ight into the shop where Andy is working. Want to try
it?"

Tom hesitated a moment.

"Well, it seems rather an odd thing to do," he said. "But I would
like to see what sort of a flying machine Andy is making, just for
my own satisfaction. He may be infringing on some of my patents, and
if he is, I'll stop him. Once or twice he's been sneaking around my
shed here. I don't believe in sneaking, but I know he wouldn't let
me in if I asked him, so I guess it's the only way. I'll go with
you, Ned."

"All right. We'll see if we can get a glimpse of Andy's queer
shebang through the window."

The two chums left Tom's shop, and were soon in the yard of Ned
Newton's house. As he had said, the big shed in Andy's premises came
close up to the fence, and there was a window through which one
might gaze. The casement did not appear to be curtained.

"I'll get a ladder so we can climb up to the top of the fence, and
look over," spoke Ned, as he and Tom went out into the yard back of
his house. The fence was high up on an embankment.

A little later Tom and his chum were gazing into the shop window
from the ladder.

"Why, it's a triplane--a big triplane!" he exclaimed.

"What's a triplane?" asked Ned, who didn't have much time to study
the different types of airships.

"It's one that has three sets of planes, one above the other. A
biplane has two sets of planes, and a monoplane only one. Triplanes
are larger, and, as far as I've been able to learn, not as
satisfactory as either the biplanes or monoplanes. But that's not
saying Andy's won't be a success. They certainly are busy in there,
though! Andy is flying around like a hen scratching for her little
chickens!"

"See anything of his cronies?"

"Yes, Pete and Sam are hammering away. There are a couple of men,
too."

"Yes, the machinists. Oh, I guess Andy expects great things from his
airship."

"Have you heard what he's going to do with it, Ned? Make flights for
pleasure, or exhibit it?"

"No, I haven't heard. Look out, Tom, the ladder is slipping!"

As Ned spoke this warning, the window of the airship shed, through
which they were looking, was suddenly raised. The ugly face of Andy
Foger peered out. He caught sight of Tom and Ned.

"Get away from there, you spies!" he yelled. "Get away from there,
Tom Swift! You're trying to steal some of my ideas! Get away or I'll
make you. Sam, bring me my gun! Pete, go tell my father to come
here! I'll show Ned Newton and To