CHAPTER XXII
HOVERING O'ER THE BORDER
"Well, Tom, you see I couldn't get along without you," exclaimed Mr.Period, as he rushed forward and grasped Tom's hand, having alightedin rather an undignified manner from the horse that he had ridden."I'm after you again."
"So I see." remarked our hero. "But I'm afraid I can't--"
"Tut! Tut! Don't say that," interrupted the moving picture man. "Iknow what you're going to say. Don't do it! Don't go back on me,Tom! Have you the wonderful moving picture camera with you."
"I have, Mr. Period, but--"
"Now! Now! That'll do," broke in the excitable little man. "If youhave it, that's enough. I want you to get me some films, showing youin chase of the smugglers. They'll be great to exhibit in our chainof theatres."
"How did you know I was here?" asked Tom. "Easily enough. I calledat your house. Your father told me where you were. I came on. Itcost me a thousand dollars--maybe more. I don't care! I've got tohave those films! You'll get them for me; won't you?"
"Well, I--"
"That's enough! I know what you're going to say. Of course you will!Now how soon may I expect them. They ought to make a good run. Sayin a week?"
"It all depends on the smugglers," said Mr. Whitford.
"Yes, yes! I understand, of course. I know! This friend of yours hasbeen very kind to me, Tom. I looked him up as soon as I got toLogansville, and told him what I wanted. He offered to show me theway out here, and here I am. Let's have a look at the camera, to seeif it's in good shape. Are you going to have a try for the smugglersto-night?"
"I think so," answered Tom. "As for the camera, really I've been sobusy I haven't had time to look at it since we started. I guess it'sall right. I don't know what made me bring it along, as I didn'texpect to use it."
"But with your great searchlight it will be just the thing,"suggested Ned.
"Yes, I think so," added Mr. Whitford, who had been told about thewizard instrument.
"Bless my detective badge!" cried Mr. Damon. "It may be just thething, Tom. You can offer moving pictures of the smugglers in court,for evidence."
"Of course!" added Mr. Period. "Now, Tom, don't disappoint me."
"Well, I suppose I'll have to get the camera out, and set it up,"conceded Tom with a laugh. "As you say, Mr. Damon, the pictures MAYcome in valuable. Come, Ned, you get out the camera, and set it up,while Koku and I see to getting the ship in shape for a flight.You'll come along, Mr. Period?"
"I don't know. I was thinking of going back. I'm losing about ahundred dollars a minute by being away from my business."
"You'll have to go back alone," said Mr. Whitford, "as I have to bewith Tom, in case of a capture."
"Ride back alone, through these woods? Never! The smugglers mightcatch me, and I'm too valuable a man to go that way! I'll take achance in the airship."
Ned busied himself over the wizard camera, which had been storedaway, and Mr. Period went with the young bank clerk to look afterthe apparatus. Meanwhile Tom and Koku saw to it that the Falcon wasready for a quick flight, Mr. Damon and Mr. Whitford lendingwhatever aid was necessary. The horses, which the agent and Mr.Period had ridden, were tethered in the clearing where they couldget food and water.
"Did the smugglers rush anything over last night?" asked Tom.
"No, we evidently had them frightened. But I shouldn't be surprisedbut what they made the attempt to-night. We'll go back toward theSt. Regis Indian reservation, where they were getting ready tounload that steamer, and hover around the border there. Something issure to happen, sooner or later."
"I guess that's as good a plan as any," agreed Tom, and in a littlewhile they started.
All that night they hovered over the border, sailing back and forth,flashing the great light at intervals to pick up the white wings ofa smuggling airship. But they saw nothing.
Mr. Period was in despair, as he fully counted on a capture beingmade while he was present, so that he might see the moving picturesmade. But it was not to be.
The wizard camera was all in readiness, but there was no need tostart the automatic machinery. For, search as Tom and his friendsdid for a trace of the smugglers, they could see nothing. They puton full speed, and even went as far as the limits of the Indianreservation, but to no purpose. They heard no throbbing motor, nowhizz of great propellers, and saw no white, canvas wings againstthe dark background of the sky, as Tom's craft made her waynoiselessly along.
"I guess we've frightened them away," said Mr. Whitford dubiously,as it came near morning, and nothing suspicious had been seen orheard. "They're holding back their goods, Tom until they think theycan take us unawares. Then they'll rush a big shipment over."
"Then's the time we must catch them," declared the young inventor."We may as well go back now."
"And not a picture!" exclaimed Mr. Period tragically. "Well, be sureto get good ones when you do make a capture, Tom."
"I will," promised the young inventor. Then, with a last sweep alongthe border he turned the nose of his craft toward Logansville. Hehad almost reached the place, and was flying rather low over thecountry roads, when Ned called:
"Hark! I hear something!"
The unmistakable noise of a gasolene motor in operation could bedistinguished.
"There they are!" cried Mr. Period.
"Bless my honeysuckle vine!" gasped Mr. Damon.
"The light, Ned, the light!" cried Tom.
His chum flashed the powerful beam all around the horizon, andtoward the sky, but nothing was visible.
"Try down below," suggested Mr. Whitford.
Ned sent the beams earthward. And there, in the glare, they saw ayouth speeding along on a motor-cycle. In an instant Tom grabbed upthe binoculars and focussed them on the rider.
"It's Andy Foger!" he cried.