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Page 8
Meanwhile, Mary was beginning to enjoy herself. The sensation
of moving rapidly through the air in a machine as skillfully
guided as was the one piloted by Tom Swift was delightful. Up and
up they went, and then suddenly Mary felt a lurch, and the plane,
which was now about a thousand feet high, seemed to slip to one
side.
Mary screamed, and began reaching for the buckle of the safety
belt that fastened her to her seat. She saw that something
unusual had occurred, for Tom was working frantically at the
mechanism in front of him.
But, in spite of this, he seemed aware that Mary was in danger,
not so much, perhaps, from what might happen to the machine, as
what she might do in her terror.
"Oh! Oh!" cried the girl, and Tom heard her above the terrific
noise of the motor, for she was speaking with her lips close to
the tube that served as a sort of inter-communicating telephone
for the craft. "Oh, we are falling! I'm going to jump!"
"Sit still! Sit still for your life!" cried Tom Swift. "I'll
save you all right! Only sit still! Don't jump!"
Mary, her red cheeks white, sank back, and the young inventor
redoubled his efforts at the controls and other mechanisms.
And that Tom was perfectly qualified to make a safe landing,
even with engine trouble, Mary Nestor well knew. Those of you who
have read the previous books of this series know it also, but,
for the benefit of my new readers, I shall state that this was by
no means Tom's first ride in an aeroplane.
He had operated and built gasoline engines ever since he was
about sixteen years old. As related in the initial volume of this
series, entitled, "Tom Swift and His Motorcycle," he became
possessed of this machine after it had started to climb a tree
with Mr. Damon on board. After that experience the eccentric man
--blessing everything he could think of--had no liking for the
speedy motorcycle and sold it to Tom at a low price.
That was the beginning of a friendship between the two, and
also started Tom on his career as an inventor and a possessor of
many gasoline craft. For he was not content with merely riding
the repaired motorcycle. He made improvements on it.
Tom lived with his father in the town of Shopton, their home
being looked after, since the death of Mrs. Swift, by Mrs.
Baggert. Mr. Wakefield Damon lived in the neighboring town of
Waterfield, and spent much time at Tom's home, often going on
trips with him in various vehicles of the land, sea or air.
As related in the various volumes of this series, Tom was not
content to remain on earth. He built a speedy motor boat, and
then secured an airship, following that with a submarine. He also
made an electric runabout that was the speediest car on the road.
Sending wireless messages, having thrilling experiences among the
diamond makers, journeying to the caves of ice, and making
perilous trips in his sky racer took up part of the young
inventor's time.
With his electric rifle he did some wonderful shooting, and in
the "City of Gold" made some strange discoveries, part of the
fortune he secured enabling him to build his sky racer. It was in
a land of giants that Tom was made captive, but he succeeded in
escaping, and brought two giants, of whom Koku was one, away
with him.
Following this achievement Tom invented a wizard camera and a
great searchlight, which, with his giant cannon, was purchased by
the United States Government. Work on his photo-telephone and his
aerial warship, the problem of digging a big tunnel, and then
traveling to the land of wonders, kept Tom Swift very busy, and
he had just completed a wonderful piece of work when the present
story opens.
This last achievement was the perfecting of a machine to aid in
the great World War and you will find the details set down in the
volume which immediately precedes this. "Tom Swift and His War
Tank," it is called, and in that is related how he not only
invented a marvelous machine, but succeeded in keeping its secret
from the plotters who tried to take it from him. In this Tom was
helped by the inspiration of Mary Nestor, whom he hoped some day
to marry, and by Ned Newton, a chum, who, though no inventor
himself, could admire one.
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