On and on, and up and up, went Mary and Tom, in this the girl's
first big sky ride. The earth below seemed farther and farther
away. The wide, green fields became little emerald squares, and
the houses like those in a toy Noah's ark.

Down below, Mr. Wakefield Damon, who had hurried over from his
home in Waterfield to see Tom Swift, gazed aloft at the fast
disappearing aeroplane and its passengers.

"Bless my coal bin!" cried the eccentric man, "but Tom is in a
hurry this morning. Too bad he couldn't have stopped and spoken
to me. It might have been greatly to his advantage. But I suppose
I shall have to wait."

"You want to see Master?" asked a voice behind Mr. Damon, and,
turning, he beheld a veritable giant.

"Yes, Koku, I did," Mr. Damon answered, and he did not appear
at all surprised at the sight of the towering form beside him. "I
wanted to see Tom most particularly. But I shall have to wait.
I'll go in and talk to Mr. Swift."

"Yaas, an' I go talk to Radicate," said the giant. "Him diggin'
up ground where Master told me to make garden. Radicate not
strong enough for dat!"

"Huh! there's trouble as soon as those two get to disputing,"
mused Mr. Damon, as he went toward the house.

Meanwhile, Mary was beginning to enjoy herself. The sensation