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！
one side。 As it was； most of the smoke and flames went straight up； save
now and then； when a draught created by the heat would swirl the black
clouds down on the performer； hiding him from sight for a second or two。
A breeze would have carried the sparks away instead of letting them fall
on him。
Nearer and nearer to the surface of the lake sank the balloon。 By this
time the crowd on the bank had increased and there were excited opinions
as to what was best to do。 But the trouble was that little could be done。
If the man could hold out until be got near enough to the water to let go he
might yet be saved； but this would not be for some time at the present rate
the balloon was falling。 The performer realized this； and； as the fire was
getting hotter； he made another desperate attempt to reach the parachute。
It was unavailing and he had to drop back； hanging below the slender bar。
109
… Page 110…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
Suddenly there came a puff of wind； fanning the faces of those in the
motor…boat； and they looked intently to observe if there was any current as
high as was the balloonist。 They saw the big bag sway to one side and
the flames broke out more fiercely as they caught the draught。 The
balloon moved slowly down the lake。
〃Keep after it； Tom！〃 urged his father。 〃We may be able to save
him！〃
The lad increased the speed of his engine and Ned； who was at the
wheel； gave it a little twist。 Then； with a suddenness that was startling；
the blazing canvas airship began to settle swiftly toward the water。 It had
lost much of its buoyancy。
〃Now he can jump！ He's near enough to the water now！〃 cried Tom。
But a new danger arose。 True； the balloon was rapidly approaching
the surface of the lake and in a few seconds more would be within such a
short distance that a leap would not be fatal。 But the burning bag was
coming straight down and scarcely would the man be in the water ere the
fiery canvas mass would be on top of him。
In such an event he would either be burned to death or so held down
that drowning must quickly follow。
〃If there was only wind enough to carry the balloon beyond him after
he jumped he could do it safely！〃 cried Ned。
Tom said nothing。 He was measuring； with； his eye； the distance the
balloon had yet to go and also the distance away the motor… boat was from
where it would probably land。
〃He can do it！〃 exclaimed the young inventor。
〃How？〃 asked his father。
For answer Tom caught up a newspaper he had purchased at the hotel
that morning。 Rolling it quickly into a cone； so that it formed a rough
megaphone； he put the smaller end to his mouth； and； pointing the larger
opening at the balloonist； he called out：
〃Drop into the lake！ We'll pick you up before the bag falls on you！
Jump！ Let go now！〃
The balloonist heard and understood。 So did Ned and Mr。 Swift。
Tom's quick wit had found a way to save the man。
110
… Page 111…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
Faster and faster the blazing bag settled toward the surface of the
water。 It was now merely a mushroom…shaped piece of burning and
smoking canvas； yet it was supporting the man almost as a parachute
would have done。
With one look upward to the burning mass above him and a glance
downward to the lake； the aeronaut let go his hold。 Like a shot he came
down； holding his body rigid and straight as a stick； for he knew how to
fall into water； did that balloonist。
Tom Swift was ready for him。 No sooner had the lad called his
directions through the megaphone than the young inventor had speeded up
his engine to the top notch。
〃Steer so as to pick him up！〃 Tom cried to Ned； who was at the wheel。
〃Pass by him on a curve； and； as soon as I grab him； put the wheel over so
as to get out from under the balloon。〃
It was a risky thing to do； but our hero had it all planned out。 He made
a loop of the boat's painter； and； hurrying to the bow； leaned over as far as
he could； holding the rope in readiness。 His idea was to have the balloonist
grab the strands and be pulled out of danger by the speedy motor…boat； for
the blazing canvas would cover such an extent of water that the man could
not have swum out of the danger zone in time。
Down shot the balloonist and down more slowly settled the collapsed
bag； yet not so slowly that there was any time to spare。 It needed only a
few seconds to drop over the performer； to burn and smother him。
Into the water splashed the man； disappearing from sight as when a
stick is dropped in； point first。 Ned was alert and steered the boat to the
side in which the man's face was； for he concluded that the aeronaut would
strike out in that direction when he came up。 The ARROW was now
directly under the blazing balloon and cries of fear from the watchers on
shore urged upon Tom and his companions the danger of their position。
But they had to take some risk to rescue the man。
〃There he is！〃 cried Mr。 Swift； who was on the watch； leaning over the
side of the boat。 Tom and Ned saw him at the same instant。 Ned shifted
his wheel and the young inventor bent over； holding out the rope for the
man to grasp。 He saw it and struck out toward the ARROW。 But there
111
… Page 112…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
was no need for him to go far。 An instant more and the speeding motor…
boat shot past him。 He grabbed the rope and Tom； aided by Mr。 Swift；
began to lift him out of the water。
〃Quick！ To one side； Ned！〃 yelled Tom； for the heat of the
descending mass of burning canvas struck him like a furnace blast。
Ned needed no urging。 With a swirl of the screw the ARROW shot
herself out of the way； carrying the aeronaut with her。 A moment later
the burning balloon； or what there was left of it； settled down into the lake；
hissing angrily as the fire was quenched by the water and completely
covering the spot where； but a few seconds before； the man had been
swimming。 He had been saved in the nick of time。
112
… Page 113…
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR…BOAT（Or The Rivals of Lake Carlopa）
CHAPTER XXIII
PLANS FOR AN AIRSHIP
〃Slow her down； Ned！〃 cried Tom； for the ARROW was shooting so
swiftly through the water that the young inventor found it impossible to
pull up the balloonist。 Ned hurried back to the motor； and； when the
boat's way had been checked； it was an easy matter to pull the dripping
and almost exhausted man into the craft。
〃Are you much hurt？〃 asked Mr。 Swift anxiously； for Tom was too
much out of breath with his exertion to ask any questions。 For that
matter the man was in almost as bad a plight。 He was breathing heavily；
as one who had run a long race。
〃I…I guess I'm all right；〃 he panted。 〃Only burned a little on my
hands。 That…that was a close call！〃
The boat swung around and headed for shore； on which was quite a
throng of persons。 Some of them had cheered when they saw the plucky
rescue。
〃I'm afraid we can't save your balloon；〃 gasped Tom as he looked at
the place where the canvas was still floating and burning。
〃No matter。 It wasn't worth much。 That's the last time I'll ever go
up in a hot…air balloon；〃 said the man with more energy than he had before
exhibited。 〃I'm done with 'em。 I've had my lesson。 Hereafter an
aeroplane or a gas balloon for me。 I only did this to oblige the fair
committee。 I'll not do it again。〃
The man spoke in short； crisp sentences； as though he was in too much
of a hurry to waste his words。
〃Let it sink；〃 he went on。 〃It's no good。 Glad to see the last of it。〃
Almost as he spoke； with