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A ghost who wafted roast chickens through the air and out of doors on a breeze of its own constructing, appealed to me as having an original mind. Since my midnight discovery I felt pretty certain that I could identify the ghost; and as I recalled the masterly way in which Mose had led and directed the hunt, I decided that he was cleverer than Rad had given him credit for.
"Poor Rad is getting old," said Tom with a sigh. "But he has been very faithful. He and Koku never seem to get along well together." Koku was an immense man, a veritable giant, one of two whom Tom had brought back with him after an exciting trip to a strange land. The giant's strength was very useful to the young inventor.
"'Like a lanyard for your bag; but it's an odd one, seems to me. 'Yes, rather oddish, said the Lakeman, holding it at arm's length before him; 'but I think it will answer. Shipmate, I haven't enough twine, have you any? "But there was none in the forecastle. "'Then I must get some from old Rad; and he rose to go aft. "'You don't mean to go a begging to him! said a sailor. "'Why not?
After I'd been here an hour or so, some heathen sneaked round to a peep-hole in the wall and offered to take off a message to the ship, on payment. I hadn't any money, so I had to give up my watch, and before I'd written half the letter he got interrupted and had to clear off with what there was. Did he bring off the message, sir?" "He did. And I came ashore at once. You remember Rad el Moussa?"
"It will be when I have it in better trim," admitted the young inventor modestly. "By golly!" cried Eradicate, who was grinning almost from ear to ear, "I's proud oh yo', Massa Tom, an' so will mah mule Boomerang be, when I tells him. Yes, sah, dat's what he will be proud ob yo', Massa Tom!" "Thanks, Rad."
Am it too late to git me a ticket, Massa Tom?" "No, I guess there's room on the ship. But say, Rad, I don't want you to talk about this gold image part of it. You can say we're going to look for an underground city, but no more, mind you!" "Trust me, Massa Tom; trust me. I I'll jest say BRASS images, dat's what I'll say BRASS! We's gwine after brass, an' not GOLD. By golly, I'll fool 'em!"
He told Koku to get ready to leave for New York at once, where he and the giant would join Mr. Titus and Mr. Damon, and start across the continent to take for steamer for Lima, Peru. "Rad, did you send that present to Miss Nestor?" asked Tom, later, as he finished packing his grip. "Yas, sah. I done did it. Took it mase'f!" "That's good!
"Of course I will, Eradicate," was the young inventor's answer. "Case we ain't got many laik her no mo', an' dat's de truf, Massa Tom," went on the old man. "So be mighty careful laik!" "That's what I will, Rad! And, while I'm up in the air, don't you and Koku have any trouble." "Ho! Trouble wif dat onery no-'count giant! I guess not!" and the colored man limped off, highly indignant.
"Massa Swift he heah a noise, an' see a light, an' he sent me out yeah t' see what all am gwine on." "Yes, something happened," admitted Tom. "They got the Eagle, Rad." "What! Yo' big airship?" "Yes." "Huh! Dat's too bad, Massa Tom. I suah am sorry t' heah dat. Who done it?" "We don't know, Rad." "Maybe it was dat low-down cousin ob mine what tried t' git mah chickens, onct!"
"Well, I shore does want gold," he murmured. "I reckon I'd better trot along. But one thing mo', Massa Tom." "What is it, Rad?" "Was yo' all aimin' t' stay down thar any length ob time? 'Case if yo' is yo' all'd better take along a snack ob suffin' t' eat. 'Case when I gits among gold I don't want t' come out very soon, an' we might stay dar all day."
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