t
the screen.

Then, clambering out on the sill, he dropped from sight, the boys
hearing him land with a thud on the turf below. It was no great leap,
though the fall must have jarred him considerably, for the boys heard
him grunt, and then groan as if in pain.

"Quick!" cried Ned. "Ring the bell for Koku, Ned. I want to capture
this fellow if possible."

"Who is he?" asked Ned.

"I don't know, but we'll see if we can size him up. Signal for the
giant!"

There was an electric bell from Tom's room to the apartment of his big
servant, and a speaking tube as well. While Ned was pressing the
button, and hastily telling the giant what had happened, urging him to
get in pursuit of the intruder, Tom had taken from his bureau a
powerful, portable, electric flash lamp, of the same variety as that
used by the would-be thief. Only Tom's was provided with a tungsten
filament, which gave a glaring white pencil of light, increased by
reflectors.

And in this glare the young inventor saw, speeding away over the lawn,
the form of a big man.

"There he goes, Ned!" he shouted.

"So I see. Koku will be right on the job. I told him not to dress. Can
you make out who the fellow is?"

"No, his back is toward us. But he's limping, all right. I guess that
jump jarred him up a bit. Where is Koku?"

"There he goes now!" exclaimed Ned, as a figure leaped from the side
door of the house--a gigantic figure, scantily clad.

"Get to him, Koku!" cried Tom.

"Me git, Master!" was the reply, and the giant sped on.

"Let's go out and lend a hand!" suggested Ned, looking at the water
pitcher as though wondering what he had intended to do with it.

"I'm with you," agreed Tom. "Only I want to get into something a little
more substantial than my pajamas."

As the two lads hurriedly slipped on some clothing they heard the voice
of Mr. Swift calling:

"What is it, Tom? Has anything happened?"

"Nothing much," was the reassuring answer. "It was a near-happening,
only Ned woke up in time. Someone was in our rooms--a burglar, I guess."

"A burglar! Good land a massy!" cried Eradicate, who had also gotten up
to see what the excitement was about. "Did you cotch him, Massa Tom?"

"No, Rad; but Koku is after him."

"Koku? Huh, he nebber cotch anybody. I'se got t' git out dere mahse'f!
Koku? Hu! I s'pects it's dat no-'count cousin ob mine, arter mah
chickens ag'in! I'll lambaste dat coon when I gits him, so I will. I'll
cotch him for yo'-al