"I don't know, I'm sure. We'll have to wait until we see what he does. He's been following us all along. He was that fake minister on the boat. It's a wonder we didn't get on to him. I believe he's been trying to learn our secret ever since Mr. Preston warned us about him. Now he's here and he'll probably try to spoil our chances for getting a giant so that he may get one for himself. Perhaps Andy Foger gave him a tip about our plans."
"But can't we stop him?" asked Ned.
"I'm going to try!" exclaimed Tom grimly.
"Here he comes," spoke Mr. Damon quickly. "I wonder what he wants?"
Hank Delby had started toward the big hut that sheltered our friends, while the gathered crowd of curious giants looked on and wondered what the arrival of two white parties so close together could mean.
"Well, what do you want?" asked Tom, when his rival had come within speaking distance.
"There's no use beating about the bush with you, Tom Swift," was the frank answer. "I may as well out with it. I came after a giant, and I'm going to get one for Mr. Waydell."
"Then you took advantage of our trail, and followed us?" asked the young inventor.
"Oh, you can put it that way if you like,"
