amp; his Air Glider(汤姆·史威夫特和他的滑翔机).docx

TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER (or Seeking the Platinum Treasure) VICTOR APPLETON 1 TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER CHAPTER I A BREAKDOWN Well, Ned, are you ready? Oh, I suppose so, Tom. As ready as I ever shall be. Why, Ned Newton, youre not getting afraid; are you? And after youve been on so many trips with me? No, it isnt exactly that, Tom. Id go in a minute if you didnt have this new fangled thing on your airship. But how do you know how its going to work--or whether it will work at all? We may come a cropper. Bless my insurance policy! exclaimed a man who was standing near the two lads who were conversing. Youd better keep near the ground, Tom. Oh, thats all right, Mr. Damon, answered Tom Swift. There isnt any more danger than there ever was, but I guess Ned is nervous since our trip to the underground city of gold. I am not! indignantly exclaimed the other lad, with a look at the young inventor. But you know yourself, Tom, that putting this new propeller on your airship, changing the wing tips, and re-gearing the motor has made an altogether different sort of a craft of it. You, yourself, said it wasnt as reliable as before, even though it does go faster. Now look here, Ned! burst out Tom. That was last week that I said it wasnt reliable. It is now, for Ive tried it out several times, and yet, when I ask you to take a trip with me, to act as ballast-- Is that all you want me for, Tom, to act as ballast? Then youd better take a bag of sand--or Mr. Damon here! Me? I guess not! Bless my diamond ring! My wife hasnt forgiven me for going off on that last trip with you, Tom, and Im not going to take any more right away. But I dont blame Ned-- Say, look here! cried Tom, a little out of patience, you know me better than that, Ned. Of course your more than ballast--I want you to help me manage the craf