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+Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Great Searchlight, by Victor Appleton
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+Title: Tom Swift and his Great Searchlight
+
+Author: Victor Appleton
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
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+Character set encoding: ASCII
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+Release Date: November, 2003 [Etext #4635]
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+[This file was first posted on February 20, 2002]
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+Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Great Searchlight, by Victor Appleton
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+
+Tom Swift and His Great Searchlight
+
+or
+
+On the Border for Uncle Sam
+
+by Victor Appleton
+
+AUTHOR OF "TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR-CYCLE," "TOM SWIFT AND HIS
+SUBMARINE BOAT," "TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE," "TOM SWIFT IN
+CAPTIVITY," ETC.
+
+ILLUSTRATED
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+    I   A SCRAP OF PAPER
+   II   A SPY IN TOWN
+  III   QUEER REPAIRS
+   IV   SEARCHING FOR SMUGGLERS
+    V   THE RAID
+   VI   THE APPEAL TO TOM
+  VII   A SEARCHLIGHT IS NEEDED
+ VIII   TOM'S NEWEST INVENTION
+   IX   "BEWARE OF THE COMET!"
+    X   OFF FOR THE BORDER
+   XI   ANDY'S NEW AIRSHIP
+  XII   WARNED AWAY
+ XIII   KOKU SAVES THE LIGHT
+  XIV   A FALSE CLEW
+   XV   THE RESCUE ON THE LAKE
+  XVI   KOKU'S PRISONER
+ XVII   WHAT THE INDIAN SAW
+XVIII   THE PURSUIT
+  XIX   IN DIRE PERIL
+   XX   SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS
+  XXI   MR. PERIOD ARRIVES
+ XXII   HOVERING O'ER THE BORDER
+XXIII   NED IS MISSING
+ XXIV   THE NIGHT RACE
+  XXV   THE CAPTURE--CONCLUSION
+
+
+
+TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+A SCRAP OF PAPER
+
+
+"Tom, did you know Andy Foger was back in town?"
+
+"Great Scott, no, I didn't Ned! Not to stay, I hope."
+
+"I guess not. The old Foger homestead is closed up, though I did see
+a man working around it to-day as I came past. But he was a
+carpenter, making some repairs I think. No, I don't believe Andy is
+here to stay."
+
+"But if some one is fixing up the house, it looks as if the family
+would come back," remarked Tom, as he thought of the lad who had so
+long been his enemy, and who had done him many mean turns before
+leaving Shopton, where our hero lived.
+
+"I don't think so," was the opinion of Ned Newton, who was Tom
+Swift's particular chum. "You know when Mr. Foger lost all his
+money, the house was supposed to be sold. But I heard later that
+there was some flaw in the title, and the sale fell through. It is
+because he couldn't sell the place that Mr. Foger couldn't get money
+to pay some of his debts. He has some claim on the house, I believe,
+but I don't believe he'd come back to live in it."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because it's too expensive a place for a poor man to keep up, and
+Mr. Foger is now poor."
+
+"Yes, he didn't get any of the gold, as we did when we went to the
+underground city," remarked Tom. "Well, I don't wish anybody bad
+luck but I certainly hope the Fogers keep poor enough to stay away
+from Shopton. They bothered me enough. But where did you see Andy?"
+
+"Oh, he was with his crony, Sam Snedecker. You know Sam said, some
+time ago, that Andy was to pay him a visit, but Andy didn't come
+then, for some reason or other. I suppose this call makes up for it.
+I met them down near Parker's drug store."
+
+"You didn't hear Andy say anything about coming back here?" and the
+young inventor's voice was a trifle anxious.
+
+"No," replied Ned. "What makes you so nervous about it?"
+
+"Well, Ned, you know what Andy is--always trying to make trouble for
+me, even sneaking in my shop sometimes, trying to get the secret of
+some of my airships and machinery. And I admit I think it looks
+suspicious when they have a carpenter working on the old homestead.
+Andy may come back, and--"
+
+"Nonsence, Tom! If he does you and I can handle him. But I think
+perhaps the house may be rented, and they may be fixing it up for a
+tenant. It's been vacant a long time you know, and I heard the other
+day that it was haunted."
+
+"Haunted, Ned! Get out! Say, you don't believe in that sort of bosh,
+do you?"
+
+"Of course not. It was Eradicate who told me, and he said when he
+came past the place quite late the other night he heard groans, and
+the clanking of chains coming from it, and he saw flashing lights."
+
+"Oh, wow! Eradicate is geting batty in his old age, poor fellow! He
+and his mule Boomerang are growing old together, and I guess my
+colored helper is 'seeing things,' as well as hearing them. But, as
+you say, it may be that the house is going to be rented. It's too
+valuable a property to let stand idle. Did you hear how long Andy
+was going to stay?"
+
+"A week, I believe."
+
+"A week! Say, one day would be enough I should think."
+
+"You must have some special reason for being afraid Andy will do you
+some harm," exclaimed Ned. "Out with it, Tom."
+
+"Well, I'll tell you what it is, Ned," and Tom led his chum inside
+the shop, in front of which the two lads had been talking. It was a
+shop where the young inventor constructed many of his marvelous
+machines, aircraft, and instruments of various sorts.
+
+"Do you think some one may hear you?" asked Ned.
+
+"They might. I'm not taking any chances. But the reason I want to be
+especially careful that Andy Foger doesn't spy on any of my
+inventions is that at last I have perfected my noiseless airship
+motor!"
+
+"You have!" cried Ned, for he knew that his chum had been working
+for a long time on this motor, that would give out no sound, no
+matter at how high a speed it was run. "That's great, Tom! I
+congratulate you. I don't wonder you don't want Andy to get even a
+peep at it."
+
+"Especially as I haven't it fully patented," went on the young
+inventor. He had met with many failures in his efforts to perfect
+this motor, which he intended to install on one of his airships. "If
+any one saw the finished parts now it wouldn't take them long to
+find out the secret of doing away with the noise."
+
+"How do you do it?" asked Ned, for he realized that his chum had no
+secrets from him.
+
+"Well, it's too complicated to describe," said Tom, "but the secret
+lies in a new way of feeding gasolene into the motor, a new sparking
+device, and an improved muffler. I think I could start my new
+airship in front of the most skittish horse, and he wouldn't stir,
+for the racket wouldn't wake a baby. It's going to be great."
+
+"What are you going to do with it, when you get it all completed?"
+
+"I haven't made up my mind yet. It's going to be some time before I
+get it all put together, and installed, and in that time something
+may turn up. Well, let's talk about something more pleasant than
+Andy Foger. I guess I won't worry about him."
+
+"No, I wouldn't. I'd like to see the motor run."
+
+"You can, in a day or so, but just now I need a certain part to
+attach to the sparker, and I had to send to town for it. Koku has
+gone after it."
+
+"What, that big giant servant? He might break it on the way back,
+he's so strong. He doesn't realize how much muscle he has."
+
+"No, that's so. Well, while we're waiting for him, come on in the
+house, and I'll show you some new books I got."
+
+The two lads were soon in the Swift homestead, a pleasant and large
+old-fashioned residence, in the suburbs of Shopton. Tom brought out
+the books, and he and his chum poured over them.
+
+"Mr. Damon gave me that one on electricity," explained the young
+inventor, handing Ned a bulky volume.
+
+"'Bless my bookmark!' as Mr. Damon himself would say if he were
+here," exclaimed Ned with a laugh. "That's a dandy. But Mr. Damon
+didn't give you THIS one," and Ned picked up a dainty volume of
+verse. "'To Tom Swift, with the best wishes of Mary--'" but that
+was as far as he read, for Tom grabbed the book away, and closed the
+cover over the flyleaf, which bore some writing in a girl's hand. I
+think my old readers can guess whose hand it was.
+
+"Wow! Tom Swift reading poetry!" laughed Ned.
+
+"Oh, cut it out," begged his chum. "I didn't know that was among the
+books. I got it last Christmas. Now here's a dandy one on lion
+hunting, Ned," and to cover his confusion Tom shoved over a book
+containing many pictures of wild animals.
+
+"Lion hunting; eh," remarked Ned. "Well, I guess you could give them
+some points on snapping lions with your moving picture camera, Tom."
+
+"Yes, I got some good views," admitted the young inventor modestly.
+"I may take the camera along on some trips in my noiseless airship.
+Hello! here comes Koku back. I hope he got what I wanted."
+
+A man, immense in size, a veritable giant, one of two whom Tom Swift
+had brought away from captivity with him, was entering the front
+gate. He stopped to speak to Mr. Swift, Tom's father, who was
+setting out some plants in a flower bed, taking them from a large
+wheel barrow filled with the blooms.
+
+Mr. Swift, who was an inventor of note, had failed in his health of
+late, and the doctor had recommended him to be out of doors as much
+as possible. He delighted in gardening, and was at it all day.
+
+"Look!" suddenly cried Ned, pointing to the giant. Then Tom and his
+chum saw a strange sight.
+
+With a booming laugh, Koku picked up Mr. Swift gently and set him on
+a board that extended across the front part of the wheel barrow.
+Then, as easily as if it was a pound weight, the big man lifted Mr.
+Swift, barrow, plants and all, in his two hands, and carried them
+across the garden to another flower bed, that was ready to be
+filled.
+
+"No use to walk when I can carry you, Mr. Swift," exclaimed Koku
+with a laugh. "I overtook you quite nice; so?"
+
+"Yes, you took me over in great shape, Koku!" replied the aged
+inventor with a smile at Koku's English, for the giant frequently
+got his words backwards. "That barrow is quite heavy for me to
+wheel."
+
+"You after this call me," suggested Koku.
+
+"Say, but he's strong all right," exclaimed Ned, "and that was an
+awkward thing to carry."
+
+"It sure was," agreed Tom. "I haven't yet seen any one strong enough
+to match Koku. And he's gentle about it, too. He's very fond of
+dad."
+
+"And you too, I guess," added Ned.
+
+"Well, Koku, did you get that attachment?" asked Tom, as his giant
+servant entered the room.
+
+"Yes, Mr. Tom. I have it here," and from his pocket Koku drew a
+heavy piece of steel that would have taxed the strength of either of
+the boys to lift with one hand. But Koku's pockets were very large
+and made specially strong of leather, for he was continually putting
+odd things in them.
+
+Koku handed over the attachment, for which his master had sent him.
+He held it out on a couple of fingers, as one might a penknife, but
+Tom took both hands to set it on the ground.
+
+"I the female get, also," went on Koku, as he began taking some
+letters and papers from his pocket. "I stop in the office post, and
+the female get."
+
+"Mail, Koku, not female," corrected Tom with a laugh. "A female is a
+lady you know."
+
+"For sure I know, and the lady in the post office gave me the
+female. That is I said what, did I not?"
+
+"Well, I guess you meant it all right," remarked Ned. "But letter
+mail and a male man and a female woman are all different."
+
+"Oh such a language!" gasped the giant. "I shall never learn it.
+Well, then, Mr. Tom, here is your mail, that the female lady gave to
+me for you, and you are a male. It is very strange."
+
+Koku pulled out a bundle of letters, which Tom took, and then the
+giant continued to delve for more. One of the papers, rolled in a
+wrapper, stuck on the edge of the pocket.
+
+"You must outcome!" exclaimed Koku, giving it a sudden yank, and it
+"outcame" with such suddenness that the paper was torn in half,
+tightly wrapped as it was, and it was considerable of a bundle.
+
+"Koku, you're getting too strong!" exclaimed Tom, as scraps of paper
+were scattered about the room. "I think I'll give you less to eat."
+
+"I am your forgiveness," said Koku humbly, as he stooped over to
+pick up the fragments. "I did not mean."
+
+"It's all right," said Tom kindly. "That's only a big bundle of
+Sunday papers I guess."
+
+"I'll give him a hand," volunteered Ned, stooping over to help Koku
+clear the rug of the litter. As he did so Tom's chum gave a gasp of
+surprise.
+
+"Hello, Tom!" Ned cried. "Here's something new, and I guess it will
+interest you."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"It's part of an account of some daring smugglers who are working
+goods across the Canadian border into the northern part of this
+state. The piece is torn, but there's something here which says the
+government agents suspect the men of using airships to transport the
+stuff."
+
+"Airships! Smugglers using airships!" cried Tom. "It doesn't seem
+possible!"
+
+"That's what it says here, Tom. It says the custom house authorities
+have tried every way to catch them, and when they couldn't land 'em,
+the only theory they could account for the way the smuggling was
+going on was by airships, flying at night."
+
+"That's odd. I wonder how it would seem to chase a smuggler in an
+airship at night? Some excitement about that; eh, Ned? Let's see
+that scrap of paper."
+
+Ned passed it over, and Tom scanned it closely. Then in his turn, he
+uttered an exclamation of surprise.
+
+"What is it?" inquired his chum.
+
+"Great Scott, Ned, listen to this! 'It is suspected that some of the
+smugglers have'--then there's a place where the paper is torn-'in
+Shopton, N.Y.'" finished Tom. "Think of that, Ned. Our town here, is
+in some way connected with the airship smugglers! We must find the
+rest of this scrap of paper, and paste it together. This may be a
+big thing! Find that other scrap! Koku, you go easy on papers next
+time," cautioned Tom, good naturedly, as he and his chum began
+sorting over the torn parts of the paper.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+A SPY IN TOWN
+
+
+Tom Swift, Ned Newton and Koku, the giant, are busy trying to piece
+together the torn parts of the paper, containing an account of the
+airship smugglers. I will take the opportunity of telling you
+something about the young inventor and his work, for, though many of
+my readers have made Tom's acquaintances in previous books of this
+series, there may be some who pick up this one as their first
+volume.
+
+Tom lived with his father, also an inventor of note, in the town of
+Shopton, New York state. His mother was dead, and a Mrs. Baggert
+kept house. Eradicate was an eccentric, colored helper, but of late
+had become too old to do much. Mr. Swift was also quite aged, and
+had been obliged to give up most of his inventive work.
+
+Ned Newton was Tom Swift's particular chum, and our hero had another
+friend, a Mr. Wakefield Damon, of the neighboring town of Waterford.
+Mr. Damon had the odd habit of blessing everything he saw or could
+think of. Another of Tom's friends was Miss Mary Nestor, whom I have
+mentioned, while my old readers will readily recognize in Andy Foger
+a mean bully, who made much trouble for Tom.
+
+The first book of the series was called "Tom Swift and His
+Motor-Cycle," and on that machine Tom had many advances on the road,
+and not a little fun. After that Tom secured a motor boat, and had a
+race with Andy Foger. In his airship our hero made a stirring cruise,
+while in his submarine boat he and his father recovered a sunken
+treasure.
+
+When Tom Swift invented a new electric run-about he did not realize
+that it was to be the speediest car on the road, but so it proved,
+and he was able to save the bank with it. In the book called "Tom
+Swift and His Wireless Message," I told you how he saved the
+castaways of Earthquake Island, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Nestor,
+the parents of Mary.
+
+Tom Swift had not been long on the trail of the diamond makers
+before he discovered the secret of Phantom Mountain, and after that
+adventure he went to the caves of ice, where his big airship was
+wrecked. But he got home, and soon made another, which he called a
+sky racer, and in that he made the quickest flight on record.
+
+With his electric rifle Tom went to elephant land, where he
+succeeded in rescuing two missionaries from the red pygmies. A
+little later he set out for the city of gold, and had marvelous
+adventures underground.
+
+Hearing of a deposit of valuable platinum in Siberia, Tom started
+for that lonely place, and, to reach a certain part of if, he had to
+invent a new machine, called an air glider. It was an aeroplane
+without means of propulsion save the wind.
+
+In the book, "Tom Swift in Captivity," I related the particulars of
+how he brought away two immense men from giant land. One, Koku, he
+kept for himself, while the other made a good living by being
+exhibited in a circus.
+
+When the present story opens Tom had not long been home after a
+series of strange adventures. A moving picture concern, with which
+Mr. Nestor was associated, wanted some views of remarkable scenes,
+such as fights among wild beasts, the capture of herds of elephants,
+earthquakes, and volcanos in action, and great avalanches in the
+Alps. Tom invented a wizard camera, and got many good views, though
+at times he was in great danger, even in his airship. Especially was
+this so at the erupting volcano.
+
+But our hero came swiftly hack to Shopton, and there, all Winter and
+Spring, he busied himself perfecting a new motor for an airship--a
+motor that would make no noise. He perfected it early that Summer,
+and now was about to try it, when the incident of the torn newspaper
+happened.
+
+"Have you got all the pieces, Tom?" asked Ned, as he passed his chum
+several scraps, which were gathered up from the floor.
+
+"I think so. Now we'll paste them together, and see what it says. We
+may be on the trail of a big mystery, Ned."
+
+"Maybe. Go ahead and see what you can make of it."
+
+Tom fitted together, as best he could, the ragged pieces, and then
+pasted them on a blank sheet of paper.
+
+"I guess I've got it all here now," he said finally. "I'll skip the
+first part. You read me most of that, Ned. Just as you told me, it
+relates how the government agents, having tried in vain to get a
+clew to the smugglers, came to the conclusion that they must be
+using airships to slip contraband goods over the border at night."
+
+"Now where's that mention of Shopton? Oh, here it is," and he read:
+
+"'It is suspected that some of the smugglers have been communicating
+with confederates in Shopton, New York. This came to the notice of
+the authorities to-day, when one of the government agents located
+some of the smuggled goods in a small town in New York on the St.
+Lawrence. The name of this town is being kept secret for the
+present."
+
+"'It was learned that the goods were found in a small, deserted
+house, and that among them were letters from someone in Shopton,
+relating to the disposal of the articles. They refuse to say who the
+letters were from, but it is believed that some of Uncle Sam's men
+may shortly make their appearance in the peaceful burg of Shopton,
+there to follow up the clew. Many thousands of dollars worth of
+goods have been smuggled, and the United States, as well as the
+Dominion of Canada custom authorities, say they are determined to
+put a stop to the daring efforts of the smugglers. The airship
+theory is the latest put forth.'"
+
+"Well, say, that's the limit!" cried Ned, as Tom finished reading.
+"What do you know about that?"
+
+"It brings it right home to us," agreed the young inventor. "But who
+is there in Shopton who would be in league with the smugglers?"
+
+"That's hard to say."
+
+"Of course we don't know everyone in town," went on Tom, "but I'm
+pretty well acquainted here, and I don't know of a person who would
+dare engage in such work."
+
+"Maybe it's a stranger who came here, and picked out this place
+because it was so quiet," suggested Ned.
+
+"That's possible. But where would he operate from?" asked Tom.
+"There are few in Shopton who would want to buy smuggled goods."
+
+"They may only ship them here, and fix them so they can't be
+recognized by the custom authorities, and then send them away
+again," went on Ned. "This may be a sort of clearing-house for the
+smugglers."
+
+"That's so. Well, I don't know as we have anything to do with it.
+Only if those fellows are using an airship I'd like to know what
+kind it is. Well, come on out to the shop now, and we'll see how the
+silent motor works."
+
+On the way Tom passed his father, and, telling him not to work too
+hard in the sun, gave his parent the piece of paper to read, telling
+about the smugglers.
+
+"Using airships! eh?" exclaimed Mr. Swift. "And they think there's a
+clew here in Shopton? Well, we'll get celebrated if we keep on,
+Tom," he added with a smile.
+
+Tom and Ned spent the rest of the day working over the motor, which
+was set going, and bore out all Tom claimed for it. It was as silent
+as a watch.
+
+"Next I want to get it in the airship, and give it a good test," Tom
+remarked, speeding it up, as it was connected on a heavy base in the
+shop.
+
+"I'll help you," promised Ned, and for the next few days the chums
+were kept busy fitting the silent motor into one of Tom's several
+airships.
+
+"Well, I think we can make a flight to-morrow," said the young
+inventor, about a week later. "I need some new bolts though, Ned.
+Let's take a walk into town and get them. Oh, by the way, have you
+seen anything more of Andy Foger?"
+
+"No. and I don't want to. I suppose he's gone back home after his
+visit to Sam. Let's go down the street, where the Foger house is,
+and see if there's anything going on."
+
+As the two lads passed the mansion, they saw a man, in the kind of
+suit usually worn by a carpenter, come out of the back door and
+stand looking across the garden. In his hand he held a saw.
+
+"Still at the repairs, I guess," remarked Ned. "I wonder what--"
+
+"Look there! Look! Quick!" suddenly interrupted Tom, and Ned,
+looking, saw someone standing behind the carpenter in the door. "If
+that isn't Andy Foger, I'll eat my hat!" cried Tom.
+
+"It sure is," agreed Ned. "What in the world is he doing there?"
+
+But his question was not answered, for, a moment later, Andy turned,
+and went inside, and the carpenter followed, closing the door behind
+them.
+
+"That's queer," spoke Tom.
+
+"Very," agreed Ned. "He didn't go back after all. I'd like to know
+what's going on in there."
+
+"And there's someone else who would like to know, also, I think,"
+said Tom in a low voice.
+
+"Who?" asked Ned.
+
+"That man hiding behind the big tree across the street. I'm sure
+he's watching the Foger house, and when Andy came to the door that
+time, I happened to look around and saw that man focus a pair of
+opera glasses on him and the carpenter."
+
+"You don't mean it, Tom!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+"I sure do. I believe that man is some sort of a spy or a
+detective."
+
+"Do you think he's after Andy?"
+
+"I don't know. Let's not get mixed up in the affair, anyhow. I don't
+want to be called in as a witness. I haven't the time to spare."
+
+As if the man behind the tree was aware that he had attracted the
+attention of our friends, he quickly turned and walked away. Tom and
+Ned glanced up at the Foger house, but saw nothing, and proceeded on
+to the store.
+
+"I'll wager anything that Andy has been getting in some sort of
+trouble in the town he moved to from here," went on Tom, "and he
+daren't go back. So he came here, and he's hiding in his father's
+old house. He could manage to live there for a while, with the
+carpenter bringing him in food. Say, did you notice who that man
+was, with the saw?"
+
+"Yes, he's James Dillon, a carpenter who lives down on our street,"
+replied Ned. "A nice man, too. The next time I see him, I'm going to
+ask him what Andy is doing in town, and what the repairs are that
+he's making on the house."
+
+"Well, of course if Andy has been doing anything wrong, he wouldn't
+admit it," said Tom. "Though Mr. Dillon may tell you about the
+carpenter work. But I'm sure that man was a detective from the town
+where Andy moved to. You'll see."
+
+"I don't think so," was Ned's opinion. "If Andy was hiding he
+wouldn't show himself as plainly as he did."
+
+The two chums argued on this question, but could come to no
+decision. Then, having reached Tom's home with the bolts, they went
+hard at work on the airship.
+
+"Well, now to see what happens!" exclaimed Tom the next day, when
+everything was ready for a trial flight. "I wish Mr. Damon was here.
+I sent him word, but I didn't hear from him."
+
+"Oh, he may show up any minute," replied Ned, as he helped Tom and
+Koku wheel the newly-equipped airship out of the shed. "The first
+thing you'll hear will be him blessing something. Is this far enough
+out, Tom?"
+
+"No, a little more, and then head her up into the wind. I say, Ned,
+if this is a success, and--"
+
+Tom stopped suddenly and looked out into the road. Then, in a low
+voice, he said, to Ned:
+
+"Don't move suddenly, or he'll suspect that we're onto his game, but
+turn around slowly, and look behind that big sycamore tree in front
+of our house Ned. Tell me what you see."
+
+"There's a man hiding there, Tom," reported his chum, a little
+later, after a cautious observation.
+
+"I thought so. What's he doing?"
+
+"Why he--by Jove! Tom, he's looking at us through opera glasses,
+like that other--"
+
+"It isn't ANOTHER, it's the same fellow!" whispered Tom. "It's the
+spy who was watching Andy! I'm going to see what's up," and he
+strode rapidly toward the street, at the curb of which was the tree
+that partly screened the man behind it.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+QUEER REPAIRS
+
+
+Quickly Tom Swift crossed the space between the airship, that was
+ready for a flight, and the tree. The man behind it had apparently
+not seen Tom coming, being so interested in looking at the airship,
+which was a wonderful craft. He was taken completely by surprise as
+Tom, stepping up to him, asked sharply:
+
+"Who are you and what are you doing here?"
+
+The man started so that he nearly dropped the opera glasses, which
+he had held focused on the aeroplane. Then he stepped back, and eyed
+Tom sharply.
+
+"What do you want?" repeated our hero. "What right have you to be
+spying on that airship--on these premises?" The man hesitated a
+moment, and then coolly returned the glasses to his pocket. He did
+not seem at all put out, after his first start of surprise.
+
+"What are you doing?" Tom again asked. He looked around to see where
+Koku, the giant, was, and beheld the big man walking slowly toward
+him, for Ned had mentioned what had taken place.
+
+"What right have you to question my actions?" asked the man, and
+there was in his tones a certain authority that made Tom wonder.
+
+"Every right," retorted our hero. "That is my airship, at which you
+have been spying, and this is where I live."
+
+"Oh, it is; eh?" asked the man calmly. "And that's your airship,
+too?"
+
+"I invented it, and built the most of it myself. If you are
+interested in such things, and can assure me that you have no spying
+methods in view, I can show you--"
+
+"Have you other airships?" interrupted the man quickly.
+
+"Yes, several," answered Tom. "But I can't understand why you should
+be spying on me. If you don't care to accept my offer, like a
+gentleman, tell me who you are, and what your object is, I will have
+my assistant remove you. You are on private property, as this street
+is not a public one, being cut through by my father. I'll have Koku
+remove you by force, if you won't go peaceably, and I think you'll
+agree with me that Koku can do it. Here Koku," he called sharply,
+and the big man advanced quickly.
+
+"I wouldn't do anything rash, if I were you," said the man quietly.
+"As for this being private property, that doesn't concern me. You're
+Tom Swift, aren't you; and you have several airships?"
+
+"Yes, but what right have you to--"
+
+"Every right!" interrupted the man, throwing back the lapel of his
+coat, and showing a badge. "I'm Special Agent William Whitford, of
+the United States Customs force, and I'd like to ask you a few
+questions, Tom Swift." He looked our hero full in the face.
+
+"Customs department!" gasped Tom. "You want to ask me some
+questions?"
+
+"That's it," went on the man, in a business-like voice.
+
+"What about?"
+
+"Smuggling by airship from Canada!"
+
+"What!" cried Tom. "Do you mean to say you suspect me of being
+implicated in--"
+
+"Now go easy," advised the man calmly. "I didn't say anything,
+except that I wanted to QUESTION you. If you'd like me to do it out
+here, why I can. But as someone might hear us--"
+
+"Come inside," said Tom quietly, though his heart was beating in a
+tumult. "You may go, Koku, but stay within call," he added
+significantly. "Come on, Ned," and he motioned to his chum who was
+approaching. "This man is a custom officer and not a spy or a
+detective, as we thought."
+
+"Oh, yes, I am a SORT of a detective," corrected Mr. Whitford. "And
+I'm a spy, too, in a way, for I've been spying on you, and some
+other parties in town. But you may be able to explain everything,"
+he added, as he took a seat in the library between Ned and Tom. "I
+only know I was sent here to do certain work, and I'm going to do
+it. I wanted to make some observations before you saw me, but I
+wasn't quite quick enough."
+
+"Would you mind telling me what you want to know?" asked Tom, a bit
+impatiently. "You mentioned smuggling, and--"
+
+"Smuggling!" interrupted Ned.
+
+"Yes, over from Canada. Maybe you have seen something in the papers
+about our department thinking airships were used at night to slip
+the goods over the border."
+
+"We saw it!" cried Tom eagerly. "But how does that concern me?"
+
+"I'll come to that, presently," replied Mr. Whitford. "In the first
+place, we have been roundly laughed at in some papers for proposing
+such a theory. And yet it isn't so wild as it sounds. In fact, after
+seeing your airship, Tom Swift, I'm convinced--"
+
+"That I've been smuggling?" asked Tom with a laugh.
+
+"Not at all. As you have read, we confiscated some smuggled goods
+the other day, and among them was a scrap of paper with the words
+Shopton, New York, on it."
+
+"Was it a letter from someone here, or to someone here?" asked Ned.
+"The papers intimated so."
+
+"No. they only guessed at that part of it. It was just a scrap of
+paper, evidently torn from a letter, and it only had those three
+words on it. Naturally we agents thought we could get a clew here.
+We imagined, or at least I did, for I was sent to work up this end,
+that perhaps the airships for the smugglers were made here. I made
+inquiries, and found that you, Tom Swift, and one other, Andy Foger,
+had made, or owned, airships in Shopton."
+
+"I came here, but I soon exhausted the possibility of Andy Foger
+making practical airships. Besides he isn't at home here any more,
+and he has no facilities for constructing the craft as you have. So
+I came to look at your place, and I must say that it looks a bit
+suspicious, Mr. Swift. Though, of course, as I said," he added with
+a smile, "you may be able to explain everything."
+
+"I think I can convince you that I had no part in the smuggling,"
+spoke Tom, laughing. "I never sell my airships. If you like you may
+talk with my father, the housekeeper, and others who can testify
+that since my return from taking moving pictures, I have not been
+out of town, and the smuggling has been going on only a little
+while."
+
+"That is true," assented the custom officer. "I shall be glad to
+listen to any evidence you may offer. This is a very baffling case.
+The government is losing thousands of dollars every month, and we
+can't seem to stop the smugglers, or get much of a clew to them.
+This one is the best we have had so far."
+
+It did not take Tom many hours to prove to the satisfaction of Mr.
+Whitford that none of our hero's airships had taken any part in
+cheating Uncle Sam out of custom duties.
+
+"Well, I don't know what to make of it," said the government agent,
+with a disappointed air, as he left the office of the Shopton chief
+of police, who, with others, at Tom's request, had testified in his
+favor. "This looked like a good clew, and now it's knocked into a
+cocked hat. There's no use bothering that Foger fellow," he went on,
+"for he has but one airship, I understand."
+
+"And that's not much good." put in Ned. "I guess it's partly
+wrecked, and Andy has kept it out in the barn since he moved away."
+
+"Well, I guess I'll be leaving town then," went on the agent. "I
+can't get any more clews here, and there may be some new ones found
+on the Canadian border where my colleagues are trying to catch the
+rascals. I'm sorry I bothered you, Tom Swift. You certainly have a
+fine lot of airships," he added, for he had been taken through the
+shop, and shown the latest, noiseless model. "A fine lot. I don't
+believe the smugglers, if they use them, have any better."
+
+"Nor as good!" exclaimed Ned. "Tom's can't be beat."
+
+"It's too late for our noiseless trial now," remarked Tom, after the
+agent had gone. "Let's put her back in the shed, and then I'll take
+you down street, and treat you to some ice cream, Ned. It's getting
+quite summery now."
+
+As the boys were coming out of the drug store, where they had eaten
+their ice cream in the form of sundaes, Ned uttered a cry of
+surprise at the sight of a man approaching them.
+
+"It's Mr. Dillon, the carpenter whom we saw in the Foger house,
+Tom!" exclaimed his chum. "This is the first chance I've had to talk
+to him. I'm going to ask him what sort of repairs he's making inside
+the old mansion." Ned was soon in conversation with him.
+
+"Yes, I'm working at the Foger house," admitted the carpenter, who
+had done some work for Ned's father. "Mighty queer repairs, too.
+Something I never did before. If Andy wasn't there to tell me what
+he wanted done I wouldn't know what to do."
+
+"Is Andy there yet?" asked Tom quickly.
+
+"Yes, he's staying in the old house. All alone too, except now and
+then, he has a chum stay there nights with him. They get their own
+meals. I bring the stuff in, as Andy says he's getting up a surprise
+and doesn't want any of the boys to see him, or ask questions. But
+they are sure queer repairs I'm doing," and the carpenter scratched
+his head reflectively.
+
+"What are you doing?" asked Ned boldly.
+
+"Fixing up Andy's old airship that was once busted," was the
+unexpected answer, "and after I get that done, if I ever do, he
+wants me to make a platform for it on the roof of the house, where
+he can start it swooping through the air. Mighty queer repairs, I
+call 'em. Well, good evening, boys," and the carpenter passed on.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+SEARCHING FOR SMUGGLERS.
+
+
+"Well, of all things!"
+
+"Who in the world would think such a thing?"
+
+"Andy going to start out with his airship again!"
+
+"And going to sail it off the roof of his house!"
+
+These were the alternate expressions that came from Tom and Ned, as
+they stood gazing at each other after the startling information
+given them by Mr. Dillon, the carpenter.
+
+"Do you really think he means it?" asked Tom, after a pause, during
+which they watched the retreating figure of the carpenter. "Maybe he
+was fooling us."
+
+"No, Mr. Dillon seldom jokes," replied Ned, "and when he does, you
+can always tell. He goes to our church, and I know he wouldn't
+deliberately tell an untruth. Oh. Andy's up to some game all right."
+
+"I thought he must be hanging around here the way he has been,
+instead of being home. But I admit I may have been wrong about the
+police being after him. If he'd done something wrong, he would
+hardly hire a man to work on the house while he was hiding in it. I
+guess he just wants to keep out of the way of everybody but his own
+particular cronies. But I wonder what he is up to, anyhow; getting
+his airship in shape again?"
+
+"Give it up, unless there's an aero meet on somewhere soon," replied
+Ned. "Maybe he's going to try a race again."
+
+Tom shook his head.
+
+"I'd have heard about any aviation meets, if there were any
+scheduled," he replied. "I belong to the national association, and
+they send out circulars whenever there are to be races. None are on
+for this season. No, Andy has some other game."
+
+"Well, I don't know that it concerns us," spoke Ned.
+
+"Not as long as he doesn't bother me," answered the young inventor.
+"Well, Ned, I suppose you'll be over in the morning and help me try
+out the noiseless airship?"
+
+"Sure thing. Say, it was queer, about that government agent, wasn't
+it? suspecting you of supplying airships to the smugglers?"
+
+"Rather odd," agreed Tom. "He might much better suspect Andy Foger."
+
+"That's so, and now that we know Andy is rebuilding his old airship,
+maybe we'd better tell him."
+
+"Tell who?"
+
+"That government agent. Tell him he's wrong in thinking that Andy is
+out of the game. We might send him word that we just learned that
+Andy is getting active again. He has as much right to suspect and
+question him, as he had you."
+
+"Oh, I don't know," began Tom slowly. He was not a vindicative
+youth, nor, for that matter, was Ned. And Tom would not go out of
+his way to give information about an enemy, when it was not certain
+that the said enemy meant anything wrong. "I don't believe there's
+anything in it," finished our hero. "Andy may have a lot of time on
+his hands, and, for want of something better to do, he's fixing up
+his aeroplane."
+
+"Look!" suddenly exclaimed Ned. "There's that agent now! He's going
+to the depot to get a train, I guess," and he pointed to the
+government man, who had so lately interviewed Tom. "I'm going to
+speak to him!" impulsively declared Ned.
+
+"I wouldn't," objected Tom, but his chum had already hastened on
+ahead, and soon was seen talking excitedly to Mr. Whitford. Tom
+sauntered up in time to hear the close of the conversation.
+
+"I'm much obliged to you for your information," said the custom
+officer. "but I'm afraid, just as you say your chum felt about it,
+that there's nothing in it. This Foger chap may have been bad in the
+past, but I hardly think he's in with the smugglers. What I'm
+looking for is not a lad who has one airship, but someone who is
+making a lot of them, and supplying the men who are running goods
+over the border. That's the sort of game I'm after, and if this Andy
+Foger only has one aeroplane I hardly think he can be very
+dangerous."
+
+"Well, perhaps not," admitted Ned. "But I thought I'd tell you."
+
+"And I'm glad you did. If you hear anything more. I'll be glad to
+have you let me know. Here's my card," and thanking the boys for
+their interest Mr. Whitford passed on.
+
+Tom and Ned gave the noiseless airship a test the next day. The
+craft, which was the stanch Falcon, remodeled, was run out of the
+shed, Koku the giant helping, while Mr. Swift stood looking on, an
+interested spectator of what his son was about to do. Eradicate, the
+old colored man, who was driving his mule Boomerang, hitched to a
+wagon in which he was carting away some refuse that had been raked
+up in the garden, halted his outfit nearby.
+
+"I say, Massa Tom!" he called, as the young inventor passed near
+him, in making a tour of the ship.
+
+"Well, Rad, what is it?"
+
+"Doan't yo'-all want fo' ma an' Boomerang t' gib yo'-all a tow?
+Mebby dat new-fangled contraption yo'-all has done put on yo' ship
+won't wuk, an' mebby I'd better stick around t' pull yo'-all home."
+
+"No, Rad, I guess it will work all right. If it doesn't, and we get
+stuck out a mile or two, I'll send you a wireless message."
+
+"Doan't do dat!" begged the colored man. "I neber could read dem
+wireless letters anyhow. Jest gib a shout, an' me an' Boomerang will
+come a-runnin'."
+
+"All right, Rad, I will. Now, Ned, is everything in shape?"
+
+"I think so, Tom."
+
+"Koku, just put a little more wind in those tires. But don't pump as
+hard as you did the other day," Tom cautioned.
+
+"What happened then?" asked Ned.
+
+"Oh, Koku forgot that he had so much muscle, and he kept on pumping
+air into the bicycle wheel tires until he burst one. Go easy this
+time, Koku."
+
+"I will, Mr. Tom," and the giant took the air pump.
+
+"Is he going along?" asked Ned, as he looked to see that all the guy
+wires and stays were tight.
+
+"I guess so," replied Tom. "He makes good ballast. I wish Mr. Damon
+was here. If everything goes right we may take a run over, and
+surprise him."
+
+In a little while the noiseless airship was ready for the start.
+Tom, Ned and Koku climbed in, and took their positions.
+
+"Good luck!" Mr. Swift called after them. Tom waved his hand to his
+father, and the next moment his craft shot into the air. Up and up
+it went, the great propeller blades beating the air, but, save for a
+soft whirr, such as would be made by the wings of a bird, there was
+absolutely no sound.
+
+"Hurrah!" cried Tom. "She works! I've got a noiseless airship at
+last!"
+
+"Say, don't yell at a fellow so," begged Ned, for Tom had been close
+to his chum when he made his exulting remark.
+
+"Yell! I wasn't yelling," replied Tom. "Oh, I see what happened. I'm
+so used to speaking loud on the other airships, that make such a
+racket, that I didn't realize how quiet it was aboard the new
+Falcon. No wonder I nearly made you deaf, Ned. I'll be careful after
+this," and Tom lowered his voice to ordinary tones. In fact it was
+as quiet aboard his new craft, as if he and Ned had been walking in
+some grass-grown country lane.
+
+"She certainly is a success," agreed Ned. "You could creep up on
+some other airship now, and those aboard would never know you were
+coming."
+
+"I've been planning this for a long time," went on our hero, as he
+shifted the steering gear, and sent the craft around in a long,
+sweeping curve. "Now for Waterford and Mr. Damon."
+
+They were soon above the town where the odd man lived, and Tom,
+picking out Mr. Damon's house, situated as it was in the midst of
+extensive grounds, headed for it.
+
+"There he is, walking through the garden," exclaimed Ned, pointing
+to their friend down below. "He hasn't heard us, as he would have
+done if we had come in any other machine."
+
+"That's so!" exclaimed Tom. "I'm going to give him a sensation. I'll
+fly right over his head, and he won't know it until he sees us. I'll
+come up from behind."
+
+A moment later he put this little trick into execution. Along swept
+the airship, until, with a rush, it passed right over Mr. Damon's
+head. He never heard it. and was not aware of what was happening
+until he saw the shadow it cast. Then, jumping aside, as if he
+thought something was about to fall on him, he cried:
+
+"Bless my mosquito netting! What in the world--"
+
+Then he saw Tom and Ned in the airship, which came gently to earth a
+few yards further on.
+
+"Well of all things!" cried Mr. Damon. "What are you up to now, Tom
+Swift?"
+
+"It's my noiseless airship," explained our hero. "She doesn't make a
+sound. Get aboard, and have a ride."
+
+Mr. Damon looked toward the house.
+
+"I guess my wife won't see me," he said with a chuckle. "She's more
+than ever opposed to airships, Tom, since we went on that trip
+taking moving pictures. But I'll take a chance." And in he sprang,
+when the two lads started up again. They made quite a flight, and
+Tom found that his new motor exceeded his expectations. True, it
+needed some adjustments, but these could easily be made.
+
+"Well, what are you going to do with it, now that you have it?"
+asked Mr. Damon, as Tom once more brought the machine around to the
+odd man's house, and stopped it. "What's it for?"
+
+"Oh, I think I'll find a use for it," replied the young inventor.
+"Will you come back to Shopton with us?"
+
+"No, I must stay here. I have some letters to write. But I'll run
+over in a few days, and see you. Then I'll go on another trip, if
+you've got one planned."
+
+"I may have," answered Tom with a laugh. "Good-bye."
+
+He and Ned made a quick flight home, and Tom at once started on
+making some changes in the motor. He was engaged at this work the
+next day, when he noticed a shadow pass across an open window. He
+looked up to see Ned.
+
+"Hello, Tom!" cried his chum. "Have you heard the news?"
+
+"No, what news? Has Andy Foger fallen out of his airship?"
+
+"No, but there are a whole lot of Custom House detectives in town,
+looking for clews to the smugglers."
+
+"Still at it, eh? Shopton can't seem to keep out of the limelight.
+Has anything new turned up?"
+
+"Yes. I just met Mr. Whitford. He's back on the case and he has
+several men with him. They received word that some smuggled goods
+came to Shopton, and were shipped out of here again."
+
+"How, by airship?"
+
+"No, by horse and wagon. A lot of cases of valuable silks imported
+from England to Canada, where the duty is light, were slipped over
+the border somehow, in airships, it is thought. Then they came here
+by freight, labeled as calico, and when they reached this town they
+were taken away in a wagon."
+
+"But how did they get here?"
+
+"On the railroad, of course, but the freight people had no reason to
+suspect them."
+
+"And where were they taken from the freight station?"
+
+"That's what the customs authorities want to find out. They think
+there's some secret place here, where the goods are stored and
+reshipped. That's why so many detectives are here. They are after the
+smugglers hot-footed."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE RAID
+
+
+Tom Swift dropped the tool he was using, and came over to where Ned
+stood, his chum having vaulted in through the open window.
+
+"Ned," said the young inventor, "there's something queer about this
+business."
+
+"I'm beginning to think so myself, Tom. But just what do you mean?"
+
+"I mean it's queer that the smugglers should pick out a place like
+Shopton--a small town--for their operations, or part of them, when
+there are so many better places. We're quite a distance from the
+Canadian border. Say, Ned, where was it that Mr. Foger moved to?
+Hogan's alley, or some such name as that; wasn't it?"
+
+"Logansville, this state, was the place. I once saw Tom Snedecker
+mail Andy a letter addressed to there. But what has that to do with
+it?"
+
+Tom's answer was to turn to a large map on the wall of his shop.
+With a long stick he pointed out the city of Logansville.
+
+"That isn't very far from the Canadian border; is it, Ned?" he
+asked.
+
+"Say, what are you driving at, Tom? It's right on the border between
+New York and Canada, according to that map."
+
+"Well, that's a good map, and you can be sure it is nearly right.
+And, look here. There's the town of Montford, in Canada, almost
+opposite Logansville."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"Oh, nothing, only I'm going to see Mr. Whitford."
+
+"What do you mean, Tom?"
+
+"I mean that the something queer part about this business may be
+explained. They have traces of the smugglers sending their goods to
+Shopton to be re-shipped here, to avoid suspicion, probably. They
+have a suspicion that airships are used to get the goods over the
+Canadian border at night."
+
+"But," broke in Ned, "the government agent said that it was across
+the St. Lawrence River they brought them. Montford is quite a
+distance from the river. I suppose the smugglers take the goods from
+the river steamers, land them, pack them in airships, and fly across
+with them. But if you're trying to connect the Fogers, and
+Logansville, and Montford with the smugglers, I don't see where it
+comes in with the St. Lawrence, and the airships, Tom."
+
+"Forget that part of it for a while, Ned. Maybe they are all off on
+airships, anyhow. I don't take much stock in that theory, though it
+may be true."
+
+"Just think of the Fogers," went on Tom. "Mr. Foger has lost all his
+money, he lives in a town near the Canadian border, it is almost
+certain that smuggled goods have been shipped here. Mr. Foger has a
+deserted house here, and--see the connection?"
+
+"By Jove, Tom, I believe you're right!" cried his chum. "Maybe the
+airships aren't in it after all, and Andy is only making a bluff at
+having his repaired, to cover up some other operations in the
+house."
+
+"I believe so."
+
+"But that would mean that Mr. Dillon, the carpenter is not telling
+the truth, and I can't believe that of him."
+
+"Oh, I believe he's honest, but I think Andy is fooling him. Mr.
+Dillon doesn't know much about airships, and Andy may have had him
+doing something in the house, telling him it was repair work on an
+airship, when, as a matter of fact, the carpenter might be making
+boxes to ship the goods in, or constructing secret places in which
+to hide them."
+
+"I don't believe it, Tom. But I agree with you that there is
+something queer going on in Shopton. The Fogers may, or may not, be
+connected with it. What are you going to do?"
+
+"I'm first going to have a talk with Mr. Whitford. Then I'm going to
+see if I can't prove, or disprove, that the Fogers are concerned in
+the matter. If they're not, then some one else in Shopton must be
+guilty. But I'm interested, because I have been brought into this
+thing in a way, and I want it sifted to the bottom."
+
+"Then you're going to see Mr. Whitford?"
+
+"I am, and I'm going to tell him what I think. Come on, we'll look
+him up now."
+
+"But your noiseless airship?"
+
+"Oh, that's all right. It's nearly finished anyhow, I've just got a
+little more work on the carburetor. That will keep. Come on, we'll
+find the government agent."
+
+But Mr. Whitford was not at the hotel where he and the other custom
+inspectors had put up. They made no secret of their presence in
+Shopton, and all sorts of rumors were flying about regarding them.
+Mr. Whitford, the hotel clerk said, had gone out of town for the
+day, and, as Ned and Tom did not feel like telling their suspicions
+to any of the other agents, they started back home.
+
+"I understand they're going to search every house in Shopton, before
+they go away," said the clerk to the boys. "They are going to look
+for smuggled goods."
+
+"They are; eh?" exclaimed Colonel Henry Denterby, who had fought in
+the Civil War. "Search my house; eh? Well I guess not! A man's house
+is his castle, sir! That's what it is. No one shall enter mine, no
+matter if he is a government official, unless I give him permission,
+sir! And I won't do that, sir! I'll be revolutionized if I do! No,
+sir!"
+
+"Why, you haven't any smuggled goods concealed, have you, Colonel?"
+slyly asked a hotel lounger.
+
+"Smuggled goods? What do you mean, sir?" cried the veteran, who was
+something of a fire-eater. "No, sir! Of course not, sir! I pay my
+taxes, sir; and all my debts. But no government spy is going to come
+into my house, and upset everything, sir, looking for smuggled
+goods, sir. No, sir!"
+
+Some were of one opinion, and some another, and there was quite a
+discussion underway concerning the rights of the custom officers, as
+the boys came out of the hotel.
+
+Likewise there was talk about who might be the guilty ones, but no
+names were mentioned, at least openly.
+
+"Let's go past the Foger house on our way back," proposed Ned, and
+as he and Tom came in front of it, they heard a pounding going on
+within, but saw no signs of Andy or the carpenter.
+
+"They're keeping mighty close," commented Tom.
+
+The two boys worked that afternoon on the new airship, and in the
+evening, when Ned came over, Tom proposed that they make another
+attempt to see Mr. Whitford.
+
+"I want to get this thing off my mind," spoke the young inventor,
+and he and his chum started for the hotel. Once more they passed the
+Foger house. It was in darkness, but, as the two lads stood
+watching, they saw a flash of a light, as if it came through a crack
+in a shutter or a shade.
+
+"Some one is in there," declared Tom.
+
+"Yes, probably Andy is getting his own supper. It's queer he wants
+to lead that sort of a life. Well, everyone to their notion, as the
+old lady said when she kissed the cow."
+
+They stood for a few minutes watching the old mansion, and then went
+on. As they passed down a lane, to take a short cut, they approached
+a small house, that, in times past, had been occupied by the
+gardener of the Foger estate. Now, that too, was closed. But, in
+front of it stood a wagon with a big canvass cover over it, and, as
+the lads came nearer, the wagon drove off quickly, and in silence.
+At the same time a door in the gardener's house was heard to shut
+softly.
+
+"Did you see that?" cried Ned.
+
+"Yes, and did you hear that?" asked Tom.
+
+"They're carting stuff away from the old gardener's house," went on
+Ned. "Maybe it's there that the smugglers are working from! Let's
+hurry to see Mr. Whitford."
+
+"Hold on!" exclaimed Tom in a whisper. "I've got one suggestion.
+Ned. Let's tell all we know, and what we think may be the case, but
+don't make any rash statements. We might be held responsible. Tell
+what we have seen, and let the government men do the rest."
+
+"All right. I'm willing."
+
+They watched the wagon as it passed on out of sight in the darkness,
+and then hurried on to see Mr. Whitford. To say that the custom
+officer was astonished at what the boys related to him, is putting
+it mildly. He was much excited.
+
+"I think we're on the right trail!" he exclaimed. "You may have done
+a big service for Uncle Sam. Come on!"
+
+"Where?" the boys asked him.
+
+"We'll make a raid on the old Foger home, and on the gardener's
+house at once. We may catch the rascals red-handed. You can have the
+honor of representing Uncle Sam. I'll make you assistant deputies
+for the night. Here are some extra badges I always carry," and he
+pinned one each on the two young men.
+
+Mr. Whitford quietly summoned several of his men to his hotel room,
+and imparted to them what he had learned. They were eager for the
+raid, and it was decided to go to the Foger home, and the other
+house at once, first seeking to gain an entrance to the mansion.
+
+Accompanied by Tom and Ned, Mr. Whitford left the hotel. There were
+few persons about, and no attention was attracted. The other agents
+left the hotel one by one, and in the darkness gathered about the
+seemingly deserted mansion.
+
+"Stand ready now, men," whispered Mr. Whitford. "Tom, Ned and I will
+go up the steps first, and knock. If they don't let us in I'm going
+to smash the door. Then you follow."
+
+Rather excited by what was about to take place, the two chums
+accompanied the chief custom agent. He rapped loudly on the door of
+the house, where only darkness showed.
+
+There was a moment of silence, and then a voice which Tom and Ned
+recognized as that of Andy Foger, asked:
+
+"What do you want?"
+
+"We want to come in," replied Mr. Whitford.
+
+"But who are you?"
+
+"Uncle Sam's officers, from the custom house."
+
+Tom distinctly heard a gasp of surprise on the other side of the
+portal, and then a bolt was drawn. The door was thrown back, and
+there, confronting the two lads and Mr. Whitford, were Andy Foger
+and his father.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+THE APPEAL TO TOM
+
+
+"Well, what does this mean?" asked Mr. Foger in indignant tones, as
+he faced the custom officer and Tom and Ned. "What do you mean by
+coming to my house at this hour, and disturbing me? I demand an
+answer!"
+
+"And you shall have it," replied Mr. Whitford calmly. He was used to
+dealing with "indignant" persons, who got very much on their dignity
+when accused of smuggling. "We are here, Mr. Foger, because of
+certain information we have received, and we must ask you to submit
+to some questions, and allow your house to be searched."
+
+"What! You question me? Search this house? That is an indignity to
+which I will not submit!"
+
+"You will have to, Mr. Foger. I have ample authority for what I am
+doing, and I am backed by the most powerful government in the world.
+I also have plenty of help with me."
+
+Mr. Whitford blew his whistle, and at once his several deputies came
+running up.
+
+"You see I am well prepared to meet force with force, Mr. Foger,"
+said the chief agent, calmly.
+
+"Force! What do you mean, sir?"
+
+"I mean that I have certain information against you. There has been
+smuggling going on from Canada into the United States."
+
+"Canada? What have I to do with Canada?"
+
+"You don't live far from there," said Mr. Whitford significantly.
+"Airships have been used. Your son has one, but I don't believe that
+figured in the game. But two friends of mine saw something to-night
+that made me decide on this raid. Tom and Ned, tell Mr. Foger what
+you saw."
+
+The agent stepped back, so that the two lads could be seen. There
+was another gasp of surprise, this time from Andy Foger, who had
+remained in the background.
+
+"Tom Swift!" gasped the bully.
+
+"Tell them what you saw. Tom," went on the agent, and Tom and Ned by
+turns, relayed the incident of the wagon load of goods driving away
+from the gardener's house.
+
+"This, with what has gone before, made us suspicious," said Mr.
+Whitford. "So we decided on a raid. If you are not willing to let us
+in peaceably, we will come by force."
+
+"By all means come in!" was the unexpected reply of Mr. Foger, as he
+stepped back, and opened wider the door. "Andy, these are some
+friends of yours, are they not?"
+
+"Friends? I guess not!" exclaimed Andy with a sneer. "I won't even
+speak to them."
+
+"Not much lost," commented Tom with a laugh.
+
+"Search the house!" ordered Mr. Whitford sharply.
+
+"I'll show you around," offered Mr. Foger.
+
+"We can find our way," was the curt rejoinder of the chief agent.
+
+"The place is deserted," went on Mr. Foger. "My son and I are just
+living here until certain repairs are made, when I am going to make
+another effort to sell it."
+
+"Yes, we knew it was being repaired, and that your son was staying
+here," said Mr. Whitford, "But we did not expect to see you."
+
+"I--er--that is--I came on unexpectedly," said Mr. Foger. "You may
+look about all you wish. You will find nothing wrong here."
+
+And they did not, strange to say. There was considerable litter in
+many of the rooms, and in one was Andy's airship in parts. Clearly
+work was being done on that, and Mr. Dillon's story was confirmed,
+for tools, with his initials burned in the handles, were lying
+about.
+
+The custom men, with Tom and Ned, went all over the house. Andy
+scowled blackly at our hero, but said nothing. Mr. Foger seemed
+anxious to show everything, and let the men go where they would.
+Finally a tour of the house had been completed, and nothing of a
+suspicious nature was found.
+
+"I guess we'll just take a look at the roof, and see that airship
+platform your son is going to use," said Mr. Whitford, in rather
+disappointed tones, when he had found nothing.
+
+"It isn't started yet," said Andy.
+
+But they all went up through a scuttle, nevertheless, and saw where
+some posts had been made fast to the roof, to provide a platform
+foundation.
+
+"I'll beat you all to pieces when I get flying," said the bully to
+Tom, as they went down the scuttle again.
+
+"I'm not in the racing game any more," replied Tom coldly. "Besides
+I only race with my FRIENDS."
+
+"Huh! Afraid of getting beat!" sneered Andy.
+
+"Well. I guess there's nothing here," said Mr. Whitford to Mr.
+Foger, as they stood together in the front room.
+
+"No, I knew you'd find nothing, and you have had your trouble for
+your pains."
+
+"Oh, Uncle Sam doesn't mind trouble."
+
+"And you have caused me much annoyance!" said Mr. Foger sharply.
+
+"I'm afraid we'll have to cause you more," was the agent's comment.
+"I want to have a look in the gardener's house, from where Tom Swift
+saw the load going away."
+
+"There is nothing there!" declared Mr. Foger quickly. "That is,
+nothing but some old furniture. I sold a lot of it, and I suppose
+the man who bought it came for it to-night."
+
+"We'll take a look," repeated the agent, "I am very fond of old
+furniture."
+
+"Very well," responded the bully's father, as he eyed Tom and Ned
+blackly.
+
+He led the way out of the house, and soon they stood before the
+small cottage. It was dark, and when Mr. Foger unlocked the door he
+turned on the gas, and lighted it.
+
+"I left the gas on until all the furniture should be taken out," he
+explained. "But you will find nothing here."
+
+It needed but a glance about the place to show that only some odds
+and ends of furniture was all that it contained.
+
+"Where does this door lead to," asked Mr. Whitford, when he had made
+a tour of the place.
+
+"Nowhere. Oh, that is only down into the cellar." was the reply.
+"There is nothing there."
+
+"We can't take anything for granted," went on the agent with a
+smile. "I'll take a look down there."
