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

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84 CHAPTER 18. THE BROKEN BRIDGEAs there would be but little use f<strong>or</strong> the aeroplane shed now, if <strong>Tom</strong> senthis craft off to the meet, it was decided to repair it temp<strong>or</strong>arily only, until hereturned.Acc<strong>or</strong>dingly, a big tarpaulin was fastened over the hole in the roof. <strong>The</strong>n<strong>Tom</strong> put a new wing tip on in place of the one that had been sc<strong>or</strong>ched. Helooked all over his sky racer, <strong>and</strong> decided that it was in fit condition f<strong>or</strong> thecoming meet.“I’ll begin to take it apart f<strong>or</strong> shipment, as soon as I hear from the specialistthat dad is well enough f<strong>or</strong> me to go,” he said.It was a few hours after the discovery of the empty bomb that <strong>Tom</strong> saw Dr.Gladby coming along. <strong>The</strong> physician was urging his h<strong>or</strong>se to top speed. <strong>Tom</strong>felt a vague fear in his heart.“I’ve got a message from Dr. Hendrix, <strong>Tom</strong>,” he said, as he stopped hiscarriage, <strong>and</strong> approached the lad.“When can he come?” asked the young invent<strong>or</strong>, eagerly.“He can’t get here, <strong>Tom</strong>.”“Can’t get here! Why not?”“Because the railroad bridge has collapsed, <strong>and</strong> there is no way to come. Hecan’t make any other connections to get here in time—in time to do your fatherany good, <strong>Tom</strong>. He has just sent me a telegram to that effect. Dr. Hendrixcan’t get here, <strong>and</strong>. . . ” Dr. Gladby paused.“Do you mean that my father may die if the operation is not perf<strong>or</strong>med?”asked <strong>Tom</strong>, in a low voice.“Yes,” was the answer.“But can’t Dr. Hendrix drive here in an auto?” asked the lad. “Surely theremust be some way of getting over the river, even if the railroad bridge is down.Can’t he cross in a boat <strong>and</strong> drive here?”“He wouldn’t be in time, <strong>Tom</strong>. Don’t you underst<strong>and</strong>, Dr. Hendrix must behere within four hours, if he is to save your father’s life. He never could do itby driving <strong>or</strong> by coming on some other road, <strong>or</strong> in an auto. He can’t make theproper connections. <strong>The</strong>re is no way.”“Yes, there is!” cried <strong>Tom</strong>, suddenly. “I know a way!”“How?” asked Dr. Gladby, thrilled by <strong>Tom</strong>’s ringing tones. “How can youdo it, <strong>Tom</strong>?”“I’ll go f<strong>or</strong> Dr. Hendrix in my Humming-Bird.”“Going f<strong>or</strong> him would do no good. He must be brought here.”“And so he shall be!” cried <strong>Tom</strong>. “I’ll bring him here in my sky racer—if hehas the nerve to st<strong>and</strong> the journey, <strong>and</strong> I think he has! I’ll bring Dr. Hendrixhere!” <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tom</strong> hurried away to prepare f<strong>or</strong> the thrilling trip.
