"It has not been announced," was the reply. "It will at once be wheeled
out though, in accordance with the conditions of the race."
There was a craning of necks, and an uneasy movement in the crowd, for
Tom's story was now generally known.
"Get ready to make your protest," advised Mr. Damon to the young
inventor. "I'll stay by the machine here until you come back. Bless my
radiator! I hope you beat him!"
"I will, if it's possible!" murmured Tom, with a grim tightening of his
lips.
There was a movement about Andy's tent, whence, for the last half hour
had come spasmodic noises that indicated the trying-out of the motor.
The flaps were pulled back and a curious machine was wheeled into view.
Tom rushed over toward it, intent on getting the first view. Would it
prove to be a copy of his speedy Humming-Bird?
Eagerly he looked, but a curious sight met his eyes. The machine was
totally unlike any he had expected to see. It was large, and to his mind
rather clumsy, but it looked powerful. Then, as he took in the details,
he knew that it was the same one that had flown over his house that
night--it was the one from which the fire bomb had been dropped.
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