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- text-indent:0; - } - td.leader-dots span { - background:white; - } - - .tab1c1 { border-left: 1px solid black; } - .tab1c1 { border-right: 1px solid black; } - .tab2c1 { } - .tab2c2 { } - .tab2c3 { } - #tab1 tr:nth-of-type(1) td { border-top: 1px solid black; } - #tab1 tr:nth-of-type(48) td { border-bottom: 1px solid black; } - .tdStyle0 { - padding: 0px 5px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; - } - .tdStyle1 { - padding: 0px 5px; text-align:center; vertical-align:top; - } - .tdStyle2 { - padding: 2px 5px; text-align:right; vertical-align:top; - } - .tdStyle3 { - padding: 2px 5px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top;padding-left:29px; text-indent:-24px; - } - .tdStyle4 { - padding: 2px 5px; text-align:right; vertical-align:bottom; - } - .pindent { margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:1.5em; } - .noindent { margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:0; } - .hang { padding-left:1.5em; text-indent:-1.5em; } - </style> - </head> - <body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tom Swift circling the globe, by Victor Appleton</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Tom Swift circling the globe</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>The daring cruise of the Air Monarch</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Victor Appleton</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: January 1, 2023 [eBook #69682]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Most recently updated: January 5, 2023 [eBook #69682]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Delphine Lettau, Greg Weeks, Cindy Beyer, Mary Meehan and the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT CIRCLING THE GLOBE ***</div> - - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' id='iid-0000' style='width:350px;height:auto;'> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'> - -<div class='lgc' style=''> <!-- rend=';' --> -<p class='line' style='margin-top:1em;font-size:1.8em;'>TOM SWIFT CIRCLING</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:1.8em;'>THE GLOBE</p> -<p class='line' style='margin-top:.3em;margin-bottom:.3em;'>OR</p> -<p class='line'>The Daring Cruise of the Air Monarch</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='margin-bottom:.3em;font-size:1.3em;'><span class='sc'>By</span></p> -<p class='line' style='margin-top:.1em;margin-bottom:.1em;font-size:1.2em;'>VICTOR APPLETON</p> -<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'><span class='sc'>Author of</span></span></p> -<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'>“<span class='sc'>Tom Swift and His Motorcycle</span>”</span></p> -<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'>“<span class='sc'>Tom Swift Among the Diamond Makers</span>”</span></p> -<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'>“<span class='sc'>Tom Swift and His Airline Express</span>”</span></p> -<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'><span class='sc'>The Don Sturdy Series</span></span></p> -<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'><span class='sc'>Etc.</span></span></p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line' style='margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;font-style:italic;'><span class='it'>ILLUSTRATED</span></p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line'>NEW YORK</p> -<p class='line' style='margin-top:.1em;margin-bottom:.1em;font-size:1.2em;'>GROSSET & DUNLAP</p> -<p class='line'>PUBLISHERS</p> -<p class='line'> </p> -<p class='line'>Made in the United States of America</p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<hr class='pbk'> - -<table id='tab1' class='center' style='font-size:.7em;'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 32.5em;'> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'><hr class='tbk100'></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'><span style='font-size:x-large'><span class='bold'><span class='gesp'>BOOKS FOR BOYS</span></span></span></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'><span style='font-size:larger'><span class='bold'>By VICTOR APPLETON</span></span></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'><span style='font-size:larger'><span class='bold'><span class='it'>12mo. Cloth. Illustrated.</span></span></span></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'><hr class='tbk101'></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'><span style='font-size:larger'><span class='bold'>THE TOM SWIFT SERIES</span></span></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTORCYCLE</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTORBOAT</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT OIL GUSHER</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS CHEST OF SECRETS</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRLINE EXPRESS</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> TOM SWIFT CIRCLING THE GLOBE</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'><hr class='tbk102'></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'><span style='font-size:larger'><span class='bold'>THE DON STURDY SERIES</span></span></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> DON STURDY ON THE DESERT OF MYSTERY</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> DON STURDY WITH THE BIG SNAKE HUNTERS</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> DON STURDY IN THE TOMBS OF GOLD</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> DON STURDY ACROSS THE NORTH POLE</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF VOLCANOES</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> DON STURDY IN THE PORT OF LOST SHIPS</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'> DON STURDY AMONG THE GORILLAS</td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'><hr class='tbk103'></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'><span style='font-size:larger'><span class='sc'>Grosset & Dunlap</span>, Publishers, New York.</span></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle0'><hr class='tbk104'></td></tr> -</table> - -<div class='lgc' style=''> <!-- rend=';' --> -<p class='line'><span class='sc'>Copyright, 1927, by</span></p> -<p class='line'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <span class='sc'>Inc.</span></p> -<hr class='tbk105'> -<p class='line'><span class='it'>Tom Swift Circling the Globe</span></p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<hr class='pbk'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:1.2em;'>CONTENTS</p> - -<table id='tab2' class='center' style='font-size:.9em;'> -<colgroup> -<col span='1' style='width: 3.5em;'> -<col span='1' style='width: 20em;'> -<col span='1' style='width: 2em;'> -</colgroup> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'><span style='font-size:x-small'>CHAPTER</span></td><td class='tab2c2 tdStyle3'></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><span style='font-size:x-small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>I.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>A Blast of Fire</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch1'>1</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>II.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Tom Accepts</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch2'>10</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>III.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Into a Nose Dive</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch3'>20</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>IV.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Just in Time</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch4'>30</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>V.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>The Air Monarch</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch5'>37</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>VI.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Kicked Out</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch6'>46</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>VII.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Struck Down</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch7'>57</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>VIII.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Midnight Prowlers</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch8'>67</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>IX.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>They’re Off!</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch9'>80</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>X.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Across the Ocean</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch10'>91</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XI.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Forced Down</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch11'>97</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XII.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>The Hurricane</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch12'>103</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XIII.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>A Close Call</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch13'>112</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XIV.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Whizzing Bullets</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch14'>121</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XV.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Yellow Gypsies</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch15'>130</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XVI.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>To the Rescue</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch16'>137</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XVII.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Kilborn’s Trick</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch17'>146</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XVIII.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Chinese Bandits</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch18'>154</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XIX.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>The Typhoon</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch19'>162</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XX.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Malay Pirates</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch20'>172</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XXI.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Among the Head-Hunters</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch21'>178</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XXII.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>The Raft</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch22'>188</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XXIII.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>There She Blows!</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch23'>196</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XXIV.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>The Last Trick</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch24'>201</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class='tab2c1 tdStyle2'>XXV.</td><td class='tab2c2 leader-dots tdStyle3'><span><span class='sc'>Across the Continent</span></span></td><td class='tab2c3 tdStyle4'><a href='#ch25'>208</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class='pbk'> - -<div class='figcenter'> -<img src='images/front.jpg' alt='' id='iid-0001' style='width:350px;height:auto;'> -<p class='caption'>IT WAS A NARROW ESCAPE FROM THE WHALE.</p> -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:2em;font-size:1.8em;'>TOM SWIFT CIRCLING</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;font-size:1.8em;'>THE GLOBE</p> - -<div><h1 class='nobreak' id='ch1'>CHAPTER I<br> <span class='sub-head'>A BLAST OF FIRE</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Tom Swift’s</span> father folded up the newspaper -he had been reading, made a sort of club with -it, and banged it down on his desk with the report -of a gun. At the same time the aged inventor -exclaimed:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll wager ten thousand dollars my son Tom -can do it! Yes, sir, Tom can do it! I’ve got -ten thousand dollars that says he can!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>His face flushed because of the unusual excitement -under which he was laboring, but his -eyes never flinched as he looked at Thornton -Burch, a retired manufacturer of automobiles, -with whom Mr. Swift had just engaged in some -spirited conversation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you want to take up that little wager, -Thorn?” asked Mr. Swift, friendly enough but -very determined.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m not afraid to bet, Bart,” rejoined the -other, with a tantalizing smile; “but I don’t -want to rob you. That would be like taking -candy from a baby!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’re right!” chimed in Medwell Trace, -who was associated with Mr. Burch in business. -Both were old-time friends of Mr. Swift’s. -“Better save your money, Bart!” he added, with -a chuckle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t worry about my money, Med!” snapped -out Mr. Swift, who, in spite of his age, -seemed to have plenty of pep. He went on: -“Ten thousand dollars won’t break me if I lose -it, but I’m not going to. I say Tom can do it, -but my saying so doesn’t seem to make you believe -it. They say money talks, so I’m going -to let mine do a little conversing for me. I -say again, I’ll wager you ten thousand dollars -that Tom can do it!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bless my fountain pen, but I agree with -you, Bart!” exclaimed Wakefield Damon, an -eccentric friend of Tom and his father. “If -anybody can turn that trick it’s my friend -Tom.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But be reasonable,” suggested Mr. Trace. -“Granting that Tom Swift has some speedy -machines and that he has made good with them -in the past, he hasn’t a piece of apparatus now -capable of speed enough and varied activities -enough, to enable him to make that trip in the -time you are claiming he can do it in, Bart. -It’s impossible!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I say it isn’t impossible!” replied the aged -Mr. Swift. “And to show I’m in earnest I’ll -wager a second ten thousand dollars with you, -Medwell Trace, that Tom can complete the -journey inside of the time mentioned.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Better go slow, Bart,” advised Mr. Burch, -with a smile. “I may hold you to the wager -you made with me. I didn’t turn it down. -Why do you go to betting with Med before you -close with me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I thought I had closed with you,” stated -Mr. Swift, in some surprise. He had drawn -some sheets of paper toward him on his desk -and was taking the top off his fountain pen -ready to write out a memo of the wager.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What!” cried Mr. Burch. “Are you making -a double bet? With Med and with me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s what I’m doing!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“For ten thousand dollars each?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s right!” and Mr. Swift seemed surprised -that anybody should doubt his word.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Twenty thousand dollars!” murmured Mr. -Damon softly. “It’s a pile of money, Bart!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I know it is,” agreed Mr. Swift. “But I -have more than twenty thousand dollars worth -of faith in Tom. I know he can do it!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s right! He can!” burst out the eccentric -visitor. “Bless my bald spot, but I’m -almost willing to do some betting myself!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Leave this to me,” begged Mr. Swift. “You -know Tom pretty well, for you’ve been on -enough queer trips with him—more than I have, -as a matter of fact. But I want to vindicate -him and prove that I believe in him, and I’m -willing to do it to the extent of twenty thousand -dollars.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All right! All right!” exclaimed Mr. Trace, -with a snapping of his fingers. “If you feel -that way about it, Bart, put me down for ten -thousand dollars. I can use that sum very -nicely.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If you get it—which you won’t!” chuckled -Mr. Swift grimly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not if Tom can help it!” echoed Mr. Damon. -“Bless my——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But he got no chance to complete one of his -odd expressions, for Mr. Swift interrupted with:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tom doesn’t know anything about it yet. -I’ll have to call him in and tell him and urge -him to get busy and invent a new aeroplane or -something, for, frankly, I don’t believe he has -just the proper piece of apparatus yet to do the -trick!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Whew!” whistled Mr. Burch. “And yet -you’re willing to bet that Tom can do it!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I know my boy,” said the aged inventor -quietly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now let’s get this straight,” suggested Mr. -Trace, who had also taken out pen and paper. -“You say, Swift, that the hero of Jules Verne’s -story, who circled the globe in eighty days, was -a piker. I agree with you about that as far as -the time consumed is concerned. With the perfection -of automobiles, oil burning steamers, -and fast trains, the journey can be accomplished -in much less time than Verne ever dreamed possible. -But to say it can be done in twenty days -flat is absurd!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then twenty thousand dollars is absurd,” -retorted Mr. Swift. “And it’s the first time I -ever heard such a sum so designated.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, we don’t despise the money!” chuckled -Mr. Trace. “We’ll take it from you willingly -enough, Bart, if you are mad enough to persist -in this wager. If you had said thirty days you -might be within the bounds of reason.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Considerably nearer the truth,” agreed Mr. -Burch. “The trip has been made in about -twenty-eight days, elapsed time, I believe. But -twenty days, Bart——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I say Tom will circle the globe in twenty -days <span class='it'>flat</span>—doing it actually within twenty -days!” interrupted Mr. Swift. “The only stipulation -I make is that he can use as many and -as different means of locomotion as he pleases—that -is to say, aeroplanes, seaplanes, motor -boats, steamers, or trains.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s fair enough,” stated Mr. Trace. “I’ll -just make a note of that. No use passing up -ten thousand dollars,” he added with a smile -at his friend. “I’ll never earn that sum any -easier.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You mean I never shall,” said Mr. Swift.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then this seems to be the state of the case,” -went on Mr. Burch, who had been busily writing. -“I’ll just run over this and we can all -sign it if it strikes you as being the terms of the -wagers.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The two friends, Mr. Burch and Mr. Trace, -had called for a friendly visit with Mr. Swift -one day in the early summer. Some time before, -Tom and his father had turned out some -machines for these two men in their big shops, -and in this way a firm friendship had been -started.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. Damon, who lived in the neighboring -town of Waterford, had been passing the Swift -works and had stopped off for a chat. In some -way the conversation had turned on a recent -globe-circling event of some United States Naval -airmen, who had made what was considered -good time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But Tom can beat that!” Mr. Swift had -said. “Tom can circle the globe in twenty days -flat!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What in?” asked Mr. Burch incredulously. -“There isn’t a machine made than can do it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tom’s working on a new machine now,” his -father had said. “It’s a secret, but I don’t mind -mentioning it to you old friends. I haven’t -heard him say it is to be used in a globe-circling -event, but from what he has told me of it I’m -sure it will make fast time, and I’m willing to -bet he can put a girdle around the earth, not -quite as quickly as Puck, but in twenty days.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You mean that he will use the same machine -all along the route?” asked Mr. Trace. -“Why, that’s impossible!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not impossible,” said Mr. Swift. “Tom’s -new machine is going to be capable of traveling -in the air, on the land, or in the water. I -mean on the surface of the water, not a submarine. -That would be a little too much. But -when I say I’ll wager ten thousand dollars that -Tom can circle the globe in twenty days, I don’t -want to tie him down to this one machine. -Something might happen to it. If you gentlemen -take my bet, it is with the understanding -that any machine or machines may be used. -The one condition is that Tom, himself, personally, -shall complete the girdle of the earth -in twice ten days.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It can’t be done!” declared Mr. Burch.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Never!” asserted his friend.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If anybody can do it, bless my key ring, -Tom’s the boy!” voiced Mr. Damon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So the wagers had come to be laid. Mr. -Swift had spoken at first rather rashly and in -the heat of excitement. But he was not one to -back down, and he listened to the reading of -the simple agreement which Mr. Burch wrote -out.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Item,” droned the retired manufacturer as -he scanned his paper, “a wager is entered into -this third day of June to the effect that if Tom -Swift can circle the globe inside of twenty days, -actual time, in any machine or machines of his -own or any make, then I, Thornton Burch, and -I, Medwell Trace, agree that we will each and -severally pay to Barton Swift the sum of ten -thousand dollars. If, on the other hand, Tom -Swift fails to circle the globe inside of twenty -days flat time, then the said Barton Swift will -pay each and severally to the said Burch and -Trace the sum of ten thousand dollars.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Suits me!” exclaimed Mr. Trace, after a -moment of thought.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s my understanding of the wagers,” -assented Mr. Swift.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then we’ll all sign this,” suggested Mr. -Burch, “and Mr. Damon can put his name down -as a witness and also keep this agreement. -There is no need of putting up any money -among gentlemen,” he added, and this was assented -to.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What about a time limit?” asked Mr. Damon. -“I mean the trip ought to be undertaken -and finished within a stipulated time.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll say six months from now,” suggested -Mr. Burch, and, there being no objection, this -was written in.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One after another the four signed, Mr. Damon -finally as a witness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hardly had the last of the fountain pens -ceased scratching than there was reflected across -Mr. Swift’s private office a flash of fire, followed -by a dull, booming sound that seemed to -shake the whole building.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“An explosion!” cried Mr. Damon, and from -without, while the men looked anxiously at one -another, a voice cried:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The works are on fire! They’ve been blown -up! The works are on fire!”</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch2'>CHAPTER II<br> <span class='sub-head'>TOM ACCEPTS</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Pausing</span> only long enough to lay aside the -pens they had been using to sign the strange -agreement, Mr. Swift and his friends rushed -from the private office of the aged inventor -where the talk had been going on.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Silence had settled over the great Swift plant -following that booming explosion. But the silence -was quickly broken by voices calling:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Fire! Fire! Fire!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bless my insurance policy, something has -happened!” gasped Mr. Damon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This was so obvious that no one took the -trouble to agree with him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I hope nothing has happened to Tom!” exclaimed -Mr. Swift.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the four rushed out they were met by -Eradicate, an old colored man, a sort of family -retainer, who was limping along, trying to forget -his rheumatism long enough to keep pace -with a veritable giant of a man who, with -Eradicate, was rushing to tell Mr. Swift the -news.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Master’s shop—him go boom!” roared -Koku, the giant whom Tom had captured during -one of his strange trips.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I seen it same as he did!” cried Eradicate -in his quavering cracked voice. “Massa Tom’s -office done cotch fire!” he added.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s bad!” Mr. Swift murmured, as he -looked toward the part of the works where his -son had his own private place for experiments -and tests. A pall of smoke hung over it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While Tom’s father and his friends are rushing -to do what they can to rescue the young inventor, -something about the hero of this story -will be told to new readers of this series.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom Swift lived with his father in their beautiful -home in Shopton, a town in one of our -Eastern states. Tom’s mother had been dead -some years, and Mrs. Baggert was the housekeeper, -and a veritable second mother to the -young inventor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For Tom was an inventor, like his father, and -in the first volume of this series, entitled “Tom -Swift and His Motorcycle,” it is related how -he bought Mr. Damon’s smashed machine, improved -it, and turned it into one of the speediest -things on the road.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom had many adventures while doing this, -as he had while in his motor boat, his sky racer -and other machines by which he ate up time -and distance as set forth in the various volumes. -It was on one of Tom’s journeys to unknown -lands in a machine of the air that he had brought -back Koku, one of a race of giants, and since -then the big fellow had faithfully served Tom -Swift.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Just before the present tale opens, Tom, as -related in the volume just preceding this, entitled -“Tom Swift and His Airline Express,” -had perfected an aeroplane that could pick up -a coach, something like a Pullman car, and -bear it quickly through space. Tom established -an airline service across the United States, -dividing the journey into several laps, picking -up different coaches in Chicago, Denver, and -San Francisco.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He succeeded after battling with unscrupulous -men who sought to hamper his efforts, and -he also succeeded against a financial handicap. -When almost doomed to failure, however, Tom -saved a millionaire, Jason Jacks, from death in -a runaway accident, and out of gratitude Mr. -Jacks loaned Tom the money to complete and -perfect his Airline Express.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The odd machine, an airship with a detachable -car, met with favor, and from the proceeds -of it Tom and his father gained large sums. -Then, running true to form, the young inventor -looked for a new world to conquer and turned -his attention to a machine he hoped would move -rapidly over the land, like a racing automobile, -in the air, like an aeroplane, and on the water, -like a motor boat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom had practically completed his plans, -and work on the new apparatus was well under -way when the visit of Mr. Burch and Mr. Trace -occurred, resulting in Mr. Swift’s rather rash -wager.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I guess I’m likely to lose before Tom even -has a chance to try,” mused Mr. Swift as he -hurried on toward his son’s private workshop. -“If his place is blown up, he may be blown up -with it!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A pall of smoke hung over that part of the -works, and it was impossible to see what really -had taken place. Men were running from other -parts of the plant, and the fire alarm was clanging.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom and his father had mapped out a plan -for their own private fire company, since the -city engine house in Shopton was too far away -to be depended on and the Swift plant covered -a large space of ground. In this plant many -machines, not all of Tom’s invention or his -father’s, were turned out and scores of men -were employed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Many of these, realizing the danger as soon -as they heard the explosion and listened to the -clanging of the fire bell, realized what portended -and rushed to their stations. Some hurried toward -Tom’s own particular part of the shop -with chemical apparatus, others dragged lines of -hose into which the water would soon be turned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I hope this is nothing serious,” voiced Mr. -Trace.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bless my spectacles, it looks bad enough!” -fairly shouted Mr. Damon, pointing to the thick -pall of black smoke. “The whole place is gone, -I guess!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>However, it was not quite so serious as that, -and a moment later, when a puff of wind blew -aside the dark vapor, it was seen that Tom’s -small, private experimental building was standing -intact. Smoke was pouring from several -windows, however, and the shattered glass told -its own story. But the smoke was lessening, -and this seemed to indicate that the fire was not -increasing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As several of the workmen, bearing portable -chemical extinguishers, hurried into the building, -Mr. Damon pointed to a plot of grass beneath -one of the windows that, Mr. Swift well -knew, was the place where Tom had his desk.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s your boy, now!” said the odd character.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. Swift caught his breath sharply, for he -beheld the prostrate form of Tom stretched motionless -on the sod.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s bad!” murmured Mr. Burch softly, -and he had it in mind to tear up the wager -agreement as soon as possible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ho, Massa Tom!” yelled Eradicate in his -high-pitched voice. “I save yo’!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But Koku also had a desire to be of service -to the master who had been so kind to him, -and he likewise pressed forward.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was a look of pain, grief, and anxiety -on the face of Mr. Swift, and his friends were -about to murmur some words of sympathy, for -it looked as if Tom had been killed, when suddenly -that young man stirred, put his hand to -his head in a dazed fashion, and then sat up.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Glory be!” shouted Eradicate. “He am -alive!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was no doubt of it. Tom Swift was -not only alive, but he did not seem to be hurt. -There were black marks on his hands and face -and his clothing was torn, also he was mud-stained -where he had fallen into a soft spot on -the turf. But he seemed not to be crippled or -otherwise seriously injured.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>His first glance, after he had looked toward -his father and the advancing friends, was to his -shop, and when he saw smoke pouring from -several windows he leaped up with a cry of -alarm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But a moment later Garret Jackson, the shop -manager, who had been among the first to enter -the building, came running out to call:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Fire’s out! Not much damage done!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thank goodness for that!” murmured Mr. -Burch.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What happened, Tom?” asked Mr. Damon, -with the freedom of an old friend. “Sounded -as if the place went up.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It pretty nearly did,” answered the young -inventor, looking at his smudged hands and -then wiping his face, on one cheek of which appeared -a small trickle of blood. “Have you got -the fire under control?” he asked Mr. Jackson.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes,” was the answer. “Don’t turn on the -water!” he shouted as those in charge of a hose -line were about to give a signal. “The chemicals -are all we needed. The blaze didn’t -amount to much.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m glad of that!” Tom was heard to say.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Are you sure you’re all right, my boy?” -asked his father.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Positive!” was the quick answer. “Sound in -wind and limb!” and Tom jumped about and -executed a few side steps to show that he had -not suffered. “I was mixing some chemicals,” -he added, “when something went wrong and I -saw a smoulder of fire that I knew would turn -into an explosion in a few seconds more. So -I stood not on the order of my going, but -jumped out of the window instead of running -to the door.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We were wondering why you were lying on -that grass plot,” said Mr. Damon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I landed there when I jumped,” explained -Tom. “And I wasn’t sure but what some of my -clothing had caught fire, so I rolled over and -lay on my face to protect myself. I couldn’t -get up right away—sort of stunned I guess.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What were you working on, Tom—that new -triple traveler?” asked his father, giving the -name temporarily assigned to the strange machine -that Tom hoped would go on land, in the -air and in the water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, not directly on that,” said the young -inventor as he walked toward his shop to ascertain -the extent of the damage. “Yet it had to -do with it. I was experimenting on a mixture -to make gasoline more explosive. Not like -ethyl gas, though,” he added, “for I want mine -to be more powerful but not dangerous.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not dangerous!” exclaimed Mr. Damon. -“Bless my accident policy, don’t you call a fire, -an explosion, and having to jump through a -window dangerous enough, Tom Swift?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes. But I haven’t got my new gasoline -mixture perfected yet,” was the answer. -“When I do there won’t be any fires or explosions. -Why did you think I might be working -on the triple traveler, Dad?” he asked his -father.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By this time the fire in the young inventor’s -private building was practically out and most -of the smoke had blown away. Tom and his -father and friends entered, and Tom pointed -to the table where he had been working. Some -shattered retorts and glass tubes testified as to -the explosion’s power. Tom had been slightly -cut by flying glass, but that was the extent of -his injuries.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, I had the triple traveler in mind, -Tom,” said Mr. Swift, “because, just before you -tried to blow yourself up, my friends and I were -talking about round-the-world travel. And I -guess I sort of made a foolish boast, Tom.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What was that, Dad?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why, I said, Tom, that you could circle the -globe in twenty days actual time—nothing taken -out for stops or anything like that. In twenty -days flat, Tom.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, I guess maybe it can be done when I -get my new machine perfected,” the young inventor -said, calmly enough.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s got to be done, Tom, unless you want -me to lose twenty thousand dollars!” said his -father.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Twenty thousand dollars! What do you -mean?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He wagered us ten thousand dollars apiece,” -said Mr. Burch, indicating his friend, “that you, -Tom Swift, could circle the globe in twenty -days. We say it can’t be done!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For a moment Tom Swift did not answer. -His eyes roved to the wall of his office where a -world map hung. Quickly Tom’s eyes glanced -along the fortieth parallel of latitude, the most -logical course to follow on a race of this sort.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It can be done,” said Tom quietly. “You -may take on those bets, Dad! I’ll see that you -win!” and there was a determined air about -him. “I’ll circle the world in twenty days!” -promised Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bless my alarm clock, that’s the stuff!” -cried Mr. Damon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A moment later a girl’s voice out in the plant -yard was heard excitedly asking for Tom Swift.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch3'>CHAPTER III<br> <span class='sub-head'>INTO A NOSE DIVE</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>“What</span> happened? Is Tom hurt? Let me -go to him at once!” the voice exclaimed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A smile came over Tom’s face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s Mary Nestor,” he murmured, and to -the two visitors Mr. Damon explained in an -aside:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She and Tom are engaged.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Lucky boy!” murmured Mr. Burch as he -caught sight of a pretty girl hurrying into the -rather upset office. For the place was upset in -spite of the comparatively small damage caused -by the explosion and fire.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, Tom! are you hurt?” Mary cried, -hastening toward him, totally oblivious of all -the others in the disordered room. “I heard a -rumor that your whole plant had burned and I -came over as fast as I could.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, Mary,” went on the young inventor, -with a smile, “I’m glad to say that, for once, -rumor got ahead of itself. Nothing very much -happened. Just a few chemicals went off unexpectedly.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But you’re cut!” Mary gasped, as she saw -the blood on Tom’s cheek. “Oh!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Just a scratch from a broken test tube,” he -explained.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then Mr. Burch, with a fine sense of what -was fitting, said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mr. Trace, since we have concluded our -business here and have made arrangements for -separating our friend Bart from twenty thousand -dollars, we might as well get out and——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He did not say it, but the inference was obvious -that he wanted to leave the two young -people alone. Tom seemed to sense this for he -said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Just a moment, please. I want to understand -a little more about this wager.