“Course I knows what it am,” answered Eradicate, with dignity. “Dat noise am my mule Boomerang, kickin' in his stable, on account oh me not feedin' him yet. Dat's what it am. I'se gwine right now t' gib him his oats, and den yo' see dat de noise stop. Boomerang allers kick dat way when he's hungry. I show yo'!”
And, sure enough, when Eradicate had gone to the mule's stable, which was near where Mr. Parker had heard the mysterious sounds, they immediately ceased.
“Dat mule was all de earthquake dere was around here,” said the colored man as he came out.
Mr. Parker walked away, saying nothing, and Tom did not make any comments—just then.
CHAPTER VIII—OFF FOR THE WEST
It was a great relief to Tom, to find that there was no danger from an earth tremor. Now that he had made up his mind to go in search of the diamond makers, he wanted nothing to interfere with it. Lest the feelings of Mr. Parker might be hurt by the mistake he had made, the young inventor cautioned Eradicate not to say anything more about the matter.
“'Deed an' I won't,” the colored man promised. “I'se only too glad dere wa'n't no earthquake, dat's what I is.”
As for Mr. Parker, he did not appear much put out by his error in predicting.
“I am sure that what I heard was a tremor, due to some distant earthquake shock,” he said. “The mule's kicking was only a coincidence.”