corner, and it fell sideways against him, knocking him to the
floor, and dropping across his thighs. The padding on it saved
him from broken bones, but the shaft was so heavy, that after it
was on him, Tom could not move. He was held fast on the floor of
his shop, unable to use his legs, and prevented from getting up.

For a moment Tom was stunned, and then he called:

"Help! Help! Eradicate! Koku! Help!"

He waited a moment, but there was only a silence.

And then Tom smelled a strange odor--an odor of a choking gas
that seemed to smother him.

"It's the acids!" he cried. "They're generating gas! And I'm
held fast here! The place is closed up tight, and I can't move!
Help! Help!"

But there was no one at hand to aid Tom, and every moment the
fumes of the gas became stronger. Desperately the youth struggled
to rid himself of the weight of the shaft, but he could not. And
then he felt his senses leaving him, for the powerful gas was
making him unconscious.




CHAPTER V - TOM GETS A WARNING