“Hey, fellows!  Wake up!” Tom shouted.  He sprang to his feet and unlatched a single point of the star head.  Within seconds, Bud and Chow were both wide awake, as excited as Tom.  The blue nebulous mass moved closer and closer.  The three watchers were speechless with awe.

As the ball of energy descended toward them, it lit up the whole scene.  The hillside looked almost as if it were on fire.  The earth vibrated, and the air had the sharp smell of ozone.  This was followed by a frightening clatter and rumble.  The force of the energy was sweeping down rocks, gravel, and shrubbery in a hillside avalanche!

“Look out!” Chow shrieked.  “We’ll be pulverized in this rock stampede!” He streaked for cover as a huge boulder came plunging straight toward him.

“Hold fast, Bud!” Tom cried.  “Nothing’s headed our way!”

Steeling his nerves, he grabbed the waiting container and held on grimly.  An instant later the glowing mass sharpened and narrowed itself into a snakelike bolt of fire that arced straight into the head of Tom’s invention.

Tom gave a yell of triumph and clamped the star point shut, then pushed a button to activate the self-sealing process.

Chow peered out cautiously from behind a clump of rock.  The next second, he let out a Texas whoop, bounded from cover like an over-sized gnome, and sent his ten-gallon hat sailing high into the air.

“Yippee!”

Bud cheered too.  “The visitor from Planet X has arrived!”

In their excitement and relief, the three hugged one another and jumped for joy.

“Should we wake up your dad and tell him the good news—­or keep it a surprise till morning?” Bud asked Tom.

“I guess we’d better—­”

Tom broke off in a gasp as the robotlike container suddenly began to whirl—­slowly at first, then faster and faster.  Spinning crazily like a huge runaway top, it darted up, down, and about the hillside.

Tom and his two companions stared in helpless amazement.

“Great horned toads!  What’s it up to?” Chow exclaimed.

“Seems like the energy’s trying to get out!” Bud guessed.  “Something must be bothering it.”

Tom shook his head incredulously.  “No reason for that.  The container was absolutely empty.”

Chow suddenly gave a groan and slapped his forehead in dismay.  “Brand my Big Dipper!” the cook said.  “Mebbe Ole Think Box has gone loco!  An’ it could be my fault!”

CHAPTER XI

AN ELECTRICAL CHRISTENING

“What are you talking about, Chow?” Tom asked, turning to the old Westerner in amazement.

Chow related how he had dropped the bubble gum inside the robot’s head.  “Did I ruin the critter?” he asked fearfully.

Tom was thoughtful for a moment, frowning as they watched Ole Think Box continue its gyrations.  The figure seemed to be calming down somewhat, although Tom could not be sure of this.