Tom Swift in Captivity, Or, A Daring Escape By Airship

. Damon, when they had pulled their chairs up around a librar

t isn't to be denied that it's the quickest way of going. But in South America there are so many jungles that it will be hard to find a level starting gr

o?" as

we had to look for a certain ruined temple, which was the landmark. When we went after the platinum in Siberia we had to look for the place of the high winds, so I cou

travel on foot or by horses and mules, and go slowly, making inquiri

a captive among some of those savage tribes. It's been a year now since I heard the last of him. But I agree with Tom that an airship won't be much good in the ju

e for its size, and it can be taken apart in sections. It will carry three on a pinch, and I

start?" aske

d an air glider this time. It won't take long to take the Lark apart. I haven't finished work on my nois

can draw on it for expenses. I'll pay any amount to get word of poor Jake, to say nothing of hav

ers were pouring over it when T

re you up to now, Tom, my boy? Mrs. Baggert said

going after gi

om? Are yo

"Bless my check book! I believe if some one wanted

stranger present, and was i

ventor, when the story had been related, "a

dad, and I wish you

hope you'd stay home for a while, and help me work

I get back with a giant or two. Wh

o with one?" aske

he young inventor. "Rad is getting pr

giants black?"

y. "Jake didn't say in his letter. They may be black, white o

would be to take a ship right to the Rio de la Plata, landing say at Buenos Ay

ddington did?" asked Ned, "start

Uruguay. Or they may be on the other side of the Uruguay river in Brazil. It's quite a stretch of territory, and we've got to take

act when you get there. The South Americans are a queer people--very nice when treated right, but very bad i

"for I'd ask nothing better than to hunt for giant land, or try

housekeeper, as she came in to announce that dinner was ready.

put me up a few sandwiches, for I don't know w

days!" cried the housekeeper, throwing up her

to settle down too," said Ned mischievously,

ccessful grab for Ned. "But, Mrs. Baggert, can you put on a coup

t, Tom," objected the circus man

ts, and she used to say that unexpected company never "flustrated" her. Soon the little party was seat

them had the spice of danger in them, for he had been all over the w

he old circus man, when they were once more ga

olks will let me. Especially as we aren't going to use

explained Tom. "We'll have th

Ned. "How about you, M

efore replying, as though he feared

isn't here," invite

dy might overhear him. "I'm not going to say anything about giants. I'll tell her we are going to rescue a p

, and when he knows we're not going in one it will please him. Then he likes it hot, and I

plies you'd better take, and tell you what to do about getting native helpers, and so on," an

Tom, several hours later. "I'll begin at once to take the La

ddenly. "Queer, how I should overlook that, too. I don't suppose y

other expeditions, though I can't say that I like

l," was the answer of the circus man

r ri

s men, are always camping on my trail when I send out after a new consignment of wild animals

know you want g

I warn you in time. In fact, he tried to get ahead of me when I sent Jake Poddington out over a year ago, and I always had my suspic

o get ahead of us." But Tom little knew the man agains