It did not take our friends long, after they had eaten a hearty meal, to generate some fresh gas, and start the Red Cloud on her homeward way. Tom wanted to take Bill Renshaw with him, but the old man said he would rather remain among the mountains where he had been born. So, after paying him well for his services, they said good-by to him. Abercrombie, the miner, also remained behind, but promised to call and see Tom in a few months.
“Well, we didn't make any money out of this trip,” observed Mr. Jenks, rather dubiously, as they were nearing Shopton, after an uneventful trip. “I guess I owe you considerable, Tom Swift. I promised to get you a lot of diamonds, but all I have are those I had from my first visit to the cave.”
“Oh, that's all right,” spoke Tom, easily. “The experience was worth all the trip cost.”
“Speaking of diamonds, look here!” exclaimed Mr. Damon, suddenly, and he pulled out a double handful.
“Where did you get them?” cried the others in astonishment.
“I grabbed them up, as we ran from the cave,” said the eccentric man; “but, bless my gaiters! I forgot all about them until you spoke. We'll share them.”
These diamonds, some of which were large, proved very valuable, though the total sum was far below what Mr. Jenks hoped to make when he started on the remarkable trip. Tom gave Mary Nestor a very fine stone, and it was set in a ring, instead of a pin, this time.
On their arrival in Shopton, where Mr. Swift, the housekeeper, Mr. Jackson and Eradicate Sampson were much alarmed for Tom's safety, an attempt was made to manufacture diamonds, using a powerful electric current instead of lightning. But it was not a success, and so Mr. Jenks concluded to give up his search for the secret which was lost on Phantom Mountain.
And now we will take leave of Tom Swift, to meet him again soon in other adventures he is destined to have in the caves of ice and the valley of gold.