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+Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and His Giant Telescope, by Victor Appleton
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Tom Swift and His Giant Telescope
+
+Author: Victor Appleton
+
+Illustrator: James Gary
+
+Release Date: April 19, 2007 [EBook #21188]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT TELESCOPE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Greg Weeks, Graeme Mackreth and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+[Transcriber's note: Extensive research did not uncover any evidence
+that the copyright on this publication was renewed.]
+
+
+
+
+TOM SWIFT
+
+and
+
+His Giant Telescope
+
+_By_
+VICTOR APPLETON
+
+_Illustrations by_
+JAMES GARY
+
+WHITMAN PUBLISHING COMPANY
+Racine, Wisconsin
+
+Copyright, 1939, by
+WHITMAN PUBLISHING COMPANY
+Racine, Wisconsin
+
+All Rights Reserved
+
+Printed in U.S.A.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER                                    PAGE
+
+I    The New Project                          9
+
+II   Suspicions                              42
+
+III  An Accident                             90
+
+IV   A Murderous Attempt                    124
+
+V    In Peril                               168
+
+VI   Tom Drugged!                           216
+
+VII  Deep Sea Diving                        264
+
+VIII Trapped By a Sea Monster               296
+
+IX   A Robber                               346
+
+X    Success!                               380
+
+
+[Illustration: Tom Swift Appeared Calm]
+
+
+
+
+TOM SWIFT and His Giant Telescope
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE NEW PROJECT
+
+
+Tom Swift appeared to be calm, although in reality he was about as
+excited over his latest invention as he ever had been about anything in
+his life.
+
+"I'm sure it's going to work, Ned!" he said eagerly to his chum as they
+neared Tom's private laboratory. "With my new device I hope to learn
+more about the planets. I want to start soon--"
+
+"Listen here!" broke in Ned Newton. "If you're thinking of going to Mars
+or the moon, just count me out! I've gone with you to many strange
+places and have never kicked. But this--"
+
+"Hold on, young fellow!" interrupted the youthful inventor with an
+amused chuckle. "I've nothing like that in mind YET! All I want to do
+is show you my new 'space eye.'"
+
+[Illustration: Ned Newton, Tom's Chum]
+
+"Can't say as I like that word 'yet,'" Ned muttered darkly. "But I'll
+take a look at your new jigger if you'll promise not to shoot me through
+space in a rocket or cannon-ball!"
+
+"Word of honor I won't," promised Tom, crossing his heart with mock
+solemnity. "Well, here we are."
+
+The two boys had reached the laboratory, a small building at the rear
+of the spacious lawn surrounding Tom's father's home and close to the
+extensive work of the Swift Manufacturing Company at Shopton.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Crossed His Heart]
+
+"I'll bet these shelves have more scientific apparatus on 'em than any
+other shelves in the world," remarked Ned, as his chum opened the door.
+
+Various cabinets containing hundreds of chemicals stood about. Against
+one wall was a huge transformer, from which the youthful scientist,
+Tom Swift, could draw almost any kind of electric current he might
+desire.
+
+[Illustration: They Entered the Laboratory]
+
+"Here goes!" said the young inventor.
+
+He rolled back a small rug in the middle of the floor to expose a
+massive steel trap door. This he unlocked by twirling the dial of a
+complicated mechanism. Some years before Tom had constructed beneath his
+laboratory an impregnable chamber to safeguard his secret plans. He
+called it his Chest of Secrets, and guarded it well.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Rolled Back a Small Rug]
+
+Even Ned Newton, Tom's closest friend and business associate, did not
+know the entire contents of the massive vault. Only Tom and his father
+were aware of all the inventions concealed there.
+
+"Some of these inventions must not be known to the world in its present
+state," the elder man had said.
+
+One of them was the terrible electric death-ray, capable of destroying
+anything in its path. Only if the United States should be invaded by
+an enemy power, would this be revealed.
+
+[Illustration: There Was a Death Ray]
+
+"Here it is," said Tom, joining his chum after a few minutes spent in
+the vault.
+
+He was carrying a small wooden box which he placed on the desk and
+opened. If Ned, as he leaned over eagerly, expected to see anything
+astonishing he was disappointed. Resting on the velvet lining was simply
+a round disk of a greenish substance perhaps six inches in diameter.
+This was mounted in a gleaming metal ring from the edges of which there
+projected five electric binding posts.
+
+[Illustration: He Was Carrying a Wooden Box]
+
+"Funny kind of an eye," observed Ned. "You can't even see through it."
+
+"You'll soon see through it, all right," retorted Tom, laying the disk
+on his desk and connecting four dry cells to the binding posts. He
+placed a small rheostat in the circuit so that the strength of the
+current might be regulated.
+
+[Illustration: The Disk Was Mounted in a Metal Ring]
+
+Slowly he moved the little handle over the graduated dial. A minute
+passed during which, so far as Ned could see, nothing happened. Without
+warning the green crystal suddenly glowed brightly for a fraction of a
+second, then could not be seen at all. The polished ring of metal in
+which it had been mounted alone remained.
+
+"It's gone!" cried Ned in bewilderment. "I can see your desk top right
+through where it was!"
+
+"No," smiled the inventor, "it's still there as you'll find if you try
+to poke your finger through the metal ring."
+
+[Illustration: "It's Gone!" Cried Ned]
+
+A trifle gingerly his chum extended his hand toward the circle of metal.
+Though Tom had assured him that the little disk was still in place, Ned
+was unable to repress a start when his finger touched a cool, polished
+surface which his eyes told him could not be there.
+
+"Say, that's wonderful!" he exclaimed, staring at the invisible
+substance with awe. "That stuff must be a hundred times more transparent
+than the finest plate glass!"
+
+[Illustration: His Finger Touched the Cool Surface]
+
+"Yes, and more," said Tom. "But that's not the most wonderful feature of
+the new substance."
+
+"What, then?"
+
+"Well, it's difficult to explain. Even now I know very little about it.
+I can tell you WHAT it can do, but the WHY is still as much of a mystery
+as ever. Briefly, this new element, or maybe it's a compound, I'm not
+sure which, reacts in a very strange manner to light. Let me show you.
+That'll beat any long-winded theory I could spout."
+
+[Illustration: "That's Wonderful!" He Exclaimed]
+
+Going to the door, Tom called in his giant servant Koku, who once had
+been a prince in his own far-off savage land, before Tom Swift had
+brought him to Shopton.
+
+"What want, Master?" came a deep-toned reply, as the huge dark-skinned
+man, who stood a trifle over eight feet in height, entered.
+
+"Just carry outside that telescope there in the corner," requested
+Tom, pointing to the instrument. "Better be careful; it's a bit heavy."
+
+[Illustration: Tom's Giant Servant Koku]
+
+"Not heavy for Koku," boomed the giant. "Liftum in one hand!"
+
+Though it was not a large instrument as telescopes go, this one, with
+the massive iron pier upon which it was mounted, weighed not far from
+four hundred pounds. When Koku clamped his mighty hand about the stand
+he seemed to lift it as easily as a boy might raise a baseball bat or
+a golf club.
+
+[Illustration: Koku Lifted It Easily]
+
+"I'll never get used to his strength," murmured Ned as the boys followed
+the giant through the laboratory door, Tom carrying his marvelous green
+disk.
+
+"He is a big boy, for fair," laughed Tom. "Lucky for our prize-fighters
+he hasn't gone into the ring."
+
+After carefully placing the telescope where the inventor directed, Koku
+returned to the bench under a near-by apple tree where it was his wont
+to rest when he was not needed.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Carried the Green Disk]
+
+"Now what, Tom?" questioned Ned. "Surely you're not expecting to see
+stars in broad daylight?"
+
+"Oh, no, though it could be done," returned Tom, pointing the instrument
+toward the crest of a wooded hill several miles distant from Shopton.
+"Now we're ready. Take a peek."
+
+"Well," said Ned, peering into the eyepiece, "all I see are a few
+trees."
+
+[Illustration: "Take a Peek," Invited Tom]
+
+"Just stand by," directed his friend, clamping his green disk over the
+front lens, or objective, of the telescope and turning on the current.
+As before, the green stuff seemed to vanish. "Now, look again," he said.
+
+No sooner had Ned put his eye to the instrument than he gave a start.
+"It's magic!" he exclaimed. "Why, that hill seems as if it were right
+here and the view is much brighter. I can see every leaf on the trees
+and--yes! even a bird's nest and the little birds in it!"
+
+[Illustration: "It's Magic!" He Exclaimed]
+
+"Now maybe you have an idea as to how I propose to discover the secret
+of life on the planets," responded Tom calmly.
+
+"The secret? What do you mean? Surely you don't expect to see men on
+Mars!"
+
+"I mean to build a telescope with a space eye big enough and powerful
+enough to do it!" The young inventor's face lit up with a strange light.
+"It's the greatest thing yet, Ned!"
+
+[Illustration: "What Do You Mean?" Asked Ned]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+SUSPICIONS
+
+
+"Yes," said Ned dubiously, "if you can do it. Oh, I'll admit that your
+invention improves a telescope marvelously. But to see life on another
+world, millions of miles away--well, that sounds like a pretty tall
+order even for you, Tom Swift!"
+
+[Illustration: "That Sounds Like a Tall Order!"]
+
+"Let's go back in the lab and I'll tell you more about the project."
+
+Tom directed Koku to carry the telescope inside. As the three walked
+back, the giant suddenly gave a yell.
+
+"Quick, Master!"
+
+With that the servant let go the big instrument, placing it with a thud
+none too gently on the hard ground. In a bound he was off. Tom and Ned
+caught a glimpse of someone just disappearing around the edge of the
+building. Had the stranger sneaked into the laboratory while Koku's
+back was turned?
+
+[Illustration: Koku Bounded Off]
+
+"I hope the space eye isn't smashed!" exclaimed Tom, examining the
+instrument. "Or the telescope lens."
+
+Anxiously Ned waited as his chum detached the green disk and held it up.
+
+"I--I guess it's O.K.," said Tom at length. "I'll test it in the lab and
+see."
+
+[Illustration: "I Hope the Space Eye Isn't Smashed!"]
+
+At this moment Koku reappeared, saying the intruder had vanished.
+Moreover, he was very contrite about having handled the telescope
+roughly. In a few seconds the fears of the three vanished. Put to the
+electric test, the disk was found to be all right.
+
+"Who do you suppose was sneaking around here?" asked Ned.
+
+"No telling," replied Tom. "But nothing seems to be missing," he added,
+glancing around.
+
+[Illustration: "Nothing Seems to Be Missing."]
+
+"I hope you're right," said Ned. "Now tell me more about this green
+disk. How did you happen to discover the stuff?"
+
+"As to just what it is," replied the other slowly, "I'm not sure yet.
+When I analyzed it, I found a substance absolutely new to chemistry."
+
+"Where did you get it?" asked Ned.
+
+"I scraped it from that meteorite down in Koku's country in South
+America."
+
+Ned whistled. "Ever since we found that thing which we called a planet
+stone, you've been discovering all sorts of things about it."
+
+[Illustration: "I Scraped It From a Meteorite."]
+
+"Right now I hope to revolutionize the field of astronomy with it," said
+Tom.
+
+"Tell me more about this wonderful green substance."
+
+"It may be a new compound or it may be an unknown element. Anyway, in
+experimenting with it I found that heat and electricity both change the
+stuff. The former has an apparently permanent effect, while an electric
+current, as you saw, alters it only temporarily."
+
+[Illustration: "Heat and Electricity Change It."]
+
+"Why didn't you make a big disk? Then you could have tested your theory
+right away," stated Ned Newton.
+
+"For two good reasons," replied Tom, opening a drawer and taking out a
+small vial filled with yellow powder. "I wasn't sure it would improve a
+telescope for one thing, and this is the other." He handed the bottle to
+Ned. "This is all I have on hand of the new stuff."
+
+[Illustration: "This Is All I Have."]
+
+"'X,'" murmured Ned, reading the label. "But this powder isn't green.
+And why the X?"
+
+"When the stuff is melted and then cooled it changes color," explained
+Tom. "As for the X, if you remember your algebra you know that letter
+stands for the unknown quantity."
+
+"Too bad you can't make a huge green disk."
+
+[Illustration: "This Powder Isn't Green!"]
