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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/954-h.zip b/954-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..27a5c4f --- /dev/null +++ b/954-h.zip diff --git a/954-h/954-h.htm b/954-h/954-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1ad955e --- /dev/null +++ b/954-h/954-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9377 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of Tom Swift and his War Tank, +by Victor Appleton +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Swift and his War Tank, 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 War Tank + or, Doing his Bit for Uncle Sam + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Posting Date: July 13, 2008 [EBook #954] +Release Date: June, 1997 +Last updated: May 20, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK *** + + + + +Produced by Anthony Matonac, + + + + + +</pre> + + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK +</H1> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +or +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +Doing His Bit For Uncle Sam +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +By +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +VICTOR APPLETON +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">Past Memories</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">Tom's Indifference</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">Ned is Worried</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">Queer Doings</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">"Is He a Slacker?"</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">Seeing Things</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">Up a Tree</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">Detective Rad</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">A Night Test</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">A Runaway Giant</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">Tom's Tank</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">Bridging a Gap</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">Into a Trench</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">The Ruined Factory</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">Across Country</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">The Old Barn</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">Veiled Threats</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">Ready for France</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">Tom Is Missing</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">The Search</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">A Prisoner</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">Rescued</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">Gone</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">Camouflaged</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap25">Foiled</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter I +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Past Memories +</H3> + +<P> +Ceasing his restless walk up and down the room, Tom Swift strode to the +window and gazed across the field toward the many buildings, where +machines were turning out the products evolved from the brains of his +father and himself. There was a worried look on the face of the young +inventor, and he seemed preoccupied, as though thinking of something +far removed from whatever it was his eyes gazed upon. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'll do it!" suddenly exclaimed Tom. "I don't want to, but I +will. It's in the line of 'doing my bit,' I suppose; but I'd rather it +was something else. I wonder—" +</P> + +<P> +"Ha! Up to your old tricks, I see, Tom!" exclaimed a voice, in which +energy and friendliness mingled pleasingly. "Up to your old tricks!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, hello, Mr. Damon!" cried Tom, turning to shake hands with an +elderly gentleman—that is, elderly in appearance but not in action, +for he crossed the room with the springing step of a lad, and there was +the enthusiasm of youth on his face. "What do you mean—my old tricks?" +</P> + +<P> +"Talking to yourself, Tom. And when you do that it means there is +something in the wind. I hope, as a sort of side remark, it isn't rain +that's in the wind, for the soldiers over at camp have had enough water +to set up a rival establishment with Mr. Noah. But there's something +going on, isn't there? Bless my memorandum book, but don't tell me +there isn't, or I shall begin to believe I have lost all my deductive +powers of reasoning! I come in here, after knocking two or three times, +to which you pay not the least attention, and find you mysteriously +murmuring to yourself. +</P> + +<P> +"The last time that happened, Tom, was just before you started to dig +the big tunnel—No, I'm wrong. It was just before you started for the +Land of Wonders, as we decided it ought to be called. You were talking +to yourself then, when I walked in on you, and—Say, Tom!" suddenly +exclaimed Mr. Damon eagerly, "don't tell me you're going off on another +wild journey like that—don't!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" asked Tom, smiling at the energy of his caller. +</P> + +<P> +"Because if you are, I'll want to go with you, of course, and if I go +it means I'll have to start in as soon as I can to bring my wife around +to my way of thinking. The last time I went it took me two weeks to get +her to consent, and then she didn't like it. So if—" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Mr. Damon," interrupted Tom, "I don't count on going on any sort +of a trip—that is, any long one. I was just getting ready to take a +little spin in the Hawk, and if you'd like to come along—" +</P> + +<P> +"You mean that saucy little airship of yours, Tom, that's always trying +to sit down on her tail, or tickle herself with one wing?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's the Hawk!" laughed Tom; "though that tickling business you +speak of is when I spiral. Don't you like it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Can't say I do," observed Mr. Damon dryly. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'll promise not to try any stunts if you come along," Tom went +on. +</P> + +<P> +"Where are you going?" asked his friend. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no place in particular. As you surmised, I've been doing a bit of +thinking, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Serious thinking, too, Tom!" interrupted Mr. Damon. "Excuse me, but I +couldn't help overhearing what you said. It was something about going +to do something though you didn't want to, and that it was part of your +'bit'. That sounds like soldier talk. Are you going to enlist, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"No." +</P> + +<P> +"Um! Well, then—" +</P> + +<P> +"It's something I can't talk about, Mr. Damon, even to you, as yet," +Tom said, and there was a new quality in his voice, at which his friend +looked up in some surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, of course, Tom, if it's a secret—" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it hasn't even got that far, as yet. It's all up in the air, so +to speak. I'll tell you in due season. But, speaking of the air, let's +go for a spin. It may drive some of the cobwebs out of my brain. Did I +hear you say you thought it would rain?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, it's as clear as a bell. I said I hoped it wouldn't rain for the +sake of the soldiers in camp. They've had their share of wet weather, +and, goodness knows, they'll get more when they get to Flanders. It +seems to do nothing but rain in France." +</P> + +<P> +"It is damp," agreed Tom. "And, come to think of it, they are going to +have some airship contests over at camp to-day—for the men who are +being trained to be aviators, you know. It just occurred to me that we +might fly over there and watch them." +</P> + +<P> +"Fine!" cried Mr. Damon. "That's the very thing I should like. I'll +take a chance in your Hawk, Tom, if you'll promise not to try any +spiral stunts." +</P> + +<P> +"I promise, Mr. Damon. Come on! I'll have Koku run the machine out and +get her ready for a flight to Camp. It's a good day for a jaunt in the +air." +</P> + +<P> +"Get out the Hawk, Koku," ordered the young inventor, as he motioned to +a big man—a veritable giant—who nodded to show he understood. Koku +was really a giant, one of a race of strange beings, and Tom Swift had +brought the big man with him when he escaped from captivity, as those +will remember who have read that book. +</P> + +<P> +"Going far, Tom?" asked an aged man, coming to the door of one of the +many buildings of which the shed where the airship was kept formed one. +</P> + +<P> +"Not very far, Father," answered the young inventor. "Mr. Damon and I +are going for a little spin over to Camp Grant, to see some aircraft +contests among the army birdmen." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, all right, Tom. I just wanted to tell you that I think I've gotten +over that difficulty you found with the big carburetor you were working +on. You didn't say what you wanted it for, except that it was for a +heavy duty gasolene engine, and you couldn't get the needle valve to +work as you'd like. I think I've found a way." +</P> + +<P> +"Good, Dad! I'll look at it when I come back. That carburetor did +bother me, and if I can get that to work—well, maybe we'll have +something soon that will—" +</P> + +<P> +But Tom did not finish his sentence, for Koku was getting the aircraft +in operation and Mr. Damon was already taking his place behind the +pilot's seat, which would be occupied by Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"All ready, are you, Koku?" asked the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"All ready, Master," answered the giant. +</P> + +<P> +There was a roar like that of a machine gun as the Hawk's engine spun +the propeller, and then, after a little run across the sod, it mounted +into the air, carrying Tom and Mr. Damon with it. +</P> + +<P> +"Mind you, Tom, no stunts!" called the visitor to the young inventor +through the speaking tube apparatus, which enabled a conversation to be +carried on, even above the roar of the powerful engine. "Bless my +overshoes! if you try, looping the loop with me—" +</P> + +<P> +"I won't do anything like that!" promised Tom. +</P> + +<P> +Away they soared, swift as a veritable hawk, and soon, after there had +unrolled below their eyes a succession of fields and forest, there came +into view rows and rows of small brown objects, among which beings, +like ants, seemed crawling about. +</P> + +<P> +"There's the Camp!" exclaimed Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"I see," and Mr. Damon nodded. +</P> + +<P> +As they approached, they saw, starting up from a green space amid the +brown tents, what appeared to be big bugs of a dirty white color +splotched with green. +</P> + +<P> +"The aircraft—and they have camouflage paint on," said Tom. "We can +watch 'em from up here!" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon nodded, though Tom could not see him, sitting in front of his +friend as he was. +</P> + +<P> +Up and up circled the army aircraft, and they seemed to bow and nod a +greeting to the Hawk, which was soon in the midst of them. Tom and Mr. +Damon, flying high, though at no great speed, looked at the maneuvers +of the veterans and the learners—many of whom might soon be engaging +the Boches in far-off France. +</P> + +<P> +"Some of 'em are pretty good!" called Tom, through the tube. "That one +fellow did the loop as prettily as I've ever seen it done," and Tom +Swift had a right to speak as one of authority. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and his friend watched the aircraft for some time, and then started +off in a long flight, attaining a high speed, which, at first, made Mr. +Damon gasp, until he became used to it. He was no novice at flying, and +had even operated aeroplanes himself, though at no great height. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the Hawk seemed to falter, almost as does a bird stricken by a +hunter's gun. The craft seemed to hang in the air, losing motion as +though about to plunge to earth unguided. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter?" cried Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"One of the control wires broken!" was Tom's laconic answer. "I'll have +to volplane down. Sit tight, there's no danger!" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon knew that with so competent a pilot as Tom Swift in the +forward seat this was true, but, nevertheless, he was a bit nervous +until he felt the smooth, gliding motion, with now and then an upward +tilt, which showed that Tom was coming down from the upper regions in a +series of long glides. The engine had stopped, and the cessation of the +thundering noise made it possible for Tom and his passenger to talk +without the use of the speaking tube. +</P> + +<P> +"All right?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"All right," Tom answered, and a little later the machine was rolling +gently over the turf of a large field, a mile or so from the camp. +</P> + +<P> +Before Tom and Mr. Damon could get out of their seats, a man, seemingly +springing up from some hollow in the ground, walked toward them. +</P> + +<P> +"Had an accident?" he asked, in what he evidently meant for a friendly +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"A little one, easily mended," Tom answered. +</P> + +<P> +He was about to take off his goggles, but at sight of the man's face a +change came over the countenance of Tom Swift, and he replaced the eye +protectors. Then Tom turned to Mr. Damon, as if to ask a question, but +the stranger came so close, evidently curious to see the aircraft at +close quarters, that the young inventor could not speak without being +overheard. +</P> + +<P> +Tom got out his kit of tools to repair the broken control, and the man +watched him curiously. As he tinkered away, something was stirring +among the past memories of the inventor. A question he asked himself +over and over again was: +</P> + +<P> +"Where have I seen this man before? His face is familiar, but I can't +place him. He is associated with something unpleasant. But where have I +seen this man before?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter II +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Tom's Indifference +</H3> + +<P> +"Did you make this machine yourself?" asked the stranger of Tom, as the +young inventor worked at the damaged part of his craft. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon had also alighted, taken off his goggles, and was looking +aloft, where the army aircraft were going through various evolutions, +and down below, where the young soldiers were drilling under such +conditions, as far as possible, as they might meet with when some of +their number went "over the top." Mr. Damon was murmuring to himself +such remarks as: +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my fountain pen! look at that chap turning upside down! Bless my +inkwell!" +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon," remarked Tom Swift, following the remark of the +man, whose face he was trying to recall. It was not that Tom had not +heard the question, but he was trying to gain time before answering. +</P> + +<P> +"I asked if you made this machine yourself," went on the man, as he +peered about at the Hawk. "It isn't like any I've ever seen before, and +I know something about airships. It has some new wrinkles on it, and I +thought you might have evolved them yourself. Not that it's an amateur +affair, by any means!" he added hastily, as if fearing the young +inventor might resent the implication that his machine was a home-made +product. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I originated this," answered Tom, as he put a new turn-buckle in +place; "but I didn't actually construct it—that is, except for some +small parts. It was made in the shop—" +</P> + +<P> +"Over at the army construction plant, I presume," interrupted the man +quickly, as he motioned toward the big factory, not far from Shopton, +where aircraft for Uncle Sam's Army were being turned out by the +hundreds. +</P> + +<P> +"Might as well let him think that," mused Tom; "at least until I can +figure out who he is and what he wants." +</P> + +<P> +"This is different from most of those up there," and the stranger +pointed toward the circling craft on high. "A bit more speedy, I guess, +isn't it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes, in a way," agreed Tom, who was bending over his craft. He +stole a side look at the man. The face was becoming more and more +familiar, yet something about it puzzled Tom Swift. +</P> + +<P> +"I've seen him before, and yet he didn't look like that," thought the +young inventor. "It's different, somehow. Now why should my memory play +me a trick like this? Who in the world can he be?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom straightened up, and tossed a monkey wrench into the tool box. +</P> + +<P> +"Get everything fixed?" asked the stranger. +</P> + +<P> +"I think so," and the young inventor tried to make his answer pleasant. +"It was only a small break, easily fixed." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you'll be on your way again?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. Are you ready?" called Tom to Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my timetable, yes! I didn't think you'd start back again so +soon. There's one young fellow up there who has looped the loop three +times, and I expect him to fall any minute." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I guess he knows his business," Tom said easily. "We'll be +getting back now." +</P> + +<P> +"One moment!" called the man. "I beg your pardon for troubling you, but +you seem to be a mechanic, and that's just the sort of man I'm looking +for. Are you open to an offer to do some inventive and constructive +work?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom was on his guard instantly. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I can't say that I am," he answered. "I am pretty busy—" +</P> + +<P> +"This would pay well," went on the man eagerly. "I am a stranger around +here, but I can furnish satisfactory references. I am in need of a good +mechanic, an inventor as well, who can do what you seem to have done so +well. I had hopes of getting some one at the army plant." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess they're not letting any of their men go," said Tom, as Mr. +Damon climbed to his seat in the Hawk. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I soon found that out. But I thought perhaps you—" +</P> + +<P> +Tom shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry," he answered, "but I'm otherwise engaged, and very busy." +</P> + +<P> +"One moment!" called the man, as he saw Tom about to start "Is the +Swift Company plant far from here?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom felt something like a thrill go through him. There was an +unexpected note in the man's voice. The face of the young inventor +lightened, and the doubts melted away. +</P> + +<P> +"No, it isn't far," Tom answered, shouting to be heard above the +crackling bangs of the motor. And then, as the craft soared into the +air, he cried exultingly: +</P> + +<P> +"I have it! I know who he is! The scoundrel! His beard fooled me, and +he probably didn't know me with these goggles on. But now I know him!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my calendar!" cried Mr. Damon. "What are you talking about?" +</P> + +<P> +But Tom did not answer, for the reason that just then the Hawk fell +into an "air pocket," and needed all his attention to straighten her +out and get her on a level course again. +</P> + +<P> +And while Tom Swift is thus engaged in speeding his aircraft along the +upper regions toward his home, it will take but a few moments to +acquaint my new readers with something of the history of the young +inventor. Those who have read the previous books in this series need be +told nothing about our hero. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift was an inventor of note, as was his father. Mr. Swift was now +quite aged and not in robust health, but he was active at times and +often aided Tom when some knotty point came up. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and his father lived on the outskirts of the town of Shopton, and +near their home were various buildings in which the different machines +and appliances were made. Tom's mother was dead, but Mrs. Baggert, the +housekeeper, was as careful in looking after Tom and his father as any +woman could be. +</P> + +<P> +In addition to these three, the household consisted of Eradicate +Sampson, an aged colored servant, and, it might almost be added, his +mule Boomerang; but Boomerang had manners that, at times, did not make +him a welcome addition to any household. Then there was the giant Koku, +one of two big men Tom had brought back with him from the land where +the young inventor had been held captive for a time. +</P> + +<P> +The first book of this series is called "Tom Swift and His Motor +Cycle," and it was in acquiring possession of that machine that Tom met +his friend Mr. Wakefield Damon, who lived in a neighboring town. Mr. +Damon owned the motor cycle originally, but when it attempted to climb +a tree with him he sold it to Tom. +</P> + +<P> +Tom had many adventures on the machine, and it started him on his +inventive career. From then on he had had a series of surprising +adventures. He had traveled in his motor boat, in an airship, and then +had taken to a submarine. In his electric runabout he showed what the +speediest car on the road could do, and when he sent his wireless +message, the details of which can be found set down in the volume of +that name, Tom saved the castaways of Earthquake Island. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift had many other thrilling escapes, one from among the diamond +makers, and another from the caves of ice; and he made the quickest +flight on record in his sky racer. +</P> + +<P> +Tom's wizard camera, his great searchlight, his giant cannon, his photo +telephone, his aerial warship and the big tunnel he helped to dig, +brought him credit, fame, and not a little money. He had not long been +back from an expedition to Honduras, dubbed "the land of wonders," when +he was again busy on some of his many ideas. And it was to get some +relief from his thoughts that he had taken the flight with Mr. Damon on +the day the present story opens. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you so excited about, Tom?" asked his friend, as the Hawk +alighted near the shed back of the young inventor's home. "Bless my +scarf pin! but any one would think you'd just discovered the true +method of squaring the circle." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's almost as good as that, and more practical," Tom said, with +a smile, as he motioned to Koku to put away the aircraft "I know who +that man is, now." +</P> + +<P> +"What man, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"The one who was questioning me when I was fixing the airship. I kept +puzzling and puzzling as to his identity, and, all at once, it came to +me. Do you know who he is, Mr. Damon?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I can't say that I do, Tom. But, as you say, there was something +vaguely familiar about him. It seemed as if I must have seen him +before, and yet—" +</P> + +<P> +"That's just the way it struck me. What would you say if I told you +that man was Blakeson, of Blakeson and Grinder, the rival tunnel +contractors who made such trouble for us?" +</P> + +<P> +"You mean down in Peru, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon started in surprise, and then exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my ear mufflers, Tom, but you're right! That was Blakeson! I +didn't know him with his beard, but that was Blakeson, all right! Bless +my foot-warmer! What do you suppose he is doing around here?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know, Mr. Damon, but I'd give a good deal to know. It isn't +any good, I'll wager on that. He didn't seem to know me or you, +either—unless he did and didn't let on. I suppose it was because of +my goggles—and you were gazing up in the air most of the time. I don't +think he knew either of us." +</P> + +<P> +"It didn't seem so, Tom. But what is he doing here? Do you think he is +working at the army camp, or helping make Liberty Motors for the +aircraft that are going to beat the Germans?" +</P> + +<P> +"Hardly. He didn't seem to be connected with the camp. He wanted a +mechanic, and hinted that I might do. Jove! if he really didn't know +who I was, and finds out, say! won't he be surprised?" +</P> + +<P> +"Rather," agreed Mr Damon. "Well, Tom, I had a nice little ride. And +now I must be getting back. But if you contemplate a trip anywhere, +don't forget to let me know." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't count on going anywhere soon," Tom answered. "I have something +on hand that will occupy all my time, though I don't just like it. +However, I'm going to do my best," and he waved good-bye to Mr. Damon, +who went off blessing various parts of his anatomy or clothing, an odd +habit he had. +</P> + +<P> +As Tom turned to go into the house, the unsettled look still on his +face, some one hailed him. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, Tom. Hello! Wait a minute! I've got something to show you!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, hello, Ned Newton!" Called back the young inventor. "Well, if +it's Liberty Bonds, you don't need to show me any, for dad and I will +buy all we can without seeing them." +</P> + +<P> +"I know that, Tom, and it was a dandy subscription you gave me. I +didn't come about that, though I may be around the next time Uncle Sam +wants the people to dig down in their socks. This is something +different," and Ned Newton, a young banker of Shopton and a lifelong +friend of Tom's, drew a paper from his pocket as he advanced across the +lawn. +</P> + +<P> +"There, Tom Swift!" he cried, flipping out an illustrated page, +evidently from some illustrated newspaper. "There's the very latest +from the other side. A London banker friend of mine sent it to me, and +it got past the censor all right. It's the first authentic photograph +of the newest and biggest British tank. Isn't that a wonder?" +</P> + +<P> +Ned held up the paper which had in it a fullpage photograph of a +monster tank—those weird machines traveling on endless steel belts of +caterpillar construction, armored, riveted and plated, with machine +guns bristling here and there. +</P> + +<P> +"Isn't that great, Tom? Can you beat it? It's the most wonderful +machine of the age, even counting some of yours. Can you beat it?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom took the paper indifferently, and his manner surprised his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what's the matter, Tom?" asked Ned. "Don't you think that great? +Why don't you say something? You don't mean to say you've seen that +picture before?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"Then what's the matter with you? Isn't that wonderful?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter III +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Ned is Worried +</H3> + +<P> +Tom Swift did not answer for several seconds. He stood holding the +paper Ned had given him, the sun slanting on the picture of the big +British tank. But the young inventor did not appear to see it. Instead, +his eyes were as though contemplating something afar off. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, this gets me!" cried Ned, his voice showing impatience. "Here I +go and get a picture of the latest machine the British armies are +smashing up the Boches with, and bring it to you fresh from the mail—I +even quit my Liberty Bond business to do it, and I know some dandy +prospects, too—and here you look at it like a—like a fish!" burst out +Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Say, old man, I guess that's right!" admitted Tom. "I wasn't thinking +about it, to tell you the truth." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" Ned demanded. "Isn't it great, Tom? Did you ever see +anything like it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"You did?" Cried Ned, in surprise. "Where? Say, Tom Swift, are you +keeping something from me?" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean no, Ned. I never have seen a British tank." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, did you ever see a picture like this before?" Ned persisted. +</P> + +<P> +"No, not exactly like that But—" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what do you think of it?" cried the young banker, who was giving +much of his time to selling bonds for the Government. "Isn't it great?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom considered a moment before replying. Then he said slowly: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, yes, Ned, it is a pretty good machine. But—" +</P> + +<P> +"'But!' Howling tomcats! Say, what's the 'matter with you, anyhow, Tom? +This is great! 'But!' 'But me no buts!' This is, without exception, the +greatest thing out since an airship. It will win the war for us and the +Allies, too, and don't you forget it! Fritz's barbed wire and dugouts +and machine gun emplacements can't stand for a minute against these +tanks! Why, Tom, they can crawl on their back as well as any other way, +and they don't mind a shower of shrapnel or a burst of machine gun +lead, any more than an alligator minds a swarm of gnats. The only thing +that makes 'em hesitate a bit is a Jack Johnson or a Bertha shell, and +it's got to be a pretty big one, and in the right place, to do much +damage. These tanks are great, and there's nothing like 'em." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes there is, Ned!" +</P> + +<P> +"There is!" cried Ned. "What do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean there may be something like them—soon." +</P> + +<P> +"There may? Say, Tom—" +</P> + +<P> +"Now don't ask me a lot of questions, Ned, for I can't answer them. +When I say there may be something like them, I mean it isn't beyond the +realms of possibility that some one—perhaps the Germans—may turn out +even bigger and better tanks." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh!" And Ned's voice showed his disappointment. "I thought maybe you +were in on that game yourself, Tom. Say, couldn't you get up something +almost as good as this?" and he indicated the picture in the paper. +"Isn't that wonderful?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, it's good, Ned, but there are others. Yes, Dad, I'm coming," +he called, as he saw his father beckoning to him from a distant +building. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I've got to get along," said Ned. "But I certainly am +disappointed, Tom. I thought you'd go into a fit over this +picture—it's one of the first allowed to get out of England, my London +friend said. And instead of enthusing you're as cold as a clam;" and +Ned shook his head in puzzled and disappointed fashion as he walked +slowly along beside the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +They passed a new building, one of the largest in the group of the many +comprising the Swift plant. Ned looked at the door which bore a notice +to the effect that no one was admitted unless bearing a special permit, +or accompanied by Mr. Swift or Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"What's this, Tom?" asked Ned. "Some new wrinkle?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, an invention I'm working on. It isn't in shape yet to be seen." +</P> + +<P> +"It must be something big, Tom," observed Ned, as he viewed the large +building. +</P> + +<P> +"It is." +</P> + +<P> +"And say, what a whopping big fence you've got around the back yard!" +went on the young banker. "Looks like a baseball field, but it would +take some scrambling on the part of a back-lots kid to get over it." +</P> + +<P> +"That's what it's for—to keep people out." +</P> + +<P> +"I see! Well, I've got to get along. I'm a bit back in my day's quota +of selling Liberty Bonds, and I've got to hustle. I'm sorry I bothered +you about that tank picture, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it wasn't a bother—don't think that for a minute, Ned! I was glad +to see it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he didn't seem so, and his manner was certainly queer," mused +Ned, as he walked away, and turned in time to see Tom enter the new +building, which had such a high fence all around it. "I never saw him +more indifferent. I wonder if Tom isn't interested in seeing Uncle Sam +help win this war? That's the way it struck me. I thought surely Tom +would go up in the air, and say this was a dandy," and Ned unfolded the +paper and took another look at the British tank photograph. "If there's +anything can beat that I'd like to see it," he mused. +</P> + +<P> +"But I suppose Tom has discovered some new kind of air stabilizer, or a +different kind of carburetor that will vaporize kerosene as well as +gasolene. If he has, why doesn't he offer it to Uncle Sam? I wonder if +Tom is pro-German? No, of Course he can't be!" and Ned laughed at his +own idea. +</P> + +<P> +"At the same time, it is queer," he mused on. "There is something wrong +with Tom Swift." +</P> + +<P> +Once more Ned looked at the picture. It was a representation of one of +the newest and largest of the British tanks. In appearance these are +not unlike great tanks, though they are neither round nor square, being +shaped, in fact, like two wedges with the broad ends put together, and +the sharper ends sticking out, though there is no sharpness to a tank, +the "noses" both being blunt. +</P> + +<P> +Around each outer edge runs an endless belt of steel plates, hinged +together, with ridges at the joints, and these broad belts of steel +plates, like the platforms of some moving stairways used in department +stores, moving around, give motion to the tank. +</P> + +<P> +Inside, well protected from the fire of enemy guns by steel plates, are +the engines for driving the belts, or caterpillar wheels, as they are +called. There is also the steering apparatus, and the guns that fire on +the enemy. There are cramped living and sleeping quarters for the +tank's crew, more limited than those of a submarine. +</P> + +<P> +The tank is ponderous, the smallest of them, which were those first +constructed, weighing forty-two tons, or about as much as a good-sized +railroad freight car. And it is this ponderosity, with its slow but +resistless movement, that gives the tank its power. +</P> + +<P> +The tank, by means of the endless belts of steel plates, can travel +over the roughest country. It can butt into a tree, a stone wall, or a +house, knock over the obstruction, mount it, crawl over it, and slide +down into a hole on the other side and crawl out again, on the level, +or at an angle. Even if overturned, the tanks can sometimes right +themselves and keep on. At the rear are trailer wheels, partly used in +steering and partly for reaching over gaps or getting out of holes. The +tanks can turn in their own length, by moving one belt in one direction +and the other oppositely. +</P> + +<P> +Inside there is nothing much but machinery of the gasolene type, and +the machine guns. The tank is closed except for small openings out of +which the guns project, and slots through which the men inside look out +to guide themselves or direct their fire. +</P> + +<P> +Such, in brief, is a British tank, one of the most powerful and +effective weapons yet loosed against the Germans. They are useful in +tearing down the barbed-wire entanglements on the Boche side of No +Man's Land, and they can clear the way up to and past the trenches, +which they can straddle and wriggle across like some giant worm. +</P> + +<P> +"And to think that Tom Swift didn't enthuse over these!" murmured Ned. +"I wonder what's the matter with him!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter IV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Queer Doings +</H3> + +<P> +There was a subdued air of activity about the Swift plant. Subdued, +owing to the fact that it was mostly confined to one building—the new, +large one, about which stretched a high and strong fence, made with +tongue-and-groove boards so that no prying eyes might find a crack, +even, through which to peer. +</P> + +<P> +In and out of the other buildings the workmen went as they pleased, +though there were not many of them, for Tom and his father were +devoting most of their time and energies to what was taking place in +the big, new structure. But here there was an entirely different +procedure. +</P> + +<P> +Workmen went in and out, to be sure, but each time they emerged they +were scrutinized carefully, and when they went in they had to exhibit +their passes to a man on guard at the single entrance; and the passes +were not scrutinized perfunctorily, either. +</P> + +<P> +Near the building, about which there seemed to be an air of mystery, +one day, a week after the events narrated in the opening chapters, +strolled the giant Koku. Not far away, raking up a pile of refuse, was +Eradicate Sampson, the aged colored man of all work. Eradicate +approached nearer and nearer the entrance to the building, pursuing his +task of gathering up leaves, dirt and sticks with the teeth of his +rake. Then Koku, who had been lounging on a bench in the shade of a +tree, Called: +</P> + +<P> +"No more, Eradicate!" +</P> + +<P> +"No mo' whut?" asked the negro quickly. "I didn't axt yo' fo' nuffin +yit!" +</P> + +<P> +"No more come here!" said the giant, pointing to the building and +speaking English with an evident effort. "Master say no one come too +close." +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! He didn't go fo' t' mean me!" exclaimed Eradicate. "I kin go +anywheres; I kin!" +</P> + +<P> +"Not here!" and Koku interposed his giant frame between the old man and +the first step leading into the secret building. "You no come in here." +</P> + +<P> +"Who say so?" +</P> + +<P> +"Me—I say so! I on guard. I what you call special +policeman—detectiff—no let enemies in!" +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! You's a hot deteckertiff, yo' is!" snorted Eradicate. "Anyhow, +dem orders don't mean me! I kin go anywhere, I kin!" +</P> + +<P> +"Not here!" said Koku firmly. "Master Tom say let nobody come near but +workmen who have got writing-paper. You no got!" +</P> + +<P> +"No, but I kin git one, an' I's gwine t' hab it soon! I'll see Massa +Tom, dat's whut I will. I guess yo' ain't de only deteckertiff on de +place. I kin go on guard, too!" and Eradicate, dropping his rake, +strolled away in his temper to seek the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Rad, what is it?" asked Tom, as he met the colored man. The +young inventor was on his way to the mysterious shop. "What is +troubling you?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's dat dar giant. He done says as how he's on guard—a +deteckertiff—an' I can't go nigh dat buildin' t' sweep up de refuse." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's right, Rad. I'd prefer that you keep away. I'm doing +some special work in there and it's—" +</P> + +<P> +"Am it dangerous, Massa Tom? I ain't askeered! Anybody whut kin drive +mah mule Boomerang—" +</P> + +<P> +"I know, Eradicate, but this isn't so dangerous. It's just secret, and +I don't want too many people about. You can go anywhere else except +there. Koku is on guard." +</P> + +<P> +"Den can't I be, Massa Tom?" asked the colored man eagerly. "I kin +guard an' detect same as dat low-down, good-fo'-nuffin white trash +Koku!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom hesitated. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose I could get you a sort of officer's badge," he mused, half +aloud. +</P> + +<P> +"Dat's whut I want!" eagerly exclaimed Eradicate. "I ain't gwine hab +dat Koku—dat cocoanut—crowin' ober me! I kin guard an' detect as +good's anybody!" +</P> + +<P> +And the upshot of it was that Eradicate was given a badge, and put on a +special post, far enough from Koku to keep the two from quarreling, and +where, even if he failed in keeping a proper lookout, the old servant +could do no harm by his oversight. +</P> + +<P> +"It'll please him, and won't hurt us," said Tom to his father. "Koku +will keep out any prying persons." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose you are doing well to keep it a secret, Tom," said Mr. +Swift, "but it seems as if you might announce it soon." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps we may, Dad, if all goes well. I've given her a partial +shop-tryout, and she works well. But there is still plenty to do. Did I +tell you about meeting Blakeson?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and I can't understand why he should be in this vicinity. Do you +think he has had any intimation of what you are doing?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's hard to say, and yet I would not be surprised. When Uncle Sam +couldn't keep secret the fact of our first soldiers sailing for France. +How can I expect to keep this secret? But they won't get any details +until I'm ready, I'm sure of that." +</P> + +<P> +"Koku is a good discourager," said Mr. Swift, with a chuckle. "You +couldn't have a better guard, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"No, and if I can keep him and Eradicate from trying to pull off rival +detective stunts, or 'deteckertiff,' as Rad calls it, I'll be all +right. Now let's have another go at that carburetor. There's our weak +point, for it's getting harder and harder all the while to get +high-grade gasolene, and we'll have to come to alcohol of low proof, or +kerosene, I'm thinking." +</P> + +<P> +"I wouldn't be surprised, Tom. Well, perhaps we can get up a new style +of carburetor that will do the trick. Now look at this needle valve; +I've given it a new turn," and father and son went into technical +details connected with their latest invention. +</P> + +<P> +These were busy days at the Swift plant. Men came and went—men with +queerly shaped parcels frequently—and they were admitted to the big +new building after first passing Eradicate and then Koku, and it would +be hard to say which guard was the more careful. Only, of course, Koku +had the final decision, and more than one person was turned back after +Eradicate had passed him, much to the disgust of the negro. +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh! Dat giant don't know a workman when he sees 'im!" snorted +Eradicate. "He so lazy his own se'f dat he don't know a workman! Ef I +sees a spy, Massa Tom, or a crook, I's gwine git him, suah pop!" +</P> + +<P> +"I hope you do, Rad. We can't afford to let this secret get out," said +the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +It was one evening, when taking a short cut to his home, that Mr. +Nestor, the father of Mary Nestor, in whom Tom was more than ordinarily +interested, passed not far from the big enclosure which was guarded, on +the factory side, day and night. Inside, though out of sight and hidden +by the high fence, were other guards. +</P> + +<P> +As Mr. Nestor passed along the fence, rather vaguely wondering why it +was so high, tight and strong, he felt the ground trembling beneath his +feet. It rumbled and shook as though a distant train were passing, and +yet there was none due now, for Mr. Nestor had just left one, and +another would not arrive for an hour. +</P> + +<P> +"That's queer," mused Mary's father. "If I didn't know to the contrary, +I'd say that sounded like heavy guns being fired from a distance, or +else blasting. It seems to come from the Swift place," he went on. "I +wonder what they're up to in there." +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the rumbling became more pronounced, and mingled with it, in +the dusk of the evening, were the shouts of men. +</P> + +<P> +"Look out!" some one cried. "She's going for the fence!" +</P> + +<P> +A second later there was a cracking and straining of boards, and the +fence near Mr. Nestor bulged out as though something big, powerful and +mighty were pressing it from the inner side. +</P> + +<P> +But the fence held, or else the pressure was removed, for the bulge +went back into place, though some of the boards were splintered. +</P> + +<P> +"Have to patch that up in the morning," called another voice, and Mr. +Nestor recognized it as that of Tom Swift. +</P> + +<P> +"What queer doings are going on here?" mused Mary's father. "Have they +got a wild bull shut up in there, and is he trying to get out? Lucky +for me he didn't," and he hurried on, the rumbling noise become fainter +until it died away altogether. +</P> + +<P> +That night, after his supper and while reading the paper and smoking a +cigar, Mr. Nestor spoke to his daughter. +</P> + +<P> +"Mary, have you seen anything of Tom Swift lately?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, yes, Father. He was over for a little while the other night, but +he didn't stay long. Why do you ask?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, nothing special. I just came past his place and I heard some queer +noises, that's all. He's up to some more of his tricks, I guess. Has be +enlisted yet?" +</P> + +<P> +"No. +</P> + +<P> +"Is he going to?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," and Mary seemed a bit put out by this simple question. +"What do you mean by his tricks?" she asked, and a close observer might +have thought she was anxious to get away from the subject of Tom's +enlistment. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, like that one when he sent you something in a box labeled +'dynamite,' and gave us all a scare. You can't tell what Tom Swift is +going to do next. He's up to something now, I'll wager, and I don't +believe any good will come of it." +</P> + +<P> +"You didn't think so after he sent his wireless message, and saved us +from Earthquake Island," said Mary, smiling. +</P> + +<P> +"Hum! Well, that was different," snapped Mr. Nestor. "This time I'm +sure he's up to some nonsense! The idea of crashing down a fence! Why +doesn't he enlist like the other chaps, or sell Liberty Bonds like Ned +Newton?" and Mr. Nestor looked sharply at his daughter. "Ned gave up a +big salary as the Swifts financial man—a place he had held for a +year—to go back to the bank for less, just so he could help the +Government in the financial end of this war. Is Tom doing as much for +his country?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure I don't know," answered Mary; and soon after, with averted +face, she left the room. +</P> + +<P> +"Hum! Queer goings on," mused Mr. Nestor. "Tom Swift may be all right, +but he's got an unbalanced streak in him that will bear looking out +for, that's what I think!" +</P> + +<P> +And having settled this matter, at least to his own satisfaction, Mr. +Nestor resumed his smoking and reading. +</P> + +<P> +A little later the bell rang. There was a murmur of voices in the hall, +and Mr. Nestor, half listening, heard a voice he knew. +</P> + +<P> +"There's Tom Swift now!" he exclaimed. "I'm going to find out why he +doesn't enlist!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter V +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +"Is He a Slacker?" +</H3> + +<P> +Mr. Nestor, whatever else he was, proved to be a prudent father. He did +not immediately go into the front room, whither Mary and Tom hastened, +their voices mingling in talk and laughter. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Nestor, after leaving the young folks alone for a while, with a +loud "Ahem!" and a rattling of his paper as he laid it aside, started +for the parlor. +</P> + +<P> +"Good-evening, Mr. Nestor!" said Tom, rising to shake hands with the +father of his young and pretty hostess. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello, Tom!" was the cordial greeting, in return. "What's going on up +at your place?" went on Mr. Nestor, as he took a chair. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, nothing very special," Tom answered. "We're turning out different +kinds of machines as usual, and dad and I are experimenting, also as +usual." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose so. But what nearly broke the fence to-night?" +</P> + +<P> +Tom started, and looked quickly at his host. +</P> + +<P> +"Were you there?" he asked quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I happened to be passing—took a short cut home—and I heard +some queer goings on at your place. I was speaking to Mary about them, +and wondering—" +</P> + +<P> +"Father, perhaps Tom doesn't want to talk about his inventions," +interrupted Mary. "You know some of them are secret—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I wasn't exactly asking for information!" exclaimed Mr. Nestor +quickly. "I just happened to hear the fence crash, and I was wondering +if something was coming out at me. Didn't know but what that giant of +yours was on a rampage, Tom," and he laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"No, it wasn't anything like that," and Tom's voice was more sober than +the occasion seemed to warrant. "It was one of our new machines, and it +didn't act just right. No great damage was done, though. How do you +find business, Mr. Nestor, since the war spirit has grown stronger?" +asked Tom, and it seemed to both Mary and her father that the young +inventor deliberately changed the subject. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it isn't all it might be," said the other. "It's hard to get +good help. A lot of our boys enlisted, and some were taken in the +draft. By the way, Tom, have they called on you yet?" +</P> + +<P> +"No. Not yet." +</P> + +<P> +"You didn't enlist?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ned Newton tried to," broke in Mary, "but the quota for this locality +was filled, and they told him he'd better wait for the draft. He +wouldn't do that and tried again. Then the bank people heard about it +and had him exempted. They said he was too valuable to them, and he has +been doing remarkably well in selling Liberty Bonds!" and Mary's eyes +sparkled with her emotions. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Ned is a crackerjack salesman!" agreed Tom, no less +enthusiastically. "He's sold more bonds, in proportion, for his bank, +than any other in this county. Dad and I both took some, and have +promised him more. I am glad now that we let him go, although we valued +his services highly. We hope to have him back later." +</P> + +<P> +"He can put me down for more bonds too!" said Mr. Nestor. "I'm going +to see Germany beaten if it takes every last dollar I have!" +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I say!" Cried Mary. "I took out all my savings, except a +little I'm keeping to buy a wedding present for Jennie Morse. Did you +know she was going to get married, Tom?" she asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I heard so." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, all but what I want for a wedding present to her has gone into +Liberty Bonds. Isn't this a history-making time, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed it is, Mary!" +</P> + +<P> +"Everybody who has a part in it—whether he fights as a soldier or only +knits like the Red Cross girls—will be telling about it for years +after," went on the girl, and she looked at Tom eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," he agreed. "These are queer times. We don't know exactly where +we're at. A lot of our men have been called. We tried to have some of +them exempted, and did manage it in a few cases." +</P> + +<P> +"You did?" cried Mr. Nestor, as if in surprise. "You stopped men from +going to war!" +</P> + +<P> +"Only so they could work on airship motors for the Government," Tom +quietly explained. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! Well, of course, that's part of the game," agreed Mary's father. +"A lot more of our boys are going off next week. Doesn't it make you +thrill, Tom, when you see them marching off, even if they haven't their +uniforms yet? Jove, if I wasn't too old, I'd go in a minute!" +</P> + +<P> +"Father!" cried Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I would!" he declared. "The German government has got to be +beaten, and we've got to do our bit; everybody has—man, woman and +child!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," agreed Tom, in a low voice, "that's very true. But every one, in +a sense, has to judge for himself what the 'bit' is. We can't all do +the same." +</P> + +<P> +There was a little silence, and then Mary went over to the piano and +played. It was a rather welcome relief, under the circumstances, from +the conversation. +</P> + +<P> +"Mary, what do you think of Tom?" asked Mr. Nestor, when the visitor +had gone. +</P> + +<P> +"What do I think of him?" And she blushed. +</P> + +<P> +"I mean about his not enlisting. Do you think he's a slacker?" +</P> + +<P> +"A slacker? Why, Father!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't mean he's afraid. We've seen proof enough of his courage, +and all that. But I mean don't you think he wants stirring up a bit?" +</P> + +<P> +"He is going to Washington to-morrow, Father. He told me so to-night. +And it may be—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, then maybe it's all right," hastily said Mr. Nestor. "He may +be going to get a commission in the engineer corps. It isn't like Tom +Swift to hang back, and yet it does begin to look as though he cared +more for his queer inventions—machines that butt down fences than for +helping Uncle Sam. But I'll reserve judgment." +</P> + +<P> +"You'd better, Father!" and Mary laughed—a little. Yet there was a +worried look on her face. +</P> + +<P> +During the next few nights Mr. Nestor made it a habit to take the short +cut from the railroad station, coming past the big fence that enclosed +one particular building of the Swift plant. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if there's a hole where I could look through," said Mr. +Nestor to himself. "Of course I don't believe in spying on what another +man is doing, and yet I'm too good a friend of Tom's to want to see him +make a fool of himself. He ought to be in the army, or helping Uncle +Sam in some way. And yet if he spends all his time on some foolish +contraption, like a new kind of traction plow, what good is that? If I +could get a glimpse of it, I might drop a friendly hint in his ear." +</P> + +<P> +But there were no cracks in the fence, or, if there were, it was too +dark to see them, and also too dark to behold anything on the other +side of the barrier. So Mr. Nestor, wondering much, kept on his way. +</P> + +<P> +It was a day or so after this that Ned Newton paid a visit to the Swift +home. Mr. Swift was not in the house, being out in one of the various +buildings, Mrs. Baggert said. +</P> + +<P> +"Where's Tom?" asked the bond salesman. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he hasn't come back from Washington yet," answered the housekeeper. +</P> + +<P> +"He is making a long stay." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, he went about a week ago on some business. But we expect him back +to-day." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then I'll see him. I called to ask if Mr. Swift didn't want to +take a few more bonds. We want to double our allotment for Shopton, and +beat out some of the other towns in this section. I'll go to see Mr. +Swift." +</P> + +<P> +On his way to find Tom's father Ned passed the big building in front of +which Eradicate and Koku were on guard. They nodded to Ned, who passed +them, wondering much as to what it was Tom was so secretive about. +</P> + +<P> +"It's the first time I remember when he worked on an invention without +telling me something about it," mused Ned. "Well, I suppose it will +all come out in good time. Anything new, Rad?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Massa Ned, nuffin much. I'm detectin' around heah; keepin' +Dutchmen spies away!" +</P> + +<P> +"And Koku is helping you, I suppose?" +</P> + +<P> +"Whut, him? Dat big, good-fo'-nuffin white trash? No, sah! I's +detectin' by mahse'f, dat's whut I is!" and Eradicate strutted proudly +up and down on his allotted part of the beat, being careful not to +approach the building too closely, for that was Koku's ground. +</P> + +<P> +Ned smiled, and passed on. He found Mr. Swift, secured his subscription +to more bonds, and was about to leave when he heard a call down the +road and saw Tom coming in his small racing car, which had been taken +to the depot by one of the workmen. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello, old man!" cried Ned affectionately, as his chum alighted with a +jump. "Where have you been?" +</P> + +<P> +"Down to Washington. Had a bit of a chat with the President and gave +him some of my views." +</P> + +<P> +"About the war, I suppose?" laughed Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you get your commission?" +</P> + +<P> +"Commission?" And there was a wondering look on Tom's face. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. Mary Nestor said she thought maybe you were going to Washington +to take an examination for the engineering corps or something like +that. Did you get made an officer?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered Tom slowly. "I went to Washington to get exempted." +</P> + +<P> +"Exempted?" Cried Ned, and his voice sounded strained. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter VI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Seeing Things +</H3> + +<P> +For a moment Tom Swift looked at his chum. Then something of what was +passing in the mind of the young bond salesman must have been reflected +to Tom, for he said, +</P> + +<P> +"Look here, old man; I know it may seem a bit strange to go to all that +trouble to get exempted from the draft, to which I am eligible, but, +believe me, there's a reason. I can't say anything now, but I'll tell +you as soon as I can—tell everybody, in fact. Just now it isn't in +shape to talk about." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that's all right, Tom," and Ned tried to make his voice sound +natural. "I was just wondering, that's all. I wanted to go to the front +the worst way, but they wouldn't let me. I was sort of hoping you +could, and come back to tell me about it." +</P> + +<P> +"I may yet, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"You may? Why, I thought—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I'm only exempted for a time. I've got certain things to do, and I +couldn't do 'em if I enlisted or was drafted. So I've been excused for +a time. Now I've got a pile of work to do. What are you up to Ned? Same +old story?" +</P> + +<P> +"Liberty Bonds—yes. Your father just took some more." +</P> + +<P> +"And so will I, Ned. I can do that, anyhow, even if I don't enlist. Put +me down for another two thousand dollars' worth." +</P> + +<P> +"Say, Tom, that's fine! That will make my share bigger than I counted +on. Shopton will beat the record." +</P> + +<P> +"That's good. We ought to pull strong and hearty for our home town. +How's everything else?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, so-so. I see Koku and Eradicate trying to outdo one another in +guarding that part of your plant," and Ned nodded toward the big new +building. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I had to let Rad play detective. Not that he can do +anything—he's too old. But it keeps him and Koku from quarreling all +the while. I've got to be pretty careful about that shop. It's got a +secret in it that—Well, the less said about it the better." +</P> + +<P> +"You're getting my curiosity aroused, Tom," remarked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"It'll have to go unsatisfied for a while. Wait a bit and I'll give you +a ride. I've got to go over to Sackett on business, and if you're going +that way I'll take you." +</P> + +<P> +"What in?" +</P> + +<P> +"The Hawk." +</P> + +<P> +"That's me!" cried Ned. "I haven't been in an aircraft for some time." +</P> + +<P> +"Tell Miles to run her out," requested Tom. "I've got to go in and say +hello to dad a minute, and then I'll be with you." +</P> + +<P> +"Seems like something was in the wind, Tom—big doings?" hinted Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, maybe there is. It all depends on how she turns out." +</P> + +<P> +"You might be speaking of the Hawk or—Mary Nestor!" said Ned, with a +sidelong look at his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"As it happens, it's neither one," said Tom, and then he hastened away, +to return shortly and guide his fleet little airship, the Hawk, on her +aerial journey. +</P> + +<P> +From then on, at least for some time, neither Tom nor Ned mentioned the +matters they had been discussing—Tom's failure to enlist, his +exemption, and what was being built in the closely guarded shop. +</P> + +<P> +Tom's business in Sackett did not take him long, and then he and Ned +went for a little ride in the air. +</P> + +<P> +"It's like old times!" exclaimed Ned, his eyes shining, though Tom +could not see them for two reasons. One was that Ned was sitting behind +him, and the other was that Ned wore heavy goggles, as did the young +pilot. Also, they had to carry on their talk through the speaking tube +arrangement. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it is a bit like old times," agreed Tom. "We've had some great +old experiences together, Ned, haven't we?" +</P> + +<P> +"We surely have! I wonder if we'll have any more? When we were in the +submarine, and in your big airship. Say, that big one is the one I +always liked! I like big things." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you?" asked Tom. "Well, maybe, when I get—" +</P> + +<P> +But Tom did not finish, for the Hawk unexpectedly poked her nose into +an empty pocket in the air just then, and needed a firm hand on the +controls. Furthermore, Tom decided against making the confidence that +was on the tip of his tongue. +</P> + +<P> +At last the aircraft was straightened out and the pilot guided her on +toward the army encampment. +</P> + +<P> +"That's the place I'd like to be," called Ned through the tube as the +faint, sweet notes of a bugle floated up from the parade ground. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it would be great," admitted Tom. "But there are other things to +do for Uncle Sam besides wearing khaki." +</P> + +<P> +"Tom's up to some game," mused Ned. "I mustn't judge him too hastily, +or I might make a mistake. And Mary mustn't, either. I'll tell her so." +</P> + +<P> +For Mary Nestor had spoken to Ned concerning Tom, and the curiously +secretive air about certain of his activities. And the girl, moreover, +had spoken rather coldly of her friend. Ned did not like this. It was +not like Mary and Tom to be at odds. +</P> + +<P> +Once more the Hawk came to the ground, this time near the airship sheds +adjoining the Swift works. Just as Tom and Ned alighted, one of the +workmen summoned the young inventor toward the shop, which was so +closely guarded by Koku and Eradicate on the outside. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll have to leave you, Ned," remarked Tom, as he turned away from his +chum. "There's a conference on about a new invention." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, that's all right. Business is business, you know. I've got some +bond calls to make myself. I'll see you later." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, by the way, Ned!" exclaimed Tom, turning back for a moment, "I met +an old friend the other day; or rather an old enemy." +</P> + +<P> +"Hum! When you spoke first, I thought you might mean Professor +Swyington Bumper, that delightful scientist," remarked Ned. "But he +surely was no enemy." +</P> + +<P> +"No; but I meant some one I met about the same time. I met Blakeson, +one of the rival contractors when I helped dig the big tunnel." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that so? Where'd you meet him?" +</P> + +<P> +"Right around here. It was certainly a surprise, and at first I +couldn't place him. Then the memory of his face came back to me," and +Tom related the incident which had taken place the day he and Mr. Damon +were out in the Hawk. +</P> + +<P> +"What's he doing around here?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"That's more than I can say," Tom answered. +</P> + +<P> +"Up to no good, I'll wager!" +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you," came from Tom. "But I'm on the watch." +</P> + +<P> +"That's wise, Tom. Well, I'll see you later." +</P> + +<P> +During the week which followed this talk Ned was very busy on Liberty +Bond work, and, he made no doubt, his chum was engaged also. This +prevented them from meeting, but finally Ned, one evening, decided to +walk over to the Swift home. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll pay Tom a bit of a call," he mused. "Maybe he'll feel more like +talking now. Some of the boys are asking why he doesn't enlist, and +maybe if I tell him that he'll make some explanation that will quiet +things down a bit. It's a shame that Tom should be talked about." +</P> + +<P> +With this intention in view, Ned kept on toward his chum's house, and +he was about to turn in through a small grove of trees, which would +lead to a path across the fields, when the young bond salesman was +surprised to hear some one running toward him. He could see no one, for +the path wound in and out among the trees, but the noise was plain. +</P> + +<P> +"Some one in a hurry," mused Ned. +</P> + +<P> +A moment later he caught sight of a small lad named Harry Telford +running toward him. The boy had his hat in his hand, and was speeding +through the fast-gathering darkness as though some one were after him. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the rush?" asked Ned. "Playing cops and robbers?" That was a +game Tom and Ned had enjoyed in their younger days. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I'm runnin' away!" panted Harry. "I—I seen something!" +</P> + +<P> +"You saw something?" repeated Ned. "What was it—a ghost?" and he +laughed, thinking the boy would do the same. +</P> + +<P> +"No, it wasn't no ghost!" declared Harry, casting a look over his +shoulder. "It was a wild elephant that I saw, and it's down in a big +yard with a fence around it." +</P> + +<P> +"Where's that?" asked Ned. "The circus hasn't come to town this +evening, has it?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered Harry, "it wasn't no circus. I saw this elephant down in +the big yard back of one of Mr. Swift's factories." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, down there, was it!" exclaimed Ned. "What was it like?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I was walking along the top of the hill," explained Harry, "and +there's one place where, if you climb a tree, you can look right down +in the big fenced-in yard. I guess I'm about the only one that knows +about it." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe Tom does," mused Ned, "or he'd have had that tree cut +down. He doesn't want any spying, I take it. Well, what'd you see?" he +asked Harry aloud. +</P> + +<P> +"Saw an elephant, I tell you!", insisted the younger boy. "I was in +the tree, looking down, for a lot of us kids has tried to peek through +the fence and couldn't I wanted to see what was there." +</P> + +<P> +"And did you?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"I sure did! And it scared me, too," admitted Harry. "All at once, when +I was lookin', I saw the big doors at the back of the shed open, and +the elephant waddled out." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure you weren't 'seeing things,' like the little boy in the +story?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I sure did see something!" insisted Harry. "It was a great big +gray thing, bigger'n any elephant I ever saw in any circus. It didn't +seem to have any tail or trunk, or even legs, but it went slow, just +like an elephant does, and it shook the ground, it stepped so hard!" +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense!" cried Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Sure I saw it!" cried Harry. "Anyhow," he added, after a moment's +thought, "it was as big as an elephant, though not like any I ever saw." +</P> + +<P> +"What did it do?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it moved around and then it started for the fence nearest me, +where I was up in the tree. I thought it might have seen me, even +though it was gettin' dark, and it might bust through; so I ran!" +</P> + +<P> +"Hum! Well, you surely were seeing things," murmured Ned, but, while he +made light of what the boy told him, the young bank clerk was thinking: +"What is Tom up to now?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter VII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Up a Tree +</H3> + +<P> +"Want to come and have a look?" asked Harry, as Ned paused in the patch +of woods, which were in deeper darkness than the rest of the +countryside, for night was fast falling. +</P> + +<P> +"Have a look at what?" asked Ned, who was thinking many thoughts just +then. +</P> + +<P> +"At the elephant I saw back of the Swift factory. I wouldn't be skeered +if you came along." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm going over to see Tom Swift, anyhow," answered Ned, "so I'll +walk that way. You can come if you like. I don't care about spying on +other people's property—" +</P> + +<P> +"I wasn't spyin'!" exclaimed Harry quickly. "I just happened to look. +And then I seen something." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, come on," suggested Ned. "If there's anything there, we'll have +a peep at it." +</P> + +<P> +His idea was not to try to see what Tom was evidently endeavoring to +conceal, but it was to observe whence Harry had made his observation, +and be in a position to tell Tom to guard against unexpected lookers-on +from that direction. +</P> + +<P> +During the walk back along the course over which Harry had run so +rapidly a little while before, Ned and the boy talked of what the +latter had seen. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think it could be some new kind of elephant?" asked Harry. "You +know Tom Swift brought back a big giant from one of his trips, and +maybe he's got a bigger elephant than any one ever saw before." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense!" laughed Ned. "In the first place, Tom hasn't been on any +trip, of late, except to Washington, and the only kind of elephants +there are white ones." +</P> + +<P> +"Really?" asked Harry. +</P> + +<P> +"No, that was a joke," explained Ned. "Anyhow, Tom hasn't any giant +elephants concealed up his sleeve, I'm sure of that." +</P> + +<P> +"But what could this be?" asked Harry. "It moved just like some big +animal." +</P> + +<P> +"Probably some piece of machinery Tom was having carted from one shop +to another," went on the young bank clerk. "Most likely he had it +covered with a big piece of canvas to keep off the dew, and it was that +you saw." +</P> + +<P> +"No, it wasn't!" insisted Harry, but he could not give any further +details of what he had seen so that Ned could recognize it. They kept +on until they reached the hill, at the bottom of which was the Swift +home and the grounds on which the various shops were erected. +</P> + +<P> +"Here's the place where you can look down right into the yard with the +high fence around it," explained Harry, as he indicated the spot. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't see anything." +</P> + +<P> +"You have to climb up the tree," Harry went on. "Here, this is the one, +and he indicated a stunted and gnarled pine, the green branches of +which would effectually screen any one who once got in it a few feet +above the ground. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I may as well have a look," decided Ned. "It can't do Tom any +harm, and it may be of some service to him. Here goes!" +</P> + +<P> +Up into the tree he scrambled, not without some difficulty, for the +branches were close together and stiff, and Ned tore his coat in the +effort. But he finally got a position where, to his surprise, he could +look down into the very enclosure from which Tom was so particular to +keep prying eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"You can see right down in it!" Ned exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"I told you so," returned Harry. "But do you see—it?" +</P> + +<P> +Ned looked long and carefully. It was lighter, now that they were out +of the clump of woods, and he had the advantage of having the last glow +of the sunset at his back. Even with that it was difficult to make out +objects on the surface of the enclosed field some hundred or more feet +below. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you see anything?" asked Harry again. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I can't say I do," Ned answered. "The place seems to be deserted." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, there was something there," insisted Harry. "Maybe you aren't +lookin' at the right place." +</P> + +<P> +"Have a look yourself, then," suggested Ned, as he got down, a task no +more to his liking than the climb upward had been. +</P> + +<P> +Harry made easier work of it, being smaller and more used to climbing +trees, a luxury Ned had, perforce, denied himself since going to work +in the bank. +</P> + +<P> +Harry peered about, and then, with a sigh that had in it somewhat of +disappointment, said: +</P> + +<P> +"No; there's nothing there now. But I did see something." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Positive!" asserted the other. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, whatever it was—some bit of machinery he was moving, I +fancy—Tom has taken it in now," remarked Ned. "Better not say +anything about this, Harry. Tom mightn't like it known." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I won't." +</P> + +<P> +"And don't come here again to look. I know you like to see strange +things, but if you'll wait I'll ask Tom, as soon as it's ready, to let +you have a closer view of whatever it was you saw. Better keep away +from this tree." +</P> + +<P> +"I will," promised the younger lad. "But I'd like to know what it +was—if it really was a giant elephant Say! if a fellow had a troop of +them he could have a lot of fun with 'em, couldn't he?" +</P> + +<P> +"How?" asked Ned, hardly conscious of what his companion was saying. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, he could dress 'em up in coats of mail, like the old knights used +to wear, and turn 'em loose against the Germans. Think of a regiment of +elephants, wearin' armor plates like a battleship, carryin' on their +backs a lot of soldiers with machine guns and chargin' against Fritz! +Cracky, that would be a sight!" +</P> + +<P> +"I should say so!" agreed Ned, with a laugh. "There's nothing the +matter with your imagination, Harry, my boy!" +</P> + +<P> +"And maybe that's what Tom's doin'!" +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean maybe he is trainin' elephants to fight in the war. You know he +made an aerial warship, so why couldn't he have a lot of armor plated +elephants?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I suppose he could if he wanted to," admitted Ned. "But I guess +he isn't doing that. Don't get to going too fast in high speed, Harry, +or you may have nightmare. Well, I'm going down to see Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"And you won't tell him I was peekin'?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not if you don't do it again. I'll advise him to have that tree cut +down, though. It's too good a vantage spot." +</P> + +<P> +Harry turned and went in the direction of his home, while Ned kept on +down the hill toward the house of his chum. The young bond salesman was +thinking of many things as he tramped, along, and among them was the +information Harry had just given. +</P> + +<P> +But Ned did not pay a visit to his chum that evening. When he reached +the house he found that Tom had gone out, leaving no word as to when he +would be back. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, I can tell him to-morrow," thought Ned. +</P> + +<P> +It was not, however, until two days later that Ned found the time to +visit Tom again. On this occasion, as before, he took the road through +the clump of woods where he had seen Harry running. +</P> + +<P> +"And while I'm about it," mused Ned, "I may as well go on to the place +where the tree stands and make sure, by daylight, what I only partially +surmised in the evening—that Tom's place can be looked down on from +that vantage point." +</P> + +<P> +Sauntering slowly along, for he was in no special hurry, having the +remainder of the day to himself, Ned approached the hill where the tree +stood from which Harry had said he had seen what he took to be a giant +elephant, perhaps in armor. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a good clear day," observed Ned, "and fine for seeing. I wonder +if I'll be able to see anything." +</P> + +<P> +It was necessary first to ascend the hill to a point where it overhung, +in a measure, the Swift property, though the holdings of Tom and his +father were some distance beyond the eminence. The tree from which Ned +and Harry had made their observations was on a knob of the hill, the +stunted pine standing out from among others like it. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, here goes for another torn coat," grimly observed Ned, as he +prepared to climb. "But I'll be more careful. First, though, let's see +if I can see anything without getting up." +</P> + +<P> +He paused a little way from the pine, and peered down the hill. Nothing +could be seen of the big enclosed field back of the building about +which Tom was so careful. +</P> + +<P> +"You have to be up to see anything," mused Ned. "It's up a tree for me! +Well, here goes!" +</P> + +<P> +As Ned started to work his way up among the thick, green branches, he +became aware, suddenly and somewhat to his surprise, that he was not +the only person who knew about the observation spot. For Ned saw, a +yard above his head, as he started to climb, two feet, encased in +well-made boots, standing on a limb near the trunk of the tree. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, ho!" mused Ned. "Some one here before me! Where there are feet +there must be legs, and where there are legs, most likely a body. And +it isn't Harry, either! The feet are too big for that. I wonder—" +</P> + +<P> +But Ned's musings were suddenly cut short, for the person up the tree +ahead of him moved quickly and stepped on Ned's fingers, with no light +tread. +</P> + +<P> +"Ouch!" exclaimed the young bank clerk involuntarily, and, letting go +his hold of the limb, he dropped to the ground, while there came a +startled exclamation from the screen of pine branches above him. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter VIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Detective Rad +</H3> + +<P> +"Who's there?" came the demand from the unseen person in the tree. +</P> + +<P> +"I might ask you the same thing," was Ned's sharp retort, as he nursed +his skinned and bruised fingers. "What are you doing up there?" +</P> + +<P> +There was no answer, but a sound among the branches indicated that the +person up the tree was coming down. In another moment a man leaped to +the ground lightly and stood beside Ned. The lad observed that the +stranger was clean shaven, except for a small moustache which curled up +at the ends slightly. +</P> + +<P> +"For all the world like a small edition of the Kaiser's," Ned described +it afterward. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you doing here?" demanded the man, and his voice had in it +the ring of authority. It was this very quality that made Ned bristle +up and "get on his ear," as he said later. The young clerk did not +object to being spoken to authoritatively by those who had the right, +but from a stranger it was different. +</P> + +<P> +"I might ask you the same thing," retorted Ned. "I have as much right +here as you, I fancy, and I can climb trees, too, but I don't care to +have my fingers stepped on," and he looked at the scarified members of +his left hand. +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon. I'm sorry if I hurt you. I didn't mean to. And of +course this is a public place, in a way, and you have a right here. I +was just climbing the tree to—er—to get a fishing pole!" +</P> + +<P> +Ned had all he could do to keep from laughing. The idea of getting a +fishing pole from a gnarled and stunted pine struck him as being +altogether novel and absurd. Yet it was not time to make fun of the +man. The latter looked too serious for that. +</P> + +<P> +"Rather a good view to be had from up where you were, eh?" asked Ned +suggestively. +</P> + +<P> +"A good view?" exclaimed the other. "I don't know what you mean!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, then you didn't see anything," Ned went on. "Perhaps it's just as +well. Are you fond of fishing?" +</P> + +<P> +"Very. I have—But I forget, I do not know you nor you me. Allow me to +introduce myself. I am Mr. Walter Simpson, and I am here on a visit I +just happened to walk out this way, and, seeing a small stream, thought +I should like to fish. I usually carry lines and hooks, and all I +needed was the pole. I was looking for it when I heard you, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"I felt you!" interrupted Ned, with a short laugh. He told his own +name, but that was all, and seemed about to pass on. +</P> + +<P> +"Are there any locomotive shops around here?" asked Mr. Simpson. +</P> + +<P> +"Locomotive shops?" queried Ned. "None that I know of. Why?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I heard heavy machinery being used down there;" and he waved his +hand toward Tom's shops, "and I thought—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you mean Shopton!" exclaimed Ned. "That's the Swift plant. No, +they don't make locomotives, though they could if they wanted to, for +they turn out airships, submarines, tunnel diggers, and I don't know +what." +</P> + +<P> +"Do they make munitions there—for the Allies?" asked Mr. Simpson, and +there was an eager look on his face. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I don't believe so," Ned answered; "though, in fact, I don't know +enough of the place to be in a position to give you any information +about it," he told the man, not deeming it wise to go into particulars. +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps the man felt this, as he did not press for an answer. +</P> + +<P> +The two stood looking at one another for some little time, and then the +man, with a bow that had in it something of insolence, as well as +politeness, turned and went down the path up which Ned had come. +</P> + +<P> +The young bank clerk waited a little while, and then turned his +attention to the tree which seemed to have suddenly assumed an +importance altogether out of proportion to its size. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, since I'm here I'll have a look up that tree," decided Ned. +</P> + +<P> +Favoring his bruised hand, Ned essayed the ascent of the tree more +successfully this time. As he rose up among the branches he found he +could look down directly into the yard with the high fence about it. He +Could see only a portion, good as his vantage point was, and that +portion had in it a few workmen—nothing else. +</P> + +<P> +"No elephants there," said Ned, with a smile, as he remembered Harry's +excitement. "Still it's just as well for Tom to know that his place can +be looked down on. I'll go and tell him." +</P> + +<P> +As Ned descended the tree he caught a glimpse, off to one side among +some bushes, of something moving. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if that's my Simp friend, playing I spy?" mused Ned. "Guess +I'd better have a look." +</P> + +<P> +He worked his way carefully close to the spot where he had seen the +movement. Proceeding then with more caution, watching each step and +parting the bushes with a careful hand, Ned beheld what he expected. +</P> + +<P> +There was the late occupant of the pine tree the man who had stepped on +Ned's fingers, applying a small telescope to his eye and gazing in the +direction of Tom Swift's home. +</P> + +<P> +The man stood concealed in a screen of bushes with his back toward Ned, +and seemed oblivious to his surroundings. He moved the glass to and +fro, and seemed eagerly intent on discovering something. +</P> + +<P> +"Though what he can see of Tom's place from there isn't much," mused +Ned. "I've tried it myself, and I know; you have to be on an elevation +to look down. Still it shows he's after something, all right. Guess +I'll throw a little scare into him." +</P> + +<P> +As yet, Ned believed himself unobserved, and that his presence was not +suspected was proved a moment later when he shouted: +</P> + +<P> +"Hey! What are you doing there?" +</P> + +<P> +He had his eye on the partially concealed man, and the latter, as Ned +said afterward, jumped fully two feet in the air, dropping his +telescope as he did so, and turning to face the lad. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it's you, is it?" he faltered. +</P> + +<P> +"No one else;" and Ned grinned. "Looking for a good place to fish, I +presume?" +</P> + +<P> +Then, at least for once, the man's suave manner dropped from him as if +it had been a mask. He bared his teeth in a snarl as he answered: +</P> + +<P> +"Mind your own business!" +</P> + +<P> +"Something I'd advise you also to do," replied Ned smoothly. "You can't +see anything from there," he went on. "Better go back to the tree +and—cut a fishing pole!" +</P> + +<P> +With this parting shot Ned sauntered down the hill, and swung around to +make his way toward Tom's home. He paid no further attention to the +man, save to determine, by listening, that the fellow was searching +among the bushes for the dropped telescope. +</P> + +<P> +The young inventor was at home, taking a hasty lunch which Mrs. Baggert +had set out for him, the while he poured over some blueprint drawings +that, to Ned's unaccustomed eyes, looked like the mazes of some +intricate puzzle. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, where have you been keeping yourself, old man?" asked Tom Swift, +after he had greeted his friend. +</P> + +<P> +"I might ask the same of you," retorted Ned, with a smile. "I've been +trying to find you to give you some important information, and I made +up my mind, after what happened to-day, to write it and leave it for +you if I didn't see you." +</P> + +<P> +"What happened to-day?" asked Tom, and there was a serious look on his +face. +</P> + +<P> +"You are being spied upon—at least, that part of your works enclosed +in the new fence is," replied Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"You don't mean it!" Cried Tom. "This accounts for some of it, then." +</P> + +<P> +"For some of what?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"For some of the actions of that Blakeson. He's been hanging around +here, I understand, asking too many questions about things that I'm +trying to keep secret—even from my best friends," and as Tom said this +Ned fancied there was a note of regret in his voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you are keeping some things secret, Tom," said Ned, determined +"to take the bull by the horns," as it were. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry, but it has to be," went on Tom. "In a little while—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, don't think that I'm at all anxious to know things!" broke in Ned. +"I was thinking of some one else, Tom—another of your friends." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean Mary?" +</P> + +<P> +Ned nodded. +</P> + +<P> +"She feels rather keenly your lack of explanations," went on the young +bank clerk. "If you could only give her a hint—" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry, but it can't be done," and Tom spoke firmly. "But you +haven't told me all that happened. You say I am being spied upon." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," and Ned related what had taken place in the tree. +</P> + +<P> +"Whew!" whistled Tom. "That's going some with a vengeance! I must have +that tree down in a jiffy. I didn't imagine there was a spot where the +yard could be overlooked. But I evidently skipped that tree. +Fortunately it's on land owned by a concern with which I have some +connection, and I can have it chopped down without any trouble. Much +obliged to you, Ned. I shan't forget this in a hurry. I'll go right +away and—" +</P> + +<P> +Tom's further remark was interrupted by the hurried entrance of +Eradicate Sampson. The old man was smiling in pleased anticipation, +evidently, at the same time, trying hard not to give way to too much +emotion. +</P> + +<P> +"I's done it, Massa Tom!" he cried exultingly. +</P> + +<P> +"Done what?" asked the young inventor. "I hope you and Koku haven't had +another row." +</P> + +<P> +"No, sah! I don't want nuffin t' do wif dat ornery, low-down white +trash! But I's gone an' done whut I said I'd do!" +</P> + +<P> +"What's that, Rad? Come on, tell us! Don't keep us in suspense." +</P> + +<P> +"I's done some deteckertiff wuk, lest laik I said I'd do, an' I's +cotched him! By golly, Massa Tom! I's cotched him black-handed, as it +says!" +</P> + +<P> +"Caught him? Whom have you caught, Rad?" cried Tom. "Do you suppose he +means he's caught the man you saw up the tree, Ned? The man you think +is a German spy?" +</P> + +<P> +"It couldn't be. I left him only a little while ago hunting for his +telescope." +</P> + +<P> +"Then whom have you caught, Rad?" cried Tom. "Come on, I'll give you +credit for it. Tell us!" +</P> + +<P> +"I's cotched dat Dutch Sauerkrauter, dat's who I's cotched, Massa Tom! +By golly, I's cotched him!" +</P> + +<P> +"But who, Rad? Who is he?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know his name, Massa Tom, but he's a Sauerkrauter, all right. +Dat's whut he eats for lunch, an' dat's why I calls him dat. I's +cotched him, an' he's locked up in de stable wif mah mule Boomerang. +An' ef he tries t' git out Boomerang'll jest natchully kick him into +little pieces—dat's whut Boomerang will do, by golly!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter IX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Night Test +</H3> + +<P> +"Come on, Ned," said Tom, after a moment or two of silent contemplation +of Eradicate. "I don't know what this cheerful camouflager of mine is +talking about, but we'll have to go to see, I suppose. You say you have +shut some one up in Boomerang's stable, Rad?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sah, Massa Tom, dat's whut I's gone an done." +</P> + +<P> +"And you say he's a German?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know as to dat, Massa Tom, but he suah done eat sauerkraut +'mostest ebery meal. Dat's whut I call him—a Sauerkrauter! An' he suah +was spyin'." +</P> + +<P> +"How do you know that, Rad?" +</P> + +<P> +"'Cause he done went from his own shop on annuder man's ticket into de +secret shop, dat's whut he went an' done!" +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean to tell me, Rad," went on Tom, "that one of the workmen +from another shop entered Number Thirteen on the pass issued in the +name of one of the men regularly employed in my new shop?" +</P> + +<P> +"Dat's whut he done, Massa Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"How do you know?" +</P> + +<P> +"'Cause I detected him doin' it. Yo'-all done made me a deteckertiff, +an' I detected." +</P> + +<P> +"Go on, Rad." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, sah, Massa Tom, I seen dish yeah Dutchman git a ticket-pass +offen one ob de reg'lar men. Den he went in de unlucky place an' stayed +fo' a long time. When he come out I jest natchully nabbed him, dat's +whut I done, an' I took him to Boomerang's stable." +</P> + +<P> +"How'd you get him to go with you?" asked Ned, for the old colored man +was feeble, and most of the men employed at Tom's plant were of a +robust type. +</P> + +<P> +"I done fooled him. I said as how I'd jest brought from town in mah +mule cart some new sauerkraut, an' he could sample it if he liked. So +he went wif me, an' when I got him to de stable I pushed him in and +locked de door!" +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" cried Tom to his chum. "Rad may be right, after all, and one +of my workmen may be a German spy, though I've tried to weed them all +out. +</P> + +<P> +"However, no matter about that, if he was employed in another shop, he +had no right to go into Number Thirteen. That's a violation of rules. +But if he's in Rad's ramshackle stable he can easily get out." +</P> + +<P> +"No, sah, dat's whut he can't do!" insisted the colored man. +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"'Cause Boomerang's on guard, an' yo'-all knows how dat mule of mine +can use his heels!" +</P> + +<P> +"I know, Rad," went on Tom; "but this fellow will find a way of keeping +out of their way. We must hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, he's safe enough," declared the colored man. "I done tole Koku to +stan' guard, too! Dat low-down white trash ob a giant is all right fo' +guardin', but he ain't wuff shucks at detectin'!" said Eradicate, with +pardonable pride. "By golly, maybe I's too old t' put on guard, but I +kin detect, all right!" +</P> + +<P> +"If this proves true, I'll begin to believe you can," replied Tom. "Hop +along, Ned!" +</P> + +<P> +Followed by the shuffling and chuckling negro, Tom and Ned went to the +rather insecure stable where the mule Boomerang was kept. That is, the +stable was insecure from the standpoint of a jail. But the sight of the +giant Koku marching up and down in front of the place, armed with a big +club, reassured Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Is he in there, Koku?" asked the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Master! He try once come out, but he approach his head very close +my defense weapon and he go back again." +</P> + +<P> +"I should think he would," laughed Ned, as he noted the giant's club. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Rad, let's have a look at your prisoner. Open the door, Koku," +commanded Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Better look out," advised Ned. "He may be armed." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll have to take a chance. Besides, I don't believe he is, or he'd +have fired at Koku. There isn't much to fear with the giant ready for +emergencies. Now we'll see who he is. I can't imagine one of my men +turning traitor." +</P> + +<P> +The door was opened and a rather miserable-looking man shuffled out. +There was a bloody rag on his head, and he seemed to have made more of +an effort to escape than Koku described, for he appeared to have +suffered in the ensuing fight. +</P> + +<P> +"Carl Schwen!" exclaimed Tom. "So it was you, was it?" +</P> + +<P> +The German, for such he was, did not answer for a moment. He appeared +downcast, and as if suffering. Then a change came over him. He +straightened up, saluted as a soldier might have done, and a sneering +look came into his face. It was succeeded by one of pride as the man +exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it is I! And I tried to do what I tried to do for the Fatherland! +I have failed. Now you will have me shot as a spy, I suppose!" he added +bitterly. +</P> + +<P> +Tom did not answer directly. He looked keenly at the man, and at last +said: +</P> + +<P> +"I am sorry to see this. I knew you were a German, Schwen, but I kept +you employed at work that could not, by any possibility, be considered +as used against your country. You are a good machinist, and I needed +you. But if what I hear about you is true, it is the end." +</P> + +<P> +"It is the end," said the man simply. "I tried and failed. If it had +not been for Eradicate—Well, he's smarter than I gave him credit for, +that's all!" +</P> + +<P> +The man spoke very good English, with hardly a trace of German accent, +but there was no doubt as to his character. +</P> + +<P> +"What will you do with him, Tom?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know. I'll have to do a little investigating first. But he +must be locked up. Schwen," went on the young inventor, "I'm sorry +about this, but I shall have to give you into the custody of a United +States marshal. You are not a naturalized citizen, are you?" +</P> + +<P> +The man muttered something in German to the effect that he was not +naturalized and was glad of it. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you come under the head of an enemy alien," decided Tom, who +understood what was said, "and will have to be interned. I had hoped to +avoid this, but it seems it cannot be. I am sorry to lose you, but +there are more important matters. Now let's get at the bottom of this." +</P> + +<P> +Schwen was, after a little delay, taken in charge by the proper +officer, and then a search was made of his room, for, in common with +some of the other workmen, he lived in a boarding house not far from +the plant. +</P> + +<P> +There, by a perusal of his papers, enough was revealed to show Tom the +danger he had escaped. +</P> + +<P> +"And yet I don't know that I have altogether escaped it," he said to +Ned, as they talked it over. "There's no telling how long this spy work +may have been going on. If he has discovered all the secrets of Shop +Thirteen it may be a bad thing for the Allies and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Look out!" warned Ned, with a laugh. "You'll be saying things you +don't want to, Tom and not at all in keeping with your former silence." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," agreed the young inventor, with a sigh. "But if things go +right I'll not have to keep silent much longer. I may be able to tell +you everything." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't tell me—tell Mary," advised his chum. "She feels your silence +more than I do. I know how such things are." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'll be able to tell her, too," decided Tom. "That is, if Schwen +hasn't spoiled everything. Look here, Ned, these papers show he's been +in correspondence with Blakeson and Grinder." +</P> + +<P> +"What about, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"I can't tell. The letters are evidently written in code, and I can't +translate it offhand. But I'll make another attempt at it. And here's +one from a person who signs himself Walter Simpson, but the writing is +in German." +</P> + +<P> +"Walter Simpson!" cried Ned. "That's my friend of the tree!" +</P> + +<P> +"It is?" cried Tom. "Then things begin to fit themselves together. +Simpson is a spy, and he was probably trying to communicate with +Schwen. But the latter didn't get the information he wanted, or, if he +did get it, he wasn't able to pass it on to the man in the tree. +Eradicate nipped him just in time." +</P> + +<P> +And, so it seemed, the colored man had done. By accident he had +discovered that Schwen had prevailed on one of the workmen in Shop 13 +to change passes with him. This enabled the German spy to gain +admittance to the secret place, which Tom thought was so well guarded. +The man who let Schwen take the pass was in the game, too, it appeared, +and he was also placed under arrest. But he was a mere tool in the pay +of the others, and had no chance to gain valuable information. +</P> + +<P> +A hasty search of Shop 13 did not reveal anything missing, and it was +surmised (for Schwen would not talk) that he had not found time to go +about and get all that he was after. +</P> + +<P> +Soon after Schwen's arrest the "Spy Tree," as Tom called it, was cut +down. +</P> + +<P> +"Eradicate certainly did better than I ever expected he would," +declared Tom. "Well, if all goes well, there won't be so much need for +secrecy after a day or so. We're going to give her a test, and then—" +</P> + +<P> +"Give who a test?" asked Ned, with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll soon see," answered Tom, with an answering grin. "I hereby +invite you and Mr. Damon to come over to Shop Thirteen day after +to-morrow night and then—Well, you'll see what you'll see." +</P> + +<P> +With this Ned had to be content, and he waited anxiously for the +appointed time to come. +</P> + +<P> +"I surely will be glad when Tom is more like himself," he mused, as he +left his chum. "And I guess Mary will be, too. I wonder if he's going +to ask her to the exhibition?" +</P> + +<P> +It developed that Tom had done so, a fact which Ned learned on the +morning of the day set for the test. +</P> + +<P> +"Come over about nine o'clock," Tom said to his chum. "I guess it will +be dark enough then." +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Schwen and Otto Kuhn, the other man involved, had been locked +up, and all their papers given into the charge of the United States +authorities. A closer guard than ever was kept over No. 13 shop, and +some of the workmen, against whom there was a slight suspicion, were +transferred. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll see what we shall see," mused Ned on the appointed +evening, when a telephone message from Mr. Damon informed the young +bank clerk that the eccentric man was coming to call for him before +going on to the Swift place. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter X +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Runaway Giant +</H3> + +<P> +"What do you think it's all about, Mr. Damon?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure I don't know, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +The two were at the home of the young bank clerk, preparing to start +for the Swift place, it being nearly nine o'clock on the evening named +by the youthful inventor. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my hat-rack!" went on the eccentric man, "but Tom isn't at all +like himself of late. He's working on some invention, I know that, but +it's all I do know. He hasn't given me a hint of it." +</P> + +<P> +"Nor me, nor any of his friends," added Ned. "And he acts so oddly +about enlisting—doesn't want even to speak of it. How he got exempted +I don't know, but I do know one thing, and that is Tom Swift is for +Uncle Sam first, last and always!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, of course!" agreed Mr. Damon. "Well, we'll soon know, I guess. +We'd better start, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"It's useless to try to guess what it is Tom is up to. He has kept his +secret well. The nearest any one has come to it was when Harry figured +out that Tom had a band of giant elephants which he was fitting with +coats of steel armor to go against the Germans," observed Ned, when he +and Mr. Damon were on their way. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that mightn't be so bad," agreed Mr. Damon. +"But—um—elephants—and wild giant ones, too! Bless my circus ticket, +Ned! do you think we'd better go in that case?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Tom hasn't anything like that!" laughed Ned. "That was only +Harry's crazy notion after he saw something big and ungainly careening +about the enclosed yard of Shop Thirteen. Hello, there go Mary Nestor +and her father!" and Ned pointed to the opposite side of the street +where the girl and Mr. Nestor could be seen in the light of a street +lamp. +</P> + +<P> +"They're going out to see Tom's secret," said Mr. Damon. "There's +plenty of room in my car. Let's ask them to go with us." +</P> + +<P> +"Surely," agreed Ned, and a moment later he and Mary were in the rear +seat while Mr. Damon and Mr. Nestor were in the front, Mr. Damon at the +wheel, and they were soon speeding down the road. +</P> + +<P> +"I do hope everything will go all right," observed Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"I mean Tom is a little bit anxious about this test." +</P> + +<P> +"Did he tell you what it was to be?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; but when he called to invite father and me to be present he seemed +worried. I guess it's a big thing, for he never has acted this way +before—not talking about his work." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," assented Ned. "But the secret will soon be disclosed, I +fancy. But how is it you aren't going to the dance with Lieutenant +Martin? He told me you had half accepted for to-night." +</P> + +<P> +"I had." And if it had been light enough Ned would have seen Mary +blushing. "I was going with him. It's a dance for the benefit of the +Red Cross to get money for comfort kits for the soldiers. But when Tom +sent word that he'd like to have me present to-night, why—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I see!" broke in Ned, with a little laugh. "'Nough said!" +</P> + +<P> +Mary's blushes were deeper, but the kindly night hid them. +</P> + +<P> +Then they conversed on matters connected with the big war—the selling +of Liberty Bonds, the Red Cross work and the Surgical Dressings +Committee, in which Mary was the head of a junior league. +</P> + +<P> +"Everybody in Shopton seems to be doing something to help win the war," +said Mary, and as there was just then a lull in the talk between her +father and Mr. Damon her words sounded clearly. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, everybody—that is, all but a few," said Mr. Nestor, "and they +ought to get busy. There are some young fellows in this town that ought +to be wearing khaki, and I don't mean you, Ned Newton. You're doing +your bit, all right." +</P> + +<P> +"And so is Tom Swift!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as if there had been an +implied accusation against the young inventor. "I heard, only to-day, +that one of his inventions—a gas helmet that he planned—is in use on +the Western front in Europe. Tom gave his patents to the government, +and even made a lot of the helmets free to show other factories how to +turn them out to advantage." +</P> + +<P> +"He did?" cried Mr. Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +"That's what he did. Talk about doing your bit—" +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't know that," observed Mary's father slowly. "Do you suppose +it's a test of another gas helmet that Tom has asked us out to see +to-night?" +</P> + +<P> +"I hardly think so," said Ned. "He wouldn't wait until after dark for +that. This is something big, and Tom must intend to have it out in the +open. He probably waited until after sunset so the neighbors wouldn't +come out in flocks. There's been a lot of talk about what is going on +in Shop Thirteen, especially since the arrest of the German spies, and +the least hint that a test is under way would bring out a big crowd." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose so," agreed Mr. Nestor. "Well, I'm glad to know that Tom is +doing something for Uncle Sam, even if it's only helping with gas +helmets. Those Germans are barbarians, if ever there were any, and +we've got to fight them the same way they fight us! That's the only way +to end the war! Now if I had my way, I'd take every German I could lay +my hands on—" +</P> + +<P> +"Father, pretzels!" exclaimed Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Eh? What's that, my dear?" +</P> + +<P> +"I said pretzels!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh!" and Mr. Nestor's voice lost its sharpness. +</P> + +<P> +"That's my way of quieting father down when he gets too strenuous in +his talk about the war," explained Mary. "We agreed that whenever he +got excited I was to say 'pretzels' to him, and that would make him +remember. We made up our little scheme after he got into an argument +with a man on the train and was carried past his station." +</P> + +<P> +"That's right," admitted Mr. Nestor, with a laugh. "But that fellow was +the most obstinate, pig-headed Dutchman that ever tackled a plate of +pig's knuckles and sauerkraut, and if he had the least grain of common +sense he'd—" +</P> + +<P> +"Pretzels!" cried Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Eh? Oh, yes, my dear. I was forgetting again." +</P> + +<P> +There was a moment of merriment, and then, after the talk had run for a +while in other and safer channels, Mr. Damon made the announcement: +</P> + +<P> +"I think we're about there. We'll be at Tom's place when we make the +turn and—" +</P> + +<P> +He was interrupted by a low, heavy rumbling. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that?" asked Mr. Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +"It's getting louder—the noise," remarked Mary. "It sounds as if some +big body were approaching down the road—the tramp of many feet. Can it +be that troops are marching away?" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my spark plug!" suddenly cried Mr. Damon. "Look!" +</P> + +<P> +They gazed ahead, and there, seen in the glare of the automobile +headlights, was an immense, dark body approaching them from across a +level field. The rumble and roar became more pronounced and the ground +shook as though from an earthquake. +</P> + +<P> +A glaring light shone out from the ponderous moving body, and above the +roar and rattle a voice called: +</P> + +<P> +"Out out of the way! We've lost control! Look out!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my steering wheel!" gasped Mr. Damon, "that was Tom Swift's +voice! But what is he doing in that—thing?" +</P> + +<P> +"It must be his new invention!" exclaimed Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Mr. Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +"A giant," ventured Ned. "It's a giant machine of some sort and—" +</P> + +<P> +"And it's running away!" cried Mr. Damon, as he quickly steered his car +to one side—and not a moment too soon! An instant later in a cloud of +dust, and with a rumble and a roar as of a dozen express trains fused +into one, the runaway giant—of what nature they could only +guess—flashed and lumbered by, Tom Swift leaning from an opening in +the thick steel side, and shouting something to his friends. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Tom's Tank +</H3> + +<P> +"What was it?" gasped Mary, and, to her surprise, she found herself +close to Ned, clutching his arm. +</P> + +<P> +"I have an idea, but I'd rather let Tom tell you," he answered. +</P> + +<P> +"But where's it going?" asked Mr. Nestor. "What in the world does Tom +Swift mean by inviting us out here to witness a test, and then nearly +running us down under a Juggernaut?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, there must be some mistake, I'm sure," returned his daughter. "Tom +didn't intend this." +</P> + +<P> +"But, bless my insurance policy, look at that thing go! What in the +world is it?" cried Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +The "thing" was certainly going. It had careened from the road, tilted +itself down into a ditch and gone on across the fields, lights shooting +from it in eccentric fashion. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe we'd better take after it," suggested Mr. Nestor. "If Tom is—" +</P> + +<P> +"There, it's stopping!" cried Ned. "Come on!" +</P> + +<P> +He sprang from the automobile, helped Mary to get out, and then the +two, followed by Mr. Damon and Mr. Nestor, made their way across the +fields toward the big object where it had come to a stop, the rumbling +and roaring ceasing. +</P> + +<P> +Before the little party reached the strange machine—the "runaway +giant," as they dubbed it in their excitement—a bright light flashed +from it, a light that illuminated their path right up to the monster. +And in the glare of this light they saw Tom Swift stepping out through +a steel door in the side of the affair. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you all right?" he called to his friends, as they approached. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, as nearly as we can be when we've been almost scared to +death, Tom," said Mr. Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm surely sorry for what happened," Tom answered, with a relieved +laugh. "Part of the steering gear broke and I had to guide it by +operating the two motors alternately. It can be worked that way, but it +takes a little practice to become expert." +</P> + +<P> +"I should say so!" cried Mr. Damon. "But what in the world does it all +mean, Tom Swift? You invite us out to see something—" +</P> + +<P> +"And there she is!" interrupted the young inventor. "You saw her a +little before I meant you to, and not under exactly the circumstances I +had planned. But there she is!" And he turned as though introducing the +metallic monster to his friends. +</P> + +<P> +"What is she, Tom?" asked Ned. "Name it!" +</P> + +<P> +"My latest invention, or rather the invention of my father and myself," +answered Tom, and his voice showed the love and reverence he felt for +his parent. "Perhaps I should say adaptation instead of invention," Tom +went on, "since that is what it is. But, at any rate, it's my +latest—dad's and mine—and it's the newest, biggest, most improved and +powerful fighting tank that's been turned out of any shop, as far as I +can learn. +</P> + +<P> +"Ladies—I mean lady and gentlemen—allow me to present to you War Tank +A, and may she rumble till the pride of the Boche is brought low and +humble!" cried Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurray! That's what I say!" cheered Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I have been at work on lately. I'll give you a little +history of it, and then you may come inside and have a ride home." +</P> + +<P> +"In that?" cried Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. I can't promise to move as speedily as your car, but I can make +better time than the British tanks. They go about six miles an hour, I +understand, and I've got mine geared to ten. That's one improvement dad +and I have made." +</P> + +<P> +"Ride in that!" cried Mr. Nestor. "Tom, I like you, and I'm glad to see +I've been mistaken about you. You have been doing your bit, after all; +but—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I've only begun!" laughed Tom Swift. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, no matter about that. However much I like you," went on Mr. +Nestor, "I'd as soon ride on the wings of a thunderbolt as in Tank A, +Tom Swift." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it isn't as bad as that!" laughed the young scientist. "But +neither is it a limousine. However, come inside, anyhow, and I'll tell +you something about it. Then I guess we can guide it back. The men are +repairing the break." +</P> + +<P> +The visitors entered the great craft through the door by which Tom had +emerged. At first all they saw was a small compartment, with walls of +heavy steel, some shelves of the same and a seat which folded up +against the wall made of like powerful material. +</P> + +<P> +"This is supposed to be the captain's room, where he stays when he +directs matters." Tom explained. "The machinery is below and beyond +here." +</P> + +<P> +"How'd you come to evolve this?" asked Ned. "I haven't seen half enough +of the outside, to say nothing of the inside." +</P> + +<P> +"You'll have time enough," Tom said. "This is my first completed tank. +There are some improvements to be made before we send it to the other +side to be copied. +</P> + +<P> +"Then they'll make them in England as well as here, and from here we'll +ship them in sections." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't see how you ever thought of it!" exclaimed the girl, in wonder. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I didn't all at once," Tom answered, with a laugh. "It came by +degrees. I first got the idea when I heard of the British tanks. +</P> + +<P> +"When I had read how they went into action and what they accomplished +against the barbed wire entanglements, and how they crossed the +trenches, I concluded that a bigger tank, one capable of more speed, +say ten or twelve miles an hour, and one that could cross bigger +excavations—the English tanks up to this time can cross a ditch of +twelve feet—I thought that, with one made on such specifications, more +effective work could be done against the Germans." +</P> + +<P> +"And will yours do that?" asked Ned. "I mean will it do ten miles an +hour, and straddle over a wider ditch than twelve feet?" +</P> + +<P> +"It'll do both," promptly answered Tom. "We did a little better than +eleven miles an hour a while ago when I yelled to you to get out of the +way just now. It's true we weren't under good control, but the speed +had nothing to do with that. And as for going over a big ditch, I think +we straddled one about fourteen feet across back there, and we can do +better when I get my grippers to working." +</P> + +<P> +"Grippers!" exclaimed Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"What kind of trench slang is that, Tom Swift?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's a new idea I'm going to try out It's something like +this," and while from a distant part of the interior of Tank A came the +sound of hammering, the young inventor rapidly drew a rough pencil +sketch. +</P> + +<P> +It showed the tank in outline, much as appear the pictures of tanks +already in service—the former simile of two wedge-shaped pieces of +metal put together broad end to broad end, still holding good. From one +end of the tank, as Tom drew it, there extended two long arms of +latticed steel construction. +</P> + +<P> +"The idea is," said Tom, "to lay these down in front of the tank, by +means of cams and levers operated from inside. If we get to a ditch +which we can't climb down into and out again, or bridge with the belt +caterpillar wheels, we'll use the grippers. They'll be laid down, +taking a grip on the far side of the trench, and we'll slide across on +them." +</P> + +<P> +"And leave them there?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"No, we won't leave them. We'll pick them up after we have passed over +them and use them in front again as we need them. A couple of extra +pairs of grippers may be carried for emergencies, but I plan to use the +same ones over and over again." +</P> + +<P> +"But what makes it go?" asked Mary. "I don't want all the details, +Tom," she said, with a smile, "but I'd like to know what makes your +tank move." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be able to show you in a little while," he answered. "But it may +be enough now if I tell you that the main power consists of two big +gasolene engines, one on either side. They can be geared to operate +together or separately. And these engines turn the endless belts made +of broad, steel plates, on which the tank travels. The belts pass along +the outer edges of the tank longitudinally, and go around cogged wheels +at either end of the blunt noses. +</P> + +<P> +"When both belts travel at the same rate of speed the tank goes in a +straight line, though it can be steered from side to side by means of a +trailer wheel in the rear. Making one belt—one set of caterpillar +wheels, you know—go faster than the other will make the tank travel to +one side or the other, the turn being in the direction of the slowest +moving belt. In this way we can steer when the trailer wheels are +broken." +</P> + +<P> +"And what does your tank do except travel along, not minding a hail of +bullets?" asked Mr. Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," answered Tom, "it can do anything any other tank can do, and +then some more. It can demolish a good-sized house or heavy wall, break +down big trees, and chew up barbed-wire fences as if they were +toothpicks. I'll show you all that in due time. Just now, if the +repairs are finished, we can get back on the road—" +</P> + +<P> +At that moment a door leading into the compartment where Tom and his +friends were talking opened, and one of the workmen said: +</P> + +<P> +"A man outside asking to see you, Mr. Swift." +</P> + +<P> +"Pardon me, but I won't keep you a moment," interrupted a suave voice. +"I happened to observe your tank, and I took the liberty of entering to +see—" +</P> + +<P> +"Simpson!" cried Ned Newton, as he recognized the man who had been up +the tree. "It's that spy, Simpson, Tom!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Bridging a Gap +</H3> + +<P> +Such surprise showed both on the face of Ned Newton and that of the man +who called himself Walter Simpson that it would be hard to say which +was in the greater degree. For a moment the newcomer stood as if he had +received all electric shock, and was incapable of motion. Then, as the +echoes of Ned's voice died away and the young bank clerk, being the +first to recover from the shock, made a motion toward the unwelcome and +uninvited intruder, Simpson exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"I will not bother now. Some other time will do as well." +</P> + +<P> +Then, with a haste that could be called nothing less than precipitate, +he made a turn and fairly shot out of the door by which he had entered +the tank. +</P> + +<P> +"There he goes!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my speedometer, but there he +goes!" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll stop him!" cried Ned. "We've got to find out more about him! I'll +get him, Tom!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift was not one to let a friend rush alone into what might be +danger. He realized immediately what his chum meant when he called out +the identity of the intruder, and, wishing to clear up some of the +mystery of which he became aware when Schwen was arrested and the paper +showing a correspondence with this Simpson were found, Tom darted out +to try to assist in the capture. +</P> + +<P> +"He went this way!" cried Ned, who was visible in the glare of the +searchlight that still played its powerful beams over the stern of the +tank, if such an ungainly machine can be said to have a bow and stern. +"Over this way!" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm with you!" cried Tom. "See if you can pick up that man who just +ran out of here!" he cried to the operator of the searchlight in the +elevated observation section of what corresponded to the conning tower +of a submarine. This was a sort of lookout box on top of the tank, +containing, among other machines, the searchlight. "Pick him up!" cried +Tom. +</P> + +<P> +The operator flashed the intense white beam, like a finger of light, +around in eccentric circles, but though this brought into vivid relief +the configuration of the field and road near which the tank was +stalled, it showed no running fugitive. Tom and Ned were +observed—shadows of black in the glare—by Mary and her friends in the +tank, but there was no one else. +</P> + +<P> +"Come on!" cried Ned. "We can find him, Tom!" +</P> + +<P> +But this was easier said than done. Even though they were aided by the +bright light, they caught no glimpse of the man who called himself +Simpson. +</P> + +<P> +"Guess he got away," said Tom, when he and Ned had circled about and +investigated many clumps of bushes, trees, stumps and other barriers +that might conceal the fugitive. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess so," agreed Ned. "Unless he's hiding in what we might call a +shell crater." +</P> + +<P> +"Hardly that," and Tom smiled. "Though if all goes well the men who +operate this tank later may be searching for men in real shell holes." +</P> + +<P> +"Is this one going to the other side?" asked Ned, as the two walked +back toward the tank. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope it will be the first of my new machines on the Western front," +Tom answered. "But I've still got to perfect it in some details and +then take it apart. After that, if it comes up to expectations, we'll +begin making them in quantities." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you get him?" asked Mr. Damon eagerly, as the two young men came +back to join Mary and her friends. +</P> + +<P> +"No, he got away," Tom answered. +</P> + +<P> +"Did he try to blow up the tank?" asked Mr. Nestor, who had an abnormal +fear of explosives. "Was he a German spy?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think he's that, all right," said Ned grimly. "As to his endeavoring +to blow up Tom's tank, I believe him capable of it, though he didn't +try it to-night—unless he's planted a time bomb somewhere about, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Hardly, I guess," answered the young inventor. "He didn't have a +chance to do that. Anyhow we won't remain here long. Now, Ned, what +about this chap? Is he really the one you saw up in the tree?" +</P> + +<P> +"I not only saw him but I felt him," answered Ned, with a rueful look +at his fingers. "He stepped right on me. And when he came inside the +tank to-night I knew him at once. I guess he was as surprised to see me +as I was to see him." +</P> + +<P> +"But what was his object?" asked Mr. Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +"He must have some connection with my old enemy, Blakeson," answered +Tom, "and we know he's mixed up with Schwen. From the looks of him I +should say that this Simpson, as he calls himself, is the directing +head of the whole business. He looks to be the moneyed man, and the +brains of the plotters. Blakeson is smart, in a mechanical way, and +Schwen is one of the best machinists I've ever employed. But this +Simpson strikes me as being the slick one of the trio." +</P> + +<P> +"But what made him come here, and what did he want?" asked Mary. "Dear +me! it's like one of those moving picture plots, only I never saw one +with a tank in it before—I mean a tank like yours, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it is a bit like moving picture—especially chasing Simpson by +searchlight," agreed the young inventor. "As to what he wanted, I +suppose he came to spy out some of my secret inventions—dad's and +mine. He's probably been hiding and sneaking around the works ever +since we arrested Schwen. Some of my men have reported seeing +strangers about, but I have kept Shop Thirteen well guarded. +</P> + +<P> +"However, this fellow may have been waiting outside, and he may have +followed the tank when we started off a little while ago for the night +test. Then, when he saw our mishap and noticed that we were stalled, he +came in, boldly enough, thinking, I suppose, that, as I had never seen +him, he would take a chance on getting as much information as he could +in a hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"But he didn't count on Ned's being here!" chuckled Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"No; that's where he slipped a cog," remarked Mr. Nestor. "Well, Tom, +I like your tank, what I've seen of her, but it's getting late and I +think Mary and I had better be getting back home." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll be ready to start in a little while," Tom said, after a brief +consultation with one of his men. "Still, perhaps it would be just as +well if you didn't ride back with me. She may go all right, and then, +again, she may not. And as it's dark, and we're in a rough part of the +field, you might be a bit shaken up. Not that the tank minds it!" the +young inventor hastened to add "She's got to do her bit over worse +places than this—much worse—but I want to get her in a little better +working shape first. So if you don't mind, Mary, I'll postpone your +initial trip." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't mind, Tom! I'm so glad you've made this! I want to see the +war ended, and I think machines like this will help." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll ride back with you, Tom, if you don't mind," put in Ned. "I guess +a little shaking up won't hurt me." +</P> + +<P> +"All right—stick. We're going to start very soon." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm coming over to-morrow to have a look at it by daylight," +said Mr. Damon, as he started toward his car. +</P> + +<P> +"So am I," added Mary. "Please call for me, Mr. Damon." +</P> + +<P> +"I will," he promised. