第3章

Explanations

"What in the world is that?" cried Mr.Job Titus, in alarm.

Tom Swift did not answer.Instead he jumped up from his chair and ran toward the front door.Mr.Titus followed.They both saw a strange sight.

Standing on the front porch, which he seemed to occupy completely, was a large horse, with a saddle twisted underneath him.The animal was looking about him as calmly as though he always made it a practice to come up on the front piazza when stopping at a house.

Off to one side, with a crushed hat on the back of his head, with a coat split up the back, with a broken riding crop in one hand and a handkerchief in the other, sat a dignified, elderly gentleman.

That is, he would have been dignified had it not been for his position and condition.No gentleman can look dignified with a split coat and a crushed hat on, sitting under the nose of a horse on a front piazza, with his raiment otherwise much disheveled, while he wipes his scratched and bleeding face with a handkerchief.

"Bless my--bless my--" began the elderly gentleman, and he seemed at a loss what particular portion of his anatomy or that of the horse, to bless, or what portion of the universe to appeal to, for he ended up with: "Bless everything, Tom Swift!""I heartily agree with you, Mr.Damon!" cried Tom."But what in the world happened?""That!" exclaimed Mr.Damon, pointing with his broken crop at the horse on the piazza."I was riding him when he ran away--just as my motorcycle tried to climb a tree.No more horses for me! I'll stick to airships," and slamming his riding crop down on the porch floor with such force that the horse started back, Mr.Damon arose, painfully enough if the contortions on his face and his grunts of pain went for anything.

"Let me help you!" begged Tom, striding forward."Mr.Titus, perhaps you will kindly lead the horse down off the piazza?""Certainly!" answered the tunnel contractor."Whoa now!" he called soothingly, as the steed evinced a disposition to sit down on the side railing."Steady now!"The horse finally allowed himself to be led down the broad front steps, sadly marking them, as well as the floor of the piazza, with his sharp shoes.

"Ouch! Oh, my back!" exclaimed Mr.Damon, as Tom helped him to stand up.

"Is it hurt?" asked Tom, anxiously.

"No, I've just got what old-fashioned folks call a 'crick' in it," explained the elderly horseman."But it feels more like a river than a 'crick.' I'll be all right presently.""How did it happen?" asked Tom, as he led his guest toward the hall.Meanwhile Mr.Titus, wondering what it was all about, had tied the horse to a post out near the street curb, and had re-entered the library.

"I was riding over to see you, Tom, to ask you if you wouldn't go to South America with me," began Mr.Damon, rubbing his leg tenderly.

"South America?" cried Tom, with a sudden look at Mr.Titus.

"Yes, South America.Why, there isn't anything strange in that, is there? You've been to wilder countries, and farther away than that.""Yes, I know--it's just a coincidence.Go on.""Let me get where I can sit down," begged Mr.Damon."I think that crick in my back is running down into my legs, Tom.I feel a bit weak.Let me sit down, and get me a glass of water.I shall be all right presently."Between them Tom and Mr.Titus assisted the horseman into an easy chair, and there, under the influence of a cup of hot tea, which Mrs.Baggert, the housekeeper, insisted on making for him, he said he felt much better, and would explain the reason for his call which had culminated in such a sensational manner.

And while Mr.Damon is preparing his explanation I will take just a few moments to acquaint my new readers with some facts about Tom Swift, and the previous volumes of this series in which he has played such prominent parts.

Tom Swift was the son of an inventor, and not only inherited hisfather's talents, but had greatly added to them, so that now Tom had a wonderful reputation.

Mr.Swift was a widower, and he and Tom lived in a big house in Shopton, New York State, with Mrs.Baggert for a housekeeper.About the house, from time to time, shops and laboratories had been erected, until now there was a large and valuable establishment belonging to Tom and his father.

The first volume of this series is entitled, "Tom Swift and His Motor Cycle." It was through a motor cycle that Tom became acquainted with Mr.Wakefield Damon, who lived in a neighboring town.Mr.Damon had bought the motor cycle for himself, but, as he said, one day in riding it the machine tried to climb a tree near the Swift house.

The young inventor (for even then he was working on several patents) ministered to Mr.Damon, who, disgusted with the motor cycle, and wishing to reward Tom, let the young fellow have the machine.

Tom's career began from that hour.For he learned to ride the motor cycle, after making some improvements in it, and from then on the youth had led a busy life.Soon afterward he secured a motor boat and from that it was but a step to an airship.