+
+"Don't worry about that," smiled his friend. "I'll soon have plenty of
+the powder. You haven't forgotten how the natives of Giant Land feared
+the meteorite and insisted that we take it away. It seems, however, that
+we got but a small piece of it. Evidently when it struck the ground the
+thing split, the heavier portion burying itself deep in the earth while
+the part we found remained near the surface."
+
+[Illustration: "An Earthquake Caused the Upheaval."]
+
+"About six weeks ago Koku got a letter from his brother, King Amo of
+Giant Land, telling of an earthquake which caused the upheaval of the
+huge stone. His people think we are great magicians or else witch
+doctors, and Amo wrote begging us to take the meteorite from his land.
+Of course, I was only too glad to oblige 'em."
+
+"Then you plan going to South America--"
+
+"Bless my passport, but I'm glad to hear that!" exclaimed a voice from
+the open doorway. "It seems as if I'm just in time!"
+
+"Mr. Damon!" cried both boys together.
+
+[Illustration: "Mr. Damon!" Cried Both Boys]
+
+A jolly-looking, rather portly gentleman entered, swinging his cane
+excitedly. Tom and Ned gave him a warm welcome, for he was a friend of
+long standing and had accompanied them on many an expedition to remote
+quarters of the globe.
+
+"Come in," invited Tom. "Sit down, Mr. Damon, and tell us the news."
+
+"And what was it you were so tickled to hear just now?" added Ned.
+
+[Illustration: "Come in and Tell us the News!"]
+
+"I'll tell you," said the rather eccentric man, for once forgetting to
+bless something. "I'm in trouble, boys, and I need your help."
+
+"You know we'll do anything we can, Mr. Damon," Tom assured him. "Just
+what is the difficulty?"
+
+"My wife," said the caller glumly. "She's the trouble."
+
+[Illustration: "I'm in Trouble, Boys."]
+
+On hearing this both boys experienced no little difficulty in keeping
+their faces straight. Although Mrs. Damon was a fine woman in many ways,
+she was inclined to be very domineering where her husband was
+concerned. Ever since Tom Swift had rescued the man from a band of
+kidnapers, Mrs. Damon had had a great liking for the youthful scientist.
+Yet she felt that her husband should remain quietly at home with her and
+not go off on any wild trips, as the good lady called them.
+
+"But I don't see--well, suppose you explain," suggested Tom.
+
+[Illustration: "Bless My Headache Pills!"]
+
+"My wife wants me to go on a week-end house party with her next Friday
+and I detest 'em. Bless my headache pills, but it's enough to drive a
+man distracted. Now, I heard you boys talking about South America as I
+came in and I want to go along!"
+
+"Well, Mr. Damon, if we were going South you know I'd be only too
+pleased to have you a member of the party. But Ned and I were merely
+talking about a shipment of freight I'm expecting from Giant Land."
+
+"Koku's country?" asked Mr. Damon, somewhat astonished. "I thought
+Ambolata was still unknown to commerce. Bless my bill-of-lading, if the
+world isn't moving faster than I thought!"
+
+[Illustration: Some Freight From Giant Land]
+
+Tom smiled. "I had to arrange for an expedition through the consular
+office at Buenos Aires to get what I want. It seems we didn't receive
+all of that strange meteorite even with the help of your magic wig."
+
+[Illustration: Tom Smiled and Explained]
+
+Even Mr. Damon had to laugh when he recalled the ludicrous situation
+in which he had been placed in the jungles of South America. Surrounded
+by savages, he had absent-mindedly taken off his wig, thereby
+frightening the simple natives half out of their wits. They had thought
+he could scalp himself at will. Nevertheless, this action had saved the
+lives of Tom Swift and his party, ultimately enabling them to escape
+when the giants turned against them.
+
+[Illustration: They Thought He Could Scalp Himself]
+
+"Ah, those were the days, Tom," sighed the eccentric man, "those were
+the days! Even if you're not going off to the wilds, maybe you might
+give me some kind of a job here so that my wife can't drag me off to
+that house party. I feel it in my very bones that old Hiram Leatherby
+will be there and he ALWAYS singles me out to talk about his fossil
+collection!"
+
+"I can sympathize with you," muttered Ned. "Mr. Leatherby used to be a
+director in the bank where I worked before Tom made me his business
+manager, and I've often thought he was a bit fossilized himself!"
+
+[Illustration: "I'll See What Can Be Done."]
+
+"Well, Mr. Damon, I'll see what can be done," promised Tom.
+
+"Good!" came an enthusiastic exclamation. "Bless my cup of tea, I'm
+counting on you!"
+
+"In the meantime, why don't you go up to the house and have our
+housekeeper, Mrs. Baggert, make you a cup of tea? Stop in the library
+and see Dad. He's been working too hard lately on his electrical book
+and he needs company."
+
+[Illustration: "Stop in and See Dad."]
+
+"I will, Tom. Your father is a mighty fine man. Oh, my goodness! Bless
+my poor memory, Tom, but I had some news for you. Good or bad I don't
+know, but I feel uneasy about it."
+
+"Tell us what it is," suggested the young inventor.
+
+[Illustration: "Two Men Called on Me."]
+
+"It's a rather odd thing. You see, last evening I was reading my paper
+on the porch when two men called on me. Said they were long-lost
+relatives--cousins, or something of the sort--just back from a stay in
+South Africa. They seemed nice enough fellows, but bless my family tree,
+I had never heard of 'em! At any rate, they seemed to know a good deal
+about the Damon family and so I asked them to dinner. What got me
+thinking something might not be right was the way those chaps tried to
+pump me about you, Tom."
+
+"Pump you?" asked young Swift, a puzzled look on his face. "About what?"
+
+"Glass," said the eccentric character promptly. "Some kind of glass.
+Bless my windshield-wiper, what was it? Oh, yes! Flexible glass, that
+was it."
+
+[Illustration: "They Tried to Pump Me."]
+
+Tom and Ned exchanged startled glances. For many months experiments
+directed toward the production of a glass as bendable as rubber had been
+going forward in the Swift plant. Every possible precaution had been
+taken to cloak the work in deepest secrecy, yet somewhere evidently a
+leak had developed among Tom's employees.
+
+[Illustration: Tom and Ned Exchanged Glances]
+
+"Are these men still at your home, Mr. Damon?" asked Ned, a worried look
+on his face.
+
+"No, they left after dinner. Mr. Brown said they had some important
+business up state. Is this glass business some new invention, Tom?"
+
+"I hope it will be. So far my experiments haven't turned out
+successfully. But I can't understand how anyone outside our plant could
+have known about them."
+
+[Illustration: "They Left After Dinner."]
+
+Mr. Damon could tell little more about his self-styled relatives.
+After giving a description of the two men he took his leave. The boys
+were rather worried about the information he had brought along.
+
+"It's not so much the glass," said Tom, "for we don't know if it will be
+a success. What bothers me is the idea of there being a traitor in the
+shops. I thought we had weeded out all unscrupulous employees."
+
+[Illustration: He Described the Two Men]
+
+"The Apex Glass Works are located in Portville," said Ned, struck with
+an idea, "fifty miles north of here. Mr. Damon's visitors claimed to
+have business up state. To my mind that's more than a coincidence,
+especially since the Apex people would give their back teeth to get hold
+of your formula, Tom!"
+
+[Illustration: "That's More Than Coincidence."]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+AN ACCIDENT
+
+
+"Oh, I think you're letting your imagination run away with you, Ned,"
+grinned Tom. "I know Mr. Stern, the president of Apex, very well, and
+I'm positive that he wouldn't stand for any underhanded tactics."
+
+[Illustration: "I Know Mr. Stern," Grinned Tom]
+
+"I hope you're right," said his business manager. "But you know better
+than anyone else how unscrupulous gangs have tried to steal your
+inventions. At first it was Happy Harry the tramp, and the last was
+Doctor Bane. No telling how many thugs were after you and your father in
+between. You'd be wise to get some extra guards."
+
+"I think Koku is well able to handle any intruder," declared Tom
+confidently. "Besides, I think you're getting excited over nothing. You
+know Mr. Damon is inclined to make mountains out of molehills."
+
+[Illustration: "Koku Is Able to Handle Anyone."]
+
+"That's all very well," persisted his friend stubbornly, "but just
+suppose Mr. Damon is right in his suspicions? It'd be too late then to
+do anything about it."
+
+"Don't worry, old man. My Chest of Secrets will hold its contents secure
+against any burglar's attack. Now it's late. You'd better stay to
+dinner. Afterward, if you care to and have no other date, we can talk
+over some unfinished business."
+
+[Illustration: The Chest Would Guard the Secrets]
+
+"Thanks, Tom. I'll be glad to spend the evening with you."
+
+Locking up the laboratory, the two boys walked leisurely through the
+warm June twilight toward the big white house. Low in the sky hung the
+silvery crescent of the new moon, while almost overhead Mars glowed
+brightly.
+
+"There's our goal, Ned," murmured Tom, pointing to the red planet. "I
+feel sure that our meteorite came from that far-off world!"
+
+[Illustration: "There's Our Goal, Ned."]
+
+"Granting that it did come from another planet," objected Ned, "I don't
+get the reason why you're so sure it came from Mars. There are nine
+planets circling the sun, including the earth. Ruling out the sun, it
+seems to me that there is but one chance in eight that you are right."
+
+[Illustration: "Nine Planets Circle the Sun."]
+
+"If it were simply a matter of chance, there'd be a lot of weight behind
+your argument, Ned. But a lot of other factors enter the problem. I
+should say that the only planets where life as we know it might exist
+are Mars and Venus. The latter I ruled out, for astronomers have found
+that it is forever covered thickly with dense clouds. Thus the
+inhabitants, if any, must be ignorant of any world but their own."
+
+"What have people on the planets got to do with the question, anyhow?"
+asked Ned. "Huge chunks of metal break off of any heavenly body and go
+hurtling through space. The inhabitants don't throw them off!"
+
+[Illustration: Chunks of Metal Rushing Through Space]
+
+"But our meteor was no ordinary one as we have proved already," replied
+Tom. "I firmly believe that someone on another planet deliberately fired
+that missile into space, hoping it would reach this world. Since
+scientists agree that Mars probably is inhabited by a highly intelligent
+race, that planet is a reasonable guess."
+
+"Whew!" whistled Ned. "Such ideas are beyond me."
+
+[Illustration: "Someone on Another Planet Fired the Missile."]
+
+As he finished speaking, the boys reached the Swift residence. The
+young inventor's father had built the handsome white house many years
+before his son was born. Beyond were the several buildings where the
+inventions of Tom Swift and his father, Barton Swift, were manufactured.
+
+Of recent years the latter had not been active, but had put the affairs
+in the hands of his capable son Tom, ably assisted by Ned Newton. The
+older man now spent most of his time writing scientific books and
+articles.
+
+[Illustration: The Boys Reached the Swift Residence]
+
+The boys washed as quickly as possible so as not to delay dinner, for
+both possessed healthy appetites. Joining Mr. Swift in the library, they
+found him and Mr. Damon deep in a game of chess.
+
+"Check!" cried Tom's father triumphantly, moving his king. "Got you
+again, Damon!"
+
+"Bless my pawns and castles!" exclaimed the eccentric gentleman. "You've
+won three straight games!"
+
+[Illustration: Mr. Swift, Tom's Father]
+
+"Hello, Dad!" said Tom suddenly. "I see you're up to your old tricks!"
+In spite of his bantering tone the young inventor was pleased that his
+father was relaxing in a friendly game.
+
+"Your father shouldn't be in the amateur class any more, Tom!" Mr. Damon
+grumbled playfully. "Bless my trophy cup, but I'm afraid to play with
+him!"
+
+"Better luck next time," consoled Mr. Swift, a twinkle in his eye.
+
+Mr. Damon left, refusing an invitation to dinner and saying that he
+had to take his car to a garage for a minor repair job before starting
+for his home in Waterford, a near-by town.
+
+[Illustration: "Hello, Dad," Said Tom]
+
+"How goes it with you, son?" asked Mr. Swift when Tom returned from
+seeing his guest to the door. "Your new space eye, as you call it--is it
+working out?"
+
+"I think so, Dad, but wait until I get the big model built!"
+
+[Illustration: Tom Saw Mr. Damon to the Door]
+
+"Genmens, dinnah am serbed!" An old negro thrust his white-fringed
+head through the library door. "An' it sho' am good!" Eradicate Sampson,
+so-called for his work in younger days of eradicating dirt from the
+homes of Shopton, had been attached to the Swift household for many
+years and now regarded himself as one of the family.
