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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/3734-h.zip b/3734-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..773b639 --- /dev/null +++ b/3734-h.zip diff --git a/3734-h/3734-h.htm b/3734-h/3734-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..741196d --- /dev/null +++ b/3734-h/3734-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6021 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tom Swift In The Caves Of Ice, by Victor Appleton. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + ol.TOC {list-style-type: upper-roman;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice, 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 in the Caves of Ice + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Posting Date: January 16, 2009 [EBook #3734] +Release Date: February, 2003 +Last updated: September 19, 2011 +Last updated: April 12, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE *** + + + + +Produced by This etext was produced by Charles Franks, +Greg Weeks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<hr style='width: 100%;' /> + +<h1>Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice</h1> + +<h3>OR</h3> + +<h2>The Wreck of the Airship</h2> + + +<h2>by VICTOR APPLETON</h2> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<ol class="TOC"> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_I">ERADICATE IN AN AIRSHIP</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_II">ANDY FOGER'S TRIPLANE</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_III">ABE IS DECEIVED</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">TOM GETS THE MAP</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_V">GRAVE SUSPICIONS</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">ANDY'S AIRSHIP FLIES</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">READY FOR THE TRIP</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">A THIEF IN THE NIGHT</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">A VANDAL'S ACT</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_X">TOM IS HELD UP</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">OFF FOR THE FROZEN NORTH</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">PELTED BY HAILSTONES</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">A FRIGHTENED INDIAN</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">THE RIVAL AIRSHIP</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">THE RACE</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">THE FALL OF THE ANTHONY</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">HITTING THE ICE MOUNTAIN</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">A FIGHT WITH MUSK OXEN</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">THE CAVES OF ICE</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">IN THE GOLD VALLEY</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">THE FOGERS ARRIVE</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">JUMPING THE CLAIM</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">ATTACKED BY NATIVES</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">THE WRECK OF THE AIRSHIP</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">THE RESCUE—CONCLUSION</a></li> +</ol> + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>ERADICATE IN AN AIRSHIP</h3> + + +<p>"Well, Massa Tom, am yo' gwine out in yo' flyin' machine ag'in +to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Rad, I think I will take a little flight. Perhaps I'll go over +to Waterford, and call on Mr. Damon. I haven't seen very much of +him, since we got back from our hunt after the diamond-makers."</p> + +<p>"Take a run clear ober t' Waterfield; eh, Massa Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Rad. Now, if you'll help me, I'll get out the Butterfly, and +see what trim she's in for a speedy flight."</p> + +<p>Tom Swift, the young inventor, aided by Eradicate Sampson, the +colored helper of the Swift household, walked over toward a small +shed.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the two had rolled into view, on its three +bicycle wheels, a trim little monoplane—one of the speediest craft +of the air that had ever skimmed along beneath the clouds. It was +built to carry two, and had a very powerful motor.</p> + +<p>"I guess it will work all right," remarked the young inventor, for +Tom Swift had not only built this monoplane himself, but was the +originator of it, and the craft contained many new features.</p> + +<p>"It sho' do look all right, Massa Tom."</p> + +<p>"Look here, Rad," spoke the lad, as a sudden idea came to him, +"you've never ridden in an airship, have you?"</p> + +<p>"No, Massa Tom, an' I ain't gwine to nuther!"</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Why not? 'Case as how it ain't healthy; that's why!"</p> + +<p>"But I go in them frequently, Eradicate. So does my father. You've +seen us fly often enough, to know that it's safe. Why, look at the +number of times Mr. Damon and I have gone off on trips in this +little Butterfly. Didn't we always come back safely?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dat's true, but dere might come a time when yo' WOULDN'T come +back, an' den where'd Eradicate Sampson be? I axes yo' dat—whar'd I +be, Massa Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you wouldn't be anywhere if you didn't go, of course," and Tom +laughed. "But I'd like to take you for a little spin in this +machine, Rad. I want you to get used to them. Sometime I may need +you to help me. Come, now. Suppose you get up on this seat here, and +I promise not to go too high until you get used to it. Come on, it +will do you good, and think of what all your friends will say when +they see you riding in an airship."</p> + +<p>"Dat's right, Massa Tom. Dey suah will be monstrous envious ob +Eradicate Sampson, dat's what dey will."</p> + +<p>It was clear that the colored man was being pursuaded somewhat +against his will. Though he had been engaged by Tom Swift and his +father off and on for several years, Eradicate had never shown any +desire to take a trip through the air in one of the several craft +Tom owned for this purpose. Nor had he ever evinced a longing for a +trip under the ocean in a submarine, and as for riding in Tom's +speedy electric car—Eradicate would as soon have sat down with +thirteen at the table, or looked at the moon over the wrong +shoulder.</p> + +<p>But now, somehow, there was a peculiar temptation to take his young +employer at his word. Eradicate had seen, many times, the youthful +inventor and his friends make trips in the monoplane, as well as in +the big biplane and dirigible balloon combined—the RED CLOUD. Tom +and the others had always come back safely, though often they met +with accidents which only the skill and daring of the daring +aeronaut had brought to a safe conclusion.</p> + +<p>"Well, are you coming, Rad?" asked Tom, as he looked to see if the +oil and gasoline tanks were filled, and gave a preliminary twirl to +the propeller.</p> + +<p>"Now does yo' t'ink it am puffickly safe, Massa Tom?" and the +colored man looked nervously at the machine.</p> + +<p>"Of course, Rad. Otherwise I wouldn't invite you. But I won't take +you far. I just want you to get used to it, and, once you have made +a flight, you'll want to make another."</p> + +<p>"I don't nohow believe I will, Massa Tom, but as long as you have +axed me, an' as yo' say some of dem proud, stuck-up darkies in +Shopton will be tooken down a peg or two when de sees me, vhy, I +will go wif yo', Massa Tom."</p> + +<p>"I thought you would. Now take your place in the little seat next to +where I'm going to sit. I'll start the engine and jump in. Now sit +perfectly still, and, whatever you do, don't jump out. The ground's +pretty hard this morning. There was a frost last night."</p> + +<p>"I knows dere was, Massa Tom. Nope, I won't jump. I—I—Oh, golly, +Massa Tom! I guess I don't want to go—let me out!"</p> + +<p>Eradicate, his heart growing fainter as the time of starting drew +nearer, made as if he would leave the monoplane, in which he had +taken his seat.</p> + +<p>"Sit still!" yelled Tom. At that instant he started the propeller. +The motor roared like a salvo of guns, and streaks of fire could be +seen shooting from one cylinder to the other, until there was a +perfect blast of explosions.</p> + +<p>The speed of the propeller increased as the motor warmed up. Tom ran +to his seat and opened the gasoline throttle still more, advancing +the spark slightly. The roar increased. The lad darted a look at +Eradicate. The colored man's face was like chalk, and he was +gripping the upright braces at his side as though his salvation +depended on them.</p> + +<p>"Steady now" spoke Tom, yelling to be heard above the racket. "Here +we go."</p> + +<p>The Butterfly was moving slowly across the level stretch of ground +which Tom used for starting his airships. The propeller was now a +blur of light. The explosions of the motor became a steady roar, the +noise from one cylinder being merged into the blast from the others +so rapidly that it was a continuous racket.</p> + +<p>With a whizz the monoplane shot across the ground. Then, with a +quick motion, Tom tilted the lifting planes, and, as gracefully as a +bird, the little machine mounted upward on a slant until, coming to +a level about two hundred feet above the earth, Tom sent it straight +ahead over the roof of his house.</p> + +<p>"How's this, Rad?" he cried. "Isn't it great?"</p> + +<p>"It—it—er—bur-r-r-r! It's—it's mighty ticklish, Massa Tom—dat's +de word—it suah am mighty ticklish!"</p> + +<p>Tom Swift laughed and increased the speed. The Butterfly darted +forward like some hummingbird about to launch itself upon a flower, +and, indeed, the revolutions of the propeller were not unlike the +vibrations of the wings of that marvelous little creature.</p> + +<p>"Now for some corkscrew twists!" cried the young inventor. "Here we +go, Rad!"</p> + +<p>With that he began a series of intricate evolutions, making figures +of eight, spirals, curves, sudden dips and long swings. It was +masterwork in handling a monoplane, but Eradicate +Sampson, as he sat crouched in the seat, gripping the uprights until +his hands ached, was in no condition to appreciate it. Gradually, +however, as he saw that the craft remained up in the air, and showed +no signs of falling, the fears of the colored man left him. He sat +up straighter.</p> + +<p>"Don't you like it, Rad?" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>This time the answer came with more decision.</p> + +<p>"It suah am great, Massa Tom! I'm—I'm beginnin' t' like it. Whoop! +I guess I do like it! Now if some of dem stuck-up coons could see +me—"</p> + +<p>"They'd think YOU were stuck up; eh, Rad? Stuck up in the air!"</p> + +<p>"Dat's right, Massa Tom. Ha! Ha! I suah am stuck up in de air! Ha! +Ha!"</p> + +<p>By this time Tom had guided the machine away from the village, and +they were flying over the fields, some distance from his house. The +colored man was beginning to enjoy his experience very much.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, just as Tom was trying to get a bit more speed out of the +motor, the machine stopped. The cessation of the racket was almost +as startling as a loud explosion would have been.</p> + +<p>"Just my luck!" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"What's de matter?" asked Eradicate, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Motor's stalled," replied the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"An', by golly, we's falling!" yelled the colored man.</p> + +<p>Naturally, with the stopping of the propeller, there was no further +straight, forward motion to the monoplane, and, following the law of +nature, it began to drop toward the earth on a slant.</p> + +<p>"We's fallin'! We'll be killed!" yelled the negro.</p> + +<p>"It's all right, I'll just vol-plane back to earth," spoke Tom, +calmly. "I've often done it before, higher up than this. Sit still, +Rad, I'm volplaning back to the ground."</p> + +<p>"An' I'll JUMP back to de ground; dat's what I'll do. I ain't goin' +t' wait until I falls, no sah! An' I ain't gwine t' do none ob dat +ball-playin' yo' speak ob, Massa Swift. It's no time t' play ball +when yo' life am in danger. I'se gwine t' jump."</p> + +<p>"Sit still!" cried Tom, for the colored man was about to spring from +his seat. "There's no danger! I didn't say anything about playing +ball. I said I'd VOL-PLANE back to the earth. We'll be there +shortly. I'll take you down safe. Sit still, Rad!"</p> + +<p>He spoke so earnestly that the fears of his colored passenger were +quelled. With a quick motion Tom threw up the head planes, to check +the downward sweep. The Butterfly shot forward on a gradual slant. +Repeating this maneuver several times, the young inventor finally +brought his machine to within a short distance of the earth, and, +also, considerably nearer his own home.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if we can make it?" he murmured, measuring the distance +with his eye. "I think so. I'll shoot her up a bit and then let her +down on a long slant. Then, with another upward tilt, I ought to +fetch it."</p> + +<p>The monoplane tilted upward. Eradicate gave a cry of terror. It was +stilled at a look from Tom. Once more the air machine glided +forward. Then came another long dip, another upward glide and the +Butterfly came gently to earth almost on the very spot whence it had +flown upward a few minutes before.</p> + +<p>Eradicate gave one mad spring from his seat, almost before the +bicycle wheels had ceased revolving, as Tom jammed on the earth-brake.</p> + +<p>"Here, where are you going, Rad?" cried the lad.</p> + +<p>"Whar am I goin'? I'se goin' t' see if mah mule Boomerang am safe. +He's de only kind ob an airship I wants arter dis!" and the colored +man disappeared into the shack whence came a loud "hee-haw!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw! Wait a minute, Rad. I'll soon have the motor fixed, and +we'll make another try. I'll take you over to Mr. Damon's with me."</p> + +<p>"No, sah, Massa Tom. Yo' don't catch dis coon in any mo' airships. +Mah mule am good enough fo' me!" shouted Eradicate from the safe +harbor of the mule's stable.</p> + +<p>Tom laughed, and turned to inspect the motor. As he was looking it +over, to locate the trouble, the door of the house opened and a +pleasant-faced woman stepped out.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom," she called. "I looked for you a moment ago, and you +weren't here!"</p> + +<p>"No, Mrs. Baggert," Tom replied, waving his hand in greeting to the +housekeeper, "Rad and I just came back—quite suddenly—sooner than +we expected to. Why? Did you want me?"</p> + +<p>"Here's a letter that came for you," she went on.</p> + +<p>Tom tore open the envelope, and rapidly scanned the contents of the +missive.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" he ejaculated half aloud. "It's from Abe Abercrombie, that +miner I met when we were after the diamond-makers! He says he is on +his way east to get ready to start on the quest for the Alaskan +valley of gold, in the caves of ice. I had almost forgotten that I +promised to make the attempt in the big airship. How did this letter +come, Mrs. Baggert?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"By special delivery. The messenger brought it a few minutes ago."</p> + +<p>"Then we may see Abe any day now. Guess I'd better be looking over +the RED CLOUD to see if it's in shape for a trip to the Arctic +regions."</p> + +<p>Tom's attention for the moment was taken off his little monoplane, +and his memory went back to the strange scenes in which he and his +friends had recently played a part, in searching for the cave of the +diamond-makers on Phantom Mountain. He recalled the promise he had +made to the old miner.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if he expects us to start for Alaska with winter coming +on?" thought Tom.</p> + +<p>His musings were suddenly interrupted by the entrance into the yard, +surrounding the aeroplane shed, of a lad about his own age.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Ned Newton!" called Tom, heartily.</p> + +<p>"Hello, yourself," responded Ned. "I've got a day off from the bank, +and I thought I'd come over and see you. Say, have you heard the +latest?"</p> + +<p>"No. What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Andy Foger is building an airship."</p> + +<p>"Andy Foger building an airship?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he says it will beat yours."</p> + +<p>"Humph! It will, eh? Well, Andy can do as he pleases as long as he +doesn't bother me. I won't be around here much longer, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Why not, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Because I soon expect to start for the far north on a strange +quest. Come on in the shed, and I'll tell you about it. We're going +to try to locate a valley of gold, and I guess Andy Foger won't +follow me there, even if he does build an airship."</p> + +<p>Tom and his chum started toward the shed, the young inventor still +holding the letter that was to play such an important part in his +life within the next few months. And, had he only known it, the +building of Andy Foger's airship was destined to be fraught with +much danger to our hero.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>ANDY FOGER'S TRIPLANE</h3> + + +<p>"Going to look for a valley of gold, eh?" remarked Ned Newton as he +and Tom took seats in a little room, fitted up like a den, where the +young inventor frequently worked out the details of the problems +that confronted him. "Where is this valley, Tom? Anywhere so I could +have a chance at it?"</p> + +<p>"It's up in Alaska. Just where I don't know, but Abe Abercrombie, +the old miner whom we met when out in Colorado this summer, says he +can find it if we circle around in the airship. So I'm going to take +a chance. I'll tell you all about it."</p> + +<p>And, while Tom is doing this, I will take the opportunity to more +formally introduce to my new readers our hero and his friends.</p> + +<p>Tom Swift was an inventor of no little note, in spite of his youth. +He lived with his father, Barton Swift, who was also an inventor, on +the outskirts of the village of Shopton, New York State. Tom's +mother was dead, and Mrs. Baggert had kept house for him and his +father since he was a child. Garret Jackson, an expert machinist, +was also a member of the household, and as has been explained, +Eradicate Sampson, who took that name because, as he said he +"eradicate de dirt," was also a sort of retainer. He lived in a +little house on the Swift grounds, and did odd jobs about the place.</p> + +<p>In the first book of the series, entitled "Tom Swift and His Motor +Cycle," there was related how the lad became possessed of one of +those speedy machines, after Mr. Wakefield Damon had come to grief +on it. Mr. Damon was an eccentric man, who was always blessing +himself, some part of his anatomy, or some of his possessions.</p> + +<p>After many adventures on his motor-cycle, Tom Swift went through +some surprising happenings with a motor-boat he bought. After that +he built an airship, the RED CLOUD, and later he and his father +constructed a submarine, in which they went under the ocean in +search of sunken treasure, enduring many perils and much danger.</p> + +<p>Tom Swift's electric runabout, which he built after returning home +from the submarine trip, proved to be the speediest car on the road. +The experience he acquired in making this machine stood him in good +stead, when (as told in the sixth volume, "Tom Swift and His +Wireless Message") the airship in which he, Mr. Damon and a friend +of the latter's (who had built the craft) were wrecked on Earthquake +Island. There Tom was marooned with some refugees from a wrecked +steam yacht, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Nestor, father of a girl +of whom Tom thought a great deal.</p> + +<p>With parts from the wrecked electric airship the youth rigged up a +plant, and sent wireless messages from the island. The castaways +nearly lost their lives in the earthquake shocks, but a steamer, +summoned by Tom's wireless call, arrived in time to save them, just +as the island disappeared beneath the sea.</p> + +<p>In the seventh book of the series, entitled "Tom Swift Among the +Diamond Makers" there was related the adventures of himself and his +friends when they tried to solve the mystery of Phantom Mountain.</p> + +<p>Among the castaways of Earthquake Island was a Mr. Barcoe Jenks and +a Professor Ralph Parker. Mr. Jenks was a strange man, and claimed +to have some valuable diamonds, which he said were made by a gang of +men hidden in a cave in the Rocky Mountains. Tom did not believe +that the diamonds were real, but Mr. Jenks soon proved that they +were.</p> + +<p>He asked Tom to aid him in searching for the cave of the diamond +makers. Mr. Jenks had been there once—in fact, he had been offered +a partnership in the diamond-making business, but, after he had paid +his money, he had been drugged, and carried secretly from the cave +before he had a chance to note its location.</p> + +<p>But he, together with Tom, Mr. Damon and the scientist Mr. Parker, +who correctly predicted the destruction of Earthquake Island, set +out in the RED CLOUD to find the diamond makers. They did find them, +after many hardships, and were captured by the gang. How Tom and his +friends escaped from the cave, after they had seen diamonds made by +a powerful lightning flash, and how they nearly lost their lives +from the destruction of Phantom Mountain, is fully set down in the +book.</p> + +<p>Sufficient to say now, that, though they had a general idea of how +the precious stones were made, by the power of the lightning, the +young inventor and his friends were never quite able to accomplish +it, and the secret remained a secret. But they had secured some +diamonds as they rushed from the cave (Mr. Damon grabbing them up) +and these were divided among Tom and the others.</p> + +<p>Just as they were ready to come home in the airship, our friends +were met by an old miner, Abe Abercrombie, who spoke of a valley of +gold in Alaska, which was the story Tom related to Ned Newton, as +the two chums sat in the den of the airship shed.</p> + +<p>"Then you don't know all the details about the gold valley, Tom?" +remarked Ned, as the young inventor showed his chum the letter that +had just arrived.</p> + +<p>"No, not all of them. At the time this miner met us I was anxious to +get back East, for we had been away so long I knew dad would be +worried. But I listened to part of Abe's story, and half promised to +go in partnership in this quest for gold. He was to furnish +information about the hidden valley, and I was to supply the +airship. I expect Abe to come along at any time, now, and then I'll +hear more particulars."</p> + +<p>"Will you go all the way in the airship?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I hadn't thought of that. I could ship it to the nearest +place by rail, I suppose, and go on from there. That's a detail to +be considered later. I'll talk it over with Abe."</p> + +<p>"Who are going?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know that even. I suppose Mr. Damon would feel slighted if +I left him out. And perhaps Mr. Parker, that gloomy scientist, who +is always predicting terrible accidents, will be glad to go along. +Then Abe may have some friend he wants to take."</p> + +<p>"By Jinks! But you certainly do have swell times, Tom Swift!" +exclaimed Ned Newton, enviously. "I wish I could go and have a try +at that valley of gold!"</p> + +<p>"Why don't you come along, Ned?"</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean it?"</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"But I don't believe I could get away from the bank."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dad and Mr. Damon could fix that. They're directors, you know. +Come along, I'd be delighted to have you. Will you?"</p> + +<p>"I'll think about it. Jinks! But I sure would like to go. Do you +think you can find the valley?"</p> + +<p>"Well, there's no telling. We generally do succeed in finding what +we go after, even if we didn't get the diamond secret. I'm anxious +to have Abe come, now, though until I got his letter I had almost +forgotten about my promise to him. But, say, what's this you told me +about Andy Foger making an airship?"</p> + +<p>"It's true, though I haven't seen it. Jake Porter was telling me +about it. Andy's built a big shed in his yard, and he and some +cronies of his, including Pete Bailey and Sam Snedecker, are working +in there night and day. They've hired a couple of machinists, too. +Mr. Foger is putting up the cash, I guess. Say, that was quite a +scare you gave Andy on your monoplane, one day."</p> + +<p>"Yes, the big bully! and I'd like to scare him worse. But say, do +you know I'd like to get a look at his airship. I wonder what sort +of a craft it is?"</p> + +<p>"We can see it easily enough."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Why, the back part of the shed where he and the others are working +is close to our fence. There are some holes in our fence and if you +come there, maybe you can look in."</p> + +<p>"I can't see through the side of the shed, though."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you can."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Why, there's a big window, for light, in the back part of it. I +happened to notice it the other day. I didn't look in, because I +wasn't much interested, but I saw that one could peer over the top +of our fence right into the shop where Andy is working. Want to try +it?"</p> + +<p>Tom hesitated a moment.</p> + +<p>"Well, it seems rather an odd thing to do," he said. "But I would +like to see what sort of a flying machine Andy is making, just for +my own satisfaction. He may be infringing on some of my patents, and +if he is, I'll stop him. Once or twice he's been sneaking around my +shed here. I don't believe in sneaking, but I know he wouldn't let +me in if I asked him, so I guess it's the only way. I'll go with +you, Ned."</p> + +<p>"All right. We'll see if we can get a glimpse of Andy's queer +shebang through the window."</p> + +<p>The two chums left Tom's shop, and were soon in the yard of Ned +Newton's house. As he had said, the big shed in Andy's premises came +close up to the fence, and there was a window through which one +might gaze. The casement did not appear to be curtained.</p> + +<p>"I'll get a ladder so we can climb up to the top of the fence, and +look over," spoke Ned, as he and Tom went out into the yard back of +his house. The fence was high up on an embankment.</p> + +<p>A little later Tom and his chum were gazing into the shop window +from the ladder.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's a triplane—a big triplane!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"What's a triplane?" asked Ned, who didn't have much time to study +the different types of airships.</p> + +<p>"It's one that has three sets of planes, one above the other. A +biplane has two sets of planes, and a monoplane only one. Triplanes +are larger, and, as far as I've been able to learn, not as +satisfactory as either the biplanes or monoplanes. But that's not +saying Andy's won't be a success. They certainly are busy in there, +though! Andy is flying around like a hen scratching for her little +chickens!"</p> + +<p>"See anything of his cronies?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Pete and Sam are hammering away. There are a couple of men, +too."</p> + +<p>"Yes, the machinists. Oh, I guess Andy expects great things from his +airship."</p> + +<p>"Have you heard what he's going to do with it, Ned? Make flights for +pleasure, or exhibit it?"</p> + +<p>"No, I haven't heard. Look out, Tom, the ladder is slipping!"</p> + +<p>As Ned spoke this warning, the window of the airship shed, through +which they were looking, was suddenly raised. The ugly face of Andy +Foger peered out. He caught sight of Tom and Ned.</p> + +<p>"Get away from there, you spies!" he yelled. "Get away from there, +Tom Swift! You're trying to steal some of my ideas! Get away or I'll +make you. Sam, bring me my gun! Pete, go tell my father to come +here! I'll show Ned Newton and Tom Swift they can't bother me!"</p> + +<p>Andy was dancing about in a rage. His two cronies crowded behind him +to the window just as the ladder on which Tom and Ned were standing +slipped along the fence.</p> + +<p>"Jump, Ned!" yelled Tom Swift, as he leaped away to escape being +entangled in the rungs.</p> + +<p>The young inventor came to the ground with a jar that shook him up +considerably, while Ned, who had grasped the top board of the fence, +remained hanging there by his hands, his feet dangling in the air.</p> + +<p>"Whack his fingers, Andy!" yelled Pete Bailey. "Get a long stick and +whack Ned's fingers! That will make him drop off!"</p> + +<p>Tom Swift heard, and labored desperately to raise the ladder to +enable Ned to get down, for his chum seemed to be afraid to drop.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>ABE IS DECEIVED</h3> + + +<p>Raising a ladder alone is rather an awkward job. Tom found this so +when he tried to aid his friend Ned. But, being a muscular lad, the +young inventor did finally succeed in getting the ladder up against +the fence where the bank clerk could reach it.</p> + +<p>Whack! Down upon the top board came a stick wielded by Andy Foger +from the rear window of his shop.</p> + +<p>"Wow!" cried Ned, for the blow had been close to his fingers. "Hurry +up with that ladder, Tom."</p> + +<p>"There it is! But why don't you drop?"</p> + +<p>"Too far. I can't reach the ladder now!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, you can. Stretch a bit!"</p> + +<p>"Whack!" Once more the stick descended on the fence, this time still +closer to Ned's clinging hands.</p> + +<p>"Hit him good, Andy!" cried Sam Snedecker, "Give me a shot at him!"</p> + +<p>"I will not. I want to attend to him myself. You go tell my father, +and he'll have Tom Swift arrested for trying to sneak in and get +some of my airship ideas!"</p> + +<p>By this time Ned's wiggling feet had found the topmost rung of the +ladder. The next moment he was rapidly descending it, and, when on +the ground, he and Tom carried it away, to prevent its use by the +enemy.</p> + +<p>"Whew!" exclaimed the young inventor. "I had no idea they would kick +up such a row!"</p> + +<p>"Me either. Did you hurt yourself when you jumped, as the ladder +fell?"</p> + +<p>"No. Did they hit your hands?"</p> + +<p>"Came mighty near it. Well, I s'pose it serves us right, yet if I +can't look over my own back fence it's a pity!"</p> + +<p>"Of course we can, only I'd just as soon they hadn't seen us. +However—hello! there's Andy looking over here, now."</p> + +<p>The mean face of the bully now topped the fence. It was evident that +he had crawled from the window of his shop.</p> + +<p>"What are you trying to get into my place for, Tom Swift?" he +demanded.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't trying to get in, Andy Foger."</p> + +<p>"Well, you were looking in."</p> + +<p>"Only doing as you've done over at my shop, several times, Andy. I +wanted to see what sort of an airship you were building."</p> + +<p>"Trying to get some ideas for your own, I guess," sneered Andy.</p> + +<p>Tom did not think it worth while to answer this taunt.</p> + +<p>"I could have you arrested for this," went on Andy, who felt bolder +now that he was reinforced by Sam and Pete on either side of him as +he looked over the fence into Ned's yard.</p> + +<p>"Arrested for what?" demanded the bank clerk.</p> + +<p>"For trespassing on my father's premises," went on Andy.</p> + +<p>"We weren't on your premises," declared Ned. "We were on our side of +the fence all the while."</p> + +<p>"Well, you were looking over in my yard."</p> + +<p>"A cat may look at a king, you know, Andy," Tom reminded the bully.</p> + +<p>"Yah! Think you're smart, don't you! Well, you can't steal any of my +ideas for an airship. They're all patented, and I'll soon be making +longer and higher flights than you ever dreamed of! I'll show you +what a real airship is, Tom Swift! Monoplanes and biplanes are out +of date. The only thing that's any good is a triplane. If mine works +well—and I'm sure it will—I may build a quadruplane!"</p> + +<p>"I wish you luck," spoke Tom, with a shrug of his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Well, you won't have any luck if you come around here any more," +went on Pete Bailey. "We'll be on the watch for you fellows, now, +and we'll cover this window, so you can't see in."</p> + +<p>"That's what we will," agreed Andy, and Sam Snedecker shook his head +vigorously to indicate that he, too, approved of this.</p> + +<p>"Come on," spoke Tom in a low tone to Ned, "I've seen enough."</p> + +<p>The two chums moved toward Ned's house, followed by the jeers and +mocking laughter of Andy and his cronies.</p> + +<p>"Can't you get back at them in some way?" asked Ned, for he did not +like to see himself or his friend apparently vanquished by the +bully.</p> + +<p>"He laughs best who laughs last, Ned."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean that when Andy tries to fly in his triplane it will be our +turn to laugh."</p> + +<p>"Won't it fly?"</p> + +<p>"Never, the way he has it rigged up. It didn't take but one look to +tell me that. He's working on altogether the wrong principle. Wait +until he tries to go up, and then we'll have some fun with him."</p> + +<p>"Then you got a good view of it through the window?"</p> + +<p>"I saw all I wanted to. But say, I was about to take a little trip +in my monoplane, to see my friend Mr. Damon, when Abe's letter +arrived, and you came along with your news. I started to take +Eradicate, but he backed out. Don't you want to come?"</p> + +<p>"Sure, I'll go along."</p> + +<p>Ned had often ridden in the trim Butterfly, though the trips had not +been so frequent that he was tired of them. A little later, Tom, +having adjusted the motor that had stalled before, compelling him to +vol-plane back to earth, the two chums were sailing through the air +toward Waterford.</p> + +<p>"Why, bless my shoe laces!" cried Mr. Damon, as they alighted in the +yard of his house, about an hour later. "I didn't expect you, Tom. +But I'm glad to see you!"</p> + +<p>"And I to meet you again. I guess you know Ned Newton."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes. How d'ye do, Ned? Bless my appetite! but it's quite +chilly. We'll soon have winter. Won't you come in and have some hot +chocolate?"</p> + +<p>The boys were glad to accept the invitation, and as they were +drinking the beverage, which Mrs. Damon made for them, Tom told of +the receipt of the letter from the old miner, and also his +experience in seeing Andy's airship.</p> + +<p>"Why, bless my pocketbook!" cried Mr. Damon. "I had no idea we'd +ever hear from Abe Abercrombie again. And so he is really coming on, +to tell us about the valley of gold?"</p> + +<p>"So he says," replied Tom. "I was wondering if you'd like to go, Mr. +Damon."</p> + +<p>"Go? Why, bless my very topknot! Of course I would. I'll go with +you—only—only," and he leaned forward and whispered cautiously, +"don't speak so loudly. My wife might hear you!"</p> + +<p>"Doesn't she want you to go off in the airship any more?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, she'd rather I wouldn't. But she's going on a visit to her +mother, soon, and then I think will come my opportunity to take +another trip with you. A valley of gold in Alaska, eh? Up where the +icebergs and caves of ice are. Say, Tom, I know some one else who +would be glad to go."</p> + +<p>"Who?" inquired the young inventor, though he had an idea to whom +his friend referred.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Parker! You know he's taken up his residence in Waterford, now, +and only the other day he spoke to me about wishing he could go to +the far north. He has some new theory—"</p> + +<p>"About the destruction of something or other; hasn't he, Mr. Damon?" +interrupted Tom, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"That's it, exactly, my boy. Bless my coffeepot! But Mr. Parker has +an idea that the whole northern part of this continent will soon be +buried thousands of feet deep under an icy avalanche, and he wants +to be there to see it. I know he'd like to go with us, Tom."</p> + +<p>The young inventor made a little gesture of dissent, but as he knew +Mr. Damon, who was very eccentric himself, had taken a great liking +to the gloomy scientist, Tom did not feel like refusing. So he said:</p> + +<p>"All right, Mr. Damon. If we go, and I think we shall, we'll expect +you and Mr. Parker. I'll let you know the result of Mr. +Abercrombie's visit, and I needn't request you to keep quiet about +it. If there is a valley of gold in Alaska, we don't want everyone +to know about it."</p> + +<p>"No, of course not, Tom Swift. I'll keep silent about it. Bless my +liverpin! But I'll be glad to be on the move again, even if it is +toward the Arctic regions."</p> + +<p>After some further talk, Tom and Ned took their departure, making +good time back to Shopton in the speedy monoplane.</p> + +<p>For several days after that Tom busied himself about his big airship +the RED CLOUD, for it needed quite a few repairs after the long trip +to the mountains where the diamond makers had been discovered in +their cave.</p> + +<p>"And if we're going up amid the ice and snow," reasoned Tom, "I've +got to make some different arrangements about the craft, and provide +for keeping warmer than we found necessary when we went west."</p> + +<p>So it was that Tom had no time to learn anything further about Andy +Foger's airship, even had our hero been so inclined, which he was +not. He looked for Abe Abercrombie any day now, for though the old +miner had given no date as to when he would arrive, he had said, in +his letter, that it would be soon.</p> + +<p>It was one day, nearly a week after Tom's attempt to make Eradicate +like aeroplaning, that there might have been seen, coming along the +Shopton road, which led toward Tom's house, the figure of a grizzled +old man. His clothes were rather rough, and he carried a valise that +had, evidently, seen much service. There was that about him which +proclaimed him for a westerner—a cattleman or a miner.</p> + +<p>He walked slowly along, murmuring to himself.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, I might better have taken one of them wagons at th' depot," +he said, "than t' try t' walk. It's quite a stretch out t' Tom +Swift's house. I hope I find him home."</p> + +<p>He trudged on, and, a little later, his gaze was attracted by a +large shed, in the rear of a white house the pretentious appearance +of which indicated that persons of wealth owned it.</p> + +<p>"I guess that must be the place," he remarked. "That shed is big +enough to hold the airship. Now to present myself."</p> + +<p>As he walked up the front path of the house, he was met by one of +the gardeners, who was raking up the leaves.</p> + +<p>"Is this the airship place?" asked the miner.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's where the young master is making his triplane," +answered the man.</p> + +<p>"Is he in?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess so. You can walk right back to the shed."</p> + +<p>The miner did so. Through the open door of the building he had a +glimpse of big stretches of wings, propellers, rudders, and some +machinery.</p> + +<p>"That's it," he murmured, "though it looks some different than I +remembered it. However, maybe Tom's changed it about. I wonder where +he is?"</p> + +<p>As he spoke a lad came from the shed to meet him—a lad on whose +face there was a look of suspicion.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"I'm lookin' for Tom Swift," was the simple reply. "But I take it +you're one of his partners in this airship business. I guess he must +have told you about me. I'm Abe Abercrombie, the miner, and I've +come to show him the way to that valley of gold in Alaska."</p> + +<p>At the mention of Tom Swift's name, Andy Foger, for it was he, had +started to utter a denial. But, at the next words of the miner, and +as Mr. Abercrombie mentioned "gold" and "Alaska," there came a +cunning look over Andy's face.</p> + +<p>"Tom Swift isn't here just now," he said, wondering how he could +turn to advantage the unexpected visit, and the impending +information that the guileless old man was about to give under the +mistaken idea that Andy was Tom's friend.</p> + +<p>"That's all right, I reckon he'll be along presently. You'll do just +as well, I reckon. You're in partnership with him, I take it. So +this is the place where he makes his airships, eh? It's a big one," +and Mr. Abercrombie looked in at the odd triplane of Andy's—for the +airship was almost finished.</p> + +<p>"But it'll need to be big if we're to go to Alaska in it," went on +the miner. "It's quite a journey t' th' valley where th' gold is. No +way t' get t' it except by an airship. An' here I be an' ready to +start, I've brought th' map of th' place, jest as I promised. Here +it is, better take good care of it. Now, let's talk business," and +the miner, having guilelessly handed Andy Foger a folded parchment, +sat down on a box at the door of the airship shed, and placed his +heavy valise on the ground beside him.</p> + +<p>"What's this?" asked the bully, wondering whether he had heard +aright.</p> + +<p>"It's the map of th' valley of gold—directions how t' git there, +an' all that. I guess it's plain enough. Now, when can we start?"</p> + +<p>Andy did not know what to say. Fate had, most unexpectedly, placed +in his hands a valuable paper. The miner had made a mistake. Andy's +house was on the same road as was Tom's and, seeing the airship +shed, had deceived the aged man. He had not expected to find two +airship manufactories in the same village.</p> + +<p>"The map of the valley of gold," murmured Andy, as he put it in his +pocket.</p> + +<p>"Yes, jest as I told Tom about when I met him out West. I said I'd +bring it with me, an' I did. When will Tom be back? He never spoke +of you, though I reckoned he'd have to have some help in makin' his +airships. Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"He—he—" stammered Andy. He did not know what to say.</p> + +<p>At that instant Tom Swift himself passed by in the road. He had been +over to Shopton on an errand. One look into the yard of Andy's house +showed to our hero the old miner sitting at the door of the airship +shed.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Abercrombie—Abe!" cried Tom, almost, before he thought.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Tom! I got here!" cried the miner, heartily. "I was jest +talking to your partner."</p> + +<p>"My partner!" spoke Tom in amazement.</p> + +<p>"Yes—partner in th' airship business. I should think you'd need +about three partners to build these machines!"</p> + +<p>"My partner! Andy Foger isn't my partner!" cried Tom, wondering what +would happen next. "I have no partner! If he said he was he deceived +you!"</p> + +<p>"No partner? Ain't he your partner?" cried Mr. Abercrombie. "Why, I +thought he was. I told him about th' valley of gold—I—I—give him +the map—"</p> + +<p>"The map?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, the map t' tell how to get there. He's got it!"</p> + +<p>There was a mocking smile on Andy's face.</p> + +<p>"Give that map back at once!" cried Tom, sternly, now understanding +something of the situation. "Hand it over at once, Andy Foger!"</p> + +<p>"I will—when I get ready! He gave it to me!" cried the bully, and +then, before either Tom or Abe could stop him, Andy darted into the +big shed, and slammed shut the door.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>TOM GETS THE MAP</h3> + + +<p>For a few seconds Tom was so surprised at the sudden action of the +bully that he could neither move nor speak. Then, crying out a +command to halt, the young inventor took after his enemy.</p> + +<p>"The scamp!" he cried. "The nerve he has! To deceive Abe Abercrombie +in that fashion! Wait until I get hold of him!"</p> + +<p>"What's it all about?" asked the old miner, who, being a slow +thinker had not understood all that had happened. "What's up, Tom +Swift?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't time to tell you now," flung back the running lad over his +shoulder. "I've got to catch Andy! Then I'll explain. He's trying to +get ahead of us, I guess, but we'll stop him!" Thereupon Tom flung +himself against the door of the airship shed. The young inventor +found the portal bolted, though it vibrated with the impact of his +body.</p> + +<p>"Come out of there, Andy Foger!" cried Tom, pounding on the door. +"Come out, or I'll get an officer, and have you arrested!"</p> + +<p>There was no answer.</p> + +<p>"Come out, I say!" repeated Tom.</p> + +<p>"Around th' back! Try th' back door!" suggested the miner, who had +hastened to Tom's side. "Maybe he's run out that way!"</p> + +<p>Tom listened. There was no movement in the shop. Then the young +inventor sprinted around the side. He was just in time to see the +bully running away over the lots and fields in the rear of his +father's premises. Andy had climbed out of the back window of the +shed, into which Tom and Ned had peered that day, had climbed the +high fence, dropped down on the other side, and was now running away +with all the speed he could muster.</p> + +<p>"Come back—!" began Tom, and then he realized that his enemy could +not hear him. The bully was too far away. At the same time our hero +realized that it would be useless to give chase, for Andy had too +much of a start. There was nothing to do but to turn back, and Tom +knew that his delay in trying to gain an entrance at the front door +had given Andy the very opportunity he needed to escape at the rear.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is a bad turn of affairs," remarked the lad, as he faced +the puzzled miner.</p> + +<p>"What is, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Him having that map. It shows the location of the valley of gold, +doesn't it, and tells how to get there?"</p> + +<p>"That's what it does!"</p> + +<p>"How did Andy happen to get it?"</p> + +<p>"Jest as I told you. I was on my way t' your house, havin' inquired +at th' post-office, an' the man said that at your place there was a +big shed, where you kept your airships. I come along, an', of +course, when I see this house, an' the shed, an' had a glimpse of +th' airship, I, of course, thought it was your place. An', though +you'd never told me about it, I thought maybe this lad was in +business with you. So, like a blamed young tenderfoot, I blurted out +my business afore I thought, an' handed him the map for safe +keepin'. He took it, too, that's the worst of it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the worst of it," agreed Tom, "But I'll get it back, if +I have to cause his arrest, and search his whole house."</p> + +<p>"But he runned away, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he'll come back. Was there only one copy of the map of the +valley, Abe?" asked Tom, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Yep; only one."</p> + +<p>"Could you make another?"</p> + +<p>"No, not if you was to pay me a million dollars! You see I ain't no +drawer, an' this map, while I made part of it, was mostly made by my +old partner, who was with me when we discovered th' valley of gold, +an' was druv back by th' savage Eskimos an' Indians, an' by th' +terrible cold. My partner made th' best part of th' map, an' he's +dead, poor fellow."</p> + +<p>"I see. That's too bad! Then you can't make a duplicate map?"</p> + +<p>"Nary a one. But can't you do somethin'? It were amazin' stupid of +me, old Abe Abercrombie, t' be took in by a boy like him! Can't you +do somethin'?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to try," announced Tom determinedly, as he swung on +toward the Foger house. "I'll cause his arrest if he doesn't give it +up."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Tom Swift and Abe confronted Mr. Foger. The rich +man, father of the bully, was rather surprised at the visit from the +young inventor, for the two were not friends.</p> + +<p>"Well, what can I do for you, Tom Swift?" asked the banker, for he +felt a certain coldness toward our hero, since the latter had +defeated him in an effort to wreck a financial institution in which +Tom and his father were interested.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Foger," spoke Tom, sternly, "your son has just stolen a map +belonging to this gentleman," and he indicated Abe.</p> + +<p>"My son stolen a map!" exclaimed Mr. Foger. "How dare you make such +an accusation, Tom Swift?"</p> + +<p>"I dare, because it's true! And, unless that map is returned to me +at my house to-night I shall swear out a warrant for Andy's arrest."</p> + +<p>"You'd never dare do that!"</p> + +<p>"Wait and see!" spoke Tom, firmly. "I will give your son, or you, +exactly five hours to return that map—if it isn't back in my hands +by then, I'll get a warrant!"</p> + +<p>"Preposterous! Stuff and nonsense!" blustered Mr. Foger. "My son +never stole anything!"</p> + +<p>"He stole this map, and there is plenty of evidence," went on Tom, +as he detailed the circumstances.</p> + +<p>Mr. Foger hemmed and hawed, and affected not to believe that +anything of the kind could have happened. But Tom was firm, and Abe +Abercrombie backed up his statements, until even the banker began to +waver.</p> + +<p>"Very well," he announced at length, "I will look into this matter, +and if I find that my son has anything of yours, you shall have it +back. But I cannot believe it. Perhaps he took it as a joke."</p> + +<p>"In which case," spoke Tom grimly, "he will find that he has carried +the joke too far," and with that he and the miner left the Foger +home.</p> + +<p>"It's all my fault," bewailed Abe, as he and our hero trudged on +toward the Swift household.</p> + +<p>"No, it wasn't, Abe," declared Tom. "Any one would have been +deceived by such tactics as Andy used—that is any stranger. And you +didn't expect to find two airship sheds so close together."</p> + +<p>"No. That's right, I didn't. That's what threw me off th' track."</p> + +<p>"Andy only recently began work on his triplane. I don't know what +his object is, and I don't care. Just now I'm more concerned about +getting back this map."</p> + +<p>"I hope we do get it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we will. I'm going to start off on my own hook, to find Andy. +But first I'll take you to my house."</p> + +<p>The old miner was soon telling his story to Mr. Swift, the +housekeeper and Garret Jackson. They expressed their surprise at +Andy's daring act. But Tom didn't do much more talking.</p> + +<p>"I'm going out to find Andy," he declared, "and when I do—" He +didn't finish his sentence, but they all knew what he meant.</p> + +<p>But the bully was in none of his usual haunts, though Tom visited +them all. Nor was Andy at the homes of either of his cronies.</p> + +<p>"Well, if I don't find him, I shall certainly swear out the +warrant," decided Tom. "I'll give him until night, and then I'll +call on the police."</p> + +<p>Still he did not give up, but went to several other places where +Andy might be found. He had about given up, as it was getting toward +late afternoon, when, as he came out of a billiardroom, where the +bully was in the habit of spending much of his time, Tom saw the lad +of whom he was in search.</p> + +<p>"Hold on there, Andy Foger!" cried the young inventor. "I want to +see you!"</p> + +<p>"What about?"</p> + +<p>"You know very well. Where's that map you stole?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't got it."</p> + +<p>"Take care!" and Tom, with a quick step was beside the bully, and +had grasped him firmly by the arm.</p> + +<p>"You let me alone, Tom Swift!" cried Andy.</p> + +<p>"Where's that map?" and Tom gave Andy's arm a wrench.</p> + +<p>"It's at your house; that's where it is! I just took it back. It was +only a joke."</p> + +<p>"A joke, eh? And you took it back?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I did. Now you let me go!"</p> + +<p>"I will when I find out if you're telling me the truth or not, Andy +Foger. You come with me!"</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"To my house. I want to see if that map's there."</p> + +<p>"Well, you'll find that it is, and you'd better let me go! My father +told me to take the map back, and I did. You let me go!"</p> + +<p>Andy struggled to get loose, but Tom had too tight a grip. There was +something, too, in the manner of our hero that warned Andy not to +trifle with him. So, concluding that discretion was the better part +of valor, Andy walked sullenly along toward Tom's home, the young +inventor never relaxing the grip on his enemy's arm.</p> + +<p>They reached the Swift home. Still holding his captive, Tom rang the +bell. His father came to the door, followed by Abe Abercrombie.</p> + +<p>"Is the map back?" asked the young inventor, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Andy brought it here a few minutes ago," announced Mr. Swift.</p> + +<p>"Is it the right one, Abe?" inquired Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yep, Tom. I made sure of that as soon as I laid my eyes on it. It's +th' right one."</p> + +<p>"Then you can go, Andy Foger," announced our hero, "and if I ever +catch you in another trick like this, I'll take the law into my own +hands. Clear out, now!"</p> + +<p>"You wait! I'll get even with you," muttered the bully, as he fled +down the front walk, as though afraid Tom would, even then, put his +threat into execution.</p> + +<p>"Did he damage the map any?" asked the lad, as he followed his +father and Abe into the house.</p> + +<p>"Nary a bit," answered the old miner. "It's jest th' same as it was. +There it is," and he spread a crinkled sheet of tough parchment in +front of Tom. It was covered with a rude drawing, and with names of +places scrawled on it.</p> + +<p>"So that's the map, eh?" murmured Tom, eagerly scanning it.</p> + +<p>"That's it, an' here's th' valley of gold," went on Abe, as he +placed one rough finger on a certain spot. "Right there—hello!" he +cried, as he peered more closely at the parchment. "That ink spot +wasn't there when I had th' map, a few hours ago."</p> + +<p>"What ink spot?" asked Tom, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"That one," and the miner indicated a small one near the edge of the +map. "That was never there!"</p> + +<p>"It looks as if it was recently made," added Mr. Swift, who was +something of a chemist.</p> + +<p>"An ink spot-freshly made," murmured Tom, "Dad—Abe, I can guess +what's happened!"</p> + +<p>"What?" demanded the miner.</p> + +<p>"Andy Foger made a copy of this map while it was in his possession, +and now he knows where the valley of gold is as well as we do! He +may get there ahead of us!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>GRAVE SUSPICIONS</h3> + + +<p>Tom's announcement took them all by surprise. For a moment no one +knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at +the parchment map.</p> + +<p>"Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. +Swift.</p> + +<p>"I do," answered his son. "That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave +him the map; was it?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied the miner.</p> + +<p>"And it couldn't get on in Andy's pocket," went on Tom. "So he must +have had it open near where there was ink."</p> + +<p>"His fountain pen might have leaked," suggested Mr. Jackson.</p> + +<p>"In that case the ink spot would be on the outside of the map, and +not on the inside," declared Tom, with the instinct of a detective. +"Unless he had the map folded in his pocket with the inside surface +on the outside, the ink couldn't have gotten on. Besides, Andy +always carries his fountain pen in his upper vest pocket, and that +pocket is too small to hold the map. No, I'm almost positive that +Andy or his father have sneakingly made a copy of this map!"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry to have to admit that Mr. Foger is capable of such an +act," spoke Mr. Swift, "but I believe it is true."</p> + +<p>"And here is another thing," went on the young inventor, who was now +closely scanning the parchment through a powerful magnifying glass, +"do you see those tiny holes here and there, Mr. Jackson?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered the engineer.</p> + +<p>"Were they there before, Abe?" went on Tom, calling the old miner's +attention to them.</p> + +<p>"Nary a one," was the answer. "It looks as if some one had been +sticking pins in th' map."</p> + +<p>"Not pins," said Tom, "but the sharp points of a pair of dividers, +or compasses, for measuring distances. Andy, or whoever made a copy +of the map, used the dividers to take off distances with. This +clinches it, in my mind."</p> + +<p>"But what can you do?" asked Tom's father.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered the young inventor. "It would be of little +use to go to Andy. Naturally he would deny having made a copy of the +map, and his father would, also. Even though I am sure they have a +copy, I don't see how I am going to make them give it up. It's a +hard case. There's only one thing I see to do."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Abe.</p> + +<p>"Start for Alaska as soon as possible, and be first on hand at the +valley of gold."</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried the miner. "That's the way to talk! We'll start off at +once. I know my way around that country pretty well, an' even though +winter is coming on, I think we can travel in th' airship. That's +one reason why I wanted t' go in one of these flyin' machines. +Winter is no time to be in Alaska, but if we have an airship we +won't mind it, an' it's the best time t' keep other people away, for +th' ordinary miner or prospector can't do anythin' in Alaska in +winter—that is away up north where we're goin'."</p> + +<p>"Exactly where are we going?" asked Tom. "I have been so excited +about discovering Andy's trick that I haven't had much time to +consider where we're bound for nor what will be the best plan to +follow."</p> + +<p>"Well, we're goin' to a region about seven hundred an' fifty miles +northwest from Sitka," explained the old miner, as he pointed out +the location on the map. "We'll head for what they call th' Snow +Mountains, an' th' valley of gold is in their midst. It's just over +th' Arctic circle, an' pretty cold, let me tell you!"</p> + +<p>"You'll be warm enough in Tom's airship, with the electric stoves +going," commented Mr. Jackson.</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll need t' be," went on the miner. "Th' valley is full of +caves of ice, an' it's dangerous for th' ordinary traveler. In fact +an airship was the only way I saw out of th' difficulty when I was +there."</p> + +<p>"Then you have been to the valley of gold?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, not exactly TO it," was the reply, "but I was where I could +see it. That was in th' summer, though of course the summer there +isn't like here. I'll tell you how it was."</p> + +<p>The miner settled himself more comfortably in his chair, and resumed +his story.</p> + +<p>"It was two year ago," he said, "that me an' Jim Mace started to +prospect in Alaska. We didn't have much luck, an' we kept on workin' +our way farther north until we come to these Snow Mountains. Then +our supplies gave out, an' if it hadn't been for some friendly +Eskimos I don't know what we would have done. Jim and me we gave 'em +some trinkets an' sich, and th' Indians began talkin' of a wonderful +valley of gold, where th' stuff lay around in chunks on top of the +ground."</p> + +<p>"Me and Jim pricked up our ears at that, so to speak, an' we wanted +to see th' place. After some delay we was taken to th' top of a big +crag, some distance away from where we had been stopping with the +friendly Eskimos, or Indians, as I call 'em. There, away down below, +was a valley—an' a curious sort of a valley it were. It seemed +filled with big bubbles—bubbles made of solid banks of snow or ice, +an' we was told, me an' Jim was, that these were caves of ice, an' +that th' gold was near these caves."</p> + +<p>"Well, of course me an' my partner wanted to go down the worst way, +an' try for some gold, but th' Indians wouldn't let us. They said it +was dangerous, for th' ice caves were constantly fallin' in, an' +smashin' whoever was inside. But to prove what they said about th' +gold, they sent one of their number down, while we waited on th' +side of th' mountain."</p> + +<p>"Did he get any gold?" asked Tom, eagerly.</p> + +<p>For answer the old miner pulled from his pocket a few yellow +pebbles—little stones of dull, gleaming yellow.</p> + +<p>"There's some of th' gold from amid th' caves of ice," he remarked +simply. "I kept 'em for a souvenir, hopin' some day I might git back +there. Well, Jim an' me watched th' Indian going down into th' +valley. He come back in about three hours, havin' only gone to th' +nearest cave, an' he had two pockets filled with these little chunks +of solid gold. They gave me an' Jim some, but they wouldn't hear of +us goin' t' th' valley by ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Then a bad storm come up, an' we had t' hit th' trail for home—the +Indians' home, I mean—for Jim an' I was far enough away from ours."</p> + +<p>"Well, t' make a long story short, Jim an' me tried every way we +knowed t' git t' that valley, but we couldn't. It come off colder +an' colder, an' th' tribe of Indians with whom we lived was attacked +by some of their enemies, an' driven away from their campin' +grounds. Jim an' me, we went too, but not before Jim had drawed this +map on a piece of dog-skin we found in one of the huts. We had an +idea we might get back, some day, an' find the valley, so we'd need +a map t' go by. But poor Jim never got back. He got badly frozen +when the Indians drove us an' our friends away, an' he never got +over it. He died up there in th' ice, an' we buried him. I took th' +map, an' when spring come, I made a hike out of that country. From +then until now I've been plannin' how t' git t' that valley, an' th' +only way I seen was an airship. Then, when I was prospectin' around +out in Colorado I saw Tom's machine hidden in th' trees, an' I +waited until he come along, which part you know as well as I do," +finished Abe.</p> + +<p>"And that's the story of the valley of gold," spoke Mr. Swift.</p> + +<p>"That's all there is to it," assented Abe, simply.</p> + +<p>"Do you think there is much gold there?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Plenty of it—for th' pickin' up," replied the miner. "Around th' +caves of ice it's full of it, but, of course, it's dangerous. An' +th' only way t' git t' it, an' pass th' savage Indians that are all +around in th' mountains about th' valley, is t' fly over their heads +in th' airship."</p> + +<p>"Then that's what we'll do," decided Tom.</p> + +<p>"Will you go all the way in the RED CLOUD?" inquired Mr. Jackson.</p> + +<p>"No, I think I'll send the airship on ahead to some point in +Washington—say Seattle," replied Tom, "put it together there, and +start for the Snow Mountains. In Seattle we can get plenty of +supplies and stores. It will be a good point to start from, and will +save us a long, and perhaps dangerous, flight across the United +States."</p> + +<p>"I think that will be the best plan," agreed Mr. Swift. "But what +about Andy—do you think he'll try to follow—or try to get ahead of +you now that he has a copy of the map?"</p> + +<p>"He may," answered Tom. "But I have a little trick I'm going to work +on Andy. I will try to learn whether he really has a copy of the +map, though I'm practically certain of it. Then I'll decide what's +best to do."</p> + +<p>"In th' meanwhile, will you be gettin' ready?" asked Abe. "I'd like +t' start as soon as we can, for it's awful cold there, the longer +you wait, at this time of th' year."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'll start right to work, getting the RED CLOUD in readiness +to be shipped," promised Tom.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>ANDY'S AIRSHIP FLIES</h3> + + +<p>"Hello, Tom, have you heard the news?" asked Ned Newton, of the +young inventor, a few days later.</p> + +<p>"What news, Ned? I declare I've been so busy thinking out the best +plan to ship the RED CLOUD to Seattle that I haven't been over to +town. What's going on? Have they decided to build a new church in +Shopton, or something like that?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, this about Andy Foger's airship."</p> + +<p>"Andy's airship, eh? Is he still working on it?"</p> + +<p>"It's all done, so Sam Snedecker was telling me last night, and +to-day Andy is going to try to fly it."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean it!"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing. Let's go over and watch him."</p> + +<p>"He might make a fuss, same as he did when we looked in the window +of his shed."</p> + +<p>"He can't make any fuss now. He's got to take his machine out to fly +it, and anybody that wants to can look on. Didn't he watch you make +flights often enough?"</p> + +<p>"That's so. Where is the trial flight going to take place?"</p> + +<p>"In the big meadow. Come on over."</p> + +<p>"Guess I will. I can't do much more now. I've been getting some +boxes and crates made in which to pack the RED CLOUD. I'll have to +take her all apart."</p> + +<p>"Then you're really going to hunt for the valley of gold?"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing. How about you going, Ned? I spoke to dad about it, and +he said he'd see that you could have a leave of absence."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that part's all right. The bank president told me today I +could take a vacation any time I wanted it. In fact that's what I +came over to see you about. I want to thank your father."</p> + +<p>"Then you're going?"</p> + +<p>"I sure am, Tom! Won't it be great! I hope I can get a little gold +for myself! My folks didn't take very much to the notion of me going +off in an airship, but I told them how often you'd gone on trips, +and come safely back, so they finally gave their consent. When are +you going to start?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, in about two weeks. Did I tell you about Andy and the map?"</p> + +<p>"No. What trick has he been up to now?"</p> + +<p>Thereupon Tom related his suspicions concerning the bully, and also +hinted to Ned of a certain ruse he intended to work on Andy when he +got the chance.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you're ready, suppose we go over and see if Andy's airship +will really fly," suggested Ned, after a while. "I'm doubtful +myself, and I'd just like to see him come to grief, after the many +mean things he's done to you."</p> + +<p>"Well," spoke Tom slowly, "I don't know as I wish him any bad luck, +but I certainly hope he doesn't use his airship to try to beat us +out in the hunt for the valley of gold."</p> + +<p>"Do you think he might?"</p> + +<p>"It's possible. But never mind about that now. Come on, we'll go +over to the big meadow."</p> + +<p>The two chums walked along together, talking of many things. Tom +told of some communication he had had with Mr. Damon, in which +letters the eccentric man had inquired as to when the trip for +Alaska would be undertaken.</p> + +<p>"Then he's going?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, it wouldn't seem natural to go without some of Mr. Damon's +blessings. But I think he's going to bring a friend with him."</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ralph Parker."</p> + +<p>"That gloomy scientist, who is always predicting such terrible +things going to happen?"</p> + +<p>"That's the gentleman. You met him once, I believe. Mr. Damon says +Mr. Parker wants to do some scientific studying in the far north, so +I've already counted on him as one of our party. Well, perhaps he +won't do so much predicting this trip."</p> + +<p>A little later Tom and Ned came to a big open field. They saw quite +a crowd gathered in it, but no sign of an airship.</p> + +<p>"Guess Andy hasn't arrived," spoke Tom.</p> + +<p>"No; very likely he's found out that something is wrong with his +machine, and he isn't going to risk it."</p> + +<p>But almost as Ned spoke, there sounded cries of excitement from the +crowd, and, a little later, something big and white, with many +wing-shaped stretches of canvas sticking out from all sides, was seen +turning into the big meadow from the broad highway that led to +Andy's house.</p> + +<p>"There she is!" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"There's something, at any rate," conceded Tom, as he hastened his +steps. "It's a queer-looking aeroplane, though. My! he's got enough +wings to it!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's Andy's sure enough," went on Ned "There he is in front, +giving orders like a major-general, and Sam and Pete are helping +him. Let's get closer."</p> + +<p>They followed the crowd, which was thronging about the airship that +Andy Foger had made, Tom had a glimpse of the machine. It was a form +of triplane, with three tiers of main wings, and several other sets +of planes, some stationary and some capable of being moved. There +was no gas-bag feature, but amidships was a small, enclosed cabin, +which evidently held the machinery, and was designed to afford +living quarters. In some respects the airship was not unlike Tom's, +and the young inventor could see that Andy had copied some of his +ideas. But Tom cared little about this.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it will go up?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"It looks to me to be too heavy, and his propellers seem too small," +answered Tom. "He's got to have a very powerful motor to make all +that bulk fly."</p> + +<p>The people were crowding in closer around the airship, for the news +that Andy was to attempt a flight had spread about town.</p> + +<p>"Now keep back—all of you!" ordered the bully, with a show of +anger. "If any one damages my airship I'll have him arrested! Keep +back, now, or I won't fly!"</p> + +<p>"Reminds me of a little kid saying he won't play if he can't have +his own way," whispered Ned to Tom.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Andy, give us a ride!"</p> + +<p>"Going above the clouds?"</p> + +<p>"When are you coming back?"</p> + +<p>"Bring down a snowstorm!"</p> + +<p>"Be careful that you don't fall!"</p> + +<p>These were some of the things shouted at Andy, for he had few +friends among the town lads, on account of his mean ways.</p> + +<p>"Keep quiet—all of you!" he ordered. "Get back. You might get hurt +when I start the motor. I'm going to make a flight soon," he added +proudly. "Sam, you come over here and hold this end. Pete, you go +back to the rear. Simpson, you get inside and help me with the +motor. Henderson, you get ready to shove when I tell you."</p> + +<p>These last orders were to the two machinists whom Andy had engaged +to help him, and the bully gave himself no end of airs and +importance as he bustled about.</p> + +<p>Tom could not help but admit that Andy's machine was a big affair. +There was a great stretch of wings and planes, several rudders other +appliances for which the young inventor could not exactly fathom a +use. He did not think the machine would fly far, if at all. But Andy +was hurrying here and there, getting the triplane in place on a +level stretch of ground, as if he intended to capture some great +prize.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to tackle him about stealing a copy of that map?" +asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"I will if I get a chance," answered Tom, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>He got his opportunity a few minutes later. Andy, hurrying here and +there, came face to face with the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Andy," spoke Tom, good-naturedly. "So you're going to make a +flight, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am, and I s'pose you came around to see if you could get any +ideas; didn't you?" sneered Andy.</p> + +<p>"Of course," admitted Tom, with an easy laugh. "My airship doesn't +fly, you know, Andy, and I want to see what's wrong with it."</p> + +<p>There was a laugh in the crowd, at this, for Tom's success was well +known.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to Alaska?" suddenly asked Tom, in a low voice, of +the bully.</p> + +<p>"To Alaska? I—I don't—I don't know what you mean?" stammered Andy, +as he turned aside.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you do know what I mean," insisted Tom. "And I want to tell +you that the map you have won't be of much use to you. Why, do you +think," he went on, "that Abe would carry the real map around with +him that way? It's easy to make a copy look like an original, Andy, +and also very easy to put false distances and directions on a map +that may fall into the hands of an enemy."</p> + +<p>The shot told. Andy's face turned first red and then pale.</p> + +<p>"A—a false map!" he stammered. "Wrong directions?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—on the copy you made of the map you took from Mr. +Abercrombie," went on Tom.</p> + +<p>"I—I didn't make any—Oh, I'm not going to talk to you!" blustered +Andy. "Get out of my way! I'm going to fly my airship."</p> + +<p>The bully pushed past Tom, and started toward the triplane. But Tom +had found out what he wanted to know. Andy had made a copy of the +map. From now on there would be every danger that the bully would +make an effort to get to the valley of gold.</p> + +<p>But other matters held Andy's attention now. He wanted to try his +airship. With the help of his two cronies, and the machinists, the +machine was gone over, oiled up, and finally, after several false +starts, the motor was set going.</p> + +<p>It made a terrific racket, and the whole machine vibrated as though +it would shake apart.</p> + +<p>"He hasn't got it well enough braced," said Tom to Ned.</p> + +<p>"Out of the way, now, everybody!" yelled Andy. "Keep away or you'll +get hurt! I'm going up!"</p> + +<p>He climbed into the cabin of the craft, and took his position at the +steering-wheel. The speed of the motor, its racket and its stream of +sparks increased.</p> + +<p>"Let go!" cried Andy to those who were holding his craft.</p> + +<p>They released their hold. The triplane moved slowly across the +ground, gathered speed, and, then, under the impulse of the powerful +propellers, ran rapidly over the meadow.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! There he goes!" cried Sam.</p> + +<p>"Yes! Now he's going to fly," proudly added Pete Bailey, the other +crony of the bully.</p> + +<p>"He'd better fly soon, then, or he'll be in the ditch," said Tom +grimly, for a little, sluggish stream crossed the meadow not far +from where Andy had started.</p> + +<p>The next instant, thinking he had momentum enough, Andy tilted his +elevation plane. The clumsy triplane rose into the air and shot +forward.</p> + +<p>"There he goes!" cried Sam.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" yelled the crowd.</p> + +<p>Andy had gone up about ten feet, and was making slow progress.</p> + +<p>"I guess Tom Swift isn't the only one in Shopton who can build an +airship!" sneered Pete Bailey.</p> + +<p>"Look! Look!" yelled Ned. "He's coming down!"</p> + +<p>Sure enough, Andy's machine had reached the end of her flight. The +motor stopped with something between a cough and a wheeze. Down +fluttered the aeroplane, like some clumsy bird, down into the ditch, +settling on one side, and then coming to rest, tilted over at a +sharp angle. Andy was pitched out, but landed on the soft mud, for +there had been a thaw. He wasn't hurt much, evidently, for he soon +scrambled to his feet as the crowd surged toward him.</p> + +<p>"Well, he flew a little way," observed Ned, grimly.</p> + +<p>"But he came down mighty soon," added Tom. "I thought he would. His +machine is too big and clumsy. I've seen enough. Come on, Ned. We'll +get ready to go to Alaska. Andy Foger will never follow us in that +machine."</p> + +<p>But Tom was soon to find out how much mistaken he was.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>READY FOR THE TRIP</h3> + + +<p>Andy Foger stood looking at his tilted airship. His clothes were +covered with mud from the ditch, some of the muck had splashed over +his face so that he was a pitiable looking object.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" panted Pete Bailey.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt?" asked Sam Snedecker.</p> + +<p>The two cronies had hurried to the side of the bully.</p> + +<p>"Matter? Can't you see what's the matter?" demanded Andy wrathfully. +"The machine came down, that's what's the matter! Why didn't you +fellows fix the motor better?" he shouted at the two machinists as +they came running up, followed by the crowd.</p> + +<p>"Fix it better? The motor was all right," declared the taller +machinist. "Any of them are likely to stop unexpectedly."</p> + +<p>"Well, I didn't think mine would," came from Andy. "Now look at my +airship! It's all busted!"</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't hurt much," said the other man, after critically +looking it over. "We can fix it, and you'll fly yet, Andy."</p> + +<p>"I hope I do, if only to fool Tom Swift," declared the bully, as he +wiped some of the mud from his face. "Come on, now, help me wheel +the machine back, and I'll try it again."</p> + +<p>Andy made another attempt, but this time the machine did not even +rise off the ground, and then, amid the jeers of the crowd, the +discomfited lad took his aeroplane back to the shed in the rear of +his house.</p> + +<p>"I'll fix it yet, and make a long flight," he declared. "I'll show +Tom Swift he can't laugh at me!"</p> + +<p>"You'll make a long flight eh?" asked one of the machinists. "Where +will you go?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind," answered Andy, with a knowing wink. "I've got a plan +up my sleeve—my father and I are going to do something that will +astonish everybody in Shopton," and then Andy, with many nods and +winks, went into the shed, where he began giving orders about the +airship. He wanted the motor changed, and one of the machinists made +some suggestions about the planes, which, he said, would give better +results.</p> + +<p>As for Tom and Ned, they strolled away, satisfied that in Andy Foger +they would not have a very dangerous rival, as far as airships were +concerned.</p> + +<p>Tom thought matters over during the next few days. He was now +satisfied that Andy had a copy of the map, and, as far as he could +see, there was no way of getting it from him, for he could not prove +to the satisfaction of the legal authorities that the bully actually +had it.</p> + +<p>"We'll just have to take a chance, that's all," decided the young +inventor in talking matters over with his father, Ned, and Abe +Abercrombie. "If Andy and some of his crowd trail after us, we'll +just have to run away from them and get to the valley first."</p> + +<p>"If they do get there, they won't find it very easy traveling I +reckon," remarked Abe. "They'll get all they want of the caves of +ice. But hadn't we better get a hustle on ourselves, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we will soon start now. I have the RED CLOUD all packed up for +shipment to Seattle. We will send it on ahead, and then follow, for +it will take some time to get there, even though it's going by fast +freight."</p> + +<p>"What about Mr. Damon?" asked Ned. "When is he coming?"</p> + +<p>"There's no telling," responded Tom. "He may be on hand any minute, +and, again, he may only show up just as we are starting. I haven't +heard from him in the last day or two."</p> + +<p>At that moment there was a knock on the private office in the +aeroplane shed, where Tom, Ned and Abe Abercrombie were talking.</p> + +<p>"Who's there?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"It's me," answered a voice recognizable as that of the colored man +Eradicate.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Rad?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Why I jest thought I'd tell you dat de blessin' man am comin' down +de road."</p> + +<p>"The blessing man?" repeated Tom. "Oh, you mean Mr. Damon."</p> + +<p>"Yais, sah, dat's jest who I done mean. An' dere's anodder gen'man +wif him."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Parker, I expect," spoke Tom. "Well, tell them to come in here, +Rad."</p> + +<p>"Yais, sah. Dey's comin' up de path now, so dey is."</p> + +<p>The next moment Tom and the others heard a voice saying:</p> + +<p>"Why, bless my necktie! The RED CLOUD is gone!" Mr. Damon had peered +into the shed, and had not seen the airship, for Tom had it packed +up. "I wonder if Tom Swift has gone away? Bless my top-knot, Mr. +Parker, I hope we're not too late!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I hope not," added the scientist. "I wish to make a study of +the caves of ice. I think perhaps they may be working south, and, in +time, this part of the country may be covered deep under a frozen +blanket."</p> + +<p>"Cheerful, isn't he, Ned?" asked Tom, with a smile. Then, going to +the door of the shed he called out: "Here we are, Mr. Damon. Glad to +see you, Mr. Parker." This last wasn't exactly true, but Tom wanted +to be polite.</p> + +<p>"Bless my collar button, Tom! But what has become of the airship?" +asked Mr. Damon, as he looked about the shed, and saw only a number +of boxes and crates.</p> + +<p>"Taken apart, and packed up, ready for the trip to the valley of +gold and the caves of ice," replied the young inventor, and then he +briefly told of their plans.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's a good idea," declared the eccentric man. "Mr. Parker +and I are ready to go whenever you are, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll start very soon. I will get all our supplies in Seattle. +Now, to discuss details," and, after Mr. Parker and Mr. Damon had +been made acquainted with the old miner, who told his story in +brief, they began a discussion of the prospective trip.</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker took up their residence in Tom's house, and +while the eccentric man busied himself in helping our hero, Ned and +Abe Abercrombie in getting ready for the trip to Alaska, the gloomy +scientist went about making "observations" as he called them, with a +view to predicting what might happen in the near future.</p> + +<p>He was particularly anxious to get up north, among the caves of ice, +and, several times he repeated his statement that he believed the +mass of ice in Alaska was working down toward the south. But no one +paid much attention to him, though Tom recalled, not without a +little shudder, that Mr. Parker had correctly predicted the +destruction of Earthquake Island, and also the landslide on Phantom +Mountain.</p> + +<p>The airship was finally sent off, being forwarded to Seattle in +sections, where it could easily be put together. The matter of Andy +Foger having a duplicate map of the valley of gold was discussed, +but it was agreed that nothing could be done about it. So Tom and +the others devoted all their energies to getting in shape for their +prospective journey.</p> + +<p>Mr. Swift was invited to go, but declined on the ground that he had +several inventions to perfect, nor could Mr. Jackson go, as he was +needed to help his employer. So Tom, Ned, Mr. Damon, Mr. Parker and +Abe Abercrombie made up the party. Tom arranged to send wireless +messages to his father from the airship once they were started off +toward the valley of gold, and over the frozen north.</p> + +<p>One evening, when Tom had been to pay a last visit to Mary Nestor, +as he was coming past the Foger premises he saw a number of large +vans, loaded with big packing cases coming out of the banker's yard.</p> + +<p>"Hum! I wonder if they're moving?" mused our hero. "If they are +they're taking a queer time for it." He paused a moment to look at +the procession of vans. As he did so he heard the voice of Andy +Foger.</p> + +<p>"Now, I want you men to be careful of everything!" the bully called +out arrogantly. "If you break anything I'll sue you for damages!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that cub makes me sick!" exclaimed one of the drivers as he +came opposite Tom.</p> + +<p>"What are you moving—eggs, that you have to be so careful?" asked +the young inventor, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Eggs? No! But it might just as well be," was the growling answer. +"He's shipping an airship, all taken to pieces, and he has nervous +prostration for fear it will be broken. I don't believe the old +thing's any good, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"An airship—Andy Foger sending away his airship?" gasped Tom. +"Where to?"</p> + +<p>"Some place in Alaska," was the startling reply. "Pitka or Sitka, or +some such place like that. It's all in these boxes, G'lang there!" +this to his horses.</p> + +<p>"Andy sending his airship to Alaska!" murmured Tom in dismay. "Then +he surely is going to make a try for that valley of gold!"</p> + +<p>He turned away, while the snarling voice of the bully rang out on +the night, urging the drivers to be very careful of the boxes and +crates on their trucks.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>A THIEF IN THE NIGHT</h3> + + +<p>Tom Swift hardly knew what to think. He had scarcely believed, in +spite of the fact that he was sure Andy had a copy of the map, that +the bully would actually make an effort to go to the valley of gold.</p> + +<p>"And in that airship of his, too," mused Tom. "Well, there's one +consolation, I don't believe he'll go far in that, though it does +sail better than when he made his first attempt. Well, if he's going +to try to beat us, it's a good thing I know it. We can be prepared +for him, now."</p> + +<p>Tom, after watching the big vans for a few minutes, turned and kept +on toward his home.</p> + +<p>There was more than surprise on the part of Mr. Damon and the others +when Tom told his news. There was alarm, for there was a feeling +that Mr. Foger and his son might adopt unscrupulous tricks.</p> + +<p>"But what can we do?" asked Mr. Swift.</p> + +<p>"Whitewash him!" exclaimed Eradicate Sampson, who had overheard part +of the conversation. "Dat's what I'd do t' him an' his father, too! +Dat's what I would! Fust I'd let mah mule Boomerang kick him a bit, +an' den, when he was all mussed up, I'd whitewash him!" That was the +colored man's favorite method of dealing with enemies, but, of +course, he could not always carry it out.</p> + +<p>However, after considering the matter from all sides, it was decided +that nothing could be done for the present.</p> + +<p>"Let them go," said Tom, "I don't believe they'll ever find the +valley of gold. I fancy I threw a scare into Andy, talking as I did +about the map."</p> + +<p>"Well, even if the Fogers do get the gold," said Mr. Parker calmly, +"they cannot take away the caves of ice, and it is in them that I am +most interested. I want to prove some of my new theories."</p> + +<p>"And we need the gold," said Tom, in a low voice; "don't we, Abe?"</p> + +<p>"That's what we do, Tom," answered the old miner.</p> + +<p>Preparations were now practically completed for their trip to +Seattle by rail. Tom made some inquiries in the next few days +regarding the Fogers, but only learned that the father and son had +left town, after superintending the shipment of their airship.</p> + +<p>"Well, we start to-day," remarked Tom, as he arose one morning. "In +two weeks, at most, we ought to be hovering over the valley, Abe."</p> + +<p>"I hope so, Tom. You've got the map put away safely, have you?"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing. Are you all ready?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll start for the depot right after breakfast." The +adventurers had arranged to take a local train from Shopton, and get +on a fast express at one of the more important stations.</p> + +<p>Good-byes were said, Mr. Swift, Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Baggert and +Eradicate waving their adieus from the porch as Tom and the others +started for the depot. Miss Mary Nestor had bidden our hero farewell +the previous night—it being a sort of second good-bye, for Tom was +a frequent caller at her house, and, if the truth must be told he +rather disliked to leave the young lady.</p> + +<p>Tom found a few of his friends at the station, who had gathered +there to give him and Ned BON-VOYAGE.</p> + +<p>"Bring us back some nuggets, Tom," pleaded Arthur Norton.</p> + +<p>"Bring me a musk-ox if you can shoot one," suggested one.</p> + +<p>"A live bear or a trained Eskimo for mine," exclaimed another.</p> + +<p>Tom laughingly promised to do the best he could.</p> + +<p>"I'll send you some gold nuggets by wireless," said Ned Newton.</p> + +<p>It was almost time for the train to arrive. In the crowd on the +platform Tom noticed Pete Bailey.</p> + +<p>"He must feel lost without Andy," observed the young inventor to +Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I wonder what he's hanging around here for?"</p> + +<p>They learned a moment later, for they saw Pete going into the +telegraph office.</p> + +<p>"Must be something important for him to wire about," observed Ned.</p> + +<p>Tom did not answer. The window of the office was slightly open, +though the day was cool, and he was listening to the clicks of the +telegraph instrument, as the operator sent Pete's message. Tom was +familiar with the Morse code. What was his surprise to hear the +message being sent to Andy Foger at a certain hotel in Chicago. And +the message read:</p> + +<p>"Tom Swift's party leaving to-day."</p> + +<p>"What in the world does that mean?" thought Tom, but he did not tell +Ned what he had picked up as it went over the wire. "Why should Andy +want to be informed when we leave? That's why Pete was hanging +around here! He had been instructed to let Andy know when we left +for Seattle. There's something queer back of all this."</p> + +<p>Tom was still puzzling over the matter when their train roiled in +and he and the others got aboard.</p> + +<p>"Well, we're off!" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes; we're off," admitted Tom, and, to himself he added: "No +telling what will happen before we get there, though."</p> + +<p>The trip to Chicago was without incident, and, on arrival in the +Windy City, Tom was on the lookout for Andy or his father, but he +did not see them. He made private inquiries at the hotel mentioned +in Pete's telegram, but learned that the Fogers had gone on.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I'm worrying too much," thought Tom. But an event that +occurred a few nights later, when they were speeding across the +continent showed him that there was need of great precaution.</p> + +<p>On leaving Chicago, Tom had noticed, among the other passengers +traveling in the same coach as themselves, a man who seemed to be +closely observing each member of the party of gold-hunters. He was a +man with a black mustache, a mustache so black, in fact, that Tom at +once concluded that it had been dyed. This, in itself, was not much, +but there was a certain air about the man—a "sporty" air—which +made Tom suspicious.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't be surprised if that man was a gambler, Ned," he said to +his chum, one afternoon, as they were speeding along. The man in +question was several seats away from Tom.</p> + +<p>"He does look like one," agreed Ned.</p> + +<p>"I needn't advise you not to fall in with any of his invitations to +play cards, I suppose," went on Tom, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, it's something I don't do," answered Ned, with a laugh. +"But it might be a good thing to speak to Abe Abercrombie about him. +If that man's a sharper perhaps Abe knows him, or has seen him, for +Abe has traveled around in the West considerable."</p> + +<p>"We'll ask him," agreed Tom, but the miner, when his attention was +called to the man, said he had never seen him before.</p> + +<p>"He does look like a confidence man," agreed Abe, "but as long as he +doesn't approach us we can't do anything, and don't need to worry."</p> + +<p>There was little need to call the attention of either Mr. Damon or +Mr. Parker to the man, for Mr. Damon was busy watching the scenery, +as this trip was a new one to him, and he was continually blessing +something he saw or thought of. As for Mr. Parker, he was puzzling +over some new theories he had in mind, and he said little to the +others.</p> + +<p>On the night of the same day on which Tom had called special +attention to the man with the black mustache, our hero went to his +berth rather late. He had sent some telegrams to his father and one +to Miss Nestor, and, when he turned in he saw the "gambler," as he +had come to call him, going into the smoking compartment of the +coach. Though Tom thought of the man as a gambler, there was no +evidence, as yet, that he was one, and he had made no effort to +approach any of our friends, though he had observed them closely.</p> + +<p>How long Tom had been asleep he did not know, but he was suddenly +awakened by feeling his pillow move. At first he thought it was +caused by the swaying of the train, and he was about to go to sleep +again, when there came a movement that he knew could not have been +caused by any unevenness of the roadbed.</p> + +<p>Then, like a flash there came to Tom's mind the thought that under +his pillow, in a little leather case he had made for it, was the +map, showing the location of the valley of gold.</p> + +<p>He sat up suddenly, and made a lunge for the pillow. He felt a hand +being hurriedly withdrawn. Tom made a grab for it, but the fingers +slipped from his grasp.</p> + +<p>"Here! Who are you!" cried Tom, endeavoring to peer through the +darkness.</p> + +<p>"It's all right—mistake," murmured a voice.</p> + +<p>Tom leaned suddenly forward and parted the curtains of his berth. +There was a dim light burning in the aisle of the car. By the gleam +of it the young inventor caught sight of a man hurrying away, and he +felt sure the fellow who had put his hand under his pillow was the +man with the black mustache. He confirmed this suspicion a moment +later, for the man half turned, as if to look back, and the youth +saw the mustache.</p> + +<p>"He—he was after my map!" thought Tom, with a gasp.</p> + +<p>He sat bolt upright. What should he do? To raise an alarm now, he +felt, would only bring a denial from the man if he accused him. +There might also be a scene, and the man might get very indignant. +Then, too, Tom and his friends did not want their object made known, +as it would be in the event of Tom raising an outcry and stating +what was under his pillow.</p> + +<p>He felt for the map case, opened it and saw, in the gleam of the +light, that it was safe.</p> + +<p>"He didn't get it anyhow," murmured our hero. "I guess I won't say +anything until morning, though he did come like a thief in the night +to see if he could steal it."</p> + +<p>Tom glanced to where his coat and other clothing hung in the little +berth-hammock, and a hasty search showed that his money and ticket +were safe.</p> + +<p>"It was the map he was after all right," mused Tom. "I'll have a +talk with Mr. Damon in the morning about what's best to do. That's +why the fellow has been keeping such a close watch on us. He wanted +to see who had the map."</p> + +<p>Then another thought came to Tom.</p> + +<p>"If it was the map he was after," he whispered to himself, "he must +know what it's about. Therefore the Fogers must have told him. I'll +wager Andy or his father put this man up to steal the map. Andy's +afraid he hasn't got a copy of the right one. This is getting more +and more mysterious! We must be on our guard all the while. Well, +I'll see what I'll do in the morning."</p> + +<p>But in the morning the man with the black mustache was not aboard +the train, and on inquiring of the conductor, Tom learned that the +mysterious stranger had gotten off at a way station shortly after +midnight.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>A VANDAL'S ACT</h3> + + +<p>"Bless my penknife!" exclaimed Mr. Daman, the next morning, when he +had been told of Tom's experience in the night, "things are coming +to a pretty pass when our enemies adopt such tactics as this! What +can we do, Tom? Hadn't you better let one of us carry the map?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess not," answered the young inventor. "They have had one +try at me, and found that I wasn't napping. I don't believe they'll +try again. No, I'll carry the map."</p> + +<p>Tom concealed it in an old wallet, as he thought it was less likely +to attract attention there than in the new case he formerly used. +Still he did not relax his vigilance, and his sleep for the next few +nights was uneasy, as he awakened several times, thinking he felt a +hand under his pillow.</p> + +<p>At length Ned suggested that one of them sit up part of the night, +and keep an eye on Tom's berth. This was agreed to, and they divided +the hours of darkness into watches, each one taking a turn at +guarding the precious map. But they might have spared themselves the +trouble, for no further attempt was made to get it.</p> + +<p>"I'd just like to know what Andy Foger's plans are?" said Tom one +afternoon, as they were within a few miles of Seattle. "He certainly +must have made up his mind quickly, after he saw the map, about +going in search of the gold."</p> + +<p>"Maybe his father proposed it," suggested Ned. "I heard, in our +bank, that Mr. Foger has lost considerable money lately, and he may +need more."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't wonder. Well, if they are going to Sitka, Alaska, to +assemble their ship, I think they'll have trouble, for supplies are +harder to get there than in Seattle. But we'll soon be on our way +ourselves, if nothing happens. I hope all the parts of the RED CLOUD +arrive safely."</p> + +<p>They did, as Tom learned a few hours later, when they had taken up +their quarters in a Seattle hotel, and he had made inquiries at the +railroad office. In the freight depot were all the boxes and crates +containing the parts of the big airship, and by comparison with a +list he had made, the young inventor found that not a single part +was missing.</p> + +<p>"We'll soon have her together again," he said to his friends, "and +then we'll start for Alaska."</p> + +<p>"Where are you going to assemble the airship?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I've got to hire some sort of a big shed," explained Tom. "I heard +of one I think I can get. It's out at the fair grounds, and was used +some time ago when they had a balloon ascension here. It will be +just what I need."</p> + +<p>"How long before we can start for the gold valley?" asked the old +miner anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Oh, in about a week," answered the lad, "that is, if everything +goes well."</p> + +<p>Tom lost no time in getting to work. He had the different parts of +his airship carted to the big shed which he hired. This building was +on one edge of the fair grounds, and there was a large, level space +which was admirably adapted for trying the big craft, when once more +it was put together.</p> + +<p>The gold-seekers worked hard, and to such good purpose that in three +days most of the ship was together once more, and the RED CLOUD +looked like herself again. Tom hired a couple of machinists to aid +him in assembling the motor, and some of the gas appliances and +other apparatus.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Bless my rubber shoes!" cried Mr. Damon in delight, as he +looked at the big craft "This is like old times, Tom!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," agreed our hero.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to give it a preliminary tryout?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I think we can do that to-morrow," replied Tom. "I want to +know that everything is in good working shape before I trust the +ship on the trip to the frozen north. There are several problems I +want to work out, too, for I think I will need a different kind of +gas up where the temperature is so low."</p> + +<p>"It certainly is cold up here," agreed Ned, for they were now much +farther north than when they were in Shopton, and, besides, winter +was coming on. It was not the best time of the year to journey into +Alaska, but they had no choice. To delay, especially now, might mean +that their enemies would get ahead of them.</p> + +<p>"We'll be warm in the airship, though; won't we?" asked Abe.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," answered Tom. "We'll be warm, and have plenty to eat. +Which reminds me that I must begin to see about our stock of +provisions and other supplies, for we'll soon be on our way."</p> + +<p>Work on the airship was hastened to such good advantage the next two +days that it was in shape for a trial flight, and, one afternoon, +the RED CLOUD was wheeled from the shed out into big field, the gas +was generated, and the motor started.</p> + +<p>There was a little hitch, due to the fact that some of the machine +adjustments were wrong, but Tom soon had that remedied and then, +with the big propellers whirling around, the airship was sent +scudding across the field.</p> + +<p>Another moment and it rose like a great eagle, and sailed through +the air, while a small crowd that had daily gathered in the hope of +seeing a flight, sent up a cheer.</p> + +<p>"Does it work all right?" asked Ned anxiously, as he stood in the +pilothouse beside his chum.</p> + +<p>"As good as it did in Shopton," answered the young inventor, +proudly.</p> + +<p>"Bless my pocketbook! but that's lucky," exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Then +we can soon start, eh?"</p> + +<p>"As soon as we are stocked up," replied the lad.</p> + +<p>Tom put the airship through a number of "stunts" to test her +stability and the rudder control, much to the delight of the +gathering throng. Everything was found to work well, and after +ascending to a considerable height, to the no small alarm of the old +miner, Tom made a quick descent, with the motor shut off. The RED +CLOUD conducted herself perfectly, and there was nothing else to be +desired.</p> + +<p>She was sent down to earth and wheeled back into the shed, and not +without some difficulty, for the crowd, which was now very large, +wanted to get near enough to touch the wonderful craft.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow I'll arrange about the supplies and provisions, and we'll +stock her up," said Tom to his companions. "Now you folks had better +go back to the hotel."</p> + +<p>"Aren't you coming?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>I'm going to bunk here in the shed to-night, said the young +inventor.</p> + +<p>"What for?"</p> + +<p>"I can't take any chances now that the RED CLOUD is in shape for +flying. Some of the Foger crowd might be hanging around, and break +in here to damage her."</p> + +<p>"But the watchman will be on guard," suggested Ned, for since the +hiring of the shed, the young inventor had engaged a man to remain +on duty all night.</p> + +<p>"I know," answered Tom Swift, "but I'm not going to take any +chances. I'll stay here with the watchman."</p> + +<p>Ned offered to share the vigil with his chum, and, after some +objection Tom consented. The others went back to the hotel, +promising to return early in the morning.</p> + +<p>Tom slept heavily that night, much heavier than he was in the habit +of doing. So did Ned, and their deep breathing as they lay in their +staterooms, in the cabin of the airship, told of physical weariness, +for they had worked hard to re-assemble the RED CLOUD.</p> + +<p>The watchman was seated in a chair just inside the big door of the +shed, near a small stove in which was a fire to take off the chill +of the big place. The guard had slept all day, and there was no +excuse for him nodding in the way that he did.</p> + +<p>"Queer, how drowsy I feel," he murmured several times. "It's only a +little after midnight, too," he added, looking at his watch, "Guess +I'll walk around a bit to rouse myself."</p> + +<p>He firmly intended to do this, but he thought he would wait just a +few minutes more, and he stretched out his legs and got comfortable +in the chair.</p> + +<p>Three minutes more and the watchman was asleep—sound asleep, while +a strange, sweet, sickish odor seemed to fill the atmosphere about +him.</p> + +<p>There was a noise at the door of the shed, a door in which there +were several cracks. A man outside laid aside something that looked +like an air pump. He applied one eye to a crack, and looked in on +the sleeping watchman.</p> + +<p>"He's off," the man murmured. "I thought he'd never get to sleep! +Now to get in and dose those two lads! Then I'll have the place to +myself!"</p> + +<p>There was a clicking noise about the lock on the shed door. It was +not a very secure lock at best, and, under the skilful fingers of +the midnight visitor, it quickly gave way. The man entered. He gave +one look at the slumbering watchman, listened to his heavy +breathing, and then went softly toward the airship, which looked to +be immense in the comparatively small shed—taking up nearly all the +space.</p> + +<p>The intruder peered in through the cabin windows where Ned and Tom +were asleep. Once more there was in the atmosphere a sickish odor. +The man again worked the instrument which was like a small air pump, +taking care not to get his own face too near it. Presently he +stopped and listened.</p> + +<p>"They're doped," he murmured. He arose, and took from his mouth and +nose a handkerchief saturated with some chemical that had rendered +him immune to the effects of the sleep-producing that he had +generated. "Sound asleep," he added. Then, taking out a long, keen +knife, the vandal stole toward where the great wings of the RED +CLOUD stretched out in the dim light like the pinions of a bird. +There was a ripping, tearing, rending sound, as the vandal cut and +slashed, but Tom, Ned and the watchman slumbered on.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>TOM IS HELD UP</h3> + + +<p>Tom Swift stirred uneasily in his heavy sleep. He dreamed that he +was again in his berth in the railroad car, and that the thief was +feeling under his pillow for the map. Only, this time, there seemed +to be hands feeling about his clothing, trying to locate his inner +pockets.</p> + +<p>The lad murmured something unintelligible, but he did not awaken. +The fumes prevented that. However, his movements showed that the +effect of the drug was wearing off. It was intended only for +temporary use, and it lasted less time than it would otherwise have +done in a warmer, moister climate, for the cold, crisp air that +penetrated the shed from outside dispelled the fumes.</p> + +<p>"Guess I'd better not chance it," murmured the intruder. "He may not +have it on him, and if I go through all his pockets I'll wake him +up. Anyhow, I've done what they paid me for. I don't believe they'll +sail in this airship."</p> + +<p>The vandal gave one glance at the sleeping lads, and stole from the +cabin of the craft. He looked at his work of ruin, and then tiptoed +past the slumbering watchman. A moment later and he was outside the +shed, hurrying away through the night.</p> + +<p>Several hours after this Mr. Damon and the old miner were pounding +on the door of the shed. Mr. Parker, the scientist, had remained at +the hotel, for he said he wanted to work out a few calculations +regarding some of his theories.</p> + +<p>"I thought we'd find them up by this time," spoke the eccentric man, +as he again knocked on the door. "Tom said he had lots to do +to-day."</p> + +<p>"Maybe they are working inside, and can't hear our knocks," +suggested Abe. "Try th' door."</p> + +<p>"Bless my heart! I never thought of that," exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I +believe I will."</p> + +<p>The door swung open as he pushed it, for it had not been locked when +the intruder left. The first thing Mr. Damon saw was the watchman, +still asleep in his chair.</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul!" the old man shouted. "Look at this, Abe!"</p> + +<p>"Something's wrong!" cried the miner, sniffing the air. "There's +been crooked work here! Where are the boys?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon was close to the airship. He looked in the cabin window.</p> + +<p>"Here they are, and they're both asleep, too!" he called. "And—bless +my eyeglasses! Look at the airship! The planes and wings are +all cut and slashed! Something has happened! The RED CLOUD is all +but ruined!"</p> + +<p>Abe hastened to his side. He looked at the damage done, and a fierce +look came over his face.</p> + +<p>"The Fogers again!" he murmured. "We'll pay 'em back for this! But +first we must see to the boys!"</p> + +<p>They needed small attention, however. The opening of the big door +had let in a flood of fresh air, and this dispelled the last of the +fumes. The watchman was the first to revive. The sleep caused by the +chemical, sprayed from the air-pump by the vandal, had been +succeeded by a natural slumber, and this was the case with Ned and +Tom. They were soon aroused, and looked with wonder, not unmixed +with rage, at the work done in the night.</p> + +<p>Every one of the principal planes of the airship, each of the +rudders, and some of the auxiliary wings had been cut by a sharp +knife—some in several places. The canvas hung in shreds and +patches, and the trim RED CLOUD looked like some old tramp airship +now. Tom could scarcely repress a groan.</p> + +<p>"Who did it?" he gasped.</p> + +<p>"And with us here on guard!" added Ned.</p> + +<p>"I—I must have fallen asleep," admitted the watchman in confusion.</p> + +<p>"You were all asleep," said Mr. Damon. "I couldn't rouse you!"</p> + +<p>"And there was th' smell of chloroform, or something like it in th' +shed," added the miner.</p> + +<p>"But look at the airship!" groaned Tom.</p> + +<p>"Is it ruined—can't we go to the valley of gold?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>Tom did not answer for a few minutes. He was walking around looking +at his damaged craft. The sleepy feeling was rapidly leaving him, as +well as Ned and the watchman.</p> + +<p>"Bless my watch chain!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "What an ugly, mean +piece of work. Can you repair it, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"I think so," was the hesitating answer. "It is not as bad as I +feared at first. Luckily the gas-bag has not been touched, for, if +it had, we could hardly have repaired it. I can fix the wings and +the rudders. The propellers have not been damaged, nor has the motor +been touched. I think they must have made another attempt to take +the map off me," he went on, as he looked at several pockets that +had been turned inside out.</p> + +<p>An examination of the door showed how the lock had been forced, and +the adventurers could easily guess the rest. But who the midnight +vandal was they could not tell, though Tom and the others were sure +it was some one hired by the Fogers.</p> + +<p>"They wanted to delay us," said Tom. "They thought this would hold +us back, but it won't—for long. We'll get right to work, and make +new planes and rudders. Fortunately the framework isn't hurt any."</p> + +<p>Once Tom got into action nothing held him back. He hardly wanted to +stop for meals. New canvas was ordered, and that very afternoon some +of the damaged wings had been repaired. In the meanwhile the stores +and provisions that had been ordered were arriving, and, under the +direction of the miner and Mr. Damon were put in the RED CLOUD. Tom +and Ned, with the help of a man they hired, worked diligently to +replace the damaged planes and rudders. Mr. Parker came out to the +airship shed, but he was of little use as a helper, for he was +continually stopping to jot down some memoranda about an observation +he thought of, or else he would lay aside his tools to go outside, +look at the weather, and make predictions.</p> + +<p>But Tom and the others labored to such good advantage that in three +days they had repaired most of the damage done. Luckily the vandal +had cut and slashed in a hurry, and his malicious work was only half +accomplished. There was no clue to his identity.</p> + +<p>No trace was seen of the Fogers, and Tom hardly expected it, for he +thought they were in Sitka by this time. Nor were any suspicious +persons seen hanging around the shed. The adventurers left their +rooms at the hotel, and took up their quarters in the airship that +would soon be their home for many days. They wanted to be where they +could watch the craft, and two guards were engaged.</p> + +<p>"We'll start to-morrow," Tom announced gaily one evening when, after +a hard day's work the last of the damaged planes had been repaired.</p> + +<p>"Start fer th' valley of gold?" asked the miner.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Everything is in good shape now. I want to go into town, to +send some messages home, telling dad we'll soon be on our way, and I +also want to get a few things."</p> + +<p>"Shall I come?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"No, I'd rather you'd stay here," spoke Tom, in a low voice. "We +can't take any more chances of being delayed, and, as it's pretty +well known that we'll sail to-morrow, the Foger crowd may try some +more of their tricks. No, I'll go to town alone, Ned. I'll soon be +back, however. You stay here."</p> + +<p>But Tom came nearly never coming back. As he was returning from +sending the messages, and purchasing a few things he needed for the +trip, he passed through a dark street. He was walking along, +thinking of what the future might hold for him and his companions, +after they reached the caves of ice, when, just as he got to a high +board fence, surrounding some vacant lots, he heard some one whisper +hoarsely:</p> + +<p>"Here he comes!"</p> + +<p>The young inventor was on his guard instantly. He jumped back to +avoid a moving shadow, but was too late. Something struck him on the +back of his head, and he felt his senses leaving him. He struggled +against the feeling, and he realized, even in that exciting moment, +that the thick collar of his heavy overcoat, which he had turned up +because of a cold wind, had, perhaps, saved him from a broken skull.</p> + +<p>"Hold him!" commanded another voice. "I'll go through him!"</p> + +<p>The packages dropped from Tom's nerveless fingers. He felt himself +sinking down, in spite of his fierce determination not to succumb. +He felt several hands moving rapidly about his body, and then he +struck blindly out at the footpads.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>OFF FOR THE FROZEN NORTH</h3> + + +<p>Tom Swift felt as if he was struggling in some dream or nightmare. +He felt strong hands holding him and saw evil faces leering at him.</p> + +<p>Then gradually his brain cleared. His muscles, that had been +weakened by the cowardly blow, grew strong. He felt his fist land +heavily on some one's face. He heard a smothered gasp of pain.</p> + +<p>Then came the sound of footsteps running—Tom heard the "ping" of a +policeman's night-stick on the sidewalk.</p> + +<p>"Here come the cops!" he heard one voice exclaim.</p> + +<p>"Did you get it?" asked another.</p> + +<p>"No, I can't find it. Cut for it now!"</p> + +<p>They released the young inventor so suddenly that he staggered about +and almost fell.</p> + +<p>The next moment Tom was looking into the face of a big policeman, +who was half supporting him.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked the officer.</p> + +<p>"Hold-up, I guess," mumbled the lad. "There they go!" he pointed +toward two dark forms slipping along down the dimly-lighted street.</p> + +<p>The officer drew his revolver, and fired two shots in the air, but +the fleeing figures did not stop.</p> + +<p>"How did it happen?" asked the policeman. "Did they get anything +from you?"</p> + +<p>"No—I guess not," answered Tom. He saw the packages containing his +purchases lying where they had fallen. A touch told him his watch +and pocketbook were safe. The precious map was in a belt about his +waist, and that had not been removed. "No, they didn't get +anything," he assured the officer.</p> + +<p>"I came along too quick for 'em, I guess," spoke the bluecoat. "This +is a bad neighborhood. There have been several hold-ups here of +late, but I was on the job too soon for these fellows. Hello, Mike," +as another officer came running up in answer to the shots and the +raps of the night-stick. "Couple of strong-arm-men tackled this +young fellow just now. I saw something going on as I turned the +corner, and I rapped and ran up. They went down that way. I fired at +'em. You take after 'em, Mike, and I'll stay here. Don't believe you +can land 'em, but try! I came up too quick to allow 'em to get +anything, though."</p> + +<p>Tom did not contradict this. He knew, however, that, had the men who +attacked him wished to take his watch or money, they could have done +it several times before the officer arrived.</p> + +<p>"It was the map they were after," thought Tom, "not my watch or +money. This is more of the Foger's work. We must get away from +here."</p> + +<p>The policeman inquired for more particulars from Tom, who related +how the hold-up had taken place. The young inventor, however, said +nothing about the map he carried, letting the officer think it was +an ordinary attempt at robbery, for Tom did not want any reference +in the newspapers to his search for the valley of gold.</p> + +<p>Presently the other policeman returned, having been unable to get +any trace of the daring men. The two bluecoats wanted to accompany +Tom back to the airship shed, for his own safety, but he declared +there was no more danger, and, after having given his name, so that +the affair might be reported at headquarters, he was allowed to go +on his way. His head ached from the blow, but otherwise he was +unhurt.</p> + +<p>"Those fellows have been keeping watch for me," the lad reasoned, as +he walked quickly toward the airship shed. "They must have been +shadowing me, and they hid there until I came back. Andy Foger and +his father must be getting desperate. I think I know why, too. That +little dig I gave Andy about his map is bearing fruit. He begins to +think it's the wrong map, and he wants to get hold of the right one. +Well, they shan't if I can help it. We'll be away from here in the +morning."</p> + +<p>There was indignation and some alarm among Tom's friends when he +told his story a little later that night.</p> + +<p>"Bless my walking-stick!" cried Mr. Damon. "You'll need a bodyguard +after this."</p> + +<p>"I'd just like t' git my hands on them fellers!" exclaimed the old +miner. "I'd show 'em!" and a look at his rugged frame and his +muscular arms and gnarled hands showed Tom and Ned that in the event +of a fight they could count much on Abe Abercrombie.</p> + +<p>"I am glad there will be no more delays, and that we will soon be +moving northward," spoke Mr. Parker, a little later. "I am anxious +to confirm my theory about the advance of the ice crust, I met a man +to-day who had just returned from the north of Alaska. He said that +a severe winter had already set in up there. So I am anxious to get +to the ice caves."</p> + +<p>"So am I," added Tom, but it was for a different reason.