“He should have returned here half an hour ago,” Tom said, a frown of worry creasing his forehead. Then, in order to double check, Tom radioed his office in Shopton. The jet pilot was nearly halfway home after making his delivery. Tom contacted him directly, and when he heard the story about the pursuing jet plane, he became more alarmed than ever.
Had one of his enemies followed and radioed word to henchmen to attack Bud’s truck?
Tom hurried along the beach to where his crew was giving the Sky Queen a once-over. He raced up the ladder and into the plane.
“What’s your hurry, boss?” Chow asked.
110 TOM SWIFT AND HIS JETMAR1NE
“More dirty work,” Tom said. “Get set for a ride.”
The pilot made his way forward to the nose of the plane and took his seat.
Then he gave orders over the intercom for a quick take-off.
The plane roared into the air and in a few seconds Torn was over the small airport. Hovering stationary at ten thousand feet, he scanned the terrain below with his binoculars. Back and forth his gaze swept across the sandy pine-studded countryside.
Suddenly, at one end of a long swath of meadow-land which bordered a creek, he spotted a plane and a truck. Tom intensified the magnification of his binoculars and the scene below was brought as close to him as if it had been ten feet away.
Could it be Bud’s truck? But his friend was not in sight!
A moment later two men jumped from the back of the truck. One was Sidney Dansitt! Together, they began to lug a large crate toward the plane.
Tom, realizing he must act instantly, hit upon a daring plan. He shot acceleration into his jet motors for a dive. At terrific speed the Sky Queen wailed toward the meadow like a stricken banshee. Tom skimmed his enemies. The hot blast of the jets knocked Dansitt and his henchman to the ground. By the time they had a chance to glance up, the Sky Queen was a mile away.