+
+As they sat at table the conversation of the three turned naturally to
+Tom's latest invention. Mr. Swift had not heard yet all Tom's ideas of
+the proposed telescope and was full of eager questions.
+
+[Illustration: Eradicate Sampson]
+
+"Just how long do you think it will take to make your big disk, son?"
+asked Mr. Swift. "That is, if you find any more of the new material."
+
+"The meteorite is already on board a north-bound freight steamer,"
+answered Tom, "and ought to get here within the next ten days. It'll
+require at least three weeks to extract all the X and cast it into
+shape. Taking everything into consideration, I should say it will be
+at least six weeks before we can test the device. The matter depends
+entirely on finding a lot of X in the planet stone. But I'm sure I
+shall."
+
+[Illustration: "The Meteorite Is Northbound!"]
+
+After dinner the boys went over to the main office of the Swift
+Construction Company to clear up a number of routine business matters
+which required Tom's personal attention. He had postponed them for a
+while to give more time to his new experiments.
+
+[Illustration: The Boys Went to the Main Office]
+
+"Now, young fellow, I'm not letting you get away until you've looked
+over these papers!" declared Ned, pretending to threaten his chum with a
+yardstick. "I've been after you for a week about 'em!"
+
+Tom dodged and pretended to be scared. "You're right, though," he
+admitted.
+
+The two worked rapidly. Within an hour the seemingly endless stack of
+documents had shrunk to a few letters and bills. Just as Ned was
+reaching for one of them the telephone rang in the outer office.
+
+[Illustration: The Two Worked Rapidly]
+
+"I'll get it, Tom," his chum said.
+
+"Sit still," replied the young inventor. "I'll switch it to my private
+phone."
+
+"Tom Swift speaking," he said into the mouthpiece a moment later. "Oh,
+hello, Mrs. Damon. What's that? But I don't understand. No, there must
+be some mistake!" A loud click sounded in the receiver and Tom jerked
+the instrument from his ear.
+
+"What's wrong?" asked Ned, noting his friend's serious face.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Jerked the Instrument From His Ear]
+
+"Mr. Damon's been hurt in an auto accident. For some reason his wife is
+blaming it on me! Come, we must get to the hospital at once!"
+
+[Illustration: "Mr. Damon's Been Hurt!"]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+A MURDEROUS ATTEMPT
+
+
+"You drive, Tom," said Ned, for they had come from the Swift home in his
+car.
+
+"O.K., and hang onto your hat!"
+
+Tom Swift had once driven a fast racing auto of his own design and Ned
+knew his chum could get the most out of his roadster. In a few seconds
+the little car reached the gate of the works, where the watchman halted
+them.
+
+[Illustration: "Hang on to Your Hat."]
+
+"Oh, an' 'tiz you agin, Misther Swift," said Malligan. "Sure, an' I
+wouldn't have stopped yez but me orders is to inspect iveryone."
+
+"You did right, Pat," commended Tom, shifting gears. "Good-night."
+
+The Shopton Hospital was located a couple of miles from the Swift plant.
+Under the young scientist's guidance the roadster reached its entrance
+within a few minutes. At the information desk the boys were informed
+where Mr. Damon had been taken.
+
+[Illustration: They Reached the Hospital]
+
+"Room 302, Mr. Swift. Doctor Chilton is with him now."
+
+Just as the boys reached Room 302 the physician came out. Tom was glad
+to note that the man was smiling.
+
+"How is he, Doctor?"
+
+[Illustration: "How Is He, Doctor?"]
+
+"Hello, boys. Mr. Damon will be as good as new in a week or so. Barring
+a sprained wrist his injuries are trifling--a few bruises and a slight
+cut. From the way he's blessing everything in the place no one would
+think he was hurt in the least!"
+
+"I'm relieved," said Tom. "May we see him?"
+
+"Go right in. He'll be glad to have some company. But don't stay too
+long."
+
+"Bless my operating table, if it isn't Tom and Ned!" exclaimed Mr.
+Damon, seeing his visitors enter. The eccentric gentleman was propped
+up in bed by several pillows. His left arm was in a sling and around his
+head was a big bandage. "You two got here almost as quickly as I did.
+But I'm glad they didn't have to carry you in!"
+
+[Illustration: Mr. Damon Was Propped up in Bed]
+
+"Your wife phoned me the news," explained Tom. "We're mighty glad you
+weren't injured badly. Tell us how it happened."
+
+"It all occurred so suddenly that I hardly know myself. But I know one
+thing!" Mr. Damon seemed very indignant. "The scoundrels deliberately
+ran into my car!"
+
+[Illustration: "The Scoundrels Ran into My Car!"]
+
+"Did you get their license number?" inquired Ned Newton. "If you did,
+I'll call the police!"
+
+"No, I couldn't see it in the dark. But I know the villains well enough.
+They were my two so-called relatives that I told you about--Jones and
+Brown! It was spite work for my refusal to tell 'em about your glass!"
+
+Tom now saw the reason why Mrs. Damon was blaming him for the accident.
+
+[Illustration: "My Two So-Called Relatives."]
+
+"We'll notify the authorities and also do a little detective work
+ourselves," he said. "We must leave now because the doctor wants you to
+get some rest."
+
+"Come back again, boys. At any rate, I've escaped that house party!"
+
+After reporting the accident at the local police station, Tom and Ned
+visited all the garages and repair shops in the little town in an
+attempt to learn if any damaged machine had been brought in. They met
+with no success, however.
+
+[Illustration: They Visited All the Garages]
+
+"Guess their bus wasn't hurt much," commented Ned as they left the last
+place. "We might as well give up for the night."
+
+"The police will be on the job. Unless the two men hid the car somewhere
+it's sure to be found. The teletype will flash the word all through the
+state."
+
+The following morning the Police Chief telephoned Tom to tell him that
+no trace of the mysterious Jones and Brown could be discovered, nor
+had any witness to the accident been located.
+
+[Illustration: The Police Chief Called Tom]
+
+Later Ned went to the hospital where he found Mr. Damon much improved
+and able to sit up in a wheel chair. After a visit with him he attended
+to some business at the bank. On returning to the Swift plant, he found
+Tom busy with his green disk, which once more was clamped to the little
+telescope.
+
+"Mr. Damon is a lot better," Ned reported, watching his friend's work
+curiously. "When I left him he was blessing his hat and coat, so I
+suppose he's eager to get out of the hospital."
+
+[Illustration: Mr. Damon Was Much Improved]
+
+"That's great," said Tom. "I knew he was getting along all right. I was
+too busy to go with you so I called Doctor Chilton. He told me that the
+X-ray showed no broken bones, but our friend must remain under
+observation for a few days more."
+
+"You've changed the wiring on the disk, haven't you?" asked Ned, who
+knew a little about electricity.
+
+[Illustration: "I Want to Try Alternating Current."]
+
+"I want to try alternating current instead of direct and see if doing so
+won't improve it. Dad suggested that. What is it, Koku?"
+
+"Boy bringum letter for Master. Say must put name on book." The man held
+out an envelope and pad.
+
+"It's a radiogram. Sign for me, Ned, will you?"
+
+Tom ripped open the envelope and glanced over the message.
+
+"Bad news?" asked his chum, seeing a changed expression on the
+inventor's face.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Ripped Open the Envelope]
+
+"I should say so. Here, read it yourself. We might just as well forget
+the whole telescope idea, that's how bad it is!"
+
+Ned took the sheet, which Tom had crumpled, spread it out on the desk,
+and read as follows:
+
+   "Regret inform you was compelled to jettison your cargo last night in
+   bad storm to save ship. Approximate location four miles due east Port
+   Baracoa, Cuba. Salvage boat take position at apex isosceles triangle
+   27.6 degrees with lighthouse and summit hill a mile to the south."
+
+   "(Signed) A. Mawson,
+   Captain S.S. Perry."
+
+[Illustration: "Was Compelled to Jettison Your Cargo."]
+
+"Say, Tom, that IS tough, having your meteorite thrown overboard!"
+exclaimed Ned, rereading the message. "All your work wasted and your
+marvelous invention junked--"
+
+"Not yet!" broke in the young scientist grimly as he grabbed the
+telephone from his desk. "Hello, operator, get me long distance,
+please."
+
+[Illustration: Tom Grabbed the Telephone]
+
+"What are you going to do?" asked Ned excitedly.
+
+"Get divers," replied Tom as he waited. "I'm going to recover that
+meteorite or know the reason--Oh, hello! Yes. I want the main office of
+the Neptune Salvage Company in New York City. No, I haven't the address.
+Yes, I'll hold the line.
+
+"These people are experts," he told his chum while waiting for his
+call to be put through. "If the stone isn't in too deep water they'll be
+able to raise it if anyone can."
+
+[Illustration: "I'm Going to Recover the Meteorite."]
+
+"But how can they ever find it? Seems to me it'll be like hunting for
+the proverbial needle in a haystack, only more so!"
+
+"Not quite that bad. Captain Mawson gives what seem to be pretty
+complete directions. You might try getting any further data the man may
+have."
+
+[Illustration: "Captain Mawson Gave Directions."]
+
+Unfortunately for Tom, as he learned in the next two hours, the
+Neptune Company and other salvage concerns he called were very busy and
+could not spare a barge of the required size. Moreover, Ned could get no
+more information, when he finally contacted the freighter, than her
+commander had given already.
+
+"Why doan yo' tak' yo' submarine boat down dere, Massa Tom?" asked
+Eradicate as he served luncheon to the young inventor, his father and
+Ned. "Ah 'members we once got some treasure off'n de bottom ob de sea
+dat way."
+
+[Illustration: Eradicate Served Luncheon]
+
+"I did think of that, Rad," answered Tom a bit wearily, "but my ship
+isn't big enough to raise such a great weight."
+
+"And so, son," said the elder Swift, "if you can't get the use of a
+large salvage craft you will have to give up your project; is that
+right?"
+
+"That's right, Dad, and I surely hate to think of it. But I'm not going
+to give up, even if I have to bring men and equipment from the Pacific
+coast!"
+
+[Illustration: "I'm Not Going to Give Up!"]
+
+"That'd be mighty expensive," objected Ned. In his capacity as the
+Swifts' business manager, he had earned the nickname "watchdog of the
+treasury." "Why not wait until some local firm can take the job?"
+
+"Too risky. You see, ocean currents or some submarine upheaval might
+shift the big stone so great a distance that we could never find it.
+Don't forget that to the best of our knowledge the meteorite is the only
+source of X on earth."
+
+[Illustration: "Ocean Currents Might Shift the Stone."]
+
+"Hmm," frowned Mr. Swift. "I used to know an old fellow very well who
+was in the diving business. Met him when we built the submarine
+'Advance'--you boys remember her--but I can't seem to recall his name.
+Let me see--Ha! I have it! Britten! That's it, John Britten, the best
+salvage man on the coast!"
+
+"Maybe he's busy too," said Ned, "as all the others seem to be."
+
+[Illustration: "Maybe He's Busy, Too."]
+
+"I think not," replied the elderly scientist, "because he's retired.
+Yet I believe he'll undertake the job if I ask him as I once did him a
+great favor. His salvaging outfit is in Florida, but he lives on
+Delaware Bay. I'll phone him at once."
+
+"That's great, Dad!" cried Tom, his face lighting up with renewed hope.
+"Tell him I'll bring him here by plane tomorrow. We can talk things over
+and start for Florida from here."
+
+"He'll go," said Mr. Swift a few minutes later, turning away from the
+telephone with a smile. "Said he'll be tickled to get back in
+harness."
+
+[Illustration: "He'll Go," Said Mr. Swift]
+
+"Thanks a million, Dad! You've saved the day!"
+
+The following morning the boys hurried out to the Swift private airport
+to oversee the fueling of the huge plane Tom had decided to take. At
+first he had thought of making the trip in his small two-seated racer,
+since it was the fastest craft in the hangar. Realizing, however, that
+Captain Britten might want to bring along considerable baggage, the
+young inventor had told Ned he felt it best to go in his flying boat.
+
+[Illustration: They Fueled the Huge Plane]
+
+The "Winged Arrow," in which Tom once had made a memorable rescue flight
+to Iceland, was equipped now with a retractable landing gear as well as
+with pontoons, enabling the craft to descend on both land and water.
+Suddenly Tom became very excited as he looked at the hydroplane.
