now tell me all about it."

Tom did so, relating the story of the theft of the plans. Mr. Damon was
for having Andy arrested at once, but Mr. Swift and his son pointed out
that they had no evidence against him.

"All we can do," said the young inventor, "is to keep watch on him, and
see if he is building another aeroplane. He has all the facilities, and
he may attempt to get ahead of me. If he enters a sky craft at the meet
I'll be pretty sure that he has made it from my stolen plans."

"Bless my wing tips!" cried Mr. Damon. "But can't we do anything to
stop him?"

"I'm afraid not," answered Tom; and then he showed Mr. Damon his
re-drawn plans, and told in detail of how he intended to construct the
new aeroplane.

The eccentric man remained as the guest of the Swift family that night,
departing for his home the next day, and promising to be on hand as
soon as Tom was ready to test his new craft, which would be in about a
month.

As the days passed, Tom, with the help of his father, whose health was
slightly better, and with the aid of Mr. Jackson, began work on the
speedy little sky racer.

As you boys are all more or less familiar with aeroplanes, we will not
devote much space to the description of the new one Tom Swift made. We
can describe it in general terms, but there were some features of it
which Tom kept a secret from all save his father.

Suffice it to say that Tom had decided to build a small air craft of
the single-wing type, known as the monoplane. It was to be a cross
between the Bleriot and the Antoinette, with the general features of
both, but with many changes or improvements.

The wings were shaped somewhat like those of a humming-bird, which, as
is well known, can, at times, vibrate its wings with such velocity that
the most rapid camera lens cannot quite catch.

And when it is known that a bullet in flight has been successfully
photographed, the speed of the wings of the humming-bird can be better
appreciated.

The writer has seen a friend, with a very rapid camera, which was used
to snap automobiles in flight, attempt to take a picture of a
humming-bird. He got the picture, all right, but the plate was blurred,
showing that the wings had moved faster than the lens could throw them
on the sensitive plate.

Not that Tom intended the wings of his monoplane to vibrate, but he
adopted that style as being the best adapted to allow of rapid flight
through the air; and the young inventor had