eem to have done so
well. I had hopes of getting some one at the army plant."

"I guess they're not letting any of their men go," said Tom, as Mr.
Damon climbed to his seat in the Hawk.

"No, I soon found that out. But I thought perhaps you--"

Tom shook his head.

"I'm sorry," he answered, "but I'm otherwise engaged, and very busy."

"One moment!" called the man, as he saw Tom about to start "Is the
Swift Company plant far from here?"

Tom felt something like a thrill go through him. There was an
unexpected note in the man's voice. The face of the young inventor
lightened, and the doubts melted away.

"No, it isn't far," Tom answered, shouting to be heard above the
crackling bangs of the motor. And then, as the craft soared into the
air, he cried exultingly:

"I have it! I know who he is! The scoundrel! His beard fooled me, and
he probably didn't know me with these goggles on. But now I know him!"

"Bless my calendar!" cried Mr. Damon. "What are you talking about?"

But Tom did not answer, for the reason that just then the Hawk fell
into an "air pocket," and needed all his attention to straighten her
out and get her on a level course again.

And while Tom Swift is thus engaged in speeding his aircraft along the
upper regions toward his home, it will take but a few moments to
acquaint my new readers with something of the history of the young
inventor. Those who have read the previous books in this series need be
told nothing about our hero.

Tom Swift was an inventor of note, as was his father. Mr. Swift was now
quite aged and not in robust health, but he was active at times and
often aided Tom when some knotty point came up.

Tom and his father lived on the outskirts of the town of Shopton, and
near their home were various buildings in which the different machines
and appliances were made. Tom's mother was dead, but Mrs. Baggert, the
housekeeper, was as careful in looking after Tom and his father as any
woman could be.

In addition to these three, the household consisted of Eradicate
Sampson, an aged colored servant, and, it might almost be added, his
mule Boomerang; but Boomerang had manners that, at times, did not make
him a welcome addition to any household. Then there was the giant Koku,
one of two big men Tom had brought back with him from the land where
the young inventor had been held captive for a time.

The first book of this series is called "Tom Swift and His Motor
Cycle," and it was in ac