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’ll understand it better when your dad -has to take some of his big profits and hand -over twenty thousand to us,” chimed in Mr. -Trace. It was true that the Swift Company had -been very profitable of late, thanks to some of -Tom’s inventions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But still I don’t like the idea of losing twenty -thousand, or even ten,” said Tom, with a smile. -“And I don’t intend to lose it, either, gentlemen!” -he concluded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m glad you are backing me up, Tom,” -murmured his father. “How soon will the -triple traveler be done?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom looked at some plans on his desk, -glanced at the world map and was about to answer -when Mary broke in with:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Is this a hold-up?” Her smile took any -menace from the words.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s just a little bet among three old -friends,” said Mr. Burch, with a chuckle, “and -our friend Tom is going to be the goat. I mean -he is going to lose the race!” he concluded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not much I’m not!” cried the young inventor, -and when Mary looked a bit mystified Mr. -Trace explained:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We were discussing various means of travel, -Miss Nestor, and the feat of Jules Verne’s hero -in girdling the earth in eighty days. That time -has been brought down to about thirty, but -Tom’s father declared it could be done within -twenty days.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That suits me!” cried Tom. “If you give -me time to complete the making of my new -machine I’ll prove my father to be right.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good boy!” murmured the aged inventor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then you will have a part in this wager,” -suggested Mr. Trace.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That suits me!” went on Tom. “Let me see—what -can I do with my share of twenty thousand -dollars?” he asked musingly, and with a -smile. But the smile faded when he looked at -Mary’s face and saw how distressed she was.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, Tom,” she murmured, “think how near -death you were just now in the explosion! And -now you are going to risk your life again in one -of your strange machines!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She bit her lips to keep back her tears, it -seemed, and the young inventor, seeing that she -was on the verge of a nervous alarm, quickly -said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t worry, Mary! There’s no danger at -all. Wait until you take a look at my new -triple traveler. Come on out and I’ll show it -to you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom did not invite any of the others into -that part of the works whither he led Mary -Nestor, and Mr. Damon and his friends had -common sense enough not to intrude where, -obviously, they were not wanted. Tom did -not stop to wash his hands or face of the grime -of the explosion, and he only wiped away the -blood, which had now almost ceased to flow -from the slight cut.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He led the girl into a large building, the doors -of which were carefully locked, and when -Mary’s eyes had become accustomed to the -gloom she saw a dim shape of something which -seemed to have the elongated body of a boat, -beneath which were sturdy wheels and above -which were stretched big wings like those on an -aeroplane, with two rear propellers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This is really only a working model,” Tom -explained.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A working model of what?” inquired Mary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, the triple traveler is all we call it at -present,” Tom answered. “As you see——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I can’t see anything much!” interrupted -Mary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well you’ll see later,” went on Tom. “It’s -a secret yet and I have the windows shrouded. -That’s also why I keep the doors locked. No -telling who of my enemies might try to sneak -this new machine away from me. I’ve got to -be careful. But when it’s finished it will be -one of the best things I have ever made.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And are you really going to circle the earth -in it, Tom?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m going to try. There’s no question but -what I can do it. But whether I can do it inside -of twenty days is another question.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You don’t mean to say you are going to try -to win that foolish bet?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t see how I can help myself,” replied -Tom. “It may have been a bit rash of dad to -make it, but, now that he has, I must do all I -can to help him win it. I owe it to my own -reputation. It isn’t so much a question of the -money.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, dear!” sighed Mary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s the matter?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I wish you weren’t always chasing off on -these wild trips, Tom!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t go very often. And they aren’t as -wild as the ones I used to take at first—like -those to the bottom of the sea, for instance. I -haven’t been on any for a long while, either.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No! Not since last fall when you inaugurated -the Airline Express,” said Mary, a bit sarcastically. -“And look what a lot of danger you -were in!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But I came out all right and I made a lot of -money,” said Tom, defending himself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And now you’re going around the world. -Oh, dear!” and Mary sighed dolefully.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom looked at her sharply. He saw that she -was laboring under the reaction of fear after -having heard the false report that his plant -was blown up.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Look here, Mary,” he said, “I’m afraid -you’re losing your nerve! That will never do!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Losing my nerve?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes. I’ll wager right now any flavor of ice-cream -you care to name that you don’t dare -take an aeroplane ride with me!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll take you up!” cried Mary, and she -smiled. “I’ll show you!” and she tossed her -head.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She often accompanied Tom on his trips in -one of his smaller and less complicated aeroplanes, -for Tom traveled this way on many occasions, -to transact some business or to conduct -experiments having to do with other machines.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then you’ll take a sky trip with me, Mary?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I surely will. I think it will do me good!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m sure of it,” said Tom, smiling.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They went out of the partially wrecked -office, Tom giving orders to have it cleaned up -and his gasoline experimental apparatus put -aside for future use.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom next gave orders to have one of his -speedy double planes run into the flying field -while he went to the house to wash and get -ready for the trip with Mary. Then he added -his name to the signatures on the bet agreement, -and said inside of six months from the -present time he would start to circle the globe.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mr. Swift, who had somewhat regretted his -rash action, was all smiles now, for he had -great faith in Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Of course twenty thousand dollars won’t -break us, Tom,” he confided to his son as the -latter was putting on his leather flying helmet -and getting one ready for Mary, together with -a leather jacket. “But, at the same time, I’d -like to win it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Same here, Dad,” echoed Tom. “And we -will, too!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In a short time the little plane, which would -carry only two, was in readiness. The motor -was tuned up and Tom and Mary took their -places in the double cockpit, where the girl sat -beside her sweetheart. It was a type of plane -perfected by Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where to, Mary?” asked Tom, as he looked -over the controls.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, anywhere,” she answered. “I want to -get away from everything for a while.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then maybe you’d rather go up alone,” suggested -the young man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I said <span class='it'>everything</span>—not every<span class='it'>body</span>,” and -Mary’s accent made the meaning clear, at which -Tom laughed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He turned on more gas, there was a roar from -the motor, the plane taxied across the field, and -a few seconds later was soaring up toward the -blue.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I suppose you’ll be traveling like this when -you start on that—I can’t help saying it—foolish -trip around the world, Tom,” said Mary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A lot faster,” was his answer. “You see I’ve -got to do twenty-five thousand miles in twenty -days. That’s twelve hundred miles a day. -Counting twelve hours to a day on the average, -that’s a hundred miles an hour. But of course -there will have to be stops, forced or others, -and so practically I’ll have to double that rate -and make it two hundred miles or more of flying -every hour.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Can you go that fast, Tom?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Faster, I hope. I just read of a navy seaplane -that did two hundred and fifty-six miles -an hour. I’m going to better that record if I -can. Just wait until I get the new triple traveler -finished.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I hope it doesn’t finish you, Tom,” said -Mary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He leaned over toward her. By a new muffler -attachment on the engine the roar of the exhaust -was deadened and it was possible to talk -without shouting. Love making can never be -carried on in shouts, as you know well.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On and on flew Tom and Mary, the little -plane gaining speed and height each minute. -They were soon up above the clouds, flying fast.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’re a good traveler, Mary,” said Tom. -“How’d you like to come along on the world-circling -jaunt?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In some ways I’d like it—I could make sure -you were safe,” she said with a smile. “But -I’m afraid I can’t manage it,” she added, as -Tom gave her hand a squeeze. To do this he -had to release one of the levers he was manipulating, -and when he again shifted it there was -a peculiar sound.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s that?” cried the girl.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom Swift did not answer, but began frantically -manipulating the controls. The plane -was acting in a peculiar manner—even Mary -with her inexperience realized that.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Is anything wrong?” she asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m afraid there is,” Tom answered with a -grim tightening of his jaws. “We seem to be -going into a nose dive!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hardly had he spoken than the plane tilted -forward and plunged toward the earth at frightful -speed.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch4'>CHAPTER IV<br> <span class='sub-head'>JUST IN TIME</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Tom Swift</span> had been in dangerous situations -before with aeroplanes and other machines of -his invention. He had more than once been -close to death, and he knew that the only way -to get out of a tight corner was to keep his head. -Now he did not so much fear for himself as for -Mary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Is there any danger?” asked the girl, who -had sense enough to sit quietly in her seat and -not grab Tom’s arms or interfere in any way.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, there is danger,” the aviator answered -quietly, as he kept at his task of trying to -straighten out the plane. “If I can’t bring her -up we’re likely to crash.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Beyond a gasp of her breath and a look of -terror in her eyes, Mary showed no signs of the -fear that was within her. Yet she was terribly -frightened, for Tom as much as for herself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come up here!” cried the young inventor, -speaking to the plane as he might to a horse. -He adjusted the levers, pulled back on the one -that tended to raise the forward edges of the -plane to tilt her nose, and he tried to get the -elevation rudder up. But in the end he had to -admit that he was beaten.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She won’t come up!” he gasped.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then we’ll have to crash!” murmured Mary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom nodded hopelessly. He reached over and -began loosening the buckle of the girl’s safety -belt before unfastening his own.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The only thing to do is to jump when I give -the word.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Is there no chance of saving the plane, -Tom?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t believe so, Mary. But I’m not worrying -about the machine. I can make another. -It’s you!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom put his arm around her and she leaned -close to him. The machine was dashing downward -now at terrific speed, and on a dangerous -slant that meant the nose would strike the earth -first, driving the engine back upon those in the -cockpit. The motor had stopped, whether having -been cut off by Tom or because of some -defect Mary did not inquire.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Leap clear when I tell you to,” said Tom, as -he made one more fruitless effort to straighten -the plane out so he could pancake down instead -of hitting on the nose. “You go out on that -side, Mary, and I’ll go on this.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If there was only some water for us to land -in,” murmured the girl. “If we were only over -Lake Carlopa instead of having to jump on -the hard ground, it wouldn’t be so bad, Tom!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m heading for Jamison’s cranberry bog,” -the aviator answered, pointing to a marshy -place just ahead. “It will be a softer place to -jump on than the fields or in the woods. I -hope we can make it!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Nearer and nearer the earth the plane was descending. -In a few seconds more it would be -all over, and the machine would crash itself -into a mass of tangled wreckage, while the bodies -of Tom and Mary—it was terrible to think of.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Shall I jump now?” the girl asked as she -leaned over the edge of the cockpit and saw how -perilously close the earth was.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Just a moment,” said Tom. “Wait!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He made one last attempt to straighten the -plane out, pulling on the lever with all his force. -To his joy and surprise it yielded where before -it had held firm. Back it came to the last notch -and, with a suddenness that was like the quick -stopping of a falling elevator, the plane flattened -out on a level keel just as it started over -the big cranberry bog, part of which was flooded -with water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I leveled her out!” cried the young man. -“There’s a chance now that we can make a three -point landing and save ourselves.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The plane, however, had acquired terrific -speed during her dive, and was going much -faster than would have been the case had she -been driving along under the power of the motor -and on a level. In this latter case Tom could -have eased the machine down gently.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As it was, they were going to strike the ground -while going at terrific speed. Though in their -favor was the fact that they could now hit the -earth at a long slant instead of at an acute -angle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Shall I jump?” asked Mary, who was closely -watching her lover.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No!” he cried. “Sit tight! Maybe we can -do it!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He was making some adjustments to the -wings and tail rudder. The controls had jammed -just when they were most needed, but they -had now suddenly loosened up in as strange a -manner as they had tightened, and this gave -Tom Swift his chance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He looked down, picking out the best possible -spot for a landing, since he could now steer the -plane somewhat. The spot he picked was -where the water was deepest over the cranberry -bog. The plane was not fitted with pontoons -for landing on water, and doubtless the under -carriage was going to be greatly damaged in the -fall. But, other things being equal, a fall into -water in an aeroplane is less harmful to the occupants -than a landing on the hard ground.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With steady hands and clear eyes that sought -for the most advantageous spot, Tom guided the -almost unruly craft. It was now within a few -hundred feet of the earth, and a couple of seconds -more would tell the tale.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Aside from the rushing of the wind past them, -causing a roaring noise in spite of the helmets -they wore over their ears, there was silence in -the plane, for the motor was still dead. Amid -the silence Tom heard some voices shouting -below him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He wondered dimly who could be calling, -but guessed it was some autoists on the highway -that bordered the cranberry bog.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They’re going to see something they didn’t -count on!” thought Tom grimly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Stand up, Mary, when I give the word!” -said Tom to her as he leaned over the edge of -the cockpit and looked down. His gaze took in -a small automobile racing along the highway -toward that part of the bog where he hoped to -land.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Stand up! What for?” asked the girl. -“Shall I have to jump after all?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, but by standing, instead of sitting, the -shock of landing will be less,” Tom said. “Get -ready now!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>His eyes were measuring the distance. In -three seconds more, he calculated, the plane -would crash into the bog of mud and water. -But it would crash on a nearly level keel instead -of on its nose, in which case nothing, in all likelihood, -could have saved the occupants from -death.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Up!” cried Tom sharply, and he and Mary -rose in their seats, clinging to each other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>An instant later the plane hit the ground with -terrific force, but fortunately in the middle of -a soft spot of mud and water which greatly reduced -the shock. As it was, the jolt knocked -Tom and Mary down, stunning them as they -were crushed back into their seats, so that for -a few seconds after the forced landing they did -not realize what was happening.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mary was the first to recover her senses. She -struggled to a position where she could look -over the side of the cockpit and at once cried:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tom! We’re sinking! We’re almost submerged!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By this time the young inventor had aroused -and, pulling himself to the edge of the cabin -space, he glanced over.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’re in a bad hole!” he exclaimed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He learned later that the plane had gone -down in what was virtually a quicksand in the -cranberry bog—a place shunned by all who -knew its dangers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s to be done, Tom?” cried Mary. “We -got out of the nose dive just in time, but if -we’re going to sink in this bog it will be just -as bad, though not so quick!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She saw, in fancy, a slow, terrible death by -suffocation in the mud and water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let’s jump out and try to wade to solid -ground!” she went on.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No! No! Don’t do that!” yelled Tom. -“It would be sure death! The plane will hold -us up for a time—perhaps until help comes.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where will help come from?” asked Mary. -“No one knows we are here, Tom.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Before he could answer there came the sound -of shouting voices and the tooting of an automobile -horn from somewhere in the distance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Maybe that’s help now,” Tom said. “But -they’ve got to hurry,” he added grimly. “We’re -sinking fast!”</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch5'>CHAPTER V<br> <span class='sub-head'>THE AIR MONARCH</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Rapidly</span> the small plane settled in the mud -and water. It was down almost to the edge of -the cockpit, and Tom was about to advise Mary -to climb out and up on the upper surface of -the wings, which he, likewise was going to do, -when shouts over to the left attracted the attention -of the two.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A couple of men—automobile mechanics to -judge by their grease-soiled garments—stood on -the edge of the bog, waving their hands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hold fast!” the taller one urged. “We’ll -get you in a minute!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You can’t come out here!” Tom shouted -back. “It’s a regular quicksand. You’ll get -in yourselves!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s some sort of a boat here,” said the -other man. “We’re coming out in that!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A boat! Then they’ll save us!” gasped -Mary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Maybe,” returned Tom grimly. He did not -understand how a boat could be propelled -through that bog which was more like thick, -slimy mud than it was water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The two men disappeared behind a screen of -bushes, and Mary cried:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, they are leaving us!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But the reassuring shout came back:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll be there with the boat in a minute!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By this time the thick, muddy water (quicksand -in solution it was) began seeping over the -edge of the cockpit. Tom was helping Mary to -climb up to a dry place, back on the fuselage -of the machine, when out of the underbrush the -two men emerged, pushing, by means of poles, -a low, broad, flat-bottomed punt, which was -so broad of beam that it did not sink in the -swamp.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll have you off in a minute!” called the -shorter of the two men encouragingly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By dint of hard pushing they worked the -punt to the side of the stranded and bogged -aeroplane, and Tom and Mary lost little time -in getting into the safer, if less picturesque, -craft.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Will it float with all four of us in it?” Tom -asked anxiously.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I guess so,” the tall stranger said. “But it -will be slow work poling back to solid ground.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sorry we can’t save your bus, mister,” remarked -the other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t worry about the plane,” was Tom’s -answer. “There are more where that came -from. And I may be able to save it at that.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It would take a tank to yank that bus out,” -said the short man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What do you know about tanks?” asked -Tom, as he took up a pole from the bottom of -the punt and helped the two rescuers push the -craft toward the solid point of land whence the -welcome hails had come.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I used to manicure one on the other side -when we had the Big Fuss,” was the answer, -and Tom knew the man had been in one of the -ponderous tank machines of the World War.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I hate to leave that bus,” sighed the tall -man, with a look back at the now almost submerged -plane. “She’s pretty, but you had some -trouble, didn’t you?” he asked. “Sounded to -me like your motor died on you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It did,” admitted Tom. “And I couldn’t -straighten out.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She was nose diving when my buddy and -me saw you as we were riding along in our machine,” -went on the tall man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Nose diving is right,” conceded Tom. “But -I got her straightened out just in time.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But not enough to zoom up,” went on the -other, and Tom was sure the man knew whereof -he spoke.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’ve run a bus?” asked Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In France,” was the sufficient answer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By this time the punt had been poled through -the mud, water, and quicksand of the cranberry -bog far enough so that all danger was past. It -was shoved against the point of land on which -the two men had run out as they leaped from -their auto, which they said they had left back -on the highway.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, I guess you’ll be all right now,” remarked -the tall man as Tom and Mary got out -of the punt.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, thanks to you,” said the young inventor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If we can drop you anywhere in our flivver,” -went on the short man, “we’ll do it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If you can take us to the Swift plant,” said -Tom, “it will be a great accommodation.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll do that,” said the short man, as his -companion made the punt fast to a stump. -“That Tom Swift is the big inventor, isn’t he! -Do you know him?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Slightly,” was the answer, with a smile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This is Tom Swift!” exclaimed Mary, unable -to resist the opportunity. She indicated -Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You are?” gasped the short man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Gee!” exclaimed his tall companion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I happen to be,” replied Tom. “And if you -will leave us at my plant and come in so that -I can thank you properly for what you did——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Aw, forget it!” snapped out the short man. -“We don’t want any thanks. You’d do the -same, wouldn’t you?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Of course,” said Tom. “But——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Forget it!” said the other again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“At least tell me who you are,” begged Tom, -as the two led the way to where they had left -their small touring car.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m Joe Hartman,” said the tall man who -had admitted he was an aviator in the World -War.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And when I hear anybody yell for Bill -Brinkley then I come and get my chow!” added -the short chap whimsically.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This is my friend, Miss Mary Nestor,” introduced -Tom, and the girl held out a hand -each to the two mechanics.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All oil and grease!” apologized Brinkley, -putting his hand behind his back. “We work -in a garage at Waterford,” he went on in explanation.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And we’ll gum you all up if we shake -hands!” added Joe Hartman bashfully.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“As if I cared!” exclaimed Mary, and she insisted -on grasping their oil-begrimed palms in a -warm pressure. “I want to thank you, too,” -she said as she told where she lived, begging the -two to call and see her father and mother.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If you fellows work in Waterford, maybe -you know Mr. Wakefield Damon?” Tom added.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Guess not,” admitted the short man, while -his companion shook his head in negation. “We -haven’t worked there very long,” he went on. -“Just now we had to deliver a repaired car in -Shopton and we two went together. I drove -this flivver,” he added with a kick at one of the -tires, “so I could bring Joe back.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, it’s a good thing you happened to be -where you were,” said Tom. “And I wish -you’d come and see me some time,” he added -as the little auto was headed for his plant.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Maybe we will,” was all the two would -promise when, a little later, they let Tom and -Mary out at the office entrance and then drove -on.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the accident to the plane had happened -several miles from Tom’s plant, neither his -father, Mr. Damon, nor the two wagering -friends, Medwell Trace and Thornton Burch, -were aware of it. Not until Tom and Mary -came in, somewhat spattered by mud, and told -of their experience was anything known of it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom sent Mary home in an automobile and -dispatched some of his workmen with a big -truck and long ropes to see if it was possible to -get the little plane out of the swamp.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And now,” said Tom, as he finished washing -off some of the grime, “I’m going to get seriously -to work and help dad win that twenty thousand -dollars.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom Swift had made a start on his new machine -some time before. He had conceived the -idea of a craft that was at once an automobile, -a motor boat, and an aeroplane, and though his -father had at first been doubtful and some of -the mechanics who worked on it openly skeptical, -Tom had persisted and now the craft was -well on in the process of manufacture.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A model had been made, and though at first -it would not work, Tom had kept improving it -until it was perfect. The only thing that disappointed -the young inventor was that it was -not speedy enough, and he was looking for fast -performances, not only in the air but on land -and water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ve got to use a more powerful gasoline,” -he decided and he was experimenting on this -fluid when the explosion came. Luckily, little -damage was done and three days after the fire -Tom’s office had been repaired and he was hard -at work again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What are you going to call it, Tom?” asked -Ned Newton, the young former bank cashier -who was a close friend of the young inventor -and, of late, treasurer and one of the managing -officials of the Swift Company. Ned was in -Tom’s private workshop looking at the strange -device.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, I did think of calling it <span class='it'>Monarch</span>,” -was the answer. “The <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> might not -be such a bad name, if it does what I think it -will do.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“When will you know?” Ned asked.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In a few weeks. I’m going to rush work on -it, now that dad has made his wagers. I’ve got -to help him win that twenty thousand dollars.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you think you can?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m going to!” declared Tom, with conviction. -“Take a look at the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>, Ned, -and see what you think of her as far as I’ve -gone.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Looks pretty good,” admitted the young -treasurer. “What’s that for?” and he pointed -to a small door in the rear of the machine, a -door under the tail rudder.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s where the propeller is concealed,” -was Tom’s answer. “Look and you’ll see how -it works!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He pulled a lever, the door slid back, and in -a tunnel-shaped compartment was a large, three-bladed, -bronze propeller.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s for use when running on the water,” -the inventor explained.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How does it run on land?” inquired Ned. -“Like an automobile?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not exactly,” Tom said. “The same propeller -that sends the craft through the air -sends it along on the ground. Just as an aeroplane -taxies across the field before mounting, -you know. By keeping the tail rudder depressed -I prevent the machine from rising, and it moves -over the ground, though of course not as fast -as in the air.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There is no direct drive on these wheels -then?” asked Ned, pointing to four strong -wheels on which the machine rested and on -which it would land after making a flight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, yes, I can drive the car on the ground -by gearing the motor directly to the wheels,” -said Tom. “But I can’t get much speed that -way, though I do get a lot of power. And in -front here——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But Tom suddenly stopped his explanations -and looked toward the door of his private shop. -The knob was turning in a stealthy manner.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch6'>CHAPTER VI<br> <span class='sub-head'>KICKED OUT</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>“What’s</span> the matter?” asked Ned Newton, -who was very much interested in Tom’s new -machine. Ned had gone on air trips with his -chum before and, having heard of the wager and -now seeing the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>, it is not at all unlikely -that Ned had visions of another strange -journey. “Anything wrong?” went on Ned, as -Tom did not answer, but continued to stare at -the door.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There may be—I’m not sure,” was the answer -in a low voice. “Wait a minute.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom tiptoed softly to the door, opened it -suddenly, and then uttered an exclamation of -disappointment.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s the matter?” asked Ned again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He skipped,” answered Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The fellow who was outside that door trying -to overhear some of my secrets and find out -about the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>,” was Tom’s answer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Spies?” exclaimed Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s about it. Ever since I first started -on this new idea and began work on the model -and the craft itself, I’ve had a sneaking idea -that I’m being spied upon. I am sure of it now. -Somebody was listening at the keyhole, but -they heard me coming and skipped.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who is it?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s what I’ve got to find out. Keep -quiet about this, and I’ll set a trap.” Then the -two friends went to a far corner of the room, out -of all possible range of the door, and talked for -a long time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The next few days were busy ones in the shop -of Tom Swift. Now that his father, by his -rashness, had committed his son to the attempt -to circle the earth in twenty days, the older inventor -was as enthusiastic over the matter as -was Tom himself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll help you get the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> finished, -Tom,” said the old man, “and then you can -start. I’m not going to have Burch and Trace -crowing over me!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They won’t crow, Dad,” said Tom, with a -smile. “I’ll win that money for you!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In order to hasten the completion of the <span class='it'>Air -Monarch</span>, men who were in other shops controlled -by Tom and his father were taken off -their work and put to finishing the triple traveler. -All who were admitted into the shop -where the big new machine was housed were -sworn to secrecy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The new machine was like a large aeroplane, -but with an enclosed cabin something like the -European air line <span class='it'>de luxe</span> expresses. Built like -a Pullman car, only lighter, the cabin of the -<span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> afforded sleeping berths for five. -When not in use the bunks folded up against -the wall, thus making an observation room. -There was a combined dining room and kitchen -where meals could be served.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The motor of the craft was abaft the living -quarters, thus keeping the sleeping compartment -free of gasoline fumes. The <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was -of the pusher and not the tractor type of plane. -Extending over the cabin, and out on either -side was the big top plane. There was another -plane below this, and from the lower one extended -the long tail which carried the rudders, -one for directing the craft up or down and the -other to impart a lateral motion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The body of the craft was something like a -seaplane, staunchly built to enable it to travel -the surface of the ocean if need be. And, as -already explained, there were four sturdy wheels -on which the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> could roll along the -ground. These wheels could be geared directly -to the motor, as are the wheels of an automobile, -or by using the air propeller the craft -could be sent along as an aeroplane taxies across -its starting field. The housed propeller for use -in water has already been mentioned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>To such good advantage did Tom Swift set -his men to work that four weeks after the laying -of the wager the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was completed -except for the fitting up of her cabin and the -taking aboard of supplies.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The motor’s the main thing, and that’s completed -and installed,” said Tom to Ned one -evening.