im a chance, Rad. I have to take Koku with me this afternoon.
You must give your attention to the house and to father."

"Huh! Umm!" grunted Eradicate.

Rad was jealous of anybody who waited on Tom besides himself.
Yet he was proud of responsibility, too. He teetered between the pride
of being in charge at home and accompanying his young master, and
finally replied:

"Well, in course, you ain't going to be gone long, Massa Tom. And yo'
father does like to get his nap undisturbed. And he'll want his pot o'
tea afterwards. So I'll let dat irresponsible Koku go wid yo'. But yo'
got to watch him, Massa Tom. Dat giant don't know what he's about half
de time."

As Koku was not within hearing to challenge that statement, things went
all right. When Tom came out of the house after eating, he found his
very fast car waiting for him, with the giant standing beside it at the
curb.

"Get in at the back, Koku," said Tom. "I am going to take you with me."

"Master is much wise," said Koku. "That man with big feet will not hurt
Master while Koku is with him."

To tell the truth Tom had quite forgotten the supposed spy that had
attacked him the night before. He needed Koku for a purpose other than
that of bodyguard. But he made no comment upon the giant's remark.

They stopped at one of the gates of the works, and Tom instructed Koku
to bring out and put into the car certain boxes and tools that he
wished to take with him. Then he drove on, taking the road to
Waterfield.

This way led through farmlands and patches of woods, a rough country in
part. A mile out of the limits of Shopton the road edged a deep valley,
the sidehill sparsely wooded.

Almost at once, and where there was not a dwelling in sight, they saw a
figure tramping in the road ahead, a big man, roughly dressed, and
wearing a broad-brimmed hat. Somehow, his appearance made Tom reduce
speed and he hesitated to pass the pedestrian.

The man did not hear the runabout at first; or, at least, he did not
look over his shoulder. He strode on heavily, but rapidly. Suddenly the
young inventor heard the giant behind him emit a hissing breath.

"Master!" whispered the giant.

"What's up now?" demanded Tom, but without glancing around.

"The big feet!" exclaimed Koku.

The giant's own feet were shod with difficulty in civilized footgear,
but compared with his other physical dimensions his feet did not seem
large. The man ahead wore coarse boots which actually loo