Chapter 19A Nervy Specialist<strong>The</strong>re was little time to lose. Every moment of delay meant so much less chancef<strong>or</strong> the recovery of Mr. <strong>Swift</strong>. Even now the periods of consciousness werebecoming sh<strong>or</strong>ter <strong>and</strong> farther apart. He seemed to be sinking.<strong>Tom</strong> resolutely refused to think of the possibility of death, as he went in tobid his parent good-by bef<strong>or</strong>e starting off on his trip through the air. Mr. <strong>Swift</strong>barely knew his son, <strong>and</strong>, with tears in his eyes, though he bravely tried to keepthem back, the young invent<strong>or</strong> went out into the yard.<strong>The</strong>re stood the Humming-Bird, with Mr. Jackson, Mr. Damon <strong>and</strong> Eradicatew<strong>or</strong>king over her, to get her in perfect trim f<strong>or</strong> the race bef<strong>or</strong>e her—a racewith death.F<strong>or</strong>tunately there was little to be done to get the speedy craft ready. <strong>Tom</strong>had accomplished most of what was necessary, while waiting f<strong>or</strong> w<strong>or</strong>d from Dr.Hendrix. Now about all that needed to be done was to see that there was plentyof gasoline <strong>and</strong> oil in the reservoirs.“I’ll give you a note to Dr. Hendrix,” said Mr. Gladby, as <strong>Tom</strong> was fasteningon his faceguard. “I—I trust you won’t be disappointed, <strong>Tom</strong>. I hope he willconsent to return with you.”“He’s got to come,” said the young invent<strong>or</strong>, simply, as if that was all therewas to it.“Do you think you can make the trip in time?” asked Mr. Damon. “It is alittle less than a hundred miles in an airline, but you have to go <strong>and</strong> go back.Can the aeroplane do it?”“I’d be ashamed of her if she couldn’t,” said <strong>Tom</strong>, with a grim tightening ofhis lips. “She’s just got to do it; that’s all! But I know she will,” <strong>and</strong> he pattedthe big propeller <strong>and</strong> the mot<strong>or</strong>’s shining cylinders as though the machine wasa thing alive, like a h<strong>or</strong>se <strong>or</strong> a dog, who could underst<strong>and</strong> him.He climbed to his seat, the other one holding a bag of s<strong>and</strong> to maintain agood balance.“Start her,” <strong>or</strong>dered <strong>Tom</strong>, <strong>and</strong> Mr. Jackson twisted the propeller. <strong>The</strong> mot<strong>or</strong>caught at once, <strong>and</strong> the air throbbed with the noise of the explosions. <strong>Tom</strong>listened to the tune of the machinery. It sang true.85
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Tom Swift<
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4 CONTENTS20 Just in Time 8921 “W
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6 CHAPTER 1. THE PRIZE OFFER“It
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8 CHAPTER 1. THE PRIZE OFFERHe star
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10 CHAPTER 2. MR. SWIFT IS ILL“<s
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Chapter 3The Plans
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Tom followed him,
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that the screen was also unhooked,
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Chapter 4Anxious DaysPeering on all
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21about him. He may have been sneak
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Chapter 5Building the Sky</
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25“Why, then this heavy beard of
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Who had them? Was some one making a
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Chapter 6Andy Foger Will ContestOne
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31“Then you go o
Page 33 and 34: near you were ready, and</s
Page 35 and 36: Chapter 7Seeking a ClueJohn Sharp w
Page 37 and 38: 37“Well, because it will add to t
Page 39 and 40: Chapter 8The Empty
Page 41 and 42: He left the house by a side do<stro
Page 43 and 44: Chapter 9A Trial Flight</st
Page 45 and 46: emained much to do on it. It was no
Page 47 and 48: Chapter 10A Midnight Intruder<stron
Page 49 and 50: must do his very best, and<
Page 51 and 52: Chapter 11Tom Is H
Page 53 and 54: He did not intend to shoot at the m
Page 55 and 56: Chapter 12Miss Nestor</stro
Page 57 and 58: 57“It’s possible,” agreed the
Page 59 and 60: Chapter 13A Clash with Andy
Page 61 and 62: 61“It’s glorio
Page 63 and 64: 63Cautiously they entered the enclo
Page 65 and 66: Chapter 14The Grea
Page 67 and 68: “To-morrow, if I
Page 69 and 70: Chapter 15A Noise in the Night“We
Page 71 and 72: 71“Oh, we’ll take good care of
Page 73 and 74: Chapter 16A Mysterious FireF<strong
Page 75 and 76: Tom looked out. Fl
Page 77 and 78: Chapter 17Mr. Swift</strong
Page 79 and 80: above that the flames were now on t
Page 81 and 82: Chapter 18The Brok
Page 83: 83By daylight it was seen that quit
Page 87 and 88: was so absorbed in
Page 89 and 90: Chapter 20Just in TimeWhile Dr. Hen
Page 91 and 92: 91Humming-Bird gave a dangerous <st
Page 93 and 94: Chapter 21“Will He Live?”Soon t
Page 95 and 96: Chapter 22Off to the MeetSoftly <st
Page 97 and 98: There was a wirele
Page 99 and 100: Chapter 23The Grea
Page 101 and 102: 101“Don’t worr
Page 103 and 104: 103“I’m going to beat you!” t
Page 105 and 106: Chapter 24Won by a LengthRising upw
Page 107 and 108: 107he would wait until five miles f
Page 109 and 110: Chapter 25Home Again—ConclusionMr
Page 111 and 112: 111But Tom almost
Page 113 and 114: 113“Indeed I did. But you helped
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