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Nestor, his daughter, and Mr. Damon went back to the automobile, +while Ned remained with Tom. In a little while those in the car heard +once more the rumbling and roaring sound and felt the earth tremble. +Then, with a flashing of lights, the big, ungainly shape of the tank +lifted herself out of the little ditch in which she had come to a halt, +and began to climb back to the road. +</P> + +<P> +Ned Newton stood beside Tom in the control tower of the great tank as +she started on her homeward way. +</P> + +<P> +"Isn't it wonderful!" murmured Mary, as she saw Tank A lumbering along +toward the road. "Oh, and to think that human beings made that. To think +that Tom should know how to build such a wonderful machine!" +</P> + +<P> +"And run it, too, Mary! That's the point! Make it run!" cried her +father. "I tell you, that Tom Swift is a wonder!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my dictionary, he sure is!" agreed Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +Along the road, back toward the shop whence it had emerged, rumbled the +tank. The noise brought to their doors inhabitants along the country +thoroughfare, and some of them were frightened when they saw Tom +Swift's latest war machine, the details of which they could only guess +at in the darkness. +</P> + +<P> +"She'll butt over a house if it gets in her path, knock down trees, +chew up barbed-wire, and climb down into ravines and out again, and go +over a good-sized stream without a whimper," said Tom, as he steered +the great machine. +</P> + +<P> +There was little chance then for Ned to see much of the inside +mechanism of the tank. He observed that Tom, standing in the forward +tower, steered it very easily by a small wheel or by a lever, +alternately, and that he communicated with the engine room by means of +electric signals. +</P> + +<P> +"And she steers by electricity, too," Tom told his friend. "That was +one difficulty with the first tanks. They had to be steered by brute +force, so to speak, and it was a terrific strain on the man in the +tower. Now I can guide this in two ways: by the electric mechanism +which swings the trailer wheels to either side, or by varying the speed +of the two motors that work the caterpillar belts. So if one breaks +down, I have the other." +</P> + +<P> +"Got any guns aboard her—I mean machine guns?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Not yet. But I'm going to install some. I wanted to get the tank in +proper working order first. The guns are only incidental, though of +course they're vitally necessary when she goes into action. I've got +'em all ready to put in. But first I'm going to try the grippers." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you mean the gap-bridgers?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"That's it," answered Tom. "Look out, we're going over a rough spot +now." +</P> + +<P> +And they did. Ned was greatly shaken up, and fairly tossed from side to +side of the steering tower. For the tank contained no springs, except +such as were installed around the most delicate machinery, and it was +like riding in a dump cart over a very rough road. +</P> + +<P> +"However, that's part of the game," Tom observed. +</P> + +<P> +Tank A reached her "harbor" safely—in other words, the machine shop +enclosed by the high fence, inside of which she had been built. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and Ned made some inquiries of Koku and Eradicate as to whether or +not there had been any unusual sights or sounds about the place. They +feared Simpson might have come to the shop to try to get possession of +important drawings or data. +</P> + +<P> +But all had been quiet, Koku reported. Nor had Eradicate seen or heard +anything out of the ordinary. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I guess we'll lock up and turn in," decided Tom. "Come over +to-morrow, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"I will," promised the young bank clerk. "I want to see more of what +makes the wheels go round." And he laughed at his own ingenuousness. +</P> + +<P> +The next day Tom showed his friends as much as they cared to see about +the workings of the tank. They inspected the powerful gasolene engines, +saw how they worked the endless belts made of plates of jointed steel, +which, running over sprocket wheels, really gave the tank its power by +providing great tractive force. +</P> + +<P> +Any self-propelled vehicle depends for its power, either to move itself +or to push or to pull, on its tractive force—that is, the grip it can +get on the ground. +</P> + +<P> +In the case of a bicycle little tractive power is needed, and this is +provided by the rubber tires, which grip the ground. A locomotive +depends for its tractive power on its weight pressing on its driving +wheels, and the more driving wheels there are and the heavier the +locomotive, the more it can pull, though in that case speed is lost. +This is why freight locomotives are so heavy and have so many large +driving wheels. They pull the engine along, and the cars also, by their +weight pressing on the rails. +</P> + +<P> +The endless steel belts of a tank are, the same as the wheels of a +locomotive. And the belts, being very broad, which gives them a large +surface with which to press on the ground, and the tank being very +heavy, great power to advance is thus obtained, though at the sacrifice +of speed. However, Tom Swift had made his tank so that it would do +about ten miles and more an hour, nearly double the progress obtained +up to that time by the British machines. +</P> + +<P> +His visitors saw the great motors, they inspected the compact but not +very attractive living quarters of the crew, for provision had to be +made for the men to stay in the tank if, perchance, it became stalled +in No Man's Land, surrounded by the enemy. +</P> + +<P> +The tank was powerfully armored and would be armed. There were a number +of machine guns to be installed, quick-firers of various types, and in +addition the tank could carry a number of riflemen. +</P> + +<P> +It was upon the crushing power of the tank, though, that most reliance +was placed. Thus it could lead the way for an infantry advance through +the enemy's lines, making nothing of barbed wire that would take an +artillery fire of several days to cut to pieces. +</P> + +<P> +"And now, Ned," said Tom, about a week after the night test of the +tank, "I'm going to try what she'll do in bridging a gap." +</P> + +<P> +"Have you got her in shape again?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, everything is all right. I've taken out the weak part in the +steering gear that nearly caused us to run you down, and we're safe in +that respect now. And I've got the grippers made. It only remains to +see whether they're strong enough to bear the weight of my little +baby," and Tom affectionately patted the steel sides of Tank A. +</P> + +<P> +While his men were getting the machine ready for a test out on the +road, and for a journey across a small stream not far away, Tom told +his chum about conceiving the idea for the tank and carrying it out +secretly with the aid of his father and certain workmen. +</P> + +<P> +"That's the reason the government exempted me from enlisting," Tom +said. "They wanted me to finish this tank. I didn't exactly want to, +but I considered it my 'bit.' After this I'm going into the army, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"Glad to hear it, old man. Maybe by that time I'll have this Liberty +Bond work finished, and I'll go with you. We'll have great times +together! Have you heard anything more of Simpson, Blakeson and +Scoundrels?" And Ned laughed as he named this "firm." +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered Tom. "I guess we scared off that slick German spy." +</P> + +<P> +Once more the tank lumbered out along the road. It was a mighty engine +of war, and inside her rode Tom and Ned. Mary and her father had been +invited, but the girl could not quite get her courage to the point of +accepting, nor did Mr. Nestor care to go. Mr. Damon, however, as might +be guessed, was there. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my monkey wrench, Tom!" cried the eccentric man, as he noted +their advance over some rough ground, "are you really going to make +this machine cross Tinkle Creek on a bridge of steel you carry with +you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to try, Mr. Damon." +</P> + +<P> +A little later, after a successful test up and down a small gully, Tank +A arrived at the edge of Tinkle Creek, a small stream about twenty feet +wide, not far from Tom's home. At the point selected for the test the +banks were high and steep. +</P> + +<P> +"If she bridges that gap she'll do anything," murmured Ned, as the tank +came to a stop on the edge. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Into a Trench +</H3> + +<P> +Tom cast a hasty glance over the mechanism of the machine before he +started to cross the stream by the additional aid of the grippers, or +spanners, as he sometimes called this latest device. +</P> + +<P> +Along each side, in a row of sockets, were two long girders of steel, +latticed like the main supports of a bridge. They were of peculiar +triangular construction, designed to support heavy weights, and each +end was broadly flanged to prevent its sinking too deeply into the +earth on either side of a gully or a stream. +</P> + +<P> +The grippers also had a sort of clawlike arrangement on either end, +working on the principle of an "orange-peel" shovel, and these claws +were designed to grip the earth to prevent slipping. +</P> + +<P> +The spanners would be pulled out from their sockets on the side of the +tank by means of steel cables, which were operated from within. They +would be run out across the gap and fastened in place. The tank was +designed to travel along them to the other side of the gap, and, once +there, to pick up the girders, slip them back into place on the sides, +and the engine of war would travel on. +</P> + +<P> +"You are mightily excited, Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"I admit it, Ned. You see, I have not tried the grippers out except on +a small model. They worked there, but whether they will work in +practice remains to be seen. Of course, at this stage, I'm willing to +stake my all on the results, but there is always a half-question until +the final try-out under practical conditions." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll soon see," said one of the workmen. "Are you ready, Mr. +Swift?" +</P> + +<P> +"All ready," answered Tom. +</P> + +<P> +Tank A, as she was officially known, had come to a stop, as has been +said, on the very edge of Tinkle Creek. The banks were fairly solid +here, and descended precipitously to the water ten feet below. The +shores were about twenty feet apart. +</P> + +<P> +"Suppose the spanners break when you're halfway over, Tom?" asked his +chum. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't like to suppose anything of the sort. But if they do, we're +going down!" +</P> + +<P> +"Can you get up again?" +</P> + +<P> +"That remains to be seen," was the non-committal reply. "Well, here +goes, anyhow!" +</P> + +<P> +Going up into the observation tower, which was only slightly raised +above the roof of the highest part of the tank, Tom gave the signal for +the motors to start. There was a trembling throughout the whole of the +vast structure. Tom threw back a lever and Ned, peering from a side +observation slot, beheld a strange sight. +</P> + +<P> +Like the main arm of some great steam shovel, two long, latticed +girders of steel shot out from the sides of the tank. They gave a half +turn, as they were pulled forward by the steel ropes, so that they lay +with their broader surfaces uppermost. +</P> + +<P> +Straight across the stream they were pulled, their clawlike ends coming +to a rest on the opposite bank. Then they were tightened into place by +a backward pull on the operating cables, and Tom, with a sigh of +relief, announced: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, so far so good!" +</P> + +<P> +"Do we go over now?" inquired Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Over the top—yes, I hope," answered Tom, with a laugh. "How about +you down there?" he called to the engine room through a telephone which +could only be used when the machinery was not in action, there being +too much noise to permit the use of any but visual signals after that. +</P> + +<P> +"All right," came back the answer. "We're ready when you are." +</P> + +<P> +"Then here we go!" said Tom. "Hold fast, Ned! Of course there's no real +telling what will happen, though I believe we'll come out of it alive." +</P> + +<P> +"Cheerful prospect," murmured Ned. +</P> + +<P> +The grippers were now in place. It only remained for the tank to propel +herself over them, pick them up on the other side of Tinkle Creek, and +proceed on her course. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift hesitated a moment, one hand on the starting lever and the +other on the steering wheel. Then, with a glance at Ned, half whimsical +and half resolute, Tom started Tank A on what might prove to be her +last journey. +</P> + +<P> +Slowly the ponderous caterpillar belts moved around on the sprocket +wheels. They ground with a clash of steel on the surface of the +spanners. So long was the tank that the forward end, or the "nose," was +halfway across the stream before the bottom part of the endless belts +gripped the latticed bridge. +</P> + +<P> +"If we fall, we'll span the creek, not fall into it," murmured Ned, as +he looked from the observation slot. +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I counted on," Tom said. "We'll get out, even if we do +fall." +</P> + +<P> +But Tank A was not destined to fall. In another moment her entire +weight rested on the novel and transportable bridge Tom Swift had +evolved. Then, as the gripping ends of the girders sank farther into +the soil, the tank went on her way. +</P> + +<P> +Slowly, at half speed, she crawled over the steel beams, making +progress over the creek and as safely above the water as though on a +regularly constructed bridge. +</P> + +<P> +On and on she went. Now her entire weight was over the middle of the +temporary structures. If they were going to give way at all, it would +be at this point. But they did not give. The latticed and triangular +steel, than which there is no stronger form of construction, held up +the immense weight of Tank A, and on this novel bridge she propelled +herself across Tinkle Creek. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the worst is over," remarked Ned, as he saw the nose of the tank +project beyond the farthermost bank. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, even if they collapse now nothing much can happen," Tom answered. +"It won't be any worse than wallowing down into a trench and out again. +But I think the spanners will hold." +</P> + +<P> +And hold they did! They held, giving way not a fraction of an inch, +until the tank was safely across, and then, after a little delay, due +to a jamming of one of the recovery cables, the spanners were picked +up, slid into the receiving sockets, and the great war engine was ready +to proceed again. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurrah!" cried Ned. "She did it, Tom, old man!" and he clapped his +chum resoundingly on the back. +</P> + +<P> +"She certainly did!" was the answer. "But you needn't knock me apart +telling me that. Go easy!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my apple pie!" cried Mr. Damon, who was as much pleased as +either of the boys, "this is what I call great!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, she did all that I could have hoped for," said Tom. "Now for the +next test." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my collar button! is there another?" +</P> + +<P> +"Just down into a trench and out again." Tom said. "This is +comparatively simple. It's only what she'll have to do every day in +Flanders." +</P> + +<P> +The tank waddled on. A duck's sidewise walk is about the only kind of +motion that can be compared to it. The going was easier now, for it was +across a big field, and Tom told his friends that at the other end was +a deep, steep and rocky ravine in which he had decided to give the tank +another test. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll imagine that ravine is a trench," he said, "and that we've got +to get on the other side of it. Of course, we won't be under fire, as +the tanks will be at the front, but aside from that the test will be +just as severe." +</P> + +<P> +A little later Tank A brought her occupants to the edge of the "trench." +</P> + +<P> +"Now, little girl," cried Tom exultingly, patting the rough steel side +of his tank, "show them what you can do!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my plum pudding!" cried Mr. Damon, "are you really going down +there, Tom Swift?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am," answered the young inventor. "It won't be dangerous. We'll +crawl down and crawl out. Hold fast!" +</P> + +<P> +He steered the machine straight for the edge of the ravine, and as the +nose slipped over and the broad steel belts bit into the earth the tank +tilted downward at a sickening angle. +</P> + +<P> +She appeared to be making the descent safely, when there was a sudden +change. The earth seemed to slip out from under the broad caterpillar +belts, and then the tank moved more rapidly. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom, we're turning over!" shouted Ned. "We're capsizing!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Ruined Factory +</H3> + +<P> +Only too true were the words Ned Newton shouted to his chum. Tank A was +really capsizing. She had advanced to the edge of the gully and started +down it, moving slowly on the caterpillar bands of steel. Then had come +a sudden lurch, caused, as they learned afterward, by the slipping off +of a great quantity of shale from an underlying shelf of rock. +</P> + +<P> +This made unstable footing for the tank. One side sank lower than the +other, and before Tom could neutralize this by speeding up one motor +and slowing down the other the tank slowly turned over on its side. +</P> + +<P> +"But she isn't going to stop here!" cried Ned, as he found himself +thrown about like a pill in a box. "We're going all the way over!" +</P> + +<P> +"Let her go over!" cried Tom, not that he could stop the tank now. "It +won't hurt her. She's built for just this sort of thing!" +</P> + +<P> +And over Tank A did go. Over and over she rolled, sidewise, tumbling +and sliding down the shale sides of the great gully. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold fast! Grab the rings!" cried Tom to his two companions in the +tower with him. "That's what they're for!" +</P> + +<P> +Ned and Mr. Damon understood. In fact, the latter had already done as +Tom suggested. The young inventor had read that the British tanks +frequently turned turtle, and he had this in mind when he made +provision in his own for the safety of passengers and crew. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as he felt the tank careening, Tom had pressed the signal +ordering the motors stopped, and now only the force of gravity was +operating. But that was sufficient to carry the big machine to the +bottom of the gulch, whither she slid with a great cloud of sand, shale +and dust. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my—bless my—" Mr. Damon was murmuring, but he was so flopped +about, tossed from one side to the other, and it took so much of his +attention and strength to hold on to the safety ring, that he could not +properly give vent; to one of his favorite expressions. +</P> + +<P> +But there comes an end to all things, even to the descent of a tank, +and Tom's big machine soon stopped rolling, sliding, and turning +improvised somersaults, and rested in a pile of soft shale at the +bottom of the gully. And the tank was resting on her back! +</P> + +<P> +"We've turned turtle!" cried Ned, as he noted that he was standing on +what, before, had been the ceiling of the observation tower. But as +everything was of steel, and as there was no movable furniture, no +great harm was done. In fact, one could as well walk on the ceiling of +the tank as on the floor. +</P> + +<P> +"But how are you going to get her right side up?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, turning upside down is only one of the stunts of the game. I can +right her," was the answer. +</P> + +<P> +"How?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, she'll right herself if there's ground enough for the steel +belts to get a grip on. +</P> + +<P> +"But can the motors work upside down?" +</P> + +<P> +"They surely can!" responded Tom. "I made 'em that way on purpose. The +gasolene feeds by air pressure, and that works standing on its head, as +well as any other way. It's going to be a bit awkward for the men to +operate the controls, but we won't be this way long. Before I start to +right her, though, I want to make sure nothing is broken." +</P> + +<P> +Tom signaled to the engine room, and, as the power was off and the +speaking tube could be used, he called through it: +</P> + +<P> +"How are you down there?" +</P> + +<P> +"Right-o!" came back the answer from a little Englishman Tom had hired +because he knew something about the British tanks. "'Twas a bit of +nastiness for a while, but it won't take us long to get up ag'in." +</P> + +<P> +"That's good!" commented Tom. "I'll come down and have a look at you." +</P> + +<P> +It was no easy matter, with the tank capsized, to get to the main +engine room, but Tom Swift managed it. To his delight, aside from a +small break in one of the minor machines, which would not interfere +with the operation or motive force of the monster war engine, +everything was in good shape. There was no leak from the gasolene +tanks, which was one of the contingencies Tom feared, and, as he had +said, the motors would work upside down as well as right side up, a +fact he had proved more than once in his Hawk. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we'll make a start," he told his chief engineer. "Stand by when +I give the signal, and we'll try to crawl out of this right side up." +</P> + +<P> +"How are you going to do it?" asked Ned, as his chum crawled back into +the observation tower. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm going to run her part way up the very steepest part of the +ravine I can find—the side of a house would do as well if it could +stand the strain. I'm going to stand the tank right up on her nose, so +to speak, and tip her over so she'll come right again." +</P> + +<P> +Slowly the tank started off, while Tom and his friends in the +observation tower anxiously awaited the result of the novel progress. +Ned and Mr. Damon clung to the safety rings. Tom put his arm through +one and hung on grimly, while he used both hands on the steering +apparatus and the controls. +</P> + +<P> +Of course the trailer wheels were useless in a case of this kind, and +the tank had to be guided by the two belts run at varying speeds. +</P> + +<P> +"Here we go!" cried Tom, and the tank started. It was a queer sensation +to be moving upside down, but it did not last very long. Tom steered +the tank straight at the opposite wall of the ravine, where it rose +steeply. One of the broad belts ran up on that side. The other was +revolved in the opposite direction. Up and up, at a sickening angle, +went Tank A. +</P> + +<P> +Slowly the tank careened, turning completely over on her longer axis, +until, as Tom shut off the power, he and his friends once more found +themselves standing where they belonged—on the floor of the +observation tower. +</P> + +<P> +"Right side up with care!" quoted Ned, with a laugh. "Well, that was +some stunt—believe me!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my corn plaster, I should say so!" cried Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm glad it happened," commented Tom. "It showed what she can do +when she's put to it. Now we'll get out of this ditch." +</P> + +<P> +Slowly the tank lumbered along, proper side up now, the men in the +motor room reporting that everything was all right, and that with the +exception of a slight unimportant break, no damage had been done. +</P> + +<P> +Straight for the opposite steep side of the gully Tom directed his +strange craft, and at a point where the wall of the gulch gave a good +footing for the steel belts, Tank A pulled herself out and up to level +ground. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm glad that's over," remarked Ned, with a sigh of relief, as +the tank waddled along a straight stretch. "And to think of having to +do that same thing under heavy fire!" +</P> + +<P> +"That's part of the game," remarked Tom. "And don't forget that we can +fire, too—or we'll be able to when I get the guns in place. They'll +help to balance the machine better, too, and render her less likely to +overturn." +</P> + +<P> +Tom considered the test a satisfactory one and, a little later, guided +his tank back to the shop, where men were set to work repairing the +little damage done and making some adjustments. +</P> + +<P> +"What's next on the program?" asked Ned of his chum one day about a +week later. "Any more tests in view?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Tom. "I've got the machine guns in place now. We are +going to try them out and also endeavor to demolish a building and some +barbed wire. Like to come along?" +</P> + +<P> +"I would!" cried Ned. +</P> + +<P> +A little later the tank was making her way over a field. Tom pointed +toward a deserted factory, which had long been partly in ruins, but +some of the walls of which still stood. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to bombard that," he announced, and then try to batter it +down and roll over it like a Juggernaut. Are you game?" +</P> + +<P> +"Do your worst!" laughed Ned. "Let me man one of the machine guns!" +</P> + +<P> +"All right," agreed Tom. "Concentrate your fire. Make believe you're +going against the Germans!" +</P> + +<P> +Slowly, but with resistless energy, the tank approached the ruined +factory. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure there's no one in it, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sure! Blaze away!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Across Country +</H3> + +<P> +Ned Newton sighted his machine gun. Tom had showed him how to work it, +and indeed the young bank clerk had had some practice with a weapon +like this, erected on a stationary tripod. But this was the first time +Ned had attempted to fire from the tank while it was moving, and he +found it an altogether different matter. +</P> + +<P> +"Say, it sure is hard to aim where you want to!" he shouted across to +Tom, it being necessary, even in the conning tower, where this one gun +was mounted, to speak loudly to make one's self heard above the hum, +the roar and rattle of the machinery in the interior of Tank A, and +below and to the rear of the two young men. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's part of the game," Tom answered. "I'm sending her along +over as smooth ground as I can pick out, but it's rough at best. Still +this is nothing to what you'll get in Flanders." +</P> + +<P> +"If I get there!" exclaimed Ned grimly. "Well, here goes!" and once +more he tried to aim the machine gun at the middle of the brick wall of +the ruined factory. +</P> + +<P> +A moment later there was a rattle and a roar as the quick-firing +mechanism started, and a veritable hail of bullets swept out at the +masonry. Tom and Ned could see where they struck, knocking off bits of +stone, brick and cement. +</P> + +<P> +"Sweep it, Ned! Sweep it!" cried Tom. "Imagine a crowd of Germans are +charging out at you, and sweep 'em out of the way!" +</P> + +<P> +Obeying this command, the young man moved the barrel of the machine gun +from side to side and slightly up and down. The effect was at once +apparent. The wall showed spatter-marks of the bullets over a wider +area, and had a body of Teutons been before the factory, or even inside +it, many of them would have been accounted for, since there were +several holes in the wall through which Ned's bullets sped, carrying +potential death with them. +</P> + +<P> +"That's better!" shouted Tom. "That'll do the business! Now I'm going +to open her up, Ned!" +</P> + +<P> +"Open her up?" cried the young bank clerk, as he ceased firing. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; crack the wall of that factory as I would a nut! Watch me take +it on high—that is, if the old tank doesn't go back on me!" +</P> + +<P> +"You mean you're going to ride right over that building, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"I mean I'm going to try! If Tank A does as I expect her to, she'll +butt into that wall, crush it down by force and weight, and then waddle +over the ruins. Watch!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom sent some signals to the motor room. At once there was noticed an +increase in the vibrations of the ponderous machine. +</P> + +<P> +"They're giving her more speed," said Tom. "And I guess we'll need it." +</P> + +<P> +Straight for the old factory went Tank A. In spite of its ruined +condition, some of the walls were still firm, and seemed to offer a big +obstacle to even so powerful an engine of war as this monstrous tank. +</P> + +<P> +"Get ready now, Ned," Tom advised. "And when I crack her open for you +cut loose with the machine gun again. This gun is supposed to fire +straight ahead and a little to either side. There are other guns at +left and right, amidships, as I might say, and there's also one in the +stern, to take care of any attack from that direction. +</P> + +<P> +"The men in charge of them will fire at the same time you do, and it +will be as near like a real attack as we can make it—with the +exception of not being fired back at. And I wouldn't mind if such were +the case, for I don't believe anything, outside of heavy artillery, +will have any effect on this tank." +</P> + +<P> +Tank A was now almost at her maximum speed as she approached closer to +the deserted factory. Ned and Tom, in the conning tower, saw the +largest of the remaining walls looming before them. Straight at it +rushed the ponderous machine, and the next moment there came a shock +which almost threw Ned away from his gun and back against the steel +wall behind him. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold fast!" cried Tom. "Here we go! Fire. Ned! Fire!" +</P> + +<P> +There was a crash as the blunt nose of the great war tank hit the wall +and crumpled it up. +</P> + +<P> +A great hole was made in the masonry, and what was not crushed under +the caterpillar belts of the tank fell in a shower of bricks, stone and +cement on top of the machine. +</P> + +<P> +Like a great hail storm the broken masonry pelted the steel sides and +top of the tank. But she felt them no more than does an alligator the +attacks of a colony of ants. Right on through the dust the tank +crushed her way. Added to the noise of the falling walls was that of +the machine guns, which were barking away like a kennel of angry hounds +eager to be unleashed at the quarry. +</P> + +<P> +Ned kept his gun going until the heat of it warned him to stop and let +the barrel cool, or he knew he would jam some of the mechanism. The +other guns were firing, too, and the bullets sent up little spatter +points of dust as they hit. +</P> + +<P> +"Great jumping hoptoads!" yelled Ned above the riot of racket outside +and inside. "Feel her go, Tom!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, she's just chewing it up, all right!" cried the young inventor, +his eyes shining with delight. +</P> + +<P> +The tank had actually burst her way through the solid wall of the old +factory, permission to complete the demolition of which Tom had secured +from the owners. Then the great machine kept right on. She fairly +"walked" over the piles of masonry, dipped down into what had been a +basement, now partly filled with debris, and kept on toward another +wall. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going through that, too!" cried Tom. +</P> + +<P> +And he did, knocking it down and sending his tank over the piled-up +ruins, while the machine guns barked, coughed and spluttered, as Ned +and the others inside the tank held back the firing levers. +</P> + +<P> +Right through the opposite wall, as through the one she had already +demolished, the tank careened on her way, to emerge, rather battered +and dust-covered, on the other side of what was left of the factory. +And there was not much of it left. Tank A had well-nigh completed its +demolition. +</P> + +<P> +"If there'd been a nest of Germans in there," said Tom, as he brought +the machine to a stop in a field beyond the factory, "they'd have +gotten out in a hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"Or taken the consequences," added Ned, as he wiped the sweat from his +powder-blackened and oil-smeared face. "I certainly kept my gun going." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and so did the others," reported one of the mechanics, as he +emerged from the "cubby hole," where the great motors had now ceased +their hum and roar. +</P> + +<P> +"How'd she stand it?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"All right inside," answered the man. "I was wondering how she looks +from the outside." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it would take more than that to damage her," said Tom, with +pardonable pride. "That was pie for her! Solid concrete, which she may +have to chew up on the Western front, may present another kind of +problem, but I guess she'll be able to master that too. Well, let's +have a look." +</P> + +<P> +He and Ned, with some of the crew and gunners, went outside the tank. +She was a sorry-looking sight, very different from the trim appearance +she had presented when she first left the shop. Bricks, bits of stone, +and piles of broken cement in chunks and dust lay thick on her broad +back. But no real damage had been done, as a hasty examination showed. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, are you satisfied, Tom?" asked his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and more," was the answer. "Of course this wasn't the hardest +test to which she could have been submitted, but it will do to show +what punishment she can stand. Being shot at from big guns is another +matter. I'll have to wait until she gets to Flanders to see what effect +that will have. But I know the kind of armor skin she has, and that +doesn't worry me. There's one thing more I want to do while I have her +out now." +</P> + +<P> +"What's that?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Take her for a long trip cross country, and then shove her through +some extra heavy barbed wire. I'm certain she'll chew that up, but I +want to see it actually done. So now, if you want to come along, Ned, +we'll go cross country." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm with you!" +</P> + +<P> +"Get inside then. We'll let the dust and masonry blow and rattle off as +we go along." +</P> + +<P> +The tank started off across the fields, which stretched for many miles +on either side of the deserted factory, when suddenly Ned, who was +again at his post in the observation tower, called: +</P> + +<P> +"Look, Tom!" +</P> + +<P> +"What at?" +</P> + +<P> +"That corner of the factory which is still standing. Look at those men +coming out and running away!" +</P> + +<P> +Ned pointed, and his chum, leaning over from the steering wheel and +controls, gave a start of surprise as he saw three figures clambering +down over the broken debris and making their way out of what had once +been a doorway. +</P> + +<P> +"Did they come out of the factory, Ned?" +</P> + +<P> +"They surely did! And unless I miss my guess they were in it, or around +it, when we went through like a fellow carrying the football over the +line for a touchdown." +</P> + +<P> +"In there when the tank broke open things?" +</P> + +<P> +"I think so. I didn't see them before, but they certainly ran out as we +started away." +</P> + +<P> +"This has got to be looked into!" decided Tom. "Come on, Ned! It may be +more of that spy business!" +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift stopped the tank and prepared to get out. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Old Barn +</H3> + +<P> +"There's no use chasing after 'em, Tom," observed Ned, as the two chums +stood side by side outside the tank and gazed after the three men +running off across the fields as fast as they could go. "They've got +too much a start of us." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess you're right, Ned," agreed Tom. "And we can't very well pursue +them in the tank. She goes a bit faster than anything of her build, but +a running man is more than a match for her in a short distance. If I +had the Hawk here, there'd be a different story to tell." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, seeing that you haven't," replied Ned, "suppose we let them +go—which we'll have to, whether we want to or not—and see where they +were hiding and if they left any traces behind." +</P> + +<P> +"That's a good idea," returned Tom. +</P> + +<P> +The place whence the men had emerged was a portion of the old factory +farthest removed from the walls the tank had crunched its way through. +Consequently, that part was the least damaged. +</P> + +<P> +Tom and Ned came to what seemed to have been the office of the building +when the factory was in operation. A door, from which most of the glass +had been broken, hung on one hinge, and, pushing this open, the two +chums found themselves in a room that bore evidences of having been the +bookkeeper's department. There were the remains of cabinet files, and a +broken letter press, while in one corner stood a safe. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe they were cracking that," said Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"They were wasting their time if they were," observed Tom, "for the +combination is broken—any one can open it," and he demonstrated this +by swinging back one of the heavy doors. +</P> + +<P> +A quantity of papers fell out, or what had been papers, for they were +now torn and the edges charred, as if by some recent fire. +</P> + +<P> +"They were burning these!" cried Ned. "You can smell the smoke yet. +They came here to destroy some papers, and we surprised them!" +</P> + +<P> +"I believe you're right," agreed Tom. "The ashes are still warm." And +he tested them with his hand. "They wanted to destroy something, and +when they found we were here they clapped the blazing stuff into the +safe, thinking it would burn there. +</P> + +<P> +"But the closing of the doors cut off the supply of air and the fire +smouldered and went out. It burned enough so that it didn't leave us +very much in the way of evidence, though," went on Tom ruefully, as he +poked among the charred scraps. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe you can read some of 'em," suggested Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Part of the writing is in German," Tom said, as he looked over the +mass. "I don't believe it would be worth while to try it. Still, I +can save it. Here, I'll sweep the stuff into a box, and if we get a +chance we can try to patch it together," and finding a broken box in +what had been the factory office the young inventor managed to get into +it the charred remains of the papers. +</P> + +<P> +A further search failed to reveal anything that would be useful in the +way of evidence to determine what object the three men could have had +in hiding in the ruins, and Tom and Ned returned to the tank. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you think about them, Tom?" asked Ned, as they were about to +start off once more for the cross-country test. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it seems like a silly thing to say—as if I imagined my tank was +all there was in this part of the country to make trouble—but I +believe those men had some connection with Simpson and with that spy +Schwen!" +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you!" exclaimed Ned. "And I think if we could get head or +tail of those burned papers we'd find that there was some +correspondence there between the man I saw up the tree and the workman +you had arrested." +</P> + +<P> +"Too bad we weren't a bit quicker," commented Tom. "They must have been +in the factory when we charged it—probably came there to be in +seclusion while they talked, plotted and planned. They must have been +afraid to go out when the tank was walking through the walls." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess that's it," agreed Ned. "Did you recognize any of the men, +Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I didn't see 'em as soon as you did, and when they were running +they had their backs toward me. Was Simpson one?" +</P> + +<P> +"I can't be sure. If one was, I guess he'll think we are keeping pretty +closely after him, and he may give this part of the country a wide +berth." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope he does," returned Tom. "Do you know, Ned, I have an idea that +these fellows—Schwen Simpson, and those back of them, including +Blakeson—are trying to get hold of the secret of my tank for the +Germans." +</P> + +<P> +"I shouldn't be surprised. But you've got it finished now, haven't you? +They can't get your patents away from you." +</P> + +<P> +"No, it isn't that," said Tom. "There are certain secrets about the +mechanism of the tank—the way I've increased the speed and power, the +use of the spanners, and things like that—which would be useful for +the Germans to know. I wouldn't want them to find out these secrets, +and they could do that if they were in the tank a while, or had her in +their possession." +</P> + +<P> +"They couldn't do that, Tom—get possession of her—could they?" +</P> + +<P> +"There's no telling. I'm going to be doubly on the watch. That fellow +Blakeson is in the pay of the plotters, I believe. He has a big machine +shop, and he might try to duplicate my tank if he knew how she was made +inside." +</P> + +<P> +"I see! That's why he was inquiring about a good machinist, I suppose, +though he'll be mightily surprised when he learns it was you he was +talking to the time your Hawk met with the little mishap." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I guess maybe he will be a bit startled," agreed Tom. "But I +haven't seen him around lately, and maybe he has given up." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't trust to that!" warned Ned. +</P> + +<P> +The tank was now progressing easily along over fields, hesitating not +at small or big ditches, flow going uphill and now down, across a +stretch of country thinly settled, where even fences were a rarity. +When they came to wooden ones Tom had the workmen get out and take down +the bars. Of course the tank could have crushed them like toothpicks, +but Tom was mindful of the rights of farmers, and a broken fence might +mean strayed cows, or the letting of cattle into a field of grain or +corn, to the damage of both cattle and fodder. +</P> + +<P> +"There's a barbed-wire fence," observed Ned, as he pointed to one off +some distance across the field. "Why don't you try demolishing that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it would be too easy! Besides, I don't want the bother of putting +it up again. When I make the barbed-wire test I want some set up on +heavy posts, and with many strands, as it is in Flanders. Even that +won't stop the tank, but I'm anxious to see how she breaks up the wire +and supports—just what sort of a breach she makes. But I have a +different plan in mind now. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to try to find a wooden building we can charge as we did the +masonry factory. I want to smash up a barn, and I'll have to pick out +an old one for choice, for in these war days we must conserve all we +can, even old barns." +</P> + +<P> +"What's the idea of using a barn, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I want to test the tank under all sorts of conditions—the same +conditions she'll meet with on the Western front. We've proved that a +brick and stone factory is no obstacle." +</P> + +<P> +"Then how could a flimsy wooden barn be?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's just it. I don't think that it will, but it may be that a +barn when smashed will get tangled up in the endless steel belts, and +clog them so they'll jam. That's the reason I want to try a wooden +structure next." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know where to find one?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; about a mile from here is one I've had my eyes on ever since I +began constructing the tank. I don't know who owns it, but it's such a +ramshackle affair that he can't object to having it knocked into +kindling wood for him. If he does holler, I can pay him for the damage +done. So now for a barn, Ned, unless you're getting tired and want to +go back?" +</P> + +<P> +"I should say not! Speaking of barns, I'm with you till the cows come +home! Want any more machine gun work?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I guess not. This barn isn't particularly isolated, and the +shooting might scare horses and cattle. We can smash things up without +the guns." +</P> + +<P> +The tank was going on smoothly when suddenly there was a lurch to one +side, and the great machine quickly swung about in a circle. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello!" cried Ned. "What's up now? Some new stunt?" +</P> + +<P> +"Must be something wrong," answered the young inventor. "One of the +belts has stopped working. That's why we're going in a circle." +</P> + +<P> +He shut off the power and hastened down to the motor room. There he +found his men gathered about one of the machines. +</P> + +<P> +"What's wrong?" asked Tom quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"Just a little accident," replied the head machinist. "One of the boys +dropped his monkey wrench and it smashed some spark plugs. That caused +a short circuit and the left hand motor went out of business. We'll +have her fixed in a jiffy." +</P> + +<P> +Tom looked relieved, and the machinist was as good as his word. In a +few minutes the tank was moving forward again. It crossed out to the +road, to the great astonishment of some farmers, and the fright of +their horses, and then Tom once more swung her into the fields. +</P> + +<P> +"There's the old barn I spoke of," he remarked to Ned. "It's almost as +bad a ruin as the factory was. But we'll have a go at it." +</P> + +<P> +"Going to smash it?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going right through it!" Tom cried. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Veiled Threats +</H3> + +<P> +Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its +kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her +way over the uneven fields toward the old barn. Within the monster of +steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the +powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all +making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could +be heard. Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his +electric signals from the conning tower in the same way. When running +at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was +some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the +words were shouted. +</P> + +<P> +"Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering +through the observation slot in the tower." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm getting in good position," Tom answered. "Or rather, the worst +position I can find. I want to give the tank a good try-out, and I'm +going at the barn on the assumption that this is in enemy country and +that I can't pick and choose my advance. +</P> + +<P> +"So I want to come up through that gully, and go at the barn from the +long way. That will be the worst possible way I could do it, and if old +Tank A stands the gaff I'll know she's a little bit nearer all right." +</P> + +<P> +"I think she's all right as she is!" asserted Ned in a yell, for just +then Tom signaled for more speed, and the consequent increase in the +rattling and banging noises made it correspondingly difficult for talk +to be heard. +</P> + +<P> +The big machine now tipped into the little gully spoken of by Tom. This +meant a dip downward, and then a climb out again and an attack on the +barn going uphill and at an angle. But, as the young inventor had said, +it would make a severe test and that was what he wanted to give his +ponderous machine. +</P> + +<P> +Ned grasped one of the safety rings, as, with a reel to one side, +almost as if it were going to capsize, the tank rumbled on. Tom cast a +half-amused smile at his chum, and then threw over the guiding lever. +</P> + +<P> +The tank rolled down into the gully. It was rough and filled with +stones and boulders, some of considerable size. But Tank A made less +than nothing even of the largest rocks. Some she crushed beneath her +steel belts. Others she simply "walked" over, smashing them down into +the soil. +</P> + +<P> +Now the big machine reached the bottom of the gulch and started up the +sides, which, though not as steep as the trench in which she had +capsized, still were not easy going. +</P> + +<P> +"Now for it!" cried Tom, as he signaled for full speed. +</P> + +<P> +Up climbed the tank. Now she was halfway. A moment later, and she was +at the top, and then a forward careening motion told that she had +passed over the summit and was ready for the attack proper. +</P> + +<P> +Ned gave a quick glance through the slot nearest him. He had a glimpse +of the barn, and then he saw something else. This was the sight of a +man running away from the dilapidated structure—a man who glanced +toward the tank with a face that showed great fright. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop! Stop!" yelled Ned. "There may be folks in there, Tom! I just saw +a man run out!" +</P> + +<P> +"All right!" Tom cried, though Ned could hardly hear him. "Tell me +when we get on the other side! We're going through now!" +</P> + +<P> +"But," shouted Ned, "don't you understand? I saw a man come out of +there! Maybe there's more inside! Wait, Tom, and—" +</P> + +<P> +But it was too late. The next instant there was a smashing, grinding, +splintering crash, a noise as of a thunder-clap, and Tank A fairly ate +her way through the old barn as a rat might eat his way into a soft +cheese, only infinitely more quickly. +</P> + +<P> +On and on and through and through went the tank, knocking beams, +boards, rafters and timbers hither and thither. Minding not at all the +weight of great beams on her back, caring nothing for those that got in +the way of her steel belts, heeding not the wall of wood that reared +itself before her in a barrier of splinters and slivers, Tank A went on +and on until finally, with another grinding crash, as she smashed her +way through the farthermost wall, the great engine of war emerged on +the other side and came panting into the field, dragging with her a +part of the structure clinging to her steel sides. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," cried Tom, with a laugh, as he signaled for the power to be +shut off, thereby making it possible for ordinary conversation to be +heard, "I guess we didn't do a thing to that barn!" +</P> + +<P> +"Not much left of it, for a fact, Tom," agreed Ned, as he looked +through the after observation slots at the ruin in the rear. "But +didn't you hear what I was saying?" +</P> + +<P> +"I heard you yelling something to me, but I was too anxious to go at it +as fast as I could. I didn't want to stop then. What was the trouble?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I'm afraid of, Tom—there may be trouble. Just before you +tackled the barn for a knockdown, instead of a touchdown, as we might +say, I saw a man running out of it. I thought if there was one there, +perhaps there might be more. That's why I yelled to you." +</P> + +<P> +"A man running from the old barn!" cried Tom. "Whew!" he whistled. "I +wish I had seen him. But, Ned, if one ran out of harm's way, any others +who might possibly be in there would do the same thing, wouldn't they?" +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so," returned Ned doubtfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Great Scott!" cried Tom, as the possibility was borne home to him. "If +anything has happened—" +</P> + +<P> +He sprang for the door of the tower and threw over the catch, springing +out, followed by Ned. From the engine room of the armored tank the men +came, smiles of gratification on their faces. +</P> + +<P> +"We certainly busted her wide open, Mr. Swift!" called the chief +mechanician. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," assented the young inventor; but there was not as much +gratification in his voice as there should have been. "There isn't +much of a barn left, but Ned thinks he saw some one run out, and if +there was one man there may have been more. We'd better have a look +around, I guess." +</P> + +<P> +The engineering force exchanged glances. Then Hank Baldwin, who was in +charge of the motors, said: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if there was anybody in that barn when we chewed her up I +wouldn't give much for his hide, German or not." +</P> + +<P> +"Let us hope no one was in there," murmured Tom. +</P> + +<P> +They turned to go back to the demolished structure, fear and worry in +their hearts. No more complete ruin could be imagined. If a cyclone had +swept over the barn it could not have more certainly leveled it. And, +not only was it leveled, crushed down in the center by the great weight +of the tank, but the boards and beams were broken into small pieces. +Parts of them clung in long, grotesque splinters to the endless steel +belts. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't see how we're going to find anybody if he's in there," +remarked Hank. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll have to," insisted Tom. "We can look about and call. If any one +is there he may have been off to one side or to one end, and be +protected under the debris. I wish I had heard you call, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you had, Tom. I yelled for all I was worth." +</P> + +<P> +"I know you did. I was too eager to go on, and, at the same time, I +really couldn't stop well on that hill. I had to keep on going. Well, +now to learn the worst!" +</P> + +<P> +They walked back toward the demolished barn. But they had not reached +it when from around the corner swung a big automobile. In it were +several men, but chief, in vision at least, among them, was a burly +farmer who had a long, old-fashioned gun in his hands. On his bearded +face was a grim look as he leaped out before the machine had fairly +stopped, and called: +</P> + +<P> +"Hold on, there! I guess you've done damage enough! Now you can pay for +it or take the consequences!" And he motioned to Tom, Ned, and the +others to halt. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Ready for France +</H3> + +<P> +Such was the reaction following the crashing through of the barn, +coupled with the sudden appearance of the men in the automobile and the +threat of the farmer, that, for the moment, Tom, Ned, or their +companions from the tank could say nothing. They just stood staring at +the farmer with the gun, while he grimly regarded them. It was Tom who +spoke first. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the idea?" asked the young inventor. "Why don't you want us to +look through the ruins?" +</P> + +<P> +"You'll learn soon enough!" was the grim answer. +</P> + +<P> +But Tom was not to be put off with undecided talk. +</P> + +<P> +"If there's been an accident," he said, "we're sorry for it. But delay +may be dangerous. If some one is hurt—" +</P> + +<P> +"You'll be hurt, if I have my way about it!" snapped the farmer, "and +hurt in a place where it always tells. I mean your pocketbook! That's +the kind of a man I am—practical." +</P> + +<P> +"He means if we've killed or injured any one we'll have to pay +damages," whispered Ned to Tom. "But don't agree to anything until you +see your lawyer. That's a hot one, though, trying to claim damages +before he knows who's hurt!" +</P> + +<P> +"I've got to find out more about this," Tom answered. He started to +walk on. +</P> + +<P> +"No you don't!" cried the farmer, with a snarl. "As I said, you folks +has done damage enough with your threshing machine, or whatever you +call it. Now you've got to pay!" +</P> + +<P> +"We are willing to," said Tom, as courteously as he could. "But first +we want to know who has been hurt, or possibly killed. Don't you think +it best to get them to a doctor, and then talk about money damages +later?" +</P> + +<P> +"Doctor? Hurt?" cried the farmer, the other men in the auto saying +nothing. "Who said anything about that?" +</P> + +<P> +"I thought," began Tom, "that you—" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm talkin' about damages to my barn!" cried the farmer. "You had no +right to go smashing it up this way, and you've got to pay for it, or +my name ain't Amos Kanker!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh!" and there was great relief in Tom's voice. "Then we haven't +killed any one?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know what you've done," answered the farmer, and his voice was +not a pleasant one. "I'm sure I can't keep track of all your ructions. +All I know is that you've ruined my barn, and you've got to pay for it, +and pay good, too!" +</P> + +<P> +"For that old ramshackle?" cried Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Hush!" begged Tom, in a low voice. "I'm willing to pay, Ned, for the +sake of having proved what my tank could do. I'm only too glad to +learn no one was hurt. Was there?" he asked, turning to the farmer. +</P> + +<P> +"Was there what?" +</P> + +<P> +"Was there anybody in your barn?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not as I knows on," was the grouchy answer. "A man who saw your +machine coming thought she was headed for my building, and he run and +told me. Then some friends of mine brought me here in their machine. I +tell you I've got all the evidence I need ag'in you, an' I'm going to +have damages! That barn was worth three thousand dollars if it was +worth a cent, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"This matter can easily be settled," said Tom, trying to keep his +temper. "My name is Swift, and—" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't get swift with me, that's all I ask!" and the farmer laughed +grimly at his clumsy joke. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll do whatever is right," Tom said, with dignity. "I live over near +Shopton, and if you want to send your lawyer to see mine, why—" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe in lawyers!" broke in the farmer. "All they think of +is to get what they can for theirselves. And I can do that myself. I'll +get it out of you before you leave, or, anyhow, before you take your +contraption away," and he glanced at the tank. +</P> + +<P> +The same suspicion came at once to Tom and Ned, and the latter gave +voice to it when he murmured in a low voice to his chum: +</P> + +<P> +"This is a frame-up—a scheme, Tom. He doesn't care a rap for the +barn. It's some of that Blakeson's doing, to make trouble for you." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe you!" agreed Tom. "Now I know what to do." +</P> + +<P> +He looked toward the collapsed barn, as if making a mental computation +of its value, and then turned toward the farmer. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm very sorry," said Tom, "if I have caused any trouble. I wanted to +test my machine out on a wooden structure, and I picked your barn. I +suppose I should have come to you first, but I did not want to waste +time. I saw the barn was of practically no value." +</P> + +<P> +"No value!" broke in the farmer. "Well, I'll show you, young man, that +you can't play fast and loose with other people's property and not +settle!" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm perfectly willing to, Mr. Kanker. I could see that the barn was +almost ready to fall, and I had already determined, before sending my +tank through it, to pay the owner any reasonable sum. I am willing to +do that now." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, of course if you're so ready to do that," replied the farmer, +and Ned thought he caught a glance pass between him and one of the men +in the auto, "if you're ready to do that, just hand over three thousand +dollars, and we'll call it a day's work. It's really worth more, but +I'll say three thousand for a quick settlement." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, this barn," cried Ned, "isn't worth half that! I know something +about real estate values, for our bank makes loans on farms around +here—" +</P> + +<P> +"Your bank ain't made me no loans, young man!" snapped Mr. Kanker. "I +don't need none. My place is free and clear! And three thousand dollars +is the price of my barn you've knocked to smithereens. If you don't +want to pay, I'll find a way to make you. And I'll hold you, or your +tank, as you call it, security for my damages! You can take your choice +about that." +</P> + +<P> +"You can't hold us!" cried Tom. "Such things aren't done here!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, I'll hold your tank!" cried the farmer. "I guess it'll +sell for pretty nigh onto what you owe me, though what it's good for I +can't see. So you pay me three thousand dollars or leave your machine +here as security." +</P> + +<P> +"That's the game!" whispered Ned. "There's some plot here. They want +to get possession of your tank, Tom, and they've seized on this chance +to do it." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe you," agreed the young inventor. "Well, they'll find that +two can play at that game. Mr. Kanker," he went on, "it is out of the +question to claim your barn is worth three thousand dollars." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, is it?" sneered the farmer. "Well, I didn't ask you to come here +and make kindling wood of it! That was your doings, and you've had your +fun out of it. Now you can pay the piper, and I'm here to make you +pay!" And he brought the gun around in a menacing manner. +</P> + +<P> +"He's right, in a way," said Ned to his chum. "We should have secured +his permission first. He's got us in a corner, and almost any jury of +farmers around here, after they heard the story of the smashed barn, +would give him heavy damages. It isn't so much that the barn is worth +that as it is his property rights that we've violated. A farmer's barn +is his castle, so to speak." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess you're right," agreed Tom, with a rather rueful face. "But I'm +not going to hand him over three thousand dollars. In fact, I haven't +that much with me." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well, I don't suppose he'd want it all in cash." +</P> + +<P> +But, it appeared, that was just what the farmer wanted. He went over +all his arguments again, and it could not be denied that he had the law +on his side. As he rightly said, Tom could not expect to go about the +country, "smashing up barns and such like," without being willing to +pay. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what you going to do?" asked the farmer at last. "I can't stay +here all day. I've got work to do. I can't go around smashing barns. I +want three thousand dollars, or I'll hold your contraption for +security." +</P> + +<P> +This last he announced with more conviction after he had had a talk +with one of the men in the automobile. And it was this consultation +that confirmed Tom and Ned in their belief that the whole thing was a +plot, growing out of Tom's rather reckless destruction of the barn; a +plot on the part of Blakeson and his gang. That they had so speedily +taken advantage of this situation carelessly given them was only +another evidence of how closely they were on Tom's trail. +</P> + +<P> +"That man who ran out of the barn must have been the same one who was +in the factory," whispered Ned to his chum. "He probably saw us coming +this way and ran on ahead to have the farmer all primed in readiness. +Maybe he knew you had planned to ram the barn." +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe he did. I've had it in mind for some time, and spoken to some of +my men about it." +</P> + +<P> +"More traitors in camp, then, I'm afraid, Tom. We'll have to do some +more detective work. But let's get this thing settled. He only wants to +hold your tank, and that will give the man, into whose hands he's +playing, a chance to inspect her." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe you. But if I have to leave her here I'll leave some men on +guard inside. It won't be any worse than being stalled in No Man's +Land. In fact, it won't be so bad. But I'll do that rather than be +gouged." +</P> + +<P> +"No, Tom, you won't. If you did leave some one on guard, there'd be too +much chance of their getting the best of him. You must take your tank +away with you." +</P> + +<P> +"But how can I? I can't put up three thousand dollars in cash, and he +says he won't take a check for fear I'll stop payment. I see his game, +but I don't see how to block it." +</P> + +<P> +"But I do!" cried Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"What!" exclaimed Tom. "You don't mean to say, even if you do work in a +bank, that you've got three thousand in cash concealed about your +person, do you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Pretty nearly, Tom, or what is just as good. I have that amount in +Liberty Bonds. I was going to deliver them to a customer who has +ordered them but not paid for them. They are charged up against me at +the bank, but I'm good for that, I guess. Now I'll loan you these +bonds, and you can give them to this cranky old farmer as security for +damages. Mind, don't make them as a payment. They're simply +security—the same as when an autoist leaves his car as bail. Only we +don't want to leave our car, we'd rather have it with us," and he +looked over at the tank, bristling with splinters from the demolished +barn. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I guess that's the only way out," said Tom. "Lucky you had those +bonds with you. I'll take them, and give you a receipt for them. In +fact, I'll buy them from you and let the farmer hold them as security." +</P> + +<P> +And this, eventually, was done. After much hemming and hawing and +consultation with the men in the automobile, Mr. Kanker said he would +accept the bonds. It was made clear that they were not in payment of +any damages, though Tom admitted he was liable for some, but that Uncle +Sam's war securities were only a sort of bail, given to indicate that, +some time later, when a jury had passed on the matter, the young +inventor would pay Mr. Kanker whatever sum was agreed upon as just. +</P> + +<P> +"And now," said Tom, as politely as he could under the circumstances, +"I suppose we will be allowed to depart." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, take your old shebang offen my property!" ordered Mr. Kanker, +with no very good grace. "And if you go knocking down any more barns, +I'll double the price on you!" +</P> + +<P> +"I guess he's a bit roiled because he couldn't hold the tank," observed +Ned to Tom, as they walked together to the big machine. "His +friends—our enemies—evidently hoped that was what could be done. They +want to get at some of the secrets." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose so," conceded Tom. "Well, we're out of that, and I've proved +all I want to." +</P> + +<P> +"But I haven't—quite," said Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"What's missing?" asked his chum, as they got back in the tank. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'd like to make sure that the fellow who ran from the factory +was the same one I saw sneaking out of the barn. I believe he was, and +I believe that Simpson's crowd engineered this whole thing." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe so, too," Tom agreed. "The next thing is to prove it. But +that will keep until later. The main thing is we've got our tank, and +now I'm going to get her ready for France." +</P> + +<P> +"Will she be in shape to ship soon?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, if nothing more happens. I've got a few little changes and +adjustments to make, and then she'll be ready for the last test—one of +long distance endurance mainly. After that, apart she comes to go to +the front, and we'll begin making 'em in quantities here and on the +other side." +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" cried Ned. "Down with the Huns!" +</P> + +<P> +Without further incident of moment they went back to the headquarters +of the tank, and soon the great machine was safe in the shop where she +had been made. +</P> + +<P> +The next two weeks were busy ones for Tom, and in them he put the +finishing touches on his machine, gave it a long test over fields and +through woods, until finally he announced: +</P> + +<P> +"She's as complete as I can make her! She's ready for France!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Tom is Missing +</H3> + +<P> +With Tom Swift's announcement, that his tank was at last ready for real +action, came the end of the long nights and days given over on the part +of his father, himself, and his men to the development and refinement +of the machine, to getting plans and specifications ready so that the +tanks could be made quickly and in large numbers in this country and +abroad and to the actual building of Tank A. Now all this was done at +last, and the first completed tank was ready to be shipped. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile the matter of the demolished barn had been left for legal +action. Tom and Ned, it developed, had done the proper thing under the +circumstances, and they were sure they had foiled at least one plan of +the plotters. +</P> + +<P> +"But they won't stop there," declared Ned, who had constituted himself +a sort of detective. "They're lying back and waiting for another +chance, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, they won't get it at my tank!" declared the young inventor, with +a smile. "I've finished testing her on the road. All I need do now is +to run her around this place if I have to; and there won't be much need +of that before she's taken apart for shipment. Did you get any trace of +Simpson or the men who are with him—Blakeson and the others?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," Ned answered. "I've been nosing around about that farmer, Kanker, +but I can't get anything out of him. For all that, I'm sure he was +egged on to his hold-up game by some of your enemies. Everything points +that way." +</P> + +<P> +"I think you're right," agreed Tom. "Well, we won't bother any more +about him. When the trial comes on, I'll pay what the jury says is +right. It'll be worth it, for I proved that Tank A can eat up brick, +stone or wooden buildings and not get indigestion. That's what I set +out to do. So don't worry any more about it, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not worrying, but I'd like to get the best of those fellows. The +idea of asking three thousand dollars for a shell of a barn!" +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind," replied Tom. "We'll come out all right." +</P> + +<P> +Now that the Liberty Loan drive had somewhat slackened, Ned had more +leisure time, and he spent parts of his days and not a few of his +evenings at Tom Swift's. Mr. Damon was also a frequent visitor, and he +never tired of viewing the tank. Every chance he got, when they tested +the big machine in the large field, so well fenced in, the eccentric +man was on hand, with his "bless my—!" whatever happened to come most +readily to his mind. +</P> + +<P> +Tom, now that his invention was well-nigh perfected, was not so worried +about not having the tank seen, even at close range, and the enclosure +was not so strictly guarded. +</P> + +<P> +This in a measure was disappointing to Eradicate, who liked the +importance of strutting about with a nickel shield pinned to his coat, +to show that he was a member of the Swift & Company plant. As for the +giant Koku, he really cared little what he did, so long as he pleased +Tom, for whom he had an affection that never changed. Koku would as +soon sit under a shady tree doing nothing as watch for spies or +traitors, of whose identity he was never sure. +</P> + +<P> +So it came that there was not so strict a guard about the place, and +Tom and Ned had more time to themselves. Not that the young inventor +was not busy, for the details of shipping Tank A to France came to him, +as did also the arrangements for making others in this country and +planning for the manufacture abroad. +</P> + +<P> +It was one evening, after a particularly hard day's work, when Tom had +been making a test in turning the tank in a small space in the enclosed +yard, that the two young men were sitting in the machine shop, +discussing various matters. +</P> + +<P> +The telephone bell rang, and Ned, being nearest, answered. +</P> + +<P> +"It's for you, Tom," he said, and there was a smile on the face of the +young bank clerk. +</P> + +<P> +"Um!" murmured Tom, and he smiled also. +</P> + +<P> +Ned could not repress more smiles as Tom took up the conversation over +the wire, and it did not take long for the chum of the youthful +inventor to verify his guess that Mary Nestor was at the other end of +the instrument. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes," Tom was heard to say. "Why, of course, I'll be glad to come +over. Yes, he's here. What? Bring him along? I will if he'll come. Oh, +tell him Helen is there! 'Nough said! He'll come, all right!" +</P> + +<P> +And Tom, without troubling to consult his friend, hung up the receiver. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that you're committing me to?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Mary wants us to come over and spend the evening. Helen Sever is +there, and they say we can take them downtown if we like." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess we like," laughed Ned. "Come along! We've had enough of musty +old problems," for he had been helping Tom in some calculations +regarding strength of materials and the weight-bearing power of +triangularly constructed girders as compared to the arched variety. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I guess it will do us good to get out," and the two friends were +soon on their way. +</P> + +<P> +"What's this?" asked Mary, with a laugh, as Tom held out a package tied +with pink string. "More dynamite?" she added, referring to an incident +which had once greatly perturbed the excitable Mr. Nestor. +</P> + +<P> +"If she doesn't want it, perhaps Helen will take it," suggested Ned, +with a twinkle in his eyes. "Halloran said they were just in fresh—" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you delightful boy!" cried Helen. "I'm just dying for some +chocolates! Let me open them, Mary, if you're afraid of dynamite." +</P> + +<P> +"The only powder in them," said Tom, "is the powdered sugar. That can't +blow you up." +</P> + +<P> +And then the young people made merry, Tom, for the time being, +forgetting all about his tank. +</P> + +<P> +It was rather late when the two young men strolled back toward the +Swift home, Ned walking that way with his chum. Tom started out in the +direction of the building where the tank was housed. +</P> + +<P> +"Going to have a good-night look at her?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I want to make sure the watchman is on guard. We'll begin taking +her apart in a few days, and I don't want anything to happen between +now and then." +</P> + +<P> +They walked on toward the big structure, and, as they approached from +the side, they were both startled to see a dark shadow—at least so it +seemed to the youths—dart away from one of the windows. +</P> + +<P> +"Look!" gasped Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello, there!" cried Tom sharply. "Who's that? Who are you?" +</P> + +<P> +There was no answer, and then the fleeing shadow was merged in the +other blackness of the night. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe it was the watchman making his rounds," suggested Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered Tom, as he broke into a run. "If it was, he'd have +answered. There's something wrong here!" +</P> + +<P> +But he could find nothing when he reached the window from which he and +Ned had seen the shadow dart. An examination by means of a pocket +electric light betrayed nothing wrong with the sash, and if there were +footprints beneath the casement they indicated nothing, for that side +of the factory was one frequently used by the workmen. +</P> + +<P> +Tom went into the building, and, for a time, could not find the +watchman. When he did come upon the man, he found him rubbing his eyes +sleepily, and acting as though he had just awakened from a nap. +</P> + +<P> +"This isn't any way to be on duty!" said Tom sharply. "You're not paid +for sleeping!" +</P> + +<P> +"I know it, Mr. Swift," was the apologetic answer. "I don't know what's +come over me to-night. I never felt so sleepy in all my life. I had my +usual sleep this afternoon, too, and I've drunk strong coffee to keep +awake." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure you didn't drink anything else?" +</P> + +<P> +"You know I'm a strict temperance man." +</P> + +<P> +"I know you are," said Tom; "but I thought maybe you might have a cold, +or something like that." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I haven't taken a thing. I did have a drink of soda water before I +came on duty, but that's all." +</P> + +<P> +"Where'd you get it?" asked Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, a man treated me." +</P> + +<P> +"Who?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know his name. He met me on the street and asked me how to get +to Plowden's hardware store. I showed him—walked part of the way, in +fact—and when I left he said he was going to have some soda, and asked +me to have some. I did, and it tasted good." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, don't go to sleep again," suggested Tom good-naturedly. "Did +you hear anything at the side window a while ago?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not a thing, Mr. Swift. I'll be all right now. I'll take a turn +outside in the air." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," assented the young inventor. +</P> + +<P> +Then, as he turned to go into the house and was bidding Ned good-night, +Tom said: +</P> + +<P> +"I don't like this." +</P> + +<P> +"What?" asked his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"My sleepy watchman and the figure at the window. I more than half +suspect that one of Blakeson's tools followed Kent for the purpose of +buying him soda, only I think they might have put a drop or two of +chloral in it before he got it. That would make him sleep." +</P> + +<P> +"What are you going to do, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Put another man on guard. If they think they can get into the factory +at night, and steal my plans, or get ideas from my tank, I'll fool 'em. +I'll have another man on guard." +</P> + +<P> +This Tom did, also telling Koku to sleep in the place, to be ready if +called. But there was no disturbance that night, and the next day the +work of completing the tank went on with a rush. +</P> + +<P> +It was a day or so after this, and Tom had fixed on it as the time for +taking the big machine apart for shipment, that Ned received a +telephone message at the bank from Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Is Tom Swift over with you?" inquired the eccentric man. +</P> + +<P> +"No. Why?" Ned answered. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm at his shop, and he isn't here. His father says he received +a message from you a little while ago, saying to come over in a hurry, +and he went. Says you told him to meet you out at that farmer Kanker's +place. I thought maybe—" +</P> + +<P> +"At Kanker's place!" cried Ned. "Say, something's wrong, Mr. Damon! +Isn't Tom there?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; I'm at his home, and he's been gone for some time. His father +supposed he was with you. I thought I would telephone to make sure." +</P> + +<P> +"Whew!" whistled Ned. "There's something doing here, all right, and +something wrong! I'll be right over!" he added, as he hung up the +receiver. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Search +</H3> + +<P> +"Haven't you seen anything of him?" asked Mr. Damon, as Ned jumped out +of his small runabout at the Swift home as soon as possible after +receiving the telephone message that seemed to presage something wrong. +</P> + +<P> +"Seen him? No, certainly not!" answered the young bank clerk. "I'm as +much surprised as you are over it. What happened, anyhow?" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my memorandum pad, but I hardly know!" answered the eccentric +man. "I arrived here a little while ago, stopping in merely to pay Tom +a visit, as I often do, and he wasn't here. His father was anxiously +waiting for him, too, wishing to consult him about some shop matters. +Mr. Swift said Tom had gone out with you, or over to your house—I +wasn't quite sure which at first—and was expected back any minute. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I called you up," went on Mr. Damon, "and I was surprised to +learn you hadn't seen Tom. There must be something wrong, I think." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure of it!" exclaimed Ned. "Let's find Mr. Swift. And what's +this about his going to meet me over at the place of that farmer, Mr. +Kanker, where we had the trouble about the barn Tom demolished?" +</P> + +<P> +"I hardly know, myself. Perhaps Mr. Swift can tell us." +</P> + +<P> +But Mr. Swift was able to throw but little light on Tom's +disappearance—whether a natural or forced disappearance remained to be +seen. +</P> + +<P> +"No matter where he is, we'll get him," declared Ned. "He hasn't been +away a great while, and it may turn out that his absence is perfectly +natural." +</P> + +<P> +"And if it's due to the plots of any of his rivals," said Mr. Damon, +"I'll denounce them all as traitors, bless my insurance policy, if I +don't! And that's what they are! They're playing into the hands of the +enemy!" +</P> + +<P> +"All right," said Ned. "But the thing to do now is to get Tom. Perhaps +Mrs. Baggert can help us." +</P> + +<P> +It developed that the housekeeper was of more assistance in giving +information than was Mr. Swift. +</P> + +<P> +"It was several hours ago," she said, "that the telephone rang and some +one asked for Tom. The operator shifted the call to the phone out in +the tank shop where he was, and Tom began to talk. The operator, as Tom +had instructed her, listened in, as Tom wants always a witness to most +matters that go on over his wires of late." +</P> + +<P> +"What did she hear?" asked Ned eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"She heard what she thought was your voice, I believe," the housekeeper +said. +</P> + +<P> +"Me!" cried the young bank clerk. "I haven't talked to Tom to-day, over +the phone or any other way. But what next?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, the operator didn't listen much after that, knowing that any +talk between Tom and you was of a nature not to need a witness. Tom +hung up and then he came in here, quite excited, and began to get ready +to go out." +</P> + +<P> +"What was he excited about?" asked Mr. Damon. "Bless my unlucky stars, +but a person ought to keep calm under such circumstances! That's the +only way to do! Keep calm! Great Scott! But if I had my way, all those +German spies would be—Oh, pshaw! Nothing is too bad for them! It makes +my blood boil when I think of what they've done! Tom should have kept +cool!" +</P> + +<P> +"Go on. What was Tom excited about?" Ned turned to the housekeeper. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, he said you had called him to tell him to meet you over at that +farmer's place," went on Mrs. Baggert. "He said you had some news for +him about the men who had tried to get hold of some of his tank +secrets, and he was quite worked up over the chance of catching the +rascals." +</P> + +<P> +"Whew!" whistled Ned. "This is getting more complicated every minute. +There's something deep here, Mr. Damon." +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you, Ned. And the sooner we find Tom Swift the better. +What next, Mrs. Baggert?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Tom got ready and went away in his small automobile. He said +he'd be back as soon as he could after meeting you." +</P> + +<P> +"And I never said a word to him!" cried Ned. "It's all a plot—a scheme +of that Blakeson gang to get him into their power. Oh, how could Tom be +so fooled? He knows my voice, over the phone as well as otherwise. I +don't see how he could be taken in." +</P> + +<P> +"Let's ask the telephone operator," suggested Mr. Damon. "She knows +your voice, too. Perhaps she can give us a clew." +</P> + +<P> +A talk with the young woman at the telephone switchboard in the Swift +plant brought out a new point. This was that the speaker, in response +to whose information Tom Swift had left home, had not said he was Ned +Newton. +</P> + +<P> +"He said," reported Miss Blair, "that he was speaking for you, Mr. +Newton, as you were busy in the bank. Whoever it was, said you wanted +Tom to meet you at the Kanker farm. I heard that much over the wire, +and naturally supposed the message came from you." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that puts a little different face on it," said Mr. Damon. "Tom +wasn't deceived by the voice, then, for he must have thought it was +some one speaking for you, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"But the situation is serious, just the same," declared Ned. "Tom has +gone to keep an appointment I never made, and the question is with whom +will he keep it?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's it!" cried the eccentric man. "Probably some of those +scoundrels were waiting at the farm for him, and they've got him no one +knows where by this time!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, hardly as bad as that," suggested Ned. "Tom is able to look out +for himself. He'd put up a big fight before he'd permit himself to be +carried off." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what do you think did happen?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"I think they wanted to get him out to the farm to see if they couldn't +squeeze some more money out of him," was the answer. "Tom was pretty +easy in that barn business, and I guess Kanker was sore because he +haven't asked a larger sum. They knew Tom wouldn't come out on their +own invitation, so they forged my name, so to speak." +</P> + +<P> +"Can you get Tom back?" asked Mrs. Baggert anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course!" declared Ned, though it must be admitted he spoke with +more confidence than he really felt. "We'll begin the search right +away." +</P> + +<P> +"And if I can get my hands on any of those villains—" spluttered Mr. +Damon, dancing around, as Mrs. Baggert said, "like a hen on a hot +griddle," which seemed to describe him very well, "if I can get hold of +any of those scoundrels, I'll—I'll—Bless my collar button, I don't +know what I will do! Come on, Ned!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I guess we'd better get busy," agreed the young bank clerk. "Tom +has gone somewhere, that's certain, and under a misapprehension. It may +be that we are needlessly alarmed, or they may mean bad business. At +any rate, it's up to us to find Tom." +</P> + +<P> +In Ned's runabout, which was a speedier car than that of the eccentric +man, the two set off for Kanker's farm. On the way they stopped at +various places in town, where Tom was in the habit of doing business, +to inquire if he had been seen. +</P> + +<P> +But there was no trace of him. The next thing to do was to learn if he +had really started for the Kanker farm. +</P> + +<P> +"For if he didn't go there," suggested Ned, "it will look funny for us +to go out there making inquiries about him. And it may be that after he +got that message Tom decided not to go." +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly they made enough inquiries to establish the fact that Tom +had started for the farm of the rascally Kanker, who had been so +insistent in the matter of his almost worthless barn. +</P> + +<P> +A number of people who knew Tom well had seen him pass in the direction +of Kanker's place, and some had spoken to him, for the young inventor +was well known in the vicinity of Shopton and the neighboring towns. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, out to Kanker's we'll go!" decided Ned. "And if anything has +happened to Tom there—well, we'll make whoever is responsible wish it +hadn't!" +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my fountain pen, but that's what we will!" chimed in Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +And so the two began the search for the missing youth. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Prisoner +</H3> + +<P> +Amos Kanker came to the door of his farmhouse as Ned and Mr. Damon +drove up in the runabout. There was an unpleasant grin on the not very +prepossessing face of the farmer, and what Ned thought was a cunning +look, as he slouched out and asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what do you want? Come to smash up any more of my barns at three +thousand dollars a smash?" +</P> + +<P> +"Hardly," answered Ned shortly. "Your prices are too high for such +ramshackle barns as you have. Where's Tom Swift?" he asked sharply. +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! Do you mean that young whipper-snapper with his big traction +engine?" demanded Mr. Kanker. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here!" blustered Mr. Damon, "Tom Swift is neither a +whipper-snapper nor is his machine a traction engine. It's a war tank." +</P> + +<P> +"That doesn't matter much to me," said the farmer, with a grating +laugh. "It looks like a traction engine, though it smashes things up +more'n any one I ever saw." +</P> + +<P> +"That isn't the point," broke in Ned. "Where is my friend, Tom Swift? +That's what we want to know." +</P> + +<P> +"Huh! What makes you think I can tell you?" demanded Kanker. +</P> + +<P> +"Didn't he come out here?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Not as I knows of," was the surly answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here!" exclaimed Ned, and his tones were firm, with no bluster +nor bluff in them, "we came out here to find Tom Swift, and we're going +to find him! We have reason to believe he's here—at least, he started +for here," he substituted, as he wished to make no statement he could +not prove. "Now we don't claim we have any right to be on your +property, and we don't intend to stay here any longer than we can help. +But we do claim the right, in common decency, to ask if you have seen +anything of Tom. There may have been an accident; there may have been +foul play; and there may be international complications in this +business. If there are, those involved won't get off as easily as they +think. I'd advise you to keep a civil tongue in your head and answer +our questions. If we have to get the police and detectives out here, as +well as the governmental department of justice, you may have to answer +their questions, and they won't be as decent to you as we are!" +</P> + +<P> +"Hurray!" whispered Mr Damon to Ned. "That's the way to talk!" +</P> + +<P> +And indeed the forceful remarks of the young bank clerk did appear to +have a salutary effect on the surly farmer. His manner changed at once +and his grin faded. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know nothing about Tom Swift or any of your friends," he said. +"I've got my farm work to do, and I do it. It's hard enough to earn a +living these war times without taking part in plots. I haven't seen Tom +Swift since the trouble he made about my barn." +</P> + +<P> +"Then he hasn't been here to-day?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"No; and not for a good many days." +</P> + +<P> +Ned looked at Mr. Damon, and the two exchanged uneasy glances. Tom had +certainly started for the Kanker farm, and indeed had come to within a +few miles of it. That much was certain, as testified to by a number of +residents along the route from Shopton, who had seen the young inventor +passing in his car. +</P> + +<P> +Now it appeared he had not arrived. The changed air of the farmer +seemed to indicate that he was speaking the truth. Mr. Damon and Ned +were inclined to believe him. If they had any last, lingering doubts in +the matter, they were dispelled when Mr. Kanker said: +</P> + +<P> +"You can search the place if you like. I haven't any reason to feel +friendly toward you, but I certainly don't want to get into trouble +with the Government. Look around all you like." +</P> + +<P> +"No, we'll take your word for it," said Ned, quickly concluding that +now they had got the farmer where they wanted him, they could gain more +by an appearance of friendliness than by threats or harsh words. "Then +you haven't seen him, either?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not a sign of him." +</P> + +<P> +"One thing more," went on Tom's chum, "and then we'll look farther. +Weren't you induced by a man named Simpson, or one named Blakeson, to +make the demand of three thousand dollars' damage for your barn?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, it wasn't anybody of either of those names," admitted Mr. Kanker, +evidently a bit put out by the question. +</P> + +<P> +"It was some one, though, wasn't it?" insisted Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Waal, a man did come to me the day the barn was smashed, and just +afore it happened, and said an all-fired big traction engine was headed +this way, and that a young feller who was half crazy was running it. +This man—I don't know who he was, being a stranger to me—said if the +engine ran into any of my property and did damages I should collect for +it on the spot, or hold the machine. +</P> + +<P> +"Sure enough, that's what happened, and I did it. That man had an auto, +and he brought me and some of my men out to the smashed barn. That's +all I know about it." +</P> + +<P> +"I thought some one put you up to it," commented Ned. "This was some +of the gang's work," he went on to Mr. Damon. "They hoped to get +possession of Tom's tank long enough to find out some of the secrets. +By having the Liberty Bonds, I fooled 'em." +</P> + +<P> +"That's what you did!" said Mr. Damon. "But what can we do now?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," Ned was forced to admit. "But I should think we'd +better go back to the last place where he was seen to pass in his auto, +and try to get on his trail." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Damon agreed that this was a wise plan, and, after a casual look +around the farmhouse and other buildings on Kanker's place and finding +nothing to arouse their suspicions, the two left in Ned's speedy little +machine. +</P> + +<P> +"It is mighty queer!" remarked the young bank clerk, as they shot along +the country road. "It isn't like Tom to get caught this way." +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe he isn't caught," suggested the other. "Tom has been in many a +tight place and gotten out, as you and I well know. Maybe it will be +the same now, though it does look suspicious, that fake message coming +from you." +</P> + +<P> +"Not coming from me, you mean," corrected Ned. "Well, we'll do the best +we can." +</P> + +<P> +They proceeded back to where they had last had a trace of Tom in his +machine, and there could only confirm what they had learned at first, +namely, that the young inventor had departed in the direction of the +Kanker farm, after having filled his radiator with water, and chatting +with a farmer he knew. +</P> + +<P> +"Then this is where the trail divides," said Ned, as they went back +over the road, coming to a point where the highway branched off. "If he +went this way, he went to Kanker's place, or he would be in the way of +going. He isn't there, it seems, and didn't go there." +</P> + +<P> +"If he took the other road, where would he go?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Any one of a dozen places. I guess we'll have to follow the trail and +make all the inquiries we can." +</P> + +<P> +But from the point where the two roads branched, all trace of Tom Swift +was lost. No one had seen him in his machine, though he was known to +more than one resident along the highway. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Mr. Damon, after they had +traveled some distance and had obtained no news. +</P> + +<P> +"Suppose we call up his home," suggested Ned, as they came to a country +store where there was a telephone. "It may be he has returned. In that +case, all our worry has gone for nothing." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't believe it has," said Mr. Damon. "But if we call up and ask if +Tom is back it will show we haven't found him, and his father will be +more worried than ever." +</P> + +<P> +"We can ask the telephone girl, and tell her to keep quiet about it," +decided Ned; and this they did. +</P> + +<P> +But the answer that came back over the wire was discouraging. For Tom +had not returned, and there was no word from him. There was an urgent +message for him, too, from government officials regarding the tank, the +girl reported. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we've just got to find him—that's all!" declared Ned. "I guess +we'll have to make a regular search of it. I did hope we'd find him out +at the Kanker farm. But since he isn't there, nor anywhere about, as +far as we can tell, we've got to try some other plan." +</P> + +<P> +"You mean notify the authorities?"—asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Hardly that—yet. But I'll get some of Tom's friends who have +machines, and we'll start them out on the trail. In that way we can +cover a lot of ground." +</P> + +<P> +Late that afternoon, and far into the night, a number of the friends of +Tom and Ned went about the country in automobiles, seeking news of the +young inventor. Mr. Swift became very anxious over the non-return of +his son, and felt the authorities should be notified; but as all agreed +that the local police could not handle the matter and that it would +have to be put into the hands of the United States Secret Service, he +consented to wait for a while before doing this. +</P> + +<P> +All the next day the search was kept up, and Ned and Mr. Damon were +getting discouraged, not to say alarmed, when, most unexpectedly, they +received a clew. +</P> + +<P> +They had been traveling around the country on little-frequented roads +in the hope that perhaps Tom might have taken one and disabled his +machine so that he was unable to proceed. +</P> + +<P> +"Though in that case he could, and would, have sent word," said Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Unless he's hurt," suggested Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, maybe that is what's happened," Ned was saying, when they +noticed coming toward them a very much dilapidated automobile, driven +by a farmer, and on the seat beside him was a small, barefoot boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Which is the nearest road to Shopton?" asked the man, bringing his +wheezing machine to a stop. +</P> + +<P> +"Who are you looking for in Shopton?" asked Ned, while a strange +feeling came over him that, somehow or other, Tom was concerned in the +question. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm looking for friends of a Tom Swift," was the answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom Swift? Where is he? What's happened to him?" cried Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my dyspepsia tablets!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Do you know where +he is?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not exactly," answered the farmer; "but here's a note from some one +that signs himself 'Tom Swift,' and it says he's a prisoner!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Rescued +</H3> + +<P> +For a moment Ned and Mr. Damon gazed at the farmer in his rattletrap of +an auto, and then they looked at the fluttering piece of paper in his +hand. Thence their gaze traveled to the ragged and barefoot lad sitting +beside the farmer. +</P> + +<P> +"I found it!" announced the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Found what?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"That there note!" +</P> + +<P> +Without asking any more questions, reserving them until they knew more +about the matter, Mr. Damon and Ned each reached out a hand for the +paper the farmer held. The latter handed it to Ned, being nearest him, +and at a sight of the handwriting the young bank clerk exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"It's from Tom, all right!" +</P> + +<P> +"What happened to him?" cried Mr. Damon. "Where is he? Is he a +prisoner?" +</P> + +<P> +"So it seems," answered Ned. "Wait, I'll read it to you," and he read: +</P> + +<P> +</P> + +<P> +"'Whoever picks this up please send word at once to Mr. Swift or to Ned +Newton in Shopton, or to Mr. Damon of Waterfield. I am a prisoner, +locked in the old factory. Tom Swift'." +</P> + +<P> +</P> + +<P> +"Bless my quinine pills!" cried Mr Damon. "What in the world does it +mean? What factory?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's just what we've got to find out," decided Ned. "Where did you +get this?" he asked the farmer's boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Way off over there," and he pointed across miles of fields. "I was +lookin' for a lost cow, and I went past an old factory. There wasn't +nobody in the place, as far as I knowed, but all at once I heard some +one yell, and then I seen something white, like a bird, sail out of a +high window. I was scared for a minute, thinkin' it might be tramps +after me." +</P> + +<P> +"And what did you do, Sonny?" asked Mr. Damon, as the boy paused. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, after a while I went to where the white thing lay, and I picked +it up. I seen it was a piece of paper, with writin' on it, and it was +wrapped around part of a brick." +</P> + +<P> +"And did you go near the factory to find out who called or who threw +the paper out?" Ned queried. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't," the boy answered. "I was scared. I went home, and didn't +even start to find the lost cow. +</P> + +<P> +"No more he did," chimed in the farmer. "He come runnin' in like a +whitehead, and as soon as I saw the paper and heard what Bub had to +say, I thought maybe I'd better do somethin'." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you go to the factory?" asked Ned eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"No. I thought the best thing to do would be to find this Mr. Swift, or +the other folks mentioned in this letter. I knowed, in a general way, +where Shopton was, but I'd never been there, doing my tradin' in the +other direction, and so I had to stop and ask the road. If you can tell +me—" +</P> + +<P> +"We're two of the persons spoken of in that note," said Mr. Damon, as +he mentioned his name and introduced Ned. "We have been looking for our +friend Tom Swift for two days now. We must find him at once, as there +is no telling what he may be suffering." +</P> + +<P> +"Where is this old factory you speak of," continued Mr. Damon, "and how +can we get there? It's too bad one of you didn't go back, after finding +the note, to tell Tom he was soon to be rescued." +</P> + +<P> +"Waal, maybe it is," said the farmer, a bit put out by the criticism. +"But I figgered it would be better to look up this young man's friends +and let them do the rescuin', and not lose no time, 'specially as it's +about as far from my place to the factory as it is to Shopton." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I suppose that's so," agreed Ned. "But what is this factory?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's an old one where they started to make beet sugar, but it didn't +pan out," the farmer said. "The place is in ruins, and I did hear, not +long ago, that somebody run a threshin' machine through it, an' busted +it up worse than before." +</P> + +<P> +"Great horned toads!" cried Ned. "That must be the very factory Tom ran +his tank through. And to think he should be a prisoner there!" +</P> + +<P> +"Held by whom, do you suppose?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"By that Blakeson gang, I imagine," Ned answered. "There's no time to +lose. We must go to his rescue!" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course!" agreed Mr. Damon. "We're much obliged to you for bringing +this note," he went on to the farmer. "And here is something to repay +you for your trouble," and he took out his wallet. +</P> + +<P> +"Shucks! I didn't do this for pay!" objected the farmer. "It's a pity +I wouldn't help anybody what's in trouble! If I'd a-knowed what it +meant, me and Bub here would have gone to the factory ourselves, maybe, +and done the work quicker. But I didn't know—what with war times and +such-like—but that it would be better to deliver the note." +</P> + +<P> +"It turns out as well, perhaps," agreed Ned. "We'll look after Tom now." +</P> + +<P> +"And I'll come along and help," said the farmer. "If there's a gang of +tramps in that factory, you may need some reinforcements. I've got a +couple of new axe handles in my machine, and they'll come in mighty +handy as clubs." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," said Mr. Damon. "But I fancy Tom is simply locked in the +deserted factory office, with no one on guard. We can get him out once +we get there, and we'll be glad to have you come with us. So if you +won't take any reward, maybe your boy will, as he found the note," and +Mr. Damon pressed some bills into the hands of the boy, who, it is +needless to say, was glad to get them. +</P> + +<P> +It was a run of several miles back to the deserted factory, and though +they passed houses on the way, it was decided that no addition to their +force was necessary, though they did stop at a blacksmith shop, where +they borrowed a heavy sledge to batter down a door if such action +should be needed. +</P> + +<P> +The farmer's rattletrap of a car, in spite of its appearance, was not +far behind Ned's runabout, and in a comparatively short time all were +within sight of the ruined place—a ruin made more complete by the +passage through it of Tom Swift's war tank. +</P> + +<P> +"And to think of his being there all this while!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, +as he and Ned leaped from their machine. +</P> + +<P> +"If he only is there!" murmured the young bank clerk. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean? Didn't the note he threw out say he was there?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but something may have happened in the meanwhile. Those +plotters, if they'd do a thing like this, are capable of anything. They +may have kidnapped Tom again." +</P> + +<P> +"Anyway, we'll soon find out," murmured Ned, as they advanced toward +the ruin, Mr. Damon and the farmer each armed with an axe helve, while +Ned carried the blacksmith's sledge. +</P> + +<P> +They went into the end of the factory that was less ruined than the +central part, where the tank had crashed through, and made their way +into what had been the office—the place where they had found the +burned scraps of paper. +</P> + +<P> +"Hark!" exclaimed Ned, as they climbed up the broken steps. "I heard a +noise." +</P> + +<P> +"It's him yellin'—like he did afore he threw out the note," said the +boy. Then, as they listened, they heard a distant voice calling: +</P> + +<P> +"Hello! Hello, there! If that is any friend of mine, let me out, or +send word to Mr. Damon or Ned Newton! Hello!" +</P> + +<P> +"Hello yourself, Tom Swift!" yelled Ned, too delighted to wait for any +other confirmation that it was his friend who was shouting. "We've come +to rescue you, Tom!" +</P> + +<P> +There was a moment of silence, and then a voice asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Who is there?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ned Newton, Mr. Damon, and some other friends of yours!" answered the +young bank clerk, for surely the farmer and his son could be called +Tom's friends. +</P> + +<P> +An indistinguishable answer came back, and then Ned cried: +</P> + +<P> +"Where are you, Tom? Tell us, so we can get you out!" +</P> + +<P> +They all listened, and faintly heard: +</P> + +<P> +"I'm in some sort of an old vault, partly underground. It's below what +used to be the office. There's a flight of steps, but be careful, as +they're rotten." +</P> + +<P> +Eagerly they looked around Mr. Damon saw a door in one corner of the +office, and tried to open it. It was locked, but a few blows from the +sledge smashed it, and then some steps were revealed. +</P> + +<P> +Down these, using due caution, went Ned and the others, and at the +bottom they came upon another door. This was of sheet iron and was +fastened on the outside by a big padlock. +</P> + +<P> +"Stand back!" cried Ned, as he swung the sledge, and with a few blows +broke the lock to pieces. +</P> + +<P> +Then they pulled open the door, and into the light staggered Tom Swift, +a most woe-begone figure, and showing the effects of his imprisonment. +But he was safe and unharmed, though much disheveled from his attempts +to escape. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank Heaven, you've come!" he murmured, as he clasped Ned's hand. "Is +the tank all right?" +</P> + +<P> +"All right!" cried Ned. "And now tell us about yourself. How in the +world did you get here?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's quite a yarn," answered Tom. "I've got to pull myself together +before I answer," and he sank wearily down on a step, looking very +haggard and worn. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Gone +</H3> + +<P> +"Here, eat some of this," and Ned held something out to his chum. +"It'll bring you up quicker than anything else, except a cup of hot +tea, and we'll get that as soon as you can get away from here," went on +the young bank clerk. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" Tom asked, and his voice was very weary. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a mixture of chocolate and nuts," replied Ned. "It's a new form +of emergency ration issued to soldiers before they go over the top. Our +Y.M.C.A. is sending a lot to the boys from around here who are in +France. I was helping pack the boxes ready for shipment, and I kept out +some to show you. Lucky I had it with me. Eat it, and you'll feel a lot +better in a few minutes. You haven't had much to eat, have you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Very little," answered Tom, as he nibbled half-heartedly at the +confection Ned gave him, while Mr. Damon went out to the automobile and +came back with a thermos bottle filled with cool water. He always +provided himself with this on taking an automobile trip. +</P> + +<P> +Tom managed to eat some of the chocolate, and then took a drink of the +cool water. In a little while he declared that he felt better. +</P> + +<P> +"Then come out of here!" exclaimed Ned. "You can tell us how it all +happened and what they did to you. But I can see that last—they +treated you like a dog, didn't they?" +</P> + +<P> +"Pretty nearly," answered Tom; "but they didn't have things all their +own way. I think I made one or two of them remember me," and he glanced +at his swollen and bruised hands. Indeed, he bore the marks of having +been in a fierce fight. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure the tank's all right?" he asked Ned again. "That has +been worrying me more than my own condition. I could think of only one +reason why they got me here and held me prisoner, and that was to get +me out of the way while they captured my tank. Then they haven't got +her?" he asked eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a look at her," Ned answered. "She was safe in the shop when we +set out this morning." +</P> + +<P> +"And now it's late afternoon," murmured Tom. "Well, I hope nothing has +happened since," and there was vague alarm in his voice, an alarm at +which Ned and Mr. Damon wondered. +</P> + +<P> +"Couldn't you stop at some farmhouse and get fixed up a little?" asked +Mr. Kimball, the farmer who had brought the note to Ned and Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"I need to get fixed up somewhere," replied Tom, with a rueful look at +himself—his hands, his torn clothes, and his general dilapidated +appearance. "But I don't want to lose any time. I'm afraid something +has happened at home, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense! How could there, with Koko on guard, to say nothing of +Eradicate!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, maybe you're right," agreed Tom; "but I'll feel better when I +see my tank in her shed. Let's have some more of that concentrated +porterhouse steak of yours, Ned. It is good, and it fills out my +stomach, which was getting more intimate with my backbone than I liked +to feel." +</P> + +<P> +More of the really good confection and another drink of refreshing +water made Tom feel better, and he was soon able to walk along without +staggering from weakness. +</P> + +<P> +"And now let's get out of here," advised Ned, "unless you've left +something back in that vault you want, Tom," and he motioned to his +chum's late prison. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing there but bad memories," was the reply, with a rueful smile. +"I'm as ready to go as you are, Ned. It was good of you and Mr. Damon +to come for me, and you"—and he looked questioningly at Mr. Kimball. +</P> + +<P> +"If it hadn't been for Mr. Kimball and his boy, we wouldn't have found +you—at least so soon," said Ned, and he told of the finding of the +note and what had followed. +</P> + +<P> +"That's the only way I could think of for getting help," said Tom. +"They took every scrap of paper from me, but I found some in the lining +of my hat—some I'd stuffed in after I had a hair cut and my hat was +too large. For a pencil I used burnt matches. Oh, but I'm glad to be +out!" and he breathed deep of the fresh air. +</P> + +<P> +"How did you get in there?" asked Ned wonderingly. +</P> + +<P> +"Those fellows—of course. The German plotters, I'm going to call them, +for I believe that Blakeson and his gang—though I didn't see him—are +really working in the interests of Germany to get the secret of my +tank." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, they haven't got her yet," said Ned, "and they're not likely to +now. Go on, Tom, if you feel able tell us in a few words what happened. +We've been trying to think, but can't." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it all happened because I didn't think enough," said Tom, who +was rapidly recovering his strength and nerve. "When I got that +message that seemed to come from you, Ned, I should have known better +than to take a chance. But it seemed genuine, and as I had no reason to +suspect a trap, I started off at once. I thought maybe Kanker had +repented and was going to make amends for all the trouble he caused. +</P> + +<P> +"Anyhow, I started off in my machine, and I hadn't got more than to the +crossroads when I saw a fellow out tinkering with his auto. Of course I +stopped to ask if I could help, for I can't bear to see any machinery +out of order, and as I was stooping over the engine to see what was +wrong I was pounced on from behind, bound and tied, and before I could +do a thing I was bundled into the car—a big limousine, and taken away. +</P> + +<P> +"The crossroads was as far as we could trace you," remarked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it wasn't as far as they took me, by any means," Tom said. "They +brought me here, took me out of the machine—and I noticed that they'd +brought mine along—and then they carted me into the vault. +</P> + +<P> +"But they didn't have it all their own way," said Tom grimly. "I +managed to get the ropes loose, and I had a regular knock down and drag +out with them for a while. But they were too many for me, and locked me +up in that place after taking away everything I had in my pockets." +</P> + +<P> +"Were they highwaymen?" asked Mr. Kimtall. +</P> + +<P> +"No, for they tossed back my money, watch and some trifles like that," +Tom answered. "I didn't recognize any of the men, though one of them +must have known me, for when they had me tied I heard one of them ask +if I was the right party, and another said I was. I know they must +belong to the same gang that Simpson, Blakeson, and Schwen are members +of—the German spies." +</P> + +<P> +"But what was their object?" asked Ned. "Did they try to force you to +tell them the secrets of the tank?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; and that's the funny part which makes me so suspicious," Tom +answered. "If they'd tried to force something out of me, I would +understand it better. But they just kept me a prisoner after taking +away what papers I had." +</P> + +<P> +"Were they of any value?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Not as regards the tank. That is, there was nothing of my plans of +construction, control or anything like that, though there was some +foreign correspondence that I am sorry fell into their hands. However, +that can't be helped." +</P> + +<P> +"And did they just keep you locked up?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"That's about all they did. After the fight—and it was some fight!" +declared Tom, as he recalled it with a shake of his head—"they left me +here with the door shut. There must have been some one on guard, for I +could faintly hear somebody moving about. +</P> + +<P> +"I tried to get out, of course, but I couldn't. That vault must have +been made to hold something very valuable, for it was almost as strong +and solid as one in your bank, Ned. The only window was placed so high +that I couldn't reach it, and it was barred at that. +</P> + +<P> +"They opened the door a little, several times, to toss in once some old +bags that I made into a bed, and next they gave me a little water and +some sandwiches—German bologna sausage sandwiches, Ned! What do you +think of that—adding insult to injury?" +</P> + +<P> +"That was tough!" Ned admitted. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I had to put up with it, for I was half starved, and as sore as +a boil from the fight. I didn't know what to do. I knew that you'd miss +me sooner or later, and set out to find me, but I hardly thought you'd +think of this place. They couldn't have picked out a much better +prison to hold me, for, naturally, you wouldn't suppose enough of it +was left standing, after my tank had walked through it, to make a +hiding place. +</P> + +<P> +"However, there was, and here I've been kept. At last I thought of the +plan of sending out a message on the scrap of paper I could tear out of +my hat. So I wrote it, and after several trials I managed to toss it +out of the window. Then I just had to wait, and that was the hardest of +all. The last twelve hours I've been without food, and I haven't heard +any one around, so I guess they've skipped out and don't intend to come +back." +</P> + +<P> +"We didn't see any one," Ned reported. "Maybe they became frightened, +Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I could think that," was the answer. "What is more likely to be +the case is that they're up to some new tricks. I must get back home +quickly." +</P> + +<P> +And after a stop had been made at a farmhouse belonging to a business +acquaintance of Ned's, where Tom was able to wash and get a cup of hot +tea, which added to his recuperative powers, the young inventor, with +Ned and Mr. Damon, set out for Shopton. +</P> + +<P> +Before Mr. Kimball started for his home, renewed thanks had been made +to the farmer and his son for the part they had played in the rescue, +and the young inventor, learning that the boy had a liking for things +mechanical, promised to aid him in his intention to become a machinist. +</P> + +<P> +"But first get a good education," Tom advised. "Keep on with your +school work, and when the time comes I'll take you into my shop." +</P> + +<P> +"And maybe he'll make a tank that will rival yours, Tom," said Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Maybe he will! I hope he does. If he comes along fast enough, he can +help with something else I'm going to start soon." +</P> + +<P> +"Whats that?" asked Mr. Damon. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, it's something on the same order, designed to help batter down the +German lines," Tom answered. "I haven't quite made up my mind what to +call it yet. But let's get home. I want to see that my tank is safe. +The absence of the plotters from the factory makes me suspicious." +</P> + +<P> +On the way back Tom told more of the details of the attack. +</P> + +<P> +"But we'll forget about it all, now you're out," remarked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"And the sooner we get home, the better," added Tom. "Can't you get a +little more speed out of this machine?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it isn't the Hawk," replied Ned, "but we'll see what we can do," +and he made the runabout fairly fly. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Baggert was the first to greet Tom as they arrived at his home. +She did not seem as surprised as either Tom, Ned or Mr. Damon expected +her to be. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm glad you're all right," she said. "And it's a good thing you +sent that note, for your father was so excited and worried I was +getting apprehensive about him." +</P> + +<P> +"What note?" asked Tom, while a queer look came into his face. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, the one you sent saying you were detained on business and would +probably not be home for a week, and to have Koku and the men bring the +tank to you." +</P> + +<P> +"Bring the tank! A note from me!" exclaimed Tom. "The plotters again! +And they've got the tank!" +</P> + +<P> +He ran to the big shop followed by the others. Throwing open the doors, +they went inside. A glance sufficed to disclose the worst. +</P> + +<P> +The place where the great tank had stood was empty. +</P> + +<P> +"Gone!" gasped Tom. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Camouflaged +</H3> + +<P> +Two utterances Tom Swift made when the fact of the disappearance of the +tank became known to him were characteristic of the young inventor. The +first was: +</P> + +<P> +"How did they get it away?" +</P> + +<P> +And the second was: +</P> + +<P> +"Come on, let's get after 'em!" +</P> + +<P> +Then, for a few moments, no one said anything. Tom, Ned, and Mr. Damon, +with Mrs. Baggert in the background, stood looking at the great empty +machine shop. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, they got her," went on Tom, with a sigh. "I was afraid of this +as soon as they left me alone at the factory." +</P> + +<P> +"Is anything wrong?" faltered the housekeeper. "Didn't you send for the +tank, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Mrs. Baggert, I didn't," Tom answered. +</P> + +<P> +"But I don't understand," the housekeeper said. "A man came with a note +from you, Tom, and in it you said to have him take the tank, with Koku +and the men who know how to run it. We were so glad to hear from you, +and know that you were all right, that we didn't think of anything +else, your father and I. So he went out and saw that the tank got off +all right. Koku was glad, for it's the first chance he'd had to ride in +it." +</P> + +<P> +"Who was the man who brought the note?" asked Tom, and he was striving +to be calm. "To think of poor old dad playing right into the hands of +the plotters!" he added, in an aside to Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't know who the man was," said Mrs. Baggert. "He seemed +all right, and of course having a note from you—" +</P> + +<P> +"Who has that note now?" asked Tom quickly. +</P> + +<P> +"Your father." +</P> + +<P> +"Come on," and Tom led the way back to the house. "I'll have a look at +that document, which of course I never wrote, and then we'll get after +the plotters and the tank." +</P> + +<P> +"She ought to be easy to trace," observed Mr. Damon. "Bless my +fountain pen, but she ought to be easy to trace! She will leave a +track like a giant boa constrictor crawling along." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I guess we can trace her, all right," assented Tom Swift; "but +the point is, will there be anything left of her? That's what I'm +afraid of now." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Swift was still excited, but his worry had subsided as soon as he +knew Tom was safe. +</P> + +<P> +"The whole thing is a forgery, but fairly well done," Tom said, as he +looked at the paper his father gave him—a brief note stating that Tom +was well, but detained on business, and that the tank was to be brought +to him, just where the bearer of the note would indicate. Koku, the +giant, and several of the machinists, who knew how to operate the big +machine, were to go with it, the note said. +</P> + +<P> +"That made me sure everything was all right," said Mr. Swift. "I knew, +of course, Tom, that plotters might try to get hold of your war secret, +but I didn't see how they could if Koku and some of your own men were +in possession." +</P> + +<P> +"They couldn't—as long as they remained in possession," Tom said. "But +that's the trouble. I'm afraid they haven't. What has probably +happened is that under the direction of this man, who brought the +forged note from me, Koku and the others took the tank where he +directed them, thinking to meet me. Then, reaching the place where the +rest of the plotters were concealed, they overpowered Koku and the +others and took possession of the machine." +</P> + +<P> +"They'd have trouble with Koku," suggested Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but even a giant can't fight too big a crowd, especially if he is +taken by surprise, and that's probably what happened," remarked Tom. +"Now the question is where is the tank, and how can we get her back? +Every minute counts. If those German spies and their helpers remain in +possession long, they'll find out enough of my secrets to enable them +to duplicate the machine, and especially some of the most exclusive +features. We've got to get after 'em!" +</P> + +<P> +"They imitated your writing pretty well, Tom," Observed Ned, as he +looked at the forged note. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; that's why they took all my papers away from me—to get specimens +of my handwriting. I half suspected that, but I didn't quite figure out +what their game was. Well, we know the worst now, and that's better +than working in the dark. Now I'm going to have a bath and get into +some decent clothes, and we'll see what we can do." +</P> + +<P> +"Count on me, Tom!" exclaimed Ned. "I'll go the limit with you!" +</P> + +<P> +"I knew you would, old man!" +</P> + +<P> +"And me, too!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my open fireplace, but I'll send +word to my wife that I'm not coming home to-night, and we can start the +first thing in the morning, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; there isn't much use in going now, as it will soon be dark." +</P> + +<P> +"How are you going to trace the tank, Tom?" asked Ned, when his chum +had bathed and gotten into fresh clothes. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm going to tour the country around here in an auto. The tank can +make ten miles an hour, but that's nothing to what an auto can do. And +we oughtn't to have much trouble in tracing her. No one whose house she +passed would forget her in a hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"That's so," agreed Ned. "But if they took her across country—" +</P> + +<P> +"A different story," agreed Tom. "Come to think of it, maybe we'd +better start to-night, Ned. We can make inquiries after dark as well as +by daylight and get ready for an early morning hunt." +</P> + +<P> +"Let's do it, then!" suggested his chum. "I'm ready. I'll send word +that I'll not be home to-night." +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" cried the young inventor. "We'll have an old-fashioned hunt +after our enemies, Ned!" +</P> + +<P> +"And don't leave me out!" begged Mr. Damon. Hurried preparations were +made for the night trip. Tom ordered out one of his speediest, though +not largest, automobiles, and told his helper to get the Hawk ready, to +have her so she could start at a moment's notice if needed. +</P> + +<P> +"You're not going in her, are you, Tom?