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\title{Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice\\
 {\normalsize or The Wreck of the Airship}}


\author{Victor Appleton}

\maketitle
\vspace*{\stretch{1}}

\noindent This public-domain (U.S.) etext was produced by Charles
Franks, Greg Weeks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
The Project Gutenberg edition ({}``08tom10'') was subsequently converted
to \LaTeX{} using \textbf{GutenMark} software and re-edited (principally
for formatting problems) by Ron Burkey. The frontispiece was scanned
and provided by John de Longpre. Report problems to info@sandroid.org.

\begin{description}
\item [B~12/14/02.]Proofing completed.
\item [B1~01/05/03.]Corrected the \LaTeX{} construct used for em-dashes.
Added the caption to the frontispiece. Changed frontispiece from gif
to jpeg.
\end{description}
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\frontmatter

\pagestyle{myheadings} \tableofcontents{}\newpage\ \newpage

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\noindent \begin{center}\noun{Down crashed the roof of the ice cave}!
(\emph{Page \pageref{Crash}})\end{center}
\end{figure}


\mainmatter


\chapter*{\raggedright ERADICATE IN AN AIRSHIP}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{ERADICATE IN AN AIRSHIP}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{ERADICATE IN AN AIRSHIP}

{}``Well, Massa Tom, am yo'\ gwine out in yo'\ flyin'\ machine
ag'in to-day?''

{}``Yes, Rad, I think I will take a little flight. Perhaps I'll go
over to Waterford, and call on Mr.\ Damon. I haven't seen very much
of him, since we got back from our hunt after the diamond-makers.''

{}``Take a run clear ober t'\ Waterfield; eh, Massa Tom?''

{}``Yes, Rad. Now, if you'll help me, I'll get out the \emph{Butterfly},
and see what trim she's in for a speedy flight.''

Tom Swift, the young inventor, aided by Eradicate Sampson, the colored
helper of the Swift household, walked over toward a small shed.

A few minutes later the two had rolled into view, on its three bicycle
wheels, a trim little monoplane\mdash{---}one of the speediest craft
of the air that had ever skimmed along beneath the clouds. It was
built to carry two, and had a very powerful motor.

{}``I guess it will work all right,''\ remarked the young inventor,
for Tom Swift had not only built this monoplane himself, but was the
originator of it, and the craft contained many new features.

{}``It sho'\ do look all right, Massa Tom.''

{}``Look here, Rad,''\ spoke the lad, as a sudden idea came to
him, {}``you've never ridden in an airship, have you?''

{}``No, Massa Tom, an'\ I ain't gwine to nuther!''

{}``Why not?''

{}``Why not? 'Case as how it ain't healthy; that's why!''

{}``But I go in them frequently, Eradicate. So does my father.\ 
You've seen us fly often enough, to know that it's safe. Why, look
at the number of times Mr.\ Damon and I have gone off on trips in
this little \emph{Butterfly}. Didn't we always come back safely?''

{}``Yes, dat's true, but dere might come a time when yo'\ \textit{wouldn't}
come back, an'\ den where'd Eradicate Sampson be? I axes yo'\ dat\mdash{---}whar'd
I be, Massa Tom?''

{}``Why, you wouldn't be anywhere if you didn't go, of course,''\ and
Tom laughed. {}``But I'd like to take you for a little spin in this
machine, Rad. I want you to get used to them. Sometime I may need
you to help me. Come, now. Suppose you get up on this seat here, and
I promise not to go too high until you get used to it. Come on, it
will do you good, and think of what all your friends will say when
they see you riding in an airship.''

{}``Dat's right, Massa Tom. Dey suah will be monstrous envious ob
Eradicate Sampson, dat's what dey will.''

It was clear that the colored man was being pursuaded somewhat against
his will. Though he had been engaged by Tom Swift and his father off
and on for several years, Eradicate had never shown any desire to
take a trip through the air in one of the several craft Tom owned
for this purpose. Nor had he ever evinced a longing for a trip under
the ocean in a submarine, and as for riding in Tom's speedy electric
car\mdash{---}Eradicate would as soon have sat down with thirteen
at the table, or looked at the moon over the wrong shoulder.

But now, somehow, there was a peculiar temptation to take his young
employer at his word. Eradicate had seen, many times, the youthful
inventor and his friends make trips in the monoplane, as well as in
the big biplane and dirigible balloon combined\mdash{---}the \textit{Red
Cloud}. Tom and the others had always come back safely, though often
they met with accidents which only the skill and daring of the daring
aeronaut had brought to a safe conclusion.

{}``Well, are you coming, Rad?''\ asked Tom, as he looked to see
if the oil and gasoline tanks were filled, and gave a preliminary
twirl to the propeller.

{}``Now does yo'\ t'ink it am puffickly safe, Massa Tom?''\ and
the colored man looked nervously at the machine.

{}``Of course, Rad. Otherwise I wouldn't invite you. But I won't
take you far. I just want you to get used to it, and, once you have
made a flight, you'll want to make another.''

{}``I don't nohow believe I will, Massa Tom, but as long as you have
axed me, an'\ as yo'\ say some of dem proud, stuck-up darkies in
Shopton will be tooken down a peg or two when de sees me, why, I will
go wif yo', Massa Tom.''

{}``I thought you would. Now take your place in the little seat next
to where I'm going to sit. All start the engine and jump in.\  Now
sit perfectly still, and, whatever you do, don't jump out. The ground's
pretty hard this morning. There was a frost last night.''

{}``I knows dere was, Massa Tom. Nope, I won't jump. I---I---Oh,
golly, Massa Tom! I guess I don't want to go---let me out!''

Eradicate, his heart growing fainter as the time of starting drew
nearer, made as if he would leave the monoplane, in which he had taken
his seat.

{}``Sit still!''\ yelled Tom. At that instant he started the propeller.\ 
The motor roared like a salvo of guns, and streaks of fire could be
seen shooting from one cylinder to the other, until there was a perfect
blast of explosions.

The speed of the propeller increased as the motor warmed up. Tom ran
to his seat and opened the gasoline throttle still more, advancing
the spark slightly. The roar increased. The lad darted a look at Eradicate.
The colored man's face was like chalk, and he was gripping the upright
braces at his side as though his salvation depended on them.

{}``Steady now,''\ spoke Tom, yelling to be heard above the racket.\ {}
{}``Here we go.''

The \emph{Butterfly} was moving slowly across the level stretch of
ground which Tom used for starting his airships. The propeller was
now a blur of light. The explosions of the motor became a steady roar,
the noise from one cylinder being merged into the blast from the others
so rapidly that it was a continuous racket.

With a whizz the monoplane shot across the ground. Then, with a quick
motion, Tom tilted the lifting planes, and, as gracefully as a bird,
the little machine mounted upward on a slant until, coming to a level
about two hundred feet above the earth, Tom sent it straight ahead
over the roof of his house.

{}``How's this, Rad?''\ he cried. {}``Isn't it great?''

{}``It\mdash{---}it\mdash{---}er\mdash{---}bur-r-r-r! It's\mdash{---}it's
mighty ticklish, Massa Tom---dat's de word\mdash{---}it suah am
mighty ticklish!''

Tom Swift laughed and increased the speed. The \emph{Butterfly} darted
forward like some hummingbird about to launch itself upon a flower,
and, indeed, the revolutions of the propeller were not unlike the
vibrations of the wings of that marvelous little creature.

{}``Now for some corkscrew twists!''\ cried the young inventor.\ {}
{}``Here we go, Rad!''

With that he began a series of intricate evolutions, making figures
of eight, spirals, curves, sudden dips and long swings. It was masterwork
in handling a monoplane, but Eradicate Sampson, as he sat crouched
in the seat, gripping the uprights until his hands ached, was in no
condition to appreciate it. Gradually, however, as he saw that the
craft remained up in the air, and showed no signs of falling, the
fears of the colored man left him. He sat up straighter.

{}``Don't you like it, Rad?''\ cried Tom.

This time the answer came with more decision.

{}``It suah am great, Massa Tom! I'm\mdash{---}I'm beginnin'\ t'\ like
it. Whoop! I guess I do like it! Now if some of dem stuck-up coons
could see me\mdash{---}''

{}``They'd think \textit{you} were stuck up; eh, Rad? Stuck up in
the air!''

{}``Dat's right, Massa Tom. Ha! Ha! I suah am stuck up in de air!
Ha! Ha!''

By this time Tom had guided the machine away from the village, and
they were flying over the fields, some distance from his house.\ 
The colored man was beginning to enjoy his experience very much.

Suddenly, just as Tom was trying to get a bit more speed out of the
motor, the machine stopped. The cessation of the racket was almost
as startling as a loud explosion would have been.

{}``Just my luck!''\ cried Tom.

{}``What's de matter?''\ asked Eradicate, anxiously.

{}``Motor's stalled,''\ replied the young inventor.

{}``An', by golly, we's falling!''\ yelled the colored man.

Naturally, with the stopping of the propeller, there was no further
straight, forward motion to the monoplane, and, following the law
of nature, it began to drop toward the earth on a slant.

{}``We's fallin'! We'll be killed!''\ yelled the negro.

{}``It's all right, I'll just vol-plane back to earth,''\ spoke
Tom, calmly. {}``I've often done it before, higher up than this.\ 
Sit still, Rad, I'm volplaning back to the ground.''

{}``An'\ I'll \textit{jump} back to de ground; dat's what I'll do.\ 
I ain't goin' t'\ wait until I falls, no sah! An'\ I ain't gwine
t'\ do none ob dat ball-playin'\ yo'\ speak ob, Massa Swift. It's
no time t'\ play ball when yo'\ life am in danger. I'se gwine t'\ jump.''

{}``Sit still!''\ cried Tom, for the colored man was about to spring
from his seat. {}``There's no danger! I didn't say anything about
playing ball. I said I'd \textit{vol}-\textit{plane} back to the earth.
We'll be there shortly. I'll take you down safe. Sit still, Rad!''

He spoke so earnestly that the fears of his colored passenger were
quelled. With a quick motion Tom threw up the head planes, to check
the downward sweep. The \emph{Butterfly} shot forward on a gradual
slant. Repeating this maneuver several times, the young inventor finally
brought his machine to within a short distance of the earth, and,
also, considerably nearer his own home.

{}``I wonder if we can make it?''\ he murmured, measuring the distance
with his eye. {}``I think so. I'll shoot her up a bit and then let
her down on a long slant. Then, with another upward tilt, I ought
to fetch it.''

The monoplane tilted upward. Eradicate gave a cry of terror. It was
stilled at a look from Tom. Once more the air machine glided forward.
Then came another long dip, another upward glide and the \emph{Butterfly}
came gently to earth almost on the very spot whence it had flown upward
a few minutes before.

Eradicate gave one mad spring from his seat, almost before the bicycle
wheels had ceased revolving, as Tom jammed on the earth-brake.

{}``Here, where are you going, Rad?''\ cried the lad.

{}``Whar am I goin'? I'se goin'\ t'\ see if mah mule Boomerang
am safe. He's de only kind ob an airship I wants arter dis!''\ and
the colored man disappeared into the shack whence came a loud {}``hee-haw!''

{}``Oh, pshaw! Wait a minute, Rad. I'll soon have the motor fixed,
and we'll make another try. I'll take you over to Mr.\ Damon's with
me.''

{}``No, sah, Massa Tom. Yo'\ don't catch dis coon in any mo'\ airships.\ 
Mah mule am good enough fo'\ me!''\ shouted Eradicate from the
safe harbor of the mule's stable.

Tom laughed, and turned to inspect the motor. As he was looking it
over, to locate the trouble, the door of the house opened and a pleasant-faced
woman stepped out.

{}``Oh, Tom,''\ she called. {}``I looked for you a moment ago,
and you weren't here!''

{}``No, Mrs.\ Baggert,''\ Tom replied, waving his hand in greeting
to the housekeeper, {}``Rad and I just came back\mdash{---}quite
suddenly\mdash{---}sooner than we expected to. Why? Did you want
me?''

{}``Here's a letter that came for you,''\ she went on.

Tom tore open the envelope, and rapidly scanned the contents of the
missive.

{}``Hello!''\ he ejaculated half aloud. {}``It's from Abe Abercrombie,
that miner I met when we were after the diamond-makers! He says he
is on his way east to get ready to start on the quest for the Alaskan
valley of gold, in the caves of ice. I had almost forgotten that I
promised to make the attempt in the big airship. How did this letter
come, Mrs.\ Baggert?''\ he asked.

{}``By special delivery. The messenger brought it a few minutes ago.''

{}``Then we may see Abe any day now. Guess I'd better be looking
over the \textit{Red Cloud} to see if it's in shape for a trip to
the Arctic regions.''

Tom's attention for the moment was taken off his little monoplane,
and his memory went back to the strange scenes in which he and his
friends had recently played a part, in searching for the cave of the
diamond-makers on Phantom Mountain. He recalled the promise he had
made to the old miner.

{}``I wonder if he expects us to start for Alaska with winter coming
on?''\ thought Tom.

His musings were suddenly interrupted by the entrance into the yard,
surrounding the aeroplane shed, of a lad about his own age.

{}``Hello, Ned Newton!''\ called Tom, heartily.

{}``Hello, yourself,''\ responded Ned. {}``I've got a day off
from the bank, and I thought I'd come over and see you. Say, have
you heard the latest?''

{}``No. What is it?''

{}``Andy Foger is building an airship.''

{}``Andy Foger building an airship?''

{}``Yes, he says it will beat yours.''

{}``Humph! It will, eh? Well, Andy can do as he pleases as long as
he doesn't bother me. I won't be around here much longer, anyhow.''

{}``Why not, Tom?''

{}``Because I soon expect to start for the far north on a strange
quest. Come on in the shed, and I'll tell you about it. We're going
to try to locate a valley of gold, and I guess Andy Foger won't follow
me there, even if he does build an airship.''

Tom and his chum started toward the shed, the young inventor still
holding the letter that was to play such an important part in his
life within the next few months. And, had he only known it, the building
of Andy Foger's airship was destined to be fraught with much danger
to our hero.


\chapter*{\raggedright ANDY FOGER'S TRIPLANE}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{ANDY FOGER'S TRIPLANE}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{ANDY FOGER'S TRIPLANE}

{}``Going to look for a valley of gold, eh?''\ remarked Ned Newton
as he and Tom took seats in a little room, fitted up like a den, where
the young inventor frequently worked out the details of the problems
that confronted him. {}``Where is this valley, Tom? Anywhere so I
could have a chance at it?''

{}``It's up in Alaska. Just where I don't know, but Abe Abercrombie,
the old miner whom we met when out in Colorado this summer, says he
can find it if we circle around in the airship. So I'm going to take
a chance. I'll tell you all about it.''

And, while Tom is doing this, I will take the opportunity to more
formally introduce to my new readers our hero and his friends.

Tom Swift was an inventor of no little note, in spite of his youth.\ 
He lived with his father, Barton Swift, who was also an inventor,
on the outskirts of the village of Shopton, New York State. Tom's
mother was dead, and Mrs.\ Baggert had kept house for him and his
father since he was a child. Garret Jackson, an expert machinist,
was also a member of the household, and as has been explained, Eradicate
Sampson, who took that name because, as he said he {}``eradicate
de dirt,''\ was also a sort of retainer. He lived in a little house
on the Swift grounds, and did odd jobs about the place.

In the first book of the series, entitled {}``Tom Swift and His Motor
Cycle,''\ there was related how the lad became possessed of one
of those speedy machines, after Mr.\ Wakefield Damon had come to
grief on it. Mr.\ Damon was an eccentric man, who was always blessing
himself, some part of his anatomy, or some of his possessions.

After many adventures on his motor-cycle, Tom Swift went through some
surprising happenings with a motor-boat be bought. After that he built
an airship, the \textit{Red Cloud}, and later he and his father constructed
a submarine, in which they went under the ocean in search of sunken
treasure, enduring many perils and much danger.

Tom Swift's electric runabout, which he built after returning home
from the submarine trip, proved to be the speediest car on the road.\ 
The experience he acquired in making this machine stood him in good
stead, when (as told in the sixth volume, {}``Tom Swift and His Wireless
Message'')\ the airship in which he, Mr.\ Damon and a friend of
the latter's (who had built the craft)\ were wrecked on Earthquake
Island.\  There Tom was marooned with some refugees from a wrecked
steam yacht, among whom were Mr.\ and Mrs.\ Nestor, father of a
girl of whom Tom thought a great deal.

With parts from the wrecked electric airship the youth rigged up a
plant, and sent wireless messages from the island. The castaways nearly
lost their lives in the earthquake shocks, but a steamer, summoned
by Tom's wireless call, arrived in time to save them, just as the
island disappeared beneath the sea.

In the seventh book of the series, entitled {}``Tom Swift Among the
Diamond Makers''\ there was related the adventures of himself and
his friends when they tried to solve the mystery of Phantom Mountain.

Among the castaways of Earthquake Island was a Mr.\ Barcoe Jenks
and a Professor Ralph Parker. Mr.\ Jenks was a strange man, and claimed
to have some valuable diamonds, which he said were made by a gang
of men hidden in a cave in the Rocky Mountains. Tom did not believe
that the diamonds were real, but Mr.\ Jenks soon proved that they
were.

He asked Tom to aid him in searching for the cave of the diamond makers.\ 
Mr.\ Jenks had been there once\mdash{---}in fact, he had been offered
a partnership in the diamond-making business, but, after he had paid
his money, he had been drugged, and carried secretly from the cave
before he had a chance to note its location.

But he, together with Tom, Mr.\ Damon and the scientist Mr.\ Parker,
who correctly predicted the destruction of Earthquake Island, set
out in the \textit{Red Cloud} to find the diamond makers. They did
find them, after many hardships, and were captured by the gang.\ 
How Tom and his friends escaped from the cave, after they had seen
diamonds made by a powerful lightning flash, and how they nearly lost
their lives from the destruction of Phantom Mountain, is fully set
down in the book.

Sufficient to say now, that, though they had a general idea of how
the precious stones were made, by the power of the lightning, the
young inventor and his friends were never quite able to accomplish
it, and the secret remained a secret. But they had secured some diamonds
as they rushed from the cave (Mr.\ Damon grabbing them up) and these
were divided among Tom and the others.

Just as they were ready to come home in the airship, our friends were
met by an old miner, Abe Abercrombie, who spoke of a valley of gold
in Alaska, which was the story Tom related to Ned Newton, as the two
chums sat in the den of the airship shed.

{}``Then you don't know all the details about the gold valley, Tom?''
remarked Ned, as the young inventor showed his chum the letter that
had just arrived.

{}``No, not all of them. At the time this miner met us I was anxious
to get back East, for we had been away so long I knew dad would be
worried. But I listened to part of Abe's story, and half promised
to go in partnership in this quest for gold. He was to furnish information
about the hidden valley, and I was to supply the airship. I expect
Abe to come along at any time, now, and then I'll hear more particulars.''

{}``Will you go all the way in the airship?''

{}``Well, I hadn't thought of that. I could ship it to the nearest
place by rail, I suppose, and go on from there. That's a detail to
be considered later. I'll talk it over with Abe.''

{}``Who are going?''

{}``I don't know that even. I suppose Mr.\ Damon would feel slighted
if I left him out. And perhaps Mr.\ Parker, that gloomy scientist,
who is always predicting terrible accidents, will be glad to go along.\ 
Then Abe may have some friend he wants to take.''

{}``By Jinks! But you certainly do have swell times, Tom Swift!''\ exclaimed
Ned Newton, enviously. {}``I wish I could go and have a try at that
valley of gold!''

{}``Why don't you come along, Ned?''

{}``Do you really mean it?''

{}``Of course.''

{}``But I don't believe I could get away from the bank.''

{}``Oh, dad and Mr.\ Damon could fix that. They're directors, you
know. Come along, I'd be delighted to have you. Will you?''

{}``I'll think about it. Jinks! But I sure would like to go.\  Do
you think you can find the valley?''

{}``Well, there's no telling. We generally do succeed in finding
what we go after, even if we didn't get the diamond secret. I'm anxious
to have Abe come, now, though until I got his letter I had almost
forgotten about my promise to him. But, say, what's this you told
me about Andy Foger making an airship?''

{}``It's true, though I haven't seen it. Jake Porter was telling
me about it. Andy's built a big shed in his yard, and he and some
cronies of his, including Pete Bailey and Sam Snedecker, are working
in there night and day. They've hired a couple of machinists, too.\ 
Mr.\ Foger is putting up the cash, I guess. Say, that was quite a
scare you gave Andy on your monoplane, one day.''

{}``Yes, the big bully!\ and I'd like to scare him worse. But say,
do you know I'd like to get a look at his airship. I wonder what sort
of a craft it is?''

{}``We can see it easily enough.''

{}``How?''

{}``Why, the back part of the shed where he and the others are working
is close to our fence. There are some holes in our fence and if you
come there, maybe you can look in.''

{}``I can't see through the side of the shed, though.''

{}``Yes, you can.''

{}``How?''

{}``Why, there's a big window, for light, in the back part of it.\ 
I happened to notice it the other day. I didn't look in, because I
wasn't much interested, but I saw that one could peer over the top
of our fence right into the shop where Andy is working. Want to try
it?''

Tom hesitated a moment.

{}``Well, it seems rather an odd thing to do,''\ he said. {}``But
I would like to see what sort of a flying machine Andy is making,
just for my own satisfaction. He may be infringing on some of my patents,
and if he is, I'll stop him. Once or twice he's been sneaking around
my shed here. I don't believe in sneaking, but I know he wouldn't
let me in if I asked him, so I guess it's the only way.\  I'll go
with you, Ned.''

{}``All right. We'll see if we can get a glimpse of Andy's queer
shebang through the window.''

The two chums left Tom's shop, and were soon in the yard of Ned Newton's
house. As he had said, the big shed in Andy's premises came close
up to the fence, and there was a window through which one might gaze.\ 
The casement did not appear to be curtained.

{}``I'll get a ladder so we can climb up to the top of the fence,
and look over,''\ spoke Ned, as he and Tom went out into the yard
back of his house. The fence was high up on an embankment.

A little later Tom and his chum were gazing into the shop window from
the ladder.

{}``Why, it's a triplane\mdash{---}a big triplane!''\ he exclaimed.

{}``What's a triplane?''\ asked Ned, who didn't have much time
to study the different types of airships.

{}``It's one that has three sets of planes, one above the other.\ 
A biplane has two sets of planes, and a monoplane only one. Triplanes
are larger, and, as far as I've been able to learn, not as satisfactory
as either the biplanes or monoplanes. But that's not saying Andy's
won't be a success. They certainly are busy in there, though!\  Andy
is flying around like a hen scratching for her little chickens!''

{}``See anything of his cronies?''

{}``Yes, Pete and Sam are hammering away. There are a couple of men,
too.''

{}``Yes, the machinists. Oh, I guess Andy expects great things from
his airship.''

{}``Have you heard what he's going to do with it, Ned? Make flights
for pleasure, or exhibit it?''

{}``No, I haven't heard. Look out, Tom, the ladder is slipping!''

As Ned spoke this warning, the window of the airship shed, through
which they were looking, was suddenly raised. The ugly face of Andy
Foger peered out. He caught sight of Tom and Ned.

{}``Get away from there, you spies!''\ he yelled. {}``Get away
from there, Tom Swift! You're trying to steal some of my ideas!\ 
Get away or I'll make you. Sam, bring me my gun! Pete, go tell my
father to come here! I'll show Ned Newton and Tom Swift they can't
bother me!''

Andy was dancing about in a rage. His two cronies crowded behind him
to the window just as the ladder on which Tom and Ned were standing
slipped along the fence.

{}``Jump, Ned!''\ yelled Tom Swift, as he leaped away to escape
being entangled in the rungs.

The young inventor came to the ground with a jar that shook him up
considerably, while Ned, who had grasped the top board of the fence,
remained hanging there by his hands, his feet dangling in the air.

{}``Whack his fingers, Andy!''\ yelled Pete Bailey. {}``Get a
long stick and whack Ned's fingers! That will make him drop off!''

Tom Swift heard, and labored desperately to raise the ladder to enable
Ned to get down, for his chum seemed to be afraid to drop.


\chapter*{\raggedright ABE IS DECEIVED}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{ABE IS DECEIVED}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{ABE IS DECEIVED}

Raising a ladder alone is rather an awkward job. Tom found this so
when he tried to aid his friend Ned. But, being a muscular lad, the
young inventor did finally succeed in getting the ladder up against
the fence where the bank clerk could reach it.

Whack! Down upon the top board came a, stick wielded by Andy Foger
from the rear window of his shop.

{}``Wow!''\ cried Ned.\ for the blow had been close to his fingers.\ {}
{}``Hurry up with that ladder, Tom.''

{}``There it is! But why don't you drop?''

{}``Too far. I can't reach the ladder now!''

{}``Yes, you can. Stretch a bit!''

{}``Whack!''\ Once more the stick descended on the fence, this
time still closer to Ned's clinging hands.

{}``Hit him good, Andy!''\ cried Sam Snedecker, {}``Give me a
shot at him!''

{}``I will not. I want to attend to him myself. You go tell my father,
and he'll have Tom Swift arrested for trying to sneak in and get some
of my airship ideas!''

By this time Ned's wiggling feet had found the topmost rung of the
ladder. The next moment he was rapidly descending it, and, when on
the ground, he and Tom carried it away, to prevent its use by the
enemy.

{}``Whew!''\ exclaimed the young inventor. {}``I had no idea they
would kick up such a row!''

{}``Me either. Did you hurt yourself when you jumped, as the ladder
fell?''

{}``No. Did they hit your hands?''

{}``Came mighty near it. Well, I s'pose it serves us right, yet if
I can't look over my own back fence it's a pity!''

{}``Of course we can, only I'd just as soon they hadn't seen us.\ 
However\mdash{---}hello!\ there's Andy looking over here, now.''

The mean face of the bully now topped the fence. It was evident that
he had crawled from the window of his shop.

{}``What are you trying to get into my place for, Tom Swift?''\ he
demanded.

{}``I wasn't trying to get in, Andy Foger.''

{}``Well, you were looking in.''

{}``Only doing as you've done over at my shop, several times, Andy.\ 
I wanted to see what sort of an airship you were building.''

{}``Trying to get some ideas for your own, I guess,''\ sneered
Andy.

Tom did not think it worth while to answer this taunt.

{}``I could have you arrested for this,''\ went on Andy, who felt
bolder now that he was reinforced by Sam and Pete on either side of
him as he looked over the fence into Ned's yard.

{}``Arrested for what?''\ demanded the bank clerk.

{}``For trespassing on my father's pre\-mis\-es,''\ went on Andy.

{}``We weren't on your premises,''\ declared Ned. {}``We were
on our side of the fence all the while.''

{}``Well, you were looking over in my yard.''

{}``A cat may look at a king, you know, Andy,''\ Tom reminded the
bully.

{}``Yah! Think you're smart, don't you! Well, you can't steal any
of my ideas for an airship. They're all patented, and I'll soon be
making longer and higher flights than you ever dreamed of! I'll show
you what a real airship is, Tom Swift! Monoplanes and biplanes are
out of date. The only thing that's any good is a triplane.\  If mine
works well\mdash{---}and I'm sure it will\mdash{---}I may build
a quadruplane!''

{}``I wish you luck,''\ spoke Tom, with a shrug of his shoulders.

{}``Well, you won't have any luck if you come around here any more,''
went on Pete Bailey. {}``We'll be on the watch for you fellows, now,
and we'll cover this window, so you can't see in.''

