Tom Swift was a most generous lad, but when he saw that Mr. Damon had
with him Mr. Parker, the gloomy scientist, who seemed to take delight in
predicting disasters, our hero's spirits were not exactly of the best.
He would have much preferred not to take Mr. Parker on the quest for the
diamond makers, but, since Mr. Damon had mentioned it, he did not see
how he could very well refuse.
“But perhaps he won't care to go,” thought Tom.
He was undeceived a moment later, however, for the scientist remarked:
I am very glad to meet you once more, Mr. Swift. I have scarcely thanked
you enough for what you did for us in erecting your wireless station on
Earthquake Island, which, as you recall, I predicted would sink into
the sea. It did, I am glad to say, not because I like to see islands
destroyed, but because science has been vindicated. Now I have just
heard you remark that you are about to set off to the mountains in
search of some men who are making diamonds. I need hardly state that
this is utterly useless, for no diamonds, commercially valuable, can be
made by men. But the trip may be valuable in that it will permit me to
demonstrate some scientific facts.
“Therefore, if you will permit me, I will be very glad to accompany you
and Mr. Damon. I shall be delighted, in short, and I can start as soon
as you are ready.”
“There's no hope for it!” thought Tom, dismally. “I suppose he'll wake
up every morning, and predict that before night the world will come to
an end, or he'll prophesy that the airship will blow up, and vanish,
when about seven miles above the clouds. Well, there's no way out of it,
so here goes.”
Thereupon Tom welcomed the scientist as cordially as he could, and
invited him to form one of the party that would set off in the airship
to search for Phantom Mountain.
“Bless my jewelry box!” exclaimed Mr. Damon, when this formality was
over. “Tell me more about it, Tom.”
Which our hero did, stating the need of maintaining secrecy on account
of the danger to Mr. Jenks. Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker both agreed to say
nothing about the matter, and then the scientist became much interested
in the Red Cloud, which he closely examined. He even complimented Tom on
the skill shown in making it, and, contrary to our hero's expectation,
did not predict that it would blow up the next time it was used.
“How did you happen to arrive just at this time, Mr. Damon?” asked Tom.
“It was partly due to Mr. Parker,” was the answer. “I had not seen him
since we were rescued from the island, until a few days ago he called
on me at my home. I happened to mention that you lived near here, and
suggested that he might like to see some of your inventions. He agreed,
and we came over in my auto. And now, bless my liver-pin! I find you
about to start off on another trip.”
“And have you fully decided to go with me?” asked Tom. “There may be
danger, and I don't like the way that mysterious man behaved.”
“Oh, bless my revolver!” cried Mr. Damon. “I'm used to danger by this
time. Of course I'm going, and so is Mr. Parker. Do you know,” and the
man, who was always blessing something, came closer to the lad, and
whispered: “Do you know, Tom, Mr. Parker is a very peculiar individual.”
“I'm sure of it,” answered the young inventor, looking at the gentleman
in question, who was then inside the airship cabin.
“But he's all right, even if he is predicting unpleasant things,” went
on Mr. Damon. “I think we'll get better acquainted with him after a
bit.”
“I hope so,” agreed Tom, but he did not realize then how close his
companionship with Mr. Parker was to be, nor what dangers they were to
share later.
The friends talked at considerable length of the prospective trip, and
Tom, by this time, had ascertained what needed to be done to the airship
to get it in shape to travel. It would take about a week, and, in the
meanwhile, Mr. Damon would go home and get his affairs in order for
the voyage. Tom's father was introduced to Mr. Parker, and, the former,
finding that the scientist held some views in common with him, invited
the gloomy predictor to remain at the Swift home until the Red Cloud was
ready to sail. Tom could not repress a groan at this, but he decided he
would have to make the best of it.
Mr. Damon left for home that afternoon, promising to be on hand at the
time set to start for Phantom Mountain.
Tom was up waiting for Mr. Jenks at twelve o'clock that night. Shortly
after the hour he saw a dark figure steal into the orchard. At first he
feared lest it might be one of the spies who were, he was now convinced,
on the trail of the man who was seeking to discover the secret of the
diamond makers. But a whistle, which came to the lad's ear a moment
later (that being a signal Mr. Jenks had agreed to sound), told Tom that
it was none other than the visitor he expected.
“All right, Mr. Jenks, I'm here,” called Tom, cautiously. “Come over
this way,” and he went out from the shadow of the house, where he had
been waiting, and met the men. “We'll go into my private work-shop,” the
youth added, leading the way.
“Have you decided to go with me?” asked Mr. Jenks, in an anxious
whisper. “Did you find the diamonds to be real ones?”
“I did; and I'm going,” spoke Tom.
