
    ,,*APT] ,,VIII -- ,,(F ,,= ,,! ,,WE/
  ,X 0 A GRT RELIEF 6,TOM1 6F9D T "! 0
NO DANG] F AN E>? TREMOR4 ,N[ T HE _H
MADE UP 8 M9D 6G 9 SE>* (! DIAMOND
MAK]S1 HE WANT$ NO?+ 69T]F]E ) X4 ,LE/ !
FEEL+S ( ,MR4 ,P>K] MI<T 2 HURT 0!
MISTAKE HE _H MADE1 ! "Y 9V5TOR CAU;N$
,ERADICATE N 6SAY ANY?+ M AB ! MATT]4
  8,8,DE$ AN0' ,I WON'T10 ! COLOR$ MAN
PROMIS$4 8,I'SE ONLY TOO GLAD D]E WA'N'T
NO E>?QUAKE1 DAT'S :AT ,I IS40
  ,Z = ,MR4 ,P>K]1 HE DID N APPE> M* PUT
\ 0HIS ]ROR 9 PREDICT+4
  8,I AM SURE T :AT ,I HE>D 0 A TREMOR1
DUE 6"S 4TANT E>?QUAKE %OCK10 HE SD4 8,!
MULE'S KICK+ 0 ONLY A CO9CID;E40
  ,& ,TOM LET HM H 8 WAY AB X4 ,! WEEK 0
DRAW+ 6A CLOSE1 &! ,R$ ,CL\D 0 NE>LY 9
%APE =! VOYAGE4 ,AT ALM ! LA/ M9UTE ,TOM
F.D T HE NE$$ "S ELECTRICAL APP>ATUS =!
AIR%IP1 & Z HE _H 6G 6,*E/] = X1 HE
DECID$ HE WD MAKE ! TRIP 9 8 MONOPLANE1
&1 :ILE 9 ! C;Y1 WD AL GET ! DIAMOND P9
HE 0 HAV+ MADE = ,M>Y ,NE/OR4
  ,HE />T$ (F E>LY "O MORN+1 9 ! SWIFT
LL CRAFT ,BUTT]FLY1 & SOON _H R1*$
,*E/]4 ,! DIAMOND BROO* 0 R1DY = HM4
  8,X IS "O (! MO/ B1UTI;L /"OS WE H "E
SET10 ! DIAMOND M]*ANT TOLD HM4 8,DON'T
=GET1 IF Y F9D ANY M1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT1 6LET
U H A *.E 6BID ON !M40
  8,I MAY10 ,TOM PROMIS$1 R 9DEF9ITELY4
,!N1 HAV+ PUR*AS$ 8 ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES1
HE MADE A QK TRIP 6,%OPTON1 /OPP+ ON !
WAY 6CALL ON ,MISS ,NE/OR4
  8,:Y ,TOM1 ,I'M DELI<T$ 6SEE Y60 CRI$
! GIRL1 BLU%+ PRETTILY4 8,DID Y -E = "S
APPLE TURNOV]S80 & %E LAU<$1 Z %E REF]R$
6A CALL ,TOM _H ONCE PD1 :5 A NEW COOK
_H BE5 5GAG$1 & :5 ! PA/RY =M$ A F1TURE
(! M1L4
  8,NO TURNOV]S ? "T10 SD ! "Y 9V5TOR4
8,I CAME 6WI% Y _M HAPPY RETURNS (! "D40
  8,OH1 Y REMEMB]$ MY BIR?"D6 ,H[ NICE (
Y60
  8,& "H IS "S?+ ELSE10 A4$ \R H]O1 R
AWKW>DLY1 Z HE H&$ H] ! DIAMOND P94
  8,OH1 ,TOM6 ,? = ME6 ,OH1 X'S TOO
LOVELY--X'S F> TOO M*60
  8,X ISN'T HALF 5\<60 HE DCLD1 W>MLY4
8,OH1 :AT A L>GE DIAMOND60 ,M>Y CRI$ Z
%E SAW ! SP>KL+ /"O4 8,I N"E SAW "O S
L>GE & B1UTI;L60
  8,X'S J Z EASY 6MAKE !M L>GE Z SMALL10
EXPLA9$ ,TOM4
  8,MAKE !M80 %E LOOK$ ! SURPRISE %E
FELT4
  8,YES1 ,I'M AB 6/>T =! PLACE ":
DIAMONDS >E MADE40
  8,OH1 ,TOM6 ,B ISN'T X DANG]\S8 ,I M1N
WON'T Y H 6G 6"S F> C.TRY--L ,AFRICA--
6GET 6": DIAMONDS >E MADE80
  8,WELL1 WE >E GO+ ON Q A TRIP1 B N Z
F> Z T4 ,& Z =! DANG]--WELL1 WE'LL H
6TAKE :AT -ES10 & HE TOLD H] "S?+ (!
