86 CHAPTER 19. A NERVY SPECIALIST“Two thous<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> pounds thrust!” called the engineer, as he looked at thescale.“Let her go!” cried <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>, whose voice was hardly heard above the roar. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>trim little aeroplane scudded over the ground, gathering speed at every revoluti<strong>on</strong>of the wheels. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>n with a spring like that of some great bird launchingitself in flight, she left the earth, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> took to the air. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> was off <strong>on</strong> his trip.Those left behind sent up a cautious cheer, f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> they did not want to disturbMr. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Swift</str<strong>on</strong>g>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y waved their h<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>s to the young invent<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> he wavedhis in reply. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>n he settled down f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong>e of the swiftest flights he had everundertaken.<str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> ascended until he struck a fav<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>able current of air. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re was a littlewind blowing in the directi<strong>on</strong> he wished to take, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> that aided him. But evenagainst a powerful head-wind the Humming-Bird could make progress.<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> young invent<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> saw the ground slipping backward beneath him. Carefullyhe watched the various indicat<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>s, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> listened intently to the sound of thecylinders’ explosi<strong>on</strong>s. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y came rapidly <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> regularly. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> mot<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> was w<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>kingwell.<str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> glanced at the barograph. It registered two thous<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> feet, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> hedecided to keep at about that height, as it gave him a good view, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> he couldsee to steer, f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> a route had been hastily mapped out f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> him by his friends.Over cities, towns, villages, scattered farmhouses; across stretches of f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>est;over rivers, above big stretches of open country he flew. Often he could seeeager crowds below, gazing up at him. But he paid no heed. He was lookingf<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> a sight of a certain broad river, which was near Kirkville. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>n he knew hewould be close to his goal.He had speeded up the mot<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> to the limit, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> there was nothing to do now,save to manage the planes, wing tips <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> rudders, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> to see that the gasoline<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> oil were properly fed to the machine.Faster <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> faster went the Humming-Bird, but <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s thoughts were evenfaster. He was thinking of many things—of his father—of what he would do ifMr. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Swift</str<strong>on</strong>g> died—of the mysterious airship—of the stolen plans—of the fire inthe shed—of the great race—<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> of Andy Foger.He took little note of time, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> when, in less than an hour he sighted theriver that told him he was near to Kirkville, he was rather startled.“You certainly did come right al<strong>on</strong>g, Humming-Bird!” he murmured proudly.He descended several hundred feet, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>, as he passed over the town, thepeople of which grew wildly excited, he looked about f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> the house of the notedspecialist. He knew how to pick it out, f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> Dr. Gladby had described it to him,<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> was glad to see, as he came within view of the residence, that it wassurrounded by a large yard.“I can l<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> almost at his do<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>,” he said, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> he did, volplaning to earthwith an ease b<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>n of l<strong>on</strong>g practice.To say that Dr. Hendrix was ast<strong>on</strong>ished when <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> dropped in <strong>on</strong> him inthis manner, would not be exactly true. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> specialist was not in the habit ofreceiving calls from youths in aeroplanes, but the fact was, that Dr. Hendrix
was so abs<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>bed in his w<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>k, <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> thought so c<strong>on</strong>stantly about it, that it took agreat deal to startle him out of his usual calm.“And so you came f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> me in your aeroplane?” he asked of <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>, as he gazedat the trim little craft. It is doubtful if he really saw it, however, as Dr. Hendrixwas just then thinking of an operati<strong>on</strong> he had perf<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>med a few hours bef<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>e.“I’m s<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>ry you had your trip f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> nothing,” he went <strong>on</strong>. “I’d like very much tocome to your father, but didn’t you get my telegram, telling about the brokenbridge? <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re is no way f<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> me to get to Shopt<strong>on</strong> in time.”“Yes, there is!” cried <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>, eagerly.“How?”“<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> same way I came—in the aeroplane! Dr. Hendrix you must go backwith me! It’s the <strong>on</strong>ly way to save my father’s life. Come with me in theHumming-Bird. It’s perfectly safe. I can make the trip in less than an hour. Ican carry you <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> your instruments. Will you come? W<strong>on</strong>’t you come to savemy father’s life?” <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> was fairly pleading now.“A trip in an aeroplane,” mused Dr. Hendrix “I’ve never taken such a thing.I—”“D<strong>on</strong>’t be afraid, there’s really no danger,” said <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> physician seemed to reach a sudden c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>His</str<strong>on</strong>g> eyes brightened.He walked over <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> looked at the little Humming-Bird. F<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g> the time being hef<str<strong>on</strong>g>or</str<strong>on</strong>g>got about his operati<strong>on</strong>s.“I’ll go with you!” he suddenly cried. “I’ll go with you, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Swift</str<strong>on</strong>g>! If you’vegot the nerve, so have I! <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> if my science <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> skill can save your father’s life,he’ll live to be an old man! Wait until I get my bag <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> I’ll be with you!”<str<strong>on</strong>g>Tom</str<strong>on</strong>g>’s heart gave a bound of hope.87
Change language