tom swift & his electric runabout(汤姆史威特和他的电力小轿车)-第25章
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Tom did not want to decline the invitation； and the impromptu race
was under way。 Soon the green car came rushing up； and for two miles the
three kept almost in line。 It was evident that neither the green nor the red
car drivers wanted to 〃open out；〃 until they saw Tom do so。
He was willing to oblige them； and suddenly increased his speed。 They
did the same； and went ahead of him。 Then Tom turned on a little more
juice and got the lead； but the two men were right after him； and they see…
sawed like this for two more miles。 Then； with a cry the man in the red car；
with a sudden burst of speed； left Tom and the green car behind。 The green
car was soon up to its rival； but Tom decided he would not spurt。
The lad and his friends spent the early part of the night in making a
final inspection of the machinery； finding it in good order。 Then； with his
head filled with visions of the race on the morrow Tom went to bed。 He
had made inquiries； by telephone； of the friends of Miss Nestor； and
learned that she had not arrived。 Tom felt a distinct sense of
disappointment。
The day of the race could not have been better。 It was ideal weather；
and conditions at the track were just right。 Tom was up early； and went
over every inch of his car with a nervous dread that he might find
something the matter。
The final details of the race were completed； and the entrants given
their numbers and places。 Tom drew a good position； not the best； but he
had no reason to complain。 Half an hour before the start he again
telephoned to see if Miss Nestor had arrived； but she had not； and it was
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with rather gloomy thoughts that the lad entered his car； in which Mr。
Sharp had already taken his place。 Mr。 Damon went to the grandstand to
watch the race。
〃I wanted Mary to see me win；〃 thought our hero； for he had grimly set
his mind on coming in ahead。
There was a great crowd in the grandstand and scattered about the big
track； which took in a large extent of territory。 In spite of its sizefive
miles aroundit seemed solidly packed for the entire length with
autos； containing gay parties who had come to see the electric contest。
There was a band playing gay airs； as Tom guided his machine through the
entrance gate； and onto the track。
The judges made their final inspection。 There were twenty cars entered；
but it was obvious that some of them would not last long； as their battery
capacity was not large enough。 Their owners might have relied on
recharging； but how they could do this under the usual slow system； and
hope to win； Tom could not see。 He hoped to run the entire distance on the
single charge； but； if by some accident part of his current should leak away；
his battery could be charged in a short time； by means of his new system；
to run for a considerable distance； or he could install a new one already
charged； for he had two sets on hand。 Tom glanced over the cars of his
competitors。 They were to be sent away in batches； the affair being a
handicap one； with time allowance for the smaller powered cars。 Tom
noted that his car and the red and the green ones were in the same bunch。
Tom's car was purple。
〃Are you all ready？〃 asked the starter of the first group of races。
〃Ready；〃 was the low…voiced response。
〃Crack！〃 went the pistol； and there followed the hum of the motors as
the current set the mechanism to work。 Forward went the cars； amid the
crash of the band and the cheers of the crowd。 The big race was under
way。
〃Do you feel nervous； Tom？〃 asked Mr。 Sharp。
〃Not a bit；〃 replied the lad。
Around and around the track flew the speedy electrics。 It was evident
that the holding of a meet solely for cars of this character had brought
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
out many new ideas that would be to the benefit of the industry。 Some cars
were 〃freaks〃 and others； like Tom's； showed a distinct advance over
previous styles of construction。
A five…hundred mile race around a track is rather a monotonous affair；
except for what happens； and things very soon began to happen at this
race。
As Tom had expected； several of the machines were forced to
withdraw。 Tire troubles beset some； and others found that they were
hopelessly out of it because of low power； or lack of battery capacity。
Tom determined not to let the red or the green car gain any advantage
over him； and so he watched those two vehicles narrowly。 On the other
hand； the red and the green electrics were evidently afraid of one another
and of Tom。
They all three kept pretty much together for the first thirty miles。 By
