b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第28节
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until he was on even terms with Andy。
The bully gave one glance over toward his rival； and pulled a lever。
The Slugger increased her speed； but Tom was not a second behind him。
There was a roaring noise in the rear； and up shot De Tromp in the
Farman； and Loi Tong； the little Japanese； in the Santos…Dumont。 Truly the
race was going to he a hotly contested one。 But the end was far off yet。
After the first jockeying for a start and position； the race settled down
into what might be termed a 〃grind。〃 The course was a large one； but so
favorable was the atmosphere that day； and such was the location of Eagle
Park in a great valley； that even on the far side of the great ellipse the
contestants could be seen； dimly with the naked eye； but very plainly with
glasses； with which many of the spectators were provided。
Around and around they went； at no very great height； for it was
necessary to make out the signals set up by the race officials； so that the
contestants would know when they were near the finish； that they might
use the last atom of speed。 So at varying heights the wonderful machines
circled about the course。
The Humming…Bird was working well； and Tom felt a sense of pride
as he saw the ground slipping away below him。 He felt sure that he would
win； even when Alameda； the Spaniard； in the Antoinette； came creeping
up on him； and even when Andy Foger； with a burst of speed； placed
himself and his passenger in the lead。
〃I'll catch him！〃 muttered Tom； and he opened the throttle a trifle
wider； and went after Andy； passing him with ease。
They had covered about thirty miles of the course； when the humming
and crackling of the wireless apparatus told Tom that a message was
coming。 He snapped the receiver to his ear； adjusting the outer covering to
shut out the racket of the motor； and listened。
〃Well？〃 asked Mr。 Damon； as Tom took off the receiver。
〃Dad isn't quite so well；〃 answered the lad。 〃Mr。 Jackson says they
have sent for Dr。 Hendrix again。 But dad is game。 He sends me word to go
on and win； and I'll do it； too； only〃
Tom paused； and choked back a sob。 Then he prepared to get more
speed out of his motor。
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〃Of course you will！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my！〃
But they encountered an adverse current of wind at that moment； and it
required the attention of both of the aviators to manage the machine。 It
was soon on an even keel again； and once more was shooting forward
around the course。
At times Tom would be in advance； and again he would have to give
place to the Curtis； the Farman； or the Santos… Dumont； as these speedy
machines； favored by a spurt from their motors； or by some current of air；
shot ahead。 But； in general； Tom maintained the lead； and among the
spectators there began a series of guesses as to how much he would win
by。
Tom glanced at the barograph。 It registered a little over twelve hundred
feet。 He looked at the speed gage。 He was doing a trifle better than a
hundred miles an hour。 He looked down at the signals。 There was twenty
miles yet to go。 It was almost time for the spurt for which he had been
holding back。 Yet he would wait until five miles from the end； and then he
felt that he could gain and maintain a lead。
〃Andy seems to be doing well；〃 said Mr； Damon。
〃Yes； he has a good machine；〃 conceded Tom。
Five miles more were reeled off。 Then an other five。 Another round of
that distance and Tom would key his motor up to the highest pitch； and
then the Humming…Bird would show what she could do。 Eagerly Tom
waited for the right signal。
Suddenly the wireless began buzzing again。 Quickly the young
inventor clamped the receiver to his ear。 Mr。 Damon saw him turn pale。
〃Dr。 Gladby says dad has a turn for the worse。 There is little hope；〃
translated Tom。
〃Will youare you going to quit？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
Tom shook his head。
〃No！〃 he cried。 〃My father has become unconscious； so Mr。 Jackson
says； but his last words were to me： 'Tell Tom to win the race！' And I'm
going to do it！〃
Tom suddenly changed his plans。 There was to be no waiting for the
signal now。 He would begin his final spurt； and if possible finish the
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hundred miles at his utmost speed； win the race and then hasten to his
father's side。
With a menacing roar the motor of the Humming…Bird took up the
additional power that Tom sent into her。 She shot ahead like an eagle
darting after his prey。 Tom opened up a big gap between his machine and
the one nearest him； which； at that moment； was the Antoinette； with the
Spaniard driving her。
〃Now to win！〃 cried Tom； grimly。
Surely no race was ever flown as was that one！ Tom flashed through
the air so quickly that his speed was almost incredible。 The gage registered
one hundred and thirty miles an hour！
Down below in the grand stands； and on the aviation field； there were
yells of approvalof wonderof fear。 But Tom and Mr。 Damon could not
hear them。 They only heard the powerful song of the motor。
Faster and faster flew the Humming…Bird Tom looked down； and saw
the signal put up which meant that there were but three miles more to go。
He felt that he could do it。 He was half a lap ahead of them all now。 But he
saw Andy Foger's machine pulling away from the bunch。
〃He's going to try to catch me！〃 exulted Tom。
Then something happened。 The motor of the Humming…Bird suddenly
slackened its speed； it missed explosions； and the trim little craft began to
drop behind。
〃What's the matter？〃 cried Mr。 Damon。
〃Three of the cylinders are out of business！〃 yelled Tom。 〃We're done
for； I guess。〃
On came the other machines； Andy in the lead； then the Santos…
Dumont； then the Farman； and lastly the Wright。 They saw the plight of
the Humming…Bird and determined to beat her。 Tom cast a despairing look
up at the motor。 There was nothing to be done。 He could not reach it In
mid…air。 He could only keep on； crippled as he was； and trust to luck。
Andy passed by his rival with an evil smile on his ugly face。 Then the
Antoinette flashed by。 In turn all the others left Tom in the rear Toms heart
was like lead。 Mr。 Damon gazed blankly forward。 They were beaten。 It did
not seem possible。 There was but a single chance。 If Tom shut off all
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power； coasted for a moment； and then； ere the propeller had ceased
revolving； if he could start the motor on the spark； the silent cylinders
might pick up； with the others； and begin again。 He would try it。 They
could be no worse off than they were。
〃A mile behind！〃 gasped Tom。 〃It's a long chance； but I'll take it。〃
He shut off the power。 The motor was silent。 the Humming… Bird
began to fall。 But ere she had gone down ten feet Tom suddenly switched
on the batteries。 There was a moment of silence； and then came the
welcome roar that told of the rekindled motor。 And such a roar as it was！
Every cylinder was exploding as though none of them had ever stopped！
〃We did it！〃 yelled Tom。 Opening up at full speed； he sent the sky
racer on the course to overtake and pass his rivals。
Slowly he crept on them。 They looked back and saw him coming。
They tried to put on more speed； but it was impossible。 Andy Foger was in
the lead。 He was being slowly overhauled by the Santos…Dumont； with the
queer tail… rudders。
〃I'll get him！〃 muttered Tom。 〃I'll pass 'em all！〃
And he did。 With a wonderful burst of speed the little Humming…Bird
overtook one after another of her larger rivals； and passed them。 Then she
crept up on Andy's Slugger。
In an instant more it was done； and； a good length in advance of the
F
