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you there。 Get me some pictures of the Durbar； of elephants being
captured； of tiger fights； anything exciting。〃
〃I'll do my〃 began Tom。
〃Wait； I'm not through；〃 interrupted the excitable man。 〃Then go get
some volcanoes； earthquakesanything that you think would be
interesting。 I'll keep in touch with you； and cable occasionally。 Get all the
films you can。 When will you start？〃
〃I can leave inside of two weeks；〃 replied Tom。
〃Then do it； and； meanwhile； be on your guard。〃
It was found that a few changes were needed on the camera。 And some
adjustments to the airship。 Another trial flight was made； and some
excellent pictures taken。 Then Tom and his friends prepared to take the
airship apart。 and pack it for shipment to Calcutta。 It was to go on the
same steamer as themselves； and of course the Wizard Camera would
accompany Tom。 He took along many rolls of films； enough； he thought；
for many views。 He was also to send back to Mr。 Period from time to time；
the exposed rolls of film； so they could be developed； and printed in the
United States； as Tom would not have very good facilities for this on the
airship； and to reproduce them there was almost out of the question。 Still
he did fit up a small dark room aboard the Flyer； where he could develop
pictures if he wished。
There was much to be done； but hard work accomplished it； and
finally the party was ready to start for India。 Tom said good…bye to Mary
Nestor； of course； and her father accompanied our hero from the Nestor
house to the Swift homestead； where the start was to take place。
Eradicate bade his master a tearful good…bye； and there was moisture
in the eyes of Mr。 Swift； as he shook hands with his son。
〃Take care of yourself； Tom；〃 he said。 〃Don't run too many risks。 This
moving picture taking isn't as easy as it sounds。 It's more than just pointing
your camera at things。 Write if you get a chance； or send me a message。〃
Tom promised； and then bade farewell to Mrs。 Baggert。 All were
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assembled； Koku； Mr。 Damon； who blessed everything he saw； and some
things he did not； Ned； Mr。 Nestor and Tom。 The five were to go by train
to New York； there to go aboard the steamer。
Their journey to the metropolis was uneventful。 Mr。 Period met them
at the steamship dock； after Tom had seen to it that the baggage； and the
parts of the airship were safely aboard。
〃I wish I were going along！〃 exclaimed the picture man。 〃It's going to
be a great trip。 But I can't spare the time。 I'm the busiest man in the world。
I lose about a thousand dollars just coming down to see you off； but it's a
good investment。 I don't mind it。 Now； Tom； good luck； and don't forget； I
want exciting views。〃
〃I'll try〃 began our here；。
〃Wait； I know what you're going to say！〃 interrupted Mr。 Period。
〃You'll do it； of course。 Well； I must be going。 I will Great Scott！〃 and
Mr。 Period interrupted himself。 〃He has the nerve to come here！〃
〃Who？〃 asked Tom。
〃Wilson Turbot； the rascal！ He's trying to balk me at the last minute； I
believe。 I'm going to see what he means！〃 and with this； the excited Mr。
Period rushed down the gangplank； toward the man at whom he had
pointedone of the men who had tried to buy Tom's picture taking camera。
A moment later the steamer's whistle blew； the last belated passenger
rushed up the gangplank； it was drawn in； and the vessel began to move
away from the dock。 Tom and his friends were on their way to India； and
the last glimpse they had of Mr。 Period was as he was chasing along the
pier； after Mr。 Turbot。
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CHAPTER X
UNEXPECTED EXCITEMENT
〃Well； what do you know about that； Tom？〃 asked Ned； as they stood
on deck watching the chase。 〃Isn't he the greatest ever Mr。 Period； I
mean？〃
〃He certainly is。 I'd like to see what happens when he catches that
Turbot chap。〃
〃Bless my pocket handkerchief！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃I don't believe he
will。 Mr。 Period's legs aren't long enough for fast running。〃
〃Those scoundrels were after us； up to the last minute；〃 spoke Mr。
Nestor； as the ship moved farther out from the dock。 Tom and his friends
could no longer see the excitable picture man after his rival； but there was
a commotion in the crowd； and it seemed as if he had caught the fellow。
〃Well； we're free of him now；〃 spoke the young inventor； with a breath
of relief。 〃That is； unless they have set some one else on our trail；〃 and he
looked carefully at the passengers near him； to detect； if possible； any who
might look like spies in the pay of the rival moving picture concern； or any
suspicious characters who might try to steal the valuable camera； that was
now safely locked in Tom's cabin。 Our hero； however； saw no one to worry
about。 He resolved to remain on his guard。
Friends and relatives were waving farewells to one another； and the
band was playing； as the big vessel drew out into the North； or Hudson；
river； and steamed for the open sea。
Little of interest marked the first week of the voyage。 All save Koku
had done much traveling before； and it was no novelty to them。 The giant；
however； was amused and delighted with everything； even the most
commonplace things he saw。 He was a source of wonder to all the other
passengers； and； in a way； he furnished much excitement。
One day several of the sailors were on deck； shifting one of the heavy
anchors。 They went about it in their usual way； all taking hold； and
〃heaving〃 together with a 〃chanty；〃 or song； to enliven their work。 But
they did not make much progress； and one of the mates got rather excited
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about it。
〃Here； shiver my timbers！〃 he cried。 〃Lively now！ Lay about you； and
get that over to the side！〃
〃Yo！ Heave！ Ho！〃 called the leader of the sailor gang。 The anchor
did not move； for it had either caught on some projection； or the men were
not using their strength。
〃Lively！ Lively！〃 cried the mate。
Suddenly Koku； who was in the crowd of passengers watching the
work； pushed his way to where the anchor lay。 With a powerful； but not
rough action； he shoved the sailors aside。 Then； stooping over； he took a
firm grip of the big piece of iron； planted his feet well apart on the deck；
and lifted the immense mass in his arms。 There was a round of applause
from the group of passengers。
〃Where you want him？〃 Koku calmly asked of the mate； as he stood
holding the anchor。
〃Blast my marlin spikes！〃 cried the mate。 〃I never see the like of this
afore！ Put her over there； shipmate。 If I had you on a voyage or two you'd
be running the ship； instead of letting the screw push her along。 Put her
over there；〃 and he indicated where he wanted the anchor。
Koku calmly walked along the deck； laid the anchor down as if it was
an ordinary weight； and passed over to where Tom stood looking on in
amused silence。 There were murmurs of surprise from the passengers at
the giant's strength； and the sailors went forward much abashed。
〃Say； I'd give a good bit to have a bodyguard like that；〃 exclaimed a
well…known millionaire passenger； who； it was reported； was in constant
fear of attacks； though they had never taken place。 〃I wonder if I could get
him。〃
He spoke to Tom about it； but our hero would not listen to a
proposition to part with Koku。 Besides； it is doubtful if the simple giant
would leave the lad who had brought him away from his South American
home。 But； if Koku was wonderfully strong； and； seemingly afraid of
nothing； there were certain things he feared。
One afternoon； for the amusement of the passengers； a net was put
overboard； sunk to a considerable depth； and hauled up with a number of
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fishes