Tom, those articles just then
dangling over his hips. "What is it? What has happened? Bless my steam
gauge, don't tell me it's a fire!"

"I think it isn't that," Tom answered. "No alarm has rung. Koku seems
to be in trouble."

"Well, he's big enough to look after himself, that's one consolation,"
chuckled Mr. Damon. "I'll be right with you."

By this time Ned had run out into the hall, and, together, he and Tom
sped down the corridor. They could not hear the shouts of Eradicate so
plainly now, as he was on the other side of the house.

But when the two young men reached the front porch, they could hear the
yells given with redoubled vigor. And, in the glare of the electric
lights, Tom saw Eradicate leading along Boomerang, the old mule.

"What is it, Rad? What is it?" demanded the young inventor breathlessly.

"Trouble, Massa Tom! Dat's what it am! Trouble!"

"I know that--but what kind?"

"De worstest kind, I 'spects, Massa Tom. Listen to it!"

From the interior of the big shed, not far from the house, Tom and Ned
heard a confused jumble of shouts, cries and pleadings, mingled with
the rattle of pieces of metal, and the banging of bits of wood. And,
above all that, like the bellowing of a bull, was noted the rumbling
voice of Koku, the giant.

"Come on, Ned!" Tom cried.

"It's suah trouble, all right," went on Eradicate. "Mah mule,
Boomerang, had a touch ob de colic, an' I got up t' gib him some hot
drops an' walk him around, when I heard de mostest terrific
racket-sound, and den I 'spected trouble was comm."

"It isn't coming--it's here!" called Tom, as he sped toward the big
shop. Ned was but a step behind him. The big workshop where the aerial
warship was being built was, like the other buildings, brilliantly
illuminated by the lights Tom had switched on. The young inventor also
saw several of his employees speeding toward the same point.

Tom was the first to reach the small door of the shed. This was built
in one of the two large main doors, which could be swung open when it
was desired to slide the Mars in from the ground, and not admit it
through the roof.

"Look!" cried Tom, pointing.

Ned looked over his chum's shoulder and saw the giant, Koku, struggling
with four men--powerful men they were, too, and they seemed bent on
mischief.

For they came at Koku from four sides, seeking to hold his hands and
feet so that he could not fight them back. On the floor near where the
struggle was taki