CHAPTER III
TOM MAKES UP HIS MIND
"Great Scott!" yelled the picture man. "What in the world happened tome? Did I get kicked by that mule Boomerang of Eradicate's, that I'veheard so much about? Or was it an earthquake, such as I want to get apicture of? What happened?"
He was still floundering about in the deep bank of snow that was justoutside the window. Fortunately the sash had been up, and Koku hadtossed Mr. Period through the open window. Otherwise, had there beenglass, the well-meaning, but unreasoning giant would probably havethrown his victim through that, and he might have been badly cut. Tomhad the window open for fresh air, as it was rather close in the shop.
"Why, Koku!" exclaimed the young inventor, as he leaned out of thewindow, and extended his hand to the moving picture man to help him outof the drift. "What do you mean by that? Have you gone crazy?"
"No, but no one shall lay hands on my master!" declared the giant halfsavagely. "I have vowed to always protect you from danger, in returnfor what you did for me. I saw this man lay his hand on you. In anothermoment he might have killed you, had not Koku been here. There is nodanger when I am by," and he stretched out his huge arms, and lookedferocious. "I have turned over that man, your enemy!" he added.
"Yes, you overturned me all right," admitted Mr. Period, as he got tohis feet, and crawled in through the window to the shop again. "I wenthead over heels. I'm glad it was clean snow, and not a mud bank, Tom.What in the world is the matter with him?"
"I guess he thought you were going to harm me," said Tom in a lowvoice, as the picture man came in the shop. "Koku is very devoted tome, and sometimes he makes trouble," the youth went on. "But he meansit all for the best. I am very sorry for what happened," and Tom aidedMr. Period in brushing the snow off his garments. "Koku, you must begthe pardon of this gentleman," Tom directed.
"What for?" the giant wanted to know.
"For throwing him into the snow. It is not allowed to do such things inthis country, even though it is in Giant Land. Beg his pardon.
"I shall not," said the giant calmly, for Tom had taught him to speakfairly good English, though sometimes he got his words backwards.
"The man was about to kill you, and I stopped him--I will stop him oncemore, though if he does not like the snow, I can throw him somewhereelse."
"No! No! You must not do it!" cried Tom. "He meant no harm. He is myfriend."
"I am glad to hear you say that," exclaimed the picture man. "I havehopes that you will do what I want."
"He your friend?" asked Koku wonderingly.
"Certainly; and you must beg his pardon for what you did," insisted Tom.
"Very well. I am glad you did not hurt yourself," said the giant, andwith that "apology" he stalked out of the room, his feelings evidentlyvery much disturbed.
"Ha! Ha!" laughed Mr. Period. "I guess he can't see any one but you,Tom. But never mind. I know he didn't mean anything, and, as I'm nonethe worse I'll forgive him. My necktie isn't spotted; is it?"
"No, the snow didn't seem to do that any harm," replied the younginventor, as he looked at the brilliant piece of red silk around Mr.Period's collar.
"I am very particular about my neckties," went on the picture man. "Ialways wear one color. My friends never forget me then."
Tom wondered how they could ever forget him, even though he wore notie, for his figure and face were such as to not easily be forgotten.
"I'm glad it's not soiled," went on "Spotty" as he liked to be called."Now, Tom, you said you were my friend. Prove it by accepting my offer.Build that wizard camera, and get me some moving pictures that will bea sensation. Say you will!"
He looked appealingly at Tom, and, remembering the rather rude andunexpected treatment to which Koku had submitted the gentleman, Tomfelt his mind changing. Still he was not yet ready to give in. Herather liked the idea the more he thought of it, but he felt that hehad other duties, and much to occupy him at home, especially if heperfected his silent motor.
"Will you go?" asked Mr. Period, picking up his fountain pen and checkbook, that he had laid aside when he walked over to Tom, just beforethe giant grasped him. "Say you will."
The young inventor was silent a moment. He thought over the manyadventures he had gone through--in the caves of ice, in the city ofgold, escaping from the giants, and the red pygmies--He went over thedetails of his trips through the air, of the dangers under the seas, ofthose he had escaped from on Earthquake Island. Surely he was entitledto a little rest at home.
And yet there was a lure to it all. A certain fascination that was hardto resist. Mr. Period must have seen what was going on in Tom's mind,for he said:
"I know you're going. I can see it. Why, it will be just the very thingyou need. You'll get more fame out of this thing than from any of yourother inventions. Come, say you'll do it.
"I'll tell you what I'll do!" he went on eagerly. "After you make thecamera, and take a lot of films, showing strange and wonderful scenes,I'll put at the end of each film, next to my picture, your name, and astatement showing that you took the originals. How's that? Talk aboutbeing advertised! Why you can't beat it! Millions of people will readyour name at the picture shows every night."
"I am not looking for advertisements," said Tom, with a laugh.
