Tom Swift and His Air Scout; Or, Uncle Sam's Mastery of the Sky

is it rea

gloved hand on the outstretched wing of an aeroplane, and looked up at a young man, att

of the craft to make sure about one of the controls. "Why, you o

u, but I've never been up in this kind of airship

ved one of the young lady. And though the glove was new, and fitted the hand perfectly, there was no attempt

up!" and at the mention of "church" Mary Nestor blushed just the least bit. Or perhaps it was that th

down as safely as a bird. You promised to go up with me. I won't go very high if you don't like it, but my experience has been that, once you're off the ground,

se things-such as you have on

you look like an Eskimo, why I'm sure it will be very becoming. Not that you don't look nice now,"

e it would 'fetch'

r. "One joke like that is enough in a morning. It

ure it's

long now. I want

girl, who had started away from

easier to read the barograph, but I think I'll go back to the old syste

stor, with a smile. "If I could imagine I was sailing alon

ve the clouds on this sky ride; though, later, I'm sure you'll want to try that. This is only a little flig

e last minute, the machine looks so s

nd seemed to shi

ready. The motor never worked better, and we may break a few speed records this mo

"You've ridden in an auto with me many a time, and you never were a

om, in an

nd sending us into a tree; danger of running into a stone wall or a ditch; danger of some one runn

ly. "But there's the

if we do fall, it will be like landing in a feather

waved her hand to Tom, and hastened toward his home, where Mrs. Baggert the matronly

g inventor. But she had kept putting it off, for one reason or another, until Tom began to despair of ever getting her to accompany him. To-day, howe

ch, Tom had taken a trial flight, just to show her how easy it was. It was not the first time she had

field he had constructed near his home, and then he had insiste

ir, or whether your hat's on straight. You're going to wear a cap, anyhow, and tuck your hair up under that

e had made her decision, and was really going up, she was not

eful inspection, though he was certain there was no

ob Miss Nestor now, won't y

adicate," was the you

an' dat's de truf, Massa Tom," went on

while I'm up in the air, don't

t giant! I guess not!" and the colo

was possible to be, Tom Swift finished his trip around it and stood near the big propeller, w

e aviator's costume which was like his own. Because of the danger of entanglement, M

mera!" cried Tom. "

oing to feel if we have to make a-forced la

go, and we'll start," and he helped her to climb into t

a hurry!" expostulated Ma

rap around you and sit still. That's all you have to do. Don't be afraid, I'll be ver

to know, as she settl

ise, you know. We can do a little talking through this speaking tube," and he i

s to spill, prepare to spill them now. Well, I haven't! Now I'm h

assured her. "You'll be crazy about it. Come on, Jackson!

wn over his face, and he was adjusting the switch

rcraft propeller, he also shouted, but Tom, whose ears were covered with his fur cap, could not

excited man. "Hello, what's the matter?" the youth asked, pullin

o you!" He was panting from his run across the field. "I just got to your house-sa

etting Mary to a point where she has consented to take a sky ride. If I stop now she'll back out and I'l

my shoe laces! Th

in. He saw, by the motion of Mr. Dam

des. The gasoline vapor in the

roper moment. The mechanic had stepped back out of the way, in case there should be a prema

important! Bless my collar bu

Bang

uestion. Tom turned on more gas. The propellers became almost invisible blades of light and shadow, and the ae

Swift! Bless my pansy blossoms, I want to

of hearing. He had started on