+
+"Look, Ned!" he cried. "Can you beat that!"
+
+[Illustration: "Look, Ned," Tom Cried]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+IN PERIL
+
+
+Upon inspection, it was found that three half-inch holes had been
+drilled into each pontoon. It was evident that only an enemy of Tom or
+of the Swift Company could have done such a thing.
+
+"Ned, that proves it!" declared the young inventor gloomily.
+
+[Illustration: Three Holes in Each Pontoon]
+
+"Proves what?" Ned asked.
+
+"Can't you see? It all ties in with Mr. Damon's so-called relatives, and
+their knowledge of my formula for a bendable glass. Someone in our shops
+is a traitor--or worse!"
+
+"But what has a damaged hydroplane to do with that?" objected Ned.
+
+"If we had landed on water with these damaged pontoons, we'd have
+drowned most likely," replied Tom. "That would have suited the
+villains who want my formula, and no one would have been the wiser as
+to what caused the accident."
+
+[Illustration: "We'd Have Been Drowned!"]
+
+"Admitting you're right, the thing's a pretty serious mess," said Ned.
+"But of course crooked people will go to long lengths for money, and if
+your formula is a good one, it certainly will bring a lot of money to
+someone or something."
+
+"And that something is going to be the Swift Company!" declared Tom.
+
+[Illustration: "It's a Pretty Serious Mess."]
+
+"Since we can't take off in the hydroplane today," said Ned, "let's go
+back to the office. I suppose it'll require some time to patch up those
+holes."
+
+Tom immediately sent for one of his skilled mechanics, a man whom he
+knew to be trustworthy. He set the fellow to work welding patches over
+the holes. After cautioning his employee to maintain strict silence, he
+and Ned drove away.
+
+[Illustration: He Welded Patches Over the Holes]
+
+"Don't say anything to Dad about this," warned Tom as the two left the
+field. "It would only worry him and could do no good. You and I must
+work out this mess by ourselves."
+
+After dinner that evening Tom went to his private laboratory to check
+the thermostat controlling the temperature of the annealing oven in
+which his batch of new glass was being slowly cooled. Then he spent some
+time at his desk over certain intricate formulas. The room was in
+semi-darkness, lighted only by a shaded reading lamp.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Checked the Thermostat]
+
+"Well, that's that," yawned the young inventor at length, locking up his
+desk. "Guess I'd better put the valuable disk back in the vault before I
+go home," he decided, switching on the ceiling lights and glancing
+toward the corner where Koku had placed the telescope.
+
+With a start he saw that his invention was gone!
+
+[Illustration: His Invention Was Gone]
+
+Quickly examining the instrument, he found that the green disk had been
+jerked roughly from its clamps by someone who evidently had been in
+too great a hurry to bother unscrewing the bolts which had held it in
+place.
+
+"Ho!" suddenly boomed a deep voice. Tom became aware of a commotion
+outside the laboratory. "You no get 'way fum me! How you like 'nother
+knock on top head?"
+
+"Don't hit me again!" whined someone. "I won't try to escape!"
+
+Tom flung open the door and saw his giant servant dragging a man up
+the steps. A feeling of tremendous relief swept over young Swift as he
+discovered his precious green disk in Koku's left hand.
+
+[Illustration: Koku Was Dragging a Man]
+
+"Ha, Master Tom! Catchum bad mans tryin' to sneak through gate! See
+green thing stick out of pocket and grabbum--bringum here. Want me
+hittum again?"
+
+"Please don't let him hurt me, Mr. Swift," snivelled the man. "He hit me
+an awful blow back there."
+
+[Illustration: "Want Me Hittum Again?"]
+
+"You had it coming to you," retorted Tom sternly. "Besides, you're not
+hurt very much. Koku, bring him in here. You certainly did a good piece
+of work when you nabbed this fellow. Take him into the office and we'll
+have a word or two with him before I call the police."
+
+"I ain't talkin'," muttered the man, shifting uncomfortably and looking
+rather uneasily at the giant. "You ain't got nothin' on me. I just found
+that chunk of green glass in the field."
+
+[Illustration: "You Ain't Got Nothin' on Me."]
+
+"Don't lie to me, unless you want to be mussed up some more," said Tom
+grimly, glancing at Koku. "I think I'll just take a look through your
+pockets. Perhaps you found a few other little things when you broke in
+here."
+
+Under the menacing eye of the giant, the man submitted sullenly to the
+search. There was nothing in his clothes to identify him. Apparently he
+had stolen nothing else from the laboratory. He refused to answer any
+questions, however. Tom gave up and summoned the police by telephone.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Searched the Man]
+
+"O Master, here other thing in man's pocket!" exclaimed Koku, after the
+thief had been carted away to jail. "It stuck to round green thing when
+I yank away from um." He handed Tom a bit of pasteboard from which the
+lower third had been torn.
+
+"It's a business card of the Apex Glass Works with the representative's
+name ripped off!" exclaimed young Swift aloud. Then to himself he added,
+"I wonder? Maybe Ned was right after all and they ARE after my formula
+for bendable glass!"
+
+[Illustration: A Business Card]
+
+Tom immediately called the home of Mr. Stern, head of the glass works,
+to whom he related the occurrence. The executive was shocked and very
+indignant at the thought of there being a criminal among his employees
+and promised to investigate thoroughly.
+
+"I hope you don't think I had anything to do with this, Mr. Swift!" the
+man exclaimed.
+
+[Illustration: The Executive Was Shocked]
+
+"Not in the least, sir. But if you turn up any clues, I hope you'll let
+me know."
+
+"I most assuredly will. You may count on my help."
+
+An early hour next day found Tom and Ned flying south over the sandy
+coast of New Jersey. Every inch of the "Winged Arrow" had been
+thoroughly inspected, but no other signs of damage had been discovered.
+Even so, the young business manager sat a bit uneasily in his seat as he
+peered out anxiously at the broad wings.
+
+[Illustration: Tom and Ned Flew South]
+
+"Afraid they'll drop off, old man?" grinned Tom. "Don't worry. We
+X-rayed 'em and no struts have been filed nor any time-bombs planted!"
+
+"Huh, I was just looking at the weather," grunted Ned indignantly. He
+was secretly relieved, for he had been pondering how easily a charge of
+dynamite could have been secreted aboard ship. "How soon do you think
+we'll reach Delaware Bay?"
+
+[Illustration: Ned Was Uneasy]
+
+"Within the next twenty minutes," answered his chum, glancing at the
+instrument board. "Mr. Britten is to meet us at a dock near Lewes."
+
+Less than half an hour later the pontoons of the "Winged Arrow" were
+plowing through the waters of Delaware Bay toward a near-by pier. A
+wharf attendant caught the line Ned threw him and the ship was moored
+securely to a stout post.
+
+As Tom and his companion climbed up, a grizzled-looking old man hailed
+them in a voice that seemed well able to travel from quarterdeck to
+fo'c'sle even in the teeth of a hurricane.
+
+[Illustration: The Plane Plowed Through the Waters]
+
+"Ahoy there!" he bellowed, though scarcely twenty feet away. "Are you
+young Swift and company?"
+
+"Right you are. Captain Britten, I take it?"
+
+Vastly flattered by the title, the red-faced old seaman warmly shook
+hands with the boys. "Correct ye are, me lad. Your good father tells
+me you need a bit o' salvagin' done an' I'm the man as'll do it proper!"
+
+[Illustration: Captain Britten, the Grizzled Old Man]
+
+"Good for you, Captain!" said Tom. "That's exactly what my father said.
+And now, have you your equipment handy? If it's not too heavy we can
+load it aboard the plane right away. Oh, and I want to introduce my good
+friend here, Ned Newton."
+
+[Illustration: "I Want to Introduce My Friend."]
+
+"Glad to meet ye, shipmate! As for my salvagin' outfit, it's aboard
+ship. We'll pick up my old barge, the 'Elizabeth B.,' but I calls her
+the 'Betsy B.,' at Key West, where I keeps her anchored. She's in a
+manner o' speakin' my winter home." Captain Britten picked up a huge,
+battered old suitcase. "If your flyin' machine is ready, so am I!"
+
+The old man was obviously a trifle eccentric, but both boys were warmly
+attracted to him by his sincere and friendly manner. Besides, as Tom
+noted, there was a certain air of competence about him, as if he was
+well able to tackle and solve the hardest of problems in his line.
+
+[Illustration: Captain Britten Carried His Suitcase]
+
+"Let's go, then!" proposed Ned, motioning to the attendant to cast off
+and handing him a coin at the same time.
+
+Listening to a number of quaint seafaring expressions from old Captain
+Britten, who was starting his first voyage into the upper air, Tom sent
+the big craft roaring above the smooth water toward Shopton.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Sent the Big Craft Roaring]
+
+"How do you like flying, Captain Britten?" Ned asked. "Ever been up?"
+
+"Well, I guess it's all right," rumbled the salvaging expert, looking
+down at the sea dubiously. "But to tell you the truth, I'm more at home
+ON the water than OVER it!"
+
+In a short time the nose of the "Winged Arrow" turned inland as Tom set
+his course direct for home. When they were nearing Shopton, the young
+inventor, intending to come down on solid ground, grasped the device
+which lowered the landing wheels. It seemed to work very stiffly, he
+thought, so he leaned over farther to exert more force. Suddenly there
+came a snapping noise.
+
+[Illustration: The Plane Turned Inland]
+
+"What's up, Tom?" called Ned, hearing the noise and seeing his chum
+fumbling with the now useless mechanism.
+
+"Landing gear out of commission. But there's no need to worry as we can
+descend on Lake Carlopa easily with the pontoons."
+
+[Illustration: "Landing Gear out of Commission."]
+
+"By George!" exclaimed Ned Newton, banging his fist on the instrument
+panel. "Ten to one this is the work of the same scoundrel who bored
+holes in the floats. If I could get my hands on--"
+
+"I hope you'll be in a condition to do so," cut in Tom in an oddly
+strained voice. "Take a look at the fuel gauge."
+
+"It--it says zero! But that's impossible. We saw the tanks filled last
+night."
+
+[Illustration: "Look at the Fuel Gauge."]
+
+"Sure, and when we took off this morning the gauge showed they were
+still full. Someone tampered with the pointer of the instrument and all
+but drained the gas containers when they wrecked the landing gear. Just
+now you dislodged the jammed needle when you struck the instrument board
+with your fist."
+
+"Then we're in a pretty bad way, eh, Tom?" asked Captain Britten calmly.
+
+[Illustration: "We're in a Pretty Bad Way?"]
+
+"I'll say," replied young Swift grimly. "We can't hope to reach
+Carlopa and there is nothing beneath us now but thick woodland. No
+question about it. A crack-up is the next thing on the program!"
+
+As he finished speaking, the starboard motor emitted a groaning cough
+and stopped. The port engine might run for another five minutes or it
+might give out within the next five seconds!
+
+[Illustration: The Starboard Engine Stopped]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+TOM DRUGGED!
+
+
+Tom had headed the ship up at a steep angle so as to get as much
+altitude as possible before the other motor should stop. But he knew in
+his heart that he could not hope to glide so heavy a plane as far as the
+lake.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Headed the Ship Up]
+
+In some surprise Ned observed that Captain Britten was fumbling with
+the straps about his big, old-fashioned valise. Young Newton wondered
+what the elderly man was looking for so intensely.
+
+"Ahoy there, Tom Swift!" boomed the old diver, straightening up with a
+bottle in his hand. "I've got a drop o' gasoline here that may help ye!"
+
+[Illustration: "I've Got a Drop of Gasoline."]
+
+"What's that?" gasped the pilot. Turning, he saw the quart bottle.
+Already the remaining engine was dying of thirst. "Quick, Ned!" he
+ordered, snatching the container. "Take the controls and hold the ship
+level."
+
+Five seconds later the inventor was creeping out along one wing toward
+the intake valve of the port gas tank. Their hearts almost in their
+mouths, his companions watched his hazardous progress. In spite of the
+clutching hand of the wind and the quavering of the ship under Ned's
+inexpert guidance, Tom managed to reach his goal.
+
+[Illustration: He Crept Along One Wing]
+
+Removing the cap with no little difficulty, he dumped the precious
+drops of gasoline into the tank. In a few moments he got back to the
+cabin. As he closed the door the laboring engine once more resumed its
+full-throated roar.
