b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第27节
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crowd about his own tent； and another throng around that of Andy。
Tom and Mr。 Damon had wheeled the Humming…Bird out of her
canvas 〃nest。〃。 There was a cheer as the crowd caught sight of the trim
little craft。 The young inventor； the eccentric man； and the machinist were
busy going over every part。
Meanwhile the meet had been officially opened； and it was announced
that the preliminary event would be some air evolutions at no great height；
and for no particular prize。 Several biplanes and monoplanes took part in
this。 It was very interesting； but the big ten…thousand…dollar race； over a
distance of a hundred miles was the principal feature of the meet； and all
waited anxiously for this。
The opening stunts passed off successfully； save that a German
operator in a Bleriot came to grief； crashing down to the ground； wrecking
his machine； and breaking an arm。 But he only laughed at that； and coolly
demanded another cigarette； as he crawled out of the tangle of wires；
planes and the motor。
After this there was an exhibition flight by a French aviator in a Curtis
biplane； who raced against one in a Baby Wright。 It was a dead heat；
according to the judges。 Then came a flight for height； and while no
records were broken； the crowd was well satisfied。
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〃Get ready for the hundred…mile ten…thousand…dollar…prize race！〃
shouted the announcer； through his megaphone。
Tom's heart gave a bound。 There were seven entrants in this contest
besides Tom and Andy Foger； and as announced by the starter they were as
follows：
CONTESTANT MACHINE Von
Bergen。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。Wright Biplane Alameda。。。。。。。。。。。。。。Antoinette Monoplane
Perique。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。Bleriot Monoplane Loi Tong。。。。。。。。。。Santos…Dumont
Monoplane Wendell。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。Curtis Biplane De
Tromp。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。Farman Biplane Lascalle。。。。。。。。。。。。。Demoiselle
Monoplane Andy Foger。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 Tom Swift。。。。。。。。。。Humming…
Bird Monoplane
〃What is the style of the Foger machine？〃 yelled some one in the
crowd； as the announcer lowered his megaphone。
〃It has not been announced；〃 was the reply。 〃It will at once be wheeled
out though； in accordance with the conditions of the race。〃
There was a craning of necks； and an uneasy movement in the crowd；
for Tom's story was now generally known。
〃Get ready to make your protest；〃 advised Mr。 Damon to the young
inventor。 〃I'll stay by the machine here until you come back。 Bless my
radiator！ I hope you beat him！〃
〃I will； if it's possible！〃 murmured Tom； with a grim tightening of his
lips。
There was a movement about Andy's tent； whence； for the last half
hour had come spasmodic noises that indicated the trying…out of the motor。
The flaps were pulled back and a curious machine was wheeled into view。
Tom rushed over toward it； intent on getting the first view。 Would it prove
to be a copy of his speedy Humming…Bird？
Eagerly he looked； but a curious sight met his eyes。 The machine was
totally unlike any he had expected to see。 It was large； and to his mind
rather clumsy； but it looked powerful。 Then； as he took in the details； he
knew that it was the same one that had flown over his house that night it
was the one from which the fire bomb had been dropped。
He pushed his way through the crowd。 He saw Andy standing near the
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curious biplane； which type of air craft it nearest resembled； though it had
some monoplane features。 On the side was painted the name：
SLUGGER
Andy caught sight of Tom Swift。
〃I'm going to beat you！〃 the bully boasted； and I haven't a machine like
yours； after all。 You were wrong。〃
〃So I see；〃 stammered Tom； hardly knowing what to think。 〃What did
you do with my plans then？〃
〃I never had them！〃
Andy turned away； and began to assist the men he had hired to help
him。 Like all the others； his machine had two seats； for in this race each
operator must carry a passenger。
Tom turned away； both glad and sorry；glad that his rival was not to
race him in a duplicate of the Humming…Bird； but sorry that he had as yet
no track of the strangely missing plans。
〃I wonder where they can be？〃 mused the young inventor。
Then came the firing of the preliminary gun。 Tom rushed back to
where Mr。 Damon stood waiting for him。
There was a last lock at the Humming…Bird。 She was fit to race any
machine on the ground。 Mr。 Damon took his place。 Tom started the
propeller。 The other contestants were in their seats with their passengers。
Their assistants stood ready to shove them off。 The explosions of so many
motors in action were deafening。
〃How much thrust？〃 cried Tom to his machinist。
〃Twenty…two hundred pounds！〃
〃Good！〃
The report of the starting…gun could not be heard。 But the smoke of it
leaped into the air。 It was the signal to go。
Tom's voice would not have carried five feet。 He waved his hands as a
signal。 His helper thrust the Humming…Bird forward。 Over the smooth
ground it rushed。 Tom looked eagerly ahead。 On a line with him were the
other machines； including Andy Foger's Slugger。
Tom pulled a lever。 He felt his craft soar upward。 The other machines
also pointed their noses into the air。
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The big race for the ten…thousand…dollar prize was under way！
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
CHAPTER Twenty Four
Won by a Length
Rising upward； on a steep slant； for he wanted to get into the upper
currents as soon as possible； Tom looked down and off to his left and saw
one machine going over the ground in curious leaps and bounds。 It was the
tiny Demoisellethe smallest craft in the race； and its peculiar style of
starting was always thus manifested。
〃I don't believe he's going to make it；〃 thought Tom。
He was right。 In another moment the tiny craft； after rising a short
distance； dove downward； and was wrecked。 The young inventor saw the
two men crawling out from the tangled planes and wings； apparently
uninjured。
〃One contestant less；〃 thought Tom； grimly； though with pity in his
heart for the unfortunates。
However； he must think of himself and his own craft now。 He glanced
at Mr。 Damon sitting beside him。 That odd gentleman； with never a
thought of blessing anything now； unless he did it silently； was watching
the lubricating system。 This was a vital part of the craft； for if anything
went wrong with it； and the bearings overheated； the race would have to
be abandoned。 So Tom was not trusting to any automatic arrangement； but
had instituted； almost at the last moment； a duplicate hand…worked system；
so that if one failed him he would have the other。
〃A good start！〃 shouted Mr。 Damon in his car。
Tom nodded； and glanced behind him。 On a line with the Humming…
Bird； and at about the same elevation； were the Bleriot monoplane and a
Wright biplane。 Below were the Santos…Dumont and the Antoinette。
〃Where's the Slugger？〃 called Tom to his friend。
Mr。 Damon motioned upward。 There； in the air above Tom's machine；
and slightly in advance； was Andy Foger's craft。 He had gotten away in
better shape than had the Humming…Bird。
For a moment Tom's heart misgave him。 Then he turned on more
power； and had the satisfaction of mounting upward and shooting onward
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until he was on even terms with Andy。
The bully gave one glance over toward his rival；
