"Someone at the door, Tom," replied Mr. Swift calmly. "That's nothing unusual. It's early yet."
But, in spite of his reassuring words, there was a feeling of vague alarm.
"I'll see who it is," volunteered Ned. "If it's Andy Foger--"
Mrs. Baggert entered the room at that moment. She had hurried to the door, and, as she entered she announced:
"Mr. Preston!"
"Yes, it is I!" added the circus man following her quickly into the room. "I came on to-night instead of waiting for the morning, Tom. I have bad news for you!"
"Bad news!" gasped the young inventor. "Has Waydell got hold of your plans."
"I'll wager it has something to do with Andy Foger!" exclaimed Ned.
"Neither one," spoke the circus man. "But I have just had a cable dispatch from one of my animal agents in Brazil, saying that war has broken out among the tribes in the central part of South America. A big native war is being waged all around giant land, as near as we can figure it out."
"War among the native tribes!" exclaimed Mr. Swift.