Tom Swift and His Sky Racer or The Quickest Flight on ... - Fourmilab

Chapter 11<strong>Tom</strong> Is HurtAs <strong>Tom</strong> passed down the hall on his way to the side do<strong>or</strong>, from which he couldm<strong>or</strong>e quickly reach the aeroplane shed, he saw his father coming from his room.“What’s the matter? What is it?” asked Mr. <strong>Swift</strong>, <strong>and</strong> alarm showed onhis pale face.“It’s nothing much, dad,” said the youth, as quietly as he could, f<strong>or</strong> herealized that to excite his father might have a bad effect on the invalid.“<strong>The</strong>n why are you in such a hurry? Why have you that revolver? I knowthere is something wrong, <strong>Tom</strong>. I am going to help you!”In his father’s present weakened state <strong>Tom</strong> desired this least of all, so hesaid:“Now, never mind, dad. I thought I heard a noise out in the yard, <strong>and</strong> I’mnot going to take any chances. So I roused Mr. Jackson, <strong>and</strong> I’m going downto see what it is. Perhaps it may only be Eradicate’s mule, Boomerang, kickingaround, <strong>or</strong> it may be Rad himself, <strong>or</strong> some one after his chickens. Don’t w<strong>or</strong>ry.Mr. Jackson <strong>and</strong> I can attend to it. You go back to bed, father.”<strong>Tom</strong> spoke with such assurance that Mr. <strong>Swift</strong> believed him, <strong>and</strong> retired tohis room, just as the engineer, partly dressed, came hurrying out in response to<strong>Tom</strong>’s summons. He had his rifle, <strong>and</strong>, bad the invalid invent<strong>or</strong> seen that, hesurely would have w<strong>or</strong>ried m<strong>or</strong>e.“Come on!” whispered <strong>Tom</strong>. “Don’t make any noise. I don’t want to excitemy father.”“What was it?” asked the engineer.“I don’t know. Burglar alarm went off, that’s all I can say until we get tothe shed.”Together the two left the house softly, <strong>and</strong> soon were hurrying toward theaeroplane shed.“Look!” exclaimed Mr. Jackson. “Didn’t you see a light just then, <strong>Tom</strong>?”“Where?”“By the side window of the shed?”“No, I didn’t notice it! Oh, yes! <strong>The</strong>re it is! Some one is in there! If it’sAndy Foger, I’ll have him arrested, sure!”51