</p> + +<p>They were all up early the next morning, for there were several +things to look after before they started on the trip that might +bring much of danger to the adventurers. Under Tom's direction, more +gas was generated, and forced into the big bag. A last adjustment +was made of the planes, wing tips and rudders, and the motor was +given a try-out.</p> + +<p>"I guess everything is all right," announced the young inventor. +"We'll take her out."</p> + +<p>The RED CLOUD was wheeled from the big shed, and placed on the open +lot, where she would have room to rush across the ground to acquire +momentum enough to rise in the air. Tom, whenever it was practical, +always mounted this way, rather than by means of the lifting gas, +as, in the event of a wind, he would have better control of the +ship, while it was ascending into the upper currents of air, than +when it was rising like a balloon.</p> + +<p>"All aboard!" cried the lad, as he looked to see that the course was +clear. Early as it was, there was quite a crowd on hand to witness +the flight, as there had been every day of late, for the population +of Seattle was curious regarding the big craft of the air.</p> + +<p>"Let her go!" cried Ned Newton, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>Tom took his place in the steering-tower, or pilothouse, which was +forward of the main cabin. Ned was in the engine-room, ready to give +any assistance if needed. Mr. Damon, Mr. Parker and Abe Abercrombie +were in the main cabin, looking out of the windows at the rapidly +increasing throng.</p> + +<p>"Here we go!" cried the young inventor, as he pulled the lever +starting the motor, There was a buzz and a hum. The powerful +propellers whirred around like blurs of light. Forward shot the +great airship over the ground, gathering speed at every revolution +of the blades.</p> + +<p>Tom tilted the forward rudder to lift the ship. Suddenly it shot +over the heads of the crowd. There was a cheer and some applause.</p> + +<p>"Off for the frozen north!" cried Ned, waving his cap.</p> + +<p>Tom shifted the rudder, to change the course of the airship. Mr. +Damon was gazing on the crowd below.</p> + +<p>"Tom! Tom!" he cried suddenly. "There's the man with the black +mustache—the man who tried to rob you in the sleeping-car!" He +pointed downward to some one in the throng.</p> + +<p>"He can't get us now!" exclaimed Tom, as he increased the speed of +the RED CLOUD, and then, taking up a telescope, after setting the +automatic steering gear, Tom pointed the glass at the person whom +Mr. Damon had indicated.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>PELTED BY HAILSTONES</h3> + + +<p>"Yes, that's the man all right," observed the lad. "But if he came +here to have another try for the map, he's too late. I hope we don't +land now until we are in the valley of gold." Tom passed the +telescope to Ned, who confirmed the identification.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he came to see if we started, and then he'll report to Andy +Foger or his father by telegraph," suggested Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," admitted Tom. "Anyhow, we're well rid of our enemies—at +least for a time. They can't follow us up in the air." He turned +another lever and the RED CLOUD shot forward at increased speed.</p> + +<p>"Maybe Andy will race us," suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid of anything his airship can do," declared Tom. "I +don't believe it will even get up off the ground, though he did make +a short flight before he packed up to follow us. It's a wonder he +wouldn't think of something himself, instead of trying to pattern +after some one else. He tried to beat me in building a speeding +automobile, and now he wants to get ahead of me in an airship. Well, +let him try. I'll beat him out, just as I've done before."</p> + +<p>They were now over the outskirts of Seattle, flying along about a +thousand feet high, and they could dimly make out curious crowds +gazing up at them. The throng that had been around the airship shed +had disappeared from view behind a little hill, and, of course, the +man with the black mustache was no longer visible, but Tom felt as +if his sinister eyes were still gazing upward, seeking to discern +the occupants of the airship.</p> + +<p>"We're well on our way now," observed Ned, after a while, during +which interval he and Tom had inspected the machinery, and found it +working satisfactorily.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and the RED CLOUD is doing better than she ever did before," +said Tom. "I think it did her good to take her apart and put her +together again. It sort of freshened her up. This machine is my +special pride. I hope nothing happens to her on this journey to the +caves of ice."</p> + +<p>"If my theory is borne out, we will have to be careful not to get +caught in the crush of ice, as it makes its way toward the south," +spoke Mr. Parker with an air as if he almost wished such a thing to +happen, that he might be vindicated.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll take good care that the RED CLOUD isn't nipped between +two bergs," Tom declared.</p> + +<p>But he little knew of the dire fate that was to overtake the RED +CLOUD, and how close a call they were to have for their very lives.</p> + +<p>"No matter what care you exercise, you cannot overcome the awful +power of the grinding ice," declared the gloomy scientist. "I +predict that we will see most wonderful and terrifying sights."</p> + +<p>"Bless my hatband!" cried Mr. Damon, "don't say such dreadful +things, Parker my dear man! Be more cheerful; can't you?"</p> + +<p>"Science cannot be cheerful when foretelling events of a dire +nature," was the response. "I would not do my duty if I did not hold +to my theories."</p> + +<p>"Well, just hold to them a little more closely," suggested Mr. +Damon. "Don't tell them to us so often, and have them get on our +nerves, Parker, my dear man. Bless my nail-file! be more cheerful. +And that reminds me, when are we going to have dinner, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Whenever you want it, Mr. Damon. Are you going to act as cook +again?"</p> + +<p>"I think I will, and I'll just go to the galley now, and see about +getting a meal. It will take my mind off the dreadful things Mr. +Parker says."</p> + +<p>But if the gloomy scientific man heard this little "dig" he did not +respond to it. He was busy jotting down figures on a piece of paper, +multiplying and dividing them to get at some result in a complicated +problem he was working on, regarding the power of an iceberg in +proportion to its size, to exert a lateral pressure when sliding +down a grade of fifteen per cent.</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon got an early dinner, as they had breakfasted almost at +dawn that morning, in order to get a good start. The meal was much +enjoyed, and to Abe Abercrombie was quite a novelty, for he had +never before partaken of food so high up in the air, the barograph +of the RED CLOUD showing an elevation of a little over twelve +thousand feet.</p> + +<p>"It's certainly great," the old miner observed, as he looked down +toward the earth below them, stretched out like some great relief +map. "It sure is wonderful an' some scrumptious! I never thought I'd +be ridin' one of these critters. But they're th' only thing t' git +t' this hidden valley with. We might prospect around for a year, and +be driven back by the Indians and Eskimos a dozen times. But with +this we can go over their heads, and get all the gold we want."</p> + +<p>"Is there enough to give every one all he wants?" asked Tom, with a +quizzical smile. "I don't know that I ever had enough."</p> + +<p>"Me either," added Ned Newton.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's lots of gold there," declared the old miner. "The thing +to do is to get it and we can sure do that now."</p> + +<p>The remainder of the day passed uneventfully, though Tom cast +anxious looks at the weather as night set in, and Ned, noting his +chum's uneasiness, asked:</p> + +<p>"Worrying about anything, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am," was the reply. "I think we're in for a hard storm, and +I don't know just how the airship will behave up in these northern +regions. It's getting much colder, and the gas in the bag is +condensing more than I thought it would. I will have to increase our +speed to keep us moving along at this elevation."</p> + +<p>The motor was adjusted to give more power, and, having set it so +that it, as well as the rudders, would be controlled automatically, +Tom rejoined his companions in the main cabin, where, as night +settled down, they gathered to eat the evening meal.</p> + +<p>Through the night the great airship plowed her way. At times Tom +arose to look at some of the recording instruments. It was growing +colder, and this further reduced the volume of the gas, but as the +speed of the ship was sufficient to send her along, sustained by the +planes and wings alone, if necessary, the young inventor did not +worry much.</p> + +<p>Morning broke gray and cheerless. A few flakes of snow fell. There +was every indication of a heavy storm. They were high above a +desolate and wild country now, hovering over a sparsely settled +region where they could see great forests, stretches of snow-covered +rocks, and towering mountain crags.</p> + +<p>The snow, which had been lazily falling, suddenly ceased. Tom looked +out in surprise. A moment later there came a sound as if some giant +fingers were beating a tattoo on the roof of the main cabin.</p> + +<p>"What's that!" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"Bless my umbrella! has anything happened?" demanded Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"It's a hail storm!" exclaimed Tom. "We've run into a big hail +storm. Look at those frozen stones! They're as big as hens' eggs!"</p> + +<p>On a little platform in front of the steering-house could be seen +falling immense hailstones. They played a tattoo on the wooden +planks.</p> + +<p>"A hail storm! Bless my overshoes!" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"A hail storm!" echoed Mr. Parker. "I expected we would have one. +The hailstones will become even larger than this!"</p> + +<p>"Cheerful," remarked Tom in a low voice, with an apprehensive look +at Ned.</p> + +<p>"Is there any danger?" asked his chum.</p> + +<p>"Danger? Plenty of it," replied the young inventor. "The frozen +particles may rip open the gas bag." He stopped suddenly and looked +at a gage on the wall of the steering-tower—a gage that showed the +gas pressure.</p> + +<p>"One compartment of the bag has been ripped open!" cried Tom. "The +vapor is escaping! The whole bag may soon be torn apart!"</p> + +<p>The noise of the pelting hailstones increased. The roar of the +storm, the bombardment of the icy globules, and the moaning of the +wind struck terror to the hearts of the gold-seekers.</p> + +<p>"What's to be done?" yelled Ned.</p> + +<p>"We must go up, to get above the storm, or else descend and find +some shelter!" answered Tom. "I'll first see if I can send the ship +up above the clouds!"</p> + +<p>He increased the speed of the motor so that the propellers would aid +in taking the ship higher up, while the gas-generating machine was +set in operation to pour the lifting vapor into the big bag.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>A FRIGHTENED INDIAN</h3> + + +<p>The violence of the hail storm, the clatter of the frozen pellets as +they bombarded the airship, the rolling, swaying motion of the craft +as Tom endeavored to send it aloft, all combined to throw the +passengers of the RED CLOUD into a state of panic.</p> + +<p>"Bless my very existence!" cried Mr. Damon, "this is almost as bad +as when we were caught in the hurricane at Earthquake Island!"</p> + +<p>"I am sure that this storm is but the forerunner of some dire +calamity!" declared Mr. Parker.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it's all up with us," came from Abe Abercrombie, as he +looked about for some way of escape.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you can pull us through, Tom?" asked Ned Newton, who, +not having had much experience in airships had yet to learn Tom's +skill in manipulating them.</p> + +<p>The young inventor alone seemed to keep his nerve. Coolly and calmly +he stood at his post of duty, shifting the wing planes from moment +to moment, managing the elevation rudder, and, at the same time, +keeping his eye on the registering dial of the gas-generating +machine.</p> + +<p>"It's all right," said Tom, more easily than he felt. "We are going +up slowly. You might see if you can induce the gas machine to do any +better, Mr. Damon. We are wasting some of the vapor because of the +leak in the bag, but we can manufacture it faster than it escapes, +so I guess we'll be all right."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Parker, may I ask you to oil the main motor? You will see the +places marked where the oil is to go in. Ned, you help him. Here, +Abe, come over here and give me a hand. This wind makes the rudders +hard to twist."</p> + +<p>The young inventor could not have chosen a better method of +relieving the fears of his friends than by giving them something to +do to take their minds off their own troubles. They hurried to the +tasks he had assigned to them, and, in a few minutes, there were no +more doubts expressed.</p> + +<p>Not that the RED CLOUD was out of danger, Far from it. The storm was +increasing in violence, and the hailstones seemed to double in +number. Then, too, being forced upward as she was, the airship's bag +was pelted all the harder, for the speed of the craft, added to the +velocity of the falling chunks of hail, made them strike on the +surface of the ship with greater violence.</p> + +<p>Tom was anxiously watching the barograph, to note their height. The +RED CLOUD was now about two and a half miles high, and slowly +mounting upward. The gas machine was working to its fullest +capacity, and the fact that they did not rise more quickly told Tom, +more plainly than words could have done, that there were several +additional leaks in the gas-bag.</p> + +<p>"I'll take her up another thousand feet," he announced grimly. +"Then, if we're not above the storm it will be useless to go +higher."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Ned, who had come back to stand beside his chum.</p> + +<p>"Because we can't possibly get above the storm without tearing the +ship to pieces. I had rather descend."</p> + +<p>"But won't that be just as bad?"</p> + +<p>"Not necessarily. There are often storms in the upper regions which +do not get down to the surface of the earth, snow and hail storms +particularly. Hail, you know, is supposed to be formed by drops of +rain being hurled up and down in a sort of circular, spiral motion +through alternate strata of air—first freezing and then warm, which +accounts for the onion-like layers seen when a hailstone is cut in +half."</p> + +<p>"That is right," broke in Mr. Parker, who was listening to the young +inventor. "By going down this hail storm may change into a harmless +rain storm. But, in spite of that fact, we are in a dangerous +climate, where we must expect all sorts of queer happenings."</p> + +<p>"Nice, comfortable sort of a companion to have along on a +gold-hunting expedition, isn't He?" asked Tom of Ned, making a wry face +as Mr. Parker moved away. "But I haven't any time to think of that. +Say, this is getting fierce!"</p> + +<p>Well might he say so. The wind had further increased in violence, +and while the storm of hailstones seemed to be about the same, the +missiles had nearly doubled in size.</p> + +<p>"Better go down," advised Ned. "We may fall if you don't."</p> + +<p>"Guess I will," assented Tom. "There's no use going higher. I doubt +if I could, anyhow, with all this wind pressure, and with the +gas-bag leaking. Down she is!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke he shifted the levers, and changed the valve wheels. In +an instant the RED CLOUD began to shoot toward the earth.</p> + +<p>"What's happened? What in th' name of Bloody Gulch are we up +ag'in'?" demanded the old miner, springing to his feet.</p> + +<p>"We're going down—that's all," answered Tom, calmly, but he was far +from feeling that way, and he had grave fears for the safety of +himself and his companions.</p> + +<p>Down, down, down went the RED CLOUD, in the midst of the hail storm. +But if the gold-seekers had hoped to escape the pelting of the +frozen globules they were mistaken. The stones still seemed to +increase in size and number. The gas machine register showed a +sudden lack of pressure, not due to the shutting off of the +apparatus.</p> + +<p>"Look!" cried Ned, pointing to the dial.</p> + +<p>"Yes—more punctures," said Tom, grimly.</p> + +<p>"What's to be done?" asked Mr. Damon, who had finished the task Tom +allotted to him. "Bless my handkerchief! what's to be done?"</p> + +<p>"Seek shelter if the storm doesn't stop when we get to the earth +level," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>"Shelter? What sort of shelter? There are no airship sheds in this +desolate region."</p> + +<p>"I may be able to send the ship under some overhanging mountain +crag," answered the young inventor, "and that will keep off the +hailstones."</p> + +<p>Eagerly Tom and Ned, who stood together in the pilothouse peered +forward through the storm.</p> + +<p>The wind was less violent now that they were in the lower currents +of air, but the hail had not ceased.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Tom gave a cry. Ned looked at him anxiously. Had some new +calamity befallen them? But Tom's voice sounded more in relief than +in alarm. The next instant he called:</p> + +<p>"Look ahead there, Ned, and tell me what you see."</p> + +<p>"I see something big and black," answered the other lad, after a +moment's hesitation. "Why, it's a big black hole!" he added.</p> + +<p>"That's what I made it out to be," went on Tom, "but I wanted to be +sure. It's the opening to a cave or hole in the side of the +mountain. I take it."</p> + +<p>"You're right," agreed Ned.</p> + +<p>"Then we're safe," declared Tom.</p> + +<p>"Safe? How?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to take the RED CLOUD in there out of the storm."</p> + +<p>"Can you do it? Is the opening big enough?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty. It's larger than my shed at home, Jove! but I'm glad I saw +that in time, or there would have been nothing left of the gas-bag!"</p> + +<p>With skilful hands Tom turned the rudders and sent the airship down +on a slant toward the earth, aiming for the entrance to the cave, +which loomed up in the storm. When the craft was low enough down so +that the superstructure would not scrape the top of the cave, Tom +sent her ahead on the level. But he need have had no fears, for the +hole was large enough to have admitted a craft twice the size of the +RED CLOUD.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the airship slid inside the great cavern, as +easily as if coming to rest in the yard of Tom's house. The roof of +the cave was high over their heads, and they were safe from the +storm. The cessation from the deafening sound of the pelting +hailstones seemed curious to them at first.</p> + +<p>"Well, bless my shoelaces! if this isn't luck!" cried Mr. Damon, as +he opened the door of the cabin, and looked about the cave in which +they now found themselves. It was comparatively light, for the +entrance was very large, though the rear of the cavern was in gloom.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, we got to it just in time,'" agreed Tom. "Now let's +see what sort of a place it is. We'll have to explore it."</p> + +<p>"There may be a landslide, or the roof may come down on our heads," +objected Mr. Parker.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear Parker! please be a little more cheerful," begged Mr. +Damon.</p> + +<p>The adventurers followed Tom from the airship, and all but the young +inventor gazed curiously at the interior of the cave. His first +thought was for his airship. He glanced up at the gas-bag, and noted +several bad rents in it.</p> + +<p>"I hope we can fix them," Tom thought dubiously.</p> + +<p>But the attention of all was suddenly arrested by something that +occurred just then. From the dark recess of the cavern there sounded +a fearful yell or scream. It was echoed back a thousand-fold by the +rocky walls of the cave, Then there dashed past the little group of +gold-seekers a dark figure.</p> + +<p>"Look out! It's a bear!" shouted Mr. Damon. "A bear! It's an Eskimo +Indian!" yelled Abe Abercrombie, "an' he's skeered nigh t' death! +Look at him run!"</p> + +<p>As they gazed toward the lighted entrance of the cave they saw +leaping and running from it an Indian who quickly scudded out into +the hail storm.</p> + +<p>"An Indian," exclaimed Tom. "An Indian in the cave! If there's one, +there may be more. I guess we'd better look to our guns. They may +attack us!" and he hurried back into the airship, followed by Ned +and the others.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE RIVAL AIRSHIP</h3> + + +<p>Well armed, the adventurers again ventured out into the cave. But +they need not have been alarmed so soon, for there were no signs of +any more Indians.</p> + +<p>"I guess that one was a stray Eskimo who took shelter in here from +the storm," said Abe Abercrombie.</p> + +<p>"Are we in the neighborhood of the Alaskan Indians and Eskimos?" +inquired Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes, there are lots of Indians in this region," answered the old +miner, "but not so many Eskimos. A few come down from th' north, but +we'll see more of them, an' fewer of th' pure-blooded Indians as we +get nearer th' valley of gold. Though t' my mind th' Indians an' +Eskimos are pretty much alike."</p> + +<p>"Well, if we don't have to defend ourselves from an attack of +Indians, suppose we look over the airship," proposed Tom.</p> + +<p>"It's too dark to see very much," objected Ned. But this was +overcome when Tom started up a dynamo, and brought out a portable +search-light which was played upon the superstructure of the RED +CLOUD. The gas-bag was the only part of the craft they feared for, +as the hailstones could not damage the iron or wooden structure and +the planes were made in sections, and in such a manner that rents in +them could easily be repaired. So, in fact, could the gas-bag be +mended, but it was harder work.</p> + +<p>"Well, she's got some bad tears in her," announced Tom as the light +flashed over the big bag. "Luckily I have plenty of the material, +and some cement, so I think we can mend the rents, though it will +take some days. Nothing could have been better for us than this +cave. We'll stay here until we're ready to go on."</p> + +<p>"Unless the Indians drive us out," said Abe, in a low tone.</p> + +<p>"Why, do you think there is any danger of that?" inquired Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, th' brown-skinned beggars aren't any too friendly," responded +the old miner. "Th' one that was in here will be sure to tell th' +others of some big spirit that flew into th' cave, an' they'll be +crowdin' around here when th' storm's over. It may be we can fight +'em off, though."</p> + +<p>"Maybe they won't attack us," suggested Ned, hopefully. "Perhaps we +can make them believe we are spirits, and that it will be unlucky to +interfere with us."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," admitted Abe, "though my experience has been that these +Indians are a bad lot. They haven't much respect for spirits of any +kind, an' they'll soon find out we're human. But then, we'll wait +an' see what happens."</p> + +<p>"And, in the meantime, have something to eat," put in Mr. Damon. +"Bless my knife and fork! but the hail storm gave me an appetite."</p> + +<p>In fact, there were few things which did not give Mr. Damon an +appetite, Tom thought with a smile. But the meal idea was considered +very timely, and soon the amateur cook was busy in the galley of the +airship, whence speedily came savory odors. The electric lights were +switched on, and the adventurers were quickly made comfortable in +the cave, which so well sheltered the RED CLOUD. Tom completed his +inspection of the craft, and was relieved to find that while there +were a number of small rents, none was very large, and all could be +mended in time.</p> + +<p>Abe Abercrombie took a look outside the cave after the meal had been +served. The old miner declared that they had made a good advance on +their northern journey for, though he could not tell their exact +location, he knew by the character of the landscape that they had +passed the boundaries of Alaska.</p> + +<p>"A few more days' traveling at the rate we came will bring us to the +Snow Mountains and the valley of gold," he said.</p> + +<p>"Well, we won't average such speed as we did during the hail storm," +said Tom. "The wind of that carried us along at a terrific pace. But +we will get there in plenty of time, I think."</p> + +<p>"Why; is there any particular rush?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"There's no telling when the Fogers may appear," answered the young +inventor in a low voice. "But now we must get to work to repair +damage."</p> + +<p>The hail storm had ceased, and, with the passing of the clouds the +cave was made lighter. But Tom did not depend on this, for he set up +powerful searchlights, by the gleams of which he and his companions +began the repairing of the torn gas-bag.</p> + +<p>They worked all the remainder of that day, and were at it again +early the next morning, making good progress.</p> + +<p>"We can go forward again, in about two days," spoke Tom. "I want to +give the cement on the patches plenty of chance to dry."</p> + +<p>"Then I will have time to go out and make some observations, will I +not?" asked Mr. Parker. "I think this cave is a very old one, and I +may be able to find some evidences in it that the sea of ice is +slowly working its way down from the polar regions."</p> + +<p>"I hope you don't," whispered Ned to Tom, who shook his head +dubiously as the gloomy scientist left the cave.</p> + +<p>The weather was very cold, but, in the cavern it was hardly noticed. +The adventurers were warmly dressed, and when they did get chilly +from working over the airship, they had but to go into the +well-heated and cozy cabin to warm themselves.</p> + +<p>It was on the third day of their habitation in the cave, and work on +putting the patches on the gas-bag was almost finished. Mr. Parker +had gone out to make further observations, his previous ones not +having satisfied him. Tom was on an improvised platform, putting a +patch on top of the bag, when he heard a sudden yell, and some one +dashed into the cavern.</p> + +<p>"They're coming! They're coming!" cried a voice, and Tom, looking +down, saw Mr. Parker, apparently in a state of great fear.</p> + +<p>"What's coming?" demanded the young inventor, "the icebergs?"</p> + +<p>"No—the Indians!" yelled the scientist. "A whole tribe of them is +rushing this way!"</p> + +<p>"I thought so!" cried Abe Abercrombie. "Where's my gun?" and he +dashed into the airship.</p> + +<p>Tom slid down off the platform.</p> + +<p>"Get ready for a fight!" he gasped. "Where are you, Ned?"</p> + +<p>"Here I am. We'd better get to the mouth of the cave, and drive 'em +back from there."</p> + +<p>"Yes. If I'd only thought, we could have blockaded it in some way. +It's as big as a barn now, and they can rush us if they have a mind +to. But we'll do our best!"</p> + +<p>The adventurers were now all armed, even to Mr. Parker. The +scientist had recovered from his first fright, when he spied the +Indians coming over the snow, as he was "observing" some natural +phenomenon. Tom, even in his excitement, noticed that the professor +was curiously examining his gun, evidently more with a view to +seeing how it was made, and on which principle it was operated, +rather than to discover how to use it.</p> + +<p>"If it comes to a fight, just point it at the Indians, pull the +trigger, and work that lever," explained the young inventor. "It's +an automatic gun."</p> + +<p>"I see," answered Mr. Parker. "Very curious. I had no idea they +worked this way."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if I only had my electric rifle in shape!" sighed Tom, as he +dashed forward at the side of Ned.</p> + +<p>"Your electric rifle?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I've got a new kind of weapon—very effective. I have it +almost finished. It's in the airship, but I can't use it just yet. +However, maybe these repeaters will do the work."</p> + +<p>By this time they were at the entrance of the cave, and, looking out +they saw about a hundred Indians, dressed in furs, striding across +the snowy plain that stretched out from the foot of the mountain in +which was the cavern.</p> + +<p>"They're certainly comin' on," observed Abe, grimly. "Git ready for +'em, boys!"</p> + +<p>The gold-seekers lined up at the mouth of the cave, with guns in +their hands. At the sight of this small, but formidable force, the +Indians halted. They were armed with guns of ancient make, while +some had spears, and others bows and arrows. A few had grabbed up +stones as weapons.</p> + +<p>There appeared to be a consultation going on among them, and, +presently, one of the number, evidently a chief or a spokesman, gave +his gun to one of his followers, and, holding his hands above his +head, while he waved a rag that might have once been white, came +forward.</p> + +<p>"By Jove!" exclaimed Tom. "It's a flag of truce! He wants to talk +with us I believe!"</p> + +<p>"Bless my cartridges!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Can they speak +English?"</p> + +<p>"A little," answered Abe Abercrombie. "I can talk some of their +lingo, too. Maybe I'd better see what they want."</p> + +<p>"I guess it would be a good plan," suggested Tom, and, accordingly +the old miner stepped forward. The Indian came on, until Abe +motioned for him to halt.</p> + +<p>"I reckon that's as far as it'll be healthy for you t' come," spoke +Abe, grimly. "Now what do you fellers want?"</p> + +<p>Thereupon there ensued a rapid exchange of jargon between the miner +and the Indian. Abe seemed much relieved as the talk went on, until +there came what seemed like a demand on the part of the dark-hued +native.</p> + +<p>"No, you don't! None of that!" muttered Abe. "If you had your way +you'd take everything we have."</p> + +<p>"What is it? What does he want?" asked Tom in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Why, the beggar began fair enough," replied the miner. "He said one +of their number had been in the cave when a storm came an' saw a big +spirit fly in, with men on its back. He ran away an' now others have +come to see what it was. They don't guess it's an airship, for +they've never seen one, but they know we're white folks, an' they +always want things white folks have got."</p> + +<p>"This fellow is a sort of chief, an' he says the white folks?—that's +us, you know?—have taken th' Indians' cave. He says he +doesn't want t' have any trouble, an' that we can stay here as long +as we like, but that we must give him an' his followers a lot of +food. Says they hain't got much. Land! Those beggars would eat us +out of everything we had if we'd let 'em!"</p> + +<p>"What are you going to tell them?" inquired Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I'm goin' t' tell 'em t' go t' grass, or words t' that effect," +replied Abe. "They haven't any weapons that amount t' anything, an' +we can stand 'em off. Besides, we'll soon be goin' away from here; +won't we, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's no use givin' in to 'em," interrupted Abe. "If you give +'em half a loaf, they want two. Th' only way is t' be firm. I'll +tell 'em we can't accommodate 'em."</p> + +<p>Thereupon he began once more to talk to the Indians in their own +tongue. His words were at first received in silence, and then angry +cries came from the natives. The chief made a gesture of protest.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you don't like it, you know what you kin do!" declared +Abe. "We've got th' best part of our journey before us, an' we can't +give away our supplies. Go hunt food if you want it, ye lazy +beggars!"</p> + +<p>The peaceful demeanor of the Indians now turned to rage. The leader +dropped the rag that had served for a flag of truce, and took back +his gun.</p> + +<p>"Look out! There's going to be trouble!" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, we're ready for 'em!" answered Abe, grimly.</p> + +<p>There was a moment of hesitation among the natives. Then they seemed +to hold a consultation with the chief. It was over shortly. They +broke into a run, and quickly advanced toward the cave. Tom and the +others held their guns in readiness.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the Indians halted. They gazed upward, and pointed to +something in the air above their heads. They gave utterance to cries +of fear.</p> + +<p>"What is it; another storm coming?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Let's look," suggested Ned. He and Tom stepped to the mouth of the +cave—they went outside. There was little danger from the natives +now, as their attention was fixed on something else.</p> + +<p>A moment later Tom and Ned saw what this was.</p> + +<p>Floating in the air, almost over the cave, was a great airship—a +large craft, nearly the size of the RED CLOUD. Hardly able to +believe the evidence of their eyes, Tom and Ned watched it. Whence +had it come? Whither was it going?</p> + +<p>"It's a triplane!" murmured Ned.</p> + +<p>"A triplane!" repeated Tom. "Yes—it is—and it's the airship of +Andy Foger! Our rivals are on our track!"</p> + +<p>He continued to gaze upward as the triplane shot forward, the noise +of the motor being plainly heard. Then, with howls of fear, the +Indians turned and fled. The rival airship had vanquished them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>THE RACE</h3> + + +<p>Astonished and terrified as the Indians had been at the sight of the +big-winged craft, high in the air above their heads, Tom and the +others were no less surprised, though, of course, their fear was not +exactly the same as that of the Alaskan natives.</p> + +<p>"Do you really think that is Andy Foger?" asked Ned, as they watched +the progress of the triplane.</p> + +<p>"I'm almost sure of it," replied Tom. "That craft is built exactly +as his was, but I never expected him to have such good luck sailing +it."</p> + +<p>"It isn't going very fast," objected Ned.</p> + +<p>"No, but it can navigate pretty well, and that's something. He must +have hustled to get it together and reach this point with it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but he didn't have to travel as far as we did," went on Ned. +"He put his ship together at Sitka, and we came from Seattle."</p> + +<p>"Bless my memoranda book!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "The Fogers here! +What's to be done about it?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, I guess," answered Tom. "I'd just as soon they wouldn't +see us. I don't believe they will. Get back into the cave. We must +use strategy now to get ahead of them. There will be a race to the +valley of gold."</p> + +<p>"Well, he served us one good turn, anyhow, though he didn't mean +to," put in Abe Abercrombie.</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Mr. Parker, who was still examining his gun, as though +trying to understand it.</p> + +<p>"He scared away them pesky natives," went on the miner. "Otherwise +we might have had a fight, an' while I reckon we could have beat +'em, it's best not to fight if you kin git out of it."</p> + +<p>The gold-seekers had withdrawn inside the mouth of the cave, where +they could watch the progress of the rival airship without being +seen. The Indians had disappeared beyond a snow-covered hill.</p> + +<p>The airship of Andy Foger, for such it subsequently proved to be, +floated slowly onward. Its progress was not marked with the speed of +Tom's craft, though whether or not the occupants of the ANTHONY (as +Andy had vain-gloriously named his craft after himself) were +speeding up their motor, was a matter of conjecture.</p> + +<p>The adventurers held a short consultation, while standing at the +mouth of the cave watching the progress of the ANTHONY. It rose in +the air, and circled about.</p> + +<p>"He certainly IS trying to pick us up," declared Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll start out after him to-morrow," decided Tom. "I think +all the patches will hold then."</p> + +<p>They resumed work on the RED CLOUD, and that night Tom announced +that they would start in the morning. Meanwhile Andy's craft had +disappeared from sight. There was no further evidence of the +Indians.</p> + +<p>"I don't reckon they'll come back," spoke Abe, grimly. "They think +we are sure-enough spirits, now, able to call creatures out of the +air whenever we want 'em. But still we must be on our guard."</p> + +<p>As Mr. Parker was not of much service in helping on the airship he +agreed to be a sort of guard and took his place just outside the +cave, where he could make "observations," and, at the same time +watch for the reappearance of Indians. They had little fear of an +attack at night, for Abe said the Alaskans were not fond of +darkness.</p> + +<p>The cold seemed to increase, and, even in the sheltered cave the +adventurers felt it. There were several heavy flurries of snow that +afternoon, and winter seemed setting in with a vengeance. The +daylight, too, was not of long duration, for the sun was well south +now, and in the far polar regions it was perpetual night.</p> + +<p>After a brief inspection of the ship the next morning, following a +good night's rest, when they were not disturbed by any visits from +the natives, Tom announced that they would set sail. The day was a +clear one, but very cold, and the gold-seekers were glad of the +shelter of the warm cabin.</p> + +<p>The RED CLOUD was wheeled from the cave, and set on a level place. +There was not room enough to make a flying start, and ascend by +means of the planes and propellers, so the gas-bag method was used. +The generating machine was put in operation, and soon the big red +bag that hovered over the craft began to fill. Tom was glad to see +that none of the several compartments leaked. The bag had been well +repaired.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the RED CLOUD shot up in the air. Up above the towering +snow-covered crags it mounted, and then, with a whizz and a roar, +the propellers were set going.</p> + +<p>"Once more northward bound!" cried Tom, as he took his place in the +pilothouse.</p> + +<p>"And we'll see if we can beat Andy Foger there," added Ned.</p> + +<p>All that morning the RED CLOUD shot ahead at good speed. The craft +had suffered no permanent damage during her fight with the hail +storm, and was as good as ever. They ate dinner high in the air, +while sailing over a great stretch of whiteness, where the snow lay +many feet deep on the level, and where great mountain crags were so +covered with the glistening mantle and a coating of ice as to +resemble the great bergs that float in the polar sea.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't want to be wrecked here," said Ned, with a shudder, as +he looked down. "We'd never get away. Does any one live down there, +Abe?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there are scattered tribes of Indians and Alaskan natives. +They live by hunting and fishing, and travel around by means of dog +sledges. But it's a dreary life. Me an' my partner had all we wanted +of it. An airship for mine!"</p> + +<p>"I wonder what's become of Andy?" spoke Tom, that afternoon. "I +haven't sighted him, and I've been using the powerful telescope. I +can't pick him up, though he can't be so very far ahead of us."</p> + +<p>"Let me try," suggested Ned. "Put her up a bit, Tom, where I can +look down. Andy won't dare go very high. Maybe I can sight him."</p> + +<p>The RED CLOUD shot upward as the young inventor shifted the +elevation rudder, and the bank clerk, with the powerful glass to his +eye, swept the space below him. For half an hour he looked in vain. +Then, with a little start of surprise he handed the glass to his +chum.</p> + +<p>"See what you make that out to be," suggested Ned. "It looks like a +big bird, yet I haven't seen any other birds to-day."</p> + +<p>Tom looked. He peered earnestly through the telescope for a minute, +and then cried:</p> + +<p>"It's Andy's airship! He's ahead of us! We must catch him! Ned, you +and Mr. Damon speed up the motor! The race is on!"</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the great airship was hurling herself through +space, and, in less than ten minutes Andy's craft could be made out +plainly with the naked eye. Fifteen minutes more and the RED CLOUD +was almost up to her. Then those aboard the ANTHONY must have caught +sight of their pursuers, for there was a sudden increase in speed on +the part of the unscrupulous Foger crowd, who sought to steal a +march on Tom and his friends.</p> + +<p>"The race is on!" repeated the young inventor grimly, as he pulled +the speed lever over another notch.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>THE FALL OF THE ANTHONY</h3> + + +<p>Had it not been for what was at stake, the race between the two big +airships would have been an inspiring one to those aboard Tom's +craft. As it was they were too anxious to overcome the unfair +advantage taken by Andy to look for any of the finer points in the +contest of the air.</p> + +<p>"There's no denying that he's got a pretty good craft there," +conceded Tom, as he watched the progress of his rival. "I never +thought Andy Foger could have done it."</p> + +<p>"He didn't do very much of it," declared Ned. "He hired the best +part of that made. Andy hasn't any inventive ideas. He probably said +he wanted an airship, and his dad put up the money and hired men to +build it for him. Andy, Sam and Pete only tinkered around on it."</p> + +<p>Later Tom and his chum learned that this was so—that Mr. Foger had +engaged the services of an expert to make the airship. This man had +been taken to Sitka with the Fogers, and had materially aided them +in re-assembling the craft.</p> + +<p>"Do you think he can beat us?" asked Ned, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"No!" exclaimed Tom, confidently. "There's only one craft that can +beat my RED CLOUD and that's my monoplane the BUTTERFLY. But I have +in mind plans for a speedier machine than even the monoplane. +However I haven't any fear that Andy can keep up to us in this +craft. I haven't begun to fly yet, and I'm pretty sure, from the way +his is going, that he has used his limit of speed."</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you get ahead of him?" asked Mr. Damon. "Bless my +tape-measure! the way to win a race is to beat."</p> + +<p>"Not this kind of a race," and the young inventor spoke seriously. +"If I got ahead of Andy now, he'd simply trail along and follow us. +That's his game. He wants me to be the path-finder, for, since I +cast a doubt on the correctness of the map, a copy of which he +stole, he isn't sure where he's going. He'd ask nothing better than +to follow us."</p> + +<p>"Then what are you going to do if you don't get ahead of him?" asked +Ned.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to press him close until night," answered Tom, "and when +it's dark, I'm going to shoot ahead, and, by morning we'll be so far +away that he can't catch up to us."</p> + +<p>"Good idea! That's th' stuff!" cried Abe with enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"He's a sneak!" burst out Mr. Damon. "I'd like to see him left +behind."</p> + +<p>Tom carried out his plan. The remainder of the day he hung just on +Andy's flank, sometimes shooting high up, almost out of sight, and +again coming down, just to show what the RED CLOUD could do when +pressed.</p> + +<p>As for those aboard the ANTHONY, they seemed to be trying to +increase their speed, but, if that was their object they did not +have much success, for the big, clumsy triplane only labored along.</p> + +<p>"I wonder who he's got with him?" said Ned, as darkness was closing +down. "I can't make out any one by this glass. They stick pretty +closely to the cabin."</p> + +<p>"Oh, probably Andy's father is there," said "and, perhaps, some of +Mr. Foger's acquaintances. I guess Mr. Foger is as anxious to get +this gold as Andy is."</p> + +<p>"He certainly needs money," admitted Ned. "Jove! but I hope we beat +him!"</p> + +<p>But alas for Tom's hopes! His plan of waiting until night and then +putting on such speed as would leave Andy behind could not be +carried out. It was tried, but something went wrong with the main +motor, and only half power could be developed. Tom and Ned labored +over it nearly all night, to no effect, and through the hours of +darkness they could see the lights from the cabin of the ANTHONY +gleaming just ahead of them. Evidently the bully's airship could not +make enough speed to run away from the RED CLOUD, or else it was the +plan of the Foger crowd to keep in Tom's vicinity.</p> + +<p>The direction held by Andy's craft was a general northwestern one, +and Tom knew, in time, and that very soon, it would bring the +ANTHONY over the valley of gold. Evidently Andy was placing some +faith in his copy of the stolen map.</p> + +<p>"Once I get this motor in shape I'll soon pull away from him," +announced Tom, about four o'clock that morning, while he and Ned, +aided by Mr. Damon, were still laboring over the refractory machine.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"It's too late to carry out my original plan," went on Tom. "We're +getting so near the place now that I want to be there ahead of every +one else. So as soon as we can, I'm going to push the RED CLOUD for +all she's worth, and get to the valley of gold first. If possession +is nine points of the law, I want those nine points."</p> + +<p>"That's the way to talk!" cried Abe. "Once we git on th' ground we +kin hold our own!"</p> + +<p>It was breakfast time before Tom had the motor repaired, and he +decided to have a good meal before starting to speed up his craft. +He felt better after some hot coffee, for he and the others were +weary from their night of labor.</p> + +<p>"Now for the test!" he cried, as he went back to the engine-room. +"Here's where we give Andy the go-by, and I don't think he can catch +us!"</p> + +<p>There was an increasing hum to the powerful motor, the great +propellers whirled around at twice their former number of +revolutions, and the airship suddenly shot ahead.</p> + +<p>Those on the ANTHOMY must have been watching for some such move as +that, for, no sooner had Tom's craft begun to creep up on his rival +than the forward craft also shot ahead.</p> + +<p>But the airship was not built that could compete with Tom's. Like a +racer overhauling a cart-horse, the RED CLOUD whizzed through the +air. In a spirit of fun the young inventor sent his machine within a +few feet of Andy's. He had a double purpose in this, for he wanted +to show the bully that he did not fear him, and he wanted to see if +he could discover who was aboard.</p> + +<p>Tom did catch a glimpse of Andy and his father in the cabin of the +ANTHONY, and he also saw a couple of men working frantically over +the machinery.</p> + +<p>"They're going to try to catch us!" called Tom to Ned.</p> + +<p>This was evident a moment later, for, after the RED CLOUD had forged +ahead, her rival made a clumsy attempt to follow. The ANTHONY did +show a burst of speed, and, for a moment Tom was apprehensive lest +he had underrated his rival's prowess.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Ned, who was looking from a projecting side window of the +pilothouse, back toward Andy's ship, cried out in alarm.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" shouted Tom.</p> + +<p>"The airship—Andy's—two of the main wings have collapsed!"</p> + +<p>Tom looked. It was but too true. The strain under which the ANTHONY +had been put when the machinists increased the speed, had been too +much for the frame. Two wings broke, and now hung uselessly down, +one on either side. The ANTHONY shot toward the snow-covered earth!</p> + +<p>"They're falling!" cried Mr. Parker.</p> + +<p>"Yes," added Tom, grimly, "the race is over as far as they are +concerned."</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul! Won't they be killed?" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"There's not much danger," replied the young inventor. "They can +vol-plane back to earth. That's what they're doing," he added a +moment later, as he witnessed the maneuver of the crippled craft. +"They're in no danger, but I don't believe they'll get to the valley +of gold this trip!"</p> + +<p>Tom was soon to learn how easily he could be mistaken.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>HITTING THE ICE MOUNTAIN</h3> + + +<p>Onward sped the RED CLOUD. For a moment after the accident to Andy's +ship, Tom had slowed up his craft, but he soon went on again, after +he had satisfied himself that his enemies were in no danger.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think—that is to say—I know they can't expect anything +from us," spoke Mr. Damon, "but for humanity's sake, hadn't we +better stop and help them, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"I hardly think so," replied the young inventor. "In the first place +they would hardly thank us for doing so, and, in the second, I don't +believe they need help. They are almost safely down now."</p> + +<p>"I don't just mean that," went on the odd man. "But they may starve +to death. This is a very desolate country over which we are +sailing."</p> + +<p>"They must have a supply of food in their ship," declared Tom, "and +they have brought their plight on themselves."</p> + +<p>"They're in no great danger," put in Abe.</p> + +<p>"There are plenty of natives around here, an' if the Fogers need +food or aid they can git it by payin' for it. Why, for the sake of +th' parts of their damaged airship, th' Eskimos would take th' whole +party back t' Sitka and feed 'em well on th' trip. Oh, they're all +right."</p> + +<p>"Very well, if you say so," assented Mr. Damon. He looked back to +watch the ANTHONY slowly settling to earth. It came gently down, +proving that Tom knew whereof he spoke, when he had said they could +vol-plane down. Before the RED CLOUD was out of sight Tom and his +companions saw Andy and his father leave their wrecked craft and +venture out on the snow-covered ground. The Fogers gazed enviously +after the airship of our hero as they saw him still forging toward +the goal.</p> + +<p>"I guess Andy's stolen map won't be of much use to him," mused Tom. +"Now we can put on all the speed we like," and with that he shifted +the gears and levers until the airship was making exceedingly good +time toward the valley of gold.</p> + +<p>The remainder of that day saw our adventurers pursuing their way +eagerly. At times they were flying high, and again, when Abe +suggested that they go down to observe the character of the country +over which they were passing, they skimmed along, just above the big +mountains, which seemed almost like icebergs, so covered were they +with frost and snow.</p> + +<p>They were indeed in a wild and desolate country. Below them +stretched a seemingly endless waste of snow and ice—great forests +interspersed with treeless patches, while now and then they sailed +over a frozen lake.</p> + +<p>Once in a while they had glimpses of bands of Indians, dressed in +furs, hunting. At such times the natives would look up, on hearing +the noise made by the motor of the airship, and catching a glimpse +of what must have seemed to them like some supernatural object, they +would fall down prostrate in amazement and fear.</p> + +<p>"Airships are pretty much of a novelty up here," remarked Abe with a +grim smile.</p> + +<p>The weather was now very cold, and the gold-seekers had to get out +their heavy fur garments, of which they had brought along a goodly +supply. True, it was warm in the cabin of the airship, but at times, +they wanted to venture out on the deck to get fresh air, or to make +some adjustments to the wing planes, and, on such occasions the +keen, frosty air, as it was driven past them by the motion of the +craft, made even the thickest garments seem none too warm. Then, +too, it was colder at the elevation at which they flew than down on +the ground.</p> + +<p>Another day found them in a still wilder and more desolate part of +Alaska. There were scarcely any signs of habitation now, and the +snow and ice seemed so thick that even a long summer of sunshine +could hardly have melted it. The hours of daylight, too, were +growing less and less the farther north they went.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you can pilot us right to the Snow Mountains, Abe?" +asked Tom, on the third day after the accident to Andy's airship. +"Let's get out the map, and have another look at it. We must be +getting near the place now. We'll look at the map."</p> + +<p>The young inventor went to his stateroom where he kept the important +document in a small desk, and the others heard him rummaging around. +He muttered impatiently, and Ned heard his chum say: "I thought sure +I put it in here." Then ensued a further search, and presently Tom +came out, his face wearing rather a puzzled and worried look, and he +asked: "Say, Abe, I didn't give that map back to you; did I?"</p> + +<p>"Nope," answered the miner. "I ain't seen it since just before th' +hail storm. We was lookin' at it then."</p> + +<p>"That's when I remember it," went on Tom, "and I thought I put it in +my desk. I didn't, by any possible chance give it to you; did I, +Ned?"</p> + +<p>"Me? No, I haven't seen it."</p> + +<p>"That's funny," went on Tom. "I'll look once more. Maybe it got +under some papers."</p> + +<p>They heard him rummaging again in his desk.</p> + +<p>"Bless my bank-book!" cried Mr. Damon. "I hope nothing has happened +to that map. We can't find the valley of gold without it."</p> + +<p>Tom came back again.</p> + +<p>"I can't find it." he said, hopelessly.</p> + +<p>Then ensued a frantic search. Every possible place in the airship +was looked into, but the precious map did not turn up.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the Fogers took it," suggested Mr. Parker, who had helped +in the hunt, in a dreamy sort of fashion.</p> + +<p>"That's not possible," said Tom. "They haven't been near enough to +us since I saw the map last. No, the last time I had it was just +before the hail storm, and, in the excitement of repairing the ship, +I have mislaid it."</p> + +<p>"Maybe it's back there in the big cave," suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>"It's possible," admitted the young inventor. "Pshaw! It's very +careless of me!"</p> + +<p>"If you think it's in the cave, we'd better go back there and have a +hunt for it," suggested Mr. Damon. "Otherwise we are on a wild-goose +chase."</p> + +<p>"Don't go back!" exclaimed old Abe. "I think we can find th' valley +of gold without th' map, now that we have come this far. I sort of +remember th' marks on that parchment, an' we are in the right +neighborhood now, for I kin see some of th' landmarks my partner and +I saw. I say, let's keep on! We can cruise around a bit until we +strike th' right place. That won't take us so long as it would to go +back to the cave. Besides, if we go back, the Fogers may get ahead +of us!"</p> + +<p>"With their broken airship?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Can't they repair it?" demanded Abe.</p> + +<p>"Hardly—up in this wild country," was Tom's opinion. "But perhaps +it WILL be just as well to keep on. I have a hazy remembrance of the +distances and directions on the map, and, though it will take longer +to hunt out the valley this way, I think we can do it. I can't +forgive myself for my carelessness! I should have kept a copy of the +map, or given one of you folks one."</p> + +<p>But they would not hear of him blaming himself, and said it might +have happened to any one. It was decided that the map must be lost +in the big cave, and if it was there it was not likely to be found +by their enemies.</p> + +<p>"We'll jest have t' prospect about a bit," declared Abe, "only we'll +do it in th' air instead of on th' ground."</p> + +<p>It was dusk when the fruitless search for the map was over, and they +sat in the cabin discussing matters. The lights had not yet been +switched on, and the RED CLOUD was skimming along under the +influence of the automatic rudders and the propellers.</p> + +<p>"Well, suppose we have supper," proposed Mr. Damon, who seemed to +think eating a remedy for many ills, mental and bodily. "Bless my +desert-spoon, but I'm hungry!"</p> + +<p>He started toward the galley, while Tom went forward to the +pilothouse. Hardly had he reached it than there came a terrific +crash, and the airship seemed tossed back by some giant hand. Every +one was thrown off his feet, and the lights which had been turned on +suddenly went out.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"Have we hit anything?" demanded Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Hit anything! I should say we had!" yelled Tom. "We've knocked a +piece off a big mountain of ice!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke the airship began slowly settling toward the earth, for +her machinery had been stopped by the terrific impact.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>A FIGHT WITH MUSK OXEN</h3> + + +<p>"Can I help you, Tom? What's to be done?" demanded Ned Newton, as he +rushed to where his chum was yanking on various levers and gear +wheels.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" gasped the young inventor. "I want to throw on the +storage battery, and that will give us some light. Then we can see +what we are doing." An instant later the whole ship was illuminated, +and those aboard her felt calmer. Still the RED CLOUD continued to +sink.</p> + +<p>"Can't we do something?" yelled Ned. "Start the propellers, Tom!"</p> + +<p>"No, I'll use the gas. I can't see where we're heading for, as the +searchlight is out of business. We may be in the midst of a lot of +bergs. We were flying too low. Just start the gas generating +machine."</p> + +<p>Ned hurried to obey this order. He saw Tom's object. With the big +bag full of gas the airship would settle gently to earth as easily +as though under the command of the propellers and wing planes.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the hissing of the machine told that the vapor was +being forced into the bag and a little later the downward motion of +the ship was checked. She moved more and more slowly toward the +earth, until, with a little jar, she settled down, and came to rest. +But she was on such an uneven keel that the cabin was tilted at an +unpleasant angle.</p> + +<p>"Bless my salt-cellar!" cried Mr. Damon. "We are almost standing on +our heads!"</p> + +<p>"Better that than not standing at all," replied Tom, grimly. "Now to +see what the damage is."</p> + +<p>He scrambled from the forward door of the cabin, no easy task +considering how it was tilted, and the others followed him. It was +too dark to note just how much damage had been inflicted, but Tom +was relieved to see, as nearly as he could judge, that it was +confined to the forward part of the front platform or deck of the +ship. The wooden planking was split, but the extent of the break +could not be ascertained until daylight. The searchlight connections +had been broken by the collision, and it could not be used.</p> + +<p>"Now to take a look at the machinery," suggested the young inventor, +when he had walked around his craft. "That is what I am worried +about more than about the outside."</p> + +<p>But, to their joy, they found only a small break in the motor. That +was what caused it to stop, and also put the dynamo out of +commission.</p> + +<p>"We can easily fix that," Tom declared.</p> + +<p>"Bless my coffee-spoon!" cried Mr. Damon, who seemed to be running +to table accessories in his blessings. Perhaps it was because it was +so near supper time. "Bless my coffee-spoon! But how did it happen?"</p> + +<p>"We were running too low," declared Tom. "I had forgotten that we +were likely to get among tall mountain peaks at any moment, and I +set the elevation rudder too low. It was my fault. I should have +been on the lookout. We must have struck the mountain of ice a +glancing blow, or the result would have been worse than it is. We'll +come out of it all right, as it is."</p> + +<p>"We can't do anything to-night," observed Ned.</p> + +<p>"Only eat," put in Mr. Damon, "and we'll have to take our coffee +cups half full, for everything is so tilted that it's like topsy-turvey +land. It makes me fairly dizzy!"</p> + +<p>But he forgot this in the work of getting a meal, and, though it was +prepared under considerable difficulties, at last it was ready.</p> + +<p>Bright and early the next morning Tom was up making another +inspection of his ship. He found that even if the forward deck was +not repaired they could go on, as soon as the motor was in shape, +but, as they had some spare wood aboard, it was decided to +temporarily repair the smashed platform.</p> + +<p>It was cold work, even wearing their thick garments; but, after +laboring until their fingers were stiff from the frost, Ned hit on +the idea of building a big fire of some evergreen trees near where +the ship lay.</p> + +<p>"Say, that's all right!" declared Tom, as the warmth of the blaze +made itself felt. "We can work better, now!"</p> + +<p>The RED CLOUD was tilted on some rough and uneven ground, in among +some little hills. On either side arose big peaks, the one in +particular that they had hit towering nearly fifteen thousand feet.</p> + +<p>Everything was covered with snow and ice, and, in fact, the ice was +so thick on the top of the mountains that the crags resembled +icebergs rather than stony peaks. The crash of the airship had +brought down a great section of this solid rock-ice.</p> + +<p>"Do you think we are anywhere near the valley of gold?" asked Mr. +Damon that afternoon, when the work was nearly finished.</p> + +<p>"It's somewhere in this vicinity." declared Abe. "Me an' my partner +passed through jest such a place as this on our way there. I +wouldn't wonder but what it wasn't more than a few hundred miles +away, now."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll soon be there," said Tom. "I'll start in the morning. I +could go to-night, but there are a few adjustments I want to make to +the motor, and, besides, I think it will be safer, now that we are +among these peaks, to navigate in daylight, or at least with the +searchlight going. I should have thought of that before."</p> + +<p>"Then, if you're not going to start away at once," spoke Mr. Parker, +"I think I will walk around a bit, and make some observations. I +think we are now in the region where we may expect a movement of the +ice. I want to test it, and see if it is traveling in a southerly +direction. If it is not now, it will soon be doing that, and the +coating of ice may reach even as far as New York."</p> + +<p>"Pleasant prospect," murmured Tom. Then he said aloud: "Well if you +are going, Mr. Parker, we'll be with you. I'll be glad of the chance +to stretch my legs, and what more remains to be done, can be +finished in the morning."</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon declared that he did not relish a tramp over the ice and +snow, and would stay in the warm cabin, but Tom and Ned, with Abe +and Mr. Parker started off. The scientist pointed out what he +claimed were evidences of the impending movement of the ice, while +Abe explained to the lads how the Alaskan Indians of that +neighborhood hunted and fished, and how they made huts of blocks of +ice.</p> + +<p>"We are nearing th' Arctic circle," the old miner said, "and we'll +soon be among th' most savage of the Eskimo tribes."</p> + +<p>"Is there any hunting around here?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes, plenty of musk ox," answered Abe.</p> + +<p>"I wish I'd brought my gun along and could see one of the big beasts +now," went on Ned. He looked anxiously around, but no game was in +sight. After a little farther tramp over the icy expanse they all +declared that they had seen enough of the dreary landscape, and +voted to return to the ship.</p> + +<p>As they neared their craft Tom saw several large, shaggy black +objects standing in a line on the path the adventurers had come over +a little while before. The objects were between the gold-seekers and +the RED CLOUD.</p> + +<p>"What in the world are those?" asked the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Look to me like black stones," spoke Ned.</p> + +<p>"Stones?" cried Abe. "Look out, boys, those are musk oxen; and big +ones, too! There's a lot of 'em! Make for the ship! If they attack +us we're goners!"</p> + +<p>The boys and Mr. Parker needed no second warning. Turning so as to +rush past the shaggy creatures, the four headed toward the ship.</p> + +<p>But if our friends expected to reach it unmolested they were +disappointed. No sooner had they increased their pace than the oxen, +with snorts of rage, darted forward. The animals may have imagined +they were about to be attacked, and determined to make the first +move.</p> + +<p>"Here they come!" yelled Ned.</p> + +<p>"Sprint for it!" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if I only had my gun!" groaned Abe.</p> + +<p>It was hard work running over the ice and snow, hampered as they +were with their heavy fur garments. They soon realized this, and the +pace was telling on them. They were now near to the ship, but the +savage creatures still were between them and the craft.</p> + +<p>"Try around the other way!" directed Tom, They changed their +direction, but the oxen also shifted their ground, and with loud +bellows of rage came on, shaking their shaggy heads and big horns, +while the hair, hanging down from their sides and flanks, dragged in +the snow.</p> + +<p>"Right at 'em! Run and yell!" advised the young inventor. "Maybe we +can scare 'em!"</p> + +<p>They followed his advice. Yelling like Indians the four rushed +straight for the animals. For a moment only the creatures halted. +Then, bellowing louder than ever they rushed straight at Tom and the +others.</p> + +<p>The largest of the oxen, with a sudden swerve, made for Mr. Parker, +who was slightly in the lead off to one side. In an instant the +scientist was tossed high in the air, falling in a snow bank.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Damon! Mr. Damon!" yelled Tom, frantically. "Get a gun and +shoot these beasts!"</p> + +<p>The young inventor and his two companions had come to a halt. The +oxen also stopped momentarily. Suddenly Mr. Damon appeared on the +deck of the airship. He held two rifles. Laying one down he aimed +the other at the ox which was rushing at the prostrate Mr. Parker. +The eccentric man fired. He hit the beast on the flank, and, with a +bellow of rage it turned.</p> + +<p>"Now's our time!" yelled Tom. "Head for the ship, I'll get my +electric gun!"</p> + +<p>"We can't leave Mr. Parker!" yelled Abe.</p> + +<p>But the scientist had arisen, and was running toward the RED CLOUD. +He did not seem to be much hurt. Mr. Damon fired again, hitting +another beast, but not mortally.</p> + +<p>Once more the herd of shaggy creatures came on, but the adventurers +were now almost at the ship, on the deck of which stood Mr. Damon, +firing as fast as he could work the lever and pull the trigger.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>THE CAVES OF ICE</h3> + + +<p>"Keep on firing! Hold 'em back a few minutes and I'll soon turn my +electric rifle loose on 'em!" yelled Tom Swift as he sprinted +forward. "Keep on shooting, Mr. Damon!"</p> + +<p>"Bless my powder-horn! I will!" cried the excited man. "I'll fire +all the cartridges there are in the rifle!"</p> + +<p>Which, at the rate he was discharging the weapon, would not take a +long time. But it had the effect of momentarily checking the advance +of the creatures.</p> + +<p>Not for long, however. Our friends had barely reached the airship, +with Mr. Parker stumbling and slipping on the ice and snow, ere the +musk oxen came on again, with loud bellows.</p> + +<p>"They're going to charge the ship! They'll ram her!" yelled Ned +Newton.</p> + +<p>"I think I can stop them!" cried Tom, who had leaped toward his +stateroom. He came out a moment later, carrying a peculiar-looking +gun, The adventurers had seen it before, but never in operation, as +Tom had only put some finishing touches on it since undertaking the +voyage to the caves of ice.</p> + +<p>"What sort of a weapon is that?" cried Abe, as he helped Mr. Parker +on board.</p> + +<p>"It's my new electric rifle," answered the young inventor. "I don't +know how it will work, as it isn't entirely finished, but I'm going +to try it."</p> + +<p>Putting it to his shoulder he aimed at the leading musk ox, and +pulled a small lever. There was no report, no puff of smoke and no +fire, yet the big creature, which had been rushing at the ship, +suddenly stopped, swayed for a moment, and then fell over in the +snow, kicking in his death agony.</p> + +<p>"One down!" yelled Tom. "My rifle works all right, even if it isn't +finished!"</p> + +<p>He aimed at another ox, and that creature was stopped in its tracks. +Mr. Damon had exhausted his cartridges, and had ceased firing, but +Abe Abercrombie was ready with his rifle, and opened up on the +beasts. Tom killed another with his electric gun, and Abe shot two. +This stopped the advance, and only just in time, for the foremost +animals were already close to the ship, and had they rushed at the +frail hull they might have damaged it beyond repair.</p> + +<p>"Here goes for the big one!" cried Tom, and, aiming at the largest +ox of the herd, the young inventor pulled the lever. The brute fell +over dead, and the rest, terror stricken, turned and fled.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! That's the stuff!" cried Ned Newton, capering about on +deck. He had hurried to his stateroom and secured his rifle, and, +before the musk oxen were out of sight he had killed one, which gave +him great delight.</p> + +<p>"Mighty lucky we drove them away," declared Abe. "They are terrible +savage at times, an' I reckon we struck one of them times. But say, +Tom, what sort of a gun is that you got, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it fires electric bullets," explained our hero. "But I haven't +time to tell you about it now. Let's get out and skin one of those +oxen. The fresh meat will come in good, for we've been living on +canned stuff since we left Seattle. We've got time enough before it +gets dark."</p> + +<p>They hurried to where the shaggy creatures lay in the snow, and soon +there was enough fresh meat to last a long time, as it would keep +well in the intense cold. Tom put away his electric gun, briefly +explaining the system of it to his companions. The time was to come, +and that not very far off, when that same electric rifle was to save +his life in a remarkable manner, in the wilds of Africa where he +went to hunt elephants.</p> + +<p>In the cozy cabin that night they sat and talked of the day's +adventures. The airship had been slightly lifted up by means of the +gas bag, and now rested on a level keel, so it was more comfortable +for the gold hunters.</p> + +<p>"I did not complete my observations about the great snow slide," +remarked Professor Parker, "I trust I will have time to go over the +ground again to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"We leave early in the morning," objected Tom.</p> + +<p>"Besides, I don't believe it would be safe to go over that ground +again," put in Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Bless my gunpowder! But when I saw those savage creatures rushing +at you, I thought it was all up with us. Are you hurt, Parker, my +dear fellow? I forgot to ask before."</p> + +<p>"Not hurt in the least," answered the scientist. "My heavy and thick +fur garments saved me from the beasts' horns, and I fell in some +soft snow. I was quite startled for a moment. I thought it might be +the beginning of the snow movement."</p> + +<p>"It was an ox movement," said Ned, in a low voice to Tom.</p> + +<p>Morning saw the travelers again under way, with the Red Cloud now +floating high enough to avoid the lofty peaks. The weather was clear +but very cold, and Tom, who was in the pilot-house, could see a long +distance ahead, and note many towering crags, which, had the airship +been flying low enough, would have interfered with her progress.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to keep the searchlight going all night, to avoid a +collision," he decided.</p> + +<p>"Are we anywhere near the place?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"We're in th' right region," declared the old miner. "I think we're +on th' right track. I recognize a few more landmarks."</p> + +<p>"There wouldn't have been any trouble if I hadn't lost the map." +complained Tom, bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Never mind about that," insisted Abe. "We'll find th' place anyhow. +But look ahead there; is that another hail storm headin' this way, +Tom?"</p> + +<p>The young inventor glanced to where Abe pointed. There was a mist in +the air, and, for a time great apprehension was felt, but, in a few +minutes there was a violent flurry of snow and they all breathed +easier. For, though the flakes were so numerous as to completely +shut off the view, there was no danger to the airship from them. Tom +steered by the compass.</p> + +<p>The storm lasted several hours, and when it was over the adventurers +found themselves several miles nearer their destination—at least +they hoped they were nearer it, for they were going it blind.</p> + +<p>Abe declared they were now in the region of the gold valley. They +cruised about for two days, making vain observations by means of +powerful telescopes, but they saw no signs of any depression which +corresponded with the place whence Abe had seen the gold taken from. +At times they passed over Indian villages, and had glimpses of the +skin-clad inhabitants rushing out to point to the strange sight of +the airship overhead. Tom was beginning to reproach himself again +for his carelessness in losing the map, and it did begin to took as +if they were making a fruitless search.</p> + +<p>Still they all kept up their good spirits, and Mr. Damon concocted +some new dishes from the meat of the musk oxen. It was about a week +after the fight with the savage creatures when, one day, as Ned was +on duty in the pilothouse, he happened to look down. What he saw +caused him to call to Tom.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" demanded the young inventor, as he hurried +forward.</p> + +<p>"Look down there," directed Ned. "It looks as if we were sailing +over a lot of immense beehives of the old-fashioned kind."</p> + +<p>Tom looked. Below were countless, rounded hummocks of snow or ice. +Some were very large—as immense as a great shed in which a +dirigible balloon could be housed—while others were as small as the +ice huts in which the Eskimos live.</p> + +<p>"That's rather strange," remarked Tom. "I wonder—"</p> + +<p>But he did not complete his sentence, for Abe Abercrombie, who had +come to stand beside him, suddenly yelled out:</p> + +<p>"The caves of ice! The caves of ice! Now I know where we are! We're +close to the valley of gold! There are the caves of ice, and just +beyond is th' place we're lookin' for! We've found it at last!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>IN THE GOLD VALLEY</h3> + + +<p>The excited cries of the old miner brought Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker +to the pilothouse on the run.</p> + +<p>"Bless my refrigerator!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Are there more of +those savage, shaggy creatures down there?"</p> + +<p>"No, but we are over th' caves of ice," explained Abe. "That means +we are near th' gold."</p> + +<p>"You don't say so!" burst out the scientist. "The caves of ice! Now +I can begin my real observations! I have a theory that the caves are +on top of a strata of ice that is slowly moving down, and will +eventually bury the whole of the North American continent. Let me +once get down there, and I can prove what I say."</p> + +<p>"I'd a good deal rather you wouldn't prove it, if it's going to be +anything like it was on Earthquake Island, or out among the diamond +makers." said Tom Swift. "But we will go down there, to see what +they are like. Perhaps there is a trail from among the ice caves to +the valley of gold."</p> + +<p>"I don't think so," said Abe, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>"I think th' gold valley lies over that high ridge," and he pointed +to one. "That's where me an' my partner was," he went on. "I +recognize th' place now."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll go down here, anyhow," decided Tom, and he pulled the +lever to let some gas out of the bag, and tilted the deflection +rudder to send the airship toward the odd caves.</p> + +<p>And, curious enough did our friends find them when they had made a +landing and got out to walk about them. It was very cold, for on +every side was solid ice. They walked on ice, which was like a floor +beneath their feet, level save where the ice caves reared +themselves. As for the caverns, they, too, were hollowed out of the +solid ice. It was exactly as though there had once been a level +surface of some liquid. Then by some upheaval of nature, the surface +was blown into bubbles, some large and some small. Then the whole +thing had frozen solid, and the bubbles became hollow caves. In time +part of the sides fell in and made an opening, so that nearly all +the caves were capable of being entered.</p> + +<p>This method of their formation was advanced as a theory by Mr. +Parker, and no one cared to dispute him. The gold-seekers walked +about, gazing on the ice caves with wonder showing on their faces.</p> + +<p>It was almost like being in some fantastic scene from fairyland, the +big ice bubbles representing the houses, the roofs being rounded +like the igloos of the Eskimos. Some had no means of entrance, the +outer surface showing no break. Others had small openings, like a +little doorway, while of still others there remained but a small +part of the original cave, some force of nature having crumbled and +crushed it.</p> + +<p>"Wonderful! Wonderful!" exclaimed Mr. Parker. "It bears out my +theory exactly! Now to see how fast the ice is moving."</p> + +<p>"How are you going to tell?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"By taking some mark on this field of ice, and observing a distant +peak. Then I will set up a stake, and by noting their relative +positions, I can tell just how fast the ice field is moving +southward." The scientist hurried into the ship to get a sharpened +stake he had prepared for this purpose.</p> + +<p>"How fast do you think the ice is moving?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, perhaps two or three feet a year." "Two or three feet a year?" +gasped Mr. Damon. "Why, Parker, my dear fellow, at that rate it will +be some time before the ice gets to New York."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. I hardly expect it will reach there within two thousand +years, but my theory will be proved, just the same!"</p> + +<p>"Humph!" exclaimed Abe Abercrombie, "I ain't goin' to worry any +more, if it's goin' t' take all that while. I reckoned, to hear him +talk, that it was goin' t' happen next summer."</p> + +<p>"So did I," agreed Tom, but their remarks were lost on Mr. Parker +who was busy making observations. The young inventor and the others +walked about among the ice caves.</p> + +<p>"Some of these caverns would be big enough to house the RED CLOUD in +case of another hail storm," observed Tom. "That one over there +would hold two craft the size of mine," and, in fact, probably three +could have gotten in if the opening had been somewhat enlarged, for +the ice cave to which our hero pointed was an immense one.</p> + +<p>As the adventurers were walking about they were startled by a +terrific crashing sound. They started in alarm, for, off to their +left, the top of one of the ice caverns had crashed inward, the +blocks of frozen water crushing and grinding against one another.</p> + +<p>"It's a good thing we weren't in there," remarked Tom, and he could +not repress a shudder, "There wouldn't have been much left of the +RED CLOUD if she had been inside."</p> + +<p>It was a desolate place, in spite of the wild beauty of it, and +beautiful it was when the sun shone on the ice caves, making them +sparkle as if they were studded with diamonds. But it was cold and +cheerless, and there were no signs that human beings had ever been +there. Mr. Parker had completed the setting of his stake, and picked +out his landmarks, and was gravely making his "observations," and +jotting down some figures in a notebook.</p> + +<p>"How fast is it moving, Parker?" called Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I can't tell yet," was the response. "It will require observations +extending over several days before I will know the rate."</p> + +<p>"Then we might as well go on," suggested Tom. "There is nothing to +be gained from staying here, and I would like to get to the gold +valley. Abe says we are near it."</p> + +<p>"Right over that ridge, I take it to be," replied the miner. "An' we +can't get there any too soon for me. Those Fogers may git their ship +fixed up, an' arrive before we do if we wait much longer."</p> + +<p>"Not much danger, I guess," declared Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll go up in the air, and see what we can find," decided +Tom, as he turned back toward the ship.</p> + +<p>They found the "ridge" as Abe designated it, to be a great plateau, +over a hundred miles in extent, and they were the better part of +that day crossing it, for they went slowly, so as not to miss the +valley which the miner was positive was close at hand. Mr. Parker +disliked leaving the ice caves, but Abe said there were more in the +valley where they were going, and the scientist could renew his +observations.</p> + +<p>It was getting dusk when Tom, who was peering through a powerful +glass, called out:</p> + +<p>"Well, we're at the end of the plateau, and it seems to dip down +into a valley just beyond here."</p> + +<p>"Then that's the place!" cried Abe, excitedly. "Go slow, Tom."</p> + +<p>Our hero needed no such caution. Carefully he sent the airship +forward. A few minutes later they were passing over a large Eskimo +village, the fur-clad inhabitants of which rushed about wildly +excited at the sight of the airship.</p> + +<p>"There they are! Them's th' beggars!" cried the old miner. "Them's +th' fellows who drove me an' my partner away. But there's th' valley +of gold! I know it now! Now t' fill our pockets with nuggets!"</p> + +<p>"Are you sure this is the place?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Sartin sure of it!" declared Abe. "Put her down, Tom! Put her +down!"</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed the young inventor, as he shifted the deflection +rudder. The airship began her descent into the valley. The edge of +the plateau, leading down into the great depression was now black +with the Eskimos and Indians, who were capering about, gesticulating +wildly.</p> + +<p>"It's quite a surprise party to 'em," observed Ned Newton.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I hope they don't spring one on us," added Tom.</p> + +<p>Down and down went the RED CLOUD lower and lower into the valley.</p> + +<p>"There are ice caves there!" cried Mr. Parker, pointing to the +curiously rounded and hollow hummocks. "Lots of them!"</p> + +<p>"And larger than the others!" added Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>The airship was now moving slowly, for Tom wanted to pick out a good +landing place. He saw a smooth stretch of the ice just ahead of him, +in front of an immense ice cave.</p> + +<p>"I'll make for that," he told Ned.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the craft had come to rest. Tom shut off the +power and hurried from the pilothouse, donning his fur coat as he +rushed out. A blast of frigid air met him as he opened the outer +door of the cabin. Back on the ridge of the plateau he could see the +fringe of Indians.</p> + +<p>"Well, we're here in the valley," he said, as his friends gathered +about him on the icy ground.</p> + +<p>"An' now for th' gold!" cried Abe, "for it's here that th' nuggets +are—enough for all of us! Come on an' have a hunt for 'em!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>THE FOGERS ARRIVE</h3> + + +<p>In spite of the fact that he tried to remain calm, Tom Swift felt a +wild exultation as he thought of what lay before him and his +friends. To be in a place where gold could be picked up! where they +might all become fabulously wealthy! where the ground might be seen +covered with the precious yellow metal! this was enough to set the +nerves of any one a-tingle!</p> + +<p>Tom could hardly realize it at first. After many hardships, no +little danger, and after an attempt on the part of their enemies to +defeat them, they had at last reached their goal. Now, as Abe had +said, they could hunt for the gold.</p> + +<p>But if they expected to see the precious yellow nuggets lying about +ready to be picked up like so many kernels of corn, they were +disappointed. A quick look all about showed them only a vast extent +of ice and snow, broken here and there by the big caves of ice. +There were not so many of the latter as at the first place they +stopped, but the caverns were larger.</p> + +<p>"Gold—I don't see any gold," remarked Ned Newton, with a +disappointed air. "Where is it?"</p> + +<p>"Bless my pocketbook, yes! Where is it?" demanded Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we've got to dig for it," explained Abe. "It's only when +there's been a slight thaw that some of th' pebble nuggets kin be +seen. They're under th' ice, an' we've got t' dig for 'em."</p> + +<p>"Does it ever thaw up here?" asked Mr. Parker. "The ice of the caves +seems thick enough to last forever."</p> + +<p>"It does thaw an' melt some," went on the miner. "But some of th' +caves last all through what they call 'summer' up here, though it's +more like winter. We're above th' Arctic circle now, friends."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we can keep on to the Pole," suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>"Not this trip," spoke Tom, grimly. "We'll try for the gold, first."</p> + +<p>"Yes, an' I'm goin' t' begin diggin' right away!" exclaimed Abe, as +he turned back into the airship, and came out again with a pick and +shovel, a supply of which implements had been brought along. The +others followed his example, and soon the ice chips were flying +about in a shower, while the sun shining on them gave the appearance +of a rainbow.</p> + +<p>"Look at those Indians watching us," remarked Ned to Tom, as he +paused in his chipping of the frozen surface. The young inventor +glanced up toward the distant plateau where a fringe of dark figures +stood. The natives were evidently intently watching the gold-seekers.</p> + +<p>"Do you think there's any danger from them. Abe?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Not much," was the reply. "They made trouble for me an' my partner, +but I guess th' airship has scared 'em sufficient, so they won't +come snoopin' down here," and Abe fell to at his digging again.</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon was also vigorously wielding a pick, but Mr. Parker like +the true scientist he was, had renewed his observations. Evidently +the gold had no attractions for him, or, if it did, he preferred to +wait until he had finished his calculations.</p> + +<p>Vigorously the adventurers wielded their implements, making the ice +fly, but for an hour or more no gold was discovered. Mr. Damon, +after picking lightly at a certain place, would get discouraged, and +move on to another. So did Ned, and Tom, after going down quite a +way, left off work, and walked over to one of the big ice caves.</p> + +<p>"What's up?" asked Ned, resting from his labors.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking whether it would be safe to put the RED CLOUD in +this ice cave for a shelter," replied Tom. "There may come up a hail +storm at any time, and damage it. The caves would be just the place +for it, only I'm afraid the roof might collapse."</p> + +<p>"It looks strong," said Ned. "Let's ask Mr. Parker his opinion."</p> + +<p>"Good idea," agreed Tom.</p> + +<p>The scientist was soon taking measurements of the thickness of the +cave roof, noting its formation, and looking at the frozen floor.</p> + +<p>"I see no reason why this cave should collapse," he finally +announced. "The only danger is the movement of the whole valley of +ice, and that is too gradual to cause any immediate harm. Yes, I +think the airship could be housed in the ice cave."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll run her in, and she'll be safer," decided Tom. "I guess +we three can do it, Ned, and leave Mr. Damon and Abe to keep on +digging for gold." The airship was so buoyant that it could easily +be moved about on the bicycle wheels on which it rested, and soon, +after the lower edge of the opening into the ice cave had been +smoothed down, the RED CLOUD was placed in the novel shelter.</p> + +<p>"Now to continue the search for the yellow nuggets!" cried Ned, and +Tom went with him, even Mr. Parker condescending to take a pick, +now. Abe was the only one who dug steadily in one place. The others +tried spot after spot.</p> + +<p>"You've got t' stick t' one lead until you find somethin', or until +it peters out," explained the miner. "You must git down to th' dirt +before you'll find any gold, though you may strike a few grains that +have worked up into th' ice."</p> + +<p>After this advice they all kept to one hole until they had worked +down through the ice to the dirt surface below. But even then, Abe, +who was the first to achieve this, found no gold, and the old miner +went to another location.</p> + +<p>All the rest of that day they dug, but with no result. Not even a +few grains of yellow dust rewarded their efforts.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure this is the right place?" asked Mr. Damon, somewhat +fretfully, of Abe, as they ate supper that night in the airship, +sheltered as it was in the ice cave.</p> + +<p>"I'm positive of it," was the reply. "There's gold here, but it will +take some prospectin' t' find it. Maybe th' deposits have been +shifted by th' ice movement, as Mr. Parker says. But it's here, an' +we'll git it. We'll try ag'in t'-morrow."</p> + +<p>They did try, but with small success. Laboring all day in the cold +the only result was a few little yellow pebbles that Tom found +imbedded in the ice. But they were gold, and the finding of them +gave the seekers hope as they wearily began their task the following +day. The weather seemed even colder, and there was the indication of +a big storm.</p> + +<p>They were scattered in different places on the ice, not far away +from the big cave, each one picking away vigorously. Suddenly Abe, +who had laboriously worked his way down to the dirt, gave an +exultant yell.</p> + +<p>"I've struck it! Struck it rich!" he shouted, leaping about as he +threw down his pick, "Look here, everybody!" He stooped down over +the hole. They all ran to his side, and saw him lifting from a +little pocket in the dirt, several large, yellow pebbles.</p> + +<p>"Gold! Gold!" cried Abe. "We've struck it at last!"</p> + +<p>For a moment no one spoke, though there was a wild beating of their +hearts. Then, off toward the farther end of the valley there sounded +a curious noise. It was a shouting and yelling, mingled with the +snapping of whips and the howls and barkings of dogs.</p> + +<p>"Bless my handkerchief!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's that?"</p> + +<p>They all saw a moment later. Approaching over the frozen snow were +several Eskimo sledges, drawn by dog teams, and the native drivers +were shouting and cracking their whips of walrus hide.</p> + +<p>"The natives are coming to attack us!" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>Tom said nothing. He was steadily observing the approaching sleds. +They came on rapidly. Abe was holding the golden nuggets in his +gloved hands.</p> + +<p>"Get the guns! Where's your electric rifle, Tom?" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe we'll need the guns—just yet," answered the young +inventor, slowly.</p> + +<p>"Bless my cartridge-belt! Why not?" demanded the eccentric man.</p> + +<p>"Because those are the Fogers," replied Tom. "They have followed +us—Andy and his father! Andy Foger here!" gasped Ned.</p> + +<p>Tom nodded grimly. A few minutes later the sleds had come to a halt +not far from our friends, and Andy, followed by his father, leaped +off his conveyance. The two were clad in heavy fur garments.</p> + +<p>"Ha, Tom Swift! You didn't get here much ahead of us!" exulted the +bully. "I told you I'd get even with you! Come on, now, dad, we'll +get right to work digging for gold!"</p> + +<p>Tom and his companions did not know what to say.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>JUMPING THE CLAIM</h3> + + +<p>There was a sneering look on Andy's face, and Mr. Foger, too, seemed +delighted at having reached the valley of gold almost as soon as had +our friends. Tom and the others looked at the means by which the +bully had arrived. There were four sleds, each one drawn by seven +dogs, and in charge of a dark-skinned native. On the two foremost +sleds Andy and his father had ridden, while the other two evidently +contained their supplies.</p> + +<p>For a moment Andy surveyed Tom's party and then, turning to one of +the native drivers, he said:</p> + +<p>"We'll camp here. You fellows get to work and make an ice house, and +some of you cook a meal—I'm hungry."</p> + +<p>"No need build ice house," replied the native, who spoke English +brokenly.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" demanded Andy.</p> + +<p>"Live in ice cave-plenty much ob'em—plenty much room," went on the +Eskimo, indicating several of the large caverns.</p> + +<p>"Ha! That's a good idea," agreed Mr. Foger, "Andy, my son, we have +houses already made for us, and very comfortable they seem, too. +We'll take up our quarters in one, and then hunt for the gold."</p> + +<p>Mr. Foger seemed to ignore Tom and his friends. Abe Abercrombie +strode forward.</p> + +<p>"Look here, you Fogers!" he exclaimed without ceremony, "was you +calculatin' on stakin' any claims here?"</p> + +<p>"If you mean are we going to dig for gold, we certainly are," +replied Andy insolently, "and you can't stop us."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," went on Abe, grimly. "I ain't goin' t' +say nothin' now, about th' way you stole th' map from me, an' made a +copy, but I am goin t' say this, an' that is it won't be healthy fer +any of you t' git in my way, or t' try t' dig on our claims!"</p> + +<p>"We'll dig where we please!" cried Andy. "You don't own this +valley!"</p> + +<p>"We own as much of it as we care to stake out, by right of prior +discovery!" declared Tom, firmly.</p> + +<p>"And I say we'll dig where we please!" insisted Andy. "Hand me a +pick," he went on to another of the natives.</p> + +<p>"Wait jest a minute," spoke Abe calmly, as he put his little store +of nuggets in the pocket of his fur coat, and drew out a big +revolver. "It ain't healthy t' talk that way, Andy Foger, an' th' +sooner you find that out th' better. You ain't in Shopton now, an' +th' only law here is what we make for ourselves. Tom, maybe you'd +better get out th' rifles, an' your electric gun, after all. It +seems like we might have trouble," and Abe cooly looked to see if +his weapon was loaded.</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course we didn't mean to usurp any of your rights, my dear +friend!" exclaimed Mr. Foger quickly, and he seemed nervous at the +sight of the big revolver, while Andy hastily moved until he was +behind the biggest of the sledge drivers. "We don't want to violate +any of your rights," went on Mr. Foger. "But this valley is large, +and do I understand that you claim all of it?"</p> + +<p>"We could if we wanted to," declared Abe stoutly; "but we'll be +content with three-quarter of it, seein' we was here fust. If you +folks want t' dig fer gold, go over there," and he pointed to a spot +some distance away.</p> + +<p>"We'll dig where we please!" cried Andy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, will you?" and there was an angry light in Abe's eyes. "I +guess, Tom, you'd better git—"</p> + +<p>"No! No! My son is wrong—he is too hasty," interposed Mr. Foger. +"We will go away—certainly we will. The valley is large enough for +both of us—just as you say. Come, Andy!"</p> + +<p>The bully seemed about to refuse, but a look at Abe's angry face and +a sight of Mr. Damon coming from the cave where the airship was, +with a rifle, for the eccentric man had hastened to get his weapon—this +sight calmed Andy down. Without further words he and his father +got back on their sleds, and were soon being driven off to where a +large ice cave loomed up, about a mile away.</p> + +<p>"Good riddance," muttered the miner, "now we kin go on diggin' +without bein' bothered by that little scamp."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," spoke Tom, shaking his head dubiously. +"There's always trouble when Andy Foger's within a mile. I'm afraid +we haven't seen the last of him."</p> + +<p>"He'd better not come around here ag'in," declared Abe. "Queer, how +he should turn up, jest when I made a big strike."</p> + +<p>"They must have come on all the way from where their airship was +wrecked, by means of dog sleds," observed Ned, and the others agreed +with him. Later they learned that this was so; that after the +accident to the ANTHONY, the crew had refused to proceed farther +north, and had gone back. But Mr. Foger had hired the natives with +the dog teams, and, by means of the copy of the map and with what +knowledge his Eskimos had, had reached the valley of gold.</p> + +<p>"We have certainly struck it rich," went on Abe, as he went back to +where he had dug the hole. "Now we'd better all begin prospectin' +here, for it looks like a big deposit. We'll stake out a large +enough claim to take it all in. I guess Mr. Parker can do that, +seein' as how he knows about such things."</p> + +<p>The scientist agreed to do this part of the work, it being +understood that all the gold discovered would be shared equally +after the expenses of the trip had been paid.</p> + +<p>Feverishly Abe and the others began to dig. They did not come upon +such a rich deposit as the miner had found, but there were enough +nuggets picked up to prove that the expedition would be very +successful.</p> + +<p>No more attention was paid to the Fogers, but through the telescope +Tom could see that the bully and his father had made a camp in one +of the ice caves, and that both were eagerly digging in the frozen +surface of the valley.</p> + +<p>Before night several thousand dollars' worth of gold had been taken +out by our friends. It was stored in the airship, and then, after +supper the craft's searchlight was taken off, and placed in such a +position in front of the cave of ice so that the beams would +illuminate the claim staked out by Tom and the others.</p> + +<p>"We'll stand watch an' watch," suggested Abe, "but I don't think +them Fogers will come around here ag'in."</p> + +<p>They did not, and the night passed peacefully. The next day our +friends were again at work digging for gold. So were the Fogers, as +could be observed through the glass, but it was impossible to see +whether they got any nuggets.</p> + +<p>The gold seemed to be in "pockets," and that day the ones in the +vicinity of the strike first made by Abe were cleaned out.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to locate some new 'pockets,'" said the miner, and the +adventurers scattered over the frozen plain to look for other +deposits of the precious metal.</p> + +<p>Tom and Ned were digging together not far from one another. Suddenly +Ned let out a joyful cry.</p> + +<p>"Strike anything?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Something rich," answered the bank clerk. He lifted from a hole in +the ground a handful of the golden pebbles.</p> + +<p>"It's as good as Abe's was!" exclaimed Tom. "We must stake it out at +once, or the Fogers may jump it. Come on, we'll go back and tell +Abe, and get Mr. Parker and Mr. Damon over here."</p> + +<p>The three men were some distance away, and there was no sign of the +Fogers. Tom and Ned hurried back to where their friends were, +leaving their picks and shovels on the frozen ground.</p> + +<p>The good news was soon told, and, with some stakes hastily made from +some extra wood carried on the airship, the little party hastened +back to where Tom and Ned had made their strike.</p> + +<p>As they emerged from behind a big hummock of ice they saw, standing +over the holes which the lads had dug, Andy Foger and his father! +Each one had a rifle, and there was a smile of triumph on Andy's +face!</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here?" cried Tom, the hot blood mounting to his +cheeks.</p> + +<p>"We've just staked out a claim here," answered the bully.</p> + +<p>"And you deserted it," put in Mr. Foger smoothly. "I think your +mining friend will tell you that we have a right to take up an +abandoned claim."</p> + +<p>"But we didn't abandon it!" declared Tom. "We only went away to get +the stakes."</p> + +<p>"The claim was abandoned, and we have 'jumped' it," went on Mr. +Foger, and he cocked his rifle. "I need hardly tell you that +possession is nine points of the law, and that we intend to remain. +Andy, is your gun loaded?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, pa."</p> + +<p>"I—I guess they've got us—fer th' time bein'," murmured Abe, as he +motioned to Tom and the others to come away. "Besides they've got +guns, an' we haven't—but wait," added the miner, mysteriously. "I +haven't played all my tricks yet."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>ATTACKED BY NATIVES</h3> + + +<p>To state that Tom and his friends were angry at the trick the Fogers +had played on them would be putting it mildly. There was righteous +indignation in their hearts, and, as for the young inventor he felt +that much blame was attached to him for his neglect in not remaining +on guard at the place of the lucky strike while Ned went to call the +others.</p> + +<p>"I guess Andy must have been spying on us," spoke Ned, "or he would +never have known when to rush up just as he did; as soon as we +left."</p> + +<p>"Probably," admitted Tom, bitterly.</p> + +<p>"But, bless my penholder!" cried Mr. Damon. "Can't we do something, +Abe? Won't the law—?"</p> + +<p>"There ain't any law out here, except what you make yourself," said +the miner. "I guess they've got us for th' time bein'."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?" asked Tom, detecting a gleam of hope in +Abe's tone.</p> + +<p>"Well, I mean that I think we kin git ahead of 'em. Come on back to +th' ship, an' we'll talk it over."</p> + +<p>They walked away, leaving Andy and his father in possession of the +rich deposits of gold, and that it was much richer even then than +the hole Abe had first discovered was very evident. The two Fogers +were soon at work, digging out the yellow metal with the pick and +shovels Tom and Ned had so thoughtlessly dropped.</p> + +<p>"What little law there is out here they've got on their side," went +on Abe, "an' they've got possession, too, which is more. Of course +we could go at 'em in a pitched battle, but I take it you don't want +any bloodshed?" and he looked at Tom.</p> + +<p>"Of course not," replied the lad quickly, "but I'd like to meet Andy +alone, with nothing but my fists for a little while," and Tom's eyes +snapped.</p> + +<p>"So would I," added Ned.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we can find another pocket of gold better than that one," +suggested Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"We might," admitted Abe, "but that one was ours an' we're entitled +to it. This valley is rich in gold deposits, but you can't allers +put your hand on 'em. We may have t' hunt around for a week until we +strike another. An', meanwhile, them Fogers will be takin' our gold! +It's not to be borne! I'll find some way of drivin' 'em out. An' +we've got t' do it soon, too."</p> + +<p>"You mean if we don't that they'll get all the gold?" asked Mr. +Damon.</p> + +<p>"No, I mean that soon it will be th' long night up here, an' we +can't work. We'll have t' go back, an' I don't want t' go back until +I've made my pile."</p> + +<p>"Neither do any of us, I guess," spoke Tom, "but there doesn't seem +to be any help for it."</p> + +<p>They discussed several plans on reaching the ship, but none seemed +feasible without resorting to force, and this they did not want to +do, as they feared there might be bloodshed. When night closed in +they could see the gleam of a campfire, kindled by the Foger party, +at the gold-pocket, from bits of the scrubby trees that grew in that +frigid clime.</p> + +<p>"They're going to stay on guard," announced Tom. "We can't get it +away from them to-night."</p> + +<p>Though Abe had spoken of some plan to regain the advantage the +Fogers had of them, the old miner was not quite ready to propose it. +All the next day he seemed very thoughtful, while going about with +the others, seeking new deposits of gold. Luck did not seem to be +with them. They found two or three places where there were traces of +the yellow pebbles, but in no very great quantity.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Fogers were busy at the pocket Ned had located. They +seemed to be taking out much of the precious metal.</p> + +<p>"And it all ought to be ours," declared Tom, bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and it shall be, too!" suddenly exclaimed. Abe. "I think I +have a plan that will beat 'em."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Let's get back to the ship, and I'll tell you," said Abe. "We can't +tell when one of their natives might be sneakin' in among these ice +caves, an' they understand some English. They might give my scheme +away."</p> + +<p>In brief Abe's plan, as he unfolded it in the cabin of the RED CLOUD +was this:</p> + +<p>They would divide into two parties, one consisting of Ned and Tom, +and the other of the three men. The latter, by a circuitous route, +would go to the ice caves where the Fogers had established their +camp. It was there that the Indians remained during the day, while +Andy and his father labored at the gold pocket, for, after the first +day when they had had the natives aid them, father and son had +worked alone at the hole, probably fearing to trust the Indians. At +night, though either Andy or his father remained on guard, with one +or two of the dusky-skinned dog drivers.</p> + +<p>"But we'll work this trick before night," said Abe. "We three men +will get around to where the natives are in the ice cave. We'll +pretend to attack them, and raise a great row, firing our guns in +the air, and all that sort of thing, an' yellin' t' beat th' band. +Th' natives will yell, too, you can depend on that."</p> + +<p>"Th' Fogers will imagine we are tryin' t' git away with their sleds +an' supplies, an' maybe their gold, if they've got it stored in th' +ice cave. Naturally Andy or his father will run here, an' that will +leave only one on guard at th' mine. Then Tom an' Ned can sneak up. +Th' two of 'em will be a match for even th' old Foger, if he happens +t' stay, an' while Tom or Ned comes up in front, t' hold his +attention, th' other can come up in back, an' grab his arms, if he +tries t' shoot. Likely Andy will remain at th' gold hole, an' you +two lads kin handle him, can't you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess!" exclaimed Tom and Ned together.</p> + +<p>The plan worked like a charm. Abe, Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker raised a +great din at the ice cave where the Foger natives were. The sound +carried to the hole where Andy and his father were digging out the +gold. Mr. Foger at once ran toward the cave, while Andy, catching up +his gun, remained on the alert.</p> + +<p>Then came the chance of Tom and Ned. The latter coming from his +hiding-place, advanced boldly toward the bully, while Tom, making a +detour, worked his way up behind.</p> + +<p>"Here! You keep away!" cried Andy, catching sight of Ned. "I see +what the game is, now! It's a trick!"</p> + +<p>"You're a nice one to talk about tricks!" declared Ned, advancing +slowly.</p> + +<p>"Keep away if you don't want to get hurt!" yelled Andy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you wouldn't hurt me; would you?" mocked Ned, who wanted to +give Tom time to sneak up behind the bully.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I would! Keep back!" Andy was nervously fingering his weapon. +The next instant his gun flew from his grasp, and he went over +backward in Tom's strong grip; for the young inventor, in his +sealskin shoes had worked up in the rear without a sound. The next +moment Andy broke away and was running for his life, leaving Tom and +Ned in possession of the gold hole, and that without a shot being +fired. A little later the three men, who had hurried away from the +cave as Mr. Foger rushed up to see what caused the racket, joined +Tom and Ned, and formal possession was taken of their lucky strike.</p> + +<p>"We'll guard it well, now," decided Tom, and later that day they +moved some supplies near the hole, and for a shelter built an igloo, +Eskimo fashion, in which work Abe had had some experience. Then they +moved the airship to another ice cave, nearer their "mine" as they +called it, and prepared to stand guard.</p> + +<p>But there seemed to be no need, for the following day there was no +trace of the Fogers. They and their natives had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"I guess we were too much for them," spoke Tom. But the sequel was +soon to prove differently.</p> + +<p>It was three days after our friends had regained their mine, during +which time they had dug out considerable gold, that toward evening, +as Tom was taking the last of the output of yellow pebbles into the +cave where the airship was, he looked across the valley.</p> + +<p>"Looks like something coming this way," observed the young inventor. +"Natives, I guess."</p> + +<p>"It is," agreed Ned, "quite a large party, too!"</p> + +<p>"Better tell Abe and the others," went on Tom. "I don't like the +looks of this. Maybe the sudden disappearance of the Fogers has +something to do with it."</p> + +<p>Abe, Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker hurried from the ice cave. They had +caught up their guns as they ran out.</p> + +<p>"They're still coming on," called Tom, "and are headed this way."</p> + +<p>"They're Indians, all right!" exclaimed Abe. "Hark! What's that?"</p> + +<p>It was the sound of shouting and singing.</p> + +<p>Through the gathering dusk the party advanced. Our friends closely +scanned them. There was something familiar about the two leading +figures, and it could now be seen that in the rear were a number of +dog sleds.</p> + +<p>"There's Andy Foger and his father!" cried Ned. "They've gone and +got a lot of Eskimos to help them drive us away."</p> + +<p>"That's right!" admitted Tom. "I guess we're in for it now!"</p> + +<p>With a rush the natives, led by the Fogers, came on. They were +yelling now. An instant later they began firing their guns.</p> + +<p>"It's a fierce attack!" cried Tom. "Into the ice cave for shelter! +We can cover the gold mine from there. I'll get my electric gun!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>THE WRECK OF THE AIRSHIP</h3> + + +<p>Almost before our friends could retreat into the cave which now +sheltered the RED CLOUD, the attacking natives opened fire. +Fortunately they only had old-fashioned, muzzle-loading muskets, +and, as their aim was none of the best, there was comparatively +little danger. The bullets, however, did sing through the fast-gathering +darkness with a vicious sound, and struck the heavy sides +and sloping front of the ice cave with a disconcerting "ping!"</p> + +<p>"I don't hear Andy or his father firing!" called Tom, as he and the +others returned the fire of the savage Indians. "I could tell their +guns by the sharper reports. The Fogers carry repeating rifles, and +they're fine ones, if they're anything like the one we took from +Andy, Ned."</p> + +<p>"That's right," agreed Tom's chum, "I don't believe Andy or his +father dare fire. They're afraid to, and they're putting the poor +ignorant natives up to it. Probably they hired them to try to drive +us away."</p> + +<p>This, as they afterward learned, was exactly the case.</p> + +<p>The battle, if such it could be called, was kept up. There was about +a hundred natives, all of whom had guns, and, though they were slow +to load, there were enough weapons to keep up a constant fusilade. +On their part, Tom and the others fired at first over the heads of +the natives, for they did not want to kill any of the deluded men. +Later, though, when they saw the rush keeping up, they fired at +their legs, and disabled several of the Eskimos, the electric gun +proving very effective.</p> + +<p>It was now quite dark, and the firing slackened. From their position +in the cave, Tom and the others could command the hole where the +gold was, and, as they saw several natives sneaking up to it the +young inventor and Ned, both of whom were good shots, aimed to have +the bullets strike the ice close to where the Indians were.</p> + +<p>This sort of shooting was enough, and the natives scurried away. +Then Tom hit on the plan of playing the searchlight on the spot, and +this effectually prevented an unseen attack. It seemed to discourage +the enemy, too for they did not venture into that powerful glow of +light.</p> + +<p>"They won't do anything more until morning," declared Abe. "Then +we'll have it hot an' heavy, though, I'm afeered. Well, we'll have +t' make th' best of it!"</p> + +<p>They took turns standing guard that night, but no attack was made. +The fact of the Fogers coming back with the band of Indians told +Tom, more plainly than words, how desperately his enemies would do +battle with them. Anxiously they waited for the morning.</p> + +<p>Several times in the night Mr. Parker was seen roaming about +uneasily, though it was not his turn to be on guard. Finally Tom +asked him what was the matter, and if he could not sleep.</p> + +<p>"It isn't that," answered the scientist, "but I am worried about the +ice. I can detect a slight but peculiar movement by means of some of +my scientific instruments. I am alarmed about it. I fear something +is going to happen."</p> + +<p>But Tom was too worried about the outcome of the fight he knew would +be renewed on the next day, to think much about the ice movement. He +thought it would only be some scientific phenomena that would amount +to little.</p> + +<p>With the first streak of the late dawn, the gold-seekers were up, +and partook of a hot breakfast, with strong coffee which Mr. Damon +brewed. Tom took an observation from the mouth of the cave. The +searchlight was still dimly glowing, and it did not disclose +anything. Tom turned it off. He thought he saw a movement among the +ranks of the enemy, who had camped just beyond the gold hole.</p> + +<p>"I guess they're coming!" cried the lad. "Get ready for them!"</p> + +<p>The adventurers caught up their guns, and hurried to the entrance of +the cave. Mr. Parker lingered behind, and was observed to be +narrowly scanning the walls of the cavern.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Parker, my dear man!" begged Mr. Damon. "We are in grave +danger, and we need your help. Bless my life insurance policy! but I +never was in such a state as this."</p> + +<p>"We may soon be in a worse one," was the answer of the gloomy +scientist.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked Mr. Damon, but he hurried on without +waiting for a reply.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, from without the cave came a series of fierce yells. It +was the battle-cry of the Indians. At the same moment there sounded +a fusillade of guns.</p> + +<p>"The battle is beginning!" cried Tom Swift, grimly. He held his +electric gun, though he had not used it very much in the previous +attack, preferring to save it for a time of more need.</p> + +<p>As the defenders of the cave reached the entrance they saw the body +of natives rushing forward. They were almost at the gold hole, with +Andy Foger and his father discreetly behind the first row of +Eskimos, when, with a suddenness that was startling, there sounded +throughout the whole valley a weird sound!</p> + +<p>It was like the wailing of some giant—the sighing of some mighty +wind. At the same time the air suddenly became dark, and then there +came a violent snow squall, shutting out instantly the sight of the +advancing natives. Tom and the others could not see five feet beyond +the cave.</p> + +<p>"This will delay the attack," murmured Ned, "They can't see to come +at us."</p> + +<p>Mr. Parker came running up from the interior of the cave. On his +face there was a look of alarm.</p> + +<p>"We must leave here at once!" he cried.</p> + +<p>"Leave here?" repeated Tom. "Why must we? The enemy are out there! +We'd run right into them!"</p> + +<p>"It must be done!" insisted the scientist. "We must leave the cave +at once!"</p> + +<p>"What for?" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Because the movement of the ice that I predicted, has begun. It is +much more rapid than I supposed it would be. In a short time this +cave and all the others will be crushed flat!"</p> + +<p>"Crushed flat!" gasped Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the caves of ice are being destroyed! Hark! You can hear them +snapping!"</p> + +<p>They all listened. Above the roar of the storm could be made out the +noise of crushing, grinding ice-sounds like cannon being fired, as +the great masses of frozen crystal snapped like frail planks.</p> + +<p>"The ice caves are being destroyed by an upheaval of nature!" went +on Mr. Parker. "This one will soon go! The walls are bulging now! We +must get out!"</p> + +<p>"But the natives! They will kill us!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my +soul! what a trying position to be in."</p> + +<p>"I guess the natives are as bad off as we are," suggested Ned. +"They're not firing, and I can hear cries of alarm, I think they're +running away."</p> + +<p>There was a lull in the snow flurry, and the white curtain seemed to +lift for a moment. The gold-seekers had a glimpse of the natives in +full retreat, with the Fogers—father and son—racing panic-stricken +after them. Tom could also see a big cave, just beyond the gold +hole, collapse and crumble to pieces like a house of cards.</p> + +<p>"We have no time to lose!" Mr. Parker warned them. "The roof of this +cave is slowly coming down. The sides are collapsing! We must get +out!"</p> + +<p>"Then wheel out the airship!" cried Tom. "We must save that! We +needn't fear the natives, now!"</p> + +<p>The young inventor hurried to the RED CLOUD calling to Ned and the +others. They hastened to his side. It was an easy matter to move the +airship along on the wheels. It neared the opening of the cave. The +rumbling, roaring, grinding sound of the ice increased.