b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第22节
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〃Well； he sha'n't！〃 cried Tom； and then he thought of his invalid father。
They made a further examination of the shed； and discovered another
empty bomb。 Then Tom recalled having seen something drop from the
mysterious aeroplane as it passed over the shed。
〃It was these bombs；〃 he said。 〃We certainly had a narrow escape！ Oh；
wait until I settle my score with Andy Foger！〃
As there would be but little use for the aeroplane shed now； if Tom
sent his craft off to the meet； it was decided to repair it temporarily only；
until he returned。
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Accordingly； a big tarpaulin was fastened over the hole in the roof。
Then Tom put a new wing tip on in place of the one that had been
scorched。 He looked all over his sky racer； and decided that it was in fit
condition for the coming meet。
〃I'll begin to take it apart for shipment； as soon as I hear from the
specialist that dad is well enough for me to go；〃 he said。
It was a few hours after the discovery of the empty bomb that Tom saw
Dr。 Gladby coming along。 The physician was urging his horse to top speed。
Tom felt a vague fear in his heart。
〃I've got a message from Dr。 Hendrix； Tom；〃 he said； as he stopped his
carriage； and approached the lad。
〃When can he come？〃 asked the young inventor； eagerly。
〃He can't get here； Tom。〃
〃Can't get here！ Why not？〃
〃Because the railroad bridge has collapsed； and there is no way to
come。 He can't make any other connections to get here in timein time to
do your father any good； Tom。 He has just sent me a telegram to that effect。
Dr。 Hendrix can't get here； and。。。〃 Dr。 Gladby paused。
〃Do you mean that my father may die if the operation is not
performed？〃 asked Tom； in a low voice。
〃Yes；〃 was the answer。
〃But can't Dr。 Hendrix drive here in an auto？〃 asked the lad。 〃Surely
there must be some way of getting over the river； even if the railroad
bridge is down。 Can't he cross in a boat and drive here？〃
〃He wouldn't be in time； Tom。 Don't you understand； Dr。 Hendrix must
be here within four hours； if he is to save your father's life。 He never could
do it by driving or by coming on some other road； or in an auto。 He can't
make the proper connections。 There is no way。〃
〃Yes； there is！〃 cried Tom； suddenly。 〃I know a way！〃
〃How？〃 asked Dr。 Gladby； thrilled by Tom's ringing tones。 〃How can
you do it； Tom？〃
〃I'll go for Dr。 Hendrix in my Humming…Bird。〃
〃Going for him would do no good。 He must be brought here。〃
〃And so he shall be！〃 cried Tom。 〃I'll bring him here in my sky racer
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if he has the nerve to stand the journey； and I think he has！ I'll bring Dr。
Hendrix here！〃 and Tom hurried away to prepare for the thrilling trip。
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CHAPTER Nineteen
A Nervy Specialist
There was little time to lose。 Every moment of delay meant so much
less chance for the recovery of Mr。 Swift。 Even now the periods of
consciousness were becoming shorter and farther apart。 He seemed to be
sinking。
Tom resolutely refused to think of the possibility of death； as he went
in to bid his parent good…by before starting off on his trip through the air。
Mr。 Swift barely knew his son； and； with tears in his eyes； though he
bravely tried to keep them back； the young inventor went out into the yard。
There stood the Humming…Bird； with Mr。 Jackson； Mr。 Damon and
Eradicate working over her； to get her in perfect trim for the race before
hera race with death。
Fortunately there was little to be done to get the speedy craft ready。
Tom had accomplished most of what was necessary； while waiting for
word from Dr。 Hendrix。 Now about all that needed to be done was to see
that there was plenty of gasoline and oil in the reservoirs。
〃I'll give you a note to Dr。 Hendrix；〃 said Mr。 Gladby； as Tom was
fastening on his faceguard。 〃II trust you won't be disappointed； Tom。 I
hope he will consent to return with you。〃
〃He's got to come；〃 said the young inventor； simply； as if that was all
there was to it。
〃Do you think you can make the trip in time？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。 〃It is
a little less than a hundred miles in an airline； but you have to go and go
back。 Can the aeroplane do it？〃
〃I'd be ashamed of her if she couldn't；〃 said Tom； with a grim
tightening of his lips。 〃She's just got to do it； that's all！ But I know she
will；〃 and he patted the big propeller and the motor's shining cylinders as
though the machine was a thing alive； like a horse or a dog； who could
understand him。
He climbed to his seat； the other one holding a bag of sand to maintain
a good balance。
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〃Start her；〃 ordered Tom； and Mr。 Jackson twisted the propeller。 The
motor caught at once； and the air throbbed with the noise of the explosions。
Tom listened to the tune of the machinery。 It sang true。
〃Two thousand pounds thrust！〃 called the engineer； as he looked at the
scale。
〃Let her go！〃 cried Tom； whose voice was hardly heard above the roar。
The trim little aeroplane scudded over the ground； gathering speed at
every revolution of the wheels。 Then with a spring like that of some great
bird launching itself in flight； she left the earth； and took to the air。 Tom
was off on his trip。
Those left behind sent up a cautious cheer； for they did not want to
disturb Mr。 Swift。 They waved their hands to the young inventor； and he
waved his in reply。 Then he settled down for one of the swiftest flights he
had ever undertaken。
Tom ascended until he struck a favorable current of air。 There was a
little wind blowing in the direction he wished to take； and that aided him。
But even against a powerful head…wind the Humming…Bird could make
progress。
The young inventor saw the ground slipping backward beneath him。
Carefully he watched the various indicators； and listened intently to the
sound of the cylinders' explosions。 They came rapidly and regularly。 The
motor was working well。
Tom glanced at the barograph。 It registered two thousand feet； and he
decided to keep at about that height； as it gave him a good view； and he
could see to steer； for a route had been hastily mapped out for him by his
friends。
Over cities； towns； villages； scattered farmhouses； across stretches of
forest； over rivers； above big stretches of open country he flew。 Often he
could see eager crowds below； gazing up at him。 But he paid no heed。 He
was looking for a sight of a certain broad river； which was near Kirkville。
Then he knew he would be close to his goal。
He had speeded up the motor to the limit； and there was nothing to do
now； save to manage the planes； wing tips and rudders； and to see that the
gasoline and oil were properly fed to the machine。
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Faster and faster went the Humming…Bird； but Tom's thoughts were
even faster。 He was thinking of many things of his fatherof what he
would do if Mr。 Swift diedof the mysterious airshipof the stolen plans
of the fire in the shedof the great raceand of Andy Foger。
He took little note of time； and when； in less than an hour he sighted
the river that told him he was near to Kirkville； he was rather startled。
〃You certainly did come right along； Humming…Bird！〃 he murmured
proudly。
He descended several hundred feet； and； as he passed over the town；
the people of which grew wildly excited； he looked about for the house of
the noted specialist。 He knew how to pick it out； for Dr。 Gladby had
desc