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"I may need her to-morrow for daylight hunting. If the tank's hidden +somewhere, I can spot her from above more easily than from the ground. +So if we get any trace of my machine, I can phone in and have the +aeroplane brought to me." +</P> + +<P> +"That's a good idea!" +</P> + +<P> +Inquiry at the shop where the tank had been built and kept disclosed +the fact that, in addition to Koku, three of Tom's men had gone in her +to help manage the machine under the direction of the man who bore the +forged note. That he was one of the plotters not hitherto observed by +either Ned or Tom seemed certain. +</P> + +<P> +"And they took Koku and some of the men merely to make it look natural +and as if it were all right," Tom said. "Naturally that deceived my +father, who thought, of course, that I was waiting for the machine. +Well, it was a slick trick, Ned, but we may fool them yet." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +Night had fully fallen when Tom, Ned, and Mr. Damon started away in the +touring car. +</P> + +<P> +Out onto the road rolled the automobile. During the little daylight +that had remained after his arrival at home and following the discovery +of the loss of the tank Tom and Ned had traced it, by the marks of the +big steel caterpillar belts, to the main road. It had gone along that +some distance, just how far could not be said. +</P> + +<P> +"But by using the searchlight of the auto we can trace her as long as +they keep her on the road," said Tom. "After that we'll have to trust +to luck, and to what inquiries we can make." +</P> + +<P> +The touring car carried a powerful lamp, and by its gleams it was easy +to trace for a time the progress of the ponderous tank. There was no +need to make inquiries of persons living along the way, though once or +twice Tom did get out to ask, confirming the fact that the big machine +had rumbled past in a direction away from the Swift home. +</P> + +<P> +"I had an idea they might have doubled on their tracks for a time, and +backed her up just to fool us," Tom said. "They might do that, keeping +her in the same tracks." +</P> + +<P> +But this, evidently, had not been done, and the tank was making good +speed away from the Swift house. They kept up the search until about +midnight, and then a heavy rain began just before they reached a point +where several roads branched. +</P> + +<P> +"Luck's with them!" exclaimed Tom. "This will wash away the marks, and +we'll have to go it blind. Might as well put up here for the night," he +added, as they came to a village hotel. +</P> + +<P> +It was evident that little more could be done in the rain and darkness, +and there was danger of over-running the trail of the tank if they kept +on. So they turned in at the hotel and got what little rest they could +in their anxious state of minds. +</P> + +<P> +Tom tried to be cheerful and to look for the best, but it was hard +work. The tank was his pet invention, and, moreover, that her secrets +should fall into the hands of the enemy and be used for Germany and +against the United States eventually, made the young inventor feel that +everything was going wrong. +</P> + +<P> +The rain kept up all night, and this would make it correspondingly hard +for them to pick up the trail in the morning. +</P> + +<P> +"The only thing we can do is to make inquiries," decided Tom. +"Fortunately, the tank can't easily be hidden." +</P> + +<P> +They started off after an early breakfast. The roads were so muddy and +wet that traveling was difficult and dangerous for the automobile, and +they were disappointed in finding no one who had seen or heard the tank +pass up to a point not far from the hotel where they had stayed +overnight. From then on the big machine seemed to have disappeared. +</P> + +<P> +"I know what they've done," Tom said, when noon came and they had found +no trace of the ponderous war machine. "They've left the road and +taken her cross country, and we can't find the spot where they did this +because the rain has washed out the marks. Well, there's only one thing +left to do." +</P> + +<P> +"What's that?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Get the Hawk! In that we can look down and over a big extent of +country. That's what I'll do—I'll phone for the airship. The rain is +stopping, I think." +</P> + +<P> +The rain did cease by the time one of Tom's men brought the speedy +aircraft to the place named by the young inventor in his telephone +message. There were still several hours of daylight left, and Tom +counted on them to allow him to rise in the air and look down on the +tanks possible hiding place. +</P> + +<P> +"One thing's sure," he told Ned: "I know the limit of her speed, and +she can't be farther off than at some place within a circle of about +one hundred and twenty-five miles from my house. And it's in the +direction we're in. So if I circle around up above, I may spot her." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so," murmured Ned. +</P> + +<P> +It was arranged that Mr. Damon should take the automobile back, with +Tom's mechanician in it, and Tom and Ned would scout around in the +aircraft, which carried only two. +</P> + +<P> +"You ought to have a machine gun with you, Tom, if you plan to attack +those fellows to get back the tank," Ned said. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't imagine I'll need it," he said. "Anyhow, a machine gun +wouldn't be of much effect against the tank. And they can't fire on us, +for there wasn't any ammunition for the guns in Tank A, unless they got +some of their own, and I hardly believe they'd do that. I'll take a +chance, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +And so the search from the air began. It was disappointing at first. +Around and around circled Tom and Ned, their eyes peering eagerly down +from the heights for a sight of the tank, possibly hidden in some +little-known ravine or gully. +</P> + +<P> +Back and forth, like a speck in the sky, Tom guided the Hawk, while Ned +took observation after observation with the binoculars. +</P> + +<P> +At last, when the low-sinking sun gave warning that night would soon be +upon them, Ned's glasses picked up something on the ground far below +that made him sit suddenly straighter in his seat. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked Tom through the speaking apparatus, feeling the +movement on the part of his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"I see something down there, Tom," was the answer. "It doesn't look +like the tank, and yet it doesn't look as a clump of trees and bushes +ought to look. Have a peep yourself. It's just beyond that river, +against the side of the hill—a lonesome place, too." +</P> + +<P> +Tom took the glasses while Ned assumed control of the Hawk, there being +a dual system for operating and steering her. +</P> + +<P> +No sooner had the young inventor got the focus on what Ned had +indicated than he gave a cry. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" asked the young bank clerk. +</P> + +<P> +"Camouflaged!" cried Tom, and without stopping to explain what he +meant, he handed the binoculars back to Ned and began to guide the Hawk +down toward the earth at high speed. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter XXV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Foiled +</H3> + +<P> +"Is it really Tank A, Tom?" cried Ned, through the tube, as soon as he +became aware of his companion's intention. "Are you sure?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's the girl, and just where you spotted her with the glasses—in +that clump of bushes. But they've daubed her with green and brown +paint—camouflaged her, so to speak—until she looks like part of the +landscape. What made you suspicious of that particular place?" +</P> + +<P> +"The green was such a bright one in contrast to the rest of the foliage +around it.' +</P> + +<P> +"That's what struck me," Tom answered, as he continued to drive the +Hawk earthward. "They thought they were doing a smart trick—imitating +the tactics of the Allies with their tanks—but they must be color +blind." +</P> + +<P> +Ned took another observation through the glasses. He could see the tank +more easily now. There she was, fairly well hidden in a clump of bushes +and small trees on the banks of a river, about a hundred miles away +from Shopton. It was in a wild and desolate country, and only with the +airship could the trail have thus been followed. +</P> + +<P> +Ned saw that the tank had been daubed with green, yellow, and brown +paint, in fantastic blotches, to make the big machine blend with the +foliage; and, to a certain extent, this had been accomplished. +</P> + +<P> +But, as Ned had remarked, the green used was of too vivid a hue. No +natural tree put forth leaves like that, and the glass had further +revealed the error. +</P> + +<P> +"Look, Tom!" suddenly cried Ned. "She's moving!" +</P> + +<P> +"You're right!" answered the young inventor. "They've seen us and are +trying to get away." +</P> + +<P> +"But they can't beat your airship, Tom." +</P> + +<P> +"I know that. But their game—Oh, Ned, they're going to wreck her!" +cried Tom, and there was anguish in his voice. +</P> + +<P> +As the two looked down from their seats In the Hawk they saw the tank, +in its fantastic dress of splotchy paint, leave her lair amid the +bushes and trees, and head toward the river. Like some ponderous +prehistoric monster about to take a drink, she careened her way toward +the stream, which, at this point, ran between high banks. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the game?" cried Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"They're going to send her to smash!" cried Tom. "She's pretty tough, +Tom, but she'll never stand a tumble down into the river without +breaking a lot of machinery inside her." +</P> + +<P> +"But if they demolish the tank they'll kill themselves, won't they? +And Koku and your men, too, who must be prisoners in her!" +</P> + +<P> +"They won't risk their own worthless hides, you may be sure of that!" +exclaimed Tom. +</P> + +<P> +"There they go, but they must have left Koku and the others to their +fate!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, if they could only get loose and take control now, Tom, they'd +save your tank for you!" shouted Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; but they can't, I'm afraid. They may be killed, or so securely +bound that they can't get loose!" +</P> + +<P> +"Can't you get the Hawk there in time to stop her?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid not. By that time she'll have attained top speed and it +would be taking our lives in our hands to try to make a flying jump, +get inside, and shut off the motors." +</P> + +<P> +"Then the tank's got to smash!" said Ned gloomily. +</P> + +<P> +Tom did not answer for a moment. He and his chum watched the fleeing +figures running away from the war engine. What the plotters had done, +as soon as they saw the aircraft and realized that Tom had discovered +them, was to start the motors and leap from the tank, closing the doors +after them. Whether or not they had left Koku and the others prisoners +inside remained to be seen. +</P> + +<P> +But the tank was plunging her way toward the steep bank of the river, +doomed, it seemed, to great damage, if not to destruction. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, if we could only halt her!" murmured Ned. +</P> + +<P> +Tom Swift was busy with some apparatus on the Hawk. Ned heard the hum +of an electric motor which was connected with the engine, and there +soon sounded the crackle of the wireless. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you doing? Signaling for help from those inside the tank?" +asked Ned, for the big machine was fitted to receive and send messages +of this sort. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm trying something more desperate than that," Tom answered. +</P> + +<P> +Again the wireless crackled, Tom working it with one hand while, with +the other, he guided the aircraft. Ned looked downward with wondering +eyes. +</P> + +<P> +The tank was still plunging her way toward the steep bank of the river. +If she tumbled down this, there would be little left of the expensive +and complicated machinery inside. +</P> + +<P> +"The rascals did their work well," mused Ned. "They've probably gotten +all the secrets they want and now they're going to spoil all Tom's hard +work. It's a shame! If only—" +</P> + +<P> +Ned ceased his musing. Something was taking place down below that he +could not explain. The tank seemed to be slackening her progress. More +and more slowly she approached the edge of the cliff. +</P> + +<P> +"Tom! Tom!" yelled Ned. "You must have waked some of them up inside and +they've thrown the motors out of gear! Hurrah! She's stopping!" +</P> + +<P> +"I believe she is!" yelled Tom. "Oh, if it only works!" +</P> + +<P> +The tank was still moving, though more slowly. Still the crackle of the +wireless was heard. +</P> + +<P> +And then, just as Tom shut off his own motor and let the Hawk glide on +her downward way in a volplane to earth, the great, ponderous tank came +to a stop, on the very edge of the precipice at the foot of which +rolled the river. +</P> + +<P> +"Whew!" whistled Ned, as the aircraft rolled along the ground near the +war machine. "That was touch and go, Tom! They stopped her just in +time." +</P> + +<P> +"You mean the wireless stopped her," said Tom quietly. "I'm very much +afraid that if Koku and the others are alive they're still prisoners in +the craft." +</P> + +<P> +"The wireless!" gasped Ned, as he and his chum got out of the Hawk. "Do +you mean that you stopped her by wireless, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I did. It was a desperate chance, but I took it. I had +just installed in the tank a system of wireless control, so she could +be guided as some torpedos and submarines are, by wireless impulses +from the shore. +</P> + +<P> +"Only I'd never given the tank system a tryout. It was all installed, +and had worked perfectly on the small model I constructed. And when I +saw her running away, out of control as she was, I realized the +wireless was the only thing that would stop her, if that would. It +might operate just opposite to what I wanted, though, and increase her +speed." +</P> + +<P> +"But I took the chance. I set the airship wireless current to working, +and tuned it in to coincide with the control of the tank. Then, by +means of the wireless impulse I shut off the motors, which can be +stopped or started by hand or by electricity. I shut 'em off." +</P> + +<P> +"And only just in time!" cried Ned. "Whew, Tom Swift, but that was a +close call!" +</P> + +<P> +"I realize that myself!" said the young inventor. "This is a new idea +and has to be worked out further for our newer tanks." +</P> + +<P> +"Gee!" ejaculated Ned. "Out of date before got into use! Now let's see +about our friends!" +</P> + +<P> +It was the work of but a moment to enter the tank, and, after making +sure that the machinery was all right, Tom and Ned made their way to +the interior. In one of the smallest rooms they found Koku and the +others bound with ropes, and in a bad way. Koku was so tied with cords +and hemp as to resemble a bale of Manilla cable. +</P> + +<P> +"Cut 'em loose, Ned!" cried Tom, and the bonds were soon severed. Then +came explanations. +</P> + +<P> +As has been told, one of the plotters, whose identity was not learned +until later, came with the forged note. The giant and Tom's men set out +in the tank, and the machine was stopped at a certain place where the +plotter, who gave the name of Crossleigh, told them Tom was to meet his +men. +</P> + +<P> +Out of ambush leaped Simpson and others, who overpowered the mechanics, +even subduing Koku after a fierce fight, and then they took possession +of the tank, making the others prisoners. +</P> + +<P> +What happened after that could only be conjectured by Tom's men, for +they were shut up in an inner room. It seemed certain, though, that the +tank was taken to some secret place and there painted to resemble the +verdure. Then she went on again, coming to rest where Tom and Ned saw +her. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile the plotters were gradually getting at the secrets of +construction, and they were in the midst of this work when one of them +saw the aeroplane. Rightly guessing what it portended, they left +hurriedly, still leaving the hapless men bound, and started the tank on +what they thought would be her last trip. +</P> + +<P> +"But you saved her, Tom!" cried Ned. "You saved her with the wireless." +</P> + +<P> +And word was sent back to Shopton by the same means to tell Mr. Swift, +Mr. Damon, and the others that Tom and his tank were safe. And then, a +little later, when the bound men had recovered the use of their cramped +limbs, the tank was backed away from the ledge and started on her +homeward way, Tom and Ned preceding her in the Hawk. +</P> + +<P> +Without further incident, save a slight break which was soon repaired, +Tank A soon reached her harbor again, and a double guard was posted +about the shop. +</P> + +<P> +"And they won't get much more chance to steal her secrets," said Tom +that night, when the stories had been told. +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" asked Ned. +</P> + +<P> +"We start to dismantle her at once," Tom answered, "and she goes to +England to be reproduced for France." +</P> + +<P> +"If only those plotters haven't stolen the secrets," mused Ned. +</P> + +<P> +But if they had they got little good of them. For shortly afterward +government secret service agents rounded up the chief members of the +gang, including Simpson and Blakeson. They, with Schwen, were sent to +an internment camp for the period of the war, and enough information +was obtained from them to disclose all the workings of the plot. +</P> + +<P> +"It was just like lots of other stunts the German spies tried to put +over on the good old U.S.A.," said Tom to Ned, the day after the +dismantled tank was shipped to Great Britain. "In some way the spies +found out what I was making, and then they got hold of Blakeson and +Grinder. Those fellows, who so nearly queered me in the big tunnel game +promised to make a tank that would beat those the British at first put +out, and they took some German money in advance for doing it. +</P> + +<P> +"When they found they couldn't make good, the German spies agreed to +help them get possession of my secrets. They worked hard enough at it, +too, but, thanks to you, Ned, and to Eradicate, who gave us the tip on +Schwen, we beat 'em out." +</P> + +<P> +"And so it's all over, Tom?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, practically all over. I've given all my interests in the tank to +Uncle Sam. It was the only way I could do my bit, at this time. But +I've something else up my sleeve." +</P> + +<P> +And those of you who care to learn what the young inventor next did may +do so by reading the next volume of this series. +</P> + +<P> +It was about a week after Tank A, as she was still officially called, +had been shipped in sections that Ned Newton called at Tom's home. He +found his chum, with a flower in his buttonhole, about to leave in his +small runabout. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, excuse me!" exclaimed Ned. "This is Wednesday night. I might have +known. Give Mary my regards." +</P> + +<P> +"I will," promised Tom, with a smile. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his War Tank, by Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK *** + +***** This file should be named 954-h.htm or 954-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/5/954/ + +Produced by Anthony Matonac, + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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 War Tank + or, Doing his Bit for Uncle Sam + +Author: Victor Appleton + +Posting Date: July 13, 2008 [EBook #954] +Release Date: June, 1997 +Last updated: May 20, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK *** + + + + +Produced by Anthony Matonac, + + + + + + + +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK + +or + +Doing His Bit For Uncle Sam + + +By + +VICTOR APPLETON + + + + +CONTENTS + + I Past Memories + II Tom's Indifference + III Ned is Worried + IV Queer Doings + V "Is He a Slacker?" + VI Seeing Things + VII Up a Tree + VIII Detective Rad + IX A Night Test + X A Runaway Giant + XI Tom's Tank + XII Bridging a Gap + XIII Into a Trench + XIV The Ruined Factory + XV Across Country + XVI The Old Barn + XVII Veiled Threats + XVIII Ready for France + XIX Tom Is Missing + XX The Search + XXI A Prisoner + XXII Rescued + XXIII Gone + XXIV Camouflaged + XXV Foiled + + + + +Chapter I + +Past Memories + + +Ceasing his restless walk up and down the room, Tom Swift strode to the +window and gazed across the field toward the many buildings, where +machines were turning out the products evolved from the brains of his +father and himself. There was a worried look on the face of the young +inventor, and he seemed preoccupied, as though thinking of something +far removed from whatever it was his eyes gazed upon. + +"Well, I'll do it!" suddenly exclaimed Tom. "I don't want to, but I +will. It's in the line of 'doing my bit,' I suppose; but I'd rather it +was something else. I wonder--" + +"Ha! Up to your old tricks, I see, Tom!" exclaimed a voice, in which +energy and friendliness mingled pleasingly. "Up to your old tricks!" + +"Oh, hello, Mr. Damon!" cried Tom, turning to shake hands with an +elderly gentleman--that is, elderly in appearance but not in action, +for he crossed the room with the springing step of a lad, and there was +the enthusiasm of youth on his face. "What do you mean--my old tricks?" + +"Talking to yourself, Tom. And when you do that it means there is +something in the wind. I hope, as a sort of side remark, it isn't rain +that's in the wind, for the soldiers over at camp have had enough water +to set up a rival establishment with Mr. Noah. But there's something +going on, isn't there? Bless my memorandum book, but don't tell me +there isn't, or I shall begin to believe I have lost all my deductive +powers of reasoning! I come in here, after knocking two or three times, +to which you pay not the least attention, and find you mysteriously +murmuring to yourself. + +"The last time that happened, Tom, was just before you started to dig +the big tunnel--No, I'm wrong. It was just before you started for the +Land of Wonders, as we decided it ought to be called. You were talking +to yourself then, when I walked in on you, and--Say, Tom!" suddenly +exclaimed Mr. Damon eagerly, "don't tell me you're going off on another +wild journey like that--don't!" + +"Why?" asked Tom, smiling at the energy of his caller. + +"Because if you are, I'll want to go with you, of course, and if I go +it means I'll have to start in as soon as I can to bring my wife around +to my way of thinking. The last time I went it took me two weeks to get +her to consent, and then she didn't like it. So if--" + +"No, Mr. Damon," interrupted Tom, "I don't count on going on any sort +of a trip--that is, any long one. I was just getting ready to take a +little spin in the Hawk, and if you'd like to come along--" + +"You mean that saucy little airship of yours, Tom, that's always trying +to sit down on her tail, or tickle herself with one wing?" + +"That's the Hawk!" laughed Tom; "though that tickling business you +speak of is when I spiral. Don't you like it?" + +"Can't say I do," observed Mr. Damon dryly. + +"Well, I'll promise not to try any stunts if you come along," Tom went +on. + +"Where are you going?" asked his friend. + +"Oh, no place in particular. As you surmised, I've been doing a bit of +thinking, and--" + +"Serious thinking, too, Tom!" interrupted Mr. Damon. "Excuse me, but I +couldn't help overhearing what you said. It was something about going +to do something though you didn't want to, and that it was part of your +'bit'. That sounds like soldier talk. Are you going to enlist, Tom?" + +"No." + +"Um! Well, then--" + +"It's something I can't talk about, Mr. Damon, even to you, as yet," +Tom said, and there was a new quality in his voice, at which his friend +looked up in some surprise. + +"Oh, of course, Tom, if it's a secret--" + +"Well, it hasn't even got that far, as yet. It's all up in the air, so +to speak. I'll tell you in due season. But, speaking of the air, let's +go for a spin. It may drive some of the cobwebs out of my brain. Did I +hear you say you thought it would rain?" + +"No, it's as clear as a bell. I said I hoped it wouldn't rain for the +sake of the soldiers in camp. They've had their share of wet weather, +and, goodness knows, they'll get more when they get to Flanders. It +seems to do nothing but rain in France." + +"It is damp," agreed Tom. "And, come to think of it, they are going to +have some airship contests over at camp to-day--for the men who are +being trained to be aviators, you know. It just occurred to me that we +might fly over there and watch them." + +"Fine!" cried Mr. Damon. "That's the very thing I should like. I'll +take a chance in your Hawk, Tom, if you'll promise not to try any +spiral stunts." + +"I promise, Mr. Damon. Come on! I'll have Koku run the machine out and +get her ready for a flight to Camp. It's a good day for a jaunt in the +air." + +"Get out the Hawk, Koku," ordered the young inventor, as he motioned to +a big man--a veritable giant--who nodded to show he understood. Koku +was really a giant, one of a race of strange beings, and Tom Swift had +brought the big man with him when he escaped from captivity, as those +will remember who have read that book. + +"Going far, Tom?" asked an aged man, coming to the door of one of the +many buildings of which the shed where the airship was kept formed one. + +"Not very far, Father," answered the young inventor. "Mr. Damon and I +are going for a little spin over to Camp Grant, to see some aircraft +contests among the army birdmen." + +"Oh, all right, Tom. I just wanted to tell you that I think I've gotten +over that difficulty you found with the big carburetor you were working +on. You didn't say what you wanted it for, except that it was for a +heavy duty gasolene engine, and you couldn't get the needle valve to +work as you'd like. I think I've found a way." + +"Good, Dad! I'll look at it when I come back. That carburetor did +bother me, and if I can get that to work--well, maybe we'll have +something soon that will--" + +But Tom did not finish his sentence, for Koku was getting the aircraft +in operation and Mr. Damon was already taking his place behind the +pilot's seat, which would be occupied by Tom. + +"All ready, are you, Koku?" asked the young inventor. + +"All ready, Master," answered the giant. + +There was a roar like that of a machine gun as the Hawk's engine spun +the propeller, and then, after a little run across the sod, it mounted +into the air, carrying Tom and Mr. Damon with it. + +"Mind you, Tom, no stunts!" called the visitor to the young inventor +through the speaking tube apparatus, which enabled a conversation to be +carried on, even above the roar of the powerful engine. "Bless my +overshoes! if you try, looping the loop with me--" + +"I won't do anything like that!" promised Tom. + +Away they soared, swift as a veritable hawk, and soon, after there had +unrolled below their eyes a succession of fields and forest, there came +into view rows and rows of small brown objects, among which beings, +like ants, seemed crawling about. + +"There's the Camp!" exclaimed Tom. + +"I see," and Mr. Damon nodded. + +As they approached, they saw, starting up from a green space amid the +brown tents, what appeared to be big bugs of a dirty white color +splotched with green. + +"The aircraft--and they have camouflage paint on," said Tom. "We can +watch 'em from up here!" + +Mr. Damon nodded, though Tom could not see him, sitting in front of his +friend as he was. + +Up and up circled the army aircraft, and they seemed to bow and nod a +greeting to the Hawk, which was soon in the midst of them. Tom and Mr. +Damon, flying high, though at no great speed, looked at the maneuvers +of the veterans and the learners--many of whom might soon be engaging +the Boches in far-off France. + +"Some of 'em are pretty good!" called Tom, through the tube. "That one +fellow did the loop as prettily as I've ever seen it done," and Tom +Swift had a right to speak as one of authority. + +Tom and his friend watched the aircraft for some time, and then started +off in a long flight, attaining a high speed, which, at first, made Mr. +Damon gasp, until he became used to it. He was no novice at flying, and +had even operated aeroplanes himself, though at no great height. + +Suddenly the Hawk seemed to falter, almost as does a bird stricken by a +hunter's gun. The craft seemed to hang in the air, losing motion as +though about to plunge to earth unguided. + +"What's the matter?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"One of the control wires broken!" was Tom's laconic answer. "I'll have +to volplane down. Sit tight, there's no danger!" + +Mr. Damon knew that with so competent a pilot as Tom Swift in the +forward seat this was true, but, nevertheless, he was a bit nervous +until he felt the smooth, gliding motion, with now and then an upward +tilt, which showed that Tom was coming down from the upper regions in a +series of long glides. The engine had stopped, and the cessation of the +thundering noise made it possible for Tom and his passenger to talk +without the use of the speaking tube. + +"All right?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"All right," Tom answered, and a little later the machine was rolling +gently over the turf of a large field, a mile or so from the camp. + +Before Tom and Mr. Damon could get out of their seats, a man, seemingly +springing up from some hollow in the ground, walked toward them. + +"Had an accident?" he asked, in what he evidently meant for a friendly +voice. + +"A little one, easily mended," Tom answered. + +He was about to take off his goggles, but at sight of the man's face a +change came over the countenance of Tom Swift, and he replaced the eye +protectors. Then Tom turned to Mr. Damon, as if to ask a question, but +the stranger came so close, evidently curious to see the aircraft at +close quarters, that the young inventor could not speak without being +overheard. + +Tom got out his kit of tools to repair the broken control, and the man +watched him curiously. As he tinkered away, something was stirring +among the past memories of the inventor. A question he asked himself +over and over again was: + +"Where have I seen this man before? His face is familiar, but I can't +place him. He is associated with something unpleasant. But where have I +seen this man before?" + + + + +Chapter II + +Tom's Indifference + + +"Did you make this machine yourself?" asked the stranger of Tom, as the +young inventor worked at the damaged part of his craft. + +Mr. Damon had also alighted, taken off his goggles, and was looking +aloft, where the army aircraft were going through various evolutions, +and down below, where the young soldiers were drilling under such +conditions, as far as possible, as they might meet with when some of +their number went "over the top." Mr. Damon was murmuring to himself +such remarks as: + +"Bless my fountain pen! look at that chap turning upside down! Bless my +inkwell!" + +"I beg your pardon," remarked Tom Swift, following the remark of the +man, whose face he was trying to recall. It was not that Tom had not +heard the question, but he was trying to gain time before answering. + +"I asked if you made this machine yourself," went on the man, as he +peered about at the Hawk. "It isn't like any I've ever seen before, and +I know something about airships. It has some new wrinkles on it, and I +thought you might have evolved them yourself. Not that it's an amateur +affair, by any means!" he added hastily, as if fearing the young +inventor might resent the implication that his machine was a home-made +product. + +"Yes, I originated this," answered Tom, as he put a new turn-buckle in +place; "but I didn't actually construct it--that is, except for some +small parts. It was made in the shop--" + +"Over at the army construction plant, I presume," interrupted the man +quickly, as he motioned toward the big factory, not far from Shopton, +where aircraft for Uncle Sam's Army were being turned out by the +hundreds. + +"Might as well let him think that," mused Tom; "at least until I can +figure out who he is and what he wants." + +"This is different from most of those up there," and the stranger +pointed toward the circling craft on high. "A bit more speedy, I guess, +isn't it?" + +"Well, yes, in a way," agreed Tom, who was bending over his craft. He +stole a side look at the man. The face was becoming more and more +familiar, yet something about it puzzled Tom Swift. + +"I've seen him before, and yet he didn't look like that," thought the +young inventor. "It's different, somehow. Now why should my memory play +me a trick like this? Who in the world can he be?" + +Tom straightened up, and tossed a monkey wrench into the tool box. + +"Get everything fixed?" asked the stranger. + +"I think so," and the young inventor tried to make his answer pleasant. +"It was only a small break, easily fixed." + +"Then you'll be on your way again?" + +"Yes. Are you ready?" called Tom to Mr. Damon. + +"Bless my timetable, yes! I didn't think you'd start back again so +soon. There's one young fellow up there who has looped the loop three +times, and I expect him to fall any minute." + +"Oh, I guess he knows his business," Tom said easily. "We'll be +getting back now." + +"One moment!" called the man. "I beg your pardon for troubling you, but +you seem to be a mechanic, and that's just the sort of man I'm looking +for. Are you open to an offer to do some inventive and constructive +work?" + +Tom was on his guard instantly. + +"Well, I can't say that I am," he answered. "I am pretty busy--" + +"This would pay well," went on the man eagerly. "I am a stranger around +here, but I can furnish satisfactory references. I am in need of a good +mechanic, an inventor as well, who can do what you seem to have done so +well. I had hopes of getting some one at the army plant." + +"I guess they're not letting any of their men go," said Tom, as Mr. +Damon climbed to his seat in the Hawk. + +"No, I soon found that out. But I thought perhaps you--" + +Tom shook his head. + +"I'm sorry," he answered, "but I'm otherwise engaged, and very busy." + +"One moment!" called the man, as he saw Tom about to start "Is the +Swift Company plant far from here?" + +Tom felt something like a thrill go through him. There was an +unexpected note in the man's voice. The face of the young inventor +lightened, and the doubts melted away. + +"No, it isn't far," Tom answered, shouting to be heard above the +crackling bangs of the motor. And then, as the craft soared into the +air, he cried exultingly: + +"I have it! I know who he is! The scoundrel! His beard fooled me, and +he probably didn't know me with these goggles on. But now I know him!" + +"Bless my calendar!" cried Mr. Damon. "What are you talking about?" + +But Tom did not answer, for the reason that just then the Hawk fell +into an "air pocket," and needed all his attention to straighten her +out and get her on a level course again. + +And while Tom Swift is thus engaged in speeding his aircraft along the +upper regions toward his home, it will take but a few moments to +acquaint my new readers with something of the history of the young +inventor. Those who have read the previous books in this series need be +told nothing about our hero. + +Tom Swift was an inventor of note, as was his father. Mr. Swift was now +quite aged and not in robust health, but he was active at times and +often aided Tom when some knotty point came up. + +Tom and his father lived on the outskirts of the town of Shopton, and +near their home were various buildings in which the different machines +and appliances were made. Tom's mother was dead, but Mrs. Baggert, the +housekeeper, was as careful in looking after Tom and his father as any +woman could be. + +In addition to these three, the household consisted of Eradicate +Sampson, an aged colored servant, and, it might almost be added, his +mule Boomerang; but Boomerang had manners that, at times, did not make +him a welcome addition to any household. Then there was the giant Koku, +one of two big men Tom had brought back with him from the land where +the young inventor had been held captive for a time. + +The first book of this series is called "Tom Swift and His Motor +Cycle," and it was in acquiring possession of that machine that Tom met +his friend Mr. Wakefield Damon, who lived in a neighboring town. Mr. +Damon owned the motor cycle originally, but when it attempted to climb +a tree with him he sold it to Tom. + +Tom had many adventures on the machine, and it started him on his +inventive career. From then on he had had a series of surprising +adventures. He had traveled in his motor boat, in an airship, and then +had taken to a submarine. In his electric runabout he showed what the +speediest car on the road could do, and when he sent his wireless +message, the details of which can be found set down in the volume of +that name, Tom saved the castaways of Earthquake Island. + +Tom Swift had many other thrilling escapes, one from among the diamond +makers, and another from the caves of ice; and he made the quickest +flight on record in his sky racer. + +Tom's wizard camera, his great searchlight, his giant cannon, his photo +telephone, his aerial warship and the big tunnel he helped to dig, +brought him credit, fame, and not a little money. He had not long been +back from an expedition to Honduras, dubbed "the land of wonders," when +he was again busy on some of his many ideas. And it was to get some +relief from his thoughts that he had taken the flight with Mr. Damon on +the day the present story opens. + +"What are you so excited about, Tom?" asked his friend, as the Hawk +alighted near the shed Back of the young inventor's home. "Bless my +scarf pin! but any one would think you'd just discovered the true +method of squaring the circle." + +"Well, it's almost as good as that, and more practical," Tom said, with +a smile, as he motioned to Koku to put away the aircraft "I know who +that man is, now." + +"What man, Tom?" + +"The one who was questioning me when I was fixing the airship. I kept +puzzling and puzzling as to his identity, and, all at once, it came to +me. Do you know who he is, Mr. Damon?" + +"No, I can't say that I do, Tom. But, as you say, there was something +vaguely familiar about him. It seemed as if I must have seen him +before, and yet--" + +"That's just the way it struck me. What would you say if I told you +that man was Blakeson, of Blakeson and Grinder, the rival tunnel +contractors who made such trouble for us?" + +"You mean down in Peru, Tom?" + +"Yes." + +Mr. Damon started in surprise, and then exclaimed: + +"Bless my ear mufflers, Tom, but you're right! That was Blakeson! I +didn't know him with his beard, but that was Blakeson, all right! Bless +my foot-warmer! What do you suppose he is doing around here?" + +"I don't know, Mr. Damon, but I'd give a good deal to know. It isn't +any good, I'll wager on that. He didn't seem to know me or you, +either--unless he did and didn't let on. I suppose it was because of +my goggles--and you were gazing up in the air most of the time. I don't +think he knew either of us." + +"It didn't seem so, Tom. But what is he doing here? Do you think he is +working at the army camp, or helping make Liberty Motors for the +aircraft that are going to beat the Germans?" + +"Hardly. He didn't seem to be connected with the camp. He wanted a +mechanic, and hinted that I might do. Jove! if he really didn't know +who I was, and finds out, say! won't he be surprised?" + +"Rather," agreed Mr Damon. "Well, Tom, I had a nice little ride. And +now I must be getting back. But if you contemplate a trip anywhere, +don't forget to let me know." + +"I don't count on going anywhere soon," Tom answered. "I have something +on hand that will occupy all my time, though I don't just like it. +However, I'm going to do my best," and he waved good-bye to Mr. Damon, +who went off blessing various parts of his anatomy or clothing, an odd +habit he had. + +As Tom turned to go into the house, the unsettled look still on his +face, some one hailed him. + +"I say, Tom. Hello! Wait a minute! I've got something to show you!" + +"Oh, hello, Ned Newton!" Called back the young inventor. "Well, if +it's Liberty Bonds, you don't need to show me any, for dad and I will +buy all we can without seeing them." + +"I know that, Tom, and it was a dandy subscription you gave me. I +didn't come about that, though I may be around the next time Uncle Sam +wants the people to dig down in their socks. This is something +different," and Ned Newton, a young banker of Shopton and a lifelong +friend of Tom's, drew a paper from his pocket as he advanced across the +lawn. + +"There, Tom Swift!" he cried, flipping out an illustrated page, +evidently from some illustrated newspaper. "There's the very latest +from the other side. A London banker friend of mine sent it to me, and +it got past the censor all right. It's the first authentic photograph +of the newest and biggest British tank. Isn't that a wonder?" + +Ned held up the paper which had in it a fullpage photograph of a +monster tank--those weird machines traveling on endless steel belts of +caterpillar construction, armored, riveted and plated, with machine +guns bristling here and there. + +"Isn't that great, Tom? Can you beat it? It's the most wonderful +machine of the age, even counting some of yours. Can you beat it?" + +Tom took the paper indifferently, and his manner surprised his chum. + +"Well, what's the matter, Tom?" asked Ned. "Don't you think that great? +Why don't you say something? You don't mean to say you've seen that +picture before?" + +"No, Ned." + +"Then what's the matter with you? Isn't that wonderful?" + + + + +Chapter III + +Ned is Worried + + +Tom Swift did not answer for several seconds. He stood holding the +paper Ned had given him, the sun slanting on the picture of the big +British tank. But the young inventor did not appear to see it. Instead, +his eyes were as though contemplating something afar off. + +"Well, this gets me!" cried Ned, his voice showing impatience. "Here I +go and get a picture of the latest machine the British armies are +smashing up the Boches with, and bring it to you fresh from the mail--I +even quit my Liberty Bond business to do it, and I know some dandy +prospects, too--and here you look at it like a--like a fish!" burst out +Ned. + +"Say, old man, I guess that's right!" admitted Tom. "I wasn't thinking +about it, to tell you the truth." + +"Why not?" Ned demanded. "Isn't it great, Tom? Did you ever see +anything like it?" + +"Yes." + +"You did?" Cried Ned, in surprise. "Where? Say, Tom Swift, are you +keeping something from me?" + +"I mean no, Ned. I never have seen a British tank." + +"Well, did you ever see a picture like this before?" Ned persisted. + +"No, not exactly like that But--" + +"Well, what do you think of it?" cried the young banker, who was giving +much of his time to selling bonds for the Government. "Isn't it great?" + +Tom considered a moment before replying. Then he said slowly: + +"Well, yes, Ned, it is a pretty good machine. But--" + +"'But!' Howling tomcats! Say, what's the 'matter with you, anyhow, Tom? +This is great! 'But!' 'But me no buts!' This is, without exception, the +greatest thing out since an airship. It will win the war for us and the +Allies, too, and don't you forget it! Fritz's barbed wire and dugouts +and machine gun emplacements can't stand for a minute against these +tanks! Why, Tom, they can crawl on their back as well as any other way, +and they don't mind a shower of shrapnel or a burst of machine gun +lead, any more than an alligator minds a swarm of gnats. The only thing +that makes 'em hesitate a bit is a Jack Johnson or a Bertha shell, and +it's got to be a pretty big one, and in the right place, to do much +damage. These tanks are great, and there's nothing like 'em." + +"Oh, yes there is, Ned!" + +"There is!" cried Ned. "What do you mean?" + +"I mean there may be something like them--soon." + +"There may? Say, Tom--" + +"Now don't ask me a lot of questions, Ned, for I can't answer them. +When I say there may be something like them, I mean it isn't beyond the +realms of possibility that some one--perhaps the Germans--may turn out +even bigger and better tanks." + +"Oh!" And Ned's voice showed his disappointment. "I thought maybe you +were in on that game yourself, Tom. Say, couldn't you get up something +almost as good as this?" and he indicated the picture in the paper. +"Isn't that wonderful?" + +"Oh, well, it's good, Ned, but there are others. Yes, Dad, I'm coming," +he called, as he saw his father beckoning to him from a distant +building. + +"Well, I've got to get along," said Ned. "But I certainly am +disappointed, Tom. I thought you'd go into a fit over this +picture--it's one of the first allowed to get out of England, my London +friend said. And instead of enthusing you're as cold as a clam;" and +Ned shook his head in puzzled and disappointed fashion as he walked +slowly along beside the young inventor. + +They passed a new building, one of the largest in the group of the many +comprising the Swift plant. Ned looked at the door which bore a notice +to the effect that no one was admitted unless bearing a special permit, +or accompanied by Mr. Swift or Tom. + +"What's this, Tom?" asked Ned. "Some new wrinkle?" + +"Yes, an invention I'm working on. It isn't in shape yet to be seen." + +"It must be something big, Tom," observed Ned, as he viewed the large +building. + +"It is." + +"And say, what a whopping big fence you've got around the back yard!" +went on the young banker. "Looks like a baseball field, but it would +take some scrambling on the part of a back-lots kid to get over it." + +"That's what it's for--to keep people out." + +"I see! Well, I've got to get along. I'm a bit back in my day's quota +of selling Liberty Bonds, and I've got to hustle. I'm sorry I bothered +you about that tank picture, Tom." + +"Oh, it wasn't a bother--don't think that for a minute, Ned! I was glad +to see it." + +"Well, he didn't seem so, and his manner was certainly queer," mused +Ned, as he walked away, and turned in time to see Tom enter the new +building, which had such a high fence all around it. "I never saw him +more indifferent. I wonder if Tom isn't interested in seeing Uncle Sam +help win this war? That's the way it struck me. I thought surely Tom +would go up in the air, and say this was a dandy," and Ned unfolded the +paper and took another look at the British tank photograph. "If there's +anything can beat that I'd like to see it," he mused. + +"But I suppose Tom has discovered some new kind of air stabilizer, or a +different kind of carburetor that will vaporize kerosene as well as +gasolene. If he has, why doesn't he offer it to Uncle Sam? I wonder if +Tom is pro-German? No, of Course he can't be!" and Ned laughed at his +own idea. + +"At the same time, it is queer," he mused on. "There is something wrong +with Tom Swift." + +Once more Ned looked at the picture. It was a representation of one of +the newest and largest of the British tanks. In appearance these are +not unlike great tanks, though they are neither round nor square, being +shaped, in fact, like two wedges with the broad ends put together, and +the sharper ends sticking out, though there is no sharpness to a tank, +the "noses" both being blunt. + +Around each outer edge runs an endless belt of steel plates, hinged +together, with ridges at the joints, and these broad belts of steel +plates, like the platforms of some moving stairways used in department +stores, moving around, give motion to the tank. + +Inside, well protected from the fire of enemy guns by steel plates, are +the engines for driving the belts, or caterpillar wheels, as they are +called. There is also the steering apparatus, and the guns that fire on +the enemy. There are cramped living and sleeping quarters for the +tank's crew, more limited than those of a submarine. + +The tank is ponderous, the smallest of them, which were those first +constructed, weighing forty-two tons, or about as much as a good-sized +railroad freight car. And it is this ponderosity, with its slow but +resistless movement, that gives the tank its power. + +The tank, by means of the endless belts of steel plates, can travel +over the roughest country. It can butt into a tree, a stone wall, or a +house, knock over the obstruction, mount it, crawl over it, and slide +down into a hole on the other side and crawl out again, on the level, +or at an angle. Even if overturned, the tanks can sometimes right +themselves and keep on. At the rear are trailer wheels, partly used in +steering and partly for reaching over gaps or getting out of holes. The +tanks can turn in their own length, by moving one belt in one direction +and the other oppositely. + +Inside there is nothing much but machinery of the gasolene type, and +the machine guns. The tank is closed except for small openings out of +which the guns project, and slots through which the men inside look out +to guide themselves or direct their fire. + +Such, in brief, is a British tank, one of the most powerful and +effective weapons yet loosed against the Germans. They are useful in +tearing down the barbed-wire entanglements on the Boche side of No +Man's Land, and they can clear the way up to and past the trenches, +which they can straddle and wriggle across like some giant worm. + +"And to think that Tom Swift didn't enthuse over these!" murmured Ned. +"I wonder what's the matter with him!" + + + + +Chapter IV + +Queer Doings + + +There was a subdued air of activity about the Swift plant. Subdued, +owing to the fact that it was mostly confined to one building--the new, +large one, about which stretched a high and strong fence, made with +tongue-and-groove boards so that no prying eyes might find a crack, +even, through which to peer. + +In and out of the other buildings the workmen went as they pleased, +though there were not many of them, for Tom and his father were +devoting most of their time and energies to what was taking place in +the big, new structure. But here there was an entirely different +procedure. + +Workmen went in and out, to be sure, but each time they emerged they +were scrutinized carefully, and when they went in they had to exhibit +their passes to a man on guard at the single entrance; and the passes +were not scrutinized perfunctorily, either. + +Near the building, about which there seemed to be an air of mystery, +one day, a week after the events narrated in the opening chapters, +strolled the giant Koku. Not far away, raking up a pile of refuse, was +Eradicate Sampson, the aged colored man of all work. Eradicate +approached nearer and nearer the entrance to the building, pursuing his +task of gathering up leaves, dirt and sticks with the teeth of his +rake. Then Koku, who had been lounging on a bench in the shade of a +tree, Called: + +"No more, Eradicate!" + +"No mo' whut?" asked the negro quickly. "I didn't axt yo' fo' nuffin +yit!" + +"No more come here!" said the giant, pointing to the building and +speaking English with an evident effort. "Master say no one come too +close." + +"Huh! He didn't go fo' t' mean me!" exclaimed Eradicate. "I kin go +anywheres; I kin!" + +"Not here!" and Koku interposed his giant frame between the old man and +the first step leading into the secret building. "You no come in here." + +"Who say so?" + +"Me--I say so! I on guard. I what you call special +policeman--detectiff--no let enemies in!" + +"Huh! You's a hot deteckertiff, yo' is!" snorted Eradicate. "Anyhow, +dem orders don't mean me! I kin go anywhere, I kin!" + +"Not here!" said Koku firmly. "Master Tom say let nobody come near but +workmen who have got writing-paper. You no got!" + +"No, but I kin git one, an' I's gwine t' hab it soon! I'll see Massa +Tom, dat's whut I will. I guess yo' ain't de only deteckertiff on de +place. I kin go on guard, too!" and Eradicate, dropping his rake, +strolled away in his temper to seek the young inventor. + +"Well, Rad, what is it?" asked Tom, as he met the colored man. The +young inventor was on his way to the mysterious shop. "What is +troubling you?" + +"It's dat dar giant. He done says as how he's on guard--a +deteckertiff--an' I can't go nigh dat buildin' t' sweep up de refuse." + +"Well, that's right, Rad. I'd prefer that you keep away. I'm doing +some special work in there and it's--" + +"Am it dangerous, Massa Tom? I ain't askeered! Anybody whut kin drive +mah mule Boomerang--" + +"I know, Eradicate, but this isn't so dangerous. It's just secret, and +I don't want too many people about. You can go anywhere else except +there. Koku is on guard." + +"Den can't I be, Massa Tom?" asked the colored man eagerly. "I kin +guard an' detect same as dat low-down, good-fo'-nuffin white trash +Koku!" + +Tom hesitated. + +"I suppose I could get you a sort of officer's badge," he mused, half +aloud. + +"Dat's whut I want!" eagerly exclaimed Eradicate. "I ain't gwine hab +dat Koku--dat cocoanut--crowin' ober me! I kin guard an' detect as +good's anybody!" + +And the upshot of it was that Eradicate was given a badge, and put on a +special post, far enough from Koku to keep the two from quarreling, and +where, even if he failed in keeping a proper lookout, the old servant +could do no harm by his oversight. + +"It'll please him, and won't hurt us," said Tom to his father. "Koku +will keep out any prying persons." + +"I suppose you are doing well to keep it a secret, Tom," said Mr. +Swift, "but it seems as if you might announce it soon." + +"Perhaps we may, Dad, if all goes well. I've given her a partial +shop-tryout, and she works well. But there is still plenty to do. Did I +tell you about meeting Blakeson?" + +"Yes, and I can't understand why he should be in this vicinity. Do you +think he has had any intimation of what you are doing?" + +"It's hard to say, and yet I would not be surprised. When Uncle Sam +couldn't keep secret the fact of our first soldiers sailing for France. +How can I expect to keep this secret? But they won't get any details +until I'm ready, I'm sure of that." + +"Koku is a good discourager," said Mr. Swift, with a chuckle. "You +couldn't have a better guard, Tom." + +"No, and if I can keep him and Eradicate from trying to pull off rival +detective stunts, or 'deteckertiff,' as Rad calls it, I'll be all +right. Now let's have another go at that carburetor. There's our weak +point, for it's getting harder and harder all the while to get +high-grade gasolene, and we'll have to come to alcohol of low proof, or +kerosene, I'm thinking." + +"I wouldn't be surprised, Tom. Well, perhaps we can get up a new style +of carburetor that will do the trick. Now look at this needle valve; +I've given it a new turn," and father and son went into technical +details connected with their latest invention. + +These were busy days at the Swift plant. Men came and went--men with +queerly shaped parcels frequently--and they were admitted to the big +new building after first passing Eradicate and then Koku, and it would +be hard to say which guard was the more careful. Only, of course, Koku +had the final decision, and more than one person was turned back after +Eradicate had passed him, much to the disgust of the negro. + +"Pooh! Dat giant don't know a workman when he sees 'im!" snorted +Eradicate. "He so lazy his own se'f dat he don't know a workman! Ef I +sees a spy, Massa Tom, or a crook, I's gwine git him, suah pop!" + +"I hope you do, Rad. We can't afford to let this secret get out," said +the young inventor. + +It was one evening, when taking a short cut to his home, that Mr. +Nestor, the father of Mary Nestor, in whom Tom was more than ordinarily +interested, passed not far from the big enclosure which was guarded, on +the factory side, day and night. Inside, though out of sight and hidden +by the high fence, were other guards. + +As Mr. Nestor passed along the fence, rather vaguely wondering why it +was so high, tight and strong, he felt the ground trembling beneath his +feet. It rumbled and shook as though a distant train were passing, and +yet there was none due now, for Mr. Nestor had just left one, and +another would not arrive for an hour. + +"That's queer," mused Mary's father. "If I didn't know to the contrary, +I'd say that sounded like heavy guns being fired from a distance, or +else blasting. It seems to come from the Swift place," he went on. "I +wonder what they're up to in there." + +Suddenly the rumbling became more pronounced, and mingled with it, in +the dusk of the evening, were the shouts of men. + +"Look out!" some one cried. "She's going for the fence!" + +A second later there was a cracking and straining of boards, and the +fence near Mr. Nestor bulged out as though something big, powerful and +mighty were pressing it from the inner side. + +But the fence held, or else the pressure was removed, for the bulge +went back into place, though some of the boards were splintered. + +"Have to patch that up in the morning," called another voice, and Mr. +Nestor recognized it as that of Tom Swift. + +"What queer doings are going on here?" mused Mary's father. "Have they +got a wild bull shut up in there, and is he trying to get out? Lucky +for me he didn't," and he hurried on, the rumbling noise become fainter +until it died away altogether. + +That night, after his supper and while reading the paper and smoking a +cigar, Mr. Nestor spoke to his daughter. + +"Mary, have you seen anything of Tom Swift lately?" + +"Why, yes, Father. He was over for a little while the other night, but +he didn't stay long. Why do you ask?" + +"Oh, nothing special. I just came past his place and I heard some queer +noises, that's all. He's up to some more of his tricks, I guess. Has be +enlisted yet?" + +"No. + +"Is he going to?" + +"I don't know," and Mary seemed a bit put out by this simple question. +"What do you mean by his tricks?" she asked, and a close observer might +have thought she was anxious to get away from the subject of Tom's +enlistment. + +"Oh, like that one when he sent you something in a box labeled +'dynamite,' and gave us all a scare. You can't tell what Tom Swift is +going to do next. He's up to something now, I'll wager, and I don't +believe any good will come of it." + +"You didn't think so after he sent his wireless message, and saved us +from Earthquake Island," said Mary, smiling. + +"Hum! Well, that was different," snapped Mr. Nestor. "This time I'm +sure he's up to some nonsense! The idea of crashing down a fence! Why +doesn't he enlist like the other chaps, or sell Liberty Bonds like Ned +Newton?" and Mr. Nestor looked sharply at his daughter. "Ned gave up a +big salary as the Swifts financial man--a place he had held for a +year--to go back to the bank for less, just so he could help the +Government in the financial end of this war. Is Tom doing as much for +his country?" + +"I'm sure I don't know," answered Mary; and soon after, with averted +face, she left the room. + +"Hum! Queer goings on," mused Mr. Nestor. "Tom Swift may be all right, +but he's got an unbalanced streak in him that will bear looking out +for, that's what I think!" + +And having settled this matter, at least to his own satisfaction, Mr. +Nestor resumed his smoking and reading. + +A little later the bell rang. There was a murmur of voices in the hall, +and Mr. Nestor, half listening, heard a voice he knew. + +"There's Tom Swift now!" he exclaimed. "I'm going to find out why he +doesn't enlist!" + + + + +Chapter V + +"Is He a Slacker?" + + +Mr. Nestor, whatever else he was, proved to be a prudent father. He did +not immediately go into the front room, whither Mary and Tom hastened, +their voices mingling in talk and laughter. + +Mr. Nestor, after leaving the young folks alone for a while, with a +loud "Ahem!" and a rattling of his paper as he laid it aside, started +for the parlor. + +"Good-evening, Mr. Nestor!" said Tom, rising to shake hands with the +father of his young and pretty hostess. + +"Hello, Tom!" was the cordial greeting, in return. "What's going on up +at your place?" went on Mr. Nestor, as he took a chair. + +"Oh, nothing very special," Tom answered. "We're turning out different +kinds of machines as usual, and dad and I are experimenting, also as +usual." + +"I suppose so. But what nearly broke the fence to-night?" + +Tom started, and looked quickly at his host. + +"Were you there?" he asked quickly. + +"Well, I happened to be passing--took a short cut home--and I heard +some queer goings on at your place. I was speaking to Mary about them, +and wondering--" + +"Father, perhaps Tom doesn't want to talk about his inventions," +interrupted Mary. "You know some of them are secret--" + +"Oh, I wasn't exactly asking for information!" exclaimed Mr. Nestor +quickly. "I just happened to hear the fence crash, and I was wondering +if something was coming out at me. Didn't know but what that giant of +yours was on a rampage, Tom," and he laughed. + +"No, it wasn't anything like that," and Tom's voice was more sober than +the occasion seemed to warrant. "It was one of our new machines, and it +didn't act just right. No great damage was done, though. How do you +find business, Mr. Nestor, since the war spirit has grown stronger?" +asked Tom, and it seemed to both Mary and her father that the young +inventor deliberately changed the subject. + +"Well, it isn't all it might be," said the other. "It's hard to get +good help. A lot of our boys enlisted, and some were taken in the +draft. By the way, Tom, have they called on you yet?" + +"No. Not yet." + +"You didn't enlist?" + +"Ned Newton tried to," broke in Mary, "but the quota for this locality +was filled, and they told him he'd better wait for the draft. He +wouldn't do that and tried again. Then the bank people heard about it +and had him exempted. They said he was too valuable to them, and he has +been doing remarkably well in selling Liberty Bonds!" and Mary's eyes +sparkled with her emotions. + +"Yes, Ned is a crackerjack salesman!" agreed Tom, no less +enthusiastically. "He's sold more bonds, in proportion, for his bank, +than any other in this county. Dad and I both took some, and have +promised him more. I am glad now that we let him go, although we valued +his services highly. We hope to have him back later." + +"He can put me down for more bonds too!" said Mr. Nestor. "I'm going +to see Germany beaten if it takes every last dollar I have!" + +"That's what I say!" Cried Mary. "I took out all my savings, except a +little I'm keeping to buy a wedding present for Jennie Morse. Did you +know she was going to get married, Tom?" she asked. + +"I heard so." + +"Well, all but what I want for a wedding present to her has gone into +Liberty Bonds. Isn't this a history-making time, Tom?" + +"Indeed it is, Mary!" + +"Everybody who has a part in it--whether he fights as a soldier or only +knits like the Red Cross girls--will be telling about it for years +after," went on the girl, and she looked at Tom eagerly. + +"Yes," he agreed. "These are queer times. We don't know exactly where +we're at. A lot of our men have been called. We tried to have some of +them exempted, and did manage it in a few cases." + +"You did?" cried Mr. Nestor, as if in surprise. "You stopped men from +going to war!" + +"Only so they could work on airship motors for the Government," Tom +quietly explained. + +"Oh! Well, of course, that's part of the game," agreed Mary's father. +"A lot more of our boys are going off next week. Doesn't it make you +thrill, Tom, when you see them marching off, even if they haven't their +uniforms yet? Jove, if I wasn't too old, I'd go in a minute!" + +"Father!" cried Mary. + +"Yes, I would!" he declared. "The German government has got to be +beaten, and we've got to do our bit; everybody has--man, woman and +child!" + +"Yes," agreed Tom, in a low voice, "that's very true. But every one, in +a sense, has to judge for himself what the 'bit' is. We can't all do +the same." + +There was a little silence, and then Mary went over to the piano and +played. It was a rather welcome relief, under the circumstances, from +the conversation. + +"Mary, what do you think of Tom?" asked Mr. Nestor, when the visitor +had gone. + +"What do I think of him?" And she blushed. + +"I mean about his not enlisting. Do you think he's a slacker?" + +"A slacker? Why, Father!" + +"Oh, I don't mean he's afraid. We've seen proof enough of his courage, +and all that. But I mean don't you think he wants stirring up a bit?" + +"He is going to Washington to-morrow, Father. He told me so to-night. +And it may be--" + +"Oh, well, then maybe it's all right," hastily said Mr. Nestor. "He may +be going to get a commission in the engineer corps. It isn't like Tom +Swift to hang back, and yet it does begin to look as though he cared +more for his queer inventions--machines that butt down fences than for +helping Uncle Sam. But I'll reserve judgment." + +"You'd better, Father!" and Mary laughed--a little. Yet there was a +worried look on her face. + +During the next few nights Mr. Nestor made it a habit to take the short +cut from the railroad station, coming past the big fence that enclosed +one particular building of the Swift plant. + +"I wonder if there's a hole where I could look through," said Mr. +Nestor to himself. "Of course I don't believe in spying on what another +man is doing, and yet I'm too good a friend of Tom's to want to see him +make a fool of himself. He ought to be in the army, or helping Uncle +Sam in some way. And yet if he spends all his time on some foolish +contraption, like a new kind of traction plow, what good is that? If I +could get a glimpse of it, I might drop a friendly hint in his ear." + +But there were no cracks in the fence, or, if there were, it was too +dark to see them, and also too dark to behold anything on the other +side of the barrier. So Mr. Nestor, wondering much, kept on his way. + +It was a day or so after this that Ned Newton paid a visit to the Swift +home. Mr. Swift was not in the house, being out in one of the various +buildings, Mrs. Baggert said. + +"Where's Tom?" asked the bond salesman. + +"Oh, he hasn't come back from Washington yet," answered the housekeeper. + +"He is making a long stay." + +"Yes, he went about a week ago on some business. But we expect him back +to-day." + +"Well, then I'll see him. I called to ask if Mr. Swift didn't want to +take a few more bonds. We want to double our allotment for Shopton, and +beat out some of the other towns in this section. I'll go to see Mr. +Swift." + +On his way to find Tom's father Ned passed the big building in front of +which Eradicate and Koku were on guard. They nodded to Ned, who passed +them, wondering much as to what it was Tom was so secretive about. + +"It's the first time I remember when he worked on an invention without +telling me something about it," mused Ned. "Well, I suppose it will +all come out in good time. Anything new, Rad?" + +"No, Massa Ned, nuffin much. I'm detectin' around heah; keepin' +Dutchmen spies away!" + +"And Koku is helping you, I suppose?" + +"Whut, him? Dat big, good-fo'-nuffin white trash? No, sah! I's +detectin' by mahse'f, dat's whut I is!" and Eradicate strutted proudly +up and down on his allotted part of the beat, being careful not to +approach the building too closely, for that was Koku's ground. + +Ned smiled, and passed on. He found Mr. Swift, secured his subscription +to more bonds, and was about to leave when he heard a call down the +road and saw Tom coming in his small racing car, which had been taken +to the depot by one of the workmen. + +"Hello, old man!" cried Ned affectionately, as his chum alighted with a +jump. "Where have you been?" + +"Down to Washington. Had a bit of a chat with the President and gave +him some of my views." + +"About the war, I suppose?" laughed Ned. + +"Yes." + +"Did you get your commission?" + +"Commission?" And there was a wondering look on Tom's face. + +"Yes. Mary Nestor said she thought maybe you were going to Washington +to take an examination for the engineering corps or something like +that. Did you get made an officer?" + +"No," answered Tom slowly. "I went to Washington to get exempted." + +"Exempted?" Cried Ned, and his voice sounded strained. + + + + +Chapter VI + +Seeing Things + + +For a moment Tom Swift looked at his chum. Then something of what was +passing in the mind of the young bond salesman must have been reflected +to Tom, for he said, + +"Look here, old man; I know it may seem a bit strange to go to all that +trouble to get exempted from the draft, to which I am eligible, but, +believe me, there's a reason. I can't say anything now, but I'll tell +you as soon as I can--tell everybody, in fact. Just now it isn't in +shape to talk about." + +"Oh, that's all right, Tom," and Ned tried to make his voice sound +natural. "I was just wondering, that's all. I wanted to go to the front +the worst way, but they wouldn't let me. I was sort of hoping you +could, and come back to tell me about it." + +"I may yet, Ned." + +"You may? Why, I thought--" + +"Oh, I'm only exempted for a time. I've got certain things to do, and I +couldn't do 'em if I enlisted or was drafted. So I've been excused for +a time. Now I've got a pile of work to do. What are you up to Ned? Same +old story?" + +"Liberty Bonds--yes. Your father just took some more." + +"And so will I, Ned. I can do that, anyhow, even if I don't enlist. Put +me down for another two thousand dollars' worth." + +"Say, Tom, that's fine! That will make my share bigger than I counted +on. Shopton will beat the record." + +"That's good. We ought to pull strong and hearty for our home town. +How's everything else?" + +"Oh, so-so. I see Koku and Eradicate trying to outdo one another in +guarding that part of your plant," and Ned nodded toward the big new +building. + +"Yes, I had to let Rad play detective. Not that he can do +anything--he's too old. But it keeps him and Koku from quarreling all +the while. I've got to be pretty careful about that shop. It's got a +secret in it that--Well, the less said about it the better." + +"You're getting my curiosity aroused, Tom," remarked Ned. + +"It'll have to go unsatisfied for a while. Wait a bit and I'll give you +a ride. I've got to go over to Sackett on business, and if you're going +that way I'll take you." + +"What in?" + +"The Hawk." + +"That's me!" cried Ned. "I haven't been in an aircraft for some time." + +"Tell Miles to run her out," requested Tom. "I've got to go in and say +hello to dad a minute, and then I'll be with you." + +"Seems like something was in the wind, Tom--big doings?" hinted Ned. + +"Yes, maybe there is. It all depends on how she turns out." + +"You might be speaking of the Hawk or--Mary Nestor!" said Ned, with a +sidelong look at his chum. + +"As it happens, it's neither one," said Tom, and then he hastened away, +to return shortly and guide his fleet little airship, the Hawk, on her +aerial journey. + +From then on, at least for some time, neither Tom nor Ned mentioned the +matters they had been discussing--Tom's failure to enlist, his +exemption, and what was being built in the closely guarded shop. + +Tom's business in Sackett did not take him long, and then he and Ned +went for a little ride in the air. + +"It's like old times!" exclaimed Ned, his eyes shining, though Tom +could not see them for two reasons. One was that Ned was sitting behind +him, and the other was that Ned wore heavy goggles, as did the young +pilot. Also, they had to carry on their talk through the speaking tube +arrangement. + +"Yes, it is a bit like old times," agreed Tom. "We've had some great +old experiences together, Ned, haven't we?" + +"We surely have! I wonder if we'll have any more? When we were in the +submarine, and in your big airship. Say, that big one is the one I +always liked! I like big things." + +"Do you?" asked Tom. "Well, maybe, when I get--" + +But Tom did not finish, for the Hawk unexpectedly poked her nose into +an empty pocket in the air just then, and needed a firm hand on the +controls. Furthermore, Tom decided against making the confidence that +was on the tip of his tongue. + +At last the aircraft was straightened out and the pilot guided her on +toward the army encampment. + +"That's the place I'd like to be," called Ned through the tube as the +faint, sweet notes of a bugle floated up from the parade ground. + +"Yes, it would be great," admitted Tom. "But there are other things to +do for Uncle Sam besides wearing khaki." + +"Tom's up to some game," mused Ned. "I mustn't judge him too hastily, +or I might make a mistake. And Mary mustn't, either. I'll tell her so." + +For Mary Nestor had spoken to Ned concerning Tom, and the curiously +secretive air about certain of his activities. And the girl, moreover, +had spoken rather coldly of her friend. Ned did not like this. It was +not like Mary and Tom to be at odds. + +Once more the Hawk came to the ground, this time near the airship sheds +adjoining the Swift works. Just as Tom and Ned alighted, one of the +workmen summoned the young inventor toward the shop, which was so +closely guarded by Koku and Eradicate on the outside. + +"I'll have to leave you, Ned," remarked Tom, as he turned away from his +chum. "There's a conference on about a new invention." + +"Oh, that's all right. Business is business, you know. I've got some +bond calls to make myself. I'll see you later." + +"Oh, by the way, Ned!" exclaimed Tom, turning back for a moment, "I met +an old friend the other day; or rather an old enemy." + +"Hum! When you spoke first, I thought you might mean Professor +Swyington Bumper, that delightful scientist," remarked Ned. "But he +surely was no enemy." + +"No; but I meant some one I met about the same time. I met Blakeson, +one of the rival contractors when I helped dig the big tunnel." + +"Is that so? Where'd you meet him?" + +"Right around here. It was certainly a surprise, and at first I +couldn't place him. Then the memory of his face came back to me," and +Tom related the incident which had taken place the day he and Mr. Damon +were out in the Hawk. + +"What's he doing around here?" asked Ned. + +"That's more than I can say," Tom answered. + +"Up to no good, I'll wager!" + +"I agree with you," came from Tom. "But I'm on the watch." + +"That's wise, Tom. Well, I'll see you later." + +During the week which followed this talk Ned was very busy on Liberty +Bond work, and, he made no doubt, his chum was engaged also. This +prevented them from meeting, but finally Ned, one evening, decided to +walk over to the Swift home. + +"I'll pay Tom a bit of a call," he mused. "Maybe he'll feel more like +talking now. Some of the boys are asking why he doesn't enlist, and +maybe if I tell him that he'll make some explanation that will quiet +things down a bit. It's a shame that Tom should be talked about." + +With this intention in view, Ned kept on toward his chum's house, and +he was about to turn in through a small grove of trees, which would +lead to a path across the fields, when the young bond salesman was +surprised to hear some one running toward him. He could see no one, for +the path wound in and out among the trees, but the noise was plain. + +"Some one in a hurry," mused Ned. + +A moment later he caught sight of a small lad named Harry Telford +running toward him. The boy had his hat in his hand, and was speeding +through the fast-gathering darkness as though some one were after him. + +"What's the rush?" asked Ned. "Playing cops and robbers?" That was a +game Tom and Ned had enjoyed in their younger days. + +"I--I'm runnin' away!" panted Harry. "I--I seen something!" + +"You saw something?" repeated Ned. "What was it--a ghost?" and he +laughed, thinking the boy would do the same. + +"No, it wasn't no ghost!" declared Harry, casting a look over his +shoulder. "It was a wild elephant that I saw, and it's down in a big +yard with a fence around it." + +"Where's that?" asked Ned. "The circus hasn't come to town this +evening, has it?" + +"No," answered Harry, "it wasn't no circus. I saw this elephant down in +the big yard back of one of Mr. Swift's factories." + +"Oh, down there, was it!" exclaimed Ned. "What was it like?" + +"Well, I was walking along the top of the hill," explained Harry, "and +there's one place where, if you climb a tree, you can look right down +in the big fenced-in yard. I guess I'm about the only one that knows +about it." + +"I don't believe Tom does," mused Ned, "or he'd have had that tree cut +down. He doesn't want any spying, I take it. Well, what'd you see?" he +asked Harry aloud. + +"Saw an elephant, I tell you!", insisted the younger boy. "I was in +the tree, looking down, for a lot of us kids has tried to peek through +the fence and couldn't I wanted to see what was there." + +"And did you?" asked Ned. + +"I sure did! And it scared me, too," admitted Harry. "All at once, when +I was lookin', I saw the big doors at the back of the shed open, and +the elephant waddled out." + +"Are you sure you weren't 'seeing things,' like the little boy in the +story?" asked Ned. + +"Well, I sure did see something!" insisted Harry. "It was a great big +gray thing, bigger'n any elephant I ever saw in any circus. It didn't +seem to have any tail or trunk, or even legs, but it went slow, just +like an elephant does, and it shook the ground, it stepped so hard!" + +"Nonsense!" cried Ned. + +"Sure I saw it!" cried Harry. "Anyhow," he added, after a moment's +thought, "it was as big as an elephant, though not like any I ever saw." + +"What did it do?" asked Ned. + +"Well, it moved around and then it started for the fence nearest me, +where I was up in the tree. I thought it might have seen me, even +though it was gettin' dark, and it might bust through; so I ran!" + +"Hum! Well, you surely were seeing things," murmured Ned, but, while he +made light of what the boy told him, the young bank clerk was thinking: +"What is Tom up to now?" + + + + +Chapter VII + +Up a Tree + + +"Want to come and have a look?" asked Harry, as Ned paused in the patch +of woods, which were in deeper darkness than the rest of the +countryside, for night was fast falling. + +"Have a look at what?" asked Ned, who was thinking many thoughts just +then. + +"At the elephant I saw back of the Swift factory. I wouldn't be skeered +if you came along." + +"Well, I'm going over to see Tom Swift, anyhow," answered Ned, "so I'll +walk that way. You can come if you like. I don't care about spying on +other people's property--" + +"I wasn't spyin'!" exclaimed Harry quickly. "I just happened to look. +And then I seen something." + +"Well, come on," suggested Ned. "If there's anything there, we'll have +a peep at it." + +His idea was not to try to see what Tom was evidently endeavoring to +conceal, but it was to observe whence Harry had made his observation, +and be in a position to tell Tom to guard against unexpected lookers-on +from that direction. + +During the walk back along the course over which Harry had run so +rapidly a little while before, Ned and the boy talked of what the +latter had seen. + +"Do you think it could be some new kind of elephant?" asked Harry. "You +know Tom Swift brought back a big giant from one of his trips, and +maybe he's got a bigger elephant than any one ever saw before." + +"Nonsense!" laughed Ned. "In the first place, Tom hasn't been on any +trip, of late, except to Washington, and the only kind of elephants +there are white ones." + +"Really?" asked Harry. + +"No, that was a joke," explained Ned. "Anyhow, Tom hasn't any giant +elephants concealed up his sleeve, I'm sure of that." + +"But what could this be?" asked Harry. "It moved just like some big +animal." + +"Probably some piece of machinery Tom was having carted from one shop +to another," went on the young bank clerk. "Most likely he had it +covered with a big piece of canvas to keep off the dew, and it was that +you saw." + +"No, it wasn't!" insisted Harry, but he could not give any further +details of what he had seen so that Ned could recognize it. They kept +on until they reached the hill, at the bottom of which was the Swift +home and the grounds on which the various shops were erected. + +"Here's the place where you can look down right into the yard with the +high fence around it," explained Harry, as he indicated the spot. + +"I can't see anything." + +"You have to climb up the tree," Harry went on. "Here, this is the one, +and he indicated a stunted and gnarled pine, the green branches of +which would effectually screen any one who once got in it a few feet +above the ground. + +"Well, I may as well have a look," decided Ned. "It can't do Tom any +harm, and it may be of some service to him. Here goes!" + +Up into the tree he scrambled, not without some difficulty, for the +branches were close together and stiff, and Ned tore his coat in the +effort. But he finally got a position where, to his surprise, he could +look down into the very enclosure from which Tom was so particular to +keep prying eyes. + +"You can see right down in it!" Ned exclaimed. + +"I told you so," returned Harry. "But do you see--it?" + +Ned looked long and carefully. It was lighter, now that they were out +of the clump of woods, and he had the advantage of having the last glow +of the sunset at his back. Even with that it was difficult to make out +objects on the surface of the enclosed field some hundred or more feet +below. + +"Do you see anything?" asked Harry again. + +"No, I can't say I do," Ned answered. "The place seems to be deserted." + +"Well, there was something there," insisted Harry. "Maybe you aren't +lookin' at the right place." + +"Have a look yourself, then," suggested Ned, as he got down, a task no +more to his liking than the climb upward had been. + +Harry made easier work of it, being smaller and more used to climbing +trees, a luxury Ned had, perforce, denied himself since going to work +in the bank. + +Harry peered about, and then, with a sigh that had in it somewhat of +disappointment, said: + +"No; there's nothing there now. But I did see something." + +"Are you sure?" asked Ned. + +"Positive!" asserted the other. + +"Well, whatever it was--some bit of machinery he was moving, I +fancy--Tom has taken it in now," remarked Ned. "Better not say +anything about this, Harry. Tom mightn't like it known." + +"No, I won't." + +"And don't come here again to look. I know you like to see strange +things, but if you'll wait I'll ask Tom, as soon as it's ready, to let +you have a closer view of whatever it was you saw. Better keep away +from this tree." + +"I will," promised the younger lad. "But I'd like to know what it +was--if it really was a giant elephant Say! if a fellow had a troop of +them he could have a lot of fun with 'em, couldn't he?" + +"How?" asked Ned, hardly conscious of what his companion was saying. + +"Why, he could dress 'em up in coats of mail, like the old knights used +to wear, and turn 'em loose against the Germans. Think of a regiment of +elephants, wearin' armor plates like a battleship, carryin' on their +backs a lot of soldiers with machine guns and chargin' against Fritz! +Cracky, that would be a sight!" + +"I should say so!" agreed Ned, with a laugh. "There's nothing the +matter with your imagination, Harry, my boy!" + +"And maybe that's what Tom's doin'!" + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean maybe he is trainin' elephants to fight in the war. You know he +made an aerial warship, so why couldn't he have a lot of armor plated +elephants?" + +"Oh, I suppose he could if he wanted to," admitted Ned. "But I guess +he isn't doing that. Don't get to going too fast in high speed, Harry, +or you may have nightmare. Well, I'm going down to see Tom." + +"And you won't tell him I was peekin'?" + +"Not if you don't do it again. I'll advise him to have that tree cut +down, though. It's too good a vantage spot." + +Harry turned and went in the direction of his home, while Ned kept on +down the hill toward the house of his chum. The young bond salesman was +thinking of many things as he tramped, along, and among them was the +information Harry had just given. + +But Ned did not pay a visit to his chum that evening. When he reached +the house he found that Tom had gone out, leaving no word as to when he +would be back. + +"Oh, well, I can tell him to-morrow," thought Ned. + +It was not, however, until two days later that Ned found the time to +visit Tom again. On this occasion, as before, he took the road through +the clump of woods where he had seen Harry running. + +"And while I'm about it," mused Ned, "I may as well go on to the place +where the tree stands and make sure, by daylight, what I only partially +surmised in the evening--that Tom's place can be looked down on from +that vantage point." + +Sauntering slowly along, for he was in no special hurry, having the +remainder of the day to himself, Ned approached the hill where the tree +stood from which Harry had said he had seen what he took to be a giant +elephant, perhaps in armor. + +"It's a good clear day," observed Ned, "and fine for seeing. I wonder +if I'll be able to see anything." + +It was necessary first to ascend the hill to a point where it overhung, +in a measure, the Swift property, though the holdings of Tom and his +father were some distance beyond the eminence. The tree from which Ned +and Harry had made their observations was on a knob of the hill, the +stunted pine standing out from among others like it. + +"Well, here goes for another torn coat," grimly observed Ned, as he +prepared to climb. "But I'll be more careful. First, though, let's see +if I can see anything without getting up." + +He paused a little way from the pine, and peered down the hill. Nothing +could be seen of the big enclosed field back of the building about +which Tom was so careful. + +"You have to be up to see anything," mused Ned. "It's up a tree for me! +Well, here goes!" + +As Ned started to work his way up among the thick, green branches, he +became aware, suddenly and somewhat to his surprise, that he was not +the only person who knew about the observation spot. For Ned saw, a +yard above his head, as he started to climb, two feet, encased in +well-made boots, standing on a limb near the trunk of the tree. + +"Oh, ho!" mused Ned. "Some one here before me! Where there are feet +there must be legs, and where there are legs, most likely a body. And +it isn't Harry, either! The feet are too big for that. I wonder--" + +But Ned's musings were suddenly cut short, for the person up the tree +ahead of him moved quickly and stepped on Ned's fingers, with no light +tread. + +"Ouch!" exclaimed the young bank clerk involuntarily, and, letting go +his hold of the limb, he dropped to the ground, while there came a +startled exclamation from the screen of pine branches above him. + + + + +Chapter VIII + +Detective Rad + + +"Who's there?" came the demand from the unseen person in the tree. + +"I might ask you the same thing," was Ned's sharp retort, as he nursed +his skinned and bruised fingers. "What are you doing up there?" + +There was no answer, but a sound among the branches indicated that the +person up the tree was coming down. In another moment a man leaped to +the ground lightly and stood beside Ned. The lad observed that the +stranger was clean shaven, except for a small moustache which curled up +at the ends slightly. + +"For all the world like a small edition of the Kaiser's," Ned described +it afterward. + +"What are you doing here?" demanded the man, and his voice had in it +the ring of authority. It was this very quality that made Ned bristle +up and "get on his ear," as he said later. The young clerk did not +object to being spoken to authoritatively by those who had the right, +but from a stranger it was different. + +"I might ask you the same thing," retorted Ned. "I have as much right +here as you, I fancy, and I can climb trees, too, but I don't care to +have my fingers stepped on," and he looked at the scarified members of +his left hand. + +"I beg your pardon. I'm sorry if I hurt you. I didn't mean to. And of +course this is a public place, in a way, and you have a right here. I +was just climbing the tree to--er--to get a fishing pole!" + +Ned had all he could do to keep from laughing. The idea of getting a +fishing pole from a gnarled and stunted pine struck him as being +altogether novel and absurd. Yet it was not time to make fun of the +man. The latter looked too serious for that. + +"Rather a good view to be had from up where you were, eh?" asked Ned +suggestively. + +"A good view?" exclaimed the other. "I don't know what you mean!" + +"Oh, then you didn't see anything," Ned went on. "Perhaps it's just as +well. Are you fond of fishing?" + +"Very. I have--But I forget, I do not know you nor you me. Allow me to +introduce myself. I am Mr. Walter Simpson, and I am here on a visit I +just happened to walk out this way, and, seeing a small stream, thought +I should like to fish. I usually carry lines and hooks, and all I +needed was the pole. I was looking for it when I heard you, and--" + +"I felt you!" interrupted Ned, with a short laugh. He told his own +name, but that was all, and seemed about to pass on. + +"Are there any locomotive shops around here?" asked Mr. Simpson. + +"Locomotive shops?" queried Ned. "None that I know of. Why?" + +"Well, I heard heavy machinery being used down there;" and he waved his +hand toward Tom's shops, "and I thought--" + +"Oh, you mean Shopton!" exclaimed Ned. "That's the Swift plant. No, +they don't make locomotives, though they could if they wanted to, for +they turn out airships, submarines, tunnel diggers, and I don't know +what." + +"Do they make munitions there--for the Allies?" asked Mr. Simpson, and +there was an eager look on his face. + +"No, I don't believe so," Ned answered; "though, in fact, I don't know +enough of the place to be in a position to give you any information +about it," he told the man, not deeming it wise to go into particulars. + +Perhaps the man felt this, as he did not press for an answer. + +The two stood looking at one another for some little time, and then the +man, with a bow that had in it something of insolence, as well as +politeness, turned and went down the path up which Ned had come. + +The young bank clerk waited a little while, and then turned his +attention to the tree which seemed to have suddenly assumed an +importance altogether out of proportion to its size. + +"Well, since I'm here I'll have a look up that tree," decided Ned. + +Favoring his bruised hand, Ned essayed the ascent of the tree more +successfully this time. As he rose up among the branches he found he +could look down directly into the yard with the high fence about it. He +Could see only a portion, good as his vantage point was, and that +portion had in it a few workmen--nothing else. + +"No elephants there," said Ned, with a smile, as he remembered Harry's +excitement. "Still it's just as well for Tom to know that his place can +be looked down on. I'll go and tell him." + +As Ned descended the tree he caught a glimpse, off to one side among +some bushes, of something moving. + +"I wonder if that's my Simp friend, playing I spy?" mused Ned. "Guess +I'd better have a look." + +He worked his way carefully close to the spot where he had seen the +movement. Proceeding then with more caution, watching each step and +parting the bushes with a careful hand, Ned beheld what he expected. + +There was the late occupant of the pine tree the man who had stepped on +Ned's fingers, applying a small telescope to his eye and gazing in the +direction of Tom Swift's home. + +The man stood concealed in a screen of bushes with his back toward Ned, +and seemed oblivious to his surroundings. He moved the glass to and +fro, and seemed eagerly intent on discovering something. + +"Though what he can see of Tom's place from there isn't much," mused +Ned. "I've tried it myself, and I know; you have to be on an elevation +to look down. Still it shows he's after something, all right. Guess +I'll throw a little scare into him." + +As yet, Ned believed himself unobserved, and that his presence was not +suspected was proved a moment later when he shouted: + +"Hey! What are you doing there?" + +He had his eye on the partially concealed man, and the latter, as Ned +said afterward, jumped fully two feet in the air, dropping his +telescope as he did so, and turning to face the lad. + +"Oh, it's you, is it?" he faltered. + +"No one else;" and Ned grinned. "Looking for a good place to fish, I +presume?" + +Then, at least for once, the man's suave manner dropped from him as if +it had been a mask. He bared his teeth in a snarl as he answered: + +"Mind your own business!" + +"Something I'd advise you also to do," replied Ned smoothly. "You can't +see anything from there," he went on. "Better go back to the tree +and--cut a fishing pole!" + +With this parting shot Ned sauntered down the hill, and swung around to +make his way toward Tom's home. He paid no further attention to the +man, save to determine, by listening, that the fellow was searching +among the bushes for the dropped telescope. + +The young inventor was at home, taking a hasty lunch which Mrs. Baggert +had set out for him, the while he poured over some blueprint drawings +that, to Ned's unaccustomed eyes, looked like the mazes of some +intricate puzzle. + +"Well, where have you been keeping yourself, old man?" asked Tom Swift, +after he had greeted his friend. + +"I might ask the same of you," retorted Ned, with a smile. "I've been +trying to find you to give you some important information, and I made +up my mind, after what happened to-day, to write it and leave it for +you if I didn't see you." + +"What happened to-day?" asked Tom, and there was a serious look on his +face. + +"You are being spied upon--at least, that part of your works enclosed +in the new fence is," replied Ned. + +"You don't mean it!" Cried Tom. "This accounts for some of it, then." + +"For some of what?" asked Ned. + +"For some of the actions of that Blakeson. He's been hanging around +here, I understand, asking too many questions about things that I'm +trying to keep secret--even from my best friends," and as Tom said this +Ned fancied there was a note of regret in his voice. + +"Yes, you are keeping some things secret, Tom," said Ned, determined +"to take the bull by the horns," as it were. + +"I'm sorry, but it has to be," went on Tom. "In a little while--" + +"Oh, don't think that I'm at all anxious to know things!" broke in Ned. +"I was thinking of some one else, Tom--another of your friends." + +"Do you mean Mary?" + +Ned nodded. + +"She feels rather keenly your lack of explanations," went on the young +bank clerk. "If you could only give her a hint--" + +"I'm sorry, but it can't be done," and Tom spoke firmly. "But you +haven't told me all that happened. You say I am being spied upon." + +"Yes," and Ned related what had taken place in the tree. + +"Whew!" whistled Tom. "That's going some with a vengeance! I must have +that tree down in a jiffy. I didn't imagine there was a spot where the +yard could be overlooked. But I evidently skipped that tree. +Fortunately it's on land owned by a concern with which I have some +connection, and I can have it chopped down without any trouble. Much +obliged to you, Ned. I shan't forget this in a hurry. I'll go right +away and--" + +Tom's further remark was interrupted by the hurried entrance of +Eradicate Sampson. The old man was smiling in pleased anticipation, +evidently, at the same time, trying hard not to give way to too much +emotion. + +"I's done it, Massa Tom!" he cried exultingly. + +"Done what?" asked the young inventor. "I hope you and Koku haven't had +another row." + +"No, sah! I don't want nuffin t' do wif dat ornery, low-down white +trash! But I's gone an' done whut I said I'd do!" + +"What's that, Rad? Come on, tell us! Don't keep us in suspense." + +"I's done some deteckertiff wuk, lest laik I said I'd do, an' I's +cotched him! By golly, Massa Tom! I's cotched him black-handed, as it +says!" + +"Caught him? Whom have you caught, Rad?" cried Tom. "Do you suppose he +means he's caught the man you saw up the tree, Ned? The man you think +is a German spy?" + +"It couldn't be. I left him only a little while ago hunting for his +telescope." + +"Then whom have you caught, Rad?" cried Tom. "Come on, I'll give you +credit for it. Tell us!" + +"I's cotched dat Dutch Sauerkrauter, dat's who I's cotched, Massa Tom! +By golly, I's cotched him!" + +"But who, Rad? Who is he?" + +"I don't know his name, Massa Tom, but he's a Sauerkrauter, all right. +Dat's whut he eats for lunch, an' dat's why I calls him dat. I's +cotched him, an' he's locked up in de stable wif mah mule Boomerang. +An' ef he tries t' git out Boomerang'll jest natchully kick him into +little pieces--dat's whut Boomerang will do, by golly!" + + + + +Chapter IX + +A Night Test + + +"Come on, Ned," said Tom, after a moment or two of silent contemplation +of Eradicate. "I don't know what this cheerful camouflager of mine is +talking about, but we'll have to go to see, I suppose. You say you have +shut some one up in Boomerang's stable, Rad?" + +"Yes, sah, Massa Tom, dat's whut I's gone an done." + +"And you say he's a German?" + +"I don't know as to dat, Massa Tom, but he suah done eat sauerkraut +'mostest ebery meal. Dat's whut I call him--a Sauerkrauter! An' he suah +was spyin'." + +"How do you know that, Rad?" + +"'Cause he done went from his own shop on annuder man's ticket into de +secret shop, dat's whut he went an' done!" + +"Do you mean to tell me, Rad," went on Tom, "that one of the workmen +from another shop entered Number Thirteen on the pass issued in the +name of one of the men regularly employed in my new shop?" + +"Dat's whut he done, Massa Tom." + +"How do you know?" + +"'Cause I detected him doin' it. Yo'-all done made me a deteckertiff, +an' I detected." + +"Go on, Rad." + +"Well, sah, Massa Tom, I seen dish yeah Dutchman git a ticket-pass +offen one ob de reg'lar men. Den he went in de unlucky place an' stayed +fo' a long time. When he come out I jest natchully nabbed him, dat's +whut I done, an' I took him to Boomerang's stable." + +"How'd you get him to go with you?" asked Ned, for the old colored man +was feeble, and most of the men employed at Tom's plant were of a +robust type. + +"I done fooled him. I said as how I'd jest brought from town in mah +mule cart some new sauerkraut, an' he could sample it if he liked. So +he went wif me, an' when I got him to de stable I pushed him in and +locked de door!" + +"Come on!" cried Tom to his chum. "Rad may be right, after all, and one +of my workmen may be a German spy, though I've tried to weed them all +out. + +"However, no matter about that, if he was employed in another shop, he +had no right to go into Number Thirteen. That's a violation of rules. +But if he's in Rad's ramshackle stable he can easily get out." + +"No, sah, dat's whut he can't do!" insisted the colored man. + +"Why not?" asked Tom. + +"'Cause Boomerang's on guard, an' yo'-all knows how dat mule of mine +can use his heels!" + +"I know, Rad," went on Tom; "but this fellow will find a way of keeping +out of their way. We must hurry." + +"Oh, he's safe enough," declared the colored man. "I done tole Koku to +stan' guard, too! Dat low-down white trash ob a giant is all right fo' +guardin', but he ain't wuff shucks at detectin'!" said Eradicate, with +pardonable pride. "By golly, maybe I's too old t' put on guard, but I +kin detect, all right!" + +"If this proves true, I'll begin to believe you can," replied Tom. "Hop +along, Ned!" + +Followed by the shuffling and chuckling negro, Tom and Ned went to the +rather insecure stable where the mule Boomerang was kept. That is, the +stable was insecure from the standpoint of a jail. But the sight of the +giant Koku marching up and down in front of the place, armed with a big +club, reassured Tom. + +"Is he in there, Koku?" asked the young inventor. + +"Yes, Master! He try once come out, but he approach his head very close +my defense weapon and he go back again." + +"I should think he would," laughed Ned, as he noted the giant's club. + +"Well, Rad, let's have a look at your prisoner. Open the door, Koku," +commanded Tom. + +"Better look out," advised Ned. "He may be armed." + +"We'll have to take a chance. Besides, I don't believe he is, or he'd +have fired at Koku. There isn't much to fear with the giant ready for +emergencies. Now we'll see who he is. I can't imagine one of my men +turning traitor." + +The door was opened and a rather miserable-looking man shuffled out. +There was a bloody rag on his head, and he seemed to have made more of +an effort to escape than Koku described, for he appeared to have +suffered in the ensuing fight. + +"Carl Schwen!" exclaimed Tom. "So it was you, was it?" + +The German, for such he was, did not answer for a moment. He appeared +downcast, and as if suffering. Then a change came over him. He +straightened up, saluted as a soldier might have done, and a sneering +look came into his face. It was succeeded by one of pride as the man +exclaimed: + +"Yes, it is I! And I tried to do what I tried to do for the Fatherland! +I have failed. Now you will have me shot as a spy, I suppose!" he added +bitterly. + +Tom did not answer directly. He looked keenly at the man, and at last +said: + +"I am sorry to see this. I knew you were a German, Schwen, but I kept +you employed at work that could not, by any possibility, be considered +as used against your country. You are a good machinist, and I needed +you. But if what I hear about you is true, it is the end." + +"It is the end," said the man simply. "I tried and failed. If it had +not been for Eradicate--Well, he's smarter than I gave him credit for, +that's all!" + +The man spoke very good English, with hardly a trace of German accent, +but there was no doubt as to his character. + +"What will you do with him, Tom?" asked Ned. + +"I don't know. I'll have to do a little investigating first. But he +must be locked up. Schwen," went on the young inventor, "I'm sorry +about this, but I shall have to give you into the custody of a United +States marshal. You are not a naturalized citizen, are you?" + +The man muttered something in German to the effect that he was not +naturalized and was glad of it. + +"Then you come under the head of an enemy alien," decided Tom, who +understood what was said, "and will have to be interned. I had hoped to +avoid this, but it seems it cannot be. I am sorry to lose you, but +there are more important matters. Now let's get at the bottom of this." + +Schwen was, after a little delay, taken in charge by the proper +officer, and then a search was made of his room, for, in common with +some of the other workmen, he lived in a boarding house not far from +the plant. + +There, by a perusal of his papers, enough was revealed to show Tom the +danger he had escaped. + +"And yet I don't know that I have altogether escaped it," he said to +Ned, as they talked it over. "There's no telling how long this spy work +may have been going on. If he has discovered all the secrets of Shop +Thirteen it may be a bad thing for the Allies and--" + +"Look out!" warned Ned, with a laugh. "You'll be saying things you +don't want to, Tom and not at all in keeping with your former silence." + +"That's so," agreed the young inventor, with a sigh. "But if things go +right I'll not have to keep silent much longer. I may be able to tell +you everything." + +"Don't tell me--tell Mary," advised his chum. "She feels your silence +more than I do. I know how such things are." + +"Well, I'll be able to tell her, too," decided Tom. "That is, if Schwen +hasn't spoiled everything. Look here, Ned, these papers show he's been +in correspondence with Blakeson and Grinder." + +"What about, Tom?" + +"I can't tell. The letters are evidently written in code, and I can't +translate it offhand. But I'll make another attempt at it. And here's +one from a person who signs himself Walter Simpson, but the writing is +in German." + +"Walter Simpson!" cried Ned. "That's my friend of the tree!" + +"It is?" cried Tom. "Then things begin to fit themselves together. +Simpson is a spy, and he was probably trying to communicate with +Schwen. But the latter didn't get the information he wanted, or, if he +did get it, he wasn't able to pass it on to the man in the tree. +Eradicate nipped him just in time." + +And, so it seemed, the colored man had done. By accident he had +discovered that Schwen had prevailed on one of the workmen in Shop 13 +to change passes with him. This enabled the German spy to gain +admittance to the secret place, which Tom thought was so well guarded. +The man who let Schwen take the pass was in the game, too, it appeared, +and he was also placed under arrest. But he was a mere tool in the pay +of the others, and had no chance to gain valuable information. + +A hasty search of Shop 13 did not reveal anything missing, and it was +surmised (for Schwen would not talk) that he had not found time to go +about and get all that he was after. + +Soon after Schwen's arrest the "Spy Tree," as Tom called it, was cut +down. + +"Eradicate certainly did better than I ever expected he would," +declared Tom. "Well, if all goes well, there won't be so much need for +secrecy after a day or so. We're going to give her a test, and then--" + +"Give who a test?" asked Ned, with a smile. + +"You'll soon see," answered Tom, with an answering grin. "I hereby +invite you and Mr. Damon to come over to Shop Thirteen day after +to-morrow night and then--Well, you'll see what you'll see." + +With this Ned had to be content, and he waited anxiously for the +appointed time to come. + +"I surely will be glad when Tom is more like himself," he mused, as he +left his chum. "And I guess Mary will be, too. I wonder if he's going +to ask her to the exhibition?" + +It developed that Tom had done so, a fact which Ned learned on the +morning of the day set for the test. + +"Come over about nine o'clock," Tom said to his chum. "I guess it will +be dark enough then." + +Meanwhile Schwen and Otto Kuhn, the other man involved, had been locked +up, and all their papers given into the charge of the United States +authorities. A closer guard than ever was kept over No. 13 shop, and +some of the workmen, against whom there was a slight suspicion, were +transferred. + +"Well, we'll see what we shall see," mused Ned on the appointed +evening, when a telephone message from Mr. Damon informed the young +bank clerk that the eccentric man was coming to call for him before +going on to the Swift place. + + + + +Chapter X + +A Runaway Giant + + +"What do you think it's all about, Mr. Damon?" + +"I'm sure I don't know, Ned." + +The two were at the home of the young bank clerk, preparing to start +for the Swift place, it being nearly nine o'clock on the evening named +by the youthful inventor. + +"Bless my hat-rack!" went on the eccentric man, "but Tom isn't at all +like himself of late. He's working on some invention, I know that, but +it's all I do know. He hasn't given me a hint of it." + +"Nor me, nor any of his friends," added Ned. "And he acts so oddly +about enlisting--doesn't want even to speak of it. How he got exempted +I don't know, but I do know one thing, and that is Tom Swift is for +Uncle Sam first, last and always!" + +"Oh, of course!" agreed Mr. Damon. "Well, we'll soon know, I guess. +We'd better start, Ned." + +"It's useless to try to guess what it is Tom is up to. He has kept his +secret well. The nearest any one has come to it was when Harry figured +out that Tom had a band of giant elephants which he was fitting with +coats of steel armor to go against the Germans," observed Ned, when he +and Mr. Damon were on their way. + +"Well, that mightn't be so bad," agreed Mr. Damon. +"But--um--elephants--and wild giant ones, too! Bless my circus ticket, +Ned! do you think we'd better go in that case?" + +"Oh, Tom hasn't anything like that!" laughed Ned. "That was only +Harry's crazy notion after he saw something big and ungainly careening +about the enclosed yard of Shop Thirteen. Hello, there go Mary Nestor +and her father!" and Ned pointed to the opposite side of the street +where the girl and Mr. Nestor could be seen in the light of a street +lamp. + +"They're going out to see Tom's secret," said Mr. Damon. "There's +plenty of room in my car. Let's ask them to go with us." + +"Surely," agreed Ned, and a moment later he and Mary were in the rear +seat while Mr. Damon and Mr. Nestor were in the front, Mr. Damon at the +wheel, and they were soon speeding down the road. + +"I do hope everything will go all right," observed Mary. + +"What do you mean?" asked Ned. + +"I mean Tom is a little bit anxious about this test." + +"Did he tell you what it was to be?" + +"No; but when he called to invite father and me to be present he seemed +worried. I guess it's a big thing, for he never has acted this way +before--not talking about his work." + +"That's right," assented Ned. "But the secret will soon be disclosed, I +fancy. But how is it you aren't going to the dance with Lieutenant +Martin? He told me you had half accepted for to-night." + +"I had." And if it had been light enough Ned would have seen Mary +blushing. "I was going with him. It's a dance for the benefit of the +Red Cross to get money for comfort kits for the soldiers. But when Tom +sent word that he'd like to have me present to-night, why--" + +"Oh, I see!" broke in Ned, with a little laugh. "'Nough said!" + +Mary's blushes were deeper, but the kindly night hid them. + +Then they conversed on matters connected with the big war--the selling +of Liberty Bonds, the Red Cross work and the Surgical Dressings +Committee, in which Mary was the head of a junior league. + +"Everybody in Shopton seems to be doing something to help win the war," +said Mary, and as there was just then a lull in the talk between her +father and Mr. Damon her words sounded clearly. + +"Yes, everybody--that is, all but a few," said Mr. Nestor, "and they +ought to get busy. There are some young fellows in this town that ought +to be wearing khaki, and I don't mean you, Ned Newton. You're doing +your bit, all right." + +"And so is Tom Swift!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as if there had been an +implied accusation against the young inventor. "I heard, only to-day, +that one of his inventions--a gas helmet that he planned--is in use on +the Western front in Europe. Tom gave his patents to the government, +and even made a lot of the helmets free to show other factories how to +turn them out to advantage." + +"He did?" cried Mr. Nestor. + +"That's what he did. Talk about doing your bit--" + +"I didn't know that," observed Mary's father slowly. "Do you suppose +it's a test of another gas helmet that Tom has asked us out to see +to-night?" + +"I hardly think so," said Ned. "He wouldn't wait until after dark for +that. This is something big, and Tom must intend to have it out in the +open. He probably waited until after sunset so the neighbors wouldn't +come out in flocks. There's been a lot of talk about what is going on +in Shop Thirteen, especially since the arrest of the German spies, and +the least hint that a test is under way would bring out a big crowd." + +"I suppose so," agreed Mr. Nestor. "Well, I'm glad to know that Tom is +doing something for Uncle Sam, even if it's only helping with gas +helmets. Those Germans are barbarians, if ever there were any, and +we've got to fight them the same way they fight us! That's the only way +to end the war! Now if I had my way, I'd take every German I could lay +my hands on--" + +"Father, pretzels!" exclaimed Mary. + +"Eh? What's that, my dear?" + +"I said pretzels!" + +"Oh!" and Mr. Nestor's voice lost its sharpness. + +"That's my way of quieting father down when he gets too strenuous in +his talk about the war," explained Mary. "We agreed that whenever he +got excited I was to say 'pretzels' to him, and that would make him +remember. We made up our little scheme after he got into an argument +with a man on the train and was carried past his station." + +"That's right," admitted Mr. Nestor, with a laugh. "But that fellow was +the most obstinate, pig-headed Dutchman that ever tackled a plate of +pig's knuckles and sauerkraut, and if he had the least grain of common +sense he'd--" + +"Pretzels!" cried Mary. + +"Eh? Oh, yes, my dear. I was forgetting again." + +There was a moment of merriment, and then, after the talk had run for a +while in other and safer channels, Mr. Damon made the announcement: + +"I think we're about there. We'll be at Tom's place when we make the +turn and--" + +He was interrupted by a low, heavy rumbling. + +"What's that?" asked Mr. Nestor. + +"It's getting louder--the noise," remarked Mary. "It sounds as if some +big body were approaching down the road--the tramp of many feet. Can it +be that troops are marching away?" + +"Bless my spark plug!" suddenly cried Mr. Damon. "Look!" + +They gazed ahead, and there, seen in the glare of the automobile +headlights, was an immense, dark body approaching them from across a +level field. The rumble and roar became more pronounced and the ground +shook as though from an earthquake. + +A glaring light shone out from the ponderous moving body, and above the +roar and rattle a voice called: + +"Out out of the way! We've lost control! Look out!" + +"Bless my steering wheel!" gasped Mr. Damon, "that was Tom Swift's +voice! But what is he doing in that--thing?" + +"It must be his new invention!" exclaimed Ned. + +"What is it?" asked Mr. Nestor. + +"A giant," ventured Ned. "It's a giant machine of some sort and--" + +"And it's running away!" cried Mr. Damon, as he quickly steered his car +to one side--and not a moment too soon! An instant later in a cloud of +dust, and with a rumble and a roar as of a dozen express trains fused +into one, the runaway giant--of what nature they could only +guess--flashed and lumbered by, Tom Swift leaning from an opening in +the thick steel side, and shouting something to his friends. + + + + +Chapter XI + +Tom's Tank + + +"What was it?" gasped Mary, and, to her surprise, she found herself +close to Ned, clutching his arm. + +"I have an idea, but I'd rather let Tom tell you," he answered. + +"But where's it going?" asked Mr. Nestor. "What in the world does Tom +Swift mean by inviting us out here to witness a test, and then nearly +running us down under a Juggernaut?" + +"Oh, there must be some mistake, I'm sure," returned his daughter. "Tom +didn't intend this." + +"But, bless my insurance policy, look at that thing go! What in the +world is it?" cried Mr. Damon. + +The "thing" was certainly going. It had careened from the road, tilted +itself down into a ditch and gone on across the fields, lights shooting +from it in eccentric fashion. + +"Maybe we'd better take after it," suggested Mr. Nestor. "If Tom is--" + +"There, it's stopping!" cried Ned. "Come on!" + +He sprang from the automobile, helped Mary to get out, and then the +two, followed by Mr. Damon and Mr. Nestor, made their way across the +fields toward the big object where it had come to a stop, the rumbling +and roaring ceasing. + +Before the little party reached the strange machine--the "runaway +giant," as they dubbed it in their excitement--a bright light flashed +from it, a light that illuminated their path right up to the monster. +And in the glare of this light they saw Tom Swift stepping out through +a steel door in the side of the affair. + +"Are you all right?" he called to his friends, as they approached. + +"All right, as nearly as we can be when we've been almost scared to +death, Tom," said Mr. Nestor. + +"I'm surely sorry for what happened," Tom answered, with a relieved +laugh. "Part of the steering gear broke and I had to guide it by +operating the two motors alternately. It can be worked that way, but it +takes a little practice to become expert." + +"I should say so!" cried Mr. Damon. "But what in the world does it all +mean, Tom Swift? You invite us out to see something--" + +"And there she is!" interrupted the young inventor. "You saw her a +little before I meant you to, and not under exactly the circumstances I +had planned. But there she is!" And he turned as though introducing the +metallic monster to his friends. + +"What is she, Tom?" asked Ned. "Name it!" + +"My latest invention, or rather the invention of my father and myself," +answered Tom, and his voice showed the love and reverence he felt for +his parent. "Perhaps I should say adaptation instead of invention," Tom +went on, "since that is what it is. But, at any rate, it's my +latest--dad's and mine--and it's the newest, biggest, most improved and +powerful fighting tank that's been turned out of any shop, as far as I +can learn. + +"Ladies--I mean lady and gentlemen--allow me to present to you War Tank +A, and may she rumble till the pride of the Boche is brought low and +humble!" cried Tom. + +"Hurray! That's what I say!" cheered Ned. + +"That's what I have been at work on lately. I'll give you a little +history of it, and then you may come inside and have a ride home." + +"In that?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"Yes. I can't promise to move as speedily as your car, but I can make +better time than the British tanks. They go about six miles an hour, I +understand, and I've got mine geared to ten. That's one improvement dad +and I have made." + +"Ride in that!" cried Mr. Nestor. "Tom, I like you, and I'm glad to see +I've been mistaken about you. You have been doing your bit, after all; +but--" + +"Oh, I've only begun!" laughed Tom Swift. + +"Well, no matter about that. However much I like you," went on Mr. +Nestor, "I'd as soon ride on the wings of a thunderbolt as in Tank A, +Tom Swift." + +"Oh, it isn't as bad as that!" laughed the young scientist. "But +neither is it a limousine. However, come inside, anyhow, and I'll tell +you something about it. Then I guess we can guide it back. The men are +repairing the break." + +The visitors entered the great craft through the door by which Tom had +emerged. At first all they saw was a small compartment, with walls of +heavy steel, some shelves of the same and a seat which folded up +against the wall made of like powerful material. + +"This is supposed to be the captain's room, where he stays when he +directs matters." Tom explained. "The machinery is below and beyond +here." + +"How'd you come to evolve this?" asked Ned. "I haven't seen half enough +of the outside, to say nothing of the inside." + +"You'll have time enough," Tom said. "This is my first completed tank. +There are some improvements to be made before we send it to the other +side to be copied. + +"Then they'll make them in England as well as here, and from here we'll +ship them in sections." + +"I don't see how you ever thought of it!" exclaimed the girl, in wonder. + +"Well, I didn't all at once," Tom answered, with a laugh. "It came by +degrees. I first got the idea when I heard of the British tanks. + +"When I had read how they went into action and what they accomplished +against the barbed wire entanglements, and how they crossed the +trenches, I concluded that a bigger tank, one capable of more speed, +say ten or twelve miles an hour, and one that could cross bigger +excavations--the English tanks up to this time can cross a ditch of +twelve feet--I thought that, with one made on such specifications, more +effective work could be done against the Germans." + +"And will yours do that?" asked Ned. "I mean will it do ten miles an +hour, and straddle over a wider ditch than twelve feet?" + +"It'll do both," promptly answered Tom. "We did a little better than +eleven miles an hour a while ago when I yelled to you to get out of the +way just now. It's true we weren't under good control, but the speed +had nothing to do with that. And as for going over a big ditch, I think +we straddled one about fourteen feet across back there, and we can do +better when I get my grippers to working." + +"Grippers!" exclaimed Mary. + +"What kind of trench slang is that, Tom Swift?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Well, that's a new idea I'm going to try out It's something like +this," and while from a distant part of the interior of Tank A came the +sound of hammering, the young inventor rapidly drew a rough pencil +sketch. + +It showed the tank in outline, much as appear the pictures of tanks +already in service--the former simile of two wedge-shaped pieces of +metal put together broad end to broad end, still holding good. From one +end of the tank, as Tom drew it, there extended two long arms of +latticed steel construction. + +"The idea is," said Tom, "to lay these down in front of the tank, by +means of cams and levers operated from inside. If we get to a ditch +which we can't climb down into and out again, or bridge with the belt +caterpillar wheels, we'll use the grippers. They'll be laid down, +taking a grip on the far side of the trench, and we'll slide across on +them." + +"And leave them there?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"No, we won't leave them. We'll pick them up after we have passed over +them and use them in front again as we need them. A couple of extra +pairs of grippers may be carried for emergencies, but I plan to use the +same ones over and over again." + +"But what makes it go?" asked Mary. "I don't want all the details, +Tom," she said, with a smile, "but I'd like to know what makes your +tank move." + +"I'll be able to show you in a little while," he answered. "But it may +be enough now if I tell you that the main power consists of two big +gasolene engines, one on either side. They can be geared to operate +together or separately. And these engines turn the endless belts made +of broad, steel plates, on which the tank travels. The belts pass along +the outer edges of the tank longitudinally, and go around cogged wheels +at either end of the blunt noses. + +"When both belts travel at the same rate of speed the tank goes in a +straight line, though it can be steered from side to side by means of a +trailer wheel in the rear. Making one belt--one set of caterpillar +wheels, you know--go faster than the other will make the tank travel to +one side or the other, the turn being in the direction of the slowest +moving belt. In this way we can steer when the trailer wheels are +broken." + +"And what does your tank do except travel along, not minding a hail of +bullets?" asked Mr. Nestor. + +"Well," answered Tom, "it can do anything any other tank can do, and +then some more. It can demolish a good-sized house or heavy wall, break +down big trees, and chew up barbed-wire fences as if they were +toothpicks. I'll show you all that in due time. Just now, if the +repairs are finished, we can get back on the road--" + +At that moment a door leading into the compartment where Tom and his +friends were talking opened, and one of the workmen said: + +"A man outside asking to see you, Mr. Swift." + +"Pardon me, but I won't keep you a moment," interrupted a suave voice. +"I happened to observe your tank, and I took the liberty of entering to +see--" + +"Simpson!" cried Ned Newton, as he recognized the man who had been up +the tree. "It's that spy, Simpson, Tom!" + + + + +Chapter XII + +Bridging a Gap + + +Such surprise showed both on the face of Ned Newton and that of the man +who called himself Walter Simpson that it would be hard to say which +was in the greater degree. For a moment the newcomer stood as if he had +received all electric shock, and was incapable of motion. Then, as the +echoes of Ned's voice died away and the young bank clerk, being the +first to recover from the shock, made a motion toward the unwelcome and +uninvited intruder, Simpson exclaimed. + +"I will not bother now. Some other time will do as well." + +Then, with a haste that could be called nothing less than precipitate, +he made a turn and fairly shot out of the door by which he had entered +the tank. + +"There he goes!