</p> + +<p>"Why—why!" cried Tom in surprise and alarm, as the craft neared the +mouth of the ice cavern, "we can't get it out—the opening is too +small! Yet it came in easily enough!"</p> + +<p>"The cave is collapsing—growing smaller every moment!" cried Mr. +Parker. "We have only time to save our lives! Run out!"</p> + +<p>"And leave the airship? Never!" yelled Tom.</p> + +<p>"You must! You can't save that and your life!"</p> + +<p>"Get axes and make the opening bigger!" suggested Ned, who, like his +chum, could not bear to think of the destruction of the beautiful +craft.</p> + +<p>"No time! No time!" shouted Mr. Parker, frantically, "We must get +out! Save what you can from the ship—the gold—some supplies—the +guns—some food—save what you can!"</p> + +<p>Then ensued a wild effort to get from the doomed craft what they +could—what they would need if they were to save their lives in that +cold and desolate country. Food, some blankets—their guns—as much +of the gold as they could hastily gather together—their weapons and +some ammunition—all this was carried from the cabin outside the +cave. The entrance was rapidly growing smaller. The roof was already +pressing down on the gas-bag.</p> + +<p>Tom gave one last look at his fine craft. There were tears in his +eyes. He started into the cabin for something he had forgotten. Mr. +Parker grabbed him by the arm.</p> + +<p>"Don't go in!" he cried hoarsely. "The cave will collapse in another +instant!" He rushed with Tom out of the cavern, and not a moment too +soon. The others were already outside.</p> + +<p>Then with a rush and a roar, with a sound like a great explosion, +with a rending, grinding and booming as the great pieces of ice +collapsed one against the other, the big ice cave settled in, as +does some great building when the walls are weakened!</p> + +<p>Down crashed the roof of the ice cave! Down upon the RED CLOUD, +burying out of sight, forever, under thousands of tons of ice and +snow, the craft which was the pride of Tom Swift's heart! It was the +end of the airship!</p> + +<p>Tom felt a moisture of tears in his eyes as he stood there in the +midst of the snowstorm.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>THE RESCUE—CONCLUSION</h3> + + +<p>For a few moments after the collapse of the cave, and the +destruction of the airship, on which they depended to take them from +that desolate land, no one spoke. The calamity had been too +terrible—they could hardly understand it.</p> + +<p>The snow had ceased, and, over the frozen plain, in full retreat, +could be seen the band of attacking Indians. They had fled in terror +at the manifestation of Nature. And Nature, as if satisfied at the +mischief she had wrought, called a halt to the movement of the ice. +The roaring, grinding sounds ceased, and there were no more +collapses of caves in that neighborhood.</p> + +<p>"Well, we are up against it," spoke Tom, softly. "Poor old RED +CLOUD! There'll never be another airship like you!"</p> + +<p>"We are lucky to have escaped with our lives," said Mr. Parker. +"Another moment and it would have been too late. I was expecting +something like this—I predicted it."</p> + +<p>But his honor was an empty one—no one cared to dispute it with him.</p> + +<p>"Bless my refrigerator! What's to be done!" exclaimed Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Start from here as soon as possible," decided Abe.</p> + +<p>"Why, do you think the natives will come back?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"No, but we have only a small supply of food, my lad, an' it's hard +to git up here. We must hit th' trail fer civilization as soon as we +kin!"</p> + +<p>"Go back—how; without the airship?" asked Tom, blankly.</p> + +<p>"Walk!" exclaimed the miner, grimly. "It's th' only way!"</p> + +<p>They realized that. There was no hope of digging through that mass +of fantastically piled ice to reach the airship, and, even if they +could have done so, it would have been crushed beyond all hope of +repair. Nor could they dig down for more food, though what they had +hastily saved was little enough.</p> + +<p>"Well, if we've got to go, we'd better start," suggested Tom, sadly. +"Poor old RED CLOUD!"</p> + +<p>"Maybe we can get a little more gold," suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>They walked over to the hole whence they had taken the yellow +nuggets. The "pocket" was not to be seen. It was buried out of sight +under tons of ice.</p> + +<p>"We'll get no more gold here," decided Abe, "if we get safely out of +th' valley, and t' the nearest white settlement, we'll be lucky."</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul! Is it as bad as that!" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>Abe nodded without speaking. There was nothing else to do. Sadly and +silently they made up into packs the things they had saved, and +started southward, guided by a small compass the miner had with him.</p> + +<p>It was a melancholy party. Fortunately the weather had turned a +little warmer or they might have been frozen to death. They tramped +all that day, shaping their course to take them out of the valley on +a side well away from where the hostile natives lived. At night they +made rude shelters of snow and blocks of ice and ate cold victuals. +The second day it grew colder, and they were slightly affected by +snow-blindness, for they had lost their dark glasses in the cave.</p> + +<p>Even the gold seemed too great a burden to carry, and they found +they had more of it than at first they supposed. On the third day +they were ready to give up, but Abe bravely urged them on. Toward +the close of the fourth day, even the old miner was in despair, for +the food they could carry was not such as to give strength and +warmth, and they saw no game to shoot.</p> + +<p>They were just getting ready to go into a cheerless camp for the +night, when Tom, who was a little in advance, looked ahead.</p> + +<p>"Ned, do I see something or is it only a vision?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"What does it look like?" asked his chum.</p> + +<p>"Like Eskimos on sleds."</p> + +<p>"That's what it is," agreed Ned, after an observation. "Maybe it's +the Fogers, or some of the savage Indians."</p> + +<p>They halted in alarm, and got out their guns. The little party of +natives kept coming on toward them.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Abe uttered a cry, but it was one of joy and not fear.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" he yelled, "It's all right—they're friendly natives! +They're of the same tribe that helped me an' my partner! It's all +right, boys, we're rescued now!"</p> + +<p>And so it proved. A few minutes later the gold-seekers were on the +sleds of the friendly Eskimos, some of whom remembered Abe, and the +weary and hungry adventures were being rushed toward the native +village as fast as the dogs could run. It was a hunting party that +had come upon our friends just in time.</p> + +<p>Little more remains to be told. Well cared for by the kind Eskimos, +Tom and his friends soon recovered their spirits and strength. They +arranged for dog teams to take them to Sitka, and paid their friends +well for the service, not only in gold, but by presenting what was +of more value, the guns they no longer needed. Tom, however, +retained his electric rifle.</p> + +<p>Three weeks after that they were on a steamer bound for +civilization, having bidden their friends the Eskimos good-by.</p> + +<p>"Homeward bound," remarked Tom, some time later, as they were in a +train speeding across the continent. "It was a great trip, and the +gold we got will more than repay us, even to building a new airship. +Still, I can't help feeling sorry about the RED CLOUD."</p> + +<p>"I don't blame you," returned Ned. "Are you going to build another +airship, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Not one like the RED CLOUD, I think. But I have in mind plans for a +sort of racing craft. I think I'll start it when I get back home."</p> + +<p>How Tom's plans developed, and what sort of a craft he built will be +related in the next volume of this series, to be called "Tom Swift +and His Sky Racer; or, the Quickest Flight on Record." In that will +be told how the young inventor foiled his enemies, and how he saved +his father's life. Our friends arrived safely at Shopton in due +season. They learned that the two Fogers had reached there shortly +before them. Tom and his party decided not to prosecute them, and +they did not learn the identity of the men who tried to rob Tom of +the map.</p> + +<p>"But I guess Andy won't go about boasting of his airship any more," +said Ned, "nor of how he got our gold mine away from us. He'll sing +mighty small for a while."</p> + +<p>The store of gold brought from the North, proved quite valuable, +though but for the unforeseen accidents our friends could have +secured much more. Yet they were well satisfied. With his share Abe +Abercrombie settled down out West, Mr. Damon gave most of his gold +to his wife, Mr. Parker bought scientific instruments with his, Ned +invested his in bank stock, and Tom Swift, after buying a beautiful +gift for a certain pretty young lady, used part of the remainder to +build his Sky Racer.</p> + +<p>And now, for a time, we will take leave of Tom and his friends, and +say good-by.</p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice, by Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE *** + +***** This file should be named 3734-h.htm or 3734-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/3/3734/ + +Produced by This etext was produced by Charles Franks, +Greg Weeks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Posting Date: January 16, 2009 [EBook #3734] +Release Date: February, 2003 +Last updated: September 19, 2011 +Last updated: April 12, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE *** + + + + +Produced by This etext was produced by Charles Franks, +Greg Weeks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + + +Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice + +OR + +The Wreck of the Airship + + +by VICTOR APPLETON + + + + +CONTENTS + + + I ERADICATE IN AN AIRSHIP + II ANDY FOGER'S TRIPLANE + III ABE IS DECEIVED + IV TOM GETS THE MAP + V GRAVE SUSPICIONS + VI ANDY'S AIRSHIP FLIES + VII READY FOR THE TRIP + VIII A THIEF IN THE NIGHT + IX A VANDAL'S ACT + X TOM IS HELD UP + XI OFF FOR THE FROZEN NORTH + XII PELTED BY HAILSTONES + XIII A FRIGHTENED INDIAN + XIV THE RIVAL AIRSHIP + XV THE RACE + XVI THE FALL OF THE ANTHONY + XVII HITTING THE ICE MOUNTAIN + XVIII A FIGHT WITH MUSK OXEN + XIX THE CAVES OF ICE + XX IN THE GOLD VALLEY + XXI THE FOGERS ARRIVE + XXII JUMPING THE CLAIM + XXIII ATTACKED BY NATIVES + XXIV THE WRECK OF THE AIRSHIP + XXV THE RESCUE-CONCLUSION + + + + +CHAPTER I + +ERADICATE IN AN AIRSHIP + + +"Well, Massa Tom, am yo' gwine out in yo' flyin' machine ag'in to-day?" + +"Yes, Rad, I think I will take a little flight. Perhaps I'll go over +to Waterford, and call on Mr. Damon. I haven't seen very much of +him, since we got back from our hunt after the diamond-makers." + +"Take a run clear ober t' Waterfield; eh, Massa Tom?" + +"Yes, Rad. Now, if you'll help me, I'll get out the Butterfly, and +see what trim she's in for a speedy flight." + +Tom Swift, the young inventor, aided by Eradicate Sampson, the +colored helper of the Swift household, walked over toward a small +shed. + +A few minutes later the two had rolled into view, on its three +bicycle wheels, a trim little monoplane--one of the speediest craft +of the air that had ever skimmed along beneath the clouds. It was +built to carry two, and had a very powerful motor. + +"I guess it will work all right," remarked the young inventor, for +Tom Swift had not only built this monoplane himself, but was the +originator of it, and the craft contained many new features. + +"It sho' do look all right, Massa Tom." + +"Look here, Rad," spoke the lad, as a sudden idea came to him, +"you've never ridden in an airship, have you?" + +"No, Massa Tom, an' I ain't gwine to nuther!" + +"Why not?" + +"Why not? 'Case as how it ain't healthy; that's why!" + +"But I go in them frequently, Eradicate. So does my father. You've +seen us fly often enough, to know that it's safe. Why, look at the +number of times Mr. Damon and I have gone off on trips in this +little Butterfly. Didn't we always come back safely?" + +"Yes, dat's true, but dere might come a time when yo' WOULDN'T come +back, an' den where'd Eradicate Sampson be? I axes yo' dat--whar'd I +be, Massa Tom?" + +"Why, you wouldn't be anywhere if you didn't go, of course," and Tom +laughed. "But I'd like to take you for a little spin in this +machine, Rad. I want you to get used to them. Sometime I may need +you to help me. Come, now. Suppose you get up on this seat here, and +I promise not to go too high until you get used to it. Come on, it +will do you good, and think of what all your friends will say when +they see you riding in an airship." + +"Dat's right, Massa Tom. Dey suah will be monstrous envious ob +Eradicate Sampson, dat's what dey will." + +It was clear that the colored man was being pursuaded somewhat +against his will. Though he had been engaged by Tom Swift and his +father off and on for several years, Eradicate had never shown any +desire to take a trip through the air in one of the several craft +Tom owned for this purpose. Nor had he ever evinced a longing for a +trip under the ocean in a submarine, and as for riding in Tom's +speedy electric car--Eradicate would as soon have sat down with +thirteen at the table, or looked at the moon over the wrong +shoulder. + +But now, somehow, there was a peculiar temptation to take his young +employer at his word. Eradicate had seen, many times, the youthful +inventor and his friends make trips in the monoplane, as well as in +the big biplane and dirigible balloon combined--the RED CLOUD. Tom +and the others had always come back safely, though often they met +with accidents which only the skill and daring of the daring +aeronaut had brought to a safe conclusion. + +"Well, are you coming, Rad?" asked Tom, as he looked to see if the +oil and gasoline tanks were filled, and gave a preliminary twirl to +the propeller. + +"Now does yo' t'ink it am puffickly safe, Massa Tom?" and the +colored man looked nervously at the machine. + +"Of course, Rad. Otherwise I wouldn't invite you. But I won't take +you far. I just want you to get used to it, and, once you have made +a flight, you'll want to make another." + +"I don't nohow believe I will, Massa Tom, but as long as you have +axed me, an' as yo' say some of dem proud, stuck-up darkies in +Shopton will be tooken down a peg or two when de sees me, vhy, I +will go wif yo', Massa Tom." + +"I thought you would. Now take your place in the little seat next to +where I'm going to sit. I'll start the engine and jump in. Now sit +perfectly still, and, whatever you do, don't jump out. The ground's +pretty hard this morning. There was a frost last night." + +"I knows dere was, Massa Tom. Nope, I won't jump. I--I--Oh, golly, +Massa Tom! I guess I don't want to go--let me out!" + +Eradicate, his heart growing fainter as the time of starting drew +nearer, made as if he would leave the monoplane, in which he had +taken his seat. + +"Sit still!" yelled Tom. At that instant he started the propeller. +The motor roared like a salvo of guns, and streaks of fire could be +seen shooting from one cylinder to the other, until there was a +perfect blast of explosions. + +The speed of the propeller increased as the motor warmed up. Tom ran +to his seat and opened the gasoline throttle still more, advancing +the spark slightly. The roar increased. The lad darted a look at +Eradicate. The colored man's face was like chalk, and he was +gripping the upright braces at his side as though his salvation +depended on them. + +"Steady now" spoke Tom, yelling to be heard above the racket. "Here +we go." + +The Butterfly was moving slowly across the level stretch of ground +which Tom used for starting his airships. The propeller was now a +blur of light. The explosions of the motor became a steady roar, the +noise from one cylinder being merged into the blast from the others +so rapidly that it was a continuous racket. + +With a whizz the monoplane shot across the ground. Then, with a +quick motion, Tom tilted the lifting planes, and, as gracefully as a +bird, the little machine mounted upward on a slant until, coming to +a level about two hundred feet above the earth, Tom sent it straight +ahead over the roof of his house. + +"How's this, Rad?" he cried. "Isn't it great?" + +"It--it--er--bur-r-r-r! It's--it's mighty ticklish, Massa Tom--dat's +de word--it suah am mighty ticklish!" + +Tom Swift laughed and increased the speed. The Butterfly darted +forward like some hummingbird about to launch itself upon a flower, +and, indeed, the revolutions of the propeller were not unlike the +vibrations of the wings of that marvelous little creature. + +"Now for some corkscrew twists!" cried the young inventor. "Here we +go, Rad!" + +With that he began a series of intricate evolutions, making figures +of eight, spirals, curves, sudden dips and long swings. It was +masterwork in handling a monoplane, but Eradicate Sampson, as he sat +crouched in the seat, gripping the uprights until his hands ached, +was in no condition to appreciate it. Gradually, however, as he saw +that the craft remained up in the air, and showed no signs of falling, +the fears of the colored man left him. He sat up straighter. + +"Don't you like it, Rad?" cried Tom. + +This time the answer came with more decision. + +"It suah am great, Massa Tom! I'm--I'm beginnin' t' like it. Whoop! +I guess I do like it! Now if some of dem stuck-up coons could see +me--" + +"They'd think YOU were stuck up; eh, Rad? Stuck up in the air!" + +"Dat's right, Massa Tom. Ha! Ha! I suah am stuck up in de air! Ha! +Ha!" + +By this time Tom had guided the machine away from the village, and +they were flying over the fields, some distance from his house. The +colored man was beginning to enjoy his experience very much. + +Suddenly, just as Tom was trying to get a bit more speed out of the +motor, the machine stopped. The cessation of the racket was almost +as startling as a loud explosion would have been. + +"Just my luck!" cried Tom. + +"What's de matter?" asked Eradicate, anxiously. + +"Motor's stalled," replied the young inventor. + +"An', by golly, we's falling!" yelled the colored man. + +Naturally, with the stopping of the propeller, there was no further +straight, forward motion to the monoplane, and, following the law of +nature, it began to drop toward the earth on a slant. + +"We's fallin'! We'll be killed!" yelled the negro. + +"It's all right, I'll just vol-plane back to earth," spoke Tom, +calmly. "I've often done it before, higher up than this. Sit still, +Rad, I'm volplaning back to the ground." + +"An' I'll JUMP back to de ground; dat's what I'll do. I ain't goin' +t' wait until I falls, no sah! An' I ain't gwine t' do none ob dat +ball-playin' yo' speak ob, Massa Swift. It's no time t' play ball +when yo' life am in danger. I'se gwine t' jump." + +"Sit still!" cried Tom, for the colored man was about to spring from +his seat. "There's no danger! I didn't say anything about playing +ball. I said I'd VOL-PLANE back to the earth. We'll be there +shortly. I'll take you down safe. Sit still, Rad!" + +He spoke so earnestly that the fears of his colored passenger were +quelled. With a quick motion Tom threw up the head planes, to check +the downward sweep. The Butterfly shot forward on a gradual slant. +Repeating this maneuver several times, the young inventor finally +brought his machine to within a short distance of the earth, and, +also, considerably nearer his own home. + +"I wonder if we can make it?" he murmured, measuring the distance +with his eye. "I think so. I'll shoot her up a bit and then let her +down on a long slant. Then, with another upward tilt, I ought to +fetch it." + +The monoplane tilted upward. Eradicate gave a cry of terror. It was +stilled at a look from Tom. Once more the air machine glided +forward. Then came another long dip, another upward glide and the +Butterfly came gently to earth almost on the very spot whence it had +flown upward a few minutes before. + +Eradicate gave one mad spring from his seat, almost before the +bicycle wheels had ceased revolving, as Tom jammed on the earth-brake. + +"Here, where are you going, Rad?" cried the lad. + +"Whar am I goin'? I'se goin' t' see if mah mule Boomerang am safe. +He's de only kind ob an airship I wants arter dis!" and the colored +man disappeared into the shack whence came a loud "hee-haw!" + +"Oh, pshaw! Wait a minute, Rad. I'll soon have the motor fixed, and +we'll make another try. I'll take you over to Mr. Damon's with me." + +"No, sah, Massa Tom. Yo' don't catch dis coon in any mo' airships. +Mah mule am good enough fo' me!" shouted Eradicate from the safe +harbor of the mule's stable. + +Tom laughed, and turned to inspect the motor. As he was looking it +over, to locate the trouble, the door of the house opened and a +pleasant-faced woman stepped out. + +"Oh, Tom," she called. "I looked for you a moment ago, and you +weren't here!" + +"No, Mrs. Baggert," Tom replied, waving his hand in greeting to the +housekeeper, "Rad and I just came back--quite suddenly--sooner than +we expected to. Why? Did you want me?" + +"Here's a letter that came for you," she went on. + +Tom tore open the envelope, and rapidly scanned the contents of the +missive. + +"Hello!" he ejaculated half aloud. "It's from Abe Abercrombie, that +miner I met when we were after the diamond-makers! He says he is on +his way east to get ready to start on the quest for the Alaskan +valley of gold, in the caves of ice. I had almost forgotten that I +promised to make the attempt in the big airship. How did this letter +come, Mrs. Baggert?" he asked. + +"By special delivery. The messenger brought it a few minutes ago." + +"Then we may see Abe any day now. Guess I'd better be looking over +the RED CLOUD to see if it's in shape for a trip to the Arctic +regions." + +Tom's attention for the moment was taken off his little monoplane, +and his memory went back to the strange scenes in which he and his +friends had recently played a part, in searching for the cave of the +diamond-makers on Phantom Mountain. He recalled the promise he had +made to the old miner. + +"I wonder if he expects us to start for Alaska with winter coming +on?" thought Tom. + +His musings were suddenly interrupted by the entrance into the yard, +surrounding the aeroplane shed, of a lad about his own age. + +"Hello, Ned Newton!" called Tom, heartily. + +"Hello, yourself," responded Ned. "I've got a day off from the bank, +and I thought I'd come over and see you. Say, have you heard the +latest?" + +"No. What is it?" + +"Andy Foger is building an airship." + +"Andy Foger building an airship?" + +"Yes, he says it will beat yours." + +"Humph! It will, eh? Well, Andy can do as he pleases as long as he +doesn't bother me. I won't be around here much longer, anyhow." + +"Why not, Tom?" + +"Because I soon expect to start for the far north on a strange +quest. Come on in the shed, and I'll tell you about it. We're going +to try to locate a valley of gold, and I guess Andy Foger won't +follow me there, even if he does build an airship." + +Tom and his chum started toward the shed, the young inventor still +holding the letter that was to play such an important part in his +life within the next few months. And, had he only known it, the +building of Andy Foger's airship was destined to be fraught with +much danger to our hero. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +ANDY FOGER'S TRIPLANE + + +"Going to look for a valley of gold, eh?" remarked Ned Newton as he +and Tom took seats in a little room, fitted up like a den, where the +young inventor frequently worked out the details of the problems +that confronted him. "Where is this valley, Tom? Anywhere so I could +have a chance at it?" + +"It's up in Alaska. Just where I don't know, but Abe Abercrombie, +the old miner whom we met when out in Colorado this summer, says he +can find it if we circle around in the airship. So I'm going to take +a chance. I'll tell you all about it." + +And, while Tom is doing this, I will take the opportunity to more +formally introduce to my new readers our hero and his friends. + +Tom Swift was an inventor of no little note, in spite of his youth. +He lived with his father, Barton Swift, who was also an inventor, on +the outskirts of the village of Shopton, New York State. Tom's +mother was dead, and Mrs. Baggert had kept house for him and his +father since he was a child. Garret Jackson, an expert machinist, +was also a member of the household, and as has been explained, +Eradicate Sampson, who took that name because, as he said he +"eradicate de dirt," was also a sort of retainer. He lived in a +little house on the Swift grounds, and did odd jobs about the place. + +In the first book of the series, entitled "Tom Swift and His Motor +Cycle," there was related how the lad became possessed of one of +those speedy machines, after Mr. Wakefield Damon had come to grief +on it. Mr. Damon was an eccentric man, who was always blessing +himself, some part of his anatomy, or some of his possessions. + +After many adventures on his motor-cycle, Tom Swift went through +some surprising happenings with a motor-boat he bought. After that +he built an airship, the RED CLOUD, and later he and his father +constructed a submarine, in which they went under the ocean in +search of sunken treasure, enduring many perils and much danger. + +Tom Swift's electric runabout, which he built after returning home +from the submarine trip, proved to be the speediest car on the road. +The experience he acquired in making this machine stood him in good +stead, when (as told in the sixth volume, "Tom Swift and His +Wireless Message") the airship in which he, Mr. Damon and a friend +of the latter's (who had built the craft) were wrecked on Earthquake +Island. There Tom was marooned with some refugees from a wrecked +steam yacht, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Nestor, father of a girl +of whom Tom thought a great deal. + +With parts from the wrecked electric airship the youth rigged up a +plant, and sent wireless messages from the island. The castaways +nearly lost their lives in the earthquake shocks, but a steamer, +summoned by Tom's wireless call, arrived in time to save them, just +as the island disappeared beneath the sea. + +In the seventh book of the series, entitled "Tom Swift Among the +Diamond Makers" there was related the adventures of himself and his +friends when they tried to solve the mystery of Phantom Mountain. + +Among the castaways of Earthquake Island was a Mr. Barcoe Jenks and +a Professor Ralph Parker. Mr. Jenks was a strange man, and claimed +to have some valuable diamonds, which he said were made by a gang of +men hidden in a cave in the Rocky Mountains. Tom did not believe +that the diamonds were real, but Mr. Jenks soon proved that they +were. + +He asked Tom to aid him in searching for the cave of the diamond +makers. Mr. Jenks had been there once--in fact, he had been offered +a partnership in the diamond-making business, but, after he had paid +his money, he had been drugged, and carried secretly from the cave +before he had a chance to note its location. + +But he, together with Tom, Mr. Damon and the scientist Mr. Parker, +who correctly predicted the destruction of Earthquake Island, set +out in the RED CLOUD to find the diamond makers. They did find them, +after many hardships, and were captured by the gang. How Tom and his +friends escaped from the cave, after they had seen diamonds made by +a powerful lightning flash, and how they nearly lost their lives +from the destruction of Phantom Mountain, is fully set down in the +book. + +Sufficient to say now, that, though they had a general idea of how +the precious stones were made, by the power of the lightning, the +young inventor and his friends were never quite able to accomplish +it, and the secret remained a secret. But they had secured some +diamonds as they rushed from the cave (Mr. Damon grabbing them up) +and these were divided among Tom and the others. + +Just as they were ready to come home in the airship, our friends +were met by an old miner, Abe Abercrombie, who spoke of a valley of +gold in Alaska, which was the story Tom related to Ned Newton, as +the two chums sat in the den of the airship shed. + +"Then you don't know all the details about the gold valley, Tom?" +remarked Ned, as the young inventor showed his chum the letter that +had just arrived. + +"No, not all of them. At the time this miner met us I was anxious to +get back East, for we had been away so long I knew dad would be +worried. But I listened to part of Abe's story, and half promised to +go in partnership in this quest for gold. He was to furnish +information about the hidden valley, and I was to supply the +airship. I expect Abe to come along at any time, now, and then I'll +hear more particulars." + +"Will you go all the way in the airship?" + +"Well, I hadn't thought of that. I could ship it to the nearest +place by rail, I suppose, and go on from there. That's a detail to +be considered later. I'll talk it over with Abe." + +"Who are going?" + +"I don't know that even. I suppose Mr. Damon would feel slighted if +I left him out. And perhaps Mr. Parker, that gloomy scientist, who +is always predicting terrible accidents, will be glad to go along. +Then Abe may have some friend he wants to take." + +"By Jinks! But you certainly do have swell times, Tom Swift!" +exclaimed Ned Newton, enviously. "I wish I could go and have a try +at that valley of gold!" + +"Why don't you come along, Ned?" + +"Do you really mean it?" + +"Of course." + +"But I don't believe I could get away from the bank." + +"Oh, dad and Mr. Damon could fix that. They're directors, you know. +Come along, I'd be delighted to have you. Will you?" + +"I'll think about it. Jinks! But I sure would like to go. Do you +think you can find the valley?" + +"Well, there's no telling. We generally do succeed in finding what +we go after, even if we didn't get the diamond secret. I'm anxious +to have Abe come, now, though until I got his letter I had almost +forgotten about my promise to him. But, say, what's this you told me +about Andy Foger making an airship?" + +"It's true, though I haven't seen it. Jake Porter was telling me +about it. Andy's built a big shed in his yard, and he and some +cronies of his, including Pete Bailey and Sam Snedecker, are working +in there night and day. They've hired a couple of machinists, too. +Mr. Foger is putting up the cash, I guess. Say, that was quite a +scare you gave Andy on your monoplane, one day." + +"Yes, the big bully! and I'd like to scare him worse. But say, do +you know I'd like to get a look at his airship. I wonder what sort +of a craft it is?" + +"We can see it easily enough." + +"How?" + +"Why, the back part of the shed where he and the others are working +is close to our fence. There are some holes in our fence and if you +come there, maybe you can look in." + +"I can't see through the side of the shed, though." + +"Yes, you can." + +"How?" + +"Why, there's a big window, for light, in the back part of it. I +happened to notice it the other day. I didn't look in, because I +wasn't much interested, but I saw that one could peer over the top +of our fence right into the shop where Andy is working. Want to try +it?" + +Tom hesitated a moment. + +"Well, it seems rather an odd thing to do," he said. "But I would +like to see what sort of a flying machine Andy is making, just for +my own satisfaction. He may be infringing on some of my patents, and +if he is, I'll stop him. Once or twice he's been sneaking around my +shed here. I don't believe in sneaking, but I know he wouldn't let +me in if I asked him, so I guess it's the only way. I'll go with +you, Ned." + +"All right. We'll see if we can get a glimpse of Andy's queer +shebang through the window." + +The two chums left Tom's shop, and were soon in the yard of Ned +Newton's house. As he had said, the big shed in Andy's premises came +close up to the fence, and there was a window through which one +might gaze. The casement did not appear to be curtained. + +"I'll get a ladder so we can climb up to the top of the fence, and +look over," spoke Ned, as he and Tom went out into the yard back of +his house. The fence was high up on an embankment. + +A little later Tom and his chum were gazing into the shop window +from the ladder. + +"Why, it's a triplane--a big triplane!" he exclaimed. + +"What's a triplane?" asked Ned, who didn't have much time to study +the different types of airships. + +"It's one that has three sets of planes, one above the other. A +biplane has two sets of planes, and a monoplane only one. Triplanes +are larger, and, as far as I've been able to learn, not as +satisfactory as either the biplanes or monoplanes. But that's not +saying Andy's won't be a success. They certainly are busy in there, +though! Andy is flying around like a hen scratching for her little +chickens!" + +"See anything of his cronies?" + +"Yes, Pete and Sam are hammering away. There are a couple of men, +too." + +"Yes, the machinists. Oh, I guess Andy expects great things from his +airship." + +"Have you heard what he's going to do with it, Ned? Make flights for +pleasure, or exhibit it?" + +"No, I haven't heard. Look out, Tom, the ladder is slipping!" + +As Ned spoke this warning, the window of the airship shed, through +which they were looking, was suddenly raised. The ugly face of Andy +Foger peered out. He caught sight of Tom and Ned. + +"Get away from there, you spies!" he yelled. "Get away from there, +Tom Swift! You're trying to steal some of my ideas! Get away or I'll +make you. Sam, bring me my gun! Pete, go tell my father to come +here! I'll show Ned Newton and Tom Swift they can't bother me!" + +Andy was dancing about in a rage. His two cronies crowded behind him +to the window just as the ladder on which Tom and Ned were standing +slipped along the fence. + +"Jump, Ned!" yelled Tom Swift, as he leaped away to escape being +entangled in the rungs. + +The young inventor came to the ground with a jar that shook him up +considerably, while Ned, who had grasped the top board of the fence, +remained hanging there by his hands, his feet dangling in the air. + +"Whack his fingers, Andy!" yelled Pete Bailey. "Get a long stick and +whack Ned's fingers! That will make him drop off!" + +Tom Swift heard, and labored desperately to raise the ladder to +enable Ned to get down, for his chum seemed to be afraid to drop. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +ABE IS DECEIVED + + +Raising a ladder alone is rather an awkward job. Tom found this so +when he tried to aid his friend Ned. But, being a muscular lad, the +young inventor did finally succeed in getting the ladder up against +the fence where the bank clerk could reach it. + +Whack! Down upon the top board came a stick wielded by Andy Foger +from the rear window of his shop. + +"Wow!" cried Ned, for the blow had been close to his fingers. "Hurry +up with that ladder, Tom." + +"There it is! But why don't you drop?" + +"Too far. I can't reach the ladder now!" + +"Yes, you can. Stretch a bit!" + +"Whack!" Once more the stick descended on the fence, this time still +closer to Ned's clinging hands. + +"Hit him good, Andy!" cried Sam Snedecker, "Give me a shot at him!" + +"I will not. I want to attend to him myself. You go tell my father, +and he'll have Tom Swift arrested for trying to sneak in and get +some of my airship ideas!" + +By this time Ned's wiggling feet had found the topmost rung of the +ladder. The next moment he was rapidly descending it, and, when on +the ground, he and Tom carried it away, to prevent its use by the +enemy. + +"Whew!" exclaimed the young inventor. "I had no idea they would kick +up such a row!" + +"Me either. Did you hurt yourself when you jumped, as the ladder +fell?" + +"No. Did they hit your hands?" + +"Came mighty near it. Well, I s'pose it serves us right, yet if I +can't look over my own back fence it's a pity!" + +"Of course we can, only I'd just as soon they hadn't seen us. +However--hello! there's Andy looking over here, now." + +The mean face of the bully now topped the fence. It was evident that +he had crawled from the window of his shop. + +"What are you trying to get into my place for, Tom Swift?" he +demanded. + +"I wasn't trying to get in, Andy Foger." + +"Well, you were looking in." + +"Only doing as you've done over at my shop, several times, Andy. I +wanted to see what sort of an airship you were building." + +"Trying to get some ideas for your own, I guess," sneered Andy. + +Tom did not think it worth while to answer this taunt. + +"I could have you arrested for this," went on Andy, who felt bolder +now that he was reinforced by Sam and Pete on either side of him as +he looked over the fence into Ned's yard. + +"Arrested for what?" demanded the bank clerk. + +"For trespassing on my father's premises," went on Andy. + +"We weren't on your premises," declared Ned. "We were on our side of +the fence all the while." + +"Well, you were looking over in my yard." + +"A cat may look at a king, you know, Andy," Tom reminded the bully. + +"Yah! Think you're smart, don't you! Well, you can't steal any of my +ideas for an airship. They're all patented, and I'll soon be making +longer and higher flights than you ever dreamed of! I'll show you +what a real airship is, Tom Swift! Monoplanes and biplanes are out +of date. The only thing that's any good is a triplane. If mine works +well--and I'm sure it will--I may build a quadruplane!" + +"I wish you luck," spoke Tom, with a shrug of his shoulders. + +"Well, you won't have any luck if you come around here any more," +went on Pete Bailey. "We'll be on the watch for you fellows, now, +and we'll cover this window, so you can't see in." + +"That's what we will," agreed Andy, and Sam Snedecker shook his head +vigorously to indicate that he, too, approved of this. + +"Come on," spoke Tom in a low tone to Ned, "I've seen enough." + +The two chums moved toward Ned's house, followed by the jeers and +mocking laughter of Andy and his cronies. + +"Can't you get back at them in some way?" asked Ned, for he did not +like to see himself or his friend apparently vanquished by the +bully. + +"He laughs best who laughs last, Ned." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean that when Andy tries to fly in his triplane it will be our +turn to laugh." + +"Won't it fly?" + +"Never, the way he has it rigged up. It didn't take but one look to +tell me that. He's working on altogether the wrong principle. Wait +until he tries to go up, and then we'll have some fun with him." + +"Then you got a good view of it through the window?" + +"I saw all I wanted to. But say, I was about to take a little trip +in my monoplane, to see my friend Mr. Damon, when Abe's letter +arrived, and you came along with your news. I started to take +Eradicate, but he backed out. Don't you want to come?" + +"Sure, I'll go along." + +Ned had often ridden in the trim Butterfly, though the trips had not +been so frequent that he was tired of them. A little later, Tom, +having adjusted the motor that had stalled before, compelling him to +vol-plane back to earth, the two chums were sailing through the air +toward Waterford. + +"Why, bless my shoe laces!" cried Mr. Damon, as they alighted in the +yard of his house, about an hour later. "I didn't expect you, Tom. +But I'm glad to see you!" + +"And I to meet you again. I guess you know Ned Newton." + +"Ah, yes. How d'ye do, Ned? Bless my appetite! but it's quite +chilly. We'll soon have winter. Won't you come in and have some hot +chocolate?" + +The boys were glad to accept the invitation, and as they were +drinking the beverage, which Mrs. Damon made for them, Tom told of +the receipt of the letter from the old miner, and also his +experience in seeing Andy's airship. + +"Why, bless my pocketbook!" cried Mr. Damon. "I had no idea we'd +ever hear from Abe Abercrombie again. And so he is really coming on, +to tell us about the valley of gold?" + +"So he says," replied Tom. "I was wondering if you'd like to go, Mr. +Damon." + +"Go? Why, bless my very topknot! Of course I would. I'll go with +you--only--only," and he leaned forward and whispered cautiously, +"don't speak so loudly. My wife might hear you!" + +"Doesn't she want you to go off in the airship any more?" asked Tom. + +"Well, she'd rather I wouldn't. But she's going on a visit to her +mother, soon, and then I think will come my opportunity to take +another trip with you. A valley of gold in Alaska, eh? Up where the +icebergs and caves of ice are. Say, Tom, I know some one else who +would be glad to go." + +"Who?" inquired the young inventor, though he had an idea to whom +his friend referred. + +"Mr. Parker! You know he's taken up his residence in Waterford, now, +and only the other day he spoke to me about wishing he could go to +the far north. He has some new theory--" + +"About the destruction of something or other; hasn't he, Mr. Damon?" +interrupted Tom, with a smile. + +"That's it, exactly, my boy. Bless my coffeepot! But Mr. Parker has +an idea that the whole northern part of this continent will soon be +buried thousands of feet deep under an icy avalanche, and he wants +to be there to see it. I know he'd like to go with us, Tom." + +The young inventor made a little gesture of dissent, but as he knew +Mr. Damon, who was very eccentric himself, had taken a great liking +to the gloomy scientist, Tom did not feel like refusing. So he said: + +"All right, Mr. Damon. If we go, and I think we shall, we'll expect +you and Mr. Parker. I'll let you know the result of Mr. +Abercrombie's visit, and I needn't request you to keep quiet about +it. If there is a valley of gold in Alaska, we don't want everyone +to know about it." + +"No, of course not, Tom Swift. I'll keep silent about it. Bless my +liverpin! But I'll be glad to be on the move again, even if it is +toward the Arctic regions." + +After some further talk, Tom and Ned took their departure, making +good time back to Shopton in the speedy monoplane. + +For several days after that Tom busied himself about his big airship +the RED CLOUD, for it needed quite a few repairs after the long trip +to the mountains where the diamond makers had been discovered in +their cave. + +"And if we're going up amid the ice and snow," reasoned Tom, "I've +got to make some different arrangements about the craft, and provide +for keeping warmer than we found necessary when we went west." + +So it was that Tom had no time to learn anything further about Andy +Foger's airship, even had our hero been so inclined, which he was +not. He looked for Abe Abercrombie any day now, for though the old +miner had given no date as to when he would arrive, he had said, in +his letter, that it would be soon. + +It was one day, nearly a week after Tom's attempt to make Eradicate +like aeroplaning, that there might have been seen, coming along the +Shopton road, which led toward Tom's house, the figure of a grizzled +old man. His clothes were rather rough, and he carried a valise that +had, evidently, seen much service. There was that about him which +proclaimed him for a westerner--a cattleman or a miner. + +He walked slowly along, murmuring to himself. + +"Wa'al, I might better have taken one of them wagons at th' depot," +he said, "than t' try t' walk. It's quite a stretch out t' Tom +Swift's house. I hope I find him home." + +He trudged on, and, a little later, his gaze was attracted by a +large shed, in the rear of a white house the pretentious appearance +of which indicated that persons of wealth owned it. + +"I guess that must be the place," he remarked. "That shed is big +enough to hold the airship. Now to present myself." + +As he walked up the front path of the house, he was met by one of +the gardeners, who was raking up the leaves. + +"Is this the airship place?" asked the miner. + +"Yes, that's where the young master is making his triplane," +answered the man. + +"Is he in?" + +"Yes, I guess so. You can walk right back to the shed." + +The miner did so. Through the open door of the building he had a +glimpse of big stretches of wings, propellers, rudders, and some +machinery. + +"That's it," he murmured, "though it looks some different than I +remembered it. However, maybe Tom's changed it about. I wonder where +he is?" + +As he spoke a lad came from the shed to meet him--a lad on whose +face there was a look of suspicion. + +"What do you want?" he demanded. + +"I'm lookin' for Tom Swift," was the simple reply. "But I take it +you're one of his partners in this airship business. I guess he must +have told you about me. I'm Abe Abercrombie, the miner, and I've +come to show him the way to that valley of gold in Alaska." + +At the mention of Tom Swift's name, Andy Foger, for it was he, had +started to utter a denial. But, at the next words of the miner, and +as Mr. Abercrombie mentioned "gold" and "Alaska," there came a +cunning look over Andy's face. + +"Tom Swift isn't here just now," he said, wondering how he could +turn to advantage the unexpected visit, and the impending +information that the guileless old man was about to give under the +mistaken idea that Andy was Tom's friend. + +"That's all right, I reckon he'll be along presently. You'll do just +as well, I reckon. You're in partnership with him, I take it. So +this is the place where he makes his airships, eh? It's a big one," +and Mr. Abercrombie looked in at the odd triplane of Andy's--for the +airship was almost finished. + +"But it'll need to be big if we're to go to Alaska in it," went on +the miner. "It's quite a journey t' th' valley where th' gold is. No +way t' get t' it except by an airship. An' here I be an' ready to +start, I've brought th' map of th' place, jest as I promised. Here +it is, better take good care of it. Now, let's talk business," and +the miner, having guilelessly handed Andy Foger a folded parchment, +sat down on a box at the door of the airship shed, and placed his +heavy valise on the ground beside him. + +"What's this?" asked the bully, wondering whether he had heard +aright. + +"It's the map of th' valley of gold--directions how t' git there, +an' all that. I guess it's plain enough. Now, when can we start?" + +Andy did not know what to say. Fate had, most unexpectedly, placed +in his hands a valuable paper. The miner had made a mistake. Andy's +house was on the same road as was Tom's and, seeing the airship +shed, had deceived the aged man. He had not expected to find two +airship manufactories in the same village. + +"The map of the valley of gold," murmured Andy, as he put it in his +pocket. + +"Yes, jest as I told Tom about when I met him out West. I said I'd +bring it with me, an' I did. When will Tom be back? He never spoke +of you, though I reckoned he'd have to have some help in makin' his +airships. Where is he?" + +"He--he--" stammered Andy. He did not know what to say. + +At that instant Tom Swift himself passed by in the road. He had been +over to Shopton on an errand. One look into the yard of Andy's house +showed to our hero the old miner sitting at the door of the airship +shed. + +"Mr. Abercrombie--Abe!" cried Tom, almost, before he thought. + +"Hello, Tom! I got here!" cried the miner, heartily. "I was jest +talking to your partner." + +"My partner!" spoke Tom in amazement. + +"Yes--partner in th' airship business. I should think you'd need +about three partners to build these machines!" + +"My partner! Andy Foger isn't my partner!" cried Tom, wondering what +would happen next. "I have no partner! If he said he was he deceived +you!" + +"No partner? Ain't he your partner?" cried Mr. Abercrombie. "Why, I +thought he was. I told him about th' valley of gold--I--I--give him +the map--" + +"The map?" + +"Yes, the map t' tell how to get there. He's got it!" + +There was a mocking smile on Andy's face. + +"Give that map back at once!" cried Tom, sternly, now understanding +something of the situation. "Hand it over at once, Andy Foger!" + +"I will--when I get ready! He gave it to me!" cried the bully, and +then, before either Tom or Abe could stop him, Andy darted into the +big shed, and slammed shut the door. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +TOM GETS THE MAP + + +For a few seconds Tom was so surprised at the sudden action of the +bully that he could neither move nor speak. Then, crying out a +command to halt, the young inventor took after his enemy. + +"The scamp!" he cried. "The nerve he has! To deceive Abe Abercrombie +in that fashion! Wait until I get hold of him!" + +"What's it all about?" asked the old miner, who, being a slow +thinker had not understood all that had happened. "What's up, Tom +Swift?" + +"Haven't time to tell you now," flung back the running lad over his +shoulder. "I've got to catch Andy! Then I'll explain. He's trying to +get ahead of us, I guess, but we'll stop him!" Thereupon Tom flung +himself against the door of the airship shed. The young inventor +found the portal bolted, though it vibrated with the impact of his +body. + +"Come out of there, Andy Foger!" cried Tom, pounding on the door. +"Come out, or I'll get an officer, and have you arrested!" + +There was no answer. + +"Come out, I say!" repeated Tom. + +"Around th' back! Try th' back door!" suggested the miner, who had +hastened to Tom's side. "Maybe he's run out that way!" + +Tom listened. There was no movement in the shop. Then the young +inventor sprinted around the side. He was just in time to see the +bully running away over the lots and fields in the rear of his +father's premises. Andy had climbed out of the back window of the +shed, into which Tom and Ned had peered that day, had climbed the +high fence, dropped down on the other side, and was now running away +with all the speed he could muster. + +"Come back--!" began Tom, and then he realized that his enemy could +not hear him. The bully was too far away. At the same time our hero +realized that it would be useless to give chase, for Andy had too +much of a start. There was nothing to do but to turn back, and Tom +knew that his delay in trying to gain an entrance at the front door +had given Andy the very opportunity he needed to escape at the rear. + +"Well, this is a bad turn of affairs," remarked the lad, as he faced +the puzzled miner. + +"What is, Tom?" + +"Him having that map. It shows the location of the valley of gold, +doesn't it, and tells how to get there?" + +"That's what it does!" + +"How did Andy happen to get it?" + +"Jest as I told you. I was on my way t' your house, havin' inquired +at th' post-office, an' the man said that at your place there was a +big shed, where you kept your airships. I come along, an', of +course, when I see this house, an' the shed, an' had a glimpse of +th' airship, I, of course, thought it was your place. An', though +you'd never told me about it, I thought maybe this lad was in +business with you. So, like a blamed young tenderfoot, I blurted out +my business afore I thought, an' handed him the map for safe +keepin'. He took it, too, that's the worst of it." + +"Yes, that's the worst of it," agreed Tom, "But I'll get it back, if +I have to cause his arrest, and search his whole house." + +"But he runned away, Tom." + +"Oh, he'll come back. Was there only one copy of the map of the +valley, Abe?" asked Tom, anxiously. + +"Yep; only one." + +"Could you make another?" + +"No, not if you was to pay me a million dollars! You see I ain't no +drawer, an' this map, while I made part of it, was mostly made by my +old partner, who was with me when we discovered th' valley of gold, +an' was druv back by th' savage Eskimos an' Indians, an' by th' +terrible cold. My partner made th' best part of th' map, an' he's +dead, poor fellow." + +"I see. That's too bad! Then you can't make a duplicate map?" + +"Nary a one. But can't you do somethin'? It were amazin' stupid of +me, old Abe Abercrombie, t' be took in by a boy like him! Can't you +do somethin'?" + +"I'm going to try," announced Tom determinedly, as he swung on +toward the Foger house. "I'll cause his arrest if he doesn't give it +up." + +A few minutes later Tom Swift and Abe confronted Mr. Foger. The rich +man, father of the bully, was rather surprised at the visit from the +young inventor, for the two were not friends. + +"Well, what can I do for you, Tom Swift?" asked the banker, for he +felt a certain coldness toward our hero, since the latter had +defeated him in an effort to wreck a financial institution in which +Tom and his father were interested. + +"Mr. Foger," spoke Tom, sternly, "your son has just stolen a map +belonging to this gentleman," and he indicated Abe. + +"My son stolen a map!" exclaimed Mr. Foger. "How dare you make such +an accusation, Tom Swift?" + +"I dare, because it's true! And, unless that map is returned to me +at my house to-night I shall swear out a warrant for Andy's arrest." + +"You'd never dare do that!" + +"Wait and see!" spoke Tom, firmly. "I will give your son, or you, +exactly five hours to return that map--if it isn't back in my hands +by then, I'll get a warrant!" + +"Preposterous! Stuff and nonsense!" blustered Mr. Foger. "My son +never stole anything!" + +"He stole this map, and there is plenty of evidence," went on Tom, +as he detailed the circumstances. + +Mr. Foger hemmed and hawed, and affected not to believe that +anything of the kind could have happened. But Tom was firm, and Abe +Abercrombie backed up his statements, until even the banker began to +waver. + +"Very well," he announced at length, "I will look into this matter, +and if I find that my son has anything of yours, you shall have it +back. But I cannot believe it. Perhaps he took it as a joke." + +"In which case," spoke Tom grimly, "he will find that he has carried +the joke too far," and with that he and the miner left the Foger +home. + +"It's all my fault," bewailed Abe, as he and our hero trudged on +toward the Swift household. + +"No, it wasn't, Abe," declared Tom. "Any one would have been +deceived by such tactics as Andy used--that is any stranger. And you +didn't expect to find two airship sheds so close together." + +"No. That's right, I didn't. That's what threw me off th' track." + +"Andy only recently began work on his triplane. I don't know what +his object is, and I don't care. Just now I'm more concerned about +getting back this map." + +"I hope we do get it." + +"Oh, we will. I'm going to start off on my own hook, to find Andy. +But first I'll take you to my house." + +The old miner was soon telling his story to Mr. Swift, the +housekeeper and Garret Jackson. They expressed their surprise at +Andy's daring act. But Tom didn't do much more talking. + +"I'm going out to find Andy," he declared, "and when I do--" He +didn't finish his sentence, but they all knew what he meant. + +But the bully was in none of his usual haunts, though Tom visited +them all. Nor was Andy at the homes of either of his cronies. + +"Well, if I don't find him, I shall certainly swear out the +warrant," decided Tom. "I'll give him until night, and then I'll +call on the police." + +Still he did not give up, but went to several other places where +Andy might be found. He had about given up, as it was getting toward +late afternoon, when, as he came out of a billiardroom, where the +bully was in the habit of spending much of his time, Tom saw the lad +of whom he was in search. + +"Hold on there, Andy Foger!" cried the young inventor. "I want to +see you!" + +"What about?" + +"You know very well. Where's that map you stole?" + +"I haven't got it." + +"Take care!" and Tom, with a quick step was beside the bully, and +had grasped him firmly by the arm. + +"You let me alone, Tom Swift!" cried Andy. + +"Where's that map?" and Tom gave Andy's arm a wrench. + +"It's at your house; that's where it is! I just took it back. It was +only a joke." + +"A joke, eh? And you took it back?" + +"Yes, I did. Now you let me go!" + +"I will when I find out if you're telling me the truth or not, Andy +Foger. You come with me!" + +"Where?" + +"To my house. I want to see if that map's there." + +"Well, you'll find that it is, and you'd better let me go! My father +told me to take the map back, and I did. You let me go!" + +Andy struggled to get loose, but Tom had too tight a grip. There was +something, too, in the manner of our hero that warned Andy not to +trifle with him. So, concluding that discretion was the better part +of valor, Andy walked sullenly along toward Tom's home, the young +inventor never relaxing the grip on his enemy's arm. + +They reached the Swift home. Still holding his captive, Tom rang the +bell. His father came to the door, followed by Abe Abercrombie. + +"Is the map back?" asked the young inventor, anxiously. + +"Yes, Andy brought it here a few minutes ago," announced Mr. Swift. + +"Is it the right one, Abe?" inquired Tom. + +"Yep, Tom. I made sure of that as soon as I laid my eyes on it. It's +th' right one." + +"Then you can go, Andy Foger," announced our hero, "and if I ever +catch you in another trick like this, I'll take the law into my own +hands. Clear out, now!" + +"You wait! I'll get even with you," muttered the bully, as he fled +down the front walk, as though afraid Tom would, even then, put his +threat into execution. + +"Did he damage the map any?" asked the lad, as he followed his +father and Abe into the house. + +"Nary a bit," answered the old miner. "It's jest th' same as it was. +There it is," and he spread a crinkled sheet of tough parchment in +front of Tom. It was covered with a rude drawing, and with names of +places scrawled on it. + +"So that's the map, eh?" murmured Tom, eagerly scanning it. + +"That's it, an' here's th' valley of gold," went on Abe, as he +placed one rough finger on a certain spot. "Right there--hello!" he +cried, as he peered more closely at the parchment. "That ink spot +wasn't there when I had th' map, a few hours ago." + +"What ink spot?" asked Tom, anxiously. + +"That one," and the miner indicated a small one near the edge of the +map. "That was never there!" + +"It looks as if it was recently made," added Mr. Swift, who was +something of a chemist. + +"An ink spot-freshly made," murmured Tom, "Dad--Abe, I can guess +what's happened!" + +"What?" demanded the miner. + +"Andy Foger made a copy of this map while it was in his possession, +and now he knows where the valley of gold is as well as we do! He +may get there ahead of us!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +GRAVE SUSPICIONS + + +Tom's announcement took them all by surprise. For a moment no one +knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at +the parchment map. + +"Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. +Swift. + +"I do," answered his son. "That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave +him the map; was it?" + +"No," replied the miner. + +"And it couldn't get on in Andy's pocket," went on Tom. "So he must +have had it open near where there was ink." + +"His fountain pen might have leaked," suggested Mr. Jackson. + +"In that case the ink spot would be on the outside of the map, and +not on the inside," declared Tom, with the instinct of a detective. +"Unless he had the map folded in his pocket with the inside surface +on the outside, the ink couldn't have gotten on. Besides, Andy +always carries his fountain pen in his upper vest pocket, and that +pocket is too small to hold the map. No, I'm almost positive that +Andy or his father have sneakingly made a copy of this map!" + +"I'm sorry to have to admit that Mr. Foger is capable of such an +act," spoke Mr. Swift, "but I believe it is true." + +"And here is another thing," went on the young inventor, who was now +closely scanning the parchment through a powerful magnifying glass, +"do you see those tiny holes here and there, Mr. Jackson?" + +"Yes," answered the engineer. + +"Were they there before, Abe?" went on Tom, calling the old miner's +attention to them. + +"Nary a one," was the answer. "It looks as if some one had been +sticking pins in th' map." + +"Not pins," said Tom, "but the sharp points of a pair of dividers, +or compasses, for measuring distances. Andy, or whoever made a copy +of the map, used the dividers to take off distances with. This +clinches it, in my mind." + +"But what can you do?" asked Tom's father. + +"I don't know," answered the young inventor. "It would be of little +use to go to Andy. Naturally he would deny having made a copy of the +map, and his father would, also. Even though I am sure they have a +copy, I don't see how I am going to make them give it up. It's a +hard case. There's only one thing I see to do." + +"What's that?" asked Abe. + +"Start for Alaska as soon as possible, and be first on hand at the +valley of gold." + +"Good!" cried the miner. "That's the way to talk! We'll start off at +once. I know my way around that country pretty well, an' even though +winter is coming on, I think we can travel in th' airship. That's +one reason why I wanted t' go in one of these flyin' machines. +Winter is no time to be in Alaska, but if we have an airship we +won't mind it, an' it's the best time t' keep other people away, for +th' ordinary miner or prospector can't do anythin' in Alaska in +winter--that is away up north where we're goin'." + +"Exactly where are we going?" asked Tom. "I have been so excited +about discovering Andy's trick that I haven't had much time to +consider where we're bound for nor what will be the best plan to +follow." + +"Well, we're goin' to a region about seven hundred an' fifty miles +northwest from Sitka," explained the old miner, as he pointed out +the location on the map. "We'll head for what they call th' Snow +Mountains, an' th' valley of gold is in their midst. It's just over +th' Arctic circle, an' pretty cold, let me tell you!" + +"You'll be warm enough in Tom's airship, with the electric stoves +going," commented Mr. Jackson. + +"Well, we'll need t' be," went on the miner. "Th' valley is full of +caves of ice, an' it's dangerous for th' ordinary traveler. In fact +an airship was the only way I saw out of th' difficulty when I was +there." + +"Then you have been to the valley of gold?" asked Tom. + +"Well, not exactly TO it," was the reply, "but I was where I could +see it. That was in th' summer, though of course the summer there +isn't like here. I'll tell you how it was." + +The miner settled himself more comfortably in his chair, and resumed +his story. + +"It was two year ago," he said, "that me an' Jim Mace started to +prospect in Alaska. We didn't have much luck, an' we kept on workin' +our way farther north until we come to these Snow Mountains. Then +our supplies gave out, an' if it hadn't been for some friendly +Eskimos I don't know what we would have done. Jim and me we gave 'em +some trinkets an' sich, and th' Indians began talkin' of a wonderful +valley of gold, where th' stuff lay around in chunks on top of the +ground." + +"Me and Jim pricked up our ears at that, so to speak, an' we wanted +to see th' place. After some delay we was taken to th' top of a big +crag, some distance away from where we had been stopping with the +friendly Eskimos, or Indians, as I call 'em. There, away down below, +was a valley--an' a curious sort of a valley it were. It seemed +filled with big bubbles--bubbles made of solid banks of snow or ice, +an' we was told, me an' Jim was, that these were caves of ice, an' +that th' gold was near these caves." + +"Well, of course me an' my partner wanted to go down the worst way, +an' try for some gold, but th' Indians wouldn't let us. They said it +was dangerous, for th' ice caves were constantly fallin' in, an' +smashin' whoever was inside. But to prove what they said about th' +gold, they sent one of their number down, while we waited on th' +side of th' mountain." + +"Did he get any gold?" asked Tom, eagerly. + +For answer the old miner pulled from his pocket a few yellow +pebbles--little stones of dull, gleaming yellow. + +"There's some of th' gold from amid th' caves of ice," he remarked +simply. "I kept 'em for a souvenir, hopin' some day I might git back +there. Well, Jim an' me watched th' Indian going down into th' +valley. He come back in about three hours, havin' only gone to th' +nearest cave, an' he had two pockets filled with these little chunks +of solid gold. They gave me an' Jim some, but they wouldn't hear of +us goin' t' th' valley by ourselves." + +"Then a bad storm come up, an' we had t' hit th' trail for home--the +Indians' home, I mean--for Jim an' I was far enough away from ours." + +"Well, t' make a long story short, Jim an' me tried every way we +knowed t' git t' that valley, but we couldn't. It come off colder +an' colder, an' th' tribe of Indians with whom we lived was attacked +by some of their enemies, an' driven away from their campin' +grounds. Jim an' me, we went too, but not before Jim had drawed this +map on a piece of dog-skin we found in one of the huts. We had an +idea we might get back, some day, an' find the valley, so we'd need +a map t' go by. But poor Jim never got back. He got badly frozen +when the Indians drove us an' our friends away, an' he never got +over it. He died up there in th' ice, an' we buried him. I took th' +map, an' when spring come, I made a hike out of that country. From +then until now I've been plannin' how t' git t' that valley, an' th' +only way I seen was an airship. Then, when I was prospectin' around +out in Colorado I saw Tom's machine hidden in th' trees, an' I +waited until he come along, which part you know as well as I do," +finished Abe. + +"And that's the story of the valley of gold," spoke Mr. Swift. + +"That's all there is to it," assented Abe, simply. + +"Do you think there is much gold there?" asked Tom. + +"Plenty of it--for th' pickin' up," replied the miner. "Around th' +caves of ice it's full of it, but, of course, it's dangerous. An' +th' only way t' git t' it, an' pass th' savage Indians that are all +around in th' mountains about th' valley, is t' fly over their heads +in th' airship." + +"Then that's what we'll do," decided Tom. + +"Will you go all the way in the RED CLOUD?" inquired Mr. Jackson. + +"No, I think I'll send the airship on ahead to some point in +Washington--say Seattle," replied Tom, "put it together there, and +start for the Snow Mountains. In Seattle we can get plenty of +supplies and stores. It will be a good point to start from, and will +save us a long, and perhaps dangerous, flight across the United +States." + +"I think that will be the best plan," agreed Mr. Swift. "But what +about Andy--do you think he'll try to follow--or try to get ahead of +you now that he has a copy of the map?" + +"He may," answered Tom. "But I have a little trick I'm going to work +on Andy. I will try to learn whether he really has a copy of the +map, though I'm practically certain of it. Then I'll decide what's +best to do." + +"In th' meanwhile, will you be gettin' ready?" asked Abe. "I'd like +t' start as soon as we can, for it's awful cold there, the longer +you wait, at this time of th' year." + +"Yes, I'll start right to work, getting the RED CLOUD in readiness +to be shipped," promised Tom. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +ANDY'S AIRSHIP FLIES + + +"Hello, Tom, have you heard the news?" asked Ned Newton, of the +young inventor, a few days later. + +"What news, Ned? I declare I've been so busy thinking out the best +plan to ship the RED CLOUD to Seattle that I haven't been over to +town. What's going on? Have they decided to build a new church in +Shopton, or something like that?" + +"Oh, this about Andy Foger's airship." + +"Andy's airship, eh? Is he still working on it?" + +"It's all done, so Sam Snedecker was telling me last night, and +to-day Andy is going to try to fly it." + +"You don't mean it!" + +"Sure thing. Let's go over and watch him." + +"He might make a fuss, same as he did when we looked in the window +of his shed." + +"He can't make any fuss now. He's got to take his machine out to fly +it, and anybody that wants to can look on. Didn't he watch you make +flights often enough?" + +"That's so. Where is the trial flight going to take place?" + +"In the big meadow. Come on over." + +"Guess I will. I can't do much more now. I've been getting some +boxes and crates made in which to pack the RED CLOUD. I'll have to +take her all apart." + +"Then you're really going to hunt for the valley of gold?" + +"Sure thing. How about you going, Ned? I spoke to dad about it, and +he said he'd see that you could have a leave of absence." + +"Yes, that part's all right. The bank president told me today I +could take a vacation any time I wanted it. In fact that's what I +came over to see you about. I want to thank your father." + +"Then you're going?" + +"I sure am, Tom! Won't it be great! I hope I can get a little gold +for myself! My folks didn't take very much to the notion of me going +off in an airship, but I told them how often you'd gone on trips, +and come safely back, so they finally gave their consent. When are +you going to start?" + +"Oh, in about two weeks. Did I tell you about Andy and the map?" + +"No. What trick has he been up to now?" + +Thereupon Tom related his suspicions concerning the bully, and also +hinted to Ned of a certain ruse he intended to work on Andy when he +got the chance. + +"Well, if you're ready, suppose we go over and see if Andy's airship +will really fly," suggested Ned, after a while. "I'm doubtful +myself, and I'd just like to see him come to grief, after the many +mean things he's done to you." + +"Well," spoke Tom slowly, "I don't know as I wish him any bad luck, +but I certainly hope he doesn't use his airship to try to beat us +out in the hunt for the valley of gold." + +"Do you think he might?" + +"It's possible. But never mind about that now. Come on, we'll go +over to the big meadow." + +The two chums walked along together, talking of many things. Tom +told of some communication he had had with Mr. Damon, in which +letters the eccentric man had inquired as to when the trip for +Alaska would be undertaken. + +"Then he's going?" asked Ned. + +"Oh, yes, it wouldn't seem natural to go without some of Mr. Damon's +blessings. But I think he's going to bring a friend with him." + +"Who?" + +"Mr. Ralph Parker." + +"That gloomy scientist, who is always predicting such terrible +things going to happen?" + +"That's the gentleman. You met him once, I believe. Mr. Damon says +Mr. Parker wants to do some scientific studying in the far north, so +I've already counted on him as one of our party. Well, perhaps he +won't do so much predicting this trip." + +A little later Tom and Ned came to a big open field. They saw quite +a crowd gathered in it, but no sign of an airship. + +"Guess Andy hasn't arrived," spoke Tom. + +"No; very likely he's found out that something is wrong with his +machine, and he isn't going to risk it." + +But almost as Ned spoke, there sounded cries of excitement from the +crowd, and, a little later, something big and white, with many +wing-shaped stretches of canvas sticking out from all sides, was seen +turning into the big meadow from the broad highway that led to +Andy's house. + +"There she is!" cried Ned. + +"There's something, at any rate," conceded Tom, as he hastened his +steps. "It's a queer-looking aeroplane, though. My! he's got enough +wings to it!" + +"Yes, it's Andy's sure enough," went on Ned "There he is in front, +giving orders like a major-general, and Sam and Pete are helping +him. Let's get closer." + +They followed the crowd, which was thronging about the airship that +Andy Foger had made, Tom had a glimpse of the machine. It was a form +of triplane, with three tiers of main wings, and several other sets +of planes, some stationary and some capable of being moved. There +was no gas-bag feature, but amidships was a small, enclosed cabin, +which evidently held the machinery, and was designed to afford +living quarters. In some respects the airship was not unlike Tom's, +and the young inventor could see that Andy had copied some of his +ideas. But Tom cared little about this. + +"Do you think it will go up?" asked Ned. + +"It looks to me to be too heavy, and his propellers seem too small," +answered Tom. "He's got to have a very powerful motor to make all +that bulk fly." + +The people were crowding in closer around the airship, for the news +that Andy was to attempt a flight had spread about town. + +"Now keep back--all of you!" ordered the bully, with a show of +anger. "If any one damages my airship I'll have him arrested! Keep +back, now, or I won't fly!" + +"Reminds me of a little kid saying he won't play if he can't have +his own way," whispered Ned to Tom. + +"Hello, Andy, give us a ride!" + +"Going above the clouds?" + +"When are you coming back?" + +"Bring down a snowstorm!" + +"Be careful that you don't fall!" + +These were some of the things shouted at Andy, for he had few +friends among the town lads, on account of his mean ways. + +"Keep quiet--all of you!" he ordered. "Get back. You might get hurt +when I start the motor. I'm going to make a flight soon," he added +proudly. "Sam, you come over here and hold this end. Pete, you go +back to the rear. Simpson, you get inside and help me with the +motor. Henderson, you get ready to shove when I tell you." + +These last orders were to the two machinists whom Andy had engaged +to help him, and the bully gave himself no end of airs and +importance as he bustled about. + +Tom could not help but admit that Andy's machine was a big affair. +There was a great stretch of wings and planes, several rudders other +appliances for which the young inventor could not exactly fathom a +use. He did not think the machine would fly far, if at all. But Andy +was hurrying here and there, getting the triplane in place on a +level stretch of ground, as if he intended to capture some great +prize. + +"Are you going to tackle him about stealing a copy of that map?" +asked Ned. + +"I will if I get a chance," answered Tom, in a low voice. + +He got his opportunity a few minutes later. Andy, hurrying here and +there, came face to face with the young inventor. + +"Hello, Andy," spoke Tom, good-naturedly. "So you're going to make a +flight, eh?" + +"Yes, I am, and I s'pose you came around to see if you could get any +ideas; didn't you?" sneered Andy. + +"Of course," admitted Tom, with an easy laugh. "My airship doesn't +fly, you know, Andy, and I want to see what's wrong with it." + +There was a laugh in the crowd, at this, for Tom's success was well +known. + +"Are you going to Alaska?" suddenly asked Tom, in a low voice, of +the bully. + +"To Alaska? I--I don't--I don't know what you mean?" stammered Andy, +as he turned aside. + +"Yes, you do know what I mean," insisted Tom. "And I want to tell +you that the map you have won't be of much use to you. Why, do you +think," he went on, "that Abe would carry the real map around with +him that way? It's easy to make a copy look like an original, Andy, +and also very easy to put false distances and directions on a map +that may fall into the hands of an enemy." + +The shot told. Andy's face turned first red and then pale. + +"A--a false map!" he stammered. "Wrong directions?" + +"Yes--on the copy you made of the map you took from Mr. +Abercrombie," went on Tom. + +"I--I didn't make any--Oh, I'm not going to talk to you!" blustered +Andy. "Get out of my way! I'm going to fly my airship." + +The bully pushed past Tom, and started toward the triplane. But Tom +had found out what he wanted to know. Andy had made a copy of the +map. From now on there would be every danger that the bully would +make an effort to get to the valley of gold. + +But other matters held Andy's attention now. He wanted to try his +airship. With the help of his two cronies, and the machinists, the +machine was gone over, oiled up, and finally, after several false +starts, the motor was set going. + +It made a terrific racket, and the whole machine vibrated as though +it would shake apart. + +"He hasn't got it well enough braced," said Tom to Ned. + +"Out of the way, now, everybody!" yelled Andy. "Keep away or you'll +get hurt! I'm going up!" + +He climbed into the cabin of the craft, and took his position at the +steering-wheel. The speed of the motor, its racket and its stream of +sparks increased. + +"Let go!" cried Andy to those who were holding his craft. + +They released their hold. The triplane moved slowly across the +ground, gathered speed, and, then, under the impulse of the powerful +propellers, ran rapidly over the meadow. + +"Hurrah! There he goes!" cried Sam. + +"Yes! Now he's going to fly," proudly added Pete Bailey, the other +crony of the bully. + +"He'd better fly soon, then, or he'll be in the ditch," said Tom +grimly, for a little, sluggish stream crossed the meadow not far +from where Andy had started. + +The next instant, thinking he had momentum enough, Andy tilted his +elevation plane. The clumsy triplane rose into the air and shot +forward. + +"There he goes!" cried Sam. + +"Hurrah!" yelled the crowd. + +Andy had gone up about ten feet, and was making slow progress. + +"I guess Tom Swift isn't the only one in Shopton who can build an +airship!" sneered Pete Bailey. + +"Look! Look!" yelled Ned. "He's coming down!" + +Sure enough, Andy's machine had reached the end of her flight. The +motor stopped with something between a cough and a wheeze. Down +fluttered the aeroplane, like some clumsy bird, down into the ditch, +settling on one side, and then coming to rest, tilted over at a +sharp angle. Andy was pitched out, but landed on the soft mud, for +there had been a thaw. He wasn't hurt much, evidently, for he soon +scrambled to his feet as the crowd surged toward him. + +"Well, he flew a little way," observed Ned, grimly. + +"But he came down mighty soon," added Tom. "I thought he would. His +machine is too big and clumsy. I've seen enough. Come on, Ned. We'll +get ready to go to Alaska. Andy Foger will never follow us in that +machine." + +But Tom was soon to find out how much mistaken he was. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +READY FOR THE TRIP + + +Andy Foger stood looking at his tilted airship. His clothes were +covered with mud from the ditch, some of the muck had splashed over +his face so that he was a pitiable looking object. + +"What's the matter?" panted Pete Bailey. + +"Are you hurt?" asked Sam Snedecker. + +The two cronies had hurried to the side of the bully. + +"Matter? Can't you see what's the matter?" demanded Andy wrathfully. +"The machine came down, that's what's the matter! Why didn't you +fellows fix the motor better?" he shouted at the two machinists as +they came running up, followed by the crowd. + +"Fix it better? The motor was all right," declared the taller +machinist. "Any of them are likely to stop unexpectedly." + +"Well, I didn't think mine would," came from Andy. "Now look at my +airship! It's all busted!" + +"No, it isn't hurt much," said the other man, after critically +looking it over. "We can fix it, and you'll fly yet, Andy." + +"I hope I do, if only to fool Tom Swift," declared the bully, as he +wiped some of the mud from his face. "Come on, now, help me wheel +the machine back, and I'll try it again." + +Andy made another attempt, but this time the machine did not even +rise off the ground, and then, amid the jeers of the crowd, the +discomfited lad took his aeroplane back to the shed in the rear of +his house. + +"I'll fix it yet, and make a long flight," he declared. "I'll show +Tom Swift he can't laugh at me!" + +"You'll make a long flight eh?" asked one of the machinists. "Where +will you go?" + +"Never mind," answered Andy, with a knowing wink. "I've got a plan +up my sleeve--my father and I are going to do something that will +astonish everybody in Shopton," and then Andy, with many nods and +winks, went into the shed, where he began giving orders about the +airship. He wanted the motor changed, and one of the machinists made +some suggestions about the planes, which, he said, would give better +results. + +As for Tom and Ned, they strolled away, satisfied that in Andy Foger +they would not have a very dangerous rival, as far as airships were +concerned. + +Tom thought matters over during the next few days. He was now +satisfied that Andy had a copy of the map, and, as far as he could +see, there was no way of getting it from him, for he could not prove +to the satisfaction of the legal authorities that the bully actually +had it. + +"We'll just have to take a chance, that's all," decided the young +inventor in talking matters over with his father, Ned, and Abe +Abercrombie. "If Andy and some of his crowd trail after us, we'll +just have to run away from them and get to the valley first." + +"If they do get there, they won't find it very easy traveling I +reckon," remarked Abe. "They'll get all they want of the caves of +ice. But hadn't we better get a hustle on ourselves, Tom?" + +"Yes, we will soon start now. I have the RED CLOUD all packed up for +shipment to Seattle. We will send it on ahead, and then follow, for +it will take some time to get there, even though it's going by fast +freight." + +"What about Mr. Damon?" asked Ned. "When is he coming?" + +"There's no telling," responded Tom. "He may be on hand any minute, +and, again, he may only show up just as we are starting. I haven't +heard from him in the last day or two." + +At that moment there was a knock on the private office in the +aeroplane shed, where Tom, Ned and Abe Abercrombie were talking. + +"Who's there?" asked Tom. + +"It's me," answered a voice recognizable as that of the colored man +Eradicate. + +"What is it, Rad?" asked Tom. + +"Why I jest thought I'd tell you dat de blessin' man am comin' down +de road." + +"The blessing man?" repeated Tom. "Oh, you mean Mr. Damon." + +"Yais, sah, dat's jest who I done mean. An' dere's anodder gen'man +wif him." + +"Mr. Parker, I expect," spoke Tom. "Well, tell them to come in here, +Rad." + +"Yais, sah. Dey's comin' up de path now, so dey is." + +The next moment Tom and the others heard a voice saying: + +"Why, bless my necktie! The RED CLOUD is gone!" Mr. Damon had peered +into the shed, and had not seen the airship, for Tom had it packed +up. "I wonder if Tom Swift has gone away? Bless my top-knot, Mr. +Parker, I hope we're not too late!" + +"Indeed I hope not," added the scientist. "I wish to make a study of +the caves of ice. I think perhaps they may be working south, and, in +time, this part of the country may be covered deep under a frozen +blanket." + +"Cheerful, isn't he, Ned?" asked Tom, with a smile. Then, going to +the door of the shed he called out: "Here we are, Mr. Damon. Glad to +see you, Mr. Parker." This last wasn't exactly true, but Tom wanted +to be polite. + +"Bless my collar button, Tom! But what has become of the airship?" +asked Mr. Damon, as he looked about the shed, and saw only a number +of boxes and crates. + +"Taken apart, and packed up, ready for the trip to the valley of +gold and the caves of ice," replied the young inventor, and then he +briefly told of their plans. + +"Well, that's a good idea," declared the eccentric man. "Mr. Parker +and I are ready to go whenever you are, Tom." + +"Then we'll start very soon. I will get all our supplies in Seattle. +Now, to discuss details," and, after Mr. Parker and Mr. Damon had +been made acquainted with the old miner, who told his story in +brief, they began a discussion of the prospective trip. + +Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker took up their residence in Tom's house, and +while the eccentric man busied himself in helping our hero, Ned and +Abe Abercrombie in getting ready for the trip to Alaska, the gloomy +scientist went about making "observations" as he called them, with a +view to predicting what might happen in the near future. + +He was particularly anxious to get up north, among the caves of ice, +and, several times he repeated his statement that he believed the +mass of ice in Alaska was working down toward the south. But no one +paid much attention to him, though Tom recalled, not without a +little shudder, that Mr. Parker had correctly predicted the +destruction of Earthquake Island, and also the landslide on Phantom +Mountain. + +The airship was finally sent off, being forwarded to Seattle in +sections, where it could easily be put together. The matter of Andy +Foger having a duplicate map of the valley of gold was discussed, +but it was agreed that nothing could be done about it. So Tom and +the others devoted all their energies to getting in shape for their +prospective journey. + +Mr. Swift was invited to go, but declined on the ground that he had +several inventions to perfect, nor could Mr. Jackson go, as he was +needed to help his employer. So Tom, Ned, Mr. Damon, Mr. Parker and +Abe Abercrombie made up the party. Tom arranged to send wireless +messages to his father from the airship once they were started off +toward the valley of gold, and over the frozen north. + +One evening, when Tom had been to pay a last visit to Mary Nestor, +as he was coming past the Foger premises he saw a number of large +vans, loaded with big packing cases coming out of the banker's yard. + +"Hum! I wonder if they're moving?" mused our hero. "If they are +they're taking a queer time for it." He paused a moment to look at +the procession of vans. As he did so he heard the voice of Andy +Foger. + +"Now, I want you men to be careful of everything!" the bully called +out arrogantly. "If you break anything I'll sue you for damages!" + +"Oh, that cub makes me sick!" exclaimed one of the drivers as he +came opposite Tom. + +"What are you moving--eggs, that you have to be so careful?" asked +the young inventor, in a low voice. + +"Eggs? No! But it might just as well be," was the growling answer. +"He's shipping an airship, all taken to pieces, and he has nervous +prostration for fear it will be broken. I don't believe the old +thing's any good, anyhow." + +"An airship--Andy Foger sending away his airship?" gasped Tom. +"Where to?" + +"Some place in Alaska," was the startling reply. "Pitka or Sitka, or +some such place like that. It's all in these boxes, G'lang there!" +this to his horses. + +"Andy sending his airship to Alaska!" murmured Tom in dismay. "Then +he surely is going to make a try for that valley of gold!" + +He turned away, while the snarling voice of the bully rang out on +the night, urging the drivers to be very careful of the boxes and +crates on their trucks. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A THIEF IN THE NIGHT + + +Tom Swift hardly knew what to think. He had scarcely believed, in +spite of the fact that he was sure Andy had a copy of the map, that +the bully would actually make an effort to go to the valley of gold. + +"And in that airship of his, too," mused Tom. "Well, there's one +consolation, I don't believe he'll go far in that, though it does +sail better than when he made his first attempt. Well, if he's going +to try to beat us, it's a good thing I know it. We can be prepared +for him, now." + +Tom, after watching the big vans for a few minutes, turned and kept +on toward his home. + +There was more than surprise on the part of Mr. Damon and the others +when Tom told his news. There was alarm, for there was a feeling +that Mr. Foger and his son might adopt unscrupulous tricks. + +"But what can we do?" asked Mr. Swift. + +"Whitewash him!" exclaimed Eradicate Sampson, who had overheard part +of the conversation. "Dat's what I'd do t' him an' his father, too! +Dat's what I would! Fust I'd let mah mule Boomerang kick him a bit, +an' den, when he was all mussed up, I'd whitewash him!" That was the +colored man's favorite method of dealing with enemies, but, of +course, he could not always carry it out. + +However, after considering the matter from all sides, it was decided +that nothing could be done for the present. + +"Let them go," said Tom, "I don't believe they'll ever find the +valley of gold. I fancy I threw a scare into Andy, talking as I did +about the map." + +"Well, even if the Fogers do get the gold," said Mr. Parker calmly, +"they cannot take away the caves of ice, and it is in them that I am +most interested. I want to prove some of my new theories." + +"And we need the gold," said Tom, in a low voice; "don't we, Abe?" + +"That's what we do, Tom," answered the old miner. + +Preparations were now practically completed for their trip to +Seattle by rail. Tom made some inquiries in the next few days +regarding the Fogers, but only learned that the father and son had +left town, after superintending the shipment of their airship. + +"Well, we start to-day," remarked Tom, as he arose one morning. "In +two weeks, at most, we ought to be hovering over the valley, Abe." + +"I hope so, Tom. You've got the map put away safely, have you?" + +"Sure thing. Are you all ready?" + +"Yes." + +"Then we'll start for the depot right after breakfast." The +adventurers had arranged to take a local train from Shopton, and get +on a fast express at one of the more important stations. + +Good-byes were said, Mr. Swift, Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Baggert and +Eradicate waving their adieus from the porch as Tom and the others +started for the depot. Miss Mary Nestor had bidden our hero farewell +the previous night--it being a sort of second good-bye, for Tom was +a frequent caller at her house, and, if the truth must be told he +rather disliked to leave the young lady. + +Tom found a few of his friends at the station, who had gathered +there to give him and Ned BON-VOYAGE. + +"Bring us back some nuggets, Tom," pleaded Arthur Norton. + +"Bring me a musk-ox if you can shoot one," suggested one. + +"A live bear or a trained Eskimo for mine," exclaimed another. + +Tom laughingly promised to do the best he could. + +"I'll send you some gold nuggets by wireless," said Ned Newton. + +It was almost time for the train to arrive. In the crowd on the +platform Tom noticed Pete Bailey. + +"He must feel lost without Andy," observed the young inventor to +Ned. + +"Yes, I wonder what he's hanging around here for?" + +They learned a moment later, for they saw Pete going into the +telegraph office. + +"Must be something important for him to wire about," observed Ned. + +Tom did not answer. The window of the office was slightly open, +though the day was cool, and he was listening to the clicks of the +telegraph instrument, as the operator sent Pete's message. Tom was +familiar with the Morse code. What was his surprise to hear the +message being sent to Andy Foger at a certain hotel in Chicago. And +the message read: + +"Tom Swift's party leaving to-day." + +"What in the world does that mean?" thought Tom, but he did not tell +Ned what he had picked up as it went over the wire. "Why should Andy +want to be informed when we leave? That's why Pete was hanging +around here! He had been instructed to let Andy know when we left +for Seattle. There's something queer back of all this." + +Tom was still puzzling over the matter when their train roiled in +and he and the others got aboard. + +"Well, we're off!" cried Ned. + +"Yes; we're off," admitted Tom, and, to himself he added: "No +telling what will happen before we get there, though." + +The trip to Chicago was without incident, and, on arrival in the +Windy City, Tom was on the lookout for Andy or his father, but he +did not see them. He made private inquiries at the hotel mentioned +in Pete's telegram, but learned that the Fogers had gone on. + +"Perhaps I'm worrying too much," thought Tom. But an event that +occurred a few nights later, when they were speeding across the +continent showed him that there was need of great precaution. + +On leaving Chicago, Tom had noticed, among the other passengers +traveling in the same coach as themselves, a man who seemed to be +closely observing each member of the party of gold-hunters. He was a +man with a black mustache, a mustache so black, in fact, that Tom at +once concluded that it had been dyed. This, in itself, was not much, +but there was a certain air about the man--a "sporty" air--which +made Tom suspicious. + +"I wouldn't be surprised if that man was a gambler, Ned," he said to +his chum, one afternoon, as they were speeding along. The man in +question was several seats away from Tom. + +"He does look like one," agreed Ned. + +"I needn't advise you not to fall in with any of his invitations to +play cards, I suppose," went on Tom, after a pause. + +"No, indeed, it's something I don't do," answered Ned, with a laugh. +"But it might be a good thing to speak to Abe Abercrombie about him. +If that man's a sharper perhaps Abe knows him, or has seen him, for +Abe has traveled around in the West considerable." + +"We'll ask him," agreed Tom, but the miner, when his attention was +called to the man, said he had never seen him before. + +"He does look like a confidence man," agreed Abe, "but as long as he +doesn't approach us we can't do anything, and don't need to worry." + +There was little need to call the attention of either Mr. Damon or +Mr. Parker to the man, for Mr. Damon was busy watching the scenery, +as this trip was a new one to him, and he was continually blessing +something he saw or thought of. As for Mr. Parker, he was puzzling +over some new theories he had in mind, and he said little to the +others. + +On the night of the same day on which Tom had called special +attention to the man with the black mustache, our hero went to his +berth rather late. He had sent some telegrams to his father and one +to Miss Nestor, and, when he turned in he saw the "gambler," as he +had come to call him, going into the smoking compartment of the +coach. Though Tom thought of the man as a gambler, there was no +evidence, as yet, that he was one, and he had made no effort to +approach any of our friends, though he had observed them closely. + +How long Tom had been asleep he did not know, but he was suddenly +awakened by feeling his pillow move. At first he thought it was +caused by the swaying of the train, and he was about to go to sleep +again, when there came a movement that he knew could not have been +caused by any unevenness of the roadbed. + +Then, like a flash there came to Tom's mind the thought that under +his pillow, in a little leather case he had made for it, was the +map, showing the location of the valley of gold. + +He sat up suddenly, and made a lunge for the pillow. He felt a hand +being hurriedly withdrawn. Tom made a grab for it, but the fingers +slipped from his grasp. + +"Here! Who are you!" cried Tom, endeavoring to peer through the +darkness. + +"It's all right--mistake," murmured a voice. + +Tom leaned suddenly forward and parted the curtains of his berth. +There was a dim light burning in the aisle of the car. By the gleam +of it the young inventor caught sight of a man hurrying away, and he +felt sure the fellow who had put his hand under his pillow was the +man with the black mustache. He confirmed this suspicion a moment +later, for the man half turned, as if to look back, and the youth +saw the mustache. + +"He--he was after my map!" thought Tom, with a gasp. + +He sat bolt upright. What should he do? To raise an alarm now, he +felt, would only bring a denial from the man if he accused him. +There might also be a scene, and the man might get very indignant. +Then, too, Tom and his friends did not want their object made known, +as it would be in the event of Tom raising an outcry and stating +what was under his pillow. + +He felt for the map case, opened it and saw, in the gleam of the +light, that it was safe. + +"He didn't get it anyhow," murmured our hero. "I guess I won't say +anything until morning, though he did come like a thief in the night +to see if he could steal it." + +Tom glanced to where his coat and other clothing hung in the little +berth-hammock, and a hasty search showed that his money and ticket +were safe. + +"It was the map he was after all right," mused Tom. "I'll have a +talk with Mr. Damon in the morning about what's best to do. That's +why the fellow has been keeping such a close watch on us. He wanted +to see who had the map." + +Then another thought came to Tom. + +"If it was the map he was after," he whispered to himself, "he must +know what it's about. Therefore the Fogers must have told him. I'll +wager Andy or his father put this man up to steal the map. Andy's +afraid he hasn't got a copy of the right one. This is getting more +and more mysterious! We must be on our guard all the while. Well, +I'll see what I'll do in the morning." + +But in the morning the man with the black mustache was not aboard +the train, and on inquiring of the conductor, Tom learned that the +mysterious stranger had gotten off at a way station shortly after +midnight. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A VANDAL'S ACT + + +"Bless my penknife!" exclaimed Mr. Daman, the next morning, when he +had been told of Tom's experience in the night, "things are coming +to a pretty pass when our enemies adopt such tactics as this! What +can we do, Tom? Hadn't you better let one of us carry the map?" + +"Oh, I guess not," answered the young inventor. "They have had one +try at me, and found that I wasn't napping. I don't believe they'll +try again. No, I'll carry the map." + +Tom concealed it in an old wallet, as he thought it was less likely +to attract attention there than in the new case he formerly used. +Still he did not relax his vigilance, and his sleep for the next few +nights was uneasy, as he awakened several times, thinking he felt a +hand under his pillow. + +At length Ned suggested that one of them sit up part of the night, +and keep an eye on Tom's berth. This was agreed to, and they divided +the hours of darkness into watches, each one taking a turn at +guarding the precious map. But they might have spared themselves the +trouble, for no further attempt was made to get it. + +"I'd just like to know what Andy Foger's plans are?" said Tom one +afternoon, as they were within a few miles of Seattle. "He certainly +must have made up his mind quickly, after he saw the map, about +going in search of the gold." + +"Maybe his father proposed it," suggested Ned. "I heard, in our +bank, that Mr. Foger has lost considerable money lately, and he may +need more." + +"I shouldn't wonder. Well, if they are going to Sitka, Alaska, to +assemble their ship, I think they'll have trouble, for supplies are +harder to get there than in Seattle. But we'll soon be on our way +ourselves, if nothing happens. I hope all the parts of the RED CLOUD +arrive safely." + +They did, as Tom learned a few hours later, when they had taken up +their quarters in a Seattle hotel, and he had made inquiries at the +railroad office. In the freight depot were all the boxes and crates +containing the parts of the big airship, and by comparison with a +list he had made, the young inventor found that not a single part +was missing. + +"We'll soon have her together again," he said to his friends, "and +then we'll start for Alaska." + +"Where are you going to assemble the airship?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"I've got to hire some sort of a big shed," explained Tom. "I heard +of one I think I can get. It's out at the fair grounds, and was used +some time ago when they had a balloon ascension here. It will be +just what I need." + +"How long before we can start for the gold valley?" asked the old +miner anxiously. + +"Oh, in about a week," answered the lad, "that is, if everything +goes well." + +Tom lost no time in getting to work. He had the different parts of +his airship carted to the big shed which he hired. This building was +on one edge of the fair grounds, and there was a large, level space +which was admirably adapted for trying the big craft, when once more +it was put together. + +The gold-seekers worked hard, and to such good purpose that in three +days most of the ship was together once more, and the RED CLOUD +looked like herself again. Tom hired a couple of machinists to aid +him in assembling the motor, and some of the gas appliances and +other apparatus. + +"Ha! Bless my rubber shoes!" cried Mr. Damon in delight, as he +looked at the big craft "This is like old times, Tom!" + +"Yes, indeed," agreed our hero. + +"Are you going to give it a preliminary tryout?" asked Ned. + +"Oh, yes, I think we can do that to-morrow," replied Tom. "I want to +know that everything is in good working shape before I trust the +ship on the trip to the frozen north. There are several problems I +want to work out, too, for I think I will need a different kind of +gas up where the temperature is so low." + +"It certainly is cold up here," agreed Ned, for they were now much +farther north than when they were in Shopton, and, besides, winter +was coming on. It was not the best time of the year to journey into +Alaska, but they had no choice. To delay, especially now, might mean +that their enemies would get ahead of them. + +"We'll be warm in the airship, though; won't we?" asked Abe. + +"Oh, yes," answered Tom. "We'll be warm, and have plenty to eat. +Which reminds me that I must begin to see about our stock of +provisions and other supplies, for we'll soon be on our way." + +Work on the airship was hastened to such good advantage the next two +days that it was in shape for a trial flight, and, one afternoon, +the RED CLOUD was wheeled from the shed out into big field, the gas +was generated, and the motor started. + +There was a little hitch, due to the fact that some of the machine +adjustments were wrong, but Tom soon had that remedied and then, +with the big propellers whirling around, the airship was sent +scudding across the field. + +Another moment and it rose like a great eagle, and sailed through +the air, while a small crowd that had daily gathered in the hope of +seeing a flight, sent up a cheer. + +"Does it work all right?" asked Ned anxiously, as he stood in the +pilothouse beside his chum. + +"As good as it did in Shopton," answered the young inventor, +proudly. + +"Bless my pocketbook! but that's lucky," exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Then +we can soon start, eh?" + +"As soon as we are stocked up," replied the lad. + +Tom put the airship through a number of "stunts" to test her +stability and the rudder control, much to the delight of the +gathering throng. Everything was found to work well, and after +ascending to a considerable height, to the no small alarm of the old +miner, Tom made a quick descent, with the motor shut off. The RED +CLOUD conducted herself perfectly, and there was nothing else to be +desired. + +She was sent down to earth and wheeled back into the shed, and not +without some difficulty, for the crowd, which was now very large, +wanted to get near enough to touch the wonderful craft. + +"To-morrow I'll arrange about the supplies and provisions, and we'll +stock her up," said Tom to his companions. "Now you folks had better +go back to the hotel." + +"Aren't you coming?" asked Ned. + +I'm going to bunk here in the shed to-night, said the young +inventor. + +"What for?" + +"I can't take any chances now that the RED CLOUD is in shape for +flying. Some of the Foger crowd might be hanging around, and break +in here to damage her." + +"But the watchman will be on guard," suggested Ned, for since the +hiring of the shed, the young inventor had engaged a man to remain +on duty all night. + +"I know," answered Tom Swift, "but I'm not going to take any +chances. I'll stay here with the watchman." + +Ned offered to share the vigil with his chum, and, after some +objection Tom consented. The others went back to the hotel, +promising to return early in the morning. + +Tom slept heavily that night, much heavier than he was in the habit +of doing. So did Ned, and their deep breathing as they lay in their +staterooms, in the cabin of the airship, told of physical weariness, +for they had worked hard to re-assemble the RED CLOUD. + +The watchman was seated in a chair just inside the big door of the +shed, near a small stove in which was a fire to take off the chill +of the big place. The guard had slept all day, and there was no +excuse for him nodding in the way that he did. + +"Queer, how drowsy I feel," he murmured several times. "It's only a +little after midnight, too," he added, looking at his watch, "Guess +I'll walk around a bit to rouse myself." + +He firmly intended to do this, but he thought he would wait just a +few minutes more, and he stretched out his legs and got comfortable +in the chair. + +Three minutes more and the watchman was asleep--sound asleep, while +a strange, sweet, sickish odor seemed to fill the atmosphere about +him. + +There was a noise at the door of the shed, a door in which there +were several cracks. A man outside laid aside something that looked +like an air pump. He applied one eye to a crack, and looked in on +the sleeping watchman. + +"He's off," the man murmured. "I thought he'd never get to sleep! +Now to get in and dose those two lads! Then I'll have the place to +myself!" + +There was a clicking noise about the lock on the shed door. It was +not a very secure lock at best, and, under the skilful fingers of +the midnight visitor, it quickly gave way. The man entered. He gave +one look at the slumbering watchman, listened to his heavy +breathing, and then went softly toward the airship, which looked to +be immense in the comparatively small shed--taking up nearly all the +space. + +The intruder peered in through the cabin windows where Ned and Tom +were asleep. Once more there was in the atmosphere a sickish odor. +The man again worked the instrument which was like a small air pump, +taking care not to get his own face too near it. Presently he +stopped and listened. + +"They're doped," he murmured. He arose, and took from his mouth and +nose a handkerchief saturated with some chemical that had rendered +him immune to the effects of the sleep-producing that he had +generated. "Sound asleep," he added. Then, taking out a long, keen +knife, the vandal stole toward where the great wings of the RED +CLOUD stretched out in the dim light like the pinions of a bird. +There was a ripping, tearing, rending sound, as the vandal cut and +slashed, but Tom, Ned and the watchman slumbered on. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +TOM IS HELD UP + + +Tom Swift stirred uneasily in his heavy sleep. He dreamed that he +was again in his berth in the railroad car, and that the thief was +feeling under his pillow for the map. Only, this time, there seemed +to be hands feeling about his clothing, trying to locate his inner +pockets. + +The lad murmured something unintelligible, but he did not awaken. +The fumes prevented that. However, his movements showed that the +effect of the drug was wearing off. It was intended only for +temporary use, and it lasted less time than it would otherwise have +done in a warmer, moister climate, for the cold, crisp air that +penetrated the shed from outside dispelled the fumes. + +"Guess I'd better not chance it," murmured the intruder. "He may not +have it on him, and if I go through all his pockets I'll wake him +up. Anyhow, I've done what they paid me for. I don't believe they'll +sail in this airship." + +The vandal gave one glance at the sleeping lads, and stole from the +cabin of the craft. He looked at his work of ruin, and then tiptoed +past the slumbering watchman. A moment later and he was outside the +shed, hurrying away through the night. + +Several hours after this Mr. Damon and the old miner were pounding +on the door of the shed. Mr. Parker, the scientist, had remained at +the hotel, for he said he wanted to work out a few calculations +regarding some of his theories. + +"I thought we'd find them up by this time," spoke the eccentric man, +as he again knocked on the door. "Tom said he had lots to do to-day." + +"Maybe they are working inside, and can't hear our knocks," +suggested Abe. "Try th' door." + +"Bless my heart! I never thought of that," exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I +believe I will." + +The door swung open as he pushed it, for it had not been locked when +the intruder left. The first thing Mr. Damon saw was the watchman, +still asleep in his chair. + +"Bless my soul!" the old man shouted. "Look at this, Abe!" + +"Something's wrong!" cried the miner, sniffing the air. "There's +been crooked work here! Where are the boys?" + +Mr. Damon was close to the airship. He looked in the cabin window. + +"Here they are, and they're both asleep, too!" he called. "And--bless +my eyeglasses! Look at the airship! The planes and wings are +all cut and slashed! Something has happened! The RED CLOUD is all +but ruined!" + +Abe hastened to his side. He looked at the damage done, and a fierce +look came over his face. + +"The Fogers again!" he murmured. "We'll pay 'em back for this! But +first we must see to the boys!" + +They needed small attention, however. The opening of the big door +had let in a flood of fresh air, and this dispelled the last of the +fumes. The watchman was the first to revive. The sleep caused by the +chemical, sprayed from the air-pump by the vandal, had been +succeeded by a natural slumber, and this was the case with Ned and +Tom. They were soon aroused, and looked with wonder, not unmixed +with rage, at the work done in the night. + +Every one of the principal planes of the airship, each of the +rudders, and some of the auxiliary wings had been cut by a sharp +knife--some in several places. The canvas hung in shreds and +patches, and the trim RED CLOUD looked like some old tramp airship +now. Tom could scarcely repress a groan. + +"Who did it?" he gasped. + +"And with us here on guard!" added Ned. + +"I--I must have fallen asleep," admitted the watchman in confusion. + +"You were all asleep," said Mr. Damon. "I couldn't rouse you!" + +"And there was th' smell of chloroform, or something like it in th' +shed," added the miner. + +"But look at the airship!" groaned Tom. + +"Is it ruined--can't we go to the valley of gold?" asked Ned. + +Tom did not answer for a few minutes. He was walking around looking +at his damaged craft. The sleepy feeling was rapidly leaving him, as +well as Ned and the watchman. + +"Bless my watch chain!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "What an ugly, mean +piece of work. Can you repair it, Tom?" + +"I think so," was the hesitating answer. "It is not as bad as I +feared at first. Luckily the gas-bag has not been touched, for, if +it had, we could hardly have repaired it. I can fix the wings and +the rudders. The propellers have not been damaged, nor has the motor +been touched. I think they must have made another attempt to take +the map off me," he went on, as he looked at several pockets that +had been turned inside out. + +An examination of the door showed how the lock had been forced, and +the adventurers could easily guess the rest. But who the midnight +vandal was they could not tell, though Tom and the others were sure +it was some one hired by the Fogers. + +"They wanted to delay us," said Tom. "They thought this would hold +us back, but it won't--for long. We'll get right to work, and make +new planes and rudders. Fortunately the framework isn't hurt any." + +Once Tom got into action nothing held him back. He hardly wanted to +stop for meals. New canvas was ordered, and that very afternoon some +of the damaged wings had been repaired. In the meanwhile the stores +and provisions that had been ordered were arriving, and, under the +direction of the miner and Mr. Damon were put in the RED CLOUD. Tom +and Ned, with the help of a man they hired, worked diligently to +replace the damaged planes and rudders. Mr. Parker came out to the +airship shed, but he was of little use as a helper, for he was +continually stopping to jot down some memoranda about an observation +he thought of, or else he would lay aside his tools to go outside, +look at the weather, and make predictions. + +But Tom and the others labored to such good advantage that in three +days they had repaired most of the damage done. Luckily the vandal +had cut and slashed in a hurry, and his malicious work was only half +accomplished. There was no clue to his identity. + +No trace was seen of the Fogers, and Tom hardly expected it, for he +thought they were in Sitka by this time. Nor were any suspicious +persons seen hanging around the shed. The adventurers left their +rooms at the hotel, and took up their quarters in the airship that +would soon be their home for many days. They wanted to be where they +could watch the craft, and two guards were engaged. + +"We'll start to-morrow," Tom announced gaily one evening when, after +a hard day's work the last of the damaged planes had been repaired. + +"Start fer th' valley of gold?" asked the miner. + +"Yes. Everything is in good shape now. I want to go into town, to +send some messages home, telling dad we'll soon be on our way, and I +also want to get a few things." + +"Shall I come?" asked Ned. + +"No, I'd rather you'd stay here," spoke Tom, in a low voice. "We +can't take any more chances of being delayed, and, as it's pretty +well known that we'll sail to-morrow, the Foger crowd may try some +more of their tricks. No, I'll go to town alone, Ned. I'll soon be +back, however. You stay here." + +But Tom came nearly never coming back. As he was returning from +sending the messages, and purchasing a few things he needed for the +trip, he passed through a dark street. He was walking along, +thinking of what the future might hold for him and his companions, +after they reached the caves of ice, when, just as he got to a high +board fence, surrounding some vacant lots, he heard some one whisper +hoarsely: + +"Here he comes!" + +The young inventor was on his guard instantly. He jumped back to +avoid a moving shadow, but was too late. Something struck him on the +back of his head, and he felt his senses leaving him. He struggled +against the feeling, and he realized, even in that exciting moment, +that the thick collar of his heavy overcoat, which he had turned up +because of a cold wind, had, perhaps, saved him from a broken skull. + +"Hold him!" commanded another voice. "I'll go through him!" + +The packages dropped from Tom's nerveless fingers. He felt himself +sinking down, in spite of his fierce determination not to succumb. +He felt several hands moving rapidly about his body, and then he +struck blindly out at the footpads. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +OFF FOR THE FROZEN NORTH + + +Tom Swift felt as if he was struggling in some dream or nightmare. +He felt strong hands holding him and saw evil faces leering at him. + +Then gradually his brain cleared. His muscles, that had been +weakened by the cowardly blow, grew strong. He felt his fist land +heavily on some one's face. He heard a smothered gasp of pain. + +Then came the sound of footsteps running--Tom heard the "ping" of a +policeman's night-stick on the sidewalk. + +"Here come the cops!" he heard one voice exclaim. + +"Did you get it?" asked another. + +"No, I can't find it. Cut for it now!" + +They released the young inventor so suddenly that he staggered about +and almost fell. + +The next moment Tom was looking into the face of a big policeman, +who was half supporting him. + +"What's the matter?" asked the officer. + +"Hold-up, I guess," mumbled the lad. "There they go!" he pointed +toward two dark forms slipping along down the dimly-lighted street. + +The officer drew his revolver, and fired two shots in the air, but +the fleeing figures did not stop. + +"How did it happen?" asked the policeman. "Did they get anything +from you?" + +"No--I guess not," answered Tom. He saw the packages containing his +purchases lying where they had fallen. A touch told him his watch +and pocketbook were safe. The precious map was in a belt about his +waist, and that had not been removed. "No, they didn't get +anything," he assured the officer. + +"I came along too quick for 'em, I guess," spoke the bluecoat. "This +is a bad neighborhood. There have been several hold-ups here of +late, but I was on the job too soon for these fellows. Hello, Mike," +as another officer came running up in answer to the shots and the +raps of the night-stick. "Couple of strong-arm-men tackled this +young fellow just now. I saw something going on as I turned the +corner, and I rapped and ran up. They went down that way. I fired at +'em. You take after 'em, Mike, and I'll stay here. Don't believe you +can land 'em, but try! I came up too quick to allow 'em to get +anything, though." + +Tom did not contradict this. He knew, however, that, had the men who +attacked him wished to take his watch or money, they could have done +it several times before the officer arrived. + +"It was the map they were after," thought Tom, "not my watch or +money. This is more of the Foger's work. We must get away from +here." + +The policeman inquired for more particulars from Tom, who related +how the hold-up had taken place. The young inventor, however, said +nothing about the map he carried, letting the officer think it was +an ordinary attempt at robbery, for Tom did not want any reference +in the newspapers to his search for the valley of gold. + +Presently the other policeman returned, having been unable to get +any trace of the daring men. The two bluecoats wanted to accompany +Tom back to the airship shed, for his own safety, but he declared +there was no more danger, and, after having given his name, so that +the affair might be reported at headquarters, he was allowed to go +on his way. His head ached from the blow, but otherwise he was +unhurt. + +"Those fellows have been keeping watch for me," the lad reasoned, as +he walked quickly toward the airship shed. "They must have been +shadowing me, and they hid there until I came back. Andy Foger and +his father must be getting desperate. I think I know why, too. That +little dig I gave Andy about his map is bearing fruit. He begins to +think it's the wrong map, and he wants to get hold of the right one. +Well, they shan't if I can help it. We'll be away from here in the +morning." + +There was indignation and some alarm among Tom's friends when he +told his story a little later that night. + +"Bless my walking-stick!" cried Mr. Damon. "You'll need a bodyguard +after this." + +"I'd just like t' git my hands on them fellers!" exclaimed the old +miner. "I'd show 'em!" and a look at his rugged frame and his +muscular arms and gnarled hands showed Tom and Ned that in the event +of a fight they could count much on Abe Abercrombie. + +"I am glad there will be no more delays, and that we will soon be +moving northward," spoke Mr. Parker, a little later. "I am anxious +to confirm my theory about the advance of the ice crust, I met a man +to-day who had just returned from the north of Alaska. He said that +a severe winter had already set in up there. So I am anxious to get +to the ice caves." + +"So am I," added Tom, but it was for a different reason. + +They were all up early the next morning, for there were several +things to look after before they started on the trip that might +bring much of danger to the adventurers. Under Tom's direction, more +gas was generated, and forced into the big bag. A last adjustment +was made of the planes, wing tips and rudders, and the motor was +given a try-out. + +"I guess everything is all right," announced the young inventor. +"We'll take her out." + +The RED CLOUD was wheeled from the big shed, and placed on the open +lot, where she would have room to rush across the ground to acquire +momentum enough to rise in the air. Tom, whenever it was practical, +always mounted this way, rather than by means of the lifting gas, +as, in the event of a wind, he would have better control of the +ship, while it was ascending into the upper currents of air, than +when it was rising like a balloon. + +"All aboard!" cried the lad, as he looked to see that the course was +clear. Early as it was, there was quite a crowd on hand to witness +the flight, as there had been every day of late, for the population +of Seattle was curious regarding the big craft of the air. + +"Let her go!" cried Ned Newton, enthusiastically. + +Tom took his place in the steering-tower, or pilothouse, which was +forward of the main cabin. Ned was in the engine-room, ready to give +any assistance if needed. Mr. Damon, Mr. Parker and Abe Abercrombie +were in the main cabin, looking out of the windows at the rapidly +increasing throng. + +"Here we go!" cried the young inventor, as he pulled the lever +starting the motor, There was a buzz and a hum. The powerful +propellers whirred around like blurs of light. Forward shot the +great airship over the ground, gathering speed at every revolution +of the blades. + +Tom tilted the forward rudder to lift the ship. Suddenly it shot +over the heads of the crowd. There was a cheer and some applause. + +"Off for the frozen north!" cried Ned, waving his cap. + +Tom shifted the rudder, to change the course of the airship. Mr. +Damon was gazing on the crowd below. + +"Tom! Tom!" he cried suddenly. "There's the man with the black +mustache--the man who tried to rob you in the sleeping-car!" He +pointed downward to some one in the throng. + +"He can't get us now!" exclaimed Tom, as he increased the speed of +the RED CLOUD, and then, taking up a telescope, after setting the +automatic steering gear, Tom pointed the glass at the person whom +Mr. Damon had indicated. