at the latter's home, soared down from aloft, and a little later,
having told Koku to look after the Air Scout, much to the delight
of the giant and the discomfiture of Rad, the young inventor was
closeted with Mr. Damon and Dixwell Hardley.

"Bless my straw hat, Tom!" exclaimed the eccentric man, "but we
just couldn't wait any longer. How are you coming on, and when
can we start on this treasure-hunting trip? I declare it makes me
feel young again to think about it!"

"Well, it won't be long now," was the answer. "The men are
working hard to get the submarine in shape, and I should say that
in another week, or two weeks at the most, we could set off!"

"Good!" exclaimed Mr. Hardley. "I have received additional
information," he went on, "to the effect that the amount of gold
on board the Pandora was even greater than we at first thought."

"That sounds encouraging," replied Tom. "It only remains to
find the sunken ship now. But what interests me greatly is
whether, after we have gotten this gold, supposing we are
successful, we shall be allowed to keep it."

"Bless my bank book! why not?" asked Mr. Damon. "Isn't it
wealth abandoned at the bottom of the sea, and isn't finding
keeping?"

"Not always," answered Tom. "There are certain rules and laws
about treasure, and it might happen that after we got this--if we
do--it could be taken away from us."