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

126 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ROCKET SHIP

Carman followed. Ames lay on the floor, but the sound of his deep regular breathing assured the others that he was alive. After a hasty examination, the doctor said that the man had suffered nothing more than a bad concussion. In fact, he would “sleep it off.”

“When Ames awakens,” Dr. Carman went on, “I doubt that he’ll remember anything about the trip.”

“You mean,” Bud said, “that Harlan actually carried out Tom’s instructions and didn’t know what he was doing?”

“That’s my opinion.”

The security officer was lifted into the Sky Queen and put to bed. Tom heard a crewman say, “It’s a miracle!” and Tom had to agree with this observation.

The young inventor directed the transference of the twenty-foot pilot stage into the plane’s hangar. As the Flying Lab hovered overhead, cables were looped around the Star Spear and it was hoisted aboard.

As the Sky Queen started homeward, Tom sent a coded message to Fearing Island giving the latest news. A few minutes went by, then Bud remarked that the plane’s course was not a direct one to the island. He questioned his friend about it.

“I’m flying to Shopton,” Tom replied with a mysterious smile. “Then Tom Swift Jr. is going to do a little disappearing act.”

CHAPTER 15

AN ATTEMPTED THEFT

BUD STARED at Tom. “Well, magician, why are you disappearing and where to?”

For answer, Tom said he believed that it might be a good idea if the Rotzog gang thought he had gone up in the rocket and would not return.

“I do too,” Bud agreed. “But you’re still going to build another rocket and make the trip, aren’t you?”