{}``That's what we will,''\ agreed Andy, and Sam Snedecker shook
his head vigorously to indicate that he, too, approved of this.

{}``Come on,''\ spoke Tom in a low tone to Ned, {}``I've seen
enough.''

The two chums moved toward Ned's house, followed by the jeers and
mocking laughter of Andy and his cronies.

{}``Can't you get back at them in some way?''\ asked Ned, for he
did not like to see himself or his friend apparently vanquished by
the bully.

{}``He laughs best who laughs last, Ned.''

{}``What do you mean?''

{}``I mean that when Andy tries to fly in his triplane it will be
our turn to laugh.''

{}``Won't it fly?''

{}``Never, the way he has it rigged up. It didn't take but one look
to tell me that. He's working on altogether the wrong principle.\ 
Wait until he tries to go up, and then we'll have some fun with him.''

{}``Then you got a good view of it through the window?''

{}``I saw all I wanted to. But say, I was about to take a little
trip in my monoplane, to see my friend Mr.\ Damon, when Abe's letter
arrived, and you came along with your news. I started to take Eradicate,
but he backed out. Don't you want to come?''

{}``Sure, I'll go along.''

Ned had often ridden in the trim \emph{Butterfly}, though the trips
had not been so frequent that he was tired of them. A little later,
Tom, having adjusted the motor that had stalled before, compelling
him to vol-plane back to earth, the two chums were sailing through
the air toward Waterford.

{}``Why, bless my shoe laces!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon, as they alighted
in the yard of his house, about an hour later. {}``I didn't expect
you, Tom. But I'm glad to see you!''

{}``And I to meet you again. I guess you know Ned Newton.''

{}``Ah, yes. How d'ye do, Ned? Bless my appetite!\ but it's quite
chilly. We'll soon have winter. Won't you come in and have some hot
chocolate?''

The boys were glad to accept the invitation, and as they were drinking
the beverage, which Mrs.\ Damon made for them, Tom told of the receipt
of the letter from the old miner, and also his experience in seeing
Andy's airship.

{}``Why, bless my pocketbook!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon. {}``I had
no idea we'd ever hear from Abe Abercrombie again. And so he is really
coming on, to tell us about the valley of gold?''

{}``So he says,''\ replied Tom. {}``I was wondering if you'd like
to go, Mr. Damon.''

{}``Go? Why, bless my very topknot! Of course I would. I'll go with
you\mdash{---}only\mdash{---}only,''\ and he leaned forward
and whispered cautiously, {}``don't speak so loudly. My wife might
hear you!''

{}``Doesn't she want you to go off in the airship any more?''\ asked
Tom.

{}``Well, she'd rather I wouldn't. But she's going on a visit to
her mother, soon, and then I think will come my opportunity to take
another trip with you. A valley of gold in Alaska, eh? Up where the
icebergs and caves of ice are. Say, Tom, I know some one else who
would be glad to go.''

{}``Who?''\ inquired the young inventor, though he had an idea
to whom his friend referred.

{}``Mr.\ Parker! You know he's taken up his residence in Waterford,
now, and only the other day he spoke to me about wishing he could
go to the far north. He has some new theory\mdash{---}''

{}``About the destruction of something or other; hasn't he, Mr.\ Damon?''\ interrupted
Tom, with a smile.

{}``That's it, exactly, my boy. Bless my coffeepot! But Mr.\ Parker
has an idea that the whole northern part of this continent will soon
be buried thousands of feet deep under an icy avalanche, and he wants
to be there to see it. I know he'd like to go with us, Tom.''

The young inventor made a little gesture of dissent, but as he knew
Mr.\ Damon, who was very eccentric himself, had taken a great liking
to the gloomy scientist, Tom did not feel like refusing. So he said:\ 

{}``All right, Mr.\ Damon. If we go, and I think we shall, we'll
expect you and Mr.\ Parker. I'll let you know the result of Mr. Abercrombie's
visit, and I needn't request you to keep quiet about it. If there
is a valley of gold in Alaska, we don't want everyone to know about
it.''

{}``No, of course not, Tom Swift. I'll keep silent about it.\  Bless
my liverpin! But I'll be glad to on the move again, even if it is
toward the Arctic regions.''

After some further talk, Tom and Ned took their departure, making
good time back to Shopton in the speedy monoplane.

For several days after that Tom busied himself about his big airship
the \textit{Red Cloud}, for it needed quite a few repairs after the
long trip to the mountains where the diamond makers had been discovered
in their cave.

{}``And if we're going up amid the ice and snow,''\ reasoned Tom,
{}``I've got to make some different arrangements about the craft,
and provide for keeping warmer than we found necessary when we went
west.''

So it was that Tom had no time to learn anything further about Andy
Foger's airship, even had our hero been so inclined, which he was
not. He looked for Abe Abercrombie any day now, for though the old
miner had given no date as to when he would arrive, he had said, in
his letter, that it would be soon.

It was one day, nearly a week after Tom's attempt to make Eradicate
like aeroplaning, that there might have been seen, coming along the
Shopton road, which led toward Tom's house, the figure of a grizzled
old man. His clothes were rather rough, and he carried a valise that
had, evidently, seen much service. There was that about him which
proclaimed him for a westerner\mdash{---}a cattleman or a miner.

He walked slowly along, murmuring to himself.

{}``Wa'al, I might better have taken one of them wagons at th'\ depot,''
he said, {}``than t'\ try t'\ walk. It's quite a stretch out t'\ Tom
Swift's house. I hope I find him home.''

He trudged on, and, a little later, his gaze was attracted by a large
shed, in the rear of a white house the pretentious appearance of which
indicated that persons of wealth owned it.

{}``I guess that must be the place,''\ he remarked. {}``That shed
is big enough to hold the airship. Now to present myself.''

As he walked up the front path of the house, he was met by one of
the gardeners, who was raking up the leaves.

{}``Is this the airship place?''\ asked the miner.

{}``Yes, that's where the young master is making his triplane,''
answered the man.

{}``Is he in?''

{}``Yes, I guess so. You can walk right back to the shed.''

The miner did so. Through the open door of the building he had a glimpse
of big stretches of wings, propellers, rudders, and some machinery.

{}``That's it,''\ he murmured, {}``though it looks some different
than I remembered it. However, maybe Tom's changed it about. I wonder
where he is?''

As he spoke a lad came from the shed to meet him\mdash{---}a lad
on whose face there was a look of suspicion.

{}``What do you want?''\ he demanded.

{}``I'm lookin'\ for Tom Swift,''\ was the simple reply. {}``But
I take it you're one of his partners in this airship business. I guess
he must have told you about me. I'm Abe Abercrombie, the miner, and
I've come to show him the way to that valley of gold in Alaska.''

At the mention of Tom Swift's name, Andy Foger, for it was he, had
started to utter a denial. But, at the next words of the miner, and
as Mr.\ Abercrombie mentioned {}``gold''\ and {}``Alaska,''\ there
came a cunning look over Andy's face.

{}``Tom Swift isn't here just now,''\ he said, wondering how he
could turn to advantage the unexpected visit, and the impending information
that the guileless old man was about to give under the mistaken idea
that Andy was Tom's friend.

{}``That's all right, I reckon he'll be along presently. You'll do
just as well, I reckon. You're in partnership with him, I take it.
So this is the place where he makes his airships, eh? It's a big one,''
and Mr.\ Abercrombie looked in at the odd triplane of Andy's\mdash{---}for
the airship was almost finished.

{}``But it'll need to be big if we're to go to Alaska in it,''\ went
on the miner. {}``It's quite a journey t'\ th'\ valley where th'\ gold
is. No way t'\ get t'\ it except by an airship. An'\ here I be
an'\ ready to start, I've brought th'\ map of th'\ place, jest
as I promised. Here it is, better take good care of it. Now, let's
talk business,''\ and the miner, having guilelessly handed Andy
Foger a folded parchment, sat down on a box at the door of the airship
shed, and placed his heavy valise on the ground beside him.

{}``What's this?''\ asked the bully, wondering whether he had heard
aright.

{}``It's the map of th'\ valley of gold\mdash{---}directions how
t'\ git there, an'\ all that. I guess it's plain enough. Now, when
can we start?''

Andy did not know what to say. Fate had, most unexpectedly, placed
in his hands a valuable paper. The miner had made a mistake. Andy's
house was on the same road as was Tom's and, seeing the airship shed,
had deceived the aged man. He had not expected to find two airship
manufactories in the same village.

{}``The map of the valley of gold, {}``murmured Andy, as he put
it in his pocket.

{}``Yes, jest as I told Tom about when I met him out West. I said
I'd bring it with me, an'\ I did. When will Tom be back? He never
spoke of you, though I reckoned he'd have to have some help in makin'\ his
airships. Where is he?''

{}``He\mdash{---}he\mdash{---}''\ stammered Andy. He did not
know what to say.

At that instant Tom Swift himself passed by in the road. He had been
over to Shopton on an errand. One look into the yard of Andy's house
showed to our hero the old miner sitting at the door of the airship
shed.

{}``Mr.\ Abercrombie\mdash{---}Abe!''\ cried Tom, almost, before
he thought.

{}``Hello, Tom! I got here!''\ cried the miner, heartily. {}``I
was jest talking to your partner.''

{}``My partner!''\ spoke Tom in amazement

{}``Yes\mdash{---}partner in th'\ airship business. I should think
you'd need about three partners to build these machines!''

{}``My partner! Andy Foger isn't my partner!''\ cried Tom, wondering
what would happen next. {}``I have no partner! If he said he was
he deceived you!''

{}``No partner? Ain't he your partner?''\ cried Mr.\ Abercrombie.\ {}
{}``Why, I thought he was. I told him about th'\ valley of gold\mdash{---}I\mdash{---}I\mdash{---}give
him the map\mdash{---}''

{}``The map?''

{}``Yes, the map t'\ tell how to get there. He's got it!''

There was a mocking smile on Andy's face.

{}``Give that map back at once!''\ cried Tom, sternly, now understanding
something of the situation. {}``Hand it over at once, Andy Foger!''

{}``I will\mdash{---}when I get ready! He gave it to me!''\ cried
the bully, and then, before either Tom or Abe could stop him, Andy
darted into the big shed, and slammed shut the door.


\chapter*{\raggedright TOM GETS THE MAP}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{TOM GETS THE MAP}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{TOM GETS THE MAP}

For a few seconds Tom was so surprised at the sudden action of the
bully that he could neither move nor speak. Then, crying out a command
to halt, the young inventor took after his enemy.

{}``The scamp!''\ he cried. {}``The nerve he has! To deceive Abe
Abercrombie in that fashion! Wait until I get hold of him!''

{}``What's it all about?''\ asked the old miner, who, being a slow
thinker had not understood all that had happened. {}``What's up,
Tom Swift?''

{}``Haven't time to tell you now,''\ flung back the running lad
over his shoulder. {}``I've got to catch Andy! Then I'll explain.\ 
He's trying to get ahead of us. I guess, but we'll stop him!''\ Thereupon
Tom flung himself against the door of the airship shed. The young
inventor found the portal bolted, though it vibrated with the impact
of his body.

{}``Come out of there, Andy Foger!''\ cried Tom, pounding on the
door. {}``Come out, or I'll get an officer, and have you arrested!''

There was no answer.

{}``Come out, I say!''\ repeated Tom.

{}``Around th'\ back! Try th'\ back door!''\ suggested the miner,
who had hastened to Tom's side. {}``Maybe he's run out that way!''

Tom listened. There was no movement in the shop. Then the young inventor
sprinted around the side. He was just in time to see the bully running
away over the lots and fields in the rear of his father's premises.
Andy had climbed out of the back window of the shed, into which Tom
and Ned had peered that day, had climbed the high fence, dropped down
on the other side, and was now running away with all the speed he
could muster.

{}``Come back\mdash{---}!''\ began Tom, and then he realized
that his enemy could not hear him. The bully was too far away. At
the same time our hero realized that it would be useless to give chase,
for Andy had too much of a start. There was nothing to do but to turn
back, and Tom knew that his delay in trying to gain an entrance at
the front door had given Andy the very opportunity he needed to escape
at the rear.

{}``Well, this is a bad turn of affairs,''\ remarked the lad, as
he faced the puzzled miner.

{}``What is, Tom?''

{}``Him having that map. It shows the location of the valley of gold,
doesn't it, and tells how to get there?''

{}``That's what it does!''

{}``How did Andy happen to get it?''

{}``Jest as I told you. I was on my way t'\ your house, havin'\ inquired
at th'\ post-office, an'\ the man said that at your place there
was a big shed, where you kept your airships. I come along, an', of
course, when I see this house, an'\ the shed, an'\ had a glimpse
of th'\ airship, I, of course, thought it was your place. An', though
you'd never told me about it, I thought maybe this lad was in business
with you. So, like a blamed young tenderfoot, I blurted out my business
afore I thought, an'\ handed him the map for safe keepin'. He took
it, too, that's the worst of it.''

{}``Yes, that's the worst of it,''\ agreed Tom, {}``But I'll get
it back, if I have to cause his arrest, and search his whole house.''

{}``But he runned away, Tom.''

{}``Oh, he'll come back. Was there only one copy of the map of the
valley, Abe?''\ asked Tom, anxiously.

{}``Yep; only one''

{}``Could you make another?''

{}``No, not if you was to pay me a million dollars! You see I ain't
no drawer, an'\ this map, while I made part of it, was mostly made
by my old partner, who was with me when we discovered th'\ valley
of gold, an'\ was druv back by th'\ savage Eskimos an'\ Indians,
an'\ by th' terrible cold. My partner made th'\ best part of th'\ map,
an'\ he's dead, poor fellow.''

{}``I see. That's too bad! Then you can't make a duplicate map?''

{}``Nary a one. But can't you do somethin'? It were amazin'\ stupid
of me, old Abe Abercrombie, t'\ be took in by a boy like him! Can't
you do somethin'?''

{}``I'm going to try,''\ announced Tom determinedly, as he swung
on toward the Foger house. {}``I'll cause his arrest if he doesn't
give it up.''

A few minutes later Tom Swift and Abe confronted Mr.\ Foger. The
rich man, father of the bully, was rather surprised at the visit from
the young inventor, for the two were not friends.

{}``Well, what can I do for you, Tom Swift?''\ asked the banker,
for he felt a certain coldness toward our hero, since the latter had
defeated him in an effort to wreck a financial institution in which
Tom and his father were interested.

{}``Mr.\ Foger,''\ spoke Tom, sternly, {}``your son has just
stolen a map belonging to this gentleman,''\ and he indicated Abe.

{}``My son stolen a map!''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Foger. {}``How dare
you make such an accusation, Tom Swift?''

{}``I dare, because it's true! And, unless that map is returned to
me at my house to-night I shall swear out a warrant for Andy's arrest.''

{}``You'd never dare do that!''

{}``Wait and see!''\ spoke Tom, firmly. {}``I will give your son,
or you, exactly five hours to return that map\mdash{---}if it isn't
back in my hands by then, I'll get a warrant!''

{}``Preposterous! Stuff and nonsense!''\ blustered Mr.\ Foger.\ {}
{}``My son never stole anything!''

{}``He stole this map, and there is plenty of evidence,''\ went
on Tom, as he detailed the circumstances.

Mr.\ Foger hemmed and hawed, and affected not to believe that anything
of the kind could have happened. But Tom was firm, and Abe Abercrombie
backed up his statements, until even the banker began to waver.

{}``Very well,''\ he announced at length, {}``I will look into
this matter, and if I find that my son has anything of yours, you
shall have it back. But I cannot believe it. Perhaps he took it as
a joke.''

{}``In which case,''\ spoke Tom grimly, {}``he will find that
he has carried the joke too far,''\ and with that he and the miner
left the Foger home.

{}``It's all my fault,''\ bewailed Abe, as he and our hero trudged
on toward the Swift household.

{}``No, it wasn't, Abe,''\ declared Tom. {}``Any one would have
been deceived by such tactics as Andy used\mdash{---}that is any
stranger. And you didn't expect to find two airship sheds so close
together.''

{}``No. That's right, I didn't. That's what threw me off th'\ track.''

{}``Andy only recently began work on his triplane. I don't know what
his object is, and I don't care. Just now I'm more concerned about
getting back this map.''

{}``I hope we do get it.''

{}``Oh, we will. I'm going to start off on my own hook, to find Andy.
But first I'll take you to my house.''

The old miner was soon telling his story to Mr.\ Swift, the housekeeper
and Garret Jackson. They expressed their surprise at Andy's daring
act. But Tom didn't do much more talking.

{}``I'm going out to find Andy,''\ he declared, {}``and when I
do\mdash{---}''\ He didn't finish his sentence, but they all knew
what he meant.

But the bully was in none of his usual haunts, though Tom visited
them all. Nor was Andy at the homes of either of his cronies.

{}``Well, if I don't find him, I shall certainly swear out the warrant,''\ decided
Tom. {}``I'll give him until night, and then I'll call on the police.''

Still he did not give up, but went to several other places where Andy
might be found. He had about given up, as it was getting toward late
afternoon, when, as he came out of a billiardroom, where the bully
was in the habit of spending much of his time, Tom saw the lad of
whom he was in search.

{}``Hold on there, Andy Foger!''\ cried the young inventor. {}``I
want to see you!''

{}``What about?''

{}``You know very well. Where's that map you stole?''

{}``I haven't got it.''

{}``Take care!''\ and Tom, with a quick step was beside the bully,
and had grasped him firmly by the arm.

{}``You let me alone, Tom Swift!''\ cried Andy.

{}``Where's that map?''\ and Tom gave Andy's arm a wrench.

{}``It's at your house; that's where it is! I just took it back.\ 
It was only a joke.''

{}``A joke, eh? And you took it back?''

{}``Yes, I did. Now you let me go!''

{}``I will when I find out if you're telling me the truth or not,
Andy Foger. You come with me!''

{}``Where?''

{}``To my house. I want to see if that map's there.''

{}``Well, you'll find that it is, and you'd better let me go! My
father told me to take the map back, and I did. You let me go!''

Andy struggled to get loose, but Tom had too tight a grip. There was
something, too, in the manner of our hero that warned Andy not to
trifle with him. So, concluding that discretion was the better part
of valor, Andy walked sullenly along toward Tom's home, the young
inventor never relaxing the grip on his enemy's arm.

They reached the Swift home. Still holding his captive, Tom rang the
bell. His father came to the door, followed by Abe Abercrombie.

{}``Is the map back?''\ asked the young inventor, anxiously.

{}``Yes, Andy brought it here a few minutes ago,''\ announced Mr.\ Swift.

{}``Is it the right one, Abe?''\ inquired Tom.

{}``Yep, Tom. I made sure of that as soon as I laid my eyes on it.
It's th'\ right one.''

{}``Then you can go, Andy Foger,''\ announced our hero, {}``and
if I ever catch you in another trick like this, I'll take the law
into my own hands. Clear out, now!''

{}``You wait! I'll get even with you,''\ muttered the bully, as
he fled down the front walk, as though afraid Tom would, even then,
put his threat into execution.

{}``Did he damage the map any?''\ asked the lad, as he followed
his father and Abe into the house.

{}``Nary a bit,''\ answered the old miner. {}``It's jest th'\ same
as it was. There it is,''\ and he spread a crinkled sheet of tough
parchment in front of Tom. It was covered with a rude drawing, and
with names of places scrawled on it.

{}``So that's the map, eh?''\ murmured Tom, eagerly scanning it.

{}``That's it, an'\ here's th'\ valley of gold,''\ went on Abe,
as he placed one rough finger on a certain spot. {}``Right there\mdash{---}hello!''\ he
cried, as he peered more closely at the parchment. {}``That ink spot
wasn't there when I had th'\ map, a few hours ago.''

{}``What ink spot?''\ asked Tom, anxiously.

{}``That one,''\ and the miner indicated a small one near the edge
of the map. {}``That was never there!''

{}``It looks as if it was recently made,''\ added Mr.\ Swift,
who was something of a chemist.

{}``An ink spot---freshly made,''\ murmured Tom, {}``Dad\mdash{---}Abe,
I can guess what's happened!''

{}``What?''\ demanded the miner.

{}``Andy Foger made a copy of this map while it was in his possession,
and now he knows where the valley of gold is as well as we do! He
may get there ahead of us!''


\chapter*{\raggedright GRAVE SUSPICIONS}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{GRAVE SUSPICIONS}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{GRAVE SUSPICIONS}

Tom's announcement took them all by surprise. For a moment no one
knew what to say, while the young inventor looked more closely at
the parchment map.

{}``Do you really think he has dared to make a copy of it?''\ asked
Mr. Swift.

{}``I do,''\ answered his son. {}``That ink spot wasn't there
when Abe gave him the map; was it?''

{}``No,''\ replied the miner.

{}``And it couldn't get on in Andy's pocket,''\ went on Tom. {}``So
he must have had it open near where there was ink.''

{}``His fountain pen might have leaked,''\ suggested Mr.\ Jackson.

{}``In that case the ink spot would be on the outside of the map,
and not on the inside,''\ declared Tom, with the instinct of a detective.\ {}
{}``Unless he had the map folded in his pocket with the inside surface
on the outside, the ink couldn't have gotten on. Besides, Andy always
carries his fountain pen in his upper vest pocket, and that pocket
is too small to hold the map. No, I'm almost positive that Andy or
his father have sneakingly made a copy of this map!''

{}``I'm sorry to have to admit that Mr.\ Foger is capable of such
an act,''\ spoke Mr.\ Swift, {}``but I believe it is true.''

{}``And here is another thing,''\ went on the young inventor, who
was now closely scanning the parchment through a powerful magnifying
glass, {}``do you see those tiny holes here and there, Mr.\ Jackson?''

{}``Yes,''\ answered the engineer.

{}``Were they there before, Abe?''\ went on Tom, calling the old
miner's attention to them.

{}``Nary a one,''\ was the answer. {}``It looks as if some one
had been sticking pins in th'\ map.''

{}``Not pins,''\ said Tom, {}``but the sharp points of a pair
of dividers, or compasses, for measuring distances. Andy, or whoever
made a copy of the map, used the dividers to take off distances with.\ 
This clinches it, in my mind.''

{}``But what can you do?''\ asked Tom's father.

{}``I don't know,''\ answered the young inventor. {}``It would
be of little use to go to Andy. Naturally he would deny having made
a copy of the map, and his father would, also. Even though I am sure
they have a copy, I don't see how I am going to make them give it
up. It's a hard case. There's only one thing I see to do.''

{}``What's that?''\ asked Abe.

{}``Start for Alaska as soon as possible, and be first on hand at
the valley of gold.''

{}``Good!''\ cried the miner. {}``That's the way to talk! We'll
start off at once. I know my way around that country pretty well,
an'\ even though winter is coming on, I think we can travel in th'\ airship.
That's one reason why I wanted t'\ go in one of these flyin'\ machines.
Winter is no time to be in Alaska, but if we have an airship we won't
mind it, an'\ it's the best time t'\ keep other people away, for
th'\ ordinary miner or prospector can't do anythin'\ in Alaska in
winter\mdash{---}that is away up north where we're goin'.''

{}``Exactly where are we going?''\ asked Tom. {}``I have been
so excited about discovering Andy's trick that I haven't had much
time to consider where we're bound for nor what will be the best plan
to follow.''

{}``Well, we're goin'\ to a region about seven hundred an'\ fifty
miles northwest from Sitka,''\ explained the old miner, as he pointed
out the location on the map. {}``We'll head for what they call th'\ Snow
Mountains, an'\ th'\ valley of gold is in their midst. It's just
over th'\ Arctic circle, an'\ pretty cold, let me tell you!''

{}``You'll be warm enough in Tom's airship, with the electric stoves
going,''\ commented Mr.\ Jackson.

{}``Well, we'll need t'\ be,''\ went on the miner. {}``Th'\ valley
is full of caves of ice, an'\ it's dangerous for th'\ ordinary traveler.\ 
In fact an airship was the only way I saw out of th'\ difficulty
when I was there.''

{}``Then you have been to the valley of gold?''\ asked Tom.

{}``Well, not exactly \textit{to} it,''\ was the reply, {}``but
I was where I could see it. That was in th'\ summer, though of course
the summer there isn't like here. I'll tell you how it was.''

The miner settled himself more comfortably in his chair, and resumed
his story.

{}``It was two year ago,''\ he said, {}``that me an'\ Jim Mace
started to prospect in Alaska. We didn't have much luck, an'\ we
kept on workin' our way farther north until we come to these Snow
Mountains. Then our supplies gave out, an'\ if it hadn't been for
some friendly Eskimos I don't know what we would have done. Jim and
me we gave 'em some trinkets an'\ sich, and th'\ Indians began talkin'\ of
a wonderful valley of gold, where th'\ stuff lay around in chunks
on top of the ground.''

{}``Me and Jim pricked up our ears at that, so to speak, an'\ we
wanted to see th'\ place. After some delay we was taken to th'\ top
of a big crag, some distance away from where we had been stopping
with the friendly Eskimos, or Indians, as I call 'em. There, away
down below, was a valley\mdash{---}an'\ a curious sort of a valley
it were. It seemed filled with big bubbles\mdash{---}bubbles made
of solid banks of snow or ice, an'\ we was told, me an'\ Jim was,
that these were caves of ice, an' that th'\ gold was near these caves.''

{}``Well, of course me an'\ my partner wanted to go down the worst
way, an'\ try for some gold, but th'\ Indians wouldn't let us. They
said it was dangerous, for th'\ ice caves were constantly fallin'\ in,
an' smashin'\ whoever was inside. But to prove what they said about
th' gold, they sent one of their number down, while we waited on th'
side of th'\ mountain.''

{}``Did he get any gold?''\ asked Tom, eagerly.

For answer the old miner pulled from his pocket a few yellow pebbles\mdash{---}little
stones of dull, gleaming yellow.

{}``There's some of th'\ gold from amid th'\ caves of ice,''\ he
remarked simply. {}``I kept 'em for a souvenir, hopin'\ some day
I might git back there. Well, Jim an'\ me watched th'\ Indian going
down into th' valley. He come back in about three hours, havin'\ only
gone to th' nearest cave, an'\ he had two pockets filled with these
little chunks of solid gold. They gave me an'\ Jim some, but they
wouldn't hear of us goin'\ t'\ th'\ valley by ourselves.''

{}``Then a bad storm come up, an'\ we had t'\ hit th'\ trail for
home\mdash{---}the Indians'\ home, I mean\mdash{---}for Jim an'\ I
was far enough away from ours.''

{}``Well, t'\ make a long story short, Jim an'\ me tried every
way we knowed t'\ git t'\ that valley, but we couldn't. It come
off colder an'\ colder, an'\ th'\ tribe of Indians with whom we
lived was attacked by some of their enemies, an'\ driven away from
their campin' grounds. Jim an'\ me, we went too, but not before Jim
had drawed this map on a piece of dog-skin we found in one of the
huts.\  We had an idea we might get back, some day, an'\ find the
valley, so we'd need a map t'\ go by. But poor Jim never got back.
He got badly frozen when the Indians drove us an'\ our friends away,
an'\ he never got over it. He died up there in th'\ ice, an'\ we
buried him. I took th' map, an'\ when spring come, I made a hike
out of that country. From then until now I've been plannin'\ how
t'\ git t'\ that valley, an'\ th' only way I seen was an airship.\ 
Then, when I was prospectin'\ around out in Colorado I saw Tom's
machine hidden in th'\ trees, an'\ I waited until he come along,
which part you know as well as I do,'' finished Abe.

{}``And that's the story of the valley of gold,''\ spoke Mr.\ Swift.

{}``That's all there is to it,''\ assented Abe, simply.

