to San Francisco was without incident worth narrating and in
due time our friends reached the Golden Gate where they were to go
aboard their steamer. They had to wait a day, during which time Tom and
Mr. Titus made inquiries regarding the first powder shipment. They had
had unexpected good luck, for the explosive, having been sent on ahead
by fast freight, was awaiting them.

"So we can take it with us on the Bellaconda," said, Tom, naming the
vessel on which they were to sail.

The powder was safely stowed away, and our friends having brought their
baggage aboard, putting what was wanted on the voyage in their
staterooms, went out on deck to watch the lines being cast off.

A bell clanged and an officer cried:

"All ashore that's going ashore!"

There were hasty good-byes, a scramble on the part of those who had
come to bid friends farewell, and preparations were made to haul in the
gangplank.

Just as the tugs were slowly pushing against the Bellaconda to get her
in motion to move her away from the wharf, there was a shout down the
pier and a taxicab, driven at reckless speed, dashed up.

"Wait a minute! Hold that gangway. I have a passenger for you!" cried
the chauffeur.

He pulled up with a screeching of brakes, and a man with a heavy black
beard fairly leaped from the vehicle, running toward the plank which
was all but cast off.

"My fare! My fare!" yelled the taxicab driver.

"Take it out of that! Keep the change!" cried the bearded man over his
shoulder, tossing a crumpled bill to the chauffeur. And then, clutching
his valise in a firm hand, the belated passenger rushed up the
gangplank just in time to board the steamer which was moving away from
the dock.

"Close shave--that," observed Tom.

"That's right," assented Mr. Titus.

"Well, we're off for Peru!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, as the vessel moved
down the bay.

Chapter VIII

The Bearded Man

Travel to Tom and Mr. Damon presented no novelties. They had been on
too many voyages over the sea, under the sea and even in the air above
the sea to find anything unusual in merely taking a trip on a steamer.

Mr. Titus, though he admitted he had never been in a submarine or
airship, had done considerable traveling about the world in his time,
and had visited many countries, either for business or pleasure, so he
was an old hand at it.

But to Koku, who, since he had been brought from the land where Tom
Swift had been made captive, had gone