b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第30节
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〃Something's given way；〃 answered Tom quickly。 〃I'm afraid the
magneto isn't sparking as it ought to。〃
〃Well； can't we volplane hack to earth？〃 asked the odd man； for he had
become familiar with this feat when anything happened to the motor。
〃We could；〃 answered Tom； 〃but I'm not going to。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because we're too far from Shoptonand dad！ I'm going to keep on。
I've got toif I want to be there in time！〃
〃But if the motor doesn't work？〃
〃I'll make her work！〃
Tom was desperately manipulating the various levers and handles
connected with the electrical ignition system。 He tried in vain to get the
magneto to resume the giving out of sparks； and； failing in that； he
switched on the batteries。 But； to his horror； the dry cells had given out。
There was no way of getting a spark unless the little electrical machine
would work。
The propellers were still whirring around by their own momentum；
and if Tom could switch in the magneto in time all might yet be well。
They had started to fall； but； by quickly bringing up the head plane tips；
Tom sent his craft soaring upward again on a bank of air。
〃Here！〃 he cried to Mr。 Damon。 〃Take the steering…wheel and kept her
on this level as long as you can。〃
〃What are you going to do？〃
〃I've got to fix that magneto！〃
〃But if she dips down？〃
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〃Throw up the head planes as I did。 It's our only chance！ I can't go
down now； so far from Shopton！〃
Mr。 Damon reached over and took the wheel from Tom's hands。 Then
the young inventor； leaning forward； for the magneto was within easy
reach； looked to see what the trouble was。 He found it quickly。 A wire had
vibrated loose from a binding…post。 In a second Tom had it in place again；
and； ere the propellers had ceased revolving； he had turned the switch。 The
magneto took up the work in a flash。 Once more the spark exploded the
gasoline mixture； and the propellers sent the Humming…Bird swiftly ahead。
〃We'll make it now！〃 declared Tom grimly。
〃We're almost there；〃 added Mr。 Damon； as he relinquished the wheel
to the young pilot。 The craft had gone down some； but Tom sent her up
again。
Nearer and nearer home they came； until at last the spires of the
Shopton churches loomed into view。 Then he was over the village。 Now he
was within sight of his own house。
Tom coasted down a bank of air； and brought the Humming… Bird up
with a jerk of the ground brakes。 Before the wheels had ceased turning he
had leaped out。
〃It's Massa Tom！〃 cried Eradicate； as he saw Tom alight。
The young inventor hurried into the house。 He was met by the nurse；
who held up a warning finger。 Tom's heart almost stopped beating。 He was
aware that Dr。 Gladby came from the room where Mr。 Swift lay。
〃Is heis heam I too late？〃 gulped Tom。
〃Hush！〃 cautioned the nurse。
Tom reeled； and would have fallen had not the doctor caught him； for
the lad was weak and wornout。
〃He is going to get well！〃 were the joyful words he heard； as if in a
dream； and then his strength suddenly came back to him。 〃The crisis is just
passed； Tom；〃 went on Dr。 Gladby； 〃and your father will recover； and be
stronger than ever。 Your good news of winning was like a tonic to him。
Now let me congratulate you on the race。〃 Tom had flashed by wireless a
brief message of his success。
〃Dad's news is better than all the congratulations in the world；〃 he said
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softly； as he grasped the doctor's hand。
* * * * * *
It was a week later。 Mr。 Swift improved rapidly once the course of the
disease was permanently checked； and he was soon able to sit up。 Tom
was with him in the room； talking of the great race； and how he had won。
He fingered the certified check for ten thousand dollars that had just come
to him by mail。
〃You certainly did wonderfully well；〃 said the aged inventor； softly。
〃Wonderfully well； Tom。 I'm proud of you。〃
〃You may well be；〃 added Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my shoelaces； but I
thought Andy Foger had us there one spell； didn't you； Tom？〃
〃Indeed I did。 But you helped me win； Mr。 Damon。〃
〃Nonsense！〃 exclaimed the odd man。
〃Yes； you did。 You helped me a lot。〃
〃Well； are you going to keep after more air…prizes； Tom； or are you
going to try for something else？〃 asked his father。
〃I don't believe I'll go in any more aeroplane races right away；〃
answered the young inventor。 〃For some time I've been wanting to
complete and perfect my electric rifle。 I think I'll begin work on that
soon。〃
〃And go hunting？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃I think so；〃 answered Tom； dreamily。 〃I don't know just where；
though。〃
Where he went； and what he shot； will be told in the next volume of
this series； to be called： 〃Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle； or； Daring
Adventures in Elephant Land。〃
For a few moments after Tom's announcement no one spoke； then the
young inventor said：
〃It's too bad that first set of plans were stolen。 If I had them I could
make a good deal with the Government about my little aeroplane。 But they
don't want to take up with it as long as there is a chance of some foreign
nation getting information about the secret parts； and my patents won't
hold abroad。 I wonder if there is any way of getting those plans away from
Andy Foger？ I don't understand why he hasn't used them before this。 I
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thought sure he would make a craft like the Humming…Bird to race against
me。〃
〃What plans are those？〃 asked Mr。 Swift。
〃Why； don't you remember？〃 asked Tom。 〃The ones I showed you one
day； in the library； when you fell asleep； and some one slipped in and stole
them。〃
A curious look came over Mr。 Swift's face。 He passed his hand across
his brow。
〃I am beginning to remember something I have been trying to recall
ever since I became ill；〃 he said slowly。 〃It is coming back to me。 Those
plansin the libraryI fell asleep； but before I did so I hid those plans；
Tom！〃
〃You hid those plans！〃 Tom fairly shouted the words。
〃Yes； I remember feeling a drowsy feeling coming on； and I feared lest
some one might see the drawings。 I got up and put them under the window；
in a little； hollow place in the foundation wall。 Then I came back in
through the window again； and went to sleep。 Then； on account of my
illness； just as I once before forgot something； and thought the minister
had called； I lost all recollection of them。 I hid those plans。〃
Tom leaped to his feet。 He rushed to the place named by his father。
Soon his triumphant shout told of his success。 He came hurrying back into
the house with a roll of papers in his hands。
And there were the long…missing plans！ damp and stained by the
weather； but all there。 No enemy had them； and Tom's secret was safe。
〃Now I can accept the Government offer！〃 he cried。 And a few weeks
later he made a most advantageous deal with the United States officials for
his patents。
Dr。 Gladby explained that Mr。 Swift's queer action was due to his
illness。 He became liable to lapses of memory； and one happened just after
he hid away the plans。 Even the hiding of them was caused by the peculiar
condition of his brain。 He had opened the library window； slipped oat with
the papers； and hastened in again； to fall asleep in his chair； during the
short time Tom was gone。
〃And Andy Foger never took them at all；〃 remarked Mary Nestor；
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when Tom was telling her about it a few days afterward。
〃No。 I guess
