"
"And I can hear you," added Tom. "I don't believe, down below
there," and he nodded toward the earth, though Mr. Damon could
not see this, as the airship, save for a tiny light over the
instrument board, was in darkness, "they know that we're flying
over their heads."
"I agree with you," was the answer. "Tom, my boy, I believe
you've solved the trick! You have produced a silent aeroplane,
and now it's up to the government to make use of it."
"I'm not quite ready for that yet," replied the young inventor.
"I have several improvements to make. But, when they are
finished, I'll let Uncle Sam know what I have. Then it's up to
him."
"And you must be careful, Tom, that some of your rivals don't
hear of your success and get it away from you," warned Mr. Damon,
as Tom guided the Air Scout along the aerial way--an unlighted
and limitless path in the silent darkness.
"Oh, they'll have to get up pretty early in the morning to do
that!" boasted Tom, and afterward he was to recall those words
with a bit of chagrin.
On and on they sailed, and as Tom increased the speed of the
motor, and noted how silently it ran, he began to have high hopes
that he had builded better than he knew.
Pages:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124