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +PELTED BY HAILSTONES + + +"Yes, that's the man all right," observed the lad. "But if he came +here to have another try for the map, he's too late. I hope we don't +land now until we are in the valley of gold." Tom passed the +telescope to Ned, who confirmed the identification. + +"Perhaps he came to see if we started, and then he'll report to Andy +Foger or his father by telegraph," suggested Mr. Damon. + +"Perhaps," admitted Tom. "Anyhow, we're well rid of our enemies--at +least for a time. They can't follow us up in the air." He turned +another lever and the RED CLOUD shot forward at increased speed. + +"Maybe Andy will race us," suggested Ned. + +"I'm not afraid of anything his airship can do," declared Tom. "I +don't believe it will even get up off the ground, though he did make +a short flight before he packed up to follow us. It's a wonder he +wouldn't think of something himself, instead of trying to pattern +after some one else. He tried to beat me in building a speeding +automobile, and now he wants to get ahead of me in an airship. Well, +let him try. I'll beat him out, just as I've done before." + +They were now over the outskirts of Seattle, flying along about a +thousand feet high, and they could dimly make out curious crowds +gazing up at them. The throng that had been around the airship shed +had disappeared from view behind a little hill, and, of course, the +man with the black mustache was no longer visible, but Tom felt as +if his sinister eyes were still gazing upward, seeking to discern +the occupants of the airship. + +"We're well on our way now," observed Ned, after a while, during +which interval he and Tom had inspected the machinery, and found it +working satisfactorily. + +"Yes, and the RED CLOUD is doing better than she ever did before," +said Tom. "I think it did her good to take her apart and put her +together again. It sort of freshened her up. This machine is my +special pride. I hope nothing happens to her on this journey to the +caves of ice." + +"If my theory is borne out, we will have to be careful not to get +caught in the crush of ice, as it makes its way toward the south," +spoke Mr. Parker with an air as if he almost wished such a thing to +happen, that he might be vindicated. + +"Oh, we'll take good care that the RED CLOUD isn't nipped between +two bergs," Tom declared. + +But he little knew of the dire fate that was to overtake the RED +CLOUD, and how close a call they were to have for their very lives. + +"No matter what care you exercise, you cannot overcome the awful +power of the grinding ice," declared the gloomy scientist. "I +predict that we will see most wonderful and terrifying sights." + +"Bless my hatband!" cried Mr. Damon, "don't say such dreadful +things, Parker my dear man! Be more cheerful; can't you?" + +"Science cannot be cheerful when foretelling events of a dire +nature," was the response. "I would not do my duty if I did not hold +to my theories." + +"Well, just hold to them a little more closely," suggested Mr. +Damon. "Don't tell them to us so often, and have them get on our +nerves, Parker, my dear man. Bless my nail-file! be more cheerful. +And that reminds me, when are we going to have dinner, Tom?" + +"Whenever you want it, Mr. Damon. Are you going to act as cook +again?" + +"I think I will, and I'll just go to the galley now, and see about +getting a meal. It will take my mind off the dreadful things Mr. +Parker says." + +But if the gloomy scientific man heard this little "dig" he did not +respond to it. He was busy jotting down figures on a piece of paper, +multiplying and dividing them to get at some result in a complicated +problem he was working on, regarding the power of an iceberg in +proportion to its size, to exert a lateral pressure when sliding +down a grade of fifteen per cent. + +Mr. Damon got an early dinner, as they had breakfasted almost at +dawn that morning, in order to get a good start. The meal was much +enjoyed, and to Abe Abercrombie was quite a novelty, for he had +never before partaken of food so high up in the air, the barograph +of the RED CLOUD showing an elevation of a little over twelve +thousand feet. + +"It's certainly great," the old miner observed, as he looked down +toward the earth below them, stretched out like some great relief +map. "It sure is wonderful an' some scrumptious! I never thought I'd +be ridin' one of these critters. But they're th' only thing t' git +t' this hidden valley with. We might prospect around for a year, and +be driven back by the Indians and Eskimos a dozen times. But with +this we can go over their heads, and get all the gold we want." + +"Is there enough to give every one all he wants?" asked Tom, with a +quizzical smile. "I don't know that I ever had enough." + +"Me either," added Ned Newton. + +"Oh, there's lots of gold there," declared the old miner. "The thing +to do is to get it and we can sure do that now." + +The remainder of the day passed uneventfully, though Tom cast +anxious looks at the weather as night set in, and Ned, noting his +chum's uneasiness, asked: + +"Worrying about anything, Tom?" + +"Yes, I am," was the reply. "I think we're in for a hard storm, and +I don't know just how the airship will behave up in these northern +regions. It's getting much colder, and the gas in the bag is +condensing more than I thought it would. I will have to increase our +speed to keep us moving along at this elevation." + +The motor was adjusted to give more power, and, having set it so +that it, as well as the rudders, would be controlled automatically, +Tom rejoined his companions in the main cabin, where, as night +settled down, they gathered to eat the evening meal. + +Through the night the great airship plowed her way. At times Tom +arose to look at some of the recording instruments. It was growing +colder, and this further reduced the volume of the gas, but as the +speed of the ship was sufficient to send her along, sustained by the +planes and wings alone, if necessary, the young inventor did not +worry much. + +Morning broke gray and cheerless. A few flakes of snow fell. There +was every indication of a heavy storm. They were high above a +desolate and wild country now, hovering over a sparsely settled +region where they could see great forests, stretches of snow-covered +rocks, and towering mountain crags. + +The snow, which had been lazily falling, suddenly ceased. Tom looked +out in surprise. A moment later there came a sound as if some giant +fingers were beating a tattoo on the roof of the main cabin. + +"What's that!" cried Ned. + +"Bless my umbrella! has anything happened?" demanded Mr. Damon. + +"It's a hail storm!" exclaimed Tom. "We've run into a big hail +storm. Look at those frozen stones! They're as big as hens' eggs!" + +On a little platform in front of the steering-house could be seen +falling immense hailstones. They played a tattoo on the wooden +planks. + +"A hail storm! Bless my overshoes!" cried Mr. Damon. + +"A hail storm!" echoed Mr. Parker. "I expected we would have one. +The hailstones will become even larger than this!" + +"Cheerful," remarked Tom in a low voice, with an apprehensive look +at Ned. + +"Is there any danger?" asked his chum. + +"Danger? Plenty of it," replied the young inventor. "The frozen +particles may rip open the gas bag." He stopped suddenly and looked +at a gage on the wall of the steering-tower--a gage that showed the +gas pressure. + +"One compartment of the bag has been ripped open!" cried Tom. "The +vapor is escaping! The whole bag may soon be torn apart!" + +The noise of the pelting hailstones increased. The roar of the +storm, the bombardment of the icy globules, and the moaning of the +wind struck terror to the hearts of the gold-seekers. + +"What's to be done?" yelled Ned. + +"We must go up, to get above the storm, or else descend and find +some shelter!" answered Tom. "I'll first see if I can send the ship +up above the clouds!" + +He increased the speed of the motor so that the propellers would aid +in taking the ship higher up, while the gas-generating machine was +set in operation to pour the lifting vapor into the big bag. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A FRIGHTENED INDIAN + + +The violence of the hail storm, the clatter of the frozen pellets as +they bombarded the airship, the rolling, swaying motion of the craft +as Tom endeavored to send it aloft, all combined to throw the +passengers of the RED CLOUD into a state of panic. + +"Bless my very existence!" cried Mr. Damon, "this is almost as bad +as when we were caught in the hurricane at Earthquake Island!" + +"I am sure that this storm is but the forerunner of some dire +calamity!" declared Mr. Parker. + +"I'm afraid it's all up with us," came from Abe Abercrombie, as he +looked about for some way of escape. + +"Do you think you can pull us through, Tom?" asked Ned Newton, who, +not having had much experience in airships had yet to learn Tom's +skill in manipulating them. + +The young inventor alone seemed to keep his nerve. Coolly and calmly +he stood at his post of duty, shifting the wing planes from moment +to moment, managing the elevation rudder, and, at the same time, +keeping his eye on the registering dial of the gas-generating +machine. + +"It's all right," said Tom, more easily than he felt. "We are going +up slowly. You might see if you can induce the gas machine to do any +better, Mr. Damon. We are wasting some of the vapor because of the +leak in the bag, but we can manufacture it faster than it escapes, +so I guess we'll be all right." + +"Mr. Parker, may I ask you to oil the main motor? You will see the +places marked where the oil is to go in. Ned, you help him. Here, +Abe, come over here and give me a hand. This wind makes the rudders +hard to twist." + +The young inventor could not have chosen a better method of +relieving the fears of his friends than by giving them something to +do to take their minds off their own troubles. They hurried to the +tasks he had assigned to them, and, in a few minutes, there were no +more doubts expressed. + +Not that the RED CLOUD was out of danger, Far from it. The storm was +increasing in violence, and the hailstones seemed to double in +number. Then, too, being forced upward as she was, the airship's bag +was pelted all the harder, for the speed of the craft, added to the +velocity of the falling chunks of hail, made them strike on the +surface of the ship with greater violence. + +Tom was anxiously watching the barograph, to note their height. The +RED CLOUD was now about two and a half miles high, and slowly +mounting upward. The gas machine was working to its fullest +capacity, and the fact that they did not rise more quickly told Tom, +more plainly than words could have done, that there were several +additional leaks in the gas-bag. + +"I'll take her up another thousand feet," he announced grimly. +"Then, if we're not above the storm it will be useless to go +higher." + +"Why?" asked Ned, who had come back to stand beside his chum. + +"Because we can't possibly get above the storm without tearing the +ship to pieces. I had rather descend." + +"But won't that be just as bad?" + +"Not necessarily. There are often storms in the upper regions which +do not get down to the surface of the earth, snow and hail storms +particularly. Hail, you know, is supposed to be formed by drops of +rain being hurled up and down in a sort of circular, spiral motion +through alternate strata of air--first freezing and then warm, which +accounts for the onion-like layers seen when a hailstone is cut in +half." + +"That is right," broke in Mr. Parker, who was listening to the young +inventor. "By going down this hail storm may change into a harmless +rain storm. But, in spite of that fact, we are in a dangerous +climate, where we must expect all sorts of queer happenings." + +"Nice, comfortable sort of a companion to have along on a gold-hunting +expedition, isn't He?" asked Tom of Ned, making a wry face +as Mr. Parker moved away. "But I haven't any time to think of that. +Say, this is getting fierce!" + +Well might he say so. The wind had further increased in violence, +and while the storm of hailstones seemed to be about the same, the +missiles had nearly doubled in size. + +"Better go down," advised Ned. "We may fall if you don't." + +"Guess I will," assented Tom. "There's no use going higher. I doubt +if I could, anyhow, with all this wind pressure, and with the +gas-bag leaking. Down she is!" + +As he spoke he shifted the levers, and changed the valve wheels. In +an instant the RED CLOUD began to shoot toward the earth. + +"What's happened? What in th' name of Bloody Gulch are we up +ag'in'?" demanded the old miner, springing to his feet. + +"We're going down--that's all," answered Tom, calmly, but he was far +from feeling that way, and he had grave fears for the safety of +himself and his companions. + +Down, down, down went the RED CLOUD, in the midst of the hail storm. +But if the gold-seekers had hoped to escape the pelting of the +frozen globules they were mistaken. The stones still seemed to +increase in size and number. The gas machine register showed a +sudden lack of pressure, not due to the shutting off of the +apparatus. + +"Look!" cried Ned, pointing to the dial. + +"Yes--more punctures," said Tom, grimly. + +"What's to be done?" asked Mr. Damon, who had finished the task Tom +allotted to him. "Bless my handkerchief! what's to be done?" + +"Seek shelter if the storm doesn't stop when we get to the earth +level," answered Tom. + +"Shelter? What sort of shelter? There are no airship sheds in this +desolate region." + +"I may be able to send the ship under some overhanging mountain +crag," answered the young inventor, "and that will keep off the +hailstones." + +Eagerly Tom and Ned, who stood together in the pilothouse peered +forward through the storm. + +The wind was less violent now that they were in the lower currents +of air, but the hail had not ceased. + +Suddenly Tom gave a cry. Ned looked at him anxiously. Had some new +calamity befallen them? But Tom's voice sounded more in relief than +in alarm. The next instant he called: + +"Look ahead there, Ned, and tell me what you see." + +"I see something big and black," answered the other lad, after a +moment's hesitation. "Why, it's a big black hole!" he added. + +"That's what I made it out to be," went on Tom, "but I wanted to be +sure. It's the opening to a cave or hole in the side of the +mountain. I take it." + +"You're right," agreed Ned. + +"Then we're safe," declared Tom. + +"Safe? How?" + +"I'm going to take the RED CLOUD in there out of the storm." + +"Can you do it? Is the opening big enough?" + +"Plenty. It's larger than my shed at home, Jove! but I'm glad I saw +that in time, or there would have been nothing left of the gas-bag!" + +With skilful hands Tom turned the rudders and sent the airship down +on a slant toward the earth, aiming for the entrance to the cave, +which loomed up in the storm. When the craft was low enough down so +that the superstructure would not scrape the top of the cave, Tom +sent her ahead on the level. But he need have had no fears, for the +hole was large enough to have admitted a craft twice the size of the +RED CLOUD. + +A few minutes later the airship slid inside the great cavern, as +easily as if coming to rest in the yard of Tom's house. The roof of +the cave was high over their heads, and they were safe from the +storm. The cessation from the deafening sound of the pelting +hailstones seemed curious to them at first. + +"Well, bless my shoelaces! if this isn't luck!" cried Mr. Damon, as +he opened the door of the cabin, and looked about the cave in which +they now found themselves. It was comparatively light, for the +entrance was very large, though the rear of the cavern was in gloom. + +"Yes, indeed, we got to it just in time,'" agreed Tom. "Now let's +see what sort of a place it is. We'll have to explore it." + +"There may be a landslide, or the roof may come down on our heads," +objected Mr. Parker. + +"Oh, my dear Parker! please be a little more cheerful," begged Mr. +Damon. + +The adventurers followed Tom from the airship, and all but the young +inventor gazed curiously at the interior of the cave. His first +thought was for his airship. He glanced up at the gas-bag, and noted +several bad rents in it. + +"I hope we can fix them," Tom thought dubiously. + +But the attention of all was suddenly arrested by something that +occurred just then. From the dark recess of the cavern there sounded +a fearful yell or scream. It was echoed back a thousand-fold by the +rocky walls of the cave, Then there dashed past the little group of +gold-seekers a dark figure. + +"Look out! It's a bear!" shouted Mr. Damon. "A bear! It's an Eskimo +Indian!" yelled Abe Abercrombie, "an' he's skeered nigh t' death! +Look at him run!" + +As they gazed toward the lighted entrance of the cave they saw +leaping and running from it an Indian who quickly scudded out into +the hail storm. + +"An Indian," exclaimed Tom. "An Indian in the cave! If there's one, +there may be more. I guess we'd better look to our guns. They may +attack us!" and he hurried back into the airship, followed by Ned +and the others. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE RIVAL AIRSHIP + + +Well armed, the adventurers again ventured out into the cave. But +they need not have been alarmed so soon, for there were no signs of +any more Indians. + +"I guess that one was a stray Eskimo who took shelter in here from +the storm," said Abe Abercrombie. + +"Are we in the neighborhood of the Alaskan Indians and Eskimos?" +inquired Ned. + +"Yes, there are lots of Indians in this region," answered the old +miner, "but not so many Eskimos. A few come down from th' north, but +we'll see more of them, an' fewer of th' pure-blooded Indians as we +get nearer th' valley of gold. Though t' my mind th' Indians an' +Eskimos are pretty much alike." + +"Well, if we don't have to defend ourselves from an attack of +Indians, suppose we look over the airship," proposed Tom. + +"It's too dark to see very much," objected Ned. But this was +overcome when Tom started up a dynamo, and brought out a portable +search-light which was played upon the superstructure of the RED +CLOUD. The gas-bag was the only part of the craft they feared for, +as the hailstones could not damage the iron or wooden structure and +the planes were made in sections, and in such a manner that rents in +them could easily be repaired. So, in fact, could the gas-bag be +mended, but it was harder work. + +"Well, she's got some bad tears in her," announced Tom as the light +flashed over the big bag. "Luckily I have plenty of the material, +and some cement, so I think we can mend the rents, though it will +take some days. Nothing could have been better for us than this +cave. We'll stay here until we're ready to go on." + +"Unless the Indians drive us out," said Abe, in a low tone. + +"Why, do you think there is any danger of that?" inquired Tom. + +"Well, th' brown-skinned beggars aren't any too friendly," responded +the old miner. "Th' one that was in here will be sure to tell th' +others of some big spirit that flew into th' cave, an' they'll be +crowdin' around here when th' storm's over. It may be we can fight +'em off, though." + +"Maybe they won't attack us," suggested Ned, hopefully. "Perhaps we +can make them believe we are spirits, and that it will be unlucky to +interfere with us." + +"Perhaps," admitted Abe, "though my experience has been that these +Indians are a bad lot. They haven't much respect for spirits of any +kind, an' they'll soon find out we're human. But then, we'll wait +an' see what happens." + +"And, in the meantime, have something to eat," put in Mr. Damon. +"Bless my knife and fork! but the hail storm gave me an appetite." + +In fact, there were few things which did not give Mr. Damon an +appetite, Tom thought with a smile. But the meal idea was considered +very timely, and soon the amateur cook was busy in the galley of the +airship, whence speedily came savory odors. The electric lights were +switched on, and the adventurers were quickly made comfortable in +the cave, which so well sheltered the RED CLOUD. Tom completed his +inspection of the craft, and was relieved to find that while there +were a number of small rents, none was very large, and all could be +mended in time. + +Abe Abercrombie took a look outside the cave after the meal had been +served. The old miner declared that they had made a good advance on +their northern journey for, though he could not tell their exact +location, he knew by the character of the landscape that they had +passed the boundaries of Alaska. + +"A few more days' traveling at the rate we came will bring us to the +Snow Mountains and the valley of gold," he said. + +"Well, we won't average such speed as we did during the hail storm," +said Tom. "The wind of that carried us along at a terrific pace. But +we will get there in plenty of time, I think." + +"Why; is there any particular rush?" asked Ned. + +"There's no telling when the Fogers may appear," answered the young +inventor in a low voice. "But now we must get to work to repair +damage." + +The hail storm had ceased, and, with the passing of the clouds the +cave was made lighter. But Tom did not depend on this, for he set up +powerful searchlights, by the gleams of which he and his companions +began the repairing of the torn gas-bag. + +They worked all the remainder of that day, and were at it again +early the next morning, making good progress. + +"We can go forward again, in about two days," spoke Tom. "I want to +give the cement on the patches plenty of chance to dry." + +"Then I will have time to go out and make some observations, will I +not?" asked Mr. Parker. "I think this cave is a very old one, and I +may be able to find some evidences in it that the sea of ice is +slowly working its way down from the polar regions." + +"I hope you don't," whispered Ned to Tom, who shook his head +dubiously as the gloomy scientist left the cave. + +The weather was very cold, but, in the cavern it was hardly noticed. +The adventurers were warmly dressed, and when they did get chilly +from working over the airship, they had but to go into the well-heated +and cozy cabin to warm themselves. + +It was on the third day of their habitation in the cave, and work on +putting the patches on the gas-bag was almost finished. Mr. Parker +had gone out to make further observations, his previous ones not +having satisfied him. Tom was on an improvised platform, putting a +patch on top of the bag, when he heard a sudden yell, and some one +dashed into the cavern. + +"They're coming! They're coming!" cried a voice, and Tom, looking +down, saw Mr. Parker, apparently in a state of great fear. + +"What's coming?" demanded the young inventor, "the icebergs?" + +"No--the Indians!" yelled the scientist. "A whole tribe of them is +rushing this way!" + +"I thought so!" cried Abe Abercrombie. "Where's my gun?" and he +dashed into the airship. + +Tom slid down off the platform. + +"Get ready for a fight!" he gasped. "Where are you, Ned?" + +"Here I am. We'd better get to the mouth of the cave, and drive 'em +back from there." + +"Yes. If I'd only thought, we could have blockaded it in some way. +It's as big as a barn now, and they can rush us if they have a mind +to. But we'll do our best!" + +The adventurers were now all armed, even to Mr. Parker. The +scientist had recovered from his first fright, when he spied the +Indians coming over the snow, as he was "observing" some natural +phenomenon. Tom, even in his excitement, noticed that the professor +was curiously examining his gun, evidently more with a view to +seeing how it was made, and on which principle it was operated, +rather than to discover how to use it. + +"If it comes to a fight, just point it at the Indians, pull the +trigger, and work that lever," explained the young inventor. "It's +an automatic gun." + +"I see," answered Mr. Parker. "Very curious. I had no idea they +worked this way." + +"Oh, if I only had my electric rifle in shape!" sighed Tom, as he +dashed forward at the side of Ned. + +"Your electric rifle?" + +"Yes, I've got a new kind of weapon--very effective. I have it +almost finished. It's in the airship, but I can't use it just yet. +However, maybe these repeaters will do the work." + +By this time they were at the entrance of the cave, and, looking out +they saw about a hundred Indians, dressed in furs, striding across +the snowy plain that stretched out from the foot of the mountain in +which was the cavern. + +"They're certainly comin' on," observed Abe, grimly. "Git ready for +'em, boys!" + +The gold-seekers lined up at the mouth of the cave, with guns in +their hands. At the sight of this small, but formidable force, the +Indians halted. They were armed with guns of ancient make, while +some had spears, and others bows and arrows. A few had grabbed up +stones as weapons. + +There appeared to be a consultation going on among them, and, +presently, one of the number, evidently a chief or a spokesman, gave +his gun to one of his followers, and, holding his hands above his +head, while he waved a rag that might have once been white, came +forward. + +"By Jove!" exclaimed Tom. "It's a flag of truce! He wants to talk +with us I believe!" + +"Bless my cartridges!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Can they speak +English?" + +"A little," answered Abe Abercrombie. "I can talk some of their +lingo, too. Maybe I'd better see what they want." + +"I guess it would be a good plan," suggested Tom, and, accordingly +the old miner stepped forward. The Indian came on, until Abe +motioned for him to halt. + +"I reckon that's as far as it'll be healthy for you t' come," spoke +Abe, grimly. "Now what do you fellers want?" + +Thereupon there ensued a rapid exchange of jargon between the miner +and the Indian. Abe seemed much relieved as the talk went on, until +there came what seemed like a demand on the part of the dark-hued +native. + +"No, you don't! None of that!" muttered Abe. "If you had your way +you'd take everything we have." + +"What is it? What does he want?" asked Tom in a low voice. + +"Why, the beggar began fair enough," replied the miner. "He said one +of their number had been in the cave when a storm came an' saw a big +spirit fly in, with men on its back. He ran away an' now others have +come to see what it was. They don't guess it's an airship, for +they've never seen one, but they know we're white folks, an' they +always want things white folks have got." + +"This fellow is a sort of chief, an' he says the white folks?--that's +us, you know?--have taken th' Indians' cave. He says he doesn't +want t' have any trouble, an' that we can stay here as long as we +like, but that we must give him an' his followers a lot of food. +Says they hain't got much. Land! Those beggars would eat us out of +everything we had if we'd let 'em!" + +"What are you going to tell them?" inquired Mr. Damon. + +"I'm goin' t' tell 'em t' go t' grass, or words t' that effect," +replied Abe. "They haven't any weapons that amount t' anything, an' +we can stand 'em off. Besides, we'll soon be goin' away from here; +won't we, Tom?" + +"Yes, but--" + +"Oh, there's no use givin' in to 'em," interrupted Abe. "If you give +'em half a loaf, they want two. Th' only way is t' be firm. I'll +tell 'em we can't accommodate 'em." + +Thereupon he began once more to talk to the Indians in their own +tongue. His words were at first received in silence, and then angry +cries came from the natives. The chief made a gesture of protest. + +"Well, if you don't like it, you know what you kin do!" declared +Abe. "We've got th' best part of our journey before us, an' we can't +give away our supplies. Go hunt food if you want it, ye lazy +beggars!" + +The peaceful demeanor of the Indians now turned to rage. The leader +dropped the rag that had served for a flag of truce, and took back +his gun. + +"Look out! There's going to be trouble!" cried Tom. + +"Well, we're ready for 'em!" answered Abe, grimly. + +There was a moment of hesitation among the natives. Then they seemed +to hold a consultation with the chief. It was over shortly. They +broke into a run, and quickly advanced toward the cave. Tom and the +others held their guns in readiness. + +Suddenly the Indians halted. They gazed upward, and pointed to +something in the air above their heads. They gave utterance to cries +of fear. + +"What is it; another storm coming?" asked Tom. + +"Let's look," suggested Ned. He and Tom stepped to the mouth of the +cave--they went outside. There was little danger from the natives +now, as their attention was fixed on something else. + +A moment later Tom and Ned saw what this was. + +Floating in the air, almost over the cave, was a great airship--a +large craft, nearly the size of the RED CLOUD. Hardly able to +believe the evidence of their eyes, Tom and Ned watched it. Whence +had it come? Whither was it going? + +"It's a triplane!" murmured Ned. + +"A triplane!" repeated Tom. "Yes--it is--and it's the airship of +Andy Foger! Our rivals are on our track!" + +He continued to gaze upward as the triplane shot forward, the noise +of the motor being plainly heard. Then, with howls of fear, the +Indians turned and fled. The rival airship had vanquished them. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE RACE + + +Astonished and terrified as the Indians had been at the sight of the +big-winged craft, high in the air above their heads, Tom and the +others were no less surprised, though, of course, their fear was not +exactly the same as that of the Alaskan natives. + +"Do you really think that is Andy Foger?" asked Ned, as they watched +the progress of the triplane. + +"I'm almost sure of it," replied Tom. "That craft is built exactly +as his was, but I never expected him to have such good luck sailing +it." + +"It isn't going very fast," objected Ned. + +"No, but it can navigate pretty well, and that's something. He must +have hustled to get it together and reach this point with it." + +"Yes, but he didn't have to travel as far as we did," went on Ned. +"He put his ship together at Sitka, and we came from Seattle." + +"Bless my memoranda book!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "The Fogers here! +What's to be done about it?" + +"Nothing, I guess," answered Tom. "I'd just as soon they wouldn't +see us. I don't believe they will. Get back into the cave. We must +use strategy now to get ahead of them. There will be a race to the +valley of gold." + +"Well, he served us one good turn, anyhow, though he didn't mean +to," put in Abe Abercrombie. + +"How?" asked Mr. Parker, who was still examining his gun, as though +trying to understand it. + +"He scared away them pesky natives," went on the miner. "Otherwise +we might have had a fight, an' while I reckon we could have beat +'em, it's best not to fight if you kin git out of it." + +The gold-seekers had withdrawn inside the mouth of the cave, where +they could watch the progress of the rival airship without being +seen. The Indians had disappeared beyond a snow-covered hill. + +The airship of Andy Foger, for such it subsequently proved to be, +floated slowly onward. Its progress was not marked with the speed of +Tom's craft, though whether or not the occupants of the ANTHONY (as +Andy had vain-gloriously named his craft after himself) were +speeding up their motor, was a matter of conjecture. + +The adventurers held a short consultation, while standing at the +mouth of the cave watching the progress of the ANTHONY. It rose in +the air, and circled about. + +"He certainly IS trying to pick us up," declared Ned. + +"Well, we'll start out after him to-morrow," decided Tom. "I think +all the patches will hold then." + +They resumed work on the RED CLOUD, and that night Tom announced +that they would start in the morning. Meanwhile Andy's craft had +disappeared from sight. There was no further evidence of the +Indians. + +"I don't reckon they'll come back," spoke Abe, grimly. "They think +we are sure-enough spirits, now, able to call creatures out of the +air whenever we want 'em. But still we must be on our guard." + +As Mr. Parker was not of much service in helping on the airship he +agreed to be a sort of guard and took his place just outside the +cave, where he could make "observations," and, at the same time +watch for the reappearance of Indians. They had little fear of an +attack at night, for Abe said the Alaskans were not fond of +darkness. + +The cold seemed to increase, and, even in the sheltered cave the +adventurers felt it. There were several heavy flurries of snow that +afternoon, and winter seemed setting in with a vengeance. The +daylight, too, was not of long duration, for the sun was well south +now, and in the far polar regions it was perpetual night. + +After a brief inspection of the ship the next morning, following a +good night's rest, when they were not disturbed by any visits from +the natives, Tom announced that they would set sail. The day was a +clear one, but very cold, and the gold-seekers were glad of the +shelter of the warm cabin. + +The RED CLOUD was wheeled from the cave, and set on a level place. +There was not room enough to make a flying start, and ascend by +means of the planes and propellers, so the gas-bag method was used. +The generating machine was put in operation, and soon the big red +bag that hovered over the craft began to fill. Tom was glad to see +that none of the several compartments leaked. The bag had been well +repaired. + +Suddenly the RED CLOUD shot up in the air. Up above the towering +snow-covered crags it mounted, and then, with a whizz and a roar, +the propellers were set going. + +"Once more northward bound!" cried Tom, as he took his place in the +pilothouse. + +"And we'll see if we can beat Andy Foger there," added Ned. + +All that morning the RED CLOUD shot ahead at good speed. The craft +had suffered no permanent damage during her fight with the hail +storm, and was as good as ever. They ate dinner high in the air, +while sailing over a great stretch of whiteness, where the snow lay +many feet deep on the level, and where great mountain crags were so +covered with the glistening mantle and a coating of ice as to +resemble the great bergs that float in the polar sea. + +"I wouldn't want to be wrecked here," said Ned, with a shudder, as +he looked down. "We'd never get away. Does any one live down there, +Abe?" + +"Yes, there are scattered tribes of Indians and Alaskan natives. +They live by hunting and fishing, and travel around by means of dog +sledges. But it's a dreary life. Me an' my partner had all we wanted +of it. An airship for mine!" + +"I wonder what's become of Andy?" spoke Tom, that afternoon. "I +haven't sighted him, and I've been using the powerful telescope. I +can't pick him up, though he can't be so very far ahead of us." + +"Let me try," suggested Ned. "Put her up a bit, Tom, where I can +look down. Andy won't dare go very high. Maybe I can sight him." + +The RED CLOUD shot upward as the young inventor shifted the +elevation rudder, and the bank clerk, with the powerful glass to his +eye, swept the space below him. For half an hour he looked in vain. +Then, with a little start of surprise he handed the glass to his +chum. + +"See what you make that out to be," suggested Ned. "It looks like a +big bird, yet I haven't seen any other birds to-day." + +Tom looked. He peered earnestly through the telescope for a minute, +and then cried: + +"It's Andy's airship! He's ahead of us! We must catch him! Ned, you +and Mr. Damon speed up the motor! The race is on!" + +In a few minutes the great airship was hurling herself through +space, and, in less than ten minutes Andy's craft could be made out +plainly with the naked eye. Fifteen minutes more and the RED CLOUD +was almost up to her. Then those aboard the ANTHONY must have caught +sight of their pursuers, for there was a sudden increase in speed on +the part of the unscrupulous Foger crowd, who sought to steal a +march on Tom and his friends. + +"The race is on!" repeated the young inventor grimly, as he pulled +the speed lever over another notch. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE FALL OF THE ANTHONY + + +Had it not been for what was at stake, the race between the two big +airships would have been an inspiring one to those aboard Tom's +craft. As it was they were too anxious to overcome the unfair +advantage taken by Andy to look for any of the finer points in the +contest of the air. + +"There's no denying that he's got a pretty good craft there," +conceded Tom, as he watched the progress of his rival. "I never +thought Andy Foger could have done it." + +"He didn't do very much of it," declared Ned. "He hired the best +part of that made. Andy hasn't any inventive ideas. He probably said +he wanted an airship, and his dad put up the money and hired men to +build it for him. Andy, Sam and Pete only tinkered around on it." + +Later Tom and his chum learned that this was so--that Mr. Foger had +engaged the services of an expert to make the airship. This man had +been taken to Sitka with the Fogers, and had materially aided them +in re-assembling the craft. + +"Do you think he can beat us?" asked Ned, anxiously. + +"No!" exclaimed Tom, confidently. "There's only one craft that can +beat my RED CLOUD and that's my monoplane the BUTTERFLY. But I have +in mind plans for a speedier machine than even the monoplane. +However I haven't any fear that Andy can keep up to us in this +craft. I haven't begun to fly yet, and I'm pretty sure, from the way +his is going, that he has used his limit of speed." + +"Then why don't you get ahead of him?" asked Mr. Damon. "Bless my +tape-measure! the way to win a race is to beat." + +"Not this kind of a race," and the young inventor spoke seriously. +"If I got ahead of Andy now, he'd simply trail along and follow us. +That's his game. He wants me to be the path-finder, for, since I +cast a doubt on the correctness of the map, a copy of which he +stole, he isn't sure where he's going. He'd ask nothing better than +to follow us." + +"Then what are you going to do if you don't get ahead of him?" asked +Ned. + +"I'm going to press him close until night," answered Tom, "and when +it's dark, I'm going to shoot ahead, and, by morning we'll be so far +away that he can't catch up to us." + +"Good idea! That's th' stuff!" cried Abe with enthusiasm. + +"He's a sneak!" burst out Mr. Damon. "I'd like to see him left +behind." + +Tom carried out his plan. The remainder of the day he hung just on +Andy's flank, sometimes shooting high up, almost out of sight, and +again coming down, just to show what the RED CLOUD could do when +pressed. + +As for those aboard the ANTHONY, they seemed to be trying to +increase their speed, but, if that was their object they did not +have much success, for the big, clumsy triplane only labored along. + +"I wonder who he's got with him?" said Ned, as darkness was closing +down. "I can't make out any one by this glass. They stick pretty +closely to the cabin." + +"Oh, probably Andy's father is there," said "and, perhaps, some of +Mr. Foger's acquaintances. I guess Mr. Foger is as anxious to get +this gold as Andy is." + +"He certainly needs money," admitted Ned. "Jove! but I hope we beat +him!" + +But alas for Tom's hopes! His plan of waiting until night and then +putting on such speed as would leave Andy behind could not be +carried out. It was tried, but something went wrong with the main +motor, and only half power could be developed. Tom and Ned labored +over it nearly all night, to no effect, and through the hours of +darkness they could see the lights from the cabin of the ANTHONY +gleaming just ahead of them. Evidently the bully's airship could not +make enough speed to run away from the RED CLOUD, or else it was the +plan of the Foger crowd to keep in Tom's vicinity. + +The direction held by Andy's craft was a general northwestern one, +and Tom knew, in time, and that very soon, it would bring the +ANTHONY over the valley of gold. Evidently Andy was placing some +faith in his copy of the stolen map. + +"Once I get this motor in shape I'll soon pull away from him," +announced Tom, about four o'clock that morning, while he and Ned, +aided by Mr. Damon, were still laboring over the refractory machine. + +"What are you going to do?" asked Ned. + +"It's too late to carry out my original plan," went on Tom. "We're +getting so near the place now that I want to be there ahead of every +one else. So as soon as we can, I'm going to push the RED CLOUD for +all she's worth, and get to the valley of gold first. If possession +is nine points of the law, I want those nine points." + +"That's the way to talk!" cried Abe. "Once we git on th' ground we +kin hold our own!" + +It was breakfast time before Tom had the motor repaired, and he +decided to have a good meal before starting to speed up his craft. +He felt better after some hot coffee, for he and the others were +weary from their night of labor. + +"Now for the test!" he cried, as he went back to the engine-room. +"Here's where we give Andy the go-by, and I don't think he can catch +us!" + +There was an increasing hum to the powerful motor, the great +propellers whirled around at twice their former number of +revolutions, and the airship suddenly shot ahead. + +Those on the ANTHOMY must have been watching for some such move as +that, for, no sooner had Tom's craft begun to creep up on his rival +than the forward craft also shot ahead. + +But the airship was not built that could compete with Tom's. Like a +racer overhauling a cart-horse, the RED CLOUD whizzed through the +air. In a spirit of fun the young inventor sent his machine within a +few feet of Andy's. He had a double purpose in this, for he wanted +to show the bully that he did not fear him, and he wanted to see if +he could discover who was aboard. + +Tom did catch a glimpse of Andy and his father in the cabin of the +ANTHONY, and he also saw a couple of men working frantically over +the machinery. + +"They're going to try to catch us!" called Tom to Ned. + +This was evident a moment later, for, after the RED CLOUD had forged +ahead, her rival made a clumsy attempt to follow. The ANTHONY did +show a burst of speed, and, for a moment Tom was apprehensive lest +he had underrated his rival's prowess. + +Suddenly Ned, who was looking from a projecting side window of the +pilothouse, back toward Andy's ship, cried out in alarm. + +"What's the matter?" shouted Tom. + +"The airship--Andy's--two of the main wings have collapsed!" + +Tom looked. It was but too true. The strain under which the ANTHONY +had been put when the machinists increased the speed, had been too +much for the frame. Two wings broke, and now hung uselessly down, +one on either side. The ANTHONY shot toward the snow-covered earth! + +"They're falling!" cried Mr. Parker. + +"Yes," added Tom, grimly, "the race is over as far as they are +concerned." + +"Bless my soul! Won't they be killed?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"There's not much danger," replied the young inventor. "They can +vol-plane back to earth. That's what they're doing," he added a +moment later, as he witnessed the maneuver of the crippled craft. +"They're in no danger, but I don't believe they'll get to the valley +of gold this trip!" + +Tom was soon to learn how easily he could be mistaken. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +HITTING THE ICE MOUNTAIN + + +Onward sped the RED CLOUD. For a moment after the accident to Andy's +ship, Tom had slowed up his craft, but he soon went on again, after +he had satisfied himself that his enemies were in no danger. + +"Don't you think--that is to say--I know they can't expect anything +from us," spoke Mr. Damon, "but for humanity's sake, hadn't we +better stop and help them, Tom?" + +"I hardly think so," replied the young inventor. "In the first place +they would hardly thank us for doing so, and, in the second, I don't +believe they need help. They are almost safely down now." + +"I don't just mean that," went on the odd man. "But they may starve +to death. This is a very desolate country over which we are +sailing." + +"They must have a supply of food in their ship," declared Tom, "and +they have brought their plight on themselves." + +"They're in no great danger," put in Abe. + +"There are plenty of natives around here, an' if the Fogers need +food or aid they can git it by payin' for it. Why, for the sake of +th' parts of their damaged airship, th' Eskimos would take th' whole +party back t' Sitka and feed 'em well on th' trip. Oh, they're all +right." + +"Very well, if you say so," assented Mr. Damon. He looked back to +watch the ANTHONY slowly settling to earth. It came gently down, +proving that Tom knew whereof he spoke, when he had said they could +vol-plane down. Before the RED CLOUD was out of sight Tom and his +companions saw Andy and his father leave their wrecked craft and +venture out on the snow-covered ground. The Fogers gazed enviously +after the airship of our hero as they saw him still forging toward +the goal. + +"I guess Andy's stolen map won't be of much use to him," mused Tom. +"Now we can put on all the speed we like," and with that he shifted +the gears and levers until the airship was making exceedingly good +time toward the valley of gold. + +The remainder of that day saw our adventurers pursuing their way +eagerly. At times they were flying high, and again, when Abe +suggested that they go down to observe the character of the country +over which they were passing, they skimmed along, just above the big +mountains, which seemed almost like icebergs, so covered were they +with frost and snow. + +They were indeed in a wild and desolate country. Below them +stretched a seemingly endless waste of snow and ice--great forests +interspersed with treeless patches, while now and then they sailed +over a frozen lake. + +Once in a while they had glimpses of bands of Indians, dressed in +furs, hunting. At such times the natives would look up, on hearing +the noise made by the motor of the airship, and catching a glimpse +of what must have seemed to them like some supernatural object, they +would fall down prostrate in amazement and fear. + +"Airships are pretty much of a novelty up here," remarked Abe with a +grim smile. + +The weather was now very cold, and the gold-seekers had to get out +their heavy fur garments, of which they had brought along a goodly +supply. True, it was warm in the cabin of the airship, but at times, +they wanted to venture out on the deck to get fresh air, or to make +some adjustments to the wing planes, and, on such occasions the +keen, frosty air, as it was driven past them by the motion of the +craft, made even the thickest garments seem none too warm. Then, +too, it was colder at the elevation at which they flew than down on +the ground. + +Another day found them in a still wilder and more desolate part of +Alaska. There were scarcely any signs of habitation now, and the +snow and ice seemed so thick that even a long summer of sunshine +could hardly have melted it. The hours of daylight, too, were +growing less and less the farther north they went. + +"Do you think you can pilot us right to the Snow Mountains, Abe?" +asked Tom, on the third day after the accident to Andy's airship. +"Let's get out the map, and have another look at it. We must be +getting near the place now. We'll look at the map." + +The young inventor went to his stateroom where he kept the important +document in a small desk, and the others heard him rummaging around. +He muttered impatiently, and Ned heard his chum say: "I thought sure +I put it in here." Then ensued a further search, and presently Tom +came out, his face wearing rather a puzzled and worried look, and he +asked: "Say, Abe, I didn't give that map back to you; did I?" + +"Nope," answered the miner. "I ain't seen it since just before th' +hail storm. We was lookin' at it then." + +"That's when I remember it," went on Tom, "and I thought I put it in +my desk. I didn't, by any possible chance give it to you; did I, +Ned?" + +"Me? No, I haven't seen it." + +"That's funny," went on Tom. "I'll look once more. Maybe it got +under some papers." + +They heard him rummaging again in his desk. + +"Bless my bank-book!" cried Mr. Damon. "I hope nothing has happened +to that map. We can't find the valley of gold without it." + +Tom came back again. + +"I can't find it." he said, hopelessly. + +Then ensued a frantic search. Every possible place in the airship +was looked into, but the precious map did not turn up. + +"Perhaps the Fogers took it," suggested Mr. Parker, who had helped +in the hunt, in a dreamy sort of fashion. + +"That's not possible," said Tom. "They haven't been near enough to +us since I saw the map last. No, the last time I had it was just +before the hail storm, and, in the excitement of repairing the ship, +I have mislaid it." + +"Maybe it's back there in the big cave," suggested Ned. + +"It's possible," admitted the young inventor. "Pshaw! It's very +careless of me!" + +"If you think it's in the cave, we'd better go back there and have a +hunt for it," suggested Mr. Damon. "Otherwise we are on a wild-goose +chase." + +"Don't go back!" exclaimed old Abe. "I think we can find th' valley +of gold without th' map, now that we have come this far. I sort of +remember th' marks on that parchment, an' we are in the right +neighborhood now, for I kin see some of th' landmarks my partner and +I saw. I say, let's keep on! We can cruise around a bit until we +strike th' right place. That won't take us so long as it would to go +back to the cave. Besides, if we go back, the Fogers may get ahead +of us!" + +"With their broken airship?" asked Ned. + +"Can't they repair it?" demanded Abe. + +"Hardly--up in this wild country," was Tom's opinion. "But perhaps +it WILL be just as well to keep on. I have a hazy remembrance of the +distances and directions on the map, and, though it will take longer +to hunt out the valley this way, I think we can do it. I can't +forgive myself for my carelessness! I should have kept a copy of the +map, or given one of you folks one." + +But they would not hear of him blaming himself, and said it might +have happened to any one. It was decided that the map must be lost +in the big cave, and if it was there it was not likely to be found +by their enemies. + +"We'll jest have t' prospect about a bit," declared Abe, "only we'll +do it in th' air instead of on th' ground." + +It was dusk when the fruitless search for the map was over, and they +sat in the cabin discussing matters. The lights had not yet been +switched on, and the RED CLOUD was skimming along under the +influence of the automatic rudders and the propellers. + +"Well, suppose we have supper," proposed Mr. Damon, who seemed to +think eating a remedy for many ills, mental and bodily. "Bless my +desert-spoon, but I'm hungry!" + +He started toward the galley, while Tom went forward to the +pilothouse. Hardly had he reached it than there came a terrific +crash, and the airship seemed tossed back by some giant hand. Every +one was thrown off his feet, and the lights which had been turned on +suddenly went out. + +"What's the matter?" cried Ned. + +"Have we hit anything?" demanded Mr. Damon. + +"Hit anything! I should say we had!" yelled Tom. "We've knocked a +piece off a big mountain of ice!" + +As he spoke the airship began slowly settling toward the earth, for +her machinery had been stopped by the terrific impact. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A FIGHT WITH MUSK OXEN + + +"Can I help you, Tom? What's to be done?" demanded Ned Newton, as he +rushed to where his chum was yanking on various levers and gear +wheels. + +"Wait a minute!" gasped the young inventor. "I want to throw on the +storage battery, and that will give us some light. Then we can see +what we are doing." An instant later the whole ship was illuminated, +and those aboard her felt calmer. Still the RED CLOUD continued to +sink. + +"Can't we do something?" yelled Ned. "Start the propellers, Tom!" + +"No, I'll use the gas. I can't see where we're heading for, as the +searchlight is out of business. We may be in the midst of a lot of +bergs. We were flying too low. Just start the gas generating +machine." + +Ned hurried to obey this order. He saw Tom's object. With the big +bag full of gas the airship would settle gently to earth as easily +as though under the command of the propellers and wing planes. + +In a few minutes the hissing of the machine told that the vapor was +being forced into the bag and a little later the downward motion of +the ship was checked. She moved more and more slowly toward the +earth, until, with a little jar, she settled down, and came to rest. +But she was on such an uneven keel that the cabin was tilted at an +unpleasant angle. + +"Bless my salt-cellar!" cried Mr. Damon. "We are almost standing on +our heads!" + +"Better that than not standing at all," replied Tom, grimly. "Now to +see what the damage is." + +He scrambled from the forward door of the cabin, no easy task +considering how it was tilted, and the others followed him. It was +too dark to note just how much damage had been inflicted, but Tom +was relieved to see, as nearly as he could judge, that it was +confined to the forward part of the front platform or deck of the +ship. The wooden planking was split, but the extent of the break +could not be ascertained until daylight. The searchlight connections +had been broken by the collision, and it could not be used. + +"Now to take a look at the machinery," suggested the young inventor, +when he had walked around his craft. "That is what I am worried +about more than about the outside." + +But, to their joy, they found only a small break in the motor. That +was what caused it to stop, and also put the dynamo out of +commission. + +"We can easily fix that," Tom declared. + +"Bless my coffee-spoon!" cried Mr. Damon, who seemed to be running +to table accessories in his blessings. Perhaps it was because it was +so near supper time. "Bless my coffee-spoon! But how did it happen?" + +"We were running too low," declared Tom. "I had forgotten that we +were likely to get among tall mountain peaks at any moment, and I +set the elevation rudder too low. It was my fault. I should have +been on the lookout. We must have struck the mountain of ice a +glancing blow, or the result would have been worse than it is. We'll +come out of it all right, as it is." + +"We can't do anything to-night," observed Ned. + +"Only eat," put in Mr. Damon, "and we'll have to take our coffee +cups half full, for everything is so tilted that it's like topsy-turvey +land. It makes me fairly dizzy!" + +But he forgot this in the work of getting a meal, and, though it was +prepared under considerable difficulties, at last it was ready. + +Bright and early the next morning Tom was up making another +inspection of his ship. He found that even if the forward deck was +not repaired they could go on, as soon as the motor was in shape, +but, as they had some spare wood aboard, it was decided to +temporarily repair the smashed platform. + +It was cold work, even wearing their thick garments; but, after +laboring until their fingers were stiff from the frost, Ned hit on +the idea of building a big fire of some evergreen trees near where +the ship lay. + +"Say, that's all right!" declared Tom, as the warmth of the blaze +made itself felt. "We can work better, now!" + +The RED CLOUD was tilted on some rough and uneven ground, in among +some little hills. On either side arose big peaks, the one in +particular that they had hit towering nearly fifteen thousand feet. + +Everything was covered with snow and ice, and, in fact, the ice was +so thick on the top of the mountains that the crags resembled +icebergs rather than stony peaks. The crash of the airship had +brought down a great section of this solid rock-ice. + +"Do you think we are anywhere near the valley of gold?" asked Mr. +Damon that afternoon, when the work was nearly finished. + +"It's somewhere in this vicinity." declared Abe. "Me an' my partner +passed through jest such a place as this on our way there. I +wouldn't wonder but what it wasn't more than a few hundred miles +away, now." + +"Then we'll soon be there," said Tom. "I'll start in the morning. I +could go to-night, but there are a few adjustments I want to make to +the motor, and, besides, I think it will be safer, now that we are +among these peaks, to navigate in daylight, or at least with the +searchlight going. I should have thought of that before." + +"Then, if you're not going to start away at once," spoke Mr. Parker, +"I think I will walk around a bit, and make some observations. I +think we are now in the region where we may expect a movement of the +ice. I want to test it, and see if it is traveling in a southerly +direction. If it is not now, it will soon be doing that, and the +coating of ice may reach even as far as New York." + +"Pleasant prospect," murmured Tom. Then he said aloud: "Well if you +are going, Mr. Parker, we'll be with you. I'll be glad of the chance +to stretch my legs, and what more remains to be done, can be +finished in the morning." + +Mr. Damon declared that he did not relish a tramp over the ice and +snow, and would stay in the warm cabin, but Tom and Ned, with Abe +and Mr. Parker started off. The scientist pointed out what he +claimed were evidences of the impending movement of the ice, while +Abe explained to the lads how the Alaskan Indians of that +neighborhood hunted and fished, and how they made huts of blocks of +ice. + +"We are nearing th' Arctic circle," the old miner said, "and we'll +soon be among th' most savage of the Eskimo tribes." + +"Is there any hunting around here?" asked Ned. + +"Yes, plenty of musk ox," answered Abe. + +"I wish I'd brought my gun along and could see one of the big beasts +now," went on Ned. He looked anxiously around, but no game was in +sight. After a little farther tramp over the icy expanse they all +declared that they had seen enough of the dreary landscape, and +voted to return to the ship. + +As they neared their craft Tom saw several large, shaggy black +objects standing in a line on the path the adventurers had come over +a little while before. The objects were between the gold-seekers and +the RED CLOUD. + +"What in the world are those?" asked the young inventor. + +"Look to me like black stones," spoke Ned. + +"Stones?" cried Abe. "Look out, boys, those are musk oxen; and big +ones, too! There's a lot of 'em! Make for the ship! If they attack +us we're goners!" + +The boys and Mr. Parker needed no second warning. Turning so as to +rush past the shaggy creatures, the four headed toward the ship. + +But if our friends expected to reach it unmolested they were +disappointed. No sooner had they increased their pace than the oxen, +with snorts of rage, darted forward. The animals may have imagined +they were about to be attacked, and determined to make the first +move. + +"Here they come!" yelled Ned. + +"Sprint for it!" cried Tom. + +"Oh, if I only had my gun!" groaned Abe. + +It was hard work running over the ice and snow, hampered as they +were with their heavy fur garments. They soon realized this, and the +pace was telling on them. They were now near to the ship, but the +savage creatures still were between them and the craft. + +"Try around the other way!" directed Tom, They changed their +direction, but the oxen also shifted their ground, and with loud +bellows of rage came on, shaking their shaggy heads and big horns, +while the hair, hanging down from their sides and flanks, dragged in +the snow. + +"Right at 'em! Run and yell!" advised the young inventor. "Maybe we +can scare 'em!" + +They followed his advice. Yelling like Indians the four rushed +straight for the animals. For a moment only the creatures halted. +Then, bellowing louder than ever they rushed straight at Tom and the +others. + +The largest of the oxen, with a sudden swerve, made for Mr. Parker, +who was slightly in the lead off to one side. In an instant the +scientist was tossed high in the air, falling in a snow bank. + +"Mr. Damon! Mr. Damon!" yelled Tom, frantically. "Get a gun and +shoot these beasts!" + +The young inventor and his two companions had come to a halt. The +oxen also stopped momentarily. Suddenly Mr. Damon appeared on the +deck of the airship. He held two rifles. Laying one down he aimed +the other at the ox which was rushing at the prostrate Mr. Parker. +The eccentric man fired. He hit the beast on the flank, and, with a +bellow of rage it turned. + +"Now's our time!" yelled Tom. "Head for the ship, I'll get my +electric gun!" + +"We can't leave Mr. Parker!" yelled Abe. + +But the scientist had arisen, and was running toward the RED CLOUD. +He did not seem to be much hurt. Mr. Damon fired again, hitting +another beast, but not mortally. + +Once more the herd of shaggy creatures came on, but the adventurers +were now almost at the ship, on the deck of which stood Mr. Damon, +firing as fast as he could work the lever and pull the trigger. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE CAVES OF ICE + + +"Keep on firing! Hold 'em back a few minutes and I'll soon turn my +electric rifle loose on 'em!" yelled Tom Swift as he sprinted +forward. "Keep on shooting, Mr. Damon!" + +"Bless my powder-horn! I will!" cried the excited man. "I'll fire +all the cartridges there are in the rifle!" + +Which, at the rate he was discharging the weapon, would not take a +long time. But it had the effect of momentarily checking the advance +of the creatures. + +Not for long, however. Our friends had barely reached the airship, +with Mr. Parker stumbling and slipping on the ice and snow, ere the +musk oxen came on again, with loud bellows. + +"They're going to charge the ship! They'll ram her!" yelled Ned +Newton. + +"I think I can stop them!" cried Tom, who had leaped toward his +stateroom. He came out a moment later, carrying a peculiar-looking +gun, The adventurers had seen it before, but never in operation, as +Tom had only put some finishing touches on it since undertaking the +voyage to the caves of ice. + +"What sort of a weapon is that?" cried Abe, as he helped Mr. Parker +on board. + +"It's my new electric rifle," answered the young inventor. "I don't +know how it will work, as it isn't entirely finished, but I'm going +to try it." + +Putting it to his shoulder he aimed at the leading musk ox, and +pulled a small lever. There was no report, no puff of smoke and no +fire, yet the big creature, which had been rushing at the ship, +suddenly stopped, swayed for a moment, and then fell over in the +snow, kicking in his death agony. + +"One down!" yelled Tom. "My rifle works all right, even if it isn't +finished!" + +He aimed at another ox, and that creature was stopped in its tracks. +Mr. Damon had exhausted his cartridges, and had ceased firing, but +Abe Abercrombie was ready with his rifle, and opened up on the +beasts. Tom killed another with his electric gun, and Abe shot two. +This stopped the advance, and only just in time, for the foremost +animals were already close to the ship, and had they rushed at the +frail hull they might have damaged it beyond repair. + +"Here goes for the big one!" cried Tom, and, aiming at the largest +ox of the herd, the young inventor pulled the lever. The brute fell +over dead, and the rest, terror stricken, turned and fled. + +"Hurrah! That's the stuff!" cried Ned Newton, capering about on +deck. He had hurried to his stateroom and secured his rifle, and, +before the musk oxen were out of sight he had killed one, which gave +him great delight. + +"Mighty lucky we drove them away," declared Abe. "They are terrible +savage at times, an' I reckon we struck one of them times. But say, +Tom, what sort of a gun is that you got, anyhow?" + +"Oh, it fires electric bullets," explained our hero. "But I haven't +time to tell you about it now. Let's get out and skin one of those +oxen. The fresh meat will come in good, for we've been living on +canned stuff since we left Seattle. We've got time enough before it +gets dark." + +They hurried to where the shaggy creatures lay in the snow, and soon +there was enough fresh meat to last a long time, as it would keep +well in the intense cold. Tom put away his electric gun, briefly +explaining the system of it to his companions. The time was to come, +and that not very far off, when that same electric rifle was to save +his life in a remarkable manner, in the wilds of Africa where he +went to hunt elephants. + +In the cozy cabin that night they sat and talked of the day's +adventures. The airship had been slightly lifted up by means of the +gas bag, and now rested on a level keel, so it was more comfortable +for the gold hunters. + +"I did not complete my observations about the great snow slide," +remarked Professor Parker, "I trust I will have time to go over the +ground again to-morrow." + +"We leave early in the morning," objected Tom. + +"Besides, I don't believe it would be safe to go over that ground +again," put in Mr. Damon. + +"Bless my gunpowder! But when I saw those savage creatures rushing +at you, I thought it was all up with us. Are you hurt, Parker, my +dear fellow? I forgot to ask before." + +"Not hurt in the least," answered the scientist. "My heavy and thick +fur garments saved me from the beasts' horns, and I fell in some +soft snow. I was quite startled for a moment. I thought it might be +the beginning of the snow movement." + +"It was an ox movement," said Ned, in a low voice to Tom. + +Morning saw the travelers again under way, with the Red Cloud now +floating high enough to avoid the lofty peaks. The weather was clear +but very cold, and Tom, who was in the pilot-house, could see a long +distance ahead, and note many towering crags, which, had the airship +been flying low enough, would have interfered with her progress. + +"We'll have to keep the searchlight going all night, to avoid a +collision," he decided. + +"Are we anywhere near the place?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"We're in th' right region," declared the old miner. "I think we're +on th' right track. I recognize a few more landmarks." + +"There wouldn't have been any trouble if I hadn't lost the map." +complained Tom, bitterly. + +"Never mind about that," insisted Abe. "We'll find th' place anyhow. +But look ahead there; is that another hail storm headin' this way, +Tom?" + +The young inventor glanced to where Abe pointed. There was a mist in +the air, and, for a time great apprehension was felt, but, in a few +minutes there was a violent flurry of snow and they all breathed +easier. For, though the flakes were so numerous as to completely +shut off the view, there was no danger to the airship from them. Tom +steered by the compass. + +The storm lasted several hours, and when it was over the adventurers +found themselves several miles nearer their destination--at least +they hoped they were nearer it, for they were going it blind. + +Abe declared they were now in the region of the gold valley. They +cruised about for two days, making vain observations by means of +powerful telescopes, but they saw no signs of any depression which +corresponded with the place whence Abe had seen the gold taken from. +At times they passed over Indian villages, and had glimpses of the +skin-clad inhabitants rushing out to point to the strange sight of +the airship overhead. Tom was beginning to reproach himself again +for his carelessness in losing the map, and it did begin to took as +if they were making a fruitless search. + +Still they all kept up their good spirits, and Mr. Damon concocted +some new dishes from the meat of the musk oxen. It was about a week +after the fight with the savage creatures when, one day, as Ned was +on duty in the pilothouse, he happened to look down. What he saw +caused him to call to Tom. + +"What's the matter?" demanded the young inventor, as he hurried +forward. + +"Look down there," directed Ned. "It looks as if we were sailing +over a lot of immense beehives of the old-fashioned kind." + +Tom looked. Below were countless, rounded hummocks of snow or ice. +Some were very large--as immense as a great shed in which a +dirigible balloon could be housed--while others were as small as the +ice huts in which the Eskimos live. + +"That's rather strange," remarked Tom. "I wonder--" + +But he did not complete his sentence, for Abe Abercrombie, who had +come to stand beside him, suddenly yelled out: + +"The caves of ice! The caves of ice! Now I know where we are! We're +close to the valley of gold! There are the caves of ice, and just +beyond is th' place we're lookin' for! We've found it at last!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +IN THE GOLD VALLEY + + +The excited cries of the old miner brought Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker +to the pilothouse on the run. + +"Bless my refrigerator!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Are there more of +those savage, shaggy creatures down there?" + +"No, but we are over th' caves of ice," explained Abe. "That means +we are near th' gold." + +"You don't say so!" burst out the scientist. "The caves of ice! Now +I can begin my real observations! I have a theory that the caves are +on top of a strata of ice that is slowly moving down, and will +eventually bury the whole of the North American continent. Let me +once get down there, and I can prove what I say." + +"I'd a good deal rather you wouldn't prove it, if it's going to be +anything like it was on Earthquake Island, or out among the diamond +makers." said Tom Swift. "But we will go down there, to see what +they are like. Perhaps there is a trail from among the ice caves to +the valley of gold." + +"I don't think so," said Abe, shaking his head. + +"I think th' gold valley lies over that high ridge," and he pointed +to one. "That's where me an' my partner was," he went on. "I +recognize th' place now." + +"Well, we'll go down here, anyhow," decided Tom, and he pulled the +lever to let some gas out of the bag, and tilted the deflection +rudder to send the airship toward the odd caves. + +And, curious enough did our friends find them when they had made a +landing and got out to walk about them. It was very cold, for on +every side was solid ice. They walked on ice, which was like a floor +beneath their feet, level save where the ice caves reared +themselves. As for the caverns, they, too, were hollowed out of the +solid ice. It was exactly as though there had once been a level +surface of some liquid. Then by some upheaval of nature, the surface +was blown into bubbles, some large and some small. Then the whole +thing had frozen solid, and the bubbles became hollow caves. In time +part of the sides fell in and made an opening, so that nearly all +the caves were capable of being entered. + +This method of their formation was advanced as a theory by Mr. +Parker, and no one cared to dispute him. The gold-seekers walked +about, gazing on the ice caves with wonder showing on their faces. + +It was almost like being in some fantastic scene from fairyland, the +big ice bubbles representing the houses, the roofs being rounded +like the igloos of the Eskimos. Some had no means of entrance, the +outer surface showing no break. Others had small openings, like a +little doorway, while of still others there remained but a small +part of the original cave, some force of nature having crumbled and +crushed it. + +"Wonderful! Wonderful!" exclaimed Mr. Parker. "It bears out my +theory exactly! Now to see how fast the ice is moving." + +"How are you going to tell?" asked Tom. + +"By taking some mark on this field of ice, and observing a distant +peak. Then I will set up a stake, and by noting their relative +positions, I can tell just how fast the ice field is moving +southward." The scientist hurried into the ship to get a sharpened +stake he had prepared for this purpose. + +"How fast do you think the ice is moving?" asked Ned. + +"Oh, perhaps two or three feet a year." "Two or three feet a year?" +gasped Mr. Damon. "Why, Parker, my dear fellow, at that rate it will +be some time before the ice gets to New York." + +"Oh, yes. I hardly expect it will reach there within two thousand +years, but my theory will be proved, just the same!" + +"Humph!" exclaimed Abe Abercrombie, "I ain't goin' to worry any +more, if it's goin' t' take all that while. I reckoned, to hear him +talk, that it was goin' t' happen next summer." + +"So did I," agreed Tom, but their remarks were lost on Mr. Parker +who was busy making observations. The young inventor and the others +walked about among the ice caves. + +"Some of these caverns would be big enough to house the RED CLOUD in +case of another hail storm," observed Tom. "That one over there +would hold two craft the size of mine," and, in fact, probably three +could have gotten in if the opening had been somewhat enlarged, for +the ice cave to which our hero pointed was an immense one. + +As the adventurers were walking about they were startled by a +terrific crashing sound. They started in alarm, for, off to their +left, the top of one of the ice caverns had crashed inward, the +blocks of frozen water crushing and grinding against one another. + +"It's a good thing we weren't in there," remarked Tom, and he could +not repress a shudder, "There wouldn't have been much left of the +RED CLOUD if she had been inside." + +It was a desolate place, in spite of the wild beauty of it, and +beautiful it was when the sun shone on the ice caves, making them +sparkle as if they were studded with diamonds. But it was cold and +cheerless, and there were no signs that human beings had ever been +there. Mr. Parker had completed the setting of his stake, and picked +out his landmarks, and was gravely making his "observations," and +jotting down some figures in a notebook. + +"How fast is it moving, Parker?" called Mr. Damon. + +"I can't tell yet," was the response. "It will require observations +extending over several days before I will know the rate." + +"Then we might as well go on," suggested Tom. "There is nothing to +be gained from staying here, and I would like to get to the gold +valley. Abe says we are near it." + +"Right over that ridge, I take it to be," replied the miner. "An' we +can't get there any too soon for me. Those Fogers may git their ship +fixed up, an' arrive before we do if we wait much longer." + +"Not much danger, I guess," declared Ned. + +"Well, we'll go up in the air, and see what we can find," decided +Tom, as he turned back toward the ship. + +They found the "ridge" as Abe designated it, to be a great plateau, +over a hundred miles in extent, and they were the better part of +that day crossing it, for they went slowly, so as not to miss the +valley which the miner was positive was close at hand. Mr. Parker +disliked leaving the ice caves, but Abe said there were more in the +valley where they were going, and the scientist could renew his +observations. + +It was getting dusk when Tom, who was peering through a powerful +glass, called out: + +"Well, we're at the end of the plateau, and it seems to dip down +into a valley just beyond here." + +"Then that's the place!" cried Abe, excitedly. "Go slow, Tom." + +Our hero needed no such caution. Carefully he sent the airship +forward. A few minutes later they were passing over a large Eskimo +village, the fur-clad inhabitants of which rushed about wildly +excited at the sight of the airship. + +"There they are! Them's th' beggars!" cried the old miner. "Them's +th' fellows who drove me an' my partner away. But there's th' valley +of gold! I know it now! Now t' fill our pockets with nuggets!" + +"Are you sure this is the place?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Sartin sure of it!" declared Abe. "Put her down, Tom! Put her +down!" + +"All right," agreed the young inventor, as he shifted the deflection +rudder. The airship began her descent into the valley. The edge of +the plateau, leading down into the great depression was now black +with the Eskimos and Indians, who were capering about, gesticulating +wildly. + +"It's quite a surprise party to 'em," observed Ned Newton. + +"Yes, I hope they don't spring one on us," added Tom. + +Down and down went the RED CLOUD lower and lower into the valley. + +"There are ice caves there!" cried Mr. Parker, pointing to the +curiously rounded and hollow hummocks. "Lots of them!" + +"And larger than the others!" added Mr. Damon. + +The airship was now moving slowly, for Tom wanted to pick out a good +landing place. He saw a smooth stretch of the ice just ahead of him, +in front of an immense ice cave. + +"I'll make for that," he told Ned. + +A few minutes later the craft had come to rest. Tom shut off the +power and hurried from the pilothouse, donning his fur coat as he +rushed out. A blast of frigid air met him as he opened the outer +door of the cabin. Back on the ridge of the plateau he could see the +fringe of Indians. + +"Well, we're here in the valley," he said, as his friends gathered +about him on the icy ground. + +"An' now for th' gold!" cried Abe, "for it's here that th' nuggets +are--enough for all of us! Come on an' have a hunt for 'em!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE FOGERS ARRIVE + + +In spite of the fact that he tried to remain calm, Tom Swift felt a +wild exultation as he thought of what lay before him and his +friends. To be in a place where gold could be picked up! where they +might all become fabulously wealthy! where the ground might be seen +covered with the precious yellow metal! this was enough to set the +nerves of any one a-tingle! + +Tom could hardly realize it at first. After many hardships, no +little danger, and after an attempt on the part of their enemies to +defeat them, they had at last reached their goal. Now, as Abe had +said, they could hunt for the gold. + +But if they expected to see the precious yellow nuggets lying about +ready to be picked up like so many kernels of corn, they were +disappointed. A quick look all about showed them only a vast extent +of ice and snow, broken here and there by the big caves of ice. +There were not so many of the latter as at the first place they +stopped, but the caverns were larger. + +"Gold--I don't see any gold," remarked Ned Newton, with a +disappointed air. "Where is it?" + +"Bless my pocketbook, yes! Where is it?" demanded Mr. Damon. + +"Oh, we've got to dig for it," explained Abe. "It's only when +there's been a slight thaw that some of th' pebble nuggets kin be +seen. They're under th' ice, an' we've got t' dig for 'em." + +"Does it ever thaw up here?" asked Mr. Parker. "The ice of the caves +seems thick enough to last forever." + +"It does thaw an' melt some," went on the miner. "But some of th' +caves last all through what they call 'summer' up here, though it's +more like winter. We're above th' Arctic circle now, friends." + +"Maybe we can keep on to the Pole," suggested Ned. + +"Not this trip," spoke Tom, grimly. "We'll try for the gold, first." + +"Yes, an' I'm goin' t' begin diggin' right away!" exclaimed Abe, as +he turned back into the airship, and came out again with a pick and +shovel, a supply of which implements had been brought along. The +others followed his example, and soon the ice chips were flying +about in a shower, while the sun shining on them gave the appearance +of a rainbow. + +"Look at those Indians watching us," remarked Ned to Tom, as he +paused in his chipping of the frozen surface. The young inventor +glanced up toward the distant plateau where a fringe of dark figures +stood. The natives were evidently intently watching the gold-seekers. + +"Do you think there's any danger from them. Abe?" asked Tom. + +"Not much," was the reply. "They made trouble for me an' my partner, +but I guess th' airship has scared 'em sufficient, so they won't +come snoopin' down here," and Abe fell to at his digging again. + +Mr. Damon was also vigorously wielding a pick, but Mr. Parker like +the true scientist he was, had renewed his observations. Evidently +the gold had no attractions for him, or, if it did, he preferred to +wait until he had finished his calculations. + +Vigorously the adventurers wielded their implements, making the ice +fly, but for an hour or more no gold was discovered. Mr. Damon, +after picking lightly at a certain place, would get discouraged, and +move on to another. So did Ned, and Tom, after going down quite a +way, left off work, and walked over to one of the big ice caves. + +"What's up?" asked Ned, resting from his labors. + +"I was thinking whether it would be safe to put the RED CLOUD in +this ice cave for a shelter," replied Tom. "There may come up a hail +storm at any time, and damage it. The caves would be just the place +for it, only I'm afraid the roof might collapse." + +"It looks strong," said Ned. "Let's ask Mr. Parker his opinion." + +"Good idea," agreed Tom. + +The scientist was soon taking measurements of the thickness of the +cave roof, noting its formation, and looking at the frozen floor. + +"I see no reason why this cave should collapse," he finally +announced. "The only danger is the movement of the whole valley of +ice, and that is too gradual to cause any immediate harm. Yes, I +think the airship could be housed in the ice cave." + +"Then I'll run her in, and she'll be safer," decided Tom. "I guess +we three can do it, Ned, and leave Mr. Damon and Abe to keep on +digging for gold." The airship was so buoyant that it could easily +be moved about on the bicycle wheels on which it rested, and soon, +after the lower edge of the opening into the ice cave had been +smoothed down, the RED CLOUD was placed in the novel shelter. + +"Now to continue the search for the yellow nuggets!" cried Ned, and +Tom went with him, even Mr. Parker condescending to take a pick, +now. Abe was the only one who dug steadily in one place. The others +tried spot after spot. + +"You've got t' stick t' one lead until you find somethin', or until +it peters out," explained the miner. "You must git down to th' dirt +before you'll find any gold, though you may strike a few grains that +have worked up into th' ice." + +After this advice they all kept to one hole until they had worked +down through the ice to the dirt surface below. But even then, Abe, +who was the first to achieve this, found no gold, and the old miner +went to another location. + +All the rest of that day they dug, but with no result. Not even a +few grains of yellow dust rewarded their efforts. + +"Are you sure this is the right place?" asked Mr. Damon, somewhat +fretfully, of Abe, as they ate supper that night in the airship, +sheltered as it was in the ice cave. + +"I'm positive of it," was the reply. "There's gold here, but it will +take some prospectin' t' find it. Maybe th' deposits have been +shifted by th' ice movement, as Mr. Parker says. But it's here, an' +we'll git it. We'll try ag'in t'-morrow." + +They did try, but with small success. Laboring all day in the cold +the only result was a few little yellow pebbles that Tom found +imbedded in the ice. But they were gold, and the finding of them +gave the seekers hope as they wearily began their task the following +day. The weather seemed even colder, and there was the indication of +a big storm. + +They were scattered in different places on the ice, not far away +from the big cave, each one picking away vigorously. Suddenly Abe, +who had laboriously worked his way down to the dirt, gave an +exultant yell. + +"I've struck it! Struck it rich!" he shouted, leaping about as he +threw down his pick, "Look here, everybody!" He stooped down over +the hole. They all ran to his side, and saw him lifting from a +little pocket in the dirt, several large, yellow pebbles. + +"Gold! Gold!" cried Abe. "We've struck it at last!" + +For a moment no one spoke, though there was a wild beating of their +hearts. Then, off toward the farther end of the valley there sounded +a curious noise. It was a shouting and yelling, mingled with the +snapping of whips and the howls and barkings of dogs. + +"Bless my handkerchief!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's that?" + +They all saw a moment later. Approaching over the frozen snow were +several Eskimo sledges, drawn by dog teams, and the native drivers +were shouting and cracking their whips of walrus hide. + +"The natives are coming to attack us!" cried Ned. + +Tom said nothing. He was steadily observing the approaching sleds. +They came on rapidly. Abe was holding the golden nuggets in his +gloved hands. + +"Get the guns! Where's your electric rifle, Tom?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"I don't believe we'll need the guns--just yet," answered the young +inventor, slowly. + +"Bless my cartridge-belt! Why not?" demanded the eccentric man. + +"Because those are the Fogers," replied Tom. "They have followed +us--Andy and his father! Andy Foger here!" gasped Ned. + +Tom nodded grimly. A few minutes later the sleds had come to a halt +not far from our friends, and Andy, followed by his father, leaped +off his conveyance. The two were clad in heavy fur garments. + +"Ha, Tom Swift! You didn't get here much ahead of us!" exulted the +bully. "I told you I'd get even with you! Come on, now, dad, we'll +get right to work digging for gold!" + +Tom and his companions did not know what to say. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +JUMPING THE CLAIM + + +There was a sneering look on Andy's face, and Mr. Foger, too, seemed +delighted at having reached the valley of gold almost as soon as had +our friends. Tom and the others looked at the means by which the +bully had arrived. There were four sleds, each one drawn by seven +dogs, and in charge of a dark-skinned native. On the two foremost +sleds Andy and his father had ridden, while the other two evidently +contained their supplies. + +For a moment Andy surveyed Tom's party and then, turning to one of +the native drivers, he said: + +"We'll camp here. You fellows get to work and make an ice house, and +some of you cook a meal--I'm hungry." + +"No need build ice house," replied the native, who spoke English +brokenly. + +"Why not?" demanded Andy. + +"Live in ice cave-plenty much ob'em--plenty much room," went on the +Eskimo, indicating several of the large caverns. + +"Ha! That's a good idea," agreed Mr. Foger, "Andy, my son, we have +houses already made for us, and very comfortable they seem, too. +We'll take up our quarters in one, and then hunt for the gold." + +Mr. Foger seemed to ignore Tom and his friends. Abe Abercrombie +strode forward. + +"Look here, you Fogers!" he exclaimed without ceremony, "was you +calculatin' on stakin' any claims here?" + +"If you mean are we going to dig for gold, we certainly are," +replied Andy insolently, "and you can't stop us." + +"I don't know about that," went on Abe, grimly. "I ain't goin' t' +say nothin' now, about th' way you stole th' map from me, an' made a +copy, but I am goin t' say this, an' that is it won't be healthy fer +any of you t' git in my way, or t' try t' dig on our claims!" + +"We'll dig where we please!" cried Andy. "You don't own this +valley!" + +"We own as much of it as we care to stake out, by right of prior +discovery!" declared Tom, firmly. + +"And I say we'll dig where we please!" insisted Andy. "Hand me a +pick," he went on to another of the natives. + +"Wait jest a minute," spoke Abe calmly, as he put his little store +of nuggets in the pocket of his fur coat, and drew out a big +revolver. "It ain't healthy t' talk that way, Andy Foger, an' th' +sooner you find that out th' better. You ain't in Shopton now, an' +th' only law here is what we make for ourselves. Tom, maybe you'd +better get out th' rifles, an' your electric gun, after all. It +seems like we might have trouble," and Abe cooly looked to see if +his weapon was loaded. + +"Oh, of course we didn't mean to usurp any of your rights, my dear +friend!" exclaimed Mr. Foger quickly, and he seemed nervous at the +sight of the big revolver, while Andy hastily moved until he was +behind the biggest of the sledge drivers. "We don't want to violate +any of your rights," went on Mr. Foger. "But this valley is large, +and do I understand that you claim all of it?" + +"We could if we wanted to," declared Abe stoutly; "but we'll be +content with three-quarter of it, seein' we was here fust. If you +folks want t' dig fer gold, go over there," and he pointed to a spot +some distance away. + +"We'll dig where we please!" cried Andy. + +"Oh, will you?" and there was an angry light in Abe's eyes. "I +guess, Tom, you'd better git--" + +"No! No! My son is wrong--he is too hasty," interposed Mr. Foger. +"We will go away--certainly we will. The valley is large enough for +both of us--just as you say. Come, Andy!" + +The bully seemed about to refuse, but a look at Abe's angry face and +a sight of Mr. Damon coming from the cave where the airship was, +with a rifle, for the eccentric man had hastened to get his weapon--this +sight calmed Andy down. Without further words he and his father +got back on their sleds, and were soon being driven off to where a +large ice cave loomed up, about a mile away. + +"Good riddance," muttered the miner, "now we kin go on diggin' +without bein' bothered by that little scamp." + +"I don't know about that," spoke Tom, shaking his head dubiously. +"There's always trouble when Andy Foger's within a mile. I'm afraid +we haven't seen the last of him." + +"He'd better not come around here ag'in," declared Abe. "Queer, how +he should turn up, jest when I made a big strike." + +"They must have come on all the way from where their airship was +wrecked, by means of dog sleds," observed Ned, and the others agreed +with him. Later they learned that this was so; that after the +accident to the ANTHONY, the crew had refused to proceed farther +north, and had gone back. But Mr. Foger had hired the natives with +the dog teams, and, by means of the copy of the map and with what +knowledge his Eskimos had, had reached the valley of gold. + +"We have certainly struck it rich," went on Abe, as he went back to +where he had dug the hole. "Now we'd better all begin prospectin' +here, for it looks like a big deposit. We'll stake out a large +enough claim to take it all in. I guess Mr. Parker can do that, +seein' as how he knows about such things." + +The scientist agreed to do this part of the work, it being +understood that all the gold discovered would be shared equally +after the expenses of the trip had been paid. + +Feverishly Abe and the others began to dig. They did not come upon +such a rich deposit as the miner had found, but there were enough +nuggets picked up to prove that the expedition would be very +successful. + +No more attention was paid to the Fogers, but through the telescope +Tom could see that the bully and his father had made a camp in one +of the ice caves, and that both were eagerly digging in the frozen +surface of the valley. + +Before night several thousand dollars' worth of gold had been taken +out by our friends. It was stored in the airship, and then, after +supper the craft's searchlight was taken off, and placed in such a +position in front of the cave of ice so that the beams would +illuminate the claim staked out by Tom and the others. + +"We'll stand watch an' watch," suggested Abe, "but I don't think +them Fogers will come around here ag'in." + +They did not, and the night passed peacefully. The next day our +friends were again at work digging for gold. So were the Fogers, as +could be observed through the glass, but it was impossible to see +whether they got any nuggets. + +The gold seemed to be in "pockets," and that day the ones in the +vicinity of the strike first made by Abe were cleaned out. + +"We'll have to locate some new 'pockets,'" said the miner, and the +adventurers scattered over the frozen plain to look for other +deposits of the precious metal. + +Tom and Ned were digging together not far from one another. Suddenly +Ned let out a joyful cry. + +"Strike anything?" asked Tom. + +"Something rich," answered the bank clerk. He lifted from a hole in +the ground a handful of the golden pebbles. + +"It's as good as Abe's was!" exclaimed Tom. "We must stake it out at +once, or the Fogers may jump it. Come on, we'll go back and tell +Abe, and get Mr. Parker and Mr. Damon over here." + +The three men were some distance away, and there was no sign of the +Fogers. Tom and Ned hurried back to where their friends were, +leaving their picks and shovels on the frozen ground. + +The good news was soon told, and, with some stakes hastily made from +some extra wood carried on the airship, the little party hastened +back to where Tom and Ned had made their strike. + +As they emerged from behind a big hummock of ice they saw, standing +over the holes which the lads had dug, Andy Foger and his father! +Each one had a rifle, and there was a smile of triumph on Andy's +face! + +"What are you doing here?" cried Tom, the hot blood mounting to his +cheeks. + +"We've just staked out a claim here," answered the bully. + +"And you deserted it," put in Mr. Foger smoothly. "I think your +mining friend will tell you that we have a right to take up an +abandoned claim." + +"But we didn't abandon it!" declared Tom. "We only went away to get +the stakes." + +"The claim was abandoned, and we have 'jumped' it," went on Mr. +Foger, and he cocked his rifle. "I need hardly tell you that +possession is nine points of the law, and that we intend to remain. +Andy, is your gun loaded?" + +"Yes, pa." + +"I--I guess they've got us--fer th' time bein'," murmured Abe, as he +motioned to Tom and the others to come away. "Besides they've got +guns, an' we haven't--but wait," added the miner, mysteriously. "I +haven't played all my tricks yet." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +ATTACKED BY NATIVES + + +To state that Tom and his friends were angry at the trick the Fogers +had played on them would be putting it mildly. There was righteous +indignation in their hearts, and, as for the young inventor he felt +that much blame was attached to him for his neglect in not remaining +on guard at the place of the lucky strike while Ned went to call the +others. + +"I guess Andy must have been spying on us," spoke Ned, "or he would +never have known when to rush up just as he did; as soon as we +left." + +"Probably," admitted Tom, bitterly. + +"But, bless my penholder!" cried Mr. Damon. "Can't we do something, +Abe? Won't the law--?" + +"There ain't any law out here, except what you make yourself," said +the miner. "I guess they've got us for th' time bein'." + +"What do you mean by that?" asked Tom, detecting a gleam of hope in +Abe's tone. + +"Well, I mean that I think we kin git ahead of 'em. Come on back to +th' ship, an' we'll talk it over." + +They walked away, leaving Andy and his father in possession of the +rich deposits of gold, and that it was much richer even then than +the hole Abe had first discovered was very evident. The two Fogers +were soon at work, digging out the yellow metal with the pick and +shovels Tom and Ned had so thoughtlessly dropped. + +"What little law there is out here they've got on their side," went +on Abe, "an' they've got possession, too, which is more. Of course +we could go at 'em in a pitched battle, but I take it you don't want +any bloodshed?" and he looked at Tom. + +"Of course not," replied the lad quickly, "but I'd like to meet Andy +alone, with nothing but my fists for a little while," and Tom's eyes +snapped. + +"So would I," added Ned. + +"Perhaps we can find another pocket of gold better than that one," +suggested Mr. Damon. + +"We might," admitted Abe, "but that one was ours an' we're entitled +to it. This valley is rich in gold deposits, but you can't allers +put your hand on 'em. We may have t' hunt around for a week until we +strike another. An', meanwhile, them Fogers will be takin' our gold! +It's not to be borne! I'll find some way of drivin' 'em out. An' +we've got t' do it soon, too." + +"You mean if we don't that they'll get all the gold?" asked Mr. +Damon. + +"No, I mean that soon it will be th' long night up here, an' we +can't work. We'll have t' go back, an' I don't want t' go back until +I've made my pile." + +"Neither do any of us, I guess," spoke Tom, "but there doesn't seem +to be any help for it." + +They discussed several plans on reaching the ship, but none seemed +feasible without resorting to force, and this they did not want to +do, as they feared there might be bloodshed. When night closed in +they could see the gleam of a campfire, kindled by the Foger party, +at the gold-pocket, from bits of the scrubby trees that grew in that +frigid clime. + +"They're going to stay on guard," announced Tom. "We can't get it +away from them to-night." + +Though Abe had spoken of some plan to regain the advantage the +Fogers had of them, the old miner was not quite ready to propose it. +All the next day he seemed very thoughtful, while going about with +the others, seeking new deposits of gold. Luck did not seem to be +with them. They found two or three places where there were traces of +the yellow pebbles, but in no very great quantity. + +Meanwhile the Fogers were busy at the pocket Ned had located. They +seemed to be taking out much of the precious metal. + +"And it all ought to be ours," declared Tom, bitterly. + +"Yes, and it shall be, too!" suddenly exclaimed. Abe. "I think I +have a plan that will beat 'em." + +"What is it?" asked Tom. + +"Let's get back to the ship, and I'll tell you," said Abe. "We can't +tell when one of their natives might be sneakin' in among these ice +caves, an' they understand some English. They might give my scheme +away." + +In brief Abe's plan, as he unfolded it in the cabin of the RED CLOUD +was this: + +They would divide into two parties, one consisting of Ned and Tom, +and the other of the three men. The latter, by a circuitous route, +would go to the ice caves where the Fogers had established their +camp. It was there that the Indians remained during the day, while +Andy and his father labored at the gold pocket, for, after the first +day when they had had the natives aid them, father and son had +worked alone at the hole, probably fearing to trust the Indians. At +night, though either Andy or his father remained on guard, with one +or two of the dusky-skinned dog drivers. + +"But we'll work this trick before night," said Abe. "We three men +will get around to where the natives are in the ice cave. We'll +pretend to attack them, and raise a great row, firing our guns in +the air, and all that sort of thing, an' yellin' t' beat th' band. +Th' natives will yell, too, you can depend on that." + +"Th' Fogers will imagine we are tryin' t' git away with their sleds +an' supplies, an' maybe their gold, if they've got it stored in th' +ice cave. Naturally Andy or his father will run here, an' that will +leave only one on guard at th' mine. Then Tom an' Ned can sneak up. +Th' two of 'em will be a match for even th' old Foger, if he happens +t' stay, an' while Tom or Ned comes up in front, t' hold his +attention, th' other can come up in back, an' grab his arms, if he +tries t' shoot. Likely Andy will remain at th' gold hole, an' you +two lads kin handle him, can't you?" + +"Well, I guess!" exclaimed Tom and Ned together. + +The plan worked like a charm. Abe, Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker raised a +great din at the ice cave where the Foger natives were. The sound +carried to the hole where Andy and his father were digging out the +gold. Mr. Foger at once ran toward the cave, while Andy, catching up +his gun, remained on the alert. + +Then came the chance of Tom and Ned. The latter coming from his +hiding-place, advanced boldly toward the bully, while Tom, making a +detour, worked his way up behind. + +"Here! You keep away!" cried Andy, catching sight of Ned. "I see +what the game is, now! It's a trick!" + +"You're a nice one to talk about tricks!" declared Ned, advancing +slowly. + +"Keep away if you don't want to get hurt!" yelled Andy. + +"Oh, you wouldn't hurt me; would you?" mocked Ned, who wanted to +give Tom time to sneak up behind the bully. + +"Yes, I would! Keep back!" Andy was nervously fingering his weapon. +The next instant his gun flew from his grasp, and he went over +backward in Tom's strong grip; for the young inventor, in his +sealskin shoes had worked up in the rear without a sound. The next +moment Andy broke away and was running for his life, leaving Tom and +Ned in possession of the gold hole, and that without a shot being +fired. A little later the three men, who had hurried away from the +cave as Mr. Foger rushed up to see what caused the racket, joined +Tom and Ned, and formal possession was taken of their lucky strike. + +"We'll guard it well, now," decided Tom, and later that day they +moved some supplies near the hole, and for a shelter built an igloo, +Eskimo fashion, in which work Abe had had some experience. Then they +moved the airship to another ice cave, nearer their "mine" as they +called it, and prepared to stand guard. + +But there seemed to be no need, for the following day there was no +trace of the Fogers. They and their natives had disappeared. + +"I guess we were too much for them," spoke Tom. But the sequel was +soon to prove differently. + +It was three days after our friends had regained their mine, during +which time they had dug out considerable gold, that toward evening, +as Tom was taking the last of the output of yellow pebbles into the +cave where the airship was, he looked across the valley. + +"Looks like something coming this way," observed the young inventor. +"Natives, I guess." + +"It is," agreed Ned, "quite a large party, too!" + +"Better tell Abe and the others," went on Tom. "I don't like the +looks of this. Maybe the sudden disappearance of the Fogers has +something to do with it." + +Abe, Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker hurried from the ice cave. They had +caught up their guns as they ran out. + +"They're still coming on," called Tom, "and are headed this way." + +"They're Indians, all right!" exclaimed Abe. "Hark! What's that?" + +It was the sound of shouting and singing. + +Through the gathering dusk the party advanced. Our friends closely +scanned them. There was something familiar about the two leading +figures, and it could now be seen that in the rear were a number of +dog sleds. + +"There's Andy Foger and his father!" cried Ned. "They've gone and +got a lot of Eskimos to help them drive us away." + +"That's right!" admitted Tom. "I guess we're in for it now!" + +With a rush the natives, led by the Fogers, came on. They were +yelling now. An instant later they began firing their guns. + +"It's a fierce attack!" cried Tom. "Into the ice cave for shelter! +We can cover the gold mine from there. I'll get my electric gun!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE WRECK OF THE AIRSHIP + + +Almost before our friends could retreat into the cave which now +sheltered the RED CLOUD, the attacking natives opened fire. +Fortunately they only had old-fashioned, muzzle-loading muskets, +and, as their aim was none of the best, there was comparatively +little danger. The bullets, however, did sing through the +fast-gathering darkness with a vicious sound, and struck the heavy +sides and sloping front of the ice cave with a disconcerting "ping!" + +"I don't hear Andy or his father firing!" called Tom, as he and the +others returned the fire of the savage Indians. "I could tell their +guns by the sharper reports. The Fogers carry repeating rifles, and +they're fine ones, if they're anything like the one we took from +Andy, Ned." + +"That's right," agreed Tom's chum, "I don't believe Andy or his +father dare fire. They're afraid to, and they're putting the poor +ignorant natives up to it. Probably they hired them to try to drive +us away." + +This, as they afterward learned, was exactly the case. + +The battle, if such it could be called, was kept up. There was about +a hundred natives, all of whom had guns, and, though they were slow +to load, there were enough weapons to keep up a constant fusilade. +On their part, Tom and the others fired at first over the heads of +the natives, for they did not want to kill any of the deluded men. +Later, though, when they saw the rush keeping up, they fired at +their legs, and disabled several of the Eskimos, the electric gun +proving very effective. + +It was now quite dark, and the firing slackened. From their position +in the cave, Tom and the others could command the hole where the +gold was, and, as they saw several natives sneaking up to it the +young inventor and Ned, both of whom were good shots, aimed to have +the bullets strike the ice close to where the Indians were. + +This sort of shooting was enough, and the natives scurried away. +Then Tom hit on the plan of playing the searchlight on the spot, and +this effectually prevented an unseen attack. It seemed to discourage +the enemy, too for they did not venture into that powerful glow of +light. + +"They won't do anything more until morning," declared Abe. "Then +we'll have it hot an' heavy, though, I'm afeered. Well, we'll have +t' make th' best of it!" + +They took turns standing guard that night, but no attack was made. +The fact of the Fogers coming back with the band of Indians told +Tom, more plainly than words, how desperately his enemies would do +battle with them. Anxiously they waited for the morning. + +Several times in the night Mr. Parker was seen roaming about +uneasily, though it was not his turn to be on guard. Finally Tom +asked him what was the matter, and if he could not sleep. + +"It isn't that," answered the scientist, "but I am worried about the +ice. I can detect a slight but peculiar movement by means of some of +my scientific instruments. I am alarmed about it. I fear something +is going to happen." + +But Tom was too worried about the outcome of the fight he knew would +be renewed on the next day, to think much about the ice movement. He +thought it would only be some scientific phenomena that would amount +to little. + +With the first streak of the late dawn, the gold-seekers were up, +and partook of a hot breakfast, with strong coffee which Mr. Damon +brewed. Tom took an observation from the mouth of the cave. The +searchlight was still dimly glowing, and it did not disclose +anything. Tom turned it off. He thought he saw a movement among the +ranks of the enemy, who had camped just beyond the gold hole. + +"I guess they're coming!" cried the lad. "Get ready for them!" + +The adventurers caught up their guns, and hurried to the entrance of +the cave. Mr. Parker lingered behind, and was observed to be +narrowly scanning the walls of the cavern. + +"Come on, Parker, my dear man!" begged Mr. Damon. "We are in grave +danger, and we need your help. Bless my life insurance policy! but I +never was in such a state as this." + +"We may soon be in a worse one," was the answer of the gloomy +scientist. + +"What do you mean?" asked Mr. Damon, but he hurried on without +waiting for a reply. + +Suddenly, from without the cave came a series of fierce yells. It +was the battle-cry of the Indians. At the same moment there sounded +a fusillade of guns. + +"The battle is beginning!" cried Tom Swift, grimly. He held his +electric gun, though he had not used it very much in the previous +attack, preferring to save it for a time of more need. + +As the defenders of the cave reached the entrance they saw the body +of natives rushing forward. They were almost at the gold hole, with +Andy Foger and his father discreetly behind the first row of +Eskimos, when, with a suddenness that was startling, there sounded +throughout the whole valley a weird sound! + +It was like the wailing of some giant--the sighing of some mighty +wind. At the same time the air suddenly became dark, and then there +came a violent snow squall, shutting out instantly the sight of the +advancing natives. Tom and the others could not see five feet beyond +the cave. + +"This will delay the attack," murmured Ned, "They can't see to come +at us." + +Mr. Parker came running up from the interior of the cave. On his +face there was a look of alarm. + +"We must leave here at once!" he cried. + +"Leave here?" repeated Tom. "Why must we? The enemy are out there! +We'd run right into them!" + +"It must be done!" insisted the scientist. "We must leave the cave +at once!" + +"What for?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"Because the movement of the ice that I predicted, has begun. It is +much more rapid than I supposed it would be. In a short time this +cave and all the others will be crushed flat!" + +"Crushed flat!" gasped Tom. + +"Yes, the caves of ice are being destroyed! Hark! You can hear them +snapping!" + +They all listened. Above the roar of the storm could be made out the +noise of crushing, grinding ice-sounds like cannon being fired, as +the great masses of frozen crystal snapped like frail planks. + +"The ice caves are being destroyed by an upheaval of nature!" went +on Mr. Parker. "This one will soon go! The walls are bulging now! We +must get out!" + +"But the natives! They will kill us!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my +soul! what a trying position to be in." + +"I guess the natives are as bad off as we are," suggested Ned. +"They're not firing, and I can hear cries of alarm, I think they're +running away." + +There was a lull in the snow flurry, and the white curtain seemed to +lift for a moment. The gold-seekers had a glimpse of the natives in +full retreat, with the Fogers--father and son--racing panic-stricken +after them. Tom could also see a big cave, just beyond the gold +hole, collapse and crumble to pieces like a house of cards. + +"We have no time to lose!" Mr. Parker warned them. "The roof of this +cave is slowly coming down. The sides are collapsing! We must get +out!" + +"Then wheel out the airship!" cried Tom. "We must save that! We +needn't fear the natives, now!" + +The young inventor hurried to the RED CLOUD calling to Ned and the +others. They hastened to his side. It was an easy matter to move the +airship along on the wheels. It neared the opening of the cave. The +rumbling, roaring, grinding sound of the ice increased. + +"Why--why!" cried Tom in surprise and alarm, as the craft neared the +mouth of the ice cavern, "we can't get it out--the opening is too +small! Yet it came in easily enough!" + +"The cave is collapsing--growing smaller every moment!" cried Mr. +Parker. "We have only time to save our lives! Run out!" + +"And leave the airship? Never!" yelled Tom. + +"You must! You can't save that and your life!" + +"Get axes and make the opening bigger!" suggested Ned, who, like his +chum, could not bear to think of the destruction of the beautiful +craft. + +"No time! No time!" shouted Mr. Parker, frantically, "We must get +out! Save what you can from the ship--the gold--some supplies--the +guns--some food--save what you can!" + +Then ensued a wild effort to get from the doomed craft what they +could--what they would need if they were to save their lives in that +cold and desolate country. Food, some blankets--their guns--as much +of the gold as they could hastily gather together--their weapons and +some ammunition--all this was carried from the cabin outside the +cave. The entrance was rapidly growing smaller. The roof was already +pressing down on the gas-bag. + +Tom gave one last look at his fine craft. There were tears in his +eyes. He started into the cabin for something he had forgotten. Mr. +Parker grabbed him by the arm. + +"Don't go in!" he cried hoarsely. "The cave will collapse in another +instant!" He rushed with Tom out of the cavern, and not a moment too +soon. The others were already outside. + +Then with a rush and a roar, with a sound like a great explosion, +with a rending, grinding and booming as the great pieces of ice +collapsed one against the other, the big ice cave settled in, as +does some great building when the walls are weakened! + +Down crashed the roof of the ice cave! Down upon the RED CLOUD, +burying out of sight, forever, under thousands of tons of ice and +snow, the craft which was the pride of Tom Swift's heart! It was the +end of the airship! + +Tom felt a moisture of tears in his eyes as he stood there in the +midst of the snowstorm. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE RESCUE--CONCLUSION + + +For a few moments after the collapse of the cave, and the +destruction of the airship, on which they depended to take them from +that desolate land, no one spoke. The calamity had been too +terrible--they could hardly understand it. + +The snow had ceased, and, over the frozen plain, in full retreat, +could be seen the band of attacking Indians. They had fled in terror +at the manifestation of Nature. And Nature, as if satisfied at the +mischief she had wrought, called a halt to the movement of the ice. +The roaring, grinding sounds ceased, and there were no more +collapses of caves in that neighborhood. + +"Well, we are up against it," spoke Tom, softly. "Poor old RED +CLOUD! There'll never be another airship like you!" + +"We are lucky to have escaped with our lives," said Mr. Parker. +"Another moment and it would have been too late. I was expecting +something like this--I predicted it." + +But his honor was an empty one--no one cared to dispute it with him. + +"Bless my refrigerator! What's to be done!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. + +"Start from here as soon as possible," decided Abe. + +"Why, do you think the natives will come back?" asked Ned. + +"No, but we have only a small supply of food, my lad, an' it's hard +to git up here. We must hit th' trail fer civilization as soon as we +kin!" + +"Go back--how; without the airship?" asked Tom, blankly. + +"Walk!" exclaimed the miner, grimly. "It's th' only way!" + +They realized that. There was no hope of digging through that mass +of fantastically piled ice to reach the airship, and, even if they +could have done so, it would have been crushed beyond all hope of +repair. Nor could they dig down for more food, though what they had +hastily saved was little enough. + +"Well, if we've got to go, we'd better start," suggested Tom, sadly. +"Poor old RED CLOUD!" + +"Maybe we can get a little more gold," suggested Ned. + +They walked over to the hole whence they had taken the yellow +nuggets. The "pocket" was not to be seen. It was buried out of sight +under tons of ice. + +"We'll get no more gold here," decided Abe, "if we get safely out of +th' valley, and t' the nearest white settlement, we'll be lucky." + +"Bless my soul! Is it as bad as that!" cried Mr. Damon. + +Abe nodded without speaking. There was nothing else to do. Sadly and +silently they made up into packs the things they had saved, and +started southward, guided by a small compass the miner had with him. + +It was a melancholy party. Fortunately the weather had turned a +little warmer or they might have been frozen to death. They tramped +all that day, shaping their course to take them out of the valley on +a side well away from where the hostile natives lived. At night they +made rude shelters of snow and blocks of ice and ate cold victuals. +The second day it grew colder, and they were slightly affected by +snow-blindness, for they had lost their dark glasses in the cave. + +Even the gold seemed too great a burden to carry, and they found +they had more of it than at first they supposed. On the third day +they were ready to give up, but Abe bravely urged them on. Toward +the close of the fourth day, even the old miner was in despair, for +the food they could carry was not such as to give strength and +warmth, and they saw no game to shoot. + +They were just getting ready to go into a cheerless camp for the +night, when Tom, who was a little in advance, looked ahead. + +"Ned, do I see something or is it only a vision?" he asked. + +"What does it look like?" asked his chum. + +"Like Eskimos on sleds." + +"That's what it is," agreed Ned, after an observation. "Maybe it's +the Fogers, or some of the savage Indians." + +They halted in alarm, and got out their guns. The little party of +natives kept coming on toward them. + +Suddenly Abe uttered a cry, but it was one of joy and not fear. + +"Hurrah!" he yelled, "It's all right--they're friendly natives! +They're of the same tribe that helped me an' my partner! It's all +right, boys, we're rescued now!" + +And so it proved. A few minutes later the gold-seekers were on the +sleds of the friendly Eskimos, some of whom remembered Abe, and the +weary and hungry adventures were being rushed toward the native +village as fast as the dogs could run. It was a hunting party that +had come upon our friends just in time. + +Little more remains to be told. Well cared for by the kind Eskimos, +Tom and his friends soon recovered their spirits and strength. They +arranged for dog teams to take them to Sitka, and paid their friends +well for the service, not only in gold, but by presenting what was +of more value, the guns they no longer needed. Tom, however, +retained his electric rifle. + +Three weeks after that they were on a steamer bound for +civilization, having bidden their friends the Eskimos good-by. + +"Homeward bound," remarked Tom, some time later, as they were in a +train speeding across the continent. "It was a great trip, and the +gold we got will more than repay us, even to building a new airship. +Still, I can't help feeling sorry about the RED CLOUD." + +"I don't blame you," returned Ned. "Are you going to build another +airship, Tom?" + +"Not one like the RED CLOUD, I think. But I have in mind plans for a +sort of racing craft. I think I'll start it when I get back home." + +How Tom's plans developed, and what sort of a craft he built will be +related in the next volume of this series, to be called "Tom Swift +and His Sky Racer; or, the Quickest Flight on Record." In that will +be told how the young inventor foiled his enemies, and how he saved +his father's life. Our friends arrived safely at Shopton in due +season. They learned that the two Fogers had reached there shortly +before them. Tom and his party decided not to prosecute them, and +they did not learn the identity of the men who tried to rob Tom of +the map. + +"But I guess Andy won't go about boasting of his airship any more," +said Ned, "nor of how he got our gold mine away from us. He'll sing +mighty small for a while." + +The store of gold brought from the North, proved quite valuable, +though but for the unforeseen accidents our friends could have +secured much more. Yet they were well satisfied. With his share Abe +Abercrombie settled down out West, Mr. Damon gave most of his gold +to his wife, Mr. Parker bought scientific instruments with his, Ned +invested his in bank stock, and Tom Swift, after buying a beautiful +gift for a certain pretty young lady, used part of the remainder to +build his Sky Racer. + +And now, for a time, we will take leave of Tom and his friends, and +say good-by. + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice, by Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE *** + +***** This file should be named 3734.txt or 3734.