Damon. "And they must have taken him for
you, Tom, for he had on your coat and cap. What can they have done
with him?"

"Taken him away, that's evident," spoke Tom. "Let's look around, and
see if we can find him."

They looked, but to no purpose. Ned had disappeared. There were the
signs of a struggle, the fish rod was broken in several places, as
if Ned had used it as a club, and the ground was torn up.

"Bless my tin whistle!" cried Mr. Damon. "What shall we do?"

For a moment no one knew what to say, then, as they looked at each
other in silence, a voice called:

"I say! What's up? What's the matter? Where are you all? Hey, Tom
Swift!"

"It's Mr. Whitford!" cried Tom. "He's just in time." Then he called
in louder tones:

"Here we are! In the woods by the trout brook! Come on over! Ned is
gone!"

There was a commotion in the bushes, the trampling of a horse, and a
moment later the government agent had joined the others.

"What's this?" he cried. "Ned gone? What do you mean?"

"He's missing. The smugglers have him, I'm afraid," explained Tom,
and then he gave the details.

"It certainly looks so," agreed Mr. Whitford. "His wearing of your
coat and cap fooled them. They must have spied out this camping
place, and they were in hiding. When they saw Ned coming to fish
they took him for you. Having failed in their attempt to damage the
airship, they decided to get her captain. Probably they thought that
if they did the Falcon could not be run, and they would be safe. But
they got the wrong man."

"Then we must get Ned back at once!" cried Tom. "Come on, we'll
start right away! Where do you think we can nab them, Mr. Whitford?"

"Wait a minute," suggested the government agent. He seemed in deep
thought, and paced up and down. It was clear that a great question
was confronting him.

"Well!" exclaimed Tom impatiently, "if we're going to get Ned we
must start at once."

"Perhaps it would be best not to try to rescue Ned at once," said
the custom house man after a pause.

"What!" cried Tom. "Not rescue Ned, my best chum?"

"Not at once," repeated Mr. Whitford. "Look here, Tom. I know it
seems a hard thing to say, but perhaps if we proceed on our original
plan, to hover over the border, and get on the trail of the
smugglers, chasing them to where they land the goods in the United
States, it will be best."

"And not rescue Ned?"

"We can best rescue him by catching the smugglers."

"Then you think--"