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Does it work?” asked the financial representative -of the firm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It sure does!” was the enthusiastic answer. -“Tried it on a brake test this afternoon and she -did a little better than two thousand seven hundred -R.P.M.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hope that doesn’t mean ‘Rest In Peace',” -chuckled Ned, who was not versed in mechanics.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“R.P.M. stands for revolutions per minute,” -Tom explained. “And when I tell you my new -motor did more than twenty-seven hundred it’s -going some. That motor will rate better than -six hundred and ninety horse power.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes?” asked Ned, politely enough.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, you big boob!” cried Tom with good-natured -raillery. “Why, don’t you understand -that the best performance a naval seaplane ever -did was only twenty-seven hundred R.P.M., -and they couldn’t get more than six hundred -and eighty-five rated horse power out of their -V-type motor? But at that they made two -hundred and fifty-six miles an hour,” said Tom -with respect.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who did?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The United States naval flyers,” Tom replied. -“I’m ashamed of your ignorance,” he -chuckled. “Think of it—two hundred and -fifty-six miles an hour! If I can equal that -record, and I think I can, I’ll win the twenty -thousand dollars for dad with my hands down.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let’s see,” said Ned musingly, and he began -doing some mental arithmetic. He was good at -this. “The distance around the earth, say at -the fortieth parallel of latitude, is, roughly, -twenty-five thousand miles. At the rate of -two hundred and fifty-six miles an hour, or -say two hundred and fifty to make it round -numbers, it would take about a hundred hours, -Tom. A hundred hours is, roughly, four days, -and you’ve got twenty! Why, say——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Look here, you enthusiastic Indian!” yelled -Tom, playfully mauling his chum’s hair. “You -can’t fly one of these high-powered machines for -a hundred hours straight! They’d burn up. -You have to stop now and then to cool off, take -on gas and oil, make adjustments, and so on.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I thought you were going to do continuous -flying,” objected Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m going to do it as continuously as possible,” -was Tom’s reply. “But I’ll need all of -twenty days to circle the globe. There will be -accidents. Storms may force us down, and you -may want to stop and inquire into the financial -system of the Malays.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Me?” queried Ned. “Am I going?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You sure are!” was the answer. “You’re -going to be official score keeper. Dad needs -that twenty thousand dollars. Yes, sir, you’re -going and it’s about time we began to make -serious preparations to start. You won’t back -out, will you?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, I guess not,” Ned said. “Who else is -going? Mr. Damon?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, he wants to go,” said Tom; “but he’s -afraid his wife won’t let him. Dad is too old, -of course. But I’ll need three good mechanics, -besides myself. With you that will make five—just -enough to fill the cabin nicely. Come on -out and take a look at the boat.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Going to take along plenty to eat?” asked -Ned, as he and his chum went across the now -dark shop yard toward the brick building that -housed the newest creation of the young inventor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, sure!” was the response. “But we -won’t have to stock up very heavily. You see -we’ll make several stops on the way.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Just what are your plans?” Ned wanted to -know.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, I thought of starting from around -here, or, possibly, from the vicinity of New -York,” Tom answered. “You see, there’s a -possibility of a race.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A race to circle the earth?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes. The papers have got hold of this -wager of dad’s—I think Mr. Damon, in his enthusiasm, -spilled the beans—and there is some -talk of a national aero club taking the matter -up. A paper or two has mentioned that such a -trip will greatly advance the science of flying, -and there may be a big prize offered for the winner -of the race—the one who makes the best -actual time around the world.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then you’re likely to win considerable -money,” suggested Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If the plans are carried out, yes. But I’ll -be satisfied to win that twenty thousand dollars -for dad. It will just about make me come out -with an even break.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“An even break?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes. This machine will cost me around -twenty thousand,” said Tom. “Of course, I’ll -be out my expenses, but then dad got me into -this thing unthinkingly and I’m going to see it -through. But if some one offers a prize and I -can win it, I’ll have that much velvet.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s a bigger thing than I thought,” Ned -stated. “I hope you won’t be disappointed in -your craft, Tom. I mean I hope it will work.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It will work—I’m sure of that,” said the -young inventor. “Of course whether I can eat -up the miles and actually get around the world -in twenty days remains to be seen. But I’m -going to try!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The two were at the workshop now. It was -shrouded in darkness, for the day’s labor was -over.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Stand still a minute until I turn on the -lights,” Tom said, as he opened a little side -door and stepped in, leaving Ned to follow. -“It’s as dark as a pocket in here.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ned could hear Tom fumbling for the electric -switch. Then, just as the light was turned on, -there came, from the other side of the big shop -and back of the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>, a clicking sound -followed by a scream of pain.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s that?” cried Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I think it’s my sneak trap!” answered Tom. -“I hope I’ve caught him!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In an instant the shop was flooded with light, -and Ned followed Tom on the run around the -big <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>, which occupied most of the -space. A moment later Ned saw Tom spring -upon a man who was caught by one leg in a -curious wooden trap, the smooth jaws of which -had clamped around the intruder’s ankle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Help! Help!” screamed the man, for such -he was—a burly, ugly, lowering chap dressed -in the greasy clothes of a mechanic.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You aren’t hurt!” said Tom, pausing in -front of the captive and eyeing him. “I set -that trap there to catch any one who came in -here unauthorized. It isn’t meant to hurt—just -to hold you fast. And I’ve got you, Cal Hussy! -Got you good!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let me out of here!” snarled the man, trying, -without success, to free his foot.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I will in a minute. But first I’ll find out if -you have taken anything,” Tom said coolly. -“Here, Ned, search him!” he called to his chum.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then, while Tom deftly caught Hussy’s hands -in a loop of rope drawn tight, Ned went through -the intruder’s pockets. Aside from some personal -effects, the search revealed nothing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You let me go!” snarled the man, with an -evil scowl.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I will if I make sure you haven’t damaged -my machine,” went on Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A quick inspection showed nothing wrong. -The motor compartment of the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -was locked, and Tom knew the fellow had not -been in it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now I’ll let you go,” said the inventor to -the fellow. “But I warn you the next time you -step into my trap it will have teeth!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Pulling on a lever, Tom opened the jaws of -the trap and the man was free to step out. He -limped slightly as he walked toward the window -by which he had entered, for the spring of the -trap was strong.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who is he?” asked Ned as the man started -to crawl out. He had cut a pane of glass out -of the window, sawed some of the iron protective -bars, and gotten in that way. But in walking -across the floor in the dark he had stepped -into one of several traps Tom had set recently.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That is Cal Hussy,” explained Tom, watching -every movement of the man. “He works -for the Red Arrow Aeroplane Company, one of -my rivals. Evidently they have heard something -of my new invention and are trying to -find out its secret. But I’ve fooled them. I -caught Hussy the first crack out of the box.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, you caught me all right, Tom Swift!” -snarled the man, turning when he was half way -through the window. He scowled and shook his -fist at the young inventor. “You caught me, -but I’ll catch you next time!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This threat seemed to enrage Tom. He -rushed at the fellow just as Hussy cried again:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It will be my turn next time!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom raised his foot and planted a well directed -and richly deserved kick on Hussy where -it would do the most good. Like a football -dropping over the crossbar, the intruder went -tumbling over the window sill, to fall heavily to -the ground below.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He grunted, uttered some strong language, -and then, as he ran off down the road in the -darkness, he called back:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’ll be sorry, some day, you did that, -Tom Swift! You’ll be sorry!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m sorry now that I didn’t kick you twice!” -cried the angry inventor.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch7'>CHAPTER VII<br> <span class='sub-head'>STRUCK DOWN</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>“What’s</span> the idea, Tom?” asked Ned when -his chum had returned to the middle of the big, -barnlike room where he stood in front of the -<span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>, contemplating the powerful machine. -“What’s the game?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A dirty game!” snapped out Tom Swift. -“This Red Arrow gang has been trying to sneak -around and discover some of my secrets for a -long time. This is another attempt. Hussy has -been here before. But I don’t think he’ll come -again,” added the young inventor grimly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Are they trying to do you out of this new -contrivance?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t know that they are specifically after -this,” stated Tom. “They’ll steal any new invention -they can. But from the fact that Hussy -was in here I judge they must have heard something -about the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> and they want to -get an idea of how she’s made. I suspected they -might try something like this, and so I set several -traps. Hussy happened to step into one,” -and taking Ned to the various windows Tom -showed other devices to nab intruders.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Going over the machine and making an examination -of the workshop in company with -Ned, convinced Tom that Hussy had been -caught before he could do any damage.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But from now on I’ll have to be doubly -careful,” Tom declared. “And if I see Hussy -around here again——” he did not finish, but it -could easily be guessed what would happen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From then on it became increasingly difficult -for strangers to get near the Swift plant. Eradicate -and Koku were kept on guard in the shop -where the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was housed and Mr. -Swift, with a smile, said they at times even -looked on him with suspicion.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But the days passed and the big machine was -practically completed, and then came a trial -flight which was successful. The giant craft -took the air like a bird, and though its speed -was not quite up to Tom’s expectations, he said -that with some adjustments he thought it -would beat any aircraft he had ever made.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On land the progress was necessarily slower, -and in the water it was slower still. But even -at that the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> did well, and it could -do still better, Tom declared.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The machine was taken back to the shop for -some final adjustments, and Tom was busy -superintending these one day when Ned Newton -burst into the building, waving a paper over his -head and exclaiming:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Look at this, Tom! Listen to this! You’ve -got a chance to make a fortune!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I sure need it,” said the young inventor, with -a smile. “This machine is costing a lot more -than we’d figured on. But what’s the idea? -Has some one left me a million?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No,” answered Ned. “But this paper, the -New York <span class='it'>Illustrated Star</span>, offers a prize of one -hundred thousand dollars for an international -race around the world in the shortest time—actual -time. Why, Tom, those are exactly the -conditions under which your father wagered -with Burch and Trace! Why don’t you go in -for this?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Maybe I will,” said Tom. “Let’s have a -look!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Eagerly he read the story in the paper, setting -forth the terms of the prize offer. They -were simple enough.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At a date about a month off, any person who -wished to contest must start from an aero field -on Long Island. The first person to return to -the starting point, after actually circling the -globe, would be given a hundred thousand dollars.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There were no conditions except that all contestants -must prove by documentary evidence, -such as having signed statements from officials -in various countries, that they had passed -through or over them on certain dates. The -world must be girdled on a circle of one of its -great circumferences, that is the equator, or a -parallel not too far above or below it. Or, if -a contestant desired, he could circle around a -longitudinal line. But as this would mean flying -over the north and south poles, that was -practically out of the question. It was assumed -that those who took part would travel along -about the fortieth parallel, as this would keep -them over fairly civilized countries for the longest -period.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Contestants could travel as they liked, in any -sort of conveyance, motor car, steamer, train, -airship, or submarine. They could change conveyances -as often as they pleased. The sole -requisite was that they must come back to the -starting point, after traveling completely around -the earth, and they must prove that they had -done it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This suits me!” exclaimed Tom, as he read -the conditions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then you’ll enter for the hundred thousand -dollars?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I certainly will, and I hope to win it. Now -this race is going to be worth while. If I won -the twenty thousand dollars for dad, I’d hardly -break even. But if I win the prize—oh, boy!” -and Tom patted the big machine into which his -hopes were built.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Keyed up to a high pitch by the prospect, -Tom hurried his mechanics and helpers to the -limit. Not any too much time was left to enter -the <span class='it'>Illustrated Star’s</span> contest, and within a few -days Tom Swift’s entry had been formally sent -in and acknowledged.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Each succeeding day’s issue of the paper gave -Tom and Ned news of the event, and one day -Tom pointed to an item in the general story.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The Red Arrow people are going to try for -the prize,” he said. “They’re going to fight -me. That’s why Hussy was sneaking in here, -I guess. They wanted to see if they could add -anything to the aeroplane they are going to -enter.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Are they going to try in an aeroplane?” -asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“So it says here. It doesn’t mention any boat -or automobile auxiliary.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom had been obliged to describe the method -he proposed to follow in the world race, and of -course it was publicly known now that he would -try in a combined automobile, motor boat, and -aeroplane. Aside from some hydroplanes, which -of course can skim along on the surface of the -water, as well as soar over land, Tom’s was the -only machine of more than a single ability.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Many of the contestants, of which there -seemed likely to be plenty, at least at the start, -were going to make the attempt by special -steamers or trains, for not a few wealthy globetrotters -entered the contest for the big purse.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It lacked about a week of the time of the -start of the international race when one morning -Tom Swift received a telegram. It was -signed by a name he did not at first recognize, -that of Armenius Peltok, and read:</p> - -<div class='blockquote'> - -<p class='pindent'>“If you are going to enter international world -race I shall be honored if you will take me with -you. I speak all civilized languages and some -uncivilized, and am also an aircraft mechanic. -Reference the National Aero club.”</p> - -</div> - -<p class='pindent'>“Another crank,” murmured Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t know about that,” voiced Tom. “It’s -worth looking up. See if you can get the Aero -Club on the wire.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Ned had done so and had been told -that Peltok, though little known in America, -had a great reputation in Europe and was thoroughly -reliable, a message was sent asking him -to call at the Swift plant. Peltok had wired -from New York. A day later he telephoned -that he would be with Tom very shortly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We need another good man,” Tom said to -Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How many are going?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Five.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, who are the other two besides you, -Peltok, and me?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I haven’t decided yet, but I have my eye on -a couple of young fellows. Now let’s see what -we have next to do.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s plenty,” stated Ned, with truth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The work went along. The <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was -fully equipped for the race, and another trial -flight showed big improvement as regarded her -three speeds, on land, water, and in the air. -Night and day men were on guard now, to keep -Tom’s secret of his craft. Though in general -its character was known, there were many things -about it that the inventor did not want to reveal.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Meanwhile, the plan of an international world -race was meeting with favor on all sides. -Though one paper had offered the prize, the -other journals gave plenty of space to the event -and excitement was at a high pitch. Some wild -and rash schemes were talked of, and not a few -new and queer machines, both for land, air -and water travel were entered. One man proposed -to go in a motor car, hiring speedy, small -steamers when land failed him, to transport his -machine.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peltok arrived and created a favorable impression -on Tom and Ned. He was a quiet, -reserved man, of great muscular strength, and -he knew travel machines from end to end.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And he can speak anything!” declared Ned. -“He even talked to Koku in the giant’s own -language.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No!” cried Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Fact! You ask Koku.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom confirmed Ned’s statement. Peltok was -a great linguist, and it was felt this accomplishment -would be valuable should the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -have to land in uncivilized countries.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A few days before the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was to -leave for Long Island, Ned came to Tom with -rather a serious face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We need more money, Tom, to complete the -stocking of the ship and arranging for carrying -on the business here while you are gone,” said -the financial manager.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Get it from the bank,” said Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We can’t. We’ve stretched our credit to the -limit. We need ten thousand dollars in cash.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For a moment Tom did not know what to do. -Then he remembered his millionaire friend -Jason Jacks, who had helped him on the Airline -Express in a like emergency.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Call Jacks,” Tom decided. When Ned did -this, explaining Tom’s predicament, that eccentric, -but kindly, character at once arranged -the matter, sending, not ten, but fifteen thousand -dollars to the credit of the Swift Company -in the bank.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And if you want more you can have it,” -added Mr. Jacks. But Ned said that would do.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, I go to New York to-morrow,” said -Tom to Ned one evening, “to sign the final papers -in the race contest. All contestants are to -be present in the <span class='it'>Illustrated Star</span> office.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where are you going now?” asked Ned, for -his chum had on his hat and the electric runabout -was at the door.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Over to see Mary,” was the answer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A little later Tom Swift was on his way. But -for some reason or other, when he was within a -quarter of a mile of the girl’s house, the electric -machine suddenly went dead and stopped.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s queer!” mused Tom, as he got out of -the stalled car to have a look. “I thought the -batteries were fully charged. Some one must -have been running it without telling me. Well, -I can walk, I suppose. It isn’t far.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He tested the storage batteries, found that -his surmise was correct—that they had exhausted -themselves, though unaccountably—and -then he started to walk.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But he had not gone far along the road, which -was very lonely at this point, when a dark figure -sprang suddenly from the bushes, leaped -toward the young inventor, and uttered a -smothered imprecation. There was a dull, thudding -blow, and Tom was stricken down, sinking -unconscious in the long grass at the side of the -highway. Then the dark figure, with a sinister -chuckle, fled amid the shadows of the night.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch8'>CHAPTER VIII<br> <span class='sub-head'>MIDNIGHT PROWLERS</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>“Well</span>, Mary,” remarked Mr. Nestor as he -looked at the clock. “Tom is a bit late, isn’t -he?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, he’ll be here,” said the girl, with a smile. -“He said he was coming to take me for a little -ride in the electric runabout before he has to -go to New York to-morrow to sign up in the -world race. Tom will be here.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, I never knew him to fail an engagement,” -went on Mr. Nestor with another look -at the clock. “Yet he’s a bit late. I’m going -out and smoke a cigar. If I see him coming——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now, Daddy!” laughed Mary, “you don’t -need to tell Tom to hurry. He isn’t a child. -What if he is late?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, well, nothing. But I just thought I’d -mention it,” and with that Mr. Nestor went out.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Though Mary would not admit to her father -that Tom was later than usual, she was more -honest with herself. And when nine o’clock -came and Tom had not appeared, she became -uneasy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If anything in the way of business had detained -him he would have telephoned,” said the -girl. “I wonder if anything could have happened? -Highfield Lane is lonesome after dark, -and he would come that way.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She waited a bit longer, growing more nervous -all the while, and then she came to a decision.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m going to walk along toward the Lane -and see if he’s coming,” she said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mary expected to see her father out in front, -also peering down through the darkness for the -approach of Tom’s headlights, for the young -inventor and Mr. Nestor were firm friends. -But the glow of two cigars on a side porch and -the murmur of voices there told Mary that her -father had met Mr. Goodrich, from next door, -and the two were visiting.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where are you going, Mary?” her father -called to her as he heard her go out the front -gate.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To look for Tom. He’ll be along pretty -soon.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Though the girl peered sharply all along the -quarter of a mile that lay between her house and -Highfield Lane, she did not see her lover. -Then she turned into the lane proper and -caught sight of the glowing lights of a car she -knew, because of their peculiar position, to be -on the runabout.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Here he comes now!” Mary exclaimed. A -moment later she was aware that the lights were -not moving. The car was standing still. “He -must have had a break down,” thought Mary. -She knew, from often having ridden in it, that -the car lights were hooked up to a separate battery -from the powerful ones that operated the -motor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the girl, wondering what had happened, -hurried toward the machine, she stumbled over -Tom’s body, prone on the ground. She recognized -him by the light from the car lamps.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, Tom! what has happened?” she cried.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was no answer, and when Mary put her -hands to his head she felt a dampness that told -of blood. But she was a girl of grit and spunk, -and, exerting all her strength, she managed to -half drag, half lift Tom into the machine. Mary -knew how to operate the runabout, but when -she turned on the current there was no response -and she realized that the batteries were useless.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>She hardly knew what to do, but was about -to shout and summon help. Should this fail to -bring assistance, she planned to hurry to the -nearest house. But just as she was about to -call she became aware of an approaching car.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For a moment she feared that it was Tom’s -assailant returning to finish the cruel work, for -that Tom had been attacked Mary at once -guessed. But the car proved to contain a man -whom Mary knew, and when he had stopped in -response to her frantic hail he helped her lift -the unconscious form into his car and took Tom -to the Nestor home.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Nothing but a nasty crack on the skull,” -said Dr. Blake, who was hastily summoned, and -he soon restored Tom to consciousness, after -which the young inventor looked around him -curiously and murmured a question as to what -had happened and how he got where he was.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mary told of having stumbled over his unconscious -body, and then Tom remembered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s a plot!” he exclaimed. “They want to -get me out of the world race!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who would do such a thing, Tom?” asked -Mr. Nestor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There are several who would have an object -in keeping the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> out of the contest. -The Red Arrow people for one.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom did not mention the name of Hussy, but -it was this scoundrel whom he had in mind as -the author of his misfortune. He had not seen, -and had only faintly heard the noise of the man -emerging from the bushes, for Tom had been -struck down very suddenly. But he strongly -suspected the man who had been caught in the -wooden trap.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom’s strong constitution and his robust -health enabled him to recover quickly from the -blow, which had been a glancing one, and by -midnight he was able to proceed back home. -Mary insisted that she and her father accompany -him in a taxi, and Tom was glad of the -company.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Before he went to bed he sent Koku and a -mechanic back to tow in the stalled runabout, -and the next day, though suffering from a -severe headache, the inventor examined the -motors and batteries of his machine, finding that -both had been tampered with.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hussy, or whoever it was, left just enough -juice for me to get to the lane,” reasoned Tom. -“He knew I’d stall there and he was waiting -for me. But this means I am still being spied -upon. I’ve got to take more precautions.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Tom was expected in New York that day -to sign final papers in the contest, he left Ned -in charge of the works, with Eradicate and -Koku to help guard them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dey ain’t nobody gwine to git in even to -smell dat <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> while I’s heah!” declared -the colored man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Me—I sit on um when um come in!” stated -Koku, in his own peculiar way.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In due time Tom was in the <span class='it'>Illustrated Star</span> -office. There he met a number of the other -contestants. The young inventor knew some -of them as men who had made reputations -piloting fast automobiles, aeroplanes, or speed -boats.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, Kimball, what’s your game?” asked -Tom of a man with whom he had several times -raced at county fairs in autos.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tom, I’ve got ’em all beat, including you!” -declared Jed Kimball, with a good-natured -smile. “I’ve got an air hydroplane that’s a -wonder. If I don’t circle the globe in fifteen -days I won’t take a cent of the hundred thousand -dollars.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, you won’t!” Tom chuckled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He turned to Bob Denman, a rich and sporty -young fellow who had been in several balloon -and aeroplane accidents. He loved sport for -the sport of it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, Bob,” asked Tom, as he shook hands -with him, “are you going in for it?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I sure am.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Balloon or skyplane?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Neither, Tom. I’m going by special trains -and steamers. I’ll be back on the starting field -waiting for the rest of you fellows to come and -have lunch with me after I win that hundred -thousand. You can boast all you like about -fast motors, speed boats, and aeroplanes, but -I’m going to go by regular lanes of travel. I’ve -chartered five steamers and ten special trains to -take me around the world. There won’t be a -minute of delay, and I’ll finish as fresh as a -daisy.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If you finish at all!” laughed Tom. “Who’s -that?” he asked, pointing to an eccentric man -who was nervously pacing the office while waiting -for the newspaper officials to get the papers -ready for final signing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Some Professor Modby,” was the millionaire -sport’s answer. “He’s going in a new dirigible -that uses a gas he claims he can make out of -burning weeds, rotten potatoes or apples and, -on a pinch, from green grass.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He must be crazy,” murmured Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, he’s got a queer looking machine,” -stated Bob. “He showed me some photographs -of it. Looks like a combination of one of your -Airline Expresses and the <span class='it'>Los Angeles</span>.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Guess I haven’t much to fear from him,” -thought Tom, for he knew how the big dirigibles -suffer in stormy weather.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In a room opening out of the main one where -the various contestants were gathered a self-important -sounding voice was saying:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, I agreed to all your terms, and I want -to add one of my own. That part of the prize -money be devoted to charity. The concern I -represent doesn’t need the cash. It is only going -in to encourage others. So I would stipulate -that part of the prize, which we expect to win, -must go to charity.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If you win the hundred thousand, Mr. Kilborn,” -stated Mr. Elliot, the managing editor -of the <span class='it'>Illustrated Star</span>, “you may give it all to -charity if you wish. But we cannot now, at this -late hour, stipulate that. The prize will be paid -in cash to the winner, and he may do as he -pleases with it. Now if you will come out with -the others we will sign the final papers.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Kilborn!” muttered Tom to Bob Denman. -“Is that Dan Kilborn of the Red Arrow concern?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s the bird,” assented Bob. “He’s been -fussing around here all morning, telling what a -wonderful new hydroplane he has. Named after -the company—<span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>. He says he’s going -to burn up distance with it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let him try,” returned Tom, and then he -caught a nod from the boastful Kilborn, whom -he knew slightly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’d like to ask him how much his tool Hussy -told after his midnight visit to my shop,” -thought Tom. But he did not want to start -any unpleasant altercations in the newspaper -office.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Dan Kilborn was an ace of the World War -and had done well in France and had proved -himself a brave man. After the end of the conflict -he had gone into air racing, and since affiliating -himself with the Red Arrow concern -there were ugly stories going around that he -was not fair to other contestants in sky races. -Several other pilots had more or less openly accused -Kilborn of banking so close to them as to -endanger their planes. But Kilborn only -laughed this off.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If he tries any trick with me,” muttered -Tom, “I’ll show him where he can get off, and -I won’t provide a parachute, either!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The terms of the contest were explained by -Mr. Elliot, all present agreed to them and the -final signatures were affixed. The start was to -be made that day a week, from a large field in -Long Island, whence all must start at once. -From that field the air machines would take off, -and those who were to cover the first leg of -their journey in water craft must leave the field -in autos which would convey them to the docks -where their boats or hydroplanes were moored.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Time will be counted as soon as the cannon -is fired on the starting field,” said Mr. Elliot. -“Contestants can travel in any way they choose, -and the one back on the field in the shortest -actual time, with proof that he has really circled -the globe, will win. Now then, gentlemen, -I wish you all the best of luck.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom hurried back to Shopton. There were -still some things to do on and about his craft, -but a few days later all would be in readiness -for the start. In order to get a chance to tune -his craft up a day or so in advance of the actual -start from Long Island, Tom planned to fly -there and wait until the signal cannon was fired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But who are going to be the others of your -crew?” asked Ned the day before the start for -Long Island. “You said there would be five, -but you, Peltok and I are only three. Is Mr. -Damon going?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bless my parachute, I wish I was!” exclaimed -the eccentric man. “I’m going to put -a big bet down on you, Tom, but I can’t go with -you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why not?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“My wife won’t let me. She says it’s too -dangerous for an old man. Good night! I’m -not old!” asserted Mr. Damon. He certainly -was not, in spirit at least.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ve got two young fellows who will form -the others of the crew,” Tom said as Mary Nestor -came to where he and Ned were standing. -For there was to be a christening ceremony and -Mary was to break a bottle of ginger ale on the -sharp nose of the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>. “There they -are now,” he added, as two figures approached.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why, Tom!” exclaimed Mary as she saw -them, “those look like the two men who rescued -you and me when the plane almost took a -nose dive into the cranberry bog.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They not only <span class='it'>look</span> like them but they <span class='it'>are</span> -those lads,” chuckled Tom as he introduced Joe -Hartman and Bill Brinkley to Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They nodded and smiled at Mary. After the -rescue Tom had made some inquiries about -these automobile mechanics and, learning that -Hartman had been an efficient flying man in -France while Brinkley had managed one of the -big tanks, Tom concluded they were just the -men he wanted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Accordingly, he had engaged them, much to -their delight, and they were now ready to set -off on the trip around the world. They went -into raptures over the mechanical perfection of -Tom’s latest machine.