{}``Do you think there is much gold there?''\ asked Tom.

{}``Plenty of it\mdash{---}for th'\ pickin'\ up,''\ replied
the miner. {}``Around th' caves of ice it's full of it, but, of course,
it's dangerous. An' th'\ only way t'\ git t'\ it, an'\ pass th'\ savage
Indians that are all around in th'\ mountains about th'\ valley,
is t'\ fly over their heads in th'\ airship.''

{}``Then that's what we'll do,''\ decided Tom.

{}``Will you go all the way in the \textit{Red Cloud}?''\ inquired
Mr.\ Jackson.

{}``No, I think I'll send the airship on ahead to some point in Washington\mdash{---}say
Seattle,''\ replied Tom, {}``put it together there, and start for
the Snow Mountains. In Seattle we can get plenty of supplies and stores.
It will be a good point to start from, and will save us a long, and
perhaps dangerous, flight across the United States.''

{}``I think that will be the best plan,''\ agreed Mr.\ Swift.\ {}
{}``But what about Andy\mdash{---}do you think he'll try to follow\mdash{---}or
try to get ahead of you now that he has a copy of the map?''

{}``He may,''\ answered Tom. {}``But I have a little trick I'm
going to work on Andy. I will try to learn whether he really has a
copy of the map, though I'm practically certain of it. Then I'll decide
what's best to do.''

{}``In th'\ meanwhile, will you be gettin'\ ready?''\ asked Abe.\ {}
{}``I'd like t'\ start as soon as we can, for it's awful cold there,
the longer you wait, at this time of th'\ year.''

{}``Yes, I'll start right to work, getting the \textit{Red Cloud}
in readiness to be shipped,''\ promised Tom.


\chapter*{\raggedright ANDY'S AIRSHIP FLIES}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{ANDY'S AIRSHIP FLIES}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{ANDY'S AIRSHIP FLIES}

{}``Hello, Tom, have you heard the news?''\ asked Ned Newton, of
the young inventor, a few days later.

{}``What news, Ned? I declare I've been so busy thinking out the
best plan to ship the \textit{Red Cloud} to Seattle that I haven't
been over to town. What's going on? Have they decided to build a new
church in Shopton, or something like that?''

{}``Oh, this about Andy Foger's airship.''

{}``Andy's airship, eh? Is he still working on it?''

{}``It's all done, so Sam Snedecker was telling me last night, and
to-day Andy is going to try to fly it.''

{}``You don't mean it!''

{}``Sure thing. Let's go over and watch him.''

{}``He might make a fuss, same as he did when we looked in the window
of his shed.''

{}``He can't make any fuss now. He's got to take his machine out
to fly it, and anybody that wants to can look on. Didn't he watch
you make flights often enough?''

{}``That's so. Where is the trial flight going to take place?''

{}``In the big meadow. Come on over.''

{}``Guess I will. I can't do much more now. I've been getting some
boxes and crates made in which to pack the \textit{Red Cloud}.\ 
I'll have to take her all apart.''

{}``Then you're really going to hunt for the valley of gold?''

{}``Sure thing. How about you going, Ned? I spoke to dad about it,
and he said he'd see that you could have a leave of absence.''

{}``Yes, that part's all right. The bank president told me today
I could take a vacation any time I wanted it. In fact that's what
I came over to see you about. I want to thank your father.''

{}``Then you're going?''

{}``I sure am, Tom! Won't it be great! I hope I can get a little
gold for myself! My folks didn't take very much to the notion of me
going off in an airship, but I told them how often you'd gone on trips,
and come safely back, so they finally gave their consent.\  When
are you going to start?''

{}``Oh, in about two weeks. Did I tell you about Andy and the map?''

{}``No. What trick has he been up to now?''

Thereupon Tom related his suspicions concerning the bully, and also
hinted to Ned of a certain ruse he intended to work on Andy when he
got the chance.

{}``Well, if you're ready, suppose we go over and see if Andy's airship
will really fly,''\ suggested Ned, after a while. {}``I'm doubtful
myself, and I'd just like to see him come to grief, after the many
mean things he's done to you.''

{}``Well,''\ spoke Tom slowly, {}``I don't know as I wish him
any bad luck, but I certainly hope he doesn't use his airship to try
to beat us out in the hunt for the valley of gold.''

{}``Do you think he might?''

{}``It's possible. But never mind about that now. Come on, we'll
go over to the big meadow.''

The two chums walked along together, talking of many things. Tom told
of some communication he had had with Mr.\ Damon, in which letters
the eccentric man had inquired as to when the trip for Alaska would
be undertaken.

{}``Then he's going?''\ asked Ned.

{}``Oh, yes, it wouldn't seem natural to go without some of Mr.\ Damon's
blessings. But I think he's going to bring a friend with him.''

{}``Who?''

{}``Mr.\ Ralph Parker.''

{}``That gloomy scientist, who is always predicting such terrible
things going to happen?''

{}``That's the gentleman. You met him once, I believe Mr.\ Damon
says Mr.\ Parker wants to do some scientific studying in the far
north, so I've already counted on him as one of our party. Well, perhaps
he won't do so much predicting this trip.''

A little later Tom and Ned came to a big open field. They saw quite
a crowd gathered in it, but no sign of an airship.

{}``Guess Andy hasn't arrived,''\ spoke Tom.

{}``No; very likely he's found out that something is wrong with his
machine, and he isn't going to risk it.''

But almost as Ned spoke, there sounded cries of excitement from the
crowd, and, a little later, something big and white, with many wing-shaped
stretches of canvas sticking out from all sides, was seen turning
into the big meadow from the broad highway that led to Andy's house.

{}``There she is!''\ cried Ned.

{}``There's something, at any rate,''\ conceded Tom, as he hastened
his steps. {}``It's a queer-looking aeroplane, though. My!\ he's
got enough wings to it!''

{}``Yes, it's Andy's sure enough,''\ went on Ned {}``There he
is in front, giving orders like a major-general, and Sam and Pete
are helping him. Let's get closer.''

They followed the crowd, which was thronging about the airship that
Andy Foger had made, Tom had a glimpse of the machine. It was a form
of triplane, with three tiers of main wings, and several other sets
of planes, some stationary and some capable of being moved.\  There
was no gas-bag feature, but amidships was a small, enclosed cabin,
which evidently held the machinery, and was designed to afford living
quarters. In some respects the airship was not unlike Tom's, and the
young inventor could see that Andy had copied some of his ideas. But
Tom cared little about this.

{}``Do you think it will go up?''\ asked Ned.

{}``It looks to me to be too heavy, and his propellers seem too small,''
answered Tom. {}``He's got to have a very powerful motor to make
all that bulk fly.''

The people were crowding in closer around the airship, for the news
that Andy was to attempt a flight had spread about town.

{}``Now keep back\mdash{---}all of you!''\ ordered the bully,
with a show of anger. {}``If any one damages my airship I'll have
him arrested! Keep back, now, or I won't fly!''

{}``Reminds me of a little kid saying he won't play if he can't have
his own way,''\ whispered Ned to Tom.

{}``Hello, Andy, give us a ride!''

{}``Going above the clouds?''

{}``When are you coming back?''

{}``Bring down a snowstorm!''

{}``Be careful that you don't fall!''

These were some of the things shouted at Andy, for he had few friends
among the town lads, on account of his mean ways.

{}``Keep quiet\mdash{---}all of you!''\ he ordered. {}``Get
back. You might get hurt when I start the motor. I'm going to make
a flight soon,''\ he added proudly. {}``Sam, you come over here
and hold this end. Pete, you go back to the rear. Simpson, you get
inside and help me with the motor. Henderson, you get ready to shove
when I tell you.''

These last orders were to the two machinists whom Andy had engaged
to help him, and the bully gave himself no end of airs and importance
as he bustled about

Tom could not help but admit that Andy's machine was a big affair.\ 
There was a great stretch of wings and planes, several rudders other
appliances for which the young inventor could not exactly fathom a
use. He did not think the machine would fly far, if at all. But Andy
was hurrying here and there, getting the triplane in place on a level
stretch of ground, as if he intended to capture some great prize.

{}``Are you going to tackle him about stealing a copy of that map?''
asked Ned.

{}``I will if I get a chance,''\ answered Tom, in a low voice.

He got his opportunity a few minutes later. Andy, hurrying here and
there, came face to face with the young inventor.

{}``Hello, Andy,''\ spoke Tom, good-naturedly. {}``So you're going
to make a flight, eh?''

{}``Yes, I am, and I s'pose you came around to see if you could get
any ideas; didn't you?''\ sneered Andy.

{}``Of course,''\ admitted Tom, with an easy laugh. {}``My airship
doesn't fly, you know, Andy, and I want to see what's wrong with it.''

There was a laugh in the crowd, at this, for Tom's success was well
known.

{}``Are you going to Alaska?''\ suddenly asked Tom, in a low voice,
of the bully.

{}``To Alaska? I\mdash{---}I don't\mdash{---}I don't know what
you mean?''\ stammered Andy, as he turned aside.

{}``Yes, you do know what I mean,''\ insisted Tom. {}``And I want
to tell you that the map you have won't be of much use to you.\ 
Why, do you think,''\ he went on, {}``that Abe would carry the
real map around with him that way? It's easy to make a copy look like
an original, Andy, and also very easy to put false distances and directions
on a map that may fall into the hands of an enemy.''

The shot told. Andy's face turned first red and then pale.

{}``A\mdash{---}a false map!''\ he stammered. {}``Wrong directions?''

{}``Yes\mdash{---}on the copy you made of the map you took from
Mr. Abercrombie,''\ went on Tom.

{}``I\mdash{---}I didn't make any\mdash{---}Oh, I'm not going
to talk to you!''\ blustered Andy. {}``Get out of my way! I'm going
to fly my airship.''

The bully pushed past Tom, and started toward the triplane. But Tom
had found out what he wanted to know. Andy had made a copy of the
map. From now on there would be every danger that the bully would
make an effort to get to the valley of gold.

But other matters held Andy's attention now. He wanted to try his
airship. With the help of his two cronies, and the machinists, the
machine was gone over, oiled up, and finally, after several false
starts, the motor was set going.

It made a terrific racket, and the whole machine vibrated as though
it would shake apart

{}``He hasn't got it well enough braced,''\ said Tom to Ned.

{}``Out of the way, now, everybody!''\ yelled Andy. {}``Keep away
or you'll get hurt! I'm going up!''

He climbed into the cabin of the craft, and took his position at the
steering-wheel. The speed of the motor, its racket and its stream
of sparks increased.

{}``Let go!''\ cried Andy to those who were holding his craft.

They released their hold. The triplane moved slowly across the ground,
gathered speed, and, then, under the impulse of the powerful propellers,
ran rapidly over the meadow.

{}``Hurrah! There he goes!''\ cried Sam.

{}``Yes! Now he's going to fly,''\ proudly added Pete Bailey, the
other crony of the bully.

{}``He'd better fly soon, then, or he'll be in the ditch,''\ said
Tom grimly, for a little, sluggish stream crossed the meadow not far
from where Andy had started.

The next instant, thinking he had momentum enough, Andy tilted his
elevation plane. The clumsy triplane rose into the air and shot forward.

{}``There he goes!''\ cried Sam.

{}``Hurrah!''\ yelled the crowd.

Andy had gone up about ten feet, and was making slow progress.

{}``I guess Tom Swift isn't the only one in Shopton who can build
an airship!''\ sneered Pete Bailey.

{}``Look! Look!''\ yelled Ned. {}``He's coming down!''

Sure enough, Andy's machine had reached the end of her flight. The
motor stopped with something between a cough and a wheeze. Down fluttered
the aeroplane, like some clumsy bird, down into the ditch, settling
on one side, and then coming to rest, tilted over at a sharp angle.
Andy was pitched out, but landed on the soft mud, for there had been
a thaw. He wasn't hurt much, evidently, for he soon scrambled to his
feet as the crowd surged toward him.

{}``Well, he flew a little way,''\ observed Ned, grimly.

{}``But he came down mighty soon,''\ added Tom. {}``I thought
he would. His machine is too big and clumsy. I've seen enough.\ 
Come on, Ned. We'll get ready to go to Alaska. Andy Foger will never
follow us in that machine.''

But Tom was soon to find out how much mistaken he was.


\chapter*{\raggedright READY FOR THE TRIP}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{READY FOR THE TRIP}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{READY FOR THE TRIP}

Andy Foger stood looking at his tilted airship. His clothes were covered
with mud from the ditch, some of the muck had splashed over his face
so that he was a pitiable looking object.

{}``What's the matter?''\ panted Pete Bailey.

{}``Are you hurt?''\ asked Sam Snedecker.

The two cronies had hurried to the side of the bully.

{}``Matter? Can't you see what's the matter?''\ demanded Andy wrathfully.
{}``The machine came down, that's what's the matter!\  Why didn't
you fellows fix the motor better?''\ he shouted at the two machinists
as they came running up, followed by the crowd.

{}``Fix it better? The motor was all right,''\ declared the taller
machinist. {}``Any of them are likely to stop unexpectedly.''

{}``Well, I didn't think mine would,''\ came from Andy. {}``Now
look at my airship! It's all busted!''

{}``No, it isn't hurt much,''\ said the other man, after critically
looking it over. {}``We can fix it, and you'll fly yet, Andy.''

{}``I hope I do, if only to fool Tom Swift,''\ declared the bully,
as he wiped some of the mud from his face. {}``Come on, now, help
me wheel the machine back, and I'll try it again.''

Andy made another attempt, but this time the machine did not even
rise off the ground, and then, amid the jeers of the crowd, the discomfited
lad took his aeroplane back to the shed in the rear of his house.

{}``I'll fix it yet, and make a long flight,''\ he declared. {}``I'll
show Tom Swift he can't laugh at me!''

{}``You'll make a long flight eh?''\ asked one of the machinists.\ {}
{}``Where will you go?''

{}``Never mind,''\ answered Andy, with a knowing wink. {}``I've
got a plan up my sleeve\mdash{---}my father and I are going to do
something that will astonish everybody in Shopton,''\ and then Andy,
with many nods and winks, went into the shed, where he began giving
orders about the airship. He wanted the motor changed, and one of
the machinists made some suggestions about the planes, which, he said,
would give better results.

As for Tom and Ned, they strolled away, satisfied that in Andy Foger
they would not have a very dangerous rival, as far as airships were
concerned.

Tom thought matters over during the next few days. He was now satisfied
that Andy had a copy of the map, and, as far as he could see, there
was no way of getting it from him, for he could not prove to the satisfaction
of the legal authorities that the bully actually had it.

{}``We'll just have to take a chance, that's all,''\ decided the
young inventor in talking matters over with his father, Ned, and Abe
Abercrombie. {}``If Andy and some of his crowd trail after us, we'll
just have to run away from them and get to the valley first.''

{}``If they do get there, they won't find it very easy traveling
I reckon,''\ remarked Abe. {}``They'll get all they want of the
caves of ice. But hadn't we better get a hustle on ourselves, Tom?''

{}``Yes, we will soon start now. I have the \textit{Red Cloud} all
packed up for shipment to Seattle. We will send it on ahead, and then
follow, for it will take some time to get there, even though it's
going by fast freight.''

{}``What about Mr.\ Damon?''\ asked Ned. {}``When is he coming?''

{}``There's no telling,''\ responded Tom. {}``He may be on hand
any minute, and, again, he may only show up just as we are starting.\ 
I haven't heard from him in the last day or two,''

At that moment there was a knock on the private office in the aeroplane
shed, where Tom, Ned and Abe Abercrombie were talking.

{}``Who's there?''\ asked Tom.

{}``It's me,''\ answered a voice recognizable as that of the colored
man Eradicate.

{}``What is it, Rad?''\ asked Tom.

{}``Why I jest thought I'd tell you dat de blessin'\ man am comin'\ down
de road.''

{}``The blessing man?''\ repeated Tom. {}``Oh, you mean Mr.\ Damon.''

{}``Yais, sah, dat's jest who I done mean. An'\ dere's anodder gen'man
wif him.''

{}``Mr.\ Parker, I expect,''\ spoke Tom. {}``Well, tell them
to come in here, Rad.''

{}``Yais, sah. Dey's comin'\ up de path now, so dey is.''

The next moment Tom and the others heard a voice saying:\ 

{}``Why, bless my necktie! The \textit{Red Cloud} is gone!''\ Mr.\ Damon
had peered into the shed, and had not seen the airship, for Tom had
it packed up. {}``I wonder if Tom Swift has gone away? Bless my top-knot,
Mr. Parker, I hope We're not too late!''

{}``Indeed I hope not,''\ added the scientist. {}``I wish to make
a study of the caves of ice. I think perhaps they may be working south,
and, in time, this part of the country may be covered deep under a
frozen blanket.''

{}``Cheerful, isn't he, Ned?''\ asked Tom, with a smile. Then,
going to the door of the shed he called out: {}``Here we are, Mr.\ Damon.\ 
Glad to see you, Mr.\ Parker.'' This last wasn't exactly true, but
Tom wanted to be polite.

{}``Bless my collar button, Tom! But what has become of the airship?''
asked Mr.\ Damon, as he looked about the shed, and saw only a number
of boxes and crates.

{}``Taken apart, and packed up, ready for the trip to the valley
of gold and the caves of ice,''\ replied the young inventor, and
then he briefly told of their plans.

{}``Well, that's a good idea,''\ declared the eccentric man. {}``Mr.\ Parker
and I are ready to go whenever you are, Tom.''

{}``Then we'll start very soon. I will get all our supplies in Seattle.
Now, to discuss details,''\ and, after Mr.\ Parker and Mr.\ Damon
had been made acquainted with the old miner, who told his story in
brief, they began a discussion of the prospective trip.

Mr.\ Damon and Mr.\ Parker took up their residence in Tom's house,
and while the eccentric man busied himself in helping our hero, Ned
and Abe Abercrombie in getting ready for the trip to Alaska, the gloomy
scientist went about making {}``observations''\ as he called them,
with a view to predicting what might happen in the near future.

He was particularly anxious to get up north, among the caves of ice,
and, several times he repeated his statement that he believed the
mass of ice in Alaska was working down toward the south. But no one
paid much attention to him, though Tom recalled, not without a little
shudder, that Mr.\ Parker had correctly predicted the destruction
of Earthquake Island, and also the landslide on Phantom Mountain.

The airship was finally sent off, being forwarded to Seattle in sections,
where it could easily be put together. The matter of Andy Foger having
a duplicate map of the valley of gold was discussed, but it was agreed
that nothing could be done about it. So Tom and the others devoted
all their energies to getting in shape for their prospective journey.

Mr.\ Swift was invited to go, but declined on the ground that he
had several inventions to perfect, nor could Mr.\ Jackson go, as
he was needed to help his employer. So Tom, Ned, Mr.\ Damon, Mr.\ Parker
and Abe Abercrombie made up the party. Tom arranged to send wireless
messages to his father from the airship once they were started off
toward the valley of gold, and over the frozen north.

One evening, when Tom had been to pay a last visit to Mary Nestor,
as he was coming past the Foger premises he saw a number of large
vans, loaded with big packing cases coming out of the banker's yard.

{}``Hum! I wonder if they're moving?''\ mused our hero. {}``If
they are they're taking a queer time for it.'' He paused a moment
to look at the procession of vans. As he did so he heard the voice
of Andy Foger.

{}``Now, I want you men to be careful of everything!''\ the bully
called out arrogantly. {}``If you break anything I'll sue you for
damages!''

{}``Oh, that cub makes me sick!''\ exclaimed one of the drivers
as he came opposite Tom.

{}``What are you moving\mdash{---}eggs, that you have to be so
careful?''\ asked the young inventor, in a low voice.

{}``Eggs? No! But it might just as well be,''\ was the growling
answer. {}``He's shipping an airship, all taken to pieces, and he
has nervous prostration for fear it will be broken. I don't believe
the old thing's any good, anyhow.''

{}``An airship\mdash{---}Andy Foger sending away his airship?''\ gasped
Tom. {}``Where to?''

{}``Some place in Alaska,''\ was the startling reply. {}``Pitka
or Sitka, or some such place like that. It's all in these boxes, G'lang
there!'' this to his horses.

{}``Andy sending his airship to Alaska!''\ murmured Tom in dismay.\ {}
{}``Then he surely is going to make a try for that valley of gold!''

He turned away, while the snarling voice of the bully rang out on
the night, urging the drivers to be very careful of the boxes and
crates on their trucks.


\chapter*{\raggedright A THIEF IN THE NIGHT}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{A THIEF IN THE NIGHT}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{A THIEF IN THE NIGHT}

Tom Swift hardly knew what to think. He had scarcely believed, in
spite of the fact that he was sure Andy had a copy of the map, that
the bully would actually make an effort to go to the valley of gold.

{}``And in that airship of his, too,''\ mused Tom. {}``Well, there's
one consolation, I don't believe he'll go far in that, though it does
sail better than when he made his first attempt. Well, if he's going
to try to beat us, it's a good thing I know it. We can be prepared
for him, now.''

Tom, after watching the big vans for a few minutes, turned and kept
on toward his home.

There was more than surprise on the part of Mr.\ Damon and the others
when Tom told his news. There was alarm, for there was a feeling that
Mr.\ Foger and his son might adopt unscrupulous tricks.

{}``But what can we do?''\ asked Mr.\ Swift

{}``Whitewash him!''\ exclaimed Eradicate Sampson, who had overheard
part of the conversation. {}``Dat's what I'd do t'\ him an'\ his
father, too! Dat's what I would! Fust I'd let mah mule Boomerang kick
him a bit, an'\ den, when he was all mussed up, I'd whitewash him!''\ That
was the colored man's favorite method of dealing with enemies, but,
of course, he could not always carry it out.

However, after considering the matter from all sides, it was decided
that nothing could be done for the present.

{}``Let them go,''\ said Tom, {}``I don't believe they'll ever
find the valley of gold. I fancy I threw a scare into Andy, talking
as I did about the map.''

{}``Well, even if the Fogers do get the gold,''\ said Mr.\ Parker
calmly, {}``they cannot take away the caves of ice, and it is in
them that I am most interested. I want to prove some of my new theories.''

{}``And we need the gold,''\ said Tom, in a low voice; {}``don't
we, Abe?''

{}``That's what we do, Tom,''\ answered the old miner.

Preparations were now practically completed for their trip to Seattle
by rail. Tom made some inquiries in the next few days regarding the
Fogers, but only learned that the father and son had left town, after
superintending the shipment of their airship.

{}``Well, we start to-day,''\ remarked Tom, as he arose one morning.\ {}
{}``In two weeks, at most, we ought to be hovering over the valley,
Abe.''

{}``I hope so, Tom. You've got the map put away safely, have you?''

{}``Sure thing. Are you all ready?''

{}``Yes.''

{}``Then we'll start for the depot right after breakfast.'' The
adventurers had arranged to take a local train from Shopton, and get
on a fast express at one of the more important stations.

Good-byes were said, Mr.\ Swift, Mr.\ Jackson, Mrs.\ Baggert and
Eradicate waving their \emph{adieu}s from the porch as Tom and the
others started for the depot. Miss Mary Nestor had bidden our hero
farewell the previous night\mdash{---}it being a sort of second
good-bye, for Tom was a frequent caller at her house, and, if the
truth must be told he rather disliked to leave the young lady.

Tom found a few of his friends at the station, who had gathered there
to give him and Ned \textit{bon}-\textit{voyage}.

{}``Bring us back some nuggets, Tom,''\ pleaded Arthur Norton.

{}``Bring me a musk-ox if you can shoot one,''\ suggested one.

{}``A live bear or a trained Eskimo for mine,''\ exclaimed another.

Tom laughingly promised to do the best he could.

{}``I'll send you some gold nuggets by wireless,''\ said Ned Newton.

It was almost time for the train to arrive. In the crowd on the platform
Tom noticed Pete Bailey.

{}``He must feel lost without Andy,''\ observed the young inventor
to Ned.

{}``Yes, I wonder what he's hanging around here for?''

They learned a moment later, for they saw Pete going into the telegraph
office.

{}``Must be something important for him to wire about,''\ observed
Ned.

Tom did not answer. The window of the office was slightly open, though
the day was cool, and he was listening to the clicks of the telegraph
instrument, as the operator sent Pete's message. Tom was familiar
with the Morse code. What was his surprise to hear the message being
sent to Andy Foger at a certain hotel in Chicago.\  And the message
read:\ 

{}``Tom Swift's party leaving to-day.''

{}``What in the world does that mean?''\ thought Tom, but he did
not tell Ned what he had picked up as it went over the wire. {}``Why
should Andy want to be informed when we leave? That's why Pete was
hanging around here! He had been instructed to let Andy know when
we left for Seattle. There's something queer back of all this.''

Tom was still puzzling over the matter when their train roiled in
and he and the others got aboard.

{}``Well, we're off!''\ cried Ned.

{}``Yes; we're off,''\ admitted Tom, and, to himself he added:\ {}
{}``No telling what will happen before we get there, though.''

The trip to Chicago was without incident, and, on arrival in the Windy
City, Tom was on the lookout for Andy or his father, but he did not
see them. He made private inquiries at the hotel mentioned in Pete's
telegram, but learned that the Fogers had gone on.

{}``Perhaps I'm worrying too much,''\ thought Tom. But an event
that occurred a few nights later, when they were speeding across the
continent showed him that there was need of great precaution.

On leaving Chicago, Tom had noticed, among the other passengers traveling
in the same coach as themselves, a man who seemed to be closely observing
each member of the party of gold-hunters. He was a man with a black
mustache, a mustache so black, in fact, that Tom at once concluded
that it had been dyed. This, in itself, was not much, but there was
a certain air about the man\mdash{---}a {}``sporty''\ air\mdash{---}which
made Tom suspicious.

{}``I wouldn't be surprised if that man was a gambler, Ned,''\ he
said to his chum, one afternoon, as they were speeding along. The
man in question was several seats away from Tom.

{}``He does look like one,''\ agreed Ned.

{}``I needn't advise you not to fall in with any of his invitations
to play cards, I suppose,''\ went on Tom, after a pause.

{}``No, indeed, it's something I don't do,''\ answered Ned, with
a laugh. {}``But it might be a good thing to speak to Abe Abercrombie
about him. If that man's a sharper perhaps Abe knows him, or has seen
him, for Abe has traveled around in the West considerable.''

{}``We'll ask him,''\ agreed Tom, but the miner, when his attention
was called to the man, said he had never seen him before.

{}``He does look like a confidence man,''\ agreed Abe, {}``but
as long as he doesn't approach us we can't do anything, and don't
need to worry.''

There was little need to call the attention of either Mr.\ Damon
or Mr.\ Parker to the man, for Mr.\ Damon was busy watching the
scenery, as this trip was a new one to him, and he was continually
blessing something he saw or thought of. As for Mr.\ Parker, he was
puzzling over some new theories he had in mind, and he said little
to the others.

On the night of the same day on which Tom had called special attention
to the man with the black mustache, our hero went to his berth rather
late. He had sent some telegrams to his father and one to Miss Nestor,
and, when he turned in he saw the {}``gambler,''\ as he had come
to call him, going into the smoking compartment of the coach. Though
Tom thought of the man as a gambler, there was no evidence, as yet,
that he was one, and he had made no effort to approach any of our
friends, though he had observed them closely.

How long Tom had been asleep he did not know, but he was suddenly
awakened by feeling his pillow move. At first he thought it was caused
by the swaying of the train, and he was about to go to sleep again,
when there came a movement that he knew could not have been caused
by any unevenness of the roadbed.

