b his sky racer(汤姆·史威夫特和他的空中赛艇)-第7节
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〃Why？〃 inquired Tom。
〃Why； then this heavy beard of mine would come in handy。 It would
keep my throat and chin warm。〃 And Mr。 Damon ran his hands through his
luxuriant whiskers。
〃No more northern trips right away；〃 said Tom。 〃I'm about to build a
speedy monoplane； to take part in the big meet at Eagle Park。〃
〃Oh； yes； I heard about the meet；〃 said Mr。 Damon。 〃I'd like to be in
that。〃
〃Well； I'm building a machine that will carry two；〃 went on Tom； 〃and
if you think you can stand a speed of a hundred miles an hour； or better； I'll
let you come with me。 There are some races where a passenger is
allowed。〃
〃Have you got a razor？〃 asked Mr。 Damon suddenly。
〃What for？〃 inquired Mr。 Swift； wondering what the eccentric man
was going to do。
〃Why； bless my shaving soap！ I'm going to cut off my beard。 If I go in
a monoplane at a hundred miles an hour I don't want to make any more
resistance to the wind than possible； and my whiskers would certainly hold
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
back Tom's machine。 Where's a razor？ I'm going to shave at once。 My wife
won't mind when I tell her what it's for。 Lend me a razor； please； Tom。〃
〃Oh； there's plenty of time；〃 explained the lad； with a laugh。 〃The race
doesn't take place for over two months。 But when it does； I think you
would be better off without a beard。〃
〃I know it；〃 said Mr。 Damon simply。 〃I'll shave before we enter the
contest； Tom。 But now tell me all about it。〃
Tom did so； relating the story of the theft of the plans。 Mr。 Damon was
for having Andy arrested at once； but Mr。 Swift and his son pointed out
that they had no evidence against him。
〃All we can do；〃 said the young inventor； 〃is to keep watch on him；
and see if he is building another aeroplane。 He has all the facilities； and he
may attempt to get ahead of me。 If he enters a sky craft at the meet I'll be
pretty sure that he has made it from my stolen plans。〃
〃Bless my wing tips！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃But can't we do anything to
stop him？〃
〃I'm afraid not；〃 answered Tom； and then he showed Mr。 Damon his
re…drawn plans； and told in detail of how he intended to construct the new
aeroplane。
The eccentric man remained as the guest of the Swift family that night；
departing for his home the next day； and promising to be on hand as soon
as Tom was ready to test his new craft； which would he in about a month。
As the days passed； Tom； with the help of his father； whose health was
slightly better； and with the aid of Mr。 Jackson； began work on the speedy
little sky racer。
As you boys are all more or less familiar with aeroplanes； we will not
devote much space to the description of the new one Tom Swift made。 We
can describe it in general terms； but there were some features of it which
Tom kept a secret from all save his father。
Suffice it to say that Tom had decided to build a small air craft of the
single…wing type； known as the monoplane。 It was to be a cross between
the Bleriot and the Antoinette； with the general features of both； but with
many changes or improvements。
The wings were shaped somewhat like those of a humming… bird；
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
which； as is well known； can； at times； vibrate its wings with such velocity
that the most rapid camera lens cannot quite catch
And when it is known that a bullet in flight has been successfully
photographed； the speed of the wings of the humming…bird can be better
appreciated。
The writer has seen a friend； with a very rapid camera； which was used
to snap automobiles in flight； attempt to take a picture of a humming…bird。
He got the picture； all right； but the plate was blurred； showing that the
wings had moved faster than the lens could throw them on the sensitive
plate。
Not that Tom intended the wings of his monoplane to vibrate； but he
adopted that style as being the best adapted to allow of rapid flight through
the air； and the young inventor had determined that he would clip many
minutes from the best record yet made。
The body of his craft； between the forward wings and the rear ones；
where the rudders were located； was shaped like a cigar； with side wings
somewhat like the fin keels of the ocean liner to prevent a rolling motion。
In addition； Tom had an ingenious device to automatically adapt his
monoplane to sudden currents of air that might overturn it； and this device
was one of the points which he kept secret。 The motor； which was air…
cooled； was located forward； and was just above the heads of the operator
and the passenger who sat beside him。 The single propeller； which was ten
feet in diameter； gave a minimum thrust of one thousand pounds at two
thousand revolutions per minute。
This was one feature wherein Tom's craft differed from others。 The
usual aeroplane propeller is eight feet in diameter； and gives from four to
five hundred pounds thrust at about one thousand revolutions per minute；
so it can be readily seen wherein Tom had an advantage。
〃But I'm building this for speed；〃 he said to Mr。 Jackson； 〃and I'm
going to get it！ We'll make a hundred miles an hour without trouble。〃
〃I believe you；〃 replied the engineer。 〃The motor you and your father
have made is a wonder for lightness and power。〃
In fact； the whole monoplane was so light and frail as to give one the
idea of a rather large model； instead of a real craft； intended for service。
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But a careful inspection showed the great strength it had； for it was braced
and guyed in a new way； and was as rigid as a steel…trussed bridge。
〃What are you going to call her？〃 asked Mr。 Jackson； about two weeks
after they had started work on the craft； and when it had begun to assume
shape and form。
〃I'm going to name her the Humming…Bird；〃 replied Tom。 〃She's little；
but oh； my！〃
〃And I guess she'll bring home the prize；〃 added the engineer。
And as the days went by； and Tom； his father and Mr。 Jackson
continued to work on the speedy craft； this hope grew in the heart of the
young inventor。 But he could not rid himself of worry as to the fate of the
plans that had disappeared。 Who had them？ Was some one making a
machine like his own from them？ Tom wished he knew。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER or The Quickest Flight on Record
CHAPTER Six
Andy Foger Will Contest
One afternoon； as Tom was working away in the shop on his sky
racer； adjusting one of the rear rudders； and pausing now and then to
admire the trim little craft； he heard some one approaching。 Looking out
through a small observation peephole made for this purpose； he saw Mrs。
Baggert hurrying toward the building。
〃I wonder what's the matter？〃 he said aloud； for there was a look of
worriment on the lady's face。 Tom threw open the door。 〃What is it； Mrs。
Baggert？〃 he called。 〃Some one up at the house who wants to see me？〃
〃No； it's your father！〃 panted the housekeeper； for she was quite stout。
〃He is very ill again； and I can't seem to get Dr。 Gladby on the telephone。
Central says he doesn't answer。〃
〃My father worse！〃 cried Tom in alarm； dropping his tools and
hurrying from the shop。 〃Where's Eradicate？ Send him for the doctor。
Perhaps the wires are broken。 If he can't locate Dr。 Gladby； get Dr。 Kurtz。
We must have some one。 Here； Rad！ Where are you？〃 he called； raising
his voice。
〃Heah I be！〃 answered the colored man； coming from the direction of
the garden； which he had been weeding。
〃Get cut your mule； and go for Dr。 Gladby。 If he isn't home； get Dr。
Kurtz。 Hurry； Rad！〃
〃I's mighty sorry； Massa Tom；〃 answered the colored man； 〃but I cain't
hurry； nohow。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because Boomerang done gone lame； an' he won't run。 I'll go mahse'f；
but I cain't take dat air mule。〃
〃Never mind。 I'll go in the Butterfly；〃 decided Tom quickly。 〃I'll run up
to the house and see how dad
