按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he induced to make such a change；〃 and her face was nearly as grave as
that of the young inventor's。
〃What inducement would have to be used？〃 he asked。
〃Suppose you just ask me in plain English to come and have a ride？〃
she suggested。
〃All right； I will！〃 exclaimed the youth。
〃All right； then I'll come！〃 she retorted with a laugh； and a few minutes
later the two were in the Arrow； making a pretty picture as they speeded
up the lake。
32
… Page 33…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER VI
BUILDING THE CAR
〃Well；〃 remarked Tom to himself； about two hours later； when he had
left Mary Nestor at her dock； and was on his way home； 〃I feel better than
I did； and now I must do some hard thinking about my runabout。 I want to
get it the right shape to make the least resistance。〃 He began to make some
sketches when he got home； and at dinner he showed them to his father
and Mr。 Sharp。 He said he had gotten an idea from looking at the airship。
〃I'm going to make the front part； or what corresponds to the engine…
hood in a gasolene car； pointed；〃 he explained。 〃It will be just like the
front of the aluminum gas container of the airship； only built of steel。 In it
will be a compartment for a set of batteries； and there will be a searchlight
there。 From the top of some supporters in front of the two rear seats； a
slanting sheet of steel will come right down to meet the sloping nose of the
car。 First I was going to have curtains close over the top of the driver's seat；
but I think a steel covering； with a celluloid opening will be better and
make less wind resistance。 I'll use leather side curtains when it rains。
Under the front seats will be a compartment for more batteries； and there
will be a third place under the rear seats； where I will also carry spare
wheels and a repair kit。 The motors will be slung under the body of the car；
amidships； and there will also be room for some batteries there。〃
〃How are you going to drive the car？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp。 〃By a shaft？〃
〃Chain drive；〃 explained Tom。 〃I can get more power that way； and it
will be more flexible under heavy loads。 Of course it will be steered in the
usual way； and near the wheel will be the starting and reversing levers； and
the gear handle。〃
〃Gears！〃 exclaimed the aged inventor。 〃Are you going to gear an
electric auto？ I never heard of that。 Usually the motor directly connected is
all they use。〃
〃I'm going to have two gears on mine；〃 decided Tom。
〃That's a new idea；〃 commented the aeronaut。
〃It is；〃 admitted the lad； 〃and that's why my car is going to be so
33
… Page 34…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
speedy。 I'll make her go a hundred miles an hour； if necessary！〃
〃Nonsense！〃 exclaimed his father。
〃I will！〃 cried the young inventor； enthusiastically。 〃You just wait and
see。 I couldn't do it but for the gears； but by using them I'll secure more
speed； especially with the big reserve battery power I'll have。 I know I've
got the right idea； and I'm going to get right to work。〃
His father and Mr。 Sharp were much interested； and closely examined
his sketches。 In a few days Tom had made detailed drawings； and the aged
inventor looked at them critically。 He had to admit that his son's theory
was right； though how it would work out in practice was yet to be
demonstrated。 Mr。 Swift offered some suggestions for minor changes； as
did Mr。 Sharp； and the lad adopted some of them。 Then； with Mr。 Jackson
to help him； work was started on constructing the car。
Certain parts of it could be better purchased in the open market instead
of being manufactured in Mr。 Swift's shop； and thus Tom was able to get
his new invention into some sort of shape sooner than would otherwise
have been the case。 He also started making the batteries； many of which
would be needed。
Gradually the car began to take form on the floor of Tom's shop。 It was
rather a curious looking affair； the sharp forward part making it appear like
some engine of war； or a projectile for some monster gun。 But Tom cared
little for looks。 Speed； strength and ease of control were the chief features
the lad aimed at； and he incorporated many new ideas into his electric car。
He was busy in the shop； one morning； when； above the noise caused
by filing a piece of steel he heard some one exclaim：
〃Bless my gizzard！ If you aren't as busy as ever！〃
〃Mr。 Damon！〃 cried Tom in delight。 〃When did you get back？〃
〃Last night；〃 replied the eccentric man。 〃My wife and I stayed longer
than we meant to。 And whom do you think we met when we were off on
our little trip？〃
〃Some of the Happy Harry gang？〃
〃Oh no。 You'd never guess； so I'll tell you。 It was Captain Weston。〃
〃Indeed！ And how has he been since he went in the submarine with us；
and helped recover the gold from the wreck？〃
34
… Page 35…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃Very well。 The first thing he said to me was： 'How is Tom Swift and
his father； if I may be permitted to ask？'〃
〃Ha！ Ha！〃 laughed the lad； at the recollection of the odd sea captain；
who generally tagged on an apologetic expression to most of his remarks。
〃He was getting ready to take part in some South American
revolution；〃 went on Mr。 Damon。 〃He used most of his money that he got
from the wreck to help finance their cause。〃
〃I must tell Mr。 Sharp；〃 went on the lad。 〃He'll be interested。〃
〃Anything new since I've been away？〃 asked the odd man。 〃Bless my
shoe laces； but I'm glad to get back！〃
Tom told of the prospect of a new bank being started； and of Sam's
midnight visit； as well as the encounter with Mr。 Foger and Andy。
〃I went over to see what Mr。 Foger wanted of you；〃 went on the young
inventor； 〃but you weren't home。 Did he call？〃
〃The servant said he had been there； not once； but several times；〃
remarked Mr。 Damon。 〃That reminds me。 He left a note for me； and I
haven't read it yet。 I'll do so now。〃
He tore open the letter； and hastily perused the contents。
〃Ha！〃 he exclaimed。 〃So that's what he wanted to see me about！〃
〃What？〃 inquired Tom； with the privilege o