Then, like a flash there came to Tom's mind the thought that under
his pillow, in a little leather case he had made for it, was the map,
showing the location of the valley of gold.

He sat up suddenly, and made a lunge for the pillow. He felt a hand
being hurriedly withdrawn. Tom made a grab for it, but the fingers
slipped from his grasp.

{}``Here! Who are you!''\ cried Tom, endeavoring to peer through
the darkness.

{}``It's all right\mdash{---}mistake,''\ murmured a voice.

Tom leaned suddenly forward and parted the curtains of his berth.\ 
There was a dim light burning in the aisle of the car. By the gleam
of it the young inventor caught sight of a man hurrying away, and
he felt sure the fellow who had put his hand under his pillow was
the man with the black mustache. He confirmed this suspicion a moment
later, for the man half turned, as if to look back, and the youth
saw the mustache.

{}``He\mdash{---}he was after my map!''\ thought Tom, with a
gasp.

He sat bolt upright. What should he do? To raise an alarm now, he
felt, would only bring a denial from the man if he accused him.\ 
There might also be a scene, and the man might get very indignant.\ 
Then, too, Tom and his friends did not want their object made known,
as it would be in the event of Tom raising an outcry and stating what
was under his pillow.

He felt for the map case, opened it and saw, in the gleam of the light,
that it was safe.

{}``He didn't get it anyhow,''\ murmured our hero. {}``I guess
I won't say anything until morning, though he did come like a thief
in the night to see if he could steal it.''

Tom glanced to where his coat and other clothing hung in the little
berth-hammock, and a hasty search showed that his money and ticket
were safe.

{}``It was the map he was after all right,''\ mused Tom. {}``I'll
have a talk with Mr.\ Damon in the morning about what's best to do.\ 
That's why the fellow has been keeping such a close watch on us.\ 
He wanted to see who had the map.''

Then another thought came to Tom.

{}``If it was the map he was after,''\ he whispered to himself,
{}``he must know what it's about. Therefore the Fogers must have
told him. I'll wager Andy or his father put this man up to steal the
map. Andy's afraid he hasn't got a copy of the right one. This is
getting more and more mysterious! We must be on our guard all the
while. Well, I'll see what I'll do in the morning.''

But in the morning the man with the black mustache was not aboard
the train, and on inquiring of the conductor, Tom learned that the
mysterious stranger had gotten off at a way station shortly after
midnight.


\chapter*{\raggedright A VANDAL'S ACT}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{A VANDAL'S ACT}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{A VANDAL'S ACT}

{}``Bless my penknife!''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Daman, the next morning,
when he had been told of Tom's experience in the night, {}``things
are coming to a pretty pass when our enemies adopt such tactics as
this! What can we do, Tom? Hadn't you better let one of us carry the
map?''

{}``Oh, I guess not,''\ answered the young inventor. {}``They
have had one try at me, and found that I wasn't napping. I don't believe
they'll try again. No, I'll carry the map.''

Tom concealed it in an old wallet, as he thought it was less likely
to attract attention there than in the new case he formerly used.\ 
Still he did not relax his vigilance, and his sleep for the next few
nights was uneasy, as he awakened several times, thinking he felt
a hand under his pillow.

At length Ned suggested that one of them sit up part of the night,
and keep an eye on Tom's berth. This was agreed to, and they divided
the hours of darkness into watches, each one taking a turn at guarding
the precious map. But they might have spared themselves the trouble,
for no further attempt was made to get it.

{}``I'd just like to know what Andy Foger's plans are?''\ said
Tom one afternoon, as they were within a few miles of Seattle. {}``He
certainly must have made up his mind quickly, after he saw the map,
about going in search of the gold.''

{}``Maybe his father proposed it,''\ suggested Ned. {}``I heard,
in our bank, that Mr.\ Foger has lost considerable money lately,
and he may need more.''

{}``I shouldn't wonder. Well, if they are going to Sitka, Alaska,
to assemble their ship, I think they'll have trouble, for supplies
are harder to get there than in Seattle. But we'll soon be on our
way ourselves, if nothing happens. I hope all the parts of the \textit{Red
Cloud} arrive safely.''

They did, as Tom learned a few hours later, when they had taken up
their quarters in a Seattle hotel, and he had made inquiries at the
railroad office. In the freight depot were all the boxes and crates
containing the parts of the big airship, and by comparison with a
list he had made, the young inventor found that not a single part
was missing.

{}``We'll soon have her together again,''\ he said to his friends,
{}``and then we'll start for Alaska.''

{}``Where are you going to assemble the airship?''\ asked Mr.\ Damon.

{}``I've got to hire some sort of a big shed,''\ explained Tom.\ {}
{}``I heard of one I think I can get. It's out at the fair grounds,
and was used some time ago when they had a balloon ascension here.\ 
It will be just what I need.''

{}``How long before we can start for the gold valley?''\ asked
the old miner anxiously.

{}``Oh, in about a week,''\ answered the lad, {}``that is, if
everything goes well.''

Tom lost no time in getting to work. He had the different parts of
his airship carted to the big shed which he hired. This building was
on one edge of the fair grounds, and there was a large, level space
which was admirably adapted for trying the big craft, when once more
it was put together.

The gold-seekers worked hard, and to such good purpose that in three
days most of the ship was together once more, and the \textit{Red
Cloud} looked like herself again. Tom hired a couple of machinists
to aid him in assembling the motor, and some of the gas appliances
and other apparatus.

{}``Ha! Bless my rubber shoes!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon in delight,
as he looked at the big craft {}``This is like old times, Tom!''

{}``Yes, indeed,''\ agreed our hero.

{}``Are you going to give it a preliminary tryout?''\ asked Ned.

{}``Oh, yes, I think we can do that to-morrow,''\ replied Tom.\ {}
{}``I want to know that everything is in good working shape before
I trust the ship on the trip to the frozen north. There are several
problems I want to work out, too, for I think I will need a different
kind of gas up where the temperature is so low.''

{}``It certainly is cold up here,''\ agreed Ned, for they were
now much farther north than when they were in Shopton, and, besides,
winter was coming on. It was not the best time of the year to journey
into Alaska, but they had no choice. To delay, especially now, might
mean that their enemies would get ahead of them.

{}``We'll be warm in the airship, though; won't we?''\ asked Abe.

{}``Oh, yes,''\ answered Tom. {}``We'll be warm, and have plenty
to eat. Which reminds me that I must begin to see about our stock
of provisions and other supplies, for we'll soon be on our way.''

Work on the airship was hastened to such good advantage the next two
days that it was in shape for a trial flight, and, one afternoon,
the \textit{Red Cloud} was wheeled from the shed out into big field,
the gas was generated, and the motor started.

There was a little hitch, due to the fact that some of the machine
adjustments were wrong, but Tom soon had that remedied and then, with
the big propellers whirling around, the airship was sent scudding
across the field.

Another moment and it rose like a great eagle, and sailed through
the air, while a small crowd that had daily gathered in the hope of
seeing a flight, sent up a cheer.

{}``Does it work all right?''\ asked Ned anxiously, as he stood
in the pilothouse beside his chum.

{}``As good as it did in Shopton,''\ answered the young inventor,
proudly.

{}``Bless my pocketbook!\ but that's lucky,''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Damon.\ {}
{}``Then we can soon start, eh?''

{}``As soon as we are stocked up,''\ replied the lad.

Tom put the airship through a number of {}``stunts''\ to test her
stability and the rudder control, much to the delight of the gathering
throng. Everything was found to work well, and after ascending to
a considerable height, to the no small alarm of the old miner, Tom
made a quick descent, with the motor shut off. The \textit{Red Cloud}
conducted herself perfectly, and there was nothing else to be desired.

She was sent down to earth and wheeled back into the shed, and not
without some difficulty, for the crowd, which was now very large,
wanted to get near enough to touch the wonderful craft.

{}``To-morrow I'll arrange about the supplies and provisions, and
we'll stock her up,''\ said Tom to his companions. {}``Now you
folks had better go back to the hotel.''

{}``Aren't you coming?''\ asked Ned.

{}``I'm going to bunk here in the shed to-night,'' said the young
inventor.

{}``What for?''

{}``I can't take any chances now that the \textit{Red Cloud} is in
shape for flying. Some of the Foger crowd might be hanging around,
and break in here to damage her.''

{}``But the watchman will be on guard,''\ suggested Ned, for since
the hiring of the shed, the young inventor had engaged a man to remain
on duty all night.

{}``I know,''\ answered Tom Swift, {}``but I'm not going to take
any chances. I'll stay here with the watchman.''

Ned offered to share the vigil with his chum, and, after some objection
Tom consented. The others went back to the hotel, promising to return
early in the morning.

Tom slept heavily that night, much heavier than he was in the habit
of doing. So did Ned, and their deep breathing as they lay in their
staterooms, in the cabin of the airship, told of physical weariness,
for they had worked hard to re-assemble the \textit{Red Cloud}.

The watchman was seated in a chair just inside the big door of the
shed, near a small stove in which was a fire to take off the chill
of the big place. The guard had slept all day, and there was no excuse
for him nodding in the way that he did.

{}``Queer, how drowsy I feel,''\ he murmured several times. {}``It's
only a little after midnight, too,''\ he added, looking at his watch,
{}``Guess I'll walk around a bit to rouse myself.''

He firmly intended to do this, but he thought he would wait just a
few minutes more, and he stretched out his legs and got comfortable
in the chair.

Three minutes more and the watchman was asleep\mdash{---}sound asleep,
while a strange, sweet, sickish odor seemed to fill the atmosphere
about him.

There was a noise at the door of the shed, a door in which there were
several cracks. A man outside laid aside something that looked like
an air pump. He applied one eye to a crack, and looked in on the sleeping
watchman.

{}``He's off,''\ the man murmured. {}``I thought he'd never get
to sleep! Now to get in and dose those two lads! Then I'll have the
place to myself!''

There was a clicking noise about the lock on the shed door. It was
not a very secure lock at best, and, under the skilful fingers of
the midnight visitor, it quickly gave way. The man entered. He gave
one look at the slumbering watchman, listened to his heavy breathing,
and then went softly toward the airship, which looked to be immense
in the comparatively small shed\mdash{---}taking up nearly all the
space.

The intruder peered in through the cabin windows where Ned and Tom
were asleep. Once more there was in the atmosphere a sickish odor.\ 
The man again worked the instrument which was like a small air pump,
taking care not to get his own face too near it. Presently he stopped
and listened.

{}``They're doped,''\ he murmured. He arose, and took from his
mouth and nose a handkerchief saturated with some chemical that had
rendered him immune to the effects of the sleep-producing that he
had generated. {}``Sound asleep,''\ he added. Then, taking out
a long, keen knife, the vandal stole toward where the great wings
of the \textit{Red Cloud} stretched out in the dim light like the
pinions of a bird. There was a ripping, tearing, rending sound, as
the vandal cut and slashed, but Tom, Ned and the watchman slumbered
on.


\chapter*{\raggedright TOM IS HELD UP}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{TOM IS HELD UP}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{TOM IS HELD UP}

Tom Swift stirred uneasily in his heavy sleep. He dreamed that he
was again in his berth in the railroad car, and that the thief was
feeling under his pillow for the map. Only, this time, there seemed
to be hands feeling about his clothing, trying to locate his inner
pockets.

The lad murmured something unintelligible, but he did not awaken.\ 
The fumes prevented that. However, his movements showed that the effect
of the drug was wearing off. It was intended only for temporary use,
and it lasted less time than it would otherwise have done in a warmer,
moister climate, for the cold, crisp air that penetrated the shed
from outside dispelled the fumes.

{}``Guess I'd better not chance it,''\ murmured the intruder.\ {}
{}``He may not have it on him.\ and if I go through all his pockets
I'll wake him up. Anyhow, I've done what they paid me for. I don't
believe they'll sail in this airship.''

The vandal gave one glance at the sleeping lads, and stole from the
cabin of the craft. He looked at his work of ruin, and then tiptoed
past the slumbering watchman. A moment later and he was outside the
shed, hurrying away through the night.

Several hours after this Mr.\ Damon and the old miner were pounding
on the door of the shed. Mr.\ Parker, the scientist, had remained
at the hotel, for he said he wanted to work out a few calculations
regarding some of his theories.

{}``I thought we'd find them up by this time,''\ spoke the eccentric
man, as he again knocked on the door. {}``Tom said he had lots to
do to-day.''

{}``Maybe they are working inside, and can't hear our knocks,''
suggested Abe. {}``Try th'\ door.''

{}``Bless my heart! I never thought of that,''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Damon.\ {}
{}``I believe I will.''

The door swung open as he pushed it, for it had not been locked when
the intruder left. The first thing Mr.\ Damon saw was the watchman,
still asleep in his chair.

{}``Bless my soul!''\ the old man shouted. {}``Look at this, Abe!''

{}``Something's wrong!''\ cried the miner, sniffing the air. {}``There's
been crooked work here! Where are the boys?''

Mr.\ Damon was close to the airship. He looked in the cabin window.

{}``Here they are, and they're both asleep, too!''\ he called.\ {}
{}``And\mdash{---} bless my eyeglasses! Look at the airship!\ 
The planes and wings are all cut and slashed! Something has happened!\ 
The \textit{Red Cloud} is all but ruined!''

Abe hastened to his side. He looked at the damage done, and a fierce
look came over his face.

{}``The Fogers again!''\ he murmured. {}``We'll pay 'em back for
this! But first we must see to the boys!''

They needed small attention, however. The opening of the big door
had let in a flood of fresh air, and this dispelled the last of the
fumes. The watchman was the first to revive. The sleep caused by the
chemical, sprayed from the air-pump by the vandal, had been succeeded
by a natural slumber, and this was the case with Ned and Tom. They
were soon aroused, and looked with wonder, not unmixed with rage,
at the work done in the night.

Every one of the principal planes of the airship, each of the rudders,
and some of the auxiliary wings had been cut by a sharp knife\mdash{---}some
in several places. The canvas hung in shreds and patches, and the
trim \textit{Red Cloud} looked like some old tramp airship now.\ 
Tom could scarcely repress a groan.

{}``Who did it?''\ he gasped.

{}``And with us here on guard!''\ added Ned.

{}``I\mdash{---}I must have fallen asleep,''\ admitted the watchman
in confusion.

{}``You were all asleep,''\ said Mr.\ Damon. {}``I couldn't rouse
you!''

{}``And there was th'\ smell of chloroform, or something like it
in th' shed,''\ added the miner.

{}``But look at the airship!''\ groaned Tom.

{}``Is it ruined\mdash{---}can't we go to the valley of gold?''\ asked
Ned.

Tom did not answer for a few minutes. He was walking around looking
at his damaged craft. The sleepy feeling was rapidly leaving him,
as well as Ned and the watchman.

{}``Bless my watch chain!''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Damon. {}``What an
ugly, mean piece of work. Can you repair it, Tom?''

{}``I think so,''\ was the hesitating answer. {}``It is not as
bad as I feared at first. Luckily the gas-bag has not been touched,
for, if it had, we could hardly have repaired it. I can fix the wings
and the rudders. The propellers have not been damaged, nor has the
motor been touched. I think they must have made another attempt to
take the map off me,''\ he went on, as he looked at several pockets
that had been turned inside out.

An examination of the door showed how the lock had been forced, and
the adventurers could easily guess the rest. But who the midnight
vandal was they could not tell, though Tom and the others were sure
it was some one hired by the Fogers.

{}``They wanted to delay us,''\ said Tom. {}``They thought this
would hold us back, but it won't\mdash{---}for long. We'll get right
to work, and make new planes and rudders. Fortunately the framework
isn't hurt any.''

Once Tom got into action nothing held him back. He hardly wanted to
stop for meals. New canvas was ordered, and that very afternoon some
of the damaged wings had been repaired. In the meanwhile the stores
and provisions that had been ordered were arriving, and, under the
direction of the miner and Mr.\ Damon were put in the \textit{Red
Cloud}. Tom and Ned, with the help of a man they hired, worked diligently
to replace the damaged planes and rudders. Mr.\ Parker came out to
the airship shed, but he was of little use as a helper, for he was
continually stopping to jot down some memoranda about an observation
he thought of, or else he would lay aside his tools to go outside,
look at the weather, and make predictions.

But Tom and the others labored to such good advantage that in three
days they had repaired most of the damage done. Luckily the vandal
had cut and slashed in a hurry, and his malicious work was only half
accomplished. There was no clue to his identity.

No trace was seen of the Fogers, and Tom hardly expected it, for he
thought they were in Sitka by this time. Nor were any suspicious persons
seen hanging around the shed. The adventurers left their rooms at
the hotel, and took up their quarters in the airship that would soon
be their home for many days. They wanted to be where they could watch
the craft, and two guards were engaged.

{}``We'll start to-morrow,''\ Tom announced gaily one evening when,
after a hard day's work the last of the damaged planes had been repaired.

{}``Start fer th'\ valley of gold?''\ asked the miner.

{}``Yes. Everything is in good shape now. I want to go into town,
to send some messages home, telling dad we'll soon be on our way,
and I also want to get a few things.''

{}``Shall I come?''\ asked Ned.

{}``No, I'd rather you'd stay here,''\ spoke Tom, in a low voice.\ {}
{}``We can't take any more chances of being delayed, and, as it's
pretty well known that we'll sail to-morrow, the Foger crowd may try
some more of their tricks. No, I'll go to town alone, Ned. I'll soon
be back, however. You stay here.''

But Tom came near never coming back. As he was returning from sending
the messages, and purchasing a few things he needed for the trip,
he passed through a dark street. He was walking along, thinking of
what the future might hold for him and his companions, after they
reached the caves of ice, when, just as he got to a high board fence,
surrounding some vacant lots, he heard some one whisper hoarsely:\ 

{}``Here he comes!''

The young inventor was on his guard instantly. He jumped back to avoid
a moving shadow, but was too late. Something struck him on the back
of his head, and he felt his senses leaving him. He struggled against
the feeling, and he realized, even in that exciting moment, that the
thick collar of his heavy overcoat, which he had turned up because
of a cold wind, had, perhaps, saved him from a broken skull.

{}``Hold him!''\ commanded another voice. {}``I'll go through
him!''

The packages dropped from Tom's nerveless fingers. He felt himself
sinking down, in spite of his fierce determination not to succumb.\ 
He felt several hands moving rapidly about his body, and then he struck
blindly out at the footpads.


\chapter*{\raggedright OFF FOR THE FROZEN NORTH}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{OFF FOR THE FROZEN NORTH}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{OFF FOR THE FROZEN NORTH}

Tom Swift felt as if he was struggling in some dream or nightmare.\ 
He felt strong hands holding him and saw evil faces leering at him.

Then gradually his brain cleared. His muscles, that had been weakened
by the cowardly blow, grew strong. He felt his fist land heavily on
some one's face. He heard a smothered gasp of pain.

Then came the sound of footsteps running\mdash{---}Tom heard the
{}``ping''\ of a policeman's night-stick on the sidewalk.

{}``Here come the cops!''\ he heard one voice exclaim.

{}``Did you get it?''\ asked another.

{}``No, I can't find it. Cut for it now!''

They released the young inventor so suddenly that he staggered about
and almost fell.

The next moment Tom was looking into the face of a big policeman,
who was half supporting him.

{}``What's the matter?''\ asked the officer.

{}``Hold-up, I guess,''\ mumbled the lad. {}``There they go!''\ he
pointed toward two dark forms slipping along down the dimly-lighted
street.

The officer drew his revolver, and fired two shots in the air, but
the fleeing figures did not stop.

{}``How did it happen?''\ asked the policeman. {}``Did they get
anything from you?''

{}``No\mdash{---}I guess not,''\ answered Tom. He saw the packages
containing his purchases lying where they had fallen. A touch told
him his watch and pocketbook were safe. The precious map was in a
belt about his waist, and that had not been removed. {}``No, they
didn't get anything,''\ he assured the officer.

{}``I came along too quick for 'em, I guess,''\ spoke the bluecoat.\ {}
{}``This is a bad neighborhood. There have been several hold-ups
here of late, but I was on the job too soon for these fellows. Hello,
Mike,'' as another officer came running up in answer to the shots
and the raps of the night-stick. {}``Couple of strong-arm-men tackled
this young fellow just now. I saw something going on as I turned the
corner, and I rapped and ran up. They went down that way.\  I fired
at 'em. You take after 'em, Mike, and I'll stay here.\  Don't believe
you can land 'em, but try! I came up too quick to allow 'em to get
anything, though.''

Tom did not contradict this. He knew, however, that, had the men who
attacked him wished to take his watch or money, they could have done
it several times before the officer arrived.

{}``It was the map they were after,''\ thought Tom, {}``not my
watch or money. This is more of the Foger's work. We must get away
from here.''

The policeman inquired for more particulars from Tom, who related
how the hold-up had taken place. The young inventor, however, said
nothing about the map he carried, letting the officer think it was
an ordinary attempt at robbery, for Tom did not want any reference
in the newspapers to his search for the valley of gold.

Presently the other policeman returned, having been unable to get
any trace of the daring men. The two bluecoats wanted to accompany
Tom back to the airship shed, for his own safety, but he declared
there was no more danger, and, after having given his name, so that
the affair might be reported at headquarters, he was allowed to go
on his way. His head ached from the blow, but otherwise he was unhurt.

{}``Those fellows have been keeping watch for me,''\ the lad reasoned,
as he walked quickly toward the airship shed. {}``They must have
been shadowing me, and they hid there until I came back. Andy Foger
and his father must be getting desperate. I think I know why, too.\ 
That little dig I gave Andy about his map is bearing fruit. He begins
to think it's the wrong map, and he wants to get hold of the right
one. Well, they shan't if I can help it. We'll be away from here in
the morning.''

There was indignation and some alarm among Tom's friends when he told
his story a little later that night.

{}``Bless my walking-stick!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon. {}``You'll need
a bodyguard after this.''

{}``I'd just like t'\ git my hands on them fellers!''\ exclaimed
the old miner. {}``I'd show 'em!''\ and a look at his rugged frame
and his muscular arms and gnarled hands showed Tom and Ned that in
the event of a fight they could count much on Abe Abercrombie.

{}``I am glad there will be no more delays, and that we will soon
be moving northward,''\ spoke Mr.\ Parker, a little later. {}``I
am anxious to confirm my theory about the advance of the ice crust,
I met a man to-day who had just returned from the north of Alaska.\ 
He said that a severe winter had already set in up there. So I am
anxious to get to the ice caves.''

{}``So am I,''\ added Tom, but it was for a different reason.

They were all up early the next morning, for there were several things
to look after before they started on the trip that might bring much
of danger to the adventurers. Under Tom's direction, more gas was
generated, and forced into the big bag. A last adjustment was made
of the planes, wing tips and rudders, and the motor was given a try-out.

{}``I guess everything is all right,''\ announced the young inventor.\ {}
{}``We'll take her out.''

The \textit{Red Cloud} was wheeled from the big shed, and placed on
the open lot, where she would have room to rush across the ground
to acquire momentum enough to rise in the air. Tom, whenever it was
practical, always mounted this way, rather than by means of the lifting
gas, as, in the event of a wind, he would have better control of the
ship, while it was ascending into the upper currents of air, than
when it was rising like a balloon.

{}``All aboard!''\ cried the lad, as he looked to see that the
course was clear. Early as it was, there was quite a crowd on hand
to witness the flight, as there had been every day of late, for the
population of Seattle was curious regarding the big craft of the air.

{}``Let her go!''\ cried Ned Newton, enthusiastically.

Tom took his place in the steering-tower, or pilothouse, which was
forward of the main cabin. Ned was in the engine-room, ready to give
any assistance if needed. Mr.\ Damon, Mr.\ Parker and Abe Abercrombie
were in the main cabin, looking out of the windows at the rapidly
increasing throng.

{}``Here we go!''\ cried the young inventor, as he pulled the lever
starting the motor, There was a buzz and a hum. The powerful propellers
whirred around like blurs of light. Forward shot the great airship
over the ground, gathering speed at every revolution of the blades.

Tom tilted the forward rudder to lift the ship. Suddenly it shot over
the heads of the crowd. There was a cheer and some applause.

{}``Off for the frozen north!''\ cried Ned, waving his cap.

Tom shifted the rudder, to change the course of the airship. Mr. Damon
was gazing on the crowd below.

{}``Tom! Tom!''\ he cried suddenly. {}``There's the man with the
black mustache\mdash{---}the man who tried to rob you in the sleeping-car!''\ He
pointed downward to some one in the throng.

{}``He can't get us now!''\ exclaimed Tom, as he increased the
speed of the \textit{Red Cloud}, and then, taking up a telescope,
after setting the automatic steering gear, Tom pointed the glass at
the person whom Mr.\ Damon had indicated.


\chapter*{\raggedright PELTED BY HAILSTONES}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{PELTED BY HAILSTONES}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{PELTED BY HAILSTONES}

{}``Yes, that's the man all right,''\ observed the lad. {}``But
if he came here to have another try for the map, he's too late.\ 
I hope we don't land now until we are in the valley of gold.''\ 
Tom passed the telescope to Ned, who confirmed the identification.

{}``Perhaps he came to see if we started, and then he'll report to
Andy Foger or his father by telegraph,''\ suggested Mr.\ Damon.

{}``Perhaps,''\ admitted Tom. {}``Anyhow, we're well rid of our
enemies\mdash{---}at least for a time. They can't follow us up in
the air.'' He turned another lever and the \textit{Red Cloud} shot
forward at increased speed.

{}``Maybe Andy will race us,''\ suggested Ned.

{}``I'm not afraid of anything his airship can do,''\ declared
Tom.\ {} {}``I don't believe it will even get up off the ground,
though he did make a short flight before he packed up to follow us.
It's a wonder he wouldn't think of something himself, instead of trying
to pattern after some one else. He tried to beat me in building a
speeding automobile, and now he wants to get ahead of me in an airship.
Well, let him try. I'll beat him out, just as I've done before.''

They were now over the outskirts of Seattle, flying along about a
thousand feet high, and they could dimly make out curious crowds gazing
up at them. The throng that had been around the airship shed had disappeared
from view behind a little hill, and, of course, the man with the black
mustache was no longer visible, but Tom felt as if his sinister eyes
were still gazing upward, seeking to discern the occupants of the
airship.

{}``We're well on our way now,''\ observed Ned, after a while,
during which interval he and Tom had inspected the machinery, and
found it working satisfactorily.

{}``Yes, and the \textit{Red Cloud} is doing better than she ever
did before,'' said Tom. {}``I think it did her good to take her
apart and put her together again. It sort of freshened her up.\ 
This machine is my special pride. I hope nothing happens to her on
this journey to the caves of ice.''

{}``If my theory is borne out, we will have to be careful not to
get caught in the crush of ice, as it makes its way toward the south,''
spoke Mr.\ Parker with an air as if he almost wished such a thing
to happen, that he might be vindicated.

{}``Oh, we'll take good care that the \textit{Red Cloud} isn't nipped
between two bergs,''\ Tom declared.

But he little knew of the dire fate that was to overtake the \textit{Red
Cloud}, and how close a call they were to have for their very lives.

{}``No matter what care you exercise, you cannot overcome the awful
power of the grinding ice,''\ declared the gloomy scientist. {}``I
predict that we will see most wonderful and terrifying sights.''

{}``Bless my hatband!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon, {}``don't say such
dreadful things, Parker my dear man! Be more cheerful; can't you?''

{}``Science cannot be cheerful when foretelling events of a dire
nature,''\ was the response. {}``I would not do my duty if I did
not hold to my theories.''