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my speedometer, but there he +goes!" + +"I'll stop him!" cried Ned. "We've got to find out more about him! I'll +get him, Tom!" + +Tom Swift was not one to let a friend rush alone into what might be +danger. He realized immediately what his chum meant when he called out +the identity of the intruder, and, wishing to clear up some of the +mystery of which he became aware when Schwen was arrested and the paper +showing a correspondence with this Simpson were found, Tom darted out +to try to assist in the capture. + +"He went this way!" cried Ned, who was visible in the glare of the +searchlight that still played its powerful beams over the stern of the +tank, if such an ungainly machine can be said to have a bow and stern. +"Over this way!" + +"I'm with you!" cried Tom. "See if you can pick up that man who just +ran out of here!" he cried to the operator of the searchlight in the +elevated observation section of what corresponded to the conning tower +of a submarine. This was a sort of lookout box on top of the tank, +containing, among other machines, the searchlight. "Pick him up!" cried +Tom. + +The operator flashed the intense white beam, like a finger of light, +around in eccentric circles, but though this brought into vivid relief +the configuration of the field and road near which the tank was +stalled, it showed no running fugitive. Tom and Ned were +observed--shadows of black in the glare--by Mary and her friends in the +tank, but there was no one else. + +"Come on!" cried Ned. "We can find him, Tom!" + +But this was easier said than done. Even though they were aided by the +bright light, they caught no glimpse of the man who called himself +Simpson. + +"Guess he got away," said Tom, when he and Ned had circled about and +investigated many clumps of bushes, trees, stumps and other barriers +that might conceal the fugitive. + +"I guess so," agreed Ned. "Unless he's hiding in what we might call a +shell crater." + +"Hardly that," and Tom smiled. "Though if all goes well the men who +operate this tank later may be searching for men in real shell holes." + +"Is this one going to the other side?" asked Ned, as the two walked +back toward the tank. + +"I hope it will be the first of my new machines on the Western front," +Tom answered. "But I've still got to perfect it in some details and +then take it apart. After that, if it comes up to expectations, we'll +begin making them in quantities." + +"Did you get him?" asked Mr. Damon eagerly, as the two young men came +back to join Mary and her friends. + +"No, he got away," Tom answered. + +"Did he try to blow up the tank?" asked Mr. Nestor, who had an abnormal +fear of explosives. "Was he a German spy?" + +"I think he's that, all right," said Ned grimly. "As to his endeavoring +to blow up Tom's tank, I believe him capable of it, though he didn't +try it to-night--unless he's planted a time bomb somewhere about, Tom." + +"Hardly, I guess," answered the young inventor. "He didn't have a +chance to do that. Anyhow we won't remain here long. Now, Ned, what +about this chap? Is he really the one you saw up in the tree?" + +"I not only saw him but I felt him," answered Ned, with a rueful look +at his fingers. "He stepped right on me. And when he came inside the +tank to-night I knew him at once. I guess he was as surprised to see me +as I was to see him." + +"But what was his object?" asked Mr. Nestor. + +"He must have some connection with my old enemy, Blakeson," answered +Tom, "and we know he's mixed up with Schwen. From the looks of him I +should say that this Simpson, as he calls himself, is the directing +head of the whole business. He looks to be the moneyed man, and the +brains of the plotters. Blakeson is smart, in a mechanical way, and +Schwen is one of the best machinists I've ever employed. But this +Simpson strikes me as being the slick one of the trio." + +"But what made him come here, and what did he want?" asked Mary. "Dear +me! it's like one of those moving picture plots, only I never saw one +with a tank in it before--I mean a tank like yours, Tom." + +"Yes, it is a bit like moving picture--especially chasing Simpson by +searchlight," agreed the young inventor. "As to what he wanted, I +suppose he came to spy out some of my secret inventions--dad's and +mine. He's probably been hiding and sneaking around the works ever +since we arrested Schwen. Some of my men have reported seeing +strangers about, but I have kept Shop Thirteen well guarded. + +"However, this fellow may have been waiting outside, and he may have +followed the tank when we started off a little while ago for the night +test. Then, when he saw our mishap and noticed that we were stalled, he +came in, boldly enough, thinking, I suppose, that, as I had never seen +him, he would take a chance on getting as much information as he could +in a hurry." + +"But he didn't count on Ned's being here!" chuckled Mr. Damon. + +"No; that's where he slipped a cog," remarked Mr. Nestor. "Well, Tom, +I like your tank, what I've seen of her, but it's getting late and I +think Mary and I had better be getting back home." + +"We'll be ready to start in a little while," Tom said, after a brief +consultation with one of his men. "Still, perhaps it would be just as +well if you didn't ride back with me. She may go all right, and then, +again, she may not. And as it's dark, and we're in a rough part of the +field, you might be a bit shaken up. Not that the tank minds it!" the +young inventor hastened to add "She's got to do her bit over worse +places than this--much worse--but I want to get her in a little better +working shape first. So if you don't mind, Mary, I'll postpone your +initial trip." + +"Oh, I don't mind, Tom! I'm so glad you've made this! I want to see the +war ended, and I think machines like this will help." + +"I'll ride back with you, Tom, if you don't mind," put in Ned. "I guess +a little shaking up won't hurt me." + +"All right--stick. We're going to start very soon." + +"Well, I'm coming over to-morrow to have a look at it by daylight," +said Mr. Damon, as he started toward his car. + +"So am I," added Mary. "Please call for me, Mr. Damon." + +"I will," he promised. + +Mr. Nestor, his daughter, and Mr. Damon went back to the automobile, +while Ned remained with Tom. In a little while those in the car heard +once more the rumbling and roaring sound and felt the earth tremble. +Then, with a flashing of lights, the big, ungainly shape of the tank +lifted herself out of the little ditch in which she had come to a halt, +and began to climb back to the road. + +Ned Newton stood beside Tom in the control tower of the great tank as +she started on her homeward way. + +"Isn't it wonderful!" murmured Mary, as she saw Tank A lumbering along +toward the road. "Oh, and to think that human beings made that. To think +that Tom should know how to build such a wonderful machine!" + +"And run it, too, Mary! That's the point! Make it run!" cried her +father. "I tell you, that Tom Swift is a wonder!" + +"Bless my dictionary, he sure is!" agreed Mr. Damon. + +Along the road, back toward the shop whence it had emerged, rumbled the +tank. The noise brought to their doors inhabitants along the country +thoroughfare, and some of them were frightened when they saw Tom +Swift's latest war machine, the details of which they could only guess +at in the darkness. + +"She'll butt over a house if it gets in her path, knock down trees, +chew up barbed-wire, and climb down into ravines and out again, and go +over a good-sized stream without a whimper," said Tom, as he steered +the great machine. + +There was little chance then for Ned to see much of the inside +mechanism of the tank. He observed that Tom, standing in the forward +tower, steered it very easily by a small wheel or by a lever, +alternately, and that he communicated with the engine room by means of +electric signals. + +"And she steers by electricity, too," Tom told his friend. "That was +one difficulty with the first tanks. They had to be steered by brute +force, so to speak, and it was a terrific strain on the man in the +tower. Now I can guide this in two ways: by the electric mechanism +which swings the trailer wheels to either side, or by varying the speed +of the two motors that work the caterpillar belts. So if one breaks +down, I have the other." + +"Got any guns aboard her--I mean machine guns?" asked Ned. + +"Not yet. But I'm going to install some. I wanted to get the tank in +proper working order first. The guns are only incidental, though of +course they're vitally necessary when she goes into action. I've got +'em all ready to put in. But first I'm going to try the grippers." + +"Oh, you mean the gap-bridgers?" asked Ned. + +"That's it," answered Tom. "Look out, we're going over a rough spot +now." + +And they did. Ned was greatly shaken up, and fairly tossed from side to +side of the steering tower. For the tank contained no springs, except +such as were installed around the most delicate machinery, and it was +like riding in a dump cart over a very rough road. + +"However, that's part of the game," Tom observed. + +Tank A reached her "harbor" safely--in other words, the machine shop +enclosed by the high fence, inside of which she had been built. + +Tom and Ned made some inquiries of Koku and Eradicate as to whether or +not there had been any unusual sights or sounds about the place. They +feared Simpson might have come to the shop to try to get possession of +important drawings or data. + +But all had been quiet, Koku reported. Nor had Eradicate seen or heard +anything out of the ordinary. + +"Then I guess we'll lock up and turn in," decided Tom. "Come over +to-morrow, Ned." + +"I will," promised the young bank clerk. "I want to see more of what +makes the wheels go round." And he laughed at his own ingenuousness. + +The next day Tom showed his friends as much as they cared to see about +the workings of the tank. They inspected the powerful gasolene engines, +saw how they worked the endless belts made of plates of jointed steel, +which, running over sprocket wheels, really gave the tank its power by +providing great tractive force. + +Any self-propelled vehicle depends for its power, either to move itself +or to push or to pull, on its tractive force--that is, the grip it can +get on the ground. + +In the case of a bicycle little tractive power is needed, and this is +provided by the rubber tires, which grip the ground. A locomotive +depends for its tractive power on its weight pressing on its driving +wheels, and the more driving wheels there are and the heavier the +locomotive, the more it can pull, though in that case speed is lost. +This is why freight locomotives are so heavy and have so many large +driving wheels. They pull the engine along, and the cars also, by their +weight pressing on the rails. + +The endless steel belts of a tank are, the same as the wheels of a +locomotive. And the belts, being very broad, which gives them a large +surface with which to press on the ground, and the tank being very +heavy, great power to advance is thus obtained, though at the sacrifice +of speed. However, Tom Swift had made his tank so that it would do +about ten miles and more an hour, nearly double the progress obtained +up to that time by the British machines. + +His visitors saw the great motors, they inspected the compact but not +very attractive living quarters of the crew, for provision had to be +made for the men to stay in the tank if, perchance, it became stalled +in No Man's Land, surrounded by the enemy. + +The tank was powerfully armored and would be armed. There were a number +of machine guns to be installed, quick-firers of various types, and in +addition the tank could carry a number of riflemen. + +It was upon the crushing power of the tank, though, that most reliance +was placed. Thus it could lead the way for an infantry advance through +the enemy's lines, making nothing of barbed wire that would take an +artillery fire of several days to cut to pieces. + +"And now, Ned," said Tom, about a week after the night test of the +tank, "I'm going to try what she'll do in bridging a gap." + +"Have you got her in shape again?" + +"Yes, everything is all right. I've taken out the weak part in the +steering gear that nearly caused us to run you down, and we're safe in +that respect now. And I've got the grippers made. It only remains to +see whether they're strong enough to bear the weight of my little +baby," and Tom affectionately patted the steel sides of Tank A. + +While his men were getting the machine ready for a test out on the +road, and for a journey across a small stream not far away, Tom told +his chum about conceiving the idea for the tank and carrying it out +secretly with the aid of his father and certain workmen. + +"That's the reason the government exempted me from enlisting," Tom +said. "They wanted me to finish this tank. I didn't exactly want to, +but I considered it my 'bit.' After this I'm going into the army, Ned." + +"Glad to hear it, old man. Maybe by that time I'll have this Liberty +Bond work finished, and I'll go with you. We'll have great times +together! Have you heard anything more of Simpson, Blakeson and +Scoundrels?" And Ned laughed as he named this "firm." + +"No," answered Tom. "I guess we scared off that slick German spy." + +Once more the tank lumbered out along the road. It was a mighty engine +of war, and inside her rode Tom and Ned. Mary and her father had been +invited, but the girl could not quite get her courage to the point of +accepting, nor did Mr. Nestor care to go. Mr. Damon, however, as might +be guessed, was there. + +"Bless my monkey wrench, Tom!" cried the eccentric man, as he noted +their advance over some rough ground, "are you really going to make +this machine cross Tinkle Creek on a bridge of steel you carry with +you?" + +"I'm going to try, Mr. Damon." + +A little later, after a successful test up and down a small gully, Tank +A arrived at the edge of Tinkle Creek, a small stream about twenty feet +wide, not far from Tom's home. At the point selected for the test the +banks were high and steep. + +"If she bridges that gap she'll do anything," murmured Ned, as the tank +came to a stop on the edge. + + + + +Chapter XIII + +Into a Trench + + +Tom cast a hasty glance over the mechanism of the machine before he +started to cross the stream by the additional aid of the grippers, or +spanners, as he sometimes called this latest device. + +Along each side, in a row of sockets, were two long girders of steel, +latticed like the main supports of a bridge. They were of peculiar +triangular construction, designed to support heavy weights, and each +end was broadly flanged to prevent its sinking too deeply into the +earth on either side of a gully or a stream. + +The grippers also had a sort of clawlike arrangement on either end, +working on the principle of an "orange-peel" shovel, and these claws +were designed to grip the earth to prevent slipping. + +The spanners would be pulled out from their sockets on the side of the +tank by means of steel cables, which were operated from within. They +would be run out across the gap and fastened in place. The tank was +designed to travel along them to the other side of the gap, and, once +there, to pick up the girders, slip them back into place on the sides, +and the engine of war would travel on. + +"You are mightily excited, Tom. + +"I admit it, Ned. You see, I have not tried the grippers out except on +a small model. They worked there, but whether they will work in +practice remains to be seen. Of course, at this stage, I'm willing to +stake my all on the results, but there is always a half-question until +the final try-out under practical conditions." + +"Well, we'll soon see," said one of the workmen. "Are you ready, Mr. +Swift?" + +"All ready," answered Tom. + +Tank A, as she was officially known, had come to a stop, as has been +said, on the very edge of Tinkle Creek. The banks were fairly solid +here, and descended precipitously to the water ten feet below. The +shores were about twenty feet apart. + +"Suppose the spanners break when you're halfway over, Tom?" asked his +chum. + +"I don't like to suppose anything of the sort. But if they do, we're +going down!" + +"Can you get up again?" + +"That remains to be seen," was the non-committal reply. "Well, here +goes, anyhow!" + +Going up into the observation tower, which was only slightly raised +above the roof of the highest part of the tank, Tom gave the signal for +the motors to start. There was a trembling throughout the whole of the +vast structure. Tom threw back a lever and Ned, peering from a side +observation slot, beheld a strange sight. + +Like the main arm of some great steam shovel, two long, latticed +girders of steel shot out from the sides of the tank. They gave a half +turn, as they were pulled forward by the steel ropes, so that they lay +with their broader surfaces uppermost. + +Straight across the stream they were pulled, their clawlike ends coming +to a rest on the opposite bank. Then they were tightened into place by +a backward pull on the operating cables, and Tom, with a sigh of +relief, announced: + +"Well, so far so good!" + +"Do we go over now?" inquired Ned. + +"Over the top--yes, I hope," answered Tom, with a laugh. "How about +you down there?" he called to the engine room through a telephone which +could only be used when the machinery was not in action, there being +too much noise to permit the use of any but visual signals after that. + +"All right," came back the answer. "We're ready when you are." + +"Then here we go!" said Tom. "Hold fast, Ned! Of course there's no real +telling what will happen, though I believe we'll come out of it alive." + +"Cheerful prospect," murmured Ned. + +The grippers were now in place. It only remained for the tank to propel +herself over them, pick them up on the other side of Tinkle Creek, and +proceed on her course. + +Tom Swift hesitated a moment, one hand on the starting lever and the +other on the steering wheel. Then, with a glance at Ned, half whimsical +and half resolute, Tom started Tank A on what might prove to be her +last journey. + +Slowly the ponderous caterpillar belts moved around on the sprocket +wheels. They ground with a clash of steel on the surface of the +spanners. So long was the tank that the forward end, or the "nose," was +halfway across the stream before the bottom part of the endless belts +gripped the latticed bridge. + +"If we fall, we'll span the creek, not fall into it," murmured Ned, as +he looked from the observation slot. + +"That's what I counted on," Tom said. "We'll get out, even if we do +fall." + +But Tank A was not destined to fall. In another moment her entire +weight rested on the novel and transportable bridge Tom Swift had +evolved. Then, as the gripping ends of the girders sank farther into +the soil, the tank went on her way. + +Slowly, at half speed, she crawled over the steel beams, making +progress over the creek and as safely above the water as though on a +regularly constructed bridge. + +On and on she went. Now her entire weight was over the middle of the +temporary structures. If they were going to give way at all, it would +be at this point. But they did not give. The latticed and triangular +steel, than which there is no stronger form of construction, held up +the immense weight of Tank A, and on this novel bridge she propelled +herself across Tinkle Creek. + +"Well, the worst is over," remarked Ned, as he saw the nose of the tank +project beyond the farthermost bank. + +"Yes, even if they collapse now nothing much can happen," Tom answered. +"It won't be any worse than wallowing down into a trench and out again. +But I think the spanners will hold." + +And hold they did! They held, giving way not a fraction of an inch, +until the tank was safely across, and then, after a little delay, due +to a jamming of one of the recovery cables, the spanners were picked +up, slid into the receiving sockets, and the great war engine was ready +to proceed again. + +"Hurrah!" cried Ned. "She did it, Tom, old man!" and he clapped his +chum resoundingly on the back. + +"She certainly did!" was the answer. "But you needn't knock me apart +telling me that. Go easy!" + +"Bless my apple pie!" cried Mr. Damon, who was as much pleased as +either of the boys, "this is what I call great!" + +"Yes, she did all that I could have hoped for," said Tom. "Now for the +next test." + +"Bless my collar button! is there another?" + +"Just down into a trench and out again." Tom said. "This is +comparatively simple. It's only what she'll have to do every day in +Flanders." + +The tank waddled on. A duck's sidewise walk is about the only kind of +motion that can be compared to it. The going was easier now, for it was +across a big field, and Tom told his friends that at the other end was +a deep, steep and rocky ravine in which he had decided to give the tank +another test. + +"We'll imagine that ravine is a trench," he said, "and that we've got +to get on the other side of it. Of course, we won't be under fire, as +the tanks will be at the front, but aside from that the test will be +just as severe." + +A little later Tank A brought her occupants to the edge of the "trench." + +"Now, little girl," cried Tom exultingly, patting the rough steel side +of his tank, "show them what you can do!" + +"Bless my plum pudding!" cried Mr. Damon, "are you really going down +there, Tom Swift?" + +"I am," answered the young inventor. "It won't be dangerous. We'll +crawl down and crawl out. Hold fast!" + +He steered the machine straight for the edge of the ravine, and as the +nose slipped over and the broad steel belts bit into the earth the tank +tilted downward at a sickening angle. + +She appeared to be making the descent safely, when there was a sudden +change. The earth seemed to slip out from under the broad caterpillar +belts, and then the tank moved more rapidly. + +"Tom, we're turning over!" shouted Ned. "We're capsizing!" + + + + +Chapter XIV + +The Ruined Factory + + +Only too true were the words Ned Newton shouted to his chum. Tank A was +really capsizing. She had advanced to the edge of the gully and started +down it, moving slowly on the caterpillar bands of steel. Then had come +a sudden lurch, caused, as they learned afterward, by the slipping off +of a great quantity of shale from an underlying shelf of rock. + +This made unstable footing for the tank. One side sank lower than the +other, and before Tom could neutralize this by speeding up one motor +and slowing down the other the tank slowly turned over on its side. + +"But she isn't going to stop here!" cried Ned, as he found himself +thrown about like a pill in a box. "We're going all the way over!" + +"Let her go over!" cried Tom, not that he could stop the tank now. "It +won't hurt her. She's built for just this sort of thing!" + +And over Tank A did go. Over and over she rolled, sidewise, tumbling +and sliding down the shale sides of the great gully. + +"Hold fast! Grab the rings!" cried Tom to his two companions in the +tower with him. "That's what they're for!" + +Ned and Mr. Damon understood. In fact, the latter had already done as +Tom suggested. The young inventor had read that the British tanks +frequently turned turtle, and he had this in mind when he made +provision in his own for the safety of passengers and crew. + +As soon as he felt the tank careening, Tom had pressed the signal +ordering the motors stopped, and now only the force of gravity was +operating. But that was sufficient to carry the big machine to the +bottom of the gulch, whither she slid with a great cloud of sand, shale +and dust. + +"Bless my--bless my--" Mr. Damon was murmuring, but he was so flopped +about, tossed from one side to the other, and it took so much of his +attention and strength to hold on to the safety ring, that he could not +properly give vent; to one of his favorite expressions. + +But there comes an end to all things, even to the descent of a tank, +and Tom's big machine soon stopped rolling, sliding, and turning +improvised somersaults, and rested in a pile of soft shale at the +bottom of the gully. And the tank was resting on her back! + +"We've turned turtle!" cried Ned, as he noted that he was standing on +what, before, had been the ceiling of the observation tower. But as +everything was of steel, and as there was no movable furniture, no +great harm was done. In fact, one could as well walk on the ceiling of +the tank as on the floor. + +"But how are you going to get her right side up?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Oh, turning upside down is only one of the stunts of the game. I can +right her," was the answer. + +"How?" asked Ned. + +"Well, she'll right herself if there's ground enough for the steel +belts to get a grip on. + +"But can the motors work upside down?" + +"They surely can!" responded Tom. "I made 'em that way on purpose. The +gasolene feeds by air pressure, and that works standing on its head, as +well as any other way. It's going to be a bit awkward for the men to +operate the controls, but we won't be this way long. Before I start to +right her, though, I want to make sure nothing is broken." + +Tom signaled to the engine room, and, as the power was off and the +speaking tube could be used, he called through it: + +"How are you down there?" + +"Right-o!" came back the answer from a little Englishman Tom had hired +because he knew something about the British tanks. "'Twas a bit of +nastiness for a while, but it won't take us long to get up ag'in." + +"That's good!" commented Tom. "I'll come down and have a look at you." + +It was no easy matter, with the tank capsized, to get to the main +engine room, but Tom Swift managed it. To his delight, aside from a +small break in one of the minor machines, which would not interfere +with the operation or motive force of the monster war engine, +everything was in good shape. There was no leak from the gasolene +tanks, which was one of the contingencies Tom feared, and, as he had +said, the motors would work upside down as well as right side up, a +fact he had proved more than once in his Hawk. + +"Well, we'll make a start," he told his chief engineer. "Stand by when +I give the signal, and we'll try to crawl out of this right side up." + +"How are you going to do it?" asked Ned, as his chum crawled back into +the observation tower. + +"Well, I'm going to run her part way up the very steepest part of the +ravine I can find--the side of a house would do as well if it could +stand the strain. I'm going to stand the tank right up on her nose, so +to speak, and tip her over so she'll come right again." + +Slowly the tank started off, while Tom and his friends in the +observation tower anxiously awaited the result of the novel progress. +Ned and Mr. Damon clung to the safety rings. Tom put his arm through +one and hung on grimly, while he used both hands on the steering +apparatus and the controls. + +Of course the trailer wheels were useless in a case of this kind, and +the tank had to be guided by the two belts run at varying speeds. + +"Here we go!" cried Tom, and the tank started. It was a queer sensation +to be moving upside down, but it did not last very long. Tom steered +the tank straight at the opposite wall of the ravine, where it rose +steeply. One of the broad belts ran up on that side. The other was +revolved in the opposite direction. Up and up, at a sickening angle, +went Tank A. + +Slowly the tank careened, turning completely over on her longer axis, +until, as Tom shut off the power, he and his friends once more found +themselves standing where they belonged--on the floor of the +observation tower. + +"Right side up with care!" quoted Ned, with a laugh. "Well, that was +some stunt--believe me!" + +"Bless my corn plaster, I should say so!" cried Mr. Damon. + +"Well, I'm glad it happened," commented Tom. "It showed what she can do +when she's put to it. Now we'll get out of this ditch." + +Slowly the tank lumbered along, proper side up now, the men in the +motor room reporting that everything was all right, and that with the +exception of a slight unimportant break, no damage had been done. + +Straight for the opposite steep side of the gully Tom directed his +strange craft, and at a point where the wall of the gulch gave a good +footing for the steel belts, Tank A pulled herself out and up to level +ground. + +"Well, I'm glad that's over," remarked Ned, with a sigh of relief, as +the tank waddled along a straight stretch. "And to think of having to +do that same thing under heavy fire!" + +"That's part of the game," remarked Tom. "And don't forget that we can +fire, too--or we'll be able to when I get the guns in place. They'll +help to balance the machine better, too, and render her less likely to +overturn." + +Tom considered the test a satisfactory one and, a little later, guided +his tank back to the shop, where men were set to work repairing the +little damage done and making some adjustments. + +"What's next on the program?" asked Ned of his chum one day about a +week later. "Any more tests in view?" + +"Yes," answered Tom. "I've got the machine guns in place now. We are +going to try them out and also endeavor to demolish a building and some +barbed wire. Like to come along?" + +"I would!" cried Ned. + +A little later the tank was making her way over a field. Tom pointed +toward a deserted factory, which had long been partly in ruins, but +some of the walls of which still stood. + +"I'm going to bombard that," he announced, and then try to batter it +down and roll over it like a Juggernaut. Are you game?" + +"Do your worst!" laughed Ned. "Let me man one of the machine guns!" + +"All right," agreed Tom. "Concentrate your fire. Make believe you're +going against the Germans!" + +Slowly, but with resistless energy, the tank approached the ruined +factory. + +"Are you sure there's no one in it, Tom?" + +"Sure! Blaze away!" + + + + +Chapter XV + +Across Country + + +Ned Newton sighted his machine gun. Tom had showed him how to work it, +and indeed the young bank clerk had had some practice with a weapon +like this, erected on a stationary tripod. But this was the first time +Ned had attempted to fire from the tank while it was moving, and he +found it an altogether different matter. + +"Say, it sure is hard to aim where you want to!" he shouted across to +Tom, it being necessary, even in the conning tower, where this one gun +was mounted, to speak loudly to make one's self heard above the hum, +the roar and rattle of the machinery in the interior of Tank A, and +below and to the rear of the two young men. + +"Well, that's part of the game," Tom answered. "I'm sending her along +over as smooth ground as I can pick out, but it's rough at best. Still +this is nothing to what you'll get in Flanders." + +"If I get there!" exclaimed Ned grimly. "Well, here goes!" and once +more he tried to aim the machine gun at the middle of the brick wall of +the ruined factory. + +A moment later there was a rattle and a roar as the quick-firing +mechanism started, and a veritable hail of bullets swept out at the +masonry. Tom and Ned could see where they struck, knocking off bits of +stone, brick and cement. + +"Sweep it, Ned! Sweep it!" cried Tom. "Imagine a crowd of Germans are +charging out at you, and sweep 'em out of the way!" + +Obeying this command, the young man moved the barrel of the machine gun +from side to side and slightly up and down. The effect was at once +apparent. The wall showed spatter-marks of the bullets over a wider +area, and had a body of Teutons been before the factory, or even inside +it, many of them would have been accounted for, since there were +several holes in the wall through which Ned's bullets sped, carrying +potential death with them. + +"That's better!" shouted Tom. "That'll do the business! Now I'm going +to open her up, Ned!" + +"Open her up?" cried the young bank clerk, as he ceased firing. + +"Yes; crack the wall of that factory as I would a nut! Watch me take +it on high--that is, if the old tank doesn't go back on me!" + +"You mean you're going to ride right over that building, Tom?" + +"I mean I'm going to try! If Tank A does as I expect her to, she'll +butt into that wall, crush it down by force and weight, and then waddle +over the ruins. Watch!" + +Tom sent some signals to the motor room. At once there was noticed an +increase in the vibrations of the ponderous machine. + +"They're giving her more speed," said Tom. "And I guess we'll need it." + +Straight for the old factory went Tank A. In spite of its ruined +condition, some of the walls were still firm, and seemed to offer a big +obstacle to even so powerful an engine of war as this monstrous tank. + +"Get ready now, Ned," Tom advised. "And when I crack her open for you +cut loose with the machine gun again. This gun is supposed to fire +straight ahead and a little to either side. There are other guns at +left and right, amidships, as I might say, and there's also one in the +stern, to take care of any attack from that direction. + +"The men in charge of them will fire at the same time you do, and it +will be as near like a real attack as we can make it--with the +exception of not being fired back at. And I wouldn't mind if such were +the case, for I don't believe anything, outside of heavy artillery, +will have any effect on this tank." + +Tank A was now almost at her maximum speed as she approached closer to +the deserted factory. Ned and Tom, in the conning tower, saw the +largest of the remaining walls looming before them. Straight at it +rushed the ponderous machine, and the next moment there came a shock +which almost threw Ned away from his gun and back against the steel +wall behind him. + +"Hold fast!" cried Tom. "Here we go! Fire. Ned! Fire!" + +There was a crash as the blunt nose of the great war tank hit the wall +and crumpled it up. + +A great hole was made in the masonry, and what was not crushed under +the caterpillar belts of the tank fell in a shower of bricks, stone and +cement on top of the machine. + +Like a great hail storm the broken masonry pelted the steel sides and +top of the tank. But she felt them no more than does an alligator the +attacks of a colony of ants. Right on through the dust the tank +crushed her way. Added to the noise of the falling walls was that of +the machine guns, which were barking away like a kennel of angry hounds +eager to be unleashed at the quarry. + +Ned kept his gun going until the heat of it warned him to stop and let +the barrel cool, or he knew he would jam some of the mechanism. The +other guns were firing, too, and the bullets sent up little spatter +points of dust as they hit. + +"Great jumping hoptoads!" yelled Ned above the riot of racket outside +and inside. "Feel her go, Tom!" + +"Yes, she's just chewing it up, all right!" cried the young inventor, +his eyes shining with delight. + +The tank had actually burst her way through the solid wall of the old +factory, permission to complete the demolition of which Tom had secured +from the owners. Then the great machine kept right on. She fairly +"walked" over the piles of masonry, dipped down into what had been a +basement, now partly filled with debris, and kept on toward another +wall. + +"I'm going through that, too!" cried Tom. + +And he did, knocking it down and sending his tank over the piled-up +ruins, while the machine guns barked, coughed and spluttered, as Ned +and the others inside the tank held back the firing levers. + +Right through the opposite wall, as through the one she had already +demolished, the tank careened on her way, to emerge, rather battered +and dust-covered, on the other side of what was left of the factory. +And there was not much of it left. Tank A had well-nigh completed its +demolition. + +"If there'd been a nest of Germans in there," said Tom, as he brought +the machine to a stop in a field beyond the factory, "they'd have +gotten out in a hurry." + +"Or taken the consequences," added Ned, as he wiped the sweat from his +powder-blackened and oil-smeared face. "I certainly kept my gun going." + +"Yes, and so did the others," reported one of the mechanics, as he +emerged from the "cubby hole," where the great motors had now ceased +their hum and roar. + +"How'd she stand it?" asked Tom. + +"All right inside," answered the man. "I was wondering how she looks +from the outside." + +"Oh, it would take more than that to damage her," said Tom, with +pardonable pride. "That was pie for her! Solid concrete, which she may +have to chew up on the Western front, may present another kind of +problem, but I guess she'll be able to master that too. Well, let's +have a look." + +He and Ned, with some of the crew and gunners, went outside the tank. +She was a sorry-looking sight, very different from the trim appearance +she had presented when she first left the shop. Bricks, bits of stone, +and piles of broken cement in chunks and dust lay thick on her broad +back. But no real damage had been done, as a hasty examination showed. + +"Well, are you satisfied, Tom?" asked his chum. + +"Yes, and more," was the answer. "Of course this wasn't the hardest +test to which she could have been submitted, but it will do to show +what punishment she can stand. Being shot at from big guns is another +matter. I'll have to wait until she gets to Flanders to see what effect +that will have. But I know the kind of armor skin she has, and that +doesn't worry me. There's one thing more I want to do while I have her +out now." + +"What's that?" asked Ned. + +"Take her for a long trip cross country, and then shove her through +some extra heavy barbed wire. I'm certain she'll chew that up, but I +want to see it actually done. So now, if you want to come along, Ned, +we'll go cross country." + +"I'm with you!" + +"Get inside then. We'll let the dust and masonry blow and rattle off as +we go along." + +The tank started off across the fields, which stretched for many miles +on either side of the deserted factory, when suddenly Ned, who was +again at his post in the observation tower, called: + +"Look, Tom!" + +"What at?" + +"That corner of the factory which is still standing. Look at those men +coming out and running away!" + +Ned pointed, and his chum, leaning over from the steering wheel and +controls, gave a start of surprise as he saw three figures clambering +down over the broken debris and making their way out of what had once +been a doorway. + +"Did they come out of the factory, Ned?" + +"They surely did! And unless I miss my guess they were in it, or around +it, when we went through like a fellow carrying the football over the +line for a touchdown." + +"In there when the tank broke open things?" + +"I think so. I didn't see them before, but they certainly ran out as we +started away." + +"This has got to be looked into!" decided Tom. "Come on, Ned! It may be +more of that spy business!" + +Tom Swift stopped the tank and prepared to get out. + + + + +Chapter XVI + +The Old Barn + + +"There's no use chasing after 'em, Tom," observed Ned, as the two chums +stood side by side outside the tank and gazed after the three men +running off across the fields as fast as they could go. "They've got +too much a start of us." + +"I guess you're right, Ned," agreed Tom. "And we can't very well pursue +them in the tank. She goes a bit faster than anything of her build, but +a running man is more than a match for her in a short distance. If I +had the Hawk here, there'd be a different story to tell." + +"Well, seeing that you haven't," replied Ned, "suppose we let them +go--which we'll have to, whether we want to or not--and see where they +were hiding and if they left any traces behind." + +"That's a good idea," returned Tom. + +The place whence the men had emerged was a portion of the old factory +farthest removed from the walls the tank had crunched its way through. +Consequently, that part was the least damaged. + +Tom and Ned came to what seemed to have been the office of the building +when the factory was in operation. A door, from which most of the glass +had been broken, hung on one hinge, and, pushing this open, the two +chums found themselves in a room that bore evidences of having been the +bookkeeper's department. There were the remains of cabinet files, and a +broken letter press, while in one corner stood a safe. + +"Maybe they were cracking that," said Ned. + +"They were wasting their time if they were," observed Tom, "for the +combination is broken--any one can open it," and he demonstrated this +by swinging back one of the heavy doors. + +A quantity of papers fell out, or what had been papers, for they were +now torn and the edges charred, as if by some recent fire. + +"They were burning these!" cried Ned. "You can smell the smoke yet. +They came here to destroy some papers, and we surprised them!" + +"I believe you're right," agreed Tom. "The ashes are still warm." And +he tested them with his hand. "They wanted to destroy something, and +when they found we were here they clapped the blazing stuff into the +safe, thinking it would burn there. + +"But the closing of the doors cut off the supply of air and the fire +smouldered and went out. It burned enough so that it didn't leave us +very much in the way of evidence, though," went on Tom ruefully, as he +poked among the charred scraps. + +"Maybe you can read some of 'em," suggested Ned. + +"Part of the writing is in German," Tom said, as he looked over the +mass. "I don't believe it would be worth while to try it. Still, I +can save it. Here, I'll sweep the stuff into a box, and if we get a +chance we can try to patch it together," and finding a broken box in +what had been the factory office the young inventor managed to get into +it the charred remains of the papers. + +A further search failed to reveal anything that would be useful in the +way of evidence to determine what object the three men could have had +in hiding in the ruins, and Tom and Ned returned to the tank. + +"What do you think about them, Tom?" asked Ned, as they were about to +start off once more for the cross-country test. + +"Well, it seems like a silly thing to say--as if I imagined my tank was +all there was in this part of the country to make trouble--but I +believe those men had some connection with Simpson and with that spy +Schwen!" + +"I agree with you!" exclaimed Ned. "And I think if we could get head or +tail of those burned papers we'd find that there was some +correspondence there between the man I saw up the tree and the workman +you had arrested." + +"Too bad we weren't a bit quicker," commented Tom. "They must have been +in the factory when we charged it--probably came there to be in +seclusion while they talked, plotted and planned. They must have been +afraid to go out when the tank was walking through the walls." + +"I guess that's it," agreed Ned. "Did you recognize any of the men, +Tom?" + +"No, I didn't see 'em as soon as you did, and when they were running +they had their backs toward me. Was Simpson one?" + +"I can't be sure. If one was, I guess he'll think we are keeping pretty +closely after him, and he may give this part of the country a wide +berth." + +"I hope he does," returned Tom. "Do you know, Ned, I have an idea that +these fellows--Schwen Simpson, and those back of them, including +Blakeson--are trying to get hold of the secret of my tank for the +Germans." + +"I shouldn't be surprised. But you've got it finished now, haven't you? +They can't get your patents away from you." + +"No, it isn't that," said Tom. "There are certain secrets about the +mechanism of the tank--the way I've increased the speed and power, the +use of the spanners, and things like that--which would be useful for +the Germans to know. I wouldn't want them to find out these secrets, +and they could do that if they were in the tank a while, or had her in +their possession." + +"They couldn't do that, Tom--get possession of her--could they?" + +"There's no telling. I'm going to be doubly on the watch. That fellow +Blakeson is in the pay of the plotters, I believe. He has a big machine +shop, and he might try to duplicate my tank if he knew how she was made +inside." + +"I see! That's why he was inquiring about a good machinist, I suppose, +though he'll be mightily surprised when he learns it was you he was +talking to the time your Hawk met with the little mishap." + +"Yes, I guess maybe he will be a bit startled," agreed Tom. "But I +haven't seen him around lately, and maybe he has given up." + +"Don't trust to that!" warned Ned. + +The tank was now progressing easily along over fields, hesitating not +at small or big ditches, flow going uphill and now down, across a +stretch of country thinly settled, where even fences were a rarity. +When they came to wooden ones Tom had the workmen get out and take down +the bars. Of course the tank could have crushed them like toothpicks, +but Tom was mindful of the rights of farmers, and a broken fence might +mean strayed cows, or the letting of cattle into a field of grain or +corn, to the damage of both cattle and fodder. + +"There's a barbed-wire fence," observed Ned, as he pointed to one off +some distance across the field. "Why don't you try demolishing that?" + +"Oh, it would be too easy! Besides, I don't want the bother of putting +it up again. When I make the barbed-wire test I want some set up on +heavy posts, and with many strands, as it is in Flanders. Even that +won't stop the tank, but I'm anxious to see how she breaks up the wire +and supports--just what sort of a breach she makes. But I have a +different plan in mind now. + +"I'm going to try to find a wooden building we can charge as we did the +masonry factory. I want to smash up a barn, and I'll have to pick out +an old one for choice, for in these war days we must conserve all we +can, even old barns." + +"What's the idea of using a barn, Tom?" + +"Well, I want to test the tank under all sorts of conditions--the same +conditions she'll meet with on the Western front. We've proved that a +brick and stone factory is no obstacle." + +"Then how could a flimsy wooden barn be?" + +"Well, that's just it. I don't think that it will, but it may be that a +barn when smashed will get tangled up in the endless steel belts, and +clog them so they'll jam. That's the reason I want to try a wooden +structure next." + +"Do you know where to find one?" + +"Yes; about a mile from here is one I've had my eyes on ever since I +began constructing the tank. I don't know who owns it, but it's such a +ramshackle affair that he can't object to having it knocked into +kindling wood for him. If he does holler, I can pay him for the damage +done. So now for a barn, Ned, unless you're getting tired and want to +go back?" + +"I should say not! Speaking of barns, I'm with you till the cows come +home! Want any more machine gun work?" + +"No, I guess not. This barn isn't particularly isolated, and the +shooting might scare horses and cattle. We can smash things up without +the guns." + +The tank was going on smoothly when suddenly there was a lurch to one +side, and the great machine quickly swung about in a circle. + +"Hello!" cried Ned. "What's up now? Some new stunt?" + +"Must be something wrong," answered the young inventor. "One of the +belts has stopped working. That's why we're going in a circle." + +He shut off the power and hastened down to the motor room. There he +found his men gathered about one of the machines. + +"What's wrong?" asked Tom quickly. + +"Just a little accident," replied the head machinist. "One of the boys +dropped his monkey wrench and it smashed some spark plugs. That caused +a short circuit and the left hand motor went out of business. We'll +have her fixed in a jiffy." + +Tom looked relieved, and the machinist was as good as his word. In a +few minutes the tank was moving forward again. It crossed out to the +road, to the great astonishment of some farmers, and the fright of +their horses, and then Tom once more swung her into the fields. + +"There's the old barn I spoke of," he remarked to Ned. "It's almost as +bad a ruin as the factory was. But we'll have a go at it." + +"Going to smash it?" asked Ned. + +"I'm going right through it!" Tom cried. + + + + +Chapter XVII + +Veiled Threats + + +Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon another of its +kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom Swift, reeled and bumped her +way over the uneven fields toward the old barn. Within the monster of +steel and iron were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the +powerful gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all +making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a word could +be heard. Every order had to be given by signs, and Tom sent his +electric signals from the conning tower in the same way. When running +at full speed, it was almost impossible, even in the tower, which was +some distance removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the +words were shouted. + +"Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who was peering +through the observation slot in the tower." + +"I'm getting in good position," Tom answered. "Or rather, the worst +position I can find. I want to give the tank a good try-out, and I'm +going at the barn on the assumption that this is in enemy country and +that I can't pick and choose my advance. + +"So I want to come up through that gully, and go at the barn from the +long way. That will be the worst possible way I could do it, and if old +Tank A stands the gaff I'll know she's a little bit nearer all right." + +"I think she's all right as she is!" asserted Ned in a yell, for just +then Tom signaled for more speed, and the consequent increase in the +rattling and banging noises made it correspondingly difficult for talk +to be heard. + +The big machine now tipped into the little gully spoken of by Tom. This +meant a dip downward, and then a climb out again and an attack on the +barn going uphill and at an angle. But, as the young inventor had said, +it would make a severe test and that was what he wanted to give his +ponderous machine. + +Ned grasped one of the safety rings, as, with a reel to one side, +almost as if it were going to capsize, the tank rumbled on. Tom cast a +half-amused smile at his chum, and then threw over the guiding lever. + +The tank rolled down into the gully. It was rough and filled with +stones and boulders, some of considerable size. But Tank A made less +than nothing even of the largest rocks. Some she crushed beneath her +steel belts. Others she simply "walked" over, smashing them down into +the soil. + +Now the big machine reached the bottom of the gulch and started up the +sides, which, though not as steep as the trench in which she had +capsized, still were not easy going. + +"Now for it!" cried Tom, as he signaled for full speed. + +Up climbed the tank. Now she was halfway. A moment later, and she was +at the top, and then a forward careening motion told that she had +passed over the summit and was ready for the attack proper. + +Ned gave a quick glance through the slot nearest him. He had a glimpse +of the barn, and then he saw something else. This was the sight of a +man running away from the dilapidated structure--a man who glanced +toward the tank with a face that showed great fright. + +"Stop! Stop!" yelled Ned. "There may be folks in there, Tom! I just saw +a man run out!" + +"All right!" Tom cried, though Ned could hardly hear him. "Tell me +when we get on the other side! We're going through now!" + +"But," shouted Ned, "don't you understand? I saw a man come out of +there! Maybe there's more inside! Wait, Tom, and--" + +But it was too late. The next instant there was a smashing, grinding, +splintering crash, a noise as of a thunder-clap, and Tank A fairly ate +her way through the old barn as a rat might eat his way into a soft +cheese, only infinitely more quickly. + +On and on and through and through went the tank, knocking beams, +boards, rafters and timbers hither and thither. Minding not at all the +weight of great beams on her back, caring nothing for those that got in +the way of her steel belts, heeding not the wall of wood that reared +itself before her in a barrier of splinters and slivers, Tank A went on +and on until finally, with another grinding crash, as she smashed her +way through the farthermost wall, the great engine of war emerged on +the other side and came panting into the field, dragging with her a +part of the structure clinging to her steel sides. + +"Well," cried Tom, with a laugh, as he signaled for the power to be +shut off, thereby making it possible for ordinary conversation to be +heard, "I guess we didn't do a thing to that barn!" + +"Not much left of it, for a fact, Tom," agreed Ned, as he looked +through the after observation slots at the ruin in the rear. "But +didn't you hear what I was saying?" + +"I heard you yelling something to me, but I was too anxious to go at it +as fast as I could. I didn't want to stop then. What was the trouble?" + +"That's what I'm afraid of, Tom--there may be trouble. Just before you +tackled the barn for a knockdown, instead of a touchdown, as we might +say, I saw a man running out of it. I thought if there was one there, +perhaps there might be more. That's why I yelled to you." + +"A man running from the old barn!" cried Tom. "Whew!" he whistled. "I +wish I had seen him. But, Ned, if one ran out of harm's way, any others +who might possibly be in there would do the same thing, wouldn't they?" + +"I hope so," returned Ned doubtfully. + +"Great Scott!" cried Tom, as the possibility was borne home to him. "If +anything has happened--" + +He sprang for the door of the tower and threw over the catch, springing +out, followed by Ned. From the engine room of the armored tank the men +came, smiles of gratification on their faces. + +"We certainly busted her wide open, Mr. Swift!" called the chief +mechanician. + +"Yes," assented the young inventor; but there was not as much +gratification in his voice as there should have been. "There isn't +much of a barn left, but Ned thinks he saw some one run out, and if +there was one man there may have been more. We'd better have a look +around, I guess." + +The engineering force exchanged glances. Then Hank Baldwin, who was in +charge of the motors, said: + +"Well, if there was anybody in that barn when we chewed her up I +wouldn't give much for his hide, German or not." + +"Let us hope no one was in there," murmured Tom. + +They turned to go back to the demolished structure, fear and worry in +their hearts. No more complete ruin could be imagined. If a cyclone had +swept over the barn it could not have more certainly leveled it. And, +not only was it leveled, crushed down in the center by the great weight +of the tank, but the boards and beams were broken into small pieces. +Parts of them clung in long, grotesque splinters to the endless steel +belts. + +"I don't see how we're going to find anybody if he's in there," +remarked Hank. + +"We'll have to," insisted Tom. "We can look about and call. If any one +is there he may have been off to one side or to one end, and be +protected under the debris. I wish I had heard you call, Ned." + +"I wish you had, Tom. I yelled for all I was worth." + +"I know you did. I was too eager to go on, and, at the same time, I +really couldn't stop well on that hill. I had to keep on going. Well, +now to learn the worst!" + +They walked back toward the demolished barn. But they had not reached +it when from around the corner swung a big automobile. In it were +several men, but chief, in vision at least, among them, was a burly +farmer who had a long, old-fashioned gun in his hands. On his bearded +face was a grim look as he leaped out before the machine had fairly +stopped, and called: + +"Hold on, there! I guess you've done damage enough! Now you can pay for +it or take the consequences!" And he motioned to Tom, Ned, and the +others to halt. + + + + +Chapter XVIII + +Ready for France + + +Such was the reaction following the crashing through of the barn, +coupled with the sudden appearance of the men in the automobile and the +threat of the farmer, that, for the moment, Tom, Ned, or their +companions from the tank could say nothing. They just stood staring at +the farmer with the gun, while he grimly regarded them. It was Tom who +spoke first. + +"What's the idea?" asked the young inventor. "Why don't you want us to +look through the ruins?" + +"You'll learn soon enough!" was the grim answer. + +But Tom was not to be put off with undecided talk. + +"If there's been an accident," he said, "we're sorry for it. But delay +may be dangerous. If some one is hurt--" + +"You'll be hurt, if I have my way about it!" snapped the farmer, "and +hurt in a place where it always tells. I mean your pocketbook! That's +the kind of a man I am--practical." + +"He means if we've killed or injured any one we'll have to pay +damages," whispered Ned to Tom. "But don't agree to anything until you +see your lawyer. That's a hot one, though, trying to claim damages +before he knows who's hurt!" + +"I've got to find out more about this," Tom answered. He started to +walk on. + +"No you don't!" cried the farmer, with a snarl. "As I said, you folks +has done damage enough with your threshing machine, or whatever you +call it. Now you've got to pay!" + +"We are willing to," said Tom, as courteously as he could. "But first +we want to know who has been hurt, or possibly killed. Don't you think +it best to get them to a doctor, and then talk about money damages +later?" + +"Doctor? Hurt?" cried the farmer, the other men in the auto saying +nothing. "Who said anything about that?" + +"I thought," began Tom, "that you--" + +"I'm talkin' about damages to my barn!" cried the farmer. "You had no +right to go smashing it up this way, and you've got to pay for it, or +my name ain't Amos Kanker!" + +"Oh!" and there was great relief in Tom's voice. "Then we haven't +killed any one?" + +"I don't know what you've done," answered the farmer, and his voice was +not a pleasant one. "I'm sure I can't keep track of all your ructions. +All I know is that you've ruined my barn, and you've got to pay for it, +and pay good, too!" + +"For that old ramshackle?" cried Ned. + +"Hush!" begged Tom, in a low voice. "I'm willing to pay, Ned, for the +sake of having proved what my tank could do. I'm only too glad to +learn no one was hurt. Was there?" he asked, turning to the farmer. + +"Was there what?" + +"Was there anybody in your barn?" + +"Not as I knows on," was the grouchy answer. "A man who saw your +machine coming thought she was headed for my building, and he run and +told me. Then some friends of mine brought me here in their machine. I +tell you I've got all the evidence I need ag'in you, an' I'm going to +have damages! That barn was worth three thousand dollars if it was +worth a cent, and--" + +"This matter can easily be settled," said Tom, trying to keep his +temper. "My name is Swift, and--" + +"Don't get swift with me, that's all I ask!" and the farmer laughed +grimly at his clumsy joke. + +"I'll do whatever is right," Tom said, with dignity. "I live over near +Shopton, and if you want to send your lawyer to see mine, why--" + +"I don't believe in lawyers!" broke in the farmer. "All they think of +is to get what they can for theirselves. And I can do that myself. I'll +get it out of you before you leave, or, anyhow, before you take your +contraption away," and he glanced at the tank. + +The same suspicion came at once to Tom and Ned, and the latter gave +voice to it when he murmured in a low voice to his chum: + +"This is a frame-up--a scheme, Tom. He doesn't care a rap for the +barn. It's some of that Blakeson's doing, to make trouble for you." + +"I believe you!" agreed Tom. "Now I know what to do." + +He looked toward the collapsed barn, as if making a mental computation +of its value, and then turned toward the farmer. + +"I'm very sorry," said Tom, "if I have caused any trouble. I wanted to +test my machine out on a wooden structure, and I picked your barn. I +suppose I should have come to you first, but I did not want to waste +time. I saw the barn was of practically no value." + +"No value!" broke in the farmer. "Well, I'll show you, young man, that +you can't play fast and loose with other people's property and not +settle!" + +"I'm perfectly willing to, Mr. Kanker. I could see that the barn was +almost ready to fall, and I had already determined, before sending my +tank through it, to pay the owner any reasonable sum. I am willing to +do that now." + +"Well, of course if you're so ready to do that," replied the farmer, +and Ned thought he caught a glance pass between him and one of the men +in the auto, "if you're ready to do that, just hand over three thousand +dollars, and we'll call it a day's work. It's really worth more, but +I'll say three thousand for a quick settlement." + +"Why, this barn," cried Ned, "isn't worth half that! I know something +about real estate values, for our bank makes loans on farms around +here--" + +"Your bank ain't made me no loans, young man!" snapped Mr. Kanker. "I +don't need none. My place is free and clear! And three thousand dollars +is the price of my barn you've knocked to smithereens. If you don't +want to pay, I'll find a way to make you. And I'll hold you, or your +tank, as you call it, security for my damages! You can take your choice +about that." + +"You can't hold us!" cried Tom. "Such things aren't done here!" + +"Well, then, I'll hold your tank!" cried the farmer. "I guess it'll +sell for pretty nigh onto what you owe me, though what it's good for I +can't see. So you pay me three thousand dollars or leave your machine +here as security." + +"That's the game!" whispered Ned. "There's some plot here. They want +to get possession of your tank, Tom, and they've seized on this chance +to do it." + +"I believe you," agreed the young inventor. "Well, they'll find that +two can play at that game. Mr. Kanker," he went on, "it is out of the +question to claim your barn is worth three thousand dollars." + +"Oh, is it?" sneered the farmer. "Well, I didn't ask you to come here +and make kindling wood of it! That was your doings, and you've had your +fun out of it. Now you can pay the piper, and I'm here to make you +pay!" And he brought the gun around in a menacing manner. + +"He's right, in a way," said Ned to his chum. "We should have secured +his permission first. He's got us in a corner, and almost any jury of +farmers around here, after they heard the story of the smashed barn, +would give him heavy damages. It isn't so much that the barn is worth +that as it is his property rights that we've violated. A farmer's barn +is his castle, so to speak." + +"I guess you're right," agreed Tom, with a rather rueful face. "But I'm +not going to hand him over three thousand dollars. In fact, I haven't +that much with me." + +"Oh, well, I don't suppose he'd want it all in cash." + +But, it appeared, that was just what the farmer wanted. He went over +all his arguments again, and it could not be denied that he had the law +on his side. As he rightly said, Tom could not expect to go about the +country, "smashing up barns and such like," without being willing to +pay. + +"Well, what you going to do?" asked the farmer at last. "I can't stay +here all day. I've got work to do. I can't go around smashing barns. I +want three thousand dollars, or I'll hold your contraption for +security." + +This last he announced with more conviction after he had had a talk +with one of the men in the automobile. And it was this consultation +that confirmed Tom and Ned in their belief that the whole thing was a +plot, growing out of Tom's rather reckless destruction of the barn; a +plot on the part of Blakeson and his gang. That they had so speedily +taken advantage of this situation carelessly given them was only +another evidence of how closely they were on Tom's trail. + +"That man who ran out of the barn must have been the same one who was +in the factory," whispered Ned to his chum. "He probably saw us coming +this way and ran on ahead to have the farmer all primed in readiness. +Maybe he knew you had planned to ram the barn." + +"Maybe he did. I've had it in mind for some time, and spoken to some of +my men about it." + +"More traitors in camp, then, I'm afraid, Tom. We'll have to do some +more detective work. But let's get this thing settled. He only wants to +hold your tank, and that will give the man, into whose hands he's +playing, a chance to inspect her." + +"I believe you. But if I have to leave her here I'll leave some men on +guard inside. It won't be any worse than being stalled in No Man's +Land. In fact, it won't be so bad. But I'll do that rather than be +gouged." + +"No, Tom, you won't. If you did leave some one on guard, there'd be too +much chance of their getting the best of him. You must take your tank +away with you." + +"But how can I? I can't put up three thousand dollars in cash, and he +says he won't take a check for fear I'll stop payment. I see his game, +but I don't see how to block it." + +"But I do!" cried Ned. + +"What!" exclaimed Tom. "You don't mean to say, even if you do work in a +bank, that you've got three thousand in cash concealed about your +person, do you?" + +"Pretty nearly, Tom, or what is just as good. I have that amount in +Liberty Bonds. I was going to deliver them to a customer who has +ordered them but not paid for them. They are charged up against me at +the bank, but I'm good for that, I guess. Now I'll loan you these +bonds, and you can give them to this cranky old farmer as security for +damages. Mind, don't make them as a payment. They're simply +security--the same as when an autoist leaves his car as bail. Only we +don't want to leave our car, we'd rather have it with us," and he +looked over at the tank, bristling with splinters from the demolished +barn. + +"Well, I guess that's the only way out," said Tom. "Lucky you had those +bonds with you. I'll take them, and give you a receipt for them. In +fact, I'll buy them from you and let the farmer hold them as security." + +And this, eventually, was done. After much hemming and hawing and +consultation with the men in the automobile, Mr. Kanker said he would +accept the bonds. It was made clear that they were not in payment of +any damages, though Tom admitted he was liable for some, but that Uncle +Sam's war securities were only a sort of bail, given to indicate that, +some time later, when a jury had passed on the matter, the young +inventor would pay Mr. Kanker whatever sum was agreed upon as just. + +"And now," said Tom, as politely as he could under the circumstances, +"I suppose we will be allowed to depart." + +"Yes, take your old shebang offen my property!" ordered Mr. Kanker, +with no very good grace. "And if you go knocking down any more barns, +I'll double the price on you!" + +"I guess he's a bit roiled because he couldn't hold the tank," observed +Ned to Tom, as they walked together to the big machine. "His +friends--our enemies--evidently hoped that was what could be done. They +want to get at some of the secrets." + +"I suppose so," conceded Tom. "Well, we're out of that, and I've proved +all I want to." + +"But I haven't--quite," said Ned. + +"What's missing?" asked his chum, as they got back in the tank. + +"Well, I'd like to make sure that the fellow who ran from the factory +was the same one I saw sneaking out of the barn. I believe he was, and +I believe that Simpson's crowd engineered this whole thing." + +"I believe so, too," Tom agreed. "The next thing is to prove it. But +that will keep until later. The main thing is we've got our tank, and +now I'm going to get her ready for France." + +"Will she be in shape to ship soon?" asked Ned. + +"Yes, if nothing more happens. I've got a few little changes and +adjustments to make, and then she'll be ready for the last test--one of +long distance endurance mainly. After that, apart she comes to go to +the front, and we'll begin making 'em in quantities here and on the +other side." + +"Good!" cried Ned. "Down with the Huns!" + +Without further incident of moment they went back to the headquarters +of the tank, and soon the great machine was safe in the shop where she +had been made. + +The next two weeks were busy ones for Tom, and in them he put the +finishing touches on his machine, gave it a long test over fields and +through woods, until finally he announced: + +"She's as complete as I can make her! She's ready for France!" + + + + +Chapter XIX + +Tom is Missing + + +With Tom Swift's announcement, that his tank was at last ready for real +action, came the end of the long nights and days given over on the part +of his father, himself, and his men to the development and refinement +of the machine, to getting plans and specifications ready so that the +tanks could be made quickly and in large numbers in this country and +abroad and to the actual building of Tank A. Now all this was done at +last, and the first completed tank was ready to be shipped. + +Meanwhile the matter of the demolished barn had been left for legal +action. Tom and Ned, it developed, had done the proper thing under the +circumstances, and they were sure they had foiled at least one plan of +the plotters. + +"But they won't stop there," declared Ned, who had constituted himself +a sort of detective. "They're lying back and waiting for another +chance, Tom." + +"Well, they won't get it at my tank!" declared the young inventor, with +a smile. "I've finished testing her on the road. All I need do now is +to run her around this place if I have to; and there won't be much need +of that before she's taken apart for shipment. Did you get any trace of +Simpson or the men who are with him--Blakeson and the others?" + +"No," Ned answered. "I've been nosing around about that farmer, Kanker, +but I can't get anything out of him. For all that, I'm sure he was +egged on to his hold-up game by some of your enemies. Everything points +that way." + +"I think you're right," agreed Tom. "Well, we won't bother any more +about him. When the trial comes on, I'll pay what the jury says is +right. It'll be worth it, for I proved that Tank A can eat up brick, +stone or wooden buildings and not get indigestion. That's what I set +out to do. So don't worry any more about it, Ned." + +"I'm not worrying, but I'd like to get the best of those fellows. The +idea of asking three thousand dollars for a shell of a barn!" + +"Never mind," replied Tom. "We'll come out all right." + +Now that the Liberty Loan drive had somewhat slackened, Ned had more +leisure time, and he spent parts of his days and not a few of his +evenings at Tom Swift's. Mr. Damon was also a frequent visitor, and he +never tired of viewing the tank. Every chance he got, when they tested +the big machine in the large field, so well fenced in, the eccentric +man was on hand, with his "bless my--!" whatever happened to come most +readily to his mind. + +Tom, now that his invention was well-nigh perfected, was not so worried +about not having the tank seen, even at close range, and the enclosure +was not so strictly guarded. + +This in a measure was disappointing to Eradicate, who liked the +importance of strutting about with a nickel shield pinned to his coat, +to show that he was a member of the Swift & Company plant. As for the +giant Koku, he really cared little what he did, so long as he pleased +Tom, for whom he had an affection that never changed. Koku would as +soon sit under a shady tree doing nothing as watch for spies or +traitors, of whose identity he was never sure. + +So it came that there was not so strict a guard about the place, and +Tom and Ned had more time to themselves. Not that the young inventor +was not busy, for the details of shipping Tank A to France came to him, +as did also the arrangements for making others in this country and +planning for the manufacture abroad. + +It was one evening, after a particularly hard day's work, when Tom had +been making a test in turning the tank in a small space in the enclosed +yard, that the two young men were sitting in the machine shop, +discussing various matters. + +The telephone bell rang, and Ned, being nearest, answered. + +"It's for you, Tom," he said, and there was a smile on the face of the +young bank clerk. + +"Um!" murmured Tom, and he smiled also. + +Ned could not repress more smiles as Tom took up the conversation over +the wire, and it did not take long for the chum of the youthful +inventor to verify his guess that Mary Nestor was at the other end of +the instrument. + +"Yes, yes," Tom was heard to say. "Why, of course, I'll be glad to come +over. Yes, he's here. What? Bring him along? I will if he'll come. Oh, +tell him Helen is there! 'Nough said! He'll come, all right!" + +And Tom, without troubling to consult his friend, hung up the receiver. + +"What's that you're committing me to?" asked Ned. + +"Oh, Mary wants us to come over and spend the evening. Helen Sever is +there, and they say we can take them downtown if we like." + +"I guess we like," laughed Ned. "Come along! We've had enough of musty +old problems," for he had been helping Tom in some calculations +regarding strength of materials and the weight-bearing power of +triangularly constructed girders as compared to the arched variety. + +"Yes, I guess it will do us good to get out," and the two friends were +soon on their way. + +"What's this?" asked Mary, with a laugh, as Tom held out a package tied +with pink string. "More dynamite?" she added, referring to an incident +which had once greatly perturbed the excitable Mr. Nestor. + +"If she doesn't want it, perhaps Helen will take it," suggested Ned, +with a twinkle in his eyes. "Halloran said they were just in fresh--" + +"Oh, you delightful boy!" cried Helen. "I'm just dying for some +chocolates! Let me open them, Mary, if you're afraid of dynamite." + +"The only powder in them," said Tom, "is the powdered sugar. That can't +blow you up." + +And then the young people made merry, Tom, for the time being, +forgetting all about his tank. + +It was rather late when the two young men strolled back toward the +Swift home, Ned walking that way with his chum. Tom started out in the +direction of the building where the tank was housed. + +"Going to have a good-night look at her?" asked Ned. + +"Well, I want to make sure the watchman is on guard. We'll begin taking +her apart in a few days, and I don't want anything to happen between +now and then." + +They walked on toward the big structure, and, as they approached from +the side, they were both startled to see a dark shadow--at least so it +seemed to the youths--dart away from one of the windows. + +"Look!" gasped Ned. + +"Hello, there!" cried Tom sharply. "Who's that? Who are you?" + +There was no answer, and then the fleeing shadow was merged in the +other blackness of the night. + +"Maybe it was the watchman making his rounds," suggested Ned. + +"No," answered Tom, as he broke into a run. "If it was, he'd have +answered. There's something wrong here!" + +But he could find nothing when he reached the window from which he and +Ned had seen the shadow dart. An examination by means of a pocket +electric light betrayed nothing wrong with the sash, and if there were +footprints beneath the casement they indicated nothing, for that side +of the factory was one frequently used by the workmen. + +Tom went into the building, and, for a time, could not find the +watchman. When he did come upon the man, he found him rubbing his eyes +sleepily, and acting as though he had just awakened from a nap. + +"This isn't any way to be on duty!" said Tom sharply. "You're not paid +for sleeping!" + +"I know it, Mr. Swift," was the apologetic answer. "I don't know what's +come over me to-night. I never felt so sleepy in all my life. I had my +usual sleep this afternoon, too, and I've drunk strong coffee to keep +awake." + +"Are you sure you didn't drink anything else?" + +"You know I'm a strict temperance man." + +"I know you are," said Tom; "but I thought maybe you might have a cold, +or something like that." + +"No, I haven't taken a thing. I did have a drink of soda water before I +came on duty, but that's all." + +"Where'd you get it?" asked Tom. + +"Well, a man treated me." + +"Who?" + +"I don't know his name. He met me on the street and asked me how to get +to Plowden's hardware store. I showed him--walked part of the way, in +fact--and when I left he said he was going to have some soda, and asked +me to have some. I did, and it tasted good." + +"Well, don't go to sleep again," suggested Tom good-naturedly. "Did +you hear anything at the side window a while ago?" + +"Not a thing, Mr. Swift. I'll be all right now. I'll take a turn +outside in the air." + +"All right," assented the young inventor. + +Then, as he turned to go into the house and was bidding Ned good-night, +Tom said: + +"I don't like this." + +"What?" asked his chum. + +"My sleepy watchman and the figure at the window. I more than half +suspect that one of Blakeson's tools followed Kent for the purpose of +buying him soda, only I think they might have put a drop or two of +chloral in it before he got it. That would make him sleep." + +"What are you going to do, Tom?" + +"Put another man on guard. If they think they can get into the factory +at night, and steal my plans, or get ideas from my tank, I'll fool 'em. +I'll have another man on guard." + +This Tom did, also telling Koku to sleep in the place, to be ready if +called. But there was no disturbance that night, and the next day the +work of completing the tank went on with a rush. + +It was a day or so after this, and Tom had fixed on it as the time for +taking the big machine apart for shipment, that Ned received a +telephone message at the bank from Mr. Damon. + +"Is Tom Swift over with you?" inquired the eccentric man. + +"No. Why?" Ned answered. + +"Well, I'm at his shop, and he isn't here. His father says he received +a message from you a little while ago, saying to come over in a hurry, +and he went. Says you told him to meet you out at that farmer Kanker's +place. I thought maybe--" + +"At Kanker's place!" cried Ned. "Say, something's wrong, Mr. Damon! +Isn't Tom there?" + +"No; I'm at his home, and he's been gone for some time. His father +supposed he was with you. I thought I would telephone to make sure." + +"Whew!" whistled Ned. "There's something doing here, all right, and +something wrong! I'll be right over!" he added, as he hung up the +receiver. + + + + +Chapter XX + +The Search + + +"Haven't you seen anything of him?" asked Mr. Damon, as Ned jumped out +of his small runabout at the Swift home as soon as possible after +receiving the telephone message that seemed to presage something wrong. + +"Seen him? No, certainly not!" answered the young bank clerk. "I'm as +much surprised as you are over it. What happened, anyhow?" + +"Bless my memorandum pad, but I hardly know!" answered the eccentric +man. "I arrived here a little while ago, stopping in merely to pay Tom +a visit, as I often do, and he wasn't here. His father was anxiously +waiting for him, too, wishing to consult him about some shop matters. +Mr. Swift said Tom had gone out with you, or over to your house--I +wasn't quite sure which at first--and was expected back any minute. + +"Then I called you up," went on Mr. Damon, "and I was surprised to +learn you hadn't seen Tom. There must be something wrong, I think." + +"I'm sure of it!" exclaimed Ned. "Let's find Mr. Swift. And what's +this about his going to meet me over at the place of that farmer, Mr. +Kanker, where we had the trouble about the barn Tom demolished?" + +"I hardly know, myself. Perhaps Mr. Swift can tell us." + +But Mr. Swift was able to throw but little light on Tom's +disappearance--whether a natural or forced disappearance remained to be +seen. + +"No matter where he is, we'll get him," declared Ned. "He hasn't been +away a great while, and it may turn out that his absence is perfectly +natural." + +"And if it's due to the plots of any of his rivals," said Mr. Damon, +"I'll denounce them all as traitors, bless my insurance policy, if I +don't! And that's what they are! They're playing into the hands of the +enemy!" + +"All right," said Ned. "But the thing to do now is to get Tom. Perhaps +Mrs. Baggert can help us." + +It developed that the housekeeper was of more assistance in giving +information than was Mr. Swift. + +"It was several hours ago," she said, "that the telephone rang and some +one asked for Tom. The operator shifted the call to the phone out in +the tank shop where he was, and Tom began to talk. The operator, as Tom +had instructed her, listened in, as Tom wants always a witness to most +matters that go on over his wires of late." + +"What did she hear?" asked Ned eagerly. + +"She heard what she thought was your voice, I believe," the housekeeper +said. + +"Me!" cried the young bank clerk. "I haven't talked to Tom to-day, over +the phone or any other way. But what next?" + +"Well, the operator didn't listen much after that, knowing that any +talk between Tom and you was of a nature not to need a witness. Tom +hung up and then he came in here, quite excited, and began to get ready +to go out." + +"What was he excited about?" asked Mr. Damon. "Bless my unlucky stars, +but a person ought to keep calm under such circumstances! That's the +only way to do! Keep calm! Great Scott! But if I had my way, all those +German spies would be--Oh, pshaw! Nothing is too bad for them! It makes +my blood boil when I think of what they've done! Tom should have kept +cool!" + +"Go on. What was Tom excited about?" Ned turned to the housekeeper. + +"Well, he said you had called him to tell him to meet you over at that +farmer's place," went on Mrs. Baggert. "He said you had some news for +him about the men who had tried to get hold of some of his tank +secrets, and he was quite worked up over the chance of catching the +rascals." + +"Whew!" whistled Ned. "This is getting more complicated every minute. +There's something deep here, Mr. Damon." + +"I agree with you, Ned. And the sooner we find Tom Swift the better. +What next, Mrs. Baggert?" + +"Well, Tom got ready and went away in his small automobile. He said +he'd be back as soon as he could after meeting you." + +"And I never said a word to him!" cried Ned. "It's all a plot--a scheme +of that Blakeson gang to get him into their power. Oh, how could Tom be +so fooled? He knows my voice, over the phone as well as otherwise. I +don't see how he could be taken in." + +"Let's ask the telephone operator," suggested Mr. Damon. "She knows +your voice, too. Perhaps she can give us a clew." + +A talk with the young woman at the telephone switchboard in the Swift +plant brought out a new point. This was that the speaker, in response +to whose information Tom Swift had left home, had not said he was Ned +Newton. + +"He said," reported Miss Blair, "that he was speaking for you, Mr. +Newton, as you were busy in the bank. Whoever it was, said you wanted +Tom to meet you at the Kanker farm. I heard that much over the wire, +and naturally supposed the message came from you." + +"Well, that puts a little different face on it," said Mr. Damon. "Tom +wasn't deceived by the voice, then, for he must have thought it was +some one speaking for you, Ned." + +"But the situation is serious, just the same," declared Ned. "Tom has +gone to keep an appointment I never made, and the question is with whom +will he keep it?" + +"That's it!" cried the eccentric man. "Probably some of those +scoundrels were waiting at the farm for him, and they've got him no one +knows where by this time!" + +"Oh, hardly as bad as that," suggested Ned. "Tom is able to look out +for himself. He'd put up a big fight before he'd permit himself to be +carried off." + +"Well, what do you think did happen?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"I think they wanted to get him out to the farm to see if they couldn't +squeeze some more money out of him," was the answer. "Tom was pretty +easy in that barn business, and I guess Kanker was sore because he +haven't asked a larger sum. They knew Tom wouldn't come out on their +own invitation, so they forged my name, so to speak." + +"Can you get Tom back?" asked Mrs. Baggert anxiously. + +"Of course!" declared Ned, though it must be admitted he spoke with +more confidence than he really felt. "We'll begin the search right +away." + +"And if I can get my hands on any of those villains--" spluttered Mr. +Damon, dancing around, as Mrs. Baggert said, "like a hen on a hot +griddle," which seemed to describe him very well, "if I can get hold of +any of those scoundrels, I'll--I'll--Bless my collar button, I don't +know what I will do! Come on, Ned!" + +"Yes, I guess we'd better get busy," agreed the young bank clerk. "Tom +has gone somewhere, that's certain, and under a misapprehension. It may +be that we are needlessly alarmed, or they may mean bad business. At +any rate, it's up to us to find Tom." + +In Ned's runabout, which was a speedier car than that of the eccentric +man, the two set off for Kanker's farm. On the way they stopped at +various places in town, where Tom was in the habit of doing business, +to inquire if he had been seen. + +But there was no trace of him. The next thing to do was to learn if he +had really started for the Kanker farm. + +"For if he didn't go there," suggested Ned, "it will look funny for us +to go out there making inquiries about him. And it may be that after he +got that message Tom decided not to go." + +Accordingly they made enough inquiries to establish the fact that Tom +had started for the farm of the rascally Kanker, who had been so +insistent in the matter of his almost worthless barn. + +A number of people who knew Tom well had seen him pass in the direction +of Kanker's place, and some had spoken to him, for the young inventor +was well known in the vicinity of Shopton and the neighboring towns. + +"Well, out to Kanker's we'll go!" decided Ned. "And if anything has +happened to Tom there--well, we'll make whoever is responsible wish it +hadn't!" + +"Bless my fountain pen, but that's what we will!" chimed in Mr. Damon. + +And so the two began the search for the missing youth. + + + + +Chapter XXI + +A Prisoner + + +Amos Kanker came to the door of his farmhouse as Ned and Mr. Damon +drove up in the runabout. There was an unpleasant grin on the not very +prepossessing face of the farmer, and what Ned thought was a cunning +look, as he slouched out and asked: + +"Well, what do you want? Come to smash up any more of my barns at three +thousand dollars a smash?" + +"Hardly," answered Ned shortly. "Your prices are too high for such +ramshackle barns as you have. Where's Tom Swift?" he asked sharply. + +"Huh! Do you mean that young whipper-snapper with his big traction +engine?" demanded Mr. Kanker. + +"Look here!" blustered Mr. Damon, "Tom Swift is neither a +whipper-snapper nor is his machine a traction engine. It's a war tank." + +"That doesn't matter much to me," said the farmer, with a grating +laugh. "It looks like a traction engine, though it smashes things up +more'n any one I ever saw." + +"That isn't the point," broke in Ned. "Where is my friend, Tom Swift? +That's what we want to know." + +"Huh! What makes you think I can tell you?" demanded Kanker. + +"Didn't he come out here?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Not as I knows of," was the surly answer. + +"Look here!" exclaimed Ned, and his tones were firm, with no bluster +nor bluff in them, "we came out here to find Tom Swift, and we're going +to find him! We have reason to believe he's here--at least, he started +for here," he substituted, as he wished to make no statement he could +not prove. "Now we don't claim we have any right to be on your +property, and we don't intend to stay here any longer than we can help. +But we do claim the right, in common decency, to ask if you have seen +anything of Tom. There may have been an accident; there may have been +foul play; and there may be international complications in this +business. If there are, those involved won't get off as easily as they +think. I'd advise you to keep a civil tongue in your head and answer +our questions. If we have to get the police and detectives out here, as +well as the governmental department of justice, you may have to answer +their questions, and they won't be as decent to you as we are!" + +"Hurray!" whispered Mr Damon to Ned. "That's the way to talk!" + +And indeed the forceful remarks of the young bank clerk did appear to +have a salutary effect on the surly farmer. His manner changed at once +and his grin faded. + +"I don't know nothing about Tom Swift or any of your friends," he said. +"I've got my farm work to do, and I do it. It's hard enough to earn a +living these war times without taking part in plots. I haven't seen Tom +Swift since the trouble he made about my barn." + +"Then he hasn't been here to-day?" asked Ned. + +"No; and not for a good many days." + +Ned looked at Mr. Damon, and the two exchanged uneasy glances. Tom had +certainly started for the Kanker farm, and indeed had come to within a +few miles of it. That much was certain, as testified to by a number of +residents along the route from Shopton, who had seen the young inventor +passing in his car. + +Now it appeared he had not arrived. The changed air of the farmer +seemed to indicate that he was speaking the truth. Mr. Damon and Ned +were inclined to believe him. If they had any last, lingering doubts in +the matter, they were dispelled when Mr. Kanker said: + +"You can search the place if you like. I haven't any reason to feel +friendly toward you, but I certainly don't want to get into trouble +with the Government. Look around all you like." + +"No, we'll take your word for it," said Ned, quickly concluding that +now they had got the farmer where they wanted him, they could gain more +by an appearance of friendliness than by threats or harsh words. "Then +you haven't seen him, either?" + +"Not a sign of him." + +"One thing more," went on Tom's chum, "and then we'll look farther. +Weren't you induced by a man named Simpson, or one named Blakeson, to +make the demand of three thousand dollars' damage for your barn?" + +"No, it wasn't anybody of either of those names," admitted Mr. Kanker, +evidently a bit put out by the question. + +"It was some one, though, wasn't it?" insisted Ned. + +"Waal, a man did come to me the day the barn was smashed, and just +afore it happened, and said an all-fired big traction engine was headed +this way, and that a young feller who was half crazy was running it. +This man--I don't know who he was, being a stranger to me--said if the +engine ran into any of my property and did damages I should collect for +it on the spot, or hold the machine. + +"Sure enough, that's what happened, and I did it. That man had an auto, +and he brought me and some of my men out to the smashed barn. That's +all I know about it." + +"I thought some one put you up to it," commented Ned. "This was some +of the gang's work," he went on to Mr. Damon. "They hoped to get +possession of Tom's tank long enough to find out some of the secrets. +By having the Liberty Bonds, I fooled 'em." + +"That's what you did!" said Mr. Damon. "But what can we do now?" + +"I don't know," Ned was forced to admit. "But I should think we'd +better go back to the last place where he was seen to pass in his auto, +and try to get on his trail." + +Mr. Damon agreed that this was a wise plan, and, after a casual look +around the farmhouse and other buildings on Kanker's place and finding +nothing to arouse their suspicions, the two left in Ned's speedy little +machine. + +"It is mighty queer!" remarked the young bank clerk, as they shot along +the country road. "It isn't like Tom to get caught this way." + +"Maybe he isn't caught," suggested the other. "Tom has been in many a +tight place and gotten out, as you and I well know. Maybe it will be +the same now, though it does look suspicious, that fake message coming +from you." + +"Not coming from me, you mean," corrected Ned. "Well, we'll do the best +we can." + +They proceeded back to where they had last had a trace of Tom in his +machine, and there could only confirm what they had learned at first, +namely, that the young inventor had departed in the direction of the +Kanker farm, after having filled his radiator with water, and chatting +with a farmer he knew. + +"Then this is where the trail divides," said Ned, as they went back +over the road, coming to a point where the highway branched off. "If he +went this way, he went to Kanker's place, or he would be in the way of +going. He isn't there, it seems, and didn't go there." + +"If he took the other road, where would he go?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Any one of a dozen places. I guess we'll have to follow the trail and +make all the inquiries we can." + +But from the point where the two roads branched, all trace of Tom Swift +was lost. No one had seen him in his machine, though he was known to +more than one resident along the highway. + +"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Mr. Damon, after they had +traveled some distance and had obtained no news. + +"Suppose we call up his home," suggested Ned, as they came to a country +store where there was a telephone. "It may be he has returned. In that +case, all our worry has gone for nothing." + +"I don't believe it has," said Mr. Damon. "But if we call up and ask if +Tom is back it will show we haven't found him, and his father will be +more worried than ever." + +"We can ask the telephone girl, and tell her to keep quiet about it," +decided Ned; and this they did. + +But the answer that came back over the wire was discouraging. For Tom +had not returned, and there was no word from him. There was an urgent +message for him, too, from government officials regarding the tank, the +girl reported. + +"Well, we've just got to find him--that's all!" declared Ned. "I guess +we'll have to make a regular search of it. I did hope we'd find him out +at the Kanker farm. But since he isn't there, nor anywhere about, as +far as we can tell, we've got to try some other plan." + +"You mean notify the authorities?"--asked Mr. Damon. + +"Hardly that--yet. But I'll get some of Tom's friends who have +machines, and we'll start them out on the trail. In that way we can +cover a lot of ground." + +Late that afternoon, and far into the night, a number of the friends of +Tom and Ned went about the country in automobiles, seeking news of the +young inventor. Mr. Swift became very anxious over the non-return of +his son, and felt the authorities should be notified; but as all agreed +that the local police could not handle the matter and that it would +have to be put into the hands of the United States Secret Service, he +consented to wait for a while before doing this. + +All the next day the search was kept up, and Ned and Mr. Damon were +getting discouraged, not to say alarmed, when, most unexpectedly, they +received a clew. + +They had been traveling around the country on little-frequented roads +in the hope that perhaps Tom might have taken one and disabled his +machine so that he was unable to proceed. + +"Though in that case he could, and would, have sent word," said Ned. + +"Unless he's hurt," suggested Mr. Damon. + +"Well, maybe that is what's happened," Ned was saying, when they +noticed coming toward them a very much dilapidated automobile, driven +by a farmer, and on the seat beside him was a small, barefoot boy. + +"Which is the nearest road to Shopton?" asked the man, bringing his +wheezing machine to a stop. + +"Who are you looking for in Shopton?" asked Ned, while a strange +feeling came over him that, somehow or other, Tom was concerned in the +question. + +"I'm looking for friends of a Tom Swift," was the answer. + +"Tom Swift? Where is he? What's happened to him?" cried Ned. + +"Bless my dyspepsia tablets!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Do you know where +he is?" + +"Not exactly," answered the farmer; "but here's a note from some one +that signs himself 'Tom Swift,' and it says he's a prisoner!" + + + + +Chapter XXII + +Rescued + + +For a moment Ned and Mr. Damon gazed at the farmer in his rattletrap of +an auto, and then they looked at the fluttering piece of paper in his +hand. Thence their gaze traveled to the ragged and barefoot lad sitting +beside the farmer. + +"I found it!" announced the boy. + +"Found what?" asked Ned. + +"That there note!" + +Without asking any more questions, reserving them until they knew more +about the matter, Mr. Damon and Ned each reached out a hand for the +paper the farmer held. The latter handed it to Ned, being nearest him, +and at a sight of the handwriting the young bank clerk exclaimed: + +"It's from Tom, all right!" + +"What happened to him?" cried Mr. Damon. "Where is he? Is he a +prisoner?" + +"So it seems," answered Ned. "Wait, I'll read it to you," and he read: + + +"'Whoever picks this up please send word at once to Mr. Swift or to Ned +Newton in Shopton, or to Mr. Damon of Waterfield. I am a prisoner, +locked in the old factory. Tom Swift'." + + +"Bless my quinine pills!" cried Mr Damon. "What in the world does it +mean? What factory?" + +"That's just what we've got to find out," decided Ned. "Where did you +get this?" he asked the farmer's boy. + +"Way off over there," and he pointed across miles of fields. "I was +lookin' for a lost cow, and I went past an old factory. There wasn't +nobody in the place, as far as I knowed, but all at once I heard some +one yell, and then I seen something white, like a bird, sail out of a +high window. I was scared for a minute, thinkin' it might be tramps +after me." + +"And what did you do, Sonny?" asked Mr. Damon, as the boy paused. + +"Well, after a while I went to where the white thing lay, and I picked +it up. I seen it was a piece of paper, with writin' on it, and it was +wrapped around part of a brick." + +"And did you go near the factory to find out who called or who threw +the paper out?" Ned queried. + +"I didn't," the boy answered. "I was scared. I went home, and didn't +even start to find the lost cow. + +"No more he did," chimed in the farmer. "He come runnin' in like a +whitehead, and as soon as I saw the paper and heard what Bub had to +say, I thought maybe I'd better do somethin'." + +"Did you go to the factory?" asked Ned eagerly. + +"No. I thought the best thing to do would be to find this Mr. Swift, or +the other folks mentioned in this letter. I knowed, in a general way, +where Shopton was, but I'd never been there, doing my tradin' in the +other direction, and so I had to stop and ask the road. If you can tell +me--" + +"We're two of the persons spoken of in that note," said Mr. Damon, as +he mentioned his name and introduced Ned. "We have been looking for our +friend Tom Swift for two days now. We must find him at once, as there +is no telling what he may be suffering." + +"Where is this old factory you speak of," continued Mr. Damon, "and how +can we get there? It's too bad one of you didn't go back, after finding +the note, to tell Tom he was soon to be rescued." + +"Waal, maybe it is," said the farmer, a bit put out by the criticism. +"But I figgered it would be better to look up this young man's friends +and let them do the rescuin', and not lose no time, 'specially as it's +about as far from my place to the factory as it is to Shopton." + +"Well, I suppose that's so," agreed Ned. "But what is this factory?" + +"It's an old one where they started to make beet sugar, but it didn't +pan out," the farmer said. "The place is in ruins, and I did hear, not +long ago, that somebody run a threshin' machine through it, an' busted +it up worse than before." + +"Great horned toads!" cried Ned. "That must be the very factory Tom ran +his tank through. And to think he should be a prisoner there!" + +"Held by whom, do you suppose?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"By that Blakeson gang, I imagine," Ned answered. "There's no time to +lose. We must go to his rescue!" + +"Of course!" agreed Mr. Damon. "We're much obliged to you for bringing +this note," he went on to the farmer. "And here is something to repay +you for your trouble," and he took out his wallet. + +"Shucks! I didn't do this for pay!" objected the farmer. "It's a pity +I wouldn't help anybody what's in trouble! If I'd a-knowed what it +meant, me and Bub here would have gone to the factory ourselves, maybe, +and done the work quicker. But I didn't know--what with war times and +such-like--but that it would be better to deliver the note." + +"It turns out as well, perhaps," agreed Ned. "We'll look after Tom now." + +"And I'll come along and help," said the farmer. "If there's a gang of +tramps in that factory, you may need some reinforcements. I've got a +couple of new axe handles in my machine, and they'll come in mighty +handy as clubs." + +"That's so," said Mr. Damon. "But I fancy Tom is simply locked in the +deserted factory office, with no one on guard. We can get him out once +we get there, and we'll be glad to have you come with us. So if you +won't take any reward, maybe your boy will, as he found the note," and +Mr. Damon pressed some bills into the hands of the boy, who, it is +needless to say, was glad to get them. + +It was a run of several miles back to the deserted factory, and though +they passed houses on the way, it was decided that no addition to their +force was necessary, though they did stop at a blacksmith shop, where +they borrowed a heavy sledge to batter down a door if such action +should be needed. + +The farmer's rattletrap of a car, in spite of its appearance, was not +far behind Ned's runabout, and in a comparatively short time all were +within sight of the ruined place--a ruin made more complete by the +passage through it of Tom Swift's war tank. + +"And to think of his being there all this while!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, +as he and Ned leaped from their machine. + +"If he only is there!" murmured the young bank clerk. + +"What do you mean? Didn't the note he threw out say he was there?" + +"Yes, but something may have happened in the meanwhile. Those +plotters, if they'd do a thing like this, are capable of anything. They +may have kidnapped Tom again." + +"Anyway, we'll soon find out," murmured Ned, as they advanced toward +the ruin, Mr. Damon and the farmer each armed with an axe helve, while +Ned carried the blacksmith's sledge. + +They went into the end of the factory that was less ruined than the +central part, where the tank had crashed through, and made their way +into what had been the office--the place where they had found the +burned scraps of paper. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Ned, as they climbed up the broken steps. "I heard a +noise." + +"It's him yellin'--like he did afore he threw out the note," said the +boy. Then, as they listened, they heard a distant voice calling: + +"Hello! Hello, there! If that is any friend of mine, let me out, or +send word to Mr. Damon or Ned Newton! Hello!" + +"Hello yourself, Tom Swift!" yelled Ned, too delighted to wait for any +other confirmation that it was his friend who was shouting. "We've come +to rescue you, Tom!" + +There was a moment of silence, and then a voice asked: + +"Who is there?" + +"Ned Newton, Mr. Damon, and some other friends of yours!" answered the +young bank clerk, for surely the farmer and his son could be called +Tom's friends. + +An indistinguishable answer came back, and then Ned cried: + +"Where are you, Tom? Tell us, so we can get you out!" + +They all listened, and faintly heard: + +"I'm in some sort of an old vault, partly underground. It's below what +used to be the office. There's a flight of steps, but be careful, as +they're rotten." + +Eagerly they looked around Mr. Damon saw a door in one corner of the +office, and tried to open it. It was locked, but a few blows from the +sledge smashed it, and then some steps were revealed. + +Down these, using due caution, went Ned and the others, and at the +bottom they came upon another door. This was of sheet iron and was +fastened on the outside by a big padlock. + +"Stand back!" cried Ned, as he swung the sledge, and with a few blows +broke the lock to pieces. + +Then they pulled open the door, and into the light staggered Tom Swift, +a most woe-begone figure, and showing the effects of his imprisonment. +But he was safe and unharmed, though much disheveled from his attempts +to escape. + +"Thank Heaven, you've come!" he murmured, as he clasped Ned's hand. "Is +the tank all right?" + +"All right!" cried Ned. "And now tell us about yourself. How in the +world did you get here?" + +"It's quite a yarn," answered Tom. "I've got to pull myself together +before I answer," and he sank wearily down on a step, looking very +haggard and worn. + + + + +Chapter XXIII + +Gone + + +"Here, eat some of this," and Ned held something out to his chum. +"It'll bring you up quicker than anything else, except a cup of hot +tea, and we'll get that as soon as you can get away from here," went on +the young bank clerk. + +"What is it?" Tom asked, and his voice was very weary. + +"It's a mixture of chocolate and nuts," replied Ned. "It's a new form +of emergency ration issued to soldiers before they go over the top. Our +Y.M.C.A. is sending a lot to the boys from around here who are in +France. I was helping pack the boxes ready for shipment, and I kept out +some to show you. Lucky I had it with me. Eat it, and you'll feel a lot +better in a few minutes. You haven't had much to eat, have you?" + +"Very little," answered Tom, as he nibbled half-heartedly at the +confection Ned gave him, while Mr. Damon went out to the automobile and +came back with a thermos bottle filled with cool water. He always +provided himself with this on taking an automobile trip. + +Tom managed to eat some of the chocolate, and then took a drink of the +cool water. In a little while he declared that he felt better. + +"Then come out of here!" exclaimed Ned. "You can tell us how it all +happened and what they did to you. But I can see that last--they +treated you like a dog, didn't they?" + +"Pretty nearly," answered Tom; "but they didn't have things all their +own way. I think I made one or two of them remember me," and he glanced +at his swollen and bruised hands. Indeed, he bore the marks of having +been in a fierce fight. + +"Are you sure the tank's all right?" he asked Ned again. "That has +been worrying me more than my own condition. I could think of only one +reason why they got me here and held me prisoner, and that was to get +me out of the way while they captured my tank. Then they haven't got +her?" he asked eagerly. + +"Not a look at her," Ned answered. "She was safe in the shop when we +set out this morning." + +"And now it's late afternoon," murmured Tom. "Well, I hope nothing has +happened since," and there was vague alarm in his voice, an alarm at +which Ned and Mr. Damon wondered. + +"Couldn't you stop at some farmhouse and get fixed up a little?" asked +Mr. Kimball, the farmer who had brought the note to Ned and Mr. Damon. + +"I need to get fixed up somewhere," replied Tom, with a rueful look at +himself--his hands, his torn clothes, and his general dilapidated +appearance. "But I don't want to lose any time. I'm afraid something +has happened at home, Ned." + +"Nonsense! How could there, with Koko on guard, to say nothing of +Eradicate!" + +"Well, maybe you're right," agreed Tom; "but I'll feel better when I +see my tank in her shed. Let's have some more of that concentrated +porterhouse steak of yours, Ned. It is good, and it fills out my +stomach, which was getting more intimate with my backbone than I liked +to feel." + +More of the really good confection and another drink of refreshing +water made Tom feel better, and he was soon able to walk along without +staggering from weakness. + +"And now let's get out of here," advised Ned, "unless you've left +something back in that vault you want, Tom," and he motioned to his +chum's late prison. + +"Nothing there but bad memories," was the reply, with a rueful smile. +"I'm as ready to go as you are, Ned. It was good of you and Mr. Damon +to come for me, and you"--and he looked questioningly at Mr. Kimball. + +"If it hadn't been for Mr. Kimball and his boy, we wouldn't have found +you--at least so soon," said Ned, and he told of the finding of the +note and what had followed. + +"That's the only way I could think of for getting help," said Tom. +"They took every scrap of paper from me, but I found some in the lining +of my hat--some I'd stuffed in after I had a hair cut and my hat was +too large. For a pencil I used burnt matches. Oh, but I'm glad to be +out!" and he breathed deep of the fresh air. + +"How did you get in there?" asked Ned wonderingly. + +"Those fellows--of course. The German plotters, I'm going to call them, +for I believe that Blakeson and his gang--though I didn't see him--are +really working in the interests of Germany to get the secret of my +tank." + +"Well, they haven't got her yet," said Ned, "and they're not likely to +now. Go on, Tom, if you feel able tell us in a few words what happened. +We've been trying to think, but can't." + +"Well, it all happened because I didn't think enough," said Tom, who +was rapidly recovering his strength and nerve. "When I got that +message that seemed to come from you, Ned, I should have known better +than to take a chance. But it seemed genuine, and as I had no reason to +suspect a trap, I started off at once. I thought maybe Kanker had +repented and was going to make amends for all the trouble he caused. + +"Anyhow, I started off in my machine, and I hadn't got more than to the +crossroads when I saw a fellow out tinkering with his auto. Of course I +stopped to ask if I could help, for I can't bear to see any machinery +out of order, and as I was stooping over the engine to see what was +wrong I was pounced on from behind, bound and tied, and before I could +do a thing I was bundled into the car--a big limousine, and taken away. + +"The crossroads was as far as we could trace you," remarked Ned. + +"Well, it wasn't as far as they took me, by any means," Tom said. "They +brought me here, took me out of the machine--and I noticed that they'd +brought mine along--and then they carted me into the vault. + +"But they didn't have it all their own way," said Tom grimly. "I +managed to get the ropes loose, and I had a regular knock down and drag +out with them for a while. But they were too many for me, and locked me +up in that place after taking away everything I had in my pockets." + +"Were they highwaymen?" asked Mr. Kimtall. + +"No, for they tossed back my money, watch and some trifles like that," +Tom answered. "I didn't recognize any of the men, though one of them +must have known me, for when they had me tied I heard one of them ask +if I was the right party, and another said I was. I know they must +belong to the same gang that Simpson, Blakeson, and Schwen are members +of--the German spies." + +"But what was their object?" asked Ned. "Did they try to force you to +tell them the secrets of the tank?" + +"No; and that's the funny part which makes me so suspicious," Tom +answered. "If they'd tried to force something out of me, I would +understand it better. But they just kept me a prisoner after taking +away what papers I had." + +"Were they of any value?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Not as regards the tank. That is, there was nothing of my plans of +construction, control or anything like that, though there was some +foreign correspondence that I am sorry fell into their hands. However, +that can't be helped." + +"And did they just keep you locked up?" asked Ned. + +"That's about all they did. After the fight--and it was some fight!" +declared Tom, as he recalled it with a shake of his head--"they left me +here with the door shut. There must have been some one on guard, for I +could faintly hear somebody moving about. + +"I tried to get out, of course, but I couldn't. That vault must have +been made to hold something very valuable, for it was almost as strong +and solid as one in your bank, Ned. The only window was placed so high +that I couldn't reach it, and it was barred at that. + +"They opened the door a little, several times, to toss in once some old +bags that I made into a bed, and next they gave me a little water and +some sandwiches--German bologna sausage sandwiches, Ned! What do you +think of that--adding insult to injury?" + +"That was tough!" Ned admitted. + +"Well, I had to put up with it, for I was half starved, and as sore as +a boil from the fight. I didn't know what to do. I knew that you'd miss +me sooner or later, and set out to find me, but I hardly thought you'd +think of this place. They couldn't have picked out a much better +prison to hold me, for, naturally, you wouldn't suppose enough of it +was left standing, after my tank had walked through it, to make a +hiding place. + +"However, there was, and here I've been kept. At last I thought of the +plan of sending out a message on the scrap of paper I could tear out of +my hat. So I wrote it, and after several trials I managed to toss it +out of the window. Then I just had to wait, and that was the hardest of +all. The last twelve hours I've been without food, and I haven't heard +any one around, so I guess they've skipped out and don't intend to come +back." + +"We didn't see any one," Ned reported. "Maybe they became frightened, +Tom." + +"I wish I could think that," was the answer. "What is more likely to be +the case is that they're up to some new tricks. I must get back home +quickly." + +And after a stop had been made at a farmhouse belonging to a business +acquaintance of Ned's, where Tom was able to wash and get a cup of hot +tea, which added to his recuperative powers, the young inventor, with +Ned and Mr. Damon, set out for Shopton. + +Before Mr. Kimball started for his home, renewed thanks had been made +to the farmer and his son for the part they had played in the rescue, +and the young inventor, learning that the boy had a liking for things +mechanical, promised to aid him in his intention to become a machinist. + +"But first get a good education," Tom advised. "Keep on with your +school work, and when the time comes I'll take you into my shop." + +"And maybe he'll make a tank that will rival yours, Tom," said Ned. + +"Maybe he will! I hope he does. If he comes along fast enough, he can +help with something else I'm going to start soon." + +"Whats that?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Oh, it's something on the same order, designed to help batter down the +German lines," Tom answered. "I haven't quite made up my mind what to +call it yet. But let's get home. I want to see that my tank is safe. +The absence of the plotters from the factory makes me suspicious." + +On the way back Tom told more of the details of the attack. + +"But we'll forget about it all, now you're out," remarked Ned. + +"And the sooner we get home, the better," added Tom. "Can't you get a +little more speed out of this machine?" he asked. + +"Well, it isn't the Hawk," replied Ned, "but we'll see what we can do," +and he made the runabout fairly fly. + +Mrs. Baggert was the first to greet Tom as they arrived at his home. +She did not seem as surprised as either Tom, Ned or Mr. Damon expected +her to be. + +"Well, I'm glad you're all right," she said. "And it's a good thing you +sent that note, for your father was so excited and worried I was +getting apprehensive about him." + +"What note?" asked Tom, while a queer look came into his face. + +"Why, the one you sent saying you were detained on business and would +probably not be home for a week, and to have Koku and the men bring the +tank to you." + +"Bring the tank! A note from me!" exclaimed Tom. "The plotters again! +And they've got the tank!" + +He ran to the big shop followed by the others. Throwing open the doors, +they went inside. A glance sufficed to disclose the worst. + +The place where the great tank had stood was empty. + +"Gone!" gasped Tom. + + + + +Chapter XXIV + +Camouflaged + + +Two utterances Tom Swift made when the fact of the disappearance of the +tank became known to him were characteristic of the young inventor. The +first was: + +"How did they get it away?" + +And the second was: + +"Come on, let's get after 'em!" + +Then, for a few moments, no one said anything. Tom, Ned, and Mr. Damon, +with Mrs. Baggert in the background, stood looking at the great empty +machine shop. + +"Well, they got her," went on Tom, with a sigh. "I was afraid of this +as soon as they left me alone at the factory." + +"Is anything wrong?" faltered the housekeeper. "Didn't you send for the +tank, Tom?" + +"No, Mrs. Baggert, I didn't," Tom answered. + +"But I don't understand," the housekeeper said. "A man came with a note +from you, Tom, and in it you said to have him take the tank, with Koku +and the men who know how to run it. We were so glad to hear from you, +and know that you were all right, that we didn't think of anything +else, your father and I. So he went out and saw that the tank got off +all right. Koku was glad, for it's the first chance he'd had to ride in +it." + +"Who was the man who brought the note?" asked Tom, and he was striving +to be calm. "To think of poor old dad playing right into the hands of +the plotters!" he added, in an aside to Ned. + +"Well, I don't know who the man was," said Mrs. Baggert. "He seemed +all right, and of course having a note from you--" + +"Who has that note now?" asked Tom quickly. + +"Your father." + +"Come on," and Tom led the way back to the house. "I'll have a look at +that document, which of course I never wrote, and then we'll get after +the plotters and the tank." + +"She ought to be easy to trace," observed Mr. Damon. "Bless my +fountain pen, but she ought to be easy to trace! She will leave a +track like a giant boa constrictor crawling along." + +"Yes, I guess we can trace her, all right," assented Tom Swift; "but +the point is, will there be anything left of her? That's what I'm +afraid of now." + +Mr. Swift was still excited, but his worry had subsided as soon as he +knew Tom was safe. + +"The whole thing is a forgery, but fairly well done," Tom said, as he +looked at the paper his father gave him--a brief note stating that Tom +was well, but detained on business, and that the tank was to be brought +to him, just where the bearer of the note would indicate. Koku, the +giant, and several of the machinists, who knew how to operate the big +machine, were to go with it, the note said. + +"That made me sure everything was all right," said Mr. Swift. "I knew, +of course, Tom, that plotters might try to get hold of your war secret, +but I didn't see how they could if Koku and some of your own men were +in possession." + +"They couldn't--as long as they remained in possession," Tom said. "But +that's the trouble. I'm afraid they haven't. What has probably +happened is that under the direction of this man, who brought the +forged note from me, Koku and the others took the tank where he +directed them, thinking to meet me. Then, reaching the place where the +rest of the plotters were concealed, they overpowered Koku and the +others and took possession of the machine." + +"They'd have trouble with Koku," suggested Ned. + +"Yes, but even a giant can't fight too big a crowd, especially if he is +taken by surprise, and that's probably what happened," remarked Tom. +"Now the question is where is the tank, and how can we get her back? +Every minute counts. If those German spies and their helpers remain in +possession long, they'll find out enough of my secrets to enable them +to duplicate the machine, and especially some of the most exclusive +features. We've got to get after 'em!" + +"They imitated your writing pretty well, Tom," Observed Ned, as he +looked at the forged note. + +"Yes; that's why they took all my papers away from me--to get specimens +of my handwriting. I half suspected that, but I didn't quite figure out +what their game was. Well, we know the worst now, and that's better +than working in the dark. Now I'm going to have a bath and get into +some decent clothes, and we'll see what we can do." + +"Count on me, Tom!" exclaimed Ned. "I'll go the limit with you!" + +"I knew you would, old man!" + +"And me, too!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my open fireplace, but I'll send +word to my wife that I'm not coming home to-night, and we can start the +first thing in the morning, Tom." + +"Yes; there isn't much use in going now, as it will soon be dark." + +"How are you going to trace the tank, Tom?" asked Ned, when his chum +had bathed and gotten into fresh clothes. + +"I'm going to tour the country around here in an auto. The tank can +make ten miles an hour, but that's nothing to what an auto can do. And +we oughtn't to have much trouble in tracing her. No one whose house she +passed would forget her in a hurry." + +"That's so," agreed Ned. "But if they took her across country--" + +"A different story," agreed Tom. "Come to think of it, maybe we'd +better start to-night, Ned. We can make inquiries after dark as well as +by daylight and get ready for an early morning hunt." + +"Let's do it, then!" suggested his chum. "I'm ready. I'll send word +that I'll not be home to-night." + +"Good!" cried the young inventor. "We'll have an old-fashioned hunt +after our enemies, Ned!" + +"And don't leave me out!" begged Mr. Damon. Hurried preparations were +made for the night trip. Tom ordered out one of his speediest, though +not largest, automobiles, and told his helper to get the Hawk ready, to +have her so she could start at a moment's notice if needed. + +"You're not going in her, are you, Tom?" asked Ned. + +"I may need her to-morrow for daylight hunting. If the tank's hidden +somewhere, I can spot her from above more easily than from the ground. +So if we get any trace of my machine, I can phone in and have the +aeroplane brought to me." + +"That's a good idea!" + +Inquiry at the shop where the tank had been built and kept disclosed +the fact that, in addition to Koku, three of Tom's men had gone in her +to help manage the machine under the direction of the man who bore the +forged note. That he was one of the plotters not hitherto observed by +either Ned or Tom seemed certain. + +"And they took Koku and some of the men merely to make it look natural +and as if it were all right," Tom said. "Naturally that deceived my +father, who thought, of course, that I was waiting for the machine. +Well, it was a slick trick, Ned, but we may fool them yet." + +"I hope so, Tom." + +Night had fully fallen when Tom, Ned, and Mr. Damon started away in the +touring car. + +Out onto the road rolled the automobile. During the little daylight +that had remained after his arrival at home and following the discovery +of the loss of the tank Tom and Ned had traced it, by the marks of the +big steel caterpillar belts, to the main road. It had gone along that +some distance, just how far could not be said. + +"But by using the searchlight of the auto we can trace her as long as +they keep her on the road," said Tom. "After that we'll have to trust +to luck, and to what inquiries we can make." + +The touring car carried a powerful lamp, and by its gleams it was easy +to trace for a time the progress of the ponderous tank. There was no +need to make inquiries of persons living along the way, though once or +twice Tom did get out to ask, confirming the fact that the big machine +had rumbled past in a direction away from the Swift home. + +"I had an idea they might have doubled on their tracks for a time, and +backed her up just to fool us," Tom said. "They might do that, keeping +her in the same tracks." + +But this, evidently, had not been done, and the tank was making good +speed away from the Swift house. They kept up the search until about +midnight, and then a heavy rain began just before they reached a point +where several roads branched. + +"Luck's with them!" exclaimed Tom. "This will wash away the marks, and +we'll have to go it blind. Might as well put up here for the night," he +added, as they came to a village hotel. + +It was evident that little more could be done in the rain and darkness, +and there was danger of over-running the trail of the tank if they kept +on. So they turned in at the hotel and got what little rest they could +in their anxious state of minds. + +Tom tried to be cheerful and to look for the best, but it was hard +work. The tank was his pet invention, and, moreover, that her secrets +should fall into the hands of the enemy and be used for Germany and +against the United States eventually, made the young inventor feel that +everything was going wrong. + +The rain kept up all night, and this would make it correspondingly hard +for them to pick up the trail in the morning. + +"The only thing we can do is to make inquiries," decided Tom. +"Fortunately, the tank can't easily be hidden." + +They started off after an early breakfast. The roads were so muddy and +wet that traveling was difficult and dangerous for the automobile, and +they were disappointed in finding no one who had seen or heard the tank +pass up to a point not far from the hotel where they had stayed +overnight. From then on the big machine seemed to have disappeared. + +"I know what they've done," Tom said, when noon came and they had found +no trace of the ponderous war machine. "They've left the road and +taken her cross country, and we can't find the spot where they did this +because the rain has washed out the marks. Well, there's only one thing +left to do." + +"What's that?" asked Ned. + +"Get the Hawk! In that we can look down and over a big extent of +country. That's what I'll do--I'll phone for the airship. The rain is +stopping, I think." + +The rain did cease by the time one of Tom's men brought the speedy +aircraft to the place named by the young inventor in his telephone +message. There were still several hours of daylight left, and Tom +counted on them to allow him to rise in the air and look down on the +tanks possible hiding place. + +"One thing's sure," he told Ned: "I know the limit of her speed, and +she can't be farther off than at some place within a circle of about +one hundred and twenty-five miles from my house. And it's in the +direction we're in. So if I circle around up above, I may spot her." + +"I hope so," murmured Ned. + +It was arranged that Mr. Damon should take the automobile back, with +Tom's mechanician in it, and Tom and Ned would scout around in the +aircraft, which carried only two. + +"You ought to have a machine gun with you, Tom, if you plan to attack +those fellows to get back the tank," Ned said. + +"Oh, I don't imagine I'll need it," he said. "Anyhow, a machine gun +wouldn't be of much effect against the tank. And they can't fire on us, +for there wasn't any ammunition for the guns in Tank A, unless they got +some of their own, and I hardly believe they'd do that. I'll take a +chance, anyhow." + +And so the search from the air began. It was disappointing at first. +Around and around circled Tom and Ned, their eyes peering eagerly down +from the heights for a sight of the tank, possibly hidden in some +little-known ravine or gully. + +Back and forth, like a speck in the sky, Tom guided the Hawk, while Ned +took observation after observation with the binoculars. + +At last, when the low-sinking sun gave warning that night would soon be +upon them, Ned's glasses picked up something on the ground far below +that made him sit suddenly straighter in his seat. + +"What is it?" asked Tom through the speaking apparatus, feeling the +movement on the part of his chum. + +"I see something down there, Tom," was the answer. "It doesn't look +like the tank, and yet it doesn't look as a clump of trees and bushes +ought to look. Have a peep yourself. It's just beyond that river, +against the side of the hill--a lonesome place, too." + +Tom took the glasses while Ned assumed control of the Hawk, there being +a dual system for operating and steering her. + +No sooner had the young inventor got the focus on what Ned had +indicated than he gave a cry. + +"What is it?" asked the young bank clerk. + +"Camouflaged!" cried Tom, and without stopping to explain what he +meant, he handed the binoculars back to Ned and began to guide the Hawk +down toward the earth at high speed. + + + + +Chapter XXV + +Foiled + + +"Is it really Tank A, Tom?" cried Ned, through the tube, as soon as he +became aware of his companion's intention. "Are you sure?" + +"That's the girl, and just where you spotted her with the glasses--in +that clump of bushes. But they've daubed her with green and brown +paint--camouflaged her, so to speak--until she looks like part of the +landscape. What made you suspicious of that particular place?" + +"The green was such a bright one in contrast to the rest of the foliage +around it.' + +"That's what struck me," Tom answered, as he continued to drive the +Hawk earthward. "They thought they were doing a smart trick--imitating +the tactics of the Allies with their tanks--but they must be color +blind." + +Ned took another observation through the glasses. He could see the tank +more easily now. There she was, fairly well hidden in a clump of bushes +and small trees on the banks of a river, about a hundred miles away +from Shopton. It was in a wild and desolate country, and only with the +airship could the trail have thus been followed. + +Ned saw that the tank had been daubed with green, yellow, and brown +paint, in fantastic blotches, to make the big machine blend with the +foliage; and, to a certain extent, this had been accomplished. + +But, as Ned had remarked, the green used was of too vivid a hue. No +natural tree put forth leaves like that, and the glass had further +revealed the error. + +"Look, Tom!" suddenly cried Ned. "She's moving!" + +"You're right!" answered the young inventor. "They've seen us and are +trying to get away." + +"But they can't beat your airship, Tom." + +"I know that. But their game--Oh, Ned, they're going to wreck her!" +cried Tom, and there was anguish in his voice. + +As the two looked down from their seats In the Hawk they saw the tank, +in its fantastic dress of splotchy paint, leave her lair amid the +bushes and trees, and head toward the river. Like some ponderous +prehistoric monster about to take a drink, she careened her way toward +the stream, which, at this point, ran between high banks. + +"What's the game?" cried Ned. + +"They're going to send her to smash!" cried Tom. "She's pretty tough, +Tom, but she'll never stand a tumble down into the river without +breaking a lot of machinery inside her." + +"But if they demolish the tank they'll kill themselves, won't they? +And Koku and your men, too, who must be prisoners in her!" + +"They won't risk their own worthless hides, you may be sure of that!" +exclaimed Tom. + +"There they go, but they must have left Koku and the others to their +fate!" + +"Oh, if they could only get loose and take control now, Tom, they'd +save your tank for you!" shouted Ned. + +"Yes; but they can't, I'm afraid. They may be killed, or so securely +bound that they can't get loose!" + +"Can't you get the Hawk there in time to stop her?" + +"I'm afraid not. By that time she'll have attained top speed and it +would be taking our lives in our hands to try to make a flying jump, +get inside, and shut off the motors." + +"Then the tank's got to smash!" said Ned gloomily. + +Tom did not answer for a moment. He and his chum watched the fleeing +figures running away from the war engine. What the plotters had done, +as soon as they saw the aircraft and realized that Tom had discovered +them, was to start the motors and leap from the tank, closing the doors +after them. Whether or not they had left Koku and the others prisoners +inside remained to be seen. + +But the tank was plunging her way toward the steep bank of the river, +doomed, it seemed, to great damage, if not to destruction. + +"Oh, if we could only halt her!" murmured Ned. + +Tom Swift was busy with some apparatus on the Hawk. Ned heard the hum +of an electric motor which was connected with the engine, and there +soon sounded the crackle of the wireless. + +"What are you doing? Signaling for help from those inside the tank?" +asked Ned, for the big machine was fitted to receive and send messages +of this sort. + +"I'm trying something more desperate than that," Tom answered. + +Again the wireless crackled, Tom working it with one hand while, with +the other, he guided the aircraft. Ned looked downward with wondering +eyes. + +The tank was still plunging her way toward the steep bank of the river. +If she tumbled down this, there would be little left of the expensive +and complicated machinery inside. + +"The rascals did their work well," mused Ned. "They've probably gotten +all the secrets they want and now they're going to spoil all Tom's hard +work. It's a shame! If only--" + +Ned ceased his musing. Something was taking place down below that he +could not explain. The tank seemed to be slackening her progress. More +and more slowly she approached the edge of the cliff. + +"Tom! Tom!" yelled Ned. "You must have waked some of them up inside and +they've thrown the motors out of gear! Hurrah! She's stopping!" + +"I believe she is!" yelled Tom. "Oh, if it only works!" + +The tank was still moving, though more slowly. Still the crackle of the +wireless was heard. + +And then, just as Tom shut off his own motor and let the Hawk glide on +her downward way in a volplane to earth, the great, ponderous tank came +to a stop, on the very edge of the precipice at the foot of which +rolled the river. + +"Whew!" whistled Ned, as the aircraft rolled along the ground near the +war machine. "That was touch and go, Tom! They stopped her just in +time." + +"You mean the wireless stopped her," said Tom quietly. "I'm very much +afraid that if Koku and the others are alive they're still prisoners in +the craft." + +"The wireless!" gasped Ned, as he and his chum got out of the Hawk. "Do +you mean that you stopped her by wireless, Tom?" + +"That's what I did. It was a desperate chance, but I took it. I had +just installed in the tank a system of wireless control, so she could +be guided as some torpedos and submarines are, by wireless impulses +from the shore. + +"Only I'd never given the tank system a tryout. It was all installed, +and had worked perfectly on the small model I constructed. And when I +saw her running away, out of control as she was, I realized the +wireless was the only thing that would stop her, if that would. It +might operate just opposite to what I wanted, though, and increase her +speed." + +"But I took the chance. I set the airship wireless current to working, +and tuned it in to coincide with the control of the tank. Then, by +means of the wireless impulse I shut off the motors, which can be +stopped or started by hand or by electricity. I shut 'em off." + +"And only just in time!" cried Ned. "Whew, Tom Swift, but that was a +close call!" + +"I realize that myself!" said the young inventor. "This is a new idea +and has to be worked out further for our newer tanks." + +"Gee!" ejaculated Ned. "Out of date before got into use! Now let's see +about our friends!" + +It was the work of but a moment to enter the tank, and, after making +sure that the machinery was all right, Tom and Ned made their way to +the interior. In one of the smallest rooms they found Koku and the +others bound with ropes, and in a bad way. Koku was so tied with cords +and hemp as to resemble a bale of Manilla cable. + +"Cut 'em loose, Ned!" cried Tom, and the bonds were soon severed. Then +came explanations. + +As has been told, one of the plotters, whose identity was not learned +until later, came with the forged note. The giant and Tom's men set out +in the tank, and the machine was stopped at a certain place where the +plotter, who gave the name of Crossleigh, told them Tom was to meet his +men. + +Out of ambush leaped Simpson and others, who overpowered the mechanics, +even subduing Koku after a fierce fight, and then they took possession +of the tank, making the others prisoners. + +What happened after that could only be conjectured by Tom's men, for +they were shut up in an inner room. It seemed certain, though, that the +tank was taken to some secret place and there painted to resemble the +verdure. Then she went on again, coming to rest where Tom and Ned saw +her. + +Meanwhile the plotters were gradually getting at the secrets of +construction, and they were in the midst of this work when one of them +saw the aeroplane. Rightly guessing what it portended, they left +hurriedly, still leaving the hapless men bound, and started the tank on +what they thought would be her last trip. + +"But you saved her, Tom!" cried Ned. "You saved her with the wireless." + +And word was sent back to Shopton by the same means to tell Mr. Swift, +Mr. Damon, and the others that Tom and his tank were safe. And then, a +little later, when the bound men had recovered the use of their cramped +limbs, the tank was backed away from the ledge and started on her +homeward way, Tom and Ned preceding her in the Hawk. + +Without further incident, save a slight break which was soon repaired, +Tank A soon reached her harbor again, and a double guard was posted +about the shop. + +"And they won't get much more chance to steal her secrets," said Tom +that night, when the stories had been told. + +"Why?" asked Ned. + +"We start to dismantle her at once," Tom answered, "and she goes to +England to be reproduced for France." + +"If only those plotters haven't stolen the secrets," mused Ned. + +But if they had they got little good of them. For shortly afterward +government secret service agents rounded up the chief members of the +gang, including Simpson and Blakeson. They, with Schwen, were sent to +an internment camp for the period of the war, and enough information +was obtained from them to disclose all the workings of the plot. + +"It was just like lots of other stunts the German spies tried to put +over on the good old U.S.A.," said Tom to Ned, the day after the +dismantled tank was shipped to Great Britain. "In some way the spies +found out what I was making, and then they got hold of Blakeson and +Grinder. Those fellows, who so nearly queered me in the big tunnel game +promised to make a tank that would beat those the British at first put +out, and they took some German money in advance for doing it. + +"When they found they couldn't make good, the German spies agreed to +help them get possession of my secrets. They worked hard enough at it, +too, but, thanks to you, Ned, and to Eradicate, who gave us the tip on +Schwen, we beat 'em out." + +"And so it's all over, Tom?" + +"Yes, practically all over. I've given all my interests in the tank to +Uncle Sam. It was the only way I could do my bit, at this time. But +I've something else up my sleeve." + +And those of you who care to learn what the young inventor next did may +do so by reading the next volume of this series. + +It was about a week after Tank A, as she was still officially called, +had been shipped in sections that Ned Newton called at Tom's home. He +found his chum, with a flower in his buttonhole, about to leave in his +small runabout. + +"Oh, excuse me!" exclaimed Ned. "This is Wednesday night. I might have +known. Give Mary my regards." + +"I will," promised Tom, with a smile. