Appleton, Victor – Tom Swift Jr 03 – And His Rocket Ship

For a moment the man wore a look of triumph. But his expression changed suddenly as Bud appeared on the surface with his right hand thrust up out of the water. He was clenching something in his hand.

Bud swam to the dock, then climbed the ladder and handed the object to Tom.

“It’s your new high-powered transistor,” Bud said.

“What!” Mr. Swift cried. “Why, this is the most important part of your computer!”

Tom clutched the transistor and turned to Herbst. “Well, Professor, what have you got to say?” he demanded.

Completely shaken by the unexpected turn of events and the stares of his colleagues in the boat, Herbst suddenly collapsed. When he recovered from the shock, he submitted to questioning without protest.

He told the Swifts that a countryman of his had looked him up shortly after his appointment to the Rocket Commission. Innocently, at first, Herbst had revealed to him information about the rocket projects he had visited. His countryman had then persuaded him that it was his patriotic duty to gather as much secret data as he could get from Fearing Island, and, if possible, key parts.

AN ATTEMPTED THEFT 133

“Patriotism hardly requires you to stoop so low as to steal from a fellow scientist,” Mr. Swift said icily. “What is the name of your fellow countryman who is responsible for this outrage?”

“I’m in fear of my life to tell,” replied the man nervously. “I still have relatives in my own country and I was warned to keep silent-or else harm might come to them.”

“We have no choice but to turn you over to the FBI. But it will go a lot easier with you if you confess.”