{}``Well, just hold to them a little more closely,''\ suggested
Mr. Damon. {}``Don't tell them to us so often, and have them get
on our nerves, Parker, my dear man. Bless my nail-file!\ be more
cheerful. And that reminds me, when are we going to have dinner, Tom?''

{}``Whenever you want it, Mr.\ Damon. Are you going to act as cook
again?''

{}``I think I will, and I'll just go to the galley now, and see about
getting a meal. It will take my mind off the dreadful things Mr.\ Parker
says.''

But if the gloomy scientific man heard this little {}``dig''\ he
did not respond to it. He was busy jotting down figures on a piece
of paper, multiplying and dividing them to get at some result in a
complicated problem he was working on, regarding the power of an iceberg
in proportion to its size, to exert a lateral pressure when sliding
down a grade of fifteen per cent.

Mr.\ Damon got an early dinner, as they had breakfasted almost at
dawn that morning, in order to get a good start. The meal was much
enjoyed, and to Abe Abercrombie was quite a novelty, for he had never
before partaken of food so high up in the air, the barograph of the
\textit{Red Cloud} showing an elevation of a little over twelve thousand
feet.

{}``It's certainly great,''\ the old miner observed, as he looked
down toward the earth below them, stretched out like some great relief
map. {}``It sure is wonderful an'\ some scrumptious! I never thought
I'd be ridin'\ one of these critters. But they're th'\ only thing
t'\ git t'\ this hidden valley with. We might prospect around for
a year, and be driven back by the Indians and Eskimos a dozen times.
But with this we can go over their heads, and get all the gold we
want.''

{}``Is there enough to give every one all he wants?''\ asked Tom,
with a quizzical smile. {}``I don't know that I ever had enough.''

{}``Me either,''\ added Ned Newton.

{}``Oh, there's lots of gold there,''\ declared the old miner.\ {}
{}``The thing to do is to get it and we can sure do that now.''

The remainder of the day passed uneventfully, though Tom cast anxious
looks at the weather as night set in, and Ned, noting his chum's uneasiness,
asked:\ 

{}``Worrying about anything, Tom?''

{}``Yes, I am,''\ was the reply. {}``I think we're in for a hard
storm, and I don't know just how the airship will behave up in these
northern regions. It's getting much colder, and the gas in the bag
is condensing more than I thought it would. I will have to increase
our speed to keep us moving along at this elevation.''

The motor was adjusted to give more power, and, having set it so that
it, as well as the rudders, would be controlled automatically, Tom
rejoined his companions in the main cabin, where, as night settled
down, they gathered to eat the evening meal.

Through the night the great airship plowed her way. At times Tom arose
to look at some of the recording instruments. It was growing colder,
and this further reduced the volume of the gas, but as the speed of
the ship was sufficient to send her along, sustained by the planes
and wings alone, if necessary, the young inventor did not worry much.

Morning broke gray and cheerless. A few flakes of snow fell. There
was every indication of a heavy storm. They were high above a desolate
and wild country now, hovering over a sparsely settled region where
they could see great forests, stretches of snow-covered rocks, and
towering mountain crags.

The snow, which had been lazily falling, suddenly ceased. Tom looked
out in surprise. A moment later there came a sound as if some giant
fingers were beating a tattoo on the roof of the main cabin.

{}``What's that!''\ cried Ned.

{}``Bless my umbrella!\ has anything happened?''\ demanded Mr.\ Damon.

{}``It's a hail storm!''\ exclaimed Tom. {}``We've run into a
big hail storm. Look at those frozen stones! They're as big as hens'\ eggs!''

On a little platform in front of the steering-house could be seen
falling immense hailstones. They played a tattoo on the wooden planks.

{}``A hail storm! Bless my overshoes!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon.

{}``A hail storm!''\ echoed Mr.\ Parker. {}``I expected we would
have one. The hailstones will become even larger than this!''

{}``Cheerful,''\ remarked Tom in a low voice, with an apprehensive
look at Ned.

{}``Is there any danger?''\ asked his chum.

{}``Danger? Plenty of it,''\ replied the young inventor. {}``The
frozen particles may rip open the gas bag.'' He stopped suddenly
and looked at a gage on the wall of the steering-tower\mdash{---}a
gage that showed the gas pressure.

{}``One compartment of the bag has been ripped open!''\ cried Tom.\ {}
{}``The vapor is escaping! The whole bag may soon be torn apart!''

The noise of the pelting hailstones increased. The roar of the storm,
the bombardment of the icy globules, and the moaning of the wind struck
terror to the hearts of the gold-seekers.

{}``What's to be done?''\ yelled Ned.

{}``We must go up, to get above the storm, or else descend and find
some shelter!''\ answered Tom. {}``I'll first see if I can send
the ship up above the clouds!''

He increased the speed of the motor so that the propellers would aid
in taking the ship higher up, while the gas-generating machine was
set in operation to pour the lifting vapor into the big bag.


\chapter*{\raggedright A FRIGHTENED INDIAN}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{A FRIGHTENED INDIAN}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{A FRIGHTENED INDIAN}

The violence of the hail storm, the clatter of the frozen pellets
as they bombarded the airship, the rolling, swaying motion of the
craft as Tom endeavored to send it aloft, all combined to throw the
passengers of the \textit{Red Cloud} into a state of panic.

{}``Bless my very existence!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon, {}``this is
almost as bad as when we were caught in the hurricane at Earthquake
Island!''

{}``I am sure that this storm is but the forerunner of some dire
calamity!''\ declared Mr.\ Parker.

{}``I'm afraid it's all up with us,''\ came from Abe Abercrombie,
as he looked about for some way of escape.

{}``Do you think you can pull us through, Tom?''\ asked Ned Newton,
who, not having had much experience in airships had yet to learn Tom's
skill in manipulating them.

The young inventor alone seemed to keep his nerve. Coolly and calmly
he stood at his post of duty, shifting the wing planes from moment
to moment, managing the elevation rudder, and, at the same time, keeping
his eye on the registering dial of the gas-generating machine.

{}``It's all right,''\ said Tom, more easily than he felt. {}``We
are going up slowly. You might see if you can induce the gas machine
to do any better, Mr.\ Damon. We are wasting some of the vapor because
of the leak in the bag, but we can manufacture it faster than it escapes,
so I guess we'll be all right.''

{}``Mr.\ Parker, may I ask you to oil the main motor? You will see
the places marked where the oil is to go in. Ned, you help him.\ 
Here, Abe, come over here and give me a hand. This wind makes the
rudders hard to twist.''

The young inventor could not have chosen a better method of relieving
the fears of his friends than by giving them something to do to take
their minds off their own troubles. They hurried to the tasks he had
assigned to them, and, in a few minutes, there were no more doubts
expressed.

Not that the \textit{Red Cloud} was out of danger, Far from it.\ 
The storm was increasing in violence, and the hailstones seemed to
double in number. Then, too, being forced upward as she was, the airship's
bag was pelted all the harder, for the speed of the craft, added to
the velocity of the falling chunks of hail, made them strike on the
surface of the ship with greater violence.

Tom was anxiously watching the barograph, to note their height.\ 
The \textit{Red Cloud} was now about two and a half miles high, and
slowly mounting upward. The gas machine was working to its fullest
capacity, and the fact that they did not rise more quickly told Tom,
more plainly than words could have done, that there were several additional
leaks in the gas-bag.

{}``I'll take her up another thousand feet,''\ he announced grimly.\ {}
{}``Then, if we're not above the storm it will be useless to go higher.''

{}``Why?''\ asked Ned, who had come back to stand beside his chum.

{}``Because we can't possibly get above the storm without tearing
the ship to pieces. I had rather descend.''

{}``But won't that be just as bad?''

{}``Not necessarily. There are often storms in the upper regions
which do not get down to the surface of the earth, snow and hail storms
particularly. Hail, you know, is supposed to be formed by drops of
rain being hurled up and down in a sort of circular, spiral motion
through alternate strata of air\mdash{---}first freezing and then
warm, which accounts for the onion-like layers seen when a hailstone
is cut in half.''

{}``That is right,''\ broke in Mr.\ Parker, who was listening
to the young inventor. {}``By going down this hail storm may change
into a harmless rain storm. But, in spite of that fact, we are in
a dangerous climate, where we must expect all sorts of queer happenings.''

{}``Nice, comfortable sort of a companion to have along on a gold-hunting
expedition, isn't He?''\ asked Tom of Ned, making a wry face as
Mr.\ Parker moved away. {}``But I haven't any time to think of that.
Say, this is getting fierce!''

Well might he say so. The wind had further increased in violence,
and while the storm of hailstones seemed to be about the same, the
missiles had nearly doubled in size.

{}``Better go down,''\ advised Ned. {}``We may fall if you don't.''

{}``Guess I will,''\ assented Tom. {}``There's no use going higher.\ 
I doubt if I could, anyhow, with all this wind pressure, and with
the gas-bag leaking. Down she is!''

As he spoke he shifted the levers, and changed the valve wheels.\ 
In an instant the \textit{Red Cloud} began to shoot toward the earth.

{}``What's happened? What in th'\ name of Bloody Gulch are we up
ag'in'?''\ demanded the old miner, springing to his feet.

{}``We're going down\mdash{---}that's all,''\ answered Tom, calmly,
but he was far from feeling that way, and he had grave fears for the
safety of himself and his companions.

Down, down, down went the \textit{Red Cloud}, in the midst of the
hail storm. But if the gold-seekers had hoped to escape the pelting
of the frozen globules they were mistaken. The stones still seemed
to increase in size and number. The gas machine register showed a
sudden lack of pressure, not due to the shutting off of the apparatus.

{}``Look!''\ cried Ned, pointing to the dial.

{}``Yes\mdash{---}more punctures,''\ said Tom, grimly.

{}``What's to be done?''\ asked Mr.\ Damon, who had finished the
task Tom allotted to him. {}``Bless my handkerchief!\ what's to
be done?''

{}``Seek shelter if the storm doesn't stop when we get to the earth
level,''\ answered Tom.

{}``Shelter? What sort of shelter? There are no airship sheds in
this desolate region.''

{}``I may be able to send the ship under some overhanging mountain
crag,''\ answered the young inventor, {}``and that will keep off
the hailstones.''

Eagerly Tom and Ned, who stood together in the pilothouse peered forward
through the storm.

The wind was less violent now that they were in the lower currents
of air, but the hail had not ceased.

Suddenly Tom gave a cry. Ned looked at him anxiously. Had some new
calamity befallen them? But Tom's voice sounded more in relief than
in alarm. The next instant he called:\ 

{}``Look ahead there, Ned, and tell me what you see.''

{}``I see something big and black,''\ answered the other lad, after
a moment's hesitation. {}``Why, it's a big black hole!''\ he added.

{}``That's what I made it out to be,''\ went on Tom, {}``but I
wanted to be sure. It's the opening to a cave or hole in the side
of the mountain. I take it.''

{}``You're right,''\ agreed Ned.

{}``Then we're safe,''\ declared Tom.

{}``Safe? How?''

{}``I'm going to take the \textit{Red Cloud} in there out of the
storm.''

{}``Can you do it? Is the opening big enough?''

{}``Plenty. It's larger than my shed at home, Jove!\ but I'm glad
I saw that in time, or there would have been nothing left of the gas-bag!''

With skilful hands Tom turned the rudders and sent the airship down
on a slant toward the earth, aiming for the entrance to the cave,
which loomed up in the storm. When the craft was low enough down so
that the superstructure would not scrape the top of the cave, Tom
sent her ahead on the level. But he need have had no fears, for the
hole was large enough to have admitted a craft twice the size of the
\textit{Red Cloud}.

A few minutes later the airship slid inside the great cavern, as easily
as if coming to rest in the yard of Tom's house. The roof of the cave
was high over their heads, and they were safe from the storm.\  The
cessation from the deafening sound of the pelting hailstones seemed
curious to them at first.

{}``Well, bless my shoelaces!\ if this isn't luck!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon,
as he opened the door of the cabin, and looked about the cave in which
they now found themselves. It was comparatively light, for the entrance
was very large, though the rear of the cavern was in gloom.

{}``Yes, indeed, we got to it just in time,'''\ agreed Tom. {}``Now
let's see what sort of a place it is. We'll have to explore it.''

{}``There may be a landslide, or the roof may come down on our heads,''
objected Mr.\ Parker.

{}``Oh, my dear Parker!\ please be a little more cheerful,''\ begged
Mr. Damon.

The adventurers followed Tom from the airship, and all but the young
inventor gazed curiously at the interior of the cave. His first thought
was for his airship. He glanced up at the gas-bag, and noted several
bad rents in it.

{}``I hope we can fix them,''\ Tom thought dubiously.

But the attention of all was suddenly arrested by something that occurred
just then. From the dark recess of the cavern there sounded a fearful
yell or scream. It was echoed back a thousand-fold by the rocky walls
of the cave, Then there dashed past the little group of gold-seekers
a dark figure.

{}``Look out! It's a bear!''\ shouted Mr.\ Damon.

{}``A bear!\  It's an Eskimo Indian!''\ yelled Abe Abercrombie,
{}``an'\ he's skeered nigh t'\ death! Look at him run!''

As they gazed toward the lighted entrance of the cave they saw leaping
and running from it an Indian who quickly scudded out into the hail
storm.

{}``An Indian,''\ exclaimed Tom. {}``An Indian in the cave!\ 
If there's one, there may be more. I guess we'd better look to our
guns. They may attack us!''\ and he hurried back into the airship,
followed by Ned and the others.


\chapter*{\raggedright THE RIVAL AIRSHIP}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{THE RIVAL AIRSHIP}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{THE RIVAL AIRSHIP}

Well armed, the adventurers again ventured out into the cave. But
they need not have been alarmed so soon, for there were no signs of
any more Indians.

{}``I guess that one was a stray Eskimo who took shelter in here
from the storm,''\ said Abe Abercrombie.

{}``Are we in the neighborhood of the Alaskan Indians and Eskimos?''
inquired Ned.

{}``Yes, there are lots of Indians in this region,''\ answered
the old miner, {}``but not so many Eskimos. A few come down from
th'\ north, but we'll see more of them, an'\ fewer of th'\ pure-blooded
Indians as we get nearer th'\ valley of gold. Though t'\ my mind
th'\ Indians an' Eskimos are pretty much alike,''

{}``Well, if we don't have to defend ourselves from an attack of
Indians, suppose we look over the airship,''\ proposed Tom.

{}``It's too dark to see very much,''\ objected Ned. But this was
overcome when Tom started up a dynamo, and brought out a portable
search-light which was played upon the superstructure of the \textit{Red
Cloud}. The gas-bag was the only part of the craft they feared for,
as the hailstones could not damage the iron or wooden structure and
the planes were made in sections, and in such a manner that rents
in them could easily be repaired. So, in fact, could the gas-bag be
mended, but it was harder work.

{}``Well, she's got some bad tears in her,''\ announced Tom as
the light flashed over the big bag. {}``Luckily I have plenty of
the material, and some cement, so I think we can mend the rents, though
it will take some days. Nothing could have been better for us than
this cave. We'll stay here until we're ready to go on.''

{}``Unless the Indians drive us out,''\ said Abe, in a low tone.

{}``Why, do you think there is any danger of that?''\ inquired
Tom.

{}``Well, th'\ brown-skinned beggars aren't any too friendly,''\ responded
the old miner. {}``Th'\ one that was in here will be sure to tell
th' others of some big spirit that flew into th'\ cave, an'\ they'll
be crowdin'\ around here when th'\ storm's over. It may be we can
fight 'em off, though.''

{}``Maybe they won't attack us,''\ suggested Ned, hopefully. {}``Perhaps
we can make them believe we are spirits, and that it will be unlucky
to interfere with us.''

{}``Perhaps,''\ admitted Abe, {}``though my experience has been
that these Indians are a bad lot. They haven't much respect for spirits
of any kind, an'\ they'll soon find out we're human. But then, we'll
wait an'\ see what happens.''

{}``And, in the meantime, have something to eat,''\ put in Mr.\ Damon.\ {}
{}``Bless my knife and fork!\ but the hail storm gave me an appetite.''

In fact, there were few things which did not give Mr.\ Damon an appetite,
Tom thought with a smile. But the meal idea was considered very timely,
and soon the amateur cook was busy in the galley of the airship, whence
speedily came savory odors. The electric lights were switched on,
and the adventurers were quickly made comfortable in the cave, which
so well sheltered the \textit{Red Cloud}. Tom completed his inspection
of the craft, and was relieved to find that while there were a number
of small rents, none was very large, and all could be mended in time.

Abe Abercrombie took a look outside the cave after the meal had been
served. The old miner declared that they had made a good advance on
their northern journey for, though he could not tell their exact location,
he knew by the character of the landscape that they had passed the
boundaries of Alaska.

{}``A few more days'\ traveling at the rate we came will bring us
to the Snow Mountains and the valley of gold,''\ he said.

{}``Well, we won't average such speed as we did during the hail storm,''
said Tom. {}``The wind of that carried us along at a terrific pace.\ 
But we will get there in plenty of time, I think,''

{}``Why; is there any particular rush?''\ asked Ned.

{}``There's no telling when the Fogers may appear,''\ answered
the young inventor in a low voice. {}``But now we must get to work
to repair damage.''

The hail storm had ceased, and, with the passing of the clouds the
cave was made lighter. But Tom did not depend on this, for he set
up powerful searchlights, by the gleams of which he and his companions
began the repairing of the torn gas-bag.

They worked all the remainder of that day, and were at it again early
the next morning, making good progress.

{}``We can go forward again, in about two days,''\ spoke Tom.\ {}
{}``I want to give the cement on the patches plenty of chance to
dry.''

{}``Then I will have time to go out and make some observations, will
I not?''\ asked Mr.\ Parker. {}``I think this cave is a very old
one, and I may be able to find some evidences in it that the sea of
ice is slowly working its way down from the polar regions.''

{}``I hope you don't,''\ whispered Ned to Tom, who shook his head
dubiously as the gloomy scientist left the cave.

The weather was very cold, but, in the cavern it was hardly noticed.\ 
The adventurers were warmly dressed, and when they did get chilly
from working over the airship, they had but to go into the well-heated
and cozy cabin to warm themselves.

It was on the third day of their habitation in the cave, and work
on putting the patches on the gas-bag was almost finished. Mr.\ Parker
had gone out to make further observations, his previous ones not having
satisfied him. Tom was on an improvised platform, putting a patch
on top of the bag, when he heard a sudden yell, and some one dashed
into the cavern.

{}``They're coming! They're coming!''\ cried a voice, and Tom,
looking down, saw Mr.\ Parker, apparently in a state of great fear.

{}``What's coming?''\ demanded the young inventor, {}``the icebergs?''

{}``No\mdash{---}the Indians!''\ yelled the scientist. {}``A
whole tribe of them is rushing this way!''

{}``I thought so!''\ cried Abe Abercrombie. {}``Where's my gun?''\ and
he dashed into the airship.

Tom slid down off the platform.

{}``Get ready for a fight!''\ he gasped. {}``Where are you, Ned?''

{}``Here I am. We'd better get to the mouth of the cave, and drive
'em back from there.''

{}``Yes. If I'd only thought, we could have blockaded it in some
way. It's as big as a barn now, and they can rush us if they have
a mind to. But we'll do our best!''

The adventurers were now all armed, even to Mr.\ Parker. The scientist
had recovered from his first fright, when he spied the Indians coming
over the snow, as he was {}``observing''\ some natural phenomenon.\ 
Tom, even in his excitement, noticed that the professor was curiously
examining his gun, evidently more with a view to seeing how it was
made, and on which principle it was operated, rather than to discover
how to use it.

{}``If it comes to a fight, just point it at the Indians, pull the
trigger, and work that lever,''\ explained the young inventor.\ {}
{}``It's an automatic gun.''

{}``I see,''\ answered Mr.\ Parker. {}``Very curious. I had no
idea they worked this way.''

{}``Oh, if I only had my electric rifle in shape!''\ sighed Tom,
as he dashed forward at the side of Ned.

{}``Your electric rifle?''

{}``Yes, I've got a new kind of weapon\mdash{---}very effective.\ 
I have it almost finished. It's in the airship, but I can't use it
just yet. However, maybe these repeaters will do the work.''

By this time they were at the entrance of the cave, and, looking out
they saw about a hundred Indians, dressed in furs, striding across
the snowy plain that stretched out from the foot of the mountain in
which was the cavern.

{}``They're certainly comin'\ on,''\ observed Abe, grimly. {}``Git
ready for 'em, boys!''

The gold-seekers lined up at the mouth of the cave, with guns in their
hands. At the sight of this small, but formidable force, the Indians
halted. They were armed with guns of ancient make, while some had
spears, and others bows and arrows. A few had grabbed up stones as
weapons.

There appeared to be a consultation going on among them, and, presently,
one of the number, evidently a chief or a spokesman, gave his gun
to one of his followers, and, holding his hands above his head, while
he waved a rag that might have once been white, came forward.

{}``By Jove!''\ exclaimed Tom. {}``It's a flag of truce! He wants
to talk with us I believe!''

{}``Bless my cartridges!''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Damon. {}``Can they
speak English?''

{}``A little,''\ answered Abe Abercrombie. {}``I can talk some
of their lingo, too. Maybe I'd better see what they want.''

{}``I guess it would be a good plan,''\ suggested Tom, and, accordingly
the old miner stepped forward. The Indian came on, until Abe motioned
for him to halt.

{}``I reckon that's as far as it'll be healthy for you t'\ come,''\ spoke
Abe, grimly. {}``Now what do you fellers want?''

Thereupon there ensued a rapid exchange of jargon between the miner
and the Indian. Abe seemed much relieved as the talk went on, until
there came what seemed like a demand on the part of the dark-hued
native.

{}``No.\ you don't! None of that!''\ muttered Abe. {}``If you
had your way you'd take everything we have.''

{}``What is it? What does he want?''\ asked Tom in a low voice.

{}``Why, the beggar began fair enough,''\ replied the miner. {}``He
said one of their number had been in the cave when a storm came an'\ saw
a big spirit fly in, with men on its back. He ran away an'\ now others
have come to see what it was. They don't guess it's an airship, for
they've never seen one.\ but they know we're white folks, an'\ they
always want things white folks have got.''

{}``This fellow is a sort of chief, an'\ he says the white folks\mdash{---}that's
us, you know?\mdash{---}have taken th'\ Indians'\ cave.\  He
says he doesn't want t'\ have any trouble, an'\ that we can stay
here as long as we like, but that we must give him an'\ his followers
a lot of food. Says they hain't got much. Land! Those beggars would
eat us out of everything we had if we'd let 'em!''

{}``What are you going to tell them?''\ inquired Mr.\ Damon.

{}``I'm goin'\ t'\ tell 'em t'\ go t'\ grass, or words t'\ that
effect,'' replied Abe. {}``They haven't any weapons that amount
t'\ anything, an' we can stand 'em off. Besides, we'll soon be goin'\ away
from here; won't we, Tom?''

{}``Yes, but\mdash{---}''

{}``Oh, there's no use givin'\ in to 'em,''\ interrupted Abe.\ {}
{}``If you give 'em half a loaf, they want two. Th'\ only way is
t'\ be firm. I'll tell 'em we can't accommodate 'em.''

Thereupon he began once more to talk to the Indians in their own tongue.\ 
His words were at first received in silence, and then angry cries
came from the natives. The chief made a gesture of protest.

{}``Well, if you don't like it, you know what you kin do!''\ declared
Abe. {}``We've got th'\ best part of our journey before us, an'\ we
can't give away our supplies. Go hunt food if you want it, ye lazy
beggars!''

The peaceful demeanor of the Indians now turned to rage. The leader
dropped the rag that had served for a flag of truce, and took back
his gun.

{}``Look out! There's going to be trouble!''\ cried Tom.

{}``Well, we're ready for 'em!''\ answered Abe, grimly.

There was a moment of hesitation among the natives. Then they seemed
to hold a consultation with the chief. It was over shortly. They broke
into a run, and quickly advanced toward the cave. Tom and the others
held their guns in readiness.

Suddenly the Indians halted. They gazed upward, and pointed to something
in the air above their heads. They gave utterance to cries of fear.

{}``What is it; another storm coming?''\ asked Tom.

{}``Let's look,''\ suggested Ned. He and Tom stepped to the mouth
of the cave\mdash{---}they went outside. There was little danger
from the natives now, as their attention was fixed on something else.

A moment later Tom and Ned saw what this was.

Floating in the air, almost over the cave, was a great airship\mdash{---}a
large craft, nearly the size of the \textit{Red Cloud}. Hardly able
to believe the evidence of their eyes, Tom and Ned watched it. Whence
had it come? Whither was it going?

{}``It's a triplane!''\ murmured Ned.

{}``A triplane!''\ repeated Tom. {}``Yes\mdash{---}it is\mdash{---}and
it's the airship of Andy Foger! Our rivals are on our track!''

He continued to gaze upward as the triplane shot forward, the noise
of the motor being plainly heard. Then, with howls of fear, the Indians
turned and fled. The rival airship had vanquished them.


\chapter*{\raggedright THE RACE}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{THE RACE}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{THE RACE}

Astonished and terrified as the Indians had been at the sight of the
big-winged craft, high in the air above their heads, Tom and the others
were no less surprised, though, of course, their fear was not exactly
the same as that of the Alaskan natives.

{}``Do you really think that is Andy Foger?''\ asked Ned, as they
watched the progress of the triplane.

{}``I'm almost sure of it,''\ replied Tom. {}``That craft is built
exactly as his was.\ but I never expected him to have such good luck
sailing it.''

{}``It isn't going very fast,''\ objected Ned.

{}``No, but it can navigate pretty well, and that's something.\ 
He must have hustled to get it together and reach this point with
it.''

{}``Yes, but he didn't have to travel as far as we did,''\ went
on Ned. {}``He put his ship together at Sitka, and we came from Seattle.''

{}``Bless my memoranda book!''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Damon. {}``The
Fogers here! What's to be done about it?''

{}``Nothing, I guess,''\ answered Tom. {}``I'd just as soon they
wouldn't see us. I don't believe they will. Get back into the cave.
We must use strategy now to get ahead of them. There will be a race
to the valley of gold.''

{}``Well, he served us one good turn, anyhow, though he didn't mean
to,''\ put in Abe Abercrombie.

{}``How?''\ asked Mr.\ Parker, who was still examining his gun,
as though trying to understand it.

{}``He scared away them pesky natives,''\ went on the miner. {}``Otherwise
we might have had a fight, an'\ while I reckon we could have beat
'em, it's best not to fight if you kin git out of it.''

The gold-seekers had withdrawn inside the mouth of the cave, where
they could watch the progress of the rival airship without being seen.\ 
The Indians had disappeared beyond a snow-covered hill.

The airship of Andy Foger, for such it subsequently proved to be,
floated slowly onward. Its progress was not marked with the speed
of Tom's craft, though whether or not the occupants of the \emph{Anthony}
(as Andy had vain-gloriously named his craft after himself)\ were
speeding up their motor, was a matter of conjecture.

The adventurers held a short consultation, while standing at the mouth
of the cave watching the progress of the \textit{Anthony}. It rose
in the air, and circled about.

{}``He certainly \textit{is} trying to pick us up,''\ declared
Ned.

{}``Well, we'll start out after him to-morrow,''\ decided Tom.
{}``I think all the patches will hold then.''

They resumed work on the \textit{Red Cloud}, and that night Tom announced
that they would start in the morning. Meanwhile Andy's craft had disappeared
from sight. There was no further evidence of the Indians.

