第35章

"And you say the fire broke out right after you had seen the mysterious airship hovering over the house?" asked the eccentric man.

"Well, not exactly after," answered Tom, "but within an hour or so.Why do you ask?"But Mr.Damon did not answer.Something on the floor of the shed, amid a pile of blackened and charred pieces of wood, attracted his attention.He stooped over and picked it up.

"Is this yours?" he asked Tom."No.What is it?"The object looked like a small iron ball, with a tube about half an inch in diameter projecting slightly from it.Tom took it'.

"Why, it looks like an infernal machine or a dynamite bomb," he said."I wonder where it came from? Guess I'd better drop it in a pail of water.

Maybe Eradicate found it and brought it here.I never saw it before.Mr.Jackson, please hand me that pail of water.We'll soak this bomb.""There is no need," said Mr.Damon, quietly."It is harmless now.It has done its work.It was that which set fire to your shed, and which caused the stifling fumes.""That?" cried Tom.

"Yes.This ball is hollow, and was filled with a chemical.It was dropped on the roof, and, after a certain time, the plug in the tube was eaten through, the chemicals ran out, set the roof ablaze, and, dripping down inside spread the choking odors that nearly prevented you from getting out your aeroplane.""Are you sure of this?" asked the young inventor.

"Positive.I read about these bombs recently.A German invented them to be used in attacking a besieged city in case of war.""But how did this one get on my shed roof?" asked Tom.

"It was dropped there by the mysterious airship!" exclaimed the odd man."That was why the aeroplane moved about over your place.Those in it hoped that the fire would not break out until you were all asleep, and that the shed and the Humming-Bird would be destroyed before you came to the rescue.Some of your enemies are still after you, Tom.""And it was Andy Foger, I'll wager!" he cried."He was in that aircraft! Oh, I'll have a long score to settle with him!""Of course you can't be sure it was he," said Mr.Damon, "but I wouldn't be a bit surprised but what it was.Andy is capable of such a thing.He wanted to prevent you from taking part in the race.""Well, he sha'n't!" cried Tom, and then he thought of his invalid father.They made a further examination of the shed, and discovered another empty bomb.Then Tom recalled having seen something drop from the mysterious aeroplane as it passed over the shed.

"It was these bombs," he said."We certainly had a narrow escape! Oh, wait until I settle my score with Andy Foger!"As there would be but little use for the aeroplane shed now, if Tom sent his craft off to the meet, it was decided to repair it temporarily only, until he returned.

Accordingly, a big tarpaulin was fastened over the hole in the roof.Then Tom put a new wing tip on in place of the one that had been scorched.He looked all over his sky racer, and decided that it was in fit condition for the coming meet.

"I'll begin to take it apart for shipment, as soon as I hear from the specialist that dad is well enough for me to go," he said.

It was a few hours after the discovery of the empty bomb that Tom saw Dr.Gladby coming along.The physician was urging his horse to top speed.Tom felt a vague fear in his heart.

"I've got a message from Dr.Hendrix, Tom," he said, as he stopped his carriage, and approached the lad.

"When can he come?" asked the young inventor, eagerly."He can't get here, Tom.""Can't get here! Why not?"

"Because the railroad bridge has collapsed, and there is no way to come.He can't make any other connections to get here in time--in time to do your father any good, Tom.He has just sent me a telegram to that effect.Dr.Hendrix can't get here, and..." Dr.Gladby paused.

"Do you mean that my father may die if the operation is not performed?" asked Tom, in a low voice.

"Yes," was the answer.

"But can't Dr.Hendrix drive here in an auto?" asked the lad."Surely there must be some way of getting over the river, even if the railroad bridge is down.Can't he cross in a boat and drive here?""He wouldn't be in time, Tom.Don't you understand, Dr.Hendrix must be here within four hours, if he is to save your father's life.He never could do it by driving or by coming on some other road, or in an auto.He can't make the proper connections.There is no way.""Yes, there is!" cried Tom, suddenly."I know a way!""How?" asked Dr.Gladby, thrilled by Tom's ringing tones."How can you do it, Tom?""I'll go for Dr.Hendrix in my Humming-Bird.""Going for him would do no good.He must be brought here.""And so he shall be!" cried Tom."I'll bring him here in my sky racer--if he has the nerve to stand the journey, and I think he has! I'll bring Dr.Hendrix here!" and Tom hurried away to prepare for the thrilling trip.