+
+He descended with some of his men. Tom and Ned remained in the
+kitchen of the cottage, while Andy and his father conversed in low
+tones, occasionally casting glances at our heroes. Once Tom thought
+Mr. Foger looked apprehensively toward the door, through which the
+custom men had descended. He also appeared to be anxiously
+listening.
+
+But when Mr. Whitford came back, with a disappointed look on his
+face, and said there was nothing to be found, Mr. Foger smiled:
+
+"What did I tell you?" he asked triumphantly.
+
+"Never mind," was the retort of Uncle Sam's man. "We are not through
+with Shopton yet."
+
+"I'm sorry we gave you so much trouble on a false clew," said Tom,
+as he and Ned left the Foger premises with Mr. Whitford, the other
+deputies following.
+
+"That's all right, Tom. We have to follow many false clews. I'm much
+obliged to you. Either we were on the wrong track, or the Fogers are
+more clever than I gave them credit for. But I am not done yet. I
+have something to propose to you. It has come to me in the last few
+minutes. I saw you in your airship once, and I know you know how to
+manage such craft. Now there is no question in my mind but what the
+smugglers are using airships. Tom, will you undertake a mission for
+Uncle Sam?"
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I mean will you go to the border, in your airship, and try to catch
+the smugglers? I can promise you a big reward, and much fame if we
+catch them. An airship is just what is needed. You are the one to do
+it. Will you?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+A SEARCHLIGHT IS NEEDED
+
+
+For a few moments after the custom officer had made his appeal, Tom
+Swift did not reply. His thoughts were busy with many things.
+Somehow, it seemed of late, there had been many demands on him,
+demands that had been hard and trying.
+
+In the past he had not hesitated, but in those cases friendship, as
+well as a desire for adventures, had urged him. Now he thought he
+had had his fill of adventures.
+
+"Well?" asked Mr. Whitford, gently. "What's your answer, Tom? Don't
+you think this is a sort of duty-call to you?"
+
+"A duty-call?" repeated the young inventor.
+
+"Yes. Of course I realize that it isn't like a soldier's call to
+battle, but Uncle Sam needs you just the same. When there is a war
+the soldiers are called on to repel an enemy. Now the smugglers are
+just as much an enemy of the United States, in a certain way, as an
+armed invader would be."
+
+"One strikes at the life and liberty of the people, while the
+smugglers try to cheat Uncle Sam out of money that is due him. I'm
+not going to enter into a discussion as to the right of the
+government to impose duties. People have their own opinion as to
+that. But, as long as the law says certain duties are to be
+collected, it is the duty of every citizen, not only to pay those
+dues, but to help collect them. That's what I'm asking you to do,
+Tom."
+
+"I don't want to get prosy, or deliver a lecture on the work of the
+custom house, Tom, but, honestly, I think it is a duty you owe to
+your country to help catch these smugglers. I admit I'm at the end
+of my rope. This last clew has failed. The Fogers seem to be
+innocent of wrong doing. We need your help, Tom."
+
+"But I don't see how I can help you."
+
+"Of course you can! You're an expert with airships. The smugglers
+are using airships, of that I'm sure. You tell me you have just
+perfected a noiseless aircraft. That will be just the thing. You can
+hover on the border, near the line dividing New York State from
+Canada, or near the St. Lawrence, which is the natural division for
+a certain distance, and when you see an airship coming along you can
+slip up in your noiseless one, overhaul it, and make them submit to
+a search."
+
+"But I won't have any authority to do that," objected Tom, who
+really did not care for the commission.
+
+"Oh, I'll see that you get the proper authority all right," said Mr.
+Whitford significantly. "I made you a temporary deputy to-night, but
+if you'll undertake this work, to catch the smugglers in their
+airships, you will be made a regular custom official."
+
+"Yes, but supposing I can't catch them?" interposed our hero. "They
+may have very fast airships, and--"
+
+"I guess you'll catch 'em all right!" put in Ned, who was at his
+chum's side as they walked along a quiet Shopton street in the
+darkness. "There's not an aeroplane going that can beat yours, Tom."
+
+"Well, perhaps I COULD get them," admitted the young inventor. "But--"
+
+"Then you'll undertake this work for Uncle Sam?" interrupted Mr.
+Whitford eagerly. "Come, Tom, I know you will."
+
+"I'm not so sure of that," spoke Tom. "It isn't going to be as easy
+as you think. There are many difficulties in the way. In the first
+place the smuggling may be done over such a wide area that it would
+need a whole fleet of airships to capture even one of the others,
+for they might choose a most unfrequented place to cross the
+border."
+
+"Oh, we would be in communication with you," said the agent. "We can
+come pretty near telling where the contrabrand goods will be shipped
+from, but the trouble is, after we get our tips, we can't get to the
+place before they have flown away. But with your airship, you could
+catch them, after we sent you, say a wireless message, about where
+to look for them. So that's no objection. You have a wireless outfit
+on your airships, haven't you, Tom?"
+
+"Yes, that part is all right."
+
+"Then you can't have any more objections, Tom."
+
+"Well, there are some. For instance you say most of this smuggling
+is done at night."
+
+"Practically all of it, yes."
+
+"Well, it isn't going to be easy to pick out a contraband airship in
+the dark, and chase it. But I'll tell you what I'll do, Mr.
+Whitford, I feel as if I had sort of 'fallen down' on this clew
+business, as the newspaper men say, and I owe it to you to make good
+in some way."
+
+"That's what I want--not that I think you haven't done all you
+could," interposed the agent.
+
+"Well, if I can figure out some way, by which I think I can come
+anywhere near catching these smugglers, I'll undertake the work!"
+exclaimed Tom. "I'll do it as a duty to Uncle Sam, and I don't want
+any reward except my expenses. It's going to cost considerable, but--"
+
+"Don't mind the expense!" interrupted Mr. Whitford. "Uncle Sam will
+stand that. Why, the government is losing thousands of dollars every
+week. It's a big leak, and must be stopped, and you're the one to
+stop it, Tom."
+
+"Well, I'll try. I'll see you in a couple of days, and let you know
+if I have formed any plan. Now come on, Ned. I'm tired and want to
+get to bed."
+
+"So do I," added the agent. "I'll call on you day after to-morrow,
+Tom, and I expect you to get right on the job," he added with a
+laugh.
+
+"Have you any idea what you are going to do, Tom?" asked his chum,
+as they turned toward their houses.
+
+"Not exactly. If I go I'll use my noiseless airship. That will come
+in handy. But this night business rather stumps me. I don't quite
+see my way to get around that. Of course I could use an ordinary
+searchlight, but that doesn't give a bright enough beam, or carry
+far enough. It's going to be quite a problem and I've got to think
+it over."
+
+"Queer about the Fogers; wasn't it, Tom?"
+
+"Yes, I didn't think they were going to let us in."
+
+"There's something going on there, in spite of the fact that they
+were willing for an inspection to be made," went on Ned.
+
+"I agree with you. I thought it was funny the way Mr. Foger acted
+about not wanting the men to go down in the cellar."
+
+"So did I, and yet when they got down there they didn't find
+anything."
+
+"That's so. Well, maybe we're on the wrong track, after all. But I'm
+going to keep my eyes open. I don't see what Andy wants with an
+airship platform on the roof of his house. The ground is good enough
+to start from and land on."
+
+"I should think so, too. But then Andy always did like to show off,
+and do things different from anybody else. Maybe it's that way now."
+
+"Perhaps," agreed Tom. "Well, here's your house, Ned. Come over in
+the morning," and, with a good-night, our hero left his chum,
+proceeding on toward his own home.
+
+"Why, Koku, haven't you gone to bed yet?" asked the young inventor,
+as, mounting the side steps, he saw his giant servant sitting there
+on a bench he had made especially for his own use, as ordinary
+chairs were not substantial enough. "What is the matter?"
+
+"Nothing happen YET," spoke Koku significantly, "but maybe he come
+pretty soon, and then I get him."
+
+"Get who, Koku?" asked Tom, with quick suspicion.
+
+"I do not know, but Eradicate say he hear someone sneaking around
+his chicken coop, and I think maybe it be same man who was here once
+before."
+
+"Oh, you mean the rivals, who were trying to get my moving picture
+camera?"
+
+"That's what!" exclaimed Koku.
+
+"Hum!" mused Tom. "I must be on the look-out. I'll tell you what
+I'll do, Koku. I'll set my automatic camera to take the moving
+pictures of any one who tries to get in my shop, or in the chicken
+coop. I'll also set the burglar alarm. But you may also stay on the
+watch, and if anything happens--"
+
+"If anything happens, I will un-happen him!" exclaimed the giant,
+brandishing a big club he had beside him.
+
+"All right," laughed Tom. "I'm sleepy, and I'm going to bed, but
+I'll set the automatic camera, and fix it with fuse flashlights, so
+they will go off if the locks are even touched."
+
+This Tom did, fixing up the wizard camera, which I have told you
+about in the book bearing that title. It would take moving pictures
+automatically, once Tom had set the mechanism to unreel the films
+back of the shutter and lens. The lights would instantly flash, when
+the electrical connections on the door locks were tampered with, and
+the pictures would be taken.
+
+Then Tom set the burglar alarm, and, before going to bed he focused
+a searchlight, from one of his airships, on the shed and chicken
+coop, fastening it outside his room window.
+
+"There!" he exclaimed, as he got ready to turn in, not having
+awakened the rest of the household, "when the burglar alarm goes
+off, if it does, it will also start the searchlight, and I'll get a
+view of who the chicken thief is. I'll also get some pictures."
+
+Then, thinking over the events of the evening, and wondering if he
+would succeed in his fight with the smugglers, providing he
+undertook it, Tom fell asleep.
+
+It must have been some time after midnight that he was awakened by
+the violent ringing of a bell at his ear. At first he thought it was
+the call to breakfast, and he leaped from bed crying out:
+
+"Yes, Mrs. Baggert, I'm coming!"
+
+A moment later he realized what it was.
+
+"The burglar alarm!" he cried. "Koku, are you there? Someone is
+trying to get into the chicken coop!" for a glance at the automatic
+indicator, in connection with the alarm, had shown Tom that the
+henhouse, and not his shop, had been the object of attack.
+
+"I here!" cried Koku, "I got him!"
+
+A series of startled cries bore eloquent testimony to this.
+
+"I'm coming!" cried Tom. And then he saw a wonderful sight. The
+whole garden, his shop, the henhouse and all the surrounding
+territory was lighted up with a radiance almost like daylight. The
+beams of illumination came from the searchlight Tom had fixed
+outside his window, but never before had the lantern given such a
+glow.
+
+"That's wonderful!" cried Tom, as he ran to examine it. "What has
+happened? I never had such a powerful beam before. There must be
+something that I have stumbled on by accident. Say, that is a light
+all right! Why it goes for miles and miles, and I never projected a
+beam as far as this before."
+
+As Tom looked into a circle of violet-colored glass set in the side
+cf the small searchlight, to see what had caused the extraordinary
+glow, he could observe nothing out of the ordinary. The violet glass
+was to protect the eyes from the glare.
+
+"It must be that, by accident, I made some new connection at the
+dynamo," murmured Tom.
+
+"Hi! Lemme go! Lemme go, Massa giant! I ain't done nuffin'!" yelled
+a voice.
+
+"I got you!" cried Koku.
+
+"It's an ordinary chicken thief this time I guess," said Tom. "But
+this light--this great searchlight--"
+
+Then a sudden thought came to him.
+
+"By Jove!" he cried. "If I can find out the secret of how I happened
+to project such a beam, it will be the very thing to focus on the
+smugglers from my noiseless airship! That's what I need--a
+searchlight such as never before has been made--a terrifically
+powerful one. And I've got it, if I can only find out just how it
+happened. I've got to look before the current dies out."
+
+Leaving the brilliant beams on in full blast, Tom ran down the
+stairs to get to his shop, from which the electrical power came.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+TOM'S NEWEST INVENTION
+
+
+"I got him, Mr. Tom!"
+
+"Oh, please, good Massa Swift! Make him leggo me! He suah am
+squeezin' de liber outer me!"
+
+"Shall I conflict the club upon him, Mr. Tom?"
+
+It was Koku who asked this last question, as Tom came running toward
+the giant. In the strange glare from the searchlight, the young
+inventor saw his big servant holding tightly to a rather small,
+colored man, while the camera, which was focused full on them, was
+clicking away at a great rate, taking picture after picture on the
+roll of films.
+
+"No, don't INFLICT nor CONFLICT the club on him, Koku," advised Tom.
+"Who is he?"
+
+"I don't know, Mr. Tom. I was in hiding, in the darkness, waiting
+for him to come back. He had been here once before in the evening,
+Eradicate says. Well, he came while I was waiting and I detained
+him. Then the lights went up. They are very bright lights, Mr. Tom."
+
+"Yes, brighter than I expected they would be. I must look and see
+what causes it. So you detained him, did you, Koku?"
+
+"Yes, and what exposition shall I make of him?"
+
+"What DISPOSITION?" corrected Tom, with a laugh. "Well, did he get
+any chickens, Koku?"
+
+"Oh, no, I was too tight for him."
+
+"Oh, you mean too fast, or quick. Well, if he didn't get any, I
+guess you might let him go. I have too much to attend to, to bother
+with him."
+
+"Oh, bress yo' for dat, Massa Tom!" cried the negro, whom Tom
+recognized as a worthless character about the town. "I didn't go fo'
+to do nuffin', Massa Tom. I were jest goin' t' look in de coop, t'
+count an' see how many fowls mah friend Eradicate had, an' den--"
+
+"Yes, and then I tie you!" broke in Koku.
+
+"You collared him, I guess you mean to say," spoke Tom with a laugh.
+"Well, I guess, Sam," speaking to the negro, "if YOU had counted
+Rad's chickens HE couldn't have counted as many in the morning. But
+be off, and don't come around again, or you might have to count the
+bars in a jail cell for a change."
+
+"Bress yo' honey. I won't neber come back."
+
+"Shall release him?" asked Koku doubtfully.
+
+"Yes," said Tom.
+
+"And not reflict the club on him?"
+
+The giant raised his club longingly.
+
+"Oh, Massa Tom, protect me!" cried Sam.
+
+"No, don't even REFLECT the club on him," advised the young inventor
+with a laugh. "He hasn't done any harm, and he may have been the
+means of a great discovery. Remember Sam," Tom went on sternly, "I
+have your picture, as you were trying to break into the coop, and if
+you come around again, I'll use it as evidence against you."
+
+"Oh, I won't come. Not as long as dat giant am heah, anyhow," said
+the negro earnestly. "Besides, I were only goin' t' count
+Eradicate's chickens, t' see ef he had as many as I got."
+
+"All right," responded Tom. "Now, Koku, you may escort him off the
+premises, and be on the lookout the rest of the night, off and on.
+Where's Rad?"
+
+"He has what he says is 'de misery' in his back so that he had to go
+to bed," explained the giant, to account for the faithful colored
+man not having responded to the alarm.
+
+"All right, get rid of Sam, and then come back."
+
+As Tom turned to go in his shop he saw his aged father coming slowly
+toward him. Mr. Swift had hastily dressed.
+
+"What is the matter, Tom?" he asked. "Has anything happened? I heard
+your alarm go off, and I came as quickly as I could."
+
+"Nothing much has happened, father, excepting a chicken thief. But
+something great may come of it. Do you notice that searchlight, and
+how powerful it is?"
+
+"I do, Tom. I never knew you had one as big as that."
+
+"Neither did I, and I haven't, really. That's one of my smallest
+ones, but something seems to have happened to it to make it throw
+out a beam like that. I'm just going to look. Come on in the shop."
+
+The two inventors, young and old, entered, and Tom quickly crossed
+to where the wires from the automatic dynamo, extended to the
+searchlight outside the window of his room. He made a quick
+inspection.
+
+"Look, father!" he cried. "The alternating current from the
+automatic dynamo has become crossed with direct current from the big
+storage battery in a funny way. It must have been by accident, for
+never in the world would I think of connecting up in that fashion. I
+would have said it would have made a short circuit at once."
+
+"But it hasn't. On the contrary, it has given a current of peculiar
+strength and intensity--a current that would seem to be made
+especially for searchlights. Dad, I'm on the edge of a big
+discovery."
+
+"I believe you, Tom," said his father. "That certainly is a queer
+way for wires to be connected. How do you account for it?"
+
+"I can't. That is unless some one meddled with the connections after
+I made them. That must be it. I'll ask Rad and Koku." Just then the
+giant came in. "Koku, did you touch the wires?" asked Tom.
+
+"Well, Mr. Tom, I didn't mean to. I accidentally pulled one out a
+while ago, when I was waiting for the thief to come, but I put it
+right back again. I hope I did no damage."
+
+"No, on the contrary, you did a fine thing, Koku. I never would have
+dared make such connections myself, but you, not knowing any better,
+did just the right thing to make an almost perfect searchlight
+current. It is wonderful! Probably for any other purpose such a
+current would be useless, but it is just the thing for a great
+light."
+
+"And why do you need such a powerful light, Tom?" asked Mr. Swift.
+"Why, it is of extraordinary brilliancy, and it goes for several
+miles. Look how plainly you can pick out the trees on Nob's Hill,"
+and he pointed to an elevation some distance away from the Swift
+homestead, across the woods and meadows.
+
+"I believe I could see a bird perched there, if there was one!"
+exclaimed Tom enthusiastically. "That certainly is a wonderful
+light. With larger carbons, better parobolic mirrors, a different
+resistance box, better connections, and a more powerful primary
+current there is no reason why I could not get a light that would
+make objects more plainly visible than in the daytime, even in the
+darkest night, and at a great distance."
+
+"But what would be the object of such a light, Tom?"
+
+"To play upon the smugglers, dad, and catch them as they come over
+the border in the airship."
+
+"Smugglers, Tom! You don't mean to tell me you are going away again,
+and after smugglers?"
+
+"Well, dad, I've had an offer, and I think I'll take it. There's no
+money in it, but I think it is my duty to do my best for Uncle Sam.
+The one thing that bothered me was how to get a view of the airship
+at night. This searchlight has solved the problem--that is if I can
+make a permanent invention of this accident, and I think I can."
+
+"Oh, Tom, I hate to think of you going away from home again," said
+his father a bit sadly.
+
+"Don't worry, father. I'm not going far this time. Only to the
+Canadian border, and that's only a few hundred miles. But I want to
+see if I can cut the current off, and turn it on again. When a thing
+happens by accident you never know whether you can get just exactly
+the same conditions again."
+
+Tom shut off the current from the dynamo, and the powerful beam of
+light died out. Then he turned it on once more, and it glowed as
+brightly as before. He did this several times, and each time it was
+a success.
+
+"Hurrah!" cried Tom. "To-morrow I'll start on my latest invention, a
+great searchlight!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+"BEWARE OF THE COMET!"
+
+
+"Well, Tom, what are you up to now?"
+
+Ned Newton peered in the window of the shop at his chum, who was
+busy over a bench.
+
+"This is my latest invention, Ned. Come on in."
+
+"Looks as though you were going to give a magic lantern show. Or is
+it for some new kinds of moving pictures? Say, do you remember the
+time we gave a show in the barn, and charged a nickel to come in?
+You were the clown, and--"
+
+"I was not! You were the clown. I was part of the elephant. The
+front end, I think."
+
+"Oh. so you were. I'm thinking of another one. But what are you up
+to now? Is it a big magic lantern?"
+
+Ned came over toward the bench, in front of which Tom stood, fitting
+together sheets of heavy brass in the form of a big square box. In
+one side there was a circular opening, and there were various wheels
+and levers on the different sides and on top. The interior contained
+parobolic curved mirrors.
+
+"It's a SORT of a lantern, and I hope it's going to do some MAGIC
+work," explained Tom with a smile. "But it isn't the kind of magic
+lantern you mean. It won't throw pictures on a screen, but it may
+show some surprising pictures to us--that is if you come along, and
+I think you will."
+
+"Talking riddles; eh?" laughed Ned. "What's the answer?"
+
+"Smugglers."
+
+"I thought you were talking about a lantern."
+
+"So I am, and it's the lantern that's going to show up the
+smugglers, so you can call it a smuggler's magic lantern if you
+like."
+
+"Then you're going after them?"
+
+This conversation took place several days after the raid on the
+Foger house, and after Tom's accidental discovery of how to make a
+new kind of searchlight. In the meantime he had not seen Ned, who
+had been away on a visit.
+
+"Yes, I've made up my mind to help Uncle Sam," spoke Tom, "and this
+is one of the things I'll need in my work. It's going to be the most
+powerful searchlight ever made--that is, I never heard of any
+portable electric lights that will beat it."
+
+"What do you mean, Tom?"
+
+"I mean that I'm inventing a new kind of searchlight, Ned. One that
+I can carry with me on my new noiseless airship, and one that will
+give a beam of light that will be visible for several miles, and
+which will make objects in its focus as plain as if viewed by
+daylight."
+
+"And it's to show up the smugglers?"
+
+"That's what. That is it will if we can get on the track of them."
+
+"But what did you mean when you said it would be the most powerful
+portable light ever made."
+
+"Just what I said. I've got to carry this searchlight on an airship
+with me, and, in consequence, it can't be very heavy. Of course
+there are stationary searchlights, such lights as are in
+lighthouses, that could beat mine all to pieces for candle power,
+and for long distance visibility. But they are the only ones."
+
+"That's the way to do things, Tom! Say, I'm going with you all right
+after those smugglers. But where are some of those powerful
+stationary searchlights you speak of?"
+
+"Oh, there are lots of them. One was in the Eiffel Tower, during the
+Paris Exposition. I didn't see that, but I have read about it.
+Another is in one of the twin lighthouses at the High-lands, on the
+Atlantic coast of New Jersey, just above Asbury Park. That light is
+of ninety-five million candle power, and the lighthouse keeper there
+told me it was visible, on a clear night, as far as the New Haven,
+Connecticut, lighthouse, a distance of fifty miles."
+
+"Fifty miles! That's some light!" gasped Ned.
+
+"Well, you must remember that the Highlands light is up on a very
+high hill, and the tower is also high, so there is quite an
+elevation, and then think of ninety-five million candle power--think
+of it!"
+
+"I can't!" cried Ned. "It gives me a head-ache."
+
+"Well, of course I'm not going to try to beat that," went on Tom
+with a laugh, "but I am going to have a very powerful light." And he
+then related how he had accidently discovered a new way to connect
+the wires, so as to get, from a dynamo and a storage battery a much
+stronger, and different, current than usual.
+
+"I'm making the searchlight now," Tom continued, "and soon I'll be
+ready to put in the lens, and the carbons."
+
+"And then what?"
+
+"Then I'm going to attach it to my noiseless airship, and we'll have
+a night flight. It may work, and it may not. If it does, I think
+we'll have some astonishing results."
+
+"I think we will, Tom. Can I do anything to help you?"
+
+"Yes, file some of the rough edges off these sheets of brass, if you
+will. There's an old pair of gloves to put on to protect your hands,
+otherwise you'll be almost sure to cut 'em, when the file slips.
+That brass is extra hard."
+
+The two boys were soon working away, and were busy over the big
+lantern when Mr. Whitford came along. Koku was, as usual, on guard
+at the outer door of the shop, but he knew the custom officer, and
+at once admitted him.
+
+"Well, Tom, how you coming on?" he asked.
+
+"Pretty good. I think I've got just what I want. A powerful light
+for night work."
+
+"That's good. You'll need it. They've got so they only smuggle the
+goods over in the night now. How soon do you think you'll be able to
+get on the border for Uncle Sam?"
+
+"Why, is there any great rush?" asked Tom, as he noticed a look of
+annoyance pass over the agent's face.
+
+"Yes, the smugglers have been hitting us pretty hard lately. My
+superiors are after me to do something, but I can't seem to do it.
+My men are working hard, but we can't catch the rascals."
+
+"You see, Tom, they've stopped, temporarily, bringing goods over the
+St. Lawrence. They're working now in the neighborhood of Huntington,
+Canada, and the dividing line between the British possessions and
+New York State, runs along solid ground there. It's a wild and
+desolate part of country, too, and I haven't many men up there."
+
+"Don't the Canadian custom officers help?" asked Ned.
+
+"Well, they haven't been of any aid to us so far," was the answer.
+"No doubt they are trying, but it's hard to get an airship at night
+when you're on the ground, and can't even see it."
+
+"How did they come to use airships?" asked Tom.
+
+"Well, it was because we were too sharp after them when they tried
+to run things across the line afoot, or by wagons," replied the
+agent. "You must know that in every principal city, at or near the
+border line, there is a custom house. Goods brought from Canada to
+the United States must pass through there and pay a duty."
+
+"Of course if lawless people try to evade the duty they don't go
+near the custom house. But there are inspectors stationed at the
+principal roads leading from the Dominion into Uncle Sam's
+territory, and they are always on the lookout. They patrol the line,
+sometimes through a dense wilderness, and again over a desolate
+plain, always on the watch. If they see persons crossing the line
+they stop them and examine what they have. If there is nothing
+dutiable they are allowed to pass. If they have goods on which there
+is a tax, they either have to pay or surrender the goods."
+
+"But don't the smugglers slip over in spite of all the precautions?"
+asked Ned. "Say at some lonely ravine, or stretch of woods?"
+
+"I suppose they do, occasionally," replied Mr. Whitford. "Yet the
+fact that they never can tell when one of the inspectors or deputies
+is coming along, acts as a stop. Yon see the border line is divided
+up into stretches of different lengths. A certain man, or men, are
+held responsible for each division. They must see that no smugglers
+pass. That makes them on the alert."
+
+"Why, take it out west, I have a friend who told me that he often
+travels hundreds of miles on horseback, with pack ponies carrying
+his camping outfit, patroling the border on the lookout for
+smugglers."
+
+"In fact Uncle Sam has made it so hard for the ordinary smuggler to
+do business on foot or by wagon, that these fellows have taken to
+airships. And it is practically impossible for an inspector
+patroling the border to be on the lookout for the craft of the air.
+Even if they saw them, what could they do? It would be out of the
+question to stop them. That's why we need some one with a proper
+machine who can chase after them, who can sail through the air, and
+give them a fight in the clouds if they have to."
+
+"Our custom houses on the ground, and our inspectors on horse back,
+traveling along the border, can't meet the issue. We're depending on
+you, Tom Swift, and I hope you don't disappoint us."
+
+"Well," spoke Tom, when Mr. Whitford had finished. "I'll do my best
+for you. It won't take very long to complete my searchlight, and
+then I'll give it a trial. My airship is ready for service, and once
+I find we're all right I'll start for the border."
+
+"Good! And I hope you'll catch the rascals!" fervently exclaimed the
+custom official. "Well, Tom, I'm leaving it all to you. Here are some
+reports from my deputies. I'll leave them with you, and you can look
+them over, and map out a campaign. When you are ready to start I'll
+see you again, and give you any last news I have. I'll also arrange so
+that you can communicate with me, or some of my men."
+
+"Have you given up all suspicion of the Fogers?" asked the young
+inventor.
+
+"Yes. But I still think Shopton is somehow involved in the custom
+violations. I'm going to put one of my best men on the ground here,
+and go to the border myself."
+
+"Well, I'll be ready to start in a few days," said Tom, as the
+government agent departed.
+
+For the next week our hero and his chum were busy completing work on
+the great searchlight, and in attaching it to the airship. Koku
+helped them, but little of the plans, or of the use to which the big
+lantern was to be put, were made known to him, for Koku liked to
+talk, and Tom did not want his project to become known.
+
+"Well, we'll give her a trial to-night," said Tom one afternoon,
+following a day of hard work. "We'll go up, and flash the light
+down."
+
+"Who's going?"
+
+"Just us two. You can manage the ship, and I'll look after the
+light."
+
+So it was arranged, and after supper Tom and his chum, having told
+Mr. Swift were they were going, slipped out to the airship shed, and
+soon were ready to make an ascent. The big lantern was fastened to a
+shaft that extended above the main cabin. The shaft was hollow and
+through it came the wires that carried the current. Tom, from the
+cabin below, could move the lantern in any direction, and focus it
+on any spot he pleased. By means of a toggle joint, combined with
+what are known as "lazy-tongs," the lantern could be projected over
+the side of the aircraft and be made to gleam on the earth, directly
+below the ship.
+
+For his new enterprise Tom used the Falcon in which he had gone to
+Siberia after the platinum. The new noiseless motor had been
+installed in this craft.
+
+"All ready, Ned?" asked Tom after an inspection of the searchlight.
+
+"All ready, as far as I'm concerned, Tom."
+
+"Then let her go!"
+
+Like a bird of the night, the great aeroplane shot into the air,
+and, with scarcely a sound that could be heard ten feet away, she
+moved forward at great speed.
+
+"What are you going to do first?" asked Ned.
+
+"Fly around a bit, and then come back over my house. I'm going to
+try the lantern on that first, and see what I can make out from a
+couple of miles up in the air."
+
+Up and up went the Falcon, silently and powerfully, until the
+barograph registered nearly fourteen thousand feet.
+
+"This is high enough." spoke Tom.
+
+He shifted a lever that brought the searchlight into focus on
+Shopton, which lay below them. Then, turning on the current, a
+powerful beam of light gleamed out amid the blackness.
+
+"Jove! That's great!" cried Ned. "It's like a shaft of daylight!"
+
+"That's what I intended it to be!" cried Tom in delight.
+
+With another shifting of the lever he brought the light around so
+that it began to pick up different buildings in the town.
+
+"There's the church!" cried Ned. "It's as plain as day, in that
+gleam."
+
+"And there's the railroad depot," added Tom.
+
+"And Andy Foger's house!"
+
+"Yes, and there's my house!" exclaimed Tom a moment later, as the
+beam rested on his residence and shops. "Say, it's plainer than I
+thought it would be. Hold me here a minute, Ned."
+
+Ned shut off the power from the propellers, and the airship was
+stationary. Tom took a pair of binoculars, and looked through them
+at his home in the focus of light.
+
+"I can count the bricks in the chimney!" he cried in eagerness at
+the success of his great searchlight. "It's even better than I
+thought it was! Let's go down, Ned."
+
+Slowly the airship sank. Tom played his light all about, picking up
+building after building, and one familiar spot after another.
+Finally he brought the beam on his own residence again, when not far
+above it.
+
+Suddenly there arose a weird cry. Tom and Ned knew at once that it
+was Eradicate.
+
+"A comet! A comet!" yelled the colored man. "De end ob de world am
+comin'! Run, chillens, run! Beware ob de comet!"
+
+"Eradicate's afraid!" cried Tom with a laugh.
+
+"Oh good mistah comet! Doan't take me!" went on the colored man. "I
+ain't neber done nuffin', an' mah mule Boomerang ain't needer. But
+ef yo' has t' take somebody, take Boomerang!"
+
+"Keep quiet, Rad! It's all right!" cried Tom. But the colored man
+continued to shout in fear.
+
+Then, as the two boys looked on, and as the airship came nearer to
+the earth, Ned, who was looking down amid the great illumination,
+called to Tom:
+
+"Look at Koku!"
+
+Tom glanced over, and saw his giant servant, with fear depicted on
+his face, running away as fast as he could. Evidently Eradicate's
+warning had frightened him.
+
+"Say, he can run!" cried Ned. "Look at him leg it!"
+
+"Yes, and he may run away, never to come back," exclaimed Tom. "I
+don't want to lose him, he's too valuable. I know what happened once
+when he got frightened. He was away for a week before I could locate
+him, and he hid in the swamp. I'm not going to have that happen
+again."
+
+"What are you going to do?"
+
+"I'm going to chase after him in the airship. It will be a good test
+for chasing the smugglers. Put me after him, Ned, and I'll play the
+searchlight on him so we can't lose him!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+OFF FOR THE BORDER
+
+
+"There he goes, Tom!"
+
+"Yes, I see him!"
+
+"Look at him run!"
+
+"No wonder. Consider his long legs, Ned. Put on a little more speed,
+and keep a little lower down. It's clear of trees right here."
+
+"There he goes into that clump of bushes."
+
+"I see him. He'll soon come out," and Tom flashed the big light on
+the fleeing giant to whom fear seemed to lend more than wings.
+
+But even a giant, long legged though he be, and powerful, cannot
+compete with a modern airship--certainly not such a one as Tom Swift
+had.
+
+"We're almost up to him, Tom!" cried Ned a little later.
+
+"Yes! I'm keeping track of him. Oh, why doesn't he know enough to
+stop? Koku! Koku!" called Tom. "It's all right! I'm in the airship!
+This is a searchlight, not a comet. Wait for us!"
+
+They could see the giant glance back over his shoulder at them, and,
+when he saw how close the gleaming light was he made a desperate
+spurt. But it was about his last, for he was a heavy man, and did
+not have any too good wind.
+
+"We'll have him in another minute," predicted Tom. "Give me a bit
+more speed, Ned."
+
+The lad who was managing the Falcon swung the accelerating lever
+over another notch, and the craft surged ahead. Then Ned executed a
+neat trick. Swinging the craft around in a half circle, he suddenly
+opened the power full, and so got ahead of Koku. The next minute,
+sliding down to earth, Tom and Ned came to a halt, awaiting the
+oncoming of Koku, who, finding the glaring light full in his face,
+came to a halt.
+
+"Why, Koku, what's the matter?" asked Tom kindly, as he turned off
+the powerful beams, and switched on some ordinary incandescents,
+that were on the outside of the craft. They made an illumination by
+which the giant could make out his master and the latter's chum.
+"Why did you run, Koku?" asked Tom.
+
+"Eradicate say to," was the simple answer. "He say comet come to eat
+up earth. Koku no want to be eaten."
+
+"Eradicate is a big baby!" exclaimed Tom. "See, there is no danger.
+It is only my new searchlight," and once more the young inventor
+switched it on. Koku jumped back, but when he saw that nothing
+happened he did not run.
+
+"It's harmless," said Tom, and briefly he explained how the big
+lantern worked.
+
+Koku was reassured now, and consented to enter the airship. He was
+rather tired from his run, and was glad to sit down.
+
+"Where to now; back home?" asked Ned, as they made ready to start.
+
+"No, I was thinking of going over to Mr. Damon's house. I'd like him
+to see my searchlight. And I want to find out if he's going with us
+on the trip to the border."
+
+"Of course he will!" predicted Ned. "He hasn't missed a trip with
+you in a long while. He'll go if his wife will let him," and both boys
+laughed, for Mr. Damon's wife was nearly always willing to let him
+do as he liked, though the odd man had an idea that she was
+violently opposed to his trips.
+
+Once more the Falcon went aloft, and again the searchlight played
+about. It brought out with startling distinctness the details of the
+towns and villages over which they passed, and distant landmarks
+were also made plainly visible.
+
+"We'll be there in a few minutes now," said Tom, as he flashed the
+light on a long slant toward the town of Waterford, where Mr. Damon
+lived.
+
+"I can see his house," spoke Ned a moment later. He changed the
+course of the craft, to bring it to a stop in the yard of the
+eccentric man, and, shortly afterward, they landed. Tom who had shut
+off the searchlight for a minute, turned it on again, and the house
+and grounds of Mr. Damon were enveloped in a wonderful glow.
+
+"That will bring him out," predicted Tom.
+
+A moment later they heard his voice.
+
+"Bless my astronomy!" cried Mr. Damon. "There's a meteor fallen in
+our yard. Come out, wife--everybody--call the servants. It's a
+chance of a lifetime to see one, and they're valuable, too! Bless my
+star dust! I must tell Tom Swift of this!"
+
+Out into the glare of the great searchlight ran Mr. Damon, followed
+by his wife and several of the servants.
+
+"There it is!" cried the odd man. "There's the meteor!"
+
+"First we're a comet and then we're a meteor," said Ned with a
+laugh.
+
+"Oh. I hope it doesn't bury itself in the earth before I can get Tom
+Swift here!" went on Mr. Damon, capering about. "Bless my telephone
+book. I must call him up right away!"
+
+"I'm here now, Mr. Damon!" shouted Tom, as he alighted from the
+airship. "That's my new searchlight you're looking at."
+
+"Bless my--" began Mr. Damon, but he couldn't think of nothing
+strong enough for a moment, until he blurted out "dynamite
+cartridge! Bless my dynamite cartridge! Tom Swift! His searchlight!
+Bless my nitro-glycerine!"
+
+Then Tom shut off the glare, and, as Mr. Damon and his wife came
+aboard he showed them how the light worked. He only used a part of
+the current, as he knew if he put on the full glare toward Mr.
+Damon's house, neighbors might think it was on fire.
+
+"Well, that's certainly wonderful," said Mrs. Damon. "In fact this
+is a wonderful ship."
+
+"Can't you take Mrs. Damon about, and show her how it works," said
+Mr. Damon suddenly. "Show her the ship."
+
+"I will," volunteered Tom.
+
+"No, let Ned," said the eccentric man. "I--er--I want to speak to
+you, Tom."
+
+Mrs. Damon, with a queer glance at her husband, accompanied Ned to
+the motor room. As soon as she was out of hearing the odd gentleman
+came over and whispered to the young inventor.
+
+"I say, Tom, what's up?"
+
+"Smugglers. You know. I told you about 'em. I'm going after 'em with
+my big searchlight."
+
+"Bless my card case! So you did. But, I say, Tom, I--I want to go!"
+
+"I supposed you would. Well, you're welcome, of course. We leave in
+a few days. It isn't a very long trip this time, but there may be
+plenty of excitement. Then I'll book you for a passage, and--"
+
+"Hush! Not another word! Here she comes, Tom. My wife! Don't breathe
+a syllable of it to her. She'll never let me go." Then, for the
+benefit of Mrs. Damon, who came back into the main cabin with Ned at
+that moment, her husband added in loud tones:
+
+"Yes, Tom it certainly is a wonderful invention. I congratulate
+you," and, at the same time he winked rapidly at our hero. Tom
+winked in return.
+
+"Well, I guess we'll start back," remarked Tom, after a bit. "I'll
+see you again, I suppose, Mr. Damon?"
+
+"Oh yes, of course. I'll be over--soon," and once more he winked as
+he whispered in Tom's ear: "Don't leave me behind, my boy."
+
+"I won't," whispered the young inventor in answer.
+
+Mrs. Damon smiled, and Tom wondered if she had discovered her
+husband's innocent secret.
+
+Tom and Ned, with Koku, made a quick trip back to Shopton, using the
+great searchlight part of the way. The next day they began
+preparations for the journey to the border.
+
+It did not take long to get ready. No great amount of stores or
+supplies need be taken along, as they would not be far from home,
+not more than a two days' journey at any time. And they would be
+near large cities, where food and gasolene could easily be obtained.
+
+About a week later, therefore, Mr. Whitford the government agent,
+having been communicated with in the meanwhile, Tom and Ned, with
+Koku and Mr. Damon were ready to start.
+
+"I wonder if Mr. Whitford is coming to see us off?" mused Tom, as he
+looked to see if everything was aboard, and made sure that the
+searchlight was well protected by its waterproof cover.
+
+"He said he'd be here," spoke Ned.
+
+"Well, it's past time now. I don't know whether to start, or to
+wait."
+
+"Wait a few minutes more," advised Ned. "His train may be a few
+minutes behind time."
+
+They waited half an hour, and Tom was on the point of starting when
+a messenger boy came hurrying into the yard where the great airship
+rested on its bicycle wheels.
+
+"A telegram for you, Tom," called the lad, who was well acquainted
+with our hero.
+
+Hastily the young inventor tore open the envelope.
+
+"Here's news!" he exclaimed,
+
+"What is it?" asked Ned.
+
+"It's from Mr. Whitford," answered his chum. "He says: 'Can't be
+with you at start. Will meet you in Logansville. Have new clew to
+the Fogers!'"
+
+"Great Scott!" cried Ned, staring at his chum.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+ANDY'S NEW AIRSHIP
+
+
+Tom Swift tossed a quarter to the messenger boy, and leaped over the
+rail to the deck of his airship, making his way toward the pilot
+house.
+
+"Start the motor, Ned," he called. "Are you all ready, Mr. Damon?"
+
+"Bless my ancient history, yes. But--"
+
+"Are you going, Tom?" asked Ned.
+
+"Of course. That's why we're here; isn't it? We're going to start
+for the border to catch the smugglers. Give me full speed, I want
+the motor to warm up."
+
+"But that message from Mr. Whitford? He says he has a new clew to
+the Fogers."
+
+"That's all right. He may have, but he doesn't ask us to work it up.
+He says he will meet us in Logansville, and he can't if we don't go
+there. We're off for Logansville. Good-bye dad. I'll bring you back
+a souvenir, Mrs. Baggert," he called to the housekeeper. "Sorry
+you're not coming, Rad, but I'll take you next time."
+
+"Dat's all right, Massa Tom. I doan't laik dem smugger-fellers,
+nohow. Good-bye an' good luck!"
+
+"Bless my grab bag!" gasped Mr. Damon. "You certainly do things,
+Tom."
+
+"That's the only way to get things done," replied the young
+inventor. "How about you, Ned? Motor all right?"
+
+"Sure."
+
+"Then let her go!"
+
+A moment later Ned had started the machinery, and Tom, in the pilot
+house, had pulled the lever of the elevating rudder. Whizzing along,
+but making scarcely any sound, the noiseless airship mounted upward,
+and was off on her flight to capture the men who were cheating Uncle
+Sam.
+
+"What are you going to do first, when you get there, Tom?" asked
+Ned, as he joined his chum in the pilot house, having set the motor
+and other apparatus to working automatically. "I mean in
+Logansville?"
+
+"I don't know. I'll have to wait and see how things develop."
+
+"That's where Mr. Foger lives, you know."
+
+"Yes, but I doubt if he is there now. He and Andy are probably still
+in the old house here, though what they are doing is beyond me to
+guess."
+
+"What do you suppose this new clew is that Mr. Whitford wired you
+about?"
+
+"Haven't any idea. If he wants us to get after it he'll let us know.
+It won't take us long to get there at this rate. But I think I'll
+slow down a bit, for the motor is warmed up now, and there's no use
+racking it to pieces. But we're moving nicely; aren't we, Ned?"
+
+"I should say so. This is the best all-around airship you've got."
+
+"It is since I put the new motor in. Well, I wonder what will happen
+when we get chasing around nights after the smugglers? It isn't
+going to be easy work, I can tell you."
+
+"I should say not. How you going to manage it?"
+
+"Well, I haven't just decided. I'm going to have a talk with the
+customs men, and then I'll go out night after night and cruise
+around at the most likely place where they'll rush goods across the
+border. As soon as I see the outlines of an airship in the darkness,
+or hear the throb of her motor, I'll take after her, and--"
+
+"Yes, and you can do it, too, Tom, for she can't hear you coming and
+you can flash the big light on her and the smugglers will think the
+end of the world has come. Cracky! Its going to be great, Tom! I'm
+glad I came along. Maybe they'll fight, and fire at us! If they have
+guns aboard, as they probably will have, we'll--"
+
+"Bless my armor plate!" interrupted Mr. Damon. "Please don't talk
+about such hair-raising things, Ned! Talk about something pleasant."
+
+"All right," agreed Tom's chum, and then, as the airship sailed
+along, high above the earth, they talked of many things.
+
+"I think when we sight Logansville." said Tom, after a while, "that
+I will come down in some quiet spot, before we reach the city."
+
+"Don't you want to get into a crowd?" asked Ned.
+
+"No, it isn't that. But Mr. Foger lives there you know, and, though
+he may not be at home, there are probably some men who are
+interested in the thing he is working at."
+
+"You mean smuggling?"
+
+"Well, I wouldn't say that. At the same time it may have leaked out
+that we are after the smugglers in an airship and it may be that Mr.
+Whitford doesn't want the Fogers to know I'm on the ground until he
+has a chance to work up his clew. So I'll just go slowly, and remain
+in the background for a while."
+
+"Well, maybe it's a good plan," agreed Tom.
+
+"Of course," began Tom, "it would be--"
+
+He was interrupted by a shout from Koku, who had gone to the motor
+room, for the giant was as fascinated over machinery as a child. As
+he yelled there came a grinding, pounding noise, and the big ship
+seemed to waver, to quiver in the void, and to settle toward the
+earth.
+
+"Something's happened!" cried Ned, as he sprang for the place where
+most of the mechanism was housed.
+
+"Bless my toy balloon!" shouted Mr. Damon. "We're falling, Tom!"
+
+It needed but a glance at the needle of the barograph, to show this.
+Tom followed Ned at top speed, but ere either of them reached the
+engine room the pounding and grinding noises ceased, the airship
+began to mount upward again, and it seemed that the danger had
+passed.
+
+"What can have happened?" gasped Tom.
+
+"Come on, we'll soon see," said Ned, and they rushed on, followed by
+Mr. Damon, who was blessing things in a whisper.
+
+The chums saw a moment later--saw a strange sight--for there was
+Koku, the giant, kneeling down on the floor of the motor room, with
+his big hands clasped over one of the braces of the bed-plate of the
+great air pump, which cooled the cylinders of the motor. The pump
+had torn partly away from its fastenings. Kneeling there, pressing
+down on the bed-plate with all his might, Koku was in grave danger,
+for the rod of the pump, plunging up and down, was within a fraction
+of an inch of his head, and, had he moved, the big taper pin, which
+held the plunger to the axle, would have struck his temple and
+probably would have killed him, for the pin, which held the plunger
+rigid, projected several inches from the smooth side of the rod.
+
+"Koku, what is the matter? Why are you there?" cried Tom, for he
+could see nothing wrong with the machinery now. The airship was
+sailing on as before.
+
+"Bolt break," explained the giant briefly, for he had learned some
+engineering terms since he had been with Tom. "Bolt that hold pump
+fast to floor crack off. Pump him begin to jump up. Make bad noise.
+Koku hold him down, but pretty hard work. Better put in new bolt,
+Mr. Tom."
+
+They could see the strain that was put upon the giant in his
+swelling veins and the muscles of his hands and arms, for they stood
+out knotted, and in bunches. With all his great strength it was all
+Koku could do to hold the pump from tearing completely loose.
+
+"Quick, Ned!" cried Tom. "Shut off all the power! Stop the pump!
+I've got to bolt it fast. Start the gas machine, Mr. Damon. You know
+how to do it. It works independent of the motor. You can let go in a
+minute, Koku!"
+
+It took but a few seconds to do all this. Ned stopped the main
+motor, which had the effect of causing the propellers to cease
+revolving. Then the airship would have gone down but for the fact
+that she was now a balloon, Mr. Damon having started the generating
+machine which sent the powerful lifting gas into the big bag over
+head.
+
+"Now you can let go, Koku," said Tom, for with the stooping of the
+motor the air pump ceased plunging, and there was no danger of it
+tearing loose.
+
+"Bless my court plaster!" cried Mr. Damon. "What happened, Tom?"
+
+As the giant arose from his kneeling position the cause of the
+accident could easily be seen. Two of the big belts that held down
+one end of the pump bed-plate to the floor of the airship, had
+cracked off, probably through some defect, or because of the long
+and constant vibration on them.
+
+This caused a great strain on the two forward bolts, and the pump
+starter! to tear itself loose. Had it done so there would have been
+a serious accident, for there would have been a tangle in the
+machinery that might never have been repairable. But Koku, who, it
+seems, had been watching the pump, saw the accident as soon as it
+occurred. He knew that the pump must be held down, and kept rigid,
+and he took the only way open to him to accomplish this.
+
+He pressed his big hands down over the place where the bolts had
+broken off, and by main strength of muscle he held the bed-plate in
+place until the power was shut off.
+
+"Koku, my boy, you did a great thing!" cried Tom, when he realized
+what had happened. "You saved all our lives, and the airship as
+well."
+
+"Koku glad," was the simple reply of the giant.
+
+"But, bless my witch hazel!" cried Mr. Damon. "There's blood on your
+hands, Koku!"
+
+They looked at the giant's palms. They were raw and bleeding.
+
+"How did it happen?" asked Ned.
+
+"Where belts break off, iron rough-like," explained Koku.
+
+"Rough! I should say it was!" cried Tom. "Why, he just pressed with
+all his might on the jagged end of the belts. Koku you're a hero!"
+
+"Hero same as giant?" asked Koku, curiously.
+
+"No, it's a heap sight better," spoke Tom, and there was a trace of
+tears in his eyes.
+
+"Bless my vaseline!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, blowing his nose harder
+than seemed necessary. "Come over here, Koku, and I'll bandage up
+your hands. Poor fellow, it must hurt a lot!"
+
+"Oh, not so bad," was the simple reply.
+
+While Mr. Damon gave first aid to the injured, Tom and Ned put new
+bolts in place of the broken ones on the bed-plate, and they tested
+them to see that they were perfect. New ones were also substituted
+for the two that had been strained, and in the course of an hour the
+repairs were made.
+
+"Now we can run as an aeroplane again," said Tom. "But I'm not going
+to try such speed again. It was the vibration that did it I guess."
+
+They were now over a wild and desolate stretch of country, for the
+region lying on either side of the imaginary line dividing Canada and
+New York State, at the point where the St. Lawrence flows north-east,
+is sparsely settled.
+
+There were stretches of forest that seemed never to have been
+penetrated, and here and there patches of stunted growth, with
+little lakes dotted through the wilderness. There were hills and
+valleys, small streams and an occasional village.
+
+"Just the place for smuggling," observed Tom, as he looked at a map,
+consulted a clock and figured out that they must be near
+Logansville. "We can go down here in one of these hollows,
+surrounded by this tangled forest, and no one would ever know we
+were here. The smugglers could do the same."
+
+"Are you going to try it?" asked Ned.
+
+"I think I will. We'll go up to quite a height now, and I'll see if
+I can pick out Logansville. That isn't much of a place I guess. When
+I sight it I'll select a good place to lay hidden for a day or two,
+until Mr. Whitford has had a chance to work up his clew."
+
+The airship machinery was now working well again, and Tom sent his
+craft up about three miles. From there, taking observations through
+a powerful telescope, he was able, after a little while, to pick out
+a small town. From its location and general outline he knew it to be
+Logansville.
+
+"We'll go down about three miles from it," he said to his chum.
+"They won't be likely to see us then, and we'll stay concealed for a
+while."
+
+This plan was put into operation, and, a little later the Falcon
+came to rest in a little grassy clearing, located in among a number
+of densely wooded hills. It was an ideal place to camp, though very
+lonesome.
+
+"Now, Ned, let's cut a lot of branches, and pile them over the
+airship," suggested Tom.
+
+"Cover over the airship? What for?"
+
+"So that in case anyone flies over our heads they won't look down
+and see us. If the Fogers, or any of the smugglers, should happen to
+pass over this place, they'd spot us in a minute. We've got to play
+foxy on this hunt."
+
+"That's so," agreed his chum; and soon the three of them were busy
+making the airship look like a tangled mass of underbrush. Koku
+helped by dragging big branches along under his arm, but he could
+not use his hands very well.
+
+They remained in the little grassy glade three days, thoroughly
+enjoying their camp and the rest. Tom and Ned went fishing in a
+nearby lake and had some good luck. They also caught trout in a
+small stream and broiled the speckled beauties with bacon inside
+them over live coals at a campfire.
+
+"My! But that's good!" mumbled Ned, with his mouth full of hot
+trout, and bread and butter.
+
+"Yes, I'd rather do this than chase smugglers," said Tom, stretching
+out on his back with his face to the sky. "I wish--"
+
+But he did not finish the sentence. Suddenly from the air above them
+came a curious whirring, throbbing noise. Tom sat up with a jump! He
+and Ned gazed toward the zenith. The noise increased and, a moment
+later, there came into view a big airship, sailing right over their
+heads.
+
+"Look at that!" cried Tom.
+
+"Hush! They'll hear you," cautioned Ned.
+
+"Nonsense! They're too high up," was Tom's reply. "Mr. Damon, bring
+me the big binoculars, please!" he called.
+
+"Bless my spectacles, what's up?" asked the odd gentleman as he ran
+with the glasses toward Tom.
+
+Our hero focused them on the airship that was swiftly sailing across
+the open space in the wilderness but so high up that there was no
+danger of our friends being recognized. Then the young inventor
+uttered a cry of astonishment.
+
+"It's Andy Foger!" he cried. "He's in that airship, and he's got two
+men with him. Andy Foger, and it's a new biplane. Say, maybe that's
+the new clew Mr. Whitford wired me about. We must get ready for
+action! Andy in a new airship means business, and from the whiteness
+of the canvas planes, I should say that craft was on its first
+trip."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+WARNED AWAY
+
+
+"Tom, are you sure it's Andy?"
+
+"Take a look yourself," replied the young inventor, passing his chum
+the binoculars.
+
+"Bless my bottle of ink!" cried Mr. Damon. "Is it possible?"
+
+"Quick, Ned, or you'll miss him!" cried Tom.
+
+The young bank clerk focused the glasses on the rapidly moving
+airship, and, a moment later, exclaimed:
+
+"Yes, that's Andy all right, but I don't know who the men are with
+him."
+
+"I couldn't recognize them, either," announced Tom. "But say, Ned,
+Andy's got a good deal better airship than he had before."
+
+"Yes. This isn't his old one fixed over. I don't believe he ever
+intended to repair the old one. That hiring of Mr. Dillon to do
+that, was only to throw him, and us, too, off the track."
+
+Ned passed the glasses to Mr. Damon, who was just in time to get a
+glimpse of the three occupants of Andy's craft before it passed out
+of sight over the trees.
+
+"I believe you're right," said Tom to his chum. "And did you notice
+that there's quite a body, or car, to that craft?"
+
+"Yes. room enough to carry considerable goods," commented Ned. "I
+wonder where he's going in it?"
+
+"To Logansville, most likely. I tell you what it is, Ned. I think one
+of us will have to go there, and see if Mr. Whitford has arrived. He
+may be looking for us. I'm not sure but what we ought not to have
+done this first. He may think we have not come, or have met with
+some accident,"
+
+"I guess you're right, Tom. But how shall we go? It isn't going to
+be any fun to tramp through those woods," and Ned glanced at the
+wilderness that surrounded the little glade where they had been
+camping.
+
+"No, and I've about concluded that we might as well risk it, and go
+in the airship. Mr. Whitford has had time enough to work up his
+clew, I guess, and Andy will be sure to find out, sooner or later,
+that we are in the neighborhood. I say let's start for Logansville."
+
+Ned and Mr. Damon agreed with this and soon they were prepared to
+move.
+
+"Where will you find Mr. Whitford?" asked Ned of his chum, as the
+Falcon arose in the air.
+
+"At the post-office. That's where we arranged to meet. There is a
+sort of local custom house there, I believe."
+
+Straight over the forest flew Tom Swift and his airship, with the
+great searchlight housed on top. They delayed their start until the
+other craft had had a chance to get well ahead, and they were well
+up in the air; there was no sight of the biplane in which Andy had
+sailed over their heads a short time before.
+
+"Where are you going to land?" asked Ned, as they came in view of
+the town.
+
+"The best place I can pick out," answered Tom. "Just on the
+outskirts of the place, I think. I don't want to go down right in
+the centre, as there'll be such a crowd. Yet if Andy has been using
+his airship here the people must be more or less used to seeing
+them."
+
+But if the populace of Logansville had been in the habit of having
+Andy Foger sail over their heads, still they were enough interested
+in a new craft to crowd around when Tom dropped into a field near
+some outlying houses. In a moment the airship was surrounded by a
+crowd of women and children, and there would probably been a lot of
+men, but for the fact that they were away at work. Tom had come down
+in a residential section.
+
+"Say, that's a beauty!" cried one boy.
+
+"Let's see if they'll let us go on!" proposed another.
+
+"We're going to have our own troubles," said Tom to his chum. "I
+guess I'll go into town, and leave the rest of you on guard here.
+Keep everybody off, if you have to string mildly charged electrical
+wires about the rail."
+
+But there was no need to take this precaution, for, just as the
+combined juvenile population of that part of Logansville was
+prepared to storm, and board the Falcon, Koku appeared on deck.
+
+"Oh, look at the giant!"
+
+"Say, this is a circus airship?"
+
+"Wow! Ain't he big!"
+
+"I'll bet he could lift a house!"
+
+These and other expressions came from the boys and girls about the
+airship. The women looked on open-mouthed, and murmurs of surprise
+and admiration at Koku's size came from a number of men who had
+hastily run up.
