew our offer to you. I understand that +is definitely settled." + +"As far as I am concerned, it is," said Tom, as his caller seemed to +want an answer. + +"Yes. Well, then, what I called to say was that if you are thinking of +taking any legal action against us because of the action of that man +Lydane, I wish to state that he had absolutely no authority to--" + +"Excuse me!" broke in Tom, "but by Lydane do you mean the man who also +posed as Bower, the spy?" + +"No, I do not. Though I regret to say that Bower once worked for us. +He, too, had no authority to come here and get a position. He was still +in our service when he did that." + +"So I have suspected," said Tom. "I realize now that he was a spy, who +came here to try to find out for you some of my secrets." + +"Not with my permission!" exclaimed Mr. Gale. "I was against that from +the first and I came to tell you so. But Bower really did you no harm." + +"No, he didn't get the chance!" chuckled Tom. "Nor did that other +spy--the one with the gold tooth. I wonder how he liked our mud hole?" + +"He was Lydane," said Mr. Gale. "It is about him I came." + +"You might have saved yourself the trouble," returned Tom. "I don't +wish to discuss him." + +"But I wish to make sure," said Mr. Gale, "that what he has done will +not come back on us. We repudiate him entirely. His methods we can not +countenance. He is too daring--" + +"Oh, don't worry!" interrupted Tom. "He hasn't done anything to me--he +didn't get the chance, as I guess he's told you. You needn't apologize +on his account. He did me no harm, and--" + +"But I understood from him that--" + +"Now I don't want to seem impolite!" broke in Tom, "nor do I want to +take pattern after some of your company's acts, if not your own. But I +am very busy. I have an important test to make for the government, and +my time is fully occupied. I am afraid I shall have to bid you +good-morning and--" + +"But won't you give me a chance to--" began the president. + +"Now, the less we discuss this matter the better!" interrupted Tom. +"Lydane, as you call the man with the gold tooth didn't really do +anything to me nor any great harm to any of my possessions, as far as I +can learn. His career is a closed book--a book with muddy covers!" and +the young inventor laughed. + +"Oh, well, if you look at it that way, there is nothing further for me +to say," said Mr. Gale stiffly. "I understood-- But hasn't my partner, +Mr. Ware, seen you?" he asked Tom quickly. + +"No. And I don't care to see him." + +"Oh, then that accounts for it," was the quick answer. "Well, if you +regard the matter as closed I suppose we should also. We are not to +blame for what Lydane does when he is no longer in our employ, and we +repudiate anything he may do, or may have done." + +This struck Tom, afterward, as being rather a queer remark, but he did +not think so at the time. + +The truth was that the young inventor wished very much to try out a new +device on his noiseless aeroplane and wanted to get rid of Mr. Gale +before doing so. So he did not pay as much attention to the remarks of +the president as, otherwise, he might have done. + +It was not until after Mr. Gale had taken his leave and Tom had +finished the particular work on which he was engaged when the president +of the rival company came in, that the young man did some hard +thinking. And this thinking was done after he had received a telephone +call from Mary Nestor, asking, if by any chance, he had heard anything +like a clew as to the whereabouts of her father. + +Tom had been obliged to tell her that he had not. Everything possible +was being done to find the missing man but he had disappeared as +completely as though he had ridden on his bicycle into the crater of +some extinct volcano on the meadow, and had fallen to the bottom. + +An effort was made to trace him through an automobile association which +had a large membership. That is, the members were asked to make +inquiries to ascertain, if possible, whether any one had heard of an +unreported accident--one in which Mr. Nestor might have been carried +away by persons who accidently ran him down. + +But this came to naught, and the police and other authorities were at a +loss how farther to proceed. It was a theory in some quarters that Mr. +Nestor was perfectly safe, but that he was out of his mind, and was +either wandering around, not knowing who he was, or was, in this +condition, detained somewhere, the persons having him in charge not +realizing that he was the missing man so widely sought. + +This belief was a relief to Mrs. Nestor and Mary in many ways for it +prevented them from giving way to the fear that Mr. Nestor was dead. +That he was alive was Tom Swift's firm opinion, and he was doing all he +could to prove it. + +It was not until the day after the visit of Mr. Gale that Tom, having +concluded some intricate calculations about the strength of cylinder +valves, uttered an exclamation. + +"I wonder if he could have meant that?" cried the young inventor. "I +wonder if he could have meant that? I must find out at once! Queer I +didn't think of that before!" + +He put in a long distance call to New York, asking to speak to Mr. +Gale. But when, eventually, he was connected with the office of the +Universal Flying Machine Company he was told that Mr. Gale and Mr. Ware +had sailed for France that day, going over as government +representatives to investigate aeroplane motors. Gale's visit to Tom +had been just previous to taking the boat, it was said. + +"This is tough luck!" mused Tom, his suspicions doubly aroused now. "I +can't let this rest here! I've got to get after it! As soon as I make +this final test, and invite Uncle Sam's experts out to see how my +noiseless motor works, I'll get after Gale and Ware if I have to follow +them to the battlefields of France! I wonder if it was that he was +hinting at all the while! I begin to believe it was!" + +Tom Swift had decided on another flight for his new craft before he +would let the government experts see it. + +"Silent Sam must do his very best work for Uncle Sam before I turn him +over," said the young inventor. + +"And after this flight I'll offer the machine to the government, and +then devote all my time to finding Mr. Nestor," said Tom. "I'd do it +now, but private matters, however deeply they affect us, must be put +aside to help win the war. But this will end my inventive work until +after Mr. Nestor is found--if he's alive." + +Preparations for the test flight went on apace, and one afternoon Tom +and Jackson took their places in the big, new aeroplane. He no longer +feared daylight crowds in case of an accident. They made a good start, +and the motor was so quiet that as Tom passed over his own plant the +men working in the yard, who did not know of the flight, did not look +up to see what was going on. They could not hear the engine. + +"I think we've got everything just as we want it, Jackson," said Tom, +much pleased. + +"I believe you," answered the mechanician. "It couldn't be better. Now +if--" + +And at that moment there came a loud explosion, and Silent Sam began +drifting rapidly toward the earth, as falls a bird with a broken wing. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +QUEER MARKS + + +"What happened?" cried Jackson to Tom, as he leaned forward in his seat +which was in the rear of the young inventor's. + +"Don't know, exactly," was the answer, as Tom quickly shifted the +rudders to correct the slanting fall of his craft. "Sounded as though +there was a tremendous back-fire, or else the muffler blew up. The +engine is dead." + +"Can you take her down safely?" + +"Oh, yes, I guess so. She's a bit out of control, but the stabilizer +will keep her on a level keel. Good thing we installed it." + +"You're right!" said Jackson. + +Now they were falling earthward with great rapidity, but, thanks to the +gyroscope stabilizer, the "side-slipping," than which there is no +motion more dreaded by an aviator, had nearly ceased. The craft was +volplaning down as it ought, and Tom had it under as perfect control as +was possible under the circumstances. + +"We'll get down all right if something else doesn't happen," he said to +Jackson, with grim humor. + +"Well, let's hope that it won't," said the mechanic. "We're a good +distance up yet." + +They were, as a matter of fact, for the explosion, or whatever had +happened to the craft, had occurred at a height of over two miles, and +they at once began falling. As yet Tom Swift was unaware of the exact +nature of the accident or its cause. All he knew was that there had +been a big noise and that the engine had stopped working. He could not +see the silencer from where he sat, as it was constructed on the +underside of the motor, but he had an idea that the same sort of mishap +had occurred as on the occasion when the test machine had sailed +through the roof of his workshop. + +"But, luckily, this wasn't as bad," mused Tom. "Anyhow the motor is out +of business." + +And this was very evident. The young inventor had tried to start the +apparatus after its stoppage by the explosion, but it had not responded +to his efforts, and then he had desisted, fearing to cause some further +damage, or, perhaps, endanger his own life and that of Jackson. + +Down, down swept Silent Sam--doubly silent now, and Tom began looking +about for a good place to make a landing. This was nothing new for +either him or his mechanician, and they accepted the outcome as a +matter of course. + +"Not a very lively place down there," remarked Jackson, as he looked +over the side of the cockpit. + +"If we have to depend for help on any one down there, I guess we'll be +a long time waiting," agreed Tom. They were about to land in a very +lonely spot. It was one he had never before visited, though he knew it +could not be much more than twenty miles from his own home, as they had +not flown much farther than that distance. + +But, somehow or other, Tom had not visited this particular section, and +knew nothing of it. He saw below him, as Jackson had seen, a lonely +stretch of country--a big field, once a wood-lot, evidently, as +scattered about were some stumps and some second growth trees. There +were also a number of evergreens--Christmas trees Jackson called them. +And this was the only open place for miles, the surrounding country +being a densely wooded one. There did not appear to be a house or other +building in sight where they might seek help. + +"But maybe we can make the repairs ourselves and keep on," the lad +thought. + +With practiced eye he picked out a smooth, grassy, level spot, in the +midst of scattered evergreen trees, and there Tom Swift skillfully +brought his Air Scout to rest. With a gentle thud the rubber-tired +wheels struck the Earth, rolled along a little distance, and then +called to a stop. + +Hardly had the aeroplane ceased moving when Tom and his companion +jumped out and began eagerly to examine the machinery to see the extent +of damage. + +"I thought so!" Tom exclaimed. "The silencer cracked under the strain. +Those exhaust gases have more pressure that I believed possible. I +increased the margin of safety on this muffler, too. But she's +cracked, and I can't use the machine until I put on a new one. Good +thing I didn't ask for a government inspection until after this trial +flight." + +"That's so," agreed Jackson. "But can't you patch it up, or go on +without a muffler, so we can get back home?" + +"I'm afraid not," Tom answered. "You see I removed all the old exhaust +pipe fittings when I put on my new silencer. Now if I took off my +attachment there wouldn't be anything to carry off the discharged +gases, and they'd form a regular cloud about us. We couldn't stand it +without gas masks, such as they use in the trenches, and we haven't any +of those with us." + +"That's right," agreed Jackson. "Well, what do you want to do? Have me +stay here and guard the machine while you go for help? Or shall I go?" + +"I don't know why we both can't go," said Tom. "There is no use trying +to patch up this machine here. I'll have to send a truck after it, and +dismantle it before I can get it home. + +"As for either of us staying here on guard, I don't quite see the need +of that. This looks like the jumping-off place to me. I don't believe +there's a native within miles. I didn't see any houses as we came down, +and I think Silent Sam will be perfectly safe here. No one can run off +with him, anyhow. He'd be as hard to start as an automobile with all +four wheels gone. Let's leave it here and both walk back." + +"All right," agreed Jackson. "That suits me. Might as well leave our +togs here, too. It will be easier walking without them," and he began +taking off the fur-lined suit, his cap, and his goggles, such as he and +Tom wore against the piercing cold of the upper regions. + +"We can stuff them in the cockpit and leave them," went on the +mechanician, as he divested himself of his garments. As he stowed them +away in his seat he gave one more look at the broken muffler. As Tom +Swift said, his new silencer had literally blown up, a large piece +having been torn from the gas chamber. + +Something that Jackson saw caused him to utter an exclamation that +brought Tom Swift to his side. + +"What is it?" asked the young inventor. + +"Look!" was the answer. "See! Just at the edge of that break! It's +been filed to make the metal thinner there than anywhere else. You +didn't do that, did you?" + +"I should say not!" cried Tom. "Why, to file there would mean to weaken +the whole structure." + +"And that's exactly what's happened!" declared Jackson, as he gave +another look. "Some one has filed this nearly through--leaving only a +thin metal skin, and when the gas pressure became too much it blew out. +That's what happened!" + +Tom Swift made a quick but thorough examination. + +"You're right, Jackson!" he exclaimed. "That was filed deliberately to +cause the accident. And it must have been done lately, for I carefully +inspected the silencer when I put it on, and it was in perfect order. +There's been spy work here. Some one got into the hangar and filed that +casing. Then the accumulated pressure of the gases did the rest." + +"As sure as you're alive!" agreed Jackson. "Maybe that's what Gale did +when he called." + +"No," returned Tom, shaking his head, "he didn't get a chance to do +anything like that. I watched him all the while. But perhaps this is +what he referred to when he said he and his company would repudiate any +act of that spy with the gold tooth--Lydane, so Gale said his name was. +Maybe that's what Lydane did." + +"He was capable of it," agreed the mechanic, "but he couldn't have done +it that time you tripped him into the mud puddle. This silencer wasn't +built then." + +"No, you're right," assented Tom. "Then he must have been around since, +doing some of his tricky work!" + +"I don't see how that could have been," said Jackson slowly. "We've +kept a very careful watch, and your shop has been specially guarded." + +"I know it has," said Tom. "There couldn't much get past Koku; but some +one seems to have done it, or else how could that filing have been +done?" + +Jackson shook his head. The problem was too much for him. He looked +carefully at the exploded and broken silencer, and Tom, too, gave it a +critical eye. There was no doubt but that it had been filed in several +places to weaken the structure of the metal. + +"When did you last see that it was in perfect condition?" asked Jackson. + +Tom named a certain date. + +"That was just before Gale called," observed the mechanician. "He +might have known of it." + +"I wish I'd known of it at the time," said Tom savagely. "He wouldn't +have gotten away as easily as he did. Well, there's no use standing +here talking about it. Let's get back to civilization and we'll send +back one of the trucks. Luckily I have another silencer I can put on +for the government test. This one will never be of any more use, though +I may be able to save some of the valves and baffle plates." + +Slowly they turned from the disabled aeroplane and started to look for +a path that would lead them out of the lonely place. Tom as the first +to strike what seemed to be a cow path, or perhaps what had been a road +into the wood lot in the early days. + +As he tramped along it, followed by Jackson, the young inventor +suddenly stopped, as he came to a sandy place, and, stooping over, +looked intently at some queer marks in the soil. + +"What is it?" asked the mechanician. + +"Looks like the marks of an automobile," said Tom slowly. "And I was +just trying to remember where I'd seen marks like these before." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE DESERTED CABIN + + +For several seconds the young inventor remained bending over the queer +marks in that little sandy path of the lonely field in the midst of the +silent woods. Jackson watched him curiously, and then Tom straightened +up, exclaiming as he did so: + +"I have it! Now I know where it was! I saw marks like these the night +Mr. Nestor disappeared. Mr. Damon and I noticed the marks in the dust +on the road the time we made the forced landing the first night we +tried out the silent motor. That's it! They are the same marks! I'm +sure of it!" + +"I wouldn't go so far as to say that," said Jackson slowly. He was more +deliberate than Tom Swift, a fact for which the young inventor was +often glad, as it saved him from impulsive mistakes. + +"This may not be the same auto," went on the mechanician. "I'll admit I +never saw square tire marks like those before. Most of the usual ones +are circular, diamond-shape or oblong. Some tire manufacturer must have +tried a new stunt. But as for saying these marks were made by the same +machine you saw evidences of the night Mr. Nestor disappeared, why, +that's going a little too far, Tom." + +"Yes, I suppose it is," admitted the young inventor. "But it's a clew +worth following. Maybe Mr. Nestor has been brought to some lonely place +like this, and is being held." + +"Why would any one want to do that?" asked Jackson. "He had no enemies." + +"Well, perhaps those who ran him down and injured him are afraid to let +him go for fear he will prosecute them and ask for heavy damages," +suggested Tom. "They may be holding him a captive until he gets well, +and aim on treating him so nicely that he won't bring suit." + +"That's a pretty far-fetched theory," said the mechanician as he +carefully looked at the tracks. "But of course it may be true. Anyhow, +these tire marks are rather recent, I should say, and they are made by +a new tire. Do you think we can follow them?" + +"I'm going to try!" declared Tom. "The only trouble is we can't tell +whether it was going or coming--that is we don't know which way to go." + +"That's so," agreed his companion. "And so the only thing to do is to +travel a bit both ways. The path, or road, or whatever you call it, is +plainly enough marked here, though you can't always pick out the tire +marks. They show only on bare ground. The grass doesn't leave any +tracks that we can see, though doubtless they are there. + +"But as for thinking this car is the same one the marks of which you +saw on the lonely moor, the night you heard the call for help--that's +going too far, Tom Swift." + +"Yes, I realize that. Of course there must be more than one car with +tires which have square protuberances. But it's worth taking a chance +on--following this clew." + +"Oh, sure!" agreed Jackson. + +"The only question is, then, which way to go," returned Tom. + +They settled that, arbitrarily enough, by going on in the direction +they had started after leaving the stranded airship. They followed a +half-defined path, and were rewarded by getting occasional glimpses on +bare ground of the odd tire marks. + +Through a devious winding way, now hidden amid a lane of trees, and +again cutting across an open space, the path led. They saw the marks +often enough to make sure they were on the right trail, and in one +place they saw several different patches of the odd marks. + +They went on perhaps half a mile more, when they came to a lonely road +and saw where the car had turned from that into the wood-lot, as Tom +called the place where his craft had settled down. + +"Look!" cried the young inventor to Jackson. "They've been here more +than once, and have gone along the road in both directions. They seem +to have used this turning into the lot as a sort of stopping place." + +This was plain enough from an examination of the marks in the sandy +soil of the road, which was one not often used. The automobile with the +queer, square marks on the tires had turned into the lot, coming and +going in both directions. + +"This settles it!" cried Tom, when he finished making an examination. +"There's something farther back in this lot that we've got to see. This +auto has been coming and going, and we should have followed the tracks +the other way from the point where we first saw them, instead of coming +this way." + +"Except that we've learned the place of departure," suggested Jackson. +"Evidently the wood-lot is a blind alley. The car goes in, but it can +come out only just at this point, or, at least, it does." + +"That's right!" agreed Tom. "Now the thing to do is to follow our track +back to where we started. There must be some place where the car went +to--some headquarters, or meeting place with some one, farther back in +the lot. If we can only follow the trail back as well as we did coming, +we may find out something." + +"Well, let's try, anyhow," suggested Jackson. + +They had no difficulty in making their way back to the spot where they +had first seen the queer marks. But from then on their task was not so +easy. For sandy or bare patches of earth were not frequent, and they +had to depend on these to give them direction, for the road was +overgrown and not well defined. + +Often they would search about for some time after leaving one patch of +the marks before they found another that would justify them in keeping +on. + +"They have headquarters, or a rendezvous, somewhere back in this lot!" +declared Tom, as they hurried on. "I think we're on the track of a +mystery." + +"Unless it turns out that some farmer has treated himself to an auto +with new tires of square tread, and is hauling wood," said Jackson. "It +may turn out that way." + +"Yes, it may," agreed Tom. "But, taking everything into consideration, +I think we're on the verge of finding out something. Even if we do +discover that the owner of this auto is only hauling wood, he may be +able to help us to a clew as to the whereabouts of Mr. Nestor." + +"How?" + +"Well, maybe he was in his machine on the moor the night the call for +help came. He may even have aided to carry Mr. Nestor away. And if he +doesn't know a thing about it--which, of course, is possible--the man +who bought these queer tires can tell us who makes them, or who deals +in them, and we can find out what autoists around here have their cars +equipped with this odd tread." + +"Yes," agreed Jackson, "that can be done." + +And so they kept on, scouting here and there to either side of the +half-defined path, until they were far back from the spot where they +had left the Air Scout. + +"We don't appear to be getting any warmer, as the children say," +remarked Jackson, as he straightened up and looked about, for his back +ached from so much stooping over to look for the odd marks. + +"We haven't seen anything yet, I'll admit," said Tom. "But it won't be +dark for another hour or so, and I vote that we keep on." + +"Oh, I wasn't thinking of giving up!" exclaimed Jackson. "If there's +anything here--at the end of the route, as you might say--we'll find +it. Only I hope it doesn't turn out to be just a wood pile, from which +some farmer has been hauling logs." + +"That would be a disappointment," assented Tom. + +The day was waning, and they realized that they ought not to spend too +much time on what might turn out to be a wild goose chase. They were in +a lonely neighborhood, and while they were not at all apprehensive of +danger, they felt it would be best to get to shelter before dark. + +"We'll want to send word to Mr. Swift that we're all right." + +"Yes," said Tom, "I'd like to get to a place where I can telephone to +him or Mrs. Baggert. Well, if we don't find something pretty soon we'll +have to turn back. I must complete work on the new motor, for if I'm to +offer it to Uncle Sam for air scout purposes, the sooner I can do so +the better. Things are getting pretty hot over in Europe, and if ever +the United States needed aircraft on the western front they need them +now. I want to help all I can, and I also want to help Mary--you +understand--Miss Nestor." + +"I understand," said Jackson simply. "I only hope you can help her. But +I'm afraid--this may turn out to be nothing--following these marks, you +know." + +"And yet," said Tom slowly, "it would be strange if it was only a +coincidence--the two tire marks being the same--the night Mr. Nestor +disappeared and now." + +And so they kept on, hoping. + +The half-defined path through the wood-lot led them in a series of +turns and twists, and it extended through a dense patch of woods, +growing thickly, where it was so dark that it seemed as if night had +fallen. + +"We can't spend much more time here," said Tom. "If we don't find +something in the next half mile we'll go back and take up the search +to-morrow. I'm going to find out what's at the end of this road--even +if it's only a wood pile." + +For ten minutes more the two went on, making sure, by occasional +glimpses at the marks, that they were on the right track. Then, +suddenly, they saw something which made them feel sure they had reached +their goal. + +In a clearing among the trees was a little cabin--a shack of logs--and +from the appearance it was deserted. There was not a sign of life +around. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +CLEWS AT LAST + + +For a moment, at sight of the deserted cabin, staring at Tom and his +friend, as it were, from its hiding place amid the trees, the young +inventor and his companion did not move. They just stood looking at the +place. + +"Well," said Tom, at length, "we found it, didn't we?" + +"We found something anyhow," agreed Jackson. "Whether it amounts to +anything or not, we've got to see." + +"Come on!" cried Tom, impulsively. "I'm going to see what's there." + +"There doesn't appear to be much of anything," said Jackson, as he +looked toward the lonely cabin with critical eyes. "I should say that +place hadn't been used, even as a chicken coop, in a long while." + +"We can soon tell!" exclaimed Tom, striding forward. + +"Wait just a minute!" cried his companion, catching him by the coat. +"Don't be in such a hurry." + +"Why not?" asked Tom. "There isn't any danger, is there?" + +"I don't know about that. There's no telling who may be hidden in that +cabin, in spite of its deserted appearance. And though there aren't any +'No Trespass' signs up, it may be that we wouldn't be welcome. If there +are some tramps there, which is possible, they might take a notion to +shoot at us first and ask questions as to our peaceable intentions +afterward--when it would be too late." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom. "There aren't any tramps there and, if there +were, they wouldn't dare shoot. I'm going to see what the mystery +is--if there is one." + +But there was no sign of life, and, taking this as an indication that +their advance would not be disputed, Jackson followed Tom. The latter +advanced until he could take in all the details of the shack. It was +made of logs, and once had been chinked with mud or clay. Some of this +had fallen out, leaving spaces between the tree trunks. + +"It wasn't a bad little shack at one time," decided Tom. "Maybe it was +a place where some one camped out during the summer. But it hasn't been +used of late. I never knew there was such a place around here, and I +thought I knew this locality pretty well." + +"I never heard of it, either," said Jackson. "Let's give a shout and +see if there's any one around. They may be asleep. Hello, there!" he +called in sufficiently vigorous tones to have awakened an ordinary +sleeper. + +Put there was no answer, and as the shadows of the night began to fall, +the place took on a most lonely aspect. + +"Let's go up and knock--or go in if the door's open," suggested Tom. +"We can't lose any more time, if we're to get out of here before night." + +"Go ahead," said Jackson, and together they went to the cabin door. + +"Locked!" exclaimed Tom, as he saw a padlock attached to a chain. It +appeared to be fastened through two staples, driven one into the door +and the other into the jamb, at right angles to one another and +overlapping. + +"Knock!" suggested Jackson. But when Tom had done so, and there was no +answer, the machinist took hold of the lock. To his own surprise and +that of Tom, one of the staples pulled out and the door swung open. The +place had evidently been forced before, and the lock had not been +opened by a key. The staple had been pulled out and replaced loosely in +the holes. + +For a moment nothing could be made out in the dark interior of the +shack. But as their eyes became used to the gloom, Tom and his +companion were able to see that the shack consisted of two rooms. + +In the first one there was a rusty stove, a table, and some chairs, and +it was evident, from pans and skillets hanging on the wall, as well as +from a small cupboard built on one side, that this was the kitchen and +living room combined. + +"Anybody here?" cried Tom, as he stepped inside. + +Only a dull echo answered. + +The two could now see where a door gave entrance to an inner room, and +this, a quick glance showed, was the sleeping apartment, two bunks +being built on the side walls. + +"Well, somebody had it pretty comfortable here," decided Tom, as he +looked around. "They've been cooking and sleeping here, and not so very +long ago, either. It wouldn't be such a bad place if it was cleaned +out." + +"That's right," agreed Jackson. "Wouldn't mind camping here myself, if +there was any fishing near." + +"The river can't be far away," suggested Tom. "And now let's see what +we can find, and see if we can get a line on who has been here. But +first we'll let in a little light." + +He opened a window in the sleeping room, and pushed back the heavy +plank shutter that had been closed. When the light entered it was seen +that both bunks bore evidence of having been lately slept in. The +blankets were tossed back, as if the occupants had risen, and in the +outer room, on the stove, were signs that indicated a meal had been +served not many days gone by. + +"Now," observed Tom musingly, as he wandered about the place, "if we +could only find out who owns this, and who has been here lately--" + +Jackson stooped over, and, thrusting aside an end of the blankets that +trailed on the floor from one of the bunks, picked up something. + +"What is it?" asked Tom. + +"Looks like a leather pocketbook," was the answer. "That's what it is," +the mechanic went on, as he held the object to the light. "It's a +wallet." + +"Let me see it!" exclaimed Tom quickly. He took the wallet from the +hands of Jackson. Then the young inventor uttered a cry. "A clew at +last!" he exclaimed. "A clew at last! Mr. Nestor has been in this +cabin!" + +"How do you know?" asked Jackson quickly. + +"This is his wallet," said Tom excitedly. "I've often seen him have it. +In fact he had it with him on Earthquake Island, the time I sent the +wireless message for help. I saw it several times then. He kept in it +what few papers he had saved from the wreck. And I've seen it often +enough since. That's Mr. Nestor's wallet all right. Besides, if you +want any other evidence--look!" He opened the leather flaps and showed +Jackson on one, stamped in gold letters, the name of Mary's father. + +"Well, what do you make of it, Tom?" asked the mechanician, as he +finished his examination of the wallet. "What does it mean? The +pocket-book is empty and that--" + +"Might mean almost anything," completed Tom. "But it's a clew all +right! He's been here, and I'm pretty certain he was brought here in +the auto with the odd tires--the one Mr. Damon and I saw traces of the +night we heard the cries for help." + +"But that doesn't help us now," said Jackson. "The point is to find out +how lately Mr. Nestor was here, and what has happened to him since. +There isn't anything in the wallet, is there?" + +"Nothing," answered Tom, making a careful examination so as to be sure. +"It's as empty as a last year's bird nest. He's been robbed--that's +what has happened to Mr. Nestor. He was waylaid that night, instead of +being run down as I thought--waylaid and robbed and then his body was +brought here." + +"There you go again, Tom! Jumping to conclusions!" said Jackson, with a +friendly smile, and with the familiarity of an old and valued helper. +"Maybe he's in perfectly good health. Just because you found his empty +wallet doesn't argue that your friend is in serious trouble. He may +have dropped this on the road and some one picked it up. I'll admit +they may have taken whatever was in it, but that doesn't prove +anything. The thing for us to do is to find out who knows about this +shack; who owns it, on whose land it is, and whether any one has been +seen here lately." + +"They've been here lately whether they've been seen or not," said Tom +positively. "There are the auto tracks. It rained two days ago, and the +tracks were made since. Mr. Nestor must have been here within two days." + +"He may or may not," said Jackson. "Say, rather, that some one was here +and left his wallet after him. Now see if we can find other clews!" + +They looked about in the fast fading light, but at first could discover +nothing more than evidences that three or four persons had been living +in the shack and at some recent date--probably within a day or two. + +They had had their meals there and had slept there. But this seemed to +be all that could be established, other than that Mr. Nestor's wallet +was there, stripped of its contents. + +Tom was looking through the closet, from which a frightened chipmunk +sprang as he opened the door. There were the remains of some food, +which accounted for the presence of the little striped animal. And, as +Tom poked about, his hand came in contact with something wrapped in +paper on an upper shelf. It was something that clinked metallicly. + +"What's that?" asked Jackson. "Knives, or some other weapons?" + +"Neither," answered Tom. "It's a couple of files, and they've been used +lately. I can see something in the grooves yet and--" + +Suddenly Tom ceased speaking and drew from his pocket a small but +powerful magnifying glass. Through this he looked at one of the files, +taking it out in front of the shack where the light was better. + +"I thought so!" he cried. "Look here, Jackson!" + +"What is it?" + +"Another clew!" answered Tom. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE GOVERNMENT TEST + + +For a moment Jackson thought Tom had discovered a clew to, or evidences +of, some crime. He had an unpleasant suspicion, for an instant, that +there was blood on the files, and that it might prove to be the blood +of Mr. Nestor. + +But the satisfaction that showed on Tom's face did not seem to indicate +such dire possibilities as these. + +"What is it?" asked Jackson, unable to guess at what Tom was looking +through the powerful glass. "What do you see?" + +"Metal filings on the grooves of these files," said the young inventor. +"And, unless I'm greatly mistaken, the particles of filings are from +the case of my aircraft silencer!" + +"What!" cried the machinist. "Do you mean those are the files used in +weakening the outer case of your new machine, so that it burst a little +while ago?" + +"That's what I think," answered Tom. "I know it sounds pretty +far-fetched," he went on. "But take a look for yourself. If those +particles on, the files aren't exactly of the same color and texture as +the material of which the silencer case is made, I'll never build +another machine." + +Jackson peered through the powerful glass moving out a little farther +from the shack, so as to get the best light possible on the subject of +his examination. It was fast getting dark, but there was enough glow in +the western sky for his purpose. + +"Am I right?" asked Tom. + +"You're right!" declared his helper. "This is exactly the same metal as +that of which your silencer case is made. It's a peculiar mixture of +aluminum and vanadium steel. I never knew it used in any shop but +yours, and these filings are certainly of that metal. It would seem, +Tom, that these were the files used to cut a crease in the case of your +silencer to weaken it so it would burst." + +"My idea exactly!" cried Tom. "The spy, who got into my shop in some +undiscovered manner, did his work and then fled here to hide. He left +his files behind. Mr. Nestor must have been here, either before or +after. No, I'll not say that, either. Finding his wallet here doesn't +prove that he was here. It might have been brought here by one of the +spies and dropped. But I'm sure we're on the track of the men who +damaged my airship, as well as those who know something of the mystery +of Mr. Nestor." + +"I agree with you," said Jackson. "Of course there's a possibility that +the same peculiar metal you used in your silencer case may have been +used in some other machine shop, and these files may have come from +there, and have been employed in perfectly regular work. But the +chances are--" + +"There's only one way to make sure," said Tom. "Let's take the files +with us and see if they fit in the grooves where the break came. We'll +take these back to where we left the Air Scout," and he clinked the +files he held. + +"We can just about make it before it gets black dark," returned +Jackson. "But that won't give us any more time to look around here," +and he indicated the hut. + +"I fancy we've seen all there is to see here," said Tom. "Mr. Nestor +isn't here, and whether he was or not is a question. Anyhow, some one +was here who had something to do with him after his disappearance, I'm +positive of that. And I'm sure some one was here who damaged my +airship. Now we'll run down both those clews, find out who owns this +place, who has been using it, and all we can along that line. So, if +you're ready, let's travel." + +The two set out to make their way back to where they had left the +stranded airship. It was fast becoming dark, but they could hurry along +with more speed now, as they did not have to stop to look for the marks +of the peculiar automobile tires. They had noticed the path along which +they had traveled, and in half the time they had spent coming they were +back where the Air Scout rested undisturbed in the meadow amid the +trees. + +Making sure that, as far as they could tell, no one had visited the +craft since they had left it, Tom and Jackson compared the file marks +on what was left of the broken silencer case with the files they had +found in the hut. They used a small, but powerful electric lamp to aid +them in this examination, as it was too dark to see otherwise, and what +they saw caused the young inventor to exclaim: + +"That settles it! These were the files used!" + +"That's right!" agreed his assistant. "You've called the turn, Tom. The +next thing to do is to find who connects with the files." + +"Yes. To do that and find Mr. Nestor," said Tom. "We have plenty of +work ahead of us. But let's get nearer civilization and send some word +to the folks at home. They'll be getting worried." + +"It doesn't seem as if there was a way out of here without using an +airship," remarked Jackson. + +But he and Tom finally reached the seldom-used road which ran along the +field that contained the lonely shack, and, following this, they +reached a farmhouse about a mile farther on. Greatly to their relief, +there was a telephone in the place. True it was only a party line, set +up by some neighboring farmers for their own private use, but one of +the subscribers, to whose home the private line ran, had a long +distance instrument, and after a talk with him, this man promised Tom +to call up Mr. Swift and acquaint him with the fact that his son and +Jackson were all right, and would be home later. + +"And now," said Tom, after thanking their temporary host, a farmer +named Bloise, "can you tell us anything about an old cabin that stands +back there?" and he indicated the location of the mysterious shack. + +"Well, yes, I can tell you a little about it, but not very much," said +Mr. Bloise. "It was built, some years ago, by a rich New Yorker, who +bought up a lot of land around here for a game preserve. But it didn't +pan out. This cabin was only the start of what he was going to call a +'hunting lodge,' I believe it was. There was to be a big building on +the same order, but it never was built. + +"Some say the fellow lost all his money in Wall Street, and others say +the state wouldn't let him make a game preserve here. However it was, +the thing petered out, and the old shack hasn't been used since." + +"Oh, yes, it has!" exclaimed Tom. "We just came from there, and there +are signs which show some one has been sleeping there and eating there." + +"There has!" exclaimed the farmer. "Well, I didn't know that." + +"I did," said his son, a young man about Tom's age. "I meant to speak +of it the other day. I saw an automobile turn into the old road that +the men used when they built the shack. I thought it was kind of queer +to see a touring car turn in there, and I meant to speak of it, but I +forgot. Yes, some one has been at the old cabin lately." + +"Do you know who they are?" asked Tom eagerly. "We are looking for a +Mr. Nestor, who disappeared mysteriously about two weeks ago, and I +just found his wallet there in the shack!" + +"You did!" exclaimed Mr. Bloise. "That's queer! You relatives of this +Mr. Nestor?" he asked. + +"Not exactly," Tom answered. "Just very close friends." + +"Well, it's too bad about his being missing in that way," went on the +farmer. "I read about it in the paper, but I never suspected he was +around here." + +"Oh, we're not sure that he was," said Tom quickly. "Finding his wallet +doesn't prove that," and he told the story of his own and Jackson's +appearance on the scene, to the no small wonder of the farmer and his +family. Tom said nothing about the finding of the files, nor the +evidence he deduced from them. That was another matter to be taken up +later. + +"Who were in the auto you saw?" asked Tom of the farmer's son. "Was +Mr. Nestor in the car?" + +"I couldn't be sure of that. There were two men in the machine, and +they were both strangers to me. They were talking together, pretty +earnestly, it seemed to me." + +"One did not appear as if he was being taken away against his will, did +he?" asked Tom. + +"No, I can't say that he did," was the answers "They looked to me, and +acted like, business men looking over land, or something like that. +They just turned in on the road that leads to the old hunting cabin, as +we call it around here, and didn't pay any attention to me. Then I +forgot all about them." + +"Neither of them could have been Mr. Nestor," decided Tom. "At least it +doesn't seem as if he'd talk at all companionably to a man who had +treated him as we think Mr. Nestor has been treated. I guess that clew +isn't going to amount to much." + +"It may!" insisted Jackson. "They may have had Mr. Nestor in the car +all the while--concealed in the back you know. We've got to find out +more about these men and their auto, Tom." + +"Well, yes, perhaps we have. But how?" + +"Station some one at the shack, or at the beginning of the private +road. The men may come back." + +"That's so--they may. We'll do that!" cried the young inventor. "We +must tell the police and Mr. Nestor's folks what we have learned. How +can we get back to Shopton in a hurry?" he asked the farmer. + +"Well, I can drive you to the railroad station," was the answer. + +"Thank you," remarked Tom. "We'll accept your offer. And as soon as we +get back we must send some one from the shop to stand guard over the +airship," he added in an aside to Jackson. "Those file fellows may come +back." + +"That's so, we can't take any chances." + +The farmer soon had his team at the door, and, after they had had a +hasty but satisfying supper at the farmhouse, the son drove Tom and +Jackson several miles to a railroad station, where they could catch a +train for Shopton. + +In due season Tom's home was reached. He intended to stop but a minute, +to assure his father that everything was all right, and then get out +his speedy runabout to go to see Mary, to tell her the news. + +But when Tom sought his father in the library, he was told that there +was a visitor in the house. + +"Tom," said his father, "this gentleman is from Washington. He wants to +arrange for a government test of your silent airship. I told him I +thought you were about ready for it." + +"A government test!" cried Tom. "Why, I didn't think the government +even knew I was working on such an idea!" Tom was greatly surprised. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +IN THE MOONLIGHT + + +With a reassuring smile the visitor from Washington looked at Tom Swift. + +"The government officials," he said, "know more than some people give +them credit for--especially in these war times. Our intelligence bureau +and secret service has been much enlarged of late. But don't be +alarmed, Mr. Swift," went on the caller, whose name was Mr. Blair +Terrill. "Your secret is safe with the government, but I think the time +is ripe to use it now--that is, if you have perfected it to a point +where we can use it." + +"Yes," answered Tom slowly, "the invention is practically finished and +it is a success, except for a few minor matters that will not take long +to complete. + +"Our accident this afternoon had nothing to do with the efficiency of +the silencer," Tom went on. "It was deliberately damaged by some spy. +I'll take that up later. That I am interested to know how you heard of +my Air Scout, as I call it." + +"Well, we have agents, you know, watching all the inventors who have +helped us in times past, and we haven't forgotten your giant cannon or +big searchlight. I might say, to end your curiosity and lull your +suspicions, that your friend, Ned Newton, who has been doing such good +Liberty Bond work, informed us of your progress on the silent motor." + +"Oh, so it was Ned!" exclaimed Tom. + +"Yes. He told us the time was about ripe for us to make you an offer +for your machine. I think we can use it to great advantage in scout +work on the western front," went on the agent, and he soon convinced +Tom that when it came to a knowledge of airships, he had some very +pertinent facts at his disposal. + +"When can you give me a test?" Mr. Terrill asked Tom. + +"As soon as I can get my craft back to the shop and fit on a new outer +case. That won't take long, as I have some spare ones. But I must help +the Nestors," he went on, speaking to his father. "I didn't mention it +over the wire," he added, "but we've found in the cabin a clew to the +missing man. I must tell Mary and her mother, and help them all I can." + +"And allow me to help, too," begged Mr. Terrill. "Since this affects +you, Mr. Swift, and since you are, in a way, working for Uncle Sam, you +must let him help you. This is the first I have heard of the missing +gentleman, of whom your father just told me something, but you must +allow me to help search for him. I will get the United States Secret +Service at work." + +"That will be fine!" cried Tom. "I wanted to get their aid, but I +didn't see how I could, as I knew they were too busy with army matters +and tracing seditious alien enemies, to bother with private cases. I'm +sure the Secret Service men can get trace of the persons responsible +for the detention of Mr. Nestor, wherever he is." + +"They'll do their best," said Mr. Terrill. "I'm a member of that body," +he went on, "and I'll give my personal attention to the matter." + +Then followed a busy time. Tom did not get to bed until nearly morning. +For he had to arrange to send some of his men to guard the stranded +airship, and then he went to see Mary and her mother, taking them the +good news that the search for Mr. Nestor would be prosecuted with +unprecedented vigor. + +"If it isn't too late!" sadly said the missing man's wife. + +"Oh, I'm sure it isn't!" declared Tom. + +In addition to sending a guard to the airship, other men, some of them +hastily summoned from the nearest federal agency, were sent to keep +watch in the vicinity of the lonely cabin. They had orders to arrest +whoever approached, and a relay of the men was provided, so that watch +could be kept up night and day. Besides this, other men from the Secret +Service began scouring the country around the locality of the cabin, +seeking a trace of the two persons the farmer's son had seen in the +automobile. + +"If Mr. Nestor is to be found, they'll find him!" declared Tom Swift. + +Mr. Damon, as might be expected, was very much excited and wrought up +over all these happenings. + +"Bless my watch chain, Tom Swift!" cried the eccentric man, "but +something is always happening to you. And to think I wasn't along when +this latest happened!" + +"Well, you can be in at the finish," promised Tom, and it was strange +how his promise was fulfilled. + +Meanwhile there was much to do. During the time the Secret Service men +were busy looking up clews which might lead to the finding of Mr. +Nestor and keeping watch in the vicinity of the hut, Tom had his +airship brought back to the hangar, and a new silencer was attached. +While this work was going on the place was guarded night and day by +responsible men, so there was no chance for an enemy spy to get in and +do further damage. + +An investigation was made of the Universal Flying Machine Company, but +nothing could be proved to link them with the outrage. Gale and Ware +were in Europe--ostensibly on government business, but it was said that +if anything could be proved connecting them with the attempt made on +Tom Swift's craft, they would be deprived of all official contracts and +punished. + +All this took time, and the waits were wearisome, particularly in the +case of Mr. Nestor. No further trace of him was found, though every +effort was made. Tom began to feel that his boast of his enemies having +to get up early in the morning to get ahead of him, had been premature, +to say the least. + +Tom Swift worked hard on his new Air Scout. He determined there would +be nothing lacking when it came to the government test, and not only +did he make sure that no enemy could tamper with his machine, but he +took pains to see that no inherent defect would mar the test. + +Jackson and the other men helped to the best of their ability, and Mr. +Swift suggested some improvements which were incorporated in the new +machine. + +One of the puzzles the Secret Service men had to solve was that of the +connection, if any, between the men who had to do with the missing Mr. +Nestor and those who had damaged Tom's airship by filing the muffler +case so it was weakened and burst. That there was some connection Tom +was certain, but he could not work it out, nor, so far, had the +government men. + +At last the day came when the big government test was to be made. Tom +had completed his Air Scout and had refined it to a point where even +his critical judgment was satisfied. All that remained now was to give +Mr. Terrill a chance to see how silently the big craft could fly, and +to this end a flight was arranged. + +Tom had put the silencer on a larger machine than the one he and +Jackson had used. It held three easily, and, on a pinch, four could be +carried. Tom's plan was to take Mr. Damon and Mr. Terrill, fly with +them for some time in the air, and demonstrate how quiet his new craft +was. Then, by contrast, a machine without the muffler and the new motor +with its improved propellers would be flown, making as much noise as +the usual craft did. + +"I only wish," said Tom, as the time arrived for the official +government test, "that Mary could be here to see it. She was the one +who really started me on this idea, so to speak, as it was because I +couldn't talk to her that I decided to get up a silent motor." + +But Mary Nestor was too grief-stricken over her missing father to come +to the test, which was to take place late one afternoon, starting from +the aerodrome of the Swift plant. + +"First," said Tom, to Mr. Terrill, "I'll show you how the machine works +on the ground. I'll run the motor while the plane is held down by means +of ropes and blocks. Then we'll go up in it." + +"That suits me," said the agent. "If it does all you say it will do, +and as much as I believe it will do, Uncle Sam will be your debtor, Mr. +Swift." + +"Well, we'll see," said Tom with a smile. + +Preparations were made with the greatest care, and Tom went over every +detail of the machine twice to make certain that, in spite of the +precautions, no spy had done any hidden damage, that might be +manifested at an inopportune moment. But everything seemed all right, +and, finally, the motor was started, while Mr. Terrill, and some of his +colleagues from the Army Aviation department looked on. + +"Contact!" cried Tom, as Jackson indicated that the compression had +been made. + +The mechanic nodded, gave the big propeller blades a quarter turn and +jumped back. In an instant the motor was operating, and the craft would +have leaped forward and cleaved the air but for the holding ropes and +blocks. Tom speeded the machinery up to almost the last notch, but +those in the aerodrome hardly heard a sound. It was as though some +great, silent dynamo were working. + +"Fine!" + +"Wonderful!" + +"Wouldn't have believed it possible!" + +These were some of the comments of the government inspectors. + +"And now for the final test--that in the air," said Mr. Terrill. + +Previous to this he and his colleagues had made a minute examination of +the machinery, and had been shown the interior construction of the +silencer by means of one built so that a sectional view could be had. +Tom's principles were pronounced fundamental and simple. + +"So simple, in fact, that it is a wonder no one thought of it before," +said a navy aviation expert. "It is the last word in aircraft +construction--a silent motor that will not apprise the enemy of its +approach! You have done wonders, Mr. Swift!" + +"I'd rather hear you say that after the air test," replied Tom, with a +laugh. "Are you ready, Mr. Terrill?" + +"Whenever you are." + +"How about you, Mr. Damon?" + +"Oh, I'm always ready to go with you, Tom Swift. Bless my trench +helmet, but you can't sail any too soon for me!" + +There was a genial laugh at his impetuosity, and the three took their +seats in the big craft. Once more the engine was started. It operated +as silently as before, and the first good impressions were confirmed. +Even as the machine moved along the ground, just previous to taking +flight into the air, there was no noise, save the slight crunch made by +the wheels. This, of course, would be obviated when Silent Sam was +aloft. + +Up and up soared the great craft, with Tom at the engine and guide +controls, while Mr. Terrill and Mr. Damon sat behind him, both eagerly +watching. Mr. Terrill was there to find fault if he could, but he was +glad he did not have to. + +"The machine works perfectly, Mr. Swift," he said. "My report cannot be +otherwise than favorable." + +"We mustn't be in too much of a hurry," said Tom, who had learned +caution some time ago. "I want to sail around for several hours. +Sometimes a machine will work well at first, but defects will develop +when it is overheated. I'm going to do my best to make a noise with +this new motor." + +But it seemed impossible. The machinery worked perfectly, and though +Silent Sam took his passengers high and low, in big circles and small +ones, there was no appreciable noise from the motor. The passengers +could converse as easily, and with as little effort, as in a balloon. + +"Of course that isn't the prime requisite," said Mr. Terrill, "but it +is a good one. What we want is a machine that can sail over the enemy's +lines at night without being heard, and I think this one will do it--in +fact, I'm sure it will. Of course the ability of the passengers to +converse and not have to use the uncertain tube is a great advantage." + +As Tom Swift sailed on and on, it became evident that the test was +going to be a success. The afternoon passed, and it began to grow dark, +but a glorious full moon came up. + +"Shall I take you down?" the young inventor asked Mr. Terrill. + +"Not quite yet. I thoroughly enjoy this, and it isn't often I get a +chance for a moonlight airship ride. Go a little lower, if you please, +and we'll see if we attract any attention from the inhabitants of the +earth. We'll see if they can possibly hear the machine, though I don't +see how they can." + +And they did not. Tom piloted the machine over Shopton, sailing +directly over the center of the town, where there was a big crowd +walking about. Though the airship sailed only a few hundred feet above +their heads, not a person was aware of it, since the craft's lights +were put out for this test. + +"That settles it," said Mr. Terrill. "You have succeeded, Tom Swift!" + +But Tom was not yet satisfied. He wanted a longer test. Hardly knowing +why he did it he sent the craft in the direction of Mary Nestor's home. +As he sailed across her lawn he saw, in the moonlight, that she and her +mother were walking in the garden. They did not look up as the +aircraft passed over their heads, and were totally unaware of its +presence, unless they caught a glimpse of it as it flitted silently +along, like some great bird of the night. + +"It is perfectly wonderful!" declared Mr. Terrill, and he spoke in +ordinary tones, that carried perfectly to the ears of Tom and Mr. Damon. + +"Wonderful!" cried the eccentric man. "Bless my chimney, but it's the +greatest invention in the world! Yes, it is! Don't tell me it 'isn't!" + +And no one did. + +Passing the Nestor home, the saddened occupants of which were unaware +of the passage, Tom sent the Air Scout about in a circle, intending to +proceed to the hangar. And then, some whim, perhaps, caused him to +guide Silent Sam out toward the lonely hut. Mr. Damon and Mr. Tenrill +seemed perfectly content to sail on and on indefinitely in the +moonlight. Tom thought he would take them over a lonely neighborhood, +and then bring them back. + +In a little while the craft was directly over the stretch of country +where the aeroplane accident had occurred, and where Tom and Jackson +had found the deserted hut. + +Rather idly Tom looked down, wondering if the Secret Service men were +on the watch and if they had discovered anything. + +Suddenly Tom was aware of an automobile moving along the field path +toward the cabin. There were two men in the car, both on the front +seat, and as Tom looked down the brilliant moonlight showed him the +figure of another man, behind, and huddled in the tonneau of the car. +The aeroplane was low enough for all these details to be seen by the +moon's gleam, but the men in the car, not hearing any noise, did not +look up, so they were unconscious of this aerial espionage. + +"Look! Look!" exclaimed Tom in a low voice to his companions. "Doesn't +that seem suspicious?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE GOLD TOOTH + + +Eagerly Mr. Damon and the government agent leaned over and looked down. +In the moonlight they saw the same sight that had attracted Tom Swift. +The touring car, the two men in front, and the huddled, bound figure in +the back. + +"Can you go down, Tom, without letting them hear you?" asked Mr. Damon, +using a low voice, as if fearful the men in the automobile would hear +him. + +"I guess so," answered the young inventor. "I can land nearer to the +cabin than Jackson and I did, and then we can see what these fellows +are up to. It looks suspicious to me. That is, unless they're some of +the Secret Service men, and have made a capture," he added to Mr. +Terrill. + +"Those aren't any of Uncle Sam's men," declared the agent. "That is, +unless the bound one is. I can't see him very well. Better go down, +and we'll see if we can surprise them." + +"My plan," voiced Tom. + +Quickly he shifted the rudder, and then, shutting off the motor, as he +wanted to volplane down, he headed his craft for an open spot that +showed in the bright moonlight. By this time the automobile and its +occupants were out of sight behind a clump of trees, but Tom and his +companions felt sure of the destination of the men--the deserted cabin +in the wood. + +As silently as a wisp of grass falling, the big craft came down on a +level spot, and then, leaping out, the young inventor and his two +companions crept along the path toward the cabin. Mr. Terrill was +armed, Tom carried a flashlight, while Mr. Damon picked up a heavy club. + +As soon as he came near a place where he thought the marks of the +automobile wheels would show, Tom flashed his light. + +"I thought so!" he exclaimed, as he saw the square, knobby tread marks +left by the tires. "It's the same gang, or some of them in the same +car. If we can only capture them!" + +"The Secret Service men ought to do that," returned Mr. Terrill, but, +as it developed later, they were not on hand, though through no fault +of theirs. + +On and on crept Tom and the two men, until they came within sight of +the cabin. They saw a light gleaming in it, and Tom whispered: + +"Now we have them! Work our way up quietly and make them surrender, if +we find they're what we think." + +"Is there a rear door?" asked Mr. Terrill in a whisper. + +Tom answered in the negative, and then all three, in fan shape, crept +up to the front portal. It was open, and silently reaching a place +where they could make an observation, Tom and his companions looked in. + +What they saw filled them with wild and righteous rage, and brought to +an end the mystery of the disappearance of Mr. Nestor. For there he +sat, bound in a chair, and at a table in front of him were two +forbidding-looking men. + +"What do you intend to do now?" asked Mr. Nestor in a faint voice. "I +cannot stand this captivity much longer. You admit that you don't want +me--that you never wanted me--so why do you keep me a prisoner? It +cannot do the least good." + +"There's no use going over that again!" exclaimed the harsh voice of +one of the men. "We told you that if you will promise to keep still +about what happened to you, and not to give the police any information +about us, we'll let you go gladly. We don't want you. It was all a +mistake, capturing you. You were the wrong man. But we're not going to +let you go and have you set the police on us as soon as you get a +chance. Give us your promise to say nothing, and we'll let you join +your friends. If you don't--" + +"Make no promises, Mr. Nestor!" cried Tom Swift in a ringing voice, as +he leaped from his hiding place, followed by his companions. "Your +friends are here, and you can tell them everything!" + +"Up with 'em!" called Mr. Terrill to the two conspirators as he +confronted them with his automatic pistol ready for firing. He had no +need to mention hands--they knew what he meant and took the +characteristic attitude. + +"Tom! Tom Swift!" cried Mr. Nestor, struggling ineffectually at his +bonds. "Is it really you?" + +"Well, I hope it isn't any imitation," was the grim answer. "We'll +tell you all about it later. Jove, but I'm glad we found you! If it +hadn't been for Silent Sam we might never have been able to." + +"Well, I don't know who Silent Sam is," said Mr. Nestor faintly. "But +I'm sure I'm much obliged to him and your other friends. It has been +very hard. Tell me, are my wife and Mary all right?" + +"In good health, yes, but, of course, worrying," said Tom. "We saw them +in the garden a little while ago. Now don't talk until I set you free." + +And as Tom cut the ropes from Mr. Nestor, Mr. Damon used them to bind +the two conspirators, while Mr. Terrill stood guard over them. And when +they were safely bound, and Mr. Nestor had somewhat recovered from the +shock, Tom had a chance to examine the prisoners. + +"What does it all mean? Who are you fellows, anyhow, and what's your +game?" he demanded. + +"Guess it--since you're so smart!" snapped one. + +And no sooner had he opened his mouth and Tom had a glance of something +gleaming brightly yellow, than the young inventor cried: + +"The gold tooth! So it's you again, is it, you spy?" + +The man shrugged his shoulders with an assumption of indifference. And, +as Tom took a closer look, he became aware that the man was surely none +other than Lydane, the spy he had chased into the mud puddle some weeks +before. His companion was a stranger to Tom. + +"What does it all mean, Mr. Nestor?" asked Tom. "Have these men held +you a prisoner ever since you called for help on the moor that night?" + +"Yes, Tom, they have. And I did call for help after they attacked me as +I was riding my wheel, but I didn't know any one heard me. I began to +be afraid no one would ever help me." + +"We've been trying to, a long time," said Mr. Damon, "but we couldn't +find you. Where did they keep you?" + +"Here, part of the time," was Mr. Nestor's answer. "And in other lonely +houses. They bound and gagged me when they took me from place to place." + +"But what was their object?" asked Tom, concluding it was useless to +question the two captives. "Why did they make you a prisoner, Mr. +Nestor?" + +"Because they took me for you, Tom." + +"For me?" + +"Yes. The night I called at your house, and found you were not at home, +I put back in my pocket a bundle of papers I had brought over to show +you. They were plans of a little kitchen appliance a friend of mine had +invented, and I wanted to ask your opinion of it." + +"These scoundrels must have followed me, or have seen the bundle of +papers, and, mistaking me for you, they followed, attacked me in a +lonely spot and, bundling me and my wrecked wheel into an auto, carried +me off. They first demanded that I gave up the 'plans,' and when I +wouldn't they choked off my cries for help and knocked me into +unconsciousness. Then they brought me here, and kept me here for +several days. + +"They soon learned that the plans I had weren't those they wanted, +though what they were then after I couldn't imagine. Only, from what I +later overheard, I knew they mistook me for you and that they were +bitterly disappointed in not getting plans of some new airship you were +working on. They have kept me a prisoner ever since, and though they +offered to let me go if I would keep silent, I refused. I did not +think, to secure my own comfort, I should let such men go unpunished if +I could bring about their arrest." + +"I should say not!" cried Tom. + +"Did they treat you brutally, Mr. Nestor?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Not after they found out who I was, by looking through my wallet. Of +course they didn't behave very decently, but they weren't actually +cruel, except that they bound and gagged me. Oh, but I'm glad you came, +Tom! How did it happen?" + +Then they told Mr. Nestor their story, and how the test of the new Air +Scout had led to his rescue. + +"But where are the Secret Service men?" asked Mr. Terrill, when it +became evident that none them was on guard at the cabin. + +Later it developed that, by following a false clew, the Secret Service +men had been drawn miles away from the cabin. And only that Tom and his +companions in the silent airship saw the men. Mr. Nestor might not +have been rescued for some further time. + +His version of what had happened was correct. He had been mistaken for +Tom, and the spy with the gold tooth and his accomplice had waylaid +Mary's father, under the belief that it was Tom Swift with the plans of +the new silent motor. Mr. Nestor had been attacked while riding his +wheel in a lonely place, and had been carried off and kept in hiding, a +prisoner even after his identity became known. + +"Well, this is a good night's work!" exclaimed Tom, when the two rogues +had been sent to jail and Mr. Nestor taken to the Bloise farmhouse, to +be refreshed before he went home. Word of his rescue was telephoned to +Mary and her mother, and it can be imagined how they regarded Tom Swift +for his part in the affair. + +Little the worse for his experience, save that he was very nervous, Mr. +Nestor was taken home. He gave the details of his being waylaid, and +told how the men, for many days, were at their wits' ends to keep him +concealed when they found what a stir his disappearance had created. +The conspirators were well supplied with money, and in the automobile +they took their prisoner from one place to another. They had usurped +the use of the cabin and had lived there nearly a week in hiding, +leaving just before the first visit of Tom and Jackson. The rifled +wallet had been dropped by accident. + +And it did not take much delving to disclose the fact that, Lydane, +"Gold Tooth," as he was called, and his crony, were spies in the pay of +the Universal Flying Machine Company. As the men went under several +aliases there is no need of giving their names. It is to be doubted if +they ever used their real ones--or if they had any. + +Of course, there was quite a sensation when Mr. Nestor was found, and a +greater one when it became known the part the Universal Flying Machine +people had in his disappearance in mistake for Tom. The officials of +the company were indicted, and several of the minor ones sent to jail +but Gale and Ware escaped by remaining abroad. + +It came out that they both knew of the acts of Lydane and his companion +in crime, and that the two officials realized the mistake that had been +made by their clumsy operatives. It was believed that this knowledge +led to the visit of Gale to Tom, the time the latter's suspicions were +first aroused. Gale made a clumsy attempt to clear his own skirts of +the conspiracy, but in vain, though he did escape his just punishment. + +What had happened, in brief, was this. Gale and Ware, unable to secure +Tom's services, even by the offer of a large sum of money, had stooped +to the sending of spies to his shop, to get possession of information +about his silent motor. This was after Gale had, by accident, heard Tom +speaking of it to Mr. Damon. + +But, thanks to Tom's vigilance, Bower was discovered. The man tripped +into the mud hole lost in the muck the plans Bower passed to him. They +were never recovered. Then Lydane tried again. He managed, through +bribery, to gain access to the hangar where the new silent machine was +kept, and, unable to get the silencer apart, tried to file it. In doing +so he weakened it so that it burst. + +The attempt to waylay Tom, and so get the plans from him, had been +tried before this, only a mistake had been made, and Mr. Nestor was +caught instead. Finding out their error, Lydane and his companions did +not tell the Universal people of their mistake, though Gale and Ware +knew the attempt was to be made against Tom Swift. + +Later, hearing that the young inventor was still at work on his +invention, Gale was much surprised, and paid his queer visit, in an +attempt to repudiate the actions of Lydane. At this time it was assumed +that Gale and his partner did not know that it was Mr. Nestor who had +been kidnapped by mistake or they might have insisted on his release. +As it was, Lydane had Mary's father, and was afraid to let him go, +though really their prisoner became a white elephant on the hands of +the conspirators and kidnappers. + +And it was after all this was cleared up, and Mr. Nestor restored to +his family and friends, that one day, Tom Swift received another visit +from Mr. Terrill, the government agent. + +"Well, Mr. Swift," was the genial greeting, "I have come to tell you +that the favorable report made by my friends and myself as to the +performance of your noiseless motor, has been accepted by the War +Department, and I have come to ask what your terms are. For how much +will you sell your patent to the United States?" + +Tom Swift arose. + +"The United States hasn't money enough to buy my patent of a noiseless +motor," he said. + +"Wha--what!" faltered Mr. Terrill. "Why, I understood--you don't +mean--they told me you were rather patriotic, and--" + +"I hope I am patriotic!" interrupted Tom with a smile. "And when I say +that the United States hasn't money enough to buy my latest invention I +mean just that." + +"My Air Scout is not for sale!" + +"You mean," faltered the government agent. "You say--" + +"I mean," went on Tom, "that Silent Sam is for Uncle Sam without one +cent of cost! My father and I take great pleasure in presenting such +machines as are already manufactured, those in process of making, and +the entire patents, and all other rights, to the government for the +winning of the war!" + +"Oh!" said Mr. Terrill in rather a strange voice. "Oh!" + +And that was all he could say for a little while. + +But Tom Swift reckoned without a knowledge of a peculiar law which +prohibits the United States from accepting gifts totally without +compensation, and so, in due season, the young inventor received a +check for the sum of one dollar in full payment for his silent motor, +and the patent rights thereto. And Tom has that check framed, and +hanging over his desk. + +And so the silent motor became an accomplished fact and a great +success. Those of you who have read of its work against the Boches, and +how it helped Uncle Sam to gain the mastery of the sky, need not be +reminded of this. By it many surprise attacks were made, and much +valuable information was obtained that otherwise could not have been +brought in. + +One day, after the rogues had been sent to prison for long terms, and +Tom had turned over to his government his silent aircraft--except one +which he was induced to keep for his own personal use--the young +inventor went to call on Mary Nestor. The object of his call, as I +believe he stated it, was to see how Mr. Nestor was, but that, of +course, was camouflage. + +"Would you like to come for a ride, Mary, in the silent airship?" asked +Tom, after he had paid his respects to Mr. Nestor and his wife. "We can +talk very easily on board Silent Sam without the use of a speaking +tube. Come on--we'll go for a moonlight sky ride." + +"It sounds enticing," said Mary, with a shy look at Tom. "But wouldn't +you just as soon sit on a bench in the garden? It's moonlight there, +and we can talk, and--and--" + +"I'd just as soon!" said Tom quickly. + +And out they went into the beautiful moonlight; and here we will leave +them and say good-bye. + + + + + +THE END + + +---------------------------------------------------------------- + + + +THE TOM SWIFT SERIES + +By VICTOR APPLETON + + +These spirited tales convey in a realistic way, the wonderful advances +in land and sea locomotion. Stories like these are impressed upon the +memory and their reading is productive only of good. + + TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE + TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP + TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE + TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS + TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE + TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER + TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE + TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER + TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY + TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA + TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON + TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP + TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL + TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS + TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK + TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT + TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH + TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS + TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE + + + + +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES + +By LAURA LEE HOPE + +Author of "The Bobbsey Twins Books," + +"The Bunny Brown Series," + +"The Make-Believe Series," Etc. + +Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into +immediate popularity. To know the six little Bunkers is to take them at +once to your heart, they are so intensely human, so full of fun and +cute sayings. Each story has a little plot of its own--one that can be +easily followed--and all are written in Miss Hope's most entertaining +manner. Clean, wholesome volumes which ought to be on the bookshelf of +every child in the land. + + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORDS + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'S + SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S + + + + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES + + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AND THE FLOOD + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT PANAMA + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS UNDER THE SEA + THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE WAR FRONT + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS SERIES + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' FIRST VENTURE + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT SEASIDE PARK + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS ON BROADWAY + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' OUTDOOR EXHIBITION + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' NEW IDEA + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT THE FAIR + THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' WAR SPECTACLE + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Air Scout, by Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT *** + +***** This file should be named 1284.txt or 1284.