Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon | Page 4

come--do! For the sake of old times. Don't you recall how you and
I used to prospect together out in the gold country; how we shared our
failures and successes?"

"Yes, I remember that, Alec. Mighty few successes we had, though, in
those days."
"But now you've struck it rich, pardner," went on the pleader. "Help me
out in this scheme--do!"
"No, Alec. I'd rather give you three or four thousand dollars for
yourself, if you'd settle down to some steady work, instead of chasing
all over the country after visionary fortunes. You're getting too old to
do that."
"Well, it's a fact I'm no longer young. But I'm afraid I'm too old to
settle down. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, pardner. This is my
life, and I'll have to live it until I pass out. Well, if you won't, you won't,
I suppose. By the way, where is Tom? I'd like to see him before I go
back. He's a mighty fine boy."
"That's what he is!" broke in a new voice. "Bless my overshoes, but he
is a smart lad! A wonderful lad, that's what! Why, bless my necktie,
there isn't anything he can't invent; from a button- hook to a battleship!
Wonderful boy--that's what!"
"I guess Tom's ears would burn if he could hear your praises, Mr.
Damon," laughed Mr. Swift. "Don't spoil him."
"Spoil Tom Swift? You couldn't do it in a hundred years!" cried Mr.
Damon, enthusiastically. "Bless my topknot! Not in a thousand
years--no, sir!"
"But where is he?" asked Mr. Peterson, who was evidently unused to
the extravagant manner of Mr. Damon.
"There he goes now!" exclaimed the gentleman who frequently blessed
himself, some article of his apparel, or some other object. "There he
goes now, flying over the house in that Humming Bird airship of his.
He said he was going to try out a new magneto he'd invented, and it
seems to be working all right. He said he wasn't going to take much of
a flight, and I guess he'll soon be back. Look at him! Isn't he a great one,

though!"
"He certainly is," agreed Mr. Peterson, as he and Mr. Swift went to the
window, from which Mr. Damon had caught a glimpse of the youthful
Inventor in his airship. "A great lad. I wish he could come on this
mine-hunt with me, though I'd never consent to go in an airship.
They're too risky for an old man like me."
"They're as safe as a church when Tom Swift runs them!" declared Mr.
Damon. "I'm no boy, but I'd go anywhere with Tom."
"I'm afraid you wouldn't get Tom to go with you, Alec," went on Mr.
Swift, as he resumed his chair, the young inventor in his airship having
passed out of sight. "He's busy on some new invention now, I believe. I
think I heard him say something about a new rifle."
"Cannon it was, Mr. Swift," said Mr. Damon. "Tom has an idea that he
can make the biggest cannon in the world; but it's only an idea yet."
"Well, then I guess there's no hope of my interesting him in my opal
mine," said the fortune-hunter, with rather a disappointed smile. "Nor
you either, Mr. Swift."
"No, Alec, I'm afraid not. As I said, I'd rather give you outright three or
four thousand dollars, if you wanted it, provided that you used it for
your own personal needs, and promised not to sink it in some visionary
search."
Mr. Peterson shook his head.
"I'm not actually in want," he said, "and I couldn't accept a gift of
money, Mr. Swift. This is a straight business proposition."
"Not much straight business in hunting for a mine that's been lost for
over a century," replied the aged inventor, with a glance at Mr. Damon,
who was still at the window, watching for a glimpse of Tom on his
return trip in the air craft.

"If Tom would go, I'd trail along," said the odd man. "We haven't done
anything worth speaking of since he used his great searchlight to detect
the smugglers. But I don't believe he'll go. That mining proposition
sounds good."
"It is good!" cried Mr. Peterson, with fervor, hoping he had found a
new "prospect" in Mr. Damon.
"But not business-good," declared Mr. Swift, and for some time the
three argued the matter, Mr. Swift continuing to shake his head.
Suddenly into the room there ran an aged colored man, much excited.
"Fo' de land sakes!" he cried. "Somebody oughter go out an' help
Massa Tom!"
"Why, what's the matter, Eradicate?" asked Mr. Swift, leaping to his
feet, an example followed by the other two men. "What has happened
to my son?"
"I dunno, Massa Swift, but I looked up jest now,