Tom Swift and His Airship

ng With

ing from where he was stationed near so

t so sure that it would scoot along in this fashion. We're making pretty

up are we?

d at several gauges n

ousand feet," he answered.

answer. He halted over the work

at always happens to persons who go into a thin air for the first time; just as if you had climbed a high mountain. Breath

slant. Tom at once felt relieved, both because the action of swallowing equalized the pressure on the

man of the lad, as the craf

, briskly. "I didn't kno

ew miles, at an elevation of about five hundred feet, and then we'll go to within a hundred feet of the earth,

plate glass windows in the floor of t

t over Lake Carl

s last in the air over this same body of water," and he could scarcely repress a shudder as he thought

om could see a winding river, that flowed into the lake, and he noted towns, villages, and even distant cities, in

d, with enthusiasm. "I would

trip, which we'll do soon, as this ship is behaving much better than I dared to hope. W

running along and pointing upward. They were several miles from Shopton, and the mach

we'd brought along anythi

ow. Your father may be anxious. Just come here, Tom, and I'

irship was turned about, the young inventor was allowed to try his hand a

eled Mr. Sharp, when he had explained t

itating a sailor's reply. "Oh, but this

d Mr. Sharp. "Keep her steady now, while I take a loo

felt a thrill as he looked down at the earth beneath him, and saw the crowds of wonder-gazers pointing at the gre

in the shed at this rate. We certainly are slipping along. A hundred and fifty feet elevation," he w

air, looked around. He could see nothing wrong, but a moment later, the airship dipped suddenly toward the earth. Then it seemed to increas

he lad. "Something has happened

side!" called

izontal rudder would not work, and the craft was rushing near

llision!" shouted Tom. "B

orward, and Tom relinquished the steering wheel to him. In vain did the aeronaut try to change the course of the

, smashing the forward propeller, and breaking off both blades. The nose of the aluminum gas container knocked

Tom, with something lik

ropeller, and I can easily make another," said Mr. Sharp, in his quick, jerky sentences. He had allowed s

ust congratulating themselves that the rudder marked the extent, when, from a scuttle in the roof there came a pr

oceeding!" exclaimed the spectacled woman. "Pray,

lied Mr. Sharp, removing his hat

to pay the damages!" Then turning, and seeing about two score of young ladies behind her on the flat roof, each young lady eying with astonis

of which Tom started. "Mayn't we see the airship?

lady who had spoken. "Ma

she rejoined. "How in th

he same question," retort

ithout my permission, and without an introduction! I shall make them pay heavily for damaging my seminary," she added, as she strode toward Mr. Sharp, who, by t