rata of air.
Almost before he knew it the Humming-Bird gave a dangerous and
sickening dive, and tilted at a terrifying angle.

"Are we going to turn turtle?" cried the doctor.

"I--I hope not!" gasped Tom. He could not understand why the
equilibrium weights did not work, but he had no time then to
investigate. Quickly he warped the wing tips and brought the craft up
on an even keel.

He gave a sigh of relief as the aeroplane was once more shooting
forward, and he was not mistaken when he thought he heard Dr. Hendrix
murmur a prayer of thankfulness. Their escape had been a narrow one.
Tom's nerve, and the coolness of the physician, had alone saved them
from a fall to death.

But now, as if ashamed of her prank, the Humming-Bird went along even
better than before. Tom was peering through the slight haze that hung
over the earth, for a sight of Shopton. At length the spires of the
churches came into view.

"There it is," he called, pointing downward. "We'll land in two minutes
more."

"No time to spare," murmured the doctor, who knew the serious nature of
the aged inventor's illness. "How long did it take us?"

"Fifty-one minutes," replied Tom, glancing at a small clock in front of
him. Then he shut off the motor and volplaned to earth, to the no small
astonishment of the surgeon. He made a perfect landing in the yard
before the shed, leaped from his seat, and called:

"Come, Dr. Hendrix!"

The surgeon followed him. Dr. Gladby and Dr. Kurtz came to the door of
the house. On their faces were grave looks. They greeted the celebrated
surgeon eagerly.

"Well?" he asked quickly, and they knew what he meant.

"You are only just in time," said Dr. Gladby, softly, and Tom,
following the doctors into the house, wondered if his trip with the
specialist had been in vain.

Chapter Twenty-One

"Will He Live?"

Soon there were busy scenes in the Swift home, as preparations were
made for a serious operation on the aged inventor. Tom's father had
sunk into deep unconsciousness, and was stretched out on the bed as
though there was no more life in him. In fact, Tom, for the moment,
feared that it was all over. But good old Dr. Kurtz, noting the look on
the lad's face, said:

"Ach, Dom, doan't vorry! Maybe it vill yet all be vell, und der vater
vill hear of der great race. Bluck up your courage, und doan't gif up.
Der greatest surgeon in der vorld is here now, und if anybody gan safe
your vater, Herr Hendriz gan