“You’ve just got to go!” he cried.  “You’re the only one who can help me, Tom.  Do go!  I’ll pay you well, and—­oh, well, I know you don’t need the money, exactly, but—­say, you’ve got to go!”

In his earnestness Mr. Period laid his hand on Tom’s arm.  The next instant something happened.

With a few big strides Koku was beside the picture man.  With great quickness he grasped Mr. Period by the coat collar, lifted him off his feet with one hand, and walked over to a window with him, easily lifting him above the floor.

With one fling the giant tossed the short, stout gentleman out into a snow bank, while Tom looked on, too surprised to do anything, even if he had had the chance.

“There.  You touch Tom Swift again, and I sit on you and keep you under snow!” cried the giant, while Mr. Period kicked and squirmed about in the drift, as Tom made a leap forward to help him out.

CHAPTER III — TOM MAKES UP HIS MIND

“Great Scott!” yelled the picture man.  “What in the world happened to me?  Did I get kicked by that mule Boomerang of Eradicate’s, that I’ve heard so much about?  Or was it an earthquake, such as I want to get a picture of?  What happened?”

He was still floundering about in the deep bank of snow that was just outside the window.  Fortunately the sash had been up, and Koku had tossed Mr. Period through the open window.  Otherwise, had there been glass, the well-meaning, but unreasoning giant would probably have thrown his victim through that, and he might have been badly cut.  Tom had the window open for fresh air, as it was rather close in the shop.

“Why, Koku!” exclaimed the young inventor, as he leaned out of the window, and extended his hand to the moving picture man to help him out of the drift.  “What do von mean by that?” Have you gone crazy?”

“No, but no one shall lay hands on my master!” declared the giant half savagely.  “I have vowed to always protect you from danger, in return for what you did for me.  I saw this man lay his hand on you.  In another moment he might have killed you, had not Koku been here.  There is no danger when I am by,” and he stretched out his huge arms, and looked ferocious.  “I have turned over that man, your enemy!” he added.

“Yes, you overturned me all right,” admitted Mr. Period, as he got to his feet, and crawled in through the window to the shop again.  “I went head over heels.  I’m glad it was clean snow, and not a mud bank, Tom.  What in the world is the matter with him?”

“I guess he thought you were going to harm me, said Tom in a low voice, as the picture man came in the shop.  “Koku is very devoted to me, and sometimes he makes trouble,” the youth went on.  “But he means it all for the best.  I am very sorry for what happened,” and Tom aided Mr. Period in brushing the snow off his garments.  “Koku, you must beg the pardon of this gentleman,” Tom directed.