“Good! That relieves my mind. But we are still in danger. I was followed
by my shadower to-day, and only succeeded in shaking him off just before
coming here. I don't believe he knows what I am about to do.”
“Oh, yes he does,” said Tom.
“He does? How?”
“Because he was here, and warned me against you!”
“You don't mean it! Well, they are getting desperate! We must be on our
guard. What sort of a man was he?”
Tom described the fellow, and Mr. Jenks stated that this tallied with
the appearance of the person who had been shadowing him.
“But we'll fool them yet!” cried Tom, who had now fully entered into the
spirit of the affair. “If they can follow us in the Red Cloud they're
welcome to. I think we'll get ahead of them.”
He then told of Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker, and Mr. Jenks agreed that
it would add to the strength of the party to take these two gentlemen
along.
“Though I can't say I care so much for Mr. Parker,” he added. “But now
as to ways and means. When can we start?”
Thereupon he and Tom talked over details in the seclusion of the little
office, and arranged to leave Shopton in about a week. In the meanwhile
the airship would be overhauled, stocked with supplies and provisions,
and be made ready for a swift dash to the mountains.
“And now I must be going,” said Mr. Jenks. “I have a great deal to do
before I can start on this trip, and I hope I am not prevented by any of
those men who seem to be trailing me.”
“How could they prevent you?” Tom wanted to know.
“Oh, there are any number of ways,” was the answer. “But I'm glad you
found that my diamonds were real. We'll soon have plenty, if all goes
well.”
As Mr. Jenks left the shop, he started back, in some alarm.
“What's the matter?” asked Tom.
“Over there--I thought I saw a figure sneaking along under the
trees--that man--perhaps--”
“That's Eradicate, our colored helper,” replied Tom, with a laugh.
“I posted him there to see that no strangers came into the orchard.
Everything all right, Rad?” he asked, raising his voice.
“Yais, sah, Massa Tom. Nobody been around yeah this night.”
“That's good. You can go to bed now,” and Eradicate, yawning loudly,
went to his shack. A little later Tom sought his own room, Mr. Jenks
having hurried off to town, where he was boarding.
The next few days saw Tom busily engaged on the airship, making some
changes and a few repairs that were needed. His father, Eradicate and
Mr. Jackson helped him. As for Mr. Parker, the scientist, he went about
the place, being much interested in the various machines which Tom or
Mr. Swift had patented.
At other times the scientist would stroll about the extensive grounds,
making what he said were “observations.” One afternoon Tom saw him,
apparently much excited, kneeling down back of a shed, with his ear to
the ground.
“What is the matter?” asked the lad, thinking perhaps Mr. Parker might
be ill.
“Have you ever had any earthquakes here, Tom Swift?” asked the
scientist, quietly.
“Earthquakes? No. We had enough of them on the island.”
“And you are going to have one here, in about two minutes!” cried Mr.
Parker. “I predict that this place will be shaken by a tremendous shock
very soon. We had all better get away from the vicinity of buildings.”
“What makes you think there will be an earthquake?” asked Tom.
“Because I can hear the rumbling beneath the ground at this very minute.
It is increasing in volume, showing that the tremors are working this
way. There will soon be a great subterranean upheaval! Listen for
yourself.”
Tom cast himself down on the grass. Placing his ear close to the ground
he did hear a series of dull thuds. He arose, not a little alarmed.
There had never been any earthquakes in Shopton, yet he had great
respect for Mr. Parker's scientific attainments.
Just then Eradicate Sampson came along. He saw Tom and Mr. Parker lying
flat on the ground, and surprise showed on his honest, black face.
“Fo' de land sakes!” cried Eradicate. “What am de mattah now, Massa
Tom?”
“Earthquake coming,” answered Tom, briefly. “Better get away from the
buildings, Rad. They might fall!” Tom's face showed the alarm he felt.
What would happen to all of his valuable machines--to the Red Cloud?
“Earthquake?” murmured Eradicate, and he, too, cast himself down to
listen. A moment later he arose with a laugh.
“What's the matter?” cried Tom.
“Why, dat ain't no earthquake!” declared the colored man.
“No. Then perhaps you know what it is,” said Mr. Parker, somewhat
sharply.
“Course I knows what it am,” answered Eradicate, with dignity. “Dat
noise am my mule Boomerang, kickin' in his stable, on account oh me not
feedin' him yet. Dat's what it am. I'se gwine right now t' gib him his
oats, and den yo' see dat de noise stop. Boomerang allers kick dat way
when he's hungry. I show yo'!”
And, sure enough, when Eradicate had gone to the mule's stable,
which was near where Mr. Parker had heard the mysterious sounds, they
immediately ceased.
“Dat mule was all de earthquake dere was around here,” said the colored
man as he came out.
Mr. Parker walked away, saying nothing, and Tom did not make any
comments--just then.