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Tom Swift and his War Tank, by Victor Appleton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK *** + +***** This file should be named 954.txt or 954.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/5/954/ + +Produced by Anthony Matonac, + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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Binary files differdiff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..544f410 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #954 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/954) diff --git a/old/21tom10.txt b/old/21tom10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0301d58 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/21tom10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6440 @@ +TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK +or +Doing His Bit For Uncle Sam + +By +VICTOR APPLETON + + + + +CONTENTS + + I Past Memories + II Tom's Indifference + III Ned is Worried + IV Queer Doings + V "Is He a Slacker?" + VI Seeing Things + VII Up a Tree + VIII Detective Rad + IX A Night Test + X A Runaway Giant + XI Tom's Tank + XII Bridging a Gap + XIII Into a Trench + XIV The Ruined Factory + XV Across Country + XVI The Old Barn + XVII Veiled Threats +XVIII Ready for France + XIX Tom Is Missing + XX The Search + XXI A Prisoner + XXII Rescued +XXIII Gone + XXIV Camouflaged + XXV Foiled + + + + +Chapter I + +Past Memories + + +Ceasing his restless walk up and down the room, Tom Swift +strode to the window and gazed across the field toward the +many buildings, where machines were turning out the products +evolved from the brains of his father and himself. There was +a worried look on the face of the young inventor, and he +seemed preoccupied, as though thinking of something far +removed from whatever it was his eyes gazed upon. + +"Well, I'll do it!" suddenly exclaimed Tom. "I don't want +to, but I will. It's in the line of 'doing my bit,' I +suppose; but I'd rather it was something else. I wonder--" + +"Ha! Up to your old tricks, I see, Tom!" exclaimed a +voice, in which energy and friendliness mingled pleasingly. +"Up to your old tricks!" + +"Oh, hello, Mr. Damon!" cried Tom, turning to shake hands +with an elderly gentleman--that is, elderly in appearance +but not in action, for he crossed the room with the +springing step of a lad, and there was the enthusiasm of +youth on his face. "What do you mean--my old tricks?" + +"Talking to yourself, Tom. And when you do that it means +there is something in the wind. I hope, as a sort of side +remark, it isn't rain that's in the wind, for the soldiers +over at camp have had enough water to set up a rival +establishment with Mr. Noah. But there's something going on, +isn't there? Bless my memorandum book, but don't tell me +there isn't, or I shall begin to believe I have lost all my +deductive powers of reasoning! I Come in here, after +knocking two or three times, to which you pay not the least +attention, and find you mysteriously murmuring to yourself. + +"The last time that happened, Tom, was just before you +started to dig the big tunnel--No, I'm wrong. It was just +before you started for the Land of Wonders, as we decided it +ought to be called. You were talking to yourself then, when +I walked in on you, and--Say, Tom!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. +Damon eagerly, "don't tell me you're going off on another +wild journey like that--don't!" + +"Why?" asked Tom, smiling at the energy of his caller. + +"Because if you are, I'll want to go with you, of course, +and if I go it means I'll have to start in as soon as I can +to bring my wife around to my way of thinking. The last +time I went it took me two weeks to get her to consent, and +then she didn't like it. So if--" + +"No, Mr. Damon," interrupted Tom, "I don't count on going +on any sort of a trip--that is, any long one. I was just +getting ready to take a little spin in the Hawk, and if +you'd like to come along--" + +"You mean that saucy little airship of yours, Tom, that's +always trying to sit down on her tail, or tickle herself +with one wing?" + +"That's the Hawk!" laughed Tom; "though that tickling +business you speak of is when I spiral. Don't you like it?" + +"Can't say I do," observed Mr. Damon dryly. + +"Well, I'll promise not to try any stunts if you come +along," Tom went on. + +"Where are you going?" asked his friend. + +"Oh, no place in particular. As you surmised, I've been +doing a bit of thinking, and--" + +"Serious thinking, too, Tom!" interrupted Mr. Damon. +"Excuse me, but I couldn't help overhearing what you said. +It was something about going to do something though you +didn't want to, and that it was part of your 'bit'. That +sounds like soldier talk. Are you going to enlist, Tom?" + +"No." + +"Um! Well, then--" + +"It's something I can't talk about, Mr. Damon, even to +you, as yet," Tom said, and there was a new quality in his +voice, at which his friend looked up in some surprise. + +"Oh, of course, Tom, if it's a secret--" + +"Well, it hasn't even got that far, as yet. It's all up in +the air, so to speak. I'll tell you in due season. But, +speaking of the air, let's go for a spin. It may drive some +of the cobwebs out of my brain. Did I hear you say you +thought it would rain?" + +"No, it's as clear as a bell. I said I hoped it wouldn't +rain for the sake of the soldiers in camp. They've had their +share of wet weather, and, goodness knows, they'll get more +when they get to Flanders. It seems to do nothing but rain +in France." + +"It is damp," agreed Tom. "And, come to think of it, they +are going to have some airship contests over at camp to-day--for +the men who are being trained to be aviators, you know. +It just occurred to me that we might fly over there and +watch them." + +"Fine!" cried Mr. Damon. "That's the very thing I should +like. I'll take a chance in your Hawk, Tom, if you'll +promise not to try any spiral stunts." + +"I promise, Mr. Damon. Come on! I'll have Koku run the +machine out and get her ready for a flight to Camp. It's a +good day for a jaunt in the air." + +"Get out the Hawk, Koku," ordered the young inventor, as +he motioned to a big man--a veritable giant--who nodded to +show he understood. Koku was really a giant, one of a race +of strange beings, and Tom Swift had brought the big man +with him when he escaped from captivity, as those will +remember who have read that book. + +"Going far, Tom?" asked an aged man, coming to the door of +one of the many buildings of which the shed where the +airship was kept formed one. + +"Not very far, Father," answered the young inventor. +"Mr. Damon and I are going for a little spin over to Camp +Grant, to see some aircraft contests among the army +birdmen." + +"Oh, all right, Tom. I just wanted to tell you that I +think I've gotten over that difficulty you found with the +big carburetor you were working on. You didn't say what you +wanted it for, except that it was for a heavy duty gasolene +engine, and you couldn't get the needle valve to work as +you'd like. I think I've found a way." + +"Good, Dad! I'll look at it when I come back. That +Carburetor did bother me, and if I can get that to work--well, +maybe we'll have something soon that will--" + +But Tom did not finish his sentence, for Koku was getting +the aircraft in operation and Mr. Damon was already taking +his place behind the pilot's seat, which would be occupied +by Tom. + +"All ready, are you, Koku?" asked the young inventor. + +"All ready, Master," answered the giant. + +There was a roar like that of a machine gun as the Hawk's +engine spun the propeller, and then, after a little run +across the sod, it mounted into the air, carrying Tom and +Mr. Damon with it. + +"Mind you, Tom, no stunts!" called the visitor to the +young inventor through the speaking tube apparatus, which +enabled a conversation to be carried on, even above the roar +of the powerful engine. "Bless my overshoes! if you try, +looping the loop with me--" + +"I won't do anything like that!" promised Tom. + +Away they soared, swift as a veritable hawk, and soon, +after there had unrolled below their eyes a succession of +fields and forest, there came into view rows and rows of +small brown objects, among which beings, like ants, seemed +crawling about. + +"There's the Camp!" exclaimed Tom. + +"I see," and Mr. Damon nodded. + +As they approached, they saw, starting up from a green +space amid the brown tents, what appeared to be big bugs of +a dirty white color splotched with green. + +"The aircraft--and they have camouflage paint on," said +Tom. "We can watch 'em from up here!" + +Mr. Damon nodded, though Tom could not see him, sitting in +front of his friend as he was. + +Up and up circled the army aircraft, and they seemed to +bow and nod a greeting to the Hawk, which was soon in the +midst of them. Tom and Mr. Damon, flying high, though at no +great speed, looked at the maneuvers of the veterans and +the learners--many of whom might soon be engaging the Boches +in far-off France. + +"Some of 'em are pretty good!" called Tom, through the +tube. "That one fellow did the loop as prettily as I've ever +seen it done," and Tom Swift had a right to speak as one of +authority. + +Tom and his friend watched the aircraft for some time, and +then started off in a long flight, attaining a high speed, +which, at first, made Mr. Damon gasp, until he became used +to it. He was no novice at flying, and had even operated +aeroplanes himself, though at no great height. + +Suddenly the Hawk seemed to falter, almost as does a bird +stricken by a hunter's gun. The craft seemed to hang in the +air, losing motion as though about to plunge to earth +unguided. + +"What's the matter?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"One of the control wires broken!" was Tom's laconic +answer. "I'll have to volplane down. Sit tight, there's no +danger!" + +Mr. Damon knew that with so competent a pilot as Tom Swift +in the forward seat this was true, but, nevertheless, he was +a bit nervous until he felt the smooth, gliding motion, with +now and then an upward tilt, which showed that Tom was +coming down from the upper regions in a series of long +glides. The engine had stopped, and the cessation of the +thundering noise made it possible for Tom and his passenger +to talk without the use of the speaking tube. + +"All right?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"All right," Tom answered, and a little later the machine +was rolling gently over the turf of a large field, a mile or +so from the camp. + +Before Tom and Mr. Damon could get out of their seats, a +man, seemingly springing up from some hollow in the ground, +walked toward them. + +"Had an accident?" he asked, in what he evidently meant +for a friendly voice. + +"A little one, easily mended," Tom answered. + +He was about to take off his goggles, but at sight of the +man's face a change came over the countenance of Tom Swift, +and he replaced the eye protectors. Then Tom turned to Mr. +Damon, as if to ask a question, but the stranger came so +close, evidently curious to see the aircraft at close +quarters, that the young inventor could not speak without +being overheard. + +Tom got out his kit of tools to repair the broken control, +and the man watched him curiously. As he tinkered away, +something was stirring among the past memories of the +inventor. A question he asked himself over and over again +was: + +"Where have I seen this man before? His face is familiar, +but I can't place him. He is associated with something +unpleasant. But where have I seen this man before?" + + + + +Chapter II + +Tom's Indifference + + +"Did you make this machine yourself?" asked the stranger +of Tom, as the young inventor worked at the damaged part of +his craft. + +Mr. Damon had also alighted, taken off his goggles, and +was looking aloft, where the army aircraft were going +through various evolutions, and down below, where the young +soldiers were drilling under such conditions, as far as +possible, as they might meet with when some of their number +went "over the top." Mr. Damon was murmuring to himself +such remarks as: + +"Bless my fountain pen! look at that chap turning upside +down! Bless my inkwell!" + +"I beg your pardon," remarked Tom Swift, following the +remark of the man, whose face he was trying to recall. It +was not that Tom had not heard the question, but he was +trying to gain time before answering. + +"I asked if you made this machine yourself," went on the +man, as he peered about at the Hawk. "It isn't like any I've +ever seen before, and I know something about airships. It +has some new wrinkles on it, and I thought you might have +evolved them yourself. Not that it's an amateur affair, by +any means!" he added hastily, as if fearing the young +inventor might resent the implication that his machine was a +home-made product. + +"Yes, I originated this," answered Tom, as he put a new +turn-buckle in place; "but I didn't actually construct it--that +is, except for some small parts. It was made in the +shop--" + +"Over at the army construction plant, I presume," +interrupted the man quickly, as he motioned toward the big +factory, not far from Shopton, where aircraft for Uncle +Sam's Army were being turned out by the hundreds. + +"Might as well let him think that," mused Tom; "at least +until I can figure out who he is and what he wants." + +"This is different from most of those up there," and the +stranger pointed toward the circling craft on high. "A bit +more speedy, I guess, isn't it?" + +"Well, yes, in a way," agreed Tom, who was lending over +his craft. He stole a side look at the man. The face was +becoming more and more familiar, yet something about it +puzzled Tom Swift. + +"I've seen him before, and yet he didn't look like that," +thought the young inventor. "It's different, somehow. Now +why should my memory play me a trick like this? Who in the +world can he be?" + +Tom straightened up, and tossed a monkey wrench into the +tool box. + +"Get everything fixed?" asked the stranger. + +"I think so," and the young inventor tried to make his +answer pleasant. "It was only a small break, easily fixed." + +"Then you'll be on your way again?" + +"Yes. Are you ready?" called Tom to Mr. Damon. + +"Bless my timetable, yes! I didn't think you'd start back +again so soon. There's one young fellow up there who has +looped the loop three times, and I expect him to fall any +minute." + +"Oh, I guess he knows his business," Tom said easily. +"We'll be getting back now." + +"One moment!" called the man. "I beg your pardon for +troubling you, but you seem to be a mechanic, and that's +just the sort of man I'm looking for. Are you open to an +offer to do some inventive and constructive work?" + +Tom was on his guard instantly. + +"Well, I can't say that I am," he answered. "I am pretty +busy--" + +"This would pay well," went on the man eagerly. "I am a +stranger around here, but I can furnish satisfactory +references. I am in need of a good mechanic, an inventor as +well, who can do what you seem to have done so well. I had +hopes of getting some one at the army plant" + +"I guess they're not letting any of their men go," said +Tom, as Mr. Damon climbed to his seat in the Hawk. + +"No, I soon found that out. But I thought perhaps you--" + +Tom shook his head. + +"I'm sorry," he answered, "but I'm otherwise engaged, and +very busy." + +"One moment!" called the man, as he saw Tom about to start +"Is the Swift Company plant far from here?" + +Tom felt something like a thrill go through him. There was +an unexpected note in the man's voice. The face of the young +inventor lightened, and the doubts melted away. + +"No, it isn't far," Tom answered, shouting to be heard +above the crackling bangs of the motor. And then, as the +craft soared into the air, he cried exultingly: + +"I have it! I know who he is! The scoundrel! His beard +fooled me, and he probably didn't know me with these goggles +on. But now I know him!" + +"Bless my calendar!" cried Mr. Damon. "What are you +talking about?" + +But Tom did not answer, for the reason that just then the +Hawk fell into an "air pocket," and needed all his attention +to straighten her out and get her on a level course again. + +And while Tom Swift is thus engaged in speeding his +aircraft along the upper regions toward his home, it will +take but a few moments to acquaint my new readers with +something of the history of the young inventor. Those who +have read the previous books in this series need be told +nothing about our hero. + +Tom Swift was an inventor of note, as was his father. Mr. +Swift was now quite aged and not in robust health, but he +was active at times and often aided Tom when some knotty +point came up. + +Tom and his father lived on the outskirts of the town of +Shopton, and near their home were various buildings in which +the different machines and appliances were made. Tom's +mother was dead, but Mrs. Baggert, the housekeeper, was as +careful in looking after Tom and his father as any woman +could be. + +In addition to these three, the household consisted of +Eradicate Sampson, an aged colored servant, and, it might +almost be added, his mule Boomerang; but Boomerang had +manners that, at times, did not make him a welcome addition +to any household. Then there was the giant Koku, one of two +big men Tom had brought back with him from the land where +the young inventor had been held captive for a time. + +The first book of this series is called "Tom Swift and His +Motor Cycle," and it was in acquiring possession of that +machine that Tom met his friend Mr. Wakefield Damon, who +lived in a neighboring town. Mr. Damon owned the motor cycle +originally, but when it attempted to climb a tree with him +he sold it to Tom. + +Tom had many adventures on the machine, and it started him +on his inventive career. From then on he had had a series of +surprising adventures. He had traveled in his motor boat, in +an airship, and then had taken to a submarine. In his +electric runabout he showed what the speediest car on the +road Could do, and when he sent his wireless message, the +details of which can be found set down in the volume of that +name, Tom saved the castaways of Earthquake Island. + +Tom Swift had many other thrilling escapes, one from among +the diamond makers, and another from the caves of ice; and +he made the quickest flight on record in his sky racer. + +Tom's wizard camera, his great searchlight, his giant +cannon, his photo telephone, his aerial warship and the big +tunnel he helped to dig, brought him credit, fame, and not a +little money. He had not long been back from an expedition +to Honduras, dubbed "the land of wonders," when he was again +busy en some of his many ideas. And it was to get some +relief from his thoughts that he had taken the flight with +Mr. Damon on the day the present story opens. + +"What are you so excited about, Tom?" asked his friend, as +the Hawk alighted near the shed hack of the young inventor's +home. "Bless my scarf pin! but any one would think you'd +just discovered the true method of squaring the circle." + +"Well, it's almost as good as that, and more practical," +Tom said, with a smile, as he motioned to Koku to put away +the aircraft "I know who that man is, now." + +"What man, Tom?" + +"The one who was questioning me when I was fixing the +airship. I kept puzzling and puzzling as to his identity, +and, all at once, it came to me. Do you know who he is, Mr. +Damon?" + +"No, I can't say that I do, Tom. But, as you say, there +was something vaguely familiar about him. It seemed as if I +must have seen him before, and yet--" + +"That's just the way it struck me. What would you say if I +told you that man was Blakeson, of Blakeson and Grinder, the +rival tunnel contractors who made such trouble for us?" + +"You mean down in Peru, Tom?" + +"Yes." + +Mr. Damon started in surprise, and then exclaimed: + +"Bless my ear mufflers, Tom, but you're right! That was +Blakeson! I didn't know him with his beard, but that was +Blakeson, all right! Bless my foot-warmer! What do you +suppose he is doing around here?" + +"I don't know, Mr. Damon, but I'd give a good deal to +know. It isn't any good, I'll wager on that. He didn't seem +to know me or you, either--unless he did and didn't let on. +I suppose it was because of my goggles--and you were gazing +up in the air most of the time. I don't think he knew either +of us." + +"It didn't seem so, Tom. But what is he doing here? Do you +think he is working at the army camp, or helping make +Liberty Motors for the aircraft that are going to beat the +Germans?" + +"Hardly. He didn't seem to be connected with the camp. He +wanted a mechanic, and hinted that I might do. Jove! if he +really didn't know who I was, and finds out, say! won't he +be surprised?" + +"Rather," agreed Mr Damon. "Well, Tom, I bad a nice little +ride. And now I must be getting back. But if you contemplate +a trip anywhere, don't forget to let me know." + +"I don't count on going anywhere soon," Tom answered. "I +have something on hand that will occupy all my time, though +I don't just like it. However, I'm going to do my best," and +he waved good-bye to Mr. Damon, who went off blessing +various parts of his anatomy or clothing, an odd habit he +had. + +As Tom turned to go into the house, the unsettled look +still on his face, some one hailed him. + +"I say, Tom. Hello! Wait a minute! I've got something to +show you!" + +"Oh, hello, Ned Newton!" Called back the young inventor. +"Well, if it's Liberty Bonds, you don't need to show me any, +for dad and I will buy all we can without seeing them." + +"I know that, Tom, and it was a dandy subscription you +gave me. I didn't come about that, though I may be around +the next time Uncle Sam wants the people to dig down in +their socks. This is something different," and Ned Newton, a +young banker of Shopton and a lifelong friend of Tom's, drew +a paper from his pocket as he advanced across the lawn. + +"There, Tom Swift!" he cried, flipping out an illustrated +page, evidently from some illustrated newspaper. "There's +the very latest from the other side. A London banker friend +of mine sent it to me, and it got past the censor all right. +It's the first authentic photograph of the newest and +biggest British tank. Isn't that a wonder?" + +Ned held up the paper which had in it a fullpage +photograph of a monster tank--those weird machines traveling +on endless steel belts of caterpillar construction, armored, +riveted and plated, with machine guns bristling here and +there. + +"Isn't that great, Tom? Can you beat it? It's the most +wonderful machine of the age, even counting some of yours. +Can you beat it?" + +Tom took the paper indifferently, and his manner surprised +his chum. + +"Well, what's the matter, Tom?" asked Ned. "Don't you +think that great? Why don't you say something? You don't +mean to say you've seen that picture before?" + +"No, Ned." + +"Then what's the matter with you? Isn't that wonderful?" + + + + +Chapter III + +Ned is Worried + + +Tom Swift did not answer for several seconds. He stood +holding the paper Ned had given him, the sun slanting on the +picture of the big British tank. But the young inventor did +not appear to see it. Instead, his eyes were as though +contemplating something afar off. + +"Well, this gets me!" cried Ned, his voice showing +impatience. "Here I go and get a picture of the latest +machine the British armies are smashing up the Boches with, +and bring it to you fresh from the mail--I even quit my +Liberty Bond business to do it, and I know some dandy +prospects, too--and here you look at it like a--like a +fish!" burst out Ned. + +"Say, old man, I guess that's right!" admitted Tom. "I +wasn't thinking about it, to tell you the truth." + +"Why not?" Ned demanded. "Isn't it great, Tom? Did you +ever see anything like it?" + +"Yes." + +"You did?" Cried Ned, in surprise. "Where? Say, Tom Swift, +are you keeping something from me?" + +"I mean no, Ned. I never have seen a British tank." + +"Well, did you ever see a picture like this before?" Ned +persisted. + +"No, not exactly like that But--" + +"Well, what do you think of it?" cried the young banker, +who was giving much of his time to selling bonds for the +Government. "Isn't it great?" + +Tom considered a moment before replying. Then he said +slowly: + +"Well, yes, Ned, it is a pretty good machine. But--" + +"'But!' Howling tomcats! Say, what's the 'matter with you, +anyhow, Tom? This is great! 'But!' 'But me no buts!' This +is, without exception, the greatest thing out since an +airship. It will win the war for us and the Allies, too, and +don't you forget it! Fritz's barbed wire and dugouts and +machine gun emplacements can't stand for a minute against +these tanks! Why, Tom, they can crawl on their back as well +as any other way, and they don't mind a shower of shrapnel +or a burst of machine gun lead, any more than an alligator +minds a swarm of gnats. The only thing that makes 'em +hesitate a bit is a Jack Johnson or a Bertha shell, and it's +got to be a pretty big one, and in the right place, to do +much damage. These tanks are great, and there's nothing like +'em." + +"Oh, yes there is, Ned!" + +"There is!" cried Ned. "What do you mean?" + +"I mean there may be something like them--soon." + +"There may? Say, Tom--" + +"Now don't ask me a lot of questions, Ned, for I can't +answer them. When I say there may be something like them, I +mean it isn't beyond the realms of possibility that some +one--perhaps the Germans--may turn out even bigger and +better tanks." + +"Oh!" And Ned's voice showed his disappointment. "I +thought maybe you were in on that game yourself, Tom. Say, +couldn't you get up something almost as good as this?" and +he indicated the picture in the paper. "Isn't that +wonderful?" + +"Oh, well, it's good, Ned, but there are others. Yes, Dad, +I'm coming," he called, as he saw his father beckoning to +him from a distant building. + +"Well, I've got to get along," said Ned. "But I certainly +am disappointed, Tom. I thought you'd go into a fit over +this picture--it's one of the first allowed to get out of +England, my London friend said. And instead of enthusing +you're as cold as a clam;" and Ned shook his head in puzzled +and disappointed fashion as he walked slowly along beside +the young inventor. + +They passed a new building, one of the largest in the +group of the many comprising the Swift plant. Ned looked at +the door which bore a notice to the effect that no one was +admitted unless bearing a special permit, or accompanied by +Mr. Swift or Tom. + +"What's this, Tom?" asked Ned. "Some new wrinkle?" + +"Yes, an invention I'm working on. It isn't in shape yet +to be seen." + +"It must be something big, Tom," observed Ned, as he +viewed the large building. + +"It is." + +"And say, what a whopping big fence you've got around the +back yard!" went on the young banker. "Looks like a baseball +field, but it would take some scrambling on the part of a +back-lots kid to get over it." + +"That's what it's for--to keep people out." + +"I see! Well, I've got to get along. I'm a bit back in my +day's quota of selling Liberty Bonds, and I've got to +hustle. I'm sorry I bothered you about that tank picture, +Tom." + +"Oh, it wasn't a bother--don't think that for a minute, +Ned! I was glad to see it." + +"Well, he didn't seem so, and his manner was certainly +queer," mused Ned, as he walked away, and turned in time to +see Tom enter the new building, which had such a high fence +all around it. "I never saw him more indifferent. I wonder if +Tom isn't interested in seeing Uncle Sam help win this war? +That's the way it struck me. I thought surely Tom would go +up in the air, and say this was a dandy," and Ned unfolded +the paper and took another look at the British tank +photograph. "If there's anything can beat that I'd like to +see it," he mused. + +"But I suppose Tom has discovered some new kind of air +stabilizer, or a different kind of carburetor that will +vaporize kerosene as well as gasolene. If he has, why +doesn't he offer it to Uncle Sam? I wonder if Tom is pro-German? +No, of Course he can't be!" and Ned laughed at his +own idea. + +"At the same time, it is queer," he mused on. "There is +something wrong with Tom Swift." + +Once more Ned looked at the picture. It was a +representation of one of the newest and largest of the +British tanks. In appearance these are not unlike great +tanks, though they are neither round nor square, being +shaped, in fact, like two wedges with the broad ends put +together, and the sharper ends sticking out, though there is +no sharpness to a tank, the "noses" both being blunt. + +Around each outer edge runs an endless belt of steel +plates, hinged together, with ridges at the joints, and +these broad belts of steel plates, like the platforms of +some moving stairways used in department stores, moving +around, give motion to the tank. + +Inside, well protected from the fire of enemy guns by +steel plates, are the engines for driving the belts, or +caterpillar wheels, as they are called. There is also the +steering apparatus, and the guns that fire on the enemy. +There are cramped living and sleeping quarters for the +tank's crew, more limited than those of a submarine. + +The tank is ponderous, the smallest of them, which were +those first constructed, weighing forty-two tons, or about +as much as a good-sized railroad freight car. And it is this +ponderosity, with its slow but resistless movement, that +gives the tank its power. + +The tank, by means of the endless belts of steel plates, +can travel over the roughest country. It can butt into a +tree, a stone wall, or a house, knock over the obstruction, +mount it, crawl over it, and slide down into a hole on the +other side and crawl out again, on the level, or at an +angle. Even if overturned, the tanks can sometimes right +themselves and keep on. At the rear are trailer wheels, +partly used in steering and partly for reaching over gaps or +getting out of holes. The tanks can turn in their own +length, by moving one belt in one direction and the other +oppositely. + +Inside there is nothing much but machinery of the gasolene +type, and the machine guns. The tank is closed except for +small openings out of which the guns project, and slots +through which the men inside look out to guide themselves or +direct their fire. + +Such, in brief, is a British tank, one of the most +powerful and effective weapons yet loosed against the +Germans. They are useful in tearing down the barbed-wire +entanglements on the Boche side of No Man's Land, and they +can clear the way up to and past the trenches, which they +can straddle and wriggle across like some giant worm. + +"And to think that Tom Swift didn't enthuse over these!" +murmured Ned. "I wonder what's the matter with him!" + + + + +Chapter IV + +Queer Doings + + +There was a subdued air of activity about the Swift plant. +Subdued, owing to the fact that it was mostly confined to +one building--the new, large one, about which stretched a +high and strong fence, made with tongue-and-groove boards so +that no prying eyes might find a crack, even, through which +to peer. + +In and out of the other buildings the workmen went as they +pleased, though there were not many of them, for Tom and his +father were devoting most of their time and energies to what +was taking place in the big, new structure. But here there +was an entirely different procedure. + +Workmen went in and out, to be sure, but each time they +emerged they were scrutinized carefully, and when they went +in they had to exhibit their passes to a man on guard at the +single entrance; and the passes were not scrutinized +perfunctorily, either. + +Near the building, about which there seemed to be an air +of mystery, one day, a week after the events narrated in the +opening chapters, strolled the giant Koku. Not far away, +raking up a pile of refuse, was Eradicate Sampson, the aged +colored man of all work. Eradicate approached nearer and +nearer the entrance to the building, pursuing his task of +gathering up leaves, dirt and sticks with the teeth of his +rake. Then Koku, who had been lounging on a bench in the +shade of a tree, Called: + +"No more, Eradicate!" + +"No mo' whut?" asked the negro quickly. "I didn't axt yo' +fo' nuffin yit!" + +"No more come here!" said the giant, pointing to the +building and speaking English with an evident effort. +"Master say no one come too close." + +"Huh! He didn't go fo' t' mean me!" exclaimed Eradicate. +"I kin go anywheres; I kin!" + +"Not here!" and Koku interposed his giant frame between +the old man and the first step leading into the secret +building. "You no come in here." + +"Who say so?" + +"Me--I say so! I on guard. I what you call special +policeman--detectiff--no let enemies in!" + +"Huh! You's a hot deteckertiff, yo' is!" snorted +Eradicate. "Anyhow, dem orders don't mean me! I kin go +anywhere, I kin!" + +"Not here!" said Koku firmly. "Master Tom say let nobody +come near but workmen who have got writing-paper. You no +got!" + +"No, but I kin git one, an' I's gwine t' hab it soon! I'll +see Massa Tom, dat's whut I will. I guess yo' ain't de only +deteckertiff on de place. I kin go on guard, too!" and +Eradicate, dropping his rake, strolled away in his temper to +seek the young inventor. + +"Well, Rad, what is it?" asked Tom, as he met the colored +man. The young inventor was on his way to the mysterious +shop. "What is troubling you?" + +"It's dat dar giant. He done says as how he's on guard--a +deteckertiff--an' I can't go nigh dat buildin' t' sweep up +de refuse." + +"Well, that's right, Rad. I'd prefer that you keep away. +I'm doing some special work in there and it's--" + +"Am it dangerous, Massa Tom? I ain't askeered! Anybody +whut kin drive mah mule Boomerang--" + +"I know, Eradicate, but this isn't so dangerous. It's just +secret, and I don't want too many people about. You can go +anywhere else except there. Koku is on guard." + +"Den can't I be, Massa Tom?" asked the colored man +eagerly. "I kin guard an' detect same as dat low-down, +good-fo'-nuffin white trash Koku!" + +Tom hesitated. + +"I suppose I could get you a sort of officer's badge," he +mused, half aloud. + +"Dat's whut I want!" eagerly exclaimed Eradicate. "I ain't +gwine hab dat Koku--dat cocoanut--crowin' ober me! I kin +guard an' detect as good's anybody!" + +And the upshot of it was that Eradicate was given a badge, +and put on a special post, far enough from Koku to keep the +two from quarreling, and where, even if he failed in keeping +a proper lookout, the old servant could do no harm by his +oversight. + +"It'll please him, and won't hurt us," said Tom to his +father. "Koku will keep out any prying persons." + +"I suppose you are doing well to keep it a secret, Tom," +said Mr. Swift, "but it seems as if you might announce it +soon." + +"Perhaps we may, Dad, if all goes well. I've given her a +partial shop-tryout, and she works well. But there is still +plenty to do. Did I tell you about meeting Blakeson?" + +"Yes, and I can't understand why he should be in this +vicinity. Do you think he has had any intimation of what you +are doing?" + +"It's hard to say, and yet I would not be surprised. When +Uncle Sam couldn't keep secret the fact of our first +soldiers sailing for France. How can I expect to keep this +secret? But they won't get any details until I'm ready, I'm +sure of that." + +"Koku is a good discourager," said Mr. Swift, with a +chuckle. "You couldn't have a better guard, Tom." + +"No, and if I can keep him and Eradicate from trying to +pull off rival detective stunts, or 'deteckertiff,' as Rad +calls it, I'll be all right. Now let's have another go at +that carburetor. There's our weak point, for it's getting +harder and harder all the while to get high-grade gasolene, +and we'll have to come to alcohol of low proof, or kerosene, +I'm thinking." + +"I wouldn't be surprised, Tom. Well, perhaps we can get up +a new style of carburetor that will do the trick. Now look +at this needle valve; I've given it a new turn," and father +and son went into technical details connected with their +latest invention. + +These were busy days at the Swift plant. Men came and +went--men with queerly shaped parcels frequently--and they +were admitted to the big new building after first passing +Eradicate and then Koku, and it would be hard to say which +guard was the more careful. Only, of course, Koku had the +final decision, and more than one person was turned back +after Eradicate had passed him, much to the disgust of the +negro. + +"Pooh! Dat giant don't know a workman when he sees 'im!" +snorted Eradicate. "He so lazy his own se'f dat he don't +know a workman! Ef I sees a spy, Massa Tom, or a crook, I's +gwine git him, suah pop!" + +"I hope you do, Rad. We can't afford to let this secret +get out," said the young inventor. + +It was one evening, when taking a short cut to his home, +that Mr. Nestor, the father of Mary Nestor, in whom Tom was +more than ordinarily interested, passed not far from the big +enclosure which was guarded, on the factory side, day and +night. Inside, though out of sight and hidden by the high +fence, were other guards. + +As Mr. Nestor passed along the fence, rather vaguely +wondering why it was so high, tight and strong, he felt the +ground trembling beneath his feet. It rumbled and shook as +though a distant train were passing, and yet there was none +due now, for Mr. Nestor had just left one, and another would +not arrive for an hour. + +"That's queer," mused Mary's father. "If I didn't know to +the contrary, I'd say that sounded like heavy guns being +fired from a distance, or else blasting. It seems to come +from the Swift place," he went on. "I wonder what they're up +to in there." + +Suddenly the rumbling became more pronounced, and mingled +with it, in the dusk of the evening, were the shouts of men. + +"Look out!" some one cried. "She's going for the fence!" + +A second later there was a cracking and straining of +boards, and the fence near Mr. Nestor bulged out as though +something big, powerful and mighty were pressing it from the +inner side. + +But the fence held, or else the pressure was removed, for +the bulge went back into place, though some of the boards +were splintered. + +"Have to patch that up in the morning," called another +voice, and Mr. Nestor recognized it as that of Tom Swift. + +"What queer doings are going on here?" mused Mary's +father. "Have they got a wild bull shut up in there, and is +he trying to get out? Lucky for me he didn't," and he +hurried on, the rumbling noise become fainter until it died +away altogether. + +That night, after his supper and while reading the paper +and smoking a cigar, Mr. Nestor spoke to his daughter. + +"Mary, have you seen anything of Tom Swift lately?" + +"Why, yes, Father. He was over for a little while the +other night, but he didn't stay long. Why do you ask?" + +"Oh, nothing special. I just came past his place and I +heard some queer noises, that's all. He's up to some more of +his tricks, I guess. Has be enlisted yet?" + +"No. + +"Is he going to?" + +"I don't know," and Mary seemed a bit put out by this +simple question. "What do you mean by his tricks?" she +asked, and a close observer might have thought she was +anxious to get away from the subject of Tom's enlistment. + +"Oh, like that one when he sent you something in a box +labeled 'dynamite,' and gave us all a scare. You can't tell +what Tom Swift is going to do next. He's up to something +now, I'll wager, and I don't believe any good will come of +it" + +"You didn't think so after he sent his wireless message, +and saved us from Earthquake Island," said Mary, smiling. + +"Hum! Well, that was different," snapped Mr. Nestor. "This +time I'm sure he's up to some nonsense! The idea of crashing +down a fence! Why doesn't he enlist like the other chaps, or +sell Liberty Bonds like Ned Newton?" and Mr. Nestor looked +sharply at his daughter. "Ned gave up a big salary as the +Swifts financial man--a place he had held for a year--to go +back to the bank for less, just so he could help the +Government in the financial end of this war. Is Tom doing as +much for his country?" + +"I'm sure I don't know," answered Mary; and soon after, +with averted face, she left the room. + +"Hum! Queer goings on," mused Mr. Nestor. "Tom Swift may +be all right, but he's got an unbalanced streak in him that +will bear looking out for, that's what I think!" + +And having settled this matter, at least to his own +satisfaction, Mr. Nestor resumed his smoking and reading. + +A little later the bell rang. There was a murmur of voices +in the hall, and Mr. Nestor, half listening, heard a voice +he knew. + +"There's Tom Swift now!" he exclaimed. "I'm going to find +out why he doesn't enlist!" + + + + +Chapter V + +"Is He a Slacker?" + + +Mr. Nestor, whatever else he was, proved to be a prudent +father. He did not immediately go into the front room, +whither Mary and Tom hastened, their voices mingling in talk +and laughter. + +Mr. Nestor, after leaving the young folks alone for a +while, with a loud "Ahem!" and a rattling of his paper as he +laid it aside, started for the parlor. + +"Good-evening, Mr. Nestor!" said Tom, rising to shake +hands with the father of his young and pretty hostess. + +"Hello, Tom!" was the cordial greeting, in return. "What's +going on up at your place?" went on Mr. Nestor, as he took a +chair. + +"Oh, nothing very special," Tom answered. "We're turning +out different kinds of machines as usual, and dad and I are +experimenting, also as usual" + +"I suppose so. But what nearly broke the fence to-night?" + +Tom started, and looked quickly at his host. + +"Were you there?" he asked quickly. + +"Well, I happened to be passing--took a short cut home--and +I heard some queer goings on at your place. I was +speaking to Mary about them, and wondering--" + +"Father, perhaps Tom doesn't want to talk about his +inventions," interrupted Mary. "You know some of them are +secret--" + +"Oh, I wasn't exactly asking for information!" exclaimed +Mr. Nestor quickly. "I just happened to hear the fence +crash, and I was wondering if something was coming out at +me. Didn't know but what that giant of yours was on a +rampage, Tom," and he laughed. + +"No, it wasn't anything like that," and Tom's voice was +more sober than the occasion seemed to warrant. "It was one +of our new machines, and it didn't act just right. No great +damage was done, though. How do you find business, Mr. +Nestor, since the war spirit has grown stronger?" asked Tom, +and it seemed to both Mary and her father that the young +inventor deliberately changed the subject. + +"Well, it isn't all it might be," said the other. "It's +hard to get good help. A lot of our boys enlisted, and some +were taken in the draft. By the way, Tom, have they called +on you yet?" + +"No. Not yet" + +"You didn't enlist?" + +"Ned Newton tried to," broke in Mary, "but the quota for +this locality was filled, and they told him he'd better wait +for the draft. He wouldn't do that and tried again. Then the +bank people heard about it and had him exempted. They said +he was too valuable to them, and he has been doing +remarkably well in selling Liberty Bonds!" and Mary's eyes +sparkled with her emotions. + +"Yes, Ned is a crackerjack salesman!" agreed Tom, no less +enthusiastically. "He's sold more bonds, in proportion, for +his bank, than any other in this county. Dad and I both took +some, and have promised him more. I am glad now that we let +him go, although we valued his services highly. We hope to +have him back later." + +"He can put me down for more bonds too!" said Mr. Nestor. +"I'm going to see Germany beaten if it takes every last +dollar I have!" + +"That's what I say!" Cried Mary. "I took out all my +savings, except a little I'm keeping to buy a wedding +present for Jennie Morse. Did you know she was going to get +married, Tom?" she asked. + +"I heard so." + +"Well, all but what I want for a wedding present to her +has gone into Liberty Bonds. Isn't this a history-making +time, Tom?" + +"Indeed it is, Mary!" + +"Everybody who has a part in it--whether he fights as a +soldier or only knits like the Red Cross girls--will be +telling about it for years after," went on the girl, and she +looked at Tom eagerly. + +"Yes," he agreed. "These are queer times. We don't know +exactly where we're at. A lot of our men have been called. +We tried to have some of them exempted, and did manage it in +a few cases." + +"You did?" cried Mr. Nestor, as if in surprise. "You +stopped men from going to war!" + +"Only so they could work on airship motors for the +Government," Tom quietly explained. + +"Oh! Well, of course, that's part of the game," agreed +Mary's father. "A lot more of our boys are going off next +week. Doesn't it make you thrill, Tom, when you see them +marching off, even if they haven't their uniforms yet? Jove, +if I wasn't too old, I'd go in a minute!" + +"Father!" cried Mary. + +"Yes, I would!" he declared. "The German government has +got to be beaten, and we've got to do our bit; everybody +has--man, woman and child!" + +"Yes," agreed Tom, in a low voice, "that's very true. But +every one, in a sense, has to judge for himself what the +'bit' is. We can't all do the same." + +There was a little silence, and then Mary went over to the +piano and played. It was a rather welcome relief, under the +circumstances, from the conversation. + +"Mary, what do you think of Tom?" asked Mr. Nestor, when +the visitor had gone. + +"What do I think of him?" And she blushed. + +"I mean about his not enlisting. Do you think he's a +slacker?" + +"A slacker? Why, Father!" + +"Oh, I don't mean he's afraid. We've seen proof enough of +his courage, and all that. But I mean don't you think he +wants stirring up a bit?" + +"He is going to Washington to-morrow, Father. He told me +so to-night. And it may be--" + +"Oh, well, then maybe it's all right," hastily said Mr. +Nestor. "He may he going to get a commission in the engineer +corps. It isn't like Tom Swift to hang back, and yet it does +begin to look as though he cared more for his queer +inventions--machines that butt down fences than for helping +Uncle Sam. But I'll reserve judgment." + +"You'd better, Father!" and Mary laughed--a little. Yet +there was a worried look on her face. + +During the next few nights Mr. Nestor made it a habit to +take the short cut from the railroad station, coming past +the big fence that enclosed one particular building of the +Swift plant. + +"I wonder if there's a hole where I could look through," +said Mr. Nestor to himself. "Of course I don't believe in +spying on what another man is doing, and yet I'm too good a +friend of Tom's to want to see him make a fool of himself. +He ought to be in the army, or helping Uncle Sam in some +way. And yet if he spends all his time on some foolish +contraption, like a new kind of traction plow, what good is +that? If I could get a glimpse of it, I might drop a +friendly hint in his ear." + +But there were no cracks in the fence, or, if there were, +it was too dark to see them, and also too dark to behold +anything on the other side of the barrier. So Mr. Nestor, +wondering much, kept on his way. + +It was a day or so after this that Ned Newton paid a visit +to the Swift home. Mr. Swift was not in the house, being out +in one of the various buildings, Mrs. Baggert said. + +"Where's Tom?" asked the bond salesman. + +"Oh, he hasn't come back from Washington yet," answered +the housekeeper. + +"He is making a long stay." + +"Yes, be went about a week ago on some business. But we +expect him back to-day." + +"Well, then I'll see him. I called to ask if Mr. Swift +didn't want to take a few more bonds. We want to double our +allotment for Shopton, and beat out some of the other towns +in this section. I'll go to see Mr. Swift." + +On his way to find Tom's father Ned passed the big +building in front of which Eradicate and Koku were on guard. +They nodded to Ned, who passed them, wondering much as to +what it was Tom was so secretive about. + +"It's the first time I remember when he worked on an +invention without telling me something about it," mused Ned. +"Well, I suppose it will all come out in good time. Anything +new, Rad?" + +"No, Massa Ned, nuffin much. I'm detectin' around heah; +keepin' Dutchmen spies away!" + +"And Koku is helping you, I suppose?" + +"Whut, him? Dat big, good-fo'-nuffin white trash? No, +sah! I's detectin' by mahse'f, dat's whut I is!" and +Eradicate strutted proudly up and down on his allotted part +of the beat, being careful not to approach the building too +closely, for that was Koku's ground. + +Ned smiled, and passed on. He found Mr. Swift, secured his +subscription to more bonds, and was about to leave when he +heard a call down the road and saw Tom coming in his small +racing car, which had been taken to the depot by one of the +workmen. + +"Hello, old man!" cried Ned affectionately, as his chum +alighted with a jump. "Where have you been?" + +"Down to Washington. Had a bit of a chat with the +President and gave him some of my views." + +"About the war, I suppose?" laughed Ned. + +"Yes." + +"Did you get your commission?" + +"Commission?" And there was a wondering look on Tom's +face. + +"Yes. Mary Nestor said she thought maybe you were going to +Washington to take an examination for the engineering corps +or something like that. Did you get made an officer?" + +"No," answered Tom slowly. "I went to Washington to get +exempted." + +"Exempted?" Cried Ned, and his voice sounded strained. + + + + +Chapter VI + +Seeing Things + + +For a moment Tom Swift looked at his chum. Then something +of what was passing in the mind of the young bond salesman +must have been reflected to Tom, for he said, + +"Look here, old man; I know it may seem a bit strange to +go to all that trouble to get exempted from the draft, to +which I am eligible, but, believe me, there's a reason. I +can't say anything now, but I'll tell you as soon as I can--tell +everybody, in fact Just now it isn't in shape to talk about." + +"Oh, that's all right, Tom," and Ned tried to make his +voice sound natural. "I was just wondering, that's all. I +wanted to go to the front the worst way, but they wouldn't +let me. I was sort of hoping you could, and come back to +tell me about it." + +"I may yet, Ned." + +"You may? Why, I thought--" + +"Oh, I'm only exempted for a time. I've got certain things +to do, and I couldn't do 'em if I enlisted or was drafted. +So I've been excused for a time. Now I've got a pile of work +to do. What are you up to Ned? Same old story?" + +"Liberty Bonds--yes. Your father just took some more." + +"And so will I, Ned. I can do that, anyhow, even if I +don't enlist. Put me down for another two thousand dollars' +worth." + +"Say, Tom, that's fine! That will make my share bigger +than I counted on. Shopton will beat the record." + +"That's good. We ought to pull strong and hearty for our +home town. How's everything else?" + +"Oh, so-so. I see Koku and Eradicate trying to outdo one +another in guarding that part of your plant," and Ned nodded +toward the big new building. + +"Yes, I had to let Rad play detective. Not that he can do +anything--he's too old. But it keeps him and Koku from +quarreling all the while. I've got to be pretty careful +about that shop. It's got a secret in it that--Well, the +less said about it the better." + +"You're getting my curiosity aroused, Tom," remarked Ned. + +"It'll have to go unsatisfied for a while. Wait a bit and +I'll give you a ride. I've got to go over to Sackett on +business, and if you're going that way I'll take you." + +"What in?" + +"The Hawk." + +"That's me!" cried Ned. "I haven't been in an aircraft for +some time." + +"Tell Miles to run her out," requested Tom. "I've got to +go in and say hello to dad a minute, and then I'll be with +you." + +"Seems like something was in the wind, Tom--big doings?" +hinted Ned. + +"Yes, maybe there is. It all depends on how she turns out" + +"You might be speaking of the Hawk or--Mary Nestor!" said +Ned, with a sidelong look at his chum. + +"As it happens, it's neither one," said Tom, and then he +hastened away, to return shortly and guide his fleet little +airship, the Hawk, on her aerial journey. + +From then on, at least for some time, neither Tom nor Ned +mentioned the matters they had been discussing--Tom's +failure to enlist, his exemption, and what was being built +in the closely guarded shop. + +Tom's business in Sackett did not take him long, and then +he and Ned went for a little ride in the air. + +"It's like old times!" exclaimed Ned, his eyes shining, +though Tom could not see them for two reasons. One was that +Ned was sitting behind him, and the other was that Ned wore +heavy goggles, as did the young pilot. Also, they had to +carry on their talk through the speaking tube arrangement. + +"Yes, it is a bit like old times," agreed Tom. "We've had +some great old experiences together, Ned, haven't we?" + +"We surely have! I wonder if we'll have any more? When we +were in the submarine, and in your big airship Say, that big +one is the one I always liked! I like big things." + +"Do you?" asked Tom. "Well, maybe, when I get--" + +But Tom did not finish, for the Hawk unexpectedly poked +her nose into an empty pocket in the air just then, and +needed a firm hand on the controls. Furthermore, Tom decided +against making the confidence that was on the tip of his +tongue. + +At last the aircraft was straightened out and the pilot +guided her on toward the army encampment. + +"That's the place I'd like to be," called Ned through the +tube as the faint, sweet notes of a bugle floated up from +the parade ground. + +"Yes, it would be great," admitted Tom. "But there are +other things to do for Uncle Sam besides wearing khaki." + +"Tom's up to some game," mused Ned. "I mustn't judge him +too hastily, or I might make a mistake. And Mary mustn't, +either. I'll tell her so." + +For Mary Nestor had spoken to Ned concerning Tom, and the +curiously secretive air about certain of his activities. And +the girl, moreover, had spoken rather coldly of her friend. +Ned did not like this. It was not like Mary and Tom to be at +odds. + +Once more the Hawk came to the ground, this time near the +airship sheds adjoining the Swift works. Just as Tom and Ned +alighted, one of the workmen summoned the young inventor +toward the shop, which was so closely guarded by Koku and +Eradicate on the outside. + +"I'll have to leave you, Ned," remarked Tom, as he turned +away from his chum. "There's a conference on about a new +invention." + +"Oh, that's all right. Business is business, you know. +I've got some bond calls to make myself. I'll see you +later." + +"Oh, by the way, Ned!" exclaimed Tom, turning back for a +moment, "I met an old friend the other day; or rather an old +enemy." + +"Hum! When you spoke first, I thought you might mean +Professor Swyington Bumper, that delightful scientist," +remarked Ned. "But he surely was no enemy." + +"No; but I meant some one I met about the same time. I met +Blakeson, one of the rival contractors when I helped dig the +big tunnel." + +"Is that so? Where'd you meet him?" + +"Right around here. It was certainly a surprise, and at +first I couldn't place him. Then the memory of his face came +back to me," and Tom related the incident which had taken +place the day he and Mr. Damon were out in the Hawk. + +"What's he doing around here?" asked Ned. + +"That's more than I can say," Tom answered. + +"Up to no good, I'll wager!" + +"I agree with you," came from Tom. "But I'm on the watch." + +"That's wise, Tom. Well, I'll see you later." + +During the week which followed this talk Ned was very busy +on Liberty Bond work, and, he made no doubt, his chum was +engaged also. This prevented them from meeting, but finally +Ned, one evening, decided to walk over to the Swift home. + +"I'll pay Tom a bit of a call," he mused. "Maybe he'll +feel more like talking now. Some of the boys are asking why +he doesn't enlist, and maybe if I tell him that he'll make +some explanation that will quiet things down a bit. It's a +shame that Tom should be talked about." + +With this intention in view, Ned kept on toward his chum's +house, and he was about to turn in through a small grove of +trees, which would lead to a path across the fields, when +the young bond salesman was surprised to hear some one +running toward him. He could see no one, for the path wound +in and out among the trees, but the noise was plain. + +"Some one in a hurry," mused Ned. + +A moment later he Caught sight of a small lad named Harry +Telford running toward him. The boy had his hat in his hand, +and was speeding through the fast-gathering darkness as +though some one were after him. + +"What's the rush?" asked Ned. "Playing cops and robbers?" +That was a game Tom and Ned had enjoyed in their younger +days. + +"I--I'm runnin' away!" panted Harry. "I--I seen +something!" + +"You saw something?" repeated Ned. "What was it--a ghost?" +and he laughed, thinking the boy would do the same. + +"No, it wasn't no ghost!" declared Harry, casting a look +over his shoulder. "It was a wild elephant that I saw, and +it's down in a big yard with a fence around it." + +"Where's that?" asked Ned. "The circus hasn't come to town +this evening, has it?" + +"No," answered Harry, "it wasn't no circus. I saw this +elephant down in the big yard back of one of Mr. Swift's +factories." + +"Oh, down there, was it!" exclaimed Ned. "What was it +like?" + +"Well, I was walking along the top of the hill," explained +Harry, "and there's one place where, if you climb a tree, +you can look right down in the big fenced-in yard. I guess +I'm about the only one that knows about it." + +"I don't believe Tom does," mused Ned, "or he'd have had +that tree cut down. He doesn't want any spying, I take it. +Well, what'd you see?" he asked Harry aloud. + +"Saw an elephant, I tell you!", insisted the younger boy. +"I was in the tree, looking down, for a lot of us kids has +tried to peek through the fence and couldn't I wanted to see +what was there." + +"And did you?" asked Ned. + +"I sure did! And it scared me, too," admitted Harry. "All +at once, when I was lookin', I saw the big doors at the back +of the shed open, and the elephant waddled out." + +"Are you sure you weren't 'seeing things,' like the little +boy in the story?" asked Ned. + +"Well, I sure did see something!" insisted Harry. "It was +a great big gray thing, bigger'n any elephant I ever saw in +any circus. It didn't seem to have any tail or trunk, or +even legs, but it went slow, just like an elephant does, and +it shook the ground, it stepped so hard!" + +"Nonsense!" cried Ned. + +"Sure I saw it!" cried Harry. "Anyhow," he added, after a +moment's thought, "it was as big as an elephant, though not +like any I ever saw." + +"What did it do?" asked Ned. + +"Well, it moved around and then it started for the fence +nearest me, where I was up in the tree. I thought it might +have seen me, even though it was gettin' dark, and it might +bust through; so I ran!" + +"Hum! Well, you surely were seeing things," murmured Ned, +but, while he made light of what the boy told him, the young +bank Clerk was thinking: "What is Tom up to now?" + + + + +Chapter VII + +Up a Tree + + +"Want to come and have a look?" asked Harry, as Ned paused +in the patch of woods, which were in deeper darkness than +the rest of the countryside, for night was fast falling. + +"Have a look at what?" asked Ned, who was thinking many +thoughts just then. + +"At the elephant I saw back of the Swift factory. I +wouldn't be skeered if you came along." + +"Well, I'm going over to see Tom Swift, anyhow," answered +Ned, "so I'll walk that way. You can come if you like. I +don't care about spying on other people's property--" + +"I wasn't spyin'!" exclaimed Harry quickly. "I just +happened to look. And then I seen something." + +"Well, come on," suggested Ned. "If there's anything +there, we'll have a peep at it." + +His idea was not to try to see what Tom was evidently +endeavoring to conceal, but it was to observe whence Harry +had made his observation, and be in a position to tell Tom +to guard against unexpected lookers-on from that direction. + +During the walk back along the course over which Harry had +run so rapidly a little while before, Ned and the boy talked +of what the latter had seen. + +"Do you think it could be some new kind of elephant?" +asked Harry. "You know Tom Swift brought back a big giant +from one of his trips, and maybe he's got a bigger elephant +than any one ever saw before." + +"Nonsense!" laughed Ned. "In the first place, Tom hasn't +been on any trip, of late, except to Washington, and the +only kind of elephants there are white ones." + +"Really?" asked Harry. + +"No, that was a joke," explained Ned. "Anyhow, Tom hasn't +any giant elephants concealed up his sleeve, I'm sure of +that." + +"But what could this be?" asked Harry. "It moved just like +some big animal." + +"Probably some piece of machinery Tom was having carted +from one shop to another," went on the young bank clerk. +"Most likely he had it covered with a big piece of canvas to +keep off the dew, and it was that you saw." + +"No, it wasn't!" insisted Harry, but he could not give any +further details of what he had seen so that Ned could +recognize it. They kept on until they reached the hill, at +the bottom of which was the Swift home and the grounds on +which the various shops were erected. + +"Here's the place where you can look down right into the +yard with the high fence around it," explained Harry, as he +indicated the spot. + +"I can't see anything." + +"You have to climb up the tree," Harry went on. "Here, +this is the one, and he indicated a stunted and gnarled +pine, the green branches of which would effectually screen +any one who once got in it a few feet above the ground. + +"Well, I may as well have a look," decided Ned. "It can't +do Tom any harm, and it may be of some service to him. Here +goes!" + +Up into the tree he scrambled, not without some +difficulty, for the branches were close together and stiff, +and Ned tore his coat in the effort. But he finally got a +position where, to his surprise, he could look down into the +very enclosure from which Tom was so particular to keep +prying eyes. + +"You can see right down in it!" Ned exclaimed. + +"I told you so," returned Harry. "But do you see--it?" + +Ned looked long and carefully. It was lighter, now that +they were out of the clump of woods, and he had the +advantage of having the last glow of the sunset at his back. +Even with that it was difficult to make out objects on the +surface of the enclosed field some hundred or more feet +below. + +"Do you see anything?" asked Harry again. + +"No, I can't say I do," Ned answered. "The place seems to +be deserted." + +"Well, there was something there," insisted Harry. "Maybe +you aren't lookin' at the right place." + +"Have a look yourself, then," suggested Ned, as he got +down, a task no more to his liking than the climb upward had +been. + +Harry made easier work of it, being smaller and more used +to climbing trees, a luxury Ned had, perforce, denied +himself since going to work in the bank. + +Harry peered about, and then, with a sigh that had in it +somewhat of disappointment, said: + +"No; there's nothing there now. But I did see something." + +"Are you sure?" asked Ned. + +"Positive!" asserted the other. + +"Well, whatever it was--some bit of machinery he was +moving, I fancy--Tom has taken it in now," remarked Ned. +"Better not say anything about this, Harry. Tom mightn't +like it known." + +"No, I won't." + +"And don't come here again to look. I know you like to see +strange things, but if you'll wait I'll ask Tom, as soon as +it's ready, to let you have a closer view of whatever it was +you saw. Better keep away from this tree." + +"I will," promised the younger lad. "But I'd like to know +what it was--if it really was a giant elephant Say! if a +fellow had a troop of them he could have a lot of fun with +'em, couldn't he?" + +"How?" asked Ned, hardly conscious of what his companion +was saying. + +"Why, he could dress 'em up in coats of mail, like the old +knights used to wear, and turn 'em loose against the +Germans. Think of a regiment of elephants, wearin' armor +plates like a battleship, carryin' on their backs a lot of +soldiers with machine guns and chargin' against Fritz! +Cracky, that would be a sight!" + +"I should say so!" agreed Ned, with a laugh. "There's +nothing the matter with your imagination, Harry, my boy!" + +"And maybe that's what Tom's doin'!" + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean maybe he is trainin' elephants to fight in the +war. You know he made an aerial warship, so why couldn't he +have a lot of armor plated elephants?" + +"Oh, I suppose he could if he wanted to," admitted Ned. +"But I guess he isn't doing that. Don't get to going too +fast in high speed, Harry, or you may have nightmare. Well, +I'm going down to see Tom." + +"And you won't tell him I was peekin'?" + +"Not if you don't do it again. I'll advise him to have +that tree cut down, though. It's too good a vantage spot." + +Harry turned and went in the direction of his home, while +Ned kept on down the hill toward the house of his chum. The +young bond salesman was thinking of many things as he +tramped, along, and among them was the information Harry had +just given. + +But Ned did not pay a visit to his chum that evening. When +he reached the house he found that Tom had gone out, leaving +no word as to when he would be back. + +"Oh, well, I can tell him to-morrow," thought Ned. + +It was not, however, until two days later that Ned found +the time to visit Tom again. On this occasion, as before, he +took the road through the clump of woods where he had seen +Harry running. + +"And while I'm about it," mused Ned, "I may as well go on +to the place where the tree stands and make sure, by +daylight, what I only partially surmised in the evening--that +Tom's place can be looked down on from that vantage point." + +Sauntering slowly along, for he was in no special hurry, +having the remainder of the day to himself, Ned approached +the hill where the tree stood from which Harry had said he +had seen what he took to be a giant elephant, perhaps in +armor. + +"It's a good clear day," observed Ned, "and fine for +seeing. I wonder if I'll be able to see anything." + +It was necessary first to ascend the hill to a point where +it overhung, in a measure, the Swift property, though the +holdings of Tom and his father were some distance beyond the +eminence. The tree from which Ned and Harry had made their +observations was on a knob of the hill, the stunted pine +standing out from among others like it. + +"Well, here goes for another torn coat," grimly observed +Ned, as he prepared to climb. "But I'll be more careful. +First, though, let's see if I can see anything without +getting up." + +He paused a little way from the pine, and peered down the +hill. Nothing could be seen of the big enclosed field back +of the building about which Tom Was so careful. + +"You have to be up to see anything," mused Ned. "It's up a +tree for me! Well, here goes!" + +As Ned started to work his way up among the thick, green +branches, he became aware, suddenly and somewhat to his +surprise, that he was not the only person who knew about the +observation spot. For Ned saw, a yard above his head, as he +started to climb, two feet, encased in well-made boots, +standing on a limb near the trunk of the tree. + +"Oh, ho!" mused Ned. "Some one here before me! Where there +are feet there must be legs, and where there are legs, most +likely a body. And it isn't Harry, either! The feet are too +big for that. I wonder--" + +But Ned's musings were suddenly cut short, for the person +up the tree ahead of him moved quickly and stepped on Ned's +fingers, with no light tread. + +"Ouch!" exclaimed the young bank clerk involuntarily, and, +letting go his hold of the limb, he dropped to the ground, +while there came a startled exclamation from the screen of +pine branches above him. + + + + +Chapter VIII + +Detective Rad + + +"Who's there?" came the demand from the unseen person in +the tree. + +"I might ask you the same thing," was Ned's sharp retort, +as he nursed his skinned and bruised fingers. "What are you +doing up there?" + +There was no answer, but a sound among the branches +indicated that the person up the tree was coming down. In +another moment a man leaped to the ground lightly and stood +beside Ned. The lad observed that the stranger was clean +shaven, except for a small moustache which curled up at the +ends slightly. + +"For all the world like a small edition of the Kaiser's," +Ned described it afterward. + +"What are you doing here?" demanded the man, and his voice +had in it the ring of authority. It was this very quality +that made Ned bristle up and "get on his ear," as he said +later. The young clerk did not object to being spoken to +authoritatively by those who had the right, but from a +stranger it was different. + +"I might ask you the same thing," retorted Ned. "I have as +much right here as you, I fancy, and I can climb trees, too, +but I don't care to have my fingers stepped on," and he +looked at the scarified members of his left hand. + +"I beg your pardon. I'm sorry if I hurt you. I didn't mean +to. And of course this is a public place, in a way, and you +have a right here. I was just climbing the tree to--er--to +get a fishing pole!" + +Ned had all he could do to keep from laughing. The idea of +getting a fishing pole from a gnarled and stunted pine +struck him as being altogether novel and absurd. Yet it was +not time to make fun of the man. The latter looked too +serious for that. + +"Rather a good view to be had from up where you were, eh?" +asked Ned suggestively. + +"A good view?" exclaimed the other. "I don't know what you +mean!" + +"Oh, then you didn't see anything," Ned went on. "Perhaps +it's just as well. Are you fond of fishing?" + +"Very. I have--But I forget, I do not know you nor you +me. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Mr. Walter Simpson, +and I am here on a visit I just happened to walk out this +way, and, seeing a small stream, thought I should like to +fish. I usually carry lines and hooks, and all I needed was +the pole. I was looking for it when I heard you, and--" + +"I felt you!" interrupted Ned, with a short laugh. He told +his own name, but that was all, and seemed about to pass on. + +"Are there any locomotive shops around here?" asked Mr. +Simpson. + +"Locomotive shops?" queried Ned. "None that I know of. +Why?" + +"Well, I heard heavy machinery being used down there;" and +he waved his hand toward Tom's shops, "and I thought--" + +"Oh, you mean Shopton!" exclaimed Ned. "That's the Swift +plant. No, they don't make locomotives, though they could if +they wanted to, for they turn out airships, submarines, +tunnel diggers, and I don't know what." + +"Do they make munitions there--for the Allies?" asked Mr. +Simpson, and there was an eager look on his face. + +"No, I don't believe so," Ned answered; "though, in fact, +I don't know enough of the place to be in a position to give +you any information about it," he told the man, not deeming +it wise to go into particulars. + +Perhaps the man felt this, as he did not press for an +answer. + +The two stood looking at one another for some little time, +and then the man, with a bow that had in it something of +insolence, as well as politeness, turned and went down the +path up which Ned had come. + +The young bank clerk waited a little while, and then +turned his attention to the tree which seemed to have +suddenly assumed an importance altogether out of proportion +to its size. + +"Well, since I'm here I'll have a look up that tree," +decided Ned. + +Favoring his bruised hand, Ned essayed the ascent of the +tree more successfully this time. As he rose up among the +branches he found he could look down directly into the yard +with the high fence about it. He Could see only a portion, +good as his vantage point was, and that portion had in it a +few workmen--nothing else. + +"No elephants there," said Ned, with a smile, as he +remembered Harry's excitement. "Still it's just as well for +Tom to know that his place can be looked down on. I'll go +and tell him." + +As Ned descended the tree he caught a glimpse, off to one +side among some bushes, of something moving. + +"I wonder if that's my Simp friend, playing I spy?" mused +Ned. "Guess I'd better have a look." + +He worked his way carefully close to the spot where he had +seen the movement. Proceeding then with more caution, +watching each step and parting the bushes with a careful +hand, Ned beheld what he expected. + +There was the late occupant of the pine tree the man who +had stepped on Ned's fingers, applying a small telescope to +his eye and gazing in the direction of Tom Swift's home. + +The man stood concealed in a screen of bushes with his +back toward Ned, and seemed oblivious to his surroundings. +He moved the glass to and fro, and seemed eagerly intent on +discovering something. + +"Though what he can see of Tom's place from there isn't +much," mused Ned. "I've tried it myself, and I know; you +have to be on an elevation to look down. Still it shows +he's after something, all right. Guess I'll throw a little +scare into him." + +As yet, Ned believed himself unobserved, and that his +presence was not suspected was proved a moment later when he +shouted: + +"Hey! What are you doing there?" + +He had his eye on the partially concealed man, and the +latter, as Ned said afterward, jumped fully two feet in the +air, dropping his telescope as he did so, and turning to +face the lad. + +"Oh, it's you, is it?" he faltered. + +"No one else;" and Ned grinned. "Looking for a good place +to fish, I presume?" + +Then, at least for once, the man's suave manner dropped +from him as if it had been a mask. He bared his teeth in a +snarl as he answered: + +"Mind your own business!" + +"Something I'd advise you also to do," replied Ned +smoothly. "You can't see anything from there," he went on. +"Better go back to the tree and--cut a fishing pole!" + +With this parting shot Ned sauntered down the hill, and +swung around to make his way toward Tom's home. He paid no +further attention to the man, save to determine, by +listening, that the fellow was searching among the bushes +for the dropped telescope. + +The young inventor was at home, taking a hasty lunch which +Mrs. Baggert had set out for him, the while he poured over +some blueprint drawings that, to Ned's unaccustomed eyes, +looked like the mazes of some intricate puzzle. + +"Well, where have you been keeping yourself, old man?" +asked Tom Swift, after he had greeted his friend. + +"I might ask the same of you," retorted Ned, with a smile. +"I've been trying to find you to give you some important +information, and I made up my mind, after what happened +to-day, to write it and leave it for you if I didn't see you." + +"What happened to-day?" asked Tom, and there was a serious +look on his face. + +"You are being spied upon--at least, that part of your +works enclosed in the new fence is," replied Ned. + +"You don't mean it!" Cried Tom. "This accounts for some of +it, then." + +"For some of what?" asked Ned. + +"For some of the actions of that Blakeson, He's been +hanging around here, I understand, asking too many questions +about things that I'm trying to keep secret--even from my +best friends," and as Tom said this Ned fancied there was a +note of regret in his voice. + +"Yes, you are keeping some things secret, Tom," said Ned, +determined "to take the bull by the horns," as it were. + +"I'm sorry, but it has to be," went on Tom. "In a little +while--" + +"Oh, don't think that I'm at all anxious to know things!" +broke in Ned. "I was thinking of some one else, Tom--another +of your friends." + +"Do you mean Mary?" + +Ned nodded. + +"She feels rather keenly your lack of explanations," went +on the young bank clerk. "If you could only give her a hint--" + +"I'm sorry, but it can't be done," and Tom spoke firmly. +"But you haven't told me all that happened. You say I am +being spied upon." + +"Yes," and Ned related what had taken place in the tree. + +"Whew!" whistled Tom. "That's going some with a vengeance! +I must have that tree down in a jiffy. I didn't imagine +there was a spot where the yard could be overlooked. But I +evidently skipped that tree. Fortunately it's on land owned +by a concern with which I have some connection, and I can +have it chopped down without any trouble. Much obliged to +you, Ned. I shan't forget this in a hurry. I'll go right +away and--" + +Tom's further remark was interrupted by the hurried +entrance of Eradicate Sampson. The old man was smiling in +pleased anticipation, evidently, at the same time, trying +hard not to give way to too much emotion. + +"I's done it, Massa Tom!" he cried exultingly. + +"Done what?" asked the young inventor. "I hope you and +Koku haven't had another row." + +"No, sah! I don't want nuffin t' do wif dat ornery, low-down +white trash! But I's gone an' done whut I said I'd do!" + +"What's that, Rad? Come on, tell us! Don't keep us in +suspense." + +"I's done some deteckertiff wuk, lest laik I said I'd do, +an' I's cotched him! By golly, Massa Tom! I's cotched him +black-handed, as it says!" + +"Caught him? Whom have you caught, Rad?" cried Tom. "Do +you suppose he means he's caught the man you saw up the +tree, Ned? The man you think is a German spy?" + +"It couldn't be. I left him only a little while ago +hunting for his telescope." + +"Then whom have you caught, Rad?" cried Tom. "Come on, +I'll give you credit for it. Tell us!" + +"I's cotched dat Dutch Sauerkrauter, dat's who I's +cotched, Massa Tom! By golly, I's cotched him!" + +"But who, Rad? Who is he?" + +"I don't know his name, Massa Tom, but he's a +Sauerkrauter, all right. Dat's whut he eats for lunch, an' +dat's why I calls him dat. I's cotched him, an' he's locked +up in de stable wif mah mule Boomerang. An' ef he tries t' +git out Boomerang'll jest natchully kick him into little +pieces--dat's whut Boomerang will do, by golly!" + + + + +Chapter IX + +A Night Test + + +"Come on, Ned," said Tom, after a moment or two of silent +contemplation of Eradicate. "I don't know what this cheerful +camouflager of mine is talking about, but we'll have to go +to see, I suppose. You say you have shut some one up in +Boomerang's stable, Rad?" + +"Yes, sah, Massa Tom, dat's whut I's gone an done." + +"And you say he's a German?" + +"I don't know as to dat, Massa Tom, but he suah done eat +sauerkraut 'mostest ebery meal. Dat's whut I call him--a +Sauerkrauter! An' he suah was spyin'." + +"How do you know that, Rad?" + +"'Cause he done went from his own shop on annuder man's +ticket into de secret shop, dat's whut he went an' done!" + +"Do you mean to tell me, Rad," went on Tom, "that one of +the workmen from another shop entered Number Thirteen on the +pass issued in the name of one of the men regularly employed +in my new shop?" + +"Dat's whut he done, Massa Tom." + +"How do you know?" + +"'Cause I detected him doin' it. Yo'-all done made me a +deteckertiff, an' I detected." + +"Go on, Rad." + +"Well, sah, Massa Tom, I seen dish yeah Dutchman git a +ticket-pass offen one ob de reg'lar men. Den he went in de +unlucky place an' stayed fo' a long time. When he come out I +jest natchully nabbed him, dat's whut I done, an' I took him +to Boomerang's stable." + +"How'd you get him to go with you?" asked Ned, for the old +colored man was feeble, and most of the men employed at +Tom's plant were of a robust type. + +"I done fooled him. I said as how I'd lest brought from +town in mah mule cart some new sauerkraut, an' he could +sample it if he liked. So he went wif me, an' when I got him +to de stable I pushed him in and locked de door!" + +"Come on!" cried Tom to his chum. "Rad may be right, after +all, and one of my workmen may be a German spy, though I've +tried to weed them all out. + +"However, no matter about that, if he was employed in +another shop, he had no right to go into Number Thirteen. +That's a violation of rules. But if he's in Rad's ramshackle +stable he can easily get out." + +"No, sah, dat's whut he can't do!" insisted the +colored man. + +"Why not?" asked Tom. + +"'Cause Boomerang's on guard, an' yo'-all knows how dat +mule of mine can use his heels!" + +"I know, Rad," went on Tom; "but this fellow will find a +way of keeping out of their way. We must hurry." + +"Oh, he's safe enough," declared the colored man. "I done +tole Koku to stan' guard, too! Dat low-down white trash ob a +giant is all right fo' guardin', but he ain't wuff shucks at +detectin'!" said Eradicate, with pardonable pride. "By +golly, maybe I's too old t' put on guard, but I kin detect, +all right!" + +"If this proves true, I'll begin to believe you can," +replied Tom. "Hop along, Ned!" + +Followed by the shuffling and chuckling negro, Tom and Ned +went to the rather insecure stable where the mule Boomerang +was kept. That is, the stable was insecure from the +standpoint of a jail. But the sight of the giant Koku +marching up and down in front of the place, armed with a big +club, reassured Tom. + +"Is he in there, Koku?" asked the young inventor. + +"Yes, Master! He try once come out, but he approach his +head very close my defense weapon and he go back again." + +"I should think he would," laughed Ned, as he noted the +giant's club. + +"Well, Rad, let's have a look at your prisoner. Open the +door, Koku," commanded Tom. + +"Better look out," advised Ned. "He may be armed." + +"We'll have to take a chance. Besides, I don't believe he +is, or he'd have fired at Koku. There isn't much to fear +with the giant ready for emergencies. Now we'll see who he +is. I can't imagine one of my men turning traitor." + +The door was opened and a rather miserable-looking man +shuffled out. There was a bloody rag on his head, and he +seemed to have made more of an effort to escape than Koku +described, for he appeared to have suffered in the ensuing +fight. + +"Carl Schwen!" exclaimed Tom. "So it was you, was it?" + +The German, for such he was, did not answer for a moment +He appeared downcast, and as if suffering. Then a change +came over him. He straightened up, saluted as a soldier +might have done, and a sneering look came into his face. It +was succeeded by one of pride as the man exclaimed: + +"Yes, it is I! And I tried to do what I tried to do for +the Fatherland! I have failed. Now you will have me shot as +a spy, I suppose!" he added bitterly. + +Tom did not answer directly. He looked keenly at the man, +and at last said: + +"I am sorry to see this. I knew you were a German, Schwen, +but I kept you employed at work that could not, by any +possibility, be considered as used against your country. You +are a good machinist, and I needed you. But if what I hear +about you is true, it is the end." + +"It is the end," said the man simply. "I tried and failed. +If it had not been for Eradicate--Well, he's smarter than I +gave him credit for, that's all!" + +The man spoke very good English, with hardly a trace of +German accent, but there was no doubt as to his character. + +"What will you do with him, Tom?" asked Ned. + +"I don't know. I'll have to do a little investigating +first. But he must be locked up. Schwen," went on the young +inventor, "I'm sorry about this, but I shall have to give +you into the custody of a United States marshal. You are not +a naturalized citizen, are you?" + +The man muttered something in German to the effect that he +was not naturalized and was glad of it. + +"Then you come under the head of an enemy alien," decided +Tom, who understood what was said, "and will have to be +interned. I had hoped to avoid this, but it seems it cannot +be. I am sorry to lose you, but there are more important +matters. Now let's get at the bottom of this." + +Schwen was, after a little delay, taken in charge by the +proper officer, and then a search was made of his room, for, +in common with some of the other workmen, he lived in a +boarding house not far from the plant. + +There, by a perusal of his papers, enough was revealed to +show Tom the danger he had escaped. + +"And yet I don't know that I have altogether escaped it," +he said to Ned, as they talked it over. "There's no telling +how long this spy work may have been going on. If he has +discovered all the secrets of Shop Thirteen it may be a bad +thing for the Allies and--" + +"Look out!" warned Ned, with a laugh. "You'll be saying +things you don't want to, Tom and not at all in keeping with +your former silence." + +"That's so," agreed the young inventor, with a sigh. "But +if things go right I'll not have to keep silent much longer. +I may be able to tell you everything." + +"Don't tell me--tell Mary," advised his chum. "She feels +your silence more than I do. I know how such things are." + +"Well, I'll be able to tell her, too," decided Tom. "That +is, if Schwen hasn't spoiled everything. Look here, Ned, +these papers show he's been in correspondence with Blakeson +and Grinder." + +"What about, Tom?" + +"I can't tell. The letters are evidently written in code, +and I can't translate it offhand. But I'll make another +attempt at it. And here's one from a person who signs +himself Walter Simpson, but the writing is in German." + +"Walter Simpson!" cried Ned. "That's my friend of the +tree!" + +"It is?" cried Tom. "Then things begin to fit themselves +together. Simpson is a spy, and he was probably trying to +communicate with Schwen. But the latter didn't get the +information he wanted, or, if he did get it, he wasn't able +to pass it on to the man in the tree. Eradicate nipped him +just in time." + +And, so it seemed, the colored man had done. By accident +he had discovered that Schwen had prevailed on one of the +workmen in Shop 13 to change passes with him. This enabled +the German spy to gain admittance to the secret place, which +Tom thought was so well guarded. The man who let Schwen take +the pass was in the game, too, it appeared, and he was also +placed under arrest. But he was a mere tool in the pay of +the others, and had no chance to gain valuable information. + +A hasty search of Shop 13 did not reveal anything missing, +and it was surmised (for Schwen would not talk) that he had +not found time to go about and get all that he was after. + +Soon after Schwen's arrest the "Spy Tree," as Tom called +it, was cut down. + +"Eradicate certainly did better than I ever expected he +would," declared Tom. "Well, if all goes well, there won't +be so much need for secrecy after a day or so. We're going +to give her a test, and then--" + +"Give who a test?" asked Ned, with a smile. + +"You'll soon see," answered Tom, with an answering grin. +"I hereby invite you and Mr. Damon to come over to Shop +Thirteen day after to-morrow night and then--Well, you'll +see what you'll see." + +With this Ned had to be content, and he waited anxiously +for the appointed time to come. + +"I surely will be glad when Tom is more like himself," he +mused, as he left his chum. "And I guess Mary will be, too. +I wonder if he's going to ask her to the exhibition?" + +It developed that Tom had done so, a fact which Ned +learned on the morning of the day set for the test. + +"Come over about nine o'clock," Tom said to his chum. "I +guess it will be dark enough then." + +Meanwhile Schwen and Otto Kuhn, the other man involved, +had been locked up, and all their papers given into the +charge of the United States authorities. A closer guard than +ever was kept over No. 13 shop, and some of the workmen, +against whom there was a slight suspicion, were transferred. + +"Well, we'll see what we shall see," mused Ned on the +appointed evening, when a telephone message from Mr. Damon +informed the young bank clerk that the eccentric man was +coming to call for him before going on to the Swift place. + + + + +Chapter X + +A Runaway Giant + + +"What do you think it's all about, Mr. Damon?" + +"I'm sure I don't know, Ned." + +The two were at the home of the young bank clerk, +preparing to start for the Swift place, it being nearly nine +o'clock on the evening named by the youthful inventor. + +"Bless my hat-rack!" went on the eccentric man, "but Tom +isn't at all like himself of late. He's working on some +invention, I know that, but it's all I do know. He hasn't +given me a hint of it." + +"Nor me, nor any of his friends," added Ned. "And he acts +so oddly about enlisting--doesn't want even to speak of it. +How he got exempted I don't know, but I do know one thing, +and that is Tom Swift is for Uncle Sam first, last and +always!" + +"Oh, of course!" agreed Mr. Damon. "Well, we'll soon know, +I guess. We'd better start, Ned." + +"It's useless to try to guess what it is Tom is up to. He +has kept his secret well. The nearest any one has come to it +was when Harry figured out that Tom had a band of giant +elephants which he was fitting with coats of steel armor to +go against the Germans," observed Ned, when be and Mr. Damon +were on their way. + +"Well, that mightn't be so bad," agreed Mr. Damon. +"But--um--elephants--and wild giant ones, too! Bless my circus +ticket, Ned! do you think we'd better go in that case?" + +"Oh, Tom hasn't anything like that!" laughed Ned. "That +was only Harry's crazy notion after he saw something big and +ungainly careening about the enclosed yard of Shop Thirteen. +Hello, there go Mary Nestor and her father!" and Ned pointed +to the opposite side of the street where the girl and Mr. +Nestor could be seen in the light of a street lamp. + +"They're going out to see Tom's secret," said Mr. Damon. +"There's plenty of room in my car. Let's ask them to go with +us." + +"Surely," agreed Ned, and a moment later he and Mary were +in the rear seat while Mr. Damon and Mr. Nestor were in the +front, Mr. Damon at the wheel, and they were soon speeding +down the road. + +"I do hope everything will go all right," observed Mary. + +"What do you mean?" asked Ned. + +"I mean Tom is a little bit anxious about this test." + +"Did he tell you what it was to be?" + +"No; but when he called to invite father and me to be +present he seemed worried. I guess it's a big thing, for he +never has acted this way before--not talking about his +work." + +"That's right," assented Ned. "But the secret will soon be +disclosed, I fancy. But how is it you aren't going to the +dance with Lieutenant Martin? He told me you had half +accepted for to-night." + +"I had." And if it had been light enough Ned would have +seen Mary blushing. "I was going with him. It's a dance for +the benefit of the Red Cross to get money for comfort kits +for the soldiers. But when Tom sent word that he'd like to +have me present to-night, why--" + +"Oh, I see!" broke in Ned, with a little laugh. "'Nough +said!" + +Mary's blushes were deeper, but the kindly night hid them. + +Then they conversed on matters connected with the big war--the +selling of Liberty Bonds, the Red Cross work and the +Surgical Dressings Committee, in which Mary was the head of +a junior league. + +"Everybody in Shopton seems to be doing something to help +win the war," said Mary, and as there was just then a lull +in the talk between her father and Mr. Damon her words +sounded clearly. + +"Yes, everybody--that is, all but a few," said Mr. Nestor, +"and they ought to get busy. There are some young fellows in +this town that ought to be wearing khaki, and I don't mean +you, Ned Newton. You're doing your bit, all right." + +"And so is Tom Swift!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as if there +had been an implied accusation against the young inventor. +"I heard, only to-day, that one of his inventions--a gas +helmet that he planned--is in use on the Western front in +Europe. Tom gave his patents to the government, and even +made a lot of the helmets free to show other factories how +to turn them out to advantage." + +"He did?" cried Mr. Nestor. + +"That's what he did. Talk about doing your bit--" + +"I didn't know that," observed Mary's father slowly. "Do +you suppose it's a test of another gas helmet that Tom has +asked us out to see to-night?" + +"I hardly think so," said Ned. "He wouldn't wait until +after dark for that This is something big, and Tom must +intend to have it out in the open. He probably waited until +after sunset so the neighbors wouldn't come out in flocks. +There's been a lot of talk about what is going on in Shop +Thirteen, especially since the arrest of the German spies, +and the least hint that a test is under way would bring out +a big crowd." + +"I suppose so," agreed Mr. Nestor. "Well, I'm glad to know +that Tom is doing something for Uncle Sam, even if it's only +helping with gas helmets. Those Germans are barbarians, if +ever there were any, and we've got to fight them the same +way they fight us! That's the only way to end the war! Now +if I had my way, I'd take every German I could lay my hands +on--" + +"Father, pretzels!" exclaimed Mary. + +"Eh? What's that, my dear?" + +"I said pretzels!" + +"Oh!" and Mr. Nestor's voice lost its sharpness. + +"That's my way of quieting father down when he gets too +strenuous in his talk about the war," explained Mary. "We +agreed that whenever he got excited I was to say 'pretzels' +to him, and that would make him remember. We made up our +little scheme after he got into an argument with a man on +the train and was carried past his station." + +"That's right," admitted Mr. Nestor, with a laugh. "But +that fellow was the most obstinate, pig-headed Dutchman that +ever tackled a plate of pig's knuckles and sauerkraut, and +if he had the least grain of common sense he'd--" + +"Pretzels!" cried Mary. + +"Eh? Oh, yes, my dear. I was forgetting again." + +There was a moment of merriment, and then, after the talk +had run for a while in other and safer channels, Mr. Damon +made the announcement: + +"I think we're about there. We'll be at Tom's place when +we make the turn and--" + +He was interrupted by a low, heavy rumbling. + +"What's that?" asked Mr. Nestor. + +"It's getting louder--the noise," remarked Mary. "It +sounds as if some big body were approaching down the road--the +tramp of many feet. Can it be that troops are marching away?" + +"Bless my spark plug!" suddenly cried Mr. Damon. "Look!" + +They gazed ahead, and there, seen in the glare of the +automobile headlights, was an immense, dark body approaching +them from across a level field. The rumble and roar became +more pronounced and the ground shook as though from an +earthquake. + +A glaring light shone out from the ponderous moving body, +and above the roar and rattle a voice called: + +"Out out of the way! We've lost control! Look out!" + +"Bless my steering wheel!" gasped Mr. Damon, +"that was Tom Swift's voice! But what is he +doing in that--thing?" + +"It must be his new invention!" exclaimed Ned. + +"What is it?" asked Mr. Nestor. + +"A giant," ventured Ned. "It's a giant machine of some +sort and--" + +"And it's running away!" cried Mr. Damon, as he quickly +steered his car to one side--and not a moment too soon! An +instant later in a cloud of dust, and with a rumble and a +roar as of a dozen express trains fused into one, the +runaway giant--of what nature they could only guess--flashed +and lumbered by, Tom Swift leaning from an opening in the +thick steel side, and shouting something to his friends. + + + + +Chapter XI + +Tom's Tank + + +"What was it?" gasped Mary, and, to her surprise, she +found herself close to Ned, clutching his arm. + +"I have an idea, but I'd rather let Tom tell you," he +answered. + +"But where's it going?" asked Mr. Nestor. "What in the +world does Tom Swift mean by inviting us out here to witness +a test, and then nearly running us down under a Juggernaut?" + +"Oh, there must be some mistake, I'm sure," returned his +daughter. "Tom didn't intend this." + +"But, bless my insurance policy, look at that thing go! +What in the world is it?" cried Mr. Damon. + +The "thing" was certainly going. It had careened from the +road, tilted itself down into a ditch and gone on across the +fields, lights shooting from it in eccentric fashion. + +"Maybe we'd better take after it," suggested Mr. Nestor. +"If Tom is--" + +"There, it's stopping !" cried Ned. "Come on!" + +He sprang from the automobile, helped Mary to get out, and +then the two, followed by Mr. Damon and Mr. Nestor, made +their way across the fields toward the big object where it +had come to a stop, the rumbling and roaring ceasing. + +Before the little party reached the strange machine--the +"runaway giant," as they dubbed it in their excitement--a +bright light flashed from it, a light that illuminated their +path right up to the monster. And in the glare of this light +they saw Tom Swift stepping out through a steel door in the +side of the affair. + +"Are you all right?" he called to his friends, as they +approached. + +"All right, as nearly as we can be when we've been almost +scared to death, Tom," said Mr. Nestor. + +"I'm surely sorry for what happened," Tom answered, with a +relieved laugh. "Part of the steering gear broke and I had +to guide it by operating the two motors alternately. It can +be worked that way, but it takes a little practice to become +expert." + +"I should say so!" cried Mr. Damon. "But what in the world +does it all mean, Tom Swift? You invite us out to see +something--" + +"And there she is!" interrupted the young inventor. "You +saw her a little before I meant you to, and not under +exactly the circumstances I had planned. But there she is!" +And he turned as though introducing the metallic monster to +his friends. + +"What is she, Tom?" asked Ned. "Name it!" + +"My latest invention, or rather the invention of my father +and myself," answered Tom, and his voice showed the love and +reverence he felt for his parent. "Perhaps I should say +adaptation instead of invention," Tom went on, "since that +is what it is. But, at any rate, it's my latest--dad's and +mine--and it's the newest, biggest, most improved and +powerful fighting tank that's been turned out of any shop, +as far as I can learn. + +"Ladies--I mean lady and gentlemen--allow me to present to +you War Tank A, and may she rumble till the pride of the +Boche is brought low and humble!" cried Tom. + +"Hurray! That's what I say!" cheered Ned. + +"That's what I have been at work on lately. I'll give you +a little history of it, and then you may come inside and +have a ride home." + +"In that?" cried Mr. Damon. + +"Yes. I can't promise to move as speedily as your car, but +I can make better time than the British tanks. They go about +six miles an hour, I understand, and I've got mine geared to +ten. That's one improvement dad and I have made." + +"Ride in that!" cried Mr. Nestor. "Tom, I like you, and +I'm glad to see I've been mistaken about you. You have been +doing your bit, after all; but--" + +"Oh, I've only begun!" laughed Tom Swift. + +"Well, no matter about that. However much I like you," +went on Mr. Nestor, "I'd as soon ride on the wings of a +thunderbolt as in Tank A, Tom Swift." + +"Oh, it isn't as bad as that!" laughed the young +scientist. "But neither is it a limousine. However, come +inside, anyhow, and I'll tell you something about it. Then +I guess we can guide it back. The men are repairing the +break." + +The visitors entered the great craft through the door by +which Tom had emerged. At first all they saw was a small +compartment, with walls of heavy steel, some shelves of the +same and a seat which folded up against the wall made of +like powerful material. + +"This is supposed to be the captain's room, where he stays +when he directs matters." Tom explained. "The machinery is +below and beyond here." + +"How'd you come to evolve this?" asked Ned. "I haven't +seen half enough of the outside, to say nothing of the +inside." + +"You'll have time enough," Tom said. "This is my first +completed tank. There are some improvements to be made +before we send it to the other side to be copied. + +"Then they'll make them in England as well as here, and +from here we'll ship them in sections." + +"I don't see how you ever thought of it!" exclaimed the +girl, in wonder. + +"Well, I didn't all at once," Tom answered, with a laugh. +"It came by degrees. I first got the idea when I heard of +the British tanks. + +"When I had read how they went into action and what they +accomplished against the barbed wire entanglements, and how +they crossed the trenches, I concluded that a bigger tank, +one capable of more speed, say ten or twelve miles an hour, +and one that could cross bigger excavations--the English +tanks up to this time can cross a ditch of twelve feet--I +thought that, with one made on such specifications, more +effective work could be done against the Germans." + +"And will yours do that?" asked Ned. "I mean will it do +ten miles an hour, and straddle over a wider ditch than +twelve feet?" + +"It'll do both," promptly answered Tom. "We did a little +better than eleven miles an hour a while ago when I yelled +to you to get out of the way just now. It's true we weren't +under good control, but the speed had nothing to do with +that. And as for going over a big ditch, I think we +straddled one about fourteen feet across back there, and we +can do better when I get my grippers to working." + +"Grippers!" exclaimed Mary. + +"What kind of trench slang is that, Tom Swift?" asked Mr. +Damon. + +"Well, that's a new idea I'm going to try out It's +something like this," and while from a distant part of the +interior of Tank A came the sound of hammering, the young +inventor rapidly drew a rough pencil sketch. + +It showed the tank in outline, much as appear the pictures +of tanks already in service--the former simile of two wedge-shaped +pieces of metal put together broad end to broad end, +still holding good. From one end of the tank, as Tom drew +it, there extended two long arms of latticed steel +construction. + +"The idea is," said Tom, "to lay these down in front of +the tank, by means of cams and levers operated from inside. +If we get to a ditch which we can't climb down into and out +again, or bridge with the belt caterpillar wheels, we'll use +the grippers. They'll be laid down, taking a grip on the far +side of the trench, and we'll slide across on them." + +"And leave them there?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"No, we won't leave them. We'll pick them up after we have +passed over them and use them in front again as we need +them. A couple of extra pairs of grippers may be carried for +emergencies, but I plan to use the same ones over and over +again." + +"But what makes it go?" asked Mary. "I don't want all the +details, Tom," she said, with a smile, "but I'd like to know +what makes your tank move." + +"I'll be able to show you in a little while," he answered. +"But it may be enough now if I tell you that the main power +consists of two big gasolene engines, one on either side. +They can be geared to operate together or separately. And +these engines turn the endless belts made of broad, steel +plates, on which the tank travels. The belts pass along the +outer edges of the tank longitudinally, and go around cogged +wheels at either end of the blunt noses. + +"When both belts travel at the same rate of speed the tank +goes in a straight line, though it can be steered from side +to side by means of a trailer wheel in the rear. Making one +belt--one set of caterpillar wheels, you know--go faster +than the other will make the tank travel to one side or the +other, the turn being in the direction of the slowest moving +belt. In this way we can steer when the trailer wheels are +broken." + +"And what does your tank do except travel along, not +minding a hail of bullets?" asked Mr. Nestor. + +"Well," answered Tom, "it can do anything any other tank +can do, and then some more. It can demolish a good-sized +house or heavy wall, break down big trees, and chew up +barbed-wire fences as if they were toothpicks. I'll show you +all that in due time. Just now, if the repairs are finished, +we can get back on the road--" + +At that moment a door leading into the compartment where +Tom and his friends were talking opened, and one of the +workmen said: + +"A man outside asking to see you, Mr. Swift." + +"Pardon me, but I won't keep you a moment," interrupted a +suave voice. "I happened to observe your tank, and I took +the liberty of entering to see--" + +"Simpson!" cried Ned Newton, as he recognized the man who +had been up the tree. "It's that spy, Simpson, Tom!" + + + + +Chapter XII + +Bridging a Gap + + +Such surprise showed both on the face of Ned Newton and +that of the man who called himself Walter Simpson that it +would be hard to say which was in the greater degree. For a +moment the newcomer stood as if he had received all electric +shock, and was incapable of motion. Then, as the echoes of +Ned's voice died away and the young bank clerk, being the +first to recover from the shock, made a motion toward the +unwelcome and uninvited intruder, Simpson exclaimed. + +"I will not bother now. Some other time will do as well." + +Then, with a haste that could be called nothing less than +precipitate, he made a turn and fairly shot out of the door +by which he had entered the tank. + +"There he goes!