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, Mary, I guess it’s up to you,” said -Tom a little later when the invited guests had -all assembled. “Do your stuff!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What do you mean, Tom?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I mean christen my bus.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Are you going to make a speech?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am not!” was his hasty reply. “I’ve got -enough else to do to get ready for the take-off -to-morrow morning. Come on now, my dear, -make it snappy!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mary made it snappy by cracking the bottle -of ginger ale on the prow of the shining craft -and murmuring:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I christen you <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And long may she sail!” cried Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After this the workmen and guests gave three -cheers and the informal ceremony was over.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bless my fountain pen,” murmured Mr. Damon, -a bit sadly as he looked at the beautiful -machine, “I wish I was going!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom, with the help of Ned, Peltok, and the -two mechanics, spent the remainder of the day -putting the finishing touches on the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>. -Stores were taken aboard, together with -a supply of a new form of gasoline Tom had -perfected in spite of having been nearly blown -up by it. There was not enough of this for the -entire trip, and it was impossible to provide -any at various stopping places or stations -around the world. So what had been made was -to be reserved for special occasions where great -power or speed was needed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, I guess everything is ready for the -hop-off to-morrow morning,” said Tom to Ned -that night as they made a last inspection of the -<span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> in her hangar, which stood in a -field not far from Tom’s house. “I hope everything -will be all right.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It won’t be your fault if it isn’t,” stated -Ned. “But if any little thing wrong develops -you’ll have time to tinker with it on the Long -Island field, won’t you?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, yes! But I don’t like these last-minute -repairs. I’m hoping I sha'n’t have to make -any.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Same here,” murmured Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom and Ned were sleeping in adjoining -rooms, and it must have been some time after -midnight that they were awakened by hearing -a commotion in the hangar where the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -was kept. Several shots were fired, and -Koku’s booming voice could be heard saying:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Master! Master! Come! Bad man try to -break in!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They’re after my machine!” yelled Tom, -leaping from his bed and taking an automatic -pistol that lay ready to his hand. Ned, too, -leaped after his friend to do battle with the -midnight prowlers.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch9'>CHAPTER IX<br> <span class='sub-head'>THEY'RE OFF!</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Out</span> into the night rushed Tom Swift and -Ned Newton. They quickly shook the sleep -from them and were ready to fight. A noise and -commotion in the vicinity of the hangar where -the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> rested drew them in that direction. -Several figures were seen rushing about -in the gloom, and Ned easily made out the form -of the giant.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s the row, Koku?” yelled Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bad mans!” was all the giant could say, and -then Tom and his chum saw him start to run -after a man who was trying to get away.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Burglars, dat’s what dey is!” shouted Eradicate. -“Tryin’ to steal yo’ new machine, Massa -Tom!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They’ll have some job if they try to steal -the <span class='it'>Air Monarch!</span>” the young inventor exclaimed. -“I’ve got the motor doubly locked. -But they may damage her.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who?” asked Ned, as he ran on beside his -chum.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That bunch from the Red Arrow concern, -I suspect,” was Tom’s answer. “There goes -one!” he cried as a second figure, besides the -one Koku was after, started away.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom sped after this fellow with Ned closely -following. As the two ran on there came a -sliver of flame in the darkness, followed by the -report of a shot, and Koku yelled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They’ve winged the giant!” shouted Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It will take more than one bullet to stop -him!” panted Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Another shot was fired, and then came a yell -of fear and terror. But it was not the voice of -the giant It was the cry of an ordinary man, -and Ned guessed what had happened and yelled:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Koku got his man!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This was proved a moment later as the giant -shouted:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Me got ’im! Me got ’im!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom, however, was too busy chasing after his -quarry to pay much attention to his big guard -who, he expected, could look after himself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The fellow Tom was chasing was running -fast, but he was no match for the young inventor -whose anger lent him added speed, and just -as the retreating form reached the outer gate of -the big fence which surrounded the hangar, Tom -made a flying football tackle and downed his -man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let me go! Let me go!” the intruder -pleaded.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not much I won’t!” panted Tom, as he got -a firm hold on his man. “And I think I know -who you are, too! Here, Ned! Bring that -flashlight!” the inventor shouted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A moment later the financial manager had -joined his chum, aiding him in subduing the -rascal. Then, when the fellow, thoroughly -cowed, was taken in charge by several workmen -who had been aroused by the alarm, the -light was focused on his face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I thought so!” exclaimed Tom, as he scanned -the features. “Hussy! You got trapped -again, but in a different way!” chuckled Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If you know what’s good for you, let me -go!” snarled the man, endeavoring to break -away. But he was too firmly held for that.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll let you go after I start on my world -trip, and not before!” declared Tom. “Hold -him,” he directed to his men. “And we’ll see -who Koku got!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The giant and Eradicate could be heard approaching, -the big man muttering again and -again:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Me got ’im! Me got ’im!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While Eradicate, not to be left out, added:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I help cotch him, too! I tripped him up wif -mah foot!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good work, Rad! And you, also, Koku!” -cried Tom. “Bring him here!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The second prisoner was placed alongside of -Hussy, the latter scowling over his fate. Tom -looked at the fellow Koku and Eradicate had -caught, but found him a stranger.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Though I don’t doubt,” said Tom to Ned, -“that he’s one of the Red Arrow gang. Well, -two in one night isn’t so bad. Lock ’em up, -men,” he said to his employees, several more of -whom came running up, for a general alarm -had sounded throughout the works. Many of -the mechanics lived close to the shops.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Lock us up!” burst out Hussy. “You don’t -dare do that!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t I?” cried Tom angrily. “You’ll soon -see! Why shouldn’t I dare, you trespassing, -thieving rascal?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hussy and his companion, the latter saying -nothing, were hustled off to one of the shops -and locked in a steel enameling oven, where -various parts of machinery were baked to give -them a high polish. There was no fire under -the oven when the prisoners were put in, of -course, and the steel cage made a most effective -jail.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In the morning you’ll be locked in regular -cells,” Tom said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You don’t dare hold us!” stormed Hussy.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’ve got another guess coming,” Tom -chuckled. Then, when a guard had been posted -near the prisoners, the young inventor asked -Koku and Eradicate what had happened.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It developed that the two who were on guard -had heard a disturbance shortly after midnight, -and, investigating, had seen Hussy and his companion -sneaking into the hangar. At once the -colored man and the giant gave the alarm and -rushed to capture the intruders, the end of the -affair coming about when Tom and Ned joined -the party.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What was their game?” asked Ned, when -he and Tom had made sure the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -had not been tampered with.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, they couldn’t hope to steal any of my -patent ideas in time to add them to their machine,” -decided Tom. “There isn’t opportunity -for that, with the start of the race almost -here. I think they were trying to disable my -machine so I couldn’t start. Kilborn and his -bunch know I’m the most dangerous rival in -this globe-circling race, and with me out of the -way they stand a good chance to win. They -wanted to cripple the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>, I’m sure.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But they didn’t!” echoed Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, they didn’t,” echoed Tom, “thanks to -Rad and Koku.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Additional guards were placed about the -hangar for the remainder of the night, but there -was no further disturbance and early in the -morning Tom had the two prisoners, in spite of -their strenuous objections, taken to the Shopton -jail where they were held in default of heavy -bail on a charge of breaking and entering with -intent to steal. They had broken a lock on the -big gate to get in, but had been detected in -time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’d better withdraw this charge against -me, Swift!” stormed Hussy when he was being -arraigned before being taken off to jail.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Withdraw nothing!” snapped the young inventor. -“You’re going to stay locked up a -long time! Kilborn will have to get along -without you and your pal!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A dangerous look came into the eyes of the -trapped man. He shook his fist at Tom when -being led back to a cell and muttered:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’ll be sorry for this, Tom Swift!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But Tom was not worried and hastened back -to his hangar to make ready for the flight to -Long Island whence the world race would start -the following day.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was little ceremony attendant upon the -departure of Tom and his friends from Shopton, -since Mr. Swift, Mary, and Mr. Damon -had arranged to see them off in Long Island. -When the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> had been gone over finally -by Tom and his mechanics, the craft was -wheeled out of the hangar, the five who were -to make the trip got into the cabin, and Tom, -at the motor controls and steering levers, called:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All clear?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All clear!” answered Mr. Jackson.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let’s go, then!” exclaimed the young inventor, -and with a wave of his hand to his father, -Mary, Mr. Damon, and the crowd of workmen, -Tom pulled the starting lever.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The big propellers began whizzing, the machine -moved across the smooth aero field with -ever increasing speed, and a moment later took -the air with the ease and lightness of a regular -aeroplane and not like the heavy craft she was.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Starts well!” observed Ned in the cabin beside -his chum.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Like a sewing machine!” said Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Up and up he pointed the nose of his craft -and they were soon headed for Long Island.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Never have I ridden in a better craft,” declared -Peltok who, with Brinkley and Hartman, -was in charge of the machinery. “She is perfect!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That remains to be seen,” said Tom, though -he was much pleased. “We haven’t really -started yet.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No attempt was made to get speed out of the -craft on what was, practically, but another trial -flight. But Tom knew he had plenty of power -in reserve. The <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> had been tried -in the air, on land, and in water and had performed -perfectly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Under the skilled hands of the three mechanics -the machine behaved well and in a comparatively -short time she settled gracefully down -on the field in Long Island and took her appointed -place. Many other machines were already -there, and others were constantly arriving. -The field was a busy place. All contestants -had to start from there, though those going -in motor boats, or by trains and steamers -would, as has been said, leave in autos which -would take them to the beginning of the first -leg of their journey. But time would start to -be counted when the cannon boomed on the -field.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There were two or three free balloons and -several small dirigibles, including the one operated -by Professor Modby and his crew. The -<span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> hydroplane was floating in Long -Island Sound, not far away, and Kilborn planned -to reach his craft in a speedy auto. He was -walking about his car when Tom got out of the -<span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“So, that’s what you hope to win with, is it?” -sneered Kilborn.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s the little old bus!” said Tom, with a -grin. “And I’m afraid you aren’t going to have -all the company you counted on to be with you -during your trip.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Company? What do you mean?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I mean that Hussy and the man you sent -with him to tamper with my machine are arrested -and locked up in the Shopton jail,” said -Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hussy arrested?” gasped Kilborn. “I told -him—I mean I didn’t send him to do anything -to your craft!” he cried quickly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Didn’t you?” asked Tom, with a smile. -“Well, he didn’t get a chance to do anything, -though he tried. But if you’re looking for -Hussy—call up the jail!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Kilborn muttered something under his breath -and turned away.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I guess that will hold him for a while,” -chuckled Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>From then on Tom and his crew were kept -busy. There were many last-minute things to -be done and final adjustments to be made to the -motors, as well as food supplies to put on board. -So it was not until night that Tom and Ned -found time to rest.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All the other contestants were equally busy, -and many police were required to keep back the -curious crowds. The start was to be made in -the morning, and Tom and Ned arranged with -some workmen from the shops to guard the <span class='it'>Air -Monarch</span> zealously during the hours of darkness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In spite of fears that something might happen, -nothing did, and when morning dawned -clear and bright it was seen that the day of the -start was perfect. Tom and his crew were up -early, making final changes and adjustments, as -all the other contestants were doing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Final instructions were given, and the rules -gone over again to make sure all understood. -Mr. Damon, Tom’s father, Mary and her father -and other friends arrived by auto to see the -<span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> take off. All the other contestants -had scores of friends also, so the field was -a mass of humanity.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There goes the warning gun!” cried Ned as -a shot boomed out. “Are you all ready, Tom?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All ready!” was the answer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Stand clear!” came the order from Peltok.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good-bye, Mary! Good-bye!” called Tom -to his sweetheart.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good-bye!” she echoed. “I know you’re going -to win!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Thanks! I hope I shall!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tom, remember, I’ve got my money on -you!” said Mr. Swift, with a smile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll not forget, Dad!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bless my Liberty Bonds, I’ve got a bet on -you myself, Tom!” exclaimed Mr. Damon. -“Oh, dear!” he sighed, as he saw the final preparations -for the start, “if it wasn’t for my wife -I’d go, even now!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You just let me see you get on that ship!” -said Mrs. Damon in a low voice close to her -husband’s ear.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, I’m not going to, my dear! I’m not -going to!” he said hastily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ready?” called the official starter.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ready!” answered Tom Swift.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ready!” came from the other contestants.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Boom!” echoed the big cannon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They’re off!” yelled the crowd, and with a -roar of her exhaust pipes the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> shot -across the field, followed by several other craft -seeking to beat her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The globe-circling race had started!</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch10'>CHAPTER X<br> <span class='sub-head'>ACROSS THE OCEAN</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>“There</span> goes the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>!” said Ned, -standing beside Tom in the control cabin as -the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> mounted the air and they -could look down on the earth. “He made good -time!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll say he did,” agreed Tom, who was turning -on a little more power, now that his craft -was in the air. “Some bus he’s got there, too!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> hydroplane was, in truth, a -craft not to be despised. Kilborn had left the -starting field in a swift automobile. He had -given orders that the motors of his hydroplane -were to be kept turning over so that he could -get aboard and start at once. This he had -done, and, as she was moored not far from the -aero field, had taken the air only a little behind -Tom Swift.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There goes the dirigible—I mean Modby’s,” -went on Ned, who was viewing the start of the -other contestants while Tom attended to the -running of his machine.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He must have had some trouble with his -motors,” the inventor stated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He did,” agreed Ned. “He’s a bit late in -starting. Well, I wish Modby all sorts of luck, -but I’m afraid he hasn’t much of a chance.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Professor Modby was considered a friendly -rival, for he and Tom had been associated in -aeroplane research on several occasions. The -<span class='it'>Cloud</span>, as the big dirigible had been named, was -now soaring into the air, but her speed was as -nothing compared to that of the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>. -Ned noticed, however, that the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> was -a very fast machine, and she might prove a -dangerous rival, for she was not as heavy as -Tom’s craft.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But this is only the beginning,” murmured -the young inventor, as he noticed how the <span class='it'>Red -Arrow</span> was picking up speed. “We’ve got to -go twenty days yet—more or less,” he added, -with a grim smile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Bob Denman, the millionaire sport, had -started from the flying field in a rush in one of -his high-powered cars. He was off to catch a -special train that would hurry him across the -United States. He said he would take a special -steamer in San Francisco, cross the Pacific, and -then, by means of other special trains and boats, -endeavor to come in ahead of everybody else.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Jed Kimball, in an aeroplane somewhat like -the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>, also got off to a good start, but -some of the other contestants, especially one in -a free balloon, did not have such good luck. -One of the big hydrogen gas balloons, of which -there were several, was caught by an adverse -wind soon after rising and entangled in a clump -of trees. Tom and Ned had only time to observe -this before they were out of sight, speeding -on their way over the Atlantic Ocean.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was no rule as to what direction the -contestants must take in this world race. They -could start east or west. Those who started -west would cross the United States and then go -over the Pacific, as Bob Denman planned to do. -They would come to the Japanese Islands in -due time, cross China, Persia, the top of Africa, -perhaps go across the Mediterranean Sea and so -reach the Atlantic. Crossing this they would -again reach the eastern shore of America and -so complete the circuit.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom’s plan, and that of the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> and -several hydroplanes, dirigibles and other aircraft, -was to cross the Atlantic first, then go -over Europe and Asia, reach the Pacific, and -eventually get to the western coast of the United -States, crossing that as the last leg of their -journey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When he had seen to it that the motors were -working well under the care of Peltok, Brinkley -and Hartman, Tom let the linguistic foreigner -take the controls while he and Ned went to -their stateroom, which they shared in common, -to go over the route in detail.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This is going to be our route, Ned,” said -Tom, as he laid a large map on the table and -pointed to a red line approximately running -along the fortieth degree of north latitude. -“We’ll cruise due east from where we started, -bearing a bit south, and head for the Azores.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Going to land there?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not unless we have to,” said Tom. “We’re -going to keep moving all the while.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“At the rate of two hundred and fifty miles -an hour,” said Ned, “we can——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We can’t keep up a speed of two fifty per -hour for more than a little stretch at a time,” -interrupted Tom. “In fact, I don’t expect to -reach that rate for another day. It would rack -my engines to pieces to maintain it for any -length of time. I can do it, but I’m going to -save that burst of speed for emergencies. No, -if we can average a hundred miles an hour in -the air we’ll be doing well. And when we have -to land and taxi along, or when we have to go -as a boat, we won’t do that, of course.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where do you go from the Azores?” asked -Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We don’t exactly go to the Azores Islands,” -corrected Tom. “We’ll fly above them if I hit -the right route. From there we head for Spain, -move along across the Mediterranean and over -the northern part of Turkey and then across -China. We may land in the Philippines before -we complete the trip across the Pacific.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And then from there you’ll head for San -Francisco I take it?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s the idea. You know, don’t you, that -I had the Airline Express sent on to ’Frisco to -be held in readiness there?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, you told me you did,” admitted Ned. -“But I didn’t quite grasp the idea.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Simply providing for emergencies,” went on -Tom. “The <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> may have a breakdown -when we get over the United States again, -and if an Express machine is waiting for me I -can just hop aboard her and complete the trip—on -time I hope.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ned turned again to the route map, and then -glanced out of the cabin windows.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We seem to be having it all our own way for -the present. Nothing else is in sight,” he stated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s getting a bit hazy,” remarked Tom as -he glanced at several gages and distance indicators -on the wall. “We’re over the ocean now.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Over the Atlantic so soon?” cried Ned. -“That’s right, quite a way out too, I hope,” he -added. “Let’s see what Peltok says.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They went to the steering compartment where -the man who spoke so many languages was -guiding the craft.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We are a hundred miles out from the end of -Long Island,” Peltoc stated, after making some -computations.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Whew!” whistled Ned. “A hundred miles -and we haven’t been going an hour.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, yes, it’s a little longer than that,” said -Peltok, with a smile. “But we are making fairly -good time. I have increased the speed a little,” -he said to Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s right. We want to make all the distance -we can while the weather is good and -while we have daylight. Night flying is going -to slow us up a bit. If you don’t believe you’re -pretty well out, Ned, look down!” invited Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He pulled a lever and Ned gave a cry as the -bottom of the craft seemed to open, disclosing -below him heaving ocean waves!</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch11'>CHAPTER XI<br> <span class='sub-head'>FORCED DOWN</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>“What’s</span> the matter?” asked Tom, with a -smile, as he beheld Ned’s amazement.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I thought the bottom was dropping out of -the machine!” gasped the financial manager of -the Swift concern.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Just a plate glass window in the floor,” Tom -explained, with a chuckle. “It enables us to -take a look below without sticking our heads out -of the windows and looking over the side. Yes, -that’s the old Atlantic there,” and he pointed to -the heaving, foam-tipped waves that were -lazily surging far down beneath them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was now well up and moving -eastward at fast speed. As the motors -warmed up, Peltok fed them more and more -gasoline until they were approaching their -maximum.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Meanwhile Brinkley and Hartman were going -about adjusting bearings, putting oil where -it was needed, and doing general work. Being -a new machine, the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> needed more -oil than a craft that had been run some time -and whose bearings would have been worn to -smoothness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, we’re on our way,” remarked Tom, as -he moved about the cabin looking at the indicators, -noting the speed, and having a general -eye to the performance of his newest and pet -craft. “We’re on our way, and in less than -three weeks, if we have luck, we’ll be right back -where we started.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you think you can do it?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom did not answer for a moment. Then, -with a serious look on his face, he said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s taking a big chance, Ned. Twenty days -is a very short time to circle the world. I know -we talk about aeroplanes that do two hundred -and fifty miles an hour. And if one could keep -that up for a hundred hours the trick would be -pulled off in about four days. But no machine -made can keep that speed up constantly. Not -enough gasoline or oil could be carried for a -continuous flight of that kind. A man would -have to come down several times to replenish.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Of course the hundred thousand dollar prize -offer doesn’t specify that the world must be -circled in twenty days. If it takes thirty days -to do it, the one who gets under the wire first, -having used up less time than any of the others, -will win. But there’s dad’s bet of twenty thousand -with Mr. Burch and Mr. Trace. That -specifies twenty days.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Evidently they don’t think you have much -of a chance, Tom,” said Ned. “They didn’t -even come to Long Island to see you start.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, they weren’t there. And I guess they -think they have dad’s money won. But though -they couldn’t be there, they were sports enough -to wish me good luck in a telegram. It came -just before we took off. But I don’t really believe -they think their money is in danger. I’m -going to do my best, though, to win for dad’s -sake and my own. That hundred thousand will -come in very useful, Ned.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll say it will! You’ve been spending a lot -lately, and you owe Mr. Jacks fifteen thousand.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll pay him!” Tom said with a determined -air. “We’ll be on easy street if I can flash -home a winner. And she’s running mighty -sweet now,” he added, as he listened to the purr -and hum of the motors and the throb of the -propellers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A look around them showed no other contesting -aircraft in sight. But that did not mean -none were racing them for the prize. The <span class='it'>Red -Arrow</span> might be close by, hidden from them in -the mist. Below them were several motor boats -and a steamer or two, and whether or not any of -these were the craft trying for the prize Tom -Swift did not know.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you think Kilborn and his crowd will -make any trouble for you?” asked Ned when he -and Tom were sitting at ease, lulled by the -speedy, even motion of their craft.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I think they’ll try,” was the answer. -“They’re desperate, for some reason or other. -One is that they want to beat me, of course. -Another is that there has been for some time a -trade rivalry between us. As you know, I’ve -been making aeroplanes for a concern and Kilborn -and his crowd are trying to get the business -away from me. If I win this international race -it will be a big feather in my cap. The Swift -aeroplanes will get a big advertisement out of -it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I see,” murmured Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Brinkley appeared in the doorway of the room -where Tom and Ned were sitting. There was -a grin on the face of the former tank man.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What is it?” asked Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Come and get it!” answered the other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Grub ready so soon?” asked Ned, who recognized -the cook’s method of summoning them -to eat.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Grub is ready,” repeated Brinkley.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Time went mighty fast,” Tom said. “I forgot -all about cooking or eating. We really -didn’t settle on who was to be cook.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, Joe sort of wished it onto me,” went -on Brinkley, with another grin. “I had a hand -in it when I was running a tank over on the -other side,” he went on, “and if you want me to, -I’ll keep at it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll tell you better after I eat this grub you -say is ready,” laughed Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s a fair proposition,” admitted Brinkley. -“Well, anyhow, it’s ready. You two can -eat and Joe and I will take a shot at the grub -later.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes,” assented Tom. “Somebody’s got to -run the ship.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They went out to the little dining apartment, -and appetizing odors greeted the noses of Tom -and Ned. They sniffed hungrily and soon were -doing full justice to the meal.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’re elected, Brinkley!” cried Tom when -half way through the menu.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Second the motion!” echoed Ned, who was -also doing his full share with knife and fork.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Cooking aboard the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was done -on a gasoline stove. Since no hydrogen gas -was carried, as is the case in most dirigibles and -balloons that cannot get helium, there was no -danger of any explosion from an open flame.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was plenty of food on board, and Tom -planned to buy more whenever a landing was -made. He knew he would have to land several -times along the world-circling route to enable -gasoline, oil and other supplies to be taken -aboard.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The meal was nearly over and Tom was calculating -how far they had come and what speed -they had made so far, while Ned was debating -with himself whether he could eat another slice -of boiled ham, when there came a series of loud -noises from the motor compartment back of the -dining salon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s that?” cried Tom starting up.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“One of the main bearings has burned out!” -exclaimed Hartman. “Oil feed failed. The -bearing’s red-hot!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the same moment the craft began to lose -speed. Ned felt her being forced down, for -when it does not move fast enough to overcome -the pull of gravity, an aeroplane must fall. -Slower and slower moved the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>, and -lower and lower she sank toward the heaving -surface of the Atlantic.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch12'>CHAPTER XII<br> <span class='sub-head'>THE HURRICANE</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>“What’s</span> going to happen, Tom?” asked Ned -as he saw his chum leap toward the motor room. -“Are we in danger?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“In danger of losing time on account of a -hot bearing, yes,” admitted Tom. “But in no -danger as far as being forced down is concerned. -I had planned for this—a landing in the sea.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Our boat-like body will keep us afloat,” explained -Brinkley to Ned, whose strong point -was certainly not mechanics, but finance. “You -know we’re a hydroplane as well as an aeroplane.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I had forgotten it for a moment,” admitted -Tom’s chum.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The first alarm over, he watched Tom and the -three mechanics so manipulate the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -as to bring her out of the partial nose dive -into which she had fallen on losing speed. She -was now coming down to the sea on a gentle -slant.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t like nose dives!” murmured Tom, -remembering the peril which he and Mary had -so narrowly escaped from with the help of -Brinkley and Hartman.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll make a three point landing,” observed -Peltok as Tom, taking charge, began to guide -his craft toward the waves which Ned could see, -through the plate glass bottom in the cabin, -rushing, as it were, up to meet them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Not quite as gently as a feather, but with -hardly enough of a jar to spill the water in the -glasses on the table which Tom and Ned had -quit in such a hurry, the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> sank to -the surface of the sea where she rode easily under -the influence of a gentle swell.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Are we going to stay here?” Ned asked, -when he found that the craft was making no -forward progress.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not any longer than we can help,” Tom answered. -“Every minute counts when you’re -trying to circle the globe in twenty days. But -we’ll have to wait for that bearing to cool. Did -she chew up the metal?” he asked Peltok, referring -to the soft anti-friction lining material -which the axle, or shaft, of any fast-moving -machine comes in contact with instead of directly -on the bearing itself.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m afraid so,” was the answer. “But I can -cast a new journal for you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good!” exclaimed Tom. “You three had -better get something to eat,” he added to Brinkley -and the others. “Ned and I will stand -watch. Not that there’s anything we can do -until she cools down, though,” he added, with a -rueful laugh.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Since the machinists had had nothing to eat -since early in the morning, before the take-off, -they did ample justice to the meal the tank man -had gotten ready.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Meanwhile, Tom and Ned went to the engine -room to examine the damage. The <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -was gently rising and falling on a long swell. -Just where they had come down Tom did not -know, without taking a marine observation, but -he judged it to be perhaps four or five hundred -miles off the Atlantic coast—not a bad bit of -distance to have covered in this time. But of -course he realized he would have to do much -better than this to win the race.