{}``I don't reckon they'll come back,''\ spoke Abe, grimly. {}``They
think we are sure-enough spirits, now, able to call creatures out
of the air whenever we want 'em. But still we must be on our guard.''

As Mr.\ Parker was not of much service in helping on the airship
he agreed to be a sort of guard and took his place just outside the
cave, where he could make {}``observations,''\ and, at the same
time watch for the reappearance of Indians. They had little fear of
an attack at night, for Abe said the Alaskans were not fond of darkness.

The cold seemed to increase, and, even in the sheltered cave the adventurers
felt it. There were several heavy flurries of snow that afternoon,
and winter seemed setting in with a vengeance. The daylight, too,
was not of long duration, for the sun was well south now, and in the
far polar regions it was perpetual night.

After a brief inspection of the ship the next morning, following a
good night's rest, when they were not disturbed by any visits from
the natives, Tom announced that they would set sail. The day was a
clear one, but very cold, and the gold-seekers were glad of the shelter
of the warm cabin.

The \textit{Red Cloud} was wheeled from the cave, and set on a level
place. There was not room enough to make a flying start, and ascend
by means of the planes and propellers, so the gas-bag method was used.\ 
The generating machine was put in operation, and soon the big red
bag that hovered over the craft began to fill. Tom was glad to see
that none of the several compartments leaked. The bag had been well
repaired.

Suddenly the \textit{Red Cloud} shot up in the air. Up above the towering
snow-covered crags it mounted, and then, with a whizz and a roar,
the propellers were set going.

{}``Once more northward bound!''\ cried Tom, as he took his place
in the pilothouse.

{}``And we'll see if we can beat Andy Foger there,''\ added Ned.

All that morning the \textit{Red Cloud} shot ahead at good speed.
The craft had suffered no permanent damage during her fight with the
hail storm, and was as good as ever. They ate dinner high in the air,
while sailing over a great stretch of whiteness, where the snow lay
many feet deep on the level, and where great mountain crags were so
covered with the glistening mantle and a coating of ice as to resemble
the great bergs that float in the polar sea.

{}``I wouldn't want to be wrecked here,''\ said Ned, with a shudder,
as he looked down. {}``We'd never get away. Does any one live down
there, Abe?''

{}``Yes, there are scattered tribes of Indians and Alaskan natives.
They live by hunting and fishing, and travel around by means of dog
sledges. But it's a dreary life. Me an'\ my partner had all we wanted
of it. An airship for mine!''

{}``I wonder what's become of Andy?''\ spoke Tom, that afternoon.
{}``I haven't sighted him, and I've been using the powerful telescope.\ 
I can't pick him up, though he can't be so very far ahead of us.''

{}``Let me try,''\ suggested Ned. {}``Put her up a bit, Tom, where
I can look down. Andy won't dare go very high. Maybe I can sight him.''

The \textit{Red Cloud} shot upward as the young inventor shifted the
elevation rudder, and the bank clerk, with the powerful glass to his
eye, swept the space below him. For half an hour he looked in vain.
Then, with a little start of surprise he handed the glass to his chum.

{}``See what you make that out to be,''\ suggested Ned. {}``It
looks like a big bird, yet I haven't seen any other birds to-day.''

Tom looked. He peered earnestly through the telescope for a minute,
and then cried:\ 

{}``It's Andy's airship! He's ahead of us! We must catch him! Ned,
you and Mr.\ Damon speed up the motor! The race is on!''

In a few minutes the great airship was hurling herself through space,
and, in less than ten minutes Andy's craft could be made out plainly
with the naked eye. Fifteen minutes more and the \textit{Red Cloud}
was almost up to her. Then those aboard the \textit{Anthony} must
have caught sight of their pursuers, for there was a sudden increase
in speed on the part of the unscrupulous Foger crowd, who sought to
steal a march on Tom and his friends.

{}``The race is on!''\ repeated the young inventor grimly, as he
pulled the speed lever over another notch.


\chapter*{\raggedright THE FALL OF THE \emph{ANTHONY}}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{THE FALL OF THE \emph{ANTHONY}}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{THE FALL OF THE \emph{ANTHONY}}

Had it not been for what was at stake, the race between the two big
airships would have been an inspiring one to those aboard Tom's craft.\ 
As it was they were too anxious to overcome the unfair advantage taken
by Andy to look for any of the finer points in the contest of the
air.

{}``There's no denying that he's got a pretty good craft there,''
conceded Tom, as he watched the progress of his rival. {}``I never
thought Andy Foger could have done it.''

{}``He didn't do very much of it,''\ declared Ned. {}``He hired
the best part of that made. Andy hasn't any inventive ideas. He probably
said he wanted an airship, and his dad put up the money and hired
men to build it for him. Andy, Sam and Pete only tinkered around on
it.''

Later Tom and his chum learned that this was so\mdash{---}that Mr.\ Foger
had engaged the services of an expert to make the airship. This man
had been taken to Sitka with the Fogers, and had materially aided
them in re-assembling the craft.

{}``Do you think he can beat us?''\ asked Ned, anxiously.

{}``No!''\ exclaimed Tom, confidently. {}``There's only one craft
that can beat my \textit{Red Cloud} and that's my monoplane the \textit{Butterfly}.\ 
But I have in mind plans for a speedier machine than even the monoplane.
However I haven't any fear that Andy can keep up to us in this craft.\ 
I haven't begun to fly yet, and I'm pretty sure, from the way his
is going, that he has used his limit of speed.''

{}``Then why don't you get ahead of him?''\ asked Mr.\ Damon.
{}``Bless my tape-measure!\ the way to win a race is to beat.''

{}``Not this kind of a race,''\ and the young inventor spoke seriously.
{}``If I got ahead of Andy now, he'd simply trail along and follow
us. That's his game. He wants me to be the path-finder, for, since
I cast a doubt on the correctness of the map, a copy of which he stole,
he isn't sure where he's going. He'd ask nothing better than to follow
us.''

{}``Then what are you going to do if you don't get ahead of him?''\ asked
Ned.

{}``I'm going to press him close until night,''\ answered Tom,
{}``and when it's dark, I'm going to shoot ahead, and, by morning
we'll be so far away that he can't catch up to us.''

{}``Good idea! That's th'\ stuff!''\ cried Abe with enthusiasm.

{}``He's a sneak!''\ burst out Mr.\ Damon. {}``I'd like to see
him left behind.''

Tom carried out his plan. The remainder of the day he hung just on
Andy's flank, sometimes shooting high up, almost out of sight, and
again coming down, just to show what the \textit{Red Cloud} could
do when pressed.

As for those aboard the \textit{Anthony}, they seemed to be trying
to increase their speed, but, if that was their object they did not
have much success, for the big, clumsy triplane only labored along.

{}``I wonder who he's got with him?''\ said Ned, as darkness was
closing down. {}``I can't make out any one by this glass. They stick
pretty closely to the cabin.''

{}``Oh, probably Andy's father is there,''\ said Tom, {}``and,
perhaps, some of Mr.\ Foger's acquaintances. I guess Mr.\ Foger
is as anxious to get this gold as Andy is.''

{}``He certainly needs money,''\ admitted Ned. {}``Jove!\ but
I hope we beat him!''

But alas for Tom's hopes! His plan of waiting until night and then
putting on such speed as would leave Andy behind could not be carried
out. It was tried, but something went wrong with the main motor, and
only half power could be developed. Tom and Ned labored over it nearly
all night, to no effect, and through the hours of darkness they could
see the lights from the cabin of the \textit{Anthony} gleaming just
ahead of them. Evidently the bully's airship could not make enough
speed to run away from the \textit{Red Cloud}, or else it was the
plan of the Foger crowd to keep in Tom's vicinity.

The direction held by Andy's craft was a general northwestern one,
and Tom knew, in time, and that very soon, it would bring the \textit{Anthony}
over the valley of gold. Evidently Andy was placing some faith in
his copy of the stolen map.

{}``Once I get this motor in shape I'll soon pull away from him,''
announced Tom, about four o'clock that morning, while he and Ned,
aided by Mr.\ Damon, were still laboring over the refractory machine.

{}``What are you going to do?''\ asked Ned.

{}``It's too late to carry out my original plan,''\ went on Tom.\ {}
{}``We're getting so near the place now that I want to be there ahead
of every one else. So as soon as we can, I'm going to push the \textit{Red
Cloud} for all she's worth, and get to the valley of gold first.\ 
If possession is nine points of the law, I want those nine points.''

{}``That's the way to talk!''\ cried Abe. {}``Once we git on th'\ ground
we kin hold our own!''

It was breakfast time before Tom had the motor repaired, and he decided
to have a good meal before starting to speed up his craft. He felt
better after some hot coffee, for he and the others were weary from
their night of labor.

{}``Now for the test!''\ he cried, as he went back to the engine-room.\ {}
{}``Here's where we give Andy the go-by, and I don't think he can
catch us!''

There was an increasing hum to the powerful motor, the great propellers
whirled around at twice their former number of revolutions, and the
airship suddenly shot ahead.

Those on the \emph{Anthony} must have been watching for some such
move as that, for, no sooner had Tom's craft begun to creep up on
his rival than the forward craft also shot ahead.

But the airship was not built that could compete with Tom's. Like
a racer overhauling a cart-horse, the \textit{Red Cloud} whizzed through
the air. In a spirit of fun the young inventor sent his machine within
a few feet of Andy's. He had a double purpose in this, for he wanted
to show the bully that he did not fear him, and he wanted to see if
he could discover who was aboard.

Tom did catch a glimpse of Andy and his father in the cabin of the
\textit{Anthony}, and he also saw a couple of men working frantically
over the machinery.

{}``They're going to try to catch us!''\ called Tom to Ned.

This was evident a moment later, for, after the \textit{Red Cloud}
had forged ahead, her rival made a clumsy attempt to follow. The \textit{Anthony}
did show a burst of speed, and, for a moment Tom was apprehensive
lest he had underrated his rival's prowess.

Suddenly Ned, who was looking from a projecting side window of the
pilothouse, back toward Andy's ship, cried out in alarm.

{}``What's the matter?''\ shouted Tom.

{}``The airship\mdash{---}Andy's\mdash{---}two of the main wings
have collapsed!''

Tom looked. It was but too true. The strain under which the \textit{Anthony}
had been put when the machinists increased the speed, had been too
much for the frame. Two wings broke, and now hung uselessly down,
one on either side. The \textit{Anthony} shot toward the snow-covered
earth!

{}``They're falling!''\ cried Mr.\ Parker.

{}``Yes,''\ added Tom, grimly, {}``the race is over as far as
they are concerned.''

{}``Bless my soul! Won't they be killed?''\ cried Mr.\ Damon.

{}``There's not much danger,''\ replied the young inventor. {}``They
can vol-plane back to earth. That's what they're doing,''\ he added
a moment later, as he witnessed the maneuver of the crippled craft.\ {}
{}``They're in no danger, but I don't believe they'll get to the
valley of gold this trip!''

Tom was soon to learn how easily he could be mistaken.


\chapter*{\raggedright HITTING THE ICE MOUNTAIN}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{HITTING THE ICE MOUNTAIN}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{HITTING THE ICE MOUNTAIN}

Onward sped the \textit{Red Cloud}. For a moment after the accident
to Andy's ship, Tom had slowed up his craft, but he soon went on again,
after he had satisfied himself that his enemies were in no danger.

{}``Don't you think\mdash{---}that is to say\mdash{---}I know
they can't expect anything from us,''\ spoke Mr.\ Damon, {}``but
for humanity's sake, hadn't we better stop and help them, Tom?''

{}``I hardly think so,''\ replied the young inventor. {}``In the
first place they would hardly thank us for doing so, and, in the second,
I don't believe they need help. They are almost safely down now.''

{}``I don't just mean that,''\ went on the odd man. {}``But they
may starve to death. This is a very desolate country over which we
are sailing.''

{}``They must have a supply of food in their ship,''\ declared
Tom, {}``and they have brought their plight on themselves.''

{}``They're in no great danger,''\ put in Abe.

{}``There are plenty of natives around here, an'\ if the Fogers
need food or aid they can git it by payin'\ for it. Why, for the
sake of th'\ parts of their damaged airship, th'\ Eskimos would
take th'\ whole party back t'\ Sitka and feed 'em well on th'\ trip.
Oh, they're all right.''

{}``Very well, if you say so,''\ assented Mr.\ Damon. He looked
back to watch the \textit{Anthony} slowly settling to earth. It came
gently down, proving that Tom knew whereof he spoke, when he had said
they could vol-plane down. Before the \textit{Red Cloud} was out of
sight Tom and his companions saw Andy and his father leave their wrecked
craft and venture out on the snow-covered ground.\  The Fogers gazed
enviously after the airship of our hero as they saw him still forging
toward the goal.

{}``I guess Andy's stolen map won't be of much use to him,''\ mused
Tom. {}``Now we can put on all the speed we like,'' and with that
he shifted the gears and levers until the airship was making exceedingly
good time toward the valley of gold.

The remainder of that day saw our adventurers pursuing their way eagerly.\ 
At times they were flying high, and again, when Abe suggested that
they go down to observe the character of the country over which they
were passing, they skimmed along, just above the big mountains, which
seemed almost like icebergs, so covered were they with frost and snow.

They were indeed in a wild and desolate country. Below them stretched
a seemingly endless waste of snow and ice\mdash{---}great forests
interspersed with treeless patches, while now and then they sailed
over a frozen lake.

Once in a while they had glimpses of bands of Indians, dressed in
furs, hunting. At such times the natives would look up, on hearing
the noise made by the motor of the airship, and catching a glimpse
of what must have seemed to them like some supernatural object, they
would fall down prostrate in amazement and fear.

{}``Airships are pretty much of a novelty up here,''\ remarked
Abe with a grim smile.

The weather was new very cold, and the gold-seekers had to get out
their heavy fur garments, of which they had brought along a goodly
supply. True, it was warm in the cabin of the airship, but at times,
they wanted to venture out on the deck to get fresh air, or to make
some adjustments to the wing planes, and, on such occasions the keen,
frosty air, as it was driven past them by the motion of the craft,
made even the thickest garments seem none too warm. Then, too, it
was colder at the elevation at which they flew than down on the ground.

Another day found them in a still wilder and more desolate part of
Alaska. There were scarcely any signs of habitation now, and the snow
and ice seemed so thick that even a long summer of sunshine could
hardly have melted it. The hours of daylight, too, were growing less
and less the farther north they went.

{}``Do you think you can pilot us right to the Snow Mountains, Abe?''\ asked
Tom, on the third day after the accident to Andy's airship.\ {} {}``Let's
get out the map, and have another look at it. We must be getting near
the place now. We'll look at the map.''

The young inventor went to his stateroom where he kept the important
document in a small desk, and the others heard him rummaging around.\ 
He muttered impatiently, and Ned heard his chum say: {}``I thought
sure I put it in here.'' Then ensued a further search, and presently
Tom came out, his face wearing rather a puzzled and worried look,
and he asked: {}``Say, Abe, I didn't give that map back to you, did
I?''

{}``Nope,''\ answered the miner. {}``I ain't seen it since just
before th' hail storm. We was lookin'\ at it then.''

{}``That's when I remember it,''\ went on Tom, {}``and I thought
I put it in my desk. I didn't, by any possible chance give it to you;
did I, Ned?''

{}``Me? No, I haven't seen it.''

{}``That's funny,''\ went on Tom. {}``I'll look once more.\ 
Maybe it got under some papers.''

They heard him rummaging again in his desk.

{}``Bless my bank-book!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon. {}``I hope nothing
has happened to that map. We can't find the valley of gold without
it.''

Tom came back again.

{}``I can't find it.''\ he said, hopelessly.

Then ensued a frantic search. Every possible place in the airship
was looked into, but the precious map did not turn up.

{}``Perhaps the Fogers took it,''\ suggested Mr.\ Parker, who
had helped in the hunt, in a dreamy sort of fashion.

{}``That's not possible,''\ said Tom. {}``They haven't been near
enough to us since I saw the map last. No, the last time I had it
was just before the hail storm, and, in the excitement of repairing
the ship, I have mislaid it.''

{}``Maybe it's back there in the big cave,''\ suggested Ned.

{}``It's possible,''\ admitted the young inventor. {}``Pshaw!\ 
It's very careless of me!''

{}``If you think it's in the cave, we'd better go back there and
have a hunt for it,''\ suggested Mr.\ Damon. {}``Otherwise we
are on a wild-goose chase.''

{}``Don't go back!''\ exclaimed old Abe. {}``I think we can find
th'\ valley of gold without th'\ map, now that we have come this
far.\  I sort of remember th'\ marks on that parchment, an'\ we
are in the right neighborhood now, for I kin see some of th'\ landmarks
my partner and I saw. I say, let's keep on! We can cruise around a
bit until we strike th'\ right place. That won't take us so long
as it would to go back to the cave. Besides, if we go back, the Fogers
may get ahead of us!''

{}``With their broken airship?''\ asked Ned

{}``Can't they repair it?''\ demanded Abe.

{}``Hardly\mdash{---}up in this wild country,''\ was Tom's opinion.\ {}
{}``But perhaps it \textit{will} be just as well to keep on. I have
a hazy remembrance of the distances and directions on the map, and,
though it will take longer to hunt out the valley this way, I think
we can do it. I can't forgive myself for my carelessness!\  I should
have kept a copy of the map, or given one of you folks one.''

But they would not hear of him blaming himself, and said it might
have happened to any one. It was decided that the map must be lost
in the big cave, and if it was there it was not likely to be found
by their enemies.

{}``We'll jest have t'\ prospect about a bit,''\ declared Abe,
{}``only we'll do it in th'\ air instead of on th'\ ground.''

It was dusk when the fruitless search for the map was over, and they
sat in the cabin discussing matters. The lights had not yet been switched
on, and the \textit{Red Cloud} was skimming along under the influence
of the automatic rudders and the propellers.

{}``Well, suppose we have supper,''\ proposed Mr.\ Damon, who
seemed to think eating a remedy for many ills, mental and bodily.
{}``Bless my desert-spoon, but I'm hungry!''

He started toward the galley, while Tom went forward to the pilothouse.\ 
Hardly had he reached it than there came a terrific crash, and the
airship seemed tossed back by some giant hand. Every one was thrown
off his feet, and the lights which had been turned on suddenly went
out.

{}``What's the matter?''\ cried Ned.

{}``Have we hit anything?''\ demanded Mr.\ Damon.

{}``Hit anything! I should say we had!''\ yelled Tom. {}``We've
knocked a piece off a big mountain of ice!''

As he spoke the airship began slowly settling toward the earth, for
her machinery had been stopped by the terrific impact.


\chapter*{\raggedright A FIGHT WITH MUSK OXEN}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{A FIGHT WITH MUSK OXEN}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{A FIGHT WITH MUSK OXEN}

{}``Can I help you, Tom? What's to be done?''\ demanded Ned Newton,
as he rushed to where his chum was yanking on various levers and gear
wheels.

{}``Wait a minute!''\ gasped the young inventor. {}``I want to
throw on the storage battery, and that will give us some light.\ 
Then we can see what we are doing.'' An instant later the whole ship
was illuminated, and those aboard her felt calmer. Still the \textit{Red
Cloud} continued to sink.

{}``Can't we do something?''\ yelled Ned. {}``Start the propellers,
Tom!''

{}``No, I'll use the gas. I can't see where we're heading for, as
the searchlight is out of business. We may be in the midst of a lot
of bergs. We were flying too low. Just start the gas generating machine.''

Ned hurried to obey this order. He saw Tom's object. With the big
bag full of gas the airship would settle gently to earth as easily
as though under the command of the propellers and wing planes.

In a few minutes the hissing of the machine told that the vapor was
being forced into the bag and a little later the downward motion of
the ship was checked. She moved more and more slowly toward the earth,
until, with a little jar, she settled down, and came to rest.\  But
she was on such an uneven keel that the cabin was tilted at an unpleasant
angle.

{}``Bless my salt-cellar!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon. {}``We are almost
standing on our heads!''

{}``Better that than not standing at all,''\ replied Tom, grimly.\ {}
{}``Now to see what the damage is.''

He scrambled from the forward door of the cabin, no easy task considering
how it was tilted, and the others followed him. It was too dark to
note just how much damage had been inflicted, but Tom was relieved
to see, as nearly as he could judge, that it was confined to the forward
part of the front platform or deck of the ship. The wooden planking
was split, but the extent of the break could not be ascertained until
daylight. The searchlight connections had been broken by the collision,
and it could not be used.

{}``Now to take a look at the machinery,''\ suggested the young
inventor, when he had walked around his craft. {}``That is what I
am worried about more than about the outside.''

But, to their joy, they found only a small break in the motor. That
was what caused it to stop, and also put the dynamo out of commission.

{}``We can easily fix that,''\ Tom declared.

{}``Bless my coffee-spoon!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon, who seemed to
be running to table accessories in his blessings. Perhaps it was because
it was so near supper time. {}``Bless my coffee-spoon! But how did
it happen?''

{}``We were running too low,''\ declared Tom. {}``I had forgotten
that we were likely to get among tall mountain peaks at any moment,
and I set the elevation rudder too low. It was my fault. I should
have been on the lookout. We must have struck the mountain of ice
a glancing blow, or the result would have been worse than it is.\ 
We'll come out of it all right, as it is.''

{}``We can't do anything to-night,''\ observed Ned.

{}``Only eat,''\ put in Mr.\ Damon, {}``and we'll have to take
our coffee cups half full, for everything is so tilted that it's like
topsy-turvey land. It makes me fairly dizzy!''

But he forgot this in the work of getting a meal, and, though it was
prepared under considerable difficulties, at last it was ready.

Bright and early the next morning Tom was up making another inspection
of his ship. He found that even if the forward deck was not repaired
they could go on, as soon as the motor was in shape, but, as they
had some spare wood aboard, it was decided to temporarily repair the
smashed platform.

It was cold work, even wearing their thick garments; but, after laboring
until their fingers were stiff from the frost, Ned hit on the idea
of building a big fire of some evergreen trees near where the ship
lay.

{}``Say, that's all right!''\ declared Tom, as the warmth of the
blaze made itself felt. {}``We can work better, now!''

The \textit{Red Cloud} was tilted on some rough and uneven ground,
in among some little hills. On either side arose big peaks, the one
in particular that they had hit towering nearly fifteen thousand feet.

Everything was covered with snow and ice, and, in fact, the ice was
so thick on the top of the mountains that the crags resembled icebergs
rather than stony peaks. The crash of the airship had brought down
a great section of this solid rock-ice.

{}``Do you think we are anywhere near the valley of gold?''\ asked
Mr. Damon that afternoon, when the work was nearly finished.

{}``It's somewhere in this vicinity.''\ declared Abe. {}``Me an'\ my
partner passed through jest such a place as this on our way there.
I wouldn't wonder but what it wasn't more than a few hundred miles
away, now.''

{}``Then we'll soon be there,''\ said Tom. {}``I'll start in the
morning. I could go to-night, but there are a few adjustments I want
to make to the motor, and, besides, I think it will be safer, now
that we are among these peaks, to navigate in daylight, or at least
with the searchlight going. I should have thought of that before.''

{}``Then, if you're not going to start away at once,''\ spoke Mr.\ Parker,
{}``I think I will walk around a bit, and make some observations.\ 
I think we are now in the region where we may expect a movement of
the ice. I want to test it, and see if it is traveling in a southerly
direction. If it is not now, it will soon be doing that, and the coating
of ice may reach even as far as New York.''

{}``Pleasant prospect,''\ murmured Tom. Then he said aloud:\ {}
{}``Well if you are going, Mr.\ Parker, we'll be with you. I'll
be glad of the chance to stretch my legs, and what more remains to
be done, can be finished in the morning.''

Mr.\ Damon declared that he did not relish a tramp over the ice and
snow, and would stay in the warm cabin, but Tom and Ned, with Abe
and Mr.\ Parker started off. The scientist pointed out what he claimed
were evidences of the impending movement of the ice, while Abe explained
to the lads how the Alaskan Indians of that neighborhood hunted and
fished, and how they made huts of blocks of ice.

{}``We are nearing th'\ Arctic circle,''\ the old miner said,
{}``and we'll soon be among th'\ most savage of the Eskimo tribes.''

{}``Is there any hunting around here?''\ asked Ned.

{}``Yes, plenty of musk ox''\ answered Abe.

{}``I wish I'd brought my gun along and could see one of the big
beasts now,''\ went on Ned. He looked anxiously around, but no game
was in sight. After a little farther tramp over the icy expanse they
all declared that they had seen enough of the dreary landscape, and
voted to return to the ship.

As they neared their craft Tom saw several large, shaggy black objects
standing in a line on the path the adventurers had come over a little
while before. The objects were between the gold-seekers and the \textit{Red
Cloud}.

{}``What in the world are those?''\ asked the young inventor.

{}``Look to me like black stones,''\ spoke Ned.

{}``Stones?''\ cried Abe. {}``Look out, boys, those are musk oxen;
and big ones, too! There's a lot of 'em! Make for the ship!\  If
they attack us we're goners!''

The boys and Mr.\ Parker needed no second warning. Turning so as
to rush past the shaggy creatures, the four headed toward the ship.

But if our friends expected to reach it unmolested they were disappointed.\ 
No sooner had they increased their pace than the oxen, with snorts
of rage, darted forward. The animals may have imagined they were about
to be attacked, and determined to make the first move.

{}``Here they come!''\ yelled Ned.

{}``Sprint for it!''\ cried Tom.

{}``Oh, if I only had my gun!''\ groaned Abe.

It was hard work running over the ice and snow, hampered as they were
with their heavy fur garments. They soon realized this, and the pace
was telling on them. They were now near to the ship, but the savage
creatures still were between them and the craft.

{}``Try around the other way!''\ directed Tom, They changed their
direction, but the oxen also shifted their ground, and with loud bellows
of rage came on, shaking their shaggy heads and big horns, while the
hair, hanging down from their sides and flanks, dragged in the snow.

{}``Right at 'em! Run and yell!''\ advised the young inventor.\ {}
{}``Maybe we can scare 'em!''

They followed his advice. Yelling like Indians the four rushed straight
for the animals. For a moment only the creatures halted. Then, bellowing
louder than ever they rushed straight at Tom and the others.

The largest of the oxen, with a sudden swerve, made for Mr.\ Parker,
who was slightly in the lead off to one side. In an instant the scientist
was tossed high in the air, falling in a snow bank.

{}``Mr.\ Damon! Mr.\ Damon!''\ yelled Tom, fran\-ti\-cal\-ly.
{}``Get a gun and shoot these beasts!''

The young inventor and his two companions had come to a halt. The
oxen also stopped momentarily. Suddenly Mr.\ Damon appeared on the
deck of the airship. He held two rifles. Laying one down he aimed
the other at the ox which was rushing at the prostrate Mr.\ Parker.\ 
The eccentric man fired. He hit the beast on the flank, and, with
a bellow of rage it turned.

{}``Now's our time!''\ yelled Tom. {}``Head for the ship, I'll
get my electric gun!''

{}``We can't leave Mr.\ Parker!''\ yelled Abe.

But the scientist had arisen, and was running toward the \textit{Red
Cloud}. He did not seem to be much hurt. Mr.\ Damon fired again,
hitting another beast, but not mortally.

Once more the herd of shaggy creatures came on, but the adventurers
were now almost at the ship, on the deck of which stood Mr.\ Damon,
firing as fast as he could work the lever and pull the trigger.


\chapter*{\raggedright THE CAVES OF ICE}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{THE CAVES OF ICE}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{THE CAVES OF ICE}

{}``Keep on firing! Hold 'em back a few minutes and I'll soon turn
my electric rifle loose on 'em!''\ yelled Tom Swift as he sprinted
forward. {}``Keep on shooting, Mr.\ Damon!''

