e Peruvian
officials might abrogate the contract and give it to them.

"But, so far, we've managed to come out ahead. This Waddington is a
sort of spy, and I've found him dodging me several times of late. I
suppose he wants to find out my plans so as to be ready to jump in the
breach in case we fail."

"Do you think your rivals had anything to do with the difficulties you
are now meeting with in digging the tunnel?" asked Mr. Damon. Mr. Titus
shook his head.

"The present difficulties are all of Nature's doing," he said. "It's
just the abnormally hard rock that is bothering us. Only for that we'd
be all right, though we might have petty difficulties because of the
mean acts of Blakeson & Grinder. But I don't fear them."

"How do you think this Waddington, if it was he, knew you were coming
here?" asked Tom.

"I can only guess. My brother and I have had some correspondence
regarding you, Tom Swift. That is, I announced my intention of coming
to see you, and my brother wrote me to use my discretion. I wrote back
that I would consult you.

"Our main office is in New York, where we employ a large clerical and
expert force. There is nothing to prevent one of our stenographers, for
instance, turning traitor and giving copies of the letters of my
brother and myself to our rivals.

"Mind you, I don't say this was done, and I don't suspect any of our
employees, but it would be an easy matter for any one to know my plans.
I never thought of making a secret of them, or of my trip here. In some
way Waddington found out about the last, and he must have followed me
here. Then he sneaked up under the window, and tried to hear what we
said."

"Do you think he did?" asked Tom.

"I wouldn't be surprised. We took no pains to lower our voices. But,
after all, he hasn't learned much that he didn't know before, if he
knew I was coming here. He didn't learn the secret of the explosive
that must be used, and that is the vital thing. For I defy him, or any
other contractor, to blast that hard rock with any known explosive.
We've tried every kind on the market and we've failed. We'll have to
depend on you, Tom Swift, to help us out with some of your giant cannon
powder."

"And I'm not sure that will work," said the young inventor. "I think
I'll have to experiment and make a new explosive, if I conclude to go
to Peru."

"Oh, you'll go all right!" declared Mr. Titus with a smile. "I can see
that you are eager for the adventures I a