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twinkling points of light the face of Waddington seemed to fade away； as
might a vision in a dream。
〃Bless my salt mackerel； as Mr。 Damon would say！〃 cried Tom。 〃What
have I discovered？〃
He rubbed his head where he had struck it； and then passed his hand
before his eyes； to make sure he was awake。 But the vision； if vision it was；
had vanished； and he saw only the bare rock wall。 However； the echo of
the voice remained in his ears； and； looking down toward the tunnel floor
Tom saw Serato； the Indian foreman。
〃Were you speaking to me？〃 asked Tom； for the man understood and
spoke English fairly well。
〃No； sar。 I not know you there！〃 and the fore man seemed startled at
seeing Tom。 Clearly he was in a fright。
〃You were speaking！〃 insisted Tom。
〃No； sar！〃 The man shook his head。
〃To some one up there！〃 went on the young inventor； waving his hand
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toward the spot where he had seen the face in the rock。
〃Me speak to roof？ No； sar！〃 Serato laughed。
Tom did not know what to believe。
〃You hear me tell um lazy man to much hurry；〃 the Indian went on。
〃Me not know you sleep there； sar！〃
〃Oh； all right；〃 Tom said； recollecting that he must keep up his
disguise。 〃Maybe I was dreaming。〃
〃Yes； sar；〃 and the foreman hurried on； with a backward glance over
his shoulder。
〃Now was I dreaming or not？〃 thought Tom。 〃I'm going to have a look
at that place though； where I saw Waddington's face。 Or did I imagine it？〃
He got a long pole and a powerful flash lamp； and when he had a
chance； unobserved； he poked around in the vicinity where he had seen the
face。
But there was only solid rock。
〃It must have been a dream；〃 Tom concluded。 〃I've been thinking too
much about this business。 I'll have to give up。 I can't solve the mystery of
the missing men。〃
The next day； much disappointed； he resumed his own character as
explosive expert； and prepared for another blast。 The net result of his
watch was that he became suspicious of Serato； and so informed the Titus
Brothers。
〃Oh； but you're mistaken；〃 said Job 〃We have had him for years； on
other contracts in Peru； and we trust him。〃
〃Well； I don't；〃 Tom said； but he had to let it go at that。
Another blast was set off； but it was not very successful。
〃The rock seems to be getting harder the farther in we go；〃 commented
Walter Titus。 〃We're not up to where we ought to be。〃
〃I'll have to look into it；〃 answered Tom。 〃I may have to change the
powder mixture。 Guess I'll go up the mountain a way； and see if there are
any outcroppings of rock there that would give me an idea of what lies
underneath。〃
Accordingly； while the men in the tunnel were clearing away the rock
loosened by the blast； Tom； one day； taking his electric rifle with him；
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went up the mountain under which the big bore ran。
He located； by computation； the spot beneath which the end of the
tunnel then was； and began collecting samples of the outcropping ledge。
He wanted to analyze these pieces of stone later。 Koku was with him； and；
giving the giant a bag of stones to carry； Tom walked on rather idly。
It was a wild and desolate region in which he found himself on the
side of the mountain。 Beyond him stretched towering and snow…clad peaks；
and high in the air were small specks； which he knew to be condors；
watching with their eager eyes for their offal food。
As Tom and Koku made their way along the mountain trail they came
unexpectedly upon an Indian workman who was gathering herbs and bark；
an industry by which many of the natives added to their scanty livelihood。
The woman was familiar with the appearance of the white men； and
nodded in friendly fashion。
Tom passed on； thinking of many things； when he was suddenly
startled by a scream from the woman。 It was a scream of such terror and
agony that； for the moment； Tom was stunned into inactivity。 Then； as he
turned； he saw a great condor sweeping down out of the air； the wind
fairly whistling through the big； outstretched wings。
〃Jove！〃 ejaculated Tom。 〃Can the bird be going to attack the woman？〃
But this was not the object of the condor。 It was aiming to strike； with
its fierce talons； at a point some paces distant from where the woman
stood； and in the intervals between her screams Tom heard her cry； in her
native tongue：
〃My baby！ My baby！ The beast…bird will carry off my baby！〃
Then Tom understood。 The woman herb…gatherer had brought her
infant with her on her quest； and had laid it down on a bed of soft grass
while she worked。 And it was this infant； wrapped as Tom afterward saw
in a piece of deer…skin； at which the condor was aiming。
〃Master shoot！〃 cried Koku； pointing to the down…sweeping bird。
〃You bet I'll shoot！〃 cried Tom。
Throwing his electric rifle to his shoulder； Tom pressed the switch
trigger。 The unseen but powerful force shot straight at the condor。
The outstretched wings fell limp； the great body seemed to shrivel up；
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and； with a crash； the bird fell into the underbrush； breaking the twigs and
branches with its weight。 The electric rifle； a full account of which was
given in the volume entitled 〃Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle；〃 had done
its work well。
With a scream； in which was mingled a cry of thanks； the woman
threw himself on the sleeping child。 The condor bad fallen dead not three
paces from it。
Tom Swift had shot just in time。
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CHAPTER XVIII
The Indian Strike
Snatching up in her arms the now awakened child； the woman gazed
for a moment into its face； which she covered with kisses。 Then the herb…
gatherer looked over to the dead； limp body of the great condor； and from
thence to Tom。
In another moment the woman had rushed forward； and knelt at the
feet of the young