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/8/1284/ + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This Etext was prepared for Project Gutenberg by Anthony Matonac. + + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT +OR +Uncle Sam's Mastery of the Sky + + + + +CONTENTS +CHAPTER + +I A SKY RIDE +II A NEW IDEA +III THE BIG OFFER +IV MR. DAMON'S WHIZZER +V TOM'S PROJECT +VI MAKING PLANS +VII A PROBLEM IN SOUND +VIII THROUGH THE ROOF +IX AFTER A SPY +X A BIG SPLASH +XI A NIGHT TRIP +XII THE CRY FOR HELP +XIII SOMETHING QUEER +XIV THE TELEPHONE CALL +XV A VAIN SEARCH +XVI THE LONG NIGHT +XVII SILENT SAM +XVIII SUSPICIONS +XIX ANOTHER FLIGHT +XX QUEER MARKS +XXI THE DESERTED CABIN +XXII CLEWS AT LAST +XXIII THE GOVERNMENT TEST +XXIV IN THE MOONLIGHT +XXV THE GOLD TOOTH + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT + + + + +CHAPTER I +A SKY RIDE + + +"Oh Tom, is it really safe?" + +A young lady--an exceedingly pretty young lady, she could be +called--stood with one small, gloved hand on the outstretched +wing of an aeroplane, and looked up at a young man, attired in a +leather, fur-lined suit, who sat in the cockpit of the machine +just above her. + +"Safe, Mary?" repeated the pilot, as he reached in under the +hood of the craft to make sure about one of the controls. "Why, +you ought to know by this time that I wouldn't go up if it wasn't +safe!" + +"Oh, yes, I know, Tom. It may be all right for you, but I've +never been up in this kind of airship before, and I want to know +if it's safe for me." + +The young man leaned over the edge of the padded cockpit, and +clasped in his rather grimy hand the neatly gloved one of the +young lady. And though the glove was new, and fitted the hand +perfectly, there was no attempt to withdraw it. Instead, the +young lady seemed to be very glad indeed that her hand was in +such safe keeping. + +"Mary!" exclaimed the young man, "if it wasn't safe--as safe as +a church--I wouldn't dream of taking you up!" and at the mention +of "church" Mary Nestor blushed just the least bit. Or perhaps it +was that the prospective excitement of the moment caused the +blood to surge into her cheeks. Have it as you will. + +"Come, Mary! you're not going to back out the last minute, are +you?" asked Tom Swift. "Everything is all right. I've made a +trial flight, and you've seen me come down as safely as a bird. +You promised to go up with me. I won't go very high if you don't +like it, but my experience has been that, once you're off the +ground, it doesn't make any difference how high you go. you'll +find it very fascinating. So skip along to the house, and Mrs. +Baggert will help you get into your togs." + +"Shall I have to wear all those things--such as you have on?" +asked Mary, blushing again. + +"Well, you'll be more comfortable in a fur-lined leather suit," +asserted Tom. "And if it does make you look like an Eskimo, why +I'm sure it will be very becoming. Not that you don't look nice +now," he hastened to assure Miss Nestor, "but an aviation suit +will be very--well, fetching, I should say." + +"If I could be sure it would 'fetch' me back safe, Tom--" + +"That'll do! That'll do!" laughed the young aviator. "One joke +like that is enough in a morning. It was pretty good, though. Now +go on in and tog up." + +"You're sure it's safe, Tom?" + +"Positive! Trot along now. I want to fix a wire and--" + +"Oh, is anything broken?" and the girl, who had started away +from the aeroplane, turned back again. + +"No, not broken. It's only a little auxiliary dingus I put on +to make it easier to read the barograph, but I think I'll go back +to the old system. Nothing to do with flying at all, except to +tell how high up one is." + +"That's just what I don't care to know, Tom," said Mary Nestor, +with a smile. "If I could imagine I was sailing along only about +ten feet in the air I wouldn't mind so much." + +"Flying at that height would be the worst sort of danger. You +leave it to me, Mary. I won't take you up above the clouds on +this sky ride; though, later, I'm sure you'll want to try that. +This is only a little flight. You've been promising long enough +to take a trip with me, and now I believe you're trying to back +out." + +"No, really I'm not, Tom! Only, at the last minute, the machine +looks so small and frail, and the sky is so--big--" + +She glanced up and seemed to shiver just a trifle. + +"Don't be thinking of those things, Mary!" laughed Tom Swift. +"Trot along and get ready. The motor never worked better, and we +may break a few speed records this morning. No traffic cops to +stop us, either, as there might be if we were in an auto." + +"There you go, Mary !" exclaimed Tom, as if struck with a new +thought. "You've ridden in an auto with me many a time, and you +never were a bit afraid, though we were in more danger than we'll +be this morning." + +"Danger, Tom, in an auto? How?" + +"Why, danger of a wheel collapsing as we were going full speed; +or the steering knuckle breaking and sending us into a tree; +danger of running into a stone wall or a ditch; danger of some +one running into us, or of us running into some one else. There +isn't one of these dangers on a sky ride." + +"No," said Mary slowly. "But there's the danger of falling." + +"One against twenty. That's the safety margin. And, if we do +fall, it will be like landing in a feather bed! There, don't wait +any longer. Go and get ready." + +Mary sighed, and then, seeming to summon her nerve to her aid, +she smiled brightly, waved her hand to Tom, and hastened toward +his home, where Mrs. Baggert the matronly housekeeper, was +waiting to help the girl attire herself in a flying-suit of +leather. + +Mary Nestor, who had a very warm place in the heart of Tom +Swift, had, as he stated, some time since promised to take a trip +in the air with the young inventor. But she had kept putting it +off, for one reason or another, until Tom began to despair of +ever getting her to accompany him. To-day, however, when she had +called to inquire about his father, who had been slightly ill, +Tom had, after the social visit, insisted on the promise being +kept. + +He had his mechanic get out one of the safest, though a speedy, +double machine, and, with Mary to watch, Tom had taken a trial +flight, just to show her how easy it was. It was not the first +time she had seen him take to the air, but now she watched with +different emotions, for she was vitally interested. + +Tom had sailed down from aloft, making a landing in the +aviation field he had constructed near his home, and then he had +insisted that Mary should keep her promise to take a sky ride +with him. + +"Don't be too long now!" called Tom to the girl, as she hurried +toward the house. "Never mind about your hair, or whether your +hat's on straight. You're going to wear a cap, anyhow, and tuck +your hair up under that. It's hot down here, but it will be cold +up above; so tell Mrs. Baggert to see that you're warmly +dressed." + +"All right," and gaily she waved her hand to him. Now that she +had made her decision, and was really going up, she was not half +so frightened as she had been in the contemplation of it. + +As Tom climbed out of the machine, to give it a careful +inspection, though he was certain there was nothing wrong, an +aged colored man shuffled toward him. + +"Yo'--yo'll be mighty careful ob Miss Nestor now, won't yo', +Massa Tom?" asked the man. + +"Of course I will, Eradicate," was the young inventor's answer. + +"Case we ain't got many laik her no mo', an' dat's de truf, +Massa Tom," went on the old man. "So be mighty careful laik!" + +"That's what I will, Rad! And, while I'm up in the air, don't +you and Koku have any trouble." + +"Ho! Trouble wif dat onery no-'count giant! I guess not!" and +the colored man limped off, highly indignant. + +Satisfied, from an inspection of his machine, that it was as +nearly mechanically perfect as it was possible to be, Tom Swift +finished his trip around it and stood near the big propeller, +waiting for Mary Nestor to reappear. Presently she did so, and +Tom gaily waved his hand to her. + +"You're a picture!" he cried, as he saw how particularly +"fetching" she looked in the aviator's costume which was like his +own. Because of the danger of entanglement, Miss Nestor had +doffed her skirts, and wore the costume of all aviators--men and +women. + +"I wish I had my camera!" cried Tom. "You look--stunning!" + +"I hope that isn't any comment on how I'm going to feel if we +have to make a--forced landing, I believe you call it," she +retorted. + +"Oh, I'll take care of that!" exclaimed Tom. "Now up you go, +and we'll start," and he helped her to climb into the padded seat +of the cockpit, behind where he was to sit. + +"Oh, Tom! Don't be in such a hurry !" expostulated Mary. "Let +me get my breath!" + +"No!" laughed the young inventor. "If I did you might back out. +Get in, fasten the strap around you and sit still. That's all you +have to do. Don't be afraid, I'll be very careful. And don't try +to yell at me to go slower or lower once we're up in the air. + +"Why not?" Mary wanted to know, as she settled herself in her +seat. + +"Because I can't very well bear you, or talk to you. The motor +makes so much noise, you know. We can do a little talking through +this speaking tube," and he indicated one, "but it isn't very +satisfactory. So if you have anything to say--" + +"In the language of the poets," interrupted Mary, "if I have +words to spill, prepare to spill them now. Well, I haven't! Now +I'm here, go ahead! I shall probably be too frightened to talk, +anyhow." + +"Oh, no you won't--after the first little sensation," Tom +assured her. "You'll be crazy about it. Come on, Jackson!" he +called to the mechanician. "Start the ball rolling!" + +Tom was in his place, his goggles and cap well down over his +face, and he was adjusting the switch as the mechanic prepared to +spin the propellers. + +Suddenly a man came running from the Swift house, waving his +arms not unlike the blades of an aircraft propeller, he also +shouted, but Tom, whose ears were covered with his fur cap, could +not hear. However, Jackson did, and stopped whirling the blades, +turning about to see what was wanted. + +"Why, it's Mr. Damon!" exclaimed Tom, as he caught sight of the +excited man. "Hello, what's the matter?" the youth asked, pulling +aside one flap of his head-covering so he might hear the answer. + +"Tom! Wait a minute! Bless my mouse trap!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, +"I want to speak to you!" He was panting from his run across the +field. "I just got to your house--saw your father--he said you +were going up with Miss Nestor, but--bless my dog biscuit--" + +"Can't stop now, Mr. Damon!" answered Tom, with a laugh. "I +have only just succeeded, by hard work, in getting Mary to a +point where she has consented to take a sky ride. If I stop now +she'll back out and I'll never get her in again. See you when I +come back," and Tom pulled the covering over his ear once more. + +"But, Tom, bless my shoe laces! This is important!" + +"So's this!" answered Tom, with a grin. He saw, by the motion +of Mr. Damon's lips, what the latter had said. + +Around swung the propeller blades. The gasoline vapor in the +cylinders was being compressed. + +"Contact!" called Tom sharply, as he pressed the switch to give +the igniting spark at the proper moment. The mechanic had stepped +back out of the way, in case there should be a premature starting +of the powerful engine, in which event the blades would have cut +him to pieces. + +"Wait, Tom! Wait! This is very important! Bless my collar +button, Tom Swift, but this is--" + +Bang! Bang! Bang! + +With a series of explosions, like those of a machine gun, the +motor started, and further talk was out of the question. Tom +turned on more gas. The propellers became almost invisible blades +of light and shadow, and the aeroplane began moving over the +grassy field. The mechanic had sprung out of the way, pulling Mr. +Damon with him. + +"Come back! Come back! Wait a minute, Tom Swift! Bless my pansy +blossoms, I want to tell you something!" cried the little man. + +But Tom Swift was away and out of hearing. He had started on +his sky ride with Mary Nestor. + + + +CHAPTER II +A NEW IDEA + + +Any one who has taken a flight in an aeroplane or gone up in a +balloon, will know exactly how Mary Nestor felt on this, her +first sky ride of any distance. For a moment, as she looked over +the side of the machine, she had a distinct impression, not that +she was going up, but that some one had pulled the earth down +from beneath her and, at the same time, given her a shove off +into space. Such is the first sensation of going aloft. Then the +rush of air all about her, the slightly swaying motion of the +craft, and the vibration caused by the motor took her attention. +But the sensation of the earth dropping away from beneath her +remained with Mary for some time. + +This sensation is much greater in a balloon than in an +aeroplane, for a balloon, unless there is a strong wind blowing, +goes straight up, while an aeroplane ascends on a long slant, and +always into the teeth of the wind, to take advantage of its +lifting power on the underside of the planes. The reason for this +sensation--that of the earth's dropping down, instead of one's +feeling, what really happens, that one is ascending--is because +there are no objects by which comparison can be made. If one +starts off on the earth's surface at slow, or at great speed, one +passes stationary objects--houses, posts, trees, and the like-- +and judges the speed by the rapidity with which these are left +behind. + +Going up is unlike this. There is nothing to pass. One simply +cleaves the air, and only as it rushes past can one be sure of +movement. And as the air is void of color and form, there is no +sensation of passing anything. + +So Mary Nestor, as she shot into the air with Tom Swift, had a +sensation as though the earth were dropping from beneath her. For +a moment she felt as though she were in some vast void--floating +in space--and she had a great fear. Then she calmed herself. She +looked at Tom sitting in front of her. Of course, all she could +see was his back, but it looked to be a very sturdy back, indeed, +and he sat there in the aircraft as calmly as though in a chair +on the ground. Then Mary took courage, and ceased to grasp the +sides of the cockpit with a grip that stiffened all her muscles. +She was beginning to "find herself." + +On and on, and up and up, went Mary and Tom, in this the girl's +first big sky ride. The earth below seemed farther and farther +away. The wide, green fields became little emerald squares, and +the houses like those in a toy Noah's ark. + +Down below, Mr. Wakefield Damon, who had hurried over from his +home in Waterfield to see Tom Swift, gazed aloft at the fast +disappearing aeroplane and its passengers. + +"Bless my coal bin!" cried the eccentric man, "but Tom is in a +hurry this morning. Too bad he couldn't have stopped and spoken +to me. It might have been greatly to his advantage. But I suppose +I shall have to wait." + +"You want to see Master?" asked a voice behind Mr. Damon, and, +turning, he beheld a veritable giant. + +"Yes, Koku, I did," Mr. Damon answered, and he did not appear +at all surprised at the sight of the towering form beside him. "I +wanted to see Tom most particularly. But I shall have to wait. +I'll go in and talk to Mr. Swift." + +"Yaas, an' I go talk to Radicate," said the giant. "Him diggin' +up ground where Master told me to make garden. Radicate not +strong enough for dat!" + +"Huh! there's trouble as soon as those two get to disputing," +mused Mr. Damon, as he went toward the house. + +Meanwhile, Mary was beginning to enjoy herself. The sensation +of moving rapidly through the air in a machine as skillfully +guided as was the one piloted by Tom Swift was delightful. Up and +up they went, and then suddenly Mary felt a lurch, and the plane, +which was now about a thousand feet high, seemed to slip to one +side. + +Mary screamed, and began reaching for the buckle of the safety +belt that fastened her to her seat. She saw that something +unusual had occurred, for Tom was working frantically at the +mechanism in front of him. + +But, in spite of this, he seemed aware that Mary was in danger, +not so much, perhaps, from what might happen to the machine, as +what she might do in her terror. + +"Oh! Oh!" cried the girl, and Tom heard her above the terrific +noise of the motor, for she was speaking with her lips close to +the tube that served as a sort of inter-communicating telephone +for the craft. "Oh, we are falling! I'm going to jump!" + +"Sit still! Sit still for your life!" cried Tom Swift. "I'll +save you all right! Only sit still! Don't jump!" + +Mary, her red cheeks white, sank back, and the young inventor +redoubled his efforts at the controls and other mechanisms. + +And that Tom was perfectly qualified to make a safe landing, +even with engine trouble, Mary Nestor well knew. Those of you who +have read the previous books of this series know it also, but, +for the benefit of my new readers, I shall state that this was by +no means Tom's first ride in an aeroplane. + +He had operated and built gasoline engines ever since he was +about sixteen years old. As related in the initial volume of this +series, entitled, "Tom Swift and His Motorcycle," he became +possessed of this machine after it had started to climb a tree +with Mr. Damon on board. After that experience the eccentric man +--blessing everything he could think of--had no liking for the +speedy motorcycle and sold it to Tom at a low price. + +That was the beginning of a friendship between the two, and +also started Tom on his career as an inventor and a possessor of +many gasoline craft. For he was not content with merely riding +the repaired motorcycle. He made improvements on it. + +Tom lived with his father in the town of Shopton, their home +being looked after, since the death of Mrs. Swift, by Mrs. +Baggert. Mr. Wakefield Damon lived in the neighboring town of +Waterfield, and spent much time at Tom's home, often going on +trips with him in various vehicles of the land, sea or air. + +As related in the various volumes of this series, Tom was not +content to remain on earth. He built a speedy motor boat, and +then secured an airship, following that with a submarine. He also +made an electric runabout that was the speediest car on the road. +Sending wireless messages, having thrilling experiences among the +diamond makers, journeying to the caves of ice, and making +perilous trips in his sky racer took up part of the young +inventor's time. + +With his electric rifle he did some wonderful shooting, and in +the "City of Gold" made some strange discoveries, part of the +fortune he secured enabling him to build his sky racer. It was in +a land of giants that Tom was made captive, but he succeeded in +escaping, and brought two giants, of whom Koku was one, away +with him. + +Following this achievement Tom invented a wizard camera and a +great searchlight, which, with his giant cannon, was purchased by +the United States Government. Work on his photo-telephone and his +aerial warship, the problem of digging a big tunnel, and then +traveling to the land of wonders, kept Tom Swift very busy, and +he had just completed a wonderful piece of work when the present +story opens. + +This last achievement was the perfecting of a machine to aid in +the great World War and you will find the details set down in the +volume which immediately precedes this. "Tom Swift and His War +Tank," it is called, and in that is related how he not only +invented a marvelous machine, but succeeded in keeping its secret +from the plotters who tried to take it from him. In this Tom was +helped by the inspiration of Mary Nestor, whom he hoped some day +to marry, and by Ned Newton, a chum, who, though no inventor +himself, could admire one. + +Ned and Tom had been chums a long while, but Ned inclined more +to financial and office matters than to machinery. At times he +had managed affairs for Tom, and helped him finance projects. Ned +was now an important bank official, and since the United States +had entered the war had had charge of some Red Cross work, as +well as Liberty Bond campaigns. + +Somehow, as she sat there in the craft which seemed disabled, +Mary Nestor could not help thinking of Tom's many activities, in +some of which she had shared. + +"Oh, if he falls now, and is killed!" she thought. "Oh, what +will happen to us?" + +"It's all right, Mary! Don't worry! It's all right!" cried Tom, +through the speaking tube. + +"What's that? I can't hear you very well !" she called back. + +"No wonder, with the racket this motor is making," he answered. +"Why can't something be done so you can talk in an aeroplane as +well as in a balloon? That's an idea! If I could tell you what +was the matter now you wouldn't be a bit frightened, for it isn't +anything. But, as it is--" + +"What are you saying, Tom? I can't hear you!" cried Mary, still +much frightened. + +"I say it's all right--don't get scared. And don't jump!" Tom +shouted until his ears buzzed. "It's all nonsense--having a motor +making so much noise one can't talk!" he went on, irritatedly. + +A strange idea had come to the young inventor, but there was no +time to think of it now. Mentally he registered a vow to take up +this idea and work on it as soon as possible. But, just now, the +aeroplane needed all his attention. + +As he had told Mary, there was really nothing approaching any +great danger. But it was rather an anxious moment. If Tom had +been alone he would have thought little of it, but with Mary +along he felt a double responsibility. + +What had happened was that the craft had suddenly gone into an +"air pocket" or partial vacuum, and there had been a sudden fall +and a slide slip. In trying to stop this too quickly Tom had +broken one of his controls, and he was busily engaged in putting +an auxiliary one in place and trying to reassure Mary at the same +time. + +"But it's mighty hard trying to do that through a speaking tube +with a motor making a noise like a boiler factory," mused the +young inventor. Tom worked quickly and to good purpose. In a few +moments, though to Mary they seemed like hours, the machine was +again gliding along on a level keel, and Tom breathed more +easily. + +"And now for my great idea!" he told himself. + +But it was some time before he could give his attention to +that. + + + +CHAPTER III +THE BIG OFFER + + +Working with all the skill he possessed, Tom had got the +aeroplane in proper working order again. As has been said, the +accident was a trivial one, and had he been alone, or with an +experienced aviator, he would have thought little of it. Then, +very likely, he would have volplaned to earth and made the +repairs there. But he did not want to frighten Mary Nestor, so he +fixed the control while gliding along, and made light of it. Thus +his passenger was reassured. + +"Are we all right?" asked Mary through the tube, as they sailed +along. + +"Right as a fiddle," answered Tom, shouting through the same +means of communication. + +"What's that about a riddle?" asked Mary, in surprise at his +seeming flippancy at such a time. + +"I didn't say anything about a riddle--I said we are as fit as +a fiddle!" cried Tom. "Never mind. No use trying to talk with the +racket this motor makes, and it isn't the noisiest of its kind, +either. I'll tell you when we get down. Do you like it?" + +"Yes, I like it better than I did at first," answered Mary, for +she had managed to understand the last of Tom's questions. Then +he sailed a little higher, circled about, and, a little later, +not to get Mary too tired and anxious, he headed for his landing +field. + +"I'll take you home in the auto," he cried to his passenger. +"We could go up to your house this way--in style--if there was a +field near by large enough to land in. But there isn't. So it +will have to be a plain, every-day auto." + +"That's good enough for me," said Mary. "Though this trip is +wonderful--glorious! I'll go again any time you ask me." + +"Well, I'll ask you," said Tom. "And when I do maybe it won't +be so hard to hold a conversation. It will be more like this," +and he shut off the motor and began to glide gently down. The +quiet succeeding the terrific noise of the motor exhaust was +almost startling, and Tom and Mary could converse easily without +using the tube. + +Then followed the landing on the soft, springy turf, a little +glide over the ground, and the machine came to a halt, while +mechanics ran out of the hangar to take charge of it. + +"I'll just go in and change these togs," said Mary, as she +alighted and looked at her leather costume. + +"No, don't," advised Tom. "You look swell in em. Keep 'em on. +They're yours, and you'll need 'em when we go up again. Here +comes the auto. I'll take you right home in it. Keep the aviation +suit on. + +"I wonder what Mr. Damon could have wanted," remarked Tom, as +he drove Mary along the country road. + +"He seemed very much excited," she replied. + +"Oh, he almost always is that way--blessing everything he can +think of. You know that. But this time it was different, I'll +admit. I hope nothing is the matter. I might have stopped and +spoken to him, but I was afraid if I did you'd back out and +wouldn't come for a sky ride." + +"Well, I might have. But now that I've had one, even with an +accident thrown in, I'll go any time you ask me, Tom," and Mary +smiled at the young inventor. + +"Shucks, that wasn't a real accident!" he laughed. "But I do +wonder what Mr. Damon wanted." + +"Better go back and find out, Tom," advised Mary, as they +stopped in front of her house. + +"Oh, I want to come in and talk to you. Haven't had a chance +for a good talk today, that motor made such a racket" + +"No, go along now, but come back and see me this afternoon if +you like." + +"I do like, all right! And I suppose Mr. Damon will be fussing +until he sees me. Well, glad you liked your first ride in the +air, Mary--that is, the first one of any account," for Mary had +been in an aeroplane before, though only up a little way--a sort +of "grass-cutting stunt," Tom called it. + +Waving farewell to the pretty girl, the young aviator turned +the auto about and speeded for his home and the shops adjoining +it. His father had not been well, of late, and Tom was a bit +anxious about him. + +"Mr. Damon may bother him, though he wouldn't mean to," thought +Tom. "He seemed to have his mind filled with some new idea. I +wonder if it is anything like mine? No, it couldn't be. Well, +I'll soon find out," and, putting his foot on the accelerator, +Tom sent the machine along at a pace that soon brought him within +sight of his home. + +"Is father all right?" he asked Mrs. Baggert, who was out on +the front porch, as though waiting for him. + +"Oh, yes, Tom, he's all right," the housekeeper answered. + +"Is Mr. Damon with him ?" + +"No." + +"He hasn't gone home, has he?" + +"No, he's around somewhere. But some one else is with your +father. Some visitors." + +"Any relations?" + +"No; strangers. They came to see you, and they're rather +impatient. I came out to see if you were in sight. Your father +sent me." + +"Are they bothering him--talking business that I ought to +attend to when he's ill? That mustn't be." + +"Well, I suppose it is business that the strangers are talking +over with your father, Tom," said Mrs. Baggert, "for I heard sums +of money spoken of. But your father seems to be all right, only +a trifle anxious that you should come." + +"Well, I'm here now and I'll attend to things. Where are the +strangers, and who are they?" + +"I don't know," answered the housekeeper. "I never saw them +before, but they're in the library with your father. Do you think +they'll stay to dinner? If you do, I'll have Eradicate or Koku +catch and kill a chicken." + +"If you let one do it don't tell the other about it," said Tom +with a laugh, "or you'll have a chicken race around the yard that +will make the visitors sit up and take notice." + +There was great rivalry between Eradicate Sampson, the aged +colored man, and Koku, the giant, and they were continually +disputing. Each one loved and served Tom in his own way, and +there was jealousy between them. Koku, the giant Tom had brought +with him from the land where the young inventor had been made +captive, was a big, powerful man, and could do things the aged +colored servant could not attempt. But "Rad," as he was often +called, and his mule "Boomerang" had long been fixtures on the +Swift homestead. But old age crept on apace with Eradicate, +though he hated to admit it, and Koku did many things the colored +man had formerly attended to, and Rad was always on the lookout +not to be supplanted. Hence Tom's warning to Mrs. Baggert about +letting the two be entrusted with the same mission of catching a +chicken for the pot. + +"Better get the fowl yourself and say nothing to either of them +about it," Tom advised the housekeeper. "Mr. Damon will stay to +dinner, as he always does when he comes, and as it's near twelve +now, and as I may be delayed talking business to these strangers, +you'd better get up a bigger meal than usual." + +"I will, Tom," promised Mrs. Baggert. And then the young +inventor, having seen that one of the men took the automobile to +the garage, went into the house. + +"Oh, here you are!" was his father's greeting, as he came out +into the hall from the library. "I've been waiting anxiously for +you, my boy. I couldn't think what was keeping you." + +"Oh, I had a little trouble with the air machine--nothing +serious." + +A moment later Tom was standing before two well-dressed, +prosperous-looking business men, who smiled pleasantly at him. + +"Mr. Thomas Swift?" interrogated one, the elder, as he held out +his hand. + +"That's my name," answered Tom, pleasantly. + +"I'm Peton Gale, and this gentleman is Boland Ware," went on +the man who had taken Tom's hand. "I'm president and he's +treasurer of the Universal Flying Machine Company, of New York." + +"Oh, yes," said Tom, as he shook hands with Mr. Ware. "I have +heard of your concern. You are doing a lot of government work, +are you not?" + +"Yes; war orders. And we're up to our neck in them. This war is +going to be almost as much fought in the air as on the ground, +Mr. Swift." + +"I can well believe that," agreed Tom. "Won't you have a +chair?" + +"Well, we didn't come to stay long," said Mr. Gale with a +laugh, which, somehow or other, grated on Tom and seemed to him +insincere. "Our business is such a rushing one that we don't +spend much time anywhere. To get down to brass tacks, we have +come to see you to put a certain proposition before you, Mr. +Swift. You are open to a business proposition, aren't you?" + +"Oh, yes," answered Tom. "That's what I'm here for." + +"I thought so. Well, now I'll tell you, in brief, what we want, +and then Mr. Ware, our treasurer, can elaborate on it, and give +you facts and figures about which I never bother myself. I attend +to the executive end and leave the details to others," and again +came that laugh which Tom did not like. + +"You came here to make me an offer?" asked the young inventor, +wondering to which of his many machines the visitors had +reference. + +"Yes," went on Mr. Gale, "we came here to make you a big offer. +In short, Mr. Swift, we want you to work for our company, and we +are willing to pay you ten thousand dollars a year for the +benefit of your advice and your inventive abilities. Ten thousand +dollars a year! Do you accept?" + + + +CHAPTER IV +MR. DAMON'S WHIZZER + + +Characteristic it was of Tom Swift that he did not seem at all +surprised at what most young men would call a liberal offer. +Certainly not many youths of Tom's age would be sought out by a +big manufacturing concern, and offered ten thousand dollars a +year "right off the reel," as Ned Newton expressed it later. But +Tom only smiled and shook his head in negation. + +"What!" cried Mr. Gale, "you mean you won't accept our offer?" + +"I can't," answered Tom. + +"You can't!" exclaimed the treasurer, Mr. Ware. "Oh, I see. Mr. +Gale, a word with you. Excuse us a moment," he added to Tom and +his father. + +The two men consulted in a corner of the library for a moment, +and then, with smiles on their faces, once more turned toward the +young inventor. + +"Well, perhaps you are right, Tom Swift," said Mr. Gale. "Of +course, we recognize your talents and ability, but you cannot +blame us for trying to get talent, as well as material for our +airships, in the cheapest market. But we are not hide-bound, nor +sticklers for any set sum. We'll make that offer fifteen thousand +dollars a year, if you will sign a five-year contract and agree +that we shall have first claim on anything and everything you may +patent or invent in that time. Now, how does that strike you? +Fifteen thousand dollars a year--paid weekly if you wish, and our +Mr. Ware, here, has a form of contract which can be fixed up and +signed within ten minutes, if you agree." + +"Well, I don't like to be disagreeable," said Tom with a smile; +"but, really, as I said before, I can't accept your very kind +offer. I may say liberal offer. I appreciate that." + +"You can't accept!" cried Mr. Gale. + +"Are you sure you don't mean 'won't'?" asked Mr. Ware, in a +half growl. + +"You may call it that if you like," replied Tom, a bit coolly, +for he did not like the other's tone, "Only, as I say, I cannot +accept. I have other plans." + +"Oh, you--" began the brusk treasurer, but Mr. Gale, the +president of the Universal Flying Machine Company, stopped his +associate with a warning look. + +"Just a moment, Mr. Swift," begged the president. "Don't be +hasty. We are prepared to make you a last and final offer, and I +do not believe you can refuse it." + +"Well, I certainly will not refuse it without hearing it," said +Tom, with a smile he meant to make good-natured. Yet, truth to +tell, he did not at all like the two visitors. There was +something about them that aroused his antagonism, and he said +later that even if they had offered him a sum which he felt he +ought not, in justice to himself and his father, refuse, he would +have felt a distaste in working for a company represented by the +twain. + +"This is our offer," said Mr. Gale, and he spoke in a pompous +manner which seemed to say: "If you don't take it, why, it will +be the worse for you." He looked at his treasurer for a +confirmatory nod and, receiving it, went on. "We are prepared to +offer and pay you, and will enter into such a contract, with the +stipulation about the inventions that I mentioned before--we are +prepared to pay you--twenty thousand dollars a year! Now what do +you say to that, Tom Swift? + +"Twenty-thousand-dollars-a-year!" repeated Mr. Gale unctuously, +rolling the words off his tongue. "Twen-ty-thou-sand-dol-lars-a- +year! Think of it!" + +"I am thinking of it," said Tom Swift gently, "and I thank you +for your offer. It is, indeed, very generous. But I must give you +the same answer. I cannot accept." + +"Tom!" exclaimed his aged father. + +"Mr. Swift!" exclaimed the two visitors. + +Tom smiled and shook his head. + +"Oh, I know very well what I am saying, and what I am turning +down," he said. "But I simply cannot accept. I have other plans. +I am sorry you have had your trip for nothing," he added to the +visitors, "but, really, I must refuse." + +"Is that your final answer?" asked Mr. Gale. + +"Yes." + +"Don't you want to take a day or two to think it over?" asked +the treasurer. "Don't be hasty. Remember that very few young men +can command that salary, and I may say you will find us liberal +in other ways. You would have some time to yourself." + +"That is what I most need," returned Tom. "Time to myself. No, +thank you, gentlemen, I cannot accept." + +"Be careful!" warned Mr. Gale, and it sounded as though there +might be a threat in his voice. "This is our last offer, and your +last chance. We will not renew this. If you do not accept our +twenty thousand dollars now, you will never get it again." + +"I realize that," said Tom, "and I am prepared to take the +consequences. + +"Very well, then," said Mr. Gale. "There seems nothing for us +to do, Mr. Ware, but to go back to New York. I bid you good-day," +and he bowed stiffly to Tom. "I hope you will not regret your +refusal of our offer." + +"I hope so myself," said Tom, lightly. + +When the visitors had gone Mr. Swift turned toward his son, +and, shaking his head, remarked: + +"Of course, you know your own business best, Tom. Yet I cannot +but feel you have made a mistake." + +"How?" asked Tom. "By not taking that money? I can easily make +that in a year, with an idea I have in mind for an improvement on +an airship. And your new electric motor will soon be ready for +the market. Besides, we don't really need the money." + +"No, not now, Tom, but there is no telling when we may," said +Mr. Swift, slowly. "This big war has made many changes, and +things that brought us in a good income before, hardly sell at +all, now." + +"Oh, don't worry, Dad! We still have a few shots left in the +locker--in other words, the bank. I'm expecting Ned Newton over +any moment now, to give us the annual statement of our account, +and then we'll know where we stand. I'm not afraid from the money +end. Our business has done well, and it is going to do better. I +have a new idea." + +"That's all very well, Tom," said Mr. Swift, who seemed +oppressed by something. "As you say, money isn't everything, and +I know we shall always have enough to live on. But there is +something about those two men I do not like. They were very angry +at your refusal of their offer. I could see that. Tom, I don't +want to be a croaker, but I think you'll have to watch out for +those men. They're going to be your enemies--your rivals in the +airship field," and Mr. Swift shook his head dolefully. + +"Well, rivalry, when it's clean and above board, is the spice +of trade and invention," returned ~Tom, lightly. "I'm not afraid +of that." + +"No, but it may be unfair and underhand," said Mr. Swift. "I +think it would have been better, Tom, to have accepted their +offer. Twenty thousand a year, clear money, is a good sum." + +"Yes, but I may make twice that with something that occurred to +me only a little while ago. Forget about those men, Dad, and I'll +tell you my new idea. But wait, I want Mr. Damon to hear it, too. +Where is he?" + +"He was here a little while ago. He went out when those two men +came and--" + +At that moment, from the garden at the side of the library, the +sound of voices in dispute could be heard. + +"Now yo' all g'wan 'way from yeah!" exclaimed some one who +could be none other than Eradicate Sampson. "Whut fo' yo' all +want to clutter up dish yeah place fo'? Massa Tom said I was to +do de garden wuk, an' I'se gwine to do it! G'wan 'way, Giant!" + +"Ho! You want me to get out, s'pose you put me, black face!" +cried a big voice, that of Koku, the giant. + +"There they go! At it again!" cried Tom with a smile. "Might +have known if I told Rad to do anything that Koku would be +jealous. Well, I'll have to go out now and give that giant +something to do that will tax his strength." + +But as Tom was about to leave the room another voice was heard +in the garden. + +"Now, boys, be nice," said some one soothingly. "The garden is +large enough for you both to work in. Rad, you begin at the lower +end and spade toward the middle. Koku, you begin at the upper end +and work down. Whoever gets to the middle first will win." + +"Ha! Den I'll show dat giant some spade wuk as is spade wuk!" +cried the colored man. "Garden wuk is mah middle name." + +"Be careful, Rad!" laughed Mr. Damon, for he it was who was +trying to act as peacemaker. "Remember that Koku is very strong." + +"Yas, sah! He may be strong, but he's clumsy!" chuckled +Eradicate. "You watch me beat him!" + +"Ho! Black man get stuck in mud!" challenged Koku. "I show +him!" + +Then there was silence, and Tom and his father, looking out, +saw the two disputants beginning to spade the soil while Mr. +Damon, satisfied that he had, for the time being, stopped a +quarrel, turned toward the house. + +"I was just coming to look for you," said Tom. "Sorry I had to +go off in such a hurry and leave you, but I had promised to take +Mary for a ride, and as it was her first one, for a distance, I +didn't want her to back out." + +"That's all right, Tom, that's all right!" said Mr. Damon +genially. "Ladies first every time. But I do want to see you, and +it's about something important." + +"No trouble, I hope?" queried Tom, for the manner of the +eccentric man was rather grave. + +"Trouble? Oh, no! Bless my frying pan, no trouble, Tom! In +fact, it may be the other way about. Tom, I have an idea, and +there may be millions in it! That's it--millions!" + +"Good!" cried the young inventor. "Might as well bite off a big +lump while you're at it. So you have a new idea! Well, I have +myself, but I'll listen to yours first. What is it, Mr. Damon?" + +"It's a new kind of airship, Tom. I haven't got it all worked +out yet, but I can give you a rough outline. On my way over I got +to thinking about balloons, aeroplanes and the like, and it +occurred to me that the present principles are all wrong." + +"So I evolved a new type of machine. I'm going to call it the +Damon Whizzer. Maybe Demon Whizzer would be more appropriate, but +we won't decide on that now. Anyhow, it's going to be a whizzer, +and I want to talk to you about it. There is an entirely new +principle of elevation and propulsion involved in my Whizzer, and +I--" + +At that moment there came a crash and clatter of steel and wood +from the garden, out of sight of which Tom and Mr. Damon had +walked while talking. Then followed a jangle of words. + +"They're at it again!" cried Tom, as he ran toward the side of +the house. "I guess it's a fight this time!" + + + +CHAPTER V +TOM'S PROJECT + + +Curious was the sight that met the gaze of Tom Swift and Mr. +Wakefield Damon as they rounded the corner of the house and +looked into the newly spaded garden. There stood the giant, Koku, +holding aloft in the air, by one hand, the form of the struggling +colored man, Eradicate Sampson. And Eradicate was vainly trying +to get at his enemy and rival, but was prevented by the long- +distance hold the giant had on him. + +"Yo' let me go, now! Yo' let me go, big man cried Eradicate. +"Ef yo' don't I'll bust yo' wide open, dat's whut I'll do! An' +'sides, I'll tell Massa Tom on yo', dat's whut I'll do!" + +"Ho! You tell--I let you fall!" threatened Koku. + +His threat was dire enough, for such was his size and strength +that he held the colored man nearly nine feet from the ground, +and a fall from that distance would seriously jar Eradicate, if +it did nothing else. The colored man's eyes opened wide as he +heard what Koku said, and then he cried: + +"Let me down! Let me down, an' I won't say nuffin!" + +"An' you let me scatter dirt?" asked Koku. for such was the +giant's idea of working in the garden. + +"Yes, yo' kin scatter de dirt seben ways from Sunday fo' all I +keers!" conceded Eradicate. Then, as he was lowered to the +ground, he and the giant turned and saw Mr. Damon and Tom +approaching. + +"What's wrong?" asked the young inventor. + +"'Scuse me, Massa Tom," began Eradicate, "but didn't yo' tell +me to spade de garden?" + +"I guess I did," admitted Tom Swift. + +"An' you tell me help--yes?" questioned Koku. + +"Well, I thought it would be a little too much for you, Rad," +said Tom, gently. "I thought perhaps you'd like help." + +"Hu! Not him, anyhow!" declared the colored man in great +disgust. "When I git so old dat I cain't spade a garden, den me +an' Boomerang, we-all gwine to die, dat's all I got to say. I was +a-spadin' my part ob de garden, Massa Tom, same laik Mr. Damon +done tole me to, an' dish yeah big mess ob bones steps on my side +ob de middle an--" + +"Him too slow. Koku scatter dirt twice times so fast!" declared +the giant, whose English was not much better than Eradicate's. + +"Yes, I see," said Tom. "You are so strong, Koku, that you +finished your part before Eradicate did. Well, it was good of you +to want to help him." + +At this the giant grinned at his rival. + +"At the same time," went on Tom, winking an eye at Mr. Damon, +"Eradicate knows a little more about garden work, on account of +having done it so many years." + +"Ha! Whut I tell yo', Giant!" boasted the colored man. It was +his turn to smile. + +"And so," went on Tom, judicially, "I guess I'll let Rad finish +spading the garden, and you, Koku, can come and help me lift some +heavy engine parts. Mr. Damon wants to explain something to me." + +"Ha! Nothing what so heavy Koku not lift!" boasted the giant. + +"Go on! Lift yo'se'f 'way from heah!" muttered Eradicate as he +picked up his dropped spade. And then, with a smile of +satisfaction, he fell to work in the mellow soil while Tom led +Koku to one of the shops where he set him to lifting heavy motor +parts about in order to get at a certain machine that was stored +away in the back of one of the rooms. + +"That will keep him busy," said the young inventor. "And now, +Mr. Damon, I can listen to you. Do you really think you have a +new idea in airships?" + +"I really think so, Tom. My Whizzer is bound to revolutionize +travel in the air. Let me tell you what I mean. Now cast your +mind back. How many ways are now used to propel an airship or a +dirigible balloon through the air? How many ways?" + +"Two, as far as I know," said Tom. "At least there are only two +that have proved to be practical." + +"Exactly," said Mr. Damon. "One with the propeller, or +propellers, in front, and that is the tractor type. The other has +the propeller in the rear, and that is the pusher type. Both good +as far as they go, but I have something better." + +"What?" asked Tom with a smile. + +"It's a Whizzer," said the eccentric man. "Bless my gold tooth! +but that is the best name I can think of for it. And, really, the +propeller I'm thinking of inventing does whiz around." + +"But are you going to use a tractor or pusher type?" Tom wanted +to know. + +"It's a combination of both," answered Mr. Damon. "As it is +now, Tom, you have to get an aeroplane in pretty speedy motion +before it will rise from the ground, don't you?" + +"Yes, of course. That's the principle on which an aeroplane +rises and keeps aloft, by its speed in the air. As soon as that +speed stops it begins to fall, or volplane, as we call it." + +"Exactly. Now, instead of having to depend on the speed of the +aeroplane for this, why not depend on the speed of the propeller +--in other words, the whizzer?" + +"Well, we do," said Tom, a bit puzzled as to what his friend +was trying to get at. "If the propeller didn't move the airship +wouldn't rise--that is, unless it's of the balloon type." + +"What I mean," said Mr. Damon, "is to have an aeroplane that +will move in the air the same as a boat moves in the water. You +don't have to get the propeller of a boat racing around at the +rate of a million revolutions a minute, more or less, before your +boat will travel, do you? If the engine turns the screw, or +propeller, just over say fifty times a minute you would get some +motion of the boat, wouldn't you?" + +"Why, yes, some," admitted Tom. + +"And what causes it?" asked Mr. Damon, anticipating a triumph. + +"The resistance of the water to the blades of the screw, or +propeller," answered Tom. + +"Exactly! And it's the resistance of the air to the blades of +an airship propeller that sends the craft along, isn't it?" + +"Yes. And because of the difference in density between air and +water it becomes necessary to revolve an aeroplane propeller many +times faster than a boat propeller. It's the density that makes +the difference, Mr. Damon. If air were as dense as water we could +have comparatively slow-moving motors and propellers and--" + +"Ha! There you have it, Tom! And there is where my Whizzer-- +Wakefield Damon's Whizzer--is going to revolutionize air +travel!" cried the eccentric man. "The difference in density! If +air were as dense as water the problem would be solved. And I +have solved it! I'm going to turn the trick, Tom! One more +question. How can air be made as dense as water, Tom Swift?" + +"Why, by condensation or compression, I suppose," was the +rather slow answer. "You know they have condensed, or compressed, +air until it is liquid. I've done it myself, as an experiment." + +"That's it, Tom! That's it!" cried Mr. Damon in delight. +"Compressed air will do the trick! Not compressed to a liquid, +exactly, but almost so. I'm going to revolve the propellers of my +new airship in compressed air, so dense that they will not have +to have a speed of more than seven hundred revolutions a minute. +What's that compared to the three to ten thousand revolutions of +the propellers now used? The propellers of Damon's Whizzer will +be of the pusher type, and will revolve in dense, compressed air, +almost like water, and that will do away with high speed motors, +with all their complications, and make traveling in the clouds as +simple as taking out a little one-cylinder motor boat. How's +that, Tom Swift? How's that for an idea?" + +To Mr. Damon's disappointment, Tom was not enthusiastic. The +young inventor gazed at his eccentric friend, and then said +slowly: + +"Well, that's all right in theory, but how is it going to work +out in practice?" + +"That's what I came to see you about, Tom," was the reply. +"Bless my tall hat! but that's just why I hurried over here. I +wanted to tell you when I saw you going off on a trip with Miss +Nestor. That's my big idea--Damon's Whizzer --propellers +revolving in compressed air like water. Isn't that great?" + +"I'm sorry to shatter your air castle," said Tom; "but for the +life of me I can't see how it will work. Of course, in theory, if +you could revolve a big-bladed propeller in very dense, or in +liquid, air, there would be more resistance than in the rarefied +atmosphere of the upper regions. And, if this could be done, I +grant you that you could use slower motors and smaller propeller +blades--more like those of a motor boat. But how are you going to +get the condensed air?" + +"Make it!" said Mr. Damon promptly. "Air pumps are cheap. Just +carry one or two on board the aeroplane, and condense the air as +you go along. That's a small detail that can easily be worked +out. I leave that to you." + +"I'd rather you wouldn't," said Tom. "That's the whole +difficulty--compressing your air. Wait! I'll explain it to you." + +Then the young inventor went into details. He told of the +ponderous machinery needed to condense air to a form +approximating water, and spoke of the terrible pressure exerted +by the liquid atmosphere. + +"Anything that you would gain by having a slow-speed motor and +smaller propeller blades, would be lost by the ponderous air- +condensing machinery you would need," Tom told Mr. Damon. +"Besides, if you could surround your propellers with a strata of +condensed air, it would create such terrible cold as to freeze +the propeller blades and make them as brittle as glass. + +"Why, I have taken a heavy piece of metal, dipped it into +liquid air, and I could shatter the steel with a hammer as easily +as a sheet of ice. The cold of liquid air is beyond belief. + +"Attempts have been made to make motors run with liquid air, +but they have not succeeded. To condense air and to carry it +about so that propellers might revolve in it, would be out of the +question." + +"You think so, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"I'm sure of it!" + +"Oh, dear! That's too bad. Bless my overshoes, but I thought I +had a new idea. Well, you ought to know. So Damon's Whizzer goes +on the scrap heap before ever it's built. Well, we'll say no more +about it. You ought to know best, Tom. I wasn't thinking of it so +much for myself as for you. I thought you'd like some new idea to +work on." + +"Much obliged, Mr. Damon, but I have a new idea," said Tom. + +"You have? What is it? Tell me--that is, if it isn't a secret," +went on the eccentric man, as much delighted over Tom's new plan +as he had been over his own Whizzer, doomed to failure so soon. + +"It isn't a secret from you," said Tom. "I got the idea while I +was riding with Mary. I wanted to talk to her--to tell her not to +jump out when we had a little accident--but I had trouble making +myself understood because of the noise of the motor." + +"They do make a great racket," conceded Mr. Damon. "But I don't +suppose anything can be done about it." + +"I don't see why there can't!" exclaimed Tom. "And that's my +new idea--to make a silent aircraft motor--perhaps silent +propeller blades, though it's the motor that makes the most +noise. And that's what I'm going to do--invent a silent +aeroplane. Not because I want so much to talk when I take +passengers up in the air, but I believe such a motor would be +valuable, especially for scouting planes in war work. To go over +the enemy's lines and not be heard would be valuable many times. + +"And that's what I'm going to do--work on a silent motor for +Uncle Sam. I've got the germ of an idea and now--" + +"Excuse me," said a voice behind Mr. Damon and Tom, and, +turning, the young inventor beheld the form of Mr. Peton Gale, +president of the Universal Flying Machine Company. + + + +CHAPTER VI +MAKING PLANS + + +Tom Swift had drawn pencil and paper from his pocket, and, as +he and Mr. Damon were sitting on the steps of one of the shops, +the young inventor was about to demonstrate by a drawing part of +his new project, when the interruption came in the shape of one +of the men who had, an hour before, made a business offer to Tom. + +"Excuse me," went on Mr. Peton Gale, "but Mr. Ware and I got to +talking it over on our way to the station--the matter of having +you in our company, Mr. Swift--and we concluded that it was worth +twenty-five thousand dollars a year for us to have you. So I came +back--" + +"It isn't of the slightest use, Mr. Gale, I assure you," said +Tom, a bit heatedly, for he did not like the persistency of this +man, nor did he like his coming on the factory grounds +unannounced and in this secret manner. "I told you I could not +accept your offer. It is not altogether a matter of money. My +word was final." + +"Oh very well, if you put it that way," said Mr. Gale stiffly, +"of course there is nothing more to say. But I thought perhaps +you did not consider we had offered you enough and--" + +"Your offer is fair enough from a financial standpoint," said +Tom; "but I simply cannot accept it. I have other plans. +Jackson!" he called to one of his mechanics who was passing, +"kindly see Mr. Gale to the gate, and then let me know how it was +any one came in here without a permit." + +"Yes, sir," said the mechanic, as he stood significantly +waiting. + +"There was no one at the gate when I came in," said Mr. Gale, +and his manner was antagonizing. "I wanted to speak to you--to +ask you to reconsider your offer--so I came back." + +"It is against the rules to admit strangers to the shop +grounds," said Tom. "Good-day!" + +The president of the Universal Flying Machine Company did not +respond, but there was a look on his face as he turned away that, +had Tom seen it, might have caused him some uneasiness. But he +did not see. Instead, he resumed his talk with Mr. Damon. + +"Tom, your idea is most interesting," declared the eccentric +man. "I hope you will be able to work it out!" + +"I'm going to try," said the young inventor. "I hope that man-- +Mr. Gale--didn't hear anything of what I was saying. He sneaked +up on us before I was aware any one was near but ourselves." + +"I don't imagine he heard very much, Tom," said Mr. Damon. "He +may have heard you mention a silent motor--" + +"That's just what I wish he hadn't heard," broke in Tom. +"That's the germ of the idea, and once it becomes known that I am +working on that-- Well, there's no use crying over spilled milk," +and he smiled at the homely proverb. "I'll have to work in +secret, once I've started." + +"Do you think the government would use it, Tom?" asked his +friend. + +"I should think it would be glad to. Consider what a wonderful +part airships are playing in the present war. It really is a +struggle to see which will be the master of the sky--the Allies +or the Germans--and, up to recently, the Huns had the advantage. +Then the Allies, recognizing how vital it was, began to forge +ahead, and now Uncle Sam with his troops under General Pershing +is leading everything, or will lead shortly. We have been a bit +slow with our aircraft production, but now we are booming along. +Uncle Sam will soon have the mastery of the sky." + +"I hope so," sighed Mr. Damon. "We must beat the Germans!" + +Briefly, Tom spoke of what Pershing's men were doing with their +aeroplanes in France, and mention was made of what the French and +British had done prior to the entrance of the United States into +the World War. + +"While we were yet neutral, Americans had made gallant names +for themselves flying for France, and with my silent motor they +ought to do better," declared Tom. + +"Is silence its chief recommendation?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Yes," replied Tom. "Or rather, it will be when I have it +perfected. Aeroplane motors now are about as compact and speedy +as they can be made. It is only the terrific noise that is a +handicap. It is a handicap to the pilots and observers in the +craft, as they cannot communicate except through a special +speaking tube, and this is not always satisfactory or sure. Then, +too, the noise of an airship proclaims its approach to the enemy, +sometimes long before it can be seen. + +"With a silent motor all this would be done away with. With my +new craft, in case I can perfect it, the enemy's lines can be +approached as silently as the Indians used to approach the log +cabins of the white settlers. That will be its great advantage-- +not that conversation can be more easily carried on, for that is, +after all, an unimportant detail. But to approach the enemy's +lines in the silence of the night would be a distinct gain." + +"I believe it would, Tom!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "And I should +think, too, that Uncle Sam would be glad to get such a motor," he +added. + +"Well, he'll have one to take if he wants it, if I can make my +plans a success," declared Tom. "That is, unless those other +fellows get ahead of me." + +"What other fellows?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Gale, Ware and their crowd," was the answer. "I fancy they are +provoked because I wouldn't agree to work for them, and now, that +Gale overheard--as he must have--what I propose working on, they +may try that game themselves." + +"You mean try to turn out a silent motor?" + +"Yes. It would be a big feather in their cap for their company, +so far, hasn't been very successful on government orders. That's +why they came to me, I guess." + +"I shouldn't be surprised, Tom," conceded Mr. Damon. "Since the +government accepted your giant cannon and your great searchlight, +you have come into greater prominence than ever before. And those +two things are a wonderful success." + +"Yes," admitted Tom, modestly enough, "the big electric light +seems to have been of some benefit on the European battle front, +and though they haven't been able to make and transport as many +of my giant cannons as I'd like to see over there, it is +progressing, I understand." + +And this is true. For the details of these two inventions of +Tom Swift's I refer my readers to the books bearing those titles. +Sufficient to state here that the government was using these two +inventions, and there had been no necessity for commandeering +them either, since Tom had freely offered them at the declaration +of war with Germany. + +"Well, since I can't help you with my 'Whizzer,'" said Mr. +Damon, with a smile, "let me do what I can toward your silent +motor, Tom. What are you going to call it?" + +"Oh, I don't know--hadn't thought of a name. I guess 'Air +Scout' would be as good as any. That's what it will be--a machine +for silently scouting in the air. And now to get down to brass +tacks, as the poet says, I believe I will--" + +"Gentleman to see you, Mr. Swift," interrupted Jackson. + +"Bless my penwiper!" cried Mr. Damon. "More visitors! I hope it +isn't Gale or Ware come back to see what they can spy on!" + + + +CHAPTER VII +A PROBLEM IN SOUND + + +Tom Swift looked up with a distinct appearance of being annoyed +that was unusual with him, for he was, nearly always, +good-natured. But the frown that had replaced the pleasant look +on his face while he was talking to Mr. Damon about the projected +new air scout was at once wiped away as he looked at the card +Jackson held out to him. + +"Bring him in right away!" he ordered. "He needn't have stood +on that ceremony." + +"Well, he said it was a business call," returned the +mechanician with a cheerful grin, and he said he wanted it done +according to form. So he gave me his card to bring you." + +"Who is it?" asked Mr. Damon, with the privilege of an old +friend. + +"It's Ned Newton," Tom answered; "though why he's putting on +all this formality I can't fathom." + +Jackson went back to the main gate and told the man on guard +there to admit Ned, who had so formally sent in his card. + +"Ah, Mr. Swift, I believe?" began the bank employee with that +suave, formal air which usually precedes a business meeting. + +"That is my name," said Tom, with a suppressed grin, and he +spoke as stiffly as though to a perfect stranger. + +"Mr. Tom Swift, the great inventor?" went on Ned. + +"Yes." + +"Ah, then I am at the right place. Just sign here, please, on +the dotted line," and be held out a blank form, and a fountain +pen to Tom, who took them half mechanically. + +"Huh? What's the big idea, Ned?" asked the young inventor, +unable longer to carry on the joke. "Is this a warrant for my +arrest, or merely a testimonial to you. If it's the latter, and +concerns your nerve, I'll gladly sign it." + +"Well, it's something like that!" laughed Ned. "That's your +application for another block of Liberty Bonds, Tom, and I want +you, as a personal favor to me, as a business favor to the bank, +and as your plain duty to Uncle Sam, to double your last +subscription." + +Tom looked at the sum Ned had filled in on the blank form, and +uttered a slight whistle of surprise. + +"That's all right now," said Ned, with the air of a +professional salesman. "You can stand that and more, too. I'm +letting you off easy. Why, I got Mary's father--Mr. Nestor--for +twice what he took last time, and Mary herself--hard as she's +working for the Red Cross--gave me a nice application. So it's up +to you to--" + +"Nuff said!" exclaimed Tom, sententiously, as he signed his +name. "I may have to reconsider my recent refusal of the offer of +the Universal Flying Machine Company, though, if I haven't money +enough to meet this subscription, Ned." + +"Oh, you'll meet it all right! Much obliged," and Ned folded +the Liberty Bond subscription paper and put it in his pocket. +"But did you turn down the offer from those people?" + +"I did," answered Tom. "But how did you know about it, Ned?" + +"First let me say that I'm glad you decided to have nothing to +do with them. They're a rich firm, and have lots of money, but I +wouldn't trust 'em, even if they have some government contracts. +The way I happened to know they were likely to make you an offer +is this," continued Ned Newton. + +"They do business with one of the New York banks with which my +bank--notice the accent on the my, Tom--is connected. The other +day I happened to see some correspondence about you. These flying +machine people asked our bank to find out certain things about +you, and, as a matter of business, we had to give the +information. Sort of a commercial agency report, you know, +nothing unusual, and it isn't the first time it's been done since +your business got so large. But that's how I happened to know +these fellows contemplated dickering with you." + +"Do you know Gale or Ware?" Tom asked. + +"Not personally. But in a business way, Tom, I'd warn you to +look out for them, as they're sharp dealers. They put one over on +the government all right, and there may be some unpleasant +publicity to it later. But they're putting up a big bluff, and +pretending they can turn out a lot of flying machines for use in +Europe. Why don't you get busy on that end of the game, Tom?" + +"I know you've more than done your bit, with Liberty Bonds, +subscriptions to the Y. M. C. A. and other war work, besides your +war tank and other inventions. But you're such a shark on flying +machines I should think you'd offer your factory to the +government for the production of aeroplanes." + +"I would in a minute, Ned, and you know it; but the fact of the +matter is my shops aren't equipped for the production of anything +in large numbers. We do mostly an experimenting business here, +making only one or two of a certain machine. I have told the +government officials they can have anything I've got, and you +know they wouldn't let me enlist when I was working on the war +tank." + +"Yes, I remember that," said Ned. "You're no slacker! I wanted +to shoulder a rifle, too, but they keep me at this Liberty Loan +work. Well, Uncle Sam ought to know." + +"That's what I say," agreed Tom, "and that's why I haven't gone +to the front myself. And now, as it happens, I've got something +else in mind that may help Uncle Sam." + +"What is it?" + +"A silent flying machine for scout work on the battle front," +Tom told his friend, and then he gave a few details, such as +those he had been telling Mr. Damon. + +"Then I don't wonder you turned down the offer of the Universal +people," remarked Ned, at the conclusion of the recital. "This +will be a heap more help to the government, Tom, than working for +those people, even at twenty-five thousand dollars a year. And if +you get short, and can't meet your newest Liberty Bond payments, +why, I guess the bank will stretch your credit a little." + +"Thanks!" laughed Tom, "but I'll try not to ask them." + +The friends talked together a little longer, and then Ned had +to take his departure to solicit more subscriptions, while Mr. +Damon went with him, the eccentric man saying he would go home to +Waterfield. + +"But, bless my overshoes, Tom!" he exclaimed, as he departed, +"don't forget to let me know when you have your silent motor +working. I want to see it." + +"I'll let you know," was the promise given by the young +inventor. + +"And watch out for those Universal people," warned Ned. "I'm +not telling you this as a bank official, for I'm not supposed to, +but it's personal." + +"I'll be on the watch," said Tom. And, as he went into his +private workshop, he wondered why it was his father and Ned had +both warned him not to trust Gale and Ware. + +The next few days were busy ones for Tom Swift. Once he had +made up his mind to go to work seriously on a silent motor, all +else was put aside. He sent a note to Mary Nestor, telling her +what he was going to do, and, asking her to say nothing about it, +which, of course, Mary agreed to. + +"Come and see me when you can," she sent back word, "but I know +you won't have much chance when you're experimenting with your +invention. And I shall be working so hard for the Red Cross that +I sha'n't get much chance to entertain you. But the war can't +last forever." + +"No," agreed Tom with a sigh, as he put away her letter, "and +thank goodness that it can't!" + +The young inventor threw himself into the perplexing work of +inventing a silent motor with all the fervor he had given to the +production of his war tank, his giant cannon, his wonderful +searchlight and other machines. + +"And," mused Tom, as he sat at his work table with pencil and +paper before him, "since this is a problem in acoustics, I had +best begin. I suppose by going back to first principles, and +after determining what makes an aeroplane engine noisy, try to +figure out how to make it quiet. Now as to the first, the +principle causes of noise are--" + +And at that instant there broke on Tom's ears a succession of +discordant sounds which seemed to be a combination of an Indian's +war whoop and a college student's yells at a football game. + +"Now I wonder what that is!" mused the young inventor as he +hastily arose. "Better solve that problem before I tackle the +aeroplane motor." + + + +CHAPTER VIII +THROUGH THE ROOF + + + +Tom rushed from his private office, and when he reached the +outer door he heard with more distinctness the sounds that had +alarmed him. They seemed to come from a small building given over +to electrical apparatus, and which, at the time, was not supposed +to be in use. It had been Tom's workroom, so to speak, when he +was developing his electric runabout and rifle, but of late he +had not spent much time in it. + +"Somebody's in there !" reflected the young inventor, as he +heard yells coming from the open door of the place. "And if it +isn't Koku and Eradicate I miss my guess! Wonder what they can be +doing there." + +He crossed the yard between his private office and the +electrical shop in a few rapid strides, and, as he entered the +latter place, he was greeted with a series of wild yells. + +"Good volume of sound here, at all events," mused Tom. "Almost +as much as my motor made when I was trying to talk to Mary. Hello +there! What's going on? Is any one hurt? What's the matter?" he +cried, for, at first, he could see no one in the dim light of the +place. The interior was a maze of electrical apparatus. + +"Who's here?" demanded Tom, as he advanced. + +"Oh, Master! Come quick! Koku 'most dead an' no can let go!" +was the cry. + +"Yo' jest bet yo' cain't let go!" chimed in the voice of +Eradicate. "I done knowed yo would git into trouble ef yo' come +heah, an' I'se glad ob it! So I is!" + +"What is it, Rad? What has happened to Koku?" cried Tom, +running forward, for though no very powerful current could be +turned on in the electrical shop at this period of unuse, there +was enough to be very painful. "What is it, Rad?" + +"Oh, dat big foolish giant, Koku, done got his se'f into +trouble!" chuckled the colored man. "He done got holt ob one ob +dem air contraptions, Massa Tom, an' he cain't let go! Ha! Ha! +Golly! Look at him squirm!" and Rad laughed shrilly, which +accounted for some of the sounds Tom had heard. + +Then came yells of rage and pain from the giant, and they were +so loud and vigorous, mingling with Eradicate's as they did, that +it was no wonder Tom was startled. The sounds were heard in the +other shops, and men came running out. But before then Tom had +put an end to the trouble. + +One look showed him what had happened. Just how or why Koku and +Eradicate had entered the electrical shop Tom did not then stop +to inquire. But he saw that the giant had grasped the handles of +one of the electric machines, designed for charging Leyden jars +used in Tom's experiments, and the powerful, though not +dangerous, current had so paralyzed, temporarily, the muscles of +the giant's hands and arms that he could not let go, and there he +was, squirming, and not knowing how to turn off the current, and +unable to ease himself, while Eradicate stood and laughed at him, +fairly howling with delight. + +"Ha! Guess yo' won't do no mo' spadin' in' Massa Tom's garden +right away, big man!" taunted Eradicate. + +"Be quiet, Rad!" ordered Tom, as he reached up and pulled out +the switch, thus shutting off the current. "This isn't anything +to laugh at." + +"But he done look so funny, Massa Tom!" pleaded the colored +man. "He done squirm laik--" + +But Eradicate did not finish what he intended to say. Once free +from the powerful current, the giant looked at his numb hands, +and then, seeming to think that Eradicate was the cause of it +all, he sprang at the colored man with a yell. But Eradicate did +not stay to see what would happen. With a howl of terror, he +raced out of the door, and, old and rheumatic as he was, he +managed to gain the stable of his mule, Boomerang, over which he +had his humble but comfortable quarters. + +"Well, I guess he's safe for a while!" laughed Tom, as he saw +the giant turn away, shaking his fist at the closed door, for +Koku, big as he was, stood in mortal terror of the mule's heels. + +Tom locked the door of the electrical shop and Went back to his +interrupted problem. From Jackson he learned that Koku and +Eradicate had merely happened to stroll into the forbidden place, +which had been left open by accident. There, it appeared, Koku +had handled some of the machinery, ending by switching on the +current of the machine the handles of which he later +unsuspectingly picked up. Then he received a shock he long +remembered, and for many days he believed Eradicate had been +responsible for it, and there was more than the usual hostile +feeling between the two. But Eradicate was innocent of that +trick, at all events. + +"Though," said Tom, telling his father about it later, "Rad +would have turned on the current if he had known he could make +trouble for Koku by it. I never saw their like for having +disagreements!" + +"Yes, but they are both devoted to you, Tom," said the aged +inventor. "But what is this you hinted at--a silent motor you +called it, I believe? Are you really serious in trying to invent +one?" + +"Yes, Dad, I am. I think there's a big field for an aeroplane +that could travel along over the enemy's lines--particularly at +night--and not be heard from below. Think of the scout work that +could be done. + +"Well, yes, it could be done if you could get a silent motor, +or propellers that made no noise, Tom. But I don't believe it can +be done." + +"Well, maybe not, Dad. But I'm going to try!" and Tom, after a +further talk with his father, began work in earnest on the big +problem. That it was a big one Tom was not disposed to deny, and +that it would be a valuable invention even his somewhat skeptical +father admitted. + +"How are you going to start, Tom?" asked Mr. Swift, several +days after the big idea had come to the young man. + +"I'm going to experiment a bit, at first. I've got a lot of old +motors, that weren't speedy enough for any of my flying machines, +and I'm going to make them over. If I spoil them the loss won't +amount to anything, and if I succeed --well, maybe I can help out +Uncle Sam a bit more." + +As Tom had said he would do, he began at the very foundation, +and studied the fundamental principles of sound. + +"Sound," the young inventor told Ned Newton, in speaking about +the problem, "is a sensation which is peculiar to the ear, though +the vibrations caused by sound waves may be felt in many parts of +the body. But the ear is the great receiver of sound." + +"You aren't going to invent a sort of muffler for the ears, are +you, Tom?" asked Ned. "That would be an easy way of solving the +problem, but I doubt if you could get the Germans to wear your +ear-tabs so they wouldn't hear the sound of the Allied +aeroplanes." + +"No, I'm not figuring on doing the trick that way," said Tom +with a laugh. "I've really got to cut down the sound of the motor +and the propeller blades, so a person, listening with all his +ears, won't hear any noise, unless he's within a few feet of the +plane." + +"Well, I can tell you, right off the reel, how to do it," said +the bank employee. + +"How?" asked Tom eagerly. + +"Run your engine and propellers in a vacuum," was the prompt +reply. + +"Hum!" said Tom, musingly. "Yes, that would be a simple way +out, and I'll do it, if you'll tell me how to breathe in a +vacuum." + +"Oh, I didn't agree to do that," laughed Ned. + +But he had spoken the truth, as those who have studied physics +well know. There must be an atmosphere for the transmission of +sound, which is the reason all is cold and silent and still at +the moon. There is no atmosphere there. Sound implies vibration. +Something, such as liquid, gas, or solid, must be set in motion +to produce sound, and for the purpose of science the air we +breathe may be considered a gas, being composed of two. + +Not only must the object, either solid, liquid, or gaseous, be +in motion to produce sound, but the air surrounding the vibrating +body must also be moving in unison with it. And lastly there must +be some medium of receiving the sound waves--the ear or some part +of the body. Totally deaf persons may be made aware of sound +through the vibrations received through their hands or feet. They +receive, of course, only the more intense, or largest, sound +waves, and can not hear notes of music nor spoken words, though +they may feel the vibration when a piano is played. And, as Ned +has said, no sound is produced in a vacuum. + +"But," said Tom, "since I can't run my aeroplane in a vacume, +or even have the propellers revolve in one, it's up to me to +solve the problem some other way. The propellers don't really +make noise enough to worry about when they're high in the air. +It's the exhaust from the motor, and to get rid of that will be +my first attempt." + +"Can it be done?" asked Ned. + +"I don't know," was Tom's frank answer. + +"They do it on an automobile to a great extent," went on Ned. +"Some of 'em you cant hardly hear." + +"Yes, but an aeroplane engine runs many, many times faster than +the motor of an auto," said Tom, "and there are more explosions +to muffle. I doubt if the muffler of an auto would cut down the +sound of an aero engine to any appreciable extent. But, of +course, I'll try along those lines." + +"They have mufflers or silencers for guns and rifles," went on +Ned. "Couldn't you make a big one of those contraptions and put +it on an aeroplane?" + +"I doubt it," said Tom, shaking his head. "Of course it's the +same principle as that in an auto muffler, or on a motor boat--a +series of baffle plates arranged within a hollow cylinder. But +all such devices cut down power, and I don't want to do that. +However, I'm going to solve the problem or--bust!" + +And Tom came near "busting," Ned remarked later, when he and +his friend talked over the progress of the invention. + +Two weeks had passed since the start of his evolution of his +new idea, and following the visiting of the representatives of +the Universal Flying Machine Company. Since then neither Gale nor +Ware had communicated with Tom. + +"But I must be on the watch against them," thought the young +inventor. "I'm pretty sure Gale heard me mention what I was going +to try to invent, and he may get ahead of me, and put a silent +motor on the market first. Not that I'm afraid of being done out +of any profits, but I simply don't want to be beaten." + +The details of Tom's invention cannot be gone into, but, +roughly, it was based on the principle of not only a muffler but +also of producing less noise when the charges of gasoline +exploded in the cylinders. It is, of course, the explosion of +gasoline mixed with air that causes an internal combustion engine +to operate. And it is the expulsion of the burned gases that +causes the exhaust and makes the noise that is heard. + +Tom was working along the well-known line of the rate of travel +of sound, which progresses at the rate of about 1090 feet a +second when air is at the freezing point. And, roughly, with +every degree increase in the atmosphere's temperature the +velocity of sound increases by one foot. Thus at a temperature of +100 degrees Fahrenheit, or 68 degrees above freezing, there would +be added to the 1090 feet the 68 feet, making sound travel at 100 +degrees Fahrenheit about 1158 feet a second. + +Tom had set up in his shop a powerful, but not very speedy, old +aeroplane engine, and had attached to it the device he hoped +would help him toward solving his problem of cutting down the +noise. He had had some success with it, and, after days and +nights of labor, he invited his father and Ned, as well as Mr. +Damon, over to see what he hoped would be a final experiment. + +His visitors had assembled in the shop, and Eradicate was +setting out some refreshments which Tom had provided, the colored +man being in his element now. + +"What's all this figuring, Tom ?" asked Mr. Damon, as he saw a +series of calculations on some sheets of paper lying on Tom's +desk. + +"That's where I worked out how much faster sound traveled in +hydrogen gas than in the ordinary atmosphere," was the answer. +"It goes about four times as fast, or nearly four thousand two +hundred feet a second. You remember the rule, I suppose. 