+
+"Lad, you've got what it takes!" rumbled Captain Britten, shaking Tom's
+hand approvingly. "You're a mighty brave young fellow!"
+
+"You mean YOU had what it takes," laughed the inventor, taking over the
+controls preparatory to landing on Carlopa. "Without that extra bit of
+gas we'd be piled up in a tree by now!"
+
+[Illustration: He Emptied the Precious Drops]
+
+The quart of fuel was just sufficient to carry the ship safely down to
+the lake's surface at a point about three miles from the town.
+Fortunately one of Tom's friends was sailing near-by in his cat-boat and
+gladly offered to take the three over to the Swift dock, which jutted
+out from the grounds behind Tom's home.
+
+It was mid-afternoon before the "Winged Arrow" was towed across to the
+dock and her tanks refilled with high-test gasoline. While this was
+being done, Tom and Ned went to the home of Mr. Damon to ask if he would
+like to accompany them to the West Indies.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Saw a Friend]
+
+The man was found to be sitting in an easy chair on his front porch,
+where he spent much time, now that he was home from the hospital.
+
+[Illustration: They Went to See Mr. Damon]
+
+"Bless my parachute, I'd like nothing better than to make the trip!" he
+said a trifle wistfully. "To tell you the truth, though," his voice
+sank to a whisper, "between the doctors and Mrs. Damon I'll be lucky if
+I'm allowed to walk around the block alone for some time to come!"
+
+"Well, that's too bad, Mr. Damon. We were counting on you."
+
+[Illustration: "We Were Counting on You."]
+
+"Bless my fishing tackle, Tom, I'm sorry too. But tell me! How did
+Captain Britten happen to be carrying a quart of gasoline in his
+satchel?" asked the eccentric gentleman after he had been told of the
+airplane's narrow escape.
+
+"I thought it strange myself," said Tom, "but he claimed he always
+carries some with him to remove grease spots from his clothes."
+
+"Ha! He must be quite a character. I suppose aboard a salvage boat folks
+get their clothes pretty dirty, at that."
+
+After the boys returned home it was decided that they and Mr. Britten
+would set out for Florida the next morning. In the meantime, the
+elderly diver telegraphed his caretaker to get the "Betsy B." in order
+and arrange to hire a tug-boat.
+
+[Illustration: They Planned to Start the Next Day]
+
+Late in the afternoon Tom called his chum on the phone. "Can you spare
+me a few minutes?" he asked. "Think I'm going to have something
+interesting to show you."
+
+"Be right over," replied Ned. "Where are you?"
+
+"In the lab."
+
+A few minutes later young Newton had joined his friend. "What's up?"
+he asked Tom as he entered.
+
+[Illustration: "What's up?" Asked Ned]
+
+Tom had discovered that his bendable glass mixture had cooled to a
+critical temperature, making it necessary to remove it from the furnace
+at once lest it be ruined. In a small secret chamber beneath his private
+laboratory he had set up a sort of miniature glass works which would
+have astonished any ordinary glass worker, for the young inventor had
+devised an entirely new method of procedure. As to its outcome, well,
+even to its inventor that feature remained in doubt.
+
+[Illustration: A Miniature Glass Works]
+
+"Do you think it'll work, Tom?" asked Ned Newton anxiously as he
+followed the youthful scientist down the stairs. "Your experiments have
+cost a mint of money already--"
+
+"Don't croak," chuckled Tom. "I've a few pennies left, haven't I?"
+
+"You won't have so very many after you finish with your new telescope
+idea," declared Ned grimly. "And THAT certainly won't bring in any
+dividends."
+
+[Illustration: Ned Followed Tom]
+
+"Nor is it intended to," said Tom a bit sharply. "There is, you know,
+such a thing as pursuing knowledge for its own sake."
+
+"I'm sorry. You ought to know, though, that I'm thinking only of your
+interests, not of mine," he said as they reached the room below.
+
+"Forgive me, old man!" Tom clapped Ned warmly on the back. "Don't feel
+for a minute that I don't appreciate everything you've done for me. To
+tell you the truth, I'm as worried about this new glass as you are.
+That's why I jumped on you. Let's forget it!"
+
+[Illustration: "Forgive Me, Old Man!"]
+
+"Right!"
+
+The two were standing now before the cylindrical furnace containing the
+mixture of silicates and other ingredients from which Tom Swift hoped
+would emerge a glass as flexible as rubber and as strong as steel. The
+thermometer on the front stood at twenty-one degrees Centigrade.
+
+[Illustration: They Looked at the Thermometer]
+
+"She's just right," muttered the inventor, consulting a complicated
+chart hanging on the wall. "Now we'll see!"
+
+The asbestos-coated door clanged open. Tom drew out a shallow tray, the
+contents of which were buried in a black powder.
+
+"Charcoal!" he explained, setting the pan on a table. "It prevents any
+rapid temperature change. Even common glass must be cooled slowly or it
+becomes as brittle as peanut candy."
+
+[Illustration: Tom Drew out a Shallow Tray]
+
+With the aid of a wooden rod Tom pulled out a glass bar about ten
+inches long and an inch thick. After picking it up carefully he examined
+it closely. In no way did the object appear different from ordinary
+glass.
+
+"Well, here goes!" said the inventor and forthwith bent the bar into the
+shape of a horseshoe!
+
+"Hurrah!" yelled Ned, clapping his friend on the back. "You've done it
+again, Tom Swift!"
+
+[Illustration: He Bent the Glass]
+
+"Don't crow too soon. Perhaps it won't bend back again. If a rod of
+copper is annealed in a certain way it can be bent ONCE like rubber but
+then the crystal breaks up and it becomes as rigid as ever. Maybe this
+glass will act the same way."
+
+"Then try it! Don't keep me in suspense!"
+
+Perhaps Tom had been tantalizing his business manager, or maybe he
+really was doubtful about the flexibility of the bar. At any rate, when
+he applied pressure he did not seem surprised when the glass became
+straight again. Then he proceeded actually to tie a knot in it, so
+bendable was the new substance!
+
+[Illustration: The Glass Became Straight Again]
+
+"This will revolutionize the glass industry!" declared Ned, noting that
+even the blows of a heavy sledge-hammer failed even so much as to crack
+the rod.
+
+"It's not half as wonderful as that other kind of glass," said Tom,
+dreamily.
+
+"Your glass eye, d'you mean?" chuckled Ned in high good humor. In his
+mind he could already see fat profits for the company.
+
+[Illustration: A Heavy Hammer Did Not Crack It]
+
+"I'll give you a pair of black eyes if you make another bad joke!"
+laughed Tom, giving his chum a playful push. "But seriously, I'm mighty
+well pleased with this stuff; it turned out better than I dared hope.
+You know, I got the idea for bendable glass while I was trying to figure
+out a way to make a huge telescope mirror. That was before we found the
+meteorite."
+
+"And I suppose you'll go back to the glass mirror if you can't find
+the big stone so you can make the large green disk."
+
+[Illustration: "I'm Well Pleased With This."]
+
+"Yes, that's what I'll have to do if the salvage attempt fails. But I'm
+sure we'll succeed."
+
+Captain Britten had been given a room at the Swift home. When the boys
+got there they found their guest and Tom's father deep in a game of
+chess.
+
+[Illustration: The Two Men Were Playing Chess]
+
+"Well, son," laughed Mr. Swift, "I've met my match at last. John Britten
+has beaten me three straight games! But don't tell Damon about it!"
+
+"I won't, Dad," grinned Tom. "What do you think of this?" He handed his
+father the bar of bendable glass.
+
+"What do I think of it? Why, it looks like a glass rod, that's all I can
+see."
+
+"Then watch!" Tom took the bar and deftly twisted it into the shape of a
+fat pretzel.
+
+"You've done it, son!" cried Mr. Swift. "And to think I told you such
+a thing was impossible! Congratulations!"
+
+[Illustration: "What Do You Think of This?"]
+
+At dinner that evening the conversation turned mainly to the projected
+flight to the West Indies. It was decided to start the next day at
+sunrise, as Captain Britten had received word from Florida that his
+barge had been made ready. A tug was getting up steam to haul it to the
+Cuban coast.
+
+[Illustration: "Congratulations!" Cried Mr. Swift]
+
+"Mr. Damon can't go with us, Dad," said Tom. "His wife won't let him! By
+the way," he added with a laugh, "she was looking up the names of all
+his relatives--Mr. Damon said she was glad of the excuse to do so!--but
+she could find none named Jones or Brown. So that definitely proves
+those two fellows were fakes and that they merely pretended relationship
+in order to pump him about my work."
+
+After supper Ned went to his home to pack a suitcase, for he was to
+spend the night at the Swifts' to be on hand for the early start that
+was being planned. Tom spent the evening in his office studying the
+latest available data on diving operations, and plotting the route over
+which the party would travel to the coast of Cuba.
+
+[Illustration: Ned Packed His Suitcase]
+
+Immersed in his work, he at first paid but little attention to a
+peculiar odor that gradually was pervading the atmosphere.
+
+Suddenly he realized that something was wrong; a strange buzzing filled
+his ears and the lights seemed to be growing dim. He started to get
+up, but instead fell across his desk.
+
+[Illustration: Something Was Wrong]
+
+As Tom lay there motionless, a window opened noiselessly. Stealthily a
+masked figure climbed in. After a hasty glance around the room, the
+intruder hastened to the desk and leaned over the unconscious youth.
+
+[Illustration: A Masked Figure Entered]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+DEEP SEA DIVING
+
+
+Swiftly the masked man took a bunch of keys from Tom's pocket. With a
+directness that indicated familiarity with the place, he went straight
+to the rug covering the entrance to the secret vault. Throwing this
+aside, he unlocked the trap door and quietly raised it. The
+combination lock, which gave warning if tampered with, had not been set
+for the night.
+
+[Illustration: He Unlocked the Trap Door]
+
+Now the intruder very carefully draped the rug over the door in such a
+way that it would spread itself as before when the trap should be closed
+from below. Two minutes later Tom was alone in the office, which
+appeared exactly as it had before he was rendered unconscious. Yet there
+crouched in the vault a hidden spy whose purpose was as sinister as his
+appearance.
+
+[Illustration: He Draped the Rug Over the Door]
+
+"Mist' Swift, Massa Tom ain' come back fum de office yit," announced Rad
+Sampson as he placed the elderly inventor's nightly glass of hot milk on
+the library table. "I wuz jest up t' his room to ax him suffin' an' he
+wuzn't dar."
+
+"Well, I guess the boy is working a bit late tonight. But you sound a
+trifle anxious, Eradicate. Do you think anything is wrong?"
+
+"Uh--Oh, no suh. No suh," mumbled the old Negro. "I jest wondered ef
+yo'd seen him. Good night, suh! Good night!"
+
+[Illustration: "Massa Tom Ain' Back Fum de Office."]
+
+"Good night, Rad."
+
+"Mustn't worry ole Mist' Swift," the servant muttered to himself as he
+shuffled back to the kitchen. "But Massa Tom tole me hisself he gwine t'
+baid early 'cause he gotta git up befo' sunrise.
+
+"Look hyah, Koku," he went on when he got to the kitchen. "Quit stuffin'
+dat 'ar pie an' go out an' see ef Massa Tom all right. He ought t' have
+bin in de house long sence. I'se skeered mebbe some villains mought've
+cotched him!"
+
+[Illustration: "See Ef Massa Tom All Right."]
+
+"Whoo!" growled the giant, jumping up so quickly that his big,
+specially-built chair crashed over. "Where um war-club? Me fixum!"
+
+"Doan make sich a racket, yo' big lummox! Yo' want to skeer ol' Mist'
+Swift? Heah, take mah rollin'-pin."
+
+Clutching the rolling pin as a "war-club," Koku started through the
+darkness toward Tom's private laboratory. Following him at a discreet
+distance came old Rad Sampson, who had armed himself with a big
+butcher knife.
+
+[Illustration: Rad Followed]
+
+"Dar's a light in de office, big boy," whispered the Negro. "Be keerful,
+now!"
+
+The giant merely grunted, crept up to the window and peered within. His
+great height enabled him to do so easily. "Come," he said finally,
+turning toward the door. "We go in."
+
+"Whut de matter?" demanded Eradicate, struggling to keep up with his
+companion. "Am suffin' wrong? Mah goodness!" he cried a moment later
+in the office. "Po' Massa Tom done been killed! Look at him a-layin'
+dere!"
