CHAPTER X
TOM IS HELD UP
Tom Swift stirred uneasily in his heavy sleep. He dreamed that hewas again in his berth in the railroad car, and that the thief wasfeeling under his pillow for the map. Only, this time, there seemedto be hands feeling about his clothing, trying to locate his innerpockets.
The lad murmured something unintelligible, but he did not awaken.The fumes prevented that. However, his movements showed that theeffect of the drug was wearing off. It was intended only fortemporary use, and it lasted less time than it would otherwise havedone in a warmer, moister climate, for the cold, crisp air thatpenetrated the shed from outside dispelled the fumes.
"Guess I'd better not chance it," murmured the intruder. "He may nothave it on him, and if I go through all his pockets I'll wake himup. Anyhow, I've done what they paid me for. I don't believe they'llsail in this airship."
The vandal gave one glance at the sleeping lads, and stole from thecabin of the craft. He looked at his work of ruin, and then tiptoedpast the slumbering watchman. A moment later and he was outside theshed, hurrying away through the night.
Several hours after this Mr. Damon and the old miner were poundingon the door of the shed. Mr. Parker, the scientist, had remained atthe hotel, for he said he wanted to work out a few calculationsregarding some of his theories.
"I thought we'd find them up by this time," spoke the eccentric man,as he again knocked on the door. "Tom said he had lots to do to-day."
"Maybe they are working inside, and can't hear our knocks,"suggested Abe. "Try th' door."
"Bless my heart! I never thought of that," exclaimed Mr. Damon. "Ibelieve I will."
The door swung open as he pushed it, for it had not been locked whenthe intruder left. The first thing Mr. Damon saw was the watchman,still asleep in his chair.
"Bless my soul!" the old man shouted. "Look at this, Abe!"
"Something's wrong!" cried the miner, sniffing the air. "There'sbeen crooked work here! Where are the boys?"
Mr. Damon was close to the airship. He looked in the cabin window.
"Here they are, and they're both asleep, too!" he called. "And--blessmy eyeglasses! Look at the airship! The planes and wings areall cut and slashed! Something has happened! The RED CLOUD is allbut ruined!"
Abe hastened to his side. He looked at the damage done, and a fiercelook came over his face.
"The Fogers again!" he murmured. "We'll pay 'em back for this! Butfirst we must see to the boys!"
They needed small attention, however. The opening of the big doorhad let in a flood of fresh air, and this dispelled the last of thefumes. The watchman was the first to revive. The sleep caused by thechemical, sprayed from the air-pump by the vandal, had beensucceeded by a natural slumber, and this was the case with Ned andTom. They were soon aroused, and looked with wonder, not unmixedwith rage, at the work done in the night.
Every one of the principal planes of the airship, each of therudders, and some of the auxiliary wings had been cut by a sharpknife--some in several places. The canvas hung in shreds andpatches, and the trim RED CLOUD looked like some old tramp airshipnow. Tom could scarcely repress a groan.
"Who did it?" he gasped.
"And with us here on guard!" added Ned.
"I--I must have fallen asleep," admitted the watchman in confusion.
"You were all asleep," said Mr. Damon. "I couldn't rouse you!"
"And there was th' smell of chloroform, or something like it in th'shed," added the miner.
"But look at the airship!" groaned Tom.
"Is it ruined--can't we go to the valley of gold?" asked Ned.
Tom did not answer for a few minutes. He was walking around lookingat his damaged craft. The sleepy feeling was rapidly leaving him, aswell as Ned and the watchman.
"Bless my watch chain!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "What an ugly, meanpiece of work. Can you repair it, Tom?"
"I think so," was the hesitating answer. "It is not as bad as Ifeared at first. Luckily the gas-bag has not been touched, for, ifit had, we could hardly have repaired it. I can fix the wings andthe rudders. The propellers have not been damaged, nor has the motorbeen touched. I think they must have made another attempt to takethe map off me," he went on, as he looked at several pockets thathad been turned inside out.
An examination of the door showed how the lock had been forced, andthe adventurers could easily guess the rest. But who the midnightvandal was they could not tell, though Tom and the others were sureit was some one hired by the Fogers.
"They wanted to delay us," said Tom. "They thought this would holdus back, but it won't--for long. We'll get right to work, and makenew planes and rudders. Fortunately the framework isn't hurt any."
Once Tom got into action nothing held him back. He hardly wanted tostop for meals. New canvas was ordered, and that very afternoon someof the damaged wings had been repaired. In the meanwhile the storesand provisions that had been ordered were arriving, and, under thedirection of the miner and Mr. Damon were put in the RED CLOUD. Tomand Ned, with the help of a man they hired, worked diligently toreplace the damaged planes and rudders. Mr. Parker came out to theairship shed, but he was of little use as a helper, for he wascontinually stopping to jot down some memoranda about an observationhe thought of, or else he would lay aside his tools to go outside,look at the weather, and make predictions.
But Tom and the others labored to such good advantage that in threedays they had repaired most of the damage done. Luckily the vandalhad cut and slashed in a hurry, and his malicious work was only halfaccomplished. There was no clue to his identity.
No trace was seen of the Fogers, and Tom hardly expected it, for hethought they were in Sitka by this time. Nor were any suspiciouspersons seen hanging around the shed. The adventurers left theirrooms at the hotel, and took up their quarters in the airship thatwould soon be their home for many days. They wanted to be where theycould watch the craft, and two guards were engaged.
"We'll start to-morrow," Tom announced gaily one evening when, aftera hard day's work the last of the damaged planes had been repaired.
"Start fer th' valley of gold?" asked the miner.
"Yes. Everything is in good shape now. I want to go into town, tosend some messages home, telling dad we'll soon be on our way, and Ialso want to get a few things."
"Shall I come?" asked Ned.
"No, I'd rather you'd stay here," spoke Tom, in a low voice. "Wecan't take any more chances of being delayed, and, as it's prettywell known that we'll sail to-morrow, the Foger crowd may try somemore of their tricks. No, I'll go to town alone, Ned. I'll soon beback, however. You stay here."
But Tom came nearly never coming back. As he was returning fromsending the messages, and purchasing a few things he needed for thetrip, he passed through a dark street. He was walking along,thinking of what the future might hold for him and his companions,after they reached the caves of ice, when, just as he got to a highboard fence, surrounding some vacant lots, he heard some one whisperhoarsely:
"Here he comes!"
The young inventor was on his guard instantly. He jumped back toavoid a moving shadow, but was too late. Something struck him on theback of his head, and he felt his senses leaving him. He struggledagainst the feeling, and he realized, even in that exciting moment,that the thick collar of his heavy overcoat, which he had turned upbecause of a cold wind, had, perhaps, saved him from a broken skull.
"Hold him!" commanded another voice. "I'll go through him!"
The packages dropped from Tom's nerveless fingers. He felt himselfsinking down, in spite of his fierce determination not to succumb.He felt several hands moving rapidly about his body, and then hestruck blindly out at the footpads.