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/3/3734/ + +Produced by This etext was produced by Charles Franks, +Greg Weeks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.07/27/01*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by Charles Franks, Greg Weeks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice + +OR + +The Wreck of the Airship + + +by VICTOR APPLETON + + + + +CONTENTS + + + I ERADICATE IN AN AIRSHIP + II ANDY FOGER'S TRIPLANE + III ABE IS DECEIVED + IV TOM GETS THE MAP + V GRAVE SUSPICIONS + VI ANDY'S AIRSHIP FLIES + VII READY FOR THE TRIP + VIII A THIEF IN THE NIGHT + IX A VANDAL'S ACT + X TOM IS HELD UP + XI OFF FOR THE FROZEN NORTH + XII PELTED BY HAILSTONES + XIII A FRIGHTENED INDIAN + XIV THE RIVAL AIRSHIP + XV THE RACE + XVI THE FALL OF THE ANTHONY + XVII HITTING THE ICE MOUNTAIN +XVIII A FIGHT WITH MUSK OXEN + XIX THE CAVES OF ICE + XX IN THE GOLD VALLEY + XXI THE FOGERS ARRIVE + XXII JUMPING THE CLAIM +XXIII ATTACKED BY NATIVES + XXIV TEE WRECK OF THE AIRSHIP + XXV THE RESCUE-CONCLUSION + + + + +CHAPTER I + +ERADICATE IN AN AIRSHIP + + +"Well, Massa Tom, am yo' gwine out in yo' flyin' machine ag'in to- +day?" + +"Yes, Rad, I think I will take a little flight. Perhaps I'll go over +to Waterford, and call on Mr. Damon. I haven't seen very much of +him, since we got back from our hunt after the diamond-makers." + +"Take a run clear ober t' Waterfield; eh, Massa Tom?" + +"Yes, Rad. Now, if you'll help me, I'll get out the Butterfly, and +see what trim she's in for a speedy flight." + +Tom Swift, the young inventor, aided by Eradicate Sampson, the +colored helper of the Swift household, walked over toward a small +shed. + +A few minutes later the two had rolled into view, on its three +bicycle wheels, a trim little monoplane--one of the speediest craft +of the air that had ever skimmed along beneath the clouds. It was +built to carry two, and had a very powerful motor. + +"I guess it will work all right," remarked the young inventor, for +Torn Swift had not only built this monoplane himself, but was the +originator of it, and the craft contained many new features. + +"It sho' do look all right, Massa Tom." + +"Look here, Rad," spoke the lad, as a sudden idea came to him, +"you've never ridden in an airship, have you?" + +"No, Massa Tom, an' I ain't gwine to nuther!" + +"Why not?" + +"Why not? 'Case as how it ain't healthy; that's why!" + +"But I go in them frequently, Eradicate. So does my father. You've +seen us fly often enough, to know that it's safe. Why, look at the +number of times Mr. Damon and I have gone off on trips in this +little Butterfly. Didn't we always come back safely?" + +"Yes, dat's true, but dere might come a time when yo' WOULDN'T come +back, an' den where'd Eradicate Sampson be? I axes yo' dat--whar'd I +be, Massa Tom?" + +"Why, you wouldn't be anywhere if you didn't go, of course," and Tom +laughed. "But I'd like to take you for a little spin in this +machine, Rad. I want you to get used to them. Sometime I may need +you to help me. Come, now. Suppose you get up on this seat here, and +I promise not to go too high until you get used to it. Come on, it +will do you good, and think of what all your friends will say when +they see you riding in an airship." + +"Dat's right, Massa Tom. Dey suah will be monstrous envious ob +Eradicate Sampson, dat's what dey will." + +It was clear that the colored man was being pursuaded somewhat +against his will. Though he had been engaged by Tom Swift and his +father off and on for several years, Eradicate had never shown any +desire to take a trip through the air in one of the several craft +Tom owned for this purpose. Nor had he ever evinced a longing for a +trip under the ocean in a submarine, and as for riding in Tom's +speedy electric car--Eradicate would as soon have sat down with +thirteen at the table, or looked at the moon over the wrong +shoulder. + +But now, somehow, there was a peculiar temptation to take his young +employer at his word. Eradicate had seen, many times, the youthful +inventor and his friends make trips in the monoplane, as well as in +the big biplane and dirigible balloon combined--the RED CLOUD. Tom +and the others had always come back safely, though often they met +with accidents which only the skill and daring of the daring +aeronaut had brought to a safe conclusion. + +"Well, are you coming, Rad?" asked Tom, as he looked to see if the +oil and gasoline tanks were filled, and gave a preliminary twirl to +the propeller. + +"Now does yo' t'ink it am puffickly safe, Massa Tom?" and the +colored man looked nervously at the machine. + +"Of course, Rad. Otherwise I wouldn't invite you. But I won't take +you far. I just want you to get used to it, and, once you have made +a flight, you'll want to make another." + +"I don't nohow believe I will, Massa Tom, but as long as you have +axed me, an' as yo' say some of dem proud, stuck-up darkies in +Shopton will be tooken down a peg or two when de sees me, vhy, I +will go wif yo', Massa Tom." + +"I thought you would. Now take your place in the little seat next to +where I'm going to sit. All start the engine and jump in. Now sit +perfectly still, and, whatever you do, don't jump out. The ground's +pretty hard this morning. There was a frost last night." + +"I knows dere was, Massa Tom. Nope, I won't jump. I-I-Oh, golly, +Massa Tom! I guess I don't want to go-let me out!" + +Eradicate, his heart growing fainter as the time of starting drew +nearer, made as if he would leave the monoplane, in which he had +taken his seat. + +"Sit still!" yelled Tom. At that instant he started the propeller. +The motor roared like a salvo of guns, and streaks of fire could be +seen shooting from one cylinder to the other, until there was a +perfect blast of explosions. + +The speed of the propeller increased as the motor warmed up. Tom ran +to his seat and opened the gasoline throttle still more, advancing +the spark slightly. The roar increased. The lad darted a look at +Eradicate. The colored man's face was like chalk, and he was +gripping the upright braces at his side as though his salvation +depended on them. + +"Steady now" spoke Tom, yelling to be heard above the racket. "Here +we go." + +The Butter-fly was moving slowly across the level stretch of ground +which Tom used for starting his airships. The propeller was now a +blur of light. The explosions of the motor became a steady roar, the +noise from one cylinder being merged into the blast from the others +so rapidly that it was a continuous racket. + +With a whizz the monoplane shot across the ground. Then, with a +quick motion, Tom tilted the lifting planes, and, as gracefully as a +bird, the little machine mounted upward on a slant until, coming to +a level about two hundred feet above the earth, Tom sent it straight +ahead over the roof of his house. + +"How's this, Rad?" he cried. "Isn't it great?" + +"It--it--er--bur-r-r-r! It's--it's mighty ticklish, Massa Tom-dat's +de word--it suah am mighty ticklish!" + +Tom Swift laughed and increased the speed. The Butterfly darted +forward like some hummingbird about to launch itself upon a flower, +and, indeed, the revolutions of the propeller were not unlike the +vibrations of the wings of that marvelous little creature. + +"Now for some corkscrew twists!" cried the young inventor. "Here we +go, Rad!" + +With that he began a series of intricate evolutions, making figures +of eight, spirals, curves, sudden dips and long swings. It was +masterwork in handling a monoplane, but Eradicate + +Sampson, as he sat crouched in the seat, gripping the uprights until +his hands ached, was in no condition to appreciate it. Gradually, +however, as he saw that the craft remained up in the air, and showed +no signs of falling, the fears of the colored man left him. He sat +up straighter. + +"Don't you like it, Rad?" cried Tom. + +This time the answer came with more decision. + +"It suah am great, Massa Tom! I'm--I'm beginnin' t' like it. Whoop! +I guess I do like it! Now if some of dem stuck-up coons could see +me--" + +"They'd think YOU were stuck up; eh, Rad? Stuck up in the air!" + +"Dat's right, Massa Tom. Ha! Ha! I suah am stuck up in de air! Ha! +Ha!" + +By this time Tom had guided the machine away from the village, and +they were flying over the fields, some distance from his house. The +colored man was beginning to enjoy his experience very much. + +Suddenly, just as Tom was trying to get a bit more speed out of the +motor, the machine stopped. The cessation of the racket was almost +as startling as a loud explosion would have been. + +"Just my luck!" cried Tom. + +"What's de matter?" asked Eradicate, anxiously. + +"Motor's stalled," replied the young inventor. + +"An', by golly, we's falling!" yelled the colored man. + +Naturally, with the stopping of the propeller, there was no further +straight, forward motion to the monoplane, and, following the law of +nature, it began to drop toward the earth on a slant. + +"We's fallin'! We'll be killed!" yelled the negro. + +"It's all right, I'll just vol-plane back to earth," spoke Tom, +calmly. "I've often done it before, higher up than this. Sit still, +Rad, I'm volplaning back to the ground." + +"An' I'll JUMP back to de ground; dat's what I'll do. I ain't goin' +t' wait until I falls, no sah! An' I ain't gwine t' do none ob dat +ball-playin' yo' speak ob, Massa Swift. It's no time t' play ball +when yo' life am in danger. I'se gwine t' jump." + +"Sit still!" cried Tom, for the colored man was about to spring from +his seat. "There's no danger! I didn't say anything about playing +ball. I said I'd VOL-PLANE back to the earth. We'll be there +shortly. I'll take you down safe. Sit still, Rad!" + +He spoke so earnestly that the fears of his colored passenger were +quelled. With a quick motion Tom threw up the head planes, to check +the downward sweep. The Butterfly shot forward on a gradual slant. +Repeating this maneuver several times, the young inventor finally +brought his machine to within a short distance of the earth, and, +also, considerably nearer his own home. + +"I wonder if we can make it?" he murmured, measuring the distance +with his eye. "I think so. I'll shoot her up a bit and then let her +down on a long slant. Then, with another upward tilt, I ought to +fetch it." + +The monoplane tilted upward. Eradicate gave a cry of terror. It was +stilled at a look from Tom. Once more the air machine glided +forward. Then came another long dip, another upward glide and the +Butterfly came gently to earth almost on the very spot whence it had +flown upward a few minutes before. + +Eradicate gave one mad spring from his seat, almost before the +bicycle wheels had ceased revolving, as Tom jammed on the earth- +brake. + +"Here, where are you going, Rad?" cried the lad. + +"Whar am I goin'? I'se goin' t' see if mah mule Boomerang am safe. +He's de only kind ob an airship I wants arter dis!" and the colored +man disappeared into the shack whence came a loud "hee-haw!" + +"Oh, pshaw! Wait a minute, Rad. I'll soon have the motor fixed, and +we'll make another try. I'll take you over to Mr. Damon's with me." + +"No, sah, Massa Tom. Yo' don't catch dis coon in any mo' airships. +Mah mule am good enough fo' me!" shouted Eradicate from the safe +harbor of the mule's stable. + +Tom laughed, and turned to inspect the motor. As he was looking it +over, to locate the trouble, the door of the house opened and a +pleasant-faced woman stepped out. + +"Oh, Tom," she called. "I looked for you a moment ago, and you +weren't here!" + +"No, Mrs. Baggert," Tom replied, waving his hand in greeting to the +housekeeper, "Rad and I just came back--quite suddenly--sooner than +we expected to. Why? Did you want me?" + +"Here's a letter that came for you," she went on. + +Tom tore open the envelope, and rapidly scanned the contents of the +missive. + +"Hello!" he ejaculated half aloud. "It's from Abe Abercrombie, that +miner I met when we were after the diamond-makers! He says he is on +his way east to get ready to start on the quest for the Alaskan +valley of gold, in the caves of ice. I had almost forgotten that I +promised to make the attempt in the big airship. How did this letter +come, Mrs. Baggert?" he asked. + +"By special delivery. The messenger brought it a few minutes ago." + +"Then we may see Abe any day now. Guess I'd better be looking over +the RED CLOUD to see if it's in shape for a trip to the Arctic +regions." + +Tom's attention for the moment was taken off his little monoplane, +and his memory went back to the strange scenes in which he and his +friends had recently played a part, in searching for the cave of the +diamond-makers on Phantom Mountain. He recalled the promise he had +made to the old miner. + +"I wonder if he expects us to start for Alaska with winter coming +on?" thought Tom. + +His musings were suddenly interrupted by the entrance into the yard, +surrounding the aeroplane shed, of a lad about his own age. + +"Hello, Ned Newton!" called Tom, heartily. + +"Hello, yourself," responded Ned. "I've got a day off from the bank, +and I thought I'd come over and see you. Say, have you heard the +latest?" + +"No. What is it?" + +"Andy Foger is building an airship." + +"Andy Foger building an airship?" + +"Yes, he says it will beat yours." + +"Humph! It will, eh? Well, Andy can do as he pleases as long as he +doesn't bother me. I won't be around here much longer, anyhow." + +"Why not, Tom?" + +"Because I soon expect to start for the far north on a strange +quest. Come on in the shed, and I'll tell you about it. We're going +to try to locate a valley of gold, and I guess Andy Foger won't +follow me there, even if he does build an airship." + +Tom and his chum started toward the shed, the young inventor still +holding the letter that was to play such an important part in his +life within the next few months. And, had he only known it, the +building of Andy Foger's airship was destined to be fraught with +much danger to our hero. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +ANDY FOGER'S TRIPLANE + + +"Going to look for a valley of gold, eh?" remarked Ned Newton as he +and Tom took seats in a little room, fitted up like a den, where the +young inventor frequently worked out the details of the problems +that confronted him. "Where is this valley, Tom? Anywhere so I could +have a chance at it?" + +"It's up in Alaska. Just where I don't know, but Abe Abercrombie, +the old miner whom we met when out in Colorado this summer, says he +can find it if we circle around in the airship. So I'm going to take +a chance. I'll tell you all about it." + +And, while Tom is doing this, I will take the opportunity to more +formally introduce to my new readers our hero and his friends. + +Tom Swift was an inventor of no little note, in spite of his youth. +He lived with his father, Barton Swift, who was also an inventor, on +the outskirts of the village of Shopton, New York State. Tom's +mother was dead, and Mrs. Baggert had kept house for him and his +father since he was a child. Garret Jackson, an expert machinist, +was also a member of the household, and as has been explained, +Eradicate Sampson, who took that name because, as he said he +"eradicate de dirt," was also a sort of retainer. He lived in a +little house on the Swift grounds, and did odd jobs about the place. + +In the first book of the series, entitled "Tom Swift and His Motor +Cycle," there was related how the lad became possessed of one of +those speedy machines, after Mr. Wakefield Damon had come to grief +on it. Mr. Damon was an eccentric man, who was always blessing +himself, some part of his anatomy, or some of his possessions. + +After many adventures on his motor-cycle, Tom Swift went through +some surprising happenings with a motor-boat be bought. After that +he built an airship, the RED CLOUD, and later he and his father +constructed a submarine, in which they went under the ocean in +search of sunken treasure, enduring many perils and much danger. + +Tom Swift's electric runabout, which he built after returning home +from the submarine trip, proved to be the speediest car on the road. +The experience he acquired in making this machine stood him in good +stead, when (as told in the sixth volume, "Tom Swift and His +Wireless Message") the airship in which he, Mr. Damon and a friend +of the latter's (who had built the craft) were wrecked on Earthquake +Island. There Tom was marooned with some refugees from a wrecked +steam yacht, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Nestor, father of a girl +of whom Tom thought a great deal. + +With parts from the wrecked electric airship the youth rigged up a +plant, and sent wireless messages from the island. The castaways +nearly lost their lives in the earthquake shocks, but a steamer, +summoned by Tom's wireless call, arrived in time to save them, just +as the island disappeared beneath the sea. + +In the seventh book of the series, entitled "Tom Swift Among the +Diamond Makers" there was related the adventures of himself and his +friends when they tried to solve the mystery of Phantom Mountain. + +Among the castaways of Earthquake Island was a Mr. Barcoe Jenks and +a Professor Ralph Parker. Mr. Jenks was a strange man, and claimed +to have some valuable diamonds, which he said were made by a gang of +men hidden in a cave in the Rocky Mountains. Tom did not believe +that the diamonds were real, but Mr. Jenks soon proved that they +were. + +He asked Tom to aid him in searching for the cave of the diamond +makers. Mr. Jenks had been there once--in fact, he had been offered +a partnership in the diamond-making business, but, after he had paid +his money, he had been drugged, and carried secretly from the cave +before he had a chance to note its location. + +But he, together with Tom, Mr. Damon and the scientist Mr. Parker, +who correctly predicted the destruction of Earthquake Island, set +out in the RED CLOUD to find the diamond makers. They did find them, +after many hardships, and were captured by the gang. How Tom and his +friends escaped from the cave, after they had seen diamonds made by +a powerful lightning flash, and how they nearly lost their lives +from the destruction of Phantom Mountain, is fully set down in the +book. + +Sufficient to say now, that, though they had a general idea of how +the precious stones were made, by the power of the lightning, the +young inventor and his friends were never quite able to accomplish +it, and the secret remained a secret. But they had secured some +diamonds as they rushed from the cave (Mr. Damon grabbing them up) +and these were divided among Tom and the others. + +Just as they were ready to come home in the airship, our friends +were met by an old miner, Abe Abercrombie, who spoke of a valley of +gold in Alaska, which was the story Tom related to Ned Newton, as +the two chums sat in the den of the airship shed. + +"Then you don't know all the details about the gold valley, Tom?" +remarked Ned, as the young inventor showed his chum the letter that +had just arrived. + +"No, not all of them. At the time this miner met us I was anxious to +get back East, for we had been away so long I knew dad would be +worried. But I listened to part of Abe's story, and half promised to +go in partnership in this quest for gold. He was to furnish +information about the hidden valley, and I was to supply the +airship. I expect Abe to come along at any time, now, and then I'll +hear more particulars." + +"Will you go all the way in the airship?" + +"Well, I hadn't thought of that. I could ship it to the nearest +place by rail, I suppose, and go on from there. That's a detail to +be considered later. I'll talk it over with Abe." + +"Who are going?" + +"I don't know that even. I suppose Mr. Damon would feel slighted if +I left him out. And perhaps Mr. Parker, that gloomy scientist, who +is always predicting terrible accidents, will be glad to go along. +Then Abe may have some friend he wants to take." + +"By Jinks! But you certainly do have swell times, Tom Swift!" +exclaimed Ned Newton, enviously. "I wish I could go and have a try +at that valley of gold!" + +"Why don't you come along, Ned?" + +"Do you really mean it?" + +"Of course." + +"But I don't believe I could get away from the bank." + +"Oh, dad and Mr. Damon could fix that. They're directors, you know. +Come along, I'd be delighted to have you. Will you?" + +"I'll think about it. Jinks! But I sure would like to go. Do you +think you can find the valley?" + +"Well, there's no telling. We generally do succeed in finding what +we go after, even if we didn't get the diamond secret. I'm anxious +to have Abe come, now, though until I got his letter I had almost +forgotten about my promise to him. But, say, what's this you told me +about Andy Foger making an airship?" + +"It's true, though I haven't seen it. Jake Porter was telling me +about it. Andy's built a big shed in his yard, and he and some +cronies of his, including Pete Bailey and Sam Snedecker, are working +in there night and day. They've hired a couple of machinists, too. +Mr. Foger is putting up the cash, I guess. Say, that was quite a +scare you gave Andy on your monoplane, one day." + +"Yes, the big bully! and I'd like to scare him worse. But say, do +you know I'd like to get a look at his airship. I wonder what sort +of a craft it is?" + +"We can see it easily enough." + +"How?" + +"Why, the back part of the shed where he and the others are working +is close to our fence. There are some holes in our fence and if you +come there, maybe you can look in." + +"I can't see through the side of the shed, though." + +"Yes, you can." + +"How?" + +"Why, there's a big window, for light, in the back part of it. I +happened to notice it the other day. I didn't look in, because I +wasn't much interested, but I saw that one could peer over the top +of our fence right into the shop where Andy is working. Want to try +it?" + +Tom hesitated a moment. + +"Well, it seems rather an odd thing to do," he said. "But I would +like to see what sort of a flying machine Andy is making, just for +my own satisfaction. He may be infringing on some of my patents, and +if he is, I'll stop him. Once or twice he's been sneaking around my +shed here. I don't believe in sneaking, but I know he wouldn't let +me in if I asked him, so I guess it's the only way. I'll go with +you, Ned." + +"All right. We'll see if we can get a glimpse of Andy's queer +shebang through the window." + +The two chums left Tom's shop, and were soon in the yard of Ned +Newton's house. As he had said, the big shed in Andy's premises came +close up to the fence, and there was a window through which one +might gaze. The casement did not appear to be curtained. + +"I'll get a ladder so we can climb up to the top of the fence, and +look over," spoke Ned, as he and Tom went out into the yard back of +his house. The fence was high up on an embankment. + +A little later Tom and his chum were gazing into the shop window +from the ladder. + +"Why, it's a triplane--a big triplane!" he exclaimed. + +"What's a triplane?" asked Ned, who didn't have much time to study +the different types of airships. + +"It's one that has three sets of planes, one above the other. A +biplane has two sets of planes, and a monoplane only one. Triplanes +are larger, and, as far as I've been able to learn, not as +satisfactory as either the biplanes or monoplanes. But that's not +saying Andy's won't be a success. They certainly are busy in there, +though! Andy is flying around like a hen scratching for her little +chickens!" + +"See anything of his cronies?" + +"Yes, Pete and Sam are hammering away. There are a couple of men, +too." + +"Yes, the machinists. Oh, I guess Andy expects great things from his +airship." + +"Have you heard what he's going to do with it, Ned? Make flights for +pleasure, or exhibit it?" + +"No, I haven't heard. Look out, Tom, the ladder is slipping!" + +As Ned spoke this warning, the window of the airship shed, through +which they were looking, was suddenly raised. The ugly face of Andy +Foger peered out. He caught sight of Tom and Ned. + +"Get away from there, you spies!" he yelled. "Get away from there, +Tom Swift! You're trying to steal some of my ideas! Get away or I'll +make you. Sam, bring me my gun! Pete, go tell my father to come +here! I'll show Ned Newton and Tom Swift they can't bother me!" + +Andy was dancing about in a rage. His two cronies crowded behind him +to the window just as the ladder on which Tom and Ned were standing +slipped along the fence. + +"Jump, Ned!" yelled Tom Swift, as he leaped away to escape being +entangled in the rungs. + +The young inventor came to the ground with a jar that shook him up +considerably, while Ned, who had grasped the top board of the fence, +remained hanging there by his hands, his feet dangling in the air. + +"Whack his fingers, Andy!" yelled Pete Bailey. "Get a long stick and +whack Ned's fingers! That will make him drop off!" + +Tom Swift heard, and labored desperately to raise the ladder to +enable Ned to get down, for his chum seemed to be afraid to drop. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +ABE IS DECEIVED + + +Raising a ladder alone is rather an awkward job. Tom found this so +when he tried to aid his friend Ned. But, being a muscular lad, the +young inventor did finally succeed in getting the ladder up against +the fence where the bank clerk could reach it. + +Whack! Down upon the top board came a, stick wielded by Andy Foger +from the rear window of his shop. + +"Wow!" cried Ned. for the blow had been close to his fingers. "Hurry +up with that ladder, Tom." + +"There it is! But why don't you drop?" + +"Too far. I can't reach the ladder now!" + +"Yes, you can. Stretch a bit!" + +"Whack!" Once more the stick descended on the fence, this time still +closer to Ned's clinging hands. + +"Hit him good, Andy!" cried Sam Snedecker, "Give me a shot at him!" + +"I will not. I want to attend to him myself. You go tell my father, +and he'll have Tom Swift arrested for trying to sneak in and get +some of my airship ideas!" + +By this time Ned's wiggling feet had found the topmost rung of the +ladder. The next moment he was rapidly descending it, and, when on +the ground, he and Tom carried it away, to prevent its use by the +enemy. + +"Whew!" exclaimed the young inventor. "I had no idea they would kick +up such a row!" + +"Me either. Did you hurt yourself when you jumped, as the ladder +fell?" + +"No. Did they hit your hands?" + +"Came mighty near it. Well, I s'pose it serves us right, yet if I +can't look over my own back fence it's a pity!" + +"Of course we can, only I'd just as soon they hadn't seen us. +However--hello! there's Andy looking over here, now." + +The mean face of the bully now topped the fence. It was evident that +he had crawled from the window of his shop. + +"What are you trying to get into my place for, Tom Swift?" he +demanded. + +"I wasn't trying to get in, Andy Foger." + +"Well, you were looking in." + +"Only doing as you've done over at my shop, several times, Andy. I +wanted to see what sort of an airship you were building." + +"Trying to get some ideas for your own, I guess," sneered Andy. + +Tom did not think it worth while to answer this taunt. + +"I could have you arrested for this," went on Andy, who felt bolder +now that he was reinforced by Sam and Pete on either side of him as +he looked over the fence into Ned's yard. + +"Arrested for what?" demanded the bank clerk. + +"For trespassing on my father's premises," went on Andy. + +"We weren't on your premises," declared Ned. "We were on our side of +the fence all the while." + +"Well, you were looking over in my yard." + +"A cat may look at a king, you know, Andy," Tom reminded the bully. + +"Yah! Think you're smart, don't you! Well, you can't steal any of my +ideas for an airship. They're all patented, and I'll soon be making +longer and higher flights than you ever dreamed of! I'll show you +what a real airship is, Tom Swift! Monoplanes and biplanes are out +of date. The only thing that's any good is a triplane. If mine works +well--and I'm sure it will--I may build a quadruplane!" + +"I wish you luck," spoke Tom, with a shrug of his shoulders. + +"Well, you won't have any luck if you come around here any more," +went on Pete Bailey. "We'll be on the watch for you fellows, now, +and we'll cover this window, so you can't see in." + +"That's what we will," agreed Andy, and Sam Snedecker shook his head +vigorously to indicate that he, too, approved of this. + +"Come on," spoke Tom in a low tone to Ned, "I've seen enough." + +The two chums moved toward Ned's house, followed by the jeers and +mocking laughter of Andy and his cronies. + +"Can't you get back at them in some way?" asked Ned, for he did not +like to see himself or his friend apparently vanquished by the +bully. + +"He laughs best who laughs last, Ned." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean that when Andy tries to fly in his triplane it will be our +turn to laugh." + +"Won't it fly?" + +"Never, the way he has it rigged up. It didn't take but one look to +tell me that. He's working on altogether the wrong principle. Wait +until he tries to go up, and then we'll have some fun with him." + +"Then you got a good view of it through the window?" + +"I saw all I wanted to. But say, I was about to take a little trip +in my monoplane, to see my friend Mr. Damon, when Abe's letter +arrived, and you came along with your news. I started to take +Eradicate, but he backed out. Don't you want to come?" + +"Sure, I'll go along." + +Ned had often ridden in the trim Butterfly, though the trips had not +been so frequent that he was tired of them. A little later, Tom, +having adjusted the motor that had stalled before, compelling him to +vol-plane back to earth, the two chums were sailing through the air +toward Waterford. + +"Why, bless my shoe laces!" cried Mr. Damon, as they alighted in the +yard of his house, about an hour later. "I didn't expect you, Tom. +But I'm glad to see you!" + +"And I to meet you again. I guess you know Ned Newton." + +"Ah, yes. How d'ye do, Ned? Bless my appetite! but it's quite +chilly. We'll soon have winter. Won't you come in and have some hot +chocolate?" + +The boys were glad to accept the invitation, and as they were +drinking the beverage, which Mrs. Damon made for them, Tom told of +the receipt of the letter from the old miner, and also his +experience in seeing Andy's airship. + +"Why, bless my pocketbook!" cried Mr. Damon. "I had no idea we'd +ever hear from Abe Abercrombie again. And so he is really coming on, +to tell us about the valley of gold?" + +"So he says," replied Tom. "I was wondering if you'd like to go, Mr. +Damon." + +"Go? Why, bless my very topknot! Of course I would. I'll go with +you--only--only," and he leaned forward and whispered cautiously, +"don't speak so loudly. My wife might hear you!" + +"Doesn't she want you to go off in the airship any more?" asked Tom. + +"Well, she'd rather I wouldn't. But she's going on a visit to her +mother, soon, and then I think will come my opportunity to take +another trip with you. A valley of gold in Alaska, eh? Up where the +icebergs and caves of ice are. Say, Tom, I know some one else who +would be glad to go." + +"Who?" inquired the young inventor, though he had an idea to whom +his friend referred. + +"Mr. Parker! You know he's taken up his residence in Waterford, now, +and only the other day he spoke to me about wishing he could go to +the far north. He has some new theory--" + +"About the destruction of something or other; hasn't he, Mr. Damon?" +interrupted Tom, with a smile. + +"That's it, exactly, my boy. Bless my coffeepot! But Mr. Parker has +an idea that the whole northern part of this continent will soon be +buried thousands of feet deep under an icy avalanche, and he wants +to be there to see it. I know he'd like to go with us, Tom." + +The young inventor made a little gesture of dissent, but as he knew +Mr. Damon, who was very eccentric himself, had taken a great liking +to the gloomy scientist, Tom did not feel like refusing. So he said: + +"All right, Mr. Damon. If we go, and I think we shall, we'll expect +you and Mr. Parker. I'll let you know the result of Mr. +Abercrombie's visit, and I needn't request you to keep quiet about +it. If there is a valley of gold in Alaska, we don't want everyone +to know about it." + +"No, of course not, Tom Swift. I'll keep silent about it. Bless my +liverpin! But I'll be glad to on the move again, even if it is +toward the Arctic regions." + +After some further talk, Tom and Ned took their departure, making +good time back to Shopton in the speedy monoplane. + +For several days after that Tom busied himself about his big airship +the RED CLOUD, for it needed quite a few repairs after the long trip +to the mountains where the diamond makers had been discovered in +their cave. + +"And if we're going up amid the ice and snow," reasoned Tom, "I've +got to make some different arrangements about the craft, and provide +for keeping warmer than we found necessary when we went west." + +So it was that Tom had no time to learn anything further about Andy +Foger's airship, even had our hero been so inclined, which he was +not. He looked for Abe Abercrombie any day now, for though the old +miner had given no date as to when he would arrive, he had said, in +his letter, that it would be soon. + +It was one day, nearly a week after Tom's attempt to make Eradicate +like aeroplaning, that there might have been seen, coming along the +Shopton road, which led toward Tom's house, the figure of a grizzled +old man. His clothes were rather rough, and he carried a valise that +had, evidently, seen much service. There was that about him which +proclaimed him for a westerner--a cattleman or a miner. + +He walked slowly along, murmuring to himself. + +"Wa'al, I might better have taken one of them wagons at th' depot," +he said, "than t' try t' walk. It's quite a stretch out t' Tom +Swift's house. I hope I find him home." + +He trudged on, and, a little later, his gaze was attracted by a +large shed, in the rear of a white house the pretentious appearance +of which indicated that persons of wealth owned it. + +"I guess that must be the place," he remarked. "That shed is big +enough to hold the airship. Now to present myself." + +As he walked up the front path of the house, he was met by one of +the gardeners, who was raking up the leaves. + +"Is this the airship place?" asked the miner. + +"Yes, that's where the young master is making his triplane," +answered the man. + +"Is he in?" + +"Yes, I guess so. You can walk right back to the shed." + +The miner did so. Through the open door of the building he had a +glimpse of big stretches of wings, propellers, rudders, and some +machinery. + +"That's it," he murmured, "though it looks some different than I +remembered it. However, maybe Tom's changed it about. I wonder where +he is?" + +As he spoke a lad came from the shed to meet him--a lad on whose +face there was a look of suspicion. + +"What do you want?" he demanded. + +"I'm lookin' for Tom Swift," was the simple reply. "But I take it +you're one of his partners in this airship business. I guess he must +have told you about me. I'm Abe Abercrombie, the miner, and I've +come to show him the way to that valley of gold in Alaska." + +At the mention of Tom Swift's name, Andy Foger, for it was he, had +started to utter a denial. But, at the next words of the miner, and +as Mr. Abercrombie mentioned "gold" and "Alaska," there came a +cunning look over Andy's face. + +"Tom Swift isn't here just now," he said, wondering how he could +turn to advantage the unexpected visit, and the impending +information that the guileless old man was about to give under the +mistaken idea that Andy was Tom's friend. + +"That's all right, I reckon he'll be along presently. You'll do just +as well, I reckon. You're in partnership with him, I take it. So +this is the place where he makes his airships, eh? It's a big one," +and Mr. Abercrombie looked in at the odd triplane of Andy's--for the +airship was almost finished. + +"But it'll need to be big if we're to go to Alaska in it," went on +the miner. "It's quite a journey t' th' valley where th' gold is. No +way t' get t' it except by an airship. An' here I be an' ready to +start, I've brought th' map of th' place, jest as I promised. Here +it is, better take good care of it. Now, let's talk business," and +the miner, having guilelessly handed Andy Foger a folded parchment, +sat down on a box at the door of the airship shed, and placed his +heavy valise on the ground beside him. + +"What's this?" asked the bully, wondering whether he had heard +aright. + +"It's the map of th' valley of gold--directions how t' git there, +an' all that. I guess it's plain enough. Now, when can we start?" + +Andy did not know what to say. Fate had, most unexpectedly, placed +in his hands a valuable paper. The miner had made a mistake. Andy's +house was on the same road as was Tom's and, seeing the airship +shed, had deceived the aged man. He had not expected to find two +airship manufactories in the same village. + +"The map of the valley of gold, "murmured Andy, as he put it in his +pocket. + +"Yes, jest as I told Tom about when I met him out West. I said I'd +bring it with me, an' I did. When will Tom be back? He never spoke +of you, though I reckoned he'd have to have some help in makin' his +airships. Where is he?" + +"He--he--" stammered Andy. He did not know what to say. + +At that instant Tom Swift himself passed by in the road. He had been +over to Shopton on an errand. One look into the yard of Andy's house +showed to our hero the old miner sitting at the door of the airship +shed. + +"Mr. Abercrombie--Abe!" cried Tom, almost, before he thought. + +"Hello, Tom! I got here!" cried the miner, heartily. "I was jest +talking to your partner." + +"My partner!" spoke Tom in amazement + +"Yes--partner in th' airship business. I should think you'd need +about three partners to build these machines!" + +"My partner! Andy Foger isn't my partner!" cried Tom, wondering what +would happen next. "I have no partner! If he said he was he deceived +you!" + +"No partner? Ain't he your partner?" cried Mr. Abercrombie. "Why, I +thought he was. I told him about th' valley of gold--I--I--give him +the map--" + +"The map?" + +"Yes, the map t' tell how to get there. He's got it!" + +There was a mocking smile on Andy's face. + +"Give that map back at once!" cried Tom, sternly, now understanding +something of the situation. "Hand it over at once, Andy Foger!" + +"I will--when I get ready! He gave it to me!" cried the bully, and +then, before either Tom or Abe could stop him, Andy darted into the +big shed, and slammed shut the door. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +TOM GETS THE MAP + + +For a few seconds Tom was so surprised at the sudden action of the +bully that he could neither move nor speak. Then, crying out a +command to halt, the young inventor took after his enemy. + +"The scamp!" he cried. "The nerve he has! To deceive Abe Abercrombie +in that fashion! Wait until I get hold of him!" + +"What's it all about?" asked the old miner, who, being a slow +thinker had not understood all that had happened. "What's up, Tom +Swift?" + +"Haven't time to tell you now," flung back the running lad over his +shoulder. "I've got to catch Andy! Then I'll explain. He's trying to +get ahead of us. I guess, but we'll stop him!" Thereupon Tom flung +himself against the door of the airship shed. The young inventor +found the portal bolted, though it vibrated with the impact of his +body. + +"Come out of there, Andy Foger!" cried Tom, pounding on the door. +"Come out, or I'll get an officer, and have you arrested!" + +There was no answer. + +"Come out, I say!" repeated Tom. + +"Around th' back! Try th' back door!" suggested the miner, who had +hastened to Tom's side. "Maybe he's run out that way!" + +Tom listened. There was no movement in the shop. Then the young +inventor sprinted around the side. He was just in time to see the +bully running away over the lots and fields in the rear of his +father's premises. Andy had climbed out of the back window of the +shed, into which Tom and Ned had peered that day, had climbed the +high fence, dropped down on the other side, and was now running away +with all the speed he could muster. + +"Come back--!" began Tom, and then he realized that his enemy could +not hear him. The bully was too far away. At the same time our hero +realized that it would be useless to give chase, for Andy had too +much of a start. There was nothing to do but to turn back, and Tom +knew that his delay in trying to gain an entrance at the front door +had given Andy the very opportunity he needed to escape at the rear. + +"Well, this is a bad turn of affairs," remarked the lad, as he faced +the puzzled miner. + +"What is, Tom?" + +"Him having that map. It shows the location of the valley of gold, +doesn't it, and tells how to get there?" + +"That's what it does!" + +"How did Andy happen to get it?" + +"Jest as I told you. I was on my way t' your house, havin' inquired +at th' post-office, an' the man said that at your place there was a +big shed, where you kept your airships. I come along, an', of +course, when I see this house, an' the shed, an' had a glimpse of +th' airship, I, of course, thought it was your place. An', though +you'd never told me about it, I thought maybe this lad was in +business with you. So, like a blamed young tenderfoot, I blurted out +my business afore I thought, an' handed him the map for safe +keepin'. He took it, too, that's the worst of it." + +"Yes, that's the worst of it," agreed Tom, "But I'll get it back, if +I have to cause his arrest, and search his whole house." + +"But he runned away, Tom." + +"Oh, he'll come back. Was there only one copy of the map of the +valley, Abe?" asked Tom, anxiously. + +"Yep; only one" + +"Could you make another?" + +"No, not if you was to pay me a million dollars! You see I ain't no +drawer, an' this map, while I made part of it, was mostly made by my +old partner, who was with me when we discovered th' valley of gold, +an' was druv back by th' savage Eskimos an' Indians, an' by th' +terrible cold. My partner made th' best part of th' map, an' he's +dead, poor fellow." + +"I see. That's too bad! Then you can't make a duplicate map?" + +"Nary a one. But can't you do somethin'? It were amazin' stupid of +me, old Abe Abercrombie, t' be took in by a boy like him! Can't you +do somethin'?" + +"I'm going to try," announced Tom determinedly, as he swung on +toward the Foger house. "I'll cause his arrest if he doesn't give it +up." + +A few minutes later Tom Swift and Abe confronted Mr. Foger. The rich +man, father of the bully, was rather surprised at the visit from the +young inventor, for the two were not friends. + +"Well, what can I do for you, Tom Swift?" asked the banker, for he +felt a certain coldness toward our hero, since the latter had +defeated him in an effort to wreck a financial institution in which +Tom and his father were interested. + +"Mr. Foger," spoke Tom, sternly, "your son has just stolen a map +belonging to this gentleman," and he indicated Abe. + +"My son stolen a map!" exclaimed Mr. Foger. "How dare you make such +an accusation, Tom Swift?" + +"I dare, because it's true! And, unless that map is returned to me +at my house to-night I shall swear out a warrant for Andy's arrest." + +"You'd never dare do that!" + +"Wait and see!" spoke Tom, firmly. "I will give your son, or you, +exactly five hours to return that map--if it isn't back in my hands +by then, I'll get a warrant!" + +"Preposterous! Stuff and nonsense!" blustered Mr. Foger. "My son +never stole anything!" + +"He stole this map, and there is plenty of evidence," went on Tom, +as he detailed the circumstances. + +Mr. Foger hemmed and hawed, and affected not to believe that +anything of the kind could have happened. But Tom was firm, and Abe +Abercrombie backed up his statements, until even the banker began to +waver. + +"Very well," he announced at length, "I will look into this matter, +and if I find that my son has anything of yours, you shall have it +back. But I cannot believe it. Perhaps he took it as a joke." + +"In which case," spoke Tom grimly, "he will find that he has carried +the joke too far," and with that he and the miner left the Foger +home. + +"It's all my fault," bewailed Abe, as he and our hero trudged on +toward the Swift household. + +"No, it wasn't, Abe," declared Tom. "Any one would have been +deceived by such tactics as Andy used--that is any stranger. And you +didn't expect to find two airship sheds so close together." + +"No. That's right, I didn't. That's what threw me off th' track." + +"Andy only recently began work on his triplane. I don't know what +his object is, and I don't care. Just now I'm more concerned about +getting back this map." + +"I hope we do get it." + +"Oh, we will. I'm going to start off on my own hook, to find Andy. +But first I'll take you to my house." + +The old miner was soon telling his story to Mr. Swift, the +housekeeper and Garret Jackson. They expressed their surprise at +Andy's daring act. But Tom didn't do much more talking. + +"I'm going out to find Andy," he declared, "and when I do--" He +didn't finish his sentence, but they all knew what he meant. + +But the bully was in none of his usual haunts, though Tom visited +them all. Nor was Andy at the homes of either of his cronies. + +"Well, if I don't find him, I shall certainly swear out the +warrant," decided Tom. "I'll give him until night, and then I'll +call on the police." + +Still he did not give up, but went to several other places where +Andy might be found. He had about given up, as it was getting toward +late afternoon, when, as he came out of a billiardroom, where the +bully was in the habit of spending much of his time, Tom saw the lad +of whom he was in search. + +"Hold on there, Andy Foger!" cried the young inventor. "I want to +see you!" + +"What about?" + +"You know very well. Where's that map you stole?" + +"I haven't got it." + +"Take care!" and Tom, with a quick step was beside the bully, and +had grasped him firmly by the arm. + +"You let me alone, Tom Swift!" cried Andy. + +"Where's that map?" and Tom gave Andy's arm a wrench. + +"It's at your house; that's where it is! I just took it back. It was +only a joke." + +"A joke, eh? And you took it back?" + +"Yes, I did. Now you let me go!" + +"I will when I find out if you're telling me the truth or not, Andy +Foger. You come with me!" + +"Where?" + +"To my house. I want to see if that map's there." + +"Well, you'll find that it is, and you'd better let me go! My father +told me to take the map back, and I did. You let me go!" + +Andy struggled to get loose, but Tom had too tight a grip. There was +something, too, in the manner of our hero that warned Andy not to +trifle with him. So, concluding that discretion was the better part +of valor, Andy walked sullenly along toward Tom's home, the young +inventor never relaxing the grip on his enemy's arm. + +They reached the Swift home. Still holding his captive, Tom rang the +bell. His father came to the door, followed by Abe Abercrombie. + +"Is the map back?" asked the young inventor, anxiously. + +"Yes, Andy brought it here a few minutes ago," announced Mr. Swift. + +"Is it the right one, Abe?" inquired Tom. + +"Yep, Tom. I made sure of that as soon as I laid my eyes on it. It's +th' right one." + +"Then you can go, Andy Foger," announced our hero, "and if I ever +catch you in another trick like this, I'll take the law into my own +hands. Clear out, now!" + +"You wait! I'll get even with you," muttered the bully, as he fled +down the front walk, as though afraid Tom would, even then, put his +threat into execution. + +"Did he damage the map any?" asked the lad, as he followed his +father and Abe into the house. + +"Nary a bit," answered the old miner. "It's jest th' same as it was. +There it is," and he spread a crinkled sheet of tough parchment in +front of Tom. It was covered with a rude drawing, and with names of +places scrawled on it. + +"So that's the map, eh?" murmured Tom, eagerly scanning it. + +"That's it, an' here's th' valley of gold," went on Abe, as he +placed one rough finger on a certain spot. "Right there--hello!" he +cried, as he peered more closely at the parchment. "That ink spot +wasn't there when I had th' map, a few hours ago." + +"What ink spot?" asked Tom, anxiously. + +"That one," and the miner indicated a small one near the edge of the +map. "That was never there!" + +"It looks as if it was recently made," added Mr. Swift, who was +something of a chemist. + +"An ink spot-freshly made," murmured Tom, "Dad--Abe, I can guess +what's happened!" + +"What?" demanded the miner. + +"Andy Foger made a copy of this map while it was in his possession, +and now he knows where the valley of gold is as well as we do! He +may get there ahead of us!" + + + + +CHAPTER V + +GRAVE SUSPICION'S + + +Tom's announcement took them all by surprise. For a moment no one +knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at +the parchment map. + +"Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. +Swift. + +"I do," answered his son. "That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave +him the map; was it?" + +"No," replied the miner. + +"And it couldn't get on in Andy's pocket," went on Tom. "So he must +have had it open near where there was ink." + +"His fountain pen might have leaked," suggested Mr. Jackson. + +"In that case the ink spot would be on the outside of the map, and +not on the inside," declared Tom, with the instinct of a detective. +"Unless he had the map folded in his pocket with the inside surface +on the outside, the ink couldn't have gotten on. Besides, Andy +always carries his fountain pen in his upper vest pocket, and that +pocket is too small to hold the map. No, I'm almost positive that +Andy or his father have sneakingly made a copy of this map!" + +"I'm sorry to have to admit that Mr. Foger is capable of such an +act," spoke Mr. Swift, "but I believe it is true." + +"And here is another thing," went on the young inventor, who was now +closely scanning the parchment through a powerful magnifying glass, +"do you see those tiny holes here and there, Mr. Jackson?" + +"Yes," answered the engineer. + +"Were they there before, Abe?" went on Tom, calling the old miner's +attention to them. + +"Nary a one," was the answer. "It looks as if some one had been +sticking pins in th' map." + +"Not pins," said Tom, "but the sharp points of a pair of dividers, +or compasses, for measuring distances. Andy, or whoever made a copy +of the map, used the dividers to take off distances with. This +clinches it, in my mind." + +"But what can you do?" asked Tom's father. + +"I don't know," answered the young inventor. "It would be of little +use to go to Andy. Naturally he would deny having made a copy of the +map, and his father would, also. Even though I am sure they have a +copy, I don't see how I am going to make them give it up. It's a +hard case. There's only one thing I see to do." + +"What's that?" asked Abe. + +"Start for Alaska as soon as possible, and be first on hand at the +valley of gold." + +"Good!" cried the miner. "That's the way to talk! We'll start off at +once. I know my way around that country pretty well, an' even though +winter is coming on, I think we can travel in th' airship. That's +one reason why I wanted t' go in one of these flyin' machines. +Winter is no time to be in Alaska, but if we have an airship we +won't mind it, an' it's the best time t' keep other people away, for +th' ordinary miner or prospector can't do anythin' in Alaska in +winter--that is away up north where we're goin'." + +"Exactly where are we going?" asked Tom. "I have been so excited +about discovering Andy's trick that I haven't had much time to +consider where we're bound for nor what will be the best plan to +follow." + +"Well, we're goin' to a region about seven hundred an' fifty miles +northwest from Sitka," explained the old miner, as he pointed out +the location on the map. "We'll head for what they call th' Snow +Mountains, an' th' valley of gold is in their midst. It's just over +th' Arctic circle, an' pretty cold, let me tell you!" + +"You'll be warm enough in Tom's airship, with the electric stoves +going," commented Mr. Jackson. + +"Well, we'll need t' be," went on the miner. "Th' valley is full of +caves of ice, an' it's dangerous for th' ordinary traveler. In fact +an airship was the only way I saw out of th' difficulty when I was +there." + +"Then you have been to the valley of gold?" asked Tom. + +"Well, not exactly TO it," was the reply, "but I was where I could +see it. That was in th' summer, though of course the summer there +isn't like here. I'll tell you how it was." + +The miner settled himself more comfortably in his chair, and resumed +his story. + +"It was two year ago," he said, "that me an' Jim Mace started to +prospect in Alaska. We didn't have much luck, an' we kept on workin' +our way farther north until we come to these Snow Mountains. Then +our supplies gave out, an' if it hadn't been for some friendly +Eskimos I don't know what we would have done. Jim and me we gave 'em +some trinkets an' sich, and th' Indians began talkin' of a wonderful +valley of gold, where th' stuff lay around in chunks on top of the +ground." + +"Me and Jim pricked up our ears at that, so to speak, an' we wanted +to see th' place. After some delay we was taken to th' top of a big +crag, some distance away from where we had been stopping with the +friendly Eskimos, or Indians, as I call 'em. There, away down below, +was a valley--an' a curious sort of a valley it were. It seemed +filled with big bubbles--bubbles made of solid banks of snow or ice, +an' we was told, me an' Jim was, that these were caves of ice, an' +that th' gold was near these caves." + +"Well, of course me an' my partner wanted to go down the worst way, +an' try for some gold, but th' Indians wouldn't let us. They said it +was dangerous, for th' ice caves were constantly fallin' in, an' +smashin' whoever was inside. But to prove what they said about th' +gold, they sent one of their number down, while we waited on th' +side of th' mountain." + +"Did he get any gold?" asked Tom, eagerly. + +For answer the old miner pulled from his pocket a few yellow +pebbles--little stones of dull, gleaming yellow. + +"There's some of th' gold from amid th' caves of ice," he remarked +simply. "I kept 'em for a souvenir, hopin' some day I might git back +there. Well, Jim an' me watched th' Indian going down into th' +valley. He come back in about three hours, havin' only gone to th' +nearest cave, an' he had two pockets filled with these little chunks +of solid gold. They gave me an' Jim some, but they wouldn't hear of +us goin' t' th' valley by ourselves." + +"Then a bad storm come up, an' we had t' hit th' trail for home--the +Indians' home, I mean--for Jim an' I was far enough away from ours." + +"Well, t' make a long story short, Jim an' me tried every way we +knowed t' git t' that valley, but we couldn't. It come off colder +an' colder, an' th' tribe of Indians with whom we lived was attacked +by some of their enemies, an' driven away from their campin' +grounds. Jim an' me, we went too, but not before Jim had drawed this +map on a piece of dog-skin we found in one of the huts. We had an +idea we might get back, some day, an' find the valley, so we'd need +a map t' go by. But poor Jim never got back. He got badly frozen +when the Indians drove us an' our friends away, an' he never got +over it. He died up there in th' ice, an' we buried him. I took th' +map, an' when spring come, I made a hike out of that country. From +then until now I've been plannin' how t' git t' that valley, an' th' +only way I seen was an airship. Then, when I was prospectin' around +out in Colorado I saw Tom's machine hidden in th' trees, an' I +waited until he come along, which part you know as well as I do," +finished Abe. + +"And that's the story of the valley of gold," spoke Mr. Swift. + +"That's all there is to it," assented Abe, simply. + +"Do you think there is much gold there?" asked Tom. + +"Plenty of it--for th' pickin' up," replied the miner. "Around th' +caves of ice it's full of it, but, of course, it's dangerous. An' +th' only way t' git t' it, an' pass th' savage Indians that are all +around in th' mountains about th' valley, is t' fly over their heads +in th' airship." + +"Then that's what we'll do," decided Tom. + +"Will you go all the way in the RED CLOUD?" inquired Mr. Jackson. + +"No, I think I'll send the airship on ahead to some point in +Washington--say Seattle," replied Tom, "put it together there, and +start for the Snow Mountains. In Seattle we can get plenty of +supplies and stores. It will be a good point to start from, and will +save us a long, and perhaps dangerous, flight across the United +States." + +"I think that will be the best plan," agreed Mr. Swift. "But what +about Andy--do you think he'll try to follow--or try to get ahead of +you now that he has a copy of the map?" + +"He may," answered Tom. "But I have a little trick I'm going to work +on Andy. I will try to learn whether he really has a copy of the +map, though I'm practically certain of it. Then I'll decide what's +best to do." + +"In th' meanwhile, will you be gettin' ready?" asked Abe. "I'd like +t' start as soon as we can, for it's awful cold there, the longer +you wait, at this time of th' year." + +"Yes, I'll start right to work, getting the RED CLOUD in readiness +to be shipped," promised Tom. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +ANDY'S AIRSHIP FLIES + + +"Hello, Tom, have you heard the news?" asked Ned Newton, of the +young inventor, a few days later. + +"What news, Ned? I declare I've been so busy thinking out the best +plan to ship the RED CLOUD to Seattle that I haven't been over to +town. What's going on? Have they decided to build a new church in +Shopton, or something like that?" + +"Oh, this about Andy Foger's airship." + +"Andy's airship, eh? Is he still working on it?" + +"It's all done, so Sam Snedecker was telling me last night, and to- +day Andy is going to try to fly it." + +"You don't mean it!" + +"Sure thing. Let's go over and watch him." + +"He might make a fuss, same as he did when we looked in the window +of his shed." + +"He can't make any fuss now. He's got to take his machine out to fly +it, and anybody that wants to can look on. Didn't he watch you make +flights often enough?" + +"That's so. Where is the trial flight going to take place?" + +"In the big meadow. Come on over." + +"Guess I will. I can't do much more now. I've been getting some +boxes and crates made in which to pack the RED CLOUD. I'll have to +take her all apart." + +"Then you're really going to hunt for the valley of gold?" + +"Sure thing. How about you going, Ned? I spoke to dad about it, and +he said he'd see that you could have a leave of absence." + +"Yes, that part's all right. The bank president told me today I +could take a vacation any time I wanted it. In fact that's what I +came over to see you about. I want to thank your father." + +"Then you're going?" + +"I sure am, Tom! Won't it be great! I hope I can get a little gold +for myself! My folks didn't take very much to the notion of me going +off in an airship, but I told them how often you'd gone on trips, +and come safely back, so they finally gave their consent. When are +you going to start?" + +"Oh, in about two weeks. Did I tell you about Andy and the map?" + +"No. What trick has he been up to now?" + +Thereupon Tom related his suspicions concerning the bully, and also +hinted to Ned of a certain ruse he intended to work on Andy when he +got the chance. + +"Well, if you're ready, suppose we go over and see if Andy's airship +will really fly," suggested Ned, after a while. "I'm doubtful +myself, and I'd just like to see him come to grief, after the many +mean things he's done to you." + +"Well," spoke Tom slowly, "I don't know as I wish him any bad luck, +but I certainly hope he doesn't use his airship to try to beat us +out in the hunt for the valley of gold." + +"Do you think he might?" + +"It's possible. But never mind about that now. Come on, we'll go +over to the big meadow." + +The two chums walked along together, talking of many things. Tom +told of some communication he had had with Mr. Damon, in which +letters the eccentric man had inquired as to when the trip for +Alaska would be undertaken. + +"Then he's going?" asked Ned. + +"Oh, yes, it wouldn't seem natural to go without some of Mr. Damon's +blessings. But I think he's going to bring a friend with him." + +"Who?" + +"Mr. Ralph Parker." + +"That gloomy scientist, who is always predicting such terrible +things going to happen?" + +"That's the gentleman. You met him once, I believe Mr. Damon says +Mr. Parker wants to do some scientific studying in the far north, so +I've already counted on him as one of our party. Well, perhaps he +won't do so much predicting this trip." + +A little later Tom and Ned came to a big open field. They saw quite +a crowd gathered in it, but no sign of an airship. + +"Guess Andy hasn't arrived," spoke Tom. + +"No; very likely he's found out that something is wrong with his +machine, and he isn't going to risk it." + +But almost as Ned spoke, there sounded cries of excitement from the +crowd, and, a little later, something big and white, with many wing- +shaped stretches of canvas sticking out from all sides, was seen +turning into the big meadow from the broad highway that led to +Andy's house. + +"There she is!" cried Ned. + +"There's something, at any rate," conceded Tom, as he hastened his +steps. "It's a queer-looking aeroplane, though. My! he's got enough +wings to it!" + +"Yes, it's Andy's sure enough," went on Ned "There he is in front, +giving orders like a major-general, and Sam and Pete are helping +him. Let's get closer." + +They followed the crowd, which was thronging about the airship that +Andy Foger had made, Tom had a glimpse of the machine. It was a form +of triplane, with three tiers of main wings, and several other sets +of planes, some stationary and some capable of being moved. There +was no gas-bag feature, but amidships was a small, enclosed cabin, +which evidently held the machinery, and was designed to afford +living quarters. In some respects the airship was not unlike Tom's, +and the young inventor could see that Andy had copied some of his +ideas. But Tom cared little about this. + +"Do you think it will go up?" asked Ned. + +"It looks to me to be too heavy, and his propellers seem too small," +answered Tom. "He's got to have a very powerful motor to make all +that bulk fly." + +The people were crowding in closer around the airship, for the news +that Andy was to attempt a flight had spread about town. + +"Now keep back--all of you!" ordered the bully, with a show of +anger. "If any one damages my airship I'll have him arrested! Keep +back, now, or I won't fly!" + +"Reminds me of a little kid saying he won't play if he can't have +his own way," whispered Ned to Tom. + +"Hello, Andy, give us a ride!" + +"Going above the clouds?" + +"When are you coming back?" + +"Bring down a snowstorm!" + +"Be careful that you don't fall!" + +These were some of the things shouted at Andy, for he had few +friends among the town lads, on account of his mean ways. + +"Keep quiet--all of you!" he ordered. "Get back. You might get hurt +when I start the motor. I'm going to make a flight soon," he added +proudly. "Sam, you come over here and hold this end. Pete, you go +back to the rear. Simpson, you get inside and help me with the +motor. Henderson, you get ready to shove when I tell you." + +These last orders were to the two machinists whom Andy had engaged +to help him, and the bully gave himself no end of airs and +importance as he bustled about + +Tom could not help but admit that Andy's machine was a big affair. +There was a great stretch of wings and planes, several rudders other +appliances for which the young inventor could not exactly fathom a +use. He did not think the machine would fly far, if at all. But Andy +was hurrying here and there, getting the triplane in place on a +level stretch of ground, as if he intended to capture some great +prize. + +"Are you going to tackle him about stealing a copy of that map?" +asked Ned. + +"I will if I get a chance," answered Tom, in a low voice. + +He got his opportunity a few minutes later. Andy, hurrying here and +there, came face to face with the young inventor. + +"Hello, Andy," spoke Tom, good-naturedly. "So you're going to make a +flight, eh?" + +"Yes, I am, and I s'pose you came around to see if you could get any +ideas; didn't you?" sneered Andy. + +"Of course," admitted Tom, with an easy laugh. "My airship doesn't +fly, you know, Andy, and I want to see what's wrong with it." + +There was a laugh in the crowd, at this, for Tom's success was well +known. + +"Are you going to Alaska?" suddenly asked Tom, in a low voice, of +the bully. + +"To Alaska? I--I don't--I don't know what you mean?" stammered Andy, +as he turned aside. + +"Yes, you do know what I mean," insisted Tom. "And I want to tell +you that the map you have won't be of much use to you. Why, do you +think," he went on, "that Abe would carry the real map around with +him that way? It's easy to make a copy look like an original, Andy, +and also very easy to put false distances and directions on a map +that may fall into the hands of an enemy." + +The shot told. Andy's face turned first red and then pale. + +"A--a false map!" he stammered. "Wrong directions?" + +"Yes--on the copy you made of the map you took from Mr. +Abercrombie," went on Tom. + +"I--I didn't make any--Oh, I'm not going to talk to you!" blustered +Andy. "Get out of my way! I'm going to fly my airship." + +The bully pushed past Tom, and started toward the triplane. But Tom +had found out what he wanted to know. Andy had made a copy of the +map. From now on there would be every danger that the bully would +make an effort to get to the valley of gold. + +But other matters held Andy's attention now. He wanted to try his +airship. With the help of his two cronies, and the machinists, the +machine was gone over, oiled up, and finally, after several false +starts, the motor was set going. + +It made a terrific racket, and the whole machine vibrated as though +it would shake apart + +"He hasn't got if well enough braced," said Tom to Ned. + +"Out of the way, now, everybody!" yelled Andy. "Keep away or you'll +get hurt! I'm going up!" + +He climbed into the cabin of the craft, and took his position at the +steering-wheel. The speed of the motor, its racket and its stream of +sparks increased. + +"Let go!" cried Andy to those who were holding his craft. + +They released their hold. The triplane moved slowly across the +ground, gathered speed, and, then, under the impulse of the powerful +propellers, ran rapidly over the meadow. + +"Hurrah! There he goes!" cried Sam. + +"Yes! Now he's going to fly," proudly added Pete Bailey, the other +crony of the bully. + +"He'd better fly soon, then, or he'll be in the ditch," said Tom +grimly, for a little, sluggish stream crossed the meadow not far +from where Andy had started. + +The next instant, thinking he had momentum enough, Andy tilted his +elevation plane. The clumsy triplane rose into the air and shot +forward. + +"There he goes!" cried Sam. + +"Hurrah!" yelled the crowd. + +Andy had gone up about ten feet, and was making slow progress. + +"I guess Tom Swift isn't the only one in Shopton who can build an +airship!" sneered Pete Bailey. + +"Look! Look!" yelled Ned. "He's coming down!" + +Sure enough, Andy's machine had reached the end of her flight. The +motor stopped with something between a cough and a wheeze. Down +fluttered the aeroplane, like some clumsy bird, down into the ditch, +settling on one side, and then coming to rest, tilted over at a +sharp angle. Andy was pitched out, but landed on the soft mud, for +there had been a thaw. He wasn't hurt much, evidently, for he soon +scrambled to his feet as the crowd surged toward him. + +"Well, he flew a little way," observed Ned, grimly. + +"But he came down mighty soon," added Tom. "I thought he would. His +machine is too big and clumsy. I've seen enough. Come on, Ned. We'll +get ready to go to Alaska. Andy Foger will never follow us in that +machine." + +But Tom was soon to find out how much mistaken he was. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +READY FOR THE TRIP + + +Andy Foger stood looking at his tilted airship. His clothes were +covered with mud from the ditch, some of the muck had splashed over +his face so that he was a pitiable looking object. + +"What's the matter?" panted Pete Bailey. + +"Are you hurt?" asked Sam Snedecker. + +The two cronies had hurried to the side of the bully. + +"Matter? Can't you see what's the matter?" demanded Andy wrathfully. +"The machine came down, that's what's the matter! Why didn't you +fellows fix the motor better?" he shouted at the two machinists as +they came running up, followed by the crowd. + +"Fix it better? The motor was all right," declared the taller +machinist. "Any of them are likely to stop unexpectedly." + +"Well, I didn't think mine would," came from Andy. "Now look at my +airship! It's all busted!" + +"No, it isn't hurt much," said the other man, after critically +looking it over. "We can fix it, and you'll fly yet, Andy." + +"I hope I do, if only to fool Tom Swift," declared the bully, as he +wiped some of the mud from his face. "Come on, now, help me wheel +the machine back, and I'll try it again." + +Andy made another attempt, but this time the machine did not even +rise off the ground, and then, amid the jeers of the crowd, the +discomfited lad took his aeroplane back to the shed in the rear of +his house. + +"I'll fix it yet, and make a long flight," he declared. "I'll show +Tom Swift he can't laugh at me!" + +"You'll make a long flight eh?" asked one of the machinists. "Where +will you go?" + +"Never mind," answered Andy, with a knowing wink. "I've got a plan +up my sleeve--my father and I are going to do something that will +astonish everybody in Shopton," and then Andy, with many nods and +winks, went into the shed, where he began giving orders about the +airship. He wanted the motor changed, and one of the machinists made +some suggestions about the planes, which, he said, would give better +results. + +As for Tom and Ned, they strolled away, satisfied that in Andy Foger +they would not have a very dangerous rival, as far as airships were +concerned. + +Tom thought matters over during the next few days. He was now +satisfied that Andy had a copy of the map, and, as far as he could +see, there was no way of getting it from him, for he could not prove +to the satisfaction of the legal authorities that the bully actually +had it. + +"We'll just have to take a chance, that's all," decided the young +inventor in talking matters over with his father, Ned, and Abe +Abercrombie. "If Andy and some of his crowd trail after us, we'll +just have to run away from them and get to the valley first." + +"If they do get there, they won't find it very easy traveling I +reckon," remarked Abe. "They'll get all they want of the caves of +ice. But hadn't we better get a hustle on ourselves, Tom?" + +"Yes, we will soon start now. I have the RED CLOUD all packed up for +shipment to Seattle. We will send it on ahead, and then follow, for +it will take some time to get there, even though it's going by fast +freight." + +"What about Mr. Damon?" asked Ned. "When is he coming?" + +"There's no telling," responded Tom. "He may be on hand any minute, +and, again, he may only show up just as we are starting. I haven't +heard from him in the last day or two," + +At that moment there was a knock on the private office in the +aeroplane shed, where Tom, Ned and Abe Abercrombie were talking. + +"Who's there?" asked Tom. + +"It's me," answered a voice recognizable as that of the colored man +Eradicate. + +"What is it, Rad?" asked Tom. + +"Why I jest thought I'd tell you dat de blessin' man am comin' down +de road." + +"The blessing man?" repeated Tom. "Oh, you mean Mr. Damon." + +"Yais, sah, dat's jest who I done mean. An' dere's anodder gen'man +wif him." + +"Mr. Parker, I expect," spoke Tom. "Well, tell them to come in here, +Rad." + +"Yais, sah. Dey's comin' up de path now, so dey is." + +The next moment Tom and the others heard a voice saying: + +"Why, bless my necktie! The RED CLOUD is gone!" Mr. Damon had peered +into the shed, and had not seen the airship, for Tom had it packed +up. "I wonder if Tom Swift has gone away? Bless my top-knot, Mr. +Parker, I hope We're not too late!" + +"Indeed I hope not," added the scientist. "I wish to make a study of +the caves of ice. I think perhaps they may be working south, and, in +time, this part of the country may be covered deep under a frozen +blanket." + +"Cheerful, isn't he, Ned?" asked Tom, with a smile. Then, going to +the door of the shed he called out: "Here we are, Mr. Damon. Glad to +see you, Mr. Parker." This last wasn't exactly true, but Tom wanted +to be polite. + +"Bless my collar button, Tom! But what has become of the airship?" +asked Mr. Damon, as he looked about the shed, and saw only a number +of boxes and crates. + +"Taken apart, and packed up, ready for the trip to the valley of +gold and the caves of ice," replied the young inventor, and then he +briefly told of their plans. + +"Well, that's a good idea," declared the eccentric man. "Mr. Parker +and I are ready to go whenever you are, Tom." + +"Then we'll start very soon. I will get all our supplies in Seattle. +Now, to discuss details," and, after Mr. Parker and Mr. Damon had +been made acquainted with the old miner, who told his story in +brief, they began a discussion of the prospective trip. + +Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker took up their residence in Tom's house, and +while the eccentric man busied himself in helping our hero, Ned and +Abe Abercrombie in getting ready for the trip to Alaska, the gloomy +scientist went about making "observations" as he called them, with a +view to predicting what might happen in the near future. + +He was particularly anxious to get up north, among the caves of ice, +and, several times he repeated his statement that he believed the +mass of ice in Alaska was working down toward the south. But no one +paid much attention to him, though Tom recalled, not without a +little shudder, that Mr. Parker had correctly predicted the +destruction of Earthquake Island, and also the landslide on Phantom +Mountain. + +The airship was finally sent off, being forwarded to Seattle in +sections, where it could easily be put together. The matter of Andy +Foger having a duplicate map of the valley of gold was discussed, +but it was agreed that nothing could be done about it. So Tom and +the others devoted all their energies to getting in shape for their +prospective journey. + +Mr. Swift was invited to go, but declined on the ground that he had +several inventions to perfect, nor could Mr. Jackson go, as he was +needed to help his employer. So Tom, Ned, Mr. Damon, Mr. Parker and +Abe Abercrombie made up the party. Tom arranged to send wireless +messages to his father from the airship once they were started off +toward the valley of gold, and over the frozen north. + +One evening, when Tom had been to pay a last visit to Mary Nestor, +as he was coming past the Foger premises he saw a number of large +vans, loaded with big packing cases coming out of the banker's yard. + +"Hum! I wonder if they're moving?" mused our hero. "If they are +they're taking a queer time for it." He paused a moment to look at +the procession of vans. As he did so he heard the voice of Andy +Foger. + +"Now, I want you men to be careful of everything!" the bully called +out arrogantly. "If you break anything I'll sue you for damages!" + +"Oh, that cub makes me sick!" exclaimed one of the drivers as he +came opposite Tom. + +"What are you moving--eggs, that you have to be so careful?" asked +the young inventor, in a low voice. + +"Eggs? No! But it might just as well be," was the growling answer. +"He's shipping an airship, all taken to pieces, and he has nervous +prostration for fear it will be broken. I don't believe the old +thing's any good, anyhow." + +"An airship--Andy Foger sending away his airship?" gasped Tom. +"Where to?" + +"Some place in Alaska," was the startling reply. "Pitka or Sitka, or +some such place like that. It's all in these boxes, G'lang there!" +this to his horses. + +"Andy sending his airship to Alaska!" murmured Tom in dismay. "Then +he surely is going to make a try for that valley of gold!" + +He turned away, while the snarling voice of the bully rang out on +the night, urging the drivers to be very careful of the boxes and +crates on their trucks. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +A THIEF IN THE NIGHT + + +Tom Swift hardly knew what to think. He had scarcely believed, in +spite of the fact that he was sure Andy had a copy of the map, that +the bully would actually make an effort to go to the valley of gold. + +"And in that airship of his, too," mused Tom. "Well, there's one +consolation, I don't believe he'll go far in that, though it does +sail better than when he made his first attempt. Well, if he's going +to try to beat us, it's a good thing I know it We can be prepared +for him, now." + +Tom, after watching the big vans for a few minutes, turned and kept +on toward his home. + +There was more than surprise on the part of Mr. Damon and the others +when Tom told his news. There was alarm, for there was a feeling +that Mr. Foger and his son might adopt unscrupulous tricks. + +"But what can we do?" asked Mr. Swift + +"Whitewash him!" exclaimed Eradicate Sampson, who had overheard part +of the conversation. "Dat's what I'd do t' him an' his father, too! +Dat's what I would! Fust I'd let mah mule Boomerang kick him a bit, +an' den, when he was all mussed up, I'd whitewash him!" That was the +colored man's favorite method of dealing with enemies, but, of +course, he could not always carry it out. + +However, after considering the matter from all sides, it was decided +that nothing could be done for the present. + +"Let them go," said Tom, "I don't believe they'll ever find the +valley of gold. I fancy I threw a scare into Andy, talking as I did +about the map." + +"Well, even if the Fogers do get the gold," said Mr. Parker calmly, +"they cannot take away the caves of ice, and it is in them that I am +most interested. I want to prove some of my new theories." + +"And we need the gold," said Tom, in a low voice; "don't we, Abe?" + +"That's what we do, Tom," answered the old miner. + +Preparations were now practically completed for their trip to +Seattle by rail. Tom made some inquiries in the next few days +regarding the Fogers, but only learned that the father and son had +left town, after superintending the shipment of their airship. + +"Well, we start to-day," remarked Tom, as he arose one morning. "In +two weeks, at most, we ought to be hovering over the valley, Abe." + +"I hope so? Tom. You've got the map put away safely, have you?" + +"Sure thing. Are you all ready?" + +"Yes." + +"Then we'll start for the depot right after breakfast." The +adventurers had arranged to take a local train from Shopton, and get +on a fast express at one of the more important! stations. + +Good-byes were said, Mr. Swift, Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Baggert and +Eradicate waving their adieus from the porch as Tom and the others +started for the depot. Miss Mary Nestor had bidden our hero farewell +the previous night--it being a sort of second good-bye, for Tom was +a frequent caller at her house, and, if the truth must be told he +rather disliked to leave the young lady. + +Tom found a few of his friends at the station, who had gathered +there to give him and Ned BON-VOYAGE. + +"Bring us back some nuggets, Tom," pleaded Arthur Norton. + +"Bring me a musk-ox if you can shoot one," suggested one. + +"A live bear or a trained Eskimo for mine," exclaimed another. + +Tom laughingly promised to do the best he could. + +"I'll send you some gold nuggets by wireless," said Ned Newton. + +It was almost time for the train to arrive. In the crowd on the +platform Tom noticed Pete Bailey. + +"He must feel lost without Andy," observed the young inventor to +Ned. + +"Yes, I wonder what he's hanging around here for?" + +They learned a moment later, for they saw Pete going into the +telegraph office. + +"Must be something important for him to wire about," observed Ned. + +Tom did not answer. The window of the office was slightly open, +though the day was cool, and he was listening to the clicks of the +telegraph instrument, as the operator sent Pete's message. Tom was +familiar with the Morse code. What was his surprise to hear the +message being sent to Andy Foger at a certain hotel in Chicago. And +the message read: + +"Tom Swift's party leaving to-day." + +"What in the world does that mean?" thought Tom, but he did not tell +Ned what he had picked up as it went over the wire. "Why should Andy +want to be informed when we leave? That's why Pete was hanging +around here! He had been instructed to let Andy know when we left +for Seattle. There's something queer back of all this." + +Tom was still puzzling over the matter when their train roiled in +and he and the others got aboard. + +"Well, we're off!" cried Ned. + +"Yes; we're off," admitted Tom, and, to himself he added: "No +telling what will happen before we get there, though." + +The trip to Chicago was without incident, and, on arrival in the +Windy City, Tom was on the lookout for Andy or his father, but he +did not see them. He made private inquiries at the hotel mentioned +in Pete's telegram, but learned that the Fogers had gone on. + +"Perhaps I'm worrying too much," thought Tom. But an event that +occurred a few nights later, when they were speeding across the +continent showed him that there was need of great precaution. + +On leaving Chicago, Tom had noticed, among the other passengers +traveling in the same coach as themselves, a man who seemed to be +closely observing each member of the party of gold-hunters. He was a +man with a black mustache, a mustache so black, in fact, that Tom at +once concluded that it had been dyed. This, in itself, was not much, +but there was a certain air about the man--a "sporty" air--which +made Tom suspicious. + +"I wouldn't be surprised if that man was a gambler, Ned," he said to +his chum, one afternoon, as they were speeding along. The man in +question was several seats away from Tom. + +"He does look like one," agreed Ned. + +"I needn't advise you not to fall in with any of his invitations to +play cards, I suppose," went on Tom, after a pause. + +"No, indeed, it's something I don't do," answered Ned, with a laugh. +"But it might be a good thing to speak to Abe Abercrombie about him. +If that man's a sharper perhaps Abe knows him, or has seen him, for +Abe has traveled around in the West considerable." + +"We'll ask him," agreed Tom, but the miner, when his attention was +called to the man, said he had never seen him before. + +"He does look like a confidence man," agreed Abe, "but as long as he +doesn't approach us we can't do anything, and don't need to worry." + +There was little need to call the attention of either Mr. Damon or +Mr. Parker to the man, for Mr. Damon was busy watching the scenery, +as this trip was a new one to him, and he was continually blessing +something he saw or thought of. As for Mr. Parker, he was puzzling +over some new theories he had in mind, and he said little to the +others. + +On the night of the same day on which Tom had called special +attention to the man with the black mustache, our hero went to his +berth rather late. He had sent some telegrams to his father and one +to Miss Nestor, and, when he turned in he saw the "gambler," as he +had come to call him, going into the smoking compartment of the +coach. Though Tom thought of the man as a gambler, there was no +evidence, as yet, that he was one, and he had made no effort to +approach any of our friends, though he had observed them closely. + +How long Tom had been asleep he did not know, but he was suddenly +awakened by feeling his pillow move. At first he thought it was +caused by the swaying of the train, and he was about to go to sleep +again, when there came a movement that he knew could not have been +caused by any unevenness of the roadbed. + +Then, like a flash there came to Tom's mind the thought that under +his pillow, in a little leather case he had made for it, was the +map, showing the location of the valley of gold. + +He sat up suddenly, and made a lunge for the pillow. He felt a hand +being hurriedly withdrawn. Tom made a grab for it, but the fingers +slipped from his grasp. + +"Here! Who are you!" cried Tom, endeavoring to peer through the +darkness. + +"It's all right--mistake," murmured a voice. + +Tom leaned suddenly forward and parted the curtains of his berth. +There was a dim light burning in the aisle of the car. By the gleam +of it the young inventor caught sight of a man hurrying away, and he +felt sure the fellow who had put his hand under his pillow was the +man with the black mustache. He confirmed this suspicion a moment +later, for the man half turned, as if to look back, and the youth +saw the mustache. + +"He--he was after my map!" thought Tom, with a gasp. + +He sat bolt upright. What should he do? To raise an alarm now, he +felt, would only bring a denial from the man if he accused him. +There might also be a scene, and the man might get very indignant. +Then, too, Tom and his friends did not want their object made known, +as it would be in the event of Tom raising an outcry and stating +what was under his pillow. + +He felt for the map case, opened it and saw, in the gleam of the +light, that it was safe. + +"He didn't get it anyhow," murmured our hero. "I guess I won't say +anything until morning, though he did come like a thief in the night +to see if he could steal it." + +Tom glanced to where his coat and other clothing hung in the little +berth-hammock, and a hasty search showed that his money and ticket +were safe. + +"It was the map he was after all right," mused Tom. "I'll have a +talk with Mr. Damon in the morning about what's best to do. That's +why the fellow has been keeping such a close watch on us. He wanted +to see who had the map." + +Then another thought came to Tom. + +"If it was the map he was after," he whispered to himself, "he must +know what it's about Therefore the Fogers must have told him. I'll +wager Andy or his father put this man up to steal the map. Andy's +afraid he hasn't got a copy of the right one. This is getting more +and more mysterious! We must be on our guard all the while. Well, +I'll see what I'll do in the morning." + +But in the morning the man with the black mustache was not aboard +the train, and on inquiring of the conductor, Tom learned that the +mysterious stranger had gotten off at a way station shortly after +midnight. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A VANDAL'S ACT + + +"Bless my penknife!" exclaimed Mr. Daman, the next morning, when he +had been told of Tom's experience in the night, "things are coming +to a pretty pass when our enemies adopt such tactics as this! What +can we do, Tom? Hadn't you better let one of us carry the map?" + +"Oh, I guess not," answered the young inventor. "They have had one +try at me, and found that I wasn't napping. I don't believe they'll +try again. No, I'll carry the map." + +Tom concealed it in an old wallet, as he thought it was less likely +to attract attention there than in the new case he formerly used. +Still he did not relax his vigilance, and his sleep for the next few +nights was uneasy, as he awakened several times, thinking he felt a +hand under his pillow. + +At length Ned suggested that one of them sit up part of the night, +and keep an eye on Tom's berth. This was agreed to, and they divided +the hours of darkness into watches, each one taking a turn at +guarding the precious map. But they might have spared themselves the +trouble, for no further attempt was made to get it. + +"I'd just like to know what Andy Foger's plans are?" said Tom one +afternoon, as they were within a few miles of Seattle. "He certainly +must have made up his mind quickly, after he saw the map, about +going in search of the gold." + +"Maybe his father proposed it," suggested Ned. "I heard, in our +bank, that Mr. Foger has lost considerable money lately, and he may +need more." + +"I shouldn't wonder. Well, if they are going to Sitka, Alaska, to +assemble their ship, I think they'll have trouble, for supplies are +harder to get there than in Seattle. But we'll soon be on our way +ourselves, if nothing happens. I hope all the parts of the RED CLOUD +arrive safely." + +They did, as Tom learned a few hours later, when they had taken up +their quarters in a Seattle hotel, and he had made inquiries at the +railroad office. In the freight depot were all the boxes and crates +containing the parts of the big airship, and by comparison with a +list he had made, the young inventor found that not a single part +was missing. + +"We'll soon have her together again," he said to his friends, "and +then we'll start for Alaska." + +"Where are you going to assemble the airship?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"I've got to hire some sort of a big shed," explained Tom. "I heard +of one I think I can get. It's out at the fair grounds, and was used +some time ago when they had a balloon ascension here. It will be +just what I need." + +"How long before we can start for the gold valley?" asked the old +miner anxiously. + +"Oh, in about a week," answered the lad, "that is, if everything +goes well." + +Tom lost no time in getting to work. He had the different parts of +his airship carted to the big shed which he hired. This building was +on one edge of the fair grounds, and there was a large, level space +which was admirably adapted for trying the big craft, when once more +it was put together. + +The gold-seekers worked hard, and to such good purpose that in three +days most of the ship was together once more, and the RED CLOUD +looked like herself again. Tom hired a couple of machinists to aid +him in assembling the motor, and some of the gas appliances and +other apparatus. + +"Ha! Bless my rubber shoes!" cried Mr. Damon in delight, as he +looked at the big craft "This is like old times, Tom!" + +"Yes, indeed," agreed our hero. + +"Are you going to give it a preliminary tryout?" asked Ned. + +"Oh, yes, I think we can do that to-morrow," replied Tom. "I want to +know that everything is in good working shape before I trust the +ship on the trip to the frozen north. There are several problems I +want to work out, too, for I think I will need a different kind of +gas up where the temperature is so low." + +"It certainly is cold up here," agreed Ned, for they were now much +farther north than when they were in Shopton, and, besides, winter +was coming on. It was not the best time of the year to journey into +Alaska, but they had no choice. To delay, especially now, might mean +that their enemies would get ahead of them. + +"We'll be warm in the airship, though; won't we?" asked Abe. + +"Oh, yes," answered Tom. "We'll be warm, and have plenty to eat. +Which reminds me that I must begin to see about our stock of +provisions and other supplies, for we'll soon be on our way." + +Work on the airship was hastened to such good advantage the next two +days that it was in shape for a trial flight, and, one afternoon, +the RED CLOUD was wheeled from the shed out into big field, the gas +was generated, and the motor started. + +There was a little hitch, due to the fact that some of the machine +adjustments were wrong, but Tom soon had that remedied and then, +with the big propellers whirling around, the airship was sent +scudding across the field. + +Another moment and it rose like a great eagle, and sailed through +the air, while a small crowd that had daily gathered in the hope of +seeing a flight, sent up a cheer. + +"Does it work all right?" asked Ned anxiously, as he stood in the +pilothouse beside his chum. + +"As good as it did in Shopton," answered the young inventor, +proudly. + +"Bless my pocketbook! but that's lucky," exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Then +we can soon start, eh?" + +"As soon as we are stocked up," replied the lad. + +Tom put the airship through a number of "stunts" to test her +stability and the rudder control, much to the delight of the +gathering throng. Everything was found to work well, and after +ascending to a considerable height, to the no small alarm of the old +miner, Tom made a quick descent, with the motor shut off. The RED +CLOUD conducted herself perfectly, and there was nothing else to be +desired. + +She was sent down to earth and wheeled back into the shed, and not +without some difficulty, for the crowd, which was now very large, +wanted to get near enough to touch the wonderful craft. + +"To-morrow I'll arrange about the supplies and provisions, and we'll +stock her up," said Tom to his companions. "Now you folks had better +go back to the hotel." + +"Aren't you coming?" asked Ned. + +I'm going to bunk here in the shed to-night, said the young +inventor. + +"What for?" + +"I can't take any chances now that the RED CLOUD is in shape for +flying. Some of the Foger crowd might be hanging around, and break +in here to damage her." + +"But the watchman will be on guard," suggested Ned, for since the +hiring of the shed, the young inventor had engaged a man to remain +on duty all night. + +"I know," answered Tom Swift, "but I'm not going to take any +chances. I'll stay here with the watchman." + +Ned offered to share the vigil with his chum, and, after some +objection Tom consented. The others went back to the hotel, +promising to return early in the morning. + +Tom slept heavily that night, much heavier than he was in the habit +of doing. So did Ned, and their deep breathing as they lay in their +staterooms, in the cabin of the airship, told of physical weariness, +for they had worked hard to re-assemble the RED CLOUD. + +The watchman was seated in a chair just inside the big door of the +shed, near a small stove in which was a fire to take off the chill +of the big place. The guard had slept all day, and there was no +excuse for him nodding in the way that he did. + +"Queer, how drowsy I feel," he murmured several times. "It's only a +little after midnight, too," he added, looking at his watch, "Guess +I'll walk around a bit to rouse myself." + +He firmly intended to do this, but he thought he would wait just a +few minutes more, and he stretched out his legs and got comfortable +in the chair. + +Three minutes more and the watchman was asleep--sound asleep, while +a strange, sweet, sickish odor seemed to fill the atmosphere about +him. + +There was a noise at the door of the shed, a door in which there +were several cracks. A man outside laid aside something that looked +like an air pump. He applied one eye to a crack, and looked in on +the sleeping watchman. + +"He's off," the man murmured. "I thought he'd never get to sleep! +Now to get in and dose those two lads! Then I'll have the place to +myself!" + +There was a clicking noise about the lock on the shed door. It was +not a very secure lock at best, and, under the skilful fingers of +the midnight visitor, it quickly gave way. The man entered. He gave +one look at the slumbering watchman, listened to his heavy +breathing, and then went softly toward the airship, which looked to +be immense in the comparatively small shed--taking up nearly all the +space. + +The intruder peered in through the cabin windows where Ned and Tom +were asleep. Once more there was in the atmosphere a sickish odor. +The man again worked the instrument which was like a small air pump, +taking care not to get his own face too near it. Presently he +stopped and listened. + +"They're doped," he murmured. He arose, and took from his mouth and +nose a handkerchief saturated with some chemical that had rendered +him immune to the effects of the sleep-producing that he had +generated. "Sound asleep," he added. Then, taking out a long, keen +knife, the vandal stole toward where the great wings of the RED +CLOUD stretched out in the dim light like the pinions of a bird. +There was a ripping, tearing, rending sound, as the vandal cut and +slashed, but Tom, Ned and the watchman slumbered on. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +TOM IS HELD UP + + +Tom Swift stirred uneasily in his heavy sleep. He dreamed that he +was again in his berth in the railroad car, and that the thief was +feeling under his pillow for the map. Only, this time, there seemed +to be hands feeling about his clothing, trying to locate his inner +pockets. + +The lad murmured something unintelligible, but he did not awaken. +The fumes prevented that. However, his movements showed that the +effect of the drug was wearing off. It was intended only for +temporary use, and it lasted less time than it would otherwise have +done in a warmer, moister climate, for the cold, crisp air that +penetrated the shed from outside dispelled the fumes. + +"Guess I'd better not chance it," murmured the intruder. "He may not +have it on him. and if I go through all his pockets I'll wake him +up. Anyhow, I've done what they paid me for. I don't believe they'll +sail in this airship." + +The vandal gave one glance at the sleeping lads, and stole from the +cabin of the craft. He looked at his work of ruin, and then tiptoed +past the slumbering watchman. A moment later and he was outside the +shed, hurrying away through the night. + +Several hours after this Mr. Damon and the old miner were pounding +on the door of the shed. Mr. Parker, the scientist, had remained at +the hotel, for he said he wanted to work out a few calculations +regarding some of his theories. + +"I thought we'd find them up by this time," spoke the eccentric man, +as he again knocked on the door. "Tom said he had lots to do to- +day." + +"Maybe they are working inside, and can't hear our knocks," +suggested Abe. "Try th' door." + +"Bless my heart! I never thought of that," exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I +believe I will." + +The door swung open as he pushed it, for it had not been locked when +the intruder left. The first thing Mr. Damon saw was the watchman, +still asleep in his chair. + +"Bless my soul!" the old man shouted. "Look at this, Abe!" + +"Something's wrong!" cried the miner, sniffing the air. "There's +been crooked work here! Where are the boys?" + +Mr. Damon was close to the airship. He looked in the cabin window. + +"Here they are, and they're both asleep, too!" he called. "And-- +bless my eyeglasses! Look at the airship! The planes and wings are +all cut and slashed! Something has happened! The RED CLOUD is all +but ruined!" + +Abe hastened to his side. He looked at the damage done, and a fierce +look came over his face. + +"The Fogers again!" he murmured. "We'll pay 'em back for this! But +first we must see to the boys!" + +They needed small attention, however. The opening of the big door +had let in a flood of fresh air, and this dispelled the last of the +fumes. The watchman was the first to revive. The sleep caused by the +chemical, sprayed from the air-pump by the vandal, had been +succeeded by a natural slumber, and this was the case with Ned and +Tom. They were soon aroused, and looked with wonder, not unmixed +with rage, at the work done in the night. + +Every one of the principal planes of the airship, each of the +rudders, and some of the auxiliary wings had been cut by a sharp +knife--some in several places. The canvas hung in shreds and +patches, and the trim RED CLOUD looked like some old tramp airship +now. Tom could scarcely repress a groan. + +"Who did it?" he gasped. + +"And with us here on guard!" added Ned. + +"I--I must have fallen asleep," admitted the watchman in confusion. + +"You were all asleep," said Mr. Damon. "I couldn't rouse you!" + +"And there was th' smell of chloroform, or something like it in th' +shed," added the miner. + +"But look at the airship!" groaned Tom. + +"Is it ruined--can't we go to the valley of gold?" asked Ned. + +Tom did not answer for a few minutes. He was walking around looking +at his damaged craft. The sleepy feeling was rapidly leaving him, as +well as Ned and the watchman. + +"Bless my watch chain!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "What an ugly, mean +piece of work. Can you repair it, Tom?" + +"I think so," was the hesitating answer. "It is not as bad as I +feared at first. Luckily the gas-bag has not been touched, for, if +it had, we could hardly have repaired it. I can fix the wings and +the rudders. The propellers have not been damaged, nor has the motor +been touched. I think they must have made another attempt to take +the map off me," he went on, as he looked at several pockets that +had been turned inside out. + +An examination of the door showed how the lock had been forced, and +the adventurers could easily guess the rest. But who the midnight +vandal was they could not tell, though Tom and the others were sure +it was some one hired by the Fogers. + +"They wanted to delay us," said Tom. "They thought this would hold +us back, but it won't--for long. We'll get right to work, and make +new planes and rudders. Fortunately the framework isn't hurt any." + +Once Tom got into action nothing held him back. He hardly wanted to +stop for meals. New canvas was ordered, and that very afternoon some +of the damaged wings had been repaired. In the meanwhile the stores +and provisions that had been ordered were arriving, and, under the +direction of the miner and Mr. Damon were put in the RED CLOUD. Tom +and Ned, with the help of a man they hired, worked diligently to +replace the damaged planes and rudders. Mr. Parker came out to the +airship shed, but he was of little use as a helper, for he was +continually stopping to jot down some memoranda about an observation +he thought of, or else he would lay aside his tools to go outside, +look at the weather, and make predictions. + +But Tom and the others labored to such good advantage that in three +days they had repaired most of the damage done. Luckily the vandal +had cut and slashed in a hurry, and his malicious work was only half +accomplished. There was no clue to his identity. + +No trace was seen of the Fogers, and Tom hardly expected it, for he +thought they were in Sitka by this time. Nor were any suspicious +persons seen hanging around the shed. The adventurers left their +rooms at the hotel, and took up their quarters in the airship that +would soon be their home for many days. They wanted to be where they +could watch the craft, and two guards were engaged. + +"We'll start to-morrow," Tom announced gaily one evening when, after +a hard day's work the last of the damaged planes had been repaired. + +"Start fer th' valley of gold?" asked the miner. + +"Yes. Everything is in good shape now. I want to go into town, to +send some messages home, telling dad we'll soon be on our way, and I +also want to get a few things." + +"Shall I come?" asked Ned. + +"No, I'd rather you'd stay here," spoke Tom, in a low voice. "We +can't take any more chances of being delayed, and, as it's pretty +well known that we'll sail to-morrow, the Foger crowd may try some +more of their tricks. No, I'll go to town alone, Ned. I'll soon be +back, however. You stay here." + +Both Tom came nearly never coming back. As he was returning from +sending the messages, and purchasing a few things he needed for the +trip, he passed through a dark street. He was walking along, +thinking of what the future might hold for him and his companions, +after they reached the caves of ice, when, just as he got to a high +board fence, surrounding some vacant lots, he heard some one whisper +hoarsely: + +"Here he comes!" + +The young inventor was on his guard instantly. He jumped back to +avoid a moving shadow, but was too late. Something struck him on the +back of his head, and he felt his senses leaving him. He struggled +against the feeling, and he realized, even in that exciting moment, +that the thick collar of his heavy overcoat, which he had turned up +because of a cold wind, had, perhaps, saved him from a broken skull. + +"Hold him!" commanded another voice. "I'll go through him!" + +The packages dropped from Tom's nerveless fingers. He felt himself +sinking down, in spite of his fierce determination not to succumb. +He felt several hands moving rapidly about his body, and then he +struck blindly out at the footpads. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +OFF FOR THE FROZEN NORTH + + +Tom Swift felt as if he was struggling in some dream or nightmare. +He felt strong hands holding him and saw evil faces leering at him. + +Then gradually his brain cleared. His muscles, that had been +weakened by the cowardly blow, grew strong. He felt his fist land +heavily on some one's face. He heard a smothered gasp of pain. + +Then came the sound of footsteps running--Tom heard the "ping" of a +policeman's night-stick on the sidewalk. + +"Here come the cops!" he heard one voice exclaim. + +"Did you get it?" asked another. + +"No, I can't find it. Cut for it now!" + +They released the young inventor so suddenly that he staggered about +and almost fell. + +The next moment Tom was looking into the face of a big policeman, +who was half supporting him. + +"What's the matter?" asked the officer. + +"Hold-up, I guess," mumbled the lad. "There they go!" he pointed +toward two dark forms slipping along down the dimly-lighted street. + +The officer drew his revolver, and fired two shots in the air, but +the fleeing figures did not stop. + +"How did it happen?" asked the policeman. "Did they get anything +from you?" + +"No--I guess not," answered Tom. He saw the packages containing his +purchases lying where they had fallen. A touch told him his watch +and pocketbook were safe. The precious map was in a belt about his +waist, and that had not been removed. "No, they didn't get +anything," he assured the officer. + +"I came along too quick for 'em, I guess," spoke the bluecoat. "This +is a bad neighborhood. There have been several hold-ups here of +late, but I was on the job too soon for these fellows. Hello, Mike," +as another officer came running up in answer to the shots and the +raps of the night-stick. "Couple of strong-arm-men tackled this +young fellow just now. I saw something going on as I turned the +corner, and I rapped and ran up. They went down that way. I fired at +'em. You take after 'em, Mike, and I'll stay here. Don't believe you +can land 'em, but try! I came up too quick to allow 'em to get +anything, though." + +Tom did not contradict this. He knew, however, that, had the men who +attacked him wished to take his watch or money, they could have done +it several times before the officer arrived. + +"It was the map they were after," thought Tom, "not my watch or +money. This is more of the Foger's work. We must get away from +here." + +The policeman inquired for more particulars from Tom, who related +how the hold-up had taken place. The young inventor, however, said +nothing about the map he carried, letting the officer think it was +an ordinary attempt at robbery, for Tom did not want any reference +in the newspapers to his search for the valley of gold. + +Presently the other policeman returned, having been unable to get +any trace of the daring men. The two bluecoats wanted to accompany +Tom back to the airship shed, for his own safety, but he declared +there was no more danger, and, after having given his name, so that +the affair might be reported at headquarters, he was allowed to go +on his way. His head ached from the blow, but otherwise he was +unhurt. + +"Those fellows have been keeping watch for me," the lad reasoned, as +he walked quickly toward the airship shed. "They must have been +shadowing me, and they hid there until I came back. Andy Foger and +his father must be getting desperate. I think I know why, too. That +little dig I gave Andy about his map is bearing fruit. He begins to +think it's the wrong map, and he wants to get hold of the right one. +Well, they shan't if I can help it. We'll be away from here in the +morning." + +There was indignation and some alarm among Tom's friends when he +told his story a little later that night. + +"Bless my walking-stick!" cried Mr. Damon. "You'll need a bodyguard +after this." + +"I'd just like t' git my hands on them fellers!" exclaimed the old +miner. "I'd show 'em!" and a look at his rugged frame and his +muscular arms and gnarled hands showed Tom and Ned that in the event +of a fight they could count much on Abe Abercrombie. + +"I am glad there will be no more delays, and that we will soon be +moving northward," spoke Mr. Parker, a little later. "I am anxious +to confirm my theory about the advance of the ice crust, I met a man +to-day who had just returned from the north of Alaska. He said that +a severe winter had already set in up there. So I am anxious to get +to the ice caves." + +"So am I," added Tom, but it was for a different reason. + +They were all up early the next morning, for there were several +things to look after before they started on the trip that might +bring much of danger to the adventurers. Under Tom's direction, more +gas was generated, and forced into the big bag. A last adjustment +was made of the planes, wing tips and rudders, and the motor was +given a try-out. + +"I guess everything is all right," announced the young inventor. +"We'll take her out." + +The RED CLOUD was wheeled from the big shed, and placed on the open +lot, where she would have room to rush across the ground to acquire +momentum enough to rise in the air. Tom, whenever it was practical, +always mounted this way, rather than by means of the lifting gas, +as, in the event of a wind, he would have better control of the +ship, while it was ascending into the upper currents of air, than +when it was rising like a balloon. + +"All aboard!" cried the lad, as he looked to see that the course was +clear. Early as it was, there was quite a crowd on hand to witness +the flight, as there had been every day of late, for the population +of Seattle was curious regarding the big craft of the air. + +"Let her go!" cried Ned Newton, enthusiastically. + +Tom took his place in the steering-tower, or pilothouse, which was +forward of the main cabin. Ned was in the engine-room, ready to give +any assistance if needed. Mr. Damon, Mr. Parker and Abe Abercrombie +were in the main cabin, looking out of the windows at the rapidly +increasing throng. + +"Here we go!" cried the young inventor, as he pulled the lever +starting the motor, There was a buzz and a hum. The powerful +propellers whirred around like blurs of light. Forward shot the +great airship over the ground, gathering speed at every revolution +of the blades. + +Tom tilted the forward rudder to lift the ship. Suddenly it shot +over the heads of the crowd. There was a cheer and some applause. + +"Off for the frozen north!" cried Ned, waving his cap. + +Tom shifted the rudder, to change the course of the airship. Mr. +Damon was gazing on the crowd below. + +"Tom! Tom!" he cried suddenly. "There's the man with the black +mustache--the man who tried to rob you in the sleeping-car!" He +pointed downward to some one in the throng. + +"He can't get us now!" exclaimed Tom, as he increased the speed of +the RED CLOUD, and then, taking up a telescope, after setting the +automatic steering gear, Tom pointed the glass at the person whom +Mr. Damon had indicated. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +PELTED BY HAILSTONES + + +"Yes, that's the man all right," observed the lad. "But if he came +here to have another try for the map, he's too late. I hope we don't +land now until we are in the valley of gold." Tom passed the +telescope to Ned, who confirmed the identification. + +"Perhaps he came to see if we started, and then he'll report to Andy +Foger or his father by telegraph," suggested Mr. Damon. + +"Perhaps," admitted Tom. "Anyhow, we're well rid of our enemies--at +least for a time. They can't follow us up in the air." He turned +another lever and the RED CLOUD shot forward at increased speed. + +"Maybe Andy will race us," suggested Ned. + +"I'm not afraid of anything his airship can do," declared Tom. "I +don't believe it will even get up off the ground, though he did make +a short flight before he packed up to follow us. It's a wonder he +wouldn't think of something himself, instead of trying to pattern +after some one else. He tried to beat me in building a speeding +automobile, and now he wants to get ahead of me in an airship. Well, +let him try. I'll beat him out, just as I've done before." + +They were now over the outskirts of Seattle, flying along about a +thousand feet high, and they could dimly make out curious crowds +gazing up at them. The throng that had been around the airship shed +had disappeared from view behind a little hill, and, of course, the +man with the black mustache was no longer visible, but Tom felt as +if his sinister eyes were still gazing upward, seeking to discern +the occupants of the airship. + +"We're well on our way now," observed Ned, after a while, during +which interval he and Tom had inspected the machinery, and found it +working satisfactorily. + +"Yes, and the RED CLOUD is doing better than she ever did before," +said Tom. "I think it did her good to take her apart and put her +together again. It sort of freshened her up. This machine is my +special pride. I hope nothing happens to her on this journey to the +caves of ice." + +"If my theory is borne out, we will have to be careful not to get +caught in the crush of ice, as it makes its way toward the south," +spoke Mr. Parker with an air as if he almost wished such a thing to +happen, that he might be vindicated. + +"Oh, we'll take good care that the RED CLOUD isn't nipped between +two bergs," Tom declared. + +But he little knew of the dire fate that was to overtake the RED +CLOUD, and how close a call they were to have for their very lives. + +"No matter what care you exercise, you cannot overcome the awful +power of the grinding ice," declared the gloomy scientist. "I +predict that we will see most wonderful and terrifying sights." + +"Bless my hatband!" cried Mr. Damon, "don't say such dreadful +things, Parker my dear man! Be more cheerful; can't you?" + +"Science cannot be cheerful when foretelling events of a dire +nature," was the response. "I would not do my duty if I did not hold +to my theories." + +"Well, just hold to them a little more closely," suggested Mr. +Damon. "Don't tell them to us so often, and have them get on our +nerves, Parker, my dear man. Bless my nail-file! be more cheerful. +And that reminds me, when are we going to have dinner, Tom?" + +"Whenever you want it, Mr. Damon. Are you going to act as cook +again?" + +"I think I will, and I'll just go to the galley now, and see about +getting a meal. It will take my mind off the dreadful things Mr. +Parker says." + +But if the gloomy scientific man heard this little "dig" he did not +respond to it. He was busy jotting down figures on a piece of paper, +multiplying and dividing them to get at some result in a complicated +problem he was working on, regarding the power of an iceberg in +proportion to its size, to exert a lateral pressure when sliding +down a grade of fifteen per cent. + +Mr. Damon got an early dinner, as they had breakfasted almost at +dawn that morning, in order to get a good start. The meal was much +enjoyed, and to Abe Abercrombie was quite a novelty, for he had +never before partaken of food so high up in the air, the barograph +of the RED CLOUD showing an elevation of a little over twelve +thousand feet. + +"It's certainly great," the old miner observed, as he looked down +toward the earth below them, stretched out like some great relief +map. "It sure is wonderful an' some scrumptious! I never thought I'd +be ridin' one of these critters. But they're th' only thing t' git +t' this hidden valley with. We might prospect around for a year, and +be driven back by the Indians and Eskimos a dozen times. But with +this we can go over their heads, and get all the gold we want." + +"Is there enough to give every one all he wants?" asked Tom, with a +quizzical smile. "I don't know that I ever had enough." + +"Me either," added Ned Newton. + +"Oh, there's lots of gold there," declared the old miner. "The thing +to do is to get it and we can sure do that now." + +The remainder of the day passed uneventfully, though Tom cast +anxious looks at the weather as night set in, and Ned, noting his +chum's uneasiness, asked: + +"Worrying about anything, Tom?" + +"Yes, I am," was the reply. "I think we're in for a hard storm, and +I don't know just how the airship will behave up in these northern +regions. It's getting much colder, and the gas in the bag is +condensing more than I thought it would. I will have to increase our +speed to keep us moving along at this elevation." + +The motor was adjusted to give more power, and, having set it so +that it, as well as the rudders, would be controlled automatically, +Tom rejoined his companions in the main cabin, where, as night +settled down, they gathered to eat the evening meal. + +Through the night the great airship plowed her way. At times Tom +arose to look at some of the recording instruments. It was growing +colder, and this further reduced the volume of the gas, but as the +speed of the ship was sufficient to send her along, sustained by the +planes and wings alone, if necessary, the young inventor did not +worry much. + +Morning broke gray and cheerless. A few flakes of snow fell. There +was every indication of a heavy storm. They were high above a +desolate and wild country now, hovering over a sparsely settled +region where they could see great forests, stretches of snow-covered +rocks, and towering mountain crags. + +The snow, which had been lazily falling, suddenly ceased. Tom looked +out in surprise. A moment later there came a sound as if some giant +fingers were beating a tattoo on the roof of the main cabin. + +"What's that!" cried Ned. + +"Bless my umbrella! has anything happened?" demanded Mr. Damon. + +"It's a hail storm!" exclaimed Tom. "We've run into a big hail +storm. Look at those frozen stones! They're as big as hens' eggs!" + +On a little platform in front of the steering-house could be seen +falling immense hailstones. They played a tattoo on the wooden +planks. + +"A hail storm! Bless my overshoes!" cried Mr. Damon. + +"A hail storm!" echoed Mr. Parker. "I expected we would have one. +The hailstones will become even larger than this!" + +"Cheerful," remarked Tom in a low voice, with an apprehensive look +at Ned. + +"Is there any danger?" asked his chum. + +"Danger? Plenty of it," replied the young inventor. "The frozen +particles may rip open the gas bag. "He stopped suddenly and looked +at a gage on the wall of the steering-tower--a gage that showed the +gas pressure. + +"One compartment of the bag has been ripped open!" cried Tom. "The +vapor is escaping! The whole bag may soon be torn apart!" + +The noise of the pelting hailstones increased. The roar of the +storm, the bombardment of the icy globules, and the moaning of the +wind struck terror to the hearts of the gold-seekers. + +"What's to be done?" yelled Ned. + +"We must go up, to get above the storm, or else descend and find +some shelter!" answered Tom. "I'll first see if I can send the ship +up above the clouds!" + +He increased the speed of the motor so that the propellers would aid +in taking the ship higher up, while the gas-generating machine was +set in operation to pour the lifting vapor into the big bag. