第2章

"If Tom would go， I'd trail along，" said the odd man."We haven't done anything worth speaking of since he used his great searchlight to detect the smugglers.But I don't believe he'll go.That mining proposition sounds good.""It is good！" cried Mr.Peterson， with fervor， hoping he had found a new "prospect" in Mr.Damon.

"But not business-good，" declared Mr.Swift， and for some time the three argued the matter， Mr.Swift continuing to shake his head.

Suddenly into the room there ran an aged colored man， much excited."Fo' de land sakes！" he cried."Somebody oughter go out an' helpMassa Tom！"

"Why， what's the matter， Eradicate？" asked Mr.Swift， leaping to his feet， an example followed by the other two men."What has happened to my son？""I dunno， Massa Swift， but I looked up jest now， an' dere he be， in dat air-contraption ob his'n he calls de Hummin' Burd.He's ketched up fast on de balloon shed roof， an' dere he's hangin' wif sparks an' flames a-shootin' outer de airship suffin' scandalous！ It's jest spittin' fire， dat's what it's a- doin'， an' ef somebody don't do suffin' fo' Massa Tom mighty quick， dereain't gwin t' be any Massa Tom； now dat's what I'se a 膖 ellin' you！""Bless my shoe buttons！" gasped Mr.Damon."Come on out， everybody！ We've got to help Tom！""Yes！" assented Mr.Swift."Call someone on the telephone！ Get a doctor！ Maybe he's shocked！ Where's Koku， the giant？ Maybe he can help！""Now doan't yo' go t' gittin' all excited-laik，" objected Eradicate Sampson， the aged colored man."Remember yo' all has got a weak heart， Massa Swift！""I know it； but I must save my son.Hurry！"Mr.Swift ran from the room， followed by Mr.Damon and Mr.Peterson， while Eradicate trailed after them as fast as his tottering limbs would carry him， murmuring to himself.

"There he is！" cried Mr.Damon， as he caught sight of the young inventor in his airship， in a position of peril.Truly it was as Eradicate hadsaid.Caught on the slope of the roof of his big balloon shed， Tom Swift was in great danger.

From his airship there shot dazzling sparks， and streamers of green and violet fire.There was a snapping， cracking sound that could be heard above the whir of the craft's propellers， for the motor was still running.

"Oh， Tom！ Tom！ What is it？ What has happened？" cried his father."Keep back！ Don't come too close！" yelled the young inventor， as heclung to the seat of the aeroplane， that was tilted at a dangerous angle."Keep away！""What's the matter？" demanded Mr.Damon."Bless my pocket comb -- what is it？""A live wire！" answered Tom."I'm caught in a live wire！ The trailer attached to the wireless outfit on my airship is crossed with the wire from the power plant.There's a short circuit somewhere.Don't come too close， for it may burn through any second and drop down.Then it will twist about like a snake！""Land ob massy！" cried Eradicate.

"What can we do to help you？" called Mr.Swift."Shall I run and shut off the power？" for in the shop where Tom did most of his inventive work there was a powerful dynamo， and it was on one of the wires extending from it， that brought current into the house， that the craft had caught.

"Yes， shut it off if you can！" Tom shouted back."But be careful.Don't get shocked！ Wow！ I got a touch of it myself that time！" and he could be seen to writhe in his seat.

"Oh， hurry！ hurry！ Find Koku！" cried Mr.Swift to Mr.Damon， who had started for the power house on the run.

The sparks and lances of fire seemed to increase around the young inventor.The airship could be seen to slip slowly down the sloping roof.

"Land ob massy！ He am suah gwine t' fall！" yelled Eradicate.