b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第18节
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that everything is all right。 Then； when I give the signal； by dropping this
small white ball； that means I'm ready for you to start to time me。 Then I'll
begin to try for the record。 I'll go about the course in a big ellipse； and
well； we'll see what happens。〃
While Mr。 Damon was in his seat the young inventor started the
propeller； and noted the thrust developed。 It was satisfactory； as measured
on the scale； and then Tom took his place。
〃Let her go！〃 he cried to Mr。 Jackson and Eradicate； after he had
listened to the song of the motor for a moment。 The Humming…Bird flew
across the course； and a moment later mounted into the air。
Tom quickly took her up to about two thousand feet； and there； finding
the conditions to his liking； he began a few evolutions designed to
severely test the craft's stability； and to learn whether the engine was
working properly。
〃How about it？〃 asked Mr。 Damon anxiously。
〃All right！〃 shouted Tom in his ear； for the motor was making a great
racket。 〃I guess we'll make the trial next time we come around。 Get ready
to drop the signal ball。〃
Tom slowly brought the aeroplane around in a graceful curve。 He
sighted down； and saw the first tall white pole that marked the beginning
of the course。
〃Drop！〃 he called to Mr。 Damon。
The white rubber ball went to the earth like a shot。 Mr。 Jackson and Mr。
Swift saw it； and started their timing… watches。 Tom opened the throttle
and advanced the spark。 The great test was on！
The Humming…Bird trembled and throbbed with the awful speed of the
motor； like a thing alive。 She seemed to rush forward as an eagle dropping
down from a dizzy height upon some hapless prey。
〃Faster yet！〃 murmured Tom。 〃We must go faster yet！〃
The motor was warming up。 Streaks of fire came from it。 The exhaust
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of the explosions was a continuous roar。 Faster and faster flew the frail
craft。
Around and around the air course she circled。 The wind appeared to be
rushing beneath the planes and rudders with the velocity of a hurricane。
Had it not been for the face protectors they wore； Tom and Mr。 Damon
could not have breathed。 For ten minutes this fearful speed was kept up。
Then Tom； knowing he had run the motor to the limit； slowed it down。
Next he shut it off completely； and prepared to volplane back to earth。 The
silence after the terrific racket was almost startling。 For a moment neither
of the aviators spoke。 Then Mr。 Damon said：
〃Do you think you did it； Tom？〃
〃I don't know。 We'll soon find out。 They'll have the record。〃 And he
motioned toward the earth； which they were rapidly nearing。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
CHAPTER Fifteen
A Noise in the Night
〃Well； did I make it？ Make any kind of a record？〃 asked Tom eagerly；
as he brought the trim little craft to a stop； after it had rolled along the
ground on the bicycle wheels。
〃What do you think you did？〃 asked Mr。 Jackson； who had been busy
figuring on a slip of paper。
〃Did I get her up to ninety miles an hour？〃 inquired Tom eagerly。 〃If I
did； I know when the motor wears down a bit smoother that I can make
her hit a hundred in the race； easily。 Did I touch ninety； Mr。 Jackson？〃
〃Better than that； Tom！ Better than that！〃 cried his father。
〃Yes；〃 joined in Mr。 Jackson。 〃Allowing for the difference in our
watches； Tom； your father and I figure that you did the course at the rate of
one hundred and twelve miles an hour！〃
〃One hundred and twelve！〃 gasped the young inventor； hardly able to
believe it。
〃I made it a hundred and fifteen；〃 said Mr。 Swift； who was almost as
pleased as was his son； 〃and Mr。 Jackson made it one hundred and eleven；
so we split the difference； so to speak。 You certainly have a sky racer； Tom；
my boy！〃
〃And I'll need it； too； dad； if I'm to compete with Andy Foger； who
may have a machine almost like mine。〃
〃But I thought you were going to object to him if he has；〃 said Mr。
Damon； who had hardly recovered from the speedy flight through space。
〃Well； I was just providing for a contingency； in case my protest was
overruled；〃 remarked Tom。 〃But I'm glad the Humming…Bird did so well
on her first trial。 I know she'll do better the more I run her。 Now we'll get
her back in her 'nest；' and I'll look her over； when she cools down； and see
if anything has worked loose。〃
But the trim little craft needed only slight adjustments after her tryout；
for Tom had built her to stand up under a terrific strain。
〃We'll soon be in shape for the big race；〃 he announced； 〃and when I
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bring home that ten thousand dollars I'm going to abandon this sky…
scraping business； except for occasional trips。〃
〃What will you do to occupy your mind？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃Oh； I'm going to travel；〃 announced Tom。 〃Then there's my new
electric rifle； which I have not perfected yet。 I'll work on that after I win
the big race。〃
For several days after the first real trial of his sky racer Tom was busy
going over the Humming…Bird； making slight changes here and there。 He
was the sort of a lad who was satisfied with nothing short of the best； and
though neither his father nor Mr。 Jackson could see where there was room
for improvement； Tom was so exacting that he sat up for several nights to
perfect such little details as a better grip for the steering…lever； a quicker
way of making the automatic equilibriumizer take its position； or an
improved transmitter for the wireless apparatus。
That was a part of his monoplane of which Tom was justly proud； for
though many aeroplanes to…day are equipped with the sending device； few
can receive wireless messages in mid…air。 But Tom had seen the advantage
of this while making a trip in the ill…fated Red Cloud to the cave of the
diamond makers； and he determined to have his new craft thus provided
against emergencies。 The wireless outfit of the Humming…Bird was a
marvel of compactness。
Thus the days passed； with Tom very busy； so busy； in fact； that he
hardly had time to call on Miss Nestor。 As for Andy Foger； he heard no
more from him； and the bully was not seen around Shopton。 Tom
concluded that he was at his uncle's place； working on his racing craft。
The young inventor sent a formal protest to the aviation committee； to
be used in the event of Andy entering a craft which infringed on the
Humming…Bird； and received word from Mr。 Sharp that the interests of the
young inventor would be protected。 This satisfied Tom。
Still； at times； he could not help wondering how the first plans had so
mysteriously disappeared； and he would have given a good deal to know
just how Andy got possession of them； and how he knew enough to use
them。
〃He； or some one whom he hired； must have gotten into our house
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mighty quickly that day；〃 mused Tom； 〃and then skipped out while dad fell
into a little doze。 It was a mighty queer thing； but it's lucky it was no
worse。〃
The time was approaching for the big aviation meet。 Tom's craft was in
readiness； and had been given several other trials； developing more speed
each time。 Additional locks were put on the doors of the shed； and more
burglar…alarm wires were strung； so that it was almost a physical
impossibility to get into the Humming…Bird's 〃nest〃 without arousing
some one in the Swift household。
〃And if they do； I guess we'll be ready for them；〃 said Tom grimly。 He
had been unable to find out who it was that had attempted once before to
damage the monoplane； but he suspected it was the ill…favored man who
was working with Andy。
As for
