Tom Swift and His Great Searchlight; or, on the border for Uncle Sam

what are you

ndow of the shop at his chu

est invention,

some new kinds of moving pictures? Say, do you remember the time we gave a

wn. I was part of the elepha

another one. But what are you up t

in the form of a big square box. In one side there was a circular opening, and there were various

mile. "But it isn't the kind of magic lantern you mean. It won't throw pictures on a screen, bu

eh?" laughed Ned.

ggle

were talking ab

to show up the smugglers, so you can call

re going a

e, and after Tom's accidental discovery of how to make a new kind of searc

things I'll need in my work. It's going to be the most powerful searchlight ever

you mea

my new noiseless airship, and one that will give a beam of light that will be visible for

show up the

it will if we can get

said it would be the most powe

t be very heavy. Of course there are stationary searchlights, such lights as are in lighthouses, that cou

you all right after those smugglers. But where are some

f the twin lighthouses at the Highlands, on the Atlantic coast of New Jersey, just above Asbury Park. That light is of ninety-five million candle power

hat's some ligh

igh hill, and the tower is also high, so there is quite an elevatio

Ned. "It gives

very powerful light." And he then related how he had accidently discovered a new way to connect the wir

m continued, "and soon I'll be ready

then

we'll have a night flight. It may work, and it may not.

Tom. Can I do anyt

here's an old pair of gloves to put on to protect your hands, otherwise you'

hen Mr. Whitford came along. Koku was, as usual, on guard at the outer do

ow you coming

got just what I want. A pow

muggle the goods over in the night now. How soon do you

ked Tom, as he noticed a look of a

y superiors are after me to do something, but I can't seem to

neighborhood of Huntington, Canada, and the dividing line between the British possessions and New York State,

an custom officer

swer. "No doubt they are trying, but it's hard to get an airs

ome to use airs

by wagons," replied the agent. "You must know that in every principal city, at or near the border line, the

ritory, and they are always on the lookout. They patrol the line, sometimes through a dense wilderness, and again over a desolate plain, always on the watch. If they see persons crossing the l

of all the precautions?" asked Ned. "Say a

r deputies is coming along, acts as a stop. You see the border line is divided up into stretches of different lengths. A cer

ravels hundreds of miles on horseback, with pack ponies carrying hi

ssible for an inspector patroling the border to be on the lookout for the craft of the air. Even if they saw them, what could they do? It would be out of the question to

ack, traveling along the border, can't meet the issue. We're de

t take very long to complete my searchlight, and then I'll give it a trial. My airsh

some reports from my deputies. I'll leave them with you, and you can look them over, and map out a campaign. When you are ready to s

uspicion of the Fogers?"

the custom violations. I'm going to put one of my bes

in a few days," said Tom, as

g it to the airship. Koku helped them, but little of the plans, or of the use to which the big lantern was

Tom one afternoon, following a day of hard w

's g

anage the ship, and I'l

aft that extended above the main cabin. The shaft was hollow and through it came the wires that carried the current. Tom, from the cabin below, could move the lantern in any direction, and focus it on any sp

h he had gone to Siberia after the platinum. The n

d Tom after an inspect

far as I'm co

let he

to the air, and, with scarcely a sound that could be

going to do fi

'm going to try the lantern on that first, and see wha

nd powerfully, until the barograph re

gh enough."

on Shopton, which lay below them. Then, turning on the curr

cried Ned. "It's lik

ended it to be!" c

ught the light around so that it began to

ried Ned. "It's as plai

he railroad de

y Foger'

s the beam rested on his residence and shops. "Say, it's pla

ship was stationary. Tom took a pair of binoculars, and

gerness at the success of his great searchlight. "It's

uilding after building, and one familiar spot after another. Finally

d cry. Tom and Ned knew at

man. "De end ob de world am comin'! R

raid!" cried To

man. "I ain't neber done nuffin', an' mah mule Boomerang ain

t!" cried Tom. But the colored

ip came nearer to the earth, Ned, who was looking

at K

r depicted on his face, running away as fast as he co

" cried Ned. "Loo

e's too valuable. I know what happened once when he got frightened. He was away for a week

you goin

good test for chasing the smugglers. Put me after him, Ned,