+
+[Illustration: The Giant Peered in the Window]
+
+"Him no dead!" rumbled Koku, leaning over his master. "Him heart still
+beatum. Him need fresh air." Gently he picked Tom up and carried him
+outside.
+
+"I'll git a doctah!" exclaimed the old colored man. "Dey's a phone in
+heah."
+
+[Illustration: "Him No Dead!" Rumbled Koku]
+
+Before the physician could be reached, the beneficial effects of the
+cool night air had brought the young inventor back to consciousness. At
+first he could not recall what had happened and was not a little
+astonished to find himself lying on the grass.
+
+"What in the world is the matter, Koku?" he demanded, pressing his hand
+to his aching head. "What am I doing out here?"
+
+"Master out, get knockum," said the giant. "We find you on desk. Rad
+callum medicine man now."
+
+[Illustration: "What Am I Doing Here?"]
+
+"A doctor? No, I'm all right. Tell him to cancel the call." Tom
+managed to struggle to his feet. "I remember now! Some kind of gas must
+have been used on me. But I must see to the office. Maybe I've been
+robbed."
+
+Leaning heavily on the giant's arm, Tom walked as fast as he could into
+the laboratory. At first glance everything seemed to be in order, and to
+his relief he found the vault was locked.
+
+[Illustration: The Vault Was Locked]
+
+The young inventor did not know that a key was missing from his ring,
+nor, as he twirled the dial of the combination-lock, did he realize that
+a slender lever had been severed from below, thus rendering useless the
+intricate mechanism.
+
+"Who done dis to you', Massa Tom?" asked Rad.
+
+"Wish I knew. Anyhow, there's been no damage done except to me! My
+head's splitting, so I must get to bed. Koku, stay on guard here from
+now on until I return from Cuba. And get several of the men to relieve
+you. Another thing: I don't want either of you to mention this affair to
+anyone. Dad would hear about it and worry."
+
+[Illustration: "Koku, Stay on Guard Here."]
+
+"If I catchum fella I breakum in little bits!" cried Koku fiercely. He
+shook the rolling-pin vigorously. "Better him stay 'way fum me!"
+
+Tom awoke the next morning little the worse for his experience. Thanks
+to a rugged constitution, he had been able to throw off the ill effects
+of the poisonous fumes which had overcome him.
+
+[Illustration: "Better Him Stay 'Way Fum Me!"]
+
+"I can't make it out, Ned," he said as the boys stood watching the
+mechanics warm up the engines of the big seaplane. "Nothing is missing.
+Whoever did the job didn't even rob me, and I had a good deal of cash in
+my wallet."
+
+"Maybe nobody made an attempt on you or your property at all, Tom," Ned
+remarked slowly.
+
+"What d'you mean? I certainly was knocked out!"
+
+"Oh, I know that. But couldn't some sort of gas have seeped into your
+office from your adjoining laboratory? A bottle of acid might have
+cracked, or--"
+
+[Illustration: The Mechanics Warmed up the Engines]
+
+"Nothing like that happened. I'm positive, because the same thought
+struck me. I made a careful inspection this morning. Everything was in
+perfect order."
+
+"It certainly is strange," said Ned. "It looks as if some enemy is
+camping on your trail, Tom!"
+
+"He'll have a hard time picking up that same trail in a few minutes,"
+chuckled the inventor. "Here come Captain Britten and Dad. I guess we
+can take off soon."
+
+[Illustration: "A Bottle of Acid Might Have Cracked."]
+
+"So your sea-goin' air-yacht is ready to cast off, is she?" asked the
+old diver. "Well, when ye haul in the gangplank, so to speak, I'll be
+aboard!"
+
+"Take care of yourself, son," said Barton Swift, shaking Tom's hand. "I
+hope you will be successful in your attempt."
+
+"Good-bye, Dad. And thanks."
+
+"Doan git et up by no sharks or allygators!" cautioned Rad.
+
+[Illustration: "Take Care of Yourself, Son."]
+
+The mechanics had finished their work and were seen climbing down from
+the fuselage. The passengers took their places in the roomy cabin while
+Tom seated himself behind the controls.
+
+After running a critical eye over the score of instruments he reached
+for the throttle and clutched the wheel tighter. The intermittent
+coughing of the powerful motors changed to a deafening roar, and the
+huge ship lumbered off down the long field, gathering speed every
+second.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Sat Behind the Controls]
+
+"We're off!" cried Ned, waving at the already distant figures left
+behind.
+
+"And we'll bring home the meteorite!" muttered Tom to himself as the
+"Winged Arrow" glided smoothly toward the clouds lining the southern
+horizon. "For I'm going to make the most wonderful telescope the world
+has ever known!"
+
+[Illustration: "We're off!" Cried Ned]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+TRAPPED BY A SEA MONSTER
+
+
+"This is travelin' in style, all right," approvingly remarked Captain
+Britten, looking about the comfortably appointed cabin and sniffing the
+appetizing odor of lamb chops on the electric grill. When necessary, Ned
+Newton could cook an impromptu meal. He really was rather proud of his
+ability.
+
+[Illustration: Ned Cooked Some Lamb Chops]
+
+As the amateur chef placed the meal on a small, collapsible table, Tom
+announced that they were now flying over the state of Georgia. "We
+should reach Key West about three P.M.," he said.
+
+The ship droned steadily onward. At two o'clock in the afternoon they
+were passing near a large city. "Miami," declared Ned, who had been
+poring over a chart. "Airplanes go to many parts of South America from
+there."
+
+[Illustration: "Miami," Declared Ned]
+
+Tom sent the "Winged Arrow" lower and lower. Finally he leveled off at
+an altitude of about five hundred feet above the blue sea. Here the full
+force of the fierce subtropical sun began to make itself felt.
+
+The travelers, fresh from the comparatively cool northern summer, made
+haste to open all the air vents in the plane. Then they changed into
+white linen suits.
+
+[Illustration: They Changed into Linen Suits]
+
+"Whew!" exclaimed Tom, mopping his brow. "I've traveled in the jungles
+of Africa but have never felt hotter!"
+
+"Ah, it's the ship, my boy. You see, the dark metal hull fairly soaks up
+the sun, an' that's why we're a bit uncomfortable," said Captain
+Britten. "Once we land, you'll think the climate fine!"
+
+Shortly afterward they flew over a grim-looking American battleship. It
+greeted them with a hoarse blast of her whistle as the flying boat shot
+by at the rate of two hundred miles an hour. On either side tiny
+islands, or cays, appeared, then vanished as if by magic. Finally a blue
+blur straight ahead began to loom even larger, and in a few minutes the
+"Winged Arrow" landed in the harbor of Key West.
+
+[Illustration: They Flew Over a Battleship]
+
+"Half-past three," said Tom, glancing at the clock on the instrument
+panel. "A slow passage."
+
+"Fast as I'd want to make it," declared Captain Britten. "A steamer'd
+have taken a good many hours where we needed only minutes. There's the
+old 'Betsy B.' tied to her pier, so let's get over to her!"
+
+[Illustration: In the Harbor at Key West]
+
+The idling engines were speeded up and the flying boat moved slowly
+across the harbor. A tug with smoke curling from her single thick funnel
+lay near the broad-beamed barge.
+
+[Illustration: A Tug Lay Near the Barge]
+
+Over the stern of the latter several grinning Negroes leaned. Their
+ancestors might have been stricken dumb at sight of the great sky craft
+tying up to their ship, but these darkies were familiar with daily
+passage of planes bound for South America and showed but little
+astonishment. In a liquid Spanish-English patois they bade the whites
+welcome. All of them were old retainers of Captain Britten.
+
+As the elderly man had said, the old barge had served as winter quarters
+for him during the past years. In consequence, he had had her little
+cabins fitted up more luxuriously than is customary on such vessels.
+Tom and Ned were given one far more comfortable than they had expected.
+
+[Illustration: The Cabins Were Comfortable]
+
+The rest of the afternoon was taken up with inspection of the ship, the
+arrangements for the safe-keeping of the "Winged Arrow," and the laying
+of plans. Immediately after the hydroplane had been moored to a small
+pier owned by Captain Britten, the tug-boat chugged out into the Gulf of
+Mexico at the rate of ten knots.
+
+[Illustration: The Tug Chugged out into the Gulf]
+
+"I'd say we should reach the spot some time tomorrow afternoon," said
+Tom after studying the chart. "It's just under two hundred miles."
+
+"And we'll get your meteorite for you!" predicted the old salvage man
+confidently. "Lucky the captain of that freighter 'Perry' took a bearing
+on the lighthouse at Port Baracoa; otherwise it would be like lookin'
+for a boll weevil in a bale o' cotton!"
+
+[Illustration: Tom Studied the Charts]
+
+Ruiz, the coal-black cook, served a good supper at sundown. Shortly
+afterward the boys went to their bunks, for both were tired after the
+long flight. Then too, Tom was still feeling the effects of the gas
+inhaled the previous night.
+
+Next morning found the "Betsy B." wallowing through a smooth sea a few
+miles off the east coast of Cuba. Under the supervision of Captain
+Britten, several of the crew were busy oiling the huge winch,
+overhauling steel cables, and seeing to a dozen other minor but
+important details. Altogether, it was a busy scene that met the eyes
+of Tom and Ned when they emerged on deck.
+
+[Illustration: The Crew Was Busy]
+
+"Your father was right, I think," said Ned. "You certainly have a
+competent man. See how the crew jump at his word!"
+
+"I agree," said Tom with satisfaction. "But me for breakfast! This sea
+air surely gives a fellow a good appetite."
+
+A head wind coupled with a rising sea combined to hold back the tug and
+her rather clumsy tow as the day waned. Occasional heavy rain squalls
+made the deck of the barge a rather uncomfortable place, so the boys
+stayed in the main cabin and discussed plans.
+
+[Illustration: Head Winds Held Back the Tug]
+
+"I think the rainy season must be at its height," groaned Ned at last as
+he and Tom sat sweltering. "Maybe we'll be cooped up here for the whole
+voyage."
+
+[Illustration: Rain Kept the Boys in Their Cabins]
+
+"Not me," declared the young inventor with a laugh. "Since when have you
+grown afraid of a little rain? By afternoon we ought to be near the
+spot where Captain Mawson jettisoned the meteorite and then we'll begin
+to get busy, weather or no weather!"
+
+"I hope the thing will be worth all our trouble," said Ned a bit
+crossly. "Perhaps we won't even be able to find it. What then?"
+
+"You're just suffering from a touch of 'mal de mer'!" teased Tom,
+refusing to consider his chum's gloomy remarks.
+
+"I'm not a bit seasick!" protested Ned indignantly. "I just think
+we're on a wild goose chase, that's all!"
+
+[Illustration: "I'm Not Seasick," Protested Ned]
+
+"Wait and see."
+
+Evening drew nigh, and the sudden tropical night fell. On the Cuban
+coast lights went on, dominated by the intermittent glare of a powerful
+beacon many miles ahead.
+
+"Baracoa Light," announced Captain Britten, seeing this. "We will lay
+off-shore till morning and begin our work tomorrow."
+
+[Illustration: The Captain Pointed to the Beacon]
+
+It spoke well for Tom Swift's nerves that he slept soundly, despite
+his great interest in the morrow's activities. During the night the sea
+abated and the rain ceased. Dawn broke with a brilliance to be seen only
+in tropical lands.
+
+In order to reach the spot in the sea beneath which the meteorite lay,
+it was necessary to get the barge into a position corresponding to the
+apex of an isosceles triangle in relation to the lighthouse tower and
+the peak of a small hill near by.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Made Some Observations]
+
+Captain Britten and Tom, sextants in hand, made repeated observations.
+Ned stood by the telephone connecting the tug and her tow, transmitting
+to the former's captain the navigation directions. Finally the barge was
+supposed to be exactly where the freighter had thrown overboard the big
+stone.
+
+"We may have to look around a little, though," remarked Tom as Captain
+Britten ordered the tug halted and anchors lowered. "In the big storm
+Captain Mawson might have made a mistake in his reckoning."
+
+[Illustration: The Chart Showed the Depth of the Water]
+
+The water was about three hundred feet deep here, the Hydrographic
+Office charts showed. When Ned learned this, he looked serious.
+
+"The record depth attained by a diver is only 204 feet!" he exclaimed.
+"At least, that's what I read in an encyclopedia."
