"Look there! At your shop, Tom! There seems to be a lot of
smoke coming from it!"

They were almost over Tom's shop now, and, as Mr. Damon had
said, there was considerable smoke rolling above it.

"I guess Eradicate is burning up papers and trash," was Ned's
opinion.

Tom looked to where the camera pointed, he was right over his
shop now, and could see a dense vapor issuing from the door.

That isn't Eradicate!" cried the young inventor. "My shop is on
fire! I've got to make a quick drop, and save it! There are a lot
of valuable models, and machines in there! Send us down, Ned, as
fast as she'll go!"




CHAPTER IX - OFF FOR INDIA


"Bless my hose reel!" cried Mr. Damon, as the airship took a
quick lurch toward the earth. "Things are always happening to you, Tom Swift! Your shop on fire! How
did it happen?"

"Look!" suddenly cried Ned, before Tom had a chance to answer.
"There's a man running away from the shop, Tom!"