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〃Anything wrong？〃 inquired Mr。 Damon； looking out from the cabin
of the Red Cloud where he had taken refuge after the crash； and to get out
of the wet。
〃Not much；〃 answered Tom。 〃One of the forward planes is smashed；
but we can rise by means of the gas； and float down。 Is all clear； Mr。
Sharp？〃
〃All clear；〃 replied the balloonist； for the airship had now been
wheeled back from the entanglement with the chimney。
〃Then here we go！〃 cried Tom； as he and the aeronaut entered the craft；
while Mr。 Jackson descended through the scuttle。
There came a fiercer burst to the storm； and； amid a series of dazzling
lightning flashes and the muttering of thunder； the airship rose from the
roof。 Tom switched on the search…light； and； starting the big propellers；
guided the craft skillfully toward the big shed where it was housed when
not in use。
With the grace of a bird it turned about in the air； and settled to the
ground。 It was the work of but a few minutes to run it into the shed。 Then
they all started for the house。
〃Bless my umbrella！ How it rains！〃 cried Mr。 Damon； as he splashed
on through numerous puddles。 〃We got back just in time； Mr。 Sharp。〃
〃Where did you go？〃 asked the lad。
〃Why we took a flight of about fifty miles and stopped at my house in
Waterfield for supper。 Were you anxious about us？〃
〃A little when it began to storm；〃 replied Tom。
〃Anything new since we left？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp； for it was the custom
of himself； or some of his friends； to take little trips in the airship。 They
thought no more of it than many do of going for a short spin in an
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
automobile。
〃Yes； there is something new；〃 said Mr。 Swift； as the party； all
drenched now； reached the broad veranda。
〃Bless my gaiters！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃What is it？ I hope the Happy
Harry gang hasn't robbed you again； nor Berg and his men tried to take
that treasure away from us； after we worked so hard to get it from the
wreck。〃
〃No； it isn't that；〃 replied Mr。 Swift。 〃The truth is that Tom thinks he
has invented a storage battery that will revolutionize matters。 He's going to
build an electric automobile； he says。〃
〃I am；〃 declared the lad； as the others looked at him； 〃and it will be the
speediest one you ever saw； too！〃
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
CHAPTER III
THE MOTORCYCLE WINS
〃Well； Tom；〃 remarked Mr。 Sharp； after a pause following the lad's
announcement。 〃I didn't know you had any ambitions in that line。 Tell us
more about the battery。 What system do you use； lead plates and sulphuric
acid？〃
〃Oh； that's out of date long ago；〃 declared the lad。
〃Well； I don't know much about electricity；〃 admitted the aeronaut。 〃I'll
take my chances in an airship or a balloon； but when it comes to electricity
I'm down and out。〃
〃So am I；〃 admitted Mr。 Damon。 〃Bless my gizzard； it's all I can do to
put a new spark plug in my automobile。 Where is your new battery； Tom？〃
〃Out in my shop； running yet if it hasn't been frightened by the airship
smash；〃 replied the lad； somewhat proudly。 〃It's an oxide of nickel battery；
with steel and oxide of iron negative electrodes。〃
〃What solution do you use； Tom？〃 asked Mr。 Swift。 〃I didn't get that
far in questioning you before the crash came；〃 he added。
〃Well I have； in the experimental battery； a solution of potassium
hydrate；〃 replied the lad； 〃but I think I'm going to change it； and add some
lithium hydrate to it。 I think that will make it stronger。〃
〃Bless my watch chain！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon。 〃It's all Greek to me。
Suppose you let us see it； Tom？ I like to see wheels go 'round； but I'm not
much of a hand for chemical terms。〃
〃If you're sure you're not hurt by the airship smash； I will；〃 declared
the lad。
〃Oh； we're not hurt a bit；〃 insisted Mr。 Sharp。 〃As I said we were
moving slow； for I knew it was about time to land。 Mr。 Damon was
steering〃
〃Yes I thought I'd try my hand at it； as it seemed so easy；〃 interrupted
the eccentric man。 〃But never againnot for mine！ I couldn't see the house；
and； before I knew it we were right over the roof。 Then the chimney
seemed to stick itself up suddenly in front of us； andwell； you know the
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
rest。 I'm willing to pay for any damage I caused。〃
〃Oh； not at all！〃 replied Tom。 〃It's easy enough to put on a new plane；
or； for that matter； we can operate the Red Cloud without it。 But come on；
I'll show you my sample battery。〃
〃Here； take umbrellas！〃 Mrs。 Baggert called after them as they started
toward the shop； for it was still raining。
〃We don't mind getting wet；〃 replied the young inventor。 〃It's in the
interests of science。〃
〃Maybe it is。 You don't mind a wetting； but I mind you coming in and
dripping water all over the carpets！〃 retorted the housekeeper。
〃Bless my overshoes； I'm afraid we have wet the carpets a trifle now；〃
admitted Mr。 Damon ruefully； as he looked down at a puddle； which had
formed where he had been standing。
〃That's the reason I want you to take umbrellas this trip；〃 insisted Mrs。
Baggert。
They complied； and were soon in the shop； where Tom explained his
battery。 The small motor was still running and had； as the lad had said；
gone the equivalent of over two hundred miles。
〃If a small battery does as well as that； what will a larger one do？〃
asked Mr。 Damon。
〃Much better； I hope；〃 replied the youth。 〃But Dad doesn't seem to
have much faith in them。〃
〃Well；〃 admitted Mr。 Swift； 〃I must say I am skeptical。 Still； I
acknowledge Tom has done some pretty good work along electrical lines。
He helped me with the positive and negative plates on the submarine； and；
maybewell； we'll wait and see；〃 he concluded。
〃If you build a car I hope you give me a ride in it；〃 said Mr。 Damon。
〃I've ridden fast in the air； and swiftly on top of； and under； the water。 Now
I'd like to ride rapidly on top of the earth。 The gasolene auto doesn't go
ver