"Appleton, Victor - Tom Swift Jr 10 - And His Ultrasonic Cycloplane" - читать интересную книгу автора (Appleton Victor)

properties which prevented any homing shells or missiles from detonating.
An hour's check failed to disclose the cause of the trouble. Next, Tom
inspected the jet lifters in the ship's underbelly. Slim joined him a few minutes
later.
"Any luck?" Doc Simpson inquired, as they paused to wipe the dripping
sweat off their brows.
Tom shook his head. "The tubes are clear. Must be something we missed in
the engine compartment."
By this time, a purple dusk had descended over the trees. Night was coming
on fast, and the screams and twitterings of the jungle birds died away to a faint
murmur.
Grimly Tom surveyed the prospects ahead. What if the whole rescue
expedition should find itself marooned in the wilderness? But he shook off the
gloomy thought.
"Come an' get it, buckaroos!" Chow appeared in the doorway, banging a
metal triangle. "How 'bout you an' Slim knockin' off fer now, Tom? Soup's on!"
Dinner proved a dismal meal, in spite of Chow's tasty cooking. As soon as
Tom finished eating, he hurried up to the radio compartment and called Shopton.
To his delight, his father's voice responded to the code signal.
"Just got back this evening and heard the news, son. Have you found any
trace of Hank and Bud?"
"Not yet, Dad. I was hoping that they might have got a message through to
Shopton."
40 ULTRASONIC CYCLOPLANE
"No. Billing tells me he's had no further word since the crash. But here's a
slight piece of good news, Tom. The police just called to report that they now
have a lead on that masked stranger- the one who hired Jake the Cat to steal the
statue."
"That's great, Dad. Glad to hear it."
In order not to worry his family or the relatives of his men, Tom decided to
avoid any mention of engine trouble. After sending his love to his mother, Phyl,
and Sandy, the young inventor said good-by.
Just as he switched off the transmitter, Chow came into the radio room on
tiptoe. From the furtive way he peered into the passageway, it was obvious that
he was bringing secret news.
"What's up, Chow?" Tom asked.
"Tom, do you reckon someone could have messed up this here airplane so it
can't fly no more?"
"Sabotage? No, I never even considered that, Chow! Why?"
" 'Cause when I was hikin' back from the woods this afternoon, I heard some
kind o' hammerin' noises. Sounded to me like they might have come from the
Sky Queen."
Tom's pulse quickened with interest. "Did you see anyone near the plane?"
Chow shook his head. "Nope. When I got back, there warn't no one around,
so I figgered I must have been mistook. But now I'm not so sure!"
JUNGLE ESCAPE 41
Tom gave the roly-poly Texan's shoulder a pat of approval. "Thanks for
telling me, Chow. I'll check right away!"
Calling the men together, the young inventor questioned each one carefully.
But apparently no one had been out of sight of his fellow searcher long enough to