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It did not take Tom long to find the overheated -bearing. It had become red-hot from -lack of oil, which was supposed to be fed to it -constantly, but it was now cooling down and -when it was completely cool the burned anti-friction -metal could be cut out and new put in.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s what did the damage!” exclaimed -Tom as he unscrewed the coupling of -a small copper oil feed pipe and took out a little -ball of what seemed to be rubber. “That -kept the oil from cooling the bearing.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you think the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> imps had anything -to do with that?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s possible, of course,” Tom replied. “But -hardly probable. This isn’t one of the main -bearings, and the oil feed pipe would be hard to -get at to tinker with. Hussy and that fellow -we caught in the hangar night before last didn’t -have time to unscrew the coupling, slip in the -rubber, and then put it together again. And it -was all right when we started.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What I think is that this bit of rubber came -from a gasket—it just naturally worked loose -and was forced into the pipe. I use a forced -feed oil system. It’s just one of those accidents -that will happen. Lucky it wasn’t any worse.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Have we got to lay to like this until the -bearing is fixed?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No,” Tom said, after looking over the motors. -“We can taxi along on the surface with -one motor, but of course not as fast as if the -two were working. However, it will help some, -and every mile and minute count. Whew, she -certainly got hot!” he exclaimed, as he burned -himself slightly from putting his hand for too -long a period on the defective bearing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The three machinists were so eager to make -repairs and hop off again that they hurried -through their dinner and were soon in the motor -room again. There Peltok proved his worth, -as did Hartman and Brinkley. They wasted no -time, but began taking down the motor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While the aeroplane man and his tank companion -did this, Peltok was busy casting a new -bearing, filing it down to a perfect fit so the axle -would run smoothly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Will it bother you if I start up with one -motor?” asked Tom of the three who were -working at top speed to finish the repairs in the -shortest possible time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not a bit!” Peltok answered. “You can’t -go very fast with only one motor running, and -she’ll ride on a pretty even keel, for there is -scarcely any sea at all—it’s almost a dead -calm.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But it isn’t going to remain so long,” stated -Ned, who knew a little of weather signs.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why not?” asked Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The glass is falling,” and Ned pointed to the -barometer. “I think we’re in for a storm.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It does look so,” remarked Tom, who noted -the reading now and compared it with the -height of the mercury column when they had -started. “I guess we’re in for a blow. It will -be better to take it up above than down here.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll finish this as soon as we can,” said -Peltok, but there was no occasion to say that. -Tom and Ned could see that the three were -doing their best.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So, having learned that he would not disturb -them by sending his craft along, the young inventor -started the undamaged motor and soon -the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was moving at fairly rapid -speed over the surface of the calm sea. Tom -steered by a binnacle compass, heading due -east, and knew that every mile he gained was -so much to the good.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With the other motor in commission, he knew -he could more than double the present speed. -But his main reliance was going to be travel in -the air, for that was his speediest medium.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After about an hour, during which the craft -had sped along for several miles over the sea, -they ran into a thick fog, which seemed another -indication of a change in the weather.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Got a fog horn?” asked Ned, as he stood -beside Tom in the motor control cabin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What for?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To signal so we won’t run into any ships.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I guess we won’t be down on the sea much -longer,” Tom said, for he had asked Ned to -take the wheel while he went back to note what -progress the three mechanics were making. -“They have almost finished. We’ll be going up -directly.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Glad of it,” remarked Ned. “I don’t like it -down here—not in a fog.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s no danger,” began Tom, with a -laugh. “I’ll take a chance——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He was interrupted by a heavy, throbbing -noise in the air over their heads. The fog was -too thick to enable them to see what it was, but -Ned cried:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Wind!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Of a sort—yes!” admitted Tom. “But it’s -wind from the propellers of some sort of an aeroplane! -There’s a craft passing overhead.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When Ned listened more carefully he knew -this to be right. Some big dirigible or aeroplane -was passing above them, and the throb of -her motors and the beat of her propellers could -plainly be heard.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Think that might be the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> passing -us?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s possible,” Tom admitted. “She’s got -powerful motors.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They looked upward, trying to pierce the fog, -and a moment later the wind began to blow, -tearing the blanket of vapor apart. It was just -in time for Tom and Ned to see, high up, a great -craft heading toward the east. But whether it -was the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> or some other machine they -could not tell. It seemed likely that it was one -which was racing against Tom for the world -circuit prize.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then the fog drifted in again and there was -a wall of white all about them. Ned looked at -the glass once more and found that it was still -dropping. As he took this in he gave a low -whistle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s going to blow and blow soon,” he said -to Tom. “How much longer are we going to -be here?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not much longer, I hope,” answered the -young inventor a bit impatiently. The sight of -that big craft passing overhead had made him -apprehensive. “I’ll go and find out. Keep her -on this course, Ned,” and he turned the steering -wheel over to his chum.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hardly had Tom gone back to the motor room -than the voice of Peltok was heard exclaiming:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She’s done! The bearing is finished. Now -we can use the other engine!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This was good news, and a few minutes later, -when it was made certain that the oil feed system -was working properly, the second motor -was started and the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> began to -gather speed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll be up in a minute,” Tom said, taking -the wheel from Ned. Hardly had he spoken -than as if a giant’s breath had blown it away, -the fog vanished and out of the west rushed a -wind of great force. It caught the craft broadside -on and heeled her over so far that she was -in danger of capsizing. But Tom speeded up -the starboard motor and pulled the machine -around just in time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Go on up!” yelled Peltok. “There’s a hurricane -coming! Go on up!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Up she is!” echoed Tom Swift. With a motion -of his hand he turned more gasoline into -the motors and they roared out as if eager to -do their work. The <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> surged forward -over the surface of the sea, gathering speed -to enable her to lift herself into the air.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Just as Tom was about to pull the lever of -the rear elevating rudder planes, the hurricane -burst with all its force around the craft, twirling -her about, howling through the struts and -wire stays like ten thousand demons and sending -a shower of spray clear over the top wings.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’re in for it now!” yelled Tom, as he -headed the craft up on a long slant.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch13'>CHAPTER XIII<br> <span class='sub-head'>A CLOSE CALL</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Doubtful</span> it was, for what seemed a long -time, whether or not the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> would -justify her name and rise from the water. She -seemed held fast to the surface of the sea along -which the craft was being driven by the force of -her propellers whirled by the two powerful motors, -now both working well.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Will she make it, Tom?” cried Ned, above -the roar and howl of the hurricane which seemed -bent on destroying the globe-circling craft.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Can’t tell yet,” was the grim answer. -“We’re just about holding our own and no -more!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom had headed his craft into the very teeth -of the strong wind, for this is the proper way in -which to make an aeroplane rise. If the pilot -should try to rise with the wind the chances are -that his ship’s tail would flip up and he’d find -himself standing on his head with the nose of -the machine buried deep in the earth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But such was the power of the wind, and such -its peculiar downward pressing force that, for -a time, it seemed that the ship would not rise. -She seemed held down as by a giant’s hands.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ve got to get up more speed!” yelled Tom -to those in the motor room.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m giving her all the gas she’ll take!” -shouted Peltok.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Turn on the super-charger!” the young inventor -directed. “If ever we needed that high-test -gas of mine we need it now!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He referred to the new gasoline he had been -experimenting on when he had to leap through -the window of his shop to avoid being blown -up.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That ought to do the trick!” exclaimed Hartman, -who had seen some demonstrations of the -new fuel.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Turn it on,” cried Tom again, and his mechanics -made haste to carry out this order.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Meanwhile the hurricane was increasing in -violence. The wind howled as if in rage that -any man-made craft should try to fight it. The -sea, too, was whipped into salty spray and the -waves were rapidly becoming larger and more -dangerous. Two or three times water sprayed -all the way over the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>, and when -Ned discovered that some was entering the interior -of the ship through an open window he -hastened to close it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All ready, Chief!” called Brinkley, addressing -Tom Swift. “Here goes for the super-charger!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If she doesn’t rise now she never will!” murmured -Tom as he yanked the throttle around to -turn on full power with the new fuel, a tank of -which had been hastily connected with the carburetor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>If the motors had hummed and purred before, -they fairly roared now with this new form of -gas, and Tom exulted in his heart.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It wouldn’t do to use that all the while, -though,” he said to himself. “It would rack -the engines to pieces. But it’s good to have in -an emergency. Now let’s see if we can take -off.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The craft was now skimming the surface of -the sea at a greater speed than she had ever before -attained on water. Tom pulled the throttle -back another notch, advanced his sparking -system a trifle, and then pulled the handle that -tilted the tail rudder. Until this was done the -<span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> would sail along on an even keel. -But with the back rudder tilted so that a current -of air would strike on the lower surface, -the effect would be to elevate the nose of the -ship and send it up into the air on a long slant.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I hope she’ll work,” Tom told himself, as he -pulled the lever.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There came another burst of wind, and now it -began to rain in a torrent, while lightning flashed -from the cloud-obscured sky and the deep booming -of thunder seemed to shake the craft from -stem to stern.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The machine quivered. It seemed to be a -struggle between the elements of air and water -as to which should claim her, but in the end the -air won.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’re rising!” cried Ned, who stood behind -Tom. But the young inventor had already -noted on the altitude gage that the machine was -leaving the sea and going up.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not much too soon, either!” muttered Peltok, -who stood with the two machinists in the -motor room where another gage showed them -that the fight was being won.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’re all right now,” said Tom with an air -of relief as he guided his craft on a long slant -up through the wind, the rain, the lightning -and thunder. “We’re all right now.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The engines were still rotating furiously under -the power of the new gas, and Tom kept -them at this speed until he was well up above -the surface of the sea. Then, turning the craft -about, to take advantage of the wind, instead -of heading into it, he ordered the ordinary motor -fuel gasoline turned on and slowed down his -ship.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Slowed down, yes, but the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was -still moving along at a terrific speed. And Tom -knew that speed was necessary, for he had lost -considerable time. He had counted on some delays, -but the fewer of these there were the better. -And Tom preferred to have them come, if -they must, when he was back again on United -States soil. For if the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> failed him -then, he could use his Airline Express.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Up, up and up soared the powerful craft, -boring her way through the storm. Now she -was where she properly belonged, for though -Tom’s craft could travel on land or water she -was designed, primarily, for the air.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Going above the storm, Tom?” asked Ned -when things were more nearly normal aboard.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Going to try,” was the answer. “But there’s -a big area of disturbance, I think.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So it proved. For it took an hour of hard -work before Tom could force his machine to -climb high enough to be above the howling -wind and rattling rain. But then the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -found herself in a calm atmosphere, above -the clouds with the sun shining, and in that -peaceful region, far away from the hurricane -and the lashing sea, she sailed along on her -journey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, she came out of that pretty well,” remarked -the young inventor as he turned the -wheel over to Peltok while he went with Ned to -work out their position. Ned was good at figures, -and intricate calculations were necessary to -determine how many miles had been traveled in -the machine.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“She done noble, as Eradicate would say,” -agreed Ned. “But it’s getting on toward dark, -Tom,” he observed, as he noted the position of -the sun.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s right. It will soon be night. But I -think we can still travel on.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“About where do you guess we are?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“About half-way across the Atlantic, I think. -But we’ve got to work it out. We lost considerable -by being forced down.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When the observations had been made and -the computation completed it was found that -Tom was a little off—that about twelve hundred -miles had been covered in the twelve hours since -the start. But this was very good, considering -the time lost, and Tom felt that the first day, or -rather, the first half day, was a successful one.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As evening came on, supper was got ready -and served several miles high in the air. But -eating thus was no longer a novelty to Tom and -Ned. They had done it too often on other -daring cruises.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They had been blown somewhat off their -course by the hurricane, but managed to get -back on it when the stars began to appear and -then, the night watches having been arranged, -the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was driven along through the -darkness. There was little danger in thus traveling -at night unless some accident should befall -the craft itself. Though a number of air -machines had started in the great race, Tom -had no fear of colliding with them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I think the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> is ahead of us, -though,” he said to his chum as they made -ready to turn in for a sleep.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It doesn’t seem to worry you.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s the use of worrying? The race has -hardly begun yet. I’m satisfied.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Through the hours of darkness the craft was -driven on, the five taking turns in steering, even -Ned being able to keep on the course by means -of observing several compasses, though he did -not attempt to regulate the motors, which, however, -were practically automatic once they were -started.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A rosy tint in the east apprised Tom and his -friends that the sun was rising and that morning -was at hand. It was the second day of the great -race, and a hasty calculation, while Brinkley -was preparing breakfast, told Tom that they -were approaching the coast of Spain.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A few hours later Ned, taking an observation, -exclaimed:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s some sort of a big harbor down -there. Might be a good place to land, Tom, -since you say we’ve about crossed the Atlantic. -What place do you think that is?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Lisbon, Portugal!” exclaimed Peltok. “I -know it. I have been there many times. It is -a good place to land!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then we’ll go down!” decided Tom. “We’ll -get oil and gas. We’ve done pretty well to -cross the Atlantic in about twenty-four hours. -But that doesn’t mean we can always make as -good time as that.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Amid screams from the whistles of steamers -in the Lisbon harbor, the big craft slowly settled -down, Tom, who was steering, picking out a -clear space in which to anchor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Like a great bird, the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> dropped -into the peaceful waters and slowly came to a -stop. At once there were signs of activity on -all the vessels within sight while the wharves -alongshore became black with a mass of humanity -drawn by the news of the arrival of the -strange craft.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Seems as if they were expecting us,” observed -Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Shouldn’t wonder,” agreed Tom. “This -world race has attracted a lot of attention.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you think any of the other contestants -are here, or have been here and gone?” went on -Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll soon find out,” his chum answered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Suddenly Hartman uttered a cry and pointed -upward. There, hovering above them, was a -great craft, painted red—a hydroplane—and it -seemed to be steering straight for them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>!” cried Tom. “We were -ahead of him after all!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But he’s going to land on top of us!” cried -Ned. “Look out! Keep off!” he yelled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> came down swiftly, and it -was a close call for the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> as Kilborn’s -craft landed, skimmed over the water, -and came within a few feet of crashing into -Tom’s craft.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch14'>CHAPTER XIV<br> <span class='sub-head'>WHIZZING BULLETS</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Hardly</span> had the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> stopped, some -of her men coming out of the cabin to drop a -light anchor, than Tom ran to the prow of his -craft, where there was a little landing stage. -Seeing Kilborn tantalizingly smiling at him, the -young inventor cried:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What do you mean by that?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mean by what?” sneered the pilot of the -rival plane.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“By landing so close to me that you nearly -grazed my wing tips? Don’t you know how to -make a landing yet? Seems to me there was -room enough for even an amateur!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Kilborn’s face turned an angry red at hearing -this taunt.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I know as much about running a bus as -you do!” he retorted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You don’t seem to!” fired back Tom. “After -this you keep your distance!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Aw, you don’t know what you’re talking -about!” sneered Kilborn.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t I?” retorted Tom. “Well I think I -do! And, what’s more, I have a strong suspicion -that you wouldn’t have cared much if -you had crashed into me. It would have given -you a chance to take off ahead of me. But -you didn’t pull your trick, did you?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I wasn’t trying any trick!” snapped Kilborn. -“And if you accuse me of——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m not exactly accusing you,” broke in the -young inventor. “But I have my suspicions -and I’m going to watch you. Don’t forget that -your tool Hussy and the fellow with him are -still in jail!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t know anything about Hussy!” -stormed the owner of the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I think you do,” was Tom’s reply. “But -keep away from me and my machine—that’s all -I ask. I can beat you in a fair race, and I don’t -want any dirty work, nor will I stand for it!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom turned and went back in his ship. The -talk was in English of course, and few of the -Portuguese who had gathered about to view the -strange craft knew what it was about.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He sure tried to foul you,” declared Ned -when his chum had rejoined him. “He had -plenty of room to land clear.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“More than he needed,” agreed Peltok. “That -man will bear watching, Mr. Swift!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And we’ll watch him!” replied Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Here come a couple more of the contestants, -I guess,” called Hartman as he pointed upward, -where two specks, like big birds, were observed -in the sky.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Either that, or it’s a welcoming delegation -of Portuguese airmen,” suggested Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But the first surmise proved correct, and a -little later two big hydroplanes, one piloted by -Jed Kimball and the other by Harry Walton, -whom Tom knew slightly, settled down in Lisbon -harbor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This harbor, while not an official landing, -since the race was a go-as-you-please one, was -the objective of most of the contestants who -flew eastward in aircraft. Some were not able -to cross the Atlantic in one hop, and were -obliged to stop at the Azores. But the bigger -machines, including Tom’s, the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>, and -the two to arrive later, carried fuel enough for -the longer journey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They’re making almost as good time as you -made, Tom,” remarked Ned when informal -greetings had been exchanged with the two -latest arrivals. “Doesn’t that mean they’ll -give you a hard rub?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You forget, Ned,” said the inventor, “that -we were forced down by a hot bearing and lost -a lot of time. Even with that, we beat the other -three. If we did that, bucking the hurricane -as we did, it shows we are a lot speedier than -they are, unless they, too, were delayed. We -must find out about that, but we’ll have to be -diplomatic. No use letting them know just -how speedy we are.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While oil and gas, together with some more -food and other supplies, were being taken -aboard all four of the competing craft, Tom -signaled a small boat and visited Jed Kimball.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Run into any bad weather on the way over?” -Tom asked casually.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not a bit,” was the answer. “Had smooth -sailing all the time. And so did Walton. He -and I were close together on the way over.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom’s heart rejoiced at this. It meant that -the other craft had pushed their engines to the -limit and had been traveling steadily in clear -air, only to arrive after he did.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And we lost considerable time,” said Tom to -Ned when he was back on board the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>. -“That means we have a lot the best of -them. The only one I’m in doubt of is the <span class='it'>Red -Arrow</span>. I’m not friendly enough with Kilborn -to ask him if he had any delays. If he did, -and yet came in soon after us, it means he is -pretty nearly as fast as we are. But if he came -right along without a stop, it means we’ve got -him beat.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let’s see if Brinkley or Hartman can’t pick -up a bit of information,” suggested Ned. -“They’re going ashore for a half hour, and I -notice some of the <span class='it'>Red Arrow’s</span> crew also going -to take shore leave.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That might be a good way,” agreed Tom, -and he instructed the two mechanics to get into -casual conversation, if they could, with the men -from Kilborn’s craft, but, at the same time, not -to give a hint of their own speed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hartman and Brinkley managed to get -friendly with some mechanics from the <span class='it'>Red -Arrow</span>, but the information they secured was -not the most reassuring to Tom. It developed -that his most formidable rival had also been -delayed by the hurricane, though not forced -down, being, however, blown far off the course.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then since he arrived about the time we -did,” said Tom, talking the matter over with -Ned, “it means that he’s going almost as fast as -we are. I’m afraid we’re going to have trouble -with Kilborn.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you really think he has a chance to beat -you?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He has a good chance. The only thing is -that if he gets disabled so he can’t travel in the -air, he can’t do very much on the water and -nothing at all on land. I might have him there. -But it’s only a chance. We’ve got our work cut -out for us, Ned!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, then, the sooner we get away from here -the better!” suggested the financial manager, -and his chum agreed with him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The work of taking on the gas, oil and other -supplies was hastened, and at last the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -was again ready to hop off. The mechanics -had gone carefully over every part of the -motors, and they were tuned up to the highest -notch of efficiency.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, let’s go!” called Tom when, about -three hours after landing in the Lisbon harbor, -they were ready to leave again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The motors roared as the gas was turned on -when the starters had turned the flywheels over, -and Tom was about to guide his craft down a -long, wide lane of water in the bay when Ned -exclaimed:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There goes the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom turned to see the rival craft making -ready to take off, and then he suddenly shut -down the motors and let his craft come to a -slow stop while the other increased her speed -and was ready to take the air.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s the idea?” cried Ned. “Has anything -happened?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No. But something might if I tried to take -off just when Kilborn did,” said Tom quietly. -“There’s too much chance of a collision—planned -or accidental. Let him get up—I’ll follow. -I can do as I please then. Let him go!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was evident that the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> had been -waiting for the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> to lead the way, -for just as soon as Tom started the other craft -had followed, and when Tom shut down it appeared -to puzzle Kilborn and his men. However, -they must have imagined that it was only -a temporary halt, for they roared on their way, -finally leaping into the air from a foam-crested -wave and speeding off ahead of Tom Swift.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let him go!” the young inventor said. “I -can pass him when I need to. But I want a -clear field.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A few minutes later Tom started his motors -again, and his craft was in the air shortly before -the other two hydroplanes took off. But by -this time the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> was only a speck in -the sky.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hope he won’t get too far ahead!” mused -Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m not worrying,” declared Tom Swift.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Up and up soared the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> and when -she was high enough Tom straightened her out -and sent her ahead on an eastern course, steering -over Spain, the Mediterranean Sea, the -lower part of Italy, and, in turn, across Turkey.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was when sailing rather low over a wooded -section of this latter country that something -happened which showed Tom how dangerous -his trip might be.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He, with Ned, was leaning out of the window -of the forward cabin looking down below and -trying to figure out just where they were when -Ned called:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Look at the horsemen!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Below them was a squad of Turks riding -along and seemingly much excited by the airship -over them. The motors, though muffled, -were making too much noise for Tom and Ned -to hear what the horsemen were shouting, but -their actions were plainly discernible.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Suddenly some of them brought their guns -around and aimed up at the airship.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Look out!” cried Ned. “They’re going to -shoot!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let them!” chuckled Tom. “They must be -uncivilized fellows who have never seen or heard -of an aeroplane before. They can’t hit us up -here!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” warned Ned. -“Better go a bit higher.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But I want to see what river that is we’re -coming to,” Tom said. “I need to be low -down to make an observation.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He had hardly ceased speaking when several -puffs of smoke came from the horsemen below, -and though the reports of the rifles could -scarcely be heard, there was no doubt as to the -firing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Duck!” yelled Ned as he caught the hum of -whizzing bullets.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Suddenly he saw Tom give a start and fall -back from the window.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He’s hit!” cried Ned, springing to his chum’s -side as he yelled to Peltok, who was at the -wheel: “Go up! Go up! We’re being fired on!”</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch15'>CHAPTER XV<br> <span class='sub-head'>YELLOW GYPSIES</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Rapidly</span>, as soon as Peltok pulled the elevating -lever, the machine shot upward and was -quickly beyond rifle distance, though the last -glimpse Ned had of the mounted hunters they -were still firing at the aircraft.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But Ned had other thoughts than those of -the men who, through fear or anger, had fired -on the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>. He had seen Tom start -back, wince, and disappear from the window.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Are you hit, Tom?” Ned yelled, as he drew -in his head and had a glimpse of his chum swaying -in the middle of the forward cabin. “Did -they get you?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As if in a daze Tom put his hand to his head -and took off his cap. There was a queer look -on his face as he looked at a neat, round hole -through the cap’s visor, close to where it set on -his head.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They missed you!” Ned joyfully cried when -he saw this. “But it was a narrow squeak, -Tom!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Holding the punctured cap in his left hand, -Tom put his right hand to his head and when -he brought his fingers down there was a little -smear of blood on them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’re hit—after all!” gasped Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, just a graze,” and Tom found his voice -for the first time since the shooting. “It was a -close call,” he went on. “It fairly had me -going for a moment or two. That bullet must -have creased me, Ned. It skimmed right past -my head. Yes, I was creased.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This is a term used by Westerners to indicate -that a bullet grazes a man or an animal. The -effect, while not serious, is to render the victim -incapable of speech or action for a short time. -Often wild horses are subdued in that way. -Needless to say, it takes a sure shot to “crease” -a beast and not send the bullet deep enough to -kill. In the case of the hunters firing from below -on the airship it was undoubtedly accidental.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It was just a graze,” declared Tom again, -and an examination showed this to be the case. -The bullet had buried itself in the upper part -of the window frame after piercing Tom’s cap -and drawing a little blood. The wound was -treated with an antiseptic solution, and then, -feeling more like himself, Tom prepared to ascertain -their position.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They had soon left the hunters behind, and -doubtless those wild riders had a strange tale -to tell around the campfire that night.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>By calculating their speed and distance and -by identifying certain landmarks, Tom made, -certain that they were over Turkey—and the -wilder part of that country.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, I think we’re keeping up to our schedule,” -Tom said that noon as they were cruising -along and he and Peltok and Ned were eating -an appetizing meal. “So far we have had very -good luck, even getting out of the hurricane -and over the hot bearing without falling back -much. If this keeps up I’ll be well within my -margin of twenty days.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The race isn’t over yet,” said Peltok, who -was an experienced aeroplane man. “Wait until -we run into some real trouble.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll strike it, of course,” admitted Tom. -“Couldn’t expect not to on a trip like this. But -the longer it holds off the better we’ll be.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hope there aren’t any other wild tribes that -are going to take pot shots at us,” remarked -Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There aren’t likely to be,” said Peltok who -knew this part of the country quite well. “This -was some wild tribe, I suppose, that lived in a -mountain fastness, or some wild wooded place, -and they had never heard of an airship before.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was now running along very -easily. The motors were beginning to “find” -themselves, the rough spots were wearing down -smooth and, as Tom said, the craft was operating -like a sewing machine, which seems to be -the standard in cases of this sort.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For the first time since leaving the Long -Island field, Tom and Ned felt the relief from -nervous strain and began to take matters a little -easier.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Guess I’ll write some messages home,” decided -Tom in the afternoon, when he and Ned -sat together in the main cabin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It wouldn’t be a bad idea,” agreed the other. -“I suppose you’ll put the letters out in front -for the mail plane to pick up,” he added, and -there was that in his voice which caused Tom -to explain:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Don’t you think I mean it?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How in the world are you going to get any -dispatches off home from up here? We haven’t -got a powerful enough wireless to do it—you -said that yourself the other day—and——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Go slow!” advised Tom, with a chuckle. -“This is easy. I’ll write some messages—telegrams -to be more exact—and you can, too, if -you like. We’ll enclose them in some tubes I -had made for the purpose and drop them when -we pass near some city and see a crowd out -watching us. With the messages I’ll include a -request that they be sent off, and I’ll put in -some money to pay the toll and also to reward -the person who attends to the matter.