b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第23节
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the noted specialist。 He knew how to pick it out； for Dr。 Gladby had
described it to him； and Tom was glad to see； as he came within view of
the residence； that it was surrounded by a large yard。
〃I can land almost at his door；〃 he said； and he did； volplaning to earth
with an ease born of long practice。
To say that Dr。 Hendrix was astonished when Tom dropped in on him
in this manner； would not be exactly true。 The specialist was not in the
habit of receiving calls from youths in aeroplanes； but the fact was； that Dr。
Hendrix was so absorbed in his work； and thought so constantly about it；
that it took a great deal to startle him out of his usual calm。
〃And so you came for me in your aeroplane？〃 he asked of Tom； as he
gazed at the trim little craft。 It is doubtful if he really saw it； however； as
Dr。 Hendrix was just then thinking of an operation he had performed a few
hours before。 〃I'm sorry you had your trip for nothing；〃 he went on。 〃I'd
like very much to come to your father； but didn't you get my telegram；
telling about the broken bridge？ There is no way for me to get to Shopton
in time。〃
〃Yes； there is！〃 cried Tom； eagerly。
〃How？〃
〃The same way I camein the aeroplane！ Dr。 Hendrix you must go
back with me！ It's the only way to save my father's life。 Come with me in
the Humming…Bird。 It's perfectly safe。 I can make the trip in less than an
hour。 I can carry you and your instruments。 Will you come？ Won't you
come to save my father's life？〃 Tom was fairly pleading now。
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〃A trip in an aeroplane；〃 mused Dr。 Hendrix 〃I've never taken such a
thing。 I〃
〃Don't be afraid； there's really no danger；〃 said Tom。
The physician seemed to reach a sudden conclusion。 His eyes
brightened。 He walked over and looked at the little Humming…Bird。 For
the time being he forgot about his operations。
〃I'll go with you！〃 he suddenly cried。 〃I'll go with you； Tom Swift！ If
you've got the nerve； so have I！ and if my science and skill can save your
father's life； he'll live to be an old man！ Wait until I get my bag and I'll be
with you！〃
Tom's heart gave a bound of hope。
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CHAPTER Twenty
Just in Time
While Dr。 Hendrix was in his office； getting ready to make the
thrilling trip through the air with Tom； the young inventor spent a few
minutes going over his monoplane。 The wonderful little craft had made
her first big flight in excellent time； though Tom knew she could do better
the farther she was flown。 Not a stay had started； not a guy wire was loose。
The motor had not overheated； and every bearing was as cool as though it
had not taken part in thousands of revolutions。
〃Oh； I can depend on you！〃 murmured Tom； as he looked to see that
the propeller was tight on the shaft。 He gave the bearing a slight
adjustment to make sure of it。
He was at this when the specialist reappeared。 Dr。 Hendrix； after his
first show of excitement； when he had made his decision to accompany
Tom； had resumed his usual calm demeanor。 Once again he was the grave
surgeon； with his mind on the case before him。
〃Well； is my auto ready？〃 he asked absentmindedly。 Then； as he saw
the little aeroplane； and Tom standing waiting beside it； he added： 〃Oh； I
forgot for the moment that I was to make a trip through the air； instead of
in my car。 Well； Mr。 Swift； are we all ready？〃
〃All ready；〃 replied the young inventor。 〃We're going to make fast time；
Dr。 Hendrix。 You'd better put this on；〃 and Tom extended a face protector。
〃What's it for？〃 The physician looked curiously at it。
〃To keep the air from cutting your cheeks and lips。 We are going to
travel a hundred miles an hour this trip。〃
〃A hundred miles an hour！〃 Dr。 Hendrix spoke as though he would like
to back out。
〃Maybe more； if I can manage it；〃 went on Tom； calmly； as he
proceeded to remove the bag of sand from the place where the surgeon
was to sit。 Then he looked to the various equilibrium arrangements and the
control levers。 He was so cool about it； taking it all for granted； as if rising
and flying through the air at a speed rivaling that of the fastest birds； was a
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matter of no moment； that Dr。 Hendrix was impressed by the calm
demeanor of the young inventor。
〃Very well；〃 said the surgeon with a shrug of his shoulders； 〃I guess
I'm game； Tom Swift。〃
The doctor took the seat Tom pointed out to him； with his bag of
instruments on his knees。 He put on the face protector； and had； at the
suggestion of our hero； donned a heavy coat。
〃For it's cold in the upper regions；〃 said Tom。
Several servants in the physician's household had gathered to see him
depart in this novel fashion； and the chauffeur of the auto； in which the
specialist usually made his calls； was also there。
〃I'll give you a hand；〃 said the chauffeur to the young inventor。 〃I was
at an aviation meet once； and I know how it's done。〃
〃Good；〃 exclaimed Tom。 〃Then you can hold the machine； and shove
when I give the word。〃
Tom started the propeller himself； and quickly jumped into his seat。
The chauffeur held back the Humming…Bird until the young aviator had
speeded up the motor。
〃Let go！〃 cried the youthful inventor； and the man gave the little craft
a shove。 Across the rather uneven ground of the doctor's yard it ran；
straight for a big iron barrier。
〃Look out！ We'll be into the fence！〃 shouted the surgeon。 〃We'll be
killed！〃 He seemed about to leap off。
〃Sit still！〃 cried Tom； and at that instant he tilted the elevation planes；
and the craft shot upward； going over the fence like a circus horse taking a
seven…barred gate。
〃Oh！〃 exclaimed the physician in a curious voice。 They were off on
their trip to save the life of Mr。 Swift。
What the sensations of the celebrated specialist were； Tom never
learned。 If he was afraid； his fright quickly gave place to wonder； and the
wonder soon changed to delight as the machine rose higher and higher；
acquired more speed； and soared in the air over the country that spread out
in all directions from Kirkville。
〃Magnificent！ Magnificent！〃 murmured the doctor； and then Tom
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knew that the surgeon was in the grip of the air； and was one of the 〃bird…
men。〃
Every moment the Humming…Bird increased her speed。 They passed
over the river near where men were working on the broken bridge。 It was
now no barrier to them。 Tom； noting the barograph； and seeing that they
were twenty…two hundred feet high； decided to keep at about that distance
from the earth。
〃How fast are we going？〃 cried Dr。 Hendrix； into the ear of the young
inventor。
〃Just a little short of a hundred an hour！〃 Tom shouted back。 〃We'll hit
a hundred and five before long。〃
His prediction proved true； and when about forty miles from Shopton
that terrific speed had been attained。 It seemed as if they were going to
have a trip devoid of incident； and Tom was congratulating himself on the
quick time made； when he ran into a contrary strata of air。 Almost before
he knew it the Humming…Bird gave a dangerous and sickening dive； and
tilted at a terrifying angle。
〃Are we going to turn turtle？〃 cried the doctor。
〃II hope not！〃 gasped Tom。 He could not understand why the
equilibrium weights did not work； but he had no time then to investigate。
Quickly he warped the wing tips and brought the craft up on an even keel。
He gave a sigh of relief as the aeroplane was once m