'The +speed of sonorous vibrations through gases varies inversely as +the squares of the weights of equal volumes of the gases,' or, in +other words--" + +"Give it to us chiefly in 'other words,' if you please, Tom!" +pleaded Ned, with a laugh. "Let that go and do some tricks. Start +the engine and let's see if we can hear it." + +"Oh, you can hear it all right," said Tom, as he approached the +motor, which was mounted on a testing block. "The thing isn't +perfected yet, but I hope to have it soon. Rad! Where is that +black rascal? Oh, there you are! Come here, Rad!" + +"Yaas sah, Massa Tom! Is I gwine to help yo' all in dish yeah +job?" + +"Yes. Just take hold of this lever, and when I say so pull it +as hard as you can." + +"Dat's whut I will, Massa Tom. Golly! ef dat no 'count giant +was heah now he'd see he ain't de only one whut's got muscle. +I'll pull good an' hard, Massa Tom." + +"Yes, that's what I want you to. Now I guess we're all ready. +Can you see, Dad--and Ned and Mr. Damon?" + +"Yes," they answered. They stood near the side wall of the +shop, while Tom and Eradicate were at the testing block, on which +the motor, with the noise-eliminating devices attached, had been +temporarily mounted. + +"All ready," called the young inventor, as he turned on the gas +and threw over the electrical switch. "All ready! Pull the +starting lever, Rad. and when it's been running a little I'll +throw on the silencer and you can see the difference." + +The motor began to hum, and there was a deafening roar, just as +there always is when the engine of an aeroplane starts. It was as +though half a dozen automobile engines were being run with the +mufflers cut out. + +"Now I'll show you the difference!" yelled Tom, though such was +the noise that not a word could be heard. "This shows you what my +silencer will do." + +Tom pulled another lever. There was at once a cessation of the +deafening racket, though it was not altogether ended. Then, after +a moment or two, there suddenly came a roar as though a blast had +been let off in the shop. + +Tom and Eradicate were tossed backward, head over heels, as +though by the giant hands of Koku himself, and Mr. Damon, Ned, +and Tom's father saw the motor fly from the testing block and +shoot through the roof of the building with a rending, crashing, +and splintering sound that could be heard for a mile. + + + +CHAPTER IX +AFTER A SPY + + +Curious as it may seem, Eradicate, the oldest and certainly not +the most energetic of the party assembled in the experiment room, +was the first to recover himself and arise. Tottering to his feet +he gave one look at the testing block, whence the motor had torn +itself. Then he looked at the prostrate figures around him, none +of them hurt, but all stunned and very much startled. Then the +gaze of Eradicate traveled to the hole in the roof. It was a +gaping, ragged hole, for the motor was heavy and the roof of +flimsy material. And then the colored man exclaimed: + +"Good land ob massy! Did I do dat?" + +His tone was one of such startled contrition, and so tragic, +that Tom Swift, rueful as he felt over the failure of his +experiment and the danger they had all been in, could not help +laughing. + +"I take it, hearing that from you, Tom, that we're all right," +said Ned Newton, as he recovered himself and brushed some dirt +off his coat. Ned was a natty dresser. + +"Yes, we seem to be all right," replied Tom slowly. "I can't +say what damage the flying motor has done outside, but--" + +"Bless my insurance policy! but what happened?" asked Mr. +Damon. "I saw Eradicate pull on that lever as you told him to, +Tom, and then things all went topsy-turvy! Did he pull the wrong +handle?" + +"No, it wasn't Rad's fault at all," said Tom. "The trouble was, +as I guess I'll find when I investigate, that I put too much +power into the motor, and the muffler didn't give any chance for +the accumulated exhaust gases to expand and escape. I didn't +allow for that, and they simply backed up, compressed and +exploded. I guess that's the whole explanation." + +"I'm inclined to agree with you, Son," said Mr. Swift dryly. +"Don't try to get rid of all the noise at once. Eliminate it by +degrees and it will be safer." + +"I guess so," agreed Tom. + +By this time a score of workmen from the other shops had +congregated around the one though the roof of which the motor had +been blown. Tom opened the door to assure Jackson and the others +that no one was hurt, and then the young inventor saw the +exploded motor had buried in the dirt a short distance away from +the experiment building. + +"Lucky none of us were standing over it when it went up," said +Tom, as he made an inspection of the broken machine. "We'd have +gone through the roof with it." + +"She certainly went sailing!" commented Ned. "Must have been a +lot of power there, Tom." + +And this was evidenced by the bent and twisted rods that had +held the motor to the testing block, and by the cylinders, some +of which were torn apart as though made of paper instead of heavy +steel. But for the fact that all the force of the explosion was +directly upward, instead of at the sides, none might have been +left alive in the shop. All had escaped most fortunately, and +they realized this. + +"Well," queried Ned, as Tom gave orders to have the damaged +machine removed and the roof repaired, "does this end the +wonderful silent motor, Tom?" + +"End it! What do you mean--" + +"I mean are you going to experiment any further?" + +"Why, of course! Just because I've had one failure doesn't mean +that I'm going to give up. Especially when I know what the matter +was--not leaving any vent for the escaping gases. Why this isn't +anything. When I was perfecting my giant cannon I was nearly +blown up more than once, and you remember how we got stuck in the +submarine." + +"I should say I did!" exclaimed Ned with a shudder. "I don't +want any more of that. But as between being blown through a roof +and held at the bottom of the sea, I don't know that there's much +choice." + +"Well, perhaps not," agreed Tom. "But as for ending my +experiments, I wouldn't dream of such a thing! Why, I've only +just begun! I'll have a silent motor yet!" + +"And a non-explosive one, I hope," added Mr. Damon dryly. +"Bless my shoe buttons, Tom, but if my wife knew what danger I'd +been in she'd never let me come over to see you any more." + +"Well, the next time I invite you to a test I'll be more +careful," promised the young inventor. + +"There isn't going to be any next time as far as I'm +concerned!" laughed Ned. "I think it's safer to sell Liberty +Bonds." + +And, though they joked about it, they all realized the narrow +escape they had had. As for Eradicate, once he knew he had not +been the one who caused the damage, he felt rather proud of the +part he had taken in the mishap, and for many days he boasted +about it to Koku. + +True to his determination, Tom Swift did not give up his +experimental work on the silent motor. The machine that had been +blown through the roof was useless now, and it was sent to the +scrap heap, after as much of it as possible had been salvaged. +Then Tom got another piece of apparatus out of his store room and +began all over again. + +He worked along the same lines as at first--providing a chamber +for the escaping gases of the exhaust to expend their noise and +energy in, at the same time laboring to cut down the concussion +of the explosions in the cylinder without reducing their force +any. And that it was no easy problem to do either of these, Tom +had to admit as he progressed. All previous types of mufflers or +silencers had to be discarded and a new one evolved. + +"Jackson, I need some one to help me," said Tom to his chief +mechanician one day. "Haven't you a good man who is used to +experimental work that you can let me take from the works?" + +"Why, yes," was the answer. "Let me see. Roberts is busy on the +new bomb you got up, but I could take him off that--" + +"No, don't!" interposed Tom. "I want that work to go on. Isn't +there some one else you can let me have?" + +"Well, there's a new man who came to me well recommended. I +took him on last week, and he's a wonderful mechanic. Knows a lot +about gas engines. I could let you have him--Bower his name is. +The only thing about it, though, is that I don't like to give you +a man of whom I am not dead certain, when you're working on a new +device." + +"Oh, that will be all right," said Tom. "There won't be any +secrets he can get, if you mean you think he might be up to spy +work." + +"That's what I did mean, Tom. You never can tell, you know, and +you have some bitter enemies." + +"Yes, but I'll take care this man doesn't see the plans, or any +of my drawings. I only want some one to do the heavy assembling +work on the experimental muffler I'm getting up. We can let him +think it's for a new kind of automobile." + +"Oh, then I guess it will be all right. I'll send Bower to +you." + +Tom rather liked the new workman, who seemed quiet and +efficient. He did not ask questions, either, about the machine on +which he was engaged, but did as he was told. As Tom had said, he +kept his plans and drawing under lock and key--in a safe to be +exact--and he did not think they were in any danger from his new +helper. + +But Tom Swift held into altogether too slight regard the powers +of those who were opposed to him. He did not appreciate the +depths to which they would stoop to gain their ends. + +He had been working hard on his new device, and had reached a +point further along than when the other motor had exploded. He +began to see success ahead of him, and he was jubilant. Whether +this made him careless does not matter, but the fact was that he +left Bower more to himself, and alone in the experimental shop +several times. + +And it was on one of these occasions, when Tom had been for +some time in one of the other shops, where he and Jackson were in +consultation over a new machine, that as he came back to the test +room unexpectedly, he saw Bower move hastily away from in front +of the safe. Moreover, Tom was almost certain he had heard the +steel door clang shut as he approached the building. + +And then, before he could ask his helper a question, Tom looked +from a window and saw a stranger running hastily along the side +of the building where his trial motor was being set up. + +"Who's that? Who is that man? Did he come in here? Was he +tampering with my safe?" cried Tom. He saw Bower hesitate and +change color, and Tom knew it was time to act. + +The window was open, and with one bound the young inventor was +out and running after the stranger he had seen departing in such +a hurry. The man was but a short distance ahead of him, and Tom +saw he was stuffing some papers into his pocket. + +"Here! Come back! Stop!" ordered Tom, but the man ran on the +faster. + +"That's a spy as sure as guns!" reflected Tom Swift. "And Bower +is in with him!" he added. "I've got to catch that fellow!" and +he speeded his pace as he ran after the fellow. + + + +CHAPTER X +A BIG SPLASH + + +There was no question in the mind of Tom Swift but that the man +he was running after was guilty of some wrong-doing. In the first +place he was a stranger, and had no right inside the big fence +that surrounded the Swift machine plant. Then, too, the very fact +that he ran away was suspicious. + +And this, coupled with the confusion on the part of Bower, and +his proximity to the safe, made Tom fear that some of his plans +had been stolen. These he was very anxious to recover if this +strange man had them, and so he raced after him with all speed. + +"Stop! Stop!" called Tom, but the on-racing stranger did not +heed. + +The cries of the young inventor soon attracted the attention of +his men, and Jackson and some of the others came running from +their various shops to give whatever aid was needed. But they +were all too far away to give effective chase. + +"Bower might have come with me if he had wanted to help," +thought Tom. But a backward glance over his shoulder did not show +that the new helper was engaging in the pursuit, and he could +have started almost on the same terms as Tom himself. + +The runaway, looking back to see how near the young inventor +was to him, suddenly changed his course, and, noting this, Tom +Swift thought: + +"I've got him now! He'll be bogged if he runs that way," for +the way led to a piece of swampy land that, after the recent +rains, was a veritable bog which was dangerous for cattle at +least; and more than one man had been caught there. + +"He can't run across the swamp, that's sure," reflected Tom +with some satisfaction. "I'll get him all right!" + +But he wanted to capture the man, if possible, before he +reached the bog, and, to this end, Tom increased his speed to +such good end that presently, on the firm ground that bordered +the swamp, Tom was almost within reaching distance of the +stranger. + +But the latter kept up running, and dodged and turned so that +Tom could not lay hands on him. Suddenly, turning around a clump +of trees the fleeing man headed straight for a veritable mud hole +that lay directly in his path. It was part of the swamp--the most +liquid part of the bog and a home of frogs and lizards. + +Too late, the man, who was evidently unaware of the proximity +of the swamp, saw his danger. His further flight was cut off by +the mud hole, but it was too late to turn back. Tom Swift was at +his heels now, and seeing that it was impossible to grab the man, +Tom did the next best thing. He stuck out his foot and tripped +him, and tripped him right on the edge of the mud hole, so that +the man fell in with a big splash, the muddy water flying all +around, some even over the young inventor. + +For a moment the man disappeared completely beneath the +surface, for the mud hole was rather deep just where Tom had +thrown him. Then there was another violent agitation of the +surface, and a very woebegone and muddy face was raised from the +slough, followed by the rest of the figure of the man. Slowly he +got to his feet, mud and water dripping from him. He cleared his +face by rubbing his hands over it, not that it made his +countenance clean, but it removed masses of mud from his eyes, +nose, and mouth, so that he could see and speak, though his first +operation was to gasp for breath. + +"What--what are you doin'?" he demanded of Tom, and as the man +opened his mouth to speak Tom was aware of a glitter, which +disclosed the 'fact that the man had a large front tooth of gold. + +"What am I doing?" repeated Tom. "I think it's up to you to +answer that question, not me. What are you doing?" + +"You--you tripped me into this mud hole!" declared the man. + +"I did, yes; because you were trespassing on my property, and +ran away instead of stopping when I told you to," went on Tom. +"Who are you and what are you doing? What were you doing with +Bower at my shop?" + +"Nothin'! I wasn't doin' nothin'!" + +"Well, we'll inquire into that. I want to see what you have in +your pockets before I believe you. Come on out!" + +"You haven't any right to go through my pockets!" blustered the +stranger. + +"Oh, haven't I? Well, I'm going to take the right. Jackson-- +Koku--just see that he doesn't get away. We'll take him back and +search him," and Tom motioned to his chief machinist and the +giant, who had reached the scene, to take charge of the man. But +Koku was sufficient for this purpose, and the mud-bespattered +stranger seemed to shrink as he saw the big creature approach +him. There was no question of running away after that. + +"Bring him along," ordered Tom, and Koku, taking a tight grip +on the man by the slack of his garments behind, walked him along +toward the office, the mud and water splashing and oozing from +his shoes at every step. + +"Now you look here!" the gold-toothed man cried, as he was +forced along, "you ain't got any right to detain me. I ain't done +nothin'!" And each time he spoke the bright tooth in his mouth +glittered in the sun. + +"I don't know whether you've done anything or not," said Tom. +"I'm going to take you back and see what you and Bower have to +say. He may know something about this." + +"If he does I don't believe he'll tell," said Jackson. + +"Why not?" asked Tom, quickly. + +"Because he's gone." + +"Gone! Bower gone?" + +"Yes," answered Jackson. "I saw him running out of the +experiment shop as we raced along to help you. I didn't think, at +the time, that he was doing more than go for aid, perhaps. But I +see the game now." + +"Oh, you mean--him?" and Tom pointed to the dripping figure. + +"Yes," said Jackson in a low voice, as Koku went on ahead with +his prisoner. "If, as you say, this man was in league with Bower, +the latter has smelled a rat and skipped. He has run away, and I +only hope he hasn't done any damage or got hold of any of your +plans." + +"We'll soon know about that," said Tom. "I wonder who is at the +bottom of this?" + +"Maybe those men you wouldn't work for," suggested the +machinist. + +"You mean Gale and Ware of the Universal Flying Machine +Company?" + +"Yes." + +"Oh, I don't believe they'd stoop to any such measures as this- +-sending spies around," replied Tom. "But I can't be too careful. +We'll investigate." + +The first result of the investigation was to disclose the fact +that Bower was gone. He had taken his few possessions and left +the Swift plant while Tom was racing after the stranger. A hasty +examination of the safe did not reveal anything missing, as Tom's +plans and papers were intact. But they showed evidences of having +been looked over, for they were out of the regular order in which +the young inventor kept them. + +"I begin to see it," said Tom, musingly. "Bower must have +managed to open the safe while I was gone, and he must have made +a hasty copy of some of the drawings of the silent motor, and +passed them out of the window to this gold-tooth man, who tried +to make off with them. Did you find anything on him?" he asked, +as one of the men who had been instructed to search the stranger +came into the office just then. + +"Not a thing, Mr. Swift! Not a thing!" was the answer. "We took +off every bit of his clothes and wrapped him in a blanket. He's +in the engine room getting dry now. But there isn't a thing in +any of his pockets." + +"But I saw him stuffing some papers in as he ran away from me," +said Tom. "We must be sure about this. And don't let the fellow +get away until I question him." + +"Oh, he's safe enough," answered the man. "Koku is guarding +him. He won't get away." + +"Then I'll have a look at his clothes," decided Tom. "He may +have a secret pocket." + +But nothing like this was disclosed, and the most careful +search did not reveal anything incriminating in the man's +garments. + +"He might have thrown away any papers Bower gave him," said +Tom. "Maybe they're at the bottom of the mud hole! If they're +there they're safe enough. But have a search made of the ground +where this man ran." + +This was done, but without result. Some of the workmen even +dragged the mud hole without finding anything. Then Tom and his +father had a talk with the stranger, who refused to give his +name. The man was sullen and angry. He talked loudly about his +innocence and of "having the law on" Tom for having tripped him +into the mud. + +"All right, if you want to make a complaint, go ahead," said +the young inventor. "I'll make one against you for trespass. Why +did you come on my grounds?" + +"I was going to ask for work. I'm a. good machinist and I +wanted a job." + +"How did you get in? Who admitted you at the gate?" + +"I--I jest walked in," said the man, but Tom knew this could +not be true, as no strangers were admitted without a permit and +none had been issued. The man denied knowing anything about +Bower, but the latter's flight was evidence enough that something +was wrong. + +Not wishing to go to the trouble of having the man arrested +merely as a trespasser, Tom let him go after his clothes had been +dried on a boiler in one of the shops. + +"Take him to the gate, and tell him if he comes back he'll get +another dose of the same kind of medicine," ordered Tom to one of +the guards at the plant, and when the latter had reported that +this had been done, he added in an earnest tone: + +"He went off talking to himself and saying he'd get even with +you, Mr. Swift." + +"All right," said Tom easily. "I'll be on the watch." + +The young inventor made a thorough examination of his +experiment shop and the test motor. No damage seemed to have been +done, and Tom began to think he had been too quick for the +conspirators, if such they were. His plans and drawings were +intact, and though Bower might have given a copy to the stranger +with the gold tooth, the latter did not take any away with him. +That he had some papers he wished to conceal and escape with, +seemed certain, but the splash into the mud hole had ended this. + +No trace was found of Bower, and an effort Tom made to +ascertain if the man was a spy in the employ of Gale and Ware +came to naught. The machinist had come well recommended, and the +firm where he was last employed had nothing but good to say of +him. + +"Well, it's a mystery," decided Tom. "However, I got out of it +pretty well. Only if that gold-tooth individual shows up again he +won't get off so easily. + + + +CHAPTER XI +A NIGHT TRIP + + +Taking a lesson from what had happened, Tom was very much more +careful in the following experiments on his new, silent motor. He +made some changes in his shop, and took Jackson in to help on the +new machine, thus insuring perfect secrecy as the apparatus +developed. + +Tom also changed the safe in which he kept his plans, for the +one he had used previous to the episode in which Bower and the +stranger who took the mud bath figured, was one the combination +of which could easily be ascertained by an expert. The new safe +was more complicated, and Tom felt that his plans, +specifications, and formulae which he had worked out were in less +danger. + +"I can just about figure out what happened," said Ned Newton to +Tom, when told of the circumstances. "These Universal people were +provoked because you wouldn't give them the benefit of your +experience on their flying machines, and so they sent a spy to +get work with you. They, perhaps, hoped to secure some of your +ideas for their own, or they may have had a deeper motive." + +"What deeper motive could they have, Ned?" "They might have +hoped to disable you, or some of your machines, so that you +couldn't compete with them. They're unscrupulous, I hear, and +will do anything to succeed and make money. So be on your guard +against them." + +"I will," Tom promised. "But I don't believe there's any more +danger now. Anyhow, I have to take some chances." + +"Yes, but be as careful as you can. How is the silent motor +coming on?" + +"Pretty good. I've had a lot of failures, and the thing isn't +so easy as I at first imagined it would be. Noise is a funny +thing, and I'm just beginning to understand some of the laws of +acoustics we learned at high school. But I think I'm on the right +track with the muffler and the cutting down of the noise of the +explosions in the cylinders. I'm working both ends, you see-- +making a motor that doesn't cause as much racket as those now in +use, and also providing means to take care of the noise that is +made. It isn't possible to make a completely silent motor of an +explosive gas type. The only thing that can be done is to kill +the noise after it is made." + +"What about the propeller blades?" + +"Oh, they aren't giving me any trouble. The noise they make +can't be heard a hundred feet in the air, but I am also working +on improvements to the blades. Take it altogether, I'll have an +almost silent aeroplane if my plans come out all right." + +"Have you said anything to the government yet?" + +"No; I want to have it pretty well perfected before I do. +Besides, I don't want any publicity about it until I'm ready. If +these Universal people are after me I'll fool 'em." + +"That's right, Tom! Well, I must go. Another week of this +Liberty Bond campaign!" + +"I suppose you'll be glad when it's over." + +"Well, I don't know," said Ned slowly. "It's part of my small +contribution to Uncle Sam. I'm not like you--I can't invent +things." + +"But you have an awful smooth line of talk, Ned!" laughed his +chum. "I believe you could sell chloride of sodium to some of the +fishes in the Great Salt Lake--that is if it has fishes." + +"I don't know that it has, Tom. And, anyhow, I'm not posing as +a salt salesman," and Ned grinned. "But I must really go. Our +bank hasn't reached its quota in the sale of Liberty Bonds yet, +and it's up to me to see that it doesn't fall down." + +"Go to it, Ned! And I'll get busy on my silent motor." + +"Getting busy" was Tom Swift's favorite occupation, and when he +was working on a new idea, as was the case now, he was seldom +idle, night or day. + +"I have hardly seen you for two weeks," Mary Nestor wrote him +one day. "Aren't you ever coming to see me any more, or take me +for a ride?" + +"Yes," Tom wrote back. "I'll be over soon. And perhaps on the +next ride we take I won't have to shout at you through a speaking +tube because the motor makes so much noise." + +From this it may be gathered that Tom was on the verge of +success. While not altogether satisfied with his progress, the +young inventor felt that he was on the right track. There were +certain changes that needed to be made in the apparatus he was +building--certain refinements that must be added, and when this +should be done Tom was pretty certain that he would have what +would prove to be a very quiet aeroplane, if not an absolutely +silent one. + +The young inventor was engaged one day with some of the last +details of the experiment. The new motor, with the silencer and +the changed cylinders, had been attached to one of Tom's speedy +aeroplanes, and he was making some intricate calculations in +relation to a new cylinder block, to be used when he started to +make a completely new machine of the improved type. + +Tom had set down on paper some computations regarding the +cross-section of one of the cylinders, and was working out the +amount of stress to which he could subject a shoulder strut, when +a shadow was cast across the drawing board he had propped up in +his lap. + +In an instant Tom pulled a blank sheet over his mass of figures +and looked up, a sudden fear coming over him that another spy was +at hand. But a hearty voice reassured him. + +"Bless my rice pudding!" cried Mr. Damon, "you shut yourself up +here, Tom, like a hermit in the mountains. Why don't you come out +and enjoy life?" + +"Hello! Glad to see you!" cried Tom, joyfully. "You're just in +time!" + +"Time for what--dinner?" asked the eccentric man, with a +chuckle. "If so, my reference to rice pudding was very proper." + +"Why, yes, I imagine there must be a dinner in prospect +somewhere, Mr. Damon," said Tom with a smile. "We'll have to see +Mrs. Baggert about that. But what I meant was that you're just in +time to have a ride with me, if you want to go." + +"Go where?" + +"Oh, up in cloudland. I have just finished my first sample of a +silent motor, and I'm going to try it this evening. Would you +like to come along?" + +"I would!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Bless my onion soup, Tom, but +I would! But why fly at night? Isn't it safer by daylight?" + +"Oh, that doesn't make much difference. It's safe enough at any +time. The reason I'm going to make my first flight after dark is +that I don't want any spies about." + +"Oh, I see! Are they camping on your trail?" + +"Not exactly. But I can't tell where they may be. If I should +start out in daylight and be forced to make a landing-- Well, you +know what a crowd always collects to see a stranded airship." + +"That's right, Tom." + +"That decided me to start off after dark. Then if we have to +come down because of some sort of engine trouble or because my +new attachment doesn't work right, we sha'n't have any prying +eyes." + +"I see! Well, Tom, I'll go with you. Fortunately I didn't tell +my wife where I was going when I started out this afternoon, so +she won't worry until after it's over, and then it won't hurt +her. I'm ready any time you are." + +"Good! Stay to dinner and I'll show you what I've made. Then +we'll take a flight after dark." + +This suited the eccentric man, and a little later, after he had +eaten one of Mrs. Baggert's best meals, including rice pudding, +of which he was very fond, Mr. Damon accompanied Tom to one of +the big hangars where the new aeroplane had been set up. + +"So that's the Air Scout, is it, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon, as he +viewed the machine. + +"Yes, that's the girl. 'Air Scout' is as good a name as any, +until I see what she'll do." + +"It doesn't look different from one of your regular craft of +the skies, Tom." + +"No, she isn't. The main difference is here," and Tom showed +his friend where a peculiar apparatus had been attached to the +motor. This was the silencer--the whole secret of the invention, +so to speak. + +To Mr. Damon it seemed to consist of an amazing collection of +pipes, valves, baffle-plates, chambers, cylinders and reducers, +which took the hot exhaust gases as they came from the motor and +"ate them up," as he expressed it. + +"The cylinders, too, and the spark plugs are differently +arranged in the motor itself, if you could see them," said Tom to +his friend. "But the main work of cutting down the noise is done +right here," and he put his hand on the steel case attached to +the motor, the case containing the apparatus already briefly +described. + +"Well, I'm ready when you are, Tom," said Mr. Damon. + +"We'll go as soon as it's dark," was the reply. "But first I'll +give you a demonstration. Start the motor, Jackson!" Tom called +to his chief helper. + +Mr. Damon had ridden in aeroplanes before, and had stood near +when Tom started them; so he was prepared for a great rush of air +as the propellers whirled about, and for deafening explosions +from the engine. + +The big blades, of new construction, were turned until the gas +in the cylinders was sufficiently compressed. Then Jackson +stepped back out of danger while Tom threw over the switch. + +"Contact!" cried the young inventor. + +Jackson gave the blades a quarter pull, and, a moment later, as +he leaped back out of the way, they began to revolve with the +swiftness of light. There was the familiar rush of air as the +wooden wings cut through the atmosphere, but there was scarcely +any noise. Mr. Damon could hardly believe his ears. + +"I'm not running her at full speed," said Tom. "If I did she'd +tear loose from the holding blocks. But you can see what little +racket she makes." + +"Bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon. "You are right, Tom +Swift! Why, I can hear you talk almost as easily as if no engine +were going. And I don't have to shout my head off, either." + +This was perfectly true. Tom could converse with Mr. Damon in +almost ordinary tones. The exhaust from the motor was nearly +completely muffled. + +"Out in the air it will seem even more quiet," said Tom. "I'll +soon give you a chance to verify that statement." + +He ran the engine a little longer, the aeroplane quivering with +the vibrations, but remaining almost silent. + +"I'm anxious to see what she'll do when in motion," said Tom, +as he shut off the gas and spark. + +Soon after supper, when the shades of evening were falling, he +and Mr. Damon took their places in the first of the Air Scouts, +to give it the preliminary test in actual flying. + +Would Tom's hopes be justified or would he be disappointed? + + + +CHAPTER XII +THE CRY FOR HELP + + +"All ready, Mr. Damon?" asked Tom, as he looked to see that all +the levers, wheels, valves, and other controls were in working +order on his Air Scout. + +"As ready as I ever shall be, Tom," was the answer. "I don't +know why it is, but somehow I feel that something is going to +happen on this trip." + +"Nonsense!" laughed Tom. "You're nervous; that's all." + +"I suppose so. Don't think I'm going to back out, or anything +like that, but I wish it were successfully over with, Tom Swift, +I most certainly do." + +"It will be in a little while," returned Tom, as he settled +himself comfortably in his seat and pulled the safety strap +tight. "You've gone up in this same plane before, when it didn't +have the silent motor aboard." + +"Yes, I know I have. Oh, I dare say it will be all right, Tom. +And yet, somehow, I can't help feeling--" + +But Tom Swift felt that the best way to set Mr. Damon's +premonitions to rest was to start the motor, and this he gave +orders to have done, Jackson and some others of the men from the +shops congregating about the craft to see the beginning of the +night flight. Mr. Swift was there also, and Eradicate. Mary +Nestor had been invited, but her Red Cross work engaged her that +evening, she said. Ned Newton was away from town on Liberty Bond +business, and he could not be present at the test. + +However, as Tom expected to have other trials when his motor +was in even better shape, he was not exactly sorry for the +absence of his friends. + +"Contact!" called the young inventor, when Jackson had stepped +back, indicating it was time to throw over the switch. + +"Let her go!" cried Tom, and the next moment the motor was in +operation, but so silently that his voice and that of Mr. Damon's +could easily be heard above the machinery. + +"Good, Tom! That's good!" cried Mr. Swift, and Tom easily heard +his father's voice, though under other, and ordinary, +circumstances this would have been impossible. + +True, the hearing of Tom and Mr. Damon was muffled to a certain +extent by the heavy leather and fur-lined caps they wore. But Tom +had several small eyelet holes set into the flaps just over the +opening of the ears, and these holes were sufficient to admit +sounds, while keeping out most of the cold that obtains in the +upper regions. + +The aeroplane moved swiftly along the level starting ground, +and away from the lighted hangars. Faster and faster it swung +along as Tom headed it into the wind, and then, as the speed of +the motor increased, the Air Scout suddenly left the earth and +went soaring aloft as she had done before. + +But there was this difference. She moved almost as silently as +a great owl which swoops down out of the darkness--a bit of the +velvety blackness itself. Up and up, and onward and onward, went +the Air Scout. Tom Swift's improved, silent motor urged it +onward, and as the young inventor listened to catch the noise of +the machinery, his heart gave a bound of hope. For he could +detect only very slight sounds. + +"She's a success!" exulted Tom to himself. "She's a success, +but she isn't perfect yet," he added. "I've got to make the +muffler bigger and put in more baffle-plates. Then I think I can +turn the trick." + +He swung the machine out over the open country, and then, when +they were up at a height and sailing along easily, he called back +to Mr. Damon in the seat behind him: + +"How do you like it?" + +"Great!" exclaimed the eccentric man. "Bless my postage stamp, +but it's great! Why, there's hardly a sound, Tom, and I can hear +you quite easily." + +"And I can hear you," added Tom. "I don't believe, down below +there," and he nodded toward the earth, though Mr. Damon could +not see this, as the airship, save for a tiny light over the +instrument board, was in darkness, "they know that we're flying +over their heads." + +"I agree with you," was the answer. "Tom, my boy, I believe +you've solved the trick! You have produced a silent aeroplane, +and now it's up to the government to make use of it." + +"I'm not quite ready for that yet," replied the young inventor. +"I have several improvements to make. But, when they are +finished, I'll let Uncle Sam know what I have. Then it's up to +him." + +"And you must be careful, Tom, that some of your rivals don't +hear of your success and get it away from you," warned Mr. Damon, +as Tom guided the Air Scout along the aerial way--an unlighted +and limitless path in the silent darkness. + +"Oh, they'll have to get up pretty early in the morning to do +that!" boasted Tom, and afterward he was to recall those words +with a bit of chagrin. + +On and on they sailed, and as Tom increased the speed of the +motor, and noted how silently it ran, he began to have high hopes +that he had builded better than he knew. For even with the motor +running at almost full speed there was not noise enough to hinder +talk between himself and Mr. Damon. + +Of course there was some little sound. Even the most perfect +electric motor has a sort of hum which can be detected when one +is close to it. But at a little distance a great dynamo in +operation appears to be silence itself. + +"I can go this one better, though," said Tom as he sailed along +in the night. "I see where I've made a few mistakes in the baffle +plate of the silencer. I'll correct that and--" + +As he spoke the machine gave a lurch, and the motor, instead of +remaining silent, began to cough and splutter as in the former +days. + +"Bless my rubber boots, Tom! what's the matter?" cried Mr. +Damon. + +"Something's gone wrong," Tom answered, barely able to hear and +make himself heard above the sudden noise. "I'll have to shut off +the power and glide down. We can make a landing in this big +field," for just then the moon came out from behind a cloud, and +Tom saw, below them, a great meadow, not far from the home of +Mary Nestor. He had often landed in this same place. + +"Something has broken in the muffler, I think, letting out some +of the exhaust," he said to Mr. Damon, for, now that the motor +was shut off, Tom could speak in his ordinary tones. "I'll soon +have it fixed, or, if I can't, we can go back in the old style-- +with the machine making as much racket as it pleases." + +So Tom guided the machine down. It went silently now, of +course, making, with the motor shut off, no more sound than a +falling leaf. Down to the soft, springy turf in the green meadow +Tom guided the machine. As it came to a stop, and he and Mr. +Damon got out, there was borne to their ears a wild cry: + +"Help! Help!" + + + +CHAPTER XIII +SOMETHING QUEER + + +"DiD you hear that?" asked Tom Swift of his companion. + +"Hear it? Bless my ear drums, I should say I did hear it! Some +one is in trouble, Tom. Caught in a bog, most likely, the same as +that spy chap who was at your place. That's it--caught in a bog!" + +"There isn't any bog or swamp around here, Mr. Damon. If there +was I shouldn't have tried a landing. No, it's something else +besides that. Hark!" + +Again the cry sounded, seeming to come from a point behind the +landing place of the silent airship. It was clear and distinct: + +"Help! Help! They are--" + +The voice seemed to die away in a gurgle, as though the +person's mouth had been covered quickly. + +"He's sinking, Tom! He's sinking!" cried Mr. Damon. "I once +heard a man who almost drowned cry out, and it sounded exactly +like that!" + +"But there isn't any water around here for any one to drown +in," declared Tom. "It's a big, dry meadow. I know where we are." + +"Then what is it?" + +"I don't know, but we're going to find out. Some one attacked +by some one else--or something, I should say," ventured the young +inventor. + +"Something! do you mean a wild beast, Tom?" + +"No, for there aren't any of those here any more than there is +water. Though it may be that some farmer's bull or a savage dog +has got loose and has attacked some traveler. But, in that case I +think we would hear bellows or barks, and all I heard was a cry +for help." + +"The same with me, Tom. Let's investigate;" + +"That's what I intend doing. Come on. The airship will be all +right until we come back." + +"Better take a light--hadn't you? It's dark, even if the moon +does show now and then," suggested Mr. Damon. + +"Guess you are right," agreed Tom. Aboard his airship there +were several small but powerful portable electric lights, and +after securing one of these Tom and Mr. Damon started for the +spot whence the call for help had come. As they walked along, +their feet making no noise on the soft turf, they listened +intently for a repetition of the call for aid. + +"I don't hear anything," said Tom, after a bit. + +"Nor I," added Mr. Damon. "We don't know exactly which way to +go, Tom." + +"That's right. Guess we'd better give him a hail; whoever it +is." + +Tom came to a halt, and raising his voice to a shout called: + +"Hello there! What's the matter? We'll help you if you can tell +us which way to come!" + +They both listened intently, but no voice answered them. At the +same time, however, they were aware of a sound as of hurrying +feet, and there seemed to be muttered imprecations not far away. +Tom and Mr. Damon looked in the direction of the sound, and the +young inventor flashed his light. But there was a clump of bushes +and trees at that point and the electrical rays did not penetrate +very far. + +"Some one's over there!" exclaimed Tom in a whisper. "We'd +better go and see what it is." + +"All right," agreed Mr. Damon, and he, too, spoke in a low +voice. + +Why they did this when their previous talk had been in ordinary +tones, and when Tom had shouted so loudly, they did not stop to +reason about or explain just then. But later they both admitted +that they whispered because they thought there was something +wrong on foot--because they feared a crime was being committed +and they wanted to surprise the perpetrators if they could. + +And it was this fact of their whispering that enabled the two +to hear something that, otherwise, they might not have heard. And +this was the sound of some vehicle hurrying away--an automobile, +if Tom was any judge. The cries for help had been succeeded by +stifled vocal sounds, and these, in turn, by the noise of wheels +on the ground. + +"What does it all mean?" asked Mr. Damon in a whisper. + +"I don't know," answered Tom, resolutely, "but we've got to +find out. Come on + +They advanced toward the dark clump of trees and low bushes. +There was no need to be especially cautious in regard to being +silent, as their feet made little, if any, sound on the deep +grass. And, as Tom walked in advance, now and then flashing his +light, Mr. Damon suddenly caught him by the coat. + +"What is it?" asked the young inventor. + +"Look! Just over the top of that hill, where the moon shines. +Don't you see an automobile outlined?" + +Tom looked quickly. + +"I do," he answered. "There's a road from here, just the other +side of those trees, to that hill. The auto must have gone that +way. Well, there's no use in trying to follow it now. Whoever it +was has gotten away." + +"But they may have left some one behind, Tom. We'd better look +in and around those trees." + +"I suppose we had, but I don't believe we'll find anything. I +can pretty nearly guess, now, what it was." + +"What?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Well, some chauffeur was out for a ride in his employer's car +without permission. He got here, had an accident--maybe some +friends he took for a ride were hurt and they called for help. +The chauffeur knew if there was any publicity he'd be blamed, and +so he got away as quickly as he could. Guess the accident--if +that's what it was--didn't amount to much, or they couldn't have +run the car off. We've had our trouble for our pains." + +"Well, maybe you're right, Tom Swift, butt all the same, I'd +like to have a look among those trees," said Mr. Damon. + +"Oh. we'll look, all right," assented Tom, "but I doubt if we +find anything." + +And he was right. They walked in and about the little grove, +flashing the light at intervals, but beyond marks of auto wheels +in the dust of the road, which was near the clump of maples, +there was nothing to indicate what had happened. + +"Though there was some sort of fracas," declared Tom. "Look +where the dust is trampled down. There were several men here, +perhaps skylarking, or perhaps it was a fight." + +"Some one must have been hurt, or they wouldn't have cried for +help," said Mr. Damon. + +"Well, that's so. But perhaps it was some one not used to +riding in autos, and he may have imagined the accident was worse +than it was, and called for help involuntarily. There is no +evidence of any serious accident having happened--no spots of +blood, at any rate," and Tom laughed at his own grimness. "It was +a new car, too, or at least one with new tires on." + +"How do you know?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Tell by the plain marks of the rubber tread in the dust," was +the answer. "Look," and Tom pointed to the wheel marks in the +focus of his electric lamp. "It's a new tire, too, with square +protuberances on the tread instead of the usual diamond or round +ones. A new kind of tire, all right." + +He and Mr. Damon remained for a few minutes looking about the +place whence had come the calls for help, and then the eccentric +man remarked: + +"Well, as long as we can't do anything here, Tom, we might as +well travel on; what do you say?" + +"I agree with you. There isn't any use in staying. We'll get +the Air Scout fixed up and travel back home. But this was +something queer," mused Tom. "I hope it doesn't turn out later +that a crime has been committed, and we didn't show enough +gumption to prevent it." + +"We couldn't prevent it. We heard the cries as soon as we +landed." + +"Yes, but if we had rushed over at once we might have caught +the fellows. But I guess it was only a slight accident, and some +one was more frightened than hurt. We'll have to let it go at +that." + +But the more he thought about it the more Tom Swift thought +there was something queer in that weird cry for help on the +lonely meadow in the darkness of the night. + + + +CHAPTER XIV +THE TELEPHONE CALL + + +The defect in the motor which had caused Tom Swift to shut off +the power and drift down to earth was soon remedied, once the +young inventor began an examination of the craft. One of the oil +feeds had become choked and this automatically cut down the +gasoline supply, causing one or more cylinders to miss. It was a +safety device Tom had installed to prevent the motor running dry, +and so being damaged. + +Once the clogged oil feed was cleared the motor ran as before, +and just as silently, though, as Tom had said, he was not +entirely satisfied with the quietness, but intended to do further +work toward perfecting it. + +"I'll start the propellers now, Mr. Damon," said Tom, when the +trouble had been remedied. "You know how to throw the switch, +don't you?" + +"I guess so," was the answer. Mr. Damon and Tom had traveled so +often together in gasoline craft that the young inventor had +taught his friend certain fundamentals about them, and in an +emergency the eccentric man could help start an aeroplane. This +he now did, taking charge of the controls which could be operated +from his seat as well as from Tom's. Tom whirled the propellers, +and soon the motor was in motion. + +Mr. Damon, once the big wooden blades were revolving, slowed +down the apparatus until Tom could jump aboard, after which the +latter took charge and soon speeded up the machine, sending it +aloft. + +As the green meadow, dimly seen in the light of the moon, +seemed to drop away below them, and the clump of trees vanished +from sight, both Tom and Mr. Damon wondered who it was that had +called for help, and if the matter were at all serious. They were +inclined to think it was not, but Tom could not rid himself of a +faint suspicion that there might have been trouble. + +However, thoughts of his new silent Air Scout soon drove +everything else from his mind, and as he guided the comparatively +silent machine on its quiet way toward his own home he was +thinking how he could best improve the muffler. + +"Well, here we are again, safe and sound," remarked Tom, as he +brought the craft to a stop in front of the hangar, and Jackson +and his helpers, who were awaiting the return, hurried out to +take charge. + +"Yes, everything seems to point to success, Tom," agreed Mr. +Damon. "That is, unless the slight accident we had means +trouble." + +"Oh, no, that had nothing to do with the operation of the +silencer. But I'm going to do better yet. Some day I'll take you +for a ride in a silent machine which will make so little noise +that you can hear a pin drop." + +"Well," remarked Mr. Damon' with a laugh, "I don't know that +listening to falling pins will give me any great amount of +pleasure, Tom, but I appreciate your meaning." + +"Everything all right?" asked Mr. Swift, as he came out to hear +the details from his son. "Do you think you have solved the +problem?" + +"Not completely, but I'll soon be able to write Q. E. D. after +it. Some refinements are all that are needed, Dad." + +"Glad to hear it. I was a bit anxious." + +Mr. Swift questioned his son about the technical details of the +trip, asking how the motor had acted under the pressure caused by +so completely muffling the exhaust, and for some minutes the two +inventors, young and old, indulged in talk which was not at all +interesting to Mr. Damon. They went into the house, and Tom asked +to have a little lunch, which Mrs. Baggert set out for him. + +"It's rather late to eat," said the young inventor, "but I +always feel hungry after I test a new machine and find that it +works pretty well. Will you join me in a sandwich or two, Mr. +Damon?" + +"Why, bless my ketchup bottle, I believe I will." + +And so they ate and talked. Tom was on the point of telling his +father something of the queer cry for help they had heard on the +lonely meadow when Mrs. Baggert produced a letter which she said +had come for Tom that afternoon, but had been mislaid by a new +maid who had been engaged to help with the housework. + +"She took it to the shop after you had left, and only now told +me about it," explained Mrs. Baggert. "So I sent Eradicate for +it." + +"How long ago was that?" asked Tom, as he took the missive. + +"Oh, an hour ago," answered Mrs. Baggert, with a smile. "But +don't blame poor Rad for that. He wanted to deliver the letter to +you personally, and so did Koku. The result was your giant kept +after Rad, trying to get the letter from him, and Rad kept +hiding and slinking about for a chance to see you himself until I +saw what was going on, a little while ago, and took the letter +myself. Else you might never have gotten it, so jealous are those +two," and Mrs. Baggert laughed. + +"Guess it isn't of much importance," Tom said, as he tore open +the envelope. "It's from the Universal Flying Machine Company, of +New York, and I imagine they're trying to get me to reconsider my +refusal to link up with them." + +"Yes," he went on, as he read the missive, "that's it. They've +raised the amount to thirty thousand a year now, Dad, and they +say they feel sure I shall regret it if I do not accept. + +"This is a bit queer, though," went on the young inventor. +"This letter was written three days ago, but it reached Shopton +only to-day. And it says that unless they hear from me at once +they will have to take steps that will cause me great +inconvenience. They have nerve, at any rate, and impudence, too! +I won't even bother to answer. But I wonder what they mean, and +why this letter was delayed?" + +"The mails are all late on account of the transportation +congestion caused by moving troops to the camps," said Mr. Damon. +"Some of my letters are delayed a week. But, as you say, Tom, +these fellows are very impudent to threaten that way." + +"It's all bluff," declared Tom. "I'm not worrying. And now, +Dad, since I've almost reached the top of the hill with my Air +Scout, I may be able to help you on that new electric motor +you're puzzling over." + +"I wish you would, Tom. I am trying to invent a new system of +interchangeable brush contacts, but so far I've been unable to +make them work. However, there is no great hurry about that. If +you are going to offer your silent machine to the government +finish that first. We need all the aircraft we can get. The +battles on the other side seem to be all in favor of the Germans, +so far." + +"We haven't got into our stride yet," declared Mr. Damon. "Once +Uncle Sam gets the boys over there in force, there'll be a +different story to tell. I only wish--" + +At that moment the telephone set up an insistent ringing, +breaking in on Mr. Damon's remarks. + +"I'll answer," said Tom, as Mrs. Baggert moved toward the +instrument, which was an extension from the main one. + +"Hello!" called the young inventor into the transmitter, and as +he received an answer a look of pleasure came over his face. + +"Yes, Mary, this is Tom," he said. He remained silent a moment, +while it was evident he was listening to the voice at the other +end of the wire. Then he suddenly exclaimed: + +"What's that? Tell him to come home? Why, he isn't here. I just +came in and--what--wait a minute!" + +With a rather strange look on his face Tom covered the mouth- +piece of the instrument with his hand, and, turning to his +father, asked: + +"Is Mr. Nestor here?" + +"No," replied Mr. Swift slowly, "He was here, though. He came a +little while after you and Mr. Damon started off in the Air +Scout. But he didn't stay. Said he wanted to see you about +something and would call again." + +"Oh," remarked the young man. "I didn't know he had been +there." + +"I meant to tell you," said Mrs. Baggert; "but getting the +lunch made me forget it, I guess." + +Tom uncovered the transmitter of the telephone again, and spoke +to Mary Nestor. + +"Hello," he said. "I was wrong, Mary. Your father was here, but +he left when he found I wasn't at home. How long ago? Wait a +minute and I'll inquire. + +"How long ago did Mr. Nestor leave?" asked the young inventor +of the housekeeper. "Nearly an hour," he said into the +instrument, after he had received the answer. Then, after +listening a moment, he added: "Yes, I guess he'll be home soon +now. Probably stopped down town to see some of his friends. Yes, +Mr. Damon and I tried out the Air Scout. Yes, she worked pretty +well, for a starter, but there is something yet to be done. Oh, +yes, now I'll have time to come over to see you, and take you for +a ride too. We won't have to talk through a speaking tube, +either. Tell your father I am sorry I was out when he called. +I'll come to see him to-morrow, if he wants me to. Yes--yes. I +guess so!" and Tom laughed, it being evident that his remarks at +the end of the conversation had to do with personal matters. + +"A telegram has come for Mr. Nestor and they were anxious that +he should get it," Tom explained to his little audience as he +hung up the receiver and put aside the telephone. "I wonder what +he wanted to see me about?" + +"He didn't say," replied Mrs. Baggert. + +Mr. Damon, Tom, and his father remained in conversation a +little while longer, and the eccentric man was thinking that it +was about time for him to return home, when the telephone rang +again. + +"Hello," answered Tom, as he was nearest the instrument. "Oh, +yes, Mary, this is he. What's that? Your father hasn't reached +home yet? And your mother is worried? Oh tell her there is no +cause for alarm. As I said, he probably stopped on his way to see +some friends." + +Tom listened for perhaps half a minute to a talk that was +inaudible to the others in the room, and they noticed a grave +look come over his face. Then he said: + +"I'll be right over, Mary. Yes, I'll come at once. And tell +your mother not to worry. I'm sure nothing could have happened. +I'll be with you in a jiffy!" + +As Tom Swift hung up the receiver he said: + +"Mr. Nestor hasn't reached home yet, and as he promised to +return at once in case he didn't find me, his wife is much +worried. I'll go over and see what I can do." + +"I'll come along!" volunteered Mr. Damon. "It isn't late yet." + +"Yes, do come," urged Tom. "But I suppose when we get there +we'll find our friend has arrived safely. We'll go over in the +electric runabout." + + + +CHAPTER XV +A VAIN SEARCH + + +Tom Ssift's speedy little electric car was soon at the door in +readiness to take him and Mr. Damon to the Nestor home. The +electric runabout was a machine Tom had evolved in his early +inventive days, and though he had other automobiles, none was +quite so fast or so simple to run as this, which well merited the +name of the most rapid machine on the road. In it Tom had once +won a great race, as has been related in the book bearing the +title, "Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout." + +"Mary didn't telephone again, did she?" Tom asked his father, +as he stopped at the house to get Mr. Damon, having gone out to +see about getting the electric runabout in readiness. + +"No," was the answer. "The telephone hasn't rung since." + +"Then, I guess, Mr. Nestor can't have arrived home," said Tom. +"It's a bit queer, his delay, but I'm sure it will be explained +naturally. Only Mary and her mother are alone and, very likely, +they're nervous. I'll telephone to let you know everything is all +right as soon as I get there," Tom promised his father and Mrs. +Baggert as he drove off down the road, partly illuminated by the +new moon. + +Rapidly and almost as silently as his Air Scout Tom Swift drove +the speedy car down the highway. It was about three miles from +his home to that of Mary Nestor, and though the distance was +quickly covered, to Tom, at least, the space seemed interminable. +But at length he drove up to the door. There were lights in most +of the rooms, which was unusual at this time of night. + +The sound of the wheels had not ceased echoing on the gravel of +the drive before Mary was out on the porch, which she illuminated +by an overhead light. + +"Oh, Tom," she cried, "he hasn't come yet, and we are so +worried! Did you see anything of father as you came along?" + +"No," was Tom's answer. "But we didn't look for him along the +road, as we came by the turnpike, and he wouldn't travel that +way. But he will be along at any moment now. You must remember +it's quite a walk from my house, and--" + +"But he was on his bicycle," said Mary. "We wanted him to go in +the auto, but he said he wanted some exercise after supper, and +he went over on his wheel. He said he'd be right back, but he +hasn't come yet." + +"Oh, he will!" said Tom reassuringly. "He may have had a +puncture, or something like that. Bicyclists are just as liable +to them as autoists," he added with a laugh. + +"Well, I'm sure I hope it will be all right," sighed Mary. "I +wish you could convince mother to that effect. She's as nervous +as a cat. Come in and tell us what to do." + +"Oh, he'll be all right," declared Mr. Damon, adding his +assurances to Tom's. + +They found Mrs. Nestor verging on an attack of hysteria. Though +Mr. Nestor often went out during the evening, he seldom stayed +late. + +"And he said he'd be right back if he found you weren't at +home, Tom," said Mrs. Nestor. "I'm sure I don't know what can be +keeping him!" + +"It's too soon to get worried yet," replied the young inventor +cheerfully. "I'll wait a little while, and then, if he doesn't +come, Mr. Damon and I will go back over the road and look +carefully. He may have had a slight fall--sprained his ankle or +something like that--and not be able to ride. We came by the +turnpike, a road he probably wouldn't take on his wheel. He's all +right, you may be sure of that." + +Tom tried to speak reassuringly, but somehow, he did not +believe himself. He was beginning to think more and more how +strange it was that Mr. Nestor did not return home. + +"We'll wait just a bit longer before setting out on a search," +he told Mary and her mother. "But I'm sure he will be along any +minute now." + +They went into the library, Mary and her mother, Tom and Mr. +Damon. And there they sat waiting. Tom tried to entertain Mary +and Mrs. Nestor with an account of his trial trip in the Air +Scout, but the two women scarcely heard what he said. + +All sat watching the clock, and looking from that to the +telephone, which they tried to hope would ring momentarily and +transmit to them good news. Then they would listen for the sound +of footsteps or bicycle wheels on the gravel walk. But they heard +nothing, and as the seconds were ticked off on the clock the +nervousness of Mrs. Nestor increased, until she exclaimed: + +"I can stand it no longer! We must notify the police--or do +something!" + +"I wouldn't notify the police just yet," counseled Tom. "Mr. +Damon and I will start out and look along the road. If it should +happen, as will probably turn out to be the case, that Mr. Nestor +has met with only a simple accident, he would not like the +notoriety, or publicity, of having the police notified." + +"No, I am sure he would not," agreed Mary. "Tom's way is best, +Mother." + +"All right, just as you say, only find my husband," and Mrs. +Nestor sighed, and turned her head away. + +"Even if Mr. Nestor had had a fall," reasoned Tom, "he could +call for help, and get some one to telephone, unless--" + +And as he reasoned thus Tom Swift gave a mental start at his +own use of the word "help." + +That weird cry on the lonely meadow came back to him with +startling distinctness. + +"Come on, Mr. Damon!" cried Tom, in a voice he tried to make +cheerful. "We'll find that Mr. Nestor is probably walking along, +carrying his disabled bicycle instead of having it carry him. +We'll soon have him safe back to you," he called to the two +women. + +"I wish I could go with you, and help search," observed Mary. + +"Oh, I couldn't bear to be left alone!" exclaimed her mother. + +"We'll telephone as soon as we find him," called Tom to Mrs. +Nestor, as he and Mr. Damon again got into the runabout and +started away from the place. + +"What do you think of it, Tom?" asked the eccentric man, when +they were once more on the road. + +"Why, nothing much--as yet," Tom said. "That is, I think +nothing more than a simple accident has happened, if, indeed, it +is anything more than that he has delayed to talk to some +friends." + +"Would he delay this long?" + +"I don't know." + +"And then, Tom--bless my spectacles! what of that cry we heard? +Could that have been Mr. Nestor?" + +There! It was out! The suspicion that Tom had been trying to +keep his mind away from came to the fore. Well, he might as well +race the issue now as later. + +"I've been thinking of that," he told Mr. Damon. "It might have +been Mary's father calling for help." + +"But we looked, Tom, near the trees, and couldn't discover +anything. If he had been calling for help--" + +Mr. Damon did not finish. + +"He may have fallen from his wheel and been hurt," said Tom, as +he turned the electric runabout into the highway that Mr. Nestor +would, most likely, have taken on his way from Shopton. "Then be +may have called for help, and some autoists, passing, may have +heard and taken him away." + +"Yes, but where, Tom? Whoever called for help was taken away, +that's sure. But where?" + +"To some hospital, I suppose." + +"Then hadn't we better inquire there? There are only two +hospitals of any account around here. The one in Shopton and the +one in Waterfield. My wife is on the board of Lady Managers +there. We could call that hospital up and--" + +"We'll look along the road first," said Tom. "If we begin to +make inquiries at the hospitals there will be a lot of questions +asked, and a general alarm may be sent out. Mr. Nestor wouldn't +like that, if he isn't in any danger. And it may turn out that he +has met an old friend, and has been talking with him all this +while, forgetting all about the passage of time." + +They were now driving along the highway that led from the +little suburb where Mr. Nestor lived, to the main part of +Shopton, just beyond which was Tom's home. This section was +country-like, with very few houses and those placed at rather +infrequent intervals. The road was a good one, though not the +main-traveled one, and Mr. Nestor, as was known, frequently used +it when he rode his bicycle, an exercise of which he was very +fond. + +As Tom and Mr. Damon drove along, they scanned, as best they +could in the light from the young moon and the powerful lamps on +the runabout, every part of the highway. They were looking for +some dark blot which might indicate where a man had fallen from +his wheel and was lying in some huddled heap on the road. But +they saw nothing like this, much to their relief. + +"Do you know, Tom," said Mr. Damon, when they were nearing the +town, and their search, thus far, had been in vain, "I think +we're going at this the wrong way." + +"Why, so?" + +"Because Mr. Nestor may have fallen, and been hurt, and have +been carried into any one of a dozen houses along the road. In +that case we wouldn't see him. We've passed over the most lonely +part of the journey and haven't seen him. If the accident +occurred near the houses his cries would have brought some one +out to help him. He is well known around here, and, even if he +were unconscious and couldn't tell who he was, he could be +identified by papers in his pockets. Then his family would be +notified by telephone." + +"Perhaps you are right, Mr. Damon. We may be wasting time this +way. What do you suggest?" asked Tom. + +"That we don't delay any longer, but call up the hospitals at +once. If he isn't in either of those he must be in some house, +and in such condition that his identity cannot be established. In +that event it is a case for the police. We haven't found him, and +I think we had better give the alarm." + +Tom Swift thought it over for a moment. Then he came to a +sudden decision. + +"You're right!" he told Mr. Damon. "We mustn't waste any more +time. He isn't along the road he ought to have traveled in coming +from my house to his home--that's sure. But before I call up the +hospitals I want to try out one more idea." + +"What's that, Tom?" + +"I want to go to the place where we heard that cry for help." + +"Do you think that could have been Mr. +Nestor?" + +"It may have been. We'll go and take another look around there. +Some man was evidently hurt there, and was taken away. We may get +a clew. The lights on the runabout will give us a better chance +to look around than we had by the little pocket lamp. We'll try +there, and, if we don't find anything, then I'll call up the +hospitals." + + + +CHAPTER XVI +THE LONG NIGHT + + +With the speedy runabout it did not take Tom Swift and Mr. +Damon long to reach the place where the Air Scout had been +grounded a few hours before, and where they had heard the cry for +help. All was as dark and as silent as when they had been there +before. + +But, as Tom had said, the lights from his electric runabout +would give a brilliant illumination, and these he now directed +toward the clump of trees whence the cry for help had seemed to +come. + +"Doesn't appear to have been visited by any one since we were +here," remarked Torn, as he observed the marks of the new +automobile tire in the dust. "Now we'll look about more +carefully." + +This they did, but they were about to give up in despair and +start for the nearest telephone to call up the hospitals, when +Mr. Damon gave an exclamation. + +"What is it?" asked Tom. + +"Something bright and shining!" said his companion. "I saw it +gleam in the light of the lamps. You nearly put your foot on it, +Tom. Just step back a moment." + +Tom did so, and the eccentric man, with another exclamation, +this time of satisfaction, reached down and picked something up +from the dusty road. + +"It's a watch!" he exclaimed. "A gold watch! And it's been +stepped on, evidently, or run over by an auto. Not much damaged, +but the case is a bit bent and scratched. It's stopped, too!" he +added as he held it to his ear. + +"What time does it show?" asked Tom. + +"Eight forty-seven," answered Mr. Damon, as he consulted the +dial. "Why, Tom, that was just about when we heard the cries for +help!" + +"Yes, it must have been. Let me see that watch." + +No sooner had the young inventor taken the timepiece into his +hands than he, too, uttered a cry of amazement. + +"Do you recognize it?" asked Mr. Damon, in great excitement. + +"It's Mr. Nestor's watch!" cried Tom. "He must have fallen +here, and been hurt. It was Mr. Nestor who cried for help, and +who was taken away by the autoists. They've probably taken him to +some hospital. There's been an accident all right." + +Tom and Mr. Damon were of one mind now in thinking that Mr. +Nestor had met with some mishap on the road--an automobile +accident most likely--and that he was the person who had called +for help. + +"If they had only answered when we hallooed at them," said Tom, +"we wouldn't be in all this stew now. We could have told the +strangers who came to his aid who he was, and we might even have +taken him to the hospital in the airship." + +"Well, it's too late to think of that now," returned Mr. Damon. +"We had better get into communication with him as soon as we can, +and then