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh!” exclaimed Ned. “I didn’t think of -that! Guess I’ll write to Helen Morton.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He took it for granted that Tom was going -to wire Mary Nestor that, so far, everything was -lovely. This Tom did, also writing brief words -of greeting to his father, Mr. Damon, and some -few others.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>These messages were enclosed in strong but -light tubes and when the airship passed over -the next town, flying low so the crowds could be -observed, the messages were dropped. Before -the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> flew on, Tom and Ned saw a -rush to pick up the tubes, and they felt sure -word of their progress would soon be ticking on -its way.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was toward the close of the afternoon that -Ned went into the engine room and was surprised -to see Hartman and Brinkley standing -together near one of the thermometers connected -with the water cooling system of the -motors. Like an automobile engine, the machinery -of some airships must be cooled by -water circulating around the cylinder walls. As -Ned came upon the two mechanics, he saw -Brinkley pointing to the red indicating column -which was higher than usual.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Anything wrong?” asked Ned, as he saw the -two talking.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This motor is heating up more than I like -to see,” stated Brinkley.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Shall I call Tom?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, no. Not yet,” was the reply.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Maybe the water is low in the radiator,” -suggested Hartman. “Let’s take a look. Yes, -that’s it,” he went on a moment later. “It needs -filling.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As Ned walked on, satisfied that it was only a -minor trouble, easily remedied, he heard Brinkley -say to his companion:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s queer how the water got low. I filled -that radiator only a little while before the chief -so nearly got shot. I don’t see how it could -leak out.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Maybe it doesn’t leak,” said Hartman. -“There may be faster evaporation than usual.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ned thought no more about it until an hour -later when, as night was coming on, there came -a sudden slowing of the motors and the craft -began losing speed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s the matter?” called Tom, who was -on his way to the control cabin. “Why are you -slowing down, Peltok?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Something’s wrong!” was the answer. “One -of the motors is overheating. There seems to be -a leak in the water radiator. We’ll have to go -down to overhaul it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Too bad,” murmured Tom. “I thought we -could gain a little on this leg. But it can’t be -helped.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In the gathering darkness an open spot amid -the forests was picked out where the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -could safely land and rise again after repairs -were made.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the aircraft came gently down to the -ground, several scores of evil-looking men, -dressed in gay but fantastic clothes and bearing -long guns, rushed out from the surrounding -trees.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Looks as if we’d get a warm reception!” exclaimed -Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We shall!” declared Peltok. “These are -Yellow Gypsies—one of the worst tribes in -Persia. We’ve got to fight, I’m afraid!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The airship ceased moving, and as she came -to a halt the horde of evil-faced men rushed up -to surround the craft.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch16'>CHAPTER XVI<br> <span class='sub-head'>TO THE RESCUE</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>“What</span> are we going to do, Tom?” asked Ned -of his chum, beside whom he stood in the forward -part of the airship as it settled down in -the midst of the Yellow Gypsies.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let’s wait and see which way the cat jumps,” -was the answer. “These chaps may not be as -bad as Peltok thinks they are.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They look nasty enough,” commented Brinkley.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I wouldn’t like to meet ’em after dark,” said -Hartman, to which Ned added:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, we’re going to be with ’em after dark, -all right.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was evident that this would be the case, for -Peltok, who had run back to the motor room -after the ship landed, now came out to say:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s a puncture in the port radiator. -Hole right through it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How do you account for that?” asked Tom, -quickly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Looks like a bullet hole,” said the machinist, -while the Yellow Gypsies, their number now -greatly increased, crowded closer in on the disabled -ship.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Must have come from one of the bullets fired -by the Turks,” said Tom. “Probably it caused -a slow leak, and that’s why it didn’t develop -until just now.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But what about these chaps?” asked Ned. -“They evidently mean business!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There could be little doubt of this, for, with -savage cries, many of the yellow-faced men -were swarming over the craft. Their complexions -were of a peculiar hue of yellow, somewhat -like Chinese, yet they did not have the cast of -features of the Celestials.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They’ve got their knives out!” cried Ned. -“They’ll slit the wing fabric, Tom, and then -we shall be in bad.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They won’t slit my wing fabric!” the young -inventor said, with a chuckle. “It’s aluminum. -They can’t cut it, but they might bend it. Get -off there, you yellow beggars!” he yelled at the -Gypsies, but they did not seem at all impressed -and only laughed sneeringly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let me try to talk to them,” suggested Peltok.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you speak their lingo?” asked Hartman.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He talks anything, including United States!” -declared Ned, with a laugh, though the situation -was anything but funny. The scowling -Yellow Gypsies seemed bent on mischief—as -though they resented the coming of the airship.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peltok took his position at one of the windows, -held up his hands for silence, which came -grudgingly from the nomads, and began to address -them. His words had a peculiar snarling -quality.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But what he said seemed to be understood, for -there were murmurs among the men as though -they were about to make reply. Peltok continued, -speaking more rapidly and emphatically.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What are you telling them?” asked Tom -when the interpreter paused for breath.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I had to romance a little,” was the answer. -“I said we were strangers from the stars who -had come to visit our earthly friends.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Will they believe you?” asked Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t know,” was the doubtful reply. -“They don’t seem to think I am telling the -truth. I tried to impress them with our supernatural -origin. I’m sure they never saw an -aeroplane before and know nothing about it. -But if we could impress them in some way and -make them believe we are supernatural characters -we might get them to withdraw. I’ll try -it again.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Once more he addressed the Yellow Gypsies, -but did not seem to be making much of an impression. -They hooted and cried sneeringly -and more than one shook a gun or a knife at -Peltok.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What are they saying?” asked Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They say they don’t believe me. They say -we look just like themselves except for color, -and they think this is only a new kind of railroad -train, which of course they are more or -less familiar with. I’m afraid they’re going to -rush us.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It did look so, for the Gypsies were now gathering -on all sides of the craft, hemming her in. -As a matter of fact, even without the savage -men, the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> could not have risen until -the leaky radiator was repaired.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If we could only impress them in some way!” -murmured Peltok.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll impress them!” cried Tom, starting for -the motor control room. “Start the land -motor!” he cried to the two machinists.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What are you going to do?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Use our wheels and roll along!” Tom answered. -“I’ll plow through that bunch if they -don’t get out of the way, but I think they’ll get -all right. If we can’t sail through the air we’ll -travel on land until we get out of the Gypsy -country. Start the motor!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was a special machine for operating the -craft when on land, and Brinkley and Hartman -sprang to get this going. Peltok went to their -aid, and Ned took his place beside Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Yellow Gypsies seemed about ready to -make the attack, but at the sign of this activity -on the strange craft they hung back. This was -the very opportunity for which Tom Swift had -been waiting.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Here we go!” he cried, as he pulled the lever -meshing the gears of the land wheels. The <span class='it'>Air -Monarch</span> leaped forward, and Tom slued her -around until her blunt nose pointed to the -crowd where it was thinnest. “I’ll ram them!” -the inventor shouted.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some of the Yellow Gypsies seemed to understand -what was going to happen and yelled -to their companions to leap out of the way. -But those directly in front of the craft seemed -stubborn, and held their ground.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You’ll run right over them and kill a lot, -Tom!” Ned warned. “That may set them -wild!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I won’t run over any of them!” said the -other with a grim smile.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The machine was careening on over the uneven -ground, but still the Gypsies in front did -not budge. And then, when it seemed that the -aluminum nose of the craft would push into -their midst and the big wheels crush them, -Tom suddenly pulled on a lever over his head -as he stood at the steering wheel.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Instantly a white vapor was projected -straight into the faces of the Yellow Gypsies. -This seemed to knock them over as if a hail of -bullets had hit them. They fell in heaps. Tom -quickly turned the nose of the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>, -and those now in its path scrambled to one side -so that a lane was left for Tom to guide his -craft down.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Though the windows of the cabin were all -closed Ned caught a whiff of a powerful, pungent -chemical.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What is it, Tom?” he cried.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ammonia gas!” was the answer. “I rigged -up two tubes, forward and aft, to project ammonia. -I thought we might get in a tight corner -some day, and it would help. We won’t get -much of it inside here, but it’s strong out there!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>And strong it was, for the stuff, though it -would have no lasting ill effects, actually -knocked the victims down, rendering them helpless.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>When those on either side saw what had happened -to their comrades in front, the horde of -Yellow Gypsies melted away like dew under the -hot sun. Tom guided his craft past those who -were knocked out, taking care not to run over -any, and in a short time had run out of the -forest clearing to a smooth, level road that led -onward in the direction he wished to travel.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good work, Tom!” cried Ned, when they -were safe for at least a time. “That ammonia -gas was a wonderful idea!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peltok, opening a window at the rear of the -ship, which was rapidly moving out of the zone -of the powerful smell, called back to the discomfited -Gypsies, some of whom were now reviving.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I told you we were from the stars!” the interpreter -said in the Gypsy tongue. “And -doubtless you saw not only stars but suns, -moons, and comets!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then the machine moved onward, now traveling -on land, of course, not so fast as in the air.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But we’ll get to some quiet place where we -can lay to and mend that leaky radiator,” declared -Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Presently they reached a broad, level plain -which would make an ideal starting field in the -morning.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll have to work all night, if necessary, on -that radiator,” Tom said. “This is our second -delay. We can’t afford many more.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The Gypsies seemed to have been left behind -as night settled down. The travelers were in a -lonely stretch of country. For this, however, -they were glad. While Tom and Ned got the -supper, the three mechanics worked on the punctured -radiator. Presently, in one of the water -coils, a bullet was found, undoubtedly fired by -the Turkish party.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Mending the leak was not as easy as had been -hoped and it was well on toward morning before -the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was again ready to justify her -name. It was found to be impossible to travel -along on land while repairs were being made, -owing to their delicacy. On other occasions this -might not be the case.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Get a little rest, men, and we’ll hop off early -in the morning,” Tom said, and while he and -Ned stood watch, the other three got some much -needed sleep.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sun was just tinting the east when the -signal for getting under way was once more -given, but just as the craft was starting to taxi -over the plain, to get momentum to mount toward -the sky, there came rushing toward the -travelers those same Yellow Gypsies again, only -five times as many.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They’re after us this time for sure!” yelled -Peltok, who caught some of the threatening -yells. “They are going to be revenged on us -for what we did last night.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What a mob!” cried Ned as hundreds of the -Gypsies rushed toward the airship, which was -all ready to leave.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom tried to increase his speed to take off -before the angry and savage warriors could approach, -but the motors were cold and not running -at their best.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Ram them!” advised Ned, and it seemed to -be the only thing to do. Some would, undoubtedly, -be killed when the craft crushed its way -through them, but she might soon rise above -them and all would be well, save that they -would probably send a volley of shots after the -travelers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom had about decided to do this, terrible as -it seemed, when Peltok, who was looking from -a rear window cried:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Here they come! Here they come to the -rescue!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The forest patrol—like your state police. -They’ll scatter these Yellow Gypsies!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then all those in the airship saw a squad of -Persian mounted men sweeping across the plain -toward them. This squad at once opened fire -on the horde that sought to stay Tom Swift in -his world flight.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch17'>CHAPTER XVII<br> <span class='sub-head'>KILBORN'S TRICK</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>“Now</span> you will see a fight!” cried Peltok. “I -know those Yellow Gypsies and I know the -Persian forest rangers. You will see a pretty -fight.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I didn’t start this world flight to witness a -skirmish between bandits and the soldiers,” said -Tom, with grim humor. “I want to get under -way again.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You will presently,” predicted Peltok.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In another moment, amid wild shouts, the -cavalry opened fire on the Gypsies, some of -whom shot in return, though most of the bandits, -for they were little less, turned to flee.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There seemed to be a perpetual feud between -these two bodies, one representing law and the -other crime, for they did not stop to parley, but -at once began fighting. And Tom Swift did not -flatter himself that the soldiers had come merely -to rescue him. No word had been sent asking -for help.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The Gypsies are bad,” explained Peltok, -“and the forest rangers fight them whenever they -can. See! They are on the run now!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s right!” echoed Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And it’s time for us to be on the move!” -said Tom. “Get ready!” he called to his helpers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The advent of the soldiers had scattered the -savage men from in front of the aeroplane, and -she could now speed over the level place and -take off into the air.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A moment later, while the “pretty fight” was -still going on, Tom pulled back the lever of the -elevating plane. Up shot the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>, and -amid yells of surprise from the horsemen, some -of whom had evidently not expected the craft -to do this, the machine sailed aloft and was soon -winging its way toward cloudland, safe from -further molestation on the part of the Yellow -Gypsies.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Those rangers, or whatever they are, came -in the nick of time,” said Tom when he had -turned the management of the ship over to -Brinkley while he and Ned went to make some -calculations regarding their course. “We -couldn’t have stood much more delay.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We can make up for lost time now,” Ned -remarked, and, indeed, the craft was now spinning -along faster than it had ever gone before. -The repairs had improved the motors.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, we are holding our own, at any rate,” -Tom said when he and his chum had figured out -how far they had come, how much distance yet -remained to cover, and how much time they had -to do it in. “I hoped we’d be a bit ahead of -our schedule when we were near China, but we -aren’t. Only just above even. But that’s better -than being behind.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Are we over China now?” asked Ned, “looking -down as if he expected to see a red laundry -sign,” declared his chum, laughing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We shall be soon,” answered Tom seriously -when his laugh was over. “We’ll have to land -there, too, for more gas and oil. There’s where -I arranged to take it on,” and he indicated a -spot on the map where the eastern Turkestan -city of Yarkand was located. “When we leave -there we’ll head right across the great Chinese -Empire, or rather, Republic, as it is now, over -the lower edge of the Gobi Desert, perhaps, and -then on to the Pacific.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why, Tom!” Ned exclaimed with shining -eyes, “we’ve almost won the race already, -haven’t we?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not by a long shot!” exclaimed Tom emphatically. -“The hardest part of the trip is -yet before us, and I fear the journey over the -Pacific more than anything else!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Why?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“On account of the storms—especially in the -vicinity of the China coast and the Japanese -islands. We may run into a typhoon.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not so good,” murmured Ned, as he gazed -at the map.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, well, we sha'n’t worry about that until -we get there,” observed Tom more cheerfully. -“We’re on our way, anyhow,” and indeed they -were, with the wonderful machine throbbing her -course through space.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom Swift well realized that he must make -his best speed while in the air. Though his craft -could do fairly well on land or in the water, the -less actual distance he had to travel on <span class='it'>aqua -pura</span> or <span class='it'>terra firma</span> the better chance he would -have of winning the race. His most feared -rival—Kilborn in the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>—could travel -only in the air, and would keep to that medium. -Though of course, having a hydroplane, he -could, to a certain extent, move over the water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But the race will be decided by air travel,” -said Tom, and to this end he determined to devote -all his energies.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was shortly after noon, when Brinkley had -served an appetizing meal in the little cabin, -that Peltok, who had been told by Tom what -course to follow, announced that they were approaching -Yarkand.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Land there!” ordered Tom. “I don’t know -just how near our oil and gas supply in Yarkand -is to our landing field, but pick out the best -spot and we can have the supplies brought out -to us.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Right!” exclaimed the navigator, and a little -later the big craft came to a gentle stop on a -big plain on the farther edge of which was the -city.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>No sooner had the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> landed than -she was surrounded by a swarm of curious natives, -a sort of a cross between a Chinese and -an Indian, Ned declared. They were friendly, -however, and laughed with glee as they beheld -the “foreign devils” and their queer craft.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Here Peltok’s linguistic abilities were useful, -for he was soon talking with the natives “like a -house afire,” as Tom said, and in a little while -the interpreter announced that he had arranged -for Tom’s supply of oil and gas to be brought -out.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then sha'n’t we take this chance to stretch -our legs?” proposed Tom to Ned. “We’ll walk -about a bit and the mechanics will have time -to tune up the motors. I don’t like the way the -starboard one is behaving.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He gave his instructions to Brinkley and -Hartman, and then, with Peltok looking after -things, uttering dire threats in their own language -to the Turkestan natives, who seemed to -want to pull the machinery apart, Tom and -Ned strolled about. They would have about -an hour to wait, and decided to go into the -ancient city.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As they were entering it, Ned pointed off to -the left and uttered a cry of surprise.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>!” he said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s right!” agreed Tom, as he caught -sight of Kilborn’s big, crimson hydroplane circling -about as if preparing for a landing. “He’s -following me close.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But he isn’t going to land near us,” commented -Ned, for the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> was heading -down on a different part of the plain from that -occupied by Tom Swift’s craft.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Glad of it,” the inventor remarked. “I don’t -want any more trouble with him. He’s a -crook!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then the two young men forgot their anxieties -in viewing the wonders of the old place, -while curious natives crowded about them. -They wandered into one of the bazaars, where -Tom bought some trinkets for Mary and Ned -a souvenir for Helen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And while we’re here,” said Tom to his -chum, “we can mail some postcards back home. -We may not get another chance.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good idea,” agreed Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They were in the local post-office, to them a -queer sort of place, where they found a native -who could speak enough English to tell them -what they wanted to know about stamps and -cards and the mails.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While they were writing their messages, Ned -observed two men, who seemed to be officials of -some sort, hurriedly enter the post-office and -talk with the man who had acted as interpreter. -But the young man gave this scene little thought -until he and Tom were ready to leave.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then Ned saw these same two officials barring -their way out. Tom also became aware -of something and exclaimed, respectfully -enough:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“One side, please! We’re in a hurry to get -back to our ship!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But the two officers did not move, and one -drew from its scabbard an ugly, curved sword.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Look out, Tom,” warned Ned in a low voice. -“This looks like trouble!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It will be of their making, not ours!” snapped -Tom. “What’s the idea?” he went on, for -he was anxious to start off again. “Get out of -the way!” he ordered the man with the drawn -sword. “Tell him he’s making a mistake,” he -said to the man who had translated the request -for stamps and cards.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was a lively interchange of words between -the officers and the interpreter, and the -latter, with a shrug of his shoulders, turned to -Tom and Ned, saying:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You cannot go!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Can’t go where?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Away from here. You are under arrest!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Under arrest? Nonsense!” yelled Tom -Swift. “What for?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It seems you have no official permission to -land your airship near the city,” the interpreter -answered. “You must be taken to jail!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s a plot, Tom!” exclaimed Ned. “It’s a -trick on the part of Kilborn to delay us!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m afraid it is,” said Tom in a low voice. -“We’ve got to get out of this in some way. -Stand by me now, Ned! I’ll see what a little -strategy will do!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom turned toward the two officers, a grim -look on his face.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch18'>CHAPTER XVIII<br> <span class='sub-head'>CHINESE BANDITS</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Talking</span> rapidly in his own language, the -officer with the sword said something to the man -who had acted as interpreter before Tom could -say anything further.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s he talking about?” Ned wanted to -know.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He say if you be ready he take you to jail -now. Judge hear you talk to-morrow,” was the -interpreter’s answer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, he’ll hold us for a hearing to-morrow, -will he?” snapped out Tom Swift. “That -doesn’t suit me. Look here,” he went on, to -Yal, which the interpreter had said was his -name, “ask him how it is he doesn’t arrest that -other fellow who landed not far from me. The -red airship! Why didn’t he arrest that pilot? -Kilborn his name is.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I ask,” offered Yal, and there was more talk -before he turned to Tom and Ned, saying:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Red machine man he have permit to land. -He send money on for it week ago.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s a point we missed,” remarked Tom to -Ned. “And I’m pretty sure Kilborn put up -this game on us. As soon as he landed and saw -we were here, he bribed these fellows to arrest -us. I don’t believe there’s any permit needed -at all.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, what can you do about it?” asked -Ned. “They’ve got the upper hand of us.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Truly it seemed so, for now a squad of native -soldiers, ugly and unkempt enough but armed -with swords and guns, came swarming around -the post-office. One of the two officers who had -arrested Tom and Ned took charge of the squad.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m going to buy a permit here and now,” -Tom said, with a smile. “There’s no use trying -to fight these fellows except with money. -Look here,” he went on to Yal. “Tell that officer -I’m sorry I didn’t know about a permit, but -I’m willing to pay for one now and also pay him -for his trouble in getting it, and I’ll pay you -for translating this to him.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At this the eyes of the interpreter sparkled, -as did those of the two officers when Tom took -out some United States gold pieces. Gold speaks -a universal language, and when Tom had -clinked the pieces in his hands a few times there -was a quick exchange of spitfire language between -Yal and the tallest of the two officers. -Then Yal said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Mebby so he get you a permit for money.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Have him try,” said Tom, with a significant -smile, as he passed over some of the gold pieces.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The tall officer hurried away while his companion -arranged the ragged, dirty soldiers -rather in the form of a bodyguard about the -two aviators than as a squad sent to arrest -them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I think everything is going to come out all -right,” said Tom to his chum.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It did; for a few minutes later the tall officer, -now all smiles, came hurrying back, bearing a -paper covered with big red and gold seals. This -he handed to Tom while Yal said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Him got permit for you. Now you can go—for -a little more gold!” and his eyes gleamed -greedily.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I guess it’s worth the money,” commented -Tom, as he handed over the remaining five dollar -gold pieces, “if it’s only to get the best of -that skunk Kilborn.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Some orders were shouted to the soldiers, they -in turn yelled at the rabble, and Tom and -Ned were allowed to walk out as they pleased. -They lost no time in hastening back to their -craft, where they found that the work of taking -on the oil, gas, and other supplies had been -completed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peltok was pacing about, looking anxiously -up and down. At the sight of the two young -men, who were followed by a crowd of boys, he -said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I was afraid something had happened. -That Kilborn was sneaking around here, looking -as tickled as a cat with cream on her whiskers.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Something did happen,” explained Tom. -“And that Kilborn won’t be so pleased the next -time he calls.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Here he is now,” said Ned in a low voice as -the pilot of the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> was observed pushing -his way through the crowd. His craft could -be seen off in the distance down in a little hollow. -He, too, it appeared, had landed for supplies.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the sight of Tom and Ned about to enter -the cabin of the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>, the face of the -rascal underwent a change. He started back as -Tom mockingly remarked:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, you’re following us pretty close, Mr. -Kilborn. How much did you have to pay for -your landing permit?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I didn’t pay—I don’t know anything about -it!” snapped the man, his face almost as red as -his machine. “I can’t help it if my route parallels -yours. The air is free.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But landing in Yarkand doesn’t seem to be,” -went on Tom. “Your little trick cost me some -money!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What trick? I haven’t done anything. I—I——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s no use in talking about it,” broke -in the young inventor. “I know what you did! -But I held a trump card,” and with that Tom -went to the pilot house and gave the word to -take off.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The machine was soon again soaring in the -air and, looking back, Ned reported that the <span class='it'>Red -Arrow</span> was also in progress.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He’s following us, Tom,” the young inventor’s -financial manager stated.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let him come!” said Tom grimly. “If he -tries any more of his tricks I’ll not let him off -so easily next time.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Wishing to put as much distance as possible -between himself and his most dangerous rival, -Tom signaled for some of the super gas to be -used, and this so speeded up the motors that -the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>, fast as she was traveling, was -soon left behind, lost in the mist of the upper -regions.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All that day and through the night, Tom -Swift’s powerful craft winged her way onward, -covering mile after mile. When the pilot -thought he had gained enough on Kilborn’s craft -he changed back to the ordinary fuel, saving the -powerful gasoline for another emergency.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was shortly after breakfast, when Tom and -Ned were taking some very much limited exercise -by walking about the cabin, that Peltok, -with a worried look on his face, came in to report:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m afraid we’ll have to make another landing, -Mr. Swift.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Land again? What for?” asked Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“One of the carburetors seems to be choked -and the adjustment of it is such a delicate matter -that I don’t believe we can do it in the air. -We are constantly losing speed, and also getting -off our course, as one motor is more powerful -than the other.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Well, if we must land, we must,” agreed -Tom ruefully. “But we are losing too much -time. It can’t be helped, I suppose. Go down, -then!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Where shall we land?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Somewhere in China,” was Tom’s answer, -as he looked at the route map.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A little later they floated down on a vast -plain in a lonely region where there was not a -habitation in sight and where there seemed to -be no life stirring.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t believe we’ll be disturbed here,” remarked -Tom, as he got out of the machine, followed -by Ned. “It’s as lonesome as the middle -of a desert. Well, let’s have a look at that carburetor.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He had no sooner got it disconnected from -the feed line than he saw that extensive repairs -were needed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It will take all of a day, maybe more,” he -said, with a sigh.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Another day lost!” exclaimed Ned. “That’s -bad!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, we’ll make it up!” declared Tom, with -a smile. “We’ve got some of that super gas -left. I’m saving that for a grand-stand finish.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Since they were to be held in this lonely -Chinese region for a day, the young inventor -and Ned Newton planned to roam about and -take matters easy while the three machinists -made a new part for the defective one in the -carburetor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That evening, as Tom and Ned sat in front -of the machine, they heard, off to the right, a -roaring, pulsating sound which had a meaning -for them. They looked in the direction of the -noise, but on account of the mist could see -nothing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“An aeroplane, as sure as guns!” exclaimed -Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>, if I know anything -about gasoline!” added Tom. “That’s just how -her motors sound. Well, I hope Kilborn doesn’t -spot us held up here.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sound of the throbbing engines died suddenly, -and at this Tom sprang to his feet.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He’s shut off!” he exclaimed. “He’s going -to land!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Seems so,” admitted Ned. “But he may -not spot us,” and as they had no sight of the -rival plane, they concluded that the mist hid -them as it also hid the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll stand guard to-night,” decided Tom, -and so watch was kept. But nothing happened -during the hours of darkness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The sun was scarcely up when Brinkley and -Hartman rose, to resume work on the carburetor. -But it was Ned who, looking out of his -cabin window, uttered a cry of alarm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What is it?” asked Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Chinese bandits!” was the answer. “They’re -going to surround us! We’re in for it now, -Tom!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the young inventor peered out, he saw a -horde of fierce-looking Chinese advancing toward -the stalled airship.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch19'>CHAPTER XIX<br> <span class='sub-head'>THE TYPHOON</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>“Trouble</span> surely is hovering over us!” grimly -mused Tom Swift, as he leaped out of bed and -hurried into the pilot house, where he found -Peltok and the two machinists gathered.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Can you speak the language of these bandits?” -asked Tom of Peltok. For that the advancing -Chinese were bandits there was little -doubt.