“And have you fully decided to go with me?” asked Tom.  “There may be danger, and I don’t like the way that mysterious man behaved.”

“Oh, bless my revolver!” cried Mr. Damon.  “I’m used to danger by this time.  Of course I’m going, and so is Mr. Parker.  Do you know,” and the man, who was always blessing something, came closer to the lad, and whispered:  “Do you know, Tom, Mr. Parker is a very peculiar individual.”

“I’m sure of it,” answered the young inventor, looking at the gentleman in question, who was then inside the airship cabin.

“But he’s all right, even if he is predicting unpleasant things,” went on Mr. Damon.  “I think we’ll get better acquainted with him after a bit.”

“I hope so,” agreed Tom, but he did not realize then how close his companionship with Mr. Parker was to be, nor what dangers they were to share later.

The friends talked at considerable length of the prospective trip, and Tom, by this time, had ascertained what needed to be done to the airship to get it in shape to travel.  It would take about a week, and, in the meanwhile, Mr. Damon would go home and get his affairs in order for the voyage.  Tom’s father was introduced to Mr. Parker, and, the former, finding that the scientist held some views in common with him, invited the gloomy predictor to remain at the Swift home until the Red Cloud was ready to sail.  Tom could not repress a groan at this, but he decided he would have to make the best of it.

Mr. Damon left for home that afternoon, promising to be on hand at the time set to start for Phantom Mountain.

Tom was up waiting for Mr. Jenks at twelve o’clock that night.  Shortly after the hour he saw a dark figure steal into the orchard.  At first he feared lest it might be one of the spies who were, he was now convinced, on the trail of the man who was seeking to discover the secret of the diamond makers.  But a whistle, which came to the lad’s ear a moment later (that being a signal Mr. Jenks had agreed to sound), told Tom that it was none other than the visitor he expected.

“All right, Mr. Jenks, I’m here,” called Tom, cautiously.  “Come over this way,” and he went out from the shadow of the house, where he had been waiting, and met the men.  “We’ll go into my private work-shop,” the youth added, leading the way.

“Have you decided to go with me?” asked Mr. Jenks, in an anxious whisper.  “Did you find the diamonds to be real ones?”

“I did; and I’m going,” spoke Tom.

“Good!  That relieves my mind.  But we are still in danger.  I was followed by my shadower to-day, and only succeeded in shaking him off just before coming here.  I don’t believe he knows what I am about to do.”

“Oh, yes he does,” said Tom.

“He does?  How?”

“Because he was here, and warned me against you!”

“You don’t mean it!  Well, they are getting desperate!  We must be on our guard.  What sort of a man was he?”