ACROSS THE CONTINENT
“WELL, Tom, what do you make it?”
The young inventor and his chum were in the snug cabin of the _Air
Monarch_ which was speeding over the last few hundred miles of the
Pacific that lay between her and the Golden Gate. Tom was poring over a
chart and making some calculations.
“If we reach San Francisco by night, and we ought to do it at the rate
we’re traveling, we’ll have used up nearly eighteen days of the twenty.”
“That leaves you one day to cross the continent,” remarked Ned.
“Correct,” agreed Tom. “But we’ll have to stop in Frisco to take on more
gas and oil. After that we’ll have a straight-away run to New York.”
“And victory,” added Ned.
“That remains to be seen,” replied Tom.
It was the day after the sensational escape in Honolulu from the
trumped-up charges of Kilborn. The _Air Monarch_ had got away to a
flying start, though what Kilborn had done remained a matter of
conjecture. Doubtless, tricked by Tom’s quick action, the _Red Arrow_
pilot had also completed his repairs and was racing after his most
dangerous rival.
“With good luck, no more delays and fair feather, we’ll just about do
it,” Tom said, putting away the maps and calculating tables and
instruments as they neared San Francisco. They had arranged for a
landing field there—the same field that Tom used for his _Airline
Express_, though he did not now consider using that machine, since the
_Air Monarch_ was doing so well.
It was evening when the great craft, going fast, passed the Golden Gate
amid a salvo of whistles from all sorts of craft in the harbor, for
scouting aeroplanes had discovered Tom’s approach and heralded it. Out
to the landing field without mishap the _Air Monarch_ soared, and there
willing hands assisted in making a few slight repairs and in filling the
gas and oil tanks.
“We’d like to have you address our Chamber of Commerce,” said the
president of it to Tom, as that young man was nervously walking about
his craft. “We have our annual meeting this evening and——”
“Sorry,” cut in Tom, with a smile. “But I’m going to hop off at once. I
have only about a day left of my allowance, and there’s too much at
stake to take any time here. If I win this race I may fly back and give
you a talk.”
“I wish you would,” said the president.
At last everything was in readiness, and while police were clearing the
field that Tom might have a runway to get a start for taking the air,
there echoed above the _Air Monarch_ a throbbing and beating in the
night. It was a sound the nature of which Tom and Ned knew only too
well.
“There goes the _Red Arrow_!” cried Tom, recognizing the peculiar throb
of his rival’s propellers. “He’s ahead of us!”
In vain Ned sought to pierce the blackness above for a sight of the
other machine. He could see a dim blur of light, and that was all.
“Cast off! Let’s start!” cried Tom, and a moment later, amid shouts of
farewell and cries of good luck, the _Air Monarch_ started on the last
lap of the twenty-five-thousand-mile journey around the earth.
“Think we can make it, Tom?” asked Ned.
“We’re going to try,” was the answer.
But as Tom, during the night that followed—the last night of their
flight—looked at the barometer, he shook his head a bit dubiously.
“I’m afraid we’re going to run into a storm when we hit the Middle
West,” he said.
That is just what happened. Through the night the _Air Monarch_ soared
on, crossing the Rockies and heading for the East. When dawn broke the
occupants of the craft found themselves navigating in the midst of a
swirling storm of wind, rain, and, at times, beating hail.
“Some storm!” cried Ned, as the fierce wind careened the aircraft. “Will
it hold us back, Tom?”
“It’s bound to, somewhat, but it isn’t as bad as the typhoon or the
hurricane.”
There was an anxious look on the young inventor’s face, however, and Ned
guessed that it was caused as much by the thought that Kilborn in the
_Red Arrow_ was ahead of him as it was by the storm. The _Air Monarch_
might beat the storm, but could she beat the rival plane?
On and on raced Tom’s craft, until at last she was clear of the storm
which had done its best, but in vain, to hold her back or cripple her.
“Pittsburgh!” shouted Ned, who was marking off the principal cities as
they flew over them.
“Four hundred miles more to New York and victory!” echoed Tom.
It was shortly after noon. A hasty meal had been served. In about two
hours more, if all went well, the race would be over. The twenty days
were not quite up. Tom Swift still had a chance to win the twenty
thousand dollars for Mr. Swift. Would he also win the prize money?
Suddenly, through the mist in front, Ned caught sight of another plane,
traveling in the same direction as the _Air Monarch_.
“Look, Tom!” the financial manager cried.
Tom leveled a glass at the other craft.
“It’s the _Red Arrow_!” he yelled. “And she’s limping. We’ve got a
chance to beat her! Turn on the super-gas. We’ve got just about enough
to finish the race!”
In an instant the powerful new gas Tom had evolved was turned on, and at
once the improvement in the pace of the _Air Monarch_ was noted. Tom had
been saving his precious fuel for just such an emergency as this. He
gave the _Red Arrow_ a wide berth in passing her, lest perhaps Kilborn,
in his rage at seeing himself about to be beaten, might try to ram Tom’s
craft. Then the mist closed in again and it is probable that those on
the _Red Arrow_ did not know the _Air Monarch_ was passing, unless they
heard the throb of her propellers.