send word to his wife and daughter. I hope he isn't +badly hurt." + +Tom hoped so, too, with all his heart. + +There was nothing to do but to get back in the runabout and +make all speed for the nearest telephone, and Tom Swift lost +little time in doing this. They found a drug store which was open +a little later than usual, and at once Tom went into the booth +and called up the Shopton hospital. He was well known there, as +he and his father were liberal supporters of the institution, +which was a private affair. Many of Tom's men were treated at the +dispensary, and, as accidents were of more or less frequent +occurrence at the works, the young inventor had frequent +occasions to call up the place. + +"Mr. Nestor would ask to be taken there, as it's nearest his +home--that is, if he was able to speak," Tom said to Mr. Damon, +who agreed with him. There was a little delay in getting the +hospital on the wire, but when Tom had it, and was talking to the +superintendent, he was rather surprised, to tell the truth, to be +told that Mr. Nestor had not been brought in. + +"We haven't had any accident cases all day, nor to-night, Mr. +Swift," the superintendent reported. "Was this some one special +you were inquiring about?" + +For Tom, determining not to give Mr. Nestor's name, except as a +last resort, had merely inquired whether any recent accident +cases had been brought in. + +"I'll let you know later, Mr. Millard," he told the +superintendent, not exactly answering the question. He hung up +the receiver, and, opening the door of the booth, said to Mr. +Damon: "He isn't there." + +"Then try Waterfield," was the suggestion; and Tom did so, +though he could not imagine why an injured man, such as Mr. +Nestor might prove to be, should be taken as far as Waterfield, +when the hospital at Shopton was nearer. + +"Unless," he told Mr. Damon, "the people which ran down Mary's +father didn't know about our hospital." + +The reply from the institution in Mr. Damon's home town was +just as discouraging as had been the answer from Shopton. At +first, when Tom inquired, the head nurse had said there was an +accident case at that moment being brought in. Tom was all +excitement until she went to inquire the name and circumstances, +and then he learned that it was the case of a little boy who had +fallen downstairs at his home and broken a leg. There was no +record of any one answering the description of Mr. Nestor having +been brought in that evening. + +"Hum! This is getting to be mysterious," mused Tom, as he came +out of the booth. "What shall we do--go back and tell Mrs. Nestor +and Mary, or communicate with the police?" + +"Why not try the Alexian Hospital?" asked Mr. Damon. "That's +away over in Center-fiord, to be sure, but it's more likely to be +known to passing tourists than either of our institutions around +here, especially if the autoists were strangers." + +"That's so," agreed Tom. The Alexian Hospital was operated +under the direction of the Brothers of that faith, and was well +known in that part of the state. Often cases of persons who had +been injured by passing automobiles had been taken there for +treatment, for, as Mr. Damon had said, it was well known, and +Centerford was the nearest large city. + +"I can just about see how it happened," said Tom. "They ran Mr. +Nestor down, and stopped to pick him up after they heard his +cries for help. And the Alexian Hospital was the first one they +thought of. We should have called that up first." + +But once more disappointment awaited the young inventor and his +friend. Word came back over the wire that no accident case, which +bore any resemblance to Mary's father, had been brought in. + +"Well, I'm stumped!" exclaimed Tom. "What shall we do now, Mr. +Damon?" + +"Much as I dislike it," said the eccentric man who was too much +worried, now, to do any "blessing," which was his favorite +expression, "I think we ought to communicate with Mrs. Nestor. +She will be very anxious." + +"I guess we'll have to," said Tom. "But wait! I'll call up my +house first, and see if he has gone back there." + +But Mr. Nestor had not done this, and Mrs. Baggert, who +answered the telephone, said Mary had been calling frantically +for Tom, as her mother was now on the verge of complete collapse. + +"No help for it," said Tom, ruefully. "We've got to tell 'em we +have no news, and can't find him." + +And, hearing this, Mrs. Nestor did collapse, and a doctor was +called in. + +Thereupon Tom, who with Mr. Damon had gone back to the Nestor +home, took charge of matters, sending for Mrs. Nestor's sister to +come and stay with her and take charge of the house. + +"You'll need some one to stay with you," he told Mary. + +"Yes, I shall," she admitted, trying bravely not to give way to +her emotion. "Oh, Tom, I wish you could stay, too. I'm sure +something dreadful must have happened to poor father. Please stay +and help us find him!" + +"I will," Tom promised. "As soon as your aunt comes I'll take +Mr. Damon home, and then I'll give the rest of my time to you." + +And this Tom did, sending word home that he would remain at the +Nestor's all night and part of the next day. + +Tom got but little sleep that night. He communicated with the +police and saw to it that a general alarm was sent out. He called +up all hospitals within a radius of fifty miles, but could get no +trace of any injured man whose description resembled that of Mr. +Nestor. + +"What can have happened?" asked Mary tearfully. + +"Well, the way I figure it out is this," said Tom. "Your father +left my house soon after Mr. Damon and I did in the Air Scout. +Mr. Nestor was riding his bicycle, and he must have been run into +by an automobile. That is how his watch was damaged and that was +when Mr. Damon and I heard the cries for help." + +"Oh, do you think he was badly hurt?" asked Mary. + +"No, I don't," and Tom answered truthfully. "The voice sounded +as though he was in pain, certainly, but it was strong and +vigorous, and not at all as though he was dangerously hurt." + +"And what do you think happened to him after he was hurt?" +asked Mary. + +"The autoists took him away," decided Tom. "In fact, we heard +the machine go, but of course we never connected the call for +help and what followed with your father. The autoists took him +away." + +"Where?" + +"I should say to some hospital. Perhaps a private one of which +we know nothing, and which may be near here. I'll get a full list +from the Board of Health to-morrow. Or it may be that the +autoists, seeing the damage they had done, took your father to +the home of one of themselves, and summoned a doctor there." + +"Why would they do that?" + +"Well, they may have been so frightened they didn't realize +what they were doing, or they may have thought he would get +better treatment in a private house, if he were not badly +injured, than if he should be taken to a hospital. It may have +been that one of the persons in the auto was a physician, and +wished to try his own skill on the man he had hurt." + +"You make me feel more comfortable, Tom," said Mary. "But, even +supposing all this, why couldn't they telephone to us that my +father was all right? He always carries an identification card +with him, and if he were unconscious it could be ascertained who +he was." + +"That's what I can't understand," said Tom frankly. "It puzzles +me. But we'll find him--never fear!" + +And so he kept on with his telephone inquiries, while a +physician and her sister ministered to Mrs. Nestor. The night was +very, very long, and no good news came in. + + + +CHAPTER XVII +SILENT SAM + + +Slowly the dawn broke through the mists of darkness, and made +the earth light. The sun came straggling in through cracks in the +shutters in the home of Mr. Nestor, the gradually increasing +gleam paling the electric lights, in the glare of which Tom +Swift, Mary, and her aunt sat, waiting for some word of the +missing man. But none came. + +"What shall we do now?" asked Mary, as she looked at Tom. + +"Oh, there's lots to do," he said, trying to make his voice +sound cheerful. "We'll be busy all day. I sent word to have one +of my touring cars ready to hurry to any part of the country the +moment we should get word from your father." + +"And do you think we shall get word, Tom?" the girl went on +wistfully. + +"Of course we shall!" he cried. "Word may come in at any time. +Now get ready, eat a good breakfast, and then you can go with me +as soon as we hear anything definite. Come, we'll have +breakfast!" + +"I can't eat a thing!" protested Mary. + +"Oh, yes you can," said her aunt, who was a cheerful sort of +person. "I'll see about getting something for you and Mr. Swift, +and see that your mother is all right." + +She left the room to give orders to the servant about the meal, +and returned to say that Mrs. Nestor was sleeping quietly. She +had been given a sedative. Mary managed to eat a little, and she +gave Tom the address of several friends who were called up in the +vain hope that, somehow, Mr. Nestor might have gone to see them. + +"Tom, what do you really think has happened?" asked Mary again, +as they sat facing one another in the library, during a respite +from the telephone. + +Tom Swift repeated, to the girl his theory of what had happened +with an assumption of confidence he did not altogether feel. + +His prediction of a speedy end to the suspense did not come +true that day, nor for many days. No news was heard of Mr. +Nestor. After the first day, when there was no information and +when no reports came of any one of his description having been +hurt in an automobile accident or having been taken to any +hospital, the police started an energetic search. + +The authorities in all near-by cities were notified, and all +thought of keeping from the public what had happened was given +over. Tom's story, of how he and Mr. Damon had heard the cry for +help on the lonely meadow, was printed in the papers, though the +young inventor did not say that he had been out trying his new +aeroplane. That was a detail not needed in the finding of Mr. +Nestor. + +But Mary's father was not found. The mystery regarding his +disappearance deepened, and there was no trace of him after he +had left Tom's house that eventful evening. Persons living along +the roads he might have taken in riding his bicycle were +questioned, but they had seen nothing of him, nor were they aware +of any accident. Tom's testimony and that of Mr. Damon was all +the clew there was. + +"I don't believe he's dead!" stoutly declared the young +inventor, when this dire possibility had been hinted at. "I +believe the persons who were responsible for the accident are +afraid to reveal his whereabouts until he recovers from possible +injuries. You'll see! Mr. Nestor will come back safe!" + +And, somehow, though her mother was skeptical, Mary believed +what Tom said. + +The search was kept up, but without result, and Tom aided all +he could. But there was not much he could do. The police and +other authorities were at a total loss. + +In the intervals of visiting Mary and her mother, and doing +what he could for them, Tom worked on his new motor. He knew that +he was on the right track and that all that was needed now was to +make certain refinements and adjustments in the apparatus he had +already constructed, so that it would operate more quietly. + +"Absorbing the vibrations from the exhaust, caused by the +exploded gases in the cylinders, does the trick," Tom told his +father. + +"But there is enormous pressure to overcome, Tom. You must be +sure your muffler will stand the strain. Otherwise she is going +to blow out a gasket some day, when you least expect it. Then the +sudden resumption of pressure outside the cylinders is going to +cause a change in the equilibrium, and you may turn turtle in the +air." + +"I've thought of that," said Tom. "At worst it can't be any +more than looping the loop. But I'll make the muffler doubly +strong." + +"Better provide an auxiliary chamber to take care of part of +the exhaust in case your main apparatus breaks," advised the +older inventor, and Tom said he would. He did, too, for he valued +his father's expert advice. + +Meanwhile he was busy fitting one of his latest aeroplanes with +the new motor. The motor he and Mr. Damon had used in their +flight was one patched up from an old one. But now Tom was +working on a complete new one, made after his revised model, and +in which the silencer was an integral part, instead of being +built on. + +While giving Mary and her mother all the assistance in his +power, Tom still found time to work on his new, pet scheme. He +had matters now where he did not fear any tampering with his +plans, for he had filed away his papers in a safe place, and was +making his new machine from memory. + +"But if some one got in and had a look at the inside of your +silencer he could see how it is constructed, couldn't he?" asked +Ned Newton. + +"Yes," assented Tom, "But they're not going to get in very +easily. Koku sleeps in the experiment shop now, and my machine is +there." + +"Oh, well that explains your confidence. I feel sorry for the +burglar who makes the attempt, once Koku wakes up. Heard anything +more from those Universal people?" + +"No, not directly. I understand they are working hard on some +new type of plane for army use, but I haven't bothered my head +about them. I'm too much occupied with my own affairs and trying +to help Mary." + +"Very strange about Mr. Nestor, isn't it?" + +"Worse than strange," said Tom. "If this keeps on, and he isn't +heard from, it will be tragic pretty soon." + +"He must be held a prisoner somewhere," declared Ned. + +"It begins to look that way," assented Tom. "Though who would +have an object in that I can't understand. He had no enemies, as +far as is known, and his business affairs were in excellent +shape. Unless, as I said, the persons who ran him down are, +through fear, keeping him hidden until he recovers, I can't +imagine what has become of him." + +"Well, it certainly is a puzzle," said Ned. And Tom agreed with +his chum. + +It was about a week after the disappearance of Mr. Nestor that +Mr. Damon came over to see Tom. + +"Bless my shoe laces, Tom!" exclaimed the eccentric man, "but +you are as busy as ever." For he found the young inventor in the +experiment shop, surrounded by a mass of papers and all sorts of +mechanical devices. + +"Yes, I'm working a little," said Tom. "But you are just in +time. Come on out, I want to introduce you to Silent Sam." + +"'Silent Sam!'" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Have you been taking a +new trip to the Land of Wonders? Have you brought back some new +kind of servant?" + +"Not exactly a servant," said Tom with a laugh, "though I hope +Silent Sam will serve me well." + +"'Silent Sam?' What does it mean? Is that a joke?" asked the +puzzled Mr. Damon. + +"I hope it doesn't turn out a joke," replied Tom. "But come on, +I'll introduce you to him, Mr. Damon." + +He led the way to one of the big hangars where his various +machines of the air were housed. On the way Mr. Damon asked about +news of Mr. Nestor, but was told there was none. + +Tom Swift opened the big, swinging doors and pulled aside an +enveloping canvas curtain. There stood revealed a big aeroplane, +of somewhat new pattern, the wings gleaming like silver from the +varnish that had been applied. In shape it was not unlike the +machines already in use, except that the propellers were of +somewhat different design. + +The engine was mounted in front, and even with his slight +knowledge of mechanics Mr. Damon could tell that it was +exceedingly powerful. But it was certain devices attached to the +engine that attracted his attention, for they were totally +different from any on any other aeroplane, though they bore some +resemblance to apparatus on the plane in which Tom and the +eccentric man had made the night flight. + +"Is this your new machine, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Yes." + +"Well, I don't see anything of that fellow you spoke of--Silent +Sam." + +"This is Silent Sam," returned Tom, with a laugh. "I've named +my new noiseless aeroplane -Ämy Air Scout--I've named that Silent +Sam. Wait until you hear it, or rather, don't hear it, and I +think you'll agree with me. Silent Sam for Uncle Sam!" + +"Good!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my dictionary, but that's a +good name! Does it sail silently, Tom?" + +"I'll let you judge presently. Silent Sam is all ready for his +first trial, and I'll be glad to have you with me. Now, I'll +just--" + +Tom suddenly ceased speaking and held up a hand to enjoin +silence. Then, while Mr. Damon watched, the young inventor began +moving noiselessly toward the rear of the big shed, inside which +was his new machine. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII +SUSPICIONS + + +"Who's there?" suddenly called Tom, and in such a sharp voice +that Mr. Damon started, ready as he was for something unusual. + +There was no answer and Tom suddenly switched on all the lights +in the shed. Up to then there had been only a few glowing--just +enough for him to show the new Air Scout to his friend. + +"Who's there?" asked Tom again, sharply. + +"Bless my opera glasses, Tom!" cried Mr. Damon, "but are you +seeing things?" + +"No; but I'm hearing them," answered Tom with a short laugh. +"Did you think you heard some one moving around near the rudders +of Silent Sam, Mr. Damon?" + +"No, I can't say that I did. Everything seems to me to be all +right." + +"Well, it doesn't to me," went on Tom grimly. "I think there +is an intruder in this shed, though how any one could get in when +the doors have been locked all day, is more than I can figure +out. But I'm going to have a look." + +"I'll help you," offered Mr. Damon, and, in the bright glare +from many electric lights, the two began a search of the big +hangar where the new craft was kept. + +But though the young inventor and his friend went around to the +rear of the aeroplane, walking in opposite directions, they saw +no one, nor did any one try to escape past them. + +"And yet I was sure I heard some one in here," declared Tom, +when a search had revealed nothing. "It sounded as if some one +were scuffling softly about in rubber-soled shoes, trying to +hide." + +"Bless my suspenders!" cried Mr. Damon, "who do you think it +could have been, Tom?" + +"Who else but some spy trying to get possession of my secrets?" +was the answer. "But I guess I was too quick for them. They +couldn't learn much from looking at the outside of my muffler, +and it hasn't been disturbed, as far as I can see." + +"Who would want to gain a knowledge of it in that unlawful +way?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Perhaps some of the Universal crowd. They may have been +disappointed in perfecting a silent motor themselves, and think +stealing my idea would be the easiest way out of it." + +"Do they know you are working on such a model as this Silent +Sam of yours, Tom?" + +"Yes, I imagine they do. One of the firm members, as you +recall, overheard something, I think, that gave them a hint as to +what my plans were, though, thanks to the time I fooled the spy, +they haven't any real data to go by, I believe." + +"Let us hope not," said Mr. Damon. + +Tom and he made a thorough search of the big shed, but found no +one, nor was there any trace of an intruder. Tom notified +Jackson, who, in turn, told the guards and watchmen to be on the +lookout for any suspicious strangers, but none was seen in the +vicinity of the Swift works. + +"Well, everything seems to be all right, so we'll have the +test," remarked Torn, after a further search of the premises. +"Now, Mr. Damon, if all goes as I hope you will see what my new +machine can do. Strain your ears for a sound, and let me know how +much you hear." + +His men helping him, Tom started the new motor which was tried +for the first time attached to the new craft. No flight was to be +made yet, the motor being tested as though on the block, though, +in reality, the craft was ready for instant flight if need be. + +Slowly the great propellers began to revolve, and then Tom, +taking his place in the cockpit, turned on more power. The new +craft--Silent Sam--was made fast so it could not progress even +though the propellers revolved at high speed. + +"I'm not sending her to the limit," said Tom to his friend, as +the young inventor throttled down the motor. "If I did I'd tear +her loose from the holding blocks." + +"Her!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my typewriter, Tom! but I +thought Silent Sam was a gentleman aeroplane. + +"So he is!" laughed the young man, frankly. "I forgot about +'Silent Sam.' Guess I'll have to say 'him' instead of 'her,' +though the latter sounds more natural. Anyhow what do you think?" + +"I think it's wonderful!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "There the motor +is, going at almost full speed, and I can hardly hear a thing. +You can the easier believe that when I say that I can hear you +talk perfectly well. And I guess you hear me, don't you?" + +"Yes," replied Tom. "And we don't have to shout, either. This +is the best test ever! I think everything is a success." + +"Are you going to take her aloft, Tom?" the eccentric man went +on. + +"Yes, now that I'm sure the engine is all right. Will you go +for a flight with me?" + +"I certainly will! I only wish we could find him, though. I'd +go with a better heart." + +"Oh! Mr. Nestor?" + +"Yes, I can't imagine what has become of him. It is almost as +if the earth had opened and swallowed him. His disappearance is a +great mystery." + +"It surely is," agreed Tom. "Can't seem to get any trace of +him. But if we hear another cry for help, when we have to land, +you can make up your mind I'll investigate more quickly than I +did at first." + +"I agree with you," said Mr. Damon. + +It was nearly evening then, and until it was dark enough for +his flight Tom spent the time tuning up the engine and seeing +that all was in readiness for the latest test. He had decided not +to go aloft while it was light enough for curiosity seekers to +note the flight. + +Tom rather wished Mary Nestor might have a sail with him in his +latest improved silent Air Scout, but the girl was too much +occupied at home and in trying to find some trace of her father. + +Tom, his father, and Mr. Damon had helped all they could, but +there were no results. A private detective had been engaged, but +he had no more of a clew than the regular police. + +At last it was dark enough for the flight, and Tom and Mr. +Damon took their places in the machine. Once more the propellers +were turned around, and when the compression had been made, and +the spark switched on, around spun the big wooden blades, and the +great craft moved over the grass. + +On and on and up and up sailed Tom and Mr. Damon, and as they +left behind them the shops and the Swift homestead, the two +passengers were aware of their almost silent flight. The big +aeroplane, the exhaust of which, ordinarily, would have nearly +deafened them, was now as silent as a bird. + +"Silent Sam for Uncle Sam!" cried Tom in delight, as he went on +faster. "I'm sure the government ought to be glad to get this +plane for air scout work. It's a success! A great success!" + +"Yes, so it is!" agreed Mr. Damon. "You do well to speak of it +so, Tom." + +For, modest as the young inventor was, he felt, in justice to +himself, that he must acknowledge the fact that his craft was a +success. For it rose and sailed almost as silently as a bat, and +a few hundred feet away no one, not seeing it, would have +believed a big aeroplane was in motion. + +Tom and Mr. Damon flew about twenty miles at a swift pace, and +all the fault Tom had to find was that the machine was not as +steady in flight as she should have been. + +"But I can remedy that with the use of some of dad's gyroscope +stabilizers," he told Mr. Damon. + +They returned to the hangar safely, and the first trip of the +new Silent Sam was an assured success. + +It was the following day, when Tom was busy in the machine shop +installing the gyroscopes spoken of, that Jackson came to tell +him there was a visitor to see him. + +"Who is it?" asked the young inventor. + +"Mr. Gale of the Universal Company," was the answer. + +"I don't want to see him!" declared Tom quickly. "I have +nothing to say to him after his clumsy threats." + +"He seems very much in earnest," said Jackson. "Better see him, +if only for a minute or so." + +"All right, I will," assented Tom. "Show him in." + +Mr. Gale, as blusteringly bluff as ever, entered the shop. Tom +had carefully put away all papers and models, as well as the +finished machines, so he had no fear that his visitor might +discover some secret. + +"Oh, Mr. Swift!" began the president of the Universal Company, +when he met the young inventor, "I wish to assure you that what +has been done was entirely without our knowledge. And, though +this man may have acted as our agent at one time, we repudiate +any acts of his that might + +"What are you talking about?" asked Tom in surprise. "Have I +been so impolite as to sleep during part of your talk? I don't +understand what you are driving at." + +"Oh, I thought you did," said Gale, and he showed surprise. "I +understood that the man who--" + +"Do you mean there was some one here in the shed last night?" +cried the young inventor suddenly, all his suspicions aroused. + +"Some one here last night?" repeated Mr. Gale. "No, I don't +refer to last night. But perhaps I am making a mistake. +I--er--I--" + +"Some one is making a mistake!" said Tom significantly. + + + +CHAPTER XIX +ANOTHER FLIGHT + + +For perhaps a quarter of a minute Tom Swift and the president +of the Universal Flying Machine Company of New York sat staring +at one another. Mr. Gale's face wore a puzzled expression, and so +did Tom's. And, after the last remark of the young inventor, the +man who had called to see him said: + +"Well, perhaps we are talking at cross purposes. I don't blame +you for not feeling very friendly toward us, and if I had had my +way that last correspondence with you would never have left our +office." + +"It wasn't very business-like," said Tom dryly, referring to +the veiled threats when he had refused to sell his services to +the rival company. + +"I realize that," said Mr. Gale. "But we have some peculiar men +working for us, and sometimes there is so much to do, so many +possibilities of which to take advantage, that we may get a +little off our balance. But what I called for was not to renew +our offer to you. I understand that is definitely settled." + +"As far as I am concerned, it is," said Tom, as his caller +seemed to want an answer. + +"Yes. Well, then, what I called to say was that if you are +thinking of taking any legal action against us because of the +action of that man Lydane, I wish to state that he had absolutely +no authority to--" + +"Excuse me!" broke in Tom, "but by Lydane do you mean the man +who also posed as Bower, the spy?" + +"No, I do not. Though I regret to say that Bower once worked +for us. He, too, had no authority to come here and get a +position. He was still in our service when he did that." + +"So I have suspected," said Tom. "I realize now that he was a +spy, who came here to try to find out for you some of my +secrets." + +"Not with my permission!" exclaimed Mr. Gale. "I was against +that from the first and I came to tell you so. But Bower really +did you no harm." + +"No, he didn't get the chance!" chuckled Tom. "Nor did that +other spy--the one with the gold tooth. I wonder how he liked our +mud hole?" + +"He was Lydane," said Mr. Gale. "It is about him I came." + +"You might have saved yourself the trouble," returned Tom. "I +don't wish to discuss him." + +"But I wish to make sure," said Mr. Gale, that what he has done +will not come back on us. We repudiate him entirely. His methods +we can not countenance. He is too daring--" + +"Oh, don't worry!" interrupted Tom. "He hasn't done anything to +me--he didn't get the chance, as I guess he's told you. You +needn't apologize on his account. He did me no harm, and--" + +"But I understood from him that--" + +"Now I don't want to seem impolite!" broke in Tom, "nor do I +want to take pattern after some of your company's acts, if not +your own. But I am very busy. I have an important test to make +for the government, and my time is fully occupied. I am afraid I +shall have to bid you good-morning and--" + +"But won't you give me a chance to--" began the president. + +"Now, the less we discuss this matter the better!" interrupted +Tom. "Lydane, as you call the man with the gold tooth didn't +really do anything to me nor any great harm to any of my +possessions, as far as I can learn. His career is a closed book-- +a book with muddy covers!" and the young inventor laughed. + +"Oh, well, if you look at it that way, there is nothing further +for me to say" said Mr. Gale stiffly. "I understood-- But hasn't +my partner, Mr. Ware, seen you?" he asked Tom quickly. + +"No. And I don't care to see him." + +"Oh, then that accounts for it," was the quick answer. "Well, +if you regard the matter as closed I suppose we should also. We +are not to blame for what Lydane does when he is no longer in our +employ, and we repudiate anything he may do, or may have done." + +This struck Tom, afterward, as being rather a queer remark, but +he did not think so at the time. + +The truth was that the young inventor wished very much to try +out a new device on his noiseless aeroplane and wanted to get rid +of Mr. Gale before doing so. So he did not pay as much attention +to the remarks of the president as, otherwise, he might have +done. + +It was not until after Mr. Gale had taken his leave and Tom had +finished the particular work on which he was engaged when the +president of the rival company came in, that the young man did +some hard thinking. And this thinking was done after he had +received a telephone call from Mary Nestor, asking, if by any +chance, he had beard anything like a clew as to the whereabouts +of her father. + +Tom had been obliged to tell her that he had not. Everything +possible was being done to find the missing man but he had +disappeared as completely as though he had ridden on his bicycle +into the crater of some extinct volcano on the meadow, and had +fallen to the bottom. + +An effort was made to trace him through an automobile +association which had a large membership. That is, the members +were asked to make inquiries to ascertain, if possible, whether +any one had heard of an unreported accident--one in which Mr. +Nestor might have been carried away by persons who accidently ran +him down. + +But this came to naught, and the police and other authorities +were at a loss how farther to proceed. It was a theory in some +quarters that Mr. Nestor was perfectly safe, but that he was out +of his mind, and was either wandering around, not knowing who he +was, or was, in this condition, detained somewhere, the persons +having him in charge not realizing that he was the missing man so +widely sought. + +This belief was a relief to Mrs. Nestor and Mary in many ways +for it prevented them from giving way to the fear that Mr. Nestor +was dead. That he was alive was Tom Swift's firm opinion, and he +was doing all he could to prove it. + +It was not until the day after the visit of Mr. Gale that Tom, +having concluded some intricate calculations about the strength +of cylinder valves, uttered an exclamation. + +"I wonder if he could have meant that?" cried the young +inventor. "I wonder if he could have meant that? I must find out +at once! Queer I didn't think of that before!" + +He put in a long distance call to New York, asking to speak to +Mr. Gale. But when, eventually, he was connected with the office +of the Universal Flying Machine Company he was told that Mr. Gale +and Mr. Ware had sailed for France that day, going over as +government representatives to investigate aeroplane motors. +Gale's visit to Tom had been just previous to taking the boat, it +was said. + +"This is tough luck!" mused Tom, his suspicions doubly aroused +now. "I can't let this rest here! I've got to get after it! As +soon as I make this final test, and invite Uncle Sam's experts +out to see how my noiseless motor works, I'll get after Gale and +Ware if I have to follow them to the battlefields of France! I +wonder if it was that he was hinting at all the while! I begin to +believe it was!" + +Tom Swift had decided on another flight for his new craft +before he would let the government experts see it. + +"Silent Sam must do his very best work for Uncle Sam before I +turn him over," said the young inventor. + +"And after this flight I'll offer the machine to the +government, and then devote all my time to finding Mr. Nestor," +said Tom. "I'd do it now, but private matters, however deeply +they affect us, must be put aside to help win the war. But this +will end my inventive work until after Mr. Nestor is found--if +he's alive." + +Preparations for the test flight went on apace, and one +afternoon Tom and Jackson took their places in the big, new +aeroplane. He no longer feared daylight crowds in case of an +accident. They made a good start, and the motor was so quiet that +as Tom passed over his own plant the men working in the yard, who +did not know of the flight, did not look up to see what was going +on. They could not hear the engine. + +"I think we've got everything just as we want it, Jackson," +said Tom, much pleased. + +"I believe you," answered the mechanician. "It couldn't be +better. Now if--" + +And at that moment there came a loud explosion, and Silent Sam +began drifting rapidly toward the earth, as falls a bird with a +broken wing. + + + +CHAPTER XX +QUEER MARKS + + +"What happened?" cried Jackson to Tom, as he leaned forward in +his seat which was in the rear of the young inventor's. + +"Don't know, exactly," was the answer, as Tom quickly shifted +the rudders to correct the slanting fall of his craft. "Sounded +as though there was a tremendous back-fire, or else the muffler +blew up. The engine is dead." + +"Can you take her down safely?" + +"Oh, yes, I guess so. She's a bit out of control, but the +stabilizer will keep her on a level keel. Good thing we installed +it." + +"You're right!" said Jackson. + +Now they were falling earthward with great rapidity, but, +thanks to the gyroscope stabilizer, the "side-slipping," than +which there is no motion more dreaded by an aviator, had nearly +ceased. The craft was volplaning down as it ought, and Tom had it +under as perfect control as was possible under the +circumstances. + +"We'll get down all right if something else doesn't happen," he +said to Jackson, with grim humor. + +"Well, let's hope that it won't," said the mechanic. "We're a +good distance up yet." + +They were, as a matter of fact, for the explosion, or whatever +had happened to the craft, had occurred at a height of over two +miles, and they at once began falling. As yet Tom Swift was +unaware of the exact nature of the accident or its cause. All he +knew was that there had been a big noise and that the engine had +stopped working. He could not see the silencer from where he sat, +as it was constructed on the underside of the motor, but he had +an idea that the same sort of mishap had occurred as on the +occasion when the test machine had sailed through the roof of his +workshop. + +"But, luckily, this wasn't as bad," mused Tom. "Anyhow the +motor is out of business." + +And this was very evident. The young inventor had tried to +start the apparatus after its stoppage by the explosion, but it +had not responded to his efforts, and then he had desisted, +fearing to cause some further damage, or, perhaps, endanger his +own life and that of Jackson. + +Down, down swept Silent Sam--doubly silent now, and Tom began +looking about for a good place to make a landing. This was +nothing new for either him or his mechanician, and they accepted +the outcome as a matter of course. + +"Not a very lively place down there," remarked Jackson, as he +looked over the side of the cockpit. + +"If we have to depend for help on any one down there, I guess +we'll be a long time waiting," agreed Tom. They were about to +land in a very lonely spot. It was one he had never before +visited, though he knew it could not be much more than twenty +miles from his own home, as they had not flown much farther than +that distance. + +But, somehow or other, Tom had not visited this particular +section, and knew nothing of it. He saw below him, as Jackson had +seen, a lonely stretch of country--a big field, once a wood-lot, +evidently, as scattered about were some stumps and some second +growth trees. There were also a number of evergreens--Christmas +trees Jackson called them. And this was the only open place for +miles, the surrounding country being a densely wooded one. There +did not appear to be a house or other building in sight where +they might seek help. + +"But maybe we can make the repairs ourselves and keep on," the +lad thought. + +With practiced eye he picked out a smooth, grassy, level spot, +in the midst of scattered evergreen trees, and there Tom Swift +skillfully brought his Air Scout to rest. With a gentle thud the +rubber-tired wheels struck the Earth, rolled along a little +distance, and then called to a stop. + +Hardly had the aeroplane ceased moving when Tom and his +companion jumped out and began eagerly to examine the machinery +to see the extent of damage. + +"I thought so!" Tom exclaimed. "The silencer cracked under the +strain. Those exhaust gases have more pressure that I believed +possible. I increased the margin of safety on this muffler, too. +But she's cracked, and I can't use the machine until I put on a +new one. Good thing I didn't ask for a government inspection +until after this trial flight." + +"That's so," agreed Jackson. "But can't you patch it up, or go +on without a muffler, so we can get back home?" + +"I'm afraid not," Tom answered. "You see I removed all the old +exhaust pipe fittings when I put on my new silencer. Now if I +took off my attachment there wouldn't be anything to carry off +the discharged gases, and they'd form a regular cloud about us. +We couldn't stand it without gas masks, such as they use in the +trenches, and we haven't any of those with us." + +"That's right," agreed Jackson. "Well, what do you want to do? +Have me stay here and guard the machine while you go for help? Or +shall I go?" + +"I don't know why we both can't go," said Tom. "There is no use +trying to patch up this machine here. I'll have to send a truck +after it, and dismantle it before I can get it home. + +"As for either of us staying here on guard, I don't quite see +the need of that. This looks like the jumping-off place to me. I +don't believe there's a native within miles. I didn't see any +houses as we came down, and I think Silent Sam will be perfectly +safe here. No one can run off with him, anyhow. He'd be as hard +to start as an automobile with all four wheels gone. Let's leave +it here and both walk back." + +"All right," agreed Jackson. "That suits me. Might as well +leave our togs here, too. It will be easier walking without +them," and he began taking off the fur-lined suit, his cap, and +his goggles, such as he and Tom wore against the piercing cold of +the upper regions. + +"We can stuff them in the cockpit and leave them," went on the +mechanician, as he divested himself of his garments. As he stowed +them away in his seat he gave one more look at the broken +muffler. As Tom Swift said, his new silencer had literally blown +up, a large piece having been torn from the gas chamber. + +Something that Jackson saw caused him to utter an exclamation +that brought Tom Swift to his side. + +"What is it?" asked the young inventor. + +"Look!" was the answer. "See! Just at the edge of that break! +It's been filed to make the metal thinner there than anywhere +else. You didn't do that, did you?" + +"I should say not!" cried Tom. "Why, to file there would mean +to weaken the whole structure." + +"And that's exactly what's happened!" declared Jackson, as he +gave another look. "Some one has filed this nearly +throughÄleaving only a thin metal skin, and when the gas pressure +became too much it blew out. That's what happened!" + +Tom Swift made a quick but thorough examination. + +"You're right, Jackson!" he exclaimed. "That was filed +deliberately to cause the accident. And it must have been done +lately, for I carefully inspected the silencer when I put it on, +and it was in perfect order. There's been spy work here. Some one +got into the hangar and filed that casing. Then the accumulated +pressure of the gases did the rest." + +"As sure as you're alive!" agreed Jackson. "Maybe that's what +Gale did when he called." + +"No," returned Tom, shaking his head, "he didn't get a chance to +do anything like that. I watched him all the while. But perhaps +this is what he referred to when he said he and his company would +repudiate any act of that spy with the gold tooth--Lydane, so +Gale said his name was. Maybe that's what Lydane did." + +"He was capable of it," agreed the mechanic, "but he couldn't +have done it that time you tripped him into the mud puddle. This +silencer wasn't built then." + +"No, you're right," assented Tom. "Then he must have been +around since, doing some of his tricky work!" + +"I don't see how that could have been," said Jackson slowly. +"We've kept a very careful watch, and your shop has been +specially guarded." + +"I know it has," said Tom. "There couldn't much get past Koku; +but some one seems to have done it, or else how could that filing +have been done?" + +Jackson shook his head. The problem was too much for him. He +looked carefully at the exploded and broken silencer, and Tom, +too, gave it a critical eye. There was no doubt but that it had +been filed in several places to weaken the structure of the +metal. + +"When did you last see that it was in perfect condition?" asked +Jackson. + +Tom named a certain date. + +"That was just before Gale called," observed the mechanician. +"He might have known of it." + +"I wish I'd known of it at the time," said Tom savagely. "He +wouldn't have gotten away as easily as he did. Well, there's no +use standing here talking about it. Let's get back to +civilization and we'll send back one of the trucks. Luckily I +have another silencer I can put on for the government test. This +one will never be of any more use, though I may be able to save +some of the valves and baffle plates." + +Slowly they turned from the disabled aeroplane and started to +look for a path that would lead them out of the lonely place. Tom +as the first to strike what seemed to be a cow path, or perhaps +what had been a road into the wood lot in the early days. + +As he tramped along it, followed by Jackson, the young inventor +suddenly stopped, as he came to a sandy place, and, stooping +over, looked intently at some queer marks in the soil. + +"What is it?" asked the mechanician. + +"Looks like the marks of an automobile," said Tom slowly. "And +I was just trying to remember where I'd seen marks like these +before." + + + +CHAPTER XXI +THE DESERTED CABIN + + +For several seconds the young inventor remained bending over +the queer marks in that little sandy path of the lonely field in +the midst of the silent woods. Jackson watched him curiously, +and then Tom straightened up, exclaiming as he did so: + +"I have it! Now I know where it was! I saw marks like these the +night Mr. Nestor disappeared. Mr. Damon and I noticed the marks +in the dust on the road the time we made the forced landing the +first night we tried out the silent motor. That's it! They are +the same marks! I'm sure of it!" + +"I wouldn't go so far as to say that," said Jackson slowly. He +was more deliberate than Tom Swift, a fact for which the young +inventor was often glad, as it saved him from impulsive mistakes. + +"This may not be the same auto," went on the mechanician. "I'll +admit I never saw square tire marks like those before. Most of +the usual ones are circular, diamond-shape or oblong. Some tire +manufacturer must have tried a new stunt. But as for saying these +marks were made by the same machine you saw evidences of the +night Mr. Nestor disappeared, why, that's going a little too far, +Tom." + +"Yes, I suppose it is," admitted the young inventor. "But it's +a clew worth following. Maybe Mr. Nestor has been brought to some +lonely place like this, and is being held." + +"Why would any one want to do that?" asked Jackson. "He had no +enemies. + +"Well, perhaps those who ran him down and injured him are +afraid to let him go for fear he will prosecute them and ask for +heavy damages," suggested Tom. "They may be holding him a captive +until he gets well, and aim on treating him so nicely that he +won't bring suit." + +"That's a pretty far-fetched theory," said the mechanician as +he carefully looked at the tracks. "But of course it may be true. +Anyhow, these tire marks are rather recent, I should say, and +they are made by a new tire. Do you think we can follow them?" + +"I'm going to try !" declared Tom. "The only trouble is we +can't tell whether it was going or coming--that is we don't know +which way to go." + +"That's so," agreed his companion. "And so the only thing to do +is to travel a bit both ways. The path, or road, or whatever you +call it, is plainly enough marked here, though you can't always +pick out the tire marks. They show only on bare ground. The grass +doesn't leave any tracks that we can see, though doubtless they +are there. + +"But as for thinking this car is the same one the marks of +which you saw on the lonely moor, the night you heard the call +for help--that's going too far, Tom Swift." + +"Yes, I realize that. Of course there must be more than one car +with tires which have square protuberances. But it's worth taking +a chance on--following this clew." + +"Oh, sure!" agreed Jackson. + +"The only question is, then, which way to go," returned Tom. + +They settled that, arbitrarily enough, by going on in the +direction they had started after leaving the stranded airship. +They followed a half-defined path, and were rewarded by getting +occasional glimpses on bare ground of the odd tire marks. + +Through a devious winding way, now hidden amid a lane of trees, +and again cutting across an open space, the path led. They saw +the marks often enough to make sure they were on the right trail, +and in one place they saw several different patches of the odd +marks. + +They went on perhaps half a mile more. when they came to a +lonely road and saw where the car had turned from that into the +wood-lot, as Tom called the place where his craft had settled +down. + +"Look!" cried the young inventor to Jackson. "They've been here +more than once, and have gone along the road in both directions. +They seem to have used this turning into the lot as a sort of +stopping place." + +This was plain enough from an examination of the marks in the +sandy soil of the road, which was one not often used. The +automobile with the queer, square marks on the tires had turned +into the lot, coming and going in both directions. + +"This settles it!" cried Tom, when he finished making an +examination. "There's something farther back in this lot that +we've got to see. This auto has been coming and going, and we +should have followed the tracks the other way from the point +where we first saw them, instead of coming this way." + +"Except that we've learned the place of departure," suggested +Jackson. "Evidently the wood-lot is a blind alley. The car goes +in, but it can come out only just at this point, or, at least, it +does." + +"That's right!" agreed Tom. "Now the thing to do is to follow +our track back to where we started. There must be some place +where the car went to--some headquarters, or meeting place with +some one, farther back in the lot. If we can only follow the +trail back as well as we did coming, we may find out something." + +"Well, let's try, anyhow," suggested Jackson. + +They had no difficulty in making their way back to the spot +where they had first seen the queer marks. But from then on their +task was not so easy. For sandy or bare patches of earth were not +frequent, and they had to depend on these to give them direction, +for the road was overgrown and not well defined. + +Often they would search about for some time after leaving one +patch of the marks before they found another that would justify +them in keeping on. + +"They have headquarters, or a rendezvous, somewhere back in +this lot!" declared Tom, as they hurried on. "I think we're on +the track of a mystery." + +"Unless it turns out that some farmer has treated himself to an +auto with new tires of square tread, and is hauling wood," said +Jackson. "It may turn out that way." + +"Yes, it may," agreed Tom. "But, taking everything into +consideration, I think we're on the verge of finding out +something. Even if we do discover that the owner of this auto is +only hauling wood, he may be able to help us to a clew as to the +whereabouts of Mr. Nestor." + +"How?" + +"Well, maybe he was in his machine on the moor the night the +call for help came. He may even have aided to carry Mr. Nestor +away. And if he doesn't know a thing about it--which, of course, +is possible--the man who bought these queer tires can tell us who +makes them, or who deals in them, and we can find out what +autoists around here have their cars equipped with this odd +tread." + +"Yes," agreed Jackson, "that can be done." + +And so they kept on, scouting here and there to either side of +the half-defined path, until they were far back from the spot +where they had left the Air Scout. + +"We don't appear to be getting any warmer, as the children +say," remarked Jackson, as he straightened up and looked about, +for his back ached from so much stooping over to look for the odd +marks. + +"We haven't seen anything yet, I'll admit," said Tom. "But it +won't be dark for another hour or so, and I vote that we keep +on." + +"Oh, I wasn't thinking of giving up!" exclaimed Jackson. "If +there's anything here--at the end of the route, as you might say +--we'll find it. Only I hope it doesn't turn out to be just a +wood pile, from which some farmer has been hauling logs." + +"That would be a disappointment," assented Tom. + +The day was waning, and they realized that they ought not to +spend too much time on what might turn out to be a wild goose +chase. They were in a lonely neighborhood, and while they were +not at all apprehensive of danger, they felt it would be best to +get to shelter before dark. + +"We'll want to send word to Mr. Swift that we're all right." + +"Yes," said Tom, "I'd like to get to a place where I can +telephone to him or Mrs. Baggert. Well, if we don't find +something pretty soon we'll have to turn back. I must complete +work on the new motor, for if I'm to offer it to Uncle Sam for +air scout purposes, the sooner I can do so the better. Things are +getting pretty hot over in Europe, and if ever the United States +needed aircraft on the western front they need them now. I want +to help all I can, and I also want to help Mary--you understand-- +Miss Nestor." + +"I understand," said Jackson simply. "I only hope you can help +her. But I'm afraid--this may turn out to be nothing--following +these marks, you know." + +"And yet," said Tom slowly, "it would be strange if it was only +a coincidence--the two tire marks being the same--the night Mr. +Nestor disappeared and now." + +And so they kept on, hoping. + +The half-defined path through the wood-lot led them in a series +of turns and twists, and it extended through a dense patch of +woods, growing thickly, where it was so dark that it seemed as if +night had fallen. + +"We can't spend much more time here," said Tom. "If we don't +find something in the next half mile we'll go back and take up +the search to-morrow. I'm going to find out what's at the end of +this road--even if it's only a wood pile." + +For ten minutes more the two went on, making sure, by +occasional glimpses at the marks, that they were on the right +track. Then, suddenly, they saw something which made them feel +sure they had reached their goal. + +In a clearing among the trees was a little cabin --a shack of +logs--and from the appearance it was deserted. There was not a +sign of life around + + + +CHAPTER XXII +CLEWS AT LAST + + +For a moment, at sight of the deserted cabin, staring at Tom +and his friend, as it were, from its hiding place amid the trees, +the young inventor and his companion did not move. They just +stood looking at the place. + +"Well," said Tom,. at length, "we found it, didn't we + +"We found something anyhow," agreed Jackson. "Whether it +amounts to anything or not, we've got to see." + +"Come on!" cried Tom, impulsively. "I'm going to see what's +there." + +"There doesn't appear to be much of anything," said Jackson, as +he looked toward the lonely cabin with critical eyes. "I should +say that place hadn't been used, even as a chicken coop, in a +long while." + +"We can soon tell!" exclaimed Tom, striding forward. + +"Wait just a minute!" cried his companion, catching him by the +coat. "Don't be in such a hurry." + +"Why not?" asked Tom. "There isn't any danger, is there?" + +"I don't know about that. There's no telling who may be hidden +in that cabin, in spite of its deserted appearance. And though +there aren't any 'No Trespass' signs up, it may be that we +wouldn't be welcome. If there are some tramps there, which is +possible, they might take a notion to shoot at us first and ask +questions as to our peaceable intentions afterward--when it would +be too late." + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom. "There aren't any tramps there and, +if there were, they wouldn't dare shoot. I'm going to see what +the mystery is--if there is one." + +But there was no sign of life, and, taking this as an +indication that their advance would not be disputed, Jackson +followed Tom. The latter advanced until he could take in all the +details of the shack. It was made of logs, and once had been +chinked with mud or clay. Some of this had fallen out, leaving +spaces between the tree trunks. + +"It wasn't a bad little shack at one time," decided Tom. "Maybe +it was a place where some one camped out during the summer. But +it hasn't been used of late. I never knew there was such a place +around here, and I thought I knew this locality pretty well." + +"I never heard of it, either," said Jackson. "Let's give a +shout and see if there's any one around. They may be asleep. +Hello, there !" he called in sufficiently vigorous tones to have +awakened an ordinary sleeper. + +Put there was no answer, and as the shadows of the night began +to fall, the place took on a most lonely aspect. + +"Let's go up and knock--or go in if the door's open," suggested +Tom. "We can't lose any more time, if we're to get out of here +before night." + +"Go ahead," said Jackson, and together they went to the cabin +door. + +"Locked!" exclaimed Tom, as he saw a padlock attached to a +chain. It appeared to be fastened through two staples, driven one +into the door and the other into the jamb, at right angles to one +another and overlapping. + +"Knock!" suggested Jackson. But when Tom had done so, and there +was no answer, the machinist took hold of the lock. To his own +surprise and that of Tom, one of the staples pulled out and the +door swung open. The place had evidently been forced before, and +the lock had not been opened by a key. The staple had been pulled +out and replaced loosely in the holes. + +For a moment nothing could be made out in the dark interior of +the shack. But as their eyes became used to the gloom, Tom and +his companion were able to see that the shack consisted of two +rooms. + +In the first one there was a rusty stove, a table, and some +chairs, and it was evident, from pans and skillets hanging on the +wall, as well as from a small cupboard built on one side, that +this was the kitchen and living room combined. + +"Anybody here?" cried Tom, as he stepped inside. + +Only a dull echo answered. + +The two could now see where a door gave entrance to an inner +room, and this, a quick glance showed, was the sleeping +apartment, two bunks being built on the side walls. + +"Well, somebody had it pretty comfortable here," decided Tom, +as he looked around. "They've been cooking and sleeping here, and +not so very long ago, either. It wouldn't be such a bad place if +it was cleaned out." + +"That's right," agreed Jackson. "Wouldn't mind camping here +myself, if there was any fishing near." + +"The river can't be far away," suggested Tom. "And now let's +see what we can find, and see if we can get a line on who has +been here. But first we'll let in a little light." + +He opened a window in the sleeping room, and pushed back the +heavy plank shutter that had been closed. When the light entered +it was seen that both bunks bore evidence of having been lately +slept in. The blankets were tossed back, as if the occupants had +risen, and in the outer room, on the stove, were signs that +indicated a meal had been served not many days gone by. + +"Now," observed Tom musingly, as he wandered about the place, +"if we could only find out who owns this, and who has been here +lately--" + +Jackson stooped over, and, thrusting aside an end of the +blankets that trailed on the floor from one of the bunks, picked +up something. + +"What is it?" asked Tom. + +"Looks like a leather pocketbook," was the answer. "That's what +it is," the mechanic went on, as he held the object to the light. +"It's a wallet." + +"Let me see it!" exclaimed Tom quickly. He took the wallet from +the hands of Jackson. Then the young inventor uttered a cry. "A +clew at last!" he exclaimed. "A clew at last! Mr. Nestor has been +in this cabin!" + +"How do you know?" asked Jackson quickly. + +"This is his wallet," said Tom excitedly. "I've often seen him +have it. In fact he had it with him on Earthquake Island, the +time I sent the wireless message for help. I saw it several times +then. He kept in it what few papers he had saved from the wreck. +And I've seen it often enough since. That's Mr. Nestor's wallet +all right. Besides, if you want any other evidence--look!" He +opened the leather flaps and showed Jackson on one, stamped in +gold letters, the name of Mary's father. + +"Well, what do you make of it, Tom?" asked the mechanician, as +he finished his examination of the wallet. "What does it mean? +The pocket-book is empty and that--" + +"Might mean almost anything," completed Tom. "But it's a clew +all right! He's been here, and I'm pretty certain he was brought +here in the auto with the odd tires--the one Mr. Damon and I saw +traces of the night we heard the cries for help." + +"But that doesn't help us now," said Jackson. "The point is to +find out how lately Mr. Nestor was here, and what has happened to +him since. There isn't anything in the wallet, is there?" + +"Nothing," answered Tom, making a careful examination so as to +be sure. "It's as empty as a last year's bird nest. He's been +robbed--that's what has happened to Mr. Nestor. He was waylaid +that night, instead of being run down as I thought--waylaid and +robbed and then his body was brought here." + +"There you go again, Tom! Jumping to conclusions!" said +Jackson, with a friendly smile, and with the familiarity of an +old and valued helper. "Maybe he's in perfectly good health. Just +because you found his empty wallet doesn't argue that your friend +is in serious trouble. He may have dropped this on the road and +some one picked it up. I'll admit they may have taken whatever +was in it, but that doesn't prove anything. The thing for us to +do is to find out who knows about this shack; who owns it, on +whose land it is, and whether any one has been seen here lately." + +"They've been here lately whether they've been seen or not," +said Tom positively. "There are the auto tracks. It rained two +days ago, and the tracks were made since. Mr. Nestor must have +been here within two days." + +"He may or may not," said Jackson. "Say, rather, that some one +was here and left his wallet after him. Now see if we can find +other clews!" + +They looked about in the fast fading light, but at first could +discover nothing more than evidences that three or four persons +had been living in the shack and at some recent date--probably +within a day or two. + +They had had their meals there and had slept there. But this +seemed to be all that could be established, other than that Mr. +Nestor's wallet was there, stripped of its contents. + +Tom was looking through the closet, from which a frightened +chipmunk sprang as he opened the door. There were the remains of +some food, which accounted for the presence of the little striped +animal. And, as Tom poked about, his hand came in contact with +something wrapped in paper on an upper shelf. It was something +that clinked metallicly. + +"What's that?" asked Jackson. "Knives, or some other weapons?" + +"Neither," answered Tom. "It's a couple of files, and they've +been used lately. I can see something in the grooves yet and--" + +Suddenly Tom ceased speaking and drew from his pocket a small +but powerful magnifying glass. Through this he looked at one of +the files, taking it out in front of the shack where the light +was better. + +"I thought so!" he cried. "Look here, Jackson!" + +"What is it?" + +"Another clew!" answered Tom. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII +THE GOVERNMENT TEST + + +For a moment Jackson thought Tom had discovered a clew to, or +evidences of, some crime. He had an unpleasant suspicion, for an +instant, that there was blood on the files, and that it might +prove to be the blood of Mr. Nestor. + +But the satisfaction that showed on Tom's face did not seem to +indicate such dire possibilities as these. + +"What is it?" asked Jackson, unable to guess at what Tom was +looking through the powerful glass. "What do you see?" + +"Metal filings on the grooves of these files," said the young +inventor. "And, unless I'm greatly mistaken, the particles of +filings are from the case of my aircraft silencer!" + +"What!" cried the machinist. "Do you mean those are the files +used in weakening the outer case of your new machine, so that it +burst a little while ago?" + +"That what I think," answered Tom. "I know it sounds pretty +far-fetched," he went on. "But take a look for yourself. If those +particles on, the files aren't exactly of the same color and +texture as the material of which the silencer case is made, I'll +never build another machine." + +Jackson peered through the powerful glass moving out a little +farther from the shack, so as to get the best light possible on +the subject of his examination. It was fast getting dark, but +there was enough glow in the western sky for his purpose. + +"Am I right?" asked Tom. + +"You're right!" declared his helper. "This is exactly the same +metal as that of which your silencer case is made. It's a +peculiar mixture of aluminum and vanadium steel. I never knew it +used in any shop but yours, and these filings are certainly of +that metal. It would seem, Tom, that these were the files used to +cut a crease in the case of your silencer to weaken it so it +would burst." + +"My idea exactly!" cried Tom. "The spy, who got into my shop in +some undiscovered manner, did his work and then fled here to +hide. He left his files behind. Mr. Nestor must have been here, +either before or after. No, I'll not say that, either. Finding +his wallet here doesn't prove that he was here. It might have +been brought here by one of the spies and dropped. But I'm sure +we're on the track of the men who damaged my airship, as well as +those who know something of the mystery of Mr. Nestor." + +"I agree with you," said Jackson. "Of course there's a +possibility that the same peculiar metal you used in your +silencer case may have been used in some other machine shop, and +these files may have come from there, and have been employed in +perfectly regular work. But the chances are--" + +"There's only one way to make sure," said Tom. "Let's take the +files with us and see if they fit in the grooves where the break +came. We'll take these back to where we left the Air Scout," and +he clinked the files he held. + +"We can just about make it before it gets black dark," returned +Jackson. "But that won't give us any more time to look around +here," and he indicated the hut. + +"I fancy we've seen all there is to see here," said Tom. "Mr. +Nestor isn't here, and whether he was or not is a question. +Anyhow, some one was here who had something to do with him after +his disappearance, I'm positive of that. And I'm sure some one +was here who damaged my airship. Now we'll run down both those +clews, find out who owns this place, who has been using it, and +all we can along that line. So, if you're ready, let's travel." + +The two set out to make their way back to where they had left +the stranded airship. It was fast becoming dark, but they could +hurry along with more speed now, as they did not have to stop to +look for the marks of the peculiar automobile tires. They had +noticed the path along which they had traveled, and in half the +time they had spent coming they were back where the Air Scout +rested undisturbed in the meadow amid the trees. + +Making sure that, as far as they could tell, no one had visited +the craft since they had left it, Tom and Jackson compared the +file marks on what was left of the broken silencer case with the +files they had found in the hut. They used a small, but powerful +electric lamp to aid them in this examination, as it was too dark +to see otherwise, and what they saw caused the young inventor to +exclaim: + +"That settles it! These were the files used!" + +"That's right!" agreed his assistant. "You've called the turn, +Tom. The next thing to do is to find who connects with the +files." + +"Yes. To do that and find Mr. Nestor," said Tom. "We have +plenty of work ahead of us. But let's get nearer civilization and +send some word to the folks at home. They'll be getting worried." + +"It doesn't seem as if there was a way out of here without +using an airship," remarked Jackson. + +But he and Tom finally reached the seldom-used road which ran +along the field that contained the lonely shack, and, following +this, they reached a farmhouse about a mile farther on. Greatly +to their relief, there was a telephone in the place. True it was +only a party line, set up by some neighboring farmers for their +own private use, but one of the subscribers, to whose home the +private line ran, had a long distance instrument, and after a +talk with him, this man promised Tom to call up Mr. Swift and +acquaint him with the fact that his son and Jackson were all +right, and would be home later. + +"And now," said Tom, after thanking their temporary host, a +farmer named Bloise, "can you tell us anything about an old cabin +that stands back there?" and he indicated the location of the +mysterious shack. + +"Well, yes, I can tell you a little about it, but not very +much," said Mr. Bloise. "It was built, some years ago, by a rich +New Yorker, who bought up a lot of land around here for a game +preserve. But it didn't pan out. This cabin was only the start of +what he was going to call a 'hunting lodge,' I believe it was. +There was to be a big building on the same order, but it never +was built. + +"Some say the fellow lost all his money in Wall Street, and +others say the state wouldn't let him make a game preserve here. +However it was, the thing petered out, and the old shack hasn't +been used since." + +"Oh, yes, it has!" exclaimed Tom. "We just came from there, and +there are signs which show some one has been sleeping there and +eating there." + +"There has!" exclaimed the farmer. "Well, I didn't know that." + +"I did," said his son, a young man about Tom's age. "I meant to +speak of it the other day. I saw an automobile turn into the old +road that the men used when they built the shack. I thought it +was kind of queer to see a touring car turn in there, and I meant +to speak of it, but I forgot. Yes, some one has been at the old +cabin lately." + +"Do you know who they are?" asked Tom eagerly. "We are looking +for a Mr. Nestor, who disappeared mysteriously about two weeks +ago, and I just found his wallet there in the shack!" + +"You did!" exclaimed Mr. Bloise. "That's queer! You relatives +of this Mr. Nestor?" he asked. + +"Not exactly," Tom answered. "Just very close friends." + +"Well, it's too bad about his being missing in that way," went +on the farmer. "I read about it in the paper, but I never +suspected he was around here." + +"Oh, we're not sure that he was," said Tom quickly. "Finding +his wallet doesn't prove that," and he told the story of his own +and Jackson's appearance on the scene, to the no small wonder of +the farmer and his family. Tom said nothing about the finding of +the files, nor the evidence he deduced from them. That was +another matter to be taken up later. + +"Who were in the auto you saw?" asked Tom of the farmer's son. +"Was Mr. Nestor in the car?" + +"I couldn't be sure of that. There were two men in the machine, +and they were both strangers to me. They were talking together, +pretty earnestly, it seemed to me." + +"One did not appear as if he was being taken away against his +will, did he?" asked Tom. + +"No, I can't say that he did," was the answers "They looked to +me, and acted like, business men looking over land, or something +like that. They just turned in on the road that leads to the old +hunting cabin, as we call it around here, and didn't pay any +attention to me. Then I forgot all about them." + +"Neither of them could have been Mr. Nestor," decided Tom. "At +least it doesn't seem as if he'd talk at all companionably to a +man who had treated him as we think Mr. Nestor has been treated. +I guess that clew isn't going to amount to much." + +"It may!" insisted Jackson. "They may have had Mr. Nestor in +the car all the while--concealed in the back you know. We've got +to find out more about these men and their auto, Tom." + +"Well, yes, perhaps we have. But how?" + +"Station some one at the shack, or at the beginning of the +private road. The men may come back." + +"That's so--they may. We'll do that!" cried the young inventor. +"We must tell the police and Mr. Nestor's folks what we have +learned. How can we get back to Shopton in a hurry?" he asked +the farmer. + +"Well, I can drive you to the railroad station" was the answer. + +"Thank you," remarked Tom. "We'll accept your offer. And as +soon as we get back we must send some one from the shop to stand +guard over the airship," he added in an aside to Jackson. "Those +file fellows may come back." + +"That's so, we can't take any chances." + +The farmer soon had his team at the door, and, after they had +had a hasty but satisfying supper at the farmhouse, the son drove +Tom and Jackson several miles to a railroad station, where they +could catch a train for Shopton. + +In due season Tom's home was reached. He intended to stop but a +minute, to assure his father that everything was all right, and +then get out his speedy runabout to go to see Mary, to tell her +the news. + +But when Tom sought his father in the library, he was told that +there was a visitor in the house. + +"Tom," said his father, "this gentleman is from Washington. He +wants to arrange for a government test of your silent airship. I +told him I thought you were about ready for it." + +"A government test !" cried Tom. "Why, I didn't think the +government even knew I was working on such an idea!" Tom was +greatly surprised. