makes it almost impossible to find the exact spot. And if it's
that hard on the surface, where you can see what you're doing,
how much harder is it in regard to something on the bottom of the
sea? So don't take any stock in these ocean treasure recovering
companies. They may not be fakes, but they're mighty uncertain."

"Oh, I don't know that I was really going to buy any stock in
this Japanese concern, Tom. I only thought it would be
interesting to think about. And perhaps you might sell them a
submarine or some of your diving apparatus."

"Nothing doing, Ned. We've got other plans, my father and I.
There's that new tractor for use in the big wheat-growing belt,
to say nothing of--"

Tom's remarks were interrupted by voices outside his office
door. One voice, in particular, rose above the others. It said:

"No can go in! The Master he am busily! No can go in!"

"Nonsense, Koku!" exclaimed a man, and at the sound of his
voice Tom and Ned smiled. "Nonsense! Of course I can go in! Why,
bless my watch fob, I must go in! I've got the greatest
proposition to lay before Tom Swift that he ever heard of!
There's at least a million in it! Let me pass, Koku!"

"Mr. Damon!" murmured Tom Swift. "I wonder what he has on his
mind now

As he spoke the door opened rather violently and a short, stout