bout
it," he begged Tom and Ned. "At least not until just before we start.
Then she can't object in time. I'll have a wonderful experience, I
know. This will be good news to Dixwell Hardley!"

And as Mr. Damon hastened away to acquaint his new friend with Tom's
decision, the young inventor remarked to Ned:

"I'll go; but, somehow, I have a feeling that something will happen."

"Something bad?" asked the financial manager. "No, I wouldn't go so far
as to say that. But I believe we'll have trouble. I'll start on the
search for the sunken millions, but rather against my better judgment.
However, maybe Mr. Damon's luck and good nature will pull us through!"

CHAPTER V

BUSY DAYS

Once Tom Swift had made up his mind to do a thing he did it--even
though it was against his better judgment. His word, passed, was his
bond.

In conformity then with his decision to take Mr. Damon and the latter's
friend, Mr. Hardley, on an undersea search for treasure, Tom at once
proceeded to make his preparations. Ned, too, had his work to do, since
the decision to make what might be a long trip would necessitate a
change in Tom's plans. But, as in everything he did, he threw himself
into this whole-heartedly and with enthusiasm.

Not once did Tom Swift admit to himself that he was going into this
scheme because he thought well of it. It was all for Mr. Damon, after
Tom had learned that his friend had invested considerable money in a
company Mr. Hardley had formed to pay half the expenses of the trip.

Tom even tried to buy Mr. Damon off, by offering the latter back all
the money the eccentric man had invested with his new friend. But Mr.
Damon exclaimed:

"Bless my gasolene tank, Tom! I'm in this thing as much for the love of
adventure, as I am for the money. Now let's go on with it. You will
like Hardley better when you know him better."

"Perhaps," said Tom dryly, but he did not think so.

The young inventor insisted, before making any preparations for the
trip, that all the cards be laid on the table. That is, he wanted to be
sure there had been such a ship as the Pandora, that she was laden with
gold, and that she had sunk where Mr. Hardley said she had. The latter
was perfectly willing to supply all needful proofs, even though some
were difficult, because of the nature of the voyage of the treasure
craft. As a filibuster she was not trading openly.

"Here are all the records," said Mr. Hardley to Tom one day, when t