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A FRIGHTENED INDIAN + + +The violence of the hail storm, the clatter of the frozen pellets as +they bombarded the airship, the rolling, swaying motion of the craft +as Tom endeavored to send it aloft, all combined to throw the +passengers of the RED CLOUD into a state of panic. + +"Bless my very existence!" cried Mr. Damon, "this is almost as bad +as when we were caught in the hurricane at Earthquake Island!" + +"I am sure that this storm is but the forerunner of some dire +calamity!" declared Mr. Parker. + +"I'm afraid it's all up with us," came from Abe Abercrombie, as he +looked about for some way of escape. + +"Do you think you can pull us through, Tom?" asked Ned Newton, who, +not having had much experience in airships had yet to learn Tom's +skill in manipulating them. + +The young inventor alone seemed to keep his nerve. Coolly and calmly +he stood at his post of duty, shifting the wing planes from moment +to moment, managing the elevation rudder, and, at the same time, +keeping his eye on the registering dial of the gas-generating +machine. + +"It's all right," said Tom, more easily than he felt. "We are going +up slowly. You might see if you can induce the gas machine to do any +better, Mr. Damon. We are wasting some of the vapor because of the +leak in the bag, but we can manufacture it faster than it escapes, +so I guess we'll be all right." + +"Mr. Parker, may I ask you to oil the main motor? You will see the +places marked where the oil is to go in. Ned, you help him. Here, +Abe, come over here and give me a hand. This wind makes the rudders +hard to twist." + +The young inventor could not have chosen a better method of +relieving the fears of his friends than by giving them something to +do to take their minds off their own troubles. They hurried to the +tasks he had assigned to them, and, in a few minutes, there were no +more doubts expressed. + +Not that the RED CLOUD was out of danger, Far from it. The storm was +increasing in violence, and the hailstones seemed to double in +number. Then, too, being forced upward as she was, the airship's bag +was pelted all the harder, for the speed of the craft, added to the +velocity of the falling chunks of hail, made them strike on the +surface of the ship with greater violence. + +Tom was anxiously watching the barograph, to note their height. The +RED CLOUD was now about two and a half miles high, and slowly +mounting upward. The gas machine was working to its fullest +capacity, and the fact that they did not rise more quickly told Tom, +more plainly than words could have done, that there were several +additional leaks in the gas-bag. + +"I'll take her up another thousand feet," he announced grimly. +"Then, if we're not above the storm it will be useless to go +higher." + +"Why?" asked Ned, who had come back to stand beside his chum. + +"Because we can't possibly get above the storm without tearing the +ship to pieces. I had rather descend." + +"But won't that be just as bad?" + +"Not necessarily. There are often storms in the upper regions which +do not get down to the surface of the earth, snow and hail storms +particularly. Hail, you know, is supposed to be formed by drops of +rain being hurled up and down in a sort of circular, spiral motion +through alternate strata of air--first freezing and then warm, which +accounts for the onion-like layers seen when a hailstone is cut in +half." + +"That is right," broke in Mr. Parker, who was listening to the young +inventor. "By going down this hail storm may change into a harmless +rain storm. But, in spite of that fact, we are in a dangerous +climate, where we must expect all sorts of queer happenings." + +"Nice, comfortable sort of a companion to have along on a gold- +hunting expedition, isn't He?" asked Tom of Ned, making a wry face +as Mr. Parker moved away. "But I haven't any time to think of that. +Say, this is getting fierce!" + +Well might he say so. The wind had further increased in violence, +and while the storm of hailstones seemed to be about the same, the +missiles had nearly doubled in size. + +"Better go down," advised Ned. "We may fall if you don't." + +"Guess I will," assented Tom. "There's no use going higher. I doubt +if I could, anyhow, with all this wind pressure, and with the gas- +bag leaking. Down she is!" + +As he spoke he shifted the levers, and changed the valve wheels. In +an instant the RED CLOUD began to shoot toward the earth. + +"What's happened? What in th' name of Bloody Gulch are we up +ag'in'?" demanded the old miner, springing to his feet. + +"We're going down--that's all," answered Tom, calmly, but he was far +from feeling that way, and he had grave fears for the safety of +himself and his companions. + +Down, down, down went the RED CLOUD, in the midst of the hail storm. +But if the gold-seekers had hoped to escape the pelting of the +frozen globules they were mistaken. The stones still seemed to +increase in size and number. The gas machine register showed a +sudden lack of pressure, not due to the shutting off of the +apparatus. + +"Look!" cried Ned, pointing to the dial. + +"Yes--more punctures," said Tom, grimly. + +"What's to be done?" asked Mr. Damon, who had finished the task Tom +allotted to him. "Bless my handkerchief! what's to be done?" + +"Seek shelter if the storm doesn't stop when we get to the earth +level," answered Tom. + +"Shelter? What sort of shelter? There are no airship sheds in this +desolate region." + +"I may be able to send the ship under some overhanging mountain +crag," answered the young inventor, "and that will keep off the +hailstones." + +Eagerly Tom and Ned, who stood together in the pilothouse peered +forward through the storm. + +The wind was less violent now that they were in the lower currents +of air, but the hail had not ceased. + +Suddenly Tom gave a cry. Ned looked at him anxiously. Had some new +calamity befallen them? But Tom's voice sounded more in relief than +in alarm. The next instant he called: + +"Look ahead there, Ned, and tell me what you see." + +"I see something big and black," answered the other lad, after a +moment's hesitation. "Why, it's a big black hole!" he added. + +"That's what I made it out to be," went on Tom, "but I wanted to be +sure. It's the opening to a cave or hole in the side of the +mountain. I take it." + +"You're right," agreed Ned. + +"Then we're safe," declared Tom. + +"Safe? How?" + +"I'm going to take the RED CLOUD in there out of the storm." + +"Can you do it? Is the opening big enough?" + +"Plenty. It's larger than my shed at home, Jove! but I'm glad I saw +that in time, or there would have been nothing left of the gas-bag!" + +With skilful hands Tom turned the rudders and sent the airship down +on a slant toward the earth, aiming for the entrance to the cave, +which loomed up in the storm. When the craft was low enough down so +that the superstructure would not scrape the top of the cave, Tom +sent her ahead on the level. But he need have had no fears, for the +hole was large enough to have admitted a craft twice the size of the +RED CLOUD. + +A few minutes later the airship slid inside the great cavern, as +easily as if coming to rest in the yard of Tom's house. The roof of +the cave was high over their heads, and they were safe from the +storm. The cessation from the deafening sound of the pelting +hailstones seemed curious to them at first. + +"Well, bless my shoelaces! if this isn't luck!" cried Mr. Damon, as +he opened the door of the cabin, and looked about the cave in which +they now found themselves. It was comparatively light, for the +entrance was very large, though the rear of the cavern was in gloom. + +"Yes, indeed, we got to it just in time,'" agreed Tom. "Now let's +see what sort of a place it is. We'll have to explore it." + +"There may be a landslide, or the roof may come down on our heads," +objected Mr. Parker. + +"Oh, my dear Parker! please be a little more cheerful," begged Mr. +Damon. + +The adventurers followed Tom from the airship, and all but the young +inventor gazed curiously at the interior of the cave. His first +thought was for his airship. He glanced up at the gas-bag, and noted +several bad rents in it. + +"I hope we can fix them," Tom thought dubiously. + +But the attention of all was suddenly arrested by something that +occurred just then. From the dark recess of the cavern there sounded +a fearful yell or scream. It was echoed back a thousand-fold by the +rocky walls of the cave, Then there dashed past the little group of +gold-seekers a dark figure. + +"Look out! It's a bear!" shouted Mr. Damon. "A bear! It's an Eskimo +Indian!" yelled Abe Abercrombie, "an' he's skeered nigh t' death! +Look at him run!" + +As they gazed toward the lighted entrance of the cave they saw +leaping and running from it an Indian who quickly scudded out into +the hail storm. + +"An Indian," exclaimed Tom. "An Indian in the cave! If there's one, +there may be more. I guess we'd better look to our guns. They may +attack us!" and he hurried back into the airship, followed by Ned +and the others. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE RIVAL AIRSHIP + + +Well armed, the adventurers again ventured out into the cave. But +they need not have been alarmed so soon, for there were no signs of +any more Indians. + +"I guess that one was a stray Eskimo who took shelter in here from +the storm," said Abe Abercrombie. + +"Are we in the neighborhood of the Alaskan Indians and Eskimos?" +inquired Ned. + +"Yes, there are lots of Indians in this region," answered the old +miner, "but not so many Eskimos. A few come down from th' north, but +we'll see more of them, an' fewer of th' pure-blooded Indians as we +get nearer th' valley of gold. Though t' my mind th' Indians an' +Eskimos are pretty much alike," + +"Well, if we don't have to defend ourselves from an attack of +Indians, suppose we look over the airship," proposed Tom. + +"It's too dark to see very much," objected Ned. But this was +overcome when Tom started up a dynamo, and brought out a portable +search-light which was played upon the superstructure of the RED +CLOUD. The gas-bag was the only part of the craft they feared for, +as the hailstones could not damage the iron or wooden structure and +the planes were made in sections, and in such a manner that rents in +them could easily be repaired. So, in fact, could the gas-bag be +mended, but it was harder work. + +"Well, she's got some bad tears in her," announced Tom as the light +flashed over the big bag. "Luckily I have plenty of the material, +and some cement, so I think we can mend the rents, though it will +take some days. Nothing could have been better for us than this +cave. We'll stay here until we're ready to go on." + +"Unless the Indians drive us out," said Abe, in a low tone. + +"Why, do you think there is any danger of that?" inquired Tom. + +"Well, th' brown-skinned beggars aren't any too friendly," responded +the old miner. "Th' one that was in here will be sure to tell th' +others of some big spirit that flew into th' cave, an' they'll be +crowdin' around here when th' storm's over. It may be we can fight +'em off, though." + +"Maybe they won't attack us," suggested Ned, hopefully. "Perhaps we +can make them believe we are spirits, and that it will be unlucky to +interfere with us." + +"Perhaps," admitted Abe, "though my experience has been that these +Indians are a bad lot. They haven't much respect for spirits of any +kind, an' they'll soon find out we're human. But then, we'll wait +an' see what happens." + +"And, in the meantime, have something to eat," put in Mr. Damon. +"Bless my knife and fork! but the hail storm gave me an appetite." + +In fact, there were few things which did not give Mr. Damon an +appetite, Tom thought with a smile. But the meal idea was considered +very timely, and soon the amateur cook was busy in the galley of the +airship, whence speedily came savory odors. The electric lights were +switched on, and the adventurers were quickly made comfortable in +the cave, which so well sheltered the RED CLOUD. Tom completed his +inspection of the craft, and was relieved to find that while there +were a number of small rents, none was very large, and all could be +mended in time. + +Abe Abercrombie took a look outside the cave after the meal had been +served. The old miner declared that they had made a good advance on +their northern journey for, though he could not tell their exact +location, he knew by the character of the landscape that they had +passed the boundaries of Alaska. + +"A few more days' traveling at the rate we came will bring us to the +Snow Mountains and the valley of gold," he said. + +"Well, we won't average such speed as we did during the hail storm," +said Tom. "The wind of that carried us along at a terrific pace. But +we will get there in plenty of time, I think," + +"Why; is there any particular rush?" asked Ned. + +"There's no telling when the Fogers may appear," answered the young +inventor in a low voice. "But now we must get to work to repair +damage." + +The hail storm had ceased, and, with the passing of the clouds the +cave was made lighter. But Tom did not depend on this, for he set up +powerful searchlights, by the gleams of which he and his companions +began the repairing of the torn gas-bag. + +They worked all the remainder of that day, and were at it again +early the next morning, making good progress. + +"We can go forward again, in about two days," spoke Tom. "I want to +give the cement on the patches plenty of chance to dry." + +"Then I will have time to go out and make some observations, will I +not?" asked Mr. Parker. "I think this cave is a very old one, and I +may be able to find some evidences in it that the sea of ice is +slowly working its way down from the polar regions." + +"I hope you don't," whispered Ned to Tom, who shook his head +dubiously as the gloomy scientist left the cave. + +The weather was very cold, but, in the cavern it was hardly noticed. +The adventurers were warmly dressed, and when they did get chilly +from working over the airship, they had but to go into the well- +heated and cozy cabin to warm themselves. + +It was on the third day of their habitation in the cave, and work on +putting the patches on the gas-bag was almost finished. Mr. Parker +had gone out to make further observations, his previous ones not +having satisfied him. Tom was on an improvised platform, putting a +patch on top of the bag, when he heard a sudden yell, and some one +dashed into the cavern. + +"They're coming! They're coming!" cried a voice, and Tom, looking +down, saw Mr. Parker, apparently in a state of great fear. + +"What's coming?" demanded the young inventor, "the icebergs?" + +"No--the Indians!" yelled the scientist. "A whole tribe of them is +rushing this way!" + +"I thought so!" cried Abe Abercrombie. "Where's my gun?" and he +dashed into the airship. + +Tom slid down off the platform. + +"Get ready for a fight!" he gasped. "Where are you, Ned?" + +"Here I am. We'd better get to the mouth of the cave, and drive 'em +back from there." + +"Yes. If I'd only thought, we could have blockaded it in some way. +It's as big as a barn now, and they can rush us if they have a mind +to. But we'll do our best!" + +The adventurers were now all armed, even to Mr. Parker. The +scientist had recovered from his first fright, when he spied the +Indians coming over the snow, as he was "observing" some natural +phenomenon. Tom, even in his excitement, noticed that the professor +was curiously examining his gun, evidently more with a view to +seeing how it was made, and on which principle it was operated, +rather than to discover how to use it. + +"If it comes to a fight, just point it at the Indians, pull the +trigger, and work that lever," explained the young inventor. "It's +an automatic gun." + +"I see," answered Mr. Parker. "Very curious. I had no idea they +worked this way." + +"Oh, if I only had my electric rifle in shape!" sighed Tom, as he +dashed forward at the side of Ned. + +"Your electric rifle?" + +"Yes, I've got a new kind of weapon--very effective. I have it +almost finished. It's in the airship, but I can't use it just yet. +However, maybe these repeaters will do the work." + +By this time they were at the entrance of the cave, and, looking out +they saw about a hundred Indians, dressed in furs, striding across +the snowy plain that stretched out from the foot of the mountain in +which was the cavern. + +"They're certainly comin' on," observed Abe, grimly. "Git ready for +'em, boys!" + +The gold-seekers lined up at the mouth of the cave, with guns in +their hands. At the sight of this small, but formidable force, the +Indians halted. They were armed with guns of ancient make, while +some had spears, and others bows and arrows. A few had grabbed up +stones as weapons. + +There appeared to be a consultation going on among them, and, +presently, one of the number, evidently a chief or a spokesman, gave +his gun to one of his followers, and, holding his hands above his +head, while he waved a rag that might have once been white, came +forward. + +"By Jove!" exclaimed Tom. "It's a flag of truce! He wants to talk +with us I believe!" + +"Bless my cartridges!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Can they speak +English?" + +"A little," answered Abe Abercrombie. "I can talk some of their +lingo, too. Maybe I'd better see what they want." + +"I guess it would be a good plan," suggested Tom, and, accordingly +the old miner stepped forward. The Indian came on, until Abe +motioned for him to halt. + +"I reckon that's as far as it'll be healthy for you t' come," spoke +Abe, grimly. "Now what do you fellers want?" + +Thereupon there ensued a rapid exchange of jargon between the miner +and the Indian. Abe seemed much relieved as the talk went on, until +there came what seemed like a demand on the part of the dark-hued +native. + +"No. you don't! None of that!" muttered Abe. "If you had your way +you'd take everything we have." + +"What is it? What does he want?" asked Tom in a low voice. + +"Why, the beggar began fair enough," replied the miner. "He said one +of their number had been in the cave when a storm came an' saw a big +spirit fly in, with men on its back. He ran away an' now others have +come to see what it was. They don't guess it's an airship, for +they've never seen one. but they know we're white folks, an' they +always want things white folks have got." + +"This fellow is a sort of chief, an' he says the white folks?-- +that's us, you know?--have taken th' Indians' cave. He says he +doesn't want t' have any trouble, an' that we can stay here as long +as we like, but that we must give him an' his followers a lot of +food. Says they hain't got much. Land! Those beggars would eat us +out of everything we had if we'd let 'em!" + +"What are you going to tell them?" inquired Mr. Damon. + +"I'm goin' t' tell 'em t' go t' grass, or words t' that effect," +replied Abe. "They haven't any weapons that amount t' anything, an' +we can stand 'em off. Besides, we'll soon be goin' away from here; +won't we, Tom?" + +"Yes, but--" + +"Oh, there's no use givin' in to 'em," interrupted Abe. "If you give +'em half a loaf, they want two. Th' only way is t' be firm. I'll +tell 'em we can't accommodate 'em." + +Thereupon he began once more to talk to the Indians in their own +tongue. His words were at first received in silence, and then angry +cries came from the natives. The chief made a gesture of protest. + +"Well, if you don't like it, you know what you kin do!" declared +Abe. "We've got th' best part of our journey before us, an' we can't +give away our supplies. Go hunt food if you want it, ye lazy +beggars!" + +The peaceful demeanor of the Indians now turned to rage. The leader +dropped the rag that had served for a flag of truce, and took back +his gun. + +"Look out! There's going to be trouble!" cried Tom. + +"Well, we're ready for 'em!" answered Abe, grimly. + +There was a moment of hesitation among the natives. Then they seemed +to hold a consultation with the chief. It was over shortly. They +broke into a run, and quickly advanced toward the cave. Tom and the +others held their guns in readiness. + +Suddenly the Indians halted. They gazed upward, and pointed to +something in the air above their heads. They gave utterance to cries +of fear. + +"What is it; another storm coming?" asked Tom. + +"Let's look," suggested Ned. He and Tom stepped to the mouth of the +cave--they went outside. There was little danger from the natives +now, as their attention was fixed on something else. + +A moment later Tom and Ned saw what this was. + +Floating in the air, almost over the cave, was a great airship--a +large craft, nearly the size of the RED CLOUD. Hardly able to +believe the evidence of their eyes, Tom and Ned watched it. Whence +had it come? Whither was it going? + +"It's a triplane!" murmured Ned. + +"A triplane!" repeated Tom. "Yes--it is--and it's the airship of +Andy Foger! Our rivals are on our track!" + +He continued to gaze upward as the triplane shot forward, the noise +of the motor being plainly heard. Then, with howls of fear, the +Indians turned and fled. The rival airship had vanquished them. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE RACE + + +Astonished and terrified as the Indians had been at the sight of the +big-winged craft, high in the air above their heads, Tom and the +others were no less surprised, though, of course, their fear was not +exactly the same as that of the Alaskan natives. + +"Do you really think that is Andy Foger?" asked Ned, as they watched +the progress of the triplane. + +"I'm almost sure of it," replied Tom. "That craft is built exactly +as his was. but I never expected him to have such good luck sailing +it." + +"It isn't going very fast," objected Ned. + +"No, but it can navigate pretty well, and that's something. He must +have hustled to get it together and reach this point with it." + +"Yes, but he didn't have to travel as far as we did," went on Ned. +"He put his ship together at Sitka, and we came from Seattle." + +"Bless my memoranda book!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "The Fogers here! +What's to be done about it?" + +"Nothing, I guess," answered Tom. "I'd just as soon they wouldn't +see us. I don't believe they will. Get back into the cave. We must +use strategy now to get ahead of them. There will be a race to the +valley of gold." + +"Well, he served us one good turn, anyhow, though he didn't mean +to," put in Abe Abercrombie. + +"How?" asked Mr. Parker, who was still examining his gun, as though +trying to understand it. + +"He scared away them pesky natives," went on the miner. "Otherwise +we might have had a fight, an' while I reckon we could have beat +'em, it's best not to fight if you kin git out of it." + +The gold-seekers had withdrawn inside the mouth of the cave, where +they could watch the progress of the rival airship without being +seen. The Indians had disappeared beyond a snow-covered hill. + +The airship of Andy Foger, for such it subsequently proved to be, +floated slowly onward. Its progress was not marked with the speed of +Tom's craft, though whether or not the occupants of the ATHONY (as +Andy had vain-gloriously named his craft after himself) were +speeding up their motor, was a matter of conjecture. + +The adventurers held a short consultation, while standing at the +mouth of the cave watching the progress of the ANTHONY. It rose in +the air, and circled about. + +"He certainly IS trying to pick us up," declared Ned. + +"Well, we'll start out after him to-morrow," decided Tom. "I think +all the patches will hold then." + +They resumed work on the RED CLOUD, and that night Tom announced +that they would start in the morning. Meanwhile Andy's craft had +disappeared from sight. There was no further evidence of the +Indians. + +"I don't reckon they'll come back," spoke Abe, grimly. "They think +we are sure-enough spirits, now, able to call creatures out of the +air whenever we want 'em. But still we must be on our guard." + +As Mr. Parker was not of much service in helping on the airship he +agreed to be a sort of guard and took his place just outside the +cave, where he could make "observations," and, at the same time +watch for the reappearance of Indians. They had little fear of an +attack at night, for Abe said the Alaskans were not fond of +darkness. + +The cold seemed to increase, and, even in the sheltered cave the +adventurers felt it. There were several heavy flurries of snow that +afternoon, and winter seemed setting in with a vengeance. The +daylight, too, was not of long duration, for the sun was well south +now, and in the far polar regions it was perpetual night. + +After a brief inspection of the ship the next morning, following a +good night's rest, when they were not disturbed by any visits from +the natives, Tom announced that they would set sail. The day was a +clear one, but very cold, and the gold-seekers were glad of the +shelter of the warm cabin. + +The RED CLOUD was wheeled from the cave, and set on a level place. +There was not room enough to make a flying start, and ascend by +means of the planes and propellers, so the gas-bag method was used. +The generating machine was put in operation, and soon the big red +bag that hovered over the craft began to fill. Tom was glad to see +that none of the several compartments leaked. The bag had been well +repaired. + +Suddenly the RED CLOUD shot up in the air. Up above the towering +snow-covered crags it mounted, and then, with a whizz and a roar, +the propellers were set going. + +"Once more northward bound!" cried Tom, as he took his place in the +pilothouse. + +"And we'll see if we can beat Andy Foger there," added Ned. + +All that morning the RED CLOUD shot ahead at good speed. The craft +had suffered no permanent damage during her fight with the hail +storm, and was as good as ever. They ate dinner high in the air, +while sailing over a great stretch of whiteness, where the snow lay +many feet deep on the level, and where great mountain crags were so +covered with the glistening mantle and a coating of ice as to +resemble the great bergs that float in the polar sea. + +"I wouldn't want to be wrecked here," said Ned, with a shudder, as +he looked down. "We'd never get away. Does any one live down there, +Abe?" + +"Yes, there are scattered tribes of Indians and Alaskan natives. +They live by hunting and fishing, and travel around by means of dog +sledges. But it's a dreary life. Me an' my partner had all we wanted +of it. An airship for mine!" + +"I wonder what's become of Andy?" spoke Tom, that afternoon. "I +haven't sighted him, and I've been using the powerful telescope. I +can't pick him up, though he can't be so very far ahead of us." + +"Let me try," suggested Ned. "Put her up a bit, Tom, where I can +look down. Andy won't dare go very high. Maybe I can sight him." + +The RED CLOUD shot upward as the young inventor shifted the +elevation rudder, and the bank clerk, with the powerful glass to his +eye, swept the space below him. For half an hour he looked in vain. +Then, with a little start of surprise he handed the glass to his +chum. + +"See what you make that out to be," suggested Ned. "It looks like a +big bird, yet I haven't seen any other birds to-day." + +Tom looked. He peered earnestly through the telescope for a minute, +and then cried: + +"It's Andy's airship! He's ahead of us! We must catch him! Ned, you +and Mr. Damon speed up the motor! The race is on!" + +In a few minutes the great airship was hurling herself through +space, and, in less than ten minutes Andy's craft could be made out +plainly with the naked eye. Fifteen minutes more and the RED CLOUD +was almost up to her. Then those aboard the ANTHONY must have caught +sight of their pursuers, for there was a sudden increase in speed on +the part of the unscrupulous Foger crowd, who sought to steal a +march on Tom and his friends. + +"The race is on!" repeated the young inventor grimly, as he pulled +the speed lever over another notch. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE FALL OF THE ANTHONY + + +Had it not been for what was at stake, the race between the two big +airships would have been an inspiring one to those aboard Tom's +craft. As it was they were too anxious to overcome the unfair +advantage taken by Andy to look for any of the finer points in the +contest of the air. + +"There's no denying that he's got a pretty good craft there," +conceded Tom, as he watched the progress of his rival. "I never +thought Andy Foger could have done it." + +"He didn't do very much of it," declared Ned. "He hired the best +part of that made. Andy hasn't any inventive ideas. He probably said +he wanted an airship, and his dad put up the money and hired men to +build it for him. Andy, Sam and Pete only tinkered around on it." + +Later Tom and his chum learned that this was so--that Mr. Foger had +engaged the services of an expert to make the airship. This man had +been taken to Sitka with the Fogers, and had materially aided them +in re-assembling the craft. + +"Do you think he can beat us?" asked Ned, anxiously. + +"No!" exclaimed Tom, confidently. "There's only one craft that can +beat my RED CLOUD and that's my monoplane the BUTTERFLY. But I have +in mind plans for a speedier machine than even the monoplane. +However I haven't any fear that Andy can keep up to us in this +craft. I haven't begun to fly yet, and I'm pretty sure, from the way +his is going, that he has used his limit of speed." + +"Then why don't you get ahead of him?" asked Mr. Damon. "Bless my +tape-measure! the way to win a race is to beat." + +"Not this kind of a race," and the young inventor spoke seriously. +"If I got ahead of Andy now, he'd simply trail along and follow us. +That's his game. He wants me to be the path-finder, for, since I +cast a doubt on the correctness of the map, a copy of which he +stole, he isn't sure where he's going. He'd ask nothing better than +to follow us." + +"Then what are you going to do if you don't get ahead of him?" asked +Ned. + +"I'm going to press him close until night," answered Tom, "and when +it's dark, I'm going to shoot ahead, and, by morning we'll be so far +away that he can't catch up to us." + +"Good idea! That's th' stuff!" cried Abe with enthusiasm. + +"He's a sneak!" burst out Mr. Damon. "I'd like to see him left +behind." + +Tom carried out his plan. The remainder of the day he hung just on +Andy's flank, sometimes shooting high up, almost out of sight, and +again coming down, just to show what the RED CLOUD could do when +pressed. + +As for those aboard the ANTHONY, they seemed to be trying to +increase their speed, but, if that was their object they did not +have much success, for the big, clumsy triplane only labored along. + +"I wonder who he's got with him?" said Ned, as darkness was closing +down. "I can't make out any one by this glass. They stick pretty +closely to the cabin." + +"Oh, probably Andy's father is there," said "and, perhaps, some of +Mr. Foger's acquaintances. I guess Mr. Foger is as anxious to get +this gold as Andy is." + +"He certainly needs money," admitted Ned. "Jove! but I hope we beat +him!" + +But alas for Tom's hopes! His plan of waiting until night and then +putting on such speed as would leave Andy behind could not be +carried out. It was tried, but something went wrong with the main +motor, and only half power could be developed. Tom and Ned labored +over it nearly ail night, to no effect, and through the hours of +darkness they could see the lights from the cabin of the ANTHONY +gleaming just ahead of them. Evidently the bully's airship could not +make enough speed to run away from the RED CLOUD, or else it was the +plan of the Foger crowd to keep in Tom's vicinity. + +The direction held by Andy's craft was a general northwestern one, +and Tom knew, in time, and that very soon, it would bring the +ANTHONY over the valley of gold. Evidently Andy was placing some +faith in his copy of the stolen map. + +"Once I get this motor in shape I'll soon pull away from him," +announced Tom, about four o'clock that morning, while he and Ned, +aided by Mr. Damon, were still laboring over the refractory machine. + +"What are you going to do?" asked Ned. + +"It's too late to carry out my original plan," went on Tom. "We're +getting so near the place now that I want to be there ahead of every +one else. So as soon as we can, I'm going to push the RED CLOUD for +all she's worth, and get to the valley of gold first. If possession +is nine points of the law, I want those nine points." + +"That's the way to talk!" cried Abe. "Once we git on th' ground we +kin hold our own!" + +It was breakfast time before Tom had the motor repaired, and he +decided to have a good meal before starting to speed up his craft. +He felt better after some hot coffee, for he and the others were +weary from their night of labor. + +"Now for the test!" he cried, as he went back to the engine-room. +"Here's where we give Andy the go-by, and I don't think he can catch +us!" + +There was an increasing hum to the powerful motor, the great +propellers whirled around at twice their former number of +revolutions, and the airship suddenly shot ahead. + +Those on the ANTHOMY must have been watching for some such move as +that, for, no sooner had Tom's craft begun to creep up on his rival +than the forward craft also shot ahead. + +But the airship was not built that could compete with Tom's. Like a +racer overhauling a cart-horse, the RED CLOUD whizzed through the +air. In a spirit of fun the young inventor sent his machine within a +few feet of Andy's. He had a double purpose in this, for he wanted +to show the bully that he did not fear him, and he wanted to see if +he could discover who was aboard. + +Tom did catch a glimpse of Andy and his father in the cabin of the +ANTHONY, and he also saw a couple of men working frantically over +the machinery. + +"They're going to try to catch us!" called Tom to Ned. + +This was evident a moment later, for, after the RED CLOUD had forged +ahead, her rival made a clumsy attempt to follow. The ANTHONY did +show a burst of speed, and, for a moment Tom was apprehensive lest +he had underrated his rival's prowess. + +Suddenly Ned, who was looking from a projecting side window of the +pilothouse, back toward Andy's ship, cried out in alarm. + +"What's the matter?" shouted Tom. + +"The airship--Andy's--two of the main wings have collapsed!" + +Tom looked. It was but too true. The strain under which the ANTHONY +had been put when the machinists increased the speed, had been too +much for the frame. Two wings broke, and now hung uselessly down, +one on either side. The ANTHONY shot toward the snow-covered earth! + +"They're falling!" cried Mr. Parker. + +"Yes," added Tom, grimly, "the race is over as far as they are +concerned." + +"Bless my soul! Won't they be killed?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"There's not much danger," replied the young inventor. "They can +vol-plane back to earth. That's what they're doing," he added a +moment later, as he witnessed the maneuver of the crippled craft. +"They're in no danger, but I don't believe they'll get to the valley +of gold this trip!" + +Tom was soon to learn how easily he could be mistaken. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +HITTING THE ICE MOUNTAIN + + +Onward sped the RED CLOUD. For a moment after the accident to Andy's +ship, Tom had slowed up his craft, but he soon went on again, after +he had satisfied himself that his enemies were in no danger. + +"Don't you think--that is to say--I know they can't expect anything +from us," spoke Mr. Damon, "but for humanity's sake, hadn't we +better stop and help them, Tom?" + +"I hardly think so," replied the young inventor. "In the first place +they would hardly thank us for doing so, and, in the second, I don't +believe they need help. They are almost safely down now." + +"I don't just mean that," went on the odd man. "But they may starve +to death. This is a very desolate country over which we are +sailing." + +"They must have a supply of food in their ship," declared Tom, "and +they have brought their plight on themselves." + +"They're in no great danger," put in Abe. + +"There are plenty of natives around here, an' if the Fogers need +food or aid they can git it by payin' for it. Why, for the sake of +th' parts of their damaged airship, th' Eskimos would take th' whole +party back t' Sitka and feed 'em well on th' trip. Oh, they're all +right." + +"Very well, if you say so," assented Mr. Damon. He looked back to +watch the ANTHONY slowly settling to earth. It came gently down, +proving that Tom knew whereof he spoke, when he had said they could +vol-plane down. Before the RED CLOUD was out of sight Tom and his +companions saw Andy and his father leave their wrecked craft and +venture out on the snow-covered ground. The Fogers gazed enviously +after the airship of our hero as they saw him still forging toward +the goal. + +"I guess Andy's stolen map won't be of much use to him," mused Tom. +"Now we can put on all the speed we like, "and with that he shifted +the gears and levers until the airship was making exceedingly good +time toward the valley of gold. + +The remainder of that day saw our adventurers pursuing their way +eagerly. At times they were flying high, and again, when Abe +suggested that they go down to observe the character of the country +over which they were passing, they skimmed along, just above the big +mountains, which seemed almost like icebergs, so covered were they +with frost and snow. + +They were indeed in a wild and desolate country. Below them +stretched a seemingly endless waste of snow and ice--great forests +interspersed with treeless patches, while now and then they sailed +over a frozen lake. + +Once in a while they had glimpses of bands of Indians, dressed in +furs, hunting. At such times the natives would look up, on hearing +the noise made by the motor of the airship, and catching a glimpse +of what must have seemed to them like some supernatural object, they +would fall down prostrate in amazement and fear. + +"Airships are pretty much of a novelty up here," remarked Abe with a +grim smile. + +The weather was new very cold, and the gold-seekers had to get out +their heavy fur garments, of which they had brought along a goodly +supply. True, it was warm in the cabin of the airship, but at times, +they wanted to venture out on the deck to get fresh air, or to make +some adjustments to the wing planes, and, on such occasions the +keen, frosty air, as it was driven past them by the motion of the +craft, made even the thickest garments seem none too warm. Then, +too, it was colder at the elevation at which they flew than down on +the ground. + +Another day found them in a still wilder and more desolate part of +Alaska. There were scarcely any signs of habitation now, and the +snow and ice seemed so thick that even a long summer of sunshine +could hardly have melted it. The hours of daylight, too, were +growing less and less the farther north they went. + +"Do you think you can pilot us right to the Snow Mountains, Abe?" +asked Tom, on the third day after the accident to Andy's airship. +"Let's get out the map, and have another look at it. We must be +getting near the place now. We'll look at the map." + +The young inventor went to his stateroom where he kept the important +document in a small desk, and the others heard him rummaging around. +He muttered impatiently, and Ned heard his chum say: "I thought sure +I put it in here." Then ensued a further search, and presently Tom +came out, his face wearing rather a puzzled and worried look, and he +asked: "Say, Abe, I didn't give that map back to you; did I?" + +"Nope," answered the miner. "I ain't seen it since just before th' +hail storm. We was lookin' at it then." + +"That's when I remember it," went on Tom, "and I thought I put it in +my desk. I didn't, by any possible chance give it to you; did I, +Ned?" + +"Me? No, I haven't seen it." + +"That's funny," went on Tom. "I'll look once more. Maybe it got +under some papers." + +They heard him rummaging again in his desk. + +"Bless my bank-book!" cried Mr. Damon. "I hope nothing has happened +to that map. We can't find the valley of gold without it." + +Tom came back again. + +"I can't find it." he said, hopelessly. + +Then ensued a frantic search. Every possible place in the airship +was looked into, but the precious map did not turn up. + +"Perhaps the Fogers took it," suggested Mr. Parker, who had helped +in the hunt, in a dreamy sort of fashion. + +"That's not possible," said Tom. "They haven't been near enough to +us since I saw the map last. No, the last time I had it was just +before the hail storm, and, in the excitement of repairing the ship, +I have mislaid it." + +"Maybe it's back there in the big cave," suggested Ned. + +"It's possible," admitted the young inventor. "Pshaw! It's very +careless of me!" + +"If you think it's in the cave, we'd better go back there and have a +hunt for it," suggested Mr. Damon. "Otherwise we are on a wild-goose +chase." + +"Don't go back!" exclaimed old Abe. "I think we can find th' valley +of gold without th' map, now that we have come this far. I sort of +remember th' marks on that parchment, an' we are in the right +neighborhood now, for I kin see some of th' landmarks my partner and +I saw. I say, let's keep on! We can cruise around a bit until we +strike th' right place. That won't take us so long as it would to go +back to the cave. Besides, if we go back, the Fogers may get ahead +of us!" + +"With their broken airship?" asked Ned + +"Can't they repair it?" demanded Abe. + +"Hardly--up in this wild country," was Tom's opinion. "But perhaps +it WILL be just as well to keep on. I have a hazy remembrance of the +distances and directions on the map, and, though it will take longer +to hunt out the valley this way, I think we can do it. I can't +forgive myself for my carelessness! I should have kept a copy of the +map, or given one of you folks one." + +But they would not hear of him blaming himself, and said it might +have happened to any one. It was decided that the map must be lost +in the big cave, and if it was there it was not likely to be found +by their enemies. + +"We'll jest have t' prospect about a bit," declared Abe, "only we'll +do it in th' air instead of on th' ground." + +It was dusk when the fruitless search for the map was over, and they +sat in the cabin discussing matters. The lights had not yet been +switched on, and the RED CLOUD was skimming along under the +influence of the automatic rudders and the propellers. + +"Well, suppose we have supper," proposed Mr. Damon, who seemed to +think eating a remedy for many ills, mental and bodily. "Bless my +desert-spoon, but I'm hungry!" + +He started toward the galley, while Tom went forward to the +pilothouse. Hardly had he reached it than there came a terrific +crash, and the airship seemed tossed back by some giant hand. Every +one was thrown off his feet, and the lights which had been turned on +suddenly went out. + +"What's the matter?" cried Ned. + +"Have we hit anything?" demanded Mr. Damon. + +"Hit anything! I should say we had!" yelled Tom. "We've knocked a +piece off a big mountain of ice!" + +As he spoke the airship began slowly settling toward the earth, for +her machinery had been stopped by the terrific impact. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A FIGHT WITH MUSK OXEN + + +"Can I help you, Tom? What's to be done?" demanded Ned Newton, as he +rushed to where his chum was yanking on various levers and gear +wheels. + +"Wait a minute!" gasped the young inventor. "I want to throw on the +storage battery, and that will give us some light. Then we can see +what We are doing." An instant later the whole ship was illuminated, +and those aboard her felt calmer. Still the RED CLOUD continued to +sink. + +"Can't we do something?" yelled Ned. "Start the propellers, Tom!" + +"No, I'll use the gas. I can't see where we're heading for, as the +searchlight is out of business. We may be in the midst of a lot of +bergs. We were flying too low. Just start the gas generating +machine." + +Ned hurried to obey this order. He saw Tom's object. With the big +bag full of gas the airship would settle gently to earth as easily +as though under the command of the propellers and wing planes. + +In a few minutes the hissing of the machine told that the vapor was +being forced into the bag and a little later the downward motion of +the ship was checked. She moved more and more slowly toward the +earth, until, with a little jar, she settled down, and came to rest. +But she was on such an uneven keel that the cabin was tilted at an +unpleasant angle. + +"Bless my salt-cellar!" cried Mr. Damon. "We are almost standing on +our heads!" + +"Better that than not standing at all," replied Tom, grimly. "Now to +see what the damage is." + +He scrambled from the forward door of the cabin, no easy task +considering how it was tilted, and the others followed him. It was +too dark to note just how much damage had been inflicted, but Tom +was relieved to see, as nearly as he could judge, that it was +confined to the forward part of the front platform or deck of the +ship. The wooden planking was split, but the extent of the break +could not be ascertained until daylight. The searchlight connections +had been broken by the collision, and it could not be used. + +"Now to take a look at the machinery," suggested the young inventor, +when he had walked around his craft. "That is what I am worried +about more than about the outside." + +But, to their joy, they found only a small break in the motor. That +was what caused it to stop, and also put the dynamo out of +commission. + +"We can easily fix that," Tom declared. + +"Bless my coffee-spoon!" cried Mr. Damon, who seemed to be running +to table accessories in his blessings. Perhaps it was because it was +so near supper time. "Bless my coffee-spoon! But how did it happen?" + +"We were running too low," declared Tom. "I had forgotten that we +were likely to get among tall mountain peaks at any moment, and I +set the elevation rudder too low. It was my fault. I should have +been on the lookout. We must have struck the mountain of ice a +glancing blow, or the result would have been worse than it is. We'll +come out of it all right, as it is." + +"We can't do anything to-night," observed Ned. + +"Only eat," put in Mr. Damon, "and we'll have to take our coffee +cups half full, for everything is so tilted that it's like topsy- +turvey land. It makes me fairly dizzy!" + +But he forgot this in the work of getting a meal, and, though it was +prepared under considerable difficulties, at last it was ready. + +Bright and early the next morning Tom was up making another +inspection of his ship. He found that even if the forward deck was +not repaired they could go on, as soon as the motor was in shape, +but, as they had some spare wood aboard, it was decided to +temporarily repair the smashed platform. + +It was cold work, even wearing their thick garments; but, after +laboring until their fingers were stiff from the frost, Ned hit on +the idea of building a big fire of some evergreen trees near where +the ship lay. + +"Say, that's all right!" declared Tom, as the warmth of the blaze +made itself felt. "We can work better, now!" + +The RED CLOUD was tilted on some rough and uneven ground, in among +some little hills. On either side arose big peaks, the one in +particular that they had hit towering nearly fifteen thousand feet. + +Everything was covered with snow and ice, and, in fact, the ice was +so thick on the top of the mountains that the crags resembled +icebergs rather than stony peaks. The crash of the airship had +brought down a great section of this solid rock-ice. + +"Do you think we are anywhere near the valley of gold?" asked Mr. +Damon that afternoon, when the work was nearly finished. + +"It's somewhere in this vicinity." declared Abe. "Me an' my partner +passed through jest such a place as this on our way there. I +wouldn't wonder but what it wasn't more than a few hundred miles +away, now." + +"Then we'll soon be there," said Tom. "I'll start in the morning. I +could go to-night, but there are a few adjustments I want to make to +the motor, and, besides, I think it will be safer, now that we are +among these peaks, to navigate in daylight, or at least with the +searchlight going. I should have thought of that before." + +"Then, if you're not going to start away at once," spoke Mr. Parker, +"I think I will walk around a bit, and make some observations. I +think we are now in the region where we may expect a movement of the +ice. I want to test it, and see if it is traveling in a southerly +direction. If it is not now, it will soon be doing that, and the +coating of ice may reach even as far as New York." + +"Pleasant prospect," murmured Tom. Then he said aloud: "Well if you +are going, Mr. Parker, we'll be with you. I'll be glad of the chance +to stretch my legs, and what more remains to be done, can be +finished in the morning." + +Mr. Damon declared that he did not relish a tramp over the ice and +snow, and would stay in the warm cabin, but Tom and Ned, with Abe +and Mr. Parker started off. The scientist pointed out what he +claimed were evidences of the impending movement of the ice, while +Abe explained to the lads how the Alaskan Indians of that +neighborhood hunted and fished, and how they made huts of blocks of +ice. + +"We are nearing th' Arctic circle," the old miner said, "and we'll +soon be among th' most savage of the Eskimo tribes." + +"Is there any hunting around here?" asked Ned. + +"Yes, plenty of musk ox" answered Abe. + +"I wish I'd brought my gun along and could see one of the big beasts +now," went on Ned. He looked anxiously around, but no game was in +sight. After a little farther tramp over the icy expanse they all +declared that they had seen enough of the dreary landscape, and +voted to return to the ship. + +As they neared their craft Tom saw several large, shaggy black +objects standing in a line on the path the adventurers had come over +a little while before. The objects were between the gold-seekers and +the RED CLOUD. + +"What in the world are those?" asked the young inventor. + +"Look to me like black stones," spoke Ned. + +"Stones?" cried Abe. "Look out, boys, those are musk oxen; and big +ones, too! There's a lot of 'em! Make for the ship! If they attack +us we're goners!" + +The boys and Mr. Parker needed no second warning. Turning so as to +rush past the shaggy creatures, the four headed toward the ship. + +But if our friends expected to reach it unmolested they were +disappointed. No sooner had they increased their pace than the oxen, +with snorts of rage, darted forward. The animals may have imagined +they were about to be attacked, and determined to make the first +move. + +"Here they come!" yelled Ned. + +"Sprint for it!" cried Tom. + +"Oh, if I only had my gun!" groaned Abe. + +It was hard work running over the ice and snow, hampered as they +were with their heavy fur garments. They soon realized this, and the +pace was telling on them. They were now near to the ship, but the +savage creatures still were between them and the craft. + +"Try around the other way!" directed Tom, They changed their +direction, but the oxen also shifted their ground, and with loud +bellows of rage came on, shaking their shaggy heads and big horns, +while the hair, hanging down from their sides and flanks, dragged in +the snow. + +"Right at 'em! Run and yell!" advised the young inventor. "Maybe we +can scare 'em!" + +They followed his advice. Yelling like Indians the four rushed +straight for the animals. For a moment only the creatures halted. +Then, bellowing louder than ever they rushed straight at Tom and the +others. + +The largest of the oxen, with a sudden swerve, made for Mr. Parker, +who was slightly in the lead off to one side. In an instant the +scientist was tossed high in the air, falling in a snow bank. + +"Mr. Damon! Mr. Damon!" yelled Tom, frantically. "Get a gun and +shoot these beasts!" + +The young inventor and his two companions had come to a halt. The +oxen also stopped momentarily. Suddenly Mr. Damon appeared on the +deck of the airship. He held two rifles. Laying one down he aimed +the other at the ox which was rushing at the prostrate Mr. Parker. +The eccentric man fired. He hit the beast on the flank, and, with a +bellow of rage it turned. + +"Now's our time!" yelled Tom. "Head for the ship, I'll get my +electric gun!" + +"We can't leave Mr. Parker!" yelled Abe. + +But the scientist had arisen, and was running toward the RED CLOUD. +He did not seem to be much hurt. Mr. Damon fired again, hitting +another beast, but not mortally. + +Once more the herd of shaggy creatures came on, but the adventurers +were now almost at the ship, on the deck of which stood Mr. Damon, +firing as fast as he could work the lever and pull the trigger. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE CAVES OF ICE + + +"Keep on firing! Hold 'em back a few minutes and I'll soon turn my +electric rifle loose on 'em!" yelled Tom Swift as he sprinted +forward. "Keep on shooting, Mr. Damon!" + +"Bless my powder-horn! I will!" cried the excited man. "I'll fire +all the cartridges there are in the rifle!" + +Which, at the rate he was discharging the weapon, would not take a +long time. But it had the effect of momentarily checking the advance +of the creatures. + +Not for long, however. Our friends had barely reached the airship, +with Mr. Parker stumbling and slipping on the ice and snow, ere the +musk oxen came on again, with loud bellows. + +"They're going to charge the ship! They'll ram her!" yelled Ned +Newton. + +"I think I can stop them!" cried Tom, who had leaped toward his +stateroom. He came out a moment later, carrying a peculiar-looking +gun, The adventurers had seen it before, but never in operation, as +Tom had only put some finishing touches on it since undertaking the +voyage to the caves of ice. + +"What sort of a weapon is that?" cried Abe, as he helped Mr. Parker +on board. + +"It's my new electric rifle," answered the young inventor. "I don't +know how it will work, as it isn't entirely finished, but I'm going +to try it." + +Putting it to his shoulder he aimed at the leading musk ox, and +pulled a small lever. There was no report, no puff of smoke and no +fire, yet the big creature, which had been rushing at the ship, +suddenly stopped, swayed for a moment, and then fell over in the +snow, kicking in his death agony. + +"One down!" yelled Tom. "My rifle works all right, even if it isn't +finished!" + +He aimed at another ox, and that creature was stopped in its tracks. +Mr. Damon had exhausted his cartridges, and had ceased firing, but +Abe Abercrombie was ready with his rifle, and opened up on the +beasts. Tom killed another with his electric gun, and Abe shot two. +This stopped the advance, and only just in time, for the foremost +animals were already close to the ship, and had they rushed at the +frail hull they might have damaged it beyond repair. + +"Here goes for the big one!" cried Tom, and, aiming at the largest +ox of the herd, the young inventor pulled the lever. The brute fell +over dead, and the rest, terror stricken, turned and fled. + +"Hurrah! That's the stuff!" cried Ned Newton, capering about on +deck. He had hurried to his stateroom and secured his rifle, and, +before the musk oxen were out of sight he had killed one, which gave +him great delight. + +"Mighty lucky we drove them away," declared Abe. "They are terrible +savage at times, an' I reckon we struck one of them times. But say, +Tom, what sort of a gun is that you got, anyhow?" + +"Oh, it fires electric bullets," explained our hero. "But I haven't +time to tell you about it now. Let's get out and skin one of those +oxen. The fresh meat will come in good, for we've been living on +canned stuff since we left Seattle. We've got time enough before it +gets dark." + +They hurried to where the shaggy creatures lay in the snow, and soon +there was enough fresh meat to last a long time, as it would keep +well in the intense cold. Tom put away his electric gun, briefly +explaining the system of it to his companions. The time was to come, +and that not very far off, when that same electric rifle was to save +his life in a remarkable manner, in the wilds of Africa where he +went to hunt elephants. + +In the cozy cabin that night they sat and talked of the day's +adventures. The airship had been slightly lifted up by means of the +gas bag, and now rested on a level keel, so it was more comfortable +for the gold hunters. + +"I did not complete my observations about the great snow slide," +remarked Professor Parker, "I trust I will have time to go over the +ground again to-morrow." + +"We leave early in the morning," objected Tom. + +"Besides, I don't believe it would be safe to go over that ground +again," put in Mr. Damon. + +"Bless my gunpowder! But when I saw those savage creatures rushing +at you, I thought it was all up with us. Are you hurt, Parker, my +dear fellow? I forgot to ask before." + +"Not hurt in the least," answered the scientist. "My heavy and thick +fur garments saved me from the beasts' horns, and I fell in some +soft snow. I was quite startled for a moment. I thought it might be +the beginning of the snow movement." + +"It was an ox movement," said Ned, in a low voice to Tom. + +Morning saw the travelers again under way, with the Red Cloud now +floating high enough to avoid the lofty peaks. The weather was clear +but very cold, and Tom, who was in the pilot-house, could see a long +distance ahead, and note many towering crags, which, had the airship +been flying low enough, would have interfered with her progress. + +"We'll have to keep the searchlight going all night, to avoid a +collision," he decided. + +"Are we anywhere near the place?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"We're in th' right region," declared the old miner. "I think we're +on th' right track. I recognize a few more landmarks." + +"There wouldn't have been any trouble if I hadn't lost the map." +complained Tom, bitterly. + +"Never mind about that," insisted Abe. "We'll find th' place anyhow. +But look ahead there; is that another hail storm headin' this way, +Tom?" + +The young inventor glanced to where Abe pointed. There was a mist in +the air, and, for a time great apprehension was felt, but, in a few +minutes there was a violent flurry of snow and they all breathed +easier. For, though the flakes were so numerous as to completely +shut off the view, there was no danger to the airship from them. Tom +steered by the compass. + +The storm lasted several hours, and when it was over the adventurers +found themselves several miles nearer their destination--at least +they hoped they were nearer it, for they were going it blind. + +Abe declared they were now in the region of the gold valley. They +cruised about for two days, making vain observations by means of +powerful telescopes, but they saw no signs of any depression which +corresponded with the place whence Abe had seen the gold taken from. +At times they passed over Indian villages, and had glimpses of the +skin-clad inhabitants rushing out to point to the strange sight of +the airship overhead. Tom was beginning to reproach himself again +for his carelessness in losing the map, and it did begin to took as +if they were making a fruitless search. + +Still they all kept up their good spirits, and Mr. Damon concocted +some new dishes from the meat of the musk oxen. It was about a week +after the fight with the savage creatures when, one day, as Ned was +on duty in the pilothouse, he happened to lock down. What he saw +caused him to call to Tom. + +"What's the matter?" demanded the young inventor, as he hurried +forward. + +"Look down there," directed Ned. "It looks as if we were sailing +over a lot of immense beehives of the old-fashioned kind." + +Tom looked. Below were countless, rounded hummocks of snow or ice. +Some were very large--as immense as a great shed in which a +dirigible balloon could be housed--while others were as small as the +ice huts in which the Eskimos live. + +"That's rather strange," remarked Tom. "I wonder--" + +But he did not complete his sentence, for Abe Abercrombie, who had +come to stand beside him, suddenly yelled out: + +"The caves of ice! The caves of ice! Now I know where we are! We're +close to the valley of gold! There are the caves of ice, and just +beyond is th' place we're lookin' for! We've found it at last!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +IN THE GOLD VALLEY + + +The excited cries of the old miner brought Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker +to the pilothouse on the run. + +"Bless my refrigerator!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Are there more of +those savage, shaggy creatures down there?" + +"No, but we are over th' caves of ice," explained Abe. "That means +we are near th' gold." + +"You don't say so!" burst out the scientist. "The caves of ice! Now +I can begin my real observations! I have a theory that the caves are +on top of a strata of ice that is slowly moving down, and will +eventually bury the whole of the North American continent. Let me +once get down there, and I can prove what I say." + +"I'd a good deal rather you wouldn't prove it, if it's going to be +anything like it was on Earthquake Island, or out among the diamond +makers." said Tom Swift. "But we will go down there, to see what +they are like. Perhaps there is a trail from among the ice caves to +the valley of gold." + +"I don't think so," said Abe, shaking his head. + +"I think th' gold valley lies over that high ridge," and he pointed +to one. "That's where me an' my partner was," he went on. "I +recognize th' place now." + +"Well, we'll go down here, anyhow," decided Tom, and he pulled the +lever to let some gas out of the bag, and tilted the deflection +rudder to send the airship toward the odd caves. + +And, curious enough did our friends find them when they had made a +landing and got out to walk about them. It was very cold, for on +every side was solid ice. They walked on ice, which was like a floor +beneath their feet, level save where the ice caves reared +themselves. As for the caverns, they, too, were hollowed out of the +solid ice. It was exactly as though there had once been a level +surface of some liquid. Then by some upheaval of nature, the surface +was blown into bubbles, some large and some small. Then the whole +thing had frozen solid, and the bubbles became hollow caves. In time +part of the sides fell in and made an opening, so that nearly all +the caves were capable of being entered. + +This method of their formation was advanced as a theory by Mr. +Parker, and no one cared to dispute him. The gold-seekers walked +about, gazing on the ice caves with wonder showing on their faces. + +It was almost like being in some fantastic scene from fairyland, the +big ice bubbles representing the houses, the roofs being rounded +like the igloos of the Eskimos. Some had no means of entrance, the +outer surface showing no break. Others had small openings, like a +little doorway, while of still others there remained but a small +part of the original cave, some force of nature having crumbled and +crushed it. + +"Wonderful! Wonderful!" exclaimed Mr. Parker. "It bears out my +theory exactly! Now to see how fast the ice is moving." + +"How are you going to tell?" asked Tom. + +"By taking some mark on this field of ice, and observing a distant +peak. Then I will set up a stake, and by noting their relative +positions, I can tell just how fast the ice field is moving +southward." The scientist hurried into the ship to get a sharpened +stake he had prepared for this purpose. + +"How fast do you think the ice is moving?" asked Ned. + +"Oh, perhaps two or three feet a year." "Two or three feet a year?" +gasped Mr. Damon. "Why, Parker, my dear fellow, at that rate it will +be some time before the ice gets to New York." + +"Oh, yes. I hardly expect it will reach there within two thousand +years, but my theory will be proved, just the same!" + +"Humph!" exclaimed Abe Abercrombie, "I ain't goin' to worry any +more, if it's goin' t' take all that while. I reckoned, to hear him +talk, that it was goin' t' happen next summer." + +"So did I," agreed Tom, but their remarks were lost on Mr. Parker +who was busy making observations. The young inventor and the others +walked about among the ice caves. + +"Some of these caverns would be big enough to house the RED CLOUD in +case of another hail storm," observed Tom. "That one over there +would hold two craft the size of mine," and, in fact, probably three +could have gotten in if the opening had been somewhat enlarged, for +the ice cave to which our hero pointed was an immense one. + +As the adventurers were walking about they were startled by a +terrific crashing sound. They started in alarm, for, off to their +left, the top of one of the ice caverns had crashed inward, the +blocks of frozen water crushing and grinding against one another. + +"It's a good thing we weren't in there," remarked Tom, and he could +not repress a shudder, "There wouldn't have been much left of the +RED CLOUD if she had been inside." + +It was a desolate place, in spite of the wild beauty of it, and +beautiful it was when the sun shone on the ice caves, making them +sparkle as if they were studded with diamonds. But it was cold and +cheerless, and there were no signs that human beings had ever been +there. Mr. Parker had completed the setting of his stake, and picked +out his landmarks, and was gravely making his "observations," and +jotting down some figures in a notebook. + +"How fast is it moving, Parker?" called Mr. Damon. + +"I can't tell yet," was the response. "It will require observations +extending over several days before I will know the rate." + +"Then we might as well go on," suggested Tom. "There is nothing to +be gained from staying here, and I would like to get to the gold +valley. Abe says we are near it." + +"Right over that ridge, I take it to be," replied the miner. "An' we +can't get there any too soon for me. Those Fogers may git their ship +fixed up, an' arrive before we do if we wait much longer." + +"Not much danger, I guess," declared Ned. + +"Well, we'll go up in the air, and see what we can find," decided +Tom, as he turned back toward the ship. + +They found the "ridge" as Abe designated it. to be a great plateau, +over a hundred miles in extent, and they were the better part of +that day crossing it, for they went slowly, so as not to miss the +valley which the miner was positive was close at hand. Mr. Parker +disliked leaving the ice caves, but Abe said there were more in the +valley where they were going, and the scientist could renew his +observations. + +It was getting dusk when Tom, who was peering through a powerful +glass, called out: + +"Well, we're at the end of the plateau, and it seems to dip down +into a valley just beyond here." + +"Then that's the place!" cried Abe, excitedly. "Go slow, Tom." + +Our hero needed no such caution. Carefully he sent the airship +forward. A few minutes later they were passing over a large Eskimo +village, the fur-clad inhabitants of which rushed about wildly +excited at the sight of the airship. + +"There they are! Them's th' beggars!" cried the old miner. "Them's +th' fellows who drove me an' my partner away. But there's th' valley +of gold! I know it now! How t' fill our pockets with nuggets!" + +"Are you sure this is the place?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Sartin sure of it!" declared Abe. "Put her down, Tom! Put her +down!" + +"All right," agreed the young inventor, as he shifted the deflection +rudder. The airship began her descent into the valley. The edge of +the plateau, leading down into the great depression was now black +with the Eskimos and Indians, who were capering about, gesticulating +wildly. + +"It's quite a surprise party to 'em," observed Ned Newton. + +"Yes, I hope they don't spring one on us," added Tom. + +Down and down went the RED CLOUD lower and lower into the valley. + +"There are ice caves there!" cried Mr. Parker, pointing to the +curiously rounded and hollow hummocks. "Lots of them!" + +"And larger than the others!" added Mr. Damon. + +The airship was now moving slowly, for Tom wanted to pick out a good +landing place. He saw a smooth stretch of the ice just ahead of him, +in front of an immense ice cave. + +"I'll make for that," he told Ned. + +A few minutes later the craft had come to rest. Tom shut off the +power and hurried from the pilothouse, donning his fur coat as he +rushed out. A blast of frigid air met him as he opened the outer +door of the cabin. Back on the ridge of the plateau he could see the +fringe of Indians. + +"Well, we're here in the valley," he said, as his friends gathered +about him on the icy ground. + +"An' now for th' gold!" cried Abe, "for it's here that th' nuggets +are--enough for all of us! Come on an' have a hunt for 'em!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE FOGERS ARRIVE + + +In Spite of the fact that he tried to remain calm, Tom Swift felt a +wild exultation as he thought of what lay before him and his +friends. To be in a place where gold could be picked up! where they +might all become fabulously wealthy! where the ground might be seen +covered with the precious yellow metal! this was enough to set the +nerves of any one a-tingle! + +Tom could hardly realize it at first. After many hardships, no +little danger, and after an attempt on the part of their enemies to +defeat them, they had at last reached their goal. Now, as Abe had +said, they could hunt for the gold. + +But if they expected to see the precious yellow nuggets lying about +ready to be picked up like so many kernels of corn, they were +disappointed. A quick look all about showed them only a vast extent +of ice and snow, broken here and there by the big caves of ice. +There were not so many of the latter as at the first place they +stopped, but the caverns were larger. + +"Gold--I don't see any gold," remarked Ned Newton, with a +disappointed air. "Where is it?" + +"Bless my pocketbook, yes! Where is it?" demanded Mr. Damon. + +"Oh, we've got to dig for it," explained Abe. "It's only when +there's been a slight thaw that some of th' pebble nuggets kin be +seen. They're under th' ice, an' we've got t' dig for 'em." + +"Does it ever thaw up here?" asked Mr. Parker. "The ice of the caves +seems thick enough to last forever." + +"It does thaw an' melt some," went on the miner. "But some of th' +caves last all through what they call 'summer' up here, though it's +more like winter. We're above th' Arctic circle now, friends." + +"Maybe we can keep on to the Pole," suggested Ned. + +"Not this trip," spoke Tom, grimly. "We'll try for the gold, first." + +"Yes, an' I'm goin' t' begin diggin' right away!" exclaimed Abe, as +he turned back into the airship, and came out again with a pick and +shovel, a supply of which implements had been brought along. The +others followed his example. and soon the ice chips were flying +about in a shower, while the sun shining on them gave the appearance +of a rainbow. + +"Look at those Indians watching us," remarked Ned to Tom, as he +paused in his chipping of the frozen surface. The young inventor +glanced up toward the distant plateau where a fringe of dark figures +stood. The natives were evidently intently watching the gold- +seekers. + +"Do you think there's any danger from them. Abe?" asked Tom. + +"Not much," was the reply. "They made trouble for me an' my partner, +but I guess th' airship has scared 'em sufficient, so they won't +come snoopin' down here," and Abe fell to at his digging again. + +Mr. Damon was also vigorously wielding a pick, but Mr. Parker like +the true scientist he was, had renewed his observations. Evidently +the gold had no attractions for him, or, if it did, he preferred to +wait until he had finished his calculations. + +Vigorously the adventurers wielded their implements, making the ice +fly, but for an hour or more no gold was discovered. Mr. Damon, +after picking lightly at a certain place, would get discouraged, and +move on to another. So did Ned, and Tom, after going down quite a +way, left off work, and walked over to one of the big ice caves. + +"What's up?" asked Ned, resting from his labors. + +"I was thinking whether it would be safe to put the RED CLOUD in +this ice cave for a shelter," replied Tom. "There may come up a hail +storm at any time, and damage it. The caves would be just the place +for it, only I'm afraid the roof might collapse." + +"It looks strong," said Ned. "Let's ask Mr. Parker his opinion." + +"Good idea," agreed Tom. + +The scientist was soon taking measurements of the thickness of the +cave roof, noting its formation, and looking at the frozen floor. + +"I see no reason why this cave should collapse," he finally +announced. "The only danger is the movement of the whole valley of +ice, and that is too gradual to cause any immediate harm. Yes, I +think the airship could be housed in the ice cave." + +"Then I'll run her in, and she'll be safer," decided Tom. "I guess +we three can do it, Ned, and leave Mr. Damon and Abe to keep on +digging for gold." The airship was so buoyant that it could easily +be moved about on the bicycle wheels on which it rested, and soon, +after the lower edge of the opening into the ice cave had been +smoothed down, the RED CLOUD was placed in the novel shelter. + +"Now to continue the search for the yellow nuggets!" cried Ned, and +Tom went with him, even Mr. Parker condescending to take a pick, +now. Abe was the only one who dug steadily in one place. The others +tried spot after spot. + +"You've got t' stick t' one lead until you find somethin', or until +it peters out," explained the miner. "You must git down to th' dirt +before you'll find any gold, though you may strike a few grains that +have worked up into th' ice." + +After this advice they all kept to one hole until they had worked +down through the ice to the dirt surface below. But even then, Abe, +who was the first to achieve this, found no gold, and the old miner +went to another location. + +All the rest of that day they dug, but with no result. Not even a +few grains of yellow dust rewarded their efforts. + +"Are you sure this is the right place?" asked Mr. Damon, somewhat +fretfully, of Abe. as they ate supper that night in the airship, +sheltered as it was in the ice cave. + +"I'm positive of it," was the reply. "There's gold here, but it will +take some prospectin' t' find it. Maybe th' deposits have been +shifted by th' ice movement, as Mr. Parker says. But it's here, an' +we'll git it. We'll try ag'in t'-morrow." + +They did try, but with small success. Laboring all day in the cold +the only result was a few little yellow pebbles that Tom found +imbedded in the ice. But they were gold, and the finding of them +gave the seekers hope as they wearily began their task the following +day. The weather seemed even colder, and there was the indication of +a big storm. + +They were scattered in different places on the ice, not far away +from the big cave, each one picking away vigorously. Suddenly Abe, +who had laboriously worked his way down to the dirt, gave an +exultant yell. + +"I've struck it! Struck it rich!" he shouted, leaping about as he +threw down his pick, "Look here, everybody!" He stooped down over +the hole. They all ran to his side, and saw him lifting from a +little pocket in the dirt, several large, yellow pebbles. + +"Gold! Gold!" cried Abe. "We've struck it at last!" + +For a moment no one spoke, though there was a wild beating of their +hearts. Then, off toward the farther end of the valley there sounded +a curious noise. It was a shouting and yelling, mingled with the +snapping of whips and the howls and barkings of dogs. + +"Bless my handkerchief!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's that?" + +They all saw a moment later. Approaching over the frozen snow were +several Eskimo sledges, drawn by dog teams, and the native drivers +were shouting and cracking their whips of walrus hide. + +"The natives are coming to attack us!" cried Ned. + +Tom said nothing. He was steadily observing the approaching sleds. +They came on rapidly. Abe was holding the golden nuggets in his +gloved hands. + +"Get the guns! Where's your electric rifle, Tom?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"I don't believe we'll need the guns--just yet," answered the young +inventor, slowly. + +"Bless my cartridge-belt! Why not?" demanded the eccentric man. + +"Because those are the Fogers," replied Tom. "They have followed us- +-Andy and his father! Andy Foger here!" gasped Ned. + +Tom nodded grimly. A few minutes later the sleds had come to a halt +not far from our friends, and Andy, followed by his father, leaped +off his conveyance. The two were clad in heavy fur garments. + +"Ha, Tom Swift! You didn't get here much ahead of us!" exulted the +bully. "I told you I'd get even with you! Come on, now, dad, we'll +get right to work digging for gold!" + +Tom and his companions did not know what to say. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +JUMPING THE CLAIM + + +There was a sneering look on Andy's face, and Mr. Foger, too, seemed +delighted at having reached the valley of gold almost as soon as had +our friends. Tom and the others looked at the means by which the +bully had arrived. There were four sleds, each one drawn by seven +dogs, and in charge of a dark-skinned native. On the two foremost +sleds Andy and his father had ridden, while the other two evidently +contained their supplies. + +For a moment Andy surveyed Tom's party and then, turning to one of +the native drivers, he said: + +"We'll camp here. You fellows get to work and make an ice house, and +some of you cook a meal--I'm hungry." + +"No need build ice house," replied the native, who spoke English +brokenly. + +"Why not?" demanded Andy. + +"Live in ice cave-plenty much ob'em--plenty much room," went on the +Eskimo, indicating several of the large caverns. + +"Ha! That's a good idea," agreed Mr. Foger, "Andy, my son, we have +houses already made for us, and very comfortable they seem, too. +We'll take up our quarters in one, and then hunt for the gold." + +Mr. Foger seemed to ignore Tom and his friends. Abe Abercrombie +strode forward. + +"Look here, you Fogers!" he exclaimed without ceremony, "was you +calculatin' on stakin' any claims here?" + +"If you mean are we going to dig for gold, we certainly are," +replied Andy insolently, "and you can't stop us." + +"I don't know about that," went on Abe, grimly. "I ain't goin' t' +say nothin' now, about th' way you stole th' map from me, an' made a +copy, but I am goin t' say this, an' that is it won't be healthy fer +any of you t' git in my way, or t' try t' dig on our claims!" + +"We'll dig where we please!" cried Andy. "You don't own this +valley!" + +"We own as much of it as we care to stake out, by right of prior +discovery!" declared Tom, firmly. + +"And I say we'll dig where we please!" insisted Andy. "Hand me a +pick," he went on to another of the natives. + +"Wait jest a minute," spoke Abe calmly, as he put his little store +of nuggets in the pocket of his fur coat, and drew out a big +revolver. "It ain't healthy t' talk that way, Andy Foger, an' th' +sooner you find that out th' better. You ain't in Shopton now, an' +th' only law here is what we make for ourselves. Tom, maybe you'd +better get out th' rifles, an' your electric gun, after all. It +seems like we might have trouble," and Abe cooly looked to see if +his weapon was loaded. + +"Oh, of course we didn't mean to usurp any of your rights, my dear +friend!" exclaimed Mr, Foger quickly, and he seemed nervous at the +sight of the big revolver, while Andy hastily moved until he was +behind the biggest of the sledge drivers. "We don't want to violate +any of your rights," went on Mr. Foger. "But this valley is large, +and do I understand that you claim all of it?" + +"We could if we wanted to," declared Abe stoutly; "but we'll be +content with three-quarter of it, seein' we was here fust. If you +folks want t' dig fer gold, go over there," and he pointed to a spot +some distance away. + +"We'll dig where we please!" cried Andy. + +"Oh, will you?" and there was an angry light in Abe's eyes. "I +guess, Tom, you'd better git--" + +"No! No! My son is wrong--he is too hasty," interposed Mr. Foger. +"We will go away--certainly we will. The valley is large enough for +both of us--just as you say. Come, Andy!" + +The bully seemed about to refuse, but a look at Abe's angry face and +a sight of Mr. Damon coming from the cave where the airship was, +with a rifle, for the eccentric man had hastened to get his weapon-- +this sight calmed Andy down. Without further words he and his father +got back on their sleds, and were soon being driven off to where a +large ice cave loomed up, about a mile away. + +"Good riddance," muttered the miner, "now we kin go on diggin' +wthout bein' bothered by that little scamp." + +"I don't know about that," spoke Tom, shaking his head dubiously. +"There's always trouble when Andy Foger's within a mile. I'm afraid +we haven't seen the last of him." + +"He'd better not come around here ag'in," declared Abe. "Queer, how +he should turn up, jest when I made a big strike." + +"They must have come on all the way from where their airship was +wrecked, by means of dog sleds," observed Ned, and the others agreed +with him. Later they learned that this was so; that after the +accident to the ANTHONY, the crew had refused to proceed farther +north, and had gone back. But Mr. Foger had hired the natives with +the dog teams, and, by means of the copy of the map and with what +knowledge his Eskimos had, had reached the valley of gold. + +"We have certainly struck it rich," went on Abe, as he went back to +where he had dug the hole. "Now we'd better all begin prospectin' +here, for it looks like a big deposit. We'll stake out a large +enough claim to take it all in. I guess Mr. Parker can do that, +seein' as how he knows about such things." + +The scientist agreed to do this part of the work, it being +understood that all the gold discovered would be shared equally +after the expenses of the trip had been paid. + +Feverishly Abe and the others began to dig. They did not come upon +such a rich deposit as the miner had found, but there were enough +nuggets picked up to prove that the expedition would be very +successful. + +No more attention was paid to the Fogers, but through the telescope +Tom could see that the bully and his father had made a camp in one +of the ice caves, and that both were eagerly digging in the frozen +surface of the valley. + +Before night several thousand dollars' worth of gold had been taken +out by our friends. It was stored in the airship, and then, after +suppers the craft's searchlight was taken off, and placed in such a +position in front of the cave of ice so that the beams would +illuminate the claim staked out by Tom and the others. + +"We'll stand watch an' watch," suggested Abe, "but I don't think +them Fogers will come around here ag'in." + +They did not, and the night passed peacefully. The next day our +friends were again at work digging for gold. So were the Fogers, as +could be observed through the glass, but it was impossible to see +whether they got any nuggets. + +The gold seemed to be in "pockets," and that day the ones in the +vicinity of the strike first made by Abe were cleaned out. + +"We'll have to locate some new 'pockets,'" said the miner, and the +adventurers scattered over the frozen plain to look for other +deposits of the precious metal. + +Tom and Ned were digging together not far from one another. Suddenly +Ned let out a joyful cry. + +"Strike anything?" asked Tom. + +"Something rich," answered the bank clerk. He lifted from a hole in +the ground a handful of the golden pebbles. + +"It's as good as Abe's was!" exclaimed Tom. "We must stake it out at +once, or the Fogers may jump it. Come on, we'll go back and tell +Abe, and get Mr. Parker and Mr. Damon over here." + +The three men were some distance away, and there was no sign of the +Fogers. Tom and Ned hurried back to where their friends were, +leaving their picks and shovels on the frozen ground. + +The good news was soon told, and, with some stakes hastily made from +some extra wood carried on the airship, the little party hastened +back to where Tom and Ned had made their strike. + +As they emerged from behind a big hummock of ice they saw, standing +over the holes which the lads had dug, Andy Foger and his father! +Each one had a rifle, and there was a smile of triumph on Andy's +face! + +"What are you doing here?" cried Tom, the hot blood mounting to his +cheeks. + +"We've just staked out a claim here," answered the bully. + +"And you deserted it," put in Mr. Foger smoothly. "I think your +mining friend will tell you that we have a right to take up an +abandoned claim." + +"But we didn't abandon it!" declared Tom. "We only went away to get +the stakes." + +"The claim was abandoned, and we have 'jumped' it," went on Mr. +Foger, and he cocked his rifle. "I need hardly tell you that +possession is nine points of the law, and that we intend to remain. +Andy, is your gun loaded?" + +"Yes, pa." + +"I--I guess they've got us--fer th' time bein'," murmured Abe, as he +motioned to Tom and the others to come away. "Besides they've got +guns, an' we haven't--but wait," added the miner, mysteriously. "I +haven't played all my tricks yet." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +ATTACKED BY NATIVES + + +To state that Tom and his friends were angry at the trick the Fogers +had played on them would be putting it mildly. There was righteous +indignation in their hearts, and, as for the young inventor he felt +that much blame was attached to him for his neglect in not remaining +on guard at the place of the lucky strike while Ned went to call the +others. + +"I guess Andy must have been spying on us," spoke Ned, "or he would +never have known when to rush up just as he did; as soon as we +left." + +"Probably," admitted Tom, bitterly. + +"But, bless my penholder!" cried Mr. Damon. "Can't we do something, +Abe? Won't the law--?" + +"There ain't any law out here, except what you make yourself," said +the miner. "I guess they've got us for th' time bein'." + +"What do you mean by that?" asked Tom, detecting a gleam of hope in +Abe's tone. + +"Well, I mean that I think we kin git ahead of 'em. Come on back to +th' ship, an' we'll talk it over." + +They walked away, leaving Andy and his father in possession of the +rich deposits of gold, and that it was much richer even then than +the hole Abe had first discovered was very evident. The two Fogers +were soon at work, digging out the yellow metal with the pick and +shovels Tom and Ned had so thoughtlessly dropped. + +"What little law there is out here they've got on their side," went +on Abe, "an' they've got possession, too, which is more. Of course +we could go at 'em in a pitched battle, but I take it you don't want +any bloodshed?" and he looked at Tom. + +"Of course not," replied the lad quickly, "but I'd like to meet Andy +alone, with nothing but my fists for a little while," and Tom's eyes +snapped. + +"So would I," added Ned. + +"Perhaps we can find another pocket of gold better than that one," +suggested Mr. Damon. + +"We might," admitted Abe, "but that one was ours an' we're entitled +to it. This valley is rich in gold deposits, but you can't allers +put your hand on 'em. We may have t' hunt around for a week until we +strike another. An', meanwhile, them Fogers will be takin' our gold! +It's not to be borne! I'll find some way of drivin' 'em out. An' +we've got t' do it soon, too." + +"You mean if we don't that they'll get all the gold?" asked Mr. +Damon. + +"No, I mean that soon it will be th' long night up here, an' we +can't work. We'll have t' go back, an' I don't want t' go back until +I've made my pile." + +"Neither do any of us, I guess," spoke Tom, "but there doesn't seem +to be any help for it." + +They discussed several plans on reaching the ship, but none seemed +feasible without resorting to force, and this they did not want to +do, as they feared there might be bloodshed. When night closed in +they could see the gleam of a campfire, kindled by the Foger party, +at the gold-pocket, from bits of the scrubby trees that grew in that +frigid clime. + +"They're going to stay on guard," announced Tom. "We can't get it +away from them to-night." + +Though Abe had spoken of some plan to regain the advantage the +Fogers had of them, the old miner was not quite ready to propose it. +All the next day he seemed very thoughtful, while going about with +the others, seeking new deposits of gold. Luck did not seem to be +with them. They found two or three places where there were traces of +the yellow pebbles, but in no very great quantity. + +Meanwhile the Fogers were busy at the pocket Ned had located. They +seemed to be taking out much of the precious metal. + +"And it all ought to be ours," declared Tom, bitterly. + +"Yes, and it shall be, too!" suddenly exclaimed. Abe. "I think I +have a plan that will beat 'em." + +"What is it?" asked Tom. + +"Let's get back to the ship, and I'll tell you," said Abe. "We can't +tell when one of their natives might be sneakin' in among these ice +caves, an' they understand some English. They might give my scheme +away." + +In brief Abe's plan, as he unfolded it in the cabin of the RED CLOUD +was this: + +They would divide into two parties, one consisting of Ned and Tom, +and the other of the three men. The latter, by a circuitous route, +would go to the ice caves where the Fogers had established their +camp. It was there that the Indians remained during the day, while +Andy and his father labored at the gold pocket, for, after the first +day when they had had the natives aid them, father and son had +worked alone at the hole, probably fearing to trust the Indians. At +night, though either Andy or his father remained on guard, with one +or two of the dusky-skinned dog drivers. + +"But we'll work this trick before night," said Abe. "We three men +will get around to where the natives are in the ice cave. We'll +pretend to attack them, and raise a great row, firing our guns in +the air, and all that sort of thing, an' yellin' t' beat th' band. +Th' natives will yell, too, you can depend on that." + +"Th' Fogers will imagine we are tryin' t' git away with their sleds +an' supplies, an' maybe their gold, if they've got it stored in th' +ice cave. Naturally Andy or his father will run here, an' that will +leave only one on guard at th' mine. Then Tom an' Ned can sneak up. +Th' two of 'em will be a match for even th' old Foger, if he happens +t' stay, an' while Tom or Ned comes up in front, t' hold his +attention, th' other can come up in back, an' grab his arms, if he +tries t' shoot. Likely Andy will remain at th' gold hole, an' you +two lads kin handle him, can't you?" + +"Well, I guess!" exclaimed Tom and Ned together. + +The plan worked like a charm. Abe, Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker raised a +great din at the ice cave where the Foger natives were. The sound +carried to the hole where Andy and his father were digging out the +gold. Mr. Foger at once ran toward the cave, while Andy, catching up +his gun, remained on the alert. + +Then came the chance of Tom and Ned. The latter coming from his +hiding-place, advanced boldly toward the bully, while Tom, making a +detour, worked his way up behind. + +"Here! You keep away!" cried Andy, catching sight of Ned. "I see +what the game is, now! It's a trick!" + +"You're a nice one to talk about tricks!" declared Ned, advancing +slowly. + +"Keep away if you don't want to get hurt!" yelled Andy. + +"Oh, you wouldn't hurt me; would you?" mocked Ned, who wanted to +give Tom time to sneak up behind the bully. + +"Yes, I would! Keep back!" Andy was nervously fingering his weapon. +The next instant his gun flew from his grasp, and he went over +backward in Tom's strong grip; for the young inventor, in his +sealskin shoes had worked up in the rear without a sound. The next +moment Andy broke away and was running for his life, leaving Tom and +Ned in possession of the gold hole, and that without a shot being +fired. A little later the three men, who had hurried away from the +cave as Mr. Foger rushed up to see what caused the racket, joined +Tom and Ned, and formal possession was taken of their lucky strike. + +"We'll guard it well, now," decided Tom, and later that day they +moved some supplies near the hole, and for a shelter built an igloo, +Eskimo fashion, in which work Abe had had some experience. Then they +moved the airship to another ice cave, nearer their "mine" as they +called it, and prepared to stand guard. + +But there seemed to be no need, for the following day there was no +trace of the Fogers. They and their natives had disappeared. + +"I guess we were too much for them," spoke Tom. But the sequel was +soon to prove differently. + +It was three days after our friends had regained their mine, during +which time they had dug out considerable gold, that toward evening, +as Tom was taking the last of the output of yellow pebbles into the +cave where the airship was, he looked across the valley. + +"Looks like something coming this way," observed the young inventor. +"Natives, I guess." + +"It is," agreed Ned, "quite a large party, too!" + +"Better tell Abe and the others," went on Tom. "I don't like the +looks of this. Maybe the sudden disappearance of the Fogers has +something to do with it." + +Abe, Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker hurried from the ice cave. They had +caught up their guns as they ran out. + +"They're still coming on," called Tom, "and are headed this way." + +"They're Indians, all right!" exclaimed Abe. "Hark! What's that?" + +It was the sound of shouting and singing. + +Through the gathering dusk the party advanced. Our friends closely +scanned them. There was something familiar about the two leading +figures, and it could now be seen that in the rear were a number of +dog sleds. + +"There's Andy Foger and his father!" cried Ned. "They've gone and +got a lot of Eskimos to help them drive us away." + +"That's right!" admitted Tom. "I guess we're in for it now!" + +With a rush the natives, led by the Fogers, came on. They were +yelling now. An instant later they began firing their guns. + +"It's a fierce attack!" cried Tom. "Into the ice cave for shelter! +We can cover the gold mine from there. I'll get my electric gun!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE WRECK OF THE AIRSHIP + + +Almost before our friends could retreat into the cave which now +sheltered the RED CLOUD, the attacking natives opened fire. +Fortunately they only had old-fashioned, muzzle-loading muskets, +and, as their aim was none of the best, there was comparatively +little danger. The bullets, however, did sing through the fast- +gathering darkness with a vicious sound, and struck the heavy sides +and sloping front of the ice cave with a disconcerting "ping!" + +"I don't hear Andy or his father firing!" called Tom, as he and the +others returned the fire of the savage Indians. "I could tell their +guns by the sharper reports. The Fogers carry repeating rifles, and +they're fine ones, if they're anything like the one we took from +Andy, Ned." + +"That's right," agreed Tom's chum, "I don't believe Andy or his +father dare fire. They're afraid to, and they're putting the poor +ignorant natives up to it. Probably they hired them to try to drive +us away." + +This, as they afterward learned, was exactly the case. + +The battle, if such it could be called, was kept up. There was about +a hundred natives, all of whom had guns, and, though they were slow +to load, there were enough weapons to keep up a constant fusilade. +On their part, Tom and the others fired at first over the heads of +the natives, for they did not want to kill any of the deluded men. +Later, though, when they saw the rush keeping up, they fired at +their legs, and disabled several of the Eskimos, the electric gun +proving very effective. + +It was now quite dark, and the firing slackened. From their position +in the cave, Tom and the others could command the hole where the +gold was, and, as they saw several natives sneaking up to it the +young inventor and Ned, both of whom were good shots, aimed to have +the bullets strike the ice close to where the Indians were. + +This sort of shooting was enough, and the natives scurried away. +Then Tom hit on the plan of playing the searchlight on the spot, and +this effectually prevented an unseen attack. It seemed to discourage +the enemy, too for they did not venture into that powerful glow of +light. + +"They won't do anything more until morning," declared Abe. "Then +we'll have it hot an' heavy, though, I'm afeered. Well, we'll have +t' make th' best of it!" + +They took turns standing guard that night, but no attack was made. +The fact of the Fogers coming back with the band of Indians told +Tom, more plainly than words, how desperately his enemies would do +battle with them. Anxiously they waited for the morning. + +Several times in the night Mr. Parker was seen roaming about +uneasily, though it was not his turn to be on guard. Finally Tom +asked him what was the matter, and if he could not sleep. + +"It isn't that," answered the scientist, "but I am worried about the +ice. I can detect a slight but peculiar movement by means of some of +my scientific instruments. I am alarmed about it. I fear something +is going to happen." + +But Tom was too worried about the outcome of the fight he knew would +be renewed on the next day, to think much about the ice movement. He +thought it would only be some scientific phenomena that would amount +to little. + +With the first streak of the late dawn, the gold-seekers were up, +and partook of a hot breakfast, with strong coffee which Mr. Damon +brewed. Tom took an observation from the mouth of the cave. The +searchlight was still dimly glowing, and it did not disclose +anything. Tom turned it off. He thought he saw a movement among the +ranks of the enemy, who had camped just beyond the gold hole. + +"I guess they're coming!" cried the lad. "Get ready for them!" + +The adventurers caught up their guns, and hurried to the entrance of +the cave. Mr. Parker lingered behind, and was observed to be +narrowly scanning the walls of the cavern. + +"Come on, Parker, my dear man!" begged Mr. Damon. "We are in grave +danger, and we need your help. Bless my life insurance policy! but I +never was in such a state as this." + +"We may soon be in a worse one," was the answer of the gloomy +scientist. + +"What do you mean?" asked Mr. Damon, but he hurried on without +waiting for a reply. + +Suddenly, from without the cave came a series of fierce yells. It +was the battle-cry of the Indians. At the same moment there sounded +a fusillade of guns. + +"The battle is beginning!" cried Tom Swift, grimly. He held his +electric gun, though he had not used it very much in the previous +attack, preferring to save it for a time of more need. + +As the defenders of the cave reached the entrance they saw the body +of natives rushing forward. They were almost at the gold hole, with +Andy Foger and his father discreetly behind the first row of +Eskimos, when, with a suddenness that was startling, there sounded +throughout the whole valley a weird sound! + +It was like the wailing of some giant--the sighing of some mighty +wind. At the same time the air suddenly became dark, and then there +came a violent snow squall, shutting out instantly the sight of the +advancing natives. Tom and the others could not see five feet beyond +the cave. + +"This will delay the attack," murmured Ned, "They can't see to come +at us." + +Mr. Parker came running up from the interior of the cave. On his +face there was a look of alarm. + +"We must leave here at once!" he cried. + +"Leave here?" repeated Tom. "Why must we? The enemy are out there! +We'd run right into them!" + +"It must be done!" insisted the scientist. "We must leave the cave +at once!" + +"What for?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"Because the movement of the ice that I predicted, has begun. It is +much more rapid than I supposed it would be. In a short time this +cave and all the others will be crushed flat!" + +"Crushed flat!" gasped Tom. + +"Yes, the caves of ice are being destroyed! Hark! You can hear them +snapping!" + +They all listened. Above the roar of the storm could be made out the +noise of crushing, grinding ice-sounds like cannon being fired, as +the great masses of frozen crystal snapped like frail planks. + +"The ice caves are being destroyed by an upheaval of nature!" went +on Mr. Parker. "This one will soon go! The walls are bulging now! We +must get out!" + +"But the natives! They will kill us!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my +soul! what a trying position to be in." + +"I guess the natives are as bad off as we are," suggested Ned. +"They're not firing, and I can hear cries of alarm, I think they're +running away." + +There was a lull in the snow flurry, and the white curtain seemed to +lift for a moment. The gold-seekers had a glimpse of the natives in +full retreat, with the Fogers--father and son--racing panic-stricken +after them. Tom could also see a big cave, just beyond the gold +hole, collapse and crumble to pieces like a house of cards. + +"We have no time to lose!" Mr. Parker warned them. "The roof of this +cave is slowly coming down. The sides are collapsing! We must get +out!" + +"Then wheel out the airship!" cried Tom. "We must save that! We +needn't fear the natives, now!" + +The young inventor hurried to the RED CLOUD calling to Ned and the +others. They hastened to his side. It was an easy matter to move the +airship along on the wheels. It neared the opening of the cave. The +rumbling, roaring, grinding sound of the ice increased. + +"Why--why!" cried Tom in surprise and alarm, as the craft neared the +mouth of the ice cavern, "we can't get it out--the opening is too +small! Yet it came in easily enough!" + +"The cave is collapsing--growing smaller every moment!" cried Mr. +Parker. "We have only time to save our lives! Run out!" + +"And leave the airship? Never!" yelled Tom. + +"You must! You can't save that and your life!" + +"Get axes and make the opening bigger!" suggested Ned, who, like his +chum, could not bear to think of the destruction of the beautiful +craft. + +"No time! No time!" shouted Mr. Parker, frantically, "We must get +out! Save what you can from the ship--the gold--some supplies--the +guns--some food--save what you can!" + +Then ensued a wild effort to get from the doomed craft what they +could--what they would need if they were to save their lives in that +cold and desolate country. Food, some blankets--their guns--as much +of the gold as they could hastily gather together--their weapons and +some ammunition--all this was carried from the cabin outside the +cave. The entrance was rapidly growing smaller. The roof was already +pressing down on the gas-bag. + +Tom gave one last look at his fine craft. There were tears in his +eyes. He started into the cabin for something he had forgotten. Mr. +Parker grabbed him by the arm. + +"Don't go in!" he cried hoarsely. "The cave will collapse in another +instant!" He rushed with Tom out of the cavern, and not a moment too +soon. The others were already outside. + +Then with a rush and a roar, with a sound like a great explosion, +with a rending, grinding and booming as the great pieces of ice +collapsed one against the other, the big ice cave settled in, as +does some great building when the walls are weakened! + +Down crashed the roof of the ice cave! Down upon the RED CLOUD, +burying out of sight, forever, under thousands of tons of ice and +snow, the craft which was the pride of Tom Swift's heart! It was the +end of the airship! + +Tom felt a moisture of tears in his eyes as he stood there in the +midst of the snowstorm. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE RESCUE--CONCLUSION + + +For a few moments after the collapse of the cave, and the +destruction of the airship, on which they depended to take them from +that desolate land, no one spoke. The calamity had been too +terrible--they could hardly understand it. + +The snow had ceased, and, over the frozen plain, in full retreat, +could be seen the band of attacking Indians. They had fled in terror +at the manifestation of Nature. And Nature, as if satisfied at the +mischief she had wrought, called a halt to the movement of the ice. +The roaring, grinding sounds ceased, and there were no more +collapses of caves in that neighborhood. + +"Well, we are up against it," spoke Tom, softly. "Poor old RED +CLOUD! There'll never be another airship like you!" + +"We are lucky to have escaped with our lives," said Mr. Parker. +"Another moment and it would have been too late. I was expecting +something like this--I predicted it." + +But his honor was an empty one--no one cared to dispute it with him. + +"Bless my refrigerator! What's to be done!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. + +"Start from here as soon as possible," decided Abe. + +"Why, do you think the natives will come back?" asked Ned. + +"No, but we have only a small supply of food, my lad, an' it's hard +to git up here. We must hit th' trail fer civilization as soon as we +kin!" + +"Go back--how; without the airship?" asked Tom, blankly. + +"Walk!" exclaimed the miner, grimly. "It's th' only way!" + +They realized that. There was no hope of digging through that mass +of fantastically piled ice to reach the airship, and, even if they +could have done so, it would have been crushed beyond all hope of +repair. Nor could they dig down for more food, though what they had +hastily saved was little enough. + +"Well, if we've got to go, we'd better start," suggested Tom, sadly. +"Poor old RED CLOUD!" + +"Maybe we can get a little more gold," suggested Ned. + +They walked over to the hole whence they had taken the yellow +nuggets. The "pocket" was not to be seen. It was buried out of sight +under tons of ice. + +"We'll get no more gold here," decided Abe, "lf we get safely out of +th' valley, and t' the nearest white settlement, we'll be lucky." + +"Bless my soul! Is it as bad as that!" cried Mr. Damon. + +Abe nodded without speaking. There was nothing else to do. Sadly and +silently they made up into packs the things they had saved, and +started southward, guided by a small compass the miner had with him. + +It was a melancholy party. Fortunately the weather had turned a +little warmer or they might have been frozen to death. They tramped +all that day, shaping their course to take them out of the valley on +a side well away from where the hostile natives lived. At night they +made rude shelters of snow and blocks of ice and ate cold victuals. +The second day it grew colder, and they were slightly affected by +snow-blindness, for they had lost their dark glasses in the cave. + +Even the gold seemed too great a burden to carry, and they found +they had more of it than at first they supposed. On the third day +they were ready to give up, but Abe bravely urged them on. Toward +the close of the fourth day, even the old miner was in despair, for +the food they could carry was not such as to give strength and +warmth, and they saw no game to shoot. + +They were just getting ready to go into a cheerless camp for the +night, when Tom, who was a little in advance, looked ahead. + +"Ned, do I see something or is it only a vision?" he asked. + +"What does it look like?" asked his chum. + +"Like Eskimos on sleds." + +"That's what it is," agreed Ned, after an observation. "Maybe it's +the Fogers, or some of the savage Indians." + +They halted in alarm, and got out their guns. The little party of +natives kept coming on toward them. + +Suddenly Abe uttered a cry, but it was one of joy and not fear. + +"Hurrah!" he yelled, "It's all right--they're friendly natives! +They're of the same tribe that helped me an' my partner! It's all +right, boys, we're rescued now!" + +And so it proved. A few minutes later the gold-seekers were on the +sleds of the friendly Eskimos, some of whom remembered Abe, and the +weary and hungry adventures were being rushed toward the native +village as fast as the dogs could run. It was a hunting party that +had come upon our friends just in time. + +Little more remains to be told. Well cared for by the kind Eskimos, +Tom and his friends soon recovered their spirits and strength. They +arranged for dog teams to take them to Sitka, and paid their friends +well for the service, not only in gold, but by presenting what was +of more value, the guns they no longer needed. Tom, however, +retained his electric rifle. + +Three weeks after that they were on a steamer bound for +civilization, having bidden their friends the Eskimos good-by. + +"Homeward bound," remarked Tom, some time later, as they were in a +train speeding across the continent. "It was a great trip, and the +gold we got will more than repay us, even to building a new airship. +Still, I can't help feeling sorry about the RED CLOUD." + +"I don't blame you," returned Ned. "Are you going to build another +airship, Tom?" + +"Not one like the RED CLOUD, I think. But I have in mind plans for a +sort of racing craft. I think I'll start it when I get back home." + +How Tom's plans developed, and what sort of a craft he built will be +related in the next volume of this series, to be called "Tom Swift +and His Sky Racer; or, the Quickest Flight on Record." In that will +be told how the young inventor foiled his enemies, and how he saved +his father's life. Our friends arrived safely at Shopton in due +season. They learned that the two Fogers had reached there shortly +before them. Tom and his party decided not to prosecute them, and +they did not learn the identity of the men who tried to rob Tom of +the map. + +"But I guess Andy won't go about boasting of his airship any more," +said Ned, "nor of how he got our gold mine away from us. He'll sing +mighty small for a while." + +The store of gold brought from the North, proved quite valuable, +though but for the unforeseen accidents our friends could have +secured much more. Yet they were well satisfied. With his share Abe +Abercrombie settled down out West, Mr. Damon gave most of his gold +to his wife, Mr. Parker bought scientific instruments with his, Ned +invested his in bank stock, and Tom Swift, after buying a beautiful +gift for a certain pretty young lady, used part of the remainder to +build his Sky Racer. + +And now, for a time, we will take leave of Tom and his friends, and +say good-by. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice, by Victor Appleton + diff --git a/old/08tom10.zip b/old/08tom10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c49fd4 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/08tom10.zip diff --git a/old/08tom10h.htm b/old/08tom10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ab9cd36 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/08tom10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5983 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tom Swift In The Caves Of Ice, by Victor Appleton. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + ol.TOC {list-style-type: upper-roman;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> +<pre> +Project Gutenberg Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice, by Victor Appleton +#8 in the Tom Swift series by Victor Appleton + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing 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. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.07/27/01*END* +</pre> + + + + +<p>This etext was produced by Charles Franks, Greg Weeks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team.</p> + + +<hr style='width: 100%;' /> + +<h1>Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice</h1> + +<h3>OR</h3> + +<h2>The Wreck of the Airship</h2> + + +<h2>by VICTOR APPLETON</h2> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<ol class="TOC"> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_I">ERADICATE IN AN AIRSHIP</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_II">ANDY FOGER'S TRIPLANE</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_III">ABE IS DECEIVED</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">TOM GETS THE MAP</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_V">GRAVE SUSPICIONS</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">ANDY'S AIRSHIP FLIES</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">READY FOR THE TRIP</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">A THIEF IN THE NIGHT</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">A VANDAL'S ACT</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_X">TOM IS HELD UP</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">OFF FOR THE FROZEN NORTH</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">PELTED BY HAILSTONES</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">A FRIGHTENED INDIAN</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">THE RIVAL AIRSHIP</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">THE RACE</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">THE FALL OF THE ANTHONY</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">HITTING THE ICE MOUNTAIN</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">A FIGHT WITH MUSK OXEN</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">THE CAVES OF ICE</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">IN THE GOLD VALLEY</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">THE FOGERS ARRIVE</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">JUMPING THE CLAIM</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">ATTACKED BY NATIVES</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">THE WRECK OF THE AIRSHIP</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">THE RESCUE—CONCLUSION</a></li> +</ol> + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>ERADICATE IN AN AIRSHIP</h3> + + +<p>"Well, Massa Tom, am yo' gwine out in yo' flyin' machine ag'in to- +day?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Rad, I think I will take a little flight. Perhaps I'll go over +to Waterford, and call on Mr. Damon. I haven't seen very much of +him, since we got back from our hunt after the diamond-makers."</p> + +<p>"Take a run clear ober t' Waterfield; eh, Massa Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Rad. Now, if you'll help me, I'll get out the Butterfly, and +see what trim she's in for a speedy flight."</p> + +<p>Tom Swift, the young inventor, aided by Eradicate Sampson, the +colored helper of the Swift household, walked over toward a small +shed.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the two had rolled into view, on its three +bicycle wheels, a trim little monoplane—one of the speediest craft +of the air that had ever skimmed along beneath the clouds. It was +built to carry two, and had a very powerful motor.</p> + +<p>"I guess it will work all right," remarked the young inventor, for +Torn Swift had not only built this monoplane himself, but was the +originator of it, and the craft contained many new features.</p> + +<p>"It sho' do look all right, Massa Tom."</p> + +<p>"Look here, Rad," spoke the lad, as a sudden idea came to him, +"you've never ridden in an airship, have you?"</p> + +<p>"No, Massa Tom, an' I ain't gwine to nuther!"</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Why not? 'Case as how it ain't healthy; that's why!"</p> + +<p>"But I go in them frequently, Eradicate. So does my father. You've +seen us fly often enough, to know that it's safe. Why, look at the +number of times Mr. Damon and I have gone off on trips in this +little Butterfly. Didn't we always come back safely?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, dat's true, but dere might come a time when yo' WOULDN'T come +back, an' den where'd Eradicate Sampson be? I axes yo' dat—whar'd I +be, Massa Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you wouldn't be anywhere if you didn't go, of course," and Tom +laughed. "But I'd like to take you for a little spin in this +machine, Rad. I want you to get used to them. Sometime I may need +you to help me. Come, now. Suppose you get up on this seat here, and +I promise not to go too high until you get used to it. Come on, it +will do you good, and think of what all your friends will say when +they see you riding in an airship."</p> + +<p>"Dat's right, Massa Tom. Dey suah will be monstrous envious ob +Eradicate Sampson, dat's what dey will."</p> + +<p>It was clear that the colored man was being pursuaded somewhat +against his will. Though he had been engaged by Tom Swift and his +father off and on for several years, Eradicate had never shown any +desire to take a trip through the air in one of the several craft +Tom owned for this purpose. Nor had he ever evinced a longing for a +trip under the ocean in a submarine, and as for riding in Tom's +speedy electric car—Eradicate would as soon have sat down with +thirteen at the table, or looked at the moon over the wrong +shoulder.</p> + +<p>But now, somehow, there was a peculiar temptation to take his young +employer at his word. Eradicate had seen, many times, the youthful +inventor and his friends make trips in the monoplane, as well as in +the big biplane and dirigible balloon combined—the RED CLOUD. Tom +and the others had always come back safely, though often they met +with accidents which only the skill and daring of the daring +aeronaut had brought to a safe conclusion.</p> + +<p>"Well, are you coming, Rad?" asked Tom, as he looked to see if the +oil and gasoline tanks were filled, and gave a preliminary twirl to +the propeller.</p> + +<p>"Now does yo' t'ink it am puffickly safe, Massa Tom?" and the +colored man looked nervously at the machine.</p> + +<p>"Of course, Rad. Otherwise I wouldn't invite you. But I won't take +you far. I just want you to get used to it, and, once you have made +a flight, you'll want to make another."</p> + +<p>"I don't nohow believe I will, Massa Tom, but as long as you have +axed me, an' as yo' say some of dem proud, stuck-up darkies in +Shopton will be tooken down a peg or two when de sees me, vhy, I +will go wif yo', Massa Tom."</p> + +<p>"I thought you would. Now take your place in the little seat next to +where I'm going to sit. All start the engine and jump in. Now sit +perfectly still, and, whatever you do, don't jump out. The ground's +pretty hard this morning. There was a frost last night."</p> + +<p>"I knows dere was, Massa Tom. Nope, I won't jump. I-I-Oh, golly, +Massa Tom! I guess I don't want to go-let me out!"</p> + +<p>Eradicate, his heart growing fainter as the time of starting drew +nearer, made as if he would leave the monoplane, in which he had +taken his seat.</p> + +<p>"Sit still!" yelled Tom. At that instant he started the propeller. +The motor roared like a salvo of guns, and streaks of fire could be +seen shooting from one cylinder to the other, until there was a +perfect blast of explosions.</p> + +<p>The speed of the propeller increased as the motor warmed up. Tom ran +to his seat and opened the gasoline throttle still more, advancing +the spark slightly. The roar increased. The lad darted a look at +Eradicate. The colored man's face was like chalk, and he was +gripping the upright braces at his side as though his salvation +depended on them.</p> + +<p>"Steady now" spoke Tom, yelling to be heard above the racket. "Here +we go."</p> + +<p>The Butter-fly was moving slowly across the level stretch of ground +which Tom used for starting his airships. The propeller was now a +blur of light. The explosions of the motor became a steady roar, the +noise from one cylinder being merged into the blast from the others +so rapidly that it was a continuous racket.</p> + +<p>With a whizz the monoplane shot across the ground. Then, with a +quick motion, Tom tilted the lifting planes, and, as gracefully as a +bird, the little machine mounted upward on a slant until, coming to +a level about two hundred feet above the earth, Tom sent it straight +ahead over the roof of his house.</p> + +<p>"How's this, Rad?" he cried. "Isn't it great?"</p> + +<p>"It—it—er—bur-r-r-r! It's—it's mighty ticklish, Massa Tom-dat's +de word—it suah am mighty ticklish!"</p> + +<p>Tom Swift laughed and increased the speed. The Butterfly darted +forward like some hummingbird about to launch itself upon a flower, +and, indeed, the revolutions of the propeller were not unlike the +vibrations of the wings of that marvelous little creature.</p> + +<p>"Now for some corkscrew twists!" cried the young inventor. "Here we +go, Rad!"</p> + +<p>With that he began a series of intricate evolutions, making figures +of eight, spirals, curves, sudden dips and long swings. It was +masterwork in handling a monoplane, but Eradicate</p> + +<p>Sampson, as he sat crouched in the seat, gripping the uprights until +his hands ached, was in no condition to appreciate it. Gradually, +however, as he saw that the craft remained up in the air, and showed +no signs of falling, the fears of the colored man left him. He sat +up straighter.