PROPOS$ QUE/4
  8,OH1 X S.DS--S.DS SC>Y60 ,M>Y
EXCLAIM$1 :5 %E _H HE>D ( ,MR4 ,J5KS'
EXP]I;E4 ,D 2 C>E;L1 ,TOM60
  8,I W10 HE PROMIS$1 &1 "SH[ HE 0 GLAD
T %E _H CAU;N$ HM ?US--& 9 S* T"OS Z %E
_H US$4 ,= ,M>Y ,NE/OR 0 A GIRL T ANY "Y
*AP WD H BE5 GLAD 6H MANIFE/ AN 9T]E/ 9
HM4
  8,WELL1 ,I GUESS ,I'LL H 6SAY GD-BY10
SPOKE ,TOM1 AT L5G?4 8,WE EXPECT 6/>T 9
A C\PLE ( "DS1 & ,I MAY N GET ANO!R *.E
6SEE Y40
  8,OH1 ,I--,I HOPE Y -E BACK SAFELY10
FALT]$ ,M>Y1 & !N %E HELD \ H] H&1 &
,TOM--WELL1 X'S N"O ( \R A6AIR :AT ,TOM
DID AF T1 EXCEPT 6SAY T HE HURRI$ \1
FAIRLY JUMP$ 96HIS MONOPLANE1 & -PLET$ !
TRIP HOME4
  ,Z ! ,R$ ,CL\D HAS BE5 FULLY DESCRIB$
9 ! VOLUME 5TITL$ 8,TOM ,SWIFT & ,8
,AIR%IP10 WE W N G 96DETAILS AB X N[4
,SU6ICI5T 6SAY T X 0 A -B9,N (A BIPLANE
& DIRIGI# BALLOON4 ,X CD 2 US$ EI Z "O
OR ! O!R1 &! GAS-BAG F1TURE 0 ( VALUE :5
! W9D 0 TOO GRT 6ALL[ ! USE (! PLANES1
OR :5 ! MOTIVE P[]1 = "S R1SON /OPP$4 ,9
T EV5T ! AIR%IP CD REMA9 SUSP5D$ F> ABV
! CL\DS IF NEC4 ,"! 0
PROVI.N = MANUFACTUR+ ! GAS ON BO>D4
  ,! ,R$ ,CL\D 0 FITT$ UP 6A3OMMODATE AB
T5 P]SONS1 ?\< X 0 SELDOM T ? NUMB] 0
C>RI$4 ,TWO P]SONS CD SU3ESS;LLY OP]ATE
! MA*9]Y4 ,"! 7 SLEEP+ B]?S1 & 9 ! MA9
CAB9 A SITT+-ROOM1 A D9+-ROOM1 &A KIT*54
,"! 0 AL ! MOTOR -"P;T1 &A /E]+ T[]1 F :
! 5G9ES CD 2 3TROLL$4
  ,X 0 9 ? CRAFT T ! SEEK]S AF ! DIAMOND
MAK]S PROPOS$ "UTAK+ ! TRIP4 ,MR4 ,DAMON
CAME ON F 8 HOME 9 ,WAT]FIELD AB TWO "DS
2F ! DATE SET 6L1VE1 & ,MR4 ,J5KS1 _H1
?REE "DS 2F ?1 TAK5 UP 8 ABODE AT !
,SWIFT HOME4 ,MR4 ,P>K]1 Z HAS BE5 /AT$1
0 ALR "!1 & HE _H PUT 9 8 "T MAK+ A
NUMB] ( SCI5TIFIC OBS]V,NS1 ?\< HE _H
MADE NO M PREDIC;NS4
  ,NO?+ M _H BE5 SE5 (! MY/]I\S MAN :O
_H W>N$ ,TOM1 &! "Y 9V5TOR & ,MR4 ,J5KS
2GAN 6HOPE T !Y _H ?R[N _! 5EMIES (F !