+
+Koku stepped from the airship to the ground, and at once every boy
+and girl made a bee-line for safety.
+
+"That will do the trick!" exclaimed Tom with a laugh. "Koku, just
+pull up a few trees, and look as fierce as Bluebeard, and I guess we
+won't be troubled with curiosity seekers. You can guard the airship,
+Koku, better than electric wires."
+
+"I fix 'em!" exclaimed the giant, and he tried to look fierce, but
+it was hard work, for he was very good natured. But he proved a
+greater attraction than the aircraft, and Tom was glad of it, for he
+did not like meddlers aboard.
+
+"With Koku to help you, and Mr. Damon to bless things. I guess you
+can manage until I come back, Ned," said the young inventor, as he
+made ready to go in to town to see if Mr. Whitford had arrived.
+
+"Oh, we'll get along all right," declared Ned. "Don't worry."
+
+Tom found Mr. Whitford in one of the rooms over the post-office. The
+custom house official was restlessly pacing the floor.
+
+"Well, Tom!" he exclaimed, shaking hands, "I'm glad to see you. I
+was afraid something had happened. I was delayed myself, but when I
+did arrive and found you hadn't been heard from, I didn't know what
+to think. I couldn't get you on the wireless. The plant here is out
+of repair."
+
+Tom told of their trip, and the wait they had decided on, and asked:
+
+"What about the new clew; the Fogers?"
+
+"I'm sorry to say it didn't amount to anything. I ran it down, and
+came to nothing."
+
+"You know Andy has a new airship?"
+
+"Yes. I had men on the trail of it. They say Andy is agent for a
+firm that manufactures them, but I have my doubts. I haven't given
+up yet. But say, Tom, you've got to get busy. A big lot of goods was
+smuggled over last night."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"Well, quite a way from here. I got a telegram about it. Can you get
+on the job to-night, and do some patrol work along the border?
+You're only half a mile from it now. Over there is Canada," and he
+pointed to a town on a hill opposite Logansville.
+
+"Yes, I can get right into action. What place is that?"
+
+"Montford, Canada. I've got men planted there, and the Dominion
+customs officials are helping us. But I think the smugglers have
+changed the base of their operations for the time being. If I were
+you I'd head for the St. Lawrence to-night."
+
+"I will. Don't you want to come along?"
+
+"Why, yes. I believe I'm game. I'll join you later in the day," Mr.
+Whitford added, as Tom told him where the Falcon was anchored.
+
+The young inventor got back to find a bigger crowd than ever around
+his airship. But Koku and the others had kept them at a distance.
+
+With the government agent aboard Tom sent his craft into the air at
+dusk, the crowd cheering lustily. Then, with her nose pointed toward
+the St. Lawrence, the Falcon was on her way to do a night patrol,
+and, if possible, detect the smugglers.
+
+It was monotonous work, and unprofitable, for, though Tom sent the
+airship back and forth for many miles along the wonderful river that
+formed the path from the Great Lakes to the sea, he had no glimpse
+of ghostly wings of other aircraft, nor did he hear the beat of
+propellers, nor the throb of motors, as his own noiseless airship
+cruised along.
+
+It came on to rain after midnight, and a mist crept down from the
+clouds, so that even with the great searchlight flashing its
+powerful beams, it was difficult to see for any great distance.
+
+"Better give it up, I guess," suggested Mr. Whitford toward morning,
+when they had covered many miles, and had turned back toward
+Logansville.
+
+"All right," agreed Tom. "But we'll try it again to-morrow night."
+
+He dropped his craft at the anchorage he had selected in the gray
+dawn of the morning. All on board were tired and sleepy. Ned,
+looking from a window of the cabin, as the Falcon came to a stop,
+saw something white on the ground.
+
+"I wonder what that is?" he said as he hurried out to pick it up. It
+was a large white envelope, addressed to Tom Swift, and the name was
+in printed characters.
+
+"Somebody who wants to disguise their writing," remarked Tom, as he
+tore it open. A look of surprise came over his face.
+
+"Look here! Mr. Whitford," he cried. "This is the work of the
+smugglers all right!"
+
+For, staring at Tom, in big printed letters, on a white sheet of
+paper, was this message:
+
+"If you know what is good for you, Tom Swift, you had better clear
+out. If you don't your airship will burned, and you may get hurt.
+We'll burn you in mid-air. Beware and quit. You can't catch us."
+
+"THE COMMITTEE OF THREE."
+
+"Ha! Warned away!" cried Tom. "Well, it will take more than this to
+make me give up!" and he crumpled the anonymous warning in his hand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+KOKU SAVES THE LIGHT
+
+
+"Don't do that!" cried Mr. Whitford.
+
+"What?" asked Tom, in some surprise.
+
+"Don't destroy that letter. It may give us a clew. Let me have it.
+I'll put a man at work on that end of this game."
+
+"Bless my checkerboard!" cried Mr. Damon. "This game has so many
+ends that you don't know where to begin to play it."
+
+The government man smoothed out the crumpled piece of paper, and
+looked at it carefully, and also gazed at the envelope.
+
+"It's pretty hard to identify plain print, done with a lead pencil,"
+he murmured. "And this didn't came through the mail."
+
+"I wonder how it got here?" mused Ned. "Maybe some of the crowd that
+was here when we started off dropped it for the smugglers. Maybe the
+smugglers were in that crowd!"
+
+"Let's take a look outside," suggested Mr. Whitford. "We may be able
+to pick up a clew there."
+
+Although our friends were tired and sleepy, and hungry as well, they
+forgot all this in the desire to learn more about the mysterious
+warning that had come to them during the night. They all went
+outside, and Ned pointed to where he had picked up the envelope.
+
+"Look all around, and see if you can find anything more," directed
+the custom agent.
+
+"Footprints won't count," said Tom. "There was a regular circus
+crowd out here yesterday."
+
+"I'm not looking for footprints," replied Mr. Whitford, "I have an
+idea--"
+
+"Here's something!" interrupted Mr. Damon. "It looks like a lead
+weight for a deep-sea fishing line. Bless my reel. No one could do
+fishing here."
+
+"Let me see that!" exclaimed Mr. Whitford eagerly. Then, as he
+looked at it, he uttered a cry of delight. "I thought so," he said.
+"Look at this bit of cord tied to the weight."
+
+"What does that signify?" asked Tom.
+
+"And see this little hole in the envelope, or, rather a place that
+was a hole, but it's torn away now."
+
+"I'm not much the wiser," confessed Ned, with a puzzled look.
+
+"Why, it's as plain as print," declared the government agent. "This
+warning letter was dropped from an airship, Tom."
+
+"From an airship?"
+
+"Yes. They sailed right over this place, and let the letter fall,
+with this lead weight attached, to bring it to earth just where they
+wanted it to fall."
+
+"Bless my postage stamp!" cried Mr. Damon. "I never heard of such a
+thing."
+
+"I see it now!" exclaimed Tom. "While we were off over the river,
+watching for the smugglers, they were turning a trick here, and
+giving us a warning into the bargain. We should have stayed around
+here. I wonder if it was Andy's airship that was used?"
+
+"We can easily find that out," said Mr. Whitford. "I have a
+detective stationed in a house not far from where the Fogers live.
+Andy came back from Shopton yesterday, just before you arrived here,
+and I can soon let you know whether he was out last night. I'll take
+this letter with me, and get right up to my office, though I'm
+afraid this won't be much of a clew after all. Print isn't like
+handwriting for evidence."
+
+"And to think they sailed right over this place, and we weren't
+home," mourned Tom. "It makes me mad!"
+
+But there was no use in regretting what had happened, and, after a
+hot breakfast in the airship, with Mr. Damon presiding at the
+electrical stove, they all felt more hopeful. Mr. Whitford left for
+his office, promising to send word to Tom as to whether or not Andy
+was abroad in the airship during the night.
+
+"I wonder if that 'Committee of Three' is Andy and these two fellows
+with him in the airship?" asked Ned.
+
+"Hard telling," responded his chum. "Now for a good sleep. Koku,
+keep the crowd away while we have a rest," for the giant had
+indulged in a good rest while the airship was on patrol during the
+night.
+
+Not so much of a crowd came out as on the first day, and Koku had
+little trouble in keeping them far enough away so that Tom and the
+others could get some rest. Koku walked about, brandishing a big
+club, and looking as fierce as a giant in a fairy tale.  It was
+afternoon when a message came from Mr. Whitford to the effect that
+Andy's airship was not out the previous night, and that so far no
+clews had developed from the letter, or from any other source.
+
+"We'll just have to keep our eyes open," wrote Mr. Whitford. "I
+think perhaps we are altogether wrong about the Fogers, unless they
+are deeper than I give them credit for. It might he well to let the
+smugglers think you are frightened, and go away for a day or so,
+selecting a more secluded spot to remain in. That may cause them to
+get bolder, and we may catch them unawares."
+
+"That's a good plan. I'll try it," decided Tom. "We'll move to-morrow
+to a new location."
+
+"Why not to-night?" asked Ned.
+
+"Because it's getting late, and I want to circle about in daylight
+and pick out a good place. Morning will do all right."
+
+"Then you're not going out to-night?"
+
+"No. Mr. Whitford writes that as goods were smuggled over last night
+it will hardly be likely that they will repeat the trick to-night.
+We'll have a little rest."
+
+"Going to mount guard?" asked Ned.
+
+"No, I don't think so. No one will disturb us."
+
+Afterward the young inventor wished that he had kept a better watch
+that night, for it nearly proved disastrous for him.
+
+It must have been about midnight that Tom was awakened by a movement
+in the airship.
+
+"Who's that?" he asked suddenly.
+
+"Koku," came the reassuring reply. "Too hot to sleep in my bank. I
+go out on deck."
+
+"All right, Koku," and Tom dozed off again.
+
+Suddenly he was awakened by the sound of a terrific scuffle on deck.
+Up he jumped, rushing toward the door that led from his sleeping
+cabin.
+
+"What is it! What's the matter!" he cried.
+
+There came the sound of a blow, a cry of pain, and then the report
+of a gun.
+
+"Bless my cartridge belt!" cried Mr. Damon.
+
+"What's the matter? Who is it? What happened?" yelled Ned, tumbling
+out of his bunk.
+
+"Something wrong!" answered Tom, as he switched on the electric
+lights. He was just in time to see Koku wrench a gun from a man who
+stood near the pedestal, on which the great searchlight was poised.
+Tossing the weapon aside, Koku caught up his club, and aimed a blow
+at the man. But the latter nimbly dodged and, a moment later leaped
+over the rail, followed by the giant.
+
+"Who is he? What did he do?" cried Tom after his big servant. "What
+happened?"
+
+"Him try to shoot searchlight, but I stop him!" yelled back Koku, as
+he rushed on in pursuit. With a leap Tom sprang to the switch of his
+lantern, and sent a flood of light toward where Koku was racing
+after the intruder.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+A FALSE CLEW
+
+
+Full in the glare of the powerful beam from the light there was
+revealed the giant and the man he was pursuing. The latter neither
+Tom, nor any one on the airship, knew. All they could see was that
+he was racing away at top speed, with Koku vainly swinging his club
+at him.
+
+"Bless my chicken soup!" cried Mr. Damon. "Is anything damaged,
+Tom?"
+
+"No, Koku was too quick for him." yelled the youth, as he, too
+leaped over the rail and joined in the pursuit.
+
+"Stop! Stop!" called Koku to the man who had sought to damage the
+great searchlight. But the fellow knew better than to halt, with an
+angry giant so close behind him. He ran on faster than ever.
+
+Suddenly the stranger seemed to realize that by keeping in the path
+of the light he gave his pursuers a great advantage. He dodged to
+one side, off the path on which he had been running, and plunged
+into the bushes.
+
+"Where him go?" called Koku, coming to a puzzled halt.
+
+"Ned, play the light on both sides!" ordered Tom to his chum, who
+was now on the deck of the airship, near the wheels and levers that
+operated the big lantern. "Show him up!"
+
+Obediently the young bank clerk swung the searchlight from side to
+side. The powerful combined electric current, hissing into the big
+carbons, and being reflected by the parabolic mirrors, made the
+growth of underbrush as brightly illuminated as in day time. Tom
+detected a movement.
+
+"There he is, Koku!" he called to his giant servant. "Off there to
+the left. After him!"
+
+Raising his club on high, Koku made a leap for the place where the
+fugitive was hiding. As the man saw the light, and sprang forward,
+he was, for a moment, in the full glare of the rays. Then, just as
+the giant was about to reach him, Koku stumbled over a tree root,
+and fell heavily.
+
+"Never mind, I'll get him!" yelled Tom, but the next moment the man
+vanished suddenly, and was no longer to be seen in the finger of
+light from the lantern. He had probably dipped down into some
+hollow, lying there hidden, and as of course was out of the focus of
+the searchlight.
+
+"Come on, Koku, we'll find him!" exclaimed Tom, and together they
+made a search, Mr. Damon joining them, while Ned worked the lantern.
+But it was of no avail, for they did not find the stranger.
+
+"Well, we might as well go back," said Tom, at length. "We can't
+find him. He's probably far enough off by this time."
+
+"Who was he?" panted Mr. Damon, as he walked beside Tom and Koku to
+the airship. Ned had switched off the big light on a signal from the
+young inventor.
+
+"I don't know!" answered Tom.
+
+"But what did he want? What was he doing? I don't quite understand."
+
+"He wanted to put my searchlight out of commission," responded our
+hero. "From that I should argue that he was either one of the
+smugglers, or trying to aid them."
+
+And this theory was borne out by Mr. Whitford, who, on calling the
+next morning, was told of the occurrence of the night. Koku related
+how he had found it uncomfortable in his bunk, and had gone out on
+deck for air. There, half dozing, he heard a stealthy step. At once
+he was on the alert. He saw a man with a gun creeping along, and at
+first thought the fellow had evil designs on some of those aboard
+the Falcon.
+
+Then, when Koku saw the man aim at the big searchlight the giant
+sprang at him, and there was a scuffle. The gun went off, and the
+man escaped. An examination of the weapon he had left behind showed
+that it carried a highly explosive shell, which, had it hit the
+lantern, would have completely destroyed it, and might have damaged
+the airship.
+
+"It was the smugglers, without a doubt," declared Mr. Whitford. "You
+can't get away from this place any too soon, Tom. Get a new hiding
+spot, and I will communicate with you there."
+
+"But they are on the watch," objected Ned. "They'll see where we go,
+and follow us. The next time they may succeed in smashing the
+lantern."
+
+"And if they do," spoke Tom, "it will be all up with trying to
+detect the smugglers, for it would take me quite a while to make
+another searchlight. But I have a plan."
+
+"What is it?" asked the government agent.
+
+"I'll make a flight to-day," went on the young inventor, "and sail
+over quite an area. I'll pick out a good place to land, and we'll
+make our camp there instead of here. Then I'll come back to this
+spot, and after dark I'll go up, without a light showing. There's no
+moon to-night, and they'll have pretty good eyes if they can follow
+me, unless they get a searchlight, and they won't do that for fear
+of giving themselves away.
+
+We'll sail off in the darkness, go to the spot we have previously
+picked out, and drop down to it. There we can hide and I don't
+believe they can trace us."
+
+"But how can you find in the darkness, the spot you pick out in
+daylight?" Mr. Whitford wanted to know.
+
+"I'll arrange same electric lights, in a certain formation in trees
+around the landing place," said Tom. "I'll fix them with a clockwork
+switch, that will illuminate them at a certain hour, and they'll run
+by a storage battery. In that way I'll have my landing place all
+marked out, and, as it can only be seen from above, if any of the
+smugglers are on the ground, they won't notice the incandescents."
+
+"But if they are in their airship they will," said Mr. Damon.
+
+"Of course that's possible," admitted Tom, "but, even if they see
+the lights I don't believe they will know what they mean. And,
+another thing, I don't imagine they'll come around here in their
+airship when they know that we're in the neighborhood, and when the
+spy who endeavored to damage my lantern reports that he didn't
+succeed. They'll know that we are likely to be after them any
+minute."
+
+"That's so," agreed Ned. "I guess that's a good plan."
+
+It was one they adopted, and, soon after Mr. Whitford's visit the
+airship arose, with him on board, and Tom sent her about in great
+circles and sweeps, now on high and again, barely skimming over the
+treetops. During this time a lookout was kept for any other
+aircraft, but none was seen.
+
+"If they are spying on us, which is probably the case," said Tom,
+"they will wonder what we're up to. I'll keep 'em guessing. I think
+I'll fly low over Mr. Foger's house, and see if Andy has his airship
+there. We'll give him a salute."
+
+Before doing this, however, Tom had picked out a good landing place
+in a clearing in the woods, and had arranged some incandescent
+lights on high branches of trees. The lights enclosed a square, in
+the centre of which the Falcon was to drop down.
+
+Of course it was necessary to descend to do this, to arrange the
+storage battery and the clock switch. Then, so as to throw their
+enemies off their track, they made landings in several other places,
+though they did nothing, merely staying there as a sort of "bluff"
+as Ned called it.
+
+"They'll have their own troubles if they investigate every place we
+stopped at," remarked Tom, "and, even if they do hit on the one we
+have selected for our camp they won't see the lights in the trees,
+for they're well hidden."
+
+This work done, they flew back toward Logansville, and sailed over
+Andy's house.
+
+"There he is, on the roof, working at his airship!" exclaimed Ned,
+as they came within viewing distance, and, surely enough, there was
+the bully, tinkering away at his craft. Tom flew low enough down to
+speak to him, and, as the Falcon produced no noise, it was not
+difficult to make their voices heard.
+
+"Hello, Andy!" called Tom, as he swept slowly overhead.
+
+Andy looked up, but only scowled.
+
+"Nice day; isn't it?" put in Ned.
+
+"You get on away from here!" burst out the bully. "You are
+trespassing, by flying over my house, and I could have you arrested
+for it. Keep away."
+
+"All right," agreed Tom with a laugh. "Don't trespass by flying over
+our ship, Andy. We also might have a gun to shoot searchlights
+with," he added.
+
+Andy started, but did not reply, though Tom, who was watching him
+closely, thought he saw an expression of fear come over the bully's
+face.
+
+"Do you think it was Andy who did the shooting?" asked Ned.
+
+"No, he hasn't the nerve," replied Tom. "I don't know what to think
+about that affair last night."
+
+"Excepting that the smugglers are getting afraid of you, and want to
+get you out of the way," put in the custom official.
+
+That night, when it was very dark, the Falcon noiselessly made her
+way upward and sailed along until she was over the square in the
+forest, marked out by the four lights. Then Tom sent her safely
+down.
+
+"Now let 'em find us if they can!" the young inventor exclaimed, as he
+made the craft fast. "We'll turn in now, and see what happens
+to-morrow night."
+
+"I'll send you word, just as soon as I get any myself," promised Mr.
+Whitford, when he left the next morning.
+
+Tom and Ned spent the day in going over the airship, making some
+minor repairs to it, and polishing and oiling the mechanism of the
+searchlight, to have it in the best possible condition.
+
+It was about dusk when the wireless outfit, with which the Falcon
+was fitted, began snapping and cracking.
+
+"Here comes a message!" cried Tom, as he clapped the receiver over
+his head, and began to translate the dots and dashes.
+
+"It's from Mr. Whitford!" he exclaimed, when he had written it down,
+and had sent back an answer, "He says: 'Have a tip that smugglers
+will try to get goods over the border at some point near Niagara
+Falls to-morrow night. Can you go there, and cruise about? Better
+keep toward Lake Ontario also. I will be with you. Answer.'"
+
+"What answer did you send?" asked Ned.
+
+"I told him we'd be on the job. It's quite a little run to make, and
+we can't start until after dark, or otherwise some of the smugglers
+around here may see us, and tip off their confederates. But I guess
+we can make the distance all right."
+
+Mr. Whitford arrived at the airship the next afternoon, stating that
+he had news from one of the government spies to the effect that a
+bold attempt would be made that night.
+
+"They're going to try and smuggle some diamonds over on this trip,"
+said the custom agent.
+
+"Well, we'll try to nab them!" exclaimed Tom.
+
+As soon as it was dark enough to conceal her movements, the Falcon
+was sent aloft, not a light showing, and, when on high, Tom started
+the motor at full speed. The great propellers noiselessly beat the
+air, and the powerful craft was headed for Lake Ontario.
+
+"They're pretty good, if they attempted to cross the lake to-night,"
+observed the young inventor, as he looked at the barometer.
+
+"Why so?" asked Ned.
+
+"Because there's a bad storm coming up. I shouldn't want to risk it.
+We'll keep near shore. We can nab them there as good as over the
+lake."
+
+This plan was adopted, and as soon as they reached the great body of
+water--the last in the chain of the Great Lakes--Tom cruised about,
+he and Ned watching through powerful night glasses for a glimpse of
+another airship.
+
+Far into the night they sailed about, covering many miles, for Tom ran
+at almost top speed. They sailed over Niagara Falls, and then well
+along the southern shore of Ontario, working their way north-east and
+back again. But not a sign of the smugglers did they see.
+
+Meanwhile the wind had arisen until it was a gale, and it began to
+rain. Gently at first the drops came down, until at length there was
+a torrent of water descending from the overhead clouds. But those in
+the Falcon were in no discomfort.
+
+"It's a bad storm all right!" exclaimed Tom, as he looked at the
+barometer, and noted that the mercury was still falling.
+
+"Yes, and we have had our trouble for our pains!" declared Mr.
+Whitford.
+
+"What do you mean?"
+
+"I mean I believe that we have been deceived by a false clew. The
+smugglers probably had no intention of getting goods across at this
+point to-night. They saw to it that my agent got false information,
+believing that we would follow it, and leave the vicinity of
+Logansville."
+
+"So they could operate there?" asked Tom.
+
+"That's it," replied the agent. "They drew us off the scent. There's
+no help for it. We must get back as soon as we can. My! This is a
+bad storm!" he added, as a blast careened the airship.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE RESCUE ON THE LAKE
+
+
+For a time the Falcon shot onward through the storm and darkness,
+for Tom did not want to give up. With but a single shaded light in
+the pilot house, so that he could see to read the gauges and dials,
+telling of the condition of the machinery in the motor room, he
+pushed his stanch craft ahead. At times she would be forced downward
+toward the angry waters of Lake Ontario, over which she was sailing,
+but the speed of her propellers and the buoyancy of the gas bag,
+would soon lift her again.
+
+"How much longer are you going to stay?" called Ned in his chum's
+ear--called loudly, not to be heard above the noise of the airship,
+but above the racket of the gale.
+
+"Oh, I guess we may as well start back," spoke Tom, after a look at
+the clock on the wall. "We can just about make our camp by daylight,
+and they won't see us."
+
+"It won't be light very early," observed Mr. Whitford, looking in
+the pilot house from the cabin, just aft of it. "But there is no use
+waiting around here any more, Tom. They gave us a false clew, all
+right."
+
+"Bless my police badge!" cried Mr. Damon. "They must be getting
+desperate."
+
+"I believe they are," went on the custom officer. "They are afraid
+of us, and that's a good sign. We'll keep right after 'em, too. If
+we don't get 'em this week, we will next. Better put back."
+
+"I will," decided the young inventor.
+
+"It certainly is a gale," declared Ned, as he made his way along a
+dim passage, as few lights had been set aglow, for fear of the
+smugglers seeing the craft outlined in the air. Now, however, when
+it was almost certain that they were on the wrong scent, Tom
+switched on the incandescents, making the interior of the Falcon
+more pleasant.
+
+The giant came into the pilot house to help Tom, and the airship was
+turned about, and headed toward Logansville. The wind was now
+sweeping from the north across Lake Ontario, and it was all the
+powerful craft could do to make headway against it.
+
+There came a terrific blast, which, in spite of all that Tom and
+Koku could do, forced the Falcon down, dangerously close to the
+dashing billows.
+
+"Hard over, Koku!" called Tom to his giant.
+
+As the airship began to respond to the power of her propellers, and
+the up-tilted rudder, Tom heard, from somewhere below him, a series
+of shrill blasts on a whistle.
+
+"What's that?" he cried.
+
+"Sounds like a boat below us," answered Mr. Whitford.
+
+"I guess it is," agreed the young inventor. "There she goes again."
+
+Once more came the frantic tooting of a whistle, and mingled with it
+could be heard voices shouting in fear, but it was only a confused
+murmur of sound. No words could be made out.
+
+"That's a compressed air whistle!" decided Tom. "It must be some
+sort of a motor boat in distress. Quick, Mr. Whitford! Tell Ned to
+switch on the searchlight, and play it right down on the lake. If
+there's a boat in this storm it can't last long. Even an ocean liner
+would have trouble. Get the light on quick, and we'll see what we
+can do!"
+
+It was the work of but an instant to convey the message to Ned. The
+latter called Mr. Damon to relieve him in the motor room, and, a few
+seconds later, Ned had switched on the electricity. By means of the
+lazy-tongs, and the toggle joints, the bank clerk lifted the lantern
+over until the powerful beam from it was projected straight down
+into the seething waters of the lake.
+
+"Do you see anything?" asked Mr. Damon from the motor room, at one
+side of which Ned stood to operate the lantern.
+
+"Nothing but white-caps," was the answer. "It's a fearful storm."
+
+Once more came the series of shrill whistles, and the confused
+calling of voices. Ned opened a window, in order to hear more
+plainly. As the whistle tooted again he could locate the sound, and,
+by swinging the rays of the searchlight to and fro he finally picked
+up the craft.
+
+"There she is!" he cried, peering down through the plate glass
+window in the floor of the motor room. "It's a small gasolene boat,
+and there are several men in her! She's having a hard time."
+
+"Can we rescue them?" asked Mr. Damon.
+
+"If anybody can, Tom Swift will," was Ned's reply. Then came a
+whistle from the speaking tube, that led to the pilot house.
+
+"What is it?" asked Ned, putting the tube to his ear.
+
+"Stand by for a rescue!" ordered Tom, who had also, through a window
+in the floor of the pilot house, seen the hapless motor boat. The
+men in it were frantically waving their hands to those on the
+airship. "I'm going down as close as I dare," went on Tom. "You
+watch, and when it's time, have Koku drop from the stern a long,
+knotted rope. That will he a sort of ladder, and they can make it
+fast to their boat and climb up, hand over hand. It's the only
+plan."
+
+"Good!" cried Ned. "Send Koku to me. Can you manage alone in the
+pilot house?"
+
+"Yes," came back the answer through the tube.
+
+Koku came back on the run, and was soon tying knots in a strong
+rope. Meanwhile Ned kept the light on the tossing boat, while Tom,
+through a megaphone had called to the men to stand by to be rescued.
+The whistle frantically tooted their thanks.
+
+Koku went out on the after deck, and, having made the knotted rope
+fast, dropped the end overboard. Then began a difficult feature of
+airship steering. Tom, looking down through the glass, watched the
+boat in the glare of the light. Now coming forward, now reversing
+against the rush of the wind; now going up, and now down, the young
+inventor so directed the course of his airship so that, finally, the
+rope dragged squarely across the tossing boat.
+
+In a trice the men grabbed it, and made it fast. Then Tom had
+another difficult task--that of not allowing the rope to become
+taut, or the drag of the boat, and the uplift of the airship might
+have snapped it in twain. But he handled his delicate craft of the
+air as confidently as the captain of a big liner brings her
+skillfully to the deck against wind and tide.
+
+"Climb up! Climb up!" yelled Tom, through the megaphone, and he saw,
+not a man, but a woman, ascending the knotted rope, hand over hand,
+toward the airship that hovered above her head.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+KOKU'S PRISONER
+
+
+"Bless my knitting needles!" cried Mr. Damon, as be looked down, and
+saw, in the glare of the great light, the figure of the woman
+clinging to the swaying rope. "Help her, someone! Tom! Ned! She'll
+fall!"
+
+The eccentric man started to rush from the motor room, where he had
+been helping Ned. But the latter cried:
+
+"Stay where you are, Mr. Damon. No one can reach her now without
+danger to himself and her. She can climb up, I think."
+
+Past knot after knot the woman passed, mounting steadily upward,
+with a strength that seemed remarkable.
+
+"Come on!" cried Tom to the others. "Don't wait until she gets up.
+There isn't time. Come on--the rope will hold you all! Climb up!"
+
+The men in the tossing and bobbing motor boat heard, and at once
+began, one after the other, to clamber up the rope. There were five
+of them, as could be seen in the glare of the light, and Tom, as he
+watched, wondered what they were doing out in the terrific storm at
+that early hour of the morning, and with a lone woman.
+
+"Stand by to help her, Koku!" called Ned to the giant.
+
+"I help," was the giant's simple reply, and as the woman's head came
+above the rail, over which the rope ran, Koku, leaning forward,
+raised her in his powerful arms, and set her carefully on the deck.
+
+"Come into the cabin, please," Ned called to her. "Come in out of
+the wet."
+
+"Oh, it seems a miracle that we are saved!" the woman gasped, as,
+rain-drenched and wind-tossed, she staggered toward the door which
+Tom had opened by means of a lever in the pilot house. The young
+inventor had his hands full, manipulating the airship so as to keep
+it above the motor boat, and not bring too great a strain on the
+rope.
+
+The woman passed into the cabin, which was between the motor room
+and the pilot house, and Ned saw her throw herself on her knees, and
+offer up a fervent prayer of thanksgiving. Then, springing to her
+feet, she cried:
+
+"My husband? Is he safe? Can you save him? Oh, how wonderful that
+this airship came in answer to our appeals to Providence. Whose is
+it?"
+
+Before Ned got a chance to answer her, as she came to the door of
+the motor room, a man's voice called:
+
+"My wife! Is she safe?"
+
+"Yes, here I am," replied the woman, and a moment later the two were
+in each other's arms.
+
+"The others; are they safe?" gasped the woman, after a pause.
+
+"Yes," replied the man. "They are coming up the rope. Oh, what a
+wonderful rescue! And that giant man who lifted us up on deck! Oh,
+do you recall in Africa how we were also rescued by airship--"
+
+"Come on now, I got you!" interrupted the voice of Koku out on the
+after deck, and there was a series of thumps that told when he had
+lifted the men over the rail, and set them down.
+
+"All saved!" cried the giant at last.
+
+"Then cut the rope!" shouted Tom. "We've got to get out of this, for
+it's growing worse!"
+
+There was the sound of a hatchet blow, and the airship shot upward.
+Into the cabin came the dripping figures of the other men, and Ned,
+as he stood by the great searchlight, felt a wave of wonder sweep
+over him as he listened to the voices of the first man and woman.
+
+He knew he had heard them before, and, when he listened to the
+remark about a rescue by airship, in Africa, a flood of memory came
+to him.
+
+"Can it be possible that these are the same missionaries whom Tom
+and I rescued from the red pygmies?" he murmured. "I must get a look
+at them."
+
+"Our boat, it is gone I suppose," remarked one of the other men,
+coming into the motor room.
+
+"I'm afraid so," answered Ned, as he played the light on the doomed
+craft. Even as he did so he saw a great wave engulf her, and, a
+moment later she sank. "She's gone," he said softly.
+
+"Too bad!" exclaimed the man. "She was a fine little craft. But how
+in the world did you happen along to rescue us? Whose airship is
+this?"
+
+"Tom Swift's," answered Ned, and, at the sound of the name the woman
+uttered a cry, as she rushed into the motor room.
+
+"Tom Swift!" she exclaimed. "Where is he? Oh, can it be possible
+that it is the same Tom Swift that rescued us in Africa?"
+
+"I think it is, Mrs. Illingway," spoke Ned quietly, for he now
+recognized the missionary, though he wondered what she and her
+husband were doing so far from the Dark Continent.
+
+"Oh, I know you--you're Ned Newton--Tom's chum! Oh, I am so glad!
+Where is Tom?"
+
+"In the pilot house. He'll be here in a moment."
+
+Tom came in at that juncture, having set the automatic steering geer
+to take the ship on her homeward course.
+
+"Are they all saved?" he asked, looking at the little group of
+persons who had climbed up from the motor boat. "Mr. Damon, you had
+better make some hot coffee. Koku, you help. I--"
+
+"Tom Swift!" cried out Mr. and Mrs. Illingway together, as they made
+a rush for the young inventor. "Don't you know us?"
+
+To say that Tom was surprised at this, would be putting it mildly.
+He had to lean up against the side of the cabin for support.
+
+"Mrs. Illingway!" he gasped. "You here--were you in that boat?"
+
+"Yes. it's all very simple. My husband and I are on a vacation for a
+year. We got fever and had to leave Africa. We are staying with
+friends at a resort on the lake shore. These are our friends," she
+went on, introducing the other gentlemen.
+
+"We went out for a trip in the motor boat," the missionary
+continued, "but we went too far. Our motor broke down, we could get
+no help, and the storm came up. We thought we were doomed, until we
+saw your lights. I guessed it was a balloon, or some sort of an
+airship, and we whistled; and called for help. Then you rescued us!
+Oh, it is almost too wonderful to believe. It is a good thing I have
+practiced athletics or I never could have climbed that rope."
+
+"It is like a story from a book!" added Mr. Illingway, as he graspsd
+Tom's hand. "You rescued us in Africa and again here." I may say
+here that the African rescue is told in detail in the volume
+entitled, "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle."
+
+The shipwrecked persons were made as comfortable as possible. There
+was plenty of room for them, and soon they were sitting around warm
+electric heaters, drinking hot coffee, and telling their adventures
+over again. Mr. and Ms. Illingway said they soon expected to return
+to Africa.
+
+Tom told how he happened to be sailing over the lake, on the lookout
+for smugglers, and how he had been disappointed.
+
+"And it's a good thing you were--for our sakes," put in Mrs.
+Illingway, with a smile.
+
+"Where do you want to be landed?" asked Tom. "I don't want to take
+you all the way back to Logansville."
+
+"If you will land us anywhere near a city or town, we can arrange to
+be taken back to our cottage," said one of the men, and Tom sent the
+airship down until, in the gray dawn of the morning, they could pick
+out a large village on the lake shore. Then, in much better
+condition than when they had been saved, the rescued ones alighted,
+showering Tom and the others with thanks, and sought a hotel.
+
+"And now for our camp, and a good rest!" cried the young inventor,
+as he sent the airship aloft again.
+
+They reached their camp in the forest clearing without having been
+observed, as far as they could learn, and at once set about making
+things snug, for the storm was still raging.
+
+"I don't believe any of the smugglers were abroad last night,"
+remarked Mr. Whitford, as he prepared to go back into town, he
+having come out on horseback, leaving the animal over night in an
+improvised stable they had made in the woods of boughs and tree
+branches.
+
+"I hope not," replied Tom. but the next day, when the government
+agent called again, his face wore a look of despair.
+
+"They put a big one over on us the night of the rescue." he said.
+"They flew right across the border near Logansville, and got away
+with a lot of goods. They fooled us all right."
+
+"Can you find out who gave the wrong tip?" asked Tom.
+
+"Yes, I know the man. He pretended to be friendly to one of my
+agents, but he was only deceiving him. But we'll get the smugglers
+yet!"
+
+"That's what we will!" cried Tom, determinedly.
+
+Several days passed, and during the night time Tom, in his airship,
+and with the great searchlight aglow, flew back and forth across the
+border, seeking the elusive airships, but did not see them. In the
+meanwhile he heard from Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, who sent him a
+letter of thanks, and asked him to come and see them, but, much as
+Tom would liked to have gone, he did not have the time.
+
+It was about a week after the sensational rescue, when one evening,
+as Tom was about to get ready for a night flight, he happened to be
+in the pilot house making adjustments to some of the apparatus.
+
+Mr. Damon and Ned had gone out for a walk in the woods, and Mr.
+Whitford had not yet arrived. As for Mr. Koku, Tom did not know
+where his giant servant was.
+
+Suddenly there was a commotion outside. A trampling in the bushes,
+and the breaking of sticks under feet.
+
+"I got you now!" cried the voice of the giant.
+
+Tom sprang to the window of the pilot house. He saw Koku tightly
+holding a man who was squinting about, and doing his best to break
+away. But it was useless. When Koku got hold of any one, that person
+had to stay.
+
+"What is it, Koku!" cried Tom.
+
+"I got him!" cried the giant. "He sneaking up on airship, but I come
+behind and grab him," and Koku fairly lifted his prisoner off his
+feet and started with him toward the Falcon.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+WHAT THE INDIAN SAW
+
+
+"Hello!" cried Tom. "What's up, Koku?"
+
+"Him up!" replied the giant with a laugh, as he looked at his
+squirming prisoner, whose feet he had lifted from the ground.
+
+"No, I mean what was he doing?" went on Tom, with a smile at the
+literal way in which the giant had answered his question.
+
+"I wasn't doing anything!" broke in the man. "I'd like to know if I
+haven't a right to walk through these woods, without being grabbed
+up by a man as big as a mountain? There'll be something up that you
+won't like, if you don't let me go, too!" and he struggled fiercely,
+but he was no match for giant Koku.
+
+"What was he doing?" asked Tom of his big servant, ignoring the man.
+Tom looked closely at him, however, but could not remember to have
+seen him before.
+
+"I walking along in woods, listen to birds sing," said Koku simply,
+taking a firmer hold on his victim. "I see this fellow come along,
+and crawl through grass like so a snake wiggle. I to myself think
+that funny, and I watch. This man he wiggle more. He wiggle more
+still, and then he watch. I watch too. I see him have knife in hand,
+but I am no afraid. I begin to go like snake also, but I bigger
+snake than he."
+
+"I guess so," laughed Tom, as he watched the man trying in vain to
+get out of Koku's grip.
+
+"Then I see man look up at balloon bag, so as if he like to cut it
+with knife. I say to myself, 'Koku, it is time for you to go into
+business for yourself.' You stand under me?"
+
+"I understand!" exclaimed Tom. "You thought it was time for you to
+get busy."
+
+"Sure," replied Koku. "Well, I get business, I give one jump, and I
+am so unlucky as to jump with one foot on him, but I did not mean
+it. I go as gentle as I can."
+
+"Gentle? You nearly knocked the wind out of me!" snarled the
+prisoner. "Gentle! Huh!"
+
+"I guess he was the unlucky one, instead of you," put in Tom. "Well,
+what happened next?"
+
+"I grab him, and--he is still here," said Koku simply. "He throw
+knife away though."
+
+"I see," spoke Tom. "Now will you give an account of yourself, or
+shall I hand you over to the police?" he asked sternly of the man.
+"What were you sneaking up on us in that fashion for?"
+
+"Well, I guess this isn't your property!" blustered the man. "I have
+as good a right here as you have, and you can't have me arrested for
+that."
+
+"Perhaps not," admitted Tom. "You may have a right on this land, but
+if you are honest, and had no bad intentions, why were you sneaking
+up, trying to keep out of sight? And why did you have a big knife?"
+
+"That's my business, young man."
+
+"All right, then I'll make it MY business, too," went on the young
+inventor. "Hold him, Koku, until I can find Mr. Damon, or Ned, and
+I'll see what's best to be done. I wish Mr. Whitford was here."
+
+"Aren't you going to let me go?" demanded the man.
+
+"I certainly am not!" declared Tom firmly. "I'm going to find out
+more about you. I haven't any objections to any one coming to look
+at my airship, out of curiosity, but when they come up like a snake
+in the grass and with a big knife, then I get suspicious, and I want
+to know more about them."
+
+"Well, you won't know anything more about me!" snarled the fellow.
+"And it will be the worse for you, if you don't let me go. You'd
+better!" he threatened.
+
+"Don't pay any attention to him, Koku," said Tom. "Maybe you'd
+better tie him up. You'll find some rope in the motor room."
+
+"Don't you dare tie me up!" blustered the prisoner.
+
+"Go ahead and tie him," went on Tom. "You'll be free to guard the
+ship then. I'll go for Ned and Mr. Damon."
+
+"Tie who up? What's the matter?" asked a voice, and a moment later
+the government agent came along the woodland path on his horse.
+"What's up, Tom? Have you captured a wild animal?"
+
+"Not exactly a wild animal. Mr. Whitford. But a wild man. I'm glad
+you came along. Koku has a prisoner." And Tom proceeded to relate
+what had happened.
+
+"Sneaking up on you with a knife; eh? I guess he meant business all
+right, and bad business, too," said Mr. Whitford. "Let me get a look
+at him, Tom," for Koku had taken his prisoner to the engine room,
+and there, amid a storm of protests and after a futile struggle on
+the part of the fellow, had tied him securely.
+
+Tom and the custom officer went in to look at the man, just as Ned
+and Mr. Damon came back from their stroll in the woods. It was
+rapidly getting dusk, and was almost time for the start of the usual
+flight, to see if any trace could be had of the smugglers.
+
+"There he is," said Tom, waving his hand toward the bound man who
+sat in a chair in one corner of the motor room. The young inventor
+switched on the light, and a moment later Mr. Whitford exclaimed:
+
+"Great Scott! It's Ike Shafton!"
+
+"Do you know him?" asked Tom eagerly.
+
+"Know him? I should say I did! Why he's the man who pretended to
+give one of my men information about smugglers that drew us off on
+the false scent. He pretended to be for the government, and, all the
+while, he was in with the smugglers! Know him? I should say I did!"
+
+A queer change had come over the prisoner at the sight of Mr.
+Whitford. No longer was Shafton surly and blustering. Instead he
+seemed to slink down in his chair, bound as he was, as if trying to
+get out of sight.
+
+"Why did you play double?" demanded the government agent, striding
+over to him.
+
+"I--I--don't hit me!" whined Shafton.
+
+"Hit you! I'm not going to hit you!" exclaimed Mr. Whitford, "but
+I'm going to search you, and then I'm going to wire for one of my
+men to take you in custody."
+
+"I--I didn't do anything!"
+
+"You didn't; eh? Well, we'll see what the courts think of giving
+wrong information to Uncle Sam with the intent to aid criminals.
+Let's see what he's got in his pockets."
+
+The spy did not have much, but at a sight of one piece of paper Mr.
+Whitford uttered a cry of surprise.
+
+"Ha! This is worth something!" he exclaimed. "It may be stale news,
+and it may be something for the future, but it's worth trying. I
+wonder I didn't think of that before."
+
+"What is it?" asked Tom.
+
+For answer the custom officer held out a scrap of paper on which was
+written one word.
+
+ST. REGIS.
+
+"What does it mean," asked Ned, who, with Mr. Damon, had entered the
+motor room, and stood curiously regarding the scene.
+
+"Bless my napkin ring!" said the odd man. "That's the name of a
+hotel. Do you suppose the smugglers are stopping there?"
+
+"Hardly," replied Mr. Whitford with a smile. "But St. Regis is the
+name of an Indian reservation in the upper part of New York state,
+right on the border, and in the corner where the St. Lawrence and
+the imaginary dividing line between New York and Canada join. I
+begin to see things now. The smugglers have been flying over the
+Indian Reservation, and that's why they have escaped us so far. We
+never thought of that spot. Tom, I believe we're on the right track
+at last! Shafton was probably given this to inform him where the
+next trick would be turned, so he could get us as far away as
+possible, or, maybe prevent us leaving at all."
+
+An involuntary start on the part of the prisoner seemed to confirm
+this, but he kept silent.
+
+"Of course," went on Mr. Whitford, "they may have already flown over
+the St. Regis reservation, and this may be an old tip, but it's
+worth following up."
+
+"Why don't you ask him?" Tom wanted to know, as he nodded toward
+Shafton.
+
+"He wouldn't tell the truth. I'll put him where he can't get away to
+warn his confederates, and then we'll go to the reservation. And to
+think that my man trusted him!"
+
+Mr. Whitford was soon in communication with his headquarters by
+means of the wireless apparatus on Tom's airship, and a little later
+two custom officers arrived, with an extra horse on which they were
+to take their prisoner back.
+
+"And now we'll try our luck once more," said Mr. Whitford as his men
+left with Shafton securely bound. "Can you make the reservation in
+good time, Tom? It's quite a distance," and he pointed it out on the
+map.
+
+"Oh, I'll do it," promised the young inventor, as he sent his
+powerful craft aloft in the darkness. Then, with her nose pointed in
+the right direction, the Falcon beat her way forward through the
+night, flying silently, with the great searchlight ready for instant
+use.
+
+In comparatively short time, though it was rather late at night,
+they reached the St. Lawrence, and then it was an easy matter to
+drop down into the midst of the reservation grounds. Though the
+redmen, whom the state thus quartered by themselves, had all
+retired, they swarmed out of their cabins as the powerful light
+flashed back and forth.
+
+"We want to question some of the head men of the tribe," said Mr.
+Whitford. "I know some of them, for on several occasions I've had to
+come here to look into rumors that tobacco and liquor and other
+contraband goods dear to the Indian heart were smuggled into the
+reservation against the law. I never caught any of them at it
+though."
+
+With guttural exclamations, and many grunts of surprise, the
+redmen gathered around the big airship. It was too much even for
+their usual reserve, and they jabbered among themselves.
+
+"How Big Foot!" greeted the custom officer, to one Indian who had an
+extremely large left foot. "How!"
+
+"How!" responded the Indian, with a grunt.
+
+"Plenty much fine air-bird; eh?" and the agent waved his hand toward
+the Falcon.
+
+"Yep. Plenty much big."
+
+"Big Foot never see bird like this; eh?"
+
+"Oh sure. Big Foot see before many times. Huh!"
+
+"What! Has he seen this before?" asked Tom.
+
+"No. Wait a minute," cautioned Mr. Whitford. "I'm on the track of
+something. Big Foot see air-bird like this?" he questioned.
+
+"Sure. Fly over Indians' land many times. Not same as him," and he
+nodded toward Tom's ship, "but plenty much like. Make heap noise.
+Come down once--break wheel mebby. Indians help fix. Indians get
+firewater. You got firewater in your air-bird?"
+
+"No firewater, but maybe we've got some tobacco, if you tell us what
+we want to know, Big Foot. And so you've seen air-birds flying
+around here before?"
+
+"Sure, Heap times. We all see," and he waved his hand to indicate
+the redmen gathered around him.
+
+There came grunts of confirmation.
+
+"We're getting there!" exclaimed Mr. Whitford to Tom. "We're on the
+right track now. Which way air-birds come, Big Foot?"
+
+"Over there," and he pointed toward Canada.
+
+"Which way go?"
+
+"Over there," and he pointed toward the east, in the direction of
+Shopton, as much as anywhere.
+
+"That's what we want to know. Tom, we'll just hang around here for a
+while, until one of the smugglers' airships pass over head. I
+believe one is due to-night, and that's why Shafton had that paper.
+It was sent to him to tip him off. He was sneaking up, trying to put
+your airship out of commission when Koku caught him. These Indians
+have used their eyes to good advantage. I think we're on the trail
+at last."
+
+"Baccy for Big Foot?" asked the redman.
+
+"Yes, plenty of it. Tom, give them some of Koku's, will you? I'll
+settle with you later," for the giant had formed a liking for the
+weed, and Tom did not have the heart to stop him smoking a pipe once
+in a while. With his usual prodigality, the giant had brought along
+a big supply, and some of this was soon distributed among the
+Indians, who grunted their thanks.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+THE PURSUIT
+
+
+"What plan have you in mind?" asked Tom of Mr. Whitford, when some
+of the Indians had gone back to their shanties, leaving a few
+staring curiously at the airship, as she rested on the ground,
+bathed in the glow of her electric lights.
+
+"Well, I think the best thing we can do is just to stay right here,
+Tom; all night if need be. As Big Foot says, there have been
+airships passing overhead at frequent intervals. Of course that is
+not saying that they were the smugglers, but I don't see who else
+they could be. There's no meet going on, and no continental race.
+They must be the smugglers."
+
+"I think so," put in Ned.
+
+"Bless my diamond ring!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "But what are you
+going to do when you see them overhead?"
+
+"Take after them, of course!" exclaimed Tom. "That's what we're here
+for; isn't it Mr. Whitford?"
+
+"Yes. Do you think you can rise from the ground, and take after them
+in time to stand a chance of overhauling them, Tom? You know they
+may go very fast."
+
+"I know, but I don't believe they can beat the Falcon. I'd rather
+wait down here than hover in the air. It isn't as dark as it was the
+other night, and they might see us with their glasses. Then they
+would turn back, and we'd have our trouble for nothing. They've
+actually got to cross the border with smuggled goods before the law
+can touch them; haven't they?"
+
+"Yes, I couldn't arrest them on Canadian territory, or over it. I've
+got to get them on this side of the border. So perhaps it will be as
+well to lie here. But do you suppose you can hear them or see them,
+as they fly over?"
+
+"I'm pretty sure I can. The sound of their motor and the whizz of
+the propellers carries for some distance. And then, too, I'm going
+to set the searchlight to play a beam up in the air. If that gets
+focused on 'em, we'll spot 'em all right."
+
+"But suppose they see it, and turn back?"
+
+"I don't believe they will. The beam will come from the ground
+straight upward you know, and they won't connect it with my ship."
+
+"But that fellow who was sneaking up when Koku caught him, may find
+some way to warn them that you have come here," suggested Ned.
+
+"He won't get much chance to communicate with his friends, while my
+men have him," said Mr. Whitford significantly. "I guess we'll take
+a chance here, Tom."
+
+So it was arranged. Everything on the airship was gotten ready for a
+quick flight, and then Tom set his great searchlight aglow once
+more. Its powerful beams cut upward to the clouds, making a
+wonderful illumination.
+
+"Now all we have to do is to wait and watch," remarked Tom, as he
+came hack from a last inspection of the apparatus in the motor room.
+
+"And that is sometimes the hardest kind of work," said Mr. Whitford.
+"Many a time I have been watching for smugglers for days and nights
+at a stretch, and it was very wearying. When I got through, and
+caught my man, I was more tired than if I had traveled hundreds of
+miles. Just sitting around, and waiting is tiresome work."
+
+The others agreed with him, and then the custom officer told many
+stories of his experiences, of the odd places smugglers would hit
+upon to conceal the contrabrand goods, and of fights he had taken
+part in.
+
+"Diamonds and jewels, from their smallness, and from the great
+value, and the high duty on them when brought into the United
+States, form the chief articles of the high class smugglers," he
+said. "In fact the ones we are after have been doing more in
+diamonds than anything else, though they have, of late, brought much
+valuable hand-made lace. That can be bought comparatively cheap
+abroad, and if they can evade paying Uncle Sam the duty on it, they
+can sell it in the United States at a large profit."
+
+"But the government has received so many complaints from legitimate
+dealers, who can not stand this unfair competition, that we have
+been ordered to get the smugglers at any cost."
+
+"They are sharp rascals," commented Mr. Damon. "They seem to be
+making more efforts since Tom Swift got on their trail."
+
+"But, just the same, they are afraid of him, and his searchlight,"
+declared Mr. Whitford. "I guess they fancied that when they took to
+airships to get goods across the border that they would not be
+disturbed. But two can play at that game."
+
+The talk became general, with pauses now and then while Tom swept
+the sky with the great searchlight, the others straining their eyes
+for a sight of the smugglers' airships. But they saw nothing.
+
+The young inventor had just paid a visit to the pilot house, to see
+that his wheels and guiding levers were all right, and was walking
+back toward the stern of the ship, when he heard a noise there, and
+the fall of a heavy body.
+
+"Who's that?" he cried sharply. "Is that you, Koku?"
+
+A grunt was the only answer, and, as Tom called the giant's name the
+big man came out.
+
+"What you want, Mr. Tom?" he asked.
+
+"I thought you were at the stern," spoke Tom. "Someone is there.
+Ned, throw the light on the stern!" he called sharply.
+
+In a moment that part of the ship was in a bright glare and there,
+in the rays of the big lantern, was stretched out Big Foot, the
+Indian, comfortably sleeping.
+
+"Here! What are you doing?" demanded Mr. Whitford, giving him a
+vigorous shake.
+
+"Me sleep!" murmured Big Foot. "Lemme be! Me sleep, and take ride to
+Happy Hunting Grounds in air-bird. Go 'way!"
+
+"You'll have to sleep somewhere else, Big Foot," spoke the agent
+with a laugh. "Koku, put him down under one of the trees over there.
+He can finish his nap in the open, it's warm."
+
+The Indian only protested sleepily, as the giant carried him off the
+ship, and soon Big Foot was snoring under the trees.
+
+"He's a queer chap," the custom officer said. "Sometimes I think
+he's a little off in his head. But he's good natured."
+
+Once more they resumed their watching. It was growing more and more
+wearisome, and Tom was getting sleepy, in spite of himself.
+
+Suddenly the silence of the night was broken by a distant humming
+and throbbing sound.
+
+"Hark!" cried Ned.
+
+They all listened intently.
+
+"That's an airship, sure enough!" cried Tom.
+
+He sprang to the lever that moved the lantern, which had been shut
+off temporarily. An instant later a beam of light cut the darkness.
+The throbbing sounded nearer.
+
+"There they are!" cried Ned, pointing from a window toward the sky.
+A moment later, right into the glare of the light, there shot a
+powerful biplane.
+
+"After 'em, Tom!" shouted Mr. Whitford.
+
+Like a bird the Falcon shot upward in pursuit noiselessly and
+resistlessly, the beam of the great searchlight playing on the other
+craft, which dodged to one side in an endeavor to escape.
+
+"On the trail at last!" cried Tom, as he shoved over the accelerator
+lever, sending his airship forward on an upward slant, right at the
+stern of the smugglers' biplane.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+IN DIRE PERIL
+
+
+Upward shot the Falcon. With every revolution of her big propellers
+she came nearer and nearer to the fleeing craft of the supposed
+smugglers who were using every endeavor to escape.
+
+"Do you think you can catch them, Tom?" asked Mr. Whitford as he stood
+at the side of our hero in the pilot house, and looked upward and
+forward to where, bathed in the light of the great search-lantern, the
+rival craft was beating the air.
+
+"I'm sure we can--unless something happens."
+
+"Bless my overshoes! What can happen?" asked Mr. Damon, who, after
+finding that everything in the motor room was running smoothly, had
+come forward. Ned was attending to the searchlight. "What can
+happen, Tom?"
+
+"Almost anything, from a broken shaft to a short-circuited motor.
+Only, I hope nothing does occur to prevent us from catching them."
+
+"You don't mean to say that you're actually going to try to catch
+them, do you, Tom?" asked the custom officer, "I thought if we could
+trail them to the place where they have been delivering the goods,
+before they shipped them to Shopton we'd be doing well. But I never
+thought of catching them in mid-air."
+
+"I'm going to try it," declared the young inventor. "I've got a
+grappling anchor on board," he went on, "attached to a meter and
+windlass. If I can catch that anchor in any part of their ship I can
+bring them to a stop, just as a fisherman lands a trout. Only I've
+got to get close enough to make a cast, and I want to be above them
+when I do it."
+
+"Don't you think you can catch them, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon.
+
+"Well, I'm pretty sure I can, and yet they seem to have a faster
+biplane than I gave them credit for. I guess I'll have to increase
+our speed a little," and he shifted a lever which made the Falcon
+shoot along at nearly doubled speed.
+
+Still the other airship kept ahead, not far, but sufficiently so to
+prevent the grappling anchor from being tossed at her rail.
+
+"I wonder if they are the smugglers?" questioned Mr. Damon. "It
+might be possible, Tom, that we're chasing the wrong craft."
+
+"Possible, but not probable," put in Mr. Whitford. "After the clew
+we got, and what the Indians told us, and then to have a biplane
+come sailing over our heads at night, it's pretty sure to be the one
+we want. But, Tom, can't you close up on 'em?"
+
+"I'm going to try. The machinery is warmed up now, and I'll send it
+to the limit."
+
+Once more he adjusted the wheels and levers, and at his touch the
+Falcon seemed to gain new strength. She fairly soared through the
+air.
+
+Eagerly those in the pilot house watched the craft they were
+pursuing. She could be seen, in the glare of the big searchlight,
+like some bird of gloom and evil omen, fluttering along ahead of
+them.
+
+"They certainly have a fine motor!" cried Tom. "I was sure I could
+have caught up to them before this."
+
+"How do you account for it?" asked Mr. Damon.
+
+"Well, they're flying a good deal lighter than we are. They probably
+have no load to speak of, while we carry a heavy one, to say nothing
+of Koku."
+
+"Diamonds aren't very heavy," put in Mr. Whitford grimly. "I think
+they are smuggling diamonds to-night. How I wish we could catch
+them, or trace them to where they have their headquarters."
