Part 6 (1/2)

”Look!” the young inventor cried. ”No wonder it jammed!” and from a copper sleeve, through which ran the wire that worked the rudder, he pulled a small iron bolt. ”That got between the sleeve and the wire, and I couldn't move it,” he explained. ”But when I pulled hard I loosened it.”

”How did it fall in there?” asked Ned.

”It didn't FALL there.” spoke Tom quietly. ”It was PUT there.”

”Put there! Bless my insurance policy! Who did such a dastardly trick?” cried Mr. Damon.

”I don't know,” answered Tom still quietly, ”but I suspect it was Andy Foger, and he was never any nearer to putting us out of business than a little while ago, Ned.”

”Do you mean to say that he deliberately tried to injure you?” asked Mr. Damon.

”Well, he may not have intended to hurt us, but that's what would have happened if I hadn't been able to throw her up into the wind when I did,” replied Tom. Then he told of Mr. Swift having seen the red-haired bully near the aeroplane. ”Andy may have only intended to put my machine out of working order,” went on the young inventor, ”but it might have been worse than that,” and he could not repress a shudder.

”Are you going to say anything to him?” asked Ned.

”I certainly am!” replied Torn quickly. ”He doesn't realize that he might have crippled us both for life. I sure am going to say something to him when I get back.”

But Tom did not get the chance, for when he and Ned returned to Shopton,--the sky racer behaving beautifully on the homeward trip,--it was learned that Mr. Foger had suddenly left town, taking Andy with him.

”Maybe he knew I'd be after him,” said Tom grimly, and so that incident was closed for the time being, but it was a long time before Tom and Ned got over their fright.

They had a nice visit with Mr. Damon, and talked of the city of gold to their heart's content, looking at several large maps of Mexico that the eccentric man had procured, and locating, as well as they could from the meager map and description they had, where the underground treasures might be.

”I suppose you are getting ready to go, Mr. Damon?” remarked Ned.

”Hus.h.!.+” cautioned the odd man, looking quickly around the room. ”I haven't said anything to my wife about it yet. You know she doesn't like me to go off on these 'wild goose chases' as she calls them, with you, Tom Swift. But bless my railroad ticket! It's half the fun of my life.”

”Then don't you think you can go?” asked the young inventor eagerly, for he had formed a strong like for Mr. Damon, and would very much regret to go without him.

”Oh, bless my necktie! I think I'll be able to manage it,” was the answer. ”I'm not going to tell her anything about it until the last minute, and then I'll promise to bring her back one of the golden images. She won't object then.”

”Good!” exclaimed Tom. ”I hope we can all bring back some of the images.”

”Yes, I know who you'll bring one for,” said Ned with a laugh, and he took care to get beyond the reach of Tom's fist. ”Her first name is Mary,” he added.

”You get out!” laughed Tom, blus.h.i.+ng at the same time.

”Ah! What a thing it is to be young!” exclaimed Mr. Damon with a mock sigh. The boys laughed, for the old man, though well along in years, was a boy at heart.

They talked at some length, speculating when they might hear from Mr. Illingway, and discussing the sort of an outfit that would be best to take with them.

Then, as the afternoon was drawing to a close, Tom and Ned went back in the aeroplane, hearing the news about the Fogers as I have previously mentioned.

”Well, I'll have to wait until I do see Andy to take it out of his hide,” remarked Tom grimly. ”I'm glad he's out of the way, though.

There won't be any more danger of his overhearing our plans, and I can work in peace on the dirigible balloon.”

Though Tom had many air crafts, the one he thought best suited to take with them on their search for the city of gold would have to be constructed from parts of several machines, and it would take some time.

Tom began work on it the next day, his father helping him, as did Mr. Damon and Ned occasionally. Several weeks were spent in this way, meanwhile the mails being anxiously watched for news from Africa.