the best of all. I didn't catch that fellow when I raced after him on the dock. He got away, and has steered clear of me since," finished Mr. Period.
"And our rivals didn't secure any views like ours," said Tom.
"I'm glad of it," spoke Mr. Period. "Turbot and Eckert bribed one of my men, and so found out where I was sending messages to you. They even got a copy of my cablegram. But it did them no good."
"Were all the films clear that I sent you?" asked our hero.
"Every one. Couldn't be better. The animal views were particularly fine. You must have had your nerve with you to get some of 'em."
"Oh, Tom always has his nerve," laughed Ned.
"Well, how soon will you be ready to start out again?" asked the picture man, as he packed up the last of the films which Tom gave him. "I'd like to get some views of a Japanese earthquake, and we haven't any polar views. I want some of them, taken as near the North Pole as you can get."
Tom gently shook his head.
"What! You don't mean to say you won't get them for me?" cried Mr. Period. "With that