+
+"We'll do it!" declared Tom.
+
+"Bless my stars! They've gone!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. Damon.
+"They've disappeared, Tom, I can't see them."
+
+It was indeed true. Those in the pilot house peering ahead through
+the darkness, could not get a glimpse of the airship they were
+pursuing. The beam of the searchlight showed nothing but a black
+void.
+
+All at once the beam shifted downward, and then it picked up the
+white-winged craft.
+
+"They went down!" cried Tom. "They tried to drop out of sight."
+
+"Can't you get them?" asked Mr. Whitford.
+
+"Oh, yes, we can play that game too. I'll do a little volplaning
+myself," and the young inventor shut off the power and coasted
+earthward, while Ned, who had picked up the forward craft, kept the
+searchlight playing on her.
+
+And now began a wonderful chase. The smugglers' craft, for such she
+proved later to be, did her best to dodge the Falcon. Those managing
+the mechanism of the fleeing airship must have been experts, to hold
+out as they did against Tom Swift, but they had this advantage, that
+their craft was much lighter, and more powerfully engined as regards
+her weight. Then, too, there were not so many on board, and Tom,
+having a combined balloon and aeroplane, had to carry much
+machinery.
+
+It was like the flight of two big birds in the air. Now the
+smugglers' craft would be mounting upward, with the Falcon after
+her. Again she would shoot toward the earth, and Tom would follow,
+with a great downward swoop.
+
+Ned kept the great lantern going, and, though occasionally the craft
+they were after slipped out of the focus of the beams, the young
+bank clerk would pick her up again.
+
+To the right and left dodged the forward airship, vainly endeavoring
+to shake off Tom Swift, but he would not give up. He followed move
+for move, swoop for swoop.
+
+"She's turning around!" suddenly cried Mr. Damon. "She's given up
+the flight, Tom, and is going back!"
+
+"That's so!" agreed Mr. Whitford. "They're headed for Canada, Tom.
+We've got to catch 'em before they get over the Dominion line!"
+
+"I'll do it!" cried Tom, between his clenched teeth.
+
+He swung his airship around in a big circle, and took after the
+fleeing craft. The wind was against the smugglers now, and they
+could not make such good speed, while to Tom the wind mattered not,
+so powerful were the propellers of the Falcon.
+
+"I think we're gaining on them," murmured Mr. Damon.
+
+Suddenly, from the engine room, came a cry from Ned.
+
+"Tom! Tom!" he shouted, "Something is wrong with the gas machine!
+She registers over five hundred pounds pressure, and that's too
+much. It's going up, and I haven't touched it!"
+
+"Mr. Damon, take the wheel!" exclaimed the young inventor. "I've got
+to see what's wrong. Hold her right on their trail."
+
+Tom sprang to the motor room, and one glance at the gas generating
+machine showed him that they were in dire peril. In some manner the
+pressure was going up enormously, and if it went up much more the
+big tank would blow to pieces.
+
+"What is it?" cried Ned, from his position near the light.
+
+"I don't know! Something wrong."
+
+"Are you going to give up the chase?"
+
+"I am not. Stick to the light. Koku, tell Mr. Damon to hold her on
+the course I set. I'll try to get this pressure down!" And Tom Swift
+began to work feverishly, while his ship rushed on through the night
+in danger, every moment, of being blown to atoms. Yet the young
+inventor would not give up, and descend to earth.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS
+
+
+The chase was kept up, and Tom, when he had a chance to look up at
+the speed register, as he labored frantically at the clogged gas
+machine, saw that they were rushing along as they never had before.
+
+"Are we catching them, Ned?" he cried to his chum, who was not far
+away, playing the powerful light on the smugglers' craft.
+
+"I think we're coming closer, but it's going to be a long chase. I
+don't see why we can't close up on 'em."
+
+"Because they've got a very fast ship, Ned, and they are flying much
+lighter than we are. But we'll get 'em!"
+
+"How are you making out with that gas machine?"
+
+"Well, I'm doing all I can, but I can't seem to get the pressure
+down. I can't understand it. Some of the pipes must be clogged with
+a carbon deposit. I ought to have cleaned them out some time ago."
+
+Ned gave a hasty glance at the gauge which showed the gas pressure.
+It registered six hundred pounds now, having risen a hundred in a
+short time.
+
+"And she'll go up, sure, at eight hundred," murmured Ned, as he held
+the light steadily on the smugglers' aircraft. "Well, if Tom sticks
+to the chase, I will too, but I think it would be better to go down,
+open up everything, and let the gas escape. We could get the rascals
+later."
+
+Tom, however, did not seem to think so, for he kept on with his
+task, working away at the pipes, trying to force the obstruction
+out, so that the gas from the generator would flow into the bag. At
+the same time he tried to shut off the generating apparatus, but
+that had become jammed in consequence of the pipe clogging, and the
+powerful vapor continued to manufacture itself automatically in
+spite of all that Tom could do.
+
+The only safe way out of the danger, unless he could remove the
+obstruction, was to descend to earth, and, as Ned had said, open
+every outlet. But to have done that in mid-air would have been
+dangerous, as the large volume of gas, suddenly liberated, would
+have hung about the airship in a cloud, smothering all on board. If
+they were on the earth they could run away from it, and remain away
+until the vapor had blown off.
+
+"Is Mr. Damon keeping her on the course, Ned?" asked Tom, pausing a
+moment to get his breath after a series of frantic efforts.
+
+"Yes, and I think we're closing in on them a little."
+
+"That's good. Are they still headed for the border?"
+
+"Yes, I guess they're going to take no chances to-night. They're
+going right back to Canada where they came from."
+
+"Well, we'll be hot after 'em. Whistle through the tube, and tell
+Koku to come here and give me a hand. He's with Mr. Damon in the
+pilot house."
+
+Ned sent the message, and then gave his whole attention to the
+light. This was necessary, as the smugglers were resorting to
+dodging tactics, in an endeavor to escape. Now they would shoot
+upward, and again toward the earth, varying the performance by
+steering to the right or left. Ned had constantly to shift the light
+to keep them in focus, so that Mr. Damon could see where to steer,
+but, with all this handicap, the eccentric man did very well, and he
+was never far out in his judgment.
+
+"By Jove!" suddenly murmured Tom, as he tried once more in vain to
+open a clogged valve. "I'm afraid we can't do it. Koku, lend a hand
+here!" he exclaimed as the giant entered. "See if you can twist this
+wrench around, but don't break off the handle, whatever you do."
+
+"Me shove," replied the giant simply, as he grasped the big wrench.
+
+Once more Ned glanced at the pressure gage. It showed seven hundred
+pounds now, and there was only a margin of safety of one hundred
+pounds more, ere a terrific explosion would occur. Still Tom had not
+given the order to descend to earth.
+
+"Are you going to make it, Tom?" asked the government agent,
+anxiously, as he stood over the young inventor.
+
+"I--I think so," panted Tom. "Are we near the Dominion line,"
+
+"Pretty close," was the discouraging answer. "I'm afraid we can't
+get 'em before they cross. Can you use any more speed?"
+
+"I don't know. Ned, see if you can get another notch out of her."
+
+With one hand Ned reached for the accelerator lever on the wall near
+him, and pulled it to the last notch. The Falcon shot ahead with
+increased speed, but, at the same instant there came a gasp from
+Koku, and the sound of something breaking.
+
+"There! He's done it!" cried Tom in despair. "I was afraid you'd be
+too strong for that wrench, Koku. You've broken off the handle. Now
+we'll never be able to loosen that valve."
+
+Ned gave one more glance at the pressure gage. It showed seven
+hundred and fifty pounds, and the needle was slowly moving onward.
+
+"Hadn't we better descend," asked Mr. Whitford in a low voice.
+
+"I--I guess so," answered Tom, despairingly. "Where are we?"
+
+Ned flashed the light downward for an instant.
+
+"Just crossing over the St. Regis Indian reservation again," he
+replied. "We'll be in Canada in a few minutes more."
+
+"Where are the smugglers?"
+
+"Still ahead, and they're bearing off to the right."
+
+"Going toward Montford," commented the government man. "We've lost
+'em for to-night, anyhow, but they didn't get their goods landed, at
+any rate."
+
+"Send her down, Ned!" exclaimed Tom, and it was high time, for the
+pressure was now within twenty-five pounds of the exploding point.
+
+Down shot the Falcon, while her rival passed onward triumphantly in
+the darkness. Ned held the light on the smugglers as long as he
+dared, and then he flashed it to earth to enable Mr. Damon to pick
+out a good landing place.
+
+In a few moments Tom's silent airship came to rest on a little
+clearing in the forest, and Tom, with Ned's help, at once opened
+every outlet of the gas machine, a thing they had not dared do while
+up in the air.
+
+"Come on, now, run, everybody!" cried Tom. "Otherwise you'll he
+smothered!"
+
+They leaped from the craft, about which gathered the fumes of the
+powerful gas, as it hissed from the pipes. Running a hundred yards
+away they were safe, and could return in a few minutes.
+
+"We're in Canada," remarked Mr. Whitford, as they came to a halt,
+watching the airship.
+
+"How do you know?" asked Ned.
+
+"As we landed I saw one of the stone boundary posts," was the
+answer. "We're on English territory, and we can't touch the
+smugglers if we should see them now."
+
+"Well, we'll soon be back in Uncle Sam's land," declared Tom. "We
+can go back on board the Falcon to sleep shortly. Jove! I wish I
+could have caught those fellows!"
+
+"Never mind, we'll get 'em yet," counseled Mr. Whitford.
+
+Waiting until he was sure all the vapor had disappeared, Tom led the
+way back to the Falcon. No great harm had been done, save to lose
+considerable gas, and this could be remedied. Tired and disappointed
+from the chase, they sought their bunks, and were soon asleep. In
+the morning Tom and Ned began work on the clogged pipes.
+
+This work was nearly accomplished by noon, when Mr. Damon, coming
+back from a stroll, announced that they were but fifteen minutes
+walk from the St. Lawrence River, as he had seen the sparkling
+waters from a neighboring hill.
+
+"Let's go over and have a look at it," proposed Ned. "We can easily
+finish this when we get back. Besides, Tom, we don't want to get to
+our regular camp until after dark, anyhow."
+
+The young inventor was willing, and the two lads, with Mr. Whitford,
+strolled toward the historic stream. As they drew near the bank,
+they saw, anchored a little distance out, a small steamer.
+Approaching it, as if she had just left the shore at a point near
+where our friends stood, was a gasolene launch, containing several
+men, while on shore, in front of a small shanty, stood another man.
+
+This latter individual, at the sight of Tom, Ned and Mr. Whitford,
+blew a shrill whistle. Those in the launch looked back. The man on
+shore waved a red flag in a peculiar way, almost as the soldiers in
+the army wig-wag signals.
+
+In another moment the launch turned about, and put for shore, while
+the lone man hurried back into the hut.
+
+"Hum!" remarked Tom. "Those are queer actions."
+
+"Suspicious actions, I should say," said Mr. Whitford. "I'm going to
+see what this means."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+MR. PERIOD ARRIVES
+
+
+Greatly interested in what was about to take place, and not a little
+suspicious, our friends stood on the bank of the river and watched
+the motor boat returning. As it reached a little dock in front of
+the hut, the man who had waved the red flag of warning came out, and
+talked rapidly to those in the power craft. At the same time he
+pointed occasionally to Tom, Ned and the government agent.
+
+"This is getting interesting," remarked Mr. Whitford. "We may have
+accidentally stumbled on something important Tom."
+
+"See, they're signalling to the steamer now," spoke Ned, and, as he
+said this, his companions looked, and noted the man from the hut
+waving a white flag, in a peculiar manner. His signals were answered
+by those on the vessel anchored out in the stream, and, a little
+later, black smoke could be seen pouring from her funnel.
+
+"Looks as if they were getting ready to leave," spoke Tom.
+
+"Yes, we seem to have started things moving around here," observed
+Ned.
+
+"Or else we have prevented from moving," remarked the custom agent.
+
+"What do you mean?" Tom wanted to know.
+
+"I mean that these men were evidently going to do something just as
+we arrived, and spoiled their plans. I would say they were going to
+land goods from that schooner. Now the are not."
+
+"What kind of goods?" asked Ned.
+
+"Well, of course I'm not sure, but I should say smuggled goods."
+
+"The smugglers!" cried Tom. "Why, they can't be smugglers, for we
+are on Canadian territory. The river isn't the dividing line between
+the Dominion and the United States at this point. The St. Lawrence
+lies wholly in Canada here, and the men have a right to land any
+goods they want to, dutiable or not."
+
+"That's just it." put in Mr. Whitford. "They have the right, but
+they are afraid to exercise it, and that's what makes me suspicious.
+If they were doing a straight business they wouldn't be afraid, no
+matter who saw them. They evidently recognize us, by description, if
+by no other means, and they know we are after smugglers. That's why
+they stopped the brining of goods from that vessel to shore. They
+want to wait until we are gone."
+
+"But we couldn't stop them from landing goods, even if they know we
+are working for Uncle Sam," declared Tom.
+
+"That's very true, but it is evidently their intention, not only to
+land goods here, which they have a perfect right to do, but to send
+them into the United States, which they have not a right to do
+without paying the duty."
+
+"Then you really think they are the smugglers?" asked Ned.
+
+"I'm pretty sure of it. I think we have stumbled on one of the
+places where the goods are landed, and where they are loaded into
+the airships. This is the best luck we could have, and it more than
+makes up for not catching the rascals last night. Now we know where
+to get on their trail."
+
+"If they don't change the place," observed Tom.
+
+"Oh, of course, we've got to take that chance."
+
+"Here's one of them coming over to speak to us, I guess," remarked
+Tom in a low voice, as he observed the man, who had waved the flag
+approaching. There was no doubt of his intention for, as soon as he
+came within talking distance, the stranger called out:
+
+"What are you fellows doing here?"
+
+"Looking at the river," replied Mr. Whitford, calmly.
+
+"Well, you'd better find some other place for a view. This is
+private property, and we don't like trespassers. Get a move on--get
+out!"
+
+"Are we doing any harm?" asked the agent.
+
+"I didn't say you were. This is our land, and we don't like
+strangers snooping around. That's all."
+
+"Particularly when you are going to land some goods."
+
+"What do you mean?" gasped the man.
+
+"I guess you know well enough," was Mr. Whitford's reply.
+
+The man suddenly turned, and gave a shrill whistle. Instantly, from
+the hut, came several men who had been in the motor boat. One or two
+of them had weapons.
+
+"I guess you'd better go now," said the first man sharply. "You're
+not in the United States now, you know."
+
+"It's easy to see that, by the POLITENESS of the residents of this
+section," put in Tom.
+
+"None of your back talk! Get away from here!" cried the man. "If you
+don't go peaceably--"
+
+"Oh, we're going," interposed Mr. Whitford calmly. "But that isn't
+saying we won't come back. Come on, boys. We'll get over on Uncle
+Sam's territory."
+
+The group of men stood silently watching them, as they filed back
+through the woods.
+
+"What do you make of it?" asked Tom of the agent.
+
+"I'm positive that I'm right, and that they're the smugglers. But I
+can't do anything on this side of the line. If ever I can catch them
+across the border, though, there'll be a different story to tell."
+
+"What had we better do?" inquired Ned.
+
+"Go back to our airship, and leave for Logansville. We don't need to
+land until night, though, but we can make a slow trip. Is the gas
+machine all right again, Tom?"
+
+"Practically so. If that hadn't gone back on me we would have had
+those fellows captured by this time."
+
+"Never mind. We did our best."
+
+It did not take Tom and his chum long to complete the repairs, and
+soon they arose in the air.
+
+"Let's take a flight over where those fellows are, just to show them
+what we can do," proposed Ned, and Tom and Mr. Whitford agreed to
+it. Soon they were circling over the hut. The launch was just
+starting out again, when a cry from the man who seemed to be a sort
+of guard, drew the attention of his confederates to the noiseless
+airship.
+
+Once more the launch was turned about, and sent back to shore, while
+those in it shook their fists at Tom and his friends.
+
+"We can play tag with 'em up here!" chuckled Ned.
+
+"There's the small vessel that pulled up anchor a while ago,"
+remarked Mr. Whitford, pointing to the vessel which had steamed
+around a wooded point. "They thought we had gone for good, and they
+were getting ready to land the stuff. Well, we'll know where to head
+for next time, when we watch for the smugglers at night."
+
+Realizing that nothing more could be done, Tom sent his airship
+toward the camp, just outside of Loganville. But he did not land
+until after dark, when, making out the spot by means of the electric
+lights, which were set aglow automatically at dark, he descended.
+
+"We won't try anything to-night," said Mr. Whitford. "I doubt if the
+smugglers will themselves, after their experience last night. I'll
+get into town, see some of my men, and come out here to-morrow night
+again."
+
+Tom and Ned spent the following day in going carefully over the
+Falcon, making some slight repairs. The great searchlight was
+cleaned and adjusted, and then, as dusk came on once more Tom
+remarked:
+
+"Well, we're ready for 'em any time Mr. Whitford is."
+
+Hardly had he spoken than the tramp of horses' feet was heard coming
+along the bridle path through the woods, and a voice was heard to
+exclaim:
+
+"There, now, I understand it perfectly! You don't need to say
+another word. I know it may be against the regulations, but I can
+fix that. I'm the busiest man in the world, but I just had to come
+up here and see Tom Swift. It's costing me a thousand dollars, but
+the money is well spent. Now don't interrupt me! I know what you're
+going to say! That you haven't time to bother with moving pictures.
+But you have! I must have some moving pictures of your chase after
+the smugglers. Now, don't speak to me, I know all about it. You
+can't tell me anything. I'll talk to Tom. Are we most there?"
+
+"Yes, we're here," answered Mr. Whitford's voice, and Tom fancied
+the government agent was a bit puzzled by his strange companion.
+
+"Bless my shoe string!" gasped Mr. Damon.
+
+"Him picture man!" cried Koku.
+
+"Mr. Period!" exclaimed Tom. "I wonder what he is doing here?" and
+the next moment the excitable little man, for whom Tom had run so
+many risks getting marvelous moving pictures, with the wizard
+camera, entered the clearing where the airship was anchored.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+HOVERING O'ER THE BORDER
+
+
+"Well, Tom, you see I couldn't get along without you," exclaimed Mr.
+Period, as he rushed forward and grasped Tom's hand, having alighted
+in rather an undignified manner from the horse that he had ridden.
+"I'm after you again."
+
+"So I see." remarked our hero. "But I'm afraid I can't--"
+
+"Tut! Tut! Don't say that," interrupted the moving picture man. "I
+know what you're going to say. Don't do it! Don't go back on me,
+Tom! Have you the wonderful moving picture camera with you."
+
+"I have, Mr. Period, but--"
+
+"Now! Now! That'll do," broke in the excitable little man. "If you
+have it, that's enough. I want you to get me some films, showing you
+in chase of the smugglers. They'll be great to exhibit in our chain
+of theatres."
+
+"How did you know I was here?" asked Tom. "Easily enough. I called
+at your house. Your father told me where you were. I came on. It
+cost me a thousand dollars--maybe more. I don't care! I've got to
+have those films! You'll get them for me; won't you?"
+
+"Well, I--"
+
+"That's enough! I know what you're going to say. Of course you will!
+Now how soon may I expect them. They ought to make a good run. Say
+in a week?"
+
+"It all depends on the smugglers," said Mr. Whitford.
+
+"Yes, yes! I understand, of course. I know! This friend of yours has
+been very kind to me, Tom. I looked him up as soon as I got to
+Logansville, and told him what I wanted. He offered to show me the
+way out here, and here I am. Let's have a look at the camera, to see
+if it's in good shape. Are you going to have a try for the smugglers
+to-night?"
+
+"I think so," answered Tom. "As for the camera, really I've been so
+busy I haven't had time to look at it since we started. I guess it's
+all right. I don't know what made me bring it along, as I didn't
+expect to use it."
+
+"But with your great searchlight it will be just the thing,"
+suggested Ned.
+
+"Yes, I think so," added Mr. Whitford, who had been told about the
+wizard instrument.
+
+"Bless my detective badge!" cried Mr. Damon. "It may be just the
+thing, Tom. You can offer moving pictures of the smugglers in court,
+for evidence."
+
+"Of course!" added Mr. Period. "Now, Tom, don't disappoint me."
+
+"Well, I suppose I'll have to get the camera out, and set it up,"
+conceded Tom with a laugh. "As you say, Mr. Damon, the pictures MAY
+come in valuable. Come, Ned, you get out the camera, and set it up,
+while Koku and I see to getting the ship in shape for a flight.
+You'll come along, Mr. Period?"
+
+"I don't know. I was thinking of going back. I'm losing about a
+hundred dollars a minute by being away from my business."
+
+"You'll have to go back alone," said Mr. Whitford, "as I have to be
+with Tom, in case of a capture."
+
+"Ride back alone, through these woods? Never! The smugglers might
+catch me, and I'm too valuable a man to go that way! I'll take a
+chance in the airship."
+
+Ned busied himself over the wizard camera, which had been stored
+away, and Mr. Period went with the young bank clerk to look after
+the apparatus. Meanwhile Tom and Koku saw to it that the Falcon was
+ready for a quick flight, Mr. Damon and Mr. Whitford lending
+whatever aid was necessary. The horses, which the agent and Mr.
+Period had ridden, were tethered in the clearing where they could
+get food and water.
+
+"Did the smugglers rush anything over last night?" asked Tom.
+
+"No, we evidently had them frightened. But I shouldn't be surprised
+but what they made the attempt to-night. We'll go back toward the
+St. Regis Indian reservation, where they were getting ready to
+unload that steamer, and hover around the border there. Something is
+sure to happen, sooner or later."
+
+"I guess that's as good a plan as any," agreed Tom, and in a little
+while they started.
+
+All that night they hovered over the border, sailing back and forth,
+flashing the great light at intervals to pick up the white wings of
+a smuggling airship. But they saw nothing.
+
+Mr. Period was in despair, as he fully counted on a capture being
+made while he was present, so that he might see the moving pictures
+made. But it was not to be.
+
+The wizard camera was all in readiness, but there was no need to
+start the automatic machinery. For, search as Tom and his friends
+did for a trace of the smugglers, they could see nothing. They put
+on full speed, and even went as far as the limits of the Indian
+reservation, but to no purpose. They heard no throbbing motor, no
+whizz of great propellers, and saw no white, canvas wings against
+the dark background of the sky, as Tom's craft made her way
+noiselessly along.
+
+"I guess we've frightened them away," said Mr. Whitford dubiously,
+as it came near morning, and nothing suspicious had been seen or
+heard. "They're holding back their goods, Tom until they think they
+can take us unawares. Then they'll rush a big shipment over."
+
+"Then's the time we must catch them," declared the young inventor.
+"We may as well go back now."
+
+"And not a picture!" exclaimed Mr. Period tragically. "Well, be sure
+to get good ones when you do make a capture, Tom."
+
+"I will," promised the young inventor. Then, with a last sweep along
+the border he turned the nose of his craft toward Logansville. He
+had almost reached the place, and was flying rather low over the
+country roads, when Ned called:
+
+"Hark! I hear something!"
+
+The unmistakable noise of a gasolene motor in operation could be
+distinguished.
+
+"There they are!" cried Mr. Period.
+
+"Bless my honeysuckle vine!" gasped Mr. Damon.
+
+"The light, Ned, the light!" cried Tom.
+
+His chum flashed the powerful beam all around the horizon, and
+toward the sky, but nothing was visible.
+
+"Try down below," suggested Mr. Whitford.
+
+Ned sent the beams earthward. And there, in the glare, they saw a
+youth speeding along on a motor-cycle. In an instant Tom grabbed up
+the binoculars and focussed them on the rider.
+
+"It's Andy Foger!" he cried.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+NED IS MISSING
+
+
+There was a period of silence, following Tom's startling
+announcement. There were several plate glass windows in the floor of
+the airship, and through these they all gazed at the youth on the
+motor-cycle. Only Tom, however, by the aid of the glasses, was able
+to make out his features.
+
+"Bless my spark plug! Andy Foger!" cried Mr. Damon. "Are you going
+to try to catch him?"
+
+"Get him and break chug-chug machine!" suggested Koku.
+
+"What do you suppose he's up to, Tom?" asked Ned.
+
+"Andy Foger speeding along at this hour of the morning," remarked
+Mr. Whitford. "There must be something in the wind."
+
+"Get a moving picture of him," urged Mr. Period. "I might be able to
+use that."
+
+"I hardly think it would be worth while," decided Tom. "You see Andy
+hasn't done anything criminal, as far as we know. Of course I think
+he is capable of it, but that's a different thing. He may be out
+only on a pleasure jaunt, and he could stop us from showing the
+pictures, if we took them."
+
+"That's so," agreed Mr. Period. "Don't run any risks of a lawsuit.
+It takes up too much of my time. Never mind the pictures."
+
+"Just capture him, Tom, and see what he is doing," suggested Mr.
+Damon. "Bless my chewing gum! But he must be up to something."
+
+"Well, he's aware of the fact that we're watching him, at all
+events!" exclaimed Mr. Whitford, for, at that moment, Andy, having
+seen the glare of the light, glanced up. They could see him looking
+at him, and, a second later, the Shopton bully steered his machine
+down a side road where the overhanging trees were so thick that he
+could not be made out, even by the powerful gleams of the great
+searchlight.
+
+"He's gone!" gasped Ned.
+
+"Afraid I guess," added Mr. Damon. "That shows he was up to
+something wrong. Well, what are we going to do?"
+
+"Nothing, that I can see," spoke Mr. Whitford. "We can only go back
+to our camping place, and make another try. This Andy Foger may, or
+may not, be in with the smugglers. That's something we have yet to
+prove. However, we can't do anything now."
+
+In vain did Ned try to get the bully within range of the light. They
+could hear the sounds of the motor cycle growing more and more
+faint, and then, as it was rapidly getting light, and as they did
+not want to be seen dropping into their camping place, they made all
+haste toward it, before dawn should break.
+
+"Well, I can't spend any more time here," declared Mr. Period, when
+a hasty breakfast had been served.
+
+"Will you ride back with me?" asked Mr. Whitford of the moving
+picture man.
+
+"Will I? Well, I guess I will! You can't lose me! I'm not going to
+be captured by those smugglers. I'd be a valuable man for them to
+have as a hostage. They'd probably ask a million dollars ransom for
+me," and Mr. Period carefully straightened his brilliant red
+necktie.
+
+Soon he and Mr. Whitford were riding back to town, taking a
+roundabout way, as the agent always did, to throw any possible spies
+off the track.
+
+Everyone, even including the giant Koku was tired enough to take a
+sleep after dinner. It was about three o'clock when Ned awoke, and
+he found Tom already up, and at the wireless instrument, which was
+clicking and buzzing.
+
+"Message coming?" asked the young bank clerk.
+
+Tom nodded, and clasped the receiver over his ear. A moment later he
+began jotting down a message.
+
+"Mr. Whitford says he has a tip that something is going to take
+place to-night," read the young inventor a few minutes later. "The
+smugglers have accumulated a big store of goods, and they are
+anxious to get them over the border. There are silks, laces,
+diamonds, and other things on which there is a high duty, or tax for
+bringing into the United States. He will be here early, and we must
+be ready for a start at once."
+
+"All right. I guess we are ready now. Say, I'm going over to that
+little brook, and see if I can catch a few trout for supper."
+
+"All right. Good idea. Don't be gone too long."
+
+"I won't. Say, where is my coat, anyhow? I never can seem to keep
+track of that, or my cap either."
+
+"Never mind. Wear mine, and you won't be delayed looking for them,"
+so Ned donned Tom's garment and headpiece, and set out.
+
+Three hours passed, and Mr. Damon prepared to get supper.
+
+"I wonder why Ned doesn't come back with the fish?" he said. "It's
+time, if we're going to cook them to-night."
+
+"That's right, he ought to be here," agreed Tom. "Koku take a walk
+over to the trout brook, and tell Mr. Ned to come here, whether he
+has any fish or not."
+
+"Sure, me go, Mr. Tom!"
+
+Koku was gone perhaps five minutes, and when he came back he was
+much excited.
+
+"Mr. Ned he no there!" the giant cried. "But fish pole all broken,
+and ground all full of holes. Look like fight."
+
+Tom started for the place where he knew Ned usually went to fish.
+Koku and Mr. Damon followed. On reaching it our hero saw indeed that
+the ground was "full of holes," as the giant described the
+indentations made by the heels of boots and shoes.
+
+"There's been a fight here!" cried Tom.
+
+"Yes, and Ned is missing," added Mr. Damon.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+THE NIGHT RACE
+
+
+The three looked at each other. For a moment they could not
+understand, and then, as they stood there, the meaning came to them.
+
+"The smugglers!" whispered Tom.
+
+"Of course!" agreed Mr. Damon. "And they must have taken him for
+you, Tom, for he had on your coat and cap. What can they have done
+with him?"
+
+"Taken him away, that's evident," spoke Tom. "Let's look around, and
+see if we can find him."
+
+They looked, but to no purpose. Ned had disappeared. There were the
+signs of a struggle, the fish rod was broken in several places, as
+if Ned had used it as a club, and the ground was torn up.
+
+"Bless my tin whistle!" cried Mr. Damon. "What shall we do?"
+
+For a moment no one knew what to say, then, as they looked at each
+other in silence, a voice called:
+
+"I say! What's up? What's the matter? Where are you all? Hey, Tom
+Swift!"
+
+"It's Mr. Whitford!" cried Tom. "He's just in time." Then he called
+in louder tones:
+
+"Here we are! In the woods by the trout brook! Come on over! Ned is
+gone!"
+
+There was a commotion in the bushes, the trampling of a horse, and a
+moment later the government agent had joined the others.
+
+"What's this?" he cried. "Ned gone? What do you mean?"
+
+"He's missing. The smugglers have him, I'm afraid," explained Tom,
+and then he gave the details.
+
+"It certainly looks so," agreed Mr. Whitford. "His wearing of your
+coat and cap fooled them. They must have spied out this camping
+place, and they were in hiding. When they saw Ned coming to fish
+they took him for you. Having failed in their attempt to damage the
+airship, they decided to get her captain. Probably they thought that
+if they did the Falcon could not be run, and they would be safe. But
+they got the wrong man."
+
+"Then we must get Ned back at once!" cried Tom. "Come on, we'll
+start right away! Where do you think we can nab them, Mr. Whitford?"
+
+"Wait a minute," suggested the government agent. He seemed in deep
+thought, and paced up and down. It was clear that a great question
+was confronting him.
+
+"Well!" exclaimed Tom impatiently, "if we're going to get Ned we
+must start at once."
+
+"Perhaps it would be best not to try to rescue Ned at once," said
+the custom house man after a pause.
+
+"What!" cried Tom. "Not rescue Ned, my best chum?"
+
+"Not at once," repeated Mr. Whitford. "Look here, Tom. I know it
+seems a hard thing to say, but perhaps if we proceed on our original
+plan, to hover over the border, and get on the trail of the
+smugglers, chasing them to where they land the goods in the United
+States, it will be best."
+
+"And not rescue Ned?"
+
+"We can best rescue him by catching the smugglers."
+
+"Then you think--"
+
+"That they have him with them--on board one of their airships very
+likely. If we get THEM we'll have NED."
+
+"Then we'll get 'em!" cried Tom with energy. "Come on back to the
+Falcon. We'll get ready for a big flight!"
+
+"Yes, I think they'll make a desperate effort to-night," went on the
+agent. "They have a lot of goods ready to rush over the border, and
+the fact that they tried to capture you, shows that they are ready
+to pull off a big trick. I think if we can catch them to-night, it
+will put an end to their operations, and, at the same time, bring
+Ned back to us."
+
+"Where do you think they will start to cross the line?" asked Tom.
+
+"Near the place where we saw the man waving the flags. I have
+information to the effect that they have a store of valuable goods
+there. They imagine that they have the master of the airship, and
+the owner of the great searchlight in their power, and that they can
+not be molested, so they will be bold."
+
+"But they'll soon find out that Ned isn't Tom," said Mr. Damon.
+
+"No they won't! Not if it depends on Ned!" cried Tom. "Ned is game.
+He'll soon get wise to the fact that they have taken him for me, and
+he'll carry on the deception. None of the smugglers know me
+intimately."
+
+"Unless Andy Foger should be with them," suggested Mr. Damon.
+
+"Oh, Ned can fool Andy any day. Come on, Mr. Whitford. We'll get the
+smugglers to-night, spoil their game, and rescue Ned. Somehow, I
+feel that we're going to succeed."
+
+"Bless my tin dishpan!" cried Mr. Damon. "I hope we do."
+
+Slowly, and with no very cheerful hearts, they filed away from the
+scene of Ned's capture. In spite of the fact that they did not think
+he would be harshly treated, they worried about him, Tom especially.
+
+A hasty supper was eaten, and then, Tom, having seen that everything
+aboard the ship was in good order, sent her aloft on what he hoped
+would be the last chase after the smugglers. He decided to have Mr.
+Damon steer the craft, as this was comparatively easy, once she was
+started on her course, while the young inventor would manage the
+searchlight, and start the automatic wizard camera, in case there
+was anything to photograph.
+
+Up and up went the Falcon, and soon she was making her way toward
+the St. Regis Indian reservation, near which it was expected the
+smugglers would start. Tom put out every light, as he wanted to
+remain in darkness, until he could see a moving glow in the sky that
+would tell him of a rival airship on the wing.
+
+It did not take them long to reach the desired spot, and they
+hovered in the air over it, every one with tense nerves, waiting for
+what would happen next.
+
+Tom did not want to show his searchlight just yet, as he feared the
+gleam of it might stop the operations of the smugglers. So he waited
+in dark-ness, approaching close to the earth in his noiseless ship
+several times, and endeavoring to see something through the powerful
+night glasses.
+
+Suddenly, from below them, came a subdued throb and hum of a motor.
+
+"There they are!" exclaimed Mr. Damon.
+
+"I think so," agreed Tom. He looked below. He saw two flickering
+lights, rather far apart. Mr. Whitford observed them at the same
+moment.
+
+"There are TWO of them!" exclaimed the agent, "TWO airships, Tom!"
+
+"So I see. Koku, get out my electric rifle. We can't chase two, if
+they separate, so I may have to stop one. It's best to be prepared.
+I'm going to follow them in the dark, until they get over the
+border, and then I'll turn on the light and the camera. Then it will
+be a race to the finish."
+
+The twin lights came nearer. Tom stood with his mouth to the signal
+tube that communicated with Mr. Damon in the pilot house. From a
+side window he watched the smugglers' airships. They shot upward and
+then came on straight ahead, to pass to one side of him. Now they
+were past. Tom started the wizard camera.
+
+"Half speed ahead!" the young inventor signalled, and the Falcon
+shot forward. The night race was on.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+THE CAPTURE--CONCLUSION
+
+
+"Do you think they know we are here, Tom?" asked Mr. Whitford, as he
+stood at the side of the young inventor in the motor room.
+
+"I don't believe so, as yet. They can't hear us, and, unless they
+have pretty powerful glasses, they can't pick us up. We can soon
+tell however, if they are aware that we are following them."
+
+"Have you made any plan about capturing them?"
+
+"No, I'm going to wait and see what turns up. I can't certainly
+chase two of them, if they separate, and that's why I'm going to
+cripple one if I have to."
+
+"But won't that be dangerous? I don't want to see any of them
+killed, or even hurt, though they are smugglers."
+
+"And I don't want to hurt them, either. If worst comes to worst I'm
+going to put a few holes in the wing planes of the smaller craft.
+That will cause her to lose headway, and she can't keep up. They'll
+have to volplane to earth, but, if they know anything at all about
+airships, they can do that easily, and not get a bit hurt. That will
+put them out of the race, and I can keep on after the big ship. I
+fancy that carries the more valuable cargo."
+
+"I presume so. Well, don't bring the one to earth until you get over
+Uncle Sam's territory, and then maybe there will be a chance to
+capture them, and the goods too."
+
+"I will," promised Tom. They were still over Canadian territory, but
+were rapidly approaching the border.
+
+"I think I will send a wireless to my men in Logansville, to start
+out and try to pick up the crippled airship after you disable her,"
+decided Mr. Whitford, and as Tom agreed that this was a good plan,
+the wireless was soon cracking away, the government agent being an
+adept in its use.
+
+"I've told them we'd give another signal to tell them, as nearly as
+possible where we made them take to earth," he said to Tom, and the
+young inventor nodded in agreement.
+
+"Ned in them ship?" asked Koku, as he came back from the pilot house
+to report that Mr. Damon was all right, and needed no help.
+
+"Yes, I think Ned is in one of them," said Tom. "The big one most
+likely. Poor Ned a prisoner! Well, I'll soon have him away from
+them--if nothing happens," and Tom looked about the motor room, to
+make sure that every piece of apparatus was working perfectly.
+
+The two airships of the smugglers were hanging close together, and
+it was evident that the larger one had to make her pace slow, so as
+not to get ahead of the small craft. Tom followed on relentlessly,
+not using half his speed, but creeping on silently in the darkness.
+
+"We're over the United States now," said Mr. Whitford, after a
+glance earthward through the binoculars. "Let 'em get a little
+farther over the line before you pop 'em with your electric rifle,
+Tom."
+
+Our hero nodded, and looked out of a side window to note the
+progress of the smugglers. For several miles the chase was thus kept
+up, and then, suddenly the smaller craft was seen to swerve to one
+side.
+
+"They are separating!" cried Mr. Whitford, at the same time Mr.
+Damon called through the tube from the pilot house:
+
+"Which one shall I follow, Tom?"
+
+"The big one," the youth answered. "I'll take care of the other!"
+With a quick motion he flashed the current into the great
+searchlight, and, calling to Mr. Whitford to hold it so that the
+beams played on the small aeroplane, Tom leveled his wonderful
+electric rifle at the big stretch of canvas. He pressed the lever, a
+streak of blue flame shot out through an opened port, and, an
+instant later, the small craft of the smugglers was seen to stagger
+about, dipping to one side.
+
+"There they come!" cried Mr. Whitford. "They're done for!"
+
+"One shot more," said Tom grimly. "It won't hurt 'em!"
+
+Again the deadly electric rifle sent out its wireless charge, and
+the airship slowly fluttered toward the earth.
+
+"They're volplaning down!" cried Tom. "That's the end of them. Now
+to catch the other!"
+
+"Take the lantern!" cried Mr. Whitford. "I'm going to send a
+wireless to my men to get after this disabled craft."
+
+Tom swung the beam of the searchlight forward and a moment later had
+picked up the big aeroplane. It was some distance in advance, and
+going like the wind. He heard the automatic camera clicking away.
+
+"They speeded her up as soon as they saw what was on!" cried Tom.
+"But we haven't begun to go yet!"
+
+He signalled to Mr. Damon, who pulled over the accelerating lever
+and instantly the Falcon responded. Now indeed the race was on in
+earnest. The smugglers must have understood this, for they tried all
+their tactics to throw the pursuing airship off the track. They
+dodged and twisted, now going up, and now going down, and even
+trying to turn back, but Tom headed them off. Ever the great beam of
+light shone relentlessly on them, like some avenging eye. They could
+not escape.
+
+"Are we gaining?" cried Mr. Whitford.
+
+"A little, and slowly," answered Tom. "They have a bigger load on
+than when we chased them before, but still they have a speed almost
+equal to ours. They must have a magnificent motor."
+
+Faster and faster sped on the Falcon. The other craft kept ahead of
+her, however, though Tom could see that, inch by inch, he was
+overhauling her.
+
+"Where do they seem to be heading for?" asked the government agent.
+
+"Shopton, as near as I can make out," replied the youth. "They
+probably want to get there ahead of us, and hide the goods. I must
+prevent that. Mr. Damon is steering better than he ever did before."
+
+Tom shifted the light to keep track of the smugglers, who had dipped
+downward on a steep slant. Then they shot upward, but the Falcon was
+after them.
+
+The hours of the night passed. The chase was kept up. Try as the
+smugglers did, they could not shake Tom off. Nearer and nearer he
+crept. There was the gray dawn of morning in the sky, and Tom knew,
+from the great speed they had traveled that they must be near
+Shopton.
+
+"They're slowing up. Tom!" suddenly cried Mr. Whitford who was
+watching them through an open port.
+
+"Yes, I guess they must have heated some of their bearings. Well,
+here's where I capture them, if it's ever to be. Koku, let down the
+grappling anchor."
+
+"Are you really going to capture them, Tom?" asked the custom
+officer.
+
+"I'm going to try," was the answer, as Koku came back to say that
+the anchor was dragging over the stern by a long rope.
+
+"You work the light, Mr. Whitford," cried Tom. "I'm going to relieve
+Mr. Damon in the pilot house. He can help you here. It will be all
+over in another minute."
+
+In the pilot house Tom grasped the steering levers. Then in a final
+burst of speed he sent his craft above, and past that of the
+smugglers.
+
+Suddenly he felt a shock. It was the grappling anchor catching in
+the rail of the other air craft. A shout of dismay arose from the
+smugglers.
+
+"You've got 'em! You've got 'em, Tom!" yelled Mr. Whitford.
+
+"Bless my hasty pudding! So he has!" gasped Mr. Damon.
+
+Changing the course of his craft Tom sent the Falcon toward the
+earth, pulling the other aeroplane with him. Down and down he went,
+and the frantic efforts of the smugglers to release themselves were
+useless. They were pulled along by the powerful airship of our hero.
+
+A few minutes later Tom picked out a good landing place in the dim
+light of the breaking dawn, and went to earth. Jamming on the brakes
+he leaped from the pilot house to the stern of his own craft,
+catching up his electric rifle. The other airship, caught by the
+grappling anchor at the end of a long rope, was just settling down,
+those in her having the good sense to shut off their power, and
+volplane when they found that they could not escape.
+
+As the smugglers' craft touched the earth, several figures leaped
+from her, and started to run away.
+
+"Hold on!" cried Tom. "I've got you all covered with the electric
+rifle! Don't move! Koku, you, and Mr. Whitford and Mr. Damon take
+care of them. Tie 'em up."
+
+"Bless my hat band!" cried the eccentric man. "What a great capture!
+Where are we?"
+
+"Not far from Shopton," answered Tom. "But look after the
+prisoners."
+
+There was a cry of astonishment from Mr. Whitford as he reached the
+sullen occupants of the smugglers' craft.
+
+"Here are the Fogers--father and son!" the agent called to Tom.
+"They were in it after all. Great Scott! What a surprise. And here
+are a lot of men whom I've been after for some time! Oh, Tom Swift,
+this IS a capture."
+
+"What right have you to use these high-handed methods on us?"
+demanded Mr. Foger pompously.
+
+"Yes, dad make 'em let us go; we haven't done anything!" snarled
+Andy.
+
+"I guess you won't go yet a while," said the agent. "I'll have a
+look inside this craft. Keep 'em covered, Tom."
+
+"I will. I guess Andy knows what this rifle can do. See if Ned is a
+prisoner."
+
+There was a few moments of waiting during which Koku and Mr. Damon
+securely bound the prisoners. Then Mr. Whitford reappeared. He was
+accompanied by some one.
+
+"Hello, Tom!" called the latter. "I'm all right. Much obliged for
+the rescue."
+
+"Are you all right, Ned?" asked Tom, of his chum.
+
+"Yes, except that they kept me gagged. The men who captured me took
+me for you, and, after the Fogers found out the mistake, they
+decided to keep me anyhow. Say, you've made a great haul."
+
+And so it proved, for in the airship was a quantity of valuable
+silks and laces, while on the persons of the smugglers, including
+Mr. Foger, were several packets of diamonds. These were taken
+possession of by Mr. Whitford, who also confiscated the bales and
+packages.
+
+Ned was soon aboard the Falcon, while the prisoners, securely tied
+were laid in the cabin of their own craft with Koku to stand guard
+over them. Mr. Damon went to Shopton, which was the nearest town,
+for police aid, and soon the smugglers were safe in jail, though Mr.
+Foger protested vigorously against going.
+
+Ned explained how he had been pounced upon by two men when he was
+fishing, and told how without a chance to warn his friends, he had
+been gagged and bound and taken to the headquarters of the smugglers
+in Canada, just over the border. They went by carriages. Then the
+Fogers, who, it seemed, were hand in glove with the law violators,
+saw him, and identified him. The smugglers had thought they were
+capturing Tom.
+
+"It was your coat and hat that did it, Tom," explained Ned. "I
+fought against being taken away, but when I happened to think if
+they took me for you it might be a trick against them. And it was.
+The Fogers didn't discover the mistake until just before we started."
+
+"They planned for a big shipment of goods last night and used two
+airships. I don't know what became of the other."
+
+"We've got her, and the men, too," interposed Mr. Whitford, as this
+conversation was taking place several hours later in the Swift home.
+"I just had a wire from my deputy. They got right after the damaged
+airship, and reached her just as the men were hiding the goods, and
+preparing to dismantle the craft. We have them all, thanks to you,
+Tom!"
+
+"And to think that the Fogers were in it all the while!" remarked
+Tom. "They certainly fooled us."
+
+"I'm not done with them yet," said Mr. Whitford. "I'm going to have
+another look at their house, and the gardener's home."
+
+"The Fogers were in dire straits, that's why they went in with the
+smugglers," explained Ned. "Though they gagged me, they didn't stop
+up my ears, and when they hid me in a little room on the airship, I
+could hear them talking together. It seems that the smugglers put up
+the money to buy the airships, and just happened to stumble on Andy
+to run the machinery for them. His father helped, too. They shared
+in the proceeds, and they must have made considerable, for the
+smuggling has been going on for some time."
+
+"Well, they'll lose all they made," declared the agent. Later he,
+Tom and Ned made another inspection of the Foger premises. Down in
+the cellar of the gardener's house they found, behind a cunningly
+concealed door, a tunnel leading into the old mansion. Later it was
+learned that the smugglers had been in the habit of bringing goods
+across the border in airships, landing them in a lonely stretch of
+woods outside of Shopton, and later bringing them by wagon to the
+mansion.
+
+Inside there, in some secret rooms that had been constructed off of
+the main apartments, the goods would be unpacked, put in different
+boxes, carried through the tunnel to the gardener's house, and
+thence shipped as "old furniture" to various unscrupulous agents who
+disposed of them.
+
+The hiring of Mr. Dillon had been only a blind. Later the smugglers,
+in the guise of carpenters, made the desired changes. So cunningly
+had the opening of the tunnel in the cellar of the gardener's house
+been concealed, that it was only discovered after a most careful
+search.
+
+There is little more to tell. With the capture of the two airships,
+an end was put to the smuggling operations, especially since nearly
+all the gang was captured. A few, those who brought the goods up the
+St. Lawrence, from the ocean steamers, managed to escape, but they
+had to go into hiding.
+
+The goods captured proved very valuable, and partly made up to Uncle
+Sam's treasury the losses sustained. Tom was offered a big reward,
+but would not take it, accepting only money for his expenses, and
+requesting that the reward be divided among the agents of Mr.
+Whitford's staff, who needed it more than Tom did.
+
+There was no difficulty about convicting the prisoners, including
+the Fogers, for Tom's wizard camera had taken pictures of the chase
+and capture, and the men were easily identified. Mr. Period was
+quite delighted with the roll of films that Tom gave him. Some of
+the smugglers were sent to prison for long terms, and others,
+including Andy and his father, had to pay heavy fines.
+
+"Well, Tom Swift, I can't thank you enough," said Mr. Whitford, one
+day as he called to pay the young inventor a visit. "I'm ordered to
+the Pacific coast and I may have to send for you with your airship,
+and great searchlight."
+
+"I don't believe I'll come," laughed the lad. "I'm going to take a
+long rest and settle down."
+
+"He's going to get married!" exclaimed Ned, taking care to get
+behind a chair.
+
+"If Mr. Tom marry, he keep Koku for servant?" asked the giant
+anxiously.
+
+"Oh, I'm not going to get married, just yet, Koku!" exclaimed Tom,
+who was blushing furiously. "I'm going to invent something new."
+
+"Bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon.
+
+"Oh, Tom, it seems good to have you home again," said aged Mr. Swift
+softly.
+
+"Dat's what it do!" added Eradicate. "Boomerang hab been monstrous
+lonely sence yo'-all been gone, Massa Tom."
+
+"Well, I'm going to stay home--for a while," said Tom. And thus,
+surrounded as he is by his friends and relatives, we will take leave
+of Tom Swift.
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his Great Searchlight, by Victor Appleton
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+by Victor Appleton
+
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+<meta name="author" content="Victor Appleton">
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+<h2 align="center">The Project Gutenberg etext of <a href="#start">Tom Swift and His Great Searchlight</a></h2>
+<h3>#15 in our series by Victor Appleton</h3>
+
+<PRE>
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+*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****
+
+
+Title: Tom Swift and His Great Searchlight
+
+Author: Victor Appleton
+
+Release Date: November, 2003  [EBook #4635]
+[Most recently updated: March 14, 2002]
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+************************************************************************
+
+</PRE>
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="start"></A>
+<p>Greg Weeks, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.</p>
+
+<P>
+<H2>Tom Swift and His Great Searchlight</H2>
+
+<P>
+or
+<BR>
+On the Border for Uncle Sam
+
+<P>
+by Victor Appleton
+
+<P>
+<H3>CONTENTS</H3>
+
+<P>
+<A HREF="#I">I   A Scrap of Paper</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#II">II   A Spy In Town</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#III">III   Queer Repairs</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#IV">IV   Searching For Smugglers</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#V">V   The Raid</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#VI">VI   The Appeal To Tom</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#VII">VII   A Searchlight Is Needed</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#VIII">VIII   Tom's Newest Invention</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#IX">IX   "Beware Of the Comet!"</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#X">X   Off For the Border</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XI">XI   Andy's New Airship</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XII">XII   Warned Away</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XIII">XIII   Koku Saves the Light</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XIV">XIV   A False Clew</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XV">XV   The Rescue On the Lake</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XVI">XVI   Koku's Prisoner</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XVII">XVII   What the Indian Saw</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XVIII">XVIII   The Pursuit</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XIX">XIX   In Dire Peril</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XX">XX   Suspicious Actions</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XXI">XXI   Mr. Period Arrives</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XXII">XXII   Hovering O'er the Border</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XXIII">XXIII   Ned Is Missing</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XXIV">XXIV   The Night Race</A><BR>
+<A HREF="#XXV">XXV   The Capture--Conclusion</A>
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="I"></A>
+<H3>Chapter I A Scrap of Paper</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+"Tom, did you know Andy Foger was back in town?"
+
+<P>
+"Great Scott, no, I didn't Ned! Not to stay, I hope."
+
+<P>
+"I guess not. The old Foger homestead is closed up, though I did see
+a man working around it to-day as I came past. But he was a
+carpenter, making some repairs I think. No, I don't believe Andy is
+here to stay."
+
+<P>
+"But if some one is fixing up the house, it looks as if the family
+would come back," remarked Tom, as he thought of the lad who had so
+long been his enemy, and who had done him many mean turns before
+leaving Shopton, where our hero lived.
+
+<P>
+"I don't think so," was the opinion of Ned Newton, who was Tom
+Swift's particular chum. "You know when Mr. Foger lost all his
+money, the house was supposed to be sold. But I heard later that
+there was some flaw in the title, and the sale fell through. It is
+because he couldn't sell the place that Mr. Foger couldn't get money
+to pay some of his debts. He has some claim on the house, I believe,
+but I don't believe he'd come back to live in it."
+
+<P>
+"Why not?"
+
+<P>
+"Because it's too expensive a place for a poor man to keep up, and
+Mr. Foger is now poor."
+
+<P>
+"Yes, he didn't get any of the gold, as we did when we went to the
+underground city," remarked Tom. "Well, I don't wish anybody bad
+luck but I certainly hope the Fogers keep poor enough to stay away
+from Shopton. They bothered me enough. But where did you see Andy?"
+
+<P>
+"Oh, he was with his crony, Sam Snedecker. You know Sam said, some
+time ago, that Andy was to pay him a visit, but Andy didn't come
+then, for some reason or other. I suppose this call makes up for it.
+I met them down near Parker's drug store."
+
+<P>
+"You didn't hear Andy say anything about coming back here?" and the
+young inventor's voice was a trifle anxious.
+
+<P>
+"No," replied Ned. "What makes you so nervous about it?"
+
+<P>
+"Well, Ned, you know what Andy is--always trying to make trouble for
+me, even sneaking in my shop sometimes, trying to get the secret of
+some of my airships and machinery. And I admit I think it looks
+suspicious when they have a carpenter working on the old homestead.
+Andy may come back, and--"
+
+<P>
+"Nonsence, Tom! If he does you and I can handle him. But I think
+perhaps the house may be rented, and they may be fixing it up for a
+tenant. It's been vacant a long time you know, and I heard the other
+day that it was haunted."
+
+<P>
+"Haunted, Ned! Get out! Say, you don't believe in that sort of bosh,
+do you?"
+
+<P>
+"Of course not. It was Eradicate who told me, and he said when he
+came past the place quite late the other night he heard groans, and
+the clanking of chains coming from it, and he saw flashing lights."
+
+<P>
+"Oh, wow! Eradicate is geting batty in his old age, poor fellow! He
+and his mule Boomerang are growing old together, and I guess my
+colored helper is 'seeing things,' as well as hearing them. But, as
+you say, it may be that the house is going to be rented. It's too
+valuable a property to let stand idle. Did you hear how long Andy
+was going to stay?"
+
+<P>
+"A week, I believe."
+
+<P>
+"A week! Say, one day would be enough I should think."
+
+<P>
+"You must have some special reason for being afraid Andy will do you
+some harm," exclaimed Ned. "Out with it, Tom."
+
+<P>
+"Well, I'll tell you what it is, Ned," and Tom led his chum inside
+the shop, in front of which the two lads had been talking. It was a
+shop where the young inventor constructed many of his marvelous
+machines, aircraft, and instruments of various sorts.
+
+<P>
+"Do you think some one may hear you?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"They might. I'm not taking any chances. But the reason I want to be
+especially careful that Andy Foger doesn't spy on any of my
+inventions is that at last I have perfected my noiseless airship
+motor!"
+
+<P>
+"You have!" cried Ned, for he knew that his chum had been working
+for a long time on this motor, that would give out no sound, no
+matter at how high a speed it was run. "That's great, Tom! I
+congratulate you. I don't wonder you don't want Andy to get even a
+peep at it."
+
+<P>
+"Especially as I haven't it fully patented," went on the young
+inventor. He had met with many failures in his efforts to perfect
+this motor, which he intended to install on one of his airships. "If
+any one saw the finished parts now it wouldn't take them long to
+find out the secret of doing away with the noise."
+
+<P>
+"How do you do it?" asked Ned, for he realized that his chum had no
+secrets from him.
+
+<P>
+"Well, it's too complicated to describe," said Tom, "but the secret
+lies in a new way of feeding gasolene into the motor, a new sparking
+device, and an improved muffler. I think I could start my new
+airship in front of the most skittish horse, and he wouldn't stir,
+for the racket wouldn't wake a baby. It's going to be great."
+
+<P>
+"What are you going to do with it, when you get it all completed?"
+
+<P>
+"I haven't made up my mind yet. It's going to be some time before I
+get it all put together, and installed, and in that time something
+may turn up. Well, let's talk about something more pleasant than
+Andy Foger. I guess I won't worry about him."
+
+<P>
+"No, I wouldn't. I'd like to see the motor run."
+
+<P>
+"You can, in a day or so, but just now I need a certain part to
+attach to the sparker, and I had to send to town for it. Koku has
+gone after it."
+
+<P>
+"What, that big giant servant? He might break it on the way back,
+he's so strong. He doesn't realize how much muscle he has."
+
+<P>
+"No, that's so. Well, while we're waiting for him, come on in the
+house, and I'll show you some new books I got."
+
+<P>
+The two lads were soon in the Swift homestead, a pleasant and large
+old-fashioned residence, in the suburbs of Shopton. Tom brought out
+the books, and he and his chum poured over them.
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Damon gave me that one on electricity," explained the young
+inventor, handing Ned a bulky volume.