{}``Bless my powder-horn! I will!''\ cried the excited man.\ {}
{}``I'll fire all the cartridges there are in the rifle!''

Which, at the rate he was discharging the weapon, would not take a
long time. But it had the effect of momentarily checking the advance
of the creatures.

Not for long, however. Our friends had barely reached the airship,
with Mr.\ Parker stumbling and slipping on the ice and snow, ere
the musk oxen came on again, with loud bellows.

{}``They're going to charge the ship! They'll ram her!''\ yelled
Ned Newton.

{}``I think I can stop them!''\ cried Tom, who had leaped toward
his stateroom. He came out a moment later, carrying a peculiar-looking
gun, The adventurers had seen it before, but never in operation, as
Tom had only put some finishing touches on it since undertaking the
voyage to the caves of ice.

{}``What sort of a weapon is that?''\ cried Abe, as he helped Mr.\ Parker
on board.

{}``It's my new electric rifle,''\ answered the young inventor.
{}``I don't know how it will work, as it isn't entirely finished,
but I'm going to try it.''

Putting it to his shoulder he aimed at the leading musk ox, and pulled
a small lever. There was no report, no puff of smoke and no fire,
yet the big creature, which had been rushing at the ship, suddenly
stopped, swayed for a moment, and then fell over in the snow, kicking
in his death agony.

{}``One down!''\ yelled Tom. {}``My rifle works all right, even
if it isn't finished!''

He aimed at another ox, and that creature was stopped in its tracks.
Mr.\ Damon had exhausted his cartridges, and had ceased firing, but
Abe Abercrombie was ready with his rifle, and opened up on the beasts.
Tom killed another with his electric gun, and Abe shot two. This stopped
the advance, and only just in time, for the foremost animals were
already close to the ship, and had they rushed at the frail hull they
might have damaged it beyond repair.

{}``Here goes for the big one!''\ cried Tom, and, aiming at the
largest ox of the herd, the young inventor pulled the lever. The brute
fell over dead, and the rest, terror stricken, turned and fled.

{}``Hurrah! That's the stuff!''\ cried Ned Newton, capering about
on deck. He had hurried to his stateroom and secured his rifle, and,
before the musk oxen were out of sight he had killed one, which gave
him great delight.

{}``Mighty lucky we drove them away,''\ declared Abe. {}``They
are terrible savage at times, an'\ I reckon we struck one of them
times. But say, Tom, what sort of a gun is that you got, anyhow?''

{}``Oh, it fires electric bullets,''\ explained our hero. {}``But
I haven't time to tell you about it now. Let's get out and skin one
of those oxen. The fresh meat will come in good, for we've been living
on canned stuff since we left Seattle. We've got time enough before
it gets dark.''

They hurried to where the shaggy creatures lay in the snow, and soon
there was enough fresh meat to last a long time, as it would keep
well in the intense cold. Tom put away his electric gun, briefly explaining
the system of it to his companions. The time was to come, and that
not very far off, when that same electric rifle was to save his life
in a remarkable manner, in the wilds of Africa where he went to hunt
elephants.

In the cozy cabin that night they sat and talked of the day's adventures.\ 
The airship had been slightly lifted up by means of the gas bag, and
now rested on a level keel, so it was more comfortable for the gold
hunters.

{}``I did not complete my observations about the great snow slide,''
remarked Professor Parker, {}``I trust I will have time to go over
the ground again to-morrow.''

{}``We leave early in the morning,''\ objected Tom.

{}``Besides, I don't believe it would be safe to go over that ground
again,''\ put in Mr.\ Damon. {}``Bless my gunpowder! But when
I saw those savage creatures rushing at you, I thought it was all
up with us. Are you hurt, Parker, my dear fellow? I forgot to ask
before.''

{}``Not hurt in the least,''\ answered the scientist. {}``My heavy
and thick fur garments saved me from the beasts'\ horns, and I fell
in some soft snow. I was quite startled for a moment. I thought it
might be the beginning of the snow movement.''

{}``It was an ox movement,''\ said Ned, in a low voice to Tom.

Morning saw the travelers again under way, with the \emph{Red Cloud}
now floating high enough to avoid the lofty peaks. The weather was
clear but very cold, and Tom, who was in the pilot-house, could see
a long distance ahead, and note many towering crags, which, had the
airship been flying low enough, would have interfered with her progress.

{}``We'll have to keep the searchlight going all night, to avoid
a collision,''\ he decided.

{}``Are we anywhere near the place?''\ asked Mr.\ Damon.

{}``We're in th'\ right region,''\ declared the old miner. {}``I
think we're on th'\ right track. I recognize a few more landmarks.''

{}``There wouldn't have been any trouble if I hadn't lost the map.''
complained Tom, bitterly.

{}``Never mind about that,''\ insisted Abe. {}``We'll find th'\ place
anyhow. But look ahead there; is that another hail storm headin'\ this
way, Tom?''

The young inventor glanced to where Abe pointed. There was a mist
in the air, and, for a time great apprehension was felt, but, in a
few minutes there was a violent flurry of snow and they all breathed
easier. For, though the flakes were so numerous as to completely shut
off the view, there was no danger to the airship from them.\  Tom
steered by the compass.

The storm lasted several hours, and when it was over the adventurers
found themselves several miles nearer their destination\mdash{---}at
least they hoped they were nearer it, for they were going it blind.

Abe declared they were now in the region of the gold valley. They
cruised about for two days, making vain observations by means of powerful
telescopes, but they saw no signs of any depression which corresponded
with the place whence Abe had seen the gold taken from. At times they
passed over Indian villages, and had glimpses of the skin-clad inhabitants
rushing out to point to the strange sight of the airship overhead.
Tom was beginning to reproach himself again for his carelessness in
losing the map, and it did begin to took as if they were making a
fruitless search.

Still they all kept up their good spirits, and Mr.\ Damon concocted
some new dishes from the meat of the musk oxen. It was about a week
after the fight with the savage creatures when, one day, as Ned was
on duty in the pilothouse, he happened to look down. What he saw caused
him to call to Tom.

{}``What's the matter?''\ demanded the young inventor, as he hurried
forward.

{}``Look down there,''\ directed Ned. {}``It looks as if we were
sailing over a lot of immense beehives of the old-fashioned kind.''

Tom looked. Below were countless, round\-ed hummocks of snow or ice.\ 
Some were very large\mdash{---}as immense as a great shed in which
a dirigible balloon could be housed\mdash{---}while others were
as small as the ice huts in which the Eskimos live.

{}``That's rather strange,''\ remarked Tom. {}``I wonder\mdash{---}''

But he did not complete his sentence, for Abe Abercrombie, who had
come to stand beside him, suddenly yelled out:\ 

{}``The caves of ice! The caves of ice! Now I know where we are!\ 
We're close to the valley of gold! There are the caves of ice, and
just beyond is th'\ place we're lookin'\ for! We've found it at
last!''


\chapter*{\raggedright IN THE GOLD VALLEY}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{IN THE GOLD VALLEY}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{IN THE GOLD VALLEY}

The excited cries of the old miner brought Mr.\ Damon and Mr.\ Parker
to the pilothouse on the run.

{}``Bless my refrigerator!''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Damon. {}``Are there
more of those savage, shaggy creatures down there?''

{}``No, but we are over th'\ caves of ice,''\ explained Abe. {}``That
means we are near th'\ gold.''

{}``You don't say so!''\ burst out the scientist. {}``The caves
of ice! Now I can begin my real observations! I have a theory that
the caves are on top of a strata of ice that is slowly moving down,
and will eventually bury the whole of the North American continent.\ 
Let me once get down there, and I can prove what I say.''

{}``I'd a good deal rather you wouldn't prove it, if it's going to
be anything like it was on Earthquake Island, or out among the diamond
makers.''\ said Tom Swift. {}``But we will go down there, to see
what they are like. Perhaps there is a trail from among the ice caves
to the valley of gold.''

{}``I don't think so,''\ said Abe, shaking his head.

{}``I think th'\ gold valley lies over that high ridge,''\ and
he pointed to one. {}``That's where me an'\ my partner was,''\ he
went on. {}``I recognize th'\ place now.''

{}``Well, we'll go down here, anyhow,''\ decided Tom, and he pulled
the lever to let some gas out of the bag, and tilted the deflection
rudder to send the airship toward the odd caves.

And, curious enough did our friends find them when they had made a
landing and got out to walk about them. It was very cold, for on every
side was solid ice. They walked on ice, which was like a floor beneath
their feet, level save where the ice caves reared themselves.\  As
for the caverns, they, too, were hollowed out of the solid ice.\ 
It was exactly as though there had once been a level surface of some
liquid. Then by some upheaval of nature, the surface was blown into
bubbles, some large and some small. Then the whole thing had frozen
solid, and the bubbles became hollow caves. In time part of the sides
fell in and made an opening, so that nearly all the caves were capable
of being entered.

This method of their formation was advanced as a theory by Mr. Parker,
and no one cared to dispute him. The gold-seekers walked about, gazing
on the ice caves with wonder showing on their faces.

It was almost like being in some fantastic scene from fairyland, the
big ice bubbles representing the houses, the roofs being rounded like
the igloos of the Eskimos. Some had no means of entrance, the outer
surface showing no break. Others had small openings, like a little
doorway, while of still others there remained but a small part of
the original cave, some force of nature having crumbled and crushed
it.

{}``Wonderful! Wonderful!''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Par\-k\-er. {}``It
bears out my theory exactly! Now to see how fast the ice is moving.''

{}``How are you going to tell?''\ asked Tom.

{}``By taking some mark on this field of ice, and observing a distant
peak. Then I will set up a stake, and by noting their relative positions,
I can tell just how fast the ice field is moving southward.'' The
scientist hurried into the ship to get a sharpened stake he had prepared
for this purpose.

{}``How fast do you think the ice is moving?''\ asked Ned.

{}``Oh, perhaps two or three feet a year.''

{}``Two or three feet a year?'' gasped Mr.\ Damon. {}``Why, Parker,
my dear fellow, at that rate it will be some time before the ice gets
to New York.''

{}``Oh, yes. I hardly expect it will reach there within two thousand
years, but my theory will be proved, just the same!''

{}``Humph!''\ exclaimed Abe Abercrombie, {}``I ain't goin'\ to
worry any more, if it's goin'\ t'\ take all that while. I reckoned,
to hear him talk, that it was goin'\ t'\ happen next summer.''

{}``So did I,''\ agreed Tom, but their remarks were lost on Mr.\ Parker
who was busy making observations. The young inventor and the others
walked about among the ice caves.

{}``Some of these caverns would be big enough to house the \textit{Red
Cloud} in case of another hail storm,''\ observed Tom. {}``That
one over there would hold two craft the size of mine,''\ and, in
fact, probably three could have gotten in if the opening had been
somewhat enlarged, for the ice cave to which our hero pointed was
an immense one.

As the adventurers were walking about they were startled by a terrific
crashing sound. They started in alarm, for, off to their left, the
top of one of the ice caverns had crashed inward, the blocks of frozen
water crushing and grinding against one another.

{}``It's a good thing we weren't in there,''\ remarked Tom, and
he could not repress a shudder, {}``There wouldn't have been much
left of the \textit{Red Cloud} if she had been inside.''

It was a desolate place, in spite of the wild beauty of it, and beautiful
it was when the sun shone on the ice caves, making them sparkle as
if they were studded with diamonds. But it was cold and cheerless,
and there were no signs that human beings had ever been there. Mr.\ Parker
had completed the setting of his stake, and picked out his landmarks,
and was gravely making his {}``observations,''\ and jotting down
some figures in a notebook.

{}``How fast is it moving, Parker?''\ called Mr.\ Damon.

{}``I can't tell yet,''\ was the response. {}``It will require
observations extending over several days before I will know the rate.''

{}``Then we might as well go on,''\ suggested Tom. {}``There is
nothing to be gained from staying here, and I would like to get to
the gold valley. Abe says we are near it.''

{}``Right over that ridge, I take it to be,''\ replied the miner.\ {}
{}``An'\ we can't get there any too soon for me. Those Fogers may
git their ship fixed up, an'\ arrive before we do if we wait much
longer.''

{}``Not much danger, I guess,''\ declared Ned.

{}``Well, we'll go up in the air, and see what we can find,''\ decided
Tom, as he turned back toward the ship.

They found the {}``ridge'', as Abe designated it, to be a great
plateau, over a hundred miles in extent, and they were the better
part of that day crossing it, for they went slowly, so as not to miss
the valley which the miner was positive was close at hand. Mr.\ Parker
disliked leaving the ice caves, but Abe said there were more in the
valley where they were going, and the scientist could renew his observations.

It was getting dusk when Tom, who was peering through a powerful glass,
called out:\ 

{}``Well, we're at the end of the plateau, and it seems to dip down
into a valley just beyond here.''

{}``Then that's the place!''\ cried Abe, excitedly. {}``Go slow,
Tom.''

Our hero needed no such caution. Carefully he sent the airship forward.\ 
A few minutes later they were passing over a large Eskimo village,
the fur-clad inhabitants of which rushed about wildly excited at the
sight of the airship.

{}``There they are! Them's th'\ beggars!''\ cried the old miner.\ {}
{}``Them's th'\ fellows who drove me an'\ my partner away. But
there's th'\ valley of gold! I know it now! Now t'\ fill our pockets
with nuggets!''

{}``Are you sure this is the place?''\ asked Mr.\ Damon.

{}``Sartin sure of it!''\ declared Abe. {}``Put her down, Tom!\ 
Put her down!''

{}``All right,''\ agreed the young inventor, as he shifted the
deflection rudder. The airship began her descent into the valley.
The edge of the plateau, leading down into the great depression was
now black with the Eskimos and Indians, who were capering about, gesticulating
wildly.

{}``It's quite a surprise party to 'em,''\ observed Ned Newton.

{}``Yes, I hope they don't spring one on us,''\ added Tom.

Down and down went the \textit{Red Cloud} lower and lower into the
valley.

{}``There are ice caves there!''\ cried Mr.\ Parker, pointing
to the curiously rounded and hollow hummocks. {}``Lots of them!''

{}``And larger than the others!''\ added Mr.\ Damon.

The airship was now moving slowly, for Tom wanted to pick out a good
landing place. He saw a smooth stretch of the ice just ahead of him,
in front of an immense ice cave.

{}``I'll make for that,''\ he told Ned.

A few minutes later the craft had come to rest. Tom shut off the power
and hurried from the pilothouse, donning his fur coat as he rushed
out. A blast of frigid air met him as he opened the outer door of
the cabin. Back on the ridge of the plateau he could see the fringe
of Indians.

{}``Well, we're here in the valley,''\ he said, as his friends
gathered about him on the icy ground.

{}``An'\ now for th'\ gold!''\ cried Abe, {}``for it's here
that th'\ nuggets are\mdash{---}enough for all of us! Come on an'\ have
a hunt for 'em!''


\chapter*{\raggedright THE FOGERS ARRIVE}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{THE FOGERS ARRIVE}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{THE FOGERS ARRIVE}

In spite of the fact that he tried to remain calm, Tom Swift felt
a wild exultation as he thought of what lay before him and his friends.\ 
To be in a place where gold could be picked up!\ where they might
all become fabulously wealthy!\ where the ground might be seen covered
with the precious yellow metal!\ this was enough to set the nerves
of any one a-tingle!

Tom could hardly realize it at first. After many hardships, no little
danger, and after an attempt on the part of their enemies to defeat
them, they had at last reached their goal. Now, as Abe had said, they
could hunt for the gold.

But if they expected to see the precious yellow nuggets lying about
ready to be picked up like so many kernels of corn, they were disappointed.\ 
A quick look all about showed them only a vast extent of ice and snow,
broken here and there by the big caves of ice. There were not so many
of the latter as at the first place they stopped, but the caverns
were larger.

{}``Gold\mdash{---}I don't see any gold,''\ remarked Ned Newton,
with a disappointed air. {}``Where is it?''

{}``Bless my pocketbook, yes! Where is it?''\ demanded Mr.\ Damon.

{}``Oh, we've got to dig for it,''\ explained Abe. {}``It's only
when there's been a slight thaw that some of th'\ pebble nuggets
kin be seen. They're under th'\ ice, an'\ we've got t'\ dig for
'em.''

{}``Does it ever thaw up here?''\ asked Mr.\ Parker. {}``The
ice of the caves seems thick enough to last forever.''

{}``It does thaw an'\ melt some,''\ went on the miner. {}``But
some of th' caves last all through what they call `summer'\ up here,
though it's more like winter. We're above th'\ Arctic circle now,
friends.''

{}``Maybe we can keep on to the Pole,''\ suggested Ned.

{}``Not this trip,''\ spoke Tom, grimly. {}``We'll try for the
gold, first.''

{}``Yes, an'\ I'm goin'\ t'\ begin diggin'\ right away!''\ exclaimed
Abe, as he turned back into the airship, and came out again with a
pick and shovel, a supply of which implements had been brought along.\ 
The others followed his example, and soon the ice chips were flying
about in a shower, while the sun shining on them gave the appearance
of a rainbow.

{}``Look at those Indians watching us,''\ remarked Ned to Tom,
as he paused in his chipping of the frozen surface. The young inventor
glanced up toward the distant plateau where a fringe of dark figures
stood. The natives were evidently intently watching the gold-seekers.

{}``Do you think there's any danger from them, Abe?''\ asked Tom.

{}``Not much,''\ was the reply. {}``They made trouble for me an'\ my
partner, but I guess th'\ airship has scared 'em sufficient, so they
won't come snoopin'\ down here,''\ and Abe fell to at his digging
again.

Mr.\ Damon was also vigorously wielding a pick, but Mr.\ Parker
like the true scientist he was, had renewed his observations. Evidently
the gold had no attractions for him, or, if it did, he preferred to
wait until he had finished his calculations.

Vigorously the adventurers wielded their implements, making the ice
fly, but for an hour or more no gold was discovered. Mr.\ Damon,
after picking lightly at a certain place, would get discouraged, and
move on to another. So did Ned, and Tom, after going down quite a
way, left off work, and walked over to one of the big ice caves.

{}``What's up?''\ asked Ned, resting from his labors.

{}``I was thinking whether it would be safe to put the \textit{Red
Cloud} in this ice cave for a shelter,''\ replied Tom. {}``There
may come up a hail storm at any time, and damage it. The caves would
be just the place for it, only I'm afraid the roof might collapse.''

{}``It looks strong,''\ said Ned. {}``Let's ask Mr.\ Parker his
opinion.''

{}``Good idea,''\ agreed Tom.

The scientist was soon taking measurements of the thickness of the
cave roof, noting its formation, and looking at the frozen floor.

{}``I see no reason why this cave should collapse,''\ he finally
announced. {}``The only danger is the movement of the whole valley
of ice, and that is too gradual to cause any immediate harm. Yes,
I think the airship could be housed in the ice cave.''

{}``Then I'll run her in, and she'll be safer,''\ decided Tom.\ {}
{}``I guess we three can do it, Ned, and leave Mr.\ Damon and Abe
to keep on digging for gold.'' The airship was so buoyant that it
could easily be moved about on the bicycle wheels on which it rested,
and soon, after the lower edge of the opening into the ice cave had
been smoothed down, the \textit{Red Cloud} was placed in the novel
shelter.

{}``Now to continue the search for the yellow nuggets!''\ cried
Ned, and Tom went with him, even Mr.\ Parker condescending to take
a pick, now. Abe was the only one who dug steadily in one place.\ 
The others tried spot after spot.

{}``You've got t'\ stick t'\ one lead until you find somethin',
or until it peters out,''\ explained the miner. {}``You must git
down to th'\ dirt before you'll find any gold, though you may strike
a few grains that have worked up into th'\ ice.''

After this advice they all kept to one hole until they had worked
down through the ice to the dirt surface below. But even then, Abe,
who was the first to achieve this, found no gold, and the old miner
went to another location.

All the rest of that day they dug, but with no result. Not even a
few grains of yellow dust rewarded their efforts.

{}``Are you sure this is the right place?''\ asked Mr.\ Damon,
somewhat fretfully, of Abe, as they ate supper that night in the airship,
sheltered as it was in the ice cave.

{}``I'm positive of it,''\ was the reply. {}``There's gold here,
but it will take some prospectin'\ t'\ find it. Maybe th'\ deposits
have been shifted by th'\ ice movement, as Mr.\ Parker says. But
it's here, an' we'll git it. We'll try ag'in t'-morrow.''

They did try, but with small success. Laboring all day in the cold
the only result was a few little yellow pebbles that Tom found imbedded
in the ice. But they were gold, and the finding of them gave the seekers
hope as they wearily began their task the following day.\  The weather
seemed even colder, and there was the indication of a big storm.

They were scattered in different places on the ice, not far away from
the big cave, each one picking away vigorously. Suddenly Abe, who
had laboriously worked his way down to the dirt, gave an exultant
yell.

{}``I've struck it! Struck it rich!''\ he shouted, leaping about
as he threw down his pick, {}``Look here, everybody!''\ He stooped
down over the hole. They all ran to his side, and saw him lifting
from a little pocket in the dirt, several large, yellow pebbles.

{}``Gold! Gold!''\ cried Abe. {}``We've struck it at last!''

For a moment no one spoke, though there was a wild beating of their
hearts. Then, off toward the farther end of the valley there sounded
a curious noise. It was a shouting and yelling, mingled with the snapping
of whips and the howls and barkings of dogs.

{}``Bless my handkerchief!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon. {}``What's that?''

They all saw a moment later. Approaching over the frozen snow were
several Eskimo sledges, drawn by dog teams, and the native drivers
were shouting and cracking their whips of walrus hide.

{}``The natives are coming to attack us!''\ cried Ned.

Tom said nothing. He was steadily observing the approaching sleds.\ 
They came on rapidly. Abe was holding the golden nuggets in his gloved
hands.

{}``Get the guns! Where's your electric rifle, Tom?''\ cried Mr.\ Damon.

{}``I don't believe we'll need the guns\mdash{---}just yet,''\ answered
the young inventor, slowly.

{}``Bless my cartridge-belt! Why not?''\ demanded the eccentric
man.

{}``Because those are the Fogers,''\ replied Tom. 

{}``They have followed us---Andy and his father! Andy Foger here!''\ gasped
Ned.

Tom nodded grimly. A few minutes later the sleds had come to a halt
not far from our friends, and Andy, followed by his father, leaped
off his conveyance. The two were clad in heavy fur garments.

{}``Ha, Tom Swift! You didn't get here much ahead of us!''\ exulted
the bully. {}``I told you I'd get even with you! Come on, now, dad,
we'll get right to work digging for gold!''

Tom and his companions did not know what to say.


\chapter*{\raggedright JUMPING THE CLAIM}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{JUMPING THE CLAIM}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{JUMPING THE CLAIM}

There was a sneering look on Andy's face, and Mr.\ Foger, too, seemed
delighted at having reached the valley of gold almost as soon as had
our friends. Tom and the others looked at the means by which the bully
had arrived. There were four sleds, each one drawn by seven dogs,
and in charge of a dark-skinned native. On the two foremost sleds
Andy and his father had ridden, while the other two evidently contained
their supplies.

For a moment Andy surveyed Tom's party and then, turning to one of
the native drivers, he said:\ 

{}``We'll camp here. You fellows get to work and make an ice house,
and some of you cook a meal\mdash{---}I'm hungry.''

{}``No need build ice house,''\ replied the native, who spoke English
brokenly.

{}``Why not?''\ demanded Andy.

{}``Live in ice cave---plenty much ob'em\mdash{---}plenty much
room,''\ went on the Eskimo, indicating several of the large caverns.

{}``Ha! That's a good idea,''\ agreed Mr.\ Foger, {}``Andy, my
son, we have houses already made for us, and very comfortable they
seem, too. We'll take up our quarters in one, and then hunt for the
gold.''

Mr.\ Foger seemed to ignore Tom and his friends. Abe Abercrombie
strode forward.

{}``Look here, you Fogers!''\ he exclaimed without ceremony, {}``was
you calculatin'\ on stakin'\ any claims here?''

{}``If you mean are we going to dig for gold, we certainly are,''
replied Andy insolently, {}``and you can't stop us.''

{}``I don't know about that,''\ went on Abe, grimly. {}``I ain't
goin'\ t' say nothin'\ now, about th'\ way you stole th'\ map
from me, an'\ made a copy, but I am goin t'\ say this, an'\ that
is it won't be healthy fer any of you t'\ git in my way, or t'\ try
t'\ dig on our claims!''

{}``We'll dig where we please!''\ cried Andy. {}``You don't own
this valley!''

{}``We own as much of it as we care to stake out, by right of prior
discovery!''\ declared Tom, firmly.

{}``And I say we'll dig where we please!''\ insisted Andy. {}``Hand
me a pick,''\ he went on to another of the natives.

{}``Wait jest a minute,''\ spoke Abe calmly, as he put his little
store of nuggets in the pocket of his fur coat, and drew out a big
revolver. {}``It ain't healthy t'\ talk that way, Andy Foger, an'\ th'
sooner you find that out th'\ better. You ain't in Shopton now, an'
th'\ only law here is what we make for ourselves. Tom, maybe you'd
better get out th'\ rifles, an'\ your electric gun, after all.\ 
It seems like we might have trouble,''\ and Abe cooly looked to
see if his weapon was loaded.

{}``Oh, of course we didn't mean to usurp any of your rights, my
dear friend!''\ exclaimed Mr, Foger quickly, and he seemed nervous
at the sight of the big revolver, while Andy hastily moved until he
was behind the biggest of the sledge drivers. {}``We don't want to
violate any of your rights,''\ went on Mr.\ Foger. {}``But this
valley is large, and do I understand that you claim all of it?''

{}``We could if we wanted to,''\ declared Abe stoutly; {}``but
we'll be content with three-quarter of it, seein'\ we was here fust.\ 
If you folks want t'\ dig fer gold, go over there,''\ and he pointed
to a spot some distance away.

{}``We'll dig where we please!''\ cried Andy.

{}``Oh, will you?''\ and there was an angry light in Abe's eyes.\ {}
{}``I guess, Tom, you'd better git\mdash{---}''

{}``No! No! My son is wrong\mdash{---}he is too hasty,''\ interposed
Mr.\ Foger. {}``We will go away\mdash{---}certainly we will.\ 
The valley is large enough for both of us\mdash{---}just as you
say. Come, Andy!''

The bully seemed about to refuse, but a look at Abe's angry face and
a sight of Mr.\ Damon coming from the cave where the airship was,
with a rifle, for the eccentric man had hastened to get his weapon\mdash{---}this
sight calmed Andy down. Without further words he and his father got
back on their sleds, and were soon being driven off to where a large
ice cave loomed up, about a mile away.

{}``Good riddance,''\ muttered the miner, {}``now we kin go on
diggin' wthout bein'\ bothered by that little scamp.''

{}``I don't know about that,''\ spoke Tom, shaking his head dubiously.\ {}
{}``There's always trouble when Andy Foger's within a mile. I'm afraid
we haven't seen the last of him.''

{}``He'd better not come around here ag'in,''\ declared Abe. {}``Queer,
how he should turn up, jest when I made a big strike.''

{}``They must have come on all the way from where their airship was
wrecked, by means of dog sleds,''\ observed Ned, and the others
agreed with him. Later they learned that this was so; that after the
accident to the \textit{Anthony}, the crew had refused to proceed
farther north, and had gone back. But Mr.\ Foger had hired the natives
with the dog teams, and, by means of the copy of the map and with
what knowledge his Eskimos had, had reached the valley of gold.

