"Here, Tom! Come back! Where are you going?" cried aged Mr.
Swift, as his son started toward the window.

"I'm going to see what's up, and who it is that Koku is
chasing," replied the young inventor.

As he spoke he opened the window, which went all the way down
to the floor. He stepped out on a small balcony, put his hand on
the railing, and was about to leap over. Back of him was his
father, Mr. Period and Ned.

"Come back! You may get hurt!" urged Mr. Swift. He had aged
rapidly in the last few months, and had been obliged to give up
most of his inventive work. Naturally, he was very nervous about
his son.

"Don't worry, dad; replied the youth. "I'm not in much danger
when Koku is around."

"That's right, agreed the moving picture man. "I'd sooner have
that giant look after me than half a dozen policemen."

The noise had now grown fainter, but the sound of the pursuit
could still be heard. Koku was shouting in his hearty tones, and
there was the noise of breaking twigs as the chase wound in and
out of the garden shrubbery.

Tom paused a moment, to let his eyes get somewhat used to the
darkness. There was a crescent moon, that gave a little light,