+
+<P>
+"'Bless my bookmark!' as Mr. Damon himself would say if he were
+here," exclaimed Ned with a laugh. "That's a dandy. But Mr. Damon
+didn't give you <i>this</i> one," and Ned picked up a dainty volume of
+verse. "'To Tom Swift, with the best wishes of Mary--'" but that
+was as far as he read, for Tom grabbed the book away, and closed the
+cover over the flyleaf, which bore some writing in a girl's hand. I
+think my old readers can guess whose hand it was.
+
+<P>
+"Wow! Tom Swift reading poetry!" laughed Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Oh, cut it out," begged his chum. "I didn't know that was among the
+books. I got it last Christmas. Now here's a dandy one on lion
+hunting, Ned," and to cover his confusion Tom shoved over a book
+containing many pictures of wild animals.
+
+<P>
+"Lion hunting; eh," remarked Ned. "Well, I guess you could give them
+some points on snapping lions with your moving picture camera, Tom."
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I got some good views," admitted the young inventor modestly.
+"I may take the camera along on some trips in my noiseless airship.
+Hello! here comes Koku back. I hope he got what I wanted."
+
+<P>
+A man, immense in size, a veritable giant, one of two whom Tom Swift
+had brought away from captivity with him, was entering the front
+gate. He stopped to speak to Mr. Swift, Tom's father, who was
+setting out some plants in a flower bed, taking them from a large
+wheel barrow filled with the blooms.
+
+<P>
+Mr. Swift, who was an inventor of note, had failed in his health of
+late, and the doctor had recommended him to be out of doors as much
+as possible. He delighted in gardening, and was at it all day.
+
+<P>
+"Look!" suddenly cried Ned, pointing to the giant. Then Tom and his
+chum saw a strange sight.
+
+<P>
+With a booming laugh, Koku picked up Mr. Swift gently and set him on
+a board that extended across the front part of the wheel barrow.
+Then, as easily as if it was a pound weight, the big man lifted Mr.
+Swift, barrow, plants and all, in his two hands, and carried them
+across the garden to another flower bed, that was ready to be
+filled.
+
+<P>
+"No use to walk when I can carry you, Mr. Swift," exclaimed Koku
+with a laugh. "I overtook you quite nice; so?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, you took me over in great shape, Koku!" replied the aged
+inventor with a smile at Koku's English, for the giant frequently
+got his words backwards. "That barrow is quite heavy for me to
+wheel."
+
+<P>
+"You after this call me," suggested Koku.
+
+<P>
+"Say, but he's strong all right," exclaimed Ned, "and that was an
+awkward thing to carry."
+
+<P>
+"It sure was," agreed Tom. "I haven't yet seen any one strong enough
+to match Koku. And he's gentle about it, too. He's very fond of
+dad."
+
+<P>
+"And you too, I guess," added Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Well, Koku, did you get that attachment?" asked Tom, as his giant
+servant entered the room.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, Mr. Tom. I have it here," and from his pocket Koku drew a
+heavy piece of steel that would have taxed the strength of either of
+the boys to lift with one hand. But Koku's pockets were very large
+and made specially strong of leather, for he was continually putting
+odd things in them.
+
+<P>
+Koku handed over the attachment, for which his master had sent him.
+He held it out on a couple of fingers, as one might a penknife, but
+Tom took both hands to set it on the ground.
+
+<P>
+"I the female get, also," went on Koku, as he began taking some
+letters and papers from his pocket. "I stop in the office post, and
+the female get."
+
+<P>
+"Mail, Koku, not female," corrected Tom with a laugh. "A female is a
+lady you know."
+
+<P>
+"For sure I know, and the lady in the post office gave me the
+female. That is I said what, did I not?"
+
+<P>
+"Well, I guess you meant it all right," remarked Ned. "But letter
+mail and a male man and a female woman are all different."
+
+<P>
+"Oh such a language!" gasped the giant. "I shall never learn it.
+Well, then, Mr. Tom, here is your mail, that the female lady gave to
+me for you, and you are a male. It is very strange."
+
+<P>
+Koku pulled out a bundle of letters, which Tom took, and then the
+giant continued to delve for more. One of the papers, rolled in a
+wrapper, stuck on the edge of the pocket.
+
+<P>
+"You must outcome!" exclaimed Koku, giving it a sudden yank, and it
+"outcame" with such suddenness that the paper was torn in half,
+tightly wrapped as it was, and it was considerable of a bundle.
+
+<P>
+"Koku, you're getting too strong!" exclaimed Tom, as scraps of paper
+were scattered about the room. "I think I'll give you less to eat."
+
+<P>
+"I am your forgiveness," said Koku humbly, as he stooped over to
+pick up the fragments. "I did not mean."
+
+<P>
+"It's all right," said Tom kindly. "That's only a big bundle of
+Sunday papers I guess."
+
+<P>
+"I'll give him a hand," volunteered Ned, stooping over to help Koku
+clear the rug of the litter. As he did so Tom's chum gave a gasp of
+surprise.
+
+<P>
+"Hello, Tom!" Ned cried. "Here's something new, and I guess it will
+interest you."
+
+<P>
+"What is it?"
+
+<P>
+"It's part of an account of some daring smugglers who are working
+goods across the Canadian border into the northern part of this
+state. The piece is torn, but there's something here which says the
+government agents suspect the men of using airships to transport the
+stuff."
+
+<P>
+"Airships! Smugglers using airships!" cried Tom. "It doesn't seem
+possible!"
+
+<P>
+"That's what it says here, Tom. It says the custom house authorities
+have tried every way to catch them, and when they couldn't land 'em,
+the only theory they could account for the way the smuggling was
+going on was by airships, flying at night."
+
+<P>
+"That's odd. I wonder how it would seem to chase a smuggler in an
+airship at night? Some excitement about that; eh, Ned? Let's see
+that scrap of paper."
+
+<P>
+Ned passed it over, and Tom scanned it closely. Then in his turn, he
+uttered an exclamation of surprise.
+
+<P>
+"What is it?" inquired his chum.
+
+<P>
+"Great Scott, Ned, listen to this! 'It is suspected that some of the
+smugglers have'--then there's a place where the paper is torn-'in
+Shopton, N.Y.'" finished Tom. "Think of that, Ned. Our town here, is
+in some way connected with the airship smugglers! We must find the
+rest of this scrap of paper, and paste it together. This may be a
+big thing! Find that other scrap! Koku, you go easy on papers next
+time," cautioned Tom, good naturedly, as he and his chum began
+sorting over the torn parts of the paper.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="II"></A>
+<H3>Chapter II A Spy In Town</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+Tom Swift, Ned Newton and Koku, the giant, are busy trying to piece
+together the torn parts of the paper, containing an account of the
+airship smugglers. I will take the opportunity of telling you
+something about the young inventor and his work, for, though many of
+my readers have made Tom's acquaintances in previous books of this
+series, there may be some who pick up this one as their first
+volume.
+
+<P>
+Tom lived with his father, also an inventor of note, in the town of
+Shopton, New York state. His mother was dead, and a Mrs. Baggert
+kept house. Eradicate was an eccentric, colored helper, but of late
+had become too old to do much. Mr. Swift was also quite aged, and
+had been obliged to give up most of his inventive work.
+
+<P>
+Ned Newton was Tom Swift's particular chum, and our hero had another
+friend, a Mr. Wakefield Damon, of the neighboring town of Waterford.
+Mr. Damon had the odd habit of blessing everything he saw or could
+think of. Another of Tom's friends was Miss Mary Nestor, whom I have
+mentioned, while my old readers will readily recognize in Andy Foger
+a mean bully, who made much trouble for Tom.
+
+<P>
+The first book of the series was called "Tom Swift and His
+Motor-Cycle," and on that machine Tom had many advances on the road,
+and not a little fun. After that Tom secured a motor boat, and had a
+race with Andy Foger. In his airship our hero made a stirring cruise,
+while in his submarine boat he and his father recovered a sunken
+treasure.
+
+<P>
+When Tom Swift invented a new electric run-about he did not realize
+that it was to be the speediest car on the road, but so it proved,
+and he was able to save the bank with it. In the book called "Tom
+Swift and His Wireless Message," I told you how he saved the
+castaways of Earthquake Island, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Nestor,
+the parents of Mary.
+
+<P>
+Tom Swift had not been long on the trail of the diamond makers
+before he discovered the secret of Phantom Mountain, and after that
+adventure he went to the caves of ice, where his big airship was
+wrecked. But he got home, and soon made another, which he called a
+sky racer, and in that he made the quickest flight on record.
+
+<P>
+With his electric rifle Tom went to elephant land, where he
+succeeded in rescuing two missionaries from the red pygmies. A
+little later he set out for the city of gold, and had marvelous
+adventures underground.
+
+<P>
+Hearing of a deposit of valuable platinum in Siberia, Tom started
+for that lonely place, and, to reach a certain part of if, he had to
+invent a new machine, called an air glider. It was an aeroplane
+without means of propulsion save the wind.
+
+<P>
+In the book, "Tom Swift in Captivity," I related the particulars of
+how he brought away two immense men from giant land. One, Koku, he
+kept for himself, while the other made a good living by being
+exhibited in a circus.
+
+<P>
+When the present story opens Tom had not long been home after a
+series of strange adventures. A moving picture concern, with which
+Mr. Nestor was associated, wanted some views of remarkable scenes,
+such as fights among wild beasts, the capture of herds of elephants,
+earthquakes, and volcanos in action, and great avalanches in the
+Alps. Tom invented a wizard camera, and got many good views, though
+at times he was in great danger, even in his airship. Especially was
+this so at the erupting volcano.
+
+<P>
+But our hero came swiftly hack to Shopton, and there, all Winter and
+Spring, he busied himself perfecting a new motor for an airship--a
+motor that would make no noise. He perfected it early that Summer,
+and now was about to try it, when the incident of the torn newspaper
+happened.
+
+<P>
+"Have you got all the pieces, Tom?" asked Ned, as he passed his chum
+several scraps, which were gathered up from the floor.
+
+<P>
+"I think so. Now we'll paste them together, and see what it says. We
+may be on the trail of a big mystery, Ned."
+
+<P>
+"Maybe. Go ahead and see what you can make of it."
+
+<P>
+Tom fitted together, as best he could, the ragged pieces, and then
+pasted them on a blank sheet of paper.
+
+<P>
+"I guess I've got it all here now," he said finally. "I'll skip the
+first part. You read me most of that, Ned. Just as you told me, it
+relates how the government agents, having tried in vain to get a
+clew to the smugglers, came to the conclusion that they must be
+using airships to slip contraband goods over the border at night."
+
+<P>
+"Now where's that mention of Shopton? Oh, here it is," and he read:
+
+<P>
+"'It is suspected that some of the smugglers have been communicating
+with confederates in Shopton, New York. This came to the notice of
+the authorities to-day, when one of the government agents located
+some of the smuggled goods in a small town in New York on the St.
+Lawrence. The name of this town is being kept secret for the
+present."
+
+<P>
+"'It was learned that the goods were found in a small, deserted
+house, and that among them were letters from someone in Shopton,
+relating to the disposal of the articles. They refuse to say who the
+letters were from, but it is believed that some of Uncle Sam's men
+may shortly make their appearance in the peaceful burg of Shopton,
+there to follow up the clew. Many thousands of dollars worth of
+goods have been smuggled, and the United States, as well as the
+Dominion of Canada custom authorities, say they are determined to
+put a stop to the daring efforts of the smugglers. The airship
+theory is the latest put forth.'"
+
+<P>
+"Well, say, that's the limit!" cried Ned, as Tom finished reading.
+"What do you know about that?"
+
+<P>
+"It brings it right home to us," agreed the young inventor. "But who
+is there in Shopton who would be in league with the smugglers?"
+
+<P>
+"That's hard to say."
+
+<P>
+"Of course we don't know everyone in town," went on Tom, "but I'm
+pretty well acquainted here, and I don't know of a person who would
+dare engage in such work."
+
+<P>
+"Maybe it's a stranger who came here, and picked out this place
+because it was so quiet," suggested Ned.
+
+<P>
+"That's possible. But where would he operate from?" asked Tom.
+"There are few in Shopton who would want to buy smuggled goods."
+
+<P>
+"They may only ship them here, and fix them so they can't be
+recognized by the custom authorities, and then send them away
+again," went on Ned. "This may be a sort of clearing-house for the
+smugglers."
+
+<P>
+"That's so. Well, I don't know as we have anything to do with it.
+Only if those fellows are using an airship I'd like to know what
+kind it is. Well, come on out to the shop now, and we'll see how the
+silent motor works."
+
+<P>
+On the way Tom passed his father, and, telling him not to work too
+hard in the sun, gave his parent the piece of paper to read, telling
+about the smugglers.
+
+<P>
+"Using airships! eh?" exclaimed Mr. Swift. "And they think there's a
+clew here in Shopton? Well, we'll get celebrated if we keep on,
+Tom," he added with a smile.
+
+<P>
+Tom and Ned spent the rest of the day working over the motor, which
+was set going, and bore out all Tom claimed for it. It was as silent
+as a watch.
+
+<P>
+"Next I want to get it in the airship, and give it a good test," Tom
+remarked, speeding it up, as it was connected on a heavy base in the
+shop.
+
+<P>
+"I'll help you," promised Ned, and for the next few days the chums
+were kept busy fitting the silent motor into one of Tom's several
+airships.
+
+<P>
+"Well, I think we can make a flight to-morrow," said the young
+inventor, about a week later. "I need some new bolts though, Ned.
+Let's take a walk into town and get them. Oh, by the way, have you
+seen anything more of Andy Foger?"
+
+<P>
+"No. and I don't want to. I suppose he's gone back home after his
+visit to Sam. Let's go down the street, where the Foger house is,
+and see if there's anything going on."
+
+<P>
+As the two lads passed the mansion, they saw a man, in the kind of
+suit usually worn by a carpenter, come out of the back door and
+stand looking across the garden. In his hand he held a saw.
+
+<P>
+"Still at the repairs, I guess," remarked Ned. "I wonder what--"
+
+<P>
+"Look there! Look! Quick!" suddenly interrupted Tom, and Ned,
+looking, saw someone standing behind the carpenter in the door. "If
+that isn't Andy Foger, I'll eat my hat!" cried Tom.
+
+<P>
+"It sure is," agreed Ned. "What in the world is he doing there?"
+
+<P>
+But his question was not answered, for, a moment later, Andy turned,
+and went inside, and the carpenter followed, closing the door behind
+them.
+
+<P>
+"That's queer," spoke Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Very," agreed Ned. "He didn't go back after all. I'd like to know
+what's going on in there."
+
+<P>
+"And there's someone else who would like to know, also, I think,"
+said Tom in a low voice.
+
+<P>
+"Who?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"That man hiding behind the big tree across the street. I'm sure
+he's watching the Foger house, and when Andy came to the door that
+time, I happened to look around and saw that man focus a pair of
+opera glasses on him and the carpenter."
+
+<P>
+"You don't mean it, Tom!" exclaimed Ned.
+
+<P>
+"I sure do. I believe that man is some sort of a spy or a
+detective."
+
+<P>
+"Do you think he's after Andy?"
+
+<P>
+"I don't know. Let's not get mixed up in the affair, anyhow. I don't
+want to be called in as a witness. I haven't the time to spare."
+
+<P>
+As if the man behind the tree was aware that he had attracted the
+attention of our friends, he quickly turned and walked away. Tom and
+Ned glanced up at the Foger house, but saw nothing, and proceeded on
+to the store.
+
+<P>
+"I'll wager anything that Andy has been getting in some sort of
+trouble in the town he moved to from here," went on Tom, "and he
+daren't go back. So he came here, and he's hiding in his father's
+old house. He could manage to live there for a while, with the
+carpenter bringing him in food. Say, did you notice who that man
+was, with the saw?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, he's James Dillon, a carpenter who lives down on our street,"
+replied Ned. "A nice man, too. The next time I see him, I'm going to
+ask him what Andy is doing in town, and what the repairs are that
+he's making on the house."
+
+<P>
+"Well, of course if Andy has been doing anything wrong, he wouldn't
+admit it," said Tom. "Though Mr. Dillon may tell you about the
+carpenter work. But I'm sure that man was a detective from the town
+where Andy moved to. You'll see."
+
+<P>
+"I don't think so," was Ned's opinion. "If Andy was hiding he
+wouldn't show himself as plainly as he did."
+
+<P>
+The two chums argued on this question, but could come to no
+decision. Then, having reached Tom's home with the bolts, they went
+hard at work on the airship.
+
+<P>
+"Well, now to see what happens!" exclaimed Tom the next day, when
+everything was ready for a trial flight. "I wish Mr. Damon was here.
+I sent him word, but I didn't hear from him."
+
+<P>
+"Oh, he may show up any minute," replied Ned, as he helped Tom and
+Koku wheel the newly-equipped airship out of the shed. "The first
+thing you'll hear will be him blessing something. Is this far enough
+out, Tom?"
+
+<P>
+"No, a little more, and then head her up into the wind. I say, Ned,
+if this is a success, and--"
+
+<P>
+Tom stopped suddenly and looked out into the road. Then, in a low
+voice, he said, to Ned:
+
+<P>
+"Don't move suddenly, or he'll suspect that we're onto his game, but
+turn around slowly, and look behind that big sycamore tree in front
+of our house Ned. Tell me what you see."
+
+<P>
+"There's a man hiding there, Tom," reported his chum, a little
+later, after a cautious observation.
+
+<P>
+"I thought so. What's he doing?"
+
+<P>
+"Why he--by Jove! Tom, he's looking at us through opera glasses,
+like that other--"
+
+<P>
+"It isn't <i>another</i>, it's the same fellow!" whispered Tom. "It's the
+spy who was watching Andy! I'm going to see what's up," and he
+strode rapidly toward the street, at the curb of which was the tree
+that partly screened the man behind it.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="III"></A>
+<H3>Chapter III Queer Repairs</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+Quickly Tom Swift crossed the space between the airship, that was
+ready for a flight, and the tree. The man behind it had apparently
+not seen Tom coming, being so interested in looking at the airship,
+which was a wonderful craft. He was taken completely by surprise as
+Tom, stepping up to him, asked sharply:
+
+<P>
+"Who are you and what are you doing here?"
+
+<P>
+The man started so that he nearly dropped the opera glasses, which
+he had held focused on the aeroplane. Then he stepped back, and eyed
+Tom sharply.
+
+<P>
+"What do you want?" repeated our hero. "What right have you to be
+spying on that airship--on these premises?" The man hesitated a
+moment, and then coolly returned the glasses to his pocket. He did
+not seem at all put out, after his first start of surprise.
+
+<P>
+"What are you doing?" Tom again asked. He looked around to see where
+Koku, the giant, was, and beheld the big man walking slowly toward
+him, for Ned had mentioned what had taken place.
+
+<P>
+"What right have you to question my actions?" asked the man, and
+there was in his tones a certain authority that made Tom wonder.
+
+<P>
+"Every right," retorted our hero. "That is my airship, at which you
+have been spying, and this is where I live."
+
+<P>
+"Oh, it is; eh?" asked the man calmly. "And that's your airship,
+too?"
+
+<P>
+"I invented it, and built the most of it myself. If you are
+interested in such things, and can assure me that you have no spying
+methods in view, I can show you--"
+
+<P>
+"Have you other airships?" interrupted the man quickly.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, several," answered Tom. "But I can't understand why you should
+be spying on me. If you don't care to accept my offer, like a
+gentleman, tell me who you are, and what your object is, I will have
+my assistant remove you. You are on private property, as this street
+is not a public one, being cut through by my father. I'll have Koku
+remove you by force, if you won't go peaceably, and I think you'll
+agree with me that Koku can do it. Here Koku," he called sharply,
+and the big man advanced quickly.
+
+<P>
+"I wouldn't do anything rash, if I were you," said the man quietly.
+"As for this being private property, that doesn't concern me. You're
+Tom Swift, aren't you; and you have several airships?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, but what right have you to--"
+
+<P>
+"Every right!" interrupted the man, throwing back the lapel of his
+coat, and showing a badge. "I'm Special Agent William Whitford, of
+the United States Customs force, and I'd like to ask you a few
+questions, Tom Swift." He looked our hero full in the face.
+
+<P>
+"Customs department!" gasped Tom. "You want to ask me some
+questions?"
+
+<P>
+"That's it," went on the man, in a business-like voice.
+
+<P>
+"What about?"
+
+<P>
+"Smuggling by airship from Canada!"
+
+<P>
+"What!" cried Tom. "Do you mean to say you suspect me of being
+implicated in--"
+
+<P>
+"Now go easy," advised the man calmly. "I didn't say anything,
+except that I wanted to <i>question</i> you. If you'd like me to do it out
+here, why I can. But as someone might hear us--"
+
+<P>
+"Come inside," said Tom quietly, though his heart was beating in a
+tumult. "You may go, Koku, but stay within call," he added
+significantly. "Come on, Ned," and he motioned to his chum who was
+approaching. "This man is a custom officer and not a spy or a
+detective, as we thought."
+
+<P>
+"Oh, yes, I am a <i>sort</i> of a detective," corrected Mr. Whitford. "And
+I'm a spy, too, in a way, for I've been spying on you, and some
+other parties in town. But you may be able to explain everything,"
+he added, as he took a seat in the library between Ned and Tom. "I
+only know I was sent here to do certain work, and I'm going to do
+it. I wanted to make some observations before you saw me, but I
+wasn't quite quick enough."
+
+<P>
+"Would you mind telling me what you want to know?" asked Tom, a bit
+impatiently. "You mentioned smuggling, and--"
+
+<P>
+"Smuggling!" interrupted Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, over from Canada. Maybe you have seen something in the papers
+about our department thinking airships were used at night to slip
+the goods over the border."
+
+<P>
+"We saw it!" cried Tom eagerly. "But how does that concern me?"
+
+<P>
+"I'll come to that, presently," replied Mr. Whitford. "In the first
+place, we have been roundly laughed at in some papers for proposing
+such a theory. And yet it isn't so wild as it sounds. In fact, after
+seeing your airship, Tom Swift, I'm convinced--"
+
+<P>
+"That I've been smuggling?" asked Tom with a laugh.
+
+<P>
+"Not at all. As you have read, we confiscated some smuggled goods
+the other day, and among them was a scrap of paper with the words
+Shopton, New York, on it."
+
+<P>
+"Was it a letter from someone here, or to someone here?" asked Ned.
+"The papers intimated so."
+
+<P>
+"No. they only guessed at that part of it. It was just a scrap of
+paper, evidently torn from a letter, and it only had those three
+words on it. Naturally we agents thought we could get a clew here.
+We imagined, or at least I did, for I was sent to work up this end,
+that perhaps the airships for the smugglers were made here. I made
+inquiries, and found that you, Tom Swift, and one other, Andy Foger,
+had made, or owned, airships in Shopton."
+
+<P>
+"I came here, but I soon exhausted the possibility of Andy Foger
+making practical airships. Besides he isn't at home here any more,
+and he has no facilities for constructing the craft as you have. So
+I came to look at your place, and I must say that it looks a bit
+suspicious, Mr. Swift. Though, of course, as I said," he added with
+a smile, "you may be able to explain everything."
+
+<P>
+"I think I can convince you that I had no part in the smuggling,"
+spoke Tom, laughing. "I never sell my airships. If you like you may
+talk with my father, the housekeeper, and others who can testify
+that since my return from taking moving pictures, I have not been
+out of town, and the smuggling has been going on only a little
+while."
+
+<P>
+"That is true," assented the custom officer. "I shall be glad to
+listen to any evidence you may offer. This is a very baffling case.
+The government is losing thousands of dollars every month, and we
+can't seem to stop the smugglers, or get much of a clew to them.
+This one is the best we have had so far."
+
+<P>
+It did not take Tom many hours to prove to the satisfaction of Mr.
+Whitford that none of our hero's airships had taken any part in
+cheating Uncle Sam out of custom duties.
+
+<P>
+"Well, I don't know what to make of it," said the government agent,
+with a disappointed air, as he left the office of the Shopton chief
+of police, who, with others, at Tom's request, had testified in his
+favor. "This looked like a good clew, and now it's knocked into a
+cocked hat. There's no use bothering that Foger fellow," he went on,
+"for he has but one airship, I understand."
+
+<P>
+"And that's not much good." put in Ned. "I guess it's partly
+wrecked, and Andy has kept it out in the barn since he moved away."
+
+<P>
+"Well, I guess I'll be leaving town then," went on the agent. "I
+can't get any more clews here, and there may be some new ones found
+on the Canadian border where my colleagues are trying to catch the
+rascals. I'm sorry I bothered you, Tom Swift. You certainly have a
+fine lot of airships," he added, for he had been taken through the
+shop, and shown the latest, noiseless model. "A fine lot. I don't
+believe the smugglers, if they use them, have any better."
+
+<P>
+"Nor as good!" exclaimed Ned. "Tom's can't be beat."
+
+<P>
+"It's too late for our noiseless trial now," remarked Tom, after the
+agent had gone. "Let's put her back in the shed, and then I'll take
+you down street, and treat you to some ice cream, Ned. It's getting
+quite summery now."
+
+<P>
+As the boys were coming out of the drug store, where they had eaten
+their ice cream in the form of sundaes, Ned uttered a cry of
+surprise at the sight of a man approaching them.
+
+<P>
+"It's Mr. Dillon, the carpenter whom we saw in the Foger house,
+Tom!" exclaimed his chum. "This is the first chance I've had to talk
+to him. I'm going to ask him what sort of repairs he's making inside
+the old mansion." Ned was soon in conversation with him.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I'm working at the Foger house," admitted the carpenter, who
+had done some work for Ned's father. "Mighty queer repairs, too.
+Something I never did before. If Andy wasn't there to tell me what
+he wanted done I wouldn't know what to do."
+
+<P>
+"Is Andy there yet?" asked Tom quickly.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, he's staying in the old house. All alone too, except now and
+then, he has a chum stay there nights with him. They get their own
+meals. I bring the stuff in, as Andy says he's getting up a surprise
+and doesn't want any of the boys to see him, or ask questions. But
+they are sure queer repairs I'm doing," and the carpenter scratched
+his head reflectively.
+
+<P>
+"What are you doing?" asked Ned boldly.
+
+<P>
+"Fixing up Andy's old airship that was once busted," was the
+unexpected answer, "and after I get that done, if I ever do, he
+wants me to make a platform for it on the roof of the house, where
+he can start it swooping through the air. Mighty queer repairs, I
+call 'em. Well, good evening, boys," and the carpenter passed on.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="IV"></A>
+<H3>Chapter IV Searching For Smugglers</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+"Well, of all things!"
+
+<P>
+"Who in the world would think such a thing?"
+
+<P>
+"Andy going to start out with his airship again!"
+
+<P>
+"And going to sail it off the roof of his house!"
+
+<P>
+These were the alternate expressions that came from Tom and Ned, as
+they stood gazing at each other after the startling information
+given them by Mr. Dillon, the carpenter.
+
+<P>
+"Do you really think he means it?" asked Tom, after a pause, during
+which they watched the retreating figure of the carpenter. "Maybe he
+was fooling us."
+
+<P>
+"No, Mr. Dillon seldom jokes," replied Ned, "and when he does, you
+can always tell. He goes to our church, and I know he wouldn't
+deliberately tell an untruth. Oh. Andy's up to some game all right."
+
+<P>
+"I thought he must be hanging around here the way he has been,
+instead of being home. But I admit I may have been wrong about the
+police being after him. If he'd done something wrong, he would
+hardly hire a man to work on the house while he was hiding in it. I
+guess he just wants to keep out of the way of everybody but his own
+particular cronies. But I wonder what he is up to, anyhow; getting
+his airship in shape again?"
+
+<P>
+"Give it up, unless there's an aero meet on somewhere soon," replied
+Ned. "Maybe he's going to try a race again."
+
+<P>
+Tom shook his head.
+
+<P>
+"I'd have heard about any aviation meets, if there were any
+scheduled," he replied. "I belong to the national association, and
+they send out circulars whenever there are to be races. None are on
+for this season. No, Andy has some other game."
+
+<P>
+"Well, I don't know that it concerns us," spoke Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Not as long as he doesn't bother me," answered the young inventor.
+"Well, Ned, I suppose you'll be over in the morning and help me try
+out the noiseless airship?"
+
+<P>
+"Sure thing. Say, it was queer, about that government agent, wasn't
+it? suspecting you of supplying airships to the smugglers?"
+
+<P>
+"Rather odd," agreed Tom. "He might much better suspect Andy Foger."
+
+<P>
+"That's so, and now that we know Andy is rebuilding his old airship,
+maybe we'd better tell him."
+
+<P>
+"Tell who?"
+
+<P>
+"That government agent. Tell him he's wrong in thinking that Andy is
+out of the game. We might send him word that we just learned that
+Andy is getting active again. He has as much right to suspect and
+question him, as he had you."
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I don't know," began Tom slowly. He was not a vindicative
+youth, nor, for that matter, was Ned. And Tom would not go out of
+his way to give information about an enemy, when it was not certain
+that the said enemy meant anything wrong. "I don't believe there's
+anything in it," finished our hero. "Andy may have a lot of time on
+his hands, and, for want of something better to do, he's fixing up
+his aeroplane."
+
+<P>
+"Look!" suddenly exclaimed Ned. "There's that agent now! He's going
+to the depot to get a train, I guess," and he pointed to the
+government man, who had so lately interviewed Tom. "I'm going to
+speak to him!" impulsively declared Ned.
+
+<P>
+"I wouldn't," objected Tom, but his chum had already hastened on
+ahead, and soon was seen talking excitedly to Mr. Whitford. Tom
+sauntered up in time to hear the close of the conversation.
+
+<P>
+"I'm much obliged to you for your information," said the custom
+officer. "but I'm afraid, just as you say your chum felt about it,
+that there's nothing in it. This Foger chap may have been bad in the
+past, but I hardly think he's in with the smugglers. What I'm
+looking for is not a lad who has one airship, but someone who is
+making a lot of them, and supplying the men who are running goods
+over the border. That's the sort of game I'm after, and if this Andy
+Foger only has one aeroplane I hardly think he can be very
+dangerous."
+
+<P>
+"Well, perhaps not," admitted Ned. "But I thought I'd tell you."
+
+<P>
+"And I'm glad you did. If you hear anything more. I'll be glad to
+have you let me know. Here's my card," and thanking the boys for
+their interest Mr. Whitford passed on.
+
+<P>
+Tom and Ned gave the noiseless airship a test the next day. The
+craft, which was the stanch <i>Falcon</i>, remodeled, was run out of the
+shed, Koku the giant helping, while Mr. Swift stood looking on, an
+interested spectator of what his son was about to do. Eradicate, the
+old colored man, who was driving his mule Boomerang, hitched to a
+wagon in which he was carting away some refuse that had been raked
+up in the garden, halted his outfit nearby.
+
+<P>
+"I say, Massa Tom!" he called, as the young inventor passed near
+him, in making a tour of the ship.
+
+<P>
+"Well, Rad, what is it?"
+
+<P>
+"Doan't yo'-all want fo' ma an' Boomerang t' gib yo'-all a tow?
+Mebby dat new-fangled contraption yo'-all has done put on yo' ship
+won't wuk, an' mebby I'd better stick around t' pull yo'-all home."
+
+<P>
+"No, Rad, I guess it will work all right. If it doesn't, and we get
+stuck out a mile or two, I'll send you a wireless message."
+
+<P>
+"Doan't do dat!" begged the colored man. "I neber could read dem
+wireless letters anyhow. Jest gib a shout, an' me an' Boomerang will
+come a-runnin'."
+
+<P>
+"All right, Rad, I will. Now, Ned, is everything in shape?"
+
+<P>
+"I think so, Tom."
+
+<P>
+"Koku, just put a little more wind in those tires. But don't pump as
+hard as you did the other day," Tom cautioned.
+
+<P>
+"What happened then?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Oh, Koku forgot that he had so much muscle, and he kept on pumping
+air into the bicycle wheel tires until he burst one. Go easy this
+time, Koku."
+
+<P>
+"I will, Mr. Tom," and the giant took the air pump.
+
+<P>
+"Is he going along?" asked Ned, as he looked to see that all the guy
+wires and stays were tight.
+
+<P>
+"I guess so," replied Tom. "He makes good ballast. I wish Mr. Damon
+was here. If everything goes right we may take a run over, and
+surprise him."
+
+<P>
+In a little while the noiseless airship was ready for the start.
+Tom, Ned and Koku climbed in, and took their positions.
+
+<P>
+"Good luck!" Mr. Swift called after them. Tom waved his hand to his
+father, and the next moment his craft shot into the air. Up and up
+it went, the great propeller blades beating the air, but, save for a
+soft whirr, such as would be made by the wings of a bird, there was
+absolutely no sound.
+
+<P>
+"Hurrah!" cried Tom. "She works! I've got a noiseless airship at
+last!"
+
+<P>
+"Say, don't yell at a fellow so," begged Ned, for Tom had been close
+to his chum when he made his exulting remark.
+
+<P>
+"Yell! I wasn't yelling," replied Tom. "Oh, I see what happened. I'm
+so used to speaking loud on the other airships, that make such a
+racket, that I didn't realize how quiet it was aboard the new
+<i>Falcon</i>. No wonder I nearly made you deaf, Ned. I'll be careful after
+this," and Tom lowered his voice to ordinary tones. In fact it was
+as quiet aboard his new craft, as if he and Ned had been walking in
+some grass-grown country lane.
+
+<P>
+"She certainly is a success," agreed Ned. "You could creep up on
+some other airship now, and those aboard would never know you were
+coming."
+
+<P>
+"I've been planning this for a long time," went on our hero, as he
+shifted the steering gear, and sent the craft around in a long,
+sweeping curve. "Now for Waterford and Mr. Damon."
+
+<P>
+They were soon above the town where the odd man lived, and Tom,
+picking out Mr. Damon's house, situated as it was in the midst of
+extensive grounds, headed for it.
+
+<P>
+"There he is, walking through the garden," exclaimed Ned, pointing
+to their friend down below. "He hasn't heard us, as he would have
+done if we had come in any other machine."
+
+<P>
+"That's so!" exclaimed Tom. "I'm going to give him a sensation. I'll
+fly right over his head, and he won't know it until he sees us. I'll
+come up from behind."
+
+<P>
+A moment later he put this little trick into execution. Along swept
+the airship, until, with a rush, it passed right over Mr. Damon's
+head. He never heard it. and was not aware of what was happening
+until he saw the shadow it cast. Then, jumping aside, as if he
+thought something was about to fall on him, he cried:
+
+<P>
+"Bless my mosquito netting! What in the world--"
+
+<P>
+Then he saw Tom and Ned in the airship, which came gently to earth a
+few yards further on.
+
+<P>
+"Well of all things!" cried Mr. Damon. "What are you up to now, Tom
+Swift?"
+
+<P>
+"It's my noiseless airship," explained our hero. "She doesn't make a
+sound. Get aboard, and have a ride."
+
+<P>
+Mr. Damon looked toward the house.
+
+<P>
+"I guess my wife won't see me," he said with a chuckle. "She's more
+than ever opposed to airships, Tom, since we went on that trip
+taking moving pictures. But I'll take a chance." And in he sprang,
+when the two lads started up again. They made quite a flight, and
+Tom found that his new motor exceeded his expectations. True, it
+needed some adjustments, but these could easily be made.
+
+<P>
+"Well, what are you going to do with it, now that you have it?"
+asked Mr. Damon, as Tom once more brought the machine around to the
+odd man's house, and stopped it. "What's it for?"
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I think I'll find a use for it," replied the young inventor.
+"Will you come back to Shopton with us?"
+
+<P>
+"No, I must stay here. I have some letters to write. But I'll run
+over in a few days, and see you. Then I'll go on another trip, if
+you've got one planned."
+
+<P>
+"I may have," answered Tom with a laugh. "Good-bye."
+
+<P>
+He and Ned made a quick flight home, and Tom at once started on
+making some changes in the motor. He was engaged at this work the
+next day, when he noticed a shadow pass across an open window. He
+looked up to see Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Hello, Tom!" cried his chum. "Have you heard the news?"
+
+<P>
+"No, what news? Has Andy Foger fallen out of his airship?"
+
+<P>
+"No, but there are a whole lot of Custom House detectives in town,
+looking for clews to the smugglers."
+
+<P>
+"Still at it, eh? Shopton can't seem to keep out of the limelight.
+Has anything new turned up?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes. I just met Mr. Whitford. He's back on the case and he has
+several men with him. They received word that some smuggled goods
+came to Shopton, and were shipped out of here again."
+
+<P>
+"How, by airship?"
+
+<P>
+"No, by horse and wagon. A lot of cases of valuable silks imported
+from England to Canada, where the duty is light, were slipped over
+the border somehow, in airships, it is thought. Then they came here
+by freight, labeled as calico, and when they reached this town they
+were taken away in a wagon."
+
+<P>
+"But how did they get here?"
+
+<P>
+"On the railroad, of course, but the freight people had no reason to
+suspect them."
+
+<P>
+"And where were they taken from the freight station?"
+
+<P>
+"That's what the customs authorities want to find out. They think
+there's some secret place here, where the goods are stored and
+reshipped. That's why so many detectives are here. They are after the
+smugglers hot-footed."
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="V"></A>
+<H3>Chapter V The Raid</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+Tom Swift dropped the tool he was using, and came over to where Ned
+stood, his chum having vaulted in through the open window.
+
+<P>
+"Ned," said the young inventor, "there's something queer about this
+business."
+
+<P>
+"I'm beginning to think so myself, Tom. But just what do you mean?"
+
+<P>
+"I mean it's queer that the smugglers should pick out a place like
+Shopton--a small town--for their operations, or part of them, when
+there are so many better places. We're quite a distance from the
+Canadian border. Say, Ned, where was it that Mr. Foger moved to?
+Hogan's alley, or some such name as that; wasn't it?"
+
+<P>
+"Logansville, this state, was the place. I once saw Tom Snedecker
+mail Andy a letter addressed to there. But what has that to do with
+it?"
+
+<P>
+Tom's answer was to turn to a large map on the wall of his shop.
+With a long stick he pointed out the city of Logansville.
+
+<P>
+"That isn't very far from the Canadian border; is it, Ned?" he
+asked.
+
+<P>
+"Say, what are you driving at, Tom? It's right on the border between
+New York and Canada, according to that map."
+
+<P>
+"Well, that's a good map, and you can be sure it is nearly right.
+And, look here. There's the town of Montford, in Canada, almost
+opposite Logansville."
+
+<P>
+"Well?"
+
+<P>
+"Oh, nothing, only I'm going to see Mr. Whitford."
+
+<P>
+"What do you mean, Tom?"
+
+<P>
+"I mean that the something queer part about this business may be
+explained. They have traces of the smugglers sending their goods to
+Shopton to be re-shipped here, to avoid suspicion, probably. They
+have a suspicion that airships are used to get the goods over the
+Canadian border at night."
+
+<P>
+"But," broke in Ned, "the government agent said that it was across
+the St. Lawrence River they brought them. Montford is quite a
+distance from the river. I suppose the smugglers take the goods from
+the river steamers, land them, pack them in airships, and fly across
+with them. But if you're trying to connect the Fogers, and
+Logansville, and Montford with the smugglers, I don't see where it
+comes in with the St. Lawrence, and the airships, Tom."
+
+<P>
+"Forget that part of it for a while, Ned. Maybe they are all off on
+airships, anyhow. I don't take much stock in that theory, though it
+may be true."
+
+<P>
+"Just think of the Fogers," went on Tom. "Mr. Foger has lost all his
+money, he lives in a town near the Canadian border, it is almost
+certain that smuggled goods have been shipped here. Mr. Foger has a
+deserted house here, and--see the connection?"
+
+<P>
+"By Jove, Tom, I believe you're right!" cried his chum. "Maybe the
+airships aren't in it after all, and Andy is only making a bluff at
+having his repaired, to cover up some other operations in the
+house."
+
+<P>
+"I believe so."
+
+<P>
+"But that would mean that Mr. Dillon, the carpenter is not telling
+the truth, and I can't believe that of him."
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I believe he's honest, but I think Andy is fooling him. Mr.
+Dillon doesn't know much about airships, and Andy may have had him
+doing something in the house, telling him it was repair work on an
+airship, when, as a matter of fact, the carpenter might be making
+boxes to ship the goods in, or constructing secret places in which
+to hide them."
+
+<P>
+"I don't believe it, Tom. But I agree with you that there is
+something queer going on in Shopton. The Fogers may, or may not, be
+connected with it. What are you going to do?"
+
+<P>
+"I'm first going to have a talk with Mr. Whitford. Then I'm going to
+see if I can't prove, or disprove, that the Fogers are concerned in
+the matter. If they're not, then some one else in Shopton must be
+guilty. But I'm interested, because I have been brought into this
+thing in a way, and I want it sifted to the bottom."
+
+<P>
+"Then you're going to see Mr. Whitford?"
+
+<P>
+"I am, and I'm going to tell him what I think. Come on, we'll look
+him up now."
+
+<P>
+"But your noiseless airship?"
+
+<P>
+"Oh, that's all right. It's nearly finished anyhow, I've just got a
+little more work on the carburetor. That will keep. Come on, we'll
+find the government agent."
+
+<P>
+But Mr. Whitford was not at the hotel where he and the other custom
+inspectors had put up. They made no secret of their presence in
+Shopton, and all sorts of rumors were flying about regarding them.
+Mr. Whitford, the hotel clerk said, had gone out of town for the
+day, and, as Ned and Tom did not feel like telling their suspicions
+to any of the other agents, they started back home.
+
+<P>
+"I understand they're going to search every house in Shopton, before
+they go away," said the clerk to the boys. "They are going to look
+for smuggled goods."
+
+<P>
+"They are; eh?" exclaimed Colonel Henry Denterby, who had fought in
+the Civil War. "Search my house; eh? Well I guess not! A man's house
+is his castle, sir! That's what it is. No one shall enter mine, no
+matter if he is a government official, unless I give him permission,
+sir! And I won't do that, sir! I'll be revolutionized if I do! No,
+sir!"
+
+<P>
+"Why, you haven't any smuggled goods concealed, have you, Colonel?"
+slyly asked a hotel lounger.
+
+<P>
+"Smuggled goods? What do you mean, sir?" cried the veteran, who was
+something of a fire-eater. "No, sir! Of course not, sir! I pay my
+taxes, sir; and all my debts. But no government spy is going to come
+into my house, and upset everything, sir, looking for smuggled
+goods, sir. No, sir!"
+
+<P>
+Some were of one opinion, and some another, and there was quite a
+discussion underway concerning the rights of the custom officers, as
+the boys came out of the hotel.
+
+<P>
+Likewise there was talk about who might be the guilty ones, but no
+names were mentioned, at least openly.
+
+<P>
+"Let's go past the Foger house on our way back," proposed Ned, and
+as he and Tom came in front of it, they heard a pounding going on
+within, but saw no signs of Andy or the carpenter.
+
+<P>
+"They're keeping mighty close," commented Tom.
+
+<P>
+The two boys worked that afternoon on the new airship, and in the
+evening, when Ned came over, Tom proposed that they make another
+attempt to see Mr. Whitford.
+
+<P>
+"I want to get this thing off my mind," spoke the young inventor,
+and he and his chum started for the hotel. Once more they passed the
+Foger house. It was in darkness, but, as the two lads stood
+watching, they saw a flash of a light, as if it came through a crack
+in a shutter or a shade.
+
+<P>
+"Some one is in there," declared Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, probably Andy is getting his own supper. It's queer he wants
+to lead that sort of a life. Well, everyone to their notion, as the
+old lady said when she kissed the cow."
+
+<P>
+They stood for a few minutes watching the old mansion, and then went
+on. As they passed down a lane, to take a short cut, they approached
+a small house, that, in times past, had been occupied by the
+gardener of the Foger estate. Now, that too, was closed. But, in
+front of it stood a wagon with a big canvass cover over it, and, as
+the lads came nearer, the wagon drove off quickly, and in silence.
+At the same time a door in the gardener's house was heard to shut
+softly.
+
+<P>
+"Did you see that?" cried Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, and did you hear that?" asked Tom.
+
+<P>
+"They're carting stuff away from the old gardener's house," went on
+Ned. "Maybe it's there that the smugglers are working from! Let's
+hurry to see Mr. Whitford."
+
+<P>
+"Hold on!" exclaimed Tom in a whisper. "I've got one suggestion.
+Ned. Let's tell all we know, and what we think may be the case, but
+don't make any rash statements. We might be held responsible. Tell
+what we have seen, and let the government men do the rest."
+
+<P>
+"All right. I'm willing."
+
+<P>
+They watched the wagon as it passed on out of sight in the darkness,
+and then hurried on to see Mr. Whitford. To say that the custom
+officer was astonished at what the boys related to him, is putting
+it mildly. He was much excited.
+
+<P>
+"I think we're on the right trail!" he exclaimed. "You may have done
+a big service for Uncle Sam. Come on!"
+
+<P>
+"Where?" the boys asked him.
+
+<P>
+"We'll make a raid on the old Foger home, and on the gardener's
+house at once. We may catch the rascals red-handed. You can have the
+honor of representing Uncle Sam. I'll make you assistant deputies
+for the night. Here are some extra badges I always carry," and he
+pinned one each on the two young men.
+
+<P>
+Mr. Whitford quietly summoned several of his men to his hotel room,
+and imparted to them what he had learned. They were eager for the
+raid, and it was decided to go to the Foger home, and the other
+house at once, first seeking to gain an entrance to the mansion.
+
+<P>
+Accompanied by Tom and Ned, Mr. Whitford left the hotel. There were
+few persons about, and no attention was attracted. The other agents
+left the hotel one by one, and in the darkness gathered about the
+seemingly deserted mansion.
+
+<P>
+"Stand ready now, men," whispered Mr. Whitford. "Tom, Ned and I will
+go up the steps first, and knock. If they don't let us in I'm going
+to smash the door. Then you follow."
+
+<P>
+Rather excited by what was about to take place, the two chums
+accompanied the chief custom agent. He rapped loudly on the door of
+the house, where only darkness showed.
+
+<P>
+There was a moment of silence, and then a voice which Tom and Ned
+recognized as that of Andy Foger, asked:
+
+<P>
+"What do you want?"
+
+<P>
+"We want to come in," replied Mr. Whitford.
+
+<P>
+"But who are you?"
+
+<P>
+"Uncle Sam's officers, from the custom house."
+
+<P>
+Tom distinctly heard a gasp of surprise on the other side of the
+portal, and then a bolt was drawn. The door was thrown back, and
+there, confronting the two lads and Mr. Whitford, were Andy Foger
+and his father.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="VI"></A>
+<H3>Chapter VI The Appeal To Tom</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+"Well, what does this mean?" asked Mr. Foger in indignant tones, as
+he faced the custom officer and Tom and Ned. "What do you mean by
+coming to my house at this hour, and disturbing me? I demand an
+answer!"
+
+<P>
+"And you shall have it," replied Mr. Whitford calmly. He was used to
+dealing with "indignant" persons, who got very much on their dignity
+when accused of smuggling. "We are here, Mr. Foger, because of
+certain information we have received, and we must ask you to submit
+to some questions, and allow your house to be searched."
+
+<P>
+"What! You question me? Search this house? That is an indignity to
+which I will not submit!"
+
+<P>
+"You will have to, Mr. Foger. I have ample authority for what I am
+doing, and I am backed by the most powerful government in the world.
+I also have plenty of help with me."
+
+<P>
+Mr. Whitford blew his whistle, and at once his several deputies came
+running up.
+
+<P>
+"You see I am well prepared to meet force with force, Mr. Foger,"
+said the chief agent, calmly.
+
+<P>
+"Force! What do you mean, sir?"
+
+<P>
+"I mean that I have certain information against you. There has been
+smuggling going on from Canada into the United States."
+
+<P>
+"Canada? What have I to do with Canada?"
+
+<P>
+"You don't live far from there," said Mr. Whitford significantly.
+"Airships have been used. Your son has one, but I don't believe that
+figured in the game. But two friends of mine saw something to-night
+that made me decide on this raid. Tom and Ned, tell Mr. Foger what
+you saw."
+
+<P>
+The agent stepped back, so that the two lads could be seen. There
+was another gasp of surprise, this time from Andy Foger, who had
+remained in the background.
+
+<P>
+"Tom Swift!" gasped the bully.
+
+<P>
+"Tell them what you saw. Tom," went on the agent, and Tom and Ned by
+turns, relayed the incident of the wagon load of goods driving away
+from the gardener's house.
+
+<P>
+"This, with what has gone before, made us suspicious," said Mr.
+Whitford. "So we decided on a raid. If you are not willing to let us
+in peaceably, we will come by force."
+
+<P>
+"By all means come in!" was the unexpected reply of Mr. Foger, as he
+stepped back, and opened wider the door. "Andy, these are some
+friends of yours, are they not?"
+
+<P>
+"Friends? I guess not!" exclaimed Andy with a sneer. "I won't even
+speak to them."
+
+<P>
+"Not much lost," commented Tom with a laugh.
+
+<P>
+"Search the house!" ordered Mr. Whitford sharply.
+
+<P>
+"I'll show you around," offered Mr. Foger.
+
+<P>
+"We can find our way," was the curt rejoinder of the chief agent.
+
+<P>
+"The place is deserted," went on Mr. Foger. "My son and I are just
+living here until certain repairs are made, when I am going to make
+another effort to sell it."
+
+<P>
+"Yes, we knew it was being repaired, and that your son was staying
+here," said Mr. Whitford, "But we did not expect to see you."
+
+<P>
+"I--er--that is--I came on unexpectedly," said Mr. Foger. "You may
+look about all you wish. You will find nothing wrong here."
+
+<P>
+And they did not, strange to say. There was considerable litter in
+many of the rooms, and in one was Andy's airship in parts. Clearly
+work was being done on that, and Mr. Dillon's story was confirmed,
+for tools, with his initials burned in the handles, were lying
+about.
+
+<P>
+The custom men, with Tom and Ned, went all over the house. Andy
+scowled blackly at our hero, but said nothing. Mr. Foger seemed
+anxious to show everything, and let the men go where they would.
+Finally a tour of the house had been completed, and nothing of a
+suspicious nature was found.
+
+<P>
+"I guess we'll just take a look at the roof, and see that airship
+platform your son is going to use," said Mr. Whitford, in rather
+disappointed tones, when he had found nothing.
+
+<P>
+"It isn't started yet," said Andy.
+
+<P>
+But they all went up through a scuttle, nevertheless, and saw where
+some posts had been made fast to the roof, to provide a platform
+foundation.
+
+<P>
+"I'll beat you all to pieces when I get flying," said the bully to
+Tom, as they went down the scuttle again.
+
+<P>
+"I'm not in the racing game any more," replied Tom coldly. "Besides
+I only race with my <i>friends</i>."
+
+<P>
+"Huh! Afraid of getting beat!" sneered Andy.
+
+<P>
+"Well. I guess there's nothing here," said Mr. Whitford to Mr.
+Foger, as they stood together in the front room.
+
+<P>
+"No, I knew you'd find nothing, and you have had your trouble for
+your pains."
+
+<P>
+"Oh, Uncle Sam doesn't mind trouble."
+
+<P>
+"And you have caused me much annoyance!" said Mr. Foger sharply.
+
+<P>
+"I'm afraid we'll have to cause you more," was the agent's comment.
+"I want to have a look in the gardener's house, from where Tom Swift
+saw the load going away."
+
+<P>
+"There is nothing there!" declared Mr. Foger quickly. "That is,
+nothing but some old furniture. I sold a lot of it, and I suppose
+the man who bought it came for it to-night."
+
+<P>
+"We'll take a look," repeated the agent, "I am very fond of old
+furniture."
+
+<P>
+"Very well," responded the bully's father, as he eyed Tom and Ned
+blackly.
+
+<P>
+He led the way out of the house, and soon they stood before the
+small cottage. It was dark, and when Mr. Foger unlocked the door he
+turned on the gas, and lighted it.
+
+<P>
+"I left the gas on until all the furniture should be taken out," he
+explained. "But you will find nothing here."
+
+<P>
+It needed but a glance about the place to show that only some odds
+and ends of furniture was all that it contained.
+
+<P>
+"Where does this door lead to," asked Mr. Whitford, when he had made
+a tour of the place.
+
+<P>
+"Nowhere. Oh, that is only down into the cellar." was the reply.
+"There is nothing there."
+
+<P>
+"We can't take anything for granted," went on the agent with a
+smile. "I'll take a look down there."
+
+<P>
+He descended with some of his men. Tom and Ned remained in the
+kitchen of the cottage, while Andy and his father conversed in low
+tones, occasionally casting glances at our heroes. Once Tom thought
+Mr. Foger looked apprehensively toward the door, through which the
+custom men had descended. He also appeared to be anxiously
+listening.
+
+<P>
+But when Mr. Whitford came back, with a disappointed look on his
+face, and said there was nothing to be found, Mr. Foger smiled:
+
+<P>
+"What did I tell you?" he asked triumphantly.
+
+<P>
+"Never mind," was the retort of Uncle Sam's man. "We are not through
+with Shopton yet."
+
+<P>
+"I'm sorry we gave you so much trouble on a false clew," said Tom,
+as he and Ned left the Foger premises with Mr. Whitford, the other
+deputies following.
+
+<P>
+"That's all right, Tom. We have to follow many false clews. I'm much
+obliged to you. Either we were on the wrong track, or the Fogers are
+more clever than I gave them credit for. But I am not done yet. I
+have something to propose to you. It has come to me in the last few
+minutes. I saw you in your airship once, and I know you know how to
+manage such craft. Now there is no question in my mind but what the
+smugglers are using airships. Tom, will you undertake a mission for
+Uncle Sam?"
+
+<P>
+"What do you mean?"
+
+<P>
+"I mean will you go to the border, in your airship, and try to catch
+the smugglers? I can promise you a big reward, and much fame if we
+catch them. An airship is just what is needed. You are the one to do
+it. Will you?"
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="VII"></A>
+<H3>Chapter VII A Searchlight Is Needed</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+For a few moments after the custom officer had made his appeal, Tom
+Swift did not reply. His thoughts were busy with many things.
+Somehow, it seemed of late, there had been many demands on him,
+demands that had been hard and trying.
+
+<P>
+In the past he had not hesitated, but in those cases friendship, as
+well as a desire for adventures, had urged him. Now he thought he
+had had his fill of adventures.
+
+<P>
+"Well?" asked Mr. Whitford, gently. "What's your answer, Tom? Don't
+you think this is a sort of duty-call to you?"
+
+<P>
+"A duty-call?" repeated the young inventor.
+
+<P>
+"Yes. Of course I realize that it isn't like a soldier's call to
+battle, but Uncle Sam needs you just the same. When there is a war
+the soldiers are called on to repel an enemy. Now the smugglers are
+just as much an enemy of the United States, in a certain way, as an
+armed invader would be."
+
+<P>
+"One strikes at the life and liberty of the people, while the
+smugglers try to cheat Uncle Sam out of money that is due him. I'm
+not going to enter into a discussion as to the right of the
+government to impose duties. People have their own opinion as to
+that. But, as long as the law says certain duties are to be
+collected, it is the duty of every citizen, not only to pay those
+dues, but to help collect them. That's what I'm asking you to do,
+Tom."
+
+<P>
+"I don't want to get prosy, or deliver a lecture on the work of the
+custom house, Tom, but, honestly, I think it is a duty you owe to
+your country to help catch these smugglers. I admit I'm at the end
+of my rope. This last clew has failed. The Fogers seem to be
+innocent of wrong doing. We need your help, Tom."
+
+<P>
+"But I don't see how I can help you."
+
+<P>
+"Of course you can! You're an expert with airships. The smugglers
+are using airships, of that I'm sure. You tell me you have just
+perfected a noiseless aircraft. That will be just the thing. You can
+hover on the border, near the line dividing New York State from
+Canada, or near the St. Lawrence, which is the natural division for
+a certain distance, and when you see an airship coming along you can
+slip up in your noiseless one, overhaul it, and make them submit to
+a search."
+
+<P>
+"But I won't have any authority to do that," objected Tom, who
+really did not care for the commission.
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I'll see that you get the proper authority all right," said Mr.