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my speedometer, +but there he goes!" + +"I'll stop him!" cried Ned. "We've got to find out more +about him! I'll get him, Tom!" + +Tom Swift was not one to let a friend rush alone into what +might be danger. He realized immediately what his chum meant +when he called out the identity of the intruder, and, +wishing to clear up some of the mystery of which he became +aware when Schwen was arrested and the paper showing a +correspondence with this Simpson were found, Tom darted out +to try to assist in the capture. + +"He went this way!" cried Ned, who was visible in the +glare of the searchlight that still played its powerful +beams over the stern of the tank, if such an ungainly +machine can be said to have a bow and stern. "Over this +way!" + +"I'm with you!" cried Tom. "See if you can pick up that +man who just ran out of here!" he cried to the operator of +the searchlight in the elevated observation section of what +corresponded to the conning tower of a submarine. This was a +sort of lookout box on top of the tank, containing, among +other machines, the searchlight. "Pick him up!" cried Tom. + +The operator flashed the intense white beam, like a finger +of light, around in eccentric circles, but though this +brought into vivid relief the configuration of the field and +road near which the tank was stalled, it showed no running +fugitive. Tom and Ned were observed--shadows of black in the +glare--by Mary and her friends in the tank, but there was no +one else. + +"Come on!" cried Ned. "We can find him, Tom!" + +But this was easier said than done. Even though they were +aided by the bright light, they caught no glimpse of the man +who called himself Simpson. + +"Guess he got away," said Tom, when he and Ned had circled +about and investigated many clumps of bushes, trees, stumps +and other barriers that might conceal the fugitive. + +"I guess so," agreed Ned. "Unless he's hiding in what we +might call a shell crater." + +"Hardly that," and Tom smiled. "Though if all goes well +the men who operate this tank later may be searching for men +in real shell holes." + +"Is this one going to the other side?" asked Ned, as the +two walked back toward the tank. + +"I hope it will be the first of my new machines on the +Western front," Tom answered. "But I've still got to perfect +it in some details and then take it apart. After that, if it +comes up to expectations, we'll begin making them in +quantities." + +"Did you get him?" asked Mr. Damon eagerly, as the two +young men came back to join Mary and her friends. + +"No, he got away," Tom answered. + +"Did he try to blow up the tank?" asked Mr. Nestor, who +had an abnormal fear of explosives. "Was he a German spy?" + +"I think he's that, all right," said Ned grimly. "As to +his endeavoring to blow up Tom's tank, I believe him capable +of it, though he didn't try it to-night--unless he's planted +a time bomb somewhere about, Tom." + +"Hardly, I guess," answered the young inventor. "He didn't +have a chance to do that. Anyhow we won't remain here long. +Now, Ned, what about this chap? Is he really the one you saw +up in the tree?" + +"I not only saw him but I felt him," answered Ned, with a +rueful look at his fingers. "He stepped right on me. And +when he came inside the tank to-night I knew him at once. I +guess he was as surprised to see me as I was to see him." + +"But what was his object?" asked Mr. Nestor. + +"He must have some connection with my old enemy, +Blakeson," answered Tom, "and we know he's mixed up with +Schwen. From the looks of him I should say that this +Simpson, as he calls himself, is the directing head of the +whole business. He looks to be the moneyed man, and the +brains of the plotters. Blakeson is smart, in a mechanical +way, and Schwen is one of the best machinists I've ever +employed. But this Simpson strikes me as being the slick one +of the trio." + +"But what made him come here, and what did he want?" asked +Mary. "Dear me! it's like one of those moving picture plots, +only I never saw one with a tank in it before--I mean a tank +like yours, Tom." + +"Yes, it is a bit like moving picture--especially chasing +Simpson by searchlight," agreed the young inventor. "As to +what he wanted, I suppose he came to spy out some of my +secret inventions--dad's and mine. He's probably been hiding +and sneaking around the works ever since we arrested Schwen. +Some of my men have reported seeing strangers about, but I +have kept Shop Thirteen well guarded. + +"However, this fellow may have been waiting outside, and +he may have followed the tank when we started off a little +while ago for the night test. Then, when he saw our mishap +and noticed that we were stalled, he came in, boldly enough, +thinking, I suppose, that, as I had never seen him, he would +take a chance on getting as much information as he could in +a hurry." + +"But he didn't count on Ned's being here!" chuckled Mr. +Damon. + +"No; that's where he slipped a cog," remarked Mr. Nestor. +"Well, Tom, I like your tank, what I've seen of her, but +it's getting late and I think Mary and I had better be +getting back home." + +"We'll be ready to start in a little while," Tom said, +after a brief consultation with one of his men. "Still, +perhaps it would be just as well if you didn't ride back +with me. She may go all right, and then, again, she may not. +And as it's dark, and we're in a rough part of the field, +you might be a bit shaken up. Not that the tank minds it!" +the young inventor hastened to add "She's got to do her bit +over worse places than this--much worse--but I want to get +her in a little better working shape first. So if you don't +mind, Mary, I'll postpone your initial trip." + +"Oh, I don't mind, Tom! I'm so glad you've made this! I +want to see the war ended, and I think machines like this +will help." + +"I'll ride back with you, Tom, if you don't mind," put in +Ned. "I guess a little shaking up won't hurt me." + +"All right--stick. We're going to start very soon." + +"Well, I'm coming over to-morrow to have a look at it by +daylight," said Mr. Damon, as he started toward his car. + +"So am I," added Mary. "Please call for me, Mr. Damon." + +"I will," he promised. + +Mr. Nestor, his daughter, and Mr. Damon went back to the +automobile, while Ned remained with Tom. In a little while +those in the car heard once more the rumbling and roaring +sound and felt the earth tremble. Then, with a flashing of +lights, the big, ungainly shape of the tank lifted herself +out of the little ditch in which she had come to a halt, and +began to climb back to the road. + +Ned Newton stood beside Tom in the control tower of the +great tank as she started on her homeward way. + +"Isn't it wonderful!" murmured Mary, as she saw Tank A +lumbering along toward the road. "Oh, and to think that +human beings made that To think that Tom should know how to +build such a wonderful machine!" + +"And run it, too, Mary! That's the point! Make it run!" +cried her father. "I tell you, that Tom Swift is a wonder!" + +"Bless my dictionary, he sure is!" agreed Mr. Damon. + +Along the road, back toward the shop whence it had +emerged, rumbled the tank. The noise brought to their doors +inhabitants along the country thoroughfare, and some of them +were frightened when they saw Tom Swift's latest war +machine, the details of which they could only guess at in +the darkness. + +"She'll butt over a house if it gets in her path, knock +down trees, chew up barbed-wire, and climb down into ravines +and out again, and go over a good-sized stream without a +whimper," said Tom, as he steered the great machine. + +There was little chance then for Ned to see much of the +inside mechanism of the tank. He observed that Tom, standing +in the forward tower, steered it very easily by a small +wheel or by a lever, alternately, and that he communicated +with the engine room by means of electric signals. + +"And she steers by electricity, too," Tom told his friend. +"That was one difficulty with the first tanks. They had to +be steered by brute force, so to speak, and it was a +terrific strain on the man in the tower. Now I can guide +this in two ways: by the electric mechanism which swings the +trailer wheels to either side, or by varying the speed of +the two motors that work the caterpillar belts. So if one +breaks down, I have the other." + +"Got any guns aboard her--I mean machine guns?" asked Ned. + +"Not yet. But I'm going to install some. I wanted to get +the tank in proper working order first. The guns are only +incidental, though of course they're vitally necessary when +she goes into action. I've got 'em all ready to put in. But +first I'm going to try the grippers." + +"Oh, you mean the gap-bridgers?" asked Ned. + +"That's it," answered Tom. "Look out, we're going over a +rough spot now." + +And they did. Ned was greatly shaken up, and fairly tossed +from side to side of the steering tower. For the tank +contained no springs, except such as were installed around +the most delicate machinery, and it was like riding in a +dump cart over a very rough road. + +"However, that's part of the game," Tom observed. + +Tank A reached her "harbor" safely--in other words, the +machine shop enclosed by the high fence, inside of which she +had been built. + +Tom and Ned made some inquiries of Koku and Eradicate as +to whether or not there had been any unusual sights or +sounds about the place. They feared Simpson might have come +to the shop to try to get possession of important drawings +or data. + +But all had been quiet, Koku reported Nor had Eradicate +seen or heard anything out of the ordinary. + +"Then I guess we'll lock up and turn in," decided Tom. +"Come over to-morrow, Ned." + +"I will," promised the young bank clerk. "I want to see +more of what makes the wheels go round." And he laughed at +his own ingenuousness. + +The next day Tom showed his friends as much as they cared +to see about the workings of the tank. They inspected the +powerful gasolene engines, saw how they worked the endless +belts made of plates of jointed steel, which, running over +sprocket wheels, really gave the tank its power by providing +great tractive force. + +Any self-propelled vehicle depends for its power, either +to move itself or to push or to pull, on its tractive +force--that is, the grip it can get on the ground. + +In the case of a bicycle little tractive power is needed, +and this is provided by the rubber tires, which grip the +ground. A locomotive depends for its tractive power on its +weight pressing on its driving wheels, and the more driving +wheels there are and the heavier the locomotive, the more it +can pull, though in that case speed is lost. This is why +freight locomotives are so heavy and have so many large +driving wheels. They pull the engine along, and the cars +also, by their weight pressing on the rails. + +The endless steel belts of a tank are, the same as the +wheels of a locomotive. And the belts, being very broad, +which gives them a large surface with which to press on the +ground, and the tank being very heavy, great power to +advance is thus obtained, though at the sacrifice of speed. +However, Tom Swift had made his tank so that it would do +about ten miles and more an hour, nearly double the progress +obtained up to that time by the British machines. + +His visitors saw the great motors, they inspected the +compact but not very attractive living quarters of the crew, +for provision had to be made for the men to stay in the tank +if, perchance, it became stalled in No Man's Land, +surrounded by the enemy. + +The tank was powerfully armored and would be armed. There +were a number of machine guns to be installed, quick-firers +of various types, and in addition the tank could carry a +number of riflemen. + +It was upon the crushing power of the tank, though, that +most reliance was placed. Thus it could lead the way for an +infantry advance through the enemy's lines, making nothing +of barbed wire that would take an artillery fire of several +days to cut to pieces. + +"And now, Ned," said Tom, about a week after the night +test of the tank, "I'm going to try what she'll do in +bridging a gap." + +"Have you got her in shape again?" + +"Yes, everything is all right. I've taken out the weak +part in the steering gear that nearly caused us to run you +down, and we're safe in that respect now. And I've got the +grippers made. It only remains to see whether they're strong +enough to bear the weight of my little baby," and Tom +affectionately patted the steel sides of Tank A. + +While his men were getting the machine ready for a test +out on the road, and for a journey across a small stream not +far away, Tom told his chum about conceiving the idea for +the tank and carrying it out secretly with the aid of his +father and certain workmen. + +"That's the reason the government exempted me from +enlisting," Tom said. "They wanted me to finish this tank. I +didn't exactly want to, but I considered it my 'bit.' After +this I'm going into the army, Ned." + +"Glad to hear it, old man. Maybe by that time I'll have +this Liberty Bond work finished, and I'll go with you. We'll +have great times together! Have you heard anything more of +Simpson, Blakeson and Scoundrels?" And Ned laughed as he +named this "firm." + +"No," answered Tom. "I guess we scared off that slick +German spy." + +Once more the tank lumbered out along the road. It was a +mighty engine of war, and inside her rode Tom and Ned. Mary +and her father had been invited, but the girl could not +quite get her courage to the point of accepting, nor did Mr. +Nestor care to go. Mr. Damon, however, as might be guessed, +was there. + +"Bless my monkey wrench, Tom!" cried the eccentric man, as +he noted their advance over some rough ground, "are you +really going to make this machine cross Tinkle Creek on a +bridge of steel you carry with you?" + +"I'm going to try, Mr. Damon." + +A little later, after a successful test up and down a +small gully, Tank A arrived at the edge of Tinkle Creek, a +small stream about twenty feet wide, not far from Tom's +home. At the point selected for the test the banks were high +and steep. + +"If she bridges that gap she'll do anything," murmured +Ned, as the tank came to a stop on the edge. + + + + +Chapter XIII + +Into a Trench + + +Tom cast a hasty glance over the mechanism of the machine +before he started to cross the stream by the additional aid +of the grippers, or spanners, as he sometimes called this +latest device. + +Along each side, in a row of sockets, were two long +girders of steel, latticed like the main supports of a +bridge. They were of peculiar triangular construction, +designed to support heavy weights, and each end was broadly +flanged to prevent its sinking too deeply into the earth on +either side of a gully or a stream. + +The grippers also had a sort of clawlike arrangement on +either end, working on the principle of an "orange-peel" +shovel, and these claws were designed to grip the earth to +prevent slipping. + +The spanners would be pulled out from their sockets on the +side of the tank by means of steel cables, which were +operated from within. They would be run out across the gap +and fastened in place. The tank was designed to travel along +them to the other side of the gap, and, once there, to pick +tip the girders, slip them back into place on the sides, and +the engine of war would travel on. + +"You are mightily excited, Tom. + +"I admit it, Ned. You see, I have not tried the grippers +out except on a small model. They worked there, but whether +they will work in practice remains to be seen. Of course, at +this stage, I'm willing to stake my all on the results, but +there is always a half-question until the final try-out +under practical conditions." + +"Well, we'll soon see," said one of the workmen. "Are you +ready, Mr. Swift?" + +"All ready," answered Tom. + +Tank A, as she was officially known, had come to a stop, +as has been said, on the very edge of Tinkle Creek. The +banks were fairly solid here, and descended precipitously to +the water ten feet below. The shores were about twenty feet +apart. + +"Suppose the spanners break when you're halfway over, +Tom?" asked his chum. + +"I don't like to suppose anything of the sort. But if they +do, we're going down!" + +"Can you get up again?" + +"That remains to be seen," was the non-committal reply. +"Well, here goes, anyhow!" + +Going up into the observation tower, which was only +slightly raised above the roof of the highest part of the +tank, Tom gave the signal for the motors to start. There was +a trembling throughout the whole of the vast structure. Tom +threw back a lever and Ned, peering from a side observation +slot, beheld a strange sight. + +Like the main arm of some great steam shovel, two long, +latticed girders of steel shot out from the sides of the +tank. They gave a half turn, as they were pulled forward by +the steel ropes, so that they lay with their broader +surfaces uppermost. + +Straight across the stream they were pulled, their +clawlike ends coming to a rest on the opposite bank. Then +they were tightened into place by a backward pull on the +operating cables, and Tom, with a sigh of relief, announced: + +"Well, so far so good!" + +"Do we go over now?" inquired Ned. + +"Over the top--yes, I hope," answered Tom, with a laugh. +"How about you down there?" he called to the engine room +through a telephone which could only be used when the +machinery was not in action, there being too much noise to +permit the use of any but visual signals after that. + +"All right," came back the answer. "We're ready when you +are." + +"Then here we go!" said Tom. "Hold fast, Ned! Of course +there's no real telling what will happen, though I believe +we'll come out of it alive." + +"Cheerful prospect," murmured Ned. + +The grippers were now in place. It only remained for the +tank to propel herself over them, pick them up on the other +side of Tinkle Creek, and proceed on her course. + +Tom Swift hesitated a moment, one hand on the starting +lever and the other on the steering wheel. Then, with a +glance at Ned, half whimsical and half resolute, Tom started +Tank A on what might prove to be her last journey. + +Slowly the ponderous caterpillar belts moved around on the +sprocket wheels. They ground with a clash of steel on the +surface of the spanners. So long was the tank that the +forward end, or the "nose," was halfway across the stream +before the bottom part of the endless belts gripped the +latticed bridge. + +"If we fall, we'll span the creek, not fall into it," +murmured Ned, as he looked from the observation slot. + +"That's what I counted on," Tom said. "We'll get out, even +if we do fall." + +But Tank A was not destined to fall. In another moment her +entire weight rested on the novel and transportable bridge +Tom Swift had evolved. Then, as the gripping ends of the +girders sank farther into the soil, the tank went on her +way. + +Slowly, at half speed, she crawled over the steel beams, +making progress over the creek and as safely above the water +as though on a regularly constructed bridge. + +On and on she went. Now her entire weight was over the +middle of the temporary structures. If they were going to +give way at all, it would be at this point But they did not +give. The latticed and triangular steel, than which there is +no stronger form of construction, held up the immense +weight of Tank A, and on this novel bridge she propelled +herself across Tinkle Creek. + +"Well, the worst is over," remarked Ned, as he saw the +nose of the tank project beyond the farthermost bank. + +"Yes, even if they collapse now nothing much can happen," +Tom answered. "It won't be any worse than wallowing down +into a trench and out again. But I think the spanners will +hold." + +And hold they did! They held, giving way not a fraction of +an inch, until the tank was safely across, and then, after a +little delay, due to a jamming of one of the recovery +cables, the spanners were picked up, slid into the receiving +sockets, and the great war engine was ready to proceed +again. + +"Hurrah!" cried Ned. "She did it, Tom, old man!" and he +clapped his chum resoundingly on the back. + +"She certainly did!" was the answer. "But you needn't +knock me apart telling me that. Go easy!" + +"Bless my apple pie!" cried Mr. Damon, who was as much +pleased as either of the boys, "this is what I call great!" + +"Yes, she did all that I could have hoped for," said Tom. +"Now for the next test." + +"Bless my collar button! is there another?" + +"Just down into a trench and out again." Tom said. "This +is comparatively simple. It's only what she'll have to do +every day in Flanders." + +The tank waddled on. A duck's sidewise walk is about the +only kind of motion that can be compared to it. The going +was easier now, for it was across a big field, and Tom told +his friends that at the other end was a deep, steep and +rocky ravine in which he had decided to give the tank +another test. + +"We'll imagine that ravine is a trench," he said, "and +that we've got to get on the other side of it. Of course, we +won't be under fire, as the tanks will be at the front, but +aside from that the test will be just as severe." + +A little later Tank A brought her occupants to the edge of +the "trench." + +"Now, little girl," cried Tom exultingly, patting the +rough steel side of his tank, "show them what you can do!" + +"Bless my plum pudding!" cried Mr. Damon, "are you really +going down there, Tom Swift?" + +"I am," answered the young inventor. "It won't be +dangerous. We'll crawl down and crawl out. Hold fast!" + +He steered the machine straight for the edge of the +ravine, and as the nose slipped over and the broad steel +belts bit into the earth the tank tilted downward at a +sickening angle. + +She appeared to be making the descent safely, when there +was a sudden change. The earth seemed to slip out from under +the broad caterpillar belts, and then the tank moved more +rapidly. + +"Tom, we're turning over!" shouted Ned. "We're capsizing!" + + + + +Chapter XIV + +The Ruined Factory + + +Only too true were the words Ned Newton shouted to his +chum. Tank A was really capsizing. She had advanced to the +edge of the gully and started down it, moving slowly on the +caterpillar bands of steel. Then had come a sudden lurch, +caused, as they learned afterward, by the slipping off of a +great quantity of shale from an underlying shelf of rock. + +This made unstable footing for the tank. One side sank +lower than the other, and before Tom could neutralize this +by speeding up one motor and slowing down the other the tank +slowly turned over on its side. + +"But she isn't going to stop here!" cried Ned, as he found +himself thrown about like a pill in a box. "We're going all +the way over!" + +"Let her go over!" cried Tom, not that he could stop the +tank now. "It won't hurt her. She's built for lust this sort +of thing!" + +And over Tank A did go. Over and over she rolled, +sidewise, tumbling and sliding down the shale sides of the +great gully. + +"Hold fast! Grab the rings!" cried Tom to his two +companions in the tower with him. "That's what they're for!" + +Ned and Mr. Damon understood. In fact, the latter had +already done as Tom suggested. The young inventor had read +that the British tanks frequently turned turtle, and he had +this in mind when he made provision in his own for the +safety of passengers and crew. + +As soon as he felt the tank careening, Tom had pressed the +signal ordering the motors stopped, and now only the force +of gravity was operating. But that was sufficient to carry +the big machine to the bottom of the gulch, whither she slid +with a great cloud of sand, shale and dust. + +"Bless my--bless my--" Mr. Damon was murmuring, but he was +so flopped about, tossed from one side to the other, and it +took so much of his attention and strength to hold on to the +safety ring, that he could not properly give vent; to one of +his favorite expressions. + +But there comes an end to all things, even to the descent +of a tank, and Tom's big machine soon stopped rolling, +sliding, and turning improvised somersaults, and rested in a +pile of soft shale at the bottom of the gully. And the +tank was resting on her back! + +"We've turned turtle!" cried Ned, as he noted that he was +standing on what, before, had been the ceiling of the +observation tower. But as everything was of steel, and as +there was no movable furniture, no great harm was done. In +fact, one could as well walk on the ceiling of the tank as +on the floor. + +"But how are you going to get her right side up?" asked +Mr. Damon. + +"Oh, turning upside down is only one of the stunts of the +game. I can right her," was the answer. + +"How?" asked Ned. + +"Well, she'll right herself if there's ground enough for +the steel belts to get a grip on. + +"But can the motors work upside down?" + +"They surely can!" responded Tom. "I made 'em that way on +purpose. The gasolene feeds by air pressure, and that works +standing on its head, as well as any other way. It's going +to be a bit awkward for the men to operate the controls, but +we won't be this way long. Before I start to right her, +though, I want to make sure nothing is broken." + +Tom signaled to the engine room, and, as the power was off +and the speaking tube could be used, he called through it: + +"How are you down there?" + +"Right-o!" came back the answer from a little Englishman +Tom had hired because he knew something about the British +tanks. "'Twas a bit of nastiness for a while, but it won't +take us long to get up ag'in." + +"That's good!" commented Tom. "I'll come down and have a +look at you." + +It was no easy matter, with the tank capsized, to get to +the main engine room, but Tom Swift managed it. To his +delight, aside from a small break in one of the minor +machines, which would not interfere with the operation or +motive force of the monster war engine, everything was in +good shape. There was no leak from the gasolene tanks, which +was one of the contingencies Tom feared, and, as he had +said, the motors would work upside down as well as right +side up, a fact he had proved more than once in his Hawk. + +"Well, we'll make a start," he told his chief engineer. +"Stand by when I give the signal, and we'll try to crawl out +of this right side up." + +"How are you going to do it?" asked Ned, as his chum +crawled back into the observation tower. + +"Well, I'm going to run her part way up the very steepest +part of the ravine I can find--the side of a house would do +as well if it could stand the strain. I'm going to stand the +tank right up on her nose, so to speak, and tip her over so +she'll come right again." + +Slowly the tank started off, while Tom and his friends in +the observation tower anxiously awaited the result of the +novel progress. Ned and Mr. Damon clung to the safety rings. +Tom put his arm through one and hung on grimly, while he +used both hands on the steering apparatus and the controls. + +Of course the trailer wheels were useless in a case of +this kind, and the tank had to be guided by the two belts +run at varying speeds. + +"Here we go!" cried Tom, and the tank started. It was a +queer sensation to be moving upside down, but it did not +last very long. Tom steered the tank straight at the +opposite wail of the ravine, where it rose steeply. One of +the broad belts ran up on that side. The other was revolved +in the opposite direction. Up and up, at a sickening angle, +went Tank A. + +Slowly the tank careened, turning completely over on her +longer axis, until, as Tom shut off the power, he and his +friends once more found themselves standing where they +belonged--on the floor of the observation tower. + +"Right side up with care!" quoted Ned, with a laugh. "Well, +that was some stunt--believe me!" + +"Bless my corn plaster, I should say so!" cried Mr. Damon. + +"Well, I'm glad it happened," commented Tom. "It showed +what she can do when she's put to it. Now we'll get out of +this ditch." + +Slowly the tank lumbered along, proper side up now, the +men in the motor room reporting that everything was all +right, and that with the exception of a slight unimportant +break, no damage had been done. + +Straight for the opposite steep side of the gully Tom +directed his strange craft, and at a point where the wall of +the gulch gave a good footing for the steel belts, Tank A +pulled herself out and up to level ground. + +"Well, I'm glad that's over," remarked Ned, with a sigh of +relief, as the tank waddled along a straight stretch. "And +to think of having to do that same thing under heavy fire !" + +"That's part of the game," remarked Tom. "And don't forget +that we can fire, too--or we'll be able to when I get the +guns in place. They'll help to balance the machine better, +too, and render her less likely to overturn." + +Tom considered the test a satisfactory one and, a little +later, guided his tank back to the shop, where men were set +to work repairing the little damage done and making some +adjustments. + +"What's next on the program?" asked Ned of his chum one +day about a week later. "Any more tests in view?" + +"Yes," answered Tom. "I've got the machine guns in place +now. We are going to try them out and also endeavor to +demolish a building and some barbed wire. Like to come +along?" + +"I would!" cried Ned. + +A little later the tank was making her way over a field. +Tom pointed toward a deserted factory, which had long been +partly in ruins, but some of the walls of which still stood. + +"I'm going to bombard that," he announced, and then try to +batter it down and roll over it like a Juggernaut. Are you +game?" + +"Do your worst!" laughed Ned. "Let me man one of the +machine guns!" + +"All right," agreed Tom. "Concentrate your fire. Make +believe you're going against the Germans!" + +Slowly, but with resistless energy, the tank approached +the ruined factory. + +"Are you sure there's no one in it, Tom?" + +"Sure! Blaze away!" + + + + +Chapter XV + +Across Country + + +Ned Newton sighted his machine gun. Tom had showed him how +to work it, and indeed the young bank clerk had had some +practice with a weapon like this, erected on a stationary +tripod. But this was the first time Ned had attempted to +fire from the tank while it was moving, and he found it an +altogether different matter. + +"Say, it sure is hard to aim where you want to!" he +shouted across to Tom, it being necessary, even in the +conning tower, where this one gun was mounted, to speak +loudly to make one's self heard above the hum, the roar and +rattle of the machinery in the interior of Tank A, and +below and to the rear of the two young men. + +"Well, that's part of the game," Tom answered. "I'm +sending her along over as smooth ground as I can pick out, +but it's rough at best. Still this is nothing to what you'll +get in Flanders." + +"If I get there!" exclaimed Ned grimly. "Well, here goes!" +and once more he tried to aim the machine gun at the middle +of the brick wall of the ruined factory. + +A moment later there was a rattle and a roar as the quick-firing +mechanism started, and a veritable hail of bullets +swept out at the masonry. Tom and Ned could see where they +struck, knocking off bits of stone, brick and cement. + +"Sweep it, Ned! Sweep it!" cried Tom. "Imagine a crowd of +Germans are charging out at you, and sweep 'em out of the +way!" + +Obeying this command, the young man moved the barrel of +the machine gun from side to side and slightly up and down. +The effect was at once apparent. The wall showed spatter-marks +of the bullets over a wider area, and had a body of +Teutons been before the factory, or even inside it, many of +them would have been accounted for, since there were several +holes in the wall through which Ned's bullets sped, carrying +potential death with them. + +"That's better!" shouted Tom. "That'll do the business! +Now I'm going to open her up, Ned!" + +"Open her up?" cried the young bank clerk, as he ceased +firing. + +"Yes; crack the wall of that factory as I would a nut! +Watch me take it on high--that is, if the old tank doesn't +go back on me!" + +"You mean you're going to ride right over that building, +Tom ?" + +"I mean I'm going to try! If Tank A does as I expect her +to, she'll butt into that wall, crush it down by force and +weight, and then waddle over the ruins. Watch!" + +Tom sent some signals to the motor room. At once there was +noticed an increase in the vibrations of the ponderous +machine. + +"They're giving her more speed," said Tom. "And I guess +we'll need it." + +Straight for the old factory went Tank A. In spite of its +ruined condition, some of the walls were still firm, and +seemed to offer a big obstacle to even so powerful an engine +of war as this monstrous tank. + +"Get ready now, Ned," Tom advised. "And when I crack her +open for you cut loose with the machine gun again. This gun +is supposed to fire straight ahead and a little to either +side. There are other guns at left and right, amidships, as +I might say, and there's also one in the stern, to take care +of any attack from that direction. + +"The men in charge of them will fire at the same time you +do, and it will be as near like a real attack as we can make +it--with the exception of not being fired back at. And I +wouldn't mind if such were the case, for I don't believe +anything, outside of heavy artillery, will have any effect +on this tank." + +Tank A was now almost at her maximum speed as she +approached closer to the deserted factory. Ned and Tom, in +the conning tower, saw the largest of the remaining walls +looming before them. Straight at it rushed the ponderous +machine, and the next moment there came a shock which almost +threw Ned away from his gun and back against the steel wall +behind him. + +"Hold fast!" cried Tom. "Here we go! Fire. Ned! Fire!" + +There was a crash as the blunt nose of the great war tank +hit the wall and crumpled it up. + +A great hole was made in the masonry, and what was not +crushed under the caterpillar belts of the tank fell in a +shower of bricks, stone and cement on top of the machine. + +Like a great hail storm the broken masonry pelted the +steel sides and top of the tank. But she felt them no more +than does an alligator the attacks of a colony of ants. +Right on through the dust the tank crushed her way. Added to +the noise of the falling walls was that of the machine guns, +which were barking away like a kennel of angry hounds eager +to be unleashed at the quarry. + +Ned kept his gun going until the heat of it warned him to +stop and let the barrel cool, or he knew he would jam some +of the mechanism. The other guns were firing, too, and the +bullets sent up little spatter points of dust as they hit. + +"Great jumping hoptoads!" yelled Ned above the riot of +racket outside and inside. "Feel her go, Tom!" + +"Yes, she's just chewing it up, all right!" cried the +young inventor, his eyes shining with delight. + +The tank had actually burst her way through the solid wall +of the old factory, permission to complete the demolition of +which Tom had secured from the owners. Then the great +machine kept right on. She fairly "walked" over the piles of +masonry, dipped down into what had been a basement, now +partly filled with debris, and kept on toward another wall. + +"I'm going through that, too!" cried Tom. + +And he did, knocking it down and sending his tank over the +piled-up ruins, while the machine guns barked, coughed and +spluttered, as Ned and the others inside the tank held back +the firing levers. + +Right through the opposite wall, as through the one she +had already demolished, the tank careened on her way, to +emerge, rather battered and dust-covered, on the other side +of what was left of the factory. And there was not much of +it left. Tank A had well-nigh completed its demolition. + +"If there'd been a nest of Germans in there," said Tom, as +he brought the machine to a stop in a field beyond the +factory, "they'd have gotten out in a hurry." + +"Or taken the consequences," added Ned, as he wiped the +sweat from his powder-blackened and oil-smeared face. "I +certainly kept my gun going." + +"Yes, and so did the others," reported one of the +mechanics, as he emerged from the "cubby hole," where the +great motors had now ceased their hum and roar. + +"How'd she stand it?" asked Tom. + +"All right inside," answered the man. "I was wondering how +she looks from the outside." + +"Oh, it would take more than that to damage her," said +Tom, with pardonable pride. "That was pie for her! Solid +concrete, which she may have to chew up on the Western +front, may present another kind of problem, but I guess +she'll be able to master that too. Well, let's have a look." + +He and Ned, with some of the crew and gunners, went +outside the tank. She was a sorry-looking sight, very +different from the trim appearance she had presented when +she first left the shop. Bricks, bits of stone, and piles of +broken cement in chunks and dust lay thick on her broad +back. But no real damage had been done, as a hasty +examination showed. + +"Well, are you satisfied, Tom?" asked his chum. + +"Yes, and more," was the answer. "Of course this wasn't +the hardest test to which she could have been submitted, but +it will do to show what punishment she can stand. Being shot +at from big guns is another matter. I'll have to wait until +she gets to Flanders to see what effect that will have. But +I know the kind of armor skin she has, and that doesn't +worry me. There's one thing more I want to do while I have +her out now." + +"What's that?" asked Ned. + +"Take her for a long trip cross country, and then shove +her through some extra heavy barbed wire. I'm certain she'll +chew that up, but I want to see it actually done. So now, if +you want to come along, Ned, we'll go cross country." + +"I'm with you!" + +"Get inside then. We'll let the dust and masonry blow and +rattle off as we go along." + +The tank started off across the fields, which stretched +for many miles on either side of the deserted factory, when +suddenly Ned, who was again at his post in the observation +tower, called: + +"Look, Tom!" + +"What at?" + +"That corner of the factory which is still standing. Look +at those men coming out and running away!" + +Ned pointed, and his chum, leaning over from the steering +wheel and controls, gave a start of surprise as he saw three +figures clambering down over the broken debris and making +their way out of what had once been a doorway. + +"Did they come out of the factory, Ned?" + +"They surely did! And unless I miss my guess they were in +it, or around it, when we went through like a fellow +carrying the football over the line for a touchdown." + +"In there when the tank broke open things?" + +"I think so. I didn't see them before, but they certainly +ran out as we started away." + +"This has got to be looked into!" decided Tom. "Come on, +Ned! It may be more of that spy business !" + +Tom Swift stopped the tank and prepared to get out + + + + +Chapter XVI + +The Old Barn + + +"There's no use chasing after 'em, Tom," observed Ned, as +the two chums stood side by side outside the tank and gazed +after the three men running off across the fields as fast as +they could go. "They've got too much a start of us." + +"I guess you're right, Ned," agreed Tom. "And we can't +very well pursue them in the tank. She goes a bit faster +than anything of her build, but a running man is more than a +match for her in a short distance. If I had the Hawk here, +there'd be a different story to tell." + +"Well, seeing that you haven't," replied Ned, suppose we +let them go--which we'll have to, whether we want to or not--and +see where they, were hiding and if they left any traces behind." + +"That's a good idea," returned Tom. + +The place whence the men had emerged was a portion of the +old factory farthest removed from the walls the tank had +crunched its way through. Consequently, that part was the +least damaged. + +Tom and Ned came to what seemed to have been the office of +the building when the factory was in operation. A door, from +which most of the glass had been broken, hung on one hinge, +and, pushing this open, the two chums found themselves in a +room that bore evidences of having been the bookkeeper's +department. There were the remains of cabinet files, and a +broken letter press, while in one corner stood a safe. + +"Maybe they were cracking that," said Ned. + +"They were wasting their time if they were," observed Tom, +"for the combination is broken--any one can open it," and he +demonstrated this by swinging back one of the heavy doors. + +A quantity of papers fell out, or what had been papers, +for they were now torn and the edges charred, as if by some +recent fire. + +"They were burning these!" cried Ned. "You can smell the +smoke yet. They came here to destroy some papers, and we +surprised them!" + +"I believe you're right," agreed Tom. "The ashes are still +warm." And he tested them with his hand. "They wanted to +destroy something, and when they found we were here they +clapped the blazing stuff into the safe, thinking it would +burn there. + +"But the closing of the doors cut off the supply of air +and the fire smouldered and went out. It burned enough so +that it didn't leave us very much in the way of evidence, +though," went on Tom ruefully, as he poked among the charred +scraps. + +"Maybe you can read some of 'em," suggested Ned. + +"Part of the writing is in German," Tom said, as he looked +over the mass. "I don't believe it would be worth while to +try it. Still, I can save it. Here, I'll sweep the stuff +into a box, and if we get a chance we can try to patch it +together," and finding a broken box in what had been the +factory office the young inventor managed to get into it the +charred remains of the papers. + +A further search failed to reveal anything that would be +useful in the way of evidence to determine what object the +three men could have had in hiding in the ruins, and Tom and +Ned returned to the tank. + +"What do you think about them, Tom?" asked Ned, as they +were about to start off once more for the cross-country +test. + +"Well, it seems like a silly thing to say--as if I +imagined my tank was all there was in this part of the +country to make trouble--but I believe those men had some +connection with Simpson and with that spy Schwen!" + +"I agree with you!" exclaimed Ned. "And I think if we +could get head or tail of those burned papers we'd find that +there was some correspondence there between the man I saw up +the tree and the workman you had arrested." + +"Too bad we weren't a bit quicker," commented Tom. "They +must have been in the factory when we charged it--probably +came there to be in seclusion while they talked, plotted and +planned. They must have been afraid to go out when the tank +was walking through the walls." + +"I guess that's it," agreed Ned. "Did you recognize any of +the men, Tom?" + +"No, I didn't see 'em as soon as you did, and when they +were running they had their backs toward me. Was Simpson +one?" + +"I can't be sure. If one was, I guess he'll think we are +keeping pretty closely after him, and he may give this part +of the country a wide berth." + +"I hope he does," returned Tom. "Do you know, Ned, I have +an idea that these fellows--Schwen Simpson, and those back +of them, including Blakeson--are trying to get hold of the +secret of my tank for the Germans." + +"I shouldn't be surprised. But you've got it finished now, +haven't you? They can't get your patents away from you." + +"No, it isn't that," said Tom. "There are certain secrets +about the mechanism of the tank--the way I've increased the +speed and power, the use of the spanners, and things like +that--which would be useful for the Germans to know. I +wouldn't want them to find out these secrets, and they could +do that if they were in the tank a while, or had her in +their possession." + +"They couldn't do that, Tom--get possession of her--could +they?" + +"There's no telling. I'm going to be doubly on the watch. +That fellow Blakeson is in the pay of the plotters, I +believe. He has a big machine shop, and he might try to +duplicate my tank if he knew how she was made inside." + +"I see! That's why he was inquiring about a good +machinist, I suppose, though he'll be mightily surprised +when he learns it was you he was talking to the time your +Hawk met with the little mishap." + +"Yes, I guess maybe he will be a bit startled," agreed +Tom. "But I haven't seen him around lately, and maybe he has +given up." + +"Don't trust to that!" warned Ned. + +The tank was now progressing easily along over fields, +hesitating not at small or big ditches, flow going uphill +and now down, across a stretch of country thinly settled, +where even fences were a rarity. When they came to wooden +ones Tom had the workmen get out and take down the bars. Of +course the tank could have crushed them like toothpicks, but +Tom was mindful of the rights of farmers, and a broken fence +might mean strayed cows, or the letting of cattle into a +field of grain or corn, to the damage of both cattle and +fodder. + +"There's a barbed-wire fence," observed Ned, +as he pointed to one off some distance across the +field. "Why don't you try demolishing that?" + +"Oh, it would be too easy! Besides, I don't want the +bother of putting it up again. When I make the barbed-wire +test I want some set up on heavy posts, and with many +strands, as it is in Flanders. Even that won't stop the +tank, but I'm anxious to see how she breaks up the wire and +supports--just what sort of a breach she makes. But I have a +different plan in mind now. + +"I'm going to try to find a wooden building we can charge +as we did the masonry factory. I want to smash up a barn, +and I'll have to pick out an old one for choice, for in +these war days we must conserve all we can, even old barns." + +"What's the idea of using a barn, Tom?" + +"Well, I want to test the tank under all sorts of +conditions--the same conditions she'll meet with on the +Western front. We've proved that a brick and stone factory +is no obstacle." + +"Then how could a flimsy wooden barn be?" + +"Well, that's just it. I don't think that it will, but it +may be that a barn when smashed will get tangled up in the +endless steel belts, and clog them so they'll jam. That's +the reason I want to try a wooden structure next." + +"Do you know where to find one?" + +"Yes; about a mile from here is one I've had my eyes on +ever since I began constructing the tank. I don't know who +owns it, but it's such a ramshackle affair that he can't +object to having it knocked into kindling wood for him. If +he does holler, I can pay him for the damage done. So now +for a barn, Ned, unless you're getting tired and want to go +back?" + +"I should say not! Speaking of barns, I'm with you till +the cows come home! Want any more machine gun work?" + +"No, I guess not. This barn isn't particularly isolated, +and the shooting might scare horses and cattle. We can smash +things up without the guns." + +The tank was going on smoothly when suddenly there was a +lurch to one side, and the great machine quickly swung about +in a circle. + +"Hello!" cried Ned. "What's up now? Some new stunt?" + +"Must be something wrong," answered the young inventor. +"One of the belts has stopped working. That's why we're +going in a circle." + +He shut off the power and hastened down to the motor room. +There he found his men gathered about one of the machines. + +"What's wrong?" asked Tom quickly. + +"Just a little accident," replied the head machinist. "One +of the boys dropped his monkey wrench and it smashed some +spark plugs. That caused a short circuit and the left hand +motor went out of business. We'll have her fixed in a +jiffy." + +Tom looked relieved, and the machinist was as good as his +word. In a few minutes the tank was moving forward again. It +crossed out to the road, to the great astonishment of some +farmers, and the fright of their horses, and then Tom once +more swung her into the fields. + +"There's the old barn I spoke of," he remarked to Ned. +"It's almost as bad a ruin as the factory was. But we'll +have a go at it." + +"Going to smash it?" asked Ned. + +"I'm going right through it!" Tom cried + + + + +Chapter XVII + +Veiled Threats + + +Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon +another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom +Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields +toward the old barn. Within the monster of steel and iron +were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful +gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all +making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a +word could be heard. Every order had to be given by signs, +and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in +the same way. When running at full speed, it was almost +impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance +removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the +words were shouted. + +"Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who +was peering through the observation slot in the tower." + +"I'm getting in good position," Tom answered. "Or rather, +the worst position I can find. I want to give the tank a +good try-out, and I'm going at the barn on the assumption +that this is in enemy country and that I can't pick and +choose my advance. + +"So I want to come up through that gully, and go at the +barn from the long way. That will be the worst possible way +I could do it, and if old Tank A stands the gaff I'll know +she's a little bit nearer all right." + +"I think she's all right as she is!" asserted Ned in a +yell, for just then Tom signaled for more speed, and the +consequent increase in the rattling and banging noises made +it correspondingly difficult for talk to be heard. + +The big machine now tipped into the little gully spoken of +by Tom. This meant a dip downward, and then a climb out +again and an attack on the barn going uphill and at an +angle. But, as the young inventor had said, it would make a +severe test and that was what he wanted to give his +ponderous machine. + +Ned grasped one of the safety rings, as, with a reel to +one side, almost as if it were going to capsize, the tank +rumbled on. Tom cast a half-amused smile at his chum, and +then threw over the guiding lever. + +The tank rolled down into the gully. It was rough and +filled with stones and boulders, some of considerable size. +But Tank A made less than nothing even of the largest rocks. +Some she crushed beneath her steel belts. Others she simply +"walked" over, smashing them down into the soil. + +Now the big machine reached the bottom of the gulch and +started up the sides, which, though not as steep as the +trench in which she had capsized, still were not easy going. + +"Now for it!" cried Tom, as he signaled for full speed. + +Up climbed the tank. Now she was halfway. A moment later, +and she was at the top, and then a forward careening motion +told that she had passed over the summit and was ready for +the attack proper. + +Ned gave a quick glance through the slot nearest him. He +had a glimpse of the barn, and then he saw something else. +This was the sight of a man running away from the +dilapidated structure--a man who glanced toward the tank +with a face that showed great fright. + +"Stop! Stop!" yelled Ned. "There may be folks in there, +Tom! I just saw a man run out!" + +"All right!" Tom cried, though Ned could hardly hear him. +"Tell me when we get on the other side! We're going through +now!" + +"But," shouted Ned, "don't you understand? I saw a man +come out of there! Maybe there's more inside! Wait, Tom, +and--" + +But it was too late. The next instant there was a +smashing, grinding, splintering crash, a noise as of a +thunder-clap, and Tank A fairly ate her way through the old +barn as a rat might eat his way into a soft cheese, only +infinitely more quickly. + +On and on and through and through went the tank, knocking +beams, boards, rafters and timbers hither and thither. +Minding not at all the weight of great beams on her back, +caring nothing for those that got in the way of her steel +belts, heeding not the wall of wood that reared itself +before her in a barrier of splinters and slivers, Tank A +went on and on until finally, with another grinding crash, +as she smashed her way through the farthermost wall, the +great engine of war emerged on the other side and came +panting into the field, dragging with her a part of the +structure clinging to her steel sides. + +"Well," cried Tom, with a laugh, as he signaled for the +power to be shut off, thereby making it possible for +ordinary conversation to be heard, "I guess we didn't do a +thing to that barn!" + +"Not much left of it, for a fact, Tom," agreed Ned, as he +looked through the after observation slots at the ruin in +the rear. "But didn't you hear what I was saying?" + +"I heard you yelling something to me, but I was too +anxious to go at it as fast as I could. I didn't want to +stop then. What was the trouble?" + +"That's what I'm afraid of, Tom--there may be trouble. +Just before you tackled the barn for a knockdown, instead of +a touchdown, as we might say, I saw a man running out of it. +I thought if there was one there, perhaps there might be +more. That's why I yelled to you." + +"A man running from the old barn!" cried Tom. "Whew!" he +whistled. "I wish I had seen him. But, Ned, if one ran out +of harm's way, any others who might possibly be in there +would do the same thing, wouldn't they?" + +"I hope so," returned Ned doubtfully. + +"Great Scott!" cried Tom, as the possibility was borne +home to him. "If anything has happened--" + +He sprang for the door of the tower and threw over the +catch, springing out, followed by Ned. From the engine room +of the armored tank the men came, smiles of gratification on +their faces. + +"We certainly busted her wide open, Mr. Swift!" called the +chief mechanician. + +"Yes," assented the young inventor; but there was not as +much gratification in his voice as there should have been. +"There isn't much of a barn left, but Ned thinks he saw some +one run out, and if there was one man there may have been +more. We'd better have a look around, I guess." + +The engineering force exchanged glances. Then Hank +Baldwin, who was in charge of the motors, said: + +"Well, if there was anybody in that barn when we chewed +her up I wouldn't give much for his hide, German or not." + +"Let us hope no one was in there," murmured Tom. + +They turned to go back to the demolished structure, fear +and worry in their hearts. No more complete ruin could be +imagined. If a cyclone had swept over the barn it could not +have more certainly leveled it. And, not only was it +leveled, crushed down in the center by the great weight of +the tank, but the boards and beams were broken into small +pieces. Parts of them clung in long, grotesque splinters to +the endless steel belts. + +"I don't see how we're going to find anybody if he's in +there," remarked Hank. + +"We'll have to," insisted Tom. "We can look about and +call. If any one is there he may have been off to one side +or to one end, and be protected under the debris. I wish I +had heard you call, Ned." + +"I wish you had, Tom. I yelled for all I was worth." + +"I know you did. I was too eager to go on, and, at the +same time, I really couldn't stop well on that hill. I had +to keep on going. Well, now to learn the worst!" + +They walked back toward the demolished barn. But they had +not reached it when from around the corner swung a big +automobile. In it were several men, but chief, in vision at +least, among them, was a burly farmer who had a long, +old-fashioned gun in his hands. On his bearded face was a grim +look as he leaped out before the machine had fairly stopped, +and called: + +"Hold on, there! I guess you've done damage enough! Now +you can pay for it or take the consequences!" And he +motioned to Tom, Ned, and the others to halt. + + + + +Chapter XVIII + +Ready for France + + +Such was the reaction following the crashing through of +the barn, coupled with the sudden appearance of the men in +the automobile and the threat of the farmer, that, for the +moment, Tom, Ned, or their companions from the tank could +say nothing. They just stood staring at the farmer with the +gun, while he grimly regarded them. It was Tom who spoke +first. + +"What's the idea?" asked the young inventor. "Why don't +you want us to look through the ruins?" + +"You'll learn soon enough!" was the grim answer. + +But Tom was not to be put off with undecided talk. + +"If there's been an accident," he said, "we're sorry for +it. But delay may be dangerous. If some one is hurt--" + +"You'll be hurt, if I have my way about it!" snapped the +farmer, "and hurt in a place where it always tells. I mean +your pocketbook! That's the kind of a man I am--practical." + +"He means if we've killed or injured any one we'll have to +pay damages," whispered Ned to Tom. "But don't agree to +anything until you see your lawyer. That's a hot one, +though, trying to claim damages before he knows who's hurt!" + +"I've got to find out more about this," Tom answered. He +started to walk on. + +"No you don't!" cried the farmer, with a snarl. "As I +said, you folks has done damage enough with your threshing +machine, or whatever you call it. Now you've got to pay!" + +"We are willing to," said Tom, as courteously as he could. +"But first we want to know who has been hurt, or possibly +killed. Don't you think it best to get them to a doctor, and +then talk about money damages later?" + +"Doctor? Hurt?" cried the farmer, the other men in the +auto saying nothing. "Who said anything about that?" + +"I thought," began Tom, "that you--" + +"I'm talkin' about damages to my barn!" cried the farmer. +"You had no right to go smashing it up this way, and you've +got to pay for it, or my name ain't Amos Kanker!" + +"Oh!" and there was great relief in Tom's voice. "Then we +haven't killed any one?" + +"I don't know what you've done," answered the farmer, and +his voice was not a pleasant one. "I'm sure I can't keep +track of all your ructions. All I know is that you've ruined +my barn, and you've got to pay for it, and pay good, too!" + +"For that old ramshackle?" cried Ned. + +"Hush!" begged Tom, in a low voice. "I'm willing to pay, +Ned, for the sake of having proved what my tank could do. +I'm only too glad to learn no one was hurt. Was there?" he +asked, turning to the farmer. + +"Was there what?" + +"Was there anybody in your barn?" + +"Not as I knows on," was the grouchy answer. "A man who +saw your machine coming thought she was headed for my +building, and he run and told me. Then some friends of mine +brought me here in their machine. I tell you I've got all +the evidence I need ag'in you, an' I'm going to have +damages! That barn was worth three thousand dollars if it +was worth a cent, and--" + +"This matter can easily be settled," said Tom, trying to +keep his temper. "My name is Swift, and--" + +"Don't get swift with me, that's all I ask!" and the +farmer laughed grimly at his clumsy joke. + +"I'll do whatever is right," Tom said, with dignity. "I +live over near Shopton, and if you want to send your lawyer +to see mine, why--" + +"I don't believe in lawyers!" broke in the farmer. "All +they think of is to get what they can for theirselves. And I +can do that myself. I'll get it out of you before you leave, +or, anyhow, before you take your contraption away," and he +glanced at the tank. + +The same suspicion came at once to Tom and Ned, and the +latter gave voice to it when he murmured in a low voice to +his chum: + +"This is a frame-up--a scheme, Tom. He doesn't care a rap +for the barn. It's some of that Blakeson's doing, to make +trouble for you." + +"I believe you!" agreed Tom. "Now I know what to do." + +He looked toward the collapsed barn, as if making a mental +computation of its value, and then turned toward the farmer. + +"I'm very sorry," said Tom, "if I have caused any trouble. +I wanted to test my machine out on a wooden structure, and I +picked your barn. I suppose I should have come to you first, +but I did not want to waste time. I saw the barn was of +practically no value." + +"No value!" broke in the farmer. "Well, I'll show you, +young man, that you can't play fast and loose with other +people's property and not settle!" + +"I'm perfectly willing to, Mr. Kanker. I could see that +the barn was almost ready to fall, and I had already +determined, before sending my tank through it, to pay the +owner any reasonable sum. I am willing to do that now." + +"Well, of course if you're so ready to do that," replied +the farmer, and Ned thought he caught a glance pass between +him and one of the men in the auto, "if you're ready to do +that, just hand over three thousand dollars, and we'll call +it a day's work. It's really worth more, but I'll say three +thousand for a quick settlement." + +"Why, this barn," cried Ned, "isn't worth half that! I +know something about real estate values, for our bank makes +loans on farms around here--" + +"Your bank ain't made me no loans, young man!" snapped Mr. +Kanker. "I don't need none. My place is free and clear! And +three thousand dollars is the price of my barn you've +knocked to smithereens. If you don't want to pay, I'll find +a way to make you. And I'll hold you, or your tank, as you +call it, security for my damages! You can take your choice +about that." + +"You can't hold us!" cried Tom. "Such things aren't done +here!" + +"Well, then, I'll hold your tank!" cried the farmer. "I +guess it'll sell for pretty nigh onto what you owe me, +though what it's good for I can't see. So you pay me three +thousand dollars or leave your machine here as security." + +"That's the game!" whispered Ned. "There's some plot here. +They want to get possession of your tank, Tom, and they've +seized on this chance to do it." + +"I believe you," agreed the young inventor. "Well, they'll +find that two can play at that game. Mr. Kanker," he went +on, "it is out of the question to claim your barn is worth +three thousand dollars." + +"Oh, is it?" sneered the farmer. "Well, I didn't ask you +to come here and make kindling wood of it! That was your +doings, and you've had your fun out of it. Now you can pay +the piper, and I'm here to make you pay!" And he brought the +gun around in a menacing manner. + +"He's right, in a way," said Ned to his chum. "We should +have secured his permission first. He's got us in a corner, +and almost any jury of farmers around here, after they heard +the story of the smashed barn, would give him heavy damages. +It isn't so much that the barn is worth that as it is his +property rights that we've violated. A farmer's barn is his +castle, so to speak." + +"I guess you're right," agreed Tom, with a rather rueful +face. "But I'm not going to hand him over three thousand +dollars. In fact, I haven't that much with me." + +"Oh, well, I don't suppose he'd want it all in cash." + +But, it appeared, that was just what the farmer wanted. He +went over all his arguments again, and it could not be +denied that he had the law on his side. As he rightly said, +Tom could not expect to go about the country, "smashing up +barns and such like," without being willing to pay. + +"Well, what you going to do?" asked the farmer at last. "I +can't stay here all day. I've got work to do. I can't go +around smashing barns. I want three thousand dollars, or +I'll hold your contraption for security." + +This last he announced with more conviction after he had +had a talk with one of the men in the automobile. And it was +this consultation that confirmed Tom and Ned in their belief +that the whole thing was a plot, growing out of Tom's rather +reckless destruction of the barn; a plot on the part of +Blakeson and his gang. That they had so speedily taken +advantage of this situation carelessly given them was only +another evidence of how closely they were on Tom's trail. + +"That man who ran out of the barn must have been the same +one who was in the factory," whispered Ned to his chum. "He +probably saw us coming this way and ran on ahead to have the +farmer all primed in readiness. Maybe he knew you had +planned to ram the barn." + +"Maybe he did. I've had it in mind for some time, and +spoken to some of my men about it." + +"More traitors in camp, then, I'm afraid, Tom. We'll have +to do some more detective work. But let's get this thing +settled. He only wants to hold your tank, and that will give +the man, into whose hands he's playing, a chance to inspect +her." + +"I believe you. But if I have to leave her here I'll leave +some men on guard inside. It won't be any worse than being +stalled in No Man's Land. In fact, it won't be so bad. But +I'll do that rather than be gouged." + +"No, Tom, you won't. If you did leave some one on guard, +there'd be too much chance of their getting the best of him. +You must take your tank away with you." + +"But how can I? I can't put up three thousand dollars in +cash, and he says he won't take a check for fear I'll stop +payment. I see his game, but I don't see how to block it." + +"But I do!" cried Ned. + +"What!" exclaimed Tom. "You don't mean to say, even if you +do work in a bank, that you've got three thousand in cash +concealed about your person, do you?" + +"Pretty nearly, Tom, or what is just as good. I have that +amount in Liberty Bonds. I was going to deliver them to a +customer who has ordered them but not paid for them. They +are charged up against me at the bank, but I'm good for +that, I guess. Now I'll loan you these bonds, and you can +give them to this cranky old farmer as security for damages. +Mind, don't make them as a payment. They're simply security--the +same as when an autoist leaves his car as bail. Only we +don't want to leave our car, we'd rather have it with us," +and he looked over at the tank, bristling with splinters +from the demolished barn. + +"Well, I guess that's the only way out," said Tom. "Lucky +you had those bonds with you. I'll take them, and give you a +receipt for them. In fact, I'll buy them from you and let +the farmer hold them as security." + +And this, eventually, was done. After much hemming and +hawing and consultation with the men in the automobile, Mr. +Kanker said he would accept the bonds. It was made clear +that they were not in payment of any damages, though Tom +admitted he was liable for some, but that Uncle Sam's war +securities were only a sort of bail, given to indicate that, +some time later, when a jury had passed on the matter, the +young inventor would pay Mr. Kanker whatever sum was agreed +upon as just. + +"And now," said Tom, as politely as he could under the +circumstances, "I suppose we will be allowed to depart." + +"Yes, take your old shebang offen my property!" ordered +Mr. Kanker, with no very good grace. "And if you go knocking +down any more barns, I'll double the price on you!" + +"I guess he's a bit roiled because he couldn't hold the +tank," observed Ned to Tom, as they walked together to the +big machine. "His friends--our enemies--evidently hoped +that was what could be done. They want to get at some of the +secrets." + +"I suppose so," conceded Tom. "Well, we're out of that, +and I've proved all I want to." + +"But I haven't--quite," said Ned. + +"What's missing?" asked his chum, as they got back in the +tank. + +"Well, I'd like to make sure that the fellow who ran from +the factory was the same one I saw sneaking out of the barn. +I believe he was, and I believe that Simpson's crowd +engineered this whole thing." + +"I believe so, too," Tom agreed. "The next thing is to +prove it. But that will keep until later. The main thing is +we've got our tank, and now I'm going to get her ready for +France." + +"Will she be in shape to ship soon?" asked Ned. + +"Yes, if nothing more happens. I've got a few little +changes and adjustments to make, and then she'll be ready +for the last test--one of long distance endurance mainly. +After that, apart she comes to go to the front, and we'll +begin making 'em in quantities here and on the other side." + +"Good!" cried Ned. "Down with the Huns!" + +Without further incident of moment they went back to the +headquarters of the tank, and soon the great machine was +safe in the shop where she had been made. + +The next two weeks were busy ones for Tom, and in them he +put the finishing touches on his machine, gave it a long +test over fields and through woods, until finally he +announced: + +"She's as complete as I can make her! She's ready for +France!" + + + + +Chapter XIX + +Tom is Missing + + +With Tom Swift's announcement, that his tank was at last +ready for real action, came the end of the long nights and +days given over on the part of his father, himself, and his +men to the development and refinement of the machine, to +getting plans and specifications ready so that the tanks +could be made quickly and in large numbers in this country +and abroad and to the actual building of Tank A. Now all +this was done at last, and the first completed tank was +ready to be shipped. + +Meanwhile the matter of the demolished barn had been left +for legal action. Tom and Ned, it developed, had done the +proper thing under the circumstances, and they were sure +they had foiled at least one plan of the plotters. + +"But they won't stop there," declared Ned, who had +constituted himself a sort of detective. "They're lying back +and waiting for another chance, Tom." + +"Well, they won't get it at my tank!" declared the young +inventor, with a smile. "I've finished testing her on the +road. All I need do now is to run her around this place if I +have to; and there won't be much need of that before she's +taken apart for shipment. Did you get any trace of Simpson +or the men who are with him--Blakeson and the others?" + +"No," Ned answered. "I've been nosing around about that +farmer, Kanker, but I can't get anything out of him. For all +that, I'm sure he was egged on to his hold-up game by some +of your enemies. Everything points that way." + +"I think you're right," agreed Tom. "Well, we won't bother +any more about him. When the trial comes on, I'll pay what +the jury says is right. It'll be worth it, for I proved that +Tank A can eat up brick, stone or wooden buildings and not +get indigestion. That's what I set out to do. So don't worry +any more about it, Ned." + +"I'm not worrying, but I'd like to get the best of those +fellows. The idea of asking three thousand dollars for a +shell of a barn!" + +"Never mind," replied Tom. "We'll come out all right." + +Now that the Liberty Loan drive had somewhat slackened, +Ned had more leisure time, and he spent parts of his days +and not a few of his evenings at Tom Swift's. Mr. Damon was +also a frequent visitor, and he never tired of viewing the +tank. Every chance he got, when they tested the big machine +in the large field, so well fenced in, the eccentric man was +on hand, with his "bless my--!" whatever happened to come +most readily to his mind. + +Tom, now that his invention was well-nigh perfected, was +not so worried about not having the tank seen, even at close +range, and the enclosure was not so strictly guarded. + +This in a measure was disappointing to Eradicate, who +liked the importance of strutting about with a nickel shield +pinned to his coat, to show that he was a member of the +Swift & Company plant. As for the giant Koku, he really +cared little what he did, so long as he pleased Tom, for +whom be had an affection that never changed. Koku would as +soon sit under a shady tree doing nothing as watch for spies +or traitors, of whose identity he was never sure. + +So it came that there was not so strict a guard about the +place, and Tom and Ned had more time to themselves. Not that +the young inventor was not busy, for the details of shipping +Tank A to France came to him, as did also the arrangements +for making others in this country and planning for the +manufacture abroad. + +It was one evening, after a particularly hard day's work, +when Tom had been making a test in turning the tank in a +small space in the enclosed yard, that the two young men +were sitting in the machine shop, discussing various +matters. + +The telephone bell rang, and Ned, being nearest, answered. + +"It's for you, Tom," he said, and there was a smile on the +face of the young bank clerk. + +"Um!" murmured Tom, and he smiled also. + +Ned could not repress more smiles as Tom took up the +conversation over the wire, and it did not take long for the +chum of the youthful inventor to verify his guess that Mary +Nestor was at the other end of the instrument. + +"Yes, yes," Tom was heard to say. "Why, of course, I'll be +glad to come over. Yes, he's here. What? Bring him along? I +will if he'll come. Oh, tell him Helen is there! 'Nough +said! He'll come, all right!" + +And Tom, without troubling to consult his friend, hung up +the receiver. + +"What's that you're committing me to?" asked Ned. + +"Oh, Mary wants us to come over and spend the evening. +Helen Sever is there, and they say we can take them downtown +if we like." + +"I guess we like," laughed Ned. "Come along! We've had +enough of musty old problems," for he had been helping Tom +in some calculations regarding strength of materials and the +weight-bearing power of triangularly constructed girders as +compared to the arched variety. + +"Yes, I guess it will do us good to get out," and the two +friends were soon on their way. + +"What's this?" asked Mary, with a laugh, as Tom held out a +package tied with pink string. "More dynamite?" she added, +referring to an incident which had once greatly perturbed +the excitable Mr. Nestor. + +"If she doesn't want it, perhaps Helen will take it," +suggested Ned, with a twinkle in his eyes. "Halloran said +they were just in fresh--" + +"Oh, you delightful boy!" cried Helen. "I'm just dying for +some chocolates! Let me open them, Mary, if you're afraid of +dynamite." + +"The only powder in them," said Tom, "is the powdered +sugar. That can't blow you up." + +And then the young people made merry, Tom, for the time +being, forgetting all about his tank. + +It was rather late when the two young men strolled back +toward the Swift home, Ned walking that way with his chum. +Tom started out in the direction of the building where the +tank was housed, + +"Going to have a good-night look at her?" asked Ned. + +"Well, I want to make sure the watchman is on guard. We'll +begin taking her apart in a few days, and I don't want +anything to happen between now and then." + +They walked on toward the big structure, and, as they +approached from the side, they were both startled to see a +dark shadow--at least so it seemed to the youths--dart away +from one of the windows. + +"Look!" gasped Ned. + +"Hello, there!" cried Tom sharply. "Who's that? Who are +you?" + +There was no answer, and then the fleeing shadow was +merged in the other blackness of the night. + +"Maybe it was the watchman making his rounds," suggested +Ned. + +"No," answered Tom, as he broke into a run. "If it was, +he'd have answered. There's something wrong here!" + +But he could find nothing when he reached the window from +which he and Ned had seen the shadow dart. An examination by +means of a pocket electric light betrayed nothing wrong with +the sash, and if there were footprints beneath the casement +they indicated nothing, for that side of the factory was one +frequently used by the workmen. + +Tom went into the building, and, for a time, could not +find the watchman. When he did come upon the man, he found +him rubbing his eyes sleepily, and acting as though he had +just awakened from a nap. + +"This isn't any way to be on duty!" said Tom sharply. +"You're not paid for sleeping!" + +"I know it, Mr. Swift," was the apologetic answer. "I +don't know what's come over me to-night. I never felt so +sleepy in all my life. I had my usual sleep this afternoon, +too, and I've drunk strong coffee to keep awake." + +"Are you sure you didn't drink anything else?" + +"You know I'm a strict temperance man." + +"I know you are," said Tom; "but I thought maybe you might +have a cold, or something like that." + +"No, I haven't taken a thing. I did have a drink of soda +water before I came on duty, but that's all." + +"Where'd you get it?" asked Tom. + +"Well, a man treated me." + +"Who?" + +"I don't know his name. He met me on the street and asked +me how to get to Plowden's hardware store. I showed +him--walked part of the way, in fact--and when I left he said he +was going to have some soda, and asked me to have some. I +did, and it tasted good." + +"Well, don't go to sleep again," suggested Tom good-naturedly. +"Did you hear anything at the side window a while ago?" + +"Not a thing, Mr. Swift. I'll be all right now. I'll take +a turn outside in the air." + +"All right," assented the young inventor. + +Then, as he turned to go into the house and was bidding +Ned good-night, Tom said: + +"I don't like this." + +"What?" asked his chum. + +"My sleepy watchman and the figure at the window. I more +than half suspect that one of Blakeson's tools followed Kent +for the purpose of buying him soda, only I think they might +have put a drop or two of chloral in it before he got it. +That would make him sleep." + +"What are you going to do, Tom?" + +"Put another man on guard. If they think they can get into +the factory at night, and steal my plans, or get ideas from +my tank, I'll fool 'em. I'll have another man on guard." + +This Tom did, also telling Koku to sleep in the place, to +be ready if called. But there was no disturbance that night, +and the next day the work of completing the tank went on +with a rush, + +It was a day or so after this, and Tom had fixed on it as +the time for taking the big machine apart for shipment, that +Ned received a telephone message at the bank from Mr. Damon. + +"Is Tom Swift over with you?" inquired the eccentric man. + +"No. Why?" Ned answered. + +"Well, I'm at his shop, and he isn't here. His father says +he received a message from you a little while ago, saying to +come over in a hurry, and he went. Says you told him to meet +you out at that farmer Kanker's place. I thought maybe--" + +"At Kanker's place!" cried Ned. "Say, something's wrong, +Mr. Damon! Isn't Tom there?" + +"No; I'm at his home, and he's been gone for some time. +His father supposed he was with you. I thought I would +telephone to make sure." + +"Whew!" whistled Ned. "There's something doing here, all +right, and something wrong! I'll be right over!" he added, +as he hung up the receiver. + + + + +Chapter XX + +The Search + + +"Haven't you seen anything of him?" asked Mr. Damon, as +Ned jumped out of his small runabout at the Swift home as +soon as possible after receiving the telephone message that +seemed to presage something wrong. + +"Seen him? No, certainly not!" answered the young bank +clerk. "I'm as much surprised as you are over it. What +happened, anyhow?" + +"Bless my memorandum pad, but I hardly know!" answered the +eccentric man. "I arrived here a little while ago, stopping +in merely to pay Tom a visit, as I often do, and he wasn't +here. His father was anxiously waiting for him, too, wishing +to consult him about some shop matters. Mr. Swift said Tom +had gone out with you, or over to your house--I wasn't quite +sure which at first--and was expected back any minute. + +"Then I called you up," went on Mr. Damon, "and I was +surprised to learn you hadn't seen Tom. There must be +something wrong, I think." + +"I'm sure of it!" exclaimed Ned. "Let's find Mr. Swift. +And what's this about his going to meet me over at the place +of that farmer, Mr. Kanker, where we had the trouble about +the barn Tom demolished?" + +"I hardly know, myself. Perhaps Mr. Swift can tell us." + +But Mr. Swift was able to throw but little light on Tom's +disappearance--whether a natural or forced disappearance +remained to be seen. + +"No matter where he is, we'll get him," declared Ned. "He +hasn't been away a great while, and it may turn out that his +absence is perfectly natural." + +"And if it's due to the plots of any of his rivals," said +Mr. Damon, "I'll denounce them all as traitors, bless my +insurance policy, if I don't! And that's what they are! +They're playing into the hands of the enemy!" + +"All right," said Ned. "But the thing to do now is to get +Tom. Perhaps Mrs. Baggert can help us." + +It developed that the housekeeper was of more assistance +in giving information than was Mr. Swift. + +"It was several hours ago," she said, "that the telephone +rang and some one asked for Tom. The operator shifted the +call to the phone out in the tank shop where he was, and Tom +began to talk. The operator, as Tom had instructed her, +listened in, as Tom wants always a witness to most matters +that go on over his wires of late." + +"What did she hear?" asked Ned eagerly. + +"She heard what she thought was your voice, I believe," +the housekeeper said. + +"Me!" cried the young bank clerk. "I haven't talked to Tom +to-day, over the phone or any other way. But what next?" + +"Well, the operator didn't listen much after that, knowing +that any talk between Tom and you was of a nature not to +need a witness. Tom hung up and then he came in here, quite +excited, and began to get ready to go out." + +"What was he excited about?" asked Mr. Damon. "Bless my +unlucky stars, but a person ought to keep calm under such +circumstances! That's the only way to do! Keep calm! Great +Scott! But if I had my way, all those German spies would be--Oh, +pshaw! Nothing is too bad for them! It makes my blood +boil when I think of what they've done! Tom should have kept +cool!" + +"Go on. What was Tom excited about?" Ned turned to the +housekeeper. + +"Well, he said you had called him to tell him to meet you +over at that farmer's place," went on Mrs. Baggert. "He said +you had some news for him about the men who had tried to get +hold of some of his tank secrets, and he was quite worked up +over the chance of catching the rascals." + +"Whew!" whistled Ned. "This is getting more complicated +every minute. There's something deep here, Mr. Damon." + +"I agree with you, Ned. And the sooner we find Tom Swift +the better. What next, Mrs. Baggert?" + +"Well, Tom got ready and went away in his small +automobile. He said he'd be back as soon as he could after +meeting you." + +"And I never said a word to him!" cried Ned. "It's all a +plot--a scheme of that Blakeson gang to get him into their +power. Oh, how could Tom be so fooled? He knows my voice, +over the phone as well as otherwise. I don't see how he +could be taken in." + +"Let's ask the telephone operator," suggested Mr. Damon. +"She knows your voice, too. Perhaps she can give us a clew." + +A talk with the young woman at the telephone switchboard +in the Swift plant brought out a new point. This was that +the speaker, in response to whose information Tom Swift had +left home, had not said he was Ned Newton. + +"He said," reported Miss Blair, "that he was speaking for +you, Mr. Newton, as you were busy in the bank. Whoever it +was, said you wanted Tom to meet you at the Kanker farm. I +heard that much over the wire, and naturally supposed the +message came from you." + +"Well, that puts a little different face on it," said Mr. +Damon. "Tom wasn't deceived by the voice, then, for he must +have thought it was some one speaking for you, Ned." + +"But the situation is serious, just the same," declared +Ned. "Tom has gone to keep an appointment I never made, and +the question is with whom will he keep it?" + +"That's it!" cried the eccentric man. "Probably some of +those scoundrels were waiting at the farm for him, and +they've got him no one knows where by this time!" + +"Oh, hardly as bad as that," suggested Ned. "Tom is able +to look out for himself. He'd put up a big fight before he'd +permit himself to be carried off." + +"Well, what do you think did happen?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"I think they wanted to get him out to the farm to see if +they couldn't squeeze some more money out of him," was the +answer. "Tom was pretty easy in that barn business, and I +guess Kanker was sore because he haven't asked a larger sum. +They knew Tom wouldn't come out on their own invitation, so +they forged my name, so to speak." + +"Can you get Tom back?" asked Mrs. Baggert anxiously. + +"Of course!" declared Ned, though it must be admitted he +spoke with more confidence than he really felt. "We'll begin +the search right away." + +"And if I can get my hands on any of those villains--" +spluttered Mr. Damon, dancing around, as Mrs. Baggert said, +"like a hen on a hot griddle," which seemed to describe him +very well, "if I can get hold of any of those scoundrels, +I'll--I'll--Bless my collar button, I don't know what I +will do! Come on, Ned!" + +"Yes, I guess we'd better get busy," agreed the young bank +clerk. "Tom has gone somewhere, that's certain, and under a +misapprehension. It may be that we are needlessly alarmed, +or they may mean bad business. At any rate, it's up to us to +find Tom." + +In Ned's runabout, which was a speedier car than that of +the eccentric man, the two set off for Kanker's farm. On the +way they stopped at various places in town, where Tom was in +the habit of doing business, to inquire if he had been seen. + +But there was no trace of him. The next thing to do was to +learn if he had really started for the Kanker farm. + +"For if he didn't go there," suggested Ned, "it will look +funny for us to go out there making inquiries about him. And +it may be that after he got that message Tom decided not to +go." + +Accordingly they made enough inquiries to establish the +fact that Tom had started for the farm of the rascally +Kanker, who had been so insistent in the matter of his +almost worthless barn. + +A number of people who knew Tom well had seen him pass in +the direction of Kanker's place, and some had spoken to him, +for the young inventor was well known in the vicinity of +Shopton and the neighboring towns. + +"Well, out to Kanker's we'll go!" decided Ned. "And if +anything has happened to Tom there--well, we'll make whoever +is responsible wish it hadn't!" + +"Bless my fountain pen, but that's what we will!" chimed +in Mr. Damon. + +And so the two began the search for the missing youth. + + + + +Chapter XXI + +A Prisoner + +Amos Kanker came to the door of his farmhouse as Ned and +Mr. Damon drove up in the runabout. There was an unpleasant +grin on the not very prepossessing face of the farmer, and +what Ned thought was a cunning look, as he slouched out and +asked: + +"Well, what do you want? Come to smash up any more of my +barns at three thousand dollars a smash?" + +"Hardly," answered Ned shortly. "Your prices are too high +for such ramshackle barns as you have. Where's Tom Swift?" +he asked sharply. + +"Huh! Do you mean that young whipper-snapper with his big +traction engine?" demanded Mr. Kanker. + +"Look here!" blustered Mr. Damon, "Tom Swift is neither a +whipper-snapper nor is his machine a traction engine. It's a +war tank." + +"That doesn't matter much to me," said the farmer, with a +grating laugh. "It looks like a traction engine, though it +smashes things up more'n any one I ever saw." + +"That isn't the point," broke in Ned. "Where is my friend, +Tom Swift? That's what we want to know." + +"Huh! What makes you think I can tell you?" demanded +Kanker. + +"Didn't he come out here?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Not as I knows of," was the surly answer. + +"Look here!" exclaimed Ned, and his tones were firm, with +no bluster nor bluff in them, "we came out here to find Tom +Swift, and were going to find him! We have reason to believe +he's here--at least, he started for here," he substituted, +as he wished to make no statement he could not prove. "Now +we don't claim we have any right to be on your property, and +we don't intend to stay here any longer than we can help. +But we do claim the right, in common decency, to ask if you +have seen anything of Tom. There may have been an accident; +there may have been foul play; and there may be +international complications in this business. If there are, +those involved won't get off as easily as they think. I'd +advise you to keep a civil tongue in your head and answer +our questions. If we have to get the police and detectives +out here, as well as the governmental department of justice, +you may have to answer their questions, and they won't be as +decent to you as we are!" + +"Hurray!" whispered Mr Damon to Ned. "That's the way to +talk!" + +And indeed the forceful remarks of the young bank clerk +did appear to have a salutary effect on the surly farmer. +His manner changed at once and his grin faded. + +"I don't know nothing about Tom Swift or any of your +friends," he said. "I've got my farm work to do, and I do +it. It's hard enough to earn a living these war times +without taking part in plots. I haven't seen Tom Swift since +the trouble he made about my barn." + +"Then he hasn't been here to-day?" asked Ned. + +"No; and not for a good many days." + +Ned looked at Mr. Damon, and the two exchanged uneasy +glances. Tom had certainly started for the Kanker farm, and +indeed had come to within a few miles of it. That much was +certain, as testified to by a number of residents along the +route from Shopton, who had seen the young inventor passing +in his car. + +Now it appeared he had not arrived. The changed air of the +farmer seemed to indicate that he was speaking the truth. +Mr. Damon and Ned were inclined to believe him. If they had +any last, lingering doubts in the matter, they were +dispelled when Mr. Kanker said: + +"You can search the place if you like. I haven't any +reason to feel friendly toward you, but I certainly don't +want to get into trouble with the Government. Look around +all you like." + +"No, we'll take your word for it," said Ned, quickly +concluding that now they had got the farmer where they +wanted him, they could gain more by an appearance of +friendliness than by threats or harsh words. "Then you +haven't seen him, either?" + +"Not a sign of him." + +"One thing more," went on Tom's chum, "and then we'll look +farther. Weren't you induced by a man named Simpson, or one +named Blakeson, to make the demand of three thousand +dollars' damage for your barn?" + +"No, it wasn't anybody of either of those names," admitted +Mr. Kanker, evidently a bit put out by the question. + +"It was some one, though, wasn't it?" insisted Ned. + +"Waal, a man did come to me the day the barn was smashed, +and just afore it happened, and said an all-fired big +traction engine was headed this way, and that a young feller +who was half crazy was running it. This man--I don't know +who he was, being a stranger to me--said if the engine ran +into any of my property and did damages I should collect for +it on the spot, or hold the machine. + +"Sure enough, that's what happened, and I did it. That +man had an auto, and he brought me and some of my men out to +the smashed barn. That's all I know about it." + +"I thought some one put you up to it," commented Ned. +"This was some of the gang's work," he went on to Mr. Damon. +"They hoped to get possession of Tom's tank long enough to +find out some of the secrets. By having the Liberty Bonds, I +fooled 'em." + +"That's what you did!" said Mr. Damon. "But what can we do +now?" + +"I don't know," Ned was forced to admit. "But I should +think we'd better go back to the last place where he was +seen to pass in his auto, and try to get on his trail." + +Mr. Damon agreed that this was a wise plan, and, after a +casual look around the farmhouse and other buildings on +Kanker's place and finding nothing to arouse their +suspicions, the two left in Ned's speedy little machine. + +"It is mighty queer!" remarked the young bank clerk, as +they shot along the country road. "It isn't like Tom to get +caught this way." + +"Maybe he isn't caught," suggested the other. "Tom has +been in many a tight place and gotten out, as you and I well +know. Maybe it will be the same now, though it does look +suspicious, that fake message coming from you." + +"Not coming from me, you mean," corrected Ned. "Well, +we'll do the best we can." + +They proceeded back to where they had last had a trace of +Tom in his machine, and there could only confirm what they +had learned at first, namely, that the young inventor had +departed in the direction of the Kanker farm, after having +filled his radiator with water, and chatting with a farmer +he knew. + +"Then this is where the trail divides," said Ned, as they +went back over the road, coming to a point where the highway +branched off. "If he went this way, he went to Kanker's +place, or he would be in the way of going. He isn't there, +it seems, and didn't go there." + +"If he took the other road, where would he go?" asked Mr. +Damon. + +"Any one of a dozen places. I guess we'll have to follow +the trail and make all the inquiries we can." + +But from the point where the two roads branched, all trace +of Tom Swift was lost. No one had seen him in his machine, +though he was known to more than one resident along the high +way. + +"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Mr. Damon, after +they had traveled some distance and had obtained no dews. + +"Suppose we call up his home," suggested Ned, as they came +to a country store where there was a telephone. "It may be +he has returned. In that case, all our worry has gone for +nothing." + +"I don't believe it has," said Mr. Damon. "But if we call +up and ask if Tom is back it will show we haven't found him, +and his father will be more worried than ever." + +"We can ask the telephone girl, and tell her to keep quiet +about it," decided Ned; and this they did. + +But the answer that came back over the wire was +discouraging. For Tom had not returned, and there was no +word from him. There was an urgent message for him, too, +from government officials regarding the tank, the girl +reported. + +"Well, we've just got to find him--that's all!" declared +Ned. "I guess we'll have to make a regular search of it. I +did hope we'd find him out at the Kanker farm. But since he +isn't there, nor anywhere about, as far as we can tell, +we've got to try some other plan." + +"You mean notify the authorities?"--asked Mr. Damon. + +"Hardly that--yet. But I'll get some of Tom's friends who +have machines, and we'll start them out on the trail. In +that way we can cover a lot of ground." + +Late that afternoon, and far into the night, a number of +the friends of Tom and Ned went about the country in +automobiles, seeking news of the young inventor. Mr. Swift +became very anxious over the non-return of his son, and felt +the authorities should be notified; but as all agreed that +the local police could not handle the matter and that it +would have to be put into the hands of the United States +Secret Service, he consented to wait for a while before +doing this. + +All the next day the search was kept up, and Ned and Mr. +Damon were getting discouraged, not to say alarmed, when, +most unexpectedly, they received a clew. + +They had been traveling around the country on little-frequented +roads in the hope that perhaps Tom might have taken one +and disabled his machine so that he was unable to proceed. + +"Though in that case he could, and would, have sent word," +said Ned. + +"Unless he's hurt," suggested Mr. Damon. + +"Well, maybe that is what's happened," Ned was saying, +when they noticed coming toward them a very much dilapidated +automobile, driven by a farmer, and on the seat beside him +was a small, barefoot boy. + +"Which is the nearest road to Shopton?" asked the man, +bringing his wheezing machine to a stop. + +"Who are you looking for in Shopton?" asked Ned, while a +strange feeling came over him that, somehow or other, Tom +was concerned in the question. + +"I'm looking for friends of a Tom Swift," was the answer. + +"Tom Swift? Where is he? What's happened to him?" cried +Ned. + +"Bless my dyspepsia tablets!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Do you +know where he is?" + +"Not exactly," answered the farmer; "but here's a note +from some one that signs himself 'Tom Swift,' and it says +he's a prisoner!" + + + + +Chapter XXII + +Rescued + + +For a moment Ned and Mr. Damon gazed at the farmer in his +rattletrap of an auto, and then they looked at the +fluttering piece of paper in his hand. Thence their gaze +traveled to the ragged and barefoot lad sitting beside the +farmer. + +"I found it!" announced the boy. + +"Found what?" asked Ned. + +"That there note!" + +Without asking any more questions, reserving them until +they knew more about the matter, Mr. Damon and Ned each +reached out a hand for the paper the farmer held. The latter +handed it to Ned, being nearest him, and at a sight of the +handwriting the young bank clerk exclaimed: + +"It's from Tom, all right!" + +"What happened to him?" cried Mr. Damon. "Where is he? Is +he a prisoner?" + +"So it seems," answered Ned. "Wait, I'll read It to you," +and he read: + + +"'Whoever picks this up please send word at once to Mr. +Swift or to Ned Newton in Shopton, or to Mr. Damon of +Waterfield. I am a prisoner, locked in the old factory. Tom +Swift'" + + +"Bless my quinine pills!" cried Mr Damon. "What in the +world does it mean? What factory?" + +"That's just what we've got to find out," decided Ned. +"Where did you get this?" he asked the farmer's boy. + +"Way off over there," and he pointed across miles of +fields. "I was lookin' for a lost cow, and I went past an +old factory. There wasn't nobody in the place, as far as I +knowed, but all at once I heard some one yell, and then I +seen something white, like a bird, sail out of a high +window. I was scared for a minute, thinkin' it might be +tramps after me." + +"And what did you do, Sonny?" asked Mr. Damon, as the boy +paused. + +"Well, after a while I went to where the white thing lay, +and I picked it up. I seen it was a piece of paper, with +writin' on it, and it was wrapped around part of a brick." + +"And did you go near the factory to find out who called or +who threw the paper out?" Ned queried. + +"I didn't," the boy answered. "I was scared. I went home, +and didn't even start to find the lost cow. + +"No more he did," chimed in the farmer. "He come runnin' +in like a whitehead, and as soon as I saw the paper and +heard what Bub had to say, I thought maybe I'd better do +somethin'." + +"Did you go to the factory?" asked Ned eagerly. + +"No. I thought the best thing to do would be to find this +Mr. Swift, or the other folks mentioned in this letter. I +knowed, in a general way, where Shopton was, but I'd never +been there, doing my tradin' in the other direction, and so +I had to stop and ask the road. If you can tell me--" + +"We're two of the persons spoken of in that note," said +Mr. Damon, as he mentioned his name and introduced Ned. "We +have been looking for our friend Tom Swift for two days now. +We must find him at once, as there is no telling what he may +be suffering." + +"Where is this old factory you speak of," continued Mr. +Damon, "and how can we get there? It's too bad one of you +didn't go back, after finding the note, to tell Tom he was +soon to be rescued." + +"Waal, maybe it is," said the farmer, a bit put out by the +criticism. "But I figgered it would be better to look up this +young man's friends and let them do the rescuin', and not +lose no time, 'specially as it's about as far from my place +to the factory as it is to Shopton." + +"Well, I suppose that's so," agreed Ned. "But what is this +factory?" + +"It's an old one where they started to make beet sugar, +but it didn't pan out," the farmer said. "The place is in +ruins, and I did hear, not long ago, that somebody run a +threshin' machine through it, an' busted it up worse than +before." + +"Great horned toads!" cried Ned. "That must be the very +factory Tom ran his tank through. And to think he should be +a prisoner there!" + +"Held by whom, do you suppose?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"By that Blakeson gang, I imagine," Ned answered. "There's +no time to lose. We must go to his rescue!" + +"Of course!" agreed Mr. Damon. "We're much obliged to you +for bringing this note," he went on to the farmer. "And here +is something to repay you for your trouble," and he took out +his wallet. + +"Shucks! I didn't do this for pay!" objected the farmer. +"It's a pity I wouldn't help anybody what's in trouble! If +I'd a-knowed what it meant, me and Bub here would have gone +to the factory ourselves, maybe, and done the work quicker. +But I didn't know--what with war times and such-like--but +that it would be better to deliver the note." + +"It turns out as well, perhaps," agreed Ned. "We'll look +after Tom now." + +"And I'll come along and help," said the farmer. "If +there's a gang of tramps in that factory, you may need some +reinforcements. I've got a couple of new axe handles in my +machine, and they'll come in mighty handy as clubs." + +"That's so," said Mr. Damon. "But I fancy Tom is simply +locked in the deserted factory office, with no one on guard. +We can get him out once we get there, and we'll be glad to +have you come with us. So if you won't take any reward, +maybe your boy will, as he found the note," and Mr. Damon +pressed some bills into the hands of the boy, who, it is +needless to say, was glad to get them. + +It was a run of several miles hack to the deserted +factory, and though they passed houses on the way, it was +decided that no addition to their force was necessary, +though they did stop at a blacksmith shop, where they +borrowed a heavy sledge to batter down a door if such action +should be needed. + +The farmer's rattletrap of a car, in spite of its +appearance, was not far behind Ned's runabout, and in a +comparatively short time all were within sight of the ruined +place--a ruin made more complete by the passage through it +of Tom Swift's war tank. + +"And to think of his being there all this while!" +exclaimed Mr. Damon, as he and Ned leaped from their +machine. + +"If he only is there!" murmured the young bank clerk. + +"What do you mean? Didn't the note he threw out say he was +there?" + +"Yes, but something may have happened in the meanwhile. +Those plotters, if they'd do a thing like this, are capable +of anything. They may have kidnapped Tom again." + +"Anyway, we'll soon find out," murmured Ned, as they +advanced toward the ruin, Mr. Damon and the farmer each +armed with an axe helve, while Ned carried the blacksmith's +sledge. + +They went into the end of the factory that was less ruined +than the central part, where the tank had crashed through, +and made their way into what had been the office--the place +where they had found the burned scraps of paper. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Ned, as they climbed up +the broken steps. "I heard a noise." + +"It's him yellin'--like he did afore he threw out the +note," said the boy. Then, as they listened, they heard a +distant voice calling: + +"Hello! Hello, there! If that is any friend of mine, let +me out, or send word to Mr. Damon or Ned Newton! Hello!" + +"Hello yourself, Tom Swift!" yelled Ned, too delighted to +wait for any other confirmation that it was his friend who +was shouting. "We've come to rescue you, Tom!" + +There was a moment of silence, and then a voice asked: + +"Who is there?" + +"Ned Newton, Mr. Damon, and some other friends of yours!" +answered the young bank clerk, for surely the farmer and his +son could be called Tom's friends. + +An indistinguishable answer came back, and then Ned cried: + +"Where are you, Tom? Tell us, so we can get you out!" + +They all listened, and faintly heard: + +"I'm in some sort of an old vault, partly underground. +It's below what used to be the office. There's a flight of +steps, but be careful, as they're rotten." + +Eagerly they looked around Mr. Damon saw a door in one +corner of the office, and tried to open it. It was locked, +but a few blows from the sledge smashed it, and then some +steps were revealed. + +Down these, using due caution, went Ned and the others, +and at the bottom they came upon another door. This was of +sheet iron and was fastened on the outside by a big padlock. + +"Stand back!" cried Ned, as he swung the sledge, and with +a few blows broke the lock to pieces. + +Then they pulled open the door, and into the light +staggered Tom Swift, a most woe-begone figure, and showing +the effects of his imprisonment. But he was safe and +unharmed, though much disheveled from his attempts to +escape. + +"Thank Heaven, you've come!" he murmured, as he clasped +Ned's hand. "Is the tank all right?" + +"All right!" cried Ned. "And now tell us about yourself. +How in the world did you get here?" + +"It's quite a yarn," answered Tom. "I've got to pull +myself together before I answer," and he sank wearily down +on a step, looking very haggard and worn. + + + + +Chapter XXIII + +Gone + + +"Here, eat some of this," and Ned held something out to +his chum. "It'll bring you up quicker than anything else, +except a cup of hot tea, and we'll get that as soon as you +can get away from here," went on the young bank clerk. + +"What is it?" Tom asked, and his voice was very weary. + +"It's a mixture of chocolate and nuts," replied Ned. "It's +a new form of emergency ration issued to soldiers before +they go over the top. Our Y.M.C.A. is sending a lot to the +boys from around here who are in France. I was helping pack +the boxes ready for shipment, and I kept out some to show +you. Lucky I had it with me. Eat it, and you'll feel a lot +better in a few minutes. You haven't had much to eat, have +you?" + +"Very little," answered Tom, as he nibbled half-heartedly +at the confection Ned gave him, while Mr. Damon went out to +the automobile and came back with a thermos bottle filled +with cool water. He always provided himself with this on +taking an automobile trip. + +Tom managed to eat some of the chocolate, and then took a +drink of the cool water. In a little while he declared that +he felt better. + +"Then come out of here!" exclaimed Ned. "You can tell tis +how it all happened and what they did to you. But I can see +that last--they treated you like a dog, didn't they?" + +"Pretty nearly," answered Tom; "but they didn't have +things all their own way. I think I made one or two of them +remember me," and he glanced at his swollen and bruised +hands. Indeed, he bore the marks of having been in a fierce +fight. + +"Are you sure the tank's all right?" he asked Ned again. +"That has been worrying me more than my own condition. I +could think of only one reason why they got me here and held +me prisoner, and that was to get me out of the way while +they captured my tank. Then they haven't got her?" he asked +eagerly. + +"Not a look at her," Ned answered. "She was safe in the +shop when we set out this morning." + +"And now it's late afternoon," murmured Tom. "Well, I hope +nothing has happened since," and there was vague alarm in +his voice, an alarm at which Ned and Mr. Damon wondered. + +"Couldn't you stop at some farmhouse and get fixed up a +little?" asked Mr. Kimball, the farmer who had brought the +note to Ned and Mr. Damon. + +"I need to get fixed up somewhere," replied Tom, with a +rueful look at himself--his hands, his torn clothes, and his +general dilapidated appearance. "But I don't want to lose +any time. I'm afraid something has happened at home, Ned." + +"Nonsense! How could there, with Koka on guard, to say +nothing of Eradicate!" + +"Well, maybe you're right," agreed Tom; "but I'll feel +better when I see my tank in her shed. Let's have some more +of that concentrated porterhouse steak of yours, Ned. It is +good, and it fills out my stomach, which was getting more +intimate with my backbone than I liked to feel." + +More of the really good confection and another drink of +refreshing water made Tom feel better, and he was soon able +to walk along without staggering from weakness. + +"And now let's get out of here," advised Ned, "unless +you've left something back in that vault you want, Tom," and +he motioned to his chum's late prison. + +"Nothing there but bad memories," was the reply, with a +rueful smile. "I'm as ready to go as you are, Ned. It was +good of you and Mr. Damon to come for me, and you"--and he +looked questioningly at Mr. Kimball. + +"If it hadn't been for Mr. Kimball and his boy, we +wouldn't have found you--at least so soon," said Ned, and he +told of the finding of the note and what had followed. + +"That's the only way I could think of for getting help," +said Tom. "They took every scrap of paper from me, but I +found some in the lining of my hat--some I'd stuffed in +after I had a hair cut and my hat was too large. For a +pencil I used burnt matches. Oh, but I'm glad to be out!" +and he breathed deep of the fresh air. + +"How did you get in there?" asked Ned wonderingly. + +"Those fellows--of course. The German plotters, I'm going +to call them, for I believe that Blakeson and his gang--though +I didn't see him--are really working in the interests +of Germany to get the secret of my tank." + +"Well, they haven't got her yet," said Ned, "and they're +not likely to now. Go on, Tom, if you feel able tell us in a +few words what happened. We've been trying to think, but +can't." + +"Well, it all happened because I didn't think enough," +said Tom, who was rapidly recovering his strength and nerve. +"When I got that message that seemed to come from you, Ned, +I should have known better than to take a chance. But it +seemed genuine, and as I had no reason to suspect a trap, I +started off at once. I thought maybe Kanker had repented and +was going to make amends for all the trouble he caused. + +"Anyhow, I started off in my machine, and I hadn't got +more than to the crossroads when I saw a fellow out +tinkering with his auto. Of course I stopped to ask if I +could help, for I can't bear to see any machinery out of +order, and as I was stooping over the engine to see what was +wrong I was pounced on from behind, bound and tied, and +before I could do a thing I was bundled into the car--a big +limousine, and taken away. + +"The crossroads was as far as we could trace you," +remarked Ned. + +"Well, it wasn't as far as they took me, by any means," +Tom said. "They brought me here, took me out of the machine--and +I noticed that they'd brought mine along--and then they +carted me into the vault. + +"But they didn't have it all their own way," said Tom +grimly. "I managed to get the ropes loose, and I had a +regular knock down and drag out with them for a while. But +they were too many for me, and locked me up in that place +after taking away everything I had in my pockets." + +"Were they highwaymen?" asked Mr. Kimtall. + +"No, for they tossed back my money, watch and some trifles +like that," Tom answered. "I didn't recognize any of the +men, though one of them must have known me, for when they +had me tied I heard one of them ask if I was the right +party, and another said I was. I know they must belong to +the same gang that Simpson, Blakeson, and Schwen are members +of--the German spies." + +"But what was their object?" asked Ned. "Did they try to +force you to tell them the secrets of the tank?" + +"No; and that's the funny part which makes me so +suspicious," Tom answered. "If they'd tried to force +something out of me, I would understand it better. But they +just kept me a prisoner after taking away what papers I +had." + +"Were they of any value?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Not as regards the tank. That is, there was nothing of my +plans of construction, control or anything like that, though +there was some foreign correspondence that I am sorry fell +into their hands. However, that can't he helped." + +"And did they just keep you locked up?" asked Ned. + +"That's about all they did. After the fight--and it was +some fight!" declared Tom, as he recalled it with a shake of +his head--"they left me here with the door shut. There must +have been some one on guard, for I could faintly hear +somebody moving about. + +"I tried to get out, of course, but I couldn't. That vault +must have been made to hold something very valuable, for it +was almost as strong and solid as one in your bank, Ned. +The only window was placed so high that I couldn't reach +it, and it was barred at that. + +"They opened the door a little, several times, to toss in +once some old bags that I made into a bed, and next they +gave me a little water and some sandwiches--German bologna +sausage sandwiches, Ned! What do you think of that--adding +insult to injury?" + +"That was tough!" Ned admitted. + +"Well, I had to put up with it, for I was half starved, +and as sore as a boil from the fight. I didn't know what to +do. I knew that you'd miss me sooner or later, and set out +to find me, but I hardly thought you'd think of this place. +They couldn't have picked out a much better prison to hold +me, for, naturally, you wouldn't suppose enough of it was +left standing, after my tank had walked through it, to make +a hiding place. + +"However, there was, and here I've been kept. At last I +thought of the plan of sending out a message on the scrap of +paper I could tear out of my hat. So I wrote it, and after +several trials I managed to toss it out of the window. Then +I just had to wait, and that was the hardest of all. The +last twelve hours I've been without food, and I haven't +heard any one around, so I guess they've skipped out and +don't intend to come back." + +"We didn't see any one," Ned reported. "Maybe they became +frightened, Tom." + +"I wish I could think that," was the answer. "What is more +likely to be the case is that they're up to some new tricks. +I must get back home quickly." + +And after a stop had been made at a farmhouse belonging to +a business acquaintance of Ned's, where Tom was able to wash +and get a cup of hot tea, which added to his recuperative +powers, the young inventor, with Ned and Mr. Damon, set out +for Shopton. + +Before Mr. Kimball started for his home, renewed thanks +had been made to the farmer and his son for the part they +had played in the rescue, and the young inventor, learning +that the boy had a liking for things mechanical, promised to +aid him in his intention to become a machinist. + +"But first get a good education," Tom advised. "Keep on +with your school work, and when the time comes I'll take you +into my shop." + +"And maybe he'll make a tank that will rival yours, Tom," +said Ned. + +"Maybe he will! I hope he does. If he comes along fast +enough, he can help with something else I'm going to start +soon." + +"Whats that?" asked Mr. Damon. + +"Oh, it's something on the same order, designed to help +batter down the German lines," Tom answered. "I haven't +quite made up my mind what to call it yet. But let's get +home. I want to see that my tank is safe. The absence of the +plotters from the factory makes me suspicious." + +On the way back Tom told more of the details of the +attack. + +"But we'll forget about it all, now you're out," remarked +Ned. + +"And the sooner we get home, the better," +added Tom. "Can't you get a little more speed out of this +machine?" he asked. + +"Well, it isn't the Hawk," replied Ned, "but we'll see +what we can do," and he made the runabout fairly fly. + +Mrs. Baggert was the first to greet Tom as they arrived at +his home. She did not seem as surprised as either Tom, Ned +or Mr. Damon expected her to be. + +"Well, I'm glad you're all right," she said. "And it's a +good thing you sent that note, for your father was so +excited and worried I was getting apprehensive about him." + +"What note?" asked Tom, while a queer look came into his +face. + +"Why, the one you sent saying you were detained on +business and would probably not be home for a week, and to +have Koku and the men bring the tank to you." + +"Bring the tank! A note from me!" exclaimed Tom. "The +plotters again! And they've got the tank!" + +He ran to the big shop followed by the others. Throwing +open the doors, they went inside. A glance sufficed to +disclose the worst. + +The place where the great tank had stood was empty. + +"Gone!" gasped Tom. + + + + +Chapter XXIV + +Camouflaged + + +Two utterances Tom Swift made when the fact of the +disappearance of the tank became known to him were +characteristic of the young inventor. The first was: + +"How did they get it away?" + +And the second was: + +"Come on, let's get after 'em!" + +Then, for a few moments, no one said anything. Tom, Ned, +and Mr. Damon, with Mrs. Baggert in the background, stood +looking at the great empty machine shop. + +"Well, they got her," went on Tom, with a sigh. "I was +afraid of this as soon as they left me alone at the +factory." + +"Is anything wrong?" faltered the housekeeper. "Didn't you +send for the tank, Tom?" + +"No, Mrs. Baggert, I didn't," Tom answered. + +"But I don't understand," the housekeeper said. "A man +came with a note from you, Tom, and in it you said to have +him take the tank, with Koku and the men who know how to run +it. We were so glad to hear from you, and know that you were +all right, that we didn't think of anything else, your +father and I. So he went out and saw that the tank got off +all right. Koku was glad, for it's the first chance he'd had +to ride in it." + +"Who was the man who brought the note?" asked Tom, and he +was striving to be calm. "To think of poor old dad playing +right into the hands of the plotters!" he added, in an aside +to Ned. + +"Well, I don't know who the man was," said Mrs. Baggert. +"He seemed all right, and of course having a note from you--" + +"Who has that note now?" asked Tom quickly. + +"Your father." + +"Come on," and Tom led the way back to the house. "I'll +have a look at that document, which of course I never wrote, +and then we'll get after the plotters and the tank." + +"She ought to be easy to trace," observed Mr. Damon. +"Bless my fountain pen, but she ought to be easy to trace! +She will leave a track like a giant boa constrictor crawling +along." + +"Yes, I guess we can trace her, all right," assented Tom +Swift; "but the point is, will there be anything left of +her? What's what I'm afraid of now." + +Mr. Swift was still excited, but his worry had subsided as +soon as he knew Tom was safe. + +"The whole thing is a forgery, but fairly well done," Tom +said, as he looked at the paper his father gave him--a brief +note stating that Tom was well, but detained on business, +and that the tank was to be brought to him, just where the +bearer of the note would indicate. Koku, the giant, and +several of the machinists, who knew how to operate the big +machine, were to go with it, the note said. + +"That made me sure everything was all right," said Mr. +Swift. "I knew, of course, Tom, that plotters might try to +get hold of your war secret, but I didn't see how they could +if Koku and some of your own men were in possession." + +"They couldn't--as long as they remained in possession," +Tom said. "But that's the trouble. I'm afraid they haven't. +What has probably happened is that under the direction of +this man, who brought the forged note from me, Koku and the +others took the tank where he directed them, thinking to +meet me. Then, reaching the place where the rest of the +plotters were concealed, they overpowered Koku and the +others and took possession of the machine." + +"They'd have trouble with Koku," suggested Ned. + +"Yes, but even a giant can't fight too big a crowd, +especially if he is taken by surprise, and that's probably +what happened," remarked Tom. "Now the question is where is +the tank, and how can we get her back? Every minute counts. +If those German spies and their helpers remain in possession +long, they'll find out enough of my secrets to enable them +to duplicate the machine, and especially some of the most +exclusive features. We've got to get after 'em!" + +"They imitated your writing pretty well, Tom," Observed +Ned, as he looked at the forged note. + +"Yes; that's why they took all my papers away from me--to +get specimens of my handwriting. I half suspected that, but +I didn't quite figure out what their game was. Well, we know +the worst now, and that's better than working in the dark. +Now I'm going to have a bath and get into some decent +clothes, and we'll see what we can do." + +"Count on me, Tom!" exclaimed Ned. "I'll go the limit with +you!" + +"I knew you would, old man!" + +"And me, too!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my open fireplace, +but I'll send word to my wife that I'm not coming home to-night, +and we can start the first thing in the morning, Tom." + +"Yes; there isn't much use in going now, as it will soon +be dark." + +"How are you going to trace the tank, Tom?" asked Ned, +when his chum had bathed and gotten into fresh clothes. + +"I'm going to tour the country around here in an auto. The +tank can make ten miles an hour, but that's nothing to what +an auto can do. And we oughtn't to have much trouble in +tracing her. No one whose house she passed would forget her +in a hurry." + +"That's so," agreed Ned. "But if they took her across +country--" + +"A different story," agreed Tom. "Come to think of it, +maybe we'd better start to-night, Ned. We can make inquiries +after dark as well as by daylight and get ready for an early +morning hunt" + +"Let's do it, then!" suggested his chum. "I'm ready. I'll +send word that I'll not be home to-night." + +"Good!" cried the young inventor. "We'll have an old-fashioned +hunt after our enemies, Ned!" + +"And don't leave me out!" begged Mr. Damon. Hurried +preparations were made for the night trip. Tom ordered out +one of his speediest, though not largest, automobiles, and +told his helper to get the Hawk ready, to have her so she +could start at a moment's notice if needed. + +"You're not going in her, are you, Tom?" asked Ned. + +"I may need her to-morrow for daylight hunting. If the +tank's hidden somewhere, I can spot her from above more +easily than from the ground. So if we get any trace of my +machine, I can phone in and have the aeroplane brought to +me." + +"That's a good idea!" + +Inquiry at the shop where the tank had been built and kept +disclosed the fact that, in addition to Koku, three of Tom's +men had gone in her to help manage the machine under the +direction of the man who bore the forged note. That he was +one of the plotters not hitherto observed by either Ned or +Tom seemed certain. + +"And they took Koku and some of the men merely to make it +look natural and as if it were all right," Tom said. +"Naturally that deceived my father, who thought, of course, +that I was waiting for the machine. Well, it was a slick +trick, Ned, but we may fool them yet." + +"I hope so, Tom." + +Night had fully fallen when Tom, Ned, and Mr. Damon +started away in the touring car. + +Out onto the road rolled the automobile. During the little +daylight that had remained after his arrival at home and +following the discovery of the loss of the tank Tom and Ned +had traced it, by the marks of the big steel caterpillar +belts, to the main road. It had gone along that some +distance, just how far could not be said. + +"But by using the searchlight of the auto we can trace her +as long as they keep her on the road," said Tom. "After that +we'll have to trust to luck, and to what inquiries we can +make." + +The touring car carried a powerful lamp, and by its gleams +it was easy to trace for a time the progress of the +ponderous tank. There was no need to make inquiries of +persons living along the way, though once or twice Tom did +get out to ask, confirming the fact that the big machine had +rumbled past in a direction away from the Swift home. + +"I had an idea they might have doubled on their tracks for +a time, and backed her up just to fool us," Tom said. "They +might do that, keeping her in the same tracks." + +But this, evidently, had not been done, and the tank was +making good speed away from the Swift Louse. They kept up +the search until about midnight, and then a heavy rain began +just before they reached a point where several roads +branched. + +"Luck's with them!" exclaimed Tom. "This will wash away +the marks, and we'll have to go it blind. Might as well put +up here for the night," he added, as they came to a village +hotel. + +It was evident that little more could be done in the rain +and darkness, and there was danger of over-running the trail +of the tank if they kept on. So they turned in at the hotel +and got what little rest they could in their anxious state +of minds. + +Tom tried to be cheerful and to look for the best, but it +was hard work. The tank was his pet invention, and, +moreover, that her secrets should fall into the hands of the +enemy and be used for Germany and against the United States +eventually, made the young inventor feel that everything +was going wrong. + +The rain kept up all night, and this would make it +correspondingly hard for them to pick up the trail in the +morning. + +"The only thing we can do is to make inquiries," decided +Tom. "Fortunately, the tank can't easily be hidden." + +They started off after an early breakfast. The roads were +so muddy and wet that traveling was difficult and dangerous +for the automobile, and they were disappointed in finding no +one who had seen or heard the tank pass up to a point not +far from the hotel where they had stayed overnight. From +then on the big machine seemed to have disappeared. + +"I know what they've done," Tom said, when noon came and +they had found no trace of the ponderous war machine. +"They've left the road and taken her cross country, and we +can't find the spot where they did this because the rain has +washed out the marks. Well, there's only one thing left to +do." + +"What's that?" asked Ned. + +"Get the Hawk! In that we can look down and over a big +extent of country. That's what I'll do--I'll phone for the +airship. The rain is stopping, I think." + +The rain did cease by the time one of Tom's men brought +the speedy aircraft to the place named by the young inventor +in his telephone message. There were still several hours of +daylight left, and Tom counted on them to allow him to rise +in the air and look down on the tanks possible hiding place. + +"One thing's sure," he told Ned: "I know the limit of her +speed, and she can't be farther off than at some place +within a circle of about one hundred and twenty-five miles +from my house. And it's in the direction we're in. So if I +circle around up above, I may spot her." + +"I hope so," murmured Ned. + +It was arranged that Mr. Damon should take the automobile +back, with Tom's mechanician in it, and Tom and Ned would +scout around in the aircraft, which carried only two. + +"You ought to have a machine gun with you, Tom, if you +plan to attack those fellows to get back the tank," Ned +said. + +"Oh, I don't imagine I'll need it," he said. "Anyhow, a +machine gun wouldn't be of much effect against the tank. And +they can't fire on us, for there wasn't any ammunition for +the guns in Tank A, unless they got some of their own, and I +hardly believe they'd do that. I'll take a chance, anyhow." + +And so the search from the air began. It was disappointing +at first. Around and around circled Tom and Ned, their eyes +peering eagerly down from the heights for a sight of the +tank, possibly hidden in some little-known ravine or gully. + +Back and forth, like a speck in the sky, Tom guided the +Hawk, while Ned took observation after observation with the +binoculars. + +At last, when the low-sinking sun gave warning that night +would soon be upon them, Ned's glasses picked up something +on the ground far below that made him sit suddenly +straighter in his seat. + +"What is it?" asked Tom through the speaking apparatus, +feeling the movement on the part of his chum. + +"I see something down there, Tom," was the answer. "It +doesn't look like the tank, and yet it doesn't look as a +clump of trees and bushes ought to look. Have a peep +yourself. It's just beyond that river, against the side of +the hill--a lonesome place, too." + +Tom took the glasses while Ned assumed control of the +Hawk, there being a dual system for operating and steering +her. + +No sooner had the young inventor got the focus on what Ned +had indicated than he gave a cry. + +"What is it?" asked the young bank clerk. + +"Camouflaged!" cried Tom, and without stopping to explain +what he meant, he handed the binoculars back to Ned and +began to guide the Hawk down toward the earth at high speed. + + + + +Chapter XXV + +Foiled + + +"Is it really Tank A, Tom?" cried Ned, through the tube, +as soon as he became aware of his companion's intention. +"Are you sure?" + +"That's the girl, and just where you spotted her with the +glasses--in that clump of bushes. But they've daubed her +with green and brown paint--camouflaged her, so to speak--until +she looks like part of the landscape. What made you +suspicious of that particular place?" + +"The green was such a bright one in contrast to the rest +of the foliage around it.', + +"That's what struck me," Tom answered, as he continued to +drive the Hawk earthward. "They thought they were doing a +smart trick--imitating the tactics of the Allies with their +tanks--but they must be color blind." + +Ned took another observation through the glasses. He could +see the tank more easily now. There she was, fairly well +hidden in a clump of bushes and small trees on the banks of +a river, about a hundred miles away from Shopton. It was in +a wild and desolate country, and only with the airship could +the trail have thus been followed. + +Ned saw that the tank had been daubed with green, yellow, +and brown paint, in fantastic blotches, to make the big +machine blend with the foliage; and, to a certain extent, +this had been accomplished. + +But, as Ned had remarked, the green used was of too vivid +a hue. No natural tree put forth leaves like that, and the +glass had further revealed the error. + +"Look, Tom!" suddenly cried Ned. "She's moving!" + +"You're right!" answered the young inventor. "They've seen +us and are trying to get away." + +"But they can't beat your airship, Tom." + +"I know that. But their game--Oh, Ned, they're going to +wreck her!" cried Tom, and there was anguish in his voice. + +As the two looked down from their seats In the Hawk they +saw the tank, in its fantastic dress of splotchy paint, +leave her lair amid the bushes and trees, and head toward +the river. Like some ponderous prehistoric monster about to +take a drink, she careened her way toward the stream, which, +at this point, ran between high banks. + +"What's the game?" cried Ned. + +"They're going to send her to smash!" cried Tom. "She's +pretty tough, Tom, but she'll never stand a tumble down into +the river without breaking a lot of machinery inside her." + +"But if they demolish the tank they'll kill themselves, +won't they? And Koku and your men, too, who must be +prisoners in her!" + +"They won't risk their own worthless hides, you may be +sure of that!" exclaimed Tom. + +"There they go, but they must have left Koku and the +others to their fate!" + +"Oh, if they could only get loose and take control now, +Tom, they'd save your tank for you!" shouted Ned. + +"Yes; but they can't, I'm afraid. They may be killed, or +so securely bound that they can't get loose!" + +"Can't you get the Hawk there in time to stop her?" + +"I'm afraid not. By that time she'll have attained top +speed and it would be taking our lives in our bands to try +to make a flying jump, get inside, and shut off the motors." + +"Then the tank's got to smash!" said Ned gloomily. + +Tom did not answer for a moment. He and his chum watched +the fleeing figures running away from the war engine. What +the plotters had done, as soon as they saw the aircraft and +realized that Tom had discovered them, was to start the +motors and leap from the tank, closing the doors after them. +Whether or not they had left Koku and the others prisoners +inside remained to be seen. + +But the tank was plunging her way toward the steep bank of +the river, doomed, it seemed, to great damage, if not to +destruction. + +"Oh, if we could only halt her!" murmured Ned. + +Tom Swift was busy with some apparatus on +the Hawk. Ned heard the hum of an electric +motor which was connected with the engine, and +there soon sounded the crackle of the wireless. + +"What are you doing? Signaling for help from those inside +the tank?" asked Ned, for the big machine was fitted to +receive and send messages of this sort. + +"I'm trying something more desperate than that," Tom +answered. + +Again the wireless crackled, Tom working it with one hand +while, with the other, he guided the aircraft. Ned looked +downward with wondering eyes. + +The tank was still plunging her way toward the steep bank +of the river. If she tumbled down this, there would be +little left of the expensive and complicated machinery +inside. + +"The rascals did their work well," mused Ned. "They've +probably gotten all the secrets they want and now they're +going to spoil all Tom's hard work. It's a shame! If only--" + +Ned ceased his musing. Something was taking place down +below that he could not explain. The tank seemed to be +slackening her progress. More and more slowly she approached +the edge of the cliff. + +"Tom! Tom!" yelled Ned. "You must have waked some of them +up inside and they've thrown the motors out of gear! Hurrah! +She's stopping!" + +"I believe she is!" yelled Tom. "Oh, if it only works!" + +The tank was still moving, though more slowly. Still the +crackle of the wireless was heard. + +And then, just as Tom shut off his own motor and let the +Hawk glide on her downward way in a volplane to earth, the +great, ponderous tank came to a stop, on the very edge of +the precipice at the foot of which rolled the river. + +"Whew!" whistled Ned, as the aircraft rolled along the +ground near the war machine. "That was touch and go, Tom! +They stopped her just in time." + +"You mean the wireless stopped her," said Tom quietly. +"I'm very much afraid that if Koku and the others are alive +they're still prisoners in the craft." + +"The wireless!" gasped Ned, as he and his chum got out of +the Hawk. "Do you mean that you stopped her by wireless, +Tom?" + +"That's what I did. It was a desperate chance, but I took +it. I had just installed in the tank a system of wireless +control, so she could be guided as some torpedos and +submarines are, by wireless impulses from the shore. + +"Only I'd never given the tank system a tryout. It was all +installed, and had worked perfectly on the small model I +constructed. And when I saw her running away, out of control +as she was, I realized the wireless was the only thing that +would stop her, if that would. It might operate just +opposite to what I wanted, though, and increase her speed." + +"But I took the chance. I set the airship wireless current +to working, and tuned it in to coincide with the control of +the tank. Then, by means of the wireless impulse I shut off +the motors, which can he stopped or started by hand or by +electricity. I shut 'em off." + +"And only just in time!" cried Ned. "Whew, Tom Swift, but +that was a close call!" + +"I realize that myself!" said the young inventor. "This is +a new idea and has to be worked out further for our newer +tanks." + +"Gee!" ejaculated Ned. "Out of date before got into use! +Now let's see about our friends!" + +It was the work of but a moment to enter the tank, and, +after making sure that the machinery was all right, Tom and +Ned made their way to the interior. In one of the smallest +rooms they found Koku and the others bound with ropes, and +in a bad way. Koku was so tied with cords and hemp as to +resemble a bale of Manilla cable. + +"Cut 'em loose, Ned!" cried Tom, and the bonds were soon +severed. Then came explanations. + +As has been told, one of the plotters, whose identity was +not learned until later, came with the forged note. The +giant and Tom's men set out in the tank, and the machine was +stopped at a certain place where the plotter, who gave the +name of Crossleigh, told them Tom was to meet his men. + +Out of ambush leaped Simpson and others, who overpowered +the mechanics, even subduing Koku after a fierce fight, and +then they took possession of the tank, making the others +prisoners. + +What happened after that could only be conjectured by +Tom's men, for they were shut up in an inner room. It +seemed certain, though, that the tank was taken to some +secret place and there painted to resemble the verdure. Then +she went on again, coming to rest where Tom and Ned saw her. + +Meanwhile the plotters were gradually getting at the +secrets of construction, and they were in the midst of this +work when one of them saw the aeroplane. Rightly guessing +what it portended, they left hurriedly, still leaving the +hapless men bound, and started the tank on what they thought +would be her last trip. + +"But you saved her, Tom!" cried Ned. "You saved her with +the wireless." + +And word was sent back to Shopton by the same means to +tell Mr. Swift, Mr. Damon, and the others that Tom and his +tank were safe. And then, a little later, when the bound men +had recovered the use of their cramped limbs, the tank was +backed away from the ledge and started on her homeward way, +Tom and Ned preceding her in the Hawk. + +Without further incident, save a slight break which was +soon repaired, Tank A soon reached her harbor again, and a +double guard was posted about the shop. + +"And they won't get much more chance to steal her +secrets," said Tom that night, when the stories had been +told. + +"Why?" asked Ned. + +"We start to dismantle her at once," Tom answered, "and +she goes to England to be reproduced for France." + +"If only those plotters haven't stolen the secrets," mused +Ned. + +But if they had they got little good of them. For shortly +afterward government secret service agents rounded up the +chief members of the gang, including Simpson and Blakeson. +They, with Schwen, were sent to an internment camp for the +period of the war, and enough information was obtained from +them to disclose all the workings of the plot. + +"It was just like lots of other stunts the German spies +tried to put over on the good old U.S.A.," said Tom to Ned, +the day after the dismantled tank was shipped to Great +Britain. "In some way the spies found out what I was making, +and then they got hold of Blakeson and Grinder. Those +fellows, who so nearly queered me in the big tunnel game +promised to make a tank that would beat those the British at +first put out, and they took some German money in advance +for doing it. + +"When they found they couldn't make good, the German spies +agreed to help them get possession of my secrets. They +worked hard enough at it, too, but, thanks to you, Ned, and +to Eradicate, who gave us the tip on Schwen, we beat 'em +out" + +"And so it's all over, Tom?" + +"Yes, practically all over. I've given all my interests in +the tank to Uncle Sam. It was the only way I could do my +bit, at this time. But I've something else up my sleeve." + +And those of you who care to learn what the young inventor +next did may do so by reading the next volume of this +series. + +It was about a week after Tank A, as she was still +officially called, had been shipped in sections that Ned +Newton called at Tom's home. He found his chum, with a +flower in his buttonhole, about to leave in his small +runabout. + +"Oh, excuse me!" exclaimed Ned. "This is Wednesday night. +I might have known. Give Mary my regards." + +"I will," promised Tom, with a smile. + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Tom Swift And His War Tank + diff --git a/old/21tom10.zip b/old/21tom10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..876b887 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/21tom10.zip diff --git a/old/21tom10h.htm b/old/21tom10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ff81d5a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/21tom10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6744 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tom Swift And His War Tank, by Victor Appleton. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + } + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + +<pre> +****Project Gutenberg's Etext of Tom Swift And His War Tank**** +#21 in the Victor Appleton's Tom Swift Series +We name the Tom Swift files as they are numbered in the books— +i.e. This is #21 in the series so the file name is 21tomxxx.xxx +where the x's are place holders for editon # and file type such +as 21tom10.txt and 21tom10.zip, when we do a .htm, 21tom10h.htm + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* +</pre> + + +<h1>TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK</h1> +<h3>or</h3> +<h2>Doing His Bit For Uncle Sam</h2> + +<h3>By</h3> +<h2>VICTOR APPLETON</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS" />CONTENTS</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> + <a href="#Chapter_I"><b>Chapter I</b> Past Memories</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_II"><b>Chapter II</b> Tom's Indifference</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_III"><b>Chapter III</b> Ned is Worried</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_IV"><b>Chapter IV</b> Queer Doings</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_V"><b>Chapter V</b> "Is He a Slacker?"</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_VI"><b>Chapter VI</b> Seeing Things</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_VII"><b>Chapter VII</b> Up a Tree</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_VIII"><b>Chapter VIII</b> Detective Rad</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_IX"><b>Chapter IX</b> A Night Test</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_X"><b>Chapter X</b> A Runaway Giant</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XI"><b>Chapter XI</b> Tom's Tank</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XII"><b>Chapter XII</b> Bridging a Gap</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XIII"><b>Chapter XIII</b> Into a Trench</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XIV"><b>Chapter XIV</b> The Ruined Factory</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XV"><b>Chapter XV</b> Across Country</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XVI"><b>Chapter XVI</b> The Old Barn</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XVII"><b>Chapter XVII</b> Veiled Threats</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XVIII"><b>Chapter XVIII</b> Ready for France</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XIX"><b>Chapter XIX</b> Tom Is Missing</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XX"><b>Chapter XX</b> The Search</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XXI"><b>Chapter XXI</b> A Prisoner</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XXII"><b>Chapter XXII</b> Rescued</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XXIII"><b>Chapter XXIII</b> Gone</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XXIV"><b>Chapter XXIV</b> Camouflaged</a><br /> + <a href="#Chapter_XXV"><b>Chapter XXV</b> Foiled</a><br /> + </p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_I" id="Chapter_I" />Chapter I</h2> + +<h3>Past Memories</h3> + + +<p>Ceasing his restless walk up and down the room, Tom Swift +strode to the window and gazed across the field toward the +many buildings, where machines were turning out the products +evolved from the brains of his father and himself. There was +a worried look on the face of the young inventor, and he +seemed preoccupied, as though thinking of something far +removed from whatever it was his eyes gazed upon.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll do it!" suddenly exclaimed Tom. "I don't want +to, but I will. It's in the line of 'doing my bit,' I +suppose; but I'd rather it was something else. I wonder—"</p> + +<p>"Ha! Up to your old tricks, I see, Tom!" exclaimed a +voice, in which energy and friendliness mingled pleasingly. +"Up to your old tricks!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, hello, Mr. Damon!" cried Tom, turning to shake hands +with an elderly gentleman—that is, elderly in appearance +but not in action, for he crossed the room with the +springing step of a lad, and there was the enthusiasm of +youth on his face. "What do you mean—my old tricks?"</p> + +<p>"Talking to yourself, Tom. And when you do that it means +there is something in the wind. I hope, as a sort of side +remark, it isn't rain that's in the wind, for the soldiers +over at camp have had enough water to set up a rival +establishment with Mr. Noah. But there's something going on, +isn't there? Bless my memorandum book, but don't tell me +there isn't, or I shall begin to believe I have lost all my +deductive powers of reasoning! I Come in here, after +knocking two or three times, to which you pay not the least +attention, and find you mysteriously murmuring to yourself.</p> + +<p>"The last time that happened, Tom, was just before you +started to dig the big tunnel—No, I'm wrong. It was just +before you started for the Land of Wonders, as we decided it +ought to be called. You were talking to yourself then, when +I walked in on you, and—Say, Tom!" suddenly exclaimed Mr. +Damon eagerly, "don't tell me you're going off on another +wild journey like that—don't!"</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Tom, smiling at the energy of his caller.</p> + +<p>"Because if you are, I'll want to go with you, of course, +and if I go it means I'll have to start in as soon as I can +to bring my wife around to my way of thinking. The last +time I went it took me two weeks to get her to consent, and +then she didn't like it. So if—"</p> + +<p>"No, Mr. Damon," interrupted Tom, "I don't count on going +on any sort of a trip—that is, any long one. I was just +getting ready to take a little spin in the Hawk, and if +you'd like to come along—"</p> + +<p>"You mean that saucy little airship of yours, Tom, that's +always trying to sit down on her tail, or tickle herself +with one wing?"</p> + +<p>"That's the Hawk!" laughed Tom; "though that tickling +business you speak of is when I spiral. Don't you like it?"</p> + +<p>"Can't say I do," observed Mr. Damon dryly.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll promise not to try any stunts if you come +along," Tom went on.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?" asked his friend.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no place in particular. As you surmised, I've been +doing a bit of thinking, and—"</p> + +<p>"Serious thinking, too, Tom!" interrupted Mr. Damon. +"Excuse me, but I couldn't help overhearing what you said. +It was something about going to do something though you +didn't want to, and that it was part of your 'bit'. That +sounds like soldier talk. Are you going to enlist, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Um! Well, then—"</p> + +<p>"It's something I can't talk about, Mr. Damon, even to +you, as yet," Tom said, and there was a new quality in his +voice, at which his friend looked up in some surprise.</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course, Tom, if it's a secret—"</p> + +<p>"Well, it hasn't even got that far, as yet. It's all up in +the air, so to speak. I'll tell you in due season. But, +speaking of the air, let's go for a spin. It may drive some +of the cobwebs out of my brain. Did I hear you say you +thought it would rain?"</p> + +<p>"No, it's as clear as a bell. I said I hoped it wouldn't +rain for the sake of the soldiers in camp. They've had their +share of wet weather, and, goodness knows, they'll get more +when they get to Flanders. It seems to do nothing but rain +in France."</p> + +<p>"It is damp," agreed Tom. "And, come to think of it, they +are going to have some airship contests over at camp to-day—for +the men who are being trained to be aviators, you know. +It just occurred to me that we might fly over there and +watch them."</p> + +<p>"Fine!" cried Mr. Damon. "That's the very thing I should +like. I'll take a chance in your Hawk, Tom, if you'll +promise not to try any spiral stunts."</p> + +<p>"I promise, Mr. Damon. Come on! I'll have Koku run the +machine out and get her ready for a flight to Camp. It's a +good day for a jaunt in the air."</p> + +<p>"Get out the Hawk, Koku," ordered the young inventor, as +he motioned to a big man—a veritable giant—who nodded to +show he understood. Koku was really a giant, one of a race +of strange beings, and Tom Swift had brought the big man +with him when he escaped from captivity, as those will +remember who have read that book.