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV +IN THE MOONLIGHT + + +With a reassuring smile the visitor from Washington looked at +Tom Swift. + +"The government officials," he said, "know more than some +people give them credit for--especially in these war times. Our +intelligence bureau and secret service has been much enlarged of +late. But don't be alarmed, Mr. Swift," went on the caller, whose +name was Mr. Blair Terrill. "Your secret is safe with the +government, but I think the time is ripe to use it now--that is, +if you have perfected it to a point where we can use it." + +"Yes," answered Tom slowly, "the invention is practically +finished and it is a success, except for a few minor matters that +will not take long to complete. + +"Our accident this afternoon had nothing to do with the +efficiency of the silencer," Tom went on. "It was deliberately +damaged by some spy. I'll take that up later. That I am +interested to know how you heard of my Air Scout, as I call it." + +"Well, we have agents, you know, watching all the inventors who +have helped us in times past, and we haven't forgotten your giant +cannon or big searchlight. I might say, to end your curiosity and +lull your suspicions, that your friend, Ned Newton, who has been +doing such good Liberty Bond work, informed us of your progress +on the silent motor." + +"Oh, so it was Ned!" exclaimed Tom. + +"Yes. He told us the time was about ripe for us to make you an +offer for your machine. I think we can use it to great advantage +in scout work on the western front," went on the agent, and he +soon convinced Tom that when it came to a knowledge of airships, +he had some very pertinent facts at his disposal. + +"When can you give me a test?" Mr. Terrill asked Tom. + +"As soon as I can get my craft back to the shop and fit on a +new outer case. That won't take long, as I have some spare ones. +But I must help the Nestors," he went on, speaking to his father. +"I didn't mention it over the wire," he added, "but we've found +in the cabin a clew to the missing man. I must tell Mary and her +mother, and help them all I can." + +"And allow me to help, too," begged Mr. Terrill. "Since this +affects you, Mr. Swift, and since you are, in a way, working for +Uncle Sam, you must let him help you. This is the first I have +heard of the missing gentleman, of whom your father just told me +something, but you must allow me to help search for him. I will +get the United States Secret Service at work." + +"That will be fine!" cried Tom. "I wanted to get their aid, but +I didn't see how I could, as I knew they were too busy with army +matters and tracing seditious alien enemies, to bother with +private cases. I'm sure the Secret Service men can get trace of +the persons responsible for the detention of Mr. Nestor, wherever +he is." + +"They'll do their best," said Mr. Terrill. "I'm a member of +that body," he went on, "and I'll give my personal attention to +the matter." + +Then followed a busy time. Tom did not get to bed until nearly +morning. For he had to arrange to send some of his men to guard +the stranded airship, and then he went to see Mary and her +mother, taking them the good news that the search for Mr. Nestor +would be prosecuted with unprecedented vigor. + +"If it isn't too late!" sadly said the missing man's wife. + +"Oh, I'm sure it isn't !" declared Tom. + +In addition to sending a guard to the airship, other men, some +of them hastily summoned from the nearest federal agency, were +sent to keep watch in the vicinity of the lonely cabin. They had +orders to arrest whoever approached, and a relay of the men was +provided, so that watch could be kept up night and day. Besides +this, other men from the Secret Service began scouring the +country around the locality of the cabin, seeking a trace of the +two persons the farmer's son had seen in the automobile. + +"If Mr. Nestor is to be found, they'll find him!" declared Tom +Swift. + +Mr. Damon, as might be expected, was very much excited and +wrought up over all these happenings. + +"Bless my watch chain, Tom Swift!" cried the eccentric man, +"but something is always happening to you. And to think I wasn't +along when this latest happened!" + +"Well, you can be in at the finish," promised Tom, and it was +strange how his promise was fulfilled. + +Meanwhile there was much to do. During the time the Secret +Service men were busy looking up clews which might lead to the +finding of Mr. Nestor and keeping watch in the vicinity of the +hut, Tom had his airship brought back to the hangar, and a new +silencer was attached. While this work was going on the place was +guarded night and day by responsible men, so there was no chance +for an enemy spy to get in and do further damage. + +An investigation was made of the Universal Flying Machine +Company, but nothing could be proved to link them with the +outrage. Gale and Ware were in Europe--ostensibly on government +business, but it was said that if anything could be proved +connecting them with the attempt made on Tom Swift's craft, they +would be deprived of all official contracts and punished. + +All this took time, and the waits were wearisome, particularly +in the case of Mr. Nestor. No further trace of him was found, +though every effort was made. Tom began to feel that his boast of +his enemies having to get up early in the morning to get ahead of +him, had been premature, to say the least. + +Tom Swift worked hard on his new Air Scout. He determined there +would be nothing lacking when it came to the government test, and +not only did he make sure that no enemy could tamper with his +machine, but he took pains to see that no inherent defect would +mar the test. + +Jackson and the other men helped to the best of their ability, +and Mr. Swift suggested some improvements which were incorporated +in the new machine. + +One of the puzzles the Secret Service men had to solve was that +of the connection, if any, between the men who had to do with the +missing Mr. Nestor and those who had damaged Tom's airship by +filing the muffler case so it was weakened and burst. That there +was some connection Tom was certain, but he could not work it +out, nor, so far, had the government men. + +At last the day came when the big government test was to be +made. Tom had completed his Air Scout and had refined it to a +point where even his critical judgment was satisfied. All that +remained now was to give Mr. Terrill a chance to see how silently +the big craft could fly, and to this end a flight was arranged. + +Tom had put the silencer on a larger machine than the one he +and Jackson had used. It held three easily, and, on a pinch, four +could be carried. Tom's plan was to take Mr. Damon and Mr. +Terrill, fly with them for some time in the air, and demonstrate +how quiet his new craft was. Then, by contrast, a machine without +the muffler and the new motor with its improved propellers would +be flown, making as much noise as the usual craft did. + +"I only wish," said Tom, as the time arrived for the official +government test, "that Mary could be here to see it. She was the +one who really started me on this idea, so to speak, as it was +because I couldn't talk to her that I decided to get up a silent +motor." + +But Mary Nestor was too grief-stricken over her missing father +to come to the test, which was to take place late one afternoon, +starting from the aerodrome of the Swift plant. + +"First," said Tom, to Mr. Terrill, "I'll show you how the +machine works on the ground. I'll run the motor while the plane +is held down by means of ropes and blocks. Then we'll go up in +it." + +"That suits me," said the agent. "If it does all you say it +will do, and as much as I believe it will do, Uncle Sam will be +your debtor, Mr. Swift." + +"Well, we'll see," said Tom with a smile. + +Preparations were made with the greatest care, and Tom went +over every detail of the machine twice to make certain that, in +spite of the precautions, no spy had done any hidden damage, that +might be manifested at an inopportune moment. But everything +seemed all right, and, finally, the motor was started, while Mr. +Terrill, and some of his colleagues from the Army Aviation +department looked on. + +"Contact!" cried Tom, as Jackson indicated that the compression +had been made. + +The mechanic nodded, gave the big propeller blades a quarter +turn and jumped back. In an instant the motor was operating, and +the craft would have leaped forward and cleaved the air but for +the holding ropes and blocks. Tom speeded the machinery up to +almost the last notch, but those in the aerodrome hardly heard a +sound. It was as though some great, silent dynamo were working. + +"Fine!" + +"Wonderful!" + +"Wouldn't have believed it possible!" + +These were some of the comments of the government inspectors. + +"And now for the final test--that in the air," said Mr. +Terrill. + +Previous to this he and his colleagues had made a minute +examination of the machinery, and had been shown the interior +construction of the silencer by means of one built so that a +sectional view could be had. Tom's principles were pronounced +fundamental and simple. + +"So simple, in fact, that it is a wonder no one thought of it +before," said a navy aviation expert. "It is the last word in +aircraft construction--a silent motor that will not apprise the +enemy of its approach! You have done wonders, Mr. Swift!" + +"I'd rather hear you say that after the air test," replied Tom, +with a laugh. "Are you ready, Mr. Terrill?" + +"Whenever you are." + +"How about you, Mr. Damon?" + +"Oh, I'm always ready to go with you, Tom Swift. Bless my +trench helmet, but you can't sail any too soon for me!" + +There was a genial laugh at his impetuosity, and the three took +their seats in the big craft. Once more the engine was started. +It operated as silently as before, and the first good impressions +were confirmed. Even as the machine moved along the ground, just +previous to taking flight into the air, there was no noise, save +the slight crunch made by the wheels. This, of course, would be +obviated when Silent Sam was aloft. + +Up and up soared the great craft, with Tom at the engine and +guide controls, while Mr. Terrill and Mr. Damon sat behind him, +both eagerly watching. Mr. Terrill was there to find fault if he +could, but he was glad he did not have to. + +"The machine works perfectly, Mr. Swift," he said. "My report +cannot be otherwise than favorable." + +"We mustn't be in too much of a hurry," said Tom, who had +learned caution some time ago. "I want to sail around for several +hours. Sometimes a machine will work well at first, but defects +will develop when it is overheated. I'm going to do my best to +make a noise with this new motor." + +But it seemed impossible. The machinery worked perfectly, and +though Silent Sam took his passengers high and low, in big +circles and small ones, there was no appreciable noise from the +motor. The passengers could converse as easily, and with as +little effort, as in a balloon. + +"Of course that isn't the prime requisite," said Mr. Terrill, +"but it is a good one. What we want is a machine that can sail +over the enemy's lines at night without being heard, and I think +this one will do it--in fact, I'm sure it will. Of course the +ability of the passengers to converse and not have to use the +uncertain tube is a great advantage." + +As Tom Swift sailed on and on, it became evident that the test +was going to be a success. The afternoon passed, and it began to +grow dark, but a glorious full moon came up. + +"Shall I take you down?" the young inventor asked Mr. Terrill. + +"Not quite yet. I thoroughly enjoy this, and it isn't often I +get a chance for a moonlight airship ride. Go a little lower, if +you please, and we'll see if we attract any attention from the +inhabitants of the earth. We'll see if they can possibly hear the +machine, though I don't see how they can." + +And they did not. Tom piloted the machine over Shopton, sailing +directly over the center of the town, where there was a big crowd +walking about. Though the airship sailed only a few hundred feet +above their heads, not a person was aware of it, since the +craft's lights were put out for this test. + +"That settles it," said Mr. Terrill. "You have succeeded, Tom +Swift!" + +But Tom was not yet satisfied. He wanted a longer test. Hardly +knowing why he did it he sent the craft in the direction of Mary +Nestor's home. As he sailed across her lawn he saw, in the +moonlight, that she and her mother were walking in the garden. +They did not look up as the aircraft passed over their heads, and +were totally unaware of its presence, unless they caught a +glimpse of it as it flitted silently along, like some great bird +of the night. + +"It is perfectly wonderful!" declared Mr. Terrill, and he spoke +in ordinary tones, that carried perfectly to the ears of Tom and +Mr. Damon. + +"Wonderful!" cried the eccentric man. "Bless my chimney, but +it's the greatest invention in the world! Yes, it is! Don't tell +me it 'isn't!" + +And no one did. + +Passing the Nestor home, the saddened occupants of which were +unaware of the passage, Tom sent the Air Scout about in a circle, +intending to proceed to the hangar. And then, some whim, perhaps, +caused him to guide Silent Sam out toward the lonely hut. Mr. +Damon and Mr. Tenrill seemed perfectly content to sail on and on +indefinitely in the moonlight. Tom thought he would take them +over a lonely neighborhood, and then bring them back. + +In a little while the craft was directly over the stretch of +country where the aeroplane accident bad occurred, and where Tom +and Jackson had found the deserted hut. + +Rather idly Tom looked down, wondering if the Secret Service +men were on the watch and if they had discovered anything. + +Suddenly Tom was aware of an automobile moving along the field +path toward the cabin. There were two men in the car, both on +the front seat, and as Tom looked down the brilliant moonlight +showed him the figure of another man, behind, and huddled in the +tonneau of the car. The aeroplane was low enough for all these +details to be seen by the moon's gleam, but the men in the car, +not hearing any noise, did not look up, so they were unconscious +of this aerial espionage. + +"Look! Look!" exclaimed Tom in a low voice to his companions. +"Doesn't that seem suspicious?" + + + +CHAPTER XXV +THE GOLD TOOTH + + +Eagerly Mr. Damon and the government agent leaned over and +looked down. In the moonlight they saw the same sight that had +attracted Tom Swift. The touring car, the two men in front, and +the huddled, bound figure in the back. + +"Can you go down, Tom, without letting them hear you?" asked +Mr. Damon, using a low voice, as if fearful the men in the +automobile would hear him. + +"I guess so," answered the young inventor. "I can land nearer +to the cabin than Jackson and I did, and then we can see what +these fellows are up to. It looks suspicious to me. That is, +unless they're some of the Secret Service men, and have made a +capture," he added to Mr. Terrill. + +"Those aren't any of Uncle Sam's men," declared the agent. +"That is, unless the bound one is. I can't see him very well. +Better go down, and we'll see if we can surprise them." + +"My plan," voiced Tom. + +Quickly he shifted the rudder, and then, shutting off the +motor, as he wanted to volplane down, he headed his craft for an +open spot that showed in the bright moonlight. By this time the +automobile and its occupants were out of sight behind a clump of +trees, but Tom and his companions felt sure of the destination of +the men--the deserted cabin in the wood. + +As silently as a wisp of grass falling, the big craft came down +on a level spot, and then, leaping out, the young inventor and +his two companions crept along the path toward the cabin. Mr. +Terrill was armed, Tom carried a flashlight, while Mr. Damon +picked up a heavy club. + +As soon as he came near a place where he thought the marks of +the automobile wheels would show, Tom flashed his light. + +"I thought so!" he exclaimed, as he saw the square, knobby tread +marks left by the tires. "It's the same gang, or some of them in +the same car. If we can only capture them!" + +"The Secret Service men ought to do that," returned Mr. +Terrill, but, as it developed later, they were not on hand, +though through no fault of theirs. + +On and on crept Tom and the two men, until they came within +sight of the cabin. They saw a light gleaming in it, and Tom +whispered: + +"Now we have them! Work our way up quietly and make them +surrender, if we find they're what we think." + +"Is there a rear door?" asked Mr. Terrill in a whisper. + +Tom answered in the negative, and then all three, in fan shape, +crept up to the front portal. It was open, and silently reaching +a place where they could make an observation, Tom and his +companions looked in. + +What they saw filled them with wild and righteous rage, and +brought to an end the mystery of the disappearance of Mr. Nestor. +For there he sat, bound in a chair, and at a table in front of +him were two forbidding-looking men. + +"What do you intend to do now?" asked Mr. Nestor in a faint +voice. "I cannot stand this captivity much longer. You admit that +you don't want me--that you never wanted me--so why do you keep +me a prisoner? It cannot do the least good." + +"There's no use going over that again !" exclaimed the harsh +voice of one of the men. told you that if you will promise to +keep still about what happened to you, and not to give the +police any information about us, we'll let you go gladly. We +don't want you. It was all a mistake, capturing you. You were the +wrong man. But we re not going to let you go and have you set the +police on us as soon as you get a chance. Give us your promise to +say nothing, and we'll let you join your friends. If you don't--" + +"Make no promises, Mr. Nestor!" cried Tom Swift in a ringing +voice, as he leaped from his hiding place, followed by his +companions. "Your friends are here, and you can tell them +everything!" + +"Up with 'em!" called Mr. Terrill to the two conspirators as he +confronted them with his automatic pistol ready for firing. He +had no need to mention hands--they knew what he meant and took +the characteristic attitude. + +"Tom! Tom Swift!" cried Mr. Nestor, struggling ineffectually at +his bonds. "Is it really you?" + +"Well, I hope it isn't any imitation," was the grim answer. +"We'll tell you all about it later. Jove, but I'm glad we found +you! If it hadn't been for Silent Sam we might never have been +able to." + +"Well, I don't know who Silent Sam is," said Mr. Nestor +faintly. "But I'm sure I'm much obliged to him and your other +friends. It has been very hard. Tell me, are my wife and Mary all +right?" + +"In good health, yes, but, of course, worrying," said Tom. "We +saw them in the garden a little while ago. Now don't talk until I +set you free." + +And as Tom cut the ropes from Mr. Nestor, Mr. Damon used them +to bind the two conspirators, while Mr. Terrill stood guard over +them. And when they were safely bound, and Mr. Nestor had +somewhat recovered from the shock, Tom had a chance to examine +the prisoners. + +"What does it all mean? Who are you fellows, anyhow, and what's +your game?" he demanded. + +"Guess it--since you're so smart!" snapped one. + +And no sooner had he opened his mouth and Tom had a glance of +something gleaming brightly yellow, than the young inventor +cried: + +"The gold tooth! So it's you again, is it, you spy?" + +The man shrugged his shoulders with an assumption of +indifference. And, as Tom took a closer look, he became aware +that the man was surely none other than Lydane, the spy he had +chased into the mud puddle some weeks before. His companion was a +stranger to Tom. + +"What does it all mean, Mr. Nestor ?" asked Tom. "Have these +men held you a prisoner ever since you called for help on the +moor that night?" + +"Yes, Tom, they have. And I did call for help after they +attacked me as I was riding my wheel, but I didn't know any one +heard me. I began to be afraid no one would ever help me." + +"We've been trying to, a long time," said Mr. Damon, "but we +couldn't find you. Where did they keep you?" + +"Here, part of the time," was Mr. Nestor's answer. "And in +other lonely houses. They bound and gagged me when they took me +from place to place." + +"But what was their object?" asked Tom, concluding it was +useless to question the two captives. "Why did they make you a +prisoner, Mr. Nestor?" + +"Because they took me for you, Tom." + +"For me?" + +"Yes. The night I called at your house, and found you were not +at home, I put back in my pocket a bundle of papers I had brought +over to show you. They were plans of a little kitchen appliance a +friend of mine had invented, and I wanted to ask your opinion of +it." + +"These scoundrels must have followed me, or have seen the +bundle of papers, and, mistaking me for you, they followed, +attacked me in a lonely spot and, bundling me and my wrecked +wheel into an auto, carried me off. They first demanded that I +gave up the 'plans,' and when I wouldn't they choked off my cries +for help and knocked me into unconsciousness. Then they brought +me here, and kept me here for several days. + +"They soon learned that the plans I had weren't those they +wanted, though what they were thin after I couldn't imagine. +Only, from what I laser overheard, I knew they mistook me for you +and that they were bitterly disappointed in not getting plans of +some new airship you were working on. They have kept me a +prisoner ever since, and though they offered to let me go if I +would keep silent, I refused. I did not think, to secure my own +comfort, I should let such men go unpunished if I could bring +about their arrest." + +"I should say not!" cried Tom. + +"Did they treat you brutally, Mr. Nestor?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Not after they found out who I was, by looking through my +wallet. Of course they didn't behave very decently, but they +weren't actually cruel, except that they bound and gagged me. Oh, +but I'm glad you came, Tom! How did it happen?" + +Then they told Mr. Nestor their story, and how the test of the +new Air Scout had led to his rescue. + +"But where are the Secret Service men?" asked Mr. Terrill, when +it became evident that none them was on guard at the cabin. + +Later it developed that, by following a false clew, the Secret +Service men had been drawn miles away from the cabin. And only +that Tom and his companions in the silent airship saw the men. +Mr. Nestor might not have been rescued for some further time. + +His version of what had happened was correct. He had been +mistaken for Tom, and the spy with the gold tooth and his +accomplice had waylaid Mary's father, under the belief that it +was Tom Swift with the plans of the new silent motor. Mr. Nestor +had been attacked while riding his wheel in a lonely place, and +had been carried off and kept in hiding, a prisoner even after +his identity became known. + +"Well, this is a good night's work!" exclaimed Tom, when the +two rogues had been sent to jail and Mr. Nestor taken to the +Bloise farmhouse, to be refreshed before he went home. Word of +his rescue was telephoned to Mary and her mother, and it can be +imagined how they regarded Tom Swift for his part in the affair. + +Little the worse for his experience, save that he was very +nervous, Mr. Nestor was taken home. He gave the details of his +being waylaid, and told how the men, for many days, were at their +wits' ends to keep him concealed when they found what a stir his +disappearance had created. The conspirators were well supplied +with money, and in the automobile they took their prisoner from +one place to another. They had usurped the use of the cabin and +had lived there nearly a week in hiding, leaving just before the +first visit of Tom and Jackson. The rifled wallet had been +dropped by accident. + +And it did not take much delving to disclose the fact that, +Lydane, "Gold Tooth," as he was called, and his crony, were spies +in the pay of the Universal Flying Machine Company. As the men +went under several aliases there is no need of giving their +names. It is to be doubted if they ever used their real ones--or +if they had any. + +Of course, there was quite a sensation when Mr. Nestor was +found, and a greater one when it became known the part the +Universal Flying Machine people had in his disappearance in +mistake for Tom. The officials of the company were indicted, and +several of the minor ones sent to jail but Gale and Ware escaped +by remaining abroad. + +It came out that they both knew of the acts of Lydane and his +companion in crime, and that the two officials realized the +mistake that had been made by their clumsy operatives. It was +believed that this knowledge led to the visit of Gale to Tom, the +time the latter's suspicions were first aroused. Gale made a +clumsy attempt to clear his own skirts of the conspiracy, but in +vain, though he did escape his just punishment. + +What had happened, in brief, was this. Gale and Ware, unable to +secure Tom's services, even by the offer of a large sum of money, +had stooped to the sending of spies to his shop, to get +possession of information about his silent motor. This was after +Gale had, by accident, heard Tom speaking of it to Mr. Damon. + +But, thanks to Tom's vigilance, Bower was discovered. The man +tripped into the mud hole lost in the muck the plans Bower passed +to him. They were never recovered. Then Lydane tried again. He +managed, through bribery, to gain access to the hangar where the +new silent machine was kept, and, unable to get the silencer +apart, tried to file it. In doing so he weakened it so that it +burst. + +The attempt to waylay Tom, and so get the plans from him, had +been tried before this, only a mistake had been made, and Mr. +Nestor was caught instead. Finding out their error, Lydane and +his companions did not tell the Universal people of their +mistake, though Gale and Ware knew the attempt was to be made +against Tom Swift. + +Later, hearing that the young inventor was still at work on his +invention, Gale was much surprised, and paid his queer visit, in +an attempt to repudiate the actions of Lydane. At this time it +was assumed that Gale and his partner did not know that it was +Mr. Nestor who had been kidnapped by mistake or they might have +insisted on his release. As it was, Lydane had Mary's father, and +was afraid to let him go, though really their prisoner became a +white elephant on the hands of the conspirators and kidnappers. + +And it was after all this was cleared up, and Mr. Nestor +restored to his family and friends, that one day, Tom Swift +received another visit from Mr. Terrill, the government agent. + +"Well, Mr. Swift," was the genial greeting, "I have come to +tell you that the favorable report made by my friends and myself +as to the performance of your noiseless motor, has been accepted +by the War Department, and I have come to ask what your terms +are. For how much will you sell your patent to the United +States?" + +Tom Swift arose. + +"The United States hasn't money enough to buy my patent of a +noiseless motor," he said. + +"Wha--what!" faltered Mr. Terrill. "Why, I understood--you +don't mean--they told me you were rather patriotic, and--" + +"I hope I am patriotic!" interrupted Tom with a smile. "And +when I say that the United States hasn't money enough to buy my +latest invention I mean just that." + +"My Air Scout is not for sale!" + +"You mean," faltered the government agent. "You say--" + +"I mean," went on Tom, "that Silent Sam is for Uncle Sam +without one cent of cost! My father and I take great pleasure in +presenting such machines as are already manufactured, those in +process of making, and the entire patents, and all other rights, +to the government for the winning of the war!" + +"Oh!" said Mr. Terrill in rather a strange voice. "Oh!" + +And that was all he could say for a little while. + +But Tom Swift reckoned without a knowledge of a peculiar law +which prohibits the United States from accepting gifts totally +without compensation, and so, in due season, the young inventor +received a check for the sum of one dollar in full payment for +his silent motor, and the patent rights thereto. And Tom has that +check framed, and hanging over his desk. + +And so the silent motor became an accomplished fact and a great +success. Those of you who have read of its work against the +Boches, and how it helped Uncle Sam to gain the mastery of the +sky, need not be reminded of this. By it many surprise attacks +were made, and much valuable information was obtained that +otherwise could not have been brought in. + +One day, after the rogues had been sent to prison for long +terms, and Tom had turned over to his government his silent +aircraft--except one which he was induced to keep for his own +personal use--the young inventor went to call on Mary Nestor. The +object of his call, as I believe he stated it, was to see how Mr. +Nestor was, but that, of course, was camouflage. + +"Would you like to come for a ride, Mary, in the silent +airship?" asked Tom, after he had paid his respects to Mr. Nestor +and his wife. "We can talk very easily on board Silent Sam +without the use of a speaking tube. Come on--we'll go for a +moonlight sky ride." + +"It sounds enticing," said Mary, with a shy look at Tom. "But +wouldn't you just as soon sit on a bench in the garden? It's +moonlight there, and we can talk, and--and--" + +"I'd just as soon!" said Tom quickly. + +And out they went into the beautiful moonlight; and here we +will leave them and say good-bye. + + + + + +THE END + +---------------------------------------------------------------- + + + +THE TOM SWIFT SERIES + +By VICTOR APPLETON + + + +These spirited tales. convey in a realistic way, the wonderful +advances in land and sea locomotion. Stories like these are +impressed upon the memory and their reading is productive +only of good. + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE +TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS +TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE +TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE +TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER +TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON +TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP +TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL +TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK +TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT +TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH +TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS +TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE + + + + +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS SERIES + +By LAURA LEE HOPE + +Author of "The Bobbsey Twins Books," + +"The Bunny Brown Series," + +"The Make-Believe Series," Etc. + +Delightful stories for little boys and girls which sprung into +immediate popularity. To know the six little Bunkers is to take +them at once to your heart, they are so intensely human, so full +of fun and cute sayings. Each story has a little plot of its own +-Äone that can be easily followed-Äand all are written in Miss +Hope's most entertaining manner. Clean, wholesome volumes which +ought to be on the bookshelf of every child in the land. + +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDMA BELL'S +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT AUNT JO'S +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COUSIN TOM'S +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT GRANDPA FORDS +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT UNCLE FRED'S +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT CAPTAIN BEN'S +SIX LITTLE BUNKERS AT COWBOY JACK'S + + + + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS SERIES + +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE WEST +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE COAST +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN THE JUNGLE +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS IN EARTHQUAKE LAND +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AND THE FLOOD +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS AT PANAMA +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS UNDER THE SEA +THE MOVING PICTURE BOYS ON THE WAR FRONT +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS SERIES +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' FIRST VENTURE +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT SEASIDE PARK +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS ON BROADWAY +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' OUTDOOR EXHIBITION +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' NEW IDEA +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS AT THE FAIR +THE MOTION PICTURE CHUMS' WAR SPECTACLE + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Tom Swift and His Air Scout + diff --git a/old/old/22tom10.zip b/old/old/22tom10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b719357 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/22tom10.zip diff --git a/old/old/22tom10h.htm b/old/old/22tom10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f59bee --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/22tom10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6344 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= + "text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tom Swift And His Air Scout, by Victor Appleton. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* footnote */ + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 1em; font-size: smaller; float: right; clear: right;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + .poem .caesura {vertical-align: -200%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> +<pre> +**The Project Gutenberg Etext of Tom Swift and His Air Scout** +or Uncle Sam's Mastery of the Sky + +#22 in the Victor Appleton's Tom Swift Series +We name the Tom Swift files as they are numbered in the books-- +i.e. This is #22 in the series so the file name is 22tomxxx.xxx +where the x's are place holders for editon # and file type such +as 22tom10.txt and 22tom10.zip, when we do a .htm, 22tom10h.htm + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This Etext was prepared for Project Gutenberg by Anthony Matonac. + + + + +</pre> +<h1>TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT</h1> + +<p>OR</p> + +<p>Uncle Sam's Mastery of the Sky</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CONTENTS'></a><h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>CHAPTER</span><br /> + +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>I A SKY RIDE</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>II A NEW IDEA</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>III THE BIG OFFER</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>IV MR. DAMON'S WHIZZER</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>V TOM'S PROJECT</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>VI MAKING PLANS</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>VII A PROBLEM IN SOUND</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>VIII THROUGH THE ROOF</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>IX AFTER A SPY</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>X A BIG SPLASH</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XI A NIGHT TRIP</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XII THE CRY FOR HELP</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XIII SOMETHING QUEER</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XIV THE TELEPHONE CALL</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XV A VAIN SEARCH</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XVI THE LONG NIGHT</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XVII SILENT SAM</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XVIII SUSPICIONS</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XIX ANOTHER FLIGHT</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XX QUEER MARKS</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XXI THE DESERTED CABIN</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XXII CLEWS AT LAST</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XXIII THE GOVERNMENT TEST</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XXIV IN THE MOONLIGHT</span><br /> +<span style='margin-left: 2em;'>XXV THE GOLD TOOTH</span><br /> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='TOM_SWIFT_AND_HIS_AIR_SCOUT'></a><h2>TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT</h2> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_I'></a><h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>A SKY RIDE</h3> +<br /> + +<p>"Oh Tom, is it really safe?"</p> + +<p>A young lady—an exceedingly pretty young lady, she could be +called—stood with one small, gloved hand on the outstretched +wing of an aeroplane, and looked up at a young man, attired in a +leather, fur-lined suit, who sat in the cockpit of the machine +just above her.</p> + +<p>"Safe, Mary?" repeated the pilot, as he reached in under the +hood of the craft to make sure about one of the controls. "Why, +you ought to know by this time that I wouldn't go up if it wasn't +safe!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I know, Tom. It may be all right for you, but I've +never been up in this kind of airship before, and I want to know +if it's safe for me."</p> + +<p>The young man leaned over the edge of the padded cockpit, and +clasped in his rather grimy hand the neatly gloved one of the +young lady. And though the glove was new, and fitted the hand +perfectly, there was no attempt to withdraw it. Instead, the +young lady seemed to be very glad indeed that her hand was in +such safe keeping.</p> + +<p>"Mary!" exclaimed the young man, "if it wasn't safe—as safe as +a church—I wouldn't dream of taking you up!" and at the mention +of "church" Mary Nestor blushed just the least bit. Or perhaps it +was that the prospective excitement of the moment caused the +blood to surge into her cheeks. Have it as you will.</p> + +<p>"Come, Mary! you're not going to back out the last minute, are +you?" asked Tom Swift. "Everything is all right. I've made a +trial flight, and you've seen me come down as safely as a bird. +You promised to go up with me. I won't go very high if you don't +like it, but my experience has been that, once you're off the +ground, it doesn't make any difference how high you go. you'll +find it very fascinating. So skip along to the house, and Mrs. +Baggert will help you get into your togs."</p> + +<p>"Shall I have to wear all those things—such as you have on?" +asked Mary, blushing again.</p> + +<p>"Well, you'll be more comfortable in a fur-lined leather suit," +asserted Tom. "And if it does make you look like an Eskimo, why +I'm sure it will be very becoming. Not that you don't look nice +now," he hastened to assure Miss Nestor, "but an aviation suit +will be very—well, fetching, I should say."</p> + +<p>"If I could be sure it would 'fetch' me back safe, Tom—"</p> + +<p>"That'll do! That'll do!" laughed the young aviator. "One joke +like that is enough in a morning. It was pretty good, though. Now +go on in and tog up."</p> + +<p>"You're sure it's safe, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Positive! Trot along now. I want to fix a wire and—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, is anything broken?" and the girl, who had started away +from the aeroplane, turned back again.</p> + +<p>"No, not broken. It's only a little auxiliary dingus I put on +to make it easier to read the barograph, but I think I'll go back +to the old system. Nothing to do with flying at all, except to +tell how high up one is."</p> + +<p>"That's just what I don't care to know, Tom," said Mary Nestor, +with a smile. "If I could imagine I was sailing along only about +ten feet in the air I wouldn't mind so much."</p> + +<p>"Flying at that height would be the worst sort of danger. You +leave it to me, Mary. I won't take you up above the clouds on +this sky ride; though, later, I'm sure you'll want to try that. +This is only a little flight. You've been promising long enough +to take a trip with me, and now I believe you're trying to back +out."</p> + +<p>"No, really I'm not, Tom! Only, at the last minute, the machine +looks so small and frail, and the sky is so—big—"</p> + +<p>She glanced up and seemed to shiver just a trifle.</p> + +<p>"Don't be thinking of those things, Mary!" laughed Tom Swift. +"Trot along and get ready. The motor never worked better, and we +may break a few speed records this morning. No traffic cops to +stop us, either, as there might be if we were in an auto."</p> + +<p>"There you go, Mary !" exclaimed Tom, as if struck with a new +thought. "You've ridden in an auto with me many a time, and you +never were a bit afraid, though we were in more danger than we'll +be this morning."</p> + +<p>"Danger, Tom, in an auto? How?"</p> + +<p>"Why, danger of a wheel collapsing as we were going full speed; +or the steering knuckle breaking and sending us into a tree; +danger of running into a stone wall or a ditch; danger of some +one running into us, or of us running into some one else. There +isn't one of these dangers on a sky ride."</p> + +<p>"No," said Mary slowly. "But there's the danger of falling."</p> + +<p>"One against twenty. That's the safety margin. And, if we do +fall, it will be like landing in a feather bed! There, don't wait +any longer. Go and get ready."</p> + +<p>Mary sighed, and then, seeming to summon her nerve to her aid, +she smiled brightly, waved her hand to Tom, and hastened toward +his home, where Mrs. Baggert the matronly housekeeper, was +waiting to help the girl attire herself in a flying-suit of +leather.</p> + +<p>Mary Nestor, who had a very warm place in the heart of Tom +Swift, had, as he stated, some time since promised to take a trip +in the air with the young inventor. But she had kept putting it +off, for one reason or another, until Tom began to despair of +ever getting her to accompany him. To-day, however, when she had +called to inquire about his father, who had been slightly ill, +Tom had, after the social visit, insisted on the promise being +kept.</p> + +<p>He had his mechanic get out one of the safest, though a speedy, +double machine, and, with Mary to watch, Tom had taken a trial +flight, just to show her how easy it was. It was not the first +time she had seen him take to the air, but now she watched with +different emotions, for she was vitally interested.</p> + +<p>Tom had sailed down from aloft, making a landing in the +aviation field he had constructed near his home, and then he had +insisted that Mary should keep her promise to take a sky ride +with him.</p> + +<p>"Don't be too long now!" called Tom to the girl, as she hurried +toward the house. "Never mind about your hair, or whether your +hat's on straight. You're going to wear a cap, anyhow, and tuck +your hair up under that. It's hot down here, but it will be cold +up above; so tell Mrs. Baggert to see that you're warmly +dressed."</p> + +<p>"All right," and gaily she waved her hand to him. Now that she +had made her decision, and was really going up, she was not half +so frightened as she had been in the contemplation of it.</p> + +<p>As Tom climbed out of the machine, to give it a careful +inspection, though he was certain there was nothing wrong, an +aged colored man shuffled toward him.</p> + +<p>"Yo'—yo'll be mighty careful ob Miss Nestor now, won't yo', +Massa Tom?" asked the man.</p> + +<p>"Of course I will, Eradicate," was the young inventor's answer.</p> + +<p>"Case we ain't got many laik her no mo', an' dat's de truf, +Massa Tom," went on the old man. "So be mighty careful laik!"</p> + +<p>"That's what I will, Rad! And, while I'm up in the air, don't +you and Koku have any trouble."</p> + +<p>"Ho! Trouble wif dat onery no-'count giant! I guess not!" and +the colored man limped off, highly indignant.</p> + +<p>Satisfied, from an inspection of his machine, that it was as +nearly mechanically perfect as it was possible to be, Tom Swift +finished his trip around it and stood near the big propeller, +waiting for Mary Nestor to reappear. Presently she did so, and +Tom gaily waved his hand to her.</p> + +<p>"You're a picture!" he cried, as he saw how particularly +"fetching" she looked in the aviator's costume which was like his +own. Because of the danger of entanglement, Miss Nestor had +doffed her skirts, and wore the costume of all aviators—men and +women.</p> + +<p>"I wish I had my camera!" cried Tom. "You look—stunning!"</p> + +<p>"I hope that isn't any comment on how I'm going to feel if we +have to make a—forced landing, I believe you call it," she +retorted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll take care of that!" exclaimed Tom. "Now up you go, +and we'll start," and he helped her to climb into the padded seat +of the cockpit, behind where he was to sit.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom! Don't be in such a hurry !" expostulated Mary. "Let +me get my breath!"</p> + +<p>"No!" laughed the young inventor. "If I did you might back out. +Get in, fasten the strap around you and sit still. That's all you +have to do. Don't be afraid, I'll be very careful. And don't try +to yell at me to go slower or lower once we're up in the air.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" Mary wanted to know, as she settled herself in her +seat.</p> + +<p>"Because I can't very well bear you, or talk to you. The motor +makes so much noise, you know. We can do a little talking through +this speaking tube," and he indicated one, "but it isn't very +satisfactory. So if you have anything to say—"</p> + +<p>"In the language of the poets," interrupted Mary, "if I have +words to spill, prepare to spill them now. Well, I haven't! Now +I'm here, go ahead! I shall probably be too frightened to talk, +anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no you won't—after the first little sensation," Tom +assured her. "You'll be crazy about it. Come on, Jackson!" he +called to the mechanician. "Start the ball rolling!"</p> + +<p>Tom was in his place, his goggles and cap well down over his +face, and he was adjusting the switch as the mechanic prepared to +spin the propellers.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a man came running from the Swift house, waving his +arms not unlike the blades of an aircraft propeller, he also +shouted, but Tom, whose ears were covered with his fur cap, could +not hear. However, Jackson did, and stopped whirling the blades, +turning about to see what was wanted.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's Mr. Damon!" exclaimed Tom, as he caught sight of the +excited man. "Hello, what's the matter?" the youth asked, pulling +aside one flap of his head-covering so he might hear the answer.</p> + +<p>"Tom! Wait a minute! Bless my mouse trap!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, +"I want to speak to you!" He was panting from his run across the +field. "I just got to your house—saw your father—he said you +were going up with Miss Nestor, but—bless my dog biscuit—"</p> + +<p>"Can't stop now, Mr. Damon!" answered Tom, with a laugh. "I +have only just succeeded, by hard work, in getting Mary to a +point where she has consented to take a sky ride. If I stop now +she'll back out and I'll never get her in again. See you when I +come back," and Tom pulled the covering over his ear once more.</p> + +<p>"But, Tom, bless my shoe laces! This is important!"</p> + +<p>"So's this!" answered Tom, with a grin. He saw, by the motion +of Mr. Damon's lips, what the latter had said.</p> + +<p>Around swung the propeller blades. The gasoline vapor in the +cylinders was being compressed.</p> + +<p>"Contact!" called Tom sharply, as he pressed the switch to give +the igniting spark at the proper moment. The mechanic had stepped +back out of the way, in case there should be a premature starting +of the powerful engine, in which event the blades would have cut +him to pieces.</p> + +<p>"Wait, Tom! Wait! This is very important! Bless my collar +button, Tom Swift, but this is—"</p> + +<p>Bang! Bang! Bang!</p> + +<p>With a series of explosions, like those of a machine gun, the +motor started, and further talk was out of the question. Tom +turned on more gas. The propellers became almost invisible blades +of light and shadow, and the aeroplane began moving over the +grassy field. The mechanic had sprung out of the way, pulling Mr. +Damon with him.</p> + +<p>"Come back! Come back! Wait a minute, Tom Swift! Bless my pansy +blossoms, I want to tell you something!" cried the little man.</p> + +<p>But Tom Swift was away and out of hearing. He had started on +his sky ride with Mary Nestor.</p> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<br /> + +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>A NEW IDEA</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Any one who has taken a flight in an aeroplane or gone up in a +balloon, will know exactly how Mary Nestor felt on this, her +first sky ride of any distance. For a moment, as she looked over +the side of the machine, she had a distinct impression, not that +she was going up, but that some one had pulled the earth down +from beneath her and, at the same time, given her a shove off +into space. Such is the first sensation of going aloft. Then the +rush of air all about her, the slightly swaying motion of the +craft, and the vibration caused by the motor took her attention. +But the sensation of the earth dropping away from beneath her +remained with Mary for some time.</p> + +<p>This sensation is much greater in a balloon than in an +aeroplane, for a balloon, unless there is a strong wind blowing, +goes straight up, while an aeroplane ascends on a long slant, and +always into the teeth of the wind, to take advantage of its +lifting power on the underside of the planes. The reason for this +sensation—that of the earth's dropping down, instead of one's +feeling, what really happens, that one is ascending—is because +there are no objects by which comparison can be made. If one +starts off on the earth's surface at slow, or at great speed, one +passes stationary objects—houses, posts, trees, and the like— +and judges the speed by the rapidity with which these are left +behind.</p> + +<p>Going up is unlike this. There is nothing to pass. One simply +cleaves the air, and only as it rushes past can one be sure of +movement. And as the air is void of color and form, there is no +sensation of passing anything.</p> + +<p>So Mary Nestor, as she shot into the air with Tom Swift, had a +sensation as though the earth were dropping from beneath her. For +a moment she felt as though she were in some vast void—floating +in space—and she had a great fear. Then she calmed herself. She +looked at Tom sitting in front of her. Of course, all she could +see was his back, but it looked to be a very sturdy back, indeed, +and he sat there in the aircraft as calmly as though in a chair +on the ground. Then Mary took courage, and ceased to grasp the +sides of the cockpit with a grip that stiffened all her muscles. +She was beginning to "find herself."</p> + +<p>On and on, and up and up, went Mary and Tom, in this the girl's +first big sky ride. The earth below seemed farther and farther +away. The wide, green fields became little emerald squares, and +the houses like those in a toy Noah's ark.</p> + +<p>Down below, Mr. Wakefield Damon, who had hurried over from his +home in Waterfield to see Tom Swift, gazed aloft at the fast +disappearing aeroplane and its passengers.</p> + +<p>"Bless my coal bin!" cried the eccentric man, "but Tom is in a +hurry this morning. Too bad he couldn't have stopped and spoken +to me. It might have been greatly to his advantage. But I suppose +I shall have to wait."</p> + +<p>"You want to see Master?" asked a voice behind Mr. Damon, and, +turning, he beheld a veritable giant.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Koku, I did," Mr. Damon answered, and he did not appear +at all surprised at the sight of the towering form beside him. "I +wanted to see Tom most particularly. But I shall have to wait. +I'll go in and talk to Mr. Swift."</p> + +<p>"Yaas, an' I go talk to Radicate," said the giant. "Him diggin' +up ground where Master told me to make garden. Radicate not +strong enough for dat!"</p> + +<p>"Huh! there's trouble as soon as those two get to disputing," +mused Mr. Damon, as he went toward the house.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Mary was beginning to enjoy herself. The sensation +of moving rapidly through the air in a machine as skillfully +guided as was the one piloted by Tom Swift was delightful. Up and +up they went, and then suddenly Mary felt a lurch, and the plane, +which was now about a thousand feet high, seemed to slip to one +side.</p> + +<p>Mary screamed, and began reaching for the buckle of the safety +belt that fastened her to her seat. She saw that something +unusual had occurred, for Tom was working frantically at the +mechanism in front of him.</p> + +<p>But, in spite of this, he seemed aware that Mary was in danger, +not so much, perhaps, from what might happen to the machine, as +what she might do in her terror.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" cried the girl, and Tom heard her above the terrific +noise of the motor, for she was speaking with her lips close to +the tube that served as a sort of inter-communicating telephone +for the craft. "Oh, we are falling! I'm going to jump!"</p> + +<p>"Sit still! Sit still for your life!" cried Tom Swift. "I'll +save you all right! Only sit still! Don't jump!"</p> + +<p>Mary, her red cheeks white, sank back, and the young inventor +redoubled his efforts at the controls and other mechanisms.</p> + +<p>And that Tom was perfectly qualified to make a safe landing, +even with engine trouble, Mary Nestor well knew. Those of you who +have read the previous books of this series know it also, but, +for the benefit of my new readers, I shall state that this was by +no means Tom's first ride in an aeroplane.</p> + +<p>He had operated and built gasoline engines ever since he was +about sixteen years old. As related in the initial volume of this +series, entitled, "Tom Swift and His Motorcycle," he became +possessed of this machine after it had started to climb a tree +with Mr. Damon on board. After that experience the eccentric man +—blessing everything he could think of—had no liking for the +speedy motorcycle and sold it to Tom at a low price.</p> + +<p>That was the beginning of a friendship between the two, and +also started Tom on his career as an inventor and a possessor of +many gasoline craft. For he was not content with merely riding +the repaired motorcycle. He made improvements on it.</p> + +<p>Tom lived with his father in the town of Shopton, their home +being looked after, since the death of Mrs. Swift, by Mrs. +Baggert. Mr. Wakefield Damon lived in the neighboring town of +Waterfield, and spent much time at Tom's home, often going on +trips with him in various vehicles of the land, sea or air.</p> + +<p>As related in the various volumes of this series, Tom was not +content to remain on earth. He built a speedy motor boat, and +then secured an airship, following that with a submarine. He also +made an electric runabout that was the speediest car on the road. +Sending wireless messages, having thrilling experiences among the +diamond makers, journeying to the caves of ice, and making +perilous trips in his sky racer took up part of the young +inventor's time.</p> + +<p>With his electric rifle he did some wonderful shooting, and in +the "City of Gold" made some strange discoveries, part of the +fortune he secured enabling him to build his sky racer. It was in +a land of giants that Tom was made captive, but he succeeded in +escaping, and brought two giants, of whom Koku was one, away +with him.</p> + +<p>Following this achievement Tom invented a wizard camera and a +great searchlight, which, with his giant cannon, was purchased by +the United States Government. Work on his photo-telephone and his +aerial warship, the problem of digging a big tunnel, and then +traveling to the land of wonders, kept Tom Swift very busy, and +he had just completed a wonderful piece of work when the present +story opens.</p> + +<p>This last achievement was the perfecting of a machine to aid in +the great World War and you will find the details set down in the +volume which immediately precedes this. "Tom Swift and His War +Tank," it is called, and in that is related how he not only +invented a marvelous machine, but succeeded in keeping its secret +from the plotters who tried to take it from him. In this Tom was +helped by the inspiration of Mary Nestor, whom he hoped some day +to marry, and by Ned Newton, a chum, who, though no inventor +himself, could admire one.</p> + +<p>Ned and Tom had been chums a long while, but Ned inclined more +to financial and office matters than to machinery. At times he +had managed affairs for Tom, and helped him finance projects. Ned +was now an important bank official, and since the United States +had entered the war had had charge of some Red Cross work, as +well as Liberty Bond campaigns.</p> + +<p>Somehow, as she sat there in the craft which seemed disabled, +Mary Nestor could not help thinking of Tom's many activities, in +some of which she had shared.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if he falls now, and is killed!" she thought. "Oh, what +will happen to us?"</p> + +<p>"It's all right, Mary! Don't worry! It's all right!" cried Tom, +through the speaking tube.</p> + +<p>"What's that? I can't hear you very well !" she called back.</p> + +<p>"No wonder, with the racket this motor is making," he answered. +"Why can't something be done so you can talk in an aeroplane as +well as in a balloon? That's an idea! If I could tell you what +was the matter now you wouldn't be a bit frightened, for it isn't +anything. But, as it is—"</p> + +<p>"What are you saying, Tom? I can't hear you!" cried Mary, still +much frightened.</p> + +<p>"I say it's all right—don't get scared. And don't jump!" Tom +shouted until his ears buzzed. "It's all nonsense—having a motor +making so much noise one can't talk!" he went on, irritatedly.</p> + +<p>A strange idea had come to the young inventor, but there was no +time to think of it now. Mentally he registered a vow to take up +this idea and work on it as soon as possible. But, just now, the +aeroplane needed all his attention.</p> + +<p>As he had told Mary, there was really nothing approaching any +great danger. But it was rather an anxious moment. If Tom had +been alone he would have thought little of it, but with Mary +along he felt a double responsibility.</p> + +<p>What had happened was that the craft had suddenly gone into an +"air pocket" or partial vacuum, and there had been a sudden fall +and a slide slip. In trying to stop this too quickly Tom had +broken one of his controls, and he was busily engaged in putting +an auxiliary one in place and trying to reassure Mary at the same +time.</p> + +<p>"But it's mighty hard trying to do that through a speaking tube +with a motor making a noise like a boiler factory," mused the +young inventor. Tom worked quickly and to good purpose. In a few +moments, though to Mary they seemed like hours, the machine was +again gliding along on a level keel, and Tom breathed more +easily.</p> + +<p>"And now for my great idea!" he told himself.</p> + +<p>But it was some time before he could give his attention to +that.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_III'></a><h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>THE BIG OFFER</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Working with all the skill he possessed, Tom had got the +aeroplane in proper working order again. As has been said, the +accident was a trivial one, and had he been alone, or with an +experienced aviator, he would have thought little of it. Then, +very likely, he would have volplaned to earth and made the +repairs there. But he did not want to frighten Mary Nestor, so he +fixed the control while gliding along, and made light of it. Thus +his passenger was reassured.</p> + +<p>"Are we all right?" asked Mary through the tube, as they sailed +along.</p> + +<p>"Right as a fiddle," answered Tom, shouting through the same +means of communication.</p> + +<p>"What's that about a riddle?" asked Mary, in surprise at his +seeming flippancy at such a time.</p> + +<p>"I didn't say anything about a riddle—I said we are as fit as +a fiddle!" cried Tom. "Never mind. No use trying to talk with the +racket this motor makes, and it isn't the noisiest of its kind, +either. I'll tell you when we get down. Do you like it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I like it better than I did at first," answered Mary, for +she had managed to understand the last of Tom's questions. Then +he sailed a little higher, circled about, and, a little later, +not to get Mary too tired and anxious, he headed for his landing +field.</p> + +<p>"I'll take you home in the auto," he cried to his passenger. +"We could go up to your house this way—in style—if there was a +field near by large enough to land in. But there isn't. So it +will have to be a plain, every-day auto."</p> + +<p>"That's good enough for me," said Mary. "Though this trip is +wonderful—glorious! I'll go again any time you ask me."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll ask you," said Tom. "And when I do maybe it won't +be so hard to hold a conversation. It will be more like this," +and he shut off the motor and began to glide gently down. The +quiet succeeding the terrific noise of the motor exhaust was +almost startling, and Tom and Mary could converse easily without +using the tube.</p> + +<p>Then followed the landing on the soft, springy turf, a little +glide over the ground, and the machine came to a halt, while +mechanics ran out of the hangar to take charge of it.</p> + +<p>"I'll just go in and change these togs," said Mary, as she +alighted and looked at her leather costume.</p> + +<p>"No, don't," advised Tom. "You look swell in em. Keep 'em on. +They're yours, and you'll need 'em when we go up again. Here +comes the auto. I'll take you right home in it. Keep the aviation +suit on.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what Mr. Damon could have wanted," remarked Tom, as +he drove Mary along the country road.</p> + +<p>"He seemed very much excited," she replied.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he almost always is that way—blessing everything he can +think of. You know that. But this time it was different, I'll +admit. I hope nothing is the matter. I might have stopped and +spoken to him, but I was afraid if I did you'd back out and +wouldn't come for a sky ride."</p> + +<p>"Well, I might have. But now that I've had one, even with an +accident thrown in, I'll go any time you ask me, Tom," and Mary +smiled at the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Shucks, that wasn't a real accident!" he laughed. "But I do +wonder what Mr. Damon wanted."</p> + +<p>"Better go back and find out, Tom," advised Mary, as they +stopped in front of her house.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I want to come in and talk to you. Haven't had a chance +for a good talk today, that motor made such a racket"</p> + +<p>"No, go along now, but come back and see me this afternoon if +you like."</p> + +<p>"I do like, all right! And I suppose Mr. Damon will be fussing +until he sees me. Well, glad you liked your first ride in the +air, Mary—that is, the first one of any account," for Mary had +been in an aeroplane before, though only up a little way—a sort +of "grass-cutting stunt," Tom called it.</p> + +<p>Waving farewell to the pretty girl, the young aviator turned +the auto about and speeded for his home and the shops adjoining +it. His father had not been well, of late, and Tom was a bit +anxious about him.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Damon may bother him, though he wouldn't mean to," thought +Tom. "He seemed to have his mind filled with some new idea. I +wonder if it is anything like mine? No, it couldn't be. Well, +I'll soon find out," and, putting his foot on the accelerator, +Tom sent the machine along at a pace that soon brought him within +sight of his home.</p> + +<p>"Is father all right?" he asked Mrs. Baggert, who was out on +the front porch, as though waiting for him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, Tom, he's all right," the housekeeper answered.</p> + +<p>"Is Mr. Damon with him ?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"He hasn't gone home, has he?"</p> + +<p>"No, he's around somewhere. But some one else is with your +father. Some visitors."</p> + +<p>"Any relations?"</p> + +<p>"No; strangers. They came to see you, and they're rather +impatient. I came out to see if you were in sight. Your father +sent me."</p> + +<p>"Are they bothering him—talking business that I ought to +attend to when he's ill? That mustn't be."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose it is business that the strangers are talking +over with your father, Tom," said Mrs. Baggert, "for I heard sums +of money spoken of. But your father seems to be all right, only +a trifle anxious that you should come."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm here now and I'll attend to things. Where are the +strangers, and who are they?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered the housekeeper. "I never saw them +before, but they're in the library with your father. Do you think +they'll stay to dinner? If you do, I'll have Eradicate or Koku +catch and kill a chicken."</p> + +<p>"If you let one do it don't tell the other about it," said Tom +with a laugh, "or you'll have a chicken race around the yard that +will make the visitors sit up and take notice."</p> + +<p>There was great rivalry between Eradicate Sampson, the aged +colored man, and Koku, the giant, and they were continually +disputing. Each one loved and served Tom in his own way, and +there was jealousy between them. Koku, the giant Tom had brought +with him from the land where the young inventor had been made +captive, was a big, powerful man, and could do things the aged +colored servant could not attempt. But "Rad," as he was often +called, and his mule "Boomerang" had long been fixtures on the +Swift homestead. But old age crept on apace with Eradicate, +though he hated to admit it, and Koku did many things the colored +man had formerly attended to, and Rad was always on the lookout +not to be supplanted. Hence Tom's warning to Mrs. Baggert about +letting the two be entrusted with the same mission of catching a +chicken for the pot.</p> + +<p>"Better get the fowl yourself and say nothing to either of them +about it," Tom advised the housekeeper. "Mr. Damon will stay to +dinner, as he always does when he comes, and as it's near twelve +now, and as I may be delayed talking business to these strangers, +you'd better get up a bigger meal than usual."</p> + +<p>"I will, Tom," promised Mrs. Baggert. And then the young +inventor, having seen that one of the men took the automobile to +the garage, went into the house.</p> + +<p>"Oh, here you are!" was his father's greeting, as he came out +into the hall from the library. "I've been waiting anxiously for +you, my boy. I couldn't think what was keeping you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I had a little trouble with the air machine—nothing +serious."</p> + +<p>A moment later Tom was standing before two well-dressed, +prosperous-looking business men, who smiled pleasantly at him.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Thomas Swift?" interrogated one, the elder, as he held out +his hand.</p> + +<p>"That's my name," answered Tom, pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"I'm Peton Gale, and this gentleman is Boland Ware," went on +the man who had taken Tom's hand. "I'm president and he's +treasurer of the Universal Flying Machine Company, of New York."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said Tom, as he shook hands with Mr. Ware. "I have +heard of your concern. You are doing a lot of government work, +are you not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; war orders. And we're up to our neck in them. This war is +going to be almost as much fought in the air as on the ground, +Mr. Swift."</p> + +<p>"I can well believe that," agreed Tom. "Won't you have a +chair?"</p> + +<p>"Well, we didn't come to stay long," said Mr. Gale with a +laugh, which, somehow or other, grated on Tom and seemed to him +insincere. "Our business is such a rushing one that we don't +spend much time anywhere. To get down to brass tacks, we have +come to see you to put a certain proposition before you, Mr. +Swift. You are open to a business proposition, aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," answered Tom. "That's what I'm here for."</p> + +<p>"I thought so. Well, now I'll tell you, in brief, what we want, +and then Mr. Ware, our treasurer, can elaborate on it, and give +you facts and figures about which I never bother myself. I attend +to the executive end and leave the details to others," and again +came that laugh which Tom did not like.</p> + +<p>"You came here to make me an offer?" asked the young inventor, +wondering to which of his many machines the visitors had +reference.</p> + +<p>"Yes," went on Mr. Gale, "we came here to make you a big offer. +In short, Mr. Swift, we want you to work for our company, and we +are willing to pay you ten thousand dollars a year for the +benefit of your advice and your inventive abilities. Ten thousand +dollars a year! Do you accept?"</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV'></a><h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>MR. DAMON'S WHIZZER</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Characteristic it was of Tom Swift that he did not seem at all +surprised at what most young men would call a liberal offer. +Certainly not many youths of Tom's age would be sought out by a +big manufacturing concern, and offered ten thousand dollars a +year "right off the reel," as Ned Newton expressed it later. But +Tom only smiled and shook his head in negation.</p> + +<p>"What!" cried Mr. Gale, "you mean you won't accept our offer?"</p> + +<p>"I can't," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>"You can't!" exclaimed the treasurer, Mr. Ware. "Oh, I see. Mr. +Gale, a word with you. Excuse us a moment," he added to Tom and +his father.</p> + +<p>The two men consulted in a corner of the library for a moment, +and then, with smiles on their faces, once more turned toward the +young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps you are right, Tom Swift," said Mr. Gale. "Of +course, we recognize your talents and ability, but you cannot +blame us for trying to get talent, as well as material for our +airships, in the cheapest market. But we are not hide-bound, nor +sticklers for any set sum. We'll make that offer fifteen thousand +dollars a year, if you will sign a five-year contract and agree +that we shall have first claim on anything and everything you may +patent or invent in that time. Now, how does that strike you? +Fifteen thousand dollars a year—paid weekly if you wish, and our +Mr. Ware, here, has a form of contract which can be fixed up and +signed within ten minutes, if you agree."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't like to be disagreeable," said Tom with a smile; +"but, really, as I said before, I can't accept your very kind +offer. I may say liberal offer. I appreciate that."</p> + +<p>"You can't accept!" cried Mr. Gale.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure you don't mean 'won't'?" asked Mr. Ware, in a +half growl.</p> + +<p>"You may call it that if you like," replied Tom, a bit coolly, +for he did not like the other's tone, "Only, as I say, I cannot +accept. I have other plans."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you—" began the brusk treasurer, but Mr. Gale, the +president of the Universal Flying Machine Company, stopped his +associate with a warning look.</p> + +<p>"Just a moment, Mr. Swift," begged the president. "Don't be +hasty. We are prepared to make you a last and final offer, and I +do not believe you can refuse it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I certainly will not refuse it without hearing it," said +Tom, with a smile he meant to make good-natured. Yet, truth to +tell, he did not at all like the two visitors. There was +something about them that aroused his antagonism, and he said +later that even if they had offered him a sum which he felt he +ought not, in justice to himself and his father, refuse, he would +have felt a distaste in working for a company represented by the +twain.</p> + +<p>"This is our offer," said Mr. Gale, and he spoke in a pompous +manner which seemed to say: "If you don't take it, why, it will +be the worse for you." He looked at his treasurer for a +confirmatory nod and, receiving it, went on. "We are prepared to +offer and pay you, and will enter into such a contract, with the +stipulation about the inventions that I mentioned before—we are +prepared to pay you—twenty thousand dollars a year! Now what do +you say to that, Tom Swift?</p> + +<p>"Twenty-thousand-dollars-a-year!" repeated Mr. Gale unctuously, +rolling the words off his tongue. "Twen-ty-thou-sand-dol-lars-a- +year! Think of it!"</p> + +<p>"I am thinking of it," said Tom Swift gently, "and I thank you +for your offer. It is, indeed, very generous. But I must give you +the same answer. I cannot accept."</p> + +<p>"Tom!" exclaimed his aged father.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Swift!" exclaimed the two visitors.</p> + +<p>Tom smiled and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know very well what I am saying, and what I am turning +down," he said. "But I simply cannot accept. I have other plans. +I am sorry you have had your trip for nothing," he added to the +visitors, "but, really, I must refuse."</p> + +<p>"Is that your final answer?" asked Mr. Gale.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Don't you want to take a day or two to think it over?" asked +the treasurer. "Don't be hasty. Remember that very few young men +can command that salary, and I may say you will find us liberal +in other ways. You would have some time to yourself."</p> + +<p>"That is what I most need," returned Tom. "Time to myself. No, +thank you, gentlemen, I cannot accept."</p> + +<p>"Be careful!" warned Mr. Gale, and it sounded as though there +might be a threat in his voice. "This is our last offer, and your +last chance. We will not renew this. If you do not accept our +twenty thousand dollars now, you will never get it again."</p> + +<p>"I realize that," said Tom, "and I am prepared to take the +consequences.</p> + +<p>"Very well, then," said Mr. Gale. "There seems nothing for us +to do, Mr. Ware, but to go back to New York. I bid you good-day," +and he bowed stiffly to Tom. "I hope you will not regret your +refusal of our offer."</p> + +<p>"I hope so myself," said Tom, lightly.</p> + +<p>When the visitors had gone Mr. Swift turned toward his son, +and, shaking his head, remarked:</p> + +<p>"Of course, you know your own business best, Tom. Yet I cannot +but feel you have made a mistake."</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Tom. "By not taking that money? I can easily make +that in a year, with an idea I have in mind for an improvement on +an airship. And your new electric motor will soon be ready for +the market. Besides, we don't really need the money."</p> + +<p>"No, not now, Tom, but there is no telling when we may," said +Mr. Swift, slowly. "This big war has made many changes, and +things that brought us in a good income before, hardly sell at +all, now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't worry, Dad! We still have a few shots left in the +locker—in other words, the bank. I'm expecting Ned Newton over +any moment now, to give us the annual statement of our account, +and then we'll know where we stand. I'm not afraid from the money +end. Our business has done well, and it is going to do better. I +have a new idea."</p> + +<p>"That's all very well, Tom," said Mr. Swift, who seemed +oppressed by something. "As you say, money isn't everything, and +I know we shall always have enough to live on. But there is +something about those two men I do not like. They were very angry +at your refusal of their offer. I could see that. Tom, I don't +want to be a croaker, but I think you'll have to watch out for +those men. They're going to be your enemies—your rivals in the +airship field," and Mr. Swift shook his head dolefully.</p> + +<p>"Well, rivalry, when it's clean and above board, is the spice +of trade and invention," returned ~Tom, lightly. "I'm not afraid +of that."</p> + +<p>"No, but it may be unfair and underhand," said Mr. Swift. "I +think it would have been better, Tom, to have accepted their +offer. Twenty thousand a year, clear money, is a good sum."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I may make twice that with something that occurred to +me only a little while ago. Forget about those men, Dad, and I'll +tell you my new idea. But wait, I want Mr. Damon to hear it, too. +Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"He was here a little while ago. He went out when those two men +came and—"</p> + +<p>At that moment, from the garden at the side of the library, the +sound of voices in dispute could be heard.</p> + +<p>"Now yo' all g'wan 'way from yeah!" exclaimed some one who +could be none other than Eradicate Sampson. "Whut fo' yo' all +want to clutter up dish yeah place fo'? Massa Tom said I was to +do de garden wuk, an' I'se gwine to do it! G'wan 'way, Giant!"</p> + +<p>"Ho! You want me to get out, s'pose you put me, black face!" +cried a big voice, that of Koku, the giant.</p> + +<p>"There they go! At it again!" cried Tom with a smile. "Might +have known if I told Rad to do anything that Koku would be +jealous. Well, I'll have to go out now and give that giant +something to do that will tax his strength."</p> + +<p>But as Tom was about to leave the room another voice was heard +in the garden.</p> + +<p>"Now, boys, be nice," said some one soothingly. "The garden is +large enough for you both to work in. Rad, you begin at the lower +end and spade toward the middle. Koku, you begin at the upper end +and work down. Whoever gets to the middle first will win."</p> + +<p>"Ha! Den I'll show dat giant some spade wuk as is spade wuk!" +cried the colored man. "Garden wuk is mah middle name."</p> + +<p>"Be careful, Rad!" laughed Mr. Damon, for he it was who was +trying to act as peacemaker. "Remember that Koku is very strong."</p> + +<p>"Yas, sah! He may be strong, but he's clumsy!" chuckled +Eradicate. "You watch me beat him!"</p> + +<p>"Ho! Black man get stuck in mud!" challenged Koku. "I show +him!"</p> + +<p>Then there was silence, and Tom and his father, looking out, +saw the two disputants beginning to spade the soil while Mr. +Damon, satisfied that he had, for the time being, stopped a +quarrel, turned toward the house.</p> + +<p>"I was just coming to look for you," said Tom. "Sorry I had to +go off in such a hurry and leave you, but I had promised to take +Mary for a ride, and as it was her first one, for a distance, I +didn't want her to back out."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, Tom, that's all right!" said Mr. Damon +genially. "Ladies first every time. But I do want to see you, and +it's about something important."</p> + +<p>"No trouble, I hope?" queried Tom, for the manner of the +eccentric man was rather grave.</p> + +<p>"Trouble? Oh, no! Bless my frying pan, no trouble, Tom! In +fact, it may be the other way about. Tom, I have an idea, and +there may be millions in it! That's it—millions!"