Their journey to the metropolis was uneventful.  Mr. Period met them at the steamship dock, after Tom had seen to it that the baggage, and the parts of the airship were safely aboard.

“I wish I were going along!” exclaimed the picture man.  “It’s going to be a great trip.  But I can’t spare the time.  I’m the busiest man in the world.  I lose about a thousand dollars just coming down to see you off, but it’s a good investment.  I don’t mind it.  Now, Tom, good luck, and don’t forget, I want exciting views.”

“I’ll try—­” began our here,.

“Wait, I know what you’re going to say!” interrupted Mr. Period.  “You’ll do it, of course.  Well, I must be going.  I will—­ Great Scott!” and Mr. Period interrupted himself.  “He has the nerve to come here!”

“Who?” asked Tom.

“Wilson Turbot, the rascal!  He’s trying to balk me at the last minute, I believe.  I’m going to see what he means!” and with this, the excited Mr. Period rushed down the gangplank, toward the man at whom he had pointed—­one of the men who had tried to buy Tom’s picture taking camera.

A moment later the steamer’s whistle blew, the last belated passenger rushed up the gangplank, it was drawn in, and the vessel began to move away from the dock.  Tom and his friends were on their way to India, and the last glimpse they had of Mr. Period was as he was chasing along the pier, after Mr. Turbot.

CHAPTER X — UNEXPECTED EXCITEMENT

“Well, what do you know about that, Tom?” asked Ned, as they stood on deck watching the chase.  “Isn’t he the greatest ever—­ Mr. Period, I mean?”

“He certainly is.  I’d like to see what happens when he catches that Turbot chap.”

“Bless my pocket handkerchief!” cried Mr. Damon.  “I don’t believe he will.  Mr. Period’s legs aren’t long enough for fast running.”

“Those scoundrels were after us, up to the last minute,” spoke Mr. Nestor, as the ship moved farther out from the dock.  Tom and his friends could no longer see the excitable picture man after his rival, but there was a commotion in the crowd, and it seemed as if he had caught the fellow.

“Well, we’re free of him now,” spoke the young inventor, with a breath of relief.  “That is, unless they have set some one else on our trail,” and he looked carefully at the passengers near him, to detect, if possible, any who might look like spies in the pay of the rival moving picture concern, or any suspicious characters who might try to steal the valuable camera, that was now safely locked in Tom’s cabin.  Our hero, however, saw no one to worry about.  He resolved to remain on his guard.

Friends and relatives were waving farewells to one another, and the band was playing, as the big vessel drew out into the North, or Hudson, river, and steamed for the open sea.

Little of interest marked the first week of the voyage.  All save Koku had done much traveling before, and it was no novelty to them.  The giant, however, was amused and delighted with everything, even the most commonplace things he saw.  He was a source of wonder to all the other passengers, and, in a way, he furnished much excitement.