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.Consequently, as soon as the forward motion ceased the great ship beganfalling."We're sinking! We're sinking!" cried Tom, forgetting for a moment that he wasnot in his motorboat."Slant your rudder up, and glide downward as slowly as you can!" directed Mr.Sharp."I'll start the engine again as soon as I rescue him," for it was riskyto venture out on the platform with the propeller whirring, as the danglingpiece of scarf might whip around the balloonist and toss him off.Mr.Sharp was soon at Mr.Damon's side.He saw that the man was unconscious,whether from fright or some injury could not then be determined.There was,however, no sign of a wound.It was no easy task to carry, half dragging it, the heavy body of Mr.Damonoff the platform, but the aeronaut was a muscular individual, and long hangingfrom a trapeze, at great heights, stood him in good stead.He brought the unconscious man into the cabin, and then, quickly returning tothe platform, he detached the piece of scarf from the propeller blade.Next hestarted the motor, and also turned on the gas tank, so that the airship, in afew minutes, could float in space without motion."You needn't steer now, Tom," said the balloonist."Just give me a hand here."Tom Swift and His AirshipChapter 15 Fired Upon50"Isis he dead?" inquired the lad, his voice faltering."No, his heart's beating.I can't understand what happened."Mr.Sharp was something of a rough and ready surgeon and doctor, and a smallbox of medicines had been brought along in case of emergencies.With the RedCloud now lazily floating in the air, for, once the falling motion had beenchecked by the engine, the motor had been stopped again, Mr.Sharp set aboutrestoring Mr.Damon to consciousness.It was not long before the man opened his eyes.The color that had left hischeeks came back, and, after a drink of cold water he was able to sit up."Did I fall?" he asked."Bless my very existence, but did I tumble off theairship?""No indeed," replied Tom, "though you came pretty near it.How do you feel?Were you hurt?""Oh, I'm all right nowjust a trifle dizzy.But I thought sure I was a gonerwhen I fell over the platform railing," and Mr.Damon could not repress ashudder.Mr.Sharp administered some more medicine and his patient was soonable to stand, and move about."How did it happen?" inquired the balloonist."I hardly know," answered Mr.Damon."I was out on the platform, looking atPage 46ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlthe view, and thinking how much better my neuralgia was, with the scarf on.Suddenly the wind whipped loose one end of the scarf, and, before I knew itthe cloth had caught on the propeller blade.I was blown, or drawn to oneside, tossed against the railing, which I managed to grab, and then I lost mysenses.It's a good thing I wasn't whirled around the propeller.""It's a good thing you weren't tossed down to the earth," commented Tom,shivering as he thought of his friend's narrow escape."I became unconscious, partly because the wind was knocked from me as I hitthe platform railing," went onMr.Damon, "and partly from fright, I think.But I'm all right now, and I'mnot going out on that platform again with a loose scarf on.""I wouldn't go out at all again, if I were you, though, of course, I'm used todizzy heights," spoke Mr.Sharp."Oh, I'm not so easily frightened," declared Mr.Damon."If I'm going to be aballoonist, or an aeroplanist I've got to get used to certain things.I'm allright now," and the plucky man was, for the blow to his side did not amount tomuch.It was some time, however, before Tom got over the fright his friend hadcaused him.They spent that night moving slowly south, and in the morning found they hadcovered about a hundred miles, not having run the ship to anything like itsmaximum speed.Breakfast was served above the clouds, for a change, Mr.Damonfinding that he could stand the great height with comfort.It was three days after the start, and the travelers were proceeding slowlyalong.They were totally unaware, of course, of the sensation which theirleaving, conjointly with the bank robbery, had caused, not only inShopton but in other places."We're over a goodsized city," announced Tom, on the noon of the third day."Suppose we drop down, and leave some message? Dad will be anxious to hearfrom us."Tom Swift and His AirshipChapter 15 Fired Upon51"Good idea," commented Mr.Sharp."Down it is.Shift the rudder."Tom proceeded to do so, and, while Mr.Damon relieved him at the wheel theyoung inventor prepared a message to his father.It was placed in a weightedenvelope, together with a sum of money, and the person picking it up wasrequested to send the letter as a telegram, retaining some money for histrouble.As the ship got lower and lower over the city the usual crowds could be seencongregating in the streets, pointing and gazing upward."We're creating quite a stir," observed Tom."More than usual, it seems," added Mr.Sharp, peering down."I declare, thereseems to be a police parade under way.""That's right," put in Mr [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]