</p> + +<p>"Don't you like it, Rad?" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>This time the answer came with more decision.</p> + +<p>"It suah am great, Massa Tom! I'm—I'm beginnin' t' like it. Whoop! +I guess I do like it! Now if some of dem stuck-up coons could see +me—"</p> + +<p>"They'd think YOU were stuck up; eh, Rad? Stuck up in the air!"</p> + +<p>"Dat's right, Massa Tom. Ha! Ha! I suah am stuck up in de air! Ha! +Ha!"</p> + +<p>By this time Tom had guided the machine away from the village, and +they were flying over the fields, some distance from his house. The +colored man was beginning to enjoy his experience very much.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, just as Tom was trying to get a bit more speed out of the +motor, the machine stopped. The cessation of the racket was almost +as startling as a loud explosion would have been.</p> + +<p>"Just my luck!" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"What's de matter?" asked Eradicate, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Motor's stalled," replied the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"An', by golly, we's falling!" yelled the colored man.</p> + +<p>Naturally, with the stopping of the propeller, there was no further +straight, forward motion to the monoplane, and, following the law of +nature, it began to drop toward the earth on a slant.</p> + +<p>"We's fallin'! We'll be killed!" yelled the negro.</p> + +<p>"It's all right, I'll just vol-plane back to earth," spoke Tom, +calmly. "I've often done it before, higher up than this. Sit still, +Rad, I'm volplaning back to the ground."</p> + +<p>"An' I'll JUMP back to de ground; dat's what I'll do. I ain't goin' +t' wait until I falls, no sah! An' I ain't gwine t' do none ob dat +ball-playin' yo' speak ob, Massa Swift. It's no time t' play ball +when yo' life am in danger. I'se gwine t' jump."</p> + +<p>"Sit still!" cried Tom, for the colored man was about to spring from +his seat. "There's no danger! I didn't say anything about playing +ball. I said I'd VOL-PLANE back to the earth. We'll be there +shortly. I'll take you down safe. Sit still, Rad!"</p> + +<p>He spoke so earnestly that the fears of his colored passenger were +quelled. With a quick motion Tom threw up the head planes, to check +the downward sweep. The Butterfly shot forward on a gradual slant. +Repeating this maneuver several times, the young inventor finally +brought his machine to within a short distance of the earth, and, +also, considerably nearer his own home.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if we can make it?" he murmured, measuring the distance +with his eye. "I think so. I'll shoot her up a bit and then let her +down on a long slant. Then, with another upward tilt, I ought to +fetch it."</p> + +<p>The monoplane tilted upward. Eradicate gave a cry of terror. It was +stilled at a look from Tom. Once more the air machine glided +forward. Then came another long dip, another upward glide and the +Butterfly came gently to earth almost on the very spot whence it had +flown upward a few minutes before.</p> + +<p>Eradicate gave one mad spring from his seat, almost before the +bicycle wheels had ceased revolving, as Tom jammed on the earth- +brake.</p> + +<p>"Here, where are you going, Rad?" cried the lad.</p> + +<p>"Whar am I goin'? I'se goin' t' see if mah mule Boomerang am safe. +He's de only kind ob an airship I wants arter dis!" and the colored +man disappeared into the shack whence came a loud "hee-haw!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw! Wait a minute, Rad. I'll soon have the motor fixed, and +we'll make another try. I'll take you over to Mr. Damon's with me."</p> + +<p>"No, sah, Massa Tom. Yo' don't catch dis coon in any mo' airships. +Mah mule am good enough fo' me!" shouted Eradicate from the safe +harbor of the mule's stable.</p> + +<p>Tom laughed, and turned to inspect the motor. As he was looking it +over, to locate the trouble, the door of the house opened and a +pleasant-faced woman stepped out.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom," she called. "I looked for you a moment ago, and you +weren't here!"</p> + +<p>"No, Mrs. Baggert," Tom replied, waving his hand in greeting to the +housekeeper, "Rad and I just came back—quite suddenly—sooner than +we expected to. Why? Did you want me?"</p> + +<p>"Here's a letter that came for you," she went on.</p> + +<p>Tom tore open the envelope, and rapidly scanned the contents of the +missive.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" he ejaculated half aloud. "It's from Abe Abercrombie, that +miner I met when we were after the diamond-makers! He says he is on +his way east to get ready to start on the quest for the Alaskan +valley of gold, in the caves of ice. I had almost forgotten that I +promised to make the attempt in the big airship. How did this letter +come, Mrs. Baggert?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"By special delivery. The messenger brought it a few minutes ago."</p> + +<p>"Then we may see Abe any day now. Guess I'd better be looking over +the RED CLOUD to see if it's in shape for a trip to the Arctic +regions."</p> + +<p>Tom's attention for the moment was taken off his little monoplane, +and his memory went back to the strange scenes in which he and his +friends had recently played a part, in searching for the cave of the +diamond-makers on Phantom Mountain. He recalled the promise he had +made to the old miner.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if he expects us to start for Alaska with winter coming +on?" thought Tom.</p> + +<p>His musings were suddenly interrupted by the entrance into the yard, +surrounding the aeroplane shed, of a lad about his own age.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Ned Newton!" called Tom, heartily.</p> + +<p>"Hello, yourself," responded Ned. "I've got a day off from the bank, +and I thought I'd come over and see you. Say, have you heard the +latest?"</p> + +<p>"No. What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Andy Foger is building an airship."</p> + +<p>"Andy Foger building an airship?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he says it will beat yours."</p> + +<p>"Humph! It will, eh? Well, Andy can do as he pleases as long as he +doesn't bother me. I won't be around here much longer, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Why not, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Because I soon expect to start for the far north on a strange +quest. Come on in the shed, and I'll tell you about it. We're going +to try to locate a valley of gold, and I guess Andy Foger won't +follow me there, even if he does build an airship."</p> + +<p>Tom and his chum started toward the shed, the young inventor still +holding the letter that was to play such an important part in his +life within the next few months. And, had he only known it, the +building of Andy Foger's airship was destined to be fraught with +much danger to our hero.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>ANDY FOGER'S TRIPLANE</h3> + + +<p>"Going to look for a valley of gold, eh?" remarked Ned Newton as he +and Tom took seats in a little room, fitted up like a den, where the +young inventor frequently worked out the details of the problems +that confronted him. "Where is this valley, Tom? Anywhere so I could +have a chance at it?"</p> + +<p>"It's up in Alaska. Just where I don't know, but Abe Abercrombie, +the old miner whom we met when out in Colorado this summer, says he +can find it if we circle around in the airship. So I'm going to take +a chance. I'll tell you all about it."</p> + +<p>And, while Tom is doing this, I will take the opportunity to more +formally introduce to my new readers our hero and his friends.</p> + +<p>Tom Swift was an inventor of no little note, in spite of his youth. +He lived with his father, Barton Swift, who was also an inventor, on +the outskirts of the village of Shopton, New York State. Tom's +mother was dead, and Mrs. Baggert had kept house for him and his +father since he was a child. Garret Jackson, an expert machinist, +was also a member of the household, and as has been explained, +Eradicate Sampson, who took that name because, as he said he +"eradicate de dirt," was also a sort of retainer. He lived in a +little house on the Swift grounds, and did odd jobs about the place.</p> + +<p>In the first book of the series, entitled "Tom Swift and His Motor +Cycle," there was related how the lad became possessed of one of +those speedy machines, after Mr. Wakefield Damon had come to grief +on it. Mr. Damon was an eccentric man, who was always blessing +himself, some part of his anatomy, or some of his possessions.</p> + +<p>After many adventures on his motor-cycle, Tom Swift went through +some surprising happenings with a motor-boat be bought. After that +he built an airship, the RED CLOUD, and later he and his father +constructed a submarine, in which they went under the ocean in +search of sunken treasure, enduring many perils and much danger.</p> + +<p>Tom Swift's electric runabout, which he built after returning home +from the submarine trip, proved to be the speediest car on the road. +The experience he acquired in making this machine stood him in good +stead, when (as told in the sixth volume, "Tom Swift and His +Wireless Message") the airship in which he, Mr. Damon and a friend +of the latter's (who had built the craft) were wrecked on Earthquake +Island. There Tom was marooned with some refugees from a wrecked +steam yacht, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Nestor, father of a girl +of whom Tom thought a great deal.</p> + +<p>With parts from the wrecked electric airship the youth rigged up a +plant, and sent wireless messages from the island. The castaways +nearly lost their lives in the earthquake shocks, but a steamer, +summoned by Tom's wireless call, arrived in time to save them, just +as the island disappeared beneath the sea.</p> + +<p>In the seventh book of the series, entitled "Tom Swift Among the +Diamond Makers" there was related the adventures of himself and his +friends when they tried to solve the mystery of Phantom Mountain.</p> + +<p>Among the castaways of Earthquake Island was a Mr. Barcoe Jenks and +a Professor Ralph Parker. Mr. Jenks was a strange man, and claimed +to have some valuable diamonds, which he said were made by a gang of +men hidden in a cave in the Rocky Mountains. Tom did not believe +that the diamonds were real, but Mr. Jenks soon proved that they +were.</p> + +<p>He asked Tom to aid him in searching for the cave of the diamond +makers. Mr. Jenks had been there once—in fact, he had been offered +a partnership in the diamond-making business, but, after he had paid +his money, he had been drugged, and carried secretly from the cave +before he had a chance to note its location.</p> + +<p>But he, together with Tom, Mr. Damon and the scientist Mr. Parker, +who correctly predicted the destruction of Earthquake Island, set +out in the RED CLOUD to find the diamond makers. They did find them, +after many hardships, and were captured by the gang. How Tom and his +friends escaped from the cave, after they had seen diamonds made by +a powerful lightning flash, and how they nearly lost their lives +from the destruction of Phantom Mountain, is fully set down in the +book.</p> + +<p>Sufficient to say now, that, though they had a general idea of how +the precious stones were made, by the power of the lightning, the +young inventor and his friends were never quite able to accomplish +it, and the secret remained a secret. But they had secured some +diamonds as they rushed from the cave (Mr. Damon grabbing them up) +and these were divided among Tom and the others.</p> + +<p>Just as they were ready to come home in the airship, our friends +were met by an old miner, Abe Abercrombie, who spoke of a valley of +gold in Alaska, which was the story Tom related to Ned Newton, as +the two chums sat in the den of the airship shed.</p> + +<p>"Then you don't know all the details about the gold valley, Tom?" +remarked Ned, as the young inventor showed his chum the letter that +had just arrived.</p> + +<p>"No, not all of them. At the time this miner met us I was anxious to +get back East, for we had been away so long I knew dad would be +worried. But I listened to part of Abe's story, and half promised to +go in partnership in this quest for gold. He was to furnish +information about the hidden valley, and I was to supply the +airship. I expect Abe to come along at any time, now, and then I'll +hear more particulars."</p> + +<p>"Will you go all the way in the airship?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I hadn't thought of that. I could ship it to the nearest +place by rail, I suppose, and go on from there. That's a detail to +be considered later. I'll talk it over with Abe."</p> + +<p>"Who are going?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know that even. I suppose Mr. Damon would feel slighted if +I left him out. And perhaps Mr. Parker, that gloomy scientist, who +is always predicting terrible accidents, will be glad to go along. +Then Abe may have some friend he wants to take."</p> + +<p>"By Jinks! But you certainly do have swell times, Tom Swift!" +exclaimed Ned Newton, enviously. "I wish I could go and have a try +at that valley of gold!"</p> + +<p>"Why don't you come along, Ned?"</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean it?"</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"But I don't believe I could get away from the bank."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dad and Mr. Damon could fix that. They're directors, you know. +Come along, I'd be delighted to have you. Will you?"</p> + +<p>"I'll think about it. Jinks! But I sure would like to go. Do you +think you can find the valley?"</p> + +<p>"Well, there's no telling. We generally do succeed in finding what +we go after, even if we didn't get the diamond secret. I'm anxious +to have Abe come, now, though until I got his letter I had almost +forgotten about my promise to him. But, say, what's this you told me +about Andy Foger making an airship?"</p> + +<p>"It's true, though I haven't seen it. Jake Porter was telling me +about it. Andy's built a big shed in his yard, and he and some +cronies of his, including Pete Bailey and Sam Snedecker, are working +in there night and day. They've hired a couple of machinists, too. +Mr. Foger is putting up the cash, I guess. Say, that was quite a +scare you gave Andy on your monoplane, one day."</p> + +<p>"Yes, the big bully! and I'd like to scare him worse. But say, do +you know I'd like to get a look at his airship. I wonder what sort +of a craft it is?"</p> + +<p>"We can see it easily enough."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Why, the back part of the shed where he and the others are working +is close to our fence. There are some holes in our fence and if you +come there, maybe you can look in."</p> + +<p>"I can't see through the side of the shed, though."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you can."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Why, there's a big window, for light, in the back part of it. I +happened to notice it the other day. I didn't look in, because I +wasn't much interested, but I saw that one could peer over the top +of our fence right into the shop where Andy is working. Want to try +it?"</p> + +<p>Tom hesitated a moment.</p> + +<p>"Well, it seems rather an odd thing to do," he said. "But I would +like to see what sort of a flying machine Andy is making, just for +my own satisfaction. He may be infringing on some of my patents, and +if he is, I'll stop him. Once or twice he's been sneaking around my +shed here. I don't believe in sneaking, but I know he wouldn't let +me in if I asked him, so I guess it's the only way. I'll go with +you, Ned."</p> + +<p>"All right. We'll see if we can get a glimpse of Andy's queer +shebang through the window."</p> + +<p>The two chums left Tom's shop, and were soon in the yard of Ned +Newton's house. As he had said, the big shed in Andy's premises came +close up to the fence, and there was a window through which one +might gaze. The casement did not appear to be curtained.</p> + +<p>"I'll get a ladder so we can climb up to the top of the fence, and +look over," spoke Ned, as he and Tom went out into the yard back of +his house. The fence was high up on an embankment.</p> + +<p>A little later Tom and his chum were gazing into the shop window +from the ladder.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's a triplane—a big triplane!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"What's a triplane?" asked Ned, who didn't have much time to study +the different types of airships.</p> + +<p>"It's one that has three sets of planes, one above the other. A +biplane has two sets of planes, and a monoplane only one. Triplanes +are larger, and, as far as I've been able to learn, not as +satisfactory as either the biplanes or monoplanes. But that's not +saying Andy's won't be a success. They certainly are busy in there, +though! Andy is flying around like a hen scratching for her little +chickens!"</p> + +<p>"See anything of his cronies?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Pete and Sam are hammering away. There are a couple of men, +too."</p> + +<p>"Yes, the machinists. Oh, I guess Andy expects great things from his +airship."</p> + +<p>"Have you heard what he's going to do with it, Ned? Make flights for +pleasure, or exhibit it?"</p> + +<p>"No, I haven't heard. Look out, Tom, the ladder is slipping!"</p> + +<p>As Ned spoke this warning, the window of the airship shed, through +which they were looking, was suddenly raised. The ugly face of Andy +Foger peered out. He caught sight of Tom and Ned.</p> + +<p>"Get away from there, you spies!" he yelled. "Get away from there, +Tom Swift! You're trying to steal some of my ideas! Get away or I'll +make you. Sam, bring me my gun! Pete, go tell my father to come +here! I'll show Ned Newton and Tom Swift they can't bother me!"</p> + +<p>Andy was dancing about in a rage. His two cronies crowded behind him +to the window just as the ladder on which Tom and Ned were standing +slipped along the fence.</p> + +<p>"Jump, Ned!" yelled Tom Swift, as he leaped away to escape being +entangled in the rungs.</p> + +<p>The young inventor came to the ground with a jar that shook him up +considerably, while Ned, who had grasped the top board of the fence, +remained hanging there by his hands, his feet dangling in the air.</p> + +<p>"Whack his fingers, Andy!" yelled Pete Bailey. "Get a long stick and +whack Ned's fingers! That will make him drop off!"</p> + +<p>Tom Swift heard, and labored desperately to raise the ladder to +enable Ned to get down, for his chum seemed to be afraid to drop.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>ABE IS DECEIVED</h3> + + +<p>Raising a ladder alone is rather an awkward job. Tom found this so +when he tried to aid his friend Ned. But, being a muscular lad, the +young inventor did finally succeed in getting the ladder up against +the fence where the bank clerk could reach it.</p> + +<p>Whack! Down upon the top board came a, stick wielded by Andy Foger +from the rear window of his shop.</p> + +<p>"Wow!" cried Ned. for the blow had been close to his fingers. "Hurry +up with that ladder, Tom."</p> + +<p>"There it is! But why don't you drop?"</p> + +<p>"Too far. I can't reach the ladder now!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, you can. Stretch a bit!"</p> + +<p>"Whack!" Once more the stick descended on the fence, this time still +closer to Ned's clinging hands.</p> + +<p>"Hit him good, Andy!" cried Sam Snedecker, "Give me a shot at him!"</p> + +<p>"I will not. I want to attend to him myself. You go tell my father, +and he'll have Tom Swift arrested for trying to sneak in and get +some of my airship ideas!"</p> + +<p>By this time Ned's wiggling feet had found the topmost rung of the +ladder. The next moment he was rapidly descending it, and, when on +the ground, he and Tom carried it away, to prevent its use by the +enemy.</p> + +<p>"Whew!" exclaimed the young inventor. "I had no idea they would kick +up such a row!"</p> + +<p>"Me either. Did you hurt yourself when you jumped, as the ladder +fell?"</p> + +<p>"No. Did they hit your hands?"</p> + +<p>"Came mighty near it. Well, I s'pose it serves us right, yet if I +can't look over my own back fence it's a pity!"</p> + +<p>"Of course we can, only I'd just as soon they hadn't seen us. +However—hello! there's Andy looking over here, now."</p> + +<p>The mean face of the bully now topped the fence. It was evident that +he had crawled from the window of his shop.</p> + +<p>"What are you trying to get into my place for, Tom Swift?" he +demanded.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't trying to get in, Andy Foger."</p> + +<p>"Well, you were looking in."</p> + +<p>"Only doing as you've done over at my shop, several times, Andy. I +wanted to see what sort of an airship you were building."</p> + +<p>"Trying to get some ideas for your own, I guess," sneered Andy.</p> + +<p>Tom did not think it worth while to answer this taunt.</p> + +<p>"I could have you arrested for this," went on Andy, who felt bolder +now that he was reinforced by Sam and Pete on either side of him as +he looked over the fence into Ned's yard.</p> + +<p>"Arrested for what?" demanded the bank clerk.</p> + +<p>"For trespassing on my father's premises," went on Andy.</p> + +<p>"We weren't on your premises," declared Ned. "We were on our side of +the fence all the while."</p> + +<p>"Well, you were looking over in my yard."</p> + +<p>"A cat may look at a king, you know, Andy," Tom reminded the bully.</p> + +<p>"Yah! Think you're smart, don't you! Well, you can't steal any of my +ideas for an airship. They're all patented, and I'll soon be making +longer and higher flights than you ever dreamed of! I'll show you +what a real airship is, Tom Swift! Monoplanes and biplanes are out +of date. The only thing that's any good is a triplane. If mine works +well—and I'm sure it will—I may build a quadruplane!"</p> + +<p>"I wish you luck," spoke Tom, with a shrug of his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Well, you won't have any luck if you come around here any more," +went on Pete Bailey. "We'll be on the watch for you fellows, now, +and we'll cover this window, so you can't see in."</p> + +<p>"That's what we will," agreed Andy, and Sam Snedecker shook his head +vigorously to indicate that he, too, approved of this.</p> + +<p>"Come on," spoke Tom in a low tone to Ned, "I've seen enough."</p> + +<p>The two chums moved toward Ned's house, followed by the jeers and +mocking laughter of Andy and his cronies.</p> + +<p>"Can't you get back at them in some way?" asked Ned, for he did not +like to see himself or his friend apparently vanquished by the +bully.</p> + +<p>"He laughs best who laughs last, Ned."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean that when Andy tries to fly in his triplane it will be our +turn to laugh."</p> + +<p>"Won't it fly?"</p> + +<p>"Never, the way he has it rigged up. It didn't take but one look to +tell me that. He's working on altogether the wrong principle. Wait +until he tries to go up, and then we'll have some fun with him."</p> + +<p>"Then you got a good view of it through the window?"</p> + +<p>"I saw all I wanted to. But say, I was about to take a little trip +in my monoplane, to see my friend Mr. Damon, when Abe's letter +arrived, and you came along with your news. I started to take +Eradicate, but he backed out. Don't you want to come?"</p> + +<p>"Sure, I'll go along."</p> + +<p>Ned had often ridden in the trim Butterfly, though the trips had not +been so frequent that he was tired of them. A little later, Tom, +having adjusted the motor that had stalled before, compelling him to +vol-plane back to earth, the two chums were sailing through the air +toward Waterford.</p> + +<p>"Why, bless my shoe laces!" cried Mr. Damon, as they alighted in the +yard of his house, about an hour later. "I didn't expect you, Tom. +But I'm glad to see you!"</p> + +<p>"And I to meet you again. I guess you know Ned Newton."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes. How d'ye do, Ned? Bless my appetite! but it's quite +chilly. We'll soon have winter. Won't you come in and have some hot +chocolate?"</p> + +<p>The boys were glad to accept the invitation, and as they were +drinking the beverage, which Mrs. Damon made for them, Tom told of +the receipt of the letter from the old miner, and also his +experience in seeing Andy's airship.</p> + +<p>"Why, bless my pocketbook!" cried Mr. Damon. "I had no idea we'd +ever hear from Abe Abercrombie again. And so he is really coming on, +to tell us about the valley of gold?"</p> + +<p>"So he says," replied Tom. "I was wondering if you'd like to go, Mr. +Damon."</p> + +<p>"Go? Why, bless my very topknot! Of course I would. I'll go with +you—only—only," and he leaned forward and whispered cautiously, +"don't speak so loudly. My wife might hear you!"</p> + +<p>"Doesn't she want you to go off in the airship any more?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, she'd rather I wouldn't. But she's going on a visit to her +mother, soon, and then I think will come my opportunity to take +another trip with you. A valley of gold in Alaska, eh? Up where the +icebergs and caves of ice are. Say, Tom, I know some one else who +would be glad to go."</p> + +<p>"Who?" inquired the young inventor, though he had an idea to whom +his friend referred.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Parker! You know he's taken up his residence in Waterford, now, +and only the other day he spoke to me about wishing he could go to +the far north. He has some new theory—"</p> + +<p>"About the destruction of something or other; hasn't he, Mr. Damon?" +interrupted Tom, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"That's it, exactly, my boy. Bless my coffeepot! But Mr. Parker has +an idea that the whole northern part of this continent will soon be +buried thousands of feet deep under an icy avalanche, and he wants +to be there to see it. I know he'd like to go with us, Tom."</p> + +<p>The young inventor made a little gesture of dissent, but as he knew +Mr. Damon, who was very eccentric himself, had taken a great liking +to the gloomy scientist, Tom did not feel like refusing. So he said:</p> + +<p>"All right, Mr. Damon. If we go, and I think we shall, we'll expect +you and Mr. Parker. I'll let you know the result of Mr. +Abercrombie's visit, and I needn't request you to keep quiet about +it. If there is a valley of gold in Alaska, we don't want everyone +to know about it."</p> + +<p>"No, of course not, Tom Swift. I'll keep silent about it. Bless my +liverpin! But I'll be glad to on the move again, even if it is +toward the Arctic regions."</p> + +<p>After some further talk, Tom and Ned took their departure, making +good time back to Shopton in the speedy monoplane.</p> + +<p>For several days after that Tom busied himself about his big airship +the RED CLOUD, for it needed quite a few repairs after the long trip +to the mountains where the diamond makers had been discovered in +their cave.</p> + +<p>"And if we're going up amid the ice and snow," reasoned Tom, "I've +got to make some different arrangements about the craft, and provide +for keeping warmer than we found necessary when we went west."</p> + +<p>So it was that Tom had no time to learn anything further about Andy +Foger's airship, even had our hero been so inclined, which he was +not. He looked for Abe Abercrombie any day now, for though the old +miner had given no date as to when he would arrive, he had said, in +his letter, that it would be soon.</p> + +<p>It was one day, nearly a week after Tom's attempt to make Eradicate +like aeroplaning, that there might have been seen, coming along the +Shopton road, which led toward Tom's house, the figure of a grizzled +old man. His clothes were rather rough, and he carried a valise that +had, evidently, seen much service. There was that about him which +proclaimed him for a westerner—a cattleman or a miner.</p> + +<p>He walked slowly along, murmuring to himself.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, I might better have taken one of them wagons at th' depot," +he said, "than t' try t' walk. It's quite a stretch out t' Tom +Swift's house. I hope I find him home."</p> + +<p>He trudged on, and, a little later, his gaze was attracted by a +large shed, in the rear of a white house the pretentious appearance +of which indicated that persons of wealth owned it.</p> + +<p>"I guess that must be the place," he remarked. "That shed is big +enough to hold the airship. Now to present myself."</p> + +<p>As he walked up the front path of the house, he was met by one of +the gardeners, who was raking up the leaves.</p> + +<p>"Is this the airship place?" asked the miner.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's where the young master is making his triplane," +answered the man.</p> + +<p>"Is he in?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess so. You can walk right back to the shed."</p> + +<p>The miner did so. Through the open door of the building he had a +glimpse of big stretches of wings, propellers, rudders, and some +machinery.</p> + +<p>"That's it," he murmured, "though it looks some different than I +remembered it. However, maybe Tom's changed it about. I wonder where +he is?"</p> + +<p>As he spoke a lad came from the shed to meet him—a lad on whose +face there was a look of suspicion.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"I'm lookin' for Tom Swift," was the simple reply. "But I take it +you're one of his partners in this airship business. I guess he must +have told you about me. I'm Abe Abercrombie, the miner, and I've +come to show him the way to that valley of gold in Alaska."</p> + +<p>At the mention of Tom Swift's name, Andy Foger, for it was he, had +started to utter a denial. But, at the next words of the miner, and +as Mr. Abercrombie mentioned "gold" and "Alaska," there came a +cunning look over Andy's face.</p> + +<p>"Tom Swift isn't here just now," he said, wondering how he could +turn to advantage the unexpected visit, and the impending +information that the guileless old man was about to give under the +mistaken idea that Andy was Tom's friend.</p> + +<p>"That's all right, I reckon he'll be along presently. You'll do just +as well, I reckon. You're in partnership with him, I take it. So +this is the place where he makes his airships, eh? It's a big one," +and Mr. Abercrombie looked in at the odd triplane of Andy's—for the +airship was almost finished.</p> + +<p>"But it'll need to be big if we're to go to Alaska in it," went on +the miner. "It's quite a journey t' th' valley where th' gold is. No +way t' get t' it except by an airship. An' here I be an' ready to +start, I've brought th' map of th' place, jest as I promised. Here +it is, better take good care of it. Now, let's talk business," and +the miner, having guilelessly handed Andy Foger a folded parchment, +sat down on a box at the door of the airship shed, and placed his +heavy valise on the ground beside him.</p> + +<p>"What's this?" asked the bully, wondering whether he had heard +aright.</p> + +<p>"It's the map of th' valley of gold—directions how t' git there, +an' all that. I guess it's plain enough. Now, when can we start?"</p> + +<p>Andy did not know what to say. Fate had, most unexpectedly, placed +in his hands a valuable paper. The miner had made a mistake. Andy's +house was on the same road as was Tom's and, seeing the airship +shed, had deceived the aged man. He had not expected to find two +airship manufactories in the same village.</p> + +<p>"The map of the valley of gold, "murmured Andy, as he put it in his +pocket.</p> + +<p>"Yes, jest as I told Tom about when I met him out West. I said I'd +bring it with me, an' I did. When will Tom be back? He never spoke +of you, though I reckoned he'd have to have some help in makin' his +airships. Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"He—he—" stammered Andy. He did not know what to say.</p> + +<p>At that instant Tom Swift himself passed by in the road. He had been +over to Shopton on an errand. One look into the yard of Andy's house +showed to our hero the old miner sitting at the door of the airship +shed.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Abercrombie—Abe!" cried Tom, almost, before he thought.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Tom! I got here!" cried the miner, heartily. "I was jest +talking to your partner."</p> + +<p>"My partner!" spoke Tom in amazement</p> + +<p>"Yes—partner in th' airship business. I should think you'd need +about three partners to build these machines!"</p> + +<p>"My partner! Andy Foger isn't my partner!" cried Tom, wondering what +would happen next. "I have no partner! If he said he was he deceived +you!"</p> + +<p>"No partner? Ain't he your partner?" cried Mr. Abercrombie. "Why, I +thought he was. I told him about th' valley of gold—I—I—give him +the map—"</p> + +<p>"The map?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, the map t' tell how to get there. He's got it!"</p> + +<p>There was a mocking smile on Andy's face.</p> + +<p>"Give that map back at once!" cried Tom, sternly, now understanding +something of the situation. "Hand it over at once, Andy Foger!"</p> + +<p>"I will—when I get ready! He gave it to me!" cried the bully, and +then, before either Tom or Abe could stop him, Andy darted into the +big shed, and slammed shut the door.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>TOM GETS THE MAP</h3> + + +<p>For a few seconds Tom was so surprised at the sudden action of the +bully that he could neither move nor speak. Then, crying out a +command to halt, the young inventor took after his enemy.</p> + +<p>"The scamp!" he cried. "The nerve he has! To deceive Abe Abercrombie +in that fashion! Wait until I get hold of him!"</p> + +<p>"What's it all about?" asked the old miner, who, being a slow +thinker had not understood all that had happened. "What's up, Tom +Swift?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't time to tell you now," flung back the running lad over his +shoulder. "I've got to catch Andy! Then I'll explain. He's trying to +get ahead of us. I guess, but we'll stop him!" Thereupon Tom flung +himself against the door of the airship shed. The young inventor +found the portal bolted, though it vibrated with the impact of his +body.</p> + +<p>"Come out of there, Andy Foger!" cried Tom, pounding on the door. +"Come out, or I'll get an officer, and have you arrested!"</p> + +<p>There was no answer.</p> + +<p>"Come out, I say!" repeated Tom.</p> + +<p>"Around th' back! Try th' back door!" suggested the miner, who had +hastened to Tom's side. "Maybe he's run out that way!"</p> + +<p>Tom listened. There was no movement in the shop. Then the young +inventor sprinted around the side. He was just in time to see the +bully running away over the lots and fields in the rear of his +father's premises. Andy had climbed out of the back window of the +shed, into which Tom and Ned had peered that day, had climbed the +high fence, dropped down on the other side, and was now running away +with all the speed he could muster.</p> + +<p>"Come back—!" began Tom, and then he realized that his enemy could +not hear him. The bully was too far away. At the same time our hero +realized that it would be useless to give chase, for Andy had too +much of a start. There was nothing to do but to turn back, and Tom +knew that his delay in trying to gain an entrance at the front door +had given Andy the very opportunity he needed to escape at the rear.</p> + +<p>"Well, this is a bad turn of affairs," remarked the lad, as he faced +the puzzled miner.</p> + +<p>"What is, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Him having that map. It shows the location of the valley of gold, +doesn't it, and tells how to get there?"</p> + +<p>"That's what it does!"</p> + +<p>"How did Andy happen to get it?"</p> + +<p>"Jest as I told you. I was on my way t' your house, havin' inquired +at th' post-office, an' the man said that at your place there was a +big shed, where you kept your airships. I come along, an', of +course, when I see this house, an' the shed, an' had a glimpse of +th' airship, I, of course, thought it was your place. An', though +you'd never told me about it, I thought maybe this lad was in +business with you. So, like a blamed young tenderfoot, I blurted out +my business afore I thought, an' handed him the map for safe +keepin'. He took it, too, that's the worst of it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's the worst of it," agreed Tom, "But I'll get it back, if +I have to cause his arrest, and search his whole house."</p> + +<p>"But he runned away, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he'll come back. Was there only one copy of the map of the +valley, Abe?" asked Tom, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Yep; only one"</p> + +<p>"Could you make another?"</p> + +<p>"No, not if you was to pay me a million dollars! You see I ain't no +drawer, an' this map, while I made part of it, was mostly made by my +old partner, who was with me when we discovered th' valley of gold, +an' was druv back by th' savage Eskimos an' Indians, an' by th' +terrible cold. My partner made th' best part of th' map, an' he's +dead, poor fellow."</p> + +<p>"I see. That's too bad! Then you can't make a duplicate map?"</p> + +<p>"Nary a one. But can't you do somethin'? It were amazin' stupid of +me, old Abe Abercrombie, t' be took in by a boy like him! Can't you +do somethin'?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to try," announced Tom determinedly, as he swung on +toward the Foger house. "I'll cause his arrest if he doesn't give it +up."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Tom Swift and Abe confronted Mr. Foger. The rich +man, father of the bully, was rather surprised at the visit from the +young inventor, for the two were not friends.</p> + +<p>"Well, what can I do for you, Tom Swift?" asked the banker, for he +felt a certain coldness toward our hero, since the latter had +defeated him in an effort to wreck a financial institution in which +Tom and his father were interested.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Foger," spoke Tom, sternly, "your son has just stolen a map +belonging to this gentleman," and he indicated Abe.</p> + +<p>"My son stolen a map!" exclaimed Mr. Foger. "How dare you make such +an accusation, Tom Swift?"</p> + +<p>"I dare, because it's true! And, unless that map is returned to me +at my house to-night I shall swear out a warrant for Andy's arrest."</p> + +<p>"You'd never dare do that!"</p> + +<p>"Wait and see!" spoke Tom, firmly. "I will give your son, or you, +exactly five hours to return that map—if it isn't back in my hands +by then, I'll get a warrant!"</p> + +<p>"Preposterous! Stuff and nonsense!" blustered Mr. Foger. "My son +never stole anything!"</p> + +<p>"He stole this map, and there is plenty of evidence," went on Tom, +as he detailed the circumstances.</p> + +<p>Mr. Foger hemmed and hawed, and affected not to believe that +anything of the kind could have happened. But Tom was firm, and Abe +Abercrombie backed up his statements, until even the banker began to +waver.</p> + +<p>"Very well," he announced at length, "I will look into this matter, +and if I find that my son has anything of yours, you shall have it +back. But I cannot believe it. Perhaps he took it as a joke."</p> + +<p>"In which case," spoke Tom grimly, "he will find that he has carried +the joke too far," and with that he and the miner left the Foger +home.</p> + +<p>"It's all my fault," bewailed Abe, as he and our hero trudged on +toward the Swift household.</p> + +<p>"No, it wasn't, Abe," declared Tom. "Any one would have been +deceived by such tactics as Andy used—that is any stranger. And you +didn't expect to find two airship sheds so close together."</p> + +<p>"No. That's right, I didn't. That's what threw me off th' track."</p> + +<p>"Andy only recently began work on his triplane. I don't know what +his object is, and I don't care. Just now I'm more concerned about +getting back this map."</p> + +<p>"I hope we do get it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we will. I'm going to start off on my own hook, to find Andy. +But first I'll take you to my house."</p> + +<p>The old miner was soon telling his story to Mr. Swift, the +housekeeper and Garret Jackson. They expressed their surprise at +Andy's daring act. But Tom didn't do much more talking.</p> + +<p>"I'm going out to find Andy," he declared, "and when I do—" He +didn't finish his sentence, but they all knew what he meant.</p> + +<p>But the bully was in none of his usual haunts, though Tom visited +them all. Nor was Andy at the homes of either of his cronies.</p> + +<p>"Well, if I don't find him, I shall certainly swear out the +warrant," decided Tom. "I'll give him until night, and then I'll +call on the police."</p> + +<p>Still he did not give up, but went to several other places where +Andy might be found. He had about given up, as it was getting toward +late afternoon, when, as he came out of a billiardroom, where the +bully was in the habit of spending much of his time, Tom saw the lad +of whom he was in search.</p> + +<p>"Hold on there, Andy Foger!" cried the young inventor. "I want to +see you!"</p> + +<p>"What about?"</p> + +<p>"You know very well. Where's that map you stole?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't got it."</p> + +<p>"Take care!" and Tom, with a quick step was beside the bully, and +had grasped him firmly by the arm.</p> + +<p>"You let me alone, Tom Swift!" cried Andy.</p> + +<p>"Where's that map?" and Tom gave Andy's arm a wrench.</p> + +<p>"It's at your house; that's where it is! I just took it back. It was +only a joke."</p> + +<p>"A joke, eh? And you took it back?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I did. Now you let me go!"</p> + +<p>"I will when I find out if you're telling me the truth or not, Andy +Foger. You come with me!"</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"To my house. I want to see if that map's there."</p> + +<p>"Well, you'll find that it is, and you'd better let me go! My father +told me to take the map back, and I did. You let me go!"</p> + +<p>Andy struggled to get loose, but Tom had too tight a grip. There was +something, too, in the manner of our hero that warned Andy not to +trifle with him. So, concluding that discretion was the better part +of valor, Andy walked sullenly along toward Tom's home, the young +inventor never relaxing the grip on his enemy's arm.</p> + +<p>They reached the Swift home. Still holding his captive, Tom rang the +bell. His father came to the door, followed by Abe Abercrombie.</p> + +<p>"Is the map back?" asked the young inventor, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Andy brought it here a few minutes ago," announced Mr. Swift.</p> + +<p>"Is it the right one, Abe?" inquired Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yep, Tom. I made sure of that as soon as I laid my eyes on it. It's +th' right one."</p> + +<p>"Then you can go, Andy Foger," announced our hero, "and if I ever +catch you in another trick like this, I'll take the law into my own +hands. Clear out, now!"</p> + +<p>"You wait! I'll get even with you," muttered the bully, as he fled +down the front walk, as though afraid Tom would, even then, put his +threat into execution.</p> + +<p>"Did he damage the map any?" asked the lad, as he followed his +father and Abe into the house.</p> + +<p>"Nary a bit," answered the old miner. "It's jest th' same as it was. +There it is," and he spread a crinkled sheet of tough parchment in +front of Tom. It was covered with a rude drawing, and with names of +places scrawled on it.</p> + +<p>"So that's the map, eh?" murmured Tom, eagerly scanning it.</p> + +<p>"That's it, an' here's th' valley of gold," went on Abe, as he +placed one rough finger on a certain spot. "Right there—hello!" he +cried, as he peered more closely at the parchment. "That ink spot +wasn't there when I had th' map, a few hours ago."</p> + +<p>"What ink spot?" asked Tom, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"That one," and the miner indicated a small one near the edge of the +map. "That was never there!"</p> + +<p>"It looks as if it was recently made," added Mr. Swift, who was +something of a chemist.</p> + +<p>"An ink spot-freshly made," murmured Tom, "Dad—Abe, I can guess +what's happened!"</p> + +<p>"What?" demanded the miner.</p> + +<p>"Andy Foger made a copy of this map while it was in his possession, +and now he knows where the valley of gold is as well as we do! He +may get there ahead of us!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>GRAVE SUSPICION'S</h3> + + +<p>Tom's announcement took them all by surprise. For a moment no one +knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at +the parchment map.</p> + +<p>"Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?" asked Mr. +Swift.</p> + +<p>"I do," answered his son. "That ink spot wasn't there when Abe gave +him the map; was it?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied the miner.</p> + +<p>"And it couldn't get on in Andy's pocket," went on Tom. "So he must +have had it open near where there was ink."</p> + +<p>"His fountain pen might have leaked," suggested Mr. Jackson.</p> + +<p>"In that case the ink spot would be on the outside of the map, and +not on the inside," declared Tom, with the instinct of a detective. +"Unless he had the map folded in his pocket with the inside surface +on the outside, the ink couldn't have gotten on. Besides, Andy +always carries his fountain pen in his upper vest pocket, and that +pocket is too small to hold the map. No, I'm almost positive that +Andy or his father have sneakingly made a copy of this map!"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry to have to admit that Mr. Foger is capable of such an +act," spoke Mr. Swift, "but I believe it is true."</p> + +<p>"And here is another thing," went on the young inventor, who was now +closely scanning the parchment through a powerful magnifying glass, +"do you see those tiny holes here and there, Mr. Jackson?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered the engineer.</p> + +<p>"Were they there before, Abe?" went on Tom, calling the old miner's +attention to them.</p> + +<p>"Nary a one," was the answer. "It looks as if some one had been +sticking pins in th' map."</p> + +<p>"Not pins," said Tom, "but the sharp points of a pair of dividers, +or compasses, for measuring distances. Andy, or whoever made a copy +of the map, used the dividers to take off distances with. This +clinches it, in my mind."</p> + +<p>"But what can you do?" asked Tom's father.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," answered the young inventor. "It would be of little +use to go to Andy. Naturally he would deny having made a copy of the +map, and his father would, also. Even though I am sure they have a +copy, I don't see how I am going to make them give it up. It's a +hard case. There's only one thing I see to do."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Abe.</p> + +<p>"Start for Alaska as soon as possible, and be first on hand at the +valley of gold."</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried the miner. "That's the way to talk! We'll start off at +once. I know my way around that country pretty well, an' even though +winter is coming on, I think we can travel in th' airship. That's +one reason why I wanted t' go in one of these flyin' machines. +Winter is no time to be in Alaska, but if we have an airship we +won't mind it, an' it's the best time t' keep other people away, for +th' ordinary miner or prospector can't do anythin' in Alaska in +winter—that is away up north where we're goin'."</p> + +<p>"Exactly where are we going?" asked Tom. "I have been so excited +about discovering Andy's trick that I haven't had much time to +consider where we're bound for nor what will be the best plan to +follow."</p> + +<p>"Well, we're goin' to a region about seven hundred an' fifty miles +northwest from Sitka," explained the old miner, as he pointed out +the location on the map. "We'll head for what they call th' Snow +Mountains, an' th' valley of gold is in their midst. It's just over +th' Arctic circle, an' pretty cold, let me tell you!"</p> + +<p>"You'll be warm enough in Tom's airship, with the electric stoves +going," commented Mr. Jackson.</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll need t' be," went on the miner. "Th' valley is full of +caves of ice, an' it's dangerous for th' ordinary traveler. In fact +an airship was the only way I saw out of th' difficulty when I was +there."</p> + +<p>"Then you have been to the valley of gold?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, not exactly TO it," was the reply, "but I was where I could +see it. That was in th' summer, though of course the summer there +isn't like here. I'll tell you how it was."</p> + +<p>The miner settled himself more comfortably in his chair, and resumed +his story.</p> + +<p>"It was two year ago," he said, "that me an' Jim Mace started to +prospect in Alaska. We didn't have much luck, an' we kept on workin' +our way farther north until we come to these Snow Mountains. Then +our supplies gave out, an' if it hadn't been for some friendly +Eskimos I don't know what we would have done. Jim and me we gave 'em +some trinkets an' sich, and th' Indians began talkin' of a wonderful +valley of gold, where th' stuff lay around in chunks on top of the +ground."</p> + +<p>"Me and Jim pricked up our ears at that, so to speak, an' we wanted +to see th' place. After some delay we was taken to th' top of a big +crag, some distance away from where we had been stopping with the +friendly Eskimos, or Indians, as I call 'em. There, away down below, +was a valley—an' a curious sort of a valley it were. It seemed +filled with big bubbles—bubbles made of solid banks of snow or ice, +an' we was told, me an' Jim was, that these were caves of ice, an' +that th' gold was near these caves."</p> + +<p>"Well, of course me an' my partner wanted to go down the worst way, +an' try for some gold, but th' Indians wouldn't let us. They said it +was dangerous, for th' ice caves were constantly fallin' in, an' +smashin' whoever was inside. But to prove what they said about th' +gold, they sent one of their number down, while we waited on th' +side of th' mountain."</p> + +<p>"Did he get any gold?" asked Tom, eagerly.</p> + +<p>For answer the old miner pulled from his pocket a few yellow +pebbles—little stones of dull, gleaming yellow.</p> + +<p>"There's some of th' gold from amid th' caves of ice," he remarked +simply. "I kept 'em for a souvenir, hopin' some day I might git back +there. Well, Jim an' me watched th' Indian going down into th' +valley. He come back in about three hours, havin' only gone to th' +nearest cave, an' he had two pockets filled with these little chunks +of solid gold. They gave me an' Jim some, but they wouldn't hear of +us goin' t' th' valley by ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Then a bad storm come up, an' we had t' hit th' trail for home—the +Indians' home, I mean—for Jim an' I was far enough away from ours."</p> + +<p>"Well, t' make a long story short, Jim an' me tried every way we +knowed t' git t' that valley, but we couldn't. It come off colder +an' colder, an' th' tribe of Indians with whom we lived was attacked +by some of their enemies, an' driven away from their campin' +grounds. Jim an' me, we went too, but not before Jim had drawed this +map on a piece of dog-skin we found in one of the huts. We had an +idea we might get back, some day, an' find the valley, so we'd need +a map t' go by. But poor Jim never got back. He got badly frozen +when the Indians drove us an' our friends away, an' he never got +over it. He died up there in th' ice, an' we buried him. I took th' +map, an' when spring come, I made a hike out of that country. From +then until now I've been plannin' how t' git t' that valley, an' th' +only way I seen was an airship. Then, when I was prospectin' around +out in Colorado I saw Tom's machine hidden in th' trees, an' I +waited until he come along, which part you know as well as I do," +finished Abe.</p> + +<p>"And that's the story of the valley of gold," spoke Mr. Swift.</p> + +<p>"That's all there is to it," assented Abe, simply.</p> + +<p>"Do you think there is much gold there?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Plenty of it—for th' pickin' up," replied the miner. "Around th' +caves of ice it's full of it, but, of course, it's dangerous. An' +th' only way t' git t' it, an' pass th' savage Indians that are all +around in th' mountains about th' valley, is t' fly over their heads +in th' airship."</p> + +<p>"Then that's what we'll do," decided Tom.</p> + +<p>"Will you go all the way in the RED CLOUD?" inquired Mr. Jackson.</p> + +<p>"No, I think I'll send the airship on ahead to some point in +Washington—say Seattle," replied Tom, "put it together there, and +start for the Snow Mountains. In Seattle we can get plenty of +supplies and stores. It will be a good point to start from, and will +save us a long, and perhaps dangerous, flight across the United +States."</p> + +<p>"I think that will be the best plan," agreed Mr. Swift. "But what +about Andy—do you think he'll try to follow—or try to get ahead of +you now that he has a copy of the map?"</p> + +<p>"He may," answered Tom. "But I have a little trick I'm going to work +on Andy. I will try to learn whether he really has a copy of the +map, though I'm practically certain of it. Then I'll decide what's +best to do."</p> + +<p>"In th' meanwhile, will you be gettin' ready?" asked Abe. "I'd like +t' start as soon as we can, for it's awful cold there, the longer +you wait, at this time of th' year."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'll start right to work, getting the RED CLOUD in readiness +to be shipped," promised Tom.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>ANDY'S AIRSHIP FLIES</h3> + + +<p>"Hello, Tom, have you heard the news?" asked Ned Newton, of the +young inventor, a few days later.</p> + +<p>"What news, Ned? I declare I've been so busy thinking out the best +plan to ship the RED CLOUD to Seattle that I haven't been over to +town. What's going on? Have they decided to build a new church in +Shopton, or something like that?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, this about Andy Foger's airship."</p> + +<p>"Andy's airship, eh? Is he still working on it?"</p> + +<p>"It's all done, so Sam Snedecker was telling me last night, and to- +day Andy is going to try to fly it."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean it!"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing. Let's go over and watch him."</p> + +<p>"He might make a fuss, same as he did when we looked in the window +of his shed."</p> + +<p>"He can't make any fuss now. He's got to take his machine out to fly +it, and anybody that wants to can look on. Didn't he watch you make +flights often enough?"</p> + +<p>"That's so. Where is the trial flight going to take place?"</p> + +<p>"In the big meadow. Come on over."</p> + +<p>"Guess I will. I can't do much more now. I've been getting some +boxes and crates made in which to pack the RED CLOUD. I'll have to +take her all apart."</p> + +<p>"Then you're really going to hunt for the valley of gold?"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing. How about you going, Ned? I spoke to dad about it, and +he said he'd see that you could have a leave of absence."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that part's all right. The bank president told me today I +could take a vacation any time I wanted it. In fact that's what I +came over to see you about. I want to thank your father."</p> + +<p>"Then you're going?"</p> + +<p>"I sure am, Tom! Won't it be great! I hope I can get a little gold +for myself! My folks didn't take very much to the notion of me going +off in an airship, but I told them how often you'd gone on trips, +and come safely back, so they finally gave their consent. When are +you going to start?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, in about two weeks. Did I tell you about Andy and the map?"</p> + +<p>"No. What trick has he been up to now?"</p> + +<p>Thereupon Tom related his suspicions concerning the bully, and also +hinted to Ned of a certain ruse he intended to work on Andy when he +got the chance.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you're ready, suppose we go over and see if Andy's airship +will really fly," suggested Ned, after a while. "I'm doubtful +myself, and I'd just like to see him come to grief, after the many +mean things he's done to you."</p> + +<p>"Well," spoke Tom slowly, "I don't know as I wish him any bad luck, +but I certainly hope he doesn't use his airship to try to beat us +out in the hunt for the valley of gold."</p> + +<p>"Do you think he might?"</p> + +<p>"It's possible. But never mind about that now. Come on, we'll go +over to the big meadow."</p> + +<p>The two chums walked along together, talking of many things. Tom +told of some communication he had had with Mr. Damon, in which +letters the eccentric man had inquired as to when the trip for +Alaska would be undertaken.</p> + +<p>"Then he's going?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, it wouldn't seem natural to go without some of Mr. Damon's +blessings. But I think he's going to bring a friend with him."</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ralph Parker."</p> + +<p>"That gloomy scientist, who is always predicting such terrible +things going to happen?"</p> + +<p>"That's the gentleman. You met him once, I believe Mr. Damon says +Mr. Parker wants to do some scientific studying in the far north, so +I've already counted on him as one of our party. Well, perhaps he +won't do so much predicting this trip."</p> + +<p>A little later Tom and Ned came to a big open field. They saw quite +a crowd gathered in it, but no sign of an airship.</p> + +<p>"Guess Andy hasn't arrived," spoke Tom.</p> + +<p>"No; very likely he's found out that something is wrong with his +machine, and he isn't going to risk it."</p> + +<p>But almost as Ned spoke, there sounded cries of excitement from the +crowd, and, a little later, something big and white, with many wing- +shaped stretches of canvas sticking out from all sides, was seen +turning into the big meadow from the broad highway that led to +Andy's house.</p> + +<p>"There she is!" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"There's something, at any rate," conceded Tom, as he hastened his +steps. "It's a queer-looking aeroplane, though. My! he's got enough +wings to it!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's Andy's sure enough," went on Ned "There he is in front, +giving orders like a major-general, and Sam and Pete are helping +him. Let's get closer."</p> + +<p>They followed the crowd, which was thronging about the airship that +Andy Foger had made, Tom had a glimpse of the machine. It was a form +of triplane, with three tiers of main wings, and several other sets +of planes, some stationary and some capable of being moved. There +was no gas-bag feature, but amidships was a small, enclosed cabin, +which evidently held the machinery, and was designed to afford +living quarters. In some respects the airship was not unlike Tom's, +and the young inventor could see that Andy had copied some of his +ideas. But Tom cared little about this.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it will go up?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"It looks to me to be too heavy, and his propellers seem too small," +answered Tom. "He's got to have a very powerful motor to make all +that bulk fly."</p> + +<p>The people were crowding in closer around the airship, for the news +that Andy was to attempt a flight had spread about town.</p> + +<p>"Now keep back—all of you!" ordered the bully, with a show of +anger. "If any one damages my airship I'll have him arrested! Keep +back, now, or I won't fly!"</p> + +<p>"Reminds me of a little kid saying he won't play if he can't have +his own way," whispered Ned to Tom.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Andy, give us a ride!"</p> + +<p>"Going above the clouds?"</p> + +<p>"When are you coming back?"</p> + +<p>"Bring down a snowstorm!"</p> + +<p>"Be careful that you don't fall!"</p> + +<p>These were some of the things shouted at Andy, for he had few +friends among the town lads, on account of his mean ways.</p> + +<p>"Keep quiet—all of you!" he ordered. "Get back. You might get hurt +when I start the motor. I'm going to make a flight soon," he added +proudly. "Sam, you come over here and hold this end. Pete, you go +back to the rear. Simpson, you get inside and help me with the +motor. Henderson, you get ready to shove when I tell you."</p> + +<p>These last orders were to the two machinists whom Andy had engaged +to help him, and the bully gave himself no end of airs and +importance as he bustled about</p> + +<p>Tom could not help but admit that Andy's machine was a big affair. +There was a great stretch of wings and planes, several rudders other +appliances for which the young inventor could not exactly fathom a +use. He did not think the machine would fly far, if at all. But Andy +was hurrying here and there, getting the triplane in place on a +level stretch of ground, as if he intended to capture some great +prize.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to tackle him about stealing a copy of that map?" +asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"I will if I get a chance," answered Tom, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>He got his opportunity a few minutes later. Andy, hurrying here and +there, came face to face with the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Andy," spoke Tom, good-naturedly. "So you're going to make a +flight, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am, and I s'pose you came around to see if you could get any +ideas; didn't you?" sneered Andy.</p> + +<p>"Of course," admitted Tom, with an easy laugh. "My airship doesn't +fly, you know, Andy, and I want to see what's wrong with it."</p> + +<p>There was a laugh in the crowd, at this, for Tom's success was well +known.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to Alaska?" suddenly asked Tom, in a low voice, of +the bully.</p> + +<p>"To Alaska? I—I don't—I don't know what you mean?" stammered Andy, +as he turned aside.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you do know what I mean," insisted Tom. "And I want to tell +you that the map you have won't be of much use to you. Why, do you +think," he went on, "that Abe would carry the real map around with +him that way? It's easy to make a copy look like an original, Andy, +and also very easy to put false distances and directions on a map +that may fall into the hands of an enemy."</p> + +<p>The shot told. Andy's face turned first red and then pale.</p> + +<p>"A—a false map!" he stammered. "Wrong directions?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—on the copy you made of the map you took from Mr. +Abercrombie," went on Tom.</p> + +<p>"I—I didn't make any—Oh, I'm not going to talk to you!" blustered +Andy. "Get out of my way! I'm going to fly my airship."</p> + +<p>The bully pushed past Tom, and started toward the triplane. But Tom +had found out what he wanted to know. Andy had made a copy of the +map. From now on there would be every danger that the bully would +make an effort to get to the valley of gold.</p> + +<p>But other matters held Andy's attention now. He wanted to try his +airship. With the help of his two cronies, and the machinists, the +machine was gone over, oiled up, and finally, after several false +starts, the motor was set going.</p> + +<p>It made a terrific racket, and the whole machine vibrated as though +it would shake apart</p> + +<p>"He hasn't got if well enough braced," said Tom to Ned.</p> + +<p>"Out of the way, now, everybody!" yelled Andy. "Keep away or you'll +get hurt! I'm going up!"</p> + +<p>He climbed into the cabin of the craft, and took his position at the +steering-wheel. The speed of the motor, its racket and its stream of +sparks increased.</p> + +<p>"Let go!" cried Andy to those who were holding his craft.</p> + +<p>They released their hold. The triplane moved slowly across the +ground, gathered speed, and, then, under the impulse of the powerful +propellers, ran rapidly over the meadow.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! There he goes!" cried Sam.</p> + +<p>"Yes! Now he's going to fly," proudly added Pete Bailey, the other +crony of the bully.</p> + +<p>"He'd better fly soon, then, or he'll be in the ditch," said Tom +grimly, for a little, sluggish stream crossed the meadow not far +from where Andy had started.</p> + +<p>The next instant, thinking he had momentum enough, Andy tilted his +elevation plane. The clumsy triplane rose into the air and shot +forward.</p> + +<p>"There he goes!" cried Sam.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" yelled the crowd.</p> + +<p>Andy had gone up about ten feet, and was making slow progress.</p> + +<p>"I guess Tom Swift isn't the only one in Shopton who can build an +airship!" sneered Pete Bailey.</p> + +<p>"Look! Look!" yelled Ned. "He's coming down!"</p> + +<p>Sure enough, Andy's machine had reached the end of her flight. The +motor stopped with something between a cough and a wheeze. Down +fluttered the aeroplane, like some clumsy bird, down into the ditch, +settling on one side, and then coming to rest, tilted over at a +sharp angle. Andy was pitched out, but landed on the soft mud, for +there had been a thaw. He wasn't hurt much, evidently, for he soon +scrambled to his feet as the crowd surged toward him.</p> + +<p>"Well, he flew a little way," observed Ned, grimly.</p> + +<p>"But he came down mighty soon," added Tom. "I thought he would. His +machine is too big and clumsy. I've seen enough. Come on, Ned. We'll +get ready to go to Alaska. Andy Foger will never follow us in that +machine."</p> + +<p>But Tom was soon to find out how much mistaken he was.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>READY FOR THE TRIP</h3> + + +<p>Andy Foger stood looking at his tilted airship. His clothes were +covered with mud from the ditch, some of the muck had splashed over +his face so that he was a pitiable looking object.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" panted Pete Bailey.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt?" asked Sam Snedecker.</p> + +<p>The two cronies had hurried to the side of the bully.</p> + +<p>"Matter? Can't you see what's the matter?" demanded Andy wrathfully. +"The machine came down, that's what's the matter! Why didn't you +fellows fix the motor better?" he shouted at the two machinists as +they came running up, followed by the crowd.</p> + +<p>"Fix it better? The motor was all right," declared the taller +machinist. "Any of them are likely to stop unexpectedly."</p> + +<p>"Well, I didn't think mine would," came from Andy. "Now look at my +airship! It's all busted!"</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't hurt much," said the other man, after critically +looking it over. "We can fix it, and you'll fly yet, Andy."</p> + +<p>"I hope I do, if only to fool Tom Swift," declared the bully, as he +wiped some of the mud from his face. "Come on, now, help me wheel +the machine back, and I'll try it again."</p> + +<p>Andy made another attempt, but this time the machine did not even +rise off the ground, and then, amid the jeers of the crowd, the +discomfited lad took his aeroplane back to the shed in the rear of +his house.</p> + +<p>"I'll fix it yet, and make a long flight," he declared. "I'll show +Tom Swift he can't laugh at me!"</p> + +<p>"You'll make a long flight eh?" asked one of the machinists. "Where +will you go?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind," answered Andy, with a knowing wink. "I've got a plan +up my sleeve—my father and I are going to do something that will +astonish everybody in Shopton," and then Andy, with many nods and +winks, went into the shed, where he began giving orders about the +airship. He wanted the motor changed, and one of the machinists made +some suggestions about the planes, which, he said, would give better +results.</p> + +<p>As for Tom and Ned, they strolled away, satisfied that in Andy Foger +they would not have a very dangerous rival, as far as airships were +concerned.</p> + +<p>Tom thought matters over during the next few days. He was now +satisfied that Andy had a copy of the map, and, as far as he could +see, there was no way of getting it from him, for he could not prove +to the satisfaction of the legal authorities that the bully actually +had it.</p> + +<p>"We'll just have to take a chance, that's all," decided the young +inventor in talking matters over with his father, Ned, and Abe +Abercrombie. "If Andy and some of his crowd trail after us, we'll +just have to run away from them and get to the valley first."</p> + +<p>"If they do get there, they won't find it very easy traveling I +reckon," remarked Abe. "They'll get all they want of the caves of +ice. But hadn't we better get a hustle on ourselves, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we will soon start now. I have the RED CLOUD all packed up for +shipment to Seattle. We will send it on ahead, and then follow, for +it will take some time to get there, even though it's going by fast +freight."</p> + +<p>"What about Mr. Damon?" asked Ned. "When is he coming?"</p> + +<p>"There's no telling," responded Tom. "He may be on hand any minute, +and, again, he may only show up just as we are starting. I haven't +heard from him in the last day or two,"</p> + +<p>At that moment there was a knock on the private office in the +aeroplane shed, where Tom, Ned and Abe Abercrombie were talking.</p> + +<p>"Who's there?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"It's me," answered a voice recognizable as that of the colored man +Eradicate.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Rad?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Why I jest thought I'd tell you dat de blessin' man am comin' down +de road."</p> + +<p>"The blessing man?" repeated Tom. "Oh, you mean Mr. Damon."</p> + +<p>"Yais, sah, dat's jest who I done mean. An' dere's anodder gen'man +wif him."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Parker, I expect," spoke Tom. "Well, tell them to come in here, +Rad."</p> + +<p>"Yais, sah. Dey's comin' up de path now, so dey is."</p> + +<p>The next moment Tom and the others heard a voice saying:</p> + +<p>"Why, bless my necktie! The RED CLOUD is gone!" Mr. Damon had peered +into the shed, and had not seen the airship, for Tom had it packed +up. "I wonder if Tom Swift has gone away? Bless my top-knot, Mr. +Parker, I hope We're not too late!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I hope not," added the scientist. "I wish to make a study of +the caves of ice. I think perhaps they may be working south, and, in +time, this part of the country may be covered deep under a frozen +blanket."</p> + +<p>"Cheerful, isn't he, Ned?" asked Tom, with a smile. Then, going to +the door of the shed he called out: "Here we are, Mr. Damon. Glad to +see you, Mr. Parker." This last wasn't exactly true, but Tom wanted +to be polite.</p> + +<p>"Bless my collar button, Tom! But what has become of the airship?" +asked Mr. Damon, as he looked about the shed, and saw only a number +of boxes and crates.</p> + +<p>"Taken apart, and packed up, ready for the trip to the valley of +gold and the caves of ice," replied the young inventor, and then he +briefly told of their plans.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's a good idea," declared the eccentric man. "Mr. Parker +and I are ready to go whenever you are, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll start very soon. I will get all our supplies in Seattle. +Now, to discuss details," and, after Mr. Parker and Mr. Damon had +been made acquainted with the old miner, who told his story in +brief, they began a discussion of the prospective trip.</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker took up their residence in Tom's house, and +while the eccentric man busied himself in helping our hero, Ned and +Abe Abercrombie in getting ready for the trip to Alaska, the gloomy +scientist went about making "observations" as he called them, with a +view to predicting what might happen in the near future.</p> + +<p>He was particularly anxious to get up north, among the caves of ice, +and, several times he repeated his statement that he believed the +mass of ice in Alaska was working down toward the south. But no one +paid much attention to him, though Tom recalled, not without a +little shudder, that Mr. Parker had correctly predicted the +destruction of Earthquake Island, and also the landslide on Phantom +Mountain.</p> + +<p>The airship was finally sent off, being forwarded to Seattle in +sections, where it could easily be put together. The matter of Andy +Foger having a duplicate map of the valley of gold was discussed, +but it was agreed that nothing could be done about it. So Tom and +the others devoted all their energies to getting in shape for their +prospective journey.</p> + +<p>Mr. Swift was invited to go, but declined on the ground that he had +several inventions to perfect, nor could Mr. Jackson go, as he was +needed to help his employer. So Tom, Ned, Mr. Damon, Mr. Parker and +Abe Abercrombie made up the party. Tom arranged to send wireless +messages to his father from the airship once they were started off +toward the valley of gold, and over the frozen north.</p> + +<p>One evening, when Tom had been to pay a last visit to Mary Nestor, +as he was coming past the Foger premises he saw a number of large +vans, loaded with big packing cases coming out of the banker's yard.</p> + +<p>"Hum! I wonder if they're moving?" mused our hero. "If they are +they're taking a queer time for it." He paused a moment to look at +the procession of vans. As he did so he heard the voice of Andy +Foger.</p> + +<p>"Now, I want you men to be careful of everything!" the bully called +out arrogantly. "If you break anything I'll sue you for damages!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that cub makes me sick!" exclaimed one of the drivers as he +came opposite Tom.</p> + +<p>"What are you moving—eggs, that you have to be so careful?" asked +the young inventor, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Eggs? No! But it might just as well be," was the growling answer. +"He's shipping an airship, all taken to pieces, and he has nervous +prostration for fear it will be broken. I don't believe the old +thing's any good, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"An airship—Andy Foger sending away his airship?" gasped Tom. +"Where to?"</p> + +<p>"Some place in Alaska," was the startling reply. "Pitka or Sitka, or +some such place like that. It's all in these boxes, G'lang there!" +this to his horses.</p> + +<p>"Andy sending his airship to Alaska!" murmured Tom in dismay. "Then +he surely is going to make a try for that valley of gold!"</p> + +<p>He turned away, while the snarling voice of the bully rang out on +the night, urging the drivers to be very careful of the boxes and +crates on their trucks.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>A THIEF IN THE NIGHT</h3> + + +<p>Tom Swift hardly knew what to think. He had scarcely believed, in +spite of the fact that he was sure Andy had a copy of the map, that +the bully would actually make an effort to go to the valley of gold.</p> + +<p>"And in that airship of his, too," mused Tom. "Well, there's one +consolation, I don't believe he'll go far in that, though it does +sail better than when he made his first attempt. Well, if he's going +to try to beat us, it's a good thing I know it We can be prepared +for him, now."</p> + +<p>Tom, after watching the big vans for a few minutes, turned and kept +on toward his home.</p> + +<p>There was more than surprise on the part of Mr. Damon and the others +when Tom told his news. There was alarm, for there was a feeling +that Mr. Foger and his son might adopt unscrupulous tricks.</p> + +<p>"But what can we do?" asked Mr. Swift</p> + +<p>"Whitewash him!" exclaimed Eradicate Sampson, who had overheard part +of the conversation. "Dat's what I'd do t' him an' his father, too! +Dat's what I would! Fust I'd let mah mule Boomerang kick him a bit, +an' den, when he was all mussed up, I'd whitewash him!" That was the +colored man's favorite method of dealing with enemies, but, of +course, he could not always carry it out.</p> + +<p>However, after considering the matter from all sides, it was decided +that nothing could be done for the present.</p> + +<p>"Let them go," said Tom, "I don't believe they'll ever find the +valley of gold. I fancy I threw a scare into Andy, talking as I did +about the map."</p> + +<p>"Well, even if the Fogers do get the gold," said Mr. Parker calmly, +"they cannot take away the caves of ice, and it is in them that I am +most interested. I want to prove some of my new theories."</p> + +<p>"And we need the gold," said Tom, in a low voice; "don't we, Abe?"</p> + +<p>"That's what we do, Tom," answered the old miner.</p> + +<p>Preparations were now practically completed for their trip to +Seattle by rail. Tom made some inquiries in the next few days +regarding the Fogers, but only learned that the father and son had +left town, after superintending the shipment of their airship.</p> + +<p>"Well, we start to-day," remarked Tom, as he arose one morning. "In +two weeks, at most, we ought to be hovering over the valley, Abe."</p> + +<p>"I hope so? Tom. You've got the map put away safely, have you?"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing. Are you all ready?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll start for the depot right after breakfast." The +adventurers had arranged to take a local train from Shopton, and get +on a fast express at one of the more important! stations.</p> + +<p>Good-byes were said, Mr. Swift, Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Baggert and +Eradicate waving their adieus from the porch as Tom and the others +started for the depot. Miss Mary Nestor had bidden our hero farewell +the previous night—it being a sort of second good-bye, for Tom was +a frequent caller at her house, and, if the truth must be told he +rather disliked to leave the young lady.</p> + +<p>Tom found a few of his friends at the station, who had gathered +there to give him and Ned BON-VOYAGE.</p> + +<p>"Bring us back some nuggets, Tom," pleaded Arthur Norton.</p> + +<p>"Bring me a musk-ox if you can shoot one," suggested one.</p> + +<p>"A live bear or a trained Eskimo for mine," exclaimed another.</p> + +<p>Tom laughingly promised to do the best he could.</p> + +<p>"I'll send you some gold nuggets by wireless," said Ned Newton.</p> + +<p>It was almost time for the train to arrive. In the crowd on the +platform Tom noticed Pete Bailey.</p> + +<p>"He must feel lost without Andy," observed the young inventor to +Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I wonder what he's hanging around here for?"</p> + +<p>They learned a moment later, for they saw Pete going into the +telegraph office.</p> + +<p>"Must be something important for him to wire about," observed Ned.</p> + +<p>Tom did not answer. The window of the office was slightly open, +though the day was cool, and he was listening to the clicks of the +telegraph instrument, as the operator sent Pete's message. Tom was +familiar with the Morse code. What was his surprise to hear the +message being sent to Andy Foger at a certain hotel in Chicago. And +the message read:</p> + +<p>"Tom Swift's party leaving to-day."</p> + +<p>"What in the world does that mean?" thought Tom, but he did not tell +Ned what he had picked up as it went over the wire. "Why should Andy +want to be informed when we leave? That's why Pete was hanging +around here! He had been instructed to let Andy know when we left +for Seattle. There's something queer back of all this."</p> + +<p>Tom was still puzzling over the matter when their train roiled in +and he and the others got aboard.</p> + +<p>"Well, we're off!" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes; we're off," admitted Tom, and, to himself he added: "No +telling what will happen before we get there, though."</p> + +<p>The trip to Chicago was without incident, and, on arrival in the +Windy City, Tom was on the lookout for Andy or his father, but he +did not see them. He made private inquiries at the hotel mentioned +in Pete's telegram, but learned that the Fogers had gone on.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I'm worrying too much," thought Tom. But an event that +occurred a few nights later, when they were speeding across the +continent showed him that there was need of great precaution.</p> + +<p>On leaving Chicago, Tom had noticed, among the other passengers +traveling in the same coach as themselves, a man who seemed to be +closely observing each member of the party of gold-hunters. He was a +man with a black mustache, a mustache so black, in fact, that Tom at +once concluded that it had been dyed. This, in itself, was not much, +but there was a certain air about the man—a "sporty" air—which +made Tom suspicious.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't be surprised if that man was a gambler, Ned," he said to +his chum, one afternoon, as they were speeding along. The man in +question was several seats away from Tom.</p> + +<p>"He does look like one," agreed Ned.</p> + +<p>"I needn't advise you not to fall in with any of his invitations to +play cards, I suppose," went on Tom, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, it's something I don't do," answered Ned, with a laugh. +"But it might be a good thing to speak to Abe Abercrombie about him. +If that man's a sharper perhaps Abe knows him, or has seen him, for +Abe has traveled around in the West considerable."</p> + +<p>"We'll ask him," agreed Tom, but the miner, when his attention was +called to the man, said he had never seen him before.</p> + +<p>"He does look like a confidence man," agreed Abe, "but as long as he +doesn't approach us we can't do anything, and don't need to worry."</p> + +<p>There was little need to call the attention of either Mr. Damon or +Mr. Parker to the man, for Mr. Damon was busy watching the scenery, +as this trip was a new one to him, and he was continually blessing +something he saw or thought of. As for Mr. Parker, he was puzzling +over some new theories he had in mind, and he said little to the +others.</p> + +<p>On the night of the same day on which Tom had called special +attention to the man with the black mustache, our hero went to his +berth rather late. He had sent some telegrams to his father and one +to Miss Nestor, and, when he turned in he saw the "gambler," as he +had come to call him, going into the smoking compartment of the +coach. Though Tom thought of the man as a gambler, there was no +evidence, as yet, that he was one, and he had made no effort to +approach any of our friends, though he had observed them closely.</p> + +<p>How long Tom had been asleep he did not know, but he was suddenly +awakened by feeling his pillow move. At first he thought it was +caused by the swaying of the train, and he was about to go to sleep +again, when there came a movement that he knew could not have been +caused by any unevenness of the roadbed.</p> + +<p>Then, like a flash there came to Tom's mind the thought that under +his pillow, in a little leather case he had made for it, was the +map, showing the location of the valley of gold.</p> + +<p>He sat up suddenly, and made a lunge for the pillow. He felt a hand +being hurriedly withdrawn. Tom made a grab for it, but the fingers +slipped from his grasp.</p> + +<p>"Here! Who are you!" cried Tom, endeavoring to peer through the +darkness.</p> + +<p>"It's all right—mistake," murmured a voice.</p> + +<p>Tom leaned suddenly forward and parted the curtains of his berth. +There was a dim light burning in the aisle of the car. By the gleam +of it the young inventor caught sight of a man hurrying away, and he +felt sure the fellow who had put his hand under his pillow was the +man with the black mustache. He confirmed this suspicion a moment +later, for the man half turned, as if to look back, and the youth +saw the mustache.</p> + +<p>"He—he was after my map!" thought Tom, with a gasp.</p> + +<p>He sat bolt upright. What should he do? To raise an alarm now, he +felt, would only bring a denial from the man if he accused him. +There might also be a scene, and the man might get very indignant. +Then, too, Tom and his friends did not want their object made known, +as it would be in the event of Tom raising an outcry and stating +what was under his pillow.</p> + +<p>He felt for the map case, opened it and saw, in the gleam of the +light, that it was safe.</p> + +<p>"He didn't get it anyhow," murmured our hero. "I guess I won't say +anything until morning, though he did come like a thief in the night +to see if he could steal it."</p> + +<p>Tom glanced to where his coat and other clothing hung in the little +berth-hammock, and a hasty search showed that his money and ticket +were safe.</p> + +<p>"It was the map he was after all right," mused Tom. "I'll have a +talk with Mr. Damon in the morning about what's best to do. That's +why the fellow has been keeping such a close watch on us. He wanted +to see who had the map."</p> + +<p>Then another thought came to Tom.</p> + +<p>"If it was the map he was after," he whispered to himself, "he must +know what it's about Therefore the Fogers must have told him. I'll +wager Andy or his father put this man up to steal the map. Andy's +afraid he hasn't got a copy of the right one. This is getting more +and more mysterious! We must be on our guard all the while. Well, +I'll see what I'll do in the morning."</p> + +<p>But in the morning the man with the black mustache was not aboard +the train, and on inquiring of the conductor, Tom learned that the +mysterious stranger had gotten off at a way station shortly after +midnight.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>A VANDAL'S ACT</h3> + + +<p>"Bless my penknife!" exclaimed Mr. Daman, the next morning, when he +had been told of Tom's experience in the night, "things are coming +to a pretty pass when our enemies adopt such tactics as this! What +can we do, Tom? Hadn't you better let one of us carry the map?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess not," answered the young inventor. "They have had one +try at me, and found that I wasn't napping. I don't believe they'll +try again. No, I'll carry the map."</p> + +<p>Tom concealed it in an old wallet, as he thought it was less likely +to attract attention there than in the new case he formerly used. +Still he did not relax his vigilance, and his sleep for the next few +nights was uneasy, as he awakened several times, thinking he felt a +hand under his pillow.</p> + +<p>At length Ned suggested that one of them sit up part of the night, +and keep an eye on Tom's berth. This was agreed to, and they divided +the hours of darkness into watches, each one taking a turn at +guarding the precious map. But they might have spared themselves the +trouble, for no further attempt was made to get it.</p> + +<p>"I'd just like to know what Andy Foger's plans are?" said Tom one +afternoon, as they were within a few miles of Seattle. "He certainly +must have made up his mind quickly, after he saw the map, about +going in search of the gold."</p> + +<p>"Maybe his father proposed it," suggested Ned. "I heard, in our +bank, that Mr. Foger has lost considerable money lately, and he may +need more."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't wonder. Well, if they are going to Sitka, Alaska, to +assemble their ship, I think they'll have trouble, for supplies are +harder to get there than in Seattle. But we'll soon be on our way +ourselves, if nothing happens. I hope all the parts of the RED CLOUD +arrive safely."</p> + +<p>They did, as Tom learned a few hours later, when they had taken up +their quarters in a Seattle hotel, and he had made inquiries at the +railroad office. In the freight depot were all the boxes and crates +containing the parts of the big airship, and by comparison with a +list he had made, the young inventor found that not a single part +was missing.</p> + +<p>"We'll soon have her together again," he said to his friends, "and +then we'll start for Alaska."</p> + +<p>"Where are you going to assemble the airship?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I've got to hire some sort of a big shed," explained Tom. "I heard +of one I think I can get. It's out at the fair grounds, and was used +some time ago when they had a balloon ascension here. It will be +just what I need."</p> + +<p>"How long before we can start for the gold valley?" asked the old +miner anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Oh, in about a week," answered the lad, "that is, if everything +goes well."</p> + +<p>Tom lost no time in getting to work. He had the different parts of +his airship carted to the big shed which he hired. This building was +on one edge of the fair grounds, and there was a large, level space +which was admirably adapted for trying the big craft, when once more +it was put together.</p> + +<p>The gold-seekers worked hard, and to such good purpose that in three +days most of the ship was together once more, and the RED CLOUD +looked like herself again. Tom hired a couple of machinists to aid +him in assembling the motor, and some of the gas appliances and +other apparatus.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Bless my rubber shoes!" cried Mr. Damon in delight, as he +looked at the big craft "This is like old times, Tom!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," agreed our hero.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to give it a preliminary tryout?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I think we can do that to-morrow," replied Tom. "I want to +know that everything is in good working shape before I trust the +ship on the trip to the frozen north. There are several problems I +want to work out, too, for I think I will need a different kind of +gas up where the temperature is so low."</p> + +<p>"It certainly is cold up here," agreed Ned, for they were now much +farther north than when they were in Shopton, and, besides, winter +was coming on. It was not the best time of the year to journey into +Alaska, but they had no choice. To delay, especially now, might mean +that their enemies would get ahead of them.</p> + +<p>"We'll be warm in the airship, though; won't we?" asked Abe.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," answered Tom. "We'll be warm, and have plenty to eat. +Which reminds me that I must begin to see about our stock of +provisions and other supplies, for we'll soon be on our way."</p> + +<p>Work on the airship was hastened to such good advantage the next two +days that it was in shape for a trial flight, and, one afternoon, +the RED CLOUD was wheeled from the shed out into big field, the gas +was generated, and the motor started.</p> + +<p>There was a little hitch, due to the fact that some of the machine +adjustments were wrong, but Tom soon had that remedied and then, +with the big propellers whirling around, the airship was sent +scudding across the field.</p> + +<p>Another moment and it rose like a great eagle, and sailed through +the air, while a small crowd that had daily gathered in the hope of +seeing a flight, sent up a cheer.</p> + +<p>"Does it work all right?" asked Ned anxiously, as he stood in the +pilothouse beside his chum.</p> + +<p>"As good as it did in Shopton," answered the young inventor, +proudly.</p> + +<p>"Bless my pocketbook! but that's lucky," exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Then +we can soon start, eh?"</p> + +<p>"As soon as we are stocked up," replied the lad.</p> + +<p>Tom put the airship through a number of "stunts" to test her +stability and the rudder control, much to the delight of the +gathering throng. Everything was found to work well, and after +ascending to a considerable height, to the no small alarm of the old +miner, Tom made a quick descent, with the motor shut off. The RED +CLOUD conducted herself perfectly, and there was nothing else to be +desired.</p> + +<p>She was sent down to earth and wheeled back into the shed, and not +without some difficulty, for the crowd, which was now very large, +wanted to get near enough to touch the wonderful craft.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow I'll arrange about the supplies and provisions, and we'll +stock her up," said Tom to his companions. "Now you folks had better +go back to the hotel."</p> + +<p>"Aren't you coming?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>I'm going to bunk here in the shed to-night, said the young +inventor.</p> + +<p>"What for?"</p> + +<p>"I can't take any chances now that the RED CLOUD is in shape for +flying. Some of the Foger crowd might be hanging around, and break +in here to damage her."</p> + +<p>"But the watchman will be on guard," suggested Ned, for since the +hiring of the shed, the young inventor had engaged a man to remain +on duty all night.</p> + +<p>"I know," answered Tom Swift, "but I'm not going to take any +chances. I'll stay here with the watchman."</p> + +<p>Ned offered to share the vigil with his chum, and, after some +objection Tom consented. The others went back to the hotel, +promising to return early in the morning.</p> + +<p>Tom slept heavily that night, much heavier than he was in the habit +of doing. So did Ned, and their deep breathing as they lay in their +staterooms, in the cabin of the airship, told of physical weariness, +for they had worked hard to re-assemble the RED CLOUD.</p> + +<p>The watchman was seated in a chair just inside the big door of the +shed, near a small stove in which was a fire to take off the chill +of the big place. The guard had slept all day, and there was no +excuse for him nodding in the way that he did.</p> + +<p>"Queer, how drowsy I feel," he murmured several times. "It's only a +little after midnight, too," he added, looking at his watch, "Guess +I'll walk around a bit to rouse myself."</p> + +<p>He firmly intended to do this, but he thought he would wait just a +few minutes more, and he stretched out his legs and got comfortable +in the chair.</p> + +<p>Three minutes more and the watchman was asleep—sound asleep, while +a strange, sweet, sickish odor seemed to fill the atmosphere about +him.</p> + +<p>There was a noise at the door of the shed, a door in which there +were several cracks. A man outside laid aside something that looked +like an air pump. He applied one eye to a crack, and looked in on +the sleeping watchman.</p> + +<p>"He's off," the man murmured. "I thought he'd never get to sleep! +Now to get in and dose those two lads! Then I'll have the place to +myself!"</p> + +<p>There was a clicking noise about the lock on the shed door. It was +not a very secure lock at best, and, under the skilful fingers of +the midnight visitor, it quickly gave way. The man entered. He gave +one look at the slumbering watchman, listened to his heavy +breathing, and then went softly toward the airship, which looked to +be immense in the comparatively small shed—taking up nearly all the +space.</p> + +<p>The intruder peered in through the cabin windows where Ned and Tom +were asleep. Once more there was in the atmosphere a sickish odor. +The man again worked the instrument which was like a small air pump, +taking care not to get his own face too near it. Presently he +stopped and listened.</p> + +<p>"They're doped," he murmured. He arose, and took from his mouth and +nose a handkerchief saturated with some chemical that had rendered +him immune to the effects of the sleep-producing that he had +generated. "Sound asleep," he added. Then, taking out a long, keen +knife, the vandal stole toward where the great wings of the RED +CLOUD stretched out in the dim light like the pinions of a bird. +There was a ripping, tearing, rending sound, as the vandal cut and +slashed, but Tom, Ned and the watchman slumbered on.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>TOM IS HELD UP</h3> + + +<p>Tom Swift stirred uneasily in his heavy sleep. He dreamed that he +was again in his berth in the railroad car, and that the thief was +feeling under his pillow for the map. Only, this time, there seemed +to be hands feeling about his clothing, trying to locate his inner +pockets.</p> + +<p>The lad murmured something unintelligible, but he did not awaken. +The fumes prevented that. However, his movements showed that the +effect of the drug was wearing off. It was intended only for +temporary use, and it lasted less time than it would otherwise have +done in a warmer, moister climate, for the cold, crisp air that +penetrated the shed from outside dispelled the fumes.</p> + +<p>"Guess I'd better not chance it," murmured the intruder. "He may not +have it on him. and if I go through all his pockets I'll wake him +up. Anyhow, I've done what they paid me for. I don't believe they'll +sail in this airship."</p> + +<p>The vandal gave one glance at the sleeping lads, and stole from the +cabin of the craft. He looked at his work of ruin, and then tiptoed +past the slumbering watchman. A moment later and he was outside the +shed, hurrying away through the night.</p> + +<p>Several hours after this Mr. Damon and the old miner were pounding +on the door of the shed. Mr. Parker, the scientist, had remained at +the hotel, for he said he wanted to work out a few calculations +regarding some of his theories.</p> + +<p>"I thought we'd find them up by this time," spoke the eccentric man, +as he again knocked on the door. "Tom said he had lots to do to- +day."</p> + +<p>"Maybe they are working inside, and can't hear our knocks," +suggested Abe. "Try th' door."</p> + +<p>"Bless my heart! I never thought of that," exclaimed Mr. Damon. "I +believe I will."</p> + +<p>The door swung open as he pushed it, for it had not been locked when +the intruder left. The first thing Mr. Damon saw was the watchman, +still asleep in his chair.</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul!" the old man shouted. "Look at this, Abe!"</p> + +<p>"Something's wrong!" cried the miner, sniffing the air. "There's +been crooked work here! Where are the boys?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon was close to the airship. He looked in the cabin window.</p> + +<p>"Here they are, and they're both asleep, too!" he called. "And—bless +my eyeglasses! Look at the airship! The planes and wings are +all cut and slashed! Something has happened! The RED CLOUD is all +but ruined!"</p> + +<p>Abe hastened to his side. He looked at the damage done, and a fierce +look came over his face.</p> + +<p>"The Fogers again!" he murmured. "We'll pay 'em back for this! But +first we must see to the boys!"</p> + +<p>They needed small attention, however. The opening of the big door +had let in a flood of fresh air, and this dispelled the last of the +fumes. The watchman was the first to revive. The sleep caused by the +chemical, sprayed from the air-pump by the vandal, had been +succeeded by a natural slumber, and this was the case with Ned and +Tom. They were soon aroused, and looked with wonder, not unmixed +with rage, at the work done in the night.</p> + +<p>Every one of the principal planes of the airship, each of the +rudders, and some of the auxiliary wings had been cut by a sharp +knife—some in several places. The canvas hung in shreds and +patches, and the trim RED CLOUD looked like some old tramp airship +now. Tom could scarcely repress a groan.</p> + +<p>"Who did it?" he gasped.</p> + +<p>"And with us here on guard!" added Ned.</p> + +<p>"I—I must have fallen asleep," admitted the watchman in confusion.</p> + +<p>"You were all asleep," said Mr. Damon. "I couldn't rouse you!"</p> + +<p>"And there was th' smell of chloroform, or something like it in th' +shed," added the miner.</p> + +<p>"But look at the airship!" groaned Tom.</p> + +<p>"Is it ruined—can't we go to the valley of gold?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>Tom did not answer for a few minutes. He was walking around looking +at his damaged craft. The sleepy feeling was rapidly leaving him, as +well as Ned and the watchman.</p> + +<p>"Bless my watch chain!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "What an ugly, mean +piece of work. Can you repair it, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"I think so," was the hesitating answer. "It is not as bad as I +feared at first. Luckily the gas-bag has not been touched, for, if +it had, we could hardly have repaired it. I can fix the wings and +the rudders. The propellers have not been damaged, nor has the motor +been touched. I think they must have made another attempt to take +the map off me," he went on, as he looked at several pockets that +had been turned inside out.</p> + +<p>An examination of the door showed how the lock had been forced, and +the adventurers could easily guess the rest. But who the midnight +vandal was they could not tell, though Tom and the others were sure +it was some one hired by the Fogers.</p> + +<p>"They wanted to delay us," said Tom. "They thought this would hold +us back, but it won't—for long. We'll get right to work, and make +new planes and rudders. Fortunately the framework isn't hurt any."</p> + +<p>Once Tom got into action nothing held him back. He hardly wanted to +stop for meals. New canvas was ordered, and that very afternoon some +of the damaged wings had been repaired. In the meanwhile the stores +and provisions that had been ordered were arriving, and, under the +direction of the miner and Mr. Damon were put in the RED CLOUD. Tom +and Ned, with the help of a man they hired, worked diligently to +replace the damaged planes and rudders. Mr. Parker came out to the +airship shed, but he was of little use as a helper, for he was +continually stopping to jot down some memoranda about an observation +he thought of, or else he would lay aside his tools to go outside, +look at the weather, and make predictions.</p> + +<p>But Tom and the others labored to such good advantage that in three +days they had repaired most of the damage done. Luckily the vandal +had cut and slashed in a hurry, and his malicious work was only half +accomplished. There was no clue to his identity.</p> + +<p>No trace was seen of the Fogers, and Tom hardly expected it, for he +thought they were in Sitka by this time. Nor were any suspicious +persons seen hanging around the shed. The adventurers left their +rooms at the hotel, and took up their quarters in the airship that +would soon be their home for many days. They wanted to be where they +could watch the craft, and two guards were engaged.</p> + +<p>"We'll start to-morrow," Tom announced gaily one evening when, after +a hard day's work the last of the damaged planes had been repaired.</p> + +<p>"Start fer th' valley of gold?" asked the miner.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Everything is in good shape now. I want to go into town, to +send some messages home, telling dad we'll soon be on our way, and I +also want to get a few things."</p> + +<p>"Shall I come?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"No, I'd rather you'd stay here," spoke Tom, in a low voice. "We +can't take any more chances of being delayed, and, as it's pretty +well known that we'll sail to-morrow, the Foger crowd may try some +more of their tricks. No, I'll go to town alone, Ned. I'll soon be +back, however. You stay here."</p> + +<p>Both Tom came nearly never coming back. As he was returning from +sending the messages, and purchasing a few things he needed for the +trip, he passed through a dark street. He was walking along, +thinking of what the future might hold for him and his companions, +after they reached the caves of ice, when, just as he got to a high +board fence, surrounding some vacant lots, he heard some one whisper +hoarsely:</p> + +<p>"Here he comes!"</p> + +<p>The young inventor was on his guard instantly. He jumped back to +avoid a moving shadow, but was too late. Something struck him on the +back of his head, and he felt his senses leaving him. He struggled +against the feeling, and he realized, even in that exciting moment, +that the thick collar of his heavy overcoat, which he had turned up +because of a cold wind, had, perhaps, saved him from a broken skull.</p> + +<p>"Hold him!" commanded another voice. "I'll go through him!"</p> + +<p>The packages dropped from Tom's nerveless fingers. He felt himself +sinking down, in spite of his fierce determination not to succumb. +He felt several hands moving rapidly about his body, and then he +struck blindly out at the footpads.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>OFF FOR THE FROZEN NORTH</h3> + + +<p>Tom Swift felt as if he was struggling in some dream or nightmare. +He felt strong hands holding him and saw evil faces leering at him.</p> + +<p>Then gradually his brain cleared. His muscles, that had been +weakened by the cowardly blow, grew strong. He felt his fist land +heavily on some one's face. He heard a smothered gasp of pain.</p> + +<p>Then came the sound of footsteps running—Tom heard the "ping" of a +policeman's night-stick on the sidewalk.</p> + +<p>"Here come the cops!" he heard one voice exclaim.</p> + +<p>"Did you get it?" asked another.</p> + +<p>"No, I can't find it. Cut for it now!"</p> + +<p>They released the young inventor so suddenly that he staggered about +and almost fell.</p> + +<p>The next moment Tom was looking into the face of a big policeman, +who was half supporting him.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked the officer.</p> + +<p>"Hold-up, I guess," mumbled the lad. "There they go!" he pointed +toward two dark forms slipping along down the dimly-lighted street.</p> + +<p>The officer drew his revolver, and fired two shots in the air, but +the fleeing figures did not stop.</p> + +<p>"How did it happen?" asked the policeman. "Did they get anything +from you?"</p> + +<p>"No—I guess not," answered Tom. He saw the packages containing his +purchases lying where they had fallen. A touch told him his watch +and pocketbook were safe. The precious map was in a belt about his +waist, and that had not been removed. "No, they didn't get +anything," he assured the officer.</p> + +<p>"I came along too quick for 'em, I guess," spoke the bluecoat. "This +is a bad neighborhood. There have been several hold-ups here of +late, but I was on the job too soon for these fellows. Hello, Mike," +as another officer came running up in answer to the shots and the +raps of the night-stick. "Couple of strong-arm-men tackled this +young fellow just now. I saw something going on as I turned the +corner, and I rapped and ran up. They went down that way. I fired at +'em. You take after 'em, Mike, and I'll stay here. Don't believe you +can land 'em, but try! I came up too quick to allow 'em to get +anything, though."</p> + +<p>Tom did not contradict this. He knew, however, that, had the men who +attacked him wished to take his watch or money, they could have done +it several times before the officer arrived.</p> + +<p>"It was the map they were after," thought Tom, "not my watch or +money. This is more of the Foger's work. We must get away from +here."</p> + +<p>The policeman inquired for more particulars from Tom, who related +how the hold-up had taken place. The young inventor, however, said +nothing about the map he carried, letting the officer think it was +an ordinary attempt at robbery, for Tom did not want any reference +in the newspapers to his search for the valley of gold.</p> + +<p>Presently the other policeman returned, having been unable to get +any trace of the daring men. The two bluecoats wanted to accompany +Tom back to the airship shed, for his own safety, but he declared +there was no more danger, and, after having given his name, so that +the affair might be reported at headquarters, he was allowed to go +on his way. His head ached from the blow, but otherwise he was +unhurt.</p> + +<p>"Those fellows have been keeping watch for me," the lad reasoned, as +he walked quickly toward the airship shed. "They must have been +shadowing me, and they hid there until I came back. Andy Foger and +his father must be getting desperate. I think I know why, too. That +little dig I gave Andy about his map is bearing fruit. He begins to +think it's the wrong map, and he wants to get hold of the right one. +Well, they shan't if I can help it. We'll be away from here in the +morning."</p> + +<p>There was indignation and some alarm among Tom's friends when he +told his story a little later that night.</p> + +<p>"Bless my walking-stick!" cried Mr. Damon. "You'll need a bodyguard +after this."</p> + +<p>"I'd just like t' git my hands on them fellers!" exclaimed the old +miner. "I'd show 'em!" and a look at his rugged frame and his +muscular arms and gnarled hands showed Tom and Ned that in the event +of a fight they could count much on Abe Abercrombie.</p> + +<p>"I am glad there will be no more delays, and that we will soon be +moving northward," spoke Mr. Parker, a little later. "I am anxious +to confirm my theory about the advance of the ice crust, I met a man +to-day who had just returned from the north of Alaska. He said that +a severe winter had already set in up there. So I am anxious to get +to the ice caves."</p> + +<p>"So am I," added Tom, but it was for a different reason.</p> + +<p>They were all up early the next morning, for there were several +things to look after before they started on the trip that might +bring much of danger to the adventurers. Under Tom's direction, more +gas was generated, and forced into the big bag. A last adjustment +was made of the planes, wing tips and rudders, and the motor was +given a try-out.</p> + +<p>"I guess everything is all right," announced the young inventor. +"We'll take her out."</p> + +<p>The RED CLOUD was wheeled from the big shed, and placed on the open +lot, where she would have room to rush across the ground to acquire +momentum enough to rise in the air. Tom, whenever it was practical, +always mounted this way, rather than by means of the lifting gas, +as, in the event of a wind, he would have better control of the +ship, while it was ascending into the upper currents of air, than +when it was rising like a balloon.</p> + +<p>"All aboard!" cried the lad, as he looked to see that the course was +clear. Early as it was, there was quite a crowd on hand to witness +the flight, as there had been every day of late, for the population +of Seattle was curious regarding the big craft of the air.</p> + +<p>"Let her go!" cried Ned Newton, enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>Tom took his place in the steering-tower, or pilothouse, which was +forward of the main cabin. Ned was in the engine-room, ready to give +any assistance if needed. Mr. Damon, Mr. Parker and Abe Abercrombie +were in the main cabin, looking out of the windows at the rapidly +increasing throng.</p> + +<p>"Here we go!" cried the young inventor, as he pulled the lever +starting the motor, There was a buzz and a hum. The powerful +propellers whirred around like blurs of light. Forward shot the +great airship over the ground, gathering speed at every revolution +of the blades.</p> + +<p>Tom tilted the forward rudder to lift the ship. Suddenly it shot +over the heads of the crowd. There was a cheer and some applause.</p> + +<p>"Off for the frozen north!" cried Ned, waving his cap.</p> + +<p>Tom shifted the rudder, to change the course of the airship. Mr. +Damon was gazing on the crowd below.</p> + +<p>"Tom! Tom!" he cried suddenly. "There's the man with the black +mustache—the man who tried to rob you in the sleeping-car!" He +pointed downward to some one in the throng.</p> + +<p>"He can't get us now!" exclaimed Tom, as he increased the speed of +the RED CLOUD, and then, taking up a telescope, after setting the +automatic steering gear, Tom pointed the glass at the person whom +Mr. Damon had indicated.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>PELTED BY HAILSTONES</h3> + + +<p>"Yes, that's the man all right," observed the lad. "But if he came +here to have another try for the map, he's too late. I hope we don't +land now until we are in the valley of gold." Tom passed the +telescope to Ned, who confirmed the identification.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he came to see if we started, and then he'll report to Andy +Foger or his father by telegraph," suggested Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," admitted Tom. "Anyhow, we're well rid of our enemies—at +least for a time. They can't follow us up in the air." He turned +another lever and the RED CLOUD shot forward at increased speed.</p> + +<p>"Maybe Andy will race us," suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid of anything his airship can do," declared Tom. "I +don't believe it will even get up off the ground, though he did make +a short flight before he packed up to follow us. It's a wonder he +wouldn't think of something himself, instead of trying to pattern +after some one else. He tried to beat me in building a speeding +automobile, and now he wants to get ahead of me in an airship. Well, +let him try. I'll beat him out, just as I've done before."</p> + +<p>They were now over the outskirts of Seattle, flying along about a +thousand feet high, and they could dimly make out curious crowds +gazing up at them. The throng that had been around the airship shed +had disappeared from view behind a little hill, and, of course, the +man with the black mustache was no longer visible, but Tom felt as +if his sinister eyes were still gazing upward, seeking to discern +the occupants of the airship.</p> + +<p>"We're well on our way now," observed Ned, after a while, during +which interval he and Tom had inspected the machinery, and found it +working satisfactorily.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and the RED CLOUD is doing better than she ever did before," +said Tom. "I think it did her good to take her apart and put her +together again. It sort of freshened her up. This machine is my +special pride. I hope nothing happens to her on this journey to the +caves of ice."</p> + +<p>"If my theory is borne out, we will have to be careful not to get +caught in the crush of ice, as it makes its way toward the south," +spoke Mr. Parker with an air as if he almost wished such a thing to +happen, that he might be vindicated.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll take good care that the RED CLOUD isn't nipped between +two bergs," Tom declared.</p> + +<p>But he little knew of the dire fate that was to overtake the RED +CLOUD, and how close a call they were to have for their very lives.</p> + +<p>"No matter what care you exercise, you cannot overcome the awful +power of the grinding ice," declared the gloomy scientist. "I +predict that we will see most wonderful and terrifying sights."</p> + +<p>"Bless my hatband!" cried Mr. Damon, "don't say such dreadful +things, Parker my dear man! Be more cheerful; can't you?"</p> + +<p>"Science cannot be cheerful when foretelling events of a dire +nature," was the response. "I would not do my duty if I did not hold +to my theories."</p> + +<p>"Well, just hold to them a little more closely," suggested Mr. +Damon. "Don't tell them to us so often, and have them get on our +nerves, Parker, my dear man. Bless my nail-file! be more cheerful. +And that reminds me, when are we going to have dinner, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Whenever you want it, Mr. Damon. Are you going to act as cook +again?"</p> + +<p>"I think I will, and I'll just go to the galley now, and see about +getting a meal. It will take my mind off the dreadful things Mr. +Parker says."</p> + +<p>But if the gloomy scientific man heard this little "dig" he did not +respond to it. He was busy jotting down figures on a piece of paper, +multiplying and dividing them to get at some result in a complicated +problem he was working on, regarding the power of an iceberg in +proportion to its size, to exert a lateral pressure when sliding +down a grade of fifteen per cent.</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon got an early dinner, as they had breakfasted almost at +dawn that morning, in order to get a good start. The meal was much +enjoyed, and to Abe Abercrombie was quite a novelty, for he had +never before partaken of food so high up in the air, the barograph +of the RED CLOUD showing an elevation of a little over twelve +thousand feet.</p> + +<p>"It's certainly great," the old miner observed, as he looked down +toward the earth below them, stretched out like some great relief +map. "It sure is wonderful an' some scrumptious! I never thought I'd +be ridin' one of these critters. But they're th' only thing t' git +t' this hidden valley with. We might prospect around for a year, and +be driven back by the Indians and Eskimos a dozen times. But with +this we can go over their heads, and get all the gold we want."</p> + +<p>"Is there enough to give every one all he wants?" asked Tom, with a +quizzical smile. "I don't know that I ever had enough."</p> + +<p>"Me either," added Ned Newton.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's lots of gold there," declared the old miner. "The thing +to do is to get it and we can sure do that now."</p> + +<p>The remainder of the day passed uneventfully, though Tom cast +anxious looks at the weather as night set in, and Ned, noting his +chum's uneasiness, asked:</p> + +<p>"Worrying about anything, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am," was the reply. "I think we're in for a hard storm, and +I don't know just how the airship will behave up in these northern +regions. It's getting much colder, and the gas in the bag is +condensing more than I thought it would. I will have to increase our +speed to keep us moving along at this elevation."</p> + +<p>The motor was adjusted to give more power, and, having set it so +that it, as well as the rudders, would be controlled automatically, +Tom rejoined his companions in the main cabin, where, as night +settled down, they gathered to eat the evening meal.</p> + +<p>Through the night the great airship plowed her way. At times Tom +arose to look at some of the recording instruments. It was growing +colder, and this further reduced the volume of the gas, but as the +speed of the ship was sufficient to send her along, sustained by the +planes and wings alone, if necessary, the young inventor did not +worry much.</p> + +<p>Morning broke gray and cheerless. A few flakes of snow fell. There +was every indication of a heavy storm. They were high above a +desolate and wild country now, hovering over a sparsely settled +region where they could see great forests, stretches of snow-covered +rocks, and towering mountain crags.</p> + +<p>The snow, which had been lazily falling, suddenly ceased. Tom looked +out in surprise. A moment later there came a sound as if some giant +fingers were beating a tattoo on the roof of the main cabin.</p> + +<p>"What's that!" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"Bless my umbrella! has anything happened?" demanded Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"It's a hail storm!" exclaimed Tom. "We've run into a big hail +storm. Look at those frozen stones! They're as big as hens' eggs!"</p> + +<p>On a little platform in front of the steering-house could be seen +falling immense hailstones. They played a tattoo on the wooden +planks.</p> + +<p>"A hail storm! Bless my overshoes!" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"A hail storm!" echoed Mr. Parker. "I expected we would have one. +The hailstones will become even larger than this!"</p> + +<p>"Cheerful," remarked Tom in a low voice, with an apprehensive look +at Ned.</p> + +<p>"Is there any danger?" asked his chum.