tom swift and his wizard camera(汤姆·史威夫特和他的女巫相机)-第20部分
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〃Bless my thermometer！〃 gasped Mr。 Damon。 〃This is terrible！〃 The
airship was plunging and swaying about in the awful gale。 〃Can't
something be done； Tom？〃
〃What has happened？〃 cried Mr。 Nestor。 〃We were on a level keel
before。 What is it？〃
〃It's the automatic balancing rudder！〃 answered Tom。 〃Something has
happened to it。 The wind may have broken it！ Come on； Ned！〃 and he led
the way to the engine room。
〃What are you going to do？ Don't you want Koku to shift the
deflecting rudder？ Here he is；〃 Ned added； as the giant came forward； in
response to a signal bell that Tom's chum had rung。
〃It's too late to try the deflecting rudder！〃 tried Tom。 〃I must see what
is the matter with our balancer。〃 As he spoke the ship gave a terrific
plunge； and the occupants were thrown sideways。 The next moment it was
on a level keel again； scudding along with the gale； but there was no
telling when the craft would again nearly capsize。
Tom looked at the mechanism controlling the equalizing and
equilibrium rudder。 It was out of order； and he guessed that the terrific
wind was responsible for it。
〃What can we do？〃 cried Ned； as the airship nearly rolled over。 〃Can't
we do anything； Tom？〃
〃Yes。 I'm going to try。 Keep calm now。 We may come out all right。
This is the worst blow we've been in since we were in Russia。 Start the gas
machine full blast。 I want all the vapor I can get。〃
As I have explained the Flyer was a combined dirigible balloon and
aeroplane。 It could be used as either； or both； in combination。 At present
the gas bag was not fully inflated； and Tom had been sending his craft
along as an aeroplane。
〃What are you going to do？〃 cried Ned； as he pulled over the lever that
set the gas generating machine in operation。
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〃I'm going up as high as I can go！〃 cried Tom。 〃If we can't go down we
must go up。 I'll get above the hurricane instead of below it。 Give me all the
gas you can； Ned！〃
The vapor hissed as it rushed into the big bag overhead。 Tom carried
aboard his craft the chemicals needed to generate the powerful lifting gas；
of which he alone had the secret。 It was more powerful than hydrogen； and
simple to make。 The balloon of the Flyer was now being distended。
Meanwhile Tom； with Koku； Mr。 Damon and Mr。 Nestor to help him；
worked over the deflecting rudder； and also on the equilibrium mechanism。
But they could not get either to operate。
Ned stood by the gas machine； and worked it to the limit。 But even
with all that energy； so powerful was the wind； that the Flyer rose slowly；
the gale actually holding her down as a water…logged craft is held below
the waves。 Ordinarily； with the gas machine set at its limit the craft would
have shot up rapidly。
At times the airship would skim along on the level； and again it would
be pitched and tossed about； until it was all the occupants could do to keep
their feet。 Mr。 Damon was continually blessing everything he could
remember。
〃Now she's going！〃 suddenly cried Ned； as he looked at the dials
registering the pressure of the gas； and showing the height of the airship
above the earth。
〃Going how？〃 gasped Tom； as he looked over from where he was
working at the equilibrium apparatus。 〃Going down？〃
〃Going up！〃 shouted Ned。 〃I guess we'll be all right soon！〃
It was true。 Now that the bag was filled with the powerful lifting gas；
under pressure； the Flyer was beginning to get out of the dangerous
predicament into which the gale had blown her； Up and up she went； and
every foot she climbed the power of the wind became less。
〃Maybe it all happened for the best；〃 said Tom； as he noted the height
gage。 〃If we had gone down； the wind might have been worse nearer the
earth。〃
Later they learned that this was so。 The most destructive wind storm
ever known swept across the southern part of Europe； over which they
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were flying that night； and； had the airship gone down； she would
probably have been destroyed。 But； going up； she got above the wind…
strata。 Up and up she climbed； until； when three miles above the earth； she
was in a calm zone。 It was rather hard to breathe at this height； and Tom
set the oxygen apparatus at work。
This created in the interior of the craft an atmosphere almost like that
on the earth； and the travelers were made more at their ease。 Getting out of
the terrible wind pressure made it possible to work the deflecting rudder；
though Tom had no idea of going down； as long as the blow lasted。
〃We'll just sail along at this height until morning；〃 he said； 〃and by
then the gale may be over； or we may be beyond the zone of it。 Start the
propellers； Ned。 I think I can manage to repair the equilibrium rudder
now。〃
The propellers； which gave the forward motion to the airship； had been
stopped when it was found that the wind was carrying her along； but they
were now put in motion again； sending the Flyer forward。 In a short time
Tom had the equilibrium machine in order； and matters were now normal
again。
〃But that was a strenuous time while it lasted；〃 remarked the young
inventor； as he sat down。
〃It sure was；〃 agreed Ned。
〃Bless my pen wiper！〃 cried Mr。 Damon。 〃That was one of the few
times when I wish I'd never come with you； Tom Swift；〃 and everyone
laughed at that。
The Flyer was now out of danger； going along high in the air through
the night； while the gale raged below her。 At Tom's suggestion； Koku got a
lunch ready； for they were all tired with their labors； and somewhat
nervous from the danger and excitement。
〃And now for sleep！〃 exclaimed Tom； as he pushed back his plate。
〃Ned； set the automatic steering gear； and we'll see where we bring up by
morning。〃
An examination； through a powerful telescope in the bright light of
morning； showed the travelers that they were over the outskirts of a large
city； which； later； they learned was Rome； Italy。
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〃We've made a good trip；〃 said Tom。 〃The gale had us worried； but it
sent us along at a lively clip。 Now for Switzerland； and the avalanches！〃
They made a landing at a village just outside the 〃Holy City；〃 as Rome
is often called； and renewed their supply of gasolene。 Naturally they
attracted a crowd of curious persons； many of whom had never seen an
airship before。 Certainly few of them had ever seen one like Tom Swift's。
The next day found them hovering over the Alps； where Tom hoped to
be able to get the pictures of snow slides。 They went down to earth at a
town near one of the big mountain ranges； and there made inquiries as to
where would be the best location to look for big avalanches。 If they went
but a few miles to the north； they were told； they would be in the desired
region； and they departed for that vicinity。
〃And now we've just got to take our time； and wait for an avalanche to
happen；〃 remarked Tom； as they were flying along over the mountain
ranges。 〃As Mr。 Damon said； these things aren't made to order。 They just
happen。〃
For three days they sailed in and out over the great snow…covered
peaks of the Alps。 They did not go high up； for they wanted to be near
earth when an avalanche would occur； so that near…view pictures could be
secured。 Occasionally they saw parties of mountain climbers ascending
some celebrated peak； and for want of something better to photograph；
Tom 〃snapped〃 the tourists。
〃Well； I guess they're all out of avalanches this season；〃 remarked Ned
one afternoon； when they had circled back and forth over a mountain
where； so it was said； the big snow slides were frequent。
〃It does seem so；〃 agreed Tom。 〃Still； we're in no h
