he went to Shopton, to spy
on Mr. Titus, whose movements he had been commanded to follow by
Blakeson & Grinder. Then he disappeared after Mr. Titus chased him,
only to reappear, in disguise, on board the Bellaconda, as Senor Pinto.

Waddington, meanwhile, had grown a beard and this, with his knowledge
of theatrical makeup, enabled him to deceive even Mr. Titus. Of course
it was comparatively easy to deceive Tom, who had not known him.
Waddington had really been ill when he called for help on the ship, and
he had not noticed that it was Tom and Mr. Titus who came into his
stateroom to his aid. When he did recognize them, he relied on his
disguise to screen him from recognition, and he was successful. He had
only pretended to be ill, though, the time he slipped out and threw the
bomb.

Reaching Peru he at once began his plotting. Serato told him about the
secret shaft leading into the tunnel, and with the knotted rope, and
with the aid of the faithless foreman, the men were got out of the
tunnel and paid to hide away. Waddington was planning further
disappearances when Tom saw him, but thought it a dream.

Masni, the Indian woman, out herb-hunting one day, had seen Waddington,
'the bearded man' as he then was--working the secret stone. Hidden, she
observed him and told her husband, who was afraid to reveal what he
knew. But when Tom saved the baby the woman rewarded him in the only
way possible. And it was Serato, who, at Waddington's suggestion,
caused the "hit" among the men by working on their superstitious fears.

Waddington, knowing that he was dying, confessed everything, and begged
forgiveness from Tom and his friends, which was granted, in as much as
no real harm had been done. Waddington was but a tool in the hands of
the rival contractors, who deserted him in his hour of need. His last
hours, however, were made as comfortable as possible by the generosity
of Tom and Mr. Damon.

No effort was made to bring Blakeson & Grinder to justice, as there was
no evidence against them after Waddington died. And, as the tunnel was
finished, the Titus brothers had no further cause for worry.

"But if it had not been for Tom's big blast, and the discovery of the
hidden city of Pelone just in the right place, we might be digging at
that tunnel yet," said Job Titus.

The day before the steamer was to sail, Tom Swift received a cable
message. Its receipt seemed to fill him with delight, so that Mr. Damon
asked:

"Is