On and on rushed Tom Swift and his friends. One hour passed. In less
than sixty minutes they would be in the neighborhood of New York City
and could glide out to the Long Island landing field.
“If this mist would only let up!” complained Tom. “We may over run the
field in the fog!”
Passing Pittsburgh and other cities, messages had been dropped, to tell
the committee in charge of the race the _Air Monarch’s_ progress and let
them know the approximate time she would arrive. He also hoped his
father, and perhaps Mary, would be on the field to greet him.
Suddenly the mist cleared away and Ned, looking down, saw the tall and
jagged skyline of New York’s big buildings.
“We’ve arrived, Tom!” he yelled.
“Not quite yet! A few minutes more!”
Tom steered with a clear vision now, out toward Long Island. The airship
had been sighted, and a din of whistled greetings arose from the harbor.
“Stand by to land!” cried Tom a little later, as he glimpsed the field
he had left nearly three weeks before. A big crowd was with difficulty
kept out of the danger zone.
“And the _Red Arrow_ isn’t in sight!” exulted Ned.
Down to the ground floated the _Air Monarch_. Her wheels ran over the
sod and she came to a stop within a few feet of where she had taken off.
Cries and cheers greeted the returning voyagers.
“Tom! Tom!” yelled Mr. Damon, rushing out of the crowd as Tom, Ned and
the others stepped from the plane. “You win! Bless my alarm clock, but
you win!”
“What was our time?” asked Tom, as he greeted the eccentric man and then
noticed Mary coming toward him with her father and Mr. Swift.
“Nineteen days, eleven hours, fifteen minutes, eleven seconds,” was the
answer of the official timekeeper. “I congratulate you, Mr. Swift. You
have won the hundred thousand dollar prize!”
“And your father wins his bets!” echoed Mr. Trace who, with Mr. Burch,
had arrived in time to see the landing. “I didn’t believe it was
possible to circle the globe in less than twenty days.”
“We had several narrow squeaks!” admitted Tom, as he paused to allow the
news reel men to make moving pictures of him.
“Oh, Tom, I’m so glad you’re back!” murmured Mary. “And I guess Helen is
glad to see Ned, too,” she added, as Tom noticed his chum being greeted
by another pretty damsel.
“Has anything been heard of any of the other contestants?” asked Tom
when his time had been officially set down. “How about the _Red Arrow_?”
“Hasn’t been heard from,” some one said. “And most of the others gave up
soon after starting.”
Just then a reporter came bursting into the crowd.
“The _Red Arrow_ just crashed in New York harbor!” he cried. “She’s a
wreck!”
“Too bad!” murmured Tom. “We didn’t get here any too soon,” he added to
Ned. “Whew, but I’m tired!” And well he might be, for the last part of
the trip had been a terrible strain.
The _Air Monarch_ was wheeled into a hangar and left in charge of the
three mechanics while Tom and his friends, after a reception in New
York, made ready to go back to Shopton.
Meanwhile further news came of the wrecking of the _Red Arrow_. Her
motors, worn by excessive strain, had collapsed just when Kilborn might
have given Tom a close finish, and the machine, a complete wreck, fell
into the water. Some of her crew were seriously hurt, and it was thought
her pilot would die.
Under this impression Kilborn made a complete confession, admitting that
he had set Hussy and another man on not only to steal Tom’s secret if
possible, and, failing in that, to try to cripple Tom and disable the
_Air Monarch_.
But all their evil plans came to naught. Tom did not press his charges,
and Hussy was released, but his employer, Kilborn, was discredited in
the eyes of every one and Tom, acclaimed a hero and a sport on all
sides, received the hundred thousand dollars.
One of the first things he bought with the prize money was a fine
diamond pin for Mary.
“Just a souvenir!” Tom explained.
“Some souvenir!” murmured Ned. But then he did not need to be envious,
for he was given a large share of the prize money by Tom, and was able
to get a souvenir for Helen.
Peltok, Hartman and Brinkley were also well rewarded for their part in
helping win the great race.
“And I won a bit myself,” admitted Mr. Damon, when matters were being
talked over. “But bless my phonograph,” he said, “don’t tell my wife.
She doesn’t believe in making wagers. Only I’m glad you won, Tom!”
“I’m a bit glad myself,” laughed the young inventor.
THE END
* * * * *
=This Isn’t All!=
Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have
made in this book?
Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures
and experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the
same author?
On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book,
you will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at
the same store where you got this book.
Don’t throw away the Wrapper
_Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to
have. But in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for
a complete catalog._
THE TOM SWIFT SERIES
By VICTOR APPLETON
Author of “The Don Sturdy Series.”
Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius. Tom Swift is a
bright, ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make the most
interesting kind of reading.
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTORCYCLE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTORBOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER
TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON
TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT OIL GUSHER
TOM SWIFT AND HIS CHEST OF SECRETS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRLINE EXPRESS
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
TRANSCRIBER NOTES
Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. Where multiple
spellings occur, majority use has been employed.
Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious printer errors
occur.