News of the suspicions of Tom, and what he intended to do in case these
suspicions proved true, had gotten around, and there was quite a crowd
about his own tent, and another throng around that of Andy.
Tom and Mr. Damon had wheeled the Humming-Bird out of her canvas
"nest.". There was a cheer as the crowd caught sight of the trim little
craft. The young inventor, the eccentric man, and the machinist were
busy going over every part.
Meanwhile the meet had been officially opened, and it was announced that
the preliminary event would be some air evolutions at no great height,
and for no particular prize. Several biplanes and monoplanes took part
in this. It was very interesting, but the big ten-thousand-dollar race,
over a distance of a hundred miles was the principal feature of the
meet, and all waited anxiously for this.
The opening stunts passed off successfully, save that a German operator
in a Bleriot came to grief, crashing down to the ground, wrecking his
machine, and breaking an arm. But he only laughed at that, and coolly
demanded another cigarette, as he crawled out of the tangle of wires,
planes and the motor.
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