Tom Swift in Captivity | Page 6

low library windows, opened it, gave a shrill whistle and waved
his handkerchief vigorously. In a moment there came an answering
whistle.
"He's coming," announced the odd gentleman.
"But who is he?" insisted Tom. "Is he some professor who wants a
giant to examine, or is he a millionaire who wants one for a body
guard?"
"Neither one, Tom. He's the proprietor of a number of circuses, and a
string of museums, and he wants a giant, or even two of them, for
exhibition purposes. There's lots of money in giants. He's had some
seven, and even eight feet tall, but he has lately heard of a land where

the tallest man is nearly ten feet high, and very big, and he'll pay ten
thousand dollars for a giant alive and in good condition, as the animal
men say. I believe we can get one for him, and--Ah, here he is now,"
and Mr. Damon interrupted himself as a small, dark-complexioned man,
with a very black mustache, black eyes, a watch chain as big around as
his thumb, a red vest, a large white hat, and a suit of large-sized
checked clothes appeared at the open library window.
"Is it all right?" this strange-appearing man asked of Mr. Damon.
"I believe so," replied the odd gentleman. "Come in, Sam."
With one bound, though the window was some distance from the
ground, the little man leaped into the library. He landed lightly on his
feet, quickly turned two hand springs in rapid succession, and then,
without breathing in the least rapidly, as most men would have done
after that exertion, he made a low bow to Tom and Ned.
"Boys, let me introduce you to my friend, Sam Preston, an old acrobat
and now a circus proprietor," said Mr. Damon. "Mr. Preston, this is
Tom Swift, of whom I told you, and his chum, Ned Newton."
"And will they get the giant for me?" asked the circus man quickly.
"I think they will," replied Mr. Damon. "I had a little difficulty in
making the matter clear to them, and that's why I sent for you. You can
explain everything."
"Have a chair," invited Tom politely. "This is a new one on me-- going
after giants. I've done almost everything else, though."
"So Mr. Damon said," spoke Mr. Preston gravely. He was much more
sedate and composed than one would have supposed after his
sensational entrance into the room. "I am very glad to meet you, Tom
Swift, and I hope we can do business together. Now, if you have a few
minutes to spare, I'll tell you all I know about giant land."
CHAPTER III

TOM WILL GO
"Jove! That sounds interesting!" exclaimed Ned, as he settled himself
comfortably in his chair.
"It is interesting," replied the circus man. "At least I found it so when I
first listened to one of my men tell it. But whether it is possible to get
to giant land, and, what is more bring away some of the big men, is
something I leave to you, Tom Swift. After you have heard my story, if
you decide to go, I'll stand all the expenses of fitting out an expedition,
and if you fail I won't have a word to say. If, on the other hand, you
bring me back a giant or two, I'll pay you ten thousand dollars and all
expenses. Is it a bargain?"
"Let me hear the story first," suggested our hero, who was a cautious
lad when there was need for it. Yet he liked Mr. Preston, even at first
sight, in spite of his "loud" attire, and the rather "circusy" manner in
which he had entered the room. Then too, if he was a friend of Mr.
Damon, that was a great deal in his favor.
"I am, as you know, in the circus business," began Mr. Preston. "I have
a number of traveling shows, and several large museums in the big
cities. I am always on the lookout for new attractions, for the public
demands them. Once get in the rut of having nothing new, and your
business will fall off. I know, for I've been in the business, man and
boy, for nearly forty years. I began as a performer, and I can still do a
double somersault over fifteen elephants in a row. I always keep in
practice for there's nothing like showing a performer how to do a thing
yourself."
"But about the giants, which is what I'm interested in most now. Of
course I've had giants in my circuses and museums, from the beginning.
The public wanted 'em and we had to have 'em. Some of 'em were
fakes--men on stilts with long pants to cover up their legs, and others
were the real, genuine, all-wool-and-a-yard-wide