b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第25节
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〃Yes； dad。 But don't tire yourself。 You must get well and strong。〃
〃I will； Tom。 But tell me； did you go inin the Humming…Bird？〃
〃Yes； dad。〃
〃How did she work？〃
〃Fine。 Over a hundred； and the motor wasn't at its best。〃
〃That's good。 Then you can go in the big race； and win。〃
〃No； I don't believe I'll go； dad。〃
〃Why not？〃 Mr。 Swift spoke mort strongly
〃Ibecausewell； I don't want to。〃
〃Nonsense； Tom！ I know； it's on my account。 I know it is。 But listen to
me。 I want you to go in！ I want you to win that race！ Never mind about me。
I'm going to get well； and I'll recover all the more quickly if you win that
race。 Now promise me you'll go in it andandwin！〃
The invalid's strength was fast leaving him。
〃II…；〃 began Tom。
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〃Promise！〃 insisted the aged inventor； trying to rise。 Dr。 Hendrix made
a hasty move toward the bed。
〃Promise！〃 whispered the surgeon to Tom。
〃II promise！〃 exclaimed Tom； and the aged inventor sank back with a
smile of satisfaction on his pale face。
〃Now you must go；〃 said Dr。 Gladby to Tom。 〃He has talked long
enough。 He must sleep now； and get up his strength。〃
〃Will he get better？〃 asked Tom； anxiously。
〃We can't say for sure；〃 was the answer。 〃We have great hopes。〃
〃I don't want to enter the race unless I know he is going to live；〃 went
on Tom； as Dr。 Gladby followed him out of the room。
〃No one can say for a certainty that he will recover；〃 spoke the
physician。 〃You will have to hope for the best； that is all； Tom。 If I were
you I'd go in the race。 It will occupy your mind； and if you could send
good news to your father it might help him in the fight for life he is
making。〃
〃But supposesuppose something happens while I am away？〃
suggested the young inventor。
The doctor thought for a moment。 Then he exclaimed：
〃You have a wireless outfit on your craft； haven't you？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then you can receive messages from here every hour if you wish。
Garret Jackson； your engineer； can send them； and you can pick them up
in mid…air if need be。〃
〃So I can！〃 cried Tom。 〃I will go to the meet。 I'll take the Humming…
Bird apart at once； and ship it to Eagle Park。 Unless Dr。 Hendrix wants to
go back in it；〃 he added as an after thought。
〃No；〃 spoke Dr。 Gladby； 〃Dr。 Hendrix is going to remain here for a
few days； in case of an emergency。 By that time the bridge will have been
repaired； and he can go back by train。 I gather； from what he said； that
though he liked the air trip； he will not care for another one。〃
〃Very well；〃 assented Tom； and Mr。 Damon and he were kept busy；
packing the Humming…Bird for shipment。 Mr。 Jackson helped them； and
Eradicate and his mule Boomerang were called on occasionally when
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boxes or crates were to be taken to the railroad station。
In the meanwhile； Mr。 Swift； if he did not improve any； at least held
his own。 This the doctors said was a sign of hope； and； though Tom was
filled with anxiety； he tried to think that fate would be kind to him； and
that his father would recover。 Dr。 Hendrix left； saying there was nothing
more he could do； and that the rest depended on the local physicians； and
on the nurse。
〃Und ve vill do our duty！〃 ponderously exclaimed Dr。 Kurtz。 〃You go
off to dot bird race； Dom； und doan't vorry。 Ve vill send der with…out…vire
messages to you venever dere is anyt'ing to report。 Go mit a light heart！〃
How Tom wished he could； but it was out of the question。 The last of
the parts of the Humming…Bird had been sent away； and our hero
forwarded a telegram to Mr。 Sharp； of the arrangement committee； stating
that he and Mr。 Damon would soon follow。 Then； having bidden his father
a fond farewell； and after arranging with Mr。 Jackson to send frequent
wireless messages； Tom and the eccentric man left for the meet。
There was a wireless station at Eagle Park； and Tom had planned to
receive the messages from home there until he could set up his own plant。
He would have two outfits。 One in the big tent where the Humming…Bird
was to be put together； and another on the machine itself； so that when in
the air； practicing； or even in the great race itself； there would be no break
in the news that was to be flashed through space。
Tom and Mr。 Damon arrived at Eagle Park on time； and Tom's first
inquiry was for a message from home。 There was one； Stating that Mr。
Swift was fairly comfortable； and seemed to be doing well。 With
happiness in his heart； the young inventor then set about getting the parts
of his craft from the station to the park； where he and Mr。 Damon； with a
trusty machinist whom Mr。 Sharp had recommended； would assemble it。
Tom arranged that in his absence the wireless operator on the grounds
would take any message that came for him。
The Humming…Bird； in the big cases and boxes； had safely arrived；
and these were soon in the tent which had been assigned to Tom。 It was
still several days until the opening of the meet； and the grounds presented
a scene of confusion。
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Workmen were putting up grand stands； tents and sheds were being
erected； exhibitors were getting their machines in shape； and excited
contestants of many nationalities were hurrying to and fro； inquiring about
parts delayed in shipment； or worrying lest some of their pet ideas be
stolen。
Tom and Mr。 Damon； with Frank Forker； the young machinist； were
soon busy in their big tent； which was a combined workshop and living
quarters； for Tom had determined to stay right on the ground until the big
race was over。
〃I don't see anything of Andy Foger；〃 remarked Mr。 Damon； on the
second day of their residence in the park。 〃There are lots of new entries
arriving； but he doesn't seem to be on hand。〃
〃There's time enough；〃 replied Tom。 〃I am afraid he's hanging back
until the last minute； and will spring his machine so late that I won't have
time to lodge a protest。 It would be just like him。〃
〃Well； I'll be on the lookout for him。 Have you heard from home to…
day； Tom？〃
〃No。 I'm expecting a message any minute。〃 The young inventor
glanced toward the wireless apparatus which had been set up in the tent。
At that moment there came the peculiar sound which indicated a message
coming through space； and down the receiving wires。 〃There's something
now！〃 exclaimed Tom； as he hurried over and clamped the telephone
receiver to his ear。 He listened a moment。
〃Good news！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Dad sat up a little to…day！ I guess he's
going to get well！〃 and he clicked back congratulations to his father and
the others in Shopton。
Another day saw the Humming…Bird almost in shape again； and Tom
was preparing for a tryout of the engine。
Mr。 Damon had gone over to the committee headquarters to consult
with Mr。 Sharp about the steps necessary for Tom to take in case Andy did
attempt to enter a craft that infringed on the ideas of the young inventor；
and on his way back he saw a newly…erected tent。 There was a young man
standing in the entrance； at the sight of whom the eccentric man
murmured：
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〃Bless my skate…strap！ His face looks very familiar！〃
The youth disappeared inside the tent suddenly； and； as Mr。 Damon
came opposite the canvas shelter； he started in surprise。
For； on a strip of muslin which was across the tent； painted in gay
colors； were the words：
THE FOGER AEROPLANE
〃Bless my elevation rudder！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Andy's here at last！ I
must tel
