so from the camp.

Before Tom and Mr. Damon could get out of their seats, a
man, seemingly springing up from some hollow in the ground,
walked toward them.

"Had an accident?" he asked, in what he evidently meant
for a friendly voice.

"A little one, easily mended," Tom answered.

He was about to take off his goggles, but at sight of the
man's face a change came over the countenance of Tom Swift,
and he replaced the eye protectors. Then Tom turned to Mr.
Damon, as if to ask a question, but the stranger came so
close, evidently curious to see the aircraft at close
quarters, that the young inventor could not speak without
being overheard.

Tom got out his kit of tools to repair the broken control,
and the man watched him curiously. As he tinkered away,
something was stirring among the past memories of the
inventor. A question he asked himself over and over again
was:

"Where have I seen this man before? His face is familiar,
but I can't place him. He is associated with something
unpleasant. But where have I seen this man before?"