Tom had brought one of his speedy little airships with him to Preston.
The following day the clouds broke a little, and on the next the sun shone. Then the work on the gun went on apace. Tom and his friends were delighted.
"Well, I think we can try a shot to-morrow!" announced Tom with delight on the evening of the first clear day, when all hands had worked at double time.
"Bless my powder-horn!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "You don't mean it!"
"Yes, the gun is all in place," went on the young inventor. "Of course, it's only a temporary carriage, and not the disappearing one I shall eventually use. But it will do. I'm going to try a shot to-morrow. Everything is in readiness."
There came a knock on the door of the room Tom had fitted up as an office in the old farmhouse.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"Me—Koku," was the answer.
"Well, what do you want, Koku?"
"Man here say him must see Master."
Tom and Ned looked at each other, suspicion in their eyes.
"Maybe it's that spy again," whispered Ned.
"If it is, we'll be ready for him," murmured his
