"What time does it show?" asked Tom.

"Eight forty-seven," answered Mr. Damon, as he consulted the dial.
"Why, Tom, that was just about when we heard the cries for help!"

"Yes, it must have been. Let me see that watch."

No sooner had the young inventor taken the timepiece into his hands
than he, too, uttered a cry of amazement.

"Do you recognize it?" asked Mr. Damon, in great excitement.

"It's Mr. Nestor's watch!" cried Tom. "He must have fallen here, and
been hurt. It was Mr. Nestor who cried for help, and who was taken away
by the autoists. They've probably taken him to some hospital. There's
been an accident all right."

Tom and Mr. Damon were of one mind now in thinking that Mr. Nestor had
met with some mishap on the road--an automobile accident most
likely--and that he was the person who had called for help.

"If they had only answered when we hallooed at them," said Tom, "we
wouldn't be in all this stew now. We could have told the strangers who
came to his aid who he was, and we might even have taken him to the
hospital in the airship."

"Well, it's too late to think of that now," returned Mr. Damon. "We
had better get into communication with him as soon as we can, and then
send word to his wife and daughter. I hope he isn't badly hurt."

Tom hoped so, too, with all his heart.

There was nothing to do but to get back in the runabout and make all
speed for the nearest telephone, and Tom Swift lost little time in
doing this. They found a drug store which was open a little later than
usual, and at once Tom went into the booth and called up the Shopton
hospital. He was well known there, as he and his father were liberal
supporters of the institution, which was a private affair. Many of
Tom's men were treated at the dispensary, and, as accidents were of
more or less frequent occurrence at the works, the young inventor had
frequent occasions to call up the place.

"Mr. Nestor would ask to be taken there, as it's nearest his home--that
is, if he was able to speak," Tom said to Mr. Damon, who agreed with
him. There was a little delay in getting the hospital on the wire, but
when Tom had it, and was talking to the superintendent, he was rather
surprised, to tell the truth, to be told that Mr. Nestor had not been
brought in.

"We haven't had any accident cases all day, nor to-night, Mr. Swift,"
the superintendent reported. "Was this some one special you were
inquiring about?"

For Tom, determining no