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

74 CHAPTER 16. A MYSTERIOUS FIRE“Perhaps they want to talk to you,” suggested Mr. Jackson. “<strong>The</strong>y maybe fellow invent<strong>or</strong>—perhaps one of them is that Philadelphia man who had theWhizzer.”“No,” replied the lad. “He would have sent me w<strong>or</strong>d if he intended callingon me. Those are strangers, I think. <strong>The</strong>re they are, coming back again.”<strong>The</strong> mysterious aeroplane was once m<strong>or</strong>e circling toward the watchers onthe roof. <strong>The</strong>re was a movement on the steps, near which <strong>Tom</strong> was st<strong>and</strong>ing,<strong>and</strong> his father came up.“Is anything the matter?” he asked anxiously.“Only a queer craft circling around up here,” was the reply. “Come <strong>and</strong> see,dad.”Mr. <strong>Swift</strong> ascended to the roof. <strong>The</strong> aeroplane was higher now, <strong>and</strong> those inher could not so easily be made out. <strong>Tom</strong> felt a vague sense of fear, as thoughhe was being watched by the evil eyes of his enemies. M<strong>or</strong>e than once he lookedover to the shed where his craft was housed, as though some danger mightthreaten it. But the shed of the Humming-Bird showed no signs of invaders.Suddenly the mysterious aeroplane increased its speed. It circled about m<strong>or</strong>equickly, <strong>and</strong> shot upward, as though to show the watchers of what it was capable.<strong>The</strong>n, with a quick swoop it darted downward, straight f<strong>or</strong> the building where<strong>Tom</strong>’s newest invention was housed.“Look out! <strong>The</strong>y’ll hit something!” cried the young invent<strong>or</strong>, as thoughthose in the aeroplane could hear him.<strong>The</strong>n, just as though they had heeded his warning, the pilots of the mysteriouscraft shot her upward, after she had hovered f<strong>or</strong> an instant over the bigshed.“That was a queer move,” said <strong>Tom</strong>. “It looked as if they lost control of herf<strong>or</strong> a moment.”“And they dropped something!” cried Mr. Jackson. “Look! something fellfrom the aeroplane on the roof of the shed.”“Some tool, likely,” spoke <strong>Tom</strong>. “I’ll get it in the m<strong>or</strong>ning, <strong>and</strong> see whats<strong>or</strong>t of instruments they carry. I’d like to examine that machine, though.”<strong>The</strong> queer aeroplane was now shooting off in the darkness <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tom</strong> followedit with the glasses, wondering what its construction could be like. He was tohave another sight of it sooner than he expected.“Well, we may as well get back to bed,” said Mr. Jackson. “I’m tired, <strong>and</strong>we’ve got lots to do to-m<strong>or</strong>row.”“Yes,” agreed <strong>Tom</strong>. “It’s cooler now. Come on, dad.”<strong>Tom</strong> fell into a light doze. He thought afterward he could not have sleptm<strong>or</strong>e than half an hour when he heard a commotion out in the yard. F<strong>or</strong> aninstant he could not tell what it was, <strong>and</strong> then, as he grew wider awake he knewthat it was the shouting of Eradicate Sampson, <strong>and</strong> the braying of Boomerang.But what was Eradicate shouting?“Fire! Fire! Fire!”<strong>Tom</strong> leaped to his window.“Wake up, Massa <strong>Tom</strong>! Wake up! De areoplane shed am on fire, an’ deHumming-Bird will burn up! Hurry! Hurry!”