第44章

Men in queer leather costumes darted here and there-they were the aviators who were soon to risk life and limb for glory and gold.Most of them were nervously smoking cigarettes.The air was filled with guttural German or nasal French, while now and then the staccato Russian was heard, and occasionally the liquid tones of a Japanese.For men of manynations were competing for the prizes.

The majority of the machines were monoplanes and biplanes though one triplane was entered, and there were several "freaks" as the biplane and monoplane men called them--craft of the helicopter, or the wheel type.There was also one Witzig Liore Dutilleul biplane, with three planes behind.

Tom was familiar with most of these types, but occasionally he saw a new one that excited his curiosity.However, he was more interested in what Andy Foger would turn out.Andy's machine had not been tried, and Tom wondered how he dared risk flying in it, without at least a preliminary tryout.But Andy, and those with him, were evidently full of confidence.

News of the suspicions of Tom, and what he intended to do in case these suspicions proved true, had gotten around, and there was quite a crowd about his own tent, and another throng around that of Andy.

Tom and Mr.Damon had wheeled the Humming-Bird out of her canvas "nest.".There was a cheer as the crowd caught sight of the trim little craft.The young inventor, the eccentric man, and the machinist were busy going over every part.

Meanwhile the meet had been officially opened, and it was announced that the preliminary event would be some air evolutions at no great height, and for no particular prize.Several biplanes and monoplanes took part in this.It was very interesting, but the big ten-thousand-dollar race, over a distance of a hundred miles was the principal feature of the meet, and all waited anxiously for this.

The opening stunts passed off successfully, save that a German operator in a Bleriot came to grief, crashing down to the ground, wrecking his machine, and breaking an arm.But he only laughed at that, and coolly demanded another cigarette, as he crawled out of the tangle of wires, planes and the motor.

After this there was an exhibition flight by a French aviator in a Curtis biplane, who raced against one in a Baby Wright.It was a dead heat, according to the judges.Then came a flight for height; and while no records were broken, the crowd was well satisfied.

"Get ready for the hundred-mile ten-thousand-dollar-prize race!" shouted the announcer, through his megaphone.

Tom's heart gave a bound.There were seven entrants in this contest besides Tom and Andy Foger, and as announced by the starter they were as follows:

CONTESTANTMACHINEVon

Bergen.................Wright Biplane Alameda..............Antoinette MonoplanePerique.................BleriotMonoplaneLoiTong..........Santos-DumontMonoplaneWendell....................CurtisBiplaneDe Tromp...................FarmanBiplaneLascalle.............DemoiselleMonoplane Andy Foger.................-------------- Tom Swift..........Humming-Bird Monoplane