CHAPTER X
OFF FOR THE BORDER
"There he goes, Tom!"
"Yes, I see him!"
"Look at him run!"
"No wonder. Consider his long legs, Ned. Put on a little more speed,and keep a little lower down. It's clear of trees right here."
"There he goes into that clump of bushes."
"I see him. He'll soon come out," and Tom flashed the big light onthe fleeing giant to whom fear seemed to lend more than wings.
But even a giant, long legged though he be, and powerful, cannotcompete with a modern airship--certainly not such a one as Tom Swifthad.
"We're almost up to him, Tom!" cried Ned a little later.
"Yes! I'm keeping track of him. Oh, why doesn't he know enough tostop? Koku! Koku!" called Tom. "It's all right! I'm in the airship!This is a searchlight, not a comet. Wait for us!"
They could see the giant glance back over his shoulder at them, and,when he saw how close the gleaming light was he made a desperatespurt. But it was about his last, for he was a heavy man, and didnot have any too good wind.
"We'll have him in another minute," predicted Tom. "Give me a bitmore speed, Ned."
The lad who was managing the Falcon swung the accelerating leverover another notch, and the craft surged ahead. Then Ned executed aneat trick. Swinging the craft around in a half circle, he suddenlyopened the power full, and so got ahead of Koku. The next minute,sliding down to earth, Tom and Ned came to a halt, awaiting theoncoming of Koku, who, finding the glaring light full in his face,came to a halt.
"Why, Koku, what's the matter?" asked Tom kindly, as he turned offthe powerful beams, and switched on some ordinary incandescents,that were on the outside of the craft. They made an illumination bywhich the giant could make out his master and the latter's chum."Why did you run, Koku?" asked Tom.
"Eradicate say to," was the simple answer. "He say comet come to eatup earth. Koku no want to be eaten."
"Eradicate is a big baby!" exclaimed Tom. "See, there is no danger.It is only my new searchlight," and once more the young inventorswitched it on. Koku jumped back, but when he saw that nothinghappened he did not run.
"It's harmless," said Tom, and briefly he explained how the biglantern worked.
Koku was reassured now, and consented to enter the airship. He wasrather tired from his run, and was glad to sit down.
"Where to now; back home?" asked Ned, as they made ready to start.
"No, I was thinking of going over to Mr. Damon's house. I'd like himto see my searchlight. And I want to find out if he's going with uson the trip to the border."
"Of course he will!" predicted Ned. "He hasn't missed a trip withyou in a long while. He'll go if his wife will let him," and both boyslaughed, for Mr. Damon's wife was nearly always willing to let himdo as he liked, though the odd man had an idea that she wasviolently opposed to his trips.
Once more the Falcon went aloft, and again the searchlight playedabout. It brought out with startling distinctness the details of thetowns and villages over which they passed, and distant landmarkswere also made plainly visible.
"We'll be there in a few minutes now," said Tom, as he flashed thelight on a long slant toward the town of Waterford, where Mr. Damonlived.
"I can see his house," spoke Ned a moment later. He changed thecourse of the craft, to bring it to a stop in the yard of theeccentric man, and, shortly afterward, they landed. Tom who had shutoff the searchlight for a minute, turned it on again, and the houseand grounds of Mr. Damon were enveloped in a wonderful glow.
"That will bring him out," predicted Tom.
A moment later they heard his voice.
"Bless my astronomy!" cried Mr. Damon. "There's a meteor fallen inour yard. Come out, wife--everybody--call the servants. It's achance of a lifetime to see one, and they're valuable, too! Bless mystar dust! I must tell Tom Swift of this!"
Out into the glare of the great searchlight ran Mr. Damon, followedby his wife and several of the servants.
"There it is!" cried the odd man. "There's the meteor!"
"First we're a comet and then we're a meteor," said Ned with alaugh.
"Oh. I hope it doesn't bury itself in the earth before I can get TomSwift here!" went on Mr. Damon, capering about. "Bless my telephonebook. I must call him up right away!"
"I'm here now, Mr. Damon!" shouted Tom, as he alighted from theairship. "That's my new searchlight you're looking at."
"Bless my--" began Mr. Damon, but he couldn't think of nothingstrong enough for a moment, until he blurted out "dynamitecartridge! Bless my dynamite cartridge! Tom Swift! His searchlight!Bless my nitro-glycerine!"
Then Tom shut off the glare, and, as Mr. Damon and his wife cameaboard he showed them how the light worked. He only used a part ofthe current, as he knew if he put on the full glare toward Mr.Damon's house, neighbors might think it was on fire.
"Well, that's certainly wonderful," said Mrs. Damon. "In fact thisis a wonderful ship."
"Can't you take Mrs. Damon about, and show her how it works," saidMr. Damon suddenly. "Show her the ship."
"I will," volunteered Tom.
"No, let Ned," said the eccentric man. "I--er--I want to speak toyou, Tom."
Mrs. Damon, with a queer glance at her husband, accompanied Ned tothe motor room. As soon as she was out of hearing the odd gentlemancame over and whispered to the young inventor.
"I say, Tom, what's up?"
"Smugglers. You know. I told you about 'em. I'm going after 'em withmy big searchlight."
"Bless my card case! So you did. But, I say, Tom, I--I want to go!"
"I supposed you would. Well, you're welcome, of course. We leave ina few days. It isn't a very long trip this time, but there may beplenty of excitement. Then I'll book you for a passage, and--"
"Hush! Not another word! Here she comes, Tom. My wife! Don't breathea syllable of it to her. She'll never let me go." Then, for thebenefit of Mrs. Damon, who came back into the main cabin with Ned atthat moment, her husband added in loud tones:
"Yes, Tom it certainly is a wonderful invention. I congratulateyou," and, at the same time he winked rapidly at our hero. Tomwinked in return.
"Well, I guess we'll start back," remarked Tom, after a bit. "I'llsee you again, I suppose, Mr. Damon?"
"Oh yes, of course. I'll be over--soon," and once more he winked ashe whispered in Tom's ear: "Don't leave me behind, my boy."
"I won't," whispered the young inventor in answer.
Mrs. Damon smiled, and Tom wondered if she had discovered herhusband's innocent secret.
Tom and Ned, with Koku, made a quick trip back to Shopton, using thegreat searchlight part of the way. The next day they beganpreparations for the journey to the border.
It did not take long to get ready. No great amount of stores orsupplies need be taken along, as they would not be far from home,not more than a two days' journey at any time. And they would benear large cities, where food and gasolene could easily be obtained.
About a week later, therefore, Mr. Whitford the government agent,having been communicated with in the meanwhile, Tom and Ned, withKoku and Mr. Damon were ready to start.
"I wonder if Mr. Whitford is coming to see us off?" mused Tom, as helooked to see if everything was aboard, and made sure that thesearchlight was well protected by its waterproof cover.
"He said he'd be here," spoke Ned.
"Well, it's past time now. I don't know whether to start, or towait."
"Wait a few minutes more," advised Ned. "His train may be a fewminutes behind time."
They waited half an hour, and Tom was on the point of starting whena messenger boy came hurrying into the yard where the great airshiprested on its bicycle wheels.
"A telegram for you, Tom," called the lad, who was well acquaintedwith our hero.
Hastily the young inventor tore open the envelope.
"Here's news!" he exclaimed,
"What is it?" asked Ned.
"It's from Mr. Whitford," answered his chum. "He
says: 'Can't bewith you at start. Will meet you in Logansville. Have new clew tothe Fogers!'"
"Great Scott!" cried Ned, staring at his chum.