Part 10 (2/2)

”What is it, Rad?” asked Tom.

”Why I jest thought I'd tell you dat de blessin' man am comin' down de road.”

”The blessing man?” repeated Tom. ”Oh, you mean Mr. Damon.”

”Yais, sah, dat's jest who I done mean. An' dere's anodder gen'man wif him.”

”Mr. Parker, I expect,” spoke Tom. ”Well, tell them to come in here, Rad.”

”Yais, sah. Dey's comin' up de path now, so dey is.”

The next moment Tom and the others heard a voice saying:

”Why, bless my necktie! The RED CLOUD is gone!” Mr. Damon had peered into the shed, and had not seen the airs.h.i.+p, for Tom had it packed up. ”I wonder if Tom Swift has gone away? Bless my top-knot, Mr.

Parker, I hope we're not too late!”

”Indeed I hope not,” added the scientist. ”I wish to make a study of the caves of ice. I think perhaps they may be working south, and, in time, this part of the country may be covered deep under a frozen blanket.”

”Cheerful, isn't he, Ned?” asked Tom, with a smile. Then, going to the door of the shed he called out: ”Here we are, Mr. Damon. Glad to see you, Mr. Parker.” This last wasn't exactly true, but Tom wanted to be polite.

”Bless my collar b.u.t.ton, Tom! But what has become of the airs.h.i.+p?”

asked Mr. Damon, as he looked about the shed, and saw only a number of boxes and crates.

”Taken apart, and packed up, ready for the trip to the valley of gold and the caves of ice,” replied the young inventor, and then he briefly told of their plans.

”Well, that's a good idea,” declared the eccentric man. ”Mr. Parker and I are ready to go whenever you are, Tom.”

”Then we'll start very soon. I will get all our supplies in Seattle.

Now, to discuss details,” and, after Mr. Parker and Mr. Damon had been made acquainted with the old miner, who told his story in brief, they began a discussion of the prospective trip.

Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker took up their residence in Tom's house, and while the eccentric man busied himself in helping our hero, Ned and Abe Abercrombie in getting ready for the trip to Alaska, the gloomy scientist went about making ”observations” as he called them, with a view to predicting what might happen in the near future.

He was particularly anxious to get up north, among the caves of ice, and, several times he repeated his statement that he believed the ma.s.s of ice in Alaska was working down toward the south. But no one paid much attention to him, though Tom recalled, not without a little shudder, that Mr. Parker had correctly predicted the destruction of Earthquake Island, and also the landslide on Phantom Mountain.

The airs.h.i.+p was finally sent off, being forwarded to Seattle in sections, where it could easily be put together. The matter of Andy Foger having a duplicate map of the valley of gold was discussed, but it was agreed that nothing could be done about it. So Tom and the others devoted all their energies to getting in shape for their prospective journey.

Mr. Swift was invited to go, but declined on the ground that he had several inventions to perfect, nor could Mr. Jackson go, as he was needed to help his employer. So Tom, Ned, Mr. Damon, Mr. Parker and Abe Abercrombie made up the party. Tom arranged to send wireless messages to his father from the airs.h.i.+p once they were started off toward the valley of gold, and over the frozen north.

One evening, when Tom had been to pay a last visit to Mary Nestor, as he was coming past the Foger premises he saw a number of large vans, loaded with big packing cases coming out of the banker's yard.

”Hum! I wonder if they're moving?” mused our hero. ”If they are they're taking a queer time for it.” He paused a moment to look at the procession of vans. As he did so he heard the voice of Andy Foger.

”Now, I want you men to be careful of everything!” the bully called out arrogantly. ”If you break anything I'll sue you for damages!”

”Oh, that cub makes me sick!” exclaimed one of the drivers as he came opposite Tom.

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