Only it didn't."
"Why, Tom!" cried Ned. "It was just like one of those alarm-
clock dynamite bombs--set to go off at a certain time."
"Exactly," Tom said, "only this was more delicate, and, if it
had worked properly, there wouldn't have been a vestige left to
give us a clue. But the fire, thanks to the ballast sand in the
dirigible, was put out in time. The fuse burned itself out, but I
can tell by the smell that chemicals were in it. That's all,
Koku," he went on to the giant who had stood waiting, not
understanding all the talk between Tom and Ned. "I'll take care
of this now."
"Bad man put it there?" asked the giant, who at least
comprehended that something was wrong.
"Well, yes, I guess you could say it was a bad man," replied
Tom.
"Ha! If Koku find bad man--bad for that man!" muttered the
giant, as he clasped his two enormous hands together, as though
they were already on the fellow who had tried to do Tom Swift
such an injury.
"I wouldn't like to be that man, if Koku catches him," observed
Ned. "Have you any idea who it could be, Tom?"
"Not the least. Of course I know I have enemies, Ned. Every
successful inventor has persons who imagine he has stolen their
ideas, whether he has ever seen them or not.
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