He pointed to one of the two whose countenance, especially in his appearance of fright, did resemble that of a rat. An instant later he and his companion dropped the tools they had been using and leaped from a near-by open window.
"Stop them!" yelled Tom. But the rascals were too quick, and when the young inventor and his friends reached the casement the two were running across the yard toward the main gate which was, just then, open to let in a truck.
"Stop those men!" yelled Tom, seeing several of his workman, as well as Eradicate and Koku, loitering in the yard.
Not stopping to ask questions, several hands gave chase. The old colored man joined in with a yell of:
"I'll get 'em fo' yo', Massa Tom!"
But his will was better than his deed, for his aged limbs refused to take him over the ground fast enough. As for Koku, the giant would only need to get within hand grasp of the rascals to put a stop to their flight. But, like most big men, Koku was slow in getting started, and the two plotters were beyond the gate before any of their pursuers were within catching distance.
Tom and Ned leaped out of the window also, but reached the gate only in time to see the two plotters disappearing down the road in an auto that, evidently, was in waiting.
"Come, on, Tom! Chase 'em!" cried Ned. "Get out your electric runabout and we'll overtake 'em!"
"Not a chance," Tom replied. "My runabout is having its batteries charged and all the other fast cars are away on the other side of the works. No, they've got us beat. I only hope they haven't damaged my new motor."
"I think they didn't have a chance to do that," said Ned encouragingly. "But who were they, Tom?"