Chapter Nineteen

A Nervy Specialist



There was little time to lose. Every moment of delay meant

so much less chance for the recovery of Mr. Swift. Even now

the periods of consciousness were becoming shorter and

farther apart. He seemed to be sinking.



Tom resolutely refused to think of the possibility of

death, as he went in to bid his parent good-by before

starting off on his trip through the 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 out into

the yard.



There stood the Humming-Bird, with Mr. Jackson, Mr. Damon

and Eradicate working over her, to get her in perfect trim

for the race before her--a race 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 word from Dr. Hendrix. Now

about all that needed to be done was to see that there was

plenty of gasoline and oil in the reservoirs.



"I'll give you a note to Dr. Hendrix," said Mr. Gladby, as

Tom was fastening 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 all there was to it.



"Do you think you can make the trip in time?" asked Mr.

Damon. "It is a little less than a hundred miles in an

airline, but you have to go and go back. Can the aeroplane

do it?"



"I'd be ashamed of her if she couldn't," said Tom, with a

grim tightening of his lips. "She's just got to do it;

that's all! But I know she will," and he patted the big

propeller and the motor's shining cylinders as though the

machine was a thing alive, like a horse or a dog, who could

understand him.



He climbed to his seat, the other one holding a bag of

sand to maintain a good balance.



"Start her," ordered Tom, and Mr. Jackson twisted the

propeller. The motor caught at once, and the air throbbed

with the noise of the explosions. Tom listened to the tune

of the machinery. It sang true.



"Two thousand pounds thrust!" called the engineer, as he

looked at the scale.



"Let her go!" cried Tom, whose voice was hardly heard

above the roar. The trim little aeroplane scudded over the

ground, gathering speed at every revolution of the wheels.

Then with a spring like that of some great bird launching

itself in flight, she left the earth, and took to the air.

Tom was off on his trip.



Those left behind sent up a cautious cheer, for they did

not want to disturb Mr. Swift. They waved their hands to the

young inventor, and he waved his in reply. Then he settled

down for one of the swiftest flights he had ever undertaken.



Tom ascended until he struck a favorable current of air.

There was a little wind blowing in the direction he wished

to take, and that aided him. But even against a powerful

head-wind the Humming-Bird could make progress.



The young inventor saw the ground slipping backward

beneath him. Carefully he watched the various indicators,

and listened intently to the sound of the cylinders'

explosions. They came rapidly and regularly. The motor was

working well.



Tom glanced at the barograph. It registered two thousand

feet, and he decided to keep at about that height, as it

gave him a good view, and he could see to steer, for a route

had been hastily mapped out for him by his friends.



Over cities, towns, villages, scattered farmhouses; across

stretches of forest; over rivers, above big stretches of

open country he flew. Often he 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 near Kirkville.

Then he knew he would be close to his goal.



He had speeded up the motor to the limit, and there was

nothing to do now, save to manage the planes, wing tips and

rudders, and to see that the gasoline and oil were properly

fed to the machine.



Faster and faster went the Humming-Bird, but Tom's

thoughts were even faster. He was thinking of many things--

of his father--of what he would do if Mr. Swift died--of the

mysterious airship--of the stolen plans--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 sighted the river that told him he was near to

Kirkville, he was rather startled.



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

murmured proudly.



He descended several hundred feet, and, as he passed over

the town, the people of which grew wildly excited, he looked

about for the house of the noted specialist. He knew how to

pick it out, for Dr. Gladby had described it to him, and Tom

was glad to see, as he came within view of the residence,

that it was surrounded by a large yard.



"I can land almost at his door," he said, and he did,

volplaning to earth with an ease born of long practice.



To say that Dr. Hendrix was astonished when Tom dropped in

on him in this manner, would not be exactly true. The

specialist was not in the habit of receiving calls from

youths in aeroplanes, but the fact was, that Dr. Hendrix was

so absorbed in his work, and thought so constantly about it,

that it took a great deal to startle him out of his usual

calm.



"And so you came for me in your aeroplane?" he asked of

Tom, as he gazed 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 had performed a few hours

before. "I'm sorry you had your trip for nothing," he went

on. "I'd like very much to come to your father, but didn't

you get my telegram, telling about the broken bridge? There

is no 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 back with me! It's the only way to save my father's

life. Come with me in the Humming-Bird. It's perfectly safe.

I can make the trip in less than an hour. I can carry you

and your instruments. Will you come? Won't you come to save

my father's life?" Tom was fairly pleading now.



"A trip in an aeroplane," mused Dr. Hendrix "I've never

taken such a thing. 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 time being he forgot about his

operations.



"I'll go with you!" he suddenly cried. "I'll go with you,

Tom Swift! If you've got the nerve, so have I! and if my

science and skill can save your father's life, he'll live to

be an old man! Wait until I get my bag and I'll be with

you!"



Tom's heart gave a bound of hope.

****

Top of Page

< BACK    NEXT >

| Home | Reading Room | Tom Swift And His Sky Racer