</p> + +<p>"Going far, Tom?" asked an aged man, coming to the door of +one of the many buildings of which the shed where the +airship was kept formed one.</p> + +<p>"Not very far, Father," answered the young inventor. +"Mr. Damon and I are going for a little spin over to Camp +Grant, to see some aircraft contests among the army +birdmen."</p> + +<p>"Oh, all right, Tom. I just wanted to tell you that I +think I've gotten over that difficulty you found with the +big carburetor you were working on. You didn't say what you +wanted it for, except that it was for a heavy duty gasolene +engine, and you couldn't get the needle valve to work as +you'd like. I think I've found a way."</p> + +<p>"Good, Dad! I'll look at it when I come back. That +Carburetor did bother me, and if I can get that to work—well, +maybe we'll have something soon that will—"</p> + +<p>But Tom did not finish his sentence, for Koku was getting +the aircraft in operation and Mr. Damon was already taking +his place behind the pilot's seat, which would be occupied +by Tom.</p> + +<p>"All ready, are you, Koku?" asked the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"All ready, Master," answered the giant.</p> + +<p>There was a roar like that of a machine gun as the Hawk's +engine spun the propeller, and then, after a little run +across the sod, it mounted into the air, carrying Tom and +Mr. Damon with it.</p> + +<p>"Mind you, Tom, no stunts!" called the visitor to the +young inventor through the speaking tube apparatus, which +enabled a conversation to be carried on, even above the roar +of the powerful engine. "Bless my overshoes! if you try, +looping the loop with me—"</p> + +<p>"I won't do anything like that!" promised Tom.</p> + +<p>Away they soared, swift as a veritable hawk, and soon, +after there had unrolled below their eyes a succession of +fields and forest, there came into view rows and rows of +small brown objects, among which beings, like ants, seemed +crawling about.</p> + +<p>"There's the Camp!" exclaimed Tom.</p> + +<p>"I see," and Mr. Damon nodded.</p> + +<p>As they approached, they saw, starting up from a green +space amid the brown tents, what appeared to be big bugs of +a dirty white color splotched with green.</p> + +<p>"The aircraft—and they have camouflage paint on," said +Tom. "We can watch 'em from up here!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon nodded, though Tom could not see him, sitting in +front of his friend as he was.</p> + +<p>Up and up circled the army aircraft, and they seemed to +bow and nod a greeting to the Hawk, which was soon in the +midst of them. Tom and Mr. Damon, flying high, though at no +great speed, looked at the maneuvers of the veterans and +the learners—many of whom might soon be engaging the Boches +in far-off France.</p> + +<p>"Some of 'em are pretty good!" called Tom, through the +tube. "That one fellow did the loop as prettily as I've ever +seen it done," and Tom Swift had a right to speak as one of +authority.</p> + +<p>Tom and his friend watched the aircraft for some time, and +then started off in a long flight, attaining a high speed, +which, at first, made Mr. Damon gasp, until he became used +to it. He was no novice at flying, and had even operated +aeroplanes himself, though at no great height.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the Hawk seemed to falter, almost as does a bird +stricken by a hunter's gun. The craft seemed to hang in the +air, losing motion as though about to plunge to earth +unguided.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"One of the control wires broken!" was Tom's laconic +answer. "I'll have to volplane down. Sit tight, there's no +danger!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon knew that with so competent a pilot as Tom Swift +in the forward seat this was true, but, nevertheless, he was +a bit nervous until he felt the smooth, gliding motion, with +now and then an upward tilt, which showed that Tom was +coming down from the upper regions in a series of long +glides. The engine had stopped, and the cessation of the +thundering noise made it possible for Tom and his passenger +to talk without the use of the speaking tube.</p> + +<p>"All right?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"All right," Tom answered, and a little later the machine +was rolling gently over the turf of a large field, a mile or +so from the camp.</p> + +<p>Before Tom and Mr. Damon could get out of their seats, a +man, seemingly springing up from some hollow in the ground, +walked toward them.</p> + +<p>"Had an accident?" he asked, in what he evidently meant +for a friendly voice.</p> + +<p>"A little one, easily mended," Tom answered.</p> + +<p>He was about to take off his goggles, but at sight of the +man's face a change came over the countenance of Tom Swift, +and he replaced the eye protectors. Then Tom turned to Mr. +Damon, as if to ask a question, but the stranger came so +close, evidently curious to see the aircraft at close +quarters, that the young inventor could not speak without +being overheard.</p> + +<p>Tom got out his kit of tools to repair the broken control, +and the man watched him curiously. As he tinkered away, +something was stirring among the past memories of the +inventor. A question he asked himself over and over again +was:</p> + +<p>"Where have I seen this man before? His face is familiar, +but I can't place him. He is associated with something +unpleasant. But where have I seen this man before?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_II" id="Chapter_II" />Chapter II</h2> + +<h3>Tom's Indifference</h3> + + +<p>"Did you make this machine yourself?" asked the stranger +of Tom, as the young inventor worked at the damaged part of +his craft.</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon had also alighted, taken off his goggles, and +was looking aloft, where the army aircraft were going +through various evolutions, and down below, where the young +soldiers were drilling under such conditions, as far as +possible, as they might meet with when some of their number +went "over the top." Mr. Damon was murmuring to himself +such remarks as:</p> + +<p>"Bless my fountain pen! look at that chap turning upside +down! Bless my inkwell!"</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," remarked Tom Swift, following the +remark of the man, whose face he was trying to recall. It +was not that Tom had not heard the question, but he was +trying to gain time before answering.</p> + +<p>"I asked if you made this machine yourself," went on the +man, as he peered about at the Hawk. "It isn't like any I've +ever seen before, and I know something about airships. It +has some new wrinkles on it, and I thought you might have +evolved them yourself. Not that it's an amateur affair, by +any means!" he added hastily, as if fearing the young +inventor might resent the implication that his machine was a +home-made product.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I originated this," answered Tom, as he put a new +turn-buckle in place; "but I didn't actually construct it—that +is, except for some small parts. It was made in the +shop—"</p> + +<p>"Over at the army construction plant, I presume," +interrupted the man quickly, as he motioned toward the big +factory, not far from Shopton, where aircraft for Uncle +Sam's Army were being turned out by the hundreds.</p> + +<p>"Might as well let him think that," mused Tom; "at least +until I can figure out who he is and what he wants."</p> + +<p>"This is different from most of those up there," and the +stranger pointed toward the circling craft on high. "A bit +more speedy, I guess, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, in a way," agreed Tom, who was lending over +his craft. He stole a side look at the man. The face was +becoming more and more familiar, yet something about it +puzzled Tom Swift.</p> + +<p>"I've seen him before, and yet he didn't look like that," +thought the young inventor. "It's different, somehow. Now +why should my memory play me a trick like this? Who in the +world can he be?"</p> + +<p>Tom straightened up, and tossed a monkey wrench into the +tool box.</p> + +<p>"Get everything fixed?" asked the stranger.</p> + +<p>"I think so," and the young inventor tried to make his +answer pleasant. "It was only a small break, easily fixed."</p> + +<p>"Then you'll be on your way again?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Are you ready?" called Tom to Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Bless my timetable, yes! I didn't think you'd start back +again so soon. There's one young fellow up there who has +looped the loop three times, and I expect him to fall any +minute."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess he knows his business," Tom said easily. +"We'll be getting back now."</p> + +<p>"One moment!" called the man. "I beg your pardon for +troubling you, but you seem to be a mechanic, and that's +just the sort of man I'm looking for. Are you open to an +offer to do some inventive and constructive work?"</p> + +<p>Tom was on his guard instantly.</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't say that I am," he answered. "I am pretty +busy—"</p> + +<p>"This would pay well," went on the man eagerly. "I am a +stranger around here, but I can furnish satisfactory +references. I am in need of a good mechanic, an inventor as +well, who can do what you seem to have done so well. I had +hopes of getting some one at the army plant"</p> + +<p>"I guess they're not letting any of their men go," said +Tom, as Mr. Damon climbed to his seat in the Hawk.</p> + +<p>"No, I soon found that out. But I thought perhaps you—"</p> + +<p>Tom shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," he answered, "but I'm otherwise engaged, and +very busy."</p> + +<p>"One moment!" called the man, as he saw Tom about to start +"Is the Swift Company plant far from here?"</p> + +<p>Tom felt something like a thrill go through him. There was +an unexpected note in the man's voice. The face of the young +inventor lightened, and the doubts melted away.</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't far," Tom answered, shouting to be heard +above the crackling bangs of the motor. And then, as the +craft soared into the air, he cried exultingly:</p> + +<p>"I have it! I know who he is! The scoundrel! His beard +fooled me, and he probably didn't know me with these goggles +on. But now I know him!"</p> + +<p>"Bless my calendar!" cried Mr. Damon. "What are you +talking about?"</p> + +<p>But Tom did not answer, for the reason that just then the +Hawk fell into an "air pocket," and needed all his attention +to straighten her out and get her on a level course again.</p> + +<p>And while Tom Swift is thus engaged in speeding his +aircraft along the upper regions toward his home, it will +take but a few moments to acquaint my new readers with +something of the history of the young inventor. Those who +have read the previous books in this series need be told +nothing about our hero.</p> + +<p>Tom Swift was an inventor of note, as was his father. Mr. +Swift was now quite aged and not in robust health, but he +was active at times and often aided Tom when some knotty +point came up.</p> + +<p>Tom and his father lived on the outskirts of the town of +Shopton, and near their home were various buildings in which +the different machines and appliances were made. Tom's +mother was dead, but Mrs. Baggert, the housekeeper, was as +careful in looking after Tom and his father as any woman +could be.</p> + +<p>In addition to these three, the household consisted of +Eradicate Sampson, an aged colored servant, and, it might +almost be added, his mule Boomerang; but Boomerang had +manners that, at times, did not make him a welcome addition +to any household. Then there was the giant Koku, one of two +big men Tom had brought back with him from the land where +the young inventor had been held captive for a time.</p> + +<p>The first book of this series is called "Tom Swift and His +Motor Cycle," and it was in acquiring possession of that +machine that Tom met his friend Mr. Wakefield Damon, who +lived in a neighboring town. Mr. Damon owned the motor cycle +originally, but when it attempted to climb a tree with him +he sold it to Tom.</p> + +<p>Tom had many adventures on the machine, and it started him +on his inventive career. From then on he had had a series of +surprising adventures. He had traveled in his motor boat, in +an airship, and then had taken to a submarine. In his +electric runabout he showed what the speediest car on the +road Could do, and when he sent his wireless message, the +details of which can be found set down in the volume of that +name, Tom saved the castaways of Earthquake Island.</p> + +<p>Tom Swift had many other thrilling escapes, one from among +the diamond makers, and another from the caves of ice; and +he made the quickest flight on record in his sky racer.</p> + +<p>Tom's wizard camera, his great searchlight, his giant +cannon, his photo telephone, his aerial warship and the big +tunnel he helped to dig, brought him credit, fame, and not a +little money. He had not long been back from an expedition +to Honduras, dubbed "the land of wonders," when he was again +busy en some of his many ideas. And it was to get some +relief from his thoughts that he had taken the flight with +Mr. Damon on the day the present story opens.</p> + +<p>"What are you so excited about, Tom?" asked his friend, as +the Hawk alighted near the shed hack of the young inventor's +home. "Bless my scarf pin! but any one would think you'd +just discovered the true method of squaring the circle."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's almost as good as that, and more practical," +Tom said, with a smile, as he motioned to Koku to put away +the aircraft "I know who that man is, now."</p> + +<p>"What man, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"The one who was questioning me when I was fixing the +airship. I kept puzzling and puzzling as to his identity, +and, all at once, it came to me. Do you know who he is, Mr. +Damon?"</p> + +<p>"No, I can't say that I do, Tom. But, as you say, there +was something vaguely familiar about him. It seemed as if I +must have seen him before, and yet—"</p> + +<p>"That's just the way it struck me. What would you say if I +told you that man was Blakeson, of Blakeson and Grinder, the +rival tunnel contractors who made such trouble for us?"</p> + +<p>"You mean down in Peru, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon started in surprise, and then exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Bless my ear mufflers, Tom, but you're right! That was +Blakeson! I didn't know him with his beard, but that was +Blakeson, all right! Bless my foot-warmer! What do you +suppose he is doing around here?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, Mr. Damon, but I'd give a good deal to +know. It isn't any good, I'll wager on that. He didn't seem +to know me or you, either—unless he did and didn't let on. +I suppose it was because of my goggles—and you were gazing +up in the air most of the time. I don't think he knew either +of us."</p> + +<p>"It didn't seem so, Tom. But what is he doing here? Do you +think he is working at the army camp, or helping make +Liberty Motors for the aircraft that are going to beat the +Germans?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly. He didn't seem to be connected with the camp. He +wanted a mechanic, and hinted that I might do. Jove! if he +really didn't know who I was, and finds out, say! won't he +be surprised?"</p> + +<p>"Rather," agreed Mr Damon. "Well, Tom, I bad a nice little +ride. And now I must be getting back. But if you contemplate +a trip anywhere, don't forget to let me know."</p> + +<p>"I don't count on going anywhere soon," Tom answered. "I +have something on hand that will occupy all my time, though +I don't just like it. However, I'm going to do my best," and +he waved good-bye to Mr. Damon, who went off blessing +various parts of his anatomy or clothing, an odd habit he +had.</p> + +<p>As Tom turned to go into the house, the unsettled look +still on his face, some one hailed him.</p> + +<p>"I say, Tom. Hello! Wait a minute! I've got something to +show you!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, hello, Ned Newton!" Called back the young inventor. +"Well, if it's Liberty Bonds, you don't need to show me any, +for dad and I will buy all we can without seeing them."</p> + +<p>"I know that, Tom, and it was a dandy subscription you +gave me. I didn't come about that, though I may be around +the next time Uncle Sam wants the people to dig down in +their socks. This is something different," and Ned Newton, a +young banker of Shopton and a lifelong friend of Tom's, drew +a paper from his pocket as he advanced across the lawn.</p> + +<p>"There, Tom Swift!" he cried, flipping out an illustrated +page, evidently from some illustrated newspaper. "There's +the very latest from the other side. A London banker friend +of mine sent it to me, and it got past the censor all right. +It's the first authentic photograph of the newest and +biggest British tank. Isn't that a wonder?"</p> + +<p>Ned held up the paper which had in it a fullpage +photograph of a monster tank—those weird machines traveling +on endless steel belts of caterpillar construction, armored, +riveted and plated, with machine guns bristling here and +there.</p> + +<p>"Isn't that great, Tom? Can you beat it? It's the most +wonderful machine of the age, even counting some of yours. +Can you beat it?"</p> + +<p>Tom took the paper indifferently, and his manner surprised +his chum.</p> + +<p>"Well, what's the matter, Tom?" asked Ned. "Don't you +think that great? Why don't you say something? You don't +mean to say you've seen that picture before?"</p> + +<p>"No, Ned."</p> + +<p>"Then what's the matter with you? Isn't that wonderful?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_III" id="Chapter_III" />Chapter III</h2> + +<h3>Ned is Worried</h3> + + +<p>Tom Swift did not answer for several seconds. He stood +holding the paper Ned had given him, the sun slanting on the +picture of the big British tank. But the young inventor did +not appear to see it. Instead, his eyes were as though +contemplating something afar off.</p> + +<p>"Well, this gets me!" cried Ned, his voice showing +impatience. "Here I go and get a picture of the latest +machine the British armies are smashing up the Boches with, +and bring it to you fresh from the mail—I even quit my +Liberty Bond business to do it, and I know some dandy +prospects, too—and here you look at it like a—like a +fish!" burst out Ned.</p> + +<p>"Say, old man, I guess that's right!" admitted Tom. "I +wasn't thinking about it, to tell you the truth."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" Ned demanded. "Isn't it great, Tom? Did you +ever see anything like it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"You did?" Cried Ned, in surprise. "Where? Say, Tom Swift, +are you keeping something from me?"</p> + +<p>"I mean no, Ned. I never have seen a British tank."</p> + +<p>"Well, did you ever see a picture like this before?" Ned +persisted.</p> + +<p>"No, not exactly like that But—"</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you think of it?" cried the young banker, +who was giving much of his time to selling bonds for the +Government. "Isn't it great?"</p> + +<p>Tom considered a moment before replying. Then he said +slowly:</p> + +<p>"Well, yes, Ned, it is a pretty good machine. But—"</p> + +<p>"'But!' Howling tomcats! Say, what's the 'matter with you, +anyhow, Tom? This is great! 'But!' 'But me no buts!' This +is, without exception, the greatest thing out since an +airship. It will win the war for us and the Allies, too, and +don't you forget it! Fritz's barbed wire and dugouts and +machine gun emplacements can't stand for a minute against +these tanks! Why, Tom, they can crawl on their back as well +as any other way, and they don't mind a shower of shrapnel +or a burst of machine gun lead, any more than an alligator +minds a swarm of gnats. The only thing that makes 'em +hesitate a bit is a Jack Johnson or a Bertha shell, and it's +got to be a pretty big one, and in the right place, to do +much damage. These tanks are great, and there's nothing like +'em."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes there is, Ned!"</p> + +<p>"There is!" cried Ned. "What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean there may be something like them—soon."</p> + +<p>"There may? Say, Tom—"</p> + +<p>"Now don't ask me a lot of questions, Ned, for I can't +answer them. When I say there may be something like them, I +mean it isn't beyond the realms of possibility that some +one—perhaps the Germans—may turn out even bigger and +better tanks."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" And Ned's voice showed his disappointment. "I +thought maybe you were in on that game yourself, Tom. Say, +couldn't you get up something almost as good as this?" and +he indicated the picture in the paper. "Isn't that +wonderful?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, it's good, Ned, but there are others. Yes, Dad, +I'm coming," he called, as he saw his father beckoning to +him from a distant building.</p> + +<p>"Well, I've got to get along," said Ned. "But I certainly +am disappointed, Tom. I thought you'd go into a fit over +this picture—it's one of the first allowed to get out of +England, my London friend said. And instead of enthusing +you're as cold as a clam;" and Ned shook his head in puzzled +and disappointed fashion as he walked slowly along beside +the young inventor.</p> + +<p>They passed a new building, one of the largest in the +group of the many comprising the Swift plant. Ned looked at +the door which bore a notice to the effect that no one was +admitted unless bearing a special permit, or accompanied by +Mr. Swift or Tom.</p> + +<p>"What's this, Tom?" asked Ned. "Some new wrinkle?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, an invention I'm working on. It isn't in shape yet +to be seen."</p> + +<p>"It must be something big, Tom," observed Ned, as he +viewed the large building.</p> + +<p>"It is."</p> + +<p>"And say, what a whopping big fence you've got around the +back yard!" went on the young banker. "Looks like a baseball +field, but it would take some scrambling on the part of a +back-lots kid to get over it."</p> + +<p>"That's what it's for—to keep people out."</p> + +<p>"I see! Well, I've got to get along. I'm a bit back in my +day's quota of selling Liberty Bonds, and I've got to +hustle. I'm sorry I bothered you about that tank picture, +Tom."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it wasn't a bother—don't think that for a minute, +Ned! I was glad to see it."</p> + +<p>"Well, he didn't seem so, and his manner was certainly +queer," mused Ned, as he walked away, and turned in time to +see Tom enter the new building, which had such a high fence +all around it. "I never saw him more indifferent. I wonder if +Tom isn't interested in seeing Uncle Sam help win this war? +That's the way it struck me. I thought surely Tom would go +up in the air, and say this was a dandy," and Ned unfolded +the paper and took another look at the British tank +photograph. "If there's anything can beat that I'd like to +see it," he mused.</p> + +<p>"But I suppose Tom has discovered some new kind of air +stabilizer, or a different kind of carburetor that will +vaporize kerosene as well as gasolene. If he has, why +doesn't he offer it to Uncle Sam? I wonder if Tom is pro-German? +No, of Course he can't be!" and Ned laughed at his +own idea.</p> + +<p>"At the same time, it is queer," he mused on. "There is +something wrong with Tom Swift."</p> + +<p>Once more Ned looked at the picture. It was a +representation of one of the newest and largest of the +British tanks. In appearance these are not unlike great +tanks, though they are neither round nor square, being +shaped, in fact, like two wedges with the broad ends put +together, and the sharper ends sticking out, though there is +no sharpness to a tank, the "noses" both being blunt.</p> + +<p>Around each outer edge runs an endless belt of steel +plates, hinged together, with ridges at the joints, and +these broad belts of steel plates, like the platforms of +some moving stairways used in department stores, moving +around, give motion to the tank.</p> + +<p>Inside, well protected from the fire of enemy guns by +steel plates, are the engines for driving the belts, or +caterpillar wheels, as they are called. There is also the +steering apparatus, and the guns that fire on the enemy. +There are cramped living and sleeping quarters for the +tank's crew, more limited than those of a submarine.</p> + +<p>The tank is ponderous, the smallest of them, which were +those first constructed, weighing forty-two tons, or about +as much as a good-sized railroad freight car. And it is this +ponderosity, with its slow but resistless movement, that +gives the tank its power.</p> + +<p>The tank, by means of the endless belts of steel plates, +can travel over the roughest country. It can butt into a +tree, a stone wall, or a house, knock over the obstruction, +mount it, crawl over it, and slide down into a hole on the +other side and crawl out again, on the level, or at an +angle. Even if overturned, the tanks can sometimes right +themselves and keep on. At the rear are trailer wheels, +partly used in steering and partly for reaching over gaps or +getting out of holes. The tanks can turn in their own +length, by moving one belt in one direction and the other +oppositely.</p> + +<p>Inside there is nothing much but machinery of the gasolene +type, and the machine guns. The tank is closed except for +small openings out of which the guns project, and slots +through which the men inside look out to guide themselves or +direct their fire.</p> + +<p>Such, in brief, is a British tank, one of the most +powerful and effective weapons yet loosed against the +Germans. They are useful in tearing down the barbed-wire +entanglements on the Boche side of No Man's Land, and they +can clear the way up to and past the trenches, which they +can straddle and wriggle across like some giant worm.</p> + +<p>"And to think that Tom Swift didn't enthuse over these!" +murmured Ned. "I wonder what's the matter with him!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_IV" id="Chapter_IV" />Chapter IV</h2> + +<h3>Queer Doings</h3> + + +<p>There was a subdued air of activity about the Swift plant. +Subdued, owing to the fact that it was mostly confined to +one building—the new, large one, about which stretched a +high and strong fence, made with tongue-and-groove boards so +that no prying eyes might find a crack, even, through which +to peer.</p> + +<p>In and out of the other buildings the workmen went as they +pleased, though there were not many of them, for Tom and his +father were devoting most of their time and energies to what +was taking place in the big, new structure. But here there +was an entirely different procedure.</p> + +<p>Workmen went in and out, to be sure, but each time they +emerged they were scrutinized carefully, and when they went +in they had to exhibit their passes to a man on guard at the +single entrance; and the passes were not scrutinized +perfunctorily, either.</p> + +<p>Near the building, about which there seemed to be an air +of mystery, one day, a week after the events narrated in the +opening chapters, strolled the giant Koku. Not far away, +raking up a pile of refuse, was Eradicate Sampson, the aged +colored man of all work. Eradicate approached nearer and +nearer the entrance to the building, pursuing his task of +gathering up leaves, dirt and sticks with the teeth of his +rake. Then Koku, who had been lounging on a bench in the +shade of a tree, Called:</p> + +<p>"No more, Eradicate!"</p> + +<p>"No mo' whut?" asked the negro quickly. "I didn't axt yo' +fo' nuffin yit!"</p> + +<p>"No more come here!" said the giant, pointing to the +building and speaking English with an evident effort. +"Master say no one come too close."</p> + +<p>"Huh! He didn't go fo' t' mean me!" exclaimed Eradicate. +"I kin go anywheres; I kin!"</p> + +<p>"Not here!" and Koku interposed his giant frame between +the old man and the first step leading into the secret +building. "You no come in here."</p> + +<p>"Who say so?"</p> + +<p>"Me—I say so! I on guard. I what you call special +policeman—detectiff—no let enemies in!"</p> + +<p>"Huh! You's a hot deteckertiff, yo' is!" snorted +Eradicate. "Anyhow, dem orders don't mean me! I kin go +anywhere, I kin!"</p> + +<p>"Not here!" said Koku firmly. "Master Tom say let nobody +come near but workmen who have got writing-paper. You no +got!"</p> + +<p>"No, but I kin git one, an' I's gwine t' hab it soon! I'll +see Massa Tom, dat's whut I will. I guess yo' ain't de only +deteckertiff on de place. I kin go on guard, too!" and +Eradicate, dropping his rake, strolled away in his temper to +seek the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Well, Rad, what is it?" asked Tom, as he met the colored +man. The young inventor was on his way to the mysterious +shop. "What is troubling you?"</p> + +<p>"It's dat dar giant. He done says as how he's on guard—a +deteckertiff—an' I can't go nigh dat buildin' t' sweep up +de refuse."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's right, Rad. I'd prefer that you keep away. +I'm doing some special work in there and it's—"</p> + +<p>"Am it dangerous, Massa Tom? I ain't askeered! Anybody +whut kin drive mah mule Boomerang—"</p> + +<p>"I know, Eradicate, but this isn't so dangerous. It's just +secret, and I don't want too many people about. You can go +anywhere else except there. Koku is on guard."</p> + +<p>"Den can't I be, Massa Tom?" asked the colored man +eagerly. "I kin guard an' detect same as dat low-down, +good-fo'-nuffin white trash Koku!"</p> + +<p>Tom hesitated.</p> + +<p>"I suppose I could get you a sort of officer's badge," he +mused, half aloud.</p> + +<p>"Dat's whut I want!" eagerly exclaimed Eradicate. "I ain't +gwine hab dat Koku—dat cocoanut—crowin' ober me! I kin +guard an' detect as good's anybody!"</p> + +<p>And the upshot of it was that Eradicate was given a badge, +and put on a special post, far enough from Koku to keep the +two from quarreling, and where, even if he failed in keeping +a proper lookout, the old servant could do no harm by his +oversight.</p> + +<p>"It'll please him, and won't hurt us," said Tom to his +father. "Koku will keep out any prying persons."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you are doing well to keep it a secret, Tom," +said Mr. Swift, "but it seems as if you might announce it +soon."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we may, Dad, if all goes well. I've given her a +partial shop-tryout, and she works well. But there is still +plenty to do. Did I tell you about meeting Blakeson?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I can't understand why he should be in this +vicinity. Do you think he has had any intimation of what you +are doing?"</p> + +<p>"It's hard to say, and yet I would not be surprised. When +Uncle Sam couldn't keep secret the fact of our first +soldiers sailing for France. How can I expect to keep this +secret? But they won't get any details until I'm ready, I'm +sure of that."</p> + +<p>"Koku is a good discourager," said Mr. Swift, with a +chuckle. "You couldn't have a better guard, Tom."</p> + +<p>"No, and if I can keep him and Eradicate from trying to +pull off rival detective stunts, or 'deteckertiff,' as Rad +calls it, I'll be all right. Now let's have another go at +that carburetor. There's our weak point, for it's getting +harder and harder all the while to get high-grade gasolene, +and we'll have to come to alcohol of low proof, or kerosene, +I'm thinking."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't be surprised, Tom. Well, perhaps we can get up +a new style of carburetor that will do the trick. Now look +at this needle valve; I've given it a new turn," and father +and son went into technical details connected with their +latest invention.</p> + +<p>These were busy days at the Swift plant. Men came and +went—men with queerly shaped parcels frequently—and they +were admitted to the big new building after first passing +Eradicate and then Koku, and it would be hard to say which +guard was the more careful. Only, of course, Koku had the +final decision, and more than one person was turned back +after Eradicate had passed him, much to the disgust of the +negro.</p> + +<p>"Pooh! Dat giant don't know a workman when he sees 'im!" +snorted Eradicate. "He so lazy his own se'f dat he don't +know a workman! Ef I sees a spy, Massa Tom, or a crook, I's +gwine git him, suah pop!"</p> + +<p>"I hope you do, Rad. We can't afford to let this secret +get out," said the young inventor.</p> + +<p>It was one evening, when taking a short cut to his home, +that Mr. Nestor, the father of Mary Nestor, in whom Tom was +more than ordinarily interested, passed not far from the big +enclosure which was guarded, on the factory side, day and +night. Inside, though out of sight and hidden by the high +fence, were other guards.</p> + +<p>As Mr. Nestor passed along the fence, rather vaguely +wondering why it was so high, tight and strong, he felt the +ground trembling beneath his feet. It rumbled and shook as +though a distant train were passing, and yet there was none +due now, for Mr. Nestor had just left one, and another would +not arrive for an hour.</p> + +<p>"That's queer," mused Mary's father. "If I didn't know to +the contrary, I'd say that sounded like heavy guns being +fired from a distance, or else blasting. It seems to come +from the Swift place," he went on. "I wonder what they're up +to in there."</p> + +<p>Suddenly the rumbling became more pronounced, and mingled +with it, in the dusk of the evening, were the shouts of men.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" some one cried. "She's going for the fence!"</p> + +<p>A second later there was a cracking and straining of +boards, and the fence near Mr. Nestor bulged out as though +something big, powerful and mighty were pressing it from the +inner side.</p> + +<p>But the fence held, or else the pressure was removed, for +the bulge went back into place, though some of the boards +were splintered.</p> + +<p>"Have to patch that up in the morning," called another +voice, and Mr. Nestor recognized it as that of Tom Swift.</p> + +<p>"What queer doings are going on here?" mused Mary's +father. "Have they got a wild bull shut up in there, and is +he trying to get out? Lucky for me he didn't," and he +hurried on, the rumbling noise become fainter until it died +away altogether.</p> + +<p>That night, after his supper and while reading the paper +and smoking a cigar, Mr. Nestor spoke to his daughter.</p> + +<p>"Mary, have you seen anything of Tom Swift lately?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, Father. He was over for a little while the +other night, but he didn't stay long. Why do you ask?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing special. I just came past his place and I +heard some queer noises, that's all. He's up to some more of +his tricks, I guess. Has be enlisted yet?"</p> + +<p>"No.</p> + +<p>"Is he going to?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," and Mary seemed a bit put out by this +simple question. "What do you mean by his tricks?" she +asked, and a close observer might have thought she was +anxious to get away from the subject of Tom's enlistment.</p> + +<p>"Oh, like that one when he sent you something in a box +labeled 'dynamite,' and gave us all a scare. You can't tell +what Tom Swift is going to do next. He's up to something +now, I'll wager, and I don't believe any good will come of +it"</p> + +<p>"You didn't think so after he sent his wireless message, +and saved us from Earthquake Island," said Mary, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Hum! Well, that was different," snapped Mr. Nestor. "This +time I'm sure he's up to some nonsense! The idea of crashing +down a fence! Why doesn't he enlist like the other chaps, or +sell Liberty Bonds like Ned Newton?" and Mr. Nestor looked +sharply at his daughter. "Ned gave up a big salary as the +Swifts financial man—a place he had held for a year—to go +back to the bank for less, just so he could help the +Government in the financial end of this war. Is Tom doing as +much for his country?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know," answered Mary; and soon after, +with averted face, she left the room.</p> + +<p>"Hum! Queer goings on," mused Mr. Nestor. "Tom Swift may +be all right, but he's got an unbalanced streak in him that +will bear looking out for, that's what I think!"</p> + +<p>And having settled this matter, at least to his own +satisfaction, Mr. Nestor resumed his smoking and reading.</p> + +<p>A little later the bell rang. There was a murmur of voices +in the hall, and Mr. Nestor, half listening, heard a voice +he knew.</p> + +<p>"There's Tom Swift now!" he exclaimed. "I'm going to find +out why he doesn't enlist!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_V" id="Chapter_V" />Chapter V</h2> + +<h3>"Is He a Slacker?"</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Nestor, whatever else he was, proved to be a prudent +father. He did not immediately go into the front room, +whither Mary and Tom hastened, their voices mingling in talk +and laughter.</p> + +<p>Mr. Nestor, after leaving the young folks alone for a +while, with a loud "Ahem!" and a rattling of his paper as he +laid it aside, started for the parlor.</p> + +<p>"Good-evening, Mr. Nestor!" said Tom, rising to shake +hands with the father of his young and pretty hostess.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Tom!" was the cordial greeting, in return. "What's +going on up at your place?" went on Mr. Nestor, as he took a +chair.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing very special," Tom answered. "We're turning +out different kinds of machines as usual, and dad and I are +experimenting, also as usual"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so. But what nearly broke the fence to-night?"</p> + +<p>Tom started, and looked quickly at his host.</p> + +<p>"Were you there?" he asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"Well, I happened to be passing—took a short cut home—and +I heard some queer goings on at your place. I was +speaking to Mary about them, and wondering—"</p> + +<p>"Father, perhaps Tom doesn't want to talk about his +inventions," interrupted Mary. "You know some of them are +secret—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wasn't exactly asking for information!" exclaimed +Mr. Nestor quickly. "I just happened to hear the fence +crash, and I was wondering if something was coming out at +me. Didn't know but what that giant of yours was on a +rampage, Tom," and he laughed.</p> + +<p>"No, it wasn't anything like that," and Tom's voice was +more sober than the occasion seemed to warrant. "It was one +of our new machines, and it didn't act just right. No great +damage was done, though. How do you find business, Mr. +Nestor, since the war spirit has grown stronger?" asked Tom, +and it seemed to both Mary and her father that the young +inventor deliberately changed the subject.</p> + +<p>"Well, it isn't all it might be," said the other. "It's +hard to get good help. A lot of our boys enlisted, and some +were taken in the draft. By the way, Tom, have they called +on you yet?"</p> + +<p>"No. Not yet"</p> + +<p>"You didn't enlist?"</p> + +<p>"Ned Newton tried to," broke in Mary, "but the quota for +this locality was filled, and they told him he'd better wait +for the draft. He wouldn't do that and tried again. Then the +bank people heard about it and had him exempted. They said +he was too valuable to them, and he has been doing +remarkably well in selling Liberty Bonds!" and Mary's eyes +sparkled with her emotions.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Ned is a crackerjack salesman!" agreed Tom, no less +enthusiastically. "He's sold more bonds, in proportion, for +his bank, than any other in this county. Dad and I both took +some, and have promised him more. I am glad now that we let +him go, although we valued his services highly. We hope to +have him back later."</p> + +<p>"He can put me down for more bonds too!" said Mr. Nestor. +"I'm going to see Germany beaten if it takes every last +dollar I have!"</p> + +<p>"That's what I say!" Cried Mary. "I took out all my +savings, except a little I'm keeping to buy a wedding +present for Jennie Morse. Did you know she was going to get +married, Tom?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I heard so."</p> + +<p>"Well, all but what I want for a wedding present to her +has gone into Liberty Bonds. Isn't this a history-making +time, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed it is, Mary!"</p> + +<p>"Everybody who has a part in it—whether he fights as a +soldier or only knits like the Red Cross girls—will be +telling about it for years after," went on the girl, and she +looked at Tom eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he agreed. "These are queer times. We don't know +exactly where we're at. A lot of our men have been called. +We tried to have some of them exempted, and did manage it in +a few cases."</p> + +<p>"You did?" cried Mr. Nestor, as if in surprise. "You +stopped men from going to war!"</p> + +<p>"Only so they could work on airship motors for the +Government," Tom quietly explained.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Well, of course, that's part of the game," agreed +Mary's father. "A lot more of our boys are going off next +week. Doesn't it make you thrill, Tom, when you see them +marching off, even if they haven't their uniforms yet? Jove, +if I wasn't too old, I'd go in a minute!"</p> + +<p>"Father!" cried Mary.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I would!" he declared. "The German government has +got to be beaten, and we've got to do our bit; everybody +has—man, woman and child!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Tom, in a low voice, "that's very true. But +every one, in a sense, has to judge for himself what the +'bit' is. We can't all do the same."</p> + +<p>There was a little silence, and then Mary went over to the +piano and played. It was a rather welcome relief, under the +circumstances, from the conversation.</p> + +<p>"Mary, what do you think of Tom?" asked Mr. Nestor, when +the visitor had gone.</p> + +<p>"What do I think of him?" And she blushed.</p> + +<p>"I mean about his not enlisting. Do you think he's a +slacker?"</p> + +<p>"A slacker? Why, Father!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't mean he's afraid. We've seen proof enough of +his courage, and all that. But I mean don't you think he +wants stirring up a bit?"</p> + +<p>"He is going to Washington to-morrow, Father. He told me +so to-night. And it may be—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, then maybe it's all right," hastily said Mr. +Nestor. "He may he going to get a commission in the engineer +corps. It isn't like Tom Swift to hang back, and yet it does +begin to look as though he cared more for his queer +inventions—machines that butt down fences than for helping +Uncle Sam. But I'll reserve judgment."</p> + +<p>"You'd better, Father!" and Mary laughed—a little. Yet +there was a worried look on her face.</p> + +<p>During the next few nights Mr. Nestor made it a habit to +take the short cut from the railroad station, coming past +the big fence that enclosed one particular building of the +Swift plant.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if there's a hole where I could look through," +said Mr. Nestor to himself. "Of course I don't believe in +spying on what another man is doing, and yet I'm too good a +friend of Tom's to want to see him make a fool of himself. +He ought to be in the army, or helping Uncle Sam in some +way. And yet if he spends all his time on some foolish +contraption, like a new kind of traction plow, what good is +that? If I could get a glimpse of it, I might drop a +friendly hint in his ear."</p> + +<p>But there were no cracks in the fence, or, if there were, +it was too dark to see them, and also too dark to behold +anything on the other side of the barrier. So Mr. Nestor, +wondering much, kept on his way.</p> + +<p>It was a day or so after this that Ned Newton paid a visit +to the Swift home. Mr. Swift was not in the house, being out +in one of the various buildings, Mrs. Baggert said.</p> + +<p>"Where's Tom?" asked the bond salesman.</p> + +<p>"Oh, he hasn't come back from Washington yet," answered +the housekeeper.</p> + +<p>"He is making a long stay."</p> + +<p>"Yes, be went about a week ago on some business. But we +expect him back to-day."</p> + +<p>"Well, then I'll see him. I called to ask if Mr. Swift +didn't want to take a few more bonds. We want to double our +allotment for Shopton, and beat out some of the other towns +in this section. I'll go to see Mr. Swift."</p> + +<p>On his way to find Tom's father Ned passed the big +building in front of which Eradicate and Koku were on guard. +They nodded to Ned, who passed them, wondering much as to +what it was Tom was so secretive about.</p> + +<p>"It's the first time I remember when he worked on an +invention without telling me something about it," mused Ned. +"Well, I suppose it will all come out in good time. Anything +new, Rad?"</p> + +<p>"No, Massa Ned, nuffin much. I'm detectin' around heah; +keepin' Dutchmen spies away!"</p> + +<p>"And Koku is helping you, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"Whut, him? Dat big, good-fo'-nuffin white trash? No, +sah! I's detectin' by mahse'f, dat's whut I is!" and +Eradicate strutted proudly up and down on his allotted part +of the beat, being careful not to approach the building too +closely, for that was Koku's ground.</p> + +<p>Ned smiled, and passed on. He found Mr. Swift, secured his +subscription to more bonds, and was about to leave when he +heard a call down the road and saw Tom coming in his small +racing car, which had been taken to the depot by one of the +workmen.</p> + +<p>"Hello, old man!" cried Ned affectionately, as his chum +alighted with a jump. "Where have you been?"</p> + +<p>"Down to Washington. Had a bit of a chat with the +President and gave him some of my views."</p> + +<p>"About the war, I suppose?" laughed Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Did you get your commission?"</p> + +<p>"Commission?" And there was a wondering look on Tom's +face.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Mary Nestor said she thought maybe you were going to +Washington to take an examination for the engineering corps +or something like that. Did you get made an officer?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Tom slowly. "I went to Washington to get +exempted."</p> + +<p>"Exempted?" Cried Ned, and his voice sounded strained.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VI" id="Chapter_VI" />Chapter VI</h2> + +<h3>Seeing Things</h3> + + +<p>For a moment Tom Swift looked at his chum. Then something +of what was passing in the mind of the young bond salesman +must have been reflected to Tom, for he said,</p> + +<p>"Look here, old man; I know it may seem a bit strange to +go to all that trouble to get exempted from the draft, to +which I am eligible, but, believe me, there's a reason. I +can't say anything now, but I'll tell you as soon as I can—tell +everybody, in fact Just now it isn't in shape to talk about."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right, Tom," and Ned tried to make his +voice sound natural. "I was just wondering, that's all. I +wanted to go to the front the worst way, but they wouldn't +let me. I was sort of hoping you could, and come back to +tell me about it."</p> + +<p>"I may yet, Ned."</p> + +<p>"You may? Why, I thought—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm only exempted for a time. I've got certain things +to do, and I couldn't do 'em if I enlisted or was drafted. +So I've been excused for a time. Now I've got a pile of work +to do. What are you up to Ned? Same old story?"</p> + +<p>"Liberty Bonds—yes. Your father just took some more."</p> + +<p>"And so will I, Ned. I can do that, anyhow, even if I +don't enlist. Put me down for another two thousand dollars' +worth."</p> + +<p>"Say, Tom, that's fine! That will make my share bigger +than I counted on. Shopton will beat the record."</p> + +<p>"That's good. We ought to pull strong and hearty for our +home town. How's everything else?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, so-so. I see Koku and Eradicate trying to outdo one +another in guarding that part of your plant," and Ned nodded +toward the big new building.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I had to let Rad play detective. Not that he can do +anything—he's too old. But it keeps him and Koku from +quarreling all the while. I've got to be pretty careful +about that shop. It's got a secret in it that—Well, the +less said about it the better."</p> + +<p>"You're getting my curiosity aroused, Tom," remarked Ned.</p> + +<p>"It'll have to go unsatisfied for a while. Wait a bit and +I'll give you a ride. I've got to go over to Sackett on +business, and if you're going that way I'll take you."</p> + +<p>"What in?"</p> + +<p>"The Hawk."</p> + +<p>"That's me!" cried Ned. "I haven't been in an aircraft for +some time."</p> + +<p>"Tell Miles to run her out," requested Tom. "I've got to +go in and say hello to dad a minute, and then I'll be with +you."</p> + +<p>"Seems like something was in the wind, Tom—big doings?" +hinted Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes, maybe there is. It all depends on how she turns out"</p> + +<p>"You might be speaking of the Hawk or—Mary Nestor!" said +Ned, with a sidelong look at his chum.</p> + +<p>"As it happens, it's neither one," said Tom, and then he +hastened away, to return shortly and guide his fleet little +airship, the Hawk, on her aerial journey.</p> + +<p>From then on, at least for some time, neither Tom nor Ned +mentioned the matters they had been discussing—Tom's +failure to enlist, his exemption, and what was being built +in the closely guarded shop.</p> + +<p>Tom's business in Sackett did not take him long, and then +he and Ned went for a little ride in the air.</p> + +<p>"It's like old times!" exclaimed Ned, his eyes shining, +though Tom could not see them for two reasons. One was that +Ned was sitting behind him, and the other was that Ned wore +heavy goggles, as did the young pilot. Also, they had to +carry on their talk through the speaking tube arrangement.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is a bit like old times," agreed Tom. "We've had +some great old experiences together, Ned, haven't we?"</p> + +<p>"We surely have! I wonder if we'll have any more? When we +were in the submarine, and in your big airship Say, that big +one is the one I always liked! I like big things."</p> + +<p>"Do you?" asked Tom. "Well, maybe, when I get—"</p> + +<p>But Tom did not finish, for the Hawk unexpectedly poked +her nose into an empty pocket in the air just then, and +needed a firm hand on the controls. Furthermore, Tom decided +against making the confidence that was on the tip of his +tongue.</p> + +<p>At last the aircraft was straightened out and the pilot +guided her on toward the army encampment.</p> + +<p>"That's the place I'd like to be," called Ned through the +tube as the faint, sweet notes of a bugle floated up from +the parade ground.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it would be great," admitted Tom. "But there are +other things to do for Uncle Sam besides wearing khaki."</p> + +<p>"Tom's up to some game," mused Ned. "I mustn't judge him +too hastily, or I might make a mistake. And Mary mustn't, +either. I'll tell her so."</p> + +<p>For Mary Nestor had spoken to Ned concerning Tom, and the +curiously secretive air about certain of his activities. And +the girl, moreover, had spoken rather coldly of her friend. +Ned did not like this. It was not like Mary and Tom to be at +odds.</p> + +<p>Once more the Hawk came to the ground, this time near the +airship sheds adjoining the Swift works. Just as Tom and Ned +alighted, one of the workmen summoned the young inventor +toward the shop, which was so closely guarded by Koku and +Eradicate on the outside.</p> + +<p>"I'll have to leave you, Ned," remarked Tom, as he turned +away from his chum. "There's a conference on about a new +invention."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right. Business is business, you know. +I've got some bond calls to make myself. I'll see you +later."</p> + +<p>"Oh, by the way, Ned!" exclaimed Tom, turning back for a +moment, "I met an old friend the other day; or rather an old +enemy."</p> + +<p>"Hum! When you spoke first, I thought you might mean +Professor Swyington Bumper, that delightful scientist," +remarked Ned. "But he surely was no enemy."</p> + +<p>"No; but I meant some one I met about the same time. I met +Blakeson, one of the rival contractors when I helped dig the +big tunnel."</p> + +<p>"Is that so? Where'd you meet him?"</p> + +<p>"Right around here. It was certainly a surprise, and at +first I couldn't place him. Then the memory of his face came +back to me," and Tom related the incident which had taken +place the day he and Mr. Damon were out in the Hawk.</p> + +<p>"What's he doing around here?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"That's more than I can say," Tom answered.</p> + +<p>"Up to no good, I'll wager!"</p> + +<p>"I agree with you," came from Tom. "But I'm on the watch."</p> + +<p>"That's wise, Tom. Well, I'll see you later."</p> + +<p>During the week which followed this talk Ned was very busy +on Liberty Bond work, and, he made no doubt, his chum was +engaged also. This prevented them from meeting, but finally +Ned, one evening, decided to walk over to the Swift home.</p> + +<p>"I'll pay Tom a bit of a call," he mused. "Maybe he'll +feel more like talking now. Some of the boys are asking why +he doesn't enlist, and maybe if I tell him that he'll make +some explanation that will quiet things down a bit. It's a +shame that Tom should be talked about."</p> + +<p>With this intention in view, Ned kept on toward his chum's +house, and he was about to turn in through a small grove of +trees, which would lead to a path across the fields, when +the young bond salesman was surprised to hear some one +running toward him. He could see no one, for the path wound +in and out among the trees, but the noise was plain.</p> + +<p>"Some one in a hurry," mused Ned.</p> + +<p>A moment later he Caught sight of a small lad named Harry +Telford running toward him. The boy had his hat in his hand, +and was speeding through the fast-gathering darkness as +though some one were after him.</p> + +<p>"What's the rush?" asked Ned. "Playing cops and robbers?" +That was a game Tom and Ned had enjoyed in their younger +days.</p> + +<p>"I—I'm runnin' away!" panted Harry. "I—I seen +something!"</p> + +<p>"You saw something?" repeated Ned. "What was it—a ghost?" +and he laughed, thinking the boy would do the same.</p> + +<p>"No, it wasn't no ghost!" declared Harry, casting a look +over his shoulder. "It was a wild elephant that I saw, and +it's down in a big yard with a fence around it."</p> + +<p>"Where's that?" asked Ned. "The circus hasn't come to town +this evening, has it?"</p> + +<p>"No," answered Harry, "it wasn't no circus. I saw this +elephant down in the big yard back of one of Mr. Swift's +factories."</p> + +<p>"Oh, down there, was it!" exclaimed Ned. "What was it +like?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I was walking along the top of the hill," explained +Harry, "and there's one place where, if you climb a tree, +you can look right down in the big fenced-in yard. I guess +I'm about the only one that knows about it."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe Tom does," mused Ned, "or he'd have had +that tree cut down. He doesn't want any spying, I take it. +Well, what'd you see?" he asked Harry aloud.</p> + +<p>"Saw an elephant, I tell you!", insisted the younger boy. +"I was in the tree, looking down, for a lot of us kids has +tried to peek through the fence and couldn't I wanted to see +what was there."</p> + +<p>"And did you?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"I sure did! And it scared me, too," admitted Harry. "All +at once, when I was lookin', I saw the big doors at the back +of the shed open, and the elephant waddled out."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure you weren't 'seeing things,' like the little +boy in the story?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well, I sure did see something!" insisted Harry. "It was +a great big gray thing, bigger'n any elephant I ever saw in +any circus. It didn't seem to have any tail or trunk, or +even legs, but it went slow, just like an elephant does, and +it shook the ground, it stepped so hard!"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"Sure I saw it!" cried Harry. "Anyhow," he added, after a +moment's thought, "it was as big as an elephant, though not +like any I ever saw."</p> + +<p>"What did it do?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well, it moved around and then it started for the fence +nearest me, where I was up in the tree. I thought it might +have seen me, even though it was gettin' dark, and it might +bust through; so I ran!"</p> + +<p>"Hum! Well, you surely were seeing things," murmured Ned, +but, while he made light of what the boy told him, the young +bank Clerk was thinking: "What is Tom up to now?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VII" id="Chapter_VII" />Chapter VII</h2> + +<h3>Up a Tree</h3> + + +<p>"Want to come and have a look?" asked Harry, as Ned paused +in the patch of woods, which were in deeper darkness than +the rest of the countryside, for night was fast falling.</p> + +<p>"Have a look at what?" asked Ned, who was thinking many +thoughts just then.</p> + +<p>"At the elephant I saw back of the Swift factory. I +wouldn't be skeered if you came along."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm going over to see Tom Swift, anyhow," answered +Ned, "so I'll walk that way. You can come if you like. I +don't care about spying on other people's property—"</p> + +<p>"I wasn't spyin'!" exclaimed Harry quickly. "I just +happened to look. And then I seen something."</p> + +<p>"Well, come on," suggested Ned. "If there's anything +there, we'll have a peep at it."</p> + +<p>His idea was not to try to see what Tom was evidently +endeavoring to conceal, but it was to observe whence Harry +had made his observation, and be in a position to tell Tom +to guard against unexpected lookers-on from that direction.</p> + +<p>During the walk back along the course over which Harry had +run so rapidly a little while before, Ned and the boy talked +of what the latter had seen.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it could be some new kind of elephant?" +asked Harry. "You know Tom Swift brought back a big giant +from one of his trips, and maybe he's got a bigger elephant +than any one ever saw before."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" laughed Ned. "In the first place, Tom hasn't +been on any trip, of late, except to Washington, and the +only kind of elephants there are white ones."</p> + +<p>"Really?" asked Harry.</p> + +<p>"No, that was a joke," explained Ned. "Anyhow, Tom hasn't +any giant elephants concealed up his sleeve, I'm sure of +that."</p> + +<p>"But what could this be?" asked Harry. "It moved just like +some big animal."</p> + +<p>"Probably some piece of machinery Tom was having carted +from one shop to another," went on the young bank clerk. +"Most likely he had it covered with a big piece of canvas to +keep off the dew, and it was that you saw."</p> + +<p>"No, it wasn't!" insisted Harry, but he could not give any +further details of what he had seen so that Ned could +recognize it. They kept on until they reached the hill, at +the bottom of which was the Swift home and the grounds on +which the various shops were erected.</p> + +<p>"Here's the place where you can look down right into the +yard with the high fence around it," explained Harry, as he +indicated the spot.</p> + +<p>"I can't see anything."</p> + +<p>"You have to climb up the tree," Harry went on. "Here, +this is the one, and he indicated a stunted and gnarled +pine, the green branches of which would effectually screen +any one who once got in it a few feet above the ground.</p> + +<p>"Well, I may as well have a look," decided Ned. "It can't +do Tom any harm, and it may be of some service to him. Here +goes!"</p> + +<p>Up into the tree he scrambled, not without some +difficulty, for the branches were close together and stiff, +and Ned tore his coat in the effort. But he finally got a +position where, to his surprise, he could look down into the +very enclosure from which Tom was so particular to keep +prying eyes.</p> + +<p>"You can see right down in it!" Ned exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"I told you so," returned Harry. "But do you see—it?"</p> + +<p>Ned looked long and carefully. It was lighter, now that +they were out of the clump of woods, and he had the +advantage of having the last glow of the sunset at his back. +Even with that it was difficult to make out objects on the +surface of the enclosed field some hundred or more feet +below.</p> + +<p>"Do you see anything?" asked Harry again.</p> + +<p>"No, I can't say I do," Ned answered. "The place seems to +be deserted."</p> + +<p>"Well, there was something there," insisted Harry. "Maybe +you aren't lookin' at the right place."</p> + +<p>"Have a look yourself, then," suggested Ned, as he got +down, a task no more to his liking than the climb upward had +been.</p> + +<p>Harry made easier work of it, being smaller and more used +to climbing trees, a luxury Ned had, perforce, denied +himself since going to work in the bank.</p> + +<p>Harry peered about, and then, with a sigh that had in it +somewhat of disappointment, said:</p> + +<p>"No; there's nothing there now. But I did see something."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Positive!" asserted the other.</p> + +<p>"Well, whatever it was—some bit of machinery he was +moving, I fancy—Tom has taken it in now," remarked Ned. +"Better not say anything about this, Harry. Tom mightn't +like it known."</p> + +<p>"No, I won't."</p> + +<p>"And don't come here again to look. I know you like to see +strange things, but if you'll wait I'll ask Tom, as soon as +it's ready, to let you have a closer view of whatever it was +you saw. Better keep away from this tree."</p> + +<p>"I will," promised the younger lad. "But I'd like to know +what it was—if it really was a giant elephant Say! if a +fellow had a troop of them he could have a lot of fun with +'em, couldn't he?"</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Ned, hardly conscious of what his companion +was saying.</p> + +<p>"Why, he could dress 'em up in coats of mail, like the old +knights used to wear, and turn 'em loose against the +Germans. Think of a regiment of elephants, wearin' armor +plates like a battleship, carryin' on their backs a lot of +soldiers with machine guns and chargin' against Fritz! +Cracky, that would be a sight!"</p> + +<p>"I should say so!" agreed Ned, with a laugh. "There's +nothing the matter with your imagination, Harry, my boy!"</p> + +<p>"And maybe that's what Tom's doin'!"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean maybe he is trainin' elephants to fight in the +war. You know he made an aerial warship, so why couldn't he +have a lot of armor plated elephants?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I suppose he could if he wanted to," admitted Ned. +"But I guess he isn't doing that. Don't get to going too +fast in high speed, Harry, or you may have nightmare. Well, +I'm going down to see Tom."</p> + +<p>"And you won't tell him I was peekin'?"</p> + +<p>"Not if you don't do it again. I'll advise him to have +that tree cut down, though. It's too good a vantage spot."</p> + +<p>Harry turned and went in the direction of his home, while +Ned kept on down the hill toward the house of his chum. The +young bond salesman was thinking of many things as he +tramped, along, and among them was the information Harry had +just given.</p> + +<p>But Ned did not pay a visit to his chum that evening. When +he reached the house he found that Tom had gone out, leaving +no word as to when he would be back.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, I can tell him to-morrow," thought Ned.</p> + +<p>It was not, however, until two days later that Ned found +the time to visit Tom again. On this occasion, as before, he +took the road through the clump of woods where he had seen +Harry running.</p> + +<p>"And while I'm about it," mused Ned, "I may as well go on +to the place where the tree stands and make sure, by +daylight, what I only partially surmised in the evening—that +Tom's place can be looked down on from that vantage point."</p> + +<p>Sauntering slowly along, for he was in no special hurry, +having the remainder of the day to himself, Ned approached +the hill where the tree stood from which Harry had said he +had seen what he took to be a giant elephant, perhaps in +armor.</p> + +<p>"It's a good clear day," observed Ned, "and fine for +seeing. I wonder if I'll be able to see anything."</p> + +<p>It was necessary first to ascend the hill to a point where +it overhung, in a measure, the Swift property, though the +holdings of Tom and his father were some distance beyond the +eminence. The tree from which Ned and Harry had made their +observations was on a knob of the hill, the stunted pine +standing out from among others like it.</p> + +<p>"Well, here goes for another torn coat," grimly observed +Ned, as he prepared to climb. "But I'll be more careful. +First, though, let's see if I can see anything without +getting up."</p> + +<p>He paused a little way from the pine, and peered down the +hill. Nothing could be seen of the big enclosed field back +of the building about which Tom Was so careful.</p> + +<p>"You have to be up to see anything," mused Ned. "It's up a +tree for me! Well, here goes!"</p> + +<p>As Ned started to work his way up among the thick, green +branches, he became aware, suddenly and somewhat to his +surprise, that he was not the only person who knew about the +observation spot. For Ned saw, a yard above his head, as he +started to climb, two feet, encased in well-made boots, +standing on a limb near the trunk of the tree.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ho!" mused Ned. "Some one here before me! Where there +are feet there must be legs, and where there are legs, most +likely a body. And it isn't Harry, either! The feet are too +big for that. I wonder—"</p> + +<p>But Ned's musings were suddenly cut short, for the person +up the tree ahead of him moved quickly and stepped on Ned's +fingers, with no light tread.</p> + +<p>"Ouch!" exclaimed the young bank clerk involuntarily, and, +letting go his hold of the limb, he dropped to the ground, +while there came a startled exclamation from the screen of +pine branches above him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_VIII" id="Chapter_VIII" />Chapter VIII</h2> + +<h3>Detective Rad</h3> + + +<p>"Who's there?" came the demand from the unseen person in +the tree.</p> + +<p>"I might ask you the same thing," was Ned's sharp retort, +as he nursed his skinned and bruised fingers. "What are you +doing up there?"</p> + +<p>There was no answer, but a sound among the branches +indicated that the person up the tree was coming down. In +another moment a man leaped to the ground lightly and stood +beside Ned. The lad observed that the stranger was clean +shaven, except for a small moustache which curled up at the +ends slightly.</p> + +<p>"For all the world like a small edition of the Kaiser's," +Ned described it afterward.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here?" demanded the man, and his voice +had in it the ring of authority. It was this very quality +that made Ned bristle up and "get on his ear," as he said +later. The young clerk did not object to being spoken to +authoritatively by those who had the right, but from a +stranger it was different.</p> + +<p>"I might ask you the same thing," retorted Ned. "I have as +much right here as you, I fancy, and I can climb trees, too, +but I don't care to have my fingers stepped on," and he +looked at the scarified members of his left hand.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon. I'm sorry if I hurt you. I didn't mean +to. And of course this is a public place, in a way, and you +have a right here. I was just climbing the tree to—er—to +get a fishing pole!"</p> + +<p>Ned had all he could do to keep from laughing. The idea of +getting a fishing pole from a gnarled and stunted pine +struck him as being altogether novel and absurd. Yet it was +not time to make fun of the man. The latter looked too +serious for that.</p> + +<p>"Rather a good view to be had from up where you were, eh?" +asked Ned suggestively.</p> + +<p>"A good view?" exclaimed the other. "I don't know what you +mean!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, then you didn't see anything," Ned went on. "Perhaps +it's just as well. Are you fond of fishing?"</p> + +<p>"Very. I have—But I forget, I do not know you nor you +me. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Mr. Walter Simpson, +and I am here on a visit I just happened to walk out this +way, and, seeing a small stream, thought I should like to +fish. I usually carry lines and hooks, and all I needed was +the pole. I was looking for it when I heard you, and—"</p> + +<p>"I felt you!" interrupted Ned, with a short laugh. He told +his own name, but that was all, and seemed about to pass on.</p> + +<p>"Are there any locomotive shops around here?" asked Mr. +Simpson.</p> + +<p>"Locomotive shops?" queried Ned. "None that I know of. +Why?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I heard heavy machinery being used down there;" and +he waved his hand toward Tom's shops, "and I thought—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you mean Shopton!" exclaimed Ned. "That's the Swift +plant. No, they don't make locomotives, though they could if +they wanted to, for they turn out airships, submarines, +tunnel diggers, and I don't know what."</p> + +<p>"Do they make munitions there—for the Allies?" asked Mr. +Simpson, and there was an eager look on his face.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't believe so," Ned answered; "though, in fact, +I don't know enough of the place to be in a position to give +you any information about it," he told the man, not deeming +it wise to go into particulars.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the man felt this, as he did not press for an +answer.</p> + +<p>The two stood looking at one another for some little time, +and then the man, with a bow that had in it something of +insolence, as well as politeness, turned and went down the +path up which Ned had come.</p> + +<p>The young bank clerk waited a little while, and then +turned his attention to the tree which seemed to have +suddenly assumed an importance altogether out of proportion +to its size.</p> + +<p>"Well, since I'm here I'll have a look up that tree," +decided Ned.</p> + +<p>Favoring his bruised hand, Ned essayed the ascent of the +tree more successfully this time. As he rose up among the +branches he found he could look down directly into the yard +with the high fence about it. He Could see only a portion, +good as his vantage point was, and that portion had in it a +few workmen—nothing else.</p> + +<p>"No elephants there," said Ned, with a smile, as he +remembered Harry's excitement. "Still it's just as well for +Tom to know that his place can be looked down on. I'll go +and tell him."</p> + +<p>As Ned descended the tree he caught a glimpse, off to one +side among some bushes, of something moving.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if that's my Simp friend, playing I spy?" mused +Ned. "Guess I'd better have a look."</p> + +<p>He worked his way carefully close to the spot where he had +seen the movement. Proceeding then with more caution, +watching each step and parting the bushes with a careful +hand, Ned beheld what he expected.</p> + +<p>There was the late occupant of the pine tree the man who +had stepped on Ned's fingers, applying a small telescope to +his eye and gazing in the direction of Tom Swift's home.</p> + +<p>The man stood concealed in a screen of bushes with his +back toward Ned, and seemed oblivious to his surroundings. +He moved the glass to and fro, and seemed eagerly intent on +discovering something.</p> + +<p>"Though what he can see of Tom's place from there isn't +much," mused Ned. "I've tried it myself, and I know; you +have to be on an elevation to look down. Still it shows +he's after something, all right. Guess I'll throw a little +scare into him."</p> + +<p>As yet, Ned believed himself unobserved, and that his +presence was not suspected was proved a moment later when he +shouted:</p> + +<p>"Hey! What are you doing there?"</p> + +<p>He had his eye on the partially concealed man, and the +latter, as Ned said afterward, jumped fully two feet in the +air, dropping his telescope as he did so, and turning to +face the lad.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's you, is it?" he faltered.</p> + +<p>"No one else;" and Ned grinned. "Looking for a good place +to fish, I presume?"</p> + +<p>Then, at least for once, the man's suave manner dropped +from him as if it had been a mask. He bared his teeth in a +snarl as he answered:</p> + +<p>"Mind your own business!"</p> + +<p>"Something I'd advise you also to do," replied Ned +smoothly. "You can't see anything from there," he went on. +"Better go back to the tree and—cut a fishing pole!"</p> + +<p>With this parting shot Ned sauntered down the hill, and +swung around to make his way toward Tom's home. He paid no +further attention to the man, save to determine, by +listening, that the fellow was searching among the bushes +for the dropped telescope.</p> + +<p>The young inventor was at home, taking a hasty lunch which +Mrs. Baggert had set out for him, the while he poured over +some blueprint drawings that, to Ned's unaccustomed eyes, +looked like the mazes of some intricate puzzle.</p> + +<p>"Well, where have you been keeping yourself, old man?" +asked Tom Swift, after he had greeted his friend.</p> + +<p>"I might ask the same of you," retorted Ned, with a smile. +"I've been trying to find you to give you some important +information, and I made up my mind, after what happened +to-day, to write it and leave it for you if I didn't see you."</p> + +<p>"What happened to-day?" asked Tom, and there was a serious +look on his face.</p> + +<p>"You are being spied upon—at least, that part of your +works enclosed in the new fence is," replied Ned.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean it!" Cried Tom. "This accounts for some of +it, then."</p> + +<p>"For some of what?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"For some of the actions of that Blakeson, He's been +hanging around here, I understand, asking too many questions +about things that I'm trying to keep secret—even from my +best friends," and as Tom said this Ned fancied there was a +note of regret in his voice.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are keeping some things secret, Tom," said Ned, +determined "to take the bull by the horns," as it were.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, but it has to be," went on Tom. "In a little +while—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't think that I'm at all anxious to know things!" +broke in Ned. "I was thinking of some one else, Tom—another +of your friends."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean Mary?"</p> + +<p>Ned nodded.</p> + +<p>"She feels rather keenly your lack of explanations," went +on the young bank clerk. "If you could only give her a hint—"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, but it can't be done," and Tom spoke firmly. +"But you haven't told me all that happened. You say I am +being spied upon."</p> + +<p>"Yes," and Ned related what had taken place in the tree.</p> + +<p>"Whew!" whistled Tom. "That's going some with a vengeance! +I must have that tree down in a jiffy. I didn't imagine +there was a spot where the yard could be overlooked. But I +evidently skipped that tree. Fortunately it's on land owned +by a concern with which I have some connection, and I can +have it chopped down without any trouble. Much obliged to +you, Ned. I shan't forget this in a hurry. I'll go right +away and—"</p> + +<p>Tom's further remark was interrupted by the hurried +entrance of Eradicate Sampson. The old man was smiling in +pleased anticipation, evidently, at the same time, trying +hard not to give way to too much emotion.</p> + +<p>"I's done it, Massa Tom!" he cried exultingly.</p> + +<p>"Done what?" asked the young inventor. "I hope you and +Koku haven't had another row."</p> + +<p>"No, sah! I don't want nuffin t' do wif dat ornery, low-down +white trash! But I's gone an' done whut I said I'd do!"</p> + +<p>"What's that, Rad? Come on, tell us! Don't keep us in +suspense."</p> + +<p>"I's done some deteckertiff wuk, lest laik I said I'd do, +an' I's cotched him! By golly, Massa Tom! I's cotched him +black-handed, as it says!"</p> + +<p>"Caught him? Whom have you caught, Rad?" cried Tom. "Do +you suppose he means he's caught the man you saw up the +tree, Ned? The man you think is a German spy?"</p> + +<p>"It couldn't be. I left him only a little while ago +hunting for his telescope."</p> + +<p>"Then whom have you caught, Rad?" cried Tom. "Come on, +I'll give you credit for it. Tell us!"</p> + +<p>"I's cotched dat Dutch Sauerkrauter, dat's who I's +cotched, Massa Tom! By golly, I's cotched him!"</p> + +<p>"But who, Rad? Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know his name, Massa Tom, but he's a +Sauerkrauter, all right. Dat's whut he eats for lunch, an' +dat's why I calls him dat. I's cotched him, an' he's locked +up in de stable wif mah mule Boomerang. An' ef he tries t' +git out Boomerang'll jest natchully kick him into little +pieces—dat's whut Boomerang will do, by golly!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_IX" id="Chapter_IX" />Chapter IX</h2> + +<h3>A Night Test</h3> + + +<p>"Come on, Ned," said Tom, after a moment or two of silent +contemplation of Eradicate. "I don't know what this cheerful +camouflager of mine is talking about, but we'll have to go +to see, I suppose. You say you have shut some one up in +Boomerang's stable, Rad?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah, Massa Tom, dat's whut I's gone an done."</p> + +<p>"And you say he's a German?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know as to dat, Massa Tom, but he suah done eat +sauerkraut 'mostest ebery meal. Dat's whut I call him—a +Sauerkrauter! An' he suah was spyin'."</p> + +<p>"How do you know that, Rad?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause he done went from his own shop on annuder man's +ticket into de secret shop, dat's whut he went an' done!"</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to tell me, Rad," went on Tom, "that one of +the workmen from another shop entered Number Thirteen on the +pass issued in the name of one of the men regularly employed +in my new shop?"</p> + +<p>"Dat's whut he done, Massa Tom."</p> + +<p>"How do you know?"</p> + +<p>"'Cause I detected him doin' it. Yo'-all done made me a +deteckertiff, an' I detected."</p> + +<p>"Go on, Rad."</p> + +<p>"Well, sah, Massa Tom, I seen dish yeah Dutchman git a +ticket-pass offen one ob de reg'lar men. Den he went in de +unlucky place an' stayed fo' a long time. When he come out I +jest natchully nabbed him, dat's whut I done, an' I took him +to Boomerang's stable."</p> + +<p>"How'd you get him to go with you?" asked Ned, for the old +colored man was feeble, and most of the men employed at +Tom's plant were of a robust type.</p> + +<p>"I done fooled him. I said as how I'd lest brought from +town in mah mule cart some new sauerkraut, an' he could +sample it if he liked. So he went wif me, an' when I got him +to de stable I pushed him in and locked de door!"</p> + +<p>"Come on!" cried Tom to his chum. "Rad may be right, after +all, and one of my workmen may be a German spy, though I've +tried to weed them all out.</p> + +<p>"However, no matter about that, if he was employed in +another shop, he had no right to go into Number Thirteen. +That's a violation of rules. But if he's in Rad's ramshackle +stable he can easily get out."</p> + +<p>"No, sah, dat's whut he can't do!" insisted the +colored man.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"'Cause Boomerang's on guard, an' yo'-all knows how dat +mule of mine can use his heels!"</p> + +<p>"I know, Rad," went on Tom; "but this fellow will find a +way of keeping out of their way. We must hurry."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's safe enough," declared the colored man. "I done +tole Koku to stan' guard, too! Dat low-down white trash ob a +giant is all right fo' guardin', but he ain't wuff shucks at +detectin'!" said Eradicate, with pardonable pride. "By +golly, maybe I's too old t' put on guard, but I kin detect, +all right!"</p> + +<p>"If this proves true, I'll begin to believe you can," +replied Tom. "Hop along, Ned!"</p> + +<p>Followed by the shuffling and chuckling negro, Tom and Ned +went to the rather insecure stable where the mule Boomerang +was kept. That is, the stable was insecure from the +standpoint of a jail. But the sight of the giant Koku +marching up and down in front of the place, armed with a big +club, reassured Tom.</p> + +<p>"Is he in there, Koku?" asked the young inventor.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Master! He try once come out, but he approach his +head very close my defense weapon and he go back again."</p> + +<p>"I should think he would," laughed Ned, as he noted the +giant's club.</p> + +<p>"Well, Rad, let's have a look at your prisoner. Open the +door, Koku," commanded Tom.</p> + +<p>"Better look out," advised Ned. "He may be armed."</p> + +<p>"We'll have to take a chance. Besides, I don't believe he +is, or he'd have fired at Koku. There isn't much to fear +with the giant ready for emergencies. Now we'll see who he +is. I can't imagine one of my men turning traitor."</p> + +<p>The door was opened and a rather miserable-looking man +shuffled out. There was a bloody rag on his head, and he +seemed to have made more of an effort to escape than Koku +described, for he appeared to have suffered in the ensuing +fight.</p> + +<p>"Carl Schwen!" exclaimed Tom. "So it was you, was it?"</p> + +<p>The German, for such he was, did not answer for a moment +He appeared downcast, and as if suffering. Then a change +came over him. He straightened up, saluted as a soldier +might have done, and a sneering look came into his face. It +was succeeded by one of pride as the man exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is I! And I tried to do what I tried to do for +the Fatherland! I have failed. Now you will have me shot as +a spy, I suppose!" he added bitterly.</p> + +<p>Tom did not answer directly. He looked keenly at the man, +and at last said:</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to see this. I knew you were a German, Schwen, +but I kept you employed at work that could not, by any +possibility, be considered as used against your country. You +are a good machinist, and I needed you. But if what I hear +about you is true, it is the end."</p> + +<p>"It is the end," said the man simply. "I tried and failed. +If it had not been for Eradicate—Well, he's smarter than I +gave him credit for, that's all!"</p> + +<p>The man spoke very good English, with hardly a trace of +German accent, but there was no doubt as to his character.</p> + +<p>"What will you do with him, Tom?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I'll have to do a little investigating +first. But he must be locked up. Schwen," went on the young +inventor, "I'm sorry about this, but I shall have to give +you into the custody of a United States marshal. You are not +a naturalized citizen, are you?"</p> + +<p>The man muttered something in German to the effect that he +was not naturalized and was glad of it.</p> + +<p>"Then you come under the head of an enemy alien," decided +Tom, who understood what was said, "and will have to be +interned. I had hoped to avoid this, but it seems it cannot +be. I am sorry to lose you, but there are more important +matters. Now let's get at the bottom of this."</p> + +<p>Schwen was, after a little delay, taken in charge by the +proper officer, and then a search was made of his room, for, +in common with some of the other workmen, he lived in a +boarding house not far from the plant.</p> + +<p>There, by a perusal of his papers, enough was revealed to +show Tom the danger he had escaped.</p> + +<p>"And yet I don't know that I have altogether escaped it," +he said to Ned, as they talked it over. "There's no telling +how long this spy work may have been going on. If he has +discovered all the secrets of Shop Thirteen it may be a bad +thing for the Allies and—"</p> + +<p>"Look out!" warned Ned, with a laugh. "You'll be saying +things you don't want to, Tom and not at all in keeping with +your former silence."</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed the young inventor, with a sigh. "But +if things go right I'll not have to keep silent much longer. +I may be able to tell you everything."</p> + +<p>"Don't tell me—tell Mary," advised his chum. "She feels +your silence more than I do. I know how such things are."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll be able to tell her, too," decided Tom. "That +is, if Schwen hasn't spoiled everything. Look here, Ned, +these papers show he's been in correspondence with Blakeson +and Grinder."</p> + +<p>"What about, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell. The letters are evidently written in code, +and I can't translate it offhand. But I'll make another +attempt at it. And here's one from a person who signs +himself Walter Simpson, but the writing is in German."</p> + +<p>"Walter Simpson!" cried Ned. "That's my friend of the +tree!"</p> + +<p>"It is?" cried Tom. "Then things begin to fit themselves +together. Simpson is a spy, and he was probably trying to +communicate with Schwen. But the latter didn't get the +information he wanted, or, if he did get it, he wasn't able +to pass it on to the man in the tree. Eradicate nipped him +just in time."</p> + +<p>And, so it seemed, the colored man had done. By accident +he had discovered that Schwen had prevailed on one of the +workmen in Shop 13 to change passes with him. This enabled +the German spy to gain admittance to the secret place, which +Tom thought was so well guarded. The man who let Schwen take +the pass was in the game, too, it appeared, and he was also +placed under arrest. But he was a mere tool in the pay of +the others, and had no chance to gain valuable information.</p> + +<p>A hasty search of Shop 13 did not reveal anything missing, +and it was surmised (for Schwen would not talk) that he had +not found time to go about and get all that he was after.</p> + +<p>Soon after Schwen's arrest the "Spy Tree," as Tom called +it, was cut down.</p> + +<p>"Eradicate certainly did better than I ever expected he +would," declared Tom. "Well, if all goes well, there won't +be so much need for secrecy after a day or so. We're going +to give her a test, and then—"</p> + +<p>"Give who a test?" asked Ned, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"You'll soon see," answered Tom, with an answering grin. +"I hereby invite you and Mr. Damon to come over to Shop +Thirteen day after to-morrow night and then—Well, you'll +see what you'll see."</p> + +<p>With this Ned had to be content, and he waited anxiously +for the appointed time to come.</p> + +<p>"I surely will be glad when Tom is more like himself," he +mused, as he left his chum. "And I guess Mary will be, too. +I wonder if he's going to ask her to the exhibition?"</p> + +<p>It developed that Tom had done so, a fact which Ned +learned on the morning of the day set for the test.</p> + +<p>"Come over about nine o'clock," Tom said to his chum. "I +guess it will be dark enough then."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Schwen and Otto Kuhn, the other man involved, +had been locked up, and all their papers given into the +charge of the United States authorities. A closer guard than +ever was kept over No. 13 shop, and some of the workmen, +against whom there was a slight suspicion, were transferred.</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll see what we shall see," mused Ned on the +appointed evening, when a telephone message from Mr. Damon +informed the young bank clerk that the eccentric man was +coming to call for him before going on to the Swift place.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_X" id="Chapter_X" />Chapter X</h2> + +<h3>A Runaway Giant</h3> + + +<p>"What do you think it's all about, Mr. Damon?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I don't know, Ned."</p> + +<p>The two were at the home of the young bank clerk, +preparing to start for the Swift place, it being nearly nine +o'clock on the evening named by the youthful inventor.</p> + +<p>"Bless my hat-rack!" went on the eccentric man, "but Tom +isn't at all like himself of late. He's working on some +invention, I know that, but it's all I do know. He hasn't +given me a hint of it."</p> + +<p>"Nor me, nor any of his friends," added Ned. "And he acts +so oddly about enlisting—doesn't want even to speak of it. +How he got exempted I don't know, but I do know one thing, +and that is Tom Swift is for Uncle Sam first, last and +always!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course!" agreed Mr. Damon. "Well, we'll soon know, +I guess. We'd better start, Ned."</p> + +<p>"It's useless to try to guess what it is Tom is up to. He +has kept his secret well. The nearest any one has come to it +was when Harry figured out that Tom had a band of giant +elephants which he was fitting with coats of steel armor to +go against the Germans," observed Ned, when be and Mr. Damon +were on their way.</p> + +<p>"Well, that mightn't be so bad," agreed Mr. Damon. +"But—um—elephants—and wild giant ones, too! Bless my circus +ticket, Ned! do you think we'd better go in that case?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Tom hasn't anything like that!" laughed Ned. "That +was only Harry's crazy notion after he saw something big and +ungainly careening about the enclosed yard of Shop Thirteen. +Hello, there go Mary Nestor and her father!" and Ned pointed +to the opposite side of the street where the girl and Mr. +Nestor could be seen in the light of a street lamp.</p> + +<p>"They're going out to see Tom's secret," said Mr. Damon. +"There's plenty of room in my car. Let's ask them to go with +us."</p> + +<p>"Surely," agreed Ned, and a moment later he and Mary were +in the rear seat while Mr. Damon and Mr. Nestor were in the +front, Mr. Damon at the wheel, and they were soon speeding +down the road.</p> + +<p>"I do hope everything will go all right," observed Mary.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"I mean Tom is a little bit anxious about this test."</p> + +<p>"Did he tell you what it was to be?"</p> + +<p>"No; but when he called to invite father and me to be +present he seemed worried. I guess it's a big thing, for he +never has acted this way before—not talking about his +work."</p> + +<p>"That's right," assented Ned. "But the secret will soon be +disclosed, I fancy. But how is it you aren't going to the +dance with Lieutenant Martin? He told me you had half +accepted for to-night."</p> + +<p>"I had." And if it had been light enough Ned would have +seen Mary blushing. "I was going with him. It's a dance for +the benefit of the Red Cross to get money for comfort kits +for the soldiers. But when Tom sent word that he'd like to +have me present to-night, why—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I see!" broke in Ned, with a little laugh. "'Nough +said!"</p> + +<p>Mary's blushes were deeper, but the kindly night hid them.</p> + +<p>Then they conversed on matters connected with the big war—the +selling of Liberty Bonds, the Red Cross work and the +Surgical Dressings Committee, in which Mary was the head of +a junior league.</p> + +<p>"Everybody in Shopton seems to be doing something to help +win the war," said Mary, and as there was just then a lull +in the talk between her father and Mr. Damon her words +sounded clearly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, everybody—that is, all but a few," said Mr. Nestor, +"and they ought to get busy. There are some young fellows in +this town that ought to be wearing khaki, and I don't mean +you, Ned Newton. You're doing your bit, all right."</p> + +<p>"And so is Tom Swift!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as if there +had been an implied accusation against the young inventor. +"I heard, only to-day, that one of his inventions—a gas +helmet that he planned—is in use on the Western front in +Europe. Tom gave his patents to the government, and even +made a lot of the helmets free to show other factories how +to turn them out to advantage."</p> + +<p>"He did?" cried Mr. Nestor.</p> + +<p>"That's what he did. Talk about doing your bit—"</p> + +<p>"I didn't know that," observed Mary's father slowly. "Do +you suppose it's a test of another gas helmet that Tom has +asked us out to see to-night?"</p> + +<p>"I hardly think so," said Ned. "He wouldn't wait until +after dark for that This is something big, and Tom must +intend to have it out in the open. He probably waited until +after sunset so the neighbors wouldn't come out in flocks. +There's been a lot of talk about what is going on in Shop +Thirteen, especially since the arrest of the German spies, +and the least hint that a test is under way would bring out +a big crowd."</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," agreed Mr. Nestor. "Well, I'm glad to know +that Tom is doing something for Uncle Sam, even if it's only +helping with gas helmets. Those Germans are barbarians, if +ever there were any, and we've got to fight them the same +way they fight us! That's the only way to end the war! Now +if I had my way, I'd take every German I could lay my hands +on—"</p> + +<p>"Father, pretzels!" exclaimed Mary.</p> + +<p>"Eh? What's that, my dear?"</p> + +<p>"I said pretzels!"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" and Mr. Nestor's voice lost its sharpness.</p> + +<p>"That's my way of quieting father down when he gets too +strenuous in his talk about the war," explained Mary. "We +agreed that whenever he got excited I was to say 'pretzels' +to him, and that would make him remember. We made up our +little scheme after he got into an argument with a man on +the train and was carried past his station."</p> + +<p>"That's right," admitted Mr. Nestor, with a laugh. "But +that fellow was the most obstinate, pig-headed Dutchman that +ever tackled a plate of pig's knuckles and sauerkraut, and +if he had the least grain of common sense he'd—"</p> + +<p>"Pretzels!" cried Mary.</p> + +<p>"Eh? Oh, yes, my dear. I was forgetting again."</p> + +<p>There was a moment of merriment, and then, after the talk +had run for a while in other and safer channels, Mr. Damon +made the announcement:</p> + +<p>"I think we're about there. We'll be at Tom's place when +we make the turn and—"</p> + +<p>He was interrupted by a low, heavy rumbling.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Mr. Nestor.</p> + +<p>"It's getting louder—the noise," remarked Mary. "It +sounds as if some big body were approaching down the road—the +tramp of many feet. Can it be that troops are marching away?"</p> + +<p>"Bless my spark plug!" suddenly cried Mr. Damon. "Look!"</p> + +<p>They gazed ahead, and there, seen in the glare of the +automobile headlights, was an immense, dark body approaching +them from across a level field. The rumble and roar became +more pronounced and the ground shook as though from an +earthquake.</p> + +<p>A glaring light shone out from the ponderous moving body, +and above the roar and rattle a voice called:</p> + +<p>"Out out of the way! We've lost control! Look out!"</p> + +<p>"Bless my steering wheel!" gasped Mr. Damon, +"that was Tom Swift's voice! But what is he +doing in that—thing?"</p> + +<p>"It must be his new invention!" exclaimed Ned.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Mr. Nestor.</p> + +<p>"A giant," ventured Ned. "It's a giant machine of some +sort and—"</p> + +<p>"And it's running away!" cried Mr. Damon, as he quickly +steered his car to one side—and not a moment too soon! An +instant later in a cloud of dust, and with a rumble and a +roar as of a dozen express trains fused into one, the +runaway giant—of what nature they could only guess—flashed +and lumbered by, Tom Swift leaning from an opening in the +thick steel side, and shouting something to his friends.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XI" id="Chapter_XI" />Chapter XI</h2> + +<h3>Tom's Tank</h3> + + +<p>"What was it?" gasped Mary, and, to her surprise, she +found herself close to Ned, clutching his arm.</p> + +<p>"I have an idea, but I'd rather let Tom tell you," he +answered.</p> + +<p>"But where's it going?" asked Mr. Nestor. "What in the +world does Tom Swift mean by inviting us out here to witness +a test, and then nearly running us down under a Juggernaut?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, there must be some mistake, I'm sure," returned his +daughter. "Tom didn't intend this."</p> + +<p>"But, bless my insurance policy, look at that thing go! +What in the world is it?" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>The "thing" was certainly going. It had careened from the +road, tilted itself down into a ditch and gone on across the +fields, lights shooting from it in eccentric fashion.</p> + +<p>"Maybe we'd better take after it," suggested Mr. Nestor. +"If Tom is—"</p> + +<p>"There, it's stopping !" cried Ned. "Come on!"</p> + +<p>He sprang from the automobile, helped Mary to get out, and +then the two, followed by Mr. Damon and Mr. Nestor, made +their way across the fields toward the big object where it +had come to a stop, the rumbling and roaring ceasing.</p> + +<p>Before the little party reached the strange machine—the +"runaway giant," as they dubbed it in their excitement—a +bright light flashed from it, a light that illuminated their +path right up to the monster. And in the glare of this light +they saw Tom Swift stepping out through a steel door in the +side of the affair.</p> + +<p>"Are you all right?" he called to his friends, as they +approached.</p> + +<p>"All right, as nearly as we can be when we've been almost +scared to death, Tom," said Mr. Nestor.</p> + +<p>"I'm surely sorry for what happened," Tom answered, with a +relieved laugh. "Part of the steering gear broke and I had +to guide it by operating the two motors alternately. It can +be worked that way, but it takes a little practice to become +expert."</p> + +<p>"I should say so!" cried Mr. Damon. "But what in the world +does it all mean, Tom Swift? You invite us out to see +something—"</p> + +<p>"And there she is!" interrupted the young inventor. "You +saw her a little before I meant you to, and not under +exactly the circumstances I had planned. But there she is!" +And he turned as though introducing the metallic monster to +his friends.</p> + +<p>"What is she, Tom?" asked Ned. "Name it!"</p> + +<p>"My latest invention, or rather the invention of my father +and myself," answered Tom, and his voice showed the love and +reverence he felt for his parent. "Perhaps I should say +adaptation instead of invention," Tom went on, "since that +is what it is. But, at any rate, it's my latest—dad's and +mine—and it's the newest, biggest, most improved and +powerful fighting tank that's been turned out of any shop, +as far as I can learn.</p> + +<p>"Ladies—I mean lady and gentlemen—allow me to present to +you War Tank A, and may she rumble till the pride of the +Boche is brought low and humble!" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>"Hurray! That's what I say!" cheered Ned.</p> + +<p>"That's what I have been at work on lately. I'll give you +a little history of it, and then you may come inside and +have a ride home."</p> + +<p>"In that?" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I can't promise to move as speedily as your car, but +I can make better time than the British tanks. They go about +six miles an hour, I understand, and I've got mine geared to +ten. That's one improvement dad and I have made."</p> + +<p>"Ride in that!" cried Mr. Nestor. "Tom, I like you, and +I'm glad to see I've been mistaken about you. You have been +doing your bit, after all; but—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I've only begun!" laughed Tom Swift.</p> + +<p>"Well, no matter about that. However much I like you," +went on Mr. Nestor, "I'd as soon ride on the wings of a +thunderbolt as in Tank A, Tom Swift."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it isn't as bad as that!" laughed the young +scientist. "But neither is it a limousine. However, come +inside, anyhow, and I'll tell you something about it. Then +I guess we can guide it back. The men are repairing the +break."</p> + +<p>The visitors entered the great craft through the door by +which Tom had emerged. At first all they saw was a small +compartment, with walls of heavy steel, some shelves of the +same and a seat which folded up against the wall made of +like powerful material.</p> + +<p>"This is supposed to be the captain's room, where he stays +when he directs matters." Tom explained. "The machinery is +below and beyond here."</p> + +<p>"How'd you come to evolve this?" asked Ned. "I haven't +seen half enough of the outside, to say nothing of the +inside."</p> + +<p>"You'll have time enough," Tom said. "This is my first +completed tank. There are some improvements to be made +before we send it to the other side to be copied.</p> + +<p>"Then they'll make them in England as well as here, and +from here we'll ship them in sections."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how you ever thought of it!" exclaimed the +girl, in wonder.</p> + +<p>"Well, I didn't all at once," Tom answered, with a laugh. +"It came by degrees. I first got the idea when I heard of +the British tanks.</p> + +<p>"When I had read how they went into action and what they +accomplished against the barbed wire entanglements, and how +they crossed the trenches, I concluded that a bigger tank, +one capable of more speed, say ten or twelve miles an hour, +and one that could cross bigger excavations—the English +tanks up to this time can cross a ditch of twelve feet—I +thought that, with one made on such specifications, more +effective work could be done against the Germans."</p> + +<p>"And will yours do that?" asked Ned. "I mean will it do +ten miles an hour, and straddle over a wider ditch than +twelve feet?"</p> + +<p>"It'll do both," promptly answered Tom. "We did a little +better than eleven miles an hour a while ago when I yelled +to you to get out of the way just now. It's true we weren't +under good control, but the speed had nothing to do with +that. And as for going over a big ditch, I think we +straddled one about fourteen feet across back there, and we +can do better when I get my grippers to working."</p> + +<p>"Grippers!" exclaimed Mary.</p> + +<p>"What kind of trench slang is that, Tom Swift?" asked Mr. +Damon.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's a new idea I'm going to try out It's +something like this," and while from a distant part of the +interior of Tank A came the sound of hammering, the young +inventor rapidly drew a rough pencil sketch.</p> + +<p>It showed the tank in outline, much as appear the pictures +of tanks already in service—the former simile of two wedge-shaped +pieces of metal put together broad end to broad end, +still holding good. From one end of the tank, as Tom drew +it, there extended two long arms of latticed steel +construction.</p> + +<p>"The idea is," said Tom, "to lay these down in front of +the tank, by means of cams and levers operated from inside. +If we get to a ditch which we can't climb down into and out +again, or bridge with the belt caterpillar wheels, we'll use +the grippers. They'll be laid down, taking a grip on the far +side of the trench, and we'll slide across on them."</p> + +<p>"And leave them there?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"No, we won't leave them. We'll pick them up after we have +passed over them and use them in front again as we need +them. A couple of extra pairs of grippers may be carried for +emergencies, but I plan to use the same ones over and over +again."</p> + +<p>"But what makes it go?" asked Mary. "I don't want all the +details, Tom," she said, with a smile, "but I'd like to know +what makes your tank move."</p> + +<p>"I'll be able to show you in a little while," he answered. +"But it may be enough now if I tell you that the main power +consists of two big gasolene engines, one on either side. +They can be geared to operate together or separately. And +these engines turn the endless belts made of broad, steel +plates, on which the tank travels. The belts pass along the +outer edges of the tank longitudinally, and go around cogged +wheels at either end of the blunt noses.</p> + +<p>"When both belts travel at the same rate of speed the tank +goes in a straight line, though it can be steered from side +to side by means of a trailer wheel in the rear. Making one +belt—one set of caterpillar wheels, you know—go faster +than the other will make the tank travel to one side or the +other, the turn being in the direction of the slowest moving +belt. In this way we can steer when the trailer wheels are +broken."</p> + +<p>"And what does your tank do except travel along, not +minding a hail of bullets?" asked Mr. Nestor.</p> + +<p>"Well," answered Tom, "it can do anything any other tank +can do, and then some more. It can demolish a good-sized +house or heavy wall, break down big trees, and chew up +barbed-wire fences as if they were toothpicks. I'll show you +all that in due time. Just now, if the repairs are finished, +we can get back on the road—"</p> + +<p>At that moment a door leading into the compartment where +Tom and his friends were talking opened, and one of the +workmen said:</p> + +<p>"A man outside asking to see you, Mr. Swift."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, but I won't keep you a moment," interrupted a +suave voice. "I happened to observe your tank, and I took +the liberty of entering to see—"</p> + +<p>"Simpson!" cried Ned Newton, as he recognized the man who +had been up the tree. "It's that spy, Simpson, Tom!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XII" id="Chapter_XII" />Chapter XII</h2> + +<h3>Bridging a Gap</h3> + + +<p>Such surprise showed both on the face of Ned Newton and +that of the man who called himself Walter Simpson that it +would be hard to say which was in the greater degree. For a +moment the newcomer stood as if he had received all electric +shock, and was incapable of motion. Then, as the echoes of +Ned's voice died away and the young bank clerk, being the +first to recover from the shock, made a motion toward the +unwelcome and uninvited intruder, Simpson exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"I will not bother now. Some other time will do as well."</p> + +<p>Then, with a haste that could be called nothing less than +precipitate, he made a turn and fairly shot out of the door +by which he had entered the tank.</p> + +<p>"There he goes!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my speedometer, +but there he goes!"</p> + +<p>"I'll stop him!" cried Ned. "We've got to find out more +about him! I'll get him, Tom!"</p> + +<p>Tom Swift was not one to let a friend rush alone into what +might be danger. He realized immediately what his chum meant +when he called out the identity of the intruder, and, +wishing to clear up some of the mystery of which he became +aware when Schwen was arrested and the paper showing a +correspondence with this Simpson were found, Tom darted out +to try to assist in the capture.</p> + +<p>"He went this way!" cried Ned, who was visible in the +glare of the searchlight that still played its powerful +beams over the stern of the tank, if such an ungainly +machine can be said to have a bow and stern. "Over this +way!"</p> + +<p>"I'm with you!" cried Tom. "See if you can pick up that +man who just ran out of here!" he cried to the operator of +the searchlight in the elevated observation section of what +corresponded to the conning tower of a submarine. This was a +sort of lookout box on top of the tank, containing, among +other machines, the searchlight. "Pick him up!" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>The operator flashed the intense white beam, like a finger +of light, around in eccentric circles, but though this +brought into vivid relief the configuration of the field and +road near which the tank was stalled, it showed no running +fugitive. Tom and Ned were observed—shadows of black in the +glare—by Mary and her friends in the tank, but there was no +one else.</p> + +<p>"Come on!" cried Ned. "We can find him, Tom!"</p> + +<p>But this was easier said than done. Even though they were +aided by the bright light, they caught no glimpse of the man +who called himself Simpson.</p> + +<p>"Guess he got away," said Tom, when he and Ned had circled +about and investigated many clumps of bushes, trees, stumps +and other barriers that might conceal the fugitive.</p> + +<p>"I guess so," agreed Ned. "Unless he's hiding in what we +might call a shell crater."</p> + +<p>"Hardly that," and Tom smiled. "Though if all goes well +the men who operate this tank later may be searching for men +in real shell holes."</p> + +<p>"Is this one going to the other side?" asked Ned, as the +two walked back toward the tank.</p> + +<p>"I hope it will be the first of my new machines on the +Western front," Tom answered. "But I've still got to perfect +it in some details and then take it apart. After that, if it +comes up to expectations, we'll begin making them in +quantities."</p> + +<p>"Did you get him?" asked Mr. Damon eagerly, as the two +young men came back to join Mary and her friends.</p> + +<p>"No, he got away," Tom answered.</p> + +<p>"Did he try to blow up the tank?" asked Mr. Nestor, who +had an abnormal fear of explosives. "Was he a German spy?"</p> + +<p>"I think he's that, all right," said Ned grimly. "As to +his endeavoring to blow up Tom's tank, I believe him capable +of it, though he didn't try it to-night—unless he's planted +a time bomb somewhere about, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Hardly, I guess," answered the young inventor. "He didn't +have a chance to do that. Anyhow we won't remain here long. +Now, Ned, what about this chap? Is he really the one you saw +up in the tree?"</p> + +<p>"I not only saw him but I felt him," answered Ned, with a +rueful look at his fingers. "He stepped right on me. And +when he came inside the tank to-night I knew him at once. I +guess he was as surprised to see me as I was to see him."</p> + +<p>"But what was his object?" asked Mr. Nestor.</p> + +<p>"He must have some connection with my old enemy, +Blakeson," answered Tom, "and we know he's mixed up with +Schwen. From the looks of him I should say that this +Simpson, as he calls himself, is the directing head of the +whole business. He looks to be the moneyed man, and the +brains of the plotters. Blakeson is smart, in a mechanical +way, and Schwen is one of the best machinists I've ever +employed. But this Simpson strikes me as being the slick one +of the trio."</p> + +<p>"But what made him come here, and what did he want?" asked +Mary. "Dear me! it's like one of those moving picture plots, +only I never saw one with a tank in it before—I mean a tank +like yours, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is a bit like moving picture—especially chasing +Simpson by searchlight," agreed the young inventor. "As to +what he wanted, I suppose he came to spy out some of my +secret inventions—dad's and mine. He's probably been hiding +and sneaking around the works ever since we arrested Schwen. +Some of my men have reported seeing strangers about, but I +have kept Shop Thirteen well guarded.</p> + +<p>"However, this fellow may have been waiting outside, and +he may have followed the tank when we started off a little +while ago for the night test. Then, when he saw our mishap +and noticed that we were stalled, he came in, boldly enough, +thinking, I suppose, that, as I had never seen him, he would +take a chance on getting as much information as he could in +a hurry."</p> + +<p>"But he didn't count on Ned's being here!" chuckled Mr. +Damon.</p> + +<p>"No; that's where he slipped a cog," remarked Mr. Nestor. +"Well, Tom, I like your tank, what I've seen of her, but +it's getting late and I think Mary and I had better be +getting back home."</p> + +<p>"We'll be ready to start in a little while," Tom said, +after a brief consultation with one of his men. "Still, +perhaps it would be just as well if you didn't ride back +with me. She may go all right, and then, again, she may not. +And as it's dark, and we're in a rough part of the field, +you might be a bit shaken up. Not that the tank minds it!" +the young inventor hastened to add "She's got to do her bit +over worse places than this—much worse—but I want to get +her in a little better working shape first. So if you don't +mind, Mary, I'll postpone your initial trip."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't mind, Tom! I'm so glad you've made this! I +want to see the war ended, and I think machines like this +will help."</p> + +<p>"I'll ride back with you, Tom, if you don't mind," put in +Ned. "I guess a little shaking up won't hurt me."</p> + +<p>"All right—stick. We're going to start very soon."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm coming over to-morrow to have a look at it by +daylight," said Mr. Damon, as he started toward his car.</p> + +<p>"So am I," added Mary. "Please call for me, Mr. Damon."</p> + +<p>"I will," he promised.</p> + +<p>Mr. Nestor, his daughter, and Mr. Damon went back to the +automobile, while Ned remained with Tom. In a little while +those in the car heard once more the rumbling and roaring +sound and felt the earth tremble. Then, with a flashing of +lights, the big, ungainly shape of the tank lifted herself +out of the little ditch in which she had come to a halt, and +began to climb back to the road.</p> + +<p>Ned Newton stood beside Tom in the control tower of the +great tank as she started on her homeward way.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it wonderful!" murmured Mary, as she saw Tank A +lumbering along toward the road. "Oh, and to think that +human beings made that To think that Tom should know how to +build such a wonderful machine!"</p> + +<p>"And run it, too, Mary! That's the point! Make it run!" +cried her father. "I tell you, that Tom Swift is a wonder!"</p> + +<p>"Bless my dictionary, he sure is!" agreed Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>Along the road, back toward the shop whence it had +emerged, rumbled the tank. The noise brought to their doors +inhabitants along the country thoroughfare, and some of them +were frightened when they saw Tom Swift's latest war +machine, the details of which they could only guess at in +the darkness.</p> + +<p>"She'll butt over a house if it gets in her path, knock +down trees, chew up barbed-wire, and climb down into ravines +and out again, and go over a good-sized stream without a +whimper," said Tom, as he steered the great machine.</p> + +<p>There was little chance then for Ned to see much of the +inside mechanism of the tank. He observed that Tom, standing +in the forward tower, steered it very easily by a small +wheel or by a lever, alternately, and that he communicated +with the engine room by means of electric signals.</p> + +<p>"And she steers by electricity, too," Tom told his friend. +"That was one difficulty with the first tanks. They had to +be steered by brute force, so to speak, and it was a +terrific strain on the man in the tower. Now I can guide +this in two ways: by the electric mechanism which swings the +trailer wheels to either side, or by varying the speed of +the two motors that work the caterpillar belts. So if one +breaks down, I have the other."</p> + +<p>"Got any guns aboard her—I mean machine guns?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Not yet. But I'm going to install some. I wanted to get +the tank in proper working order first. The guns are only +incidental, though of course they're vitally necessary when +she goes into action. I've got 'em all ready to put in. But +first I'm going to try the grippers."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you mean the gap-bridgers?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"That's it," answered Tom. "Look out, we're going over a +rough spot now."</p> + +<p>And they did. Ned was greatly shaken up, and fairly tossed +from side to side of the steering tower. For the tank +contained no springs, except such as were installed around +the most delicate machinery, and it was like riding in a +dump cart over a very rough road.</p> + +<p>"However, that's part of the game," Tom observed.</p> + +<p>Tank A reached her "harbor" safely—in other words, the +machine shop enclosed by the high fence, inside of which she +had been built.</p> + +<p>Tom and Ned made some inquiries of Koku and Eradicate as +to whether or not there had been any unusual sights or +sounds about the place. They feared Simpson might have come +to the shop to try to get possession of important drawings +or data.</p> + +<p>But all had been quiet, Koku reported Nor had Eradicate +seen or heard anything out of the ordinary.</p> + +<p>"Then I guess we'll lock up and turn in," decided Tom. +"Come over to-morrow, Ned."</p> + +<p>"I will," promised the young bank clerk. "I want to see +more of what makes the wheels go round." And he laughed at +his own ingenuousness.</p> + +<p>The next day Tom showed his friends as much as they cared +to see about the workings of the tank. They inspected the +powerful gasolene engines, saw how they worked the endless +belts made of plates of jointed steel, which, running over +sprocket wheels, really gave the tank its power by providing +great tractive force.</p> + +<p>Any self-propelled vehicle depends for its power, either +to move itself or to push or to pull, on its tractive +force—that is, the grip it can get on the ground.</p> + +<p>In the case of a bicycle little tractive power is needed, +and this is provided by the rubber tires, which grip the +ground. A locomotive depends for its tractive power on its +weight pressing on its driving wheels, and the more driving +wheels there are and the heavier the locomotive, the more it +can pull, though in that case speed is lost. This is why +freight locomotives are so heavy and have so many large +driving wheels. They pull the engine along, and the cars +also, by their weight pressing on the rails.</p> + +<p>The endless steel belts of a tank are, the same as the +wheels of a locomotive. And the belts, being very broad, +which gives them a large surface with which to press on the +ground, and the tank being very heavy, great power to +advance is thus obtained, though at the sacrifice of speed. +However, Tom Swift had made his tank so that it would do +about ten miles and more an hour, nearly double the progress +obtained up to that time by the British machines.</p> + +<p>His visitors saw the great motors, they inspected the +compact but not very attractive living quarters of the crew, +for provision had to be made for the men to stay in the tank +if, perchance, it became stalled in No Man's Land, +surrounded by the enemy.</p> + +<p>The tank was powerfully armored and would be armed. There +were a number of machine guns to be installed, quick-firers +of various types, and in addition the tank could carry a +number of riflemen.</p> + +<p>It was upon the crushing power of the tank, though, that +most reliance was placed. Thus it could lead the way for an +infantry advance through the enemy's lines, making nothing +of barbed wire that would take an artillery fire of several +days to cut to pieces.</p> + +<p>"And now, Ned," said Tom, about a week after the night +test of the tank, "I'm going to try what she'll do in +bridging a gap."</p> + +<p>"Have you got her in shape again?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, everything is all right. I've taken out the weak +part in the steering gear that nearly caused us to run you +down, and we're safe in that respect now. And I've got the +grippers made. It only remains to see whether they're strong +enough to bear the weight of my little baby," and Tom +affectionately patted the steel sides of Tank A.</p> + +<p>While his men were getting the machine ready for a test +out on the road, and for a journey across a small stream not +far away, Tom told his chum about conceiving the idea for +the tank and carrying it out secretly with the aid of his +father and certain workmen.</p> + +<p>"That's the reason the government exempted me from +enlisting," Tom said. "They wanted me to finish this tank. I +didn't exactly want to, but I considered it my 'bit.' After +this I'm going into the army, Ned."</p> + +<p>"Glad to hear it, old man. Maybe by that time I'll have +this Liberty Bond work finished, and I'll go with you. We'll +have great times together! Have you heard anything more of +Simpson, Blakeson and Scoundrels?" And Ned laughed as he +named this "firm."</p> + +<p>"No," answered Tom. "I guess we scared off that slick +German spy."</p> + +<p>Once more the tank lumbered out along the road. It was a +mighty engine of war, and inside her rode Tom and Ned. Mary +and her father had been invited, but the girl could not +quite get her courage to the point of accepting, nor did Mr. +Nestor care to go. Mr. Damon, however, as might be guessed, +was there.</p> + +<p>"Bless my monkey wrench, Tom!" cried the eccentric man, as +he noted their advance over some rough ground, "are you +really going to make this machine cross Tinkle Creek on a +bridge of steel you carry with you?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to try, Mr. Damon."</p> + +<p>A little later, after a successful test up and down a +small gully, Tank A arrived at the edge of Tinkle Creek, a +small stream about twenty feet wide, not far from Tom's +home. At the point selected for the test the banks were high +and steep.</p> + +<p>"If she bridges that gap she'll do anything," murmured +Ned, as the tank came to a stop on the edge.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XIII" id="Chapter_XIII" />Chapter XIII</h2> + +<h3>Into a Trench</h3> + + +<p>Tom cast a hasty glance over the mechanism of the machine +before he started to cross the stream by the additional aid +of the grippers, or spanners, as he sometimes called this +latest device.</p> + +<p>Along each side, in a row of sockets, were two long +girders of steel, latticed like the main supports of a +bridge. They were of peculiar triangular construction, +designed to support heavy weights, and each end was broadly +flanged to prevent its sinking too deeply into the earth on +either side of a gully or a stream.</p> + +<p>The grippers also had a sort of clawlike arrangement on +either end, working on the principle of an "orange-peel" +shovel, and these claws were designed to grip the earth to +prevent slipping.</p> + +<p>The spanners would be pulled out from their sockets on the +side of the tank by means of steel cables, which were +operated from within. They would be run out across the gap +and fastened in place. The tank was designed to travel along +them to the other side of the gap, and, once there, to pick +tip the girders, slip them back into place on the sides, and +the engine of war would travel on.</p> + +<p>"You are mightily excited, Tom.</p> + +<p>"I admit it, Ned. You see, I have not tried the grippers +out except on a small model. They worked there, but whether +they will work in practice remains to be seen. Of course, at +this stage, I'm willing to stake my all on the results, but +there is always a half-question until the final try-out +under practical conditions."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll soon see," said one of the workmen. "Are you +ready, Mr. Swift?"</p> + +<p>"All ready," answered Tom.</p> + +<p>Tank A, as she was officially known, had come to a stop, +as has been said, on the very edge of Tinkle Creek. The +banks were fairly solid here, and descended precipitously to +the water ten feet below. The shores were about twenty feet +apart.</p> + +<p>"Suppose the spanners break when you're halfway over, +Tom?" asked his chum.</p> + +<p>"I don't like to suppose anything of the sort. But if they +do, we're going down!"</p> + +<p>"Can you get up again?"</p> + +<p>"That remains to be seen," was the non-committal reply. +"Well, here goes, anyhow!"</p> + +<p>Going up into the observation tower, which was only +slightly raised above the roof of the highest part of the +tank, Tom gave the signal for the motors to start. There was +a trembling throughout the whole of the vast structure. Tom +threw back a lever and Ned, peering from a side observation +slot, beheld a strange sight.</p> + +<p>Like the main arm of some great steam shovel, two long, +latticed girders of steel shot out from the sides of the +tank. They gave a half turn, as they were pulled forward by +the steel ropes, so that they lay with their broader +surfaces uppermost.</p> + +<p>Straight across the stream they were pulled, their +clawlike ends coming to a rest on the opposite bank. Then +they were tightened into place by a backward pull on the +operating cables, and Tom, with a sigh of relief, announced:</p> + +<p>"Well, so far so good!"</p> + +<p>"Do we go over now?" inquired Ned.</p> + +<p>"Over the top—yes, I hope," answered Tom, with a laugh. +"How about you down there?" he called to the engine room +through a telephone which could only be used when the +machinery was not in action, there being too much noise to +permit the use of any but visual signals after that.</p> + +<p>"All right," came back the answer. "We're ready when you +are."</p> + +<p>"Then here we go!" said Tom. "Hold fast, Ned! Of course +there's no real telling what will happen, though I believe +we'll come out of it alive."</p> + +<p>"Cheerful prospect," murmured Ned.</p> + +<p>The grippers were now in place. It only remained for the +tank to propel herself over them, pick them up on the other +side of Tinkle Creek, and proceed on her course.</p> + +<p>Tom Swift hesitated a moment, one hand on the starting +lever and the other on the steering wheel. Then, with a +glance at Ned, half whimsical and half resolute, Tom started +Tank A on what might prove to be her last journey.</p> + +<p>Slowly the ponderous caterpillar belts moved around on the +sprocket wheels. They ground with a clash of steel on the +surface of the spanners. So long was the tank that the +forward end, or the "nose," was halfway across the stream +before the bottom part of the endless belts gripped the +latticed bridge.</p> + +<p>"If we fall, we'll span the creek, not fall into it," +murmured Ned, as he looked from the observation slot.</p> + +<p>"That's what I counted on," Tom said. "We'll get out, even +if we do fall."</p> + +<p>But Tank A was not destined to fall. In another moment her +entire weight rested on the novel and transportable bridge +Tom Swift had evolved. Then, as the gripping ends of the +girders sank farther into the soil, the tank went on her +way.</p> + +<p>Slowly, at half speed, she crawled over the steel beams, +making progress over the creek and as safely above the water +as though on a regularly constructed bridge.</p> + +<p>On and on she went. Now her entire weight was over the +middle of the temporary structures. If they were going to +give way at all, it would be at this point But they did not +give. The latticed and triangular steel, than which there is +no stronger form of construction, held up the immense +weight of Tank A, and on this novel bridge she propelled +herself across Tinkle Creek.</p> + +<p>"Well, the worst is over," remarked Ned, as he saw the +nose of the tank project beyond the farthermost bank.</p> + +<p>"Yes, even if they collapse now nothing much can happen," +Tom answered. "It won't be any worse than wallowing down +into a trench and out again. But I think the spanners will +hold."</p> + +<p>And hold they did! They held, giving way not a fraction of +an inch, until the tank was safely across, and then, after a +little delay, due to a jamming of one of the recovery +cables, the spanners were picked up, slid into the receiving +sockets, and the great war engine was ready to proceed +again.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" cried Ned. "She did it, Tom, old man!" and he +clapped his chum resoundingly on the back.