TRACK4
  8,?\< ,I DON'T IMAG9E !Y'LL GIVE UP
ALT10 SD ,MR4 ,J5KS4 8,!Y'RE TOO
DESP]ATE = T4 ,WE'LL H TR\# ) !M YET40
  8,WELL1 X C'T 2 HELP$10 DECID$ ,TOM4
8,WE'LL TRY & 2 R1DY = X1 :5 X -ES10 &
!N1 4MISS+ ! MATT] F 8 M9D1 HE BUSI$ HMF
AB ! AIR%IP4
  ,! FOOD & SUPPLIES _H ALL BE5 PUT
ABO>D1 & !Y EXPECT$ 6/>T ! NEXT MORN+4
,9 ORD] 6MAKE SURE T ANY /"OS : !Y MI<T
SU3E$ 9 GETT+ F ! DIAMOND MAK]S 7 R1L
GEMS1 A SET ( TE/+ APP>ATUS 0 TAK5 AL;G4
,MR4 ,P>K] _H _H "S EXP]I;E 9 ? L9E1 &1
9 SPITE (! FACT T HE MI<T MAKE DIRE;L
PREDIC;NS1 ,TOM 0 R GLAD1 AF ALL1 T !
SCI5TI/ 0 GO+ 6A3OMPANY !M4
  8,B :AT IS WORRY+ ME10 SD ,MR4 ,DAMON1
8IS :AT WE >E GO+ 6D AF WE GET 6,PHANTOM
,M.TA94 ,:AT >E YR PLANS1 ,MR4 ,J5KS8 ,W
Y G IN1 & DEM& YR %>E (! DIAMOND-MAK+
BUSI;S80
  8,I H A "R 6X1 Z ,I 9VE/$ A L>GE SUM 9
X1 & ,I AM 5TITL$ 6M ?AN A HALF-%>E4 ,B1
( C\RSE1 ,I C'T SAY :AT ,I'LL D UNTIL ,I
GET "!4 ,WE MAY H 6ACT V SECRETLY40
  8,I'M 9CL9$ 6?9K WE W10 SD ,TOM4 8,MY
PLAN WD 2 6GA9 A3ESS 6! CAVE1 IF POSSI#1
& WAT* !M AT "W4 ,WE MI<T 2 A# 64COV] !
SECRET ( MAK+ DIAMONDS1 &1 AF ALL1 T'S
:AT Y WANT1 ISN'T X1 ,MR4 ,J5KS80
  8,YES1 ,I PD MY M"OY =! SECRET1 & ,I
"\ 6H X4 ,IF ,I C GET X QUIETLY1 S M* !
BETT]4 ,IF N1 ,I'LL FI<T = MY "RS60 & HE
LOOK$ V DET]M9$4
  8,B.S MY P[D] HORN60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4
8,T'S ! WAY 6TALK6 ,& S WE'RE 6G CRUIS+
AB 9 ! AIR1 LOOK+ =A M.TA9 %AP$ L A
MAN'S H1D40
  8,T'S X10 A GRE$ ,MR4 ,J5KS1 8& :5 WE
F9D X WE W 2 NE> ,PHANTOM ,M.TA91 &!
DIAMOND MAK]S40
  ,! F9AL DETAILS 7 -PLET$ T NI<T4 ,!
LA/ (! SUPPLIES _H BE5 PUT ABO>D1 ! L>D]
0 WELL /OCK$1 ! DIAMOND TE/+ APP>ATUS 0
/OR$ SAFELY AWAY1 & ALL T REMA9$ 0 =!
ADV5TUR]S 6BO>D ! ,R$ ,CL\D 9 ! MORN+1 &
SO> AWAY4
  ,T NI<T ,TOM 0 UNEASY4 ,S"EAL "TS HE
GOT UP1 & LOOK$ T[>D ! %$ ": ! AIR%IP 0
/OR$4 ,HE CD N RID HMF (! IDEA T ! M5
6^: 9T]E/ X 0 T ! DIAMOND-MAK+ SECRET
REMA9 UNDISCOV]$1 MI<T ATTEMPT 6WRECK !
