The giant did, indeed, seem to be laboring under the stress of some emotion.
"Oh, Master Tom!" the big man exclaimed when he had got the attention of the young inventor. "Rad—he—he—"
"Has anything happened?" asked Tom, quickly. "No, not yet. But dat pill man—he say by tomorrow he know if Rad ever will see sunshine more!"
"Oh, the doctor says he'll be able to decide about Rad's eyesight tomorrow, does he?"
"Yes. What so pill man say," repeated Koku.
"Um," mused Tom, "I wish I were going to be here, but I don't see how I can. I must give this test." But it was with a sinking heart as he thought of poor Eradicate that the young inventor proceeded to pile into his airship the largest and heaviest load of chemicals it had ever carried.
CHAPTER XXI
THE LIGHT IN THE SKY
"Well, what do you say, Tom?" asked Ned, in a low voice.