b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第3节
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Sampson； an odd colored man； who； with his mule； Boomerang； worked
about the place。
In the first volume of this series； entitled 〃Tom Swift and his Motor…
Cycle；〃 here was related how he came to possess that machine。 A certain
Mr。 Wakefield Damon； an eccentric gentleman； who was always blessing
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himself； or something about him； owned the cycle； but he came to grief on
it； and sold it to Tom very cheaply。
Tom had a number of adventures on the wheel； and； after having used
the motor to save a valuable patent model from a gang of unscrupulous
men； the lad acquired possession of a power boat； in which he made
several trips； and took part in many exciting happenings。
Some time later； in company with John Sharp； an aeronaut； whom Tom
had rescued from Lake Carlopa； after the airman had nearly lost his life in
a burning balloon； the young inventor made a big airship； called the Red
Cloud。 With Mr。 Damon； Tom made several trips in this craft； as set forth
in the book； 〃Tom Swift and His Airship。〃
It was after this that Tom and his father built a submarine boat； and
went under the ocean for sunken treasure； and； following that trip Tom
built a speedy electric runabout； and by a remarkable run in that； with Mr。
Damon； saved a bank from ruin； bringing gold in time to stave off a panic。
〃Tom Swift and His Wireless Message〃 told of the young inventor's
plan to save the castaways of Earthquake Island； and how he accomplished
it by constructing a wireless plant from the remains of the wrecked airship
Whizzer。 After Tom got back from Earthquake Island he went with Mr。
Barcoe Jenks； whom he met on the ill…fated bit of land； to discover the
secret of the diamond makers。 They found the mysterious men； but the trip
was not entirely successful； for the mountain containing the cave where
the diamonds were made was destroyed by a lightning shock； just as Mr。
Parker； a celebrated scientist； who accompanied the party； said it would be。
But his adventure in seeking to discover the secret of making precious
stones did not satisfy Tom Swift； and when he and his friends got back
from the mountains they prepared to go to Alaska to search for gold in the
caves of ice。 They were almost defeated in their purpose by the actions of
Andy Foger and his father； who in an under…hand manner； got possession
of a valuable map； showing the location of the gold； and made a copy of
the drawing。
Then； when Tom and his friends set off in the Red Cloud； as related in
〃Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice；〃 the Fogers； in another airship； did
likewise。 But Tom and his party were first on the scene； and accomplished
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their purpose； though they had to fight the savage Indians。 The airship was
wrecked in a cave of ice； that collapsed on it； and the survivors had
desperate work getting away from the frozen North。
Tom had been home all the following winter and spring； and he had
done little more than work on some small inventions； when a new turn was
given his thoughts and energies by a visit from Mr。 Gunmore； as narrated
in the first chapter of the present volume。 〃Well； I guess no one is here；〃
remarked the young inventor as he completed the circuit of the grounds
and walked slowly back toward the house。 〃I think I scared Andy so that
he won't come back right away。 He had the laugh on me； though； when I
stumbled and fell。〃
As Tom proceeded he heard some one approaching； around the path at
the side of the house。
〃Who's there？〃 he called quickly； taking a firmer grasp of his stick；
〃It's me； Massa Swift；〃 was the response。 〃I jest come back from town。
I got some peppermint fo' mah mule； Boomerang； dat's what I got。〃
〃Oh！ It's you； is it； Rad？〃 asked the youth in easier tones。
〃Dat's who it am； Did yo' t'ink it were some un else？〃
〃I did；〃 replied Tom。 〃Andy Foger has been sneaking around。 Keep
your eyes open the rest of the night； Rad。〃
〃I will； Massa Tom。〃
The youth went into the house； having left word with the engineer； Mr。
Jackson； to be on the alert for anything suspicious。
〃And now I guess I'll go to bed； and make an early start to…morrow
morning； planning my new aeroplane；〃 mused Tom。 〃I'm going to make
the speediest craft of the air ever seen！〃
As he started toward his room Tom Swift heard the voice of the
housekeeper calling to him：
〃Tom！ Oh； Tom！ Come here； quickly！〃
〃What's the matter？〃 he asked； in vague alarm。
〃Something has happened to your father！〃 was the startling reply。
〃He's fallen down； and is Unconscious！ Come quickly！ Send for the
doctor！〃
Tom fairly ran toward his father's room。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
CHAPTER Three
The Plans Disappear
Mr。 Swift was lying on the floor； where he had fallen； in front of his
bed； as he was preparing to retire。 There was no mark of injury upon him；
and at first； as he knelt down at his father's side； Tom was at a loss to
account for what had taken place。
〃How did it happen？ When was it？〃 he asked of Mrs。 Baggert； as he
held up his father's head； and noted that the aged man was breathing
slightly。
〃I don't know what happened； Tom；〃 answered the housekeeper； 〃but I
beard him fall； and ran upstairs； only to find him lying there； just like that。
Then I called you。 Hadn't you better have a doctor？〃
〃Yes； we'll need one at once。 Send Eradicate Tell him to runnot to
wait for his muleBoomerang is too slow。 Oh； no！ The telephone； of
course！ Why didn't I think of that at first？ Please telephone for Dr。 Gladby；
Mrs。 Baggert。 Ask him to come as soon as possible； and then tell Garret
Jackson to step here。 I'll have him help me get father into bed。〃
The housekeeper hastened to the instrument； and was soon in
communication with the physician； who promised to call at once。 The
engineer was summoned from another part of the house； and then
Eradicate was aroused。
Mrs。 Baggert had the colored man help her get some kettles of hot
water in readiness for possible use by the doctor。 Mr。 Jackson aided Tom
to lift Mr。 Swift up on the bed； and they got off some of his clothes。
〃I'll try to see if I can revive him with a little aromatic spirits of
ammonia；〃 decided Tom； as he noticed that his father was still
unconscious。 He hastened to prepare the strong spirits； while he was
conscious of a feeling of fear and alarm； mingled with sadness。
Suppose his father should die？ Tom could not bear to think of that。 He
would be left all alone； and how much he would miss the companionship
and comradeship of his father none but himself knew。
〃Oh！ but I mustn't think he's going to die！〃 exclaimed the youth； as he
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mixed the medicine。
Mr。 Swift feebly opened his eyes after Tom and Mr。 Jackson had
succeeded in forcing some of the ammonia between his lips。
〃Where am I？ What happened？〃 asked the aged inventor faintly。
〃We don't know； exactly；〃 spoke Tom softly。 〃You are ill； father。 I've
sent for the doctor。 He'll fix you up。 He'll be here soon。〃
〃Yes； I'mI'm ill；〃 murmured the aged man。 〃Something hurts me
here；〃 and he put his hand over his heart。
Tom felt a nameless sense of fear。 He wished now that he had insisted
on his parent consulting a physician some time before； when Mr。 Swift
first complained of a minor ailment。 Perhaps now it was too late。
〃Oh！ whe
