quiring possession of that machine that Tom met
his friend Mr. Wakefield Damon, who lived in a neighboring town. Mr.
Damon owned the motor cycle originally, but when it attempted to climb
a tree with him he sold it to Tom.

Tom had many adventures on the machine, and it started him on his
inventive career. From then on he had had a series of surprising
adventures. He had traveled in his motor boat, in an airship, and then
had taken to a submarine. In his electric runabout he showed what the
speediest car on the road Could do, and when he sent his wireless
message, the details of which can be found set down in the volume of
that name, Tom saved the castaways of Earthquake Island.

Tom Swift had many other thrilling escapes, one from among the diamond
makers, and another from the caves of ice; and he made the quickest
flight on record in his sky racer.

Tom's wizard camera, his great searchlight, his giant cannon, his photo
telephone, his aerial warship and the big tunnel he helped to dig,
brought him credit, fame, and not a little money. He had not long been
back from an expedition to Honduras, dubbed "the land of wonders," when
he was again busy on some of his many ideas. And it was to get some
relief from his thoughts that he had taken the flight with Mr. Damon on
the day the present story opens.

"What are you so excited about, Tom?" asked his friend, as the Hawk
alighted near the shed hack of the young inventor's home. "Bless my
scarf pin! but any one would think you'd just discovered the true
method of squaring the circle."

"Well, it's almost as good as that, and more practical," Tom said, with
a smile, as he motioned to Koku to put away the aircraft "I know who
that man is, now."

"What man, Tom?"

"The one who was questioning me when I was fixing the airship. I kept
puzzling and puzzling as to his identity, and, all at once, it came to
me. Do you know who he is, Mr. Damon?"

"No, I can't say that I do, Tom. But, as you say, there was something
vaguely familiar about him. It seemed as if I must have seen him
before, and yet--"

"That's just the way it struck me. What would you say if I told you
that man was Blakeson, of Blakeson and Grinder, the rival tunnel
contractors who made such trouble for us?"

"You mean down in Peru, Tom?"

"Yes."

Mr. Damon started in surprise, and then exclaimed:

"Bless my ear mufflers, Tom, but you're right! That was Blakeson! I
didn't know him with his beard, but tha