CHAPTER XXIV
WON BY A LENGTH
Rising upward, on a steep slant, for he wanted to get into the upper currents as soon as possible, Tom looked down and off to his left and saw one machine going over the ground in curious leaps and bounds. It was the tiny Demoiselle—the smallest craft in the race, and its peculiar style of starting was always thus manifested.
"I don't believe he's going to make it," thought Tom.
He was right. In another moment the tiny craft, after rising a short distance, dove downward, and was wrecked. The young inventor saw the two men crawling out from the tangled planes and wings, apparently uninjured.
"One contestant less," thought Tom, grimly, though with pity in his heart for the unfortunates.
However, he must think of himself and his own craft now. He glanced at Mr. Damon sitting beside him. That odd gentleman, with never
184
