“Over Lafayette way.”

“Humph!” murmured Tom.  To himself he added:  “Queer that he should be near Lake Loraine, in an opposite direction from Lafayette.  This will bear an investigation.”

The next day Tom made it his business to pass near the hammer that was so frequently out of order.  He found Feldman busy instructing Koku in its operation.  Tom resolved on a little strategy.

“How is it working, Feldman?” he asked.

“Very well, Mr. Swift.  There doesn’t seem to be any trouble at all, but it may happen any minute.  Koku seems to take to it like a duck to water.”

“Well, when he is ready to assume charge let me know.”

“And then am I to go into the aeroplane shop?”

“I’ll see.  By the way, how is your mother?” he asked quickly, looking Feldman full in the face.

“She is much better.  I took a day off yesterday to go to see her,” the man replied quietly enough, and without sign of embarrassment.

“That’s good.  Let me see, she lives over near Lake Loraine, doesn’t she?”

This time Feldman could not repress a start.  But he covered it admirably by stooping over to pick up a tool that fell to the floor.

“No, my mother is in Lafayette,” he said.  “I don’t know where Lake Loraine is.”

“Oh,” said Tom, as he turned aside to hide a smile.  He was sure now he knew at least one of the plotters.

But Tom was not yet ready to show his hand.  He wanted better evidence than any he yet possessed.  It would take a little more time.

Work on the aerial warship was rushed, and it seemed likely that a trial flight could be made before the date set.  Lieutenant Marbury sent word that he would be on hand when needed, and in some of the shops, where fittings for the Mars were being made, night and day shifts were working.

“Well, if everything goes well, we’ll take her for a trial flight to-morrow,” said Tom, coming in from the shops one evening.

“Guns and all?” asked Ned, who had come over to pay his chum a visit.  Mr. Damon was also on hand, invoking occasional blessings.

“Guns and all,” replied Tom.

Ned had a little vacation from the bank, and was to stay all night, as was Mr. Damon.

What time it was, save that it must be near midnight, Tom could not tell, but he was suddenly awakened by hearing yells from Eradicate: 

“Massa Tom!  Massa Tom!” yelled the excited colored man.  “Git up!  Git up!  Suffin’ turrible am happenin’ in de balloon shop.  Hurry!  An’ yo’ stan’ still, Boomerang, or I’ll twist yo’ tail, dat’s what I will!  Hurry, Massa Tom!”

Tom leaped out of bed.

CHAPTER XIII THE CAPTURE

Tom Swift was something like a fireman.  He had lived so long in an atmosphere of constant alarms and danger, that he was always ready for almost any emergency.  His room was equipped with the end in view that he could act promptly and effectively.