</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried the young inventor. "Might as well bite off a big +lump while you're at it. So you have a new idea! Well, I have +myself, but I'll listen to yours first. What is it, Mr. Damon?"</p> + +<p>"It's a new kind of airship, Tom. I haven't got it all worked +out yet, but I can give you a rough outline. On my way over I got +to thinking about balloons, aeroplanes and the like, and it +occurred to me that the present principles are all wrong."</p> + +<p>"So I evolved a new type of machine. I'm going to call it the +Damon Whizzer. Maybe Demon Whizzer would be more appropriate, but +we won't decide on that now. Anyhow, it's going to be a whizzer, +and I want to talk to you about it. There is an entirely new +principle of elevation and propulsion involved in my Whizzer, and +I—"</p> + +<p>At that moment there came a crash and clatter of steel and wood +from the garden, out of sight of which Tom and Mr. Damon had +walked while talking. Then followed a jangle of words.</p> + +<p>"They're at it again!" cried Tom, as he ran toward the side of +the house. "I guess it's a fight this time!"</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_V'></a><h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>TOM'S PROJECT</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Curious was the sight that met the gaze of Tom Swift and Mr. +Wakefield Damon as they rounded the corner of the house and +looked into the newly spaded garden. There stood the giant, Koku, +holding aloft in the air, by one hand, the form of the struggling +colored man, Eradicate Sampson. And Eradicate was vainly trying +to get at his enemy and rival, but was prevented by the long- +distance hold the giant had on him.</p> + +<p>"Yo' let me go, now! Yo' let me go, big man cried Eradicate. +"Ef yo' don't I'll bust yo' wide open, dat's whut I'll do! An' +'sides, I'll tell Massa Tom on yo', dat's whut I'll do!"</p> + +<p>"Ho! You tell—I let you fall!" threatened Koku.</p> + +<p>His threat was dire enough, for such was his size and strength +that he held the colored man nearly nine feet from the ground, +and a fall from that distance would seriously jar Eradicate, if +it did nothing else. The colored man's eyes opened wide as he +heard what Koku said, and then he cried:</p> + +<p>"Let me down! Let me down, an' I won't say nuffin!"</p> + +<p>"An' you let me scatter dirt?" asked Koku. for such was the +giant's idea of working in the garden.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yo' kin scatter de dirt seben ways from Sunday fo' all I +keers!" conceded Eradicate. Then, as he was lowered to the +ground, he and the giant turned and saw Mr. Damon and Tom +approaching.</p> + +<p>"What's wrong?" asked the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"'Scuse me, Massa Tom," began Eradicate, "but didn't yo' tell +me to spade de garden?"</p> + +<p>"I guess I did," admitted Tom Swift.</p> + +<p>"An' you tell me help—yes?" questioned Koku.</p> + +<p>"Well, I thought it would be a little too much for you, Rad," +said Tom, gently. "I thought perhaps you'd like help."</p> + +<p>"Hu! Not him, anyhow!" declared the colored man in great +disgust. "When I git so old dat I cain't spade a garden, den me +an' Boomerang, we-all gwine to die, dat's all I got to say. I was +a-spadin' my part ob de garden, Massa Tom, same laik Mr. Damon +done tole me to, an' dish yeah big mess ob bones steps on my side +ob de middle an—"</p> + +<p>"Him too slow. Koku scatter dirt twice times so fast!" declared +the giant, whose English was not much better than Eradicate's.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see," said Tom. "You are so strong, Koku, that you +finished your part before Eradicate did. Well, it was good of you +to want to help him."</p> + +<p>At this the giant grinned at his rival.</p> + +<p>"At the same time," went on Tom, winking an eye at Mr. Damon, +"Eradicate knows a little more about garden work, on account of +having done it so many years."</p> + +<p>"Ha! Whut I tell yo', Giant!" boasted the colored man. It was +his turn to smile.</p> + +<p>"And so," went on Tom, judicially, "I guess I'll let Rad finish +spading the garden, and you, Koku, can come and help me lift some +heavy engine parts. Mr. Damon wants to explain something to me."</p> + +<p>"Ha! Nothing what so heavy Koku not lift!" boasted the giant.</p> + +<p>"Go on! Lift yo'se'f 'way from heah!" muttered Eradicate as he +picked up his dropped spade. And then, with a smile of +satisfaction, he fell to work in the mellow soil while Tom led +Koku to one of the shops where he set him to lifting heavy motor +parts about in order to get at a certain machine that was stored +away in the back of one of the rooms.</p> + +<p>"That will keep him busy," said the young inventor. "And now, +Mr. Damon, I can listen to you. Do you really think you have a +new idea in airships?"</p> + +<p>"I really think so, Tom. My Whizzer is bound to revolutionize +travel in the air. Let me tell you what I mean. Now cast your +mind back. How many ways are now used to propel an airship or a +dirigible balloon through the air? How many ways?"</p> + +<p>"Two, as far as I know," said Tom. "At least there are only two +that have proved to be practical."</p> + +<p>"Exactly," said Mr. Damon. "One with the propeller, or +propellers, in front, and that is the tractor type. The other has +the propeller in the rear, and that is the pusher type. Both good +as far as they go, but I have something better."</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Tom with a smile.</p> + +<p>"It's a Whizzer," said the eccentric man. "Bless my gold tooth! +but that is the best name I can think of for it. And, really, the +propeller I'm thinking of inventing does whiz around."</p> + +<p>"But are you going to use a tractor or pusher type?" Tom wanted +to know.</p> + +<p>"It's a combination of both," answered Mr. Damon. "As it is +now, Tom, you have to get an aeroplane in pretty speedy motion +before it will rise from the ground, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course. That's the principle on which an aeroplane +rises and keeps aloft, by its speed in the air. As soon as that +speed stops it begins to fall, or volplane, as we call it."</p> + +<p>"Exactly. Now, instead of having to depend on the speed of the +aeroplane for this, why not depend on the speed of the propeller +—in other words, the whizzer?"</p> + +<p>"Well, we do," said Tom, a bit puzzled as to what his friend +was trying to get at. "If the propeller didn't move the airship +wouldn't rise—that is, unless it's of the balloon type."</p> + +<p>"What I mean," said Mr. Damon, "is to have an aeroplane that +will move in the air the same as a boat moves in the water. You +don't have to get the propeller of a boat racing around at the +rate of a million revolutions a minute, more or less, before your +boat will travel, do you? If the engine turns the screw, or +propeller, just over say fifty times a minute you would get some +motion of the boat, wouldn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, some," admitted Tom.</p> + +<p>"And what causes it?" asked Mr. Damon, anticipating a triumph.</p> + +<p>"The resistance of the water to the blades of the screw, or +propeller," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>"Exactly! And it's the resistance of the air to the blades of +an airship propeller that sends the craft along, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. And because of the difference in density between air and +water it becomes necessary to revolve an aeroplane propeller many +times faster than a boat propeller. It's the density that makes +the difference, Mr. Damon. If air were as dense as water we could +have comparatively slow-moving motors and propellers and—"</p> + +<p>"Ha! There you have it, Tom! And there is where my Whizzer— +Wakefield Damon's Whizzer—is going to revolutionize air +travel!" cried the eccentric man. "The difference in density! If +air were as dense as water the problem would be solved. And I +have solved it! I'm going to turn the trick, Tom! One more +question. How can air be made as dense as water, Tom Swift?"</p> + +<p>"Why, by condensation or compression, I suppose," was the +rather slow answer. "You know they have condensed, or compressed, +air until it is liquid. I've done it myself, as an experiment."</p> + +<p>"That's it, Tom! That's it!" cried Mr. Damon in delight. +"Compressed air will do the trick! Not compressed to a liquid, +exactly, but almost so. I'm going to revolve the propellers of my +new airship in compressed air, so dense that they will not have +to have a speed of more than seven hundred revolutions a minute. +What's that compared to the three to ten thousand revolutions of +the propellers now used? The propellers of Damon's Whizzer will +be of the pusher type, and will revolve in dense, compressed air, +almost like water, and that will do away with high speed motors, +with all their complications, and make traveling in the clouds as +simple as taking out a little one-cylinder motor boat. How's +that, Tom Swift? How's that for an idea?"</p> + +<p>To Mr. Damon's disappointment, Tom was not enthusiastic. The +young inventor gazed at his eccentric friend, and then said +slowly:</p> + +<p>"Well, that's all right in theory, but how is it going to work +out in practice?"</p> + +<p>"That's what I came to see you about, Tom," was the reply. +"Bless my tall hat! but that's just why I hurried over here. I +wanted to tell you when I saw you going off on a trip with Miss +Nestor. That's my big idea—Damon's Whizzer —propellers +revolving in compressed air like water. Isn't that great?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry to shatter your air castle," said Tom; "but for the +life of me I can't see how it will work. Of course, in theory, if +you could revolve a big-bladed propeller in very dense, or in +liquid, air, there would be more resistance than in the rarefied +atmosphere of the upper regions. And, if this could be done, I +grant you that you could use slower motors and smaller propeller +blades—more like those of a motor boat. But how are you going to +get the condensed air?"</p> + +<p>"Make it!" said Mr. Damon promptly. "Air pumps are cheap. Just +carry one or two on board the aeroplane, and condense the air as +you go along. That's a small detail that can easily be worked +out. I leave that to you."</p> + +<p>"I'd rather you wouldn't," said Tom. "That's the whole +difficulty—compressing your air. Wait! I'll explain it to you."</p> + +<p>Then the young inventor went into details. He told of the +ponderous machinery needed to condense air to a form +approximating water, and spoke of the terrible pressure exerted +by the liquid atmosphere.</p> + +<p>"Anything that you would gain by having a slow-speed motor and +smaller propeller blades, would be lost by the ponderous air- +condensing machinery you would need," Tom told Mr. Damon. +"Besides, if you could surround your propellers with a strata of +condensed air, it would create such terrible cold as to freeze +the propeller blades and make them as brittle as glass.</p> + +<p>"Why, I have taken a heavy piece of metal, dipped it into +liquid air, and I could shatter the steel with a hammer as easily +as a sheet of ice. The cold of liquid air is beyond belief.</p> + +<p>"Attempts have been made to make motors run with liquid air, +but they have not succeeded. To condense air and to carry it +about so that propellers might revolve in it, would be out of the +question."</p> + +<p>"You think so, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure of it!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear! That's too bad. Bless my overshoes, but I thought I +had a new idea. Well, you ought to know. So Damon's Whizzer goes +on the scrap heap before ever it's built. Well, we'll say no more +about it. You ought to know best, Tom. I wasn't thinking of it so +much for myself as for you. I thought you'd like some new idea to +work on."</p> + +<p>"Much obliged, Mr. Damon, but I have a new idea," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"You have? What is it? Tell me—that is, if it isn't a secret," +went on the eccentric man, as much delighted over Tom's new plan +as he had been over his own Whizzer, doomed to failure so soon.</p> + +<p>"It isn't a secret from you," said Tom. "I got the idea while I +was riding with Mary. I wanted to talk to her—to tell her not to +jump out when we had a little accident—but I had trouble making +myself understood because of the noise of the motor."</p> + +<p>"They do make a great racket," conceded Mr. Damon. "But I don't +suppose anything can be done about it."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why there can't!" exclaimed Tom. "And that's my +new idea—to make a silent aircraft motor—perhaps silent +propeller blades, though it's the motor that makes the most +noise. And that's what I'm going to do—invent a silent +aeroplane. Not because I want so much to talk when I take +passengers up in the air, but I believe such a motor would be +valuable, especially for scouting planes in war work. To go over +the enemy's lines and not be heard would be valuable many times.</p> + +<p>"And that's what I'm going to do—work on a silent motor for +Uncle Sam. I've got the germ of an idea and now—"</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said a voice behind Mr. Damon and Tom, and, +turning, the young inventor beheld the form of Mr. Peton Gale, +president of the Universal Flying Machine Company.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI'></a><h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>MAKING PLANS</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Tom Swift had drawn pencil and paper from his pocket, and, as +he and Mr. Damon were sitting on the steps of one of the shops, +the young inventor was about to demonstrate by a drawing part of +his new project, when the interruption came in the shape of one +of the men who had, an hour before, made a business offer to Tom.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," went on Mr. Peton Gale, "but Mr. Ware and I got to +talking it over on our way to the station—the matter of having +you in our company, Mr. Swift—and we concluded that it was worth +twenty-five thousand dollars a year for us to have you. So I came +back—"</p> + +<p>"It isn't of the slightest use, Mr. Gale, I assure you," said +Tom, a bit heatedly, for he did not like the persistency of this +man, nor did he like his coming on the factory grounds +unannounced and in this secret manner. "I told you I could not +accept your offer. It is not altogether a matter of money. My +word was final."</p> + +<p>"Oh very well, if you put it that way," said Mr. Gale stiffly, +"of course there is nothing more to say. But I thought perhaps +you did not consider we had offered you enough and—"</p> + +<p>"Your offer is fair enough from a financial standpoint," said +Tom; "but I simply cannot accept it. I have other plans. +Jackson!" he called to one of his mechanics who was passing, +"kindly see Mr. Gale to the gate, and then let me know how it was +any one came in here without a permit."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said the mechanic, as he stood significantly +waiting.</p> + +<p>"There was no one at the gate when I came in," said Mr. Gale, +and his manner was antagonizing. "I wanted to speak to you—to +ask you to reconsider your offer—so I came back."</p> + +<p>"It is against the rules to admit strangers to the shop +grounds," said Tom. "Good-day!"</p> + +<p>The president of the Universal Flying Machine Company did not +respond, but there was a look on his face as he turned away that, +had Tom seen it, might have caused him some uneasiness. But he +did not see. Instead, he resumed his talk with Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Tom, your idea is most interesting," declared the eccentric +man. "I hope you will be able to work it out!"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to try," said the young inventor. "I hope that man— +Mr. Gale—didn't hear anything of what I was saying. He sneaked +up on us before I was aware any one was near but ourselves."</p> + +<p>"I don't imagine he heard very much, Tom," said Mr. Damon. "He +may have heard you mention a silent motor—"</p> + +<p>"That's just what I wish he hadn't heard," broke in Tom. +"That's the germ of the idea, and once it becomes known that I am +working on that— Well, there's no use crying over spilled milk," +and he smiled at the homely proverb. "I'll have to work in +secret, once I've started."</p> + +<p>"Do you think the government would use it, Tom?" asked his +friend.</p> + +<p>"I should think it would be glad to. Consider what a wonderful +part airships are playing in the present war. It really is a +struggle to see which will be the master of the sky—the Allies +or the Germans—and, up to recently, the Huns had the advantage. +Then the Allies, recognizing how vital it was, began to forge +ahead, and now Uncle Sam with his troops under General Pershing +is leading everything, or will lead shortly. We have been a bit +slow with our aircraft production, but now we are booming along. +Uncle Sam will soon have the mastery of the sky."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," sighed Mr. Damon. "We must beat the Germans!"</p> + +<p>Briefly, Tom spoke of what Pershing's men were doing with their +aeroplanes in France, and mention was made of what the French and +British had done prior to the entrance of the United States into +the World War.</p> + +<p>"While we were yet neutral, Americans had made gallant names +for themselves flying for France, and with my silent motor they +ought to do better," declared Tom.</p> + +<p>"Is silence its chief recommendation?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Tom. "Or rather, it will be when I have it +perfected. Aeroplane motors now are about as compact and speedy +as they can be made. It is only the terrific noise that is a +handicap. It is a handicap to the pilots and observers in the +craft, as they cannot communicate except through a special +speaking tube, and this is not always satisfactory or sure. Then, +too, the noise of an airship proclaims its approach to the enemy, +sometimes long before it can be seen.</p> + +<p>"With a silent motor all this would be done away with. With my +new craft, in case I can perfect it, the enemy's lines can be +approached as silently as the Indians used to approach the log +cabins of the white settlers. That will be its great advantage— +not that conversation can be more easily carried on, for that is, +after all, an unimportant detail. But to approach the enemy's +lines in the silence of the night would be a distinct gain."</p> + +<p>"I believe it would, Tom!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "And I should +think, too, that Uncle Sam would be glad to get such a motor," he +added.</p> + +<p>"Well, he'll have one to take if he wants it, if I can make my +plans a success," declared Tom. "That is, unless those other +fellows get ahead of me."</p> + +<p>"What other fellows?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Gale, Ware and their crowd," was the answer. "I fancy they are +provoked because I wouldn't agree to work for them, and now, that +Gale overheard—as he must have—what I propose working on, they +may try that game themselves."</p> + +<p>"You mean try to turn out a silent motor?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. It would be a big feather in their cap for their company, +so far, hasn't been very successful on government orders. That's +why they came to me, I guess."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't be surprised, Tom," conceded Mr. Damon. "Since the +government accepted your giant cannon and your great searchlight, +you have come into greater prominence than ever before. And those +two things are a wonderful success."</p> + +<p>"Yes," admitted Tom, modestly enough, "the big electric light +seems to have been of some benefit on the European battle front, +and though they haven't been able to make and transport as many +of my giant cannons as I'd like to see over there, it is +progressing, I understand."</p> + +<p>And this is true. For the details of these two inventions of +Tom Swift's I refer my readers to the books bearing those titles. +Sufficient to state here that the government was using these two +inventions, and there had been no necessity for commandeering +them either, since Tom had freely offered them at the declaration +of war with Germany.</p> + +<p>"Well, since I can't help you with my 'Whizzer,'" said Mr. +Damon, with a smile, "let me do what I can toward your silent +motor, Tom. What are you going to call it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know—hadn't thought of a name. I guess 'Air +Scout' would be as good as any. That's what it will be—a machine +for silently scouting in the air. And now to get down to brass +tacks, as the poet says, I believe I will—"</p> + +<p>"Gentleman to see you, Mr. Swift," interrupted Jackson.</p> + +<p>"Bless my penwiper!" cried Mr. Damon. "More visitors! I hope it +isn't Gale or Ware come back to see what they can spy on!"</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII'></a><h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>A PROBLEM IN SOUND</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Tom Swift looked up with a distinct appearance of being annoyed +that was unusual with him, for he was, nearly always, +good-natured. But the frown that had replaced the pleasant look +on his face while he was talking to Mr. Damon about the projected +new air scout was at once wiped away as he looked at the card +Jackson held out to him.</p> + +<p>"Bring him in right away!" he ordered. "He needn't have stood +on that ceremony."</p> + +<p>"Well, he said it was a business call," returned the +mechanician with a cheerful grin, and he said he wanted it done +according to form. So he gave me his card to bring you."</p> + +<p>"Who is it?" asked Mr. Damon, with the privilege of an old +friend.</p> + +<p>"It's Ned Newton," Tom answered; "though why he's putting on +all this formality I can't fathom."</p> + +<p>Jackson went back to the main gate and told the man on guard +there to admit Ned, who had so formally sent in his card.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Mr. Swift, I believe?" began the bank employee with that +suave, formal air which usually precedes a business meeting.</p> + +<p>"That is my name," said Tom, with a suppressed grin, and he +spoke as stiffly as though to a perfect stranger.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Tom Swift, the great inventor?" went on Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Ah, then I am at the right place. Just sign here, please, on +the dotted line," and be held out a blank form, and a fountain +pen to Tom, who took them half mechanically.</p> + +<p>"Huh? What's the big idea, Ned?" asked the young inventor, +unable longer to carry on the joke. "Is this a warrant for my +arrest, or merely a testimonial to you. If it's the latter, and +concerns your nerve, I'll gladly sign it."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's something like that!" laughed Ned. "That's your +application for another block of Liberty Bonds, Tom, and I want +you, as a personal favor to me, as a business favor to the bank, +and as your plain duty to Uncle Sam, to double your last +subscription."</p> + +<p>Tom looked at the sum Ned had filled in on the blank form, and +uttered a slight whistle of surprise.</p> + +<p>"That's all right now," said Ned, with the air of a +professional salesman. "You can stand that and more, too. I'm +letting you off easy. Why, I got Mary's father—Mr. Nestor—for +twice what he took last time, and Mary herself—hard as she's +working for the Red Cross—gave me a nice application. So it's up +to you to—"</p> + +<p>"Nuff said!" exclaimed Tom, sententiously, as he signed his +name. "I may have to reconsider my recent refusal of the offer of +the Universal Flying Machine Company, though, if I haven't money +enough to meet this subscription, Ned."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you'll meet it all right! Much obliged," and Ned folded +the Liberty Bond subscription paper and put it in his pocket. +"But did you turn down the offer from those people?"</p> + +<p>"I did," answered Tom. "But how did you know about it, Ned?"</p> + +<p>"First let me say that I'm glad you decided to have nothing to +do with them. They're a rich firm, and have lots of money, but I +wouldn't trust 'em, even if they have some government contracts. +The way I happened to know they were likely to make you an offer +is this," continued Ned Newton.</p> + +<p>"They do business with one of the New York banks with which my +bank—notice the accent on the my, Tom—is connected. The other +day I happened to see some correspondence about you. These flying +machine people asked our bank to find out certain things about +you, and, as a matter of business, we had to give the +information. Sort of a commercial agency report, you know, +nothing unusual, and it isn't the first time it's been done since +your business got so large. But that's how I happened to know +these fellows contemplated dickering with you."</p> + +<p>"Do you know Gale or Ware?" Tom asked.</p> + +<p>"Not personally. But in a business way, Tom, I'd warn you to +look out for them, as they're sharp dealers. They put one over on +the government all right, and there may be some unpleasant +publicity to it later. But they're putting up a big bluff, and +pretending they can turn out a lot of flying machines for use in +Europe. Why don't you get busy on that end of the game, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"I know you've more than done your bit, with Liberty Bonds, +subscriptions to the Y. M. C. A. and other war work, besides your +war tank and other inventions. But you're such a shark on flying +machines I should think you'd offer your factory to the +government for the production of aeroplanes."</p> + +<p>"I would in a minute, Ned, and you know it; but the fact of the +matter is my shops aren't equipped for the production of anything +in large numbers. We do mostly an experimenting business here, +making only one or two of a certain machine. I have told the +government officials they can have anything I've got, and you +know they wouldn't let me enlist when I was working on the war +tank."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I remember that," said Ned. "You're no slacker! I wanted +to shoulder a rifle, too, but they keep me at this Liberty Loan +work. Well, Uncle Sam ought to know."</p> + +<p>"That's what I say," agreed Tom, "and that's why I haven't gone +to the front myself. And now, as it happens, I've got something +else in mind that may help Uncle Sam."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"A silent flying machine for scout work on the battle front," +Tom told his friend, and then he gave a few details, such as +those he had been telling Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Then I don't wonder you turned down the offer of the Universal +people," remarked Ned, at the conclusion of the recital. "This +will be a heap more help to the government, Tom, than working for +those people, even at twenty-five thousand dollars a year. And if +you get short, and can't meet your newest Liberty Bond payments, +why, I guess the bank will stretch your credit a little."</p> + +<p>"Thanks!" laughed Tom, "but I'll try not to ask them."</p> + +<p>The friends talked together a little longer, and then Ned had +to take his departure to solicit more subscriptions, while Mr. +Damon went with him, the eccentric man saying he would go home to +Waterfield.</p> + +<p>"But, bless my overshoes, Tom!" he exclaimed, as he departed, +"don't forget to let me know when you have your silent motor +working. I want to see it."</p> + +<p>"I'll let you know," was the promise given by the young +inventor.</p> + +<p>"And watch out for those Universal people," warned Ned. "I'm +not telling you this as a bank official, for I'm not supposed to, +but it's personal."</p> + +<p>"I'll be on the watch," said Tom. And, as he went into his +private workshop, he wondered why it was his father and Ned had +both warned him not to trust Gale and Ware.</p> + +<p>The next few days were busy ones for Tom Swift. Once he had +made up his mind to go to work seriously on a silent motor, all +else was put aside. He sent a note to Mary Nestor, telling her +what he was going to do, and, asking her to say nothing about it, +which, of course, Mary agreed to.</p> + +<p>"Come and see me when you can," she sent back word, "but I know +you won't have much chance when you're experimenting with your +invention. And I shall be working so hard for the Red Cross that +I sha'n't get much chance to entertain you. But the war can't +last forever."</p> + +<p>"No," agreed Tom with a sigh, as he put away her letter, "and +thank goodness that it can't!"</p> + +<p>The young inventor threw himself into the perplexing work of +inventing a silent motor with all the fervor he had given to the +production of his war tank, his giant cannon, his wonderful +searchlight and other machines.</p> + +<p>"And," mused Tom, as he sat at his work table with pencil and +paper before him, "since this is a problem in acoustics, I had +best begin. I suppose by going back to first principles, and +after determining what makes an aeroplane engine noisy, try to +figure out how to make it quiet. Now as to the first, the +principle causes of noise are—"</p> + +<p>And at that instant there broke on Tom's ears a succession of +discordant sounds which seemed to be a combination of an Indian's +war whoop and a college student's yells at a football game.</p> + +<p>"Now I wonder what that is!" mused the young inventor as he +hastily arose. "Better solve that problem before I tackle the +aeroplane motor."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII'></a><h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>THROUGH THE ROOF</h3> + +<br /> + +<p>Tom rushed from his private office, and when he reached the +outer door he heard with more distinctness the sounds that had +alarmed him. They seemed to come from a small building given over +to electrical apparatus, and which, at the time, was not supposed +to be in use. It had been Tom's workroom, so to speak, when he +was developing his electric runabout and rifle, but of late he +had not spent much time in it.</p> + +<p>"Somebody's in there !" reflected the young inventor, as he +heard yells coming from the open door of the place. "And if it +isn't Koku and Eradicate I miss my guess! Wonder what they can be +doing there."</p> + +<p>He crossed the yard between his private office and the +electrical shop in a few rapid strides, and, as he entered the +latter place, he was greeted with a series of wild yells.</p> + +<p>"Good volume of sound here, at all events," mused Tom. "Almost +as much as my motor made when I was trying to talk to Mary. Hello +there! What's going on? Is any one hurt? What's the matter?" he +cried, for, at first, he could see no one in the dim light of the +place. The interior was a maze of electrical apparatus.</p> + +<p>"Who's here?" demanded Tom, as he advanced.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Master! Come quick! Koku 'most dead an' no can let go!" +was the cry.</p> + +<p>"Yo' jest bet yo' cain't let go!" chimed in the voice of +Eradicate. "I done knowed yo would git into trouble ef yo' come +heah, an' I'se glad ob it! So I is!"</p> + +<p>"What is it, Rad? What has happened to Koku?" cried Tom, +running forward, for though no very powerful current could be +turned on in the electrical shop at this period of unuse, there +was enough to be very painful. "What is it, Rad?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, dat big foolish giant, Koku, done got his se'f into +trouble!" chuckled the colored man. "He done got holt ob one ob +dem air contraptions, Massa Tom, an' he cain't let go! Ha! Ha! +Golly! Look at him squirm!" and Rad laughed shrilly, which +accounted for some of the sounds Tom had heard.</p> + +<p>Then came yells of rage and pain from the giant, and they were +so loud and vigorous, mingling with Eradicate's as they did, that +it was no wonder Tom was startled. The sounds were heard in the +other shops, and men came running out. But before then Tom had +put an end to the trouble.</p> + +<p>One look showed him what had happened. Just how or why Koku and +Eradicate had entered the electrical shop Tom did not then stop +to inquire. But he saw that the giant had grasped the handles of +one of the electric machines, designed for charging Leyden jars +used in Tom's experiments, and the powerful, though not +dangerous, current had so paralyzed, temporarily, the muscles of +the giant's hands and arms that he could not let go, and there he +was, squirming, and not knowing how to turn off the current, and +unable to ease himself, while Eradicate stood and laughed at him, +fairly howling with delight.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Guess yo' won't do no mo' spadin' in' Massa Tom's garden +right away, big man!" taunted Eradicate.</p> + +<p>"Be quiet, Rad!" ordered Tom, as he reached up and pulled out +the switch, thus shutting off the current. "This isn't anything +to laugh at."</p> + +<p>"But he done look so funny, Massa Tom!" pleaded the colored +man. "He done squirm laik—"</p> + +<p>But Eradicate did not finish what he intended to say. Once free +from the powerful current, the giant looked at his numb hands, +and then, seeming to think that Eradicate was the cause of it +all, he sprang at the colored man with a yell. But Eradicate did +not stay to see what would happen. With a howl of terror, he +raced out of the door, and, old and rheumatic as he was, he +managed to gain the stable of his mule, Boomerang, over which he +had his humble but comfortable quarters.</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess he's safe for a while!" laughed Tom, as he saw +the giant turn away, shaking his fist at the closed door, for +Koku, big as he was, stood in mortal terror of the mule's heels.</p> + +<p>Tom locked the door of the electrical shop and Went back to his +interrupted problem. From Jackson he learned that Koku and +Eradicate had merely happened to stroll into the forbidden place, +which had been left open by accident. There, it appeared, Koku +had handled some of the machinery, ending by switching on the +current of the machine the handles of which he later +unsuspectingly picked up. Then he received a shock he long +remembered, and for many days he believed Eradicate had been +responsible for it, and there was more than the usual hostile +feeling between the two. But Eradicate was innocent of that +trick, at all events.</p> + +<p>"Though," said Tom, telling his father about it later, "Rad +would have turned on the current if he had known he could make +trouble for Koku by it. I never saw their like for having +disagreements!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but they are both devoted to you, Tom," said the aged +inventor. "But what is this you hinted at—a silent motor you +called it, I believe? Are you really serious in trying to invent +one?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Dad, I am. I think there's a big field for an aeroplane +that could travel along over the enemy's lines—particularly at +night—and not be heard from below. Think of the scout work that +could be done.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, it could be done if you could get a silent motor, +or propellers that made no noise, Tom. But I don't believe it can +be done."</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe not, Dad. But I'm going to try!" and Tom, after a +further talk with his father, began work in earnest on the big +problem. That it was a big one Tom was not disposed to deny, and +that it would be a valuable invention even his somewhat skeptical +father admitted.</p> + +<p>"How are you going to start, Tom?" asked Mr. Swift, several +days after the big idea had come to the young man.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to experiment a bit, at first. I've got a lot of old +motors, that weren't speedy enough for any of my flying machines, +and I'm going to make them over. If I spoil them the loss won't +amount to anything, and if I succeed —well, maybe I can help out +Uncle Sam a bit more."</p> + +<p>As Tom had said he would do, he began at the very foundation, +and studied the fundamental principles of sound.</p> + +<p>"Sound," the young inventor told Ned Newton, in speaking about +the problem, "is a sensation which is peculiar to the ear, though +the vibrations caused by sound waves may be felt in many parts of +the body. But the ear is the great receiver of sound."</p> + +<p>"You aren't going to invent a sort of muffler for the ears, are +you, Tom?" asked Ned. "That would be an easy way of solving the +problem, but I doubt if you could get the Germans to wear your +ear-tabs so they wouldn't hear the sound of the Allied +aeroplanes."</p> + +<p>"No, I'm not figuring on doing the trick that way," said Tom +with a laugh. "I've really got to cut down the sound of the motor +and the propeller blades, so a person, listening with all his +ears, won't hear any noise, unless he's within a few feet of the +plane."</p> + +<p>"Well, I can tell you, right off the reel, how to do it," said +the bank employee.</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Tom eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Run your engine and propellers in a vacuum," was the prompt +reply.</p> + +<p>"Hum!" said Tom, musingly. "Yes, that would be a simple way +out, and I'll do it, if you'll tell me how to breathe in a +vacuum."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I didn't agree to do that," laughed Ned.</p> + +<p>But he had spoken the truth, as those who have studied physics +well know. There must be an atmosphere for the transmission of +sound, which is the reason all is cold and silent and still at +the moon. There is no atmosphere there. Sound implies vibration. +Something, such as liquid, gas, or solid, must be set in motion +to produce sound, and for the purpose of science the air we +breathe may be considered a gas, being composed of two.</p> + +<p>Not only must the object, either solid, liquid, or gaseous, be +in motion to produce sound, but the air surrounding the vibrating +body must also be moving in unison with it. And lastly there must +be some medium of receiving the sound waves—the ear or some part +of the body. Totally deaf persons may be made aware of sound +through the vibrations received through their hands or feet. They +receive, of course, only the more intense, or largest, sound +waves, and can not hear notes of music nor spoken words, though +they may feel the vibration when a piano is played. And, as Ned +has said, no sound is produced in a vacuum.</p> + +<p>"But," said Tom, "since I can't run my aeroplane in a vacume, +or even have the propellers revolve in one, it's up to me to +solve the problem some other way. The propellers don't really +make noise enough to worry about when they're high in the air. +It's the exhaust from the motor, and to get rid of that will be +my first attempt."</p> + +<p>"Can it be done?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," was Tom's frank answer.</p> + +<p>"They do it on an automobile to a great extent," went on Ned. +"Some of 'em you cant hardly hear."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but an aeroplane engine runs many, many times faster than +the motor of an auto," said Tom, "and there are more explosions +to muffle. I doubt if the muffler of an auto would cut down the +sound of an aero engine to any appreciable extent. But, of +course, I'll try along those lines."</p> + +<p>"They have mufflers or silencers for guns and rifles," went on +Ned. "Couldn't you make a big one of those contraptions and put +it on an aeroplane?"</p> + +<p>"I doubt it," said Tom, shaking his head. "Of course it's the +same principle as that in an auto muffler, or on a motor boat—a +series of baffle plates arranged within a hollow cylinder. But +all such devices cut down power, and I don't want to do that. +However, I'm going to solve the problem or—bust!"</p> + +<p>And Tom came near "busting," Ned remarked later, when he and +his friend talked over the progress of the invention.</p> + +<p>Two weeks had passed since the start of his evolution of his +new idea, and following the visiting of the representatives of +the Universal Flying Machine Company. Since then neither Gale nor +Ware had communicated with Tom.</p> + +<p>"But I must be on the watch against them," thought the young +inventor. "I'm pretty sure Gale heard me mention what I was going +to try to invent, and he may get ahead of me, and put a silent +motor on the market first. Not that I'm afraid of being done out +of any profits, but I simply don't want to be beaten."</p> + +<p>The details of Tom's invention cannot be gone into, but, +roughly, it was based on the principle of not only a muffler but +also of producing less noise when the charges of gasoline +exploded in the cylinders. It is, of course, the explosion of +gasoline mixed with air that causes an internal combustion engine +to operate. And it is the expulsion of the burned gases that +causes the exhaust and makes the noise that is heard.</p> + +<p>Tom was working along the well-known line of the rate of travel +of sound, which progresses at the rate of about 1090 feet a +second when air is at the freezing point. And, roughly, with +every degree increase in the atmosphere's temperature the +velocity of sound increases by one foot. Thus at a temperature of +100 degrees Fahrenheit, or 68 degrees above freezing, there would +be added to the 1090 feet the 68 feet, making sound travel at 100 +degrees Fahrenheit about 1158 feet a second.</p> + +<p>Tom had set up in his shop a powerful, but not very speedy, old +aeroplane engine, and had attached to it the device he hoped +would help him toward solving his problem of cutting down the +noise. He had had some success with it, and, after days and +nights of labor, he invited his father and Ned, as well as Mr. +Damon, over to see what he hoped would be a final experiment.</p> + +<p>His visitors had assembled in the shop, and Eradicate was +setting out some refreshments which Tom had provided, the colored +man being in his element now.</p> + +<p>"What's all this figuring, Tom ?" asked Mr. Damon, as he saw a +series of calculations on some sheets of paper lying on Tom's +desk.</p> + +<p>"That's where I worked out how much faster sound traveled in +hydrogen gas than in the ordinary atmosphere," was the answer. +"It goes about four times as fast, or nearly four thousand two +hundred feet a second. You remember the rule, I suppose. 'The +speed of sonorous vibrations through gases varies inversely as +the squares of the weights of equal volumes of the gases,' or, in +other words—"</p> + +<p>"Give it to us chiefly in 'other words,' if you please, Tom!" +pleaded Ned, with a laugh. "Let that go and do some tricks. Start +the engine and let's see if we can hear it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you can hear it all right," said Tom, as he approached the +motor, which was mounted on a testing block. "The thing isn't +perfected yet, but I hope to have it soon. Rad! Where is that +black rascal? Oh, there you are! Come here, Rad!"</p> + +<p>"Yaas sah, Massa Tom! Is I gwine to help yo' all in dish yeah +job?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Just take hold of this lever, and when I say so pull it +as hard as you can."</p> + +<p>"Dat's whut I will, Massa Tom. Golly! ef dat no 'count giant +was heah now he'd see he ain't de only one whut's got muscle. +I'll pull good an' hard, Massa Tom."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's what I want you to. Now I guess we're all ready. +Can you see, Dad—and Ned and Mr. Damon?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," they answered. They stood near the side wall of the +shop, while Tom and Eradicate were at the testing block, on which +the motor, with the noise-eliminating devices attached, had been +temporarily mounted.</p> + +<p>"All ready," called the young inventor, as he turned on the gas +and threw over the electrical switch. "All ready! Pull the +starting lever, Rad. and when it's been running a little I'll +throw on the silencer and you can see the difference."</p> + +<p>The motor began to hum, and there was a deafening roar, just as +there always is when the engine of an aeroplane starts. It was as +though half a dozen automobile engines were being run with the +mufflers cut out.</p> + +<p>"Now I'll show you the difference!" yelled Tom, though such was +the noise that not a word could be heard. "This shows you what my +silencer will do."</p> + +<p>Tom pulled another lever. There was at once a cessation of the +deafening racket, though it was not altogether ended. Then, after +a moment or two, there suddenly came a roar as though a blast had +been let off in the shop.</p> + +<p>Tom and Eradicate were tossed backward, head over heels, as +though by the giant hands of Koku himself, and Mr. Damon, Ned, +and Tom's father saw the motor fly from the testing block and +shoot through the roof of the building with a rending, crashing, +and splintering sound that could be heard for a mile.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX'></a><h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>AFTER A SPY</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Curious as it may seem, Eradicate, the oldest and certainly not +the most energetic of the party assembled in the experiment room, +was the first to recover himself and arise. Tottering to his feet +he gave one look at the testing block, whence the motor had torn +itself. Then he looked at the prostrate figures around him, none +of them hurt, but all stunned and very much startled. Then the +gaze of Eradicate traveled to the hole in the roof. It was a +gaping, ragged hole, for the motor was heavy and the roof of +flimsy material. And then the colored man exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Good land ob massy! Did I do dat?"</p> + +<p>His tone was one of such startled contrition, and so tragic, +that Tom Swift, rueful as he felt over the failure of his +experiment and the danger they had all been in, could not help +laughing.</p> + +<p>"I take it, hearing that from you, Tom, that we're all right," +said Ned Newton, as he recovered himself and brushed some dirt +off his coat. Ned was a natty dresser.</p> + +<p>"Yes, we seem to be all right," replied Tom slowly. "I can't +say what damage the flying motor has done outside, but—"</p> + +<p>"Bless my insurance policy! but what happened?" asked Mr. +Damon. "I saw Eradicate pull on that lever as you told him to, +Tom, and then things all went topsy-turvy! Did he pull the wrong +handle?"</p> + +<p>"No, it wasn't Rad's fault at all," said Tom. "The trouble was, +as I guess I'll find when I investigate, that I put too much +power into the motor, and the muffler didn't give any chance for +the accumulated exhaust gases to expand and escape. I didn't +allow for that, and they simply backed up, compressed and +exploded. I guess that's the whole explanation."</p> + +<p>"I'm inclined to agree with you, Son," said Mr. Swift dryly. +"Don't try to get rid of all the noise at once. Eliminate it by +degrees and it will be safer."</p> + +<p>"I guess so," agreed Tom.</p> + +<p>By this time a score of workmen from the other shops had +congregated around the one though the roof of which the motor had +been blown. Tom opened the door to assure Jackson and the others +that no one was hurt, and then the young inventor saw the +exploded motor had buried in the dirt a short distance away from +the experiment building.</p> + +<p>"Lucky none of us were standing over it when it went up," said +Tom, as he made an inspection of the broken machine. "We'd have +gone through the roof with it."</p> + +<p>"She certainly went sailing!" commented Ned. "Must have been a +lot of power there, Tom."</p> + +<p>And this was evidenced by the bent and twisted rods that had +held the motor to the testing block, and by the cylinders, some +of which were torn apart as though made of paper instead of heavy +steel. But for the fact that all the force of the explosion was +directly upward, instead of at the sides, none might have been +left alive in the shop. All had escaped most fortunately, and +they realized this.</p> + +<p>"Well," queried Ned, as Tom gave orders to have the damaged +machine removed and the roof repaired, "does this end the +wonderful silent motor, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"End it! What do you mean—"</p> + +<p>"I mean are you going to experiment any further?"</p> + +<p>"Why, of course! Just because I've had one failure doesn't mean +that I'm going to give up. Especially when I know what the matter +was—not leaving any vent for the escaping gases. Why this isn't +anything. When I was perfecting my giant cannon I was nearly +blown up more than once, and you remember how we got stuck in the +submarine."</p> + +<p>"I should say I did!" exclaimed Ned with a shudder. "I don't +want any more of that. But as between being blown through a roof +and held at the bottom of the sea, I don't know that there's much +choice."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps not," agreed Tom. "But as for ending my +experiments, I wouldn't dream of such a thing! Why, I've only +just begun! I'll have a silent motor yet!"</p> + +<p>"And a non-explosive one, I hope," added Mr. Damon dryly. +"Bless my shoe buttons, Tom, but if my wife knew what danger I'd +been in she'd never let me come over to see you any more."</p> + +<p>"Well, the next time I invite you to a test I'll be more +careful," promised the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"There isn't going to be any next time as far as I'm +concerned!" laughed Ned. "I think it's safer to sell Liberty +Bonds."</p> + +<p>And, though they joked about it, they all realized the narrow +escape they had had. As for Eradicate, once he knew he had not +been the one who caused the damage, he felt rather proud of the +part he had taken in the mishap, and for many days he boasted +about it to Koku.</p> + +<p>True to his determination, Tom Swift did not give up his +experimental work on the silent motor. The machine that had been +blown through the roof was useless now, and it was sent to the +scrap heap, after as much of it as possible had been salvaged. +Then Tom got another piece of apparatus out of his store room and +began all over again.</p> + +<p>He worked along the same lines as at first—providing a chamber +for the escaping gases of the exhaust to expend their noise and +energy in, at the same time laboring to cut down the concussion +of the explosions in the cylinder without reducing their force +any. And that it was no easy problem to do either of these, Tom +had to admit as he progressed. All previous types of mufflers or +silencers had to be discarded and a new one evolved.</p> + +<p>"Jackson, I need some one to help me," said Tom to his chief +mechanician one day. "Haven't you a good man who is used to +experimental work that you can let me take from the works?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," was the answer. "Let me see. Roberts is busy on the +new bomb you got up, but I could take him off that—"</p> + +<p>"No, don't!" interposed Tom. "I want that work to go on. Isn't +there some one else you can let me have?"</p> + +<p>"Well, there's a new man who came to me well recommended. I +took him on last week, and he's a wonderful mechanic. Knows a lot +about gas engines. I could let you have him—Bower his name is. +The only thing about it, though, is that I don't like to give you +a man of whom I am not dead certain, when you're working on a new +device."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that will be all right," said Tom. "There won't be any +secrets he can get, if you mean you think he might be up to spy +work."</p> + +<p>"That's what I did mean, Tom. You never can tell, you know, and +you have some bitter enemies."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I'll take care this man doesn't see the plans, or any +of my drawings. I only want some one to do the heavy assembling +work on the experimental muffler I'm getting up. We can let him +think it's for a new kind of automobile."</p> + +<p>"Oh, then I guess it will be all right. I'll send Bower to +you."</p> + +<p>Tom rather liked the new workman, who seemed quiet and +efficient. He did not ask questions, either, about the machine on +which he was engaged, but did as he was told. As Tom had said, he +kept his plans and drawing under lock and key—in a safe to be +exact—and he did not think they were in any danger from his new +helper.</p> + +<p>But Tom Swift held into altogether too slight regard the powers +of those who were opposed to him. He did not appreciate the +depths to which they would stoop to gain their ends.</p> + +<p>He had been working hard on his new device, and had reached a +point further along than when the other motor had exploded. He +began to see success ahead of him, and he was jubilant. Whether +this made him careless does not matter, but the fact was that he +left Bower more to himself, and alone in the experimental shop +several times.</p> + +<p>And it was on one of these occasions, when Tom had been for +some time in one of the other shops, where he and Jackson were in +consultation over a new machine, that as he came back to the test +room unexpectedly, he saw Bower move hastily away from in front +of the safe. Moreover, Tom was almost certain he had heard the +steel door clang shut as he approached the building.</p> + +<p>And then, before he could ask his helper a question, Tom looked +from a window and saw a stranger running hastily along the side +of the building where his trial motor was being set up.</p> + +<p>"Who's that? Who is that man? Did he come in here? Was he +tampering with my safe?" cried Tom. He saw Bower hesitate and +change color, and Tom knew it was time to act.</p> + +<p>The window was open, and with one bound the young inventor was +out and running after the stranger he had seen departing in such +a hurry. The man was but a short distance ahead of him, and Tom +saw he was stuffing some papers into his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Here! Come back! Stop!" ordered Tom, but the man ran on the +faster.</p> + +<p>"That's a spy as sure as guns!" reflected Tom Swift. "And Bower +is in with him!" he added. "I've got to catch that fellow!" and +he speeded his pace as he ran after the fellow.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_X'></a><h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>A BIG SPLASH</h3> +<br /> + +<p>There was no question in the mind of Tom Swift but that the man +he was running after was guilty of some wrong-doing. In the first +place he was a stranger, and had no right inside the big fence +that surrounded the Swift machine plant. Then, too, the very fact +that he ran away was suspicious.</p> + +<p>And this, coupled with the confusion on the part of Bower, and +his proximity to the safe, made Tom fear that some of his plans +had been stolen. These he was very anxious to recover if this +strange man had them, and so he raced after him with all speed.</p> + +<p>"Stop! Stop!" called Tom, but the on-racing stranger did not +heed.</p> + +<p>The cries of the young inventor soon attracted the attention of +his men, and Jackson and some of the others came running from +their various shops to give whatever aid was needed. But they +were all too far away to give effective chase.</p> + +<p>"Bower might have come with me if he had wanted to help," +thought Tom. But a backward glance over his shoulder did not show +that the new helper was engaging in the pursuit, and he could +have started almost on the same terms as Tom himself.</p> + +<p>The runaway, looking back to see how near the young inventor +was to him, suddenly changed his course, and, noting this, Tom +Swift thought:</p> + +<p>"I've got him now! He'll be bogged if he runs that way," for +the way led to a piece of swampy land that, after the recent +rains, was a veritable bog which was dangerous for cattle at +least; and more than one man had been caught there.</p> + +<p>"He can't run across the swamp, that's sure," reflected Tom +with some satisfaction. "I'll get him all right!"</p> + +<p>But he wanted to capture the man, if possible, before he +reached the bog, and, to this end, Tom increased his speed to +such good end that presently, on the firm ground that bordered +the swamp, Tom was almost within reaching distance of the +stranger.</p> + +<p>But the latter kept up running, and dodged and turned so that +Tom could not lay hands on him. Suddenly, turning around a clump +of trees the fleeing man headed straight for a veritable mud hole +that lay directly in his path. It was part of the swamp—the most +liquid part of the bog and a home of frogs and lizards.</p> + +<p>Too late, the man, who was evidently unaware of the proximity +of the swamp, saw his danger. His further flight was cut off by +the mud hole, but it was too late to turn back. Tom Swift was at +his heels now, and seeing that it was impossible to grab the man, +Tom did the next best thing. He stuck out his foot and tripped +him, and tripped him right on the edge of the mud hole, so that +the man fell in with a big splash, the muddy water flying all +around, some even over the young inventor.</p> + +<p>For a moment the man disappeared completely beneath the +surface, for the mud hole was rather deep just where Tom had +thrown him. Then there was another violent agitation of the +surface, and a very woebegone and muddy face was raised from the +slough, followed by the rest of the figure of the man. Slowly he +got to his feet, mud and water dripping from him. He cleared his +face by rubbing his hands over it, not that it made his +countenance clean, but it removed masses of mud from his eyes, +nose, and mouth, so that he could see and speak, though his first +operation was to gasp for breath.</p> + +<p>"What—what are you doin'?" he demanded of Tom, and as the man +opened his mouth to speak Tom was aware of a glitter, which +disclosed the 'fact that the man had a large front tooth of gold.</p> + +<p>"What am I doing?" repeated Tom. "I think it's up to you to +answer that question, not me. What are you doing?"</p> + +<p>"You—you tripped me into this mud hole!" declared the man.</p> + +<p>"I did, yes; because you were trespassing on my property, and +ran away instead of stopping when I told you to," went on Tom. +"Who are you and what are you doing? What were you doing with +Bower at my shop?"</p> + +<p>"Nothin'! I wasn't doin' nothin'!"</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll inquire into that. I want to see what you have in +your pockets before I believe you. Come on out!"</p> + +<p>"You haven't any right to go through my pockets!" blustered the +stranger.</p> + +<p>"Oh, haven't I? Well, I'm going to take the right. Jackson— +Koku—just see that he doesn't get away. We'll take him back and +search him," and Tom motioned to his chief machinist and the +giant, who had reached the scene, to take charge of the man. But +Koku was sufficient for this purpose, and the mud-bespattered +stranger seemed to shrink as he saw the big creature approach +him. There was no question of running away after that.</p> + +<p>"Bring him along," ordered Tom, and Koku, taking a tight grip +on the man by the slack of his garments behind, walked him along +toward the office, the mud and water splashing and oozing from +his shoes at every step.</p> + +<p>"Now you look here!" the gold-toothed man cried, as he was +forced along, "you ain't got any right to detain me. I ain't done +nothin'!" And each time he spoke the bright tooth in his mouth +glittered in the sun.</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether you've done anything or not," said Tom. +"I'm going to take you back and see what you and Bower have to +say. He may know something about this."</p> + +<p>"If he does I don't believe he'll tell," said Jackson.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Tom, quickly.</p> + +<p>"Because he's gone."</p> + +<p>"Gone! Bower gone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Jackson. "I saw him running out of the +experiment shop as we raced along to help you. I didn't think, at +the time, that he was doing more than go for aid, perhaps. But I +see the game now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you mean—him?" and Tom pointed to the dripping figure.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jackson in a low voice, as Koku went on ahead with +his prisoner. "If, as you say, this man was in league with Bower, +the latter has smelled a rat and skipped. He has run away, and I +only hope he hasn't done any damage or got hold of any of your +plans."</p> + +<p>"We'll soon know about that," said Tom. "I wonder who is at the +bottom of this?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe those men you wouldn't work for," suggested the +machinist.</p> + +<p>"You mean Gale and Ware of the Universal Flying Machine +Company?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't believe they'd stoop to any such measures as this- +-sending spies around," replied Tom. "But I can't be too careful. +We'll investigate."</p> + +<p>The first result of the investigation was to disclose the fact +that Bower was gone. He had taken his few possessions and left +the Swift plant while Tom was racing after the stranger. A hasty +examination of the safe did not reveal anything missing, as Tom's +plans and papers were intact. But they showed evidences of having +been looked over, for they were out of the regular order in which +the young inventor kept them.</p> + +<p>"I begin to see it," said Tom, musingly. "Bower must have +managed to open the safe while I was gone, and he must have made +a hasty copy of some of the drawings of the silent motor, and +passed them out of the window to this gold-tooth man, who tried +to make off with them. Did you find anything on him?" he asked, +as one of the men who had been instructed to search the stranger +came into the office just then.</p> + +<p>"Not a thing, Mr. Swift! Not a thing!" was the answer. "We took +off every bit of his clothes and wrapped him in a blanket. He's +in the engine room getting dry now. But there isn't a thing in +any of his pockets."</p> + +<p>"But I saw him stuffing some papers in as he ran away from me," +said Tom. "We must be sure about this. And don't let the fellow +get away until I question him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's safe enough," answered the man. "Koku is guarding +him. He won't get away."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll have a look at his clothes," decided Tom. "He may +have a secret pocket."</p> + +<p>But nothing like this was disclosed, and the most careful +search did not reveal anything incriminating in the man's +garments.</p> + +<p>"He might have thrown away any papers Bower gave him," said +Tom. "Maybe they're at the bottom of the mud hole! If they're +there they're safe enough. But have a search made of the ground +where this man ran."</p> + +<p>This was done, but without result. Some of the workmen even +dragged the mud hole without finding anything. Then Tom and his +father had a talk with the stranger, who refused to give his +name. The man was sullen and angry. He talked loudly about his +innocence and of "having the law on" Tom for having tripped him +into the mud.</p> + +<p>"All right, if you want to make a complaint, go ahead," said +the young inventor. "I'll make one against you for trespass. Why +did you come on my grounds?"</p> + +<p>"I was going to ask for work. I'm a. good machinist and I +wanted a job."</p> + +<p>"How did you get in? Who admitted you at the gate?"</p> + +<p>"I—I jest walked in," said the man, but Tom knew this could +not be true, as no strangers were admitted without a permit and +none had been issued. The man denied knowing anything about +Bower, but the latter's flight was evidence enough that something +was wrong.</p> + +<p>Not wishing to go to the trouble of having the man arrested +merely as a trespasser, Tom let him go after his clothes had been +dried on a boiler in one of the shops.</p> + +<p>"Take him to the gate, and tell him if he comes back he'll get +another dose of the same kind of medicine," ordered Tom to one of +the guards at the plant, and when the latter had reported that +this had been done, he added in an earnest tone:</p> + +<p>"He went off talking to himself and saying he'd get even with +you, Mr. Swift."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Tom easily. "I'll be on the watch."</p> + +<p>The young inventor made a thorough examination of his +experiment shop and the test motor. No damage seemed to have been +done, and Tom began to think he had been too quick for the +conspirators, if such they were. His plans and drawings were +intact, and though Bower might have given a copy to the stranger +with the gold tooth, the latter did not take any away with him. +That he had some papers he wished to conceal and escape with, +seemed certain, but the splash into the mud hole had ended this.</p> + +<p>No trace was found of Bower, and an effort Tom made to +ascertain if the man was a spy in the employ of Gale and Ware +came to naught. The machinist had come well recommended, and the +firm where he was last employed had nothing but good to say of +him.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's a mystery," decided Tom. "However, I got out of it +pretty well. Only if that gold-tooth individual shows up again he +won't get off so easily.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI'></a><h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>A NIGHT TRIP</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Taking a lesson from what had happened, Tom was very much more +careful in the following experiments on his new, silent motor. He +made some changes in his shop, and took Jackson in to help on the +new machine, thus insuring perfect secrecy as the apparatus +developed.</p> + +<p>Tom also changed the safe in which he kept his plans, for the +one he had used previous to the episode in which Bower and the +stranger who took the mud bath figured, was one the combination +of which could easily be ascertained by an expert. The new safe +was more complicated, and Tom felt that his plans, +specifications, and formulae which he had worked out were in less +danger.</p> + +<p>"I can just about figure out what happened," said Ned Newton to +Tom, when told of the circumstances. "These Universal people were +provoked because you wouldn't give them the benefit of your +experience on their flying machines, and so they sent a spy to +get work with you. They, perhaps, hoped to secure some of your +ideas for their own, or they may have had a deeper motive."</p> + +<p>"What deeper motive could they have, Ned?" "They might have +hoped to disable you, or some of your machines, so that you +couldn't compete with them. They're unscrupulous, I hear, and +will do anything to succeed and make money. So be on your guard +against them."</p> + +<p>"I will," Tom promised. "But I don't believe there's any more +danger now. Anyhow, I have to take some chances."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but be as careful as you can. How is the silent motor +coming on?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty good. I've had a lot of failures, and the thing isn't +so easy as I at first imagined it would be. Noise is a funny +thing, and I'm just beginning to understand some of the laws of +acoustics we learned at high school. But I think I'm on the right +track with the muffler and the cutting down of the noise of the +explosions in the cylinders. I'm working both ends, you see— +making a motor that doesn't cause as much racket as those now in +use, and also providing means to take care of the noise that is +made. It isn't possible to make a completely silent motor of an +explosive gas type. The only thing that can be done is to kill +the noise after it is made."</p> + +<p>"What about the propeller blades?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, they aren't giving me any trouble. The noise they make +can't be heard a hundred feet in the air, but I am also working +on improvements to the blades. Take it altogether, I'll have an +almost silent aeroplane if my plans come out all right."</p> + +<p>"Have you said anything to the government yet?"</p> + +<p>"No; I want to have it pretty well perfected before I do. +Besides, I don't want any publicity about it until I'm ready. If +these Universal people are after me I'll fool 'em."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Tom! Well, I must go. Another week of this +Liberty Bond campaign!"</p> + +<p>"I suppose you'll be glad when it's over."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know," said Ned slowly. "It's part of my small +contribution to Uncle Sam. I'm not like you—I can't invent +things."</p> + +<p>"But you have an awful smooth line of talk, Ned!" laughed his +chum. "I believe you could sell chloride of sodium to some of the +fishes in the Great Salt Lake—that is if it has fishes."</p> + +<p>"I don't know that it has, Tom. And, anyhow, I'm not posing as +a salt salesman," and Ned grinned. "But I must really go. Our +bank hasn't reached its quota in the sale of Liberty Bonds yet, +and it's up to me to see that it doesn't fall down."</p> + +<p>"Go to it, Ned! And I'll get busy on my silent motor."</p> + +<p>"Getting busy" was Tom Swift's favorite occupation, and when he +was working on a new idea, as was the case now, he was seldom +idle, night or day.</p> + +<p>"I have hardly seen you for two weeks," Mary Nestor wrote him +one day. "Aren't you ever coming to see me any more, or take me +for a ride?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Tom wrote back. "I'll be over soon. And perhaps on the +next ride we take I won't have to shout at you through a speaking +tube because the motor makes so much noise."</p> + +<p>From this it may be gathered that Tom was on the verge of +success. While not altogether satisfied with his progress, the +young inventor felt that he was on the right track. There were +certain changes that needed to be made in the apparatus he was +building—certain refinements that must be added, and when this +should be done Tom was pretty certain that he would have what +would prove to be a very quiet aeroplane, if not an absolutely +silent one.</p> + +<p>The young inventor was engaged one day with some of the last +details of the experiment. The new motor, with the silencer and +the changed cylinders, had been attached to one of Tom's speedy +aeroplanes, and he was making some intricate calculations in +relation to a new cylinder block, to be used when he started to +make a completely new machine of the improved type.</p> + +<p>Tom had set down on paper some computations regarding the +cross-section of one of the cylinders, and was working out the +amount of stress to which he could subject a shoulder strut, when +a shadow was cast across the drawing board he had propped up in +his lap.</p> + +<p>In an instant Tom pulled a blank sheet over his mass of figures +and looked up, a sudden fear coming over him that another spy was +at hand. But a hearty voice reassured him.</p> + +<p>"Bless my rice pudding!" cried Mr. Damon, "you shut yourself up +here, Tom, like a hermit in the mountains. Why don't you come out +and enjoy life?"</p> + +<p>"Hello! Glad to see you!" cried Tom, joyfully. "You're just in +time!"</p> + +<p>"Time for what—dinner?" asked the eccentric man, with a +chuckle. "If so, my reference to rice pudding was very proper."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, I imagine there must be a dinner in prospect +somewhere, Mr. Damon," said Tom with a smile. "We'll have to see +Mrs. Baggert about that. But what I meant was that you're just in +time to have a ride with me, if you want to go."</p> + +<p>"Go where?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, up in cloudland. I have just finished my first sample of a +silent motor, and I'm going to try it this evening. Would you +like to come along?"</p> + +<p>"I would!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Bless my onion soup, Tom, but +I would! But why fly at night? Isn't it safer by daylight?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that doesn't make much difference. It's safe enough at any +time. The reason I'm going to make my first flight after dark is +that I don't want any spies about."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I see! Are they camping on your trail?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly. But I can't tell where they may be. If I should +start out in daylight and be forced to make a landing— Well, you +know what a crowd always collects to see a stranded airship."</p> + +<p>"That's right, Tom."</p> + +<p>"That decided me to start off after dark. Then if we have to +come down because of some sort of engine trouble or because my +new attachment doesn't work right, we sha'n't have any prying +eyes."</p> + +<p>"I see! Well, Tom, I'll go with you. Fortunately I didn't tell +my wife where I was going when I started out this afternoon, so +she won't worry until after it's over, and then it won't hurt +her. I'm ready any time you are."</p> + +<p>"Good! Stay to dinner and I'll show you what I've made. Then +we'll take a flight after dark."</p> + +<p>This suited the eccentric man, and a little later, after he had +eaten one of Mrs. Baggert's best meals, including rice pudding, +of which he was very fond, Mr. Damon accompanied Tom to one of +the big hangars where the new aeroplane had been set up.</p> + +<p>"So that's the Air Scout, is it, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon, as he +viewed the machine.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the girl. 'Air Scout' is as good a name as any, +until I see what she'll do."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't look different from one of your regular craft of +the skies, Tom."</p> + +<p>"No, she isn't. The main difference is here," and Tom showed +his friend where a peculiar apparatus had been attached to the +motor. This was the silencer—the whole secret of the invention, +so to speak.</p> + +<p>To Mr. Damon it seemed to consist of an amazing collection of +pipes, valves, baffle-plates, chambers, cylinders and reducers, +which took the hot exhaust gases as they came from the motor and +"ate them up," as he expressed it.</p> + +<p>"The cylinders, too, and the spark plugs are differently +arranged in the motor itself, if you could see them," said Tom to +his friend. "But the main work of cutting down the noise is done +right here," and he put his hand on the steel case attached to +the motor, the case containing the apparatus already briefly +described.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm ready when you are, Tom," said Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"We'll go as soon as it's dark," was the reply. "But first I'll +give you a demonstration. Start the motor, Jackson!" Tom called +to his chief helper.</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon had ridden in aeroplanes before, and had stood near +when Tom started them; so he was prepared for a great rush of air +as the propellers whirled about, and for deafening explosions +from the engine.</p> + +<p>The big blades, of new construction, were turned until the gas +in the cylinders was sufficiently compressed. Then Jackson +stepped back out of danger while Tom threw over the switch.</p> + +<p>"Contact!" cried the young inventor.