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, yes, I can talk to them. But it will do -little good, I fear,” was the answer. “They -make it a practice to capture foreigners whenever -they can, to hold them for ransom.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And they’re likely to capture us unless we -can rise soon!” exclaimed Tom. “Can we?” he -asked the machinists.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Brinkley shook his head while his companion -said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It will take about two hours more to fix that -carburetor and adjust it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then we’ve got to fight!” said Tom. “All -right, if they want that they can have it! Get -out the guns, Ned!” he cried. “Peltok, you man -the ammonia tubes. Hartman, you——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Wait a minute!” advised Peltok. “I think -if we drive the machine on her wheels in the direction -of these bandits they may scatter. They -are not as intelligent as the Yellow Gypsies. -We can run on land with only one motor. It -will be better than starting a fight, for it will -take only a few bullets to damage the machine -beyond repair.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s right,” agreed Tom. “But do you -think we can bluff ’em?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s worth trying,” Peltok answered. “I’ll -give them a word of warning!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He leaned out of the pilot house window and -shouted something which, as Ned said later, -sounded like the back fire of an auto. The oncoming -Chinese, none of whom were mounted, -halted and talked among themselves.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I told them,” said Peltok to Tom, “that you -would mow them down as a typhoon mows down -a rice field if they did not scatter.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What did they say?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They expressed some doubts, but I have -them frightened. If you’ll start the machine -and open the cut-out so the muffler isn’t working, -I think they’ll run.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Better that than shooting them,” declared -Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It did not take long to start the land motor, -and when the engine was warmed up Tom -opened the cut-out, and such a staccato, rapid -series of explosions resulted as to make it sound -like a battery of machine guns in action.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There were surprised shouts from the bandits, -and some of them started to run. A few however -held their ground.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Shave her nose right into the midst of -them!” advised Peltok. “But run slow, and -knock them down gently. Since the propellers -are aft they will do no damage.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So Tom, guiding the craft, put her in motion -toward a knot of the scowling Chinese bandits, -some of whom seemed about to fire with their -antiquated guns.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But when the bandits saw the powerful craft -headed straight for them and when the foremost -in the line were gently but effectively -bowled over, rolling out of the way of the -wheels just in time to save their lives, it was -too much for the spirit of the rascals.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With cackling, shrill cries they turned and -fled, and in a little while the plain was cleared -of them. At this Tom Swift was well pleased, -for he did not wish to take life, even of a bandit, -if he could avoid it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Might just as well keep right on with the -land motor,” advised Ned when the way was -clear before them. “We can get to some place -better fitted to stand off an attack than we were -back there. And we’ll be delayed a bit yet, -sha'n’t we?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m afraid we can’t get that carburetor tuned -up before to-morrow morning,” Hartman reported. -He was an expert on this particular -part of a gasoline motor. “It wouldn’t be a -bad idea to get to some place where we’d have -a hill at our backs,” he added.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All right,” agreed Tom Swift, so he guided -the craft for several miles across the treeless -plain until they reached a plateau which they -thought would be a good place to stop.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now, boys, make the best time you can on -that carburetor,” begged Tom of his mechanics -when they were again at rest. It was decided -that it would be wiser to lay to until the repairs -were completed, rather than to try to make distance -by traveling on land. The <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -was not at her best climbing hills.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Though the delay fretted Tom, there was no -help for it, and as the afternoon wore away and -nothing further occurred to disturb the party, -they had visions of taking off early in the morning -and heading once more through the air on -their course.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“An hour’s work in the morning, and we’ll be -all set,” announced Hartman as he and the -other two mechanics, weary with their labors, -sought some much-needed rest. Peltok, who -was a nervous, restless man, said he would stroll -about a bit before turning in, and as Tom and -Ned sought their bunks they saw him walking -off in the darkness.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In spite of his anxiety over the delay, Tom -Swift was soon asleep. How long he had slumbered -he did not know, but he was suddenly -awakened by some one shaking him and in the -dim light of a small electric lamp in his cabin -he saw Peltok bending over him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What is it?” asked Tom, starting up. “Is it -morning? Are we going to leave now?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t know whether we can leave or not,” -was the answer. “We are in great danger. -Listen. I walked out this evening and, most -unexpectedly, I came upon a place where the -<span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> is hidden in a glen.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>?” cried Tom. “You mean -Kilborn’s ship?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes. She is right near-by, and I believe he -and his men know we are here. But that isn’t -the worst. Kilborn has hired a band of Chinese -bandits to attack us just before sunrise, disable -our plane, and capture us!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Are you sure of this?” gasped Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Very sure! I crept near enough in the darkness -to overhear all the details. Kilborn was -talking to the bandits through an interpreter, -and I heard all that was said. The bandits are -angry because we repulsed them this morning, -and they are eager for revenge. They promised -Kilborn to attack us in force, to wreck our machine -and to carry us off.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The dirty rascal!” cried Tom. “What can -we do?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If we could finish those repairs and be ready -to start up before they got here, we’d trick -them,” said Peltok. And when Ned, who was -aroused by the talk, heard what was in prospect, -he too, advised the same thing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then we’ll do it!” decided Tom. “I hate to -route Joe and Bill out of bed again, but it’s got -to be done.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Never a word of protest came from the two -mechanics as they sleepily rolled out of their -berths, and, with the help of Peltok and Tom, -while Ned managed a flashlight, went to work -adjusting the carburetor and fitting it in place.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Now we’ll try it,” said Hartman when, toward -morning, the last of the adjustments were -made.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But if we start the motors and they don’t -work,” objected Ned, “won’t those bandits, who -must be camped near here and waiting, hear -them and come to the attack.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ve got to chance it,” said Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Luckily, just as they began to make the test -a violent storm, with heavy thunder, came up, -and the sound of the motors’ exhausts were -drowned in the furious rumbles from the sky. -The bandits heard nothing of the trial of the -airship’s machinery and, to the delight of Tom -and his friends, the carburetor functioned perfectly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’re ready to go up now!” announced Peltok, -as the first rosy tints in the sky denoted the -coming of dawn. “Everything is all right. -We’re going up!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And here come the bandits!” cried Ned as, -through the windows of the pilot house, he saw -a crowd of Chinese advancing.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Lively!” ordered Tom. “It’s going to be -touch and go!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The motors roared as more gas was turned -on. The <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> trembled, seemed to cling -for an instant to the earth, and then she began -moving rapidly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A cry of astonishment and rage burst from -the bandits, who had not expected this. It was -rapidly getting light. Tom was in charge of the -controls and, waiting only until the craft had -acquired sufficient momentum, he pulled on the -elevating rudder handle.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s Kilborn!” shouted Ned, as he caught -sight of the rascal who had come out to see how -his plot worked. He was yelling something, -though what it was could not be heard, and he -seemed to be urging the bandits to rush up and -grab the airship before it could get fully off -the earth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But now the motors were warming up. The -nose of the craft lifted. In desperation Kilborn -yelled and waved his hands wildly. One of the -bandits, directly in the path of the plane, made -a jump and grabbed a rope that had, inadvertently, -been left dangling. He caught it and -was lifted up in the air.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’re taking him with us!” cried Ned, leaning -out of the window to observe.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That’s his lookout!” said Tom coolly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But the Chinese bandit had no relish for being -taken from his home in this strange fashion. -With a yell, he let go the rope when he was ten -feet up, and down he fell.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Wow!” yelled Ned, with a laugh of delight. -“He got his all right!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who?” asked Tom, who was guiding the -plane up higher and higher, out of danger.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Kilborn,” was the answer. “That bandit -fell squarely on top of him, and they both went -down in a mud puddle! Oh, baby!” and Ned -chuckled in delight while grins of satisfaction -spread over the faces of the others.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom looked down in time to see the discomfited -pilot of the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> picking himself up -from beneath the bandit, his clothes dripping -mud and water, and then the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> shot -on her way.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The remainder of that day was one void of -excitement. They traveled in the air over the -vast extent of China, making only one descent -to get some oil, as a leak developed in one of -the reservoirs, allowing much of the precious -fluid to drip away. They had a little trouble -with the Chinese authorities in the city where -they landed. But this was not due to any -scheming on the part of Kilborn. It was just -a local “squeeze” custom, and Tom had to pay -out money for graft. But he said he did not -mind as long as he was ahead of the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>, -and he felt sure that he was.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was the middle of the next day, when they -were about to leave the region above land, once -more to sail over water, that Tom observed the -barometer falling.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Does it mean anything?” asked Ned, as he -saw the serious look on his chum’s face.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A storm, I’m afraid,” was the answer. “And -a storm here, in the region of the Japan Sea, is -anything but pleasant.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Bad?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The very worst,” was Tom’s reply. “But -we may be able to get above it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He increased the speed of the motors and -headed the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> in a different direction. -But the glass continued to fall. The sky soon -became overcast and there was a dead calm, as -they could tell by looking down on the surface -of the sea, which was as flat as a mill pond.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But not for long.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Suddenly there was a puff of air that swerved -the craft, powerful as she was, to one side. -Then came a howl as from some mighty siren -whistle. Tom, who had given Peltok charge of -the steering wheel, sprang to aid him as the -spokes were almost torn from his hands. At the -same time the young inventor cried:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Typhoon! Typhoon! It’s going to hit us -hard!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then, in spite of all efforts to keep her nose -up, the airship began shooting down toward the -surface of the sea that was now lashed into -foamy waves by the power of the awful wind!</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch20'>CHAPTER XX<br> <span class='sub-head'>MALAY PIRATES</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Typhoon</span> in itself has a sinister sound, and -when, coupled with that, was the knowledge of -what such a storm was capable of doing, it is -no wonder that there were anxious hearts aboard -the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s the matter?” asked Ned of his chum, -as he realized that Tom was not going to be able -to do as he hoped and send the craft up into a -calm area above the outburst.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I don’t quite know,” was the answer. “It’s -just as if we were being pulled or pushed down.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If we land in that sea—well——” Ned did -not finish, but Tom knew what his chum meant. -If it was bad in the air it was worse on the water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A typhoon is a hurricane of the worst sort, -this particular name for violent wind and sea -disturbances being common to China and Japan -where these storms rage from May to November, -being at their worst in the summer months. -Tom and his party had arrived just at the very -height of the stormy season, and were now in -the grip of a typhoon of the most dangerous -character.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Our only chance is to fight it!” cried Tom, -while he aided Peltok in handling the wheel. -“Once we are forced down, we’ll be swamped.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The craft was built to navigate on water, it -is true, but not amid big waves and swells -kicked up by a hurricane. Yet it might chance -that Tom would have to battle with the elements -of water as well as those of the air.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>For a time it seemed that the typhoon would -conquer and force the machine down. At first -Tom thought something had gone wrong with -the machinery, so reluctant was his ship to respond -to the controls. But when he looked at -the wind gage near the front window and noted -that its hand was hovering around the 150 mark -on the dial, he understood what was taking -place.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The wind was approaching a rate of two hundred -miles an hour, and as the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was -not making that speed she was being blown -back, and her propellers were not even holding -her stationary in the gale. Not only was she -being forced back, but she was being forced -downward.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ve got to have more power!” cried Tom. -“Turn on the super-gas!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There isn’t much left,” said Hartman. “You -were to save that for the last lap!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There won’t be any last lap if we don’t get -above this typhoon!” shouted Tom. “Turn it -on!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“On she goes!” echoed the mechanic.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With Hartman at the super-charger, while -Tom and Peltok managed the wheel, Ned and -Brinkley looked to the oiling systems. If they -failed now, when it was necessary to run the -motors at their top speed, it would be disastrous.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Though the wind howled about them and -heavy rain now dashed against the thick plate -glass of the windows, and though the typhoon -was increasing in power, it was soon evident -that the machine was doing better. With the increase -in speed and power of the motors, because -of Tom’s newly invented gas, the <span class='it'>Air -Monarch</span> began to recover lost ground, and soon -she began progressing straight into the teeth of -the hurricane. To have turned and sailed before -it would have meant that she would be -turned over and over, her wings shorn off and -that she would be dropped into the raging sea, -a helpless wreck.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll make it! We’ll make it!” exulted -Tom, as he saw the speed indicator hand slowly -move along until it was passing the two hundred -mark. He knew his ship was capable of over -two hundred and fifty miles an hour, or more -than four miles a minute, though how long she -could keep up this speed was a problem. And -the young inventor knew he could not hope to -reach that goal with a typhoon blowing against -him at more than half that speed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So Tom was satisfied when he saw his craft -making a little more than the two hundred mile -rate, and he had hopes of coming out of the -contest not only with a whole skin himself but -with his plane intact.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Howling and yelling, the wind threatened to -tear the machine apart. But the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -was stanchly made, and she forged ahead. Now -and then some more violent outburst than usual -caused the craft to dip down toward the raging -sea, but Tom and Peltok forced her up again, -and she rode above the waves, though sometimes -perilously close to their crests.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There is one thing about typhoons that is in -their favor, if such a thing can be said. This -is that they do not last long. From the very -nature of these storms, they cannot last long.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So, after about half an hour, there was a -diminishing of the force of the hurricane, as -Tom could note on the gage, and he was able to -send his craft up higher, soon being in a region -of comparative calm.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, boy! That was some blow!” Tom confided -to Ned, when he could let Peltok manage -the wheel alone and the young inventor went to -get some rest in the main cabin with his chum.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ll say it was!” Ned echoed. “Do they -have many of these out here?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“More or less. We’re well out of that one.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The typhoon was passing almost as quickly -as it had arisen, and when it was possible to -slow down the motors, to save as much as possible -of the now precious super-gas, Tom gave -orders to that effect.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They were now over a portion of the ocean -that had not, as yet, responded to the whipping -and lashing of the terrific wind, and Peltok, who -had given Hartman charge of the wheel, came -in to say:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I think we had better drop down to the water -and give the airship an overhauling. No telling -what might have been strained by that gale.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I agree with you,” Tom said. “We’ll make -a landing, or rather,” he added, with a smile, -“a watering. There is a large island near here, -I think,” he went on, consulting the map, “and -we can be sheltered in the harbor if we have -to make any repairs.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The typhoon had passed. The rain was over. -The setting sun came out clear and bright from -behind the black clouds as the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -gently settled down in the sea near a large -island, with smaller islands clustered about it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Pleasant place, this,” remarked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It looks so,” agreed Tom. “I hope we find -nothing wrong and can soon be on our way -again. We have lost a lot of time.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And we’re likely to lose something else, too!” -suddenly exclaimed Hartman, as the craft came -to a stop at the entrance to a natural harbor on -one side of the large island.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s the matter?” asked Tom, who was -shutting off the motors.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Look!” exclaimed the mechanic, and as he -pointed ahead Tom and his friends saw, swarming -toward them, a number of long, low boats, -filled with savage warriors who set up a hideous -howling.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Malay pirates!” cried Tom, recognizing the -natives. “We’ll have a hornet’s nest about our -ears in a minute! Malay pirates!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On came the savages chanting a war song to -keep time with the flashing paddles as they -urged their boats toward the floating aeroplane.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch21'>CHAPTER XXI<br> <span class='sub-head'>AMONG THE HEAD-HUNTERS</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>“What</span> shall we do, Tom?” exclaimed Ned, as -he stood beside his chum, regarding the pirate -flotilla. “Going to fight? Better turn on the -ammonia tubes! Let’s get out the machine -gun!” One of these weapons had been brought -along. “We can stand them off!” and Ned -started back to the rear of the cabin where the -weapons were kept.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Wait a minute!” ordered Tom Swift. “I -don’t believe we’d better shoot, Ned!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But, man alive, why not? They’ll kill us if -we don’t. Look at their savage faces!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They’re regular fiends!” said Peltok. -“They’ll not only capture us, but they’ll torture -us before they eventually kill us. This tribe is -one of the worst of the Malay pirate bands!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I haven’t the least doubt of it,” assented -Tom. “But at best we can kill only a few of -them before the rest will swarm over us.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s something in that,” agreed Hartman. -“But still we shall have to do something. -They’ll capture the ship if we don’t! Get -down off that!” he yelled as one of the boats -was suddenly paddled forward and a Malay, -horribly decked out in war paint and feathers, -leaped up on one of the plane’s wings. Impulsively -Hartman jumped outside and pushed -the pirate off the airship into the water, where -he fell with a splash.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This did not disconcert him, however, for the -Malays were like fishes in the ocean, and he -swam back to his canoe while his companions -laughed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At this Tom Swift’s face brightened and he -exclaimed:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We have a chance. Any tribe, no matter -how savage, that can see the funny side of life -is open to reason.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do you mean you’re going to reason with -these fellows?” asked Ned. “What’s the idea? -We can’t hang around here making those fellows -laugh and getting them into good humor -so they’ll let us go. If you’re going to win this -race, Tom——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m going to do my best to win it,” was the -answer. “But harsh measures may be the very -worst sort we could adopt. I have an idea we -can escape from these pirates by a little -strategy.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What kind?” Ned wanted to know.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’ve got to work out a plan,” Tom answered. -“Meanwhile, how will this do to impress them?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Without waiting for his chum to answer and -not consulting the others, Tom went to a chest -in the corner of the cabin and took out a small -black globe. From it dangled the end of a -fuse, and to this Tom set a match.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Going to bomb them?” asked Ned. “Good! -I’d never thought of that! But I thought you -advocated peaceful measures.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This will be peaceful enough,” Tom said -with a smile, looking out on the ever increasing -flotilla of Malay canoes. So closely were they -now clustered around the airship that it would -have been impossible for her to have gotten up -speed enough to taxi across the water and to -rise in the air. The engines had been shut -down, and it seemed that the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was -at the mercy of the pirate horde.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A peaceful bomb!” cried Ned. “That’s one -on me. But be careful where you throw it, -Tom, or you may damage us more than you -damage those imps. Though I’d like to see ’em -all blown sky high!” he added vindictively.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They won’t be blown far with this,” remarked -Tom Swift, as, noting that the fuse was -almost burned down, he hurled the black object -through the open window straight into the midst -of a number of canoes.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was a yell of surprise from the pirates -as they saw the object, with its faint trail of -smoke, coming toward them. A moment later -there was a little explosion, hardly louder than -that of a fire-cracker, and a great cloud of smoke -floated over the scene, hiding the pirates from -view.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I get you now!” yelled Ned. “A smoke -bomb such as they use in the movies! We’ll -escape while they are blinded by the smoke.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, not exactly,” Tom said. “The smoke -will hamper us as much as I hope it scares these -pirates. I only want to impress them and lay -pipes for another demonstration later. I brought -some of these smoke bombs along to use for -signaling, but they may serve another purpose.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Indeed, this one seemed destined to act that -way, for from the midst of the heavy cloud of -white vapor came yells and cries of fear and -astonishment. Meanwhile, those in the airship -waited for Tom’s next move.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“This will give them the idea that we are a -supernatural bunch, I hope,” said the young -inventor. “They’ll hesitate about rushing us, -and that’s what I want—to hold off that overwhelming -rush.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom Swift seemed likely to get his wish, for -when, after a minute or two, the smoke screen -was blown away, the water about the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -was clear of pirate canoes. The paddlers -had hastily drawn back from too close proximity -to the “foreign bird-ship,” as, doubtless, -they called the craft.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But if the danger of an immediate and overwhelming -rush was over for a time, the menace -of the Malay horde still remained. For though -the canoes had withdrawn to a respectful distance -they still hemmed the aircraft in, and it -would have been impossible to get headway -enough to rise without crashing into part of the -flotilla. This might kill a number of the pirates. -It was also likely to damage the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Here comes the chief. I think he wants a -parley,” said Peltok, as the largest canoe of all, -much bedecked with feathers and other ornaments, -shot out from the midst of the boats and -was paddled toward the aircraft. On a raised -platform amidships sat a fat Malaysian surrounded -by his attendants. One of them began -shouting something to which Peltok listened attentively.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He’s the chief, all right,” he translated to -the others after an exchange of talk between -himself and the Malaysian. “He says he will let -us depart in peace if one of us will remain to -be offered as a sacrifice.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A sacrifice!” cried Tom. “A sacrifice to -what?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To one of their heathen gods,” Peltok announced. -“It seems the tribe has had bad luck -and they think their god should be propitiated. -A white man as a sacrifice will do the trick, that -Malay chap said. That smoke bomb scared -them,” he went on. “They can see that we -have great power. But still they are not enough -impressed to let us go free, though they say -they will withdraw their boats and let us go on -our way if one of our party is handed over for -sacrifice.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And if we refuse?” asked Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then they will rush on us and kill us all, no -matter how many of them we may kill,” translated -Peltok. “Thus will their god be appeased -and fortune will smile on them, the chief says.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They’re desperate enough to do just that,” -said Tom. He seemed lost in thought for a -moment, and then he added: “Tell them we will -let them know in the morning. Hold them off -until after dark,” he added. “By that time -we’ll have had a chance to go over our motors -and be ready for a rush.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But it will be dangerous to crash through -those canoes,” objected Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Maybe there won’t be any canoes left when -we get ready to leave,” replied Tom, with a -smile. “Go ahead, Peltok, tell them we will -decide by morning.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Again there was an interchange of words in -the Malay tongue, and when there was a pause -Peltok turned and said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They agree. If by morning you will donate -one of the party to sacrifice they will give us -free passage over their sea. If not, they will -kill us all!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There are two sides to every story,” quoted -Tom. “Ours yet remains to be told. Come on -now,” he urged his companions. “Let’s get -busy on the motors. They may not need much -tinkering with. But we’ll tune them up and be -ready for the dash.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>While the mechanics were making some adjustments, -which fortunately proved to be very -few, Ned asked Tom:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s the game?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Fireworks,” answered the young inventor. -“I’ve got a few I brought along, Ned, not really -knowing what use I might make of them. But -now I see a chance.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“To-night,” went on Tom, “when we are ready -to start, I’ll shoot some rockets and Roman -candles over the heads of the Malays. They’ll -probably be surrounding us in their canoes. -But the fireworks will scatter them and we’ll -have a clear lane to shoot through.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good!” cried Ned. “I wondered what you -were going to do. This will turn the trick, I -think.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Though the triple ring of canoes had withdrawn -a little distance from the airship, the big -craft was still so well invested that unless the -rings were broken escape would be out of the -question.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Darkness fell rapidly. Tom and Ned got a -meal ready, serving it to the mechanics who were -working fast to complete the adjustments made -necessary by the strain to the ship caused by -the typhoon.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was nearly midnight when Tom, having -got out the fireworks, made ready for his surprise. -With the help of his four friends, he -laid a battery of rockets in wooden troughs so -they would shoot in four directions from the -airship. Then, directly ahead, in the path he -intended to use to get up speed to mount into -the air, he aimed some big Roman candles.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All ready!” cried Tom when Ned and the -others had announced that they were prepared. -“Let ’em go!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With terrifying roars, with sharp explosive -pops and showers of sparks, the rockets and -Roman candles whizzed forth. The darkness -was set aglow with a terrifying glare, and from -the watchers in the canoes came yells of dismay.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Start the motors!” cried Tom when, by -means of the red glow, he saw the canoes scurry -away, leaving a free passage.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With a roar, the powerful machines got into -action, the propellers whirled, and the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -shot across the water.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A few seconds of this ever increasing speed -enabled the craft to rise into the air, and then -she was on her way, winging her flight high over -the heads of the terrified and disappointed savages.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That will hold them for a while!” cried Ned, -as he aimed the last burning balls of his Roman -candle down on the dark mass of fleeing natives.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All through the night the machine roared on, -reducing each hour the distance that separated -her from the final goal. There were still many -thousands of miles to cover, however, and several -days would be needed to do this.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was on the third day after having escaped -from the Malay pirates and while proceeding -along over the Pacific that the machine which -Tom was guiding swerved sharply to the left. -It almost turned turtle, but he righted it quickly -and then shut down the power.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What’s the matter?” shouted Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’re wrecked, I’m afraid,” was the answer. -“One of our propellers is broken. We’ve got to -descend! I’ll head for that island!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No! Not there! Not there!” cried Peltok, -who had been studying the charts just before -the accident. “Don’t go down there.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s no help for it,” said Tom. “But -what’s the objection?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That island is inhabited by head-hunters!” -was the answer. “They are even worse than -the Malay pirates!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It can’t be avoided!” said Tom Swift. -“We’re disabled. We’ll have to take our -chance!” and a few minutes later he guided his -craft down into a little natural harbor of the -island, the shores of which swarmed with savage-looking -men.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch22'>CHAPTER XXII<br> <span class='sub-head'>THE RAFT</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Scarcely</span> had the aircraft come to a stop, -gliding over the water, than scores of canoes, -smaller than those used by the pirates, but containing -fully as many savages, put out from the -sheltered shore of the little bay and began approaching -the machine housing Tom Swift and -his party. Their horrid cries rent the air and -they brandished their spears, axes, clubs and -bows and arrows.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What are we going to do, Tom?” asked Ned. -“Are you going to fight them or scare them?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You can’t scare these natives!” shouted Peltok. -“They are utterly savage. They have no -gods. They worship only human heads, and -they are after ours.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Then we won’t waste any time parleying,” -decided the young inventor. “Unlimber the -machine gun!” he called to Hartman and -Brinkley. “Ned, get out the rifles! If they -want to fight we’ll give ’em one!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“But what if we can’t beat ’em off?” asked -Ned, as he ran to get some of the arms. “We’ll -be stuck here sha'n’t we, with one propeller -gone?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll be stuck if we can’t ship a new one, but -we have two spares,” said Tom. “We’ve got to -fight these head-hunters off—that’s all there is -to it!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Realizing how desperate was their situation, -the party, one and all, resolved to die fighting -rather than fall into the hands of the evil savages.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The machine gun was set up on its tripod just -outside the motor room, on a small platform -which was hastily screened in by some boxes, -chests and movable lockers. Hartman and -Brinkley, who were to work this automatic -weapon, would thus be protected from the spears -and arrows of the head-hunters. Luckily the -islanders did not seem to possess firearms.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom, Ned and Peltok would take their stand -in the front cabin and fire on the savages from -there. No sooner were these measures of defense -taken than the head-hunters rushed to the attack, -yelling, shouting, and brandishing their -weapons.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was quite a party of them coming up -in canoes at the stern of the floating airship, and -Tom, seeing this, yelled to the machine gunners:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Let ’em have it!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A moment later the automatic began its staccato -roar and the bullets fairly riddled several -canoes, sinking them, spilling their warriors and -paddlers into the water, and killing numbers of -them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But while the rear attack was thus repulsed, -there was a rush toward the front and sides. -There the savages were met with a sharp fire -from the rifles of Tom, Ned and Peltok, and -great execution was done.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With yells of dismay at this hot reception, -most of the canoes that were not disabled swung -back, but one containing half a score of natives -dashed on and bumped against the fuselage of -the aircraft. Screaming and brandishing their -weapons, the occupants tried to swarm up the -slippery metal sides.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Repel boarders!” yelled Tom, rushing out, -followed by the others.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Despite a flight of arrows and spears, one of -which latter wounded Peltok and Ned slightly, -the three drove the invaders back, firing in their -very faces, and actually kicking some of them -off into the water. Then this canoe turned back, -but not before several of the occupants had -been killed.