+Whitford significantly. "I made you a temporary deputy to-night, but
+if you'll undertake this work, to catch the smugglers in their
+airships, you will be made a regular custom official."
+
+<P>
+"Yes, but supposing I can't catch them?" interposed our hero. "They
+may have very fast airships, and--"
+
+<P>
+"I guess you'll catch 'em all right!" put in Ned, who was at his
+chum's side as they walked along a quiet Shopton street in the
+darkness. "There's not an aeroplane going that can beat yours, Tom."
+
+<P>
+"Well, perhaps I <i>could</i> get them," admitted the young inventor. "But--"
+
+<P>
+"Then you'll undertake this work for Uncle Sam?" interrupted Mr.
+Whitford eagerly. "Come, Tom, I know you will."
+
+<P>
+"I'm not so sure of that," spoke Tom. "It isn't going to be as easy
+as you think. There are many difficulties in the way. In the first
+place the smuggling may be done over such a wide area that it would
+need a whole fleet of airships to capture even one of the others,
+for they might choose a most unfrequented place to cross the
+border."
+
+<P>
+"Oh, we would be in communication with you," said the agent. "We can
+come pretty near telling where the contrabrand goods will be shipped
+from, but the trouble is, after we get our tips, we can't get to the
+place before they have flown away. But with your airship, you could
+catch them, after we sent you, say a wireless message, about where
+to look for them. So that's no objection. You have a wireless outfit
+on your airships, haven't you, Tom?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, that part is all right."
+
+<P>
+"Then you can't have any more objections, Tom."
+
+<P>
+"Well, there are some. For instance you say most of this smuggling
+is done at night."
+
+<P>
+"Practically all of it, yes."
+
+<P>
+"Well, it isn't going to be easy to pick out a contraband airship in
+the dark, and chase it. But I'll tell you what I'll do, Mr.
+Whitford, I feel as if I had sort of 'fallen down' on this clew
+business, as the newspaper men say, and I owe it to you to make good
+in some way."
+
+<P>
+"That's what I want--not that I think you haven't done all you
+could," interposed the agent.
+
+<P>
+"Well, if I can figure out some way, by which I think I can come
+anywhere near catching these smugglers, I'll undertake the work!"
+exclaimed Tom. "I'll do it as a duty to Uncle Sam, and I don't want
+any reward except my expenses. It's going to cost considerable, but--"
+
+<P>
+"Don't mind the expense!" interrupted Mr. Whitford. "Uncle Sam will
+stand that. Why, the government is losing thousands of dollars every
+week. It's a big leak, and must be stopped, and you're the one to
+stop it, Tom."
+
+<P>
+"Well, I'll try. I'll see you in a couple of days, and let you know
+if I have formed any plan. Now come on, Ned. I'm tired and want to
+get to bed."
+
+<P>
+"So do I," added the agent. "I'll call on you day after to-morrow,
+Tom, and I expect you to get right on the job," he added with a
+laugh.
+
+<P>
+"Have you any idea what you are going to do, Tom?" asked his chum,
+as they turned toward their houses.
+
+<P>
+"Not exactly. If I go I'll use my noiseless airship. That will come
+in handy. But this night business rather stumps me. I don't quite
+see my way to get around that. Of course I could use an ordinary
+searchlight, but that doesn't give a bright enough beam, or carry
+far enough. It's going to be quite a problem and I've got to think
+it over."
+
+<P>
+"Queer about the Fogers; wasn't it, Tom?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I didn't think they were going to let us in."
+
+<P>
+"There's something going on there, in spite of the fact that they
+were willing for an inspection to be made," went on Ned.
+
+<P>
+"I agree with you. I thought it was funny the way Mr. Foger acted
+about not wanting the men to go down in the cellar."
+
+<P>
+"So did I, and yet when they got down there they didn't find
+anything."
+
+<P>
+"That's so. Well, maybe we're on the wrong track, after all. But I'm
+going to keep my eyes open. I don't see what Andy wants with an
+airship platform on the roof of his house. The ground is good enough
+to start from and land on."
+
+<P>
+"I should think so, too. But then Andy always did like to show off,
+and do things different from anybody else. Maybe it's that way now."
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps," agreed Tom. "Well, here's your house, Ned. Come over in
+the morning," and, with a good-night, our hero left his chum,
+proceeding on toward his own home.
+
+<P>
+"Why, Koku, haven't you gone to bed yet?" asked the young inventor,
+as, mounting the side steps, he saw his giant servant sitting there
+on a bench he had made especially for his own use, as ordinary
+chairs were not substantial enough. "What is the matter?"
+
+<P>
+"Nothing happen <i>yet</i>," spoke Koku significantly, "but maybe he come
+pretty soon, and then I get him."
+
+<P>
+"Get who, Koku?" asked Tom, with quick suspicion.
+
+<P>
+"I do not know, but Eradicate say he hear someone sneaking around
+his chicken coop, and I think maybe it be same man who was here once
+before."
+
+<P>
+"Oh, you mean the rivals, who were trying to get my moving picture
+camera?"
+
+<P>
+"That's what!" exclaimed Koku.
+
+<P>
+"Hum!" mused Tom. "I must be on the look-out. I'll tell you what
+I'll do, Koku. I'll set my automatic camera to take the moving
+pictures of any one who tries to get in my shop, or in the chicken
+coop. I'll also set the burglar alarm. But you may also stay on the
+watch, and if anything happens--"
+
+<P>
+"If anything happens, I will un-happen him!" exclaimed the giant,
+brandishing a big club he had beside him.
+
+<P>
+"All right," laughed Tom. "I'm sleepy, and I'm going to bed, but
+I'll set the automatic camera, and fix it with fuse flashlights, so
+they will go off if the locks are even touched."
+
+<P>
+This Tom did, fixing up the wizard camera, which I have told you
+about in the book bearing that title. It would take moving pictures
+automatically, once Tom had set the mechanism to unreel the films
+back of the shutter and lens. The lights would instantly flash, when
+the electrical connections on the door locks were tampered with, and
+the pictures would be taken.
+
+<P>
+Then Tom set the burglar alarm, and, before going to bed he focused
+a searchlight, from one of his airships, on the shed and chicken
+coop, fastening it outside his room window.
+
+<P>
+"There!" he exclaimed, as he got ready to turn in, not having
+awakened the rest of the household, "when the burglar alarm goes
+off, if it does, it will also start the searchlight, and I'll get a
+view of who the chicken thief is. I'll also get some pictures."
+
+<P>
+Then, thinking over the events of the evening, and wondering if he
+would succeed in his fight with the smugglers, providing he
+undertook it, Tom fell asleep.
+
+<P>
+It must have been some time after midnight that he was awakened by
+the violent ringing of a bell at his ear. At first he thought it was
+the call to breakfast, and he leaped from bed crying out:
+
+<P>
+"Yes, Mrs. Baggert, I'm coming!"
+
+<P>
+A moment later he realized what it was.
+
+<P>
+"The burglar alarm!" he cried. "Koku, are you there? Someone is
+trying to get into the chicken coop!" for a glance at the automatic
+indicator, in connection with the alarm, had shown Tom that the
+henhouse, and not his shop, had been the object of attack.
+
+<P>
+"I here!" cried Koku, "I got him!"
+
+<P>
+A series of startled cries bore eloquent testimony to this.
+
+<P>
+"I'm coming!" cried Tom. And then he saw a wonderful sight. The
+whole garden, his shop, the henhouse and all the surrounding
+territory was lighted up with a radiance almost like daylight. The
+beams of illumination came from the searchlight Tom had fixed
+outside his window, but never before had the lantern given such a
+glow.
+
+<P>
+"That's wonderful!" cried Tom, as he ran to examine it. "What has
+happened? I never had such a powerful beam before. There must be
+something that I have stumbled on by accident. Say, that is a light
+all right! Why it goes for miles and miles, and I never projected a
+beam as far as this before."
+
+<P>
+As Tom looked into a circle of violet-colored glass set in the side
+cf the small searchlight, to see what had caused the extraordinary
+glow, he could observe nothing out of the ordinary. The violet glass
+was to protect the eyes from the glare.
+
+<P>
+"It must be that, by accident, I made some new connection at the
+dynamo," murmured Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Hi! Lemme go! Lemme go, Massa giant! I ain't done nuffin'!" yelled
+a voice.
+
+<P>
+"I got you!" cried Koku.
+
+<P>
+"It's an ordinary chicken thief this time I guess," said Tom. "But
+this light--this great searchlight--"
+
+<P>
+Then a sudden thought came to him.
+
+<P>
+"By Jove!" he cried. "If I can find out the secret of how I happened
+to project such a beam, it will be the very thing to focus on the
+smugglers from my noiseless airship! That's what I need--a
+searchlight such as never before has been made--a terrifically
+powerful one. And I've got it, if I can only find out just how it
+happened. I've got to look before the current dies out."
+
+<P>
+Leaving the brilliant beams on in full blast, Tom ran down the
+stairs to get to his shop, from which the electrical power came.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="VIII"></A>
+<H3>Chapter VIII Tom's Newest Invention</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+"I got him, Mr. Tom!"
+
+<P>
+"Oh, please, good Massa Swift! Make him leggo me! He suah am
+squeezin' de liber outer me!"
+
+<P>
+"Shall I conflict the club upon him, Mr. Tom?"
+
+<P>
+It was Koku who asked this last question, as Tom came running toward
+the giant. In the strange glare from the searchlight, the young
+inventor saw his big servant holding tightly to a rather small,
+colored man, while the camera, which was focused full on them, was
+clicking away at a great rate, taking picture after picture on the
+roll of films.
+
+<P>
+"No, don't <i>inflict</i> nor <i>conflict</i> the club on him, Koku,"
+advised Tom.  "Who is he?"
+
+<P>
+"I don't know, Mr. Tom. I was in hiding, in the darkness, waiting
+for him to come back. He had been here once before in the evening,
+Eradicate says. Well, he came while I was waiting and I detained
+him. Then the lights went up. They are very bright lights, Mr. Tom."
+
+<P>
+"Yes, brighter than I expected they would be. I must look and see
+what causes it. So you detained him, did you, Koku?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, and what exposition shall I make of him?"
+
+<P>
+"What <i>disposition</i>?" corrected Tom, with a laugh. "Well, did he get
+any chickens, Koku?"
+
+<P>
+"Oh, no, I was too tight for him."
+
+<P>
+"Oh, you mean too fast, or quick. Well, if he didn't get any, I
+guess you might let him go. I have too much to attend to, to bother
+with him."
+
+<P>
+"Oh, bress yo' for dat, Massa Tom!" cried the negro, whom Tom
+recognized as a worthless character about the town. "I didn't go fo'
+to do nuffin', Massa Tom. I were jest goin' t' look in de coop, t'
+count an' see how many fowls mah friend Eradicate had, an' den--"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, and then I tie you!" broke in Koku.
+
+<P>
+"You collared him, I guess you mean to say," spoke Tom with a laugh.
+"Well, I guess, Sam," speaking to the negro, "if <i>you</i> had counted
+Rad's chickens <i>he</i> couldn't have counted as many in the morning. But
+be off, and don't come around again, or you might have to count the
+bars in a jail cell for a change."
+
+<P>
+"Bress yo' honey. I won't neber come back."
+
+<P>
+"Shall release him?" asked Koku doubtfully.
+
+<P>
+"Yes," said Tom.
+
+<P>
+"And not reflict the club on him?"
+
+<P>
+The giant raised his club longingly.
+
+<P>
+"Oh, Massa Tom, protect me!" cried Sam.
+
+<P>
+"No, don't even <i>reflect</i> the club on him," advised the young inventor
+with a laugh. "He hasn't done any harm, and he may have been the
+means of a great discovery. Remember Sam," Tom went on sternly, "I
+have your picture, as you were trying to break into the coop, and if
+you come around again, I'll use it as evidence against you."
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I won't come. Not as long as dat giant am heah, anyhow," said
+the negro earnestly. "Besides, I were only goin' t' count
+Eradicate's chickens, t' see ef he had as many as I got."
+
+<P>
+"All right," responded Tom. "Now, Koku, you may escort him off the
+premises, and be on the lookout the rest of the night, off and on.
+Where's Rad?"
+
+<P>
+"He has what he says is 'de misery' in his back so that he had to go
+to bed," explained the giant, to account for the faithful colored
+man not having responded to the alarm.
+
+<P>
+"All right, get rid of Sam, and then come back."
+
+<P>
+As Tom turned to go in his shop he saw his aged father coming slowly
+toward him. Mr. Swift had hastily dressed.
+
+<P>
+"What is the matter, Tom?" he asked. "Has anything happened? I heard
+your alarm go off, and I came as quickly as I could."
+
+<P>
+"Nothing much has happened, father, excepting a chicken thief. But
+something great may come of it. Do you notice that searchlight, and
+how powerful it is?"
+
+<P>
+"I do, Tom. I never knew you had one as big as that."
+
+<P>
+"Neither did I, and I haven't, really. That's one of my smallest
+ones, but something seems to have happened to it to make it throw
+out a beam like that. I'm just going to look. Come on in the shop."
+
+<P>
+The two inventors, young and old, entered, and Tom quickly crossed
+to where the wires from the automatic dynamo, extended to the
+searchlight outside the window of his room. He made a quick
+inspection.
+
+<P>
+"Look, father!" he cried. "The alternating current from the
+automatic dynamo has become crossed with direct current from the big
+storage battery in a funny way. It must have been by accident, for
+never in the world would I think of connecting up in that fashion. I
+would have said it would have made a short circuit at once."
+
+<P>
+"But it hasn't. On the contrary, it has given a current of peculiar
+strength and intensity--a current that would seem to be made
+especially for searchlights. Dad, I'm on the edge of a big
+discovery."
+
+<P>
+"I believe you, Tom," said his father. "That certainly is a queer
+way for wires to be connected. How do you account for it?"
+
+<P>
+"I can't. That is unless some one meddled with the connections after
+I made them. That must be it. I'll ask Rad and Koku." Just then the
+giant came in. "Koku, did you touch the wires?" asked Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Well, Mr. Tom, I didn't mean to. I accidentally pulled one out a
+while ago, when I was waiting for the thief to come, but I put it
+right back again. I hope I did no damage."
+
+<P>
+"No, on the contrary, you did a fine thing, Koku. I never would have
+dared make such connections myself, but you, not knowing any better,
+did just the right thing to make an almost perfect searchlight
+current. It is wonderful! Probably for any other purpose such a
+current would be useless, but it is just the thing for a great
+light."
+
+<P>
+"And why do you need such a powerful light, Tom?" asked Mr. Swift.
+"Why, it is of extraordinary brilliancy, and it goes for several
+miles. Look how plainly you can pick out the trees on Nob's Hill,"
+and he pointed to an elevation some distance away from the Swift
+homestead, across the woods and meadows.
+
+<P>
+"I believe I could see a bird perched there, if there was one!"
+exclaimed Tom enthusiastically. "That certainly is a wonderful
+light. With larger carbons, better parobolic mirrors, a different
+resistance box, better connections, and a more powerful primary
+current there is no reason why I could not get a light that would
+make objects more plainly visible than in the daytime, even in the
+darkest night, and at a great distance."
+
+<P>
+"But what would be the object of such a light, Tom?"
+
+<P>
+"To play upon the smugglers, dad, and catch them as they come over
+the border in the airship."
+
+<P>
+"Smugglers, Tom! You don't mean to tell me you are going away again,
+and after smugglers?"
+
+<P>
+"Well, dad, I've had an offer, and I think I'll take it. There's no
+money in it, but I think it is my duty to do my best for Uncle Sam.
+The one thing that bothered me was how to get a view of the airship
+at night. This searchlight has solved the problem--that is if I can
+make a permanent invention of this accident, and I think I can."
+
+<P>
+"Oh, Tom, I hate to think of you going away from home again," said
+his father a bit sadly.
+
+<P>
+"Don't worry, father. I'm not going far this time. Only to the
+Canadian border, and that's only a few hundred miles. But I want to
+see if I can cut the current off, and turn it on again. When a thing
+happens by accident you never know whether you can get just exactly
+the same conditions again."
+
+<P>
+Tom shut off the current from the dynamo, and the powerful beam of
+light died out. Then he turned it on once more, and it glowed as
+brightly as before. He did this several times, and each time it was
+a success.
+
+<P>
+"Hurrah!" cried Tom. "To-morrow I'll start on my latest invention, a
+great searchlight!"
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="IX"></A>
+<H3>Chapter IX "Beware Of the Comet!"</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+"Well, Tom, what are you up to now?"
+
+<P>
+Ned Newton peered in the window of the shop at his chum, who was
+busy over a bench.
+
+<P>
+"This is my latest invention, Ned. Come on in."
+
+<P>
+"Looks as though you were going to give a magic lantern show. Or is
+it for some new kinds of moving pictures? Say, do you remember the
+time we gave a show in the barn, and charged a nickel to come in?
+You were the clown, and--"
+
+<P>
+"I was not! You were the clown. I was part of the elephant. The
+front end, I think."
+
+<P>
+"Oh. so you were. I'm thinking of another one. But what are you up
+to now? Is it a big magic lantern?"
+
+<P>
+Ned came over toward the bench, in front of which Tom stood, fitting
+together sheets of heavy brass in the form of a big square box. In
+one side there was a circular opening, and there were various wheels
+and levers on the different sides and on top. The interior contained
+parobolic curved mirrors.
+
+<P>
+"It's a <i>sort</i> of a lantern, and I hope it's going to do some <i>magic</i>
+work," explained Tom with a smile. "But it isn't the kind of magic
+lantern you mean. It won't throw pictures on a screen, but it may
+show some surprising pictures to us--that is if you come along, and
+I think you will."
+
+<P>
+"Talking riddles; eh?" laughed Ned. "What's the answer?"
+
+<P>
+"Smugglers."
+
+<P>
+"I thought you were talking about a lantern."
+
+<P>
+"So I am, and it's the lantern that's going to show up the
+smugglers, so you can call it a smuggler's magic lantern if you
+like."
+
+<P>
+"Then you're going after them?"
+
+<P>
+This conversation took place several days after the raid on the
+Foger house, and after Tom's accidental discovery of how to make a
+new kind of searchlight. In the meantime he had not seen Ned, who
+had been away on a visit.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I've made up my mind to help Uncle Sam," spoke Tom, "and this
+is one of the things I'll need in my work. It's going to be the most
+powerful searchlight ever made--that is, I never heard of any
+portable electric lights that will beat it."
+
+<P>
+"What do you mean, Tom?"
+
+<P>
+"I mean that I'm inventing a new kind of searchlight, Ned. One that
+I can carry with me on my new noiseless airship, and one that will
+give a beam of light that will be visible for several miles, and
+which will make objects in its focus as plain as if viewed by
+daylight."
+
+<P>
+"And it's to show up the smugglers?"
+
+<P>
+"That's what. That is it will if we can get on the track of them."
+
+<P>
+"But what did you mean when you said it would be the most powerful
+portable light ever made."
+
+<P>
+"Just what I said. I've got to carry this searchlight on an airship
+with me, and, in consequence, it can't be very heavy. Of course
+there are stationary searchlights, such lights as are in
+lighthouses, that could beat mine all to pieces for candle power,
+and for long distance visibility. But they are the only ones."
+
+<P>
+"That's the way to do things, Tom! Say, I'm going with you all right
+after those smugglers. But where are some of those powerful
+stationary searchlights you speak of?"
+
+<P>
+"Oh, there are lots of them. One was in the Eiffel Tower, during the
+Paris Exposition. I didn't see that, but I have read about it.
+Another is in one of the twin lighthouses at the High-lands, on the
+Atlantic coast of New Jersey, just above Asbury Park. That light is
+of ninety-five million candle power, and the lighthouse keeper there
+told me it was visible, on a clear night, as far as the New Haven,
+Connecticut, lighthouse, a distance of fifty miles."
+
+<P>
+"Fifty miles! That's some light!" gasped Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Well, you must remember that the Highlands light is up on a very
+high hill, and the tower is also high, so there is quite an
+elevation, and then think of ninety-five million candle power--think
+of it!"
+
+<P>
+"I can't!" cried Ned. "It gives me a head-ache."
+
+<P>
+"Well, of course I'm not going to try to beat that," went on Tom
+with a laugh, "but I am going to have a very powerful light." And he
+then related how he had accidently discovered a new way to connect
+the wires, so as to get, from a dynamo and a storage battery a much
+stronger, and different, current than usual.
+
+<P>
+"I'm making the searchlight now," Tom continued, "and soon I'll be
+ready to put in the lens, and the carbons."
+
+<P>
+"And then what?"
+
+<P>
+"Then I'm going to attach it to my noiseless airship, and we'll have
+a night flight. It may work, and it may not. If it does, I think
+we'll have some astonishing results."
+
+<P>
+"I think we will, Tom. Can I do anything to help you?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, file some of the rough edges off these sheets of brass, if you
+will. There's an old pair of gloves to put on to protect your hands,
+otherwise you'll be almost sure to cut 'em, when the file slips.
+That brass is extra hard."
+
+<P>
+The two boys were soon working away, and were busy over the big
+lantern when Mr. Whitford came along. Koku was, as usual, on guard
+at the outer door of the shop, but he knew the custom officer, and
+at once admitted him.
+
+<P>
+"Well, Tom, how you coming on?" he asked.
+
+<P>
+"Pretty good. I think I've got just what I want. A powerful light
+for night work."
+
+<P>
+"That's good. You'll need it. They've got so they only smuggle the
+goods over in the night now. How soon do you think you'll be able to
+get on the border for Uncle Sam?"
+
+<P>
+"Why, is there any great rush?" asked Tom, as he noticed a look of
+annoyance pass over the agent's face.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, the smugglers have been hitting us pretty hard lately. My
+superiors are after me to do something, but I can't seem to do it.
+My men are working hard, but we can't catch the rascals."
+
+<P>
+"You see, Tom, they've stopped, temporarily, bringing goods over the
+St. Lawrence. They're working now in the neighborhood of Huntington,
+Canada, and the dividing line between the British possessions and
+New York State, runs along solid ground there. It's a wild and
+desolate part of country, too, and I haven't many men up there."
+
+<P>
+"Don't the Canadian custom officers help?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Well, they haven't been of any aid to us so far," was the answer.
+"No doubt they are trying, but it's hard to get an airship at night
+when you're on the ground, and can't even see it."
+
+<P>
+"How did they come to use airships?" asked Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Well, it was because we were too sharp after them when they tried
+to run things across the line afoot, or by wagons," replied the
+agent. "You must know that in every principal city, at or near the
+border line, there is a custom house. Goods brought from Canada to
+the United States must pass through there and pay a duty."
+
+<P>
+"Of course if lawless people try to evade the duty they don't go
+near the custom house. But there are inspectors stationed at the
+principal roads leading from the Dominion into Uncle Sam's
+territory, and they are always on the lookout. They patrol the line,
+sometimes through a dense wilderness, and again over a desolate
+plain, always on the watch. If they see persons crossing the line
+they stop them and examine what they have. If there is nothing
+dutiable they are allowed to pass. If they have goods on which there
+is a tax, they either have to pay or surrender the goods."
+
+<P>
+"But don't the smugglers slip over in spite of all the precautions?"
+asked Ned. "Say at some lonely ravine, or stretch of woods?"
+
+<P>
+"I suppose they do, occasionally," replied Mr. Whitford. "Yet the
+fact that they never can tell when one of the inspectors or deputies
+is coming along, acts as a stop. Yon see the border line is divided
+up into stretches of different lengths. A certain man, or men, are
+held responsible for each division. They must see that no smugglers
+pass. That makes them on the alert."
+
+<P>
+"Why, take it out west, I have a friend who told me that he often
+travels hundreds of miles on horseback, with pack ponies carrying
+his camping outfit, patroling the border on the lookout for
+smugglers."
+
+<P>
+"In fact Uncle Sam has made it so hard for the ordinary smuggler to
+do business on foot or by wagon, that these fellows have taken to
+airships. And it is practically impossible for an inspector
+patroling the border to be on the lookout for the craft of the air.
+Even if they saw them, what could they do? It would be out of the
+question to stop them. That's why we need some one with a proper
+machine who can chase after them, who can sail through the air, and
+give them a fight in the clouds if they have to."
+
+<P>
+"Our custom houses on the ground, and our inspectors on horse back,
+traveling along the border, can't meet the issue. We're depending on
+you, Tom Swift, and I hope you don't disappoint us."
+
+<P>
+"Well," spoke Tom, when Mr. Whitford had finished. "I'll do my best
+for you. It won't take very long to complete my searchlight, and
+then I'll give it a trial. My airship is ready for service, and once
+I find we're all right I'll start for the border."
+
+<P>
+"Good! And I hope you'll catch the rascals!" fervently exclaimed the
+custom official. "Well, Tom, I'm leaving it all to you. Here are some
+reports from my deputies. I'll leave them with you, and you can look
+them over, and map out a campaign. When you are ready to start I'll
+see you again, and give you any last news I have. I'll also arrange so
+that you can communicate with me, or some of my men."
+
+<P>
+"Have you given up all suspicion of the Fogers?" asked the young
+inventor.
+
+<P>
+"Yes. But I still think Shopton is somehow involved in the custom
+violations. I'm going to put one of my best men on the ground here,
+and go to the border myself."
+
+<P>
+"Well, I'll be ready to start in a few days," said Tom, as the
+government agent departed.
+
+<P>
+For the next week our hero and his chum were busy completing work on
+the great searchlight, and in attaching it to the airship. Koku
+helped them, but little of the plans, or of the use to which the big
+lantern was to be put, were made known to him, for Koku liked to
+talk, and Tom did not want his project to become known.
+
+<P>
+"Well, we'll give her a trial to-night," said Tom one afternoon,
+following a day of hard work. "We'll go up, and flash the light
+down."
+
+<P>
+"Who's going?"
+
+<P>
+"Just us two. You can manage the ship, and I'll look after the
+light."
+
+<P>
+So it was arranged, and after supper Tom and his chum, having told
+Mr. Swift were they were going, slipped out to the airship shed, and
+soon were ready to make an ascent. The big lantern was fastened to a
+shaft that extended above the main cabin. The shaft was hollow and
+through it came the wires that carried the current. Tom, from the
+cabin below, could move the lantern in any direction, and focus it
+on any spot he pleased. By means of a toggle joint, combined with
+what are known as "lazy-tongs," the lantern could be projected over
+the side of the aircraft and be made to gleam on the earth, directly
+below the ship.
+
+<P>
+For his new enterprise Tom used the <i>Falcon</i> in which he had gone to
+Siberia after the platinum. The new noiseless motor had been
+installed in this craft.
+
+<P>
+"All ready, Ned?" asked Tom after an inspection of the searchlight.
+
+<P>
+"All ready, as far as I'm concerned, Tom."
+
+<P>
+"Then let her go!"
+
+<P>
+Like a bird of the night, the great aeroplane shot into the air,
+and, with scarcely a sound that could be heard ten feet away, she
+moved forward at great speed.
+
+<P>
+"What are you going to do first?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Fly around a bit, and then come back over my house. I'm going to
+try the lantern on that first, and see what I can make out from a
+couple of miles up in the air."
+
+<P>
+Up and up went the <i>Falcon</i>, silently and powerfully, until the
+barograph registered nearly fourteen thousand feet.
+
+<P>
+"This is high enough." spoke Tom.
+
+<P>
+He shifted a lever that brought the searchlight into focus on
+Shopton, which lay below them. Then, turning on the current, a
+powerful beam of light gleamed out amid the blackness.
+
+<P>
+"Jove! That's great!" cried Ned. "It's like a shaft of daylight!"
+
+<P>
+"That's what I intended it to be!" cried Tom in delight.
+
+<P>
+With another shifting of the lever he brought the light around so
+that it began to pick up different buildings in the town.
+
+<P>
+"There's the church!" cried Ned. "It's as plain as day, in that
+gleam."
+
+<P>
+"And there's the railroad depot," added Tom.
+
+<P>
+"And Andy Foger's house!"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, and there's my house!" exclaimed Tom a moment later, as the
+beam rested on his residence and shops. "Say, it's plainer than I
+thought it would be. Hold me here a minute, Ned."
+
+<P>
+Ned shut off the power from the propellers, and the airship was
+stationary. Tom took a pair of binoculars, and looked through them
+at his home in the focus of light.
+
+<P>
+"I can count the bricks in the chimney!" he cried in eagerness at
+the success of his great searchlight. "It's even better than I
+thought it was! Let's go down, Ned."
+
+<P>
+Slowly the airship sank. Tom played his light all about, picking up
+building after building, and one familiar spot after another.
+Finally he brought the beam on his own residence again, when not far
+above it.
+
+<P>
+Suddenly there arose a weird cry. Tom and Ned knew at once that it
+was Eradicate.
+
+<P>
+"A comet! A comet!" yelled the colored man. "De end ob de world am
+comin'! Run, chillens, run! Beware ob de comet!"
+
+<P>
+"Eradicate's afraid!" cried Tom with a laugh.
+
+<P>
+"Oh good mistah comet! Doan't take me!" went on the colored man. "I
+ain't neber done nuffin', an' mah mule Boomerang ain't needer. But
+ef yo' has t' take somebody, take Boomerang!"
+
+<P>
+"Keep quiet, Rad! It's all right!" cried Tom. But the colored man
+continued to shout in fear.
+
+<P>
+Then, as the two boys looked on, and as the airship came nearer to
+the earth, Ned, who was looking down amid the great illumination,
+called to Tom:
+
+<P>
+"Look at Koku!"
+
+<P>
+Tom glanced over, and saw his giant servant, with fear depicted on
+his face, running away as fast as he could. Evidently Eradicate's
+warning had frightened him.
+
+<P>
+"Say, he can run!" cried Ned. "Look at him leg it!"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, and he may run away, never to come back," exclaimed Tom. "I
+don't want to lose him, he's too valuable. I know what happened once
+when he got frightened. He was away for a week before I could locate
+him, and he hid in the swamp. I'm not going to have that happen
+again."
+
+<P>
+"What are you going to do?"
+
+<P>
+"I'm going to chase after him in the airship. It will be a good test
+for chasing the smugglers. Put me after him, Ned, and I'll play the
+searchlight on him so we can't lose him!"
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="X"></A>
+<H3>Chapter X Off For the Border</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+"There he goes, Tom!"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I see him!"
+
+<P>
+"Look at him run!"
+
+<P>
+"No wonder. Consider his long legs, Ned. Put on a little more speed,
+and keep a little lower down. It's clear of trees right here."
+
+<P>
+"There he goes into that clump of bushes."
+
+<P>
+"I see him. He'll soon come out," and Tom flashed the big light on
+the fleeing giant to whom fear seemed to lend more than wings.
+
+<P>
+But even a giant, long legged though he be, and powerful, cannot
+compete with a modern airship--certainly not such a one as Tom Swift
+had.
+
+<P>
+"We're almost up to him, Tom!" cried Ned a little later.
+
+<P>
+"Yes! I'm keeping track of him. Oh, why doesn't he know enough to
+stop? Koku! Koku!" called Tom. "It's all right! I'm in the airship!
+This is a searchlight, not a comet. Wait for us!"
+
+<P>
+They could see the giant glance back over his shoulder at them, and,
+when he saw how close the gleaming light was he made a desperate
+spurt. But it was about his last, for he was a heavy man, and did
+not have any too good wind.
+
+<P>
+"We'll have him in another minute," predicted Tom. "Give me a bit
+more speed, Ned."
+
+<P>
+The lad who was managing the <i>Falcon</i> swung the accelerating lever
+over another notch, and the craft surged ahead. Then Ned executed a
+neat trick. Swinging the craft around in a half circle, he suddenly
+opened the power full, and so got ahead of Koku. The next minute,
+sliding down to earth, Tom and Ned came to a halt, awaiting the
+oncoming of Koku, who, finding the glaring light full in his face,
+came to a halt.
+
+<P>
+"Why, Koku, what's the matter?" asked Tom kindly, as he turned off
+the powerful beams, and switched on some ordinary incandescents,
+that were on the outside of the craft. They made an illumination by
+which the giant could make out his master and the latter's chum.
+"Why did you run, Koku?" asked Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Eradicate say to," was the simple answer. "He say comet come to eat
+up earth. Koku no want to be eaten."
+
+<P>
+"Eradicate is a big baby!" exclaimed Tom. "See, there is no danger.
+It is only my new searchlight," and once more the young inventor
+switched it on. Koku jumped back, but when he saw that nothing
+happened he did not run.
+
+<P>
+"It's harmless," said Tom, and briefly he explained how the big
+lantern worked.
+
+<P>
+Koku was reassured now, and consented to enter the airship. He was
+rather tired from his run, and was glad to sit down.
+
+<P>
+"Where to now; back home?" asked Ned, as they made ready to start.
+
+<P>
+"No, I was thinking of going over to Mr. Damon's house. I'd like him
+to see my searchlight. And I want to find out if he's going with us
+on the trip to the border."
+
+<P>
+"Of course he will!" predicted Ned. "He hasn't missed a trip with you
+in a long while. He'll go if his wife will let him," and both boys
+laughed, for Mr. Damon's wife was nearly always willing to let him do
+as he liked, though the odd man had an idea that she was violently
+opposed to his trips.
+
+<P>
+Once more the <i>Falcon</i> went aloft, and again the searchlight played
+about. It brought out with startling distinctness the details of the
+towns and villages over which they passed, and distant landmarks
+were also made plainly visible.
+
+<P>
+"We'll be there in a few minutes now," said Tom, as he flashed the
+light on a long slant toward the town of Waterford, where Mr. Damon
+lived.
+
+<P>
+"I can see his house," spoke Ned a moment later. He changed the
+course of the craft, to bring it to a stop in the yard of the
+eccentric man, and, shortly afterward, they landed. Tom who had shut
+off the searchlight for a minute, turned it on again, and the house
+and grounds of Mr. Damon were enveloped in a wonderful glow.
+
+<P>
+"That will bring him out," predicted Tom.
+
+<P>
+A moment later they heard his voice.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my astronomy!" cried Mr. Damon. "There's a meteor fallen in
+our yard. Come out, wife--everybody--call the servants. It's a
+chance of a lifetime to see one, and they're valuable, too! Bless my
+star dust! I must tell Tom Swift of this!"
+
+<P>
+Out into the glare of the great searchlight ran Mr. Damon, followed
+by his wife and several of the servants.
+
+<P>
+"There it is!" cried the odd man. "There's the meteor!"
+
+<P>
+"First we're a comet and then we're a meteor," said Ned with a
+laugh.
+
+<P>
+"Oh. I hope it doesn't bury itself in the earth before I can get Tom
+Swift here!" went on Mr. Damon, capering about. "Bless my telephone
+book. I must call him up right away!"
+
+<P>
+"I'm here now, Mr. Damon!" shouted Tom, as he alighted from the
+airship. "That's my new searchlight you're looking at."
+
+<P>
+"Bless my--" began Mr. Damon, but he couldn't think of nothing
+strong enough for a moment, until he blurted out "dynamite
+cartridge! Bless my dynamite cartridge! Tom Swift! His searchlight!
+Bless my nitro-glycerine!"
+
+<P>
+Then Tom shut off the glare, and, as Mr. Damon and his wife came
+aboard he showed them how the light worked. He only used a part of
+the current, as he knew if he put on the full glare toward Mr.
+Damon's house, neighbors might think it was on fire.
+
+<P>
+"Well, that's certainly wonderful," said Mrs. Damon. "In fact this
+is a wonderful ship."
+
+<P>
+"Can't you take Mrs. Damon about, and show her how it works," said
+Mr. Damon suddenly. "Show her the ship."
+
+<P>
+"I will," volunteered Tom.
+
+<P>
+"No, let Ned," said the eccentric man. "I--er--I want to speak to
+you, Tom."
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Damon, with a queer glance at her husband, accompanied Ned to
+the motor room. As soon as she was out of hearing the odd gentleman
+came over and whispered to the young inventor.
+
+<P>
+"I say, Tom, what's up?"
+
+<P>
+"Smugglers. You know. I told you about 'em. I'm going after 'em with
+my big searchlight."
+
+<P>
+"Bless my card case! So you did. But, I say, Tom, I--I want to go!"
+
+<P>
+"I supposed you would. Well, you're welcome, of course. We leave in
+a few days. It isn't a very long trip this time, but there may be
+plenty of excitement. Then I'll book you for a passage, and--"
+
+<P>
+"Hush! Not another word! Here she comes, Tom. My wife! Don't breathe
+a syllable of it to her. She'll never let me go." Then, for the
+benefit of Mrs. Damon, who came back into the main cabin with Ned at
+that moment, her husband added in loud tones:
+
+<P>
+"Yes, Tom it certainly is a wonderful invention. I congratulate
+you," and, at the same time he winked rapidly at our hero. Tom
+winked in return.
+
+<P>
+"Well, I guess we'll start back," remarked Tom, after a bit. "I'll
+see you again, I suppose, Mr. Damon?"
+
+<P>
+"Oh yes, of course. I'll be over--soon," and once more he winked as
+he whispered in Tom's ear: "Don't leave me behind, my boy."
+
+<P>
+"I won't," whispered the young inventor in answer.
+
+<P>
+Mrs. Damon smiled, and Tom wondered if she had discovered her
+husband's innocent secret.
+
+<P>
+Tom and Ned, with Koku, made a quick trip back to Shopton, using the
+great searchlight part of the way. The next day they began
+preparations for the journey to the border.
+
+<P>
+It did not take long to get ready. No great amount of stores or
+supplies need be taken along, as they would not be far from home,
+not more than a two days' journey at any time. And they would be
+near large cities, where food and gasolene could easily be obtained.
+
+<P>
+About a week later, therefore, Mr. Whitford the government agent,
+having been communicated with in the meanwhile, Tom and Ned, with
+Koku and Mr. Damon were ready to start.
+
+<P>
+"I wonder if Mr. Whitford is coming to see us off?" mused Tom, as he
+looked to see if everything was aboard, and made sure that the
+searchlight was well protected by its waterproof cover.
+
+<P>
+"He said he'd be here," spoke Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Well, it's past time now. I don't know whether to start, or to
+wait."
+
+<P>
+"Wait a few minutes more," advised Ned. "His train may be a few
+minutes behind time."
+
+<P>
+They waited half an hour, and Tom was on the point of starting when
+a messenger boy came hurrying into the yard where the great airship
+rested on its bicycle wheels.
+
+<P>
+"A telegram for you, Tom," called the lad, who was well acquainted
+with our hero.
+
+<P>
+Hastily the young inventor tore open the envelope.
+
+<P>
+"Here's news!" he exclaimed,
+
+<P>
+"What is it?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"It's from Mr. Whitford," answered his chum. "He says: 'Can't be
+with you at start. Will meet you in Logansville. Have new clew to
+the Fogers!'"
+
+<P>
+"Great Scott!" cried Ned, staring at his chum.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XI"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XI Andy's New Airship</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+Tom Swift tossed a quarter to the messenger boy, and leaped over the
+rail to the deck of his airship, making his way toward the pilot
+house.
+
+<P>
+"Start the motor, Ned," he called. "Are you all ready, Mr. Damon?"
+
+<P>
+"Bless my ancient history, yes. But--"
+
+<P>
+"Are you going, Tom?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Of course. That's why we're here; isn't it? We're going to start
+for the border to catch the smugglers. Give me full speed, I want
+the motor to warm up."
+
+<P>
+"But that message from Mr. Whitford? He says he has a new clew to
+the Fogers."
+
+<P>
+"That's all right. He may have, but he doesn't ask us to work it up.
+He says he will meet us in Logansville, and he can't if we don't go
+there. We're off for Logansville. Good-bye dad. I'll bring you back
+a souvenir, Mrs. Baggert," he called to the housekeeper. "Sorry
+you're not coming, Rad, but I'll take you next time."
+
+<P>
+"Dat's all right, Massa Tom. I doan't laik dem smugger-fellers,
+nohow. Good-bye an' good luck!"
+
+<P>
+"Bless my grab bag!" gasped Mr. Damon. "You certainly do things,
+Tom."
+
+<P>
+"That's the only way to get things done," replied the young
+inventor. "How about you, Ned? Motor all right?"
+
+<P>
+"Sure."
+
+<P>
+"Then let her go!"
+
+<P>
+A moment later Ned had started the machinery, and Tom, in the pilot
+house, had pulled the lever of the elevating rudder. Whizzing along,
+but making scarcely any sound, the noiseless airship mounted upward,
+and was off on her flight to capture the men who were cheating Uncle
+Sam.
+
+<P>
+"What are you going to do first, when you get there, Tom?" asked
+Ned, as he joined his chum in the pilot house, having set the motor
+and other apparatus to working automatically. "I mean in
+Logansville?"
+
+<P>
+"I don't know. I'll have to wait and see how things develop."
+
+<P>
+"That's where Mr. Foger lives, you know."
+
+<P>
+"Yes, but I doubt if he is there now. He and Andy are probably still
+in the old house here, though what they are doing is beyond me to
+guess."
+
+<P>
+"What do you suppose this new clew is that Mr. Whitford wired you
+about?"
+
+<P>
+"Haven't any idea. If he wants us to get after it he'll let us know.
+It won't take us long to get there at this rate. But I think I'll
+slow down a bit, for the motor is warmed up now, and there's no use
+racking it to pieces. But we're moving nicely; aren't we, Ned?"
+
+<P>
+"I should say so. This is the best all-around airship you've got."
+
+<P>
+"It is since I put the new motor in. Well, I wonder what will happen
+when we get chasing around nights after the smugglers? It isn't
+going to be easy work, I can tell you."
+
+<P>
+"I should say not. How you going to manage it?"
+
+<P>
+"Well, I haven't just decided. I'm going to have a talk with the
+customs men, and then I'll go out night after night and cruise
+around at the most likely place where they'll rush goods across the
+border. As soon as I see the outlines of an airship in the darkness,
+or hear the throb of her motor, I'll take after her, and--"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, and you can do it, too, Tom, for she can't hear you coming and
+you can flash the big light on her and the smugglers will think the
+end of the world has come. Cracky! Its going to be great, Tom! I'm
+glad I came along. Maybe they'll fight, and fire at us! If they have
+guns aboard, as they probably will have, we'll--"
+
+<P>
+"Bless my armor plate!" interrupted Mr. Damon. "Please don't talk
+about such hair-raising things, Ned! Talk about something pleasant."
+
+<P>
+"All right," agreed Tom's chum, and then, as the airship sailed
+along, high above the earth, they talked of many things.
+
+<P>
+"I think when we sight Logansville." said Tom, after a while, "that
+I will come down in some quiet spot, before we reach the city."
+
+<P>
+"Don't you want to get into a crowd?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"No, it isn't that. But Mr. Foger lives there you know, and, though
+he may not be at home, there are probably some men who are
+interested in the thing he is working at."
+
+<P>
+"You mean smuggling?"
+
+<P>
+"Well, I wouldn't say that. At the same time it may have leaked out
+that we are after the smugglers in an airship and it may be that Mr.
+Whitford doesn't want the Fogers to know I'm on the ground until he
+has a chance to work up his clew. So I'll just go slowly, and remain
+in the background for a while."
+
+<P>
+"Well, maybe it's a good plan," agreed Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Of course," began Tom, "it would be--"
+
+<P>
+He was interrupted by a shout from Koku, who had gone to the motor
+room, for the giant was as fascinated over machinery as a child. As
+he yelled there came a grinding, pounding noise, and the big ship
+seemed to waver, to quiver in the void, and to settle toward the
+earth.
+
+<P>
+"Something's happened!" cried Ned, as he sprang for the place where
+most of the mechanism was housed.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my toy balloon!" shouted Mr. Damon. "We're falling, Tom!"
+
+<P>
+It needed but a glance at the needle of the barograph, to show this.
+Tom followed Ned at top speed, but ere either of them reached the
+engine room the pounding and grinding noises ceased, the airship
+began to mount upward again, and it seemed that the danger had
+passed.
+
+<P>
+"What can have happened?" gasped Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Come on, we'll soon see," said Ned, and they rushed on, followed by
+Mr. Damon, who was blessing things in a whisper.
+
+<P>
+The chums saw a moment later--saw a strange sight--for there was
+Koku, the giant, kneeling down on the floor of the motor room, with
+his big hands clasped over one of the braces of the bed-plate of the
+great air pump, which cooled the cylinders of the motor. The pump
+had torn partly away from its fastenings. Kneeling there, pressing
+down on the bed-plate with all his might, Koku was in grave danger,
+for the rod of the pump, plunging up and down, was within a fraction
+of an inch of his head, and, had he moved, the big taper pin, which
+held the plunger to the axle, would have struck his temple and
+probably would have killed him, for the pin, which held the plunger
+rigid, projected several inches from the smooth side of the rod.
+
+<P>
+"Koku, what is the matter? Why are you there?" cried Tom, for he
+could see nothing wrong with the machinery now. The airship was
+sailing on as before.
+
+<P>
+"Bolt break," explained the giant briefly, for he had learned some
+engineering terms since he had been with Tom. "Bolt that hold pump
+fast to floor crack off. Pump him begin to jump up. Make bad noise.
+Koku hold him down, but pretty hard work. Better put in new bolt,
+Mr. Tom."
+
+<P>
+They could see the strain that was put upon the giant in his
+swelling veins and the muscles of his hands and arms, for they stood
+out knotted, and in bunches. With all his great strength it was all
+Koku could do to hold the pump from tearing completely loose.
+
+<P>
+"Quick, Ned!" cried Tom. "Shut off all the power! Stop the pump!
+I've got to bolt it fast. Start the gas machine, Mr. Damon. You know
+how to do it. It works independent of the motor. You can let go in a
+minute, Koku!"
+
+<P>
+It took but a few seconds to do all this. Ned stopped the main
+motor, which had the effect of causing the propellers to cease
+revolving. Then the airship would have gone down but for the fact
+that she was now a balloon, Mr. Damon having started the generating
+machine which sent the powerful lifting gas into the big bag over
+head.
+
+<P>
+"Now you can let go, Koku," said Tom, for with the stooping of the
+motor the air pump ceased plunging, and there was no danger of it
+tearing loose.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my court plaster!" cried Mr. Damon. "What happened, Tom?"
+
+<P>
+As the giant arose from his kneeling position the cause of the
+accident could easily be seen. Two of the big belts that held down
+one end of the pump bed-plate to the floor of the airship, had
+cracked off, probably through some defect, or because of the long
+and constant vibration on them.
+
+<P>
+This caused a great strain on the two forward bolts, and the pump
+starter! to tear itself loose. Had it done so there would have been
+a serious accident, for there would have been a tangle in the
+machinery that might never have been repairable. But Koku, who, it
+seems, had been watching the pump, saw the accident as soon as it
+occurred. He knew that the pump must be held down, and kept rigid,
+and he took the only way open to him to accomplish this.
+
+<P>
+He pressed his big hands down over the place where the bolts had
+broken off, and by main strength of muscle he held the bed-plate in
+place until the power was shut off.
+
+<P>
+"Koku, my boy, you did a great thing!" cried Tom, when he realized
+what had happened. "You saved all our lives, and the airship as
+well."
+
+<P>
+"Koku glad," was the simple reply of the giant.
+
+<P>
+"But, bless my witch hazel!" cried Mr. Damon. "There's blood on your
+hands, Koku!"
+
+<P>
+They looked at the giant's palms. They were raw and bleeding.
+
+<P>
+"How did it happen?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Where belts break off, iron rough-like," explained Koku.
+
+<P>
+"Rough! I should say it was!" cried Tom. "Why, he just pressed with
+all his might on the jagged end of the belts. Koku you're a hero!"
+
+<P>
+"Hero same as giant?" asked Koku, curiously.
+
+<P>
+"No, it's a heap sight better," spoke Tom, and there was a trace of
+tears in his eyes.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my vaseline!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, blowing his nose harder
+than seemed necessary. "Come over here, Koku, and I'll bandage up
+your hands. Poor fellow, it must hurt a lot!"
+
+<P>
+"Oh, not so bad," was the simple reply.
+
+<P>
+While Mr. Damon gave first aid to the injured, Tom and Ned put new
+bolts in place of the broken ones on the bed-plate, and they tested
+them to see that they were perfect. New ones were also substituted
+for the two that had been strained, and in the course of an hour the
+repairs were made.
+
+<P>
+"Now we can run as an aeroplane again," said Tom. "But I'm not going
+to try such speed again. It was the vibration that did it I guess."
+
+<P>
+They were now over a wild and desolate stretch of country, for the
+region lying on either side of the imaginary line dividing Canada and
+New York State, at the point where the St. Lawrence flows north-east,
+is sparsely settled.
+
+<P>
+There were stretches of forest that seemed never to have been
+penetrated, and here and there patches of stunted growth, with
+little lakes dotted through the wilderness. There were hills and
+valleys, small streams and an occasional village.
+
+<P>
+"Just the place for smuggling," observed Tom, as he looked at a map,
+consulted a clock and figured out that they must be near
+Logansville. "We can go down here in one of these hollows,
+surrounded by this tangled forest, and no one would ever know we
+were here. The smugglers could do the same."
+
+<P>
+"Are you going to try it?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"I think I will. We'll go up to quite a height now, and I'll see if
+I can pick out Logansville. That isn't much of a place I guess. When
+I sight it I'll select a good place to lay hidden for a day or two,
+until Mr. Whitford has had a chance to work up his clew."
+
+<P>
+The airship machinery was now working well again, and Tom sent his
+craft up about three miles. From there, taking observations through
+a powerful telescope, he was able, after a little while, to pick out
+a small town. From its location and general outline he knew it to be
+Logansville.
+
+<P>
+"We'll go down about three miles from it," he said to his chum.
+"They won't be likely to see us then, and we'll stay concealed for a
+while."
+
+<P>
+This plan was put into operation, and, a little later the <i>Falcon</i>
+came to rest in a little grassy clearing, located in among a number
+of densely wooded hills. It was an ideal place to camp, though very
+lonesome.
+
+<P>
+"Now, Ned, let's cut a lot of branches, and pile them over the
+airship," suggested Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Cover over the airship? What for?"
+
+<P>
+"So that in case anyone flies over our heads they won't look down
+and see us. If the Fogers, or any of the smugglers, should happen to
+pass over this place, they'd spot us in a minute. We've got to play
+foxy on this hunt."
+
+<P>
+"That's so," agreed his chum; and soon the three of them were busy
+making the airship look like a tangled mass of underbrush. Koku
+helped by dragging big branches along under his arm, but he could
+not use his hands very well.
+
+<P>
+They remained in the little grassy glade three days, thoroughly
+enjoying their camp and the rest. Tom and Ned went fishing in a
+nearby lake and had some good luck. They also caught trout in a
+small stream and broiled the speckled beauties with bacon inside
+them over live coals at a campfire.
+
+<P>
+"My! But that's good!" mumbled Ned, with his mouth full of hot
+trout, and bread and butter.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I'd rather do this than chase smugglers," said Tom, stretching
+out on his back with his face to the sky. "I wish--"
+
+<P>
+But he did not finish the sentence. Suddenly from the air above them
+came a curious whirring, throbbing noise. Tom sat up with a jump! He
+and Ned gazed toward the zenith. The noise increased and, a moment
+later, there came into view a big airship, sailing right over their
+heads.
+
+<P>
+"Look at that!" cried Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Hush! They'll hear you," cautioned Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Nonsense! They're too high up," was Tom's reply. "Mr. Damon, bring
+me the big binoculars, please!" he called.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my spectacles, what's up?" asked the odd gentleman as he ran
+with the glasses toward Tom.
+
+<P>
+Our hero focused them on the airship that was swiftly sailing across
+the open space in the wilderness but so high up that there was no
+danger of our friends being recognized. Then the young inventor
+uttered a cry of astonishment.
+
+<P>
+"It's Andy Foger!" he cried. "He's in that airship, and he's got two
+men with him. Andy Foger, and it's a new biplane. Say, maybe that's
+the new clew Mr. Whitford wired me about. We must get ready for
+action! Andy in a new airship means business, and from the whiteness
+of the canvas planes, I should say that craft was on its first
+trip."
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XII"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XII Warned Away</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+"Tom, are you sure it's Andy?"
+
+<P>
+"Take a look yourself," replied the young inventor, passing his chum
+the binoculars.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my bottle of ink!" cried Mr. Damon. "Is it possible?"
+
+<P>
+"Quick, Ned, or you'll miss him!" cried Tom.
+
+<P>
+The young bank clerk focused the glasses on the rapidly moving
+airship, and, a moment later, exclaimed:
+
+<P>
+"Yes, that's Andy all right, but I don't know who the men are with
+him."
+
+<P>
+"I couldn't recognize them, either," announced Tom. "But say, Ned,
+Andy's got a good deal better airship than he had before."
+
+<P>
+"Yes. This isn't his old one fixed over. I don't believe he ever
+intended to repair the old one. That hiring of Mr. Dillon to do
+that, was only to throw him, and us, too, off the track."
+
+<P>
+Ned passed the glasses to Mr. Damon, who was just in time to get a
+glimpse of the three occupants of Andy's craft before it passed out
+of sight over the trees.
+
+<P>
+"I believe you're right," said Tom to his chum. "And did you notice
+that there's quite a body, or car, to that craft?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes. room enough to carry considerable goods," commented Ned. "I
+wonder where he's going in it?"
+
+<P>
+"To Logansville, most likely. I tell you what it is, Ned. I think one
+of us will have to go there, and see if Mr. Whitford has arrived. He
+may be looking for us. I'm not sure but what we ought not to have
+done this first. He may think we have not come, or have met with
+some accident,"
+
+<P>
+"I guess you're right, Tom. But how shall we go? It isn't going to
+be any fun to tramp through those woods," and Ned glanced at the
+wilderness that surrounded the little glade where they had been
+camping.
+
+<P>
+"No, and I've about concluded that we might as well risk it, and go
+in the airship. Mr. Whitford has had time enough to work up his
+clew, I guess, and Andy will be sure to find out, sooner or later,
+that we are in the neighborhood. I say let's start for Logansville."
+
+<P>
+Ned and Mr. Damon agreed with this and soon they were prepared to
+move.
+
+<P>
+"Where will you find Mr. Whitford?" asked Ned of his chum, as the
+<i>Falcon</i> arose in the air.
+
+<P>
+"At the post-office. That's where we arranged to meet. There is a
+sort of local custom house there, I believe."
+
+<P>
+Straight over the forest flew Tom Swift and his airship, with the
+great searchlight housed on top. They delayed their start until the
+other craft had had a chance to get well ahead, and they were well
+up in the air; there was no sight of the biplane in which Andy had
+sailed over their heads a short time before.
+
+<P>
+"Where are you going to land?" asked Ned, as they came in view of
+the town.
+
+<P>
+"The best place I can pick out," answered Tom. "Just on the
+outskirts of the place, I think. I don't want to go down right in
+the centre, as there'll be such a crowd. Yet if Andy has been using
+his airship here the people must be more or less used to seeing
+them."
+
+<P>
+But if the populace of Logansville had been in the habit of having
+Andy Foger sail over their heads, still they were enough interested
+in a new craft to crowd around when Tom dropped into a field near
+some outlying houses. In a moment the airship was surrounded by a
+crowd of women and children, and there would probably been a lot of
+men, but for the fact that they were away at work. Tom had come down
+in a residential section.
+
+<P>
+"Say, that's a beauty!" cried one boy.
+
+<P>
+"Let's see if they'll let us go on!" proposed another.
+
+<P>
+"We're going to have our own troubles," said Tom to his chum. "I
+guess I'll go into town, and leave the rest of you on guard here.
+Keep everybody off, if you have to string mildly charged electrical
+wires about the rail."
+
+<P>
+But there was no need to take this precaution, for, just as the
+combined juvenile population of that part of Logansville was
+prepared to storm, and board the <i>Falcon</i>, Koku appeared on deck.
+
+<P>
+"Oh, look at the giant!"
+
+<P>
+"Say, this is a circus airship?"
+
+<P>
+"Wow! Ain't he big!"
+
+<P>
+"I'll bet he could lift a house!"
+
+<P>
+These and other expressions came from the boys and girls about the
+airship. The women looked on open-mouthed, and murmurs of surprise
+and admiration at Koku's size came from a number of men who had
+hastily run up.
+
+<P>
+Koku stepped from the airship to the ground, and at once every boy
+and girl made a bee-line for safety.
