"Good! That relieves my mind. But we are still in danger. I was
followed by my shadower to-day, and only succeeded in shaking him
off just before coming here. I don't believe he knows what I am
about to do."
"Oh, yes he does," said Tom.
"He does? How?"
"Because he was here, and warned me against you!"
"You don't mean it! Well, they are getting desperate! We must
be on our guard. What sort of a man was he?"
Tom described the fellow, and Mr. Jenks stated that this
tallied with the appearance of the person who had been shadowing
him.
"But we'll fool them yet!" cried Tom, who had now fully entered
into the spirit of the affair. "If they can follow us in the Red
Cloud they're welcome to. I think we'll get ahead of them."
He then told of Mr. Damon and Mr. Parker, and Mr. Jenks agreed
that it would add to the strength of the party to take these two
gentlemen along.
"Though I can't say I care so much for Mr. Parker," he added.
"But now as to ways and means. When can we start?"
Thereupon he and Tom talked over details in the seclusion of
the little office, and arranged to leave Shopton in about a week.
In the meanwhile the airship would be overhauled, stocked with
supplies and provisions, and be made ready for a swift dash to
the mountains.
"And now I must be going," said Mr.
Pages:
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71