</p> + +<p>"She certainly did!" was the answer. "But you needn't +knock me apart telling me that. Go easy!"</p> + +<p>"Bless my apple pie!" cried Mr. Damon, who was as much +pleased as either of the boys, "this is what I call great!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, she did all that I could have hoped for," said Tom. +"Now for the next test."</p> + +<p>"Bless my collar button! is there another?"</p> + +<p>"Just down into a trench and out again." Tom said. "This +is comparatively simple. It's only what she'll have to do +every day in Flanders."</p> + +<p>The tank waddled on. A duck's sidewise walk is about the +only kind of motion that can be compared to it. The going +was easier now, for it was across a big field, and Tom told +his friends that at the other end was a deep, steep and +rocky ravine in which he had decided to give the tank +another test.</p> + +<p>"We'll imagine that ravine is a trench," he said, "and +that we've got to get on the other side of it. Of course, we +won't be under fire, as the tanks will be at the front, but +aside from that the test will be just as severe."</p> + +<p>A little later Tank A brought her occupants to the edge of +the "trench."</p> + +<p>"Now, little girl," cried Tom exultingly, patting the +rough steel side of his tank, "show them what you can do!"</p> + +<p>"Bless my plum pudding!" cried Mr. Damon, "are you really +going down there, Tom Swift?"</p> + +<p>"I am," answered the young inventor. "It won't be +dangerous. We'll crawl down and crawl out. Hold fast!"</p> + +<p>He steered the machine straight for the edge of the +ravine, and as the nose slipped over and the broad steel +belts bit into the earth the tank tilted downward at a +sickening angle.</p> + +<p>She appeared to be making the descent safely, when there +was a sudden change. The earth seemed to slip out from under +the broad caterpillar belts, and then the tank moved more +rapidly.</p> + +<p>"Tom, we're turning over!" shouted Ned. "We're capsizing!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XIV" id="Chapter_XIV" />Chapter XIV</h2> + +<h3>The Ruined Factory</h3> + + +<p>Only too true were the words Ned Newton shouted to his +chum. Tank A was really capsizing. She had advanced to the +edge of the gully and started down it, moving slowly on the +caterpillar bands of steel. Then had come a sudden lurch, +caused, as they learned afterward, by the slipping off of a +great quantity of shale from an underlying shelf of rock.</p> + +<p>This made unstable footing for the tank. One side sank +lower than the other, and before Tom could neutralize this +by speeding up one motor and slowing down the other the tank +slowly turned over on its side.</p> + +<p>"But she isn't going to stop here!" cried Ned, as he found +himself thrown about like a pill in a box. "We're going all +the way over!"</p> + +<p>"Let her go over!" cried Tom, not that he could stop the +tank now. "It won't hurt her. She's built for lust this sort +of thing!"</p> + +<p>And over Tank A did go. Over and over she rolled, +sidewise, tumbling and sliding down the shale sides of the +great gully.</p> + +<p>"Hold fast! Grab the rings!" cried Tom to his two +companions in the tower with him. "That's what they're for!"</p> + +<p>Ned and Mr. Damon understood. In fact, the latter had +already done as Tom suggested. The young inventor had read +that the British tanks frequently turned turtle, and he had +this in mind when he made provision in his own for the +safety of passengers and crew.</p> + +<p>As soon as he felt the tank careening, Tom had pressed the +signal ordering the motors stopped, and now only the force +of gravity was operating. But that was sufficient to carry +the big machine to the bottom of the gulch, whither she slid +with a great cloud of sand, shale and dust.</p> + +<p>"Bless my—bless my—" Mr. Damon was murmuring, but he was +so flopped about, tossed from one side to the other, and it +took so much of his attention and strength to hold on to the +safety ring, that he could not properly give vent; to one of +his favorite expressions.</p> + +<p>But there comes an end to all things, even to the descent +of a tank, and Tom's big machine soon stopped rolling, +sliding, and turning improvised somersaults, and rested in a +pile of soft shale at the bottom of the gully. And the +tank was resting on her back!</p> + +<p>"We've turned turtle!" cried Ned, as he noted that he was +standing on what, before, had been the ceiling of the +observation tower. But as everything was of steel, and as +there was no movable furniture, no great harm was done. In +fact, one could as well walk on the ceiling of the tank as +on the floor.</p> + +<p>"But how are you going to get her right side up?" asked +Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Oh, turning upside down is only one of the stunts of the +game. I can right her," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"How?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well, she'll right herself if there's ground enough for +the steel belts to get a grip on.</p> + +<p>"But can the motors work upside down?"</p> + +<p>"They surely can!" responded Tom. "I made 'em that way on +purpose. The gasolene feeds by air pressure, and that works +standing on its head, as well as any other way. It's going +to be a bit awkward for the men to operate the controls, but +we won't be this way long. Before I start to right her, +though, I want to make sure nothing is broken."</p> + +<p>Tom signaled to the engine room, and, as the power was off +and the speaking tube could be used, he called through it:</p> + +<p>"How are you down there?"</p> + +<p>"Right-o!" came back the answer from a little Englishman +Tom had hired because he knew something about the British +tanks. "'Twas a bit of nastiness for a while, but it won't +take us long to get up ag'in."</p> + +<p>"That's good!" commented Tom. "I'll come down and have a +look at you."</p> + +<p>It was no easy matter, with the tank capsized, to get to +the main engine room, but Tom Swift managed it. To his +delight, aside from a small break in one of the minor +machines, which would not interfere with the operation or +motive force of the monster war engine, everything was in +good shape. There was no leak from the gasolene tanks, which +was one of the contingencies Tom feared, and, as he had +said, the motors would work upside down as well as right +side up, a fact he had proved more than once in his Hawk.</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll make a start," he told his chief engineer. +"Stand by when I give the signal, and we'll try to crawl out +of this right side up."</p> + +<p>"How are you going to do it?" asked Ned, as his chum +crawled back into the observation tower.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm going to run her part way up the very steepest +part of the ravine I can find—the side of a house would do +as well if it could stand the strain. I'm going to stand the +tank right up on her nose, so to speak, and tip her over so +she'll come right again."</p> + +<p>Slowly the tank started off, while Tom and his friends in +the observation tower anxiously awaited the result of the +novel progress. Ned and Mr. Damon clung to the safety rings. +Tom put his arm through one and hung on grimly, while he +used both hands on the steering apparatus and the controls.</p> + +<p>Of course the trailer wheels were useless in a case of +this kind, and the tank had to be guided by the two belts +run at varying speeds.</p> + +<p>"Here we go!" cried Tom, and the tank started. It was a +queer sensation to be moving upside down, but it did not +last very long. Tom steered the tank straight at the +opposite wail of the ravine, where it rose steeply. One of +the broad belts ran up on that side. The other was revolved +in the opposite direction. Up and up, at a sickening angle, +went Tank A.</p> + +<p>Slowly the tank careened, turning completely over on her +longer axis, until, as Tom shut off the power, he and his +friends once more found themselves standing where they +belonged—on the floor of the observation tower.</p> + +<p>"Right side up with care!" quoted Ned, with a laugh. "Well, +that was some stunt—believe me!"</p> + +<p>"Bless my corn plaster, I should say so!" cried Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad it happened," commented Tom. "It showed +what she can do when she's put to it. Now we'll get out of +this ditch."</p> + +<p>Slowly the tank lumbered along, proper side up now, the +men in the motor room reporting that everything was all +right, and that with the exception of a slight unimportant +break, no damage had been done.</p> + +<p>Straight for the opposite steep side of the gully Tom +directed his strange craft, and at a point where the wall of +the gulch gave a good footing for the steel belts, Tank A +pulled herself out and up to level ground.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad that's over," remarked Ned, with a sigh of +relief, as the tank waddled along a straight stretch. "And +to think of having to do that same thing under heavy fire !"</p> + +<p>"That's part of the game," remarked Tom. "And don't forget +that we can fire, too—or we'll be able to when I get the +guns in place. They'll help to balance the machine better, +too, and render her less likely to overturn."</p> + +<p>Tom considered the test a satisfactory one and, a little +later, guided his tank back to the shop, where men were set +to work repairing the little damage done and making some +adjustments.</p> + +<p>"What's next on the program?" asked Ned of his chum one +day about a week later. "Any more tests in view?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Tom. "I've got the machine guns in place +now. We are going to try them out and also endeavor to +demolish a building and some barbed wire. Like to come +along?"</p> + +<p>"I would!" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>A little later the tank was making her way over a field. +Tom pointed toward a deserted factory, which had long been +partly in ruins, but some of the walls of which still stood.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to bombard that," he announced, and then try to +batter it down and roll over it like a Juggernaut. Are you +game?"</p> + +<p>"Do your worst!" laughed Ned. "Let me man one of the +machine guns!"</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Tom. "Concentrate your fire. Make +believe you're going against the Germans!"</p> + +<p>Slowly, but with resistless energy, the tank approached +the ruined factory.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure there's no one in it, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Sure! Blaze away!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XV" id="Chapter_XV" />Chapter XV</h2> + +<h3>Across Country</h3> + + +<p>Ned Newton sighted his machine gun. Tom had showed him how +to work it, and indeed the young bank clerk had had some +practice with a weapon like this, erected on a stationary +tripod. But this was the first time Ned had attempted to +fire from the tank while it was moving, and he found it an +altogether different matter.</p> + +<p>"Say, it sure is hard to aim where you want to!" he +shouted across to Tom, it being necessary, even in the +conning tower, where this one gun was mounted, to speak +loudly to make one's self heard above the hum, the roar and +rattle of the machinery in the interior of Tank A, and +below and to the rear of the two young men.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's part of the game," Tom answered. "I'm +sending her along over as smooth ground as I can pick out, +but it's rough at best. Still this is nothing to what you'll +get in Flanders."</p> + +<p>"If I get there!" exclaimed Ned grimly. "Well, here goes!" +and once more he tried to aim the machine gun at the middle +of the brick wall of the ruined factory.</p> + +<p>A moment later there was a rattle and a roar as the quick-firing +mechanism started, and a veritable hail of bullets +swept out at the masonry. Tom and Ned could see where they +struck, knocking off bits of stone, brick and cement.</p> + +<p>"Sweep it, Ned! Sweep it!" cried Tom. "Imagine a crowd of +Germans are charging out at you, and sweep 'em out of the +way!"</p> + +<p>Obeying this command, the young man moved the barrel of +the machine gun from side to side and slightly up and down. +The effect was at once apparent. The wall showed spatter-marks +of the bullets over a wider area, and had a body of +Teutons been before the factory, or even inside it, many of +them would have been accounted for, since there were several +holes in the wall through which Ned's bullets sped, carrying +potential death with them.</p> + +<p>"That's better!" shouted Tom. "That'll do the business! +Now I'm going to open her up, Ned!"</p> + +<p>"Open her up?" cried the young bank clerk, as he ceased +firing.</p> + +<p>"Yes; crack the wall of that factory as I would a nut! +Watch me take it on high—that is, if the old tank doesn't +go back on me!"</p> + +<p>"You mean you're going to ride right over that building, +Tom ?"</p> + +<p>"I mean I'm going to try! If Tank A does as I expect her +to, she'll butt into that wall, crush it down by force and +weight, and then waddle over the ruins. Watch!"</p> + +<p>Tom sent some signals to the motor room. At once there was +noticed an increase in the vibrations of the ponderous +machine.</p> + +<p>"They're giving her more speed," said Tom. "And I guess +we'll need it."</p> + +<p>Straight for the old factory went Tank A. In spite of its +ruined condition, some of the walls were still firm, and +seemed to offer a big obstacle to even so powerful an engine +of war as this monstrous tank.</p> + +<p>"Get ready now, Ned," Tom advised. "And when I crack her +open for you cut loose with the machine gun again. This gun +is supposed to fire straight ahead and a little to either +side. There are other guns at left and right, amidships, as +I might say, and there's also one in the stern, to take care +of any attack from that direction.</p> + +<p>"The men in charge of them will fire at the same time you +do, and it will be as near like a real attack as we can make +it—with the exception of not being fired back at. And I +wouldn't mind if such were the case, for I don't believe +anything, outside of heavy artillery, will have any effect +on this tank."</p> + +<p>Tank A was now almost at her maximum speed as she +approached closer to the deserted factory. Ned and Tom, in +the conning tower, saw the largest of the remaining walls +looming before them. Straight at it rushed the ponderous +machine, and the next moment there came a shock which almost +threw Ned away from his gun and back against the steel wall +behind him.</p> + +<p>"Hold fast!" cried Tom. "Here we go! Fire. Ned! Fire!"</p> + +<p>There was a crash as the blunt nose of the great war tank +hit the wall and crumpled it up.</p> + +<p>A great hole was made in the masonry, and what was not +crushed under the caterpillar belts of the tank fell in a +shower of bricks, stone and cement on top of the machine.</p> + +<p>Like a great hail storm the broken masonry pelted the +steel sides and top of the tank. But she felt them no more +than does an alligator the attacks of a colony of ants. +Right on through the dust the tank crushed her way. Added to +the noise of the falling walls was that of the machine guns, +which were barking away like a kennel of angry hounds eager +to be unleashed at the quarry.</p> + +<p>Ned kept his gun going until the heat of it warned him to +stop and let the barrel cool, or he knew he would jam some +of the mechanism. The other guns were firing, too, and the +bullets sent up little spatter points of dust as they hit.</p> + +<p>"Great jumping hoptoads!" yelled Ned above the riot of +racket outside and inside. "Feel her go, Tom!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, she's just chewing it up, all right!" cried the +young inventor, his eyes shining with delight.</p> + +<p>The tank had actually burst her way through the solid wall +of the old factory, permission to complete the demolition of +which Tom had secured from the owners. Then the great +machine kept right on. She fairly "walked" over the piles of +masonry, dipped down into what had been a basement, now +partly filled with debris, and kept on toward another wall.</p> + +<p>"I'm going through that, too!" cried Tom.</p> + +<p>And he did, knocking it down and sending his tank over the +piled-up ruins, while the machine guns barked, coughed and +spluttered, as Ned and the others inside the tank held back +the firing levers.</p> + +<p>Right through the opposite wall, as through the one she +had already demolished, the tank careened on her way, to +emerge, rather battered and dust-covered, on the other side +of what was left of the factory. And there was not much of +it left. Tank A had well-nigh completed its demolition.</p> + +<p>"If there'd been a nest of Germans in there," said Tom, as +he brought the machine to a stop in a field beyond the +factory, "they'd have gotten out in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"Or taken the consequences," added Ned, as he wiped the +sweat from his powder-blackened and oil-smeared face. "I +certainly kept my gun going."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and so did the others," reported one of the +mechanics, as he emerged from the "cubby hole," where the +great motors had now ceased their hum and roar.</p> + +<p>"How'd she stand it?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"All right inside," answered the man. "I was wondering how +she looks from the outside."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it would take more than that to damage her," said +Tom, with pardonable pride. "That was pie for her! Solid +concrete, which she may have to chew up on the Western +front, may present another kind of problem, but I guess +she'll be able to master that too. Well, let's have a look."</p> + +<p>He and Ned, with some of the crew and gunners, went +outside the tank. She was a sorry-looking sight, very +different from the trim appearance she had presented when +she first left the shop. Bricks, bits of stone, and piles of +broken cement in chunks and dust lay thick on her broad +back. But no real damage had been done, as a hasty +examination showed.</p> + +<p>"Well, are you satisfied, Tom?" asked his chum.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and more," was the answer. "Of course this wasn't +the hardest test to which she could have been submitted, but +it will do to show what punishment she can stand. Being shot +at from big guns is another matter. I'll have to wait until +she gets to Flanders to see what effect that will have. But +I know the kind of armor skin she has, and that doesn't +worry me. There's one thing more I want to do while I have +her out now."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Take her for a long trip cross country, and then shove +her through some extra heavy barbed wire. I'm certain she'll +chew that up, but I want to see it actually done. So now, if +you want to come along, Ned, we'll go cross country."</p> + +<p>"I'm with you!"</p> + +<p>"Get inside then. We'll let the dust and masonry blow and +rattle off as we go along."</p> + +<p>The tank started off across the fields, which stretched +for many miles on either side of the deserted factory, when +suddenly Ned, who was again at his post in the observation +tower, called:</p> + +<p>"Look, Tom!"</p> + +<p>"What at?"</p> + +<p>"That corner of the factory which is still standing. Look +at those men coming out and running away!"</p> + +<p>Ned pointed, and his chum, leaning over from the steering +wheel and controls, gave a start of surprise as he saw three +figures clambering down over the broken debris and making +their way out of what had once been a doorway.</p> + +<p>"Did they come out of the factory, Ned?"</p> + +<p>"They surely did! And unless I miss my guess they were in +it, or around it, when we went through like a fellow +carrying the football over the line for a touchdown."</p> + +<p>"In there when the tank broke open things?"</p> + +<p>"I think so. I didn't see them before, but they certainly +ran out as we started away."</p> + +<p>"This has got to be looked into!" decided Tom. "Come on, +Ned! It may be more of that spy business !"</p> + +<p>Tom Swift stopped the tank and prepared to get out</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XVI" id="Chapter_XVI" />Chapter XVI</h2> + +<h3>The Old Barn</h3> + + +<p>"There's no use chasing after 'em, Tom," observed Ned, as +the two chums stood side by side outside the tank and gazed +after the three men running off across the fields as fast as +they could go. "They've got too much a start of us."</p> + +<p>"I guess you're right, Ned," agreed Tom. "And we can't +very well pursue them in the tank. She goes a bit faster +than anything of her build, but a running man is more than a +match for her in a short distance. If I had the Hawk here, +there'd be a different story to tell."</p> + +<p>"Well, seeing that you haven't," replied Ned, suppose we +let them go—which we'll have to, whether we want to or not—and +see where they, were hiding and if they left any traces behind."</p> + +<p>"That's a good idea," returned Tom.</p> + +<p>The place whence the men had emerged was a portion of the +old factory farthest removed from the walls the tank had +crunched its way through. Consequently, that part was the +least damaged.</p> + +<p>Tom and Ned came to what seemed to have been the office of +the building when the factory was in operation. A door, from +which most of the glass had been broken, hung on one hinge, +and, pushing this open, the two chums found themselves in a +room that bore evidences of having been the bookkeeper's +department. There were the remains of cabinet files, and a +broken letter press, while in one corner stood a safe.</p> + +<p>"Maybe they were cracking that," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"They were wasting their time if they were," observed Tom, +"for the combination is broken—any one can open it," and he +demonstrated this by swinging back one of the heavy doors.</p> + +<p>A quantity of papers fell out, or what had been papers, +for they were now torn and the edges charred, as if by some +recent fire.</p> + +<p>"They were burning these!" cried Ned. "You can smell the +smoke yet. They came here to destroy some papers, and we +surprised them!"</p> + +<p>"I believe you're right," agreed Tom. "The ashes are still +warm." And he tested them with his hand. "They wanted to +destroy something, and when they found we were here they +clapped the blazing stuff into the safe, thinking it would +burn there.</p> + +<p>"But the closing of the doors cut off the supply of air +and the fire smouldered and went out. It burned enough so +that it didn't leave us very much in the way of evidence, +though," went on Tom ruefully, as he poked among the charred +scraps.</p> + +<p>"Maybe you can read some of 'em," suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>"Part of the writing is in German," Tom said, as he looked +over the mass. "I don't believe it would be worth while to +try it. Still, I can save it. Here, I'll sweep the stuff +into a box, and if we get a chance we can try to patch it +together," and finding a broken box in what had been the +factory office the young inventor managed to get into it the +charred remains of the papers.</p> + +<p>A further search failed to reveal anything that would be +useful in the way of evidence to determine what object the +three men could have had in hiding in the ruins, and Tom and +Ned returned to the tank.</p> + +<p>"What do you think about them, Tom?" asked Ned, as they +were about to start off once more for the cross-country +test.</p> + +<p>"Well, it seems like a silly thing to say—as if I +imagined my tank was all there was in this part of the +country to make trouble—but I believe those men had some +connection with Simpson and with that spy Schwen!"</p> + +<p>"I agree with you!" exclaimed Ned. "And I think if we +could get head or tail of those burned papers we'd find that +there was some correspondence there between the man I saw up +the tree and the workman you had arrested."</p> + +<p>"Too bad we weren't a bit quicker," commented Tom. "They +must have been in the factory when we charged it—probably +came there to be in seclusion while they talked, plotted and +planned. They must have been afraid to go out when the tank +was walking through the walls."</p> + +<p>"I guess that's it," agreed Ned. "Did you recognize any of +the men, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't see 'em as soon as you did, and when they +were running they had their backs toward me. Was Simpson +one?"</p> + +<p>"I can't be sure. If one was, I guess he'll think we are +keeping pretty closely after him, and he may give this part +of the country a wide berth."</p> + +<p>"I hope he does," returned Tom. "Do you know, Ned, I have +an idea that these fellows—Schwen Simpson, and those back +of them, including Blakeson—are trying to get hold of the +secret of my tank for the Germans."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't be surprised. But you've got it finished now, +haven't you? They can't get your patents away from you."</p> + +<p>"No, it isn't that," said Tom. "There are certain secrets +about the mechanism of the tank—the way I've increased the +speed and power, the use of the spanners, and things like +that—which would be useful for the Germans to know. I +wouldn't want them to find out these secrets, and they could +do that if they were in the tank a while, or had her in +their possession."</p> + +<p>"They couldn't do that, Tom—get possession of her—could +they?"</p> + +<p>"There's no telling. I'm going to be doubly on the watch. +That fellow Blakeson is in the pay of the plotters, I +believe. He has a big machine shop, and he might try to +duplicate my tank if he knew how she was made inside."</p> + +<p>"I see! That's why he was inquiring about a good +machinist, I suppose, though he'll be mightily surprised +when he learns it was you he was talking to the time your +Hawk met with the little mishap."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess maybe he will be a bit startled," agreed +Tom. "But I haven't seen him around lately, and maybe he has +given up."</p> + +<p>"Don't trust to that!" warned Ned.</p> + +<p>The tank was now progressing easily along over fields, +hesitating not at small or big ditches, flow going uphill +and now down, across a stretch of country thinly settled, +where even fences were a rarity. When they came to wooden +ones Tom had the workmen get out and take down the bars. Of +course the tank could have crushed them like toothpicks, but +Tom was mindful of the rights of farmers, and a broken fence +might mean strayed cows, or the letting of cattle into a +field of grain or corn, to the damage of both cattle and +fodder.</p> + +<p>"There's a barbed-wire fence," observed Ned, +as he pointed to one off some distance across the +field. "Why don't you try demolishing that?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it would be too easy! Besides, I don't want the +bother of putting it up again. When I make the barbed-wire +test I want some set up on heavy posts, and with many +strands, as it is in Flanders. Even that won't stop the +tank, but I'm anxious to see how she breaks up the wire and +supports—just what sort of a breach she makes. But I have a +different plan in mind now.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to try to find a wooden building we can charge +as we did the masonry factory. I want to smash up a barn, +and I'll have to pick out an old one for choice, for in +these war days we must conserve all we can, even old barns."</p> + +<p>"What's the idea of using a barn, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I want to test the tank under all sorts of +conditions—the same conditions she'll meet with on the +Western front. We've proved that a brick and stone factory +is no obstacle."</p> + +<p>"Then how could a flimsy wooden barn be?"</p> + +<p>"Well, that's just it. I don't think that it will, but it +may be that a barn when smashed will get tangled up in the +endless steel belts, and clog them so they'll jam. That's +the reason I want to try a wooden structure next."</p> + +<p>"Do you know where to find one?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; about a mile from here is one I've had my eyes on +ever since I began constructing the tank. I don't know who +owns it, but it's such a ramshackle affair that he can't +object to having it knocked into kindling wood for him. If +he does holler, I can pay him for the damage done. So now +for a barn, Ned, unless you're getting tired and want to go +back?"</p> + +<p>"I should say not! Speaking of barns, I'm with you till +the cows come home! Want any more machine gun work?"</p> + +<p>"No, I guess not. This barn isn't particularly isolated, +and the shooting might scare horses and cattle. We can smash +things up without the guns."</p> + +<p>The tank was going on smoothly when suddenly there was a +lurch to one side, and the great machine quickly swung about +in a circle.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" cried Ned. "What's up now? Some new stunt?"</p> + +<p>"Must be something wrong," answered the young inventor. +"One of the belts has stopped working. That's why we're +going in a circle."</p> + +<p>He shut off the power and hastened down to the motor room. +There he found his men gathered about one of the machines.</p> + +<p>"What's wrong?" asked Tom quickly.</p> + +<p>"Just a little accident," replied the head machinist. "One +of the boys dropped his monkey wrench and it smashed some +spark plugs. That caused a short circuit and the left hand +motor went out of business. We'll have her fixed in a +jiffy."</p> + +<p>Tom looked relieved, and the machinist was as good as his +word. In a few minutes the tank was moving forward again. It +crossed out to the road, to the great astonishment of some +farmers, and the fright of their horses, and then Tom once +more swung her into the fields.</p> + +<p>"There's the old barn I spoke of," he remarked to Ned. +"It's almost as bad a ruin as the factory was. But we'll +have a go at it."</p> + +<p>"Going to smash it?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"I'm going right through it!" Tom cried</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XVII" id="Chapter_XVII" />Chapter XVII</h2> + +<h3>Veiled Threats</h3> + + +<p>Like some prehistoric monster about to charge down upon +another of its kind, Tank A, under the guidance of Tom +Swift, reeled and bumped her way over the uneven fields +toward the old barn. Within the monster of steel and iron +were raucous noises: the clang and clatter of the powerful +gasolene motors; the rattle of the wheels and gears; all +making so much noise that, in the engine room proper, not a +word could be heard. Every order had to be given by signs, +and Tom sent his electric signals from the conning tower in +the same way. When running at full speed, it was almost +impossible, even in the tower, which was some distance +removed from the engine room, to hear voices unless the +words were shouted.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you go at it?" cried Ned to his "friend, who +was peering through the observation slot in the tower."</p> + +<p>"I'm getting in good position," Tom answered. "Or rather, +the worst position I can find. I want to give the tank a +good try-out, and I'm going at the barn on the assumption +that this is in enemy country and that I can't pick and +choose my advance.</p> + +<p>"So I want to come up through that gully, and go at the +barn from the long way. That will be the worst possible way +I could do it, and if old Tank A stands the gaff I'll know +she's a little bit nearer all right."</p> + +<p>"I think she's all right as she is!" asserted Ned in a +yell, for just then Tom signaled for more speed, and the +consequent increase in the rattling and banging noises made +it correspondingly difficult for talk to be heard.</p> + +<p>The big machine now tipped into the little gully spoken of +by Tom. This meant a dip downward, and then a climb out +again and an attack on the barn going uphill and at an +angle. But, as the young inventor had said, it would make a +severe test and that was what he wanted to give his +ponderous machine.</p> + +<p>Ned grasped one of the safety rings, as, with a reel to +one side, almost as if it were going to capsize, the tank +rumbled on. Tom cast a half-amused smile at his chum, and +then threw over the guiding lever.</p> + +<p>The tank rolled down into the gully. It was rough and +filled with stones and boulders, some of considerable size. +But Tank A made less than nothing even of the largest rocks. +Some she crushed beneath her steel belts. Others she simply +"walked" over, smashing them down into the soil.</p> + +<p>Now the big machine reached the bottom of the gulch and +started up the sides, which, though not as steep as the +trench in which she had capsized, still were not easy going.</p> + +<p>"Now for it!" cried Tom, as he signaled for full speed.</p> + +<p>Up climbed the tank. Now she was halfway. A moment later, +and she was at the top, and then a forward careening motion +told that she had passed over the summit and was ready for +the attack proper.</p> + +<p>Ned gave a quick glance through the slot nearest him. He +had a glimpse of the barn, and then he saw something else. +This was the sight of a man running away from the +dilapidated structure—a man who glanced toward the tank +with a face that showed great fright.</p> + +<p>"Stop! Stop!" yelled Ned. "There may be folks in there, +Tom! I just saw a man run out!"</p> + +<p>"All right!" Tom cried, though Ned could hardly hear him. +"Tell me when we get on the other side! We're going through +now!"</p> + +<p>"But," shouted Ned, "don't you understand? I saw a man +come out of there! Maybe there's more inside! Wait, Tom, +and—"</p> + +<p>But it was too late. The next instant there was a +smashing, grinding, splintering crash, a noise as of a +thunder-clap, and Tank A fairly ate her way through the old +barn as a rat might eat his way into a soft cheese, only +infinitely more quickly.</p> + +<p>On and on and through and through went the tank, knocking +beams, boards, rafters and timbers hither and thither. +Minding not at all the weight of great beams on her back, +caring nothing for those that got in the way of her steel +belts, heeding not the wall of wood that reared itself +before her in a barrier of splinters and slivers, Tank A +went on and on until finally, with another grinding crash, +as she smashed her way through the farthermost wall, the +great engine of war emerged on the other side and came +panting into the field, dragging with her a part of the +structure clinging to her steel sides.</p> + +<p>"Well," cried Tom, with a laugh, as he signaled for the +power to be shut off, thereby making it possible for +ordinary conversation to be heard, "I guess we didn't do a +thing to that barn!"</p> + +<p>"Not much left of it, for a fact, Tom," agreed Ned, as he +looked through the after observation slots at the ruin in +the rear. "But didn't you hear what I was saying?"</p> + +<p>"I heard you yelling something to me, but I was too +anxious to go at it as fast as I could. I didn't want to +stop then. What was the trouble?"</p> + +<p>"That's what I'm afraid of, Tom—there may be trouble. +Just before you tackled the barn for a knockdown, instead of +a touchdown, as we might say, I saw a man running out of it. +I thought if there was one there, perhaps there might be +more. That's why I yelled to you."</p> + +<p>"A man running from the old barn!" cried Tom. "Whew!" he +whistled. "I wish I had seen him. But, Ned, if one ran out +of harm's way, any others who might possibly be in there +would do the same thing, wouldn't they?"</p> + +<p>"I hope so," returned Ned doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Great Scott!" cried Tom, as the possibility was borne +home to him. "If anything has happened—"</p> + +<p>He sprang for the door of the tower and threw over the +catch, springing out, followed by Ned. From the engine room +of the armored tank the men came, smiles of gratification on +their faces.</p> + +<p>"We certainly busted her wide open, Mr. Swift!" called the +chief mechanician.</p> + +<p>"Yes," assented the young inventor; but there was not as +much gratification in his voice as there should have been. +"There isn't much of a barn left, but Ned thinks he saw some +one run out, and if there was one man there may have been +more. We'd better have a look around, I guess."</p> + +<p>The engineering force exchanged glances. Then Hank +Baldwin, who was in charge of the motors, said:</p> + +<p>"Well, if there was anybody in that barn when we chewed +her up I wouldn't give much for his hide, German or not."</p> + +<p>"Let us hope no one was in there," murmured Tom.</p> + +<p>They turned to go back to the demolished structure, fear +and worry in their hearts. No more complete ruin could be +imagined. If a cyclone had swept over the barn it could not +have more certainly leveled it. And, not only was it +leveled, crushed down in the center by the great weight of +the tank, but the boards and beams were broken into small +pieces. Parts of them clung in long, grotesque splinters to +the endless steel belts.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how we're going to find anybody if he's in +there," remarked Hank.</p> + +<p>"We'll have to," insisted Tom. "We can look about and +call. If any one is there he may have been off to one side +or to one end, and be protected under the debris. I wish I +had heard you call, Ned."</p> + +<p>"I wish you had, Tom. I yelled for all I was worth."</p> + +<p>"I know you did. I was too eager to go on, and, at the +same time, I really couldn't stop well on that hill. I had +to keep on going. Well, now to learn the worst!"</p> + +<p>They walked back toward the demolished barn. But they had +not reached it when from around the corner swung a big +automobile. In it were several men, but chief, in vision at +least, among them, was a burly farmer who had a long, +old-fashioned gun in his hands. On his bearded face was a grim +look as he leaped out before the machine had fairly stopped, +and called:</p> + +<p>"Hold on, there! I guess you've done damage enough! Now +you can pay for it or take the consequences!" And he +motioned to Tom, Ned, and the others to halt.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XVIII" id="Chapter_XVIII" />Chapter XVIII</h2> + +<h3>Ready for France</h3> + + +<p>Such was the reaction following the crashing through of +the barn, coupled with the sudden appearance of the men in +the automobile and the threat of the farmer, that, for the +moment, Tom, Ned, or their companions from the tank could +say nothing. They just stood staring at the farmer with the +gun, while he grimly regarded them. It was Tom who spoke +first.</p> + +<p>"What's the idea?" asked the young inventor. "Why don't +you want us to look through the ruins?"</p> + +<p>"You'll learn soon enough!" was the grim answer.</p> + +<p>But Tom was not to be put off with undecided talk.</p> + +<p>"If there's been an accident," he said, "we're sorry for +it. But delay may be dangerous. If some one is hurt—"</p> + +<p>"You'll be hurt, if I have my way about it!" snapped the +farmer, "and hurt in a place where it always tells. I mean +your pocketbook! That's the kind of a man I am—practical."</p> + +<p>"He means if we've killed or injured any one we'll have to +pay damages," whispered Ned to Tom. "But don't agree to +anything until you see your lawyer. That's a hot one, +though, trying to claim damages before he knows who's hurt!"</p> + +<p>"I've got to find out more about this," Tom answered. He +started to walk on.</p> + +<p>"No you don't!" cried the farmer, with a snarl. "As I +said, you folks has done damage enough with your threshing +machine, or whatever you call it. Now you've got to pay!"</p> + +<p>"We are willing to," said Tom, as courteously as he could. +"But first we want to know who has been hurt, or possibly +killed. Don't you think it best to get them to a doctor, and +then talk about money damages later?"</p> + +<p>"Doctor? Hurt?" cried the farmer, the other men in the +auto saying nothing. "Who said anything about that?"</p> + +<p>"I thought," began Tom, "that you—"</p> + +<p>"I'm talkin' about damages to my barn!" cried the farmer. +"You had no right to go smashing it up this way, and you've +got to pay for it, or my name ain't Amos Kanker!"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" and there was great relief in Tom's voice. "Then we +haven't killed any one?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you've done," answered the farmer, and +his voice was not a pleasant one. "I'm sure I can't keep +track of all your ructions. All I know is that you've ruined +my barn, and you've got to pay for it, and pay good, too!"</p> + +<p>"For that old ramshackle?" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"Hush!" begged Tom, in a low voice. "I'm willing to pay, +Ned, for the sake of having proved what my tank could do. +I'm only too glad to learn no one was hurt. Was there?" he +asked, turning to the farmer.</p> + +<p>"Was there what?"</p> + +<p>"Was there anybody in your barn?"</p> + +<p>"Not as I knows on," was the grouchy answer. "A man who +saw your machine coming thought she was headed for my +building, and he run and told me. Then some friends of mine +brought me here in their machine. I tell you I've got all +the evidence I need ag'in you, an' I'm going to have +damages! That barn was worth three thousand dollars if it +was worth a cent, and—"</p> + +<p>"This matter can easily be settled," said Tom, trying to +keep his temper. "My name is Swift, and—"</p> + +<p>"Don't get swift with me, that's all I ask!" and the +farmer laughed grimly at his clumsy joke.</p> + +<p>"I'll do whatever is right," Tom said, with dignity. "I +live over near Shopton, and if you want to send your lawyer +to see mine, why—"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe in lawyers!" broke in the farmer. "All +they think of is to get what they can for theirselves. And I +can do that myself. I'll get it out of you before you leave, +or, anyhow, before you take your contraption away," and he +glanced at the tank.</p> + +<p>The same suspicion came at once to Tom and Ned, and the +latter gave voice to it when he murmured in a low voice to +his chum:</p> + +<p>"This is a frame-up—a scheme, Tom. He doesn't care a rap +for the barn. It's some of that Blakeson's doing, to make +trouble for you."</p> + +<p>"I believe you!" agreed Tom. "Now I know what to do."</p> + +<p>He looked toward the collapsed barn, as if making a mental +computation of its value, and then turned toward the farmer.</p> + +<p>"I'm very sorry," said Tom, "if I have caused any trouble. +I wanted to test my machine out on a wooden structure, and I +picked your barn. I suppose I should have come to you first, +but I did not want to waste time. I saw the barn was of +practically no value."</p> + +<p>"No value!" broke in the farmer. "Well, I'll show you, +young man, that you can't play fast and loose with other +people's property and not settle!"</p> + +<p>"I'm perfectly willing to, Mr. Kanker. I could see that +the barn was almost ready to fall, and I had already +determined, before sending my tank through it, to pay the +owner any reasonable sum. I am willing to do that now."</p> + +<p>"Well, of course if you're so ready to do that," replied +the farmer, and Ned thought he caught a glance pass between +him and one of the men in the auto, "if you're ready to do +that, just hand over three thousand dollars, and we'll call +it a day's work. It's really worth more, but I'll say three +thousand for a quick settlement."</p> + +<p>"Why, this barn," cried Ned, "isn't worth half that! I +know something about real estate values, for our bank makes +loans on farms around here—"</p> + +<p>"Your bank ain't made me no loans, young man!" snapped Mr. +Kanker. "I don't need none. My place is free and clear! And +three thousand dollars is the price of my barn you've +knocked to smithereens. If you don't want to pay, I'll find +a way to make you. And I'll hold you, or your tank, as you +call it, security for my damages! You can take your choice +about that."</p> + +<p>"You can't hold us!" cried Tom. "Such things aren't done +here!"</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I'll hold your tank!" cried the farmer. "I +guess it'll sell for pretty nigh onto what you owe me, +though what it's good for I can't see. So you pay me three +thousand dollars or leave your machine here as security."</p> + +<p>"That's the game!" whispered Ned. "There's some plot here. +They want to get possession of your tank, Tom, and they've +seized on this chance to do it."</p> + +<p>"I believe you," agreed the young inventor. "Well, they'll +find that two can play at that game. Mr. Kanker," he went +on, "it is out of the question to claim your barn is worth +three thousand dollars."</p> + +<p>"Oh, is it?" sneered the farmer. "Well, I didn't ask you +to come here and make kindling wood of it! That was your +doings, and you've had your fun out of it. Now you can pay +the piper, and I'm here to make you pay!" And he brought the +gun around in a menacing manner.</p> + +<p>"He's right, in a way," said Ned to his chum. "We should +have secured his permission first. He's got us in a corner, +and almost any jury of farmers around here, after they heard +the story of the smashed barn, would give him heavy damages. +It isn't so much that the barn is worth that as it is his +property rights that we've violated. A farmer's barn is his +castle, so to speak."</p> + +<p>"I guess you're right," agreed Tom, with a rather rueful +face. "But I'm not going to hand him over three thousand +dollars. In fact, I haven't that much with me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, I don't suppose he'd want it all in cash."</p> + +<p>But, it appeared, that was just what the farmer wanted. He +went over all his arguments again, and it could not be +denied that he had the law on his side. As he rightly said, +Tom could not expect to go about the country, "smashing up +barns and such like," without being willing to pay.</p> + +<p>"Well, what you going to do?" asked the farmer at last. "I +can't stay here all day. I've got work to do. I can't go +around smashing barns. I want three thousand dollars, or +I'll hold your contraption for security."</p> + +<p>This last he announced with more conviction after he had +had a talk with one of the men in the automobile. And it was +this consultation that confirmed Tom and Ned in their belief +that the whole thing was a plot, growing out of Tom's rather +reckless destruction of the barn; a plot on the part of +Blakeson and his gang. That they had so speedily taken +advantage of this situation carelessly given them was only +another evidence of how closely they were on Tom's trail.</p> + +<p>"That man who ran out of the barn must have been the same +one who was in the factory," whispered Ned to his chum. "He +probably saw us coming this way and ran on ahead to have the +farmer all primed in readiness. Maybe he knew you had +planned to ram the barn."</p> + +<p>"Maybe he did. I've had it in mind for some time, and +spoken to some of my men about it."</p> + +<p>"More traitors in camp, then, I'm afraid, Tom. We'll have +to do some more detective work. But let's get this thing +settled. He only wants to hold your tank, and that will give +the man, into whose hands he's playing, a chance to inspect +her."</p> + +<p>"I believe you. But if I have to leave her here I'll leave +some men on guard inside. It won't be any worse than being +stalled in No Man's Land. In fact, it won't be so bad. But +I'll do that rather than be gouged."</p> + +<p>"No, Tom, you won't. If you did leave some one on guard, +there'd be too much chance of their getting the best of him. +You must take your tank away with you."</p> + +<p>"But how can I? I can't put up three thousand dollars in +cash, and he says he won't take a check for fear I'll stop +payment. I see his game, but I don't see how to block it."</p> + +<p>"But I do!" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Tom. "You don't mean to say, even if you +do work in a bank, that you've got three thousand in cash +concealed about your person, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty nearly, Tom, or what is just as good. I have that +amount in Liberty Bonds. I was going to deliver them to a +customer who has ordered them but not paid for them. They +are charged up against me at the bank, but I'm good for +that, I guess. Now I'll loan you these bonds, and you can +give them to this cranky old farmer as security for damages. +Mind, don't make them as a payment. They're simply security—the +same as when an autoist leaves his car as bail. Only we +don't want to leave our car, we'd rather have it with us," +and he looked over at the tank, bristling with splinters +from the demolished barn.</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess that's the only way out," said Tom. "Lucky +you had those bonds with you. I'll take them, and give you a +receipt for them. In fact, I'll buy them from you and let +the farmer hold them as security."</p> + +<p>And this, eventually, was done. After much hemming and +hawing and consultation with the men in the automobile, Mr. +Kanker said he would accept the bonds. It was made clear +that they were not in payment of any damages, though Tom +admitted he was liable for some, but that Uncle Sam's war +securities were only a sort of bail, given to indicate that, +some time later, when a jury had passed on the matter, the +young inventor would pay Mr. Kanker whatever sum was agreed +upon as just.</p> + +<p>"And now," said Tom, as politely as he could under the +circumstances, "I suppose we will be allowed to depart."</p> + +<p>"Yes, take your old shebang offen my property!" ordered +Mr. Kanker, with no very good grace. "And if you go knocking +down any more barns, I'll double the price on you!"</p> + +<p>"I guess he's a bit roiled because he couldn't hold the +tank," observed Ned to Tom, as they walked together to the +big machine. "His friends—our enemies—evidently hoped +that was what could be done. They want to get at some of the +secrets."</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," conceded Tom. "Well, we're out of that, +and I've proved all I want to."</p> + +<p>"But I haven't—quite," said Ned.</p> + +<p>"What's missing?" asked his chum, as they got back in the +tank.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'd like to make sure that the fellow who ran from +the factory was the same one I saw sneaking out of the barn. +I believe he was, and I believe that Simpson's crowd +engineered this whole thing."</p> + +<p>"I believe so, too," Tom agreed. "The next thing is to +prove it. But that will keep until later. The main thing is +we've got our tank, and now I'm going to get her ready for +France."</p> + +<p>"Will she be in shape to ship soon?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes, if nothing more happens. I've got a few little +changes and adjustments to make, and then she'll be ready +for the last test—one of long distance endurance mainly. +After that, apart she comes to go to the front, and we'll +begin making 'em in quantities here and on the other side."</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried Ned. "Down with the Huns!"</p> + +<p>Without further incident of moment they went back to the +headquarters of the tank, and soon the great machine was +safe in the shop where she had been made.</p> + +<p>The next two weeks were busy ones for Tom, and in them he +put the finishing touches on his machine, gave it a long +test over fields and through woods, until finally he +announced:</p> + +<p>"She's as complete as I can make her! She's ready for +France!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XIX" id="Chapter_XIX" />Chapter XIX</h2> + +<h3>Tom is Missing</h3> + + +<p>With Tom Swift's announcement, that his tank was at last +ready for real action, came the end of the long nights and +days given over on the part of his father, himself, and his +men to the development and refinement of the machine, to +getting plans and specifications ready so that the tanks +could be made quickly and in large numbers in this country +and abroad and to the actual building of Tank A. Now all +this was done at last, and the first completed tank was +ready to be shipped.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the matter of the demolished barn had been left +for legal action. Tom and Ned, it developed, had done the +proper thing under the circumstances, and they were sure +they had foiled at least one plan of the plotters.</p> + +<p>"But they won't stop there," declared Ned, who had +constituted himself a sort of detective. "They're lying back +and waiting for another chance, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Well, they won't get it at my tank!" declared the young +inventor, with a smile. "I've finished testing her on the +road. All I need do now is to run her around this place if I +have to; and there won't be much need of that before she's +taken apart for shipment. Did you get any trace of Simpson +or the men who are with him—Blakeson and the others?"</p> + +<p>"No," Ned answered. "I've been nosing around about that +farmer, Kanker, but I can't get anything out of him. For all +that, I'm sure he was egged on to his hold-up game by some +of your enemies. Everything points that way."</p> + +<p>"I think you're right," agreed Tom. "Well, we won't bother +any more about him. When the trial comes on, I'll pay what +the jury says is right. It'll be worth it, for I proved that +Tank A can eat up brick, stone or wooden buildings and not +get indigestion. That's what I set out to do. So don't worry +any more about it, Ned."</p> + +<p>"I'm not worrying, but I'd like to get the best of those +fellows. The idea of asking three thousand dollars for a +shell of a barn!"</p> + +<p>"Never mind," replied Tom. "We'll come out all right."</p> + +<p>Now that the Liberty Loan drive had somewhat slackened, +Ned had more leisure time, and he spent parts of his days +and not a few of his evenings at Tom Swift's. Mr. Damon was +also a frequent visitor, and he never tired of viewing the +tank. Every chance he got, when they tested the big machine +in the large field, so well fenced in, the eccentric man was +on hand, with his "bless my—!" whatever happened to come +most readily to his mind.</p> + +<p>Tom, now that his invention was well-nigh perfected, was +not so worried about not having the tank seen, even at close +range, and the enclosure was not so strictly guarded.</p> + +<p>This in a measure was disappointing to Eradicate, who +liked the importance of strutting about with a nickel shield +pinned to his coat, to show that he was a member of the +Swift & Company plant. As for the giant Koku, he really +cared little what he did, so long as he pleased Tom, for +whom be had an affection that never changed. Koku would as +soon sit under a shady tree doing nothing as watch for spies +or traitors, of whose identity he was never sure.</p> + +<p>So it came that there was not so strict a guard about the +place, and Tom and Ned had more time to themselves. Not that +the young inventor was not busy, for the details of shipping +Tank A to France came to him, as did also the arrangements +for making others in this country and planning for the +manufacture abroad.</p> + +<p>It was one evening, after a particularly hard day's work, +when Tom had been making a test in turning the tank in a +small space in the enclosed yard, that the two young men +were sitting in the machine shop, discussing various +matters.</p> + +<p>The telephone bell rang, and Ned, being nearest, answered.</p> + +<p>"It's for you, Tom," he said, and there was a smile on the +face of the young bank clerk.</p> + +<p>"Um!" murmured Tom, and he smiled also.</p> + +<p>Ned could not repress more smiles as Tom took up the +conversation over the wire, and it did not take long for the +chum of the youthful inventor to verify his guess that Mary +Nestor was at the other end of the instrument.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," Tom was heard to say. "Why, of course, I'll be +glad to come over. Yes, he's here. What? Bring him along? I +will if he'll come. Oh, tell him Helen is there! 'Nough +said! He'll come, all right!"</p> + +<p>And Tom, without troubling to consult his friend, hung up +the receiver.</p> + +<p>"What's that you're committing me to?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mary wants us to come over and spend the evening. +Helen Sever is there, and they say we can take them downtown +if we like."</p> + +<p>"I guess we like," laughed Ned. "Come along! We've had +enough of musty old problems," for he had been helping Tom +in some calculations regarding strength of materials and the +weight-bearing power of triangularly constructed girders as +compared to the arched variety.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess it will do us good to get out," and the two +friends were soon on their way.</p> + +<p>"What's this?" asked Mary, with a laugh, as Tom held out a +package tied with pink string. "More dynamite?" she added, +referring to an incident which had once greatly perturbed +the excitable Mr. Nestor.</p> + +<p>"If she doesn't want it, perhaps Helen will take it," +suggested Ned, with a twinkle in his eyes. "Halloran said +they were just in fresh—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you delightful boy!" cried Helen. "I'm just dying for +some chocolates! Let me open them, Mary, if you're afraid of +dynamite."</p> + +<p>"The only powder in them," said Tom, "is the powdered +sugar. That can't blow you up."</p> + +<p>And then the young people made merry, Tom, for the time +being, forgetting all about his tank.</p> + +<p>It was rather late when the two young men strolled back +toward the Swift home, Ned walking that way with his chum. +Tom started out in the direction of the building where the +tank was housed,</p> + +<p>"Going to have a good-night look at her?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well, I want to make sure the watchman is on guard. We'll +begin taking her apart in a few days, and I don't want +anything to happen between now and then."</p> + +<p>They walked on toward the big structure, and, as they +approached from the side, they were both startled to see a +dark shadow—at least so it seemed to the youths—dart away +from one of the windows.</p> + +<p>"Look!" gasped Ned.</p> + +<p>"Hello, there!" cried Tom sharply. "Who's that? Who are +you?"</p> + +<p>There was no answer, and then the fleeing shadow was +merged in the other blackness of the night.</p> + +<p>"Maybe it was the watchman making his rounds," suggested +Ned.</p> + +<p>"No," answered Tom, as he broke into a run. "If it was, +he'd have answered. There's something wrong here!"</p> + +<p>But he could find nothing when he reached the window from +which he and Ned had seen the shadow dart. An examination by +means of a pocket electric light betrayed nothing wrong with +the sash, and if there were footprints beneath the casement +they indicated nothing, for that side of the factory was one +frequently used by the workmen.</p> + +<p>Tom went into the building, and, for a time, could not +find the watchman. When he did come upon the man, he found +him rubbing his eyes sleepily, and acting as though he had +just awakened from a nap.</p> + +<p>"This isn't any way to be on duty!" said Tom sharply. +"You're not paid for sleeping!"</p> + +<p>"I know it, Mr. Swift," was the apologetic answer. "I +don't know what's come over me to-night. I never felt so +sleepy in all my life. I had my usual sleep this afternoon, +too, and I've drunk strong coffee to keep awake."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure you didn't drink anything else?"</p> + +<p>"You know I'm a strict temperance man."</p> + +<p>"I know you are," said Tom; "but I thought maybe you might +have a cold, or something like that."</p> + +<p>"No, I haven't taken a thing. I did have a drink of soda +water before I came on duty, but that's all."</p> + +<p>"Where'd you get it?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, a man treated me."</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know his name. He met me on the street and asked +me how to get to Plowden's hardware store. I showed +him—walked part of the way, in fact—and when I left he said he +was going to have some soda, and asked me to have some. I +did, and it tasted good."</p> + +<p>"Well, don't go to sleep again," suggested Tom good-naturedly. +"Did you hear anything at the side window a while ago?"</p> + +<p>"Not a thing, Mr. Swift. I'll be all right now. I'll take +a turn outside in the air."</p> + +<p>"All right," assented the young inventor.</p> + +<p>Then, as he turned to go into the house and was bidding +Ned good-night, Tom said:</p> + +<p>"I don't like this."</p> + +<p>"What?" asked his chum.</p> + +<p>"My sleepy watchman and the figure at the window. I more +than half suspect that one of Blakeson's tools followed Kent +for the purpose of buying him soda, only I think they might +have put a drop or two of chloral in it before he got it. +That would make him sleep."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Put another man on guard. If they think they can get into +the factory at night, and steal my plans, or get ideas from +my tank, I'll fool 'em. I'll have another man on guard."</p> + +<p>This Tom did, also telling Koku to sleep in the place, to +be ready if called. But there was no disturbance that night, +and the next day the work of completing the tank went on +with a rush,</p> + +<p>It was a day or so after this, and Tom had fixed on it as +the time for taking the big machine apart for shipment, that +Ned received a telephone message at the bank from Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Is Tom Swift over with you?" inquired the eccentric man.</p> + +<p>"No. Why?" Ned answered.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm at his shop, and he isn't here. His father says +he received a message from you a little while ago, saying to +come over in a hurry, and he went. Says you told him to meet +you out at that farmer Kanker's place. I thought maybe—"</p> + +<p>"At Kanker's place!" cried Ned. "Say, something's wrong, +Mr. Damon! Isn't Tom there?"</p> + +<p>"No; I'm at his home, and he's been gone for some time. +His father supposed he was with you. I thought I would +telephone to make sure."</p> + +<p>"Whew!" whistled Ned. "There's something doing here, all +right, and something wrong! I'll be right over!" he added, +as he hung up the receiver.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XX" id="Chapter_XX" />Chapter XX</h2> + +<h3>The Search</h3> + + +<p>"Haven't you seen anything of him?" asked Mr. Damon, as +Ned jumped out of his small runabout at the Swift home as +soon as possible after receiving the telephone message that +seemed to presage something wrong.</p> + +<p>"Seen him? No, certainly not!" answered the young bank +clerk. "I'm as much surprised as you are over it. What +happened, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>"Bless my memorandum pad, but I hardly know!" answered the +eccentric man. "I arrived here a little while ago, stopping +in merely to pay Tom a visit, as I often do, and he wasn't +here. His father was anxiously waiting for him, too, wishing +to consult him about some shop matters. Mr. Swift said Tom +had gone out with you, or over to your house—I wasn't quite +sure which at first—and was expected back any minute.</p> + +<p>"Then I called you up," went on Mr. Damon, "and I was +surprised to learn you hadn't seen Tom. There must be +something wrong, I think."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure of it!" exclaimed Ned. "Let's find Mr. Swift. +And what's this about his going to meet me over at the place +of that farmer, Mr. Kanker, where we had the trouble about +the barn Tom demolished?"</p> + +<p>"I hardly know, myself. Perhaps Mr. Swift can tell us."</p> + +<p>But Mr. Swift was able to throw but little light on Tom's +disappearance—whether a natural or forced disappearance +remained to be seen.</p> + +<p>"No matter where he is, we'll get him," declared Ned. "He +hasn't been away a great while, and it may turn out that his +absence is perfectly natural."</p> + +<p>"And if it's due to the plots of any of his rivals," said +Mr. Damon, "I'll denounce them all as traitors, bless my +insurance policy, if I don't! And that's what they are! +They're playing into the hands of the enemy!"</p> + +<p>"All right," said Ned. "But the thing to do now is to get +Tom. Perhaps Mrs. Baggert can help us."</p> + +<p>It developed that the housekeeper was of more assistance +in giving information than was Mr. Swift.</p> + +<p>"It was several hours ago," she said, "that the telephone +rang and some one asked for Tom. The operator shifted the +call to the phone out in the tank shop where he was, and Tom +began to talk. The operator, as Tom had instructed her, +listened in, as Tom wants always a witness to most matters +that go on over his wires of late."</p> + +<p>"What did she hear?" asked Ned eagerly.</p> + +<p>"She heard what she thought was your voice, I believe," +the housekeeper said.</p> + +<p>"Me!" cried the young bank clerk. "I haven't talked to Tom +to-day, over the phone or any other way. But what next?"</p> + +<p>"Well, the operator didn't listen much after that, knowing +that any talk between Tom and you was of a nature not to +need a witness. Tom hung up and then he came in here, quite +excited, and began to get ready to go out."</p> + +<p>"What was he excited about?" asked Mr. Damon. "Bless my +unlucky stars, but a person ought to keep calm under such +circumstances! That's the only way to do! Keep calm! Great +Scott! But if I had my way, all those German spies would be—Oh, +pshaw! Nothing is too bad for them! It makes my blood +boil when I think of what they've done! Tom should have kept +cool!"</p> + +<p>"Go on. What was Tom excited about?" Ned turned to the +housekeeper.</p> + +<p>"Well, he said you had called him to tell him to meet you +over at that farmer's place," went on Mrs. Baggert. "He said +you had some news for him about the men who had tried to get +hold of some of his tank secrets, and he was quite worked up +over the chance of catching the rascals."</p> + +<p>"Whew!" whistled Ned. "This is getting more complicated +every minute. There's something deep here, Mr. Damon."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, Ned. And the sooner we find Tom Swift +the better. What next, Mrs. Baggert?"</p> + +<p>"Well, Tom got ready and went away in his small +automobile. He said he'd be back as soon as he could after +meeting you."</p> + +<p>"And I never said a word to him!" cried Ned. "It's all a +plot—a scheme of that Blakeson gang to get him into their +power. Oh, how could Tom be so fooled? He knows my voice, +over the phone as well as otherwise. I don't see how he +could be taken in."</p> + +<p>"Let's ask the telephone operator," suggested Mr. Damon. +"She knows your voice, too. Perhaps she can give us a clew."</p> + +<p>A talk with the young woman at the telephone switchboard +in the Swift plant brought out a new point. This was that +the speaker, in response to whose information Tom Swift had +left home, had not said he was Ned Newton.</p> + +<p>"He said," reported Miss Blair, "that he was speaking for +you, Mr. Newton, as you were busy in the bank. Whoever it +was, said you wanted Tom to meet you at the Kanker farm. I +heard that much over the wire, and naturally supposed the +message came from you."</p> + +<p>"Well, that puts a little different face on it," said Mr. +Damon. "Tom wasn't deceived by the voice, then, for he must +have thought it was some one speaking for you, Ned."</p> + +<p>"But the situation is serious, just the same," declared +Ned. "Tom has gone to keep an appointment I never made, and +the question is with whom will he keep it?"</p> + +<p>"That's it!" cried the eccentric man. "Probably some of +those scoundrels were waiting at the farm for him, and +they've got him no one knows where by this time!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, hardly as bad as that," suggested Ned. "Tom is able +to look out for himself. He'd put up a big fight before he'd +permit himself to be carried off."</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you think did happen?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I think they wanted to get him out to the farm to see if +they couldn't squeeze some more money out of him," was the +answer. "Tom was pretty easy in that barn business, and I +guess Kanker was sore because he haven't asked a larger sum. +They knew Tom wouldn't come out on their own invitation, so +they forged my name, so to speak."</p> + +<p>"Can you get Tom back?" asked Mrs. Baggert anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Of course!" declared Ned, though it must be admitted he +spoke with more confidence than he really felt. "We'll begin +the search right away."</p> + +<p>"And if I can get my hands on any of those villains—" +spluttered Mr. Damon, dancing around, as Mrs. Baggert said, +"like a hen on a hot griddle," which seemed to describe him +very well, "if I can get hold of any of those scoundrels, +I'll—I'll—Bless my collar button, I don't know what I +will do! Come on, Ned!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess we'd better get busy," agreed the young bank +clerk. "Tom has gone somewhere, that's certain, and under a +misapprehension. It may be that we are needlessly alarmed, +or they may mean bad business. At any rate, it's up to us to +find Tom."</p> + +<p>In Ned's runabout, which was a speedier car than that of +the eccentric man, the two set off for Kanker's farm. On the +way they stopped at various places in town, where Tom was in +the habit of doing business, to inquire if he had been seen.</p> + +<p>But there was no trace of him. The next thing to do was to +learn if he had really started for the Kanker farm.</p> + +<p>"For if he didn't go there," suggested Ned, "it will look +funny for us to go out there making inquiries about him. And +it may be that after he got that message Tom decided not to +go."</p> + +<p>Accordingly they made enough inquiries to establish the +fact that Tom had started for the farm of the rascally +Kanker, who had been so insistent in the matter of his +almost worthless barn.</p> + +<p>A number of people who knew Tom well had seen him pass in +the direction of Kanker's place, and some had spoken to him, +for the young inventor was well known in the vicinity of +Shopton and the neighboring towns.</p> + +<p>"Well, out to Kanker's we'll go!" decided Ned. "And if +anything has happened to Tom there—well, we'll make whoever +is responsible wish it hadn't!"</p> + +<p>"Bless my fountain pen, but that's what we will!" chimed +in Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>And so the two began the search for the missing youth.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXI" id="Chapter_XXI" />Chapter XXI</h2> + +<h3>A Prisoner</h3> + +<p>Amos Kanker came to the door of his farmhouse as Ned and +Mr. Damon drove up in the runabout. There was an unpleasant +grin on the not very prepossessing face of the farmer, and +what Ned thought was a cunning look, as he slouched out and +asked:</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you want? Come to smash up any more of my +barns at three thousand dollars a smash?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly," answered Ned shortly. "Your prices are too high +for such ramshackle barns as you have. Where's Tom Swift?" +he asked sharply.</p> + +<p>"Huh! Do you mean that young whipper-snapper with his big +traction engine?" demanded Mr. Kanker.</p> + +<p>"Look here!" blustered Mr. Damon, "Tom Swift is neither a +whipper-snapper nor is his machine a traction engine. It's a +war tank."</p> + +<p>"That doesn't matter much to me," said the farmer, with a +grating laugh. "It looks like a traction engine, though it +smashes things up more'n any one I ever saw."</p> + +<p>"That isn't the point," broke in Ned. "Where is my friend, +Tom Swift? That's what we want to know."</p> + +<p>"Huh! What makes you think I can tell you?" demanded +Kanker.</p> + +<p>"Didn't he come out here?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Not as I knows of," was the surly answer.</p> + +<p>"Look here!" exclaimed Ned, and his tones were firm, with +no bluster nor bluff in them, "we came out here to find Tom +Swift, and were going to find him! We have reason to believe +he's here—at least, he started for here," he substituted, +as he wished to make no statement he could not prove. "Now +we don't claim we have any right to be on your property, and +we don't intend to stay here any longer than we can help. +But we do claim the right, in common decency, to ask if you +have seen anything of Tom. There may have been an accident; +there may have been foul play; and there may be +international complications in this business. If there are, +those involved won't get off as easily as they think. I'd +advise you to keep a civil tongue in your head and answer +our questions. If we have to get the police and detectives +out here, as well as the governmental department of justice, +you may have to answer their questions, and they won't be as +decent to you as we are!"</p> + +<p>"Hurray!" whispered Mr Damon to Ned. "That's the way to +talk!"</p> + +<p>And indeed the forceful remarks of the young bank clerk +did appear to have a salutary effect on the surly farmer. +His manner changed at once and his grin faded.</p> + +<p>"I don't know nothing about Tom Swift or any of your +friends," he said. "I've got my farm work to do, and I do +it. It's hard enough to earn a living these war times +without taking part in plots. I haven't seen Tom Swift since +the trouble he made about my barn."</p> + +<p>"Then he hasn't been here to-day?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"No; and not for a good many days."</p> + +<p>Ned looked at Mr. Damon, and the two exchanged uneasy +glances. Tom had certainly started for the Kanker farm, and +indeed had come to within a few miles of it. That much was +certain, as testified to by a number of residents along the +route from Shopton, who had seen the young inventor passing +in his car.</p> + +<p>Now it appeared he had not arrived. The changed air of the +farmer seemed to indicate that he was speaking the truth. +Mr. Damon and Ned were inclined to believe him. If they had +any last, lingering doubts in the matter, they were +dispelled when Mr. Kanker said:</p> + +<p>"You can search the place if you like. I haven't any +reason to feel friendly toward you, but I certainly don't +want to get into trouble with the Government. Look around +all you like."</p> + +<p>"No, we'll take your word for it," said Ned, quickly +concluding that now they had got the farmer where they +wanted him, they could gain more by an appearance of +friendliness than by threats or harsh words. "Then you +haven't seen him, either?"</p> + +<p>"Not a sign of him."</p> + +<p>"One thing more," went on Tom's chum, "and then we'll look +farther. Weren't you induced by a man named Simpson, or one +named Blakeson, to make the demand of three thousand +dollars' damage for your barn?"</p> + +<p>"No, it wasn't anybody of either of those names," admitted +Mr. Kanker, evidently a bit put out by the question.</p> + +<p>"It was some one, though, wasn't it?" insisted Ned.</p> + +<p>"Waal, a man did come to me the day the barn was smashed, +and just afore it happened, and said an all-fired big +traction engine was headed this way, and that a young feller +who was half crazy was running it. This man—I don't know +who he was, being a stranger to me—said if the engine ran +into any of my property and did damages I should collect for +it on the spot, or hold the machine.</p> + +<p>"Sure enough, that's what happened, and I did it. That +man had an auto, and he brought me and some of my men out to +the smashed barn. That's all I know about it."</p> + +<p>"I thought some one put you up to it," commented Ned. +"This was some of the gang's work," he went on to Mr. Damon. +"They hoped to get possession of Tom's tank long enough to +find out some of the secrets. By having the Liberty Bonds, I +fooled 'em."</p> + +<p>"That's what you did!" said Mr. Damon. "But what can we do +now?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Ned was forced to admit. "But I should +think we'd better go back to the last place where he was +seen to pass in his auto, and try to get on his trail."</p> + +<p>Mr. Damon agreed that this was a wise plan, and, after a +casual look around the farmhouse and other buildings on +Kanker's place and finding nothing to arouse their +suspicions, the two left in Ned's speedy little machine.</p> + +<p>"It is mighty queer!" remarked the young bank clerk, as +they shot along the country road. "It isn't like Tom to get +caught this way."</p> + +<p>"Maybe he isn't caught," suggested the other. "Tom has +been in many a tight place and gotten out, as you and I well +know. Maybe it will be the same now, though it does look +suspicious, that fake message coming from you."</p> + +<p>"Not coming from me, you mean," corrected Ned. "Well, +we'll do the best we can."</p> + +<p>They proceeded back to where they had last had a trace of +Tom in his machine, and there could only confirm what they +had learned at first, namely, that the young inventor had +departed in the direction of the Kanker farm, after having +filled his radiator with water, and chatting with a farmer +he knew.</p> + +<p>"Then this is where the trail divides," said Ned, as they +went back over the road, coming to a point where the highway +branched off. "If he went this way, he went to Kanker's +place, or he would be in the way of going. He isn't there, +it seems, and didn't go there."</p> + +<p>"If he took the other road, where would he go?" asked Mr. +Damon.</p> + +<p>"Any one of a dozen places. I guess we'll have to follow +the trail and make all the inquiries we can."</p> + +<p>But from the point where the two roads branched, all trace +of Tom Swift was lost. No one had seen him in his machine, +though he was known to more than one resident along the high +way.</p> + +<p>"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Mr. Damon, after +they had traveled some distance and had obtained no dews.</p> + +<p>"Suppose we call up his home," suggested Ned, as they came +to a country store where there was a telephone. "It may be +he has returned. In that case, all our worry has gone for +nothing."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it has," said Mr. Damon. "But if we call +up and ask if Tom is back it will show we haven't found him, +and his father will be more worried than ever."</p> + +<p>"We can ask the telephone girl, and tell her to keep quiet +about it," decided Ned; and this they did.</p> + +<p>But the answer that came back over the wire was +discouraging. For Tom had not returned, and there was no +word from him. There was an urgent message for him, too, +from government officials regarding the tank, the girl +reported.</p> + +<p>"Well, we've just got to find him—that's all!" declared +Ned. "I guess we'll have to make a regular search of it. I +did hope we'd find him out at the Kanker farm. But since he +isn't there, nor anywhere about, as far as we can tell, +we've got to try some other plan."</p> + +<p>"You mean notify the authorities?"—asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Hardly that—yet. But I'll get some of Tom's friends who +have machines, and we'll start them out on the trail. In +that way we can cover a lot of ground."</p> + +<p>Late that afternoon, and far into the night, a number of +the friends of Tom and Ned went about the country in +automobiles, seeking news of the young inventor. Mr. Swift +became very anxious over the non-return of his son, and felt +the authorities should be notified; but as all agreed that +the local police could not handle the matter and that it +would have to be put into the hands of the United States +Secret Service, he consented to wait for a while before +doing this.</p> + +<p>All the next day the search was kept up, and Ned and Mr. +Damon were getting discouraged, not to say alarmed, when, +most unexpectedly, they received a clew.</p> + +<p>They had been traveling around the country on little-frequented +roads in the hope that perhaps Tom might have taken one +and disabled his machine so that he was unable to proceed.</p> + +<p>"Though in that case he could, and would, have sent word," +said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Unless he's hurt," suggested Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe that is what's happened," Ned was saying, +when they noticed coming toward them a very much dilapidated +automobile, driven by a farmer, and on the seat beside him +was a small, barefoot boy.</p> + +<p>"Which is the nearest road to Shopton?" asked the man, +bringing his wheezing machine to a stop.</p> + +<p>"Who are you looking for in Shopton?" asked Ned, while a +strange feeling came over him that, somehow or other, Tom +was concerned in the question.</p> + +<p>"I'm looking for friends of a Tom Swift," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Tom Swift? Where is he? What's happened to him?" cried +Ned.</p> + +<p>"Bless my dyspepsia tablets!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Do you +know where he is?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," answered the farmer; "but here's a note +from some one that signs himself 'Tom Swift,' and it says +he's a prisoner!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXII" id="Chapter_XXII" />Chapter XXII</h2> + +<h3>Rescued</h3> + + +<p>For a moment Ned and Mr. Damon gazed at the farmer in his +rattletrap of an auto, and then they looked at the +fluttering piece of paper in his hand. Thence their gaze +traveled to the ragged and barefoot lad sitting beside the +farmer.</p> + +<p>"I found it!" announced the boy.</p> + +<p>"Found what?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"That there note!"</p> + +<p>Without asking any more questions, reserving them until +they knew more about the matter, Mr. Damon and Ned each +reached out a hand for the paper the farmer held. The latter +handed it to Ned, being nearest him, and at a sight of the +handwriting the young bank clerk exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"It's from Tom, all right!"</p> + +<p>"What happened to him?" cried Mr. Damon. "Where is he? Is +he a prisoner?"</p> + +<p>"So it seems," answered Ned. "Wait, I'll read It to you," +and he read:</p> + + +<p>"'Whoever picks this up please send word at once to Mr. +Swift or to Ned Newton in Shopton, or to Mr. Damon of +Waterfield. I am a prisoner, locked in the old factory. Tom +Swift'"</p> + + +<p>"Bless my quinine pills!" cried Mr Damon. "What in the +world does it mean? What factory?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what we've got to find out," decided Ned. +"Where did you get this?" he asked the farmer's boy.</p> + +<p>"Way off over there," and he pointed across miles of +fields. "I was lookin' for a lost cow, and I went past an +old factory. There wasn't nobody in the place, as far as I +knowed, but all at once I heard some one yell, and then I +seen something white, like a bird, sail out of a high +window. I was scared for a minute, thinkin' it might be +tramps after me."</p> + +<p>"And what did you do, Sonny?" asked Mr. Damon, as the boy +paused.</p> + +<p>"Well, after a while I went to where the white thing lay, +and I picked it up. I seen it was a piece of paper, with +writin' on it, and it was wrapped around part of a brick."</p> + +<p>"And did you go near the factory to find out who called or +who threw the paper out?" Ned queried.</p> + +<p>"I didn't," the boy answered. "I was scared. I went home, +and didn't even start to find the lost cow.</p> + +<p>"No more he did," chimed in the farmer. "He come runnin' +in like a whitehead, and as soon as I saw the paper and +heard what Bub had to say, I thought maybe I'd better do +somethin'."</p> + +<p>"Did you go to the factory?" asked Ned eagerly.</p> + +<p>"No. I thought the best thing to do would be to find this +Mr. Swift, or the other folks mentioned in this letter. I +knowed, in a general way, where Shopton was, but I'd never +been there, doing my tradin' in the other direction, and so +I had to stop and ask the road. If you can tell me—"</p> + +<p>"We're two of the persons spoken of in that note," said +Mr. Damon, as he mentioned his name and introduced Ned. "We +have been looking for our friend Tom Swift for two days now. +We must find him at once, as there is no telling what he may +be suffering."</p> + +<p>"Where is this old factory you speak of," continued Mr. +Damon, "and how can we get there? It's too bad one of you +didn't go back, after finding the note, to tell Tom he was +soon to be rescued."</p> + +<p>"Waal, maybe it is," said the farmer, a bit put out by the +criticism. "But I figgered it would be better to look up this +young man's friends and let them do the rescuin', and not +lose no time, 'specially as it's about as far from my place +to the factory as it is to Shopton."</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose that's so," agreed Ned. "But what is this +factory?"</p> + +<p>"It's an old one where they started to make beet sugar, +but it didn't pan out," the farmer said. "The place is in +ruins, and I did hear, not long ago, that somebody run a +threshin' machine through it, an' busted it up worse than +before."</p> + +<p>"Great horned toads!" cried Ned. "That must be the very +factory Tom ran his tank through. And to think he should be +a prisoner there!"</p> + +<p>"Held by whom, do you suppose?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"By that Blakeson gang, I imagine," Ned answered. "There's +no time to lose. We must go to his rescue!"</p> + +<p>"Of course!" agreed Mr. Damon. "We're much obliged to you +for bringing this note," he went on to the farmer. "And here +is something to repay you for your trouble," and he took out +his wallet.</p> + +<p>"Shucks! I didn't do this for pay!" objected the farmer. +"It's a pity I wouldn't help anybody what's in trouble! If +I'd a-knowed what it meant, me and Bub here would have gone +to the factory ourselves, maybe, and done the work quicker. +But I didn't know—what with war times and such-like—but +that it would be better to deliver the note."</p> + +<p>"It turns out as well, perhaps," agreed Ned. "We'll look +after Tom now."</p> + +<p>"And I'll come along and help," said the farmer. "If +there's a gang of tramps in that factory, you may need some +reinforcements. I've got a couple of new axe handles in my +machine, and they'll come in mighty handy as clubs."</p> + +<p>"That's so," said Mr. Damon. "But I fancy Tom is simply +locked in the deserted factory office, with no one on guard. +We can get him out once we get there, and we'll be glad to +have you come with us. So if you won't take any reward, +maybe your boy will, as he found the note," and Mr. Damon +pressed some bills into the hands of the boy, who, it is +needless to say, was glad to get them.</p> + +<p>It was a run of several miles hack to the deserted +factory, and though they passed houses on the way, it was +decided that no addition to their force was necessary, +though they did stop at a blacksmith shop, where they +borrowed a heavy sledge to batter down a door if such action +should be needed.</p> + +<p>The farmer's rattletrap of a car, in spite of its +appearance, was not far behind Ned's runabout, and in a +comparatively short time all were within sight of the ruined +place—a ruin made more complete by the passage through it +of Tom Swift's war tank.</p> + +<p>"And to think of his being there all this while!" +exclaimed Mr. Damon, as he and Ned leaped from their +machine.</p> + +<p>"If he only is there!" murmured the young bank clerk.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean? Didn't the note he threw out say he was +there?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but something may have happened in the meanwhile. +Those plotters, if they'd do a thing like this, are capable +of anything. They may have kidnapped Tom again."</p> + +<p>"Anyway, we'll soon find out," murmured Ned, as they +advanced toward the ruin, Mr. Damon and the farmer each +armed with an axe helve, while Ned carried the blacksmith's +sledge.</p> + +<p>They went into the end of the factory that was less ruined +than the central part, where the tank had crashed through, +and made their way into what had been the office—the place +where they had found the burned scraps of paper.</p> + +<p>"Hark!" exclaimed Ned, as they climbed up +the broken steps. "I heard a noise."</p> + +<p>"It's him yellin'—like he did afore he threw out the +note," said the boy. Then, as they listened, they heard a +distant voice calling:</p> + +<p>"Hello! Hello, there! If that is any friend of mine, let +me out, or send word to Mr. Damon or Ned Newton! Hello!"</p> + +<p>"Hello yourself, Tom Swift!" yelled Ned, too delighted to +wait for any other confirmation that it was his friend who +was shouting. "We've come to rescue you, Tom!"</p> + +<p>There was a moment of silence, and then a voice asked:</p> + +<p>"Who is there?"</p> + +<p>"Ned Newton, Mr. Damon, and some other friends of yours!" +answered the young bank clerk, for surely the farmer and his +son could be called Tom's friends.</p> + +<p>An indistinguishable answer came back, and then Ned cried:</p> + +<p>"Where are you, Tom? Tell us, so we can get you out!"</p> + +<p>They all listened, and faintly heard:</p> + +<p>"I'm in some sort of an old vault, partly underground. +It's below what used to be the office. There's a flight of +steps, but be careful, as they're rotten."</p> + +<p>Eagerly they looked around Mr. Damon saw a door in one +corner of the office, and tried to open it. It was locked, +but a few blows from the sledge smashed it, and then some +steps were revealed.</p> + +<p>Down these, using due caution, went Ned and the others, +and at the bottom they came upon another door. This was of +sheet iron and was fastened on the outside by a big padlock.</p> + +<p>"Stand back!" cried Ned, as he swung the sledge, and with +a few blows broke the lock to pieces.</p> + +<p>Then they pulled open the door, and into the light +staggered Tom Swift, a most woe-begone figure, and showing +the effects of his imprisonment. But he was safe and +unharmed, though much disheveled from his attempts to +escape.</p> + +<p>"Thank Heaven, you've come!" he murmured, as he clasped +Ned's hand. "Is the tank all right?"</p> + +<p>"All right!" cried Ned. "And now tell us about yourself. +How in the world did you get here?"</p> + +<p>"It's quite a yarn," answered Tom. "I've got to pull +myself together before I answer," and he sank wearily down +on a step, looking very haggard and worn.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXIII" id="Chapter_XXIII" />Chapter XXIII</h2> + +<h3>Gone</h3> + + +<p>"Here, eat some of this," and Ned held something out to +his chum. "It'll bring you up quicker than anything else, +except a cup of hot tea, and we'll get that as soon as you +can get away from here," went on the young bank clerk.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" Tom asked, and his voice was very weary.</p> + +<p>"It's a mixture of chocolate and nuts," replied Ned. "It's +a new form of emergency ration issued to soldiers before +they go over the top. Our Y.M.C.A. is sending a lot to the +boys from around here who are in France. I was helping pack +the boxes ready for shipment, and I kept out some to show +you. Lucky I had it with me. Eat it, and you'll feel a lot +better in a few minutes. You haven't had much to eat, have +you?"</p> + +<p>"Very little," answered Tom, as he nibbled half-heartedly +at the confection Ned gave him, while Mr. Damon went out to +the automobile and came back with a thermos bottle filled +with cool water. He always provided himself with this on +taking an automobile trip.</p> + +<p>Tom managed to eat some of the chocolate, and then took a +drink of the cool water. In a little while he declared that +he felt better.</p> + +<p>"Then come out of here!" exclaimed Ned. "You can tell tis +how it all happened and what they did to you. But I can see +that last—they treated you like a dog, didn't they?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty nearly," answered Tom; "but they didn't have +things all their own way. I think I made one or two of them +remember me," and he glanced at his swollen and bruised +hands. Indeed, he bore the marks of having been in a fierce +fight.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure the tank's all right?" he asked Ned again. +"That has been worrying me more than my own condition. I +could think of only one reason why they got me here and held +me prisoner, and that was to get me out of the way while +they captured my tank. Then they haven't got her?" he asked +eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Not a look at her," Ned answered. "She was safe in the +shop when we set out this morning."</p> + +<p>"And now it's late afternoon," murmured Tom. "Well, I hope +nothing has happened since," and there was vague alarm in +his voice, an alarm at which Ned and Mr. Damon wondered.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't you stop at some farmhouse and get fixed up a +little?" asked Mr. Kimball, the farmer who had brought the +note to Ned and Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"I need to get fixed up somewhere," replied Tom, with a +rueful look at himself—his hands, his torn clothes, and his +general dilapidated appearance. "But I don't want to lose +any time. I'm afraid something has happened at home, Ned."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! How could there, with Koka on guard, to say +nothing of Eradicate!"</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe you're right," agreed Tom; "but I'll feel +better when I see my tank in her shed. Let's have some more +of that concentrated porterhouse steak of yours, Ned. It is +good, and it fills out my stomach, which was getting more +intimate with my backbone than I liked to feel."</p> + +<p>More of the really good confection and another drink of +refreshing water made Tom feel better, and he was soon able +to walk along without staggering from weakness.</p> + +<p>"And now let's get out of here," advised Ned, "unless +you've left something back in that vault you want, Tom," and +he motioned to his chum's late prison.</p> + +<p>"Nothing there but bad memories," was the reply, with a +rueful smile. "I'm as ready to go as you are, Ned. It was +good of you and Mr. Damon to come for me, and you"—and he +looked questioningly at Mr. Kimball.</p> + +<p>"If it hadn't been for Mr. Kimball and his boy, we +wouldn't have found you—at least so soon," said Ned, and he +told of the finding of the note and what had followed.</p> + +<p>"That's the only way I could think of for getting help," +said Tom. "They took every scrap of paper from me, but I +found some in the lining of my hat—some I'd stuffed in +after I had a hair cut and my hat was too large. For a +pencil I used burnt matches. Oh, but I'm glad to be out!" +and he breathed deep of the fresh air.</p> + +<p>"How did you get in there?" asked Ned wonderingly.</p> + +<p>"Those fellows—of course. The German plotters, I'm going +to call them, for I believe that Blakeson and his gang—though +I didn't see him—are really working in the interests +of Germany to get the secret of my tank."</p> + +<p>"Well, they haven't got her yet," said Ned, "and they're +not likely to now. Go on, Tom, if you feel able tell us in a +few words what happened. We've been trying to think, but +can't."</p> + +<p>"Well, it all happened because I didn't think enough," +said Tom, who was rapidly recovering his strength and nerve. +"When I got that message that seemed to come from you, Ned, +I should have known better than to take a chance. But it +seemed genuine, and as I had no reason to suspect a trap, I +started off at once. I thought maybe Kanker had repented and +was going to make amends for all the trouble he caused.</p> + +<p>"Anyhow, I started off in my machine, and I hadn't got +more than to the crossroads when I saw a fellow out +tinkering with his auto. Of course I stopped to ask if I +could help, for I can't bear to see any machinery out of +order, and as I was stooping over the engine to see what was +wrong I was pounced on from behind, bound and tied, and +before I could do a thing I was bundled into the car—a big +limousine, and taken away.</p> + +<p>"The crossroads was as far as we could trace you," +remarked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well, it wasn't as far as they took me, by any means," +Tom said. "They brought me here, took me out of the machine—and +I noticed that they'd brought mine along—and then they +carted me into the vault.</p> + +<p>"But they didn't have it all their own way," said Tom +grimly. "I managed to get the ropes loose, and I had a +regular knock down and drag out with them for a while. But +they were too many for me, and locked me up in that place +after taking away everything I had in my pockets."</p> + +<p>"Were they highwaymen?" asked Mr. Kimtall.</p> + +<p>"No, for they tossed back my money, watch and some trifles +like that," Tom answered. "I didn't recognize any of the +men, though one of them must have known me, for when they +had me tied I heard one of them ask if I was the right +party, and another said I was. I know they must belong to +the same gang that Simpson, Blakeson, and Schwen are members +of—the German spies."</p> + +<p>"But what was their object?" asked Ned. "Did they try to +force you to tell them the secrets of the tank?"</p> + +<p>"No; and that's the funny part which makes me so +suspicious," Tom answered. "If they'd tried to force +something out of me, I would understand it better. But they +just kept me a prisoner after taking away what papers I +had."</p> + +<p>"Were they of any value?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Not as regards the tank. That is, there was nothing of my +plans of construction, control or anything like that, though +there was some foreign correspondence that I am sorry fell +into their hands. However, that can't he helped."</p> + +<p>"And did they just keep you locked up?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"That's about all they did. After the fight—and it was +some fight!" declared Tom, as he recalled it with a shake of +his head—"they left me here with the door shut. There must +have been some one on guard, for I could faintly hear +somebody moving about.</p> + +<p>"I tried to get out, of course, but I couldn't. That vault +must have been made to hold something very valuable, for it +was almost as strong and solid as one in your bank, Ned. +The only window was placed so high that I couldn't reach +it, and it was barred at that.</p> + +<p>"They opened the door a little, several times, to toss in +once some old bags that I made into a bed, and next they +gave me a little water and some sandwiches—German bologna +sausage sandwiches, Ned! What do you think of that—adding +insult to injury?"</p> + +<p>"That was tough!" Ned admitted.</p> + +<p>"Well, I had to put up with it, for I was half starved, +and as sore as a boil from the fight. I didn't know what to +do. I knew that you'd miss me sooner or later, and set out +to find me, but I hardly thought you'd think of this place. +They couldn't have picked out a much better prison to hold +me, for, naturally, you wouldn't suppose enough of it was +left standing, after my tank had walked through it, to make +a hiding place.</p> + +<p>"However, there was, and here I've been kept. At last I +thought of the plan of sending out a message on the scrap of +paper I could tear out of my hat. So I wrote it, and after +several trials I managed to toss it out of the window. Then +I just had to wait, and that was the hardest of all. The +last twelve hours I've been without food, and I haven't +heard any one around, so I guess they've skipped out and +don't intend to come back."</p> + +<p>"We didn't see any one," Ned reported. "Maybe they became +frightened, Tom."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could think that," was the answer. "What is more +likely to be the case is that they're up to some new tricks. +I must get back home quickly."</p> + +<p>And after a stop had been made at a farmhouse belonging to +a business acquaintance of Ned's, where Tom was able to wash +and get a cup of hot tea, which added to his recuperative +powers, the young inventor, with Ned and Mr. Damon, set out +for Shopton.</p> + +<p>Before Mr. Kimball started for his home, renewed thanks +had been made to the farmer and his son for the part they +had played in the rescue, and the young inventor, learning +that the boy had a liking for things mechanical, promised to +aid him in his intention to become a machinist.</p> + +<p>"But first get a good education," Tom advised. "Keep on +with your school work, and when the time comes I'll take you +into my shop."</p> + +<p>"And maybe he'll make a tank that will rival yours, Tom," +said Ned.</p> + +<p>"Maybe he will! I hope he does. If he comes along fast +enough, he can help with something else I'm going to start +soon."</p> + +<p>"Whats that?" asked Mr. Damon.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's something on the same order, designed to help +batter down the German lines," Tom answered. "I haven't +quite made up my mind what to call it yet. But let's get +home. I want to see that my tank is safe. The absence of the +plotters from the factory makes me suspicious."</p> + +<p>On the way back Tom told more of the details of the +attack.</p> + +<p>"But we'll forget about it all, now you're out," remarked +Ned.</p> + +<p>"And the sooner we get home, the better," +added Tom. "Can't you get a little more speed out of this +machine?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Well, it isn't the Hawk," replied Ned, "but we'll see +what we can do," and he made the runabout fairly fly.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Baggert was the first to greet Tom as they arrived at +his home. She did not seem as surprised as either Tom, Ned +or Mr. Damon expected her to be.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm glad you're all right," she said. "And it's a +good thing you sent that note, for your father was so +excited and worried I was getting apprehensive about him."</p> + +<p>"What note?" asked Tom, while a queer look came into his +face.</p> + +<p>"Why, the one you sent saying you were detained on +business and would probably not be home for a week, and to +have Koku and the men bring the tank to you."</p> + +<p>"Bring the tank! A note from me!" exclaimed Tom. "The +plotters again! And they've got the tank!"</p> + +<p>He ran to the big shop followed by the others. Throwing +open the doors, they went inside. A glance sufficed to +disclose the worst.</p> + +<p>The place where the great tank had stood was empty.</p> + +<p>"Gone!" gasped Tom.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXIV" id="Chapter_XXIV" />Chapter XXIV</h2> + +<h3>Camouflaged</h3> + + +<p>Two utterances Tom Swift made when the fact of the +disappearance of the tank became known to him were +characteristic of the young inventor. The first was:</p> + +<p>"How did they get it away?"</p> + +<p>And the second was:</p> + +<p>"Come on, let's get after 'em!"</p> + +<p>Then, for a few moments, no one said anything. Tom, Ned, +and Mr. Damon, with Mrs. Baggert in the background, stood +looking at the great empty machine shop.</p> + +<p>"Well, they got her," went on Tom, with a sigh. "I was +afraid of this as soon as they left me alone at the +factory."</p> + +<p>"Is anything wrong?" faltered the housekeeper. "Didn't you +send for the tank, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"No, Mrs. Baggert, I didn't," Tom answered.</p> + +<p>"But I don't understand," the housekeeper said. "A man +came with a note from you, Tom, and in it you said to have +him take the tank, with Koku and the men who know how to run +it. We were so glad to hear from you, and know that you were +all right, that we didn't think of anything else, your +father and I. So he went out and saw that the tank got off +all right. Koku was glad, for it's the first chance he'd had +to ride in it."</p> + +<p>"Who was the man who brought the note?" asked Tom, and he +was striving to be calm. "To think of poor old dad playing +right into the hands of the plotters!" he added, in an aside +to Ned.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know who the man was," said Mrs. Baggert. +"He seemed all right, and of course having a note from you—"</p> + +<p>"Who has that note now?" asked Tom quickly.</p> + +<p>"Your father."</p> + +<p>"Come on," and Tom led the way back to the house. "I'll +have a look at that document, which of course I never wrote, +and then we'll get after the plotters and the tank."</p> + +<p>"She ought to be easy to trace," observed Mr. Damon. +"Bless my fountain pen, but she ought to be easy to trace! +She will leave a track like a giant boa constrictor crawling +along."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess we can trace her, all right," assented Tom +Swift; "but the point is, will there be anything left of +her? What's what I'm afraid of now."</p> + +<p>Mr. Swift was still excited, but his worry had subsided as +soon as he knew Tom was safe.</p> + +<p>"The whole thing is a forgery, but fairly well done," Tom +said, as he looked at the paper his father gave him—a brief +note stating that Tom was well, but detained on business, +and that the tank was to be brought to him, just where the +bearer of the note would indicate. Koku, the giant, and +several of the machinists, who knew how to operate the big +machine, were to go with it, the note said.</p> + +<p>"That made me sure everything was all right," said Mr. +Swift. "I knew, of course, Tom, that plotters might try to +get hold of your war secret, but I didn't see how they could +if Koku and some of your own men were in possession."</p> + +<p>"They couldn't—as long as they remained in possession," +Tom said. "But that's the trouble. I'm afraid they haven't. +What has probably happened is that under the direction of +this man, who brought the forged note from me, Koku and the +others took the tank where he directed them, thinking to +meet me. Then, reaching the place where the rest of the +plotters were concealed, they overpowered Koku and the +others and took possession of the machine."</p> + +<p>"They'd have trouble with Koku," suggested Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes, but even a giant can't fight too big a crowd, +especially if he is taken by surprise, and that's probably +what happened," remarked Tom. "Now the question is where is +the tank, and how can we get her back? Every minute counts. +If those German spies and their helpers remain in possession +long, they'll find out enough of my secrets to enable them +to duplicate the machine, and especially some of the most +exclusive features. We've got to get after 'em!"</p> + +<p>"They imitated your writing pretty well, Tom," Observed +Ned, as he looked at the forged note.</p> + +<p>"Yes; that's why they took all my papers away from me—to +get specimens of my handwriting. I half suspected that, but +I didn't quite figure out what their game was. Well, we know +the worst now, and that's better than working in the dark. +Now I'm going to have a bath and get into some decent +clothes, and we'll see what we can do."</p> + +<p>"Count on me, Tom!" exclaimed Ned. "I'll go the limit with +you!"</p> + +<p>"I knew you would, old man!"</p> + +<p>"And me, too!" cried Mr. Damon. "Bless my open fireplace, +but I'll send word to my wife that I'm not coming home to-night, +and we can start the first thing in the morning, Tom."</p> + +<p>"Yes; there isn't much use in going now, as it will soon +be dark."</p> + +<p>"How are you going to trace the tank, Tom?" asked Ned, +when his chum had bathed and gotten into fresh clothes.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to tour the country around here in an auto. The +tank can make ten miles an hour, but that's nothing to what +an auto can do. And we oughtn't to have much trouble in +tracing her. No one whose house she passed would forget her +in a hurry."</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed Ned. "But if they took her across +country—"</p> + +<p>"A different story," agreed Tom. "Come to think of it, +maybe we'd better start to-night, Ned. We can make inquiries +after dark as well as by daylight and get ready for an early +morning hunt"</p> + +<p>"Let's do it, then!" suggested his chum. "I'm ready. I'll +send word that I'll not be home to-night."</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried the young inventor. "We'll have an old-fashioned +hunt after our enemies, Ned!"</p> + +<p>"And don't leave me out!" begged Mr. Damon. Hurried +preparations were made for the night trip. Tom ordered out +one of his speediest, though not largest, automobiles, and +told his helper to get the Hawk ready, to have her so she +could start at a moment's notice if needed.</p> + +<p>"You're not going in her, are you, Tom?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"I may need her to-morrow for daylight hunting. If the +tank's hidden somewhere, I can spot her from above more +easily than from the ground. So if we get any trace of my +machine, I can phone in and have the aeroplane brought to +me."</p> + +<p>"That's a good idea!"</p> + +<p>Inquiry at the shop where the tank had been built and kept +disclosed the fact that, in addition to Koku, three of Tom's +men had gone in her to help manage the machine under the +direction of the man who bore the forged note. That he was +one of the plotters not hitherto observed by either Ned or +Tom seemed certain.</p> + +<p>"And they took Koku and some of the men merely to make it +look natural and as if it were all right," Tom said. +"Naturally that deceived my father, who thought, of course, +that I was waiting for the machine. Well, it was a slick +trick, Ned, but we may fool them yet."</p> + +<p>"I hope so, Tom."</p> + +<p>Night had fully fallen when Tom, Ned, and Mr. Damon +started away in the touring car.</p> + +<p>Out onto the road rolled the automobile. During the little +daylight that had remained after his arrival at home and +following the discovery of the loss of the tank Tom and Ned +had traced it, by the marks of the big steel caterpillar +belts, to the main road. It had gone along that some +distance, just how far could not be said.</p> + +<p>"But by using the searchlight of the auto we can trace her +as long as they keep her on the road," said Tom. "After that +we'll have to trust to luck, and to what inquiries we can +make."</p> + +<p>The touring car carried a powerful lamp, and by its gleams +it was easy to trace for a time the progress of the +ponderous tank. There was no need to make inquiries of +persons living along the way, though once or twice Tom did +get out to ask, confirming the fact that the big machine had +rumbled past in a direction away from the Swift home.</p> + +<p>"I had an idea they might have doubled on their tracks for +a time, and backed her up just to fool us," Tom said. "They +might do that, keeping her in the same tracks."</p> + +<p>But this, evidently, had not been done, and the tank was +making good speed away from the Swift Louse. They kept up +the search until about midnight, and then a heavy rain began +just before they reached a point where several roads +branched.</p> + +<p>"Luck's with them!" exclaimed Tom. "This will wash away +the marks, and we'll have to go it blind. Might as well put +up here for the night," he added, as they came to a village +hotel.</p> + +<p>It was evident that little more could be done in the rain +and darkness, and there was danger of over-running the trail +of the tank if they kept on. So they turned in at the hotel +and got what little rest they could in their anxious state +of minds.</p> + +<p>Tom tried to be cheerful and to look for the best, but it +was hard work. The tank was his pet invention, and, +moreover, that her secrets should fall into the hands of the +enemy and be used for Germany and against the United States +eventually, made the young inventor feel that everything +was going wrong.</p> + +<p>The rain kept up all night, and this would make it +correspondingly hard for them to pick up the trail in the +morning.</p> + +<p>"The only thing we can do is to make inquiries," decided +Tom. "Fortunately, the tank can't easily be hidden."</p> + +<p>They started off after an early breakfast. The roads were +so muddy and wet that traveling was difficult and dangerous +for the automobile, and they were disappointed in finding no +one who had seen or heard the tank pass up to a point not +far from the hotel where they had stayed overnight. From +then on the big machine seemed to have disappeared.</p> + +<p>"I know what they've done," Tom said, when noon came and +they had found no trace of the ponderous war machine. +"They've left the road and taken her cross country, and we +can't find the spot where they did this because the rain has +washed out the marks. Well, there's only one thing left to +do."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"Get the Hawk! In that we can look down and over a big +extent of country. That's what I'll do—I'll phone for the +airship. The rain is stopping, I think."</p> + +<p>The rain did cease by the time one of Tom's men brought +the speedy aircraft to the place named by the young inventor +in his telephone message. There were still several hours of +daylight left, and Tom counted on them to allow him to rise +in the air and look down on the tanks possible hiding place.</p> + +<p>"One thing's sure," he told Ned: "I know the limit of her +speed, and she can't be farther off than at some place +within a circle of about one hundred and twenty-five miles +from my house. And it's in the direction we're in. So if I +circle around up above, I may spot her."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," murmured Ned.</p> + +<p>It was arranged that Mr. Damon should take the automobile +back, with Tom's mechanician in it, and Tom and Ned would +scout around in the aircraft, which carried only two.</p> + +<p>"You ought to have a machine gun with you, Tom, if you +plan to attack those fellows to get back the tank," Ned +said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't imagine I'll need it," he said. "Anyhow, a +machine gun wouldn't be of much effect against the tank. And +they can't fire on us, for there wasn't any ammunition for +the guns in Tank A, unless they got some of their own, and I +hardly believe they'd do that. I'll take a chance, anyhow."</p> + +<p>And so the search from the air began. It was disappointing +at first. Around and around circled Tom and Ned, their eyes +peering eagerly down from the heights for a sight of the +tank, possibly hidden in some little-known ravine or gully.</p> + +<p>Back and forth, like a speck in the sky, Tom guided the +Hawk, while Ned took observation after observation with the +binoculars.</p> + +<p>At last, when the low-sinking sun gave warning that night +would soon be upon them, Ned's glasses picked up something +on the ground far below that made him sit suddenly +straighter in his seat.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Tom through the speaking apparatus, +feeling the movement on the part of his chum.</p> + +<p>"I see something down there, Tom," was the answer. "It +doesn't look like the tank, and yet it doesn't look as a +clump of trees and bushes ought to look. Have a peep +yourself. It's just beyond that river, against the side of +the hill—a lonesome place, too."</p> + +<p>Tom took the glasses while Ned assumed control of the +Hawk, there being a dual system for operating and steering +her.</p> + +<p>No sooner had the young inventor got the focus on what Ned +had indicated than he gave a cry.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked the young bank clerk.</p> + +<p>"Camouflaged!" cried Tom, and without stopping to explain +what he meant, he handed the binoculars back to Ned and +began to guide the Hawk down toward the earth at high speed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Chapter_XXV" id="Chapter_XXV" />Chapter XXV</h2> + +<h3>Foiled</h3> + + +<p>"Is it really Tank A, Tom?" cried Ned, through the tube, +as soon as he became aware of his companion's intention. +"Are you sure?"</p> + +<p>"That's the girl, and just where you spotted her with the +glasses—in that clump of bushes. But they've daubed her +with green and brown paint—camouflaged her, so to speak—until +she looks like part of the landscape. What made you +suspicious of that particular place?"</p> + +<p>"The green was such a bright one in contrast to the rest +of the foliage around it.',</p> + +<p>"That's what struck me," Tom answered, as he continued to +drive the Hawk earthward. "They thought they were doing a +smart trick—imitating the tactics of the Allies with their +tanks—but they must be color blind."</p> + +<p>Ned took another observation through the glasses. He could +see the tank more easily now. There she was, fairly well +hidden in a clump of bushes and small trees on the banks of +a river, about a hundred miles away from Shopton. It was in +a wild and desolate country, and only with the airship could +the trail have thus been followed.</p> + +<p>Ned saw that the tank had been daubed with green, yellow, +and brown paint, in fantastic blotches, to make the big +machine blend with the foliage; and, to a certain extent, +this had been accomplished.</p> + +<p>But, as Ned had remarked, the green used was of too vivid +a hue. No natural tree put forth leaves like that, and the +glass had further revealed the error.</p> + +<p>"Look, Tom!" suddenly cried Ned. "She's moving!"</p> + +<p>"You're right!" answered the young inventor. "They've seen +us and are trying to get away."</p> + +<p>"But they can't beat your airship, Tom."</p> + +<p>"I know that. But their game—Oh, Ned, they're going to +wreck her!" cried Tom, and there was anguish in his voice.</p> + +<p>As the two looked down from their seats In the Hawk they +saw the tank, in its fantastic dress of splotchy paint, +leave her lair amid the bushes and trees, and head toward +the river. Like some ponderous prehistoric monster about to +take a drink, she careened her way toward the stream, which, +at this point, ran between high banks.</p> + +<p>"What's the game?" cried Ned.</p> + +<p>"They're going to send her to smash!" cried Tom. "She's +pretty tough, Tom, but she'll never stand a tumble down into +the river without breaking a lot of machinery inside her."</p> + +<p>"But if they demolish the tank they'll kill themselves, +won't they? And Koku and your men, too, who must be +prisoners in her!"</p> + +<p>"They won't risk their own worthless hides, you may be +sure of that!" exclaimed Tom.</p> + +<p>"There they go, but they must have left Koku and the +others to their fate!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, if they could only get loose and take control now, +Tom, they'd save your tank for you!" shouted Ned.</p> + +<p>"Yes; but they can't, I'm afraid. They may be killed, or +so securely bound that they can't get loose!"</p> + +<p>"Can't you get the Hawk there in time to stop her?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid not. By that time she'll have attained top +speed and it would be taking our lives in our bands to try +to make a flying jump, get inside, and shut off the motors."</p> + +<p>"Then the tank's got to smash!" said Ned gloomily.</p> + +<p>Tom did not answer for a moment. He and his chum watched +the fleeing figures running away from the war engine. What +the plotters had done, as soon as they saw the aircraft and +realized that Tom had discovered them, was to start the +motors and leap from the tank, closing the doors after them. +Whether or not they had left Koku and the others prisoners +inside remained to be seen.</p> + +<p>But the tank was plunging her way toward the steep bank of +the river, doomed, it seemed, to great damage, if not to +destruction.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if we could only halt her!" murmured Ned.</p> + +<p>Tom Swift was busy with some apparatus on +the Hawk. Ned heard the hum of an electric +motor which was connected with the engine, and +there soon sounded the crackle of the wireless.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing? Signaling for help from those inside +the tank?" asked Ned, for the big machine was fitted to +receive and send messages of this sort.</p> + +<p>"I'm trying something more desperate than that," Tom +answered.</p> + +<p>Again the wireless crackled, Tom working it with one hand +while, with the other, he guided the aircraft. Ned looked +downward with wondering eyes.</p> + +<p>The tank was still plunging her way toward the steep bank +of the river. If she tumbled down this, there would be +little left of the expensive and complicated machinery +inside.</p> + +<p>"The rascals did their work well," mused Ned. "They've +probably gotten all the secrets they want and now they're +going to spoil all Tom's hard work. It's a shame! If only—"</p> + +<p>Ned ceased his musing. Something was taking place down +below that he could not explain. The tank seemed to be +slackening her progress. More and more slowly she approached +the edge of the cliff.</p> + +<p>"Tom! Tom!" yelled Ned. "You must have waked some of them +up inside and they've thrown the motors out of gear! Hurrah! +She's stopping!"</p> + +<p>"I believe she is!" yelled Tom. "Oh, if it only works!"</p> + +<p>The tank was still moving, though more slowly. Still the +crackle of the wireless was heard.</p> + +<p>And then, just as Tom shut off his own motor and let the +Hawk glide on her downward way in a volplane to earth, the +great, ponderous tank came to a stop, on the very edge of +the precipice at the foot of which rolled the river.</p> + +<p>"Whew!" whistled Ned, as the aircraft rolled along the +ground near the war machine. "That was touch and go, Tom! +They stopped her just in time."</p> + +<p>"You mean the wireless stopped her," said Tom quietly. +"I'm very much afraid that if Koku and the others are alive +they're still prisoners in the craft."</p> + +<p>"The wireless!" gasped Ned, as he and his chum got out of +the Hawk. "Do you mean that you stopped her by wireless, +Tom?"</p> + +<p>"That's what I did. It was a desperate chance, but I took +it. I had just installed in the tank a system of wireless +control, so she could be guided as some torpedos and +submarines are, by wireless impulses from the shore.</p> + +<p>"Only I'd never given the tank system a tryout. It was all +installed, and had worked perfectly on the small model I +constructed. And when I saw her running away, out of control +as she was, I realized the wireless was the only thing that +would stop her, if that would. It might operate just +opposite to what I wanted, though, and increase her speed."</p> + +<p>"But I took the chance. I set the airship wireless current +to working, and tuned it in to coincide with the control of +the tank. Then, by means of the wireless impulse I shut off +the motors, which can he stopped or started by hand or by +electricity. I shut 'em off."</p> + +<p>"And only just in time!" cried Ned. "Whew, Tom Swift, but +that was a close call!"</p> + +<p>"I realize that myself!" said the young inventor. "This is +a new idea and has to be worked out further for our newer +tanks."</p> + +<p>"Gee!" ejaculated Ned. "Out of date before got into use! +Now let's see about our friends!"</p> + +<p>It was the work of but a moment to enter the tank, and, +after making sure that the machinery was all right, Tom and +Ned made their way to the interior. In one of the smallest +rooms they found Koku and the others bound with ropes, and +in a bad way. Koku was so tied with cords and hemp as to +resemble a bale of Manilla cable.</p> + +<p>"Cut 'em loose, Ned!" cried Tom, and the bonds were soon +severed. Then came explanations.</p> + +<p>As has been told, one of the plotters, whose identity was +not learned until later, came with the forged note. The +giant and Tom's men set out in the tank, and the machine was +stopped at a certain place where the plotter, who gave the +name of Crossleigh, told them Tom was to meet his men.</p> + +<p>Out of ambush leaped Simpson and others, who overpowered +the mechanics, even subduing Koku after a fierce fight, and +then they took possession of the tank, making the others +prisoners.</p> + +<p>What happened after that could only be conjectured by +Tom's men, for they were shut up in an inner room. It +seemed certain, though, that the tank was taken to some +secret place and there painted to resemble the verdure. Then +she went on again, coming to rest where Tom and Ned saw her.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the plotters were gradually getting at the +secrets of construction, and they were in the midst of this +work when one of them saw the aeroplane. Rightly guessing +what it portended, they left hurriedly, still leaving the +hapless men bound, and started the tank on what they thought +would be her last trip.</p> + +<p>"But you saved her, Tom!" cried Ned. "You saved her with +the wireless."</p> + +<p>And word was sent back to Shopton by the same means to +tell Mr. Swift, Mr. Damon, and the others that Tom and his +tank were safe. And then, a little later, when the bound men +had recovered the use of their cramped limbs, the tank was +backed away from the ledge and started on her homeward way, +Tom and Ned preceding her in the Hawk.</p> + +<p>Without further incident, save a slight break which was +soon repaired, Tank A soon reached her harbor again, and a +double guard was posted about the shop.</p> + +<p>"And they won't get much more chance to steal her +secrets," said Tom that night, when the stories had been +told.</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Ned.</p> + +<p>"We start to dismantle her at once," Tom answered, "and +she goes to England to be reproduced for France."</p> + +<p>"If only those plotters haven't stolen the secrets," mused +Ned.</p> + +<p>But if they had they got little good of them. For shortly +afterward government secret service agents rounded up the +chief members of the gang, including Simpson and Blakeson. +They, with Schwen, were sent to an internment camp for the +period of the war, and enough information was obtained from +them to disclose all the workings of the plot.</p> + +<p>"It was just like lots of other stunts the German spies +tried to put over on the good old U.S.A.," said Tom to Ned, +the day after the dismantled tank was shipped to Great +Britain. "In some way the spies found out what I was making, +and then they got hold of Blakeson and Grinder. Those +fellows, who so nearly queered me in the big tunnel game +promised to make a tank that would beat those the British at +first put out, and they took some German money in advance +for doing it.</p> + +<p>"When they found they couldn't make good, the German spies +agreed to help them get possession of my secrets. They +worked hard enough at it, too, but, thanks to you, Ned, and +to Eradicate, who gave us the tip on Schwen, we beat 'em +out"</p> + +<p>"And so it's all over, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, practically all over. I've given all my interests in +the tank to Uncle Sam. It was the only way I could do my +bit, at this time. But I've something else up my sleeve."</p> + +<p>And those of you who care to learn what the young inventor +next did may do so by reading the next volume of this +series.</p> + +<p>It was about a week after Tank A, as she was still +officially called, had been shipped in sections that Ned +Newton called at Tom's home. He found his chum, with a +flower in his buttonhole, about to leave in his small +runabout.</p> + +<p>"Oh, excuse me!" exclaimed Ned. "This is Wednesday night. +I might have known. Give Mary my regards."</p> + +<p>"I will," promised Tom, with a smile.</p> + + +<pre> + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Tom Swift And His War Tank + +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/21tom10h.zip b/old/21tom10h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..90b88ed --- /dev/null +++ b/old/21tom10h.zip diff --git a/old/21tom10l.lit b/old/21tom10l.lit Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d4cbfa9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/21tom10l.lit diff --git a/old/21tom10l.zip b/old/21tom10l.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ea8fe89 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/21tom10l.zip diff --git a/old/21tom10p.prc b/old/21tom10p.prc Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9351280 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/21tom10p.prc diff --git a/old/21tom10p.zip b/old/21tom10p.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c48420 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/21tom10p.zip |