+
+<P>
+"That will do the trick!" exclaimed Tom with a laugh. "Koku, just
+pull up a few trees, and look as fierce as Bluebeard, and I guess we
+won't be troubled with curiosity seekers. You can guard the airship,
+Koku, better than electric wires."
+
+<P>
+"I fix 'em!" exclaimed the giant, and he tried to look fierce, but
+it was hard work, for he was very good natured. But he proved a
+greater attraction than the aircraft, and Tom was glad of it, for he
+did not like meddlers aboard.
+
+<P>
+"With Koku to help you, and Mr. Damon to bless things. I guess you
+can manage until I come back, Ned," said the young inventor, as he
+made ready to go in to town to see if Mr. Whitford had arrived.
+
+<P>
+"Oh, we'll get along all right," declared Ned. "Don't worry."
+
+<P>
+Tom found Mr. Whitford in one of the rooms over the post-office. The
+custom house official was restlessly pacing the floor.
+
+<P>
+"Well, Tom!" he exclaimed, shaking hands, "I'm glad to see you. I
+was afraid something had happened. I was delayed myself, but when I
+did arrive and found you hadn't been heard from, I didn't know what
+to think. I couldn't get you on the wireless. The plant here is out
+of repair."
+
+<P>
+Tom told of their trip, and the wait they had decided on, and asked:
+
+<P>
+"What about the new clew; the Fogers?"
+
+<P>
+"I'm sorry to say it didn't amount to anything. I ran it down, and
+came to nothing."
+
+<P>
+"You know Andy has a new airship?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes. I had men on the trail of it. They say Andy is agent for a
+firm that manufactures them, but I have my doubts. I haven't given
+up yet. But say, Tom, you've got to get busy. A big lot of goods was
+smuggled over last night."
+
+<P>
+"Where?"
+
+<P>
+"Well, quite a way from here. I got a telegram about it. Can you get
+on the job to-night, and do some patrol work along the border?
+You're only half a mile from it now. Over there is Canada," and he
+pointed to a town on a hill opposite Logansville.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I can get right into action. What place is that?"
+
+<P>
+"Montford, Canada. I've got men planted there, and the Dominion
+customs officials are helping us. But I think the smugglers have
+changed the base of their operations for the time being. If I were
+you I'd head for the St. Lawrence to-night."
+
+<P>
+"I will. Don't you want to come along?"
+
+<P>
+"Why, yes. I believe I'm game. I'll join you later in the day," Mr.
+Whitford added, as Tom told him where the <i>Falcon</i> was anchored.
+
+<P>
+The young inventor got back to find a bigger crowd than ever around
+his airship. But Koku and the others had kept them at a distance.
+
+<P>
+With the government agent aboard Tom sent his craft into the air at
+dusk, the crowd cheering lustily. Then, with her nose pointed toward
+the St. Lawrence, the <i>Falcon</i> was on her way to do a night patrol,
+and, if possible, detect the smugglers.
+
+<P>
+It was monotonous work, and unprofitable, for, though Tom sent the
+airship back and forth for many miles along the wonderful river that
+formed the path from the Great Lakes to the sea, he had no glimpse
+of ghostly wings of other aircraft, nor did he hear the beat of
+propellers, nor the throb of motors, as his own noiseless airship
+cruised along.
+
+<P>
+It came on to rain after midnight, and a mist crept down from the
+clouds, so that even with the great searchlight flashing its
+powerful beams, it was difficult to see for any great distance.
+
+<P>
+"Better give it up, I guess," suggested Mr. Whitford toward morning,
+when they had covered many miles, and had turned back toward
+Logansville.
+
+<P>
+"All right," agreed Tom. "But we'll try it again to-morrow night."
+
+<P>
+He dropped his craft at the anchorage he had selected in the gray
+dawn of the morning. All on board were tired and sleepy. Ned,
+looking from a window of the cabin, as the <i>Falcon</i> came to a stop,
+saw something white on the ground.
+
+<P>
+"I wonder what that is?" he said as he hurried out to pick it up. It
+was a large white envelope, addressed to Tom Swift, and the name was
+in printed characters.
+
+<P>
+"Somebody who wants to disguise their writing," remarked Tom, as he
+tore it open. A look of surprise came over his face.
+
+<P>
+"Look here! Mr. Whitford," he cried. "This is the work of the
+smugglers all right!"
+
+<P>
+For, staring at Tom, in big printed letters, on a white sheet of
+paper, was this message:
+
+<P>
+"If you know what is good for you, Tom Swift, you had better clear
+out. If you don't your airship will burned, and you may get hurt.
+We'll burn you in mid-air. Beware and quit. You can't catch us."
+
+<P>
+"<i>The Committee of Three</i>."
+
+<P>
+"Ha! Warned away!" cried Tom. "Well, it will take more than this to
+make me give up!" and he crumpled the anonymous warning in his hand.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XIII"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XIII Koku Saves the Light</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+"Don't do that!" cried Mr. Whitford.
+
+<P>
+"What?" asked Tom, in some surprise.
+
+<P>
+"Don't destroy that letter. It may give us a clew. Let me have it.
+I'll put a man at work on that end of this game."
+
+<P>
+"Bless my checkerboard!" cried Mr. Damon. "This game has so many
+ends that you don't know where to begin to play it."
+
+<P>
+The government man smoothed out the crumpled piece of paper, and
+looked at it carefully, and also gazed at the envelope.
+
+<P>
+"It's pretty hard to identify plain print, done with a lead pencil,"
+he murmured. "And this didn't came through the mail."
+
+<P>
+"I wonder how it got here?" mused Ned. "Maybe some of the crowd that
+was here when we started off dropped it for the smugglers. Maybe the
+smugglers were in that crowd!"
+
+<P>
+"Let's take a look outside," suggested Mr. Whitford. "We may be able
+to pick up a clew there."
+
+<P>
+Although our friends were tired and sleepy, and hungry as well, they
+forgot all this in the desire to learn more about the mysterious
+warning that had come to them during the night. They all went
+outside, and Ned pointed to where he had picked up the envelope.
+
+<P>
+"Look all around, and see if you can find anything more," directed
+the custom agent.
+
+<P>
+"Footprints won't count," said Tom. "There was a regular circus
+crowd out here yesterday."
+
+<P>
+"I'm not looking for footprints," replied Mr. Whitford, "I have an
+idea--"
+
+<P>
+"Here's something!" interrupted Mr. Damon. "It looks like a lead
+weight for a deep-sea fishing line. Bless my reel. No one could do
+fishing here."
+
+<P>
+"Let me see that!" exclaimed Mr. Whitford eagerly. Then, as he
+looked at it, he uttered a cry of delight. "I thought so," he said.
+"Look at this bit of cord tied to the weight."
+
+<P>
+"What does that signify?" asked Tom.
+
+<P>
+"And see this little hole in the envelope, or, rather a place that
+was a hole, but it's torn away now."
+
+<P>
+"I'm not much the wiser," confessed Ned, with a puzzled look.
+
+<P>
+"Why, it's as plain as print," declared the government agent. "This
+warning letter was dropped from an airship, Tom."
+
+<P>
+"From an airship?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes. They sailed right over this place, and let the letter fall,
+with this lead weight attached, to bring it to earth just where they
+wanted it to fall."
+
+<P>
+"Bless my postage stamp!" cried Mr. Damon. "I never heard of such a
+thing."
+
+<P>
+"I see it now!" exclaimed Tom. "While we were off over the river,
+watching for the smugglers, they were turning a trick here, and
+giving us a warning into the bargain. We should have stayed around
+here. I wonder if it was Andy's airship that was used?"
+
+<P>
+"We can easily find that out," said Mr. Whitford. "I have a
+detective stationed in a house not far from where the Fogers live.
+Andy came back from Shopton yesterday, just before you arrived here,
+and I can soon let you know whether he was out last night. I'll take
+this letter with me, and get right up to my office, though I'm
+afraid this won't be much of a clew after all. Print isn't like
+handwriting for evidence."
+
+<P>
+"And to think they sailed right over this place, and we weren't
+home," mourned Tom. "It makes me mad!"
+
+<P>
+But there was no use in regretting what had happened, and, after a
+hot breakfast in the airship, with Mr. Damon presiding at the
+electrical stove, they all felt more hopeful. Mr. Whitford left for
+his office, promising to send word to Tom as to whether or not Andy
+was abroad in the airship during the night.
+
+<P>
+"I wonder if that 'Committee of Three' is Andy and these two fellows
+with him in the airship?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Hard telling," responded his chum. "Now for a good sleep. Koku,
+keep the crowd away while we have a rest," for the giant had
+indulged in a good rest while the airship was on patrol during the
+night.
+
+<P>
+Not so much of a crowd came out as on the first day, and Koku had
+little trouble in keeping them far enough away so that Tom and the
+others could get some rest. Koku walked about, brandishing a big
+club, and looking as fierce as a giant in a fairy tale.  It was
+afternoon when a message came from Mr. Whitford to the effect that
+Andy's airship was not out the previous night, and that so far no
+clews had developed from the letter, or from any other source.
+
+<P>
+"We'll just have to keep our eyes open," wrote Mr. Whitford. "I
+think perhaps we are altogether wrong about the Fogers, unless they
+are deeper than I give them credit for. It might he well to let the
+smugglers think you are frightened, and go away for a day or so,
+selecting a more secluded spot to remain in. That may cause them to
+get bolder, and we may catch them unawares."
+
+<P>
+"That's a good plan. I'll try it," decided Tom. "We'll move to-morrow
+to a new location."
+
+<P>
+"Why not to-night?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Because it's getting late, and I want to circle about in daylight
+and pick out a good place. Morning will do all right."
+
+<P>
+"Then you're not going out to-night?"
+
+<P>
+"No. Mr. Whitford writes that as goods were smuggled over last night
+it will hardly be likely that they will repeat the trick to-night.
+We'll have a little rest."
+
+<P>
+"Going to mount guard?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"No, I don't think so. No one will disturb us."
+
+<P>
+Afterward the young inventor wished that he had kept a better watch
+that night, for it nearly proved disastrous for him.
+
+<P>
+It must have been about midnight that Tom was awakened by a movement
+in the airship.
+
+<P>
+"Who's that?" he asked suddenly.
+
+<P>
+"Koku," came the reassuring reply. "Too hot to sleep in my bank. I
+go out on deck."
+
+<P>
+"All right, Koku," and Tom dozed off again.
+
+<P>
+Suddenly he was awakened by the sound of a terrific scuffle on deck.
+Up he jumped, rushing toward the door that led from his sleeping
+cabin.
+
+<P>
+"What is it! What's the matter!" he cried.
+
+<P>
+There came the sound of a blow, a cry of pain, and then the report
+of a gun.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my cartridge belt!" cried Mr. Damon.
+
+<P>
+"What's the matter? Who is it? What happened?" yelled Ned, tumbling
+out of his bunk.
+
+<P>
+"Something wrong!" answered Tom, as he switched on the electric
+lights. He was just in time to see Koku wrench a gun from a man who
+stood near the pedestal, on which the great searchlight was poised.
+Tossing the weapon aside, Koku caught up his club, and aimed a blow
+at the man. But the latter nimbly dodged and, a moment later leaped
+over the rail, followed by the giant.
+
+<P>
+"Who is he? What did he do?" cried Tom after his big servant. "What
+happened?"
+
+<P>
+"Him try to shoot searchlight, but I stop him!" yelled back Koku, as
+he rushed on in pursuit. With a leap Tom sprang to the switch of his
+lantern, and sent a flood of light toward where Koku was racing
+after the intruder.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XIV"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XIV A False Clew</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+Full in the glare of the powerful beam from the light there was
+revealed the giant and the man he was pursuing. The latter neither
+Tom, nor any one on the airship, knew. All they could see was that
+he was racing away at top speed, with Koku vainly swinging his club
+at him.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my chicken soup!" cried Mr. Damon. "Is anything damaged,
+Tom?"
+
+<P>
+"No, Koku was too quick for him." yelled the youth, as he, too
+leaped over the rail and joined in the pursuit.
+
+<P>
+"Stop! Stop!" called Koku to the man who had sought to damage the
+great searchlight. But the fellow knew better than to halt, with an
+angry giant so close behind him. He ran on faster than ever.
+
+<P>
+Suddenly the stranger seemed to realize that by keeping in the path
+of the light he gave his pursuers a great advantage. He dodged to
+one side, off the path on which he had been running, and plunged
+into the bushes.
+
+<P>
+"Where him go?" called Koku, coming to a puzzled halt.
+
+<P>
+"Ned, play the light on both sides!" ordered Tom to his chum, who
+was now on the deck of the airship, near the wheels and levers that
+operated the big lantern. "Show him up!"
+
+<P>
+Obediently the young bank clerk swung the searchlight from side to
+side. The powerful combined electric current, hissing into the big
+carbons, and being reflected by the parabolic mirrors, made the
+growth of underbrush as brightly illuminated as in day time. Tom
+detected a movement.
+
+<P>
+"There he is, Koku!" he called to his giant servant. "Off there to
+the left. After him!"
+
+<P>
+Raising his club on high, Koku made a leap for the place where the
+fugitive was hiding. As the man saw the light, and sprang forward,
+he was, for a moment, in the full glare of the rays. Then, just as
+the giant was about to reach him, Koku stumbled over a tree root,
+and fell heavily.
+
+<P>
+"Never mind, I'll get him!" yelled Tom, but the next moment the man
+vanished suddenly, and was no longer to be seen in the finger of
+light from the lantern. He had probably dipped down into some
+hollow, lying there hidden, and as of course was out of the focus of
+the searchlight.
+
+<P>
+"Come on, Koku, we'll find him!" exclaimed Tom, and together they
+made a search, Mr. Damon joining them, while Ned worked the lantern.
+But it was of no avail, for they did not find the stranger.
+
+<P>
+"Well, we might as well go back," said Tom, at length. "We can't
+find him. He's probably far enough off by this time."
+
+<P>
+"Who was he?" panted Mr. Damon, as he walked beside Tom and Koku to
+the airship. Ned had switched off the big light on a signal from the
+young inventor.
+
+<P>
+"I don't know!" answered Tom.
+
+<P>
+"But what did he want? What was he doing? I don't quite understand."
+
+<P>
+"He wanted to put my searchlight out of commission," responded our
+hero. "From that I should argue that he was either one of the
+smugglers, or trying to aid them."
+
+<P>
+And this theory was borne out by Mr. Whitford, who, on calling the
+next morning, was told of the occurrence of the night. Koku related
+how he had found it uncomfortable in his bunk, and had gone out on
+deck for air. There, half dozing, he heard a stealthy step. At once
+he was on the alert. He saw a man with a gun creeping along, and at
+first thought the fellow had evil designs on some of those aboard
+the <i>Falcon</i>.
+
+<P>
+Then, when Koku saw the man aim at the big searchlight the giant
+sprang at him, and there was a scuffle. The gun went off, and the
+man escaped. An examination of the weapon he had left behind showed
+that it carried a highly explosive shell, which, had it hit the
+lantern, would have completely destroyed it, and might have damaged
+the airship.
+
+<P>
+"It was the smugglers, without a doubt," declared Mr. Whitford. "You
+can't get away from this place any too soon, Tom. Get a new hiding
+spot, and I will communicate with you there."
+
+<P>
+"But they are on the watch," objected Ned. "They'll see where we go,
+and follow us. The next time they may succeed in smashing the
+lantern."
+
+<P>
+"And if they do," spoke Tom, "it will be all up with trying to
+detect the smugglers, for it would take me quite a while to make
+another searchlight. But I have a plan."
+
+<P>
+"What is it?" asked the government agent.
+
+<P>
+"I'll make a flight to-day," went on the young inventor, "and sail
+over quite an area. I'll pick out a good place to land, and we'll
+make our camp there instead of here. Then I'll come back to this
+spot, and after dark I'll go up, without a light showing. There's no
+moon to-night, and they'll have pretty good eyes if they can follow
+me, unless they get a searchlight, and they won't do that for fear
+of giving themselves away.
+
+<P>
+We'll sail off in the darkness, go to the spot we have previously
+picked out, and drop down to it. There we can hide and I don't
+believe they can trace us."
+
+<P>
+"But how can you find in the darkness, the spot you pick out in
+daylight?" Mr. Whitford wanted to know.
+
+<P>
+"I'll arrange same electric lights, in a certain formation in trees
+around the landing place," said Tom. "I'll fix them with a clockwork
+switch, that will illuminate them at a certain hour, and they'll run
+by a storage battery. In that way I'll have my landing place all
+marked out, and, as it can only be seen from above, if any of the
+smugglers are on the ground, they won't notice the incandescents."
+
+<P>
+"But if they are in their airship they will," said Mr. Damon.
+
+<P>
+"Of course that's possible," admitted Tom, "but, even if they see
+the lights I don't believe they will know what they mean. And,
+another thing, I don't imagine they'll come around here in their
+airship when they know that we're in the neighborhood, and when the
+spy who endeavored to damage my lantern reports that he didn't
+succeed. They'll know that we are likely to be after them any
+minute."
+
+<P>
+"That's so," agreed Ned. "I guess that's a good plan."
+
+<P>
+It was one they adopted, and, soon after Mr. Whitford's visit the
+airship arose, with him on board, and Tom sent her about in great
+circles and sweeps, now on high and again, barely skimming over the
+treetops. During this time a lookout was kept for any other
+aircraft, but none was seen.
+
+<P>
+"If they are spying on us, which is probably the case," said Tom,
+"they will wonder what we're up to. I'll keep 'em guessing. I think
+I'll fly low over Mr. Foger's house, and see if Andy has his airship
+there. We'll give him a salute."
+
+<P>
+Before doing this, however, Tom had picked out a good landing place
+in a clearing in the woods, and had arranged some incandescent
+lights on high branches of trees. The lights enclosed a square, in
+the centre of which the <i>Falcon</i> was to drop down.
+
+<P>
+Of course it was necessary to descend to do this, to arrange the
+storage battery and the clock switch. Then, so as to throw their
+enemies off their track, they made landings in several other places,
+though they did nothing, merely staying there as a sort of "bluff"
+as Ned called it.
+
+<P>
+"They'll have their own troubles if they investigate every place we
+stopped at," remarked Tom, "and, even if they do hit on the one we
+have selected for our camp they won't see the lights in the trees,
+for they're well hidden."
+
+<P>
+This work done, they flew back toward Logansville, and sailed over
+Andy's house.
+
+<P>
+"There he is, on the roof, working at his airship!" exclaimed Ned,
+as they came within viewing distance, and, surely enough, there was
+the bully, tinkering away at his craft. Tom flew low enough down to
+speak to him, and, as the <i>Falcon</i> produced no noise, it was not
+difficult to make their voices heard.
+
+<P>
+"Hello, Andy!" called Tom, as he swept slowly overhead.
+
+<P>
+Andy looked up, but only scowled.
+
+<P>
+"Nice day; isn't it?" put in Ned.
+
+<P>
+"You get on away from here!" burst out the bully. "You are
+trespassing, by flying over my house, and I could have you arrested
+for it. Keep away."
+
+<P>
+"All right," agreed Tom with a laugh. "Don't trespass by flying over
+our ship, Andy. We also might have a gun to shoot searchlights
+with," he added.
+
+<P>
+Andy started, but did not reply, though Tom, who was watching him
+closely, thought he saw an expression of fear come over the bully's
+face.
+
+<P>
+"Do you think it was Andy who did the shooting?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"No, he hasn't the nerve," replied Tom. "I don't know what to think
+about that affair last night."
+
+<P>
+"Excepting that the smugglers are getting afraid of you, and want to
+get you out of the way," put in the custom official.
+
+<P>
+That night, when it was very dark, the <i>Falcon</i> noiselessly made her
+way upward and sailed along until she was over the square in the
+forest, marked out by the four lights. Then Tom sent her safely
+down.
+
+<P>
+"Now let 'em find us if they can!" the young inventor exclaimed, as he
+made the craft fast. "We'll turn in now, and see what happens
+to-morrow night."
+
+<P>
+"I'll send you word, just as soon as I get any myself," promised Mr.
+Whitford, when he left the next morning.
+
+<P>
+Tom and Ned spent the day in going over the airship, making some
+minor repairs to it, and polishing and oiling the mechanism of the
+searchlight, to have it in the best possible condition.
+
+<P>
+It was about dusk when the wireless outfit, with which the <i>Falcon</i>
+was fitted, began snapping and cracking.
+
+<P>
+"Here comes a message!" cried Tom, as he clapped the receiver over
+his head, and began to translate the dots and dashes.
+
+<P>
+"It's from Mr. Whitford!" he exclaimed, when he had written it down,
+and had sent back an answer, "He says: 'Have a tip that smugglers
+will try to get goods over the border at some point near Niagara
+Falls to-morrow night. Can you go there, and cruise about? Better
+keep toward Lake Ontario also. I will be with you. Answer.'"
+
+<P>
+"What answer did you send?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"I told him we'd be on the job. It's quite a little run to make, and
+we can't start until after dark, or otherwise some of the smugglers
+around here may see us, and tip off their confederates. But I guess
+we can make the distance all right."
+
+<P>
+Mr. Whitford arrived at the airship the next afternoon, stating that
+he had news from one of the government spies to the effect that a
+bold attempt would be made that night.
+
+<P>
+"They're going to try and smuggle some diamonds over on this trip,"
+said the custom agent.
+
+<P>
+"Well, we'll try to nab them!" exclaimed Tom.
+
+<P>
+As soon as it was dark enough to conceal her movements, the <i>Falcon</i>
+was sent aloft, not a light showing, and, when on high, Tom started
+the motor at full speed. The great propellers noiselessly beat the
+air, and the powerful craft was headed for Lake Ontario.
+
+<P>
+"They're pretty good, if they attempted to cross the lake to-night,"
+observed the young inventor, as he looked at the barometer.
+
+<P>
+"Why so?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Because there's a bad storm coming up. I shouldn't want to risk it.
+We'll keep near shore. We can nab them there as good as over the
+lake."
+
+<P>
+This plan was adopted, and as soon as they reached the great body of
+water--the last in the chain of the Great Lakes--Tom cruised about,
+he and Ned watching through powerful night glasses for a glimpse of
+another airship.
+
+<P>
+Far into the night they sailed about, covering many miles, for Tom ran
+at almost top speed. They sailed over Niagara Falls, and then well
+along the southern shore of Ontario, working their way north-east and
+back again. But not a sign of the smugglers did they see.
+
+<P>
+Meanwhile the wind had arisen until it was a gale, and it began to
+rain. Gently at first the drops came down, until at length there was
+a torrent of water descending from the overhead clouds. But those in
+the <i>Falcon</i> were in no discomfort.
+
+<P>
+"It's a bad storm all right!" exclaimed Tom, as he looked at the
+barometer, and noted that the mercury was still falling.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, and we have had our trouble for our pains!" declared Mr.
+Whitford.
+
+<P>
+"What do you mean?"
+
+<P>
+"I mean I believe that we have been deceived by a false clew. The
+smugglers probably had no intention of getting goods across at this
+point to-night. They saw to it that my agent got false information,
+believing that we would follow it, and leave the vicinity of
+Logansville."
+
+<P>
+"So they could operate there?" asked Tom.
+
+<P>
+"That's it," replied the agent. "They drew us off the scent. There's
+no help for it. We must get back as soon as we can. My! This is a
+bad storm!" he added, as a blast careened the airship.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XV"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XV The Rescue On the Lake</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+For a time the <i>Falcon</i> shot onward through the storm and darkness,
+for Tom did not want to give up. With but a single shaded light in
+the pilot house, so that he could see to read the gauges and dials,
+telling of the condition of the machinery in the motor room, he
+pushed his stanch craft ahead. At times she would be forced downward
+toward the angry waters of Lake Ontario, over which she was sailing,
+but the speed of her propellers and the buoyancy of the gas bag,
+would soon lift her again.
+
+<P>
+"How much longer are you going to stay?" called Ned in his chum's
+ear--called loudly, not to be heard above the noise of the airship,
+but above the racket of the gale.
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I guess we may as well start back," spoke Tom, after a look at
+the clock on the wall. "We can just about make our camp by daylight,
+and they won't see us."
+
+<P>
+"It won't be light very early," observed Mr. Whitford, looking in
+the pilot house from the cabin, just aft of it. "But there is no use
+waiting around here any more, Tom. They gave us a false clew, all
+right."
+
+<P>
+"Bless my police badge!" cried Mr. Damon. "They must be getting
+desperate."
+
+<P>
+"I believe they are," went on the custom officer. "They are afraid
+of us, and that's a good sign. We'll keep right after 'em, too. If
+we don't get 'em this week, we will next. Better put back."
+
+<P>
+"I will," decided the young inventor.
+
+<P>
+"It certainly is a gale," declared Ned, as he made his way along a
+dim passage, as few lights had been set aglow, for fear of the
+smugglers seeing the craft outlined in the air. Now, however, when
+it was almost certain that they were on the wrong scent, Tom
+switched on the incandescents, making the interior of the <i>Falcon</i>
+more pleasant.
+
+<P>
+The giant came into the pilot house to help Tom, and the airship was
+turned about, and headed toward Logansville. The wind was now
+sweeping from the north across Lake Ontario, and it was all the
+powerful craft could do to make headway against it.
+
+<P>
+There came a terrific blast, which, in spite of all that Tom and
+Koku could do, forced the <i>Falcon</i> down, dangerously close to the
+dashing billows.
+
+<P>
+"Hard over, Koku!" called Tom to his giant.
+
+<P>
+As the airship began to respond to the power of her propellers, and
+the up-tilted rudder, Tom heard, from somewhere below him, a series
+of shrill blasts on a whistle.
+
+<P>
+"What's that?" he cried.
+
+<P>
+"Sounds like a boat below us," answered Mr. Whitford.
+
+<P>
+"I guess it is," agreed the young inventor. "There she goes again."
+
+<P>
+Once more came the frantic tooting of a whistle, and mingled with it
+could be heard voices shouting in fear, but it was only a confused
+murmur of sound. No words could be made out.
+
+<P>
+"That's a compressed air whistle!" decided Tom. "It must be some
+sort of a motor boat in distress. Quick, Mr. Whitford! Tell Ned to
+switch on the searchlight, and play it right down on the lake. If
+there's a boat in this storm it can't last long. Even an ocean liner
+would have trouble. Get the light on quick, and we'll see what we
+can do!"
+
+<P>
+It was the work of but an instant to convey the message to Ned. The
+latter called Mr. Damon to relieve him in the motor room, and, a few
+seconds later, Ned had switched on the electricity. By means of the
+lazy-tongs, and the toggle joints, the bank clerk lifted the lantern
+over until the powerful beam from it was projected straight down
+into the seething waters of the lake.
+
+<P>
+"Do you see anything?" asked Mr. Damon from the motor room, at one
+side of which Ned stood to operate the lantern.
+
+<P>
+"Nothing but white-caps," was the answer. "It's a fearful storm."
+
+<P>
+Once more came the series of shrill whistles, and the confused
+calling of voices. Ned opened a window, in order to hear more
+plainly. As the whistle tooted again he could locate the sound, and,
+by swinging the rays of the searchlight to and fro he finally picked
+up the craft.
+
+<P>
+"There she is!" he cried, peering down through the plate glass
+window in the floor of the motor room. "It's a small gasolene boat,
+and there are several men in her! She's having a hard time."
+
+<P>
+"Can we rescue them?" asked Mr. Damon.
+
+<P>
+"If anybody can, Tom Swift will," was Ned's reply. Then came a
+whistle from the speaking tube, that led to the pilot house.
+
+<P>
+"What is it?" asked Ned, putting the tube to his ear.
+
+<P>
+"Stand by for a rescue!" ordered Tom, who had also, through a window
+in the floor of the pilot house, seen the hapless motor boat. The
+men in it were frantically waving their hands to those on the
+airship. "I'm going down as close as I dare," went on Tom. "You
+watch, and when it's time, have Koku drop from the stern a long,
+knotted rope. That will he a sort of ladder, and they can make it
+fast to their boat and climb up, hand over hand. It's the only
+plan."
+
+<P>
+"Good!" cried Ned. "Send Koku to me. Can you manage alone in the
+pilot house?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes," came back the answer through the tube.
+
+<P>
+Koku came back on the run, and was soon tying knots in a strong
+rope. Meanwhile Ned kept the light on the tossing boat, while Tom,
+through a megaphone had called to the men to stand by to be rescued.
+The whistle frantically tooted their thanks.
+
+<P>
+Koku went out on the after deck, and, having made the knotted rope
+fast, dropped the end overboard. Then began a difficult feature of
+airship steering. Tom, looking down through the glass, watched the
+boat in the glare of the light. Now coming forward, now reversing
+against the rush of the wind; now going up, and now down, the young
+inventor so directed the course of his airship so that, finally, the
+rope dragged squarely across the tossing boat.
+
+<P>
+In a trice the men grabbed it, and made it fast. Then Tom had
+another difficult task--that of not allowing the rope to become
+taut, or the drag of the boat, and the uplift of the airship might
+have snapped it in twain. But he handled his delicate craft of the
+air as confidently as the captain of a big liner brings her
+skillfully to the deck against wind and tide.
+
+<P>
+"Climb up! Climb up!" yelled Tom, through the megaphone, and he saw,
+not a man, but a woman, ascending the knotted rope, hand over hand,
+toward the airship that hovered above her head.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XVI"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XVI Koku's Prisoner</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+"Bless my knitting needles!" cried Mr. Damon, as be looked down, and
+saw, in the glare of the great light, the figure of the woman
+clinging to the swaying rope. "Help her, someone! Tom! Ned! She'll
+fall!"
+
+<P>
+The eccentric man started to rush from the motor room, where he had
+been helping Ned. But the latter cried:
+
+<P>
+"Stay where you are, Mr. Damon. No one can reach her now without
+danger to himself and her. She can climb up, I think."
+
+<P>
+Past knot after knot the woman passed, mounting steadily upward,
+with a strength that seemed remarkable.
+
+<P>
+"Come on!" cried Tom to the others. "Don't wait until she gets up.
+There isn't time. Come on--the rope will hold you all! Climb up!"
+
+<P>
+The men in the tossing and bobbing motor boat heard, and at once
+began, one after the other, to clamber up the rope. There were five
+of them, as could be seen in the glare of the light, and Tom, as he
+watched, wondered what they were doing out in the terrific storm at
+that early hour of the morning, and with a lone woman.
+
+<P>
+"Stand by to help her, Koku!" called Ned to the giant.
+
+<P>
+"I help," was the giant's simple reply, and as the woman's head came
+above the rail, over which the rope ran, Koku, leaning forward,
+raised her in his powerful arms, and set her carefully on the deck.
+
+<P>
+"Come into the cabin, please," Ned called to her. "Come in out of
+the wet."
+
+<P>
+"Oh, it seems a miracle that we are saved!" the woman gasped, as,
+rain-drenched and wind-tossed, she staggered toward the door which
+Tom had opened by means of a lever in the pilot house. The young
+inventor had his hands full, manipulating the airship so as to keep
+it above the motor boat, and not bring too great a strain on the
+rope.
+
+<P>
+The woman passed into the cabin, which was between the motor room
+and the pilot house, and Ned saw her throw herself on her knees, and
+offer up a fervent prayer of thanksgiving. Then, springing to her
+feet, she cried:
+
+<P>
+"My husband? Is he safe? Can you save him? Oh, how wonderful that
+this airship came in answer to our appeals to Providence. Whose is
+it?"
+
+<P>
+Before Ned got a chance to answer her, as she came to the door of
+the motor room, a man's voice called:
+
+<P>
+"My wife! Is she safe?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, here I am," replied the woman, and a moment later the two were
+in each other's arms.
+
+<P>
+"The others; are they safe?" gasped the woman, after a pause.
+
+<P>
+"Yes," replied the man. "They are coming up the rope. Oh, what a
+wonderful rescue! And that giant man who lifted us up on deck! Oh,
+do you recall in Africa how we were also rescued by airship--"
+
+<P>
+"Come on now, I got you!" interrupted the voice of Koku out on the
+after deck, and there was a series of thumps that told when he had
+lifted the men over the rail, and set them down.
+
+<P>
+"All saved!" cried the giant at last.
+
+<P>
+"Then cut the rope!" shouted Tom. "We've got to get out of this, for
+it's growing worse!"
+
+<P>
+There was the sound of a hatchet blow, and the airship shot upward.
+Into the cabin came the dripping figures of the other men, and Ned,
+as he stood by the great searchlight, felt a wave of wonder sweep
+over him as he listened to the voices of the first man and woman.
+
+<P>
+He knew he had heard them before, and, when he listened to the
+remark about a rescue by airship, in Africa, a flood of memory came
+to him.
+
+<P>
+"Can it be possible that these are the same missionaries whom Tom
+and I rescued from the red pygmies?" he murmured. "I must get a look
+at them."
+
+<P>
+"Our boat, it is gone I suppose," remarked one of the other men,
+coming into the motor room.
+
+<P>
+"I'm afraid so," answered Ned, as he played the light on the doomed
+craft. Even as he did so he saw a great wave engulf her, and, a
+moment later she sank. "She's gone," he said softly.
+
+<P>
+"Too bad!" exclaimed the man. "She was a fine little craft. But how
+in the world did you happen along to rescue us? Whose airship is
+this?"
+
+<P>
+"Tom Swift's," answered Ned, and, at the sound of the name the woman
+uttered a cry, as she rushed into the motor room.
+
+<P>
+"Tom Swift!" she exclaimed. "Where is he? Oh, can it be possible
+that it is the same Tom Swift that rescued us in Africa?"
+
+<P>
+"I think it is, Mrs. Illingway," spoke Ned quietly, for he now
+recognized the missionary, though he wondered what she and her
+husband were doing so far from the Dark Continent.
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I know you--you're Ned Newton--Tom's chum! Oh, I am so glad!
+Where is Tom?"
+
+<P>
+"In the pilot house. He'll be here in a moment."
+
+<P>
+Tom came in at that juncture, having set the automatic steering geer
+to take the ship on her homeward course.
+
+<P>
+"Are they all saved?" he asked, looking at the little group of
+persons who had climbed up from the motor boat. "Mr. Damon, you had
+better make some hot coffee. Koku, you help. I--"
+
+<P>
+"Tom Swift!" cried out Mr. and Mrs. Illingway together, as they made
+a rush for the young inventor. "Don't you know us?"
+
+<P>
+To say that Tom was surprised at this, would be putting it mildly.
+He had to lean up against the side of the cabin for support.
+
+<P>
+"Mrs. Illingway!" he gasped. "You here--were you in that boat?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes. it's all very simple. My husband and I are on a vacation for a
+year. We got fever and had to leave Africa. We are staying with
+friends at a resort on the lake shore. These are our friends," she
+went on, introducing the other gentlemen.
+
+<P>
+"We went out for a trip in the motor boat," the missionary
+continued, "but we went too far. Our motor broke down, we could get
+no help, and the storm came up. We thought we were doomed, until we
+saw your lights. I guessed it was a balloon, or some sort of an
+airship, and we whistled; and called for help. Then you rescued us!
+Oh, it is almost too wonderful to believe. It is a good thing I have
+practiced athletics or I never could have climbed that rope."
+
+<P>
+"It is like a story from a book!" added Mr. Illingway, as he graspsd
+Tom's hand. "You rescued us in Africa and again here." I may say
+here that the African rescue is told in detail in the volume
+entitled, "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle."
+
+<P>
+The shipwrecked persons were made as comfortable as possible. There
+was plenty of room for them, and soon they were sitting around warm
+electric heaters, drinking hot coffee, and telling their adventures
+over again. Mr. and Ms. Illingway said they soon expected to return
+to Africa.
+
+<P>
+Tom told how he happened to be sailing over the lake, on the lookout
+for smugglers, and how he had been disappointed.
+
+<P>
+"And it's a good thing you were--for our sakes," put in Mrs.
+Illingway, with a smile.
+
+<P>
+"Where do you want to be landed?" asked Tom. "I don't want to take
+you all the way back to Logansville."
+
+<P>
+"If you will land us anywhere near a city or town, we can arrange to
+be taken back to our cottage," said one of the men, and Tom sent the
+airship down until, in the gray dawn of the morning, they could pick
+out a large village on the lake shore. Then, in much better
+condition than when they had been saved, the rescued ones alighted,
+showering Tom and the others with thanks, and sought a hotel.
+
+<P>
+"And now for our camp, and a good rest!" cried the young inventor,
+as he sent the airship aloft again.
+
+<P>
+They reached their camp in the forest clearing without having been
+observed, as far as they could learn, and at once set about making
+things snug, for the storm was still raging.
+
+<P>
+"I don't believe any of the smugglers were abroad last night,"
+remarked Mr. Whitford, as he prepared to go back into town, he
+having come out on horseback, leaving the animal over night in an
+improvised stable they had made in the woods of boughs and tree
+branches.
+
+<P>
+"I hope not," replied Tom. but the next day, when the government
+agent called again, his face wore a look of despair.
+
+<P>
+"They put a big one over on us the night of the rescue." he said.
+"They flew right across the border near Logansville, and got away
+with a lot of goods. They fooled us all right."
+
+<P>
+"Can you find out who gave the wrong tip?" asked Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I know the man. He pretended to be friendly to one of my
+agents, but he was only deceiving him. But we'll get the smugglers
+yet!"
+
+<P>
+"That's what we will!" cried Tom, determinedly.
+
+<P>
+Several days passed, and during the night time Tom, in his airship,
+and with the great searchlight aglow, flew back and forth across the
+border, seeking the elusive airships, but did not see them. In the
+meanwhile he heard from Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, who sent him a
+letter of thanks, and asked him to come and see them, but, much as
+Tom would liked to have gone, he did not have the time.
+
+<P>
+It was about a week after the sensational rescue, when one evening,
+as Tom was about to get ready for a night flight, he happened to be
+in the pilot house making adjustments to some of the apparatus.
+
+<P>
+Mr. Damon and Ned had gone out for a walk in the woods, and Mr.
+Whitford had not yet arrived. As for Mr. Koku, Tom did not know
+where his giant servant was.
+
+<P>
+Suddenly there was a commotion outside. A trampling in the bushes,
+and the breaking of sticks under feet.
+
+<P>
+"I got you now!" cried the voice of the giant.
+
+<P>
+Tom sprang to the window of the pilot house. He saw Koku tightly
+holding a man who was squinting about, and doing his best to break
+away. But it was useless. When Koku got hold of any one, that person
+had to stay.
+
+<P>
+"What is it, Koku!" cried Tom.
+
+<P>
+"I got him!" cried the giant. "He sneaking up on airship, but I come
+behind and grab him," and Koku fairly lifted his prisoner off his
+feet and started with him toward the <i>Falcon</i>.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XVII"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XVII What the Indian Saw</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+"Hello!" cried Tom. "What's up, Koku?"
+
+<P>
+"Him up!" replied the giant with a laugh, as he looked at his
+squirming prisoner, whose feet he had lifted from the ground.
+
+<P>
+"No, I mean what was he doing?" went on Tom, with a smile at the
+literal way in which the giant had answered his question.
+
+<P>
+"I wasn't doing anything!" broke in the man. "I'd like to know if I
+haven't a right to walk through these woods, without being grabbed
+up by a man as big as a mountain? There'll be something up that you
+won't like, if you don't let me go, too!" and he struggled fiercely,
+but he was no match for giant Koku.
+
+<P>
+"What was he doing?" asked Tom of his big servant, ignoring the man.
+Tom looked closely at him, however, but could not remember to have
+seen him before.
+
+<P>
+"I walking along in woods, listen to birds sing," said Koku simply,
+taking a firmer hold on his victim. "I see this fellow come along,
+and crawl through grass like so a snake wiggle. I to myself think
+that funny, and I watch. This man he wiggle more. He wiggle more
+still, and then he watch. I watch too. I see him have knife in hand,
+but I am no afraid. I begin to go like snake also, but I bigger
+snake than he."
+
+<P>
+"I guess so," laughed Tom, as he watched the man trying in vain to
+get out of Koku's grip.
+
+<P>
+"Then I see man look up at balloon bag, so as if he like to cut it
+with knife. I say to myself, 'Koku, it is time for you to go into
+business for yourself.' You stand under me?"
+
+<P>
+"I understand!" exclaimed Tom. "You thought it was time for you to
+get busy."
+
+<P>
+"Sure," replied Koku. "Well, I get business, I give one jump, and I
+am so unlucky as to jump with one foot on him, but I did not mean
+it. I go as gentle as I can."
+
+<P>
+"Gentle? You nearly knocked the wind out of me!" snarled the
+prisoner. "Gentle! Huh!"
+
+<P>
+"I guess he was the unlucky one, instead of you," put in Tom. "Well,
+what happened next?"
+
+<P>
+"I grab him, and--he is still here," said Koku simply. "He throw
+knife away though."
+
+<P>
+"I see," spoke Tom. "Now will you give an account of yourself, or
+shall I hand you over to the police?" he asked sternly of the man.
+"What were you sneaking up on us in that fashion for?"
+
+<P>
+"Well, I guess this isn't your property!" blustered the man. "I have
+as good a right here as you have, and you can't have me arrested for
+that."
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps not," admitted Tom. "You may have a right on this land, but
+if you are honest, and had no bad intentions, why were you sneaking
+up, trying to keep out of sight? And why did you have a big knife?"
+
+<P>
+"That's my business, young man."
+
+<P>
+"All right, then I'll make it <i>my</i> business, too," went on the young
+inventor. "Hold him, Koku, until I can find Mr. Damon, or Ned, and
+I'll see what's best to be done. I wish Mr. Whitford was here."
+
+<P>
+"Aren't you going to let me go?" demanded the man.
+
+<P>
+"I certainly am not!" declared Tom firmly. "I'm going to find out
+more about you. I haven't any objections to any one coming to look
+at my airship, out of curiosity, but when they come up like a snake
+in the grass and with a big knife, then I get suspicious, and I want
+to know more about them."
+
+<P>
+"Well, you won't know anything more about me!" snarled the fellow.
+"And it will be the worse for you, if you don't let me go. You'd
+better!" he threatened.
+
+<P>
+"Don't pay any attention to him, Koku," said Tom. "Maybe you'd
+better tie him up. You'll find some rope in the motor room."
+
+<P>
+"Don't you dare tie me up!" blustered the prisoner.
+
+<P>
+"Go ahead and tie him," went on Tom. "You'll be free to guard the
+ship then. I'll go for Ned and Mr. Damon."
+
+<P>
+"Tie who up? What's the matter?" asked a voice, and a moment later
+the government agent came along the woodland path on his horse.
+"What's up, Tom? Have you captured a wild animal?"
+
+<P>
+"Not exactly a wild animal. Mr. Whitford. But a wild man. I'm glad
+you came along. Koku has a prisoner." And Tom proceeded to relate
+what had happened.
+
+<P>
+"Sneaking up on you with a knife; eh? I guess he meant business all
+right, and bad business, too," said Mr. Whitford. "Let me get a look
+at him, Tom," for Koku had taken his prisoner to the engine room,
+and there, amid a storm of protests and after a futile struggle on
+the part of the fellow, had tied him securely.
+
+<P>
+Tom and the custom officer went in to look at the man, just as Ned
+and Mr. Damon came back from their stroll in the woods. It was
+rapidly getting dusk, and was almost time for the start of the usual
+flight, to see if any trace could be had of the smugglers.
+
+<P>
+"There he is," said Tom, waving his hand toward the bound man who
+sat in a chair in one corner of the motor room. The young inventor
+switched on the light, and a moment later Mr. Whitford exclaimed:
+
+<P>
+"Great Scott! It's Ike Shafton!"
+
+<P>
+"Do you know him?" asked Tom eagerly.
+
+<P>
+"Know him? I should say I did! Why he's the man who pretended to
+give one of my men information about smugglers that drew us off on
+the false scent. He pretended to be for the government, and, all the
+while, he was in with the smugglers! Know him? I should say I did!"
+
+<P>
+A queer change had come over the prisoner at the sight of Mr.
+Whitford. No longer was Shafton surly and blustering. Instead he
+seemed to slink down in his chair, bound as he was, as if trying to
+get out of sight.
+
+<P>
+"Why did you play double?" demanded the government agent, striding
+over to him.
+
+<P>
+"I--I--don't hit me!" whined Shafton.
+
+<P>
+"Hit you! I'm not going to hit you!" exclaimed Mr. Whitford, "but
+I'm going to search you, and then I'm going to wire for one of my
+men to take you in custody."
+
+<P>
+"I--I didn't do anything!"
+
+<P>
+"You didn't; eh? Well, we'll see what the courts think of giving
+wrong information to Uncle Sam with the intent to aid criminals.
+Let's see what he's got in his pockets."
+
+<P>
+The spy did not have much, but at a sight of one piece of paper Mr.
+Whitford uttered a cry of surprise.
+
+<P>
+"Ha! This is worth something!" he exclaimed. "It may be stale news,
+and it may be something for the future, but it's worth trying. I
+wonder I didn't think of that before."
+
+<P>
+"What is it?" asked Tom.
+
+<P>
+For answer the custom officer held out a scrap of paper on which was
+written one word.
+
+<P>
+<i>St. Regis.</i>
+
+<P>
+"What does it mean," asked Ned, who, with Mr. Damon, had entered the
+motor room, and stood curiously regarding the scene.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my napkin ring!" said the odd man. "That's the name of a
+hotel. Do you suppose the smugglers are stopping there?"
+
+<P>
+"Hardly," replied Mr. Whitford with a smile. "But St. Regis is the
+name of an Indian reservation in the upper part of New York state,
+right on the border, and in the corner where the St. Lawrence and
+the imaginary dividing line between New York and Canada join. I
+begin to see things now. The smugglers have been flying over the
+Indian Reservation, and that's why they have escaped us so far. We
+never thought of that spot. Tom, I believe we're on the right track
+at last! Shafton was probably given this to inform him where the
+next trick would be turned, so he could get us as far away as
+possible, or, maybe prevent us leaving at all."
+
+<P>
+An involuntary start on the part of the prisoner seemed to confirm
+this, but he kept silent.
+
+<P>
+"Of course," went on Mr. Whitford, "they may have already flown over
+the St. Regis reservation, and this may be an old tip, but it's
+worth following up."
+
+<P>
+"Why don't you ask him?" Tom wanted to know, as he nodded toward
+Shafton.
+
+<P>
+"He wouldn't tell the truth. I'll put him where he can't get away to
+warn his confederates, and then we'll go to the reservation. And to
+think that my man trusted him!"
+
+<P>
+Mr. Whitford was soon in communication with his headquarters by
+means of the wireless apparatus on Tom's airship, and a little later
+two custom officers arrived, with an extra horse on which they were
+to take their prisoner back.
+
+<P>
+"And now we'll try our luck once more," said Mr. Whitford as his men
+left with Shafton securely bound. "Can you make the reservation in
+good time, Tom? It's quite a distance," and he pointed it out on the
+map.
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I'll do it," promised the young inventor, as he sent his
+powerful craft aloft in the darkness. Then, with her nose pointed in
+the right direction, the <i>Falcon</i> beat her way forward through the
+night, flying silently, with the great searchlight ready for instant
+use.
+
+<P>
+In comparatively short time, though it was rather late at night,
+they reached the St. Lawrence, and then it was an easy matter to
+drop down into the midst of the reservation grounds. Though the
+redmen, whom the state thus quartered by themselves, had all
+retired, they swarmed out of their cabins as the powerful light
+flashed back and forth.
+
+<P>
+"We want to question some of the head men of the tribe," said Mr.
+Whitford. "I know some of them, for on several occasions I've had to
+come here to look into rumors that tobacco and liquor and other
+contraband goods dear to the Indian heart were smuggled into the
+reservation against the law. I never caught any of them at it
+though."
+
+<P>
+With guttural exclamations, and many grunts of surprise, the
+redmen gathered around the big airship. It was too much even for
+their usual reserve, and they jabbered among themselves.
+
+<P>
+"How Big Foot!" greeted the custom officer, to one Indian who had an
+extremely large left foot. "How!"
+
+<P>
+"How!" responded the Indian, with a grunt.
+
+<P>
+"Plenty much fine air-bird; eh?" and the agent waved his hand toward
+the <i>Falcon</i>.
+
+<P>
+"Yep. Plenty much big."
+
+<P>
+"Big Foot never see bird like this; eh?"
+
+<P>
+"Oh sure. Big Foot see before many times. Huh!"
+
+<P>
+"What! Has he seen this before?" asked Tom.
+
+<P>
+"No. Wait a minute," cautioned Mr. Whitford. "I'm on the track of
+something. Big Foot see air-bird like this?" he questioned.
+
+<P>
+"Sure. Fly over Indians' land many times. Not same as him," and he
+nodded toward Tom's ship, "but plenty much like. Make heap noise.
+Come down once--break wheel mebby. Indians help fix. Indians get
+firewater. You got firewater in your air-bird?"
+
+<P>
+"No firewater, but maybe we've got some tobacco, if you tell us what
+we want to know, Big Foot. And so you've seen air-birds flying
+around here before?"
+
+<P>
+"Sure, Heap times. We all see," and he waved his hand to indicate
+the redmen gathered around him.
+
+<P>
+There came grunts of confirmation.
+
+<P>
+"We're getting there!" exclaimed Mr. Whitford to Tom. "We're on the
+right track now. Which way air-birds come, Big Foot?"
+
+<P>
+"Over there," and he pointed toward Canada.
+
+<P>
+"Which way go?"
+
+<P>
+"Over there," and he pointed toward the east, in the direction of
+Shopton, as much as anywhere.
+
+<P>
+"That's what we want to know. Tom, we'll just hang around here for a
+while, until one of the smugglers' airships pass over head. I
+believe one is due to-night, and that's why Shafton had that paper.
+It was sent to him to tip him off. He was sneaking up, trying to put
+your airship out of commission when Koku caught him. These Indians
+have used their eyes to good advantage. I think we're on the trail
+at last."
+
+<P>
+"Baccy for Big Foot?" asked the redman.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, plenty of it. Tom, give them some of Koku's, will you? I'll
+settle with you later," for the giant had formed a liking for the
+weed, and Tom did not have the heart to stop him smoking a pipe once
+in a while. With his usual prodigality, the giant had brought along
+a big supply, and some of this was soon distributed among the
+Indians, who grunted their thanks.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XVIII"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XVIII The Pursuit</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+"What plan have you in mind?" asked Tom of Mr. Whitford, when some
+of the Indians had gone back to their shanties, leaving a few
+staring curiously at the airship, as she rested on the ground,
+bathed in the glow of her electric lights.
+
+<P>
+"Well, I think the best thing we can do is just to stay right here,
+Tom; all night if need be. As Big Foot says, there have been
+airships passing overhead at frequent intervals. Of course that is
+not saying that they were the smugglers, but I don't see who else
+they could be. There's no meet going on, and no continental race.
+They must be the smugglers."
+
+<P>
+"I think so," put in Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my diamond ring!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "But what are you
+going to do when you see them overhead?"
+
+<P>
+"Take after them, of course!" exclaimed Tom. "That's what we're here
+for; isn't it Mr. Whitford?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes. Do you think you can rise from the ground, and take after them
+in time to stand a chance of overhauling them, Tom? You know they
+may go very fast."
+
+<P>
+"I know, but I don't believe they can beat the <i>Falcon</i>. I'd rather
+wait down here than hover in the air. It isn't as dark as it was the
+other night, and they might see us with their glasses. Then they
+would turn back, and we'd have our trouble for nothing. They've
+actually got to cross the border with smuggled goods before the law
+can touch them; haven't they?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I couldn't arrest them on Canadian territory, or over it. I've
+got to get them on this side of the border. So perhaps it will be as
+well to lie here. But do you suppose you can hear them or see them,
+as they fly over?"
+
+<P>
+"I'm pretty sure I can. The sound of their motor and the whizz of
+the propellers carries for some distance. And then, too, I'm going
+to set the searchlight to play a beam up in the air. If that gets
+focused on 'em, we'll spot 'em all right."
+
+<P>
+"But suppose they see it, and turn back?"
+
+<P>
+"I don't believe they will. The beam will come from the ground
+straight upward you know, and they won't connect it with my ship."
+
+<P>
+"But that fellow who was sneaking up when Koku caught him, may find
+some way to warn them that you have come here," suggested Ned.
+
+<P>
+"He won't get much chance to communicate with his friends, while my
+men have him," said Mr. Whitford significantly. "I guess we'll take
+a chance here, Tom."
+
+<P>
+So it was arranged. Everything on the airship was gotten ready for a
+quick flight, and then Tom set his great searchlight aglow once
+more. Its powerful beams cut upward to the clouds, making a
+wonderful illumination.
+
+<P>
+"Now all we have to do is to wait and watch," remarked Tom, as he
+came hack from a last inspection of the apparatus in the motor room.
+
+<P>
+"And that is sometimes the hardest kind of work," said Mr. Whitford.
+"Many a time I have been watching for smugglers for days and nights
+at a stretch, and it was very wearying. When I got through, and
+caught my man, I was more tired than if I had traveled hundreds of
+miles. Just sitting around, and waiting is tiresome work."
+
+<P>
+The others agreed with him, and then the custom officer told many
+stories of his experiences, of the odd places smugglers would hit
+upon to conceal the contrabrand goods, and of fights he had taken
+part in.
+
+<P>
+"Diamonds and jewels, from their smallness, and from the great
+value, and the high duty on them when brought into the United
+States, form the chief articles of the high class smugglers," he
+said. "In fact the ones we are after have been doing more in
+diamonds than anything else, though they have, of late, brought much
+valuable hand-made lace. That can be bought comparatively cheap
+abroad, and if they can evade paying Uncle Sam the duty on it, they
+can sell it in the United States at a large profit."
+
+<P>
+"But the government has received so many complaints from legitimate
+dealers, who can not stand this unfair competition, that we have
+been ordered to get the smugglers at any cost."
+
+<P>
+"They are sharp rascals," commented Mr. Damon. "They seem to be
+making more efforts since Tom Swift got on their trail."
+
+<P>
+"But, just the same, they are afraid of him, and his searchlight,"
+declared Mr. Whitford. "I guess they fancied that when they took to
+airships to get goods across the border that they would not be
+disturbed. But two can play at that game."
+
+<P>
+The talk became general, with pauses now and then while Tom swept
+the sky with the great searchlight, the others straining their eyes
+for a sight of the smugglers' airships. But they saw nothing.
+
+<P>
+The young inventor had just paid a visit to the pilot house, to see
+that his wheels and guiding levers were all right, and was walking
+back toward the stern of the ship, when he heard a noise there, and
+the fall of a heavy body.
+
+<P>
+"Who's that?" he cried sharply. "Is that you, Koku?"
+
+<P>
+A grunt was the only answer, and, as Tom called the giant's name the
+big man came out.
+
+<P>
+"What you want, Mr. Tom?" he asked.
+
+<P>
+"I thought you were at the stern," spoke Tom. "Someone is there.
+Ned, throw the light on the stern!" he called sharply.
+
+<P>
+In a moment that part of the ship was in a bright glare and there,
+in the rays of the big lantern, was stretched out Big Foot, the
+Indian, comfortably sleeping.
+
+<P>
+"Here! What are you doing?" demanded Mr. Whitford, giving him a
+vigorous shake.
+
+<P>
+"Me sleep!" murmured Big Foot. "Lemme be! Me sleep, and take ride to
+Happy Hunting Grounds in air-bird. Go 'way!"
+
+<P>
+"You'll have to sleep somewhere else, Big Foot," spoke the agent
+with a laugh. "Koku, put him down under one of the trees over there.
+He can finish his nap in the open, it's warm."
+
+<P>
+The Indian only protested sleepily, as the giant carried him off the
+ship, and soon Big Foot was snoring under the trees.
+
+<P>
+"He's a queer chap," the custom officer said. "Sometimes I think
+he's a little off in his head. But he's good natured."
+
+<P>
+Once more they resumed their watching. It was growing more and more
+wearisome, and Tom was getting sleepy, in spite of himself.
+
+<P>
+Suddenly the silence of the night was broken by a distant humming
+and throbbing sound.
+
+<P>
+"Hark!" cried Ned.
+
+<P>
+They all listened intently.
