b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第26节
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THE FOGER AEROPLANE
〃Bless my elevation rudder！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Andy's here at last！ I
must tell Tom！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
CHAPTER Twenty…Three
The Great Race
〃Well；〃 remarked Mr。 Sharp； when Tom and Mr。 Damon had called
on him； to state that Andy Foger's machine was now on the grounds； and
demanding to be allowed to view it； to see if it was an infringement on the
one entered by the young inventor； 〃I'll do the best I can for you。 I'll lay
the case before the committee。 It will meet at once； and I'll let you know
what they say。〃
〃Understand；〃 said Tom； 〃I don't want to interfere unless I am
convinced that Andy is trying an underhand trick。 My plans are missing；
and I think he took them。 If his machine is made after those plans； it is；
obviously； a steal； and I want him ruled out of the meet。〃
〃And so he shall be！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Sharp。 〃Get the evidence against
him； and we'll act quickly enough。〃
The committee met in about an hour； and considered the case。
Meanwhile； Tom and Mr。 Damon strolled past the tent with its flaring sign。
There was a man on guard； but Andy was not in sight。
Then Tom was sent for； and Mr。 Sharp told him what conclusion had
been arrived at。 It was this：
〃Under the rules of the meet；〃 said the balloonist； 〃we had to guarantee
privacy to all the contestants until such time as they choose to exhibit their
machines。 That is； they need not bring them out until just before the
races；〃 he added。 〃This is not a handicap affair； and the speediest machine；
or the one that goes to the greatest height； according to which class it
enters； will win。 In consequence we cannot force any contestant to declare
what kind of a machine he will use until he gets ready。
〃Some are going to use the familiar type of biplanes and； as you can
see； there is no secret about them。 They are trying them out now。〃 This
was so； for several machines of this type were either in the air； circling
about； or were being run over the ground。
〃But others；〃 continued Mr。 Sharp； 〃will not even take the committee
into their confidence until just before the race。 They want to keep their
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craft a secret。 We can't compel them to do otherwise。 I'm sorry； Tom； but
the only thing I see for you to do is to wait until the last minute。 Then； if
you find Andy has infringed on your machine； lodge a protest that is
unless you can get evidence against him before that time。〃
Tom well knew the uselessness of the latter plan。 He and Mr。 Damon
had tried several times to get a glimpse of the craft Andy had made； but
without success。 As to the other alternativethat of waiting until the last
momentTom feared that； too； would be futile。
〃For；〃 he reasoned； 〃just before the race there will be a lot of confusion；
officials will be here and there； scattered over the ground； they will be
hard to find； and it will be almost useless to protest then。 Andy will enter
the race； and there is a possibility that he may win。 Almost any one could
with a machine like the Humming…Bird。 It's the machine almost as much
as the operator； in a case like this。〃
〃But you can protest after the race；〃 suggested Mr。 Damon。
〃That would be little good； in case Andy beat me。 The public would
say I was a sorehead； and jealous。 No； I've either got to stop Andy before
the race； or not at all。 I will try to think of a plan。〃
Tom did think of several； but abandoned them one after the other。 He
tried to get a glimpse inside the tent where the Foger aeroplane Was
housed； but it was too closely guarded。 Andy himself was not much in
evidence； and Tom only had fleeting glimpses of the bully。
Meanwhile he and Mt Damon； together with their machinist； were kept
busy。 As Tom's craft was fully protected by patents now； he had no
hesitation in taking it out； and it was given several severe tests around the
aerial course。 It did even better than Tom expected of it； and he had great
hopes。
Always； though； there were two things that worried him。 One was his
father's illness； and the other the uneasiness he felt as to what Andy Foger
might do。 As to the former； the wireless reports indicated that Mr。 Swift
was doing as well as could be expected； but his improvement was not
rapid。 Regarding the latter worry； Tom saw no way of getting rid of it。
〃I've just got to wait； that's all；〃 he thought。
The day before the opening of the meet； Tom and Mr。 Damon had
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given the Humming…Bird a grueling tryout。 They had taken her high up
so high that no prying eyes could time them； and there Tom had opened
the motor for all the power in it。 They had flashed through space at the rate
of one hundred and twenty miles an hour。
〃If we can only do that in the race； the ten thousand dollars is mine！〃
exulted Tom； as he slanted the nose of the aeroplane toward the earth。
The day of the race dawned clear and beautiful。 Tom was up early； for
there remained many little things to do to get his craft in final trim for the
contest。 Then； too； he wanted to be ready to act promptly as soon as
Andy's machine was wheeled out； and he also wanted to get a message
from home。
The wireless arrived soon after breakfast； and did not contain very
cheering news。
〃Your father not so well；〃 Mr。 Jackson sent。 〃Poor night； but doctor
thinks day will show improvement。 Don't worry。〃
〃Don't worry！ I wonder who could help it；〃 mused poor Tom。 〃Well；
I'll hope for the best；〃 and he wired back to tell the engineer in Shopton to
keep in touch with him； and to flash the messages to the Humming…Bird in
the air； after the big race started。
〃Now I'll go out and see if I can catch a glimpse of what that sneak
Andy has to pit against me；〃 said Tom。
The Foger tent was tightly closed； and Tom turned back to his own
place； having arranged with a messenger to come and let him know as
soon as Andy's craft was wheeled out。
All about was a scene of great activity。 The grand stands were filled；
and a big crowd stood about the field anxiously waiting for the first sight
of the 〃bird…men〃 in their wonderful machines。 Now and then the band
blared out； and cheers arose as one after another the frail craft were
wheeled to the starting place。
Men in queer leather costumes darted here and there…they were the
aviators who were soon to risk life and limb for glory and gold。 Most of
them were nervously smoking cigarettes。 The air was filled with guttural
German or nasal French； while now and then the staccato Russian was
heard； and occasionally the liquid tones of a Japanese。 For men of many
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nations were competing for the prizes。
The majority of the machines were monoplanes and biplanes though
one triplane was entered； and there were several 〃freaks〃 as the biplane
and monoplane men called themcraft of the helicopter； or the wheel type。
There was also one Witzig Liore Dutilleul biplane； with three planes
behind。
Tom was familiar with most of these types； but occasionally he saw a
new one that excited his curiosity。 However； he was more interested in
what Andy Foger would turn out。 Andy's machine had not been tried； and
Tom wondered how he dared risk flying in it； without at least a
preliminary tryout。 But Andy； and those with him； were evidently full of
confidence。
News of the suspicions of Tom； and what he intended to do in case
these suspicions proved true； had gotten around； and there was quite a
crowd about his own tent； and another t
