b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第24节
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He gave a sigh of relief as the aeroplane was once more shooting
forward； and he was not mistaken when he thought he heard Dr。 Hendrix
murmur a prayer of thankfulness。 Their escape had been a narrow one。
Tom's nerve； and the coolness of the physician； had alone saved them from
a fall to death。
But now； as if ashamed of her prank； the Humming…Bird went along
even better than before。 Tom was peering through the slight haze that hung
over the earth； for a sight of Shopton。 At length the spires of the churches
came into view。
〃There it is；〃 he called； pointing downward。 〃We'll land in two minutes
more。〃
〃No time to spare；〃 murmured the doctor； who knew the serious nature
of the aged inventor's illness。 〃How long did it take us？〃
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〃Fifty…one minutes；〃 replied Tom； glancing at a small clock in front of
him。 Then he shut off the motor and volplaned to earth； to the no small
astonishment of the surgeon。 He made a perfect landing in the yard before
the shed； leaped from his seat； and called：
〃Come； Dr。 Hendrix！〃
The surgeon followed him。 Dr。 Gladby and Dr。 Kurtz came to the door
of the house。 On their faces were grave looks。 They greeted the celebrated
surgeon eagerly。
〃Well？〃 he asked quickly； and they knew what he meant。
〃You are only just in time；〃 said Dr。 Gladby； softly； and Tom；
following the doctors into the house； wondered if his trip with the
specialist had been in vain。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
CHAPTER Twenty…One
〃Will He Live？〃
Soon there were busy scenes in the Swift home； as preparations were
made for a serious operation on the aged inventor。 Tom's father had sunk
into deep unconsciousness； and was stretched out on the bed as though
there was no more life in him。 In fact； Tom； for the moment； feared that it
was all over。 But good old Dr。 Kurtz； noting the look on the lad's face；
said：
〃Ach； Dom； doan't vorry！ Maybe it vill yet all be vell； und der vater
vill hear of der great race。 Bluck up your courage； und doan't gif up。 Der
greatest surgeon in der vorld is here now； und if anybody gan safe your
vater； Herr Hendriz gan。 Dot vos a great drip you madea great drip！〃
Tom felt a little comforted and； after a sight of his father； and a silent
prayer that God would spare his life for years to come； the young inventor
went out in the yard。 He wanted to be busy about something； for he knew；
with the doctors； and a trained nurse who had been hastily summoned；
there was no immediate need for him。 He wanted to get his mind off the
operation that would soon take place； and so he decided to look over his
aeroplane。
Mr。 Damon came out when Tom was going over the guy wires and
braces； to see how they had stood the strain。
〃Well； Tom； my lad；〃 said the eccentric man； sadly； as he grasped our
hero's hand； 〃it's too bad。 But hope for the best。 I'm sure your father will
pull through。 We will have to begin taking the Humming…Bird apart soon；
won't we； if we're going to ship it to Eagle Park？〃 He wanted to take Tom's
mind off his troubles。
〃I don't know whether we will or not；〃 was the answer； and Tom tried
to speak unbrokenly； but there was a troublesome lump in his throat； and a
mist of tears in his eyes that prevented him from seeing well。 The
Hamming…Bird； to him； looked as if she was in a fog。
〃Nonsense！ Of course we will！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Why； bless my
wishbone！ Tom； you don't mean to say you're going to let that little shrimp
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Andy Foger walk away with that ten…thousand…dollar prize without giving
him a fight for it； are you？〃
This was just what Tom needed； and it seemed good to have Mr。
Damon bless something again； even if it was only a wishbone。
〃No！〃 exclaimed Tom； in ringing tones。 〃Andy Foger isn't going to
beat me； and if I find out he is going to race with a machine made after my
stolen plans； I'll make him wish he'd never taken them。〃
〃But if the machine he had flying over here when he dropped that
bomb on the shed roof； and set fire to it； is the one he's going to race with；
it isn't like yours；〃 suggested Mr。 Damon； who was glad he had turned the
conversation into a more cheerful channel。
〃That's so；〃 agreed the young inventor。 〃We'll； we'll have to wait and
see。〃 He was busy now； going over every detail of the Humming…Bird。 Mr。
Damon helped him； and they discovered the defect in the equilibrium
weights； and remedied it。
〃We can't afford to have an accident in the race；〃 said Tom。 He glanced
toward the house； and wondered if the operation had begun yet。 He could
see the trained nurse hurrying here and there； Mrs。 Baggert helping her。
Eradicate Sampson shuffled out from the stable where he kept his
mule Boomerang。 On the face of the honest colored man there was a
dejected look。
〃Am Massa Swift any better； Massa Tom？〃 he asked。
〃We can't tell yet；〃 was the answer。
〃Well； if he doan't git well； den I'm goin' t' sell mah mule；〃 went on the
dirt…chaser； from which line of activity Eradicate had derived his name。
〃Sell Boomerang！ Bless my curry comb！ what for？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃'Case as how he wouldn't neber be any good fo' wuk any mo'；〃
explained Eradicate。 〃He's got so attached t' dis place； an' all de folkes on
it； dat he'd feel so sorry ef efwell； ef any ob 'em went away； dat I
couldn't git no mo' wuk out ob him； no how。 So ef Massa Swift doan't git
well； den I an' Boomerang parts！〃
〃Well； we hope it won't happen；〃 said Tom； greatly touched by the
simple grief of Eradicate。 The young inventor was silent a moment； and
then he softly added： 〃II wonder whenwhen we'll know？〃
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〃Soon now； I think；〃 answered Mr。 Damon； in a low voice。
Silently they waited about the aeroplane。 Tom tried to busy himself；
but he could not。 He kept his eyes fastened on the house。
It seemed like several hours； but it was not more than one； ere the
white…capped nurse came to the door and waved her hand to Tom。 He
sprang to his feet and rushed forward。 What would be the message he was
to receive？
He stood before the nurse； his heart madly beating。 She looked gently
at him。
〃Will hewill he live？〃 Tom asked； pantingly。
〃I think so；〃 she answered gently。 〃The operation is over。 It was a
success； so far。 Time alone will tell； now。 Dr。 Hendrix says you can see
your father for lust a moment。〃
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CHAPTER Twenty…Two
Off to the Meet
Softly Tom tiptoed into the room where his father lay。 At the bedside
were the three doctors； and the nurse followed the young inventor in。 Mrs。
Baggert stood in the hall； and near her was Garret Jackson。 The aged
housekeeper had been weeping； but she smiled at Tom through her tears。
〃I think he's going to get well；〃 she whispered。 She always looked on
the bright side of things。 Tom's heart felt better。
〃You must only speak a few words to him；〃 cautioned the specialist；
who had performed such a rare and delicate operation； near the heart of the
invalid。 〃He is very weak； Tom。〃
Mr。 Swift opened his eyes as his son approached。 He looked around
feebly。
〃Tomare you there？〃 he asked in a whisper。
〃Yes； dad；〃 was the eager answer
〃They tell me youyou made a great trip to get Dr。 Hendrixbroken
bridgecame through the air with him。 Is that right？〃
〃Yes； dad。 But don't tire yourself。 You must get well and strong。〃
〃I will； Tom。 But tell me；