AIR%IP 2F ! />T4 ,3SEQU5TLY BO?
,ERADICATE ,SAMPSON & ,5G9E] ,JACKSON 7
ON GU>D4 ,TOM LOOK$ F 8 W9D[1 6! %$ ": !
,R$ ,CL\D 0 H\S$4 ,HE SAW NO?+ 6CAUSE HM
ANY UNEASI;S4
  8,I GUESS ,I'M J N]V\S10 HE MUS$4 8,B1
ALL ! SAME1 ,I'LL 2 GLAD :5 WE'VE />T$
  ,!Y 7 ALL UP E>LY ! NEXT MORN+1 ,MR4
,DAMON 2G9N+ ! "D 0B.S+ ! SUNRISE1 & _M
O!R ?+S T /RUCK 8 FANCY4 ,! AIR%IP 0
:EEL$ \ (! %$1 & ,TOM GAVE H] A F9AL
9SPEC;N4
  8,X'S ALL "R10 HE DCLD4 8,ALL ABO>D60
  8,N[1 D 2 C>E;L10 BE7$ ,MR4 ,SWIFT4
8,DON'T TAKE TOO _M *.ES1 ,TOM40
  8,I'LL N40
  ,! ADV5TUR]S 7 9 ! =W>D "P (! %IP1 &
,TOM _H TAK5 8 PLACE AT ! :EELS & L"ES 9
! PILOT H\SE4 ,Z HE 0 AB 6/>T ! MOTOR HE
LOOK$ T[>D ! ROAD1 & SAW A HORSE &
C>RIAGE4 ,9 ! VEHICLE 0 A GIRLI% FIGURE1
AT ! SI<T ( : ,TOM BLU%$ & SMIL$4 ,HE
WAV$ 8 H&4
8,I CAME 6WI% Y GD LUCK60 CRI$ ,M>Y
,NE/]1 = X 0 %E 9 ! C>RIAGE4
  8,?ANKS60 CRI$ ,TOM1 L1N+ F ! W9D[ (!
PILOT H\SE4 8,X 0 GD ( Y 6GET UP S
E>LY40
  8,OH4 ,I'M ALW UP E>LY10 %E 9=M$ HM4
  8,LOOK \ T ! MOTOR DOESN'T SC>E YR
HORSE10 ,TOM W>N$ H]4
  8,OLD ,DO29 DOESN'T M9D ANY?+10 0 H]
ANSW]4 8,I'LL SEE T HE DOESN'T RUN AWAY
) ME1 Z L;G Z Y'RE N ON E>? 6RESCUE ME4
,GD-BY1 ,TOM60
  8,GD-BY60 HE CALL$1 & !N HE PULL$ !
L"E T SET 9 MO;N ! MOTOR1 & :IRL$ ! GRT
PROPELL]S AB4 ,!Y :IZZ$ >.D )A RO>1 &!
,R$ ,CL\D1 %IV]+ & TREMBL+ )! VIBR,N1
ROSE 9 ! AIR L "S GRT BIRD4
  8,WE'RE (F =! ,WE/ & ,PHANTOM ,M.TA960
CALL$ ,TOM 6HIS -PANIONS4
  ,Z ! AIR%IP SO>$ UPW>D1 ,ERADICATE
,SAMPSON RAN =W>D F ": HE _H BE5 /&+ NE>
8 MULE ,BOOM]ANG4 ,HE WAV$ 8 H&S1 & %\T$
"S?+4

8,B.S MY HATB&6 ,:AT DOES HE WANT80 ASK$
  ,MR4 ,DAMON1
WAT*+ HM CURI\SLY4

  8,X S.DS Z IF HE 7 CALL+ 6U 6-E BACK10
SPOKE ,MR4 ,P>K]4
  8,X'S TOO LATE N[10 DECID$ ,TOM4
8,MAYBE HE =GOT 6TELL U GD-BY10 B1 HE
FELT A VAGUE WOND] AT ,ERADICATE'S ODD
MO;NS2 =! COLOR$ MAN 0 PO9T+ T[>D ! /]N
(! AIR%IP1 Z IF "! 0 "S?+ WR;G "!4 ,B !
,R$ ,CL\D SO>$ ON4























