第1章

A STRANGE OFFER

"Some one to see you, Mr.Tom."

It was Koku, or August, as he was sometimes called, the new giant servant of Tom Swift, who made this announcement to the young inventor."Who is it, Koku?" inquired Tom, looking up from his work-bench in the machine shop, where he was busy over a part of the motor for his new noiseless airship."Any one I know? Is it the 'Blessing Man?'" for so Kokuhad come to call Mr.Damon, an eccentric friend of Tom's.

"No, not him.A strange man.I never see before.He say he got quick business.""Quick business; eh? I guess you mean important, Koku," for this gigantic man, one of a pair that Tom had brought with him after his captivity in "Giant Land," as he called it, could not speak English very well, as yet."Important business; eh, Koku? Did he send in his card?""No, Mr.Tom.Him say he have no card.You not know him, but he very much what you call--recited.""Excited I guess you mean, Koku.Well, tell him to wait a few minutes, and I'll see him.You can show him in then.But I say, Koku," and Tom paused as he looked at the big man, who had attached himself to our hero, as a sort of personal helper and bodyguard.

"Yes, Mr.Tom; what is it?"

"Don't let him go poking around the shop.He might look at some of my machines that I haven't got fully patented yet.Is he in the front office?""That's where him am.He be lookin' at pictures on the walls.""Oh, that's all right then.Just keep him there.And, Koku, don't let him come back in the shop here, until I get ready to see him.I'll ring the bell when I am.""All right, Mr.Tom."

Koku, very proud of his, mission of keeping guard over the strangevisitor, marched from the room with his big strides, his long arms and powerful hands swinging at his sides, for Koku, or August, as Tom had rechristened him, and as he often called him (for it was in the month of August that he had located the giants) was a very powerful man.A veritable giant, being extremely tall, and big in proportion.

"Be sure.Don't let him in here, Koku!" called Tom, in an additional warning, as his new servant left the main shop.

"Sure not!" exclaimed Koku, very earnestly.

"I don't know who he may be," mused Tom, as he began putting away the parts to his new noiseless motor, so that the stranger could not see them, and profit thereby."It looks rather funny, not sending in his name.It may be some one who thinks he can spring a trick on me, and get some points about my inventions, or dad's.

"It may even be somebody sent on by Andy Foger, or his father.I can't be too careful.I'll just put everything away that isn't fully covered by patents, and then if he wants to infringe on any of the machines I can sue him."Tom looked about the shop, which was filled with strange machinery, most of which had been made by himself, or his father, or under their combined directions.There was a big biplane in one corner, a small monoplane in another, parts of a submarine boat hanging up overhead, and a small, but very powerful, electric auto waiting to have some repairs made to it, for on his last trip in it Tom Swift had suffered a slight accident.

"There, I guess he can't see anything but what I want him to," mused Tom, as he put away the last part of a new kind of motor, from which he hoped great things."Let's see, yes, it's out of sight now.I wish Ned Newton, or Mr.Damon were here to be a witness in case he starts anything.But then I have Koku, even if he doesn't speak much English yet.If it comes to blows--well, I wouldn't want that giant to hit me," finished Tom with a laugh, as he rang the bell to announce to his servant that the visitor might be shown in.

There was a sound outside the door that separated the business office from the main shop, and Tom heard Koku exclaim:

"Hold on! Wait! I go first.You wait!"

"What's the matter with me going ahead?" demanded a quick, snappy voice."I'm in a hurry, and--""You wait! I go first," was the giant's reply, and then came the sound of a scuffle.

"Ouch! Say! Hold on there, my man! Take your hand off my shoulder! You're crushing me with those big fingers of yours!"This was evidently the visitor remonstrating with the giant.

"Humph! I guess Koku must have grabbed him," said Tom softly."I don't like that sort of a visitor.What's his hurry getting in here?" and our hero looked about, to see if he had a weapon at hand in case of an attack.Often cranks had forced their way into his shop, with pet inventions which they wanted him to perfect after they had themselves failed.Tom saw a heavy iron bar at hand, and knew this would serve to protect him.

"You come after me!" exclaimed Koku, when the voice of the other had ceased."Do you stand under me?""Oh, yes, I understand all right.I'll keep back.But I didn't mean anything.I'm just in a hurry to see Tom Swift, that is all.I'm always in a hurry in fact.I've lost nearly a thousand dollars this morning, just by this delay.I want to see Mr.Swift at once; and have a talk with him.""Another crank, I guess," mused Tom."Well, I'm not going to waste much time on him."A moment later the door opened, and into the shop stepped Koku, followed by a short, stout, fussy little man, wearing a flaming red tie, but otherwise his clothes were not remarkable.

"Is this Mr.Tom Swift?" asked the stranger, as he advanced and held out his hand to the young man.

"Yes," answered Tom, looking carefully at the visitor.He did not seem to be dangerous, he had no weapon, and, Tom was relieved to note that he did not carry some absurd machine, or appliance, that he had made, hoping to get help in completing it.The youth was trying to remember if he had ever seen the stranger before, but came to the conclusion that he had not.