</p> + +<p>Jackson gave the blades a quarter pull, and, a moment later, as +he leaped back out of the way, they began to revolve with the +swiftness of light. There was the familiar rush of air as the +wooden wings cut through the atmosphere, but there was scarcely +any noise. Mr. Damon could hardly believe his ears.</p> + +<p>"I'm not running her at full speed," said Tom. "If I did she'd +tear loose from the holding blocks. But you can see what little +racket she makes."</p> + +<p>"Bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon. "You are right, Tom +Swift! Why, I can hear you talk almost as easily as if no engine +were going. And I don't have to shout my head off, either."</p> + +<p>This was perfectly true. Tom could converse with Mr. Damon in +almost ordinary tones. The exhaust from the motor was nearly +completely muffled.</p> + +<p>"Out in the air it will seem even more quiet," said Tom. "I'll +soon give you a chance to verify that statement."</p> + +<p>He ran the engine a little longer, the aeroplane quivering with +the vibrations, but remaining almost silent.</p> + +<p>"I'm anxious to see what she'll do when in motion," said Tom, +as he shut off the gas and spark.</p> + +<p>Soon after supper, when the shades of evening were falling, he +and Mr. Damon took their places in the first of the Air Scouts, +to give it the preliminary test in actual flying.</p> + +<p>Would Tom's hopes be justified or would he be disappointed?</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII'></a><h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>THE CRY FOR HELP</h3> +<br /> + +<p>"All ready, Mr. Damon?" asked Tom, as he looked to see that all +the levers, wheels, valves, and other controls were in working +order on his Air Scout.</p> + +<p>"As ready as I ever shall be, Tom," was the answer. "I don't +know why it is, but somehow I feel that something is going to +happen on this trip."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" laughed Tom. "You're nervous; that's all."</p> + +<p>"I suppose so. Don't think I'm going to back out, or anything +like that, but I wish it were successfully over with, Tom Swift, +I most certainly do."</p> + +<p>"It will be in a little while," returned Tom, as he settled +himself comfortably in his seat and pulled the safety strap +tight. "You've gone up in this same plane before, when it didn't +have the silent motor aboard."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know I have. Oh, I dare say it will be all right, Tom. +And yet, somehow, I can't help feeling—"</p> + +<p>But Tom Swift felt that the best way to set Mr. Damon's +premonitions to rest was to start the motor, and this he gave +orders to have done, Jackson and some others of the men from the +shops congregating about the craft to see the beginning of the +night flight. Mr. Swift was there also, and Eradicate. Mary +Nestor had been invited, but her Red Cross work engaged her that +evening, she said. Ned Newton was away from town on Liberty Bond +business, and he could not be present at the test.</p> + +<p>However, as Tom expected to have other trials when his motor +was in even better shape, he was not exactly sorry for the +absence of his friends.</p> + +<p>"Contact!" called the young inventor, when Jackson had stepped +back, indicating it was time to throw over the switch.</p> + +<p>"Let her go!" cried Tom, and the next moment the motor was in +operation, but so silently that his voice and that of Mr. Damon's +could easily be heard above the machinery.</p> + +<p>"Good, Tom! That's good!" cried Mr. Swift, and Tom easily heard +his father's voice, though under other, and ordinary, +circumstances this would have been impossible.</p> + +<p>True, the hearing of Tom and Mr. Damon was muffled to a certain +extent by the heavy leather and fur-lined caps they wore. But Tom +had several small eyelet holes set into the flaps just over the +opening of the ears, and these holes were sufficient to admit +sounds, while keeping out most of the cold that obtains in the +upper regions.</p> + +<p>The aeroplane moved swiftly along the level starting ground, +and away from the lighted hangars. Faster and faster it swung +along as Tom headed it into the wind, and then, as the speed of +the motor increased, the Air Scout suddenly left the earth and +went soaring aloft as she had done before.</p> + +<p>But there was this difference. She moved almost as silently as +a great owl which swoops down out of the darkness—a bit of the +velvety blackness itself. Up and up, and onward and onward, went +the Air Scout. Tom Swift's improved, silent motor urged it +onward, and as the young inventor listened to catch the noise of +the machinery, his heart gave a bound of hope. For he could +detect only very slight sounds.</p> + +<p>"She's a success!" exulted Tom to himself. "She's a success, +but she isn't perfect yet," he added. "I've got to make the +muffler bigger and put in more baffle-plates. Then I think I can +turn the trick."</p> + +<p>He swung the machine out over the open country, and then, when +they were up at a height and sailing along easily, he called back +to Mr. Damon in the seat behind him:</p> + +<p>"How do you like it?"</p> + +<p>"Great!" exclaimed the eccentric man. "Bless my postage stamp, +but it's great! Why, there's hardly a sound, Tom, and I can hear +you quite easily."</p> + +<p>"And I can hear you," added Tom. "I don't believe, down below +there," and he nodded toward the earth, though Mr. Damon could +not see this, as the airship, save for a tiny light over the +instrument board, was in darkness, "they know that we're flying +over their heads."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you," was the answer. "Tom, my boy, I believe +you've solved the trick! You have produced a silent aeroplane, +and now it's up to the government to make use of it."</p> + +<p>"I'm not quite ready for that yet," replied the young inventor. +"I have several improvements to make. But, when they are +finished, I'll let Uncle Sam know what I have. Then it's up to +him."</p> + +<p>"And you must be careful, Tom, that some of your rivals don't +hear of your success and get it away from you," warned Mr. Damon, +as Tom guided the Air Scout along the aerial way—an unlighted +and limitless path in the silent darkness.</p> + +<p>"Oh, they'll have to get up pretty early in the morning to do +that!" boasted Tom, and afterward he was to recall those words +with a bit of chagrin.</p> + +<p>On and on they sailed, and as Tom increased the speed of the +motor, and noted how silently it ran, he began to have high hopes +that he had builded better than he knew. For even with the motor +running at almost full speed there was not noise enough to hinder +talk between himself and Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>Of course there was some little sound. Even the most perfect +electric motor has a sort of hum which can be detected when one +is close to it. But at a little distance a great dynamo in +operation appears to be silence itself.</p> + +<p>"I can go this one better, though," said Tom as he sailed along +in the night. "I see where I've made a few mistakes in the baffle +plate of the silencer. I'll correct that and—"</p> + +<p>As he spoke the machine gave a lurch, and the motor, instead of +remaining silent, began to cough and splutter as in the former +days.</p> + +<p>"Bless my rubber boots, Tom! what's the matter?" cried Mr. +Damon.</p> + +<p>"Something's gone wrong," Tom answered, barely able to hear and +make himself heard above the sudden noise. "I'll have to shut off +the power and glide down. We can make a landing in this big +field," for just then the moon came out from behind a cloud, and +Tom saw, below them, a great meadow, not far from the home of +Mary Nestor. He had often landed in this same place.</p> + +<p>"Something has broken in the muffler, I think, letting out some +of the exhaust," he said to Mr. Damon, for, now that the motor +was shut off, Tom could speak in his ordinary tones. "I'll soon +have it fixed, or, if I can't, we can go back in the old style— +with the machine making as much racket as it pleases."</p> + +<p>So Tom guided the machine down. It went silently now, of +course, making, with the motor shut off, no more sound than a +falling leaf. Down to the soft, springy turf in the green meadow +Tom guided the machine. As it came to a stop, and he and Mr. +Damon got out, there was borne to their ears a wild cry:</p> + +<p>"Help! Help!"</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII'></a><h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>SOMETHING QUEER</h3> +<br /> + +<p>"DiD you hear that?" asked Tom Swift of his companion.</p> + +<p>"Hear it? Bless my ear drums, I should say I did hear it! Some +one is in trouble, Tom. Caught in a bog, most likely, the same as +that spy chap who was at your place. That's it—caught in a bog!"</p> + +<p>"There isn't any bog or swamp around here, Mr. Damon. If there +was I shouldn't have tried a landing. No, it's something else +besides that. Hark!"</p> + +<p>Again the cry sounded, seeming to come from a point behind the +landing place of the silent airship. It was clear and distinct:</p> + +<p>"Help! Help! They are—"</p> + +<p>The voice seemed to die away in a gurgle, as though the +person's mouth had been covered quickly.</p> + +<p>"He's sinking, Tom! He's sinking!" cried Mr. Damon. "I once +heard a man who almost drowned cry out, and it sounded exactly +like that!"</p> + +<p>"But there isn't any water around here for any one to drown +in," declared Tom. "It's a big, dry meadow. I know where we are."</p> + +<p>"Then what is it?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, but we're going to find out. Some one attacked +by some one else—or something, I should say," ventured the young +inventor.</p> + +<p>"Something! do you mean a wild beast, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"No, for there aren't any of those here any more than there is +water. Though it may be that some farmer's bull or a savage dog +has got loose and has attacked some traveler. But, in that case I +think we would hear bellows or barks, and all I heard was a cry +for help."</p> + +<p>"The same with me, Tom. Let's investigate;"</p> + +<p>"That's what I intend doing. Come on. The airship will be all +right until we come back."</p> + +<p>"Better take a light—hadn't you? It's dark, even if the moon +does show now and then," suggested Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Guess you are right," agreed Tom. Aboard his airship there +were several small but powerful portable electric lights, and +after securing one of these Tom and Mr. Damon started for the +spot whence the call for help had come. As they walked along, +their feet making no noise on the soft turf, they listened +intently for a repetition of the call for aid.</p> + +<p>"I don't hear anything," said Tom, after a bit.</p> + +<p>"Nor I," added Mr. Damon. "We don't know exactly which way to +go, Tom."</p> + +<p>"That's right. Guess we'd better give him a hail; whoever it +is."</p> + +<p>Tom came to a halt, and raising his voice to a shout called:</p> + +<p>"Hello there! What's the matter? We'll help you if you can tell +us which way to come!"</p> + +<p>They both listened intently, but no voice answered them. At the +same time, however, they were aware of a sound as of hurrying +feet, and there seemed to be muttered imprecations not far away. +Tom and Mr. Damon looked in the direction of the sound, and the +young inventor flashed his light. But there was a clump of bushes +and trees at that point and the electrical rays did not penetrate +very far.</p> + +<p>"Some one's over there!" exclaimed Tom in a whisper. "We'd +better go and see what it is."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Mr. Damon, and he, too, spoke in a low +voice.</p> + +<p>Why they did this when their previous talk had been in ordinary +tones, and when Tom had shouted so loudly, they did not stop to +reason about or explain just then. But later they both admitted +that they whispered because they thought there was something +wrong on foot—because they feared a crime was being committed +and they wanted to surprise the perpetrators if they could.</p> + +<p>And it was this fact of their whispering that enabled the two +to hear something that, otherwise, they might not have heard. And +this was the sound of some vehicle hurrying away—an automobile, +if Tom was any judge. The cries for help had been succeeded by +stifled vocal sounds, and these, in turn, by the noise of wheels +on the ground.</p> + +<p>"What does it all mean?" asked Mr. Damon in a whisper.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered Tom, resolutely, "but we've got to +find out. Come on</p> + +<p>They advanced toward the dark clump of trees and low bushes. +There was no need to be especially cautious in regard to being +silent, as their feet made little, if any, sound on the deep +grass. And, as Tom walked in advance, now and then flashing his +light, Mr. Damon suddenly caught him by the coat.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Look! Just over the top of that hill, where the moon shines. +Don't you see an automobile outlined?"</p> + +<p>Tom looked quickly.</p> + +<p>"I do," he answered. "There's a road from here, just the other +side of those trees, to that hill. The auto must have gone that +way. Well, there's no use in trying to follow it now. Whoever it +was has gotten away."</p> + +<p>"But they may have left some one behind, Tom. We'd better look +in and around those trees."</p> + +<p>"I suppose we had, but I don't believe we'll find anything. I +can pretty nearly guess, now, what it was."</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Well, some chauffeur was out for a ride in his employer's car +without permission. He got here, had an accident—maybe some +friends he took for a ride were hurt and they called for help. +The chauffeur knew if there was any publicity he'd be blamed, and +so he got away as quickly as he could. Guess the accident—if +that's what it was—didn't amount to much, or they couldn't have +run the car off. We've had our trouble for our pains."</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe you're right, Tom Swift, butt all the same, I'd +like to have a look among those trees," said Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Oh. we'll look, all right," assented Tom, "but I doubt if we +find anything."</p> + +<p>And he was right. They walked in and about the little grove, +flashing the light at intervals, but beyond marks of auto wheels +in the dust of the road, which was near the clump of maples, +there was nothing to indicate what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Though there was some sort of fracas," declared Tom. "Look +where the dust is trampled down. There were several men here, +perhaps skylarking, or perhaps it was a fight."</p> + +<p>"Some one must have been hurt, or they wouldn't have cried for +help," said Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's so. But perhaps it was some one not used to +riding in autos, and he may have imagined the accident was worse +than it was, and called for help involuntarily. There is no +evidence of any serious accident having happened—no spots of +blood, at any rate," and Tom laughed at his own grimness. "It was +a new car, too, or at least one with new tires on."</p> + +<p>"How do you know?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Tell by the plain marks of the rubber tread in the dust," was +the answer. "Look," and Tom pointed to the wheel marks in the +focus of his electric lamp. "It's a new tire, too, with square +protuberances on the tread instead of the usual diamond or round +ones. A new kind of tire, all right."</p> + +<p>He and Mr. Damon remained for a few minutes looking about the +place whence had come the calls for help, and then the eccentric +man remarked:</p> + +<p>"Well, as long as we can't do anything here, Tom, we might as +well travel on; what do you say?"</p> + +<p>"I agree with you. There isn't any use in staying. We'll get +the Air Scout fixed up and travel back home. But this was +something queer," mused Tom. "I hope it doesn't turn out later +that a crime has been committed, and we didn't show enough +gumption to prevent it."</p> + +<p>"We couldn't prevent it. We heard the cries as soon as we +landed."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but if we had rushed over at once we might have caught +the fellows. But I guess it was only a slight accident, and some +one was more frightened than hurt. We'll have to let it go at +that."</p> + +<p>But the more he thought about it the more Tom Swift thought +there was something queer in that weird cry for help on the +lonely meadow in the darkness of the night.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIV'></a><h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE TELEPHONE CALL</h3> +<br /> + +<p>The defect in the motor which had caused Tom Swift to shut off +the power and drift down to earth was soon remedied, once the +young inventor began an examination of the craft. One of the oil +feeds had become choked and this automatically cut down the +gasoline supply, causing one or more cylinders to miss. It was a +safety device Tom had installed to prevent the motor running dry, +and so being damaged.</p> + +<p>Once the clogged oil feed was cleared the motor ran as before, +and just as silently, though, as Tom had said, he was not +entirely satisfied with the quietness, but intended to do further +work toward perfecting it.</p> + +<p>"I'll start the propellers now, Mr. Damon," said Tom, when the +trouble had been remedied. "You know how to throw the switch, +don't you?"</p> + +<p>"I guess so," was the answer. Mr. Damon and Tom had traveled so +often together in gasoline craft that the young inventor had +taught his friend certain fundamentals about them, and in an +emergency the eccentric man could help start an aeroplane. This +he now did, taking charge of the controls which could be operated +from his seat as well as from Tom's. Tom whirled the propellers, +and soon the motor was in motion.</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon, once the big wooden blades were revolving, slowed +down the apparatus until Tom could jump aboard, after which the +latter took charge and soon speeded up the machine, sending it +aloft.</p> + +<p>As the green meadow, dimly seen in the light of the moon, +seemed to drop away below them, and the clump of trees vanished +from sight, both Tom and Mr. Damon wondered who it was that had +called for help, and if the matter were at all serious. They were +inclined to think it was not, but Tom could not rid himself of a +faint suspicion that there might have been trouble.</p> + +<p>However, thoughts of his new silent Air Scout soon drove +everything else from his mind, and as he guided the comparatively +silent machine on its quiet way toward his own home he was +thinking how he could best improve the muffler.</p> + +<p>"Well, here we are again, safe and sound," remarked Tom, as he +brought the craft to a stop in front of the hangar, and Jackson +and his helpers, who were awaiting the return, hurried out to +take charge.</p> + +<p>"Yes, everything seems to point to success, Tom," agreed Mr. +Damon. "That is, unless the slight accident we had means +trouble."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, that had nothing to do with the operation of the +silencer. But I'm going to do better yet. Some day I'll take you +for a ride in a silent machine which will make so little noise +that you can hear a pin drop."</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked Mr. Damon' with a laugh, "I don't know that +listening to falling pins will give me any great amount of +pleasure, Tom, but I appreciate your meaning."</p> + +<p>"Everything all right?" asked Mr. Swift, as he came out to hear +the details from his son. "Do you think you have solved the +problem?"</p> + +<p>"Not completely, but I'll soon be able to write Q. E. D. after +it. Some refinements are all that are needed, Dad."</p> + +<p>"Glad to hear it. I was a bit anxious."</p> + +<p>Mr. Swift questioned his son about the technical details of the +trip, asking how the motor had acted under the pressure caused by +so completely muffling the exhaust, and for some minutes the two +inventors, young and old, indulged in talk which was not at all +interesting to Mr. Damon. They went into the house, and Tom asked +to have a little lunch, which Mrs. Baggert set out for him.</p> + +<p>"It's rather late to eat," said the young inventor, "but I +always feel hungry after I test a new machine and find that it +works pretty well. Will you join me in a sandwich or two, Mr. +Damon?"</p> + +<p>"Why, bless my ketchup bottle, I believe I will."</p> + +<p>And so they ate and talked. Tom was on the point of telling his +father something of the queer cry for help they had heard on the +lonely meadow when Mrs. Baggert produced a letter which she said +had come for Tom that afternoon, but had been mislaid by a new +maid who had been engaged to help with the housework.</p> + +<p>"She took it to the shop after you had left, and only now told +me about it," explained Mrs. Baggert. "So I sent Eradicate for +it."</p> + +<p>"How long ago was that?" asked Tom, as he took the missive.</p> + +<p>"Oh, an hour ago," answered Mrs. Baggert, with a smile. "But +don't blame poor Rad for that. He wanted to deliver the letter to +you personally, and so did Koku. The result was your giant kept +after Rad, trying to get the letter from him, and Rad kept +hiding and slinking about for a chance to see you himself until I +saw what was going on, a little while ago, and took the letter +myself. Else you might never have gotten it, so jealous are those +two," and Mrs. Baggert laughed.</p> + +<p>"Guess it isn't of much importance," Tom said, as he tore open +the envelope. "It's from the Universal Flying Machine Company, of +New York, and I imagine they're trying to get me to reconsider my +refusal to link up with them."</p> + +<p>"Yes," he went on, as he read the missive, "that's it. They've +raised the amount to thirty thousand a year now, Dad, and they +say they feel sure I shall regret it if I do not accept.</p> + +<p>"This is a bit queer, though," went on the young inventor. +"This letter was written three days ago, but it reached Shopton +only to-day. And it says that unless they hear from me at once +they will have to take steps that will cause me great +inconvenience. They have nerve, at any rate, and impudence, too! +I won't even bother to answer. But I wonder what they mean, and +why this letter was delayed?"</p> + +<p>"The mails are all late on account of the transportation +congestion caused by moving troops to the camps," said Mr. Damon. +"Some of my letters are delayed a week. But, as you say, Tom, +these fellows are very impudent to threaten that way."</p> + +<p>"It's all bluff," declared Tom. "I'm not worrying. And now, +Dad, since I've almost reached the top of the hill with my Air +Scout, I may be able to help you on that new electric motor +you're puzzling over."</p> + +<p>"I wish you would, Tom. I am trying to invent a new system of +interchangeable brush contacts, but so far I've been unable to +make them work. However, there is no great hurry about that. If +you are going to offer your silent machine to the government +finish that first. We need all the aircraft we can get. The +battles on the other side seem to be all in favor of the Germans, +so far."</p> + +<p>"We haven't got into our stride yet," declared Mr. Damon. "Once +Uncle Sam gets the boys over there in force, there'll be a +different story to tell. I only wish—"</p> + +<p>At that moment the telephone set up an insistent ringing, +breaking in on Mr. Damon's remarks.</p> + +<p>"I'll answer," said Tom, as Mrs. Baggert moved toward the +instrument, which was an extension from the main one.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" called the young inventor into the transmitter, and as +he received an answer a look of pleasure came over his face.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mary, this is Tom," he said. He remained silent a moment, +while it was evident he was listening to the voice at the other +end of the wire. Then he suddenly exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"What's that? Tell him to come home? Why, he isn't here. I just +came in and—what—wait a minute!"</p> + +<p>With a rather strange look on his face Tom covered the mouth- +piece of the instrument with his hand, and, turning to his +father, asked:</p> + +<p>"Is Mr. Nestor here?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Mr. Swift slowly, "He was here, though. He came a +little while after you and Mr. Damon started off in the Air +Scout. But he didn't stay. Said he wanted to see you about +something and would call again."</p> + +<p>"Oh," remarked the young man. "I didn't know he had been +there."</p> + +<p>"I meant to tell you," said Mrs. Baggert; "but getting the +lunch made me forget it, I guess."</p> + +<p>Tom uncovered the transmitter of the telephone again, and spoke +to Mary Nestor.</p> + +<p>"Hello," he said. "I was wrong, Mary. Your father was here, but +he left when he found I wasn't at home. How long ago? Wait a +minute and I'll inquire.</p> + +<p>"How long ago did Mr. Nestor leave?" asked the young inventor +of the housekeeper. "Nearly an hour," he said into the +instrument, after he had received the answer. Then, after +listening a moment, he added: "Yes, I guess he'll be home soon +now. Probably stopped down town to see some of his friends. Yes, +Mr. Damon and I tried out the Air Scout. Yes, she worked pretty +well, for a starter, but there is something yet to be done. Oh, +yes, now I'll have time to come over to see you, and take you for +a ride too. We won't have to talk through a speaking tube, +either. Tell your father I am sorry I was out when he called. +I'll come to see him to-morrow, if he wants me to. Yes—yes. I +guess so!" and Tom laughed, it being evident that his remarks at +the end of the conversation had to do with personal matters.</p> + +<p>"A telegram has come for Mr. Nestor and they were anxious that +he should get it," Tom explained to his little audience as he +hung up the receiver and put aside the telephone. "I wonder what +he wanted to see me about?"</p> + +<p>"He didn't say," replied Mrs. Baggert.</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon, Tom, and his father remained in conversation a +little while longer, and the eccentric man was thinking that it +was about time for him to return home, when the telephone rang +again.</p> + +<p>"Hello," answered Tom, as he was nearest the instrument. "Oh, +yes, Mary, this is he. What's that? Your father hasn't reached +home yet? And your mother is worried? Oh tell her there is no +cause for alarm. As I said, he probably stopped on his way to see +some friends."</p> + +<p>Tom listened for perhaps half a minute to a talk that was +inaudible to the others in the room, and they noticed a grave +look come over his face. Then he said:</p> + +<p>"I'll be right over, Mary. Yes, I'll come at once. And tell +your mother not to worry. I'm sure nothing could have happened. +I'll be with you in a jiffy!"</p> + +<p>As Tom Swift hung up the receiver he said:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Nestor hasn't reached home yet, and as he promised to +return at once in case he didn't find me, his wife is much +worried. I'll go over and see what I can do."</p> + +<p>"I'll come along!" volunteered Mr. Damon. "It isn't late yet."</p> + +<p>"Yes, do come," urged Tom. "But I suppose when we get there +we'll find our friend has arrived safely. We'll go over in the +electric runabout."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XV'></a><h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>A VAIN SEARCH</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Tom Ssift's speedy little electric car was soon at the door in +readiness to take him and Mr. Damon to the Nestor home. The +electric runabout was a machine Tom had evolved in his early +inventive days, and though he had other automobiles, none was +quite so fast or so simple to run as this, which well merited the +name of the most rapid machine on the road. In it Tom had once +won a great race, as has been related in the book bearing the +title, "Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout."</p> + +<p>"Mary didn't telephone again, did she?" Tom asked his father, +as he stopped at the house to get Mr. Damon, having gone out to +see about getting the electric runabout in readiness.</p> + +<p>"No," was the answer. "The telephone hasn't rung since."</p> + +<p>"Then, I guess, Mr. Nestor can't have arrived home," said Tom. +"It's a bit queer, his delay, but I'm sure it will be explained +naturally. Only Mary and her mother are alone and, very likely, +they're nervous. I'll telephone to let you know everything is all +right as soon as I get there," Tom promised his father and Mrs. +Baggert as he drove off down the road, partly illuminated by the +new moon.</p> + +<p>Rapidly and almost as silently as his Air Scout Tom Swift drove +the speedy car down the highway. It was about three miles from +his home to that of Mary Nestor, and though the distance was +quickly covered, to Tom, at least, the space seemed interminable. +But at length he drove up to the door. There were lights in most +of the rooms, which was unusual at this time of night.</p> + +<p>The sound of the wheels had not ceased echoing on the gravel of +the drive before Mary was out on the porch, which she illuminated +by an overhead light.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom," she cried, "he hasn't come yet, and we are so +worried! Did you see anything of father as you came along?"</p> + +<p>"No," was Tom's answer. "But we didn't look for him along the +road, as we came by the turnpike, and he wouldn't travel that +way. But he will be along at any moment now. You must remember +it's quite a walk from my house, and—"</p> + +<p>"But he was on his bicycle," said Mary. "We wanted him to go in +the auto, but he said he wanted some exercise after supper, and +he went over on his wheel. He said he'd be right back, but he +hasn't come yet."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he will!" said Tom reassuringly. "He may have had a +puncture, or something like that. Bicyclists are just as liable +to them as autoists," he added with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm sure I hope it will be all right," sighed Mary. "I +wish you could convince mother to that effect. She's as nervous +as a cat. Come in and tell us what to do."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he'll be all right," declared Mr. Damon, adding his +assurances to Tom's.</p> + +<p>They found Mrs. Nestor verging on an attack of hysteria. Though +Mr. Nestor often went out during the evening, he seldom stayed +late.</p> + +<p>"And he said he'd be right back if he found you weren't at +home, Tom," said Mrs. Nestor. "I'm sure I don't know what can be +keeping him!"</p> + +<p>"It's too soon to get worried yet," replied the young inventor +cheerfully. "I'll wait a little while, and then, if he doesn't +come, Mr. Damon and I will go back over the road and look +carefully. He may have had a slight fall—sprained his ankle or +something like that—and not be able to ride. We came by the +turnpike, a road he probably wouldn't take on his wheel. He's all +right, you may be sure of that."</p> + +<p>Tom tried to speak reassuringly, but somehow, he did not +believe himself. He was beginning to think more and more how +strange it was that Mr. Nestor did not return home.</p> + +<p>"We'll wait just a bit longer before setting out on a search," +he told Mary and her mother. "But I'm sure he will be along any +minute now."</p> + +<p>They went into the library, Mary and her mother, Tom and Mr. +Damon. And there they sat waiting. Tom tried to entertain Mary +and Mrs. Nestor with an account of his trial trip in the Air +Scout, but the two women scarcely heard what he said.</p> + +<p>All sat watching the clock, and looking from that to the +telephone, which they tried to hope would ring momentarily and +transmit to them good news. Then they would listen for the sound +of footsteps or bicycle wheels on the gravel walk. But they heard +nothing, and as the seconds were ticked off on the clock the +nervousness of Mrs. Nestor increased, until she exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"I can stand it no longer! We must notify the police—or do +something!"</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't notify the police just yet," counseled Tom. "Mr. +Damon and I will start out and look along the road. If it should +happen, as will probably turn out to be the case, that Mr. Nestor +has met with only a simple accident, he would not like the +notoriety, or publicity, of having the police notified."</p> + +<p>"No, I am sure he would not," agreed Mary. "Tom's way is best, +Mother."</p> + +<p>"All right, just as you say, only find my husband," and Mrs. +Nestor sighed, and turned her head away.</p> + +<p>"Even if Mr. Nestor had had a fall," reasoned Tom, "he could +call for help, and get some one to telephone, unless—"</p> + +<p>And as he reasoned thus Tom Swift gave a mental start at his +own use of the word "help."</p> + +<p>That weird cry on the lonely meadow came back to him with +startling distinctness.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Mr. Damon!" cried Tom, in a voice he tried to make +cheerful. "We'll find that Mr. Nestor is probably walking along, +carrying his disabled bicycle instead of having it carry him. +We'll soon have him safe back to you," he called to the two +women.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could go with you, and help search," observed Mary.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I couldn't bear to be left alone!" exclaimed her mother.</p> + +<p>"We'll telephone as soon as we find him," called Tom to Mrs. +Nestor, as he and Mr. Damon again got into the runabout and +started away from the place.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of it, Tom?" asked the eccentric man, when +they were once more on the road.</p> + +<p>"Why, nothing much—as yet," Tom said. "That is, I think +nothing more than a simple accident has happened, if, indeed, it +is anything more than that he has delayed to talk to some +friends."</p> + +<p>"Would he delay this long?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"And then, Tom—bless my spectacles! what of that cry we heard? +Could that have been Mr. Nestor?"</p> + +<p>There! It was out! The suspicion that Tom had been trying to +keep his mind away from came to the fore. Well, he might as well +race the issue now as later.</p> + +<p>"I've been thinking of that," he told Mr. Damon. "It might have +been Mary's father calling for help."</p> + +<p>"But we looked, Tom, near the trees, and couldn't discover +anything. If he had been calling for help—"</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon did not finish.</p> + +<p>"He may have fallen from his wheel and been hurt," said Tom, as +he turned the electric runabout into the highway that Mr. Nestor +would, most likely, have taken on his way from Shopton. "Then be +may have called for help, and some autoists, passing, may have +heard and taken him away."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but where, Tom? Whoever called for help was taken away, +that's sure. But where?"</p> + +<p>"To some hospital, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"Then hadn't we better inquire there? There are only two +hospitals of any account around here. The one in Shopton and the +one in Waterfield. My wife is on the board of Lady Managers +there. We could call that hospital up and—"</p> + +<p>"We'll look along the road first," said Tom. "If we begin to +make inquiries at the hospitals there will be a lot of questions +asked, and a general alarm may be sent out. Mr. Nestor wouldn't +like that, if he isn't in any danger. And it may turn out that he +has met an old friend, and has been talking with him all this +while, forgetting all about the passage of time."</p> + +<p>They were now driving along the highway that led from the +little suburb where Mr. Nestor lived, to the main part of +Shopton, just beyond which was Tom's home. This section was +country-like, with very few houses and those placed at rather +infrequent intervals. The road was a good one, though not the +main-traveled one, and Mr. Nestor, as was known, frequently used +it when he rode his bicycle, an exercise of which he was very +fond.</p> + +<p>As Tom and Mr. Damon drove along, they scanned, as best they +could in the light from the young moon and the powerful lamps on +the runabout, every part of the highway. They were looking for +some dark blot which might indicate where a man had fallen from +his wheel and was lying in some huddled heap on the road. But +they saw nothing like this, much to their relief.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, Tom," said Mr. Damon, when they were nearing the +town, and their search, thus far, had been in vain, "I think +we're going at this the wrong way."</p> + +<p>"Why, so?"</p> + +<p>"Because Mr. Nestor may have fallen, and been hurt, and have +been carried into any one of a dozen houses along the road. In +that case we wouldn't see him. We've passed over the most lonely +part of the journey and haven't seen him. If the accident +occurred near the houses his cries would have brought some one +out to help him. He is well known around here, and, even if he +were unconscious and couldn't tell who he was, he could be +identified by papers in his pockets. Then his family would be +notified by telephone."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are right, Mr. Damon. We may be wasting time this +way. What do you suggest?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"That we don't delay any longer, but call up the hospitals at +once. If he isn't in either of those he must be in some house, +and in such condition that his identity cannot be established. In +that event it is a case for the police. We haven't found him, and +I think we had better give the alarm."</p> + +<p>Tom Swift thought it over for a moment. Then he came to a +sudden decision.</p> + +<p>"You're right!" he told Mr. Damon. "We mustn't waste any more +time. He isn't along the road he ought to have traveled in coming +from my house to his home—that's sure. But before I call up the +hospitals I want to try out one more idea."</p> + +<p>"What's that, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"I want to go to the place where we heard that cry for help."</p> + +<p>"Do you think that could have been Mr. +Nestor?"</p> + +<p>"It may have been. We'll go and take another look around there. +Some man was evidently hurt there, and was taken away. We may get +a clew. The lights on the runabout will give us a better chance +to look around than we had by the little pocket lamp. We'll try +there, and, if we don't find anything, then I'll call up the +hospitals."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVI'></a><h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>THE LONG NIGHT</h3> +<br /> + +<p>With the speedy runabout it did not take Tom Swift and Mr. +Damon long to reach the place where the Air Scout had been +grounded a few hours before, and where they had heard the cry for +help. All was as dark and as silent as when they had been there +before.</p> + +<p>But, as Tom had said, the lights from his electric runabout +would give a brilliant illumination, and these he now directed +toward the clump of trees whence the cry for help had seemed to +come.</p> + +<p>"Doesn't appear to have been visited by any one since we were +here," remarked Torn, as he observed the marks of the new +automobile tire in the dust. "Now we'll look about more +carefully."</p> + +<p>This they did, but they were about to give up in despair and +start for the nearest telephone to call up the hospitals, when +Mr. Damon gave an exclamation.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Something bright and shining!" said his companion. "I saw it +gleam in the light of the lamps. You nearly put your foot on it, +Tom. Just step back a moment."</p> + +<p>Tom did so, and the eccentric man, with another exclamation, +this time of satisfaction, reached down and picked something up +from the dusty road.</p> + +<p>"It's a watch!" he exclaimed. "A gold watch! And it's been +stepped on, evidently, or run over by an auto. Not much damaged, +but the case is a bit bent and scratched. It's stopped, too!" he +added as he held it to his ear.</p> + +<p>"What time does it show?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Eight forty-seven," answered Mr. Damon, as he consulted the +dial. "Why, Tom, that was just about when we heard the cries for +help!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it must have been. Let me see that watch."</p> + +<p>No sooner had the young inventor taken the timepiece into his +hands than he, too, uttered a cry of amazement.</p> + +<p>"Do you recognize it?" asked Mr. Damon, in great excitement.</p> + +<p>"It's Mr. Nestor's watch!" cried Tom. "He must have fallen +here, and been hurt. It was Mr. Nestor who cried for help, and +who was taken away by the autoists. They've probably taken him to +some hospital. There's been an accident all right."</p> + +<p>Tom and Mr. Damon were of one mind now in thinking that Mr. +Nestor had met with some mishap on the road—an automobile +accident most likely—and that he was the person who had called +for help.</p> + +<p>"If they had only answered when we hallooed at them," said Tom, +"we wouldn't be in all this stew now. We could have told the +strangers who came to his aid who he was, and we might even have +taken him to the hospital in the airship."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's too late to think of that now," returned Mr. Damon. +"We had better get into communication with him as soon as we can, +and then send word to his wife and daughter. I hope he isn't +badly hurt."</p> + +<p>Tom hoped so, too, with all his heart.</p> + +<p>There was nothing to do but to get back in the runabout and +make all speed for the nearest telephone, and Tom Swift lost +little time in doing this. They found a drug store which was open +a little later than usual, and at once Tom went into the booth +and called up the Shopton hospital. He was well known there, as +he and his father were liberal supporters of the institution, +which was a private affair. Many of Tom's men were treated at the +dispensary, and, as accidents were of more or less frequent +occurrence at the works, the young inventor had frequent +occasions to call up the place.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Nestor would ask to be taken there, as it's nearest his +home—that is, if he was able to speak," Tom said to Mr. Damon, +who agreed with him. There was a little delay in getting the +hospital on the wire, but when Tom had it, and was talking to the +superintendent, he was rather surprised, to tell the truth, to be +told that Mr. Nestor had not been brought in.</p> + +<p>"We haven't had any accident cases all day, nor to-night, Mr. +Swift," the superintendent reported. "Was this some one special +you were inquiring about?"</p> + +<p>For Tom, determining not to give Mr. Nestor's name, except as a +last resort, had merely inquired whether any recent accident +cases had been brought in.</p> + +<p>"I'll let you know later, Mr. Millard," he told the +superintendent, not exactly answering the question. He hung up +the receiver, and, opening the door of the booth, said to Mr. +Damon: "He isn't there."</p> + +<p>"Then try Waterfield," was the suggestion; and Tom did so, +though he could not imagine why an injured man, such as Mr. +Nestor might prove to be, should be taken as far as Waterfield, +when the hospital at Shopton was nearer.</p> + +<p>"Unless," he told Mr. Damon, "the people which ran down Mary's +father didn't know about our hospital."</p> + +<p>The reply from the institution in Mr. Damon's home town was +just as discouraging as had been the answer from Shopton. At +first, when Tom inquired, the head nurse had said there was an +accident case at that moment being brought in. Tom was all +excitement until she went to inquire the name and circumstances, +and then he learned that it was the case of a little boy who had +fallen downstairs at his home and broken a leg. There was no +record of any one answering the description of Mr. Nestor having +been brought in that evening.</p> + +<p>"Hum! This is getting to be mysterious," mused Tom, as he came +out of the booth. "What shall we do—go back and tell Mrs. Nestor +and Mary, or communicate with the police?"</p> + +<p>"Why not try the Alexian Hospital?" asked Mr. Damon. "That's +away over in Center-fiord, to be sure, but it's more likely to be +known to passing tourists than either of our institutions around +here, especially if the autoists were strangers."</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed Tom. The Alexian Hospital was operated +under the direction of the Brothers of that faith, and was well +known in that part of the state. Often cases of persons who had +been injured by passing automobiles had been taken there for +treatment, for, as Mr. Damon had said, it was well known, and +Centerford was the nearest large city.</p> + +<p>"I can just about see how it happened," said Tom. "They ran Mr. +Nestor down, and stopped to pick him up after they heard his +cries for help. And the Alexian Hospital was the first one they +thought of. We should have called that up first."</p> + +<p>But once more disappointment awaited the young inventor and his +friend. Word came back over the wire that no accident case, which +bore any resemblance to Mary's father, had been brought in.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm stumped!" exclaimed Tom. "What shall we do now, Mr. +Damon?"</p> + +<p>"Much as I dislike it," said the eccentric man who was too much +worried, now, to do any "blessing," which was his favorite +expression, "I think we ought to communicate with Mrs. Nestor. +She will be very anxious."</p> + +<p>"I guess we'll have to," said Tom. "But wait! I'll call up my +house first, and see if he has gone back there."</p> + +<p>But Mr. Nestor had not done this, and Mrs. Baggert, who +answered the telephone, said Mary had been calling frantically +for Tom, as her mother was now on the verge of complete collapse.</p> + +<p>"No help for it," said Tom, ruefully. "We've got to tell 'em we +have no news, and can't find him."</p> + +<p>And, hearing this, Mrs. Nestor did collapse, and a doctor was +called in.</p> + +<p>Thereupon Tom, who with Mr. Damon had gone back to the Nestor +home, took charge of matters, sending for Mrs. Nestor's sister to +come and stay with her and take charge of the house.</p> + +<p>"You'll need some one to stay with you," he told Mary.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I shall," she admitted, trying bravely not to give way to +her emotion. "Oh, Tom, I wish you could stay, too. I'm sure +something dreadful must have happened to poor father. Please stay +and help us find him!"</p> + +<p>"I will," Tom promised. "As soon as your aunt comes I'll take +Mr. Damon home, and then I'll give the rest of my time to you."</p> + +<p>And this Tom did, sending word home that he would remain at the +Nestor's all night and part of the next day.</p> + +<p>Tom got but little sleep that night. He communicated with the +police and saw to it that a general alarm was sent out. He called +up all hospitals within a radius of fifty miles, but could get no +trace of any injured man whose description resembled that of Mr. +Nestor.</p> + +<p>"What can have happened?" asked Mary tearfully.</p> + +<p>"Well, the way I figure it out is this," said Tom. "Your father +left my house soon after Mr. Damon and I did in the Air Scout. +Mr. Nestor was riding his bicycle, and he must have been run into +by an automobile. That is how his watch was damaged and that was +when Mr. Damon and I heard the cries for help."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do you think he was badly hurt?" asked Mary.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," and Tom answered truthfully. "The voice sounded +as though he was in pain, certainly, but it was strong and +vigorous, and not at all as though he was dangerously hurt."</p> + +<p>"And what do you think happened to him after he was hurt?" +asked Mary.</p> + +<p>"The autoists took him away," decided Tom. "In fact, we heard +the machine go, but of course we never connected the call for +help and what followed with your father. The autoists took him +away."</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"I should say to some hospital. Perhaps a private one of which +we know nothing, and which may be near here. I'll get a full list +from the Board of Health to-morrow. Or it may be that the +autoists, seeing the damage they had done, took your father to +the home of one of themselves, and summoned a doctor there."</p> + +<p>"Why would they do that?"</p> + +<p>"Well, they may have been so frightened they didn't realize +what they were doing, or they may have thought he would get +better treatment in a private house, if he were not badly +injured, than if he should be taken to a hospital. It may have +been that one of the persons in the auto was a physician, and +wished to try his own skill on the man he had hurt."</p> + +<p>"You make me feel more comfortable, Tom," said Mary. "But, even +supposing all this, why couldn't they telephone to us that my +father was all right? He always carries an identification card +with him, and if he were unconscious it could be ascertained who +he was."</p> + +<p>"That's what I can't understand," said Tom frankly. "It puzzles +me. But we'll find him—never fear!"</p> + +<p>And so he kept on with his telephone inquiries, while a +physician and her sister ministered to Mrs. Nestor. The night was +very, very long, and no good news came in.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVII'></a><h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>SILENT SAM</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Slowly the dawn broke through the mists of darkness, and made +the earth light. The sun came straggling in through cracks in the +shutters in the home of Mr. Nestor, the gradually increasing +gleam paling the electric lights, in the glare of which Tom +Swift, Mary, and her aunt sat, waiting for some word of the +missing man. But none came.</p> + +<p>"What shall we do now?" asked Mary, as she looked at Tom.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's lots to do," he said, trying to make his voice +sound cheerful. "We'll be busy all day. I sent word to have one +of my touring cars ready to hurry to any part of the country the +moment we should get word from your father."</p> + +<p>"And do you think we shall get word, Tom?" the girl went on +wistfully.</p> + +<p>"Of course we shall!" he cried. "Word may come in at any time. +Now get ready, eat a good breakfast, and then you can go with me +as soon as we hear anything definite. Come, we'll have +breakfast!"</p> + +<p>"I can't eat a thing!" protested Mary.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes you can," said her aunt, who was a cheerful sort of +person. "I'll see about getting something for you and Mr. Swift, +and see that your mother is all right."</p> + +<p>She left the room to give orders to the servant about the meal, +and returned to say that Mrs. Nestor was sleeping quietly. She +had been given a sedative. Mary managed to eat a little, and she +gave Tom the address of several friends who were called up in the +vain hope that, somehow, Mr. Nestor might have gone to see them.</p> + +<p>"Tom, what do you really think has happened?" asked Mary again, +as they sat facing one another in the library, during a respite +from the telephone.</p> + +<p>Tom Swift repeated, to the girl his theory of what had happened +with an assumption of confidence he did not altogether feel.</p> + +<p>His prediction of a speedy end to the suspense did not come +true that day, nor for many days. No news was heard of Mr. +Nestor. After the first day, when there was no information and +when no reports came of any one of his description having been +hurt in an automobile accident or having been taken to any +hospital, the police started an energetic search.</p> + +<p>The authorities in all near-by cities were notified, and all +thought of keeping from the public what had happened was given +over. Tom's story, of how he and Mr. Damon had heard the cry for +help on the lonely meadow, was printed in the papers, though the +young inventor did not say that he had been out trying his new +aeroplane. That was a detail not needed in the finding of Mr. +Nestor.</p> + +<p>But Mary's father was not found. The mystery regarding his +disappearance deepened, and there was no trace of him after he +had left Tom's house that eventful evening. Persons living along +the roads he might have taken in riding his bicycle were +questioned, but they had seen nothing of him, nor were they aware +of any accident. Tom's testimony and that of Mr. Damon was all +the clew there was.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he's dead!" stoutly declared the young +inventor, when this dire possibility had been hinted at. "I +believe the persons who were responsible for the accident are +afraid to reveal his whereabouts until he recovers from possible +injuries. You'll see! Mr. Nestor will come back safe!"</p> + +<p>And, somehow, though her mother was skeptical, Mary believed +what Tom said.</p> + +<p>The search was kept up, but without result, and Tom aided all +he could. But there was not much he could do. The police and +other authorities were at a total loss.</p> + +<p>In the intervals of visiting Mary and her mother, and doing +what he could for them, Tom worked on his new motor. He knew that +he was on the right track and that all that was needed now was to +make certain refinements and adjustments in the apparatus he had +already constructed, so that it would operate more quietly.</p> + +<p>"Absorbing the vibrations from the exhaust, caused by the +exploded gases in the cylinders, does the trick," Tom told his +father.</p> + +<p>"But there is enormous pressure to overcome, Tom. You must be +sure your muffler will stand the strain. Otherwise she is going +to blow out a gasket some day, when you least expect it. Then the +sudden resumption of pressure outside the cylinders is going to +cause a change in the equilibrium, and you may turn turtle in the +air."</p> + +<p>"I've thought of that," said Tom. "At worst it can't be any +more than looping the loop. But I'll make the muffler doubly +strong."</p> + +<p>"Better provide an auxiliary chamber to take care of part of +the exhaust in case your main apparatus breaks," advised the +older inventor, and Tom said he would. He did, too, for he valued +his father's expert advice.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile he was busy fitting one of his latest aeroplanes with +the new motor. The motor he and Mr. Damon had used in their +flight was one patched up from an old one. But now Tom was +working on a complete new one, made after his revised model, and +in which the silencer was an integral part, instead of being +built on.</p> + +<p>While giving Mary and her mother all the assistance in his +power, Tom still found time to work on his new, pet scheme. He +had matters now where he did not fear any tampering with his +plans, for he had filed away his papers in a safe place, and was +making his new machine from memory.</p> + +<p>"But if some one got in and had a look at the inside of your +silencer he could see how it is constructed, couldn't he?" asked +Ned Newton.</p> + +<p>"Yes," assented Tom, "But they're not going to get in very +easily. Koku sleeps in the experiment shop now, and my machine is +there."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well that explains your confidence. I feel sorry for the +burglar who makes the attempt, once Koku wakes up. Heard anything +more from those Universal people?"</p> + +<p>"No, not directly. I understand they are working hard on some +new type of plane for army use, but I haven't bothered my head +about them. I'm too much occupied with my own affairs and trying +to help Mary."</p> + +<p>"Very strange about Mr. Nestor, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Worse than strange," said Tom. "If this keeps on, and he isn't +heard from, it will be tragic pretty soon."</p> + +<p>"He must be held a prisoner somewhere," declared Ned.</p> + +<p>"It begins to look that way," assented Tom. "Though who would +have an object in that I can't understand. He had no enemies, as +far as is known, and his business affairs were in excellent +shape. Unless, as I said, the persons who ran him down are, +through fear, keeping him hidden until he recovers, I can't +imagine what has become of him."</p> + +<p>"Well, it certainly is a puzzle," said Ned. And Tom agreed with +his chum.</p> + +<p>It was about a week after the disappearance of Mr. Nestor that +Mr. Damon came over to see Tom.</p> + +<p>"Bless my shoe laces, Tom!" exclaimed the eccentric man, "but +you are as busy as ever." For he found the young inventor in the +experiment shop, surrounded by a mass of papers and all sorts of +mechanical devices.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm working a little," said Tom. "But you are just in +time. Come on out, I want to introduce you to Silent Sam."</p> + +<p>"'Silent Sam!'" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Have you been taking a +new trip to the Land of Wonders? Have you brought back some new +kind of servant?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly a servant," said Tom with a laugh, "though I hope +Silent Sam will serve me well."</p> + +<p>"'Silent Sam?' What does it mean? Is that a joke?" asked the +puzzled Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I hope it doesn't turn out a joke," replied Tom. "But come on, +I'll introduce you to him, Mr. Damon."</p> + +<p>He led the way to one of the big hangars where his various +machines of the air were housed. On the way Mr. Damon asked about +news of Mr. Nestor, but was told there was none.</p> + +<p>Tom Swift opened the big, swinging doors and pulled aside an +enveloping canvas curtain. There stood revealed a big aeroplane, +of somewhat new pattern, the wings gleaming like silver from the +varnish that had been applied. In shape it was not unlike the +machines already in use, except that the propellers were of +somewhat different design.</p> + +<p>The engine was mounted in front, and even with his slight +knowledge of mechanics Mr. Damon could tell that it was +exceedingly powerful. But it was certain devices attached to the +engine that attracted his attention, for they were totally +different from any on any other aeroplane, though they bore some +resemblance to apparatus on the plane in which Tom and the +eccentric man had made the night flight.</p> + +<p>"Is this your new machine, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't see anything of that fellow you spoke of—Silent +Sam."</p> + +<p>"This is Silent Sam," returned Tom, with a laugh. "I've named +my new noiseless aeroplane -Ämy Air Scout—I've named that Silent +Sam. Wait until you hear it, or rather, don't hear it, and I +think you'll agree with me. Silent Sam for Uncle Sam!"</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my dictionary, but that's a +good name! Does it sail silently, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"I'll let you judge presently. Silent Sam is all ready for his +first trial, and I'll be glad to have you with me. Now, I'll +just—"</p> + +<p>Tom suddenly ceased speaking and held up a hand to enjoin +silence. Then, while Mr. Damon watched, the young inventor began +moving noiselessly toward the rear of the big shed, inside which +was his new machine.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVIII'></a><h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>SUSPICIONS</h3> +<br /> + +<p>"Who's there?" suddenly called Tom, and in such a sharp voice +that Mr. Damon started, ready as he was for something unusual.</p> + +<p>There was no answer and Tom suddenly switched on all the lights +in the shed. Up to then there had been only a few glowing—just +enough for him to show the new Air Scout to his friend.</p> + +<p>"Who's there?" asked Tom again, sharply.</p> + +<p>"Bless my opera glasses, Tom!" cried Mr. Damon, "but are you +seeing things?"</p> + +<p>"No; but I'm hearing them," answered Tom with a short laugh. +"Did you think you heard some one moving around near the rudders +of Silent Sam, Mr. Damon?"</p> + +<p>"No, I can't say that I did. Everything seems to me to be all +right."</p> + +<p>"Well, it doesn't to me," went on Tom grimly. "I think there +is an intruder in this shed, though how any one could get in when +the doors have been locked all day, is more than I can figure +out. But I'm going to have a look."</p> + +<p>"I'll help you," offered Mr. Damon, and, in the bright glare +from many electric lights, the two began a search of the big +hangar where the new craft was kept.</p> + +<p>But though the young inventor and his friend went around to the +rear of the aeroplane, walking in opposite directions, they saw +no one, nor did any one try to escape past them.</p> + +<p>"And yet I was sure I heard some one in here," declared Tom, +when a search had revealed nothing. "It sounded as if some one +were scuffling softly about in rubber-soled shoes, trying to +hide."</p> + +<p>"Bless my suspenders!" cried Mr. Damon, "who do you think it +could have been, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Who else but some spy trying to get possession of my secrets?" +was the answer. "But I guess I was too quick for them. They +couldn't learn much from looking at the outside of my muffler, +and it hasn't been disturbed, as far as I can see."</p> + +<p>"Who would want to gain a knowledge of it in that unlawful +way?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps some of the Universal crowd. They may have been +disappointed in perfecting a silent motor themselves, and think +stealing my idea would be the easiest way out of it."</p> + +<p>"Do they know you are working on such a model as this Silent +Sam of yours, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I imagine they do. One of the firm members, as you +recall, overheard something, I think, that gave them a hint as to +what my plans were, though, thanks to the time I fooled the spy, +they haven't any real data to go by, I believe."</p> + +<p>"Let us hope not," said Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>Tom and he made a thorough search of the big shed, but found no +one, nor was there any trace of an intruder. Tom notified +Jackson, who, in turn, told the guards and watchmen to be on the +lookout for any suspicious strangers, but none was seen in the +vicinity of the Swift works.</p> + +<p>"Well, everything seems to be all right, so we'll have the +test," remarked Torn, after a further search of the premises. +"Now, Mr. Damon, if all goes as I hope you will see what my new +machine can do. Strain your ears for a sound, and let me know how +much you hear."</p> + +<p>His men helping him, Tom started the new motor which was tried +for the first time attached to the new craft. No flight was to be +made yet, the motor being tested as though on the block, though, +in reality, the craft was ready for instant flight if need be.</p> + +<p>Slowly the great propellers began to revolve, and then Tom, +taking his place in the cockpit, turned on more power. The new +craft—Silent Sam—was made fast so it could not progress even +though the propellers revolved at high speed.</p> + +<p>"I'm not sending her to the limit," said Tom to his friend, as +the young inventor throttled down the motor. "If I did I'd tear +her loose from the holding blocks."</p> + +<p>"Her!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my typewriter, Tom! but I +thought Silent Sam was a gentleman aeroplane.</p> + +<p>"So he is!" laughed the young man, frankly. "I forgot about +'Silent Sam.' Guess I'll have to say 'him' instead of 'her,' +though the latter sounds more natural. Anyhow what do you think?"</p> + +<p>"I think it's wonderful!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "There the motor +is, going at almost full speed, and I can hardly hear a thing. +You can the easier believe that when I say that I can hear you +talk perfectly well. And I guess you hear me, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Tom. "And we don't have to shout, either. This +is the best test ever! I think everything is a success."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to take her aloft, Tom?" the eccentric man went +on.</p> + +<p>"Yes, now that I'm sure the engine is all right. Will you go +for a flight with me?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly will! I only wish we could find him, though. I'd +go with a better heart."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Mr. Nestor?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I can't imagine what has become of him. It is almost as +if the earth had opened and swallowed him. His disappearance is a +great mystery."</p> + +<p>"It surely is," agreed Tom. "Can't seem to get any trace of +him. But if we hear another cry for help, when we have to land, +you can make up your mind I'll investigate more quickly than I +did at first."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you," said Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>It was nearly evening then, and until it was dark enough for +his flight Tom spent the time tuning up the engine and seeing +that all was in readiness for the latest test. He had decided not +to go aloft while it was light enough for curiosity seekers to +note the flight.</p> + +<p>Tom rather wished Mary Nestor might have a sail with him in his +latest improved silent Air Scout, but the girl was too much +occupied at home and in trying to find some trace of her father.</p> + +<p>Tom, his father, and Mr. Damon had helped all they could, but +there were no results. A private detective had been engaged, but +he had no more of a clew than the regular police.</p> + +<p>At last it was dark enough for the flight, and Tom and Mr. +Damon took their places in the machine. Once more the propellers +were turned around, and when the compression had been made, and +the spark switched on, around spun the big wooden blades, and the +great craft moved over the grass.</p> + +<p>On and on and up and up sailed Tom and Mr. Damon, and as they +left behind them the shops and the Swift homestead, the two +passengers were aware of their almost silent flight. The big +aeroplane, the exhaust of which, ordinarily, would have nearly +deafened them, was now as silent as a bird.</p> + +<p>"Silent Sam for Uncle Sam!" cried Tom in delight, as he went on +faster. "I'm sure the government ought to be glad to get this +plane for air scout work. It's a success! A great success!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, so it is!" agreed Mr. Damon. "You do well to speak of it +so, Tom."</p> + +<p>For, modest as the young inventor was, he felt, in justice to +himself, that he must acknowledge the fact that his craft was a +success. For it rose and sailed almost as silently as a bat, and +a few hundred feet away no one, not seeing it, would have +believed a big aeroplane was in motion.</p> + +<p>Tom and Mr. Damon flew about twenty miles at a swift pace, and +all the fault Tom had to find was that the machine was not as +steady in flight as she should have been.</p> + +<p>"But I can remedy that with the use of some of dad's gyroscope +stabilizers," he told Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>They returned to the hangar safely, and the first trip of the +new Silent Sam was an assured success.</p> + +<p>It was the following day, when Tom was busy in the machine shop +installing the gyroscopes spoken of, that Jackson came to tell +him there was a visitor to see him.</p> + +<p>"Who is it?" asked the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Gale of the Universal Company," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to see him!" declared Tom quickly. "I have +nothing to say to him after his clumsy threats."</p> + +<p>"He seems very much in earnest," said Jackson. "Better see him, +if only for a minute or so."</p> + +<p>"All right, I will," assented Tom. "Show him in."</p> + +<p>Mr. Gale, as blusteringly bluff as ever, entered the shop. Tom +had carefully put away all papers and models, as well as the +finished machines, so he had no fear that his visitor might +discover some secret.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Swift!" began the president of the Universal Company, +when he met the young inventor, "I wish to assure you that what +has been done was entirely without our knowledge. And, though +this man may have acted as our agent at one time, we repudiate +any acts of his that might</p> + +<p>"What are you talking about?" asked Tom in surprise. "Have I +been so impolite as to sleep during part of your talk? I don't +understand what you are driving at."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I thought you did," said Gale, and he showed surprise. "I +understood that the man who—"</p> + +<p>"Do you mean there was some one here in the shed last night?" +cried the young inventor suddenly, all his suspicions aroused.</p> + +<p>"Some one here last night?" repeated Mr. Gale. "No, I don't +refer to last night. But perhaps I am making a mistake. +I—er—I—"</p> + +<p>"Some one is making a mistake!" said Tom significantly.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIX'></a><h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>ANOTHER FLIGHT</h3> +<br /> + +<p>For perhaps a quarter of a minute Tom Swift and the president +of the Universal Flying Machine Company of New York sat staring +at one another. Mr. Gale's face wore a puzzled expression, and so +did Tom's. And, after the last remark of the young inventor, the +man who had called to see him said:</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps we are talking at cross purposes. I don't blame +you for not feeling very friendly toward us, and if I had had my +way that last correspondence with you would never have left our +office."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't very business-like," said Tom dryly, referring to +the veiled threats when he had refused to sell his services to +the rival company.</p> + +<p>"I realize that," said Mr. Gale. "But we have some peculiar men +working for us, and sometimes there is so much to do, so many +possibilities of which to take advantage, that we may get a +little off our balance. But what I called for was not to renew +our offer to you. I understand that is definitely settled."</p> + +<p>"As far as I am concerned, it is," said Tom, as his caller +seemed to want an answer.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Well, then, what I called to say was that if you are +thinking of taking any legal action against us because of the +action of that man Lydane, I wish to state that he had absolutely +no authority to—"</p> + +<p>"Excuse me!" broke in Tom, "but by Lydane do you mean the man +who also posed as Bower, the spy?"</p> + +<p>"No, I do not. Though I regret to say that Bower once worked +for us. He, too, had no authority to come here and get a +position. He was still in our service when he did that."</p> + +<p>"So I have suspected," said Tom. "I realize now that he was a +spy, who came here to try to find out for you some of my +secrets."</p> + +<p>"Not with my permission!" exclaimed Mr. Gale. "I was against +that from the first and I came to tell you so. But Bower really +did you no harm."</p> + +<p>"No, he didn't get the chance!" chuckled Tom. "Nor did that +other spy—the one with the gold tooth. I wonder how he liked our +mud hole?"</p> + +<p>"He was Lydane," said Mr. Gale. "It is about him I came."</p> + +<p>"You might have saved yourself the trouble," returned Tom. "I +don't wish to discuss him."</p> + +<p>"But I wish to make sure," said Mr. Gale, that what he has done +will not come back on us. We repudiate him entirely. His methods +we can not countenance. He is too daring—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't worry!" interrupted Tom. "He hasn't done anything to +me—he didn't get the chance, as I guess he's told you. You +needn't apologize on his account. He did me no harm, and—"</p> + +<p>"But I understood from him that—"</p> + +<p>"Now I don't want to seem impolite!" broke in Tom, "nor do I +want to take pattern after some of your company's acts, if not +your own. But I am very busy. I have an important test to make +for the government, and my time is fully occupied. I am afraid I +shall have to bid you good-morning and—"</p> + +<p>"But won't you give me a chance to—" began the president.</p> + +<p>"Now, the less we discuss this matter the better!" interrupted +Tom. "Lydane, as you call the man with the gold tooth didn't +really do anything to me nor any great harm to any of my +possessions, as far as I can learn. His career is a closed book— +a book with muddy covers!" and the young inventor laughed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, if you look at it that way, there is nothing further +for me to say" said Mr. Gale stiffly. "I understood— But hasn't +my partner, Mr. Ware, seen you?" he asked Tom quickly.</p> + +<p>"No. And I don't care to see him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, then that accounts for it," was the quick answer. "Well, +if you regard the matter as closed I suppose we should also. We +are not to blame for what Lydane does when he is no longer in our +employ, and we repudiate anything he may do, or may have done."</p> + +<p>This struck Tom, afterward, as being rather a queer remark, but +he did not think so at the time.</p> + +<p>The truth was that the young inventor wished very much to try +out a new device on his noiseless aeroplane and wanted to get rid +of Mr. Gale before doing so. So he did not pay as much attention +to the remarks of the president as, otherwise, he might have +done.</p> + +<p>It was not until after Mr. Gale had taken his leave and Tom had +finished the particular work on which he was engaged when the +president of the rival company came in, that the young man did +some hard thinking. And this thinking was done after he had +received a telephone call from Mary Nestor, asking, if by any +chance, he had beard anything like a clew as to the whereabouts +of her father.</p> + +<p>Tom had been obliged to tell her that he had not. Everything +possible was being done to find the missing man but he had +disappeared as completely as though he had ridden on his bicycle +into the crater of some extinct volcano on the meadow, and had +fallen to the bottom.</p> + +<p>An effort was made to trace him through an automobile +association which had a large membership. That is, the members +were asked to make inquiries to ascertain, if possible, whether +any one had heard of an unreported accident—one in which Mr. +Nestor might have been carried away by persons who accidently ran +him down.</p> + +<p>But this came to naught, and the police and other authorities +were at a loss how farther to proceed. It was a theory in some +quarters that Mr. Nestor was perfectly safe, but that he was out +of his mind, and was either wandering around, not knowing who he +was, or was, in this condition, detained somewhere, the persons +having him in charge not realizing that he was the missing man so +widely sought.</p> + +<p>This belief was a relief to Mrs. Nestor and Mary in many ways +for it prevented them from giving way to the fear that Mr. Nestor +was dead. That he was alive was Tom Swift's firm opinion, and he +was doing all he could to prove it.