"Somebody's coming, Tom," warned Ned.

"Yes, and a stranger, too," observed Tom. "I wonder if that can
be Eradicate's Frenchman?"

But a look at the stranger's face disproved that surmise. He
had a frank and pleasant countenance, obviously American.

"I beg your pardon," he began, addressing everyone in general,
"but I am looking for Tom Swift. I was told he was here."

"I am Tom Swift," replied our hero.

"Ah! Well, I am Lieutenant Marbury, with whom you had some
correspondence recently about--"

"Oh, yes, Lieutenant Marbury, of the United States Navy,"
interrupted Tom. "I'm glad to see you," he went on, holding out
his hand. "We are just completing some tests with the guns. You
called, I presume, in reference to my aerial warship?"

"That is it--yes. Have you it ready for a trial flight?"

"Well, almost. It can be made ready in a few hours. You see, I
have been delayed. There was a fire in the plant."

"A fire!" exclaimed the officer in surprise. "How was that? We
heard nothing of it in Washington."

"No, I kept it rather quiet," Tom explained. "We had reason to