me on several trips. And I don't mind hard work, nor danger."

"I'll say you don't!" added Ned, as he thought of some of Tom's
perilous voyages, among the diamond makers and in the caves of
ice.

"Well, if you are anxious to make money, as I admit I am," said
Mr. Hardley, "why can't you give me an answer now?"

"Because," answered Tom, "there are many things to be
considered. Hunting for a treasure on the floor of the Atlantic
isn't like going to some location on land, however wild or
inaccessible it might be. Do you realize, Mr. Hardley, what a
large difference in miles a small error in nautical calculations
makes? We might go to the exact spot where you thought the wreck
of the Pandora lies, only to find that we would have to hunt
around a long time.

"I must think of that, and also think of my other business
affairs. Then, too, there is my father. He is getting old, and
while he is still active in the affairs of the company,
particularly when it comes to taking up new lines of work, I do
not like to think of leaving him, as I should have to, in case I
went on this trip."

"Take him along!" exclaimed Mr. Damon. "He's gone with us
before, Tom."

"He's too old now," said the young inventor a bit sadly.
"Father will never make another extended trip. But I will let you