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Good work!” cried Tom, turning to go back -to the shelter of the cabin to avoid more arrows -and spears which were now showering toward -the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>. “A little more of this and -we’ll have them on the run.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As he spoke he uttered a cry of pain, for an -arrow took him in the thigh, inflicting a painful -wound.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It may have been a poisoned arrow, too!” -said Peltok. “Better put some disinfectant in -the wound.” This Tom did, in the shelter of -the cabin.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>After the first rush the head-hunters withdrew, -their ardor somewhat cooled. But Tom -and his companions knew the fight was not yet -over. The canoes still hung about and more -savages were coming to the coast from the interior -of the island. Some of them bore freshly -severed heads, and it was a foretaste of what -might happen to Tom Swift and his party -should they be captured.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Meanwhile, Hartman and Brinkley had used -the machine gun to such good advantage that -they had repulsed the savages at the rear with -great loss, though both machinists had been -slightly wounded by arrows.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>All five of the airship occupants were now -hurt, but none of the wounds amounted to much -save in the case of Tom Swift, and he made -light of his pierced thigh. It was, however, very -painful.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What are we going to do?” asked Ned, who -was beginning to lose heart when he saw the -increasing crowd of savages and realized that -the airship was disabled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Do?” cried Tom. “Why, we’re going to -carry on, of course! It will not take long to -attach a new propeller, and we’ll have to fight -off these imps while it’s being done. Hartman -and Brinkley can do the work, while you and -I, Ned, with Peltok, will stand guard.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This program was carried out, though under -great difficulties. The head-hunters, in spite of -their heavy losses, returned to the attack soon -after the two machinists began attaching the -spare propeller. The old one had lost a blade, -possibly through some defect in it, Tom decided.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ned and Peltok worked the machine gun at -the stern, thus protecting Hartman and Brinkley -from an overwhelming rush, while Tom, -with several magazine rifles ready to hand, peppered -the natives who sought to come at the -craft from the front.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In this way the fight and repair work went on -for a couple of hours, until, at last, the execution -among the head-hunters was so great that -they were forced to withdraw. Ned received -another slight scratch from an arrow, but there -were no other casualties on board the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>, -which was rapidly being put in shape for -another flight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was not until late in the afternoon, however, -and following a most strenuous hour, that -the machinists announced that the propeller was -in place.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And it’s about time, too,” said Tom. “I -think the head-hunters are going to make another -grand rush.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>This was plainly evident from the additional -canoes that were being filled with islanders who -swarmed down to the shore. They seemed determined, -no matter how severe their own -losses, to get the heads of these strangers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peltok tried to listen to the shouted talk of -the savages, but had to admit that they spoke a -dialect unfamiliar to him. However, it was -evident that the yells and shouts had to do -with the intentions of the war party.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Here they come!” yelled Ned, when word -had been given to start the motors. “Wow, what -a mob!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Hundreds of the head-hunters were now paddling -to the attack. But when they were within -range they were met with a sharp fire from the -rifles and machine guns. At the same time the -<span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> began moving, and before the attackers -could get close enough to interpose their -canoes in her path, the machine had risen and -was soon high over their heads and out of danger.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Whew!” whistled Ned as they sailed on. -“If we don’t get the prize for the international -race, Tom, we ought to get one for an international -globe-circling fight. We’ve had a lot -of it since we started.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, we have,” Tom admitted, wincing a bit -as he moved his wounded leg. “And we may -have more. We still have Kilborn to reckon -with.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I wonder where he is,” mused Ned as the -machine straightened out on her course.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hard to say,” was the answer. “But we -aren’t making as good time as I’d like to make. -He may pull in ahead of us.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At the thought of this the speed of the craft -was increased and as night came she was winging -her way over the vast expanse of the Pacific -Ocean toward the shores of the United States.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was just at dawn the next morning when -Ned, who had got up early to make Tom a cup -of coffee, looked down toward the sea. What -he saw caused him to cry out.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What is it?” asked his chum.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s a raft just below us.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A raft?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Yes, with a couple of people on it. Looks -like a raft from a wrecked ship. I think they -are castaways. Can’t we rescue them, Tom?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The young inventor came limping out of his -cabin to look down at the sea. Rising and falling -on the heaving swells below the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -was a big raft, on which were two men waving -frantically to those sailing above their heads -in the airship. Faintly their cries floated up, -for the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was flying low.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Help! Help!” the castaways shouted.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch23'>CHAPTER XXIII<br> <span class='sub-head'>THERE SHE BLOWS!</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Tom Swift</span> for a moment was torn between -duty and ambition.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>His machine was winging along at wonderful -speed and he was beginning to make up for -much time lost. To slow up, descend and rescue -these two on the raft meant more delay—a -delay that would be dangerous to his chances -of winning the prize. He did not know how -many or what other ships, whether of the air -or the sea, containing his rivals, might be ahead -of him or close behind.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But it was for only a moment that Tom hesitated. -He gave one look down at the despairing, -helpless men on the raft and cried to Ned:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ll go down!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Ned knew, as well as Tom, what this might -mean.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As the young inventor sprang into the motor -room to give the order to Hartman, who was on -duty, he practically gave up all hope of winning -the race. Yet he had no regrets.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was another thought that came to Tom -as he told the surprised Hartman what was -about to be done and mentioned the raft with -the shipwrecked ones on it. This was the problem -of caring for the two castaways when they -were taken aboard the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s hardly room for them,” reasoned -Tom. “Their added weight will hold me back, -even if I’m able to make up any of this lost -time. And we haven’t any too much food. -Didn’t have a chance to lay in any at the camps -of the pirates and head-hunters,” he grimly reflected.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But he did not hesitate, and a little later two -very thankful, but much wondering, men were -being taken aboard the airship. They were -thankful for their rescue but surprised at the -manner of it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We thought some steamer might pick us -up,” said one, “but we never counted on something -coming out of the sky to do it.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sam thought I was out of my head when I -told him an airship was coming,” remarked the -other.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom had sent his craft slowly over the water -on her pontoons as close as he dared to go to -the raft, and the men had leaped into the sea, -swimming the intervening distance, since it -would take but a slight bump from the jagged -edges of the raft to puncture the frail body of -the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Once on board, and again riding through the -air, Tom listened to the stories of the castaways. -They were part of the crew of a small -lumber schooner that had broken up in a terrible -storm. For more than a week the men -had been drifting about on the raft which had -been made from some of the deck load of lumber. -Five of their companions had been washed -off, and one, in delirium, had leaped into the -sea and was eaten by sharks. The two who -were left had only a little food and water remaining -when they were saved.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m sorry that I can’t take you men all the -way back to San Francisco with me,” Tom said, -when the two had been made comfortable in -temporary bunks and given some extra garments -in place of their wet and storm-torn ones. -“But I’m trying to win a race. How would it -do if I landed you on one of the Hawaiian -Islands? I’ve got to stop there for oil and -gas.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That would suit us fine, Captain,” said Sam -Stout, while his companion, Frank Madler, said:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We can easily get another ship there.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>So it was arranged, and Tom, still with a -faint hope in his heart that he might at least -come in a good second if not the winner of the -world race, turned on a little more power and -headed for the east. There lay the United -States, and once over that territory there remained -only the last part of the flight—across -the continent.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The motors of the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> were not behaving -as well as Tom liked, and he had an idea -it was due to the poor quality of the last gasoline -he had put into his tanks. He dared not -use the last of his super-fuel, but he hoped in -Hawaii to get some better than the last.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>If worse came to worst, he thought he could -finish the race in his <span class='it'>Airline Express</span> craft, but -he wanted to do it in the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>. It -would be much more satisfactory, he told Ned, -who agreed with him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was only half a day’s travel from where -the shipwrecked ones had been picked up to the -harbor of Honolulu, and it was about mid afternoon -when Ned, who was on watch, gave the -cry:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Land ho! All out for Hawaii!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The beautiful islands were looming ahead of -them through the mist. Quarter of an hour -later they made out Diamond Head and knew -they were close to Honolulu, the chief city of -the territory.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom was in the pilot house, prepared to make -a landing, if such a term is permissible when -one means to drop into the water. He had -headed the craft for a spot somewhat outside a -harbor, intending to taxi up into it to avoid -the shipping when, suddenly, Sam, one of the -shipwrecked sailors, who was looking from the -pilot house window, pointed to a spot directly -in front of them and cried:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There she blows!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What?” asked Tom, though a second later -he realized what was meant.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“A whale!” cried the sailor. “There she -blows, and you’re going to bump right into her!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom tried desperately to shift the wheel and, -at the same time to elevate the airship to pass -over the monster of the deep. But they were -now so close that it seemed impossible. With -the motors shut off the sound of the whale’s -blowing could be heard and each moment the -vast bulk became plainer. If the airship hit -that mountain of flesh she would be instantly -wrecked!</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch24'>CHAPTER XXIV<br> <span class='sub-head'>THE LAST TRICK</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>“Start</span> the engine! Give me some speed!” -Tom yelled desperately. “I’ve got to zoom!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>He meant, by this, a sudden and sharp lifting -of the airship over the whale, as a birdman often -zooms to avoid crashing into trees or some obstruction.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Luckily, Peltok was on duty in the engine -compartment. He had shut off power but a -short time before, and the cylinders were still -hot. In a second the machinist switched on the -spark, hoping to start the motors on compression -as can sometimes be done. To his delight -it happened this time.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With a roar the powerful engines started up, -whirring the propellers and giving the craft -enough momentum for Tom to lift her over the -whale’s back.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But so little room was there to spare that -afterward, observers in near-by boats declared -that the spouting of the whale wet the lower -portion of the <span class='it'>Monarch</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom could well believe this, for when the big -creature, alarmed by the near approach of the -air craft, raised its flukes and slammed them -down on the surface of the sea, preparatory to -sounding, the water was washed in a big wave -over the rudders of the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> tearing -loose some of the stays and guy wires of the -elevating surfaces.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was a narrow escape, and Tom realized this -as, a little farther on, he brought his craft safely -to the calm surface of the bay while behind him -the waves were ruffled by the sinking of the -whale that was soon lost to sight.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If this keeps us,” remarked Ned whimsically, -as he sat on a locker, “I’ll be a nervous -wreck after this race. It’s just one bit of excitement -and narrow squeak after another.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We have had a little more than our share,” -admitted Tom. “But I think the worst is over -now.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You sure handled your ship like a veteran!” -commended the two shipwrecked sailors.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom’s arrival at Honolulu was greeted with -a great demonstration on the part of officials -and the populace, some of whom had expected -that one or more of the world racers might pass -over their islands. So when word came that -Tom had stopped to take on gasoline and oil, -arrangements were made to fête him. But he -had little time for any ceremonies although he -did consent to be decked with a wreath of -flowers—a native custom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I want to hop off again as soon as I can,” -he told the welcoming delegation, though as -politely as possible. “You understand how it -is.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, yes, we understand,” was the reply. -“But one of your rivals is here, and he seems -to be taking his time.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Who is it?” asked Tom, though he was almost -prepared for the answer that came.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Dan Kilborn in the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Here ahead of us!” exclaimed Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That isn’t to be wondered at!” remarked -Tom. “The thing for us to do is to leave ahead -of him and keep him at a distance.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>They learned that the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> had arrived -two days before with a broken cam shaft -and that the repairs were nearly completed. On -hearing this Tom hastened as much as he could -the taking on of gas, oil, and other necessities. -But when it seemed that they might get under -way again a few hours after landing in Honolulu, -Peltok discovered another small burned-out -bearing that must be replaced.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It will not take long,” he said, “as we have -spare parts for that. By night we can be moving -again.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I hope so,” murmured Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The two shipwrecked sailors were taken in -charge by the captain of a vessel who promised -them berths, and Tom and Ned sent home radiograms -telling of their progress up to date.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In spite of Peltok’s assertion that it would -not take long to replace the burned-out bearing, -it did, and he had to amend his calculation so -that it would be midnight before the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -could take off again.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom and Ned occupied their time by visiting -places of interest, and it was when they were -coming out of a restaurant that they saw a -crowd approaching them. Thinking it was only -curious ones who wanted to look at the “world -fliers,” the two young men paid little heed until -they heard a voice they knew saying:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s Tom Swift now! Arrest him! I’ll -make the charge!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom and Ned wheeled about to see Dan Kilborn -facing them. The pilot of the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> -was in company with a police officer, and again -he exclaimed:</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Arrest Tom Swift!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“On what charge?” asked the officer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“He tried to kill me!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Kill you!” shouted Tom. “Are you crazy?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, I’m perfectly rational!” sneered Kilborn. -“But I make that charge. A charge of -attempting my life! Tom Swift dropped from -his airship a Chinaman on my head, severely injuring -me.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>And then it came to Tom and Ned what the -rascal meant. He was referring to the time he -had set the Chinese bandits on to wreck the -<span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>. One of the bandits had been carried -up by catching hold of a rope as Tom sent -his craft aloft, but the frightened fellow had -loosed his hold and dropped on Kilborn’s head.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Arrest Tom Swift!” again demanded the -<span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> pilot.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>As he hastened forward, so did the police -officer, accompanied by a number of others.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I am sorry,” said the officer to Tom, “that -I shall have to take you into custody. There -must be a hearing, but probably, since no one -was really killed, you will be admitted to bail.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“You mean that I must submit to arrest and -probably lose a day, if not more, arranging for -bail on this untrue charge?” asked Tom indignantly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Such is the law,” was the answer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s a foolish law!” cried Ned. “It was Kilborn’s -own fault that the Chinese bandit dropped -on him. He sent them to attack us!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I did nothing of the sort!” declared Kilborn -brazenly.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I must take you into custody, young man,” -said the officer. “I am sorry, but this gentleman,” -and he pointed to Kilborn, “has sworn -out a warrant against you, charging you with -assault with intent to kill. I must do my duty.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“All right,” assented Tom, with such seeming -cheerfulness that Ned looked at him curiously. -“If I have to go with you I suppose I -must. But this is your last trick, Kilborn!” -the young inventor suddenly cried. “I’m going -to play trumps from now on! Follow me, Ned!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>With a sudden motion Tom tripped the officer -who had reached out a hand to apprehend him. -He pushed the man backward into the midst of -his fellows, and then sent a fist full into Kilborn’s -face, whirling him aside.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Then, like a football player, Tom turned and -ran back into the restaurant, followed by Ned, -who did not know what to make of it.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“They’ll trap us in here, Tom!” panted his -chum.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“No, there’s a back way out that leads directly -to the beach!” whispered Tom. “I noticed -that when we were in there. Come on. -We can beat Kilborn yet!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On they rushed, through the midst of the astonished -waiters and patrons in the dining room. -Out through the kitchen they went and into a -back alley. Tom had marked the way well, and -in a few minutes, leaving a confused and yelling -crowd of men behind them, the two reached -the harbor, and, engaging a motor launch by the -simple but effective method of shoving gold -coin into the owner’s hand, were soon aboard -the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“How about it?” gasped Tom to the workmen. -“Can we start?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“At once, if there is need!” answered Peltok.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There’s the greatest need in the world if I’m -going to win the race!” cried Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>A minute later the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> rose.</p> - -<div><h1 id='ch25'>CHAPTER XXV<br> <span class='sub-head'>ACROSS THE CONTINENT</span></h1></div> - -<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>“Well</span>, Tom, what do you make it?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The young inventor and his chum were in -the snug cabin of the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> which was -speeding over the last few hundred miles of the -Pacific that lay between her and the Golden -Gate. Tom was poring over a chart and making -some calculations.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If we reach San Francisco by night, and we -ought to do it at the rate we’re traveling, we’ll -have used up nearly eighteen days of the -twenty.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That leaves you one day to cross the continent,” -remarked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Correct,” agreed Tom. “But we’ll have to -stop in Frisco to take on more gas and oil. -After that we’ll have a straight-away run to -New York.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And victory,” added Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“That remains to be seen,” replied Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was the day after the sensational escape in -Honolulu from the trumped-up charges of Kilborn. -The <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> had got away to a flying -start, though what Kilborn had done remained -a matter of conjecture. Doubtless, -tricked by Tom’s quick action, the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> -pilot had also completed his repairs and was -racing after his most dangerous rival.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“With good luck, no more delays and fair -feather, we’ll just about do it,” Tom said, putting -away the maps and calculating tables and -instruments as they neared San Francisco. -They had arranged for a landing field there—the -same field that Tom used for his <span class='it'>Airline -Express</span>, though he did not now consider using -that machine, since the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was doing -so well.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was evening when the great craft, going -fast, passed the Golden Gate amid a salvo of -whistles from all sorts of craft in the harbor, -for scouting aeroplanes had discovered Tom’s -approach and heralded it. Out to the landing -field without mishap the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> -soared, and there willing hands assisted in making -a few slight repairs and in filling the gas and -oil tanks.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’d like to have you address our Chamber -of Commerce,” said the president of it to Tom, -as that young man was nervously walking about -his craft. “We have our annual meeting this -evening and——”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Sorry,” cut in Tom, with a smile. “But -I’m going to hop off at once. I have only about -a day left of my allowance, and there’s too much -at stake to take any time here. If I win this -race I may fly back and give you a talk.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I wish you would,” said the president.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>At last everything was in readiness, and while -police were clearing the field that Tom might -have a runway to get a start for taking the air, -there echoed above the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> a throbbing -and beating in the night. It was a sound -the nature of which Tom and Ned knew only -too well.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“There goes the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>!” cried Tom, recognizing -the peculiar throb of his rival’s propellers. -“He’s ahead of us!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In vain Ned sought to pierce the blackness -above for a sight of the other machine. He -could see a dim blur of light, and that was all.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Cast off! Let’s start!” cried Tom, and a -moment later, amid shouts of farewell and cries -of good luck, the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> started on the -last lap of the twenty-five-thousand-mile journey -around the earth.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Think we can make it, Tom?” asked Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’re going to try,” was the answer.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But as Tom, during the night that followed—the -last night of their flight—looked at the -barometer, he shook his head a bit dubiously.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m afraid we’re going to run into a storm -when we hit the Middle West,” he said.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>That is just what happened. Through the -night the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> soared on, crossing the -Rockies and heading for the East. When dawn -broke the occupants of the craft found themselves -navigating in the midst of a swirling -storm of wind, rain, and, at times, beating hail.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Some storm!” cried Ned, as the fierce wind -careened the aircraft. “Will it hold us back, -Tom?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s bound to, somewhat, but it isn’t as bad -as the typhoon or the hurricane.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>There was an anxious look on the young inventor’s -face, however, and Ned guessed that it -was caused as much by the thought that Kilborn -in the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> was ahead of him as it -was by the storm. The <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> might -beat the storm, but could she beat the rival -plane?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On and on raced Tom’s craft, until at last -she was clear of the storm which had done its -best, but in vain, to hold her back or cripple -her.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Pittsburgh!” shouted Ned, who was marking -off the principal cities as they flew over them.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Four hundred miles more to New York and -victory!” echoed Tom.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>It was shortly after noon. A hasty meal had -been served. In about two hours more, if all -went well, the race would be over. The twenty -days were not quite up. Tom Swift still had a -chance to win the twenty thousand dollars for -Mr. Swift. Would he also win the prize money?</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Suddenly, through the mist in front, Ned -caught sight of another plane, traveling in the -same direction as the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Look, Tom!” the financial manager cried.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom leveled a glass at the other craft.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“It’s the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>!” he yelled. “And she’s -limping. We’ve got a chance to beat her! -Turn on the super-gas. We’ve got just about -enough to finish the race!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>In an instant the powerful new gas Tom had -evolved was turned on, and at once the improvement -in the pace of the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was -noted. Tom had been saving his precious fuel -for just such an emergency as this. He gave the -<span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> a wide berth in passing her, lest perhaps -Kilborn, in his rage at seeing himself about -to be beaten, might try to ram Tom’s craft. -Then the mist closed in again and it is probable -that those on the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> did not know the -<span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was passing, unless they heard the -throb of her propellers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>On and on rushed Tom Swift and his -friends. One hour passed. In less than -sixty minutes they would be in the neighborhood -of New York City and could glide out to -the Long Island landing field.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“If this mist would only let up!” complained -Tom. “We may over run the field in the fog!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Passing Pittsburgh and other cities, messages -had been dropped, to tell the committee -in charge of the race the <span class='it'>Air Monarch’s</span> progress -and let them know the approximate time -she would arrive. He also hoped his father, and -perhaps Mary, would be on the field to greet -him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Suddenly the mist cleared away and Ned, -looking down, saw the tall and jagged skyline of -New York’s big buildings.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We’ve arrived, Tom!” he yelled.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Not quite yet! A few minutes more!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Tom steered with a clear vision now, out toward -Long Island. The airship had been -sighted, and a din of whistled greetings arose -from the harbor.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Stand by to land!” cried Tom a little later, -as he glimpsed the field he had left nearly three -weeks before. A big crowd was with difficulty -kept out of the danger zone.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> isn’t in sight!” exulted -Ned.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Down to the ground floated the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>. -Her wheels ran over the sod and she came to a -stop within a few feet of where she had taken -off. Cries and cheers greeted the returning -voyagers.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Tom! Tom!” yelled Mr. Damon, rushing -out of the crowd as Tom, Ned and the others -stepped from the plane. “You win! Bless my -alarm clock, but you win!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“What was our time?” asked Tom, as he -greeted the eccentric man and then noticed -Mary coming toward him with her father and -Mr. Swift.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Nineteen days, eleven hours, fifteen minutes, -eleven seconds,” was the answer of the official -timekeeper. “I congratulate you, Mr. Swift. -You have won the hundred thousand dollar -prize!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And your father wins his bets!” echoed Mr. -Trace who, with Mr. Burch, had arrived in time -to see the landing. “I didn’t believe it was -possible to circle the globe in less than twenty -days.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“We had several narrow squeaks!” admitted -Tom, as he paused to allow the news reel men -to make moving pictures of him.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Oh, Tom, I’m so glad you’re back!” murmured -Mary. “And I guess Helen is glad to -see Ned, too,” she added, as Tom noticed his -chum being greeted by another pretty damsel.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Has anything been heard of any of the other -contestants?” asked Tom when his time had -been officially set down. “How about the <span class='it'>Red -Arrow</span>?”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Hasn’t been heard from,” some one said. -“And most of the others gave up soon after -starting.”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Just then a reporter came bursting into the -crowd.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“The <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span> just crashed in New York -harbor!” he cried. “She’s a wreck!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Too bad!” murmured Tom. “We didn’t get -here any too soon,” he added to Ned. “Whew, -but I’m tired!” And well he might be, for the -last part of the trip had been a terrible strain.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>The <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span> was wheeled into a hangar -and left in charge of the three mechanics while -Tom and his friends, after a reception in New -York, made ready to go back to Shopton.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Meanwhile further news came of the wrecking -of the <span class='it'>Red Arrow</span>. Her motors, worn by -excessive strain, had collapsed just when Kilborn -might have given Tom a close finish, and -the machine, a complete wreck, fell into the -water. Some of her crew were seriously hurt, -and it was thought her pilot would die.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Under this impression Kilborn made a complete -confession, admitting that he had set -Hussy and another man on not only to steal -Tom’s secret if possible, and, failing in that, to -try to cripple Tom and disable the <span class='it'>Air Monarch</span>.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>But all their evil plans came to naught. Tom -did not press his charges, and Hussy was released, -but his employer, Kilborn, was discredited -in the eyes of every one and Tom, acclaimed -a hero and a sport on all sides, received the hundred -thousand dollars.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>One of the first things he bought with the -prize money was a fine diamond pin for Mary.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Just a souvenir!” Tom explained.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“Some souvenir!” murmured Ned. But then -he did not need to be envious, for he was given -a large share of the prize money by Tom, and -was able to get a souvenir for Helen.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Peltok, Hartman and Brinkley were also well -rewarded for their part in helping win the great -race.</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“And I won a bit myself,” admitted Mr. -Damon, when matters were being talked over. -“But bless my phonograph,” he said, “don’t tell -my wife. She doesn’t believe in making wagers. -Only I’m glad you won, Tom!”</p> - -<p class='pindent'>“I’m a bit glad myself,” laughed the young -inventor.</p> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:3em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:.8em;'>THE END</p> - -<hr class='pbk'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1.5em;margin-bottom:.5em;font-size:2.5em;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;'><span class='ul'>This Isn’t All!</span></p> - -<div class='blockquote50percent'> - -<p class='noindent'>Would you like to know what -became of the good friends you -have made in this book?</p> - -</div> - -<div class='blockquote50percent'> - -<p class='noindent'>Would you like to read other -stories continuing their adventures -and experiences, or other books -quite as entertaining by the same -author?</p> - -</div> - -<div class='blockquote50percent'> - -<p class='noindent'>On the <span class='it'>reverse side</span> of the wrapper -which comes with this book, -you will find a wonderful list of -stories which you can buy at the -same store where you got this book.</p> - -</div> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:.5em;font-size:1.5em;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;'>Don’t throw away the Wrapper</p> - -<div class='blockquote50percent'> - -<p class='noindent'><span class='it'>Use it as a handy catalog of the books -you want some day to have. But in -case you do mislay it, write to the -Publishers for a complete catalog.</span></p> - -</div> - -<hr class='pbk'> - -<hr class='tbk106'> - -<hr class='tbk107'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;font-size:1.3em;'><span class='gesp'>THE TOM SWIFT SERIES</span></p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;'>By VICTOR APPLETON</p> -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;'>Author of “The Don Sturdy Series.”</p> - -<hr class='tbk108'> - -<p class='pindent'>Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius. Tom Swift is -a bright, ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make the -most interesting kind of reading.</p> - -<div class='lgl' style='margin-top:.5em;'> <!-- rend=';fs:.8em;' --> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTORCYCLE</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTORBOAT</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT OIL GUSHER</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS CHEST OF SECRETS</p> -<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRLINE EXPRESS</p> -</div> <!-- end rend --> - -<hr class='tbk109'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <span class='sc'>Publishers</span>, NEW YORK</p> - -<hr class='tbk110'> - -<hr class='tbk111'> - -<hr class='pbk'> - -<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:4em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:1.2em;'>TRANSCRIBER NOTES</p> - -<p class='pindent'>Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. -Where multiple spellings occur, majority use has been -employed. Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious -printer errors occur.</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM SWIFT CIRCLING THE GLOBE ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ -concept and trademark. 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