</p> + +<p>"Danger? Plenty of it," replied the young inventor. "The frozen +particles may rip open the gas bag. "He stopped suddenly and looked +at a gage on the wall of the steering-tower—a gage that showed the +gas pressure.</p> + +<p>"One compartment of the bag has been ripped open!" cried Tom. "The +vapor is escaping! The whole bag may soon be torn apart!"</p> + +<p>The noise of the pelting hailstones increased. The roar of the +storm, the bombardment of the icy globules, and the moaning of the +wind struck terror to the hearts of the gold-seekers.</p> + +<p>"What's to be done?" yelled Ned.</p> + +<p>"We must go up, to get above the storm, or else descend and find +some shelter!" answered Tom. "I'll first see if I can send the ship +up above the clouds!"</p> + +<p>He increased the speed of the motor so that the propellers would aid +in taking the ship higher up, while the gas-generating machine was +set in operation to pour the lifting vapor into the big bag.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>A FRIGHTENED INDIAN</h3> + + +<p>The violence of the hail storm, the clatter of the frozen pellets as +they bombarded the airship, the rolling, swaying motion of the craft +as Tom endeavored to send it aloft, all combined to throw the +passengers of the RED CLOUD into a state of panic.</p> + +<p>"Bless my very existence!" cried Mr. Damon, "this is almost as bad +as when we were caught in the hurricane at Earthquake Island!"</p> + +<p>"I am sure that this storm is but the forerunner of some dire +calamity!" declared Mr. Parker.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it's all up with us," came from Abe Abercrombie, as he +looked about for some way of escape.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you can pull us through, Tom?" asked Ned Newton, who, +not having had much experience in airships had yet to learn Tom's +skill in manipulating them.</p> + +<p>The young inventor alone seemed to keep his nerve. Coolly and calmly +he stood at his post of duty, shifting the wing planes from moment +to moment, managing the elevation rudder, and, at the same time, +keeping his eye on the registering dial of the gas-generating +machine.</p> + +<p>"It's all right," said Tom, more easily than he felt. "We are going +up slowly. You might see if you can induce the gas machine to do any +better, Mr. Damon. We are wasting some of the vapor because of the +leak in the bag, but we can manufacture it faster than it escapes, +so I guess we'll be all right."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Parker, may I ask you to oil the main motor? You will see the +places marked where the oil is to go in. Ned, you help him. Here, +Abe, come over here and give me a hand. This wind makes the rudders +hard to twist."</p> + +<p>The young inventor could not have chosen a better method of +relieving the fears of his friends than by giving them something to +do to take their minds off their own troubles. They hurried to the +tasks he had assigned to them, and, in a few minutes, there were no +more doubts expressed.</p> + +<p>Not that the RED CLOUD was out of danger, Far from it. The storm was +increasing in violence, and the hailstones seemed to double in +number. Then, too, being forced upward as she was, the airship's bag +was pelted all the harder, for the speed of the craft, added to the +velocity of the falling chunks of hail, made them strike on the +surface of the ship with greater violence.</p> + +<p>Tom was anxiously watching the barograph, to note their height. The +RED CLOUD was now about two and a half miles high, and slowly +mounting upward. The gas machine was working to its fullest +capacity, and the fact that they did not rise more quickly told Tom, +more plainly than words could have done, that there were several +additional leaks in the gas-bag.</p> + +<p>"I'll take her up another thousand feet," he announced grimly. +"Then, if we're not above the storm it will be useless to go +higher."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Ned, who had come back to stand beside his chum.</p> + +<p>"Because we can't possibly get above the storm without tearing the +ship to pieces. I had rather descend."</p> + +<p>"But won't that be just as bad?"</p> + +<p>"Not necessarily. There are often storms in the upper regions which +do not get down to the surface of the earth, snow and hail storms +particularly. Hail, you know, is supposed to be formed by drops of +rain being hurled up and down in a sort of circular, spiral motion +through alternate strata of air—first freezing and then warm, which +accounts for the onion-like layers seen when a hailstone is cut in +half."</p> + +<p>"That is right," broke in Mr. Parker, who was listening to the young +inventor. "By going down this hail storm may change into a harmless +rain storm. But, in spite of that fact, we are in a dangerous +climate, where we must expect all sorts of queer happenings."</p> + +<p>"Nice, comfortable sort of a companion to have along on a gold- +hunting expedition, isn't He?" asked Tom of Ned, making a wry face +as Mr. Parker moved away. "But I haven't any time to think of that. +Say, this is getting fierce!"</p> + +<p>Well might he say so. The wind had further increased in violence, +and while the storm of hailstones seemed to be about the same, the +missiles had nearly doubled in size.</p> + +<p>"Better go down," advised Ned. "We may fall if you don't."</p> + +<p>"Guess I will," assented Tom. "There's no use going higher. I doubt +if I could, anyhow, with all this wind pressure, and with the gas- +bag leaking. Down she is!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke he shifted the levers, and changed the valve wheels. In +an instant the RED CLOUD began to shoot toward the earth.</p> + +<p>"What's happened? What in th' name of Bloody Gulch are we up +ag'in'?" demanded the old miner, springing to his feet.</p> + +<p>"We're going down—that's all," answered Tom, calmly, but he was far +from feeling that way, and he had grave fears for the safety of +himself and his companions.</p> + +<p>Down, down, down went the RED CLOUD, in the midst of the hail storm. +But if the gold-seekers had hoped to escape the pelting of the +frozen globules they were mistaken. The stones still seemed to +increase in size and number. The gas machine register showed a +sudden lack of pressure, not due to the shutting off of the +apparatus.</p> + +<p>"Look!" cried Ned, pointing to the dial.</p> + +<p>"Yes—more punctures," said Tom, grimly.</p> + +<p>"What's to be done?" asked Mr. Damon, who had finished the task Tom +allotted to him. "Bless my handkerchief! what's to be done?"</p> + +<p>"Seek shelter if the storm doesn't stop when we get to the earth +level," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>"Shelter? What sort of shelter? There are no airship sheds in this +desolate region."</p> + +<p>"I may be able to send the ship under some overhanging mountain +crag," answered the young inventor, "and that will keep off the +hailstones."</p> + +<p>Eagerly Tom and Ned, who stood together in the pilothouse peered +forward through the storm.</p> + +<p>The wind was less violent now that they were in the lower currents +of air, but the hail had not ceased.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Tom gave a cry. Ned looked at him anxiously. Had some new +calamity befallen them? But Tom's voice sounded more in relief than +in alarm. The next instant he called:</p> + +<p>"Look ahead there, Ned, and tell me what you see."</p> + +<p>"I see something big and black," answered the other lad, after a +moment's hesitation. "Why, it's a big black hole!" he added.</p> + +<p>"That's what I made it out to be," went on Tom, "but I wanted to be +sure. It's the opening to a cave or hole in the side of the +mountain. I take it."</p> + +<p>"You're right," agreed Ned.</p> + +<p>"Then we're safe," declared Tom.</p> + +<p>"Safe? How?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to take the RED CLOUD in there out of the storm."</p> + +<p>"Can you do it? Is the opening big enough?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty. It's larger than my shed at home, Jove! but I'm glad I saw +that in time, or there would have been nothing left of the gas-bag!"</p> + +<p>With skilful hands Tom turned the rudders and sent the airship down +on a slant toward the earth, aiming for the entrance to the cave, +which loomed up in the storm. When the craft was low enough down so +that the superstructure would not scrape the top of the cave, Tom +sent her ahead on the level. But he need have had no fears, for the +hole was large enough to have admitted a craft twice the size of the +RED CLOUD.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the airship slid inside the great cavern, as +easily as if coming to rest in the yard of Tom's house. The roof of +the cave was high over their heads, and they were safe from the +storm. The cessation from the deafening sound of the pelting +hailstones seemed curious to them at first.</p> + +<p>"Well, bless my shoelaces! if this isn't luck!" cried Mr. Damon, as +he opened the door of the cabin, and looked about the cave in which +they now found themselves. It was comparatively light, for the +entrance was very large, though the rear of the cavern was in gloom.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, we got to it just in time,'" agreed Tom. "Now let's +see what sort of a place it is. We'll have to explore it."</p> + +<p>"There may be a landslide, or the roof may come down on our heads," +objected Mr. Parker.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear Parker! please be a little more cheerful," begged Mr. +Damon.</p> + +<p>The adventurers followed Tom from the airship, and all but the young +inventor gazed curiously at the interior of the cave. His first +thought was for his airship. He glanced up at the gas-bag, and noted +several bad rents in it.</p> + +<p>"I hope we can fix them," Tom thought dubiously.</p> + +<p>But the attention of all was suddenly arrested by something that +occurred just then. From the dark recess of the cavern there sounded +a fearful yell or scream. It was echoed back a thousand-fold by the +rocky walls of the cave, Then there dashed past the little group of +gold-seekers a dark figure.</p> + +<p>"Look out! It's a bear!" shouted Mr. Damon. "A bear! It's an Eskimo +Indian!" yelled Abe Abercrombie, "an' he's skeered nigh t' death! +Look at him run!"</p> + +<p>As they gazed toward the lighted entrance of the cave they saw +leaping and running from it an Indian who quickly scudded out into +the hail storm.</p> + +<p>"An Indian," exclaimed Tom. "An Indian in the cave! If there's one, +there may be more. I guess we'd better look to our guns. They may +attack us!" and he hurried back into the airship, followed by Ned +and the others.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE RIVAL AIRSHIP</h3> + + +<p>Well armed, the adventurers again ventured out into the cave. But +they need not have been alarmed so soon, for there were no signs of +any more Indians.</p> + +<p>"I guess that one was a stray Eskimo who took shelter in here from +the storm," said Abe Abercrombie.</p> + +<p>"Are we in the neighborhood of the Alaskan Indians and Eskimos?" +inquired Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes, there are lots of Indians in this region," answered the old +miner, "but not so many Eskimos. A few come down from th' north, but +we'll see more of them, an' fewer of th' pure-blooded Indians as we +get nearer th' valley of gold. Though t' my mind th' Indians an' +Eskimos are pretty much alike,"</p> + +<p>"Well, if we don't have to defend ourselves from an attack of +Indians, suppose we look over the airship," proposed Tom.</p> + +<p>"It's too dark to see very much," objected Ned. But this was +overcome when Tom started up a dynamo, and brought out a portable +search-light which was played upon the superstructure of the RED +CLOUD. The gas-bag was the only part of the craft they feared for, +as the hailstones could not damage the iron or wooden structure and +the planes were made in sections, and in such a manner that rents in +them could easily be repaired. So, in fact, could the gas-bag be +mended, but it was harder work.</p> + +<p>"Well, she's got some bad tears in her," announced Tom as the light +flashed over the big bag. "Luckily I have plenty of the material, +and some cement, so I think we can mend the rents, though it will +take some days. Nothing could have been better for us than this +cave. We'll stay here until we're ready to go on."</p> + +<p>"Unless the Indians drive us out," said Abe, in a low tone.</p> + +<p>"Why, do you think there is any danger of that?" inquired Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, th' brown-skinned beggars aren't any too friendly," responded +the old miner. "Th' one that was in here will be sure to tell th' +others of some big spirit that flew into th' cave, an' they'll be +crowdin' around here when th' storm's over. It may be we can fight +'em off, though."</p> + +<p>"Maybe they won't attack us," suggested Ned, hopefully. "Perhaps we +can make them believe we are spirits, and that it will be unlucky to +interfere with us."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," admitted Abe, "though my experience has been that these +Indians are a bad lot. They haven't much respect for spirits of any +kind, an' they'll soon find out we're human. But then, we'll wait +an' see what happens."</p> + +<p>"And, in the meantime, have something to eat," put in Mr. Damon. +"Bless my knife and fork! but the hail storm gave me an appetite."</p> + +<p>In fact, there were few things which did not give Mr. Damon an +appetite, Tom thought with a smile. But the meal idea was considered +very timely, and soon the amateur cook was busy in the galley of the +airship, whence speedily came savory odors. The electric lights were +switched on, and the adventurers were quickly made comfortable in +the cave, which so well sheltered the RED CLOUD. Tom completed his +inspection of the craft, and was relieved to find that while there +were a number of small rents, none was very large, and all could be +mended in time.</p> + +<p>Abe Abercrombie took a look outside the cave after the meal had been +served. The old miner declared that they had made a good advance on +their northern journey for, though he could not tell their exact +location, he knew by the character of the landscape that they had +passed the boundaries of Alaska.</p> + +<p>"A few more days' traveling at the rate we came will bring us to the +Snow Mountains and the valley of gold," he said.</p> + +<p>"Well, we won't average such speed as we did during the hail storm," +said Tom. "The wind of that carried us along at a terrific pace. But +we will get there in plenty of time, I think,"</p> + +<p>"Why; is there any particular rush?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"There's no telling when the Fogers may appear," answered the young +inventor in a low voice. "But now we must get to work to repair +damage."</p> + +<p>The hail storm had ceased, and, with the passing of the clouds the +cave was made lighter. But Tom did not depend on this, for he set up +powerful searchlights, by the gleams of which he and his companions +began the repairing of the torn gas-bag.</p> + +<p>They worked all the remainder of that day, and were at it again +early the next morning, making good progress.</p> + +<p>"We can go forward again, in about two days," spoke Tom. "I want to +give the cement on the patches plenty of chance to dry."</p> + +<p>"Then I will have time to go out and make some observations, will I +not?" asked Mr. Parker. "I think this cave is a very old one, and I +may be able to find some evidences in it that the sea of ice is +slowly working its way down from the polar regions."</p> + +<p>"I hope you don't," whispered Ned to Tom, who shook his head +dubiously as the gloomy scientist left the cave.</p> + +<p>The weather was very cold, but, in the cavern it was hardly noticed. +The adventurers were warmly dressed, and when they did get chilly +from working over the airship, they had but to go into the well- +heated and cozy cabin to warm themselves.</p> + +<p>It was on the third day of their habitation in the cave, and work on +putting the patches on the gas-bag was almost finished. Mr. Parker +had gone out to make further observations, his previous ones not +having satisfied him. Tom was on an improvised platform, putting a +patch on top of the bag, when he heard a sudden yell, and some one +dashed into the cavern.</p> + +<p>"They're coming! They're coming!" cried a voice, and Tom, looking +down, saw Mr. Parker, apparently in a state of great fear.</p> + +<p>"What's coming?" demanded the young inventor, "the icebergs?"</p> + +<p>"No—the Indians!" yelled the scientist. "A whole tribe of them is +rushing this way!"</p> + +<p>"I thought so!" cried Abe Abercrombie. "Where's my gun?" and he +dashed into the airship.</p> + +<p>Tom slid down off the platform.</p> + +<p>"Get ready for a fight!" he gasped. "Where are you, Ned?"</p> + +<p>"Here I am. We'd better get to the mouth of the cave, and drive 'em +back from there."</p> + +<p>"Yes. If I'd only thought, we could have blockaded it in some way. +It's as big as a barn now, and they can rush us if they have a mind +to. But we'll do our best!"</p> + +<p>The adventurers were now all armed, even to Mr. Parker. The +scientist had recovered from his first fright, when he spied the +Indians coming over the snow, as he was "observing" some natural +phenomenon. Tom, even in his excitement, noticed that the professor +was curiously examining his gun, evidently more with a view to +seeing how it was made, and on which principle it was operated, +rather than to discover how to use it.</p> + +<p>"If it comes to a fight, just point it at the Indians, pull the +trigger, and work that lever," explained the young inventor. "It's +an automatic gun."</p> + +<p>"I see," answered Mr. Parker. "Very curious. I had no idea they +worked this way."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if I only had my electric rifle in shape!" sighed Tom, as he +dashed forward at the side of Ned.</p> + +<p>"Your electric rifle?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I've got a new kind of weapon—very effective. I have it +almost finished. It's in the airship, but I can't use it just yet. +However, maybe these repeaters will do the work."</p> + +<p>By this time they were at the entrance of the cave, and, looking out +they saw about a hundred Indians, dressed in furs, striding across +the snowy plain that stretched out from the foot of the mountain in +which was the cavern.</p> + +<p>"They're certainly comin' on," observed Abe, grimly. "Git ready for +'em, boys!"</p> + +<p>The gold-seekers lined up at the mouth of the cave, with guns in +their hands. At the sight of this small, but formidable force, the +Indians halted. They were armed with guns of ancient make, while +some had spears, and others bows and arrows. A few had grabbed up +stones as weapons.</p> + +<p>There appeared to be a consultation going on among them, and, +presently, one of the number, evidently a chief or a spokesman, gave +his gun to one of his followers, and, holding his hands above his +head, while he waved a rag that might have once been white, came +forward.</p> + +<p>"By Jove!" exclaimed Tom. "It's a flag of truce! He wants to talk +with us I believe!"</p> + +<p>"Bless my cartridges!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Can they speak +English?"</p> + +<p>"A little," answered Abe Abercrombie. "I can talk some of their +lingo, too. Maybe I'd better see what they want."</p> + +<p>"I guess it would be a good plan," suggested Tom, and, accordingly +the old miner stepped forward. The Indian came on, until Abe +motioned for him to halt.</p> + +<p>"I reckon that's as far as it'll be healthy for you t' come," spoke +Abe, grimly. "Now what do you fellers want?"</p> + +<p>Thereupon there ensued a rapid exchange of jargon between the miner +and the Indian. Abe seemed much relieved as the talk went on, until +there came what seemed like a demand on the part of the dark-hued +native.</p> + +<p>"No. you don't! None of that!" muttered Abe. "If you had your way +you'd take everything we have."</p> + +<p>"What is it? What does he want?" asked Tom in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"Why, the beggar began fair enough," replied the miner. "He said one +of their number had been in the cave when a storm came an' saw a big +spirit fly in, with men on its back. He ran away an' now others have +come to see what it was. They don't guess it's an airship, for +they've never seen one. but they know we're white folks, an' they +always want things white folks have got."</p> + +<p>"This fellow is a sort of chief, an' he says the white folks?—that's +us, you know?—have taken th' Indians' cave. He says he +doesn't want t' have any trouble, an' that we can stay here as long +as we like, but that we must give him an' his followers a lot of +food. Says they hain't got much. Land! Those beggars would eat us +out of everything we had if we'd let 'em!"</p> + +<p>"What are you going to tell them?" inquired Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I'm goin' t' tell 'em t' go t' grass, or words t' that effect," +replied Abe. "They haven't any weapons that amount t' anything, an' +we can stand 'em off. Besides, we'll soon be goin' away from here; +won't we, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's no use givin' in to 'em," interrupted Abe. "If you give +'em half a loaf, they want two. Th' only way is t' be firm. I'll +tell 'em we can't accommodate 'em."</p> + +<p>Thereupon he began once more to talk to the Indians in their own +tongue. His words were at first received in silence, and then angry +cries came from the natives. The chief made a gesture of protest.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you don't like it, you know what you kin do!" declared +Abe. "We've got th' best part of our journey before us, an' we can't +give away our supplies. Go hunt food if you want it, ye lazy +beggars!"</p> + +<p>The peaceful demeanor of the Indians now turned to rage. The leader +dropped the rag that had served for a flag of truce, and took back +his gun.</p> + +<p>"Look out! There's going to be trouble!" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, we're ready for 'em!" answered Abe, grimly.</p> + +<p>There was a moment of hesitation among the natives. Then they seemed +to hold a consultation with the chief. It was over shortly. They +broke into a run, and quickly advanced toward the cave. Tom and the +others held their guns in readiness.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the Indians halted. They gazed upward, and pointed to +something in the air above their heads. They gave utterance to cries +of fear.</p> + +<p>"What is it; another storm coming?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Let's look," suggested Ned. He and Tom stepped to the mouth of the +cave—they went outside. There was little danger from the natives +now, as their attention was fixed on something else.</p> + +<p>A moment later Tom and Ned saw what this was.</p> + +<p>Floating in the air, almost over the cave, was a great airship—a +large craft, nearly the size of the RED CLOUD. Hardly able to +believe the evidence of their eyes, Tom and Ned watched it. Whence +had it come? Whither was it going?</p> + +<p>"It's a triplane!" murmured Ned.</p> + +<p>"A triplane!" repeated Tom. "Yes—it is—and it's the airship of +Andy Foger! Our rivals are on our track!"</p> + +<p>He continued to gaze upward as the triplane shot forward, the noise +of the motor being plainly heard. Then, with howls of fear, the +Indians turned and fled. The rival airship had vanquished them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>THE RACE</h3> + + +<p>Astonished and terrified as the Indians had been at the sight of the +big-winged craft, high in the air above their heads, Tom and the +others were no less surprised, though, of course, their fear was not +exactly the same as that of the Alaskan natives.</p> + +<p>"Do you really think that is Andy Foger?" asked Ned, as they watched +the progress of the triplane.</p> + +<p>"I'm almost sure of it," replied Tom. "That craft is built exactly +as his was. but I never expected him to have such good luck sailing +it."</p> + +<p>"It isn't going very fast," objected Ned.</p> + +<p>"No, but it can navigate pretty well, and that's something. He must +have hustled to get it together and reach this point with it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but he didn't have to travel as far as we did," went on Ned. +"He put his ship together at Sitka, and we came from Seattle."</p> + +<p>"Bless my memoranda book!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "The Fogers here! +What's to be done about it?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, I guess," answered Tom. "I'd just as soon they wouldn't +see us. I don't believe they will. Get back into the cave. We must +use strategy now to get ahead of them. There will be a race to the +valley of gold."</p> + +<p>"Well, he served us one good turn, anyhow, though he didn't mean +to," put in Abe Abercrombie.</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Mr. Parker, who was still examining his gun, as though +trying to understand it.</p> + +<p>"He scared away them pesky natives," went on the miner. "Otherwise +we might have had a fight, an' while I reckon we could have beat +'em, it's best not to fight if you kin git out of it."</p> + +<p>The gold-seekers had withdrawn inside the mouth of the cave, where +they could watch the progress of the rival airship without being +seen. The Indians had disappeared beyond a snow-covered hill.</p> + +<p>The airship of Andy Foger, for such it subsequently proved to be, +floated slowly onward. Its progress was not marked with the speed of +Tom's craft, though whether or not the occupants of the ATHONY (as +Andy had vain-gloriously named his craft after himself) were +speeding up their motor, was a matter of conjecture.</p> + +<p>The adventurers held a short consultation, while standing at the +mouth of the cave watching the progress of the ANTHONY. It rose in +the air, and circled about.</p> + +<p>"He certainly IS trying to pick us up," declared Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll start out after him to-morrow," decided Tom. "I think +all the patches will hold then."</p> + +<p>They resumed work on the RED CLOUD, and that night Tom announced +that they would start in the morning. Meanwhile Andy's craft had +disappeared from sight. There was no further evidence of the +Indians.</p> + +<p>"I don't reckon they'll come back," spoke Abe, grimly. "They think +we are sure-enough spirits, now, able to call creatures out of the +air whenever we want 'em. But still we must be on our guard."</p> + +<p>As Mr. Parker was not of much service in helping on the airship he +agreed to be a sort of guard and took his place just outside the +cave, where he could make "observations," and, at the same time +watch for the reappearance of Indians. They had little fear of an +attack at night, for Abe said the Alaskans were not fond of +darkness.</p> + +<p>The cold seemed to increase, and, even in the sheltered cave the +adventurers felt it. There were several heavy flurries of snow that +afternoon, and winter seemed setting in with a vengeance. The +daylight, too, was not of long duration, for the sun was well south +now, and in the far polar regions it was perpetual night.</p> + +<p>After a brief inspection of the ship the next morning, following a +good night's rest, when they were not disturbed by any visits from +the natives, Tom announced that they would set sail. The day was a +clear one, but very cold, and the gold-seekers were glad of the +shelter of the warm cabin.</p> + +<p>The RED CLOUD was wheeled from the cave, and set on a level place. +There was not room enough to make a flying start, and ascend by +means of the planes and propellers, so the gas-bag method was used. +The generating machine was put in operation, and soon the big red +bag that hovered over the craft began to fill. Tom was glad to see +that none of the several compartments leaked. The bag had been well +repaired.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the RED CLOUD shot up in the air. Up above the towering +snow-covered crags it mounted, and then, with a whizz and a roar, +the propellers were set going.</p> + +<p>"Once more northward bound!" cried Tom, as he took his place in the +pilothouse.</p> + +<p>"And we'll see if we can beat Andy Foger there," added Ned.</p> + +<p>All that morning the RED CLOUD shot ahead at good speed. The craft +had suffered no permanent damage during her fight with the hail +storm, and was as good as ever. They ate dinner high in the air, +while sailing over a great stretch of whiteness, where the snow lay +many feet deep on the level, and where great mountain crags were so +covered with the glistening mantle and a coating of ice as to +resemble the great bergs that float in the polar sea.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't want to be wrecked here," said Ned, with a shudder, as +he looked down. "We'd never get away. Does any one live down there, +Abe?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there are scattered tribes of Indians and Alaskan natives. +They live by hunting and fishing, and travel around by means of dog +sledges. But it's a dreary life. Me an' my partner had all we wanted +of it. An airship for mine!"</p> + +<p>"I wonder what's become of Andy?" spoke Tom, that afternoon. "I +haven't sighted him, and I've been using the powerful telescope. I +can't pick him up, though he can't be so very far ahead of us."</p> + +<p>"Let me try," suggested Ned. "Put her up a bit, Tom, where I can +look down. Andy won't dare go very high. Maybe I can sight him."</p> + +<p>The RED CLOUD shot upward as the young inventor shifted the +elevation rudder, and the bank clerk, with the powerful glass to his +eye, swept the space below him. For half an hour he looked in vain. +Then, with a little start of surprise he handed the glass to his +chum.</p> + +<p>"See what you make that out to be," suggested Ned. "It looks like a +big bird, yet I haven't seen any other birds to-day."</p> + +<p>Tom looked. He peered earnestly through the telescope for a minute, +and then cried:</p> + +<p>"It's Andy's airship! He's ahead of us! We must catch him! Ned, you +and Mr. Damon speed up the motor! The race is on!"</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the great airship was hurling herself through +space, and, in less than ten minutes Andy's craft could be made out +plainly with the naked eye. Fifteen minutes more and the RED CLOUD +was almost up to her. Then those aboard the ANTHONY must have caught +sight of their pursuers, for there was a sudden increase in speed on +the part of the unscrupulous Foger crowd, who sought to steal a +march on Tom and his friends.</p> + +<p>"The race is on!" repeated the young inventor grimly, as he pulled +the speed lever over another notch.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>THE FALL OF THE ANTHONY</h3> + + +<p>Had it not been for what was at stake, the race between the two big +airships would have been an inspiring one to those aboard Tom's +craft. As it was they were too anxious to overcome the unfair +advantage taken by Andy to look for any of the finer points in the +contest of the air.</p> + +<p>"There's no denying that he's got a pretty good craft there," +conceded Tom, as he watched the progress of his rival. "I never +thought Andy Foger could have done it."</p> + +<p>"He didn't do very much of it," declared Ned. "He hired the best +part of that made. Andy hasn't any inventive ideas. He probably said +he wanted an airship, and his dad put up the money and hired men to +build it for him. Andy, Sam and Pete only tinkered around on it."</p> + +<p>Later Tom and his chum learned that this was so—that Mr. Foger had +engaged the services of an expert to make the airship. This man had +been taken to Sitka with the Fogers, and had materially aided them +in re-assembling the craft.</p> + +<p>"Do you think he can beat us?" asked Ned, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"No!" exclaimed Tom, confidently. "There's only one craft that can +beat my RED CLOUD and that's my monoplane the BUTTERFLY. But I have +in mind plans for a speedier machine than even the monoplane. +However I haven't any fear that Andy can keep up to us in this +craft. I haven't begun to fly yet, and I'm pretty sure, from the way +his is going, that he has used his limit of speed."</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you get ahead of him?" asked Mr. Damon. "Bless my +tape-measure! the way to win a race is to beat."</p> + +<p>"Not this kind of a race," and the young inventor spoke seriously. +"If I got ahead of Andy now, he'd simply trail along and follow us. +That's his game. He wants me to be the path-finder, for, since I +cast a doubt on the correctness of the map, a copy of which he +stole, he isn't sure where he's going. He'd ask nothing better than +to follow us."</p> + +<p>"Then what are you going to do if you don't get ahead of him?" asked +Ned.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to press him close until night," answered Tom, "and when +it's dark, I'm going to shoot ahead, and, by morning we'll be so far +away that he can't catch up to us."</p> + +<p>"Good idea! That's th' stuff!" cried Abe with enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"He's a sneak!" burst out Mr. Damon. "I'd like to see him left +behind."</p> + +<p>Tom carried out his plan. The remainder of the day he hung just on +Andy's flank, sometimes shooting high up, almost out of sight, and +again coming down, just to show what the RED CLOUD could do when +pressed.</p> + +<p>As for those aboard the ANTHONY, they seemed to be trying to +increase their speed, but, if that was their object they did not +have much success, for the big, clumsy triplane only labored along.</p> + +<p>"I wonder who he's got with him?" said Ned, as darkness was closing +down. "I can't make out any one by this glass. They stick pretty +closely to the cabin."</p> + +<p>"Oh, probably Andy's father is there," said "and, perhaps, some of +Mr. Foger's acquaintances. I guess Mr. Foger is as anxious to get +this gold as Andy is."</p> + +<p>"He certainly needs money," admitted Ned. "Jove! but I hope we beat +him!"</p> + +<p>But alas for Tom's hopes! His plan of waiting until night and then +putting on such speed as would leave Andy behind could not be +carried out. It was tried, but something went wrong with the main +motor, and only half power could be developed. Tom and Ned labored +over it nearly ail night, to no effect, and through the hours of +darkness they could see the lights from the cabin of the ANTHONY +gleaming just ahead of them. Evidently the bully's airship could not +make enough speed to run away from the RED CLOUD, or else it was the +plan of the Foger crowd to keep in Tom's vicinity.</p> + +<p>The direction held by Andy's craft was a general northwestern one, +and Tom knew, in time, and that very soon, it would bring the +ANTHONY over the valley of gold. Evidently Andy was placing some +faith in his copy of the stolen map.</p> + +<p>"Once I get this motor in shape I'll soon pull away from him," +announced Tom, about four o'clock that morning, while he and Ned, +aided by Mr. Damon, were still laboring over the refractory machine.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"It's too late to carry out my original plan," went on Tom. "We're +getting so near the place now that I want to be there ahead of every +one else. So as soon as we can, I'm going to push the RED CLOUD for +all she's worth, and get to the valley of gold first. If possession +is nine points of the law, I want those nine points."</p> + +<p>"That's the way to talk!" cried Abe. "Once we git on th' ground we +kin hold our own!"</p> + +<p>It was breakfast time before Tom had the motor repaired, and he +decided to have a good meal before starting to speed up his craft. +He felt better after some hot coffee, for he and the others were +weary from their night of labor.</p> + +<p>"Now for the test!" he cried, as he went back to the engine-room. +"Here's where we give Andy the go-by, and I don't think he can catch +us!"</p> + +<p>There was an increasing hum to the powerful motor, the great +propellers whirled around at twice their former number of +revolutions, and the airship suddenly shot ahead.</p> + +<p>Those on the ANTHOMY must have been watching for some such move as +that, for, no sooner had Tom's craft begun to creep up on his rival +than the forward craft also shot ahead.</p> + +<p>But the airship was not built that could compete with Tom's. Like a +racer overhauling a cart-horse, the RED CLOUD whizzed through the +air. In a spirit of fun the young inventor sent his machine within a +few feet of Andy's. He had a double purpose in this, for he wanted +to show the bully that he did not fear him, and he wanted to see if +he could discover who was aboard.</p> + +<p>Tom did catch a glimpse of Andy and his father in the cabin of the +ANTHONY, and he also saw a couple of men working frantically over +the machinery.</p> + +<p>"They're going to try to catch us!" called Tom to Ned.</p> + +<p>This was evident a moment later, for, after the RED CLOUD had forged +ahead, her rival made a clumsy attempt to follow. The ANTHONY did +show a burst of speed, and, for a moment Tom was apprehensive lest +he had underrated his rival's prowess.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Ned, who was looking from a projecting side window of the +pilothouse, back toward Andy's ship, cried out in alarm.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" shouted Tom.</p> + +<p>"The airship—Andy's—two of the main wings have collapsed!"</p> + +<p>Tom looked. It was but too true. The strain under which the ANTHONY +had been put when the machinists increased the speed, had been too +much for the frame. Two wings broke, and now hung uselessly down, +one on either side. The ANTHONY shot toward the snow-covered earth!</p> + +<p>"They're falling!" cried Mr. Parker.</p> + +<p>"Yes," added Tom, grimly, "the race is over as far as they are +concerned."</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul! Won't they be killed?" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"There's not much danger," replied the young inventor. "They can +vol-plane back to earth. That's what they're doing," he added a +moment later, as he witnessed the maneuver of the crippled craft. +"They're in no danger, but I don't believe they'll get to the valley +of gold this trip!"</p> + +<p>Tom was soon to learn how easily he could be mistaken.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER__XVII" id="CHAPTER__XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>HITTING THE ICE MOUNTAIN</h3> + + +<p>Onward sped the RED CLOUD. For a moment after the accident to Andy's +ship, Tom had slowed up his craft, but he soon went on again, after +he had satisfied himself that his enemies were in no danger.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think—that is to say—I know they can't expect anything +from us," spoke Mr. Damon, "but for humanity's sake, hadn't we +better stop and help them, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"I hardly think so," replied the young inventor. "In the first place +they would hardly thank us for doing so, and, in the second, I don't +believe they need help. They are almost safely down now."</p> + +<p>"I don't just mean that," went on the odd man. "But they may starve +to death. This is a very desolate country over which we are +sailing."</p> + +<p>"They must have a supply of food in their ship," declared Tom, "and +they have brought their plight on themselves."</p> + +<p>"They're in no great danger," put in Abe.</p> + +<p>"There are plenty of natives around here, an' if the Fogers need +food or aid they can git it by payin' for it. Why, for the sake of +th' parts of their damaged airship, th' Eskimos would take th' whole +party back t' Sitka and feed 'em well on th' trip. Oh, they're all +right."</p> + +<p>"Very well, if you say so," assented Mr. Damon. He looked back to +watch the ANTHONY slowly settling to earth. It came gently down, +proving that Tom knew whereof he spoke, when he had said they could +vol-plane down. Before the RED CLOUD was out of sight Tom and his +companions saw Andy and his father leave their wrecked craft and +venture out on the snow-covered ground. The Fogers gazed enviously +after the airship of our hero as they saw him still forging toward +the goal.</p> + +<p>"I guess Andy's stolen map won't be of much use to him," mused Tom. +"Now we can put on all the speed we like, "and with that he shifted +the gears and levers until the airship was making exceedingly good +time toward the valley of gold.</p> + +<p>The remainder of that day saw our adventurers pursuing their way +eagerly. At times they were flying high, and again, when Abe +suggested that they go down to observe the character of the country +over which they were passing, they skimmed along, just above the big +mountains, which seemed almost like icebergs, so covered were they +with frost and snow.</p> + +<p>They were indeed in a wild and desolate country. Below them +stretched a seemingly endless waste of snow and ice—great forests +interspersed with treeless patches, while now and then they sailed +over a frozen lake.</p> + +<p>Once in a while they had glimpses of bands of Indians, dressed in +furs, hunting. At such times the natives would look up, on hearing +the noise made by the motor of the airship, and catching a glimpse +of what must have seemed to them like some supernatural object, they +would fall down prostrate in amazement and fear.</p> + +<p>"Airships are pretty much of a novelty up here," remarked Abe with a +grim smile.</p> + +<p>The weather was new very cold, and the gold-seekers had to get out +their heavy fur garments, of which they had brought along a goodly +supply. True, it was warm in the cabin of the airship, but at times, +they wanted to venture out on the deck to get fresh air, or to make +some adjustments to the wing planes, and, on such occasions the +keen, frosty air, as it was driven past them by the motion of the +craft, made even the thickest garments seem none too warm. Then, +too, it was colder at the elevation at which they flew than down on +the ground.</p> + +<p>Another day found them in a still wilder and more desolate part of +Alaska. There were scarcely any signs of habitation now, and the +snow and ice seemed so thick that even a long summer of sunshine +could hardly have melted it. The hours of daylight, too, were +growing less and less the farther north they went.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you can pilot us right to the Snow Mountains, Abe?" +asked Tom, on the third day after the accident to Andy's airship. +"Let's get out the map, and have another look at it. We must be +getting near the place now. We'll look at the map."</p> + +<p>The young inventor went to his stateroom where he kept the important +document in a small desk, and the others heard him rummaging around. +He muttered impatiently, and Ned heard his chum say: "I thought sure +I put it in here." Then ensued a further search, and presently Tom +came out, his face wearing rather a puzzled and worried look, and he +asked: "Say, Abe, I didn't give that map back to you; did I?"</p> + +<p>"Nope," answered the miner. "I ain't seen it since just before th' +hail storm. We was lookin' at it then."</p> + +<p>"That's when I remember it," went on Tom, "and I thought I put it in +my desk. I didn't, by any possible chance give it to you; did I, +Ned?"</p> + +<p>"Me? No, I haven't seen it."</p> + +<p>"That's funny," went on Tom. "I'll look once more. Maybe it got +under some papers."</p> + +<p>They heard him rummaging again in his desk.</p> + +<p>"Bless my bank-book!" cried Mr. Damon. "I hope nothing has happened +to that map. We can't find the valley of gold without it."</p> + +<p>Tom came back again.</p> + +<p>"I can't find it." he said, hopelessly.</p> + +<p>Then ensued a frantic search. Every possible place in the airship +was looked into, but the precious map did not turn up.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the Fogers took it," suggested Mr. Parker, who had helped +in the hunt, in a dreamy sort of fashion.</p> + +<p>"That's not possible," said Tom. "They haven't been near enough to +us since I saw the map last. No, the last time I had it was just +before the hail storm, and, in the excitement of repairing the ship, +I have mislaid it."</p> + +<p>"Maybe it's back there in the big cave," suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>"It's possible," admitted the young inventor. "Pshaw! It's very +careless of me!"</p> + +<p>"If you think it's in the cave, we'd better go back there and have a +hunt for it," suggested Mr. Damon. "Otherwise we are on a wild-goose +chase."</p> + +<p>"Don't go back!" exclaimed old Abe. "I think we can find th' valley +of gold without th' map, now that we have come this far. I sort of +remember th' marks on that parchment, an' we are in the right +neighborhood now, for I kin see some of th' landmarks my partner and +I saw. I say, let's keep on! We can cruise around a bit until we +strike th' right place. That won't take us so long as it would to go +back to the cave. Besides, if we go back, the Fogers may get ahead +of us!"</p> + +<p>"With their broken airship?" asked Ned</p> + +<p>"Can't they repair it?" demanded Abe.</p> + +<p>"Hardly—up in this wild country," was Tom's opinion. "But perhaps +it WILL be just as well to keep on. I have a hazy remembrance of the +distances and directions on the map, and, though it will take longer +to hunt out the valley this way, I think we can do it. I can't +forgive myself for my carelessness! I should have kept a copy of the +map, or given one of you folks one."</p> + +<p>But they would not hear of him blaming himself, and said it might +have happened to any one. It was decided that the map must be lost +in the big cave, and if it was there it was not likely to be found +by their enemies.</p> + +<p>"We'll jest have t' prospect about a bit," declared Abe, "only we'll +do it in th' air instead of on th' ground."</p> + +<p>It was dusk when the fruitless search for the map was over, and they +sat in the cabin discussing matters. The lights had not yet been +switched on, and the RED CLOUD was skimming along under the +influence of the automatic rudders and the propellers.</p> + +<p>"Well, suppose we have supper," proposed Mr. Damon, who seemed to +think eating a remedy for many ills, mental and bodily. "Bless my +desert-spoon, but I'm hungry!"</p> + +<p>He started toward the galley, while Tom went forward to the +pilothouse. Hardly had he reached it than there came a terrific +crash, and the airship seemed tossed back by some giant hand. Every +one was thrown off his feet, and the lights which had been turned on +suddenly went out.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"Have we hit anything?" demanded Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Hit anything! I should say we had!" yelled Tom. "We've knocked a +piece off a big mountain of ice!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke the airship began slowly settling toward the earth, for +her machinery had been stopped by the terrific impact.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>A FIGHT WITH MUSK OXEN</h3> + + +<p>"Can I help you, Tom? What's to be done?" demanded Ned Newton, as he +rushed to where his chum was yanking on various levers and gear +wheels.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" gasped the young inventor. "I want to throw on the +storage battery, and that will give us some light. Then we can see +what We are doing." An instant later the whole ship was illuminated, +and those aboard her felt calmer. Still the RED CLOUD continued to +sink.</p> + +<p>"Can't we do something?" yelled Ned. "Start the propellers, Tom!"</p> + +<p>"No, I'll use the gas. I can't see where we're heading for, as the +searchlight is out of business. We may be in the midst of a lot of +bergs. We were flying too low. Just start the gas generating +machine."</p> + +<p>Ned hurried to obey this order. He saw Tom's object. With the big +bag full of gas the airship would settle gently to earth as easily +as though under the command of the propellers and wing planes.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the hissing of the machine told that the vapor was +being forced into the bag and a little later the downward motion of +the ship was checked. She moved more and more slowly toward the +earth, until, with a little jar, she settled down, and came to rest. +But she was on such an uneven keel that the cabin was tilted at an +unpleasant angle.</p> + +<p>"Bless my salt-cellar!" cried Mr. Damon. "We are almost standing on +our heads!"</p> + +<p>"Better that than not standing at all," replied Tom, grimly. "Now to +see what the damage is."</p> + +<p>He scrambled from the forward door of the cabin, no easy task +considering how it was tilted, and the others followed him. It was +too dark to note just how much damage had been inflicted, but Tom +was relieved to see, as nearly as he could judge, that it was +confined to the forward part of the front platform or deck of the +ship. The wooden planking was split, but the extent of the break +could not be ascertained until daylight. The searchlight connections +had been broken by the collision, and it could not be used.</p> + +<p>"Now to take a look at the machinery," suggested the young inventor, +when he had walked around his craft. "That is what I am worried +about more than about the outside."</p> + +<p>But, to their joy, they found only a small break in the motor. That +was what caused it to stop, and also put the dynamo out of +commission.</p> + +<p>"We can easily fix that," Tom declared.</p> + +<p>"Bless my coffee-spoon!" cried Mr. Damon, who seemed to be running +to table accessories in his blessings. Perhaps it was because it was +so near supper time. "Bless my coffee-spoon! But how did it happen?"</p> + +<p>"We were running too low," declared Tom. "I had forgotten that we +were likely to get among tall mountain peaks at any moment, and I +set the elevation rudder too low. It was my fault. I should have +been on the lookout. We must have struck the mountain of ice a +glancing blow, or the result would have been worse than it is. We'll +come out of it all right, as it is."</p> + +<p>"We can't do anything to-night," observed Ned.</p> + +<p>"Only eat," put in Mr. Damon, "and we'll have to take our coffee +cups half full, for everything is so tilted that it's like topsy- +turvey land. It makes me fairly dizzy!"</p> + +<p>But he forgot this in the work of getting a meal, and, though it was +prepared under considerable difficulties, at last it was ready.</p> + +<p>Bright and early the next morning Tom was up making another +inspection of his ship. He found that even if the forward deck was +not repaired they could go on, as soon as the motor was in shape, +but, as they had some spare wood aboard, it was decided to +temporarily repair the smashed platform.</p> + +<p>It was cold work, even wearing their thick garments; but, after +laboring until their fingers were stiff from the frost, Ned hit on +the idea of building a big fire of some evergreen trees near where +the ship lay.</p> + +<p>"Say, that's all right!" declared Tom, as the warmth of the blaze +made itself felt. "We can work better, now!"</p> + +<p>The RED CLOUD was tilted on some rough and uneven ground, in among +some little hills. On either side arose big peaks, the one in +particular that they had hit towering nearly fifteen thousand feet.</p> + +<p>Everything was covered with snow and ice, and, in fact, the ice was +so thick on the top of the mountains that the crags resembled +icebergs rather than stony peaks. The crash of the airship had +brought down a great section of this solid rock-ice.</p> + +<p>"Do you think we are anywhere near the valley of gold?" asked Mr. +Damon that afternoon, when the work was nearly finished.</p> + +<p>"It's somewhere in this vicinity." declared Abe. "Me an' my partner +passed through jest such a place as this on our way there. I +wouldn't wonder but what it wasn't more than a few hundred miles +away, now."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll soon be there," said Tom. "I'll start in the morning. I +could go to-night, but there are a few adjustments I want to make to +the motor, and, besides, I think it will be safer, now that we are +among these peaks, to navigate in daylight, or at least with the +searchlight going. I should have thought of that before."</p> + +<p>"Then, if you're not going to start away at once," spoke Mr. Parker, +"I think I will walk around a bit, and make some observations. I +think we are now in the region where we may expect a movement of the +ice. I want to test it, and see if it is traveling in a southerly +direction. If it is not now, it will soon be doing that, and the +coating of ice may reach even as far as New York."</p> + +<p>"Pleasant prospect," murmured Tom. Then he said aloud: "Well if you +are going, Mr. Parker, we'll be with you. I'll be glad of the chance +to stretch my legs, and what more remains to be done, can be +finished in the morning."</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon declared that he did not relish a tramp over the ice and +snow, and would stay in the warm cabin, but Tom and Ned, with Abe +and Mr. Parker started off. The scientist pointed out what he +claimed were evidences of the impending movement of the ice, while +Abe explained to the lads how the Alaskan Indians of that +neighborhood hunted and fished, and how they made huts of blocks of +ice.</p> + +<p>"We are nearing th' Arctic circle," the old miner said, "and we'll +soon be among th' most savage of the Eskimo tribes."</p> + +<p>"Is there any hunting around here?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes, plenty of musk ox" answered Abe.</p> + +<p>"I wish I'd brought my gun along and could see one of the big beasts +now," went on Ned. He looked anxiously around, but no game was in +sight. After a little farther tramp over the icy expanse they all +declared that they had seen enough of the dreary landscape, and +voted to return to the ship.</p> + +<p>As they neared their craft Tom saw several large, shaggy black +objects standing in a line on the path the adventurers had come over +a little while before. The objects were between the gold-seekers and +the RED CLOUD.</p> + +<p>"What in the world are those?" asked the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Look to me like black stones," spoke Ned.</p> + +<p>"Stones?" cried Abe. "Look out, boys, those are musk oxen; and big +ones, too! There's a lot of 'em! Make for the ship! If they attack +us we're goners!"</p> + +<p>The boys and Mr. Parker needed no second warning. Turning so as to +rush past the shaggy creatures, the four headed toward the ship.</p> + +<p>But if our friends expected to reach it unmolested they were +disappointed. No sooner had they increased their pace than the oxen, +with snorts of rage, darted forward. The animals may have imagined +they were about to be attacked, and determined to make the first +move.</p> + +<p>"Here they come!" yelled Ned.</p> + +<p>"Sprint for it!" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if I only had my gun!" groaned Abe.</p> + +<p>It was hard work running over the ice and snow, hampered as they +were with their heavy fur garments. They soon realized this, and the +pace was telling on them. They were now near to the ship, but the +savage creatures still were between them and the craft.</p> + +<p>"Try around the other way!" directed Tom, They changed their +direction, but the oxen also shifted their ground, and with loud +bellows of rage came on, shaking their shaggy heads and big horns, +while the hair, hanging down from their sides and flanks, dragged in +the snow.</p> + +<p>"Right at 'em! Run and yell!" advised the young inventor. "Maybe we +can scare 'em!"</p> + +<p>They followed his advice. Yelling like Indians the four rushed +straight for the animals. For a moment only the creatures halted. +Then, bellowing louder than ever they rushed straight at Tom and the +others.</p> + +<p>The largest of the oxen, with a sudden swerve, made for Mr. Parker, +who was slightly in the lead off to one side. In an instant the +scientist was tossed high in the air, falling in a snow bank.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Damon! Mr. Damon!" yelled Tom, frantically. "Get a gun and +shoot these beasts!"</p> + +<p>The young inventor and his two companions had come to a halt. The +oxen also stopped momentarily. Suddenly Mr. Damon appeared on the +deck of the airship. He held two rifles. Laying one down he aimed +the other at the ox which was rushing at the prostrate Mr. Parker. +The eccentric man fired. He hit the beast on the flank, and, with a +bellow of rage it turned.</p> + +<p>"Now's our time!" yelled Tom. "Head for the ship, I'll get my +electric gun!"</p> + +<p>"We can't leave Mr. Parker!" yelled Abe.</p> + +<p>But the scientist had arisen, and was running toward the RED CLOUD. +He did not seem to be much hurt. Mr. Damon fired again, hitting +another beast, but not mortally.</p> + +<p>Once more the herd of shaggy creatures came on, but the adventurers +were now almost at the ship, on the deck of which stood Mr. Damon, +firing as fast as he could work the lever and pull the trigger.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>THE CAVES OF ICE</h3> + + +<p>"Keep on firing! Hold 'em back a few minutes and I'll soon turn my +electric rifle loose on 'em!" yelled Tom Swift as he sprinted +forward. "Keep on shooting, Mr. Damon!"</p> + +<p>"Bless my powder-horn! I will!" cried the excited man. "I'll fire +all the cartridges there are in the rifle!"</p> + +<p>Which, at the rate he was discharging the weapon, would not take a +long time. But it had the effect of momentarily checking the advance +of the creatures.</p> + +<p>Not for long, however. Our friends had barely reached the airship, +with Mr. Parker stumbling and slipping on the ice and snow, ere the +musk oxen came on again, with loud bellows.</p> + +<p>"They're going to charge the ship! They'll ram her!" yelled Ned +Newton.</p> + +<p>"I think I can stop them!" cried Tom, who had leaped toward his +stateroom. He came out a moment later, carrying a peculiar-looking +gun, The adventurers had seen it before, but never in operation, as +Tom had only put some finishing touches on it since undertaking the +voyage to the caves of ice.</p> + +<p>"What sort of a weapon is that?" cried Abe, as he helped Mr. Parker +on board.</p> + +<p>"It's my new electric rifle," answered the young inventor. "I don't +know how it will work, as it isn't entirely finished, but I'm going +to try it."</p> + +<p>Putting it to his shoulder he aimed at the leading musk ox, and +pulled a small lever. There was no report, no puff of smoke and no +fire, yet the big creature, which had been rushing at the ship, +suddenly stopped, swayed for a moment, and then fell over in the +snow, kicking in his death agony.</p> + +<p>"One down!" yelled Tom. "My rifle works all right, even if it isn't +finished!"</p> + +<p>He aimed at another ox, and that creature was stopped in its tracks. +Mr. Damon had exhausted his cartridges, and had ceased firing, but +Abe Abercrombie was ready with his rifle, and opened up on the +beasts. Tom killed another with his electric gun, and Abe shot two. +This stopped the advance, and only just in time, for the foremost +animals were already close to the ship, and had they rushed at the +frail hull they might have damaged it beyond repair.</p> + +<p>"Here goes for the big one!" cried Tom, and, aiming at the largest +ox of the herd, the young inventor pulled the lever. The brute fell +over dead, and the rest, terror stricken, turned and fled.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! That's the stuff!" cried Ned Newton, capering about on +deck. He had hurried to his stateroom and secured his rifle, and, +before the musk oxen were out of sight he had killed one, which gave +him great delight.</p> + +<p>"Mighty lucky we drove them away," declared Abe. "They are terrible +savage at times, an' I reckon we struck one of them times. But say, +Tom, what sort of a gun is that you got, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it fires electric bullets," explained our hero. "But I haven't +time to tell you about it now. Let's get out and skin one of those +oxen. The fresh meat will come in good, for we've been living on +canned stuff since we left Seattle. We've got time enough before it +gets dark."</p> + +<p>They hurried to where the shaggy creatures lay in the snow, and soon +there was enough fresh meat to last a long time, as it would keep +well in the intense cold. Tom put away his electric gun, briefly +explaining the system of it to his companions. The time was to come, +and that not very far off, when that same electric rifle was to save +his life in a remarkable manner, in the wilds of Africa where he +went to hunt elephants.</p> + +<p>In the cozy cabin that night they sat and talked of the day's +adventures. The airship had been slightly lifted up by means of the +gas bag, and now rested on a level keel, so it was more comfortable +for the gold hunters.</p> + +<p>"I did not complete my observations about the great snow slide," +remarked Professor Parker, "I trust I will have time to go over the +ground again to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"We leave early in the morning," objected Tom.</p> + +<p>"Besides, I don't believe it would be safe to go over that ground +again," put in Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Bless my gunpowder! But when I saw those savage creatures rushing +at you, I thought it was all up with us. Are you hurt, Parker, my +dear fellow? I forgot to ask before."</p> + +<p>"Not hurt in the least," answered the scientist. "My heavy and thick +fur garments saved me from the beasts' horns, and I fell in some +soft snow. I was quite startled for a moment. I thought it might be +the beginning of the snow movement."</p> + +<p>"It was an ox movement," said Ned, in a low voice to Tom.</p> + +<p>Morning saw the travelers again under way, with the Red Cloud now +floating high enough to avoid the lofty peaks. The weather was clear +but very cold, and Tom, who was in the pilot-house, could see a long +distance ahead, and note many towering crags, which, had the airship +been flying low enough, would have interfered with her progress.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to keep the searchlight going all night, to avoid a +collision," he decided.</p> + +<p>"Are we anywhere near the place?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"We're in th' right region," declared the old miner. "I think we're +on th' right track. I recognize a few more landmarks."</p> + +<p>"There wouldn't have been any trouble if I hadn't lost the map." +complained Tom, bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Never mind about that," insisted Abe. "We'll find th' place anyhow. +But look ahead there; is that another hail storm headin' this way, +Tom?"</p> + +<p>The young inventor glanced to where Abe pointed. There was a mist in +the air, and, for a time great apprehension was felt, but, in a few +minutes there was a violent flurry of snow and they all breathed +easier. For, though the flakes were so numerous as to completely +shut off the view, there was no danger to the airship from them. Tom +steered by the compass.</p> + +<p>The storm lasted several hours, and when it was over the adventurers +found themselves several miles nearer their destination—at least +they hoped they were nearer it, for they were going it blind.</p> + +<p>Abe declared they were now in the region of the gold valley. They +cruised about for two days, making vain observations by means of +powerful telescopes, but they saw no signs of any depression which +corresponded with the place whence Abe had seen the gold taken from. +At times they passed over Indian villages, and had glimpses of the +skin-clad inhabitants rushing out to point to the strange sight of +the airship overhead. Tom was beginning to reproach himself again +for his carelessness in losing the map, and it did begin to took as +if they were making a fruitless search.</p> + +<p>Still they all kept up their good spirits, and Mr. Damon concocted +some new dishes from the meat of the musk oxen. It was about a week +after the fight with the savage creatures when, one day, as Ned was +on duty in the pilothouse, he happened to lock down. What he saw +caused him to call to Tom.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" demanded the young inventor, as he hurried +forward.</p> + +<p>"Look down there," directed Ned. "It looks as if we were sailing +over a lot of immense beehives of the old-fashioned kind."</p> + +<p>Tom looked. Below were countless, rounded hummocks of snow or ice. +Some were very large—as immense as a great shed in which a +dirigible balloon could be housed—while others were as small as the +ice huts in which the Eskimos live.</p> + +<p>"That's rather strange," remarked Tom. "I wonder—"</p> + +<p>But he did not complete his sentence, for Abe Abercrombie, who had +come to stand beside him, suddenly yelled out:</p> + +<p>"The caves of ice! The caves of ice! Now I know where we are! We're +close to the valley of gold! There are the caves of ice, and just +beyond is th' place we're lookin' for! We've found it at last!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>IN THE GOLD VALLEY</h3> + + +<p>The excited cries of the old miner brought Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker +to the pilothouse on the run.</p> + +<p>"Bless my refrigerator!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Are there more of +those savage, shaggy creatures down there?"</p> + +<p>"No, but we are over th' caves of ice," explained Abe. "That means +we are near th' gold."</p> + +<p>"You don't say so!" burst out the scientist. "The caves of ice! Now +I can begin my real observations! I have a theory that the caves are +on top of a strata of ice that is slowly moving down, and will +eventually bury the whole of the North American continent. Let me +once get down there, and I can prove what I say."</p> + +<p>"I'd a good deal rather you wouldn't prove it, if it's going to be +anything like it was on Earthquake Island, or out among the diamond +makers." said Tom Swift. "But we will go down there, to see what +they are like. Perhaps there is a trail from among the ice caves to +the valley of gold."</p> + +<p>"I don't think so," said Abe, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>"I think th' gold valley lies over that high ridge," and he pointed +to one. "That's where me an' my partner was," he went on. "I +recognize th' place now."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll go down here, anyhow," decided Tom, and he pulled the +lever to let some gas out of the bag, and tilted the deflection +rudder to send the airship toward the odd caves.</p> + +<p>And, curious enough did our friends find them when they had made a +landing and got out to walk about them. It was very cold, for on +every side was solid ice. They walked on ice, which was like a floor +beneath their feet, level save where the ice caves reared +themselves. As for the caverns, they, too, were hollowed out of the +solid ice. It was exactly as though there had once been a level +surface of some liquid. Then by some upheaval of nature, the surface +was blown into bubbles, some large and some small. Then the whole +thing had frozen solid, and the bubbles became hollow caves. In time +part of the sides fell in and made an opening, so that nearly all +the caves were capable of being entered.</p> + +<p>This method of their formation was advanced as a theory by Mr. +Parker, and no one cared to dispute him. The gold-seekers walked +about, gazing on the ice caves with wonder showing on their faces.</p> + +<p>It was almost like being in some fantastic scene from fairyland, the +big ice bubbles representing the houses, the roofs being rounded +like the igloos of the Eskimos. Some had no means of entrance, the +outer surface showing no break. Others had small openings, like a +little doorway, while of still others there remained but a small +part of the original cave, some force of nature having crumbled and +crushed it.</p> + +<p>"Wonderful! Wonderful!" exclaimed Mr. Parker. "It bears out my +theory exactly! Now to see how fast the ice is moving."</p> + +<p>"How are you going to tell?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"By taking some mark on this field of ice, and observing a distant +peak. Then I will set up a stake, and by noting their relative +positions, I can tell just how fast the ice field is moving +southward." The scientist hurried into the ship to get a sharpened +stake he had prepared for this purpose.</p> + +<p>"How fast do you think the ice is moving?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, perhaps two or three feet a year." "Two or three feet a year?" +gasped Mr. Damon. "Why, Parker, my dear fellow, at that rate it will +be some time before the ice gets to New York."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. I hardly expect it will reach there within two thousand +years, but my theory will be proved, just the same!"</p> + +<p>"Humph!" exclaimed Abe Abercrombie, "I ain't goin' to worry any +more, if it's goin' t' take all that while. I reckoned, to hear him +talk, that it was goin' t' happen next summer."</p> + +<p>"So did I," agreed Tom, but their remarks were lost on Mr. Parker +who was busy making observations. The young inventor and the others +walked about among the ice caves.</p> + +<p>"Some of these caverns would be big enough to house the RED CLOUD in +case of another hail storm," observed Tom. "That one over there +would hold two craft the size of mine," and, in fact, probably three +could have gotten in if the opening had been somewhat enlarged, for +the ice cave to which our hero pointed was an immense one.</p> + +<p>As the adventurers were walking about they were startled by a +terrific crashing sound. They started in alarm, for, off to their +left, the top of one of the ice caverns had crashed inward, the +blocks of frozen water crushing and grinding against one another.</p> + +<p>"It's a good thing we weren't in there," remarked Tom, and he could +not repress a shudder, "There wouldn't have been much left of the +RED CLOUD if she had been inside."</p> + +<p>It was a desolate place, in spite of the wild beauty of it, and +beautiful it was when the sun shone on the ice caves, making them +sparkle as if they were studded with diamonds. But it was cold and +cheerless, and there were no signs that human beings had ever been +there. Mr. Parker had completed the setting of his stake, and picked +out his landmarks, and was gravely making his "observations," and +jotting down some figures in a notebook.</p> + +<p>"How fast is it moving, Parker?" called Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I can't tell yet," was the response. "It will require observations +extending over several days before I will know the rate."</p> + +<p>"Then we might as well go on," suggested Tom. "There is nothing to +be gained from staying here, and I would like to get to the gold +valley. Abe says we are near it."</p> + +<p>"Right over that ridge, I take it to be," replied the miner. "An' we +can't get there any too soon for me. Those Fogers may git their ship +fixed up, an' arrive before we do if we wait much longer."</p> + +<p>"Not much danger, I guess," declared Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll go up in the air, and see what we can find," decided +Tom, as he turned back toward the ship.</p> + +<p>They found the "ridge" as Abe designated it. to be a great plateau, +over a hundred miles in extent, and they were the better part of +that day crossing it, for they went slowly, so as not to miss the +valley which the miner was positive was close at hand. Mr. Parker +disliked leaving the ice caves, but Abe said there were more in the +valley where they were going, and the scientist could renew his +observations.</p> + +<p>It was getting dusk when Tom, who was peering through a powerful +glass, called out:</p> + +<p>"Well, we're at the end of the plateau, and it seems to dip down +into a valley just beyond here."</p> + +<p>"Then that's the place!" cried Abe, excitedly. "Go slow, Tom."</p> + +<p>Our hero needed no such caution. Carefully he sent the airship +forward. A few minutes later they were passing over a large Eskimo +village, the fur-clad inhabitants of which rushed about wildly +excited at the sight of the airship.</p> + +<p>"There they are! Them's th' beggars!" cried the old miner. "Them's +th' fellows who drove me an' my partner away. But there's th' valley +of gold! I know it now! How t' fill our pockets with nuggets!"</p> + +<p>"Are you sure this is the place?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Sartin sure of it!" declared Abe. "Put her down, Tom! Put her +down!"</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed the young inventor, as he shifted the deflection +rudder. The airship began her descent into the valley. The edge of +the plateau, leading down into the great depression was now black +with the Eskimos and Indians, who were capering about, gesticulating +wildly.</p> + +<p>"It's quite a surprise party to 'em," observed Ned Newton.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I hope they don't spring one on us," added Tom.</p> + +<p>Down and down went the RED CLOUD lower and lower into the valley.</p> + +<p>"There are ice caves there!" cried Mr. Parker, pointing to the +curiously rounded and hollow hummocks. "Lots of them!"</p> + +<p>"And larger than the others!" added Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>The airship was now moving slowly, for Tom wanted to pick out a good +landing place. He saw a smooth stretch of the ice just ahead of him, +in front of an immense ice cave.</p> + +<p>"I'll make for that," he told Ned.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the craft had come to rest. Tom shut off the +power and hurried from the pilothouse, donning his fur coat as he +rushed out. A blast of frigid air met him as he opened the outer +door of the cabin. Back on the ridge of the plateau he could see the +fringe of Indians.</p> + +<p>"Well, we're here in the valley," he said, as his friends gathered +about him on the icy ground.</p> + +<p>"An' now for th' gold!" cried Abe, "for it's here that th' nuggets +are—enough for all of us! Come on an' have a hunt for 'em!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>THE FOGERS ARRIVE</h3> + + +<p>In Spite of the fact that he tried to remain calm, Tom Swift felt a +wild exultation as he thought of what lay before him and his +friends. To be in a place where gold could be picked up! where they +might all become fabulously wealthy! where the ground might be seen +covered with the precious yellow metal! this was enough to set the +nerves of any one a-tingle!</p> + +<p>Tom could hardly realize it at first. After many hardships, no +little danger, and after an attempt on the part of their enemies to +defeat them, they had at last reached their goal. Now, as Abe had +said, they could hunt for the gold.</p> + +<p>But if they expected to see the precious yellow nuggets lying about +ready to be picked up like so many kernels of corn, they were +disappointed. A quick look all about showed them only a vast extent +of ice and snow, broken here and there by the big caves of ice. +There were not so many of the latter as at the first place they +stopped, but the caverns were larger.</p> + +<p>"Gold—I don't see any gold," remarked Ned Newton, with a +disappointed air. "Where is it?"</p> + +<p>"Bless my pocketbook, yes! Where is it?" demanded Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we've got to dig for it," explained Abe. "It's only when +there's been a slight thaw that some of th' pebble nuggets kin be +seen. They're under th' ice, an' we've got t' dig for 'em."</p> + +<p>"Does it ever thaw up here?" asked Mr. Parker. "The ice of the caves +seems thick enough to last forever."</p> + +<p>"It does thaw an' melt some," went on the miner. "But some of th' +caves last all through what they call 'summer' up here, though it's +more like winter. We're above th' Arctic circle now, friends."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we can keep on to the Pole," suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>"Not this trip," spoke Tom, grimly. "We'll try for the gold, first."</p> + +<p>"Yes, an' I'm goin' t' begin diggin' right away!" exclaimed Abe, as +he turned back into the airship, and came out again with a pick and +shovel, a supply of which implements had been brought along. The +others followed his example. and soon the ice chips were flying +about in a shower, while the sun shining on them gave the appearance +of a rainbow.</p> + +<p>"Look at those Indians watching us," remarked Ned to Tom, as he +paused in his chipping of the frozen surface. The young inventor +glanced up toward the distant plateau where a fringe of dark figures +stood. The natives were evidently intently watching the gold- +seekers.</p> + +<p>"Do you think there's any danger from them. Abe?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Not much," was the reply. "They made trouble for me an' my partner, +but I guess th' airship has scared 'em sufficient, so they won't +come snoopin' down here," and Abe fell to at his digging again.</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon was also vigorously wielding a pick, but Mr. Parker like +the true scientist he was, had renewed his observations. Evidently +the gold had no attractions for him, or, if it did, he preferred to +wait until he had finished his calculations.</p> + +<p>Vigorously the adventurers wielded their implements, making the ice +fly, but for an hour or more no gold was discovered. Mr. Damon, +after picking lightly at a certain place, would get discouraged, and +move on to another. So did Ned, and Tom, after going down quite a +way, left off work, and walked over to one of the big ice caves.</p> + +<p>"What's up?" asked Ned, resting from his labors.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking whether it would be safe to put the RED CLOUD in +this ice cave for a shelter," replied Tom. "There may come up a hail +storm at any time, and damage it. The caves would be just the place +for it, only I'm afraid the roof might collapse."</p> + +<p>"It looks strong," said Ned. "Let's ask Mr. Parker his opinion."</p> + +<p>"Good idea," agreed Tom.</p> + +<p>The scientist was soon taking measurements of the thickness of the +cave roof, noting its formation, and looking at the frozen floor.</p> + +<p>"I see no reason why this cave should collapse," he finally +announced. "The only danger is the movement of the whole valley of +ice, and that is too gradual to cause any immediate harm. Yes, I +think the airship could be housed in the ice cave."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll run her in, and she'll be safer," decided Tom. "I guess +we three can do it, Ned, and leave Mr. Damon and Abe to keep on +digging for gold." The airship was so buoyant that it could easily +be moved about on the bicycle wheels on which it rested, and soon, +after the lower edge of the opening into the ice cave had been +smoothed down, the RED CLOUD was placed in the novel shelter.</p> + +<p>"Now to continue the search for the yellow nuggets!" cried Ned, and +Tom went with him, even Mr. Parker condescending to take a pick, +now. Abe was the only one who dug steadily in one place. The others +tried spot after spot.</p> + +<p>"You've got t' stick t' one lead until you find somethin', or until +it peters out," explained the miner. "You must git down to th' dirt +before you'll find any gold, though you may strike a few grains that +have worked up into th' ice."</p> + +<p>After this advice they all kept to one hole until they had worked +down through the ice to the dirt surface below. But even then, Abe, +who was the first to achieve this, found no gold, and the old miner +went to another location.</p> + +<p>All the rest of that day they dug, but with no result. Not even a +few grains of yellow dust rewarded their efforts.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure this is the right place?" asked Mr. Damon, somewhat +fretfully, of Abe. as they ate supper that night in the airship, +sheltered as it was in the ice cave.</p> + +<p>"I'm positive of it," was the reply. "There's gold here, but it will +take some prospectin' t' find it. Maybe th' deposits have been +shifted by th' ice movement, as Mr. Parker says. But it's here, an' +we'll git it. We'll try ag'in t'-morrow."</p> + +<p>They did try, but with small success. Laboring all day in the cold +the only result was a few little yellow pebbles that Tom found +imbedded in the ice. But they were gold, and the finding of them +gave the seekers hope as they wearily began their task the following +day. The weather seemed even colder, and there was the indication of +a big storm.</p> + +<p>They were scattered in different places on the ice, not far away +from the big cave, each one picking away vigorously. Suddenly Abe, +who had laboriously worked his way down to the dirt, gave an +exultant yell.</p> + +<p>"I've struck it! Struck it rich!" he shouted, leaping about as he +threw down his pick, "Look here, everybody!" He stooped down over +the hole. They all ran to his side, and saw him lifting from a +little pocket in the dirt, several large, yellow pebbles.</p> + +<p>"Gold! Gold!" cried Abe. "We've struck it at last!"</p> + +<p>For a moment no one spoke, though there was a wild beating of their +hearts. Then, off toward the farther end of the valley there sounded +a curious noise. It was a shouting and yelling, mingled with the +snapping of whips and the howls and barkings of dogs.</p> + +<p>"Bless my handkerchief!" cried Mr. Damon. "What's that?"</p> + +<p>They all saw a moment later. Approaching over the frozen snow were +several Eskimo sledges, drawn by dog teams, and the native drivers +were shouting and cracking their whips of walrus hide.</p> + +<p>"The natives are coming to attack us!" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>Tom said nothing. He was steadily observing the approaching sleds. +They came on rapidly. Abe was holding the golden nuggets in his +gloved hands.</p> + +<p>"Get the guns! Where's your electric rifle, Tom?" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe we'll need the guns—just yet," answered the young +inventor, slowly.</p> + +<p>"Bless my cartridge-belt! Why not?" demanded the eccentric man.</p> + +<p>"Because those are the Fogers," replied Tom. "They have followed us- +-Andy and his father! Andy Foger here!" gasped Ned.</p> + +<p>Tom nodded grimly. A few minutes later the sleds had come to a halt +not far from our friends, and Andy, followed by his father, leaped +off his conveyance. The two were clad in heavy fur garments.</p> + +<p>"Ha, Tom Swift! You didn't get here much ahead of us!" exulted the +bully. "I told you I'd get even with you! Come on, now, dad, we'll +get right to work digging for gold!"</p> + +<p>Tom and his companions did not know what to say.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>JUMPING THE CLAIM</h3> + + +<p>There was a sneering look on Andy's face, and Mr. Foger, too, seemed +delighted at having reached the valley of gold almost as soon as had +our friends. Tom and the others looked at the means by which the +bully had arrived. There were four sleds, each one drawn by seven +dogs, and in charge of a dark-skinned native. On the two foremost +sleds Andy and his father had ridden, while the other two evidently +contained their supplies.</p> + +<p>For a moment Andy surveyed Tom's party and then, turning to one of +the native drivers, he said:</p> + +<p>"We'll camp here. You fellows get to work and make an ice house, and +some of you cook a meal—I'm hungry."</p> + +<p>"No need build ice house," replied the native, who spoke English +brokenly.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" demanded Andy.</p> + +<p>"Live in ice cave-plenty much ob'em—plenty much room," went on the +Eskimo, indicating several of the large caverns.</p> + +<p>"Ha! That's a good idea," agreed Mr. Foger, "Andy, my son, we have +houses already made for us, and very comfortable they seem, too. +We'll take up our quarters in one, and then hunt for the gold."</p> + +<p>Mr. Foger seemed to ignore Tom and his friends. Abe Abercrombie +strode forward.</p> + +<p>"Look here, you Fogers!" he exclaimed without ceremony, "was you +calculatin' on stakin' any claims here?"</p> + +<p>"If you mean are we going to dig for gold, we certainly are," +replied Andy insolently, "and you can't stop us."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," went on Abe, grimly. "I ain't goin' t' +say nothin' now, about th' way you stole th' map from me, an' made a +copy, but I am goin t' say this, an' that is it won't be healthy fer +any of you t' git in my way, or t' try t' dig on our claims!"</p> + +<p>"We'll dig where we please!" cried Andy. "You don't own this +valley!"</p> + +<p>"We own as much of it as we care to stake out, by right of prior +discovery!" declared Tom, firmly.</p> + +<p>"And I say we'll dig where we please!" insisted Andy. "Hand me a +pick," he went on to another of the natives.</p> + +<p>"Wait jest a minute," spoke Abe calmly, as he put his little store +of nuggets in the pocket of his fur coat, and drew out a big +revolver. "It ain't healthy t' talk that way, Andy Foger, an' th' +sooner you find that out th' better. You ain't in Shopton now, an' +th' only law here is what we make for ourselves. Tom, maybe you'd +better get out th' rifles, an' your electric gun, after all. It +seems like we might have trouble," and Abe cooly looked to see if +his weapon was loaded.</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course we didn't mean to usurp any of your rights, my dear +friend!" exclaimed Mr, Foger quickly, and he seemed nervous at the +sight of the big revolver, while Andy hastily moved until he was +behind the biggest of the sledge drivers. "We don't want to violate +any of your rights," went on Mr. Foger. "But this valley is large, +and do I understand that you claim all of it?"</p> + +<p>"We could if we wanted to," declared Abe stoutly; "but we'll be +content with three-quarter of it, seein' we was here fust. If you +folks want t' dig fer gold, go over there," and he pointed to a spot +some distance away.</p> + +<p>"We'll dig where we please!" cried Andy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, will you?" and there was an angry light in Abe's eyes. "I +guess, Tom, you'd better git—"</p> + +<p>"No! No! My son is wrong—he is too hasty," interposed Mr. Foger. +"We will go away—certainly we will. The valley is large enough for +both of us—just as you say. Come, Andy!"</p> + +<p>The bully seemed about to refuse, but a look at Abe's angry face and +a sight of Mr. Damon coming from the cave where the airship was, +with a rifle, for the eccentric man had hastened to get his weapon—this +sight calmed Andy down. Without further words he and his father +got back on their sleds, and were soon being driven off to where a +large ice cave loomed up, about a mile away.</p> + +<p>"Good riddance," muttered the miner, "now we kin go on diggin' +wthout bein' bothered by that little scamp."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," spoke Tom, shaking his head dubiously. +"There's always trouble when Andy Foger's within a mile. I'm afraid +we haven't seen the last of him."</p> + +<p>"He'd better not come around here ag'in," declared Abe. "Queer, how +he should turn up, jest when I made a big strike."</p> + +<p>"They must have come on all the way from where their airship was +wrecked, by means of dog sleds," observed Ned, and the others agreed +with him. Later they learned that this was so; that after the +accident to the ANTHONY, the crew had refused to proceed farther +north, and had gone back. But Mr. Foger had hired the natives with +the dog teams, and, by means of the copy of the map and with what +knowledge his Eskimos had, had reached the valley of gold.</p> + +<p>"We have certainly struck it rich," went on Abe, as he went back to +where he had dug the hole. "Now we'd better all begin prospectin' +here, for it looks like a big deposit. We'll stake out a large +enough claim to take it all in. I guess Mr. Parker can do that, +seein' as how he knows about such things."</p> + +<p>The scientist agreed to do this part of the work, it being +understood that all the gold discovered would be shared equally +after the expenses of the trip had been paid.</p> + +<p>Feverishly Abe and the others began to dig. They did not come upon +such a rich deposit as the miner had found, but there were enough +nuggets picked up to prove that the expedition would be very +successful.</p> + +<p>No more attention was paid to the Fogers, but through the telescope +Tom could see that the bully and his father had made a camp in one +of the ice caves, and that both were eagerly digging in the frozen +surface of the valley.</p> + +<p>Before night several thousand dollars' worth of gold had been taken +out by our friends. It was stored in the airship, and then, after +suppers the craft's searchlight was taken off, and placed in such a +position in front of the cave of ice so that the beams would +illuminate the claim staked out by Tom and the others.</p> + +<p>"We'll stand watch an' watch," suggested Abe, "but I don't think +them Fogers will come around here ag'in."</p> + +<p>They did not, and the night passed peacefully. The next day our +friends were again at work digging for gold. So were the Fogers, as +could be observed through the glass, but it was impossible to see +whether they got any nuggets.</p> + +<p>The gold seemed to be in "pockets," and that day the ones in the +vicinity of the strike first made by Abe were cleaned out.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to locate some new 'pockets,'" said the miner, and the +adventurers scattered over the frozen plain to look for other +deposits of the precious metal.</p> + +<p>Tom and Ned were digging together not far from one another. Suddenly +Ned let out a joyful cry.</p> + +<p>"Strike anything?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Something rich," answered the bank clerk. He lifted from a hole in +the ground a handful of the golden pebbles.</p> + +<p>"It's as good as Abe's was!" exclaimed Tom. "We must stake it out at +once, or the Fogers may jump it. Come on, we'll go back and tell +Abe, and get Mr. Parker and Mr. Damon over here."</p> + +<p>The three men were some distance away, and there was no sign of the +Fogers. Tom and Ned hurried back to where their friends were, +leaving their picks and shovels on the frozen ground.</p> + +<p>The good news was soon told, and, with some stakes hastily made from +some extra wood carried on the airship, the little party hastened +back to where Tom and Ned had made their strike.</p> + +<p>As they emerged from behind a big hummock of ice they saw, standing +over the holes which the lads had dug, Andy Foger and his father! +Each one had a rifle, and there was a smile of triumph on Andy's +face!</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here?" cried Tom, the hot blood mounting to his +cheeks.</p> + +<p>"We've just staked out a claim here," answered the bully.</p> + +<p>"And you deserted it," put in Mr. Foger smoothly. "I think your +mining friend will tell you that we have a right to take up an +abandoned claim."</p> + +<p>"But we didn't abandon it!" declared Tom. "We only went away to get +the stakes."</p> + +<p>"The claim was abandoned, and we have 'jumped' it," went on Mr. +Foger, and he cocked his rifle. "I need hardly tell you that +possession is nine points of the law, and that we intend to remain. +Andy, is your gun loaded?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, pa."</p> + +<p>"I—I guess they've got us—fer th' time bein'," murmured Abe, as he +motioned to Tom and the others to come away. "Besides they've got +guns, an' we haven't—but wait," added the miner, mysteriously. "I +haven't played all my tricks yet."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>ATTACKED BY NATIVES</h3> + + +<p>To state that Tom and his friends were angry at the trick the Fogers +had played on them would be putting it mildly. There was righteous +indignation in their hearts, and, as for the young inventor he felt +that much blame was attached to him for his neglect in not remaining +on guard at the place of the lucky strike while Ned went to call the +others.</p> + +<p>"I guess Andy must have been spying on us," spoke Ned, "or he would +never have known when to rush up just as he did; as soon as we +left."</p> + +<p>"Probably," admitted Tom, bitterly.</p> + +<p>"But, bless my penholder!" cried Mr. Damon. "Can't we do something, +Abe? Won't the law—?"</p> + +<p>"There ain't any law out here, except what you make yourself," said +the miner. "I guess they've got us for th' time bein'."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by that?" asked Tom, detecting a gleam of hope in +Abe's tone.</p> + +<p>"Well, I mean that I think we kin git ahead of 'em. Come on back to +th' ship, an' we'll talk it over."</p> + +<p>They walked away, leaving Andy and his father in possession of the +rich deposits of gold, and that it was much richer even then than +the hole Abe had first discovered was very evident. The two Fogers +were soon at work, digging out the yellow metal with the pick and +shovels Tom and Ned had so thoughtlessly dropped.</p> + +<p>"What little law there is out here they've got on their side," went +on Abe, "an' they've got possession, too, which is more. Of course +we could go at 'em in a pitched battle, but I take it you don't want +any bloodshed?" and he looked at Tom.</p> + +<p>"Of course not," replied the lad quickly, "but I'd like to meet Andy +alone, with nothing but my fists for a little while," and Tom's eyes +snapped.</p> + +<p>"So would I," added Ned.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we can find another pocket of gold better than that one," +suggested Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"We might," admitted Abe, "but that one was ours an' we're entitled +to it. This valley is rich in gold deposits, but you can't allers +put your hand on 'em. We may have t' hunt around for a week until we +strike another. An', meanwhile, them Fogers will be takin' our gold! +It's not to be borne! I'll find some way of drivin' 'em out. An' +we've got t' do it soon, too."</p> + +<p>"You mean if we don't that they'll get all the gold?" asked Mr. +Damon.</p> + +<p>"No, I mean that soon it will be th' long night up here, an' we +can't work. We'll have t' go back, an' I don't want t' go back until +I've made my pile."</p> + +<p>"Neither do any of us, I guess," spoke Tom, "but there doesn't seem +to be any help for it."</p> + +<p>They discussed several plans on reaching the ship, but none seemed +feasible without resorting to force, and this they did not want to +do, as they feared there might be bloodshed. When night closed in +they could see the gleam of a campfire, kindled by the Foger party, +at the gold-pocket, from bits of the scrubby trees that grew in that +frigid clime.</p> + +<p>"They're going to stay on guard," announced Tom. "We can't get it +away from them to-night."</p> + +<p>Though Abe had spoken of some plan to regain the advantage the +Fogers had of them, the old miner was not quite ready to propose it. +All the next day he seemed very thoughtful, while going about with +the others, seeking new deposits of gold. Luck did not seem to be +with them. They found two or three places where there were traces of +the yellow pebbles, but in no very great quantity.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Fogers were busy at the pocket Ned had located. They +seemed to be taking out much of the precious metal.</p> + +<p>"And it all ought to be ours," declared Tom, bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and it shall be, too!" suddenly exclaimed. Abe. "I think I +have a plan that will beat 'em."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Let's get back to the ship, and I'll tell you," said Abe. "We can't +tell when one of their natives might be sneakin' in among these ice +caves, an' they understand some English. They might give my scheme +away."</p> + +<p>In brief Abe's plan, as he unfolded it in the cabin of the RED CLOUD +was this:</p> + +<p>They would divide into two parties, one consisting of Ned and Tom, +and the other of the three men. The latter, by a circuitous route, +would go to the ice caves where the Fogers had established their +camp. It was there that the Indians remained during the day, while +Andy and his father labored at the gold pocket, for, after the first +day when they had had the natives aid them, father and son had +worked alone at the hole, probably fearing to trust the Indians. At +night, though either Andy or his father remained on guard, with one +or two of the dusky-skinned dog drivers.</p> + +<p>"But we'll work this trick before night," said Abe. "We three men +will get around to where the natives are in the ice cave. We'll +pretend to attack them, and raise a great row, firing our guns in +the air, and all that sort of thing, an' yellin' t' beat th' band. +Th' natives will yell, too, you can depend on that."</p> + +<p>"Th' Fogers will imagine we are tryin' t' git away with their sleds +an' supplies, an' maybe their gold, if they've got it stored in th' +ice cave. Naturally Andy or his father will run here, an' that will +leave only one on guard at th' mine. Then Tom an' Ned can sneak up. +Th' two of 'em will be a match for even th' old Foger, if he happens +t' stay, an' while Tom or Ned comes up in front, t' hold his +attention, th' other can come up in back, an' grab his arms, if he +tries t' shoot. Likely Andy will remain at th' gold hole, an' you +two lads kin handle him, can't you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess!" exclaimed Tom and Ned together.</p> + +<p>The plan worked like a charm. Abe, Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker raised a +great din at the ice cave where the Foger natives were. The sound +carried to the hole where Andy and his father were digging out the +gold. Mr. Foger at once ran toward the cave, while Andy, catching up +his gun, remained on the alert.</p> + +<p>Then came the chance of Tom and Ned. The latter coming from his +hiding-place, advanced boldly toward the bully, while Tom, making a +detour, worked his way up behind.</p> + +<p>"Here! You keep away!" cried Andy, catching sight of Ned. "I see +what the game is, now! It's a trick!"</p> + +<p>"You're a nice one to talk about tricks!" declared Ned, advancing +slowly.</p> + +<p>"Keep away if you don't want to get hurt!" yelled Andy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you wouldn't hurt me; would you?" mocked Ned, who wanted to +give Tom time to sneak up behind the bully.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I would! Keep back!" Andy was nervously fingering his weapon. +The next instant his gun flew from his grasp, and he went over +backward in Tom's strong grip; for the young inventor, in his +sealskin shoes had worked up in the rear without a sound. The next +moment Andy broke away and was running for his life, leaving Tom and +Ned in possession of the gold hole, and that without a shot being +fired. A little later the three men, who had hurried away from the +cave as Mr. Foger rushed up to see what caused the racket, joined +Tom and Ned, and formal possession was taken of their lucky strike.</p> + +<p>"We'll guard it well, now," decided Tom, and later that day they +moved some supplies near the hole, and for a shelter built an igloo, +Eskimo fashion, in which work Abe had had some experience. Then they +moved the airship to another ice cave, nearer their "mine" as they +called it, and prepared to stand guard.</p> + +<p>But there seemed to be no need, for the following day there was no +trace of the Fogers. They and their natives had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"I guess we were too much for them," spoke Tom. But the sequel was +soon to prove differently.</p> + +<p>It was three days after our friends had regained their mine, during +which time they had dug out considerable gold, that toward evening, +as Tom was taking the last of the output of yellow pebbles into the +cave where the airship was, he looked across the valley.</p> + +<p>"Looks like something coming this way," observed the young inventor. +"Natives, I guess."</p> + +<p>"It is," agreed Ned, "quite a large party, too!"</p> + +<p>"Better tell Abe and the others," went on Tom. "I don't like the +looks of this. Maybe the sudden disappearance of the Fogers has +something to do with it."</p> + +<p>Abe, Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker hurried from the ice cave. They had +caught up their guns as they ran out.</p> + +<p>"They're still coming on," called Tom, "and are headed this way."</p> + +<p>"They're Indians, all right!" exclaimed Abe. "Hark! What's that?"</p> + +<p>It was the sound of shouting and singing.</p> + +<p>Through the gathering dusk the party advanced. Our friends closely +scanned them. There was something familiar about the two leading +figures, and it could now be seen that in the rear were a number of +dog sleds.</p> + +<p>"There's Andy Foger and his father!" cried Ned. "They've gone and +got a lot of Eskimos to help them drive us away."</p> + +<p>"That's right!" admitted Tom. "I guess we're in for it now!"</p> + +<p>With a rush the natives, led by the Fogers, came on. They were +yelling now. An instant later they began firing their guns.</p> + +<p>"It's a fierce attack!" cried Tom. "Into the ice cave for shelter! +We can cover the gold mine from there. I'll get my electric gun!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>THE WRECK OF THE AIRSHIP</h3> + + +<p>Almost before our friends could retreat into the cave which now +sheltered the RED CLOUD, the attacking natives opened fire. +Fortunately they only had old-fashioned, muzzle-loading muskets, +and, as their aim was none of the best, there was comparatively +little danger. The bullets, however, did sing through the fast- +gathering darkness with a vicious sound, and struck the heavy sides +and sloping front of the ice cave with a disconcerting "ping!"</p> + +<p>"I don't hear Andy or his father firing!" called Tom, as he and the +others returned the fire of the savage Indians. "I could tell their +guns by the sharper reports. The Fogers carry repeating rifles, and +they're fine ones, if they're anything like the one we took from +Andy, Ned."</p> + +<p>"That's right," agreed Tom's chum, "I don't believe Andy or his +father dare fire. They're afraid to, and they're putting the poor +ignorant natives up to it. Probably they hired them to try to drive +us away."</p> + +<p>This, as they afterward learned, was exactly the case.</p> + +<p>The battle, if such it could be called, was kept up. There was about +a hundred natives, all of whom had guns, and, though they were slow +to load, there were enough weapons to keep up a constant fusilade. +On their part, Tom and the others fired at first over the heads of +the natives, for they did not want to kill any of the deluded men. +Later, though, when they saw the rush keeping up, they fired at +their legs, and disabled several of the Eskimos, the electric gun +proving very effective.</p> + +<p>It was now quite dark, and the firing slackened. From their position +in the cave, Tom and the others could command the hole where the +gold was, and, as they saw several natives sneaking up to it the +young inventor and Ned, both of whom were good shots, aimed to have +the bullets strike the ice close to where the Indians were.</p> + +<p>This sort of shooting was enough, and the natives scurried away. +Then Tom hit on the plan of playing the searchlight on the spot, and +this effectually prevented an unseen attack. It seemed to discourage +the enemy, too for they did not venture into that powerful glow of +light.</p> + +<p>"They won't do anything more until morning," declared Abe. "Then +we'll have it hot an' heavy, though, I'm afeered. Well, we'll have +t' make th' best of it!"</p> + +<p>They took turns standing guard that night, but no attack was made. +The fact of the Fogers coming back with the band of Indians told +Tom, more plainly than words, how desperately his enemies would do +battle with them. Anxiously they waited for the morning.</p> + +<p>Several times in the night Mr. Parker was seen roaming about +uneasily, though it was not his turn to be on guard. Finally Tom +asked him what was the matter, and if he could not sleep.</p> + +<p>"It isn't that," answered the scientist, "but I am worried about the +ice. I can detect a slight but peculiar movement by means of some of +my scientific instruments. I am alarmed about it. I fear something +is going to happen."</p> + +<p>But Tom was too worried about the outcome of the fight he knew would +be renewed on the next day, to think much about the ice movement. He +thought it would only be some scientific phenomena that would amount +to little.</p> + +<p>With the first streak of the late dawn, the gold-seekers were up, +and partook of a hot breakfast, with strong coffee which Mr. Damon +brewed. Tom took an observation from the mouth of the cave. The +searchlight was still dimly glowing, and it did not disclose +anything. Tom turned it off. He thought he saw a movement among the +ranks of the enemy, who had camped just beyond the gold hole.</p> + +<p>"I guess they're coming!" cried the lad. "Get ready for them!"</p> + +<p>The adventurers caught up their guns, and hurried to the entrance of +the cave. Mr. Parker lingered behind, and was observed to be +narrowly scanning the walls of the cavern.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Parker, my dear man!" begged Mr. Damon. "We are in grave +danger, and we need your help. Bless my life insurance policy! but I +never was in such a state as this."</p> + +<p>"We may soon be in a worse one," was the answer of the gloomy +scientist.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked Mr. Damon, but he hurried on without +waiting for a reply.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, from without the cave came a series of fierce yells. It +was the battle-cry of the Indians. At the same moment there sounded +a fusillade of guns.</p> + +<p>"The battle is beginning!" cried Tom Swift, grimly. He held his +electric gun, though he had not used it very much in the previous +attack, preferring to save it for a time of more need.</p> + +<p>As the defenders of the cave reached the entrance they saw the body +of natives rushing forward. They were almost at the gold hole, with +Andy Foger and his father discreetly behind the first row of +Eskimos, when, with a suddenness that was startling, there sounded +throughout the whole valley a weird sound!</p> + +<p>It was like the wailing of some giant—the sighing of some mighty +wind. At the same time the air suddenly became dark, and then there +came a violent snow squall, shutting out instantly the sight of the +advancing natives. Tom and the others could not see five feet beyond +the cave.</p> + +<p>"This will delay the attack," murmured Ned, "They can't see to come +at us."</p> + +<p>Mr. Parker came running up from the interior of the cave. On his +face there was a look of alarm.</p> + +<p>"We must leave here at once!" he cried.</p> + +<p>"Leave here?" repeated Tom. "Why must we? The enemy are out there! +We'd run right into them!"</p> + +<p>"It must be done!" insisted the scientist. "We must leave the cave +at once!"</p> + +<p>"What for?" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Because the movement of the ice that I predicted, has begun. It is +much more rapid than I supposed it would be. In a short time this +cave and all the others will be crushed flat!"</p> + +<p>"Crushed flat!" gasped Tom.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the caves of ice are being destroyed! Hark! You can hear them +snapping!"</p> + +<p>They all listened. Above the roar of the storm could be made out the +noise of crushing, grinding ice-sounds like cannon being fired, as +the great masses of frozen crystal snapped like frail planks.</p> + +<p>"The ice caves are being destroyed by an upheaval of nature!" went +on Mr. Parker. "This one will soon go! The walls are bulging now! We +must get out!"</p> + +<p>"But the natives! They will kill us!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my +soul! what a trying position to be in."</p> + +<p>"I guess the natives are as bad off as we are," suggested Ned. +"They're not firing, and I can hear cries of alarm, I think they're +running away."</p> + +<p>There was a lull in the snow flurry, and the white curtain seemed to +lift for a moment. The gold-seekers had a glimpse of the natives in +full retreat, with the Fogers—father and son—racing panic-stricken +after them. Tom could also see a big cave, just beyond the gold +hole, collapse and crumble to pieces like a house of cards.</p> + +<p>"We have no time to lose!" Mr. Parker warned them. "The roof of this +cave is slowly coming down. The sides are collapsing! We must get +out!"</p> + +<p>"Then wheel out the airship!" cried Tom. "We must save that! We +needn't fear the natives, now!"</p> + +<p>The young inventor hurried to the RED CLOUD calling to Ned and the +others. They hastened to his side. It was an easy matter to move the +airship along on the wheels. It neared the opening of the cave. The +rumbling, roaring, grinding sound of the ice increased.</p> + +<p>"Why—why!" cried Tom in surprise and alarm, as the craft neared the +mouth of the ice cavern, "we can't get it out—the opening is too +small! Yet it came in easily enough!"</p> + +<p>"The cave is collapsing—growing smaller every moment!" cried Mr. +Parker. "We have only time to save our lives! Run out!"</p> + +<p>"And leave the airship? Never!" yelled Tom.</p> + +<p>"You must! You can't save that and your life!"</p> + +<p>"Get axes and make the opening bigger!" suggested Ned, who, like his +chum, could not bear to think of the destruction of the beautiful +craft.</p> + +<p>"No time! No time!" shouted Mr. Parker, frantically, "We must get +out! Save what you can from the ship—the gold—some supplies—the +guns—some food—save what you can!"</p> + +<p>Then ensued a wild effort to get from the doomed craft what they +could—what they would need if they were to save their lives in that +cold and desolate country. Food, some blankets—their guns—as much +of the gold as they could hastily gather together—their weapons and +some ammunition—all this was carried from the cabin outside the +cave. The entrance was rapidly growing smaller. The roof was already +pressing down on the gas-bag.</p> + +<p>Tom gave one last look at his fine craft. There were tears in his +eyes. He started into the cabin for something he had forgotten. Mr. +Parker grabbed him by the arm.</p> + +<p>"Don't go in!" he cried hoarsely. "The cave will collapse in another +instant!" He rushed with Tom out of the cavern, and not a moment too +soon. The others were already outside.</p> + +<p>Then with a rush and a roar, with a sound like a great explosion, +with a rending, grinding and booming as the great pieces of ice +collapsed one against the other, the big ice cave settled in, as +does some great building when the walls are weakened!</p> + +<p>Down crashed the roof of the ice cave! Down upon the RED CLOUD, +burying out of sight, forever, under thousands of tons of ice and +snow, the craft which was the pride of Tom Swift's heart! It was the +end of the airship!</p> + +<p>Tom felt a moisture of tears in his eyes as he stood there in the +midst of the snowstorm.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>THE RESCUE—CONCLUSION</h3> + + +<p>For a few moments after the collapse of the cave, and the +destruction of the airship, on which they depended to take them from +that desolate land, no one spoke. The calamity had been too +terrible—they could hardly understand it.</p> + +<p>The snow had ceased, and, over the frozen plain, in full retreat, +could be seen the band of attacking Indians. They had fled in terror +at the manifestation of Nature. And Nature, as if satisfied at the +mischief she had wrought, called a halt to the movement of the ice. +The roaring, grinding sounds ceased, and there were no more +collapses of caves in that neighborhood.</p> + +<p>"Well, we are up against it," spoke Tom, softly. "Poor old RED +CLOUD! There'll never be another airship like you!"</p> + +<p>"We are lucky to have escaped with our lives," said Mr. Parker. +"Another moment and it would have been too late. I was expecting +something like this—I predicted it."</p> + +<p>But his honor was an empty one—no one cared to dispute it with him.</p> + +<p>"Bless my refrigerator! What's to be done!" exclaimed Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Start from here as soon as possible," decided Abe.</p> + +<p>"Why, do you think the natives will come back?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"No, but we have only a small supply of food, my lad, an' it's hard +to git up here. We must hit th' trail fer civilization as soon as we +kin!"</p> + +<p>"Go back—how; without the airship?" asked Tom, blankly.</p> + +<p>"Walk!" exclaimed the miner, grimly. "It's th' only way!"</p> + +<p>They realized that. There was no hope of digging through that mass +of fantastically piled ice to reach the airship, and, even if they +could have done so, it would have been crushed beyond all hope of +repair. Nor could they dig down for more food, though what they had +hastily saved was little enough.</p> + +<p>"Well, if we've got to go, we'd better start," suggested Tom, sadly. +"Poor old RED CLOUD!"</p> + +<p>"Maybe we can get a little more gold," suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>They walked over to the hole whence they had taken the yellow +nuggets. The "pocket" was not to be seen. It was buried out of sight +under tons of ice.</p> + +<p>"We'll get no more gold here," decided Abe, "lf we get safely out of +th' valley, and t' the nearest white settlement, we'll be lucky."</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul! Is it as bad as that!" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>Abe nodded without speaking. There was nothing else to do. Sadly and +silently they made up into packs the things they had saved, and +started southward, guided by a small compass the miner had with him.</p> + +<p>It was a melancholy party. Fortunately the weather had turned a +little warmer or they might have been frozen to death. They tramped +all that day, shaping their course to take them out of the valley on +a side well away from where the hostile natives lived. At night they +made rude shelters of snow and blocks of ice and ate cold victuals. +The second day it grew colder, and they were slightly affected by +snow-blindness, for they had lost their dark glasses in the cave.</p> + +<p>Even the gold seemed too great a burden to carry, and they found +they had more of it than at first they supposed. On the third day +they were ready to give up, but Abe bravely urged them on. Toward +the close of the fourth day, even the old miner was in despair, for +the food they could carry was not such as to give strength and +warmth, and they saw no game to shoot.</p> + +<p>They were just getting ready to go into a cheerless camp for the +night, when Tom, who was a little in advance, looked ahead.</p> + +<p>"Ned, do I see something or is it only a vision?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"What does it look like?" asked his chum.</p> + +<p>"Like Eskimos on sleds."</p> + +<p>"That's what it is," agreed Ned, after an observation. "Maybe it's +the Fogers, or some of the savage Indians."</p> + +<p>They halted in alarm, and got out their guns. The little party of +natives kept coming on toward them.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Abe uttered a cry, but it was one of joy and not fear.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" he yelled, "It's all right—they're friendly natives! +They're of the same tribe that helped me an' my partner! It's all +right, boys, we're rescued now!"</p> + +<p>And so it proved. A few minutes later the gold-seekers were on the +sleds of the friendly Eskimos, some of whom remembered Abe, and the +weary and hungry adventures were being rushed toward the native +village as fast as the dogs could run. It was a hunting party that +had come upon our friends just in time.</p> + +<p>Little more remains to be told. Well cared for by the kind Eskimos, +Tom and his friends soon recovered their spirits and strength. They +arranged for dog teams to take them to Sitka, and paid their friends +well for the service, not only in gold, but by presenting what was +of more value, the guns they no longer needed. Tom, however, +retained his electric rifle.</p> + +<p>Three weeks after that they were on a steamer bound for +civilization, having bidden their friends the Eskimos good-by.</p> + +<p>"Homeward bound," remarked Tom, some time later, as they were in a +train speeding across the continent. "It was a great trip, and the +gold we got will more than repay us, even to building a new airship. +Still, I can't help feeling sorry about the RED CLOUD."</p> + +<p>"I don't blame you," returned Ned. "Are you going to build another +airship, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Not one like the RED CLOUD, I think. But I have in mind plans for a +sort of racing craft. I think I'll start it when I get back home."</p> + +<p>How Tom's plans developed, and what sort of a craft he built will be +related in the next volume of this series, to be called "Tom Swift +and His Sky Racer; or, the Quickest Flight on Record." In that will +be told how the young inventor foiled his enemies, and how he saved +his father's life. Our friends arrived safely at Shopton in due +season. They learned that the two Fogers had reached there shortly +before them. Tom and his party decided not to prosecute them, and +they did not learn the identity of the men who tried to rob Tom of +the map.</p> + +<p>"But I guess Andy won't go about boasting of his airship any more," +said Ned, "nor of how he got our gold mine away from us. He'll sing +mighty small for a while."</p> + +<p>The store of gold brought from the North, proved quite valuable, +though but for the unforeseen accidents our friends could have +secured much more. Yet they were well satisfied. With his share Abe +Abercrombie settled down out West, Mr. Damon gave most of his gold +to his wife, Mr. Parker bought scientific instruments with his, Ned +invested his in bank stock, and Tom Swift, after buying a beautiful +gift for a certain pretty young lady, used part of the remainder to +build his Sky Racer.</p> + +<p>And now, for a time, we will take leave of Tom and his friends, and +say good-by.</p> + + + + +<pre> +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice, by Victor Appleton +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/08tom10h.zip b/old/08tom10h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3db397 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/08tom10h.zip diff --git a/old/08tom10l.lit b/old/08tom10l.lit Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4ddc50 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/08tom10l.lit diff --git a/old/08tom10l.zip b/old/08tom10l.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2962b65 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/08tom10l.zip diff --git a/old/08tom10p.prc b/old/08tom10p.prc Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ce98771 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/08tom10p.prc diff --git a/old/08tom10p.zip b/old/08tom10p.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a99bc01 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/08tom10p.zip |