+
+"Guess you're referring to James Hooper, who reached that depth off the
+South American coast some years ago," smiled Tom Swift. "But since
+then diving-dress has undergone considerable improvement, eh, Captain
+Britten?"
+
+[Illustration: A Boom Was Swung Overside]
+
+"That's right. I have on board several of the newest type suits.
+Besides, I use native divers, men who, even without protection, can
+descend to almost unbelievable distances."
+
+Quickly a boom was swung out overside. From it hung several pulleys to
+which was attached a narrow steel platform. Presently three tall
+Negroes carried out of the storeroom grotesque-looking diving suits
+which weighed over two hundred and fifty pounds apiece.
+
+[Illustration: He Shuffled Across the Deck]
+
+Captain Britten spoke in Spanish to one of them, then the fellow began
+putting on the weird uniform. It made him look like a visitor from
+another world. The tremendous weight of his garb prevented him from
+moving at more than a slow shuffle across the deck, strong though he
+was.
+
+[Illustration: A Trail of Bubbles]
+
+A section of the railing had been removed to allow access to the
+dangling metal platform upon which the diver stepped. The boom swung out
+and the drum of the winch began unrolling. In a few seconds only a trail
+of vanishing bubbles marked the spot where the Negro had gone into the
+sea.
+
+"How long will it take him to reach bottom?" asked Ned, peering overside
+in fascination.
+
+"About forty minutes," replied Captain Britten. "A diver must be
+lowered and raised gradually in order to avoid the terrible
+after-effects of a sudden change in pressure. At three hundred feet the
+pressure is more than eighteen thousand pounds per square foot!"
+
+[Illustration: Tom Held His Watch to His Ear]
+
+Time dragged on. Down, down rolled the heavy cable supporting the diver.
+Finally Tom held his watch to his ear, as though he were afraid it might
+have stopped.
+
+"Oh, it's still running," laughed Ned a little nervously as he observed
+his chum's action. "Only five more minutes, Tom!"
+
+[Illustration: He Reported a Good Sandy Bottom]
+
+At last a bell tinkled and Captain Britten grabbed up the telephone
+instrument which connected barge and diver. For a few seconds he
+listened, then replied briefly in Spanish.
+
+"Alvarez is down," he said to Tom as he hung up the receiver. "He
+reports a good, sandy bottom but no sight yet of the meteorite. At any
+rate, there's no danger of it having sunk in an oozy bottom."
+
+Ten minutes later the phone buzzed again, this time with a request
+that the ship be moved a little east and that Manuel, Alvarez's mate, be
+sent down to help. This was done, and another telephone instrument was
+plugged in.
+
+[Illustration: Manuel Was to Go Down]
+
+Tom, who understood a little Spanish, stood by to hear the report of the
+second diver. Both lines were now kept open continuously.
+
+Finally Manuel reached bottom, saying that he had contacted Alvarez. For
+some minutes nothing came through either telephone but the sound of
+the submerged men's breathing.
+
+[Illustration: Something Has Gone Wrong!]
+
+"I see something, Seņor! A rock--'que grande'!" came to Tom's ears
+suddenly. "It must indeed be that which the Seņor seeks. But, Santa
+Maria! there is something else--!" Manuel's voice broke off suddenly.
+
+"Captain Britten! Can you hear your man?" shouted Tom after his repeated
+attempts to renew, the connection had failed.
+
+"No! I can hear only a muffled groaning. Something has gone wrong.
+That's sure!"
+
+[Illustration: "Stop, Seņor!" Screamed the Engineer]
+
+"Pull 'em up quick, then!" advised Ned.
+
+This seemed good advice, so the auxiliary engine was started and the
+winches began turning slowly.
+
+"Stop, Seņor!" suddenly screamed the native engineer, waving his arms
+excitedly and cutting off the steam. "The drums turn--si--but the cables
+do not rise. Something has caught the men!"
+
+[Illustration: Loose the Winches]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+A ROBBER
+
+
+"Loose the winches a little!" ordered Captain Britten sharply. "The
+air-hoses are strained almost to the breaking point."
+
+"Si," mumbled the engineer, easing off the brake a trifle.
+
+"What's the trouble, in your opinion, Captain?" asked Tom.
+
+[Illustration: The Engineer Eased the Brake]
+
+"Hard to say, young fellow," came the worried reply. "What I'm afraid of
+is that a huge octopus or some such monster has attacked the poor
+divers. Whatever it is, I fear it's the end for 'em, as there's not
+another diver aboard and we can't haul the men up for fear of breakin'
+their air-lines."
+
+"Have you another diving suit?" asked Tom rapidly. "I've had
+considerable experience in undersea work and can't let those boys drown
+without trying to help 'em!"
+
+[Illustration: "I'm Afraid It Is an Octopus!"]
+
+"Can you do it, lad? Yes, I've a brand-new outfit aboard that's of the
+latest type. But what'll I say to your father if anything happens to
+you?"
+
+"Dad wouldn't want me to stand back at a time like this," rejoined the
+young inventor. "I sent these men down and it's up to me to see they get
+back safely!"
+
+"But, Tom!" cried Ned. "What of the octopus? You may be trapped too, and
+not save Manuel and Alvarez either!"
+
+[Illustration: "It's up to Me!"]
+
+"You forget, or maybe you didn't know, that I brought my electric rifle
+with me. That'll polish off any devil-fish I'm likely to meet!"
+
+"Well, at least let me go too!"
+
+"Isn't but one suit," said Captain Britten. "Now, Tom Swift, if you're
+ready, here's the suit."
+
+"All set," said the young inventor calmly. He began to remove his outer
+clothing. "Ned, please bring up my rifle."
+
+By the time the young scientist had been helped into the massively
+armored suit, Ned was back on deck carrying a peculiar-looking gun.
+Unlike other weapons, this one could discharge a bolt of electricity
+which would slay the largest animal or merely tickle a baby, according
+to the adjustment. Tom set it to its highest power.
+
+[Illustration: They Helped Tom into the Suit]
+
+"Good luck!" cried Ned as the heavy helmet was lowered into place.
+
+Tom attempted to wave in reply but the gear was too weighty. Later, when
+he got into the depths, the buoyant effect of the water would enable
+him to move more freely.
+
+[Illustration: Ned Carried a Peculiar Gun]
+
+Clutching his gun in his armored hand, Tom crept slowly on to the
+platform suspended over the sea. As it was lowered to the water he got a
+last glimpse of Ned Newton's face staring down at him.
+
+The young business manager paced the deck of the barge, at every step
+reproaching himself for allowing his chum to undertake so hazardous a
+venture. As his watch told him that Tom must be nearing the bottom he
+seated himself by the switchboard, headphones clamped over his ears.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Crept Slowly to the Platform]
+
+"Ground floor," announced Tom at last. "Pretty dark down here. I'll
+switch on my flash. Now--by George!"
+
+Ned heard a muffled silence.
+
+"Tom! Tom!" he shouted frantically. "What's happened? Are you all
+right?"
+
+For nearly ten minutes Ned crouched by the instrument trying to get in
+touch with his friend. Just as he was giving up hope he heard a weak
+voice gasp:
+
+[Illustration: "Ground Floor," Announced Tom]
+
+"Not so loud, old man! You've nearly broken my ear-drums. Everything's
+under control!"
+
+"Hurray!" shouted Ned. "He's found 'em, Captain Britten!"
+
+"Easy!" protested Tom from the depths. "Don't shout like that so near
+the phone! Yes, the men are O.K. A big fish had 'em--don't know what it
+was, as I never heard of anything like it. But a couple of shots from
+the rifle killed it."
+
+[Illustration: "A Big Fish Had 'Em!"]
+
+"Tell Captain Britten to send down some heavy chains. We've found the
+meteorite!"
+
+The now jubilant crew, who had feared their companions lost, scurried
+about. In a few minutes the stout chain was snaking its way down through
+the blue-green ocean.
+
+"Seems to me they're taking a mighty long time about it," said Ned to
+Captain Britten after an hour had passed with no word from the three
+divers.
+
+[Illustration: A Chain Snaked Its Way Down]
+
+"You're right," agreed the other. "Working at that depth it's decidedly
+unsafe to stay below so long. I'll warn Tom."
+
+"Can't be done!" was that young man's decisive answer to the old salvage
+expert's warning. "This is a tougher job than I thought, for the bottom
+of the stone seems to be sinking slowly. If we can't finish our job now
+I'm afraid we'll lose our prize. But don't worry. We ought to be through
+in another twenty minutes."
+
+[Illustration: "This Is a Tough Job."]
+
+The twenty minutes passed, and another like period was nearly run
+through before Tom announced himself and the other two ready to come to
+the surface.
+
+To avoid the dreaded "bends," an affliction suffered by divers drawn to
+the surface too rapidly, they made their ascent as slowly as their
+descent. Thus it was that the great meteorite reached the top long
+before Tom and the two natives did.
+
+[Illustration: They Made Their Ascent Slowly]
+
+"What in the name o' tarnation did he want with that?" demanded
+Captain Britten as the giant stone was lowered cautiously to the deck.
+Weighing many tons, it had tilted the barge far over to one side as the
+powerful derrick drew it up. "It looks like some old rock a man might
+pick up 'most any place."
+
+"Oh, Tom Swift usually has a good reason for everything he does," smiled
+Ned noncommittally. "I'm no scientist, but he is, so perhaps he wants to
+experiment with this stone from another planet."
+
+[Illustration: The Powerful Derrick Drew It Up]
+
+At last the three divers reached the surface and were hauled rapidly
+up to the deck of the barge. All of them appeared exhausted, but Tom's
+eyes expressed the greatest satisfaction when he saw the meteorite
+safely aboard.
+
+At his request the tug was put under way and the "Betsy B." started back
+to her home port in Key West. During the trip Tom managed to cut from
+the meteorite a fifty-pound chunk.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Cut off a Large Chunk]
+
+"I'm very eager to see if this stone contains more X," he explained to
+Ned, "so I'm planning to fly straight home with this sample to analyze
+it. I want you to put the rest of the meteorite on a fast freight train
+and travel north with it."
+
+The sun was setting when the dock at Key West was reached. Tom waited no
+longer than was necessary to take on a supply of gasoline for the
+"Winged Arrow." He paid Captain Britten a generous fee and added a bonus
+for the divers who had helped him. Then with a hasty good-bye the
+excited young inventor roared off in the gathering darkness toward his
+distant home.
+
+[Illustration: He Paid Captain Britten]
+
+After an uneventful flight he reached Shopton at about half-past one the
+following morning. The wheels of the plane had barely stopped turning
+when the tall figure of Koku came rushing out of the shadows of the
+hangar to greet his master.
+
+[Illustration: Koku Came Rushing Out]
+
+"You're right on the job!" exclaimed Tom, climbing stiffly from the
+cabin. "How is everything?"
+
+"All thing good!" declared the giant, grinning to see the young inventor
+back. "Catchum skystone?"
+
+"We caught it, all right. You might tote this sample of it over to the
+lab." Tom handed his servant the segment he had chiseled from the main
+mass.
+
+"Master knows 'bout secret cave under lab'tory?" questioned the giant as
+the two walked across the field in the moonlight.
+
+[Illustration: "Tote This Sample to the Lab."]
+
+"Cave? Oh, you mean the vault?" asked Tom, who had been thinking of
+other matters.
+
+"Night you go 'way in sky-bird, Koku watch. Koku hear bell go
+ting-ting-ting!"
+
+Suddenly Tom was paying strict attention.
+
+"Great Scott! D'you mean to say someone broke into my Chest of Secrets?
+Tell me about it quickly!"
+
+[Illustration: Tom Paid Strict Attention]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+SUCCESS
+
+
+"Me tell!" said Koku. "Hear bell, know bad mans hide in cave. I creep up
+an' watch!" His dramatic pause might have seemed funny at any other time
+but Tom was badly worried.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Swift Was Worried]
+
+"Hurry up!" commanded the young inventor sharply, grabbing the giant's
+arm. "What happened?"
+
+"Nothing happen US," answered Koku. "Plenty happen HIM! I catchum fella,
+crawl up fum cave, knockum out, callum policemans."
+
+"Good boy! You rate a new suit for that. You can tell the tailor to make
+it as loud as you like!"
+
+Nothing could have pleased the simple giant more, for he loved to dress
+up in gaudy clothes, a trait left over from his savage life before the
+young inventor had brought him to America.
+
+[Illustration: "I Catchum Fella!"]
