m sure you'll find there, and,
besides, your friend here, Mr. Damon, needs you."

"That's what I do, Tom!" exclaimed the odd man. "Bless my excursion
ticket, but you must come!"

"I'll have to invent the new powder first," Tom said.

"That's what I like to hear!" exclaimed Mr. Titus. "It shows you are
thinking of coming with us."

Tom only smiled.

"I am so anxious to get the proper explosive," went on Mr. Titus, "that
I would even purchase it from our rivals, Blakeson & Grinder, if I
thought they had it. But I'm sure they have not, though they may think
they can get it.

"That may be the reason they are following me so closely. They may
want to know just when we will fail, and have to give up the contract,
and they may think they can step in and finish the work. But I don't
believe, without your help, Tom Swift, that they can blast that hard
rock, and--"

"Well, I'll say this," interrupted Tom, "first come, first served with
me, other things being equal. You have applied to me and, like a
lawyer, I won't go over to the other side now. I consider myself
retained by your firm, Mr. Titus, to invent some sort of explosive, and
if I am successful I shall expect to be paid."

"Oh, of course!" cried the contractor eagerly.

"Very good," Tom went on. "You needn't fear that I'll help the other
fellows. Now to get down to business. I must see some samples of this
rock in order to know what kind of explosive force is needed to rend
it."

"I have some in New York," went on the contractor. "I'll have it sent
to you at once. I would have brought it, only it is too heavy to carry
easily, and I was not sure I could engage you."

"Did that fellow--Waddington, I believe you called him--get away from
you?" asked Mr. Damon.

"Clean away," the contractor answered. "He was a better runner than I."

"It doesn't matter much," Tom said. "He didn't hear anything that would
benefit him, and I'll give my men orders to be on the lookout for him.
What sort of fellow is he, Mr. Titus?"

The contractor described the eavesdropper, and Mr. Damon exclaimed:

"Bless my turkey wish-bone! I'm sure I passed that chap when I was
riding over to see you a while ago, Tom."

"You did?"

"Yes, on the highway. He inquired the way to your place. But there was
nothing strange in that, since you employ a number of men, and I
thought this one was coming to look for work. I can't say I liked his
appearance, though."

"No, he isn't a very prep