" asked the odd man, for he had
become familiar with this feat when anything happened to the motor.

"We could," answered Tom, "but I'm not going to."

"Why not?"

"Because we're too far from Shopton--and dad! I'm going to keep on.
I've got to--if I want to be there in time!"

"But if the motor doesn't work?"

"I'll make her work!"

Tom was desperately manipulating the various levers and handles
connected with the electrical ignition system. He tried in vain to get
the magneto to resume the giving out of sparks, and, failing in that,
he switched on the batteries. But, to his horror, the dry cells had
given out. There was no way of getting a spark unless the little
electrical machine would work.

The propellers were still whirring around by their own momentum, and if
Tom could switch in the magneto in time all might yet be well.

They had started to fall, but, by quickly bringing up the head plane
tips, Tom sent his craft soaring upward again on a bank of air.

"Here!" he cried to Mr. Damon. "Take the steering-wheel and kept her on
this level as long as you can."

"What are you going to do?"

"I've got to fix that magneto!"

"But if she dips down?"

"Throw up the head planes as I did. It's our only chance! I can't go
down now, so far from Shopton!"

Mr. Damon reached over and took the wheel from Tom's hands. Then the
young inventor, leaning forward, for the magneto was within easy reach,
looked to see what the trouble was. He found it quickly. A wire had
vibrated loose from a binding-post. In a second Tom had it in place
again; and, ere the propellers had ceased revolving, he had turned the
switch. The magneto took up the work in a flash. Once more the spark
exploded the gasoline mixture, and the propellers sent the Humming-Bird
swiftly ahead.

"We'll make it now!" declared Tom grimly.

"We're almost there," added Mr. Damon, as he relinquished the wheel to
the young pilot. The craft had gone down some, but Tom sent her up
again.

Nearer and nearer home they came, until at last the spires of the
Shopton churches loomed into view. Then he was over the village. Now he
was within sight of his own house.

Tom coasted down a bank of air, and brought the Humming-Bird up with a
jerk of the ground brakes. Before the wheels had ceased turning he had
leaped out.

"It's Massa Tom!" cried Eradicate, as he saw Tom alight.

The young inventor hurried into the house. He was met by the nurse, who
held up a war