this time the race had settled down into a steady grind。 There was some
excitement when the steering gear of one car broke； and it crashed Into the
fence； injuring the driver； but the race went on。
The young inventor was holding his own with his two chief rivals； and
was feeling rather proud of his car； when there came from it a report like a
pistol shot。
〃Blow out！〃 yelled Tom desperately； steering to one of the several
repair stations on the inner side of the track。 〃Be ready with the extra
wheel； Mr。 Sharp！〃
〃Right you are！〃 cried the balloonist。 The car was scarcely stopped
when he had leaped out； and had the lifting jack under the left rear wheel；
where the tire had gone to the bad。 He and Tom labored like Trojans to
take off the wheel； and put on the other。 They lost five minutes； and when
they got under way again the red and the green cars were three quarters of
a lap ahead。
〃You've got to catch them！〃 declared Sharp firmly。
But the red and the green car drivers saw their advantage； and were
determined to hold it。 Tom could not catch them without going his limit；
and he did not want to do this just yet。 However； he had his opportunity
when about two hundred miles had been covered。 Both the red and the
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green cars had tire troubles； but the red one was delayed scarcely two
minutes as there was a corps of mechanics on hand to take off the
defective wheel and put on another。 Still Tom regained his lost ground； and
once more the race between those three cars was even。
In the rear of Tom's car Mr。 Sharp was mending the blown…out tire；
though there was still one spare wheel on reserve。 Tom； in front； peered
eagerly at the track。 Nearly side by side raced the red and the green cars；
the latter somewhat to the rear。
It was at the three hundred and fiftieth mile that Tom had another
blow…out。 This time it took a little longer to change the wheel； and the red
and green cars gained a full lap on him。 The track was now so dusty that it
was difficult to see the contesting cars。 Many had dropped out； and more
were on the verge of giving up。
With the odds against him； Tom started in to regain the lost ground。
Narrowly he watched his electric power。 Slowly he saw it dropping。
Would he have enough left to finish out the race？ He feared not。 The hours
were passing。 Still there was a hundred miles yet to go twenty circuits of
the track。 Some of the spectators were getting weary and leaving。 The
band played spasmodically。
Suddenly Tom saw the red car shoot to one side of the track； toward a
charging station； The green car followed。
〃That's our cue！〃 cried the young inventor 〃We need a little more
'juice' and now is the time to get it。〃
The lad ran to the shed where his charging wires were； and they were
connected in a trice。 He allowed twenty…five minutes for the charging； as
he knew with his improved battery he could get enough current in that
time to finish the contest。 Before the red and green car drivers had finished
installing new batteries； for they could not recharge as quickly as could
our hero； Tom was on the track again。 But； in a little while； his two rivals
were after him。
It was now a spectacular race。 Around and around swept the three big
cars。 All the others were practically out of it。 The crowd became lively airs。
Mile after mile was reeled off。 The day was passing。 Tired and covered
with dust from the track； Tom still sat at the steering wheel。
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〃Two laps more！〃 cried Mr。 Sharp； as the starter's pistol gave this
warning。 〃Can you get away from 'em； Tom？〃
The red and the green cars were following closely。 The young inventor
looked back and nodded。 He turned on more power； almost to the limit
that he was saving for the final spurt。 But after him still came the two big
cars。 Suddenly the red car shot ahead； just as the last lap was beginning。
The green tried to follow； but there was a flash of fire； a loud report； and
Tom knew a fuse had blown out。 There was no time for his rival to put in a
new one。 The race was now between Tom and the red car。 Could the lad
catch and pass it？
They were now only a mile from the finish。 The red car was three
lengths ahead。 With a quick motion Tom turned on the last bit of power。
There seemed to come a roar from his Motor and his car shot ahead。 It was
on even terms with the red car when what Tom had been fearing for the
last five minutes happened。 his fuse blew out。
〃Too bad！ It's all up with us！〃 cried Mr。 Sharp。
〃No！〃 cried Tom in a ringing voice。 〃I've got an emergency fuse
ready！〃 He snapped a switch in place； putting into comm