"Well, then, think of the benefit you will be to science," went on Mr.Period quickly. "Think of the few people who have seen wild animals asthey are, of those who have ever seen an earthquake, or a volcano inaction. You can go to Japan, and get pictures of earthquakes. They havethem on tap there. And as for volcanoes, why the Andes mountains arefull of 'em. Think of how many people will be thankful to you forshowing them these wonderful scenes."
"And think of what might happen if I should take a tumble into a crackin the earth, or down a hot volcano, or fall into a jungle when therewas a fight on among the elephants," suggested Tom. "My airship mighttake a notion to go down when I was doing the photographing," he added.
"No. Nothing like that will happen to Tom Swift," was the confidentanswer of the picture man. "I've read of your doings. You don't haveaccidents that you can't get the better of. But come, I know you'rethinking of it, and I'm sure you'll go. Let me make you out this check,sign a contract which I have all ready, and then get to work on thecamera."
Tom was silent a moment. Then he said:
"Well, I admit that there is something attractive about it. I hoped Iwas going to stay home for a long time. But--"
"Then you'll go!" cried Mr. Period eagerly. "Here's the money," and hequickly filled out a check for Tom's first expenses, holding the slipof paper toward the young inventor.
"Wait a minute! Hold on!" cried Tom. "Not so fast if you please. Ihaven't yet made up my mind."
"But you will; won't you?" asked Mr. Period.
"Well, I'll make up my mind, one way or the other," replied the youngman. "I won't say I'll go, but--"
"I'll tell you what I'll do!" interrupted Mr. Period. "I'm a busy man,and every second is worth money to me. But I'll wait for you to make upyour mind. I'll give you until to-morrow night. How's that? Fair, isn'tit?"
"Yes--I think so. I am afraid--"
"I'm not!" broke in the picture man. "I know you'll decide to go. Thinkof the fun and excitement you'll have. Now I've taken up a lot of yourtime, and I'm going to leave you alone. I'll be back tomorrow eveningfor my answer. But I know you're going to get those moving pictures forme. Is that giant of yours anywhere about?" he asked, as he lookedcautiously around before leaving the shop. "I don't want to fall intohis hands again."
"I don't blame you," agreed Tom. "I never knew him to act that waybefore. But I'll go to the gate with you, and Koku will behave himself.I am sorry--"
"Don't mention it!" broke in the picture man. "It was worth all Isuffered, if you go, and I know you will. Don't trouble yourself tocome out. I can find my way, and if your giant comes after me, I'llcall for help."
He hurried out before Tom could follow, and, hearing the gate click alittle la
ter, and no call for help coming, our hero concluded that hisvisitor had gotten safely away.
"Well, what am I going to do about it?" mused Tom, as he resumed workon his silent motor. He had not been long engaged in readjusting someof the valves, when he was again interrupted.
This time it was his chum, Ned Newton, who entered, and, as Ned waswell known to the giant, nothing happened.
"Well, what's up, Tom?" asked Ned.
"Why, did you notice anything unusual?" asked Tom.
"I saw Koku standing at the gate a while ago, looking down the road ata short stout man, with a red tie. Your giant seemed rather excitedabout something."
"Oh, yes. I'll tell you about it," and Tom related the details of Mr.Period's visit.
"Are you going to take his offer?" asked Ned.
"I've got until tomorrow to make up my mind. What would you do, Ned?"
"Why, I'd take it in a minute, if I knew how to make an electriccamera. I suppose it has to be a very speedy one, to take the kind ofpictures he wants. Wait, hold on, I've just thought of a joke. It mustbe a swift camera--catch on--you're Swift, and you make a swift camera;see the point?"
"I do," confessed Tom, with a laugh. "Well, Ned, I've been thinking itover, but I can't decide right away. I will tomorrow night, though."
"Then I'm coming over, and hear what it is. If you decide to go, maybeyou'll take me along."
"I certainly will, and Mr. Damon, too."
"How about the giant?"
"Well, I guess there'll be room for him. But I haven't decided yet.Hand me that wrench over there; will you," and then Tom and Ned begantalking about the new apparatus on which the young inventor was working.
True to his promise Mr. Period called the next evening. He found Tom,Ned and Mr. Swift in the library, talking over various matters.
"Well, Tom, have you made up your mind?" asked the caller, when Mrs.Baggert, the housekeeper, had shown him into the room. "I hope youhave, and I hope it is favorable to me."
"Yes," said Tom slowly, "I've thought it all over, and I have decidedthat I will--"
At that moment there was a loud shouting outside the house, and thesound of some one running rapidly through the garden that was justoutside the low library window--a garden now buried deep under snow.
"What's that?" cried Ned, jumping to his feet.
"That was Koku's voice," replied Tom, "and I guess he was chasing aftersome one."
"They'll need help if that giant gets hold of them," spoke Mr. Periodsolemnly, while the noise outside increased in volume.