Appleton, Victor – Tom Swift Jr 05 – And His Atomic Earth Blaster

Bud soon revived and grinned sheepishly at his own plight. “Looks as if huskies are even trickier to handle than a jet!” he muttered.

“Especially on loops and wing overs,” remarked the Indian, as the corners of his mouth twitched in a faint smile.

After the dog breeder had recovered the runaway teams, the boys drove them carefully back to the cabin.

DOG TROUBLE

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As Tom and Bud were washing up and treating their scrapes and bruises with antiseptic, Bud remarked, “Doggone, that old Eagle Eye is a real swell Joe. I wish he could come with us on the expedition!”

“Great minds run in the same channel!” Tom grinned. “I was just wishing the same thing. Why don’t we ask him?”

Over a tasty snack which Mrs. Eagle Friend prepared for her guests before their departure, Tom

122 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ATOMIC BLASTER

broached the question. In reply, the Indian said: “I’ve been hoping you’d ask me ever since I heard about the expedition. But, of course, before I give you an answer, I’ll have to talk this over with my wife.”

For several minutes, Colonel and Mrs. Eagle Friend conversed in their native Indian dialect. Finally the colonel turned to Tom with a smile.

“She says all right, provided I keep myself bundled up nice and warm!”

Everyone laughed, and Sandy added, “I think it’s wonderful that you’re going along on the expedition, Colonel Eagle Friend! Now I feel better about the boys going, too, because I’m sure you’ll keep an eye on them!”

After leaving instructions with his wife for the care and feeding of the huskies, the Indian drove his four young companions to the airport. They rode in a rickety old sedan with a huge trailer hitched in back, carrying the eleven dogs and equipment selected for the expedition.