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

66 CHAPTER 14. THE GREAT TEST“Not until you hit first,” said <strong>Tom</strong> calmly.“Bless my punching bag! That’s so!” exclaimed Mr. Damon.“You’ll suffer f<strong>or</strong> this!” whined Andy, getting to his feet, but taking care t<strong>or</strong>etreat from <strong>Tom</strong>, who stood ready f<strong>or</strong> him. “I’ll get square with you f<strong>or</strong> this!Jake, come on, <strong>and</strong> we’ll get our guns!”Andy turned <strong>and</strong> hurried back toward the shed, followed by the evil-lookingman, who had apparently been undecided whether to attack Mr. Damon <strong>or</strong><strong>Tom</strong>. Now the bully <strong>and</strong> his companion were in full retreat.“We’ll get our guns, <strong>and</strong> then we’ll see whether they’ll want to stay wherethey’re not wanted!” went on Andy, threateningly.“Bless my powderh<strong>or</strong>n! What had we better do?” asked Mr. Damon.“I guess we’d better go back,” said <strong>Tom</strong> calmly. “Not that I’m afraid ofAndy. <strong>His</strong> talk about guns is all bluff; but I don’t want to get into any m<strong>or</strong>eof a row, <strong>and</strong> he is just ugly <strong>and</strong> reckless enough to make trouble. I’m afraidwe can’t learn what we came to find out, though I’m m<strong>or</strong>e convinced than everthat Andy is using my plans to make his aeroplane.”“But what can you do?”“I’ll see Mr. Sharp, <strong>and</strong> send a protest to the aviation committee. I’ll refuseto enter if Andy flies in a model of my Humming-Bird, <strong>and</strong> I’ll try to preventhim from using it after he gets it on the ground. That is all I can do, it seems,lacking positive inf<strong>or</strong>mation. Come on, Mr. Damon. Let’s get back to our hotel,<strong>and</strong> we’ll start f<strong>or</strong> home in the m<strong>or</strong>ning.”“I have a plan,” whispered the odd man.“What is it?” asked <strong>Tom</strong>, narrowly watching f<strong>or</strong> the reappearance of Andy<strong>and</strong> the man.“I’ll stay here until they come, then I’ll pretend to run away. <strong>The</strong>y’ll chaseafter me, <strong>and</strong> get all excited, <strong>and</strong> you can go up <strong>and</strong> look in the shed windows.<strong>The</strong>n you can join me later. How’s that?”“Too risky. <strong>The</strong>y might fire at you by mistake. No. We’ll both go. I’vefound out m<strong>or</strong>e than enough to confirm my suspicions.”<strong>The</strong>y turned out of the lot which contained the shed, <strong>and</strong> walked toward theroad, just as Andy <strong>and</strong> his crony came back.“Huh! You’d better go!” taunted the bully.<strong>Tom</strong> had a bitter feeling in his heart. It seemed as if he was defeated, <strong>and</strong>he did not like to retreat bef<strong>or</strong>e Andy.“You’d better not come back here again, either,” went on Andy.<strong>Tom</strong> <strong>and</strong> Mr. Damon did not reply, but kept on in silence. <strong>The</strong>y returnedto Shopton the next day.“Well,” remarked <strong>Tom</strong>, when he had gone out to look at his Humming-Bird,“I know one thing. Andy Foger may build a machine something like this, but Idon’t believe he can put in all the improvements I have, <strong>and</strong> certainly he can’tequal that engine; eh, dad?”“I hope not, <strong>Tom</strong>,” replied his father, who seemed to be much improved inhealth.“When are you going to try f<strong>or</strong> speed?” asked Mr. Damon.