Part 23 (1/2)

The doctor took the seat To of instruments on his knees He put on the face protector, and had, at the suggestion of our hero, donned a heavy coat

”For it's cold in the upper regions,” said Toathered to see him depart in this novel fashi+on, and the chauffeur of the auto, in which the specialist usually ive you a hand,” said the chauffeur to the young inventor ”I was at an aviation meet once, and I kno it's done”

”Good,” exclaiive the word”

Tom started the propeller himself, and quickly ju-Bird until the young aviator had speeded up the o!” cried the youthful inventor, and the round of the doctor's yard it ran, straight for a big iron barrier

”Look out! We'll be into the fence!” shouted the surgeon ”We'll be killed!” He seemed about to leap off

”Sit still!” cried Tom, and at that instant he tilted the elevation planes, and the craft shot upward, going over the fence like a circus horse taking a seven-barred gate

”Oh!” exclaimed the physician in a curious voice They were off on their trip to save the life of Mr Swift

What the sensations of the celebrated specialist were, Toave place to wonder, and the wonder soon changed to delight as the her, acquired more speed, and soared in the air over the country that spread out in all directions fronificent!” eon was in the grip of the air, and was one of the ”bird--Bird increased her speed They passed over the river near where e It was now no barrier to the that they were twenty-two hundred feet high, decided to keep at about that distance fro?” cried Dr Hendrix, into the ear of the young inventor

”Just a little short of a hundred an hour!” To”

His prediction proved true, and when about forty miles from Shopton that terrific speed had been attained It see to have a trip devoid of incident, and To himself on the quick time made, when he ran into a contrary strata of air

Alerous and sickening dive, and tilted at a terrifying angle

”Are we going to turn turtle?” cried the doctor

”I--I hope not!” gasped Tohts did not work, but he had no ti tips and brought the craft up on an even keel

He gave a sigh of relief as the aeroplane was once ht he heard Dr Hendrix murmur a prayer of thankfulness Their escape had been a narrow one

Tom's nerve, and the coolness of the physician, had alone saved them from a fall to death

But now, as if asha even better than before To over the earth, for a sight of Shopton At length the spires of the churches ca doard ”We'll land in two minutes more”

”No time to spare,” ed inventor's illness ”How long did it take us?”

”Fifty-oneat a small clock in front of him Then he shut off the motor and volplaned to earth, to the no s in the yard before the shed, leaped from his seat, and called:

”Coeon followed him Dr Gladby and Dr Kurtz carave looks They greeted the celebrated surgeon eagerly

”Well?” he asked quickly, and they knehat he meant