Tom.

"And I'm trying to cure these others. I've charged my shotgun with
rock-salt--as he did. My servant has orders to shoot anybody who
tampers with my chicken house tonight.

"But bless my shirt!" exclaimed Mr. Damon, "I'll never be able to sleep
comfortably until I know that no thief can get at my buff Orpingtons. I
want you to fix it so I can sleep in peace, Tom."

He slowed to a stop in front of the Swift's door. Tom stared at his
eccentric friend questioningly.

"Bless my gaiters!" ejaculated Mr. Damon, "don't you see what I want?
And your head already full of this electrified locomotive you are going
to build?"

"Hush!" murmured Tom, with his hand upon his companion's arm. "But
what do you want me to do?"

"I want you to fix it so that I can turn a current of electricity into
that barbed wire chicken fence at night that will shock any thief that
touches the wires. Not kill 'em--though they ought to be killed!"
declared the eccentric man. "But shock 'em aplenty. Can't you do it for
me, Tom Swift?"

"Of course it can be done," said the young fellow. "You use electricity
in your house. There is a feed cable in the street. We will have to
change your lighting switch for another. Fix it with the Electric
Supply Company. It will cost you more--"

"Bless my pocketbook! I don't care how much it costs. It will be ample
satisfaction to see just one low-down chicken thief squirming on those
wires."

Tom laughed again. He meant to help his friend; but he did not propose
to rig the wires so that anybody, even a chicken thief, would be
seriously injured by the electric current passing through the strands.

"I'll come down to Waterfield tomorrow in the electric runabout and fix
things up for you. Get a permit from the Electric Supply Company early
in the morning. Tell them I will rig the thing myself. They can send
their inspector afterward."

"That's fine, Tom! What--Ugh! what's this? Another footpad?"

Out of the darkness beside the fence a bulky figure started. For a
moment Tom thought it was the same man who had attacked him twice. Then
the very size of this new assailant proved that suspicion to be
unfounded.

"Koku!" exclaimed Tom. "What's the matter with you, Koku?"

The huge and only half-tamed giant gained the side of the car in
seemingly a single stride. In the dark they could not see his face, but
his voice distinctly showed excitement.

"Master come good. 'Cause there be enemy. Koku find--Kok