Appleton, Victor – Tom Swift Jr 03 – And His Rocket Ship

Alternately firing and stalling the rockets, Tom was able to make the Star Spear describe an erratic, undulating path that made it impossible for Rotzog Tom opened the kicker wide

200 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ROCKET SHIP

to fire on him accurately. The missiles launched at them were unable to follow the roller-coaster course Tom set for them and either missed by wide margins or blew up harmlessly ahead or astern.

Bud’s face was lined with worry. “Tom, these maneuvers will use up all our fuel. There’ll be none left to take us back to earth!”

“I think that’s exactly Rotzog’s idea,” Tom replied grimly. “If he can worry us enough, the fiend can count on stranding us out in space.”

“Here he comes in person!” Bud announced.

Tom looked at his fuel gauges. He could not do much more dodging.

The enemy rocket, roaring from the right rear, was now in position to make a direct pass at Tom’s ship. The Star Spear stood completely exposed to a broadside attack! If he tried to swing away, Rotzog would be right on his tail. Tom knew he must gamble on using another tremendous amount of fuel to avert this attack.

As Rotzog’s ship closed in at point-blank range, Tom opened the kicker wide, dived, and rolled under the oncoming enemy ship!

CHAPTER 25

A RECORD VICTORY

TRAVELING for a few seconds at thirty thousand miles per hour, Tom and Bud stared in fascination at the speedometer. For a moment thoughts of Rot-zog were erased from their minds. But the next moment, the boys realized that the terrific speed was fast-consuming their fuel supply and straining every part of the Star Spear.