+
+<P>
+"That's an airship, sure enough!" cried Tom.
+
+<P>
+He sprang to the lever that moved the lantern, which had been shut
+off temporarily. An instant later a beam of light cut the darkness.
+The throbbing sounded nearer.
+
+<P>
+"There they are!" cried Ned, pointing from a window toward the sky.
+A moment later, right into the glare of the light, there shot a
+powerful biplane.
+
+<P>
+"After 'em, Tom!" shouted Mr. Whitford.
+
+<P>
+Like a bird the <i>Falcon</i> shot upward in pursuit noiselessly and
+resistlessly, the beam of the great searchlight playing on the other
+craft, which dodged to one side in an endeavor to escape.
+
+<P>
+"On the trail at last!" cried Tom, as he shoved over the accelerator
+lever, sending his airship forward on an upward slant, right at the
+stern of the smugglers' biplane.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XIX"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XIX In Dire Peril</H3>
+
+<P>
+Upward shot the <i>Falcon</i>. With every revolution of her big propellers
+she came nearer and nearer to the fleeing craft of the supposed
+smugglers who were using every endeavor to escape.
+
+<P>
+"Do you think you can catch them, Tom?" asked Mr. Whitford as he stood
+at the side of our hero in the pilot house, and looked upward and
+forward to where, bathed in the light of the great search-lantern, the
+rival craft was beating the air.
+
+<P>
+"I'm sure we can--unless something happens."
+
+<P>
+"Bless my overshoes! What can happen?" asked Mr. Damon, who, after
+finding that everything in the motor room was running smoothly, had
+come forward. Ned was attending to the searchlight. "What can
+happen, Tom?"
+
+<P>
+"Almost anything, from a broken shaft to a short-circuited motor.
+Only, I hope nothing does occur to prevent us from catching them."
+
+<P>
+"You don't mean to say that you're actually going to try to catch
+them, do you, Tom?" asked the custom officer, "I thought if we could
+trail them to the place where they have been delivering the goods,
+before they shipped them to Shopton we'd be doing well. But I never
+thought of catching them in mid-air."
+
+<P>
+"I'm going to try it," declared the young inventor. "I've got a
+grappling anchor on board," he went on, "attached to a meter and
+windlass. If I can catch that anchor in any part of their ship I can
+bring them to a stop, just as a fisherman lands a trout. Only I've
+got to get close enough to make a cast, and I want to be above them
+when I do it."
+
+<P>
+"Don't you think you can catch them, Tom?" asked Mr. Damon.
+
+<P>
+"Well, I'm pretty sure I can, and yet they seem to have a faster
+biplane than I gave them credit for. I guess I'll have to increase
+our speed a little," and he shifted a lever which made the <i>Falcon</i>
+shoot along at nearly doubled speed.
+
+<P>
+Still the other airship kept ahead, not far, but sufficiently so to
+prevent the grappling anchor from being tossed at her rail.
+
+<P>
+"I wonder if they are the smugglers?" questioned Mr. Damon. "It
+might be possible, Tom, that we're chasing the wrong craft."
+
+<P>
+"Possible, but not probable," put in Mr. Whitford. "After the clew
+we got, and what the Indians told us, and then to have a biplane
+come sailing over our heads at night, it's pretty sure to be the one
+we want. But, Tom, can't you close up on 'em?"
+
+<P>
+"I'm going to try. The machinery is warmed up now, and I'll send it
+to the limit."
+
+<P>
+Once more he adjusted the wheels and levers, and at his touch the
+<i>Falcon</i> seemed to gain new strength. She fairly soared through the
+air.
+
+<P>
+Eagerly those in the pilot house watched the craft they were
+pursuing. She could be seen, in the glare of the big searchlight,
+like some bird of gloom and evil omen, fluttering along ahead of
+them.
+
+<P>
+"They certainly have a fine motor!" cried Tom. "I was sure I could
+have caught up to them before this."
+
+<P>
+"How do you account for it?" asked Mr. Damon.
+
+<P>
+"Well, they're flying a good deal lighter than we are. They probably
+have no load to speak of, while we carry a heavy one, to say nothing
+of Koku."
+
+<P>
+"Diamonds aren't very heavy," put in Mr. Whitford grimly. "I think
+they are smuggling diamonds to-night. How I wish we could catch
+them, or trace them to where they have their headquarters."
+
+<P>
+"We'll do it!" declared Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my stars! They've gone!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. Damon.
+"They've disappeared, Tom, I can't see them."
+
+<P>
+It was indeed true. Those in the pilot house peering ahead through
+the darkness, could not get a glimpse of the airship they were
+pursuing. The beam of the searchlight showed nothing but a black
+void.
+
+<P>
+All at once the beam shifted downward, and then it picked up the
+white-winged craft.
+
+<P>
+"They went down!" cried Tom. "They tried to drop out of sight."
+
+<P>
+"Can't you get them?" asked Mr. Whitford.
+
+<P>
+"Oh, yes, we can play that game too. I'll do a little volplaning
+myself," and the young inventor shut off the power and coasted
+earthward, while Ned, who had picked up the forward craft, kept the
+searchlight playing on her.
+
+<P>
+And now began a wonderful chase. The smugglers' craft, for such she
+proved later to be, did her best to dodge the <i>Falcon</i>. Those managing
+the mechanism of the fleeing airship must have been experts, to hold
+out as they did against Tom Swift, but they had this advantage, that
+their craft was much lighter, and more powerfully engined as regards
+her weight. Then, too, there were not so many on board, and Tom,
+having a combined balloon and aeroplane, had to carry much
+machinery.
+
+<P>
+It was like the flight of two big birds in the air. Now the
+smugglers' craft would be mounting upward, with the <i>Falcon</i> after
+her. Again she would shoot toward the earth, and Tom would follow,
+with a great downward swoop.
+
+<P>
+Ned kept the great lantern going, and, though occasionally the craft
+they were after slipped out of the focus of the beams, the young
+bank clerk would pick her up again.
+
+<P>
+To the right and left dodged the forward airship, vainly endeavoring
+to shake off Tom Swift, but he would not give up. He followed move
+for move, swoop for swoop.
+
+<P>
+"She's turning around!" suddenly cried Mr. Damon. "She's given up
+the flight, Tom, and is going back!"
+
+<P>
+"That's so!" agreed Mr. Whitford. "They're headed for Canada, Tom.
+We've got to catch 'em before they get over the Dominion line!"
+
+<P>
+"I'll do it!" cried Tom, between his clenched teeth.
+
+<P>
+He swung his airship around in a big circle, and took after the
+fleeing craft. The wind was against the smugglers now, and they
+could not make such good speed, while to Tom the wind mattered not,
+so powerful were the propellers of the <i>Falcon</i>.
+
+<P>
+"I think we're gaining on them," murmured Mr. Damon.
+
+<P>
+Suddenly, from the engine room, came a cry from Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Tom! Tom!" he shouted, "Something is wrong with the gas machine!
+She registers over five hundred pounds pressure, and that's too
+much. It's going up, and I haven't touched it!"
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Damon, take the wheel!" exclaimed the young inventor. "I've got
+to see what's wrong. Hold her right on their trail."
+
+<P>
+Tom sprang to the motor room, and one glance at the gas generating
+machine showed him that they were in dire peril. In some manner the
+pressure was going up enormously, and if it went up much more the
+big tank would blow to pieces.
+
+<P>
+"What is it?" cried Ned, from his position near the light.
+
+<P>
+"I don't know! Something wrong."
+
+<P>
+"Are you going to give up the chase?"
+
+<P>
+"I am not. Stick to the light. Koku, tell Mr. Damon to hold her on
+the course I set. I'll try to get this pressure down!" And Tom Swift
+began to work feverishly, while his ship rushed on through the night
+in danger, every moment, of being blown to atoms. Yet the young
+inventor would not give up, and descend to earth.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XX"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XX Suspicious Actions</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+The chase was kept up, and Tom, when he had a chance to look up at
+the speed register, as he labored frantically at the clogged gas
+machine, saw that they were rushing along as they never had before.
+
+<P>
+"Are we catching them, Ned?" he cried to his chum, who was not far
+away, playing the powerful light on the smugglers' craft.
+
+<P>
+"I think we're coming closer, but it's going to be a long chase. I
+don't see why we can't close up on 'em."
+
+<P>
+"Because they've got a very fast ship, Ned, and they are flying much
+lighter than we are. But we'll get 'em!"
+
+<P>
+"How are you making out with that gas machine?"
+
+<P>
+"Well, I'm doing all I can, but I can't seem to get the pressure
+down. I can't understand it. Some of the pipes must be clogged with
+a carbon deposit. I ought to have cleaned them out some time ago."
+
+<P>
+Ned gave a hasty glance at the gauge which showed the gas pressure.
+It registered six hundred pounds now, having risen a hundred in a
+short time.
+
+<P>
+"And she'll go up, sure, at eight hundred," murmured Ned, as he held
+the light steadily on the smugglers' aircraft. "Well, if Tom sticks
+to the chase, I will too, but I think it would be better to go down,
+open up everything, and let the gas escape. We could get the rascals
+later."
+
+<P>
+Tom, however, did not seem to think so, for he kept on with his
+task, working away at the pipes, trying to force the obstruction
+out, so that the gas from the generator would flow into the bag. At
+the same time he tried to shut off the generating apparatus, but
+that had become jammed in consequence of the pipe clogging, and the
+powerful vapor continued to manufacture itself automatically in
+spite of all that Tom could do.
+
+<P>
+The only safe way out of the danger, unless he could remove the
+obstruction, was to descend to earth, and, as Ned had said, open
+every outlet. But to have done that in mid-air would have been
+dangerous, as the large volume of gas, suddenly liberated, would
+have hung about the airship in a cloud, smothering all on board. If
+they were on the earth they could run away from it, and remain away
+until the vapor had blown off.
+
+<P>
+"Is Mr. Damon keeping her on the course, Ned?" asked Tom, pausing a
+moment to get his breath after a series of frantic efforts.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, and I think we're closing in on them a little."
+
+<P>
+"That's good. Are they still headed for the border?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I guess they're going to take no chances to-night. They're
+going right back to Canada where they came from."
+
+<P>
+"Well, we'll be hot after 'em. Whistle through the tube, and tell
+Koku to come here and give me a hand. He's with Mr. Damon in the
+pilot house."
+
+<P>
+Ned sent the message, and then gave his whole attention to the
+light. This was necessary, as the smugglers were resorting to
+dodging tactics, in an endeavor to escape. Now they would shoot
+upward, and again toward the earth, varying the performance by
+steering to the right or left. Ned had constantly to shift the light
+to keep them in focus, so that Mr. Damon could see where to steer,
+but, with all this handicap, the eccentric man did very well, and he
+was never far out in his judgment.
+
+<P>
+"By Jove!" suddenly murmured Tom, as he tried once more in vain to
+open a clogged valve. "I'm afraid we can't do it. Koku, lend a hand
+here!" he exclaimed as the giant entered. "See if you can twist this
+wrench around, but don't break off the handle, whatever you do."
+
+<P>
+"Me shove," replied the giant simply, as he grasped the big wrench.
+
+<P>
+Once more Ned glanced at the pressure gage. It showed seven hundred
+pounds now, and there was only a margin of safety of one hundred
+pounds more, ere a terrific explosion would occur. Still Tom had not
+given the order to descend to earth.
+
+<P>
+"Are you going to make it, Tom?" asked the government agent,
+anxiously, as he stood over the young inventor.
+
+<P>
+"I--I think so," panted Tom. "Are we near the Dominion line,"
+
+<P>
+"Pretty close," was the discouraging answer. "I'm afraid we can't
+get 'em before they cross. Can you use any more speed?"
+
+<P>
+"I don't know. Ned, see if you can get another notch out of her."
+
+<P>
+With one hand Ned reached for the accelerator lever on the wall near
+him, and pulled it to the last notch. The <i>Falcon</i> shot ahead with
+increased speed, but, at the same instant there came a gasp from
+Koku, and the sound of something breaking.
+
+<P>
+"There! He's done it!" cried Tom in despair. "I was afraid you'd be
+too strong for that wrench, Koku. You've broken off the handle. Now
+we'll never be able to loosen that valve."
+
+<P>
+Ned gave one more glance at the pressure gage. It showed seven
+hundred and fifty pounds, and the needle was slowly moving onward.
+
+<P>
+"Hadn't we better descend," asked Mr. Whitford in a low voice.
+
+<P>
+"I--I guess so," answered Tom, despairingly. "Where are we?"
+
+<P>
+Ned flashed the light downward for an instant.
+
+<P>
+"Just crossing over the St. Regis Indian reservation again," he
+replied. "We'll be in Canada in a few minutes more."
+
+<P>
+"Where are the smugglers?"
+
+<P>
+"Still ahead, and they're bearing off to the right."
+
+<P>
+"Going toward Montford," commented the government man. "We've lost
+'em for to-night, anyhow, but they didn't get their goods landed, at
+any rate."
+
+<P>
+"Send her down, Ned!" exclaimed Tom, and it was high time, for the
+pressure was now within twenty-five pounds of the exploding point.
+
+<P>
+Down shot the <i>Falcon</i>, while her rival passed onward triumphantly in
+the darkness. Ned held the light on the smugglers as long as he
+dared, and then he flashed it to earth to enable Mr. Damon to pick
+out a good landing place.
+
+<P>
+In a few moments Tom's silent airship came to rest on a little
+clearing in the forest, and Tom, with Ned's help, at once opened
+every outlet of the gas machine, a thing they had not dared do while
+up in the air.
+
+<P>
+"Come on, now, run, everybody!" cried Tom. "Otherwise you'll he
+smothered!"
+
+<P>
+They leaped from the craft, about which gathered the fumes of the
+powerful gas, as it hissed from the pipes. Running a hundred yards
+away they were safe, and could return in a few minutes.
+
+<P>
+"We're in Canada," remarked Mr. Whitford, as they came to a halt,
+watching the airship.
+
+<P>
+"How do you know?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"As we landed I saw one of the stone boundary posts," was the
+answer. "We're on English territory, and we can't touch the
+smugglers if we should see them now."
+
+<P>
+"Well, we'll soon be back in Uncle Sam's land," declared Tom. "We
+can go back on board the <i>Falcon</i> to sleep shortly. Jove! I wish I
+could have caught those fellows!"
+
+<P>
+"Never mind, we'll get 'em yet," counseled Mr. Whitford.
+
+<P>
+Waiting until he was sure all the vapor had disappeared, Tom led the
+way back to the <i>Falcon</i>. No great harm had been done, save to lose
+considerable gas, and this could be remedied. Tired and disappointed
+from the chase, they sought their bunks, and were soon asleep. In
+the morning Tom and Ned began work on the clogged pipes.
+
+<P>
+This work was nearly accomplished by noon, when Mr. Damon, coming
+back from a stroll, announced that they were but fifteen minutes
+walk from the St. Lawrence River, as he had seen the sparkling
+waters from a neighboring hill.
+
+<P>
+"Let's go over and have a look at it," proposed Ned. "We can easily
+finish this when we get back. Besides, Tom, we don't want to get to
+our regular camp until after dark, anyhow."
+
+<P>
+The young inventor was willing, and the two lads, with Mr. Whitford,
+strolled toward the historic stream. As they drew near the bank,
+they saw, anchored a little distance out, a small steamer.
+Approaching it, as if she had just left the shore at a point near
+where our friends stood, was a gasolene launch, containing several
+men, while on shore, in front of a small shanty, stood another man.
+
+<P>
+This latter individual, at the sight of Tom, Ned and Mr. Whitford,
+blew a shrill whistle. Those in the launch looked back. The man on
+shore waved a red flag in a peculiar way, almost as the soldiers in
+the army wig-wag signals.
+
+<P>
+In another moment the launch turned about, and put for shore, while
+the lone man hurried back into the hut.
+
+<P>
+"Hum!" remarked Tom. "Those are queer actions."
+
+<P>
+"Suspicious actions, I should say," said Mr. Whitford. "I'm going to
+see what this means."
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XXI"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XXI Mr. Period Arrives</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+Greatly interested in what was about to take place, and not a little
+suspicious, our friends stood on the bank of the river and watched
+the motor boat returning. As it reached a little dock in front of
+the hut, the man who had waved the red flag of warning came out, and
+talked rapidly to those in the power craft. At the same time he
+pointed occasionally to Tom, Ned and the government agent.
+
+<P>
+"This is getting interesting," remarked Mr. Whitford. "We may have
+accidentally stumbled on something important Tom."
+
+<P>
+"See, they're signalling to the steamer now," spoke Ned, and, as he
+said this, his companions looked, and noted the man from the hut
+waving a white flag, in a peculiar manner. His signals were answered
+by those on the vessel anchored out in the stream, and, a little
+later, black smoke could be seen pouring from her funnel.
+
+<P>
+"Looks as if they were getting ready to leave," spoke Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, we seem to have started things moving around here," observed
+Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Or else we have prevented from moving," remarked the custom agent.
+
+<P>
+"What do you mean?" Tom wanted to know.
+
+<P>
+"I mean that these men were evidently going to do something just as
+we arrived, and spoiled their plans. I would say they were going to
+land goods from that schooner. Now the are not."
+
+<P>
+"What kind of goods?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Well, of course I'm not sure, but I should say smuggled goods."
+
+<P>
+"The smugglers!" cried Tom. "Why, they can't be smugglers, for we
+are on Canadian territory. The river isn't the dividing line between
+the Dominion and the United States at this point. The St. Lawrence
+lies wholly in Canada here, and the men have a right to land any
+goods they want to, dutiable or not."
+
+<P>
+"That's just it." put in Mr. Whitford. "They have the right, but
+they are afraid to exercise it, and that's what makes me suspicious.
+If they were doing a straight business they wouldn't be afraid, no
+matter who saw them. They evidently recognize us, by description, if
+by no other means, and they know we are after smugglers. That's why
+they stopped the brining of goods from that vessel to shore. They
+want to wait until we are gone."
+
+<P>
+"But we couldn't stop them from landing goods, even if they know we
+are working for Uncle Sam," declared Tom.
+
+<P>
+"That's very true, but it is evidently their intention, not only to
+land goods here, which they have a perfect right to do, but to send
+them into the United States, which they have not a right to do
+without paying the duty."
+
+<P>
+"Then you really think they are the smugglers?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"I'm pretty sure of it. I think we have stumbled on one of the
+places where the goods are landed, and where they are loaded into
+the airships. This is the best luck we could have, and it more than
+makes up for not catching the rascals last night. Now we know where
+to get on their trail."
+
+<P>
+"If they don't change the place," observed Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Oh, of course, we've got to take that chance."
+
+<P>
+"Here's one of them coming over to speak to us, I guess," remarked
+Tom in a low voice, as he observed the man, who had waved the flag
+approaching. There was no doubt of his intention for, as soon as he
+came within talking distance, the stranger called out:
+
+<P>
+"What are you fellows doing here?"
+
+<P>
+"Looking at the river," replied Mr. Whitford, calmly.
+
+<P>
+"Well, you'd better find some other place for a view. This is
+private property, and we don't like trespassers. Get a move on--get
+out!"
+
+<P>
+"Are we doing any harm?" asked the agent.
+
+<P>
+"I didn't say you were. This is our land, and we don't like
+strangers snooping around. That's all."
+
+<P>
+"Particularly when you are going to land some goods."
+
+<P>
+"What do you mean?" gasped the man.
+
+<P>
+"I guess you know well enough," was Mr. Whitford's reply.
+
+<P>
+The man suddenly turned, and gave a shrill whistle. Instantly, from
+the hut, came several men who had been in the motor boat. One or two
+of them had weapons.
+
+<P>
+"I guess you'd better go now," said the first man sharply. "You're
+not in the United States now, you know."
+
+<P>
+"It's easy to see that, by the <i>politeness</i> of the residents of this
+section," put in Tom.
+
+<P>
+"None of your back talk! Get away from here!" cried the man. "If you
+don't go peaceably--"
+
+<P>
+"Oh, we're going," interposed Mr. Whitford calmly. "But that isn't
+saying we won't come back. Come on, boys. We'll get over on Uncle
+Sam's territory."
+
+<P>
+The group of men stood silently watching them, as they filed back
+through the woods.
+
+<P>
+"What do you make of it?" asked Tom of the agent.
+
+<P>
+"I'm positive that I'm right, and that they're the smugglers. But I
+can't do anything on this side of the line. If ever I can catch them
+across the border, though, there'll be a different story to tell."
+
+<P>
+"What had we better do?" inquired Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Go back to our airship, and leave for Logansville. We don't need to
+land until night, though, but we can make a slow trip. Is the gas
+machine all right again, Tom?"
+
+<P>
+"Practically so. If that hadn't gone back on me we would have had
+those fellows captured by this time."
+
+<P>
+"Never mind. We did our best."
+
+<P>
+It did not take Tom and his chum long to complete the repairs, and
+soon they arose in the air.
+
+<P>
+"Let's take a flight over where those fellows are, just to show them
+what we can do," proposed Ned, and Tom and Mr. Whitford agreed to
+it. Soon they were circling over the hut. The launch was just
+starting out again, when a cry from the man who seemed to be a sort
+of guard, drew the attention of his confederates to the noiseless
+airship.
+
+<P>
+Once more the launch was turned about, and sent back to shore, while
+those in it shook their fists at Tom and his friends.
+
+<P>
+"We can play tag with 'em up here!" chuckled Ned.
+
+<P>
+"There's the small vessel that pulled up anchor a while ago,"
+remarked Mr. Whitford, pointing to the vessel which had steamed
+around a wooded point. "They thought we had gone for good, and they
+were getting ready to land the stuff. Well, we'll know where to head
+for next time, when we watch for the smugglers at night."
+
+<P>
+Realizing that nothing more could be done, Tom sent his airship
+toward the camp, just outside of Loganville. But he did not land
+until after dark, when, making out the spot by means of the electric
+lights, which were set aglow automatically at dark, he descended.
+
+<P>
+"We won't try anything to-night," said Mr. Whitford. "I doubt if the
+smugglers will themselves, after their experience last night. I'll
+get into town, see some of my men, and come out here to-morrow night
+again."
+
+<P>
+Tom and Ned spent the following day in going carefully over the
+<i>Falcon</i>, making some slight repairs. The great searchlight was
+cleaned and adjusted, and then, as dusk came on once more Tom
+remarked:
+
+<P>
+"Well, we're ready for 'em any time Mr. Whitford is."
+
+<P>
+Hardly had he spoken than the tramp of horses' feet was heard coming
+along the bridle path through the woods, and a voice was heard to
+exclaim:
+
+<P>
+"There, now, I understand it perfectly! You don't need to say
+another word. I know it may be against the regulations, but I can
+fix that. I'm the busiest man in the world, but I just had to come
+up here and see Tom Swift. It's costing me a thousand dollars, but
+the money is well spent. Now don't interrupt me! I know what you're
+going to say! That you haven't time to bother with moving pictures.
+But you have! I must have some moving pictures of your chase after
+the smugglers. Now, don't speak to me, I know all about it. You
+can't tell me anything. I'll talk to Tom. Are we most there?"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, we're here," answered Mr. Whitford's voice, and Tom fancied
+the government agent was a bit puzzled by his strange companion.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my shoe string!" gasped Mr. Damon.
+
+<P>
+"Him picture man!" cried Koku.
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Period!" exclaimed Tom. "I wonder what he is doing here?" and
+the next moment the excitable little man, for whom Tom had run so
+many risks getting marvelous moving pictures, with the wizard
+camera, entered the clearing where the airship was anchored.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XXII"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XXII Hovering O'er the Border</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+"Well, Tom, you see I couldn't get along without you," exclaimed Mr.
+Period, as he rushed forward and grasped Tom's hand, having alighted
+in rather an undignified manner from the horse that he had ridden.
+"I'm after you again."
+
+<P>
+"So I see." remarked our hero. "But I'm afraid I can't--"
+
+<P>
+"Tut! Tut! Don't say that," interrupted the moving picture man. "I
+know what you're going to say. Don't do it! Don't go back on me,
+Tom! Have you the wonderful moving picture camera with you."
+
+<P>
+"I have, Mr. Period, but--"
+
+<P>
+"Now! Now! That'll do," broke in the excitable little man. "If you
+have it, that's enough. I want you to get me some films, showing you
+in chase of the smugglers. They'll be great to exhibit in our chain
+of theatres."
+
+<P>
+"How did you know I was here?" asked Tom. "Easily enough. I called
+at your house. Your father told me where you were. I came on. It
+cost me a thousand dollars--maybe more. I don't care! I've got to
+have those films! You'll get them for me; won't you?"
+
+<P>
+"Well, I--"
+
+<P>
+"That's enough! I know what you're going to say. Of course you will!
+Now how soon may I expect them. They ought to make a good run. Say
+in a week?"
+
+<P>
+"It all depends on the smugglers," said Mr. Whitford.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, yes! I understand, of course. I know! This friend of yours has
+been very kind to me, Tom. I looked him up as soon as I got to
+Logansville, and told him what I wanted. He offered to show me the
+way out here, and here I am. Let's have a look at the camera, to see
+if it's in good shape. Are you going to have a try for the smugglers
+to-night?"
+
+<P>
+"I think so," answered Tom. "As for the camera, really I've been so
+busy I haven't had time to look at it since we started. I guess it's
+all right. I don't know what made me bring it along, as I didn't
+expect to use it."
+
+<P>
+"But with your great searchlight it will be just the thing,"
+suggested Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I think so," added Mr. Whitford, who had been told about the
+wizard instrument.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my detective badge!" cried Mr. Damon. "It may be just the
+thing, Tom. You can offer moving pictures of the smugglers in court,
+for evidence."
+
+<P>
+"Of course!" added Mr. Period. "Now, Tom, don't disappoint me."
+
+<P>
+"Well, I suppose I'll have to get the camera out, and set it up,"
+conceded Tom with a laugh. "As you say, Mr. Damon, the pictures <i>may</i>
+come in valuable. Come, Ned, you get out the camera, and set it up,
+while Koku and I see to getting the ship in shape for a flight.
+You'll come along, Mr. Period?"
+
+<P>
+"I don't know. I was thinking of going back. I'm losing about a
+hundred dollars a minute by being away from my business."
+
+<P>
+"You'll have to go back alone," said Mr. Whitford, "as I have to be
+with Tom, in case of a capture."
+
+<P>
+"Ride back alone, through these woods? Never! The smugglers might
+catch me, and I'm too valuable a man to go that way! I'll take a
+chance in the airship."
+
+<P>
+Ned busied himself over the wizard camera, which had been stored
+away, and Mr. Period went with the young bank clerk to look after
+the apparatus. Meanwhile Tom and Koku saw to it that the <i>Falcon</i> was
+ready for a quick flight, Mr. Damon and Mr. Whitford lending
+whatever aid was necessary. The horses, which the agent and Mr.
+Period had ridden, were tethered in the clearing where they could
+get food and water.
+
+<P>
+"Did the smugglers rush anything over last night?" asked Tom.
+
+<P>
+"No, we evidently had them frightened. But I shouldn't be surprised
+but what they made the attempt to-night. We'll go back toward the
+St. Regis Indian reservation, where they were getting ready to
+unload that steamer, and hover around the border there. Something is
+sure to happen, sooner or later."
+
+<P>
+"I guess that's as good a plan as any," agreed Tom, and in a little
+while they started.
+
+<P>
+All that night they hovered over the border, sailing back and forth,
+flashing the great light at intervals to pick up the white wings of
+a smuggling airship. But they saw nothing.
+
+<P>
+Mr. Period was in despair, as he fully counted on a capture being
+made while he was present, so that he might see the moving pictures
+made. But it was not to be.
+
+<P>
+The wizard camera was all in readiness, but there was no need to
+start the automatic machinery. For, search as Tom and his friends
+did for a trace of the smugglers, they could see nothing. They put
+on full speed, and even went as far as the limits of the Indian
+reservation, but to no purpose. They heard no throbbing motor, no
+whizz of great propellers, and saw no white, canvas wings against
+the dark background of the sky, as Tom's craft made her way
+noiselessly along.
+
+<P>
+"I guess we've frightened them away," said Mr. Whitford dubiously,
+as it came near morning, and nothing suspicious had been seen or
+heard. "They're holding back their goods, Tom until they think they
+can take us unawares. Then they'll rush a big shipment over."
+
+<P>
+"Then's the time we must catch them," declared the young inventor.
+"We may as well go back now."
+
+<P>
+"And not a picture!" exclaimed Mr. Period tragically. "Well, be sure
+to get good ones when you do make a capture, Tom."
+
+<P>
+"I will," promised the young inventor. Then, with a last sweep along
+the border he turned the nose of his craft toward Logansville. He
+had almost reached the place, and was flying rather low over the
+country roads, when Ned called:
+
+<P>
+"Hark! I hear something!"
+
+<P>
+The unmistakable noise of a gasolene motor in operation could be
+distinguished.
+
+<P>
+"There they are!" cried Mr. Period.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my honeysuckle vine!" gasped Mr. Damon.
+
+<P>
+"The light, Ned, the light!" cried Tom.
+
+<P>
+His chum flashed the powerful beam all around the horizon, and
+toward the sky, but nothing was visible.
+
+<P>
+"Try down below," suggested Mr. Whitford.
+
+<P>
+Ned sent the beams earthward. And there, in the glare, they saw a
+youth speeding along on a motor-cycle. In an instant Tom grabbed up
+the binoculars and focussed them on the rider.
+
+<P>
+"It's Andy Foger!" he cried.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XXIII"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XXIII Ned Is Missing</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+There was a period of silence, following Tom's startling
+announcement. There were several plate glass windows in the floor of
+the airship, and through these they all gazed at the youth on the
+motor-cycle. Only Tom, however, by the aid of the glasses, was able
+to make out his features.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my spark plug! Andy Foger!" cried Mr. Damon. "Are you going
+to try to catch him?"
+
+<P>
+"Get him and break chug-chug machine!" suggested Koku.
+
+<P>
+"What do you suppose he's up to, Tom?" asked Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Andy Foger speeding along at this hour of the morning," remarked
+Mr. Whitford. "There must be something in the wind."
+
+<P>
+"Get a moving picture of him," urged Mr. Period. "I might be able to
+use that."
+
+<P>
+"I hardly think it would be worth while," decided Tom. "You see Andy
+hasn't done anything criminal, as far as we know. Of course I think
+he is capable of it, but that's a different thing. He may be out
+only on a pleasure jaunt, and he could stop us from showing the
+pictures, if we took them."
+
+<P>
+"That's so," agreed Mr. Period. "Don't run any risks of a lawsuit.
+It takes up too much of my time. Never mind the pictures."
+
+<P>
+"Just capture him, Tom, and see what he is doing," suggested Mr.
+Damon. "Bless my chewing gum! But he must be up to something."
+
+<P>
+"Well, he's aware of the fact that we're watching him, at all
+events!" exclaimed Mr. Whitford, for, at that moment, Andy, having
+seen the glare of the light, glanced up. They could see him looking
+at him, and, a second later, the Shopton bully steered his machine
+down a side road where the overhanging trees were so thick that he
+could not be made out, even by the powerful gleams of the great
+searchlight.
+
+<P>
+"He's gone!" gasped Ned.
+
+<P>
+"Afraid I guess," added Mr. Damon. "That shows he was up to
+something wrong. Well, what are we going to do?"
+
+<P>
+"Nothing, that I can see," spoke Mr. Whitford. "We can only go back
+to our camping place, and make another try. This Andy Foger may, or
+may not, be in with the smugglers. That's something we have yet to
+prove. However, we can't do anything now."
+
+<P>
+In vain did Ned try to get the bully within range of the light. They
+could hear the sounds of the motor cycle growing more and more
+faint, and then, as it was rapidly getting light, and as they did
+not want to be seen dropping into their camping place, they made all
+haste toward it, before dawn should break.
+
+<P>
+"Well, I can't spend any more time here," declared Mr. Period, when
+a hasty breakfast had been served.
+
+<P>
+"Will you ride back with me?" asked Mr. Whitford of the moving
+picture man.
+
+<P>
+"Will I? Well, I guess I will! You can't lose me! I'm not going to
+be captured by those smugglers. I'd be a valuable man for them to
+have as a hostage. They'd probably ask a million dollars ransom for
+me," and Mr. Period carefully straightened his brilliant red
+necktie.
+
+<P>
+Soon he and Mr. Whitford were riding back to town, taking a
+roundabout way, as the agent always did, to throw any possible spies
+off the track.
+
+<P>
+Everyone, even including the giant Koku was tired enough to take a
+sleep after dinner. It was about three o'clock when Ned awoke, and
+he found Tom already up, and at the wireless instrument, which was
+clicking and buzzing.
+
+<P>
+"Message coming?" asked the young bank clerk.
+
+<P>
+Tom nodded, and clasped the receiver over his ear. A moment later he
+began jotting down a message.
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Whitford says he has a tip that something is going to take
+place to-night," read the young inventor a few minutes later. "The
+smugglers have accumulated a big store of goods, and they are
+anxious to get them over the border. There are silks, laces,
+diamonds, and other things on which there is a high duty, or tax for
+bringing into the United States. He will be here early, and we must
+be ready for a start at once."
+
+<P>
+"All right. I guess we are ready now. Say, I'm going over to that
+little brook, and see if I can catch a few trout for supper."
+
+<P>
+"All right. Good idea. Don't be gone too long."
+
+<P>
+"I won't. Say, where is my coat, anyhow? I never can seem to keep
+track of that, or my cap either."
+
+<P>
+"Never mind. Wear mine, and you won't be delayed looking for them,"
+so Ned donned Tom's garment and headpiece, and set out.
+
+<P>
+Three hours passed, and Mr. Damon prepared to get supper.
+
+<P>
+"I wonder why Ned doesn't come back with the fish?" he said. "It's
+time, if we're going to cook them to-night."
+
+<P>
+"That's right, he ought to be here," agreed Tom. "Koku take a walk
+over to the trout brook, and tell Mr. Ned to come here, whether he
+has any fish or not."
+
+<P>
+"Sure, me go, Mr. Tom!"
+
+<P>
+Koku was gone perhaps five minutes, and when he came back he was
+much excited.
+
+<P>
+"Mr. Ned he no there!" the giant cried. "But fish pole all broken,
+and ground all full of holes. Look like fight."
+
+<P>
+Tom started for the place where he knew Ned usually went to fish.
+Koku and Mr. Damon followed. On reaching it our hero saw indeed that
+the ground was "full of holes," as the giant described the
+indentations made by the heels of boots and shoes.
+
+<P>
+"There's been a fight here!" cried Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, and Ned is missing," added Mr. Damon.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XXIV"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XXIV The Night Race</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+The three looked at each other. For a moment they could not
+understand, and then, as they stood there, the meaning came to them.
+
+<P>
+"The smugglers!" whispered Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Of course!" agreed Mr. Damon. "And they must have taken him for
+you, Tom, for he had on your coat and cap. What can they have done
+with him?"
+
+<P>
+"Taken him away, that's evident," spoke Tom. "Let's look around, and
+see if we can find him."
+
+<P>
+They looked, but to no purpose. Ned had disappeared. There were the
+signs of a struggle, the fish rod was broken in several places, as
+if Ned had used it as a club, and the ground was torn up.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my tin whistle!" cried Mr. Damon. "What shall we do?"
+
+<P>
+For a moment no one knew what to say, then, as they looked at each
+other in silence, a voice called:
+
+<P>
+"I say! What's up? What's the matter? Where are you all? Hey, Tom
+Swift!"
+
+<P>
+"It's Mr. Whitford!" cried Tom. "He's just in time." Then he called
+in louder tones:
+
+<P>
+"Here we are! In the woods by the trout brook! Come on over! Ned is
+gone!"
+
+<P>
+There was a commotion in the bushes, the trampling of a horse, and a
+moment later the government agent had joined the others.
+
+<P>
+"What's this?" he cried. "Ned gone? What do you mean?"
+
+<P>
+"He's missing. The smugglers have him, I'm afraid," explained Tom,
+and then he gave the details.
+
+<P>
+"It certainly looks so," agreed Mr. Whitford. "His wearing of your
+coat and cap fooled them. They must have spied out this camping
+place, and they were in hiding. When they saw Ned coming to fish
+they took him for you. Having failed in their attempt to damage the
+airship, they decided to get her captain. Probably they thought that
+if they did the <i>Falcon</i> could not be run, and they would be safe. But
+they got the wrong man."
+
+<P>
+"Then we must get Ned back at once!" cried Tom. "Come on, we'll
+start right away! Where do you think we can nab them, Mr. Whitford?"
+
+<P>
+"Wait a minute," suggested the government agent. He seemed in deep
+thought, and paced up and down. It was clear that a great question
+was confronting him.
+
+<P>
+"Well!" exclaimed Tom impatiently, "if we're going to get Ned we
+must start at once."
+
+<P>
+"Perhaps it would be best not to try to rescue Ned at once," said
+the custom house man after a pause.
+
+<P>
+"What!" cried Tom. "Not rescue Ned, my best chum?"
+
+<P>
+"Not at once," repeated Mr. Whitford. "Look here, Tom. I know it
+seems a hard thing to say, but perhaps if we proceed on our original
+plan, to hover over the border, and get on the trail of the
+smugglers, chasing them to where they land the goods in the United
+States, it will be best."
+
+<P>
+"And not rescue Ned?"
+
+<P>
+"We can best rescue him by catching the smugglers."
+
+<P>
+"Then you think--"
+
+<P>
+"That they have him with them--on board one of their airships very
+likely. If we get <i>them</i> we'll have <i>Ned</i>."
+
+<P>
+"Then we'll get 'em!" cried Tom with energy. "Come on back to the
+<i>Falcon</i>. We'll get ready for a big flight!"
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I think they'll make a desperate effort to-night," went on the
+agent. "They have a lot of goods ready to rush over the border, and
+the fact that they tried to capture you, shows that they are ready
+to pull off a big trick. I think if we can catch them to-night, it
+will put an end to their operations, and, at the same time, bring
+Ned back to us."
+
+<P>
+"Where do you think they will start to cross the line?" asked Tom.
+
+<P>
+"Near the place where we saw the man waving the flags. I have
+information to the effect that they have a store of valuable goods
+there. They imagine that they have the master of the airship, and
+the owner of the great searchlight in their power, and that they can
+not be molested, so they will be bold."
+
+<P>
+"But they'll soon find out that Ned isn't Tom," said Mr. Damon.
+
+<P>
+"No they won't! Not if it depends on Ned!" cried Tom. "Ned is game.
+He'll soon get wise to the fact that they have taken him for me, and
+he'll carry on the deception. None of the smugglers know me
+intimately."
+
+<P>
+"Unless Andy Foger should be with them," suggested Mr. Damon.
+
+<P>
+"Oh, Ned can fool Andy any day. Come on, Mr. Whitford. We'll get the
+smugglers to-night, spoil their game, and rescue Ned. Somehow, I
+feel that we're going to succeed."
+
+<P>
+"Bless my tin dishpan!" cried Mr. Damon. "I hope we do."
+
+<P>
+Slowly, and with no very cheerful hearts, they filed away from the
+scene of Ned's capture. In spite of the fact that they did not think
+he would be harshly treated, they worried about him, Tom especially.
+
+<P>
+A hasty supper was eaten, and then, Tom, having seen that everything
+aboard the ship was in good order, sent her aloft on what he hoped
+would be the last chase after the smugglers. He decided to have Mr.
+Damon steer the craft, as this was comparatively easy, once she was
+started on her course, while the young inventor would manage the
+searchlight, and start the automatic wizard camera, in case there
+was anything to photograph.
+
+<P>
+Up and up went the <i>Falcon</i>, and soon she was making her way toward
+the St. Regis Indian reservation, near which it was expected the
+smugglers would start. Tom put out every light, as he wanted to
+remain in darkness, until he could see a moving glow in the sky that
+would tell him of a rival airship on the wing.
+
+<P>
+It did not take them long to reach the desired spot, and they
+hovered in the air over it, every one with tense nerves, waiting for
+what would happen next.
+
+<P>
+Tom did not want to show his searchlight just yet, as he feared the
+gleam of it might stop the operations of the smugglers. So he waited
+in dark-ness, approaching close to the earth in his noiseless ship
+several times, and endeavoring to see something through the powerful
+night glasses.
+
+<P>
+Suddenly, from below them, came a subdued throb and hum of a motor.
+
+<P>
+"There they are!" exclaimed Mr. Damon.
+
+<P>
+"I think so," agreed Tom. He looked below. He saw two flickering
+lights, rather far apart. Mr. Whitford observed them at the same
+moment.
+
+<P>
+"There are <i>two</i> of them!" exclaimed the agent, "<i>Two</i>
+airships, Tom!"
+
+<P>
+"So I see. Koku, get out my electric rifle. We can't chase two, if
+they separate, so I may have to stop one. It's best to be prepared.
+I'm going to follow them in the dark, until they get over the
+border, and then I'll turn on the light and the camera. Then it will
+be a race to the finish."
+
+<P>
+The twin lights came nearer. Tom stood with his mouth to the signal
+tube that communicated with Mr. Damon in the pilot house. From a
+side window he watched the smugglers' airships. They shot upward and
+then came on straight ahead, to pass to one side of him. Now they
+were past. Tom started the wizard camera.
+
+<P>
+"Half speed ahead!" the young inventor signalled, and the <i>Falcon</i>
+shot forward. The night race was on.
+
+
+
+
+<P>
+<A NAME="XXV"></A>
+<H3>Chapter XXV The Capture--Conclusion</H3>
+
+
+<P>
+"Do you think they know we are here, Tom?" asked Mr. Whitford, as he
+stood at the side of the young inventor in the motor room.
+
+<P>
+"I don't believe so, as yet. They can't hear us, and, unless they
+have pretty powerful glasses, they can't pick us up. We can soon
+tell however, if they are aware that we are following them."
+
+<P>
+"Have you made any plan about capturing them?"
+
+<P>
+"No, I'm going to wait and see what turns up. I can't certainly
+chase two of them, if they separate, and that's why I'm going to
+cripple one if I have to."
+
+<P>
+"But won't that be dangerous? I don't want to see any of them
+killed, or even hurt, though they are smugglers."
+
+<P>
+"And I don't want to hurt them, either. If worst comes to worst I'm
+going to put a few holes in the wing planes of the smaller craft.
+That will cause her to lose headway, and she can't keep up. They'll
+have to volplane to earth, but, if they know anything at all about
+airships, they can do that easily, and not get a bit hurt. That will
+put them out of the race, and I can keep on after the big ship. I
+fancy that carries the more valuable cargo."
+
+<P>
+"I presume so. Well, don't bring the one to earth until you get over
+Uncle Sam's territory, and then maybe there will be a chance to
+capture them, and the goods too."
+
+<P>
+"I will," promised Tom. They were still over Canadian territory, but
+were rapidly approaching the border.
+
+<P>
+"I think I will send a wireless to my men in Logansville, to start
+out and try to pick up the crippled airship after you disable her,"
+decided Mr. Whitford, and as Tom agreed that this was a good plan,
+the wireless was soon cracking away, the government agent being an
+adept in its use.
+
+<P>
+"I've told them we'd give another signal to tell them, as nearly as
+possible where we made them take to earth," he said to Tom, and the
+young inventor nodded in agreement.
+
+<P>
+"Ned in them ship?" asked Koku, as he came back from the pilot house
+to report that Mr. Damon was all right, and needed no help.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I think Ned is in one of them," said Tom. "The big one most
+likely. Poor Ned a prisoner! Well, I'll soon have him away from
+them--if nothing happens," and Tom looked about the motor room, to
+make sure that every piece of apparatus was working perfectly.
+
+<P>
+The two airships of the smugglers were hanging close together, and
+it was evident that the larger one had to make her pace slow, so as
+not to get ahead of the small craft. Tom followed on relentlessly,
+not using half his speed, but creeping on silently in the darkness.
+
+<P>
+"We're over the United States now," said Mr. Whitford, after a
+glance earthward through the binoculars. "Let 'em get a little
+farther over the line before you pop 'em with your electric rifle,
+Tom."
+
+<P>
+Our hero nodded, and looked out of a side window to note the
+progress of the smugglers. For several miles the chase was thus kept
+up, and then, suddenly the smaller craft was seen to swerve to one
+side.
+
+<P>
+"They are separating!" cried Mr. Whitford, at the same time Mr.
+Damon called through the tube from the pilot house:
+
+<P>
+"Which one shall I follow, Tom?"
+
+<P>
+"The big one," the youth answered. "I'll take care of the other!"
+With a quick motion he flashed the current into the great
+searchlight, and, calling to Mr. Whitford to hold it so that the
+beams played on the small aeroplane, Tom leveled his wonderful
+electric rifle at the big stretch of canvas. He pressed the lever, a
+streak of blue flame shot out through an opened port, and, an
+instant later, the small craft of the smugglers was seen to stagger
+about, dipping to one side.
+
+<P>
+"There they come!" cried Mr. Whitford. "They're done for!"
+
+<P>
+"One shot more," said Tom grimly. "It won't hurt 'em!"
+
+<P>
+Again the deadly electric rifle sent out its wireless charge, and
+the airship slowly fluttered toward the earth.
+
+<P>
+"They're volplaning down!" cried Tom. "That's the end of them. Now
+to catch the other!"
+
+<P>
+"Take the lantern!" cried Mr. Whitford. "I'm going to send a
+wireless to my men to get after this disabled craft."
+
+<P>
+Tom swung the beam of the searchlight forward and a moment later had
+picked up the big aeroplane. It was some distance in advance, and
+going like the wind. He heard the automatic camera clicking away.
+
+<P>
+"They speeded her up as soon as they saw what was on!" cried Tom.
+"But we haven't begun to go yet!"
+
+<P>
+He signalled to Mr. Damon, who pulled over the accelerating lever
+and instantly the <i>Falcon</i> responded. Now indeed the race was on in
+earnest. The smugglers must have understood this, for they tried all
+their tactics to throw the pursuing airship off the track. They
+dodged and twisted, now going up, and now going down, and even
+trying to turn back, but Tom headed them off. Ever the great beam of
+light shone relentlessly on them, like some avenging eye. They could
+not escape.
+
+<P>
+"Are we gaining?" cried Mr. Whitford.
+
+<P>
+"A little, and slowly," answered Tom. "They have a bigger load on
+than when we chased them before, but still they have a speed almost
+equal to ours. They must have a magnificent motor."
+
+<P>
+Faster and faster sped on the <i>Falcon</i>. The other craft kept ahead of
+her, however, though Tom could see that, inch by inch, he was
+overhauling her.
+
+<P>
+"Where do they seem to be heading for?" asked the government agent.
+
+<P>
+"Shopton, as near as I can make out," replied the youth. "They
+probably want to get there ahead of us, and hide the goods. I must
+prevent that. Mr. Damon is steering better than he ever did before."
+
+<P>
+Tom shifted the light to keep track of the smugglers, who had dipped
+downward on a steep slant. Then they shot upward, but the <i>Falcon</i> was
+after them.
+
+<P>
+The hours of the night passed. The chase was kept up. Try as the
+smugglers did, they could not shake Tom off. Nearer and nearer he
+crept. There was the gray dawn of morning in the sky, and Tom knew,
+from the great speed they had traveled that they must be near
+Shopton.
+
+<P>
+"They're slowing up. Tom!" suddenly cried Mr. Whitford who was
+watching them through an open port.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, I guess they must have heated some of their bearings. Well,
+here's where I capture them, if it's ever to be. Koku, let down the
+grappling anchor."
+
+<P>
+"Are you really going to capture them, Tom?" asked the custom
+officer.
+
+<P>
+"I'm going to try," was the answer, as Koku came back to say that
+the anchor was dragging over the stern by a long rope.
+
+<P>
+"You work the light, Mr. Whitford," cried Tom. "I'm going to relieve
+Mr. Damon in the pilot house. He can help you here. It will be all
+over in another minute."
+
+<P>
+In the pilot house Tom grasped the steering levers. Then in a final
+burst of speed he sent his craft above, and past that of the
+smugglers.
+
+<P>
+Suddenly he felt a shock. It was the grappling anchor catching in
+the rail of the other air craft. A shout of dismay arose from the
+smugglers.
+
+<P>
+"You've got 'em! You've got 'em, Tom!" yelled Mr. Whitford.
+
+<P>
+"Bless my hasty pudding! So he has!" gasped Mr. Damon.
+
+<P>
+Changing the course of his craft Tom sent the <i>Falcon</i> toward the
+earth, pulling the other aeroplane with him. Down and down he went,
+and the frantic efforts of the smugglers to release themselves were
+useless. They were pulled along by the powerful airship of our hero.
+
+<P>
+A few minutes later Tom picked out a good landing place in the dim
+light of the breaking dawn, and went to earth. Jamming on the brakes
+he leaped from the pilot house to the stern of his own craft,
+catching up his electric rifle. The other airship, caught by the
+grappling anchor at the end of a long rope, was just settling down,
+those in her having the good sense to shut off their power, and
+volplane when they found that they could not escape.
+
+<P>
+As the smugglers' craft touched the earth, several figures leaped
+from her, and started to run away.
+
+<P>
+"Hold on!" cried Tom. "I've got you all covered with the electric
+rifle! Don't move! Koku, you, and Mr. Whitford and Mr. Damon take
+care of them. Tie 'em up."
+
+<P>
+"Bless my hat band!" cried the eccentric man. "What a great capture!
+Where are we?"
+
+<P>
+"Not far from Shopton," answered Tom. "But look after the
+prisoners."
+
+<P>
+There was a cry of astonishment from Mr. Whitford as he reached the
+sullen occupants of the smugglers' craft.
+
+<P>
+"Here are the Fogers--father and son!" the agent called to Tom.
+"They were in it after all. Great Scott! What a surprise. And here
+are a lot of men whom I've been after for some time! Oh, Tom Swift,
+this <i>is</i> a capture."
+
+<P>
+"What right have you to use these high-handed methods on us?"
+demanded Mr. Foger pompously.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, dad make 'em let us go; we haven't done anything!" snarled
+Andy.
+
+<P>
+"I guess you won't go yet a while," said the agent. "I'll have a
+look inside this craft. Keep 'em covered, Tom."
+
+<P>
+"I will. I guess Andy knows what this rifle can do. See if Ned is a
+prisoner."
+
+<P>
+There was a few moments of waiting during which Koku and Mr. Damon
+securely bound the prisoners. Then Mr. Whitford reappeared. He was
+accompanied by some one.
+
+<P>
+"Hello, Tom!" called the latter. "I'm all right. Much obliged for
+the rescue."
+
+<P>
+"Are you all right, Ned?" asked Tom, of his chum.
+
+<P>
+"Yes, except that they kept me gagged. The men who captured me took
+me for you, and, after the Fogers found out the mistake, they
+decided to keep me anyhow. Say, you've made a great haul."
+
+<P>
+And so it proved, for in the airship was a quantity of valuable
+silks and laces, while on the persons of the smugglers, including
+Mr. Foger, were several packets of diamonds. These were taken
+possession of by Mr. Whitford, who also confiscated the bales and
+packages.
+
+<P>
+Ned was soon aboard the <i>Falcon</i>, while the prisoners, securely tied
+were laid in the cabin of their own craft with Koku to stand guard
+over them. Mr. Damon went to Shopton, which was the nearest town,
+for police aid, and soon the smugglers were safe in jail, though Mr.
+Foger protested vigorously against going.
+
+<P>
+Ned explained how he had been pounced upon by two men when he was
+fishing, and told how without a chance to warn his friends, he had
+been gagged and bound and taken to the headquarters of the smugglers
+in Canada, just over the border. They went by carriages. Then the
+Fogers, who, it seemed, were hand in glove with the law violators,
+saw him, and identified him. The smugglers had thought they were
+capturing Tom.
+
+<P>
+"It was your coat and hat that did it, Tom," explained Ned. "I
+fought against being taken away, but when I happened to think if
+they took me for you it might be a trick against them. And it was.
+The Fogers didn't discover the mistake until just before we started."
+
+<P>
+"They planned for a big shipment of goods last night and used two
+airships. I don't know what became of the other."
+
+<P>
+"We've got her, and the men, too," interposed Mr. Whitford, as this
+conversation was taking place several hours later in the Swift home.
+"I just had a wire from my deputy. They got right after the damaged
+airship, and reached her just as the men were hiding the goods, and
+preparing to dismantle the craft. We have them all, thanks to you,
+Tom!"
+
+<P>
+"And to think that the Fogers were in it all the while!" remarked
+Tom. "They certainly fooled us."
+
+<P>
+"I'm not done with them yet," said Mr. Whitford. "I'm going to have
+another look at their house, and the gardener's home."
+
+<P>
+"The Fogers were in dire straits, that's why they went in with the
+smugglers," explained Ned. "Though they gagged me, they didn't stop
+up my ears, and when they hid me in a little room on the airship, I
+could hear them talking together. It seems that the smugglers put up
+the money to buy the airships, and just happened to stumble on Andy
+to run the machinery for them. His father helped, too. They shared
+in the proceeds, and they must have made considerable, for the
+smuggling has been going on for some time."
+
+<P>
+"Well, they'll lose all they made," declared the agent. Later he,
+Tom and Ned made another inspection of the Foger premises. Down in
+the cellar of the gardener's house they found, behind a cunningly
+concealed door, a tunnel leading into the old mansion. Later it was
+learned that the smugglers had been in the habit of bringing goods
+across the border in airships, landing them in a lonely stretch of
+woods outside of Shopton, and later bringing them by wagon to the
+mansion.
+
+<P>
+Inside there, in some secret rooms that had been constructed off of
+the main apartments, the goods would be unpacked, put in different
+boxes, carried through the tunnel to the gardener's house, and
+thence shipped as "old furniture" to various unscrupulous agents who
+disposed of them.
+
+<P>
+The hiring of Mr. Dillon had been only a blind. Later the smugglers,
+in the guise of carpenters, made the desired changes. So cunningly
+had the opening of the tunnel in the cellar of the gardener's house
+been concealed, that it was only discovered after a most careful
+search.
+
+<P>
+There is little more to tell. With the capture of the two airships,
+an end was put to the smuggling operations, especially since nearly
+all the gang was captured. A few, those who brought the goods up the
+St. Lawrence, from the ocean steamers, managed to escape, but they
+had to go into hiding.
+
+<P>
+The goods captured proved very valuable, and partly made up to Uncle
+Sam's treasury the losses sustained. Tom was offered a big reward,
+but would not take it, accepting only money for his expenses, and
+requesting that the reward be divided among the agents of Mr.
+Whitford's staff, who needed it more than Tom did.
+
+<P>
+There was no difficulty about convicting the prisoners, including
+the Fogers, for Tom's wizard camera had taken pictures of the chase
+and capture, and the men were easily identified. Mr. Period was
+quite delighted with the roll of films that Tom gave him. Some of
+the smugglers were sent to prison for long terms, and others,
+including Andy and his father, had to pay heavy fines.
+
+<P>
+"Well, Tom Swift, I can't thank you enough," said Mr. Whitford, one
+day as he called to pay the young inventor a visit. "I'm ordered to
+the Pacific coast and I may have to send for you with your airship,
+and great searchlight."
+
+<P>
+"I don't believe I'll come," laughed the lad. "I'm going to take a
+long rest and settle down."
+
+<P>
+"He's going to get married!" exclaimed Ned, taking care to get
+behind a chair.
+
+<P>
+"If Mr. Tom marry, he keep Koku for servant?" asked the giant
+anxiously.
+
+<P>
+"Oh, I'm not going to get married, just yet, Koku!" exclaimed Tom,
+who was blushing furiously. "I'm going to invent something new."
+
+<P>
+"Bless my fountain pen!" cried Mr. Damon.
+
+<P>
+"Oh, Tom, it seems good to have you home again," said aged Mr. Swift
+softly.
+
+<P>
+"Dat's what it do!" added Eradicate. "Boomerang hab been monstrous
+lonely sence yo'-all been gone, Massa Tom."
+
+<P>
+"Well, I'm going to stay home--for a while," said Tom. And thus,
+surrounded as he is by his friends and relatives, we will take leave
+of Tom Swift.
+
+<PRE>
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Swift and His Great Searchlight
+by Victor Appleton
+
+************************************************************************
+
+This file should be named 15tom10h.txt or 15tom10h.zip
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