</p> + +<p>It was not until the day after the visit of Mr. Gale that Tom, +having concluded some intricate calculations about the strength +of cylinder valves, uttered an exclamation.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if he could have meant that?" cried the young +inventor. "I wonder if he could have meant that? I must find out +at once! Queer I didn't think of that before!"</p> + +<p>He put in a long distance call to New York, asking to speak to +Mr. Gale. But when, eventually, he was connected with the office +of the Universal Flying Machine Company he was told that Mr. Gale +and Mr. Ware had sailed for France that day, going over as +government representatives to investigate aeroplane motors. +Gale's visit to Tom had been just previous to taking the boat, it +was said.</p> + +<p>"This is tough luck!" mused Tom, his suspicions doubly aroused +now. "I can't let this rest here! I've got to get after it! As +soon as I make this final test, and invite Uncle Sam's experts +out to see how my noiseless motor works, I'll get after Gale and +Ware if I have to follow them to the battlefields of France! I +wonder if it was that he was hinting at all the while! I begin to +believe it was!"</p> + +<p>Tom Swift had decided on another flight for his new craft +before he would let the government experts see it.</p> + +<p>"Silent Sam must do his very best work for Uncle Sam before I +turn him over," said the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"And after this flight I'll offer the machine to the +government, and then devote all my time to finding Mr. Nestor," +said Tom. "I'd do it now, but private matters, however deeply +they affect us, must be put aside to help win the war. But this +will end my inventive work until after Mr. Nestor is found—if +he's alive."</p> + +<p>Preparations for the test flight went on apace, and one +afternoon Tom and Jackson took their places in the big, new +aeroplane. He no longer feared daylight crowds in case of an +accident. They made a good start, and the motor was so quiet that +as Tom passed over his own plant the men working in the yard, who +did not know of the flight, did not look up to see what was going +on. They could not hear the engine.</p> + +<p>"I think we've got everything just as we want it, Jackson," +said Tom, much pleased.</p> + +<p>"I believe you," answered the mechanician. "It couldn't be +better. Now if—"</p> + +<p>And at that moment there came a loud explosion, and Silent Sam +began drifting rapidly toward the earth, as falls a bird with a +broken wing.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XX'></a><h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>QUEER MARKS</h3> +<br /> + +<p>"What happened?" cried Jackson to Tom, as he leaned forward in +his seat which was in the rear of the young inventor's.</p> + +<p>"Don't know, exactly," was the answer, as Tom quickly shifted +the rudders to correct the slanting fall of his craft. "Sounded +as though there was a tremendous back-fire, or else the muffler +blew up. The engine is dead."</p> + +<p>"Can you take her down safely?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I guess so. She's a bit out of control, but the +stabilizer will keep her on a level keel. Good thing we installed +it."</p> + +<p>"You're right!" said Jackson.</p> + +<p>Now they were falling earthward with great rapidity, but, +thanks to the gyroscope stabilizer, the "side-slipping," than +which there is no motion more dreaded by an aviator, had nearly +ceased. The craft was volplaning down as it ought, and Tom had it +under as perfect control as was possible under the +circumstances.</p> + +<p>"We'll get down all right if something else doesn't happen," he +said to Jackson, with grim humor.</p> + +<p>"Well, let's hope that it won't," said the mechanic. "We're a +good distance up yet."</p> + +<p>They were, as a matter of fact, for the explosion, or whatever +had happened to the craft, had occurred at a height of over two +miles, and they at once began falling. As yet Tom Swift was +unaware of the exact nature of the accident or its cause. All he +knew was that there had been a big noise and that the engine had +stopped working. He could not see the silencer from where he sat, +as it was constructed on the underside of the motor, but he had +an idea that the same sort of mishap had occurred as on the +occasion when the test machine had sailed through the roof of his +workshop.</p> + +<p>"But, luckily, this wasn't as bad," mused Tom. "Anyhow the +motor is out of business."</p> + +<p>And this was very evident. The young inventor had tried to +start the apparatus after its stoppage by the explosion, but it +had not responded to his efforts, and then he had desisted, +fearing to cause some further damage, or, perhaps, endanger his +own life and that of Jackson.</p> + +<p>Down, down swept Silent Sam—doubly silent now, and Tom began +looking about for a good place to make a landing. This was +nothing new for either him or his mechanician, and they accepted +the outcome as a matter of course.</p> + +<p>"Not a very lively place down there," remarked Jackson, as he +looked over the side of the cockpit.</p> + +<p>"If we have to depend for help on any one down there, I guess +we'll be a long time waiting," agreed Tom. They were about to +land in a very lonely spot. It was one he had never before +visited, though he knew it could not be much more than twenty +miles from his own home, as they had not flown much farther than +that distance.</p> + +<p>But, somehow or other, Tom had not visited this particular +section, and knew nothing of it. He saw below him, as Jackson had +seen, a lonely stretch of country—a big field, once a wood-lot, +evidently, as scattered about were some stumps and some second +growth trees. There were also a number of evergreens—Christmas +trees Jackson called them. And this was the only open place for +miles, the surrounding country being a densely wooded one. There +did not appear to be a house or other building in sight where +they might seek help.</p> + +<p>"But maybe we can make the repairs ourselves and keep on," the +lad thought.</p> + +<p>With practiced eye he picked out a smooth, grassy, level spot, +in the midst of scattered evergreen trees, and there Tom Swift +skillfully brought his Air Scout to rest. With a gentle thud the +rubber-tired wheels struck the Earth, rolled along a little +distance, and then called to a stop.</p> + +<p>Hardly had the aeroplane ceased moving when Tom and his +companion jumped out and began eagerly to examine the machinery +to see the extent of damage.</p> + +<p>"I thought so!" Tom exclaimed. "The silencer cracked under the +strain. Those exhaust gases have more pressure that I believed +possible. I increased the margin of safety on this muffler, too. +But she's cracked, and I can't use the machine until I put on a +new one. Good thing I didn't ask for a government inspection +until after this trial flight."</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed Jackson. "But can't you patch it up, or go +on without a muffler, so we can get back home?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid not," Tom answered. "You see I removed all the old +exhaust pipe fittings when I put on my new silencer. Now if I +took off my attachment there wouldn't be anything to carry off +the discharged gases, and they'd form a regular cloud about us. +We couldn't stand it without gas masks, such as they use in the +trenches, and we haven't any of those with us."</p> + +<p>"That's right," agreed Jackson. "Well, what do you want to do? +Have me stay here and guard the machine while you go for help? Or +shall I go?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know why we both can't go," said Tom. "There is no use +trying to patch up this machine here. I'll have to send a truck +after it, and dismantle it before I can get it home.</p> + +<p>"As for either of us staying here on guard, I don't quite see +the need of that. This looks like the jumping-off place to me. I +don't believe there's a native within miles. I didn't see any +houses as we came down, and I think Silent Sam will be perfectly +safe here. No one can run off with him, anyhow. He'd be as hard +to start as an automobile with all four wheels gone. Let's leave +it here and both walk back."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Jackson. "That suits me. Might as well +leave our togs here, too. It will be easier walking without +them," and he began taking off the fur-lined suit, his cap, and +his goggles, such as he and Tom wore against the piercing cold of +the upper regions.</p> + +<p>"We can stuff them in the cockpit and leave them," went on the +mechanician, as he divested himself of his garments. As he stowed +them away in his seat he gave one more look at the broken +muffler. As Tom Swift said, his new silencer had literally blown +up, a large piece having been torn from the gas chamber.</p> + +<p>Something that Jackson saw caused him to utter an exclamation +that brought Tom Swift to his side.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Look!" was the answer. "See! Just at the edge of that break! +It's been filed to make the metal thinner there than anywhere +else. You didn't do that, did you?"</p> + +<p>"I should say not!" cried Tom. "Why, to file there would mean +to weaken the whole structure."</p> + +<p>"And that's exactly what's happened!" declared Jackson, as he +gave another look. "Some one has filed this nearly +throughÄleaving only a thin metal skin, and when the gas pressure +became too much it blew out. That's what happened!"</p> + +<p>Tom Swift made a quick but thorough examination.</p> + +<p>"You're right, Jackson!" he exclaimed. "That was filed +deliberately to cause the accident. And it must have been done +lately, for I carefully inspected the silencer when I put it on, +and it was in perfect order. There's been spy work here. Some one +got into the hangar and filed that casing. Then the accumulated +pressure of the gases did the rest."</p> + +<p>"As sure as you're alive!" agreed Jackson. "Maybe that's what +Gale did when he called."</p> + +<p>"No," returned Tom, shaking his head, "he didn't get a chance to +do anything like that. I watched him all the while. But perhaps +this is what he referred to when he said he and his company would +repudiate any act of that spy with the gold tooth—Lydane, so +Gale said his name was. Maybe that's what Lydane did."</p> + +<p>"He was capable of it," agreed the mechanic, "but he couldn't +have done it that time you tripped him into the mud puddle. This +silencer wasn't built then."</p> + +<p>"No, you're right," assented Tom. "Then he must have been +around since, doing some of his tricky work!"</p> + +<p>"I don't see how that could have been," said Jackson slowly. +"We've kept a very careful watch, and your shop has been +specially guarded."</p> + +<p>"I know it has," said Tom. "There couldn't much get past Koku; +but some one seems to have done it, or else how could that filing +have been done?"</p> + +<p>Jackson shook his head. The problem was too much for him. He +looked carefully at the exploded and broken silencer, and Tom, +too, gave it a critical eye. There was no doubt but that it had +been filed in several places to weaken the structure of the +metal.</p> + +<p>"When did you last see that it was in perfect condition?" asked +Jackson.</p> + +<p>Tom named a certain date.</p> + +<p>"That was just before Gale called," observed the mechanician. +"He might have known of it."</p> + +<p>"I wish I'd known of it at the time," said Tom savagely. "He +wouldn't have gotten away as easily as he did. Well, there's no +use standing here talking about it. Let's get back to +civilization and we'll send back one of the trucks. Luckily I +have another silencer I can put on for the government test. This +one will never be of any more use, though I may be able to save +some of the valves and baffle plates."</p> + +<p>Slowly they turned from the disabled aeroplane and started to +look for a path that would lead them out of the lonely place. Tom +as the first to strike what seemed to be a cow path, or perhaps +what had been a road into the wood lot in the early days.</p> + +<p>As he tramped along it, followed by Jackson, the young inventor +suddenly stopped, as he came to a sandy place, and, stooping +over, looked intently at some queer marks in the soil.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked the mechanician.</p> + +<p>"Looks like the marks of an automobile," said Tom slowly. "And +I was just trying to remember where I'd seen marks like these +before."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXI'></a><h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>THE DESERTED CABIN</h3> +<br /> + +<p>For several seconds the young inventor remained bending over +the queer marks in that little sandy path of the lonely field in +the midst of the silent woods. Jackson watched him curiously, +and then Tom straightened up, exclaiming as he did so:</p> + +<p>"I have it! Now I know where it was! I saw marks like these the +night Mr. Nestor disappeared. Mr. Damon and I noticed the marks +in the dust on the road the time we made the forced landing the +first night we tried out the silent motor. That's it! They are +the same marks! I'm sure of it!"</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't go so far as to say that," said Jackson slowly. He +was more deliberate than Tom Swift, a fact for which the young +inventor was often glad, as it saved him from impulsive mistakes.</p> + +<p>"This may not be the same auto," went on the mechanician. "I'll +admit I never saw square tire marks like those before. Most of +the usual ones are circular, diamond-shape or oblong. Some tire +manufacturer must have tried a new stunt. But as for saying these +marks were made by the same machine you saw evidences of the +night Mr. Nestor disappeared, why, that's going a little too far, +Tom."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose it is," admitted the young inventor. "But it's +a clew worth following. Maybe Mr. Nestor has been brought to some +lonely place like this, and is being held."</p> + +<p>"Why would any one want to do that?" asked Jackson. "He had no +enemies.</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps those who ran him down and injured him are +afraid to let him go for fear he will prosecute them and ask for +heavy damages," suggested Tom. "They may be holding him a captive +until he gets well, and aim on treating him so nicely that he +won't bring suit."</p> + +<p>"That's a pretty far-fetched theory," said the mechanician as +he carefully looked at the tracks. "But of course it may be true. +Anyhow, these tire marks are rather recent, I should say, and +they are made by a new tire. Do you think we can follow them?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to try !" declared Tom. "The only trouble is we +can't tell whether it was going or coming—that is we don't know +which way to go."</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed his companion. "And so the only thing to do +is to travel a bit both ways. The path, or road, or whatever you +call it, is plainly enough marked here, though you can't always +pick out the tire marks. They show only on bare ground. The grass +doesn't leave any tracks that we can see, though doubtless they +are there.</p> + +<p>"But as for thinking this car is the same one the marks of +which you saw on the lonely moor, the night you heard the call +for help—that's going too far, Tom Swift."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I realize that. Of course there must be more than one car +with tires which have square protuberances. But it's worth taking +a chance on—following this clew."</p> + +<p>"Oh, sure!" agreed Jackson.</p> + +<p>"The only question is, then, which way to go," returned Tom.</p> + +<p>They settled that, arbitrarily enough, by going on in the +direction they had started after leaving the stranded airship. +They followed a half-defined path, and were rewarded by getting +occasional glimpses on bare ground of the odd tire marks.</p> + +<p>Through a devious winding way, now hidden amid a lane of trees, +and again cutting across an open space, the path led. They saw +the marks often enough to make sure they were on the right trail, +and in one place they saw several different patches of the odd +marks.</p> + +<p>They went on perhaps half a mile more. when they came to a +lonely road and saw where the car had turned from that into the +wood-lot, as Tom called the place where his craft had settled +down.</p> + +<p>"Look!" cried the young inventor to Jackson. "They've been here +more than once, and have gone along the road in both directions. +They seem to have used this turning into the lot as a sort of +stopping place."</p> + +<p>This was plain enough from an examination of the marks in the +sandy soil of the road, which was one not often used. The +automobile with the queer, square marks on the tires had turned +into the lot, coming and going in both directions.</p> + +<p>"This settles it!" cried Tom, when he finished making an +examination. "There's something farther back in this lot that +we've got to see. This auto has been coming and going, and we +should have followed the tracks the other way from the point +where we first saw them, instead of coming this way."</p> + +<p>"Except that we've learned the place of departure," suggested +Jackson. "Evidently the wood-lot is a blind alley. The car goes +in, but it can come out only just at this point, or, at least, it +does."</p> + +<p>"That's right!" agreed Tom. "Now the thing to do is to follow +our track back to where we started. There must be some place +where the car went to—some headquarters, or meeting place with +some one, farther back in the lot. If we can only follow the +trail back as well as we did coming, we may find out something."</p> + +<p>"Well, let's try, anyhow," suggested Jackson.</p> + +<p>They had no difficulty in making their way back to the spot +where they had first seen the queer marks. But from then on their +task was not so easy. For sandy or bare patches of earth were not +frequent, and they had to depend on these to give them direction, +for the road was overgrown and not well defined.</p> + +<p>Often they would search about for some time after leaving one +patch of the marks before they found another that would justify +them in keeping on.</p> + +<p>"They have headquarters, or a rendezvous, somewhere back in +this lot!" declared Tom, as they hurried on. "I think we're on +the track of a mystery."</p> + +<p>"Unless it turns out that some farmer has treated himself to an +auto with new tires of square tread, and is hauling wood," said +Jackson. "It may turn out that way."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it may," agreed Tom. "But, taking everything into +consideration, I think we're on the verge of finding out +something. Even if we do discover that the owner of this auto is +only hauling wood, he may be able to help us to a clew as to the +whereabouts of Mr. Nestor."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe he was in his machine on the moor the night the +call for help came. He may even have aided to carry Mr. Nestor +away. And if he doesn't know a thing about it—which, of course, +is possible—the man who bought these queer tires can tell us who +makes them, or who deals in them, and we can find out what +autoists around here have their cars equipped with this odd +tread."</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Jackson, "that can be done."</p> + +<p>And so they kept on, scouting here and there to either side of +the half-defined path, until they were far back from the spot +where they had left the Air Scout.</p> + +<p>"We don't appear to be getting any warmer, as the children +say," remarked Jackson, as he straightened up and looked about, +for his back ached from so much stooping over to look for the odd +marks.</p> + +<p>"We haven't seen anything yet, I'll admit," said Tom. "But it +won't be dark for another hour or so, and I vote that we keep +on."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wasn't thinking of giving up!" exclaimed Jackson. "If +there's anything here—at the end of the route, as you might say +—we'll find it. Only I hope it doesn't turn out to be just a +wood pile, from which some farmer has been hauling logs."</p> + +<p>"That would be a disappointment," assented Tom.</p> + +<p>The day was waning, and they realized that they ought not to +spend too much time on what might turn out to be a wild goose +chase. They were in a lonely neighborhood, and while they were +not at all apprehensive of danger, they felt it would be best to +get to shelter before dark.</p> + +<p>"We'll want to send word to Mr. Swift that we're all right."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Tom, "I'd like to get to a place where I can +telephone to him or Mrs. Baggert. Well, if we don't find +something pretty soon we'll have to turn back. I must complete +work on the new motor, for if I'm to offer it to Uncle Sam for +air scout purposes, the sooner I can do so the better. Things are +getting pretty hot over in Europe, and if ever the United States +needed aircraft on the western front they need them now. I want +to help all I can, and I also want to help Mary—you understand— +Miss Nestor."</p> + +<p>"I understand," said Jackson simply. "I only hope you can help +her. But I'm afraid—this may turn out to be nothing—following +these marks, you know."</p> + +<p>"And yet," said Tom slowly, "it would be strange if it was only +a coincidence—the two tire marks being the same—the night Mr. +Nestor disappeared and now."</p> + +<p>And so they kept on, hoping.</p> + +<p>The half-defined path through the wood-lot led them in a series +of turns and twists, and it extended through a dense patch of +woods, growing thickly, where it was so dark that it seemed as if +night had fallen.</p> + +<p>"We can't spend much more time here," said Tom. "If we don't +find something in the next half mile we'll go back and take up +the search to-morrow. I'm going to find out what's at the end of +this road—even if it's only a wood pile."</p> + +<p>For ten minutes more the two went on, making sure, by +occasional glimpses at the marks, that they were on the right +track. Then, suddenly, they saw something which made them feel +sure they had reached their goal.</p> + +<p>In a clearing among the trees was a little cabin —a shack of +logs—and from the appearance it was deserted. There was not a +sign of life around</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXII'></a><h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>CLEWS AT LAST</h3> +<br /> + +<p>For a moment, at sight of the deserted cabin, staring at Tom +and his friend, as it were, from its hiding place amid the trees, +the young inventor and his companion did not move. They just +stood looking at the place.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Tom,. at length, "we found it, didn't we</p> + +<p>"We found something anyhow," agreed Jackson. "Whether it +amounts to anything or not, we've got to see."</p> + +<p>"Come on!" cried Tom, impulsively. "I'm going to see what's +there."</p> + +<p>"There doesn't appear to be much of anything," said Jackson, as +he looked toward the lonely cabin with critical eyes. "I should +say that place hadn't been used, even as a chicken coop, in a +long while."</p> + +<p>"We can soon tell!" exclaimed Tom, striding forward.</p> + +<p>"Wait just a minute!" cried his companion, catching him by the +coat. "Don't be in such a hurry."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Tom. "There isn't any danger, is there?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that. There's no telling who may be hidden +in that cabin, in spite of its deserted appearance. And though +there aren't any 'No Trespass' signs up, it may be that we +wouldn't be welcome. If there are some tramps there, which is +possible, they might take a notion to shoot at us first and ask +questions as to our peaceable intentions afterward—when it would +be too late."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" exclaimed Tom. "There aren't any tramps there and, +if there were, they wouldn't dare shoot. I'm going to see what +the mystery is—if there is one."</p> + +<p>But there was no sign of life, and, taking this as an +indication that their advance would not be disputed, Jackson +followed Tom. The latter advanced until he could take in all the +details of the shack. It was made of logs, and once had been +chinked with mud or clay. Some of this had fallen out, leaving +spaces between the tree trunks.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't a bad little shack at one time," decided Tom. "Maybe +it was a place where some one camped out during the summer. But +it hasn't been used of late. I never knew there was such a place +around here, and I thought I knew this locality pretty well."</p> + +<p>"I never heard of it, either," said Jackson. "Let's give a +shout and see if there's any one around. They may be asleep. +Hello, there !" he called in sufficiently vigorous tones to have +awakened an ordinary sleeper.</p> + +<p>Put there was no answer, and as the shadows of the night began +to fall, the place took on a most lonely aspect.</p> + +<p>"Let's go up and knock—or go in if the door's open," suggested +Tom. "We can't lose any more time, if we're to get out of here +before night."</p> + +<p>"Go ahead," said Jackson, and together they went to the cabin +door.</p> + +<p>"Locked!" exclaimed Tom, as he saw a padlock attached to a +chain. It appeared to be fastened through two staples, driven one +into the door and the other into the jamb, at right angles to one +another and overlapping.</p> + +<p>"Knock!" suggested Jackson. But when Tom had done so, and there +was no answer, the machinist took hold of the lock. To his own +surprise and that of Tom, one of the staples pulled out and the +door swung open. The place had evidently been forced before, and +the lock had not been opened by a key. The staple had been pulled +out and replaced loosely in the holes.</p> + +<p>For a moment nothing could be made out in the dark interior of +the shack. But as their eyes became used to the gloom, Tom and +his companion were able to see that the shack consisted of two +rooms.</p> + +<p>In the first one there was a rusty stove, a table, and some +chairs, and it was evident, from pans and skillets hanging on the +wall, as well as from a small cupboard built on one side, that +this was the kitchen and living room combined.</p> + +<p>"Anybody here?" cried Tom, as he stepped inside.</p> + +<p>Only a dull echo answered.</p> + +<p>The two could now see where a door gave entrance to an inner +room, and this, a quick glance showed, was the sleeping +apartment, two bunks being built on the side walls.</p> + +<p>"Well, somebody had it pretty comfortable here," decided Tom, +as he looked around. "They've been cooking and sleeping here, and +not so very long ago, either. It wouldn't be such a bad place if +it was cleaned out."</p> + +<p>"That's right," agreed Jackson. "Wouldn't mind camping here +myself, if there was any fishing near."</p> + +<p>"The river can't be far away," suggested Tom. "And now let's +see what we can find, and see if we can get a line on who has +been here. But first we'll let in a little light."</p> + +<p>He opened a window in the sleeping room, and pushed back the +heavy plank shutter that had been closed. When the light entered +it was seen that both bunks bore evidence of having been lately +slept in. The blankets were tossed back, as if the occupants had +risen, and in the outer room, on the stove, were signs that +indicated a meal had been served not many days gone by.</p> + +<p>"Now," observed Tom musingly, as he wandered about the place, +"if we could only find out who owns this, and who has been here +lately—"</p> + +<p>Jackson stooped over, and, thrusting aside an end of the +blankets that trailed on the floor from one of the bunks, picked +up something.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Looks like a leather pocketbook," was the answer. "That's what +it is," the mechanic went on, as he held the object to the light. +"It's a wallet."</p> + +<p>"Let me see it!" exclaimed Tom quickly. He took the wallet from +the hands of Jackson. Then the young inventor uttered a cry. "A +clew at last!" he exclaimed. "A clew at last! Mr. Nestor has been +in this cabin!"</p> + +<p>"How do you know?" asked Jackson quickly.</p> + +<p>"This is his wallet," said Tom excitedly. "I've often seen him +have it. In fact he had it with him on Earthquake Island, the +time I sent the wireless message for help. I saw it several times +then. He kept in it what few papers he had saved from the wreck. +And I've seen it often enough since. That's Mr. Nestor's wallet +all right. Besides, if you want any other evidence—look!" He +opened the leather flaps and showed Jackson on one, stamped in +gold letters, the name of Mary's father.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you make of it, Tom?" asked the mechanician, as +he finished his examination of the wallet. "What does it mean? +The pocket-book is empty and that—"</p> + +<p>"Might mean almost anything," completed Tom. "But it's a clew +all right! He's been here, and I'm pretty certain he was brought +here in the auto with the odd tires—the one Mr. Damon and I saw +traces of the night we heard the cries for help."</p> + +<p>"But that doesn't help us now," said Jackson. "The point is to +find out how lately Mr. Nestor was here, and what has happened to +him since. There isn't anything in the wallet, is there?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing," answered Tom, making a careful examination so as to +be sure. "It's as empty as a last year's bird nest. He's been +robbed—that's what has happened to Mr. Nestor. He was waylaid +that night, instead of being run down as I thought—waylaid and +robbed and then his body was brought here."</p> + +<p>"There you go again, Tom! Jumping to conclusions!" said +Jackson, with a friendly smile, and with the familiarity of an +old and valued helper. "Maybe he's in perfectly good health. Just +because you found his empty wallet doesn't argue that your friend +is in serious trouble. He may have dropped this on the road and +some one picked it up. I'll admit they may have taken whatever +was in it, but that doesn't prove anything. The thing for us to +do is to find out who knows about this shack; who owns it, on +whose land it is, and whether any one has been seen here lately."</p> + +<p>"They've been here lately whether they've been seen or not," +said Tom positively. "There are the auto tracks. It rained two +days ago, and the tracks were made since. Mr. Nestor must have +been here within two days."</p> + +<p>"He may or may not," said Jackson. "Say, rather, that some one +was here and left his wallet after him. Now see if we can find +other clews!"</p> + +<p>They looked about in the fast fading light, but at first could +discover nothing more than evidences that three or four persons +had been living in the shack and at some recent date—probably +within a day or two.</p> + +<p>They had had their meals there and had slept there. But this +seemed to be all that could be established, other than that Mr. +Nestor's wallet was there, stripped of its contents.</p> + +<p>Tom was looking through the closet, from which a frightened +chipmunk sprang as he opened the door. There were the remains of +some food, which accounted for the presence of the little striped +animal. And, as Tom poked about, his hand came in contact with +something wrapped in paper on an upper shelf. It was something +that clinked metallicly.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Jackson. "Knives, or some other weapons?"</p> + +<p>"Neither," answered Tom. "It's a couple of files, and they've +been used lately. I can see something in the grooves yet and—"</p> + +<p>Suddenly Tom ceased speaking and drew from his pocket a small +but powerful magnifying glass. Through this he looked at one of +the files, taking it out in front of the shack where the light +was better.</p> + +<p>"I thought so!" he cried. "Look here, Jackson!"</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Another clew!" answered Tom.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIII'></a><h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>THE GOVERNMENT TEST</h3> +<br /> + +<p>For a moment Jackson thought Tom had discovered a clew to, or +evidences of, some crime. He had an unpleasant suspicion, for an +instant, that there was blood on the files, and that it might +prove to be the blood of Mr. Nestor.</p> + +<p>But the satisfaction that showed on Tom's face did not seem to +indicate such dire possibilities as these.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Jackson, unable to guess at what Tom was +looking through the powerful glass. "What do you see?"</p> + +<p>"Metal filings on the grooves of these files," said the young +inventor. "And, unless I'm greatly mistaken, the particles of +filings are from the case of my aircraft silencer!"</p> + +<p>"What!" cried the machinist. "Do you mean those are the files +used in weakening the outer case of your new machine, so that it +burst a little while ago?"</p> + +<p>"That what I think," answered Tom. "I know it sounds pretty +far-fetched," he went on. "But take a look for yourself. If those +particles on, the files aren't exactly of the same color and +texture as the material of which the silencer case is made, I'll +never build another machine."</p> + +<p>Jackson peered through the powerful glass moving out a little +farther from the shack, so as to get the best light possible on +the subject of his examination. It was fast getting dark, but +there was enough glow in the western sky for his purpose.</p> + +<p>"Am I right?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"You're right!" declared his helper. "This is exactly the same +metal as that of which your silencer case is made. It's a +peculiar mixture of aluminum and vanadium steel. I never knew it +used in any shop but yours, and these filings are certainly of +that metal. It would seem, Tom, that these were the files used to +cut a crease in the case of your silencer to weaken it so it +would burst."</p> + +<p>"My idea exactly!" cried Tom. "The spy, who got into my shop in +some undiscovered manner, did his work and then fled here to +hide. He left his files behind. Mr. Nestor must have been here, +either before or after. No, I'll not say that, either. Finding +his wallet here doesn't prove that he was here. It might have +been brought here by one of the spies and dropped. But I'm sure +we're on the track of the men who damaged my airship, as well as +those who know something of the mystery of Mr. Nestor."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you," said Jackson. "Of course there's a +possibility that the same peculiar metal you used in your +silencer case may have been used in some other machine shop, and +these files may have come from there, and have been employed in +perfectly regular work. But the chances are—"</p> + +<p>"There's only one way to make sure," said Tom. "Let's take the +files with us and see if they fit in the grooves where the break +came. We'll take these back to where we left the Air Scout," and +he clinked the files he held.</p> + +<p>"We can just about make it before it gets black dark," returned +Jackson. "But that won't give us any more time to look around +here," and he indicated the hut.</p> + +<p>"I fancy we've seen all there is to see here," said Tom. "Mr. +Nestor isn't here, and whether he was or not is a question. +Anyhow, some one was here who had something to do with him after +his disappearance, I'm positive of that. And I'm sure some one +was here who damaged my airship. Now we'll run down both those +clews, find out who owns this place, who has been using it, and +all we can along that line. So, if you're ready, let's travel."</p> + +<p>The two set out to make their way back to where they had left +the stranded airship. It was fast becoming dark, but they could +hurry along with more speed now, as they did not have to stop to +look for the marks of the peculiar automobile tires. They had +noticed the path along which they had traveled, and in half the +time they had spent coming they were back where the Air Scout +rested undisturbed in the meadow amid the trees.</p> + +<p>Making sure that, as far as they could tell, no one had visited +the craft since they had left it, Tom and Jackson compared the +file marks on what was left of the broken silencer case with the +files they had found in the hut. They used a small, but powerful +electric lamp to aid them in this examination, as it was too dark +to see otherwise, and what they saw caused the young inventor to +exclaim:</p> + +<p>"That settles it! These were the files used!"</p> + +<p>"That's right!" agreed his assistant. "You've called the turn, +Tom. The next thing to do is to find who connects with the +files."</p> + +<p>"Yes. To do that and find Mr. Nestor," said Tom. "We have +plenty of work ahead of us. But let's get nearer civilization and +send some word to the folks at home. They'll be getting worried."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't seem as if there was a way out of here without +using an airship," remarked Jackson.</p> + +<p>But he and Tom finally reached the seldom-used road which ran +along the field that contained the lonely shack, and, following +this, they reached a farmhouse about a mile farther on. Greatly +to their relief, there was a telephone in the place. True it was +only a party line, set up by some neighboring farmers for their +own private use, but one of the subscribers, to whose home the +private line ran, had a long distance instrument, and after a +talk with him, this man promised Tom to call up Mr. Swift and +acquaint him with the fact that his son and Jackson were all +right, and would be home later.</p> + +<p>"And now," said Tom, after thanking their temporary host, a +farmer named Bloise, "can you tell us anything about an old cabin +that stands back there?" and he indicated the location of the +mysterious shack.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, I can tell you a little about it, but not very +much," said Mr. Bloise. "It was built, some years ago, by a rich +New Yorker, who bought up a lot of land around here for a game +preserve. But it didn't pan out. This cabin was only the start of +what he was going to call a 'hunting lodge,' I believe it was. +There was to be a big building on the same order, but it never +was built.</p> + +<p>"Some say the fellow lost all his money in Wall Street, and +others say the state wouldn't let him make a game preserve here. +However it was, the thing petered out, and the old shack hasn't +been used since."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, it has!" exclaimed Tom. "We just came from there, and +there are signs which show some one has been sleeping there and +eating there."</p> + +<p>"There has!" exclaimed the farmer. "Well, I didn't know that."</p> + +<p>"I did," said his son, a young man about Tom's age. "I meant to +speak of it the other day. I saw an automobile turn into the old +road that the men used when they built the shack. I thought it +was kind of queer to see a touring car turn in there, and I meant +to speak of it, but I forgot. Yes, some one has been at the old +cabin lately."</p> + +<p>"Do you know who they are?" asked Tom eagerly. "We are looking +for a Mr. Nestor, who disappeared mysteriously about two weeks +ago, and I just found his wallet there in the shack!"</p> + +<p>"You did!" exclaimed Mr. Bloise. "That's queer! You relatives +of this Mr. Nestor?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," Tom answered. "Just very close friends."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's too bad about his being missing in that way," went +on the farmer. "I read about it in the paper, but I never +suspected he was around here."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we're not sure that he was," said Tom quickly. "Finding +his wallet doesn't prove that," and he told the story of his own +and Jackson's appearance on the scene, to the no small wonder of +the farmer and his family. Tom said nothing about the finding of +the files, nor the evidence he deduced from them. That was +another matter to be taken up later.</p> + +<p>"Who were in the auto you saw?" asked Tom of the farmer's son. +"Was Mr. Nestor in the car?"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't be sure of that. There were two men in the machine, +and they were both strangers to me. They were talking together, +pretty earnestly, it seemed to me."</p> + +<p>"One did not appear as if he was being taken away against his +will, did he?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"No, I can't say that he did," was the answers "They looked to +me, and acted like, business men looking over land, or something +like that. They just turned in on the road that leads to the old +hunting cabin, as we call it around here, and didn't pay any +attention to me. Then I forgot all about them."</p> + +<p>"Neither of them could have been Mr. Nestor," decided Tom. "At +least it doesn't seem as if he'd talk at all companionably to a +man who had treated him as we think Mr. Nestor has been treated. +I guess that clew isn't going to amount to much."</p> + +<p>"It may!" insisted Jackson. "They may have had Mr. Nestor in +the car all the while—concealed in the back you know. We've got +to find out more about these men and their auto, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, perhaps we have. But how?"</p> + +<p>"Station some one at the shack, or at the beginning of the +private road. The men may come back."</p> + +<p>"That's so—they may. We'll do that!" cried the young inventor. +"We must tell the police and Mr. Nestor's folks what we have +learned. How can we get back to Shopton in a hurry?" he asked +the farmer.</p> + +<p>"Well, I can drive you to the railroad station" was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," remarked Tom. "We'll accept your offer. And as +soon as we get back we must send some one from the shop to stand +guard over the airship," he added in an aside to Jackson. "Those +file fellows may come back."</p> + +<p>"That's so, we can't take any chances."</p> + +<p>The farmer soon had his team at the door, and, after they had +had a hasty but satisfying supper at the farmhouse, the son drove +Tom and Jackson several miles to a railroad station, where they +could catch a train for Shopton.</p> + +<p>In due season Tom's home was reached. He intended to stop but a +minute, to assure his father that everything was all right, and +then get out his speedy runabout to go to see Mary, to tell her +the news.</p> + +<p>But when Tom sought his father in the library, he was told that +there was a visitor in the house.</p> + +<p>"Tom," said his father, "this gentleman is from Washington. He +wants to arrange for a government test of your silent airship. I +told him I thought you were about ready for it."</p> + +<p>"A government test !" cried Tom. "Why, I didn't think the +government even knew I was working on such an idea!" Tom was +greatly surprised.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXIV'></a><h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>IN THE MOONLIGHT</h3> +<br /> + +<p>With a reassuring smile the visitor from Washington looked at +Tom Swift.</p> + +<p>"The government officials," he said, "know more than some +people give them credit for—especially in these war times. Our +intelligence bureau and secret service has been much enlarged of +late. But don't be alarmed, Mr. Swift," went on the caller, whose +name was Mr. Blair Terrill. "Your secret is safe with the +government, but I think the time is ripe to use it now—that is, +if you have perfected it to a point where we can use it."</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Tom slowly, "the invention is practically +finished and it is a success, except for a few minor matters that +will not take long to complete.</p> + +<p>"Our accident this afternoon had nothing to do with the +efficiency of the silencer," Tom went on. "It was deliberately +damaged by some spy. I'll take that up later. That I am +interested to know how you heard of my Air Scout, as I call it."</p> + +<p>"Well, we have agents, you know, watching all the inventors who +have helped us in times past, and we haven't forgotten your giant +cannon or big searchlight. I might say, to end your curiosity and +lull your suspicions, that your friend, Ned Newton, who has been +doing such good Liberty Bond work, informed us of your progress +on the silent motor."</p> + +<p>"Oh, so it was Ned!" exclaimed Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yes. He told us the time was about ripe for us to make you an +offer for your machine. I think we can use it to great advantage +in scout work on the western front," went on the agent, and he +soon convinced Tom that when it came to a knowledge of airships, +he had some very pertinent facts at his disposal.</p> + +<p>"When can you give me a test?" Mr. Terrill asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"As soon as I can get my craft back to the shop and fit on a +new outer case. That won't take long, as I have some spare ones. +But I must help the Nestors," he went on, speaking to his father. +"I didn't mention it over the wire," he added, "but we've found +in the cabin a clew to the missing man. I must tell Mary and her +mother, and help them all I can."</p> + +<p>"And allow me to help, too," begged Mr. Terrill. "Since this +affects you, Mr. Swift, and since you are, in a way, working for +Uncle Sam, you must let him help you. This is the first I have +heard of the missing gentleman, of whom your father just told me +something, but you must allow me to help search for him. I will +get the United States Secret Service at work."</p> + +<p>"That will be fine!" cried Tom. "I wanted to get their aid, but +I didn't see how I could, as I knew they were too busy with army +matters and tracing seditious alien enemies, to bother with +private cases. I'm sure the Secret Service men can get trace of +the persons responsible for the detention of Mr. Nestor, wherever +he is."</p> + +<p>"They'll do their best," said Mr. Terrill. "I'm a member of +that body," he went on, "and I'll give my personal attention to +the matter."</p> + +<p>Then followed a busy time. Tom did not get to bed until nearly +morning. For he had to arrange to send some of his men to guard +the stranded airship, and then he went to see Mary and her +mother, taking them the good news that the search for Mr. Nestor +would be prosecuted with unprecedented vigor.</p> + +<p>"If it isn't too late!" sadly said the missing man's wife.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm sure it isn't !" declared Tom.</p> + +<p>In addition to sending a guard to the airship, other men, some +of them hastily summoned from the nearest federal agency, were +sent to keep watch in the vicinity of the lonely cabin. They had +orders to arrest whoever approached, and a relay of the men was +provided, so that watch could be kept up night and day. Besides +this, other men from the Secret Service began scouring the +country around the locality of the cabin, seeking a trace of the +two persons the farmer's son had seen in the automobile.</p> + +<p>"If Mr. Nestor is to be found, they'll find him!" declared Tom +Swift.</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon, as might be expected, was very much excited and +wrought up over all these happenings.</p> + +<p>"Bless my watch chain, Tom Swift!" cried the eccentric man, +"but something is always happening to you. And to think I wasn't +along when this latest happened!"</p> + +<p>"Well, you can be in at the finish," promised Tom, and it was +strange how his promise was fulfilled.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile there was much to do. During the time the Secret +Service men were busy looking up clews which might lead to the +finding of Mr. Nestor and keeping watch in the vicinity of the +hut, Tom had his airship brought back to the hangar, and a new +silencer was attached. While this work was going on the place was +guarded night and day by responsible men, so there was no chance +for an enemy spy to get in and do further damage.</p> + +<p>An investigation was made of the Universal Flying Machine +Company, but nothing could be proved to link them with the +outrage. Gale and Ware were in Europe—ostensibly on government +business, but it was said that if anything could be proved +connecting them with the attempt made on Tom Swift's craft, they +would be deprived of all official contracts and punished.</p> + +<p>All this took time, and the waits were wearisome, particularly +in the case of Mr. Nestor. No further trace of him was found, +though every effort was made. Tom began to feel that his boast of +his enemies having to get up early in the morning to get ahead of +him, had been premature, to say the least.</p> + +<p>Tom Swift worked hard on his new Air Scout. He determined there +would be nothing lacking when it came to the government test, and +not only did he make sure that no enemy could tamper with his +machine, but he took pains to see that no inherent defect would +mar the test.</p> + +<p>Jackson and the other men helped to the best of their ability, +and Mr. Swift suggested some improvements which were incorporated +in the new machine.</p> + +<p>One of the puzzles the Secret Service men had to solve was that +of the connection, if any, between the men who had to do with the +missing Mr. Nestor and those who had damaged Tom's airship by +filing the muffler case so it was weakened and burst. That there +was some connection Tom was certain, but he could not work it +out, nor, so far, had the government men.</p> + +<p>At last the day came when the big government test was to be +made. Tom had completed his Air Scout and had refined it to a +point where even his critical judgment was satisfied. All that +remained now was to give Mr. Terrill a chance to see how silently +the big craft could fly, and to this end a flight was arranged.</p> + +<p>Tom had put the silencer on a larger machine than the one he +and Jackson had used. It held three easily, and, on a pinch, four +could be carried. Tom's plan was to take Mr. Damon and Mr. +Terrill, fly with them for some time in the air, and demonstrate +how quiet his new craft was. Then, by contrast, a machine without +the muffler and the new motor with its improved propellers would +be flown, making as much noise as the usual craft did.</p> + +<p>"I only wish," said Tom, as the time arrived for the official +government test, "that Mary could be here to see it. She was the +one who really started me on this idea, so to speak, as it was +because I couldn't talk to her that I decided to get up a silent +motor."</p> + +<p>But Mary Nestor was too grief-stricken over her missing father +to come to the test, which was to take place late one afternoon, +starting from the aerodrome of the Swift plant.</p> + +<p>"First," said Tom, to Mr. Terrill, "I'll show you how the +machine works on the ground. I'll run the motor while the plane +is held down by means of ropes and blocks. Then we'll go up in +it."</p> + +<p>"That suits me," said the agent. "If it does all you say it +will do, and as much as I believe it will do, Uncle Sam will be +your debtor, Mr. Swift."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll see," said Tom with a smile.</p> + +<p>Preparations were made with the greatest care, and Tom went +over every detail of the machine twice to make certain that, in +spite of the precautions, no spy had done any hidden damage, that +might be manifested at an inopportune moment. But everything +seemed all right, and, finally, the motor was started, while Mr. +Terrill, and some of his colleagues from the Army Aviation +department looked on.</p> + +<p>"Contact!" cried Tom, as Jackson indicated that the compression +had been made.</p> + +<p>The mechanic nodded, gave the big propeller blades a quarter +turn and jumped back. In an instant the motor was operating, and +the craft would have leaped forward and cleaved the air but for +the holding ropes and blocks. Tom speeded the machinery up to +almost the last notch, but those in the aerodrome hardly heard a +sound. It was as though some great, silent dynamo were working.</p> + +<p>"Fine!"</p> + +<p>"Wonderful!"</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't have believed it possible!"</p> + +<p>These were some of the comments of the government inspectors.</p> + +<p>"And now for the final test—that in the air," said Mr. +Terrill.</p> + +<p>Previous to this he and his colleagues had made a minute +examination of the machinery, and had been shown the interior +construction of the silencer by means of one built so that a +sectional view could be had. Tom's principles were pronounced +fundamental and simple.</p> + +<p>"So simple, in fact, that it is a wonder no one thought of it +before," said a navy aviation expert. "It is the last word in +aircraft construction—a silent motor that will not apprise the +enemy of its approach! You have done wonders, Mr. Swift!"</p> + +<p>"I'd rather hear you say that after the air test," replied Tom, +with a laugh. "Are you ready, Mr. Terrill?"</p> + +<p>"Whenever you are."</p> + +<p>"How about you, Mr. Damon?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm always ready to go with you, Tom Swift. Bless my +trench helmet, but you can't sail any too soon for me!"</p> + +<p>There was a genial laugh at his impetuosity, and the three took +their seats in the big craft. Once more the engine was started. +It operated as silently as before, and the first good impressions +were confirmed. Even as the machine moved along the ground, just +previous to taking flight into the air, there was no noise, save +the slight crunch made by the wheels. This, of course, would be +obviated when Silent Sam was aloft.</p> + +<p>Up and up soared the great craft, with Tom at the engine and +guide controls, while Mr. Terrill and Mr. Damon sat behind him, +both eagerly watching. Mr. Terrill was there to find fault if he +could, but he was glad he did not have to.</p> + +<p>"The machine works perfectly, Mr. Swift," he said. "My report +cannot be otherwise than favorable."</p> + +<p>"We mustn't be in too much of a hurry," said Tom, who had +learned caution some time ago. "I want to sail around for several +hours. Sometimes a machine will work well at first, but defects +will develop when it is overheated. I'm going to do my best to +make a noise with this new motor."</p> + +<p>But it seemed impossible. The machinery worked perfectly, and +though Silent Sam took his passengers high and low, in big +circles and small ones, there was no appreciable noise from the +motor. The passengers could converse as easily, and with as +little effort, as in a balloon.</p> + +<p>"Of course that isn't the prime requisite," said Mr. Terrill, +"but it is a good one. What we want is a machine that can sail +over the enemy's lines at night without being heard, and I think +this one will do it—in fact, I'm sure it will. Of course the +ability of the passengers to converse and not have to use the +uncertain tube is a great advantage."</p> + +<p>As Tom Swift sailed on and on, it became evident that the test +was going to be a success. The afternoon passed, and it began to +grow dark, but a glorious full moon came up.</p> + +<p>"Shall I take you down?" the young inventor asked Mr. Terrill.</p> + +<p>"Not quite yet. I thoroughly enjoy this, and it isn't often I +get a chance for a moonlight airship ride. Go a little lower, if +you please, and we'll see if we attract any attention from the +inhabitants of the earth. We'll see if they can possibly hear the +machine, though I don't see how they can."</p> + +<p>And they did not. Tom piloted the machine over Shopton, sailing +directly over the center of the town, where there was a big crowd +walking about. Though the airship sailed only a few hundred feet +above their heads, not a person was aware of it, since the +craft's lights were put out for this test.</p> + +<p>"That settles it," said Mr. Terrill. "You have succeeded, Tom +Swift!"</p> + +<p>But Tom was not yet satisfied. He wanted a longer test. Hardly +knowing why he did it he sent the craft in the direction of Mary +Nestor's home. As he sailed across her lawn he saw, in the +moonlight, that she and her mother were walking in the garden. +They did not look up as the aircraft passed over their heads, and +were totally unaware of its presence, unless they caught a +glimpse of it as it flitted silently along, like some great bird +of the night.</p> + +<p>"It is perfectly wonderful!" declared Mr. Terrill, and he spoke +in ordinary tones, that carried perfectly to the ears of Tom and +Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Wonderful!" cried the eccentric man. "Bless my chimney, but +it's the greatest invention in the world! Yes, it is! Don't tell +me it 'isn't!"</p> + +<p>And no one did.</p> + +<p>Passing the Nestor home, the saddened occupants of which were +unaware of the passage, Tom sent the Air Scout about in a circle, +intending to proceed to the hangar. And then, some whim, perhaps, +caused him to guide Silent Sam out toward the lonely hut. Mr. +Damon and Mr. Tenrill seemed perfectly content to sail on and on +indefinitely in the moonlight. Tom thought he would take them +over a lonely neighborhood, and then bring them back.</p> + +<p>In a little while the craft was directly over the stretch of +country where the aeroplane accident bad occurred, and where Tom +and Jackson had found the deserted hut.</p> + +<p>Rather idly Tom looked down, wondering if the Secret Service +men were on the watch and if they had discovered anything.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Tom was aware of an automobile moving along the field +path toward the cabin. There were two men in the car, both on +the front seat, and as Tom looked down the brilliant moonlight +showed him the figure of another man, behind, and huddled in the +tonneau of the car. The aeroplane was low enough for all these +details to be seen by the moon's gleam, but the men in the car, +not hearing any noise, did not look up, so they were unconscious +of this aerial espionage.</p> + +<p>"Look! Look!" exclaimed Tom in a low voice to his companions. +"Doesn't that seem suspicious?"</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='CHAPTER_XXV'></a><h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>THE GOLD TOOTH</h3> +<br /> + +<p>Eagerly Mr. Damon and the government agent leaned over and +looked down. In the moonlight they saw the same sight that had +attracted Tom Swift. The touring car, the two men in front, and +the huddled, bound figure in the back.</p> + +<p>"Can you go down, Tom, without letting them hear you?" asked +Mr. Damon, using a low voice, as if fearful the men in the +automobile would hear him.</p> + +<p>"I guess so," answered the young inventor. "I can land nearer +to the cabin than Jackson and I did, and then we can see what +these fellows are up to. It looks suspicious to me. That is, +unless they're some of the Secret Service men, and have made a +capture," he added to Mr. Terrill.</p> + +<p>"Those aren't any of Uncle Sam's men," declared the agent. +"That is, unless the bound one is. I can't see him very well. +Better go down, and we'll see if we can surprise them."</p> + +<p>"My plan," voiced Tom.</p> + +<p>Quickly he shifted the rudder, and then, shutting off the +motor, as he wanted to volplane down, he headed his craft for an +open spot that showed in the bright moonlight. By this time the +automobile and its occupants were out of sight behind a clump of +trees, but Tom and his companions felt sure of the destination of +the men—the deserted cabin in the wood.</p> + +<p>As silently as a wisp of grass falling, the big craft came down +on a level spot, and then, leaping out, the young inventor and +his two companions crept along the path toward the cabin. Mr. +Terrill was armed, Tom carried a flashlight, while Mr. Damon +picked up a heavy club.</p> + +<p>As soon as he came near a place where he thought the marks of +the automobile wheels would show, Tom flashed his light.</p> + +<p>"I thought so!" he exclaimed, as he saw the square, knobby tread +marks left by the tires. "It's the same gang, or some of them in +the same car. If we can only capture them!"</p> + +<p>"The Secret Service men ought to do that," returned Mr. +Terrill, but, as it developed later, they were not on hand, +though through no fault of theirs.</p> + +<p>On and on crept Tom and the two men, until they came within +sight of the cabin. They saw a light gleaming in it, and Tom +whispered:</p> + +<p>"Now we have them! Work our way up quietly and make them +surrender, if we find they're what we think."</p> + +<p>"Is there a rear door?" asked Mr. Terrill in a whisper.</p> + +<p>Tom answered in the negative, and then all three, in fan shape, +crept up to the front portal. It was open, and silently reaching +a place where they could make an observation, Tom and his +companions looked in.</p> + +<p>What they saw filled them with wild and righteous rage, and +brought to an end the mystery of the disappearance of Mr. Nestor. +For there he sat, bound in a chair, and at a table in front of +him were two forbidding-looking men.</p> + +<p>"What do you intend to do now?" asked Mr. Nestor in a faint +voice. "I cannot stand this captivity much longer. You admit that +you don't want me—that you never wanted me—so why do you keep +me a prisoner? It cannot do the least good."</p> + +<p>"There's no use going over that again !" exclaimed the harsh +voice of one of the men. told you that if you will promise to +keep still about what happened to you, and not to give the +police any information about us, we'll let you go gladly. We +don't want you. It was all a mistake, capturing you. You were the +wrong man. But we re not going to let you go and have you set the +police on us as soon as you get a chance. Give us your promise to +say nothing, and we'll let you join your friends. If you don't—"</p> + +<p>"Make no promises, Mr. Nestor!" cried Tom Swift in a ringing +voice, as he leaped from his hiding place, followed by his +companions. "Your friends are here, and you can tell them +everything!"</p> + +<p>"Up with 'em!" called Mr. Terrill to the two conspirators as he +confronted them with his automatic pistol ready for firing. He +had no need to mention hands—they knew what he meant and took +the characteristic attitude.</p> + +<p>"Tom! Tom Swift!" cried Mr. Nestor, struggling ineffectually at +his bonds. "Is it really you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope it isn't any imitation," was the grim answer. +"We'll tell you all about it later. Jove, but I'm glad we found +you! If it hadn't been for Silent Sam we might never have been +able to."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know who Silent Sam is," said Mr. Nestor +faintly. "But I'm sure I'm much obliged to him and your other +friends. It has been very hard. Tell me, are my wife and Mary all +right?"</p> + +<p>"In good health, yes, but, of course, worrying," said Tom. "We +saw them in the garden a little while ago. Now don't talk until I +set you free."</p> + +<p>And as Tom cut the ropes from Mr. Nestor, Mr. Damon used them +to bind the two conspirators, while Mr. Terrill stood guard over +them. And when they were safely bound, and Mr. Nestor had +somewhat recovered from the shock, Tom had a chance to examine +the prisoners.</p> + +<p>"What does it all mean? Who are you fellows, anyhow, and what's +your game?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Guess it—since you're so smart!" snapped one.</p> + +<p>And no sooner had he opened his mouth and Tom had a glance of +something gleaming brightly yellow, than the young inventor +cried:</p> + +<p>"The gold tooth! So it's you again, is it, you spy?"</p> + +<p>The man shrugged his shoulders with an assumption of +indifference. And, as Tom took a closer look, he became aware +that the man was surely none other than Lydane, the spy he had +chased into the mud puddle some weeks before. His companion was a +stranger to Tom.</p> + +<p>"What does it all mean, Mr. Nestor ?" asked Tom. "Have these +men held you a prisoner ever since you called for help on the +moor that night?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Tom, they have. And I did call for help after they +attacked me as I was riding my wheel, but I didn't know any one +heard me. I began to be afraid no one would ever help me."</p> + +<p>"We've been trying to, a long time," said Mr. Damon, "but we +couldn't find you. Where did they keep you?"</p> + +<p>"Here, part of the time," was Mr. Nestor's answer. "And in +other lonely houses. They bound and gagged me when they took me +from place to place."</p> + +<p>"But what was their object?" asked Tom, concluding it was +useless to question the two captives. "Why did they make you a +prisoner, Mr. Nestor?"</p> + +<p>"Because they took me for you, Tom."</p> + +<p>"For me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. The night I called at your house, and found you were not +at home, I put back in my pocket a bundle of papers I had brought +over to show you. They were plans of a little kitchen appliance a +friend of mine had invented, and I wanted to ask your opinion of +it."</p> + +<p>"These scoundrels must have followed me, or have seen the +bundle of papers, and, mistaking me for you, they followed, +attacked me in a lonely spot and, bundling me and my wrecked +wheel into an auto, carried me off. They first demanded that I +gave up the 'plans,' and when I wouldn't they choked off my cries +for help and knocked me into unconsciousness. Then they brought +me here, and kept me here for several days.</p> + +<p>"They soon learned that the plans I had weren't those they +wanted, though what they were thin after I couldn't imagine. +Only, from what I laser overheard, I knew they mistook me for you +and that they were bitterly disappointed in not getting plans of +some new airship you were working on. They have kept me a +prisoner ever since, and though they offered to let me go if I +would keep silent, I refused. I did not think, to secure my own +comfort, I should let such men go unpunished if I could bring +about their arrest."</p> + +<p>"I should say not!" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"Did they treat you brutally, Mr. Nestor?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Not after they found out who I was, by looking through my +wallet. Of course they didn't behave very decently, but they +weren't actually cruel, except that they bound and gagged me. Oh, +but I'm glad you came, Tom! How did it happen?"</p> + +<p>Then they told Mr. Nestor their story, and how the test of the +new Air Scout had led to his rescue.</p> + +<p>"But where are the Secret Service men?" asked Mr. Terrill, when +it became evident that none them was on guard at the cabin.</p> + +<p>Later it developed that, by following a false clew, the Secret +Service men had been drawn miles away from the cabin. And only +that Tom and his companions in the silent airship saw the men. +Mr. Nestor might not have been rescued for some further time.</p> + +<p>His version of what had happened was correct. He had been +mistaken for Tom, and the spy with the gold tooth and his +accomplice had waylaid Mary's father, under the belief that it +was Tom Swift with the plans of the new silent motor. Mr. Nestor +had been attacked while riding his wheel in a lonely place, and +had been carried off and kept in hiding, a prisoner even after +his identity became known.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is a good night's work!" exclaimed Tom, when the +two rogues had been sent to jail and Mr. Nestor taken to the +Bloise farmhouse, to be refreshed before he went home. Word of +his rescue was telephoned to Mary and her mother, and it can be +imagined how they regarded Tom Swift for his part in the affair.</p> + +<p>Little the worse for his experience, save that he was very +nervous, Mr. Nestor was taken home. He gave the details of his +being waylaid, and told how the men, for many days, were at their +wits' ends to keep him concealed when they found what a stir his +disappearance had created. The conspirators were well supplied +with money, and in the automobile they took their prisoner from +one place to another. They had usurped the use of the cabin and +had lived there nearly a week in hiding, leaving just before the +first visit of Tom and Jackson. The rifled wallet had been +dropped by accident.</p> + +<p>And it did not take much delving to disclose the fact that, +Lydane, "Gold Tooth," as he was called, and his crony, were spies +in the pay of the Universal Flying Machine Company. As the men +went under several aliases there is no need of giving their +names. It is to be doubted if they ever used their real ones—or +if they had any.</p> + +<p>Of course, there was quite a sensation when Mr. Nestor was +found, and a greater one when it became known the part the +Universal Flying Machine people had in his disappearance in +mistake for Tom. The officials of the company were indicted, and +several of the minor ones sent to jail but Gale and Ware escaped +by remaining abroad.</p> + +<p>It came out that they both knew of the acts of Lydane and his +companion in crime, and that the two officials realized the +mistake that had been made by their clumsy operatives. It was +believed that this knowledge led to the visit of Gale to Tom, the +time the latter's suspicions were first aroused. Gale made a +clumsy attempt to clear his own skirts of the conspiracy, but in +vain, though he did escape his just punishment.</p> + +<p>What had happened, in brief, was this. Gale and Ware, unable to +secure Tom's services, even by the offer of a large sum of money, +had stooped to the sending of spies to his shop, to get +possession of information about his silent motor. This was after +Gale had, by accident, heard Tom speaking of it to Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>But, thanks to Tom's vigilance, Bower was discovered. The man +tripped into the mud hole lost in the muck the plans Bower passed +to him. They were never recovered. Then Lydane tried again. He +managed, through bribery, to gain access to the hangar where the +new silent machine was kept, and, unable to get the silencer +apart, tried to file it. In doing so he weakened it so that it +burst.</p> + +<p>The attempt to waylay Tom, and so get the plans from him, had +been tried before this, only a mistake had been made, and Mr. +Nestor was caught instead. Finding out their error, Lydane and +his companions did not tell the Universal people of their +mistake, though Gale and Ware knew the attempt was to be made +against Tom Swift.</p> + +<p>Later, hearing that the young inventor was still at work on his +invention, Gale was much surprised, and paid his queer visit, in +an attempt to repudiate the actions of Lydane. At this time it +was assumed that Gale and his partner did not know that it was +Mr. Nestor who had been kidnapped by mistake or they might have +insisted on his release. As it was, Lydane had Mary's father, and +was afraid to let him go, though really their prisoner became a +white elephant on the hands of the conspirators and kidnappers.</p> + +<p>And it was after all this was cleared up, and Mr. Nestor +restored to his family and friends, that one day, Tom Swift +received another visit from Mr. Terrill, the government agent.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Swift," was the genial greeting, "I have come to +tell you that the favorable report made by my friends and myself +as to the performance of your noiseless motor, has been accepted +by the War Department, and I have come to ask what your terms +are. For how much will you sell your patent to the United +States?"</p> + +<p>Tom Swift arose.</p> + +<p>"The United States hasn't money enough to buy my patent of a +noiseless motor," he said.</p> + +<p>"Wha—what!" faltered Mr. Terrill. "Why, I understood—you +don't mean—they told me you were rather patriotic, and—"</p> + +<p>"I hope I am patriotic!" interrupted Tom with a smile. "And +when I say that the United States hasn't money enough to buy my +latest invention I mean just that."</p> + +<p>"My Air Scout is not for sale!"</p> + +<p>"You mean," faltered the government agent. "You say—"</p> + +<p>"I mean," went on Tom, "that Silent Sam is for Uncle Sam +without one cent of cost! My father and I take great pleasure in +presenting such machines as are already manufactured, those in +process of making, and the entire patents, and all other rights, +to the government for the winning of the war!"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Mr. Terrill in rather a strange voice. "Oh!"</p> + +<p>And that was all he could say for a little while.</p> + +<p>But Tom Swift reckoned without a knowledge of a peculiar law +which prohibits the United States from accepting gifts totally +without compensation, and so, in due season, the young inventor +received a check for the sum of one dollar in full payment for +his silent motor, and the patent rights thereto. And Tom has that +check framed, and hanging over his desk.</p> + +<p>And so the silent motor became an accomplished fact and a great +success. Those of you who have read of its work against the +Boches, and how it helped Uncle Sam to gain the mastery of the +sky, need not be reminded of this. By it many surprise attacks +were made, and much valuable information was obtained that +otherwise could not have been brought in.</p> + +<p>One day, after the rogues had been sent to prison for long +terms, and Tom had turned over to his government his silent +aircraft—except one which he was induced to keep for his own +personal use—the young inventor went to call on Mary Nestor. The +object of his call, as I believe he stated it, was to see how Mr. +Nestor was, but that, of course, was camouflage.</p> + +<p>"Would you like to come for a ride, Mary, in the silent +airship?" asked Tom, after he had paid his respects to Mr. Nestor +and his wife. "We can talk very easily on board Silent Sam +without the use of a speaking tube. Come on—we'll go for a +moonlight sky ride."</p> + +<p>"It sounds enticing," said Mary, with a shy look at Tom. "But +wouldn't you just as soon sit on a bench in the garden? It's +moonlight there, and we can talk, and—and—"</p> + +<p>"I'd just as soon!" said Tom quickly.</p> + +<p>And out they went into the beautiful moonlight; and here we +will leave them and say good-bye.</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='THE_END'></a><h2>THE END</h2> + +<pre> + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Tom Swift and His Air Scout + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/old/22tom10h.zip b/old/old/22tom10h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..975d62b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/22tom10h.zip diff --git a/old/old/22tom10l.lit b/old/old/22tom10l.lit Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f6d6fc --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/22tom10l.lit diff --git a/old/old/22tom10l.zip b/old/old/22tom10l.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2fb56c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/22tom10l.zip diff --git a/old/old/22tom10p.prc b/old/old/22tom10p.prc Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..012e24d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/22tom10p.prc diff --git a/old/old/22tom10p.zip b/old/old/22tom10p.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c6ded57 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old/22tom10p.zip |