“It is like a story from a book!” added Mr. Illingway, as he graspsd Tom’s hand.  “You rescued us in Africa and again here.”  I may say here that the African rescue is told in detail in the volume entitled, “Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle.”

The shipwrecked persons were made as comfortable as possible.  There was plenty of room for them, and soon they were sitting around warm electric heaters, drinking hot coffee, and telling their adventures over again.  Mr. and Ms. Illingway said they soon expected to return to Africa.

Tom told how he happened to be sailing over the lake, on the lookout for smugglers, and how he had been disappointed.

“And it’s a good thing you were—­for our sakes,” put in Mrs. Illingway, with a smile.

“Where do you want to be landed?” asked Tom.  “I don’t want to take you all the way back to Logansville.”

“If you will land us anywhere near a city or town, we can arrange to be taken back to our cottage,” said one of the men, and Tom sent the airship down until, in the gray dawn of the morning, they could pick out a large village on the lake shore.  Then, in much better condition than when they had been saved, the rescued ones alighted, showering Tom and the others with thanks, and sought a hotel.

“And now for our camp, and a good rest!” cried the young inventor, as he sent the airship aloft again.

They reached their camp in the forest clearing without having been observed, as far as they could learn, and at once set about making things snug, for the storm was still raging.

“I don’t believe any of the smugglers were abroad last night,” remarked Mr. Whitford, as he prepared to go back into town, he having come out on horseback, leaving the animal over night in an improvised stable they had made in the woods of boughs and tree branches.

“I hope not,” replied Tom. but the next day, when the government agent called again, his face wore a look of despair.

“They put a big one over on us the night of the rescue.” he said.  “They flew right across the border near Logansville, and got away with a lot of goods.  They fooled us all right.”

“Can you find out who gave the wrong tip?” asked Tom.

“Yes, I know the man.  He pretended to be friendly to one of my agents, but he was only deceiving him.  But we’ll get the smugglers yet!”

“That’s what we will!” cried Tom, determinedly.

Several days passed, and during the night time Tom, in his airship, and with the great searchlight aglow, flew back and forth across the border, seeking the elusive airships, but did not see them.  In the meanwhile he heard from Mr. and Mrs. Illingway, who sent him a letter of thanks, and asked him to come and see them, but, much as Tom would liked to have gone, he did not have the time.

It was about a week after the sensational rescue, when one evening, as Tom was about to get ready for a night flight, he happened to be in the pilot house making adjustments to some of the apparatus.