{}``We have certainly struck it rich,''\ went on Abe, as he went
back to where he had dug the hole. {}``Now we'd better all begin
prospectin' here, for it looks like a big deposit. We'll stake out
a large enough claim to take it all in. I guess Mr.\ Parker can do
that, seein'\ as how he knows about such things.''

The scientist agreed to do this part of the work, it being understood
that all the gold discovered would be shared equally after the expenses
of the trip had been paid.

Feverishly Abe and the others began to dig. They did not come upon
such a rich deposit as the miner had found, but there were enough
nuggets picked up to prove that the expedition would be very successful.

No more attention was paid to the Fogers, but through the telescope
Tom could see that the bully and his father had made a camp in one
of the ice caves, and that both were eagerly digging in the frozen
surface of the valley.

Before night several thousand dollars'\ worth of gold had been taken
out by our friends. It was stored in the airship, and then, after
suppers the craft's searchlight was taken off, and placed in such
a position in front of the cave of ice so that the beams would illuminate
the claim staked out by Tom and the others.

{}``We'll stand watch an'\ watch,''\ suggested Abe, {}``but I
don't think them Fogers will come around here ag'in.''

They did not, and the night passed peacefully. The next day our friends
were again at work digging for gold. So were the Fogers, as could
be observed through the glass, but it was impossible to see whether
they got any nuggets.

The gold seemed to be in {}``pockets,''\ and that day the ones
in the vicinity of the strike first made by Abe were cleaned out.

{}``We'll have to locate some new `pockets,'''\ said the miner,
and the adventurers scattered over the frozen plain to look for other
deposits of the precious metal.

Tom and Ned were digging together not far from one another. Suddenly
Ned let out a joyful cry.

{}``Strike anything?''\ asked Tom.

{}``Something rich,''\ answered the bank clerk. He lifted from
a hole in the ground a handful of the golden pebbles.

{}``It's as good as Abe's was!''\ exclaimed Tom. {}``We must stake
it out at once, or the Fogers may jump it. Come on, we'll go back
and tell Abe, and get Mr.\ Parker and Mr.\ Damon over here.''

The three men were some distance away, and there was no sign of the
Fogers. Tom and Ned hurried back to where their friends were, leaving
their picks and shovels on the frozen ground.

The good news was soon told, and, with some stakes hastily made from
some extra wood carried on the airship, the little party hastened
back to where Tom and Ned had made their strike.

As they emerged from behind a big hummock of ice they saw, standing
over the holes which the lads had dug, Andy Foger and his father!\ 
Each one had a rifle, and there was a smile of triumph on Andy's face!

{}``What are you doing here?''\ cried Tom, the hot blood mounting
to his cheeks.

{}``We've just staked out a claim here,''\ answered the bully.

{}``And you deserted it,''\ put in Mr.\ Foger smoothly. {}``I
think your mining friend will tell you that we have a right to take
up an abandoned claim.''

{}``But we didn't abandon it!''\ declared Tom. {}``We only went
away to get the stakes.''

{}``The claim was abandoned, and we have `jumped'\ it,''\ went
on Mr. Foger, and he cocked his rifle. {}``I need hardly tell you
that possession is nine points of the law, and that we intend to remain.\ 
Andy, is your gun loaded?''

{}``Yes, pa.''

{}``I\mdash{---}I guess they've got us\mdash{---}fer th'\ time
bein',''\ murmured Abe, as he motioned to Tom and the others to
come away. {}``Besides they've got guns, an'\ we haven't\mdash{---}but
wait,''\ added the miner, mysteriously. {}``I haven't played all
my tricks yet.''


\chapter*{\raggedright ATTACKED BY NATIVES}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{ATTACKED BY NATIVES}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{ATTACKED BY NATIVES}

To state that Tom and his friends were angry at the trick the Fogers
had played on them would be putting it mildly. There was righteous
indignation in their hearts, and, as for the young inventor he felt
that much blame was attached to him for his neglect in not remaining
on guard at the place of the lucky strike while Ned went to call the
others.

{}``I guess Andy must have been spying on us,''\ spoke Ned, {}``or
he would never have known when to rush up just as he did; as soon
as we left.''

{}``Probably,''\ admitted Tom, bitterly.

{}``But, bless my penholder!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon. {}``Can't we
do something, Abe? Won't the law\mdash{---}?''

{}``There ain't any law out here, except what you make yourself,''\ said
the miner. {}``I guess they've got us for th'\ time bein'.''

{}``What do you mean by that?''\ asked Tom, detecting a gleam of
hope in Abe's tone.

{}``Well, I mean that I think we kin git ahead of 'em. Come on back
to th'\ ship, an'\ we'll talk it over.''

They walked away, leaving Andy and his father in possession of the
rich deposits of gold, and that it was much richer even then than
the hole Abe had first discovered was very evident. The two Fogers
were soon at work, digging out the yellow metal with the pick and
shovels Tom and Ned had so thoughtlessly dropped.

{}``What little law there is out here they've got on their side,''\ went
on Abe, {}``an'\ they've got possession, too, which is more. Of
course we could go at 'em in a pitched battle, but I take it you don't
want any bloodshed?''\ and he looked at Tom.

{}``Of course not,''\ replied the lad quickly, {}``but I'd like
to meet Andy alone, with nothing but my fists for a little while,''\ and
Tom's eyes snapped.

{}``So would I,''\ added Ned.

{}``Perhaps we can find another pocket of gold better than that one,''
suggested Mr.\ Damon.

{}``We might,''\ admitted Abe, {}``but that one was ours an'\ we're
entitled to it. This valley is rich in gold deposits, but you can't
allers put your hand on 'em. We may have t'\ hunt around for a week
until we strike another. An', meanwhile, them Fogers will be takin'\ our
gold! It's not to be borne! I'll find some way of drivin'\ 'em out.
An' we've got t'\ do it soon, too.''

{}``You mean if we don't that they'll get all the gold?''\ asked
Mr. Damon.

{}``No, I mean that soon it will be th'\ long night up here, an'\ we
can't work. We'll have t'\ go back, an'\ I don't want t'\ go back
until I've made my pile.''

{}``Neither do any of us, I guess,''\ spoke Tom, {}``but there
doesn't seem to be any help for it.''

They discussed several plans on reaching the ship, but none seemed
feasible without resorting to force, and this they did not want to
do, as they feared there might be bloodshed. When night closed in
they could see the gleam of a campfire, kindled by the Foger party,
at the gold-pocket, from bits of the scrubby trees that grew in that
frigid clime.

{}``They're going to stay on guard,''\ announced Tom. {}``We can't
get it away from them to-night.''

Though Abe had spoken of some plan to regain the advantage the Fogers
had of them, the old miner was not quite ready to propose it. All
the next day he seemed very thoughtful, while going about with the
others, seeking new deposits of gold. Luck did not seem to be with
them. They found two or three places where there were traces of the
yellow pebbles, but in no very great quantity.

Meanwhile the Fogers were busy at the pocket Ned had located. They
seemed to be taking out much of the precious metal.

{}``And it all ought to be ours,''\ declared Tom, bitterly.

{}``Yes, and it shall be, too!''\ suddenly exclaimed. Abe. {}``I
think I have a plan that will beat 'em.''

{}``What is it?''\ asked Tom.

{}``Let's get back to the ship, and I'll tell you,''\ said Abe.
{}``We can't tell when one of their natives might be sneakin'\ in
among these ice caves, an'\ they understand some English. They might
give my scheme away.''

In brief Abe's plan, as he unfolded it in the cabin of the \textit{Red
Cloud} was this:\ 

They would divide into two parties, one consisting of Ned and Tom,
and the other of the three men. The latter, by a circuitous route,
would go to the ice caves where the Fogers had established their camp.\ 
It was there that the Indians remained during the day, while Andy
and his father labored at the gold pocket, for, after the first day
when they had had the natives aid them, father and son had worked
alone at the hole, probably fearing to trust the Indians. At night,
though, either Andy or his father remained on guard, with one or two
of the dusky-skinned dog drivers.

{}``But we'll work this trick before night,''\ said Abe. {}``We
three men will get around to where the natives are in the ice cave.\ 
We'll pretend to attack them, and raise a great row, firing our guns
in the air, and all that sort of thing, an'\ yellin'\ t'\ beat
th'\ band.\  Th'\ natives will yell, too, you can depend on that.''

{}``Th'\ Fogers will imagine we are tryin'\ t'\ git away with
their sleds an'\ supplies, an'\ maybe their gold, if they've got
it stored in th' ice cave. Naturally Andy or his father will run here,
an'\ that will leave only one on guard at th'\ mine. Then Tom an'\ Ned
can sneak up. Th'\ two of 'em will be a match for even th'\ old
Foger, if he happens t'\ stay, an'\ while Tom or Ned comes up in
front, t'\ hold his attention, th'\ other can come up in back, an'\ grab
his arms, if he tries t'\ shoot. Likely Andy will remain at th'\ gold
hole, an'\ you two lads kin handle him, can't you?''

{}``Well, I guess!''\ exclaimed Tom and Ned together.

The plan worked like a charm. Abe, Mr.\ Damon and Mr.\ Parker raised
a great din at the ice cave where the Foger natives were. The sound
carried to the hole where Andy and his father were digging out the
gold. Mr.\ Foger at once ran toward the cave, while Andy, catching
up his gun, remained on the alert.

Then came the chance of Tom and Ned. The latter coming from his hiding-place,
advanced boldly toward the bully, while Tom, making a detour, worked
his way up behind.

{}``Here! You keep away!''\ cried Andy, catching sight of Ned.\ {}
{}``I see what the game is, now! It's a trick!''

{}``You're a nice one to talk about tricks!''\ declared Ned, advancing
slowly.

{}``Keep away if you don't want to get hurt!''\ yelled Andy.

{}``Oh, you wouldn't hurt me; would you?''\ mocked Ned, who wanted
to give Tom time to sneak up behind the bully.

{}``Yes, I would! Keep back!''\ Andy was nervously fingering his
weapon. The next instant his gun flew from his grasp, and he went
over backward in Tom's strong grip; for the young inventor, in his
sealskin shoes had worked up in the rear without a sound. The next
moment Andy broke away and was running for his life, leaving Tom and
Ned in possession of the gold hole, and that without a shot being
fired. A little later the three men, who had hurried away from the
cave as Mr.\ Foger rushed up to see what caused the racket, joined
Tom and Ned, and formal possession was taken of their lucky strike.

{}``We'll guard it well, now,''\ decided Tom, and later that day
they moved some supplies near the hole, and for a shelter built an
igloo, Eskimo fashion, in which work Abe had had some experience.\ 
Then they moved the airship to another ice cave, nearer their {}``mine''\ as
they called it, and prepared to stand guard.

But there seemed to be no need, for the following day there was no
trace of the Fogers. They and their natives had disappeared.

{}``I guess we were too much for them,''\ spoke Tom. But the sequel
was soon to prove differently.

It was three days after our friends had regained their mine, during
which time they had dug out considerable gold, that toward evening,
as Tom was taking the last of the output of yellow pebbles into the
cave where the airship was, he looked across the valley.

{}``Looks like something coming this way,''\ observed the young
inventor. {}``Natives, I guess.''

{}``It is,''\ agreed Ned, {}``quite a large party, too!''

{}``Better tell Abe and the others,''\ went on Tom. {}``I don't
like the looks of this. Maybe the sudden disappearance of the Fogers
has something to do with it.''

Abe, Mr.\ Damon and Mr.\ Parker hurried from the ice cave. They
had caught up their guns as they ran out.

{}``They're still coming on,''\ called Tom, {}``and are headed
this way.''

{}``They're Indians, all right!''\ exclaimed Abe. {}``Hark!\ 
What's that?''

It was the sound of shouting and singing.

Through the gathering dusk the party advanced. Our friends closely
scanned them. There was something familiar about the two leading figures,
and it could now be seen that in the rear were a number of dog sleds.

{}``There's Andy Foger and his father!''\ cried Ned. {}``They've
gone and got a lot of Eskimos to help them drive us away.''

{}``That's right!''\ admitted Tom. {}``I guess we're in for it
now!''

With a rush the natives, led by the Fogers, came on. They were yelling
now. An instant later they began firing their guns.

{}``It's a fierce attack!''\ cried Tom. {}``Into the ice cave
for shelter! We can cover the gold mine from there. I'll get my electric
gun!''


\chapter*{\raggedright THE WRECK OF THE AIRSHIP}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{THE WRECK OF THE AIRSHIP}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{THE WRECK OF THE AIRSHIP}

Almost before our friends could retreat into the cave which now sheltered
the \textit{Red Cloud}, the attacking natives opened fire. Fortunately
they only had old-fashioned, muzzle-loading muskets, and, as their
aim was none of the best, there was comparatively little danger.\ 
The bullets, however, did sing through the fast-gathering darkness
with a vicious sound, and struck the heavy sides and sloping front
of the ice cave with a disconcerting {}``ping!''

{}``I don't hear Andy or his father firing!''\ called Tom, as he
and the others returned the fire of the savage Indians. {}``I could
tell their guns by the sharper reports. The Fogers carry repeating
rifles, and they're fine ones, if they're anything like the one we
took from Andy, Ned.''

{}``That's right,''\ agreed Tom's chum, {}``I don't believe Andy
or his father dare fire. They're afraid to, and they're putting the
poor ignorant natives up to it. Probably they hired them to try to
drive us away.''

This, as they afterward learned, was exactly the case.

The battle, if such it could be called, was kept up. There was about
a hundred natives, all of whom had guns, and, though they were slow
to load, there were enough weapons to keep up a constant fusilade.\ 
On their part, Tom and the others fired at first over the heads of
the natives, for they did not want to kill any of the deluded men.\ 
Later, though, when they saw the rush keeping up, they fired at their
legs, and disabled several of the Eskimos, the electric gun proving
very effective.

It was now quite dark, and the firing slackened. From their position
in the cave, Tom and the others could command the hole where the gold
was, and, as they saw several natives sneaking up to it the young
inventor and Ned, both of whom were good shots, aimed to have the
bullets strike the ice close to where the Indians were.

This sort of shooting was enough, and the natives scurried away.\ 
Then Tom hit on the plan of playing the searchlight on the spot, and
this effectually prevented an unseen attack. It seemed to discourage
the enemy, too for they did not venture into that powerful glow of
light.

{}``They won't do anything more until morning,''\ declared Abe.\ {}
{}``Then we'll have it hot an'\ heavy, though, I'm afeered. Well,
we'll have t'\ make th'\ best of it!''

They took turns standing guard that night, but no attack was made.\ 
The fact of the Fogers coming back with the band of Indians told Tom,
more plainly than words, how desperately his enemies would do battle
with them. Anxiously they waited for the morning.

Several times in the night Mr.\ Parker was seen roaming about uneasily,
though it was not his turn to be on guard. Finally Tom asked him what
was the matter, and if he could not sleep.

{}``It isn't that,''\ answered the scientist, {}``but I am worried
about the ice. I can detect a slight but peculiar movement by means
of some of my scientific instruments. I am alarmed about it. I fear
something is going to happen.''

But Tom was too worried about the outcome of the fight he knew would
be renewed on the next day, to think much about the ice movement.\ 
He thought it would only be some scientific phenomena that would amount
to little.

With the first streak of the late dawn, the gold-seekers were up,
and partook of a hot breakfast, with strong coffee which Mr.\ Damon
brewed. Tom took an observation from the mouth of the cave. The searchlight
was still dimly glowing, and it did not disclose anything.\  Tom
turned it off. He thought he saw a movement among the ranks of the
enemy, who had camped just beyond the gold hole.

{}``I guess they're coming!''\ cried the lad. {}``Get ready for
them!''

The adventurers caught up their guns, and hurried to the entrance
of the cave. Mr.\ Parker lingered behind, and was observed to be
narrowly scanning the walls of the cavern.

{}``Come on, Parker, my dear man!''\ begged Mr.\ Damon. {}``We
are in grave danger, and we need your help. Bless my life insurance
policy!\ but I never was in such a state as this.''

{}``We may soon be in a worse one,''\ was the answer of the gloomy
scientist.

{}``What do you mean?''\ asked Mr.\ Damon, but he hurried on without
waiting for a reply.

Suddenly, from without the cave came a series of fierce yells. It
was the battle-cry of the Indians. At the same moment there sounded
a fusillade of guns.

{}``The battle is beginning!''\ cried Tom Swift, grimly. He held
his electric gun, though he had not used it very much in the previous
attack, preferring to save it for a time of more need.

As the defenders of the cave reached the entrance they saw the body
of natives rushing forward. They were almost at the gold hole, with
Andy Foger and his father discreetly behind the first row of Eskimos,
when, with a suddenness that was startling, there sounded throughout
the whole valley a weird sound!

It was like the wailing of some giant\mdash{---}the sighing of some
mighty wind. At the same time the air suddenly became dark, and then
there came a violent snow squall, shutting out instantly the sight
of the advancing natives. Tom and the others could not see five feet
beyond the cave.

{}``This will delay the attack,''\ murmured Ned, {}``They can't
see to come at us.''

Mr.\ Parker came running up from the interior of the cave. On his
face there was a look of alarm.

{}``We must leave here at once!''\ he cried.

{}``Leave here?''\ repeated Tom. {}``Why must we? The enemy are
out there! We'd run right into them!''

{}``It must be done!''\ insisted the scientist. {}``We must leave
the cave at once!''

{}``What for?''\ cried Mr.\ Damon.

{}``Because the movement of the ice that I predicted, has begun.\ 
It is much more rapid than I supposed it would be. In a short time
this cave and all the others will be crushed flat!''

{}``Crushed flat!''\ gasped Tom.

{}``Yes, the caves of ice are being destroyed! Hark! You can hear
them snapping!''

They all listened. Above the roar of the storm could be made out the
noise of crushing, grinding ice-sounds like cannon being fired, as
the great masses of frozen crystal snapped like frail planks.

{}``The ice caves are being destroyed by an upheaval of nature!''\ went
on Mr.\ Parker. {}``This one will soon go! The walls are bulging
now! We must get out!''

{}``But the natives! They will kill us!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon.\ {}
{}``Bless my soul!\ what a trying position to be in.''

{}``I guess the natives are as bad off as we are,''\ suggested
Ned.\ {} {}``They're not firing, and I can hear cries of alarm,
I think they're running away.''

There was a lull in the snow flurry, and the white curtain seemed
to lift for a moment. The gold-seekers had a glimpse of the natives
in full retreat, with the Fogers\mdash{---}father and son\mdash{---}racing
panic-stricken after them. Tom could also see a big cave, just beyond
the gold hole, collapse and crumble to pieces like a house of cards.

{}``We have no time to lose!''\ Mr.\ Parker warned them. {}``The
roof of this cave is slowly coming down. The sides are collapsing!\ 
We must get out!''

{}``Then wheel out the airship!''\ cried Tom. {}``We must save
that! We needn't fear the natives, now!''

The young inventor hurried to the \textit{Red Cloud} calling to Ned
and the others. They hastened to his side. It was an easy matter to
move the airship along on the wheels. It neared the opening of the
cave. The rumbling, roaring, grinding sound of the ice increased.

{}``Why\mdash{---}why!''\ cried Tom in surprise and alarm, as
the craft neared the mouth of the ice cavern, {}``we can't get it
out\mdash{---}the opening is too small! Yet it came in easily enough!''

{}``The cave is collapsing\mdash{---}growing smaller every moment!''\ cried
Mr. Parker. {}``We have only time to save our lives! Run out!''

{}``And leave the airship? Never!''\ yelled Tom.

{}``You must! You can't save that and your life!''

{}``Get axes and make the opening bigger!''\ suggested Ned, who,
like his chum, could not bear to think of the destruction of the beautiful
craft.

{}``No time! No time!''\ shouted Mr.\ Parker, frantically, {}``We
must get out! Save what you can from the ship\mdash{---}the gold\mdash{---}some
supplies\mdash{---}the guns\mdash{---}some food\mdash{---}save
what you can!''

Then ensued a wild effort to get from the doomed craft what they could\mdash{---}what
they would need if they were to save their lives in that cold and
desolate country. Food, some blankets\mdash{---}their guns\mdash{---}as
much of the gold as they could hastily gather together\mdash{---}their
weapons and some ammunition\mdash{---}all this was carried from
the cabin outside the cave. The entrance was rapidly growing smaller.\ 
The roof was already pressing down on the gas-bag.

Tom gave one last look at his fine craft. There were tears in his
eyes. He started into the cabin for something he had forgotten.\ 
Mr. Parker grabbed him by the arm.

{}``Don't go in!''\ he cried hoarsely. {}``The cave will collapse
in another instant!''\ He rushed with Tom out of the cavern, and
not a moment too soon. The others were already outside.

Then with a rush and a roar, with a sound like a great explosion,
with a rending, grinding and booming as the great pieces of ice collapsed
one against the other, the big ice cave settled in, as does some great
building when the walls are weakened!

\label{Crash}Down crashed the roof of the ice cave! Down upon the
\textit{Red Cloud}, burying out of sight, forever, under thousands
of tons of ice and snow, the craft which was the pride of Tom Swift's
heart!\  It was the end of the airship!

Tom felt a moisture of tears in his eyes as he stood there in the
midst of the snowstorm.


\chapter*{\raggedright THE RESCUE\mdash{---} CONCLUSION}

\addcontentsline{toc}{chapter}{THE RESCUE---CONCLUSION}

\markboth{TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE}{THE RESCUE---CONCLUSION}

For a few moments after the collapse of the cave, and the destruction
of the airship, on which they depended to take them from that desolate
land, no one spoke. The calamity had been too terrible\mdash{---}they
could hardly understand it.

The snow had ceased, and, over the frozen plain, in full retreat,
could be seen the band of attacking Indians. They had fled in terror
at the manifestation of Nature. And Nature, as if satisfied at the
mischief she had wrought, called a halt to the movement of the ice.\ 
The roaring, grinding sounds ceased, and there were no more collapses
of caves in that neighborhood.

{}``Well, we are up against it,''\ spoke Tom, softly. {}``Poor
old \textit{Red Cloud}! There'll never be another airship like you!''

{}``We are lucky to have escaped with our lives,''\ said Mr.\ Parker.
{}``Another moment and it would have been too late. I was expecting
something like this\mdash{---}I predicted it.''

But his honor was an empty one\mdash{---}no one cared to dispute
it with him.

{}``Bless my refrigerator! What's to be done!''\ exclaimed Mr.\ Damon.

{}``Start from here as soon as possible,''\ decided Abe.

{}``Why, do you think the natives will come back?''\ asked Ned.

{}``No, but we have only a small supply of food, my lad, an'\ it's
hard to git up here. We must hit th'\ trail fer civilization as soon
as we kin!''

{}``Go back\mdash{---}how, without the airship?''\ asked Tom,
blankly.

{}``Walk!''\ exclaimed the miner, grimly. {}``It's th'\ only
way!''

They realized that. There was no hope of digging through that mass
of fantastically piled ice to reach the airship, and, even if they
could have done so, it would have been crushed beyond all hope of
repair. Nor could they dig down for more food, though what they had
hastily saved was little enough.

{}``Well, if we've got to go, we'd better start,''\ suggested Tom,
sadly. {}``Poor old \textit{Red Cloud}!''

{}``Maybe we can get a little more gold,''\ suggested Ned.

They walked over to the hole whence they had taken the yellow nuggets.\ 
The {}``pocket''\ was not to be seen. It was buried out of sight
under tons of ice.

{}``We'll get no more gold here,''\ decided Abe, {}``lf we get
safely out of th'\ valley, and t'\ the nearest white settlement,
we'll be lucky.''

{}``Bless my soul! Is it as bad as that!''\ cried Mr.\ Damon.

Abe nodded without speaking. There was nothing else to do. Sadly and
silently they made up into packs the things they had saved, and started
southward, guided by a small compass the miner had with him.

It was a melancholy party. Fortunately the weather had turned a little
warmer or they might have been frozen to death. They tramped all that
day, shaping their course to take them out of the valley on a side
well away from where the hostile natives lived. At night they made
rude shelters of snow and blocks of ice and ate cold victuals.\ 
The second day it grew colder, and they were slightly affected by
snow-blindness, for they had lost their dark glasses in the cave.

Even the gold seemed too great a burden to carry, and they found they
had more of it than at first they supposed. On the third day they
were ready to give up, but Abe bravely urged them on. Toward the close
of the fourth day, even the old miner was in despair, for the food
they could carry was not such as to give strength and warmth, and
they saw no game to shoot.

They were just getting ready to go into a cheerless camp for the night,
when Tom, who was a little in advance, looked ahead.

{}``Ned, do I see something or is it only a vision?''\ he asked.

{}``What does it look like?''\ asked his chum.

{}``Like Eskimos on sleds.''

{}``That's what it is,''\ agreed Ned, after an observation. {}``Maybe
it's the Fogers, or some of the savage Indians.''

They halted in alarm, and got out their guns. The little party of
natives kept coming on toward them.

Suddenly Abe uttered a cry, but it was one of joy and not fear.

{}``Hurrah!''\ he yelled, {}``It's all right\mdash{---}they're
friendly natives! They're of the same tribe that helped me an'\ my
partner! It's all right, boys, we're rescued now!''

And so it proved. A few minutes later the gold-seekers were on the
sleds of the friendly Eskimos, some of whom remembered Abe, and the
weary and hungry adventures were being rushed toward the native village
as fast as the dogs could run. It was a hunting party that had come
upon our friends just in time.

Little more remains to be told. Well cared for by the kind Eskimos,
Tom and his friends soon recovered their spirits and strength. They
arranged for dog teams to take them to Sitka, and paid their friends
well for the service, not only in gold, but by presenting what was
of more value, the guns they no longer needed. Tom, however, retained
his electric rifle.

Three weeks after that they were on a steamer bound for civilization,
having bidden their friends the Eskimos good-by.

{}``Homeward bound,''\ remarked Tom, some time later, as they were
in a train speeding across the continent. {}``It was a great trip,
and the gold we got will more than repay us, even to building a new
airship. Still, I can't help feeling sorry about the \textit{Red Cloud}.''

{}``I don't blame you,''\ returned Ned. {}``Are you going to build
another airship, Tom?''

{}``Not one like the \textit{Red Cloud}, I think. But I have in mind
plans for a sort of racing craft. I think I'll start it when I get
back home.''

How Tom's plans developed, and what sort of a craft he built will
be related in the next volume of this series, to be called {}``Tom
Swift and His Sky Racer; or, the Quickest Flight on Record.'' In
that will be told how the young inventor foiled his enemies, and how
he saved his father's life. Our friends arrived safely at Shopton
in due season. They learned that the two Fogers had reached there
shortly before them. Tom and his party decided not to prosecute them,
and they did not learn the identity of the men who tried to rob Tom
of the map.

{}``But I guess Andy won't go about boasting of his airship any more,''
said Ned, {}``nor of how he got our gold mine away from us. He'll
sing mighty small for a while.''

The store of gold brought from the North, proved quite valuable, though
but for the unforeseen accidents our friends could have secured much
more. Yet they were well satisfied. With his share Abe Abercrombie
settled down out West, Mr.\ Damon gave most of his gold to his wife,
Mr.\ Parker bought scientific instruments with his, Ned invested
his in bank stock, and Tom Swift, after buying a beautiful gift for
a certain pretty young lady, used part of the remainder to build his
Sky Racer.

And now, for a time, we will take leave of Tom and his friends, and
say good-by. 
\end{document}
