"Then why are you in such a hurry? Why have you that revolver? I know there is something wrong, Tom. I am going to help you!"
In his father's present weakened state Tom desired this least of all, so he said:
"Now, never mind, dad. I thought I heard a noise out in the yard, and I'm not going to take any chances. So I roused Mr. Jackson, and I'm going down to see what it is. Perhaps it may only be Eradicate's mule, Boomerang, kicking around, or it may be Rad himself, or some one after his chickens. Don't worry. Mr. Jackson and I can attend to it. You go back to bed, father."
Tom spoke with such assurance that Mr. Swift believed him, and retired to his room, just as the engineer, partly dressed, came hurrying out in response to Tom's summons. He had his rifle, and, had the invalid inventor seen that, he surely would have worried more.
"Come on!" whispered Tom. "Don't make any noise. I don't want to excite my father."
"What was it?" asked the engineer.
"I don't know. Burglar alarm went off, that's all I can say until we get to the shed."
Together the two left the house softly, and soon were hurrying toward the aeroplane shed.
"Look!" exclaimed Mr. Jackson. "Didn't you see a light just then, Tom?"
"Where?"