“It sounds as if he were calling to us to come back,” spoke Mr. Parker.
“It's too late now,” decided Tom. “Maybe he forgot to tell us good-by,” but, he felt a vague wonder at Eradicate's odd motions; for the colored man was pointing toward the stern of the airship, as if there was something wrong there. But the Red Cloud soared on.
CHAPTER IX—A WARNING BY WIRELESS
Rapidly the airship ascended, and, when it was high over the town of Shopton, Tom headed the craft due west. Looking down he tried to descry Mary Nestor, in her carriage, but the trees were in the way, their interlocking branches hiding the girl. Tom did see crowds of other persons, though, thronging the streets of Shopton, for, though the young inventor had made many flights, there was always a novelty about them, that brought out the curious.
“A good start, Tom Swift,” complimented Mr. Parker. “Is it always as easy as this?”
“Starting always is,” was the answer, “though, as the Irishman said, coming down isn't sometimes quite so comfortable.”
“Bless my gizzard! That's so,” cried the eccentric Mr. Damon. “Can we vol-plane to earth in the Red Cloud, Tom?”
“Yes, but not as easily as in the Butterfly. However I hope we will not have to. Now, Mr. Damon, if you will just take charge of the steering apparatus for a minute, I want to go aft.”
“What for?”