b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第12节
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looked back they could see a light bobbing about in the shed。
〃He's looking for us！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon with an inward laugh。
〃Bless my watch chain！ But it's a good thing we got in ahead of him。 Are
you sure it was Andy himself？〃
〃Sure！ I'd know his face anywhere。 But I can't understand it。 Where
has he been？ What is he doing？ Where is he building his aeroplane？ I
thought he was out of town。〃
〃He may have come back to…night；〃 said Mr。 Damon。 〃That's the only
one of your questions I can answer。 We'll have to wait about the rest； I'm
sure he wasn't around the house today； though； for I was working at
weeding the flower beds； in my disguise as a tramp； and if he was home
I'd have seen him。 He must have just come back； and he went out to his
shed to get something。 Well； we did the best we could。〃
〃Indeed we did；〃 agreed Tom； 〃and I'm ever so much obliged to you；
Mr。 Damon。〃
〃And we'll try again； when we get more clues。 Bless my shoelaces！ but
it's a relief to be able to talk as you like。〃
And forthwith the eccentric man began to call down so many blessings
on himself and on his belongings； no less than on his friends； that Tom
laughingly warned him that he had better save some for another time。
The two reached home safely； removed their 〃disguises；〃 and told Mr。
Swift of the result of their trip。 He agreed with them that there was a
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
mystery about Andy's aeroplane which was yet to be solved。
But Tom was glad to find that； at any rate； the craft was not being
made in Shopton； and during the next two weeks he devoted all his time to
finishing his own machine。 Mr。 Jackson was a valuable assistant； and Mr。
Damon gave what aid he could。
〃Well； I think I'll be ready for a trial flight in another week；〃 said Tom
one day； as he stepped back to get a view of the almost completed
Humming…Bird。
〃Shall you want a passenger？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃Yes； I wish you would take a chance with me。 I could use a bag of
sand； not that I mean you are to be compared to that；〃 added Tom quickly；
〃but I'd rather have a real person； in order to test the balancing apparatus。
Yes； we'll make a trial trip together。〃
In the following few days Tom went carefully over the aeroplane；
making some slight changes； strengthening it here and there； and testing
the motor thoroughly。 It seemed to work perfectly。
At length the day of the trial came； and the Humming…Bird was
wheeled out of the shed。 In spite of the fact that it was practically finished；
there yet remained much to do on it。 It was not painted or decorated； and
looked rather crude。 But what Tom wanted to know was how it would fly；
what control he had over it； what speed it could make； and how it balanced。
For it was； at best； very frail； and the least change in equilibrium might be
fatal。
Before taking his place in the operator's seat Tom started the motor；
and by means of a spring balance tested the thrust of the propellers。 It was
satisfactory； though he knew that when the engine had been run for some
time； and had warmed up； it would do much better。
〃All ready； I guess； Mr。 Damon！〃 he called； and the odd gentleman
took his place。 Tom got up into his own seat； in front of several wheels and
levers by which he operated the craft。
〃Start the propeller！〃 he requested of Mr。 Jackson； and soon the motor
was spitting fire； while the big； fanlike blades were whirring around like
wings of light。 The engineer and Eradicate were holding back the
Humming…Bird。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
〃Let her go！〃 cried Tom as he turned on more gasoline and further
advanced the spark of the motor。 The roar increased； the propeller looked
like a solid circle of wood； and the trim little monoplane moved slowly
across the rising ground； increasing its speed every second； until； like
some graceful bird； it suddenly rose in the air as Tom tilted the wing tips；
and soared splendidly aloft！
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
CHAPTER Ten
A Midnight Intruder
Tom Swift sent his wonderful little craft upward on a gentle slant。
Higher and higher it rose above the ground。 Now it topped the trees； now
it was well over them。
On the earth below stood Mr。 Swift； Mr。 Jack son； Eradicate and Mrs。
Baggert。 They were the only witnesses of the trial flight； and as the aged
inventor saw his son's latest design in aeroplanes circling in the air he gave
a cheer of delight。 It was too feeble for Tom to hear； but the lad； glancing
down； saw his father waving his hand to him。
〃Dear old dad！〃 thought Tom； waving in return。 〃I hope he's well
enough to see me win the big prize。〃
Tom and Mr。 Damon went skimming easily through the air； at no great
speed； to be sure； for the young inventor did not want to put too sudden a
strain on his motor。
〃This is glorious！〃 cried the odd gentleman。 〃I never shall have enough
of aeroplaning； Tom！〃
〃Nor I； either；〃 added his companion。 〃But how do you like it？ Don't
you think it's an improvement on my Butterfly； Mr。 Damon？〃
〃It certainly is。 You're a wonder； Tom！ Look out！ What are you up to？〃
for the machine had suddenly swerved in a startling manner。
〃Oh； that's just a new kind of spiral dip I was trying；〃 answered Tom。
〃I couldn't do that with my other machine； for I couldn't turn sharp
enough。〃
〃Well； don't do it right away again；〃 begged Mr。 Damon； who had
turned a little white； and whose breath was coming in gasps； even though
he was used to hair…raising stunts in the frail craft of the air。
Tom did not take his machine far away； for he did not want to exhibit it
to the public yet； and he preferred to remain in the vicinity of his home； in
case of any accident。 So he circled around； did figures of eight； went up
and down on long slants； took sharp turns； and gave the craft a good
tryout。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
〃Does it satisfy you？〃 asked Mr。 Damon； when Tom had once more
made the spiral dip； but not at high speed。
〃In a way； yes；〃 was the answer。 〃I see a chance for several changes
and improvements。 Of course； I know nothing about the speed yet； and
that's something that I'm anxious about； for I built this with the idea of
breaking all records； and nothing else。 I know； now； that I can construct a
craft that will successfully navigate the air； in fact； there are any number
of people who can do that； but to construct a monoplane that will beat
anything ever before made is a different thing。 I don't yet know that I have
done it。〃
〃When will you？〃
〃Oh； when I make some changes； get the motor tuned up better； and let
her out for all she's worth。 I want to do a hundred miles an hour； at least。
I'll arrange for a speedy flight in about two weeks more。〃
〃Then I think I will stay home；〃 said Mr。 Damon。
〃No； I'll need you；〃 insisted Tom； laughing。 〃Now watch。 I'm going to
let her out just a little。〃
He did； with the result that they skimmed through the air so fast that
Mr。 Damon's breath became a mere series of gasps。
〃We'll have to wear goggles and mouth protectors when we really go
fast！〃 yelled Tom above the noise of the motor； as he slowed down and
turned about for home。
〃Go fast！ Wasn't that fast？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
Tom shook his head。
〃You wait； and you'll see；〃 he announced。
They made a good landing； and Mr。 Swift hastened up to congratulate
his son。
〃I knew you could do it； Tom！〃 he cried。
〃I couldn't； though； if it hadn't been for that wonderful engine of yours；
dad！ How do you feel？〃
〃Pretty good。 Oh！ but that's a fine machine； Tom！〃
〃It certainly is；〃 agre
