"We'll hit
a hundred and five before long."
His prediction proved true, and when about forty miles from Shopton that
terrific speed had been attained. It seemed as if they were going to
have a trip devoid of incident, and Tom was congratulating himself on
the quick time made, when he ran into a contrary strata of air. Almost
before he knew it the Humming-Bird gave a dangerous and sickening dive,
and tilted at a terrifying angle.
"Are we going to turn turtle?" cried the doctor.
"I--I hope not!" gasped Tom. He could not understand why the equilibrium
weights did not work, but he had no time then to investigate. Quickly he
warped the wing tips and brought the craft up on an even keel.
He gave a sigh of relief as the aeroplane was once more shooting
forward, and he was not mistaken when he thought he heard Dr. Hendrix
murmur a prayer of thankfulness. Their escape had been a narrow one.
Tom's nerve, and the coolness of the physician, had alone saved them
from a fall to death.
But now, as if ashamed of her prank, the Humming-Bird went along even
better than before.
Pages:
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179