CHAPTER X
OFF IN THE AIRSHIP
Going from the brightly lighted shop into the darkness of the night,illuminated as it was only by the stars, neither Tom, Ned, norEradicate, could see anything at first. They had to stand still for amoment to accustom their eyes to the gloom.
"Can you see them?" cried Tom to his chum.
"No, but I can hear them! Over this way!" yelled Ned, and then, beingable to dimly make out objects, so he would not run into them, hestarted off, followed by the young inventor.
Tom could hear several persons running away now, but he could see noone, and from the sound he judged that the spies, if such they were,were hurrying across the fields that surrounded the shop.
It was almost a hopeless task to pursue them, but the two lads were notthe kind that give up. They rushed forward, hoping to be able tograpple with those who had looked in the shop window, but it was not tobe.
The sound of the retreating footsteps became more and more faint, untilfinally they gave no clew to follow.
"Better stop," advised Tom. "No telling where we'll end up if we keepon running. Besides it might be dangerous."
"Dangerous; how?" panted Ned.
"They might dodge around, and wait for us behind some tree or bush."
"An' ef dat Foger feller am around he jest as soon as not fetch one obus a whack in de head," commented Eradicate grimly.
"Guess you're about right," admitted Ned. "There isn't much use keepingon. We'll go back."
"What sort of fellows were they?" asked Tom, when, after a littlefurther search, the hunt was given up. "Could you see them well, Ned?"
"Not very good. Just as I went to get you that wrench I noticed twofaces looking in the window. I must have taken them by surprise, forthey dodged down in an instant. Then I yelled, and they ran off."
"Did you see Andy Foger?"
"No, I didn't notice him."
"Was either of them one of the spies who had Mr. Petrofsky in the hut?"
"I didn't see those fellows very well, you remember, so I couldn't say."
"That's so, but I'll bet that's who they were."
"What do you think they're after, Tom?"
"One of two things. They either want to get our Russian friend intotheir clutches again, or they're after me--to try to stop me from goingto Siberia."
"Do you think they'd go to such length as that?"
"I'm almost sure they would. Those Russian police are wrong, of course,but they think Mr. Petrofsky is an Anarchist or something like that,and they think they're justified in doing anything to get him back tothe Siberian mines. And once the Russian government sets out to do athing it generally does it--I'll give 'em credit for that."
"But how do you suppose they know you're going to Russia?"
"Say, those fellows have ways of getting information you and I wouldnever dream of. Why, didn't you read the other day how some fellow whowas supposed to be one of the worst Anarchists ever, high up in makingbombs, plotting, and all that sort of thing--turned out to be a policespy? They get their information that way. I shouldn't be surprised butwhat some of the very people whom Mr. Petrofsky thinks are his friendsare spies, and they send word to headquarters of every move he makes."
"Why don't you warn him?"
"He knows it as well as I do. The trouble is you can't tell who thespies are until it's too late. I'm glad I'm not mixed up in that sortof thing. If I can get to Siberia, help Mr. Petrofsky rescue hisbrother, and get hold of some of that platinum I'll be satisfied. ThenI won't go back to the land of the Czar, once I get away from there."
"That's right. Well, let's go back and work on the glider."
"And we'll have Eradicate patrolling about the shop to make sure we'renot spied on again."
"By golly! Ef I sees any oh 'em, I suah will pinch 'em!" cried thecolored man, as he clicked the pliers.
But there was no further disturbance that night, and, when Tom and Nedceased work, they had made good progress toward finishing the airglider.
The big airship was almost ready to be given a trial flight, with hermotors tuned up to give more power, and as soon as the Russian exilehad a little more definite information as to the possible whereaboutsof his brother, they could start.
In the days that followed Tom and his friends worked hard. The airglider was made as nearly perfect as any machine is, and in a fairlystiff gale, that blew up about a week later, Tom did some things in itthat made his friends open their eyes. The young inventor had it undernearly as good control as he had his dirigible balloons or aeroplanes.
The big airship, too, was made ready for the long voyage, extra largestorage tanks for gasolene being built in, as it was doubtful if theycould get a supply in Siberia without arranging for it in advance, andthis they did not want to do. Besides there was the long ocean flightto provide for.
"But if worst comes to worst I can burn kerosene in my motor," Tomexplained, for he had perfected an attachment to this end. "You can getkerosene almost anywhere in Russia."
At last word was received from Russia, from some Revolutionist friendsof the exile, stating that his brother was supposed to be working in acertain sulphur mine north of the Iablonnoi mountains, and half waybetween that range and the city of Iakutsk.
"But it might be a salt mine, just as well," said Mr. Petrofsky, whenhe told the boys the news. "Information about the poor exiles is hardto get."
"Well, we'll take a chance!" cried Tom determinedly.
The preparations went on, and by strict watchfulness none of the spiessecured admission to the shop where the air glider was being finished.The big airship was gotten in shape for the voyage, and then, after afinal trial of the glider, it was taken apart and put aboard theFalcon, ready for use on the gale-swept plains of Siberia.
The last of the stores, provisions and supplies were put in the big carof the airship, a route had been carefully mapped out, and Tom, aftersaying good-bye to Mary Nestor, his father, the housekeeper, andEradicate, took his place in the pilot house of the airship onepleasant morning at the beginning of Summer.
"Don't you wish you were going, Rad?" the young inventor asked, for thecolored man had decided to stay at home.
"No indeedy, Massa Tom," was the answer. "Dat's a mighty cold countryin Shebeara, an' I laik warm wedder."
"Well, take care of yourself and Boomerang," answered Tom with a laugh.Then he pulled the lever that sent a supply of gas into the big bag,and the ship began to rise.
"I guess we've given those spies the slip," remarked Ned, as they rosefrom the ground calling good-byes to the friends they left behind.
"I hope so," agreed Tom, but could he have seen two men, of sinisterlooks, peering at the slowly-moving airship from the shelter of a gloveof trees, not far off, he might have changed his opinion, and so wouldNed.
Then, as the airship gathered momentum, it fairly sprang into the air,and a moment later, the big propellers began revolving. They were offon their long voyage to find the lost platinum mine, and rescue theexile of Siberia.
Tom Swift and His Air Glider; Or, Seeking the Platinum Treasure Page 10
