, when told
of the change in plans. "I can leave to-night as well as not."

Word to this effect was sent on to Mr. Titus, and then began some
hurrying on the part of Tom Swift. He told Koku to get ready to leave
for New York at once, where he and the giant would join Mr. Titus and
Mr. Damon, and start across the continent to take for steamer for Lima,
Peru.

"Rad, did you send that present to Miss Nestor?" asked Tom, later, as
he finished packing his grip.

"Yas, sah. I done did it. Took it mase'f!"

"That's good! I guess I'll have to say good-bye to Mary over the
telephone. I won't have time to call. I'm glad I thought of the
present."

Tom got the Nestor house on the wire. But Mary was not in.

"There's a package here for her," said the girl's mother. "Did you--?"

"Yes, I sent that," Tom said. "Sorry I won't be able to call and say
good-bye, but I'm in a terrible rush. I'll see her as soon as I get
back, and I'll write as soon as I arrive."

"Do," urged Mrs. Nestor. "We'll all be glad to hear from you," for Tom
and Mary were tentatively engaged to be married.

Tom and Koku went on with their hurried preparations to leave for New
York. Eradicate begged to be taken along, but Tom gently told the
faithful old servant that it was out of the question.

"Besides, Rad," he said, "it's dangerous in those Andes Mountains. Why,
they have birds there, as big as cows, and they can swoop down and
carry off a man your size."

"Am dat shorely so, Massa Tom?"

"Of course it is! You get the dictionary and read about the condors of
the Andes Mountains."

"Dat's what I'll do, Massa Tom. Birds as big as cows what kin pick up a
man in dere beaks, an' carry him off! Oh, my! No, sah, Massa Tom! I
don't want t' go. I'll stay right yeah!"

Shortly before Tom and Koku departed for the railroad station, where
they were to take a train for New York, Mary Nestor returned home.

"Tom called you on the telephone to say good-bye," her mother informed
her, "and said he was sorry he could not see you. But he sent some sort
of gift."

"Oh, how sweet of him!" Mary exclaimed. "Where is it?"

"On the dining room table. Eradicate brought it with a note."

Mary read the note first.

In it Tom begged Mary to accept the little token, and to think of him
when she used it.

"Oh! I wonder what it can be," she cried in delight.

"Better open it and see," advised Mr. Nestor, who had come in at that
moment.

Mary cut the string of th