e wind. I hope, as a sort of side remark, it isn't rain
that's in the wind, for the soldiers over at camp have had enough water
to set up a rival establishment with Mr. Noah. But there's something
going on, isn't there? Bless my memorandum book, but don't tell me
there isn't, or I shall begin to believe I have lost all my deductive
powers of reasoning! I Come in here, after knocking two or three times,
to which you pay not the least attention, and find you mysteriously
murmuring to yourself.

"The last time that happened, Tom, was just before you started to dig
the big tunnel--No, I'm wrong. It was just before you started for the
Land of Wonders, as we decided it ought to be called. You were talking
to yourself then, when I walked in on you, and--Say, Tom!" suddenly
exclaimed Mr. Damon eagerly, "don't tell me you're going off on another
wild journey like that--don't!"

"Why?" asked Tom, smiling at the energy of his caller.

"Because if you are, I'll want to go with you, of course, and if I go
it means I'll have to start in as soon as I can to bring my wife around
to my way of thinking. The last time I went it took me two weeks to get
her to consent, and then she didn't like it. So if--"

"No, Mr. Damon," interrupted Tom, "I don't count on going on any sort
of a trip--that is, any long one. I was just getting ready to take a
little spin in the Hawk, and if you'd like to come along--"

"You mean that saucy little airship of yours, Tom, that's always trying
to sit down on her tail, or tickle herself with one wing?"

"That's the Hawk!" laughed Tom; "though that tickling business you
speak of is when I spiral. Don't you like it?"

"Can't say I do," observed Mr. Damon dryly.

"Well, I'll promise not to try any stunts if you come along," Tom went
on.

"Where are you going?" asked his friend.

"Oh, no place in particular. As you surmised, I've been doing a bit of
thinking, and--"

"Serious thinking, too, Tom!" interrupted Mr. Damon. "Excuse me, but I
couldn't help overhearing what you said. It was something about going
to do something though you didn't want to, and that it was part of your
'bit'. That sounds like soldier talk. Are you going to enlist, Tom?"

"No."

"Um! Well, then--"

"It's something I can't talk about, Mr. Damon, even to you, as yet,"
Tom said, and there was a new quality in his voice, at which his friend
looked up in some surprise.

"Oh, of course, Tom, if it's a secret--"

"Well, it ha