+
+Too excited to sleep, Tom Swift went straight to his office and called
+the police station. The desk sergeant verified what Koku had said and
+asked the young scientist to come down and prefer charges.
+
+As he was about to leave he saw on top of his accumulated mail a letter
+from the Apex Glass Works. It was from Mr. Stern. The man advised Tom
+that he suspected two discharged workmen as the pair who had attempted
+to rob him. Photographs were enclosed.
+
+[Illustration: Photographs Were Enclosed]
+
+"That he, Master!" suddenly boomed Koku, who had been gazing at the
+photos. "That man steal green glass thing I ketch back!"
+
+"By Jove, I believe you're right!" declared Tom. "This picture most
+certainly resembles the fellow you dragged in here. Come on, you and I
+will go over to the jail and check up."
+
+Late as the hour was, the two took out a car and hastened over to the
+county prison. No sooner had the sleepy officer on duty conducted them
+back to the prisoner's cell than Tom immediately recognized the man as
+the one Koku had captured with the green disk.
+
+[Illustration: They Drove to the County Prison]
+
+Eager to get off as lightly as possible, the fellow, who had been a
+confidential clerk in the main offices of the glass works, made a full
+confession.
+
+"It was Hammer who got me into this, Mr. Swift," whined Anton. "He
+overheard Mr. Stern talking about your experiments with bendable
+glass. He said you'd surely succeed and that the invention would be
+worth a fortune. So we decided to steal your formula. I've got a sick
+wife, Mr. Swift--"
+
+[Illustration: Hammer Overheard Mr. Stern]
+
+"A pack of lies!" roughly interrupted the policeman. "He's a single man,
+Mr. Swift, and has a police record to boot!"
+
+"Well, hold him. And I hope you will catch his confederate."
+
+"Don't worry. The boys'll bring him in!"
+
+[Illustration: "He Has a Police Record."]
+
+Although the hour was late, Tom decided to return to the laboratory
+and inspect the vault. There had been a certain sly expression in
+Anton's eyes which had vaguely disturbed the inventor. It was as if the
+man were holding something back and grinning over it.
+
+In a few minutes Tom's feeling was proven correct, for the formula
+dealing with the flexible glass was gone! Koku, when questioned,
+admitted that he had seen some papers drop from Anton's pocket when he
+had seized him just outside the laboratory, but the simple giant had
+paid no attention to them. There followed a frantic search with a
+flashlight by Tom but there was no trace of the missing documents.
+
+[Illustration: The Formula Was Gone]
+
+"They couldn't have blown away!" he declared. "They were clipped
+together by a special heavy binder. Somebody must have picked them up!"
+
+[Illustration: He Made a Frantic Search]
+
+When Tom visited Anton in jail the next day, the fellow denied loudly
+that he had taken anything. The police promised to redouble their
+efforts to capture Hammer. With that assurance the inventor was forced
+to content himself.
+
+The next few days Tom was so busy that he gave only an occasional
+thought to his loss. Analysis of the sample cut from the meteorite
+showed that it was even richer than he had hoped in the new substance,
+X. Immediately he telegraphed a large science supply house for huge
+flasks, beakers, retorts and other paraphernalia necessary to extract
+and refine the material.
+
+[Illustration: The Sample Was Rich in X]
+
+This done, he arranged for the loan of a large refracting telescope from
+a near-by observatory to be used in conjunction with the big green disk
+he proposed to make. Professor Standish of the college was so interested
+in the project that Tom invited him to the forthcoming test.
+
+Work was begun on an improvised observatory to be erected on a mountain
+in the Adirondacks. This would place the telescope above most of the
+blurring effects of the dense, lower atmosphere, filled as it is with
+smoke and dust.
+
+[Illustration: Work Was Begun on the Observatory]
+
+Ned Newton wired that the meteorite had been safely placed on a fast
+freight train. He added that he was traveling in the caboose of the same
+train by special arrangement with the road officials. Tom met his chum
+at the station.
+
+"How do you like riding in style?" he teased.
+
+[Illustration: Ned Traveled in the Caboose]
+
+"Humph!" grunted Ned. "I'll take a plane next time."
+
+A huge truck transported the planet stone to the shops of the Swift
+Construction Company. One of the buildings had been cleared of all other
+work, and in it a very large furnace had been erected to cast the green
+disk. Powerful mechanisms crushed the meteorite to a fine powder which
+was dissolved by strong acids, then separated into its various
+ingredients.
+
+[Illustration: The Meteorite Was Crushed]
+
+"The furnace will have to be enlarged!" declared Tom. "I had planned
+to make a disk twenty feet long but there is so much X that we can
+easily make it thirty-five feet. There'll still be several hundred
+pounds left."
+
+"Why not use it all and make the biggest 'scope you can?" suggested Ned
+Newton.
+
+"I believe this will be large enough. Besides, I have an idea that the X
+has other and even more remarkable powers. I don't want to use it all up
+in this device."
+
+[Illustration: "We Can Make a Larger Disk!"]
+
+A gang of men had been employed to clear a trail up the side of the
+mountain in the Adirondacks and construct a road to the summit as none
+ever had been made to the spot Tom intended to use. A specially large
+motor truck was built to carry first the telescope, then the giant green
+disk.
+
+It may well be supposed that all these preparations ran into money. Many
+a groan did Ned give when he studied the mounting cost sheets. Tom,
+however, was deaf to all his chum's protestations.
+
+[Illustration: A Special Truck Was Built]
+
+"I had hoped your new bendable glass would more than repay the cost of
+your telescope," grumbled Ned. "That's gone, and it looks to me as
+though everything else'll go too. The Swift Construction Company will
+soon be bankrupt, Tom Swift, if you don't slow down!"
+
+"What do you mean, my flexible glass is gone? Why, I've had an
+application on file in the Patent Office for several months."
+
+"Well, for Pete's sake, why didn't you tell me? Here I've been
+worrying my head off for nothing!"
+
+[Illustration: "You'll Be Bankrupt!" Warned Ned]
+
+"Sorry, old man. But you know I've had a lot on my mind. However, we
+must get back the papers, for the thief can make things pretty
+uncomfortable if he chooses to."
+
+As Tom had found out, X would be useful only in an absolutely pure
+state. To refine it to the proper degree was a painfully slow process,
+taking in this case a full six weeks. While his chemists labored away
+under the young inventor's supervision, everything else had been made
+ready. At last the new element was prepared. The tons of yellow powder
+were dumped into the heated furnace.
+
+[Illustration: His Chemists Worked Away]
+
+Three days later the stuff had cooled sufficiently for an inspection to
+be made. A traveling crane slowly hoisted the massive iron lid of the
+electric furnace. Tom climbed a ladder and peered down.
+
+"It's perfect!" he shouted a moment later. Mr. Damon and Barton Swift
+were standing anxiously with Ned and the workmen to hear the verdict.
+At the young inventor's words the group gave a cheer.
+
+[Illustration: Tom Peered Down at the Disk]
+
+"Bless my stars and planets!" cried Mr. Damon, capering about like a
+boy. "I can hardly wait till you have your big glass set up!"
+
+"It won't be long now," promised Tom, much pleased himself.
+
+While the giant disk was being given a final electrical treatment, the
+youthful inventor was called to the police station. The fugitive crook,
+Hammer, had finally been nabbed, still with the formula for the
+bendable glass in his possession. Tom was glad to get this back, even
+though patent proceedings were under way, for anyone holding the papers
+could have instituted a costly legal contest.
+
+[Illustration: Hammer Had Been Nabbed]
+
+At last the time arrived when the great disk was wrapped in hundreds of
+bales of cotton, suspended on racks and loaded onto the great truck. Tom
+insisted upon riding with his precious creation. The rest of his party,
+including his father, Ned Newton, Mr. Damon, Professor Standish, Koku
+and Rad, traveled by train to the foot of the mountain.
+
+[Illustration: The Disk Was Loaded on the Truck]
+
+"Massa Tom gonna look about six scrillion miles froo space," confided
+Eradicate Sampson to Koku. The old Negro leaned heavily upon the massive
+arm of his huge companion. "He see wonderful things!"
+
+"He sure make big medicine!" declared the giant, for once agreeing with
+his old rival. He had only the vaguest idea about what his master was
+attempting.
+
+[Illustration: Koku and Rad Went Along]
+
+When the entire group assembled on top the mountain there was a sudden
+hush. The sun had set in a fiery glow that presaged a clear night, and
+now darkness overtook the expectant onlookers.
+
+At last Tom stepped to the giant telescope and adjusted it upon the
+planet Mars. He electrified the immense disk, which glowed, then could
+not be seen at all.
+
+Looking through the eyepiece, the young inventor stood as though
+transfixed. One minute! Two!
+
+[Illustration: Tom Stepped to the Telescope]
+
+"Tom! How does it work?" asked Ned finally, unable to restrain himself
+any longer.
+
+"Look for yourself!" cried Tom, turning from the instrument. His face
+wore an expression of awe.
+
+Ned quickly took his place.
+
+"Marvelous!" he exclaimed.
+
+Before his eyes were revealed a great city, nearly seventy-five million
+miles distant!
+
+Peculiar people surged along the avenues, weird aircraft thronged the
+upper atmosphere, and gigantic buildings and palaces dotted the place.
+All on far-distant Mars!
+
+[Illustration: He Saw a Gigantic City]
+
+As each one in Tom's party saw the wonderful sight, he in turn
+congratulated the youthful inventor in his own way. Ned grasped his
+chum's hand but could say nothing. Mr. Damon blessed the distant stars.
+Koku and Rad fell upon their knees. Into the eyes of Barton Swift came
+tears as he said:
+
+"Tom, my son, you have performed the greatest miracle of the Age!"
+
+[Illustration: "You Have Performed a Miracle!"]
+
+
+
+
+Read These INTERESTING BOOKS Too!
+
+Airplanes!--War!--Superscience!
+
+TOM SWIFT and His Giant Telescope
+
+MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN and the Midnight Monster
+
+MEN WITH WINGS: Thrilling Story of Flyers
+
+TAILSPIN TOMMY and the Sky Bandits
+
+Captain Frank Hawks, Famous AIR ACE, and the League of Twelve
+
+PAT NELSON, Ace of Test Pilots
+
+MAC OF THE MARINES in War-Torn China
+
+BARNEY BAXTER in the Air With the Eagle Squadron
+
+BUCK ROGERS, 25th Century A.D., in the War With the Planet Venus
+
+FLASH GORDON in the Forest Kingdom of Mongo
+
+SKYROADS, with Clipper Williams of the Flying Legion
+
+DON WINSLOW of the Navy vs. the Scorpion Gang
+
+Read These THRILLING BOOKS Too!
+
+Cowboys!--Indians!--Horses!
+
+THE LONE RANGER and the Red Renegades (With Silver and Tonto)
+
+JARAGU, Indian Boy of the Jungle (Rex Beach)
+
+TIM McCOY on the Tomahawk Trail
+
+BUCK JONES in the Rock Creek Cattle War
+
+TOM MIX and the Hoard of Montezuma
+
+KEN MAYNARD in Western Justice
+
+BRONC PEELER, the Lone Cowboy
+
+FLAME BOY and the INDIANS' SECRET
+
+TEX THORNE Comes out of the West
+
+The TEXAS KID
+
+GUNS in the Roaring West
+
+KING of the ROYAL MOUNTED Gets His Man (Zane Grey)
+
+Read These EXCITING BOOKS Too!
+
+Mysteries!--Thrills!--Adventures!
+
+The PHANTOM and the Sign of the Skull
+
+TERRY and the Pirates and the Giant's Vengeance
+
+JANE ARDEN and the Vanished Princess
+
+MYRA NORTH, Special Nurse, and Foreign Spies
+
+Little ORPHAN ANNIE and the Mysterious Shoemaker
+
+TARZAN'S Revenge (Edgar Rice Burroughs)
+
+KAY DARCY and the Mystery Hideout
+
+Blaze Brandon With the FOREIGN LEGION
+
+Little ANNIE ROONEY on the Highway to Adventure
+
+MARY LEE and the Indian Bead Mystery
+
+WASH TUBBS and Capt. Easy Hunting for Whales
+
+JACK ARMSTRONG, All-American Boy, and the Ivory Treasure
+
+BRICK BRADFORD Fighting Brocco the Modern Buccaneer
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Swift and His Giant Telescope, by 
+Victor Appleton
+
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