Tom Swift and His Sky Racer; Or, The Quickest Flight on Record by Victor Appleton

  Chapter Nineteen

  A Nervy Specialist

  There was little time to lose. Every moment of delay meant so much lesschance for the recovery of Mr. Swift. Even now the periods ofconsciousness were becoming shorter and farther apart. He seemed to besinking.

  Tom resolutely refused to think of the possibility of death, as he wentin to bid his parent good-by before starting off on his trip throughthe air. Mr. Swift barely knew his son, and, with tears in his eyes,though he bravely tried to keep them back, the young inventor went outinto the yard.

  There stood the Humming-Bird, with Mr. Jackson, Mr. Damon and Eradicateworking over her, to get her in perfect trim for the race before her--arace with death.

  Fortunately there was little to be done to get the speedy craft ready.Tom had accomplished most of what was necessary, while waiting for wordfrom Dr. Hendrix. Now about all that needed to be done was to see thatthere was plenty of gasoline and oil in the reservoirs.

  "I'll give you a note to Dr. Hendrix," said Mr. Gladby, as Tom wasfastening on his faceguard. "I--I trust you won't be disappointed, Tom.I hope he will consent to return with you."

  "He's got to come," said the young inventor, simply, as if that was allthere was 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 andgo back. Can the aeroplane do it?"

  "I'd be ashamed of her if she couldn't," said Tom, with a grimtightening of his lips. "She's just got to do it; that's all! But Iknow she will," and he patted the big propeller and the motor's shiningcylinders as though the machine was a thing alive, like a horse or adog, who could understand him.

  He climbed to his seat, the other one holding a bag of sand to maintaina good balance.

  "Start her," ordered Tom, and Mr. Jackson twisted the propeller. Themotor caught at once, and the air throbbed with the noise of theexplosions. Tom listened to the tune of the machinery. It sang true.

  "Two thousand pounds thrust!" called the engineer, as he looked at thescale.

  "Let her go!" cried Tom, whose voice was hardly heard above the roar.The trim little aeroplane scudded over the ground, gathering speed atevery revolution of the wheels. Then with a spring like that of somegreat bird launching itself in flight, she left the earth, and took tothe air. Tom was off on his trip.

  Those left behind sent up a cautious cheer, for they did not want todisturb Mr. Swift. They waved their hands to the young inventor, and hewaved his in reply. Then he settled down for one of the swiftestflights he had ever undertaken.

  Tom ascended until he struck a favorable current of air. There was alittle wind blowing in the direction he wished to take, and that aidedhim. But even against a powerful head-wind the Humming-Bird could makeprogress.

  The young inventor saw the ground slipping backward beneath him.Carefully he watched the various indicators, and listened intently tothe sound of the cylinders' explosions. They came rapidly andregularly. The motor was working well.

  Tom glanced at the barograph. It registered two thousand feet, and hedecided to keep at about that height, as it gave him a good view, andhe could see to steer, for a route had been hastily mapped out for himby his friends.

  Over cities, towns, villages, scattered farmhouses; across stretches offorest; over rivers, above big stretches of open country he flew. Oftenhe could see eager crowds below, gazing up at him. But he paid no heed.He was looking for a sight of a certain broad river, which was nearKirkville. Then he knew he would be close to his goal.

  He had speeded up the motor to the limit, and there was nothing to donow, save to manage the planes, wing tips and rudders, and to see thatthe gasoline and oil were properly fed to the machine.

  Faster and faster went the Humming-Bird, but Tom's thoughts were evenfaster. He was thinking of many things--of his father--of what he woulddo if Mr. Swift died--of the mysterious airship--of the stolenplans--of the fire in the shed--of the great race--and of Andy Foger.

  He took little note of time, and when, in less than an hour he sightedthe river that told him he was near to Kirkville, he was ratherstartled.

  "You certainly did come right along, Humming-Bird!" he murmured proudly.

  He descended several hundred feet, and, as he passed over the town, thepeople of which grew wildly excited, he looked about for the house ofthe noted specialist. He knew how to pick it out, for Dr. Gladby haddescribed it to him, and Tom was glad to see, as he came within view ofthe residence, that it was surrounded by a large yard.

  "I can land almost at his door," he said, and he did, volplaning toearth with an ease born of long practice.

  To say that Dr. Hendrix was astonished when Tom dropped in on him inthis manner, would not be exactly true. The specialist was not in thehabit of receiving calls from youths in aeroplanes, but the fact was,that Dr. Hendrix was so absorbed in his work, and thought so constantlyabout it, that it took a great deal to startle him out of his usualcalm.

  "And so you came for me in your aeroplane?" he asked of Tom, as hegazed at the trim little craft. It is doubtful if he really saw it,however, as Dr. Hendrix was just then thinking of an operation he hadperformed a few hours before. "I'm sorry you had your trip fornothing," he went on. "I'd like very much to come to your father, butdidn't you get my telegram, telling about the broken bridge? There isno way for me to get to Shopton in time."

  "Yes, there is!" cried Tom, eagerly.

  "How?"

  "The same way I came--in the aeroplane! Dr. Hendrix you must go backwith me! It's the only way to save my father's life. Come with me inthe Humming-Bird. It's perfectly safe. I can make the trip in less thanan hour. I can carry you and your instruments. Will you come? Won't youcome to save my father's life?" Tom was fairly pleading now.

  "A trip in an aeroplane," mused Dr. Hendrix "I've never taken such athing. I--"

  "Don't be afraid, there's really no danger," said Tom.

  The physician seemed to reach a sudden conclusion. His eyes brightened.He walked over and looked at the little Humming-Bird. For the timebeing he forgot about his operations.

  "I'll go with you!" he suddenly cried. "I'll go with you, Tom Swift! Ifyou've got the nerve, so have I! and if my science and skill can saveyour father's life, he'll live to be an old man! Wait until I get mybag and I'll be with you!"

  Tom's heart gave a bound of hope.